Reflections Photography

Snow 2012

2012-01-18T20:25:00.000-08:00

Since it's snowing, why not get your portraits taken it it. Call to book a mini session today. This literally won't last.

The Great Hair Experiment

2012-01-08T21:12:00.000-08:00

Well he's been talking about it for quite some time now, and it has finally come...

For those of you that don't personally know my son Vincent. He is quite the creative one. He's only 8, and yet he seems to have his own creative quirky side to him. Much like his father. I would say he likes the shock factor of surprising people with new crazy styles and off beat antics.

He has been talking about shaving his head on New Years Day for quite some time now, with the intention of growing it out for exactly 1 year to see how long it'll grow.

Well we forgot to shave it on New Years Day, but we did remember today. Only 1 week late. Oh well, we will just have to wait till January 8th of 2012 to cut it again.

Well Levi, Vinny's younger brother had to jump on the band wagon too, because he adores his big brother Vinny and wants to be just as quirky as him. So here it is, middle of the winter, with 2 bald headed boys. Good thing they got lots of cool new knit hats from their grandpa this year, because they are going to need them.

The goal is to photograph them once a week to see the progress of the growth. Now if I can just remember to do it. lol....

Fall Color

2011-11-18T16:30:00.000-08:00

I had a chance to get out last weekend early and capture a few fall shots. Couldn't resist.

More New Products to Show Off

2011-11-18T15:45:00.000-08:00

I just received this Reflections Album and Book this week for 2 clients, and they are just too nice to not show off. These are really well made and absolutely GORGEOUS. They make the perfect Holiday Gifts.

New Image Boxes

2011-10-31T15:21:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about this new products that I am offering. I just received my first new image box, and it's amazing. So stinking cute. Just waiting for the little picture frame holder to put up which ever picture I want to display. The one I am showing you here is a 6x6 image box. It holds up to 20 mounted 6x6 images. I can put it on a wall shelf, mantel, or table, and rotate out the picture I want to show for that day or display as many as I choose at once.....

I'm in love......

Family Pumpkin Day

2011-10-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Fall is such a fun time for family. Our family has made it a tradition every year to visit a farm and pick out some fall pumpkins. Normally we go to Sequim, because it's on the way to Grandma and Grandpas, and they have an awesome pumpkin farm there with pumpkin slinging, baby pig chasing and an awesome corn maze, but David wasn't feeling so great this year, and didn't want to risk getting the Grandparents sick. So we opted to try someplace a little closer.

We found online a farm in Kingston that looked like a lot of fun. It was called Sunrise Hill Farm and so we took the drive over. I was so happy we did. The weather was terrific, and the fall colors were mesmerizing. Everyplace was just glowing yellow, orange, red and gold.

The little farm was just delightful. They had a giant corn maze, which we decided not to go in. The entire maze was over 1.2 miles long, and we just didn't think the little ones would last that long in the corn. We did get to pet goats, ponies, llamas, sheep and see chickens. We flung some mini pumpkins into a field with a giant rubber band and topped it off with a hot cup or apple cider and cocoa for the boys. It was another awesome family day that will be part of the Wessel Family Memories Photo Album......

The Whole Shebang.....

2011-09-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

Yes....... Autumn is finally here.

Yes Yes...... it's my favorite time of year.

Yes Yes Yes..... The colors are magnificent and the lighting is to die for.

That's why this year, I want to give EVERYONE the opportunity to take advantage of this AMAZING offer.
That's right, for only $150.00, you get the whole Shebang...
I will be picking 2 locations. One in Gig Harbor on Oct. 15th, and one in Tacoma on Oct. 22nd. to be taking your portraits...
What you get is C.D. of your High Resolution images and a copyright release to have them printed where ever you want.
This is a great Deal, especially for those of you that have a lot of family and friend to send Christmas cards and gifts too....
Sessions are very limited so book your today... Just send me an email of the date and times that work best for you and your family...

Miss Devon

2011-05-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

Meet Devon. She's got ton's of personality. She's an artist and a lover of art. She doesn't particularly like her freckles, but I think they are super cute...

Devon has just been accepted into the Tacoma School of Arts for next year and she is going to do awesome there. She is a great artist. It's a rare occasion that you don't see her with her sketch pad working on her artist skills. She loves to paint and loves the octopus along with almost any reptile or amphibian. She currently has several lizard, snake, frog and newt pets. She also loves to rescue and rehabilitate pets that have been neglected.

As you can see she is a character with many different hats. Physically and metaphorically....

My Muse

2011-05-05T17:45:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to have lots of cool areas around my property that could work for my portraits, these are 2 that I've been working on. Let me know what you think.

Of course Levi is the perfect little model to try them out. I thought about washing his face, but why. It's so him, and it totally fit with the setting...

Time to start shooting again

2011-04-29T22:19:00.000-07:00

My life has become so busy. As many of you may or may not know, I have become a foster mother. My once, what seemed like chaotic life, has increased in it's chaos times 2. I have really been enjoying getting to take care of the 2 extra darling babies in my home, but I sometimes miss my love of photography...

I know how important is is for me to have something that is just for me. My goal is to be out more, doing what I love. So get ready to see lots of new work on this sadly neglected blog.

As a step in the right direction, I got together with some other local photographers to just photograph each others children for fun and to inspire each other.

Here are some of the results of this fun afternoon of shooting.

Christmas Special

2010-11-13T08:08:00.001-08:00

With Christmas just 1 month away, there is no time to waste...

Book your Mini Session now and get your holiday portraits and cards out on time.

Sorry guys but this offer is not valid with any other offers, including gift cards.

Congrats to our Winners

2010-11-12T16:08:00.001-08:00

This is a BIG congrats to our winners of the coolest costumed kids contest from Play-A-Latte's Fun-ted House Event. These adorable kids got to take home some amazing prizes, and they all helped out the charity Stand-Up for Kids, Since all the proceeds from the portraits went to them...

Thanks so much for coming to our fun event. We hope you had an amazing time.....

Angel Daisy Wessel "Mouser Extraordinare"

2010-09-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

Rubbing in the catnip.
One of my favorite spots to hang out.

High on the catnip.

Now I'm feeling a little frisky.

Anything looks like a fun toy after playing in the catnip.

The catnip patch after a little frolic.

Meet Angel Daisy Wessel, Yes (named by my boys.)

About a year ago, we were having a real problem with rats and mice. Living on 2+ acres, that's mostly wooded and having chickens and a dog, we were attracting quite a few of these pests because of the food left out. That's when we decided we needed a good MOUSER. We were in luck, as one of my clients cats had just had a litter, and they were barn cats. Never lived inside. We jumped on the opportunity to take her home.

She has been an excellent mouser. We have hardly seen any mice or rats at all this year. We don't often see her with them, but we know she's doing her job. She also catches moles, who would've known.

This spring I thought it would be nice to plant her some catnip in my garden. I thought I'd make her some toys out of it. To my surprise though, she found the patch before it was even ready to pick. I often find her out there in the garden just rolling in it. She loves to lay in it, and rub it all over her fur. Afterwards she is usually pretty fiesty. If you try to pet her, she just wants to play, and will grab a hold of your hand with her sharp claws and gently bite. Just enough to let you know that you probably shouldn't try to pet her right now.

The one regret I have is that she has beautiful long hair. I can't for the life of me keep it clean. She rolls daily in the dirt and sawdust. But on the other hand, I'm sure she is much more comfortable in the winter than a short haired cat would be.

Angel Daisy Wessel may not be well groomed, but she is well loved.

Help out Camp to Belong

2010-07-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Help out some foster kids and get rewarded....

As you may remember, last year was my first time volunteering to photograph the kids at "Camp to Belong". It was a very rewarding experience, being able to give these very deserving siblings a way to take home the memories of the time they shared with their siblings.

For those of you that don't know what "Camp to Belong" is, it is a non profit camp dedicated to reuniting siblings whom have been placed in separate foster throughout Washington, for a fun filled week of camp. You can read more about it by visiting their website at www.camptobelong.org/washington/

Thanks to the generosity of people who donated last year, I was able to give each of the children a good sized portrait package of them with their siblings as well as a smaller package of them each individually. I was also able to print out quite a few snapshots that I had taken throughout the week, which they put into scrapbooks to take home.

This years Camp to Belong is coming up very soon (August 15th). In order for me to be able to send the 100 campers home with portrait packages again, I am going to need to raise some money. I have decided to sell Reflections Photography Gift cards for $50.00 and $100.00 as a fundraiser. (100% of the proceeds from the money earned will go towards Camp to Belong Portraits) If you can't give this much, please feel free to send as much or as little as you feel.

To donate, please send your check to Reflections Photography, 653 S.E. Lakeway Blvd. Port Orchard, WA. 98367. If you send $50.00 or $100.00, I will send you a gift card.

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. It is greatly appreciated.

God Bless,

Anna Wessel

A very adored little boy

2010-06-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

This little guy is super loved and adored by both his parents and grandparents. You can see it in all of their eyes when they look at each and in Connors smiles.....

Danner and Honey

2010-05-25T14:00:00.001-07:00

Danner and Honey, two amazingly beautiful horses. A friend asked me if I'd photograph these beautiful horses for a gift for her daughter's birthday. I jumped on the opportunity without hesitation. I am so fascinated with the grandeur of horses. They are amazing animals. So powerful, and yet so approachable. I've really been wanting to photograph horses. Living in a somewhat country like setting, I drive by so many everyday. So this was a real treat for me.

These horses have an amazing story to tell as well. Their owner Theresa, rescued them from slaughter. She bought them from an organization called the PMU Foal Acquisition Network, This organization rescues colts, finds temporary foster homes for them, and then new permanent owners. You should read about it on their website. This is a very noble cause. Could you image, these poor guys would've been glue or dog food. So glad she saved them. They were very sweet.

The Pearsal's

2010-05-25T10:08:00.001-07:00

The Pearsal Family,

This is a super nice family. I met Leslie at our kids school. Lesley is such a go getter. Your basic all around SUPER Mom. She's the head of the P.T.A. and I think her daughters swim team too. Things sometimes get stressful when your trying to get things done at these organizations, but you would never know it with Lesley, who's always got a smile on her face. No matter what.

We were so lucky to actually get enough of a break in the rain to get some great pictures of the family out at Manchester. I love this beach. Great views.

Aren't they just toooooo cute.......

So I'm pretty sure I'm going to make it a Refection's Photography signature shot to be jumping. So if your ready to book a session, be ready to JUMP....... LOL...... Just kidding.

Sassy Sweet Teens

2010-05-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

I honestly think every senior needs at least one jumping photo don't you?

Sassy sweet Stephanie was so stinkin cute. She came with her prom dress and her perky personality. She was a VERY fun model.

Pixie Ella

2010-04-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Pixie Ella,

Little Ella is a very sweet little girl. She loves to run around without any shoes on, even when it's raining out. Mom says her favorite thing to do is play pixie's in the wooded area behind the house. She and her mom worked very hard in designing this pixie sized labyrinth that you see her standing in front of. She really lit up when we went to take her portrait in it. I can tell she puts a lot of pride in it, and loves the time she got to spend with mom working on it.

She is a very sweet free spirit and I think we captured some of it in these portraits. I can't wait to show you the rest, including the beautiful family portraits we captured Tina. Your going to Love Them...

Birthday's are more fun at Play-A-Latte

2010-04-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

Ava got to celebrate her special day at Play-A-Latte. As you can see in these pictures, this is going to be a day to remember for her.

Soon you will be able to hire me to photograph your birthday at Play-A-Latte too, as I am working on special packages designed just for Play-A-Latte birthday party customers.

Happy Birthday Ava. You were a darling little model on your special day.

Gracie

2010-02-02T10:04:00.001-08:00

Gracie baby is coming up on 2 now.... She came to the Valentine's day event with her huge smiles and ready to go. If only every child was this easy to get to smile. My job would be a breeze. Gracie is about to be a big sister. I can't wait to see her new little brother, which I am sure she is super excited about too.

Thanks so much Adam for bringing her out. It was a joy to see you both. Hope you had fun. best of luck with the rest of the pregnancy, and I am anxiously awaiting that call for pictures of Colton....

Madline and Blake

2010-01-31T17:54:00.000-08:00

I met these two cuties last summer when they were modeling for the Garden Baby Boutique fashion show. I've been wishing ever since that Mom would bring them in for me to photograph. Madeline is a very happy little girl and I knew she would be easy to get smiles out of. She's got LOTS of personality. Blake, the handsome little guy, is just so cute.... He's a chunk and reminds me so much of my Vinny when he was a baby. He's always got that cute little pout y bottom lip thing going on, and those cheeks you want to nuzzle. Thanks so much for bringing them to the event Tori... I can't wait to show you the rest.

Karen and B.J.

2010-01-25T12:46:00.001-08:00

I know, I know, it has been WAY too long since I have posted any blogs.... I've been very lazy in getting any thing on here.... This very sweet couple I met this fall, during my special I held in Pt. Defiance park... That fall day was just the best ever for color saturation and the weather was superb. I enjoyed every moment I had with each of my shoots that day.... Thanks Karen and B.J. for coming out and allowing me to capture your special moments before that handsome Owen came. I look forward to someday taking his portrait....

2010-01-25T12:23:00.000-08:00

This Friday and Saturday only.......

Reflections Photography will have a studio set up at Play-A-Latte Gig Harbor.

Friday from 10-4
Saturday from 9-12

Call now to book an appointment. There are limited sessions available.

Also Garden Baby Boutique will be there with some fresh new Valentine outfits that you are sure to love.

$2.00 discount on play time Friday only....

Hope to see you there.

Call (360) 874-1828 to book you appointment today....

2009-12-16T14:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Holloween

2009-11-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

Everyone looked awesome. There were so many cute costumes. Please don't be offended if you don't see yours. I could only post so many...

Thank you to EVERYONE whom came out for our FUN Halloween event. I had so much fun photographing all the cute kids in costumes...

Hope you all enjoy your free picture, and don't forget to schedule your family portrait session for the Holidays. Christmas is going to be here before you know it.

The Townsend Family

2009-10-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

We arrived just after the sun went behind the trees leaving a nice sunset over Mt. Rainier. I love the beautiful fall colors behind the kids in these individual portraits. The lighting is so flattering.

I met Dawn last year at Burley Glenwood Elementary school. She was the co-president of the P.T.A. there. This sweet lady puts in some major behind the scenes time to make school functions run at the school. I just love her giving heart and gentle spirit. She is raising a terrific family too....

Thank you Dawn for inviting me to photograph your family... Hope I didn't wear you all out making you hike that mountain...HAHA....

The Mattos Family

2009-10-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the Mattos family. I love this little beach in Manchester. It's one of the few around the sound with that nice white sand that you love to run your fingers through. Not to mention it's one of the best spots to see the Seattle skyline to the North and Mt. Rainier to the South. Gorgeous. If you've never been there, I recommend the short drive. Nice place to catch a sunset....

Enjoying the fall sooooo much

2009-10-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. I love the cool crisp air, the changing colors of the leaves. The littering of leaves of the ground. This year has been amazing for Washington. We've had so many warm fall days with so little rain. I love seeing the sun shining. The trees look like burning embers of reds, oranges and yellows glowing. I've been very lucky to have several families book their outdoor sessions this year in the beautiful Washington parks. It's been a lot of fun capturing their images in such beautiful places. Here you can see some of my favorite photographs from the sessions. I'll be posting more soon. So keep watching.

There's still time to book a free Friday session . This Friday I'll be photographing families at Point Defiance Park. One of my favorites. The colors there are AMAZING. Let's just hope the weather holds out. I still have openings. So give me a call if you are interested in the free session...

Fall fun on the farm

2009-09-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

Adorable Baby Wyatt has some of the biggest blues I've ever seen....

This is a sneak peek for the McNatt Family... I photographed them over the weekend at their old farm.... Lovely fall leaves littered the ground, and sheep Blaaahhhhing in the background.

Their children were a delight. Easy to capture and work with....

Enjoy the sneak peek....

Free Fall Fridays

2009-09-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

I'll be giving free sessions on these 3 Fridays. If you've been thinking about having your portraits taken, but putting it off, this is a great opportunity to get it done, and save some money.

There is limited availability, so book your session today...

This is perfect for the Holidays as well...

Fall portraits make beautiful Christmas cards and gifts...

Garden Baby Boutique's Annual Fashion Show

2009-08-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

Garden Baby Boutique invited me out to photograph their annual Fashion Show this year in down town Port Orchard. It was an absolute blast for the kids and grown ups alike. They had bubble man, whom put on quite a show. The kids LOVED him, a Diaper Derby and then a showing of the new fall lineof clothes.

If you didn't make it this year, be sure to make it next year. It was a lot of fun...

This is Garry a.k.a Bubble Man. He's wonderful. You can hire him for partys. You can find him at http://www.bubbleman.com/

He's great entertainment for birthday parties.

The Diaper Derby... I love how Dad's giving the cutie on the left the rundown in this picture. Sooooo cute....

The Diaper Derby winner. She looks very proud of herself if you ask me...

Some of the cute models showing off their new clothes....

By the way, if you didn't already know this, Courtney, the owner of Garden Baby Boutique, hand designs and sews many of the outfits in her shop. You can go into her store and pick out your favorite, and have it handmade to your liking. She is very talented. If you haven't been in her shop, it's definitly worth checking out. She also carries a lot of items from local vendors... Meaning when you purchase from her shop, your supporting your local artists... Don't you just love that... I do...

The Bear

2009-08-20T17:28:00.001-07:00

Not the best picture, but I was happy to finally see one.

Mary's falls

2009-08-20T17:06:00.001-07:00

Last night we met Dave after work and hiked up to Mary's Falls. It was gorgeous. We saw lots more animals. Including a bear.... The park is gorgeous. I'd love to see it in winter when it's covered in snow...

Tomorrow we make the long journey back home... Can't say I won't be happy to see it...

Glacier National Park

2009-08-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

WOW... what a summer it's been. I was planning a trip to California to visit family, which got changed at the last minute, and ended me up in Colorado instead. That was an amazing trip across, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Southern Montana. Once I got there, my sister thought it would be fun to go to Rocky Mountain National Park. You saw a few pictures from there. AMAZING VIEWS. Then we decided, we're already here lets take an extra day on the way home and see Yellowstone National Park. WOW... I was blown away... As if that weren't enough. My husband has been called out on a job in Glacier National Park. Since we had nothing serious going on, I was able to reschedule a few things, and here we are. Visiting Glacier. This has been one of the most amazing summers of my life. You all know how I love nature, and photography. Who could ask for more than to get to visit three of our nations most beautiful National Parks all in one amazing year. I am truly blessed. My kids by the way have been wonderful the entire time too. They travel quite well. Surprisingly... Here are a few pictures from my last couple of days... Enjoy...

Rocky Mountain National Park

2009-08-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

I still haven't even began to edit the massive amounts of beautiful pictures I took on this vacation, but at least I can share a few with you that seem to stand out as some of my favorites.

My sister thought it would be nice to take us to see the Rocky Mountains while we were visiting. It was a perfect day. The entire drive up the mountain was gorgeous. It was just on the brink of rain for most of the drive, which leaves beautiful fluffy clouds. We did get a little bit of rain on the drive there, but mostly just had to deal with a bit of chill. We saw some pretty cool animals too. This first picture is of a Marmot. I had no idea what a marmot was until I met this guy. They're pretty friendly little dudes. I was able to get pretty close to him. I think he was hoping we'd throw him some food. The ground squirrels were extremely tame. They were eating right out of our hands. The Elk didn't mind us getting near them either. They just continued to graze while bunches of people were getting closer and closer to take a look and a picture. I found it fascinating that all the bulls were hanging out on one side of the mountain, and the does were on the other.

By the time we were ready to go home, the clouds were below us. We had ventured more than 11,000 ft. up the mountains. It was really cool seeing the clouds bellow over the mountain tops, by this time we were seeing just the tips of the mountains peeking through holes in the clouds.

This was a wonderful experience getting to see such a beautiful place right here in the good old U.S.A. I highly recommend going to see this park to anyone visiting Colorado...

My Sister's Family

2009-08-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

I just had to post one more picture. This is my Sister Kendall and brother-in-law Jay. From left to right are the kids Elena, Natasha, Kenny, Zach, Ruslan and Sasha. I love this picture of them. They are very difficult to get all together. Very active family, between Gymnastic lessons, piano lessons, swimming team, Tae-Kwon-Do, Work etc... etc... etc... it's a wonder they are ever all together. So I really love this portrait on the top of the Rocky Mountains. It shows the love this family has. I had such a wonderful time visiting them. The kids are awesome, and I wish we could live closer to see them more. I really appreciate the little time I get to be with them...

Time

2009-08-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

My sister Kendall and Brother-in-law Jay

My Nephew Kenny and Bella

Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls City Idaho

Arrival in Colorado

Deborah and I at Snake River Canyon. My 6 year old took this picture. He did a pretty good job.

I have so many beautiful pictures to post, but alas time is short. I must go fishing today. Can't just sit around and play on the computer all day. I haven't even uploaded the pictures off of my camera from the Yellowstone National Park yet. Here are just a couple from the trip to Colorado and fun time with the family in Rocky Mtn. National Park.

Return from Colorado

2009-07-31T21:04:00.000-07:00

Hey there everyone. Well we made it back safe and sound. My intention was to post regularly about my trip, but it was so full and action packed that I never had time to post anything. I am so excited to go through my pictures. We went to the Rocky Mountain National Forest in Colorado, and went through the Yellowstone National Park on the way home. We were lucky enough to see, up close and personal, Elk, Black Bears, Bison, Deer, Marmot and chipmunks. One chipmunk even sat on my lap without any enticing. It was a very fun trip, and I can't wait to share some of the pictures from it with you.

Colorado Road Trip

2009-07-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

I am on vacation with my kids and my friend Deborah right now. Originally we were taking a road trip down the Oregon coast to California to visit my family, but our plans changed the day before we were supposed to leave. Instead we took a long trip to Colorado to visit my sister, whom has 6 children, (5 of which are adopted). The adventure has begun. We stayed our first night in a Oregon at a Hot Lake RV campground, which was very nice. I could have lived without the mosquito's though. There was a nice warm swimming pool we got to go swimming in right before we went to bed. The kids loved sleeping in the tent. The next morning we drove to Twin Falls Idaho. I never knew there was such a beautiful canyon and waterfall there. It's considered the Niagara Falls of Idaho. It was amazing. We unfortunately weren't there at the key light hour to get those amazing photos, but the view was breathtaking none the less. It was definitely worth the stop. We decided to truck all the way through the next day to Colorado. Utah had amazing rock formations like I've never seen before and Wyoming was so vast... I only wish I had more time to stop and enjoy more of the scenery.

We're now in Fort Collins visiting the family. Enjoying the company of my sister, brother-in-law, and 6 nieces and nephews. We've been doing lots of swimming, and horseback riding, and today we'll be going hiking. I'll try to continue posting pictures if I can. We'll be heading back through Yellowstone National Park next Wednesday. I can't wait to see it.

Camp to Belong Still in Need of Funding

2009-07-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

I just got off the phone with April VanGesen, the camp coordinator for the Camp to Belong here in Washington, and she let me know that there is a desperate need of funding to get this camp off the ground. She has forwarded this letter which includes a list of items that they are still in need of to really make this camp work. So if you feel like you would like to help, you may send the money or gift cards, or whatever else you may have to donate to me or her at the address below.

I want to send out a VERY special THANK YOU to the people whom have sent money to help with the portraits. I have nearly reached the $500.00 already, and plan of giving any extra over to Camp to Belong to help make all of the wonderful events they have planned work...

Camp Members:
Australia
California ♥ Canada
♥ Georgia ♥Maine
♥ Massachusetts ♥ Nevada
♥ Oregon ♥ Washington
Washington DC ♥
Camp To Belong Northwest
April VanGesen ● Deb Kennedy
Co-Directors CTB Washington

Foster Family Connections
5457 E Blaisdell lane
Port Orchard, WA 98366
360.286.3992

Help us launch Camp To Belong Washington!

Camp To Belong Summer Camps were created to reunite siblings separated in foster care and other out of home care. Our unique programs reunite brothers and sisters in a safe, neutral, week-long camp environment to create childhood memories together that they would not have otherwise due to living in separate homes. Each Summer Camp provides intentional programming designed to strengthen sibling connection through our Signature Programs, including Art Activities, Sibling Enhancement, Life Seminar, and the Birthday Party Event.
Since 2001, Camp To Belong Northwest has reunited over 400 siblings from Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In 2008, we had an overwhelming response for camper spots, receiving 300 referrals, three times the amount of camper spots we had available. With only one camp serving the Northwest, we had to turn away many deserving brothers and sisters. It is due to this increasing need and response that in 2009 we launched Camp To Belong Washington and will be hosting our first summer camp at Miracle Ranch on the Kitsap Peninsula from August 24th – 29th.

Help us make this a camp to remember!

To accomplish our mission and to successfully host the Camp To Belong Washington Summer Camp, we need your help! We are still raising funds and as non-profit, we rely solely on donations from individuals, local businesses, corporations and grants. Donations of items and services are greatly needed as well. We are a dedicated group of individuals that volunteer our time and work year round to raise the funds needed to provide this experience for these disadvantaged youth. Every dollar we raise goes directly to the campers!

Camp To Belong Washington is a member camp directed by Friends of Foster Family Connections of Port Orchard, WA; with full rights and privilege to replicate the national Camp To Belong Program. The Internal Revenue Service recognizes the Oregon Foster Parent Association/Camp To Belong Northwest / Washington Tax Id # 91-1803863 as exempt under section 501 ( c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and Camp To Belong is also classified as a public charity under sections 509(a) (1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Camp To Belong Washington currently needs:

We still need to raise $6,000 to cover camp costs. (12 campers)

Sponsor for Rodeo Night – $1,000 (this is the cost for the actual rodeo)

Sponsor for Rock N Roll night - $500 (Cost of the band plus tie Dye shirts)

1. Grocery Store Gift Cards: To cover snacks for Rock N Roll night and Rodeo/ Carnival Night.

2. Walmart, Target & Fred Meyer Gift cards: To cover camper incidentals (forgotten kid items), Film developing of disposable cameras to make memory books, Nurse station supplies, first Aid Kits.

3. JoAnne & Michaels Gift Cards: Arts & craft projects.

4. Fast Food Gift Cards: Campers are coming from across the entire state of Washington plus abroad. This would help subsidize lunch while traveling to or from camp.

Please send all donations to:

Friends of Foster Family Connections
5457 E Blaisdell Lane
Port Orchard, WA 98366

Again, every dollar we raise and every item donated goes directly to support the camp program activities and campers scholarships.

We appreciate the opportunity to share our journey and submit this request for support for the 2009 camp season as we launch the first ever Camp To Belong Washington. We hope that you will choose to join us in this endeavor by contributing and we look forward to hearing from you for our 2009 camp season.

Sincerely,

Camp To Belong Washington Dedicated Volunteers

April VanGesen & Deb Kennedy
CTB NW Washington Co-Directors (360) 286-3992

Jack and Molly

2009-07-15T20:23:00.001-07:00

Here's a little sneak peek of the session I photographed this morning. See you in the morning Amy. Can't wait to show them all to you.

Anna

Help Seperated Foster Children Recieve Group Portraits.

2009-07-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Loyal Friends and Customer

I am writing to tell you about a wonderful opportunity that I have been given. This summer, I have been given the opportunity to photograph some wonderful Foster children. Camp to Belong, www.camptobelong.org is an organization that brings together sibling groups that have been separated thru the foster system, reuniting them for a week of fun and fellowship during the summer. There will be 75 children that will be reunited at this summer camp.

I am volunteering my time and talents to photograph these children during the camp, and to photograph the sibling groups together. Unfortunately, because this is a non profit organization putting this camp on, the funding is low, leaving no money to pay for prints for these children to take home. My desire is to be able to give each child a nice portrait package, with their siblings as a gift to remember their time together. As you can understand these portraits will be priceless to these kids.

I am writing to ask for donations. If you feel like you can spare even a little to help pay for portraits for these kids it would be very much appreciated. My goal is to earn a minimum of $500.00 which would provide each child a nice package. If there is enough donated, I will also be able to give a d.v.d slide show to each child of the events that took place at the camp. I have no intentions of making any profits at all from this event. My photo lab has agreed to print the pictures at %50 off. So if you feel lead to donate, you may send a check to me to 653 S.E. Lakeway Blvd. Port Orchard, WA. 98367.

Thank you,

Anna Wessel
653 S. E. Lakeway Blvd.
Port Orchard, WA. 98367

Reflections Photography
(360) 874-1828

Happy Independence Day

2009-07-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

I hope you all enjoyed your 4th of July Celebration. What a beautiful one it was this year. I love photographing fireworks. It's a challenge, and it's so fulfilling when you get a great shot. This year though I only photographed the ones that we put off ourselves. I really wanted to just be able to watch the big show and relax this time. It was so nice. The weather was awesome. I wore shorts and a T-shirt the entire evening.

We celebrated with our friends the Pashke's and their family this year. We ate, played Frisbee on the lawn and set off bundles of firecrackers with the kiddos. Then once it got dark we all piled into our cars and drove down to the Port Orchard Water Front where they put on the annual firework show over the water. It was a perfect way to celebrate the Independence of our country. My only regret was that I didn't take a picture of my strawberry, blueberry and cool whip flag decorated angel food cake that I made for the party. It looked like an American flag and it was a big hit. Once the first slice was cut into, it was gone within 5 minutes. Yummy...

Here are a few fun pictures I took of the kids playing with sparklers and such...

By the way, the best light show that I saw last night was put on by God... The sunset was remarkable, and the full moon was pretty impressive too. Never try to out-do God. He's got the upper hand when it comes to putting on a good show. Well enjoy your summer. I'll be getting back to you all soon.

Cute Little Rolls

2009-07-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

Jacob... cute little rolls is the best way to describe this adorable little 10 month old. He's all smiles, big beautiful green eyes, and lots of chubby little rolls. We had fun taking some pictures outdoors. We snuck onto a golf course for a nice backdrop, and some indoors where we could get him in some fun studio portraits.

There were tons of cute ones to show, but I don't want so spoil the surprise , so you only get a sneak at a few. Enjoy...

Super Awesome Sister Cuteness

2009-06-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

Rowyn and Reese are two of my most very favorite subjects to photograph. They are so totally photogenic, and always extremely cooperative. These portraits of them came out amazing as they always do. Mom and Dad are going to be thrilled when they see them. I can't wait to show them all off.

Ma Ma Ma Mia

2009-06-20T22:54:00.000-07:00

I photographed Mia and her mommy and daddy today. You may recognize this little cutie from some pictures that I have posted before. She was at the Garden Baby Boutique special event. In fact she was one of the winners from the contest.

This little cutie is so stylish. Mom's always got her dressed in the cutest duds. The outfit she's wearing in these portraits, was made by Courtney at the boutique, and the little bows she's wearing were made by her Mom Gabbi. Gabbi consigns these cute bows down at the Garden Baby Boutique. Just in case you were wondering where you could get some.

Mia reminds me of a little china doll. She is just adorable.

Charla

2009-06-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

Charla plays soccer...

Charla in her prom dress...

Charla being very cute...

My favorite. Charla in the flowers....

So yesterday I promised I would post some pictures of Bethany's very cute sister Charla today. I loved working with these girls. They were up to doing anything, and brought some really fun outfits for the session... Love it...

Santiago spells Cutie

2009-06-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

This is Amber and her adorable son Santiago. As many of you may remember, last year I held a contest at our local "Garden Baby Boutique" the winner was to receive a "Year in the Life Album".

Well I am here to officially announce our winner "Amber". I am so happy too, because not only does Amber have a handsome young man in her life, Santiago, but she also has a bun in the over. Perfect timing for her to win the "Year in the Life Album". We will be documenting her belly growth and the new baby being introduced into the family. What fun for all of us to get to watch.

We took this session at Manchester State Park, which seems to be my favorite place to shoot, as of late. The weather was perfect. I love the overcast sky. It gives my models such a nice look. Santiago was a joy to work with. I can't wait to photograph him again with mom dad and a belly.

Bethany

2009-06-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

Senior Reps... Yeah... This girl is super cute. Athletic, fun, outgoing and full of personality. I really enjoyed photographing her and her sister. These portraits really came out great. We tried out one new location. Don't you love the field of Daisies. P.S. They only bloom for a short time so if you want a session in the fun tall grass and daisies, book your session SOON. Keep posted to see pictures of her beautiful and also very photogenic sister Charla tomorrow.

More Twins

2009-06-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've had the fortune of getting to photograph twins. These two adorable 1 year olds were all smiles. So much fun. I love the little details, like their tiny little fingers, and sparkle in their eyes.

Frame Collections Worth Sharing

2009-06-11T14:24:00.000-07:00

Some recent customers that I photographed had this AWESOME frame collection that they showed me online. I was so impressed that I thought I would share it with all of you. Check out some of these frame collections at www.RedEnvelope.com type in frame collections in the search bar. These are so much fun. I totally want to get one, and fill it up with some awesome B&W's of the family.

Enjoy....

What's your favorite thing about living in the N.W.

2009-06-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of 10 of my favorite things about living in the North West. Let me know what yours is by posting it in the comments. I'm sure I've forgotten some good one's. I'm curious to see what others have to say.

1. 10 p.m. Sunsets in June

2. Being surrounded by the Sound in any direction

3. Big tall trees

4. Being able to call friends at 6p.m. and roasting hot dogs with them at 7p.m.

5. Reese's Peanut Butter Smore's (Oh Yeah)

6. Watching my kids climb big tall tree

7. Cool Summer mornings

8. Watching my kids experience something in nature for the first time

9. Community family events that go on almost every night of the week durring the summer

10. Walking down the street, and being waved to or smiled at by complete strangers... (A sense of community, rather than every one's in it for himself)

Five under Five

2009-06-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend I photographed Five very handsome young men under five years old on the Beach in Manchester. They were all troopers. I love the backdrop of the sand, driftwood and Sound behind them. This is definitely going to be one of my new FAVORITE spots to take clients. These little boys, all cousins, were great... Check them out...

Two Fun Sessions in One Weekend

2009-06-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted anything in a while, but honestly things have been slow. With the beautiful weather though it seems like portrait season is picking up. I've been getting quite a few calls with people wanting to take advantage of this gorgeous weather, and get some nice outdoor portraits.

I had a lot of fun photographing these two families this weekend. One was a couple from Port Orchard, whom just had their first babies. Twin girls, with loads of beautiful dark hair. This was a challenging session, as infants often are. One of the babies woke up during the session and well I won't tell you all the details, but lets just say Dad and I were running to the sink to get paper towels, and my new camera got initiated into baby portrait taking life. All is well though, and we got some beautiful portraits of the babies to prove it. This will definitely be a story mom will be writing down in the memory book.

The second session was taken in my studio, and my front yard. I love the outdoor shots, and my yard makes for a pretty nice backdrop if I don't say so myself. These energetic kids were terrific. I especially love the one of Tyler with his baseball bat. Seems the sport runs in the family.

Hope you all enjoyed the sneak peak, I'm looking forward to showing off the rest.

Port Orchard Art Walk this Friday, May 15th

2009-05-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

Come to down Port Orchard Bay Street Art Walk & Sidney Gallery After Hours from 4 to 8 this Friday the 15th. See local artists work, eat drink and be merry.

Stop by the Garden Baby Boutique to see ME.... the local featured photographer. I will have some work up, and will be there to greet people.

I'd love to see you there.

Gracie's First One Year Old Session

2009-05-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

Gracie, along with mom and dad, came to Gig Harbor for her one year session. This, sadly for me, will be the finalization of her Year in the Life album. She just celebrated turning one last week. She is such an adorable baby, and so easy to make smile. Even with her not feeling the greatest yesterday, we got beautiful smiles. I can't wait to put together her album. It's going to be great.

Olympia

2009-04-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

I went to Olympia with a couple of photographer friends last night to shoot some night photography. Here are a few of my favorite images of the evening. The state capitol building is always so beautiful at night. I had fun photographing the fire dancers in the park as well.

And the Winners are..........................

2009-04-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all of our beautiful girls....

The winners for the most votes are...

Runners up #6 and #8

Winner of $20.00 gift certificate for that's Beautiful...

Winner of free hair cut with Julie Coyle

3rd place goes to # 10 who will receive a $25.00 gift certificate to Mary Kay.

2nd place goes to #4 who receives a #25.00 gift certificate to Garden Baby Boutique.

And our Grand Prize Winner is #1...

Whom will receive a Free Portrait Session and 11x14 with Reflections Photography....

Wonderful Job to all of you and thank you for your participation.

If you were a winner, please contact me at (360) 874-1828 or email reflect2005@msn.com to discuss pickup or delivery of your prize.

Julea and Baby Gracie

2009-04-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

This is one of my dearest friends Julea. She is the most graceful pregnant woman I know. I've seen her thru 3 of her pregnancies now, and each time she amazes me. It's as if she's not even pregnant all the way to the end. You never hear from her the normal complaints that all of us women whine about. And when it's time to actually have the baby, her patience and trust in God is astounding.

This pregnancy was especially special though, because this is her first baby girl. She allowed me to come to her house and photograph Grace when she was still only 3 days old. We had a difficult time getting her to stay asleep for the photos, but got some really good portraits.

Promise of warmer days to come

2009-04-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend traveling to Mt. Vernon to see the not yet blooming tulip fields. My mother came to visit my sons Spring Break from school. So we decided to visit anyways, even though we knew the tulips had not started blooming yet. The weather was gorgeous, and so were the fields of daffodils. I have so many pictures to show off, but don't have time now to edit them. I just edited a few of my favorites to show off. Can't wait till the flowers really start blooming around here. Spring is one of my favorite times of year.

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-03-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

these are so cute.... I'd love one for my studio.

Vote Today for Cutest Kid from Garden Baby Event

2009-03-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

This is Beautiful and Talented Courtney (owner of Garden Baby Boutique) and her daughter Savannah, wearing matching shirts, designed and sewn by Courtney herself.

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to photograph a lot of very cute little girls at a special event put on by the Garden Baby Boutique in down town Port Orchard. It was so much fun for everyone.

This event was sponsored by Garden Baby Boutique, if you don't already receive her emails send her a note to get put onto her email list at Gardenbabyboutique@yahoo.com or you can call her at (360) 874-2323.

Other businesses that were there were (ME) at http://www.wa-reflectionsphotography.com/

That's Beautiful was there making custom beaded jewlery. You can reach Mercedes at Thatsbeautiful@hotmail.com (360) 874-2269.

Julie Coyle of Southworth Salon, whom specializes in children's hair cuts and styles. You can reach her for a haircut at (360) 769-2303.

Margarita Burnson was giving Mary Kay makeovers. You can reach her website at www.MaryKay.com/MBurnson or (360) 876-2455.

and Annette Johnson of Velvet Touch Massage was giving out mini chair massages. She can be reached at (360) 874-2200.

All in all this turned out to be a very fun event, with something for everyone to do.

As if this wasn't fun enough already, all of the businesses there have decided to join in and make a "Cutest Kid Photo Contest" out of the very cute pictures we took.

Here's how it works. Pick your favorite picture from below and put the # into the comments after this blog. If you are having trouble writing in the comments you can also email me your favorite # at reflect2005@msn.com . Then forward this website to EVERYONE in your email book, and get them to sign in and enter their vote too. I will tally up the finalist on April 10th, so send as many friends and family as you can to vote for your favorite kid. Please only 1 vote per email. Lets keep it fair for everyone.

First Place will receive a Gift Certificate for a Portrait Session and 11x14 from Reflections Photography.

Second Place will receive a $25.00 Gift Certificate for Garden Baby Boutique

Third Place will receive a $25.00 Gift Certificate for Mary Kay

Runners up will receive a $20.00 gift card for That's Beautiful

or a free children's hair cut from Julie Coyle at Southworth Salon.

Vote for your favorite in the comments section after this blog. Please leave your name too, not just anonymous.

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

#17

#18

Fun Portraits with the Click Chicks

2009-03-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

I belong to a group of pro photographers that meet once a month called the Click Chicks.

We do all sorts of fun things. Mostly networking stuff, but sometimes we Shoot together.

This month we had a grand shoot off. Experimenting with different lighting, in the studio, Natural window lighting, and lots of cute kids to photograph.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day. Too cute.

New Scrapbook Style Album Pages

2009-03-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I'm really into the portrait albums. I think besides your wall portraits, it's the best way to display, your family portrait heirlooms. These are quality albums, that are going to be passed down for generations.

I'm trying out something a little new now. It's digital scrapbook style album. It incorporates the popular scrapbook style, with the classic heirloom style albums. It looks very 3 dimensional, yet unlike scrapbook pages, you don't have to deal with things being glued in falling out.

Here are a few pages from an album that I'm working on right now. It's going to be a 10x10 flushmount album when it's completed. I can't wait to hold the finished product in my hands, and bet that the Flannery's can't either.

Big Brown Eyes a.k.a. Aisha

2009-03-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

She is so darling, with those giant brown puppy dog eyes, that just make you melt.

We really had a fun session this time. We've been waiting FOREVER for a nice enough day to get some outdoor portraits, and I think the wait paid off.

This is mom's favorite Wisteria bush. Doesn't it look cool in the winter, like a big heart.

Aisha kept me running. She's so mobile now, I spent most of the time photographing her from the back, because she's wanting to go...go...go... all the time. Not surprising for a 1 year old.

This was the last session for Aisha's Year in the Life album. I can't wait to start putting it together. It's really going to be cool seeing the progression of her growth from new born till now.

Tricidey's Two

2009-02-19T18:39:00.000-08:00

Tricidey is so dang cute. I've been practicing photographing with natural light indoors. Tricidey was my perfect little subject. I love her sweet personality.

Paul LovesToni

2009-02-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

I've been photographing Jacks family over the past couple of weeks. So at my first session at Jacks house, I met Paul (Jack's son) and Toni. Paul and Toni were so obviously in love, but to my surprise weren't married. I had a lot of fun, capturing these candids of them, being fun and flirty.

When I returned to photograph the rest of the family on Valentine's Day, I found out that Paul (That big romantic) had proposed to Toni... It's about time ;) . Toni was so excited to show off her new engagement ring.

Congratulations you two. You make a perfect couple.

Some more portraits with Jack

2009-02-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

After photographing Jack in the studio with his two grandsons, I was invited to their home to photograph Jack with his wife Sharon and his sons. These portraits of Jack and Sharon, moved me, so I thought that I would share.

These are heartfelt memories that will be cherished.

Portraits with PaPa Jack

2009-01-26T13:39:00.000-08:00

I've been photographing the Gates boys for just over a year now. We've been working our way through their Year in the Life Albums. It's a lot of fun watching the kids grow and change. I really thought it was special that they decided to bring Grandpa Jack along for the session this time. I know how much I love looking at the photographs my mom took of me with my grandma when I was a baby. The interaction and love that you can only remember because of these portraits will be treasures for years to come.

Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice

2009-01-21T21:26:00.001-08:00

That's what little Claire Bear is made of.

What can I say. Pink and Brown, sparkles and bows, and a little bit of sassy personality. Makes for a fun combination.

I've been dying to photograph a cute little girl with my new tutu I bought at a Holiday craft fair, and although my little Levi looks absolutely adorable in it, his dad would kill me.

Thank you Claire, your too cute.

A Very Special Valentine's Day Offer

2009-01-10T11:00:00.001-08:00

Ladies,

If you've been thinking about giving your sweetheart a sexy boudoir portrait. This is the time to do it. Valentine's Day is just a month away, and this is an offer you can't pass up.

The price is right, so book your session today.

This offer expires January 31st. 2009.

More Vegas

2009-01-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

Vinny on top of the world...

Destiney, Deja and Devin... My nieces and nephew...

My beautiful niece Destiney at the peak of the mountain...

Another beautiful place I visited while in Las Vegas, was Red Rock. The landscape there is amazing. The rock formations, caused by the sandstone and clay, and rain and wind are magnificent. My family decided to go hiking up the mountain. The way the rocks are formed cause a sort of a staircase to the top, which even my 2 year old was able to climb. It was a bit chilly out, but was an awesome day for going on a mountain climb. My husband was really sad that he didn't have any climbing gear to try out his new climbing skills that he had been practicing at Vertical World. Next time we go there, we'll have to make sure to bring him some.

My husband and son Levi on their way up the mountain...

Deja Vu...

I've Left Las Vegas

2008-12-30T15:47:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken from on top of the Stratosphere.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I know I did. I spent my Christmas at my sisters, who lives in Las Vegas. It was my first time there, and I really enjoyed seeing my family, and the night photography. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the strip.

The Stratosphere, where we stayed.

Have a wonderful New Year.

God Bless.

The Ebat's Precious Gift

2008-11-23T19:16:00.000-08:00

Kevin and Mary are this sweet couple that I've know for over 3 years now. Before they were married I used to always tell them they were the cutest couple I knew, because they were just so lovey all the time. I am so happy for them to be able to take that love of two, and make it three. They just had beautiful baby Zoey, and let me have the pleasure of being the first one to capture her beautiful face professionally. She is a sweet little doll, and I am very excited to watch her grow. I'm sure she is going to be a total sweetheart with loving parents like Kevin and Mary and with all the love she is going to get. Congratulations to you two and God Bless your new family of three.

The Barnum Fam

2008-11-17T07:17:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful weekend we had. It was awesome weather for taking the Barnum family portraits. What a fun loving family they are. I felt an instant connection with them. Especially, cute little five year old Jessica. When I went to their house, she immediately grabbed me by the hand to lead me up to her bedroom, and it was no different out at the beach. She was leading me around showing me all of her favorite spots, even almost pulling me down a hill one time. Very cute. This family laughs A-LOT. They are just so happy to be... I love it. I think some of these portraits show their character. And yes, I promised Jessica that she could be a fairy princess if she was good for the family photos. I hope she likes it. hehe.

Mom and Dad aren't they sweet.

Some cute portraits of the Henke Family

2008-11-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share a couple of GREAT portraits that I caught of the Henke family last weekend. Although they look great in color, I love them in Black and White. I think the black and white really brings you into the personality, without the distracation of color. These portraits are going to make great artistic wall collection, to enhance the home decor.

Who can resist a thumb sucker

2008-11-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

I know I can't. My little guy does it too, and it makes my heart melt.

Fun Night Photography

2008-11-06T13:17:00.000-08:00

A friend and I went out last night to experiment with some night photography. I love shooting at night. There is just so much possibility with all the lights, especially in the city. We chose to go to down town Tacoma and it was a lot of fun. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the evening. Let me know what you think.

Gracie's Growing Up

2008-11-03T06:37:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh, what a cute little girl. Gracie, is such a happy little baby. Obviously very loved, and adored. She was happy as a clam thru our entire outdoor and indoor session. Never cried a peep, and smiled simply by looking into my face. I LOVE THAT. Baby's like this make my job easy. We were lucky enough to get a break in the rain at Point Defiance, and the colors were off the hook!!! What an awesome day...

Frollicing Fun in the Fall Leaves

2008-11-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

I am just loving all the wonderful colors we are getting this year. It has been so fun photographing families out under the maple trees in all their splendor. The Orser Family have just the perfect homestead for taking amazing outdoor portraits. The old hen house, fences and mature trees make it an awesome backdrop. The girls, as usual, were cute as could be, and mom and dad were looking pretty hot too. These portraits are going to really going to bring some bright, fun, energy to the house, with all the yellows and greens, and are going to look great in the family album. It was really hard narrowing down my choices for the blog. There were so many great portraits, I can't wait to show them the rest. This was a really fun session.

2008-10-30T19:56:00.001-07:00

Autumnal Sonnet by William Allingham

Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods, And day by day the dead leaves fall and melt, And night by night the monitory blast Wails in the key-hold, telling how it pass'd O'er empty fields, or upland solitudes, Or grim wide wave; and now the power is felt Of melancholy, tenderer in its moods Than any joy indulgent summer dealt. Dear friends, together in the glimmering eve, Pensive and glad, with tones that recognise The soft invisible dew in each one's eyes, It may be, somewhat thus we shall have leave To walk with memory,--when distant lies Poor Earth, where we were wont to live and grieve.

Fun Abstract Art

2008-10-27T18:40:00.000-07:00

I'm posting some of my fun abstract pictures that I created in Photo shop. I went on a photo safari a few weeks ago in the Broadway Center for Performing Arts buildings. We were allowed to go and photograph some of the areas where people don't usually get to go, like the attic and the basement where they store all the old props and costumes. I took some of my favorite images from the day and sandwiched them together in photo shop, and came up with some fun images. Three of them will be hanging in the Tacoma Municipal building on Market Street downtown, you should go and check them out, along with the other photographers photos. It should make for an interesting show.

Just a beautiful sunrise

2008-10-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

While I was going through one of my clients files, I stumbled across this beautiful sunrise photo that I had nearly forgotton I took. It's so funny how often I'll take pictures of things, and forget all about them. I always think to myself that I'll do something with it someday, and then it gets tucked away into a file, never to be seen again. Well I thought to myself, this picture is worth sharing. So here it is. A beautiful sunrise that I shot on the way to a session one summer morning.

Enjoy.

The Jacobi Twins Turn One

2008-10-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

The Jacobi Twins, one day old.

Watching this family go from anticipation of having their first babies, to now the twins first birthday, has been a fun journey. The year has just flown by, and the Jacobi twins are growing and changing so quickly.

I've so enjoyed getting to be a small part of this families life, and getting to know Rhonda and James, and some of their lifes struggles and joys of being parents.

This photo session was really fun. The girls are at a great age to be photographed. They are just beginning to walk and are curios of all of their surroundings. I just love this age. It's so fun. Mom and Dad always say that one is a little angel and the other can be a little devil. I think we captured this well in our portrait of them in their Halloween Costumes. But personally I think their both little angels, and I can't tell them apart to save my life.

Hardy Family

2008-10-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a fun day. I photographed the Hardy family in a new fun location I found in Gig Harbor. The old barn made for a great back drop. The weather let up just long enough for us to get some great portraits, and we all had a great time. As you can see, the Hardy family is a fun loving family, these portraits really show the personality of this family. The kids are really funny. You can tell that they are having a fun time when their tongues are out. We had a great portrait session, and I can't wait to share all of the portraits with the family...

Pumpkin Time

2008-09-23T23:18:00.000-07:00

You know fall is officially here, when you begin to see the giant cardboard boxes of pumpkins in front of the grocery stores. I love those giant orange orbs. Something about them just screams fun to me. Perhaps it's my memories of flinging pumpkins thru the air at the pumpkin farm in Sequim. Autumn is such a wonderful time of year. The amazing colors of the leaves falling off the trees. The wind blowing, quiet whispers that winter is going to be here soon.
Every year I take my kids to the pumpkin farm to see all of the giant pumpkins and animals. We love to see the enormous squash that the farmers have been babying to grow so big. I love to take the kids portraits hugging and sitting on the giant orange and yellow pumpkins.

Fall is a great time to have outdoor family portraits taken. The portraits make wonderful Christmas gifts for family and friends, and gets one thing off the list for the busy Holiday season that is fast approaching. Plus we still have some dry days, which won't last forever. Call to book your outdoor fall season session now.

Hope you all enjoy your Autumn and hope to hear from you soon.

First Day of Kindergarten

2008-09-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Vinnee's first day of Kindergarten. This is the big day Vinnee has been waiting for all summer. We are lucky enough to live directly across the street from the school he will be going to until 6th grade.

We went to Wallmart and bought all of his school supplies, including his new Speed Racer backpack, only to find that Levi was extremely jealous. After listening to them fight over who got to wear the backpack all day, my mom and I decided we better go find Levi his own backpack. It was just in the nick of time too, because I just got thru throwing Levi's diaper bag into the trash because of a broken zipper. Now Levi can carry his own diapers and wipes. Haha. He doesn't care if there is anything in it or not, so why not.
Vinnee seemed to feel very comfortable at his new desk, and immediately started making friends and playing. I don't even think he noticed when Levi and I slipped out the door to walk home.

Levi on the other hand was very upset. He wanted so much to join brother for a fun day of activities at kinder garden, and even tried to push Vinnee out of his seat at his desk to play with the Lego's. We had an afternoon of a lot of tears. I think once he realizes that he's going to get mom all to himself for the afternoons he might not mind so much that his best buddy is gone for a few hours, but this might take a few weeks to sink in.

All in all it was a great first day at Burley Glenwood Elementary. Vinnee's only complaint was that it took to long in the day to go to Recess, which already seems to be his favorite subject.

The Sweet Anticipation

2008-08-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

I was honored to photograph Erin and Lucas's wedding last weekend. I love getting to record forever the awesomeness of one of the most beautiful and memorable days of a persons life.

Although I love every aspect of a wedding. From sharing of the vows to the exhausting end of the evening when everyone finally says their goodbyes to the new bride and groom, I have to say one of my very most favorite parts to photograph is the bride getting ready.

The excitement and anticipation of the day is just moving through the air. I love being able to capture some of that, not only for the memories, but also because this is a part that the groom doesn't get to see until later. I love capturing all the little details. The stuff that may have gone unnoticed is now created into a piece of art. Here are some of my favorite images from that part of what turned out to be a perfect day for Erin and Lucas. I hope you enjoy them.

I also want to say Congratulations to Erin and Lucas. May you live a long happy prosperous life together.

Glowing Beautiful Sara

2008-08-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

Sara is a beautiful glowing mother-to-be. Anxiously awaiting her new baby girl. She is a sweet girl with a gentle kind spirit, and is going to make a fine mother.

Sara will be picking out her favorite picture from the session and it will be hanging up in the Garden Baby Boutique for the month of September. So if you want to see more, stop on in and take a look. Tell Courtney, the shop owner that I sent you.

We finally got our first eggs

2008-08-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

If you recall seeing pictures of my boys this spring on the blog, you know that we got baby chicks this spring. Well, after a very long anticipated wait, we finally got our first couple of eggs over the weekend. They are so cute. Only about half the size of one you'd buy in the store. We're not sure if that's because it's only our little Ban tee chicken that's doing all the laying, or if it's normal for the first eggs to be extra small. Either way were very pleased and excited. Especially the boys.

Finally a good portrait of my dogs

2008-08-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hershey my Chocolate Lab is a ball obsessed-hyper-active dog, which makes taking a decent portrait of him, next to impossible. Now try to throw Weasel, my sweet little long-haired Dachshund into the picture, and you can just forget it.

Well when we were at Manchester park one day, they were both just sitting there so sweet, tied up to a fire hydrant, of all things, and looking posed, so I took this great shot of them. I wasn't exactly impressed with it, until I did some editing and came out with this. I think it's definitely a wall-print worthy portrait now. What do you think.

I just had to add this one because I thought it was funny.

Family Treasures

2008-08-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

Being a photographer has such great rewards. This morning I photographed a family who will be treasuring their portraits for the next year, as it will be a reminder of their brief visit that they got with dad/hubby before he had to go back to war. It's memories like these that mean so much, and makes my job such a joy.

Thanks Bev for inviting me to document this special time in your families life.

See you tomorrow when you get to see the rest. ;)

An awesome evening with the Sorters

2008-08-02T21:34:00.000-07:00

Gary and Rebecca invited my family and I to Anderson Bay Beach in Port Orchard for their portrait session. I love this little hidden state park. It's tucked away where you would never find it if you weren't looking. It's absolutely beautiful out there, with a nice sandy beach to hang out on. After the photo shoot, we built a Bonn fire (or bomb fire as my son Vinny calls it) and roasted marshmallows and hot dogs, and enjoyed the cool summer evening. The boys played in the sand while the adults hung out around the fire and talked. What an awesome way to spend an August night in Washington. Love it, and would do it again any time. Great company, good friends, and a beautiful summer evening what could be better. Here are a few of my faves from the night.

My baby is growing up...

2008-07-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

Vinny.... My handsome young man, is growing up. He's starting kindergarten next month. I can hardly believe it. He's always been such a ham, when it comes to taking portraits. He's really a natural in front of the camera. I just had to take some fun portraits of him with his "awesome dude hair cut" as he calls it. I thought the chain link fence with the over grown grass in our backyard made a fun background. He's already got his tough guy looks down. But don't let him fool you, is just a little sweetheart, as you can see. My big boy... They grow up much too fast. Hershey our big chocolate lab is soooo difficult to take portraits of, he'll hardly ever stay still long enough, and he's always fixated on the ball, but I think this is a pretty decent shot of him and Vinny. The sepia fits it pretty well.

A special moment

2008-07-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

I was at a birthday party for a friends boys this weekend, and just photographing randomly, people enjoying the party, when I saw this beautiful moment.

This new dad was comforting his 1 week old baby girl and I couldn't resist taking his picture. He had no idea that I was photographing him. I don't think I could have posed him myself any better.

Just thought I'd share.

Does it remind you a little of the Lion King?

Just CLOWNING Around

2008-07-18T21:16:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I think I enjoy the most about living in this area is all of the fun, family friendly events that happen all summer long. It seems that just about any night of the week, you can find entertainment in the outdoors. Weather it's music in the park, art walks, or movies in the park there is always something to do. I just think it's wonderful that the communities are so involved in creating a fun, safe environment for people to get together.

At one of these recent events, I discovered "Cosmo the Clown". Cosmo is a terrific clown. During his performance, I couldn't tell who was having more fun, him or the kids. He had the children so involved in his performance and they were absolutely mesmerized by him. He received a well deserved round of applause and encore request.

I asked Pat Cooper "Cosmo" to send me some information about himself as a clown to post on this blog. This is what I found out.

He picked the name Cosmo because it means order in latin. Ironic being that clowns are agents of chaos.

Cosmos been clowning for more than 20 years. He started out helping a out a friend named Apple Blossum the clown at an event, and has been hooked ever since.

Cosmo's training originally came from first hand experience, although he has attended many training workshops since to learn new clowning skills. His formal background is Fine Art studies at WSU. "If you ask me he's a natural."

He says " The most enjoyable part of clowning are the surprises the kids bring to every show, sometimes the best moments are when children say something that totally throws the show into a different direction."

I can tell you, Pat sat down next to me after the show and he was absolutely giddy from the reaction of the kids. This is a man who truly loves to make people smile, and it shows. His day job is working with people with disabilities. I can tell this is a man with a BIG heart.

Happy Independence Day

2008-07-06T20:23:00.001-07:00

Covered in mud...

Wolf Pack Howl.... That's his team...

Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. My family decided last minute to go camping at the Straddleline off road vehicle park. What was going to be a one night camping and quad riding trip, turned into a 4 day quad riding and racing trip. My son Vinny raced against 2 other kids in his class and came in 3rd. ;0 We're very proud of him though. He had a lot of fun riding in the mud. We went to Olympia to watch fireworks, only to find out that they don't have a fireworks show on the 4th there. HAHA. So we just went to the Capitol park, and watched them off in the distance. I got a few beautiful shots of the Capitol building at dusk and just after. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

I actually caught a couple of fire works going off behind the State Capital Building.

June Contest Winner

2008-07-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Stephanie Guptill for winning the monthly contest at the Garden Baby Boutique in Port Orchard. Every month I draw a name from the entries at the Garden Baby Boutique for a lucky winner to receive a FREE 11x14 and portrait session. Stephanie decided to include some of her family for her outdoor Gig Harbor portrait session. What fun we had. The beach made a great backdrop for the fun outdoor portraits. Her adorable nieces and nephew were a blast to photograph. Here are a few of my favorites from the session. Can't wait to show off the rest.

That's a lot of STINKIN feet

A killer sunset to melt away the Blues...

2008-06-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was probably the hottest day we've had here in Washington yet, this year. I have to tell you, I was feeling a little depress. I love to swim, hike, you name it, but having this cast on my arm really puts a damper on my life style. I know I'm sounding a little pathetic, I sound pretty sorry for myself, but let me get to my point. We took a nice drive out to Manchester last night. We just love the drive, and the park there is beautiful. It really helped bring my spirits us, being outdoors, and hanging out with the family, away from the house. On the way home though is what all made it worth it. There was a killer sunset. I literally just started shooting pictures out the window as we were driving home. I can't believe some of the shots I got too. Talk about bringing your spirits up. I completely forgot about how sad I was feeling.

Thank you God for your awesome canvas. You are the most magnificent artist of all time.

I also am posting a fun picture that I merged of Manchester and a sunset. I think it came out pretty cool. What do you think?