Road Trip

to Carthage MO ... well, no - that's not true - to Reeds MO.  Ever been there?

I hear crickets.

For those of you who've never been there - don't know what I'm talking about... there's this little town in Southwest Missouri, just outside of Carthage.  Not too many people call it home.  It's a quiet area.  I love it.  Every time I'm there I wonder what I'm doing in a city.  And then I remember - oh right... I hate snakes.  And I love Starbucks.  So, when I finally kick my Starbucks problem and learn to sleep in spite of knowing there are snakes outside - you can find me in Reeds MO (or someplace similar).

Part of my family lives there.  They have as long as I can remember.  They have land and barns and horses and cattle and cats - and dogs.  Dogs named Bronc and Cajun (I love it).  See, it's a different scene than what I normally shoot (as in about 180˚ different).  That makes it a LOT of fun.  Hence the roadtrip.  Well, that and I love visiting and my kids' were begging to ride a horse.

So on Sunday we played with animals, ran in fields and climbed in and out of barns (and begged the men to put up with our weird requests - thank you men for putting up with us).  And prayed for no snakes or skunks.  I had a ball - I think I totally wore them out.  My kids had a blast.  Watch out "C" family... we'll be back for more.

this has to be one of the best facial expressions I've ever caught on camera

Grandpa and his only GrandSON

that only Grandson just turned 1 - going on 15

He wasn't terribly interested in my camera that day  ; )

ohhhh but we caught him (temporarily)

Q in her Tiger (Carthage Softball) gear.  She's good... really good.

most of you don't know my cousin - I'll probably end up getting thrown in the lake next summer for posting this shot

Daddy's girls

and I have to post a shot of my twins riding (look in the bottom right corner- there's Bronc staying right next to them)

Just Laugh

Do you have memories of picture day from your childhood?  You probably do, and it probably goes something like this - 

Mom scrubs you down in the tub as you squeal about how she's ripping your skin off.  Then you are dressed in a frilly dress, tights and white shiny shoes or a very constricting mini version of Dad's suit with black shiny shoes.  You are then placed carefully into the family car and told not to touch anyone, put your hands in your lap, don't move - don't even look at each other.  'Cause if you do and you get yourself or your siblings dirty Mom's gonna have your hyde.  Then you arrive at a studio - dark inside with walls covered in rugs, wooden boxes of all sizes and backdrops with scenery painted on them.  Everyone is placed in a specific position - again, don't move and for goodness sake - stand up straight.  Ok now here comes my favorite part ... everyone say CHEEEEEESSSEEE.  *Click* - ok we're done.  Everyone looks stressed and has weird smiles but we're all looking at the camera and Mom and Grandma are happy.  Time for lunch.

First, let me just say, there's nothing wrong with that memory.  There's nothing wrong with that picture.  There's nothing wrong with that dark studio.  Nothing.  Unless it's not your style.  Unless it just doesn't fit your family.   If it doesn't - come see me.  If it does and you want to say cheese - please go to that studio and don't come see me.   Don't get me wrong - I'd love to spend time with you, meet you, chat about you - 'cause I love people.  But don't come to me for pictures.  You'll be disappointed.  I don't believe in cheese.  Nope.  I believe in playing air guitar, jumping, bubbles, pillow fights, laughing hysterically 'cause we said "poop" (come on - it's funny and you know it) and when necessary lying to your kids about a butterfly inside my lens so that they'll look at me for a split second.

This doesn't mean I won't pose your family.  I probably will - for a few shots.  'Cause we still have to make Grandma happy (she's still the boss - and always will be).  But I'll also tell you to just laugh.  Laugh at something - have fun - don't be afraid to laugh.  'Cause when you do ... you get this...

oh don't worry - we'll still get this...

and, by all means - don't just laugh on picture day.  Laugh 'cause it's good for you - 'cause it makes the world a better place.  For sure - laugh at these three kiddos - 'cause they're stinkin' funny.

Everything a Girl Needs...

Big pink bows, a little white dog and parents who love her - what else could this little angel possibly need?!

For those of you who follow the blog religiously - Yes!  A newborn GIRL!  That makes... let's see... three for the year amongst countless little boys.  Oh the little girl daddies are in trouble.

I won't chat long right now.  I have a little boy asleep on my lap as I write this (for those of you with boys - and obviously there's a lot of you - can't you just smell his little sweaty sleepy boy head?!).  Good thing I have a wireless keyboard 'cause this ain't easy and it would be impossible without being able to balance the keyboard on my knee.  That's alright, I'll be back on later tonight - after I put my own little angel in his crib.

For now, revel in the girly pinkness

A Lion in the Studio

Yes, I had a lion in the studio the other day!  He was 6 months old, a little chubby and very smiley.  Just the way a baby lion should be.

; ) ... don't you just want to squeeze those cheeks?  Not something you say often about a lion, is it?  Baby "B" - you were a ball to play with!  Looking forward to our next meeting around your first birthday!  I have a feeling this little guy will give us some good birthday cake shots!

By the way ... I welcome lions, witches, bats, ghosts, pumpkins, Spiderman (you get the picture) in the studio or on location any time - but especially over the next few weeks!  If you have a session scheduled soon and would like a few shots of your kids' Halloween costumes, feel free to bring them along! (we'll do those shots at the end - of course)

Quickly...

I had a crazy week (as if there is a non-crazy week this time of year).  My computer flipped and I had to re-do lots of proofs that I had already done.  So, now I'm behind - just when I was getting caught up.  Isn't that the way it goes?!

So, if you're waiting on your sneak peek - I'm working on it!  Frantically working!  If you're waiting on your proofs - same story!

But very quickly, I have a pre-sneakpeek peek.  Every year I do the "M" family pictures.  "K" is an artist and we always have a lot of fun coming up with how to out-do last years' pix.  That's what happens when you get two right-brained people together.  We start coming up with crazy ideas ... like carrying a heavy couch down a country road and into a field.  All those pix will be coming soon.  For now - here's the pic I chose by closing my eyes and pointing my mouse...

Crazy with a lot of Pix

It's crazy out here people.  By "out here" - I mean in the photog world.  Crazy crazy - {holy no sleep Batman} kinda crazy.  Our busy season has officially started.  Fall is coming ... it's roaring in unusually fast here in northern Kansas... and Christmas is just around the corner (my boys are already watching The Polar Express religiously every evening).  If you haven't booked your fall session yet, you're gonna want to call tomorrow morning.  Seriously.  There's not many openings left.  There are holiday card designs to preview for you, deadlines to list and lots of fun announcements coming up.  But I don't have time to chat about that right now.  I'm just here unloading cards, charging batteries and getting ready to run back out the door for another session.

I want to tell you all about this fun family... tell you how funny the youngest is ... how cooperative they all were ... tell you about how long they waited for their session 'cause it just kept RAINING on us...  I want to tell you about it but I can't.  I'm running out the door 'cause remember it's {holy no sleep Batman} time.  I gotta go shoot some more people in a field.  Because I feel bad about not telling you about this family, I'm gonna post lots of pix of them for the sneak peek.

Speaking of Batman...I could use the Batmobile right now ... and a set of wings and superhero powers...