Today I’m packing up my bags to head to California to teach for a few days. I’m so excited to be escaping the cold weather here for a bit. Even though it’s not supposed to be terribly warm there (by their standards), it’s relief from the freezing temps here in good old Indiana. And I’m happy I’ll be able to come back and share some new warm weather photographs on the blog, but for now here is another of my silly girl from last summer. I think this shoot is my favorite I’ve ever done with her…because she was so “Bella”.

For the photographers out there, this image was edited with my Summer Skies action set, specifically the Summer Pop and Blueberry Skies actions. We’ll be holding a sale starting tonight at 8pm EST. If you don’t receive our newsletter with the codes, all codes will be posted here or on the Actions Cart website so keep checking back.

Have a blessed weekend everyone!

Yesterday I was organizing my images from last summer and had to stop to edit just one photo. It was so cold and snowy and this photo was so full of summer warmth that I just couldn’t resist. I hope you enjoy it too.

Last fall I had the chance to shoot Little Skye Boutique’s Misha Lulu line and had a blast! The clothes were so stinkin’ cute, but that was no surprise to me. Misha Lulu has been one of our favorites for quite a while now. And of course Melissa and her lovely staff was nothing but a pleasure throughout the whole process.

I’m so excited to be heading out to San Luis Obispo, CA in just a few weeks to teach a workshop with Joy Vertz and a guest appearance from a dear friend of mine, Amanda Elkins.

Joy is going to be teaching you how to take your business to a whole new level of success and profitability. Which we all know is a huge issue in this economy. I’ve known Joy for years through the photography community and had the opportunity to meet with her last year when she helped me develop an incredible plan of action to take my business to the next level.  If you want to learn how to market more efficiently, increase your bottom line and stay on top in this competitive market, Joy is your lady.

While Joy covers the business side of running a photography business, I’ll be teaching you how to capture your subjects in a natural and creative manner. All the while using the gorgeous available light that I so adore working with. You’ll learn how to develop connections with the children you photograph so that your portraits show their true spirit. I’ll also talk about and demonstrate how I choose the locations that have become a signature look in my portfolio. I’ll be talking about creativity and composition, utilizing available light, gentle posing, the importance of client clothing and styling and much more. Not to mention we’ll be heading out into that stunning California countryside for some fun shoots.

I’ll also be teaching a class covering the basics of off camera flash and how to use this exciting style of photography in your work. My dear friend, the amazingly talented Amanda Elkins will be working with me at this class posing and prepping our beautiful teen models. Amanda has worked as a model herself and has a knack for posing and photographing teen models that an inspiration to many photographers. So come prepared to learn a lot about off camera flash and how to work with your teen clients.

We do still have a few openings for this February 5-7 workshop and if you’re interested, check out the information on my website.  Contact me for details on a discount.

And since a post isn’t a post without an image of course I have to include one of my favorite subjects, my children.

Which brings me to my big news….we’re having another baby! We’ll be welcoming another sweet Profancik into the world this summer (due date is August 1).  So if it seems like I’ve been neglecting the blog a bit it’s because the morning sickness wiped me off the map for a couple of months. But thankfully I’m feeling good again and ready to get back into the swing of things until this little one arrives.

Our posse of 3-about to be 4.

Who me? No! Hehe…anyone who knows me knows that I adore my magazines. And how can you not love them? When that shiny new issue arrives in the mail, it’s like Christmas! I save each issue for just the right moment.  I make a cup of hot apple cider (if it’s cold out) or a cold iced tea (in the summertime) and I curl up in my bed or my hammock and pour over every article and every photograph. I fold the corners of the pages I want to remember, gathering inspiration for my home, ideas for photographs I want to create or a plant I want to grow next summer. I nod when I read an article about raising children and feel connected to all the other mom’s out there who are experiencing the same things I am. I drool over the gorgeous clothes that I want to buy and quickly turn the page before I get myself in trouble. And then I save them for another round or two or three of heaven. My favorite issues hang around for a few years and the others get weeded through once every year or so. Then the kids (or my sister) grab some of the issues destined for donation and they draw funny bearded faces on the women or they cut them up and make ridiculous collages just like I did when I was little.

Sigh…can you tell I have quite a love for magazines? If you do too, head over to Amazon where they are on sale during the month of November. I grabbed a few subscriptions for just 5.00 for a year!

 

Damian and I love heading up to Chicago when we can for shopping, restaurants and just to have fun. There’s so much to see and do there. We’ve never brought the kids before…it’s always been our getaway place. Plus we tend to do so much walking when we’re there that we were worried about bringing Bella. Well, we finally decided to bring them up and they loved it! I have admit there were moments of whining about tired feet, but we had a great time as a family. They loved the subway, the rooftop on our hotel, China town and of course “the bean”. And the cute dark haired guy is my brother. Without further ado, the photos!

 

Heading into the city on a cold, drizzly day

 

getting ready to head to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe-not so good food, but the kids LOVED it.

 

Just being silly

 

The hat that kept falling down

 

Waiting for the light to change

 

She found a horse to pet

 

I don’t know why, but they kept sitting on the escalators

 

Christian’s reaction to the Lego store

 

His dream Lego set

 

Just playing

 

Enjoying the view from the Lego Store

 

 

 

 

 

They loved it!

 

 

 

Someone is excited about his new Lego!

 

Just being cute

 

 

 

Watching for the subway

 

Elavator fun

 

from our rooftop

 

From our rooftop at night

 

Waiting for Daddy to check out

 

 The posse heading out for the day

 

Cute kids in Chicago

 

Lunch in China town. WAY too much food.

 

 

My little guy heading heading into the station

 

Lovin’ the subway!

 

Waiting for a bus

 

bored

 

The result of being bored

 

 

Damian, AKA pack mule

 

Not sure if he’s a dinosaur or if he’s a kid about to be eaten by a dinosaur?

 

She’s a dinosaur

 

Last stop before home, Navy Pier

 

She might look nervous, but don’t be fooled. This girl has NO fear of heights and that scares me.

 

At the top of the ferris wheel

 

 

See if you can find Garrett, Christian and Damian

 

See them here?

 

She loves a merry-go-round!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ahh…my favorite season! I just love the cool weather, pulling out my favorite sweaters, mugs of hot apple cider, trips to the orchard with the kids, the stunning trees and landscapes. Sigh…Indiana is a great place to be in October. Of course all of this loveliness puts me in the mood to shoot which is good, because it seems like everyone is in the mood for photos. Last year I got so busy I barely had the chance to take my kids out for any fall photos. I vowed to make sure I don’t neglect their photos this year. So here are a few of Bella from a shoot at a nearby park and field.

All of these images were edited with my Summer Skies photoshop action set. Guess it works for Autumn Skies too.

 

 

 

 

 

This little sweetie’s mom has gorgeous red hair (go redheads!) and I really think her little boy may inherit it from her! I know as a redheaded mom I SO wanted one of my children to have red hair and fortunately I got mine. I think she will too! This little guy wasn’t quite a newborn when he came in to have his portraits done, but he was oh so good. Check out his adorable baby chunkiness-LOVED IT!

 

 

I just adore the 6-9 month age for shoots. Just check out this sweet boy to see why. He was so cute and easy going, and loved being outdoors. At this age, they are able to sit up well (but usually can’t take off yet) and are enthralled with the world around them-which makes for a perfect portrait session! And little A. was no exception.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the only mini session date we have planned for this Holiday season so reserve your spot soon!