Imaging Rox Studio

10 on 10 (#5) | A Day in the Life of Rox

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

**Newsflash: Today is my Mom's 60th birthday!!! Happy Birthday to the most supportive, caring, and patient Mom and Grandma!**

Another month has managed to sneak by. It's time for my 10-on-10 (*plus one) post, and this time the theme is black and white. Fortunately the day I documented (Tuesday, the 8th) was a fairly typical day. I spent time at work (still part-time this week), at home (to rest), and at a track meet (trying to keep warm).

My shirt had this amazing pattern. A flip of the wrist to hold the camera, and this is what I captured.

I'm met by Rudy when I arrive home from work. This particular afternoon, along with most, he wanted to play with his "toy" - the only one he has managed to keep intact since he joined our family.

While in the vehicle (aka swagger wagon), I regularly notice the clouds - the beautiful clouds. Tuesday the fluffy ones were rampant in the sky.

This lonely puff was not far from the dark cloud above, which likely was the cause of the sprinkles in the afternoon. They were short-lived.

At the track meet, I caught Ayden's attention.

I waited patiently for the kids to cross the finish line. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy watching track.

Ayla enjoyed her "straw" that she selected from the concession stand.

Ayden was the 3rd leg of the 4X200 in this meet. In the upper left corner, the man standing there was my softball coach - from when I was roughly the age that Ayden currently is. I'll always have respect for Telf.

The view through the windshield. Tis the season for bug guts.

A page in a book I am reading. It warms my heart to see signs of my sis. I miss her.

*A bit of blogging before bed to finish up my 10-on-10!

Be sure to head on over to Katie's blog (Kate Suzanne Photography, Herber Springs Photographer, Little Rock Photographer) to see what she has been up to!
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10 on 10 (#4) | A Day in the Life of Rox

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:00:00 +0000

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It's been a wild ride the past few weeks. I am sooooo thankful for life. (This will likely be a long post...grab a cup of coffee). So many people have asked about my story. Here goes...

On March 22nd, I knew I was going to visit my doctor. I had been in to see him on Monday, the 19th because I had been coughing up small bits of blood, which I attributed to allergies. My lung x-ray that day was normal, so the doc thought it might just be bronchitis. A couple of days on antibiotics, and I knew things weren't getting better. Wednesday night, my pulse jumped up to 118 when walking from my couch to my bedroom. Not normal! Then, Thursday, I went into work and called in for an appointment that morning. When I left work late that morning, I finished walking one block to my van and thought, "it's only one more block, you can do it." Who thinks that - besides those finishing a long race? It was scary. My pulse went up into the 130s after walking those two blocks. By the time I got to my appointment, my pulse was at 142! Needless to say, a nurse wheeled me over to the ER and I was immediately admitted.

In the ER, they started treating me for pulmonary embolism (PE), even though they hadn't run any tests. The facts were: my sister died not much more than a year ago because of a pulmonary embolism, I had traveled by plane in February, I was on Yaz (birth control pills) - as was my sister, and I had symptoms of PE. The nurse administered a Lovenox shot in my stomach, which would continue every 12 hours for 7 more days. I still have bruises. Once I had an IV established, they wheeled me off for a CT scan. It showed massive amounts of PEs (blood clots) in both lungs, and my pulmonary arteries were distended. It only takes one PE for one to meet the creator...and unfortunately, my family knows that all too well. The ER doctor told me that I was not to move, and that if I had to pee, I was to pee the bed. Scary! They attempted another IV since I would be going up to ICCU. It took 6 tries (3 different people) to get one established. My poor veins. Once in the ICCU, they performed ultrasounds on my heart and legs. Although my heart was working overtime, the heart doctor determined it was still in good shape and so the goal was to get my pulse and blood pressure down so it didn't have to work so hard. The ultrasound of my legs showed a DVT (deep vein thrombosis = blood clot) in my right leg behind my knee. The instructions to remain still were still in effect for fear that it would break loose and move up to join the others in my lungs. We had to resort to a bedpan for the first couple of days, and once they started me on Coumadin/warfarin, they allowed me to use the commode. That is something I hope never to experience again - bedpans suck!

After 4 days in the ICCU, they moved me to the main floor, where I was still hooked up the heart monitor 24/7. I spent an additional 5 days in the hospital. I was happy to have the little bits of mobility back in my life, but I was also hesitant to overdo it. The concern from my family and doctors, and knowing how lucky I was really made me cautious - and still does.

I am home. I am up and walking - although no high impact activities. I was instructed to not walk on a treadmill, just go for small walks to build my energy back up, keep my blood flowing, and hopefully help my lungs resume their normal capacity. I wear out easily, but all is good. When I'm resting, my legs must be elevated. The clot in my leg is likely still there until my body reabsorbs it. The clots in my lungs are likely still there, but hopefully being reabsorbed by my body as well. With warfarin, my blood is thin (too thin at times), so we are hoping to reduce the risk of any more clots.

I found out on April 5th that genetic tests done at Mayo revealed that I have Factor V Leiden (heterozygote), a hereditary clotting disorder. Heterozygote means that I only inherited one copy, so only one of my parents passed it on. It's amazing that we even have this information because after doing a bit of research on my own, I found that they only recognized this disorder in 1994 (the year I graduated from high school). It's not something that is routinely tested for because only 5% of the caucasian American population have this, and about only 10% of those that have it actually have clots. There are other factors that can increase this risk, and the use of birth control pills is one factor, which both my sister and I had. It is assumed that my sister had FVL as well. This will be a lifelong ride for me, but I refuse to worry. I vow to take care of myself, instead, and be an advocate for my kids if they inherited it. There is a 50/50 chance that they have it, and we plan to proceed with testing so they have more knowledge about this condition for themselves. I'm just grateful that I can continue to live my life, and that I know the symptoms now.

The following images cover my 10 on 10 and were taken on April 4th. One of the beautiful Spring days we had, and one of the many days I cherished. Here are some flowers from friends. I managed to receive 3 arrangements similar to this. And perfectly in time for Easter. Ayla painted the little treasures for me, too.

I've been trying to find recipes to make when I am allowed to (thank you, Pinterest). My Mom has been awesome and filled my freezer with casseroles, and some of our great friends have brought meals to us as well. It is the most helpful thing ever!!! I'm not one to request the help or expect the help, but when I found I couldn't even do the smallest things without wearing out, it was the most appreciated gesture from others I could have received (besides prayer).

This is what I get to look forward to taking every night. Step aside birth control (forever), warfarin is in town. I think it's fun to tell my kids that I'm ingesting rat poison. They now know the story of how warfarin was used to kill rats, as upon ingestion they would bleed to death - and because some amazing person used their brain, this is now used medicinally to save people's lives!

The pets seem to love my company. I usually have at least one animal within reach if not on top of me. Skeeter took his turn.

My Thermos Sipp water bottle is my favorite! It keeps the water cold, and that's the only way I can drink it. I've had to make sure I'm drinking enough - another way to keep the blood balanced.

Since I'm supposed to get up to walk frequently throughout the day, I decided to take my camera out with me a few different times. I've been walking by the trees in our front yard and thankfully, they held off blooming until I got home! I really enjoyed watching the red buds bloom outside my hospital window, but I was really hoping that Spring wouldn't fly past while I was in there. Fresh cut grass, and blooming trees make my day!

Leaves unfurling.

Trees blooming.

Grateful.

Be sure to check out Karen Porter, Photographer's blog, Austin TX Photographer, for her 10 on 10 contribution!

My Outlet | Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:10:00 +0000

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Lilacs. My favorite Spring flower. These were blooming on the day we were married (May 2, 1998). They are blooming a whole month early this year!

I'm always attracted to these vines. They are amazingly haphazard...such as life.

Spring. New life. Grateful for life.

10 on 10 (#3) | A Day in the Life of Rox

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 06:00:00 +0000

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It's that time of the month...for another 10 on 10 post! The images below are my documentation from March 1st.

I arrived at Iowa State University at 7 AM to find that the building I walk through to get to my office was full of police officers, secret service, and media personnel. However, it was closed to most of those that frequent it daily (yes, I am included in that group of frequent visitors). That was the morning that Vice President Biden visited campus. The windows were covered in kraft paper, all entrances were closed with the exception of one...the one this sign pointed to. Although, you could enter, you couldn't make it through through the building. I was irritated, but I was also ever so grateful that we didn't endure a blizzard that day.

[restricted access]

This is the new addition to my office - thanks to Levi and the most amazing holiday, Leap Day! With this lovely orchid, I received a card with some meaningful words. It read, "Sending my love every four years is cheaper than every February 14th." If you know my husband, you will know that this is actually very thoughtful. Clever, really - even if the gal taking his order didn't think so. In the past I've received flowers on President's Day. This might just be a step up!

[leap day orchids]

For lunch, a group of us visited a local restaurant, Project 20/20. Hot and spicy beef is my favorite dish there, and I haven't strayed from that order yet! A nice sultry blend of sauces along with ginger make this dish of beef and crisp green beans a party for my taste buds.

[hot and spicy beef]

This was the empty cup (with a very cool camera image) on my desk when I returned from lunch. It held my morning tea. My usual morning stop is Starbucks for a latte, but I couldn't resist the specials that Caribou had that week. For Customer Appreciation Days, they offered coffee, hot tea, or fountain drinks for $0.99. It was far less than my usual total from what Levi calls "Fourbucks". And it gave me the opportunity to try new teas I hadn't tried yet.

[caffeine 2]

Campus has a variety of trees - my favorites are the ones that are well-established. Check out the texture on this one!

[deep texture]

With the mention of my visit to Caribou above, I ended up taking a picture of The Hub during our afternoon outing.

[coffee run]

An exciting part of the day was our trip to Reiman Music. Ayden has been playing percussion for a few years in band and is ready for a challenge. In an attempt to encourage his music career (or more likely, hobby), Levi & I decided to invest in a full drum set for his birthday...an entire set. Am I crazy? This is the set on display at the store, but we chose to purchase a set in satin cherry burst. It looks classy, rich, and warm.

[tama silverstar]

We spent quite a bit of time at the store as Ayv and Ayla had interest in checking out the other instruments as well. We can now have a small band with the drum set, and guitar and keyboard we already have. The music bug has run through their bodies; Ayv is working harder on her guitar now, and Ayla has interest in playing the piano (keyboard, really). We picked up some books while we were there, too.

[musical literature]

After our stop at the music store, I drove Ayv up to Ellsworth for trampoline and tumbling practice at X-Treme. Ayla wanted to tag along, which gave us time to chat. She told me all about the tattoo her classmate brought for her birthday and what she did that day, without being interrupted by big bro and big sis.

[celebratory tats]

Here are some of my captures from Ayv's practice. I love watching her flip, and it makes me so happy to see pointed toes!

[straddle]

[flip]

All in all, it was another good day! Be sure to head on over to Denean Melcher | Berks County Child and Family Photographer's blog to see what she has been up to!

Children | Miss A [Zearing IA Photographer]

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:46:00 +0000

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In an attempt to jump-start some creativity, I stepped away from the computer and pulled out my video light today. I took some video and a few stills, and found that I love it and have plans to use it in more ways and more often.

I'm pretty sure my playing around jump-started my youngest's creativity. She requested a little session for herself. Here are a few expressions that she gave me.

She is growing up too fast!

My Outlet | Orchid

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:57:00 +0000

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Here is a new personal piece - thanks to Leap Day! There's a story that goes with it, but I will save it for the 10th. Stay tuned...

My Outlet | Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:38:00 +0000

Well, it finally snowed again - and is still snowing. Never mind that we were absent from the State for over a week this month and missed a little snowfall while we were gone. But, it does feel a little special tonight. While out with the dog, Levi noticed the accumulation on our landing. You know you're a photographer when your husband starts pointing out really cool things to photograph. He actually came in to get the camera. Meanwhile, Rudy was getting his under-half soaked (yeah - he's a short guy, so his fur gets some frigid abuse when it snows); this snow is heavy and very wet!

This was my outlet tonight - created from Levi's suggested subject.

Geode from the Sky

...and another...

Crystal Cloud

Enjoy!

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10 on 10 (#2) | A Day in the Life of Rox

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

It's another 10 on 10 post! These images were captured yesterday using the Hipstamatic app. I love it! My weekdays consist of waking up early - before the sun rises so I can put my time in at work and still make it home at a decent hour. Most nights consist of running kids here and there if I don't have a session scheduled. Life is crazy when one has kids involved in extra-curricular activities such as sports and youth groups. Nevermind that Levi and I have made commitments to various boards, which tend to meet in the evening as well. Last night we didn't have the usual scurry, which is unusual.

The pictures below are an interpretation of my day. Enjoy!

[early morning]

[sunrise]

[files]

[caffeine]

[office]

[pavement - 2 blocks from office to auto]

[scenic tower]

[long drive home]

[let kids be kids - create]

[pup]

Be sure to check out Kelly Whatley, Coastal Bend Photographer's post as well!

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Project 24 | Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:26:00 +0000

In addition to my 10 on 10 group, I'm attempting to contribute to a Project 24 Challenge - a challenge to post every other week in 2012. Thanks to Levi, our first challenge is complete. The first challenge was "morning". Our typical weekday mornings consist of me leaving the house before anyone else has stirred. On rare occasions I catch the morning routine that follows. I'm pretty sure it doesn't include sledding and snowboarding. This morning was an exception, and likely due to a weekend morning. With the first measurable snow remaining, the kids woke up and opted to bundle up in their snow gear and visit "the hill" - snowboards and sleds in tow. Levi chose to go with and capture the moments, while I stayed behind to wrap up in a blanket with a fresh cup of coffee in hand. Editing was on my morning agenda.

Here is what ensued...

I love that Ayv pulled out the Santa hat...and Ayla always looks adorable in her panda hat. It was Ayla's first independent sledding adventure and she loved it! Ayden and Ayv were excited just to get some "air". It was a good morning for the kids. And I will admit, it was a good morning for me, too.

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10 on 10 (#1) | A Day in the Life of Rox

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

This year I will be incorporating more personal posts into my blog. It's been hard to force myself to keep up with the blog this past year, but feel that it's important for me to keep up!

To help hold myself accountable, I joined a group of photographers on the Bloom Forum for a "10 on 10" blog challenge. The goal is to photograph something, someone, anything, once every hour for 10 hours in one day and blog about it on the 10th. My personal goal this year is to document my life in pictures...not just portraits. I'm hoping to enjoy shooting for fun again, and not perfection. It'll be the real deal.

I pulled out the camera on Sunday and captured this:

(1. hives 2. drawing 3. nook books 4. no snow! 5. amazing sunset 6. sky that likely resembles my lungs - aka pneumonia - although beautiful, very murky 7. rosemary, honey, and balsalmic-glazed mushrooms and onions 8. steak 9. alternative tissue dispenser 10. rudy)

It was a lazy day; mainly because I am still exhausted from pneumonia. It didn't keep me from capturing some of the things I love the most - watching my daughter draw - even with hives, good books, warm winter days (amazing!), a good supper with the family, and cuddles from the pup. I am thankful.

To see more 10 on 10 blog posts, head on over to Heather's site, Heather B. Allison Photography | Seattle Photographer!

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2012 Senior Model: Haley

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 02:36:00 +0000

It's that time of year...for Juniors to start planning for their Senior pictures. I am happy to announce that Haley Liston (C-N) has been chosen as a 2012 Senior Model! We met up for a mini-session this week in preparation for her role at Imaging Rox. She rocked it!

If you are looking at Imaging Rox for your senior portraits, contact Haley! She will hook you up with a rep card, which is good for print credit on your personalized Senior Collection.

If you have interest in being a Senior Model for Imaging Rox, please contact me! As a model, you will earn cash and some really cool products. Please know that only one Senior will be designated per school.

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Photographs are Everything!

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:45:00 +0000

I am so sorry I have not kept up on this blog as a good blogger would. Fall is always busy as it was last year. Unfortunately the busy season was followed by the loss of my one and only sister, Ros, two days before Christmas. It's been a personal struggle to make it through and something I know I will never get over. But, one thing that I know for certain is that photographs are everything!

Although I will not see my sister again until I meet the good Lord myself, I have the photos taken only two months before she passed...on her wedding day. I am so thankful that it worked out for me to capture my sister's wedding while still being a part of the day.

Please know that I put my heart and soul into the photographs I take, and although I thought I had such feeling with every session I captured, it is nothing compared to the feeling I have now! Knowing that someday those photos will be held in the same manner I hold my sister's is so meaningful to me. I hope you will cherish the moments I spend photographing you or your family as much as I do.

Here are some images that mean a lot to me.

I will always cherish the years I had with my sister. Please make sure you tell your brothers and sisters how much they mean to you.

Wedding: Annie and Daric

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 03:43:00 +0000

August was full of weddings. If I wasn't shooting one, I was attending. It was a warm, but beautiful month! I am honored to present this preview of Annie and Daric's big day.

Annie and Daric...I'm nearly done with your previews from the day. I'll be in touch!

Family: Eley's

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:30:00 +0000

This is a session should have been blogged long ago. Instead, summer consumed me! Here are a couple of storyboards for the Eley's...

Wedding: Tara and Mike

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:42:00 +0000

I have had a lot of sessions this past month and have been behind in my posting. But, I do want to share a long overdue storyboard from Tara & Mike's wedding in May.

It was a beautiful day and I thoroughly enjoyed spending it with Tara & Mike!!!

E-Session: Annie & Daric

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:59:00 +0000

I wasn't sure how the e-session with Annie and Daric would go today...because of the weather. It rained overnight and we had planned to shoot at Annie's grandpa's farm. Storms filled the radar to the south of us this morning, so we delayed our session slightly so we could let things dry a bit more, which worked in our favor! The skies were cloudy with some sun peeking through intermittently, which is my favorite lighting for a session.

I met Annie a couple of years ago now, so this was my chance to get to know Daric a bit better. He proved to be a fun guy who shows a lot of love for Annie. This image says it all (check out his leg).

I know we'll have a great time at their wedding!

E-Session: Tara & Mike

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Thu, 20 May 2010 03:34:00 +0000

This Saturday is the big day! Tara and Mike will become man and wife (or husband and wife). We spent some time together a little over a week ago at the wedding site to snap some shots before their big day. It was a beautiful morning. Clear skies, very few insects, and no wind made for a calm and relaxing morning. The forecast for Saturday is calling for sun and warm temps...another perfect day and definitely a perfect day for a wedding!

I am definitely looking forward to sharing their day with them!

E-Session: Ashley & Bill

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:20:00 +0000

Saturday was gorgeous...a perfect May Day! I was able to share the morning with Ashley & Bill, which was so enjoyable. We took advantage of some nice backdrops while walking along trails and found some soft light down by the river. We were fortunate to meet up when we did as the afternoon brought strong winds along with it's arrival. Small breezes were all that brushed us during the session. Whew! Ashley & Bill are exchanging vows in August and I can't wait to photograph their day!

The following images are from their wonderful e-session.

Photographer's choice (aka one of my favorites).

Cutting Edge Headshots

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:54:00 +0000

A week or so ago, I had the opportunity to do some headshots for a friend. She just opened up her chair at Cutting Edge Salon & Spa in Nevada (Nevada, Iowa for those that might be reading from afar) this week! I took advantage of her hair artistry skills last night...she hooked me up with some smashing color & highlights. Here's Stacy's contact info so she can hook you up, too: 515.291.0179 (or at the salon: 515.382.1360).

Give her a call for your next cut, color, style....!!!

Emily & Beau - Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:30:00 +0000

Emily & Beau were married on a mild October day, but nothing like the day we had today! Although the day seemed to be dampened a bit with drizzle, we were pretty lucky as the drizzle that fell seemed to occur right in line with our schedule. Emily and Beau had an emotional ceremony in a small church busting at the seams with close friends and family. I am fortunate to have celebrated their day with them!

Here, Beau is adorning Emily with the beautiful necklace he gave her.
Emily was a gorgeous bride, surrounded by a classy looking group of men.
Beau couldn't be outdone. He's surrounded by a bunch of classy ladies!
I love the simplicity of her veil blowing in the breeze.

After the ceremony, we hopped over to the rock gardens in town for some intimate shots of just the two of them. The sun came out and it turned out to be a wonderful setting!

I hope they have enjoyed their first month as husband and wife. Congratulations, Emily and Beau!

Courtney, C-N Senior 2010.

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:20:00 +0000

Courtney's session was full of fun surprises. I had not had a chance to check out the location beforehand, so I really didn't know what to expect. What I did know was that a country landscape should provide some nice backdrops. In addition to my initial expectations, I was excited to find a cool old barn, gorgeous fall grasses, royal blue vintage truck, and a beautiful girl waiting for some photo action.

I picked the following shots to post because I thought they represented what I saw in Courtney. Initially, I gathered that she was a peaceful and simple girl. Once we progressed into the session, she proved she had a fun side, too! The following represent my interpretations respectively.

I'm just gonna say that this last image here is one of my favorites from the session.

Enjoy!

Textures and such.

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:19:00 +0000

When I'm out shooting people, it's hard for me to resist photographing the surroundings. On a recent session, I found the best wood textures and some animals that may or may not have needed some attention. One is pictured below.

Tonight I went out in the FREEZING cold (nearly freezing, anyway) to shoot some little football players. The fence row and drying grasses kept grabbing my attention. I have yet to pull them off the card as there's no need for me to get sidetracked tonight. I'm working my way through two senior sessions and then onto wedding edits. Fun stuff!

Wow!

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:47:00 +0000

Look at her eyes! They are gorgeous. Hailey is a senior this year, and I'm so glad I was able to take her pictures.

Enjoy your preview, Hailey (and family).

It's was a beautiful wedding!

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:40:00 +0000

It was my pleasure capturing Jessica and Shawn's special day. In front of their family, friends, and little boy, they stated their vows and became one on September 19th. Here are some previews of Jessica's gorgeous dress, Shawn's genuine smile, and the friends, family, and their precious son, who partake in their lives together.

The bridesmaids were gorgeous!

The groomsmen proved to be a fun group. Just look at Jessi's expression!

Jessi had the best attendants. I just loved their dresses and awesome personalities!

Congratulations, Jessica & Shawn!

The end of summer is near...

noreply@blogger.com (Rox) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:40:00 +0000

School started, the temps have stayed cool, and today it's raining. It feels like fall to me! I have been a bit behind on the blog. I'll share some images from a couple of sessions last month. Both were soooo much fun!

I had a lot of fun running around with Emily in her neighborhood in search of cool backdrops. We succeeded. Fortunately they complimented her beautiful blue eyes! This year, her senior year, she'll be involved in soccer and cheering on the Royals. Go Emily!

In addition to Emily's session, I had an e-session with Jessica and Shawn...and their sweet son. Their wedding is approaching in a few short weeks and I can't wait to spend the day with them!

I look forward to a busy fall!