Brett and I are officially back to work for 2010 this week.  Well…..since we took off in mid-December we have done a couple weddings and many personal shoots, but this week marks the beginning of our 2010 bookings.  We feel so incredibly blessed that we had a waiting list from 2009 to be put on the schedule for 2010, and we were shocked that we nearly filled the calendar to September the very first week we began booking for 2010! {Thank you so much!!!}

I have to say that our winter break was a much needed hiatus.  At the beginning of 2009, we knew we had a lot of exciting sessions in store but as we began booking more and more, we knew we needed to gain a better understanding of booking for our lives.  To give you an idea of our history here’s a little about OUR story……

Before we had a photography business I had always loved to take photos- not only to capture a moment in time, but to be able hold a piece of paper that could speak volumes and evoke emotions….while motionless and silent.  When I began photographing my children and people began to offer to pay me to take photos of their children, I brushed it off thinking they were just being kind.  In the summer of 2006 I decided to take the plunge on a digital SLR.  My Dad helped me buy it for my birthday, and I began shooting like a mad woman.  By fall I began building my portfolio by shooting children and  families, and my passion grew and grew.  I knew I could do this.  I wanted to do this.  At first Brett was a bit reluctant.  Something new had popped up and was taking free time and nights away from him. You see, he had never been interested in photography.  At least not up until that point.

Brett gave me his complete support, and I took a class that next spring to fully grasp my settings and shooting full manual.  I ate it up- every flipping minute.  I guess you could say I was the suck up in class, and when my teacher called me the “prize student,” I was TOTALLY cool with that.  ;)  By the end of those classes I could shoot in manual without much thought at all, and I also learned so much about my personal style and technique.  I would come home at night and show Brett what I learned.  If you know Brett, you know he LOVES to learn.  Bless him for marrying me, because I am so not naturally wired that way, but I admire his zest for learning so much.  He learned everything about shooting, all the crazy techy aspects, and by my last few classes I would come home and he was TEACHING ME about things he had been researching.  (WHAT?)

One day I had this outrageous thought of pulling him into this “love” with  me.  How AMAZING would that be??!  So, I decided to test him.  I began by giving him simple assignments.  He went out and did mini-shoots and then we sat and talked about composition, about manipulating shutter speed for effect, about depth of field and achieving certain looks with your f-stop….and on, and on.  By fall of that year he was shooting with me, beginning on an engagement shoot.  He has been by my side since, and I can’t imagine studio3z without the angle and views he creates and captures at each shoot.

Since then I have stood amazed.  Like, FOR REAL, I can live this dream? I had no idea this could actually happen!  And then this last year came, and it rocked my world!  We had such a super fun year of traveling, meeting people, and expanding our business in many ways.  Even though we had a limit on the amount of shoots we would take on, we somehow ended up doing double.  It just happened.   Then I noticed other things like, my kids were begging for attention and complaining about my “always” being at the computer. November was the crash.  I cried…which I don’t really do (ignoring my last post about my sister’s wedding).  One day I sat stressed with my chest hurting and I thought, “Why am I doing this? I don’t HAVE to do this?”  I knew then and there that this next year would HAVE to be different if I was to continue.  I was tired of never having a real date with my husband, never having time with my kids besides schoolwork, and shuffling friends and family on the back burner- or feeling guilty if I took my “work” time to see them.  I found myself forgetting to write thank yous (which super annoyed me) and I was running on a 4-6 month late birthday present schedule.  Totally lame, but I had lost my balance.  My work had consumed too much of my life, and I was angry about it.

I often get emails from people asking me things like, “How do you have 4 kids, home school, and run your business?”  Sometimes I get back to them, but unfortunately, some go unanswered.  I plan to make some pages soon dedicated to answering some of these questions.  I have figured out I am not alone.  There are a lot of moms and dads out there trying to run their photography business and balance a family as well.  These are usually the type writing me.  I am exploring options on how I can expand my help for others on the subject as I also work on things for myself.

In conclusion, taking these last 2 months really slow has been refreshing.  We have had time to hang out with the kids, think about our future, explore goals, find new ways to grow, and of course lay around- without guilt!!! OH the GUILT that hinders a home business owner.

Honestly, most of this is in MY head. I am the planner, the worry wart. Brett has this amazing hippie feature of taking each moment in stride, and breathing in life…..while I grab him by the collar, bug eyed, screaming for help.  We’re a good team.

I love taking pictures.  I love that I get to call it “my job.”  I love that my husband now loves it too and is so incredibly supportive. (He’s also the world’s most amazing father….but that deserves a whole post in and of itself).  But I also love my family, and my much needed sanity. I’ve decided to begin this year knowing that I will not, can not, and utterly refuse to bite off more than I can chew.  I am booking a limited amount of sessions- for all the reasons I just talked your ears off about, as well as to maintain my quality, keep my creativity fresh, and continue to be inspired!!!

And just a quick update on our 2010 schedule: we have a few openings left from now through September, October is booked up, and we have a few openings still available in November.  If you are out of state (or country) and are interested in us photographing you, feel free to let us know!  Trips we are looking at this year are to Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles.  If you are in these cities and would be interested in a session with us, please let us know!!!

Sooooo- if you’ve made it through this novel of a post, BRAVO and a huge thanks for sticking with me. I don’t normally open up like this on here, but I felt I should share a bit of where we are today.  It’s just another step in our growth, and that makes me excited!

We are fully refreshed, revived, and thrilled to begin shooting again!!  Thanks for being with us on this journey.

We plan to look 2010 right in the eye, and show em’ what we’re made of.  ;)

Hey All!  Wow, it’s been a whirlwind of a week!  If you follow me on Twitter or we are Facebook friends, then you may know that my baby sister Ashley got married this past Sunday!  Brett, the kids, and I were all in the wedding, and WHAT A WEDDING IT WAS.  She had a vintage theme with an eclectic/Scottish flare to it.  Bet you’ve never seen that before!!  ;)  Really, it was absolutely stunning.

Below are a few photos I snagged that day….Seeing as we were in the wedding with our 4 kiddos, we were not the official photographers! Instead our pals Adam and Mel of Loft3 Photography came in to take care of that!  :)  I thought I would be able to get lots of fun ones of our family, but it just didn’t work out that way.  Turns out, when I am in a strapless dress and heels managing 4 kids in dress clothes, relaxing was not really possible.  Who knew?

Here we are at the rehearsal. My three boys were the ring bearers.  They were so precious!!!  Gabe took his job INCREDIBLY serious.

I had to talk to the other boys about leaving Gabe alone.  They walked right in front of him!  But they did it perfect on the wedding day.

Daddy and Ashley walking down  :)

Wedding day morning!!

Ashley and Priya hugging up on Grandma.

We were listening to Grease on vinyl as Ashley sang and dance for us all.  She was the most relaxed bride I have EVER seen!! It was weird.  I on the other hand…..

The “girl” scene.

My Dad was happy to get on his Wallace plaid.  What else would William Wallace wear to his daughter’s wedding?

My sister’s hair was the bomb.

Priya was taking photos and got this one of Ash holding my hand while I was getting my make-up done.  I thought it was cute.

FLIPPING GORGEOUS!!!!

And we can’t forget the groom!!  Brett was off getting ready and taking photos of Adam.  He had the three boys with him too.  :)

How do you entertain 3 kiddos while you take photos?  Stick them on the floor with happy meals.  Well, at least my deprived children.  This kept them happy for awhile, I would imagine.

Cutie pie Adam.

At the dinner- my brother being cute.

We had such an amazing team of vendors that day.  Below you will see Adam and Mel on the right of Loft3, and Steve and Josh on the left of Studio Z Films.  I can’t tell you how excited I am to see what they all captured!!!

Two cute boys.

My sister Angie with her boyfriend John.  :)

Gabe kissing Uncle J.  Brett’s brother Jason was the DJ for the night!

This dessert table was UNREAL. Every single one on this table rocked my socks OFF.  The baker is Amy’s mom, one of our brides and one of Ash’s BFF’s.   :)

Me + my girl.

Katie Elfers seriously ROCKED our world with her floral arrangements!!  She took my sister’s vision, and went above and beyond to make it a reality.  WOW. (These photos don’t do what I just said any justice….but I’m sure you can find more on Loft3’s blog soon.)

My middle man Riah with his Uncle.

Gabe had a blast!!  He was so good that night I could hardly believe it.  He was hamming it up too.

So a few things about my sister’s wedding that stood out for me:

– Priya had a blast being all “girlie” and I am so glad Ash had her as a bridesmaid.  She got her first mani+pedi, hair and make-up done…and just had so much fun.

-Driving to meet the girls wedding day morning…I felt so emotional, and I sat thinking, “Should I just let it all out on the way?  Should I just try to hold it in?”  This went on for about 30 mins.

-My Grandma was so cute and proud.

-Ashley singing and dancing around while I felt like I was going to have a breakdown during getting ready.

-My Dad in his kilt. (AWESOME)

-About 10 mins before photos, realizing I left Brett’s vest and shirt at home….30 mins away.

-Seeing my sister put her dress on.  I thought she looked the most beautiful I had ever seen.  GORGEOUS.

-The bagpipers.

-Seeing her walk down the isle with Daddy….and I loved watching Adam’s face.

-The bridal party sat during part of the ceremony and then had to get back up. During the sitting part Gabe fell asleep in my lap.  I had to pick him up and bring him with me.

-Knowing I had made it almost through the whole wedding without a tear!! Then my Dad stood up for a prayer and began to cry.  The flood gates opened for us all.

-Just as that prayer happened, my Grandma loudly says, “Well, he’s cracked up now.”  Totally the funniest moment of the night.

-Arriving to the reception, Gabe opened his own floodgates- on the dance floor.  He hasn’t had an accident in months, but there he stood in a 2 ft puddle….pointed down, and simply said, “I peed.”

-Realizing I didn’t pack an extra outfit, or undies for Gabe…just like Brett had suggested I do.  I sat with him in the bathroom blotting his clothes with paper towels, and trying to think happy thoughts.  Every time someone walked in Gabe pointed to his clothes and simply said, “I peed.”

-Fabulous food at the Celestial.

-My Dad’s speech…OH MAN, I lost it.  He got up and talked about how Ashley was born early and her lungs were not developed.  She had to stay in the hospital, and she had to miss that time in her Mama’s womb, hearing the sound of her heartbeat. He said that she was special, because when she came home he held her on his chest, next to his heart for a month to make up for what she had lost.

Seriously?  My face was a waterfall.

-Then Adam got up and thanked our the families, and thanked the Wallace’s for Ashley (as he cried)…yeah, my face = waterfall.

-Then Ash and Adam left at 7:30 on the dot.  I didn’t get a long goodbye, and that just added to my emotional state.

-I went to bed that night like a truck hit me, and awoke like I was waking from a coma.  I slept hard.  :)

I love my Ashie, and now my new brother Adam.  I can’t wait to watch their love grow over the years.  They are on their honeymoon, and I am having some serious withdrawals.  I don’t go more than a day- two MAX before talking….but I know she is having the time of her life.  :)

When the OFFICIAL photos are posted, I will let you all know probably via Twitter….so follow me if you don’t already!  Thanks to all our studio3z friends who sent sweet tweets, emails, and FB messages over the weekend!!  I loved getting them.