"just because" and my "Favorite" Nieces

Honestly, where does time go? I am pondering that question as I write this!  It seems like i've had NO time to make a post or even update my facebook status. :)  I've decided to put up a "just because" post today and share a few of my recent favorite pics i've taken.  I have been running around crazy lately preparing myself and getting ready for the wedding i'll be shooting in 2 weeks!  I'm super excited!  Me and Ben are going to a lighting seminar tomorrow and i'm really excited- so much to always learn in the photography world and so many things to add to my wish list of things to buy!

We are now looking at new lighting set to bring along to wedding receptions that i'm super excited about - now just to save up the $2300 to get it! :)

We've added to our collection of photography equipment 2 brand new pocketwizards that are amazing and i'm very excited to use at the upcoming wedding. We've also joined online Pictage a website that you can view your pictures on and purchase online from. However since i've signed on with Pictage I've read many mixed reviews from other photographers and may be making a switch-a-roo to Zenfolio same services but would cost us a LOT less!  Give me feedback if you get a chance and look at my pictage slideshows or gallery- is it difficult to use?, etc. I'd love to hear the feedback! :)  http://pictage.com/866866  (a link to my "favorite" nieces photoshoot). - Had to throw that in there since i was voted Lianna's "favorite Auntie" :) I'll gladly accept that title!

Have a great Friday!!!

Let your inner beauty shine

I am falling in love with the idea of "anytime" photoshoots.  Honestly its not about a special occasion, an event or anything planned.  It's about getting glammed up, looking great and letting that inner beauty sparkle. 

It was definitely not planned that I would go to the park with my husband and my mother in law and take pictures, we just spur of the moment decided to go.  And when we were there the camera came out and the pictures kept on coming.

Here's a few shots I got of my mother-in-law.  I love the laughs I got and the fun we had. Wendy you're beautiful outside and inside.  Thanks for sharing the day with me and letting your inner beauty shine.

 

beginning of a beautiful thing...

When I think about time for myself I laugh, when do I have time for that?  Hah when do I have time to blog! It feels like for EVER since i've blogged!  But now that life is starting to settle down a little more than it was before I need to continue my blog. :) 

I've reflected lately on the feeling of needing relaxation and peace and remembering the things in life that truely make me feel whole.  My family, being outside on a beautiful day, and one thing i've always loved: FLOWERS! 

I convinced Ben last weekend (when he was home for one day) that we needed to go to Steins and "look". :)  Well "looking" turned into getting my heart set on buying some flowers and herbs.  I at one time had my entire patio a little oasis with flowers all over it, sure it wasn't cheap but it was one of those feel good things.  It was great to go outside or look out my patio and see flowers every day.  So I suddenly felt that need to have my flowers back in my life. 

Mind you I haven't had a flower garden on my deck for maybe 2-3 years, it's time! :)  So we've started with just a few things, one a new flower- its sooooo beautiful- full of pastel peach color.  And i've got an herb garden started!  Filled with rosemary, chives, basil, peppermint, cilantro, etc.  I'm pretty excited about this start. But knowing me this is just the beginning of a beautiful thing. :)

to be adored by you...

I couldn't even wait to post up all the pictures from this engagement shoot yet without blogging about it first.

My good friends Mark & Erika are getting married this October and we finally got a chance to go out and do their engagement shoot this past weekend. I am currently going through the hundreds of photos I took that day and skimming out my favorites. I couldn't help myself but stop editing, blog and post a few of my favorite pictures i've come across so far. 

I just absolutely adore the love they show towards each other and how much love is Erika's eyes.  These pictures sum up their love for each other and make me smile sharing them. 

Mark & Erika thank you for letting me document your love with these pictures! I'm soooo excited for your wedding.

5 updos, 5 make up applications & 680 photos = PROM

So my friend Katie posted a comment on facebook saying she was heading home for the weekend and was going to be doing hair & makeup for her sister and her sisters friends for their first prom!  I thought to myself- hair & makeup- oh I would LOVE to help them! :) LOL.  Anyone that knows me knows how obsessed I am with hair stuff, makeup- you name it! I have every color of the rainbow eyeshadow & glitter! 

So I sent Katie a message and asked her if she needed any help. She accepted my help and said she was doing this solo so would LOVE for me to join.  So I packed my suitcase (no joke) of makeup and hair supplies, packed up my photography equipment and me & Ben headed to Sheboygan for the day to do hair, makeup and photos of the girls prom!

I have to say when I went I didn't expect to have met so many amazing people and leave with so many new friends! :)  Everyone I met was sooooo sweet, so welcoming, was such a joy to be around and overall a FUN group! 

Thank you Katie for introducing me to such an amazing realm of people!  No wonder you enjoy going home so much!

To see all the prom prep and pre prom formals see them at:

www.flickr.com/photos/firefly_portraits

glitter galore for eyeliner

we did it! all 5 girls on time!

on the road...

I feel like it's been forever since i've been home!!! :( As in really home and can relax and get things done. :) However, i've really enjoyed my time on the road.  I can't believe how fast time flies by. We have been married a month now and I look back at this month as it has been a complete whirlwind and blur. 

First week of marriage in Florida and loved every minute of it!  Amazing memories, warm and cold weather (gotta love FL) and tons of great pictures that i'm sooooooo excited to frame!  I can't wait to order them and fill the empty frame I have sitting in my living room. 

Now i'm in St. Louis for the past week and a half and am enjoying 80 degree weather and am LOVING the blossoms and buds everywhere!  Most of the trees are filled with spring flowers.  I'm so jealous Wisconsin doesn't have this weather and the flowers yet.  But things to look forward to! :) 

I decided to take some adventures on my own yesterday and I went to the Gateway Arch in downtown St Louis and fell in love with it and the park surrounding it. It was definately worth the $6 parking fee, the walk alone in the sunset park and clutching on to my iphone, car key and small point & shoot camera because i was too afraid i'd get mugged carrying a purse. LOL - yes that's me- thinking of safety first since i'm traveling alone.   I walked up to the arch and was just in awe!  First in awe of the beautiful park around it and how there was a pond with a pretty turquoise green water and then surrounding it trees in shades of purple and white blossoms- ooooo i would LOVE to do a photoshoot here! It was soooo pretty, then looking to my left was the river and seeing the sunset and the lights of the casino across the river made me think it looked a little vintage and how great those pictures would be! And then of course the arch!  Amazing!!!! I've never seen it in person!  It was sooooo tall- defiantely something I think i'd rather view from the ground rather than take a ride up in it. (especially since a local told me some people in one of those eggs going up got stuck at the top not too long ago for 4 hours-imagine that).  But it was truely inspiring and really made me miss home. 

I will defiantely make a trip back to St Louis again and I WILL do a photoshoot in the park and at the Arch! :) I'm going to make a point of it! :)  St. Louis I'll be back. 

Family

Family can mean so many things to people- it can mean feeling secure, feeling close, feeling loved and feeling welcome to name a few.  I had the honor to photograph my good friends yesterday for a photoshoot downtown of their newly formed family. 

It was so much fun to photograph them together and how much of a family they already are.  They want to surprise their parents with pictures of them as a family.

Above are just a few of my favorites from our day in the cold.  Thank you guys for being such a fun group to photograph! :) I still look back and laugh when I see some of the pics we took and how much fun they were to take them.

See the rest of our shoot at my flickr site. http://www.flickr.com/photos/firefly_portraits/