What's Kickin' with Sarah and Dustin

Sarah stopped by the studio for a visit a few weeks ago.. we talked and laughed and laughed some more then, we congratulated her on her baby bump! She and Dustin were in a couple of weeks ago to mark this happy occasion with a "What's Kickin" session. They're getting ready for the arrival of their first baby due the end of May. In just another week or so, little Brynn will be making her grand entrance. These two are going to be the best mommy and daddy! We can't wait to finish this session with the newborn portraits! Seriously, how pretty is this little girl going to be?

Cutie Patootie

I'm currently working on images from a recent family photo shoot. I couldn't resist posting these... How cute is this little man?!?!

Things We Know to Be True

There are some things Karon and I both know to be true. Neither of us are morning people. Our heads are constantly cluttered with inspiration and ideas that can't possibly be put to task in this lifetime! We are not coffee drinkers, but we both love our sugar. That is most assuredly where the similarities end. Karon is chocolate FREAK. I prefer caramel. She is completely at ease in heels as high as she can find them. Me? I would break something if I tried wearing some of those heels of hers. I spend most of the summer in flip flops and Karon cringes at the site. I have three cats, Karon is allergic. She is a music buff, and yeah, umm, I am not. She says I am more of a people person than she, but I know her heart and she doesn't give herself enough credit.

It seems like forever that Karon and I have known each other and have been taking pictures together. And we didn't even know each other in college. (Nor did we go to the same school.) Each of us chose to become professional photographers at different stages in life. Ultimately, those choices caused our paths to cross. It was that moment when when Red Shoe Gallery was born. It would take a few more years for it to actually come to life.

Between us, we believe there is rarely a moment that is not worth photographing. Every moment tells it's part in a story. We aim to capture the true candid character of everyone we photograph. Our style is typically photojournalistic and documentary. Our goal is simple: to spark a sense of nostalgia that quietly touches the lives of others when they glance at the photographs we have taken.

Love this!

Boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen are one of the smallest details in a wedding, and also one of the easiest to DIY.  Because you only need enough to cover the bridal party and any male family members, it shouldn’t be too time consuming.  My favorite DIY idea so far are these starfish boutonnieres, courtesy of Style Me Pretty.

 

They best part is, they’re simple, cheap and unique.  You can purchase starfish in bulk from places like Hobby Lobby or Michael's Crafts.  You can also buy bar pins and a hot glue gun from any craft store.  The process is pretty self-explanatory–glue the bar pins to the backs of the starfish, and there you have it! Here’s a shot of the final product, as found on Bloom's Design Studio. ... So Cute!

There are big ships and small ships.

But the best ship of all is friendship. ~Author Unknown

The 350 Project

What three independently owned local businesses would you miss if they disappeared? Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.

If half the employed population spent $50.00 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.*

*Employment statistics courtesy U.S. Labor Department 2/6/09 report; 68/43 stats courtesy Civic Economics 2008 study.

For every $100 spent in locally owned, independent stores, $68.00 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures.

So, pick 3, spend $50 and save your local economy. It only takes 1 person to start the trend.

Wisdom from a Silly Ol' Bear

"Promise you won't forget me, because if I thought you would, I'd never leave."
~Winnie the Pooh~

Though Karon and I feel that we have the best jobs in the world, it's hard when the wedding is over and our "job" is done. Each bride and groom we work with, truly become dear friends as the weeks and months of planning ensue. So the day after the wedding is always a little bittersweet for us. We hold out hope that we won't lose touch and the newlyweds will be kind enough to send us a quick email now and then just to let us know what they're up to.

Imagine our surprise last week when Laura and Jay (bottom photo) stopped in to say hi as they they were walking by the studio and saw our lights on! It was so awesome to have a few minutes to catch up with them and share more of the laughs we enjoyed before (and during!) their wedding.

A few minutes after Laura and Jay left, we had another surprise! Sarah (top photo) stopped in to say hi after yoga class. And not just any yoga class~ prenatal yoga! YAY! Another Red Shoe baby! We're really excited to shoot some belly pics and maybe a newborn in a few months?! With parents like that can you imagine what a beautiful baby that little one is going to be?

I can't help but think about the immense value in the clear-eyed wisdom from the lovable little bear called Winnie the Pooh.

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is... even if we're apart, I'll always be with you." ~that is what friendship is all about.