everything indigo

Family Photography in Warsaw

I don't have a lot to say tonight.... other than...  Teri Sue... I love your family!  Y'all have been very good to me over the last few years.  Best of luck in the next few months as you all have so many changes coming.

Chicago Photography and Pet Expo

Recently I spent a few days in Chicago with a photographer friend of mine.  Barb is the owner of Barbara Breitsameter Photography and has a real gift...especially with animals.  If you're in the Chicago area, check out her work and RUN to get a session done!  Ok, maybe wait a few weeks, because she's getting a very cool new loft-style studio set up and you won't want to miss that!  Anyway, I traveled to the Windy City in the prime tourist month of March and helped her work a booth that she had at the Pet Expo.  The follwing day we got to hang out together...and you know what photographers do when they travel and hang out?  They shoot things!  We went to the Chicago Botanic Gardens which is an amazing place and I'll definitely be going back when it's actualy pretty!  It was freezing there that day, so we did a lot more shooting inside than anticipated.  We had a great time and thanks Barb for your hospitality!  Here are a few images from the trip...enjoy...

 

I don't usually name images... but this one is "Soldiers"

and now a few of the chicks together...

   

A Celebrating Adoption Session

We FINALLY have the studio space back to a minimal state of usability!  Woohooo!  So, you can look for me to be back to blogging more regularly again.  Lucky, aren't ya?  ;)   A wonderful family of four came and inaugurated the space this morning.  This family has an enchanting little daugter adopted from China.  I think it's been a while since I mentioned Celebrating Adoption, a national network of photographers who donate time and images to adoptive families.  This was a CA session with the whole family and it was great to have them here today!  Aren't they lovely?!

Photographing an Angel

This little angel-baby was in-studio (and I use the term loosely since the studio doesn't really exist at the moment) yesterday and though she never once cracked a smile...she is the most adorable little thing.  This image--for me--is what she is all about...delicate coloring, big, big brown eyes and perfect wispy hair. I love you guys so very much...

Another Celebration of Adoption!

I had two great little girls here today for a Celebrating Adoption session.  Thanks so much girls for braving the cold to share some time and smiles with me!    You guys were wonderful!  So good...and Cody's been asking about you all afternoon!  Here are a few images from this morning to share...

Back In The Saddle

Well, everyone...it's been a few months since I've been posting regularly.  We've had quite a few things change for our family, for the move and for the studio in the last few months.  The winter studio shut-down is officially over though and I should be back to posting a few times a week.  Our move has been rescheduled to sometime late Spring...at this point we're looking at early May for a target date.  What does that mean for you, my faithful blog readers?  Well, if you're local clients it means that you have several more months to schedule sessions than we previously thought.  However, I am going to be working on a very limited basis, so email me early to secure a spot!!

A former Celebrating Adoption client was back in the studio today for a few child-free hours of fun!  Well, sorta child-free as my child was really, really wanting her to play trains.  Girl, you are beautiful and it was a treasure to shoot you and just plain fun to hang out!  And...a few minutes after you left...I found your shoe box!

Just a Few Weeks Old

A few more life affirming shots for you tonight...

Good Medicine

What do you do when your world crashes in on you?  When it seems like there is a lot more going wrong than right?  When questions about death haunt the daytime hours?  When you lose faith in people?  Well, I can offer one temporary bit of medicine.  Find yourself a newborn baby and hold him or her against your chest.  Feel the warmth seep slowly into your body melting the ice around your heart.  Look into wide blue eyes and sink into their dependent and innocent depths.  Swim around there until you can surface more whole that when you arrived.

Thank you little one for your good medicine this afternoon...

And I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude for friends who are calling, texting, emailing and IMing their constant support and friendship this last week or two.  You are the best in the world and I am privileged to call you friends and family.  Love you all...

Habitat for Humanity Artwork

Well, I've been really busy the last few weeks finishing up details before the holidays, but I spent some time on a project that I wasn't really expecting a week ago and thought I'd share it with you.  For the past 17 years there has been a craft bazaar at Wawasee Middle School at the beginning of the holiday season.  This year it takes place this coming Saturday, December 1st from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The Syracuse/North Webster Habitat for Humanity Initiative is going to be there with an opportunity for you to contribute to their effort to raise money for Habitat homes to be located in Syracuse and North Webster.  They have put together a cookbook with a ton of great recipes.  It also features some artwork from local artists, including yours truly.  So, my time?  Well, I worked on some of the art pages for the book which feature images of antique postcards from my mother's collection.

As I worked on the project I was really struck with how important these images and their stories are.  And how important images of our families and our moments together will be for future generations.  Family portraiture is an heirloom to treasure.

Here are a few of the images from the book that I created as well as the cover which features one of my photographs.  Look for the Habitat folks and pick up one of the cookbooks for your kitchen for $12.50.  There will be a limited quantity on hand, so do that as soon as you arrive!  Of course, if you sleep in, you'll still be able to order them.  And if you miss out completely on Saturday, but think this would make a perfect Christmas gift for your favorite cook...contact Jennifer and she can hook you up!

Christmas is Coming!

Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and here I am thinking about Christmas!  Tomorrow I'll be thinking about Thanksgiving...tonight I'm thinking about Christmas with a new grandson, a son who is just getting to the age to be totally thrilled with gifts, the chlly air outside my window with a chance of snow tonight and pigs.  Yep.  You read that right.  Pigs.  Several years ago, we started a tradition of giving a Heifer International gift to ourselves--buying a different animal each year.  When Cody gets old enough, he'll be allowed to choose the animal and we commemorate it with a new stuffed animal that gets placed under the tree with the gifts to remind us of the joy of giving and the many people around to world who don't enjoy the comforts we do.  So far, we have a cow and a chicken. This year we're adding a pig to the menagerie.  I really feel passionately about the work Heifer does and the way they do it and I encourage you to include them--or another charitable organization--in your holiday gift giving plans this season!

OINK!