And with her very proud parents -

(family and childrens photographer on location in Bethel Park PA, McMurray PA, and Washington PA)

Gorgeous Fall weather…beautiful leaves and scenery…family time cozied up in the warm house after dinner…and Christmas just around the corner! I only have a few sessions left for this year, so if you have been thinking of treating yourself to the gift of family artwork (and maybe crossing off some of your gift list) AND getting those Holiday cards done, give me a call so we can get you on the schedule before time runs out!

The music brings out the words like nothing else can…just another reason my home is covered with my children’s photographs, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Lake Keowee photographer, senior pictures in Anderson SC and Clemson SC, Seneca SC photographer, wakeboarding pictures on Lake Keowee

Let me say that I am in a fairly contemplative mood nowadays, as I just had another birthday and we are preparing to move into our dream home in just over a week. But I feel like I just have to share my thoughts on this topic, as it is a question that I myself struggled with as a young mom – why custom photography?

I have always loved photography, even more so when I had children and wanted to capture my wonder at their beauty and their personalities. I knew I didn’t want to forget any of it. I spent so much time trying to breathe in the moments, burn what they were like into my memory forever. I seriously did not believe that I would ever forget the way they looked, sounded, smelled, laughed. I almost didn’t even bother labeling the backs of photographs with dates and ages – I knew that I would instantly remember what age they were in those images, and where it was taken and why.

I was pretty good with a camera, and I was proud of a lot of the images I captured of their sweet faces and expressions and little outfits. I got lots of fun photojournalistic shots that I thought were very cool. I didn’t feel like I needed to spend money on custom photography when I took such great pictures, and besides, there were cute outfits to buy.

Well here it is, nearly thirty years later. The girls are grown, and I’m a nanna. I have been packing up old photo albums and scrapbooks for our move and have had some very sweet moments looking through them. But my underlying thought when I look at them is a feeling of a job not quite complete, and certainly not worthy of its goal of capturing my children completely and beautifully.

What I didn’t realize is that my “mommy goggles” colored the greatness of those pictures I took. At the time, my heart filled in the slight blur, the poor color, the over or underexposures. All I could see were my kids, like a mom views a child’s crayon drawing with pride because her darling produced it. And guess what? The memories do fade. I have to try to decipher an unmarked photo – sometimes I can’t even tell which baby it is!

I want to encourage all of you to take lots of photos, learn all you can about photography, document every happy moment. But I also want to share my experience with you in the hopes that you will not repeat my misguided mistakes. Especially in this economy it is important to cut back on unnecessary expenses, and certainly custom photography is a luxury. But I will tell you that it is one luxury that I wish I would have dedicated more resources to. I always managed to buy them cute clothes that are now so forgotten that it isn’t even funny. I took them to chain store studios to save money, but those images of them with giant bunnies for Easter are not something I would display in my home as art now. How I wish I would have supplemented my own pictures with professional ones!

Over the next few weeks I will be writing about all of the things that make custom photography worth it – and why it costs what it does. I don’t want to convince you just because I’m now a professional photographer (!). It’s because I want to make sure that you don’t have the same sense of loss that I do when the day comes that you have to pack up your own albums. And that day will come faster than you can believe possible.

(Anderson SC photographer, Lake Keowee Photographer, Washington PA photographer)

Clemson SC photographer, Seneca SC photographer, Lake Keowee Photographer

Clemson SC photographer, Anderson SC children’s photographer, Mt Lebanon PA photographer

(Anderson SC photographer, Clemson Family Portrait Photographer)

1 1/2 lb LEAN ground meat (or it will be too greasy)

2 eggs

1/2 cup water

1 pkg Stovetop stuffing (chicken or herb) – dry, no need to prepare

1/4 c. ketchup

Mix all together, shape into a loaf, and bake at 350 for about  1 hr 15 min.  That’s it! You can pour tomato sauce or ketchup & sugar over the top if you wish (I don’t, because I serve with gravy & mashed potatoes).  If you are really adventurous, mix together & flatten into a rectangle about 3/4 inch thick, then top with seasoned mashed potatoes and roll up, seal ends, and bake.

(Anderson SC photographer, Clemson SC photographer)

Each design is sized at 2×3 inches – so that you can print TWO on one 4×6 print and cut them apart.  With the cost of 4×6 prints at your local photo developer at like 12 cents, you can afford to have fun!  The possibilities are endless – they can be pasted onto pretty cardstock for a bookmark, or tied to a pencil or lollipop if you want to go even farther.  The digital file with your child’s Casual Moments photo inserted is $20; I can email it to you as soon as payment is received. Call or email me now!