Design - for Journalists.

I took some family portraits just outside of Philly last week. It was a beautiful day - a barefoot in the grass kind of day. I've missed those so much.

Right now I'm working on a new business card and web design for a solar paneling company. Definitely different from my usual work but it's nice to use my Multimedia training! What do you know, I'm grateful to have taken Design for Journalists, after-all.

Every day I wake up in love with our beautiful little home. It's got its quirks but it is the most inspiring, lovely place I have ever lived. We have an incredible life!

Macro Lens!

How could I forget about my beautiful macro lens? My parents bought this lens as a Christmas gift for me several years ago. I wasn't doing much portraiture at the time and never really used it, so it hasn't seen much use. This is a FANTASTIC portrait lens!!! (Neither of these photos have been touched up at all - ok, I lied, I took out some acne in one. But other than that...)

It took me a while to know what about photography I was specifically drawn to. There are so many genres and possibilities. But the one consistency in every career dream I've ever had was a connection to people, a desire to meet and connect with real, honest people.

I'm not interested in fashion, glamour, beauty, although I have seen incredibly well-done and beautiful examples of all. Of course sometimes it's fun to play around with this, but it's not what drives me.

So whatever I am photographing - pregnancy, babies being born, new mothers, portraits, weddings, whatever it is - I am there because I want to connect to people, I want my photography to tell a story for and of them. And if I can accomplish this, I will have fulfilled my goal - to use photography as a means to help people, to capture real moments in their lives and preserve them for years to come.

A statement.

This is my favorite person.

Right now I don't really have anything else to say.

20 Weeks.

It's taken long enough, but a photo gallery is finally in the works. It's kind of funny to me that my passion was so firmly rooted in pregnancy and birth photography before I ever became pregnant. These last several months have been a really amazing affirmation that this is what I want to be doing. I love our baby - I love this 'mommy' feeling that's growing and developing with this little person inside of me. It's such a surreal, truly incredible experience. This photo was taken today - I'm officially 20 weeks pregnant. Five months, how did that happen???

Stay tuned for details on this gallery! Every penny will be going towards the cost of a natural home birth, which is not covered by insurance. Incidentally, all compensation for my photography services currently is being allocated for this purpose as well. So if you have an event coming up - a wedding, a birthday party, an award ceremony, anything - or if you'd just like some up-to-date family photos, be sure to let me know!

Halloween

We didn't make much of a habit of dressing up for Halloween when we were kids.  There were a few times, sure.  But it wasn't something we focused on.  I do remember a photo of my sister and I on the front porch, though, from when I was maybe six years old.  She was dressed as a fairy princess and I was a clown with big, painted cheeks and a poofy green wig.

Last year, I had a blast walking around my parent's neighborhood with my two wonderful nieces.  This year, they were trick-or-treating in my brother-in-law's parent's neighborhood, and my husband and I had other plans.  I wasn't able to go out with them, but I did get to take a few quick photos on the front porch before they left. =)