A Bright Spot in January: 2 Sweet Kids

Every once in a while I like to drop a focus on something "just off." Sounds like a cop-out, doesn't it? But it's not. I promise. Sometimes, in my mind, it is fun to think you're about to stare into eyes, but the focus is stolen by beautiful, lively curls.

(The eyes are beautiful and lively, too, but I don't have to tell you that, do I?)

Okay, seriously, let me go ahead and mention how fun this shoot was,

unless it's clear that I need not.

Yeah, I think we're good.

As I note below, the little studio set-up in his living room was distracting to him, so we eventually opted for Sister getting a snack, and this sweet little boy and I crawling around the house to catch him "at his him". I think we got him- at least that's what I hear.

Adorable, eh?

If only I could take credit for how cute the kids are,

but I just show up.

:)

Not your most, e'hem, formal of portraits, but I just had to fall in love with it.

I love boys, and their love for the Classic Round Toy.

And formal?

Who needs formal when you have this kind of fun?!

In the family's CD, I had to include a picture of this sweet little boy's hand on my lighting base. I was using a short gorilla pod, and we'd shoot a shot, then he'd chase the lighting. So, we got some shadows as the lights kept moving around. But, he was a blast, and I'd wager he'll be very adept in the mechanical sciences :) So fun!

Yes, it took me this long to post from January.

Winter used to be so boring, but not anymore!!!

=)

Couldn't pass up posting these kiddos!

Thank You!

Newborn: 7 days-old

When looking to book your newborn session, call ahead of the birth and let me know about when you are due (or, book a maternity&newborn package). We try to take the photos within 8 days of birth to get that "newborn skin." I will squeeze you in as possible if you give me enough notice (call me from the hospital/ birthing center!).

Stripey Tights.

Okay, so here we are. I've been a bit, ehem, under the weather. I'm behind on posting. (Sorry, August. I really did mean to get you up here sometime!)

This was a fun family, and I will post more from their session later, but I thought I'd stop by and leave these happy pics for anyone who might need a cheer-me-up :)

Stripey tights get me every time. Ev-e-Ry Time!!!! I would wear stripey tights everyday if I could. I mean really- can you go wrong with stripey tights?

Fun pics from their family shoot and others to come. In the meantime, enjoy some happy-pretty stripey tights!

And, go!

Our conversation went a little like this:

"Okay, so you can play around in the tree and we'll stop here and there and get some really great shots of you. So, have fun, k?"

And her response was pretty much like,

"Okay. I'm just going to go ahead and look awesome in 3 seconds flat."

Okay, she didn't say that. But, wow, right? She just climbed into that tree and did that!

She's gorgeous. And lovely. Inside and out. I had a lot of fun that day.

Who says break-downs can't play to the lens?

Before we shoot, you'll get from me what I call a "prep-letter" (going to post here soon for reference). In that letter I set out to put you at ease that children's break-downs don't bother me in the least. In fact, sometimes we can get some great shots out of them!

These shots came at the end of an extended shoot. We got a lot of great shots (will post soon), but her mama and I ended up loving these last three. She was "done". You know D-O-N-E. They were leaving. We were wrapping up conversation. And then I noticed that lying on the ground with her just might present us with something sweet and fun.

As it turns out, I think we caught her at "her." Her smile. Her giggle. And catching you in your "most you" is always, always the goal.

So sometimes we have a break-down or two (who doesn't?!). Our job is to fill the space in between with as much fun as possible, so we can get this stuff :)

I will chase you!!!

If I must, I will chase you in between a wood pile and a recycling bin (you can't really tell that, can you?). And I will do just that all while we keep the laughs rolling.

And then...yes, and then... I will get you AGAIN!

I love my job!

Little Red Chair (ity)

So I have a thing for RED. Always have. It's a thing.

I also have a thing for water. Always have. It's a thing.

And as it turns out 20% of the world is without clean drinking water. I think that needs to change. I'd like to one day be sitting in my red rocking chair and hear confusion in my grandchildren's voices as they question, "You mean people used to not have clean water?"

So, I here's the deal. I have red chairs. I like to take them with me on shoots. I will ask if I can take a picture with your child in a red chair. I will give you all the shots from the shoot on CD as promised. Except for one. The Red Chair Shot.

I will sell Red Chair Shots for $10 a piece, and 100% of those proceeds will go to a water project. I usually work with Charity:Water or Bloodwater:mission. Both great organizations (recognized by the government), and both working to end the gap between humans and clean water. So, if you see a red chair in my trunk, you know why. If you have your own favorite red chair, bring it along. Because the Little Red Chair (ity) project is a Together-Project.

Because I like working together.

Always have.

It's a thing.

:)

2 Fun Girls!

I've been editing these photos for about a week, and finalizing the CD this morning. I have to say, staring at these little faces for the last week has been a lot of fun. Almost as fun as chasing them around and laughing with them at the beach!

(P.S. Sorry for the blog-neglect. It's been a busy end of summer, to say the least! I hope everyone is enjoying the arrival of the pumpkin latte. Sometimes we need to find fun things to focus on in the wake of summer, huh? :)

and again...margins broken. sorry for the loss of the right side. BIG GIANT SIGH.

Little Girl, Big Bridge

I had fun with this one.

(Just pretend the blogger margins aren't knocking off the right side of the composition.)

A Big Swing

...and a little girl. precious.

At Play

Love the Bug

Claire

You know how sometimes you just really want to chew on that stick that came in your mom's coffee?

:)

Sisters

Lake Geneva, WI