Claire the Fair
That's what we call her. She's seven years of sweetness and spunk, is one crafty chickadee and says the funniest things like, "Praise the Lord, have I eaten enough?" when she wants to be through with dinner. She reminds me a lot of her mom at that age. I see my sister's mischievous expression when I look at her. When she visited this past week in her Spring-y melon-pink dress, I couldn't resist getting all snap-happy with her. Lucky for me she's a willing model. Here are a few of my favorite shots.
Update on Mom
Many thanks to all of you who have expressed concern for my mom while she is in the hospital. We're still waiting for a definitive diagnosis which is incredibly frustrating. I appreciate the patience of all my wonderful couples and their families while I struggle to care for her and run Sweet Life at the busiest time of the year.
Mom has always been there for me, so now I'd like to pay back some of the debt I owe her for all the love, care and attention she's given me over the years. Time for editing and processing will necessarily be briefer than I'd like it to be while I focus on her for the next few days. Please know that processing images, creating slide shows and providing excellent customer service is a priority for us. We're working hard to provide them to our clients with as little delay as possible. Any prayers and positive thoughts you can send our way are greatly appreciated!
All the best,
Elizabeth
Gratitude: My Top Ten List
10. The amazing, gorgeous Fall color we've had this year. After all the bad climate news, the drought, wildfires, earthquakes, etc., it's nice to see something beautiful from Mother Nature.
9. Nicole at Lux Salon and whatever it is that she uses on my hair to cover up the premature gray that makes me feel so old and blah. And another year's worth of great haircuts and conversation. Plus, the salon is next door to Starbucks.
8. Starbucks, especially a tall skim gingerbread latte with sugar-free syrup.
7. iTunes. Podcasts of This American Life, Studio 360 and Fresh Air. Yo Yo
Ma. Listening to all of the above keeps me sane during long bouts of
editing.
6. The many talented and generous photographers who've mentored me, listened to me, offered gentle critiques and helpful suggestions and encouraged my growth as a photographer in ways too numerous to count over the past year: Rick Ward, Beth Morris, and Regina Holder. I owe you big time!
5. My dog, Pepper, who sits under my desk with her head in my lap to keep me company during long hours at the computer.
4. Canon cameras and lenses. Adobe's Lightroom software. The guys at Southeastern Camera in Raleigh who have helped me so much during this
past year. Johnny taught me how to clean the sensor on my 5D. I still
want him to do it, but at least I know how.
3. The amazing, wonderful, fantastic couples I've been privileged to shoot for over the past year. I wish you all the very best and long lives full of love and happiness!
2. Being able to do what I love for a living. It's a crazy, stressful, pressure-filled -- and the best job I've ever had. I truly would not want to do anything else.
1. My friends and family, the ones I work for, live for, love. You make it all worthwhile. Kat, a beautiful, smart, talented and loving 13-year-old -- I thought 13 was supposed to be awful, but you're terrific. Dan, the most loving son a mother could wish for. Caring, thoughtful, funny and wicked-smart. Frank, you're simply the best. None of it would mean anything without you.
"If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice." -- Meister Eckhart
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sweet Caroline
By virtue of marrying a man older than me who's the youngest of three siblings, I'm actually a great-aunt. And yes, it makes me feel old. But I'm not. Really. Almost halfway through 2007, our family has been blessed with two new additions and are looking forward to a third when my neice and her husband have their first child in November. Here's a shot of Caroline, who was born in February. We got to meet her when she and her mom came to NC for a visit this month. They'll be back later this summer and I hope to get to do a full-fledged portrait session of her then. To quote Stevie Wonder, "Isn't she lovely?"
