Photo Friday Week 4

Another little tid bit about me. I collect Coca Cola items for my kitchen. It started when I was in college and my room mate and I decided it would be a good idea. Nine years later, and it followed me! I have A LOT of stuff in my collection. Not as much as some, but I am ok with that.

I now have a cabinet in my new house to display it! I have quite a few drinking glasses and a few signs. I haven't really decorated my kitchen with my items in the last few years, so it has been stored for some time. In addition to this, I have salt and pepper shakers, napkin holder, ice bucket, utensil caddy, a complete dish set, and some other little things. Will I continue to collect? Maybe some stuff, but I think I am good for now :-)

2012 Blog Post Challenge~ January

I hope you enjoy viewing my January Color Challenge blog post!

Seeing as January's color(s) is Blue and/or White I went with the blue sky here in Nebraska and for a subject I chose one of the many windmills we use in this area. We don't have any snow, and it pretty much feels like Spring most of the time!!

 Please check out the next photographer on the list: Lynn Puzzo Photography and continue through the entire group of 14 photographers. We'd love it if you'd leave comments on our blogs and sign up for email reminders so you are always kept in the loop!

Friday Photo Week 3

For the last few months my Son has been talking to "Pete". Says "hi" to him, asks him questions, etc. I kept thinking it was Pete from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. However, when he got a Lincoln Log set for Christmas, immediately he started calling the little "bandit" guy Pete. Now, Pete has every meal with him, plays every game with him, and pretty much doesn't leave his side.

Pete eating breakfast with my Son.

Oh childhood :-)

2012 Monthly Photo Challenge



Image by Tru You Photography



I am participating in a Monthly photo challenge with a group of photography friends! It should be lots of fun, and I hope you follow us on this journey.

I want to challenge myself this year, to not only make my work the best it can be and better, but to look outside the box and things that to me are beautiful. This challenge, I think, will be pointing me in the right direction.

Each month we will have a color(s) to inspire us and the photos are going to revolve around those colors. January is white/blue. This may be a bit challenging as we all think of snow when we think of January...well we don't have any here in Nebraska! :-) I know I will come up with something!

Check back on the 25th and see what we have come up with. I will link to the next person on the list, so you can follow the group to see what is posted.

Here's to a "colorful" year!!

~Year in Review~2011~

Wow. That pretty much sums up my 2011 year. It was a year of firsts and growth.


Looking through my photographs I can see so much change (for the better) throughout my shooting. I love finding new angles, making a few mistakes so I know how to fix them the next time. I started shooting in RAW this year and will NEVER go back! It took some getting used to, but is totally worth it.


I jumped right into wedding photography with both feet this year. Yes, it was totally crazy, but weddings soon became my favorite events to shoot! All of my brides and grooms were wonderful to work with and appreciated the fact that I will do anything for a laugh! Six weddings are now under my belt. No, not a huge number, but enough to know that I want to continue with them in the future!


Another first was newborn photography. Since I became a Mother I knew the importance of these precious moments. I loved meeting the little ones and parents! Learning poses, and then realizing that the interaction between the parents and the new little bundle of joy was what I wanted to capture. Yes, newborn photos can be oh so cute, but I find the most emotion in watching a Father and Mother cuddle their newborn, and the comfort they give them. A lot of the shots truly brought tears to my eyes.

I have two photos that are my absolute favorite this year. It was so hard to choose! I have favorites from every session (see my Facebook page for the best of 2011).


The first was from a wedding I shot in Breckenridge,CO in July. It was an odd situation from the start, the bride was out East and the groom was in Germany. In fact, his whole family is from there. Everything was booked via email and phone calls, paypal was a Godsend for this wedding! I didn't get a chance to meet the bride and groom before the day of the wedding due to unforeseen circumstances. Which was fine, I am good at winging it! The venue was a lookout down a hiking trail, and as my assistant and I made our way, it was breathtaking. Perfect day for a wedding. They had a string quartet in the trees and a lovely view for the ceremony. The bride and groom arrived a little late and I was able to quickly introduce myself before they started down the isle. The nice thing about this couple, was they were so laid back. I knew the whole day was for them, and was in no hurry. After the ceremony we took a lot of posed and candid shots. As we were leaving the venue I was relieved of my duties for the day, but I turned around and caught this amazing shot.

It is my favorite image of 2011.

The second image is a personal one. I took my Son outside on a nice day and shot is two year photos. Every year I try to get a photo of him and our dog, Maverick, as they are best buddies. This was a shot I was so excited to get, that it didn't matter to me that it wasn't perfect. This just speaks volumes of the relationship between my son and his dog. 

No, the whole year wasn't filled with great things. I had a few clients bail on me last minute, so I had to enforce a retainer fee. Sometimes the photos weren't what I expected them to be after I got them on my computer, and had to make the best of what I had. More often then not, the client was more then thrilled with what I was able to put together. I always prepare myself, however, for the bad reaction. That's all part of the job, not everyone will like your work, but those who do, love it.

2011 was a great year. My clients are the best I could ask for, and look forward to watching their children and families grow.

 We are ready for 2012! Some changes in prices, as I had mentioned before, but there will be specials EVERY month! And for the fun of it, there are THREE in the month of January! :-D I will also be doing "Photo Fridays" and sharing a photo from my week with all of you here on my blog. It may be from a session, or my everyday life. Something so I can look back over my year and relive it, and also for you to get to know me.

The biggest surprise of all?! We are moving! My family and I are headed to Northern Nebraska! I will be serving  most of the state of Nebraska and South/Western South Dakota. I am very excited for this next chapter in our lives. This will bring us within driving distance of both sides of the family. Which will be nice, since we are getting married!! EEEKKK!! Yes, let's add some MORE excitement into our lives! ;-) 7.5 years together and we decided to make it official. We are oh so very excited.

So, bring on 2012! 

~F~ Family 2011

Last year I was contacted by the ~F~ family for a session here on the ranch. They were so much fun to work with and little ~E~ was such a little ham! I was so pleased to hear from them again this year. This time I made my way across the pass and headed into Steamboat. Now, I haven't shot a lot over there so locations are a complete mystery to me. I have always noticed this foot bridge down by the river each time I would go over there and wondered what it would be like to shoot there. Well, my wish came true, and another favorite location was born!

It was a tad chilly, but we all "weathered" through, and we got some really nice shots! Little ~E~ has grown up so much in the last year, but was still very photogenic! How could she not with such beautiful parents?

The gazebos were amazing!

Like I have always said, sometimes the candids are the best shots. These were a couple of my favorites, just a family out on a walk.

We lucked out and still had some green grass!

I can't wait to work with this family again. This is why I love what I do, making connections with people through my art. Life is good!

T&J Engagement!

I was so pleased to be hired by T&J to take photos for their wedding in June 2012. We got together last weekend to shoot their engagement photos. Poudre Canyon was still holding it's color, after this snow we just had, not so sure what's left. One of my favorite spots to shoot has a little grove of trees, beach right by the river, trails, and many places to get some great shots! I wore my muck boots so I could get in the river to get the right angle, yes, I will do anything for a great shot! :-)

I love the feeling of Fall in this photo

They were so cute!

Sometimes I think my clients aren't sure what to do with me. When I say, "Now peek around the tree like 'helllloooo'" and start laughing, I expect them to tell me to leave, lol. Every time, though, they laugh and go with it, I love that!!

Am looking forward to June more and more. Sounds like it is going to be a beautiful wedding!