I had the pleasure of meeting sweet Erin Cobb last week.  She has been such an inspiration to me as I began building my business and at the risk of sounding dramatic, she is a big reason why I am blessed to be where I am today.  Do you ever feel like somehow things are so connected its hard to get your head around how it all worked out!? That’s how I feel about how lucky I am to have the greatest job in the world..  It all started about 3 years ago..

Jackson was a newborn and I had started snapping crazy amounts of photographs of him.  I didn’t want to miss anything.  I didn’t want to forget anything. I knew with every passing day he was one day older, one day bigger, one day away from this newborn little precious miracle I loved more then myself from the second I knew he was going to be my son.  I knew in a blink he was going to be graduating! Although photography had always been a passion of mine, I never had any ‘formal’ training.  I played with my camera, tried different things, tried to figure out but mostly didn’t really know what I was doing.  When I was getting married, I did a lot of research on ‘The Knot.’  I was kicked over to ‘The Nest,’ after I had Jackson and there were some women there that were in my exact same position! They loved taking photographs of their children and they were learning about their cameras and how to get the photographs we’d all fallen in love with online from other great photographers.  Those women started a message board and before I knew it we had so many members who enjoyed the love of photography and many of them had young kids at home so it was an instant bond!  It was there that I became to ‘know’ Lyndsay.  We have never met, and I’m not sure she will ever know how grateful I am for her gifts she doesn’t even know she’s given me, but I know. And I am forever in debt to her.

She made a post one day about a friend of hers, Erin Cobb, whose daughter was in the running for the Gap Casting Call.  Sarah (Pigbear as she is nicknamed!) needed votes to win so Lyndsay posted the link to Erin’s blog and of course on Erin’s blog you could click to vote for Sarah!  It was that day that I added Erin to my favorites and have been following her ever since.  I started reading about her and her adorable little family and I felt like if she lived near me, we’d totally hang out!  That’s the amazing thing about blogs, isn’t it?  We feel connected and friendships for people that we may really have never met – how incredible.   It was about that time that Rick and I began seriously considering photography as a business.  I had been doing a lot of thinking and a lot of praying about it.  I had just finished my Masters in Elementary Education and received my license to teach, but Jackson was a newborn and I was nannying at the time.  I needed to work but with the great family I worked for, he could come with me and I could still work and watch him grow up – again, a huge blessing.  Should I go back to teaching just because I could? Should I try to start a business following my passion? Who knew which was the ‘right’ answer?  We discussed it, a lot.

One night after Jackson went to bed I was reading Erin’s blog and she had posted about her friend Wendy Schulz.  Wendy had mentored Erin and took her under her wing to teach her about her photography and help her grow into what she wanted to be.  After I read Erin’s post, I immediately went to Wendy’s blog and saw that she started offering an online workshop – to do the same thing!  SOLD.  I talked it over with Rick and we decide this was it.  Let’s give this a shot.

So I signed up for Wendy’s class and without a doubt, SHE is the reason I am where I am.  She gave me challenges and feedback that has taught me about myself, about my camera, about my craft.  She is amazing. She is inspiring, and boy is she hysterical!  I have since sent Wendy a few of my friends and even my cousin Jake took her online course.  I’m sure her waiting list is long, but if you want to know about photography from one of the greatest teachers, SIGN UP. You won’t regret it.

So lets recap.  Lyndsay ‘introduced’ me to Erin. Erin ‘introduced’ me to Wendy, and Wendy is what gave my business the foundation  to become a business.  Well, this past week Erin was visiting her friends in Boston and asked if any Bostonians would like to come out to get together — It was about a second of  before I responded – ME ME ME! Remember, we were friends in my head already! Ha..

So luckily, Rick was sweet enough to come home after a long day of work and let me take off to Starbucks to meet Erin, finally!  In typical Boston fashion, there was traffic so of course I was late but nevertheless, I made it and guess what…  She was JUST as sweet, if not more, in person!  Just like I knew she would be!  She jumped right up and gave me a hug and we all started laughing right away – like we were all old friends.  Just the way it should be with someone who has helped shape your life, right!?

Ellen and Diana are from Boston and also follow Erin’s blog so it was nice to make new friends too -  Samantha and Erin have been friends for a long time and the 5 of us had a great visit together just chatting it up!  The time passed too quickly of course, but hopefully the next visit Erin makes to Boston we’ll have some more time to catch up!

Totally ‘borrowed’ from Erin — You can see her thoughts from our meet up here:

(l->r) Ellen - Erin - Diana -Yours Truly - Samantha!

So Lyndsay, Thank you for posting Erin’s link.  Erin thank you for posting Wendy’s link and Wendy, thank you for making me jump when I wasn’t sure their was a net under me.  Turns out I didn’t need it anyways thanks to you.. For that, for all of you, I am grateful

We are grateful.

Much love.

Thankfully,

My heart is breaking right now for the sweetest family.  Remember this family:

The cutest, happiest, most delightful family.  I just spoke with another favorite client (friend), Erin, who informed me that sweet Charlotte has just been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia..

On a positive note, we are blessed to live 30 minutes from some of the best hospitals in the world here in Boston.  Charlotte is in Boston now beginning her treatments and will hopefully begin the road to recovery.    For those of you who are the praying type, please keep her and her family in your prayers.  Her sweet spirit, her precious smile, and her adorable heart needs it.

If you’d like to keep up on Charlotte’s progress you can follow here her:

Charlotte’s Caring Bridge Page

Charlotte – I’ll be looking forward to our next tea-party!  Get better love! xxoo

Ted and Constance.  Our love and prayers are with you and your family.  We will be here to lift you up and help you through this difficult time and see you onto the sunshine. Please know we are surrounding you in love and light…  We will be wishing on stars for you…

**And to my photographer friends – THIS is why keeping all your photos from sessions is important.  This session now has an entirely new meaning and I will for sure be going back through the images I didn’t show to see what is there.  Another reminder why I am honored to do what I do and feel blessed to share the gift of memories and moments…

Much Love, Many Prayers and lots of Hugs.

xxoo

Whoa. two weeks in a row – Crazy, right!  I know.

Here we go….

1. Two new favorite apps for my iphone– Shakeit. I mean who doesn’t like the old Polaroid pictures!  Jackson likes it too – one of his favorite new apps as well.  Second favorite is Losit. Best part is it’s free!  Check it out..

2. Nothing says Happy Anniversary like a gym membership, yeah?!  I am finally not pregnant – or recently had any kids – so theres no excuse.  (Yes, those were my excuses!) I reactivated our gym membership for our anniversary so we can get our butts in gear and get back in shape. I don’t worry so much about numbers, it’s not my style.  I worry more about how I’m feeling.  I’m happy to report the last two days were the first two days back and I hit the ground running. Literally.  I ran 2 miles the first day and 3 miles yesterday.  I couldn’t have done it without Pandora - Another reason I love my iphone. It’s made the gym WAY better.  Besides feeling a bit sore, I actually feel really good- and dare I say loved the gym? Yes, crazy. I know. Hopefully it stays this way!

3.  I am so behind I cant even believe I’m admitting it, I haven’t even imported my Christmas morning photos. ::GASP:: Seriously.  There is something wrong with me.   How do you keep up with all your photos? Photogs — How do you keep up with your personal photos as much as your business? Besides giving up sleep all together?!

4. Since adapting a new work system I am finding I’m getting  a lot more done and its really productive.  If you’re finding it difficult to balance work and family time I really recommend blocking time for both and only focusing on one.  Its crazy how much it changes things.  And why did I wait so long!

5.   Super excited about some amazing opportunities for work I’ll be participating in over the next few weeks.  I’ll be sure to report back on them and I’m just finalizing which ones I’m definitely attending – more on this soon.

6.  Molly is finally a walker.  Although she took steps a few months ago, shes wobbled around and had a little bit of a tough time with her hips.. Just in the last few days she has really taken to walking 80% of the time!  I’m so proud of her every time she falls she gets right back up and keeps going.  There is something so cute about their wobbley (yes I made that up) walking! Way to go big girl!

7.  Flip video.  LOVE IT.  The other anniversary gift for both personal and business uses but man, it is awesome!  I’m still trying to figure out how to get on my blog but once I do, I’ll be adding some clips.

8. I’d just like to report how much I still love my Grocery-go-getter.  My Loser Cruiser.  As my brother said ‘The Uterus Mobile.” I am taking care of our friends sweet baby girl two days a week and fitting the two Crazies in plus her is a piece of cake.  For as uncool as it makes this 30 year old look, I’m fine with it. I love it. I’m totally cool with it.

9. Jackson has discovered Trader Joe’s mini peanut butter cups.  His new favorite dessert when he eats his dinner.  He tries to tell us since they are little he can have more.  What can I say, that’s how I justify it too.  Although my personal favorite, dark chocolate covered blueberries.  Hey, I started the gym again – don’t hate!

10.  Faces from Haiti. Have you seen this?  It made my heart hurt to look at.  It made it hard for me to breath for these people.  I felt so broken. The thing that always strikes me when terrible disasters  like this happen are the big numbers. When they say thousands of people have died somehow it is just a number.  But looking at these powerful photographs it reminds us that each person in those thousands that have died had a story. Had a family. Had friends. Had a heart.  I think about how devistating it is to lose someone you love and care for and then I think about these hundreds of people that have been lost and how you even go on after losing so many people you loved at once.  It’s really hard for me to get my head around.  At any rate, if we can keep Haiti on our minds I just hope they get the help and aid they need months from now.  That is when they are going to need it most. …… Whoa, heavy.  Sorry about that.

So, there it is! 10 on Tuesday again!  I was hoping to get some pictures up but this naptime is running short!

Thanks for checking in!

Much Love,

I sit here tonight listening to the giggles of my 3.5 year old little man and his amazing daddy coming from a bedroom where that little man is supposed to be LONG asleep.  I sit here tonight remembering the face of the Ladybug as she wobbley (yes I made up that word!) walked her way across the room and giggled her face into her daddys chest.  I sit here tonight writing drafts of blog posts that will be coming of the changes we are making to our business together. I sit her tonight grateful for an amazing husband, father, best friend, business partner, supporter, giver.  How I got so lucky, I don’t know, but I do know I am grateful and give thanks every day I am alive. And just so I don’t forget, a few favorite moments and quotes from the day…
Jackson says to Rick as soon as they are awake this morning “Dad, why don’t girls and Mommy’s think toot toots are funny? Only boys do?”

Molly sat under the table picking up toys at Rick’s feet and whispered, “Da-da” while she handed him toys she isn’t supposed to play with.

Jackson sat on the couch after his bath and said “But Dad, my eye aren’t getting heavy yet, can we just watch another show?”

Molly climbed on our bed and did ‘the worm’ all the way to the end where Rick was blocking her and she just cracked up laughing on his face.

Jackson and Molly were in the bath and the two of them were belly laughing as they splashed as much as they could (while I was having a fit internally because water was OUT OF CONTROL!) Rick just joined their giggles and encouraged it like a awesome Daddy!

Jackson asked if he could sit between us tonight and said “Mom, Dad, I love our whole family…”

We love you and Molly too, Jackson David.

What’s a post without  a picture… One of the ladybug from a playdate the other day.. (taken with Heathers new Canon Rebel!! – Totally stole this off her facebook! Thanks Girl!)

What Mom? You don't want me to climb on the table!?...

No, you’re not seeing things, this is actually a new blog post.  Crazy I know.  This poor neglected blog has been suffering so much over the last few (read:  6-8!!!) months.  The good news is that I’m here now and there are lots and lots of things coming.. Business changes, personal changes. Good Stuff. But before we get to all that, let’s just get to the 10 on tuesday…

1.  This is day one of our new business approach.  Thanks to Dane Sanders, we have adopted a new motto — All in business or All in family.  As a wife and Mom and a small business owner, there is a constant battle between the two.  When I’m with the kids I feel like I should be doing some sort of work, but when I’m working I feel like I need to be with the kids.  (Other Mom photographers feel my pain, yes?!)  But after watching The [b] School Study Hall with Becker and Dane Sanders there was a moment of clarity.  I asked Dane about balancing his wonderful family (of a great wife and 4 great kids!) and his very successful business.  He told us he doesnt believe in balancing but rather out of balance.  He goes ‘all in business’ or ‘all in family.’  In order to make wide awake decisions in both business and family he allows one or the other to ’suffer’ a day or two while he nurtures the other.  Brilliant.  It’s like someone slapped me or gave me a breath of fresh air.   So, we have adopted Dane’s work style.  (**Sidenote; Super excited to meet up with Dane and other Fast Track Photographers at his Boston Workshop – Check it out if you haven’t already!) So, here we are, day one of ‘all in business’ and I cannot tell you how awesome it is.  (I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dying to know what the kids are doing with Rick every second (thank God for texts!) or that I don’t want to run home and smooch their faces. But the business decisions I’m making are amazing. Clear and awake. This is the start of a super awesome wonderful thing.)

2.  Lots of changes on the horizon.  Business is up first.  Website, blog, promotions, etc. So keep an eye out.  It’s going to be good.

3.  I just bought Things to help organize the chaos of home and work.  I read about it here but had been debating it for the last few weeks. Sweet Chenin convinced me to do it.  I’ll report back with my opinions.

4.  Does anyone know if there is a way to post videos from my iphone onto the blog? or I should say the easiest way? An App maybe?

5.  Two more days until Rick and I celebrate our anniversary.  Excited to celebrate. I love celebrating holidays/special occasions. Weee..

6. I have so many things backlogged that I need to blog.  Both business and personal I hope once new business changes are made to get some of them up. For real.  I might even get my friend Heather her pictures from last Summer’s vacation. If she’s lucky.(The only downside to being friends with a photographer. It takes forever to get snapshots.. ha!)

7.  I love shooting digital. There are so many great things about it. Its still pretty amazing to think about.  BUT there is something to be said for printed photos. You know, like the whole roll of 24 or 36 images that you had to pay for and maybe 10 were worth saving?  I loved the ones that weren’t perfect.  I wonder what our kids are going to do when all they have are the ‘good ones’ when they grow up.  I need to make a point of printing more photos.  My poor kids will only be able to plug in a hard drive to see their childhood.  I want them to have the actual prints. I want actual prints. (fellow photogs, how do you keep up with printing your own family images? where do you put them?)

8.  It’s been snowing for the past few days. I generally don’t mind so much but this snow is terrible.  It’s wet, heavy and slushy.  It is no fun to shovel. Ew.

9.  Cannot even being to express how excited I am that Jack Bauer is back in action.  Totally 100% over the top but I love it.  Jack saves the day 12098987 times in 24 short hours. And he rocks a man purse.

10.  Shout out to my awesome husband.  Since he’s been home for a while he has been such a rockstar at joining forces and taking on our daily stuff.  Laundry, picking up, playing with the monkeys while I work! We are usually used to trying to fit in as much as we can with the few weeks hes home here and there but we are loving this extended time – So this is what it’s like!  Love you babe.  Can’t thank you enough for being such an awesome help. And Daddy. And husband.
Whoa. can you believe it! I made it through… Pictures to come soon. Promise.

Bonus:  Follow me on twittter.  I’ve ventured into it and plan to start using it more – and even including business promotions and specials there!
*KERI ON TWITTER – FOLLOW ME

*blogging is now schedule so posts should be more often.   thanks for sticking by me.