none of the photos i planned today for them turned out the way i had planned. none. not for the whole week. not one…single…photo. i had lots in mind. this evening i stooped to bribery (i’m not above a good bribe, folks…you get what you give in this life).

i am eating dinner.

katie: “can we jump on your bed?”

mommy: “no…hmm…yes. get your sister.”

{mikki comes stage front.katie stands behind her…}

mommy: “you can my jump. the deal? i get a photo. my dream photo. just one. can you deliver?”

mikki: eyebrow raising…”deal…”

mommy: “can she?” i point my forehead at the youngest Blondie in the room.

mikki: “yup. deal.” {such a shrewd business woman even at the tender age of 8}

the “L” in deal fades off, and i can tell she is already scheming that if the Easter Bunny doesn’t come through with the goods this picture is a wasted effort on her part. Katie is laughing on nievely unaware of such business trades and favors.

they jump. i finish dinner. i prep the camera. i show them…visually my vision. (visual vision…redundant but important in these times of desperate mother-photographer pose endeavors.

as we walk to the field i think…yes…this is the one that will make the living room wall. i am hopeful.

and in my head i am already telling my mom about the ‘best photo ever’ of my babies. i am gloating at their pose and perfect behavoir, their emotive souls, their perfection in the moment….

i pull about my camera. we review the pose.

the dance. they twirl. they talk about Narnia and the snow in the corner of the field and if the fish are in the stream yet and if mermaids are real. they contemplate God {because we can’t see God, but people still talk about him like he’s real, but what about mermaids…we can’t see them either…}

they laugh. i get this.

nothing like i had planned or visioned.

most days, every day really, my unplanned is just…

better.

daily mantra: there are four questions of value in life…what is sacred? of what is the spirit made? what is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? the answer to each is the same. only love. {johnny.depp}

These beautiful CD cases came in today for Carissa and Cory, who purchased my Complete Digital Collection for weddings/engagements. I love showing off these handmade and completely custom created treasures. As an artist I fought going digital for such a long time for fear of those big photo kiosks in certain, unnamed big box stores that have a history of horrid color and even worse quality. But I am finding a happy medium with this collection by going with these divine, organically made products and offering my clients a list of  the best possible, professional for public printing solutions. With the full printing release and full resolution digital photographs my couples and families can print in any size, and in any quantity they choose. This adds up for a HUGE savings if you have a big family, or if you want to make your very own albums or mugs or cards or t-shirts or canvas…the possibilities are simply endless.

Engagement sessions are $450 and include every, single photo from your session, travel, and these beautiful products. Please view my 2012 wedding prices for more great packages and add-ons.

when Nicole and i were on the swings together on the playground 25 years ago, i had no idea i was swapping sand with someone so amazing. if i had known, i would have let her use my shovel more….that’s for sure. Nicole and i have known each other since, well, pretty much the beginning….went to school, Girl Scouts, played sports, went to drivers ed together (i failed a few times…..she didn’t fail at all), went to sleep overs, shared some laughs and some tears, and then graduated and went on our way. we even had our little girls at pretty much the same time. it wasn’t until the cusp of last winter that i found out this girl who i played tag with on the play ground in elementary school was not only a great friend, but she was preparing to give the ultimate gift, parenthood, to another couple. and about 9 months later, Ava and Milo joined the world…a gift times two. the twins are now 4 months old, and i had the pleasure of meeting them just last week when they were visiting their Auntie Nicole while their parents took some much need R & R! i left with a severe case of baby fever that has yet to dissipate.

Ava was just so smiley the entire time….and those lashes!! She is sure to be a heart breaker….

perfection…

Mr. Milo was just as sweet, but the poor baby was having quite the rough day with some pretty mean teeth coming through.

nothing Aunt Nicole couldn’t’ fix…of course

this photo pretty much sums up what being a sibling is all about sometimes, huh? i just had to add it….its one of my favs.

daily mantra: before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories: john wilmot

dear Mikki…

it has been 2,921 days since the best day of my life. its easy to remember this particular day, as it conveniently falls on the day you were born. on this day, almost 3,000 days ago, it snowed. april is like that in Maine…daffodils dusted with the cold, white confetti. you arrived exactly when they said you would. . .not a day later, not a day earlier as if you, yourself had made the date a promise to keep. you hate to be late to this day….and it makes your 8:04am birth all the more prominent and true to your personality.

your first moments were sweet, wild whispers in my memory.

whirling, merry go round ride with snow cone….joy.

you didn’t cry,  as if you held the world and its soul of secrets and knew that it wasn’t necessary to make any more noise in the universe than there already was. even your first breaths were peaceful, and to this day, i am not sure where your quiet spirit comes from. (not from me) daddy and i looked at each other in amazement, happiness, hope, and a touch of fear….i think all parents must do this. a sudden realization my existence, once so selfish in nature, will be gladly handed over to care for and protect our new, little being.

8 years later. a blur of time so surreal i have to wonder if i really lived it at all.

you like Hannah Montana (eye roll), ice cream…sweets in general, computers, anything that has to do with school, are a social butterfly, highly competitive (especially with your sister), smiling, clothes and shoes and jewelry, helping anyone who needs it, you are polite (almost always), you still get car sick on rides over a half hour long, you just read a book more than 200 pages long and told me that you wished there were more pages to read, you love severely and without question…every single person, you aren’t so quiet anymore, you hit baseballs like your grandpa, you like princesses and happy endings, cry when things move you emotionally, and you dance like no one is watching.

you are the thing i am most proud of in my entire life. (and katie too…i am proud of her…in a different way)

Happy Birthday Baby!

love you my darling,

as i sit blogging the photographs of this most amazing couple that i met up with in Arizona early last month, we are experiencing a Nor’easter here in Maine. just looking at these photographs of Carissa and Cory make me feel warmer, and i am so excited to be shooting their wedding up here in Maine this coming June. hopefully the snow will be melted at that point and i won’t have to wear LL Bean winter parka and snow boots. the Tuscon Botanical Gardens were just filled with so much color and interesting exhibits….this place was just blooming in the middle of the desert. truly stunning. even the people were warm and inviting.

daily mantra: “there is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved” {george.sand}