Jonathan, good luck with your Senior year.  I wish you all the best in your exciting future ahead!

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!

Anyway, she just recently posted about a photo contest for “favorite picture of 2008″ on her blog. I have never entered a contest before, but I thought, what the heck…I’ll try it. I went through a ton of pics before choosing, but I settled on the above pic of a little girl I know. She’s just the cutest thing, and I love the innocence that is captured in this photo. Her eyes say so much, and I’ve loved this picture from the very start. The winner will be announced on her blog on Jan. 9th. I am looking forward to see who will win.

Tell me what you think of my choice and maybe what has been your favorite pic of 2008!

I had a fabulous time with The Pickles! A weekend of beautiful scenery, hiking through the Aspen trees, boating on Shadow Mountain Lake, great food, shopping, movies, and lots and lots of talking!!!

I head out tonight around 6pm with all the girls! We will be staying in a friends cabin and enjoying some girl time all weekend long. I’ll be bringing my camera, of course. The mountain colors are changing and it is a sight to behold.

As for stuff around the house. My son is well on his way to being fully, yes….fully potty trained. I’m so excited! What is it about seeing those little cheeks in cute Spiderman undies! I just love to squeeze em’!

The girls are off track as of yesterday, so I’ll have to find some fun things to do for the next 3 weeks to keep them occupied. Peyton’s birthday is just around the corner so you know I’ll be on that real soon. Actually, I already am on it. Designed and ordered the invites and made each girl attending her own press ID badge. So cute!

Next week is a busy week. I have lunch plans with a girlfriend of mine from middle school. She just had baby, and she has agreed to let me practice some newborn photo shoot ideas on her sweet little one. I’m really excited to catch up with her and meet both of her sweet girls.

Between that, two Brownie meetings, Bible study, and a follow-up Mary Kay purchase appointment I will be meeting another friend of mine to look at and learn how her studio lighting equipment works. She is a fabulous photographer that inspires me in so many ways! She is moving to NY in the late fall and is leaving behind a lot of her equipment. She has generously offered to hook me up with some stuff. I’m so excited to finally learn how to use and put together a little studio area in my house. Thanks so much K! I love ya girl!