what I try to capture in every picture.

I ran across this article and thought of how true it really is. Before my daughter was born, I knew I didn't want to take her to any studio setting either at the mall, a formal studio or a photographers outside set up. Those types of pictures never appealed to me and after reading the comments at the end of this article, I realized that many people have not seen what "lifestyle photography" is and what I feel is the new generation of photographers. I agree snapshots are so important and I usually take out my point and shoot to capture my daughter in the kitchen cabinet or trying out her hand stand, but to me, the quality of those pictures don't matter - those are for her photo album, not the wall, but the moment is just as important.

So this post goes back to my style - I want to capture what you see every day, not how your child can tilt their head and hold their hands just right.

http://simplystated.realsimple.com/life/2008/03/unforgettable-a.html

new header but no giggles.

I just took the time to really figure out how to make my own banner and update my blog, but this "session" I took of my own little one today didn't produce any giggles. But during our play time, I did get some great shots of her trying out her gymnastics moves as she tried to climb her way out of her crib. Looks like we will be moving to a toddler bed much faster than I thought....she is growing up too fast :(

So this is just a test, I am sure it will change often as I get some real giggles :)

the way I see it #282.

"Childhood is a strange country. It’s a place you come from or go to - at least in your mind. For me it has an endless, spellbound something in it that feels remote. It’s like a little sealed-vault country of cake breath and grass stains where what you do instead of work is spin until you’re dizzzy."

beautiful writing eh? And just what I want to see every day in my daughter and want to bottle up for her forever.

these bold words were written by Lyall Bush and are copied off my Grande Starbucks cup that I have gotten 3 times this week and each time, it has stuck with me and been on my mind for a better part of my day.

Memory is so fluid. If only those true childhood memories could be sealed and preserved as they really happened. If only childhood really were a country you could visit. I'd leave the grown-up world and go there every single day. To me, photographs are that "country."

I hope you can find time to spin until you're dizzy.

I know you already do, but give your kids an extra big hug tonight.

I just recently joined an amazingly WONDERFUL organization called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. It is a group of photographers who volunteer and donate their time to helping families preserve the memory of babies who die too early. Some are born prematurely while others face problems early on and lose their battles. I stumbled upon this organization's website very shortly after one of my best friends lost her 2 nieces, and her sister-in-law had to deliver them, stillborn, WAY too early. The hospital she was at, had a photographer come in and take pictures of their beautiful little girls. The nurse told her that the parents ALWAYS come back for those pictures within the first year. It is amazing to be able to offer this beautiful gift to these grieving families.

I was extremely nervous about joining and actually taking pictures of babies who have passed on, or aren't expected to live very long, but as I read through the site and learned more from both photographers and the parents, I realized the importance of documenting their lives (no matter how long) and keep their memory. Even if a baby doesn't survive very long outside of the womb or never takes their first breath, they WERE here, they ARE real and most importantly, they are someone's baby and that somebody wants to remember them as painful as that may be.

Last Saturday I got my first call. I was very anxious and nervous. I went down to Hermann Hospital to meet a grieving family that just lost their 1 year old little boy, brother and cousin. He was born prematurely in January 2006 and fought every day to overcome his developmental complications, but a few days after his first birthday, he lost his battle. It was an almost out of body experience. I had to constantly remind myself of the good I was doing to help keep me from growing too anxious. I feel so honored that I got to meet this family and help them preserve memories. Memories they may not want to see now, or next week, but knowing they have  a beautiful way to remember him is priceless.

I am so happy that I am doing something I love and am passionate about and this is just a small way of my giving back.

A lot of hidden passion goes a long way.

My husband was given a professional DSLR camera, and I was instantly hooked trying to figure out exactly how to get the perfect image - exposure, focus, etc.  I am a Virgo so anal is a nice way of describing my need for perfection. The quality of my images was/is the most important part of my pictures and as I learned how to get that down, the rest just fell into place

I have always loved pictures and documenting even the smallest events so I took that passion and completely immersed myself into the world of photography. I read countless books, joined several online photography groups, bought new lenses and equipment and read a gazillion websites while disecting every part of my pictures. I was in love.

And now that I feel like I have read and taught myself all I can, I get to go to Chicago in May (with one of my best college friends :) to a workshop put on by one of the most AMAZING photographers I have seen. Check her out at  www.alwphotography.com - her blog shows even more of her beautiful images.

I'm so excited I can't contain myself. This is the perfect way to better my business and most importantly my images I offer you. The images this lady does has such "pop" and they are so beautiful.

I am loving how Pickles to Giggles Photography is taking off and more than that, I love how much I LOVE doing what I do. I'm really excited to be starting out, but along the way I have asked myself and God many times if this is what I am supposed to be doing, and He shows me many signs, such as an e-mail like this...

Jennifer - I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sneak peek and can't wait to see the rest.  Wow.  Absolutely great.

And then I get my answer.

I'm a blogger now.

So I guess I have taken the plunge and joined the world of bloggers. I figure that this will be a good way to keep my clients up to date with my recent sessions and passwords for sneak peeks and for them to learn the latest news and specials at Pickles to Giggles Photography.

New Year. New Site. New Blog.