Studio Sara-Anne

Your Questions

It's been a while since I've answered questions. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be neglegent...just really busy.

When did you start building your portfolio? In all honesty, I probably still am...I think that in any art form a person evolves and grows. I look at the pictures I took during my "portfolio building" days and I've grown so much since then...but that's the same in my scrapbooks, my painting, etc...but to get back to your question, I started about a year ago.

Why do you perfer Canon? Just becuase I haven't tried Nikon. I know a lot of great photographers who use Nikon and I have nothing against them, but once you start down the road with a manufactuer, it's hard to change without major expense. I know that's not a technical answer, but for me that's why.

Are you going to offer anything special for the holidays? Yes, I'm working on it. I'm not sure if I will have "packages" but I will have photo cards, calendars, and I've gotten a few new props like an old sled, a red chair, etc.

Has Makaley ever modeled? okay, this cracked me up! just because if you knew her, you would know that this couldn't be the case. I mean, that girl has given herself probably now, 5 self haircuts and can NEVER keep a shirt clean, and though she's a girly girl, there's just no way. But I do think she's pretty darn cute!

What do you do when someone doesn't like their pictures? Cry! no really, I haven't really had this happen, I did have a couple who were not pleased with their maternity session becuase once they saw the proofs the lady didn't think she looked pregnant. I had tried to tell them that the best time for maternity sessions is in the late 8th month and she was only barely 7...so I agreed to redo them when she was further along. That was nearly a year ago so I'm not sure how I would have handled it now. The bottom line is that I want people to be extreamly pleased...not just ho humm pleased, but thrilled with their pictures, so I will do whatever I can to make them happy.

When are you going to do another photo challenge? NEVER!...no I'm just kidding...I may do some sort of self portrait challenge...not sure.

How do you get the blur in the background? The technical term is bokeh...the way that I get this is from using my portrait lens set at a long focal length. You can also work at it with a photo editing software.

Okay that's about it. I did want to let everyone know that I'm going to be here which is a great opportunity that has come up. They have asked if I will donate a "session" as one of their prizes and intern they will publish me on all their literature etc. I can put out my buisness cards, photocards etc...This is huge as last year they had over 20,000 people so I'm excited.

Hope everything is great in your home

I've been tagged

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30am
2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The most stupid “space chimps”
4. What is your favorite TV show? Amazing Race5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Peanut butter crackers and coffee
6. What is your middle name? don’t have one
7. What food do you dislike? bologna
8. What is your favorite CD at moment? Abba Gold
9. What kind of car do you drive? An old one
10. Favorite sandwich? Ham & Brie
11.What characteristic do you despise? Dishonesty
12. Favorite item of clothing? Flip flops13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Tahiti
14. Favorite brand of clothing? don't have one
15.Where would you retire to? The beach
16.What was your most recent memorable birthday? 37th
17. Favorite sport to watch? FOOTBALL (which is coming up YAHOO)18. Furthest place you are sending this? I’m not
19. Person you expect to send it back first? ?
20. When is your birthday? March 30
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? night
22. What is your shoe size? 8
23. Pets? none
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? We are moving
25. What did you want to be when you were little? EMT
26. How are you today? Better than yesterday
27. What is your favorite candy? Carmello
28. What is your favorite flower? Gerber Daisy
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Anniversary (and big ol trip)
30. What is your favorite pastime? scrapbooking
31. What are you listening to right now? nada
32. What was the last thing you ate? Broccoli salad
33. Do you wish on stars? nope
34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? turquoise
35. How is the weather right now? Pretty warm
36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today? My father
37. Favorite soft drink? Rootbeer/iced coffee
38. Favorite restaurant? Melting Pot
39. Real hair color? Very very dark brown
40. What was your favorite toy as a child? Not sure….
41. Summer or winter? Winter
42. Hugs or kisses? hugs
43. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
44. Coffee or tea? Coffee
45. Do you want your friends to email you back? I’m not sending this…just posting
46. When was the last time you cried? This morning
47. What is under your bed? Tub of lingerie, shoes, luggage
48. What did you do last night? Olympics
49. What are you afraid of? Mean people
50. Salty or sweet? sweet

And I'm tagging Jolanthe

Off to Kindergarten

This morning, Makaley woke me up by saying "mommy it's a school day today" I looked up to find her, hair brushed and in a headband, a dress on (though it was not dress code) and her back pack on. She's definately ready and I'm thrilled. Yes, it's hard to have your baby enter "big girl school" but it helps that she is so excited and ready to learn.

Micah wasn't quite as excited...but he was excited to see all his old friends and old teachers.

We had a really busy weekend, as usual. Sunday afternoon I came home from church and crashed for 4 hours...YIKES. I did get most of Makaley's room packed and sorted so that's a big thing. Can I just say, I really despise small little toys. I mean, Polly Pockets, Legos, Playmobil....my mom was a huge fan of Playmobil stuff and I love their toys, but I found so many little pieces to the dollhouse (small flowers that went in a vase). Anyway, I (without her knowing) got rid of a ton of toys and games...so that makes this mommy happy.

Friday Frustrations

I have so many thoughts scurrying around in my head this morning; I’m not sure what to put down.
I have someone who I am really afraid for who is very heavy on my heart. I feel very helpless but would ask that you bathe her in prayer.

I feel very frustrated and I don’t like that feeling. I feel that I need a huge attitude adjustment, but just can’t seem to snap out of it. I feel as though I’m very on edge…not a lot of patience for those around me. I know that we have a lot going on, but I always do…so I’m not sure what it is..but I refuse to have my joy stolen.

I’ve already started panicking about flying next weekend. You know, I grew up on an airplane…flying over seas as a little girl, went on numerous trips as a teenager to Europe, Costa Rica, Alaska…so why am I so fearful to fly. I really would like to conquer that fear. I do think that since the death of my mom & grandmas, I am a little more fearful about the whole accident thing.

I’ve decided to go to grief share, both my sister and father are going and I feel that I need to as well. I just don’t want to be stuck by the circumstances that life has dealt. I had someone once tell me that I lived in the past and that is the last thing that I want…our life should be a forward journey and I have no desire to be paralyzed by circumstances.

Here’s a fill in for today:
Here we go:

1. If I could travel back in time, I'd go to pioneer times
2. Give me sleep or give me the grouchies
3. I am listening to Let Everything That Has Breath, by Matt Redman
4. Somewhere, someone is thinking when I grow up, I can be just like Michael Phelps
5. I'll always be a Child of God, daughter, sister, wife, and mother
6. My idea of a good time includes traveling, friends, good food, and relaxing.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to working tomorrow my plans include tennis lessons, interview for a new admin, packing & a photo session and Sunday, I want to get the kids all organized before school starts on Monday.

Have a great weekend.

I took these pictures of the family yesterday!

Senior Portraits Sessions Under Way

It's been a busy week booking senior sessions.

I really enjoy these sessions...I love my children and babies as well, but the H.S. seniors are so much fun becuase they are so excited about having their picture taken and they love changing outifts and so on and so forth.

If you are interested in booking a session, please contact me as soon as possible. I only have a few more open sessions for September.

Have a great day everyone!

Vacation Recap

Micah rode a long bike ride around the lake, I was so impressed and proud

We were almost attacked by a fox…yes, I thought it would be fun for Micah and Sarah (his best friend) to be able to stay up late one night and roast s’mores on the fire at the fire pit. At one point, Micah said “Look mom there’s a cat behind you!” I turned around only to find a fox. Needless to say we roasted “gooey mallows” by candle inside.

Love the mountain climate: warm days (not hot) and cool nights

Micah won a ribbon for the serpentine race…he was so excited.

The kids enjoyed watching mom and auntie Jenny participate in the Tug O Dash (tug of war and then a dash into the cold lake) it was girls against boys and the girls ROCKED!

Spent much of two days going to the lake –it raining—going back to the house—sun coming up---going back to the lake---it raining—and this cycle repeating over and over.

I found that everyone eats more when on vacation…I thought brought enough food…but had to think again.
We love the sweet shop…so much fun to get a cone after a day of playing. So many memories.

Makaley is immune to cold water. She played in the water for hours despite being blue. At one point my sister said “She’s really blue” so I made her come out for a while. No joke she looked like the litter girl from Willy Wonka who turned into a blueberry.

We took the opportunity to give Makaley a hair cut. I like the idea of long hair, but Makaley just looks adorable with short bobbed hair. I’m going to have it stacked before school starts.

It was so much fun this week as Makaley met and played with Katie, she was another little girl who was down from Conn. For sports week. They had so much fun together and it was neat to see my daughter being so outgoing.

Not having hot water is not a good thing when you are in the mountains. We arrived to no hot water and couldn’t get it fixed until Monday. Cold cold showers!!! I felt like a pioneer woman boiling water for the kids.
We played Mexican train dominos 3 nights in a row…each time making up our own rules. Lots of laughs.
The fireman’s carnival was so much fun and a great way to end the week. Makaley won two big stuffed animals and each of the other kids won one! Homemade perogies and apple dumplings, fire engine rides and penny games. Can’t beat it!

Micah said at one point in the car “Makaley you are a boy because you like brain guts and nose snotties” I’m not so sure why, but I laughed and laughed on this.

We must have listened to "character builders" the CD 1000 times. I think my kids (and us) have the point "honesty....is the very best policy"

Not having my mom there was very hard. She would have loved seeing the kids and us having so much fun and enjoying Eagles Mere so much. The house seems so different without her and her things.

Here are some more pictures

Last week I said that we were 95% sure that we were moving and now it's closer to 99%. Still have a few details to work out, but we a planning as though we are on our way to Burlington. I have started to look for schools for the kids, I feel really bad that they are going to start at GRACE and then have to move, but I'm trying to look at the overall picture and how much better this is going to be for them/us in the long run.

Chris is so excited and I'm thrilled for him, this is an opportunity of a lifetime for us and we couldn't be more thrilled. I look back over the past 5 years and think, Lord, you have closed so many doors, You have given us so many signs that different opportunities were not what was best for us, and now, clearly it seems that He is giving us a HUGE GREEN LIGHT! It's so comforting to know that eventhough all along it felt as though He didn't have a plan, that now that we do, it feels as though He has protected us in so many ways. What a life lesson for us.

We have so much to do in the next few weeks. Things will be made official on the 7th (Chris' Birthday).

I've had a couple of people ask will I be moving my buiness to Burlington. The answer is NO! I've worked really hard to build my buisness here in Raleigh/Knightdale/Cary that I feel that it would not be wise to change that. I am looking at the possiblity of building a studio, but that would be a ways away.

Here are some pictures from Eagles Mere, not a lot, but it's a start.

Thank you to all of you who have sent warm wishes and who have been our biggest supporters throughout this time. We are so blessed, we always have been, it just seems to be overflowing right now.

Home again, home again jiggedy jig

We are home after a very good vacation. I can’t believe how fast the time flew by. It was so good to be up at the lake and participate in all the activities that Eagles Mere has to offer. The kids were terrific and we had a lot of fun with my sister and her family and our dear friends the Laibles.

The weather was not as good as we would have liked, a lot of running back to the house for a rain shower, but the show went on.

Put the kids to bed last night when we got home, heard this sobbing from the back of the house. Went in and Micah was crying. I asked him what was wrong and he said he missed his Mimi…we all had times throughout the week that the loss of my mom and her absence hit home, but I didn’t realize how much it would affect him. I have grown to love Eagles Mere so much and to think that we won’t have that house there is sad to me. I totally understand why we need to sell it, but I think we as a family will commit to vacationing in the “town that time forgot” on a yearly basis.

I have so much to recap and share and pictures to show, but as you know coming home vacation there is so much to do, so hopefully tonight or tomorrow I’ll get to all of that.

Wasn’t the men’s swimming relay so much fun to watch. I stayed up for it and was so glad. What a joy! I just love the Olympics. So excited!

Now we are home with only 1 week until school starts for the kids and trying to get things ready to move and all that goes along with all of that.

I wanted to share one thing that the Lord has been teaching me over the past week or so….One of my mom’s favorite devotions was “Streams in the Desert” this was one of the entries…and I just loved it
Meet Him in the Morning

"Be ready in the morning, and come ...present thyself there to me in the top of the mount. And no man shall come up with thee" (Exod. 34:2-3).

The morning watch is essential. You must not face the day until you have faced God, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His.

You cannot expect to be victorious, if the day begins only in your own strength. Face the work of every day with the influence of a few thoughtful, quiet moments with your heart and God. Do not meet other people, even those of your own home, until you have first met the great Guest and honored Companion of your life--Jesus Christ.

Meet Him alone. Meet Him regularly. Meet Him with His open Book of counsel before you; and face the regular and the irregular duties of each day with the influence of His personality definitely controlling your every act.

I realized how much I need to be in daily fellowship with the Lord, not just here and there, when I’m driving, when I’m showering, but to carve out that time with him. I have always had my “devotional” time, but lately it’s taken a back seat and I realized how much I miss it and that it feels as though I have parted my hair on the wrong side. I always see the beginning of the school year as a time to “start new’ and so as I work with my children on building new study habits I am going to be doing the same. I’d love to hear how you “carve” out time to spend with your maker.

That’s it for now, like I said, I’ll have much to post with lots of pictures both from Eagles Mere and 3 or 4 photo shoots.

We're Off

Okay, this is a quick and short post. I found these images from someone on Photo bucket..it's always hard to explain Eagles Mere. I know they are small so double click on them to get a better feel. I'll have some pictures of my own to share when I return, but this will give you a good idea of where we are headed.

A place where there is no cell phone coverage, where bears come in the night and eat the food out of bird feeders, where kids are safe to ride their bikes alone, where the days are in the high 70's and the nights are in the 50's where there will be a firemans carnival with penny games and a traditional water carnival that has taken place for the last 50 years.

The little bank gave my folks the loan on their home with a hand shake

the yellow house is a typical home in EM

The Fire Station is only 6 house down from my folks

The town clock is well known in a county that only has one stop light in the whole county

Have a great week everyone.

Answered Prayer!

We have closure, before our trip. I'm so thankful, and 95% sure we are moving to Bulrington!!!! well Saxapahaw/Graham, but for those of you who are not NC'ers...Burlington, NC.

I feel as thought I can exhale after years of holding my breath.
I feel so increadibly thankful for God's hand at work in our lives.
I am so excited for Chris as this is something that he has longed for.
I'm excited that we finally have a direction for where we should purchase a home and we can move on that.
I am so grateful for the stablility for my children and our family
I'm excited that I can share this story with others and that hopefully the Lord will be glorified
Thankful that we heard this news before vacation as it will make it that much sweeter.

So today we are headed to Eagles Mere (the town where time forgot)