Party of Nine (and a half) continued.

Some more from our session today...

Party of Nine (and a half).

I headed out today for a family session...I love it when I can photograph the GREAT-grandparents with their GREAT-grandchildren. It's such a meaningful moment. My grandma lives in California and I'd LOVE to photograph her with my children. For now, I'll just have to wait. But when I get these opportunities like today...it makes me miss her even more. I have so many favorite shots from today..here is one of GREAT-grandpa waiting for everyone to get ready. I'd love to know what he's thinking in this shot...what memories he has from the 87 years he's been here. What great stories he could share with me over a beer. He was so much fun and I really enjoyed talking with him. On top of it all..he had a GREAT pair of cowboy boots! So here's his shot:

New Spots..

I'm always on the look-out for new spots I want to shoot at. So I grabbed the girls and we headed to check out some of them. Some of the spots worked..some of them didn't. Either way, we had a great time! CLICK HERE for a sneak peak of our shoot today.

Apartment Fire!

I shot Jen and Bernardo's wedding last October. The interior walls of their complex were perfect for doing portraits of Jen. Their apartment was covered with images I shot of them at their engagement session and pictures of her niece I took. Most of their stuff is now gone...here is what Jen wrote to me in an email:

"Hey Nicole! I was just curious if you had sent our cd of our pics yet? It's
cool if you haven't yet cause there was a fire in our apartment building
Sunday morning and we are being moved apartments. At this point we have lost practically everything due to someone else's negligance. The fire started
down the hall from us. We were able to go back into the apt for a
minute and the first thing I handed the fireman was my album! I told him
that was important to me! If you haven't sent it I will get back to
you on our new address.
Have a good one!
Jen"

Click HERE for the story from the news - Jen was actually interviewed!!

I'm thinking HOLY COW!(but not cow)she went back for her wedding album! Here is a picture (photo credit goes to WCPO) of the fire:

and here are some pics of her apartment before it went up in flames...





I'm just glad they made it out safely. Thank you, Thank you GOD for getting them out! Wedding albums can be reprinted...people cannot.

Tank Engines....

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's almost V-Day!

Bakerella!

Tee!! Hee!! I get a little giddy when I find fabulous websites...but I didn't find this one. One of my brides (thanks Christine!) sent this to me...because she knows I have a secret thing for cupcakes. Really..that and tulle. Do you need anything more in life? Check out Bakerella by clicking HERE!

Photo courtesy of Bakerella's blog.

Inky Pink...

LOVE this site! click HERE to check them out!

Birdcage Veils..

Some test shots..had to use my favorite little guinea pig. Don't let her 'serious' demeanor fool you..she loves every minute of it! I plan shooting with 'real' models in the Spring. Not completely happy with the results just yet. Still need to work on lighting and this isn't the background I want to use. It's a wrinkley mess but it was easy to grab and put up quickly! We did this in about 10 minutes.

Another album find...

This is one that Jenn & Scott picked to go in their wedding album. Love it!

Buckeye Fans...

I'm putting together Jen & Bernardo's wedding album and this is one of the images she picked from her reception..forgot how much fun this one was!!!

Maternity Session with Marc & Melissa

So I'm out running on a trail and I find this beautiful field that I'd LOVE to shoot in. Bea is usually my guinea pig (she got lucky that day) because we were in town so I gathered up Marc & Melissa and took them to the field. What I didn't realize is that there were sticker bushes everywhere! Well, they were good sports and we just went with it - scratches and all! CLICK HERE to view a sneak peek at our session together.

Dear Santa...

So we HAVE to see Santa..you just have to see him every year. We go..with a mission. Notebooks in hand..we go through our list and let Santa know what we want. Bea asks if he's the REAL Santa or just an imposter. She whispers to me that he must be an imposter because his beard doesn't seem long enough. Then, as we are leaving, she wonders WHY she can't see his sleigh and reindeer on the roof of the mall. "Hmmm! Must be an imposter then." I tell her they LEAVE Santa and come back and get him at 5pm. She really checks out the roof. HE told her today she should ask for her two front teeth. Heard that one before Santa - think of a new one. Now mind you..I don't dress my kids up. Today, Bea had a 'Polar Express Day' at school so they all came in pajamas. So we stood..among the plaid, tafetta dresses. The black pleather shoes. The parents brushing and fixing and fidgeting bows, wiping mouths. It was great! Here's the bad part..I also HAD to buy a 25 dollar package just to take my own pictures. Do you believe that? I had to pay to take pictures of my own kids with Santa Claus! But I took a lot so I guess it was worth it. (Fun Stuff: All shot with natural 'mall' light, ISO: 1250!!!) CLICK HERE to see a few:

Beth & Aren...

So I have a soft spot in my heart for teachers. My mom just retired from teaching. She would always help with the Giving Tree at Christmas and she would make Easter Baskets for the kids who didn't have much and she would deliver them to their homes. She has such a good heart and I could go on and on about my mom...BUT, this little story is about another teacher. My daughters' 1st grade teacher. She absolutely loves the kids and she is magical. Really. I have so much respect for what she does - what all teachers do. Beth & her husband, Aren, stopped by for their Christmas pictures. I don't know about you but my 1st grade teacher didn't look like her. I guess being so little, I remember the Nuns...and they were NOT warm and fuzzy and sweet and gave you lots of hugs and icepacks and bandaids and hand sanitizer. CLICK HERE for a sneak peek at a few of Beth & Aren's pictures:

It's my turn!

I finally took my family christmas pictures. Every year..I try to think up some really fun spot - and I had a great idea this year..but it never happened - too many excuses to list. So, Greg & I cleaned up the kids and we headed into the studio. It really was so much fun! I wish we had video...I'd set the camera on the tri-pod and run into the scene..sometimes, for fun, Bea would run with me. Every year I get better at 'running' into the scene. The first few times it would be an action shot or a shot of my rear or my head would be behind someone else's...it's always a good time. So here's a few - these didn't make the cut but they sure were fun!

See? This is one of those..my head behind someone else's...


The advantage to having a studio is having props! I mean really. Doesn't everyone own a sunflower headband?


Lollipops are always a sure thing..they keep everyone in one place for at least six minutes.


Another wonderful lollipop shot...






Oh Bruce. He absolutely dislikes having his picture taken. Doesn't he look like he's having a great time? It was probably his Christmas sweater..too itchy.




We did these while Greg was getting ready - set on the tri-pod with the timer. I LOVE hats! This one has a little ball at the top - you can't really tell in this shot but it's a fuzzy little thing!

Katie, Trey & Madeline...

So I get Katie, Trey & Madeline into the studio for some last minute Christmas pictures and Ohhhh! what fun we had! We started with your basic shots and by the end..there was wrastlin' going down. They were really..just themselves and those make for the best shots. CLICK HERE to view a sneak peek of their session: