Spittal Love Light – {St. Louis Love Light Photographers}

Posted on February 28, 2010

Oh man oh man! I think part of breaking out of my funk (aside from the fact that I haven’t had soda since Wednesday and feel GREAT! I know, surprising huh?) is to get out there and shoot again! The creativeness it takes for Love Light just totally inspires me! And they are FUN sessions! We laughed so hard with Tony and Angela the other night! They were SO great!

Because we realized how much we love these shoots we’re going to extend our Love Light half off offer! Through MARCH and APRIL! If you book IN March/April you’ll receive the session half off! Email us if interested!

Thanks for a great night Angela and Tony! It was a blast to meet you guys and run around in the freezing cold together!

———————

And the winner of the February Fresh Favorites?

Was there any question? I mean the Goltermann’s are practically professionals at this point! So little Gretchen… shoot me an email (oh yes, this three month old has her own gmail account! And she sends me photos every week all by herself!) and we can talk about your cards!

Thanks to all who voted!

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Fresh Favorites – February 2010 – {St. Louis Photographers}

Posted on February 27, 2010

I felt like we had a busy month but it must be because we have been working on so many behind the scenes parts of the biz since looking back we only had four photo shoots! But that doesn’t mean they don’t get a shot at our Fresh Favorites contest!

I laughed as I looked back at them because little Gretchen has been in THREE of our contests already and she’s only 3 months old! It’s a good thing we LOVE photographing that girl! HA! So Lauren, Emma, Grace, Jack, Tony and Lauren… you guys are going to have to work hard this time because Gretchen’s parents are pros! HA!

#1 Baby Lauren

#2 Gretchen

#3 Emma, Jack and Grace

#4 Tony and Lauren

(sorry guys! you are up against some TOUGH and CUTE competition!)

Because we have an awesome Love Light session from last night we are dying to share this contest will be QUICK! TODAY ONLY!

The contest ends tonight at midnight and the winner will be announced tomorrow when we show the sneak peek of Angela and Tony’s Love Light!

Oh, are you wondering what you’ll win?

A pack of 25 super cute note cards! They will be customized with your photos and can say anything you’d like on them! Great for thank you notes, thinking of you cards, etc!

Here is a sample of what the front would look like…

They are 5×5 cards with a space to write on the back! Really, I just am in love with these cards!

And remember… comments on THIS post are the only ones that count! Make sure your friends and family know!

Happy Saturday!

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more of tony + lauren [St. Louis Maternity Photographers]

Posted on February 26, 2010

Do you remember the fabulous weather we had last Saturday? That weather that let us be outside, soaking in the warm sun, and yearn for spring all the more? The day that was so needed during such a cold and snowy winter. Reliving it today while editing photos from our session. Remembering what a sweet and fun couple Tony & Lauren are, how glad I was to meet them, and knowing what fabulous parents they are about to be. And GORGEOUS… did I mention gorgeous?? :::swoon:::

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more of the sweet trio – [St. Louis Triplet Newborn Photographers]

Posted on February 25, 2010

As promised, a few more of Emma, Jack, and Grace!

I have twin nephews, and one thing that always struck me is how they are often referred to as if they are one… “the twins”… I think it’s an easy thing to do, but I think it’s super important to recognize them for the individuals they are, even if they look identical!

And these three most definitely already have very clear little personalities!

This is sweet Emma. She was born first, and though it may sound funny, she already seems to be the one “in charge”. She liked to keep her eyes on the younger two, as if to remind them that she’s the boss. She has the most hair, and it’s so super soft, and her skin coloring is absolutely gorgeous, especially for a newborn!

Next in birth order is Jack. He is such a sweet and mellow guy. If he happens to get fussy, you can put him with one or both of his sisters, and he’s instantly calm. He loves being curled up with them, and was not bothered in the least when Emma pottied right on him. He’s got the best strawberry blonde hair.

And rounding out the trio is little Grace. They say dynamite comes in small packages, and this is Grace to a T. She may be the smallest of the three, but she is definitely most mighty and strong. Though she doesn’t have as much hair as Emma, it’s just as super soft.

And just because it’s so darn cute to see all three together:

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if I’m not myself, then who the heck am I?

Posted on February 24, 2010

I haven’t felt like myself lately. Lately being, oh, the last 6 months or so? A year? I’ve lost track.

I used to be a really positive person. I was always the one assuring Chris that God had a plan for our life even when we had our third unplanned pregnancy. I always could find the good in my day, joy in my kids and laughter in the midst of incredible stress. I didn’t let the fact we had no money bother me too much, I made time for my friends as often as I could and I had a job that fulfilled all parts of my creative being. I was happy. And even when I wasn’t I was still positive.

But not so much lately. Lately I have been quick to anger and slow to let go of a grudge. Most mornings I wake up in a bad mood and either stick with it all day or try my best to kick it to the curb, usually with little success. I worry and stress about things I used to trust God to handle. Money makes me cry on a weekly if not daily basis. I’ve let go of friendships because I can’t balance it all anymore. I’m always playing devils advocate and looking at my world with the glass half empty.

The strange part though is that sometimes I feel like my old self. I have great days sometimes! And on those days I do projects with the kids, cook meals, call friends, greet Chris with a smile and enjoy my life. And the funkified part of myself seems far away.

But that funk is coming back faster and carrying more weight lately. The funk has been harder to kick.

And when i’m in that funk all of my thoughts are totally selfish. Hating C’s coaching because it means I’m alone with the kids every night for dinner/bath/bed. Wanting time off, time away, time to myself. Wishing for something I never have and can’t articulate when I try. Yelling at the kids over silly things and greeting Chris at night with a bad attitude and grumpy demeanor. Not calling or talking to anyone, almost hiding at home, becoming hermit-like.

Last night it came to a head when I got a sitter at the last minute and went to what I thought would be C’s last basketball game. They were the lower ranked team and if they lost it meant Chris would be home the rest of the week in the late afternoon… meaning I had HELP and RELIEF and SUPPORT for the dinner/bath/bed time of day. And so i went to the game praying they’d lose.

But they won.

And as I watched that small group of 17 year old girls cheering and jumping with the excitement of moving on in districts I had to get out of there quick so I could cry in the car all the way home. Because it meant another week of no Daddy. It also meant absolutely NO break between the basketball and soccer season, that starts on Monday.

Oh doggies did I feel sorry for myself!

And when Chris got home MAN was I in a mood. One I couldn’t hide from him. One I didn’t want to hide I guess. I was mad. And the more angry i got at how this effected ME the sadder I got and more confused as to how I could be SO SELFISH to be upset at the best night in those girls lives.

So I went to bed confused. And sad. And really frustrated at myself. And that’s when I asked myself, WHERE DID I GO?

Is it hormones? Is it depression? Is it stress? Is it lack of sleep? Too much soda? Not enough good food? No exercise?

Or is it just the new me?

I talked to my friend Angie about it today and she assured me that she feels the same way too sometimes. That all mothers must go through this. And she encouraged me to write about it. So here i am. Writing.

Being honest. And open.

I wonder if I’ve lost myself to three pregnancies in three years. Jumping straight from marriage to babies. Did I lose myself to motherhood? Could it just be that winter is dragging out? Do I just need a vacation? Bible study? A good run? A break? I feel stuck, lost and not sure how to move forward. Do I seek counciling? Do I talk to my doctor in case it is hormones? Do I seek medication for depression? Do I start running? Stop soda completely? Sleep more?

I’ve never been here before and it’s a bit scary. I don’t want my husband to wonder which wife he’s coming home to each night. I don’t want to loose track of friends because I’ve become a hermit. I don’t want my kids to act a certain way so as not to upset Mommy. I want to wake up each day excited about what lies ahead! I want to love my work again, enjoy the kids and not get mad every time Chris walks out the door. I want to smile more. Laugh out loud. Be grateful for what we have.

I want to be myself again.

And what I’m hoping, is that by writing this, by tossing yet another huge struggle out into the void, that it’s the first step to finding myself. Finding my joy.

Here’s hoping!

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links on wednesday

Posted on February 24, 2010

I meant to get a 10 on Tuesday post out yesterday but life happened and it didn’t! Oh well, who really minded looking at those three sweet babies one extra day?

Ok, HERE WE GO!

1. Just finished (for now) revamping the blogsite! Take a look at the AWESOME links we now have on our “the links” page and if you are a client/prospective client you will LOVE how much easier it is to see what sessions we offer on our “the sessions” page! Whew! It makes me so happy to have those things done and updated!

Also, we had a couple emails yesterday from people who had already noticed the LINKS page up asking WHY in the world we would link other St. Louis photographers on our blogsite! And our answer is simple. We believe in our work enough that we think you could look at other sites and still choose to hire us for your photos. BUT. We also know we are not the photographers for everyone and so we’re giving you some of the best options out there to help you find someone else that might fit better with your family! The photography world SHOULD NOT be competitive. There are enough clients to go around and Kim and I feel very strongly about helping raise up our community in friendship.

2. Love what my friend Sara is doing HERE. Very proud! WAY TO GO SARA!

3. I think I need THESE post-its! And the paper plates are awesome too!

4. THIS video is incredible! I love watching creative people work!

5. The girls and I will be doing THIS activity this afternoon! We haven’t painted in a few days so we’re due.

6. Our sweet bride Stephanie blogged about us HERE (I love when we pop up on other blogs!) and I just have to share with you the hands down nicest thank you note we’ve ever received…

Oh, Kim. Oh, Jodie.

My hands are trembling as I write. Tears are flowing down my happy face, so I’m taking a break looking at the wedding photos (can’t even get through them!) to send you the first of many thank you notes.

I cannot believe what I am seeing. I cannot believe how you two–clearly kin to ancient fairy god-women–capture and bend the light, and disappear around frames, to capture true love and friendship. How your eyes spy details, and folds, and the way we all look at one another… it kills me to think, how if you weren’t there at all, the hundreds of moments that we’d miss, they’d stream by us like beautiful wind, uncaptured.

I really don’t know what to say, except marvel at your work, and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Do you know that my area of study, at Columbia, is Byzantine hagiography– the stories of saints. And in my work, I have seen so many icons, those holy paintings and mosaics, gilded with gold and precious metals, stained over the years by so much human devotion. And I’ve marveled, when at work unearthing ancient hymns, or writings about these images, at how much *an image* means to a person.

You will know, because you’ve thought about this, being artists– but think about the difference between trying to hold the best moments, even holy moments, in one’s memory, and having an image to keep and hold, to pass down, to honor. In Eastern Europe, when the Soviets forbid anyone from practicing Christianity, old grandmother women hid icons (small paintings, often, on wood) in their hope chests, in their kitchen cellars, anywhere… and these women became the literal keepers of the faith. For when Communism fell, it was hard for people to _remember_, to re-begin the traditions and actions. And then, the icons were taken reverently, and put back in their places, where in their everyday actions, people could see them.

This is your work, this is what you do. You are the keepers of the images, and allow for us ordinary folk to _remember_.

Otherwise– that golden night would have flown by, I would remember the love of Matt and my family and friends in my bones like a warmth, but I would not be able to capture, through years and age and time, in my mind’s eye the details, the speeches, the beauty, the color, and our happiness. The staircase, the blue, blue winter sky, the rings, the champagne, the true love friendship that held me close that day. I wouldn’t know these things as well, at all.

I am sure I will write properly soon, and talk of orders, and particular photographs that we will need and want, and questions of size and type. But for now, I just wanted to tell you how much your work means to us, and to me, in the every day.

with marveling, with gratitude and with love,

Stephanie

I mean, WOW right? Thanks Steph! It still brings tears to my eyes reading it!

7. We have a Love Light session this Friday night and I am so excited! Also praying it will be warm enough because shivering does not photograph well! But thinking of Love Light reminded me that a few weeks ago at our church’s Mardi Gras my old friend Betsy and I were screwing around when we decided to do an iPhone Love Light session! HA! She used her phone as the light source and I used mine as the camera. Seriously, we are NERDS! HA!

8. Did I blog THIS link yet? I get so confused. Well, even if I have it is seriously the BEST idea for a gift! Totally doing that next year!

9. Did I tell you that Chris gave up soda for Lent? OMG. So in support of him I bought us each a new fancy water bottle from Target the other day. And I’ve been carrying mine around with me everywhere. Hoping it tempts me to not want to drink as much soda too. So yesterday I only have ONE soda! And today I haven’t had any yet. Of course the day is still young and my headache is already raging so we’ll see how long I last. BUT I AM TRYING! Oh, and something that’s helping? My water bottle has a STRAW… it is seriously helping me pretend like it’s the sweet nectar of Mnt Dew in there! HA!

10. Taking THIS idea and using tape instead to make an obstacle course for the girls when they get home from school! Great for balancing and for fun inside winter play! Oh spring… come faster!

AND THAT’S IT! Happy Wednesday!

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Emma, Jack and Grace – {St. Louis Triplet Newborn Photographers}

Posted on February 22, 2010

Sunday was our big triplet session day! You remember this gorgeous triplet mommy from her maternity session here. Emma, Jack, and Grace made their appearance a little early on Jan. 16th and after a few weeks stay in the NICU, they are all home and healthy and wonderful. This trio is probably one of St. Louis’ most photographed! Christine Guest was there for their birth and blogged them HERE. And Erin Duggin also photographed them and blogged them HERE.

So we came super prepared, full of ideas and with lots of great help! Our great client/friend Missy Lang who graciously helped, cleaned up poop and pee accidents, rocked babies to sleep and kept them cozy and sleepy. Then we also got to meet Hollie Torbit of Hollajane Photography who was a great assistant, and literally CAUGHT pee in her hand! We truly could have not got through this session with all the extra hands!

But really, I’m sure you are just wanting to see this adorable trio! This is just the FIRST peek! We’ve got even more to share, so keep an eye out later this week!

Thanks Freemans for a great day with some super sweet babies! Angela, you are super mom!

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