Life. Real Life.

Photography freezes time.  It can capture emotion, fears, happiness, excitement, and everything in between. I love photography for all of those reasons. Not just the photos where everyone is sitting perfectly looking at the camera saying cheese, but the ones that show real life.

My wish for everyone is to have a family picture taken, and have it done often. Don't postpone because "Timmy" broke his arm and is in a cast, or Mom thinks she needs to lose 10 pounds, or Dad doesn't have a decent thing to wear, it doesn't matter. All of that is life. Its what happens to us on a daily basis.  And its what makes YOUR life YOURS.

Photographs are an important part of memories, of your legacy, of your family's history. A photograph isn't just a piece of paper, its a time machine, its a story, its a life.


Part of my resolution was to do more with my photography. With so much importance behind it, I want to share it. Not just with my clients as part of my business, but beyond that. I want to do something special for me, and something special for someone else.  I have been searching for months to figure out what exactly that was for me. I have been so blessed in this life. My children are healthy and happy, my husband has a good job, we have a nice roof over our head, we can afford to buy groceries each week, and I am doing something with my life that I love. I wanted to share a part of me with someone.  I found this beautiful organization, it was started in Canada and has branched out to world wide. Its called the Maple Leaf Mission, and I applied last night to be a part of it. They assist families who would otherwise not have any family photos, and they are the ones who need it the most. I encourage you all to visit the website, its a powerful message. Photos capture time for when tomorrow doesn't come.

I will not be compensated for any work I do with the organization, which is what I wanted. There are some out there that do, but there are fees then that are charged and passed on to the families.  I don't want someone who is battling cancer and the cost of all the medical bills to have to come up with the money to get those precious photos that will eventually last beyond them here on earth.  It will be an honor for me to share my gift with them.
I encourage you all to share this website with your friends and family, get the people in need registered, in any state on any continent.

I will keep you all posted on my journey.

New Year, New Stuff, New Resolutions

Every January comes around and forces us all to reflect.  Reflect on life, our jobs, our families, and what is important. I'm not sure why come March everyone (myself included) forgets all of these important things and gotten back into the "same-old, same-old" that causes us again the following year, in January, to try again.  I suppose its not that I forget what is important, nor do I ignore it, but life just has a way of GETTING IN THE WAY!  But....NOT THIS YEAR.  I have started a few new projects and have been looking into adding a few more to start off continuing what is important. Life and family. 

One of my new projects is I joined a "52 week Challenge."  For everyone outside of the photography world, it pushes you to try 52 new things, ordinary and extraordinary, all with your camera and capturing more of life that otherwise might have been ignored.  Its a fun way to share "what is me" and my quirky self with all of you and makes me reflect on more of the smaller things.  The first week photo(s) are for "RESOLUTIONS"  They want me to pick just one photo that sums up all my resolutions? I am new in business, I have 2 small children, I haven't showered in 5 years with out a little knock on the glass door saying "MOMMY!!!" and I have to pick just one? Maybe a panoramic photo of my house would do some justice, but there is no way I can pick just one!

The first one, I am picking for my children.  I have wonderful children, they make my heart swell every time I look into those beautiful eyes of theirs, (totally having a mommy moment over here tearing up thinking about how much I love them) and I love how much they love each other. So number ONE is "DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF!"

Here is my little princess....ON THE COUNTER TOP!!!

Can you see out that window?? Ok, good, because I can't either!!
Having two little ones, who are home with me all day, seem to have a way with causing trouble and making messes! Our house has seen better organized days, not that everything is totally discombobulated, well, maybe a little.  I know where everything is - its on the counter top, the floor, my desk, my dresser, my other desk, or this pile over here that I swear has grown eyes and is currently starring at me.

I am totally ashamed to show this, but here is my current work space, that has become a catchall for everything Mommy associated, along with my props, lighting, and things on my "to do" list.  This is real. It doesn't get any more real than this. This is resolution number TWO - GET ORGANIZED....AGAIN.  This only happened maybe the last 3 months of last year - I acquired new equipment, got super busy with work, super busy with the holidays and volia....general DISASTER!! (And again, I REALLY DO know where everything is, thankfully I have a really good memory, so nothing is lost or misplaced, and I know where I "set" everything, its just nothing is in its home!)

 And yes, those are VHS tapes sitting on my floor.

This is the rest of my dinning room converted into my main level office (I'm thankful to say at least the upstairs office is well organized, but it doesn't get used nearly as often.)

And finally, my desktop. I have all the most very important items on my desk as you will see... I have my video camera, my point and shoot camera, my phone, my Pepsi and the current information I am currently compiling for my taxes...but then we also have reindeer food, rubber band bracelets that are stamped with monkeys, a shot glass (looking at this I wish it were for drinking, but it holds the jewelry I strip off while working) and then next to the shot glass I have a Disney "Prep and Landing" ornament that needs to get fixed, and many other unneeded items!  Next photo you see of this desk - it will be perfectly organized, and beautiful.

Final resolution, number THREE!
My last and final resolution is to spend more time on the part of Photography that I enjoy while benefiting my business at the same time.  More for fun.  More for practice.  Find a way to donate my time as a photographer. Market, market, market.  Read more. Practice more. Read more. Practice more. Shadow someone local. Read more. Practice more. Share my gift (more exciting information coming soon on that!)

I'm looking forward to this year. I'm excited for the new things on the horizon, for changes and for organization. My goal is to get less gray hair this year than I did last year! Ha! Here is to wishing a wonderful, plentiful and successful 2012 to all!!

A new bundle to celebrate!

This beautiful bundle was born in October, and the day I went to do the shoot, the weather was GORGEOUS - and we were able to even get outside! She slept like a champ, and was just sweet as could be! She was so little, much smaller than either of my babes, I just loved getting to cuddle her and enjoyed my few hours loving on her and capturing everything that made her so sweet!