Just a note that my email has been on the fritz since some time Friday night. My tech guys are working to restore it as quickly as possible and they’re pretty awesome so it should be working soon. If you have sent an email, you should be hearing from me soon. Since I am also having issues sending email, I apologize if you have received multiple replies. Thank you so much for your patience :)

I seriously enjoyed reading all the entries. Some made me laugh out loud while others brought back memories of my own kids. One entry provoked a wealth of emotion and even a few tears. I knew I wanted to share it and with her permission, here is her entry.

A picture really is worth a thousand words!  I am an artistic wannabe at heart.  I love music but can’t sing or play an instrument very well to save my life.  I have a passion for interior design and drool walking into Pottery Barn but never feel like I can really recreate what I envision in my own home.  And I have developed an obsession for photography and consider pictures my greatest treasure, yet I don’t yet begin to understand the technical aspects involved in the art of photography.  What I do know is that a single photograph can warm my heart, bring tears to my eyes, and take me down memory lane all in a moment. 

 A thousand words probably don’t begin to articulate all the reasons I love this photograph.  This picture reminds me of just how many obstacles my daughter has overcome in such a short time; provides me with confidence in what I was personally able to accomplish as a mother and a wife during a very difficult time in my life; and it leads me to dream of all that life has to offer us down the road. 

 This picture was taken just after my daughter, Addysen’s first birthday in March of 2008.  My husband, Norm, was home on R&R from his second tour in Iraq and we went out to the ponds across the street from our house to take some pictures of Addy in her Easter dress.  Addysen had just learned to sit up unassisted (almost six months later than normal).  She was significantly delayed in her motor skills as a result of a birth injury.  Through tireless months of physical and occupational therapy, we tackled one milestone after the next despite doctors warnings that she would likely never walk on her own among other things.  Now that my daughter is walking, climbing, running, and almost jumping, it is hard to remember exactly how incredible it was when she sat up on her own for the first time.  I am grateful for this image and it’s crystal clear reminder of all the determination, effort, and perseverance involved.  Every time I look at this picture and see her sitting there, by herself and looking so beautiful it fills my heart with hope and assurance that all things truly are possible.

 My love for this photograph comes not only from the joy it is filled with, but also the tears it brings to my eyes.  I can’t begin to describe the emotional roller coaster I experienced during my husband’s deployment and especially during those two weeks of R&R except to say it was probably similar to that which so many Army wives have also endured.   I don’t think anything prepares you for the turbulent emotional highs and depressing lows of the mid tour leave.  On the one hand you are elated to be reunited, even if only for a while.  It was exciting watching my husband interact with our beautiful daughter after having left when she was just four months old.  It was amazing watching them learn one another.  But, it was heart braking thinking of the fact that in just a few days all of that would come to an end and we’d go through another seven months of separation.  I have so much respect and admiration for my husband and what he went through having to leave us and miss so much.  I have no idea how he did it, but I am so blessed that he and so many other Soldiers make that sacrifice for us.  The artistic, albeit amateur, part of me is fascinated that the same photograph can embody such polar opposite emotions and that is just another reason I love this photograph.

 A final reason this image moves me is that the trip down memory lane travels in both directions.  Of course this picture documents the memories of my husband’s R&R and the milestones achieved by my daughter, but it also provides me with a flash forward.  When I look at this picture I leap ahead about twenty years and envision my daughter in her wedding gown walking down the aisle.  I’m sure the white satin dress and the angelic side profile have something to do with that!  I start to think of all the other milestones we will accomplish and how many new adventures lies ahead of us in our journey.  I dream about just what kind of woman my little girl will emerge into and start to realize just how important the “big things” are and  equally how unimportant the “little things” are.  That kind of perspective is refreshing and critical in the often overwhelming job of parenting.  I’m thankful I have an image to reflect on to remind me just how instrumental my role as a mother is in the life of a child 

And there you have it :) Thank you Jen, for sharing this story with all of us. It has been so wonderful for me to watch Addy grow. My favorite has always been the ‘knee walk.’ Keep your eye on the mail in a couple weeks for a special gift.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I recieved a ton of emails asking about my new coolpix so I have a blog coming up about that, some Christmas photos, and a handsome newborn.

The enemy of photography is the convention, the fixed rules of ‘how to do’. The salvation of photography comes from the experiment. – Anonymous

I want to do something random and fun. This idea was inspired by a couple of my clients -we’ll call them Heather and Jen ;) I don’t think it’s any mystery that I’m passionate about what I do. Regardless of all the things I’ve learned and the type of camera I have, I would still be jump-up-and-down-silly about photo’s and photography. I am also a hopeless romantic and crazy about children. With these 3 forces at work, it feels as if I am following the right path in life. I am constantly surrounded by love and children :) I love the connections and friendships I make. And when a client sends me an email just to say ‘Hi’ and share a photo of how much their child has grown since I last saw them, I am truly touched. Or when a client hangs their portraits, takes a photo of it, then emails it to me saying it makes them happy every time they go up the stairs, it makes me ecstatic! So, as an ode to the printed memories in our lives that bring us so much happiness, I will be having a contest of sorts.

Before you freak out, this is not a photo contest. I would like for you to send me your most favorite photo [or one of your favorite photos, I know it can be hard to choose] and tell me why it moves you. It could be of anyone, anything, or any place.  Maybe it makes you laugh-out-loud, documents someone or something important in your life, or simply makes your heart smile. The winning entry will receive a custom photo keepsake designed by me.
The details:
- All clients may enter. If you have children old enough to submit their own entry, they are welcome to do so.
- It must be a photo taken by you or someone in your family. Please be respectful copyright and do not scan or submit a professional photo. If a friend took the photo and doesn’t mind you using it, that’s ok too.
- Tell me why you love it. Theres no word quota so write as much or as little as you like.
- Only submit photos you wouldn’t mind being posted on the blog.
- Submit your entry no later than 10pm on November 30th. Please email your entry to photocontest@capturedbyt.com

There you have it. I’m seriously giddy and can’t wait to read your entries. Remember, its not about the photo. It’s what the photo means to you. I know a few of you have heard me say this before, but I will say it again. To me, there is no such thing as a bad photo, only good memories. A good photo is not about what kind of camera you have. It’s not what your eyes see, it’s what your heart sees.

My son Jason at 7 months. He liked to put shirts on his head and peek out the openings. He would bounce up and down laughing hysterically, causing everyone within earshot to LOL.

I am completely booked for the rest of 2009 + a couple extra. I can find 1 or 2 spots for newborns if need be, but will be booking all other sessions for January 2010. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list in case of a reschedule, just drop me an email. I will be meeting RJ’s little brother just before Thanksgiving and December will be a big month for newborns … I can’t wait!

In other news, my new camera arrived on Tuesday but due to the weather, I have yet to try it out -which is driving me nuts. I will say that this is one impressive little point-n-shoot! Never mind the fact that it completely adorable- Its the size of a credit card and less than an inch thick. It’s packing a hefty 12.2 megapixles [the same as my monster] and you have control over the white balance and ISO. The best feature -and something I have NEVER seen in a point-n-shoot- has to be the shutter. When you press the shutter, the camera takes the picture. The shutter doesn’t lag for 1 or more seconds causing you to miss the moment all together.  So if youre shopping for a quick and compact digital camera this year, pick up the Nikon Coolpix S640. You can find one at Amazon for under $250. I’m just glad I found something quick enough that I can carry anywhere :)

Just a quick note: I have 2 slots left for the November 7th mini sessions- 3:00 and 4:30. I’m really bad at updating my calendar but will get to that this weekend for sure. I hope everyone has a great weekend!