Ashlie Hilton is a Tucson, AZ based photographer and despite being a couple hour drive while I was 8 months pregnant I knew she was the one I wanted to photograph our family. She was amazing to work with and made it as stress free as family photos can be LOL! I of course stressed over outfits and making sure they all coordinated without being matchy-matchy but Ashlie helped me through it. She put us at ease immediately and managed to get genuine smiles from my boys which is a feat in itself! I nearly cried when I saw our photos-they were so us and captured exactly what I love about our family and I even liked the way I looked

I may be a bit biased but don’t my boys have AMAZING eyes?

I love the interaction she captured between them, total goofball brotherly love!

Thank you again Ashlie! If you are ever in the Tucson area and are looking for a photographer seriously give her a call http://ashliephotography.com

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It wasn’t all happy times though. We lost our beloved dog of 13 years almost a year ago. He was my puppy from childhood and it was hard to see him go. I wrote a blog at the time but I was too raw to post it. When the time is right I’ll post that as well.

I took on very few sessions including an engagement session and wedding for my sister-in-law’s twin and a newborn session for my husband’s cousin this spring (I will blog those soon too). I haven’t decided when I will start taking sessions again due to family commitments and soaking up as much time as I can with my beautiful baby. While I’m taking this time off I’m considering where I want to focus when I do return so be on the lookout for possible modeling opportunities, I’ll post them here when I feel the need to get out shooting I plan to try to blog a few times a week so be on the lookout!

I want to thank everyone who has been so understanding during this time and I look forward to working with you all again!

Leave me some Love in the comments! Contact Website Facebook

Leave me some Love in the comments! Contact Website Facebook

Bethany is a wedding and portrait photographer in the Austin, TX area. She is another incredible photographer that I of course met through an online forum (I’ve met some of the most amazing people that way) and is seriously just as beautiful in person. I also credit Bethany for a lot of the positive growth in my own photography over the last couple years, she and Vicki were placed in my life at a time where I needed a lot of direction. So a year and a half ago when I had the chance to go to Austin for a photographer get together, I jumped on it. I learned so much being in the company of other talented photographers and came home with a few lasting friendships that I cherish. Bethany is someone that I admire for her personal strength and her ability to capture people as they are, no pretenses. Her images are full of personality and emotion.

Who are you? Seriously. What makes you Bethany? Give me a little bio, please.
Way to start an interview. The very first question just happens to be completely loaded, thank you. Who am I? I wake up every morning and ask myself this very question. Ok, maybe not really. But kinda. I know who I am very well, but am constantly on a journey of self-improvement and discovery. Now that I’ve danced around this question, I’ll try to answer it the best way I can. I am Bethany. I am a woman, a mother, a documenter of life, a cook, a housekeeper, a bookkeeper, a chauffeur, a child wrangler, a teacher, a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. I have been blessed with being in the business of photography for 5 years now; it is truly one of the best things that has ever happened to me. My business honestly started as a hobby, something I could call my own. I was a stay at home mother of two boys, and with the birth of my second son, my photography journey really began. Turns out, it was a blessing. My second son was diagnosed with autism at 30 months old, and ironically I had unknowingly documented his slow decline in development. I have also been blessed with documenting the steady growth and progress he makes. Now as a mother of two amazing boys and a beautiful little girl, I am so thankful for being given a talent I love so dearly. I am just a girl, with amazing children, and a kick arse job trying to keep my dreams alive and bigger than me.

What type of photography do you specialize in? Why?
My work has transitioned from strictly portrait work to weddings in the last three years. I also dabble in commercial work, and have started a wonderful adventure in fashion photography….but weddings are my joy. For two years, I wouldn’t touch weddings. There is no do over, and I knew it was of great importance to really know my craft before I took on that responsibility. After a call from an amazing client needing a photographer in a pinch for a friend’s wedding, I decided to help. It was that wedding that planted a seed of love into my work, it was such a high. There is a euphoria that surrounds the day two lives join that simply cannot be matched. There are no worries, the world disappears, and for those hours nothing else matters but the love that is so overwhelming. Words cannot express how much I love, appreciate, and find joy in my work. I will never stop being amazed or thankful.

Why Photography?
Because, for me, it is love. I feel alive and present and aware when I see the world through a glass lens. I feel at home. I don’t know how to describe it other than that, it’s honestly amazing to me.

How would you describe your style?
Just like me…..flipping awesome! Oh. Wait. You mean really? Welcoming. Fun. Urban. Emotional. Creative. Natural. Raw. Organic. Crazy. Me. Did you want complete sentences here? Cause I’m not capable of using them.

How did you come up with Paisley Day?
Paisley Day is a collaboration with myself and my amazing business partner, April Orr. April is a ridiculously talented wedding planner, her eye for design blows my mind constantly. I started by myself 5 years ago, as Bella Amadis Photography. When my wedding business started booming, we ended up working at a ton of weddings together, or referring clients to each other. So, a little over a year ago we started toying with the idea of starting a business together. We saw many brides exhausted by dozens of vendor meetings and recognized a market for providing a “one stop shop” for our target market. A year ago, Paisley Day was born. What started as a side project, has blossomed into a booming business providing brides with some of the most exceptional and talented wedding professionals in the Greater Austin area. We are constantly amazed by the opportunities that have come our way since we combined our arts. Of course, Bella Amadis is still in full swing, driven solely by amazing clients that keep coming to see me every year. I seriously, seriously have the most rad clients. Ever.

What would be your perfect photo shoot?
At every wedding, I require that the bride and groom set aside at least 20 minutes where I can run off with them. That slot of time, beyond everything else, is always my favorite. It is so important to me that they set aside this time, and the images we get in that time are always their favorites. In those moments, nothing else matters. The rush of all of the people stops, the world grows quiet, and the air is saturated with love. I don’t even exist to them, but I am there. Watching them interact, seeing their faces just beam with amazement, listening to the sweet laughter, and the tender conversation. It is truly one of the most amazing things in the world. Love never stops blowing me away.

What can’t you live without? (Besides me)
What else is there??? I mean, you make my heart so happy and the way you speak to me? Wow. You complete me. It’s sort of like this video

If I was being picky, and had spare room in my heart for anything outside of you, it would be the following items. I would also like to note I am always taking donations of these things:
Cheese.
You.
Chocolate.
You.
Camera and a great lens.
You.
Music!!!!
You.
Amazing friends.
You.
Great jeans.
You.
Flip flops.
You.
Love.
You.
Hope.
You.
Faith.
You.
My fantastic family.
You.
My beautiful babies.
You.
Jesus.
You.
And a pocket knife, every girl should own one.

Anything else we should know?
I’m secretly a ninja.

Share some of your favorite images:

Thank you so much Bethany! If you are in the Austin area and want to contact her, and you know you do, here she is Website Facebook

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Vicki is a child photographer based in Springfield, MO. Vicki is another crazy phenomenal photographer I met on a forum as I first started getting serious about photography. I can honestly say that I didn’t really like her that much at first, but what initially turned me off is exactly what I’ve come to love about her. She is honest. There is no sugar coating. I started the way most photographers do-taking pictures I loved and having family that “loved” everything I did, pushing me to possibly pursue this as a business. I believed family and friends and felt like I knew how to take fantastic pictures but then I started sharing them on forums and having someone actually critique them stung. A lot. At first I wondered what she knew that made her feel like she had that right, and then I started studying her pictures and *duh, lightbulb moment* realized she really knew what she was talking about. Her pictures had something to them I wanted to emulate-they were soulful, they drew you in without all the fluff and *gasp* they were stunning (and properly exposed LOL). That was a moment that forever changed my portraits. It made me realize how much I needed to learn. There is so much more to photography than pointing the camera at a pretty subject and getting a pretty picture. And even technically correct photos can lack vision, what leaves you somehow changed after seeing the photo rather than just an oh that’s nice. I credit Vicki with pointing me in a direction of growth and still go to her on occasion when I need a kick in the butt.

Who are you? What makes Vicki tick? Give me a little bio, please.
I am your friendly neighborhood crazy person, I mean, photographer. The thing about me is that you can never take me seriously. I love to have fun. I love to laugh. I always try to make sure my clients have a great time during their sessions. Yes, I’m a complete nut-case and I’m proud of it. It’s what I do.

As for photography, I fell in love with the camera at a young age. I was probably ten years old or something and my sister, Carolyn, and I snuck into my parents bedroom, searched through their stuff (I won’t even tell you the effect finding my dad’s underwear drawer had on us. It wasn’t pretty) and discovered my mom’s camera. It was an old Vivitar 110 camera. Ya know, one of those skinny long monstrosities that looked like a chocolate éclair? Yeah, it was awesome. We decided we wanted to play photographer so we broke into my neighbors backyard (we were little hellions, I tell ya) and took turns posing around the large cherry trees that adorned his property. I still have the pictures from that day and I will occasionally look at them to remind myself of where it all started. Back then, I sucked as a photographer.

After that day, I was hooked, officially and completely. It wasn’t until high school, however, that I started to take my hobby more seriously. It was when my journalism teacher unwisely gave me a SLR camera to take to a school sporting event. It was my job to capture those awesome action shots where you could actually see the sweat pouring from the athletes while in mid-jump. I tried, but failed miserably, realizing I still sucked as a photographer. That’s when I began to devour all things photography. I read everything I could about the subject and practiced as much as I could. I finally started to get better.

Photography was a hobby my husband and I shared. Later on, we started to take impromptu road trips across the country. We would leave home with nothing but a change of clothes and a camera. Those are some of the best days of my life. The resulting pictures are simply priceless to me today.

As for education, I minored in photography in college. I was actually pre-med with a photography minor. Great combo, eh? My college professor was a complete jerk but he made me stop and think about the images I was taking. He made me realize there should be more to the process than capturing the scene they lay before me. He taught me to capture emotion, life. For that I am thankful. I have also taken the NYIP (New York Institute of Photography) course. I took it as sort of a refresher a few years after college.

Other than photography, I have many hobbies, although finding the time to enjoy them is nearly impossible. I love to read. I’ve always had a passion for books. I also love to write. My friends have been begging me for years now to write a novel. I may do so one day, therefore prepare yourselves. I love to sleep, but only manage a few hours a night. Don’t ask why. It’s pretty lame. The most important thing in my life is my daughter, my drama llama, my muse. She’s my life. I wouldn’t be here without her.

So, yeah, that’s me in a nutshell.

What type of photography do you specialize in? Why?
I specialize in child photography. I enjoy it because I can be myself around them. I can be the complete goof that I am and not worry about it. Children simply amaze me. I love their sense of wonder. I adore their simplicity. I love to capture their very soul in an image. It’s a very spiritual process for me.

I also photograph high school seniors. I love them because they actually listen to what I ask of them. I love their diverse personalities. They make me feel younger by being in their presence.

Why Photography?
I had no intentions of becoming a professional photographer. For years, it was only a hobby for me. However, several events in my life made me realize how important photographs were. Life is fleeting, loved ones are gone before you know it. That knowledge spurred me to take photography further. I wanted to help others capture their loved ones in images. Therefore, I decided to go into business and I never looked back.

How would you describe your style?
I would say my style is fun, yet emotional. I try to keep things authentic and uncomplicated. I don’t use many props or a lot of equipment, choosing to focus on my subject instead. My goal is for someone to look at one of my images and feel an emotional connection. I want them to see beyond the exterior of my subject and peer into their very soul. Oh, and I want my clients to cry. That’s always fun. {snort}

What would be your perfect photo shoot?
A beautiful spring day with perfect lighting. A child that is a bit shy by nature but full of curiosity. A parent that respects my art and will let me do my thing. All I need is my camera, a couple of lenses and perhaps my reflector and I’m a happy camper.

What can’t you live without?
In terms of photography, I can’t live without my camera, reflector, 50mm, 85mm and 24-70mm. Those are the things I use the most. I’ve come to realize that tons of equipment doesn’t make you a better photographer. Learning to use what you have is all you need to do to create a beautiful image.

Outside of photography, I cannot live without the internet. Seriously, I’m completely addicted. Facebook and Twitter own my soul. I love my cars. I love my books. I love my BlackBerry. Most importantly, however, I love my little girl. She makes everything worthwhile.

Anything else people should know? What else do you do?
I love music. I can play several instruments. I don’t play them well, mind you, but I play them nonetheless. I enjoy playing the guitar, piano, drums and on occasion the trumpet. I use to be able to play the violin, but it’s been years. Maybe I’ll try it again soon. I would love to learn to play the didgeridoo because I think they are funny.

I’m constantly writing. I love to write stories for my daughter, although, they’re usually silly little things that will make her laugh. I have written some other things, original works I guess you can call them, but I’ve never shared them with anyone. I’ve been working on a project with some others, though, and hopefully it will lead to greater things. And like I said before, I may take on a novel sometime.

What are you listening to?
Well, seeing how I’m crazy, my musical preferences usually reflects that. I have a very eclectic taste in music. My favorite musical style is classical. I love Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart and all the other greats of that era. I love everything from old 80s heavy metal to grunge to pop to hip hop and even some rap. Seriously, I love it all, except most country. I find country music lacking in talent these days so I avoid it as much as possible. When people look at what’s on my iPod they usually hand it back to me scratching their head. Here are a several artists I enjoy:

Augustana
Chairlift
Damien Rice
David Cook
Etta James
Evanescence
Finger Eleven
Foo Fighters
Green Day
Gwen Stefani
Incubus
Jewel
Journey
Katy Perry
Kelly Clarkson
Kevin Rudolf
Kid Rock
Leona Lewis
Lifehouse
Lincoln Park
Lostprophets
Madonna
Muse
Michael Buble
NIN
Otis Redding
Patsy Cline
Pink
Radiohead
Simple Plan
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Thriving Ivory
Timbaland
Van Morrison

Okay, that list makes me sound relatively normal. Trust me though, I’m not. Oh, and I’m secretly in love with Glee. Don’t tell anyone though.

Share some of your favorite images and why you love them (silly forgot that part so I’ll give commentary )

*award winning*

Vicki’s photos are all about showing the real person. Her sessions are fun and capture the essence of childhood. Just look at the eyes in the photos, there’s a real sense of connection with the person.

Thanks Vicki! If you are in the Springfield area, get in touch with her-you won’t regret it! Website

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I just returned from a brief vacation (where I went down with a seriously nasty stomach bug) and am getting caught up as quickly as possible. The computer is still sick so photos are still in the works but we should be back up very soon! Thanks to my wonderful customers for understanding! Expect to see some fun engagement shots, a few cute kids, and some long overdue shares coming up very soon! Don’t forget a great special is coming up, *hint* something for your guy.

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Jackie Charlebois is the owner of Jax Creations in Sandpoint, ID and the surrounding area. I met Jackie on a photography forum (I’ve met some fabulous people that way) and now stalk catch up with her on Facebook and her blog. She is an absolute sweetheart (she sent me the perfect card during a *crappy* time in my life LOL), a mommy, and a successful photographer. Her newborn portraits make me swoon, I’d fly her down here if I could to take pictures when I’m finally blessed with another child. I love her outdoor work with seniors and families and her weddings are stunning.

Who is Jackie? Give me a little bio, please.
Jackie is a quirky, fun, loving, caring, blessed child of God. Anyone can make me happy with a candy bar or pizza and a cute pair of shoes! I am comfortable in my yoga pants and a t-shirt although I love dressing up. In fact if I could live in a costume of some sort, I probably would. If I didn’t have to chase a baby around the house I would be one of those moms in a dress, pearls and heels and a cute apron… but of course, you wont find me in that now…LOL

What type of photography do you specialize in? Why?
I specialize in newborn and children. I also accept 3-5 weddings a year. I love doing newborn and children sessions because there is this magical innocence of it all. I love weddings because honestly I am just a sucker for love.

Why Photography?
Well back in the day my “real” job I was an aesthetician… I loved it – especially when I got to treat skin a.k.a pop pimples… I know its gross but for some odd reason- I love it LOL. I also was a make-up artist at that time. I started working PT for a modeling agency and other photographers. I always loved taking pictures but working along the other photogs, I started learning a lot… when I moved up here in Idaho, my SIL was the one that pushed me into opening a business. I never thought someone would actually PAY ME to do photos of them… sometimes I still feel that way- but I am glad they do because I truly LOVE LOVE this “job”. I really feel blessed!

How would you describe your style?
Hmm. My style. Well most of my work is in the studio – which I love… It works great for newborns and small babies. I would have to say that my style reflects the relationship of the family. The joy of the child, the beauty and the pure sweetness of the babies. I like to capture the moments – whether it’s a baby’s soft wrinkles, fuzzy back, the small details of their hands, or a child running outside, blowing bubbles, jumping on the bed or in a tickle fight with their parents… its all about THAT moment. These kiddos grow SO fast L and its important to keep capturing LIFE!

Do you prefer studio or on-location and why?
I like BOTH. The studio is great for small kiddos – 6 months and younger and I love location for older kiddos and families. I feel that when a family or child is outside or in their own home, there is a lot more personality that comes out and shared. I love to be able to use the natural light of the sun or get that perfect golden light in a photo, but I also love having my controlled light – comes in handy when things are not to perfect outside – like being COLD!

What would be your perfect photo shoot?
Hmm my perfect session… I have had plenty of them- it could be a simple thing as a sleepy newborn, a smiley little one, a fun family, a beautiful bride. A perfect location setting would be an overcast day and some sunbeams shining through. Makes me think that God is smiling down on me.

What can’t you live without? (like that chocolate wine LOL)
Ohh I think there are a lot of things I can’t live without… The obvious is of course is my faith, my family, and my camera… but what people don’t know its that I LOVE shoes… even if they KILL my feet, I have GOT to have shoes. I cant live without Old Navy – love that store, chocolate with some kind of nuts, my fave wine, good music and the sound of kids laughing!

Anything else people should know? What else do you do?
I am a mom is 4. sometimes more… depending who is around the house LOL. I DESPISE dust and this house collects dust like MAD – drives me insane! I am anal about my kitchen- I hate laundry. I value a good friendship, a sucker for love and babies and I LOVE being a girl! I recently found a magnet that made me laugh. It says.. “all work, no pay- makes Jackie a housewife” I think what made it funny was that it was the only one that had my name on it… I am a housewife – and most days its great… and somedays, just like every other mom, its not so great. I mean really, who really enjoys poopy diapers, screaming kids, a dirty house and left over hot dogs and cheerios? Another thing people might not know about me is that once upon a time I used to be a figure skater. My fave thing was to be thrown around by my skating partner… that was a thrill you just can’t describe! One more….. I am a HUGE supporter of MOPS. That place got me through some troubled mommy times. It was so wonderful to be able to have someone going through the EXACT things that I was. We all think that we are the only mom that was yelling at the kids to hurry up to catch the bus and then felt guilty about it… but the truth is- there are LOTS of moms who go through the same thing!! I love MOPS!!

Read any good books lately?
Yes!! I think my fave book of the year is The Shack. Its one of those books I can’t stop thinking about.

And since I love food, what’s your favorite thing to cook?
Well lets start with eating. I love Pizza and bbq chicken. I could eat those every day for the rest of my life.. oh and steak. MMM I love me some steak! To cook I love to bake. And Pioneer Woman is the place I go for yummies. My fave thing to bake is her Apple Dumplings. The guys around here love them!

Share some of your favorite images and why you love them.
baby images with hats are my weakness.

again .. another weakness. Love these shots. I think I love them because they are a challenge. Not every baby can do this. Its fun to see what kind of fabrics/ textures we can play with

This baby was a miracle baby. Born WAY too early – he is a true miracle for being able to make it home to his mommas arms. It was a blessing for me to be able to photograph him- and I am so glad I did!

I LOVE those baby details.. they change so quickly. Babies have those lips that you just wanna kiss, the feet that you cant stop touching, and the baby fuzz you cant stop feeling

and who doesn’t love little baby butts???!!!

This is one of my fave senior photos from this year. I think we found the ONLY flowers in our area during this time. It just says so much to me

This pic I just LOVE!!! Makes my heart melt seeing a daddy playing with his child. The sun was perfect and the colors were amazing. This daddy just loved his family – as you can see!

just another photo that makes me smile!

this wedding was like my dream wedding. It was all about color and SHOES!!!

Thank you so much Jackie! If you are in Jackie’s area and want to contact her (and I recommend you do ), here she is  Website Blog Facebook Baby listing

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Speaking of birthdays, I just had one 27. A year closer to 30. Honestly, I’m probably in the minority here, I just don’t see the big deal about 30. But I did sit back and think about where I thought I would be compared to where I am now. I changed my mind a lot about what I wanted to be when I grew up. A photographer really wasn’t one of them because I didn’t realize that could actually be a career. But I always wanted to be a mom. And it’s one of the things that I am most happy about in my life. I constantly question whether I’m doing a good job at it, if I’m good enough, but when my boys tell me how much they love me or climb up in my lap just to cuddle it washes those doubts away. I knew I’d be married, and at some points I hoped I’d be married to my dear husband (remember we’ve known each other 22 years) but I don’t think I planned to be married at 20. Our plan was to start kids around 25, I have a 5 year old LOL. Of course I dreamed of being much wealthier, I mean who doesn’t? But as I look back on what I wanted then versus what I have now, I really can’t think of hardly anything I wish was different. I’ve got a wonderful family, a roof over my head and food in my belly and that’s more than a lot of people can say.

Anywho, over the course of our crazy month we celebrated a wedding of a family member, a few birthdays (including my momma’s the day after mine, a surprise party for an uncle and a dinner out for my father in law), and even attended a Suns basketball game as a family with tickets gifted to us from my in-laws that we rode the light-rail train to (I think the kids enjoyed that even more than the game ).  And then came tax time which was apparently the perfect time for my computer to die. Sadly, it is still dead so while I work off the dinosaur laptop I have no pictures to post I also have been informed by a few people that not all of my emails are reaching me or going back out. If you need to reach me please contact me through my personal email for the time being until I can straighten that out kayla.renckly {at} gmail dot com (replacing at and dot for spam reasons). Scheduling will be light at the moment for personal reasons but I will do my best to accommodate.

With all that, I’m trying to jump back in here and attempt to shake off this blogging slump! I hit a wall and couldn’t think of anything to write about so why not talk about me right? LOL I’d rather talk about pretty much anything else. While my computer is ill, I’ll be sharing with you some of my fabulously talented photographer friends that inspire me daily. I hope you enjoy hearing from them and love their work as much as I do!

P.S. I have lots to share as soon as the computer doctor, aka my husband, has a chance to perform surgery-lots of pictures and look for an upcoming special in May (hint-think lace).

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20 random facts about me you may or may not have wanted to know…
1. Red is my favorite color. Of all time. I plan to add a lot more red to my house decor and love wearing it. Ironically I’m allergic to red food coloring.
2. Chocolate is my Kryptonite. I have a hard time resisting a good piece of chocolate. If you want to get on my good side bring me some dark chocolate Bordeaux from See’s Candy. Or a piece of Chocolate Stout Cake from Rock Bottom. I’d even be happy with a Dove chocolate bar. Right now I kinda wish I hadn’t given up sweets for Lent, craving some chocolate right now. Somebody save me some Samoas for Easter!
3. I met my husband when I was 5 and he was 6. My mom babysat him and his brothers and we became great friends. We’ve been married almost 7 years now; it’s crazy to think I’ve known him for more than 21 years!
4. Before I thought photography could actually become a career I thought about attending culinary school. I love cooking from scratch and creating new recipes or tweaking recipes to my taste which is why I struggled with baking for so long-you kinda have to be more precise there. The idea of standing for hours on end with knee and hip issues didn’t sound appealing so instead I spoil my family. Maybe someday I’ll open a restaurant.
5. I hate cleaning. There, I said it. There is a pile of clean clothes on the couch and mounds of dirty clothes taking over my bedroom right now as we speak. I don’t like cleaning bathrooms at all and can’t wait to hand that one off to my kids My kitchen is generally the cleanest room in the house, it’s just easier to cook when everything is clean. I need to find some latex-free gloves for cleaning, especially dishes-floating food in the dishwater makes me queasy when it touches my hands.
6. I find it impossible to sit still. Yup, I’m the one that bounced their foot and drove you crazy in class, it drives my husband up the wall. This is the reason I don’t like bubble baths, I don’t find it relaxing to just lay there, I need to be doing something.
7. Even though I was born in a teeny tiny town in Northwest Missouri and have lived a few other places, I’ve been in the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix for those that aren’t from here) since before I started kindergarten. I still hate the heat in the summers and become a hermit to avoid it. That might be why I’m so pasty, well that and the fact that I burn very easily. The term “dry heat” bugs me, 115F is unbelievably hot no matter the humidity level.
8. I usually listen to country music (love me some Wranglers even if my husband won’t wear them ) but I enjoy *most* music. I like to sing along-be warned I am not good-so if I can’t sing to it I won’t listen to it.
9. I know how to drive a stick shift (manual transmission) and actually prefer it. I think it’s a control thing.
10. I’m not a bandwagoner (if that’s even a word). I like being different, unique, weird whatever you call it. I tend to not follow trends as much and try to stick with what makes me happy. Which explains why I don’t shoot Nikon or Canon and I happily use my custom built PC, not that there is anything wrong with the others they just don’t feel right to me.
11. I like being barefoot, a lot. I hardly ever wear shoes at home and if I can I’ll kick off my shoes wherever I am. I wear flats to my sessions partly so I can take them off and work barefoot. I can’t say it’s never caused me problems (stubbed toes, thorns, cuts, etc) but it’s something I never grew out of from my childhood.
12. I love reading. If it’s a good book, I get absorbed and lose all sense of time. But I don’t read what you’d expect. I’ve never even touched a Twilight book *gasp* and the only magazines I read are photography related. Currently I’m working on getting through all of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series and I just read Family feasts for $75 a week by Mary Ostyn.
13. I love being a mom to my 2 boys but I’d love a daughter. There is nothing like the love a boy has for his mommy but I love all the frilly little outfits and I just don’t see my boys letting me put them in dresses Besides I’d love to have a relationship like the one I have with my mama.
14. I crack my knuckles-it’s a bad habit but I can’t seem to get rid of it. I blame the boys that I hung out with in 3rd grade that taught me that one in my attempt to fit in with them instead of the mean girls.
15. I love veggies! If they’ve got butter and salt on them I’ll try them for sure. There are very few foods I don’t like and I will try *most* foods once, something about the heads still on there freaks me out-I don’t like my food looking at me.
16. My goal is to have a studio location hopefully by the end of this year, if not next year. I’m tired of working from my desk at home where it’s hard to make myself separate work hours from family hours. And while I LOVE working outdoors in the natural light, it would be nice to have a space dedicated to use during the blazing heat of the summer and for my clients that would rather not be outdoors.
17. I love to write and draw/doodle. I have two books in the beginning stages and hope to find time soon to actually write them. I sometimes have to sit down and write my ideas out just so I can move on to the next thought bouncing around in my head. I also draw/sketch on occasion and doodle constantly-you’ll find doodles on papers all over my desk.
18. I am was a closet sci-fi fan. I try to deny it but I find myself drawn into the strange shows my husband watches. No matter how hard I resist I end up watching them. I enjoy a few of them but I’m not a big enough fan to handle most of it, some of it is just too weird.
19. I do not like horror movies/shows (I have bad enough nightmares on my own thank you) but I really enjoy a good action movie. I also really enjoy dark comedy as well as satirical comedies. It couldn’t have anything to do with my use of sarcasm could it? I’m willing to see a chick flick but it’s gotta be somewhat realistic.
20. I don’t mind getting dirty. I love hiking and camping-the real kind without bathrooms, running water or other amenities far away from any other campers. My only problem is the creepy crawlies. And maybe my irrational fear of what I can’t see in the dark. Thanks so much mom and dad for watching X-files and my lovely husband for confirming that yes there are beard where we go camping.

That was so much harder than I thought it would be when I first started writing it. The first 10 were easy, 15 wasn’t too bad, but getting to 20 took a lot of time and thought. I’m hoping you found something in my 20 facts you could relate to and that I didn’t come off as too neurotic. I tried keeping it mostly unrelated to photography since that would be an easy one but it snuck in a bit. Obviously photography is a passion of mine and has been since I can remember. I’d love to hear your thoughts: was there something that made you laugh? something that made you nod in agreement? anything else you wanted to know? Maybe I’ll do a follow-up in the future.

And since it’s a little boring without a photo, here are a few favorites from a past session that never made it to the blog

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