{forgiving}

I am trying to stop beating myself up over my epic failure in blogging.

 

But, FB keeps me hopping.

 

As does my email account.

 

And, my incoming texts.

 

And, voice mails.

 

Return calls.

 

I am waving the white flag.

 

I have succumbed to blogging here as I can. 

 

So, here goes....

 

I will start back with this lovely

 

 

such a beauty!

{#1 Question}

after a session is booked, is what to wear?

 

of course, when we have our family portraits taken,

it's my #1 question as well as it can add so much to a session!

 

But, it doesn't have to break the bank.  Most of the

items below were puchased at Gap and Old Navy....

 

a few ideas....for upcoming spring sessions....

 

 

{Weddings}

I just have room left on the 2013 calendar for a few....

 

 

{I am back}

I did not make resolutions for 2013.

 

Did you??

 

Just curious.

 

But, I am going to earnestly try to blog.

 

I had great intentions then, a beyond crazy-busy

fall season took over and FB became my fast friend. 

 

But, I'm going to put in much effort here this year.

 

 

 

{make it personal}

I am not a real big fan of a lot of props, I prefer

timeless simplicity over any thing.

 

BUT.

 

You can add subtle touches to make a session much

more personal and mean SO much more. 

 

For instance, tonight, I placed my dear, sweet

Grandpa's quilt in our wagon.

 

 

 

So now, everytime I look at these

pictures, my heart will also smile when

I catch a glimpse of that quilt that reminds me

so much of him.  So, always feel free to

bring any of those sentiments along for a session. 

 

It will make the portraits even more special

for you and your family!  

{our farewell to summer}

I am always lacking in the department of photographying

the boys.  Sad, but true.  I carry a camera so often that it becomes

very easy for me to keep it zipped up when not on a shoot.

 

So tonight, I focused on them and a new location I carved

out here on the farm this weekend that has YUMMY lighting!  

 

 

 

 

 

Although, I snuck a couple of sessions in during the last two weeks

- tomorrow officially begins my fall calendar. My crazy, busy

fall calendar. :)   I have edited so many sessions/weddings over

the past week {that I am resizing and loading and organizing

into the website for viewing}, prepared new locations here at

the farm {honestly, I can barely move and am so sunburend
as it was me in the pasture mowing paths and areas for five+ hours yesterday}, new branding & packaging, , the wrap up of the new studio, readjusting  the family to back to school life, prepping for the new season, tweaking the workflow to be more efficient and provide  better customer service, etc., etc, and trust me, etc.;} 
 
I am excited for all of the new details

I will be implementing! In addition to all of the above, I have

hired an assistant, Sheila, that is helping me more than I can ever say.But, she is much more than an "assistant" as she is also my dear

sister-in-law. She has been such a blessing! For now, she is handling most of the invoicing and paperwork along with some client contacts, but will be phasing in much more as we progress into the calendar. So where I would love to be behind the camera 24/7 and because she is AMAZING business wise, it has been a perfect match!

  

"for amber waves of grain, for purple mountains majesty..."

No words are needed.

We will be praying for all of you through this deployment. 

{love playing with rings...}

{love}

this little guy.

and, the camera and software for 2012. 

{it's a new year!}

Well, this is suppose to be my "official" time off to recoop from a crazy, busy, blessed

2011, revamp ideas and paperwork for the new year, get that much anticipated {at least

by ME} blog/website up, finish lingering projects, and decide where I want to go

with all of this in 2012....for you.   

BUT, instead, I worked up to Christmas {like always}, had to go out of town
{well, out of the state actually} for medical reasons for my husband, continued

to wrap things up and,  today, instead of being inspired by all that is "out there"

for the new year........I've been cleaning and organizing and cleaning my

office so I can do all of the above. ha!

It became a disgraceful catch-all for all things business and Christmas related 

over the past two months.  But, it is now ready to go!  And, I am ready to go! 

I think you will like what I have in store for 2012!    

{the silence lasted MUCH longer than intended}

Obviously, my "hiatus" went much longer than planned here on the blog as I

was busy with updating the website and facebook.  This year, I didn't have

a break in between the busy wedding season and the fall rush.

Thus, my new website is still on hold and I decided to tackle it again after

the new year when this year is all finished and tidied up!  So, I will continue

to update facebook and flood the website with the new galleries.

I will post pertinent information here for the next several weeks and hopefully 

launch the new blog/website as soon into 2012 as I can. 

Stay tuned!  and, I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall

colors we are having despite the craziest summer ever....:)  

{shhhh.....}

You may have noticed that it's been very, very quiet here on the blog. 

There are actually several reasons for that, but, the main reason is a new reveal. 

I have so many wonderful posts to make that I hated to add them here

where they would soon be forgotten.....but, instead opted to wait until they

could make their long-awaited debut on the....

 NEW BLOG/WEBSITE!   

It's been a very long time coming and I never could get enough downtime to

get it completed.  So, what do I do?  Jump in right in the midst of my busy, busy

wedding season.  It wasn't entirely poor planning on my end, but a new 

state of the art template / server that my beloved provider uses.  

{they have THE best customer service ever...thus I waited}   

So, stay tuned.  I'm getting very, very close! 

 I will leave you with this.  What I wouldn't give to be

on that beach again for a few days.....

But, for now, I have to get back to editing! :)

{can a little boy.....}

 be beautiful??

Definitely!!

{back-tracking}

I'm going to attempt to catch my blog up!

I think I will try reverse order.  ;) 

{L.O.V.E}

Tonight was so special!  

First, I got to spend the evening with some sweet friends.  

And, while having so much fun with them.....got some amazing shots.  

This is their "engagement" pictures.......well, sixteen years later. :)

They will be renewing their vows next month and we wanted to take 

some of just the two of them to celebrate that.  It was so fun to watch

them together and a testament that the spark can still be there....years later.     

Since I typically shoot on the end of the spectrum when it is all beginning,

it was so refreshing to capture this as the years have passed. 

{a really good thing}

The immense rain that wrecked total havoc on my schedule in the

month of April, well, it did one really good thing........

it refilled our pond! 

So....I finally got to use the boat I found last year. 

More to come from this session! 

And, I am determined to keep up with this blog........

See you soon!

{happy mother's day!}

I hope everyone had a very special day today!  It is one of my most

favorite days of the year........although around here, pretty much every day

is Mother's Day.  VERY thankful for two of my greatest blessings!!  

{a royal affair}

I can't help myself.

I watched his parents as a little girl 30 years ago.

There is no way I can miss the big event.

I have a feeling I won't mind that alarm going off at 4 am.

Hoping tomorrow is the beginning of a very happily ever after! 

{almost blown away}

I told this precious couple that prior to shooting their Dallas wedding, I would be increasing

my life insurance policy.   This was Round 2 for engagements.  Our initial session got stormed out about 30+ minutes into it and when they came home for Christmas, I was sick. 

And, yesterday, although I made the call to move it up earlier because of the chance of rain {we were only in a mild risk for severe weather}....a huge rotating funnel snuck up on us in a big way.   Total traffic gridlock.  As cars upon cars were trying to make it to the interstate to go south away from the wall cloud...it truly felt like a movie.  One no one cared to attend.     Thankfully all in our area were safe.  And, praying for those that were hit today by that same storm system and those still in line for it.

Needless to say, I'm thinking Michael and Casey will always have a story to tell about their

session{s}.  Now we need it to dry up in a big way for bridals that are set for Friday.   And, of course

the big day in August!!  

Love you guys!  

{Miss Photogenic}

Congratulations sweet Victoria! 

Both Miss Photogenic and Crowd Pleaser in her age division.

Very proud of you!!!