Chelsea: Black Hills Senior Photography

I wasn't exactly sure of where I was going, but the sun was shining and the wind wasn't as bad as I expected it would be. Until I got to where I was going. And then, the temperature dropped and the sun was replaced with snowflakes. As lovely as they were, I wanted them to stop. Badly. Because I didn't want to photograph her on a purchased background with artificial light.  Lucky for me, I was asked to do what I thought was best. Knowing that Chelsea is not an inside kind of girl, and that she'd be up for anything, we decided to take advantage of the snowflakes.

I have not seen many girls look more beautiful in a camouflage hooded sweatshirt. The perfect sliding door of her neighbor's barn took a backseat to her confidence, which is obvious and commanding in my favorite photographs from the day. We trudged through snow that in places was above my knees. Chelsea's new smile never left her face. 

Chelsea and Cheryl, thank you so much for trusting me. I loved getting to work with you at your home, and couldn't have asked for a better day or company. I hope you enjoy my favorites!

Nick & Sara: Black Hills Engagement Photography

I liked Sara right away. I liked her excitement, her joy, her good attitude.  On the other end of our second phone conversation was a girl who was thrilled to be getting married, who couldn't wait to meet up to talk about photography, and who was obviously smitten with the man she would soon call husband.

I hadn't met Nick before this weekend's engagement pictures, but at the end of our first phone conversation, he thanked me and told me to have a good day. I knew I would like him, too. I was not surprised to see him help Sara cross the creek, hold her hand, and laugh out loud.

It didn't hurt that she couldn't stop telling him how handsome he was, or that he seemed to like the kissing photos best.

Sara and Nick, thank you for the fun afternoon. I am so thrilled that you chose me to be your  photographer, and am looking forward to your wedding in May.  Hope you enjoy my favorites!

The first day of Spring is this weekend, and I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't excited. Not that it means we won't get a good snow storm or two...

I've been eyeing this little bird's nest at the Art of the Hills office for months now, and finally took my camera to work this week. So glad I did. I can't believe it's held up under winter's reign. 

Have a great weekend!

The Comer Family

Do not be fooled by the beginning of this post. It is tranquil. It is peaceful. It is deceiving. Why you ask? Because. This kid can sleep through anything.

Chaos takes on many forms. This weekend I found it alive and well at the Comer household, where daughters and husbands (most of them, anyway), children and new babies were gathered together. Their families are growing and changing so quickly, it was decided that a group picture was in order.  This particular kind of chaos included an abundance of good things — the arrival of an aunt, a turkey chase, and a dedicated grandpa willing to accessorize with a tiara. 

It is no secret that I love working with families like this. Families who aren't out to get the stoic portrait... to hang over the marble fireplace...in the parlour...where no one ever actually sits. I love imperfection that accompanies real life. And photographs of laughter. And the kind of emotion you can only get by taking away one's Ring Pop.

Lori and Craig, thank you so much for thinking of me to do your family pictures. I hope you enjoy my favorites, and the rest of the week with your girls.

Mackenzie Jo: Take Two

You can hear her laugh across the room, bus, or gymnasium. She is petite, with wile hair and a freckle in her right eye. She is brilliant, will argue, and can't help but make jokes at her own expense. She has struggled. And prevailed. She will find her own way. 

I was able to spend the afternoon with my sister yesterday, finishing up her senior pictures. I'm looking forward to her graduation in just a couple of short months. So proud of the distance she's covered this year, and can't wait to see the plans God has for her. 

Oh, and that unruly haircut you see below? That was done by baby sister herself. Good luck controlling that in Panama.

Falling Short. And Easy Recipes.

The names of my cookbooks say it all. With titles like, 1001 Short, Easy, Recipes and So-Easy Slow Cooker, it isn't hard to see that my talents aren't typically showcased in the kitchen.  My worst fear came last spring when my soon-to-be sister in-law (who, by the way, knows how to roast a turkey) had a bridal shower, complete with blank recipe cards. It would have been embarrassing to share all I know about chicken strips, so I instead gave her a recipe for BBQ sandwiches. It just occurred to me while typing this, that my brother-in-law and eater of the said recipes, doesn't even like BBQ.

My domestic instincts follow me all over the house. Just this week, while going the extra mile on our laundry, I melted the bedspread. I have spent much of my free time scraping it's remains from the back of the dryer with an X-acto knife. 

All I'm saying, is that I better get it together. I'm hoping to have fifty-some more years of this wife business, and I'm not showing much promise. Growing up, if we complained about what was for supper, my mom would say, "Fire me." Rather than putting that one on the table for consideration, I better check into something from Don't Panic — Dinner's in the Freezer. 

A goal. And more winter.

It's been too long since I've posted, and frankly, I feel a little failure-ish. One of my goals for the year was to blog more, even if it meant seemingly meaningless or random posts, because I want to get into the habit of writing and sharing and posting and taking pictures for the fun of it.

Sigh. I will do better.

Today I've been drinking hot chocolate and working on some orders, and thought I'd pause to share some recent winter images. Cold and I aren't always the best of friends, but winter has a way of tugging at the ol' heart strings. Just because I don't like to shovel the snow or scrape my windshield doesn't mean I don't think it's beautiful.

Have a lovely weekend!