The fabulous Soper family on one of the beautiful days that we’ve been having..up until the snow today  This was a new spot that they found…bonus points* for that!  They even made a really fun FLIP video of the shoot, it was adorable!

The one day I was home during a long vacation, I shot 2 sessions…this was one of them Meet the Whipple’s. They currently live near Philly and were in town visiting family. You see, Kyle, (dad) was one of my brothers really great childhood friends, and I was great friends with his sister, and we were at their house most days after school for at least a year or two…at least that’s what I remember. The amazing power of facebook, has brought us back into contact It was fabulous to meet Kyle’s entire family, aren’t they adorable? …and hear what they’ve been doing the past 15 years! It’s crazy how much happens…kinda makes me feel old. Here are a few (a gazillion) of my faves

I have so many sessions from the winter season to post…so I’ll start with these Kelli is another amazing GR photograher and she brought her boys in for one of my mini sessions…and aren’t they FABULOUS!! I love the way their photos turned out! Here are a few of my favorites!!

I adore Abby and her family. Her daughters are adorable. We first met when she attended my FIRST paid wedding….(James & Lisa) and then called me for portrait work. They live in Auburn Hills, and we have done a few sessions here in GR as my studios change, and have done a few on their side of the state. This may be my favorite yet! I think you’re still in Disney World…but here is your preview!

There are still mini sessions at my studio available…it can be family, your kids, anniversary session, belly session….

here is what I have

Friday ~ November 13th
10:45
2:45
3:15

***and a few Saturday the 14th***

10am
10:30am

*You get a 30 minute session, 1 digital negative for christmas cards with full reproduction rights and a discount on all my normal portrait prices.

If you just have to have more time than that…please let me know so we can get your session scheduled ASAP. Any session scheduled after Thanksgiving will not be able to get any prints or digital negative before Christmas….

seriously—need I say more?? love the clothes, love the locations, love that the kids can pull of some great model faces You guys are hot!!! ps…beth is a local photog too, so she was right on with her clothing choices and letting me sneak her fam into some sweet new places!

Here are a just a few faves….

Oh yes, it’s that time of year!  Here’s the skinny – daylight is shrinking by the day, weekend dates are hard to come by with my schedule and yours…so we have the mini session!  I even have a funky mantle *for a different take on the traditional family photo-all crazy ideas welcome*   I even have a tire swing hanging in my studio!!  It’s warm and bright in my studio – so no need to just wear sweater & scarves – but anything brightly colored is welcome!  Don’t you want your holiday photo to stand out??!!  It can be the whole fam or just the kids!  The details are below…

I had so much fun with little *eli*…..He was so cooperative! Then at the end I told him – he could cry all he wanted too! This session was a gift from a previous bride of mine and her mother…what a great gift!

Photography is a gift that lasts a lifetime and will be enjoyed for years to come. If you are interested in gifting a studio session and entire session cd negatives, to someone you know for the holidays, please email me! I will be offering a special on this only until November 6th, for $300 total! That is a steal ~ (normally this would retail around $700). The gift sessions can be used any time after January 1st, 2010!

here are just a few….

I share this with you….because it lays heavy on my heart and never feels like I’m doing enough. Our oldest is adopted after he lived in our home for 2 yrs through foster care (he was 3 1/2 when we first met him!). We have had other children live in our home for a year or so…and others we’ve had for a few days or weeks and will never see again. I won’t lie – it’s hard…but, has anything meaningful or rewarding in your life ~ ever come easily???

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

This is Crystal…she lived with us for a year when she was 10. I would like to think we totally rocked her world, and she will never be the same because of her time at the Ruffhouse! Crystal and I talk and text many times a week. …and she is an amazing girl. She has overcome so many obstacles…and is now a senior, and has already earned college credits for her nursing degree!! I am so proud of her. I pray we always stay this close, even though she’s not mine- I am so glad God placed her in our lives. It’s a relationship that constantly reminds me of how much God loves us all and is watching and does care about each and every life.

ps* isn’t she stunningly beautiful???? you would never know we laughed almost through her entire session…I seriously thought they were all going to be her funny faces!!

Love you Crystal!!

At any given time there are about 4,000 children in Michigan’s foster care system who are available and waiting to be adopted.

Adopting a child out of Michigan’s foster care system is not expensive. In most cases, you will only need to pay court costs, an average of $150 or less per child.

Most families who adopt are also licensed foster parents or relatives. In fact, last year in Michigan 93 percent of children adopted from the foster care system were adopted by a foster parent or relative.

Your first step in the adoption process is to get a home assessment completed. Contact your local adoption agency – or call the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange at 1-800-589-6273, we can help explain the entire process. The adoption process can approximately nine months.

Because the needs of each child are different, many different types of families are needed. You don’t have to married to adopt and you don’t need to be wealthy or own your own home.

Many of the children waiting for adoption are 10 years old or older, may need to be adopted along with siblings, or may have special placement needs..

I love color!! I do – but something about that clean white just makes cute little faces just pop out! I love these pics, they’re fresh! He did not want to keep his adorable little boots on..but the first picture here is my *favorite* new pic and is not on my website! Isn’t her adorable! We had a fun time at the studio getting these, he was happy the whole time! **now we just need to get some of big sis!