Senior Tranquility

Senior pictures are one of my favorite things to shoot.  There are so many different options as far as location, outfits, poses, etc.  However, I have found that seniors are typically more comfortable in a natural setting or an urban one.  We always try both, but there's usually one where a teenager really feels at home.

Last year, I had the pleasure to meet Holly and do her senior shoot and she was definitely an urban girl!  This year, I met her sister Heidi.  Hudson Springs Park was her comfort zone!!  Shots with water were her number one priority and I feel like this one captured her entirely.  She looked calm, reflective and 100% comfortable.  I kept coming back to this image and falling in love with it over and over again

 Heidi, it was a pleasure to meet you and capture your infectious smile!  Best of luck in all your future endeavors!

 

Spring Has Sprung!! (....maybe?)

It's April 27.  It was in the 70's today!  Spring is here!!

Uhh...wait....no...this is Northeast Ohio.  It will probably be 32 and snowing tomorrow.

Well, whatever.  We enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous day outside!  The flowers in our yard are all starting to bloom and the kids had a ball looking at all of them.

Yellow Tulip

Red Tulip

Giant Pink Tulip

Bleeding Hearts - I think these are SO cool looking!

Black & White Tulips!

Daffodil - Snuck into the neighbor's yard for this one.  Ours are all gone already!

Slave labor....er...I mean...LEAF COLLECTOR!!!!

She's just getting SO big!

In Full Bloom

I was sitting around this morning sipping my cup of coffee thinking that it's been a while since I had a chance to shoot anything - a few weeks at least!

As I was browsing Facebook, I came across a picture of a stunning orchid plant that my friend Amy posted.  Her husband got it for her for Valentine's Day.  It was in full bloom and was just magnificent.  I immediately wrote on her wall, "Can I photograph this???"

So a few hours later, Genevieve and I were on our way to Hudson for a playdate with Amy, her daughter, and her beautiful orchid plant! (she probably thinks I'm nuts if she didn't already)

I do not know how she will keep this alive.  I was born with a brown thumb for sure! 

September 11 Memorial

Every year, the Tallmadge Circle is adorned with hundreds of luminaries to honor the victims of 9/11

I've been wanting to photograph it forever, so finally did!

Walking With Wheezy

In 35 years, I've learned that life takes you on many interesting paths.  Along the journey you meet some incredible people and sometimes you meet them more than once.  I taught music for Nordonia Hills City Schools for 8 years prior to becoming a mom and I had the privilege of teaching three children all from the same wonderful family (The oldest had graduated my building before I started teaching).  I have kept in touch with their mom Sue via Facebook and she's a pro at nature photography!

Sue's passion for photography started when she was diagnosed with an Alpha-1-Antitrypsin deficiency, a condition which affects her lungs and breathing capacity.  She and her husband would often go hiking and when she became out of breath, she would stop to shoot some photos to rest a bit.  Fast forward to today and this gal is a nature shooting MACHINE.  I love looking at her photos! 

We decided to meet up for a nature walk today at the Seiberling Nature Realm.  This was a brand new experience for me.  I haven't really played with nature photography too much.  I was excited to learn where the cool shots were from Sue! 

Coolest part of the morning?  BIRDS ATE FROM MY HAND!!!  I had no idea this could happen outside of Disney Princess Movies!!!??  Sue gave me some sunflower seeds and I put my hand out and they landed and ate.  It was crazy!  I'm definitely going to have to take my daughters back with sunflower seeds in tow to experience this!

At the end of our walk, I got my official "Walking With Wheezy" photo magnet.  Sue gives these to people that have the patience to go walking with her at a slow enough pace for her to keep up.  Trust me, Sue.  It was my pleasure and who wants to walk quickly when there are so many places to stop along the way to capture with our lenses?