Monthly Archives: February 2008

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I’m not below bribery

I had babysitting duty tonight for my neices, so I took the opprotunity to grab a shot of all 4 of the grandkids together.  This is the first one!  To accomplish this I think my word were something like, “do what I say and nobody gets hurt!” or maybe it was “do what I say and everyone gets icecream!”…They might not be perfectly groomed or perfectly smiling but I love it! You can totally tell everyones different personalities. Can you just imagine them in 10 years together!!!

  From left to right- Riley, Kayla, Savannah & Laila.   Photobucket

So I took a good look at my 101 in 1001 list and wrote down the things I wanted to try to accomplish in the next month. I decided I would start number 53- “Get into shape (i.e. when my love handles don’t hang over my jeans) :)”. Why start now? Because I saw on someone else’s blog that there is only 85 days until bikini season! Scary, right? I hope posting my progress to the public will hold me more accountable and keep me on track!Before I had Riley I was 115lbs, gained 35 pregnancy pounds and settled at 120. Before I had Laila I was 123, gained 25 pregnancy pounds and now I’m hovering here at 127. Funny how kids do that to ya, huh? Obviously I’m not fat by any means, but I would like to retire the Spanks and wear a bikini this year. Weird how that “10 extra pounds” make you feel like…not yourself! I don’t necessarily have a goal weight in mind, I just want to be able to say “hey I look GOOD!”. It’s not really pounds I want to lose either, I more or less just want to be in shape. Another incentive I have is after I’ve accomplished this I can also go on to number 14- “Get another tattoo.” I know I want to expand on my “Riley” tattoo on my hip, but not lookin like this!So whats my goal gonna be? I am aiming to be 117lbs of lean, mean fighting machine by 4/11 (6 weeks).Sorry no before photos but there will be a definite after photo! I will also post my current weight every Friday, go me!

Riley Jo Is Stylish

Stylish is one of the words I can’t help but laugh at when Riley says it.  She dresses herself just about every morning, and honestly, she usually does a really good job!  I thought she looked uber cute, or should I say stylish, today so once Laila went for a nap a grabbed my camera and stole some sweet faces from Riley Jo.


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Did I mention she also a genius? She can’t read but she loves to make up her own words.
PhotobucketPhotobucketI made her put on a skirt so we could go out in publicPhotobucket

EDITED!!  Can anyone guess what this is? :) Photobucket

Maybe I have some new pictures for my kitchen now.

#81 & #82 Check!

“81.Buy a shootsac.” 

 I get to check two tasks off my 101 in 1001 list today!  Shootsac was having a sale last week so I took it as an omen.  It was a definite need for this year since I am switching to using mostly prime lenses.  Plus its really cute, now I don’t have to lug an ugly camera bag around when I just want to go out and take shots of the girls.

  From the shootsac website:Photobucket Some shots I snapped:PhotobucketPhotobucket

    “82. Buy a cooky cover for my shootsac.”

I went back and forth deciding between shootsac covers. It was a close call between “Festive” and “Wild”. But in the end Wild won, it speaks to me!

From the shootsac website:Photobucket A shot I snapped :Photobucket 

Sunday Funday

Last weekend I met up with one of my former brides for some fun model shooting.  Kate and her husband Scott dedicded to get into the photo biz shortly after I photographed their wedding last year, since then we have become pretty chummy.  You can see photos of Kate and Scott’s wedding plastered all over my website because they are such a super adorable couple together.

Back to the shoot- we had a model all set up for the day and 90 minutes before the shoot she cancels! So we ended up just playing with the studio lighting and being silly.  They asked me to sort of “mentor” them but they already know a ton, I was super surprised the first time I met up with them.  It took me a LONG time to learn the things they already have under their belt, they even have the new Nikon D300, I certainly didn’t have a camera like that when I got started and I don’t even have that camera now! :o) 

Here are some awesome headshot Kate snapped of me.  I PROMISE I don’t look that mean and boring in person, having a camera in my face makes me a tad nervous plus I have a huge goofy smile that I try to conceal. It’s that the same huge goofy smile in my Bio picture and the one I have on my face 90% of the time.

 The only thing I had to do was retouch the photos… you think I’m going to let an unretouched photo of me go on my blog?! ;o)  

PhotobucketPhotobucketHere’s an accidental one I snapped of Kate’s husband. It makes me giggle, I think this will be an ongoing joke between us.Photobucket

I don’t know if I can officially cross off #17 on my 101 in 1001 List, but its tempting. Don’t worry, I haven’r forgot about it, I have alot of things in the works to cross of my list soon. :)

To see Kate’s boudoir photography website you can go to www.katiehyde.com

Laila’s 7 Months (+ Riley)

Laila is coming up on her 7th month, and I got her portaits done a little early this time around since she’s gotten a few milestones accomplished in the past couple weeks. 

  Laila and her big sis
PhotobucketShe takes her rough squeezes like a champPhotobucketUp on her hands and knees!!PhotobucketFiguring out how to move forward…PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket“Mom, I’m trying to watch tv!”PhotobucketA tooth (and a half)!!!PhotobucketPhotobucketA family portrait gone wrongPhotobucket

Announcement: Wedding Rates increase 3/10

ANNOUNCEMENT: On March 10, 2008 I will release new increase in wedding packages.  That is just a short 3 weeks from now, if you wanted to book at current rates a contract must be signed prior to 3/10. That’s all folks- Happy Presidents Day! 

An Intimate Nigerian Ceremony

Tonight I went to photograph some of an intimate Nigerian ceremony/party for a couple who’s wedding I’ll be shooting in June. Good times were had by all and now I practically know the whole family before the wedding! Out of respect of the guests I’m just going to post some details and a couple portraits of the awesome couple. PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketGorgeous EvaPhotobucketPhotobucketDashing ChijokePhotobucketA big thanks to Eva, Chijoke and their wonderful, welcoming family!

Valentines Day Boudoir

My lovely, beautiful [mother of 2] sister called me up for a last minute boudoir session this week. Most adventureous brides will get boudoir sessions done before their wedding as a wedding gift to their future husbands. They are always fun and classy- especially when you have a model like this! With her permission here are a few more “modest” images, leave some love :)…PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

NEW Blog!!!

Welcome to my new improved Blog- happy reading!!