WARNING:  This post is all sorts of honest and full of venting. 

Can I just tell you what a relief this is going to be??  Getting completely caught up on sneak peeks so that after I drive back to St. Louis today, I can WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK.   I have a couple shoots over the next two weeks, but NOTHING like what the past year two years has been like for me.   I will actually have time to get caught up so I can actually start returning emails with, “oh why yes, your pictures are completely finished”  and not my stressed out, “Not yet, give me a couple more days!”  and then it’s like another week or so because something ALWAYS happens and something always keeps me from getting a gallery done on a date I said it would be ready.

I can NOT wait to change stuff around for next year.  New pricing, new scheduling, new shoot types, etc.  I want to be able to get galleries to clients in 2-3 weeks and not 5-6….sometimes 7, let’s be honest.   I want to be able to get CD’s and prints to clients right away.  I want to be able to return emails at a normal rate.  I want to be able to have some free time and not feel guilty about not working because I’m so behind.   There is just so much going one, so many people pulling me in so many different directions, so many special requests, things to get done and it’s all just piling up into mass chaos.   It’s all totally my fault though- I’m not good at telling people no.  I’ve gotten MUCH better over the past two months and that’s why I have these next few weeks open for editing and catching up.  Had I stayed on my “oh sure, I understand you forgot about getting pictures, I’ll squeeze you in!”  path…I would NOT have any editing time until after Christmas.   That would be horrible. 

So basically, I just don’t want to be running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  I know busy is good and I’m super grateful for it, but things are not running smoothly and I find myself getting more and more stressed and angry….so all though I want busy, being this busy is not working out.   I want to be more creative in my shoots and not so rushed.  People, you would NOT believe the ideas and things I want to do.  You would all shoot me for keeping them all piled up inside my brain and not actually putting them in action.  The only thing I can say is that I haven’t had the time that I need to plan and execute all those ideas and new approaches.  I WANT THAT TIME!!!  But here’s the thing…..people have to be willing to pay me to plan and execute those ideas….and I’m not talking about a $60 mini shoot or a $150 1-hour shoot.   I want to step up and quit letting people walk all over me and get away with more than what they’re paying me for.  I want to reward my AWESOME clients who value my work and continue to use me and be patient with me.  I want those clients to be the ones I use all my creative and extra effort on.   With so many photographers out there, you will always have those clients who go from photographer to photographer.  They will stay with a photographer until they raise their prices or their turn-around extends, then they’ll move on to a new photographer.  They just want cheap pictures.  I’m just fine not having those clients :-)   I’m not saying that I’ll get rid of my quick, less expensive shoot packages, I’m just saying that those are going to be approached in a different way.  I understand that sometimes you want some quick pictures and you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on them, so that’s why I’ll keep that little shoot type, but the guidelines for them are going to be tightened up.  

I’m so excited to change stuff around in a couple months.  I’ll get the clients that value me, the clients that I value.  I’ll have more time to be creative and not so standard.  I’m done being swamped, exhausted, rushed and feeling completely un-creative.  Things are changing :-)

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OK- so now that I’ve got all that off my chest, let’s get to some sneak peeks :-)  

First up is Miss Brynley and the Heeren Family.  Holy smokes, one of the happiest baby girls I’ve ever seen!!!    Both her and Benson were busting out all sorts of smiles for their Christmas Card pictures :-)

Vogt Family!   Ummm……it was just a tad bit cold out.   It was a lot of throwing on and off coats, running inside to warm up and bribing with Cheerios.  Kudos to the whole clan for trying anything and everything to get a picture of Jack & Eva together, but those two were NOT having it.   But we did get lots of other cute pictures.  I absolutely LOVE the pictures in the doorway.  My favorites :-)

Miss Addelyn came in for her Christmas Card shoot and as usual she had an assortment of pageant outfits.  It’s always fun to see what new outfits Tasha has for her :-)   It was HYSTERICAL when Addelyn started busting out all her pageant faces and waves.  She’s such a funny little girl! 

Next up is the Davis family.  Once again…..FREEZING and windy as all get out.   I always feel so bad, but it’s SO MUCH  better than going inside for pictures.  I just love outside pictures :-)   Everyone did awesome and I think I was the only one complaining about the wind, ha! 

The Fowler Family!  Once again, it was freezing, but this time we found a spot that blocked the wind a little bit more, so we were good!  This shoot was so easy.  Everyone smiled, no melt downs from the kiddos and no rain.  The whole day it looked like it was going to rain, so I would panic a little here an there.  This time of year, rescheduling shoot’s isn’t as easy.  They have to get done, rain or shine.  It’s typically for Christmas card or it’s a big family shoot that can not be rescheduled because it’s the one time throughout the whole year that the whole family is together.  So you can’t have your heart set on any one location or idea for pictures, because you could very well have to switch locations or sometimes even move inside.   So yes, I was very thankful that the rain held off :-)

Next up, Miss Kaelyn!  Is she not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen???  Her eyes just amaze me :-)   She was so happy for her shoot and we FLEW through it.  Her parents stopped by on their way out of town, so I think they were thrilled when she did so well and they could get back on the road.  AH- I can not stop looking at her pictures.  She’s such a little baby model :-)

Next up, the other Davis family :-)  The wind had finally started to die down and this point and the sun was actually coming out!!!!!  Thanks goodness for a little warmth :-)   I think it helped, because Dax did awesome for his shoot.  He’s gotten so tall, it kinda made me sad :-(   That’s the fun part about being a photographer, you get to watch babies, kids & families grow throughout the years.  Time really does fly by.  Such a cute, happy  family!

Oh where to even start with the Westhoff family…..I walked into the building where they were all waiting and I think my exact words were, “holy crap!”   I guess it can kinda give me an idea of what it’s like for strangers to walk into our family??    Kids EVERYWHERE…I Loved it :-)  I was so bummed that we didn’t get to do their shoot out at their farm like we had planned, but it was cold AND rainy, so we had to go inside.  It’s like what I was talking about earlier, it was one of those deals where you can’t reschedule the shoot because it would be a long time before everyone was together again.  Beth used her connections and had  friend who let us use the atrium of the Fine Arts Building at Truman.  Thank you very much to Lori Shook :-)    So although we didn’t get to do the farm, we still got a picture of all of them together, which is a battle all it’s own.  Can you imagine getting the timing right for that many people???  Kudos to the Westhoffs :-)  The kids were AMAZING and I still can’t get over how cooperative they were.   I was in shock :-) 

Next up is the Bison girls!  I’ve taken pictures of these girls every November for the past 3 years.  They just make me giggle every time :-)   I think they would make very good assistants for me some day, ha!  They love pictures, they love posing, they love looking at their pictures on my camera and they love hugging each other.  It’s adorable :-)

Oh, Mr. Reed.  You are TOO flipping cute!!!  I adore his frog hat, it’s perfect for him.  I LOVE the one of him giggling in the metal tub.  Just looking at it makes you laugh. 

Last but not least, we have Miss Violet and her 1-year shoot!!!  You are going to love her outfits, her hair, her piggys, her thighs, her little teeth, her big smile, her sparkly eyes (I’ve always loved Voilet’s sparkly eyes) and on and on.  She wasn’t super happy with us about half way through the shoot, so we took a mid- shoot snack break and she was a bit better, but still not super thrilled with us.  SO we moved on to the cupcake portion of the shoot and um………………..someone was all of a sudden absolutely giddy :-)  Oh she was SO funny with her cupcake.  She would stick her chubby little legs straight out, wiggle her toes, scrunch up her face and just get the biggest smile on her face while she squished the cupcakes with her fingers.  Babies make me laugh when they get sugar :-)

But I had to.  Ohhhhh I so did not want to, but I had photo shoots.   I was  e x h a u s t e d after shooting a wedding all day yesterday with Lindsay and then add in the gloomy/rainy/cold morning and that just does not make for a “jump up out of bed and get stuff done”  type of attitude :-)  Luckily all but one of my photo shoots were indoors for the most part, so I only had to freeze my tush off once, yayyyy! 

On a side note- I had a shoot at Forest Park this afternoon and we opted to use the World Fair Pavillion (along with every other photographer in the park) since it was covered and out of the rain.  I pull up in a parking spot and see that the car next to me had it’s front window shattered :-(   I asked everyone at the Pavillion if they drove a Nissan, but no one did.  So we did the photo shoot and one our way out, I saw a park ranger and I told him about it and he then informed me that they had THREE cars broken into….all at the Worlds Fair Pavillion.   Are you kidding me?!?!  Ugh- it just makes me SO flipping mad!  The car that I saw had a carseat in the back, which mad me even more angry.  Now these poor people are going to come back from their jog, with their baby and they are going to have to deal with a shattered window, their belongings gone and a cold/wet car.   It was FREEZING outside this afternoon.  I just felt so bad.  Fixing all that while trying to take care of and keep a baby warm??   It made my break-in experience look easy breezy!   

I’m not giving up on Forest Park though- I still love it.  It has so much to offer that people don’t even know about.  I feel like they just need to weed out all the creepy people who just sit in their cars in remote parts of the park.  You know those are the one’s doing it.  I’m sure it’s a whole system of phone calls between people sitting and watching & people smashing and grabbing.   Annoying.

Anyway- on a happier note- I have some sneak peeks for you!!   This first one is for a family that got in on the gorgeous weather we had last week along with the beautiful sunsets :-)

LOVE these

Sweet Baby Henry :-)

Nola wanted me to play with her the whole time. I think at one point she was actually trying to sit on me while I was laying on the ground taking pictures of Henry....but when it came time for her to get her picture taken, she refused to look at me :-)

oh Henry, you're just too cute and too happy :-)

Love peek-a-boo :-)

Funny girls!

I have to show this one, it's too funny. Miss Georgia has a lot of party tricks (I like to call anyone's talents "party tricks") and one of them is when she gives you "the eyes" and she does it on command. She wan't really looking at me this way, she just does it when you tell her to :-) Obviously Miss Charlotte found it funny as well!

Jack, Charlie & Max :-) I can't believe Max has gotten since our last shoot!!! He was just a little baby last time, awww!

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I’m off to Kirksville tomorrow for some shoots, family time and Thanksgiving :-)   I have an AWESOME wedding sneak peek to share with you within the next few days.  Seriously- the wedding we did yesterday has made my top 3 favorite weddings list.  Kelly & Eric were so fun :-)

I love it when I get to wear Argyle socks and drink my Peppermint Hot Chocolate….and I’m currently doing both :-)    I’ve got a LONG night of editing ahead of me, so I prefer to be as comfy as possible.   I have some super cute sneak peeks for you and included in that sneak peek is a newborn, yayyyy!!!!    Love my babies :-) 

Before I get to those, here is an update on my car situation……..my car is the devil.  It’s confirmed.  I really like my car, but that crazy thing has brought me nothing but bad luck, it’s time to get a new one!  I’m officially starting my research.  Any suggestions??  Right now, my rental is a 2011 Chevy Captiva.  I really like it, but I just don’t think it has enough cargo space for me and my little business.    My props require a bunch of space :-)

So anyway- how about some sneak peeks?!?!    My blog is being weird and isn’t letting me type anything at the end of the post, so enjoy the sneak peeks and I’ll be back sometime next week :-)  I have a wedding this Saturday and then it’s back to Kirksville for like a million shoots throughout the next week and THANKSGIVING!!!!!, so lots and lots of sneak peeks to come!    So excited to see my ENTIRE family!  :-) 

How cute are they?? Love new clients :-)

I just about died when I saw those puckered lips through my view finder :-)

ohhh Gavin, I missed you :-)

The picture on the right is one of my new favorites :-)

I can't not show this last picture. It's like he's screaming at me for letting his parents put him in this outfit :-) But he's just too cute, I had to let them do it!

We tried to get some pictures of Elia & Elise with both of them sitting in this white bucket with some white lights, to use for Christmas.....but it was NOT happening :-) Elia is only 16 months old, so it's a little hard to do the whole give/take thing with her and by that point Elise was just done anway. The pictures of Elia crack me up because she totally loved just sitting in there by herself and kicking her feet up :-)

Not joking.  Like full-on, need to be a rocket scientist to get it untangled type of knots.   Granted my hair was extra wavy/curly this morning….but still….knots???  I had done that “sock bun” thing that everyone keeps talking about on pinterest (how weird is it that I’ve had SEVEN people ask me to do it because my hair holds just about anything) and guess what???  It’s works just like they say :-)   I’ll probably start doing it more, but you have to shower the night before and sleep in the sock bun…and I’m more of a shower in the morning type of girl.  I would take a picture….but I just got done running through a tornado and it doesn’t look pretty.

In other news, I’ve been able to work a lot lately.  Still slightly stressed because of the amount of emails, but I’m making editing my priority.  So if you’ve emailed and you haven’t heard back from me, it’s probably because I’m editing the pictures your asking me about.  So just know that they’re coming and yes you’ll be able to order Christmas gifts.   There you go!  Consider that my massive “reply all” email :-) 

Do you know I have like a million and one things to talk about??  I have tons of posts lined up to do, but I can’t seem to do anything but sneak peeks.   I promise this blog will go back to being more fun when I get my edit pile down to a manageable level….because OBVIOUSLY nothing about my schedule is manageable right now :-)    

So guess what…………..SURPRISE!!!!  I have more sneak peeks for you :-)  Enjoy!!!!!!!!

If this isn't an honest "this is how Christmas card pictures really went" type of shot....then I don't know what is! This just screams (literally) Merry Christmas to me :-) ohhhh I love pictures like this, they make me giggle.

These two wanted some head shots!

Grace & Graham :-) and Grace is doing her "how big is Grace.....sooooo big!" pose, ha!

These two reminded me so much of Colton & Carolina. This is after we put goldfish on the bucket :-)

Sooooo, good guest blogger, eh?   I was so proud of her :-)  

Tonight- I’ve got a lot of babies and cute kiddo’s for you!   This past weeks shoots have been awesome.  My favorite shoot types!   I really need to go to bed, so I’m going to go with my whole “top 3 favorite things” approach again.   Enjoy :-)

And this last little one is just a tiny sneak peek for Tab :-)  I have the rest of their shoot tomorrow, so I’ll do a bigger sneak peek after that, but this was just too sweet not to post!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the look in her eyes