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.

Thank you for all the great entries.  It’s amazing to see the love people have for those who may be struggling around them.. Now if we could just encourage and lift up those people that need it a lot more often then when attention is called to it, the world might move to be a better place…

Despite being a  couple days late — the winner of the Giving is Awesome post is……

Michelle and kids!

Michelle was nominated by a family friend who shared her struggling story turned strong.  Michelle is a mother to 4 amazing kids and after living in a difficult situation for many years, she found the strength to fight for herself and her kids.  She left that terrible situation with very little and has been rebuilding over the last few years.  Talk about strong!  I believe children are a gift to us just as much as we are a gift to them.  Michelle, you are a treasure to your children for standing up for what you had to do,  for protecting them even when you didn’t know which way to go, and for believing in yourself to know that you would be okay.  You are strong. You are courageous.  You are a gift to your children.

We’ll be in touch soon! Thank you for all those who entered.  I have a lot of announcements for the new year coming up so stay tuned…

Much Love, Happy 2010!!!

From our family, to yours…. May your hearts be filled with love and laughter and may you make memories to hold close in your heart forever.  Many blessings and much love from all of us…

You know someone.

You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography — $2000 worth, to be exact.  They will receive my Digital Collection which includes a stunning custom box which holds a printed copy of every image as well as the high resolution disc of all their images.  They will have each photograph we share from our session to cherish forever.

Oh, and the best part?  The person who nominates the winner receives a $400 print credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make a mortgage payment on your two-million-dollar-vacation-home does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in or around the Boston, MA/North Shore area. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : keri@sweetwhispersphotography.com

The winner will be announced on New Years Day (01/01/2010)— so get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!  — All Nominations must be entered before December 20, 2009.

Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Much Love,

I know I am so behind – I have so many blog posts to update, so many things to catch up on but we are in the middle of the crazy holiday rush and although I always try to budget my time better I am still trying to fit it all in to not enough hours in a day!

Because I know Mom has been waiting patiently for her sneak peek – I’ll keep the text minimal and get onto the fun stuff!

I was greeted with this sweet little face first thing in the morning last weekend.  Great way to start the morning wouldn’t you say

I love her sweet little look - This is definitely one of my favorites with that yummy golden sunlight kissing her face!

Guess who loved the leaves!

totally living up to her name -- Sweet Caroline! Even though Mom and Dad said she wasn't super smiley for me, I love her faint little smiles

Thank you for spending the morning with me – I had so much fun playing with you guys.. We’ll be in touch soon!