Belly Laugh!

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

A heavy heart

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!

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!

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

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!

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

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?

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!

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!

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 :)

The Last Date :)

I was at a restaurant this weekend with my husband Tim, and the booth behind us was on a First Date. Do you remember first dates? Sometimes they can be great, and sometimes NOT. This one I would classify in the NOT category from the way the conversation was going. I thought I would share a little of the conversation we overheard.

GUY: So, what do you like to read?
GIRL: I like autobiography books and poetry. How about you?
Guy: Well, I don't get to read much..but I have ALL of the STAR WARS books ever written!
GIRL: Oh.
GUY: Are you close with your family?
GIRL: I'm an only child. But yes, we're close. You?
GUY: My family is crazy! I have like 40 cousins!
GIRL: Good Lord! 40 cousins!
GUY: Yeah, and now some of them are having Kids and it's nuts!
GIRL: Kids are great!
GUY: Kids are evil!
GIRL: WHAT! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
GUY: No, who would want kids!
GIRL:
GUY: So, should I just meet you at the movies?
GIRL: yeah. Where's the restroom?
GUY: over there.

Girl goes to the restroom
Guy leaves and goes to the movies
Girl comes out and looks for guy...realizes that he left
Girl roles her eyes and leaves!

I don't miss first dates like that...do you?

A Little R & R

What are you going to do this weekend?

Every Friday, as we pack out to head home for the weekend, we all share what our plans are. Anyone going up north? Going out with friends or family? Is Andrew showing his house to anyone? Anyone going to mow the lawn and start raking the leaves? How about go on a date with that special someone?
Every once in awhile someone says "nothing". And every time someone says "Nothing" in that disappointed voice... I think...nothing sounds great!

Nothing planned means that your options are wide open! Maybe I'll go shopping! Maybe I'll finish cleaning out the basement and painting the office! Maybe I'll take the dog out for a swim! Or maybe I'll sleep late and then go out for breakfast with the hubby:) So next time you have nothing planned for a weekend...say a big THANK YOU and enjoy doing everything!

Have a great weekend everyone!

DELIGHT!

Seize the moment! Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.
-Erma Bombeck

9.8.07

MATTHEW + MARYKAY

Last weekend was Matthew and Marykay's wedding! I have to say, and Andrew is in total agreement, that you two are the most sincere, gentle, grateful and humble people that we have ever met. I feel so blessed to have been a part of your wedding day. Both of you have amazing families and friends.
I was at the reception, and the coordinator came up to me and said " Isn't this couple the nicest bride and groom you have ever met? They are so calm and collected. "

Matthew and Marykay... you have an amazing support system in place within your family. And, I know that you already know that, but because of these people, your marriage will be stronger than most. I have no doubts that you both have found your soul mate. And everyone benefits from know you. Y'all are truly an amazing team and I wish you all the best!

Here are a few images from your wedding. I hope y'all are having an amazing honeymoon in that secret place :)

Labor Day

ASHLEY + JASON
To start off this Labor Day weekend, Andrew and I got to photograph a wedding! This was such a fun wedding! Everyone was really great to work with.
It was a gorgeous day! Sunny, 80 degrees and a little breeze to keep us cool.
Here are some images from the day!
Thank you to both families for having us be a part of this special day!

Storm Stories

I got a call Friday evening just after I had arrived up north. It was a client of ours that called to tell me that my neighborhood had been hit by a tornado! So she offered to drive by my house to see if there was any damage. Luckily, my house was fine...not a lost branch. 4 houses down though and all thru the neighborhood, there were trees down everywhere. Cars smashed, garages flattened and trees uprooted. It looked like a war zone. I took Jake for a walk to look at all the mess, and it looked like everyone had a VERY long weekend with clean up. Most people were in good spirits and helping other people as much as they could.

It looks like we were lucky!

Babies and Puppies!

Jennie the puppy and her owner Georgia stopped over today to visit! Mom came too!
They were SO cute, we had to take a picture. They are just adorable :)

Don't Miss Out!

Matilda Jane Clothing Company is on their way back to St. Johns this month and we wanted to invite you! This time, it will be located downtown St. Johns at Sirrine & Associates! They have a lofty New York style business with lots of room to roam!
The party starts at 6pm and goes till around 8pm. If you are interested in attending, please email at www.canfieldjenkins.com
The Trunk Show will be on Tuesday, August 21st!
Hope to see you there!

I loved this little boy! SO CUTE I can hardly stand it!

Little Miss Sunshine

I had a great session last night with this little cutie! We took a walk downtown and took pictures along the way! My favorite part was everytime we went to a new location, she would grab mom's hand and then grab mine. That made me smile everytime :)
Here a couple images from her shoot!