The Barefoot Blog

Taking a year off.......

2009-12-31T16:11:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

Gosh, it has been a looooong time since I've updated and SO MUCH has occurred!

First of all, we are expecting!!! I am about 24 weeks pregnant and we are pretty sure we'll be adding a new little girl to the family sometime in April. I was very ill during the first trimester, so if you tried to contact me during that time and I didn't get back to you, I deeply apologize. My brain was not functioning properly those first few months as all I could seem to focus on was the constant nausea and vomiting. So glad that's over! :)

Second, I have decided to take the year of 2010 off in order to be at home with my new little one, and also to have time to pursue a few personal projects that have been on my heart for a while now. Hopefully by 2011 I will be rip-roaring and ready to go again with Barefoot Photography.

Thanks so much for understanding and I wish everyone the best 2010 possible!

May God richly bless you in knowledge of and nearness to Him this year!

Sincerely,
Cyndi

Tap...tap....is anybody still out there?....

2009-08-15T11:56:00.001-07:00

Oh Blogland, how I have neglected you....

Well...I'm back! :) Haven't much time. Lots going on today, but wanted to share one real quick.

More to come later.

Bakersfield Family Photographer--Sneak Peek

2009-02-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

Just a really quick sneak peek for a GREAT family. I don't have much time to post right now, so come back for more later this week! :)

Power of Photos

2009-02-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

Just One.....

2009-02-21T14:57:00.001-08:00

I love finding cool random things in the environment we're shooting in. :)

A Dear, Dear Family....

2009-02-07T23:59:00.000-08:00

I've been blessed to know this family for a few years now. (As is everyone who know this family is.) Let me introduce you to the Champions.

They actually were one of the first families to ask me to do portraits for them. Way back when I still had no clue what I was doing. Their faith in my abilities back then hugely helped my confidence and my desire to learn and get better at photography.

2 years ago

In the two years since then, their family has faced some VERY serious challenges and trials with two of them facing a battle with cancer at the same time. Through it all, they have been such a bright light with the faith and trust they have shown in God.

I took these photos of the kids a few weeks ago, but last week their father John, passed away after a long fight with brain cancer. He was a wonderful man, full of kindness, humble and meek to the core. He deeply loved his family and was fully devoted to Jesus and was the kind of person most people hope they can be someday. He was the kind of person I hope to be. His memorial service was on Tuesday and it was a testament to the kind of man he was that hundreds of people showed up in honor of him. I am glad I was able to know him.

2 years ago

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." ~2 Timothy 4:6-7

His family is a beautiful reflection of him. They are all loving, giving, humble, kind people. If you think of it, send up some prayer for them as they are facing more than I can imagine.

http://www.championclan.blogspot.com/ Here is a link to their family blog.

Couldn't help myself.....

2009-01-17T18:01:00.000-08:00

I have several other sessions in the cue before this one, but I couldn't resist proofing and previewing just a few from this most.awesome.session.ever. that I had this afternoon.

What an awesome and random prop to find on a sidewalk in an old residential neighborhood! And it matches her shoes! LOVE IT!!!

*click on picture to see it bigger!

And would you check her out?! That's what I call smouldering. We actually had a harley biker comment on how sexy her pregnancy pictures were going to be. Yeah. The smouldering eyes rock!

Bakersfield Photographer-- ah, l'amour...

2009-01-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

Man, I need to get better at the blogging business...It's been a month since I last visited you, dear blogland!

Just popping in real quick to share two for ya since it's been a while...but I'll hopefully be back later tonight with a few more to share. :) Till then, happy weekend to you!

Bakersfield Family Photographer-- For Ireen

2008-12-21T23:21:00.001-08:00

Seriously, how many pretty genes can one person get? 'Cause I think she got more than her fair share.... ;)

And one of Ireen with her (and my) favorite little Bug....

I only have time to post two right now but there are LOTS more to come.....

Bakersfield Family Photographer--I LOVE THIS FAMILY

2008-12-10T22:06:00.000-08:00

Yes. I said LOVE. In all capitals. L-O-V-E.

(*click on images to see them bigger*)

I *LOVE* THIS FAMILY. :)

Of course it helps that they're all wonderfully vibrant, giving, servant-hearted, hard-working, funny (SERIOUSLY, you have no idea...), and LOVING people. And the family bonds with these guys....man, there is no questioning their love for and genuine enjoyment of each other.

They're probably the most entertaining family I've ever met, too. Every time I have talked to the Dad he tells me true stories that either amaze me or put me in stitches. And one story ALWAYS leads to another story...... it's great. :)

Anyway, one branch of their family is moving across the country this week, so we all went out and braved the DENSE fog this morning to get some shots of them all together.

And would you check her out?! How freaking cute is she?? Can you believe she's due next month?? I *heart* this gal. And I am sooo going to miss her little boy when they move.

She was laughing when we took these and everyone else started laughing, too because her baby bump kept bouncing every time she laughed, which would make us laugh, which would make her laugh some more, which would make her laugh harder, which would make us laugh harder....you see how it was. Good times. :D

These are just a quick few since I have one other session I need to be finishing up first, but I couldn't resist.

Bakersfield Newborn Photography --What a beautiful time in a person's life....

2008-12-06T23:41:00.000-08:00

*sigh*

I remember these days so well. Learning how to become a family of 4. Marveling at the newness and tinyness of this new little member of your life. Miraculous, precious, quiet moments in between the diapers, and visitors, and laundry, and feedings. Moments where you all revel in just being *together*. Your family.

A few favorites...

2008-11-26T09:34:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, taking time to appreciate and give thanks for all the precious gifts in your life. :) I just wanted to pop in and share a few from a recent session that I just finished proofing. Then I'm off to the grocery store for our Thanksgiving feast ingredients.

This family's new addition has already arrived and is the little guy in the post below. They've been ever so patient with me on seeing these. Thanks guys!

What great chemistry between them!

Of course....a shot of cute little kid feet. Love it!

I love so many things about this image. The round belly, the red shirt, the pointed toe and crossed leg. The swing, the slight "s" shape of how she's sitting, the tilted head and happy, soft expression. I believe this is my favorite from the whole session. :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Sneak Peek (newborn session)

2008-11-21T12:50:00.001-08:00

Here's a quick sneak peek from a session I did this week.
*click on the images to see them bigger*

This wee one was only 6 days old and exquisite. Perfect skin, perfectly round head, beautiful face. And his temperament was just as lovely. He slept almost the entire session. I think I heard him cry for maybe a minute out of the whole session, if even that.

All of his family and extended family were there and you could just feel their love for him. The support. How precious he is to them. I love that. :)

*sigh* Sooo precious. I love when I catch newborn smiles.

Anyway, I promised mom I'd post a few this week so she wouldn't have to wait so long.

So here you go!

So....what have I been up to???

2008-11-16T22:47:00.000-08:00

Oh, you know..... a little bit of this....
(*click on images to see them larger)

(inhaling that wonderful baby scent....nothin' like it....)

And a little bit of this....

(Recognize this little guy? Here he is one year ago... http://barefootphoto.blogspot.com/2007/08/thank-you-bakersfield-city-parks.html)

(And this is his new baby sister. I didn't think it was possible, 'cause he is about as cute as they come, but she's just as cute as he is!)

Quite a bit of this.... :) hehe

(Have I mentioned that laughter photos are my most favorite in the whole wide world???)

(Oh, and here's this little guys family one year ago.... http://barefootphoto.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html)

Some of this.....

A little bit of this....

(How gorgeous is that belly?! Seriously.)

(And with a face to match. Yowzer! So gorgeous.)

And even a bit of this!.....(SO fun!)

And for the first time, I did formal-style portraits for a local preschool. It was a big job, but a lot of fun, and preschoolers are beyond sweet, so it doesn't get much better than that.

(Parents, now that I have this pettiskirt, I'd be happy to let your little girl use it family sessions. Just let me know in advance, and I'll make sure I bring it with me for your session. It will fit anywhere from a 3-6year old. Or if you'd like to purchase one you can keep for your daughter, you can find them in lots of beautiful colors here...http://thebelovedchild.com/catalog/catalog.php?category=Sophie%20Bella%20Pettiskirts . They're great for adding movement, softness, and color to your photos, plus little girls feel so pretty in them and that feeling comes across in the photos.)

And now you know what I've been up to. :) I still have a few sessions that I haven't even shared anything from....and a few more coming up! So keep checking back. :)

I am soo lucky......

2008-11-15T23:02:00.000-08:00

I really am so lucky to be able to do what I do. I have been blessed with this gift/talent/skill, whatever you'd like to call it, that allows me to join someone else's family for a short while and see it from up close. That is such an amazing thing!

These past two months, I made the mistake of overscheduling myself. I underestimated how much time a certain project was going to need and have been scrambling to meet deadlines ever since! (Thank you to my clients for being so gracious and patient with me....I have learned my lesson and next year will schedule myself accordingly to provide you with the best service I am able...) Anyway, you can imagine how rushed and focused I have been on trying to get everything done. Many, many long days (and nights) working to try and get things finished on time....

Well, I'm not sharing this as a plea for pity. More as a lead-in to this family session I am finishing up right now. This family contacted me last year for newborn family pictures of this little guy.

My, how he has grown and changed. He is now an indepentant, sweet natured, unbelievably adorable, makeseverygrownwomaninstantlywantababy, kind of child.

They contacted me again this year for a family session and I was so blessed by my time with them. I have been so rush, rush, rush lately. But watching them, and their ease with their children...it was so calming. They are relaxed and comfortable with each other and with themselves. Mom and Dad are very encouraging for their children to be who they are. They took their time letting the kids explore and wander. It was so refreshing and peaceful to be around.

I remember at one point, mom and dad relaxed against each other on a park bench and watched the kids just play. It was early in the morning, and the day still felt quiet. I was sitting there with my camera just watching for a good moment to catch on "film" and I was struck with this notion that I was in the middle of a beautiful family moment. Happy, relaxed, free. Beautiful. I was in their family bubble. It was a really neat experience.

So I just wanted to say thank you so much for letting me be a part of your family for a few hours. :) I really enjoyed it.

Heavenly....

2008-11-04T22:29:00.000-08:00

Not much time to post, but sooo much to update you all on, (with LOTS of different images to share).

I just wanted to share one really sweet photo I managed to capture of my boys this afternoon.

So without further ado.....

**Click on the image to see it bigger and clearer.

Quick Preview from a dreamy newborn session

2008-10-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Sheew! Boy am I swamped right now! My busy season is in full swing and I've been working on several exciting projects which I hope to be able to share a little from in the next few weeks.

I recently did a newborn session and mom has been patiently waiting for her proofs, so I thought I'd throw a few sneak peeks up here to hold her over while she waits! :)

Hope you like em!

~Cyndi

*P.S. Click on the images to see them bigger.

Important updates for everyone....

2008-09-06T14:37:00.001-07:00

Oh my, how fast this year has gone by! After a VERY busy summer, my kids have both started school. Yes, you read it right---even my baby has started kindergarten. (Whah! When did he get so big?! He promised me he would stay little for me, but I just don't think he'll be able to keep that promise.)

So it's that time of year again....we've gotten the kids off to school and are now thinking about all the holidays that are right around the corner. With that in mind, I have a few important and exciting updates for everyone....

First the important stuff.....

I wasn't joking last year when I said this is my busy season. I really encourage anyone who wants fall colors in their photos or photos for Christmas to book EARLY (like May or June). My calendar is now completely booked through November 8th. I had planned to log on here last week and let everyone know that the last date for photo sessions intended for Christmas photos was November 8th, but after a very busy week of bookings, I am now full. If you would like to be put on a backup list for family sessions, please let me know and if I have a cancellation I will be sure to call you.

I will of course make exceptions for newborns, so if you've got a brand new little one (two weeks or younger) please give me a call and I will do my best to fit you in as I know they don't stay that little for very long.

Print orders that are intended for Christmas gifts/cards must be placed by November 23rd, as shipping times tend to run behind this time of year and I cannot guarantee delivery before Christmas if they are placed after that date.

Though my Fall/Christmas sessions are booked, I will still be available to do regular family sessions through December 7th. After that I will be taking off a few weeks to finish up all our Christmas preparations and spend some time with my sweet family. My calendar for January opens up on the 9th.

Now onto the exciting part!!

Barefoot Photography will have a new website with bigger pictures and online proofing which I believe will make your ordering process much, much smoother and easier. You'll be able view your session images online, order online, and pay through paypal online. Pretty sweet, huh? :)

I have been hard at work on the new site and have a few finishing details to put on it, but hope to have it live by the end of this week, so check back soon and have a looksie!

There are a few minor changes in the information sections and print prices, so be sure to check that out later this week. And while you're at it, let me know what you think of the new site!

Goodbye GG

2008-06-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

I lost my GG on Friday.

Alice Loretta Hickok Werner
3/5/1920~6/20/2008

She's the first person close to me to die. She's always been present in my life. And now she's not here anymore. That's a very strange feeling. Sad. Kind of confusing.

My whole life it has been "GG and Pop". They were synonimous with each other. They always went together. It was never just GG. Or just Pop. It was always "GG and Pop". It was like one word. GGandPop. This weekend I kept having to correct myself from saying it.

Now it's just Pop.

That makes me so unbelievably sad for him. I'm just the grandkid. I've only know her for 30 years. But he's been part of the duo for nearly 74 years. And now it's just him. How lonely that must feel. How hard this must be for him.

He misses her. So much. He could hardly talk about her without breaking into sobs. So I just sat there and let him cry and cried with him. I love my Pop more than I can say. He's always been my hero. My heart literally hurts for him right now.

GG was like no one else I've ever known. She was feisty and spunky and confident and generous and adventurous and so very vibrant. She had a mouth on her which cracked me up. She loved us all to pieces. I am so thankful I got to have her in my life.

I was asked to put together a slideshow for her memorial so I got to go through all her albums. I've never done that before. When I went to visit it was usually for a limited amount of time and I wanted to spend it with her and Pop. But this weekend I flipped my way through years and years of photographic treasure. I realized that my love of pictures came from my GG.

She had so many albums. All lovingly put together. She had written on the front or back of almost every picture. Little notes. Sometimes it was just who was in the photo and the year or location. Often it was funny little details about the photo. It was like she was with me telling me about the pictures. So nice to have a little piece of her there.

I learned things about her. I didn't know she had been a beauty queen when she was young. I knew that Pop was in a motorcycle club, but I didn't know that GG had started her own ladie's motorcycle club.

She had several newspaper clippings in there, too. At one point she had written a letter to the newspaper trying to help a family whose child was dying of cancer. The little girl was a friend of my Aunt Becky when she was young. GG's letter ended up generating enough support to pay for her medical care and a proper burial service after she had died. She had a clipping about her famous fudge. (Everyone loved GG's fudge. It was legendary.) She had her engagement notice in there. And a news article that described her wedding to my Pop like a 1930's Hollywood newsreel.

In almost every photo she was either glamorous or goofy. Both trademark traits of hers. Open-mouthed chewed-food shots. (Typical GG.) And gorgeous two-piece swimsuit shots. It was such a treasure to me. It was GG and her personality laid out on paper.

I wanted to share a few of my favorites as a little memorial to her. So people can glimpse a little peice of this wonderfully fun, sassy, loving woman.

GG, I miss you already.

ROCK STAR!

2008-05-20T13:33:00.001-07:00

I asked my dear friend Karen what she wanted for her birthday, and her birthday wish was to have photos of her son Ian done, so how could I say no?

Karen's sister Kristina is a worship leader and plays guitar, and Ian wants to be just like her, so we brought along his little guitar for his session.

Here is Ian rocking out....

He's got so much personality. Love this kid.

Will post more later.....

A few more of Emily....

2008-04-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

A few more from Emily's session....

Lovin' this field...
*Click on images to see bigger*

Gosh, I love this job! :)

Sneek peek for Emily (and a new favorite!)

2008-03-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to go out and do a senior session the other day with Emily who is my new favorite model. I've barely started going through the images (there are LOTS to choose from!), but wanted to put a few up here so she and her family could have a peek.

We had a great time and she was willing to try out all these ideas that have been brewing in my head for a while, so THANK YOU EMILY for being so great. :)

*Click on the images to see them bigger.

And here's my new favorite photo. It's the first time I've played around with applying texture to the photo and I am really happy with how it turned out. Besides, isn't she beautiful? She reminds me of a renaissance painting. Just lovely.

A few more of the Allens

2007-12-17T16:38:00.000-08:00

I had a lot of fun with these guys.

I think they had a lot of fun with each other, too. =)

This is what the boys did when I told them to go over by their dad. They tackled him! Ha! Typical boys.

I thought the sunflare was rather yummy on that last shot!

There is a very special bond between this daughter and mother. Tons of love for each other.

Thanks guys for invinting me to spend time with your family!

this makes me happy...

2007-11-23T18:04:00.001-08:00

I can't help it. I just look at these and feel happy.

Admit it, you feel happier now, too, don't you? =)

7 months is a GREAT age!

2007-10-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Just popping in before I leave! (I'll be out of the country--away from email or phone--until October 20th. I'll return any calls or emails when I get back.)

I wanted to post a few images from such a sweet session. This little guy is 7 months old and was soooo good during his session. He was happy and quiet. He didn't run or crawl away (which is what I'm used to). He was so happy to be outside and have his mommy with him. I was quite impressed with him. We even changed his outfit four or five times and woke him up from a car-ride nap and he still didn't cry. Gotta love that!

Here's Anugo...(I hope I didn't misspell his name too badly.)

Autumn Scheduling Details...and other important information

2007-09-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my favorite (and my busiest) time of year for family sessions. The light is so pretty and the fall foliage colors are just gorgeous. This year I will be out of the country for most of October, so if you are wanting to schedule a session with autumn colors in it, don't wait as I will only be able to book a limited number of sessions. I will be gone (without email or phone) from October 4th-October 23rd. If your session is scheduled in the week before I leave, I will not be able to get your proofs back to you until around Halloween. Feel free to email me any inquiries you might have while I am gone, and I will answer all emails on the 24th or 25th. Thanks so much for your patience! =)

Also, I know it's only September 1st, but in light of my shorter-than-usual fall booking schedule, I think I should also bring up deadlines for Christmas photos. If you are wanting photos for holiday cards, the latest your session can be booked is November 7th and your order placed by Noverber 21st so that your items will arive in plenty of time for you to address them and mail them out. If you are wanting photos for Christmas gifts, your session needs to be scheduled no later than November 11th and your order placed by November 28th to ensure enough time for delivery before Christmas. I will still be available for sessions after these dates, but cannot guarantee Christmas delivery on orders placed after the 28th of November.

One more thing! =) I want to say thank you to everyone who has trusted in my abilities during my first year of business. I've learned a lot and am so thankful to you all for letting me share time with your families. I look forward to working with you in the future! God bless! =)

Thank you, Bakersfield City Parks Workers!

2007-08-31T20:32:00.000-07:00

I recently had a session with the cutest little guy. We met at a local park, which was nice and green and pretty.

This is Gavin. He's very smart for a two year old and so so sweet. I couldn't get enough of his talking. He warmed right up to me and held my hand while we went for a little walk.

He was wrinkiling his nose and making his Daddy laugh. Chock full o' personality, this one is. =)

He's such a happy little boy! Here, he was laughing because his mommy and daddy (excellent photographer's assistants that they are) were counting to three and then jumping up in the air just for his entertainment. Thanks mom and dad! =)

But I bet you're wondering why I gave a special nod to the city parks workers. Well, let me tell you about that. Some of the parks in our area have these sump (not sure if that's the right word) areas where water collects in a pond-like spot. Usually these areas have long grasses and lush natural landscapes. Unfortunately, they're also surrounded by a big ugly wire fence. The park we were at had a particularly beautiful sump area with lovely colors in the vegetation and shade and lush everything-that-a-photographer-would-want-in-a-nature-y-picture.....And it had a fence. Yuck.

But we were in luck! The morning we were there, the city parks workers were also there taking care of the park. And I figured it couldn't hurt to ask if they could let us in behind the fence, right? So I ran over (literally ran because they were getting into their truck and I was afraid they were going to leave) and asked, and bless them, they said yes and I did a little happy dance!

And here's one of the images we got.

I might have to go early in the morning to see if I can catch them there again. And beg them to let me borrow the key to the padlock on the gate so I can make a copy of it. In my area of town, there just aren't a lot of lush landscapes. It's pretty suburban, with shortly mowed lawns and young trees and tract homes. So I would love to be able to use this location every now and then. =)

What a beautiful, beautiful family...

2007-07-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

Wow, this family was amazing. Their love is so evident for each other. It was a blessing to see.

This is their newest addition and the main reason we had the session. Aren't his cheeks something else? So cute. And even though the session was focused on new baby brother, I couldn't help but snap a few of his big brother. I mean, look at him. He's beautiful with all that curly hair and those big dark eyes. (He had just woken up from a nap and was sitting in dad's lap with his favorite blankie.)

And mom and dad are obviously smitten with him. Can't you feel the joy in this picture? I love it!

A little father/son eye contact...

And one more, just to make you smile...check out the expression on baby brother (big brother's is cute, too). Isn't that so funny? You just wonder what he's thinking. It's almost like he's thinking, "Hmm."

Hey guys...sorry I haven't updated in a while...

2007-05-13T20:28:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been taking lots of photos, but keep forgetting to get a signed model release, so I haven't been able to post any of them. I have a few coming in soon, and will update as soon as I get them. =)

Thanks for being patient with me!

Have a great week!

P.S. Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!

American Child Photographer's Charity Guild (ACPCG)

2007-03-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

I am very honored and pleased to announce that as of today I am a member of the American Child Photographers Charity Guild. The ACPCG is a non-profit, volunteer organization that provides families of extremely premature or critically ill infants and children with a free photo session. This can be done at the hospital, in the NICU, or in their home. They are then given either a 4x6 proof album or a high-resolution CD with 5x7 files of all the images from their session. All of this is free of charge.

If you know anyone who might be in need of this service, please have them call me or email me ASAP. I would love to do this for them.

If you'd like more information about the ACPCG, you can view their website here:

http://www.acpcg.com

Forgot to include this in my last post...

2007-03-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

How could I have forgotten to share the "blowing out the candles" pictures?!

I love how he's smiling in this one.

He just came in and saw these and said, "Mommy, that's me. And I go phooooooo to blow out my candles when I turn four."

I couldn't help it if I wanted to. I totally love the kid.

What a week!

2007-03-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Wowzers! This has been a busy week.

This past weekend (and the first half of the week) was spent painting the boys' room. Thank God it's finally done. It only took one coat of primer and four, yes, you heard that right, four coats of red paint. (That's a total of 3 gallons of Behr California Poppy Red.) I think my right arm is going to be non-symmetrical to my left after all that rolling. Sheesh! But it looks great. And my boys are really excited about it.

Tuesday was Owen's 4th birthday and we had a lot of fun celebrating at Chuck E. Cheese with a few close friends. Chuck E. Cheese on a Tuesday night (verses a weekend) is great. It was not busy at all and we pretty much had the run of the place.

Then Thursday as I was getting to all the laundry I had put off due to painting, my father-in-law called because he was really sick (my mother-in-law is out of state taking care of her mother's last wishes) and he needed someone to drive him to the doctor. Well, his doctor's office couldn't get him in until late that evening and they told him, with as sick as he was, to go to the ER. So I went and picked up and drove him.

Apparently, the hospitals in Bakersfield are terribly overcrowded right now. There are NO beds available. There are a lot of really nasty, mean bugs floating around and our hospitals aren't equipped to handle the amount of sick people needing care. We sat in the waiting room at the ER for 3 hours before finally being called back to see a doctor. When we finally got him into a bed, it was against the wall in the hallway of the ER (along with about 12 other people). My poor FIL was so exhausted from being up sick all night that he immediately went to sleep.

We talked to the doctor for about a minute and she prescribed some anti-nausea medication and some IV fluids to be administered. So for the next few hours I just sat with him while he slept. I talked a little to the people in the room across from our hallway spot and they said that their dad had been in the ER for three days. He had been in the hall like us until that morning when they finally moved him into an ER room. They said on Tuesday he was #8 on a wait list to get a bed in the hospital. But here it was Thursday and they were still in the emergency room. I felt bad for them.

Luckily, it turned out that my FIL had a nasty bug and nothing more serious, so after some fluids, they sent him home. We had been there 8 hours at that point. I made hime come home with me and stay at our house so we'd be close by if he started going downhill again. But by morning he was feeling much better and that was the end of that.

So that's the excitement that was my week. Don't you feel informed now? =)

Baby Kyler Revisited...

2007-03-17T20:56:00.000-07:00

I gave Kyler's mom her CD of proofs tonight, so I can share a few more favorites....

I love the moody lighting on all his little baby wrinkles...

This was my first time trying out this kind of shot. I think it turned out rather nice. =)

And this one is probably my favorite image from the whole session. He looks so sweet and new. And I love his feet.

Happy Birthday Owen!!!

2007-03-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

Owen turned four today! My baby is four! While it's hard for me to think of him getting bigger sometimes, I am also so proud of him. These last four years have been amazing. He is such a gift from God. I am truly blessed to have him.

So today we went out to lunch together. Just Owen and Mommy. His restaurant of choice? Denny's, of course! So we had Little French Toast Dippers and shared a caramel cappuccino and talked and played with the little paper mask they give to kids and basically had a really fun lunch together. Tonight we're going out to Chuck E. Cheese's for some family fun and celebration.

On a side note: the boys' room is coming along nicely. One good coat of pink primer and two thick coats of red paint are done so far. (Sunday was a busy day, so I didn't get any painting done.) But I think one (maybe two) more coat should do and and I'll be finished tomorrow! Yay!

On the agenda for this weekend....

2007-03-10T09:25:00.000-08:00

My husband is going out of town today to see the new movie The 300 on an IMAX screen. He's such a guy. Ha!

Sooo, that leaves me here with the boys. And what are we going to do today, you ask? Why, we're going to paint, of course! I finally decided what I want to do with the boys' room. My oldest has wanted an outer space room for a while, but I knew I didn't have the artistic skill to paint an elaborate mural of a galaxy with stars and planets and such, so I was at a loss for what to do in there. I'm pretty picky when it comes to decorating. I didn't want anything too cheesy or busy or cartoony. So we decided on a crisp white ceiling, nice red walls (I LOVE red!), and a few awesome posters of our solar system that I found at art.com. There are nebula posters, and galaxy posters, and supernova posters, and planet posters, and a really beautiful photographic poster of earth from outer space. My son is going to LOVE it.

Oh, and I also found a really cool little rocket ship lamp to go on their dresser that will add to the theme. I just need to figure out what to do with the window and their bedding. But that can wait. I'm so excited!

I'll make sure to update with pictures once everything is finished. =)

And since I can't post without a picture...here is a picture of Sam from last week at his patriotic program.

He did amazingly great. He memorized a fairly long speech about the Statue of Liberty and also a speech called The American Creed. He was so relaxed and natural. I was so proud I wanted to cry. I'm such a mush.

I wish I could post pictures of the whole stage because the kids were super adorable and looked so sweet in their costumes. There were a few Statues of Liberty, a Betsy Ross, a few Abraham Lincolns, an Uncle Sam, and even a Dr. Martin Luther King! They sang patriotic songs and delivered speeches about our nation and there was even a slideshow dedicated to the men and women serving in our armed forces. After the slidewhow, the kids saluted members of the audience who have served or are serving in each branch of the military. One of the little boys in Sam's class has a Daddy that is serving in Iraq right now, so it was very touching.

I love how he's looking at his flag in this one. Isn't that a beautiful moment? =)

Reeeeally late Valentine's Day pictures....

2007-03-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

I know. Valentine's Day was almost a month ago. I'm a bit behind in posting to my blog. But these pictures are cute. Way cute. (They're my own kids. Of course I think they're cute!) So I wanted to post them anyway.

I wanted to get some candids of my boys together to make a valentine card for my oldest to give out to his class at school. Getting any of my youngest is, well, let's just say....difficult. He's a busy-body and has been since the day he was born. The kid hardly stays in one spot for more than a second. And he thinks it's a fun game to hide from the camera. Or jump up and down as fast as he can while I'm trying to take a close-up. Or if I manage to get him to actually look at the camera, he makes silly faces. You get the idea.

So getting them both together, in the same shot, where they're not fighting, and are actually being sweet to each other, is a RARE treat.

And here's how the Valentine's Card came out. Isn't it cute? Which reminds me...I can design custom cards, birth announcements or pretty much any kind of mailer you might need so don't forget to ask if that's something you're interested in. I'm still working out a pricing structure for it which I will try to get up on the website in the next week or two.

Have a great week!

Baby Craving.....

2007-03-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

My youngest is almost 4 years old. I think we're done having kids, but every once in a while something happens that makes me ache to have a baby in the house again. Something like this little guy.....

This is Kyler.....

Isn't he beautiful? He's such a sweet, sweet baby. Hardly cried at all. So alert and snuggly. And he smelled soooo good. You know that sweet baby smell that newborns have? Yeah. It's heaven.

So I came home and told my husband about how beautiful the baby was and how good he smelled and how he kept making these little cooing sounds. And how wonderful it felt to hold someone so tiny again....

I think he's wary of me doing newborn sessions now. Haha.

Classic Car Show

2007-01-21T14:46:00.000-08:00

So last weekend my church hosted a classic car show. It was really cool. There were around 60 cars and LOTS of people. I had tons of fun with all the cool details...

like nifty keychains...

awesome flames...

sparlkling engines...

and chrome...hey, look! it's me! =)

bright colors and classic emblems...

and don't forget about the fuzzy dice...

and even a really cute dog that "posed" for me...

100 Things...

2007-01-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

So lately I've been reading a lot of blogs (I am a blog stalker, haha) where people list 100 things about themselves or 100 things that they want to achieve in the next 10 years. So it got me thinking. And I'm going to try to list 100 things about myself here...

(Feel free not to read all the way through...)

1. I am the third of four girls in my family.
2. Because of that I always pictured myself having girls.
3. I have two boys. That are SO great. Who knew boys were so fun?
4. I love God deeply and completely.
5. I've never broken a bone.
6. I've never sprained a muscle.
7. I've never had stitches.
8. I love warm laundry. LOVE with all capitals. =)
9. My favorite food is breakfast cereal. Any kind. Even shredded wheat.
10. I am veeerrry slowly learning how to play the guitar.
11. I love to sing. Especially praise and worship music. It makes my heart happy.
12. I love big skies. With big clouds.
13. And wide open landscapes.
14. I hate freeways.
15. I love highways.
16. My favorite Christmas present that I ever received was a Magic Growing Rocks set that I put together with my dad.
17. I was really mean to my little sister as a kid.
18. I'm nice to her now.
19. I'm in the two gallon club at the local blood bank.
20. I've been donating since I was 18.
21. I love Taco Bell.
22. I don't like fast food burgers.
23. This past summer I was in the following states for at least a few hours each: California, Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.
24. I was very tired by summer's end. haha
25. I love cartoons.
26. I think little kids are among the most beautiful of all God's creations.
27. I am over-protective of my kids.
28. I love mornings.
29. I love sleeping in even more.
30. If I stay up really late, I always get the urge to start deep-cleaning my house. Weird.
31. I LOVE my job. Both of them. Mom and photographer.
32. I love my husband, too. =)
33. I have a really weird sense of humor. Often I am the only one who gets my jokes. (But that makes them even funnier to me for some reason.)
34. I have big feet.
35. I was in ballet when I was six and still remember my first class.
36. I've only been on a motorcycle once.
37. I loved everything about being pregnant with my boys.
38. I'm quite shy. (Though I try not to act so.)
39. I love my in-laws. (Isn't that against rules of nature or something?)
40. I have a hard time spending more that $15 on any one item for myself. It's the mom in me. I'd rather spend it on the kids.
41. When I was a kid, age 5 or 6, I put a snail in my dad's shoe to keep as a pet. When my dad went to put his shoes on, my pet was history.
42. Every time I see my dad he tells me the story about when I was little and I pushed other kids down so I could get to the front of the line to ride an elephant. He repeats this story EVERY TIME I see him.
43. I have no personal recollection of this story.
44. But I enjoy watching him laugh himself to tears each time he tells it.
45. I'm pretty good at video games.
46. But my 7 year old can beat me at just about any of them.
47. I'm very self-critical.
48. I'm very understanding and patient with other people.
49. I love sunsets.
50. And trees. Especially when it's windy.
51. When it's stormy, I like to sit and watch the branches sway. It's soothing.
52. I am a terrible cook. Seriously. That's not me being self-critical. It is the honest truth. Ask my husband.
53. I have no desire to meet any celibrities. I like the people that I already know and they're good enough for me.
54. I love my church. But even more the people in it.
55. I love people watching. I love witnessing the way families interact, the way kids run and play. It's beautiful.
56. I think that's the main reason I love the kind of photography I do. I get to join a family for a few hours and then let them see what I saw.
57. I do not have a green thumb. My plants (the one straggler I have left) can attest to that fact.
58. I am terrified of wasps. It's a borderline phobia. (They're hideous, malicious creatures. Ick.)
59. I love looking at spider webs.
60. I have even more dreams and hopes now then I did when I was a kid.
61. I sing along with the radio in the car.
62. My favorite ice cream flavor is mint n chip.
63. I prefer plain old Thrifty's brand ice cream to just about any other brand. (Must be nostalgia.)
64. I love rain. Not sprinkles, but big fat raindrops. I even like going for walks in it. (Your hair smells really good afterward.)
65. I love lightening too. I used to sit at the screen door watching the sky whenever we had a storm hoping to see lightening.
66. I'm intimidated by the ocean, but I love looking at it.
67. I love Target. I tell my husband it's my "happy place."
68. I love old things. The more beat up it is, the cooler it is to me. I recently bought a penny from 1820. It's nearly worn smooth. And that's why I like it.
69. I still like coloring in coloring books. (That's why it's so great having kids. You can still do kid activities and people don't think you're weird.)
70. I'm a perfectionist. But only about certain things. Like how I load the diswasher.
71. I watch entirely too much TV. Luckily, most of it is recorded and I can fast-forward through the commercials.
72. My favorite movies are: The Princess Bride, Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Forrest Gump.
73. I was a Steven King junky as a teenager. I can't stomach it now, but to this day The Stand is one of my favorite books.
74. I think Paul Simon is a lyrical, poetic genius. He's great.
75. I used to want to sing in Phantom of the Opera. (A LOOONG time ago.)
76. I secretly want to be the voice of a disney character in a movie someday.
77. I have a friend that says I sound just like Tour Guide Barbie in Toy Story 2. "Hi, I'm Tour Guide Barbie!" *insert perky, pasted on grin here* =D
78. I love cheesy musicals. (The hills are aliiiiiiiive, with the sound of muuuuuusic...")
79. I've been staring at the cursor for the last few minutes and haven't come up with anything new...haha.
80. I'm fiercely loyal to my friends.
81. I once post-it noted our worship team leader's truck. My friends and I spent hours putting personal messages on each post-it. Good times.
82. I am somewhat computer illiterate. I know just barely enough to get me by.
83. My husband is quite good with computers and is often called upon to rescue me.
84. I like cats. Fluffy, cuddly cats.
85. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to cats.
86. But I have one anyway. Allergy pills are my friend.
87. I like funky socks.
88. I love the state of Colorado. It's stunning.
89. My favorite toppings on a pizza are tomatoes, bell peppers, and olives.
90. I've been skydiving. Indoors that is. Las Vegas, oh yeah. =)
91. I no longer chew gum because I kept having a dream where gum is sticking to my teeth and pulling them out. It freaked me out.
92. I'm a good listener.
93. I like vaccuuming. A lot.
94. Doing dishes...not so much.
95. When I eat candy, I always eat the outside edges until they're gone and then eat the middle.
96. With Lucky Charms, I eat all the cereal and save all the marshmallows for last. Yum.
97. I've only gotten one speeding ticket since I got my license. I was going 48 mph in a 25 mph zone. Whoops!
98. I'm a very careful, contientous driver.
99. I thought this list would be easier to finish.
100. You fill in this one...

=) Thanks for reading if you made it this far!

Happy New Year!

2007-01-03T15:13:00.000-08:00

Ah, a new year. =) I love the idea of starting fresh and thinking of all the possibilities ahead.

I enjoyed my vacation and am now ready to start booking appointments again. I am currently running a portfolio-building special for anyone who is willing to sign a model release which allows me to use your images for my website, business cards, and any other advertising I might need them for in the future. If you book a session between now and April 1st, the session fee is only $100. (That's a $50 discount.) Plus, you'll also get 25% off any prints you order from that session. (Valid on orders placed before May 1st.) On top of all that, you will also recieve a $100 discount if you purchase The Digital Image package.

I did sneak in one appointment during my vacation. Here is Noah. Isn't he beautiful?

I know mom was eager to see a few from the session. =) I hope they don't disappoint.

HAVE A GREAT YEAR!!! =)

A few quick reminders...

2006-12-16T22:55:00.000-08:00

I will not be booking any more sessions this year so I can spend some quality time with my family over Christmas vacation. My calendar will be open again mid-January.

My Portfolio Building special is ending December 31st. Anyone who hasn't put in their print order needs to do so ASAP in order to receive the 50% discount. Please give me a call or drop me an email if you need a new order form.

This coming year I am looking to do more in-home sessions. I have visions of kids jumping on beds and quiet storybook moments between parents and children plus lots of other ideas. If this is something you are interested in, please don't hesitate to contact me. The only requirement is lots of natural light. I am also looking to do some newborn photography, so if you are expecting, or have a BRAND new little one (two weeks old or less) please contact me.

And, just so I have a photo in my post, here's a shot from a recent downtown session. I love brick alleyways. =)

Welcome to the Barefoot Blog!

2006-12-16T20:49:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO THE BAREFOOT PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG!!!

Hi All! I have decided to join the blogging world! This blog will be chock full of photographs of my family and tid bits about my daily life. Hopefully this will also be a place where you can get up-to-date info about Barefoot Photography specials and events and also where you can get to know me and my personality a bit. Plus, clients, if you've recently had a session with me, you might even get a sneak peek at your images! =)

Just to kick it off, here are a few of my favorite images from my first year in business.

First off--little Bella--one of the sweetest, most gentle-spirited children I have EVER met.

This next one is from my first in-home family session which was a great experience. The mom totally GOT what I am going for in my pictures and was up for anything which ROCKED. Plus, it never hurts when the kids are super cute. =)

My friend Karen and her beautiful family.

This was actually a maternity session, but I couldn't help but take a few photographs of those beautiful girlies! Check out the cute boots!

From that same session...

I am soo blessed to be able to do something that I love so much. Thank you to everyone who took a chance on a brand new photographer. I appreciate your confidence in me and highly enjoyed the time spent with your families. My hope is that you will treasure your images for years to come.

P.S. Shout out to my dear, sweet husband, who encouraged me to pursue this dream and has been my biggest supporter. You ROCK, honey.