More Newborn Pics!

Last week I had the opportunity to photograph another newborn (baby brother to Ana -- see my previous post).  He was very sweet but really despised nudity...well his own anyway!  

Toddler Attitude!

Ana's brother came in for his newborn pictures last week (to be posted later).  She is one of the most spunky little girls I've met!  She kind of reminds me of myself at that age, right down to the curly piggy tails!  Its hard to adjust to getting bumped from being mom and dad's center of attention, so I offered her the limelight light (actually, red & blue) for a bit and she didn't hold back!  Love her dress!!!

Spring = New Life

Rain, rain, go away....  Today is the beginning of Daylight Savings time and coupled with the fact that its been raining for the past few days is testament that Spring is on its way!  The beauty of life springing from the earth with the perfume of flowers is intoxicating.  The flowers have yet to emerge, but I eagerly anticipate their arrival!

Photographing a newborn is a lot like the coming of spring.  The sweet innocence of new life is so refreshing and pure.  It brings hope and a reminder of all that is good.  

Young Lady

My little girl is turning seven soon.  She's becoming a young lady.  First she lost that baby look. Then she became an adorable toddler, losing her front teeth to a coffee table.  Now she has become a young girl, and those front teeth are coming back.  She has a tender heart, a fun spirit, and a mischievous smile.  This is my Emma Rose.

The Neon Boneyard

If you read my last post, you know that I was headed to Las Vegas for the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) Convention.  I did finally make it there and had an amazing time soaking up everything.  The classes were great and I met some great photographers.  We took a couple hours to shoot some aspiring models at the Neon Boneyard, a sign graveyard soon to become a museum.  Here are some of the ones that I took featuring a funky bride, goth couple, traditional bride, retro groom and a couple of gorgeous teens.

The fabulous photographers from WPPI Vegas '09!

Viva Las Vegas!!!

So my solo adventure to Las Vegas hasn't been quite what I was expecting. In fact, I'm not even there yet! I'm sitting in a hotel room in Houston.

When I boarded my flight to Cleveland in Grand Rapids, I was supposed to board a connecting flight to Vegas. But, as I sat waiting, they announced that they were overbooked and looking for volunteers to bump to another flight. It was worth $300 in flight money & a free dinner! So why not? Thus, the trouble began.

I was rushed to the other flight to Houston for which they were holding the plane for me. Feeling pretty proud of my navigation abilities thus far, I managed to board and enjoyed a three hour flight. Once I arrived, I used my food voucher for a nice dinner (my third for the day). I quickly made my way to the gate...........only it was completely void of life! Panicking, I made my way to customer service and was informed that the gate had been changed and was at the other end of the airport! There was no way to make it there in time. I jumped on a transport cart with some others that were in the same situation, and after several detours, arrived at the gate only to be turned away. I dragged myself to yet another customer service rep and pleaded my case. She sympathetically explained that I would have to wait until morning for the next flight....

So, here I sit, in a hotel room, graciously paid for by the airline, with another meal voucher. It really does pay to use manners. I can't say that the people behind me, whom the customer service rep threatened to call security on for their use of foul language, were as lucky! I have no luggage or clothes, but God provided everything I need, including a place to sleep, basic toiletries and even the good sense to pack some contact lens rewetting drops which I used to soak my lenses inside of the caps to my pill bottles!

My next post will feature some exciting shoots I'm doing in Vegas. For now, I leave you with a gorgeous sunset from the plane on the way to Houston this evening.....

Happy Birthday

My family is one of winter birthdays.  We have nine in the first three months of the year.  Today was my mom's 74th birthday.  We had the entire family over for pizza and cake.  

I ordered this phenomenal birthday cake from Sweet Cakes in Comstock Park.  It was unbelievably yummy!  Chocolate with layers of cherry cream filling with chunks of cherries, surrounded in buttercream filling and then completed with a layer of chocolate ganache.  Wow!

While we were waiting for the pizzas, I took my handsome nephew, Josh, down to my studio.  He has studied film and photography and is a very talented artist as well.

And then we got a couple of cute ones with his girlfriend, Pickle.  

Next weekend:  my son's second birthday, Valentines and off to Vegas to WPPI!