A Most Welcome Snow Day

Well, I had to postpone my class last week (it will now run until Tuesday, Dec. 6, so come join us!) but it was for a worthy cause:

That's right, we got a freak November snowstorm right before Thanksgiving! Have I mentioned just how much I love snow? Last year we had maybe one flurry, so this year we had better make up for it. Bella was a wee little babe last time she experienced snow, and she quickly realized that no matter how badly you want to run outside (naked), the snow is cold and stings. Oh, that treacherous snow.

Just before dark, we ran outside to make a snowman (Bella is slightly obsessed and it dawned on my she had never made a REAL snowman before.) and then immediately ran back in when the sky started chucking icy sleet pellets at us.

We thoroughly enjoyed the snow, inside and out.

Much to our surprise, the next day dawned bright and beautiful. Out here, snow is usually followed by clouds and rain. To have a clear day the following morning was magical!

The entire neighborhood took to sledding down our main road. They were sledders from dawn until well into the night. You never realize how many neighbors you have until something brings everyone out of their homes!

Sure, it was less than half a foot, but it shut down the town, brought out the sleds, and became a snowfest to remember. Here's hoping there are many more to come this winter.

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Thunder: Stranger number three

Well it's about time I put up another stranger photo for my 100 Strangers project. This one has been hanging out on my computer for three weeks now!(uhm, try three months... man this has been in my queue a while.)

Meet Thunder. That's his given name. Seriously, I asked. Short for Thunderstorm, if I remember correctly, which would be a most awesome name considering thunderstorms are one of my favorite things in the world.

Thunder works a stand at our local farmer's market on Tuesdays. I have to say, the Renton Farmer's Market, despite its short season is one of my favorites and I look forward to it all year. I was wandering around the market on my own (child-free time is a rare event for me!), just taking it all in and Thunder truly stood out in the crowd. I should have included more of his apron, because it was that pattern that struck me at first, and then his smile outshone it all when he greeted me. He truly has the most genuine and amazing smile.

Thanks, for being my third stranger, Thunder! I hope the off-season treats you well.

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Just in time for the holidays!

Yesterday was like Christmas! I got two packages in the mail with photography products. I was so excited I dropped the scissors on my foot trying to get through all the tape! You'll be happy to know I cursed and whimpered and whined on Facebook and then got over it.

Let me show you what was in the first package today (the second is a funny story for tomorrow!).

I'm so excited to be offering Standout Wall Collections from ColorInc! I ordered a mini collection to display at Artist and Craftsman for the U-District Art Walk starting this Friday (come join me at the premier or stop by all month long!)

Here's a review of these Standout Wall Collections in a nutshell:
-Vibrant
-Light and sturdy
-Affordable

Let's go a little more in depth:

The colors are bright and true, the details are clear, and the photographs are sturdy and resist fingerprints. (Hey, that's important to people like me!) They're mounted with a black edging and arrive ready to hang, so you don't have to promise yourself you'll put them up when you get around to buying a frame. (That's important to people like me!)

The awesome thing about these standout images is that they are light and affordable. Don't get me wrong, I love a beautiful canvas collection, but if you get antsy hanging thousands of dollars worth of art in a playroom, Standout Wall Collections are the way to go.

And when I say light, I mean LIGHT! Don't even worry about putting a nail in the wall for these. You could hang them no problem with 3M Poster Strips. Why does that rock?

You can put them up in kids' rooms and let them rearrange them at will.
Apartment dwellers and renters don't have to deprive themselves of colorful walls.
You can send them away with college kids and they can put them up anywhere since 3M products do not damage walls and will stick to anything!

There you have it- the freedom to decorate your walls with your own beautiful story and not worry.

Yep, they rock. And there's still time to get yours before the holidays!

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Rainy day fun

When you live in the Pacific Northwest, you can pretty much guarantee that if you book a session between November and March, it will rain. I mean, check it out: six inches of rain is average for November! So you can see now why July is my FAVORITE month to live here and take photos.

But back to the good stuff. I'm a lifestyle photographer. That means capturing the beautiful moments of people just living up life anywhere. Everyday moments like hanging out at a cafe are worth remembering - in fact they are just what you miss when you grow up.

This mini session got rained out (poured out, really, since I was prepared to shoot in the drizzle) so we headed indoors to Urbia Fresh Cafe, a new cafe right in downtown Kent where the food and drink are local and the staff are awesome and accommodating.

This family rocked the indoor session! Board games, smoothies, dancing and hugfests. I love my job because basically it's hanging out with awesome people, snapping some photos along the way.

Moments in life just don't get better than this:

Michelle, Aaron and Miranda, thank you so much for this laid back session. Your family is sweet and goofy and loving , and definitely warmed up my rainy morning.


***As if I have to remind you by now, but be sure to leave them some comments! When they hit 20, they get a free 8x10 print! :O)***

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The Engagement Mini

Lauren and Brian are engaged! I happen to know Lauren through knitting and was so excited when she shared the big news. A Holiday Mini Session turned out to be just what they needed for engagement photos!

The rain had JUST stopped before their shoot, so I ran right over from the cafe session I was doing to meet them at the park. The trees were still sneezing on us as we tromped up and down the muddy hills, and these guys were superstars about it!

Apart from all the love in the air, my favorite thing about engagement sessions is getting a glimpse of just how gorgeous the bride will be. Lauren was absolutely beautiful, and I cannot wait to see her on her wedding day.

Brian's daughter, Elaine, joined us as well. She is so sweet and so funny, and I wished I'd had an entire session with them together. They're such a fun group. Thanks so much for a great mini session!

***Don't forget to leave them good wishes here on the blog! When this post reaches 20 comments, they get a free 8x10. Woohoo!!***

P.S. Next week is a great big week - two chances to join me in Seattle at Artist & Craftsman. Tuesday at 5:30 for the first of three photo classes and again on Friday for the opening of the U-District Art Walk!

P.P.S. Who's as excited as I am about Harry Potter? Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

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A Mini Sneak Peek!

Oh my goodness. This year's mini sessions were so much fun. Of course, out of the entire week, THAT was the day it rained. It cleared up in time for a few muddy outdoor sessions, though! (And yes, oh yes, I slipped and fell in the mud.)

Let me just warn you - the family in the following photos is too cute for words. They picked out some awesome clothes to go with the foliage, and of course, little Wyatt was a perfect match sporting that snazzy red hair!

Wyatt was a bit of a milk-drunk space cadet for the first part of the shoot and spent most of the time enjoying the scenery.

There is no doubt about it; this boy is loved. He is lucky to grow up in a family with so much laughter. (AND FIREFLY, just sayin'. They've got good taste, too.)

We did get Wyatt smiling a bit towards the end. Laura really wanted a shot of his awesome dimple (cute x1000) and what I love about this shot is that Karl has the same expression. :O)

I had so much fun with you guys. Thanks for braving the slippery bridge and mud with me. (And Karl, if you can't find another pair of Wyatt's awesome socks, Laura will just have to learn to knit socks next!)

***Be sure to leave some love for Laura and Karl here on the blog! When this post reaches 20 comments, they get a free 8x10. Sweet!***

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Autumn snafu

Well, we tried. I thought it would be fun to go out and rake and jump in leaves on the one dry day of fall. Bella had fun. Her first real leaf pile was wonderful as I remembered it as a kid. It was everything we had hoped and more. She threw leaves, ate leaves, crunched leaves, and used them as a pillow to stare up into the sky.

And then there was Lillia.

I should have foreseen this. She hates the sound of anything that crinkles and crunches. I started raking and she screamed so hard and so suddenly I thought I had hurt her. Nope. It was just the sound. I got her to sit in the pile if we were very quiet... but there was no convincing her it was fun. Oh well, I guess it will just have to be a love shared by Bella and me.

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another field day

(The usual suspects)

T'is the season - for pumpkins! Out here it is hard to resist making the most of every sunny day. You'll notice that it might just have poured for a few days prior to our trip to the pumpkin patch.

We didn't take home any pumpkins this time. Bella was purely there for the cart ride.
I mean, that's not to say she doesn't appreciate a good hop in the mud, but if it's a choice between a puddle and a chariot, the chariot will win any day.

Thomas on the other hand... well he's a mover.

He may or may not have gotten in a little over his head. Bystanders were laughing and staring and, indeed, one said indignantly, "Where is his mother?" as we stood by and watched him play.

I do believe Thomas got to ride home in his diaper that day.

Stay tuned, because I was so excited to come across that tree in the first photo and I managed a few cute sessions there! And NOW, excuse us. We are off to hop in some leaf piles!

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