Here’s a quick peak into a recent family session. I think I may post more from this session as I am doing so many big family sessions this time of year. I hope everyone is having a great get-back-to-work week! It is so hard when holidays are right around the corner, and there is shopping, gift-making, and baking of cookies to be done. Mmmmm, I need to go make some cookies!

To all of you who came out to the Chair-ity Event last night  at the Hollingsworth House, Thank You!  Much money was raised for Christian City to keep them going and doing all the great work they do.  To whom ever bought my chair, great job! You got the best one ;)

Can you believe this one is a whole year? She is already walking, dancing, and even talking! I rolled her sleeve up at the shoot, and she turned, looked me right in the eye, and said, “thank you.”

Here is one you may remember from when we first met:

Well, it is Turkey day for all of us Americanas tomorrow - the super-bowl of culinary delights!  I will be hosting the fam as I do every year. I know some people dread having the house full of people and all the cooking, but it is one of my favorite things. Being able to have them all here and share my food and drink with all of my loved ones is the biggest gift they give me all year - and they probably don’t even know it ;)

Can you believe how cute she is? She gets it from her mama.

The year is almost through, and we are pretty much booked up for the rest of the year.  Holiday cards are in and ready for pick up. The last of the holiday shoots are being rounded up in these last few days before Thanksgiving, and I am wondering where the year went.  I don’t know if I mentioned it here yet but we found out we are having another boy - another crazy boy!

I hear all the time, “My son is a little wild, do you think you can get any good pictures?”

I always respond with, “you should meet my son!”

And now we will have another one to add to the fold. Bring on the gray hair!

Well, back to prep’ing for a weekend full of shoots!

See you on the flip side.

It is official; we are having another boy!  Already 18 weeks today, and I am starting to show.  So if I show up looking pregnant to your shoot, try not to look overly shocked. It is definitely different the second time around. I know what is going to happen, and I know what could go wrong. No more living in ignorant bliss.  I know for sure right now that I will not be shooting March or April. After that, I am going to play it by ear as to when I get back into a full shooting schedule.  I will be taking newborn commissions through that period.  If you are already on the books, just call and let me know your due date.

Happy weekend, everyone.

Well the Annual HiF Photo Contest has wrapped, and the winner is…………

Every year I put one fav pic from every session in a gallery and have some really awesome local artist choose their favorites.

This year the artist-judges were -

Dianna Love

MIDNIGHT KISS GOODBYE (in St. Martin’s Press anthology) December 2, 2008
WHISPERED LIES (Pocket) May 12, 2009
PHANTOM IN THE NIGHT (Pocket mm release) May 26, 2009

Boni Blackstone

Marketing & Public Relations
92.5 FM The Bear

Marilyn A. Haas

Elements of Design Graphic Studio, Inc.
Publisher of arts&expressions® MAGAZINE, a Southern Arc® publication
website: www.arts-expressions.com

Richard Scott Hill

Richard Scott Hill,an internationally acclaimed sculptor and photographer. His artwork is included in museums, public foundations,corporate and private collections. He is the author of Digital Photography, The Creative Process.
www.richardscotthill.com

Some really awesome talent in that group, and I am honored to have them not only view my work but to choose a winner. Thanks everyone.

The winner receives not only a free session but also our biggest and baddest package which includes a truck load of prints and some other goodies.  We will be starting the contest back up in January, and I can’t wait to see what next year will bring.

This is just a quick drop in (as I am a bit busy around these parts) to show you what I did on my Fall vacation.  My dearest friend Audra had a baby right before we left for LA, so when we got back we packed up and headed to see her first baby and to take a few pics.  I am sure she has grown since this pic, but is she not the cutest? Look at those lips.

In personal news, the Heart is Found is going to be welcoming a new little bundle of joy in April - which is the main reason the blog has been left to stew in favor of nap-time. Wish me luck!

Well, we burnt the road up on our travels and are finally home.  Some of you may have heard from me recently and listened to my phone trials. While away, my phone decided it had no more will to live and blew up. While there was no puff of smoke, it might as well have caught fire because that is how I felt when it all went down.  I finally have a new phone but still mourn the 5000 games of bubble breaker I had logged on the old phone.

Tonight is the radio show. I will be on The Bear 92.5 at 8:15 talking about our big Holiday Card Event and the Chair-ity for the Hollingsworth House - I am painting a chair that will go on a tour of our fair county to raise money for Christian City.  Hopefully I can stay on task and not stray to talking about maple syrup. Anybody who knows me or has been out on a shoot with me knows I could talk about pretty much anything accept what I should be talking about.

We still have appointments available for the Holiday Card Event, so here is the lowdown:  We are taking the trusty couch out to a beautiful field and having a day of mini-sessions. For $199 you get a 30 min session 8 wallets and 24 custom Holiday Cards.  Make sure you call and get your time today as they are being eaten up quickly.

We got back from our LA trip and are washing clothes, spending time with the dogs, and eating food at home for the next few days. Then we’re turning around and heading out again. This time we are staying on the east coast to visit family and take some yummy pictures of a friend’s new baby.

The Senior Summer is officially over, so let the holiday card season begin.  We are thinking of doing our Holiday Card Event again this year, so if you are interested let me know. I am trying to gauge whether we need one or two days.

On another note, I am going to be on a local radio show when we get back. I will post details soon so you can listen in.

Have you missed me?  I bet you thought the mob at the Library got me, didn’t you?  I am alive and well. The second wave of Seniors has crested. I actually had to turn a few people away due to scheduling conflicts, but the ones I did get to hang with were ultra cool.  I have a lot to share, but I am trying to get ready for a trip to LA - so when I get back I will have more to say.

The storyboard above (no her name is not really Becky) is made with my new Storyboard Maker that the super-genius Hubby and I came up with.  Photogs, check out the resources page for your copy.  Storyboards are a great way to display a collection of photos, or show pics that go together to tell the story of your day.

Well I need to go pack, so see you on the flip side.

Tonight I am speaking at our local library where I have a show going on.  I have no idea what I will be talking about - maybe cooking or TRAVEL!  Okay, probably photography and why I shoot the way I do.  Then there will be a Q&A section.
I am terrified. Please hold me.

I will update later if I survive the crushing crowd ;)