ARE YOU A LURKER??

As the number of views on my blog reaches close to 12,500, I have begun to wonder " Who are you guys?" Although there are so many people viewing my work, I have only received around 130 comments through the "life" of my blog(and sadly, many of those are multiple comments from the same few people!).



So what I'm saying is... "Hey, don't be shy!" Introduce yourself, let me know your thoughts on the photos, say 'Hello' etc. I want to get to know you! Even if I know you already and you are viewing your family's photos, leave me a note! As a blogger it's exciting to get comments. The hit counter let me know that people really are visiting, but it doesn't tell me who is visiting! I am planning out a few contests for the near future that will require you to comment, so if you want to join in, better get practicing :0)


Here are a few photos I want to share:

BEAUTIFUL

These kiddos are so precious...not to mention gorgeous! And such great little helpers! Owen was bound to give me great faces for his one-year photos with his two big sisters helping me out. Take a look at these. The smiles are contagious!











This next one is my FAVORITE!














And I had to nab a few of Owen's sisters, who were ever-so-willing! How sweet are these guys?










One more try at the vintage look:

LOOK WHO'S TWO!

Remember this face?

Here's an update on Annika who just turned 2!

Annika loved her baby!

I absolutely adore her dress. I had to process one of the photos to look vintage, like an old retro photograph!

WOW, WHAT A DAY

My earlier post about my trip to Chicago left a few of you asking me how it went.... I thought I may as well post about it so that others can hear a little bit of the story!

I'll try to make a very long story short so I don't bore most of you!

I began my trip by heading up to Mishawaka. I was invited to go along with a couple of other photographers(who I had never met!), Christi and Erin, and so we were meeting and going from there.

We headed to the windy city and needless to say, we arrived waaaayyy early for our 6:00 seminar. Almost 4 hours early. But that was our goal. We wanted to make darn sure we got front row seats. As Christi put it, "If Jasmine Star spits while talking, we want to feel the spray!"

When we arrived, we drove around the parking lot, trying to find the Free to Succeed Tour bus, which the team was traveling in. We found it alright! I, not thinking ahead whatsoever, FORGOT TO BRING MY CAMERA!!! What was I thinking? So Christi took a photo of the bus. We felt a little childish to be so excited over seeing this bus, but seeing these photographers is kind of like a teen going to a Jonas Brothers concert. After all, they have been living in this bus for the past month!

After this we went inside the hotel and found the room that the seminar would be held in. We chose our seats, then made nice "reserved" signs to hold our places. Hey, we didn't come that early for nothing! As we were doing this, a couple of guys showed up. We thought they were just other photogs mapping out their seats, too. Come to find out, they were with the tour! We struck up conversation.....and discovered that Todd was David Jay's business partner and childhood friend. They took our photo in front of the tour bus. And if it couldn't get any better- they let US take a tour of the inside of the bus! And when Todd went to get David Jay so that we could meet him, he came out from the back IN HIS PAJAMAS!!! OK, then we felt bad......I mean, who wants to meet googling fans in their PJ's? And one more thing! Todd got us free t-shirts. That nobody else has. That they don't even sell yet. We felt so special.

The speaking ended up being very motivational. I learned alot about the business of photography that I will end up using. J* was amazing to listen to and is so real and down to earth. She rocks! I was lucky to get a few pics(thanks, Christi!) and will not fail to bring my camera if there be a next time! Overall we had a fabulous, eventful day. In fact, the eventfulness followed us on the way home, onto the freeway. Where we got a flat tire at 12:30 am. And that's another story in itself!

The girls and I with J*

And all of us with Todd, our new friend!

Can I mention that I LOVE my F2S tee? It is totally comfy, and even stylish!

a close-up of the shirt shows what it says: Freedom

more on this later!

MACY AT TWO

Another 2-yr-old! I have had lots of them lately, and all have gone smoothly! Macy was so fun and full of personality. I love it when I finish a session and leave feeling like I captured the true spirit of the child. Take a look!

I'M OFF!

I'm heading to Chicago and am SO EXCITED!! I'm going along with a couple of other photog gals to listen to a photography seminar. What's to be so excited about that, you ask?? Well, it's only that Jasmine Star (who is speaking today) is someone whose blog I stalk regularly, a totally amazing photographer, and has a way with words that I could only wish my blog-writing compared to.

I hope to learn alot about the business side of what I do, and I'm well-equipped with a full notebook that I WILL FILL EVERY LINE....if I have to, and if there is even that much info given out! (that was a total run-on, I know).

Anyway, I know that nobody else probably understands my excitement. I just had to share! And hopefull you all will benefit from whatever it is that I will learn today.

CARSON LEE

Carson was such a joy to photograph! And such a little HAM for the camera. I have been so fortunate with every 2 year old session I've had lately. I can't believe my luck! Look at this little guy: