Aloha from Paradise

There I was, last Saturday, sitting on this beach on our last day in Maui. I sat on my rattan beach mat, with the clear crystal Pacific just feet away from me, with the islands of Molokai and Lanai poking their mountains into distant billowing clouds. I tried to absorb the full beauty of the panorama, but I just couldn't get enough of the sound of the surf, the warm sun on my skin, the magical color of the ocean, and the soft texture of the sand.

As we sat there, we watched a couple gather on the beach wearing leis and white clothing. And a minister or officiant performed a wedding ceremony with their three young boys at their side. It was obvious that the boys found the sand more interesting than the promises being made. A handful of loved ones were there. It was surely an private and special moment for them. One held a camcorder, another a point and shoot camera. I threw on my telephoto lens and ran up on the distant path to observe and take some images with the rest of the casual observers. I wrestled in my mind with the idea of giving them my card so they could contact me so I could share the images with them. Ultimately I decided that I didn't want to interrupt their special day. I sort of regret that decision. So if you know of someone who got married on the beach just north of Kaanapali Beach Sheraton in Maui last Friday, let them know that I have some images for them. Hey, it's a long shot... but stranger things have happened.

Okay - I've spent way too much time on this blog. I better get down to the pool so we can grill our dinner. I'm wiped out from our scuba training today and ready for some good food and a good night's sleep. Aloha!

Aloha Vacation!

Tomorrow is the day that I'll be leaving for vacation. I'll have my mobile and laptop with me, so I can stay in the loop a bit. However, I'm not sure what internet connectivity will be like. Plus, the whole point of a vacation is to not work.... so, I'll attend to urgent issues, but most matters will wait until I get home on June 2nd.

Happy with "Glee".

That's the title for the below image that was selected as one of BetterPhoto.com's finalists for the month of April. Over 30,000 images were entered, and only 446 were finalists. So, with glee, I'll present you with the lucky image: "Glee".

Sneak Peek for Baby "I".

This little one has chubby everything, and is too cute for words. And she sure has grown and changed since I photographed her at just a few weeks old. Sweet baby "I" was so cooperative and we got so many great images. Six months old is such a fun age for portraits! Here are just a few. The rest will be online in the next few days. Thanks again "K" for bringing her back for more photos!

Photo of the Day

Today one of my images received the Photo of the Day award in the category of people at shutterbugs.biz. This one is especially meaningful for me because the subject is my son. What I love about this image is the rich color of the background and pillows, and I love that his favorite stuffed animal is with him under his cheek.

Much needed vacation

Just wanted to let you all know that I'll be going on vacation in late May. We're off to Hawaii! And thanks to very supportive grandparents, we'll be leaving the kids at home!

So, if you're thinking of scheduling a session in May, the studio will be closed from May 20th to June 3rd. I do still have openings in May, so call now if you want to reserve a date!

"S" family sneak peek

Here's a sneak peek at a recent session. This was a really fun session because this little boy was so cute and such a great baby. I have to hand it to the parents, who have three under the age of three. Wow! I know I couldn't do that. But, they are so at ease and make it look easy.

Breakfast of Champions

I awoke this morning to the sounds of slamming cabinet and refrigerator doors. That meant that my two year old son was up and hungry. I groggily visualized his usual self-serve snacks: yogurt, gogurt, a slice of cheese, candy. CANDY! That got me out of bed quickly. As I peeked down the stairs, I saw him sitting on the floor with a big chocolate egg in one hand, and a tootsie pop in the other. Apparently, one piece of candy at a time isn't enough. We've got a multi-tasker here.

This is a moment when, as a parent, a flurry of reactions go through your mind. Do I laugh because I'm cracking up inside? No. Do I take a picture because it's funny? No. But it's funny! Still, a photo isn't the best way to reinforce that this isn't appropriate behavior. But it's really funny! And, I know that later today I'll tell the story and someone will ask if I took a photo. And I'll wish that I had. So, I hurried down and grabbed my camera. Click. And then I promptly gave instructions to put the candy in the garbage. He did. Thank goodness. And that's how I started my day.

Get Framed

A new service I've just added to my list is framing. I'm totally jumping up and down with these new frames. Each is hand painted and comes in any combination of 44 colors. So, let your imagination run WILD! I ordered two for display - one is on the traditional side, the other is the crowning jewel of my daughter's room. Talk about a totally fun way to showcase your art. The frames come in 3 widths: 2", 4", and 6". You pick the frame color, the trim style and color. You can even add polkadots!

The photos simply don't do the frames justice, so please call me if you'd like to see them in person and create your own personal color combinations.

Vibrant Spring

It's finally here! After five long months of bone-chilling cold, heavy grey skies, and winter coats, boots, hats, mittens, and gloves, it's spring. This weekend marks the first weekend in Chicago with highs in the 60s since October. Oh yeah, baby!

After a morning session, we took the family outside to try on the bike helmets and tricycles. My favorite thing is a nature tour of the yard. Delight filled my eyes as I took the walk around the yard looking to see what new growth was pushing its way through the soft, moist soil. Daylilies! Hydrangea! Daisies! It's official. Winter is over! Sing praises to my favorite time of year.

Spring also marks the beginning of outdoor photography! Hurray!!!!! I grabbed my camera as we hit the park. What fun! My daughter said "no pictures, mom". But we compromised that I would take photos of her playing. No posing today. Good enough. I'm not sure which is more vibrant: the gleaming red slide or their joyful expressions.

Happy Birthday all around!

Well, it's a day of birthdays. First off, it's my brother-in-law's 30th. Happy Birthday to you Kwame!!!! Welcome to middle-age, my friend. :)

I've officially been in business for one year. Wow - how the year has flown!!!! And, I've been so fortunate to meet so many really nice and fun kids (and parents). So, thank you for making this first year so great. I couldn't have done it without all your positive feedback and your word-of-mouth buzz. I've got lots of plans to make things even better this second year!

And, in the birthday spirit, I want to share a storyboard of a recent first birthday cutie. She literally dove into her cake face first. I've never seen a child do that. Isn't this fun?

Two finalists in two months

This month, one of my favorite images was fortunate enough to be selected as a finalist in BetterPhoto.com's monthly contest. Over 29,900 photos were entered into the competition; I was honored to have my image selected among the top 400 finalist photos. And, there were only 54 finalists in the category of people. Here is the image, "Ballerina on the move". I know, my titles could use some work.

Last month, the following image received recognition as a finalist:

What happened to Big Wheels?

This is a totally random thought. But, remember big wheels? As I child we loved them. Riding low, peddling fast, and racing down our street. My mom and dad reminded me how we rode them so much that we wore down those hard plastic tires from breaking and spinning out.

I did a quick google (and froogle), and found that the only place I could really find them was at Target, and only online, and in seemingly limited supply and not for sale yet. I'm on the email notification list when the pink one becomes available. This just might be the toy that everyone else *doesn't* have.

But, this doesn't answer my question about their absence in our kids' driveway racetrack. When I think of the toys that are still around: Cabbage Patch Kids, Strawberry Shortcake, Transformers... what about big wheels?

Were they declared unsafe somewhere along the line? Did kids decide they just weren't fun? I really want to know whatever happened to big wheels? If you know, please tell me.

April is filling up! Call now!

Holy smokes! I've been getting several calls, and my April is booking up rather quickly. I know a few people out there still want sessions... so I suggest you reserve your session soon, especially if you'd prefer a weekend.

Here's my Saturday availability:
April 5 - afternoon opening only
April 12 - completely booked
April 19 - early morning (8:30am) or after 2:00pm
April 26 - completely booked

I also schedule sessions during the week (mornings and late afternoons). And, I will do Sundays, but I limit these because family time is important to me.

Also, just as a heads up, I'll be on vacation for 2 weeks in May, so if you're thinking of a May session, call now because between Mother's Day weekend and our vacation, there simply aren't enough weekends.

Sweet Baby "V"

Isn't she precious? I swear, this is one beautiful baby! Her mommy was lucky enough to receive a gift certificate as a baby shower gift, and I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to photograph this adorable new family. M & M, I had so much fun getting to know you and watching how sweet and tender you are with your adorable baby. Here are two images. The rest should be online soon!

Chicago

Last week I was incredibly lucky to have some of my dearest "chicks" (aka pixel chicks) come to Chicago for a photography workshop. Although, I wasn't permitted to attend the workshop because I live in IL, my friends came in a few days early to see the city and hang out. I had fun chatting, walking, laughing, shopping, eating, and taking pictures with Alli, Candy, and Megan.
We spent Friday exploring Millennium Park. We spent most of the time looking through our lenses, and here's some of the images that I captured:

The "Bean". Here we are... our collective self-portrait.

From the underside of the bean: I'm the tiny speck in the very middle, laying on the ground shooting up into the bean.

Here's Alli:

Here's Candy:

And Megan:

This couple was so cute and all cuddly that I couldn't resist taking this image.

New Tax Rate

Now, this is not a fun blog to post... or to read. But, it's important.

Effective April 1st, sales tax in McHenry county is changing from 6.5% to 7%. Bummer, hugh? So if you're contemplating an order, you might want to make sure you pay before April 1st.

I've created a monster... or an assistant?

After dinner, my daughter down to the basement to fetch a toy. While I accompanied her, I grabbed my camera to take a few shots of a coffee table book for some new marketing materials. My daughter wanted a camera, so I threw my pocket wizard (which triggers the strobes) on my old Canon Rebel, and she was shooting away, exclaiming "I can't believe I'm a real photographer!". So there we were, my 4 year old was taking photos of me. I was cracking up as she ran over and grabbed my hand and said "put your hand here". She was actually posing me! After each shot, she proudly said "great shot!", or "good job!". She even went to go get a hairbrush. I wish I had one nearby, because it could have used a little brushing. Oh well. Here's one that she took of me. (okay, I did crop it and do a little retouching in photoshop)


I love that she loves photography... so guess what she's getting for her birthday? It starts with the letter "c".

Are you a mommy-to-be?

I've had a few inquiries recently for newborn sessions. I know those first weeks of life are a whirlwind... whether you're doing it for the first time, or if this is your fourth baby. Most people don't realize that the best time for newborn photographs is in the first two weeks of life. Yes, that young! That's when they're the tiniest, they sleep the most, and fit in the palm of daddy's hand. Awww, how cute.

I've had several organized mothers call and schedule sessions even before their baby is born. The benefit to this is you can look at birth announcements in advance, and you can amaze your friends and family with announcements in their mailbox in record time. Of course, we all know that babies don't always arrive when they're "due". But, if you let me know in advance, I will make sure that I reserve some time for this very important photo session.

A moment with my littlest photographers

Today, my daughter told me that when she grows up, she wants to be a photographer. For the past month, her career of choice has been an opera singer. She's quite artistic. Today, she informed me that when she gets older, she can borrow my camera. Hmmm. Much older. Much much older.

We installed a new floor in the camera area of my studio this weekend. I was playing around this evening, and nobody wanted to pose for me. So, I took some lovely shots of the cabbage patch kid who always smiles, always sits still, never blinks, and most importantly, has a very long attention span. Though, unfortunately, she's not nearly as charming or adorable as real children. So, I offered my daughter to take a photo of me, hoping to entice some participation. They ran over, and each of them took turns taking photos of each other. My daughter did quite well for the age of four (going on 14). She held the camera, and even pressed the shutter to take the photo. It was an endearing moment for me as the first time I get to share my passion with her. I'll always remember the mental image of sitting in my lap with her curious little hands wrapped around my big, heavy camera. She was so excited to look through the lens, and press the shutter at precisely the right moment, and then to see the image that she made. She loved capturing my son's joyful expression. I loved that she loved it. Here's one she made:

My son required a little more assistance. His little fingers couldn't support the camera and reach the shutter at the same time, so I held it for him. He looked through my lens, and pressed the button. He did well, but we'll have to do a little work on his composition. Here's one image he made:

When I downloaded the image, I laughed out loud. It still makes me smile to see this. Isn't that what a photograph is supposed to do? Isn't that why we buy images of our children? Because they make us smile and remember how little, how curious, how silly, how tender, and how tiny they are. And I know that in the blink of an eye, my daughter will be old enough to borrow my camera.

Moments like these mean so much.

New (and Good) Eats in Cary

I live in Cary, IL. It's a great place to live and raise a family. Unfortunately, it's not the greatest place to eat. If you exclude fast food, there are only a few restaurants to select from. So, I was super excited to hear that we were getting a new upscale sports bar and grill, Wool Street Grill. I watched it go up, and it looked like the kind of restaurant that Cary needs.

It opened three weeks ago, and we had the chance to eat there last night. We were impressed. Pete had a blue cheese burger with waffle fries. Mmmmm, those fries were good with that special dipping sauce. I had a pulled pork sandwich that was very tasty. Even the side salad was good and the dressing was homemade and delish. And, the beer selection is great. The place was crowded at 7:30 on a Wednesday night.

I've never advertised my business before. So far, wonderful word of mouth has kept my plate full enough (sometimes fuller than my family would like). But when my friend, Teri, told me about an advertising opportunity at Wool Street, I couldn't resist. So, I've signed up to have my business card printed on their placemats for the next 6 months.

Here's the card I'm starting with:


This little cutie is one of my recent favorites. Isn't she just a doll? It's too bad the card is printed in b&w because she has the most beautiful blue eyes!

I'll be changing the photo on the card every few months. So, your image may be the next one. Wouldn't it be cool if you went to dine and saw your little one's portrait on the table?

Dinner Party

I LOVE entertaining. But, with two little tornados running around, we haven't done very much of it recently. Sadly, I miss it. I miss the creative element of the menu selection and the table design. I miss the fun we have when we have a cozy dinner party with dear friends.

So... last Saturday we hosted a casual dinner party for some of our closest friends who we don't see nearly enough. The menu was simple and intended to warm our wintery spirits: gourmet chili (a unique version with dill and lemon), homemade cornbread, sausage stuffed french loaves, and salad. The chili was delish - so much that a friend took home a doggy bag. I hope he's not too embarrased if he reads this!

Helping my sister register at Crate and Barrel for her wedding inspired me to set a smashing table. I adore the versatility of white dishes. With the help of new linens from Crate and Barrel and placemats from World Market, I was pleased with the result. The contrast of the brown placemats, salad bowls, and dark chairs against the white dinnerware and the mist tablecloth and napkins give me a feeling of balance and peace. If only I had a little more balance and peace in real life.

Oh yeah, here's what I don't like about entertaining. Ironing! It took forever to iron the tablecloth. And each napkin came out of the dryer like a shriveld up raisin. I spent at least an hour ironing. Next time, they go to the cleaners to be pressed.

Fashionable Photographers

I just have to link to this really super cool photograph that my good friend, Laura Stetser, took while we were in New York. She posed us, took the shot, and then did this really cool photoshop effect. I especially love the guy looking on in the distance. She's amazing, isn't she? The gals in the photo are some of my fellow pixel chicks. We're a group of photogs from around the US and UK. Together we learn, teach, laugh, support, and share this fantastic passion for photography.



Just click here to see the photo. From left to right, it's Candy, myself, and Megan.

Better Photo Finalists

I recently received TWO emails from better photo saying:

"Congratulations! You have placed as a finalist in this month's BetterPhotoContest! Over 31300 photos were entered into the competition; it is an honorto have your image selected among the top 363 finalist photos."

What that means is that only 1% of the photos entered were recognized. And I had two. Pretty cool.

Here they are:






The little boy was from a pre-school that I photographed this fall. The crop came as a creative inspiration a while later. The second image was from a session this summer. I had so much fun with this beautiful and really nice model and some fantastic urban locations.

Photo of the Day

When it rains, it pours. I've been quite lucky in my favorite online photo contests. I say luck and mean it. There are a lot of great images that aren't selected. So, I feel very proud, but also very lucky when one of my images is selected. Today, it is this little guy at shutterbugs.biz. Isn't he adorable? I just love a newborn in a tight swaddle, wrapped up all snug, like a little burrito. And, the antique chair shows such perspective. They're not this small for very long, are they? The title of this image is "New life, old chair".