Saturday, September 29, 2007

Magic pebbles (and a very helpful "intern")

I've often joked that perhaps I need an intern to make my turnaround on proofing go a bit quicker, or someone to help me out during sessions by either holding my reflector, my flash, or--to really dream--schlep my stuff. Yep, I bet I'm going to wake up tomorrow morning to a bunch of resumes from eager college students! *wink*

But seriously, I did have a friend of a friend come along tonight so she could observe a session, and while I didn't ask her to schlep my stuff, she came up with a brilliant idea of a magic pebble to help re-engage a done-with-pictures 3 year old. So much for me teaching her a thing or two. :)

None of these are magic pebble moments, but still, I've got to love 3 year olds. I don't think I've ever met one without personality, but this one? She just oozes it on film, doesn't she? (And she happily made me and my "intern" work for every moment :). And the 7 year old? We didn't need any pebbles for him; just lots of conversation about his best friend Gertrude. *wink*





Monday, September 24, 2007

The 38th anniversary gift...

After photographing this couple and their children and children-in-law (and one grandchild, who has been in front of my lens a lot lately!) for their anniversary, I decided to see what the traditional gift is for a 38th anniversary, and can you believe that once you hit your 20th anniversary, they only list gifts every 5 years? Perhaps that's a testament to the modern marriage and the high divorce rate--and maybe a couple of disillusioned list makers who thought, "Ah forget it! No one makes it past 20 anymore."

So, if I am allowed to start filling in a gap between anniversary years 35 to 40, I now present to you my just-invented 38th anniversary gift: family portraits! I also present to you a couple that still laughs when they remember their early years, and who surrounds themselves with beautiful and devoted children.

My warmest congratulations on your 38th year of marriage! No doubt, you'll be together to get the good stuff when you celebrate your 50th!



Sunday, September 23, 2007

Boys, boys, boys...

Three of 'em to be exact. One a leader, one a clown, and one a pirate (and I bet you can guess who is who from the pictures below). All of them loving football (I seem to be getting a lot of football families lately!), and oh yeah, I wouldn't mess with any of them during recess either--those boys have got some muscles!








Saturday, September 22, 2007

Fighting Irish (and sleep)

It's amazing what 84 days will do when you're a baby. I met this little guy that many days ago to photograph him for his baby announcements. Born two months prematurely, he was still so delicate, tiny and fragile. But now, look at him! Not only is he perfectly filled out, but he's perfectly adorable, too.

He's going to be a Fighting Irish fan (unless his mom gets her say ;); and along with it has come a great knack for fighting sleep, too. I'm pretty sure his mom was ready for a nap once we wrapped another long session, but I hope that our efforts will be worth it! In the very least, his "3" month portrait won't be one of him crying. ;)



Sunday, September 16, 2007

Say "cheese!"

Hours later, I have to laugh. Honestly, I was a little scared before this session this morning. I was out of half and half for my coffee, so I had a tiny, unsatisfying cup with 1% milk. It was the first day of really cold weather, and honestly, I'm just not a cold weather girl. Four kids. Three of them three or younger. One of them sick. And one of them very intent on saying, "cheese!" everytime I pointed my lens at him. Generally, a recipe for a portrait disaster, especially considering my non-caffeinated state. But within minutes, I was waking up, the weather was warming up, and I was playfully scolding him each time he said "cheese!" and all of us were then collapsing into fits of giggles with his unrelentlessness.

Mornings like this are what make me feel good, even without a decent cup of coffee to start my morning.









Saturday, September 15, 2007

Special delivery

Every woman loves hearing a good delivery story. So when my maternity client from just two weeks ago called me up this week and said, "We had our baby!" I must admit I was a little surprised to be hearing from her so soon since she wasn't due until the very end of September. So of course, I inquired about how her delivery went, expecting to hear the textbook, "blah, blah, blah... it was fine after the epidural." Instead, her story began with her water breaking three weeks early right after midnight with her husband in Florida on a business trip and no flight home until 8 in the morning. As if that weren't bad enough, she arrives at the hospital shortly after midnight to discover her baby is breech and she'll require an unexpected c-section. So her doctor gives her terbulatine to stop her contractions, which works for the first dose, but not the second. And she also gets a dose of a pain killer, which she then has an allergic reaction to. Oh, and the poor thing has to throw up while she's getting her c-section while being strapped down to the table. Undoubtedly, she's going to hands-down win labor horror story that women are fond of swapping among each other after they've given birth. :)

Her delivery, however, has a happy ending. Her husband did arrive in time to see his daughter being born, and Miss M was born healthy and happy--and as you can see, just perfectly beautiful, too.

My warmest congratulations!





Sunday, September 9, 2007

Intensely bittersweet

The main thing I've discovered about motherhood is its intense bittersweetness. It's beyond amazing to watch your kids grow up, yet also incredibly depressing--not necessarily because it signifies your own aging, but because you are simply left wondering where the time has gone.

They aren't my own kids, but she was the flower girl in my wedding. Four years old, and as cute as a button. She drew perhaps as much attention as her father did. (I'm totally kidding you, P! :) He was 2 weeks old. Two weeks! And now look at them. Not quite all the way grown up, but man, they sure are close enough.

I am not only left wondering where the time has gone, but how much beauty can be packed inside two kids not only on the outside, but also on the inside...











Are you ready for some football?

I'm not sure if this beautiful family planned their session around the NFL calendar, but their mock football game sure was a great way to kick off the '07 season, and a perfect idea for some fun, candid family photos.

Well, except the Bears jerseys. :)


20x24 collage

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Living on vacation

This morning's session was a bit of a hike for me, but well worth it to see the beginnings of this family's home high on top of a mountain with a spectacular view. They're renovating an old hunting cabin, and adding many modern amenities onto it, but still keeping the integrity of the original structure. On their property, they also have some beautiful little outhouses (no, not the bathroom kind--at least I don't think they are) and this neat pavillion with a fireplace, picnic tables and a hammock. Truly, they're going to be living on vacation once their home is complete.

Next time, I might not leave. *wink*





Wednesday, September 5, 2007

New house, new baby

How sweet to finally meet our new and adorable nephew! He lives in Virginia, and Labor Day was the first day we were able to go down and meet him. He was a teeny, tiny baby at birth, so even though he's now a month old, he still looks a lot like a newborn.

Of course I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures of him and his family. Congratulations, guys! Welcome, little Henry!





Sunday, September 2, 2007

Surname share

Although we're not even distantly related, these kids and I share my maiden name, which is definitely not common 'round these parts. Now I may be a bit biased, but based upon my side of the family's offspring, and then looking at these two, I think there may be something that automatically makes one beyond adorable when given our surname.

Well, except for my brother. I think he's missing that gene.
(Just kidding, Chris! ;)



Saturday, September 1, 2007

Fairy wings, lollipop, bubbles & a Pancake

That pretty much sums it up. Well, other than Pancake is a bear. A pink, flat, loved-to-death bear. Who gets used as a tissue rather regularly, I think.

But then again, that's what flat, pink, loved-to-death bears are for.











P.S. L, thanks for the trust.

Horse & buggy

I've so enjoyed shooting at this location this summer, but it was only yesterday that I've ever seen horses on the property. It was to my absolute delight to find them not only friendly, but as interested in these kids as the kids were in them. And oh yeah, Miss H--future entomologist, I tell you. I don't think I've ever seen a little girl so interested in bugs, and much to my horror, snakes! *shiver* I've been freaked out all summer that I'd come across one while on a session and run and scream like a little girl (I'm sure that would bring on the smiles!) and here little Miss H was trying to find them. I was quite glad she didn't succeed. ;)