9.27.2010

Ellie and Landon 6 Month Photos | Family Portraits


This week I had my very first twin session with two cuties, Ellie and Landon, (along with their adorable 2 year old sister) and they completely stole my heart. I must say that twins is definitely twice as hard. Maybe even three times as hard! And throw a 2 year old in the mix? WOW!  But it is all worth it because their photos are absolutely four times as cute! I hope you two love them, I give you total props.  You two are definitely amazing parents and an awesome team.  I hope you like your teaser, I loved this photo of Ellie, she looks so precious. I will have more once I am back from China, Enjoy! ;)




9.21.2010

Ferryn | Maternity

So I was looking forward to shooting this pretty lady's maternity photos:)  I had been talking to her back and forth for a while now and felt like I already knew her when we met.  Ferryn is an amazing, strong person, she will be having her baby girl in about 2 months...Brayleigh :)  I know when she lays eyes on this little girl nothing else is going to matter anymore, she will be complete. I have all the confidence in the world she will be an amazing mother, there is not a better bond than a mother and her daughter.  My mom is my best friend and is the most amazing person and I know.  I can't wait to meet your little girl, I hope you like your sneak peek! ;)












9.18.2010

|Surprise|

So...as most of you probably know my boyfriend has been in China for work since April.  I was planning on going to see him there and it just so happened that while I'm there his 60 days for his visa will be up.  So that means we have to go somewhere else...and we picked THAILAND!!!!  We are first going to fly into Bangkok and then go to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world...phuket!  I had to go ahead and get a visa too, so now my passport is fancy ;)  I am so lucky I am able to go...I have never seen clear water before...this will be good bc I am terrified if I can't see my feet! I can't wait to have this adventure, to see Nick and to share my pics with everyone, 10 more days!
PS. Nick is the best ;)


Oh I can't wait to have the white sand in between my toes too ;0
Phuket
Happy Weekend! :D

9.17.2010

| 1 Year Ago Today |

1 year ago today my whole life changed.  1 year ago today I graduated from the Aveda Institute Chicago and moved home within the same day.  It was one of the most bittersweet days of my life.  I had graduated an intense program  (which was awesome) BUT, had to leave a place I called home for 3 and a half years and leave all the amazing people I had met.  I remember as my mom drove away I was just looking out the window as the city grew smaller and smaller with tears streaming down my face.  Even though I was sad to say bye to that life I knew, it was what I needed to do to move forward.  To start paying down my dead and start a new adventure...another bonus was to be close to my family and to Nick. If you would have told me a year ago I was going to be doing what I am now, I would not have believed it.  My plan was to come home and get a job at a salon, well things definitely did not go as planned.  The salon I originally wanted to work at kept leaving me hanging and in the meantime I got a job at a restaurant.  I then got extremely sick for about 2 months and decided I needed to be at a job that wasn't as strenuous and with good insurance ( I learned that the hard way), so I decided to go back to Village Green. Shortly after I realized it was possible to pursue my dream.  I started some side jobs but then started getting busier and took a leap of faith and went part time.  It has been such a great decision and I couldn't be happier...I know I did the right thing. Even though sometimes I question things, I mean I spent all that time and MONEY at Aveda and I am not even doing it anymore.  I think it really sucks that I didn't realize I could do this before but I guess, it is what it is.  Even though I enjoyed doing hair and when I was in the environment thought it was what I wanted to do, my heart just isn't in it.  Even though I feel like I should be doing that, I know it is not right. So here I am a year later, knowing I am going in the right direction.  

In a couple months it will be a year since I have started my business.  You will start to see a couple changes with my branding.  As you probably already noticed my blog looks a little different.  I am also working on changing my website up a bit.  I know I told you I hate changes, but I hate them when they are things that I grew up doing.  I do get bored easily with other things. As most of my good friends/family/Nick know I change my hair more than I should, and I have changed my room around at least a 5 times since I have been home.  Well I think it is now time to change it up with my company. I have been working with an amazing "crafter" Kat Brown on my packaging...I can't wait to have the final touches done. And I am also changing up my logo...my umbrella will still be my logo...it is just going to be a new and improved umbrella.  My good friend Erika is helping me out with that, she is awesome! Anyway, my pics are a little random today like my emotions were on that day a year ago. I hope you all are as excited as I am to change things up ;)

It is amazing what kind of inspiration you can get from a mug...  This is a peak  into what's coming :D




Some new boxes I got on sale to get organized to make my new packaging! 

This is a sweet little NickNack I got from camping...and believe me I HATE nicknacks but had to get.  It is on my desk so if I am ever doubting things or 2nd guessing myself I look at it. I am also always smiling about the future! :D

I also have some exciting news to share tomorrow, so get ready!!!!!!  HAPPY FRIDAY!

9.16.2010

Kai | Newborn

So let me tell you, I could not wait to take Kai's newborn photos and hang out with his awesome parents.  Eric and Jenny just have a positive vibe all the time and are 2 of the most incredible people I have ever met.  The first time I met them to take their maternity photos, I felt like I had known them for a long time.  Jenny was really excited and we had emailed each other back and forth about a dozen times before we actually met.  I was so excited for them to have their baby, it was going to be a surprise!  On July 28th they had their precious little baby boy, Kai.  I had been waiting weeks to meet this little guy!  We kept planning to take his newborn photos but we kept having to reschedule, so it was so exciting when we actually got to do it, and it was on a perfect fall-ish day ;) It was so good to see you guys again and you are such a cute fam.  Kai is so lucky to have you as parents and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.  He is beautiful and I am so happy I was able to take his photos, and you can always have these memories.  I hope you guys like your first little teaser ;)

First off, I had to show off this awesome mobile made by 2 Little Lovelies :) Check out their facebook page!

He is such a happy baby!













9.15.2010

Troy | 9 Months

SO I met Beth at a good friends jewelry party and she was so sweet! She said she hadn't gotten pics taken of her son Troy yet so I told her it was never too late! During the party there were a ton of babies running around so I didn't get a good look at just how cute Troy was.   When I pulled up I saw he was wearing the cutest little flannel and I had a flannel on too, that's when I feel in love!  Nick and Beth are such nice people and I am glad I got to take Troy's first round of photos :)  Now you are going to be addicted because he is so cute behind the camera ;) I hope you guys enjoy them and I hope we all get together soon!





This pic makes me smile :D













You fell in love too right?? ;)

9.14.2010

Ryan | Senior Photos

So when I get to the park to meet an amazing family, I am pleasantly surprised!  This place is awesome, I am always looking for new places to go and this is one I will definitely go in the future. When I arrived it was a perfect day and they were all waiting for me at the gate.  Ryan, his parents (Lori and Dave), his grandpa Joe, and of course you can't forget their awesome dog, Frank:)  Ryan was such a good guy to work with, he must have had a lot of pictures taken of him growing up because he was trained. Yes I said trained, as soon as I put that camera up he would smile, I definitely know what it is like because my mom always had a camera in her hand while I was growing up. It is always fun doing senior photos because there is an excitement there.  This is their last year in school and after that is when they are on their own.  They go through many different experiences and those experiences mold them into the person they are meant to be.  Ryan is thinking of going to Western Michigan, of course I said go for it...that's where I went!  Kalamazoo is an awesome city and I told them I could recommend some great restaurants of course :) Anyway, I had such a good time at this shoot, I felt like part of the family when we were done.  They were so warm and welcoming and I am so happy to have met them.  And of course I wish Ryan the best of luck and I know he will be amazing at whatever he does :)










9.12.2010

Remember that Day

So yesterday was a very important day.  9 years ago was one of the most tragic and shocking days in history.  I had gone to New York with my sister about 2 years after it happened and we got right up to the empty whole that once stood the twin towers. You couldn't get too close, their was fences all the way around it, but there was a walkway with stuff written on the walls, from some of the people that lost loved ones on that day. I remember looking at them all and how sad it was that so many people had experienced such loss. Everyone should always remember that day and know that it has just made this country stronger. Thanks to all the soldiers fighting for our freedom and we will never forget. Here are some more photos I took from last weekend. Now enjoy this beautiful weather and your family/friends around you! Happy Sunday! 



9.09.2010

I'm Back!

Sorry I have been MIA for a while but I finally had a holiday weekend off and it was a success!  Spending 24 hours in the car wasn't so bad,  I had my books and ipod with me along the way;) This trip was a little different than past ones that I have had. My sister has lived in New York almost 6 years so there are places we usually go but this time we tried allll new things.  Sometimes I don't like change and I don't know if you know this about me but I am a picky eater! haha. I have definitely gotten better over the years but hey, I know what I like! Anyway, my sister took us to some really cool places and it was just so  nice spending time with her. I miss her very much, her and I have not lived in the same city as long as I can remember. She really wants to move home and right now it isn't possible with their jobs and bills and blah blah blah. I told her if she really wanted to do she can, if you want something bad enough it CAN happen! BUT then I realize people tell me that too about my other "non photography" job.  I know eventually I will be able to just do my photography full time but right now I am not able to, I have to wait till the rest of my life is more stable ;)  I know that is what will happen with her too, they just have to be there a little longer, pay off some more bills, get more experience and then when the time is right it will happen. There is no way I am letting her live 12 hours away when she has a baby!   I want to have babies together darnit! Anyway, I have a ton to do today so I just have a couple photos from the trip and I will let you in on more tomorrow. I need to work on branding/packaging so I will be going to be doing some fun crafts today ;) I also have some other things to do for the end of the month, I will let you in on a pretty sweet secret later!! 

Breakfast in Williamsburg ( me and my mommy)


Brooklyn

Brooklyn Bridge...Coolest bridge EVER


Took a trip to the South Street Seaport!


My Mom and Sis...So cute


One of the other cutest dogs ever...Ellie ( I want to steal her!)


Happy Thursday!

9.03.2010

I am going somewhere!!!

So this is one of the first holiday weekends I have had off in a long time, with my parents too!  So we decided we were going to take a road trip! I put some of my fave little stud's pictures up so you can see just how excited I am!!! 
You can def see the excitement in his face, right? That's me!



Doing my happy dance.... 

We are going to.....

NEW YORK!!!! This is a puzzle I got my sister for her bday...ya I am a nerd, I like puzzles!


SO much to do before we leave tonight...

As you can see I haven't checked one thing off the list yet! I just have to brag about my cute dogs before I go ;)

Sexy Lexi (my mom's dog)





And guess what...my dog is CAMERA SHY! The dog that always has to be all up in your face needing all the attention will NOT look at me with that camera in my hand! Maybe she is just scared of it, well I guess I am going to have to make her feel more comfortable...;)

I like this one of Foxy ROX with all of the colors, even though that is a dead plant!


Ya, she likes her side profile....

THERE we go! Love her...


I am so excited we are going to New York...we all have Tuesday off too! I haven't been there in WAY too long. I can't wait to walk the crazy streets and eat at my fave dessert place, Cafe Lalo....ya it was in You've Got Mail, and prob has the best dessert ever! Anyway, I will take some pictures so you will see;) Everyone have a good holiday weekend!

BLOG....CHECK!