Retarded!

OK everyone,
I just learned never to make a blog post at 2 am. Our new website and blog are www.bluerockphotos.com and www.bluerockphotos.com/blog. The name of our business is Blue Rock Photography. Sheesh. I'm losing my mind!

Now...we'll really see you there

New Name, New Blog

Dear Everyone...
We have changed our name to Blue Rock Photography and have a new website and blog to go with it! We're super excited to share our continued journey with you. For more updates, posts, recipes and much, much more...visit http://www.bluerockphotos.com/ and www.bluerockphotos.com/blog for all of the updated information about our photography.

We love you guys! See you in our new place!

Williams Family

I love little boys with personality!!! I love how they pal around with eachother. I love their rough-and-tumble love. This fun family came to the shoot with their two good-lookin' kiddos and I knew almost from the moment they stepped out of the van that this was going to be a fun day. They were good brothers! We captured some great moments! And, I was so excited that a family with some younger kids wanted to try the junk yard. I love photographing amidst the junk. It's one of my favorites. (Ask my husband, I'm always on the lookout for grunge). Thanks, ya'll for letting me tag along with you for a few hours today. I came home smiling!

The Taggertys

This is a family that lives in my neighborhood. Everyone knows them for their block parties and their friendly cat, Fen. I was so excited when they asked me to do their family pictures. They love England and will soon have to leave. They chose the iconic Bury St. Edmunds Abbey gardens for their shoot (and we threw in a little of the city as well). Today was a BLAST. I had so much fun taking pictures as the Taggertys climbed, cartwheeled and laughed. It felt like playtime...and I loved it. Thanks, guys for letting me capture a window in your life! And good luck in your next adventure. May you grow to love it as much as you loved it here (and may I be brave enough to undertake the block parties from here on out. YOU WILL BE MISSED!)

Urban Cuties

OK...so the results are in from the "Free For All" Urban Kids' Shoot today. It was windy and cold...but these kids were such troopers...and they came in the most adorable outfits. Their mothers and fathers really went all out. We had so much fun...and captured so many good moments. I loved it! Here are just a few of the MANY fun pictures from today. Thanks everyone for showing up, braving the wind and the cold...and hanging out with my son and I on this breezy Autumn Saturday! And thanks, parents, for all of the jokes, funny faces, and games!

Bale Family

The little girls in this family had so much personality. I captured so many funny faces, both happy and sad...it was incredible. I loved the energy they brought to the photo shoot.

"Free For All" Urban Kids Photo Shoot

Ever since I moved to the UK, I've heard dozens upon dozens of mothers lament that there is no place to take the kids to get annual pictures taken without paying a boat load of money. I have tinkered with several ideas to help the situation, and none seemed do-able unti now. Today that lament is BANISHED! Introducing the first bi-annual (yes, that means TWICE a year)

"Free For All"

Urban Kids Photo Shoot!!!

Where: Meeting at MY HOUSE in Mildenhall (sessions will take place in the 4 city blocks surrounding my abode. The next photo shoot will be in a different location...but I figured this was as good a place as any to start).

When: Saturday, October 3, 2009

Time: Sessions start at 10am and will run until no later than 4pm.

Who: Anyone with kids from infants up to 16 years old (Sorry...no senior photos included in this shoot. Bummer...I know).

What: 15 fun-filled minutes per child of outdoor, natural light photography in the wonderful, colorful, rustic English town of Mildenhall.

What to bring: Bring your child in a fun, bright, trendy outfit. Now is the time to really show off his or her fashion and really knock the socks off grandma and grandpa. (Actually, with all of the black and white stone here, you'll really want your child in something colorful to keep your child from getting "lost" in the background and add interest to the photograph itself.) I promise, I can find a background to go with any outfit...including those who come dressed as Ariel from "The Little Mermaid"... (you know who you are). Also bring along things that make your child happy. Does she love to wear her princess crown, jewels and high heels...bring 'em. We won't use them in every picture...but we WILL use them (and you'll be so glad you have that precious moment documented). Is he a "gun-a-holic" like my son (even if you've seriously tried to dissuade him)? Bring the guns. Does your little one cling to his teddy? Bring teddy along. I'll have bubbles and suckers (and even my son's red trike) to keep the kiddos busy.

What to expect: First of all, alot of fun. This is not a stuffy, smile and say "Cheese" type of a photoshoot. This is an opportunity to catch your child being...well, YOUR child. This is about catching that funny face she always makes, or capturing him in mid jump! Moms...Come armed with your best funny faces, jokes and other "tricks" up your sleeve to get your kid to giggle and laugh and occassionally look my direction. I promise, we'll get at least one traditional picture...but the object of this shoot is about documenting a child's life...dirt smudges and all. If we have time, we'll snap some sibling pictures as well...but this shoot is mainly about capturing your child's individual personality.

Prints: This photoshoot is sitting fee free. That means the only thing you pay for is prints (though you are not obligated to purchase prints). After the shoot, I'll choose the best 5 pictures of your kiddo (and 2-3 sibling pictures if we had time for those) and post them in the "Free for All" password protected gallery on my website. You'll be able to browse the pictures and choose your favorites for print. Prints from this session will only be available in 5 special packages I'm creating for this event (prices for print packages start at $30). Details on print packages will be available at the time of the session. Larger art prints (11x14 and up) and canvas prints can be added to the package if desired. High resolution, copyright free photo disks of your child's session may be added to your package for $25 per child. However, no small a-la-carte prints (8x10 or smaller) will be available for this session.

How to book: Leave a comment here on the blog requesting the time(s) you would like and the number of children you're bringing (and ages would be helpful too). Remember, the session starts at 10am and ends no later than 4pm. Schedule 15 minutes per child. All session times are first come first serve.

Can't wait to see you all and photograph your wonderful, energetic children!

David and Jami

These two love birds were so much fun to photograph! They've been dating since they were in high school...and it was so apparent that they were in love, and knew each other so well. I loved spending time with them, listening to them joke with one another, and just having fun. Every once in a while, you have a photo session that really energizes you and makes you SO EXCITED about your work. This was that photo session for me. More pictures to be posted a little later tonight.

Dean and Camille's Family

So everyone loves the sunflower field and the double decker bus out in the middle of nowhere...and I love it twice as much after this fun family shoot. These are some of my dear friends. They are some of the people I look up to the most right now. We love how fun loving they are. Their house is open to the youth of our church all of the time for Rock Band tournaments, volleyball, and cookouts. I've always wanted a house like that. I've been taking notes on how to have the "cool house" where the church kids can come, play, and feel the Spirit of Christ all in one place. Grateful I got to spend some one on one time with them yesterday!