Splash Page Contest!!

So...I told a little fib. I said this would be ready the second week in October. Little did I know all that has to go into creating a splash page!!

Well, the time has come! The splash page is up and ready to be graced with one of these five beautiful pictures! Here's how this will work:

Five images are posted. You may vote for your favorite image ONCE. Voting will be held for one week and will end on November 7th. During the voting period, anyone at all can vote on the images, so be sure to send your family and friends to vote for you if you are one of the candidates.

The winner of this poll will be put on the splash page till the end of December. Starting in the new year, the time frame of the winners will change slightly. The winner will also receive their choice of either an 11x14 wall art image (from a past or future session) or a 5x15 collage. The winner will also receive a $50 gift certificate to Learning Express~children's educational toy store or One Step Ahead online catalog!

Runners-up in this contest will be put on my intro movie that you first see when entering the site. They will also receive a 4x8 mini collage of their choice!

Without further ado, here are the selections:
Image 1:


Image 2:
Image 3:
Image 4:
Image 5:

Which image would you like to see adorn the Essence Splash Page?

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5

Create Free Polls

A peek at love

I know many of you will remember the last time I posted about this couple ("head over heels")...they were so in love, I actually got e-mails from people saying that they could - without a doubt - see the love between these two.

Well, their story is far from over... In fact, they are just starting their happily ever after. And, I was lucky enough to photograph them. With this being my very last wedding as a photographer, I was so thrilled to go out with a bang with this one. Not only could I literally see the love oozing out of them - but they are a BLAST. The only way I could have had more fun is if I was there to dance instead of photograph it!

They have been waiting ever so patiently for their proofs and I'm SO close to being done, but I just couldn't have them wait any longer! So, a sneak peek at their love:

The first time they saw each other:

See the love??

OK...I know this doesn't really have anything to do with them as a couple, but I just love this one! Someone said something funny, that's for sure! I'm guessing it was Eddie!And, my personal favorite: So, Eddie and Karen - two people very much in love - I wish you 50 more years of the blissful happiness that you so clearly have with one another. And, all I can say is you better call me when those babies start coming!!

...and she just gets sweeter...

I have so many wonderful things to say about this little girl and her wonderful parents I don't even know where to begin! You may remember this little beauty from a couple months ago - "Sweet Kaya". That was her very first session with me and her parents signed up for three more. Now, I'm a bit of a softy - probably comes from being a mom myself - but I tend to grow rather attached to my babies...especially those in the "As They Grow" package. That means I'm guaranteed to see them at least four times in the first year of their life. So, four sessions of Sweet Kaya? Yeah, I'm ok with that! If that wasn't pleasant enough, it also means that I get to work with her parents (well...mom, mostly!) and I can't tell you how much I enjoy it. It is so wonderful and refreshing to meet someone - especially a client - who shares the same exact thoughts, ideals and visions for photography as I do. This mom, Kelley, and I seemed to just click. When we first met, I told her of how I didn't want to be the photographer you come to once a year for wallets for the aunts and uncles. I wanted to be the photographer you came to when you wanted to decorate your home with art. Her response? I'm so excited! I knew right then and there we would work great together.

Kelley has given me so many wonderful compliments - saying that I will always be a part of her memories from this beautiful first year in her daughter's life. That almost brought me to tears!! I am so thankful to have clients like Kelley - and so many more - that make my "job" not so much a job, but more about creating lifelong friendships with wonderful people.

Well, that turned into much more about my wonderful clients than it did about Sweet Miss Kaya! But...I don't need many words for this little cutie. Those curls...big blue eyes...and smiley personality will do all the work for me.

Who doesn't remember their first time eating grass??
Not sure if you can see or not, but she has a big huge drool stream in this one! I loved it...and left it there...
Ummm...no words needed!
Who me? I didn't just eat grass!
The very last shot I got... Daddy was back there making her laugh with silly faces....awww....

Chain Letters in a digital world

So...I normally hate chain letters. All the stigma that goes with the bad luck if you break them, and the hassle with mailing out everyone's letter...blah, blah, blah. Well, as with many other things in the digital ages, chain letters aren't such a pain anymore! And, they're kinda fun, even! AND, since this one didn't come with any bad karma if I didn't do it, I decided this one was A-Ok by me. So, here goes...

I was tagged by a fellow photographer friend (two actually...) and have to name five weird or strange things about me. Boy, this is gonna be tough... ;-)

1. The toilet paper roll must face out. Period.
2. I am incredibly superstitious, but I also have a bit of OCD. So...knock on wood? Yep, but instead of once like a normal person, I have to do it 12 times. Wow...never told anyone that one before!!
3. I hate the feel of grass. Hate it. I always, always, always have to have sandals on in the summer. Running barefoot through the grass? No thanks.
4. When I eat a sandwich or a hamburger, or anything really that involves the food directly touching my hands, I have to wipe them with a napkin in between EACH and every bite.
5. I hate mustard. Hate it. But, I LOVE honey mustard. I have to dip everything in it! I also hate tomatoes, but love salsa, tomato sauce, tomato soup, ketchup, marinara sauce...anything and everything made with tomatoes...just can't eat them!

I'm a kook, I know. Don't hold it against me!! Since everyone I know has already been tagged...the show must end here!

Oh, and yes, I'm back home and back to work! I will have some great and exciting things to post very soon. The changes to Essence have started and I can't wait to make them "official" on the blog. Stay tuned...

Sneaky...

Isn't it amazing how "time away" always seems to sneak up on you?!?! I thought I had all this time and then - WHAM! - tomorrow's here...well, tomorrow!

Anywho...I will be leaving tomorrow and won't be back until next weekend - the 22nd. If you need to get in touch with me, please contact me via phone, as I will be unable to answer your e-mails while I am away.

For those of you that have referred someone to me that may be inquiring on information, kindly let them know I will be away and will return their inquiries as soon as I return.

Finally, for the few of you that we are waiting on arrivals from, please phone me as soon as you can following the birth of your baby! Allotting as much time as possible in scheduling the newborn session is always helpful!

Until next week...enjoy the fall weather and colors - it will be gone before we know it!

Beauty and the cold...

Well, I thought my "bad luck" with photographing pregnant women in the freezing cold was over. It has been a while since my poor pregnant moms have had to endure goose bumps and cold winds! But, alas, my last pregnant woman was not so lucky! It was freezing out in our session. OK...well, not FREEZING... But, it was cold, that's for sure! She sure was a trooper, though. And, as we were walking back to our cars from the beach she says "oh no! my hands are blue!" Yep, they sure were. And, as I was proofing her session I came to see her belly was, too! Thank goodness that little baby is all cozy, just hanging out in 98 degree water while mom freezes her tush off!

Enough talk! Here are some pics of this beautiful mommy-to-be.