Senior Portrait Session

A big Thank You to Will and his mom, who brought me in to shoot his High School Senior Portraits. Four locations - each with their own meaning to their family and all great backdrops for Will's shoot. He plays baseball and football... and loves both his faith and his family. I hope these portraits will serve as a reminder of what a great guy Will is now... as he enters his last year of high school... and will be a great keepsake to look back on when he's moved on to even bigger and better things!

Umbrellas and Pajamas

Who would have ever thought umbrellas and pajamas would make a good combination? Sleeping attire and bad weather gear? Well, my two made it work. Just what I like to see in a child - enough imagination to make something fun out of a dreary day... not enough awareness that it might look goofy to the pedestrians and drivers passing by. Aaah, to be a kid again!

Nice Place To Take Photos

I took my family out to the spot where I'll hold a school fundraiser photo shoot in a few weeks - to check the status of the wildflowers and background leaves. So far - looks great! I'm really happy with the location and hope lots of Nature Hill families take part in the mini photo sessions I'm offering. Sign up at Open House!

Caitlin can never resist a flower - so this bright yellow beauty ended up in her hands... Jackson was more into climbing on the dirt piles, but got caught up in his sister's arms when I announced I'd like them to pose for me.

My husband Jason is never that thrilled to be the subject of my photos... but is always happy to be surrounded by his children...

Come on out Nature Hill Intermediate School Families... I look forward to meeting you and your families - and putting smiles on your faces too!

Things Done and Undone

My house is just like yours - messy on the days when you've found something more interesting to do... clean when you have the time and energy to go around picking up after everyone else. As summer wraps up I'm finding more and more that when the sun sets I've still got dishes to clean and clothes to wash. Bummer.

Today we went on a grand shopping spree - well I shouldn't say we - more like my children were taken on a grand shopping spree, getting some really cute clothes to wear as they enter the 4th and 1st grades.

I did benefit from a buy-three-get-one-free bargain my mom funded. Nice bowls, huh?

I also managed to make some yummy oatmeal raisin bars, that came in handy as we unpacked our bags and bags of treasures. Funny how hungry you can get while spending money!

Hope you're enjoying these last few days of glowing summer sunlight. Take it all in. Make it all matter... and if need be, let those dishes wait until tomorrow - or winter, which is practically the same thing here in Wisconsin!

Grasshopper

My husband is a photojournalist who spends his time recording life as it happens for a local t.v. station.

I am a still photographer who spends my time recording life as it happens for my family and others.

Our daughter seems to be a chip off the ol' blocks - as they say - and is a very talented photographer herself. This afternoon while I was photographing Jackson playing football, she captured this little fellow.

Hello Grasshopper! Good shot Cate!

Don't Stop Dreaming

My son is almost six. He is a big boy with even bigger dreams. The past day or so has been hard for many football fans in my state... one of the men we cheered for - for his love of the game and ours - is now out of retirement (again) and playing for a rival team. Brett Favre is a household word in my home. Jackson has been a fan his entire life. When you overhear my son practicing his 'play by play' he's either being Brett, or taking a hand-off from Brett... or is Brett's best friend, Donald Driver.

At any rate, Brett's name is about as good as mud today - but that's not stopped my boy from dreaming.

Because no matter what the media says...

No matter what new team his hero now plays for...

Jackson is still a boy who loves football...

And this boy's gonna play.

Thank You!

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit my booth at Oconomowoc's Kids Fest this week! I had a wonderful time meeting you and sharing my photography. Thanks too, to my friend Becky, who not only helped me design the booth, but showed up bright and early to help me set it up. Oconomowoc is filled with great people - and fun kids - and I'm thrilled to be a part of it all!

Senior Portrait Session

A big Thank You to Mac, who was such a great sport during his senior portrait session - allowing me to try out a few new locations with a big smile on his face. We went to four different spots in Oconomowoc, taking full advantage of the summer evening sun. Each setting offered us a completely different feel, sporty or urban... traditional or unconventional. As you can see, Mac's the kind of guy you could put anywhere and he'd make it feel like home. Enjoy this sneak peek...

many more photos will be posted on my main site very soon!

Crazy Zoo Fun

If you've never been to the Milwaukee County Zoo, you should go.

I highly recommend gathering together some of your family...
or friends...
packing a picnic lunch...
and loading everyone into the car.
I promise... it will be a day...
you will never forget.
Thanks Nana for the treat. Loved the day spent together!

Another Something New

I'm learning something new every day. So this is what I've been up to in the last few hours... working on a better way to watermark my web images. I hate it when the logo sits right on someone's face or happens to block out a really neat part of the photograph... this is the way to go!

I think I'll need to keep working on it - to get a consistent look to my web photos. I know I've done more than my share of changing my image over the last few months, but really do want to settle on a look that suits my style and reflects the photographer I am today.

Can You Believe This?

Last week when we were up north, my five year old son Jackson was being a pest. "When can I water ski, Mom?" "Can I just TRY it?" "I am TOO old enough!" To which I continuously replied... you're not old enough to water ski! You'll fall and break your neck. Five year olds do NOT water ski!
And then you'll never guess what happened. Our neighbors came out with a set of skis that are held together by a rod and are pulled by a spotter who holds the rope and can let go at the first sign of trouble. I relented. After all, he's proven me wrong before.
Here's what happened.

Looks like he's got it!

Can you believe this?

Guess next time I'd be better off telling him he CAN do it... rather than he CAN'T. Especially if proving me wrong is going to be his "thing."