Liz + Weston = Engaged! :: Elizabethtown Portrait Photographer

Even though my first love is photographing high school seniors (girls), then babies, kids and families~ I was so excited (like jump-up-and-down-giddy excited) when our good friends daughter, Liz, contacted me about portraits~ engagement portraits! This was a first for me~ it was fun to try something different and since Liz also has an eye for photography, it was extra sweet to collaborate on a few ideas.

These high school sweethearts are such an amazing couple and everyone who knows them, adores them.  Liz currently attends Millersville University, majoring in social work and minoring in photography~ she has a huge heart for kids and helping those in need. Weston is finishing his last year at IUP and will have a degree in music education with plans to return to Central PA and teach. Their wedding date is set for next July, and one thing about their future together is guaranteed: they will be an absolute blessing to the people around them in the years to come. Here are a few of my faves from their session~ please leave them a love note in the comments section at the bottom :-)

Giving Back :: Joni & Friends Family Retreat 2010

Sooooo... somewhere in the chaos of last summer it seems I posted the images from Joni & Friends Family 2010 Retreat to Facebook, but missed putting them on the blog~ hence, a post of last year's JAF Retreat at Spruce Lake Retreat in the Poconos, just a few weeks away from my upcoming return to capture another week filled with fun, laughter, and an indescribable love that envelops this time. The theme for 2010 was "More than imagined" and truly, it was!

For the families, it's kind of like a cruise, but on land~ all of the activities are planned out, they just show up and enjoy the food and festivities without having to plan all the parts of vacation in addition caring for a loved one's special needs. Sometimes the camper is a child with mental or physical challenges, and  others are adults with disabilities resulting from an accident or disease.

In trying to choose some images to share here on the blog, it was tough because I have many favorites as I got to know the people in these images.... some carry burdens that are mostly lifted during a week that looks a bit like I picture heaven to be~ everyone coming together and being included in fun activities and not being viewed as limited or different~ but being loved and cared for... it is true that by the end of the week it is hard to tell who is a camper and who is a volunteer~ it becomes a cohesive community of Christ which is just beautiful to watch and be part of.

I tried find images that could best tell the "story" of the week~ to see more (and get a better sense of what Joni & Friends Family Retreat is all about) click on this link:  Circle of Life Photography on Facebook

Below, staff members wash and bless the Short Term Missionary's hands to go and serve:


Families are greeted with their choice of a "loud" or "soft" greeting upon arrival:


JAF Retreat Program Director, Sib Charles, started off the retreat popping out of the storybook:


Much to the surprise of Program Manager, Joan Barton :-)


Happy times like these abound~ water fun during the hot days~
and much patience and humor from the Short Term Missionaries!


Almost everyone is able to enjoy the water tubes down the hill~ the smiles from children
who spend most of their time in wheelchairs is just priceless:


The talent show is a huge hit~ everyone is involved and has a blast. From musicians to skits and everything in between, it is a memorable night~ below the girls do a skit to the song "Car Wash":


Another talent show wonder: this young boy below is a true miracle~ for a child with many challenges including speech, he clearly sang the verses to "How Great Thou Art," which his father sang to him every night in the NICU. Needless to say, there we few dry eyes in the house!


Finding the hangouts of young campers and seeing their joyful faces was a fun part of my week~
one of many touching stories was a young mother, who at the end of the week spoke in front of the camp about how her family had been blessed by attending the JAF Retreat~ she was just amazed at the outpouring of patience and love for her child, that no one blinked an eye when her child ran onstage during worship~ and, in her words, "you actually LIKE my child!" Everyone laughed, but at the same time everyone 'got it'~ it's challenging living in a world that expects perfection and has little patience when things don't go according to plan. Here, everyone fits in.


Making friends~ even with social challenges, strong bonds between campers and their Short Term Missionaries are formed by the end of the week:


If these pictures leave you wishing you could find out more about attending or serving
at a Joni & Friends Family Retreat, please click on this link:
 http://www.joniandfriends.org/family-retreats/for-families/
Trust me, your life will never be the same!!

Bits of Life :: MCP Project 52 Week 8

It's week #8 for the MCP Project 52  and this week's theme is "The view from here..."

Our youngest is definitely "dad's helper" and was so excited to help reattach the plumbing after some home improvements were made. It was evening so I used the available overhead kitchen lights and a light across the room that somehow put a spotlight on the wrench at just the right moment. I love this because it really captures who he is, what makes him happy, and this would be a favorite "view."

Applied a preset action in Lightroom, settings adjusted, and then minor finishing touches added in Photoshop to brighten and sharpen.

©2011 Circle of Life Photography Do not copy or print.

For my MCP Project 52 images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48520968@N03/

and the entire group of images submitted: http://www.flickr.com/groups/mcp-project52/

Bits of Life :: I Heart Faces "Fix-It Friday" #88

It's time for another "Fix-It" Friday from I Heart Faces~ these edits are so fun! This was a another quick and fun edit~ I love testing new presets and trying to take an already great image to the next level. This week's image (below) was taken by Angie:

original~ image by Angie Arthur Photography


Circle of Life Photography "Fix-It Friday" edit

How I did it: I started in Lightroom with a just-released Pretty Preset "Undo Overcast Day" to brighten and warm up the image, made some minor adjustments and overall brightened the image. In PS5 I ran Portraiture, MCP's Touch of Light/Dark on the eyes/face, and sharpened, cropped~ that's it!
I cropped out the barrette~ it's cute, but I think it distracts and cropping allows you to focus on her face~ love her wistful look~ dreaming about spring perhaps? Or maybe Justin Beiber...? hmmmm, anyway, have a GREAT Friday!

www.iheartfaces.com

Circle of Life Photography on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CircleofLifePhotography

Bits of Life :: MCP Project 52 Weeks 1-5

A few weeks ago, Jodi from MCP Actions announced that she would be putting together a flickr group for photographers and enthusiasts to post one image each week, based on a proposed theme. I've seen a lot of photographers start (and sometimes complete) 365 projects, literally taking and posting an image every. single. day. Um, I don't know about you, but I find that a tad overwhelming!

I know myself~ that would last about two weeks for me~ mayyybe three, and I'd ditch it altogether. But once a week seems very do-able, a nice break from portrait work, and I have had a lot of fun thinking up something unique for the weekly topic.

All of my images are photographed using only available window light, with a preset action applied in Lightroom, settings adjusted, and then minor finishing touches added in Photoshop to brighten and sharpen. After today I will begin posting the weekly image as I create it~ but here is a recap of the past five weeks~ enjoy and feel free to post a comment on your favorite!

For my MCP Project 52 images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48520968@N03/
and the entire group of images submitted: http://www.flickr.com/groups/mcp-project52/

Please do not copy or download these images~ all images are copyright 2011 Circle of Life Photography. Thanks!

Week 1: Something Around the House
...and how I start most days :-)



Week 2: Illustrate a song~ I chose "Sugar Sugar" by the Archies
Inspired by my kids' candy jar~ placed in the sink and using only natural light.




Week 3: Shades of Grey
Our chocolate lab Henry's favorite spot. Was originally trying to do something with the snowflakes in the window when he plopped down to check out what the squirrels were up to. Perfect timing with the natural light coming through~ can hardly notice those kid finger streaks on the window!


Week 4: Soothing Repetition
Week 4: Amazing how quickly my kiddos offered to be a part of this photography session!
And asked to repeat this over and over and over... too bad they won't cooperate any other time :-)



Week 5: Muse
Muse is defined as a guiding spirit and a source of inspiration. My trust in God's plan for my family, my life and business is something I muse about daily~ I am blessed beyond measure and am learning to give freely and know He will always provide. I listen and find direction/meaning in the Scriptures and music, and am energized by the expression of Christ's love from amazing friends and family who surround me.



If you are interested in participating in MCP's Project 52 feel free to jump in!

Christmas Blessings!

Wishing you and your family a joyous Christmas! May your heart be filled with happiness and cheerfulness and your days blessed with the company of good friends and family. A special thanks to all the wonderful people who have made 2010 an amazing year for Circle of Life Photography~ I feel continually blessed by each one of you! Praying for God's continued guidance and direction in the year to come~ may I honor and glorify Him in the images of his people!

Bits of Life :: Sweet Miss Sunshine

Time sure does fly when you have kids. It's hard to believe that our sweet little girl is soon finished with elementary school and is literally (gulp) just a couple years away from becoming a teenager. She has been such a blessing to us. I love our boys dearly but there is just something special about girl time and having someone of the same gender to relate to. Our girl's weekends (just mom & daughter) are always exciting and fun times, and something we both look forward to each year. God has certainly blessed her with the gifts of empathy and compassion and it's neat to watch her grow and change and become her own person. She loves to help younger kids~ they take to her so quickly and she is a natural teacher.

Last fall, I let her pick out her own design for a fun skirt from etsy's Boutique Mia and she asked me to photograph her at Jim Shower's garden in Etown with all the spring blooms. In addition to having a green thumb, Jim is also a very talented artist, using texture and splashes of color~ there are some interesting architectural elements in the space. To say our daughter is an avid reader is an understatement, and these images reflect how her friends and family know and see her, and where she is happiest~ buried in a book!

We both loved the hanging blown glass creation~ very Medusa-like
and looks like something out of a Percy Jackson book!

















(Striped sweater from Matilda Jane's new Hammond Bay Collection)

Merry Christmas :: Celebrating the Gift of Love

Unto us a son is given, as the greatest gift of love.

And his name shall be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

In the weakness of a baby, they knew that God had come to earth.

Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and remembering that, in the words of Mother Teresa,

"It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you."

Bits of Life :: My crazy-but-wonderful life!!

What a crazy few weeks we've had here! For several years every fall, my husband and I would plan a weekend getaway to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Then the kids came along, and well, it was simply too much work to go away together, so we started taking vacations with friends so one of us could stay home with the kids. So imagine my surprise one summer day when my hubby calls and says "I just got us tickets to see U2 this fall....in Boston!" Yes, we just back from a long, wonderful weekend in Boston...and aside from the crazy concert traffic, it was just perfect! I always forget the insane amount of packing, laundry, cleaning, errand-running and emailing there is before getting away and this year the last minute finishing-up-work stuff just put it over the top! But it was definitely worth it.

Today Bob and I celebrate 14 fabulous years together (just typing that number is kind of freaky...I am thinking, 14? I remember BEING 14...how can we be married that long already?) He's my best friend, the love of my life, an amazing dad and I can't imagine my life without him or our relationship without Christ as a part of it. Our wedding itself was a little non-traditional~ we had a small church evening ceremony and opted for a post-wedding day reception at his parents' farm. A beef roast, tons of good food and desserts, decorations with hay bales, tractor rides, and even a pony for the kids to ride. We certainly had a wonderful time and were blessed with so many family and friends to share that special time.

Speaking of families...just a quick note to share that I am officially booked for family sessions for 2009~ BUT will make room to take a newborn, baby or senior session before the end of this year. Since I typically only photograph 4-6 sessions per month, I definitely recommend booking portraits well in advance due to my limited schedule. Please contact me if you have any questions~and happy first days of fall!

Bits of Life :: Harrisburg Kennel Club Dog Show (August 09)

It's quite possible that some day I may become a dog show addict. Don't know what it is about the atmosphere of dozens upon dozens of dogs of all breeds competing to be the 'best of show' ~ but it's better than any reality TV show for me. (Of course if you know me, I don't watch much TV so maybe that's not an accurate comparison.) Anyway~ the owners are excited, the newer handlers sometimes a little nervous, the judges show confidence in spotting the best of the breed, fur is floating in the air and everyone is more than willing to share the wonderful traits of his or her particular breed of dog with anyone who simply asks.

Back in April I posted some images from the All-Breed Dog Show in Harrisburg and a few weeks ago we returned to the Farm Show Complex to attend a second dog show. Just for fun, my husband and I tried taking four kids and that excitement lasted all of ten minutes for the five year old. Unfortunately, we got there at the end of the day and the dogs were just plain tired out, which made for some mellow images. I learned my lesson and next time we'll just stick to me taking the oldest, who is now ten, since she just plain loves all dogs and is really into learning about the different breeds. We are already planning our trip in November to the Kennel Club of Philadelphia show! Hope you enjoy a few images here from our short-but-sweet dog show experience.

Just plain tuckered out...




Awaiting some final grooming touches


By default, my sister-in-law owns a pug so I must photograph pugs


I liked her "comb carrier"...can you find it?


Show time!


Another time 'round the ring


These dogs are HUGE and stunning. This one's just plain handsome.
Love the marble coat.


Contrasted by the starlet.
Couldn't get a good image but she was attentive to the handler!


Another in "the price of beauty" series I might start.

Bits of Life :: The McGough Kids

This past weekend my husband and I took our annual trek out to Pittsburgh to visit with our friends, Rich & Tricia and their three children, who happen to be the same ages as our three kids (each within a few weeks or months of one another.) This tradition got started four years ago when we attended our youngest son's adoption agency reunion, held at the Pittsburgh zoo each year, and now it has become our family's favorite weekend of the entire year. The McGough kids are anxiously waiting by the curb and the van is barely in park before the Weidler kids tumble out, everyone gives hugs and tears up the stairs of the McGough's lovely home. Normally they all disappear and we hardly hear from them for the evening, giving us a chance to catch up on the past year, but this year they were LOUD and had some wild game going on that had them whooping and hollering all around the house. Needless to say, we parents still got to catch up over dinner and had a fabulous time together. This year we also got to meet their newest family member, Goliath, who at four months old weighs in at more than 50 lbs.(!) He is as sweet as a lamb, but thankfully with a lot less energy. Here are a few pics of the kids from a mini session we did at their nearby church grounds and the last one, of course, with Goliath- while they can still hold him. Enjoy!

And this post wouldn't be complete without a pic of the whole, crazy crew,
who amazingly will do just about anything for 30 seconds if it involves the promise of a lollipop: