There is a text file on my computer that contains hundreds of quotes. I collect them the way others collect stamps or baseball cards. I’ve been doing this for years. When I get down or otherwise bored with life, I browse through them for inspiration. Here’s a favorite:

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs;
ask yourself what makes you come alive.
And then go and do that.
Because what the world needs is people who are alive.
—Harold Whitman—

For this one, I have to resist the urge to shout “yes” out loud. It is so true.

A set of 10 one inch solid wooden frames available in silver, black, natural, walnut or white (not shown). The DMP Portrait Wall includes 11 prints from your portrait session and everything you need to hang this amazing collection on your wall except the hammer.
Even better? The prints can be easily swapped out so that you can update your wall each year. And the best part? Each DMP Portrait Wall comes with two pre-view wall templates that aid in no fuss hanging. You can rotate the template 90° once, twice or three times to come up with each of these different layouts or use the staircase template for another beautiful option.

Total dimensions are 5 ft x 3 ft or 3 ft x 5 ft depending on your selected arrangement. The following print sizes are included: 1 – 11×14, 1 – 6×14, 9 – 4×6. As an available option the single 6×14 image can be swapped for 3 additional 4×6 prints.

Go Bears!

By the looks of this image you might think I’m some sort of fantastic comedian. Thanks, little K.

This was his more serious side, but mostly he was all fun.

Check out the shoes! I hear they were a present from grandma. Adorable.

Such the cutie! He wanted to wear sweatpants for his portrait session and you better believe he did! I honestly don’t think I could have as easily captured his personality without those comfy-cozy pants.

See the little heart that appears right above those tiny toes?
That is what’s called a happy accident. I didn’t even notice it until I was preparing the proofs for this client’s session. An absolutely perfect outcome to represent all the love that was in their home.

Nature is slowly but surely taking away my ability to schedule outdoor sessions. Sadness all around! I really love an outdoor session, especially for a toddler. A 1 or 2 year old on the loose at a playground? That’s a beautiful thing.

This was our third session together. It’s fun to watch kids grow up. Crawling, sitting, walking, exploring … I’m pretty sure I have the best job in the world!

I’m excited and oh-so-very proud to announce a series of my images were selected for use in the jacket and liner of this year’s Live From the Archives, Volume 9 CD by XRT. I couldn’t be happier to be part of the project.

Proceeds of ONXRT: Live From the Archives, Volume 9 will benefit the Columbia College Chicago Scholarship and Metropolitan Family Services. Columbia College’s Al Parker Scholarship assists outstanding sophomore, junior, and senior level radio students defray tuition costs. The scholarship is awarded annually to the students who, by recommendation of the Columbia College radio faculty, have demonstrated considerable achievement in the department and have significant potential for future creative development in the broadcast arts.

The CD is on-sale now to the public at all Chicagoland Borders locations and for a short time will be available at ShopXRT. Get’m while they are hot! Previous volumes have sold out quickly.

Fabulous artists on this year’s CD:

Ben Harper – Ground On Down
Recorded live at the Aragon Ballroom for XRT Sunday Night Concert, 11/01/00
Gomez – Nothing Is Wrong
Recorded live at the Vic Theatre for XRT Sunday Night Concert, 10/08/04
Shawn Mullins – Lullaby
Broadcast live from XRT studios, 1/11/06
Buddy Guy – Baby Please Don’t Leave Me
Broadcast live from Buddy Guy’s Legends, 5/16/01
KT Tunstall – Black Horse and the Cherry Tree
Broadcast live from XRT studios, 2/24/06
Finn Brothers – Weather With You
Recorded live at the Vic Theatre for XRT Sunday Night Concert, 7/22/04
Ray LaMontagne – Trouble
Recorded live at Double Door for XRT Sunday Night Concert, 2/15/05
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Ain’t No Easy Way
Broadcast live from XRT studios, 2/08/06
My Morning Jacket – Off The Record
Recorded live at the Vic Theatre for XRT Sunday Night Concert, 11/22/05
Koko Taylor – Hound Dog
Broadcast live from XRT studios, 12/09/93
Garbage – Special
Recorded live at the Riviera Theatre for XRT Sunday Night Concert, 5/09/02
Billy Corgan – A100
Broadcast live from the Vic Theatre as an XRT Concert Exclusive, 7/05/05

Special thanks to XRT and Brainforest (art direction) for selecting my images to complete their vision.

More of this cutie, because I forgot to share his story.
Usually with this age I find I need to be more careful. Delicate, almost. If they are the shy type you can lose them.
When I walk into an appointment I pay close attention to how they react to me and this little guy came right up to me and poked me in my belly button. By the time he grabbed my hands so that he could use his feet to climb up me, I knew that we were going to be fast friends.