Which Makes Me Braver?

The fact that I did this insanely crazy waterslide last week -- which spit me out into an appropriately named "Wedgie Zone" -- or the fact that I'm posting the photo for all the world to see?



(Between you and me, I think that making the photo public will shame me into going on a diet and exercise plan, stat. I mean, SHEESH.)

The Little Dudes at 11 Months

I've tried -- somewhat successfully -- to curb my work time during the month of August. I wanted to reconnect with my kids after my trip, help them celebrate the end of summer, play a little with my vacation photos, and help everyone ease back into school mode.

Like I said, I've been somewhat successful.

I haven't exactly had gobs of time to devote to any of these things, but I've made a big effort to be "mom" in the last fews weeks, and I do think that my kids have noticed. So that's good.

I did, however, carve out some time to spend with K & K, so that we could document them at 11 months. We've met monthly since they were born, so there was NO WAY I was going to miss a month after all this time.

And as usual, it was fun, a little bit crazy, and highly entertaining. I had grand visions of a little "den" set up outside, but of course, exact visions rarely translate into reality when you're working with kids this age. Despite that, I think we got some fun shots. (And my apologies again to the poor people trying to enjoy brunch on the restaurant deck above us. Only after making a wide range of animal and body noises -- at very loud volume -- did I realize that the restaurant had started seating people not 20 feet away.)



And don't ever say I can't multitask. I think I shot this one while holding his brother. (Mom was on guard to make sure this little guy didn't tumble into the nearby creek.)



There was so much to see, touch, taste and explore...







We played around in some greenery, too. Again, it was taste-a-polooza.





Next month they turn one, and my yearlong project with them will wrap up. I think I may need counseling to get over it. :)

A Postview

It isn't exactly a preview... This client's gallery went online yesterday, and therefore her family has seen the entire collection of images. My vacation schedule threw my usual process out the window and I never did an actual preview.

So call this a postview.

In any case, I figured that those of you who visit the blog would enjoy a little dose of Miss C as she marked her first birthday. I've been fortunate enough I document her first year at various milestones, like this and this (and a mini-session with one of her sisters) and then finally this birthday session.

Here's to a great second year, little beauty!

Family Sessions for Fall 2010

Last Friday, I emailed my latest ECP newsletter, which covered details of my shooting schedule for Fall 2010. (If you aren't subscribed to the newsletter and don't want to miss future opportunities to get the scoop before anyone else, go ahead and subscribe today.)



And lifted directly from the newsletter, here's the fine (or in this case, bold) print regarding fall sessions:

Whether it's buying school supplies or penciling out the carpool and after-school schedules (yup -- I'm doing that, too), I'm sure that this is a busy time for you all. At the risk of prompting you to cringe and say, "What? Something ELSE?" I want to ask you to think for just a moment about your plans for holiday photos and cards this year. You see, I'm releasing my dates for fall family sessions, and I need to stress that this is it, folks. I would love to be able to photograph each and every interested family -- I really would -- but time and energy are in limited supply, and I must cap my openings at these.

Each session will include 1-2 hours of shooting time in one location and will result in a gallery of 25-35 edited images. Please bear in mind that fall sessions require a 50% deposit, due at the time of booking. I can't hold your appointment until I have the deposit, so please don't overlook this detail (which is new for Fall 2010). The fee for a family session is now $145 plus tax and includes a full-resolution digital file (jpeg) of your favorite image, which can be used for prints, social networking, or creating your own holiday cards. I'll also have special incentives and discounts for placing orders within two weeks of your gallery being posted online.

Again, it's my nature to want to accommodate absolutely everyone, and it's tough for me to set limits on my appointments. I appreciate your understanding, and I look forward to working with those of you who are able to schedule.

And a special note to those with galleries already online...
If you currently have a gallery online and have yet to place an order, please keep in mind that fall is the "busy season" in family photography. As a result, my turnaround times will be affected. While I'll continue to make every effort to deliver products very quickly, the best chance for speedy receipt of your order is to contact me with the details prior to September. If you have questions or want to get the ball rolling now, please don't hesitate to call me at 805/234-4143 or email anytime.

I should note that this schedule only relates to family sessions, and I will continue taking appointments for maternity, newborn and baby/toddler sessions throughout the fall. If you're expecting, or if you have a little one who'll be ready for a milestone session (like six months or the oh-so-fun first birthday session), please get in touch at your earliest convenience and we'll get that on the books. It'll be a busy time, so advance planning will be everyone's best friend.

A Little Treat

As I bounce like a pinball between various work projects and the demands of my family this weekend, I'm popping on here to share a quick glimpse of a 6-week-old cutie.

Here's Baby D, the result of this pregnancy and little brother of Mr. T. (And yes, this little dude was early as well.)

My Beautiful Ballerina

Yesterday was a big milestone in our household; it was my daughter's very first dance recital. Dance is something that she takes very seriously, and she was just about bursting with excitement from the moment she woke up. She counted down the time until she could get all dolled up, and she dictated EXACTLY what we needed to do to make her stage-ready (she was well prepped in class the week before).

In all honesty, I had a little trouble swallowing the fact that my four-year-old was wearing eyeliner, but I did understand her pride and excitement. I wasn't an athlete growing up, but I danced in many performances over the years, and I remember well all of the preparations and details relating to the big show.

Because my daughter was one of the youngest in the recital, and because her number was in the second act, she got to spend the first half of the show on my lap in the audience. She alternated between being completely enthralled and giddily wriggling in her own version of the dance on the stage. And when it was her turn to go backstage, she happily waved goodbye and was off to do her thing.

It was a brief appearance to The Rainbow Connection (think Kermit the Frog), and it was over oh-so-quickly, but she did a great job and seemed to relish the spotlight. I have a feeling there will be many more recitals in this girl's future.





She and her buddy P happily waved "their" tickets before entering the Performing Arts Center.



And during a restroom stop before taking our seats, she vamped for the mirror, clearly taken with her altered appeareance.







And here she is with her friends. I could just about eat them up.



This morning marked one more milestone as she started back at preschool. (I think I blinked and the summer was over.) Here she is, proving that she looks so incredibly grown up, even without the cosmetic enhancement:



And one more shot to demonstrate that she has unique stature among her peers. She sure does stand out in a crowd!

Closing in on a Year

My little buddies are closing in on their first birthday -- how did THAT happen? -- and we decided to take them outside for their official 10-month shots before I left for vacation. Of course, now that I'm finally getting them online, I'm simultaneously brainstorming for their 11-month session, which is NEXT WEEK.

Can someone please slow down the clock? Just a little bit??











As I said, these guys will be back on the blog again in no time. Lookin' forward to it, little dudes...

It's Good to Be Home

At least that's what I keep telling myself. And I did miss my kids... I did. But it was reeeaaally hard to say goodbye to leisurely strolls and long lunches in sidewalk cafes. To three and four course meals every day of the week -- for lunch AND dinner -- and to mornings that always began with a baguette and the best coffee I've ever tasted. To so much quality time with my husband that we could sit quietly and people watch and feel no need to converse because we'd talked about it all... and then talked about it again.

So yes, it was hard to wrap up one of the greatest vacations I could have imagined, but those kids were here waiting (after being so very well cared for by three of their grandparents), and real life was waiting. I've now had a few days to get back to it, and I feel like our family is again in its regular groove... Just in time for school to start for one kid tomorrow and for everything to get thrown into chaos again. Ah, well. At least I'm rested and refreshed and possessing -- for the moment, at least -- a faboulous attitude about it all.

This week, I'll be editing and posting previews from a few client sessions that I shot just before I left, and I'll be sending a newsletter highlighting my schedule for the fall. (If you're interested in a family session, keep an eye out for that. If you're not on the email distribution list, get on that so you don't miss out.)

For now, though, I'll leave you with a taste of my time in France. This is just a fairly random sample of the 918 photos I downloaded from my memory cards... Considering that I was gone for 11 days, that's pretty good, and a testament to the fact that I tried hard to holster the camera and truly soak up the experience.