art

I miss art. I miss the mess, the drawing, the painting.. all of it. I graduated with a degree in graphic design and illustration. It's always been my passion since I can remember. When I first went to college I couldn't decide between physical education or art. Either way, my dad always gave me a hard time. He likes to say I got a degree in coloring. :) It's actually come in very handy. I bought my first camera by making logos for other photographers, I design all my own cards, business cards, posters, websites and what not. I love it. However, what I miss the most is the hands on drawing. Not the computer based stuff, but the pen and ink, pastels, cutting, and painting. My husband and I met in a drawing 3 class. We reminisce those days quite often. Oh the memories from that class. Now that I homeschool, I find myself slowly being able to get back into it again. Not quite the college material I did but it's still art. My son is starting to love art himself. I'm hoping it will be something he takes to. Doing art is a stress reliever, it's freeing and it's a place to put on paper anything you feel. It's actually like writing but with illustrations. Paul (my brother) also got into art. We used to send him colored pencils, books, pens, and markers while he was deployed. I love looking at the things he drew and to know that he created them with his own hands. That he held the pencils that drew what we now have hanging on the wall...It's priceless. I've been talking about doing this again for awhile but now I have finally taken that step and am going to actually do what I have been wanting to.

Traveling Abroad..

I'm getting really excited. Actually, excited doesn't really describe what I am! This summer I will be mainly shooting destination weddings and that's an awesome thing. To travel and do what I love is wonderful. Two years ago, I went with my family to Germany and Italy. My brother had died about 9 months prior and this would be one of our last times going on vacation as an entire family. All of us kids would be together and he in heaven. It was hard and it brought back so many great and vivid memories. Germany was where one of my sisters, Paul and I were born. We would go on vacation every summer to Pisa, Italy while we lived in Heidelberg. Some of my most cherished times are from there and to be back was amazing... however, we missed him. Actually, we had our share of melt downs while being over there... it was not easy. It was a unique feeling to all be together and yet have him missing. It wasn't fair and it's still not. Well, we are going back. In May I will be shooting a wedding in a tiny town.. Schmalnau. I will be taking my husband for the first time to a place that I adore along with our son. On this trip, which isn't set in stone, we will most likely go to Germany, Austria, Lichtenstein, and maybe Italy. Who knows where we will end up... :) We like to travel and go where ever our car and map take us. I never really posted some of the images from my last time over there two years ago.. so here are some.

Valentine's Girls

I was wanting to take some pics of the kiddos this year for Valentine's and since I will not be home during that time, I had to do them early. I was also hoping for some nice weather but that wasn't so either. Well, it was chilly but we went out and did some anyway. This time it was only the girls. They actually like having their photos taken and I hope that as they get older they will get better with posing and doing what I ask... :) Ha, ya right but wishful thinking. The two of them are what we call "bestfriend-emies". They have a relationship that is great at moments and then quite horrible at others. I hear giggles or I hear screaming. Either way, I know they truly love each other and the moments that they get along are so worth it. Makenna has a way of making Myla laugh so deep that I can't help but laugh either. I love them to pieces! They are quite the handful but I wouldn't trade them for anything!! Happy Early Valentine's Day to you all.

Mountain Biking

We didn't do much this weekend. Honestly, it was cold and we stayed inside. However, we did manage one day of taking the kiddos out and getting all bundled up. They really enjoyed themselves as this was their first actual mountain biking experience. Now when Chris goes, they are all going to want to go. We waited for the weather to warm up a tad but 49 degrees still isn't really my idea of warm but it wasn't too bad. They had fun and we got some pics and a little bit of video.

Lot of kids.. Lot of fun

Over New Year's we had friends who we have known forever come into town for a visit. When we moved to Colorado back in 98, they moved to MA. We still see each other about once a year and things pick up right where they left off. Lots of fun and lots of laughter. There are ages ranging from 2 all the way to 31. It's always a good time when so many people are running around the house, there is screaming over football games, good times spent playing Apples to Apples, kids running around with air soft guns and of course eating.. lots of eating. :) In the mean time, we also did a mini photo shoot. How could we not capture our long time friends having a good time here in the lovely V of A?

Bridal session with Kelly

I really enjoy doing bridal sessions. The only thing about bridal sessions is you never get to blog about them. I can't put these shots up on the web for the chance of their lucky man spotting them. Then the first look wouldn't really be the first look. But then again, pictures can't always explain the love and the look in their grooms eyes when they see their bride for the first time. Photos can't explain the way the bride feels as she slips the dress on and absolutely feels like she is the only girl in whole wide world. Still, the idea behind ruining that first look wouldn't be good... so I don't blog. What I can do now that the wedding is over is finally show you what a bridal session looks like and how wonderfully gorgeous these brides look. We have lots of fun as we go out and shoot images of just her in her dress and enjoy the down time before the wave of excitement, time crunches, and awe appears. Here is Kelly. Her wedding was this past October in Richmond and it rained during this entire session. We had a few moments of wet free photography but other than that it was umbrellas and bags and running and dodging. She was a trooper to get that nice white dress out there.