Tuesday Announcements

So, we are doing a lot around the studio lately. I just ordered 7 canvas prints to hang in the studio. Ranging from 16x20 to 40x60. We are hoping to have the new gallery up soon and get going on our opening party... I promise, as soon as we confirm a date, I will let you know.

I just realized that we have had our Blog up and running for one year. I also just looked at our stats and we had over 31,000 people view our Blog last year. Wow that is a lot of people, that is about 85 people a day.

So I am asking you what you would want to see? Do you want more news about us, photography tips, or photos?

We are leaving for Vegas in a week and a half. So the studio will be shut down from the 14th-19th. I will be checking email and trying to get back to you.

And for the announcements.
First, I photographed a beautiful child this morning that is undergoing chemotherapy. Her prognosis is not great, but she is an amazing person with great parents. Due to the beauty of their family, I am with holding photos from the Blog. But that does lead me to my next point. In honor of this great child, I am offering free portraits to any newborn. If you, a friend, or anyone that you know has a child less then 14days old at the time of the shoot, I will photograph them for free. (I will not stop you from making a donation to her Charity.)

And I wanted to ask you about offering a donated Wedding. I am willing to donate my services to a couple getting married, if they will, within their budget, make a donation to either this child's charity or the Wisconsin MS Society. I would choose a list of finalists and have you vote on them. I am only going to offer one wedding up, but first I want to get your feedback first.

Smiles,

Sunday thoughts

Today maybe Thursday, but I am feeling mellow and wanted to just talk today...

I had a great commercial shoot on Monday for Hotel Metro. This is a great spot for a smaller reception, but more so a beautiful place to spend the night. If you are looking for a fun place for guests to stay or even yourself, I highly recommend them. The hotel is small with really cute rooms.

We have had some great bookings lately. Our schedule is filling up fast. Please talk to us about 2008 soon.

I recently just met and booked a wedding with Angela from Top Shelf Weddings in Madison. I look forward to posting some photos from working with her.

Not to bring you down this morning, but I wanted to talk about NILMDTS
There was an article in the paper on Sunday talking about this. In case you might have missed the article or are unsure of what this is: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is an organization based on helping parents find a photographer to capture those special moments for a terminally ill child.

After being a part of this and offering this to people, these photos help to grieve and understand the beauty of their child that was taken away from them before his or her time.

I can only emotionally handle a couple of them a year, but I want to offer to all of those that might need my help. This is not just for newborns. I received a call for a one year old that has cancer. (My lept out to them and I am honored to be involved at any time.)

I offer, completely free of any charges, portrait on location, hi-res files, prints, and hi-res of the retouched files.

I love what I do. I am so lucky to make a living doing this, so if I can give back to you or anyone you know, please contact me. I am the proud parent of twin girls that spent some time in the NICU when they were born. I was given a gift of their lives and I want to keep returning the favor.

I am not an overly religious person, but have a faith in people, life, and our world. After being invited to photograph so many weddings, I have heard: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8. (Love is patient...)
I like the last part the most:
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

I think that is why I feel so strongly about photography and capturing moments. The love that I witness is so special, that when I can compliment the love with an amazing image; I feel that I have been able to outwardly show the love that was felt.

Smiles

Sunday thoughts

Today, Izzy has a 104 fever. We went to urgent care, only to be sent home with a Popsicle. She was super cudlely and she and I fell asleep on my lazy boy together. Having a sick child is so emotionally hard. I am so thankful that she is not sicker, but I wish I could make her and all kids better.

Last summer I photographed a baby tat was terminal for his parents. Really tough but these parents are amazing, they offered his organs to other parents with sick children. So even though they lost their son, so many other parents were given the gift of life to their children. I think this might be one of the greatest sacrifices a parent can go through.

There is a great organization called "Now I lay me do to sleep" They coordinate free photography for the parents with children that are sick and will not be with us for long. Please support this group or pass their name along to anyone that might need them.

I offer all of my help to any parent that may be faced with a tough choice. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can help. My services are free and I promise that your love for your child will not go unnoticed.

Please take some time to call, write or hug someone you love today. Be it a parent, sibling, or partner; they all need to know how much we appreciate the love we are given.

Smiles