Featured Work: Easy Canvas Prints

As more and more people began asking for options beyond the typical prints of pictures, I realized I needed to find vendors whose work I liked and products that would last for a long time. One of the companies I stumbled upon was Easy Canvas Prints. I ordered my first canvas for a client and really loved their product, and their customer service is outstanding. Now they are my go-to company for ordering canvases.

A few weeks ago they asked their Facebook fans to upload pictures that "defined" love. And so I looked through a number of my images that I thought reflected love - from my perspective - and uploaded a few pictures. They responded back asking for one of my images, saying they would like to use it in their Valentine's Day promotion. Just today, they sent out their email blast to their customers and posted to Facebook the picture I'd been excited to see "displayed". 

It's very exciting to see my work displayed and to have people appreciate what I am attempting to achieve when I look through my viewfinder and capture the amazing people who allow me to photograph them.

If you're interested in having pictures taken, I would love to hear from you. You can head to my website and send me an inquiry...and you could have the opportunity to get a canvas of your very own.

Thanks Easy Canvas Prints...love you guys!

And belly makes three...

Everything was set. The day, the time, the meeting place. Then came the phone call the night before: "Have you checked the weather? We could get 2-6 inches of snow tomorrow." Ahh! But with a quick change, the maternity shoot with Karen and Mike would happen the day after it was supposed to, and the fresh snowfall would make for a lovely session with some wonderful friends, who are expecting their first baby.

I don't think I will ever forget how they told me they were expecting. I got a text message from Mike at the end of the summer with something like the following: So we're wondering if you do newborn photography, because we'll be needing a photographer around March." I immediately called Mike -- didn't text back -- and whispered, "Are you at work?" to which Mike whispered back, "No".... I don't know why I was whispering. So when I realized I could use my normal voice, instead I screamed... "Karen is PREGNANT!!!???"

Karen is due in a few weeks and has that "glow" about her....I loved the blue sweater she chose, and especially love the shot below with the yellow. We drove to nearby Doylestown, PA and found this beautiful historical museum -- a perfect backdrop for a lot of the pics. They were troopers walking through the snow and especially Karen, removing her jacket each time we found a new spot.

Afterward, we went to Chickie's and Pete's for a delicious dinner and some riveting football on the big screens. Karen and Mike -- thanks for spending the afternoon with me. I will be anxiously awaiting the news of Baby Boy Smiley's arrival in a few weeks.

Wedding: Mr. and Mrs. Meck - sneak peek

I am so excited to get through all the images of the wedding I had the honor to photograph this past weekend. Jen and Derek are two very special people, and their wedding was the kickoff to my 2012 wedding season.

I met Jen and Derek at my former job and they both have hearts of gold. They are dedicated to many things: the Lord, their families, their education, their work, friends, being good athletes, serving others, and being gracious. There were many times where just being in their presence made you feel encouraged to call them friends.

Jen and Derek, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your special day. It was fun to know some members of your families, to know (or know about) the members of your bridal parties, and to witness your beautiful marriage.

Hope you're enjoying your honeymoon in TN. Enjoy a much-deserved rest/break!!

Baaaaaa said the sheep

While at photography school last year, I had the privilege of meeting some pretty fantastic people. One of the things that I loved about the area - in general - is that there were so many people who invested into the ma & pa shops instead of the bigger chain stores. Don't get me wrong...there were plenty of the chain stores, but I was captivated by the local stores, vendors selling their wares, and the side-of-the-road stands and farms.

When my mom and I visited for the first time, we stayed at this marvelous bed and breakfast - the House on the Hill. The owners are this couple - Donna and Alain - who love promoting local businesses. I kept in touch with Donna throughout my time at school and was thankful she allowed me to come and photograph the B&B quite a few times. When I asked Donna about some connections within the community, she was quick to mention her friend Kristin. Kristin, her husband, and daughter live on a farm  like few I have ever seen. They have dogs, sheep, cats, chickens, guinea fowl (to name a few), and Kristin hosts events at the farm for knitting and other art forms. Their land is beautiful and it became one of my desired photo settings for a few shoots during the spring and early summer.

Kristin was so gracious in allowing me to bring friends along each time we took photos. While there we saw days-old chicks, lambs that had just learned to walk, and heard stories of treks made with the sheep and the history of the farm. If I lived in MA today, I know - for sure - I would be fast friends with Kristin. She wears many hats and does each thing with as much passion as she does the next.

I have loved reading Kristin's blog of late, to see the new additions to the "family" - new dogs, pups, and a host of new lambs that have been born over the last few days. I hope to visit Kristin this spring when I head back to MA for a visit.

For now, here are a few (of the many) pictures taken at the farm.

Do You Know the Muffin Man?

A few days ago, I wrote about cranberry streusel muffins and that I would soon try my hands at making them. I am happy to say a batch of muffins was made today. I saw the recipe in this cookbook that I bought at Crate and Barrel.

photo from Crate and Barrel

It's interesting that the cookbook is for kids, because this recipe called for numerous steps that were a bit beyond kid level, in my humble opinion. But I guess with help from others, it could be a fun time spent with a little one. I turned on some music and started assembling my ingredients. A little while later, out popped eighteen of the most pretty muffins, oozing with cranberry goodness.

I know my friend Rikki would take so many more creative pictures than I got, but I tried to snap some pictures that showed off my first batch. And some were enjoyed throughout dinner tonight with some of my family gathered around the dinner table.

Don't you just want to take one of these muffins and gobble it down?

Here's the recipe if you missed it:

Cranberry Streusel Muffins

1 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 c sugar

1 T baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

a pinch of salt

1 stick unsalted butter, chilled and diced

1/2 c chopped mixed nuts

2 cups fresh cranberries

grated peel of 1 orange

2 T unsalted butter, melted

(makes 12-18)

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Put buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla in a small bowl and whisk lightly.

3. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the chilled, diced butter and rub into the dry ingredients using your fingertips. When the mixture looks like bread crumbs, add the chopped nuts and mix to combine. Scoop out about 1/2 c of the dry mixture and set aside in a separate bowl.

4. Add the egg mixture to the large bowl and mix until only just combined. Add the cranberries and orange peel and fold in briefly.

5. Spoon the mixture into the muffin liners, filling them almost to the top. 

6. Pour the melted butter into the reserved dry ingredients and mix with a fork until crumbly. Scatter evenly over the muffins.

7. Put the muffin pan on the middle shelf of the oven. Bake for about 20 min. or until golden and a wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the muffin comes out clean.