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New Blog

2009-03-23T18:34:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone....this is the last post at this site..
We have upgraded to a NEW BLOG! I am so excited for you to see it.
Click here to see it!
Thanks everyone!

I almost got a kiss!

2009-03-05T17:05:00.002-05:00

Mr. Owen was quite the flirt today! He has grown up so much. As his mom was putting on his shoes, he was telling her that he was going to kiss me! He didn't care that I was married :) As I gave him a hug goodbye he was looking at me, his eyes shifting to my lips and I really thought he was going to go in for the kill. I beat him to it and dipped him down and smothered him with kisses. He's adorable!

A shameless plug!

2009-03-04T17:43:00.003-05:00

Ok, my older brother Bryan Duke is the smartest person I know! By far! I have been jealous of his mind my whole life and this just proves it hands down. Bryan, in his spare time, (he's also a fighter pilot) has developed a game for the iphone called Acceleroto! It's awesome and I'm not just saying that :) You don't even have to take my biased word for it...it was voted 2008's BEST Arcarde Game.

Go and download it right now people! You have no choice :)

Baby Lily

2009-02-25T15:33:00.005-05:00

Ok, It has taken me most of the day to get these up...sorry Barb :) I know everyone is excited to see Barb's grandaughter Lily. She is amazingly cute, and is already staying up late! Watch out mom and dad :)

Look at her little foot, holding on to daddy's finger

Baby crazy!

2009-02-24T13:56:00.004-05:00

I have been so blessed to have so many baby sessions lately! I just love them! Each one has a unique personality and cutness that I can't explain. They just fill me with peace and happiness.

Tonight, baby Lily is bringing her parents in for their first baby session! I can't wait...I'm just watching the hours and minutes tick away.
Here are some images from the past week. Enjoy!

Welcome Lilly!

2009-02-19T14:43:00.002-05:00

We are proud to announce that we have a new addition to the Canfield Jenkins family!
This morning at 8:15 Lilly Ellen Latimer was born. She is 9lbs 2oz and 21 1/2 inches long. I am excited to go and see her! Congratulations Nichole and Rob!
There will be pictures of her soon...I promise you that!

Waiting for baby

2009-02-06T18:31:00.002-05:00

Many of you know Barb...she's the one that answers your phone calls here at the studio. Well, her daughter is pregnant and is due ANY day now! Everytime the phone rings she jumps out of her chair! We are all very excited. I'm sure we will have a little crib set up here in no time :) I am also excited because we are going to do a new born session with little baby ? Don't worry, I'll post as soon as she has arrived!

Andrew and I are going to be at our State Convention the next few days. Usually this conference is in Detroit, but this year it's in Lansing! This is great because I get to sleep in my own bed :) We will be back in the office on Wednesday.

Enjoy the warm up this weekend!

Let's back up a bit!

2009-01-28T13:12:00.005-05:00

I know I know, it's been WAY too long. So let's back up...
Andrew, Emily and I traveled to Pheonix in mid January and it was a nice break from the weather we've been having. Brrr. Pheonix was mid 60's to 70's and when we weren't in programs, preparing for our program or giving our program...we were outside. It was nice to feel the sun again. We met up with all our favorite people while we were there and had so much fun. We had wonderful dinners and even had cotton candy one night! That was an added bonus! Emily was in heaven :)
My wonderful friend Jaime went with us and I'm so glad she decided to attend at the last minute. It's always good to have someone to tag along with at these events. Convince you not to buy everything you want and don't really need :)

We have been back now for awhile and are getting caught up on all the little things that we try and tackle during this time of year. Our Winter Newsletter is at the printers and will be in your mailboxes soon. Make sure and check out our Winter Kids' Specials and don't for get to sign up for our E-News mail. To your right--->
there you will see where to sign up. We will be running all sorts of specials and send them right to your email. So sign up...you will get SPECIAL treatment if you are apart of our E-NEWS.

As we get into February, Andrew and I will be attending our State Convention PPA which is next week and then WPPI which begins Valentines Day. We have never been to WPPI before so we are excited to see what that is all about. That is in Vegas...so we will be heading out the again! Twice in 2 months.
So, I think that catches us up!
Keep warm everyone!
brrr

Andrew with the lovely bridal portrait of Leslie

Me and Allison Watkins

Me and Bryan Cox

My New friends: Roberto Valenzuela, Jaime McAllister, me, Kenny Kim and Tammie Kimura

Out to dinner: Emily Jenkins, Kalen Henderson, Pheonix Security, me and Jaime McAllister

Kris Boman and Allison Watkins

Kris Boman, Kalen Henderson and Andrew

Angela Kurkian and me

me and Jaime McAllister

Jeff Rodgers(Mr. Perfect) and Baby Sam

Angela and baby Sam

Linda Durham and Carletta Watkins

SPA, PPA and more to come

2009-01-08T10:57:00.005-05:00

Andrew and I just got back from SPA! I have been wanting to attend this conference since it began almost 4 or 5 years ago. It is a specialized conference focusing on high school Senior photography. We flew to Vegas on the 3rd and stayed at the Red Rock Resort. This was an amazing place! It was filled with the most gorgeous furniture, art work, sculptures...so many details to look at. You could photograph in every inch of this place. With over 450 photographers at this convention, I'm sure we came close to covering most of the great spots they had to offer.
Here are a few images from SPA...

Saturday, we leave again for PPA! Andrew and I will be speaking at the Burrell Booth...come and see us! We would love to meet you!
PPA is always a great time. I look forward to it every year. We get to see so many friends and I can't even explain to you how much we learn from our peers. We always come back ready to impliment new ideas.
See you there!

A New Year!

2009-01-02T17:01:00.003-05:00

I am excited about the New Year! Andrew and I have the great opportunity this year to travel and teach photographers from all over! It's going to be a chance to meet so many new people and visit our friends that we don't get to see that much! I am looking forward to it so much.
Out first stop this year is SPA in Vegas. We leave tomorrow and I haven't even started my laundry yet :) We get back on the 6th and then we leave again on the 10th to go to our national convention PPA! This year it is in Pheonix, AZ. I've never been there and I'm excited to see all the sites!
We will see you there!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-22T16:07:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone! This is my nephew Parker with his first visit to see Santa..he looks happy doesn't he? I'm so sad I don't get to see him this Christmas, but I'm sure my brother will keep us posted with video's and pictures of him tearing the wrapping paper of his presents! He's changing so much everyday...it shouldn't surprise me but it does. Well this Christmas my family will be doing all the normal traditional holiday events. Last week, we went over to the Huckleberry Railroad and rode the train and froze our butts off. It was fun though. The kids got to give Frosty the Snowman hugs, see Santa and Mrs. Claus, drink some hot chocolate and of course ride the train. They even had a reigndeer there for the kids to pet. It is a Christmas wonderland over there. It's worth visiting if you haven't been before. You're kids will love it. But Dress WARM! I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy the time you have with your families! We will see you next YEAR!

Let it snow...again

2008-12-18T13:15:00.000-05:00

Oh the weather outside is frightful...well not yet. But we are supposed to get 10 inches of snow between now and tomorrow! That's a lot of shoveling :) If we do, we are not planning on being here tomorrow. Andrew lives an hour away, I live 35 minutes away and Penny and Barb live in the country. This is not a good line up for being to work on time. Most of the time when we get a lot of snow, the country roads don't get plowed and Barb and Penny get snowed in. What a way to spend a Friday...
build a fire, make some hot chocolate with marshmallows and read a book or something like that.

Well, here's to SNOW DAYS!

Photographing photographers

2008-12-11T11:10:00.001-05:00

My Good friend Jaime McAllister had me come over to photograph her family and we had a great time. We got a little cold, the noses got runny and the hats came on, but overall we got great images! Jaime found us a great location at an old farm. We had so much to work with! Too bad kids only last SO long. I could have shot there forever. Old cars, hay bales, old barn ruins and cows! What more could you ask for!

To get you in the Christmas Spirit!

2008-12-08T12:24:00.001-05:00

Isn't that awesome?!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T19:13:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! Well the day has come to a close and I am heading home for a long weekend with the family! I am very excited to have a few days off so I can get back to my creative side for all those Christmas cards I have to design still. I have a few done and a lot more to do! So bare with me.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy the time with your families. Eat a lot and take naps...rest up because the next month is running around, shopping, wrapping, visiting, road trips, cooking, cleaning and eating some more! You'll need your energy up! :)

We will be closed tomorrow and Friday and reopen Monday, so if you need to get a hold of someone just send us an email. I will try to check it sometime this weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

LOVE love love this age!

2008-11-19T13:48:00.000-05:00

How cute are these socks! (and of course the baby too) Mom was changing little Brady and when I saw these socks, I couldn't resist. I just love it! What a cutie! Brady hung in there with us this morning...he had a lot of outfits to model. I'm sure he's sound asleep now...at least I hope for mom's sake!

Brady and I cuddled up on the blanket while mom gathered their stuff, and he just stole my heart. He has the biggest blue eyes and a killer smile. He's going to be a heart breaker for sure!

Oh how I love the little ones

2008-11-18T15:27:00.001-05:00

Mr. I and his family were here today and we had a great time! He and his brother carry the longest eye lashes award for sure. I am so jealous! How come it's always the guys that get those amazing lashes?
Anyway, thanks Mr. I and Mr. B for being such gentlemen while you were here!

Big Day!

2008-11-18T10:35:00.000-05:00

Today is Tim's interview to get into PA school! As most of you know it has been a long journey to get to this point and we would really appreciate your thoughts and prayers today. His interview process starts at noon and his one on one interview is at 3:45! I know he will do great!
THanks

Funny Faces Special

2008-11-17T12:03:00.000-05:00

The last special of the year is coming up quick! December 3rd is our funny faces special and this one is going to be so much fun! Bring your child in (one child per session) and we will capture all of their crazy expressions. This session is great for panels, a tapestry or even a brag book! Sessions are only $25 and they last up to 30 minutes. We are offering a very special discount on our tapestry of $100 off any size...We offer a 20' 24' or a 30'! These are great to make a statement in your home or a fun collage for your child's room!

Give us a call to schedule your appointment. 989-227-8441 These sessions are not guaranteed to be back before Christmas.

Addition to the family

2008-11-14T15:28:00.000-05:00

My Mother in Law got a new puppy last night and she is SO cute! We went to the same place we got our dog, so they are brother and sister. Jake didn't know what to think of the new little one. He towers over her and still runs away when she comes near. I couldn't believe what a coward Jake was last night.
When we went out to the farm to get this little one (she doesn't have a name yet) it was like going back in time 4 years. We drove out to the country in the dark, went out to this little barn and when we opened the door, there were 3 little chocolate labs wagging their tales. Of course we said all the way there that we were only going to look, and we couldn't even get a dog for a couple more weeks. As we walked into the stable where the pups were, we forgot every word that was said. They were so cute...we just melted. The baby talk spewed from our lips and instead of saying "thank you for letting us look" we said "How much!"
It was the best impulse buy we ever made. We love our Jakers and I know that Dianne will love her to be named little one too. Here's to sleepless nights, accidents on the carpet and chew toys!
Welcome to the life of a dog parent!

3X Cute

2008-11-07T16:13:00.002-05:00

I just LOVE these 3 little boys! They are so polite and well behaved and did I mention Adorable! Mom, you are very blessed!

Name that Tune!

2008-11-06T16:38:00.003-05:00

We have been listening to the 90's XM station today and everyone song is a blast from the past. The 90's were the days of high school and college for Andrew and I, so we have a slight advantage.

Songs like Mmmm Bop by Hanson

OMC's How Bizarre

and SO many more.... :)

Here's an image from the other day. It's been so nice out...I'm bummed it's supposed to rain tomorrow and then get cold. Oh well it's been nice while it lasted.

Holiday deadlines

2008-11-05T15:56:00.004-05:00

The Holidays are fast approaching and we wanted to let you know of a few important dates coming up!

November 8th: Last day for Hand Bag orders.

November 13th: Cut off for all portrait sessions.(excluding children's sessions) You must have your portrait session taken by this date to get your images back by Christmas.

November 14th: Welcome to our Winter Wonderland! This day is reserved for our Children's Special. Session fees start at $50 for up to 2 kids and $75 for 3 or more kids. The sessions are 30 minutes long and the images are great for Holiday Cards! Packages are available starting at $99.
Give us a call to reserve your appointment time! 989-227-8441

November 21st: Cut off for Children's sessions. You must have your children's session taken by this date to get your images back by Christmas.

December 1st and 2nd: These days are the last days to get your orders placed for Christmas. We have reserved these days especially your ordering appointments!

We will be closed December 24th thru the new year to celebrate Christmas with our families.

Whew...I think that's everything! :) Give us a call if you have any questions!
Enjoy the great weather!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T16:20:00.000-04:00

The goblins, clowns and princesses are out today and we had a great time photographing them! Thanks to everyone who came out for our Halloween special.
It was so fun seeing all the kids dressed up.
Well, I'm off for the annual Palmer Halloween Night. The pupkins are carved, the strobe light is on, the fog machine is running and we are ready to give out tons and tons of candy!

Happy Halloween everyone!
Be safe!

Long time...no blog

2008-10-28T12:26:00.001-04:00

It's that busy time of the year that keeps me from keeping the blog updated. Andrew and I were just speaking in Chicago about the importance of updating your blog, and then I have a 2 week absence from my own! BAD...slap on the wrist for me :)

Well the past two weeks have been exciting for me! Tim and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary! I know, it has gone by SO fast. We have had such a great time being married. We are so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful friends and family that keep us grounded and in check. I love that we have relationships with our friends that are open enough for someone to pull me aside and say "Jackie, don't work on a Sunday...spend time with your hubby." I know that someone shouldn't have to tell me that, but every once in awhile my priorities get challenged with business.

Although we haven't traveled to exotic places, lived in a big home, or even had the excitement of having a family, I feel we have been extremely blessed in our 5 years. We just enjoy being around each other...even it's just watching Seinfeld together once we got home from a busy day. It's the simple things that we value.

So simple in fact, that we get excited this time of year just because Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer comes out! I know it's silly, but to us it's the simple things in life that make it fine :)

yummy

The next five years hold a lot of changes for us, and I look foward to each of them. Tim will finish PA school, we want to start a family and will probably move somewhere with some land so we can add to our dog family.

Here's a video my uncle took on our wedding day of our first dance. We practiced a lot, and if you watch closely you can even see Tim counting :)
It's in infrared for some reason

It's that time of year again

2008-10-06T17:16:00.000-04:00

Hey all you youngsters...
On October 31st, Halloween day, we are having a day dedicated to Halloween in the Children's Studio! We will be scheduling appointments every 15 minutes...Bring yourself, your costume and your smile! This is for the kids...and yes, you can even have all your kids in one image. Please no babies that can't sit up on their own :)
Packages available are:
2-5x7's and 8 wallets for $25
1-8x10, 2-5x7's and 8 wallets for $35
4-5x7's and 16 wallets for $45
2-8x10's, 4-5x7's and 16 wallets for $65

You can add an extra sheet for $10 too!

Call us NOW to get your appointment time.....and bring that trick or treat bag for some candy!

Up north again...

2008-10-06T11:40:00.000-04:00

I went Up North to Boyne City again this weekend and took two of my good photographer friends with me! We had a very relaxing, energizing and creative weekend. Something we could all use.
On Saturday, we had Lindsay come over to do a bridal shoot. Her wedding was a couple weeks ago, so now we could photograph her anywhere and not worry about hurting the dress. Technically this was a TRASH THE DRESS session, but we didn't come close to trashing it.
It was a gorgeous evening and we got SO many gorgeous images. Here are just a few...more to come later!
Linds! Thanks for letting us drag you all over the woods! You are a trooper nd So beautiful!

:)

2008-10-01T19:27:00.000-04:00

Love this look :)

Fall is here!

2008-09-30T17:33:00.003-04:00

Brrr....it's a little chilly today! Good thing the fall special was last week when it was warmer. I can't even tell you how much fun the fall special was! We picked apples, ran around, stopped on tall grasses, and ate cookies! Who could ask for anything better? We will definately do this again next year!
Thanks to all of you who come out.

Time warp!

2008-09-25T11:00:00.001-04:00

The other night I went with my niece to a roller skating party she had with her school. I LOVE roller skating! We walked in and it was like walking back in time. Are all skating rinks the same? I grew up in Texas and when I was a kid, every Friday we would go skating. It was something we always looked foward to. We would pull up to SKATING AMERICA, run to do the door, pull it open and the music and freezing air conditioning would pour out. We couldn't get our skates on fast enough. I had routines to songs like "Thriller and Footloose" and would love to out skate the older kids playing bat chase. It was great! Emma and I got our skates on and worked our way around the rink. It took me a little bit to remember how to balance and work the wheels, but once I got the hang of it, it was like old times. They even played the same songs I was used to. Thriller came on and man it brought me back. Emma held onto my hands as we skated together. She was all smiles, and seemed to really like it! I can't wait to go again. I think we should bring back a skating revolution! Anyone with me :)

Week up north!

2008-09-23T12:11:00.001-04:00

I just got back from my week vacation with my family and little Parker. It was so great and I can't explain how wonderful it was seeing Parker and getting to know him. He is such a great baby. He needs to work on sleeping a little bit more, but other than that I think he's perfect! :) He has this little porcelain face, with great big blue eyes. He just lights up when he smiles. The whole family just sat around watching him all week. He was our little entertainer.

It was hard to say goodbye to all of them. I don't get to see my brothers enough that is for sure. It was just wierd thinking that the next time I see Parker, he will be a toddler...I hope he doesn't forget me.

Going to see Parker!

2008-09-16T13:26:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! I'm finishing up a few things here and then I'm off for a week to go spend some much needed time with my brother, his wife and Parker! Parker is already 6 1/2 months old and I haven't even met him yet! I know...let's just say, I'm going to take so many pictures.
Oh...I can't wait!
:)
Here's a little one that I photographed a couple weeks ago...He was such a cutie!

Anthony + Lindsay 9.13.08

2008-09-15T14:34:00.001-04:00

Anthony and Lindsay
September 13th, 2008
Traverse City, MI

I was really excited to photograph Anthony and Lindsay's wedding! I have known Lindsay for a couple of years and knew that her wedding would be really fun! Lindsay has a great personality and has a way of making people smile.
Unfortunately the rain came and stayed throughout the day, but it broke for an hour so that we could get the beach images that they both wanted. I love it when things work out that way.
Thanks Lindsay and Anthony for inviting us to be a part of your wedding. I can't wait for our Trash the Dress session!

Friends near and far

2008-09-12T17:23:00.001-04:00

My friend Allison Watkins of English Photography in Utah was here visiting this week. She came to speak and hold a SNAP for our local group. She was fantastic!
It was so nice having a new friend around to spend some time with. She stayed at my house for the few days she was here so we had lots of time to chat and catch up on things. She inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry and taught me so much. I miss having that connection with people. I spend so much time working that I tend to miss out on a lot of things. My goal this year is to work on those quality relationships that I may have let slip over the years. Don't get me wrong, I love my clients :) Love love love my clients...but what I learned this week is that my family is not only my family, but my friends are my family too. And they need quality time too.
Have you ever had one of those weeks that you just feel not worthy? This was my week to go hide under the covers and never want to come out. It's amazing how God throws people into your life just at the right time. There is a huge list of people that hugged me at the right time, thanked me, and even complimented me when I was feeling the lowest. Thank you to all of you...I think I'm out of my funk!

We have a wedding this weekend in Traverse City and I'm SO looking forward to it!
I'm going to shoot my heart out even if it is supposed to rain...bring out the umbrellas!

Thanks Allison...you saved me :)

Wasps, Skunks and Dog Hitch Hikers

2008-08-23T12:32:00.002-04:00

Man, what a night....
I got home from work last night just to run in and leave again, and when I opened the door there were wasps everywhere! They were swarming in my kitchen and basement!
The previous night Tim had sprayed a nest they had made in the siding of our house. I guess instead of leaving they decided to come in the house :) Yesterday morning, Tim and I saw a couple flying around and we grabbed the vac and swept them up...along with all the dead ones in the window sills. Of course we thought that was the end of it. I took the dog to work just in case. So when we got home and there were around 200 of them flying around...I decided we needed a new plan. Tim is gone for the weekend..so I had to handle it :)
So I went to Home Depot and bought a fogger, came home set 3 of them off, grabbed the dog and my pillow and was off to the in-laws. I had a fun night with the kids, watched a movie and got ready for bed. I took Jake(the dog) out for his potty break and as I was standing by the van, I got a whiff of skunk. "Jake, come here!" No Jake... " Jake COME!" No Jake... So I ran inside and got a flash light and went looking. Finally he came over and yep...he got sprayed! NASTY! And he was supposed to share the bed with me last night. So Jon went to the store and bought some tomato juice and we bathed Jake in a tub that smelled like pasta! It was a pathetic site. I wish I had pics for you...it was funny :) We rinsed him and washed him again with the kids shampoo and he came out smelling like Apples.

I was thinking last night "Usually things happen in 3's, I hope it's only 2 this time." Slept well and when I got up, I took Jake out again. This time he decided to wander. He's was being so bad! He ran across the street and then 2 cars come from both directions. I run out in the street in my PJ's with my hand up yelling STOP like a mad woman and try and grab him. He goes right up to both cars, and stands next to their door like he was trying to hitch a ride...oh my gosh!
Finally, the cars pass and we are heading inside, when he turns around and heads for the road again. There is a car approaching really fast this time and I run as fast as I can screaming NO NO NO! He ran out into the road again and the car luckily sees him and slows down and moves out of his way!
AGGHHH...my heart was racing. I almost cried...#3

Anyway, we made it out alive...the wasps are dead, the dog is not :)

Here are some images from this week. Love these kids!

A little Matilda

2008-08-22T11:44:00.004-04:00

I have way to many favorites from this session to post all of them! Morgan was such a trooper as we hiked all over Old Town last night. I was a little nervous at the beginning thinking about all the people around and how she would react. I don't think she even realized anyone else was around. She has grown up SO much since the last time I saw her.
Her mom is a Matilda Jane Trunk Keeper and she brought THE cutest clothes! If you're interested in having a Matilda Jane Party...click the link above to find out more info!
Thanks Paula for such a great night!

Weekends

2008-08-21T16:18:00.001-04:00

Weekends that run into the week are what life is all about. It's Thursday and it is my first day back from the weekend! Who-hoo that was nice. Spent the past weekend up north again hanging out with the family. We had our nieces and nephew and their parents up to my parents house in Boyne City. We had great weather, some sailing, a Dog show, sand and sun, and even a couple naps. It was great! I had planned on taking a ton of images of the kids, but they were not in the mood. I had to beg Emma to let me take a few images and right before we left...literally 5 mintues before we got in the car to go home she said, "Ok." So I dressed her up and brought her down the hill and did a few images. Then we were on our way home.

The Real Emma

Monday, my friend Lindsay and I went to Chicago to see the Free to Succeed Tour with David Jay and Jasmine Star. They were great as always and I met a ton of new photographer friends. I'm so glad that we went, even though I am completely exhausted today.
I had a session this morning with Miss Gracie who gave me the energy to keep going. There is something about kids that make me feel really energized. It's great!

Sun Bathing

Tonight I have another shoot and I can't wait!

Andrew and his wife Emily and the kids went up to Silver Lake this weekend. Here is a video of their Jeep ride on the dunes! Even baby was strapped in. Enough to make me sick.

Belly Ballerina!

2008-08-13T16:43:00.000-04:00

I just loved this little girl! She was so playful and energetic...she's a climber!
I've had this little tutu for awhile now and haven't had the right little girl for it. Little miss I was the one!
:)

Lindsay + Jason 8.10.08

2008-08-11T15:33:00.003-04:00

A Sunday Wedding:
Location: English Inn
Florist: Petal and Forrest

I love weddings at the English Inn. It is such a beautiful location with gorgeous gardens and stone work. Even without a lot of decor, it is gorgeous. Lindsay and Jason had such a gorgeous wedding. The ladies at Petal and Forrest transformed the reception room with colorful linens, Gerber daisies, pink roses, white orchids, and hydrangea arrangements. Candles lined the polka dot and striped cake as well as the head table.
As the 5 piece band set up and the last orchids were hung, the bride and groom got ready in their separate cottages. The guys sat back and relaxed watching the Olympics, while the ladies got their hair and make-up done. We started the pre-wedding photos and watched as the clouds started rolling in. Really, the day was perfect besides the slight breeze.
Lindsay and Jason were exchanging rings when the sprinkles began. We were lightly rained on, but not enough to make anyone run for cover. By the time they sealed their marriage with a kiss, the rain had lifted and the guests made it back inside for hour's devours.
During the reception we stole the bridal party and had a little fun! Lindsay and Jason...this is for you!
We hope you two have a great honeymoon!

A proud Aunt

2008-08-08T11:39:00.000-04:00

Ok, I'm become the queen of posting blogs about my nephew Parker. Let the count down begin to when he and Jonathan and Kristin will be here to visit for a week!
Here is an awesome video of Kristin's brother teaching Parker the drums...
How cute is he?

Beautiful night

2008-08-07T17:58:00.000-04:00

We went out to a clients house last night and it was such a great night. Their neighborhood is one of those that is like something you would see in a movie. All the families are out together, playing and chatting. It was nice to see that there are still places like that.
Andrew and I had fun running after each of the kids, chasing the fire engine, and barking at the dogs :)
Sounds fun doesn't it!

The Fracker Vocal Studio

2008-08-07T15:03:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I have to tell you about this show I went to last night! One of our fabulous Seniors invited me to come to her show at MSU Wonders Kiva last night and it was fantastic! So funny and witty and the singing was great! I highly recommend it. There are two more nights of this production...tonight and tomorrow night at 7pm. The show is free, but donations are accepted...hint hint :)
Leave a big tip...they derserve it!
Great Job Elizabeth!

Up North Weekend

2008-08-05T16:25:00.002-04:00

Tim and I went Up North this weekend to just relax. It was a gorgeous weekend with great weather. I had planned on having more images from this weekend, expecially our sailing trip, but I got really sea sick and let's just say the camera didn't make it's way out of the case. :(
So the trees and the dogs where the only things that got photographed this time.

Our first newsletter is at the printers, and I think we are going to have a few extra...if you would like to be on our mailing list, just send me a quick email with your address, and I will send you one.
There are lots of special events coming to you this year!
Just a few are:
Beach Dates: August 17th and 18th! Sign up now!
Dog and Cats: August 27th and 28th: Raising dog food for the Humane Society
Limited Edition Sessions for kids: All thru the year!

Have a great day everyone!

Sweet Dreams

2008-08-01T15:42:00.001-04:00

This is little Madison! I met her a few mintues after she arrived at the hospital and she is so precious. Look at her little dimple! She's been smiling since she first saw mommy and daddy's faces. It was such a pleasure to see her and her parents again a couple weeks later. She is getting so big already!

Have a great weekend everyone! Heading up north for the gorgeous weekend :)

She loves her mommy and daddy...look at her stare at them!

Steam Show Weekend

2008-07-28T10:50:00.000-04:00

The Steam Show was great...we had great weather and a lot of people came out! I even saw a couple of you there! Here are some images from the show!

Making progress!

2008-07-24T11:59:00.002-04:00

We almost have a road! Yeah! Any of you who have visited the studio in the past few months have seen the mess out front! Well they are putting down the final layer of black top as we speak! We can't tell you how happy we will be when they get this done. Thank you all for being flexible with parking!

Last night I went out to see my family out in Mason, and although I went out there to photograph my husband and his steam engine (more about that later) I ended up photographing the kids instead! We only were out there a minute before the mosquitoes started eating us, but I managed to shoot off a few images before the kids ran back into the house. Here is Emma, Alex and Livie..they are growing up so fast!
Emma was not happy she had to go inside..she wanted to ride her 4-wheeler!

Alex usually runs away from me when he sees me coming! :) He kept his distance that's for sure :)
Ready to run me over!

Livie was tired of the bugs getting her!

Steam Show:

This Friday - Sunday at the Mason Steam Grounds off of Barnes Road Exit from 127. Turn left on Hull road and follow the signs for parking!
The steam show is something Tim and I do every year...is it dirty, hot and a little bit Country...YES! Wear clothes that you would do yard work in because it's dusty and dirty out there. But, it's a fun time. If you have kids that love tractors, this is a great place to come for the day. Kids under 12 are free, and tickets for adults are only 5 bucks! Come on out and step back into time... :)

My Nephew..Parker

2008-07-22T12:52:00.000-04:00

I thought I would share an image from by brothers blog of my cutie nephew Parker! A lot of you have been asking about him so here he is...the best smile ever!
They are coming to visit this September and I'm going to take the whole week off to spend some time with them! :) I can't wait to hug and kiss this little guy!

Stephanie + David 7.12.08

2008-07-21T16:50:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Stephanie and David! It seems like every wedding we photograph has certain moments that I will always talk about, and this wedding for me was the ceremony. This was such a God filled wedding from start to finish, but the ceremony was the most touching. From the very beginning as the guests were being seated, the music began. Stephanie and David had a band play throughout the entire wedding. For the first 10 minutes or so, they played worship songs and the whole congregation sang out. I couldn't help but sing as I photographed :) Then as a suprise, David left the side of Stephanie and went to the piano. As he began to sing a song long awaited by the bride..she began to cry and laugh at the same time. It was a very sweet moment.
The reception was like being on a movie set as each song played, guests would drag over a friend and begin to dance a familiar dance...such as Love Shack or Thriller! It was a though they had been rehearsing for weeks :) It reminded me of "13 Going on 30" as they joined in for the Michael Jackson song! It was great!

Steph and David...thank you for such a wonderful night of praising, love and laughter! Have a great Honeymoon!

An Amazing Experience

2008-07-18T18:13:00.001-04:00

Being a photographer is great, the people that I meet and the things that I experience is the real reason I love what I do! This week was the perfect example of that. I was asked by a fellow photographer, Jason Aten, to photograph the birth of their first baby! I got called around 9:30pm on Tuesday night and went to the hospital around 1am. Beth's was doing great and I thought this was going to be a quick labor...I was wrong :)
24 hours and 6 minutes later baby Madison was born! She is gorgeous! She was born July 16th at 7:57pm 8lbs 12oz 20.5 inches She is a lucky baby..she has a wonderful family that loves her so much! We all cried and cheered when we heard the news! It was surreal. Here are a few images from that day!
Congratulations Beth and Jason! You guys are the best!

Tired!

2008-07-15T16:50:00.001-04:00

This is about how I feel today...tired. The low after the high. Yesterday, I had the greatest opportunity to spend the day with my favorite photographer David Jay. He came up to Michigan to speak to our state group and he was fantastic! We were all very inspired and motivated after his program. I just can't thank him enough for taking the time to come here and speak to us. He traveled a day and a half to get here, with delayed and canceled flights, and still had a smile on his face as he came off the plane.
After the program, we got to hang out a bit and I was a little chatty :) Maybe a little nervous...I just felt like I had this one chance to talk with the person in this industry that I admire the most. Needless to say, I learned a lot and I hope to someday have another chance to sit and have him talk a little too :)

DJ, thank you once again for being so gracious and generous!

Megan + Andrew 7.5.08

2008-07-11T14:00:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since I've updated the blog...it's summer and we are busy busy! Senior season is in full swing, and we are working hard on getting a lot of special sessions going and even a fund raiser for Mans Best Friend :)
You will be hearing a lot about those in the weeks to come!

I wanted to share this wedding from last weekend. Megan and Andrew are such a great couple. They have such a heart for people and it shows by the people that surrounded them on their wedding day. Their reception was a celebration and a going away party for them as they were heading out Monday for their move to Texas.
Here are just a few of the great images from their wedding. Megan and Andrew...thank you for having us as a part of your special day and letting be in the presence of such wonderful people!

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You will be missed!

2008-06-24T14:40:00.001-04:00

This family is everything I hope my family will be someday! Fun, silly, loving, carefree, comfortable, exciting and many more things. This was our farewell session unfortunately, as they have just made the move to Colorado! This is a great opportunity for them and I know that they are going to love it out there! How could you not...it's gorgeous!
As we were saying our goodbyes, their oldest continued to give me hugs and kisses. On her last hug, she told me to open my hand. As I held it out, she kissed the palm of my hand, then folded my fingers in and said "Now you can keep it forever" Agghh...stole my heart and made me melt.
Thank you "M" family for making us a part of your lives for these past 5 years. We will cherish the memories we have with you and miss you dearly!

Me and the girls!

Weekend at the Lake

2008-06-16T11:31:00.000-04:00

Tim and I went out to Gun Lake this weekend where our friends have a lake house. We had a very relaxing and fun weekend! We were blessed with the most amazing weather. A perfect day to take the boat out and spend time sitting in the sun.
We also had breathtaking sunsets...here are a few. They just kept getting better and better.

My Dear Friend...

2008-06-09T12:20:00.000-04:00

My friend Julia was married yesterday in a beautiful wedding ceremony at Eagle Eye Golf Course. The ceremony was outside and it concluded just in time before a major storm hit! Julia married the local weather man Rob, and he was lovin' it! As they were getting their wedding pictures taken, the storm came in. They had lighting, rain clouds and a tornado warning all in a matter of mintues! I know it sounds different...but it was a weather man's dream to have all that weather variety on his wedding day! :)
Julia was such a beautiful and elegant bride. Just how I imaged she would be. And don't forget the flower girl Hannah! She was SO great! She has been practicing the twirl around Cha Cha for months! When the DJ announced that she was going to do it...Hannah had the best expression on her face. It was priceless!
Great wedding and a great couple! May God bless your marriage!
Love you both!

Back and Busy!

2008-06-03T12:58:00.000-04:00

Well I've been back for about a week and I haven't once updated the blog! Sorry..I've been slacking in the area. :(
My vacation was nice...not so nice weather...but very relaxing...just what I needed.

It's been a very full couple days here as we jump into Senior season. Our schedule is starting to fill up! Let the fun begin! Check out out Senior website for details on our SALE that ends June 13th!

We are starting something new this year with our Kids too! We will be hosting some mini special sessions every month until December and we are really excited about it! Be on the look out for a "Specials" card in your mailbox and more information on the website as well.
We are also in process of updating our website. It is long overdue and I can't wait! Our goal is to be able to post more information and larger images! As well as private galleries just for you!

Also, our Doggie Special will be coming VERY soon so be on the lookout for details with that as well! I can't wait to photograph all the pets..It's going to be a riot!

Vacation!

2008-05-17T17:05:00.000-04:00

I am going up north for my "before the chaos" vacation with my hubby :) Last year we did this at the same time of year and it was amazing how much better I felt going into the busy season. Summer can get overwhelming sometimes, so it's good to rest and prepare yourself for the long days ahead.

I'll see you when I get back!
P.S. The studio is still open of course! :)

Relay for Life!

2008-05-16T16:17:00.002-04:00

The Relay for Life walk just started today at 3pm. Barb and I went down there to see some of the people that we knew and I was very moved by what I saw. This is the first event like this that I have been to, and it was moving. It's a gorgeous day, the sun is out and it's not too hot. There are tents all around the St. Johns High School track, banners with faces to remember, T-shirts with names of those we honor and those that have survived.

I went to see the middle school kids. They have worked very hard to honor Kelsey's life. They have dedicated a corner in their school in honor of Kelsey, and today they walk to honor her. These girls are amazing, and with smiles on their faces they all walked together around the track holding a banner with their cherished friend's images on it. The thing that gets me is that every person walking around that track has a story too. I am just thankful that there are so many people that are willing to share their stories and remember and honor those that have passed. They are not forgotten.

Indiana!!!

2008-05-09T11:45:00.001-04:00

I can't wait for this movie to come out! We watched all 3 of the originals just to get ready! I hope it's good!

That gives me the chills:)

What a Mess!

2008-04-18T17:45:00.000-04:00

This is what the front of our studio looks like right now! Hopefully they get a lot done over the weekend!

Enjoy the great weather!

It's a caffeine world

2008-04-12T13:59:00.000-04:00

I was at Rite Aid a minute ago and while I was checking out, saw the most ridiculous thing ever....Snickers has now added caffeine to their candy bar!
Like there is not enough sugar in that to make you go crazy, now there's caffeine!
Wow, we are a very sad sad group of people :)
So now, we can wake up, have our pot of coffee. Drive to work and get a Starbucks.
Get to work and have another pot of coffee. Have lunch and drink a HUGE Coke with it. Then, have a 3:00 Energy Drink for that pick me up and NOW have a candy bar filled with extra caffeine too! Then after a long day at work, we need our headache meds filled with caffeine to make our headache go away. Then we wonder why we can't sleep at night!

I'm guilty too...I'm not trying to preach here. I have been trying to ween myself off of Dr. Pepper for over a year now. And although I am getting better (maybe 3 a week) I still have a hard time passing one up. :) I just think we need to work harder at getting ourselves healthier and our kids! At least we can help teaching our kids some good eating habits...right!

So next time you reach in the fridge for something cold to drink...grab a water!
It'll do the body good! :)

Oh WAIT! This has caffeine too!

This little piggy...

2008-04-08T12:03:00.000-04:00

Miss "C" brought in her 4 little pigs over today and they were so cute! And of course so was she :) They watched Miss "C" get her pictures taken and kept her company while she walked around gathering everything in her site :) I love 2 year olds because they live in their own little world. And you NEVER know what you're going to get!
:)

She's a cutie!

2008-04-03T18:19:00.000-04:00

Our studio neighbor has the cutest little dog and I asked him over today to do a shoot! It was a quick little session, maybe 10 minutes, but we got the cutest images! Reese here is probably going to be our poster girl for our Dog Promotion!
Coming soon this summer! Be on the lookout!

Is it EVER going to stop!

2008-03-28T17:56:00.000-04:00

Rain, rain go away....I think they have it wrong!
Last night I leave work around 8:30 and my car was covered with snow, the roads were terrible and of course the skies were grey as always! I'm hoping that was our last snow of the year...please!
Today though, the snow is melting away and the sun is shining! YEAH!
I wanted to share this snow session with you! This little one loves the snow and braved the cold way better then I! What a trooper!
Have a great weekend everyone!

Puppies Please!

2008-03-24T13:50:00.001-04:00

I need some puppies to photograph! :) "Funny" you may say to yourself. I didn't know you photographed dogs, I thought just kids! Well, I do love photographing kids and babies, but as most of you know, my baby is a 100lb chocolate lab Jake and this Spring I am going to be photograph dogs and cats to help supply the CAHS with food for their animals.
There will be more info on that later! But for now, if you have a new puppy or kitten, I would love it if you would call me or email me. I need some images for advertising purposes :)
Thanks

Update: I have all the pups I need...Thanks everyone!

Easter Weekend

2008-03-21T17:09:00.000-04:00

I hope that everyone has a great Easter weekend! I guess we will be searching for Easter eggs in the snow this year! Craziness! I don't know about you, but I am ready for warmer weather...enough of this snow stuff :)

Here's a little man that I photographed yesterday! He is such a cutie! He is a strong little 8 month old. He was showing off his WALKING skills to me during our session and I just couldn't believe it!

Home Show

2008-03-13T16:48:00.000-04:00

Andrew and I will be at the Home Show tonight thru Sunday at the MSU Pavilion!
Come and see us! We have tons of new things to show you..new albums, images boxes, and the best part...these awesome new frames! I know you're going to love them!
We even have a special SHOW ONLY coupon that is worth your drive to the show. Just ask us for one...while supplies last of course! :)

Here is a little teaser of things to see!

Parker is here!

2008-03-07T14:45:00.000-05:00

Parker was born February 26th at 8lbs and 5oz. I can't wait to meet him and am hoping to get down to Austin in the next few weeks! My brother and his wife are enjoying their time with Parker, not sleeping and sitting looking at him all day! Ahhh....the joys of a new born!
YEAH, I'm an Aunt!

Long weekend

2008-02-26T20:28:00.000-05:00

I had a great weekend, even though it seemed to last forever! :) Saturday was the Matilda Jane Party and we had a blast! I want to thank Paula for being a fantastic host and bringing the cutest clothes over to our party! I hope everyone that attended had a great time!

Sunday, I had to get the studio ready for the 16 or so photographers that came over for our first SNAP workshop! It was a huge success and I am looking forward to actually attending one next time! We had the most patient set of kids I've ever seen and I can't thank the parents of those fabulous kids enough! You all saved me at the last minute and I owe you one BIG TIME! Thank you!
Here are a few pics from the SNAP event...as you can see, the kids did great!

I am trying to leave tonight to get home, because again it's snowing and the roads are terrible. Amy if you are reading, your images are almost up!!!! I'm so close!
Goodnight all:)

Matilda Jane This weekend!

2008-02-22T10:20:00.001-05:00

We still have room for the Matilda Jane Party! Go see their new website...click here. So stop over between the times 1:30 and 4:30 in Old Town, Lansing at Perspective 2.
Hopefully we'll see you there!

Waiting for Parker

2008-02-20T14:13:00.000-05:00

My new nephew is on his way any day now and I am dying to hear the news that he has been born! His name is going to be Parker Scott and I know he's going to be the cutest little thing! His due date is today, and I had a dream last night that he was born...so I'm hoping for today! I'm sure mom and dad are ready too!

I'll keep you posted!

OLD TOWN

2008-02-18T15:18:00.000-05:00

I was down at Old Town, Lansing again this weekend, hanging out with me friend Christina. I just have to say, that I love being here. It has such a great feel! There are some great shops and it looks like there are even more moving in as we speak.
Store #1 October Moon

This store has a vintage flair with unique gifts and scents. My favorite item in this store are the Petunia Pickle Bottom bags! Oh My Gosh! If you don't have one, you have toget one! I would get one, even though I don't have kids! These bags are specially designed for the hip mom that wants something stylish to put those bulky baby wipes and diapers in.
The designs are beautiful and colorful! There is even a changing pad in the bag that is attached and easily accesable. SO CUTE!

Store #2 Polka Dots Bead-a-full Boutique

This store is super fun! They have beautiful beads and specialty gifts. This is a great place to sit down with a friend and make some jewelry! It has a very relaxed setting and VERY nice staff that are willing to help you with your creations!

Store #3 Grace
I forgot my camera this day...sorry no pic:(
The name says it all! This store is all about Grace. They have gorgeous clothing, their jewelry is to die for and you can even do a private shopping day with your friends that includes champagne!

So, after you come to the Matilda Jane party on Saturday from 2:30 to 4:30 I strongly suggest you walk around Old Town and visit these stores! I'll see you Saturday...don't forget to RSVP!

It's time again!

2008-02-11T19:31:00.000-05:00

We are having another Matilda Jane party and you're invited! Our very own Paula Wilcox is now a trunk keeper, and we have scouted out a location for this Premiere Party of the new Spring line for 08! I've seen a sneak peak of the clothes and they are to die for! Can't wait to see the rest of them!
We are relocating the party this year to OLD TOWN, Lansing! They just got a business make-over from IKEA and we felt this place had just the FEEL for the new clothing line! Join us at Perspective 2 from 2:30 to 4:30 on February 23rd!
I know, it's coming up fast! So give me a call and make your reservation quick!
You don't want to miss this one!
Invites will be in the mail this week! If you would like one, just send me a quick email and I'll put you on the list! Please RSVP, we are limiting our party to 30 people!

Can't wait to see you there!

Snow Day!

2008-02-07T15:39:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was crazy weather! I hope everyone had safe travels and didn't have to be anywhere important. Today, the schools are closed, and everyone spent their morning shoveling, scraping and piling up the snow!
Be safe!

Home Sweet Home v2.

2008-02-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

We have been all over since the New Year! I am happy to say that we are home and here to stay! :) It felt so nice to sleep in my own bed, see my husband and see my dog Jake! Home Sweet Home...I know now why they say that!

Andrew, Emily, Tim and I went to Cincinatti to celebrate with our friends Angela and Scott for their wedding! It was so gorgeous and intimate. Angela just built a brand new studio and it is amazing! I was extremely jealous...in a good way! Her studio is called Essenza, you can click here to see her website. The ceremony was very sweet, emotional and funny! All the ingredents you need for a great wedding. The food was catered in and it was to die for! Pasta stations, wedding soup shooters, wine and wedding cake! We were very full to say the least!

On Sunday, we went across the river to Kentucky to see some our photography friends at their state convention. We love the people of Kentucky! It was great to see everyone again! We got home Sunday night, late and then Andrew and I left again Tuesday EARLY morning to fly to Vegas!

Vegas was really nice. The weather was cool but pleasant and the people of PMA were very welcoming. PMA is Photo Marketing Association and they hired us to come speak on Wednesday. So Tuesday, Andrew and I walked around, ate great food and went and saw a show. We also got ready for our program since we didn't have a lot of time before then to get our presentation into the computer. Everything went very well, and we were happy to meet so many great photographers!

We flew home Wednesday afternoon, got home at 2:30 in the morning, came to work for 8hours and then unpacked, repacked and were off to PPM(our state convention)! Just writing about it makes me tired!
Our convention was great, and I learned so much! We love going to convention because it prepares us for a new year. We learn new ways to improve our business, new photography styles and gives us a chance to see all of our friends!

Andrew did very well at print competition this year, as always. I didn't even have a chance to enter this year. Maybe next time. Andrew came away with, Michigan 4 for 4, Michigan Photographers Award of Excellence, and 3 Court of Honor Awards!
Way to go Andrew!

Our friend Jaime, who went with us to PPA, also won a $500 cash prize which was really exciting!!

Connie and Jaime at the Banquet

So now it's snowing like crazy and all of our appointments have canceled for the day.
I would too if I were you! It's nasty out there!
So be safe and stay off the roads if possible!

Home Sweet Home

2008-02-06T10:42:00.000-05:00

We are back and I have so much to write about!
Look back later today for all our travel stories!

Birthday bash!

2008-01-16T18:13:00.000-05:00

Today was 1 year birthday day! We had two little boys turning one in today and we had a great time! There is cake everywhere! :) There is nothing like watching a little boy tear into a cake! I was laughing so hard I almost missed the shot!
Next time, I'll remember my video camera so you can see the mess!

I also had the most prescious little baby girl over this morning. She has those great big eyes and the best little lips. Oh, I just loved her!

Welcome back!

2008-01-14T13:42:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! We have been very busy since the New Year has come around. We got back from our Holiday break, had 3 days of major computer problems and then left again to go to Florida for our National Convention! Convention was a great time, but I knew when we got back that I was going to have to deal with my computer.
Our amazing computer genius, TIM, helped us out yet again and he happened to save my computer without losing anything! YEAH! So, now we are just behind a little with orders because we couldn't do anything for over a week! So bare with us, I am trying to get caught up. :)

Florida PPA Highlights!
We had a great week with gorgeous weather! This was my first time to Florida and Tampa was a great place to start. Andrew, Emily and my friend Jamie and I traveled together. During the flight, Emily and Jamie and I chatted the whole time while Andrew slept. It made the 2 1/2 hour flight go by quick! We had a great view from our hotel and roamed around Tampa much of the first day.

The next few days were jam packed. We got up every morning for a 7am program and went to programs till 12:30. Then lunch, trade show and more programs. It was tiring, but we learned so much! We found so many new products that we are going to add to our line! We are very excited for you to see those!

My parents flew down to come to my celebration dinner and watch me get my Craftsmen degree. I was very happy that they were there. Some of our good friends from all over joined us for dinner as well!

Of course, Andrew had his fair share of awards too. He won the 2nd place Kodak Gallery Award and the ASP Bronze Medallion Award! Both very highly coveted awards!

We spent some time at our Lab Burrell's booth. They had a great place set up to relax and have a cup of coffee. That was much appreciated, since we were all dead tired. Before we left, we got our copy of an article that Andrew had written about our studio! It's always great to see you're work published!

The last night was the night that I got my degree. My friend Debbie Trombly got her Master's degree and I was honored to be her sponsor.

Andrew of course was my sponsor. I wouldn't have been able to get this degree without him. While we were on stage in front of a room full of people, Andrew pulled out the camera and took a picture of me! It was great!

Afterward we celebrated with all our friends and had a great night!

PPA is always such a great time. We get to see so many of our friends and meet new ones too! It's like a huge family reunion!
We look forward to next year!

Enjoy the Holidays!!

2007-12-21T17:01:00.000-05:00

Well, it's 5:01pm on Friday and I'm headed out the door!
We have finished another year and we just wanted to say THANK YOU for making this year so great! We have some wonderful memories that we will always carry in our hearts. Thank you for allowing us to share those priceless moments of your lives!
We will treasure them!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Jackie, Andrew, Barb and Penny!

A little holiday cheer

2007-12-14T12:42:00.000-05:00

This family has been in a lot over the years, and they happen to be good friends of mine. You probably recognize the two older girls. They grace our children's gallery with their beautiful faces. Well, now they hav new addition to the family.
She is following in the footsteps of her sisters...beautiful and a ham. :)

The Canfield Jenkins Elves are working hard to get everything to you by Christmas!
We are praying for no winter storms between now and next Friday so that all our orders get here on time. Friday the 21st will be our last day before the Holidays and then we will be back January 2nd.
Click here to see the elves dance!!

I hope everyone has a great next couple weeks...don't let the shopping madness get to you. Show a little love and give an unexpected smile...that goes a long way :)

In memory

2007-12-09T14:36:00.000-05:00

Kelsey lost her battle with cancer Tuesday, December 4th.
All week last week I was trying to come up with the right words to say and couldn't come up with anything.
And everytime I tried to blog, I would open and close it because there were too many emotions to put one thought together.
My husband and I went to her funeral on Saturday and it was beautiful. There were many many people there that Kelsey and her family have impacted. There wasn't a dry eye in the church. But, as we sang and listened to the words of the pastor, a peace came over me and others as well.
Kelsey will live in all the lives that she touched. We smile at the fact that she is with the Lord. She is laughing, singing, dancing and horse back riding again. She is surrounded by love and no longer in pain.
I know that I will always remember the graceful, elegant little girl that stood on point waiting for me to take her picture. She is strong, sweet, loving and beautiful. I am thankful that I knew her and have learned so much about life from her and her family.
To her family, you're strength and dedication are inspiring. We will all continue to pray for you and our hearts are with you always.

Simplify

2007-11-28T19:29:00.000-05:00

I have been finding lately that I am so drawm to images that are super simple. I have been to the Gap many many times over the past couple months, just to look at the images on the walls. SIMPLE... very much so.
One of the things I like to do every year is go back and see how my work has changed.
It's very interesting to me, the journey that an artists takes. If you look at musicians..you can see how their style changes through each album. Each song is a brief part of their life that has left a mark. And sometimes it can be dark and cold, and sometimes it can be brilliant and happy.
I guess what I've noticed these last few months is, the stuff doesn't matter that much. I still like photographing with "things" in the image, but at the same time, there is something about just the person in the photograph. It's about them, not the stuff.
What I will remember about this year is how my view on life has changed. My question to myself has changed to "Is this really important?" If it isn't, I try not to waste too much time on it. If it is, well, I will put all my heart into it.

Christmas gift of the day: Give hugs and kisses! Spend time with family. Date nights with your spouse. Special nights with your kids.

Speaking of time with family...it's time I head home!
:}

Rock Star

2007-11-27T13:15:00.000-05:00

I think this is the game of Christmas! Everyone I know is asking for this game including my husband. And I thought having real guitars and amps was good enough :)
Pick this up now while you still can!

Games

2007-11-26T10:59:00.000-05:00

If you're a game person, here are some games you have to have! Loaded Questions is a great game when you have a group of people over. Get ready to have tons of laughs!
Apples to Apples is a great family game too! And of course a family favorite..Catch Phrase! This game is so portable because it doesn't have any cards or pieces. Just make sure you have some batteries! Pass this game around the circle of friends and laugh all night long :) This is a intense game, but very fun!

You can order these games from Amazon
or grab one when you are at Target...or at the mall at the game kiosk.

Stay warm!

Peace of Mind

2007-11-25T15:09:00.000-05:00

This $10 gift is great for those of you who are stressed out! Isn't that everyone?
This is from Origins
Just dab a small amount on your temples and neck and relax! Relaxation in a bottle...what will they come up with next!

A stocking stuffer

2007-11-24T10:25:00.000-05:00

Lush
is a place my friend and I stumbled upon during the light parade in Chicago last year. These are all natural soaps and hair products that are in solid form. We were watching the parade thru their windows and felt a little guilty, so we bought some of their products. And you know what...? They are great. The solid shampoo I bought has lasted forever! And you can get a really cool little tin for it to go in. It's great to take with you when you're traveling, or to the gym!

You can order online, or there are a few stores around Michigan.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-23T12:49:00.000-05:00

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know I am full and tired! We spent part of the day eating and resting and the other part of the day eating and resting, and then in the evening we watched tv, ate some more and rested again!
That's what I like to call a perfect Thanksgiving day! :)

Today is also a day of relaxing. But knowing that the rest of the year is rush rush rush in the photography business, I am taking the day to catch up on things at home. Laundry, dishes, cleaning and maybe even giving the dog a bath. Sounds fun huh?

For those of you who are out shopping and running around today I wish you well. I hope the deals are worth the lines and crowds. I try to avoid the big shopping day at all costs!
But I have been searching around for cool gifts online. For the nest couple weeks, I will try to post at least one great gift idea a day to help you out this Holiday season!
So here's the first!

This is a great gift for those of us that are always on the computer. I know I have sticky notes and list everywhere. And most of the time I can't find anything!
So this is a mouse pad and paper list all in one! What a great idea, and it's under $10!!! Can't beat that! Order it here.

2007-11-20T18:03:00.000-05:00

Our deepest fear is not that we're inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
-Marianne Williamson

1/2 a dozen

2007-11-19T16:17:00.000-05:00

Every year I look forward to Christmas time. One reason is because we get to see some of our favorite clients walk thru the door wanting Christmas pictures! This family is no exception to this. Andrew and I look forward to seeing them every year! There are 6 girls and they are all so cooperative and sweet! And they have gotten this photography thing DOWN!
This year they went casual, and we had a great time! Smiles all around!
Merry Christmas girls..or should I say Thanksgiving first:)

5 Already!

2007-11-15T13:16:00.000-05:00

Today is my niece's birthday! Emma turns 5, can you believe it? It has been a quick five years, and she is such an amazing girl. We had Emma over last weekend for a fun night and a sleep over. We went bowling, out to eat and watched Ratatoulli until we fell asleep. We woke up, ate pancakes and went to church. It was a great time!
I could handle that... :)

Happy Birthday Emma...love ya kiddo!

Go Vote!

2007-11-08T14:13:00.000-05:00

No this is not a political blog...we are having a Senior Scavenger Hunt picture contest on the other blog! Go to www.canfieldjenkins2.blogspot.com and vote for your favorite set of images!
:)

Belly Laugh!

2007-11-05T12:05:00.001-05:00

I love it when babies laugh! Check out this video!
:)

A heavy heart

2007-11-03T13:52:00.000-04:00

For those of you that are praying for Kelsey, I want to thank you! Please continue with your prayers for her and her family. I just wanted to post up the link to her blog so that you could keep up on what's going on with her.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Kelsey_Bauman/

Kelsey has impacted so many people. I can't even tell you how much I have learned from her. Strength, courage, love, bravery, just to name a few.
To her parents...I admire you both. God has blessed your family, regardless of the situation. May he give you peace and love everyday.

TGIF!

2007-11-02T17:15:00.000-04:00

Today is Friday and I couldn't be happier! It has been a very long week! We have had so many different types of sessions this week..families, Christmas, babies, outdoor, indoor, Seniors etc. It has been crazy but FUN! I am looking forward to a girls night in tonight where I am getting a massage! I can't wait for that! I don't think I have had a massage since college! It has been a while!

This little one-year-old stole my heart this week! We had such a great time with her! She had the best personality, so many expressions! She also has the best parents around who love her dearly! Thank you both for bringing her in! And thank you BOTH for coming to the session! I'm sure that was a session you will not soon forget:)

Have a great weekend!

Let the Holidays begin!

2007-10-29T10:10:00.000-04:00

I got to photograph these girls last year for Christmas and we had so much fun throwing snow! This year we went a little more stylish. I went out and bought scarves, hats, ear muffs...the whole winter works! I couldn't ask for better models!
Thanks girls!!

Pray

2007-10-25T18:30:00.000-04:00

If you are reading this, I ask you to pray. Pray for healing for this young girl. Pray for her family, pray for her pain to go away, pray for total healing. Pray everyday, pray for the life that she still needs to live. Pray that her cancer will go away. Pray for Kelsey.
Thank you

Christmas is on it's way!

2007-10-23T18:08:00.000-04:00

I know it's not even Halloween yet, but the Holidays usually get crazy around here. Why not get things done early this year! Book your Christmas session now!

Christmas is an amazing time of year, and with all the stores stocking up early, there are plenty of props to go and buy! I think last year I was at Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's everyday. What I like to do is customize each session so that your cards aren't like anyone elses. Last year we had a bed with cookies and milk, stars hanging from the ceiling, snow falling from the sky, pajama parties and formal dress portraits! It's great to have all that variety! It keeps me from pulling my hair out doing the same thing over and over!
So, when you call about Christmas portraits, let us know what you will be wearing and what you have in mind. I will try to go out and find the perfect setting.
:)

A good book

2007-10-16T16:15:00.000-04:00

My friend and fellow photographer Juliet Jarmosco has been educating me on better health. I went to a seminar on Growing Healthy Kids this weekend and it was very informative. I know no one likes to hear about how bad things are for us (especially my family) but I have been getting a wake up call lately so I thought I would share a book with you.

It's called Eat Healthy and Feel Great. It's a childrens book targeted at teaching them why they should eat healthy foods. I don't know about you, but it's hard enough to get kids to eat, let alone get them to eat well.
Just thought you might like this. You can order it at www.amazon.com or see the copy here at the studio!

Trash the Dress?

2007-10-10T19:06:00.000-04:00

You're probably asking "What the heck is trash the dress?" Well it's exactly that. You photograph a bride in her dress (preferably after the wedding) in places that you wouldn't normally. The beauty of it is, you don't have to be careful about getting the dress dirty. Which is great! I have been wanting to do this for a while now, but haven't had the chance. Until Now!
Andrew and I were up to Boyne City the beginning of this week at our PPM Fall Seminar. We went to 3 seminars and hung out with all our photography friends. It was a great time!
Sunday evening I went out to dinner with some friends, and we decided we wanted to do trash the dress. With 30 minutes of light left, we drove out to the beach, grabbed an old wedding dress I've had for awhile, and dressed our friend Lindsay.
She was a great sport. She was tired from the night before, no make-up and hair just loose. She put her hair up, pinched her cheeks pink, and we put a little color on her lips and she was ready to go!

My friends Deb Trombley and Juliet Jarmosco photographed too. It was like the paparazzi! Lindsay look here, over here! :)

Luckily, the water was VERY shallow, so it wasn't too cold. But try having a wedding dress on, with 4 layers of fabric and getting in the water. It was very heavy and a little clingy. She was a little cold by the end!
Lindsay, thank you so much for being our model! You are beautiful!

Here are a few of the images we did!

No, this wasn't MY wedding dress. I had bought this way before then just to use.
It's always good to have a wedding dress on hand. You never know when you might need it!:)

So, did we actually trash the dress? I thought so. There was so much sand in it!
But I rinsed it out, and hung it to dry and amazingly enough, it came out pretty good. Just a little dirty. I guess we'll have to try again :)

Another baby boy in the family!

2007-10-04T11:07:00.000-04:00

No, it's not me:) My younger brother Jonathan and his wife Kristin are expecting!
They found out yesterday that they are having a boy! We are all very excited! The first Duke baby in the family.
Congratulations guys!

Look at that profile! How Cute!

Proud Parents: Jonathan and Kristin

Birthdays!

2007-09-29T16:50:00.000-04:00

We have had a lot of birthdays around here lately! Barb (who works in the office) just turned ? this week and thanks to Ashleigh, we had an amazing ice cream cake!
My hubby Tim, turned 32 in August and his brother turned 31 in September and his wife Mandy turned 30 in September too! Just one week from each other!
Here's a video of Emma...

She cracks herself up!

Emma and her brother have birthdays coming up as well...I tell ya, I'm caked out :)