For A Moment Photography

Why I Love and Admire Jackie

Like so many, for as long as I can remember I have been an admirer of Jackie Kennedy Onassis.  The attraction to her isn't unusual and I have tried to understand that part.  She grew up in a time very different from my life.  She was born into privilege, travel the world and seemed to have it all.  But why is she any different than many others before her.

As I grew up the fact that her later life was a bit tragic I think made her easier to fall in love with.  How she handled herself during the assassination of her husband and how she cared for her children.  I remember watching on television (years later) when she married Aristotle Onassis many assumed because only he could offer the protection she desired for her children.  That made her all the more amazing to me.

The fact that everyone loved Jackie at times seems so cliche.  As I was looking at some of her photos the other night it occurred to me that the reason so many adore her, in my eyes is because her image is so welcoming. She has sophistication without pomp.  Her petite frame, elegant attire and gentle nature just draws you in.  Not to mention the great back drops of her life and photos.

At first I thought, wow she had some great photo journalists that knew how to snap great photos, and the image of her life that I loved was a charade indeed, often referred to as "Camelot"...  But as I sat looking at more photos, and being a photographer I know those moments are real.

In my job I can only stage a photo to a certain extent with children.  I can set the scene but if I'm asking the mother/father to interact with a child in a way they don't normally do the photo doesn't work.  The children will not fake it and any age.  Looking at the photos of JFK with their kids, the relationship is very different. Not saying that he was a poor father, his relationship was just a very different one and that's very common...

Over the years I've noticed that when talking about their parents the Kennedy's (the whole family) at any age called their parents, Mom and Dad or even Mommy and Daddy.  It's not something that I hear most adults say so it always stuck out in my mind as strange.  After watching the recent film, Ethel (about Ethel Kennedy) it came to me that it was not strange or silly but a small way to honor their parents...

With all that the Kennedy's have been "given" I admire their sense of social responsibility, appreciation of art and education, and love of family.  I of course love Jakie's clothes and effortless style but I really admire her selfless devotion to her children. 

I love the backdrop, JFK's socks and Jackie's pefection!

  

Seriously 100% Cuteness!

 

Our first session photos.

It's late is this cute or no?  :/

This is 100% cuteness.

 

Mom's bracelet with all the important dates, engagement, wedding, and Deven's birth. 

Ahh, he was so sad he fell in the mud (the only mud puddle and he found it).

But he bounced back pretty fast!

 

Today I had a fabulous photo session that I almost (several times) rescheduled!  First I was worried about it being too cold.  This winter I have had to reschedule 4 sessions due to weather (I've only had to do that once before this winter).  We had already rescheduled this session once so I just decided we meet later in the morning rather then reschedule.

Then we get to our location (a public place) and there are white tents everywhere!  At first I thought, it might still be workable but as I walked around I felt like it wasn't going to happen.  The last thing I want is to have my clients to end up with photos white tents in the background and porto-potties.  I even started to think that it was a sign we needed to not do this session today.  Craziness!..  

Not only was today's session with a returning clients who's first session went so amazingly well (click here to read that post).  Tiffanie is a childhood friend and we cheered together in high school, so a dear friend as well.  I was walking around the venue thinking, I really don't want to disappoint her with bad photos.  My sessions are planned out so I was worried that moving the location would also blow my whole plan...  I went back and talked to her and we decided to look for another location.  In my head I thought we may get a few and today isn't a total waste.

While going through the photos tonight I didn't even get through half of them.  There are so many of the photos that I love I had a hard time deciding which ones to edit.  This confirms that doing the session today was the right decision, I'm so glad we did it...  It did just occur to me I forgot to move to the other location we had planned on going to all along.

I must go to bed.  I've been up since 4:45am and I think it's why I can't think of a better title for this post!  zzz...

Revised Smoothie Recipe and Where You Can Find the Ingredients

It's been a few weeks since we started our smoothie routine!  I've have several people ask me more questions on where I get our smoothie ingredients.  This post is just a follow up to my last smoothie recipe post...

I found that Costco has an organic berry blend.  We used four bags of it until Mark started having an allergic reaction.  Costco's blend has pomegranate seeds and a lot of them.  Our doctor recommended not using that blend (only because of Mark's allergy).  I'm glad we switched too because I didn't like all the pomegranate seeds in the mix.  Since then Mark has not had an allergic reaction to the smoothies.  

1.  Almond butter from Costco.  I put in about a teaspoon.  

2.  My Magic Bullet I've had for years and you can buy them on-line and Costco.

3.  Almond Milk from Trader Joe's.  I use a cup in each smoothie.

4.  Chia Seeds this is from Trader Joe's.

5.  Green Vibrance, this I drink as a shot after my smoothie.  I pour half cup of almond milk and add a serving of green vibrance.  Mix in the Magic Bullet so it's not clumpy and down the hatch!  I tried it with my smoothie it's not bad.  But I prefer to drink it separate.       

6.  Organic Mixed Berry Blend From Trader Joe's.  I love this blend and use about 2/3 of a cup!  

7.  This is Premiere Lecithin Granules.  I got this on Amazon.com.  It's great for brain function, helps keep liver and kidney's healthy.  Be careful where you buy this.  A lot of manufactures genetically modify this product.      

8.  Organic Power of the greens mix, this is from Trader Joe's too.  I grab a handful and put it in our smoothies, it's not at all detectable!  Presley knows (now) I put it in her and no complains!

9.  Klaire Labs - Ther-Biotic Complete Powder 2.1oz.  I use 1/4 teaspoon. 

10.  Genestra Brands Pediatri-vite.  I got this from our doctor's office for Presley.  I see that it is also available on-line.  One teaspoon in Presley's smoothie daily.

11.  I had to tag this since it's in the photo!  I add just a small portion to the smoothie.  Usually 1/3 of the banana.  I now slice and freeze them because I started to have a steady stream of fruit flies.

12.  I normally put in a heaping spoonful of ground flax seed (from Sprouts) in mine and Presley's smoothie.  I have recently been told that it contains estrogen and may not be good for us in large quantities.  I'm still trying to make up my mind on this ingredient.  

Smoothies have been a daily routine.  I am just now starting to play with a few other blends my girlfriend sent to me.  Having a few different recipes I think will come in handy in case this mixture gets redundant.  

Since starting with the smoothies I haven't wanted to buy fresh fruit as frequently as I normally do.  Being that it's winter it's worked out pretty well (not much fruit available).  Another positive point about frozen fruit is I don't have to worry about it going bad.  The thought of throwing away food is what has taken most people to foods that have a long shelf life, the trade off is our health.

As always thank you for reading.

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Update: I'm Not Breaking Up with Apple & My Clients are Smart and Beautiful

Recently I've had an on going issues with my computer during the process of upgrading.  Now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  My clients have been so understanding, which makes me so thankful to have them as my clients!  With all the issues I have pretty much learned what not to do with my photo storage and that will come in handy in the upcoming years.  For the record I am not breaking up with Apple (I do miss Steve Jobs)...

Connie wanted a few fresh photos for her websites.  She owns a business with offices in four different states.  I could tell by our first conversation that I was being interviewed (in a way) for the job.  I'm pretty confident in my work and knowledge of photography and was more than happy to be put to the test.  Having a client do some research and then decided to pick me is a rewarding feeling.  

I should take this time to mention that yes, you should do research before you pick a photographer.  Look at their work to see if it reflects what they are *telling* you they can do.  Not only that but chances are if you don't like their body of work you won't like the photos they will take of you.  I have had several clients that have come to me with photos they had just recently taken by another photographer with less than impressive results...

Like all my sessions I had fun with this session/client and relish the fact that my client base is growing and my photography is always getting better!  

 

 

Love and Cancer

SSusan's support group!

Sierra!

Len a friend from High School.

 

Susan and her loving husband Greg (married since she was 17 yrs. old).

While watching a video her daugther Brookie made for her.

Ready!

Step one.

Susan and her son Preston getting a first look of her shaved head.

Susan with her father.  I love the light above them.  

Last weekend I made a trip home for a party of a dear mentor/friend of mine.  Susan Lindsey has been apart of my life since I was fourteen years old, I was in a class of hers all four years of high school.  I remember her kids being born and her first baby (dog) Kendra.  The first few years out of high school for me were a struggle and she was someone I often turned to for guidance.  

Susan was recently diagnosed with breast cancer late last year and she started a blog, Susan's Cancer Blog.  She started the blog as a way to share her story with friends, family and for her brothers and sisters in cancer...  For Susan being an educator is in her blood so it's not surprising that she has turned her cancer journey into a platform guide and enlighten others.  

Her blog has given me such a raw and truthfulness to a person's cancer experience in a way I have never known before.  I'm thankful for her sharing and being vulnerable during a truly difficult time that only those who have experienced can fully understand...  Susan has always been a bright and positive person and her words in the blog reflect that of her.  

Knowing the she will lose her hair Susan decided to shave her head and what better way to do it than to throw a party!  She had fifty plus people come and share in the day, many more sending photos, flowers and letters in support of her.  I was honored to be there and have the chance to document the event in my photography.  When I think about that day it's the love and support that is so vivid to me in and that I hope is seen in my photos.  

 

Keep Calm and Blog On...

My Presley with her Lenny.

A photo I was able to edit before the computer explosion (not literally by the way).

I'm blogging because quite frankly I'm trying not to freak out...  I won't bore you with the details...  It's been at least a month of technical difficulties and everything will be fine, I'm just annoyed.  It's times like these I think about the saying a bad day on the golf course beats a good day in the office.  For me a bad day with my photography business beats a good day in any other profession.  

OK...  Good news I see my photo library (50,000 photos) is not "currupted".  Sign of relief...  Beautiful...  Now I'll just have to go to the Apple store and see why I can't view it on my new beautiful, faster, computer (I'm on my old computer tonight)...

That was therapeutic...  Thanks for listening (reading)...       

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