Loveographer

Please be patient...we are updating our website and changing a few things around!

It has been a few years since we have added new images etc,

and it is way past the time to update that!

Unfortunately, life gets busy with work and we get stuck in a rut of shooting shooting and more shooting and we just do not have all the time to sit and blog, add to the website and 

take care of work and family...

Working on two complete opposite sides of the USA doesn't help matters either :)

We already started with adding in our Commercial and Boudoir...

so we will be continuing to finish that this next few weeks!

Three weddings must be editted first!

Have a wonderful January

{Private Vineyard, Sonoma County pt 1}

On my most recent trip back to Cali, 

Jasen & I were invited to a lovely party thrown by the VP of his company.

We started out our day at the Garden Creek Winery

and ended it at Donna's home in Sonoma County...

Where we enjoyed friendly competition in a cook off of sorts :)

I was a judge....Jasen was part of the cooking team!

We had all our yummy food paired with lovely wine...ah sweet bliss.

After the competition, we had a delicious meal together outside under twinkling lights, enjoyed music and dancing...and a little guitar playing compliments of her wonderful husband!

They had such a beautiful piece of land, complete with a outside pizza oven/grill & private vineyard next to their home!  Donna sure knows how to throw a wonderful party & get everyone involved in the festivities! Her home was so warm and inviting.....

I want to share with you the images that were taken of the private vineyard....

THANK YOU Donna for your hospitality, and sharing your wonderful home with

 all of us for the evening! It was a perfect end to my last visit :)

{Life has been Crazy Beautiful}

I recently have returned from a wonderful trip to California...where I captured some amazing shots of some pretty beautiful scenery!  I can't wait to share it all with you :) Just getting caught up here with all the work I have and the new sessions I am capturing...I will be posting again real soon about life, love and happiness!

I have to say, I am very thankful for some amazing opportunities that have recently opened up for me...in life and businesss.  I can't believe all of this started with a little honest prayer!  Life is crazy beautiful!  You never know what is in store for you next, so you must always be ready :)  As most of you know, I have been on a new journey.  It takes me from the midwest, to the beautiful west coast!  So many possibilities and new adventures coming along the way.  I will now be adding California to my areas of shooting!  I will be posting more on it all shortly, but I will be shooting in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, California, and Florida during the year of 2011.  I am stoked!  My adventure in California was amazing, and I can't wait to get back out there!!! Enjoy this beautiful weather!  Thank you to everyone that has helped make my dreams possible!

{life around here...}

~We have been working like crazy on the web lately.  

~As promised there will be a special on our Senior Sessions, by the end of March.

~a new website for couples & weddings...should be live shortly

~we have changed things on the blog;  grab a cup of yummy coffee, sit back, relax 

and take a look around

~we are enjoying everything blueberry lately...coffee, tea, and jam!

~we have been getting our models together and ready for our 2012 seniors

~we are now part of a womens business group, and working together has been fantastic

~we are now offering advertisement off to the left hand side of our blog

~we will soon be shooting the winner of our GIVING IS AWESOME, can't wait....what beautiful soul she has, and such an amazing person

~our winner from our March Contest will have her shoot this Friday..stay tuned for the posting

~we will be adding some fun spring contests shortly....as promised

~Holly will be out sharing her Model Rep Cards next week...look her up at VHS

~we are now offering digital image files for our wedding services

~we are now part of a fantastic journey with a ob doctor, restaurant, salon, and beauty spa....

more details coming soon on all of that!

Have a beautiful weekend :)  Enjoy the company that you keep and spread the love!

{Hello & Happy Holidays}

I think I better start here with....

this has been one heck of a year.  

We have lost a number of people we loved to death.

My family and I have gone thru quite a bit the last 4 and a half months...

My dad suffered from not one but two major heart attacks this past year.

4 and a half months ago, I was out and about when I got the call to head to the 

hospital.  My father had driven himself from southern Indiana to Valparaiso

DURING a major heart attack!

By the way, he got in major trouble for that!

When my girls and I met up with him at the hospital, we had no clue what was about to happen.

We knew that he was having a heart attack.

I use to be a cardiac tech, so there was not denying what was really going on here.

They rushed him down that long hallway speeding along with us running behind.

It felt like we were in a movie, in slow motion...and not a good movie.

Next, after what seemed like eternity....we were told

We have put in some stints...come back and see your father.

I thought, well that was easy enough.  Just stints.

Nope not the case.

We got back there in that cold waiting room and found no dad.

Nurses running around, even nurses we had met on our journey down that long hallway.

Yet no one would make eye contact.  Not one person.

As I sat there with my grandma, I got this pit in my stomach that said something else is going on here

and no one is letting us in on this.

We continued to sit for about 15 minutes later when finally the Dr. appeared.

I will never forget the words that came out of his mouth...

like never :(

"Your father has suffered a major heart attack.  His entire heart is damaged.  He desperately needed open heart surgery.  We have a pump that is pumping his heart for him right now. "

Followed by, he heart is too weak to make it thru the surgery.  He needs to go home with you and mend for 6 to 8 weeks.  If the heart surgery doesn't work...he will need a heart transplant.

WHAT?  You have got to be kidding me!

My dad who came to see us the day before all of this happenend.

The guy who works on his feet every day and is physically fit.

The one who has NEVER been sick or hospitalized..

is now very ill....

The words cut me like a knife.  I could hardly breathe.  We had lost so many people over the year.  My kids had lost not one but both of their grandparents on their fathers side.

THIS COULD NOT BE HAPPENING.

I prayed for what seemed like eternity.

I knew that this was all in God's hands, and his alone.

It was the very worst area to have blockage.

There was no out.

It would be what it was meant to be.....

Today, I am thankful that my father has just graduated from rehab.

He has a second chance at life.

So do we.

It was the hardest thing for me to do to take 3 and a half months off work to take care of my dad.

I had to cancel so many appointments, and everyone of you were so supportive.

I can't thank you enough!

I felt terrible. I felt like a weak person to not be able to do it all.

But I just couldn't. 

He had to have round the clock care.

It was a very emotional, depressing time for him and us.

I want to say thank you for standing by my side.

Thanks for being supportive and for all the wonderful emails I did get..

they definately helped me thru a very hard time.

I was luck enough to continue to meet with brides and grooms and to 

book weddings during the evening hours when my oldest daughter took 

care of her papa.

I was even luckier to be able to fit some sessions in for the Holidays once dad 

was in rehab and doing alot better!

2011 is going to be wonderful!

We have a few new products that we will be offering at a very great price!

Our Holiday is complete this year as we get to celebrate with all of you and my father...

a new journey on life!

As January nears...we will be taking sessions once again.

We will be having specials as well, to celebrate LIFE.

Stay tuned, we will be posting some new products up here that we are in LOVE with!

Pretty sure you will be in love with them too :)

Happy Holidays

Sincerely, Karma and the crew

{Tying up the holiday ends}

It is coming to the end of this hectic season here at the boutique...

THANKFUL

for a wonderful Holiday Season and many thanks to all who made it another 

successful year!

The last orders were shipped from the lab TODAY!

We should have them FRIDAY...

and delivered to YOU (all of you who ordered in the last week!)

by either SATURDAY OR MONDAY!!!  yeah!!!!!!

I went to a LIA SOPIA party last night...I LOVE me some Lia Sopia!

I met one of the best jewelry advisors EVER!

Hands down!

I have been grabbing yummy jewelry from them for years to wear to Weddings, 

Portrait Sessions, etc.

I ALWAYs  have LOVED how well it all wears and looks!

I was truly impressed with her! Like Really!

She had SOOO many pieces to share

and a great personality!

I will post information on how to get ahold of her on my blog when it gets closer to my party!

She is FABULOUS to her hostesses!

I will be presented with this BEAUTIFUL FUN chunky necklace at my party...

just for having a party for her!

I get the best month of all BUY ONE at regular get TWO at half off!

Of course we have to spice it up and have a theme!

MARGARITA PARTY!

Enjoy the holidays this week :)

{TWLOHA}

Today, we participated in a very important day.

It was something very dear and close to our hearts.

TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS.

It is important to know that depression and suicide is not racial, it does not discriminate, and it has no prejudices...it affects everyone.

Take a little time out, to show support for someone in need.

{Happy Birthday to my little firefly}

We spent the weekend with family and friends.

It was the first in a long time.

Started it out with the ham and turkey dinner at my old school :)

Took my oldest daughter down the old hallways...

she found all of our pictures,

gma, gpa, my mom, and me!

Gave me the best compliment in the world....

"Mom, you were really beautiful...you haven't changed a bit!"

"How do you still look the same as in high school?"

I beamed with pride, but was red in the face as she spoke this in front of a lot of folks who 

were roaming the halls as well looking for loved ones pics from Senior Class!

As we walked down the halls and found everyone else...

she exclaimed..."these hallways remind me of hogwarts!"

I just about died of laughing!

We finished up a lovely weekend with my youngest daughter in the 

celebration of her birthday!

Before the party, we headed on over to Wal-mart to grab her cake.

I placed the cake under the cart so as it wouldn't get smooshed.

Before I could say anything,

she took off flying through the parking lot towards our car with the cart.

I did what any good mother would do and ran after her!

However, I have lost my voice to a degree...SO I couldn't scream

and tell her the CAKE WAS UNDER THE CART.

All of a sudden, the cake came flying out from under the cart, through her legs and landed smack dab in the middle of the lane we were in and landed right the following traffic!

Unbelievable!

She left the cart, turned around and ran for the cake.

We found it unharmed and beautiful as ever....

as the party got started,  my gma said she would lift the cake so I could get a pic of it.

Thank God gpa grabbed it.....as it slid off the backing and was headed straight for the floor!

Talk about a get away cake!

After all that cake had been through earlier....and now we almost lost it again!

SO, it was a delightful weekend.  And a much needed family/friend fellowship!

Now back to work ;)

It has been a productive morning...

Just sent in Three more Christmas orders to the lab

Woo Hoo!  

{little photo assistant}

I have a new assistant!

He is just as cute as he can be :)

When we were done with our session, he grabbed my camera bag and pushed it backwards all the way to my car...on his own!

aren't kids just so delightful?!  They just think and then do.

They see everything for what it truly is.

I feel blessed each and every day!

{ahh....Fall}

Sitting here thinking of how very DARK it is and yet

the night is so young :(

Lots to do on my to do list this weekend.

*Edit images

*Carve pumpkins

*Make pumpkin goodies

*Make Halloween Cards

*Take our Family Portrait :)

*Go to a party

*Volunteer at the Haunted Hay Ride

*Visit the Michigan Apple Orchard....

oops, almost forgot...get crafting on all the fun stuff we are making for the Christmas Craft Fair in Kouts, Indiana!

LOTS to do...yet so few hours of the day to get them all done in!

Please DO NOT FORGET to nominate someone for our give away this Holiday Season!

It truly means alot to us, and we want some to enjoy this opportunity!

You know some one I am sure of it!

Check out our Giving is Awesome blog post here on the blog for more details and nominate someone today!

Have a wonderful weekend!  Enjoy this last bit of warm weather we will be getting with loved ones :)

{Chinese Fortune}

The first step in making dreams come true is to wake up!

{It's been crazy around here}

We have been so busy around here, it has been crazy!

I have nothing to post today in the way of images :(  

I hate to disappoint, but things just get to hectic in the summer!

We will be out of the office 

Friday July 30 thru Sunday Aug 1

The latest wedding capture I was participating in was simply blissful...

I don't even know where to begin.

We arrived on what was suppose to be a day full of rain,

but not one drop came from the sky.

Usually the church/cathedral is so darn humid and hot,

we can't even breathe while running around shooting these special events...

yet the air conditioning was blasting and I was 

cool even with my jacket on!

There is something different in the air..

something calm.

The bride arrives,

they tuck her away into the priest office

and I arrive to start capture.

They ask her if she needs her privacy,

she says no.

She is beautiful in every way, this tiny young woman.

She isn't uptight,

shows no signs of bridezilla,

doesn't loose her temper one time...

and we are running close to time,

yet she just slowly, yet meticulously 

starts to put on her beautiful gown.

Her mother helps her as her bridesmaid assist with what she needs.

Still calm, cool,  and collected;  she glances at herself softly in the mirror.

Mom applies lip gloss to her lips gently,

and we are ready.

Ready to capture this beautiful moment.

Ready for a new life journey for these two loving people.

Ready to learn about true love...even from a younger couple.

Ready for our hearts to be filled with much joy.

Today is a very special day.

Our bride is young and beautiful...around 24 to be exact.

She has over come Cancer...

her groom is waiting patiently for her at the altar.

They are ready to start their lives together, 

after putting this sacred day off for one year while she had a battle to wage...

As she made her way down to that altar,

I felt this lump swell up in my throat.

I had to hold back the tears, and attend to my job...

assisting in capturing these beautiful glorious moments

for these two young people who knew

more than most what true love was all about.

I thank God for the opportunity to have been part of this day.

I thank God for the miracle he worked in our bride.

I was reminded today,

just how precious life truly was.

I saw true love.

It made me thankful for each and every person God has lent me.

This bride and groom 

renewed my hope, my faith, my love.

It's not every day we have these experiences.

But when we are able to catch a glimpse of love like this,

I believe it is one we can learn a lot from!

{sunset and friends}

{closed, yet again till 6/18/10 due to an untimely death}

This month is proving to be a bit trying.

We were getting ready to head to Indy for a bit of relaxation (mini vaca for the kiddos)

and a business adventure for myself,

when we got the devastating  call...

My mom's young cousin had passed away!

Talk about disbelief...

She was in her early 60's, routine surgery...which by the way she had on Friday afternoon

and by Sunday morning, she was in Heaven with God's angels....

It truly seems like we are in some horrific dream bubble, 

where our reality just keeps getting sideswiped!

One thing for sure, 

life does not stop when we think we ourselves need a little break..

it just keeps going on with or without us standing beside it.

Nancy was an angel...

A fantastic woman with a heart of gold and a smile permanently on her face!

We grew up right across the street from Nancy in our little hometown of Kouts.

She was a blessing to everyone she knew...

and a very dear friend to my Grandmother and mom.

Always stopping by to see little Richard and helping with this and that on the computer when they 

would get caught up on some virus etc.

She would stop by after work just to say hey...

how blessed we all felt that our grandparents had her.

She was more than a niece, more like a daughter and more than a friend.

It all seems so crazy and hectic in our lives right now.

I apologize for our absent from our business yet another week...

but right now it is most important for my children and I too be with family and friends.

I thank you for your loving support, prayers and good thoughts sent our way.

God Bless xo

{not work, but a whole lot of WORK}

This past weekend, we celebrated Memorial Day in honor

of all the military men and women who put their lives on the line for 

our own lives.  

They are truly amazing people and they need to be told that each and every day, not just one day a year...but it is nice that we have a special holiday

designed just for them!

We were able to have the weekend "off"

but it wasn't without work!

We worked on the patio area in the backyard.

It truly needed a lot of tlc.

We live on clay, so it is hard to get things growing...we hauled in a lot of black dirt for this project!

After starting a filling up the pond...we realized that it was not level :(  We had to remove and dig some more!

We set out the plants in the areas we were thinking we would like them to be placed.

And the finished projects....I LOVE the beach, so we added beach grass in 2 varieties around the patio!  I feel in a very zen sort of place now!  We sat out here Sunday night and listened to jazz music by the fire!  The lights at night make it look so darn pretty!

another angle....

We planted herbs around the pond and in the planter boxes.  We have  sage, 2 varieties of thyme, cilantro, dill, chives, 2 varieties of basil, rosemary in the boxes and lemon balm (great for tea) apple mint and pineapple mint around the pond with lavender.....which I love the smell of!


By the way, Scott aka Jack of  many trades, is for hire.  He is wanting to get his license in Gardening now!  He is a photographer as well as a landscaper....something he picked up a few years ago and is in LOVE with.  I think the whole artistic side of him really helps with the vision of gardens etc.  Not to mention, he honestly is a very hard working man and doesn't mind getting his hands dirty!  Hmmm, maybe a new business adventure is in the future....

 

I clearly could not of done this alone...Scott did all the digging!

I prepared the ground a few weeks before with my youngest daughter.  

There was a large mound of dirt (clay) to the left of this picture area that 

we dug out and flattened. 

It took us 7.5 hours to do that and clean out the pond from the winter mess it created.

I suppose I could of done all this with the kiddos, they are great helpers!

We would however still be working on in!

So happy it is finished....well almost.  We still have to edge it, but that will be later on this week or next!

It took almost 15 hours to dig, plant, and mulch...we had 2 small trips to get more mulch in there as well.

(we are only 5 min from Home Depot...it isn't like a long trip!)

I also took time this week to design a new template for images.

It is meant for a larger wall portrait.

I will share it later this week :)

It is still getting some tweaking!

{posting images}

Had to do a little adjustment on the color "green"  I like it this color green way better and it matches the blog quite well!  So there you have it, I found and figured out the new posting for images!

{silly kinda day}

This is just a silly kinda day!

As most of you know, I am working on the daunting task of building a new website...

Although we are always happy with the end result, they take a whole lot of time and patience and then some more time and patience :) 

it all started with...

14 plus hrs of editing and posting, reposting and correcting

about 5 hrs into it, I get a visit from my gpa 

he asks if I have a min, I say yes, he decides he needs more like 45 min :)

I was in a groove, then lost it did some dishes and dove back in

kids come home, make dinner

turn on VAMPIRE DIARIES (love love love that show)

and start answering emails, returning calls to clients, call prospective Brides

I feel swamped, tired, and I am slowly loosing steam lol

I start again with the whole editing and posting

Somewhere around 2 am I crash 

Exhausted....the 6 am  bell rings waking only me up, 

not those little kiddos that NEED to be up and getting ready for the big day!

I stumble downstairs, open all the windows and blinds and let the beautiful fresh air

blow in

turn on my computer to start yet another day of editing

and walk over to my lovely Keurig  to make a delicious

Skinny Vanilla Latte

Beautiful way to start my day and wake me up

don't ya  think?!

I check on the kiddos, go back to grab what I thought would be

a cup of coffee....and find how brewed water!

I immediately think, hmmm that was a rip off!

I am going to take that K-cup right back to BED BATH AND BEYOND!

I open the Keurig to inspect my K-cup

and find NOTHING!

how did I forget to put the coffee in?

:)  I had to start giggling to myself, and my kids thought I 

was loosing my mind!

Just one of those silly kinda days!

I have to work a venue tonight as well....

maybe it is time for a nap!

Enjoy your day!

{website}

Spring is one of the most blissful, rejuvenating times of the year....

and one of the hardest times to schedule appointments :)

I love rainy images and umbrellas to boot....but when it is rainy and windy...it causes some huge friction with our camera equipment!  So there has been lots of rescheduling going on!

While we sit and um, enjoy this rainy season

we are working on our new website that will feature WEDDING/COUPLE

and we are getting very excited about it!  

Having a few more glitches and bugs that have to be worked out...

things we have no control over on our end ;)

So in the mean time, we have updated and are continuing to update our current website!

Above is a sneak peak at the intro...

I am going to go back to editing images, enjoy a glass of chilled black cherry wine and watch Free Willy (the Bendi version) with the kiddos...so run on out of here and enjoy a little escape with your lovies too!

until next time :)

{life is good}

Life is Good

Putting some finishing touches on the business ad materials and 

getting ready to deliver them around town!

My grandparents have made it home safe and sound 

My kids are doing beautifully

My life is blessed

I can't ask for more!

thinking about a spring special :)

God bless,

loveographer

*sorry things are slow here on the blog.  Between sessions, editing, client orders and family...I just have not had all the extra time to upload images after uploading them to private online galleries!  :)

I do send my love out to all of you and hope you understand and accept my little {issue} at hand.

It is great to be busy, but it forces me to make choices that sometimes I do not want to make!

Hopefully, I can get back to blogging and adding images soon again....thanks for your patience!

{got me thinking}

What kind of results are you getting in your life? Are you preparing for a powerful work of God? He is extremely creative, friends!! Get into the habit of "throwing off everything that hinders" 

His power in your life.

Hmmm.  This is what one of my fellow blog world friends had posted online a few days back.  It got me thinking.

and thinking.

and thinking some more!