Monthly Archives: June 2009

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We Have A Winner!

June 19, 2009 – 9:45 pm

First, I want to thank all of you who submitted entries in the “Giving is Awesome” contest.  This decision was SO HARD!  With every email that came in, my heart broke.  I wish I could do photosessions for all of them.  After a great deal of thought and debate, though, I decided I need to do a photosession for Bobbie Harsch!  Here is a little bit about her story:

“Imagine that you and your husband are anxiously awaiting the birth of your first child.  You are thinking of all the things you will do together as your little family grows –and all the pictures you will take to try to remember every moment.  Then imagine that just two months before your baby’s due date, your husband, the love of your life, suddenly and unexpectedly dies — leaving you to bring this new life into the world without him.  It’s hard to imagine — but it happened.  It happened to Bobbie Harsh who, even with the love and support of family and friends, is still, for all intents and purposes, “on her own” as she and little Dylan try to make a family of two.  If anyone deserves a professional photography session, it’s Bobbie and little Dylan.  As Bobbie works to sustain their life together, without her husband and with the medical and funeral expenses that accompanied his passing, and the medical expenses that accompanied Dylan’s medical complications after birth, professional photography is not really in the budget. 

 

Bobbie lost her husband, Zachary Lee Harsch, when he died suddenly of an internal infection at the young age of 28. Zach passed away about a month after Christmas this year. He never got the chance to meet their son, who is now just shy of 2 months old. Bobbie named her son Dylan Zachary Lee Harsch, after his father. From the time Dylan was born, he was having health problems. Almost immediately after his birth, he was moved to Children’s Mercy because he needed abdominal surgery. He was also on a ventilator for the first week of his life. After doctors removed the ventilator, they inserted a nasal cannula to give him oxygen support. Dylan was fed only a TPN and lipid solution for eight days after he was born. When he finally got to have breastmilk, it was through a tube in his nose that went to his stomach. He didn’t get to go home until three weeks after birth. “

 

Bobbie, I’m so sorry to hear about your circumstances.  I really look forward to meeting you and having the opportunity to capture cherished memories of you and your son Dylan.  You will receive a photosession, all digital images on CD, a DVD slideshow, 11×14 print, and 3-8×10 prints.

 

I also want to thank Paige and Jill for reaching out and taking the time to nominate Bobbie Harsch.  You will receive a comlimentary photosession as well! 

 

And since this is a photography blog, I can’t end a post without sharing some kind of picture.  Here is one from our vacation to Colorado last year.

 

 

 

By J.Fields | Posted in contests | Comments (2)

Family Fun

June 18, 2009 – 12:13 am

There is definitely a lot of “fun” to be had during a session with a young family.  Ya know, the sweet smiles, genuine laughter, playfulness, unpredictability, meltdowns, crying, tantrums…..oh, wait…..I mean sweet smiles, tender moments, etc., LOL.  Yep, this session had all those moments.  And can you expect less from 3 darling kids ages 5,2, and 1?  They are such a great family who are as kind and genuine and they come….not to mention beautiful.  Their kids are dressed in the most darling outfits ever, too.  They were made by “Sweetie Pie Design,” a local company here in Kansas City.  Check out their site.  They have some fabulous clothes.

You’d think it be darn near impossible to get a shot of all 5 of them looking beautifully into the camera….Well, it was impossible!  Thanks to photoshop and my skills in head swaping I managed to pull together a nice family portrait. 

Here are some of my favorites of the kids…

This one shows their cute outfits.

I was glad I caught her walking across the yard like this.  I love her little “poses” in these next 2 shots. 

We had some fun on the swings too.  Here are some of my favorite swing shots.

I love these shots of all the girls playing.

The image quality isn’t the greatest on this next shot, but I still love it.  I think the fun and sweet moment captured overwrides some technical flaws in this shot.

In order to really show all aspects of their personality and to prove that we really did capture the true essence of the children in this family, I leave you with this shot.  I remember laughing when I saw this moment and knew it had to be documented.  This is the good stuff right here! :)  Yes, families are so much fun and this one was no exception! 

By J.Fields | Posted in children, family | Comments (7)

The Harley Session

June 8, 2009 – 12:46 pm

I had such a fun session a short while back with the Correll family and their Harley Davidson motorcycle.  Tracey had emailed me a while back about doing a session for just her daughter and then possible a family session at a later time that would include their Harley.  Needless to say I was pretty excited about doing both sessions.  Her daughter is darling, smart, witty, and full of spunk.  You can view her pictures here.  Then a couple of months later we did their Harley session.  Having this bike in the pictures was important as this is what they love to do.  And after the session was over I realized every single picture I took had the bike in it.  I told Tracey my realization and hoped that was okay because I had nothing without the bike….Oops!  I got a little carried away I guess.  She reassured me that was fine….that’s what this session was for.  In fact, just recently, Tracey, her daughter and her mother rode Harley’s in the Brothers Big Sisters of Miami County Poker run.  They even took a 3 generation picture of them.  You can read about it in the Louisburg Herald.

Well, on our way to downtown Kansas City I was looking out the car window watching Greg ride the Harley along side the car and couldn’t help but think how cool it would be to get a shot of him riding.  So I grabbed my camera, attached my new lensbaby and took this shot…

 

I thought it turned out pretty cool.  Thank you Tracey for asking me to photograph your family.  You all did great, and your wardrobe selection was perfect!  Next time, though, I want you to bring that cute dog of yours.  I have some great ideas about photographing him and your family.  I can tell he would be super photogenic. :) Here are a few more favorites from the session.

  

By J.Fields | Posted in family, urban | Comments (3)

Storyboards

June 6, 2009 – 2:29 pm

I just wanted to share a couple of recent storyboards we did for this gorgeous high school senior.  Storyboards are such a fun way to display several photos.  They are a nice alternative to the traditional matting.  They are custom designed for each client so no two storyboards are alike.  I find more and more clients loving the idea of having storyboards hung in their home.   For more storyboard examples go here.

By J.Fields | Posted in high school seniors | Comments (0)

A Tribute to Good Neighbors

June 1, 2009 – 7:33 pm

When we moved into our 3 bedroom house in Cleveland Missouri 9 years ago we were greeted by our neighbors next door, Bill and Pat.  In fact Wes and I still to this day remember that first meeting.  We spoke with Pat for a bit out in the yard and then Bill as Pat went inside to check on dinner.  Just  after she went in we heard her yell out the back door, “Bill, the house is on fire!!”  Our meeting was cut short by a scene of black smoke pouring out their back door and Bill running over to spray the kitchen down with a garden hose.  They got the fire out and had to do some minor repair and replace some appliances, but all was okay for the most part.  Yep, we definitely  won’t forget that meeting. J  Little did we know at that time what a huge part in our family’s life these wonderful neighbors would play.    Where do I even begin?  They have been like  grandparents to my children for the last 9 years and my heart is full for all the love, attention, and selfless sacrifice they’ve rendered over the years.  I don’t think they realize how much we appreciate all that they are and do.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called Pat to come over and watch my kids at the very last minute….and I mean VERY LAST MINUTE.  Whether it was because I had to leave for a meeting or go to a photoshoot and my husband wasn’t home in time, or because one of the other kids got hurt and had to be rushed to the hospital, or something simple like needing to run and get the mail while a child was napping …Pat was always there in a heartbeat to help out. 

I can’t even count the number on times they’ve welcomed our kids into their yard for countless hours of talking, playing, and laughing.  For thousands of bubbles blown.  For hours of biking and 4-wheeler riding.  For all the playing catch and batting done.  For all the piles of leaves raked up high over and over so the kids could jump in them.  For all the gardening activities, corn shucking, and tomato picking.  For all the “campfires,” storytelling, guitar playing and S’mores made.   For the countless hours of “breaks” I got as my kids were lovingly attended to in their yard.  I know I managed to get more naps in and more laundry done and floors vacuumed because my kids had play time in Bill and Pat’s yard.  I will never take those moments of relief for granted as I know they are not something every mother gets when she is raising small children.

When my son and daughter were born it was Pat I called to come over EARLY in the morning to stay with the other kid(s) while I went to the hospital to give birth.   I am thankful for such great neighbors who always take care of our dogs and cats and watch over our home when we go out of town, for reminding me when our animal tags are due at City Hall, for teaching my kids how to ride bikes, and for taking my boys fishing and for inviting the kids over to admire the fish as Bill cleaned them.  They always thought that was so cool.   I am thankful for neighbors who attended several birthday parties, and who always gave such simple and thoughtful gifts to my children.  I am thankful for neighbors who selflessly gave to my family over the last nine years.  I could truly go on and on.  Thank you Bill and Pat for your love and friendship.  It means more than you will ever know!!

  

 

 

By J.Fields | Posted in personal | Comments (3)