Photo Play with Kim

Recently, my good friend and awesome photographer, Kim McCormick and I went on a photo play day in historic Melbourne. Surprised? Many professional photographers know each other and we love to hang out. Professional photographers belong to the same organizations, we go to school together, guild meetings together, conventions, and workshops....we share a lot! (Sometimes we share clients.) Now how cool is it to go and search for inspiration in order to enhance your creativity? What did we look for? What did we find? Here are just a few, right out of the camera:

We looked for interesting buildings and angles and intersection of lines...

WOW! This is a cool shot, I bet my sister, Kendra, would love to paint this!

We looked for texture and color and defining space...

We use texture in creating our cards, albums and custom storyboards; something like this makes us very excited when we find it!

We looked for composition...

And in simplicity discovered true beauty.

We looked for leading lines...

After we played downtown, we walked to the riverside and shot many angles of the railroad bridge......seeking sun flares... We found a Birdman, the marina, lovers under a bridge, an old man sitting peacefully on a park bench, two other photographers out on excursion and lots of seagulls and pigeons, as well!

Our next trip will be to St Augustine and maybe we can get Yvette and Martha and Pat to come along!

Are You Going Somewhere?

Spring Break is just around the corner! For us, anyway. Maybe you have already experienced your "time". Like many families, we like to do something----spend quality time---with our girls. It's not so easy to halt everything and take off, but it's well worth it and we (well, me & Scott) enjoy it. Sierra is 13 and, sometimes, the things we might want to do as a family just isn't cool----that is, unless a friend of hers can come along and help ease the blow of having to hang out with your family. But she is more of a silent complainer and doesn't make too much of a fuss---unlike her sister, Stormy. This year, we are all in agreement where to go---Atlanta! Or, as my mother-in-law, Elaine, calls it, HOT-lanta! We are going to the Aquarium----of course! And I am still trying to talk the kids into the Atlanta Art Museum. Can you imagine, they find it boring! Oh, well, maybe they will drop me off and I can have "Mommy Time". Who am I fooling? Scott won't let me out of 'the family obligation' that easy! Maybe I can barter with the girls, something like, "I'll take you to Stone Mountain if you..." but I'll be sure and have us go to the museum first! HA HA HA! Insert evil Mommy laughter!

Eva!

Eva is now 9 months old! I have been blessed to watch her grow and change throughout her first year as I documented her Milestone Months. Thank you to Eva and her parents, for sharing such precious time with me and allowing me to capture, forever, sweet Eva in portraiture.

Mother's Day Contest for Female Soldiers in Iraq

Tell all your friends! We are sponsoring a Mother's Day Contest for female soldiers who will not be able to be home with their children for Mother's Day. We will accept letters from family members and friends explaining why they should receive a free studio portrait session, a 24 Image Album and a DVD Slideshow to send to their mother's who will be in Iraq for Mother's Day. Letters are being accepted from now through Friday, April 6th. We will select 2 winners to have their children photographed in studio and a care package containing portraits, DVD and other items from home to be delivered in Iraq by Mother's Day.

Letters should be mailed to PhotoArtWorks 827 Trailwood Ave., Titusville, Florida 32796 or emailed to photoartworks@cfl.rr.com. Entrants should include entrant name, phone number, address, email, soldier's name, rank, mailing information, number of children and ages along with a story or explination as to why they think their mother should win a care package from PhotoArtWorks.

Children of winners must be over 18 years of age or have a legal guardian present during portrait session. Entrants must be able to schedule portrait session between April 11th and April 20th.

Episcopal Children's Services

As you know, I am frequently involved in charitable events for children and Wednesday I had the opportunity to volunteer my photographic skills for the Episcopal Children's Services (ECS) in Jacksonville. Founded in 1966, Episcopal Children's Services, has become the largest not-for-profit child services organization (for children birth to five) in Northeast Florida. Starting out as one small child care center, they now provide high quality services to more than 14,000 young children in Duval, Clay, Nassau, Baker, Bradford, Union, Putnam and St. Johns counties.
Each year at the Children's Champion luncheon, Episcopal Children's Services recognizes someone from their community who has dedicated their time and resources to improving the lives of children in Northeast Florida. This year, they were proud to honor Delores Barr Weaver for her work and dedication in addressing the needs of children and their families. Mrs. Weaver is co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chair/CEO of the Jaguars Foundation. Under her direction, the foundation has awarded over $9.5 million to dozens of nonprofit organizations in Northeast Florida that serve economically and socially disadvantaged children and families. The luncheon was a tremendous success with over 500 attendees.

It was my pleasure and honor to meet with the exceptional staff of ECS and their Board Members as well as Delores Barr Weaver. To often, our lives are filled with news of terror, disaster, horror and sadness.............but I am here to remind you, there are Angels among us..............................I spent Wednesday with them.

Entertainment provided by the children.

Children's Champion Award recipients Delores Barr Weaver with Mayor Peyton of Jacksonville

For more information on Episcopal Children's Services please go to

www. ecs4kids.org