I have to admit that this is one of my favorite times of the year…I love the crisp fall weather, I love an excuse to wear my favorite 10 year old leather jacket and the business is booming….but I also have to admit that after taking pictures of happy families ALL MONTH LONG for two months it’s kinda fun to get out a do something different!!

Thanks V & B for being so much fun!

It was a GREAT shoot!

This photo is for anyone who thinks about cancelling a shoot due to the wind…..the wind is our friend. Beautiful huh?

They wanted FUN poses…..

….but most of the shoot was just having fun!

Lindy was up for any and all photos…..

….Ok – after editing THAT photo I’ll be heading to my chiropracter now.

Thanks for a GREAT, fun, windy and somewhat chilly shoot guys! We got lots of fun stuff & they’ll be uploaded to proofs soon!
~Micki

Ok – so I’m gonna let you in on a little bit of me….and in the meantime let you in on some explaination of the phrase you’re all probably tired of hearing me recite…..

Real Life is Beautiful

Let me start this sure to be very long and very rambling blog, sure to be packed full of run-on-sentences with this. Yesterday I had two viewings that exemplify why I love my job.

The first was with Mitch and Tracy Hill. They are repeat clients that I love and who “get it” (back to that later). Before they got there I was looking for a way to show clients what I mean by FineArt Prints…..so I took played and edited in Adobe and created this photo

Pretty funky huh? Yeah, that was my goal. I wanted something different. I had NO idea what their response would be but they loved it and weren’t afraid to order it 16×16. It’s gonna look amazing in their home…..

…..ok – I digress – my point with their story is Mitch and Tracy are never afraid to do stuff that is a bit different. They ALWAYS end up printing the photos that they see their girls personalities in – forget the perfect smile….forget the perfect light…..the effect of those “perfections” fade over time, but personality captured? This is something you’ll NEVER tire of seeing on the wall.

Again I say, “Real life is Beautiful”

Then last night – another great family -Jessica and Steven Vasquez. They are new clients I met at Christmas magic and AGAIN I luck out…..as they’re going through their photos they’re seeing silly imperfections but looking right past them to the personality of their photos. You can see their proofs in my View Proof section and I encourage you to do so – they were TONS OF FUN and it shows.

……ok – so now it’s my turn. Remember about a month ago D took my family pictures? Well, last night after my rocking viewings I got home and decided to work on MY family Christmas Card and look through MY family photos! Suddenly I found myself having to take my own advice!

So – welcome to Micki as the client – I wanted to share this with you all so that next time you’re sitting in my studio and you hear me say “yeah – but I didn’t see that – I see the joy in the photo” you’ll know what I mean. And by the way – wow (and I can say that b/c I didn’t take them) THANKS for the amazing photos D. You are blessed and thanks for blessing me.

Ok – favorite photo #1

Everyone wants it right? That perfect photo of everyone looking right at the camera? Well, D got it for us and do you want to know what I saw? I didn’t like me. Now – after spending about 5 more seconds with it I saw my husbands NATURAL smile/laugh, my daughters resemblence to my Grandma Betty and my son’s peaceful nature….but me? I saw wrinkles…….

How many times have I sat in a viewing and heard women not like photos of themselves?!? We are terrible moms so let’s all give ourselves a break beacause honestly, this IS what I Look like now. My roots need to be done, 36 years of playing in the sun EVERY summer is taking it’s toll and I am a mom of 2. I am blessed and now that I look back at the photo again with less judgemental eyes I see my family…….we’re happy. We’re blessed.

favorite photo #2

Did ANYONE first think “wow….too bad you’re not looking at the camera”?
No – me either.

Favorite Photo #3

Ok – I know we as parents all think out children are beautiful but WOW I love this photo. Garrett wasn’t in the smiling posing mood that day so we got tons of photos of him like this- but (and here is the key)….this is the stage he’s in right now – in about a year I bet he’ll be in that “cheese” straight-across-the-face-smile stage (remember that stage?!?!?!) So – for now – THIS is him and I love love love it. We got maybe 2-3 smiling photos of him, the rest look like this and that’s ok!

Here is another GREAT example of “yep….this is their personalities right now!”

Favorite photo #4

Ah the plight of every mom….last year I lost a few extra lbs. so naturally when I first looked at this photo the first thing I saw is the fact that my thighs aren’t stick thin like Angelia Jolie. Go figure right? Seriously – look at my family!!! My husband is getting into the fun, Garrett is watching his sissy and in PURE heaven, mommy isn’t worried about……well……anything and Madelyn is being a kid. D captured it all!!! Moms, we NEVER look like we want to in photos…personally, I’d LOVE to look like Angelina in real life but it ain’t gonna happen! I could edit to try to “thin out” my legs, I could fix M’s hair out of her face and I could past Brad Pitts face ontop of Matt. None of which will I do why?

let’s say it in unison shall we?
REAL LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

OK – one last one just b/c it’s my ALL TIME favorite. I”m using the first favorite photo for our Christmas Cards this year because it’s what parents, grandparents and friends living far away will want to see. But for that updated photo over MY mantle in MY home? This is MY family, thanks D for capturing it and yes clients….I’m taking my own advice and printing that ONE PHOTO that I keep going back to time and time again and I don’t know why.

That’s it – thanks for letting me share a bit of myself and MY experience being the client trying to decide on orders this time of the year. I’ve been spending a lot of time with you all in my viewing room and to be honest, it was good for me to be on the “flip side” for a bit.

I hope this blog didn’t come off sounding vane or negative or preachy…..that was not my purpose. I guess I just wanted to let ya know that “I’ve been there” and also and I know that choosing your photos is many time easier said than done. I just wanted to share with you some of my inner thoughts as I look through photos of my family…..being that during viewings you all trust me enough to voice yours.

We all have the same issues so relax and enjoy real life! Thanks to the hundreds of you who “get it” when it comes to why I take photos like I do.

I obviously need to switch to decaf.

~Micki

These are the days that my job is so much fun….maybe it’s because I absolutely LOVE this little girl, maybe it’s because it was something different to shoot tonight, or maybe it was the memories of little girls all with little tummies all thinking they are the STAR of the show. Life is good.

…..first snow of the season!!!
It’s a kinda tradition with my daughter and I…the first time it snows we run outside and “race” to see who can catch the first snowflake on our tongue….this year she won.

So…the weather over the weekend wasn’t the best but we managed to get some great shots. Thanks for being such good sports!

The Erickson Family

The Franklin Family…..9 people & 5 dogs.

….and on a personal note…..
This couple holds a special place in my heart. Amy’s mom works with my husband and when she got engaged last year we met to talk wedding photos. We hit it off and I feel like I’ve known her my whole life. Amy was by far one my the nicest gals I’ve had as a bride, and her husband Isaac is a true gentleman. They got married and moved to Albuquerque and next month Isaac is being deployed overseas.

God Bless you both – Isaac, be safe…..

So….today is the biggest shopping day right? One of my best friends took off this morning at 4:30am to head to Walmart & Target, then Starbucks and off to Dallas they went!! Me? You couldn’t pay me to fight the crowds today!!! My mom is on her way over and we’re gonna put up the Christmas Tree, watch The Sound of Music (shut up….it’s tradition) and let the kids eat cookies for breakfast.

So….if you’re like me and avoiding the crowds and doing internet shopping this weekend I’d like to say “Thanks” for spending some time on my website!

Enter “Give Thanks” in the coupon code as you place any order between today (Friday) and Monday and you’ll get 20% off your entire order!
See……you CAN get some Christmas shopping done today!

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!
God Bless.
~Micki

I know it’s cliche, but I find myself doing the traditional Thanksgiving thing and stopping for a moment to realize that I have so much to be grateful for….but in an effort not to sound like a bad Hallmark greeting card let me just say a few things….

Most people get on my blog for 4 reasons….
1) You are a present client eagerly anticipating my “tease” before your proofs arrive online
2) You are a past client eagerly anticipating my new “freebie” opportunity
3) You are a blogstalker (it’s ok ….. I blog-stalk at least 10 others too)
or 4) You’re my mom

Having said that – I’m guessing that most who visit my blog somewhat know me. I’m not one for maintaining that “professional distance” with my clients and their families so many of you I probably greet with a hug, you know my dog Shelby or we’ve shared a Starbucks at one time or another. This is why I love & appreciate my clients so much. You allow me to do my job by trusting me, not only with your photos (that’s kinda obvious) but with a small glimpse into your lives.

I’ve said before that True Life is Beautiful. I believe that, and many times when I capture a stunning photograph I believe that it is not because I did something spectacular, but it is because you have allowed me to be a part and to witness something spectacular and I thank you for that. You share your lives with me, your styles, your idea of “fun”, your annoyances , and your interactions with your children.

It is only because you trust me that I have a job. Thank you for that.

God Bless & Happy Thanksgiving
Micki

I get asked a lot if I take pictures of people with their pets…..I’ve taken pix of people with dogs, cats, horses and fish….yes…fish (he was 3 and it was ADORABLE!) So I guess the simple answer is yes!

Thanks friends! It was fun…. more pix to come soon!