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One more makes four.
Posted on January 30, 2010
A family grows a little at a time…
Baby number one was a beautiful little girl. She is so smart! And by that I mean she had just turned four and she could fill in the missing numbers as I counted to 20. That was a little counting game we played as I followed her around the yard. 
Here she looks a *little* older than four. It wasn’t part of my master plan. There she was, in this adorable dress, and all I said was “go ahead, climb up there and get comfortable.” We were at Grandma’s house and she was a little concerned that the old red chair wasn’t picture worthy. I saw in it great potential on that very cold day. It was perfect.
I love watching parents interact with their kids. The games on this day included hide-n-seek, a who-blinks-last game, and this toss-the-kid fun. I’ve only done this a few times and it always amazes me how high they are in the final image! It’s like dad helping his angel fly.
Baby number two arrived a few weeks early. So even at a few weeks old, she was still about the size of a newborn. I love that she stared at me. Maybe it was the big camera that she was trying to figure out.
Capturing the hands and feet and adorable little parts is always part of a baby session for me. I love how moms fingers spread to display her new baby’s little hand. I had never captured a baby’s hand in this way before. It is always rewarding to capture something new.
In honor of the half inch of ice on my patio, here is one last image. I love how sweet they look together. Two sisters who will spend a lifetime together.
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Open House: The details
Posted on January 27, 2010
First of all, thank you to all who came out, in the rain, to be part of my Open House! Over 200 of you stopped by to check out the new studio. There was an official Ribbon Cutting with the Elizabethtown-White Lake Chamber of Commerce around 4:30pm.
In the end, we awarded 116 door prizes and 100 goody bags. It was amazing to see the community support from so many local businesses who donated those fantastic door prizes.
Here are a few peeks inside the studio…
Dowless’ Catering helped us complete our vision for the food. We had something very specific in mind…food-tinis! For desert we wanted only mini cupcakes. Sandra’s Cake Creations was given free reign to use her creative skills to make something we could ooow and ahhh about. 
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All the kids.
Posted on January 24, 2010
How many can you handle? One? Two? Three? How about four? That’s what I kept thinking when I met the Potter family. Maybe since I’m dealing with a colic pron baby, I thought that a family of this size was impossible. Mrs. Potter made it seem so easy. They had the whole complicated family deal all figured out. I was very impressed with how well the older two knew how to deal with the younger two. How well mannered they ALL were. It was my little peep into the world of today’s larger family. Where most of us stop at one or two, this family has welcomed four. WOW! I was just amazed. That is a lot of love to share, and a lot of patience. It was inspiring to see a real family being ‘real.’
To begin our consultation, Mrs. Potter forewarned me of the one that would present the greatest challenge. Baby number three. She was spirited and engaging. She required an extra effort. Nothing traditional would have worked for her. The game plan was to find something for her to do. And so we began.
Baby number four may have been the easiest of the bunch. Just smile. That’s all I had to do. Just smile.
Babe number two was the only boy. This non-traditional portrait of him was my favorite. Boys will be boys and having all boys myself, I really appreciate how fun-loving they seem to be. Here he is with a pet that he adores. Here he has a genuine smile and an affection he shows without inhibition. Beautiful to say the least.
The eldest, a bright young girl, was willing to go anywhere on the family property. Mom thought they had little to work with, yet there sat this rustic pile of firewood that was just slightly overgrown. Perfect for a young girl on the brink of blossoming. She is picture perfect.
Our goal was to capture a group portrait of the children. To follow are two. I love the family tree symbolism here, while they are at an age where it is still possible to let them climb into this tree.
Choice number two, the winner, shows the four beautiful children in front of grandma’s home. The 100+ year old home that was moved here once upon a time. A home where countless memories where made over many generations. A home where family is truly important. A plantation homestead that has memories with great importance. I love being able to capture moments like these through an on-location family portrait. A portrait with many stories to tell.
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Dreams do come true.
Posted on January 19, 2010
Something important is about to happen. There is a swell building.
Since October 2009, the new studio has been slowly assembled one piece at a time. In the next 24 hours, the final few prints will arrive and the last of the frames will be hung. Goody Bags will be assembled and the last of the door prizes will be gathered. All the little details will be in place to make things ready for Open House. I will finally be official. It’s been a long time coming.
About 2 years ago, I stood in my bathroom, staring at an image of my first son that I’d taken with an old film camera when he was about 4 months old. It’s my favorite of him as a baby. He’s lying on my bed, chewing his little fist. I used only the natural light available to capture that beautiful moment. That image is technically perfect. I distinctly remember that moment. How I studied that image as my mind filled with all the new memories of him that had been made since that image had been taken. How I felt such joy when I looked at that image and how I knew every mother must have that feeling. It was that moment when I decided that this dream I’d had for over 15 years was indeed possible.
And now it has all come together.
If ever you’ve wondered if dreams really do come true, then come visit me. I’m living proof. Dream big. Be passionate about what you desire. And work very, very hard. A sprinkle of patience helps too. It is possible. It is very possible.
Open House will be Jan. 21st from 4-7pm. Come celebrate with me!
Please visit the Open House page on the main menu for all the juicy details. Thank you!
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The beautiful bride.
Posted on January 16, 2010
There is something about a women in a wedding dress that is always beautiful. No matter her height, or weight, hair or skin color. She is at her best. Confident and well groomed down to the last detail. I’ve never seen a bride that wasn’t beautiful. As the photographer, I’m one of the very few who gets to see the bride in her wedding dress before the actual ceremony. It’s like a special secret I’m required to keep. So I’m always patiently waiting for the wedding day to come and go so I can post the bridal images.
This particular bride had a lovely January wedding. Our bridal session, like most of the rest, took place outdoors a few months before. She choose two locations that were simple, yet interesting. As she stepped out of the car, I could feel her excitement and cautiousness. It brought back so many memories. All of us who’ve worn that beautiful expensive gown have a memory of how it felt to finally wear it outside of the store. It’s a big deal.
Having an outdoor session adds a little to your story. Can you tell the season here? A little green mixed with a few fallen leaves to create a nice pattern on the ground beneath her.
It was an overcast day with a few rain clouds drifting closer. The gray-blue sky was a beautiful back drop. She stood out from the background. Mother nature was kind enough to throw in a little breeze to lift her hair back from her face. Perfect.
Come visit me at my booth this weekend at the LuMil Bridal Show show Sunday, Jan. 17th from 2-5pm!
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A little nap.
Posted on January 12, 2010
Mr. Cutie Pie here was not a happy camper when I arrived for our session. Within a few minutes he had melted into tears. Poor little thing. He was hungry and sleepy. Like always, young children require me to have a certain amount of patience. So I suggested we let him nap. Yes, during our session. Mama fed him and took him inside for a little cat nap. Boy what a difference it made.
That colorful shirt worked out great in both color and black and white prints.
This expression is so cute.
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They always grow up.
Posted on January 5, 2010
My how time does fly. This handsome fella was once a little kid. He was a student of mine many, many years ago when I taught Art at a local elementary school. The nice smile is the same, the interesting eyes are the same, but the body now outweighs me. He’s a full fledged football player in high school. He just makes me feel old…and small. But what a joy to see that he’s doing well. They always grow up.
Middle brother here was determined not to smile for me. I won. I love this genuine laugh expression. I love that he looked down in a shy sort of way. This is a great example of “authentic.” The close up to follow was also one of my favorites of him. No smile. All eyes.
Little sister has all the personality! Bold stripes. Easy nature. Full of laughs! This spot of green was hard to find this time of year, but I have a sixth sense when it comes to finding little niches in a given location. She reminds me of all the reasons younger kids are fun to be around. They are hopeful, enthusiastic, fun spirited, and are mostly not yet aware of the realities of life. It’s the age of ‘bliss.’ Some days I wish I could un-grow-up myself and go back to that age.
Mom and daughter had to have a few alone, away from the boys. It’s amazing how our offspring take on just enough of our characteristics to connect them to us. Simple little laugh lines, the shape of a chin, or the texture of our hair and the twinkle in our eye, it all comes together to make someone unique, yet so much alike.
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