Flashback to Christmas:: NYC

A few days before New Years Eve, two friends from photography school and I met up in NYC. We traveled via car, train, and subway, then on foot. Our meeting point: Penn Station.

It was one of the more cold days of December, so we bundled up for our day-long walking around the city.

We saw people skating at Bryant Park, meandered around the little shops surrounding it, then headed toward Rockefeller Center to see the ice skaters there. We continued on and had lunch at Potbelly... yum!

We walked up toward the Plaza Hotel, and saw this building along the way. I love the decorations that are up during the Christmas season.

We went into FAO Schwarz and then on our way back, stopped at Tiffany & Co. to admire the expensive jewelry we'd never be able to afford. Funny story....while we were in there, we wanted to go up a few floors to see all the engagement rings. When we got to the elevators, a store worker was 'promoting' the stairs as another means to get upstairs. She said something like, "Take our fabulous stairwells, complete with marble and beautiful bannisters." She used so many descriptive words that I can't remember, but you would have thought these stairs would be made of gold. Well, we walked into the stairwell, more because we didn't feel like waiting for the elevators, and much to our disappointment, the stairs were nothing short of 'normal'.  :-)

Chris and I snuck pictures of Rikki reading in the book section at FAO.

As we got closer to nightfall, we passed by St. Patrick's Cathedral. A service was just about to begin, but it's always something wonderful to walk in and see the history of the building as you look up and around at all the richness to a building like that.

No trip to NYC (for me) would be complete without some cashews from the street vendors. I guess you have to shop around. Some were selling for $2.50; others must have been ambitious in selling for $4 a bag. But I got my cashews and was a happy girl....

We ended our evening with some dessert at a really great little cafe/deli we stumbled upon. I got a fabulous cannoli. Then we went to Starbucks to warm up with some drinks before we headed back to Penn Station for my train's departure.

We had a wonderful day spending time with one another....I can't wait till next time. Here are some pics from my camera (all the others were from Instagram); Chris and Rikki took some of the pics below too.

Photo by Chris

Photo by Chris

Photo by Chris

Photo by Chris

Photo by Rikki

Photo by Rikki

Photo by Rikki

Caroline:: Lititz, PA newborn

When my cousin Jill told us she was pregnant with baby #2, we were very excited for her family. I took a picture of their 'announcing' it on Facebook:

So when Jill asked me if I'd like to take newborn pictures, I was honored to travel to see them. I went the day before super storm Sandy came...and the weather was kind of ominous. But we were able to have our session before the weather turned bad.

Jill and Ryan's son, Luca, is just one of the sweetest little boys. He is usually very happy and is such a polite little boy. I can't get over his eyes - there is just something about them that has me commenting on them with every photo I take.

And now his little sister - Caroline - is just as precious. Just a few weeks after Caroline's birth, the family of four came to NJ to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family. And it continues to be one of the things we look forward to each year - having time with our family.

Jill and Ryan - I pray Caroline is as much a blessing to you as Luca has been. She sure is a cutie!!

Derr:: Hackettstown, NJ family session

Courtney and I grew up together. We went to elementary school together. We played soccer with one another. We had lockers right next to each other, because her maiden name and my last name both start with Z. Courtney has a twin Kristin. Now she has a husband Corey...and some furry creatures that are part of her family. Court and I weren't in touch too often after high school, but I kept up with her once FB got popular. Well a few years ago, I found myself living in NJ for awhile...and Courtney lives in the next town over from where we grew up. We began to meet with each other and grab lunch, or go shopping, and we have become friends again.

Court and Corey just recently moved into their first home. They were excited to leave behind the apartment they were calling 'home' for the first few years of their marriage. I was excited when Court asked if I could take some pictures of her and Corey for their Christmas card this year. Of course Bella had to be in a few.... her head tilts easily when a few key words are uttered. And at the beginning of our session (out in front of their new home), the mailman came down the street in his mailtruck. Bella went crazy!!

Court and Corey - I'm thankful to have reconnected, and glad that we can spend some time together. Now that I'm in PA and you're in NJ, I know we don't get to see each other as often, but I like being able to visit when I'm home. And next time......we're gonna get Dunkin'!

And blessings on your new home!!

Chickens

I took Christmas pictures of my nephews last week, and the only request that Grant had over and over was:  "Sissy, can we take pictures with the chickens?" My sister and bro-in-law got 3 chickens about 2 months ago. The boys have named the chickens and Grant - especially - has an affinity for them. Throughout the session, I kept saying (in the biggest attempt at patience), "You better smile and look at the camera if you want pictures with the chickens." Grant was really the only one interested in pictures when it was all said and done.

The other day, I called my sister, and Grant answered the phone. He said (with a cuteness that melted me), "Sissy, can I ask you a question? Can you post the pictures of me with 'Red' on your thing?" Red is one of the chickens and the 'thing' is my blog. Too cute.

Well, Grant, here are the pictures of you and Red.

Halloween 2012

A few days ago, after I had come home from photographing a newborn, the Gleasons - who I am living with - were getting ready to leave for Trunk-or-Treat, an event their church puts on for kids around Halloween time.

When Meg came into my room - all proud of her princess costume - I had to snap a picture of each before they headed out the door.

Then they brought in Lewis, who was dressed as a cow. His mama is his sidekick :-)

Aren't they just precious?

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!

Christmas 2011

We are one of those families rooted in traditions:

- Filet mignon on Christmas Eve, either preceded or followed by church, at which there is the very-much-anticipated candle lighting. 
- Lasagna on Christmas Day, with appetizers to include shrimp and punch, among other things. 
- Crumb cake on Christmas morning. 
- Stockings first, presents second. 
- Ice cream cake to celebrate my grandma's birthday, which is on Christmas Day. 
- My mom's handwritten notes to each of us kids on our Christmas cards; they recap our year and usually take up the whole back of a card.
- Homemade cinnamon rolls made by my sister.
- Lights in milk jugs out in front of our house, lit on Christmas Eve by my dad, illuminating the way down our street (we're going to try and get our whole street to do it next year).
- A quick drive on Christmas Eve - with everyone packed in one car - to see lights in other neighborhoods.

But throughout the years, traditions have changed. Some have been welcomed and others... well.... haven't. This year my mom couldn't find our stockings, so she put our goodies in gift bags. And this year Grandma wasn't with us - she passed away in August. And Christmas was on Sunday, so we went to church, which just adjusted schedules a bit. And our Christmas here at "home" was smaller - just mom, dad, and me, since both my siblings are married. But the food was the same. The note on the card was there and written in red. The lights outside on Christmas Eve were pretty. And we again rejoiced in Christ's birth many years ago.

Sometimes I have mixed emotions with taking pictures on Christmas. I like enjoying watching everyone else and don't want to be caught up with my eyes behind the lens. But I tried to snap a few, and have some stories behind a few.

Each year I give the boys the newest Hess truck/car series. They look forward to it each year.

They also love Pez candies. This year my mom stumbled upon HUGE Pez
dispensers and they were in love.

Kids these days...they are getting so familiar with technology. Grant (especially) has been asking for a Nintendo DS
for years now, and each year he doesn't get one. This year all the boys got a DS. I am sure
they will be kept busy for hours and hours.

While they don't glorify Santa, the boys leave cookies for Santa.
Santa graciously writes them a note back and tries to disguise his handwriting.

Crazy Rudy with his bone. This is the dog that swallows socks, so you can imagine the horror when we
found out that he swallowed one of those ends of the bone WHOLE.

Fritz with his bone. He is a lot more quiet and looked apprehensive when someone would approach.

One of Santa's little helpers. :-)

It was tough on my emotions to know Grandma wouldn't be with us this Christmas, especially compounded
because her birthday is on Christmas Day.  There are a number of possessions my grandma had that my
sister now has - including this Christmas cactus. While my grandma had it, there were many a pink
flower that could be seen blooming around Christmas, but since my sister has had it, there haven't been too many.
But a few weeks ago, the pink flowers started popping up. What a joy to see
new life coming out of sadness in the loss of her life. We remembered her throughout the day and
thought of her as we had our ice cream cake, although this year minus the singing of "Happy Birthday."