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Really, how cute are they? Ridiculous if you ask me. Local boys all the way! Such boys. Showing off their muscles, picking their noses and melting our hearts. Please stop growing! I love this age. They understand  a lot, adventure is at every door. They are dramatic (yes, telling them to get out of the ocean is the meanest thing I can do) but most of all just full of life. I was helping Jim with some work and these three were being hilarious. I had to stop and just photograph them. Opps. What can I say boys are the best! How sweet is that puppy… I know.

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Here is a little sneak peek. Into Meaghan shoot. We were just playing around having fun. In a secret little spot. Good times for sure! Isn’t she a babe!

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How cute is this family? It is my sister,her husband and her sweet little boy. I can not get enough of that sweet baby. He is the sweetest thing ever. They just moved back from South Africa. Its so nice to finally be able call her on my cell phone when ever I want. Sisters are seriously the best, nothing like a sister. You have best friends for life!

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Grown men can learn from very little children
for the hearts of the little children are pure.
Therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them
many things which older people miss.
Black Elk

P.S. None of these are posed…he actually didn’t want to do anything I wanted him to do. Annoying while shooting…. so glad he didn’t listen to me. This seriously was a 10 min shoot. I was actually shooting a client, we were finished, I was her ride. She was waiting I snapped away. So glad I did. Sometimes your favorite images are the ones you never plan for.

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Isn’t she a beauty! Erika is always fun to shoot. Here are just a couple of images from the shoot. We even had snow! Fun right? Erika is always thinking out of the box and keeping me on my toes. Which I love. As a photographer its fun to hear their and ideas and try to make them a reality. Thanks Erika for letting take these images of you!
Wishing you the best this year.

Cheers

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The letter is from Jeanie from fototail.com  A letter she received in the summer from a former client. Its so sad but yet so powerful.  As a photographer sometimes it is hard to convey what images will mean.  How special they will be.  Photographers are passionate people! Why you ask?  We love to capture love. We are hunters of beauty!  We love what we see.  We see love, we see you love one another.

P.S. parents back up your computers, phones, and please go make prints. You never when your computer will crash.

Jeanine - 

Today I am writing for a couple of reasons.  I have some quiet time at the moment and need to get a couple of things off my mind.  I will leave this for my husband to deliver to you when he is ready.

You photographed my wedding, you photographed my first pregnancy and my first baby.  I contacted you awhile back to photograph my 2nd child and family.  After getting prices and realizing I would want all of the pictures as we love your work – I decided against spending $500+ – which is what I normally spend for portraits and prints with you..  Please know it is not because I don’t value your amazing eye, or how much we love the experience.

That week that I decided to NOT do a session with you, this is how I spent some money.

On Sunday I called and cancelled our session.  Monday I went out and got my hair cut ($39+tip), and colored ($65), Thursday I had my nails done ($24), my family went out to dinner at a somewhat expensive restaurant for no particular reason costing us $79 + tip.  This was just 4 days since canceling our session, already totaling over $200 for un necessary things.  My nails only lasted about 2 weeks, my hair is gone, and seven weeks passed when I got the phone call from our doctor.  It was not something I expected and the cancer has spread very quickly.  I will be leaving my husband, my 6 year old girl and my now 2 year old – not by choice.  It is very hard for me to talk about it which is why I need to write you.

I watch your Facebook page and your posts about the value of a photo and if I could give back all of those things that I purchased this few weeks after I cancelled my session with you, knowing what I know now, and have that session, well… I would do it in a heartbeat. 

Now my time is done and there are no more chances for me.  The next time someone cancels a session – my wish is that you forward this letter to them.  Time is fragile, it is gone before you know you had it.  If you charged $200 for one print it wouldn’t be enough for what it is actually worth.  I cringe to think that my priorities were a manicure over a memory to pass onto my babies and husband.

My love and thanks for what you have given us from past photos.  I am so sorry that I did not see it as more than paper until now.

Karen L.

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Happy New Year!

I can’t believe its already a new year.  I am for sure one of those who love the idea of a fresh start.  Taking the time to look at my life see what I want to change and how I can improve it.  Who doesn’t like the idea of new beginnings? I don’t think January 1 is more grand then an other day, but I know its a day we all stop and at least think about change.  What do you want in this 2012?

I have not set up a ton of goals this year but I have set monthly goals in hopes of actually reaching it.

They are really so simple but will improve my life/family life.  I want be intentional.

I wrote this quote on my facebook wall the other day.

“They say time is money, but that’s not true. Time is life. And if I want the fullest life, I need the fullest time.”-ann voskamp

This is it! I want my life to be full.  Thankful in all things!

I want a greater understanding of joy.

Here is a list of my January  goals.

1. Keep a thankfulness journal

2. Make my bed every morning

3. Try to enjoy cooking

4. Blog three times aweek

5. Continue to be a better mom, and wife

6. Be a hunter of beauty

7. “Have an appetite to celebrate-yes , let s eat cake!” I wan to find things to celebrate big or small. We live once why not look for reason to celebrate?

Like I said nothing crazy, but hopefully life changing.

I’ll leave you with some of my favorite verse.

Proverbs 3:5-10 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Psalm 28:7  The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.

Psalm 73:24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

xox

Christy Joy

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Honestly I can’t get enough of this little one. Dream!

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