Melissa’s Western Michigan University Maternity Session

I’ve been friends with Melissa for gosh, I don’t know how many years online but it wasn’t until 2010 when we finally met in person. A short coffee date was all she had time for while driving through Kentucky on her way home from her mom’s in Tennessee. A year later we met in Indianapolis for a weekend… we’d become very close by then. A year after that Melissa tells me she’s expecting and invites me up to Michigan to photograph her maternity session when the time comes. The beginning of May FINALLY came around and I was off to a state I’d never even driven through to spend some quality time with my close friend and her little baby bump. Baby A should be very very soon so I wanted to share these while there is still a bump to share!

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Connect: A Marriage Retreat for Photographers

In less than one year from now, Neil and I will be returning to The WinShape Retreat Center in Rome Georgia. Returning to the best marriage retreat we could have ever stumbled upon. Returning to our new found friends and new found inspiration. Returning to the most amazing “camp” food I’ve ever eaten in my life… to the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in. We will once again spend four wonderful days with fellow photographers praising God, learning how to grow a Christian based business, and strengthening our marriage by placing God at the head of our lives. I had no idea what CONNECT would hold for us but now that I have a taste, I am hungry for more. And I know there is SO MUCH more.

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Rachel Jacobus - May 11, 2013 - 8:15 am

Ahhh! What an awesome week. I’m so excited to be on your post. You’re such a cute couple!!!! Lets get together sometime. We can meet halfway :)

May Snapshot


{credit to ilo photo}

Is it really May already?! I’m realizing the older I get, the faster time seems to go by. Remember when you were in school and it seemed like summer would NEVER GET HERE? Yea, I feel like that, except completely opposite. I feel like yesterday was December and the day before was October. Please tell me I’m not the only one…..

Anyway, this month is going to be just as crazy as last month but for different reasons. Now that we’re back from our marriage retreat in Georgia and my mini vacation in Michigan and Indiana, I’m back in the office and I am SO glad! I can now return to transitioning into the business full time… which turns out to be a bit harder than I thought. Even thought the business side of the….business…. is not much fun, the photography is great! Here’s what I have lined up for this month:

- 5 engagement sessions
- 3 portrait sessions
- and 3 weddings

A few personal goals for May, which are the same as last month :/
- Finish our bathroom
- Take a break on house projects
- Plant some flowers
- Start cooking dinner again!
- Start exercising again
- Walk the dogs more

This month is all about finding and sticking to a routine, in both my business and my life. Here goes nothing!

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John - May 9, 2013 - 5:48 pm

I’ve had the same feeling. It seems like it was just February the other day. Now it’s pretty much already June!

And you better walk those little dogs a bunch. They need it. Especially Benny. He’s getting to be a big one still I bet.

Dana - May 22, 2013 - 6:27 pm

You guys are a beautiful couple :) Connect was amazing. I wish we could have ‘connected’ a bit more but maybe another year :)

Looking forward to following your work!

Dana <3

A 101/1001 Challenge Update

It’s time to update my 101/1001 Challenge! I’ve crossed off a few things since I last blogged about this challenge, but in the following month or so, I’ll get to cross off a few more! Both personal and business related… I’m excited!


Start Date: April 9, 2011
End Date: January 3, 2014

Completed tasks are bold and in progress tasks are italicized.
Those with an * in front of it are from my first 101/1001 Challenge that I did not complete.

Spirituality
Join and attend a church regularly.
Read the entire Bible (0/66 books).
Observe Lent (2/2).
Be active in a Sunday School Class.

Marriage
Have wedding pictures retaken.
Plan and implement a weekend getaway surprise for Neil and myself.
Take dance lessons with Neil for at least two months.
Attend a marriage conference with Neil.
Attend a marriage retreat with Neil.
Have at least two date nights a month.

School
Graduate from nursing school with my ADN (Associate’s Degree in Nursing).
Work on my BSN (Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing).
Apply to a Master’s program.

Finances
Get a good job.
Build/buy a house.
Complete 4 months of purchasing only things that are absolutely essential (no fun purchases, no clothing, no food that is not groceries, etc.).
Pay off our undergrad loans.
Purchase a new vehicle.
Get laser hair removal (girly bits).
Get laser hair removal (under arms).
Save 3 months worth of emergency savings.
Pay off all credit card debt.
Track what we spend for a whole month.

Photography
Purchase a new camera.
*Shoot a spring wedding as a second shooter.
Shoot at least 3 summer weddings as a second shooter (3/3). here, here, and here.
Shoot a wedding, solo.
Spend 7 whole days with my camera around my neck (or at least in my hand…) (0/7).
Reach 100 fans on Facebook.
Participate in at least one trade show.
Go part time at the hospital to focus more on my business.
Develop new packaging.
Have my portrait taken by another photographer.
Reach 200 fans on Facebook.
Do a styled shoot utilizing my favorite locations.
Attend a photography workshop.
Revamp the website and blog with a new brand and look.
Implement a vendor package to send out to vendors I’ve worked with.
Get published.
Reach 300 fans on Facebook.

Health
Run a 5K.
No fast-food for a month.
Get back to my wedding weight.
Go a month without consuming any fried food.
Make a workout routine and stick to it.
Do Zumba at least once a week for at least 3 months.
Cook dinner at home every night of the week for at least 3 weeks a month.
Do a juice fast for a full week.
Do a juice fast for a full two weeks.
Bike through Fort Massac State Park 10 times (2/10).
Complete the 200 Situps Challenge.

Personal
Have a baby.
Sponsor a family for Christmas.
Mail out family Christmas cards every year (2/3).
Sing at church for my great grandmother’s birthday every year (2/3).
Decorate a cake (or cupcakes) for a loved one’s birthday.
Plan a surprise party for a loved one.
Vote in the Presidential Election.
Go to a blogger meet-up.
Throw a formal dinner party.
Host a holiday family party at our house.
Host a holiday cookie decorating party.
See HPVII part II opening night.
Set up a daily schedule in my phone’s calendar to keep organized.
*Update my passport.
Take the Myers & Briggs Personality Test.
Expand master closet.
Participate in Project Life 365.
Have a get together with couple friends at least once a month.
Make new couple friends.
Reconnect with old friends.
Cook a new recipe once a week.
Donate blood.

Free Time, Me Time
*Get a massage.
*Get a facial.
Clean and detail my car, inside and out.
Re-learn to play the piano.
Go skiing.
Take a cake decorating class.
Re-watch the entire series of LOST from the beginning.
Learn how to french braid my hair.
Go to a coffee shop with a book and enjoy the afternoon solo.
Compile a recipe book.
Learn how to use my sewing machine.
*Take a cooking class.
Read at least 20 books (14/20).
Build something from scratch.
Clean out and organize hall closet.
Refinish 2 pieces of furniture (3/2).
Build an kitchen office area.
Renovate both bathrooms.

Travel
Go on a cruise.
*Take a cross state trip of Kentucky.
Go white water rafting.
Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando.
Go to Europe with Neil.
*Visit a new state.
See a band in concert live.

Misc.
Make a wish at 11:11 am on 11/11/11.
Make a wish at 12:12 am on 12/12/12.
Make a wish at 13:13 (military time for 1:13 pm) on 1/3/13.
Create a new 101/1001 list.

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Abby & Paul’s Metropolis, IL Engagement Session

There are some couples that you just know, from the minute you meet them, that they are going to be SO MUCH FUN. Abby & Paul are one of those couples. I met the two love birds at an abandoned factory beside Fort Massac State Park. Seconds later, another car pulled up beside us – it was Abby’s best friend Maddie. She came to assist Abby but ended up assisting me a lot too! Minutes into our session, here comes Abby’s mom! At our second location, Abby’s grandparents’ farm, a few more family members joined us. We had so many helpers! It really gives me a good look into how their wedding will be, and how their marriage will be. They are surrounded by so many people who love them and who want to see them happy. Having all that additional help meant that Abby & Paul could relax and really have fun with me. And in turn, I had (probably too much) fun with them as well! The whole day was a blast and I seriously cannot wait for their wedding in June!

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Deedy - April 25, 2013 - 10:26 am

Do not know you but saw someone like your link and so I clicked on it. Let me just say what an awesome gift someone gave you by taking these pictures like this for you. They are lovely pictures and done so cute for years of memories to look back on.

:) Okay into photography I am. But let me just say TOO CUTE!

Deedy - April 25, 2013 - 10:26 am

Oops:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

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