hot child in the city

Once, when Sex and the City was still making new shows, Carrie was walking down the sidewalk wearing a pouffy, high-waisted skirt and Jimmy Choos, and the song that accompanied her during this sassy sashay was "Hot Child in the City" by Pat Benetar. It was the very first time I had ever heard the tune, and I immediately loved it like a dog loves Jerky Treats.

Well, a few weekends ago I did a shoot with Young MissE, and while I was picking out her outfit the song was running through my head. MissE, you see, is a very sweet kid, who has a strong sense of self and a style that I think rocks. She also happens to be a very smart young lady... and a girl who my kids all adore. I can only hope they turn out to be as good a teenager as she is.

Here is your sneak peek MissE...

Blue Cats and Beach Babes

First of all, until recently (which specifically means the American Idol Motown episode) I had forgotten just how much I love the oldies. When I was in 5th grade I saw "Good Morning Vietnam!" and it opened a whole new world of music, to me anyway. The Four Tops quickly became one of my favorite bands and "Love Child" by The Supremes was easily my favorite song of the day. I listened to the records, yes, the vinyls, over and over, the scratchiness of the old needle just adding to the texture of the experience. These old songs are so much FUN to sing, and listen to.. they are easy and simple on the ears, any deeper political or social statements sliding seamlessly into the tunes, so that although they may be saying something, it steel feels like a happy diversion from the doldrums of the regular day. And the best part.... the lyrics are simple to remember. They are still some of the only songs I know all of the words to.

So, whilst waiting in line to get G's face painted at Alive after 5, the band playing in the courtyard struck those familiar six notes, right away I began to sing along. G was stunned that I actually knew a song, and Little L just gurgled with excitement that I was singing something other than Twinkle Twinkle.

Here is G's face... she is a blue cat if you couldn't tell....


The next morning, I went insearch of "My Girl" to add to this playlist, and when I finally found it, I decided I just must post the beach shots I did of Kel's girls, my kids and Stef's girls while we were in FL. This particular evening was GORGEOUS, and although all of my balloons blew away (who needs 'em anyway) the shots I got were spectacular. I will treasure this session, as I will all of the sessions from Florida. I couldn't have asked for a better 2 weeks of shooting.

C & C

Just a few more before I load the private gallery.

C and C and W

When I was down in my hometown, I did a session with a good friend's three children. The oldest, who I remember babysitting when she was just a wee monkey, has grown into quite the big sister. The youngest, whom I had never met in person, has this GIGANTIC personality it a teeeeny little body. And the middle child, the only boy, was feeling rather uncooperative at the beginning, though by the end he'd softened up. Here are a few from the start of the session, just a peek...

Born on the 4th of July....

This precious girl will be one year old this Saturday. She is just the sweetest little thing, a bit of a firecracker no doubt. Her mama is one of the most gorgeous ladies I've ever met... and kind and smart to boot! Their mister is one lucky fellow... Have a great birthday love!

At the Lake

This family was so adorable last Saturday. The three girls were all just so nice and the littlest one was so cute I just wanted to eat her! I wish I could have quick edited a few more before I posted this, but I just don't have the proper editing equipment with me, so this will have to do until I get home. Thank you for being such an amicable family to shoot, you all. Even when you thought I was a bit off my rocker, you did what I asked without complaint. The final images are going to be awesome, I promise!!

And then sometimes....

I get a family who is so photogenic and easy to photograph that I can't stop editing. Their sessions take forever to post because I want to process every single image about fifteen different ways. I promise I am almost done, guys. Here are a few starters for you...

The Hooper Street Session...

I did a shoot the other weekend on a little side road downtown called Hooper. It was a place where you could just feel the connections between the families who lived there without even having to meet the residents. It was an absolutely magical place where the entire street is the children's playground... it was simply perfect.

I made portraits of M and his little sister J that day. M is a gorgeous little fellow with curly golden locks and a cheeky little spirit just bursting to get out. J was adorable, also, a sweet baby who was way more interested in me than any other 4 week old I've ever met. She also had the cutest baby faux-hawk ever.

I found out that the family has bluegrass connections in their family tree... the first song on the playlist is for them. My favorite Alison Krauss lullaby...

More tea

So here is another of my favorites from this session. Lovely Jenny has a similar image which was made when she was pregnant with Little Miss. This one strikes me because I am quite certain the first image was very beautiful, clean and crisp, everything in order and in place. Now,however, her life has changed. Still beautiful, but messier, in a happy sort of way. Life won't be this untidy forever, that is certain, but for right now, the Tiger ears and the bare toes, the toys strewn across the floor and the just-read books laying nearby.. that is the beauty of right now.

Tempest in a Teapot

So, for the past few weeks I have been struggling to get a handle on "Glucose Intolerance of Pregnancy", a diagnosis just short of gestational diabetes. I have been exceptionally stressed out, sleeping very little, keeping a very strict diet, and excercising more than I have in... well... let's not talk about that.

Unfortunately this has all coincided with a time when I am supposed to be editing up a few sessions, one of those being the gracious and eloquent Jenny, who is due with her #2 just a few days before I am due with my #3. Well, I have founf one of my favorite images of the session and wanted to post it here for her. I've never taken one quite like this before, but for some reason I really, really, love it.


There will be a few more to post, I am certain... for now I am off to another shoot.