Rikki & Drew Wedding Slideshow

Enjoy!

Yet…most of us admit to doing it, at least occasionally.

Nearly half of commuters self-reported texting while driving in a recent poll¹, and 43% of those who did called it a “habit.” Commuters are texting and driving even more than teens – 49%¹, compared to 43%².  And the problem has gotten worse.  Six in 10 commuters say they never texted while driving three years ago.

It is REALLY hard to resist that temptation when you hear that “ping”. I have trouble doing it (I now turn my phone OFF when in the car) but I know that a teenager often feels indestructible and perfectly capable of managing it.

I found this new device on the internet that I would most certainly purchase if I still had teenagers (or if I knew that me, my spouse, or one of my children had trouble with this issue):

How the ORIGOSafe™ works:

• Prevents the driver from holding the phone, allowing the driver to remain fully focused on the road.
• Allows the driver to stay connected and productive through use of Bluetooth.
• Reduces the risk of accidents and injuries from distracted driving due to handheld cell phone use.
• Provides parents with peace of mind knowing that their driver is protected.
• Allows use with unlimited phones per vehicle. Great for family use!
• Models good behavior for your family.                                           
• Easy to install and use – simple, one time set up.
• Charges the phone while it rests in the docking station.

Seriously a GREAT find – it’s like Photoshop in a bottle!!!! about $20 and so worth it!

They are on the brink of heading out into the big world. It’s going to change them, a lot, and in a myriad of ways. I want to capture the essence of who they are TODAY, before that happens, because IT CAN NEVER BE REPLACED.

I’m also a big fan of simple and timeless imagery, because I think natural beauty is the best kind. I’m not a fan of trends or overdone props, which date an image quickly – TIMELESS is what is important here. The images aren’t meant just to be enjoyed today, and shown off in graduation announcements and yearbooks and Facebook. They are also meant to be enjoyed in the future – way, way down the road.

When the senior in the photo is standing at a career crossroads in their 30′s, and looks back at their 18 year old self in the photo, remembering the dreams and drive they once had. When they have a high school senior of their own, and giggle over Mom’s yearbook.When they become grandparents, and everyone remarks how much the grandchildren resemble them.

This is a session that I pulled from 2007. You seriously would not know it – no vintage faded color or sun-flare or trendy clothing that is now out of favor – just classic, timeless, beauty.

(Washington PA Trinity High School Senior photographer, Peters Township High School Photographer, Wash High PA senior photography, Bridgeville PA photographer, South Fayette High School photographer, Canon McMillan High School photography, Fort Cherry High School photographer)

(natural light children, family, and senior photography sessions in the upstate region of SC and southwestern PA, Mingo Park photography minisessions, professional outdoor photography sessions Greenville Sc and Clemson SC, Venetia PA and McMurray PA photographer)

They had the joy of carefully examining these images and memories, seeing familiar loved faces from a time when life was simpler but from a whole new perspective. How powerful to see your parents and grandparents when they were young and actively living life just as you do now – because instead of seeing them from your memories of that same period as a child, you are now seeing them at that time as an adult, perhaps even OLDER now than they were in the pictures!

Just think about it – what if all of your photos that are on your phone or computer or on a cd somewhere disappear tomorrow? Your phone gets lost or broken, someone steals your laptop, your computer crashes, your cd becomes unusable or obsolete? What if your kids never get to have this pleasure?

And here’s another thing that I thought of as I looked at the pictures that Julie posted from those slides: no one is looking at those images and thinking about how their mom/grandma/poppy is fashionable or not, or heavy or not, or if they have makeup on. All you see is THEM. Young, happy, living. Looking WONDERFUL. All you feel is the love.

Lessons? Let people take photos of you instead of hiding from the camera. If you are uncomfortable about it, get a pro who will help you look and feel your best. Do it for your kids, grandchildren, great-grandchildren so they can feel their love and connection with you when they most need it (even if it’s when they are 70 years old themselves). And PRINT THOSE PICTURES!

Here’s a link to Julie’s blog post – she shares some of the photos and they are FASCINATING and so worth the read! Slide Film and Digital Files – why 40 years later, my mom has photos she never knew existed

(Clemson SC child, senior, and family photographer, Greenville SC family photographer, McMurray PA photographer, Venetia PA photographer, Washington PA child and family photographer; Olney MD Child and family photographer)

NACHOS:

1/2 bag tortilla chips in bottom of 13×9 baking pan – top with pulled barbeque pork (or beef, or chicken; you can use store bought easily), shredded cheese,  a small can of corn or even sprinkle some frozen corn on it like I did, and 1/2 cup chopped red onion. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350. Remove and drizzle with Ranch dressing and sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro. YUM!