Bows, wands, tutus, OH MY!  I love a girly girl.   We had so much fun!

Wow, the summer is flying by already.  We just returned from our beach vacation with my sisters and their families – so fun.  My husband decided it would be a good idea on Tuesday to work out in the morning, play soccer with my daughter on the beach, crabbing in the afternoon and throw 4 girls over his head in the pool (each 80-100 lbs).  So Wed. was him on muscle relaxers and Thursday was me at urgent care with our oldest with strep throat.  The fun didn’t end there though, her test was negative, but she got worse with each day and after driving home on Sat. and unloading the car I got to take her for another test and yep, it was strep then.  Oh well, you gotta laugh.  We still had a great time!

We snuck in a few beach portraits with my husband on muscle relaxers and a forced smile (yay me).  I got everything all set up, gave my brother-in-law the camera (since this is the only time of the year I *make* my family pose for a group portrait), the sun is out and yes, it starts raining.  My hair melts, but the sun is still shining.  It stops a few minutes later and we pulled off cute portraits of the kids – most important!!

Our Fam!

The Cousins!

Fun Aunt & Uncle!

Other sis!

I say it all the time, but do I have the best job or what?  Look at the happy, cuties I get to play with!!

Can’t you hear them laughing??!!

Busy, busy, busy.  This ledge was perfect.  She was trapped!  Anytime you need to photograph a 2 year old find a spot they are nervous to navigate and you got it!!

Playing with happy kids is the best!  Occasionally, one will have a cold brewing and not feeling good, but aren’t they always just happy when you’re talking to them, acting goofy and just being happy yourself?  I can start out the day feeling sluggish and by lunchtime my day is fantastic!  It’s true what they say about smiling:

• “Let a Smile be your umbrella on a Rainy day.” – Lawrence Welk
• “A smile is like looking in the mirror. If you smile you’re likely to get one back.”
• “A Smile is a Powerful Weapon, You can even break ice with it.”
• “Wrinkles should merely indicate where Smiles have been”. – Mark Twain
• “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles.” – George Elio

• “A Smile is a language that even a baby can understand.”

So how much skin is too much?  Is a seductive look crossing the line for a teenager?  Is it my responsibility as the photographer to not create these type of images?

My girlfriend saw my ad in her son’s high school yearbook.  She mentioned another photographer’s ad and demonstrated the cleavage in his ad (quite comical actually).  She was put off by this.  Clearly this appeals to the kids.  Most parents aren’t calling a photographer because of their sexy ad, right?  As I mentioned a few weeks ago these are not the photos from our generation, but all girls want to look like models right (even us women do, come on be honest)?

My gauge is always the outfit.  If the outfit is on the edgy side, I push to the edge a little.  We have already talked about what they’re looking for, what their personality is like, but sometimes the camera comes out and Bo Derek comes alive!  There are some images that make me blush when the dad sees them, but he doesn’t always object, believe it or not.

I heard a photographer once say if you cross sexy clothing with a sexy pose and sexy expression – you may cross the line…

As many of you know I just lost my beloved Grandma.  Oh how I wish I had photographs of myself as a little girl at her house.  I’m not sure why, but I want to share a poem I recently wrote to her:

Your face would light up whenever you’d see me
You were my alter ego, it was you I wanted to please

I felt like your favorite, you loved me best
It’d stay just between us, never tell the rest

It’s scary to think of this world without you
When I need advice what will I do

I know you’re not suffering and you’re now in peace
You awe and inspire me, that will never cease

My angel from earth is now looking down
I know you’ve received your deserving crown

I miss you each and every day Grandma!

He was so mild mannered and sweet.  Most little boys this age are so energetic and a little *wild* (I mean busy)!

Ahhh, doesn’t he make you smile??!!

Isn’t she precious?!  She had a full belly and was loving the warm, cozy blankey.  She was so sleepy and content (I’m sure mommy wishes she would do that at night!).

Just happened to be Will’s 5th birthday when mom was ready to do belly portraits…

He’s warming up for when baby brother comes back to see me!

I caught him snuggling with daddy…