Typical Oklahoma {Travel}

In every state I have lived or visited (other than California) I have heard this expression -

"if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes...it'll change"

But none of these places can hold this expression as true as Oklahoma.

I made a trip to Oklahoma recently - my "Oklahoma Tour." The first session I shot held true to what I know about the Sooner State. We started out with amazingly warm, humid air (can't believe I just called it humid in Oklahoma...forgive me Texas)...within minutes it got super dark and then windy. Having not lived in Oklahoma for nearly 12 years now, I panicked a little about the darkness ... and the wind... and the nasty looking clouds. It's hard to re-schedule a session during an out-of-state tour, you know. But clearly I had forgotten about the weather in Oklahoma. Ten minutes later the wind died down and the temp had dropped to a very amazingly comfortable point. The sun came out. Then the sun disappeared...then out ... and then it started to rain. Not too hard - so we kept shooting for a few more minutes (if you look close at the shot of the kids on the brick wall...you can see rain drops falling).

Now, I had promised the kids they could play with bubbles at the end - (yes, I bribe) and as we were walking back toward the cars...

Are you from Oklahoma?

Yes? Then you probably know what happened next.

No? Oh - well then let me tell you - a huge bolt of lightning jumps out of the sky.

yeah, so no bubble shots. sorry.

I sent the bubbles home with the kiddos and, as the door to their car was closing, I heard this - "Mom! Can we play with the bubbles in the house?!"

Sorry again - this time to their Mom.

Thank you for rolling with the weather we were handed "K" family! I had a fantastic time!

he was a very busy guy during our session - I put him in charge of taking photos of me

Murphy

Have you met him? I'm betting you have at some point in your life.

Well, he made an appearance at this session. He was not welcome but he didn't seem to care.

A simple shoot for all the grandkids. Outdoors. Evening light. Not a big deal.

Wrong.

Let's start with the heat. The amazing heat. Because of the heat and possible problems with rush hour traffic, at the last minute, we moved the session from the park to the country road & nature trail by the studio. We figured this would make it easier on the kids - plus we could easily switch kids in and out of the air-conditioned cars to cool them off between shots. Logical, no?

First off, we find out that some of the girls are terrified that there might be bears in the forest. Now, we're not really in the forest you see, we're about 15 ft in front of the edge of the forest. In Kansas. Not too many bears here. All the same, we bribed and cheered and did all the ridiculous things one does to convince a child to not be scared of something that seems very real in their head.

And then Grandma got bit by a huge tick. Now, let me mention...I've never had a tick problem in all the million times I've shot in this location.

Anyway - forest fun over...moving on to manicured lawns and flowers. On the walk to this spot one kiddo's flip flop busts. Have you ever tried walking on a busted flip flop? Doesn't work too well. Also causes a little drama with little girls.

Moving on to the country road (we needed the air conditioning break at this point anyway - we were drenched).

While Mom & Grandma are smoothing hair on little girls, I decided to move big boy over by the old barbed wire fence. They make super cool backgrounds for little boys. There happens to be a fairly deep ditch by this one - so for safety I keep any kiddos a good 3-5ft in front of it. That way they don't accidentally lean against the fence, fall in the ditch etc. I never considered a friendly shove from a sibling. Down the poor guy goes...into the ditch...wrapped in the fence. He's ok... but the shirt is shredded and Mom is frazzled (I don't blame her at all!).

alright ... ok ... we're only about 30 minutes into the session...need more images so we'll keep going and I'll photoshop the torn shirt. All is ok.

Moving on to the MIDDLE of the road (pretty well abandoned ... don't worry... I don't have kids playing in traffic). Middle...no ditches, no fences, no ticks, flat & level & no bears.

Me & Mom & Grandma laugh at the events of the day and we joke that the only one left to be injured or scared is the baby. No worries though...There are 3 adults within arms' reach of him and I have him in the no-fail chair for babies. It sits super low to the ground and the seat tilts in so they sit with their bottom so far down it's nearly impossible to fall out.

Nearly.

Impossible?

Guess what.

He fell out. Of course he did.

Why not.

And the adults (me included) have NO idea how it happened. We were standing RIGHT.THERE.

As he fell, big sister starts crying - I think it's because of the fall. No...it's 'cause she needs to potty. NOW. So I try to teach her to squat behind a tree while Mom & Grandma tend to baby (you realize I only have boys right?! teaching squatting is very new to me!). It didn't go well.

We called the shoot.

My shoots typically last between 1 hour and 2 hours ... this was 45 minutes. We didn't care.

We went to the studio for ice packs, drinks and potties. And I will be photoshopping a lot of this session. And that's ok.

Remember we moved from the manicured grass lawns of the park to this spot to make it easier?

Of course, I checked on everyone the next day. Baby is fine. Big boy is fine. Flip flop is a gonner. Girls still scared of bears. Mom's heart may have suffered some damage. My heart definitely did.

here they are - looking un-scared in front of the forest. see? no bears.

the fence shot...right before the shove...right before the shot I really wanted to get where I shoot from the ground

fantastic moment

right before the final disaster. look close at big boy's shirt...I left it torn in this shot...just 'cause

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Back in The Land of Oz

It's been two weeks of travel for me and I am finally home. If you are waiting on proofs, sneak peeks, emails, orders - thank you for your patience while I catch up. (and if you emailed me or placed an order and don't hear from me soon - please check in - it appears my email is flipping out from the overload and had decided on its own what is junk and what is not).

In two weeks' time we have been to Washington DC, Falls Church VA, Tulsa OK, Jenks OK, Collinsville OK, Claremore OK, Vian OK and Lake Tenkiller! I have photos to share with you from all of these - plus photos to share from the two days I was in Olathe between the DC flight and the drive to OK.

I will have a full sneak peek and story up about this session later today or early tomorrow. But I just have to share one - one to show Mom & Grandma that we did, in fact, get something. There is an unbelievable story attached with this session. Ever heard of Murphy's Law? Well Murphy visited us on this shoot. Oh yes...yes he most certainly did. So while I climb out of the hole I have buried myself in while on my little "tour" ... enjoy the brief tranquility from this session...

Reasons I Can't Write {Kansas City Baby Photographer}

I need to write something profound.

But I can't.

It's not in me.

Why?

Let's start with #1 - it's 3:35 in the morning

Then there's the been-working-since-6am-straight excuse

And I need to finish up my work so I can pack for the "Oklahoma Tour" - gotta leave in a few hours

I need coffee to write and, well, it's 3:35am. Should I find the time to sleep... I'd like to fall asleep instead of staring at my ceiling angry 'cause I need to sleep and can't.

I'm hungry. Can't eat 'cause I saw a photo of myself this weekend. No late night food for me.

And there's the possibility that what everyone has always suspected may actually be true...

I am, in fact, truly blonde.

So I'm just gonna post the photos - that's what you're after anyway, isn't it? Not really my profound writing.

All the same - I'll get some sleep this week since I can't process photos on my laptop in Oklahoma. I'll eat something too. And I'll be ready for coffee and profoundness when I get back to Kansas.

Expression {Kansas City Newborn Photographer}

ex•pres•sion [ik-spresh-uh n] noun

facial aspect or vocal intonation as indicative of feeling

and just because it makes my ovaries hurt...

Summertime at CCPhotodesign {vacation coming}

Summertime!

What do you think of when I say that?

Water?

Fireflies?

Crickets & Frogs at Night?

Parks?

Grilling?

Relaxing?

Summer for photographers isn't really full of these things. We're almost as crazy in the summer as we are in the fall. I've noticed that the days and hours get sucked into my computer and camera and suddenly summer is gone and I'm in the whirlwind tunnel of holiday season. I'll elaborate more on the time and computer factor of this job a little later (as well as chat a little about the up-coming crazy season {holiday season}). For now, I wanted to let everyone know that the studio will close for a few weeks in late July. I'm calling it my inspiration and recovery effort. The studio will remain closed to all but newborns July 25th through August 23rd.

I'm traveling a lot this month, but not for summer vacation purposes. The travel this month is all work. I wish I had a new laptop that could handle my programs so that I could process images while I'm out of town. I don't. I have an old laptop that flips out if I try to process an image. I can keep up with online things but no processing. Maybe next year. For now, please know that I am doing absolutely everything in my power to get everyone's proofs & orders done. At this point, I'm gonna have to spend that entire inspiration & recovery month sleeping!

Now, let's talk a little more about those summer things... this family met me at the park on what was a very steamy summer evening. We had everything but relaxing & grilling going on! (although there were plenty of on-lookers who were doing those two things). We even had water...as in one little guy falling in the water and nearly dragging his mom with him! No worries...he's fine, it was at the end of the session - so no ruined photos - and I think {truth be told} he may have enjoyed the water and some of the adults would have liked to have fallen in as well! People, I'm telling you - it.was.hot.

Thanks for your patience as I'm in and out of town everyone!