jvw photography

If you didn't already know....

2009-10-20T10:39:00.003-04:00

If you didn't already know...I'm on hiatus until Spring 2010. Something has come up. ;)

Having my second child on July 1st of this year has officially put my photography on hold until at least April/May of 2010. I love taking portraits...and will continue to do photography for my family, close friends and my favorite clients while on hiatus. So if you fall into that category...please give me a call. I'd love to do your portraits.

If you just found my blog/website...I hate turning new business away but this time with my kids just goes by too fast. I don't want to spend my evenings/weekends away from my babies!!!!!!! And in all honesty....the winter (November - March) is my slowest time of the year anyway so it shouldn't be a problem.

I look forward to advertising, photographing old and new clients, and back to blogging in the Spring. So until then...don't expect to see too many updates to this here blog. If you're interested in seeing what I'm up to....you can check me out on Facebook.

See ya in 2010!

Another Sneak Peek

2009-04-28T18:40:00.004-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing a family of 10 (grandparents and 2 families of 4) on Sunday at the IMA (again!). It's becoming a favorite location of mine!

To tide the family over...I thought I'd post a big group shot that I did. Considering I downloaded 743 images to my computer from the 2-hour shoot....it's gonna take me a while to get them all edited! So until that day comes when you have a gazillion images to look at (7-10 days after the shoot)....hopefully this will tide you over. Enjoy!

Sneak Peek...

2009-04-21T08:16:00.006-04:00

Okay...I thought I'd tide the Schnaiter family over for a day or two and post a few "sneak peek" photos of Katie that I took this weekend for her "spring" senior photos.

She's absolutely gorgeous...and to try something new with my senior portraits...I decided to try a different finish of photos in my editing. I'm still doing them in color, B&W, and then I added the 70's finish to them. I have to say...they're my favorite of the bunch. And you'll be seeing this finish in a lot of my future photos!!!!

For some people...it's just not their thing. But with Katie's red hair...gorgeous eyes and skin-tone...the finish looks great with her images.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from the day (still haven't edited them all yet....so you'll get them tomorrow, Ronda!). All in the 70's finish (but remember...the album will show the 3 finishes). It's Katie and her boyfriend...and they are just too cute! I can't wait to edit the rest of them tonight!!!!!

New April Ad!

2009-03-24T11:49:00.003-04:00

As many of you know (or may NOT know), I am currently expecting my 2nd child this summer! I've had the luxury of not doing any photography business from November to March (partly because of the nasty weather....and the other part was me feeling sickly from my pregnancy).

BUT NOW I'M OUT OF HIBERNATION and ready to get back into the swing of things! What better way to kick-off my 2009 Season than to start off with an April Special!?!?!

Please see the attached April flyer to check out my special for next month. It's a favorite photo of mine that I took about this time last year of my son when we were desperate for warm weather, the outdoors and BUBBLES!

I'll be having specials for April, May and June so keep a look out for my future specials. After the month of June, I probably won't be doing photography for a few months since I'm due end of July/early August. As my previous clients know, I am VERY engaged with my photography (climbing on chairs, crawling on the ground, laying down on my stomach to get eye-level with the kids, etc.) so that will be kinda difficult to do 9-months pregnant!

So DON'T WAIT TOO LONG! Easter will be here before you know it, the trees will be budding and blooming, and it's the PERFECT TIME FOR PICTURES! Especially in their Easter-outfits!

I hope everyone is doing well and I'd love to hear from you!

Julie
jvwphotography@yahoo.com

A great friend of mine...

2009-02-13T16:26:00.000-05:00

For my friend Tammy's birthday this year, I took pictures of her and her daughter K. I met Tammy 10 years ago when I first started my day-job and we've been friends ever since.

Her daughter is so lovely and the bond they share is enormous. It's also very evident in these images how much they love each other. And you don't often see a "tween" ask "Can you take one of us kissing?". Too cute and adorable.

So, enjoy some of my favorite images of the day. It's one of those shoots where the lighting was great, location great, beautiful subjects, and about a gazillion images to pick from. She loved her birthday present!!!!

Enjoy! Starting with my favorite....

Cousins

2009-02-10T19:51:00.000-05:00

One of my cousins on my dad's side had me to his family's X-Mas photos and cards this past year. In previous years, he and the gang had loaded up in the car, gone to a studio, and had a few generic photos taken.

Well this year, I had the privilege to get them all over to my house and favorite park nearby for some AWESOME shots! I think I have convinced them that they can skip the studio appointments and just head straight for my house. :)

I look forward to doing their 2009 images and holiday cards!

Here are just a few of my favorites from the day. Such cute kids...of course they ARE relatives of mine. ;)

Enjoy!

Wonderful Family...Too Cute!

2009-02-08T13:48:00.000-05:00

Back in October of last year I photographed this absolutely ADORABLE family of 4 at my favorite park.

They are friends of friends and I was sooo glad to meet and photograph them. After not having much luck at the "regular" photo studios, they decided to try their luck with me! And by the length of this post and all the photos I'm posting...I think it was their lucky day!

The kids were absolutely hilarious and so much fun. Him and his missing teeth...and her with her little grin. And you could tell that they loved each other so much! Such a great big brother! So enjoy my favorites from the day. This has to be one of my all-time favorite shoots to date! Great subjects, great location, great lighting, and LOTS OF GIGGLES! :) You just don't get shots of these at a portrait studio....

Newborn Shoot

2009-02-05T19:48:00.000-05:00

I had the privilege of meeting a new friend through our own respective blogs. She's local and just moved (last fall) to a new house about 2 miles away from me. And of course they moved right around the time their little baby Claire was born. (I shudder to think what they went through having a new baby and moving!!!!)

After reading her blog and getting to know her through e-mails and messages, I was THRILLED when I got to photograph their new little baby girl.

Now with newborn shoots, I usually ALWAYS hold 2-3 hours for the actual shoot. Babies will do what they darn-well please (eat, poop, sleep, cry, be grumpy, etc.) whenever they darn-well please! Well, this shoot was shorter due to time commitments but I have to say...I think the few that I took turned out pretty darn well.

She's a cutie, and their little family is so wonderful and happy. Hopefully I'll be their photographer for the next babies that come their way....and get to watch and photograph them all through their lives.

Enjoy some of my favorites! Starting with my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE shot of the day. I just love taking pictures of nursing babies. Not the graphic ones or the ones nobody wants to look at. But this image is so beautiful. You know what's happening, you know it's beautiful, and it's just so PEACEFUL!

Nothing indecent about it. I always try to assure my new moms that if you nurse, let's try and get a shot of this moment. I wish there was a picture of me feeding G-Man ....because I miss it so much with him. By far one of the best things about having a baby (in my own opinion)...the nursing and bonding that comes with it.

I want the moms to be comfortable, so if they are uneasy about it, I assure them that I'm not going to get anything graphic on there (stretch marks, fat rolls, back fat, nipple shots) and I'll show the images to them on my camera after I take them. If they hate them and don't want them...I delete them from the camera right then. I usually leave the room and let them get situated (babies latched on, stomach covered, no exposure of anything you don't want photographed, etc.) and then come back and start capturing the moment. ANYTHING TO MAKE MOM FEEL COMFORTABLE.

BECAUSE TRUST ME....nobody wants an image of themselves looking gross (in their eyes) or to be sitting stiff and uncomfortable worried what your photographer is taking pictures of. But this image is gorgeous, so I think they know what I'm trying to get here. :)

Senior Gal

2009-02-04T16:22:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'm finally getting back into the swing of things here on the old photography blog. I have sooo many shoots to blog about and share my favorite images of from the fall, that I'm just going to slowly go through them and show you my favorites.

I'm really looking forward to Spring and getting back into my business that I have missed these last few months. However, I was pretty glad to have the break. Especially with the holidays, hibernation and sickness going around and not to mention the morning/noon/night sickness I had for a while there.

So, without further adieu...here are some of my favorite images from a great senior gal I had the opportunity to "shoot" in October of last year.

I'm also going to include a few favorites of mine that I took of her, her sister and her mother. They reminded me of my sister and mom and the bond they share. Single mom raising 2 teenage girls...just like me and my sister with our mother.

I just wish there would have been someone around to take pictures of us like I captured with these 2. Definitely something Mom will cherish forever.

Enjoy!!!!

13.5 Weeks

2009-02-02T16:38:00.003-05:00

Well, I'm in the 2nd trimester now and as you can see from my photo below, I definitely look like I'm in my 2nd trimester.

What's a little startling...is that it took me a while to look this pregnant with G-Man. I mean...FAR LONGER THAN 13.5 weeks. Kinda makes me worried what I'm going to look like at 40 weeks (although I didn't make it that far with G).

I heard the heartbeat last Friday and it was nice and strong. That's always a relief to hear actual proof that there is a child in there. I mean, until then...it's always a little surreal. But when you hear the actual heartbeat of your child growing in you, it's an emotional thing. Even more so when I have a little boy at home whose little heart races after he runs around the house yelling "CHASE ME!" and I'm trying to explain to him why it probably isn't a good idea for Mommy to go running after him.

My next appointment is March 4th. It's my 18-week check-up and ultrasound screening. I can't wait to bring the DVD home (we get to tape the ultrasound) and show G-Man his sister, Bees.

[No...we don't know it's a girl. But G-Man is CONVINCED it's a girl. And I don't believe we're naming our child Bees...even though that is what G has named HER. Don't ask me where he got the name, but the day he found out about the baby, he named HER BEES. So now we're either stuck with the name Beatrice...or Beasley...and calling her/him Bees.]

It was MUCH easier first time around when picking G's name. We didn't have a 4-year old to chime in with his vote.

#2...CHECK!!!!!

2009-01-13T17:16:00.001-05:00

#2. Get pregnant with my 2nd child. CHECK!!!!

The REAL reason I haven't posted or done anything else in 3 months. I have felt like CRAP!

We found out Thanksgiving morning that I was pregnant. Talk about being thankful that day! We ended up telling all our close family that day. Just couldn't keep it in and everyone knew I had been pestering Travis for months (years, really) to have another child.

When I was prego with G-Man, I wasn't sick one single day. NOT ONE! I had heartburn in the 2nd and 3rd trimester (because I was bigger than a barn and so was he!) but that was about it.

With THIS one...I've been sick. I've been tired. I've had raging heartburn from week 6. Oh...and I look at LEAST 5 months pregnant. You know what they say about getting pregnant with your second...you show a lot sooner (blah blah blah your uterus is like a balloon blah blah blah). It's freakin' true. Either that or I'm pregnant with triplets (please God please don't let that be true. My husband will divorce me). It's getting EXTREMELY hard to disguise the huge belly bump I've got going on. I'll post some pictures later.

So I've lounged around the house. I've done a bunch of NOTHING. I'm either sick (that whole morning/noon/night sickness finally stopped around Xmas) or tired and that is a bad combo to try and get things accomplished.

I'm 11 weeks today and ready to be in the comfortable 2nd trimester. 2nd trimesters are good. Especially when 3rd trimesters are in the HOLY HELL HOT OF SUMMER (I'm due August 6th).

But all I can say is that this baby is worth it. I know it could be FAR worse than it is. I know that I could NOT be pregnant or not able to get pregnant. I know I could be sick for all 40 weeks. I know that there are millions of women out there who would trade places with me in a second to be able to be pregnant.

So all I have to say is....thank you God for this wonderful blessing. I truly AM blessed.

LAME-O

2009-01-08T11:39:00.005-05:00

Yikes. Almost 2 months since my last post. LAME-O. So sorry about that. I've taken a little much-needed break and haven't done much of anything....let alone work up a post.

My house is a mess, my tree is STILL up (but not lit) and there are toys everywhere. Christmas was wonderful (and Thanksgiving was too!) and I was hardly on the computer at all. Plus, I was off for 3 weeks in December so I was pretty much a bum the ENTIRE time.

Now that I'm back in the swing of things, I promise to post more regularly. I've got TONS of photos to post from the fall...and I'll spread them out so I have something to post about. Taking a few months off until spring to do photos (unless someone is interested in indoor, NATURAL-LIGHT images...or we brave the cold) is going to be nice. But I will be ready to get back into the swing of things come Spring.

Since I can't post without a picture....here are a few shots from my own family shoot I had my friend Brooke help me with. I can't thank her enough for wielding my camera for me and doing what I tell her to do! G-Man wasn't all that cooperative but we sure got a few cute ones.

Enjoy! And I promise to post again soon.

Does this look comfortable to you???

2008-11-19T15:32:00.001-05:00

Does this look comfortable to you???

No, I don't think so. Normally shoes on the wrong feet tend to hurt your toes.

I know THIS doesn't look comfortable. My goodness...his "stuff" (as we call it) has got to be a jumbled mess in there. (Not too terrible-looking from the front. Wait until you see the back.)

If you are wondering if this kid of mine is standing OUTSIDE in the driveway with his pants pulled down, then you would be correct. Not enough light inside the house, and these images are something I plan to torture him with as he gets older. Like graduation. Or his wedding. You know...all those things us mothers out there have to keep to whip out at the perfect moment. You see...G-Man is really learning (by hit and miss) how to dress himself. That means everything. Shoes, socks, underwear, shirt and pants. The other day I picked him up from school with his socks upside down (the bottom part of your foot (gray part) was on top of his foot), the shoes on the wrong feet with the tongue of the shoe scrunched down to the toes (he slid his feet in, rather than un-doing the velcro), his underwear on funky, his pants on backwards (the fly and button in the back) and his shirt has been on backward a time or two also.

Guess he needs to work a little bit more on dressing himself.

Break

2008-11-13T13:36:00.004-05:00

Sorry dear blog readers for not posting much lately. After going non-stop for a couple of months now with work and photography and busy life...I'm taking a little break. Namely...this week.

Last week I edited 5 shoots that happened the weekend before, worked on X-Mas cards, baked a wedding cake for 220 guests, stressed over a wedding, and just about died. All on top of working full-time at my day job.

I crashed and burned after Saturday night's wedding shoot and I'm not quite ready to get back up and get going. So I took Sunday off to rest and relax. Then that turned into Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, today and I plan on not doing much of anything this weekend except for a photo shoot I have scheduled for Saturday (although with nasty Indiana weather...that might get postponed).

I'm just tired. The cold weather has made it worse. I just want to stay home, curl up on the couch, read a book and eat fattening food. :)

I have sooo much to blog about it's a little overwhelming right now. Plus...I have a huge wedding to edit and get to my client. I think it's safe to say you won't hear much from me until next week (unless I get a wild hair up my bum to do some blogging).

I haven't forgotten you. I'm just neglecting you. :) I'm spending quality time with my husband and son and enjoying staying home during the evenings and over the weekend. Maybe even doing a little holiday shopping.

So keep thinking of me. I plan to post a bunch next week. Just taking a breather...

~J

Senior Gal...

2008-11-05T05:45:00.000-05:00

Okay...it seems like I've had a HUGE rush of seniors to debut on the blog recently...and it's true. I have. AND I'M NOT DONE BLOGGING ABOUT THEM YET.

The weather has been perfect, school has started, and the senior portraits just rolled right in. Thanks to Ronda (thanks again Ronda!) for spreading my name around and giving me some free advertising.

One of the girls referred to me is "K". She's gorgeous, sweet as can be, and the camera loves her. Here are a few of my favorites from the day...starting with my favorite.

"Freshman" Pictures...

2008-11-04T06:31:00.000-05:00

With my big Schnaiter family, one of the girls is a freshman in college. So while she's "technically" not a senior...she was one just a few months ago. So she qualifies for my senior photo album.

C is so adorable...and her eyes just light up the camera. The blue really pops. And I know her boyfriend (who is currently on deployment) really loves these images. Which makes my happy that he loves images I took of her. Especially while serving our country.

So, enjoy my "freshman" pictures. Also included are a few with some of her college friends that came along (who were so much fun!). These are perfect examples of some images I take with your friends (or boyfriends!) (which is included in the senior package!) that is great to document your senior year!

Enjoy a few of my favorites...starting with MY VERY FAVORITE of her.

Sneak Peek...

2008-11-03T13:58:00.003-05:00

Ok....I just HAD to post a sneak peek of this family I shot (hehe) last Thursday. Mom was worried I didn't get any good shots. This is the first shot in the album...and I'm only about 1/4 a way through the editing. I haven't even gotten to the REALLY GOOD shots yet. :)

I think this speaks for itself.....

Stay tuned, mom....more to come (soon!).

The Schnaiter Senior

2008-11-01T06:25:00.000-04:00

I posted about the Schnaiter family a few days ago. One of my favorite families, EVER.

Well, K is a senior at my old high school and we took about half of her senior pictures the weekend we took the big family pictures. In early November, we plan to get back together in Indianapolis somewhere and get the rest of them. Try different settings.

She's so photogenic...and easy to photograph. I will all my seniors were like this...

Enjoy some of my favorites. They're having a rough time picking images to print! They love too many of them (a sign that my job was successful!) Stay tuned for a post of the rest of them! I'm excited!!!!

This is what they would have looked like...

2008-10-31T08:38:00.006-04:00

This is what my Halloween cupcakes WOULD have looked like...had I not been swamped with photography stuff and overwhelmed and lazy.

Pretty nice, huh?

I had every intention of doing these all super adorable today for G-Man's daycare...and to take a few to work. BUT I FORGOT TO BAKE THEM AFTER WORK. AND I FORGOT TO BAKE THEM AFTER MY PHOTO SHOOT LAST NIGHT.

I FORGOT TO BAKE THEM UNTIL I WAS PUTTING G-MAN TO BED AT 8:45 LAST NIGHT.

@#$%^*!&

So I came downstairs, got my kitchen aid mixer out, and mixed up a boxed mix quickly. Then I busted out the can of Halloween sprinkes I bought the other day (probably subconsciously already anticipating my lack of follow-through with cake stuff these days) and finished them up.

All the kids are going to do is lick the icing off anyway!!!! (Or at least that is how I justify it to myself.)

So while my intentions were fantastic (see above...during my height of cake-decorating frenzy)....the turnout were less than stellar.

Just imagine chocolate cupcakes, canned icing and Halloween-themed sprinkles. Nothing to post pictures about. :) I like to remember my creations from last year.... Just think of it as being Halloween of 2007.

Happy a Happy Halloween!

The Schnaiter Family

2008-10-30T05:21:00.000-04:00

The Schnaiter family is very near and dear to me. Sue (grandma) was my 2nd grade teacher. Ronda (the mom of 3 kids) was the daycare provider for my nephew...and is currently the provider for my 2 nieces. They all go to my church. They are all great friends (and have been for many years). This is why I love them all so much!

Months ago I auctioned off a photo shoot during my church's auction to raise money for the youth group. Of course, one of the Schnaiters (mom of the 1 daughter) won my shoot and she decided she wanted to get a BIG family spread done in the fall.

So we waited.

And waited.

And finally the leaves changed colors and we all found a time when all 10 of them were free. That was a couple of weekends ago. We met at Anderson's Orchard on a gorgeous fall, Saturday morning. Where I spent HOURS getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.

One of the girls is a freshman in college....and she brought 2 of her friends with her. The other girl is a senior in high school this year. We went ahead and took some extra shots of her for her fall senior pictures (another shoot is scheduled in a couple more weeks). The other kids are younger and SUCH a joy. Especially the boy. I'll call him The Stinker. (In a loving way, of course). As you'll see in the next few pictures...he isn't real thrilled to get his photo taken...unless he's hamming it up for the camera. After a few threats (from his family...NOT ME)...he cooperated and we got some good shots.

I'm only going to show you the family shots...and the ones of the younger kids. I'll post another entry about the senior portraits (and the college friend portraits). So stay tuned for that.

I literally took a GAZILLION pictures of these people...that they are having a REALLY HARD TIME deciding which pictures to buy. I like it when my clients have that problem. Means I'm doing my job right! So I'm only posting a few shots...there are literally HUNDREDS more...but I didn't figure you'd want to look at all of them.

So without further adieu...I present the Schnaiter family. (stay tuned later for more images!)

Carving Pumpkins

2008-10-29T20:05:00.004-04:00

Tonight we carved our 3 pumpkins for Halloween. G-Man kept saying "yuck" during the gutting process...and didn't want to touch the gunk. He's such a little prima-donna. But he HAD to wear his Spiderman costume.

After I gutted them all, we picked our templates and started poking holes. All the while I am wondering what ever happened to a sharpie and a steak knife that I used as a child.

Far less safer back then...but way more fun.

So we had templates...and special tools...and all was successful. I did my own (which G then proceeded to stab with every tool we had) and I think it turned out pretty well...except for the gaping wounds it now has.

Travis did his...and for G's I just used a pen and a child-proof knife. By that point...I was done. Over it. Finito.

That's the way it always is. Gung-ho...then bored...then hurried. G-Man was just playing swords with the tools, poking holes with everything imaginable, and wanting to take breaks to eat Halloween candy.

Oh well. It was fun. And I made Travis take pictures inside. I'm using a big-boy flash that my friend is loaning me for the wedding I have next weekend. Getting some practice in.

*I don't want to talk about it because my first wedding as a photographer is giving me hives*

Enjoy! This photo of the pumpkin really doesn't give justice to the 7 holes jabbed into the sides.

Playing in the Leaves...

2008-10-29T15:58:00.000-04:00

With fall photo shoots...you get falling leaves and leaf piles. All wonderful things for little kiddos to play in during a photo shoot.

Well, I had the pleasure of photographing this lovely mother/sons a couple of weeks ago. It was a brisk, cold morning with dew everywhere. I was thanking my stars that it was boys...and not girls...as girls tend to be a little bit more particular about getting wet/dirty during photo shoots.

The only bad/negative thing about the shoot was that it was pretty overcast and there wasn't a ton of light to work with. When that happens, photos just aren't as clear and perfect as I want them to be (and how they CAN be with the right light). So I worked with what I had...and these are what we got!

Enjoy some of my favorites....

My hair stylist...and her adorable son...

2008-10-27T05:43:00.007-04:00

I absolutely love my hair stylist. Camas is so wonderful and gives me such great styles. She's even the one who encouraged me to chop all my hair off for bangs.

To top off her greatness...she has a little boy who is about 6 months younger than G-Man. And let me tell you...he's a lady killer. He has WHITE BLONDE hair, jet black eyes, and a smile that just won't quit.

It was a challenge photographing them. She's dark complected, dark eyes, and dark hair. He's a toe-head, dark eyes, and pale skin. The camera's white balance was quirky to get him dark enough and her light enough to get it to work. This ON TOP OF it being extremely dark and overcast that day. It was hard finding enough light to work with. I think I found a good balance. And he is just too adorable. I even *GASP* used the flash a few times to see if some images would come out better. None of my favorites were taken with the flash...so I think I'll stay far away from the flash. *Whew*

As a surprise for her husband, we got together to get some images for him for Christmas and for his desk/office. He's a custom jeweler (so if anyone is needing custom jewelry work done...I'll give you his info!) and has a studio at home. Any of these images would be great for what she's wanting for him.

So, enjoy the images! These are just a few of my favorites.

Another Repeat Client...

2008-10-25T12:22:00.001-04:00

I just love repeat clients. I have already gotten used to them...they're used to me...and it's fun to get different shots and different times of the same kid.

My good friend Jaime asked me AGAIN to photograph her daughter when they were back home visiting from California. Remember the head shots?!?!? Too stinkin' cute.

Well, they were here (and I have since found out that they are moving back to Indiana!!!!) for a few days and we did a photo shoot out at Anderson Orchard. Got some fall shots, got some Christmas card shots, and boy....Emma is just so adorable. With a fantastic fashion sense.

So, here are just a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Repeat

2008-10-23T16:56:00.000-04:00

Do you remember these little kiddos from September?

They were so sweet, and adorable, and spunky. And Mom and Dad loved them. However....they didn't really think the images captured their true spirit. And here at JVW Photography...I want my customers happy.

So, we did a re-shoot! Last time they stayed back in the background and let me do my thing. This works great with some kids (the ones who won't do ANYTHING for their mother)...and not so well for others (who kinda look at me like I'm nuts and don't do the cute stuff that they normally do). So this time, mom and dad were included. And boy did it pay off!

I got some good ones with mom...some good ones with dad...and some good ones all around. AND...this shoot was a first for me that one of my subjects ended up bloody.

Hmmm...maybe I should start having parents sign waivers. :)

Anyway...it happened at the very end (obviously) and we were finished...just playing on the playground. Well, she went a little sideways and slid down a slide when she wasn't ready to. And ran her face into the soft (thankfully soft!) spongey ground. She bit her tongue. And blood gushed everywhere.

This picture was taken 1.4 seconds before "the incident". See how happy she looked?!?!?!

Anyway, here are some of my favorites of the day. I hope you enjoy! I know Mom does!!!!

Family & Senior Portraits

2008-10-22T16:36:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine has 2 little girls, and an older senior-aged son. She was wanting some family shots...as well as some senior shots...so we covered them both in one day. Well, actually 2 days. We did the family shots and some individual shots, and then decided the senior shots weren't what we were really looking for, so I did a re-shoot of some of the senior shots. She's pleased and I'm pleased...so all is well with the world.

And...it didn't hurt that it wasn't 102 degrees outside the day of our 2nd shoot. Amazing what a week or 2 will do.

Ben is so sweet and gentle with his little sisters. There is a HUGE age difference...but he treats them dearly and you can tell he loves them very much. Gives me hope that one day G-Man might get along with-love a younger sibling. Even if they aren't 3-years apart.

So, enjoy my favorites!!!!

Gatorland!!!!!

2008-10-16T16:53:00.000-04:00

So, back to our Florida trip. We left 9:00 p.m. Friday evening (after visiting Savonna in the hospital) and headed down to Orlando.

Travis hadn't slept hardly at all due to being at the hospital with Vonna, so I had first shift. After a few hours of driving and Travis not being able to sleep due to being so wound up, we swapped. It's now about midnight and my turn to sleep.

Well, that's when G-Man wanted to wake up and cry every hour for about 5 minutes. He was too tired, didn't want to be in the car, wanted to be in his bed, and was GRUMPY. Of course this happens during MY sleep shift.

Basically, I slept in 15-minute increments. And during those increments, I was threatening to throw G out the window.

Around 3 or 4 in the morning, it was my turn to drive (as Travis was EXTREMELY tired at this point). Of course at this point in time, G-Man was tired and sleeping a lot more soundly. 7:30 a.m. this Mama was tired and needing FOOD. So off to McDonalds we go and to swap drivers again.

At this time, G is awake, happy, and ready to go. I surprised him with his new Power Rangers movie and he was PUMPED! *And all I can say is I am sooo glad he's now used to wearing his headphones*

We get to Orlando, get checked into our hotel, shower, change, eat lunch and head over to Gatorland.

G-Man is STILL talking about the alligators, crocodiles, and how the alligators ate the hot dogs that we fed them. AND that they also eat chickens.

It was all very educational, fun, and a perfect way to spend 3-4 hours in Orlando. We were exhausted, but well worth the time and $$ to go.

Enjoy our photos from Gatorland!

#11....Check! (continued...)

2008-10-14T19:00:00.001-04:00

So to wrap up my #11 on my 101 in 1001....let's finish talking about Disney World.

Day 1 was Animal Kingdom...and Day 2 is Magic Kingdom.

We made it to Magic Kingdom early in the day and first up...pictures with the first character we got to.

Pluto is first and immediately G-Man is NOT quite thrilled with him. He's not crying, but he's not thrilled to meet him either. He's bashful, and hiding his eyes. Eventually we get our photos taken together (by the Disney guy...so I don't have it electronically...yet) and then I finish taking photos as we're trying to get G to even ACKNOWLEDGE Pluto's existence. Finally he gets a high-five and we're off!

As soon as you get to MK, there is SO much to see...so much to do...and so much to distract you with. But finally we get some pictures snapped and off to the rides we go.

We rode many rides....even one ride 3 times!!!!

He loved everything and we were SOOO glad that we took him. Travis was worried he'd hate it (since you guys remember...this kid HATES carnival rides) and that we'd be throwing $$ down the drain. But we didn't (well, we spend oodles of $$$...but just none down the drain) and he enjoyed it all. EVEN THE RIDES. I do believe it helps when the parents can ride WITH you.

Even the parade was great...but by this time G was hot and tired and not quite thrilled to stand up and see everything...so he sat in his stroller and fanned himself with our hand-held fan.

Oh, and his favorite parts about Disney???? The gift shops. I am not kidding you...this kid gets it honestly from both parents...but all he wanted to do was shop. So we indulged. Nothing like a $15 Buzz Lightyear spinner toy to make a kid happy. And a $15 Mickey-Mouse Ears hat to make mom happy (for those adorable photos). And yes...somehow I would up wearing the Mickey ears...you are allowed to make fun of me.

We're excited to head back there for THE BIG DISNEY TRIP where we'll stay at the resort, stay for 4-5 days, and ride EVERYTHING. This trip wasn't that...but it still was a fantastic first trip to Disney. For G-Man AND Travis. Next time though...when we wait in line for 20 minutes to meet Mickey & Minnie...I want him to actually LOOK at them, maybe smile and give hugs, so that I can take the pictures....instead of all 3 of us standing there taking pictures with Mickey/Minnie and him covering his eyes.

And I had to keep reminding myself...this kid is 3.5 years old and still takes naps during the day...when he's NOT spending it at an amusement park.

This was what happened when we got back to the hotel.....

Sneak Peek...

2008-10-14T15:35:00.002-04:00

Laura...just for you. A sneak peek of what's to come! My favorite of the day. I thought you'd enjoy.

Julie :)

#11....Check!

2008-10-13T16:13:00.001-04:00

#11....Go to Disney World.

Well, I can FINALLY cross #11 off of my list of 101 in 1001. We hit the good old Disney World for 2 days...September 28th & 29th. First up....Animal Kingdom (this post). Lastly....Magic Kingdom (another post coming up soon).

We got to Animal Kingdom around noon (after a tour of a timeshare place...all to get SUPER discounted Disney tickets) and it was hot. REALLY HOT. First up....RENT A STROLLER. Because I am NOT going to carry around a 45 pound child all over Disney...with a bad back.

Animal Kingdom is shady, enclosed in a forest-like atmosphere, and not ANYTHING like Magic Kingdom.

We loved it. The animals, the rides, the atmosphere, the EVERYTHING. Great way to kick off day-1 of our trip.

I won't bore you with ALL the photos from our trip...just a few highlights.

The scenery:

The safari (which G LOVED...and was fantastic...and again, won't bore you with zoo-type pictures):

The HATS (Lordy, Lordy...Disney makes great hats...and I had fun playing dress-up with G. Disregard the Minnie witch's hat):

The ice cream! (The chocolate bar is mine...just giving it to G to pose with it):

And lastly....The parade! (you can tell he's getting tired at this point!):

Gorgeous Prego Mama

2008-10-06T19:50:00.006-04:00

Before I left for vacation, I had another maternity shoot. And let me just say...my new mom was GORGEOUS and a PERFECT model for her shoot. On top of that...her husband was good looking too!

Needless to say, the images turned out perfectly. She loves them...and just sent me an e-mail with the best feedback a photographer could ever hope for.

***

Julie,

The pictures are absolutely beautiful! They far exceeded my expectations-I never thought I could get such gorgeous shots at nine months pregnant. We can't wait to share them with our family and friends. Now comes the hard part...trying to pick out just a few to frame!

Thank you so much for making the shoot so comfortable for both E and I. You did an amazing job and we can't wait to work with you again when the baby arrives!

S-

***

I was thrilled with their response...and LOVE their images. Lighting was perfect and the subjects were gorgeous. I can't wait to photograph their newborn baby boy!

Here's a few of my favorites...starting with my absolute favorite!!!! You can see many more here on my maternity section.

We're Baaaaaack!!!!

2008-10-04T17:54:00.002-04:00

We are HOME! Thank goodness...because Lord am I pooped!

Plus, I have a TON to do. LAUNDRY, unpacking, editing photos I took of clients BEFORE I left on vacation, the 780+ images I TOOK on vacation, and get ready for work this week (plus a CRAZY weekend of clients and their October specials).

So who knows what blogging will be about this week. Probably a lot of client favorite photos...and some details about our trip.

But in a nutshell...it was FANTAST-A-GORIFIC! The weather was PERFECT!

G-Man loved Disney, he loved Gatorland, AND he loved the beach (but only while wearing clothes and NOT when I wanted him sandy/dirty/wet. Of course.

Thanks for the prayers for Vonna too! She is doing great...and will be staying with us for the next 6+ weeks to recover. I plan to post more on that...WITH images of her! :) I promise I won't be too graphic with scars and such. Or at least if I do...you'll have to click the link to get to them. It's amazing what doctors can do these days!

Praise God!

#57....Check!

2008-10-01T05:00:00.001-04:00

# 57. Get canvas prints made.

Yet another thing I can mark off my list of 101 in 1001.

I started using the company Simply Canvas for all of my canvas prints...and I have to say...they live up to their reputation.

I had a client who wanted a big print of her daughters. And I of course wanted a big photo of G-Man for my office wall.

Let me just say....BIGGER IS BETTER. Bigger CANVASES are better.

These are awesome. I love them. My clients love them. And anyone who ever sees them fall in love with them. So if any clients out there want some AWESOME canvases made of their images...contact me! I'd be happy to give you ALL the details...AND all the pricing info. Sizes can be anything from an 8x8....to a 40x80!!!! They are so fantastic...I can't wait to see my other images portrayed on canvas!

Holiday Cards III...

2008-09-28T17:34:00.000-04:00

And last...but certainly not least (especially if I continue making them!) are my 4x8 cards. Again, I can easily change to be 5x7 cards...and change all the text, colors and images.

Enjoy!

I'm going to have a real hard time picking MY Christmas card template this year....as I've done a bunch of my favorites! And I have to have something different..... ;)

J

And we're off!!!!!

2008-09-26T18:37:00.001-04:00

***Thanks again to everyone who prayed for Savonna. She is doing so well in fact, that we were persuaded (by her and all our family) to continue on with our vacation...so we're going to. We're just glad it happened YESTERDAY....and not NEXT week. Travis would have literally had a heart attack if we were all the way in Florida and got the call about the donor. I'd be rushing him to the airport to catch a plane and G-Man and myself would be driving all the way home by our lonesome. Again, we're thanking God it happened this week instead of next. God truly has a plan for us all!***

Well, vacation time has finally arrived and G-Man is BUSTING with excitement about going to "Disney Worrrrd".

He seems to think we'll see SHARKS! at Disney Worrrd and if we don't see the shark that is advertised on our "Disney Dream DVD" thingey they mailed to us...then we are in deep SH%T.

Not to mention we will all be 25 pounds heavier when we return. Including G-Man.

Went to Wal-Mart earlier this week and spent $250 freaking dollars on JUNK FOOD and things to amuse G on a 15+ hour trip to Florida.

I left them all in the bags and put them in our butler's pantry (mainly so we wouldn't eat them before vacation) and to get them out of my way. Well, he saw them and FREAKED OUT with excitement over the individual bags of CHEESE-ITS!, GOLDFISH!, DING DONGS!, CANDY!, DONUTS!, GRANOLA BARS!, and the numerous types of candy for each of us (Mike & Ike's for Travis, Sour Patch Kids for Me, and M&M's for G).

He then proceeded to bring each box of food to me (during one of our dinners) and show ME what HE found.

I think we'll be out of food by the time we hit Georgia.

Now all we need to do is not run out of gas on the way down there...since there's a shortage of gas in the south.

I obviously won't be blogging while I'm gone (unless Travis lets me "blog" on his new iPhone I finally let him buy). I however will try and "twitter" while I'm away from my ancient and so-not-cool cell phone. So you could probably find out some of my "adventures" while vacationing in Florida.

Here's our itinerary. Pray for no hurricanes!

Friday: Leave - drive straight through (yes...we are crazy)
Saturday: Arrive and possibly go to Gatorland.
Sunday: Magic Kingdom (I'm SO excited!!!!!)
Monday: Animal Kingdom
Tuesday: Drive to Ft. Myers where we've rented a condo RIGHT ON THE OCEAN!!!!
Wednesday: DO NOTHING BUT LAY AROUND AND SLEEP. SOAK UP SUN!
Thursday: Same as Wednesday. But possibly spend enormous amounts of $$ shopping! I love malls & outlets!
Friday: Same as Thursday...except leave Friday night to drive STRAIGHT THROUGH home.
Saturday: Arrive home extremely exhausted.
Sunday: Do Laundry. And edit 1500 photos from our trip.

Be prepared for the week we return...to be inundated with VACATION PICTURES! I'm ready....ARE YOU?!?!?!

God is Good. :)

2008-09-26T13:02:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! Quick update.

She got her kidney! AND a pancreas.

We got notified at 2:30 this morning (Friday) that she was a match and after they notified us...they whisked her off to the OR within 10 minutes. It was quick!

They started at 2:30...and at 6:00 a.m. they had finished transplanting the pancreas...and by 10:30 a.m. they had finished with the kidney.

Our prayers have been answered.

Even as they were "closing her up", she was already starting to produce urine (which she has not produced in a LONG time due to her lack of function of her current kidneys). THIS IS AWESOME!

She went through surgery with flying colors...and she's currently in ICU (where she'll stay 3-7 days (approximately)).

I want to thank EVERYONE who prayed for Savonna and our family. Not only our family...but the family of the 16-year old boy who was on life support long enough to donate 8 of his organs. We are truly thankful.

GOD BLESS! For He is so good.

Julie

Needing some prayers today....

2008-09-25T17:30:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I'm asking for any and all prayers today!

My sister-in-law, Savonna Matthews has been on the kidney transplant waiting list for over a year. She has been diabetic since age 12 (she's currently 36) and has been on dialysis for over a year as well.

Well, she got a phone call this morning from the IU Med Center (in Indpls....she lives an hour east of here in Richmond, IN) to come in for further testing. Apparently she and another person are the closest match for this kidney, and after further testing, whoever is the closest gets this kidney...TODAY.

So I pray for her to get this kidney. I pray for the other family who is ALSO praying for their family member to get the kidney. And I pray for the lost soul who lost their life today and was an organ donor.

So I have been calling and e-mailing and texting everyone I know to ask for prayers for Savonna. She has a 7-year old daughter (my niece) who has struggled through life dealing with her mother's illness (who had a baby against dr.'s wishes...think Steel Magnolias).

So, any prayers or prayer-list additions would be very grateful right now. My husband called me in tears and told me to call everyone I know and to PRAY HARD.

So, that's what I'm doing.

I will keep you all posted on what's happening...we should know something soon!

Holiday Cards II...

2008-09-25T17:01:00.000-04:00

Okay...here are a few more I'm offering to my clients this year. Again, sizes 5x7 and all text, colors and images are customize-able.

Enjoy!

Holiday Cards...

2008-09-24T14:23:00.003-04:00

Well, I've been a busy little bee working on my holiday cards I'm going to offer my clients this season.

Needing some inspiration, I scrounged the Internet for cards I liked, and used them as inspiration on cards I created. I'm thinking they turned out pretty well!

Presenting...Cards 1, 2 and 3. I'll be "presenting" more in the following days...so for now, here are a few.

These are in the 5x7 format. Although if you really wanted a 4x8 card...I'm sure I could change it out into that size.... Also EASILY changed are colors, wording and fonts. ENJOY!

What's a girl to do....

2008-09-23T10:27:00.011-04:00

when you want to promote your fall special...and need some good pictures to advertise?!?!?!

Well, if you're me, you drag your son out on a photo shoot with promises and bribery of a new Power Ranger toy and M&M's.

A toy and M&M's is a small price for a handsome model. And luckily I have my own model to torture.

I picked him up from daycare the other day and told him we were "going home to take pictures!!!!!" He loves "looking through the hole" (aka looking through the camera viewing area) and then clicking pictures away. With a digital camera...why not? So he thought we were going home and he was going to get to take pictures.

WRONG.

It started going downhill when I got him home and told him to come here so we could change his clothes. Well, he was wearing his favorite Spiderman shirt and it wasn't coming off. He started whining.

"Do you want a new Power Ranger toy from Wal-Mart?!?!?!"

He started stripping his shirt off.

(Mother's are so smart)

So he's pumped and now thinks we're changing our clothes and going to Wal-Mart for a new Power Rangers toy. He's forgotten all about the "photo shoot" part.

So he's changed, and we head out back. Start snapping some away and he's happy. It's early yet. He's still asking for Wal-Mart every 20 seconds.

Finally it's time and I tell him to get in the car. He's thinks we're heading to Wal-Mart. We make a stop along the way at some tall grasses. I get him out and he's mad that we're not at Wal-Mart and getting his new toy.

"But honey...we have to take your picture first!"

"NOOOOOOOOO"

"Do you want a new Power Ranger toy?!?!?"

"YES!"

"Then we have to take your picture out here in the pretty grass! Look, I see a TIGER in the grass!!!! We better crouch down and hide!!!!"

So we hide from the tigers and I'm clicking away and he's mad he's traipsing through the tall grass and he's begging for Wal-Mart.

"Honey, if you're a good boy...we'll go to the corn fields and take more pictures and THEN we'll go to Wal-Mart."

"But I want to go to Wal-Mart now and get my toy."

"If you let mommy take your pictures here and at the corn fields....I'll buy you some M&M's too!!!!!"

"O-KKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!"

So, we head over to the corn fields and snap away and he's doing well and I'm talking about his new BLUE Power Ranger toy (all the while praying to God the blue toy is in stock or I'm SCREWED!)

After a very short time, he's had it. I know it...and I promised. So, I herd him to the car with the promise of going to Wal-Mart. But on the way to the car...there's the road with the orange line. I make him walk it and he's ever so p-o'd at me.

All in all, we made it to Wal-Mart. We got the BLUE Power Ranger toy...and we got M&M's. Not bad for a model's pay.

But I would rather ANY DAY OF THE WEEK take pictures of other people's kids. THEY listen to me. G-Man does not. I just kept thinking...remember all the times I tuned my mother out...especially when she was wielding a camera?!?!?!

Yes. My son has that mastered. P.S. Can you tell the photos of him whining...and then after me telling him about his toys & M&M's. Yeah. Kinda obvious. :)

October Fall Sale!

2008-09-23T09:45:00.001-04:00

Who dislocates a rib?

2008-09-18T13:04:00.002-04:00

Me, apparently.

I've been having some pain in my neck/shoulder area recently. It's stayed the same for about 2 months, and then about a week ago it started going further down my back, shoulder blades, neck and shoulder/arm area.

So Tuesday I made an appointment with my wonderful chiropractor to see what the heck was up, since I was extremely uncomfortable and in pretty good pain.

Come to find out I have a dislocated rib (high on my back, under my shoulder blade). After about 10 minutes of manipulation, rubbing, massaging and bringing me to tears, he thought to have it back in place. I could literally feel the rib moving and popping as he ran his hand over it. I could obviously feel it was "out of place".

As you can imagine, I was in terrible pain when I left from him manipulating a really sore spot for 10 minutes...REALLY HARD.

I went home, iced it and was low-key. Went to bed and woke up with an extremely sore left-side of my body. So, I stayed home from work and did nothing but munch on food (not good for the diet) and watch Gossip Girl. By the end of the day, the back/shoulder/neck area was feeling pretty good!

So, back to work on Thursday. However on the drive in to work, my shoulder started irritating me again. Not sure if it's how I was driving, sitting, doing whatever, but somehow it is irritated.

And work on Thursday has been HE double hockey sticks. It hurts to sit, it hurts to type, it hurts to turn my head. Basically all the things that drove me to the chiropractor's office on Tuesday. Except it's WORSE!

So, I called the lovely chiropractor (who is wonderful and has saved me from severe back pain in the year I've gone to him) and I have an appointment there at 3:30 today.

I'm bringing my Kleenex.

I just know what he's going to do. I know how much it's going to hurt. And I'm dreading it. But I have to do something. It's not going away...and I have 8 days to get miraculously better.

We DRIVE to Florida next Friday. In the SUV (Honda Pilot). With a 3 year old. I'm stocking up on the dvd's, coloring books, snacks and toys to distract him during the long drive. We're leaving in the evening, and driving straight through. So hopefully he'll sleep most of the way there. I just keep telling myself that this is how I vacationed as a kid...with only my sister to keep be company and to pester.

Surely all the modern-day conveniences make this road trip bearable?!?!?! I'll be sure to let you know.

So now you know why I need to be miraculously recovered by Friday. The long drive (to and back home), the 2 days at "Disney Worrrd", and the 4 days at the beach relaxing.

Wish me luck. At the chiropractor's office AND on the road. I think I'm going to need it.

Another CUTE Kids Post. :)

2008-09-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Months ago I went to a local park and ran into a wonderful mom (Hi Laura!) and her two adorable kiddos. We struck up conversation at the swings and I gave her a business card. A few days later she sent me an e-mail! I plopped her address into my contact book and we promised to get in contact with one another for a play date or photography session in the future.

Well, when I sent out my September special the other day, Laura wrote me and we set up a shoot! She even referred a friend to me! Remember these cute girls?!?!?!

It was a crappy day. Rainy, a little chilly, and not a ton of great light. But we headed to the IMA (Lilly House) and I was thrilled with the opportunity to shoot there for the first time! We got there and 900 people were also there cleaning up from a HUGE party/festival/gathering that was there the night before. I was slightly worried we'd have to work around port-o-potties and tents and garbage cans...but the gardens were intact. It's kinda hard to photoshop a HUGE port-o-potty from an image!

Lighting could have been better, the ground could have been drier, but the kids couldn't have been any cuter!

Here are few of my favorites from the day. Starting with my favorite of the 2 of them....

Enjoy!

E's Luau Party

2008-09-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

My niece...E...just turned 2 last weekend. So therefore...we had a huge luau party in her honor. We all dressed up Hawaiin-like, ate Hawaiian food, and got soaked with water balloons and the sprinkler. Oh...and the kids all played games and dressed up silly with fun clothes.

I can't help but share the cuteness of E. I did her birthday invitations (what do you think?!?!) and the photos from that day of getting images for the invites were adorable too. So when the day finally came...we busted out the leis and it was cuteness personified.

G-Man loved playing with his cousin B...and couldn't help but share the love with him. B can get G-Man to do ANYTHING. G will follow him around and never tire of it. I'm thinking of asking B to come live with us. Make my life easier. ;)

So enjoy the images from the luau. I should have taken photos of the mosquitos that attacked us all evening. I scratched my legs all last week due to those little suckers..... And if you couldn't tell...I edited the invite a bit for the internet. My sister really doesn't live on 123 Main Street. ;)

Sneak Peek...

2008-09-10T06:55:00.000-04:00

Here's a sneak peek....of the trio of girls I took photos of last Saturday.

It was actually the first shoot I had after advertising my September special and I couldn't have been more thrilled.

Mom had e-mailed me and said she wanted some photos of her and her 2 daughters...ages 2 and 1. They were adorable...mom was gorgeous...and the weather was PERFECT!

Those three combinations....equal FANTASTIC PHOTOS!

Here are just some of my favorites.....Ok...a lot of my favorites. :) Take note of Little K's purse that she wouldn't let go of. Too cute!

#45....Check!

2008-09-10T06:15:00.000-04:00

#45. Go Camping.

One more check off of my list of 101 in 1001. Boy...I have only 99 more to go! :)

August 22nd...a Friday. And the start of FAMILY CAMP!

My church from my hometown has "family camp" every year at a campground south of Bloomington, IN. This year we decided to go. And then I got a wild hair up my butt to offer to be the "photographer" of the camp.

So I promise I did go camping. I have 400+ photos of everyone else but me. So you'll have to take my word for it...and see the evidence that I have of G-Man being filthy.

And I do have 1 photo of me during that camping trip. But it is so horrible that I couldn't do that to you handful of readers. I mean really. I shared it with Mel from The Black Hole (Hi Mel!) and I still don't think I can get over my embarrassment. So no way in heck will I share it with the entire internet. My husband took it (of course) and I look like a big, fat, sweaty beast.

But anyway...camping was fun. Camping was hot. And my arm muscles hurt from lifting my camera 900 times to my face for the gazillion shots I took. And this was Friday, Saturday AND Sunday.

I had a fantastic time with all my church family and friends...and really enjoyed it all. G-Man enjoyed it some too...except 2 minutes after we got there Friday night...he wanted to go home. *grrrrr* And then he didn't want to participate in some of the kid games. So he colored and stuck close to my side. And sprayed people with water bottles (to cool them down). And then he would take a drink from a water bottle (or make Travis drink it) because who doesn't want to drink yucky water from a water bottle?!?!?!

Oh...except for the me sleeping with G-Man in a bunk bed (we had cabins) because he wouldn't stay asleep. AND my niece E wouldn't sleep quietly in her pack n play (we all shared a cabin). Then it was freakin' hot and no electricity, and I slowly roasted all night long (for 2 nights). And the bug bites with a can of bug spray ALREADY on me.

Yeah. Not a "happy camper"...but we did have a good time. ;) Next year I'm thinking of renting an RV.....

And I'm only showing the G-Man photos....as not sure my church family/friends want their images posted on my blog. :) So here's just a few out of a gazillion I took. Can you tell he's grumpy and hot in a few?!?!?!

I am so screwed...

2008-09-03T13:54:00.003-04:00

Guess who's doing another movie?!?!?!

Yep. The TMNT are making another movie.

G-Man should be thrilled. I am dying inside. I don't think I can go through another bout of TMNT craziness.

However now he's on to Spiderman and Power Rangers.

Why can't he just enjoy my shows?!?!?! Or something other than a show on a kid channel?

So Exciting...

2008-09-02T17:32:00.003-04:00

So exciting! I'm now offering my first "special" for the month of September to all of my past and future clients!

And to top it all off....I did the design myself! And THAT is an accomplishment. Doing stuff like that isn't my specialty...and I struggle...but I think my ad turned out pretty well!

What do you think of the ad? What do you think of the special?

Call me to set up your appointment this September!!!!

Cleaning Machine.

2008-08-29T10:43:00.003-04:00

This is what I'm doing today.

CLEANING.

I HATE to clean. I love a clean house...but I hate to clean. Isn't that the way it always is?!?!?!

Well, we're having our house appraised today (we're refinancing our house) and they're coming INSIDE and taking PICTURES. So Travis put my butt to work. He worked on the outside and mowed the jungle that was our yard...and I cleaned the inside.

I do believe this is the cleanest my house has been in a LONG time...so I'm going to take pictures. I'm so proud of my cleaning that I might even share with you guys. :) I have to document it somewhere!

Wish me luck...off to clean toilets!

Ok...this is gonna be a long one. Get ready.

2008-08-29T06:16:00.001-04:00

The other day we were at my dad's house for dinner and my niece Megan was looking SUPER adorable. Her hair was still curled from church, she's all tan (with a few bug bites all over), wearing a cute white tank top and green shorts, and feeling spunky.

It was after dinner, before the boat ride, and the light was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!

I sweet-talked her into a little mini photo shoot...and I have to say I THINK THESE ARE MY FAVORITE PHOTOS. EVER. And it's not even my kid. At least she's a relative. :)

So I sat her down on some deck steps leading down to a dock, and the light was hitting the back of her head just right. Her hair is so light and streaked with blonde and curled and PERFECT.

Can you tell everything was perfect and this is what a photographer DREAMS OF?

Sorry. I'll stop talking about THE LIGHT!

So starting out, when you say "smile", you get one of these.

Well, that's not really what I was going for. Cute....but not what I was wanting with THE. PERFECT. CONDITIONS.

So then it's telling her NOT to smile, and you get this.

After we warmed up a bit, she really got into it. Every time I hit the shutter, she did a different pose. Then we got to the silly faces.

So, here they are, in all their glory. I'm starting with my favorite. Enjoy!

Senior Photo Time...

2008-08-28T08:53:00.006-04:00

With school starting, and fall fast approaching, I'm getting into Senior Portrait Season!!!! And by the way, I absolutely LOVE doing senior portraits. The kids are so much fun to work with, they're willing to do anything, and are normally pretty easy in front of the camera.

Back when I started this photography business, I needed some "models" to help me promote my senior portraits. So I called my wonderful friend Tammy and asked her if I could borrow her kids for a session.

One had just graduated...and one was a freshman. Not really "seniors"...but close enough.

Here's a few from that session....

And then a couple of weeks ago, I did my big family session AND the senior session. Tina was SUPER to work with, literally went ANYWHERE I asked her to go, and almost got drenched when I made her walk through a creek and she freaked out when she saw fish.

Sounds like something I would do. I wait...I had my telephoto lens and was on dry land. :)

I really hope the senior portraits take off this year. They are a pleasure to do, and I love capturing their fun and almost-grown-up spirit.

One of my favorites of the day....the 9-iron...with a little help of Photoshop. Enjoy!

My son cracks me up.

2008-08-20T09:21:00.004-04:00

I'm sorry...but I have to post a little funny conversation my husband had with G-Man the other morning.

The other night I raided G-Man's goody bag from a birthday party and was eating some shock tarts. I didn't figure he'd like them (super-duper sour)...and since I love them...I would eat them myself. Good logic, right?

This is the perk of having a child go to birthday parties with goody bags and a child who enjoys trick or treating.

We get to eat their candy behind their back.

So I ate a few shock tarts while watching the Olympics and left a few of them on the side table (I only eat the red, purple, blue and green ones). The next morning, G-Man is watching Spiderman (his new obsession...and it has taken over the TMNT obsession) and he apparently found them on the table.

****

Travis came into the living room after getting ready to see G-Man leaning over the side of the couch, with his arm behind a picture frame that sits on the table.

"Whatcha doin' buddy?"

G snatches his arm back to his side and says "I found sooooommmmme-ting" in his sing-songey voice. And it's 'ting'...not 'thing'.

"What did you find?"

"Caaaaaaaaaaaan-deeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" again said in his sing-songey voice.

"Where is it?"

He reaches back behind the frame, yanks it out and AGAIN in his sing-songey voice says, "Taaaa-Daaaaa!!!!!"

Travis can't help but laugh. "Did you eat some of the candies already?"

"Yeah" he says kinda quietly.

"Are there any left?"

"Yeah."

Travis, figuring he's eaten 2 already...might as well eat the third one says, "Do you want to eat the last candy?"

G-Man pops up, shouts "Yeah!!!!!!" and then proceeds to tell Travis, "THANK YOU DADDY!!!!" real excited-ly and like he can't believe his luck that he gets to eat MORE CANDY in the morning and DIDN'T GET IN TROUBLE!

****

This was all before Travis noticed G hadn't even touched his cereal at the table. Oh well. He made him eat it...and it taught me to hide my evidence of candy-stealing.

I need to do better next time.

Family Fun

2008-08-19T11:00:00.000-04:00

So since swimming is over and the 10m diving has yet to start, let's get some client photos out of the way.

I shouldn't say "out of the way"...because I think they are terrific and I'm very proud of them. I should just say that "during this lull in my Olympic coverage, I'd love to share with you some client photos I've taken recently".

There...how's that. :)

So the other day I had a family session AND a senior session (the senior was a part of the family) and had about 3.5 hours of shooting and endless time spent editing. I've figured out that my home computer monitor is different than my work computer monitor...and some of my client's computer monitors.

Some images are too light....some are too dark....and I'm having a hard time finding a good balance. I tend to like the light, airy photos....and sometimes they come across as being "blown out" and "overexposed".

So, I'm working on it.

I'll share some of the senior ones later...but these are my favorites of the family.

And let me tell you what....I absolutely LOVE doing family portraits (especially this fun family) and one of the best things I love about doing families...is getting the mom & dad photos!

Most of the time...they're concerned with getting family shots....or kid shots....but rarely do they think of Mom/Dad shots. And let's be honest here...how many times do you just take photos of the parents?

Not very often. And I absolutely love my parent shots.

Like these!

There were a few that I didn't post of them...because I'm not sure they'd appreciate them shown to the Internet (they were funny!...and a little graphic! Like I said...they were FUN!). So you'll just have to enjoy the good, family-friendly ones.

And they sure make a pretty family.

DORK.

2008-08-19T10:19:00.003-04:00

Last week I spoke more about Michael Phelps than I did about my husband and son, COMBINED.

Yes, I have a problem....but I am now finally getting caught up on my sleep. Track and Field doesn't really do much for me so I can get to sleep before midnight now. Thank goodness. I have been tired since 8/8/08.

So anyway, enjoy my favorite athlete in the world. I think what makes him so special (to me) and sweet is the way he's such a great sportsman. And a great son (who loves his mother to death...did anyone see the interview with his mom the other day?!?!?! Awwwww.....). And he's not too hard to look at, either.

And please don't laugh too hard...but I'm seriously considering buying the DVD about him and his Olympics journey. Just don't tell my husband. He thinks I'm nuts.

Dude. I need to get a life.

2008-08-13T12:35:00.004-04:00

Dear Internets:

I would love to be writing wonderful blogs about me, my life, my son G-Man, new photos I've taken recently (I had a KICK-A$$ photo shoot this weekend...consisting of a family shoot and a senior shoot all at the same time), and all the other going-ons in my life.

However, I can't do that.

Why, you ask?

BECAUSE I AM SHOVED UP NBC'S BUTT ON TV AND THE INTERNET ALL THE DAMN DAY WATCHING THE FREAKIN' OLYMPICS!

Hi, my name is Julie and I'm addicted to the Olympics. Specifically Michael Phelps. Lord help me that man is handsome and buff and SWEET AS PIE and loves his mother to death. Did I mention he's hot?

I love Michael Phelps. And I stay up ENTIRELY too late in the evenings so I can watch him swim LIVE and receive his gold medals.

Oh, and gymnastics. I love women's gymnastics. Brings me back to the time when I took gymnastic lessons and pranced around in my leotard and curly pigtails.

And diving. SO COOL to actually know an Olympic Diver. You all know Thomas Finchum? Well, I work with his mother and she's a good friend. We have followed his career this entire time (last Olympics he got cheated out at age 14 to attend) and he's the sweetest guy out there. So it's pretty cool to see him on tv...and everyone talking about him. Unfortunately he placed 5th in the synchro 10m diver with his diving partner David the other day. Stay tuned for the individual 10m diving competition next week.

So, it's basically Swimming, Gymnastics and Diving at my house. With a little synchronized swimming (it's coming!), women's beach volleyball (I wish I had those ladies' bodies!) and more Michael Phelps diving and interviews.

I have a serious problem.

So, until the Olympics is over...it will be sporadic with my postings. Unless you all want to hear about how hot Michael Phelps is and how I was SCARED TO DEATH HE WOULD NOT WIN GOLD during the 200m fly race due to WATER IN HIS GOGGLES! I knew something was wrong...I just thought he was tired...but oh my word I was worried.

I hope to post again sometime soon...and hopefully I'll finish editing my images from Saturday and you'll get to see those (because they turned out AWESOME!)...but don't hold me to it. Lots more swimming to get done!

And did anyone else see that Visa commercial after Phelps became the most decorated Olympic of all time? Oh my word...the tears were a falling. Way to be on the ball, Visa.

Giving Gifts Part II

2008-08-07T06:25:00.000-04:00

I absolutely, positively love giving people the gift of photographs. Remember Teri? Yeah. The best present ever. Or at least to her....and to me if I were to request one single gift.

Most people don't think of getting photos of their kids/families done to cherish forever. Or if they do...they go to Sears or Target or Wal-Mart for their cheesy portraits.

Now, I'm not knocking those type of places. I myself went there on numerous occasions (3!) when G-Man was 3, 6 and 9 months old. I didn't know any better. And I didn't own my kick-ass camera then.

Kid #2 is going to have kick-ass baby portraits. If Kid #2 ever decides to grace my womb.

*Sigh*

So, back to the topic at hand. Most department store portrait studios use flash, cheesy backdrops, and un-natural poses. That is not what I provide. And most people don't even think twice about taking them to these places and don't venture out into the land of "jvw photography" and other awesome places/photographers Indianapolis has to offer.

When I got a birthday invitation from a good friend of ours the other day...inviting us to her two daughters' birthday party, I got a wild idea to give this to her as a gift. Her and her husband are very close to us, and we love them very much. Their kids are adorable and I knew she would cherish this forever.

So I sent her a quick message and asked if I could photograph her entire family. I caught her just in time. They had an appointment at a portrait studio in the mall set for last week and I told her immediately to cancel it. I would do it for FREE. And they would be better than what she would have gotten! (If I say so myself)

They all came over last weekend and we did our shoot. Boy, she makes pretty, toe-headed babies. And talk about blue eyes! Her husband will have to beat the boys off with a stick!

So, without further adieu....I give you the Ray Family! BTW...I absolutely LOVE the girl's matching tops! Adorable!

Enjoy!

My First Engagement Shoot, EVER!

2008-08-06T13:10:00.004-04:00

I'm wanting to expand my business. Into what...I'm not really sure. But expand I want to do.

So, in order to expand...I need to get past the "kiddo" aspect of my business and do people in general. Say, like engagements!

Still not sure if I want to do the wedding route...but if you know anyone looking for a photographer and wouldn't mind being my "first one, ever!"...then send them my way. I'll give them a great deal on a wedding photographer!

Well, since I don't know any engaged people, I begged and pleaded my friend Tammy to let me take pictures of her and her boyfriend. Trust me when I say it's easier to photograph toddlers than it is to photograph adults. It just is.

So, I staged an "engagement photo session"....sans the engagement ring.

Oops!

We went to my favorite park and got some FANTABULOUS shots. She's beautiful. He's pretty handsome. And it was hotter than hell. (The kissing made it hot...but the humidity and heat made it HOT!)

I am not even kidding. My tank top was SOAKED through and I was miserable. But, you can't really tell with the photos. They look calm, cool and collected. And in L-O-V-E!

So enjoy!

Thursday Thirteen - Vacation Places

2008-07-31T09:20:00.006-04:00

Because I'm in desperate need of a vacation....I'm going to list 13 places I've been to on vacation (and silently...ok LOUDLY) complain that I want to go back. It's my Thursday Thirteen!

In a little bit of an order....recent trips to long ago trips...but maybe not. I'm kinda confused and probably missing huge trips in there...but oh well.

London. Yes...went to London in May (and a pre-trip in February) and have still yet to blog about it. Maybe I will. I do have proof and lots of pictures.... Ok...it's on my list to blog about. Stay tuned. But London was fantastic in May. Great weather (which says a lot) and a TON of stuff to see (which my husband drug me to nearly everything). I worked all week at the conference...and then we had a long weekend to play around...so I think I'm postponing the blog about the trip because it will make me tired just thinking about it.
Cruise to the Caribbean (3rd cruise). Travis and I went on a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise for our 5th anniversary in mid-October, 2007. You can read a little bit about it here... here...here... can't forget here....and here. God...I love cruises. See our flickr album from our trip here.
Florida. In October of 2006, Travis, myself, G-Man and my mom went down to Florida. We hit Sea World for a day and had a fantabulous time. Then we hit the beach for a couple of days. Remember this? G-Man loved the beach. I'm think we're taking him back to Florida this fall...it's been 2 years and we're feeling guilty.
Madrid, Spain. I went to Spain for work in May of 2006. Yes...my job is rough. I'm sorry. But I truly did work 80% of the time...and only got to do a few things....by myself and my co-workers. Whoot Whoot! It's not the same going to these fantastic places with none of your friends/families. So don't be mad at me. Me standing on the Toledo bridge.
Hawaii. Travis and I went to Hawaii (Maui) in February of 2006 for a friend's wedding. It was awesome...but it was our first trip without G-Man. We were gone 8 days (I think) and I was still nursing...so that made it a little crazy (trying to pump, whale watch, get a tan, and take the road to Hana (yes...it was rainy and nasty that day...but the road wasn't crowded so that was cool!)...all at the same time). We came back home 4 days before his 1st birthday!!! CRAZY! It was great...and we definitely want to go back. Whale watching was AWESOME!
Michigan (Lansing, Ann Arbor, Grand Haven, etc.). Travis went to law school in Michigan (Lansing) so we've been there lots of times and all over. We especially like Ann Arbor and the shops/beaches/lake. This was where G-Man got to touch sand for the first time! Granted...he was 4 months old...but still. :) He liked it.
Cork/Kinsale, Ireland. I went on my first OUS trip to Europe for work in May of 2004. I was scared to death...having never flown to Europe...but it made it worthwhile since I got to fly on the CORPORATE JET! Yes...you can hate me now. And let me tell you....it's hard to fly commercial when you've flown on a private jet. I had a great time...and was thrilled to visit Ireland (a place I had always wanted to go). But again...no friends/family to share it with...so blah.
Cruise to the Caribbean (our 2nd cruise) in Spring of 2004. We went on a Western Caribbean cruise with another couple and had a FANTASTIC time. We got to swim with the stingrays...and Travis almost had a heart attack. And I couldn't help him because I didn't want our camera to get wet. I mean come on, people....it's my CAMERA....with my vacation pictures! Serves him right for not wearing a life-vest.
Cruise to the Caribbean (our 1st cruise & our honeymoon!) in October of 2002. Can you tell we like cruises? Let me tell you, people...they are the BEST EVER! With it being our honeymoon....it's safe to say we had a good time. ;)
California (LA & Hollywood). Travis has been to LA a bunch of times...and he loves it there. So, before we were engaged/married...we went on a little trip to LA to see the sights and have a grand time. We did...and I have no electronic pictures from the trip. This was pre-digital camera time and I'm not searching for and scanning pictures. But to wrap it up...we had a good time and want to go back. If only we could plan it and not go on any more cruises!
Baltimore, Maryland. Also known as THE TRIP FROM HELL. We went with some friends and headed there for only a short weekend. Well, it started off bad when our friend told us it wouldn't take long to get there. Well, DOUBLE the hours he stated and that's when we arrived to the hotel to find out they've given our room away. Now, can you blame them when we arrived at 5:00 a.m.?!?!?! Yeah...see...I told you were were late and our friend had botched the whole thing up. This was before mapquest and us knowingly went along with someone else's plan. We don't do that anymore. The trip just went downhill from there.
Chicago. We've been there lots...and we love it to pieces. It's so close (~3 hours away) and so many things to do (SHOP!, EAT, SHOP!, EAT). So Chicago fits in this list a lot of times in a lot of different ways...but you get my drift.
So 1-12 are my work trips and trips to Florida...but I'll go ahead and list a few of them to round up my 13 trips...and these don't include Travis. These are also in no particular order...just whenever they come to my scattled brain. Texas (visiting my sister when she lived there), Myrtle Beach (trip with my mom and sister when my sis was pregnant and it was all pre-kids. Was really fun until I dehydrated myself and then almost OD'd on Tylenol PM. God....I warn you all....don't do that. But hey! I was desperate for Tylenol and that's all she had. So I took 3. And paid for it later.), Gatlinburg (shopping trip with mom, myself and G-Man when he was 6 months old), lots of trips to Florida when I was little, Washington D.C. on my 8th grade trip, Cancun, Mexico on my senior Spring Break trip, and as typing this I can see that I'm pretty boring and haven't seen a ton of things. At least within the US Or at least a lot of the same things. But just remember we saw lots of places on our 3 cruises....cruising through the Caribbean. So that makes it better. Oh...and my free trips to Europe.

So, that's it. Now I REALLY want to go on vacation. Florida and maybe Disney World are in our near future....along with Chicago and Michigan. Again, same old-same old.

Any suggestions on where I should visit and see? My 101 in 1001 list contains a few places I want to go...so let's hope I make it to them!

You guys going anywhere good for vacation? Want to make me jealous? Leave me a comment!

The Girls...

2008-07-29T12:37:00.008-04:00

You guys all probably recognize my neighbor girls...(G-Man calls them "the ghouls"...as he can't pronounce the "r" sound) that I've posted pictures here...and were once of my first subjects to practice on.

Well, their baby sister was born July 3rd...and she's just as cute as they are. I was dying to get my hands on her to photograph, and she didn't disappoint.

She was under 2 weeks when I wandered over next door to photograph her. I also wanted to incorporate her sisters into some shots with her, because everyone loves a little sisterly love.

Here's a few of my favorite shots from the day.

Love, Love, LOVE this photo of the 2 older sisters.

Sisterly kisses.

FEET!

Sleeping so soundly. Or at least she was for 5 whole seconds (the time it took for me to take 2 shots of her) and luckily I got a good one! She was screaming 3.2 seconds later...and not so angelic-looking.

I love this look on her face!!!!

A couple of days later...I was back over there and the girls were in the pool. I had to capture the pool moments! I love these! Somehow I just love silly photos...they truly capture their spirit!!!!

Let's Luau!

2008-07-25T11:48:00.008-04:00

Do you guys all remember my little neice...E?

Remember...the funny face and the tears?

Yes. She's adorable. AND...she's getting ready to turn 2 the end of August. My sister is planning a big 2-year birthday luau party and it should be a blast. But in order to plan the PERFECT Hawaiian-themed luau party...she needed E's photo taken with her in her size 9 months mu-mu. I think that is what mu-mu's are for....no waist and can wear them whenever and whatever size.

So the other night we were all at my dad's for dinner and had an impromptu photo-shoot to try and get some good shots for her invitations. I think we got some good ones...and I just laugh at the looks she can give you...or how silly she can act.

And let's not forget her sister...M (who will be 5 in November!).

So, I decided to post some of my favorites. This fall we'll get M & E's offical 2 and 5-year old portraits done...as well as some family portraits. So until then...ENJOY all the images!

My son...

2008-07-23T17:26:00.001-04:00

...the swearer.

It all started with the "it rhymed with sucker" incidence. That opened his eyes.

[Sidenote: he hasn't said it since that incident...or anything else until this next bit.]

Then it started back up again with the TMNT. As in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. AKA my archenemies.

Raphael.

Leonardo.

Donnatello.

Michaelangelo.

Those pesky turtles. Somehow G-Man has decided that the "turtles" are the best thing since sliced bread and I am forced to endure conversations revolving around Raf, Leo, Donny, Mikey, Splinter, Shredder and the Foot Ninjas.

Trust me when I tell you...the stupid animatronic turtles and real people in the movies dating back to 1990, 1991, 1993 and then the newer TMNT movie from 2007 with just the animation (WAY better to endure than the stupid mouth-moving to wrong words animatronic movies of the 90's movies).

We watch all the movies. And ALL the cartoons that are still on tv Saturday mornings. And we watch these over and over and over again.

It's not unheard of to hear "COWABUNGA" if you're in our household.

Well, back to my original thought. In one of the original 90's movies...the turtles say "DAMN!" or "DAMNIT" something like 3 times! Now, why would they do that? It's going to be kids to watch this. Why throw that in there?

Well, he's watch it and never say anything (not pick up on it?). Then he would softly repeat it after they said it. We'd tell him that that was a bad word and he wasn't allowed to say it. So not much happened.

Or so we thought.

The other day Travis got him up and was getting him ready for daycare. He always wants to wear his jammies to school and Travis told him he couldn't and that he was wearing these clothes he had gotten out for him.

"DAMNIT DADDY!!!!"

Travis swatted his butt and reminded him that he wasn't allowed to say that word. Even if he heard Mommy, Daddy or the Turtles say it....it was bad and he wasn't allowed to say it.

G-Man hung his head, mumbled "I Sorry Daddy", and that was that.

I was worried to death that he would cuss at Mamaw (my mom) this weekend while spending the night.

Luckily, that didn't happen. I wouldn't want to cause my mother to have a heart attack.

But then last night, we're getting ready for bed, got our jammies on, got our books out to read, and the boys informed me that it was "Daddy's Turn" to read and put him to bed so I kissed him and headed out the door. I had taken 2 steps out of his bedroom when I heard him say "DAMNIT".

For no reason at all. Not sure what brought it on. But Travis got on him again.

Explained him it was a bad word. He wasn't allowed to say it. He was being punished. He had to go to bed by himself and not read any books to him.

G-Man was laying in bed with his arms over his eyes, avoiding all eye contact and we left his room.

45 minutes later, we could still hear him upstairs through the monitor and he was talking and winding down.

"Daddy.....Daddy....", we'd hear him say. "I need a HUG!" He likes to request hugs, high-fives, drinks of water, etc. through the monitor to push back bedtime. Just like any other 3-year old.

So he went up there and kissed and hugged him and he finally went to bed.

Well, this morning, Travis got him up and got him ready for daycare.

"Daddy...."

"What buddy?"

"I promise I not say DAMNIT anymore." He of course said it in that pitiful tone he has.

His head was hung down and he apologized (without prompting and after he thought about it all night long, I'm sure) and gave Travis about a gazillion kisses this morning.

He is quite the ass-kisser when he needs to be.

So, we'll see how the non-cussing goes. I'm just glad it's Damnit and not the word that rhymes with SUCKER!

[Another sidenote: we have weeded the DAMNIT movie out of his collection until further notice. If we do cave in...I'm skipping the cussing parts.]

Carnival Rides!!!! What F-U-N!!!!!

2008-07-21T20:21:00.001-04:00

Well, the Hendricks County Fair started this weekend and I'm excited to go.

I have so many great memories of my hometown fair, and I want G-Man to experience the same thing.

Lemon shake-ups, elephant ears, the taco stand (must be a Martinsville thing), the fire station ice cream, and all that other bad-food stuff.

YUM.

So for the 4th of July, our little town had a 4th of July carnival/fair/celebration thing and we took G-Man.

It was July 1st, and the opening night. The weather was fantastic and we dined on tenderloins, hot dogs and all that deliciousness. And because it was opening night, they had the $15 arm bracelet thingeys so you can ride the rides endlessly.

Now, G-Man last year wasn't TOO thrilled with the rides, but he did ride a few. I thought he would be PUMPED...and was pointing to the carousel and the cars and all that un-safe-ness that the Carnies provide.

So, we go up to the ticket window and I'm debating whether or not to get him an arm bracelet. Travis tells me not to, and in typical fashion I did it anyway. I'm too cheap and wanted the "bang for my buck" and basically ignored Travis's suggestion.

I am now hearing about this every damn day (practically).

So we're at the window and I pay for the bracelet. The chick wants me to pick him up, shove his arm through the hole, and let her apply the bracelet to his arm.

SHREIKING!...CRYING!...SCREAMING!...

I should have just demanded my $$ back right then and there but I did not. My hard head wouldn't let me.

So I grabbed it from her and put it on his arm myself. Why? Because I like to torture myself.

Travis all the while is giving me his evil-"I told you so"-eye.

So he's crying and acting like his right arm is broken and dangling down by his side. Like the paper wrist-band weighs 80 pounds and he cannot lift it.

We go to the Carousel. He WILL NOT RIDE IT. He is crying and clinging to my legs.

WE. ARE. HAVING. FUN. (!)

So we go to the little motorcycle ride. I somehow manage to get him on the motorcycle thingey. I hurry up to the other side of the fence and give the carney "the look" like HURRY UP AND TURN THE THING ON BEFORE HE KNOWS HE HATES IT!

But no....she waits FOREVER. Forever as in 2 seconds for it to occur to G-Man that HE HATES THE MOTORCYCLES LIKE THE CAROUSEL and HE WANTS OFF RIGHT THIS MINUTE!

CRYING. SCREAMING. SNOT FLYING OUT OF HIS NOSE. TURNING BEET RED. FREAKING OUT.

So Travis is still giving me "the look" and I run back in there to get him. Snot is all over the place and tears are EVERYWHERE. I am AWESOME PARENT OF THE YEAR!

His arm is still hanging loose by his side and he is acting pitiful.

No more rides. It ain't happening.

Goodbye $15 down the drain.

I paid all that $$ (because I'm cheap and wanted the "bang for my buck") and he didn't ride ONE DAMN RIDE!

Serves me right.

So then we proceed and find out that all G-Man wants to do is play those stupid carney games. You know...so you can win a cheap stuffed animal, a gold-framed poster of Pamela Anderson, or some stupid inflatable hammer.

Yeah. So I really should have taken the $15 and applied it to the games...but now I know.

So G-Man now wants to hit frogs into some moving lilly-pad game thing for a stupid 3-inch long stuffed fish. You know...because we don't have a 3-foot stuffed fish thing at home. Ugh.

So we agree to do the frog-thing...but his arm is still not working. I, believing he might cheer up later and STILL RIDE A RIDE have left the bracelet on his arm. And he's acting like it's broken.

He won't hit the pad, his arm is lifeless, and Travis is cursing me under his breath. See the non-working right arm?!?!?!

Although he won us a prize with the frogs.

I finally got pissed enough during the "fish for a SHARK!" game that I ripped the stupid thing off his arm and gave up. All was well after that and the weight was lifted and his arm miraculously worked again.

It was truly amazing.

After I gave up on the games and non-riding....we went next door to the park and played on the playground. That I know he loves.

So, now I know. This county fair season coming up...we're playing games and not even attempting a ride. I just can't take it.

During all of this struggle...I was struggling with my humongous camera...all to capture the lovely moments of G-Man riding his carnival rides.

So enjoy the non-riding-carnival-rides photos....

Head-Shots

2008-07-17T15:14:00.007-04:00

I was contacted not that long ago from an old friend from my childhood. She now lives out in California with her husband and daughter, and she was going to be home over the 4th of July.

Her daughter is gorgeous, and she was looking for someone to do some "head shots" for her to send out to some agents. She's a reader of my blog (Hi Jaime!) and thought of me!

Yay!

So the day after the 4th of July, I met her, her daughter, and her sister-in-law for a quick mini session.

Little Emma wasn't quite sure what to think of me, and kept giving me some dirty looks with her scrunched up face. It's pretty funny. I did get some shots where she wasn't giving me the evil-eye, and I think they turned out pretty good. By the way....I LOVE her little dress!

Oh, and she didn't like the wet, dewey grass. :) I think this was a mixture of being tired, being off of her time-zone, and needing a bit of a snack. So instead of walking and frolicking in the grass, we played on the playground! And picnic tables!!!!

Enjoy!

I love this one....giving me the evil-eye while she eats her strawberry snacks. I think she thought I was going to reach over and take one. :) Too cute!

#30....Check!

2008-07-09T17:05:00.005-04:00

#30. Buy a cool Macro lens.

Check!

Yay! It's my first 101 in 1001!!!! And really...I bought the lens before I posted my 101 in 1001...but it was already on the "work-in-progress" list, so this counts.

Do you know how hard it is to think of 101 things to do in 1001 days?

It's hard!

But anyway...I bought the macro lens. And I love it. Especially for babies! You get the cool close-up shots that focus on the little tiny lips, ears, feet, belly buttons....all those cute baby things. Can't really use it on bigger kids (unless they're really good at holding still) since it works better on manual focusing than the auto focus.

So it's perfect for still babies.

Just like this little girl....my first subject with my macro lens. I used it solely during the shoot...and I loved each and every shot.

Here's some examples. I wanted to take photos of my new macro lens....macro-lens-style....but couldn't do it with the lens attached to my camera. So it's not the effect I wanted. :(

Yay! Now I'm excited to photograph my neighbor's kids this weekend. 3 girls (5, 3 and 1 week)! How cool is that! I feel sorry for them when it comes time for boys, proms and weddings!!!!

More Sprinkers, Nasty Eyeballs & Fiery Sparklers

2008-07-08T16:40:00.001-04:00

So...Happy Fourth of July everyone!!!!!.....4 days later. Oops! Better late than never!

Life has been hectic and crazy. I have never been to Wal-Mart more in a 4-day period than before in my life. We had cookouts and cookouts and even more cookouts!

Last Tuesday was my last working day because frankly I couldn't take it any longer. So I was off Wednesday - Friday...and just returned yesterday. And let me say...Tuesdays are worse than Mondays. Don't know why...but they are. I'm tired.

Here's a run-down on my "relaxing" vacation.

Wednesday: Outlet-mall shopped all afternoon. Had to frantically race home to pick up G-Man when we realized it was already 4:30 and I was 45 minutes away. Oh...and I had to pick him up by 5:00. Oops! Then we cooked out that evening and it was a tiring day.

Thursday: Raining and nasty. However, I had promised G-Man we'd go to the zoo and the bread place (aka Panera Bread). So, we got up, got ready, went to Panera, and went to the zoo IN THE POURING DOWN RAIN. No giraffes having sex like the last time. We did get to see (in the rain) an elephant getting a bath, the sharks getting fed and G-Man actually got to feed a non-sexual giraffe.

Came home, both of us took naps (God...I love vacation), we just lounged at home. I did some pre-cook-out-cooking that night and we watched Wipeout. Oh. My. Goodness. You NEED to watch that show. I CRIED AND CRIED with laughter. So watch it tonight. Tuesday. It's good.

Friday: 4th of July. Kinda yucky morning...but it got better. I cooked and cleaned and did all those things. Then we had our friends come over. The kids played in the sprinker, G-Man got his eye poked with a sword (nasty poke since it popped the blood vessels in his eyes and he had a nasty red spot in the white of his eye...but it's better now. Thanks for asking.) and we did fireworks.

Lots and lots of fireworks. Poppers, worms, sparklers, big booming fireworks, and a lot of those nasty black-cat poppy fireworks.

It was fun!

That evening we went downtown to watch the fireworks and G-Man was more interested in the Cheetos than he was with the actual in-the-sky fireworks....but we had a good time.

Out too late....and on our way home G was crying "I just want my beeeeeeeeeeeeeedddddd". Which, he has never done. So, he got home, got in his bed (at 11:30) and we all crashed.

Great day indeed.

Enjoy some photos to capture the day....

Loving the new sprinker....

However he was cold and shivering with the chilly water....

Loved the snap poppers....

Loved the sparklers....(notice the brownie mustache)

Loved the other kind of poppers....(BTW...this is a hideous picture of me...don't look closely)

And lastly....a close-up of his poor eye. GROSS! But...it's gone now and he's fine.

Summer Activity II - The Slip 'N' Slide

2008-07-01T16:17:00.007-04:00

I do believe these pictures say it all...but I'll go ahead and give you a little background. [I love this shot of him...'eyeing' the field.]

G-Man got this Cars Slip n Slide for his 3rd birthday and I hid it in a closet in hopes that he would forget about it.

Well, he did forget about it...until he found it not too long ago. It sat in the box, in the loft, and he gazed longingly at it every so often.

The other day...I caved and thought to set it up outside. We blew it up, set it up, and couldn't get the stakes to go into our hard-as-rock dirt out in our front yard. And you really can't have the stakes sticking up because they will rip your arms/legs/nose off as you go slippity-sliding down the slip-in-slide.

So, it was really a mushy, bunched up slide that wasn't staked down.

Oh...and the hose water was 42 degrees.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr..........

So, G-Man went down the "slide" 1 time and that was it. It now currently resides bunched up in our dirty garage. Oh well...maybe we'll get it out, dust the cobwebs off, and play with it again. If not...I'm okay with that. I've got some cute pictures to remember the 3 minutes of play. By the way...I love my "sports" setting on my camera. Great action shots!!!!

Giving Gifts...

2008-06-27T14:16:00.004-04:00

I have a great friend at work, Teri, who just turned 50 a month ago. I was in London for almost 2 weeks leading up to her birthday.

I had thought and thought and thought about what to get her for her birthday...but was so busy with work that I didn't have time to act on my thoughts.

Well, she is a very close friend of mine (we sit next to each other and talk ALL THE TIME)...and we're very much alike.

She's a great photographer, has 3 grown boys, and loves to look at photography. She's been monumental in encouraging me to start my JVW Photography business.

So, I got back to work on a Wednesday...and her b-day was on Friday. I thought and thought about what to do and came up with the PERFECT gift.

I IM'd her husband (he works at the same company) and asked if I could borrow her boys for 30 minutes so I could photograph them as a gift to Teri.

He called the boys, arranged them to meet me THAT SAME NIGHT, and I met them that evening. They were wonderful, and I got some fantastic shots.

I went home that night, downloaded them, edited them, and picked my favorite. I sent it off to get printed and picked it up Thursday night on my way home from work. I bought a 8x10 and a 4x6 frame (big one for home...smaller one for desk) and got it all wrapped up.

I brought it with me to work the next day (along with a cake, balloons, streamers and big 50 signs everywhere) and put it on her desk.

She was surprised about the decorations, not so surprised about my cake (in case you don't know...I used to decorate cakes) and was even more surprised by my gift.

Now, I had the big one wrapped in tissue...and it was kinda obvious once you picked it up that it was a frame. This is not unusual for me to give her a frame for her b-day or X-Mas (because as I said...she's a lot like me).

She started unwrapping it and was talking to everyone standing around her and having a great old time.

That was...until she unwrapped it, and glanced at it. At first...you could tell she was looking at a nice frame and all was well. Until it CLICKED that those were her boys in the frame...and not some cheesy random stranger that is normally on the insert.

She gasped.

She flew her hand over her mouth.

She looked at me.

And started bawling.

When people say it's so much better to give than to receive....they really do mean it.

At least I do. Because let me tell you...I haven't felt that good in a long time.

She'll treasure it forever. It's the only one of its kind (her last good photo of her boys was about 8 years ago). And I feel great.

101 in 1001

2008-06-26T21:54:00.006-04:00

So, we all know that I'm crazy...and that I like to do fun, little things. So when I heard about the 101 in 1001...I knew this was something for me to do.

It's 101 things to do in 1001 days.

Yes. I'm crazy. But won't this be fun!

I made my list of 101 things (which...is REALLY, REALLY hard), and now I'm going to stick with it. Wish me luck...and check back for updates on my 101 in 1001!

Start Date: June 26th, 2008
End Date: March 24th, 2011

1. Arrange, set up and decorate my home office space.
2. Get pregnant with my 2nd child.
3. Redesign http://www.jvwphotography.com/. Make it Professional with a Capital "P"!
4. Host a fantastic Christmas party at the house for all our friends & family.
5. Go to California to visit my friend Laura.
6. Stay at luxury resort and go to the spa.
7. Organize all the photo cd's I have and consolidate them onto a few cd's.
8. Get a BIG external hard drive for my computer and all my pictures.
9. Finish G-Man's 2nd year scrapbook.
10. Start G-Man's 3rd year scrapbook.
11. Go to Disney World.
12. Complete the 365 day challenge in Flickr.
13. Have neighbors over for dinner.
14. Complete 10 years at my day job.
15. Set up a booth at the Indianapolis Home Show to advertise my business.
16. Get trendy camera case for all my junk.
17. Do something fabulous for my 30th birthday.
18. Book 50 clients a year.
19. Book 100 clients a year.
20. Make cool artwork with G-Man for my laundry room.
21. Print and hang up my favorite photos of clients in my home office.
22. Meet a blog-friend in person that I have only corresponded with.
23. Buy a cool photo printer.
24. Go fishing.
25. Send out birthday cards and coupons to past clients and their children.
26. Visit a state I haven't been to yet.
27. Set up referral system discount/coupon.
28. Become a vegetarian for 2 weeks. See how I like it.
29. Install window coverings in my house.
30. Buy a cool Macro lens. Completed 7-9-08.
31. Go back to Chicago.
32. Lose some weight so I can get to my goal of 150 lbs.
33. Take photos of my parents.
34. Enroll G-Man in some swimming lessons.
35. Build screened-in porch.
36. Get one huge photo done of all the grandkids. A good one.
37. Have another baby.
38. Blog every day for a month.
39. Document G-Man's first day of school.
40. Take a workshop given by Audrey Woulard.
41. Decorate guest bedroom.
42. Do a blurb photo book of my favorite recipes.
43. Go on a weekend trip with my mom and sister…no kids.
44. Build a snowman with G-Man.
45. Go camping. Completed 8-22-08
46. Have all my nieces and nephews over to spend the night. That's 7. 8 includes my own child. YIKES!
47. Go to a vineyard in Napa Valley.
48. Set up a booth at county fair(s) to promote my business.
49. Enter some photos in a print competition.
50. Go horseback riding.
51. Get a photo of mine published in any magazine.
52. Implement surveys and gather client feedback.
53. Go to Florida.
54. Read one book per month for 3 months to benefit my business.
55. Go to BlogHer.
56. Start and complete one difficult jigsaw puzzle.
57. Get canvas prints made.
58. Rent a cabin on a lake in Michigan for a week with my entire family.
59. Get awesome logo made for jvw photography.
60. Have the Lasik eye surgery done on both eyes.
61. Hire someone to clean my house bi-weekly.
62. Get awesome business cards made for my business.
63. Decorate guest bathroom.
64. Take photos of someone famous (and/or their kids).
65. Get cool customized stamps for snail mail communications with my clients.
66. Get postcards made with advertisement for my business.
67. Read the Bible. The entire thing!
68. Visit the Grand Canyon.
69. Design and promote custom Christmas cards for clients with their newly taken images.
70. Take a pilates class.
71. Advertise and do coupon in Neighborhood coupon pack - Avon/Brownsburg.
72. Buy more "props" for photos with kids/babies.
73. Go to a concert.
74. Get a dog.
75. Get a makeover and get all new (not drugstore cheap) makeup.
76. Design and promote custom birth announcements for clients with their newly taken images.
77. Get a facial (or give myself one if my hubby complains too much) every month for a year.
78. Gotta pamper your face!
79. Advertise in Indianapolis Monthly magazine.
80. Organize/catalog all my books.
81. Finish decorating G-Man's bedroom.
82. Learn how to sew on a button and fix a hem.
83. Try 10 new restaurants in Indianapolis. (Progress: Elements)
84. Meet The Pioneer Woman! www.thepioneerwoman.com
85. Go to Canada. Why? I don't know…but I should visit my neighbors (already did Mexico!)
86. Floss every day for 3 months. Maybe it will become a habit?
87. Visit New York City.
88. Try out and cook 1 new recipe at home every week for 12 weeks.
89. Create and give away customized business cards for clients (with their images on them).
90. Have mini sessions available for clients.
91. Subscribe to photography magazine.
92. Get my grandmother's ruby ring remounted so I'll wear it.
93. Promote my work in a business already established (wall of photos, business cards, etc.)
94. Start advertising at local hospital for newborn pictures.
95. Take self-portrait every week for a year. Post it on my blog.
96. Go to a Bingo night. I love Bingo!
97. Start recycling our home aluminum cans.
98. Have themed mini sessions (Christmas tree farm, orchard, pumpkin patch, etc.) available for clients. BOOK TODAY!
99. Decal for my SUV windows with my business information…Is this corny?!?!?!
100. Walk/jog/exercise 3 times a week for 6 months.
101. Build/buy shelving unit in our playroom corner of our loft.

So...what do you guys think? Doable? Corny? Are you guys pumped and excited to read about my 101 items?

Hello? Anyone there? Do I hear crickets chirping? Hellllllllllloooooooooooooo??????????

Summer Favorites

2008-06-24T21:19:00.005-04:00

So far this summer...we've (meaning G-Man) come across a few favorites. I thought I'd share them with you...

1. Daddy (oh boy...do we love our daddy. I have quickly fallen from favorite parent to barely-tolerated mother.) But this barely-tolerated mother is the one who gave him those gorgeous blue eyes.

2. Licking. Don't ask me why...but G-Man licks us whenever possible. Could be our reaction to the licking that tickles him to death...so I'm sure it's entirely our fault.

3. Diet Coke. Now...he's always enjoyed playing with our diet coke cans...and very rarely gets caffeine-free diet coke. I think he likes to pretend he likes it...but really doesn't. Mostly he just sucks the residue from around the lid after we drink. OR...it could be the the addiction to the diet coke he got hooked on when he just learned to walk around holding onto furniture...and he was walking around our coffee table and I came into the room to see him slurping the Biggie Diet Coke from Wendy's that Travis left on the table. When he was about 10 months old. OOPS!

4. Chips. God...the boy loves chips. And dip. But not any dip (well yeah...really any kind of dip)...but his favorite is French Onion Dip. Gah....the breath!

5. Basketball. In our sloped driveway. So I'm constantly running after the ball down our driveway. Hey...surely I'm burning thousands of calories doing this so it balances out all the food I've been stuffing in my mouth lately. Diet? What diet?

6. Popsicles. Or should I say the popsicle-mouth-residue. Every kid needs to eat Flavor-Ice. It's a rule.

So, these are just some of our activities this spring/summer. I'm sure I'll post more later on our other activities...but this is our Summer Activity I.

Busy Little Bee...

2008-06-23T22:30:00.000-04:00

Boy...I've been a busy little bee lately. Not that I'm complaining.

Remember my lovely graphic designer friend who is my saving grace?!?!?! Well, I took photos of her kiddos on Saturday. Kinda as a re-payment for the work that she's done for me. And boy has she done a lot of work for me.

First things first....her kids are abso-freakin-lutely adorable!

I photographed her two kids, as well as her neice and nephew. We were working on getting a photo of the four of them together (for Brooke's mom) and I think we got a couple. A really fun one...and a good one for her wall (although I'd hang the funny one on my wall!).

Her daughter is so beautiful, that I couldn't help but continually take photos of her. Her son is so handsome...but not very interested in smiling for photos. :) Ah...a 4-year old boy. Aren't they all the same?

So, enjoy the photos....these are some of my favorites. These kids made it easy on me!!!!

Good Weather....Good Photos!

2008-06-17T11:43:00.003-04:00

Well, the weather has finally cleared up some from our nasty bout of severe weather. All I can say is Thank The Lord! I'm tired of all this rain.

What comes with good weather?

Good photography conditions!!!!!

I've been brainstorming on ways to advertise my business more and more. I've got it on the classifieds here at my work, I've got it on Craigslist, I've got it on IndyMoms.com. Where else should I advertise????

My portfolio lacked some babies and pregnant ladies. So I ran an ad on IndyMoms.com for some newborns and pregnant moms out there. I've had some luck...and have added those photos onto my website. My neighbor is due any day...but not real comfortable with taking maternity photos. I've advised her that I'm stealing her newborn for an hour or two when she gets home to take photos of. I just know she'll be beautiful! I've also got a maternity session lined up this week so hopefully I'll have photos to post later on.

I'm going to a playdate on Wednesday to meet some west-side moms and kids....and bringing my camera. Who knows if I'll run into the Cutest! Kid! Ever! while I'm there (besides my own). Plus, this is a great way to spread the word. An added bonus is that G will wear himself out and sleep soundly that night...and hopefully meet some new friends.

So back to my baby shots. I took them on Saturday...and photographed a 7-week old little girl...and a 4-month old little boy. Let me just say that they were ADORABLE!

The 7-week old ideally should have been a few weeks older...or a few weeks younger. Not an ideal age...but my word she was gorgeous. Can you tell her name started with an R???

And the 4-month old little boy was happy as could be. He literally smiled the entire time his big ol' toothless grin. Made me really miss my G-Man when he was that age. Also, while editing the photos...I have found that the colored photos are really the way to go for these little guys. Black and white I have found rarely look that great with the little ones (some exceptions do apply). I think it has to do with their innocence and perfect, soft, pink skin.

I've got a 1-year old girl on Friday night...and my friend (the graphic designer who I have been working to death) and I are getting together on Saturday so I can photograph her kids. Let me just say that they are gorgeous so I know they'll turn out great.

So, share some ideas on how to promote my business (kinda cheaply) and spread the word for me!

Blah.

2008-06-05T10:53:00.005-04:00

Blah. It's how I felt about the colors of my old blog and my old website. B-L-A-H.

What was I thinking? Why did I think that taupe-y, green-y, beige-y colors were uplifting? Colorful? Kid-friendly?

I'm obviously an idiot.

So now that my huge work project is over (London trip), I have time to commit to my website, my blog, my pictures, and recruiting me some business.

I called my lovely friend Brooke (old college roommate...graphic designer extraordinaire) and told her I needed a new color scheme (with a new banner). Then I went out...found my color scheme...and sent her the info. 2 days later she sends me this.

GORGEOUS.

She did my business cards...she did my banner (since my last one I created S-U-C-K-E-D)...and she doesn't know it yet but she's going to do some postcards for me too. And maybe anything else I think I might need.

She claims I'm her easiest client. I'm happy with anything she does for me. Mostly because all the work I do is so awful...that smelly poo smeared on a banner is better than the one I created myself.

I'm getting some good orders placed with my previous clients...selling some AWESOME canvas prints that are TO! DIE! FOR! (I apologize now for my use of all caps, ----'s, and !!!!!!'s.) and getting some senior photos lined up for this summer.

Oh, and I also promise to blog more. Yes, I know that is what I always say, but I really mean it this time.

So in honor of my new color-scheme...I'm going to post some of my favorite photos from my previous sessions. They make it so easy...being adorable and all!!!!!

Cheerio!

2008-05-28T12:14:00.004-04:00

Yes, I am alive.

I know it's hard to believe...since I haven't blogged in who knows how long...but it's true.

My heart is still beating and my brain is barely functioning.

Late April and all of May have been absolutely crazy for me. Travis and I just returned from London on Monday evening (26th) after an 11 day trip to the UK (7 days for Travis).

I was there for work...and work I did. I am so tired of working that I could die. In fact, that is why I am not working here at work today. Hmmmm....

It was hard leaving G-Man for 11 days. I'm not kidding when I say he grew 2 inches from when I left to when I returned. It was probably all the candy/junk food from Mamaw's house.

I also used to think jet lag was kinda silly....not really true. Well, let me tell you that IT IS 100% TRUE. Monday night we returned home (how awful is it that I flew first class and Travis flew coach?!?!?!) and G-Man and I slept in his little twin bed. Travis finally woke me up about 11:00 p.m. (4:00 a.m. UK time) and told me to go to bed. I grabbed the stair railing, took 1 step, and then proceeded to FALL DOWN THE REMAINING 7 STAIRS all while almost dislocating my shoulder-elbow-wrist by hanging on the railing.

Don't try that at home. It hurts. It's not pretty.

So Travis is on the top step, I'm on the bottom step, and I can tell he's really trying hard not to laugh at me. I get up and am amazed that my legs are still attached to my hips...and my arm isn't dislocated.

Graceful, I know.

Prior to the UK trip and in the midst of getting ready for this big meeting/conference/trip, I did about 4 different photo shoots. I still want to blog about them...share them with you...and get your feedback. I'm really proud of them and every "shoot" I find myself more comfortable. I did get some good shots in London...but nothing too crazy. Landscape/architecture photographer I am not.

Got a "shoot" tonight....a few this weekend....and more in the coming weeks. Once I get in the groove of things....I'll be posting more about them later.

If you're dying to see...just click here and you can flip through some of them. We've got seniors, families, prom, toddlers, swings and teens.

Enjoy! I'm not thrilled with the website design...blog design...but until I get this business off the ground and can justify a custom website-blog....it'll have to do.

Mr. Safety

2008-04-25T12:27:00.003-04:00

So, this week my entire house has been a wreck since we (and I'm using the term "we" very loosely here) have been building built-in cabinets/shelves in our living room for our TV and "junk".

We have wonderful recessed areas on either side of our fireplace...and before this week we just had a TV stand in the area and used it like that.

Well, Travis (aka my lovely husband) has decided that he could BUILD! shelves and make it look fantastic.

We (again, I'm using this term loosely) started on Sunday morning and by Sunday evening we had a few boards up! Yay! I was skeptical at first...especially after hour 7 had passed and nothing resembled a shelf.

But, I stand corrected. After 5 days of working on it....we have 2 shelves completed and the area is set for our big-screen TV.

I am so proud. (Can you hear the sarcasm dripping from my words?!?!?!)

There is no TV downstairs. There is no electricity in our living room. There is no lovely space for me to curl up on the couch and watch TV.

Life is NOT the same for me.

And to go back to the term "we" I've been using. I HAVE helped. Really...I have. I have supplied Travis and our friend Heath (who has helped us tremendously and has kept Travis in a good mood) with yummy dinners, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies (yes...they were the break and bake...but HEY!...not from a sack in the pantry!), sweet tea, and I did hold a couple of boards while he SAWED with a SAW! the other night.

My hearing is still trying to come back.

I am not a fan of saws....7 inches from my head.

Crazy, I know.

So we have sawdust everywhere, crap all over our house, tools in every direction, and we're having to park outside.

Yes! I am spoiled rotten...because parking outside is really bothering me. And yes I know it's not winter, so I should just shut up. But I haven't complained. Only to you.

Travis in his stocking this year (from my parents) got a pair of safety goggles. I mean, you never know when one might need safety goggles. Well, he scrounged them up the other day and they have come in handy while using the mighty power saw.

That is until G-Man found them and hasn't given them back to us yet.

Yesterday I finally busted out the grill (after nagging Travis to fill up the gas tank for at least a month) and grilled hamburgers. Can I just say how much I enjoy grilling? I do. I don't have to worry about messing up my kitchen when I grill (at least too much).

G-Man decided to come outside with me and take 3 (count them 3!) pirate ships that he has (and not little ones) with him to set up our Pirate! area.

I didn't really notice that he was carrying his goggles around, or that he really knew how to get them on his face. I ran inside to put the Crispy Crowns in the oven (YUMMO) and came back outside to see G-Man protecting his eyes from wayward, unknown items in the air.

Unfortunately, he pushed them up by the time I got back with my camera. I got some cute shots taken, played a little Pirate ship, and almost burnt the hamburgers.

Not good.

They turned out okay...and so did my picture.

Oldie...but goodie

2008-04-22T21:39:00.003-04:00

It's funny how I can go through old pictures and run across a photo that I've always liked...but didn't absolutely love.

This was all before my beloved Photoshop entered the picture.

So I'm going through some older photos (last summer) and came across this photo that I always liked...but didn't love in color. I tweaked it, cropped it, edited some dirt off of his face, and changed it to black and white.

A prime example on how a few edits can make a good picture GREAT! I love his eyes in this photo...and the fact that the freckles on his nose are really prominent. And the color before made his hair really red and crazy...but b&w it makes it perfect.

Now I'm on the hunt for other old photos that I liked....but didn't love. ENJOY!...and dig out your old photos to edit. Trust me...it's fun!

Gettin' it on at the zoo...

2008-04-18T20:37:00.004-04:00

So today was an absolutely gorgeous spring day (75+ degree weather) and I took a vacation day from work and took G-Man to the Indy Zoo.

We got up early, went to the "Bread Place" (aka Panera Bread) for some Cinnamon Crunch bagels and made it to the zoo at 9:00 a.m.

This was all of course after we survived an earthquake early this morning.

All was well, he did fantastic (all except for the lame dolphin "show") and we had a great time. The dude taking $$ for parking the cars didn't know how to work his credit card machine, so I got to park for free (YAY) and we munched enough on pretzels and popsicles that we didn't have to pay for a full lunch. Not too shabby.

I of course took my lovely camera and took a gazillion photos. Lots of G-Man, lots of elephants, and zero of the sharks since I had to physically restrain G from falling into the shark tank (where you can pet the little sharks). He was thrilled that he got to touch 10 sharks. Last trip to the zoo he was too scared...so this is progress!

And of course the highlight of the day was watching giraffes have sex.

Yes, you heard me. The giraffes had sex. Right in front of me. Well, me and about 10 other moms who were there with their kid's field trip. It was a slow day so not too many kids around, and somehow at this precise moment, there was nobody watching the X-rated show except for us.

We of course all had our cameras out and were documenting the entire thing. We were all giggling like school girls and laughing and snapping away. It's like a car wreck...you just had to look. If anyone is interested in seeing the x-rated photos of Mr. Giraffe and his "red rocket", go here, here and here.

Who knew?!?!?!

I also captured another new-favorite photo of G-Man. I'm really liking the light-colored photos I'm doing in Photoshop. Somehow I like the style and like how it looks when I'm done. Very fresh and he just looks so angelic!!!!!

What do you think? Too washed out? Don't like it? Please advise.

Also, word is getting out about my photography and I've got 4 jobs lined up here in the next few weeks. I'm really excited to take photos of things besides my kid, my nieces, and my other family members. I'm ready to 'liven things up'.

I of course will keep you all up-to-date on my photo-taking process.

I'm having so much fun!!!!! Oh, and if you're interested in seeing all the other photos of our zoo trip, click here for the set.

News Flash...

2008-04-12T09:06:00.005-04:00

I'm an idiot.

This is not some big news flash. It is what it is. And as I get older...the more of an idiot I am.

For example:

The other day I did a load of delicates, and forgot they were in the washer until 2 days later as I was getting ready for work. I got ready, and on my way out the door, I re-washed them. I was in such a hurry, I did my normal thing and just turned it on and ran out the door. 20 minutes into my drive (and about 3/4 way through the cycle), I remembered that I just set to wash my "delicates" on my normal setting of my washer.

Kinda defeated the purpose of washing them on "delicate" the first time around. Luckily, everything was fine with the clothes...but this is just an example of a ding-ey thing I've done lately.

Another example:

In February when I was in London for work (5 more weeks til I go back!), I toured Windsor Castle and some other cool places. Well, since G-Man is ADDICTED to swords of any nature, I found some cool knight-swords that make noise that I thought I'd bring back to him.

So I'm packing my bag, and my battery-operated swords will fit in my suitcase. However, any move I make, my luggage sounded like a sword fight was going on. So, I had a bright idea that I would just carry the gifts on board the plane with no problem.

Arrive to London Heathrow Airport (yikes...a HUGE-ass airport) and check my bags, and go through a maze of security, etc. Hmmmm...come to find out you CAN'T CARRY TOY WEAPONS ON BOARD AN AIRCRAFT.

DUH. What was I thinking?!?!?!? Seriously....I must not have been thinking very hard because HOW DUMB COULD I BE?

So, an hour later after going out of line, going to a store in the airport, and buying a stupid bag (all for a 14 pounds sword-set, which is really $28...damn the weak dollar) and re-checking my second bag, I finally got through security and to my gate out in no-mans-land with no pounds in my pocket and no place to buy a freakin' diet coke with credit that didn't have a line out the store door.........

That trip is a post all in its own.

So, it's stuff like that that annoys the crap out of me.

Oh! I remember another stupid thing I did in relation to my London trip.

My flight left at 6:00 a.m. out of Indy on my way to Newark. I parked the car at 5:00 a.m., and a shuttle was right at the pick-up point. So, I jumped out, grabbed my purse, grabbed my suitcase, and ran to the pick-up station. I got on the bus, no problem there, until I'm about 5 minutes from being dropped off and I remembered I DON'T HAVE MY COAT.

#$%^!!!!! Did I leave it on the back of my dining room chair at home? Is it in my trunk? I have absolutely no idea. My brain is blank. All I'm thinking is....Oh my God...I'm going to London in FEBRUARY...with NO COAT.

So, the driver dropped the people off at the terminal, and I go on the route with him. We get to my drop-off point, I leap out of the bus, run to my car (with a bus-load of people watching me) open my hatch, and THANK THE LORD JESUS that my coat is in the back. I grab it, lock my car, and run back to the waiting bus. (I thankfully stayed warm while in London in FEBRUARY).

I made it to my gate with time to spare and got to Newark fine (and ran into Mike Tyson!) (YIKES) and to London with no problem.

But again, it's stuff like this that KILLS me!

So, enough with my stupid ramblings. I really am a quite intelligent woman....with brain farts that occasionally ridden my brain.

In other words, I'm glad I'm practicing on friends and family with my photography.

Like on Sunday. We're at my dad's for dinner and my nieces are there. It's a glorious day, and the kids are riding their bikes. I'm taking photos, and getting some really good shots.

I go home, and later this week I Photoshopped them a bit.

But wait....what is this grainy blur on my photos? Why are they not super clear? Is the resolution crappy? What is this problem?

Oh....yeah....I took all these photos with the wrong setting on my camera (?) and somehow got the photos to turn out grainy.

I think this is the problem...and checking my photo details realize I think this is the problem. So from now on, I am going to be much more careful on what setting I have it set on. I just thank the Lord that for my really great photos of the triplets the other day, I had it set on the RIGHT setting.

See this photo???? It's GRAINY. And I hate it. Open it up in Flickr here to see the original file.

Oh well....we learn from our mistakes, right?

I sure hope so.

Photos for the taking...

2008-04-10T18:51:00.002-04:00

I love taking smiling photos, sleeping photos, staring intently photos...but most of all I love the pissed-off/crying photos.

Like this one of my neice, E.

I do believe she's crying because G-Man knocked her over and her mommy (my sister) came to the rescue.

I just love the big tears....

When 3 do it...G-Man will follow

2008-04-07T13:44:00.004-04:00

One thing I learned this weekend....if I take my son with me on a shoot (like I did on Saturday), I absolutely cannot NOT take his photo.

Especially when I was taking A, B and C's photo by a tree (individually) and when I was done with the third one, he climbed up behind the tree and posed for me like the others did.

I mean, how cute is that?!?!?

I told A, B and C that I needed to bring them along with me when I wanted to shoot G-Man's photo...and they could get him to do anything. Like Follow-the-Leader!

I think this one is my favorite.

Mr. Blue-Eyes (aka G-Man).

Photoshop is my friend...

2008-04-07T13:38:00.003-04:00

and I'm just now realizing how much I love one single photo....7 different ways.

I mean...how do you choose 1 single photo? Especially when I like that one photo with a lot of color, with black and white, and with an "old school" look to it?

I'm finding out that my preference is an old school look...with a lot of light.

Like these kiddos...my triplet neices and nephew. In order, A, B and C.

I guess I need to ask my clients what they like (BW, color, old school) before I edit 100 photos for them...and edit them 3 different ways. *sigh*

You're welcome

2008-04-07T10:01:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I don't want to bog down my blog with hundreds of photos so my readers have to wait a gazillion years for the page to load.

Therefore, I'm just going to keep updating my flickr slideshow (see left hand side of page) so if you want to see updated photos, click on the moving flickr button over there. See?!?!?! Easy!!!!

I will post the photos...but since I'm crazy with the camera clicker...I end up having hundreds of photos I love from the shoots!

This weekend, I downloaded 109 photos of the triplets.

This is after I deleted some of the really bad ones.

So when I say I'm doing you a favor by not posting all the photos on my blog...I mean it. If you're crazy and want to look at every single one...click on the flickr slideshow.

You're welcome.

Check it daily for more updates...I put more photos in it nightly!!!!

First "Official" Photoshoot

2008-04-06T21:41:00.004-04:00

Okay, the photoshoot was a hit. I don't know if I had great models (yes, I did), or if I really do have a knack for this photography stuff.

I'm thinking both.

I definitely feel more qualified after having my first "successful" photoshoot. I got a ton of photos that I'm working on editing, and I have to say I believe this one is my favorite so far.

My neices are beautiful, and my nephew quite handsome (although he quit posing for me about 30 minutes into the "shoot") and I can't help but take good photos when you got cute kids to work with.

Question for my readers....would YOU pay me to take photos of your kids? I think I need a little validation here.

Anyway, enjoy! I'll post more of the shoot later...but I am thinking this one is my favorite so far.

My neice, A.

Saturday

2008-04-04T12:19:00.003-04:00

In starting my new side-business, I need subjects to photograph. And G-Man is certainly adorable...but I think everyone over at Ms. Crafty Wanna-Be is sick and tired of looking at photos of my son.

I am not...but it's all about you.

So I called my step-sister the other day (who has triplets) and asked her if I could practice on her kids. You know, the ones that are at that perfect age where they're not too old to hate getting their picture taken, and older than the kids who avoid me like the plague.

And it doesn't hurt that they are adorable.

So I'm going over to their house Saturday to do a shoot, and I hope to get some great shots. I can't wait to share them all with you!

Until then, here's their Christmas card photo from 2007.

First Post....

2008-04-02T14:44:00.005-04:00

Of my brand new blog.

Welcome! Ms. Crafty Wanna-Be lurkers can come on over to JVW Photography!

As long as I can remember, I've loved to take photos. It's always been a dream to be a photographer. You know...one of those dreams that never come true and you never think they'll come true.

Yeah, one of those.

But guess what?

It's coming true.

Thanks to my handy-dandy camera I bought late last summer and some really cool subjects, websites, and some moolah ($$).

Again, welcome to my site. I plan to update it as I go along and get a better look, but for now it's going to have to do.

In the meantime, check out my photos, think about hiring me to take your kid's photos, and send me cool photo ideas (I'm always up for inspiration!).

So, for now, I leave you with my neice, E.