Week 4 – “Soothing Repetition”

My oldest was in her very first ever Spelling Bee this week.  She has been studying for weeks and was doing really well.  I have to say though…picture yourself as a fourth grader in a room full of fellow students and nervous parents, not to mention the 5 judges over to one side, and try to spell a word.  It was crazy!  She manage to get through 2 rounds and then got stumped on the third round with the word, “recommend”.  She thought it was two “c’s”.  She was terribly upset at herself and was crying, but I was super proud of her!  It takes a lot of guts to get up there and try something like that.  I was sweating just watching the whole thing go down.  So, here is a picture of her doing her thang! 

I realize the “shades of gray” thing doesn’t really go, but whatever…it’s going to have to work for this week.

Week 3 – “Shades of Gray”

Color vs B/W?  What do you think?

That’s where you come in.  Which of the following is the most appealing offer to you?

1. 25% off the session fee
2. a free 11 X 14 when you book
3. a free accordian book when you book

Or, if you have a better idea, let me know that too.  Please leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Thanks.

I’m entering another photo contest.  This is my entry for the “I HEART FACES” contest.  This week is all about “KISSES”. 

I love this picture.  These are my 3 precious children, showing their love for each other. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Kiss that someone precious in your life! 

I’m so excited to have launched my new blog.  Although it is not yet completed, I’m blown away at the versatility and numerous options I can create.  I still have my website up and running, but more and more I’m contemplating the merging of the two worlds.  Blog = Website, Website = Blog.  

I understand that everyone has an opinion on the matter.  Some feel that a website is like a portfolio so to speak.  It shows off your work in a very professional manner and gives information to the consumer upon request.  The blog is more for the photographer to show off their personality and style, in a very relaxed and fun way.  It allows the client and all of those surfing the net to keep up with the photographer and get to know them on a more personal level. 

So……because I can see both sides, I’m having a very difficult time deciding which direction I want to go.  Honestly, the idea of having a “one-stop-shop” totally appeals to me.  I would love to have just ONE address.  It just seems so much more functional and easy to have them merge. 

hmmmm?  thoughts?

I was also able to meet my good friend Kristen there in Michigan. We had both decided to attend the workshop and had worked it out to share a room. It was great catching up with her and sharing photo tips and tricks.

As for the workshop, Amy got some unexpected news about her husband, David early Sunday morning. Apparently, David, while on a business trip to San Francisco, was goofing off with some friend and hit his head. He went to sleep and while at the conference the next day (sunday morning) had a seizure. Sunday night, all of the workshop attendees were gathered together for a mixer. Amy explained the situation, but was still hoping to go on with the workshop. Bless her heart, you could see the worry on her face. I got to spend a few minutes talking with her and of course LOVED her from the start!

It was about an hour later that she received the news that the doctors had found a mass on David’s brain. He appeared to have a slow-growing tumor that had been growing for 2-3 years. It was actually a blessing from the Lord that he hit his head and was taken to the hospital to run test. Who knows when or if they would have found the tumor if not for that seizure.

So, there we were, drink in hand, receiving the awful news. We all knew there was only one place she needed to be and that was in San Francisco with her husband. We all decided to meet the next morning to discuss details, but the workshop we knew would be cancelled.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed…we all were…but, we all knew that what Amy and David were experiencing was much worse.

As of right now, David has been flown to Minnesota to the Mayo clinic to receive treatment and determine the next possible steps in his recovery. Please join me in prayer for this sweet couple. If you would like to continue to follow their journey you can go to Amy blog or David blog and read all about it.

Of course, naptime had to be postponed for a few minutes so that I could have a model. Andy, normally hates to have his picture taken, but today after seeing how excited I was, he humored me.

We did a quick little mini shoot outside in the front yard. Nothing too fancy, just something to scratch the itch. I wish I could take a picture of what my camera looks like with my new lens….it’s so flippin’ sweet! I guess you’ll just have to see at your shoot!