Now, where was I?

OK, so long term goals are not my thing.  As it turns out, 30 straight days of blogging is not going to happen.  I don't want to give up, I love to blog.  It's just so hard to find time to think of something clever to say.  Some would argue that they are still waiting for clever.  Rest assured, it's not coming.  However, I will continue to blog.  My goal this time is 9 days in a row.  Why nine, you ask?  No reason, just nine sounds like a fun number.  Here goes 1 of 9.....

So much has happened since my last post, I feel like I should back up a bit.  While the holidays normally put me in a tail spin, they were eventful.  As November approached, we noticed there was a weekend that seemed to be uneventful.  For us, nothing on a weekend is rare and something that should be celebrated.  So, we did just that.  We found a cozy spot in Flagstaff to rent out for the weekend.  As the day approached, I relished in the fact that I could sit on the couch and do nothing relatively guilt free.  If it snowed, a real bonus.

My sweet little boy loves sneaking kisses from Abbey, our little man eater.

We arrived with the promise of snow in the forecast.  Day one was spent hiking and exploring the forest behind us.  Day two we woke up to snow falling.  It was slow at first, but really picked up.  We were in business!  We hiked around looking for the perfect slope to sled down, but did not have much luck.  Most spots had tree stump blocking an otherwise perfect hill.  We also decided to check out the Lowell Observatory.  It was pretty much blizzard conditions.  The wind was howling and the snow was coming down in an almost horizontal direction.

Andrew had several questions.  It's fun seeing your kid excited about learning.  I have to enjoy this with Andrew since it's not ever going to happen with Weems 2.0

The super rare Weems Family pose.  Thank God for camera timers.

After we finished up, we went out for another hike.  It was FREEZING, but fun.  It's really pretty therapeutic throwing snow balls at your family.  Somehow hurling a tightly packed ball made of snow and ice is ok to throw and those we love most.  It's even better if you somehow make it into one of the openings in the clothing.  There is nothing worse than ice getting trapped into your clothes. 

My trouble child

All in all we had a great time.  It was good timing and just what the witch doctor ordered.  Even though one of us came home with strep throat, it was a success.

You can never have too many marshmallows.

Up to no good.

more trouble

I love that this girl always has remnants of chocolate on her face

this face melts me

One last attempt at a family photo.  Guess who has strep throat?

Just Shoot Me

The classic "Don't touch me!" One of my personal favorites

This time of year, everyone is busy getting a nice family photo for a Christmas card.  I spend a good part of my time editing and looking through everyone's nice family shoots.  For whatever reason, I always think that having a nice family photo is possible for me too.  I'm always wrong.  It's not in my cards, and probably never will be.  I have one child who is every photographer's dream and I have one that is a photographer's worst nightmare.  I have a husband who is somewhere in between.  There are always tears before and after every Weems family photo session.  We are a true "mission impossible".  Here are some "highlights" of our 2010 photo attempt. 

Not sure if I love Abbey's smile or my husbands totem pole pose best.  It's a real toss up.

With a blister on her foot, newly cut "swoop" bangs and a smile that melts a mothers heart. 

did I mention new swoop bangs?

Wow.  It's hard to even look at this without thinking "Christmas Card"

So, as the day concluded I realized I would have to think "out of the box" for this years card.  Assuming, of course, we decide against trading in one of the kids for a Duggar.  All in all, there were a couple keepers from the first few I shot.  Enjoy.

But What Should I Wear?

I get asked "What should I wear" at least once a week.  This time it's me asking.  The task of shooting my family is among one of the worst things I do.  It's hard being mommy and photographer.  There is a fine line between threatening them with bodily harm and still getting them to smile.  Every year I think it's going to be different, but every year we end in tears.  Well, I say "we" but it's normally just me in tears.  Why can't these little devils make things easy for me?


Tomorrow, I will attempt to get four happy faces in one frame.  Today, the "what to wear" question is going through my mine.  I always tell my clients to stay classic and timeless.  As I think about my first family photos, I think Olan Mills, roll down libraries and fuzzy carpets to sit on.  We would normally wear our most colorful plaid shirt, and if we felt really fancy we'd throw on a hat.  As the 80's rolled around we would tease our hair and put on the biggest pattern dress in our closet, huge and heavy earrings along with a pair of nude pantyhose.  By the time the 90's rolled around, we decided to stay neutral and all wear a button up white shirt with khaki's.  If we really wanted to shake things up, we'd do denim.  For the new millennium, we stuck with the minimal theme, but for the most part we did all black shirts.  Some "extended" family shots included different colors for each separate family unit.  Brilliant.  Very creative.

Today, I try to keep all of that in mind.  I don't want to date the photos too much by doing anything predictable.  I always recommend solid complimentary colors.  I recommend that you use tones that compliment each other as well as the surroundings.  If a pattern is used, I would just have one small element break up the solids.  I also think it's important for your clothing reflect you and your style.  If money were not an issue, I'd make the following groupings for my family.

However, since time and money are both issues, we will have to make things work from the closet.  Stay tuned to see what we came up with.

Out With "Something Old" In With "Something New"

So far, in 2010, I've shot twenty-six weddings.  At those twenty-six weddings almost 100% of those had the same cake topper.  Ahhh, the classic monogram cake topper.  Sure, we've come a long way since the "Precious Moments" toppers of the 1990's, but not far.  While the Sans Serif letter is classic and clean, they've become a bit predictable.  My friend Lea has come up with a fantasitcal idea.  Yes, mom, I know that's not a word.  So great, "Bride's" magazine was interested in running a piece on her new idea.  She takes a simple silhouette picture like one of these.....

and turns it into a custom cake topper/keepsake like one of these.....

Away with the same old same old.  This is a perfect way to capture that day that you were young and skinny.  OK, so age does not really translate, but it does wonders for your legs!  She can personalize them to suit you and your interests.  She recently cut a topper for a client that wanted to incorporate their love for beach cruisers. 

After the wedding, set out your cake topper as decoration.  It will be a permanent reminder of your big day......and how skinny you used to be.

Oh, look how cute that little baby is off to the corner.  Can't believe that little chunky monkey will be 8 on Friday!

To check out more, or to contact Lea here: Ohana By Lea

Just To Be Fair.....

Andrew and Abbey were outside the fairgrounds.  It's March here, but the wheel stays up all year.

 You have to understand that growing up in Dallas, my idea of a state fair is totally warped.  We would get a "Fair Day" from school, and most employers would also give employees a day off just to go to the fair.  There are 300,000 square feet of car show alone.  Football games, tons of shows and stages and the food.  Ahh the food.  From almost anywhere in town you can see the Ferris wheel. The State Fair of Texas Ferris wheel is 212 ft high.  I recognize it's not fair to judge.  Coming from a state where the very name is often used as an adjective, it's really hard not to.  I even noticed the "Texas" adjective at the AZ fair!

not helping me with my homesick issues.

Any who, today we went to the fair.  Our good friend Jarrod and his band, Phoenixburn where playing.  Good friends and all the fried food we can afford, why not.  We started out our fried food extravaganza with the obligatory corn dog.  It was not a Fletchers, but the best we could find.  As we were eating we were greeted by a random stuffed bird.  Maybe, not sure, a mascot for the fair?  He popped on the stage and asked if anyone wanted to do the chicken dance.  Andrew, my child who will do absolutely anything, jumped on stage. 

We left the chicken dance stage and headed over to hear Jarrod and the band play their set.  Everyone say cheese!

Don't worry Jarrod, this is her response to everything.

Right about the time the concert was over, Andrew's stomach was a little queasy.  We knew, being professional fair experts, this was a natural reaction to the grease intake.  The fact is, no one leaves the fair until someone vomits.  So off we went for more fair fun.  We decided to do what anyone with a queasy kid does, take them up on the skyride.  We exchanged all the cash we had, for 40 tickets.  Wow, the irony of "fair" was not lost on me.

I HATE heights.  I have a serious problem.  The thought of dangling with my child 100 feet in the air, is awful.

First of all, I almost insisted on stopping by a Wal-Mart after noticing my husbands choice in BLACK old man socks?!  Seriously, dude, welcome to the year 2010.  The above picture is classic in so many ways.  We've all been there when our old man is pointing out irrelevant and obvious sightings to the "oh-so-over-this" child.  Not to mention the butt scratch by my first born.  There they are, my boys.  Weems 1.0 and Weems 2.0.

Once we got our land legs back, we had a handful of tickets left.  Not enough for a decent ride, we decided to blow the rest on impossible games.  Andrew chose some sort of machine gun game, always appropriate for the fair.  Abbey actually won a quarter toss.  She got the perfect size stuffed animal.

Overall, a success.  Sick tummies and moneyless wallets, time to go.  Enjoy some parting shots.

Mary & Jeremy

Just finished up editing another wedding.  I always love the feeling of marking something off my to-do list.  I'm so blessed to even have a to-do list.  To-do, boy that looks funny.  I'm not sure I've ever typed that one out.  I'm sure Rossy pooh will let me know if I messed up the spelling.  Any way, I'll post a few of my favorites.

Mary and Jeremy were such a fun couple.  Very laid back, very easy to work with.  Sometimes brides get caught up in the stress of tiny little details.  Mary did a good job at keeping things in prospective. 

This weighted a ton, but it was so dang cool. 

sometimes, you just need to get a lick in.

maybe my favorite of the whole day.  So many things going on.