I have been bad!

So I realized that it has been a long time since I have posted any pictures of my family. I get so busy with pictures that I forget the people that are most important to me. This is my cute family out picking apples. And the boys being so silly with their friends. They are so cool most of the time and here they come up stairs dressed like this and having a blast.

Jaden and his little friend Wiley having a great time at the pumpkin patch. I love cute little friends. My new years resolutions are definitely going to include more fun times with friends and family.

Whatever!

So I have been struggling with something for the longest time. I have been trying to figure out my style. Everything I read said that I had to have one. I was always so confused because I like so many different ways that pictures look. I just try to make the pictures look the way I feel about them. So I have decided that it is alright not to have one specific style. It has released me from a lot of stress. I can do whatever I want. At any moment I can change. I love that idea!

Now is the time that I can really let myself go into the learning process. Not so many sessions that make me tired of taking pictures. Of course I will miss it and start begging people to be my models, but for now I am very happy! Time for the Christmas season which is my favorite. Time to decorate and spend enormous amounts of time with my kids.

Consistency is my new goal for the upcoming year! I think the kids will like this one because maybe they will have food on the table at night.

Always something!

I loved taking these pictures. For a family of boys that really were not that excited getting their pictures taken they really loosened up!

I said that I wanted to take a picture of the boys and this is what they came up with on their own! What very cute boys. Have a little crush on all of them.

This cute one was flying solo. He made the best of it and I got some really good pictures of him just goofing around

I could tell they had a lot of fun together and that always makes a better pictures when there is a real connection.

Thanks for spending the afternoon with Daniel and I. I had a great time.

Hey look at me!

I have finally decided on how to wrap and deliver my pictures. I know you would think that this would be easy but it is not. I had to decide on color and design it was trickier than I thought. I love the colors and the packaging it just made my day when it all came together.

I also tried my hand at baby announcements and Christmas cards. Have to tell you I enjoy doing both. The photography side and the design side. It just helps me mix everything I love doing.

I wish that I was all caught up on everyone's pictures but I am not. I don't like that feeling of having something on my mind to get done so this weekend will definitely be catch up weekend. So I will have more pictures to post because I made myself a little office with things that I love and some furniture made by my favorite carpenter Joe. I just tell him what I want and he figures out how to do it and I love that.

We are having the best Indian summer!

I cannot believe the weather. It is like it is the beginning of fall without all the leaves on the trees. And this family was so fun. I was nervous at first (not really) because two of the people did not want to have their picture taken. Oh for the love of a mother and a wife! I always so admire that. They know how important it is to her. They ended up doing a fabulous job. Look how pretty and fun they are!

It was funny at the last moment I saw these red sticks and I wanted some pictures by them and they ended up being my favorite. I always say that I will have the pictures ready in a couple of days but I get home and the kids are watching movies and I sit down and look at the pictures and then I really can't help myself but to process a couple.

You should have seen the look I got when I told the family that I was going to put yellow sticky notes on their shoes (except the mother--she got me!) But I think it turned out really fun. I love these kind of shots.

Look at that mother so happy and right where she should be. I love the joy on their faces and when they eyes light up around their family. Just beautiful.

Forever October--Valparaiso, Indiana--Senior photographer!

I have told you once, I have told you twice that I love shooting seniors. This grown man was no exception. He was very into his favorite hat and his very stylish sunglasses. Just a nice all around kid. People so think they are not photogenic but I truly believe it is how you feel when you are getting your picture taken and the way your picture is taken.

Today I signed off of facebook. Things are getting chaotic and I thought the time I spend on there could be time I spent doing way more things with my kids. I will admit was hard not to go on and check things out.

It is so difficult to decide which pictures to put up.

There are the ones that are smiley and happy and the ones that are moody and different. I like them all so equally that I wish I could post them all.

The weather has been cooperating with me so well. I can't believe it. A week or two ago I had to come to the conclusion that my season was at an end. But luckily for me I still have more time and people to shoot.

You really have to admire this one. Soon he will be enlisting in the military. His father is about to ship off so I guess he is following in his footsteps. What a difficult decision to make for some and so easy for others.

I hope he likes these as much as I do. I love the people with so much character.

I don't think I have mention how much I love Seniors!

Well everyone knows that I love taking pictures of Seniors! I love it. You can be as creative as you want! I also found this new location and I love, love, love it! the texture and the color is insane. I wish everyday had this kind of light. I am really in a groove right now trying to shoot from different angles and I love the perspectives that I am getting. I took one of the pictures through the wood and I think it frames it wonderful. Now the grandparents might not understand this shot but I dig it! I don't know how much longer I can shoot with the weather but I am going to keep pressing on.

This platform was actually up high and my sweet, supportive most of the time keeps his opinions to himself husband had to lift her up. Her comment was only "this seems a little sketchy." I think maybe it is going to be my new phrase. I loved it!

I will also have to say that the eyes of this one came straight out of the camera this way. No enhancement of any kind. Her eyes reflected and shone and when she smiled it lit up her whole face.

I love the Kitners!

They never fail! I always get the best pictures and love being with them! I like to call them "good people!" This was our second time out because of rain and I just loved this beautiful day! I can't wait to finish looking and finding great shots! Thank you guys so much for letting me take your pictures--just a joy.

The eyes are killing me!!

I don't know if I have ever seen eyes quite like this before. I could not stop looking at the color and the eye lashes and the deepness! I loved this family because they could laugh and walk and talk and were so comfortable around each other. I was looking at the pictures on the computer and my daughter was walking by--she stopped turned on her heals and came back to the computer and asked "Who is that?" Oh she was trying to be casual but I could tell. She then asked "does he go to my school?" I sadly had to tell her no to which she responded "dang it!" Just a funny moment of realizing my twelve year old is definitely a teenager.

Did you see the eyes?

What am I going to do when the leaves and all this color is gone. I am sure that I will come up with something.
I loved this shoot and I am looking forward to taking their sons senior pictures! I have a boy and a girl coming up and have some fun ideas churning in my head.

I wish I had some of these myself!

I am the least photogenic person I have ever met. People say that about themselves but it really is true about me! I wish I was because I would have someone take pictures like this of Daniel and I. I am so very grateful for the owner's of this property for letting us take pictures here. I promised them some pictures of their land and here they are---just gorgeous! The days are getting shorter and might light is getting less and less. I hope that it stays warm enough to get the rest of the shoots done!

Some days I worry that I am going to loose my creativity. That one day taking pictures is going to be old hat, but the last few shoots have made me realize that I not only enjoy taking the pictures but getting to know the people that I take pictures of. I look at their faces for so long that I feel like I know them intimately. It is a nice place to be!

New Experiences!

This is the first time that I have ever shot in the rain. It was not supposed to be raining and I was bound and determined that it was not going to get in my way. Ultimately it did and I talked Barb and Kyle into coming out and getting wet! And if I do say so myself I am so glad they did! I love friends who are willing to try something new and these two are my favorite subjects. I did not get many of the kids but that will have to be for a rain free day!

I am still loving the color of this place! I wish that I could bottle it up and keep it like this for a long time. It lasts such a short time that I feel if you blink you miss it!
Today I felt the old excitement to try something new and to really set up a shot the way that I want to see it!