Roxie

Here's a question that I've been asked numerous times when I get contacted about photo shoots...

"Can I bring my dog?"

The answer:

YES!


The Proof:


Meet Roxie, a 4 month old Yorkie. Spoiled Rotten, enjoys acting like a human baby and loves her mommy...

(and yes folks, that's a pacifier)

Now I want to run out and get a YORKIE! SO STINKIN CUTE!

Rachel + Josh

A few weeks ago, a sweet girl emailed me about setting up an appointment to take pictures of she and her boyfriend. From the first email back and forth, we hit it off. After we worked out our schedules, we decided on Memorial Day Weekend.

A few weeks later, Rachel emailed me and told me that she had since become ENGAGED!

WHAAAT?

So the "couple" pictures were now going to be engagement photos!! (the pressure was on for sure!).

Now, I love a couple that is willing to have fun and do literally anything to get some fun photos. RACHEL + JOSH... I LOVE YOU!

We headed downtown Indy to the alleys for some urban style photographs and um....

how do I say this?

THEY WORKED IT OUTTTTTTT!!!

After we finished downtown, we headed to the Arts Gardens for some more elegant pictures.

These two were literally up for anything! We ended up spending about 3 hours together, thinking up funny ways to make Josh smile "right". Finally, after a lot of creativity and practice:

HE FINALLY GOT IT!!!

Thank you both so much for hanging out, being up for anything and just generally being IN LOVE!!!

I cannot WAIT for November :)

Baby Jackson

A few weeks ago, you may remember Jackson's mommy Heidi was just about ready to pop!

Meet the newest member of the family, sweet baby Jackson...

Welcome to the world sweet boy!!

Allison + Madison + Kaden

When I first walked up to Allison, Maddy and Kaden I said to Maddy "How are you?" Maddy looked at me with the biggest smile EVER, but didn't say a word.

Her mom replied, "Oh, she's just Madison!".

Hmmm... What is "just Madison"

I bet you can figure it out from the picture below.

Meet Madison:

Madison is just the sweetest little girl. Always smiling!

And loves her mommy SO SO much...

You would never know to look at them, but both of Allison's babies were born premature and weighing just over 3 pounds each.

I remember holding Kaden at church when he was just a few months old, still smaller than Chaston when he was born.

But oh my goodness, how he's grown!

And he's absolutely gorgeous too!! Let's be honest, have you EVER seen a little boy as sweet?

Don't let that sweet smile fool you. It took us FOREVER to get him to smile. Not even a CRACK! For most of the 2 hours we spent together, the best word I can come up with to describe him is "chill". He's just cool like that.

Oh, and did I mention that he loves his mommy too?

In fact, there's a whole lot of love for everyone in this cute little family! At one point, we were out taking pictures by a fence and there was a cow standing nearby. Madison was very cautious that the cow was going to come over and get Kaden. We finally convinced her (briefly) that if the cow even began to move, we'd get the baby out of the way, but cows don't move so fast! She definately loves her little brother!!

Thank you Allison for allowing me to spend a couple of hours with you and your family! I had such a wonderful time :) It was a joy to be with the 3 of you and capture just a glimpse of the love you have for those babies.

~G

Memories

A few weeks ago, I was sitting with my grandpa at his house and he brought out a few albums of pictures from when he was a young child. I was so thankful to be sitting in the presence of someone who has seen so much in his years and be able to look back at pictures of times when he had no worries. I truly wanted to live those moments in my life in slow motion, listening to him tell me about the people in the pictures, the stories behind some of the toys that were in the pictures and just genuinely learn about my my grandpa's childhood. Uninterrupted.



My grandpa had a rough childhood, in my opinion. He was raised by his grandparents with his brothers. Although I know he is thankful for his grandparents raising him, and was very close to his grandma ... I know that deep down he struggled with his mom's choices and lack of involvement in his life. And I think we all would.



When he tells stories of his childhood, he rarely talks about his mom and dad. And from what I understand, his dad was more 'gone' than his mom in terms of physically raising him. So many of the pictures that I have from his younger days as well as the heirlooms have been from his grandma. My great-great grandma.



As he pulled out the paper-paged albums, I found myself staring back into 1929.



1929.



Pictures of my grandpa and his brothers playing on a wagon, sitting with family, making funny faces. Just general life. We came across a picture of his mother and father standing together and I realized then, just how precious photographs are.



Because when you're gone...



that's all that is left.



The people that have memories of you in real life, will eventually pass on and all that will be left behind are pictures of your life and your family today.



There were pictures of him as a baby. Pictures from his teen years, pictures of him in Japan with the army. And for my grandchildren, that's all they will ever know of their great-great grandpa.





The fact that his family had so many pictures from a time in the world when cameras weren't everyday objects like they are today... suffice it to say, it seems I came by my love of photography genetically.





Anyway, the last few years since I bought my SLR camera have been good to me, with regards to photography. I've had the opportunity of seeing seniors leave high school, sweethearts get married... and then have a baby. I've seen families [often times reluctantly] getting dressed up to come out to the park and have 'family pictures'. I've met tons of new people and strengthened bonds with good friends.



And I realize that with the economy in the current state that it is in...



people just can't afford luxury items.



And when it comes time to 'cut' expenses... the first thing(s) that seem to get put on the back burner is the yearly Family Photo (which i think makes some husbands really happy). People are stressed to the max, cutting costs anywhere and everywhere and just not getting genuinely 'real' photos of themselves. All together. As a family.



I've mentioned in the past weeks, how most of my co-workers / friends are losing their jobs in about 3 weeks. I'm living in a world right now, where there are more people I know that are unemployed (and not by choice) than those employed.



And it breaks my heart.





***



I get paid on the 15th and the 30th of every month. And I sit down and do my bills twice a month, after I get paid. This past week, was the first paycheck I've received since we received a paycut at HP. And can I tell you how humbled I was?



I feel so incredibly blessed at times to be able to write out my bills and not worry about how they are going to get paid. Because I've been there. And I hated it. And when I look back at the path behind me, my children 5 and 8 years old, I realize how far away that road has become. Now we don't live extravagantly, at all. But we have everything we need, and the opportunity to do for others. And that makes me happy.



Where am I going with this?



It has been laid on my heart big time over the past few weeks to trust my God that provides for me and my children each week.



And I'm thinking... trust? I already do! I don't always understand, but I try very hard to trust.



But I still don't know exactly what is being laid on my heart.



And I've heard over and over in my mind and in my heart:



"Dear Child, I've given you a talent. And a means by which to do something with your talent."



And I'm thinking ...



"Ok God, I do - I spend time with families taking pictures... all spring/summer and fall. What more do you want from me?"



And like a broken record, the response has been.



"Would you rather touch lives or make money?"



Well that's simple... I want to touch lives.



So I've made a humble decision (and I'll be honest... my Faith is shaky on this one..) however - what do I have to lose? My bills are paid. We live within our means, my children are healthy (a bit out of control at times, but can money buy good behavior? If so, pleaaase let me know how!)





So I've decided that my side photography gig...











.... will be by donation only.







Yes, by donation only.





I will set some barelyl-above-margin prices on hard copy prints and photobooks and images on CD but my time and efforts... will be by donation only.





Because I'd rather touch more lives, spend more time with people, capture more smiles and memories...



...than to meet people who have had to save a bunch of money to spend a couple of hours with me.







I've mulled this one over in my head a lot.



And I know that this is what I need to do this spring/summer/fall.



Sooooooooooo....



if you know someone who has been deserving of family pictures for a while... let them know you'll pick up the 'tab'. :)





I'm very excited to see what lies ahead with regards to this 'special mission' I've been given. My goal is to be able to meet more families, photograph more smiles and give people more memories than in the past years.

Baby Jackson

My friend Holly's sister is having a baby!!!

After a family full of little girls, everyone is more than excited to meet the newest family member, Jackson!

We wanted to have a little bit of fun with the camera as well as try to get a good picture to use for the invitation to her little "sprinkle" baby shower!

Jackson isn't supposed to arrive for another 7 weeks or so, but he's already weighing in at a hefty 5 pounds 9 ounces!! It sounds like there will surely be a lot of this little man to love!

We were having a hard time getting Jackson's big sister Calee to participate so we coaxed her with something she really enjoys....

Poor Jackson! He's already getting painted on by his big sister :).

I can't wait to meet this little man!

~G

FREE PHOTO SESSION 2009

I wanted to let you in on a few updates regarding my photography services for 2009.

I am considering a new company to help me market, print and offer more services (..and discounts!) to my customers. I’m giving them a spin now to see what I think.

So here’s the deal.

If I’ve photographed you and your family before, you can be grandfathered in to the old way of doing business if you’d like. (or you may prefer the new way of business) either way – we will talk about it when you schedule an appt.

If I have not photographed you or someone you know…

LISTEN UP!

I would like to start the new season by offering a FREE FAMILY SESSION ($150 value).

You may nominate either yourself or someone you know for a free photography session with me. As many of you know, sessions are typically outdoors at or around sunset and I spend normally about an hour and a half to two hours with the family. The winner will receive a free photobook and may order additional prints if they would like.

Here are the rules:

1.) You cannot be related in any way to me.

2.) You are not eligible if I’ve photographed you and your family prior. (I want to show no favoritism for the first FREE SESSION).

3.) Your nominations must include WHY this family/your family should receive a free photo session.

4.) The family you nominate must be willing and open to having fun during the session. No dragging along spouses! I want to have a good time and get some great photos that you will
show your grandchildren someday.

5.) Depending on the number of entries, I may allow blog readers to vote for the winner. I may draw out of a hat.

6.) Photo session will take place in April/May 2009.

7.) Email me at gphoto4u@gmail.com with nominations.

So… come on guys! Get some nominations in!!

PS - If you nominate the winner.. you may receive a perk as well ;)