Celebrate "Man's Best Friend"

Today is National Dog Day,

A special day to celebrate how important our tail-waggin', four-legged members of our family are.

Some save lives, 

some find those lost, 

some aid those in need,

But all love us unconditionally!

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.  ~Ben Williams

So remember today that...

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him 

and not only will he not scold you, 

but he will make a fool of himself too.  

~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

If you have not yet added a therapeutic bundle of love to your family,

 please check out your local Humane Society.

If Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, Mine is Very, Very Fond

 

 

 I have a special one-year-old in my life.

 

But there is just one problem with this...

he. is. too. far. away!

 

A 16-hour drive from St. Robert, crossing 6 states, and one time zone.

 

 

But when you have this waiting at the

end of that drive, it's well worth the hours...

 

 

 

 

 

Spending time with this dimpled-face little guy

 

 

 

may not happen often enough,

but when it does, out comes the camera.

 

 

Because,

am I a biased aunt,

or he is not one of the most. cutest. kids. you have ever seen!?!

 

With Nona's, his great-grandmother, blanket...knitted long ago in anticipation of his birth!

 

 

 

My last visit coincided with the day he turned one.

A time in his life when he was

 becoming more sure-footed in his steps,

making new discoveries,

discovering his five senses.

 

 

And our little Gator-boy sure put those senses to work...

 

...and I'm so proud of my slightly ocd sister and brother-in-law

to allow this messy session to happen...lol,

and just be warned, Peter & Jess,

more of this is in your future!

 

 

 

So, Little Man,

 

 

 

 

...close those eyes, make a wish...

 

 

 

 

...and those suitcases may just pack themselves,

and you'll find yourself heading west...

 

 

 

 

because Missouri is waiting for you!

My Beginning (In Photography That Is)

I'm a native Floridian...

a minority in my own home state where only 33% of its population can make that claim.

And my love of photography got its roots during my high school days there. 

 Luckily for me, my passion for capturing moments with my camera and my love of sports

were married on the local football field.

You see, Friday night football was a BIG thing in our community, and the local newspaper only had one photographer to cover three high schools. 

 There was a need, and I jumped in to fill that need.

Little 'ol me, walking the sidelines amongst the hulking football team...

...snapping away, Friday night after Friday night.

It was a hard job, but someone had to do it!

  

Between getting that perfect action shot on the field,

and also being the photographer for our high school yearbook,

my desire to one day make photography my career was set.



Part two of those football days is that I went on to marry one of those hulking players,

my crush and the love of my life, Charles Lamar.

And because of his chosen career, the Army,

I left my home state and became a world traveler. 

As you can imagine,

the sights seen and the people met at each of our duty stations had to be captured

forever after.

This further cemented my career decision. 

I needed to capture those memories for others as well as for myself.

Before leaving my home state,
I had the opportunity to study visual arts at
Floarts,
Florida School of the Arts.
This time enabled me to hone my photography skills
to better prepare for my future goals and to finally make...

 

 

 a reality.

There is a saying,

"if you love your work, you never have to work a day in your life",

and I find that to be so true.

It's with excitement and anticipation that I meet each new client,

whether in my studio or on location.

And when I'm done with their session,

I realize I've added new friends to my life.

Friends who have given me the privilege of capturing their

memories...forever after!

A Magical Age

Who's with me?

Don't you think life should just stop,

be frozen for much longer than a year,

when a child reaches 3!

The 3-year old's sense of adventure is suddenly blossoming,
and they are ready to take off,
and it doesn't matter to them if they are
coming...

or going...

...as long as they are leading the way...

...and our life is enriched when we follow.


Because you never know where
their new found curiosity may lead the both of you,

or what they may be concocting next
(with just a touch of mischievousness),

or the stories they may share
with that 3-year old imagination.

And you don't want to miss one of them!



Unfortunately,
we can't freeze time.

But I do cherish each session
that I have with this magical age.

They remind me to
keep in touch with adventure,
be curious, creative.
Enjoy life.



Thank you, Keith and Angie, for allowing your
special girl to lead the way
on our adventure together!

[nep-uh-tiz-uhm] - noun

Nepotism:

favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship.

Yes, I do have to claim this photo shoot as one of my all time favorites.

How can I not!?

It's my little sister, Christa,

with the love of her life, Robert.

Aside from the nepotism factor,
it was a favorite for another reason.

I was a part of making one of her wishes come true...

a wish that included

 her and her man,

 her wedding dress,

an ocean as a backdrop.

It didn't happen on her wedding day,

so we made it happen a year later.

And that fact alone makes it one of my favorite shoots...

a wish fulfilled!

Christa and Robert are a dream couple...

who made my job so very easy.


So, Little Sister,
what an adventure it was getting up before the crack of dawn
and spending such a special time with you and Robert.
Recapturing those memories.

And as you walk into your future,

I look forward to capturing more of your wishes and dreams.

To make you happy,
and that makes me happy.

Nepotism at its best!