The Fall season is my fav!

I'm loving this weather now - cool and crisp instead of hot and muggy! Fall means NC State football games with the family - Go Pack! It also means photographing preschoolers age 3-5 and families who want portraits created for Christmas gift giving. So I've been busy lately trying to do both! Relating to 4 year olds in the morning means a major regroup before I work with a family of grown children (with pets) in the late afternoon! :) But I am so thankful it has been a busy season and that I do have work to do!

The economy is taking its toll on all of us but I've been photographing through all types of situations for over 20 years and I plan on being here for the long haul - so I'll continue to plug on through it. I entered the photography business not as a hobby to fill some empty time in my day or to make a little extra money on the side but to earn a living creating images that were rewarding and fulfilling so I'll not give up now just because the economy is or has been in a downturn! I'll continue as I have for the last 20 years, creating keepsake memories for discerning clients because the memories must be recorded for the next generation and time does not stop for "economic slowdowns".

Has it really been this long?

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post! Well I guess that's a good thing because it means I've been busy, busy, busy. Senior sessions, baby sessions, and dance recitals, whew!

Things have calmed down in the studio and now I'm ready to head east to the beach for two weeks to "vacate" a little and photograph a few beach families. If you're near Emerald Isle over the "Fourth" look me up - we'll be there working and playing. Then, if you're around Myrtle Beach the week after - I'll be playing golf and again doing a few beach portraits. Playing and working, working and playing - you gotta love it!!

My youngest daughter, Lindsey, turned 21 last weekend - wow, time flies and you really don't realize it until these momentous events come to pass. Her turning 21 doesn't make me feel nearly as old as my upcoming 50th birthday. Now that is beginning to wear on my psyche - somehow I don't feel as old as my perception of the number.

In any case, I will continue to look to the future, be at peace in the present and be happy with who I am - I wish the same for you, my friends....... r

Happy Mother's Day!

Whew, it's been a busy last few weeks and I'm still finding glitter and sequins everywhere - in my camera case, on the backgrounds and props we used and even in my shoes!!! But I love it! We're finally finished photographing several local dance schools so now the real work begins as we get all of those hundreds of images ready to print. I've been photographing some of these dance schools for over 15 years - I think we've finally got the photographic, on location, process down to a science or a "fine art" if you prefer - but either way it is surely a well oiled machine when we get set up and ready to work!! Thanks to all of the team for your help!

Tony's little Hayden was certainly surprised to wake up from her nap in the studio dressing room and see me the other day... so much so that she burst into tears! Boy did that hurt :( After she recovered, and yes she really did, we were able to create some beautiful images of her and of the entire family. They'll be sending their favorite images to family in Vietnam - thanks Tony and Rachel.

Little miss Annalee came in today for her One Year portrait! What fun we had - her laughter and giggles just made my day- brother Edward did not enjoy the one year session nearly so much - guess that just goes to show girls have more fun! It certainly proves the love affair girls have with the camera truly does begin at a very early age. When we introduced the birthday cake into the mix, she really got excited - yummy! So here is a sample of the fun...

Spring time

Ok, so I still haven't finished my new website - but it IS further along! It's so hard to find the time to teach myself how to set up the website and actually get my photographic work done too. I'm getting there - hopefully in another week I'll get it online - it's going to look SO MUCH better!

Happy Birthday Robin! I was just thrilled when Kyle and Callie decided they wanted to have their portraits done for your birthday surprise. I've heard you talk for years about wanting to get them together for a portrait but timing it according to their college schedules was just impossible. Well now, my dear, they've done it for you - hope it was all that they anticipated. I was so happy to be able to create those special images - best wishes to you all.

With Mother's Day coming soon, I was especially pleased with the images of mommy to be Amber! How serenely beautiful you looked. I did enjoy you all!

Sasser twins! Two sets, no regrets! Watching them grow and change is such a joy. Joanna is THE princess amongst the boys. Can't believe Luke and Logan are sitting up and crawling now. Life is surely busy at your house but what fun you'll have! Love those children - all 4 of them!

Realizing I can't put it off anymore, I've begun work on my new website. It's tedious and challenging but I hope the effort will be worth the end result. I am way overdue for an updated site and the idea of a new and better medium to display my creative interests is what keeps me typing away on the keyboard tonite. It may still be a few days before the new site is complete, but it's further along than it was a week ago. Stay tuned....

Great Bunny Days!

Well, its over....... but it's been a very busy few days with a baby bunny and babies, and toddlers, and children, and tweens.......Whew!! This is one exhausted photographer :0 . We've had great experiences and thankfully, no misshaps - the bunny didn't escape overnite ( like he did a few years ago) and no one tried to pick him up by his ears this year! The children, as always, loved, loved, loved that wabbit. And now I'll return him back to his "mommy" where he'll live a very long life with vague memories of those few days when he was a famous "photo wabbit" I, for one, need a vacation........

Thanks to all who joined us for the fun - see ya next year!

Ready for the Bunny!!

Here we go - ready for those bunny photos! We'll be running 2 very full days of Easter Bunny Photographs on this Friday and Saturday! Come join the fun - I still have 2-3 openings I can fill. And, finally, here is the photo of the background.......

Babies and more...

Babies and moms, babies and brothers, and just babies - we've been busy in the studio lately with little ones! Love seeing moms and siblings with new baby brothers ( Jena and Kelli and Kim) and watching new baby sisters grow (Bailey, I missed you!) Just watching them giggle and gurgle makes my heart happy :)

So now I'm trying to get my scenery lined up for the Easter Bunny photos. Why did I pick such a cold windy day to try to spray paint a "twig"tree?? Oh well I'll continue on and get this messy part over with so that I can start getting the eggs ready to hang!! The bunny is on schedule for next week so I'd better stock up on carrots and lettuce!

Ramblings

Well, it's been a very busy week ( I'm so thankful for it!). We've been photographing Cotillion Balls since last week and tonite is the final nite. Thankful that I am, I won't miss the daily trips from Zebulon to North Ridge Country Club and Prestonwood. I never tire of watching these young people spread their social "wings" at the balls - from 5th graders and high school age / all dressed in white gowns and gloves, or tuxedos as the case may be, and so excited about attending their first "Ball". I'm so glad that 10 years ago I found this program for my own daughters - it was a wonderful experience to them. I highly reccomend this program for developing social skills in young people. Check out the website if you would like more info. http://www.nljc.com

This morning I've been in the studio photographing a one year old - the granddaughter of a dear friend. Auston was truly a delight! She chattered and wondered about the studio completely at home in her exploring. Great photos which I'll post on my facebook group page shortly.....

The Easter Bunny Rides Again...

Just a few more weeks until that wascally wabbit arrives!
Friday,April 3rd and Saturday, April 4th

We've had to change "bunny breeders" this year since my former breeder closed up shop - but never fear, we have a replacement! Do you know how hard it is to find a rabbit?????? And one who won't be too young or too old at the time we need to photograph him?? And not from a pet shop?? - We have to find a breeder who agrees to work with a young, gentle bunny for a few days before we pick it up so that it will be used to being touched and petted.

Well it's working out and now its time for me to decide on the Easter scene - ah that different, unique, background that goes with "every one's" clothing, that's also appropriate for infants and 'tweens and teens! I've been photographing some children for 16 years!!! They continue to return year after year for the annual ritual of the Bunny! And I am so thankful.....
So I'm off to the woods to cut out a tree top.............and you'll just have to wait to find out - :)

By the way, we are already scheduling appointments so call us soon! (919) 269-0888

Cotillion Galas

We are gearing up for our busy season - Spring! We'll be photographing on location at Raleigh and Cary Country Clubs. Cotillion students are usually middle school age and early high school age young men and ladies. To culminate the end of a year of learning various forms of proper etiquette and dance steps, they attend a Gala or Ball to show off their newly mastered steps. Young ladies wear long white dresses, with gloves, and the gentlemen wear traditional tuxedos. How delightful to see these young people so elegantly attired!! Since this isn't their usual mode of dress - we'd better capture it for posterity! :) This is my 10th year and I still love watching the show!

Twins!

I believe photographing children is a privilage. It is an honor for a client to select me to capture those once in a lifetime images of their children.

Imagine then, the great opportunity to capture twins! I love working with them and getting to know each individual personality - because they are different. No matter the age, their personalities are different. I've recently been photographing the 3 yr old girl and boy twins for a client -"obviously" the girl is going to be the chatty, gregarious, one who decides when and if she'll let me photograph her :) (it's a girl thing, right?) and the young man is a charmer with his precious smiles and laughs. Then we had their younger siblings a few weeks later - 2 boys! Even at 6 months they displayed their individual wants and needs and their resemblance to one parent or the other - but what fun they were! Double fun for all involved and as the Dad says " Twin Power - 2 sets, no regrets!"