♥Working on gifts for some of my 2011 clients. You are in for a sweet treat!♥

Working with little kiddos I get to see all the amazing things that make childhood great. It’s such a brief period of time. I challenge you to not smile when you look at this little fella. It’s impossible! He was so funny and full of personality. He ran the gamut of expressions and moods; each just as adorable as the next. He has such a fabulous serious face too. I just wonder what going on in his mind, like “who’s this crazy chick with that clicky thing!”

By far and away this is the question I’m asked the most. Or where did you get the outfits in your gallery of…(insert description here)?  They were probably seven dollar purchases at Old Navy.  When I am cheating on Janie and Jack and Mini Boden, I like to shop there, especially since the clothes are PRACTICALLY FREE.

Now, I shall I answer your question?  Yes, I shall.

Outfits should coordinate but everyone should not wear the same thing. I like to think of it as one big outfit. The days of khaki and white are over (thank goodness)! Two girls can certainly wear the same dress, or buy matching pieces from the same line that go well together. Below is some inspiration for you!

Other fun places to shop are Chasing Fireflies, Tea Collection (which you can find at The Littlest Details in Avon) and Crewcuts!

I know I’m not scoring any points with your husbands here but you gotta look cute! Now GO shop!

New products from Cypress Fine Handmade Albums & Boxes. Such a fabulous company! Thanks girls!

Presentation Box

These boxes are covered in your choice of Japanese bookbinding fabrics with an exquisite ribbon in the center of the box that allows mats to be lifted easily. These archival boxes are ideal for storing and presenting matted prints. Printed images simply slide in the top of the mat. The Museum Board Mat is made of one 4-ply and one 2-ply museum board.

The Proof Box

Our unique Proof Presentation Boxes are made for loose prints. These great boxes can be created in any of our elegant Japanese bookbinding fabrics to cover the box.

The Album

The Cypress Album offers a new level of sophistication in design. Individually handcrafted by artisans, this album is covered in an elegant bookbinding fabric and bound with an exquisite ribbon from Switzerland.

Product descriptions are courtesy of Cypress

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8K9s7_k3TM

Video by the lovely Katherine Center.

I’m so proud to be a Mom and a photographer and I’m lucky to be able to do both!

Happy new year to everyone! I’m just realizing how neglected my little blog has been. I’ve been a busy little elf over the past few weeks. Lots of cards, canvas’ and print orders have been sent out of my workshop for the holiday. I’m wrapping up 2009 orders now and then, as usual, will take a little break to recharge the creative battery!

I don’t get a chance to blog about every session but I wanted to back up the bus and blog about this session that I had in November. I was grateful to get some outside sessions done before the last of the leaves fell. I am in love with this family! They were so super cute and if I had a big brother I would pick this little guy! He was so good to his little brother! I hope everyone has a happy and healthy new year!!

I’ve been photographing lots of multiples lately so I feel like I’m seeing double! These identical twin girls couldn’t have been more darling! They are so beautiful and pure. I know how thankful this family is this thanksgiving as am I that I was able to work with them. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

With Mom and Dad

and big brother

Today is my baby boy’s 6^th birthday! He lost his first tooth last month and it was just another reminder that his babyhood is slipping away. Now more than ever I am appreciating my own photography. I was looking back at his sweet baby pictures. He was such a little cherub. It’s scary how you do forget what they looked like. When they’re babies you think that there is no way you could forget, but you do. The photographs bring it all back.

I’m so lucky to have this little guy. He’s funny, smart and kind (not always to his sister but you know how THAT goes). He is everything I could have hoped for in a child. My prayer is still the same for him today as it was the day he was born…please keep this child happy, healthy and safe and may he contribute something positive to this world. That’s all any mother can hope for.

This was my first time photographing this baby girl. The following week the family moved to Canada! Maybe I’ll see them again on one of their Cleveland vacations. I hope so! You just can’t help but smile when you look at these pictures. Admit it, you’re smiling!

I can only imagine what I look like to those in front of my camera.  When working with the tiny people, you do whatever it takes.  Goofy sounds, jumping up and down like a monkey (noises included) acting like a basic nut ball. Thankfully, these lovely Avon Lake parents just humored me and kindly never told me how ridiculous I must have looked!:) Whatever I did, it worked because we got some great shots!

Ahhh…you’ve got to love a little girl in a fancy white dress. It makes me want to run out onto the front lawn and twirl! Here are a couple shots from last weekends photo sessions. I’ll be doing first communion sessions all summer so you’re not too late if you want to get some pictures of your little princess.

For the most part it’s usually the Mom in the family that calls me to book the photo session. That is one of the many things that Mom’s do, they think ahead to capture their children when they are young. To preserve the memory of their babies (even if they’re teenagers, they are still your babies). So, when I got a call last spring from a Strongsville Mom, nothing seemed out of the norm. We started chatting and she explained that she needed to do a shoot asap. She had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer and wanted to shoot before she started to loose her hair. I got a knot in my throat. “Of course” I said. “Let me see what I can do.” I moved around some appointments and I was soon at their Strongsville house. I tried to stay focused on the task at hand. I didn’t want to let my emotions get in the way of capturing this family. It was difficult. They were a sweet family that clearly loved each other dearly. I couldn’t help but imagine how hard it would be, as a preteen girl, to see your Mother sick.

I knew it would come. I was hoping it wouldn’t. That email that I got a few months ago. It was the husband wanting to order some more prints. His wife, he explained, had lost her battle with cancer just before Christmas. I barely knew her, but I felt like a friend just passed away. I kept thinking about her girls and how difficult it was going to be for them. My heart went out to them. I thought how extraordinary it was of her to think ahead to capture those images. She did it for those she was going to be leaving behind. Mom’s can be selfless like that. That’s what Mom’s do. So today, I’m thinking about this family and sending my prayers that each day will get easier for them. I’m sure today, along with many other days, will be difficult. I thank all the Mom’s out there who think ahead, and I’m honored that they call me.