Wednesday, December 29, 2010

{Zaiah & Mommy}

These photos are sort of pulled out of the vault. :) I did these this past year when Zaiah was not quite 3 and Vincy was still pregnant with Gehren!! I asked Vincy to bring Zaiah over for some new props I had at the time - Zaiah did wonderfully as my little model. Vincy's entire family is so beautiful, and being that she is one of my dearest friends... it's hard not to use her as my model from time to time. Hello, she's um gorgeous. :) Looking at these photos again of her pregnant make me realize Vincencia means: Made to bear children. Ha! Not only does she have five kiddos - the woman never shows any wear on her body from having them! {Kinda makes me a little bit envious.} :)Zaiah is such a little diva, so animated and adorable. Thank you Vincy for your patience in me actually getting around to posting these. You are both so beautiful. I think the interactions here between a mother and her sweet daughter are just precious. {And to think of all the raspberry gummies we bribed Zaiah with! Lol}

I suppose that lastly I should mention that Zaiah decided to head outside all of her own intent so we followed her out there. I think those are some of my very favorites. At some point we lose the freedom to walk down the street in a just a tutu, beads and pink plastic heels. :) Her innocence is truly... beautiful.



















{Lunch date with Daddy}

Adrian and Brendon spend time at the fire station quite often. Brendon is older so he has friends over more often. I think sometimes Adrienna being the youngest feels.. a little left out. :( It made me smile when Adrian told me he asked Adrienna on a lunchdate. :) He got dressed up and got her ready too while I was editing photos. Seriously? Adorable. I am a total daddy's girl and I love it that he did this for her.

Of course, you can't tell the photographer mom to not take pictures beforehand. And when is one ever, ever enough? I might be biased but I think that these two are some of the most beautiful, gorgeous people in the whole wide world.

So, without further delay... A lunchdate with Adrian and Adrienna. Who didn't just get her daddy's name, but his dimples... and sense of humor... and wittiness.










And - a girl after her own momma's heart... she chose Chinese for lunch. Photo taken AND edited by Adrian Kaser.


Tuesday, December 28, 2010

{Chicago 2010}

Hanging out with my girls Jamie and Martha in Chicago! A yearly tradition for spectacular food, fun Christmas shopping and humorous adventures. And... lots of photographing, naturally. :)

Monday, December 27, 2010

{Thanksgiving 2010}

Finally getting around to my own family photos from the past few holidays! :) 

Sunday, December 26, 2010

{Fall Randoms}

I am just now getting around to editing some pix from Fall that I had saved from here and there. Total random shots but some that I like. Along with a brief description of why I like the shot.

A quiet room and changing light. Something I've always admired.

Have to say I like the colors. :) And the shell that sits on the table. Bought it 14 years ago this month.

I like to remember things the way they once were. Landscapes before roads came in and buildings went up. It's a pondering thing for me to see a road formed. It symbolizes many things.

I suppose he was mad at me for interrupting his day w/ my Senior Pix Session. 

He chided me from his branch. I was probably standing on the acorn he wanted. Does he not look ticked?!

I LOVE hay bales. Like, really love them. They are so part of Indiana. Part of my childhood memory of what Indiana should be. Barns, hay bales, tractors and cows. 

I am fascinated with skies. Winter cold fronts intrigue me too when they turn the sky dark.

I guess because.. it's Quintessential Americana.  And.. I like it.

Friday, December 24, 2010

{Demo Wedding Album - Traditional 10x10 - 20 sides}

{Merry Christmas from my family to yours...}



Here is our 2010 Family card. Thank you Sassy Designs and Designer Digitals for providing me with elements to design my card this year. Love your stuff!!

Thank you to all of my clients for such a wonderful year! I realize that a profession you love has to start somewhere - and I am thankful for the many years that it was a simple hobby expanding into what it is today. I am thankful for a first year in business {officially} - it has exceeded my expectations in so many ways!!! Thank you to each of you this year and in the seven years past that have made this possible.

I think one of my favorite things about this business is the freedom in creativity. I love to design anything print: cards, albums, etc. After being a graphic designer for so many years I was scared I'd have to give up design somewhat with photography - but it's actually been quite opposite!! Between marketing and print materials, I have my fill! However, now with being self-employed, I just have MY guidelines, not a company's. The specific colors and fonts and logos are all mine now. Haha. :)

I took these photos with my new lens Stella {Which, I can't say ENOUGH good things about her!!! LOVING THAT LENS!}. We took them at the end of October at Potato Creek. We spend a lot of time there and love that park. Adrian and I remember camping there as kids. I'm really glad we took our vintage couch out there - I was quite happy with the finished photos. And.. I think my kids are pretty freaking adorable... and ridiculously cool. If I do say so myself. :)

I can't say enough how happy I am to be doing what I love, finally. What a fantastic first official self-employed year! Here's to many more years of smiles that make me smile.

Merry Christmas & Thank You. May 2011 be everything you want it to be.

Live your dreams, 
Joanne aka, Josephiney

{Jesse}

I did just a mini-session for Jesse. In just a few minutes we were able to snap quite a few good photos of him. Thought his outfit was great and that he looked like a sharp young man. Thanks Jesse for being such a great sport... I am sure these photos will make your mom quite happy. :)













Wednesday, December 22, 2010

{2-day Hiatus}

I don't usually break from working - At some point in my day there's a good solid time frame of working at my desk, photographing, mailing items, posting, archiving, filing papers for taxes, you name it... but I had two entire days off and it kinda threw me off track! In more ways than one! Suffice to say - I almost NEED to work every day or I go a bit overboard on other things!! Oh yes, there's an upcoming post JUST about ... cookies. :)


But I got a lot accomplished. My house is absolutely spotless, laundry is done, 7 different kinds of cookies made and I spent time last night with some of my favorite girls in the world... My bunco girls.

I still have a lot to do yet but know that the next week will yield the time to get it all accomplished. Granted, solid work is lined up - and that includes a few all day and all nighters.. but I'm ready for it again. Breaks are important! Sometimes I forget the necessity of a break.

My days of reading a book with a mug of tea and a nice soft throw over me are nearing closer. Ahhh, quiet winter months & mostly indoor photography. :)


The holidays make me think more. My kids are home so they fight more. I don't realize how much I miss my sister until I explain to my 11-year-old son who is complaining about cleaning and helping his sister do chores that some of my very best memories were when I washed dishes EVERY night after dinner with my little sister. It was our job every night. I washed, she rinsed. I realized as I was trying to explain this to him that I was already broken down into tears. My voice of course wobbly and me standing there looking silly trying to teach him a lesson. My poor kids. They've seen me cry so many times over Jess. Brendon just simply hugged me and said, "Mom, I know you miss her. Holidays have to be hard. I know you just want to call her and wish her Merry Christmas, and you can't."

All of it, 100% accurate and said perfectly by my 11-year-old son. And even though that wasn't my intended method of correcting him - I think it made more sense than anything I could have said.

There are no cards or calls that come from those that have gone away. And oddly enough you sometimes still expect the call to come, any day. I suppose that even though reality deals you the hand that someone is truly gone... you never quite quit expecting or hoping for them to reappear in even a little way. I think it's part of grieving. It's silly. I know. But it's our longing in our hearts. Our heart and mind are two different things. Hearts long for impossible things when our minds know the vast improbability of it. The heart is such a fighter though. For until it reconciles finally with the mind that my only meeting with Jess again.. will be on the other side - this heart will always long to see her. Death is so final, but acceptance of it... lifelong.

Ask me how many times - especially around the holidays - I still say, "Can't believe she's gone."


Holidays are hard for so many people. Not just me. Somehow, in spite of the beautiful array that holidays bring on so many levels to each individual life - there are also so many awakenings to what is missing - in our hearts and minds - during this time of year. It could be about what we are lacking if we let it. Or... it could be that in life we will always lack something and maybe our focus is best shifted to the quiet snow or smell of holiday baking or catchlights in the eyes of little children as they look at a Christmas tree in wonder. It is afterall another holiday that I am still here to celebrate. It's always about shifting our focus to what is true, noble, right - of good report - and thinking on those things.

So after a small break I do feel a bit ready to return to my normal routine. A little sadness in what I miss this time of year... and always - but also very much gratefulness that I have today as a gift. Looking forward to the week and thinking of my many blessings.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

{The Dennis Family}

I drove to this family's home on a snowy day! My car had just spun around on the road so I arrived a bit frazzled. But they were home baking cookies, very low-key and I immediately found myself a bit more relaxed around them. :) Sweet family with a beautifully decorated home for Christmas! So who is not a bit more relaxed around a warm fire and cookies?! We did a variety of poses, a few family shots and some individual shots and of course some precious photos of the newest little addition to their beautiful family! What a sweet little baby boy. He got sleepy towards the end of the session and I think liked being comfy and curled up in the bowl. What I had to crack up about was their cat, "Dude" who totally fell in love with me. :) He even posed for me ON the backdrop. Haha, what a little rockstar cat. His green eyes were awesome!
Thanks guys for a wonderful little afternoon with your family.

Hope you enjoy some of my favorite photos!