Wink...the blog

We're back......

after 4 amazing years of living in London, England, we are officially back and settling into life in Westport, CT.  It's crazy to think about how fast the time has gone...my kids were 7 and 5 when we first moved to the UK...

 

 

and here they are at ages 11 and 9, just weeks before we moved back last summer...

 

 

crazy, I know.  We even managed to have a new addition to our family during our time away.  Henry, our 18 month old cockapoo.  More photos to share featuring him soon!

I'm looking forward to resuming my photography work in the coming month and I can't wait to catch up with everyone.  I'll be back soon with all the details on upcoming sessions...

until then, happy spring!! 

-Char

summer in Chicago...{part 3}

Just dropping in from our stay in Charlevoix, MI to post a few more previews from Chicago.  After all the really hot weather this summer I'm still amazed at the beautiful three days we had while shooting the Chicago sessions...I am so missing my favorite city already!!

 

and I'm ususally not one for out-takes, but I couldn't resist sharing this one...and I know their mom will have a laugh too...I think I asked the little sister to put her "arms around her brother" and this is the result:)

and another set of really great kiddos I worked with while in Chicago...I just love the dog walking series in the park!

 

 

 

 

summer in Chicago...{part 2}

I'm starting this set of previews with a display idea.  I've been chatting with clients over past few weeks about how to use family portraits around the house and I have a new collection of ideas to share with everyone.  I really love the photo ledge in this dining room and the ledge idea would translate well in a playroom, family room or even a bedroom...I think the key to nailing this look is to paint the area under the ledge a contrasting color to really make the framed prints stand out.

 

and now on to more Chicago previews.  I loved photographing this family again...so many laughs, such great connections!  Here is just a taste of what we captured..

 

 

 

and my favorite kind of family shot...just getting close gets everyone to have the best expressions!

more to share soon!

;)C

summer in Chicago...{part 1}

Great to see everyone this month in Chicago!  I'm still playing catch up with all the editing from the last two weeks but dropping in here just to get the preview ball rolling.  I loved working in the "new and improved" south end of Lincoln Park.  All those gorgeous yellow wild flowers and the soft lighting on the decking...it's a perfect summer combination!  Here are a just a few from the first two sessions and check back more sneak peeks to come...

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I love how the dress just happened to match all the yellow flowers....what a lucky pick!

 

The Michigan Sessions, summer 2011...

I have had quite a few requests for sessions in the metro-Detroit area this summer so I thought it was about time to put a plan together.  Below you will find all the specifics.  Please contact me via e-mail ([email protected]) to discuss your location request and to reserve your session.   Looking forward to seeing you!

 

Dates available:  July 18-22, July 25-28

Locations: Available for sessions in Birmingham/Bloomfield and surrounding areas and Ann Arbor and surrounding areas

Cost: $350

Includes: a one hour photo session, 25+ edited images presented in a private on-line gallery, (3) 8x10 prints, (1) digital image for your holiday cards

...and ending with just a few favorites from a session I did last summer in downtown Ann Arbor.  Love this location and all the great opportunities for some really fun photos.

Announcing the Chicago Summer Sessions 2011...

It's that time of year again!  We have our return tickets from London to the US and we are gearing up for a fantastic summer back in the states!  I am very excited to announce the Chicago Summer Sessions below.  I currently have space for 8 sessions, with a possibility of 3 additional sessions on stand-by.  To reserve your session date and time, please send an e-mail to [email protected].  Looking forward to seeing you in July!!! **edited to announce all the Chicago sessions have been booked. If you are interested in adding your name to the wait list, please send an e-mail.

 

Date:  Wednesday, July 13 and Thursday, July 14.  Rain date is Friday, July 15

Time:  9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Location: South end of Lincoln Park

Cost: $350

Includes: a one hour photo session, 25+ edited images presented in a private on-line gallery, (3) 8x10 prints, (1) digital image for your holiday cards

 

here are some favorite images from last summer's sessions...

 

 

and...be sure to check back in the coming month for more framing and display ideas and inspiration.  I have some great ideas for all your favorite family photographs:)

Char

a little summer sunshine

I have been ordering some long awaited prints for family and friends over the recent holidays (yes, my girlfriend has been waiting since the summer to finally see these in print!).  Love the personality of this oh-so-cute 2-year old...

 

and the storyboard we put together to capture the best of her many expressions...

 

brand new

I had the pleasure of photographing this sweet baby girl recently here in London.  Sharing a few previews from our session together for mom & dad...was such a pleasure to meet you all!

 

and a few of her adorable big-sister as well...

 

 

a walk in the park

Dropping in to share a few from a session I shot back in October.  I traveled back to Chicago this past fall for a close friend's birthday and we found time to get the entire family out for a Sunday photoshoot..the day after the big celebration, no less! 

So, I've been determined to get these out before we take off for a quick get-away for Thanksgiving next week. It's true, friends and family of photographers have to be uber-patient when it comes to waiting for their galleries to be edited!  So, to my dear friend Trish...I haven't forgotten!  Your gallery is ready to view today;)  Here are a few favorites from our session...

 

 

 

 

 

 

London home tour...

 

We moved to London just over a year ago and currently live in a 3-story rental townhome.  Many of the rentals here all have the same characteristics...cream paint on the walls, cream drapes, and...yes...for the bedrooms, even cream carpet!  To make personalizing our space even more a challenge add in some 200-year-old plaster walls that make hanging anything quite a challenge!

Desperate to personalize our new home,  I quickly found some "plaster friendly" wall hooks at the local Home Base and add in a few of the self-adhesive kind (they are amazingly strong) and I created a wall gallery in our upstairs hallway.  This gallery has (2) 11x14 prints, (2) 8x10, (2) 5x5, (1) 5x7 and (2) 4x6. 

I used the photo below for inspiration and tried to line up both the tops and bottoms of the frames in 2 horizontal lines.  These plaster walls are such a challenge, so it's not perfect- but no one is looking at the alignment anyway!

I also took inspriation from this photo with the prints at the top of a tall bookcase- bonus points for no wall hooks!!

 

we have these strange kitchen cabinets that open up from the top with all kinds of wasted space above.  Add (5) framed 8x10 prints in 16x20 frames and it's starting to look a little better...

And entering into the upstairs TV room I hung a family shot in 11x14.  Love the look of b&w prints in white frames...

 

I also scatter my favorite desk-sized prints in frames all around the house along with our favorite albums and images boxes and, voila...we have made our cream house a little more personal.

 

until next time;)

Char