Part II – cousins

November 21, 2011

Sometimes you find a good location to shoot at that you just fall in love with – this family property in Powhatan was simply gorgeous!  There were little pockets of amazing light that I LOVED! 

Normally on a shoot I will take 150 +/- pictures.  For this cousin shoot  I took over 300 – that tells you how much fun it was.  I had a hard time picking out what I thought was the best for this blog post – do I pick the best with my mommy eyes or my photographer eyes?  I couldn’t decide so I picked a few of both.  Hope you like them too!

and a group hug at the end – thanks y’all – I love when I catch myself smiling while editing and that happened quite a bit today!

--> imagesby: Thank you so much Margaret!

sarah hudson: My Motjer's great great nephews and nieces and my cousins so great in all these pictures-don't know how you got them all in a good mood.

Family Fun . . . (cousins)

November 21, 2011

Other than the fact that I drove my car into a ditch at the end of this shoot (haha – don’t ask!) I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in a long time!  My cheeks hurt when I left this shoot today from smiling so much – that is how much fun these guys were!  Wouldn’t you love to be a cousin in this family?  I bet they will grow up together and be close friends. 

So . . . only five pictures for tonight because I promised I would have a gallery done ( and I’m still working on it) – but I will put up a few more tomorrow.  This picture makes me wonder what was going on behind me – haha!

and doesn’t the littlest one remind you of Shirley Temple in this picture?  I wonder what she was saying?

I said “show me some sass” . . . .and this is what they did -

If you don’t smile when you see this one you might be a grinch (just kidding!)

What an awesome time!  Thanks so much for having me out guys (and getting my car out of the ditch!)

November 22nd y’all . . .

November 15, 2011

So November 22nd is always a special day for me because not only is it my birthday (yippee – when you get to be my age having a birthday is SO darn exciting!!  Haha – NOT!) but my parents always come up from NY to visit and we have special traditions we do every year.  This year I didn’t think they were going to make it BUT . . . looks like they are going to come after all.  This means so much to me – my parents have been so supportive of my career, wishes and dreams all my life.  I miss seeing them and am so thankful they can come.  Which brings me to this blog post – that I am so thankful for my family, friends and wonderful customers (who very often become my friends) that I wanted to give something special away on my “special” day.  I want to give one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE things away  (I feel like Oprah or something).  A 12×12 cavnas from my favorite canvas place, pixel2canvas.  They are a husband and wife team who has twins,  based out of Las Vegas.  Let me tell you just one reason why I love them (*this is beside the fact that their canvas prints are the BEST around and will last for 100 years).  As Garry (my cousin w/the brain tumor) was given only a few days to live this September, one of his friends called me up and wanted to buy a large print of their family that I had taken over the summer.  We talked about what she was looking  for and I decided I wanted to kick in some money and together we were going to get a canvas.   If you don’t know anything about canvas prints, they are very expensive- but SO gorgeous!  At the time we knew the funeral would be sometime soon (and we were hoping to display this canvas there for everyone to see).  I called P2C because it typically takes a week for them to deliver a canvas all the way to VA (or NY in this case) and I didn’t know if they could print it in a few days, much less ship it that fast (without it costing a fortune).  I explained the situation to the CS rep, who not only said they would get the canvas to NY, but they would pay for the ENTIRE thing (canvas and overnight shipping) for Kristen, Garry’s wife.  I was completely speechless and could only blubber a few thank yous before I got off the phone in total shock at their generosity.  The canvas arrived two days later, in time to be hung in Garry’s hospice room for him to look at, and was absolutely the most gorgeous canvas I have ever seen.  The colors and richness of the canvas blew me away.  I was so thankful to the company for how quick they acted (so Garry could see it) and the generosity and kindness they showed us.

SO, with that being said, I am going to pay it forward and give away a canvas from my favorite company, Pixel2canvas.  This is a random act of kindness giveaway – but has a few rules.  

I love to have the first person who comments on my blog posts win something -but that is not always fair to people who work or have commitments – and for something this fantastic I want everyone to have a chance. 

So, between now and November 22nd, just make a comment on this blog post and you will be registered.  If you are a fan of mine on Facebook, mention that you will get two entries.

On November 22nd at 9pm  I will announce the winner. 

*** This contest is open to anyone who has purchased products from me (at anytime).  This includes fundraisers and portrait parties.  As long as you have purchased something in the last four years, you are eligible to win.

**** Also your name will not show up on the blog, but I will be able to see it on the admin. part of this site – so don’t worry if you don’t see your name.  You will be entered.

Laurie Patriacca: Hey Sue, You are amazing! I received my photos and love them...thank you! As you know I follow you on facebook and I also want to wish you a very happy Birthday! Enjoy your time with your parents!

Shannon Murdock: Wow, Sue!! I love your random acts of kindness! You have been blessed with so much talent and your work resembles so much care and love. I follow you on facebook, so look forward to the more random acts of kindness. Happy Birthday and Blessings to you and your family!

Ron B.: Happy upcoming birthday, although I share your excitement about birthdays. Laura says I'm well on my way to becoming a grumpy old man. And I like you on FB!

Amanda Hopkins: Saw my gallery today...the pictures are wonderful and I cant believe how much she has changed since we took them! I also like you on facebook!

--> imagesby: Susan - I'm from the Rochester area. Where are you from?

--> imagesby: Thanks Meghan - I had fun too!

Noelle Shavlik: Well, I just read your blog and hearing that your cousin has a brain tumor stopped me in my tracks-This thanksgiving I will remember to be thankful for my health first of all-and God for giving me family and friends that mean the world to me. Ok-that was off topic I guess! Hope to see you sometime next year for pics! xo

Tara: Just found you on facebook! Can't wait to see the rest of the pictures...and how am I supposed to narrow it down???? :)

--> imagesby: It was the best birthday ever because I got to take pics of adorable Baby G!!

Wahoo it’s Friday!!!

November 11, 2011

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the weekend coming than to give something away.  This random act of kindness can be won by anyone who has had a paying session (or attended a portrait party) - past clients or by future clients who are planning to have a session – Roanoke, Maryland, Midlo, NY – anywhere. 

The first person to comment on this blog post will win an 11×14 wall print – Happy Friday!!

--> imagesby: Yea Jen - you're first!!! Congratulations! Do you want me to put your most recent gallery back up? I'm so excited for you!

--> imagesby: Ok Jen - I'll put it back up and send you the password.

Now as much as I want to think I’m totally awesome and can get *everyone* to smile – there are times when I have tried all I can think of but the little corners of a child’s mouth just won’t turn up into a smile!  So that is when I pull out the big guns . . . haha!  It’s simple!  All you need is one spazzy parent (like Mama K) and a cat toy known as “the tickler”.  I swear it works and the more goofy you can get with the tickler, the more the kids will laugh.  Here is one of the behind the scenes pictures of how you can work this – I can’t tell you how many times I have laughed hysterically at what people do with that thing.

Sometimes you can get pictures like this . . .

Sometimes when the tickler doesn’t even work, I have to pull out the super big guns (aka rocket balloons).  If you’ve had a session with me over the past few years you will surely know what I’m talking about.  I pull these out when the child thinks they are done (but I don’t).  haha – these things are miracle workers – I bet I have some parents that could testify to that!  After you pump a rocket balloon up it flies around like a drunk bird making a whizzing noise.  Kids LOVE them!   Heck, I even love them.  If you’ve ever seen a picture sort of like this that I’ve shot – it wasn’t Santa flying overhead, it was a rocket balloon . . .

So . . . after the rocket balloons we busted out the Christmas gear . . .  is “I” not the cutest thing ever in this get up?

Here is “L” with a feather boa dahling . . .

One of my favorites – the snowglobe . . .  “I” was concentrating super hard trying to get the snow to move around.  “L” was loving it -

I even had these lollipops that had a Rudolph nose attached to the end – so the girls tried those out.  It never fails that when I tell siblings to “look at each other and laugh” – one will always point to the other one.  Seriously!  It’s hysterical . .

Lily has got some gorgeous eyelashes -

Three beautiful girls . .  .

Thanks “K” fam – I had SOOOO much fun playing with you!!

--> imagesby: Thank you so much Lauren! I had such fun shooting these - and the fact that you love them makes them even more special to me.

Yes, the “K” girls get to have two blog posts because I just don’t have enough time to get all their fantastic pictures from today edited for this post.  The “K” family won a contest I had on facebook a while ago and I was  SO excited to take their pictures.  Mom brought a bunch of clothes, shoes, and hair accessories to play with – how cool is that?  It made me miss the times when my girls were younger and I could pick out their clothes.  Not so much anymore. . . .

So the first day we met it was about 45 degrees and super windy.  After about five minutes we decided to try again the next day.  Thankfully the next day turned out to be awesome – sunny, warmer and not windy.  So a few of these pictures are from the first day – but most are from today.

See where they get their good looks? 

I loved to look at snowglobes as a child – this picture brings back that magical feeling you get as a child after you shake one up . . .

We had a lot of fun on this shoot – can’t wait to show you the rest!

--> imagesby: Thanks Lauren!!

Who is going to get . . . . the last free sitting fee I am going to offer this month?  ($125 value).

Be the first one to comment on this blog post and you win!  Don’t be alarmed when your name doesn’t show up – I can see who you are :)

--> imagesby: Well that is awesome because you did!!!!

--> imagesby: Thank you so much Carol! What a kind thing to say!

All right all you night owls – who is going to win? 

We’ll do the same thing as this morning – a free sitting fee ($125 value) which must be used sometime in the next six months.  First one to leave a comment wins.

--> imagesby: Yup!!!! Congratulations Carrie!!

--> imagesby: Don't worry - there will be lots more to come!

--> imagesby: Wahoo - awesome!!!

Who is up on Facebook at this time in the morning?  (Hopefully someone that wants to win). 

The first person to comment on this blog post today will win a free sitting fee (this is a $125 value) to be used sometime in the next six months. 

Happy Friday!!

--> imagesby: Oh my goodness you won Caroline!!!!

Random acts of kindness!!

November 2, 2011

So . . . if you’ve been following me for a while you might know that I love random acts of kindness.  I love to take people by surprise by doing something out of the ordinary because it’s so much fun!   At this moment in my life I am so, SO thankful that I am able to continue doing something I am so passionate about – that brings joy to not only myself but other people (my fantastic, wonderful customers).  What I have decided to do is every now and then during the month of November I will post on Facebook about random acts of kindness which will be linked to this blog.  Each time there will be a different prize.  The first person to comment on the blog post (NOT on Facebook because that is against their rules) will win.  Some of the items will not pertain to everyone (ex. 3×3 albums – you will have to have had a session to win those) – but other things like a free sitting fee will apply to everyone.  Keep your eyeballs open – these will be at all different times of the day during November (so everyone can play – night owls, early risers, working people, stay at home moms – whoever).  Maybe this will insprire you to do something as a random act of kindness -  it is a wonderful feeling to know that a little effort may have made someone’s day!

Mmmmk – go!  Someone post a comment and you will win . . . . . one free digital file (high resolution) that will be emailed to you.  This file can be printed to any size, any amount.

And now for a picture – because I can’t post without one.  My three lovies and Vegas, our funny lab.  What is so funny about this picture is that right after I snapped the shutter Vegas took off running after something and Maggie was running behind him holding on for dear life.  I was laughing so hard I couldn’t even yell at him – it was crazy!  That’s what I get for taking him out in public – haha!

Amanda Hopkins: My husband loved playing with your lab when we had our photo shoot!

--> imagesby: Yea Amanda - you won!!! I don't even have your gallery done yet but just know you will get one free digital file when it's completed (soon!) Congratulations!!!

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