My Daily Enstallment

Italy - St. Louis Photographer

Today is the day we catch two flights. The first to Atlanta, then off to Milan.

Friends keep asking if I'm excited. I'm sure excitement is just around the corner, but today, I'm a bit melancholy because I see what I am leaving. I've never been away from my daughter this long, so the thought of 11 days without hugging her is producing a pit in my stomach.

 
 

I have packed away many letters to her that she will receive each morning and evening. I have also placed many hallmark cards (mostly cards with sounds because Sophia loves them) in the care of her father, my wonderful husband who supports me and my dreams. Here's a picture I took of their hands when I first started shooting digitally. It's amazing how fast time flies.

 

 

Well time to finalize packing and catch those flights!

 

Chesterfield Day School turns 50!!! | St. Louis Community Photographer

The sky was blue and so were the t-shirts of everyone at Chesterfield Day School on Monday morning. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the school, students and faculty filed out early in the morning to fill the perfect size "50" and be photographed by yours truly from atop the roof.

I can now add that to my list accomplishments. Photograph from a roof. . .check!

I have to commend the team at CDS for running a well organized event. Everything went off without a hitch and the kids were perfect models.

Congratulations CDS for 50 years and a great community of teachers, administrators, children and especially the moms that volunteered!

The Stunning Roach Family | St. Louis Family Photographer

I have to hand it to Shelly Roach. She and husband Pat have created a stunning family. We had such fun working with them.  They were true troupers on one of the hottest days of the year. Even their youngest at 9 months was full of smiles.

. . . Seriously, how cute are these two?????

5 Days to Italy - St. Louis Photographer

The count down is on. Only 5 more days until I catch a flight to Italy.

The only thing I have packed is my camera bag. (Boy it is heavy!!!) What else does one really need to photograph one of the most beautiful places in the world. Lake Como Italy. My plan is to blog the sights, sounds, and tastes of Italy. I hope you'll join me for the adventure. 

Keeper of the Memories

 

So I’ve been thinking. . .

When my daughter was just a few months old my good friend Cindy strongly encouraged me to keep a journal for my daughter. She had been doing this for her sons since they were babies and to this day her (now teenage boys) still love to hear stories from “their book." I have found that my daughter (now 6) also loves to hear her stories.

We all have a story and as parents we are the keepers of our children’s stories, while they are in our care. When she curls up in my lap to hear one of her stories I think how special this time is for me, but I also know what a gift this will be for her as she grows into a young woman and searches for her meaning and purpose in the world.

I hope this little note sparks the desire for you to write in a journal for your kid(s).

I also want to encourage you to be photographed with your children. I often work with parents who want photographs of their children, which is awesome, but don’t want to be in the image themselves. My hope is that you will be photographed with your children as a gift for them. I know of many children who go to sleep with pictures of them with their parents and cling to these images when mom or dad has to travel. It is something they can see and touch that helps them remember how much they are loved.

To give you an added incentive I am offering a couple of gifts to those of you about to have a baby or who would like to purchase the perfect shower gift for someone who is. The first gift is a dramatic savings. Our Baby Club  which among other things includes FOUR sessions to cover the baby's first year. It is normally $189. Already a savings for what's included, but for the next week we are offering The Baby Club for $75!!! The second gift is a journal for the new parents to be. If you are interested in this special deal, click here. Offer expires 9/28/11.

For those of you who would like to be photographed with your children or grandchildren, we are offering offering a savings as well. Our normal session fee is $125, however if you click here to confirm that you will be scheduling an appointment before then end of 2011. You will save $50! Spots are filling quickly, so don't miss the savings!. This Special also ends on 9/29/11. Click here so you don't miss the special savings!