CT PhotoMemories: August 2013

The People that you meet each day...

Do you remember the song?

"These are the people in your neighborhood...in your neighborhood...OH, these are the people in your neighborhood...The people that you meet each day!"

My husband likes the outdoors...he likes owning a tractor and having land with which to run around...and while I do like that...a lot...I also REALLY enjoy people...

I'm what you call an extrovert and therefore I tend to get energized by being around people...and I LOVE to hear their stories...

I've been on the OWU campus many times...it's right in my backyard...and I love the structures and the beauty of the campus..but I only know maybe ONE student that actually attends the school?!

However, when I suggested this location for this family...the Mom of this clan was excited, because it was her Alma Mater! I had such fun listening to her tell stories about her time in college..she was a swimmer! She told me about the buildings and the chapel...we walked all over...she introduced me to her dorm and we were in awe at the structures and the beauty around us!

I got to listen to how she and her hubby met, their jobs...I love listening to people that are truly committed and care about one another...you just hear it in their voices...I love to watch them with their little guy...how they work as a team...(and believe me, when you have a toddler, you MUST work as a team...otherwise, you just run out of energy!!!)

What a wonderful morning I had with them all...I hope you will see their happiness just shining in their eyes and in their smiles...

September 2013 schedule

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

I can't believe it's already here...gotta get those pictures in before the tan fades and snow comes :) I hear ya!!!

Below you will find a schedule for the month of September...please keep in mind a couple of things...

1) locations are not listed because often it depends on the lighting that we have on any particular day, so as we get closer, we will determine a location that will best showcase your family :) If there are multiple sessions scheduled on a day, a location will be chosen and all sessions will be shot there.

2) morning slots on Sunday are limited to the Delaware area (so I can spend quality time with your family for your session AND still make it to church on time)

3) I am dependent upon the weather, so if we do have rain on your scheduled day, this is why I do not put out an October schedule, so that I may fill in where or IF needed.

4) if you do not see a time slot that works for you, I am able to do photo shoots during the month of September DURING THE WEEK. Since the sun is still fairly high in the sky after work during the week. I can still schedule sessions beginning at 6pm on Tuesdays-Thursdays of the work week. Therefore, please contact me if you would like to try for one of those options as they are not listed publically on this schedule.

5) At this time, you will not need a deposit for a time slot :) However, that is subject to change as the fall continues.

6) To schedule a time, please email me at ctphotomemories@gmail.com I will schedule on a first come, first serve basis...I will respond back with you as quickly as I am able to let you know if you were able to obtain that slot. It is also helpful if you have a second choice listed in your email.

(Slots are based on 30-45 minute family sessions, but with wiggle room...if you are wanting a reunion session or senior session, you will need to request 2 back to back time slots)

Can't wait to see you !!!

Big brother...Little Sister...

>> – Newborns

It's amazing to me how you can look at your son or daughter as a toddler and think, "oh, they are just so little" ...those pudgy cheeks and hands...the legs that wobble or stomp as they are learning to walk and run"

It's not until little brother or little sister arrives that you look at that "tiny toddler" and think, "holy cow, where did the time go, they look huge compared to this baby"

This sweet baby girl made her appearance into the family and was welcomed with kisses and hugs and a protective older brother! (as it should be :) This little guy has such a tender heart and kind spirit. I loved watching him with his daddy and mommy...and especially his little sister! I was in the presence of a family whose love for one another was evident in just the everyday ins and outs of life :)

While sis was getting a quick "bite to eat", I went out with her brother to get some 2 year old pictures...I remember the day I came to take pictures of him when he was just about 2 weeks old...my how far we have already come...

Baby sister is definitely the tiny princess...her sweet toes and fingers were just mesmerizing...

Her momma has a thing for hats and had this sweet number all ready for me to try to work some magic:)

She was just precious...

I wish you sweet sleep in these early months and great joy as they continue to grow!!!

Free to be ME!

There are people that you meet, that when you are around them, you feel free...

free to be yourself...

You feel this way, because you know that they are comfortable in their own skin...they don't have a tension or worry about what you look like or what you are wearing...

It almost feels like you've just run into an old friend.

Jen and her family are like this...

She is one who is just herself...all the time...and because she's just easy to talk to and easy to be around...it makes those around her do the same...

You can watch her girls, just being natural and real...the relationships that they have are authentic and genuine.

And I just completely enjoy myself when I get to capture them in their moments!

Thank you for such a fun evening! Your family is a true blessing!

Snapshop Recap

Well, leave it to me to ONLY take pictures of the food and set up and totally forget to get the peeps at the class...

I get so overly excited to see everyone and enthralled with all the material that we need to cover that I completely forget to snap pictures of our class by the end!!!

However, do not let my lack of picture taking in this instance fool you...we had a remarkable time...

FIVE HOURS is a LONGGGG time for a class...believe me, I've thought about breaking it up...but, I'm catering to MOMs here and trying to find a babysitter for 3-5 weeks in a row, let alone hoping your kiddos don't have need of homework help or someone else has gotten sick during one of the sessions....it's just hard...so I try to cram storytelling, mechanics and practice time all in one big time slot.

My true goal is that moms (and dads) have the confidence to get the types of pictures of their family that tell the stories of their lives...so they can share it with their family, so they can pass it on to their children...isn't that why we take pictures in the first place? We want to experience and share life with the ones we love!

The participants were amazing, once again...they had already perused their manuals, brought all their lenses...they came armed with questions...

Each time I have a class, I ask the participants to fill out a survey...to help me improve upon the class each time...and I LISTEN...I had some minor improvements this time around, based on past students. It required some more picture taking examples on my part and the installation of some video/camera equipment on my big screen as well...

AND I LOVED IT!!!

I was so excited to see each one start to understand each new concept...I can't wait to see what they will achieve in the future...

I am now planning on having a photo walkabout with any past "snapshop students" this fall in between my family shoots (as per more info gleaned from those surveys). I'll post the location/date/time once I get that all set...I may even plan to have one once a season just so that everyone gets a chance to freshen up on what they've learned.

If you are a mom or dad (or hoping to be one soon)...if you have a DSLR camera (the ones where you have to take off the lens)...if you are still using it like you did your old point and shoot...OH, your equipment has sooo much more to offer you...you just need to tap into some more knowledge about it and you'll be amazed at what you can create through the lens!

Like the CT PHOTOMEMORIES facebook page to keep posted on updates on future classes as well...or check out the WORKSHOPS link above.

Here are the few pics that I did take...I will tell you that we ate well :) And I love handing out the fun goodies to remember our class time together!

growing Up fast...

The first time I photographed these girls, there were only two of them and the youngest hardly had hair...

Fast forward just a couple years and we've got a third little sister in the mix, the oldest is now in Elementary school....

How does time go by that quickly? And if I'm thinking that, I can't even imagine what their parents are thinking...

One thing is for certain, they just keep getting cuter and cuter!!! I think the best part about family sessions is that I just get to hang out with everyone for awhile...the littles and I hold hands and skip and talk and laugh...they tell me all about "life" and we just wander around being ourselves...every once in awhile, I snap a picture or two...

I love these sweet, darling girls...I just enjoy being around their enthusiasm and energy! It's been such fun watching them grow!

Adie: SENIOR Session

>> – Senior Sessions

School starts tomorrow...

My youngest is heading off to Kindergarten...she's got 13 years of schooling ahead of her before she leaves my roof and heads off to college...

She seems so little as I tucked her in to bed tonight...can she really be old enough to go to school already? Are we ready for lunchboxes and gym classes? Are we ready for all that will be in her future?

I don't know...but, I do know that her daddy and I love her with all we've got in us...and we're so thankful for each moment God gives us with her...

I get to take pictures of Seniors each year...and it often takes me a moment to just "pull it together"...because I put myself in the place of both the parents and this awesome teen heading into the last year of school...On one hand, they are achieving the culmination of all for which they have worked! They come to me with excitement about their last year in High School and anxiousness about college decisions...I get to capture so many sides of who they have become...

And on the other hand, I feel the heart of the parents who have led their Seniors to become independent leaders...confident go-getters...and my heart clenches a little in my chest when I realize just how short the time is...how it has flown by...

Adie was an absolute delight to photograph...and her best friend got to join in on some of the fun as well (be sure to check out my facebook page to see more pictures)

She has a glow about her that makes you just want to smile when you are near her. I thoroughly enjoyed her enthusiasm and excitement for life...her honesty and REALness...I don't see that often...many people are nervous to show their "real" self...but, I could tell that she came to our session just being truly HERSELF...and it was refreshing...

and I'm sure that you'll agree...it was breathtaking as well :)

Congratulations Adie...Hope you have a fantastic Senior year!!!

Surprise?

Mom wasn't sure we were all going to be able to pull it off...

Dad is pretty sharp...he knows when credit cards are being used, he's on top of mom's calendar during the week, he's specifically involved in the lives of his children...

HOW IN THE WORLD WERE WE GOING TO SURPRISE HIM FOR HIS BIRTHDAY?

Not to mention that Mom isn't the best "liar" ...

BUT...

Somehow...someway...he didn't find out...(at least that's what he's telling us :)

Months of planning, secret purchases, hours on pinterest for ideas....it all boiled down to one evening...

He was coming to the location on the "guise" that I was doing a family photo shoot...with the grandparents and all the cousins...

We still can't figure out how (or why) Mom was carrying cornbread to a photoshoot (she was actually bringing it for part of the party foods)...but, she pulled that off as well...

SURPRISE!!!

So many friends came to wish him Happy Birthday!!!

My daughters and I put together a big "70" made out of (you guessed it) PICTURES!

This is Dad...He invests in people...and that's just one of the reasons why he is so well loved & respected by so many...

My little munchkin helping Popi blow out the candles...

Happy Birthday Dad...I'm so thankful for your impact not only on my life & the lives of my girls, but for the way you have raised your son, my husband! So thankful for your example!

It's a Good Life

I went to Middle School Orientation today...or rather, I dropped my almost 12 year old daughter off at the curb of her new middle school this morning...by herself...no hand holding, no carrying her bags...no tying her shoes or helping her cross the street...definitely no feeding her applesauce & yogurt in the morning or wiping the drool from her chin...

my baby isn't a baby any longer...she's almost as tall as me and "needs" me in a completely different way now...

where did the time go? Life just kept going and I forgot when she couldn't say her "L" sounds correctly and I forget what her little pudgy hands looked like...that she could make a cute little scrunched up nose-face when she was being ornery...

It goes by so, so fast...

I love taking pictures...I love when everyone looks their best and you have this "art" to grace your walls...but do you know what is on most of my walls???

Pictures of my kids just being WHO they are everyday...jumping in leaves, giggling at waves on a beach, cuddling with their dog, sucking on their fingers, making sauce in the kitchen with daddy...

THESE make up the moments of their life! And I want to freeze time and remember it!

This sweet little guy's mommy and daddy feel the same way I do...I LOVE LOVE LOVE going over to their home and just capturing little "W" doin' his thing!

His Mommy is coming to my class in a couple weeks and I have a feeling she won't need me any longer to come and "document life" for her, because she's going to be doin' it all herself...

and I'm thrilled...

YES, I'm sad that I won't be the one getting to see it all through my own lens, but by golly, the moments WILL be captured...They will have these sweet little remembrances of a time when he was just growing and living the "good life" :)

He's adorable...they make an incredible family....and I am beyond blessed to know them!!!