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I know that keeping my blog updated and recent, fresh, new is super important to my business.  And it’s something I want to do, and enjoy doing.  However, it really sort of fell to the wayside toward the end of this summer into fall which is a bummer.  But I don’t regret it.  While I have been lucky enough to find a job that I love; a job that allows me to work with amazing people, and create amazing memories for them to have forever, my number one job is being a mommy.  Never did I foresee the challenges of being a stay-at-home, work-from-home mom…I knew it’d be challenging, but as always, I figured I could ‘do-it-all!’  Truth is, I can’t and I don’t want to.  I just want to be a good mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend.  And if I can be a good photographer, businesswoman, and mentor too then “WOOT!”

I love enriching my daughter’s life through art, activities, and learning opportunities–and we do something nearly every day.  The first time we went to our public library for story time about a year ago, I had to hold back from crying, seriously! Who does that?!  But my favorite thing so far, has been watching her anticipate her dance class every Monday, and then helping her put on her dance clothes, and then watching her ‘dance’.  I’m totally not ‘that’ girl.  Nor did I ever think I’d be putting my child in dance classes at the age of 2–but my child LOVES to dance.  This girl L-O-V-E-S to dance.  So, how could I hold back from this excitement from her?!

 

{These ^^^are the only photos I intended to take…but she had something else in mind and started posing herself everywhere for me!}

Posted in My life,My Own
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When Danielle contacted me for portraits months ago, I could do nothing but hope that our schedules would line up–because when she said she had a family ranch an hour north of here she wanted to shoot on, I was ALL IN.  And boy did it deliver.  Their little oasis is a place that I’ve dreamed of having for myself one day.  Acres and acres of quiet, hardly touched land lined with the tallest, coolest looking pinetrees I’ve ever seen.  I could have spent hourssss scouring that place just taking shots for myself–but, after getting a litttle lost on my way out there (turns out GPS/phone signal isn’t a fan of the rural world as much as I am) we only had about an hour to get our session in. . . which was tottally fine with little Colton.  But my’gosh isn’t he the cutest?!?!?

Posted in Child photo sessions,Family Photo Sessions
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It’s hard not to feel heavy every year thinking about the people lost and those still hurting.  The sacrifices made, and the change forced upon us–the evils in the world so tangible.  It’s much different now, now that I have a kid. Today I can’t help but think about what her life will be like in twenty years, with the world so contorted.   Above all, I hug a little harder; say I love you a couple extra times; and feel grateful more than normal.

On the dates surrounding 9/11/01 I collected newspapers.  I knew I’d need to show my children one day the event that changed our world SO much in our lifetime.  And I knew it needed to be a tangible object–because for me, its so much more meaningful if its from the actual event.

On 9/11/02 I was in my first year of college and it was the first year of remembrance.  I hurting really bad this day–I cried a lot.  I didn’t talk to people much.  I called my mom, I remember.  And we mentioned how sad it was still…I reminisced about where I was the day of the event–in my AP english class, freaking out because my dad was flying in the Pennsylvania area.  When I hung up the phone with her I went for a walk around my amazingly beautiful campus and took pictures with the very first digital camera I ever owned.  Finding the beauty, capturing it, reflecting.  It made me begin to feel better.

On the way home, I collected some more newspapers.  I had a project due that week for my art class…and so I created.  I made a notebook collage of newspaper clippings, quotes, speculations.  And when I was done, well after midnight, I felt better.  I put my heart into art and I was better.  It was so healing for me.

It’s when I realized that creating, writing, visualizing, capturing, making, it’s what I need.  It’s totally me.

Posted in Informative,My Own,Personal
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If a bride and groom were ever prepared, call them Laura and Pete.  I’m pretty sure they had back up plans for their back up plans, and made lists for every question I might have.  And that? It makes me happy!  I was so excited to pull up to the Delafield Hotel Saturday morning to sunshine and blue skies.. Especially since I know that the weather was one of the biggest concerns for Laura.  And the Delafield hotel is just gorgeous!

After they got ready, Laura and Pete chose to do a first look.  I love when this happens because then we can take our time getting photos and the bride and groom can enjoy their cocktail hour!  After photos, the ceremony began and Laura and Pete had the most beautiful and sincere vows! I don’t think there was a dry-eye in the room. the day was topped with a beautiful reception–and the popcorn bar was to-die-for!

Laura and Pete, thank you for trusting me on your beautiful day.  It was an honor working with you and your family and I wish you many many years of love and happiness to come!


Posted in Weddings
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