Music and Photography...it is all about the Art!

I have never done a photo shoot for a musician before but I have to say it was a lot of fun.  It is always interesting to collaborate with someone in order to take their vision and turn it into your own.  If you do that well, that image becomes not just a representation of two people but of two arts as well.  For now here is a little glimpse of Money P aka Fetti Vegas.  Check out his music on iTunes Oct. 8th and drop him a Tweet @FettiVegas.

My strength - my daughter

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and while I have heard many times of friends of friends that have cancer, it is really not until someone close to you is affected when you realize how precious life really is.  In January of 2010 our four year old daughter was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphomic Leukemia) after complaining that her legs hurt one Friday afternoon. 

While many of us have heard and know about other cancers, this one was especially heart wrenching, not just because of my daughter, but because it seems so wrong that children should have to fight this disease.  They should be looking forward to growing up and experiencing everything life has to offer, not inside of a hospital or worried about side effects.  But life is what it is and we get through it with love and support from everyone around us.

Our daughter is now five years old and while she will continue treatment for a couple more years, she is a happy, bright kindergarter.  I watch her courage and her strength and draw from it every day.  She is hope and beauty wrapped up in a tiny package.  I can only move forward one day at a time and keep all those children also fighting this battle in my thoughts and prayers.  They are my inspiration.

Fort Wayne Childrens' Zoo

I love going to the zoo!  I still get a thrill of seeing wild animals up close and personal no matter how old I am.  One of favorite things of Fort Wayne is its incredible childrens' zoo.  I have especially fallen in love with the new African Veldt.  Its glass exhibits allow you to get up close and personal with lions and hyenas.  There is something really special about seeing the lions pace right in front of you knowing that glass is the only thing between you.  I also like feeding the giraffes, or at least watching the kids feed the giraffes.  But nothing outshines the kids pleasure in seeing these things and playing in the fountains.  I hope I always they will never lose that ability to feel such joy at the simple things.  I want them to always see the world with such wonder and awe because it is those things that let you see so many wonderful things around you when you need to most.  And it lets me see those things all over again so that I remember as well.

I think the giraffe was expecting more food...

I know there is glass there but I couldn't help taking a step back as she came towards me.

Gary & Gretchen's Wedding

Ceremony: Granger Missionary Church - Granger, Indiana
Reception: Greencroft - Goshen, Indiana

I don't know what other people thinks makes a good party but I know I especially enjoy a wedding reception where the people there love to dance.  Add in some great music, great food and beautiful decorations, well it doesn't get much better.  A little different than other wedding I have shot, Gary and Gretchen had food stations with fruit, bread and fondue.  They even had a chocolate fountain!  Throw in some hot latin tunes and I danced around the reception as I took photographs.

Added to such a great party was one of the best ceremonies I have ever been to.  The bride's father precided over the ceremony so not only was it beautiful and touching, it showed a father truly giving his daughter away to her husband.  His humor and warmth carried the day. 

Fun, touching, and romantic, this wedding had it all in spades!

Mmmm...nothing like a red corvette!

This look so good, I think I need some chocolate just looking at them.

Eric & Autumn's Wedding

I do a lot of weddings each year, but some are a little extra special.  Eric and Autumn's wedding was one of these partly because of the great first dance they shared (a whole compilation set to a routine) but also because I have got to see Autumn's sister whose wedding I did last year and Autumn's cousin whose wedding I did a few years ago.  There is just something really special about getting to see those couples who shared such a beautiful day with you and catch up on their lives now.  It was  a lot of fun and I have to say the groom is one heck of a dancer!

Sometimes your portraits don't go quite the way you expect.  Children will especially dictate how a session will be.  This little charmer just wasn't in the mood to take pictures on this cool Saturday morning but with a little coaxing from mom and dad and the help of some apples, we got some cute shots anyway.  Children take a lot of patience but it is so worth it.  These moments are so precious and it is amazing to see the changes that come on so fast.  One of my favorite things is to showcase a growing child.  Check out the photos and the special collage showing Lila becoming an amazing little person.

I have always thought photos make a great Christmas gift, especially for those people who are so hard to shop for.  Who wouldn't love to receive photos of the people they love?  Plus, how amazing is it to look back at those photos and see how much the kids have grown!  Then again, perhaps it is a time to look at old photos and remember those that are not with us.  No matter what, this is a way of bringing the family closer and celebrating the ties that you don't always have time to appreciate. 

So every year I try to get a family picture of my family but taking a photo where the photographer is in the photo is so hard!  I can't make the adjustments I normally make for other people so I usually set everything up for my father-in-law and tell him, "Just keep pushing the button!" in hopes of getting a few good shots to work with.  In the end I love these photos because I love to see how the similarities and differences of my kids.

Meanwhile, I keep shooting whether is it my family or your.  Happy Holidays!