What a fun shoot this was!  Even if it was 100 degrees outside!  This teen didn’t care….she is definitely model material! The red couch out in the field was so fun.  Thanks to my strong hubby for hauling it out in the field for us!  I’ve been wanting to use it outside for a long time.  Usually, it’s just me photographing and I can’t move the heavy thing!  The timing was perfect this day.  Although, my hubby probably wondered why I had to have it outside on the one day that it was over 100 degrees, considering I’ve had it for over a year.

This fall we are hauling it out to the wheat fields!  Looking forward to some fall colors with the sunsets!

As this young lady prepares for her next year of high school, I think she will be preparing for her career that will be taking off very soon!  Follow your dreams girl!  Not only is she beautiful inside and out, she is truly talented.  She’s a natural in front of the camera.  Be on the look out for Mae on the next cover of Seventeen!

Oh how sweet this little one is!  I can’t wait to get home and edit all of these.  I love it when they make my job so easy!  This little baby was so mellow.  We had a lot of fun.  Here are some sneak peeks for mom and dad.  More to come.

I had to share. My little one had her hair cut yesterday at my friends salon “House of Style Salon and Wellness Spa” in Kennewick, WA. (check them out of FB) Daddy had to take her because I was on a shoot. When I arrived home she says “mom, look at my hair! It was done by a professional, and she owns the place”. I get a good giggle out of that one. It’s what comes next…… “mom, can you take some pictures and put them on Facebook?” She’s six! So I did a quick gallery wrap to have printed up for her room.  They just grow too fast!  I can’t believe my youngest is SIX!  Next week I am in LA photographing a newborn.  Can’t wait to post some sneak peeks!

Isabelle and Andrew!

As I was packing for the move from Florida to Washington I received a message from my cousin in Missouri. Her and her husband had asked if I would take photos of their new twins while I was there in Ozark to visit the family.  I was absolutely flattered and felt so fortunate that the timing was right.  I absolutely love photographing newborns and to have twins was even more exciting!  We also had big brother Dylan.  You can see how he just adores his younger twins.

I was enamored with the bond of twins.  These twins, like most multiples, possess a very special and unique bond.  I’ve been told twins hold more than simply good friendship, rather, they begin to bond as life-long companions beginning before they are even introduced to the world.  I absolutely loved capturing Isabelle and Andrew’s bond.

Being able to photograph for your family is truly something I feel blessed to do.  You get to capture and document so many milestones over the years.  I’m already excited to do their “One Year” photos next summer!  These were a surprise for my aunt and uncle.  I think my aunt (nana to the twins & Dylan) thought my cousin was NEVER going to get pictures of these sweet babies! With our move out west I had to let my cousin know that I would probably need some extra time to finish these.  I needed to find my computer, monitor, cords, and all that stuff in the mad stack of boxes the moving company delivered.  So these twins’ nana is finally getting some pictures of her ADORABLE new grandtwins!  :)  I have to post some outtakes!  Yes, they look very peaceful, however, we had some comical moments shooting! Outtakes coming soon.  And, once again, I am SO jealous of those eyelashes!

A little sneak peek of the twins!  I did this shoot while in Missouri this past June.  The story and more to come.

Just some thoughts.

I have always loved taking photos, even as a child.  I did all dark room in the early days of my passion and also studied at the Washington School of Photography in Washington, DC.  I am always attending workshops and wanting to learn more. I absolutely LOVE what I do!

However, something hit me hard a while back.  I always have said I will not work every weekend, that is my family time.  However, I have a hard time saying “no” to people, especially when it’s something I love to do. Some time ago, I scheduled a weekend morning shoot. Knowing that I had no other plans….I figured, why not?  So, as I’m preparing for my shoot my phone rings. I’m unable to answer because I have my hands full with three kids and I’m packing up my gear.  The answering machine picks up and there is a message left. This message was heard by my children.  We had been kindly invited to go boating and to the beach for the day.

Now, this was exciting because it had been a chilly winter down in Florida.  So, finally a day out on the water!  Not so fast…..uh oh…..I have a scheduled shoot.  I have to explain to my jumping up and down excited kids that we cannot go.  Talk about a punch in my gut.  The tears started and there was no way I was going to get off easy with this one.  I tried to explain the predicament I was in.  ”Mommy has to work” “I’m sorry”, “maybe next time”.  None of those soothed these 3 sobbing children.  I didn’t expect them to understand.  There were several minutes of crying and begging. My middle daughter then blurts out “I hate photography!” At that moment I realized I needed to regroup.  It was all I could do to fight back the tears. Right then and there I made a promise to my family.  I only schedule a limited amount of shoots per month. This allows me quality family time and also guarantees my clients receive the quality custom service I want to provide.

As I approach this new endeavor of opening a studio, I am making commitments to my family and my clients. With all that being said, when my doors open this fall I will be a “Boutique Studio”. I do custom photography.  What does that mean to my clients?  I am not the photographer that snaps some pictures then hands you a cd with straight out of the camera shots (see below pictures).  I’m not the photographer for you….. if you desire that.  I take a lot of time and pride in what I do.  I spend hours on details.

I want to provide you with wall portraits that you will have in your home for many years.  I want my portraits to pull emotion every time you see them. Therefore, I spend hours editing images because I believe that is what my clients deserve and expect when they choose me to be their photographer.  Custom photography is truly an investment.  I am my hardest critic.  I want perfection with my images. Each client usually gets upwards of 15-20 hours of my time.  Your session fee covers my time during and many hours after the shoot.  From our first conversation, to our consultation, to the shoot, to the editing before proofing, proofing with the client, artistic enhancements after proofing, uploading and ordering, album design, packaging….you get the point.  This is why we photographers charge a “session fee”.

For more on Custom Photography please read the links below.

What is Custom Photography?

Why choose Custom Photography?

Why does Custom Photography cost more?

Below you will see some of my examples of straight out of the camera (before) and edited images (after).

Here’s a quick sneak peek for my cousin.  Growing up together we used to dream about the days we would get to sit at the “big table” during Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We would think of how we would have our own children and we would FINALLY be the “adults” that would sit at the (adult) dinner table watching our children play together.  In case you haven’t experienced the “kids table”, let me explain.  That is the table where the kids sit to eat holiday dinners and when you are 14 and sitting with your younger siblings and younger cousins, well….it’s just painful at the time!  I’m sure many of you have had to sit at the “kids table” while growing up.  When you have a large family there just isn’t enough room for all the kiddos at the table. I, for one, thought 14 at the time should have been considered an adult, however, my idea of adult age was not the same as my parents. So….Yeah….we “kids” got our own table.  Not so fun when you are a teenager, I promise you.  In any case, Lesley…I miss our “kids table” and the simple times.  I am so excited that we are watching our children grow.  More to come!

As I finish up with this shoot, I realize that photographing adults is really a lot easier than kids!  Who would have thought? (yes, I’m being facetious). However, they stand/sit exactly where you tell them to, they don’t move, or cry and they want to be there (well, the brides do).  I know it’s painful for you men (my hubby cringes when I make him do family pictures, and he even knows my friend that does our portraits! Kevin was so into his bride that he didn’t even notice my lens or my bossiness.  I pretty much just followed them around, and this is what I got.  I did however, have to remind myself that I could talk normal.  There was no need for feather dusters or squeaky toys to make them smile and I didn’t need to use the famous “I’m gonna getchyou”.

My passion will always be babies and children.  However, I didn’t realize what fun I would have photographing engagement.  I feel like some new creative juices got to flow while working on all of these particular images.  Carron got to have some sneak peeks every day.  :)  It was truly a pleasure photographing these two.  There is a lot of love there, and it definitely shows in their final images.  (okay, more like passion, too)!! You guys were so open and fun!  Can’t wait for the first baby shoot!!  ;)

Here’s a sneak peek!  I had the great pleasure to photograph Carron and Kevin’s engagement pictures.  As most of you know, I am a “child photographer”.  However, I was so honored Carron asked ME to do their engagement photos.  They truly have a love story.  We had a lot of fun photographing these two!  I may have to post some outtakes!  You can just see the love and admiration they have for one another.

Carron has been a part of our family for over two years. She started working for us as our son’s facilitator. Carson requires a full time shadow during the hours of school.  Carron has spend five days a week, 8 hours a day with Carson for the past couple years.  Let’s say she knows my son as well as I do.

When you spend that much time with a family, you become family.  When Carron started working with us, we were located in Washington, DC.  In a matter of weeks we moved to Washington state.  Within 3 months we moved to Florida.  Carron has been along for the ride!  She has such an outgoing vivacious personality that she didn’t fear change, in fact, she welcomed it.  While with us in Florida she met Kevin.  And I guess you could say the rest is history.

We will truly miss Carron.  However, it is time for her to spread her wings.  She and Kevin are on a new life adventure.  Kevin is in the Army finishing up special training.  They are a couple thousand miles apart until their wedding day, Setpember 5th.  This weekend will be the last time they see eachother until the day before their wedding.  As they await Kevin’s orders, Carron spends her summer anxiously awaiting to hear where she will settle this fall. I think it was only appropriate that we got to shoot these photos over the Fourth of July weekend.

God Bless you Carron and Kevin.  This Fourth of July I hope we all remember the sacrifices our troops have made to protect our liberty.  Not to forget the military wives that sacrifice and spend many days and nights alone.  They are just as much heros!

More photos to come!

From Florida to Washington!!

Well, the packing has begun! Yes, I’m sad to see all these boxes around. The moving truck will be here next week to take my computers and I’m cringing. I’ve made back ups of back ups! I feel like my life is in this square metal box under my desk! Next priority…..shoes and clothes! Please, United Van Lines, do not misplace my wardrobe boxes…..all 28 of them! I do not have backups! My husband may hunt you down if I have to go shopping to replace those boxes!!

I wanted to squeeze in a couple of seniors that I had the opportunity to photograph while in Phoenix learning from Sandi Bradshaw (she’s awesome!). I can’t wait to get the rest of these images up. This young lady is absolutely stunning!

My life right now….surrounded by boxes.