Charley 

Spring 2016  

A walk through the forest trail

 

Dress: Marshall's

Blue beads, gold leaf necklace, arm cuff: thrifted

Non-resolution new year goals

While I'm not a big resolution-making type at the new year, I do like to have some simple goals in mind that I'd like to accomplish. I tend to look back and see what I have done in the past year and build upon those things and stretch myself in other ways. Nothing I write down is too big of a challenge. I'm pretty simple.

Last year Jon was gone the whole year to Arkansas. I actually 

really liked living there over the summer on Lake Hamilton. It grew on me quickly but for various reasons we couldn't make it our new home. I enjoyed lake living sooo much. I've always been a water person and wish that I could continue to live near it. We took full advantage of having the beach be our back yard when we lived in Hilton Head, SC. I had forgotten how much I loved the water so one of my goals for this year is to get out a little more. Whether that is finding a lake to do a little fishing or heading out early on a weekend to get to Cape Henlopen, I want to be at the water's edge somewhere. We sold our kayaks when we moved back to PA but there's always Craigslist.

(sooc) In our backyard in Arkansas

Another focus is to do more photos that I want to do. If I see another train track photo I may just die. (No offense to anyone doing those. It is illegal, btw!) I just want to go back to what I was doing 20+ years ago; more natural lifestyle, street photography with the occasional portrait.

One of my favorite sessions. I had to get her to stick out her stomach so you could actually tell she was 9 months :0

Gorgeous HS senior

@Home Again, my little shop within a shop, is going well but I want to stretch myself there. It's easy to make/redo or bring in items that you automatically know your demographic will like but honestly, that can get boring. I want to bring in items that I think people might not have thought about yet. I found a 1960's bar cart in Arkansas that we lugged home. The handles were inset brass and were a regency style. The top folded out to create extra prep room. I stripped the top to its natural finish which was a great contrast to the black base. I immediately loved it but knew it could be a hard sell for this area. So I took the chance and was happy today when I went in to the shoppe and saw that it had sold. I just have to go with what I like and take more chances. It will pay off eventually.

I want to create a haven for my family within our home. This has been on my mind a lot. Since Jon's career change, which has been anything but smooth, I have felt the need to really make our home a place where we can close off the world and enjoy our time together. Time goes by so quickly and soon my two oldest will be gone and I wonder where the time has gone. Life is busy and in an unforgiving economy, it takes two salaries to raise a family of 7. There's just no getting around it for us and we live well within our means, opting for used cars and vintage furniture rather than new and top of the line anything (unless we win the lottery, then I may have something new ;)) I'll be focusing on this aspect more than anything I think.

Reading. Jon always reminds me that I used to be a voracious reader. I'm not sure what happened but I know I just need to schedule time to read. I have a stack of books whose dust jackets are literally collecting dust.

Service. I HAVE to make time for this. Not just to be an example to my kids but because I genuinely like people. I like to know their stories, what makes them tick so to speak and whatever way I can help, I want to. I signed up with an organization who makes scarves and places them in public locations (aka scarf-bombing) in the inner-city for the homeless to take to keep warm. I think it is such a sweet service.

Friends. I must do better at keeping in touch. I have been so lucky to have lived in different places and made friends with some of the best of the best. I have to let them know that. Being home in Washington state over the summer really reminded me that those ties are important to ones well-being.

The other, smaller goals will come over time. I'll be bringing updates periodically on those as well as what I've mentioned. Good luck on yours!

~Laura

Photographing love

Jocelyn & Cory| Washington DC LDS Temple

I have a clean desk

 

So...that little break from work lasted about three days. I hope I didn't need the notes that were stacked on my desk. I was supposed to take the whole month off since the PR world for Doctors is kinda slow right now. But then another change came and I'm back on the health talks. But that's good and most of the work I do is still at home.

 

And because I thought I wasn't going to be working much, I booked a few photo sessions so I am busily getting those done so I can start on others next week - engagements and bridals! I've looked at hundreds of photos trying to get some ideas. There is a big trend with theme engagement pictures but some are a little kitschy for me, like dressing as Bonnie & Clyde. I think vintage inspired clothes are great but didn't that relationship turn out bad? And would you tire of those photos in 5 years? I think I would. Who knows.

 

Anyway, some are really formal and then there's casual and relaxed. The couple wants casual and relaxed - whew! I didn't know where I was going to get Bonnie & Clyde costumes...

 

 

One of the recent senior photos.

Have a great day!

xo
Laura

It's good to be a Senior

I've been working on the editing process for a few high school seniors. Even though little is required, my eyes are starting to bug out so I'm off to Manhattan for the day with one of my dearest friends. I'll give my eyes a rest from the computer and soak in the sights of NYC.

See you soon.

Until then, enjoy these smiling faces.

The everyday and thoughts on kindness

Hellooo. It's been a very busy week and I've neglected my poor, little blog.

First of all, how are you?

I am dreading tomorrow and seeing the work week start all over again. I am sure I'm not the only one. I know I should be thankful but all I am feeling is burn-out right now, sorry.

We've loved watching the Olympics. I've decided I must get to London. It's picture perfect everywhere you look.

I finished tiling the 2nd little wall in the kitchen and now it's on to the final one. I will have to get to that in-between work this week. I made an adjustment to my little miscalculation but it looks ok, I hope.

Lately, I have been thinking about kindness and how one really cannot and should not expect the world to be kind to them if they're not. That sounds harsh, I know.
It's always been said that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. It seems to be true a lot of times but I don't think it's done so happily. I tell my children that for every person they will deal with, whether it's in a work situation, church, or school setting who has gotten or will get what they want with demands, leaving very little appreciation behind, has left a lot of people frustrated in their wake. I don't want them to be that person. I tell them that everyday, unbeknownst to them, they leave a little legacy wherever they go so make sure it's a legacy of kindness.

That has got me thinking I'd like to start some sort of kindness project but have no idea how to go about it. Anyway, just a thought.

Reese and I went on a mother/son date night to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid. We were the only ones in the theatre which Reese thought was so cool since he didn't have to whisper. I felt so bad though because I was so tired only having a few hours of sleep that day. I took Blair's pillow pet with me just in case Reese wanted to snuggle. We shared the pillow and sure enough, I fell asleep the last half-hour. Don't ask me how it ends.

I've had the awesomest of awesome pleasure to photograph lately. One was a birth story even - more on that later.

And that's all on my mind at the moment. Now I'm off to watch the closing ceremonies and make some popcorn. I love popcorn.

Thanks London, you guys know how to put on a good Olympics!

Have a great week!

You don't know your beautiful

I think most pregnant ladies feel they are not looking their best in the 9th month. But don't hold off pictures for that reason because they can prove otherwise.

In between a bout of stormy days and high heat I was able to do a few maternity photos at sunset of my beautiful friend. It was still really hot but luckily there was no rain. We went to local grounds not far from our houses that provide a variety of backdrops. I have scouted most of them out since some are off the road a bit but we ended up finding a big patch of black-eyed Susan and caught the light just before it set in the apple orchard. How perfect to help tell the story of a baby born in summer sun.

(And yes, that's a One Direction reference in the title. We hear it a lot in this house.)

Week of the fair and senior portraits

Our weekend was filled with work and hardly any play except for a few photo sessions. One of them was for Senior year photos for this beauty. We had a great time at a few favorite locations. Our next session is in fall when the leaves are changing. That should be even more fun and will offer a whole new look.

I'm off to work at the Etown Fair this whole week, everyday from 10-10. I love hometown fairs and all of the blue ribbon festivities. I'm hoping to break away to snap a few pictures and watch the kids on some rides and play with the animals at the little petting zoo area. It's going to be a great week!

Amidst that I may have a little time to show you a Friday find and another light fixture make-over. Until then, you can find me at the fair, if you're in my area!

Enjoy a sampling of Maddi's pictures and have a blast today!

Love looks good on them - a family photo session

I've been behind in posting some sessions so let me begin to catch up by showing you this beautiful family.
When we were talking about locations, Mary suggested a covered bridge. It was music to my ears. I have been wanting to work at this location for a while knowing it would provide for a great backdrop. But photographs aren't just about backdrops, they are about emotions and capturing a feeling at the precise moment.

When I was taking a portrait of just Travis and Mary, I told them to pose how they would normally, just goof around with the kids and pretend that I am not even there. Sure, it's easy for me to say but not easy to do when there is a camera in your face.

So Travis picked up Mary and gave her a piggy back ride. They said, "This is how we play!" and he carted her around for a bit as Mary's infectious laughter let you know it was a genuine moment.
Love looks good on them, don't you think?

As requested, I needed to get an individual picture of the kids. I wholeheartedly agreed. I think every family member holds a special place within their family so each needs a place of honor in a photograph. For the following shots, I held a conversation with each child. Here, B is telling me about her love of dance.

I asked W what he would do if he were me and what he would have me do. He said, "I like this tree. Let's go there." And then he started telling me about school.

I. was running all over so I told him that we could race to find the best rock to climb. I snapped this just before he darted off and then we looked at those rocks.

D. is so cute and liked to play. I remembered the red chair so we told him it was reserved for red-heads. It was his special seat. So he climbed on and I don't really remember how he started to laugh but I think they were making fun of me by making rabbit ears over my head. Anything for a laugh and what a great one he has.

I love that this family loves to laugh and play. Somehow a game of red rover started and jumps across and falling in the creek happened and I was lucky enough to witness it through the lens.

Fun family of four - photo session

Until I post my photo sessions on the official website, I will have to make you suffer through another one here. Although it won't be suffering when you look at this gorgeous family.

It wasn't hard to photograph them for obvious reasons but also because they are our friends and are simply one of the nicest families that you could meet. They both jump at the chance to help anyone and never ask for anything in return. Being a close knit family who enjoys being together makes it fun to be around them. Those personality types just draw you in and make you feel comfortable and I love that about them.

**Until the editing software is installed, all photos will remain unedited.

A family in love - photo session

When this family first talked about photos, they warned that they were not the "posing" types. The kids weren't anyway. That's OK I said, we'd go completely candid and see what we get. I think that it's great to capture images when kids are, well, just being kids.

And when you factor in parents who enjoy seeing them run free
and are happy and play right along with them,
you get to witness a beautiful family in love.

** Until the photo editing software is installed and working, all images remain unedited.

A question, an answer, a photo

In response to a few questions over the weekend,

these are just some of the things I like in a photograph.

Naturally textured backgrounds

"Out takes" that to me are my "in takes."

Genuine moments

Architectural features.

And of course the subject matter!