Georgia has incredible parents, Maggie & Chris who love her deeply….and it shows. Here is their story **blog** Just think – -not even a year ago, I was taking mom & dad’s pick to go in their adoption book – and here they are with Georgia who is 6 months!! She is a miracle! Here are just a few of my favorites!!!

**and Maggie – if you don’t blow that one up of the two of you – I will hurt you!

These two were *oh*so*tiny when I first met them…now at 6 months…they’re a whole new ball of wax!! They have personality – and their own opinions of wanting their picture taken!! Olivia thought this was fabulous idea Graham ~in true boy fashion~ thought this was ridiculous and would much rather play with his dad…. If I only had video of mom & dad trying to entertain them….now that would be funny! I give major props to parents of multiples…you know their marriage has to be good – the amount of communication that has to take place with two babies…is huge! Now I’m not saying that it’s always *good* communication…but at least it’s still there!
**love this stroller – borrowed it from a friend- and it worked perfect for these two. enjoy!

now~ by family session~ I mean that we took pictures of everyone in the family….I would never try to get family shots for an entire session – we would all be ready to be committed at the end of our attempts!! These fabulous ladies are from lansing and I usually visit them – but I thought the new studio was a great reason for them to come see me! I am so glad- I love every one of these shots! There adorable outfits are a huge thanks to grandma – can she be my grandma?? Terri – I am coming for those shoes- I know where you live! She was scared I was only taking pictures of her shoes..I promised her I wasn’t. Anywhoo – enough blabbering…..enjoy!

So, I did post this a few days ago…but my blog was acting up and deleted it?! These are a sampling of the great time I had shooting at my workshops last weekend at the new studio!!! I had so much fun meeting all of you and know you all walked away with a little more knowledge and inspiration! Because these workshops are so popular – and already have inquiries for the next one – I have one more planned this year and will not have another until spring.

The next will be *basic* November 6th @ 2-7p and *advanced* november 7th @9-6p sign up is on the blog, under payments!

**On another note — I have been asked by a few to do “portfolio” workshops, or trash the dress workshops….so I would like to present the idea and see what serious interest I have. Here’s the deal – it would be similar to the video on my wedding site. We would have 5 brides (real & models), professional bobbi brown make-up & hair, and as always – fabulous *sometimes risky* locations to shoot, with guaranteed individual time with each model. I will arrange everything, you just show up and shoot! Why? **these are my favorite! Cost ~ $350 *max 7 photogs – no exceptions – *this will need to be paid at the time of sign up – I will not save spots….Sign up is not available yet – but I would like you to email me if you’re interested….and we’ll go from there. Possible dates are September 27th or October 18th *I always do these on sunday because most places I would like to shoot are not being used.

So there is a book, I have been meaning to read, many of my friends have read it and loved it. They say it’s real. inspiring. and a fabulous read. I don’t read books. My parents had to force me to read when I was little….I just couldn’t sit still that long. I’m a magazine reader….I hardly give myself time to read books anymore, and it’s a shame…. So after seeing Shauna’s blog, I knew it was time to read it. In celebration of this milestone for myself….I am giving away 5 free autographed books to the first five comments on this post! I wish I could grab the intro and paste it here….but instead I’ll leave a link to her site where you can read a chapter.

Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist….http://www.shaunaniequist.com/

So, I have a little list of things that I would love to photograph…and alot of them are crazy and some of you would never go for them…so I just have to wait…shooting someone (not a bride-it’s been done) in a shopping cart…in an alley, is on my list…well – CHECK it off!

How else do you get 8 kids to site still…confine them! …one of my faves……

I know several of you have been waiting…very patiently for this blog post…so here it is ~ the last half of our mini shoots from last saturday…enjoy! **these were all shot with my 85mm and an aperture of 1.4 ~ 2.2..depending on the sunlight!

 Don’t worry, I will post the rest tomorrow!! I still have 2 weddings to blog as well! This was extremely tiring…but so worth it! I had so many great families and kids…including Jen Kroll, Jodi Bos’ kids, & Lindsey DeYoung…and so many more old friends, photogs..and past wedding clients. Here are just a sampling…of some quick faves….enjoy!

the adorable boys below were about to dual for the stick!  **major props to carrie for looking so great at 9am!!  with family in tow!

could he be any cuter???  

** I wanted of the few of just them…he got real close, and look at her face in the first one…looks like they’re in Junior High again!  *adorable!

Kathy ~ you look gorgeous!

FANTABULOUS outfits!!

model material ~ seriously!

**the biggest hit of the day was jumping on my couch…which needed to be fluffed anyway…

Ethan Kroll + Cater Kroll  ==  ENERGY!!    **DO YOU SEE HIS LIFT???

again…how cute are these couples??!?!

the seriously *cool* Kroll’s…..

**how adorable are these two??  Kia was not interested in me at ALL!  She didn’t like my songs, my jokes….just wanted her daddy.  But she’s adorable anyway!  **and you guessed it, no chance sis was going to share her animals!  **look at that girls grip!

Sooooo ~ I had all day event on May 2nd that was cancelled this morning

What is a photographer to do?! How about mini family sessions at some new secret urban locations I have been dying to shoot ~now that’s its beautiful out! **trust me ~ no one in GR has found these spots yet!! I will even bring my ‘trademark’ blue vintage couch and and some other funky furniture! This will be THE ONLY mini sessions I will be offering this year...so get your act together, dads put on your jeans and trendy t shirts, moms ~ funky dress and ballet flats….I will have a makeup artist available if you want, so you just need to show up dressed!  Kids….whatever you can get them in!  I know my regular clients will love this, but for the of you who have been considering custom photography….this just may be the chance to try it out!

These will be 1/2 hour sessions from 8am – 11am and 3pm to 8pm….**the sunrise & sunset times will have the best dramatic lighting~ you might have to fight over that slot! …..and are you ready for this steal of a price ~ $100 and it includes ****2 5×7’s & 1/2 off my normal portrait pricing if you place your order in two weeks after your gallery is published! If you want to sign up ~ click on the “payment” button above this post, then choose May 2nd Mini Shoot and reserve your slot! In the message line include what time you’d like and I will send you a confirmation email and **the secret location! (You may pay with paypal OR click on the continue button on the left side of the screen and pay with any credit or debit card that you’d like.

morning   9a    9:45a   10:30       afternoon    3p    3:45p    4:30   5:15   6p   6:30p   7p   7:30   8p

**If you refer another family ~ make sure they tell me ~ you will each receive 2 additional 5×7’s (4 total) in your package!

I will be jout of town next week in Calgary Canada shooting a destination wedding, but will still have email access *i hope* ….and because I can’t post without a pic…..here is baby Veda…

I first met Madeline when she was 6 months old, and now she has a new sister…and has not changed a bit…she likes to keep me on my feet! She is full of energy and is hilarious! She even told me I was funny ~ debatable! Here are a few of my favorites of them! *side note~ the first one has a bit of a blurred background….I didn’t do anything to it…I think *mom* might have been walking behind and created that~