Casual Moments Photography

summertime summertime

My sister & her family were here for a long weekend over the 4th of July (their kids left today, Tracey & Eric are staying a few more days). We had lots of fun hanging out on the beach & on the boat and eating nonstop! Jake & Natalie both learned to ski (Krista ALMOST did) and Chelsey & her friend Krista tubed. We watched fireworks from our boat. I took a few pics of course.
Here is my niece Natalie & her boyfriend Jake (I took more of her since I already have a TON of Chelsey from her last visit):

Chelsey & Natalie, together & with Mom:

And my sister Tracey with her husband Eric:

I honestly never knew this....

I immediately refolded all of Jim's tee shirts to practice, and now I'm an expert! Go on, try it right now!

2 Second T-Shirt Fold!! - A funny movie is a click away

Scoop & Stack

Summer is here, which means ice cream is here! Lazy evenings on the front porch after supper are perfect for enjoying a your favorite in a cone, but who doesn't hate struggling to get through hard ice cream with a regular scooper? The solution: the "scoop & stack" creates cylindrical blocks of ice cream that can be decorated or stacked for a colorful and creative presentation. The ergonomic scooper cuts through the hardest ice cream with a simple twist-and-lift action. Push button release. Each scoop holds 3.75 oz ice cream. Dishwasher safe on top rack. Choose from three colors.

Scoop & Stack  from Wrapables (via BoingBoing Gadgets )

shawn & sarah

I did the engagement session for this fun couple whose wedding Jason & I will be doing this August on my last trip to PA. I knew it was going to be a blast when they showed up on their Harley!

last evening

Right after a small shower, just before sunset....

I can't stop giggling...

Click on it to make it bigger!

Found on WeddingsBySocialites

another "trash the prom dress" session

We did these as part of Stephanie's Senior session. We went to Mingo Park on a MISERABLY hot and humid day, but Steph was a real trooper - stayed cool & looked great. Isn't her dress gorgeous?

On the way home we stopped at the local ice cream shop with her boyfriend - you should have seen the looks they got - maybe the other customers were feeling a little under-dressed?

Good luck next year at Grove City - it was great working with you Stephanie!

Incredible!

This makes me smile...Matt Harding traveled around the world & did his own little dance on video everywhere he went...I just love how it makes me feel:

familiar, loved features made new in you again

...a line from one of the poems that I use in my grandparent coffee table books that says it all. What I love most about doing extended family sessions is seeing all of the resemblances among them - one kid has grandma's eyes but her mom's smile, another looks more like his uncle than his dad - and how they all are different yet the same. This is the part that gets me every time!

And how I wish I would have had a picture like this of me and my grandma when we were young! I am definitely going to do this with Genna & Gavin when they are here on vacation.

framing begins!

They started framing our house on Tuesday - it should take about 6 weeks. This is the fun part to watch because something new is happening every day. They are starting in the basement. That's the garage above & to the rear.

There's one of the guest rooms and bath:

OK, I can't get the whole front in the picture - Jim is in front of another of the guest rooms in that corner, and the media room is in the center -

I'll post more when we get to the next level!

smiles, smiles, smiles!

These adorable kids are also the grandchildren of my friends & neighbors here in SC (I posted images of their cousins earlier here ), and these images are from that same extended family session. They made it so easy! I love it when I get to photograph happy kids with natural smiles, like these guys. They just shine as brightly as the beach in these images! Here's Miller:

Sweet Caroline:

And lovely Alex:

it's good to be home

We finally made it home yesterday early eve; it feels as if I've been on the road forever! Actually it was three weeks, with a 3 day break in between, which was just long enough to pack & get ready to go again.

I had a great time shooting Brad & Bonnie's wedding in Ligonier on the 14th - despite the rainy day, we got some great images when it finally, blessedly stopped. And I can't WAIT to show you what happened at the end of the night - the most fun, coolest thing that a bride & groom ever did at a wedding that I've attended - stay tuned for pictures in just a few days!

Then it was on to Punta Cana for Katie & Craig's wedding - what a fabulously fun time we had! Imagine the fun of everyone together for a joyful event that lasts all week! And again, I can't wait to show you the images that I got: the happy couple got right on the beach & waves a few days later in the gown & all for a trash the dress session!

Anyway, it's good to be back & I will be hard at work processing the thousands of images I brought home with me PLUS the seven sessions that I did the week before I left. A big thanks to all of you who are patiently waiting to see your images - it will be worth it, I promise!

working vacation

Jim & I are off to PA tomorrow & will be gone for 10 days. First, Jason & I are shooting a fabulous wedding on Saturday in Ligonier (see Bonnie & Brad's engagement session here ). Then Jim & I are leaving Monday early for Punta Cana to do Katie & Craig's wedding (their engagement session here) - we are friends with their families and also have a lot of mutual friends that will be there, so it should be a blast! I am not sure how much access I will have to phone/email, so I will take care of any client issues when I get back to work on the 25th.

memorial day weekend photos

I visited Stacey & David & the kids on Memorial Day weekend. We went to a nearby farm to pick strawberries and let the kids play. I was able to get a few photos of them that I liked. It's still like pulling teeth, but at least I get SOMETHING, now that they are a little older. I swear they make themselves get that slack look on their faces when I bring out my camera, on purpose!

wedding belle

Jason and I were thrilled to shoot Terri & Mike's wedding on Memorial Day weekend for two reasons: one, they were eager to devote some time to getting good shots which is half the battle, and two, it was a gorgeous day with (un-Pittsburgh-like) BLUE skies!
Lots of favorites:

To see their slideshow go here: Terri & Mike