My Year in Review

Oh. My. Gosh. I literally have no idea where to begin! I have a gazillion things to say! (Is that even a word? Hahaha) I suppose the best place to start is my clients. My clients are amazing, beautiful and loyal. They're fun, creative and oh so sweet! Without them, my business would not be as successful as it is. Not just because they book all of their sessions with me, but they also send their friends and family. My clients respect and appreciate all I do for them. They welcome me into their lives and I become a part of their family. I am there to beautifully capture all of their precious moments and I am truly lucky and blessed to do so. It is such a great honor. So I feel that thanking them from the bottom of my heart is where I should start...so THANK YOU!!!

My models, Trista and Joey, letting me use my creative juices to write a love story with just pictures

I also want to share some of my favorite images over the past year. The first image is not only one of my all time favorites, it was also the most popular image ever posted to my Facebook or website with the most likes and comments of any other photo...and well deserved! Here are some more of my favorites!

Here are some of the cute, squishy newbies I got to work with this year!

And here are some of the sweet, cuddly babies I got to hang out with!

Kids are the most fun to work with! Yup, the top left is my own handsome little boy <3

I work mostly with kids and family so it was hard to narrow them down!

Did I mention how much fun I have at my job? Here are some siblings!

Eventually my kids grow up and graduate and I get to capture that too! In fact, the lower right is my sister Mandy!

Here are some of my couples. Even if it's not an actual engagement, I make sure mommy & daddy always get a shot!

Besides children, families are my favorite to work with! So much love <3

Have I mentioned how much I love working with my beautiful families? I wish I could adopt them all!

I have also began my venture into weddings and got to do 3 this year! Such magic :)

You would laugh if you knew how long it took me to narrow down my favorites into 4-8 per group! I hope I never have to do that again! I love all of my pictures so much! Know that my "favorite" list is a million times longer than that!!! But it's a sweet glimpse into all of the fun things I got to do in 2012! If you can't get enough, you're welcomed to visit my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Lee-Photography/112390968853223) or my website (www.lauraleephotographymaine.com) for more yummy pictures!

Things I Accomplished in 2012

So much has happened in 2012 that I'm afraid that even if I make a detailed list, I would still forget something! But to give you an idea, whether they were small or big accomplishments, here they are:

- I officially settled on a logo and product packaging.

- I gave my website an overhaul and began blogging (obviously hahaha)

- I added weddings to my services...though they are limited to one per month, they are still vital!

- I set a goal to expand my newborn portfolio and added 10+ newbies.

- I hosted my 1st annual Little Black Dress Party and learned a lot from it. The next one will totally ROCK!

- I expanded my product line to include twice the amount of items as last year and there's more to come!

- I began building a great prop supply and even started making some of my own!

- I started offering mini sessions for fall and Christmas.

- I scouted out lots of new locations and found some pretty amazing ones!

- I now offer private instruction and photography workshops to expand the knowledge of others.

- I changed my printing company to one of the best available with great prices and never looked back!

- I upgraded my gallery service to one with more service options and is more user friendly.

- I fell in love with working with children so much that I expanded my children's section to include "themed sessions" that let me and the child's creativity run wild! Everything from superheroes to princesses!

- I teamed up with REM and opened a non-profit organization called the Hope Captured Foundation to offer free professional portraiture to families with young parents or children with a life-threatening or terminal illness and for families who lost all of their pictures in a fire.

- I streamlined and organized my post production process and that allowed me to be able to have an album completed in as little as 24-48 hours! (I know you love me for that!)

- I was a bit too busy to offer lots of contests through Facebook, but I still got to do a few fun ones!

- I updated my portrait contract and deposit policy.

- I started offering gift registries, gift certificates and a referral program.

- I began offering payment by debit/credit right at the actual session!

- I had 214 sessions this year! Whoa...wait...did I just say 214? Yup, sure did! How exciting!?

- I'm sure there's more to this list, but I'm drawing a blank hahaha I think you get the point :)

Things I Hope To Accomplish in 2013

- In 2013 I plan to expand the following portfolios:

     Newborns

     Weddings

     Boudoir

     High School Seniors

- I also plan to build more of a maternity portfolio...that means if you know someone who's prego (even if they aren't due until August) send them my way!

- I began offering themed sessions for children on the basis that "Childhood is magical, therefore, children are." (Ahem...that's my quote.) I hope to do several more this summer so look for the storybooks to come alive! You will just die :)
- I will still offer fall and Christmas mini sessions, but plan to add others like spring, beach, etc.

- I am in the process of hiring a professional hair and make up artist to work with me side by side for things such as boudoir, high school senior girls, trash the dress sessions, etc.

- Update and add finesse to my High School Senior packages and incentive program. I will be looking for several models as usual!

- Expand my Hope Captured Foundation to make room for hiring fellow photographers to join me in this cause as well as bringing on more volunteers and work on major fundraising.

- In a couple weeks, I have a new lens on it's way! My goal is to add several more to my camera bag so don't let me spend all my money on cool props! Keep reminding me of the lenses on my wish list!!!
- I will also be hosting my 2nd Annual Little Black Dress Party aimed for May of 2013.

- I am bound and determined to finally photograph a live birth! It...will...happen! If you or anyone you know would like a beautiful black & white birth story for FREE, please contact me asap! Super serious :)

- My summer and fall are very busy, but during my down times I want to make more time to give private instruction and photography workshops! Teaching is slowly becoming a passion of mine!

- I put some of craftiness to work this year and started making my own props which include banners, tutus, crowns and headbands. I plan to continue this in 2013 and will even have an Etsy shop available to purchase some of the props I make.

-  I plan on finding more ways to wow my current clients and bring new clients in with my "wow" factor!

- I am currently working on a top secret product that I will hopefully be releasing in January or February...the first major wowing of the year! I am so excited I can't take it!

- I am always open to client feedback. I don't bite, I promise! If there is a service or product you would like to see offered, let me know and I will do my very best to make it happen!

- As usual, I plan on scouting out even more beautiful, remote places for your sessions. I am always open to location suggestions as well.

- I'm sure this list will grow over the year, but for now, it's a pretty good start!

Lifestyle Sessions

Lastly, I want to share a personal goal I have for 2013. I plan on entering into the world of Lifestyle Sessions. This is different than a regular session with me. These are in the tradition of every day life and happenings. It's when I capture you in your element like your home or back yard or even at a family trip to the fair or beach. I know my clients are used to be being very laid back and striving for the same in my sessions. I love the look of natural, real emotions and moments. Most of you know "posing" isn't my strong suit (not because I can't do it, but because I don't like how staged it feels). Lifestyle gives me more freedom in natural settings. I want to be able to capture life. The photo below was taken of a little cutie pie at his nana's kitchen for a candid session. There's something amazing about making an every day moment seem extraordinary. It's those moments that touch my heart the most. 

This is Wyatt running around Nana's house in his birthday suit :)

There are a few lifestyle sessions in particular that I want to cross of my list in 2013 and they include:

- A mom baking goodies with her child(ren) in the kitchen...making a mess and having fun! Decorating cookies and then eating them with milk :)

- A family enjoying an afternoon in the snow. Making snow angels, a snowman, having a snowball fight, making a fort, catching snowflakes on their tongues and sledding. Perhaps topping it off with hot cocoa?

- A family or even a couple (husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend) at a county fair...riding rides, playing games, winning prizes and eating cotton candy. How fun and vibrant would that be?!

- A maternity session in your own home! Imagine shots of you and your partner or kids in the nursery, in your living room, prepping for the new baby, cuddled on the couch, laying on your bed, reading books and playing games? A sweet, personal approach to a very important event in your life.

I know some of the ideas I have are out in the public so not only will you have to be comfortable in public situations but also be comfortable with having me as your own personal paparazzi for the session. Because essentially that's what I'll be...quietly following you around with my finger on the trigger waiting to capture all of those little, priceless moments...your quirks and inside jokes...your real laughs and smiles without me forcing them :) If you or anyone you know would be interested in any of my Lifestyle Sessions, please contact me asap! I am absolutely dying to get started on this list!!! You would make my whole year!

Ok, I think that's it! I seem to be rambling, which is typical, but non-the-less...I should be wrapping this up hahaha! A big thank you again to my clients for believing in me and being so kind and loyal! Without you, my dreams wouldn't be a reality. Because of you, I get to do what makes me happy, what I'm passionate about and what I'm great at. I could never express the amount of gratitude I have for that...thank you, thank you, thank you <3

And Then...Something Amazing Happened...

When I woke up this morning, it felt like any other day. Aside from the fact that everyone was posting on Facebook about 12/12/12 and it being a lucky day and all. Not much of a believer in that kind of thing, though, buying a lottery ticket did cross my mind...but I didn't. It's just an ordinary day so why bother?

I must admit that I did start to think something was interesting about 12/12/12 when my 2 year old son was a perfect angel today and snuggled on my lap while I edited 4 client albums! Now I only have one more to catch up on and I'm home free until my busy weekend ahead. Yeah, that was pretty cool. But all in all, it was turning out to be a pretty uneventful day. I secretly wanted this day to be something to remember. I mean, after all, isn't it like a hundred years before this sequence happens again? So, before you know it I was noticing the little things in my day and made them into something special. 

For example: I got way more hugs and kisses today from kiddo than most days. The sun seemed to shine brighter. Kiddo ate all of his peanut butter and fluff sandwich today (even the crust)! There were a TON of mini marshmallows in the cocoa mix that I put in my morning coffee. I booked a newborn session for this Saturday and I will get to incorporate the props I bought yesterday. Kiddo kept his undies on most of the day. I didn't burn dinner and my sweetheart told me he's going to help me buy the lens I want for Christmas. 

And then...something amazing happened...

I got a phone call. It was from Faye at REM. She gave me the official news today that my non-profit organization, the Hope Captured Foundation, has been approved!!! I couldn't believe it! I just screamed and laughed until I cried! I will be attending a meeting Monday afternoon to sign the paperwork and start my first official day! I will get to launch the website I designed and start ordering the cards and pamphlets that I will be distributing all over the state of Maine. I will be creating a list of everything I will need to start accomplishing by next week. I will be posting them from the new blog for the Hope Captured Foundation. I will be looking for donations and volunteers in helping me make my dream become a strong organization that will soar through Maine and start to help families heal...one picture at a time <3

I believe I can now officially say that 12/12/12 is a lucky kind of day! The news couldn't have come at a better time. When I got this phone call I was in the process of editing images from a dear friend of mine. Maribeth and I have been friends since elementary school. For 15 years she has owned the most amazing dog ever...Veda. Veda has been sick for a while with cancer of the bladder. Maribeth had thought long and hard about putting her down for months and recently decided that it would be best for Veda to go peacefully and no longer suffer. I brought them to a park the night before she was laid to rest and captured their last moments together. I cried then and I cried when I edited them and I'm crying now. It was very emotional and I was so honored to be a part of it.

It closely resembled the work I will be doing with my new non-profit organization and it just touched home that the call came while working on these images. I would like to take a moment to share a few of these images...

In a way, I consider Veda to be my first Hope Captured session. It completely solidified everything that I have been hoping, dreaming, praying and working toward my whole life. To be part of something bigger than me. To give something to someone that no words can express. I help people heal through my art and be touched in a way that they can't explain. Today marks the beginning of big, meaningful things to come in my life and in the lives of those I touch. I am ready to leave my mark on this world...

Who wants to help me?

Capturing the Holidays with Your Children

If you have kids, you will probably know what I mean when I say every holiday moment is worth a thousand words! The look on your child's face Christmas morning is probably the greatest feeling ever! (Well, mostly...) Everything about winter and the holidays go great together! You can make something crummy like freezing weather and being snowed in a good thing. It's time to get creative in capturing your children's holiday moments so get out your camera, shove it in your pocket (or if you're like my, sling it over your shoulder) and get to clicking that shutter! To make this holiday fun and creative try doing some of these projects: 

1. Capture your kids playing in the snow. Get them as they make a snowman, build a fort, throw a snowball, catch snowflakes with their tongue, make snow angels or go sledding!

2. When they come in from playing outside make up a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows and a candy cane stirrer! Give them a couple homemade cookies (like decorated gingerbread men) and capture them enjoying every yummy moment!

3. Bundle up together and go for a walk. Take pictures of the snow and icicles. Take pictures of the little details too, like your kid's mittens or snow boots since they'll likely not fit into them next year and it's a great way to preserve this years memories.

4. Do some Christmas crafts with your kids! Nothing brings out the holiday spirit like fun crafts! It gives you chance to slow down and spend quality time with your kids and the chance to capture real laughs, real smiles and some priceless moments :) Here's a great link for some easy, fun projects: http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/christmas/christmas-crafts.html

5. Allow your child to help make Christmas cards or perhaps doodle on the cards you bought! Maybe they can have the task of putting the stamps on or decorating the envelope with stickers? Kids love to be helpful and it's fun! Make an afternoon of it! Perhaps even throw in some gift wrapping and let them add the bow! Don't forget to have the camera out :)

6. Have your child write a letter to Santa! They can decorate the letter and the envelope. Perhaps they can even draw Santa a picture! Not only is is fun to photograph them while they do it, but also photographing the end result...that way it's a permanent memory!

7. Get your kids involved in decorating the house or the tree and make it a tradition if it isn't one already! Capture photos of their chubby little hands hanging ornaments on the tree or hanging their stocking. Take a picture of daddy holding them up to put the star on the top. If the moment arises where they toss a handful of tinsel in the air...instead of getting mad...take a picture and join in :)

8. Capture the magical moments of Christmas Eve! Get pictures of the kids putting out milk and cookies and leaving a note for Santa, or sitting by the Christmas tree in their adorable pj's waiting for him to arrive, or while mommy and daddy tuck the kids in and read a Christmas story. That's the real magic :)

9. The very first moments of Christmas morning! Need I say more? Capture the face I was talking about...the priceless face they get when they first see Santa's present and all of their gifts, their reaction as they open their first toy and play with it, the look of disgust as they get clothes (or worse...socks!) and even the pile of toys they now need to make room for in their bedroom! It's also the perfect opportunity to capture pictures of them perhaps helping mom and dad put the toys together that "need some assembly".

10. One of my favorite things to capture is my child helping cook dinner and Christmas shouldn't be any different! I know it can be a hectic time, but slow down and give your child the chance to help (if they aren't glued to their new toys). Take shots of them stirring the batter, licking the spoon, adding too much seasoning or sneaking nibbles here and there of the yummy goodies!

Now there are a ton of other things you can do with your child over the holidays, but hopefully this will give you a head start on the creative aspect! It's the simple details and moments that sometimes mean the most and say the most. I challenge you all to capture at least one amazing moment this holiday season and at the end of the year I will have you all post them to my business page on Facebook and I will choose my favorite image! The winner will receive a surprise gift! You won't want to miss out....not just on this, but on the magic and wonder of your children's Christmas experience this year! I hope this inspires you and you all have a very safe and merry holiday season :)

Feel free to comment below to share with us your own ideas for capturing the joys this holiday season...the more ideas, the merrier! And don't forget to share this to get the word out about the little contest :)

When a Dream Becomes a Reality

I have always been a strong believer of making lemonade with the lemons that life hands you. Just add a little sugar and water to sweeten it up! Combine that with the fact that I believe everything in life happens for a reason and you get one bubbly, optimistic person that you just love to hate haha...yeah, that's me :) It just drops my jaw when I look back at what may have seemed like an insignificant decision at the time but ended up changing the path of my life so drastically. 

One of the first major life-changing choices came to be at the age of 17. That morning I chose to continue driving my car even though I knew I was extremely tired. That decision led to an accident that claimed the life of my only brother and almost my own. It still boggles me how I even made it through the first few years. But I did, and I owe it all to Hospice. Dale Marie Clark welcomed me with open arms and saved my life. I got involved with Hospice over the years by eventually going through their training program to become a co-facilitating counselor at Hope's Place for Grieving Children. 

It was then I found my calling...working with children. I then broadened my horizon and became a Behavioral Health Professional and specialized in working with children diagnosed with autism. These families were strong and amazing. They welcomed me as one of their own children and I spent years learning more than I could ever put into words. And though I was happy doing what I was doing, I felt like something was missing.

Then another fateful twist in life landed me in the arms of the man of my dreams. I had had my eyes set on the Air Force. I took the ASVAB and scored a 92. Needless to say, they wanted me as bad as I wanted in. But the day I was to be shipped off, my recruiter called to tell me that he thought he could have squeezed me through admissions through a loop hole, but in the end I couldn't go. It turns out that not having a thyroid and taking replacement medication puts me as a medical liability. As much as I was devastated, I quickly realized the reasoning behind fate when I met the love of my life later that same day. Though we've had our ins and outs, 8 years later we are together and happy and created the most amazing son ever! Vincent was a major turning point for the both of us!

I know so many of you have heard the same ol' story of how a women became a mother and got an "fancy" camera and then suddenly they have their own photography business. Soooo, yeah, that's me. I admit, I have always been obsessed with landscape photography and as the daughter of one of the most amazing photographers I know, it's no wonder...it's in my blood! I had just never thought of photographing people. So along comes Vincent and I gain the courage. I also gained the support of my sweetheart, Dominic, along with friends and family. I slowly built my photography business from the ground up and what started off as a little idea soon became a big deal. After just over 1 year in business, I have over 100 clients and 85% of them have already been to me more than once! Talk about blessed and being more thankful than I could ever express. But, I swear, something was STILL missing!

Then fate gives me one more twist that puts me in the place that I am now...just following a dream. I had seen a "Space for Rent" on the sign outside of a local business for months and decided to stop in one day to inquire. I got no answers. Then another month or so passes and I am with my bestie, Maribeth, who agrees we should give it another try. The quest for the answer brought me to Faye's office at REM (Revitalizing the Energy in Maine). REM is an all volunteer organization serving as an umbrella for community action. It turns out that the sign has been up for practically years and no one has ever bothered to take it down. We had a good laugh and as I looked around the office I saw banners hanging all over the wall. The ones that stood out the most to me were Good Will Hinckley, Hospice and Hope's Place. I have worked or volunteered at these places at some point in my life and here they all were among dozens of other banners. One questions led to another and Faye blew my mind!

She is the granter of dreams! I still can't believe fate led me to the exact office at the exact point in my life that I needed it. I told Faye my dream and she fell in love with it! She immediately set up a meeting with me to further discuss my dream in detail. She fell in love with it even more! She made tons of calls and set up another meeting for me to present my dream to the board of directors of REM. I spent weeks doing in depth research in order to write a detailed business plan (something I wouldn't wish on anyone hahaha) and began building the foundation of my dream. I created a mission statement, website, logo, branding, and strategy for getting the word out to the community about my dream and wanting people to join together to make it a reality.

Am I driving you nuts yet? Hahaha "dream" blah-blah-blah..."dream" blah-blah-blah I promise I'm getting to the point :) I've always loved telling a good story!

So during the weeks of trying to organize everything for the board meeting I also began reaching out to other local businesses that I felt could help my cause the most. The one that has stood out the most is Hospice. My life seems to have made a 360 degree turn back to where I feel my life truly began 13 years ago. Sue Roy at Hospice also fell in love with the idea before I even finished my sentence! It felt great to have my first partner and I am currently in the process of recruiting more! It certainly gave me the confidence to present my business plan and my dream before the REM committee this morning at 8am (and I hadn't even had a cup of coffee yet)! As I presented my plan, myself along with a few others were teary eyed. They welcomed my dream with open arms! In fact, I can expect a final decision and permission to push forward within the next week or two!

Ok...ok...so I think after reading this long blabbery story that you deserve to at least know the name of my dream...

The Hope Captured Foundation is a non-profit organization I founded to offer complimentary portraiture to Maine families experiencing a child or young parent with a life threatening or terminal illness. This will be a chance for the family to get their mind off things by giving them a one of a kind portrait experience that they normally wouldn't be able to afford or even consider while going through life's medical and financial struggles. They would be provided with pictures that will be treasured forever and hopefully play an important role in the healing process. I will also be reaching out to Maine families who lost all of their belongings in a house fire...especially precious family photos. I want to be the one to offer complimentary portrait sessions to these families to help start their family album all over again with the beautiful pictures they deserve. In turn, giving them hope that they can start anew and that with every end there is a beginning. I just want to spread hope and healing through breath taking portraiture.

Now, I'm sure you all have a lot of questions and I will try to quickly release more updates as they come, but in the mean time have a little patience! It will be a couple weeks before the website is up and running and able to accept donations. I will be also maintaining a Facebook page and blog dedicated to Hope Capture's cause. I will be working hard on getting the word out about this new organization and starting a couple fundraising projects. When funds allow me to do so, I will also be looking for volunteers to cover the roles of office assistants, photographer assistants and professional photographers. I know Maine can pull together to support such a worthy cause! And a debt of gratitude for REM for believing in my dream and helping to make it a reality! It means so much that they would be so willing to help start, fund and help me learn to successfully run my foundation!

I am hoping for huge community involvement  not only because it will mean the world to me, but it will mean the world to the families you will be helping. God forbid, that could be my family...or your family...and we all deserve the have our last moments together beautifully captured and documented. We all deserve to have a family album even if we have to start from scratch after years of building it up just to have it burned away. 

PLEASE consider commenting below with anything from advice, feedback, and spiritual response...or to just show your all around support!

Kate & Cory ~ Married

As many of you know, I do weddings sparingly. I limit them to 1 per month and to small ceremonies. I do this because it takes weeks to edit 100-300 images and it takes away time from my family as well as my main passion which is photographing children and families. Of course I still offer to them...because I LOVE to photograph weddings! As a one-woman-show it can be stressful, but when I do cover them, I work extra hard to make sure I do my best and capture the day as my bride and groom envisioned it.

Recently, I had the pleasure of being a part of Kate & Cory's big day. It was simply beautiful! A quaint restaurant in the country on 10-11-12, attended by a small group of friends and family. There were rustic details and soft music. It was casual and beautiful. They made me feel like family! I just wanted to take a moment a share some of my favorite photos.

I want to start off by saying that I do my best to cater to the bride and groom per their requests. One of them was that Kate was not interested in images of her getting ready. Though when I went upstairs to check on her readiness, I saw her younger sister, Hannah, by a window lacing up her dress. The lighting and moment was too perfect to pass up and they ended up being some of my favorite images from that day! Sometimes you just have to make that split second decision and hope you don't offend anyone :)

Even Mom helps with the lacing

I also loved the little details! Lots of fall colors, pumpkins and rustic/handmade items scattered throughout.

Kate, Hannah and Cory made the gorgeous pumpkin tower!

Even the ceremony was short and sweet, but beautiful. Everything about the wedding expressed Kate & Cory's relationship. Quiet, reserved, traditional and special.

I just love how she peeks down over the balcony
to see if it's almost time for her arrival.

After the ceremony it was a gathering time for friends and family to mingle. I even managed to snap a few sweet moments of Cory.

I adore how he's playing with his new wedding band while he enjoys a beer!

I'm a sucker for a man who places his hand on the lower back!

 The reception was like a family reunion (as I'm sure in one way it was). Everyone walked around chatting and laughing and congratulating. Lots of hugs, kisses and handshakes. I even got to chat with Mr.Lawrence...my 3rd grade teacher! I also got to talk to Kate's younger brother, Daniel, who was friends with my late brother. It sure felt like a reunion to me!

I love different perspectives in ordinary situations.

What a fun couple!

Yes, I do...allow others to take pictures!

I left before the family dinner was served, but I managed to capture the elegant, romantic feel that the atmosphere held.

So which images are my favorite...not just from this wedding, but from every wedding? The portraits with the bride and groom of course! I love them the most because no matter how much they insist it doesn't change anything...it does! They look at each other differently and smile more and touch often. Their love seems to shine brighter and their emotions are all over the place. It's my favorite to capture these moments!

This image was taken before the ceremony took place,
hence they aren't wearing rings yet . I just think it's so cute
how nervous they seem to be before the vows : )

I love this image because in actuality I told Cory to smell her hair knowing
neither could resist laughing inside and voila...genuine smiles all around!

It's not always easy getting a quiet, reserved couple to kiss in front of a camera,
but when that moment happens, I'm always ready!

This is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE image from the whole wedding!
A genuine pose and perfect smiles!
Plus, you can see the river and vineyard behind them.

I love how prestigious Cory looks and how playful Kate looks! Perfection! 

I greatly look forward to capturing 2013's weddings as well! And since Maine has voted to allow for ALL Maine families to experience the joy of holy matrimony, I will also be covering same sex marriages as soon as the bill is passed! It will be such an honor and privilege to be able to work with everyone <3

From One Photographer to Another

I think as photographers we (among a million other things) are always trying to find the time to have our OWN family photographs taken because we deserve amazing photos too! FYI: It turns out to be quite hard to do by yourself! So now on top of time, you have to find another photographer who's work is not only to your particular taste, but meets a bunch of your other qualifications...and that's a tough bill to fit sometimes! As photographers seeking out another in this heavily saturated field, we look for price, packages, photographic and editing style, consistency in their work and quick, personable correspondence. So when a fellow photographer seeks me out to book her family portraits with me...you're darn right I'm honored!

Meet the gorgeous Kim and her sweetheart Brian

Yes, very honored. It was also exciting and nerve racking! Flattered she hired me, excited to have such a beautiful family on the other side of my lens, but it did make me a little nervous...just a little. I felt like I had a big bill to fit, but she made me feel right at home throughout the whole session. And their three boys seemed to like me right away...yeah, cause I'm super cool with the kids. I didn't even need to bribe them with candy! Well, that's because they were previously bribed with dinner at yummy Big G's! I seriously had so much fun hanging out with their handsome boys : )

Meet Tyler...very outgoing and hilarious

And this is Christian...a bit shy, but full of smiles

And finally, Dominic...quite the character and uber adorable

Have I mentioned how perfectly well-behaved their boys were? Making me laugh and smiled without being told. Even though they were ready to bolt at ANY second knowing a delicious dinner was awaiting them, they still gave me 100% and it helped make for a quick, relaxed session. I almost didn't want it to end! There was a slight chill in the air, but a refreshing breeze and glowing light at a beautiful location. It was honestly perfect! In fact, check out some of their many family portraits and see for yourself...

Yup, I am totally in love with these images, though I admit I'm probably a bit biased since they were taken by me hahaha but don't you agree? I am counting down the days until their next family session! I honestly pity them at this point. I mean, how are they going to be able to choose which photos will go on the holiday greeting cards? Their profile picture? Framed and hung on the wall? Or worse yet, which ones to blow up into a huge, gorgeous canvas for their awaiting walls? To think, this is only a fraction of the images in their beautiful album! They may have to clear several walls just to make room : ) 

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Ok, I just had to make a small side note here in relation to my secret, personal project I am currently working on. I have gotten several emails inquiring as to what it is and have even blurbed about it to 2 people already! It's getting harder and harder to keep it in! The excitement is honestly going to kill me, I swear! I want to update you that I am about halfway through the process of making it complete. I still have a few more meetings and lots of paperwork, but it's coming along. I am hoping to be able to release full info within the next week or two (fingers crossed). I want to thank all of you that have expressed interest in what I'm doing. It makes me feel so loved and supported. I know you all know how much this means to me even though you don't know what it is yet. It means worlds to me that you're ready to get on board with it already and I know once it's released that the community response and appreciation will blow me down and I CAN'T WAIT : )

Ok, end of tease...

Working on a Dream...

Let me just start off by saying...you are about to be bombarded with images of my son over this past summer with his many dirty, but oh-so-adorable faces! He is the love of my life (besides daddy) and for whom I do everything for! He is a major source of motivation in my life to do better, be better and provide a better future to give him a world he can be safe in and proud of : )

A little over a year ago, I was just starting out in the world of owning a photography business. There was so much I was unaware of and so much I had to learn! Today, I am still learning, but I think that's what keeps you at the top of your game. Always evolving, learning and growing. Making sure I maintain my equipment, take classes and workshops to better my skill, practice every day, ensure I'm using the best printing lab, regulating my gallery, offering products that are fun, modern and of the best quality (while still staying within my clients budget), maintaining my website and trying to blog regularly, preparing and organizing sessions, keeping the books in order (I hate math), searching for new locations...and this is only half of my list! Did I mention I'm a stay at home to a 2 year old little boy? Whoa! Aside from running my house, managing my business and raising my child the best I know how, I have to somehow make time for myself...to keep myself sane and my passion of photography burning! It's a delicate balance, but I feel I am finally starting to get it working like a well oiled machine.

Vincent stole a massive piece of cake! I vacuumed the crumbs all afternoon! : ) 

Being passionate about what I do is always at the top of my list. It's what sets me apart. I strive to make it visible in all I do. And because I'm a super-sappy, mushy-gushy kind of girl deep down, I get very sensitive to the things that occur around me. For example, I ran a contest to win a free mini session with me a couple weeks ago and the huge response I got from everyone saying they haven't had photos done in years and not being able to afford them was heartbreaking. I wish I can give everyone free sessions...but it won't pay my bills unfortunately :( But it did keep me up at night for almost a week and then one night...I had a dream! Now, this isn't a blog where I tell you exactly what the dream was about because I want to keep it a secret until things are final, but I wanted you to know why I haven't been blogging lately and why I seem to have become very quiet. It's because, even though, I had this dream, I wasn't going to act on it for a few years...but then something happened...

I can't remember what he ate that day but by the look of his face, it was delicious! : )

I was promoting my name around town with my friend, Maribeth, when I saw a sign that I had seen a couple months ago and was reminded to take action. The last time I had been there, the place was closed, but this time it was open! I walked in and hesitantly announced my arrival. Maribeth and I spent the whole afternoon with these ladies and one thing led to another. The conversation we had went in a direction that I never would have dreamed! I still get goosebumps just thinking about it! It's so amazing how fate plays such a huge role in our lives. How things snowball and blindside you sometimes (in a good way). If I had met these ladies a couple months ago (prior to having my life-changing dream) I would have never had this conversation! It just blows my mind! (And yes, I wish I could tell you all about it in grave detail...but I am still putting the pieces of this dream together and I don't want to jinx it!)

His big smile after eating his first ice cream sundae! : )

Needless to say, it was amazing! Not only did this conversation result in being given a huge, beautiful studio space to work in whenever I wanted, but these women also want to help me make my dream a reality! Now, it's not going to be easy. I will have to work even harder than I do now...but is it worth it? Without a doubt! Will I need the help of the community to keep this dream alive? Definitely! Am I worried I won't be successful in launching this project? Well...yeah...a little bit. It's a lot to do, but my heart is in it 110% percent so I know I will find a way to do it...no matter how long it takes! That's the beauty of a dream and what you'll do to achieve it! (Have I mentioned how badly I want to spill the beans?! Hahaha)

The chocolate frosting looks almost like whiskers! Vincent is as addicted to chocolate just like his mommy is! : )

Ok, so I hope I haven't made a pointless blog. It's my intention to let you know that I'm still here and working harder than ever! In fact, between everything else in life and starting this project, I have several important meetings lined up to rally support on my project! (Fingers crossed!) And I promise, once I'm pretty confident that the sparks I'm making are lighting a sustainable fire, I will tell you everything! In the mean time just think of me and put me in your prayers. I am working on something majorly important to me and I think that it is something that all of us will admire and many will benefit from. It's coming from the heart and I will need lots of support once it's released! And for the very few who know, thank you for listening to me blab for hours about it, run all of my ideas by you, ask a ton of questions and beg for your opinions and advice! Thanks for your hand in helping me realize this dream!

Mmmmm...apple sauce! Not sure if any made it into his mouth! : )

I think I will leave you with a few quotes that I find very motivating in this matter! Maybe one will strike a cord with you and get your fire burning too! Because, honestly, a life without passion is no life at all : )


"I have not failed. I've found 10,000 ways that it won't work." ~Thomas Edison

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." ~Robert F. Kennedy

"Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure." ~George E. Woodberry

"I advise you to stop sharing your dreams with people who try to hold you back. Even if they're your parents. Because, if you're the kind of person who senses there's something out there for you beyond whatever it is you're expected to do - if you want to be EXTRAordinary - you will not get there by hanging around a bunch of people who tell you you're not extraordinary. Instead, you will probably become as ordinary as they expect you to be." ~ Kelly Cutrone

How can you NOT be motivated??? : )