is undergoing some construction!

My blog will remain up and running as usual!

~Micki

Love Love Love Generation Photos.  They are truly priceless!!!

Speaking of priceless….Meet my new buddy Will

*sigh*

yeah -he’s the kinda kid who makes me want another kid…..

Thanks guys for trusting me with your photos on a hot summer morning!

The pleasure was all mine!

~M

This is Beautiful Baby Brityn and I have the honor of photographing her first year of life!

Beautiful Baby Brityn & your Ten Tiny Toes

See you next month!

~M

For this shot here is MY story:

Carlee was thinking “Hi MiMi!  I love you and I miss you and let’s get my mommy and daddy to move to Dallas to live right next door to you once again!”

Here is the REAL story:

My daughter, Madelyn walked out of the door and Carlee took one look at her and started splashing, giggling and smiling bigger than she had done for the entire shoot.  I guess I’ll take that too!

]]> http://www.mbenoitphotography.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3823 0 http://www.mbenoitphotography.com/blog/?p=3815 http://www.mbenoitphotography.com/blog/?p=3815#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:40:26 +0000 Micki Benoit http://www.mbenoitphotography.com/blog/?p=3815 I was on FaceBook Chat the other day with an old friend/client.  After we got all caught up on the kids, the summer plans and the new Summer MaiTai recipee we started talking photo-talk.  She told me that my blog needed another Life-update-post cause “people are wondering what’s up”.

Hi all 4 of you still following my blog!    Here is the M.Benoit Photography Update!

I’ll be the first to admit to you blog that when I left Wichita Falls I was burning out if not burnt out.  I’d been struggling for a few years with the balance between the work, family and friends.  I leaned on the shoulders of friends and my husband more than once wondering how to pull back from a job that I so desperately loved.  I felt torn and was not at peace. When our move became a reality the idea of closing my studio and my business was horrible, terrifying, depressing and it was also an answered prayer.  God had given me the opportunity I’d been praying for.  He gave me the opportunity to step back, re-evaluate and redefine my priorities.  He gave me the gift of TIME.

I took that time. I got caught up on work, I’m 99% done with my website and overall look.  I have my new business plan and prices all ready to go, and I even have some potential clients in mind.  So why then am I not taking pictures all the time, hitting the pavement and going for it?

Well, I’m gonna blame it on my MoJo.

For the first time ever this past year I’ve not wanted to pick up my camera.  I’ve struggled with my work and I didn’t feel like my creative edge came naturally.  I’ve not found many new locations, I’ve not invented any new edits and I’ve not found any new ways to display prints.  I’ve started to wonder, have I lost my MoJo?!?!?

A few months ago I was having a heart to heart with Matt about this whole struggle.  Why didn’t I want to jump in with both feet and get M.B.Photo-Dallas started?  Why was holding me back from telling EVERYONE about my work, handing out my prices and creating coupons for my camera classes?  Where did my MoJo go?!?!  After listening to me babble on and on, Matt said something that scared the sh** out of me.  He said “Maybe God’s plan for you here is something different Mick.  Maybe you’re done with the photographer-thing and there is something else out there for you.  Maybe He has a new plan for you here.”

I bawled.  Then I heard myself say between sobs “But I’m a photographer.  That’s who I am.”

And a voice in the back of my head said “No sweetheart. It’s not who you are.  It’s what you do”.

My MoJo had been defining me.  It had become who I am instead of being a part of what I do.  For some people that may be ok, but it’s not for me.

Therefore, I’m redefining my MoJo.  I’m no longer going to let my family take second place to my work.  I’m not going to put more time into my website than I do volunteering at my kids school.  I’m not going to let my creative edge overshadow my motherly instincts.

So that brings me to the life-update-blog that I was asked to write.

I AM taking pictures here in Dallas.  I hope to be taking more by the time fall arrives.  I am no longer shooting weddings and I am putting real limitations on the time I spend behind the camera in the evenings and weekends. I will be specializing in photographing babies and little people because that is what makes me most happy and where I feel my real strengths lie.

I AM gonna finish that 1% and update my website and overall look… when I get around to it.

I AM gonna do some new stuff in the next few years… I’m not sure what that’s gonna be yet.

I AM gonna be around for a long long time… but my MoJo will look a little bit different, and I’m ok with that.  Actually, I’m at peace.

So all 4 of you still following my blog, that’s “what’s up”.

Thanks for listening!

~M

Happy May Baby Carlee Girl!

I love you and we’ll see you in June!!!

~MiMi

Then, something tragic happens.  Something terrible.  My W21 babies turn one.

*sigh*

So for Ty’s 12 month shoot we decided to photograph summer….in the pool of course!

…and I will admit that I got a little carried away.

The first time I played around with shutterspeed I was 13 and photographing water.  It amazed me then and it amazes me now.  Somethings you never outgrow I guess!

Time for birthday cupcakes!

I’ll not put the entire progression in, but let’s just say we started with this…

..and we ended with this.

Happy First Birthday Baby Ty!  Oh how I do love you and your family!

~M

I love her style.

I love her willingness…no, her eagerness to go outside of the box

I love the way she loves my buddy Chad.

I can’t remember who I became friends with first, Chad or Kayla but regardless…

There is nothing better than seeing people you love, in love.

I love the way when she looks at this photo…she’ll “get it”

Dear Baby Gabby,

I can’t wait to photograph you little one.  You have been prayed for and are loved already.

You are going to single handedly turn a great marriage into an amazing family.

I can’t wait to meet you!         Love, Micki