a thousand words.....

Gearing up for busy season....

2009-08-29T22:26:00.028-04:00

I can't believe it is "that" time again! Summer is over, school has started and "busy season" is just around the corner! I thought I would try to get a head start on my kid's pics this year so we took a trip to my new favorite spot. I have realized that each year, I use one location a lot more than others...this year it is a little more trendy...a little more casual...and quite different from locations I have used in the past!

If you are interested in scheduling a fall session, now is a good time to take a look at my online calendar! I only have one or two Saturday appointments available. There are a lot more options if you are available to do weekday mornings before 10 am or around the 5:00 hour.

Check back soon! Of course, I have more photos to post, but I also want to share some new and exciting things that are in the works! Hope to see you soon!

Oh, and for more frequent updates (and exclusive offers) become a fan of RHEMA Photography on Facebook!

Friends.....

2009-08-12T09:25:00.021-04:00

Raegan & H have been friends for almost 7 years! The most amazing thing is H moved away when they were just 4....first to Florida and now back to Ohio! Over the years and across the miles, it has been so fun to watch their friendship mature! You will see it in their smiles as you look at the photos! We are so thankful for H and love her and her family SO much! In fact, they are more like family than friends!

Last week H came to stay with us so I had the perfect model opportunity! A friend of mine, who I have mentioned before on my blog, started a business called "Magpie"! She had a precious baby girl with what she likes to call "newborn pattern baldness"! She was determined to make it evident that sweet Maggie Jane was a girl! So out of this dedication.....Magpie was created! You will see Raegan & H showing off a few of her designs...hats, headbands and flowers! They had a blast changing out the flowers! That's right, they have clips so you can put your flower on any hat/headband or just use it as a clip! It is obvious she was thinking of busy moms when she designed the product! Check out her site and design your own "Magpie Original"! http://www.magpieoriginals.com Oh, and I always try to keep a few on hand at photo sessions....be sure to ask next time I see you!

As you can see, they had a blast (most of the time anyway)! A great way to end the summer! School started today! We are looking forward to seeing H again soon.....at Raegan's birthday celebration!

No words.....

2009-08-07T14:42:00.010-04:00

literally....i am walking out the door....there are some great stories, but they will have to wait!!

have a great weekend!!

Dancin' in the Streets!

2009-07-30T23:35:00.011-04:00

i first met little J earlier this year when i photographed her family. her mommy was raegan's teacher last year and we absolutely LOVE her! she is an amazing teacher and even more amazing person...truly an answer to prayer for us! raegan always asks to tag along for photo shoots, so i thought this would be the perfect opportunity! this first pic was one of my favorites so i moved it to the top...the rest tell a bit of the story of the time we spent together!

check out those "baby legs"....a fun addition to the tutu! the boa offered some entertainment....and smiles as J and raegan chased the stray feathers through the alley!

check out this arabesque!!! quite impressive!

she could see the "castle" in the distance and wanted to go look for cinderella...so here she is waiting for mom to gather her "wardrobe". as promised we were off to look for the princesses. after this brief rest and a few yauns....she was ready!

oh no!!! the doors are locked! hmmm....any princesses in there???

there is no one here either!!! and these keys DO NOT work!

here she is after checking 4 sets of doors....exhausted....and done!!

raegan was an awesome assistant and definitely helped bring out the smiles! the next day J asked her mommy if "ms. carrie and raegan" were coming to play again! soooo cute!!

Diva......

2009-07-29T23:59:00.009-04:00

There is never a dull moment with little T! She had me laughing most of the shoot! I could have skipped my workout....she kept me on my toes! This first picture was actually the last picture I took....she was modeling mom's sunglasses!

She took a few breaks to catch her breath so i took the opportunity to catch this sweet, innocent smile!

L wanted to chat a bit more.....sharing songs he learned at VBS and talking about his favorite characters in Star Wars the Clone Wars!

Although, give him just a minute with his sister.......and he lights up!! I just LOVE their smiles......

Writer's Block....

2009-07-26T21:56:00.011-04:00

Hmmmm...writer's block! Amazingly, this may be what I have intended it to be from the beginning! A quick glimpse........of the images...not my thoughts!

Here are a few pics of T and his little sister M! I have been taking both of their pics since they were babies. It has been amazing to watch their personalities evolve!

Don't let this serious look fool you.....he was all smiles!

Here's M showing off her dance moves....she loves her sunglasses!

T was getting a little too close for comfort....M likes the hugs, but also needs her personal space!

I met L through my ministry! It was fun to spend some time with her family as they await the arrival of baby #2! I think big sister is ready!

More dancing!

That's it for now.....more soon!

Missed the Sneak Peak....

2009-07-18T17:09:00.029-04:00

so here is my first trial run....posting pics with limited text! not much time, but i wanted to share some photos from sessions that missed out on the sneak peak opportunity!!

this little guy is more like family to me! we have known his mommy and daddy for quite a few years and i have been taking his pictures since before he was born! it has been so fun to watch his little personality evolve! he is quite fond of "doggy" and has brought him to the last few shoots! behind that sweet smile of his is a superhero waiting to "fly"! there is never a dull moment with mr. G!

another superhero.....i took this little guy's pics when he was just a few months old....look at him now! he has a new baby sister to protect!

i met little "C" when he was a few months old also! he doesn't think i am very funny, but he definitely has amazing expression! he makes me smile....and this time....i captured a few from him too!

these pics are from E's 4th bday party! it is hard to believe i have been taking her pictures since she was a giggly baby. she is a little gem and i have truly enjoyed sharing the milestones with her wonderful parents.

this family is another special one....i met them soon after i started my business. over the years they have become good friends and very dear to me. J was only 4 when we met. she is a great big sis to her brothers....look at that amazing smile.

so i am starting to see a trend....and wow, i feel blessed. i have realized over the years that a big part of what i enjoy about my business is the relationships i have developed. i truly enjoy sharing in the lives of these families and i am so thankful for the friendships. i could go on, but i will just say thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives.

this is another family that i met a few years ago....before sweet "M" arrived. she is now two and has really come out of her shell. she sure knows how to have a good time exploring and loves fruit snacks.

i just met this family who was referred by another client (i truly appreciate you helping me spread the word). they were so much fun and shared some funny stories about dad! thanks for being such a good sport....it definitely helped get the girls laughing!

love these curls! and she has the personality to go with it! lots of love in this family...last year there were lots of hugs too! i just love capturing these moments!

now, this little man is quite the character! i met him the day after he was born....and he wore cowboy boots for his first photo op! many times he is sporting his steelers gear...he opted for the sunglasses this time!

not as concise as i had planned, but i had so much to share! keep your eye out for the next post..it won't be long! i already have it planned and can't wait to get the the pics on here for you. and of course, there are a few clients anxiously awaiting a preview.....

Time Flies.........

2009-07-18T00:05:00.022-04:00

I really cannot believe that almost 3 months have passed since my last post! I guess with the end of school, swim lessons and a 3 week vacation, the blog has taken a back seat. It seems that this is the part of my business that has not been a priority. My hope is (and I know I have said this before) that I will begin updating on a regular basis. My original intention was to make this a forum for sharing a few of my favorite images from each shoot--partially to give clients and their families a sneak peak and also to allow new clients to get a glimpse of my latest work.

The problem....I love to write. So even when I sit down to post a few pics, I find myself trying to create entertaining stories and clever captions! The solution.....post the the pictures immediately after the shoot...if I have something to say (which I always do) AND I have the time...add the text! If not, it's simple--just post the pictures. After all, my tagline is--A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!

So let's give it a try.....

First, I have to thank this family for being unbelievably patient with me! I did their shoot the day before leaving for vacation for three weeks. We had a great adventure together...it was POURING when we arrived "on-location" so I had to think quick! We found an amazing spot inside a building (thanks to my "designer" for the tip) nearby. As we finished up, we noticed the sun was shining and decided to hit one of the outside spots I had planned. The kids had a blast splashing in the puddles! So, I am almost done editing, but just can't keep my eyes open to finish tonight! Here is a quick look at a few of my favorites so far! I promise your gallery will be posted by tomorrow night!

So how did I do? Still pretty wordy, huh? If I would have kept it short, I would probably be done editing tonight....ugh...maybe next time!

On the Edge......

2009-04-12T21:52:00.008-04:00

We just arrived home from an AMAZING trip to Colorado to visit family! Some of my favorite childhood memories are times we spent here....climbing the waterfall, skiing and just being kids. I have always loved the Rocky Mountains for the view and because of the memories. There really is a lot more depth to this story, but for now, we'll keep it on the surface. I was so excited to take the kids to the waterfall. Zach was a bit apprehensive when we talked about it, but when we pulled up, he was out of the car and to the rocks in no time. No rock, or should I say boulder, was too large for his attempt. Raegan was a little shy at first, but was not about to be left behind! Even sweet Ella (my 3 year old niece) was keeping up with big kids! Surprisingly, even with camera in hand....I kept up too!

This first picture is the beginning of the "hike". Rather than using the path leading up to the waterfall, my cousins created a game requiring us to stay on a rock or a tree the entire time. I did have to bend the rules a bit here in order to get some good shots.

Take a close look at the image below....see the "cliff" in the background...this was our destination for the first day. It is kind of difficult to see in this picture, but the journey to the top was a little hard on my nerves...especially b/c Zach was trying to keep up with my cousin's daugther, Carin (she is in the green shirt). Note the length of her legs compared to Zach's! Something that factors in when climbing the face of the "cliff".

The kids had a BLAST jumping from rock to rock. They even crossed the stream at the bottom of the falls. Remember the video game, Frogger? Believe it or not....I crossed too (only because I was exhausted from all the climbing and it was the quickest way back)! No one got wet....this time anyway! More fun tales from our second trip to the falls later!

This is me crossing....everyone else was already on the other side so a self-portrait was necessary. Not the most flattering angle...but it's about capturing the moment, right?

Here are some more fun shots along the way. Most are self-explanatory, however the one below may need some additional info. The kids took running jumps to climb the really big rocks. Well, they didn't always consider how they would get down. Sliding was the preferred option, however this one was a little steep. I had to hand my camera off this time!

This is my favorite picture of the day...the only disappointment...you can't see the full size of the boulders! Carin spends a lot of time in the mountains, so she is a much more experienced climber than the rest of us!

The next pic should give you a reference as to the size of some of the boulders. This is E, my niece, taking a little break!

That's it for now! Impressive, huh? Two posts in a week! I have a lot more to share from our trip! Check back in a few days! Until then....back to business as usual!

A Quarter in Review

2009-04-05T15:28:00.022-04:00

So here it is April already! I'm not doing very well at updating this blog regurlarly! I don't know how time slips away so quickly! Rather than go into a lengthy excuse as to what I have been doing with my time, I'll show you! I tried to include at least one picture from each shoot I have done so far this year! Enjoy!

For those of you that know me, you know that I am not typically a "cat person". Not that I don't like cats....I'm just allergic so I have never really been around them. With that said, I LOVED this cat! Check out his beautiful green eyes!

Here are some shots from my most recent "senior" shoot! I really enjoy working with high school seniors as they approach the reality of stepping into a whole new world...they have a captivating spirit and fabulous expression! Look for a post soon announcing a contest to win a free photo session for a high school senior!!!

A friend of mine is starting a business....Magpie! She is making the hats that are being modeled in the images below! She was in town from Knoxville for a week so we took the girls out to do a shoot! Raegan LOVES her hat! Take a look at her site....http://www.magpieoriginals.com.

That's it for the random thoughts. Seems to be my common thought process! Here are few more from recent shoots!

That's it for now! Check back soon! I have a few clients that don't have their proofs yet, so I hope to give them a sneak peak in a day or two! I am really going to try to update this after every two or three shoots.....or maybe just a random thought here or there. You see, I like to write, so usually once I start creating a post, it ends up taking me much longer than I planned. I am a bit of a perfectionist so I am committing to "let go" of that for now and try to keep you more in the loop! For those of you on spring break, have a great week!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-22T00:57:00.013-05:00

I have finally caught my breath from another crazy busy season! January is usually my time to regroup and spend some extra special time with family and friends! While I completely enjoy what I do, it is nice to have some "time off" to gather my thoughts and plan for the new year. I am in the process of updating my website with a new look and adding some of my favorite photos from the past year (this part is still in progress)! Take a look...you may just see someone you know!! When you first enter my site, you may need to scroll down to see the menu options!

A special note for my clients...I can't let the new year begin without thanking you for your support of my business over the last few years. It is because of you and your willingness to refer friends and family that I have been able to grow my business and continue to do what I love! Word of mouth has been my biggest and best form of advertising and I truly appreciate it. Beginning this year, I have new postcards that I will be sending when you book your session....this card will have general pricing information as well as "tips for a successful photo session" that will answer three of the most common questions I hear when preparing for a photo session! The whole idea here is for you to "pass it on" to a friend. If a friend that you refer schedules and completes a photo session with me, you will receive a $15 print credit to put toward your next session's order. There is no limit to the number of print credits you receive! If you refer a high school senior, you will receive a $25 print credit. This is an area of business I am trying to expand as I have decided to no longer contract weddings.

Something I am VERY excited about .......
PHOTO COLLAGES & STORYBOARDS!

There are several layouts to choose from. A few samples are below, but you can view many others on my website in the "collage/storyboard" gallery. The MOST EXCITING NEWS....these can be personalized just for you....colors, phrases, scripture, etc. Almost any aspect can be changed. As a thank you for your business, I am offering 25% off any collage now through FEBRUARY 15. 2009! Prices begin at $80 (before the discount). This a great gift for a grandparent or even your husband's office! Remember Valentine's Day is just around the corner. If you would like to receive your print in time for Valentine's Day, I need to receive your order by FEBRUARY 4.

Several more templates are available on my website!

DESIGNER PHOTO CARDS/ANNOUNCEMENTS are also still available. Be as creative as you would like......birth/graduation announcements, thank you cards or a design for any holiday, you are sure to find something you will love to showcase your photos to family and friends! "Mommy Cards" are also available and will help keep you connected with friends and teachers. While I do have some examples on my site a complete gallery is available at http://www.moritzfinedesigns.com (formerly littlepigglewiggle.com). Keeping with the Valentine's Day theme, below are two samples for you!

FINGERPRINTS OF GRACE
touching lives for Jesus

This has been amazing year as I have continued my effort in the development of my ministry (www.fingerprintsofgrace.org). I have met some amazing families in my second year, who have allowed me to be a part of some of their most sacred moments. If you know ANYONE who may need this service please contact me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! I am still in the process of connecting with medical professionals to make them aware of the service. This is where my passion lies....using my God-given gift to bless others in their time of medical crisis. My heart aches for those in this situation and this is a way I can give something back.

One last note regarding my blog....while I haven't been very consistent at updating so far, my hope is to keep you posted throughout the year...what's going on with me...RHEMA PHOTOGRAPHY, FINGERPRINTS of GRACE and little bits about my family!

Again, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your continued support!

Blessings to you this year! I look forward to seeing you soon!

on a journey

2008-12-02T21:36:00.022-05:00

well, here we are in december and i didn't post a thing in november. i have been keeping busy with shoots, editing, kids and of course the puppy. it's all part of this journey we call life. i have learned a lot lately about what is consuming my time and my money and where God really wants me to be in all of this. that is a little deep to dive into at this hour so we'll save that for next time (before january, i promise). i usually like to share some of my fav pics from recent shoots (i found some new spots this year), however, many of you have asked to see pictures of our sweet "little" puppy, Daphne! she is almost 11 months old...and still VERY MUCH A PUPPY! we were told that she is a boxer/hound mix, but have heard many times that she resembles a great dane! so here is my journey with as the proud owner of a (not so new) puppy.

the first photo says it all! she is a CLOWN! always into something.....and looks so innocent at the same time. she was about 3 months old in this photo.

in the next picture she is 4-5 months old. notice the sock hanging out of her mouth. she always brings something from the yard to the door after her hours of exploring and destruction! she loves being outside....so much that i find it difficult to get her back in when i need to leave....or go to bed at 2 am! look at her sweet, innocent eyes.

here she is just checking things out. she appears to be protecting us by using her scare tactic growling at a noise she must have heard outside. don't let her fool you.....she is really watching to see when someone may be back inside to discover the first of two eaten phones. she did leave the wires and battery in tact.

she had a playmate in october. my grandma came to visit with her 10 month old yorkie, zoey. she was very attentive to her and always intersted in what she was doing. it was helpful to distract her from her troublemaking tendencies. i think this pic was taken a few hours after we found her exploring under our screened in porch. she dug a hole and found her way in....and of course had a bit of trouble getting out! unfortunately, that hasn't stopped her from taking another chance.

this is the look i see way too often...what?!?! you want me to come in?!?! yeah, right!! do you see all that i have to play with out here?!?! she likes to turn our mulch for us, climb the ramp to the kid's clubhouse, take the lid off the sandbox and dispurse the toys all over the yard, attempt to find loose slats in the fence (she has succeeded a few times), socialize with the neighboring pups....the list goes on. notice the green gutter extension laying against the fence behind her.

ok, she looks so cute, right? we went in to a local pet store and shared some of our fun stories about daphne's outside adventures. and look what we came home with.....a cow bone. one that cannot be destroyed. this should keep her busy and out of trouble, right? ummmm, yeah, for ONE day. it is now in two pieces....somewhere in the yard with all of the other items she has shredded for us.

look at that face! she looks so sweet. she is actually in "time out" here. i had my back to her for 60 seconds (a suggestion to try to control some nipping behavior). seems to work and also allowed a few cute photos ops. when i turned around, this is the sweet face i saw. i just happened to have my camera in the same room so i could capture her "pout". i really need to keep a camera in hand. i have missed some great shots! one day i caught her walking on the railing of the deck and another running through the yard with the tongs and maridnade!

honestly, i am laughing as i type this! she really is sweet....just not so innocent! we do accept a bit of the responsibility. she really needs training beyond the puppy class and a walk every day would probably help too. our schedules the last two months have been extremely busy with little time for our puppy! she's great at the basics....she sits and waits and is really well mannered when we have visitors. she isn't a barker (except when she is in the midst of her back yard adventures). she sleeps well at night and doesn't fight us to go in her crate. we focus on the positives and try to laugh off the negatives...sometimes that is easier than others.

there is never a dull moment here! keeping busy and trying to have fun in the midst of the chaos! i try to take time each day to appreciate the little things and remember how much God has blessed me. and to realize that the kids are growing up right before my eyes! i don't want to overlook their special qualities that make them who they are. there is so much joy in that.

zach makes some hilarious comments that keeps us laughing. my recent favorites....it was few days before halloween and i had just found out that my neighbor was pregnant. so i told zachary that hailey was going to be a big sister. he looked at me and his response...."for Halloween?" the other classic.....trying to keep things picked up is always a challenge (especially this time of year)so i said "we need to get the miscellaneous stuff off the trunk in the kitchen"....he looked at me a little puzzled and said..."who is miss lena?"

raegan on the other hand is creative, artistic, imaginative and inventive. she loves to write stories and design things on the computer. she is quite impressive. she is 16 in an eight year old body. she is a night owl just like me, however she likes to sleep in in the morning (which makes getting to the bus a bit of a challenge for us). she always has big ideas she is trying to execute and is so detailed in the planning. she definitely has a dramatic element...not sure where she gets that, but it truly makes her who she is.

one last thing to share with you....a quote a friend shared with me today...."BE YOURSELF, EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN". i just LOVE that. it seems so simple, yet is so complex. i want to be the kind of mom that encourages that kind of confidence in my kids! i guess that is why God gave us friends. i thank Him every day for surrounding me with family and friends that love me and encourage me in this journey. we need each other....and remember (another quote i heard) "in perfection, we create competition, but in imperfection we build community!"

until next time.......

FAQs?!?!?!

2008-10-02T11:27:00.023-04:00

Is it really October already? Time sure flies when you're having fun! Both kids bdays were a couple of weeks ago so we have had friends and family in town the last two weekends enjoying the festivities with us. We had so much fun, but I am trying to get back to the real world and get "caught up" (if there is such a thing!).

i'll share some bday pics soon, but for now i'll leave you with a few of my favorites from recent shoots!

great smiles for their mom...just being who they are!

a flower for little sister....so sweet!

a "hug" for big brother......

oreos anyone?!?!?! ....my favorite!

splashing in a puddle with daddy.....

hugs for a new puppy.....

and last but not least, a few shots from a shoot that help me answer some of my most frequently asked questions....to combine these questions into one.....what makes a shoot successful? well as i say, a picture is worth a thousand words so approach it as if you are going to tell your story!!

the ideal setting for a shoot.....just exploring at a park, your home or another favorite spot for your family (i have suggestions if needed).

what should you wear??? solid colors are best, but allow your little ones to be involved in the decision a bit! pick something coordinating for the "together" shots, ie...mommy chooses this outfit (see the galleries on my site for ideas), then allow them to express their creativity for some of the individual shots! don't be shy....and think outside the box! rain boots are great even on the sunniest day! and those bright pink cowboy boots and a tutu are always fun for a picture!

how do you get your child to smile??? are you ready for this??? RELAX!! it most often happens naturally! just take a step back and let your little ones settle in to the environment. i'll chat with them a bit and usually during our conversation, i'll start to see their most natural smile. sometimes we say funny words to help them relax and forget about trying too hard, but i never say "smile"!

i love when i can see the true personality of my subject "shine"! and something else that i truly enjoy....seeing a little one all decked out in a fancy dress.....enjoying nature....mud and all!!

so that's what it is about....capturing kids just being kids! don't get me wrong....the smiles are great, but behind every smile is something very special just waiting to be shared with the world...their sweet little spirits!!!

more soon.....

a few more hours (or should i say weekends this fall)!

2008-09-09T23:42:00.010-04:00

i was emailing with "s" today (mom of the divas in the first picture below) and i mentioned that i need just a few more hours in the day to accomplish my "to do" list. it doesn't seem to matter how prepared i am for the day, there are always surprises that prohibit me from being as productive as i would like!

that reminded me that my fall schedule is filling up fast ....especially saturdays. i reserve sundays to spend with my family. this is our time to reconnect after a busy week. if you are interested in a session this fall, check my online calendar for available dates! if a date is shaded, you may contact me as there may be an am or pm slot open. currently i am booking out 2-3 weeks for weekday shoots and into november for weekends.

so this post may be a prime exaample of my production problem! distraction! think of the book "if you take a mouse to school". i sometimes feel like that is my thought process throughout the day. i'm doing something which reminds me to do something else, which reminds me to....you get the picture! anyway, i promised "s" that i would post some shots today from their session last weekend......so here are a few of my favorites. many more to see! i hope to have the proofs posted later this week!

look "s", no tears! there are quite a few of "s" showing off her sweet smile! and "r" is just a natural!

look at those curls! i love it! and the guy on daddy's shoulders is quite handsome with his reserved smile!

this is a shot of the two boys just before they plunged face first into the water!

they recovered enough to make into this last shot, but little "s" was done! it is always fun to capture not only their smiles, but their complete personalities!

keep in mind that the session fee increases each month as we get closer to Christmas. november 26 is my deadline for holiday photos. i am willing to do newborn sessions and milestones after this date, however there will be no guarantees of receiving your proofs/prints before the holiday.

more soon.........

coming soon....

2008-09-03T22:07:00.005-04:00

this sweet family has been waiting so patiently to get a sneak peak at their pictures. they were so much fun to photograph! the kids were full of smiles and happy to share hugs and kisses. only one thing stopped them in their tracks....ths spiders! here are a few of my favorites to get you through the next few days. i hope to have your gallery posted by the end of the week!

boys will be boys.....

2008-08-30T21:27:00.010-04:00

blake and raegan went to the ohio state game today so z and i stayed around home and just hung out. i had a shoot this morning so he went to mamoo and papa's for a bit. when i picked him up he came running to the car with a large zip lock bag. it had something in it that i couldn't figure out. i thought it may be a praying mantis with some leaves because yesterday he had a tragic episode with one. he was so proud when he found it on our screened porch and carefully persuaded it into his little bug house. if you look closely at this first picture, you can see it in the circle on the left.

this is him imitating the praying mantis.....

this is him after he realized that daphne (our six month old puppy) had taken off with the bug house. we still don't know what happened to the praying mantis!

so back to the ziplock bag.....it was a TOAD!! YUCK!! and boy was he proud. he insisted on bringing it home so we put it in a tall trashcan for the transport. he thought our window well would be a perfect home since that is where he found it. so here he is crawling down into the window well and releasing him into his new home.

and climbing out after a job well done!

so for those of you who know me well or know me at all...this was very much out of my comfort zone. i certainly wasn't excited about the transport or about him handling the toad, but i had to let go of my phobias for a few minutes to let him be a boy! and in the process i was rewarded with a few very cute pictures. some of my favorites in a long time. in fact, one of them may end up on a canvas!

one more thing.....your just dying to see some pictures from raegan's first ohio state game, right? me too! they didn't take a camera!!!!

it's not about the game!

2008-08-23T23:23:00.024-04:00

we went to the indiana marsh invitational tonight with some of our neighbors. hse was playing at the new lucas oil stadium! as you browse through the pictures it may begin to appear that some of us weren't there to see the game at all. don't get me wrong, i love football...however....it was the first time i stepped foot in the new stadium. so for me...it was about the PICTURES!!!

for some of the kids...it was about......you guessed it...the treats!

and for others....it was about using their outside voices...

even though we were inside!

we had a really good time, enjoyed some yummy treats (especially the cotton candy) and watched a bit of the game, but my favorite part was capturing the kids having fun and being silly. i learned recently not to leave home without my camera. i really feel a bit lost without it. honestly, i look at life through the lens of a camera and constantly imagine what each moment would like in a picture! the seemingly ordinary moments truly are full extraordinary expression! having my camera in hand allows me to share those moments with you! so if you remember one thing from this post......remember to take your camera with you! as i always say...a picture is worth a thousand words!!

sweet smile

2008-08-23T16:51:00.003-04:00

so i LOVE z's hair long, but he insisted on getting it cut today! my one condition was that he let me take a picture before he left! i love his sweet, innocent smile in this one!

finally.....

2008-08-22T23:55:00.001-04:00

ok, so i have decided to give this "blog" thing a try....in my spare time. we'll see how it goes! my hope is to make this a space to give a sneak peak at some of my favorite photos, as well as share anything that may be of interest to those of you who read it. for example....i am in the process (well the planning stage) of updating my "studio". i want to make it a space that truly represents me as a photographer. i love the simplicity of the black backdrop, but just want to add a little "color". i have so many ideas, i just need to get moving. my original goal was to have it complete in july. hmmmm...not even close. my hope is to "plan" over the next few months and really take action when things slow down in january!

check back often for updates!!!