Welcome to the Badass Club

I was just thinking about Jed and how I really wish I could be at his big movie showing tomorrow so I guess that's why I decided to post this blog now. I hope it all goes well, I know it will.

Quite a few months back I went with my friend Jed to watch him get his first tattoo. He got the name of his self published book tattooed on his arm. I think we were there for about 3 or 4 hours but I enjoyed watching every minute of it. Okay...okay...so I didn't REALLY watch the whole thing. Like when his arm started bleeding...yep....totally looked the other direction. But, I did really have a good time experiencing that moment with him and he did look pretty bad ass when it was done.

Sweet Ivy Elisabeth

One of my best friends just gave birth to a gorgeous little girl on April 2, 2009. Her name is Ivy Elisabeth and today I got to meet the sweet little thing. Ivy's mom, Laura, and I have been best friends for many years now so hanging out with her family feels kind of like I am hanging out with my own. With a house full of people I still managed to get a few pictures of Ivy but I sense a photo shoot soon filled with lots of fun wardrobe and location changes. :)
I haven't gone through all the photos yet so I may post more later but in the mean time.....


Ivy sleeping so sweetly. She really was just perfect.:


Ivy's cousin Ben was also there. Talk about a photogenic baby!:


I am working on some (ok...many) birth announcement options for Ivy. Here are just a couple:

Dyslexic Birthday

It wasn't until I took a photography class in college that I discovered how much I really loved it. One of the first people I photographed for one of my assignments was my grandpa. I still remember that photo session with him about 8 or 9 years ago where we wandered about his farmyard talking about the war and how he was quite the catch back then. It was one of those moments between a grand daughter and her grandpa that I will never forget. Part of it could have to do with the lecture I got from him about how men these days will just slip a drug into your drink and you will never know what happened. haha. Don't ask me how that even came up, he just felt I needed to know I guess. At that time I was using my aunts old film camera so I didn't really know what I was doing or if the photos I was taking were going to turn out. As it so happens my absolute favorite picture of grandpa was taken that day. I have taken hundreds of photos of him since then but that photo will always remind me of the day I spent with my grandpa...just him and I. I will also never forget his reaction when he saw that photo. "Whose that guy with all the wrinkles?" he asked right before he let out a little giggle. "That's you grandpa!" I replied. "Naw. He's too old to be me!" grandpa says.
Years later on March 21, 2009 we celebrated my grandpas 91st birthday and of course we did a little photo shoot again. This time some of the photos included my cousin/his granddaughter, Stacey. Stacey turned 19 on the same day grandpa turned 91. Definitely a special day!

And years later my grandpa is still my favorite person to photograph. If I could I would make a full time job of it.

Bloody Knuckles. Broken Heart.

I consider myself lucky to have met Jed Brazier. Jed is a man of great creative talent and has an enormous heart. A few months back we got together and spent a few hours shooting pictures. I needed practice on studio shots and he needed some photos of himself for his book. By the end of the shoot I was laughing so hard I could hardly hold my camera still....thanks for making me take blurry pictures Jed! ;-)
Jed wrote a book of poetry and short stories and has recently made a website to promote his book. His book had me laughing, crying and just overall impressed me. Have I mentioned lately how blessed I feel to have such creative friends!? Everyone should check out his website and order a copy of the book. I could not put it down!
bloodyknucklesbrokenheart.com

The "M" family

During a family get together at my parents farm, my cousins and I went down to the old farm yard to snap a few photos. Directly following these photos a huge snow fight broke out between all the cousins. Thank goodness I was holding my camera and they knew they couldn't touch me. haha.

Happy Heart Day!

I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day today!

The heart has its reasons which reason knows not of. ~Blaise Pascal

GAP model perhaps?

My nephew, Jevan, flew in from Colorado to spend christmas with us this past year. I love taking pictures of him and hardly get to see him so I subjected the poor little guy to a mini photo shoot. There was some bribbing involved but he was alot more patient then I thought he would be. Lucky for me he is adorable even when he isn't cooperating. :)