Summer Favorites

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...

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!

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.

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!

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.