My aunt and uncle live in a little village in Michigan called Ortonville. If it weren’t for the humidity…I could live and die there a very, very happy photographer. It’s the perfect mixture of quaint, country, rustic, old, and urban…and it’s ridiculously beautiful. There are shades of green there that don’t even exist in Arizona. Before I headed to Michigan I had a couple of the sweetest photographers ask me if I would meet up with them for an afternoon for a mini-workshop. I had so much fun with these ladies chatting about this wonderful business that I love and teaching them a little bit about how I shoot, what I look for when shooting, and a bit about how I edit my images. They arranged for this very sweet girl to model for the day…and she did a fantastic job and never complained once about the sweltering humidity while she changed her clothes in the car half a dozen times. Retha and Jean – you guys are awesome and I had so much fun with you both!!! Here are just a few of my faves from the day…

And…I will also be posting a model call in the next day or two for the FOCUS Photography Workshop on August 14th and 15th. So…if you’re in the Phoenix metro area and you have a child between the ages of 2 and 12 and you would be interested in having them model for the workshop…then be watching the blog for details! A few of the model spots are already filled from the previous workshop waiting list…but, I need to fill in a couple of gaps.

‘Til Next Time!
S 

Today I’ve just been playing…in fact, it’s been such a wonderful day…me and the kids all slept in a bit today…jammies til noon…pancakes for lunch…my boys hung out in true brotherly fashion today…it was just a very good day. So…since all was peaceful and I had decided to take the day off today…I decided to indulge in my favorite past-time (processing images – could I be more boring and predictable?) I was weeding through some old folders and looking for some images to play around with and try some new ideas on…when I came across this image…one I had forgotten about. I love it for so many reasons, but mostly for the sweet reminder from a loving God.

Have a wonderful weekend!

‘Til Next Time!
S 

I often get asked by my clients what my favorite kind of session is…and it’s funny, but I honestly can’t really say what my absolute favorite is, because each type of session offers something that I genuinely love. Newborn sessions are definitely a favorite of mine because I just enjoy every single thing about those precious, fleeting, first days of life and I consider it a true privilege when someone chooses to hire me to capture those first moments. I also genuinely love working with seniors…they are not only really fun to hang around with, but they are so easy to work with and they are definitely the key to getting my “creative fix”. But, if I had to choose a favorite setting or style…hands down…urban wins. I love everything about the textures, the colors, the casual feel of the images…my favorite. )

This fabulous family was so easy to work with…and I was very happy when they said that they wanted an urban session for their family portraits. Mr. S is going to start kindergarten soon…and mom is a little sad about that…it’s so hard to watch our babies grow up. I felt like I could relate a little because my oldest three “babies” are all getting ready to start school for the first time. I feel like I have a sophomore kindergartner, a 7th grade kindergartner, and a 4th grade kindergartner…this transition from homeschooling to private schooling is very bitter sweet for me. I can definitely relate to those of you who are at this stage. Isn’t Mr. S adorable? Such cute expressions…and looking so grown up…

I’m still really behind on blogging…I have much to catch up on. For those of you who have Macs and use iCal…you will understand when I tell you that my calendar this week is as jam packed and multi-colored as a tangled box of those really big multi-colored Christmas lights. So much activity this week and I’m just hoping to make it through Sunday without losing my sanity!!! I’ll try to blog at least once more this week…so check back!

‘Til Next Time!
S 

I had a bit of a rough start to this session…nothing like arriving at your client’s home a sweaty mess and unable to cool down the entire time because it’s just THAT hot in AZ! I had everything loaded up in my suburban…ready to head out…when I heard the dreadful click, click, click of a battery that won’t…can’t…turn over. Click, click, click…I felt sick…until I remembered the Bradshaw oddity…that we perpetually have a third car parked in our driveway. Two drivers…three cars…whatever. I’ve been questioning for 3 years why we have three cars…and apparently it’s all been because of this dreaded moment. So…we unloaded and reloaded in frantic speed…in 116 degree weather…and my assistant and I piled into a filthy car, with leather seats, that had previously been baking in the sun for three weeks…only to discover that the air conditioner was a bit on the sluggish side. And, by sluggish I mean that it didn’t work worth beans. So…a sweaty mess I was…but, mom and dad looked fabulous…as did their gorgeous, angelic little boy. Thanks for all the water and OJ Edina! You were a lifesaver! ;o)

And without further adieu…Mr. X…who is simply a little slice of heaven…

‘Til Next Time!
S 

that song has been stuck in my head all night…and I don’t even like the song! Don’t you hate when that happens? Anyway…it seemed like a fitting post title for this big batch of girlie sweetness…and since they are my favorite one of my favorite cousin’s girlies…I can honestly say that he does indeed have all the luck. ) These girls are such sweet, sweet, sugar-sweet angels. The littlest one called my littlest son, “that boy” the whole time we were in Michigan. It was so cute to watch them play, “that boy” and “the girl”. And…speaking of Michigan…do you know that there is NO END to the most amazing places I’ve ever seen to shoot at. That whole state is a photographer’s playground…I just could not believe the wealth of location options there…every quarter mile there was something worth pulling over and hauling out the camera for…and I am NOT exaggerating. Hmmmm…if I ever move away…

‘Til Next Time!
S