just us january

I've joined forces with another FABULOUS group of photographers.

The project is called Just Us Times 12. 

What does it mean? It means that I finally get to document my family 12 times throughout the year (once a month) and instead of being behind the camera I get to actually be in front of it. (Not quite sure how I feel about that but I'm forcing myself to put my insecurities aside.) However, more importantly, it means that I get to have fun pictures of us! Sometimes Sweetie may be working and not be able to be in the pictures but sometimes he WILL be in them (like it or not!!). 

I almost decided that I was too busy to start another project but I knew if I didn't start in January than I probably wouldn't start at all. So, at the last hour, right before sunset, I pulled out my camera, tripod, remote, grabbed my daughter and my iphone for some music and headed outside. I wanted a fun picture of us and since my daughter loooooves dancing I knew that would be easy for us. So, here is our first "family" shot, minus one, of us dancing to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!! (you do what you gotta do, right?!)

You'll also get to see some other fabulous and fun families. Follow the circle and head on over to Eileen Gomez - Orange County California photographer's Just Us.

my big 4 year old!

Can't believe we've had her around for 4 years. I barely remember what our lives were like before she was here. She definitely makes me a better person. So so proud of the little person she's turning into!!

five on friday

1. Did I miss last week's Five on Friday? I think I did. Do I have a good excuse? Nope! Does being a busy mom count? No?! How about getting ready for Early Bird's birthday? Ok, good! 

2. January is not over. You still have time to get in on my January deal. See here for complete details.

3. Early Bird and I are headed to Texas in the next couple of months. I can't decide if we'll be there during spring break (for Texas), Easter break (for Texas) or Early Bird's spring break in April. I'm definitely planning on taking a couple of sessions and we even might travel to Austin!! I puffy heart Austin. That's where I secretly (maybe not so secretly) want to live!! I digress. If you're interested in a session contact me ASAP for the January discount (see above!). And if the wildflowers there will cooperate it will be even better!!! I do miss the Texas wildflowers!

4. So Grandma G and Grandpa are here for Early Bird's birthday. They haven't even been here 24 hours and they're already spoiling  her! New clothes and a manicure/pedicure later this afternoon. Man, I want to be turning 4 again!!

4.01. One of my good friends here in California is moving with her and her family to Austin, Texas (which I'm a tad bit jealous of). They recently made it there and were in one of the local grocery stores. This came across her Facebook page today:

5. random photo of the day:

Early Bird getting ready for her big 0-4 birthday!

That would be 7 1/2 inches cut off! 

Such a cutie!

someone's coming up on the big 0-4!

More to come later this week but I got to take my girl out for a fun shoot! Can't wait to share them all!

monthly quote blog hop

Today i'm starting an exciting new series called Monthly Quote. I've partnered up with some amazing photographers from around the world! Yes, all the way to Australia! 

We'll link to each other's blogs and use the same quote. However, each photographer will post their image or images of their interpretation of the quote. I hope you enjoy this monthly series, to be posted on the 15th of each month. 

I'm hoping to get outside of my box and stretch my creative muscles. 

January's quote is, "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." - Semisonic, Closing Time.

Every time I'm at my parent's house they have the most beautiful sunrise peeking through these fabulous trees. Beyond the trees is a peaceful and serene manicured rolling hills. I just love the juxtaposition between the bent trees, the rising suns long shadows and the peaceful rolling hills beyond.  It reminds me that life is like that, where you have scraggly bent trees but in between them are calming the calming hills.

Don't forget to head on over to Deirdre Keating's blog for her interpretation of the same quote.

five on friday

1. Early Bird has not been sleeping good for the past, oh, almost 4 years. Lately (and by lately I mean the last 6 weeks) she's been getting up 2+ times a night. "I need a drink," "My covers came off," "I want to sleep with you." Needless to say this leaves momma and daddy VERY tired during the day. If you see me and I have no makeup on and my hair is a hot mess you'll know why. Please tell me she'll start sleeping better when she turns 4?!!

2. Speaking of Early Bird turning 4 soon (January 29 to be exact) i've been somewhat planning her party for awhile, at least in my head. This time last year I was frantically making alot of her decorations. Somehow this year her birthday snuck up on me. In my head I had a cute yellow, turquoise and gray theme planned out. However, Early Bird decided that she needed to have an actual say in her birthday this year :( And what did she decide on? A princess theme.... with a real princess. There went my grand plans. I'm dreading the pink plastic table covers with the pink plastic decorations. However, i think i might still be able to incorporate MY colors as well ;) AND an actual princess may be showing up!! i'll keep you updated on the progress of anti-pink/plastic birthday things!

3. I have a confession. I've been cheating a little. Cheating on my camera. For christmas I got a sewing machine. Thank goodness for Pinterest. They have a TON of tutorials and cute projects. It's been fun learning how to sew hems and ruffles. My first attempt was an infinity scarf. It didn't turn out exactly like I wanted but it wasn't thrown in the trash either. Last night I added ruffles to a cute dish cloth. Yes, it took me two hours but I think it turned out cute! I don't think I'll end up being Suzie Homemaker but it's nice to know that if I want to "whip out" a cute bag I may be able to.... even if it takes me a week!

4. It's not too late to get $75 off any session this year. (Hint: I'll be coming to Dallas/Ft. Worth AND Austin, Tx at the end of March). Sale ends January 31. Details are here.

5. random photo of the day:

more of the C family {san jose, cailfornia, family photographer}

last week i showed you a sneak peek of a wonderful family that's close to my heart... but i love the image so much i'm sharing it again.

today is a bittersweet day for them (and me), they are moving to austin, texas, where they are originally from.  I know they're excited to go back to the land of awesome barbecue, sopapillas in mexican restaurants, Texas football (cough cough), real country music, the hill country and cowboy boots. However, they've become such good friends of mine that i will miss them dearly. i'm hoping to see them in a few short months when i visit austin myself!!

here are a few of my favorite images of our last time together!

friday's feature

normally this is where you'd see my Five on Friday; however, i decided to start changing things up a bit for the new year. change is good, right?!! 

the photography community is very small but very powerful. there are some AMAZING, and I mean AMAZING, photographers out there. i'm constantly inspired and humbled by them. so, why keep them all to myself? i decided to pass some goodness and eye candy onto you. 

my first guest photographer is Holly Clouse from www.hollyclousephotography. she is incredibly talented and oh so sweet!

get to know her a little bit more and then make sure to head on over to her Facebook and Web site for more eye candy! Thanks Holly for participating!!

~ Tell us a little bit about yourself! (name, husband, kiddos, business name etc.)

My name is Holly Clouse, I live and operate my business in Spokane, Washington. I've been married to my husband, Nathan, for 6 years, and together we have two sweeties, Landon, who is 5 & Emmalia, who is 3 1/2!

~ Tell us something most people don't know about you! Crazy, funny, embarrassing, etc.

I LOVE music! I listen to all kinds, almost everything under the sun, from rap to country to jazz and classical. I love the lyrics of songs, and I listen very closely to them, and I sing alot when no one is around. :) The funny thing is that my brother loves music too, but his is more 1970s and older music. I like to say we complement each other well; between the two of us we know pretty much every song that's ever been written. Ha! My current obsessions are 'Raindrops' by Lifehouse and 'Better Than Love' by Griffin House.

~ What are your favorite movies or books?

This is such a hard one for me! I am not really a movie person, I can't sit still long enough, but I do love 'While You Were Sleeping'. Definitely high on my list of chick flicks! Some of my favorite author's are Francine Rivers, Nora Roberts & Francis Chan. I love my kindle, and no matter how late it is , I read for a few minutes before I fall asleep, every single night.

~ What does your typical day look like?

I get up at 6. I have my Bible-study time, catch up on emails, drink copious amounts of coffee, work out & get ready for my day! I homeschool our kids, so that takes up 4 mornings a week, as Landon is in Kindergarten, and Emma in Preschool. Next comes lunch time, and then quiet time for the kids. The hours from 1-3 is when I get the bulk of my business work done! Late afternoons are for errands, walks to the park, and playing. Rainy or snowy days we have movie afternoons. :) We have dinner, and then the kids play games or watch a movie. Some nights I work, and some nights I'm all mommy mode. After the kids are in bed, I routinely stay up till 12 or 1 working.

~Tell us your business name, and give us all and any link so your website/blog/social media.

I own Holly Clouse Photography. My website is www.hollyclousephotography, blog is www.hollyclousephotography.com/blog, Facebook is www.facebook.com/hollyclousephotography, Twitter is twitter.com/hcphotog and Pinterest is www.pinterest.com/hollyclouse1

~ Give us a brief description of the business and how long have you been in business. 

I am an on-location portrait photographer, who specializes in baby photography. I like to say that I photograph babies and the ones that love them! I also photograph seniors, children, and the very occasional wedding, usually a referral from past clients. I officially started my business 3 1/2 years ago, in 2009.

~ What do you love most about having a small business?

I absolutely love what I do, I love my career, but if we are just saying "small business" in general, I LOVE having something that is my own. I am very proud of what I have built and where I have taken it, because it was a dream of mine for quite some time before I made it a reality. I love interacting with and meeting new clients, new friends, really. It is so, so amazing and fun to capture their lives!

~ What is the hardest part about having a small business?

There is a huge amount of responsibility. I wear all the hats; I'm in marketing, customer service, photography, post processing, accounting, book-keeping, you name it. Alot of people that call me for advice think you just "start a business" and that makes you a "professional." Not! There is alot of very hard work, and cost, including equipment, insurance, taxes, business licenses, etc. etc. etc!

~ What are your biggest inspirations? (other photographers, the outdoors, family etc!)

This is such a hard question for me, one I stared at forever, trying to figure out how to answer. Each family inspires me in their own way. I talk to them for a few minutes if I don't feel I know them well enough already, and just watching them talk and interact gives me a feel for them. The individual personalities, and their love or humor or steadiness or calmness inspires me to create each session just as their family is. Alot of my families tell me they were captured exactly how they are, and feel the pictures are very true-to-life of their family. This is always my goal, as the images are ultimately the memories that they will have forever. 

~ Where do you see your business in five years?

I hope to have a studio. Being an on-location photographer means you are always working in someone's space, or outdoors. I can't wait to have a dedicated spot for my clients! Ultimately, I love my clients, and hope that in 5 years, I am still here, having the opportunity to capture their memories and watch their families grow!

Thanks Holly! I hope you enjoyed the sneak peek into Holly's life. Have a great weekend!