Indy Photography

Where Have I Been?

2010-08-03T01:42:00.000-04:00

Oh you know.....busy doing a little of this, a little of that. Especially THIS! :)

Yesterday

2010-07-20T14:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday she played with blocks, gummed her food, gnawed on my finger, and smiled a lot.

Today she grew a tooth. And bit me.

New Studio Flooring!

2010-07-19T10:33:00.000-04:00

Several weeks ago, when the kids and I went to visit my parents in Wisconsin for a week, my husband stayed home and worked on our beautiful new studio flooring! Well actually...he worked on the flooring for our entire downstairs. It was quite the project and he did an amazing job! Here's a little peak at the beauty:

Bathtime Baby

2010-07-16T14:26:00.000-04:00

Is this girl not the most adorable child ever?

I thought so. :)

Ramblings

2010-07-15T13:44:00.001-04:00

Today I....

got up, talked on the phone to a friend, had another phone call while on the phone, didn't answer, took a shower, had the faulty bathroom light turn off while IN the shower, had the faulty bathroom light turn back on, was thankful, dried my hair, shoved cereal in front of my kids, added blueberries, felt like a better mom, realized it was special K cereal, felt like an even better mom, considered how I should be the one eating the special K, realized it was all gone, ate nothing instead, endured much whining, sent my daughter to the mailbox to mail 2 cards, sent my son out to put up the forgotten flag, sent my daughter back out to retrieve cards from neighbor's mailbox, instructed my daughter to put them in our mailbox, endured much whining, got in the van, applied makeup at the light, applied more makeup at the next light, finished applying makeup in the drive-thru, ordered fries and a Coke, met some friends at the park, forgot to eat my fries until they were cold, baked in the sun, drank my Coke, felt bad about drinking Coke around my super-healthy friend, applied sunscreen to 1/2 my kids, applied sunscreen to 1/2 myself, burned my face a little, gave some of my Coke to my kids, wished I hadn't, wished I had another Coke, fed my kids a snack in the car, fed them more snacks, made it home, got everyone inside, endured much whining, got everyone into their respective 'rest time' location, browsed Facebook, browsed CafeMom, made a business call, considered working on more business stuff, browsed CafeMom again, wrote a blog post, published it, couldn't believe kids as cute as this could cause trouble....

What have you done today?

Love/Hate Relationship

2010-07-13T12:57:00.000-04:00

The other day I found myself standing in line at a U-Scan. There were 4 open U-Scans and about 2 or 3 people waiting in line in front of me. As I proceeded in line, I began to consider how much technology has changed the American way of life even in my own lifetime. We used to stand in a line of customers to get to a person, not a machine. We used to hand over our cash instead of swipe our credit cards. And speaking of cash, have you ever noticed how you begin to hate people that carry it these days? Don't even try to deny it. You know you do. I mean, it's so....slow. And if there is loose change involved? Forget it. You might as well have just stayed home.

It's so strange to realize that my children will never know any differently. While I was born into a world full of technology, my children were born into a world RUN by technology. Engulfed in it. Unable to carry on without it. Yet we love it, most of the time. I find it to be a very unique conundrum.

And on a totally unrelated topic, check out this adorable poodle who stopped by for a visit while I was out shooting on Saturday. So. Stinkin'. Cute. If only I wasn't allergic.....

Danielle | Indianapolis Senior Photographer

2010-07-10T19:43:00.000-04:00

Head on over to the senior blog to check out the latest Indy Photography senior!

The Cutest Thing

2010-07-10T08:40:00.001-04:00

Thanks so much to Gray Photography for bringing this video to my attention. It is by far the cutest video I've seen in....well....quite a while. You definitely must watch it.

Happy Saturday to ya!

Appreciation

2010-07-09T15:24:00.000-04:00

"I must be looking really great today," I thought to myself as I headed south on US-31. A couple of teenage guys had glanced at me a few times from their red two-door vehicle in the next lane. I'm 25 now and I drive a mini-van. Teenage guys don't typically flock to those traits. So naturally, I assumed my beauty was radiating from my driver side window. But then I glanced in the mirror and immediately new why they were looking at me. My hair.

You see, today is Cow Appreciation Day at Chickfila. And since Chickfila happens to be our very favorite fast food restaurant, naturally we participate in this event every year. On July 9th, if you dress like a cow, you get free food. And since I'm all about free food, it's a mandatory calendar date for us each summer.

This year I made myself a smock dress, layered it over a pair of black leggings and threw my hair into pigtails complete with cow hair ties. It's okay if you never want to speak to me again. I know I'm a dork. My three oldest kids wore their cow t-shirts (from last year's CAD) and Savannah wore a dress nearly identical to mine. We were quite the herd if I do say so myself.

We met up with several ~~neighboring herds~~ friends from church and enjoyed our absolutely free food! Reagan was sad that she didn't get to see the cow up close. Keaton and Sienna sighed with relief. And Savannah just gulped down bite after bite of chicken and french fries. It was a pretty good time. And speaking of time....there's still time left if you want to participate! Hit up your local Chickfila for dinner dressed in cow attire and enjoy your meal on the house!

Hold On, Back Up.

2010-07-09T03:53:00.002-04:00

Today, because you love me dearly, because it's Friday, and because I am totally 2 full days behind on life....could we pretend for just a moment that today is actually Wednesday? You know, the 7th of July? Eh hem....thank you very much. Now then....

Dear brother.....Happy Birthday!

(Does it count if I thought of you a lot on your birthday?)

Rest

2010-07-07T10:55:00.000-04:00

This weekend - kind of on a whim - we took off for a mini-vacation. On Sunday we drove to Holiday World where we spent the day with some extended family. There was lots of sunscreen applying, free soda drinking, water playing, and rollercoaster riding. That night we headed to our hotel in French Lick. Monday morning we woke up and hit the waterpark just steps away from our hotel room door. We spent the entire day there with the exception of one long afternoon family nap. Tuesday was basically the same, minus the family nap. The kids loved every second of it and we loved almost every second. Pictures will soon follow, but for now....we're home. And we're exhausted.

Keiper Girls

2010-07-01T15:16:00.001-04:00

Man, can we please talk about perfect weather?! After those few weeks in the upper 80s and 90s every day, this past week of temps in the 70s has been a very welcome change! I had my third session in a row on the canal this week with these darling little girls. They were so pleasant and fun to photograph. And Liz and Jeremy, it was so great to meet you! I'm glad you found me on Facebook. :)

Adorable pink dresses from Lucy Jane Studio.

This is probably one of my favorite pictures of all time. Are they not the cutest things you've ever seen??

Corbin | Indianapolis Baby/Child Photographer

2010-07-01T15:13:00.001-04:00

I first met Corbin last November when he came into the studio for his Christmas/4-month pictures. He was a smiley giggle box! This past weekend, I was thrilled to discover that his personality has not changed a bit! Kristy and Dean, it was great to see you again. I'm so glad we had such a beautiful day to work with! Corbin, thanks for coming to see me again. It's always a pleasure to work with you. :)

Did I mention Corbin is a July 4th baby?

Rachel and Leesha | Indianapolis Family Photographer

2010-07-01T15:08:00.000-04:00

Rachel and I met a few years ago in a Bible study. We kind of lost touch until we found each other on Facebook. (Isn't Facebook great like that?) I was so excited to be able to photograph her and her daughter last week on the canal. The day was just perfect with gorgeous weather and a cool breeze. Rachel, thanks so much for allowing me this opportunity to capture you and Leesha is a special way!

Happy Saturday!

2010-06-26T08:32:00.001-04:00

Natalie | Indianapolis Model/Fashion Photographer

2010-06-25T10:06:00.000-04:00

Natalie and I have been friends for....well....forever. Our moms were friends before we were born, so we grew up together. When we each graduated from college, we moved in opposite directions - me to Indiana and Natalie to California. After Natalie married last year, she and her husband moved to Arizona. And a few weeks ago, we were both back in Wisconsin visiting our parents at the same time. Since Natalie is G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S and I was wanting some fashion shots for my portfolio, I asked if she would do some modeling for me. Having had a bit of experience with this before, I didn't have to twist her arm too hard to get her to comply. We hit the streets of Eau Claire and managed to squeeze in 6 outfits in under an hour. Natalie was fabulous!

Also, I must mention that Natalie and her husband Johnny are excellent musical performers! You should really check out their website or visit them on Facebook!

Kristen | Indianapolis Maternity Photographer

2010-06-20T22:33:00.001-04:00

Kasey and Kristen were some of my very first clients when I started my business two years ago. I shot their engagement photos as well as their wedding in the summer and fall of 2008. So when I received an email from Kristen that they were expecting their first baby this summer, I was thrilled! It's been so neat to follow their journey thus far and I can't wait to meet Hudson when he arrives next month!

Kasey.....Happy 1st Father's Day!

Hunter | On-Location Child Photographer

2010-06-19T10:28:00.000-04:00

As I was working on finishing up some client galleries yesterday, I came across a few more pictures that I absolutely love from this session I did while in Wisconsin. So I'm going to share them with you. :) Isn't this little man just the cutest?

Annie + Family | On-Location Family Photographer

2010-06-15T14:17:00.000-04:00

As I sit here trying to write an intro to this post, my mind is coming up blank. I don't know how to adequately sum up what Matt and Brooke have meant to me over the years. Matt was the youth pastor at the church where I attended youth group in high school. As long as I've known him, he has always had a zeal for the Lord and a passion for people. And his wife was equally lovely and always welcoming to everyone who visited. Matt preached the truth in such humility that even if his talk was highly convicting, I never felt condemned. I knew from my first visit there that I would be back. And I was.

As the years passed and I joined in Bible studies with Matt and Brooke, their desire for the Lord grew and therefore caused my own desire to grow. They were nothing short of absolutely instrumental during my high school years. When I moved away after high school, I missed them terribly. And I still do. People like this don't just pop up everywhere you live.

After a long adoption process, Matt and Brooke were finally able to welcome Annie into their family this spring! Annie is an adorable little bundle who just turned one last week! I was so happy to be able to capture their first professional family photos as well as Annie's 1-year photos!

Annie, I hope you had a super fabulous 1st birthday here in the states with your mommy and daddy! It was a pleasure to meet you. Matt....Brooke....it was an honor to take your family photos. You will never know how crucial your support and guidance was to me during those crazy high school years, even if I never expressed my appreciation at the time. Thank you for allowing me this privilege.

So Sorry

2010-06-12T16:35:00.000-04:00

To those of you who are waiting patiently for picture orders to come in, blogs to be posted, galleries to be uploaded, and emails to be returned....I really am catching up! We got into town late Thursday evening and I'm finally starting to feel back to (kind of) normal. I will be all caught up soon - I promise!

Until then....so sorry for the delays and thank you for your patience!

Banker Family + Addison | On-Location Family Photographer

2010-06-09T13:33:00.000-04:00

I met Travis and Tabitha way back in junior high at a summer youth camp. We kind of lost touch through the years, but once I joined Facebook last year, we reconnected. (Isn't Facebook great like that?) When I announced that I'd be in Wisconsin for a week, Tabitha jumped on getting some family pictures and asked if she could bring along her son's best friend. She said they might be moving soon and she wanted to get some pictures of the kids together.

When I arrived here in Wisconsin, I immediately noted the weather forecast for the weekend. After all, I'm only here for a few days and rescheduling a session is simply not an option. Sunday was a gorgeous day, but as we headed for Durand to meet them the sky began to darken and small drops began to fall. When we arrived, I was thrilled to see that the kids were wearing rain gear! I had always wanted to shoot a session like this!

Travis and Tabitha, thank you so much for making the drive out to meet me and for being way cool and bringing rain boots for the kiddos!

Lindsey & Hunter | On-Location Family Photographer

2010-06-05T22:12:00.001-04:00

Our session was planned weeks ago, but when today's forecast read only RAIN RAIN RAIN, things weren't looking too great. But despite the rain, Lindsey and Hunter agreed to have their session today (as I'm only here in Wisconsin for a few days). We ran through puddles and searched for dry places. And Hunter made is laugh. A lot.

Lindsey, I'm so glad it worked out for us to get a session in! Hope you love these. It was great to hang out with you for a bit. :)

Indianapolis Baby Photographer

2010-06-03T08:41:00.000-04:00

She learned

a new trick

yesterday morning.

While I vacuumed,

she learned to stand

in her crib.

She is

so proud

of herself.

And

so am I.

But now....

the fun begins!

Totally Unrelated to Anything

2010-06-02T11:30:00.000-04:00

This is quite possibly the most awesome commercial. Ever.

Natalie | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

2010-06-01T10:45:00.000-04:00

Several weeks ago, I purchased some adorable newborn headbands from Chic Pretties. But of course, all of the newborns I've seen in the studio since then have been boys! So this weekend I contacted a friend of mine who just had a baby girl and asked if she could bring her in for a mini session so I could use some of these darling headbands. Natalie has a head full of hair, which made it all even more perfect.

Thanks for stopping by, Lindsey! Natalie was a great little model. :)

Brinley | Lafayette Baby Photographer

2010-05-31T08:36:00.000-04:00

This beautiful 3-month old came to see me this weekend from Lafayette! Ashley, thanks so much for making the trek down here with Brinley!

Tysone | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

2010-05-28T20:39:00.002-04:00

Remember this couple?

Jennifer and I met early on in my business through a mutual acquaintance. We lost touch over the past year, so when she contacted me a few months ago to let me know she was expecting again, I was thrilled! We took a few maternity pictures during my Haiti mini session fundraiser day and today I got to meet her little bundle of joy, Tysone!

This shot is just slightly out of focus, but I had to grab it quick. Isn't he so adorable?!

Jennifer, I'm so glad you were able to make it over today and extra super glad you were so flexible and willing to step outside the norm to take some pictures outdoors! Both of your boys did an excellent job today! It was a pleasure working with all of you and I'm so honored to be your photographer.

Product Update: Accordion Mini Books

2010-05-27T16:11:00.004-04:00

Accordion Mini Books are one of my fastest growing favorite products! I first announced these back in the late fall and they made their debut here on the blog in January. (Thanks for helping me find that, Katy!) Previously I was simply placing images directly into the template, but now I'm offering custom templates as well as custom covers! Here's a sample from Sarah's session a few weeks ago:

I highly highly recommend these adorable little books. Parents and grandparents LOVE them and they are small enough (3x3) to carry around in a purse or a pocket! I definitely encourage you to consider these with your next portrait session!

For Sale: Nikon D40

2010-05-25T18:45:00.007-04:00

The time has finally come for me to part with my Nikon d40. I purchased this camera brand new 2 years ago when I started my business and used it for about 8 months before I upgraded to the Nikon d80. I kept it as my backup camera, but now I'm getting ready to upgrade again so my d80 will be my new backup. The sale of my d40 will go towards my d700.

The d40 is in PERFECT condition - no scratches, dents, or dings anywhere! And I have never had any performance issues with it.

The price listed is for the sale of the BODY ONLY, but the kit lens (18-55mm/3.5-5.6) can be purchased new for $100 from B&H Photo - or if you prefer, I'll throw in my used kit lens, still in great condition due to its low usage, for another $80 (non-negotiable) if you don't want to hassle with purchasing a new one.

It should be noted that this is not a professional-grade camera and that the d40 does have lens compatibility issues with some of the higher grade lenses. (All lenses can be USED but some require manual focusing.) This is the perfect camera for non-professionals desiring to own a DSLR but not wanting to pay the big bucks. And despite the recent Nikon additions of the d3000 and the d5000, the d40 still ranks higher in performance and costs less money according to some!

I am starting the bids at $225 (which I consider a steal considering the low shutter usage and mint condition) and will accept bids until midnight on Friday, June 4th. If you're interested, please email me at heidi (at) indyphotographyonline (dot) com. Shipping costs and insurance are included in your purchase. Once paid, the sale is final. No refunds will be given.

So, to wrap up, here's what you'll be getting:

Nikon d40 body (used)
optional 18-55mm/3.5-5.6 kit lens (used)
2 batteries (or maybe it's 3)
1 battery charger
camera manual
shipping and insurance

Please feel free to post general questions in the comments section so others can see. Happy bidding!

Silly Girl | Indianapolis Child Photographer

2010-05-25T08:07:00.000-04:00

Camden | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

2010-05-19T16:45:00.000-04:00

Remember this beautiful momma?

Well, her little Camden has finally arrived! All 9 lbs, 5 oz of him! So I guess....not so little Camden. :) At any rate, he was still a squishy baby and I loved having him come to visit me. Jeff and Kristin, I'm so glad you chose me as your maternity and newborn photographer! It's been great getting to know you and your sweet Camden. I hope to see lots of you in the future. :)

Some details...

Got Laughter?

2010-05-18T09:38:00.002-04:00

If not, you will after watching this....

Sarah | Indianapolis Baby Photographer

2010-05-16T15:14:00.001-04:00

Were you wondering what this post was all about? In case you missed it, I announced on Facebook (quite suddenly) on Friday afternoon that I wanted to do a baby session downtown on Saturday morning. The first commenter on my fan page won a free mini-session! (See? There are good reasons to be a fan!) Katy was fast and managed to grab that slot within the first few minutes it was announced. You've seen her daughter Sarah before if you've been following my blog for very long. Looking back at her pictures from November, I cannot believe how much she's grown in just 6 months!

Katy, I'm so glad you and Sarah were free yesterday morning! Hope you love these. :)

To the rest of you: Be sure to scroll down all the way to the bottom of this post for a great announcement!

For the record, downtown is my favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite FAVORITE (you get the idea??) place to shoot! I'm hoping that these images will encourage some of you who might be planning on a studio session for your baby or toddler to schedule an outdoor session instead!!

Sooo.....because I love shooting outdoors, because I love children, and because it's a ~~beautiful~~ cold and rainy Sunday afternoon, I'm offering all* on-location portrait sessions (normally $100) for the price of a studio session ($80) for the month of June only!!!! I will be out of town for part of June, so book your session as soon as possible to ensure you get in!

*This discount does not apply to senior portrait sessions.

Run to Facebook!

2010-05-14T15:28:00.000-04:00

If you have a baby around 6-12 months of age, you may want to SPRINT over to my Facebook fan page right now to find out what's going on tomorrow morning! Run, run!

Failure

2010-05-14T02:00:00.000-04:00

It's a terribly wonderful thing that my God is so great, because on my own....I'm a complete failure. I constantly find myself doing things I wish I wasn't doing and not doing things I wish I was doing. I yell at my kids, put off doing the dishes, spend too much time on Facebook, fail to do my husband's laundry, forget to make dinner, sleep in too late....and the list goes on. I would be absolutely, totally and utterly lost without my Savior. I am so so grateful for the great love He has for me. Even though I don't deserve a single ounce of it.

I Love Her | Indianapolis Baby Photographer

2010-05-11T08:29:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I forget to take pictures of my own kids. And when I remember, I usually forget to do anything with them. They sit on my hard drive....unprocessed, unblogged, and unprinted. But this weekend the kids were playing in the backyard and I was hit with the fact that this part of our life is so fleeting. So I grabbed my camera and snapped some pictures. Here's my sweet Savannah, already 7 months old!!!

Indianapolis Child/Family Photographer

2010-05-09T21:41:00.009-04:00

My eyes welled with tears as I typed the words.

Chastain Family.

Their session was a secret. A planned surprise for some extra special Mother's Day gifts. Cari told me they had never had family pictures before, and she knew the moms would love the gift. But as I typed the name of their gallery that night, I could not help but realize that this was not a complete family picture. Something was missing. Some one was missing.

Caden.

I pictured her there. A bubbly 2-year old, red hair in pig tails and a toothy grin spreading across her entire face. Sharing Cari and Andy's laps with her little brother and squealing with delight. Running around the studio, away from the camera, and into her daddy's arms.

Caden.

What had been the welling of tears turned into an outpouring of sobs. I struggled to remain quiet so as not to wake my sleeping husband across the room from me. But the pain was so great. It just...wasn't....fair. Why couldn't they have a complete family picture? Why had the Lord chosen to take sweet Caden home and leave her grieving family here on earth? Why would he choose her? Why a baby? Why?

The questions haunted me as I loaded their images into their gallery. Their family gallery. Their incomplete family gallery. And then the Lord gently began to remind me of His goodness, His mercy, His omniscience, His love for us, His sacrifice, His pain, His compassion.....His plan.

While I certainly do not understand His plan, I do know He has one. And while I cannot fathom the good in Caden's passing, I know there is some. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8.28)

Andy and Cari, thank you so much for choosing me to capture your first family picture. I'm honored. Really really honored. And even though we can't take things with us to heaven, I sure hope God has a camera up there for me to capture your first complete family picture. :) Love you.

Kokomo High School Senior Photographer

2010-05-08T11:24:00.000-04:00

View more of Corjinae's session and leave some love for her in the comments section of her post right over here on the senior blog!

Greenfield High School Senior Photographer

2010-05-07T07:41:00.004-04:00

Another beautiful girl from Greenfield High School is being featured over on the senior blog! You can view more of her session here.

Indianapolis Family Photographer

2010-05-04T22:49:00.000-04:00

This beautiful family visited over the weekend. I had a great time with them! And I couldn't help but think about my own kids. These twin boys are 6 and their sister is 3, so they are very close in age to my munchkins. Their mannerisms were almost identical! Since I stay at home during the day, I sometimes wonder how other kids act. So it was fun to watch and see that my kids are so very similar to other kids! I know that probably sounds lame, but I really got a kick out of it!

Agena, it was really great to meet you and your family. You have a beautiful bunch! I wish you the best with the rest of your pregnancy and hope to someday meet your littlest one. :)

Indianapolis High School Senior Photographer

2010-05-01T21:14:00.000-04:00

Go check out this gorgeous girl over here on the senior blog!

He Family | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

2010-04-27T01:33:00.002-04:00

I first ran into them once at the CVS drugstore down the road from us. It was about 2 years ago and I only vaguely recognized them from church. I don't remember if Kristen was pregnant or if she had just given birth, but I remember that I thought it was odd to see them there. After all, I was just certain we were the only family from our church who lived more than 5 minutes from the church building.

Buddy and Kristen are supported missionaries at our church. And as it turns out, Kristen's parents live rather close to us.When she first called, I tried to run her name through my mental Rolodex but came back blank. Finally it came to me when she said, "We're missionaries."

Kristen, I'm so glad you found me through Cari's blog! (Thanks, Cari!) And dare I say...I'm really glad you weren't able to schedule an appointment at St. Vincent? ;) It was really great getting to know you during your session. You have two lovely little girls!

Seriously?? | Indianapolis Baby Photographer

2010-04-25T07:54:00.001-04:00

Tweak Boutique | Fabulous Jewelry for Fabulous People

2010-04-24T11:33:00.000-04:00

Go check out the details on this gorgeous jewelry over here on the senior blog!

For a Girl!

2010-04-22T01:20:00.001-04:00

Wednesday evenings are one of my favorite nights of the week. During the school year, our church holds Wednesday evening activities for children ages 2 and up. They hold activities for adults as well, but Daniel and I prefer to indulge in our weekly (almost) date night. Savannah goes with us since she is only 6 months old and does qualify for our church's "free child care" (that's what I call it!), so it's not exactly a date, but we really enjoy our time together and our time with Savannah.

Some Wednesday evenings, there is an errand or two to run. Tonight was one of those nights. I dropped my husband off at Walmart with a short list, delivered a client order, picked up my husband, and we headed to Chickfila. We ate our dinner rather quickly as time was running short and then I asked my husband if he wanted me to get him an ice cream cone.

When I got to the counter, the girl on the other side asked what she could get for me. I realized I hadn't considered what size cone Daniel wanted. He was just a few tables away, so I called over, "Did you want a large cone?" I'm sure I could have worded that better. He stalled just a moment before joining me at the counter and responding with resounding "Sure!" I handed the girl two dollars, she handed me my change and suddenly there was a HUGE ice cream cone in front of me.

I'm not joking when I say that I don't think I've ever seen a cone that tall. "Wow!" I exclaimed, "that's a big cone!"

"For a girl!" Daniel retorted.

And so I held the cone tight all the way out the door, into the van, and all the way to church....licking my dear sweet ice cream cone that was much too big. But only for a girl. My husband begged and pleaded, but you simply can't pry someone's fingers off an ice cream cone without making a huge mess. Trust me on this. I'm experienced. Apparently so is he, because he waited until we got to the church before forcing me to hand over his ~~large~~ (now) medium cone while I went in to gather the kids.

To those of you who work in the children's department on Wednesday nights and take care of our children ~~so we don't have to~~ so we can go on a date....thank you. I mean that.

Indianapolis High School Senior Photographer

2010-04-21T11:24:00.000-04:00

I forgot to mention last week that there is a new senior post up over on the senior blog! Go check out this beautiful girl!

Thank YOU!

2010-04-16T11:10:00.000-04:00

Drumroll please..........

I'm so very excited to announce that Indy Photography's Haiti fundraiser raised a total of $452 for Compassion International's Disaster Relief Fund! Thank you SO MUCH to those of you who participated in the event! All of you collaboratively raised enough money to get basic medical supplies to treat up to 225 people!!

Now Offering Gift Certificates! | Indianapolis Photographer

2010-04-11T00:20:00.001-04:00

I'm so excited about this! Along with lots of other changes that are currently taking place around here, I recently got my very first round of gift certificates printed! And they are darling, if I do say so myself. Endowed with the simple phrase 'for you', these gift certificates are perfect for birthdays, baby showers, engagements, or just because!

So...come one, come all! Buy your friends and family members a gift they'll truly cherish. No more unwanted baby booties or useless kitchen utensils! Now they can have a gift that they'll hold dear for years to come!

Gift certificates can be purchased with any major credit card in quantities of $50, $100, or $200 by casting a glance over to the right hand side of my blog where you'll see this:

Got questions before you buy? Shoot me an email and I'll get back with you ASAP! :)

Spring Has Sprung | Indianapolis Photographer

2010-04-09T20:53:00.001-04:00

As much as I like to pretend I really love autumn...I know that it brings along the impending doom of winter. So, having reevaluated my liking of that season, I think I've come to the conclusion that spring is indeed a much better season. Everything is blooming and blossoming and turning green, and the world comes back to life!

This week, while out running errands, I stopped several times to take pictures of the beautiful trees and bushes and plants. Sure, I felt kind of silly sitting in the driveway of an old abandoned home as the rush hour traffic swept past me....but I was so happy to capture some of the beauty around me!

I Missed Easter

2010-04-05T22:00:00.003-04:00

I meant to post a picture yesterday. I had it all planned out. I was going to dig up one of the images from our vacation - a beautiful palm branch - and then type 'Happy Easter' or 'He Is Risen' or some other catchy Easter phrase in the corner and post it here so that all of you could be wished a Happy Easter from Indy Photography. But do you want to know why it didn't happen? Because I was busy spending time with my family. And I'm pretty sure that's acceptable.

I am so excited to share some of our vacation pictures with you and show you what all we did while we were in Texas. So here goes...

We went to the ocean.

The kids loved it.

Especially Keaton.

The water was cold, but the kids didn't care.

I made sure they watched out for these bad boys:

They had fun building sandcastles....

....and blowing bubbles.

We went to the Texas State Aquarium

and saw lots of fun creatures.

We drove along the shore and saw lots of cute little beach homes like these:

There was play time in the van

and lightsaber fighting in elegant dresses

and plenty of uncooperative picture moments.

There was babywearing

and wedding attending

and cacti shooting

and magazine reading.

There were funny owls

and pretty trees

and those famous Texas bluebonnets.

Oh, and chocolate!

We spent time with my parents

and my brother

and walked along the San Antonio Riverwalk as a family.

We acted goofy

and took pictures to prove it.

There were accidental shots of bees while intending to shoot flowers

and beautiful days filled with sunshine and blue skies.

It was a really great vacation.

Life, Death, and Christianity

2010-04-03T02:27:00.002-04:00

I know I said a few months ago that I was going to start blogging more. I mean, blogging. Like....writing. But then life was busy and I dropped off the face of the earth and lost my mind and....well, it just didn't happen like I had planned. But I have so many thoughts floating through my head right now and since I have not blogged anything lately, I thought I would blog my thoughts. There will not likely be much continuity to this post, so....consider yourself warned.

First of all, I cannot even express to you how excited I am that spring seems to have finally arrived. This winter was long for me. Very long. I'm not sure if I was suffering from postpartum depression, SAD, or if I was just out of it after having my 4th baby in six years, but something was definitely not right this winter. I forgot to pay bills, forgot to tithe, completely neglected any sort of Bible memorization, and basically felt like a blob for several months. I worked a lot on my branding and marketing, became easily frustrated with my kids, and somehow got lost in all the business of life. Now that spring is here, I am feeling more like myself. Still insanely busy, but happier. More energetic. And all around, I just feel better.

Spring signifies the start of new beginnings, the beauty of a new season, and lots of growth. I desire more than anything else this year to grow closer to Jesus than ever before. It's so easy to lose focus in today's culture. We busy ourselves with every little thing and ~~sometimes~~ oftentimes fail to make time for things that matter. Things like Jesus. My prayer is that I won't be so distracted with all the cleaning, playing, working, laundry, cooking, and enjoying life - but will focus on Him.

Tonight was difficult for me. Two weeks ago I received the heart-wrenching news that a friend of mine - who had been pregnant with triplets - lost all three babies very suddenly. She was halfway through her pregnancy, so all three babies were well-formed, tiny little people. The news was absolutely devastating to me. I am so thankful that I have never suffered through the loss of a child or even a miscarriage, but so many people who are close to me have and I know the pain must be so great. Then multiply that by three. So much in life does not seem fair. And even though, as a Christian, I know without a doubt that God has a plan and that He works out all things for the good of His people.....there is hardly an ounce of consolation in that at a time like this. At a get-together this evening, I was able to talk with my friend for the first time since the babies were delivered. We cried together as she showed me pictures of her sweet boys, relayed the story of their birth to me, and talked about what might have been. I shared with her what a mess I was in the greeting card isle at CVS as I opened up card after card after card that all seemed to say the same thing:

Cherish the memories.

What memories? She has no memories. They were born and were gone in an instant. A part of me was angry that Hallmark had nothing better to say than to cherish the memories. But another part of me was saddened by the fact that so many cards were absolutely and utterly hopeless. I simply cannot understand how reading the words 'My thoughts are with you' would be of any comfort to me during a time when I had lost a loved one. Prayers matter. Thoughts? Well, they're nice. But they aren't going to get me anywhere. Without the Lord, I have no idea how people get through the loss of a parent or sibling, let alone a child. Let alone three children. I am so thankful that my friend is a believer and can hold onto the fact that she will see her three boys once again in the future when they are reunited in heaven.

I can imagine it must be so difficult for people who suffer a miscarriage, loss of a child, or infertility. But it's also difficult on the other side of the spectrum. Daniel and I are so burdened for those who have trouble bearing children and find it difficult that we find it so ridiculously easy. We know plenty of couples who would give anything to be able to have 4 children in 10 or 15 years, but 4 children in 6 years is...well....pretty fertile. And we find it incredibly awkward to be on the extreme opposite end of the spectrum when someone close to us shares with us their loss. I'm learning to be as sensitive as possible while also wondering why the Lord has chosen to bless us so abundantly with children but has chosen not to do so with others - others who so desperately want children. I know it all reverts back to 'He has a plan', but...sometimes it seems it would be easier if only He would share that plan with us.

My heart is full of joy and sorrow today and since I know no one else who can properly handle such a mess of emotions, I will simply bask in the beauty of the Lord and trust that He does have a plan...even if I don't understand it.

I'm Still Alive. I Promise.

2010-04-01T16:34:00.000-04:00

We returned home from Texas late Monday night and I am still trying to get the laundry done, bags unpacked, and life put back into some sort of order. I will post some pictures from our trip. I just....don't know....when. :) But here's one for now. We stopped on the side of the highway to take a picture of these lovely flowers just before the sun set:

Dear Internet, Please Meet My New Blog

2010-03-14T23:16:00.000-04:00

I wanted something different. Something nobody else had. Something that would be useful in lots of ways - not just one. I wanted information and not just pictures. Fun and unique things - not the normal and mundane. And so I began to pull it together. My blog just for senior girls.

It's not quite complete yet, but I'm adding to it everyday, so I've decided to go ahead and announce it. I'd love any feedback you have including what else to add to the blog! I want it to be a wealth of information for both students as well as parents and even other people who venture over to take a peek. So don't be shy! Go on over and visit, say 'hello', and let me know what you think!

Click below to join the fun!

Haiti Fundraiser | Indianapolis Child/Maternity/Family Photographer

2010-03-13T19:45:00.002-05:00

Wow, what a full day! I saw 5 different families today and did mini-sessions with each. The session fee was waived and instead, donations for Compassion International's Disaster Relief Fund were accepted. A portion of the print orders from these sessions will also be donated to Compassion Int'l.

To those of you who came today.....Thank you so much! I had a great time working with all of you and am so excited to see the total amount we'll all be donating to help those in Haiti! Here are some sneak peeks from today's sessions:

That First Year

2010-03-13T00:16:00.001-05:00

Tonight I hosted a Mary Kay party at my house. As we soaked our feet, we chatted. And as we munched on chips and salsa, we chatted. Girls do that, you know. We chat. And it drives our husbands crazy. Thankfully there were no husbands around to be annoyed by our incessant chatting.

We flew through several topics until we landed on one I that really piqued my interest. A friend of mine was talking about how teaching is so labor-intensive the first year because you have to put together your curriculum. After that first year, it's a lot easier because everything is already in place and you go over it with your new students each year. I can completely relate to this. Every single night this week (and probably last week - okay, and maybe even the week before that), I have been up into the wee hours of the night working. I've been designing marketing materials and ordering products and researching companies and learning about connecting all the dots in this crazy thing I call "business life".

It's hard to run your own business. I find it difficult to disconnect my mind from business and connect it to family - and vice versa. I feel like my mind is always running 396 miles per minute with new branding ideas, thoughts on organizing the kids' toys, deciding where to put my desk, and so on and so forth. And lest I sound like I'm complaining...I'm totally not. I love this crazy life! I just have to learn how to adjust to it. I feel like so often I get sucked into working and forget to enjoy the little things in life.

In honor of my family, I'd like to share with you my son's very first "paint" project on the computer. He did this several weeks (months?) ago and I saved it like any good mother would. And now I will share it with you.

Here's to the little things in life:

Calling 2011 Senior Girls!! | Indianapolis High School Senior Photographer

2010-03-11T02:00:00.001-05:00

Attention 2011 Senior Girls! Here's your chance to be a model! Apply to be a senior ambassador for Indy Photography and if you're chosen as a participant, you'll receive lots of great stuff including CASH for all referrals!!

Plus, your parents will be thrilled about the fact that senior ambassadors receive two absolutely FREE sessions, FREE wallets, and the possibility of earning credits toward the purchase of even more FREE prints!

You must apply by April 15th to be considered as a senior model, so hurry and fill one out!!

You can email or snail mail your application to me. (Contact info is listed at the bottom of the application.) Just click on the application below and follow the directions to print it out.

Kristin | Indianapolis Maternity Photographer

2010-03-07T16:51:00.000-05:00

Today I met with Kristin and Jeff to take some maternity pictures. Kristin is 34 weeks pregnant and looks phenomenal! I have to admit that I was a little nervous about this shoot because I haven't done a maternity shoot in....a) my studio, and b) over a year! I was also a little apprehensive thinking that our pose choices would be limited in a studio, but I was pleasantly surprised that the whole process went much smoother than I had anticipated. Once we got started, everything just fell into place!

Kristin and Jeff, it was so fun hanging out with you this afternoon! Thanks so much for coming over for your pictures!

I Almost Peed My Pants

2010-03-02T22:55:00.002-05:00

Sometimes when my husband and I are bored in the evening we watch a few Tim Hawkins videos on YouTube. We've laughed pretty hard at several of them but tonight was by far the best. We both had cough attacks (we have colds) over this one:

Announcements

2010-02-28T23:09:00.001-05:00

1. My website and blog have been redesigned. Obviously. I hired Crystal from Light Trail Studios to redo my branding and she did an AWESOME job. (Thanks, Crystal!) New business cards and gift certificates are currently being redesigned as well.

2. I'm stepping up my presentation materials. I've bounced back and forth, to and fro, among several options for presenting prints to my clients. I've decided on something new and will definitely share details once everything is ordered, shipped, and ready for show. :)

3. Remember my urge for you to become a fan of my new Facebook page a few weeks ago? Well, if you never did become a fan...now's your chance to get in on a great fundraising event for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Here are the details:

On March 13th from 10a-2p, my studio will be open for 15-minute mini sessions. There will be no session fee, but donations for Compassion International will be accepted. All 5x7s and smaller will be only $10 and 100% of the proceeds from the purchases of those size prints will also be donated to Compassion. There are a few slots still available, so please contact me as soon as possible if you're interested in getting on the schedule!

If I wasn't so exhausted, I would get off this couch and pull up a recent picture from my camera to post here, but....alas, it has been a very long weekend.

Some Fun Stuff

2010-02-22T23:42:00.003-05:00

I've hired a real live designer for my new logo. After my eleven million tries at it, I've decided to hire someone who actually knows what they're doing. I know, you'd think I would have learned like ten million tries ago. Apparently I'm slow.

I will be redoing my entire blog as well as my business cards and ordering some new fun things like personalized CDs, gift certificates, and brochures. I'm so excited to get everything under way! Anyway, I tell you all of this so that you won't be surprised if you stop by and things are a bit....ehh....wonky.

In other news, I found my mp3 player that I thought I had lost. I nearly cried since I've had it all of about 6 weeks. I even called my gym and put out a search warrant on it. (Which reminds me, I should probably call them back and let them know I did in fact find it. In my own home, of all places.) But it's not really my fault. You see, someone put it on top of these leggings and, well....don't you see how well it blends in?

Stop it. It does. And if you're wondering what the heck is going on with my headphones....don't even ask.

Regardless, I'm so very happy to have found it. It now permanently clothes itself in a rubbery pink outfit so as not to get lost in the land of stripes. That is, unless I accidentally leave it on top of a pair of pink leggings.

Kade and Corinne | Indianapolis Family and Child Photographer

2010-02-20T20:50:00.000-05:00

This beautiful family came to visit me today! Corinne was quite the serious baby but we managed to get her to crack a few grins with her daddy's help. Kade was full of energy and did not want to stop one moment to have his pictures taken. But then...what else do little boys ever want to do but run and play? :)

It was such a pleasure to meet all of you today! But next time, tell Kade to share his gummy worms with me. :)

Colton | Greenwood Newborn Photographer

2010-02-20T09:35:00.001-05:00

What a sleepy little guy! Colton was sleeping when I arrived and sleeping when I left with a tiny period in the middle when he woke up to eat. He sure made my job easy! I tried to incorporate as much of their home into this session as possible to make it personal. And their beautiful artwork didn't hurt a bit. :)

Hurry! Hurry!

2010-02-17T14:30:00.000-05:00

If you're not a Facebook fan already, head on over right now and become a fan to get in on a special fundraising event taking place very soon!

Haiti is still experiencing earthquakes and the death toll continues to rise daily due to lack of food, water, and basic medical supplies. Hundreds of thousands of orphans live in Haiti. And despite the fact that we have four small children of our own, something inside me summoned up the word 'adoption' when I watched this video:

If you're not interested in pictures at this time, please consider finding another worthy organization through whom you can give to Haiti. We are SO crazy blessed here in America and anyone who has internet access can surely spare $20 or more. If you're not sure who to give through, I highly recommend Compassion International.

While We're Waiting For Spring...

2010-02-13T10:10:00.001-05:00

.....I suppose we might as well enjoy the beauty of winter.

Facebook, Here I Come!

2010-02-12T15:30:00.003-05:00

I've had a personal Facebook page for several months now, but I just finally started a Facebook fan page. The whole "fan page" name makes me feel a little conceited, but please know that I'm only doing it to network. :)

However, that being said, there will be some FACEBOOK ONLY deals posted on my fan page (one of them will hopefully be announced very soon!) so you may want to head on over and become a fan. You wouldn't want to miss out on any great session deals or freebies, now would you?

I didn't think so. :) So go check it out and become a fan! (Or just click on the fake Facebook page below.) And while you're there, if you've been a client of mine in the past, check out the galleries. You might find one of your kiddos in there!

Portland

2010-02-11T01:10:00.001-05:00

Just pretend these photos are not way behind schedule. Pretend you saw them six weeks ago. And while you're pretending...could you also please pretend my house in clean?

Have I mentioned my love of flying?

Everything in Portland was green! Although it was sometimes hard to tell through all the fog.....

We never did see the top of Mt. Hood. But I'm going to believe it exists

based on other photographs I've seen of it. :)

Dear Portland, I miss you and your beautiful green.....green-ness.

Four Months Already | Indianapolis Baby Photographer

2010-02-07T23:00:00.001-05:00

My little Savannah turned four months old last weekend! Time sure flies.

Yes, she sits up for a few seconds at a time!

I tried to get her to sit on the hard floor, but she wasn't too thrilled.

It's About The Experience

2010-02-05T22:40:00.000-05:00

I love the cheese. I love the chocolate. But I could care less about the actual food. What I love the most is the experience.

Tonight, my husband and I went to dinner at the Melting Pot. We laughed, joked, and ate way too much fondue. I am so thankful for days like these.

New Product: Float Wraps | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

2010-02-05T00:25:00.000-05:00

Indy Photography is now offering float wraps! I just ordered my studio sample last week and I was so excited when it arrived. I was really impressed with its quality!

Behold the beauty:

When you hang these bad boys on the wall, they appear to be floating. I'm going to go ahead and assume that's why they call it a float wrap.

I'll post another picture when I get it hung up. :)

Do Your Part

2010-02-02T15:27:00.002-05:00

I'm very boldly a pro-life advocate and was so happy to hear that CBS will be airing the Focus on the Family-backed Superbowl ad about the life of Tim Tebow, a college football player whose mother was advised to have an abortion. Tim Tebow was the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and will be starring in the ad along with his mother, Pam.

If you agree that this is a favorable choice on the part of CBS to air this ad, I'd like to encourage you to drop them a line and let them know about your support for their decision. It's a very short form and it could make a huge difference in the lives of unborn children.

FOR SALE: Nikkor 55-200/4.0-5.6 VR lens

2010-01-31T21:45:00.005-05:00

UPDATE: This lens has sold.

I no longer use this lens and would like to sell it.
If you are interested, please contact me. I'm asking $150 OBO.
For all the technical stuff, here's the Ken Rockwell review on this lens.

Comes with this handy dandy drawstring case....

Happy Birthday, Buddy! | Indianapolis Child Photographer

2010-01-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I've been a mother for five whole years already! Keaton has been asking about his birthday all week and is SO excited to be turning five. I'll be taking the day off from answering emails to spend some extra time with my firstborn (and second-born....and third-born....and fourth-born....)

Lynlee | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

2010-01-24T22:39:00.002-05:00

This sweet little one was born on Christmas Eve. Even though she was 3 weeks old, she slept like a charm for a good portion of her session. Check out her full head of hair!

Finn | Indianapolis Newborn Photography

2010-01-24T22:29:00.001-05:00

Last Saturday I saw two sweet newborns in the studio. Meet Finn. :)

Indianapolis Child/Family Photographer

2010-01-22T10:01:00.001-05:00

Did I reach my goal? You be the judge.

My Gang | Indianapolis Child and Family Photographer

2010-01-19T23:48:00.004-05:00

If I had been around yesterday and if I had ventured over to the I Heart Faces blog, you probably would have seen me enter a photo for their weekly contest. And since the contest theme this week is "We Are Family", you probably would have seen me enter this picture:

Or maybe this one....

Or possibly this one....

Or this one....

You see, my mother emailed today and asked for a picture of all four kids in their new outfits. And ironically, I had dressed them all in their new outfits today. So when our younger two munchkins got up from their nap, I went to town. For about 40 seconds.

(That's the full attention span of a 3 month old, a 2 year old, a 3 year old, and a 4 year old. Didn't you know?)

I know none of the images are perfect, but I love them all anyway. And for the record, these are the first pictures of all four of them together! My goal for this week is to get a great picture of all four kids looking at the camera and smiling!

Is my goal unattainable?? I'll keep you posted.

Fearless | Indianapolis Child Photographer

2010-01-18T15:34:00.002-05:00

"Praise Him, Praise Him, all you little children, God is love, God is love....."

She softly sang the words over and over again in the van. And as we splashed through the puddles. And while we shopped. And as she sat in the cart in the checkout line. I caught myself feeling slightly embarrassed by her singing as I anxiously waited for my groceries to be bagged. But then I realized it wasn't really embarrassment. It was jealousy.

The innocence of a child is an absolute wonder. No concern about what others will think. No thoughts of how they might appear to others. Just totally fearless. If only my witness could be the same.

Today I am so thankful for my little girl. My girl who loves to laugh, loves to sing, and loves the one who brings true joy: Jesus.

Playing It Safe

2010-01-14T21:34:00.002-05:00

I'm not very experimental when it comes to cooking. I like to stick to what I know. Unfortunately, what I know is not all that exciting. Just ask my husband. But this week I discovered a pork tenderloin in my freezer. (No, it didn't just appear there. I did buy it, but it was several weeks ago and I had since forgotten about it.) I've never cooked a pork tenderloin before, so obviously I had no idea what to do with it.

Thank you, Internet!

Well, sort of. I searched through ~~millions~~ ~~thousands~~ ~~hundreds~~ a few recipes and then just threw some things together to create what, in my opinion, for my kitchen, was....

a masterpiece.

Feast your eyes on this delicious meal!

What's that you say?

Why yes, that is bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with a sweet and tangy plum sauce drizzled over the top, paired oh-so delicately with my famous mashed potatoes and some ~~homemade~~ frozen from-a-box veggies.

(Can you tell I finally figured out how to use the strike through?)

Ah yes, it was a lovely dinner last night. And lunch today. :)

I Heart Faces | "Best Face"

2010-01-12T14:40:00.003-05:00

All of you regular blog readers have seen this photo before, but I'm reposting it for this week's I Heart Faces contest. If you'd like to participate, just visit the I Heart Faces blog for details! This week's entries must be posted by 9pm tonight.

Theme: Best Face

Jason and Sara | Portland, OR Wedding

2010-01-11T20:44:00.004-05:00

My cell phone rang out its sweet little song. I glanced at the front of it and saw the silly picture of my best friend that I had taken 2 years ago, the last time we had seen each other. After the standard 'hellos' were exchanged, her voice changed a bit and she blurted out, "So, I'm getting married in five weeks!"

Sara had been engaged since Easter weekend, but her wedding date had been changed several times. To the best of my knowledge, there wasn't a date in place at the time of her call, so her announcement was somewhat surprising to me. She went on to say that her wedding would be held in Portland, where she has lived for the better part of our 6 years since high school graduation. It was then that my heart sunk a bit. There was no way I could afford to fly out to Portland during the holidays.

But as it turned out, (thanks, Mom & Dad and Sara & Jason!) I was able to fly out! And so were Daniel and Savannah! The wedding was small, personal, beautiful, and totally Christ-centered. It was an absolute pleasure to be there. Since Jason and Sara were doing things pretty low-key, they had not hired a photographer so I volunteered to take their wedding pictures.

It was VERY cold outside, but I convinced them that they would be so much happier if we just stepped out for a few minutes to do the majority of their portraits outdoors. I adore natural light and was so happy they complied with my request.

Jason, it was a total pleasure to meet you. I know you will be a blessing to my dear friend! I hope you both enjoyed your honeymoon!

Jason and Sara, I love you both and wish you guys the best if your new life together! Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your wedding! We had a great time and were so happy we were able to attend. :)

What's So Funny? | Indianapolis Child Photographer

2010-01-08T15:33:00.002-05:00

Featured Product: Accordion Books

2010-01-07T09:11:00.002-05:00

My lab recently started offering accordion books and they are selling like hotcakes! These are fabulous and so adorable. Mothers and grandmothers love them because they can easily fit in a purse or diaper bag. At just 3 inches x 3 inches, who could resist?

Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

2010-01-06T23:58:00.000-05:00

I had two adorable little visitors today! Meet Laney - just seven tiny days old. And perhaps you remember her big sister? She was my very first newborn almost 2 years ago! Boy, have I improved since then! :)

Indianapolis Family Photographer

2010-01-06T18:02:00.003-05:00

Dear Internet,

I loved this family's session so much that I simply must share a few more images with you.

The end.

It Rained and Rained

2010-01-06T08:40:00.002-05:00

Our trip to Portland was fantastic. But all it did was rain. There will be more pictures to come, but here's a beautiful photo of the glorious green color they have everywhere! (Of course, due to all that RAIN!) :)

Best of 2009

2010-01-06T00:39:00.000-05:00

Wow! It's hard to believe 2009 has come to a close already. I know everyone says that every year, but this year was really memorable for me. It was a pretty big year for my business! I ran my first fundraiser, I gained a lot of new clients (and in the meantime got to meet a lot of really genuine people) and I finally found what I hope is my niche.

Several months ago, I searched the photographers in the Indianapolis area for newborn photographers. I found lots of photographers who work with newborns but NONE who really specialize in newborns. Newborn portraits are so precious and important. And also, I happen to love working with the little babes, so....that was that. :) In September, I officially announced that my business would specialize in newborns. I saw a total of eleven newborns this year (including my own Savannah) and enjoyed every single one of them so very much! I am excited to see what 2010 brings and how many more little babies I'll get to see this coming year!

As a recap for a great year, here are a few of my favorite images taken during the past twelve months. Hope you enjoy!

My Best Friend's Wedding :)

2010-01-03T13:40:00.002-05:00

My best friend since 1st grade was married yesterday in beautiful (rainy) Portland. Jason, it was a pleasure meeting you. Really. And Sara, it was soo great to see you again. Daniel and I love you both and wish you the best in your new life together! Here's a quick sneak peek before we head off to visit Multnomah Falls:

Miscellaneous Ramblings

2009-12-30T23:11:00.002-05:00

*Christmas is over but my decorations are still up. I hate taking them down. It makes me sad. And it means Christmas is REALLY over. Can you tell how much I like Christmas?

*Yesterday we met my parents in Illinois for lunch. They took our three older kids up to Wisconsin with them for about a week. We kept Savannah since she is nursing. Today Savannah and I slept in until 10:45am. It was glorious. But then I had to take her to get a blood test done. And that was not glorious.

*Tomorrow is New Years Eve. I've put off some of today's errands including going to the bank and the library for tomorrow. But now that I'm thinking about it....both of those places probably have limited hours due to the holiday. Good planning.

*I should be cleaning my house. It hasn't really been cleaned at all this week, and it hasn't been thoroughly cleaned in at least a month. I had great plans for the two days I have only one child in the house, but as it turns out I completely wasted the first day. Oh well. Rest is good too.

*I am TOTALLY excited to fly out to Portland this weekend. I mean V-E-R-Y excited. I know some people don't care much for flying but I absolutely love it! I've never had the opportunity to fly with my husband (or any of our kids) before, so this will be a fun new experience. I'm also shooting my best friend's wedding (even though I don't really shoot weddings any more) and I'm expecting that to be a fun change of pace. Then we're just going to hang out in Portland for a few days, visit with my cousin, swim in the hotel pool, and EAT. Mmmm, we do love to eat.

Sometimes when I'm driving I snap pictures out the (very dirty) windows. Yesterday this exact scenario played itself out several times. Since I can't really watch the camera and see what I'm shooting, I always just hope for a good one. Here's my favorite from our trip:

Indianapolis Family Photographer

2009-12-26T09:21:00.003-05:00

Wow! Has it really been four days since this session? Michael and Katherine, I had a great time with you guys on Tuesday. Thanks for being patient with me during Christmas week! Here's a quick preview:

Have fun on your cruise!!!!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T07:14:00.003-05:00

"...For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth..."
(John 18.37)

Running

2009-12-22T22:05:00.003-05:00

I did it. I signed up for the Mini Marathon here in Indy. And I did it just in time because the race reached capacity just two days after I signed up. So it's set. Now that I've paid $79, I better run it. I had actually planned to run the Mini last year but never got around to registering in time. Which turned out really well because by the time May rolled around, I was almost 5 months pregnant.

I figured that since I just gave birth 2 months ago, this would give me some good incentive to get back into shape after my fourth baby in five years.

Heh heh. I love saying that. It freaks people out.

So I started "training" (although I'm not really sure what I'm doing) a few weeks ago. I ran/walked 6 miles the first week and wound up with shin splints. Flashback to high school basketball days. OUCH. I did a bit of research online - because you know, we all know how reliable the internet is - and decided that it might be a good idea to strengthen my legs before attempting to run again. So I took a few days off and then went back to the gym. I started working on the leg machines and walking? running? moving? on the elliptical machine. Next week I'm going to attempt going back to running on the treadmill. I'm hoping my legs have become strong enough that the pain of shin splints will be no more. Or at least minimal.

I bought my first mp3 player this weekend and I TOTALLY. LOVE. IT. It keeps me so much more focused on what I'm doing and provides me much better entertainment than the (lame) music they play at the gym. So thank you, birthday money-givers for that sweet gift!

I'm really looking forward to the experience of running alongside 35,000 other people. As frightening as that sounds. Hopefully I won't get run over. :)

Winner!!!

2009-12-18T21:43:00.005-05:00

I am very pleased to announce that Andy and Cari are the winners of yesterday's birthday giveaway! Yes, I do know them in person, but I promise it's just coincidence!

Cari, please contact me so we can discuss details of your apron and hat. :)

Thanks to Random.com for generating this....well....random number!

It's A Birthday Present! For you!

2009-12-17T16:00:00.003-05:00

At 12.14pm CST today, I turned 25 years old. Yep, I've now lived a quarter of a century! And no matter how young you thing 25 is, surely that quarter-of-a-century part made me sound a little bit older, right?

In honor of my birthday - and because I really like presents, both received and given - I'm giving away a matching apron and chef hat to one of my blog readers! (That's you!)

You have exactly 8 hours to enter this drawing. A winner will be chosen at random and contacted with details of pattern/gender/etc. To be entered for this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite Christmas memory is! Be sure to leave your email address if you don't have a blog or are posting anonymously. Get an extra entry if you blog about this post and link to my site. After blogging, just come back here and let me know, leaving a link to your post about this giveaway.

Entries must be received by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT EST, Thursday, December 17th.

I Stand Corrected

2009-12-16T15:27:00.004-05:00

Last week I posted a (bizarre) video of what I called The Best Christmas Song Ever. Well, I stand corrected. Shortly after I first heard that song, I heard this song for the first time. As good as that other song was, this one is better. Better in a different way, but really altogether better.

It's totally beautiful and I could never in my life have so eloquently put these thoughts to music. Oh, and Cari, this one includes Jesus. :)

Here's Relient K singing "I Celebrate the Day" from their album Let It Snow, Baby, Let It Reindeer. (Lyrics below)

I Celebrate The Day

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

Email Troubles

2009-12-15T10:32:00.003-05:00

I have had a few clients tell me this week that they sent me an email which I did not receive. I have contacted customer support and am waiting to see if they know what the issue is. In the meantime, if you have tried to contact me in the past few weeks and have NOT received a reply, please email me again! If you still do not get a response, try emailing me at indyphotography (at) sbcglobal (dot) net.

Thanks!

Christmas Schedule

2009-12-14T23:06:00.004-05:00

After getting some of our Christmas decorations out last week, I am feeling relieved that the holiday did not pass me by prior to my decorating. I did not put up as much as I usually do, but it's PLENTY for this momma of four! The kids enjoyed helping with the ornaments and love all the candles we have sitting around. Every day I hear some variation of the question: "Is it Christmas soon?" They are so excited.

I have been busy sewing, sewing, sewing. I'm making capes with eye masks for my niece and nephews and aprons with chef hats for my three oldest kids. I'm also making some extra aprons for some other people, so sewing has been taking up a lot of my time lately. Business has slowed down recently which has given me more time to make all these gifts. And it's been fun learning how to make new things! Check out this super cute apron and chef hat I made for a birthday party last week:

With the exception of newborns, I will not be taking any sessions between December 21st-January 5th as we will be traveling a bit and spending time with our families for the holidays. If you or someone you know is due any day now and planning to do pictures with me, please contact me as soon as possible. Newborns are best photographed at 7-10 days old, so it is crucial for me to pencil you in early, especially during the holiday season.

Hope you all are enjoying the Christmas season!

Updates

2009-12-12T01:19:00.003-05:00

Help-Portrait Winner

Thank you all for your nominations! Since it was such a tough decision, I recruited my mom to help decide who would win the portrait package giveaway. Oddly enough, she chose the same person I had been learning toward. So that was that.

I am happy to announce that Peggy Butler is the winner of one totally free session as well as a ton of complimentary prints!

Since the purpose of Help-Portrait is not to further one's portfolio but to provide hope and encouragement by giving something beautiful to someone else, you, dear Internet, will not be seeing pictures of this session. It will be a personal family package. And I can't wait to give it!

Servant's Heart Fundraiser

A huge THANK YOU to the families who participated in November's fundraising event for Servant's Heart of Indy! Because of you, I will be donating $206 to Servant's Heart!

Christmas

We finally got our Christmas tree and a few of our decorations up! Yes, I realize it's pretty late in the month for that, but....better late than never, right?

Best. Christmas. Song. Ever.

2009-12-11T15:38:00.005-05:00

I'm all for Christmas carols. I mean, I really love carols. But I just heard this song on the radio this afternoon in the van and had to find out who sang it as soon as I got home. I absolutely LOVE this song. You must listen. I mean it. Don't close this page until you hear it.

The song is called "His Favorite Christmas Story" and it's sung by Capital Lights.

And....I'm not exactly sure what's up with the intermittent anime, but....whatever. The song is still amazing.

Hold On, Internet

2009-12-11T08:36:00.002-05:00

The winner of the Help Portrait photo session giveaway has been chosen! An email has been sent to the nominator and I am awaiting response regarding what information I should post here on the blog. But rest assured, I haven't forgotten to alert you. :)

And seriously, I promise this is the last picture you will see of my most recent set of hats from UndertheOakTreesKids! For now.

And Then The Power Went Out

2009-12-09T22:07:00.003-05:00

It was cold today. Like, really cold. It started out cold and windy and it got colder and windier all day. And then, right after my husband got home, the power went out. Perfect.

It reminded me of a day last year when the power went out and it was extremely cold outside. The three kids and I all piled into one bedroom (okay, our bedrooms are not that small that we had to pile), snacked on crackers, and tried to keep ourselves warm with the heat of 6 small candles. It didn't work. And if I remember correctly, right about the time I decided to call it quits, the power came back on. Isn't that usually how it works?

Anyway, that doesn't really have anything to do with today. So our power went out. Thankfully we were already planning to get a fire started this evening, so we set right to work on that. My husband has gotten pretty good at making fires (he used to be terrible, seriously - like, the entire house would fill with smoke and then he would finally give up - but don't tell him I said that), but today for some reason it just was not happening. Actually, it was probably my fault today. I stacked the wood and most likely did something wrong. The fire would take and then die down. And then back up again. And then back down. Really fun. Especially when its our only source of heat.

I had a few candles burning downstairs. When the kids weren't complaining about how scary it was in the dark, they were running around like maniacs. Must have been pretty scary. I finally decided I was going to go upstairs and retrieve some more candles. As I got to the top of the stairs I heard the power switch back on.

I actually considered (momentarily) turning all the lights off and just using candles, but since my husband was pretty exhausted - and also since the kids' room was a disaster and need some serious light-filled cleaning - I decided I should probably let things be.

Our evening was a little more hectic than planned, but it all worked out. I love my family. :)