Filed under: Uncategorized
Meet Preston, a budding rockstar if I have ever seen one.
This kid can siiiiiing!
He is smart and self confident… he even gave me pointers for posing rockstars while on our photoshoot!
He knows what’s in… he knows what’s cool.
Not only does he have the look and the lyrics down… but this kid is a Romeo…. a serious little loverboy.
I just know he will be that boy that breaks a million hearts.
Of course, all of this coolness has to come from somewhere. His mom happens to be one of the most awesomest people I’ve ever met…. and his little sister the cutest thing walking.
One thing is for sure: My 2008 was better for knowing this family.
Off to enjoy the last day of a really great year!
Bing
Filed under: Uncategorized
I was recently led by another photographer friend to a phenomenal organization called The Littlest Heroes Project. Basically, this non-profit organization helps photographers meet up with families who have children with life-threatening illnesses. Families choose a photographer in their area and ask them to do a session for them. Photographers donate their time and images and in turn, get to meet some of the bravest human beings on the planet in the process. It is a win-win!
Visit : www.LittlestHeroesProject.org
Meet Ben. He is one cool person. He is all-boy and has a great sarcastic sense of humor. (He and I got along pretty well, hahah!)
He has an amazing mom, April, and a super adorable sister, Sydney, who fight right along side him everyday at St. Jude’s Research Hospital
Ben has a brain cancer called non-germinomatous germ cell tumor, and was diagnosed this summer. He just finished chemotherapy and thanks to his mad cancer-fighting ninja skills, he has avoided surgery and is now undergoing radiation treatment.
He is also a skateboarding rockstar.
Rock on brother!
I even got to sign his book before I left!
Meeting Ben was a full circle moment for me. One of my earliest, sharpest memories was of my young uncle fighting a malignant brain tumor and eventually losing his battle. I was six years old and I will never ever forget him and how brave he was. As sad as that memory was.. seeing Ben reminded me that people beat cancer everyday… I know Ben will win his battle. He has a strength in him that I have never seen before. Please keep him and his amazing family in your prayers!
I am so excited to be a part of The Littlest Heroes, and I encourage my fellow photog’s to check it out. You are never too busy to capture a miracle.
Off to enjoy the sunshine!
Bing
There is nothing quite like Christmas through the eyes of a child. Since I don’t yet have kids of my own, and there aren’t any small kids in my family, I adopted my ballerinas and their families this year to celebrate with. It was so much fun!
To kick off the season at the begining of the month, the dance school participated in the local Christmas parade. The theme for the parade was “A Storybook Christmas” and so the little kids wore their pjs and rode on the float with me (and my broken toe, lol!) and the older students wore storybook character costumes and walked behind us (singing Christmas songs VERY loudly all the way, hahaha!).
My AMAZING friend and fellow mpixer, Angie (FORGETMENOT on here) and her hubby built us a fake fire place for the float… I don’t think I managed to get a shot of it in all it’s glory [:(].
Anyhoo, here are some crappy snapshots I took, lol!
It was FREEEEZING!!!! But, we had fun!
After the parade, we went back to the dance studio for cookies, hot chocolate, and to decorate the studio. It was also my birthday, so the dancers sung to me every chance they got… I got lots of sweet hugs and gifts too. I am so blessed!
The cutest stockings EVER!
Kids+glitter+glue= Beautiful “masterpieces”
My darling hubby setting up the tree:
Me handing out decorations:
Several of the dancers and I went to see the Ballet Memphis Production of the Nutcracker. They were in AWE. The Orpheum was beautiful and the performance was phenomenal!
My favorite part of the Nutcracker… the snowflakes!
And, of course, we had our fantastic annual Christmas party last Friday…. I was having so much fun dancing, that I barely took any photos! This one is from one of the moms who picked up my camera during one of our special line dances (of course I look all goofy with my mouth open, lol!):
I have had a super stressful month of trying to get everything organized for the school, plus taking care of endless photography orders… but I can honestly say I would not change a thing. I’ve only had a few days off and I miss the kids so much already!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Bing
Filed under: home life
To all of my faithful blog readers and phenomenal clients…
Merry Christmas!
Our card; front photo by the amazing Angie Hayes, design by the ordinary me.
Front:
Inside:
Back:
Off to finish wrapping!
Bing
Filed under: Uncategorized
My new friend, Mitcie, and I were born as musical twins I think. She recently shared some of her favorites with me and I wanted to share some of my newest favorites with her.
During this crazy holiday season, here are some great songs to “chillax” to. I thought I’d share these with all of my blog friends.
Take some time for you.
Tell your people that you love them.
Smile at strangers.
Dance by yourself.
“Be Here Now” Ray LaMontagne
“In Your Eyes” Jeffery Gaines version
“It Don’t Matter to the Sun” Rosie Thomas
“Infinity” Merrick
“9 Crimes” Damien Rice
“Time After Time” Matt Ketterman and Cameron Mizell version
“I Try” Ben Taylor
“Forever” Ben Harper
Off to spread some sunshine,
Bing
Filed under: photography
I remember discovering my belly button. I was obsessed!
I could make belly button soup with my shampoo and water in the bathtub.
I could put a little snack cracker in it for later.
Awesome.
(And yes I did have a big belly button for a little kid)
Discovery at it’s finest:
I have been a blogging slacker lately… holidays have kept me busy.. stay tuned in the coming days, I have lots and lots to share!
Off to share some sunshine,
Bing
Every person has boundaries of personal space. Some people build walls around themselves that are high and thick, like a fortress… they deem themselves “untouchable” by hurt or rejection or rain. Some are wide open and easily flattened into people-shaped doormats.
Our boundaries differ with each person we interact with and are even defined by our culture. They are unspoken and written on our bodies like a silent language.
They are defined by our connections.
Which leads me to my favorite type of connection to photograph… that between a parent and a child. There is nothing more pure or limitless.
We all learn it from somewhere….
(yes I was really that fat as a toddler)
Off to dreamland,
Bing
