Sneak Peak for Megan’s Family…

This week I photographed Megan’s family. Megan and I have known each other forever…since elementary school. At our 15-year-class reunion, Megan won an award for having the most kids –three with one on the way. Now the “one on the way” is a sweet, silly almost two-year-old boy, the perfect addition to make her family perfectly even (two girls, two boys). We laughed a lot at this family photoshoot. When I think of this family, I know I will always think of them laughing with each other!

Around Here…

Kate went to her first roller skating party. She was adorable. Do you remember when you were in sixth grade and you thought the coolest thing ever was “couple skating” with a cute boy? Well this month I got to hold the hand of a tiny, 5-year-old girl. She stumbled and she giggled and she fell. And it was so much better than skating with those cute boys from sixth grade!

And Ellie…well, she’s catching up on her reading. See?

Notice that she’s reading “Boundaries with Kids.” That’s my newest library book. Obviously, I’m having a hard time. With kids. And boundaries.

Here's a recent conversation with Ellie:

Ellie: Hi Mom. How's your private parts doing?
Me: Um...they're good. Thanks for asking.
Ellie: Oh... mine are just fine, too.

See. Boundaries. And Kids. We're having problems with that!

Sneak Peak for Cathy’s Family…

This week I met my friend Cathy, her husband and their three sweet (and beautiful girls). Cathy is part of my play date crew. I am always amazed by how relaxed and calm she is. There’s never any stress…never any rushing around. When I’m with Cathy, I just feel calm. She has that way about her, and I keep hoping that it will rub off on me. No luck yet, but I do love hanging out with Cathy and her sweet girls!

Cathy  - I didn’t post any family pictures…just in case one of them makes the cut for the front of your Christmas card. I thought it should be a surprise to your friends and family : )

Want to talk about me…

Do you know that Toby Keith song called “I want to talk about me?” It goes:

I want to talk about me
Want to talk about my
Want to talk about number one
Oh my, me, my
What I think
What I want
What I know
What I love
What I see…

I like talking about you, you, you, you usually…
But Occasionally,
I want to talk about ME!

Yeah…that’s how I feel right now. I love photography and meeting all these sweet families. And I love looking at the photos and smiling because each family is captured in such a special way.

Don’t get me wrong. I love all that stuff.

But I want to talk about ME on this blog. My kids, my husband, my life, my fears, my thoughts.

I want to talk about plain. old. me.

But that will have to wait. Because I have four photoshoots booked this week.

And I’m getting ready for a Disney trip (Woo Hooo!)

And I have a Halloween costume to attempt to make. Don't worry. There's no sewing involved!

But I’ll be back. To talk about me. Wait for it, ladies and gentlemen, because I’m sure it will be good : )

I just wanted to include a few pictures.
Of Me.
In case you forgot what I looked like : )

Sneak Peak for Shannon's Family...

Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph a friend from high school and her gorgeous kiddos. Shannon and I go way back...as in, we're used to being at the back of the line, the back of the classroom, the back of the program - and we were always there together. Can you guess why? Let's just say that only one last name came after ours in the class of 1994 and that was Zeigler. Yes, Shannon and I represented the end of the alphabet...a title that we both wore proudly. And we "classed" things up at the back of the line, if I do say so myself : )

Shannon, I really enjoyed spending the morning with you and catching up. I just hope you love the pictures!

Doesn't he look like a future president in these photos? I'd vote for him!

P.S. For some reason, these photos look grainy when I put them into blogger. They don't look that way on my computer and should print fine. Anyone know why Blogger photos are looking so grainy lately?

Olive Garden vs. Ball Field Food

If I could give one piece of advice for anyone who is planning to have pictures taken it is this:

Be Yourself.
Don't be what you see in a magazine.
Don't be what everyone else is.
Don't try to be something that you're not.
Don't dress your kids in clothes that make them uncomfortable.
Just be you.

I'll be honest and tell you that last year, I really struggled when taking my friend Sheila's family photos. She has a teenage son. I have preschool girls. I'm used to tutus and giggling. I'm not used to kids who are the same size as their parents. I just couldn't get any poses that seemed natural or relaxed and fun. Sheila and I talked about this and she had the perfect idea.

She decided to let her son just be himself...baseball jersey and all. We met at the local ball field, and we had a great time taking pictures. Just so you know, Sheila prefers ball field food to Olive Garden food. Weird, huh?

But guess what? The family photos didn't feel so awkward this time. It felt natural and real. It felt like them...being them. And what more could you ask for from family pictures than to capture your family, just as it is right this moment.

Sheila - I LOVE these pictures and I love that you picked this location. It is so you (even though I still prefer Olive Garden to ball field food).

Oh...and to protect everyone's privacy, I did a quick photoshop job to remove the name of the ball team on the shirts. The real pictures will not look this weird, I promise!

They got it wrong...

In 1993, this pagent queen was voted "Miss Congeniality." Seriously. That's the truth.


I think they got it all wrong. She should have been
"Miss Photogenic." Oh heck...she should have won the whole darn thing, don't you agree?

More of this beautiful lady and her boys, coming soon!

Sneak Peak for Miss Angie's family...

Sneak Peak for Lori and Wayne: Part 2