I can't even begin to tell you how many times people ask if I am available for mentoring or apprenticeship and while I would LOVE to help… there just are not enough hours in the day. I figure later in life, when both of my children are in school, there will be more of an opportunity for me to do this. Until then all I can do is give advice on the best ways to learn photography. Books of course are always a great way to learn, but even better than that is the internet! There are so many great forums and websites where people are so unbelievably willing to help and give constructive criticism and help you grow as a photographer. Flickr is full of great inspiration. Joins some groups and start learning! Another one is…

Go on over and check it out! And the last thing is PRACTICE! It is by far the MOST important thing you can do if you would like to better yourself as a photographer. Take pictures… take a TON of pictures… Don't get discouraged if they are not exactly what you would like them to look like. You have to remember that even the most famous and talented photographers had to start somewhere and I am sure they have plenty of just awful photos from when they were just starting out… I know I do! Go forth… conquer… and take pictures! Great contest over at Prop Insanity to win a free one year membership!

I was flipping through images while my 4 year old was watching and when I passed this one…

She said… "oooohhhh…. she is pretty! What's her name?" I told her that her name is Olivia and she got really angry and said, "What?! Why did Olivia get to grow up already and I am still so tiny?" She has a little friend named Olivia at school and I guess doesn't quite understand that there isn't just one person with that name.

I have been blessed with some pretty adventurous children. We took them out to Pilots Knob for the very first time. The plan was just to show them the rocks and not really "climb" them, but when we got there they were all for climbing it so up we went. I am proud to say that there was not even one scrapped knee from the entire adventure. For those of you that have been there… Yes, we did go all the way up! I did not take my good camera because I was worried enough about keeping 2 children under the age of 5 safe while rock climbing, but I did snap this picture with my phone. It is funny because I have all of these awesome pictures of my children that I have taken over the years, but yet I am so proud of this noisy little picture of my children.

This little one just turned two and is full of spunk! I LOVE shooting this age! They make me work hard, but it is just so much fun. At one point I wasn't sure if we were ever going to get her out of that pettiskirt. I am so great full for what I do. I get to spend almost every day of the week with some wonderful little people and absolutely enjoy every single second of it.

Got a few of big brother too!

Dancing!

I know I am behind on the blog, but I am just working my hiney off trying to get everyone their proofs. So… Here is a sneak peek of the next sneak peek. I can do that, right? I just had to make these two into a storyboard! Look how stinking CUTE she is!

Today is our 6 year anniversary! We are actually coming up close to the double digits if you count the time we have been dating and married. We really probably did not make things easier on ourselves by getting married so young and then immediately starting a family, but I wouldn't change a thing!

My Junior Prom… Thrift store suits, hand made shirt and Oprah hair before Oprah even knew about Oprah hair!

Oh yeah, did I mention that we got married on Stefan's 18th birthday? No? Well, we did! So Happy Birthday, Stefan!

That's a little tiny Marley.. sniff.. sniff.

He is going to absolutely KILL me for putting these pics on here!

This was the last morning session I took for the summer and it was HOT! I just thought I had gotten hot on shoots before, but this one was by far the hottest! Olivia was such a trooper and didn't even complain. We stopped for sweat wiping quite a bit and had to put off the second part of the shoot until the afternoon because of the sun and heat. Here are a few from Olivia's senior portrait session. Enjoy your sneak peek!

Okay, so a few things about this shoot. First, I remember this girl when she was teeny tiny and now I am taking her senior pictures! That makes me feel so incredibly OLD! Second, I have decided that they are putting something in the school lunches to make all these high school kids gorgeous. That just has to be it!

Some of these photos were taken during a "Sunset Session". If you are interested in booking a sunset session just give me a call! They will offer a look that most photographers simply can not achieve. Don't wait to book you session though because spots for these are limited and book up fast!

This little man was so much fun! It was SO hot on the day of the shoot. The heat will sometimes make little ones somewhat miserable, but the heat didn't stop this guy! Thanks for making the long drive to Harrison!

Oops…. I don't think he liked me waking him up

I just HAD to include this one! He is so silly!