Fall/Christmas

      I was blessed with a very successful Fall/Christmas season and am very thankful for each and every client who trusted me to be their photographer.  I didn't send out the usual email or advertisements this year and still had lots of appointments to fill the open days.  Every year I shoot I learn a little more about how I will approach the next season and make it better than ever.  There never seems to be enough hours in the day to learn everything I want to learn about this business.  Whether it's learning new techniques in editing or trying out new poses in shooting, there is one thing I know for sure.  I will NEVER know everything there is to know about photography!  Thank you for your patience, trust, and friendship!!

Haircuts

      It happens every October.  I prepare for it and even know it's coming and I still get caught up in the whirlwind of fall family sessions.  I am always so humbled by the amount of people who choose me out of the Many photographers out there to take their family pictures.  I get so busy making their families beautiful that I sometimes forget about making sure my own family is picture ready.  This year I decided I was going to pick my favorite session spot and take a few pics of my own kids.  Maybe I would even get inspired to print a few.  I had a cancellation one day and told the boys to get dressed and we would run and take a few pictures.  (I may or may not have bribed them with McDonalds for lunch.)  Drove to our spot, got the kids in place, and looked through my camera to check my lighting.  It was then that I realized my kids had not had a haircut since, well, I don't know when.  I just had to sit there and laugh.  Not that they were complaining!  Haircuts are not exactly something they look forward to.  I snapped a few anyway because this is what they looked like at that moment in time.  Long hair and all! We found another day, (rainy day actually) got haircuts and took another set of shots.  I love my handsome boys.

Organization

Mom's desperate attempt to pose two wiggly little boys.

      Just a few more minutes on facebook and I'll get back to work.  One or two more pins on pinterest or I'll read one more blog and I promise, a solid hour of work with no distractions.  Sound familiar???  Or maybe it's just the way I work...  Brian is always criticizing my work ethic, or lack there of.  I just don't like schedules.  I think it's why I am drawn to this business of photography.  You make your own schedule and have the creative freedom to play.  But I have learned that it does take balance.  And, wait for it.....organization...!!!!  Okay, to clarify I do love things that are organized.  I have a closet full of organization tools just waiting to be used.  In fact, I just created a board on pinterest completely dedicated to organization.  (Aren't you proud?)  Things run more smoothly when I'm organized.  It's just the getting there part that seems to fall apart for me.  If you come to my home for a meal or visit you won't notice much out of the ordinary.  I'm just warning you, don't open up any of the cabinets, drawers, or closets.  You may be injured if you do.  I would post a picture but that would require me finding my point and shoot Nikon or deleting pictures from my iphone because I keep getting the message that it's too full to take pictures.  And I'm just too busy writing a new post on my blog for that.  By the way, I have a wedding to work on and this was only supposed to last a few minutes...

Pinterest

      Like many people, I'm using Pinterest more and more in my business.  It's fun to use images as inspiration for my own shots and put my own spin on pictures I love.  There is a never ending amount of inspiration out there and I could probably spend an entire day just playing and pinning.  There are times, however, when it can be a bit of a hinderance.  I've had clients come to me with ideas they have seen on Pinterest but ended up disappointed we couldn't capture the exact shot.  It could be limited equipment, different lighting, or a child who is just the wrong age.  As long as we have freedom to play with angles and ideas within an inspiration shot, we can usually come up with some pretty fun stuff.  I always appreciate a client pointing out shots they love.  It helps me, the photographer, to provide an image that you, the client, will love!!

http://pinterest.com/verdierphoto/

Summer Heat

Remember when you complain about how cold it is in the winter???

   

Shot taken at Nixa park.

      This has been one of the hottest and most dry summers ever!!!  That is not good for the location photographer.  There are very few patches of green grass to shoot in and it's too hot to go outside past 8:00a.m.!!  But, you do what you must and work with what you've been given.  Sometimes that means using a bench instead of grass or shooting with a low aperture to hide the dry, crispy leaves.  And it doesn't hurt to have a assistant fanning you as you work!

Aminta and Emiliano

Hunter, Landry, Bryce, Laynee, and Emiliano

   

Better pictures to come, but I had to get a quick shot.  It is rare that we are all in the same place at the same time!

     After a Very Long Wait, we FINALLY got to meet Emiliano and Aminta!!!!  The process was not easy and there were many road blocks but we are so blessed to now be able to call them family.  Emiliano fits right in with our crazy boys and we are learning more Spanish than ever! We get to spend the summer with them so we are trying to get as much time as we can.  So far it has been tons of fun!!

Day of Unity Walk for Joplin

Just missing Ty, Aminta, Emiliano, and Brian

Our family participated in the unity walk on the the one year anniversary of the tornado in Joplin.  So much has happened since May 22, 2011.  It has been incredible watching a community rise from such a terrible tragedy and make the best with what they have been given.  I wish everyone could hear the stories that surround that day.  The unity walk honored the the grief of those lost who lost loved ones and represented the hope that Joplin has for it's future.  It was an amazing experience!

Stopped for lots of drinks

News crews from everywhere came to cover the event

May Special! Refer a friend, book anytime, and get a free 11x14 or 2 8x10s for you and your friend. Refer two friends and get a free session for yourself and free prints for everyone.

Oaklyn Grace Willis

      I would like to introduce you to my newest little photography experiment, Oaklyn Grace Willis.  Yes I am a bit biased but I do believe I have the most beautiful nieces and handsome nephew in the world.  I had so much fun shooting this session with Oaklyn.  We just took our time and played while everyone took a nap.  She did a pretty amazing job napping during her session too.  We were able to pose and move her without her barely making a peep.  The awww, waaaa picture was the only time she even made a face.  I can't wait to see her again and kiss on those squishy little cheeks!!!

Cardinals vs. Cardinals

 

      The boys had the opportunity to go to the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Springfield Cardinals game Monday. This was actually the game that was cancelled last year because of weather.  We were lucky to get tickets since they sold out so quickly. And even luckier to get Red Bird Roost.  I think they got their fill of brats, hot dogs, nachos, and soda.

Natural Light

      I enjoy working in the studio but I love working with natural light.  I still have tons to learn but I always enjoy the challenge and creativity that comes with natural light photography.  One of my projects, and I have Many, is to install a large window near my studio so that I can give my clients both options in their sessions.  It opens up a whole new world of backdrops, props, and flooring.  Hmmm, wonder if I should take a trip to Lowes today?????