New Year, what's next?

I know I have had many creative titles as of late, but to introduce these projects, I really wanted to keep it simple.  I am very lucky that at least for now, I can let my business grow at its own pace.  I really am not pushing it just because I am not really sure what is happening toward the end of March.  It is all up in the air at this point.  For those that do not know, my Husband is getting out of the Army and frantically searching for an engineering job in his degree program.  We have until May to find a job, as he has 2 months of terminal leave, it is just pretty scary not knowing.   So here are some things from me for the new year:

•  In honor of my Valentine's Baby, who has her First Birthday this year, I am running a new special or offer each week until 2/12/11
• Pricing will be changing within the next couple of weeks (check out this weeks special)
• I will only be booking sessions through March 15, 2011 and only on location (your home, a studio I rent, or outdoor location) beginning on February 28, 2011
• I am also starting to create photography props, hats and cocoons.  I am having a lot of fun keeping my hands busy.  I may start to sell some that I have made, if any of my photographer friends are interested.
• If he gets a job offer here in Washington, I will be making an announcement and will start to market myself harder.  I really thank my fans.
• To continue to grow as a photographer, and because it has been a long time for me with a fixed camera and fixed lighting, I have joined 2 groups with a 52 week project.  I started one week behind, so here is my week 1:

For MCP Actions Project 52, the challenge this week was to Illustrate a song.  My song is Splish, Splash by Bobby Darin:

The next image is from Paint the Moon Photography, the challenge for this week is different angles from which you shoot a subject, or object.

 I promise they will not all be of Elise in the future.  I just could not help it.  I took so many more pictures of Riley because James was not around to see it all, This was the first time I took bath tub pics of Ellie.

You can see what others are doing at:
PTM Flickr 
MCP Flickr 
  Thanks for tuning in....

It is all about taking that next step...(Phoenix Family and Children's Photographer)

I was blessed to be able to travel to Phoenix, AZ this holiday season, and even more blessed to be able to work with some great families.  The day after our session, this family got some news about a family member being ill.  Please join me in keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.  This is a reminder to take each day, one step at a time:

My great hope is to laugh as much...(Graham Family Portrait Photographer

My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.

                                                                               Maya Angelou

     I have returned from vacation, but have found it difficult to get back into the swing of things.  I will talk more of our trip as I post pictures from those events and sessions done while down in Phoenix, but I wanted to post and share a session I had taken for a friend just before I left as a surprise Christmas present.  She has some really amazing children, with great personalities and well behaved and it was fun sneaking around.  She has seen the group pictures, as I finished those the same night as the session so she could view them on the Gallery on Christmas Day.  But, I finished and now have a preview of each of the kids also.  Yes, there are seven here, her oldest was missing and she has twins on the way!!!  I admire their family and hope to remain friends even if my family moves away from here.   Here are some of their beautiful children:

I couldn't wait for success...(Graham Newborn Photographer) Continued

So here is my first attempt at crocheting in almost 10 years.  I am pretty please with the outcome and will just have to pay more attention in the future to counting stitches, because the size 3-10 year hat I made for Riley, fits both me and James!  Riley loves it though, and even me, not having tried it in forever, finished the aviator hat in one afternoon.  I am really happy I found this option versus buying all my hats.  I love Gracie's Garden and Carissa, but I am really glad to be able to make my own products for my business.   Thanks Amanda from Secret Window Photography over in Spokane, and thanks to Speckled Frog Crochet. Here are some pictures of what I have completed, next up will be a Valentine Newsboy hat for Elise, and newborn twin elf hats for a session.  Thanks guys!

The Future Belongs to those....

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams"

                                                                           Eleanor Roosevelt

As children, we are often asked where you want to be in 10 years, or 5 years and it is seldom we take the opportunity to evaluate this assessment made in years past.  We choose a path and see where it leads, we take on challenges as they come.  Sometimes we are forced to reassess in order to accomplish what we would like, for example staying home with our children, starting our own business, or going back to school.  In the last three months, I have chosen all of the aforementioned examples and as yesterday was my Birthday, I truly asked myself where I want to be in five years.

I have always loved building relationships and engaging with children, but this love extends to that of animals, as well.  When I was 14 years old, I went to Sea World and there I saw a trainer playing peek-a-boo with a sea lion, and it was the most amazing thing ever, and there my dream was forged.  At first I wanted to be a trainer, but this is a challenging gig to get both physically and because there is a waiting list for the job.  So with this in mind, I looked into other ways I could be involved with all these magnificent creatures.  While I still have a few classes to finish up my BS in Bio-chemistry, I hope to be entering or already in Veterinary School within the next 5 years.  Don't worry, there is more and it is about Photography.

I have been doing portrait photography and much more in the photography business since I was 16 years old.  I am going to refrain from telling you how many years since you know I just had a Birthday.  Photography is a passion.  A way to capture beauty and life the way I see it.  The way to preserve moments, actions, light, and so much more.  And the opportunity to share this with others is invaluable.  In entering this business for myself, I have truly found an amazing network of professionals that love to help each other out.  I have been blessed to be able to start this business, and am excited to watch it grow throughout the years.

With that said, here is where I would like Milestone Memories to be in 5 years.  I would really like to be getting booked about 3 months in advance with 3 to 5 sessions per week.  I would love to be getting newborns on a consistent basis.  I have always had a talent for teaching, so I really would like to be doing things like posing guides, joining with others to conduct seminars.  I really hope to start attending them in the next couple of years.  I look forward to selling storyboard templates and cards that I have created.  I really want to learn how to make digital paper, like soon.  I also want to join in some of the groups that do Portraits for Heroes and be able to donate my time and talent.  I may even start branching out into the wedding industry and see how I like it before this to take it on full time in 2016!

Thanks to everyone for the amazing Birthday wishes, and thanks to Mom for my Birthday dinner, and thanks to Duke's Chowder House for the amazing food and beautiful ocean view!  I wish everyone Happy Holidays.  I have a surprise session on Monday and will not post any pics until after Christmas in order not to ruin that surprise.  Also, stay tuned for my first creation in over 10 years...a newborn elf hat...pics to come tomorrow!

I couldn't wait for success...(Graham Newborn Photographer)

"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it."

 By Jonathan Winters

I love looking for new quotes this is my new way of getting attention, hope it works.   I chose this quote because it is really fitting for my venture that I took on today. I am really proud to say that I am not going to wait for newborn sessions to come to me, nor am I going to stock pile hats and props made by others.  I am going to make them myself.  It is so cost effective and I am grateful there are those that sell their patterns so we amateurs can give it a try, move ahead while we have the time, and really add a personal touch to the images I create.  So, I now say...bring on the newborns, families, bellies, babies, and pets...I want to capture them all!

 A special thanks to the Speckled Frog Crochet http://www.offthehookphotoprops.com/ for offering their patterns, I can;t wait to start.  Elf hats for twin newborns are first on the list!

Sweet and Snap Happy

I am proud to share about this amazing talent that is selling this product.  You only need purchase one floor, their set of psd files and you have about 35 different styles of wood flooring in both directions (horizontal/vertical).  Definitely an investment I will be making in the future.  Go visit this review of Sugar Snappers floors and enter the contest:

http://www.propinsanity.com/sugar-snappers-get-floored/comment-page-1/#comment-21660