It’s always an exciting (and nerve wracking) time when a fellow photographer asks you to take their pictures!

I was in just that position recently, except, that fellow photographer, she’s also my cousin! Double bonus!

She’s StephanieChristinePhotography

She’s pregnant and due any moment, triple bonus, annnnnd she wanted to bring her two other children along for some shots as well, quadruple and quintuple bonus!!

I know, I know… enough with the bonuses.  Sometimes I just get carried away!

But seriously, look at them!

The kids had a fun time jumping around in the mud, and chasing away the seagulls & ducks in between hopping in shots.  Stephanie, who’d expressed how she’d absolutely rather be ‘hiding’ behind the camera, posed so easily and beautifully – all while keeping an eye and ear on the lively duo!

Little A really got a kick (Ha!) out of belly bumping Mom!  She even came over to belly bump me; which i’m afraid was a little disappointing for her!  Ha!

We may have also done some clothes swapping and bare bellies in the park… there was barely anyone there, and we tried to keep it as PG as we could!  I just had to get some bare shots of that bump!

I’m glad to have had this opportunity, and that we were able to laugh and goof and joke the whole way through!

Thanks Steph!

“Did I just shoot my last beach session of the year?”

Yep, those were my first thoughts while getting into my car after this session.  Fall is rushing towards us – and don’t get me wrong I love Fall – but before we know it, it’ll be Winter.  Love Winter?  Me, not so much.  I don’t even think I can say I like it!  So you can see why my possible last beach session of the year might be just a little saddening….

BUT who can stay sad looking at the adorable faces?!  Maybe I’ll hang them up in my house during the winter to keep me happy! ;) (totally kidding – that’d be a little strange and my own children might feel a bit replaced! A Studio might solve that problem though! Someday right? Someday.)

I was so happy to finally meet this family after exchanging emails back and forth for a while.  The kids were too cute & so much fun!  Big brother had lots to say, and little sister had lots to mimic!   I heard lots of 3 year old facts & stories, shared lots of giggles, and had fun just goofing around. (doesn’t make for such a bad day at “work”, eh?)  Mom & Dad were able to just go with the flow and it made for some fun shots & great smiles!

I think I may have made lifelong friends, as big brother wanted me to follow him home when we were done!

Love it!

I’ll leave you with just one more… the very last shot of the day – try not to smile, I dare you!

Maybe I should be upfront right from the beginning and let you all know that I’m not really knitting a sweater.  I don’t know how to knit at all, actually.  I would love to learn someday though.  I bought this “knitting for kids” kit once; figuring i could start with that and feel accomplished with the cute pair of gloves in the kit.  Nope.  I didn’t get past the second or third step!  Haha!  I just didn’t understand what they were saying to do and the pictures weren’t clear, so I eventually gave up.

Anyway, I’m getting off subject….  reign me in!

While driving home from my beach session with some brand new clients this morning, it made me smile to think of how, once again, they’re all connected.  No mafia connections or anything;  I just mean that most all of my clients were referred by my clients.  There’s this whole ‘circle of life’ thing constantly happening where we’re saying, “oh, you know them?”.  I love it.

I love client referrals. I love word of mouth.  I seriously love you all for all that you do in sharing your experience and recommending LmZ Photography to your friends.

On Saturday I had a Senior session that was another of the same scenario. They’d heard of me from a friend, who’d previously referred me to a relative, who then referred me to their friend as well, and all of those new clients knew these people (who were neighbors of….well, one of them), so they all passed on their experience & recommendations!  (Head spinning yet?) That’s where the knitting part comes in.  This morning I thought; “If I had visible strings from one referral to another to another, to show where everyone’s connected and who knows who, I’d probably have the most intricately knitted sweater ever! (I don’t know where I come up with these things – i’m a dreamer…)

So here’s another piece of my sweater…

I met with Shane and his Mother on Saturday morning for some Senior portraits.  Shane was so incredibly easy to work with.  He understood my weird facial expression requests and came equipped with a few ‘personalities’ of his own. (No, not the crazy person kind!)  He was easily able to switch expression modes, laugh with me (possibly at me…), and tromp though the muck in his clean white shoes (hope they came clean for you!!  sorry!!), and chill with the seagulls and ducks like a true pet detective! ;)

I had a lot of fun, and just loooooooove the images we ended up with!!

I won’t keep you waiting any longer:

So, I promised I’d blog about the weekend’s festivities, and here I am to do just that!

Let me first just back-track a little bit;

Wayyyyy back when, in the land of High School, I was fortunate enough to meet a fantastic friend!  (well, a few of them actually, but let’s just stick to this one for now!)  We were sort of inseparable, and it made high school a blast.

As we graduated and “real life” just began happening so quickly, we lost touch for a while.  A long while.  Then came Facebook.

Facebook was really insistent that I knew this person.  For a while, I ignored it. What does Facebook know?  It’s been so long, what would I say, “Hey, remember me?”  However, as I’m sure some of you might remember, Facebook, especially in it’s early days, was really pushy with it’s “suggestions”. It just wouldn’t let it go!  So, one day, I just wrote her a message.  We talked back and forth for a while, met for an awkward breakfast, and it’s all sort of history from there!  I’m so glad to have such a great friend back in my life and it’s been so much fun catching up on all the things that we missed sharing and creating tons of new ‘grown up’ memories!

I’m even more grateful during  times like this; the same year we began talking and hanging out again, her boyfriend proposed!  This past weekend was her bridal shower, and I was happy to help wherever I was needed, and catch every little detail for her!  She has a fantastic bridal party, so most of my work was just the capturing part. ;)

The Bride-to-be surrounded by that fantastic bridal party I mentioned!

Everyone worked together to make sure every detail was just so.  Each member of the bridal party made a themed basket, to be raffled off to guests.

My favorite part, however, was the theatrics from the bride while opening her gifts…

(& notice she wasn’t so dainty with that ribbon untying….  if wives tales became truths she’d be the next hit show!  Nicole & Ben plus…. 30ish??  Yikes!)

A fun time was had by all, and I just cannot wait (even more, now!) until their big day!

Soon we’ll be seeing these two on the blog again, as the new Mr & Mrs!

Until then…

NOT ME.

Haha!!  It’s funny because it true!  I’ve never really blogged before. I mean, I attempted to start a blog about a year ago, but the focus was hazy, at best, and I ended up blogging up my attempt at weight watchers – which was actually funny at the beginning, then, not so much. It fizzled in about a month. (as did my weight watchers attempt!)

I’d like to think I can do better than that!

I’ve decided to set some goals and guidelines for myself to help me kick this into high gear, and then, well hopefully keep it in any kind of gear at all after that. ;)  I want to share them with all of you, so then it’s ‘out there’,  in the world, for all to see.  That should help keep me accountable, right?

(Right?)

Ok, here goes:

1. I need a clear focus.  In this case, very easy. Done & done! (whew! that was easy!)

2. I need to blog about my recent photo sessions.  I’d like to replace my ‘sneak peek’s’ on my facebook page with a link to a blog post about that session, along with some sneak peaks.

3. Weddings MUST be blogged.  So much goes into that day, so many beautiful images come out of that day, and there are so many fantastic vendors that I’ve been able to meet. I need to share that in much more in depth than a ‘sneak peek’ with all of you, as well as let the Bride and Groom, and all of you, know just how fantastic I thought their day was and why!

4. I recently attended a photography seminar.  If I’d blogged about it, while it was fresh in my mind, then not only would I have shared all that great information, but I would be able to go back and remember it all too!  (Duh!) So lets do that too.

Ok, so there you have it.  This is my new promise to myself, all of you, and this lonely lil blog.

So, ta-ta for now.  I should be back early in the week to tell you about the weekend’s festivities.

Stay tuned!