Baby Cakes, Baby Cakes, My Baby Cakes, that is...

Just check out this marvelous cake Andrea of Sedona Cake Couture made ---- FOR ME. That's right, breaking news here on the blog. I'm pregnant. I'm 39 weeks pregnant for those of you who didn't know, like, for example, the whole world wide web... I chose not to post about my pregnancy from the very beginning because, well, it's a bit of an uncertainty at first and then, it was hard to know what to do professionally with the news. OF COURSE I'm shooting weddings, kids, and portraits this year and every year. Please call me, I'm actually very available, even this May. I love my work and wouldn't change a thing--plus, I would go crazy without photography! I will be accepting less bookings this year so I can be a Mom too but still have plenty of dates available. Luckily, my career allows me to make my own schedule and Matt is a teacher so the two of us make a good team, as usual. I know he'll be a huge help. Also, it's a blessing that I have Jamelle Kelly working in my office Monday- Thursday as my right-hand woman. She'll be staying on through my "maternity leave" (HAHAHAHA- I laugh at the idea of separating me and my mac computer) and maintaining all things business while I'm nursing a little baby Clark. You can check out all the back-blogging I've been doing at my baby blog. Now that I'm out of the closet with this, I'll be posting more about the baby here as well. Thanks to John Running for the black and white below, and Kristen Iwai for the other belly shots.

37 weeks24 weeks37 weeks28 weeks

Omi Omi Omi celebrates 80 years!

I was hired by a family to shoot an 80th birthday party at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona on Feb. 16 & 17. What a party it was! What a great family! Kudos to Katrina Wallace of Sedona Bride for coming with me on Saturday to help shoot. This family came from New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Colorado, and New Jersey to celebrate their Omi's 80th birthday (Omi is a nickname for Grandma in German). On Saturday evening the family hosted a private dance with Phoenix based Apache Indians followed by a dinner reception. On Sunday we all went on a Pink Jeep tour, which hosted incredible views and a spectacular BBQ spread in the middle of the red rocks. If you truly want to do a red rock wedding with great views, this is the way to go. After our BBQ, all the grandkids and kids got together and sang a song they wrote for Omi-- sung to the tune of Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel-- but renamed Omi Omi Omi (pronounced Oh-mee). It was hard NOT to cry during this touching moment. I really loved how close knit this family was and how much fun they had hanging out together. Omi's family was an inspiration and I hope that my own family is as precious as hers. Please view their slideshow here:

Tibetan Monks in Flagstaff

Ah today brought me back to the newspaper days. My sister, always quick to point out a great news photo opp, called me today about some monks creating a Sand Mandala at the local coffee shop, Late for the Train, where she works. Anyway, I thought I'd bring my camera just for fun. So I did. Then I thought, does the newspaper know about this? So I called my pal and photo editor at the local paper and voila, it will run in Saturday's paper. I hope in color on A-1 page, right? It's colorful for sure.



cutline info: Tibetan Buddhist monks, Tamding Sichoe (left) and Lobsang Damchoe (right) create a Sand Mandala at Late for the Train Coffee Shop on Fort Valley Road (hwy 180). A Mandala is created by filling small tubes with colored sand and rubbing them with a stick vibrating the sand out onto a flat platform until an image unfolds. Mandalas vary, yet they all represent the Buddhist world in its divine form and contain a path the mind travels to become enlightened. The Mandala begins with an opening consecration ceremony of mantras and finishes with the Mandala being swept away, representing the impermanence of all that exists. The monks are here with Dr. Lobsang Tenzin, doctor of Tibetan Herbal Medicine. Dr. Lobsang will be hosting a medical clinic at Late for the Train Roastery 1071 E. Old Canyon Court- Rio de Flag Business Park. For appointments and more info call 928-773-0100.

comments please...on the new intro to my website...

I updated the introduction show to my web site. Please post your comments and suggestions. There are just some photos that I seem to be attached to and have been favorites over the years -- I try to keep the opener to 20 images, but maybe even that is too many. Let me know what you think. Tell me which photos sing and which photos don't. I'll tweak it again later after some comments. You may have to clear your cache...
click here to view

Gillian & Holt -- introducing Jack

I was honored to shoot a baby session with some of my all time favorite clients, Gillian and Holt. It seems I see them on a quarterly basis at one referral wedding or another, despite the fact that they live in New York City!

Jack was a great sport!