Charley 

Spring 2016  

A walk through the forest trail

 

Dress: Marshall's

Blue beads, gold leaf necklace, arm cuff: thrifted

Idaho, The District and a Pennsylvania wedding all in one - Belén and Jordan

We were in wedding mode for about 4 months which is one of the reasons I have been super lame in my blogging. But I thought I'd show a few wedding pictures. Eventually I will get into detail about the bouquets, the decorations and budget. (I was on a serious budget.) But for now please enjoy a few pictures from the National Mall in Washington DC. More to come!

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

Magical summer

It's been a magical summer for us and thankfully it's not over yet.

New snaps.

Her own pose

Sitting on the dock

The crown of leaves

"Have fun!" I said.

We bought a $3 dress at Goodwill and picked some boxwood and a flower to make a crown. I simply tucked it all into her headband. Nothing too fancy to distract.

Have a great day

~L

Linking to 

Posed Perfection

Soft and light - a baby photograph

   For this child I prayed
 1 Samuel 1:27

This baby was long awaited. 

We (along with all those that know her) are so happy for our friend and her family. I was also honored that they asked me to take some photos. There were no special photoshop tricks here; no layers or enhancements. Just a lovely mother, her beautiful newborn and soft afternoon light.

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

Forward thinking

School starts in 7 hours and I'm not even ready. The summer has flown. It was nice having a lazy schedule with the kids. Maybe too lazy since I failed to get them all ready?? But just like everything else, I suppose, it'll work out.

The week at our local Elizabethtown Fair and the fireworks display signaled the end of the season for us. The nature of Jon's work is such that we don't really get in a lot of summer fun. While some women are football widows, I feel more like a summer widow because the hotel demands so much time from him. I tend to look forward to Fall a little bit more because of that (and sharing football season with him.)

I'm also looking forward to spending time alone with Trae man and seeing Blair become a big, full-time elementary school girl but a little sad that this is Belén's last year of high school. Everywhere I look it's a little bittersweet for me but I just have to remember to be thankful and enjoy.

So here's to the summer that was and the Fall that will be!

A birth story - baby Andie

My friend Heather texted me at 12:15 am and said she was going into labor so I texted back and said I would be on my way to the hospital. A few months earlier she asked if I would document the experience of her daughter's birth. I was excited by this request; honored really. I got ready and headed out the door for an exciting night (or morning) of seeing the events of this day unfold through my lens. We would catch all the emotion leading up to the birth and then right after. We discussed what kind of pictures to take and had it all planned.

I arrived at the hospital just before 1 am and texted her from Triage at 1:03. I was assuming that they would be in the room, talking, waiting and going through the motions of getting to the stage when delivery was just minutes away. I had planned on at least 5 hours of this and was happy to be there.

As I sat in the waiting room for a little while, I took a few pictures of the surroundings that would help tell the story. A woman finally came to the desk and smiled as I walked up to her. I told her I was there for Heather and she asked me to wait a moment. She left, came back and said to go to room 60. I would have to go back through security to get a badge and door pass. They were really accomodating and although it had only been 4 years since I was there, I noticed they had changed a few things around. I didn't remember the strict security of the building but thought it was good.

Entering the hall, I noted how hushed it was and took a photograph. Another nurse met me and asked if I was there for Heather. She pointed down the hall, smiling, and asked if I was ok with births and everything. I just nodded knowing she, of course, wouldn't know that this wasn't my first rodeo.

The door was open but lights were dimmed and I tiptoed inside realizing right away that they were in the thick of things. How long ago did this start?? I asked myself. I overheard a nurse say "she's going fast" when I was walking into Triage but didn't know they were talking about Heather. Pulling out my phone I looked at the text. 50 minutes. I was amazed at the progression. She is a rock star, I thought.

Knowing that photographs weren't allowed right then, I waited and listened.

I stood just outside the door wondering if I should even be listening to such a moment but I needed to be close so the nurses could call me to come in.

And so I listened and tears slowly fell down my face as I heard in a tired and nearly defeated voice echo those 4 words that almost all of us have uttered during labor, "I can't do this."

Kyle, her husband, immediately said in a tender and calming voice, "Yes you can, Heather, yes you can. You're doing great." He stressed the word "great" and the nurses all chimed in and said the same thing. She had what sounded to be a big personal cheering section around her. I thought it was funny how at that moment we seem not to care who is at our feet. We just need the encouragement. I did anyway.

I heard Kyle say he could see the baby and that she had lots of dark hair, encouraging Heather to keep going. The nurses were excitedly telling her that it was going to be soon; they could see her and she was doing great, just to hang in there and give it her all. Instinctively, I brought my hands to my mouth in nervousness, waiting to hear that final moment of bearing down. Someone said, "Let's go Heather!" and then at 1:21 am, I heard cheers and was quickly called in.

My eyes were a little misty and the intensity of listening made me forget all about camera settings. Everything was so quick it was hard to not get in the way so I hung back a bit and tried to snap pictures as best I could. It was a wonderful experience that I'll never forget.

Although we had this photo story planned out, it went according to another plan, a perfect one.

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*shared with permission

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!

Opportunity knocks or blooms in this case

Two posts in one week about Cherry blossoms??

I just wanted an excuse to use my own picture since I used stock photos in the last. This was taken on the hotel property where my husband works. Don't be afraid to snap a picture when you see something you like. The opportunity may pass if you don't. I hate it when that happens.

Enjoy your day!

Quality control - ordering prints

I am attempting to make my own canvas prints.

When I received the first three of my five prints, I quickly opened up the tube to see how they looked and tacked them up on the wall for placement. You can see the scrape from the printer in the top photo, an apparent quality control issue.

And if I pan out you can see another error...

Anyone waiting on your dedyshka and babushka's picture? If so, I have it. And by the way, I love it.

Xaroševo dnja! Have a nice day!

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!

Face fotos

When I was in college, my roommate coined the term "face photos" for me when she was looking through my pictures and said, "You like to take face photos." Whenever we were goofing around and taking pictures of friends, we would yell, "Face photo!" and everyone would mug for the camera to get ready for their close-up.

I enjoy getting close ups of people, especially children. I know this can be disconcerting for adults. I am the first to admit that. When I was 20, it was no problem but now, yikes! So I understand the desire for a little light airbrushing and not wanting someone to get too close.

But with these photos, had I been far away from my children, I would have lost a little something in their expressions which would have resulted in just a regular photo and not my new favorites.

Trae came into my office in the morning donning his 3D glasses and unkempt hair. He said "Hi mom. I got glasses." Luckily my camera was on the desk and he just stood there letting me snap a few.


I was taking pictures outside when a sudden rain drenched us. I ran for cover since my camera was exposed and when I turned to see if Reese was going to get the door behind me, I saw him standing under the clogged gutter with eyes closed tightly, thoroughly enjoying the deluge.

While Blair was looking out the window, I focused in on her waiting for her to turn. When I said her name, she responded, "Hmmm?" turning toward me but still with the soft expression from what she was observing out the window.

These photos make me happy.

Try to get out and take some happy close-ups for yourself!