A Girl's Image

You may have noticed by now ... I'm not a very serious person.  I don't really like to be serious.  It's not much fun.

But there are a few things I'm serious about.  God, Family, Country for sure.  Then there are my issues that I stand on "my box" about. 

I just want to chat a bit about one of those issues.  Image.  Self Esteem.  I'm talking to you GIRLS.  I see this happening to girls and women everywhere - but especially in front of my camera.  You see what's on TV and in the movies.  What's in the ads.  You see it and you compare yourselves to it.  It's a dangerous game.  Then you either won't get in front of the camera or when you do you're uncomfortable and judge yourselves so harshly.

Now I'm not saying makeup and stylists are a no.  I've actually got a bit of a different take on the whole issue.  I say use them!  I say put the makeup on ... dress yourself nicely.  If that's you.  Don't avoid those TV shows and ads.  But know that the girls in those have had excessive makeup and stylists.  They ate a carrot for lunch today and will have a celery stalk on their way to their 3 hour appointment with their trainer.  They've also been in front of an artist digitally for several hours.

It's easy to preach it.  It is.  Here's what's not easy.  Following the advice.  I catch myself frowning at the image in the mirror.  Frustrated with imperfections.  Worse are the images that come back from the camera.  Mirrors, apparently, lie.  The camera does not.  Or maybe it does?  Whatever the case is  - I never like the images of myself - I'm overweight, my skin needs help and that dress is not as cute as it looked in the mirror.  In my mind.  Not my friends' mind, not my husband's not my kids' not my parents' or my brothers'.  Just mine.

You know something? I'll look back at these pictures in a few years and not notice those things.  I will only see my life right now... frozen in time.  And I will love it.  If I avoid the camera or don't print the images I can't look back later.

What's worse is that my kids hear me complain about myself - see me avoid the camera.  They soak it in.  I don't want them to.  So I better get over myself and get in front of the camera.

We should be worried about our children.  Especially the girls.  They need to know they are beautiful.  Regardless of their pant size, their skin or how much makeup they have on that day.  Regardless of what somebody else thinks.  We need them to know they are beautiful to us and to God.

OK.  So I took a lot longer getting to this sneak peek than I intended (I'm bad about getting on boxes and not getting down). "K" is not a newborn.  "K" isn't a senior and it's not "K"s 1st birthday.  "K" did not come to see me with her family for Christmas cards.  So why would "K"s mom schedule a session just for her?  Because she has changed a lot since her last professional portrait.  Because her family would like to freeze her in time.  Because she is Beautiful.

Don't be afraid to get in front of the camera girls (ummm... adult girls too).  Don't be afraid to call and schedule a session for you or your daughter just because it would be fun.  Just because it would make them feel good about themselves.  Just because you are beautiful.

By the way - did you know that if you go to Dove's website you can enter a Dove UPC and they will donate $1 to their self esteem programs?  Yea Dove for promoting self esteem for women and girls!

"Hey "K" - stop right there and jump for me"

{K} - "are you kidding?  omg really?"

she did it in spite of how embarrassing it may have been!  ; )

Toy Story

Any of you have a boy?  If yes, and within the last twelve years, then I'd bet you know what's going on in this picture - 

uh huh

"To Infinity and Beeyonnnnnd"

We're just starting our second round of Toy Story addiction at our house.  My little man is nearly two (sniff sniff) and so the fascination with Buzz, Woody and LGM has begun.  My twins were Toy Story FANATICS.  I mean - biggest biggest fans ever.  So, needless to say, I am quite versed in Toy Story lines.  Watching those movies 892 times, playing with every TS toy available and making a trip to Orlando specifically to meet Buzz Lightyear prepared me well for this session.  'Cause this guy can compete with my twins in the Toy Story fanatics category.

We chatted about Buzz, and - {his fave} - Woody through our entire session.  When he got tired - we just bribed him with taking pictures at the end with Woody.  I took him on what must have been the longest walk he's ever had to take to retrieve Woody out of the car for pictures.  He even tolerated three outfit changes - all for a picture with Woody.  What he didn't see were all the adults on the street who were walking in circles so they could watch him and giggle.  Or the people in the shops who came to the windows to watch him.  What an entertainer!  He was full of knowledge to share with me - some about TS and some about other important issues (like his boat shoes).

Thanks for our adventure-filled walk "M."  And Happy 3rd Birthday!

Now - I just need to convince my kids to let me watch a few princess movies so I know what I'm talking about for all those girl sessions.  Needless to say - we're lacking in the princess category at our house!  Ha ha - oh right... can't you just hear me on Friday movie night "ok boys - we're gonna watch Cinderella"    Riiiigggghhhht.

and dddrrrummmrolllllllllllllllllll...

Makeup Anyone?

SO... do you wear makeup?  I bet the majority of the people reading this do.  Do you wash your face?  hmmmmm.... let's hope all the people reading this do that.

One of my dearest friends often calls me a "loud mouth marketer."  It's ok - I don't take offense.  'Cause she's right.  I tend to be one of those people that expects a lot out of something I purchase.  It's hard to meet my standards.  {My husband calls it high maintenance}  But when something does meet my standards... when I'm absolutely thrilled with a product, service, person... I will tell everyone about it.  everyone.  And it doesn't really bother me if you don't want to hear about it - I'm gonna mention it anyway.

There are going to be some big changes in the studio in 2010.  One of those changes is going to be that I'm going to start really pushing {maybe offering for sale - no guarantees - the details are being ironed out slllowwwwly} local businesses and products that I adore and relate to my business.

So - it's all coming together - don't worry - I'm going somewhere with all of this.

I haven't pushed it as hard as I would like, because I really want to roll this all out with all the new stuff in '10.  But "K" is my dear makeup artist.  Add her onto your session fee and she will do your makeup, give you some tips and send you home with a few goodies.  She is especially valuable for those newborn sessions when Mom wants some pix of her and baby but feels a little... well... post birthish.

Even if you don't want to add her onto your session - consider her for makeup, skin care etc.  She's the best Mary Kay rep out there.  THE BEST.  period.  Send me a message if you want her contact info.

And she has adorable kids - adorable.  And funny.

I had a great time walking around downtown with "K"s family.  And hearing her kids announce that they want her to dress up as a peacock for Halloween.  LOL.  C'mon "K"... now we're all expecting photos of you dressed as a peacock!

The Dogs in Our Lives

The second most common question I get is ... "Can we bring our dog to our session?" ... the answer is yes! 

{The most common question I get is "Do you photograph weddings?" ... the answer is no.  (but my dear friend Jamie does ... so call her if you need a fantastic wedding photog)}

Ok, wait.  The answer to "can we bring our dog" is maybe.  Is your dog friendly and leash-trained?  Then yes!  

Is your dog wild, scared of people and unable to be controlled on a leash?  Then no, please don't.  And - obviously - if your dog has a biting problem please please don't bring it (even if it's a little dog.  biting is biting and I can't have that liability).

I'm not sure if there are other pets that would be photogenic - but if you have one and you would like to try - I'm up for it. 

Except for snakes.  I won't do snakes.  No way.  No how.  No.  Sorry. {shivers}

So that brings me to this sneak peek (not the snake part - the dog part).  The "R" family met me at the park Saturday morning with their sweet dog "B" in tow.  I love that they brought the dog!  It's certainly not the first time the family dog has been included in one of my sessions.  But, I get this question so often that I thought I should just make an example out of Miss "B."  And who wouldn't want to make an example out of "B?"  She's one of the sweetest dogs I've ever met.  And funny - really funny.

So, if you feel up to the challenge - bring your dog to your session!  It's not always a guaranteed shot (we could not, for our lives, get a picture of "B" with her little girl - who happen to be best best buddies) - but I will try my very best!

Thanks for spending a chilly morning with me "R" family!  I had a great time!

My Fave Two...

from this weekend...

'nuf said

; )

Gotta love Kansas City

I moved here from Houston, TX.  I clearly remember the day my husband told me there was a job he felt he should take in Kansas City.  

"Ummm... Kansas City?  As in cold, weird architecture, small city, COLD Kansas City?"  I wasn't sure about leaving Texas behind to come to Kansas.  Who moves to Kansas?!  What in the world would I DO in Kansas?  Besides freeze, of course.

That was 7 years ago.  I can now say that I love Kansas City, still love and miss Texas, but truly love KC.  I was wrong about KC.  Well, mostly.  It IS cold (some of you who have moved here from further North think I'm nuts... but anything below 50 degrees is COLD to a Texan!)  But, it turns out, lots of people move to Kansas City.  The people here are from everywhere and are amazingly kind.  And while it is a smaller city than Houston (to be fair, there are only 3 US cities bigger than Houston), I now realize that it is the perfect size city (ummm, no traffic...helllloooo)

The other problems I had with moving to KC fall right into this sneak peek.  Let's start with architecture.  Ok - now I STILL have a major distaste for the "face houses" as my husband and I call them.  If you live here and you don't know what I'm talking about - look around as you drive through some neighborhoods.  There are these houses that have two windows squarely above the garage door and weird architectural stuff above the windows.  It looks like a huge face staring back at you.  But beyond the face houses we have amazing architecture.  Downtown, Brookside, Freight House District, West Bottoms etc ... and the best of all... The Plaza.  Seven years later, I am still in awe of that place.  Moving on to the cold - without the cold we wouldn't have the amazing fall weather.  And to be honest, I adore a good snowstorm.  And finally, would would I DO in Kansas?  Well... let's see...

Enjoy the sneak peek "M" family! (yes you've seen them recently - this was just session 2 for their fall pix).

Also - forgot to mention in the last entry - thanks a million to my dear photog friend Kami Brady for loaning out her gorgeous red chair!

Confessions of a Photographer

I have a confession to make...

I'm human.  With a human brain and human body.  Human.  Humans make mistakes.

I'm a Mom.  With three young kids and a business.  Moms sometimes have "Mommy brain."  {there IS, by the way, medical documentation to back up the mommy brain theory ; ) }

Now I realize that, as a business owner, I have the responsibility to overcome Mommy brain.  I also realize that I am hardly the only business owner with small kids.  I realize that it is my responsibility to be...well... responsible.

SO that leads me to my big confession.  I have this wonderful client, "C".  She has fabulous vision and great ideas.  I adore her ... but I swear she has some kind of photographers' dark cloud over her head.  If the order can come in wrong, it does ... if the weather is going to act up, it does ... etc.  We joked about this at her last session.  We spent a long morning getting THE shot(s).  We were thrilled with how the children did.  No fussing.  Amazing.

I went about my business ... worked ... picked up my kids ... blah blah blah...mopped the floor... did some laundry... blah

A few days later I go to load all the images from the last several sessions from the cards to the computer (YES, I realize I should do this immediately after a session, but remember...human...kids).  

Except {wait} WHERE is my card from "C"s session?  Why isn't it on my desk?  What would I have done....

{GASP}

NO!!

run upstairs... praying the whole way...

OH NO!  YES!  I washed the card in the pocket of my jeans.  8g worth of hard-worked-for images are now very very clean and WET.  I think I melted onto the floor in a heap of prayers, tears and hyperventilating.  Because, my friends, THIS is a photographer's worst nightmare.

I googled it (isn't that what everyone does in a crisis?!).  Turns out I'm hardly the only one to do this.  The recommendations ... put the card in a bag of rice and leave it for several days - and pray hard.  So I did.  I wasn't sure if God really cares much about digital equipment - but I prayed anyway.  Just in case.

Turns out prayers and rice work!  Four loooonnnnggg days later, I plugged the card into the computer, closed my eyes, nearly vomited ... then opened one eye to peek ...  THERE THEY WERE.  Melt into a heap of relief.  And then sit in awe at the beautiful photos loading in front of me.  Thank goodness they were safe - 'cause they were beautiful.

Why WHY would I admit that I messed up to current and potential customers?  Because I want you to know that I care.  Know that I didn't sleep for four long nights worrying about those images.  Know that I put everything I have into each and every session and would be sick if anything went wrong.  Also, know that I'm human.  And while I sometimes make mistakes, I learn from them so I don't do them again.  Rest assured - I will never wash a card again.

Of course, it may also be helpful for you to know the formula for saving images off a washed cf card... just in case.

So - take a peek at these VERY clean images  ; )

By the way, this little guy is 3 months old.  I usually recommend NOT doing a session at this age because they are normally quite awkward.  But this sweet angel has me thinking twice about that theory!

I love the attitude in this one