We had an awesome weekend in Anchorage with our cousins! It was my cousin Justine and her husband Ryan’s son Beck’s baptism and we had the wonderful honor of being his Godparents. The service was a beautiful, private ceremony with close family and friends and were were so happy we got to be a part of his special holy day! I can’t wait to see photos! The other exciting reason we headed down was for my cousin, Nicholas’ first art show which was held at an adorable coffee shop called Coffee Cats. Nicholas’ work is incredible and it was so great to see his collection hanging. What a treat!

The weather was amazing and I had so much fun photographing all the cousins playing together at the BBQ celebrating Beck’s baptism. I’ll post some images here, but to see the full gallery of 60 images click here.

Our drive down and back was beautiful…the mountains were spectacular, the budding leaves were just showing their pretty green faces and the 12 moose, two porcupine and lots of rabbits stayed out of our way.

What a great trip!

Enjoy!

So it’s been a while and you may be wondering what in the world I’ve been up to. Well…lots of soul searching, re-designing, re-structuring, shooting and growing a new little baby! Yep, we are having another baby in November and thinking about all the wonderful changes that come with a new addition has got me really digging to be sure I’m doing what feels right and feels like ME in my business. Hopefully by tomorrow my new site design will launch as well as my new body as art addition. Also, I’m finally on facebook so be prepared for some new facebook goodness. Hop on over to become a fan.

More big news…I’ll be doing a LIVE Vintage Styled Boudoir Shoot at the Women’s Affair at the Carlson Center, tomorrow, Friday, April 9th at 7:30 p.m. I have an incredible set and a beautiful model lined up. Hair and Make-up design will be done for the audience starting at 7:30 by the gals at Charlotte Rouge Hair Spa. I will be at the show all weekend with new art on display and a portfolio and slideshows full of new images for your viewing pleasure.

Sorry no images for this post – you’ll have to visit the new LifeSTYLE website and the new Body as ART website for new images. Or come see me at the show this weekend. I’m hoping to be live with the new sites super soon! Regular blog posts will be coming next week.

I am in constant awe by the beauty I find in these cold temperatures. The sunrises and sunsets are beyond incredible. The blue moon we had over the New Year holiday was spectacular. Snow clinging to the trees and the way it twinkles as the lights graze it. Red summer berries coated in frost holding tightly to the branches. Frost coated spider webs lend us a special view of the intricate and beautiful patterns such ugly little creature can create. Frost covered eyelashes. Fireworks on a clear night. It’s all beautiful to me!

I appreciate the quiet time the cold gives us, it allows us to hibernate together while we watch the daylight return. I like to use this time to show Lael the beautiful things that can easily go un-noticed. We try to bundle up and get out in the cold even if it’s just for a few minutes. It gives us a toughness that takes me back to my childhood.

This time of the year always gives me a fresh pair of eyes to view life and the world around me. Like a lot of people I tend to take the time to reflect on what’s working, what needs adjusting and how I approach the goals I set etc…I am working on some behind the scenes things that I’ll unveil as I see fit. In the meantime I’m enjoying my family, shooting some studio stuff and taking in the beautiful things our cold brings us. Take this time to enjoy the cold and all it brings.

Enjoy!

This photo was taken after a long walk at 30 below. Lael is one tough cookie, she didn’t make peep and ended up falling asleep in the sled while we were out.

This is one of my favorite birch trees at the cabin. The moon was crisp and round and though I didn’t capture that aspect I love the way the light is coming through!

My first truly successful fireworks shot!

This shot wasn’t taken in the cold, but the brilliant colors are reminicant of the sunrises and sunsets we are seeing almost every day. My little point and shoot isn’t doing the winter sunsets justice, so this is a stand-in.

This has been the funnest Christmas week I can remember! Each day was filled with fun and no stress! Here’s how our week went…Sunday we went to church and breakfast then we visited the Santa Claus House. Monday we had a big family dinner at my sister’s house. Tuesday we baked the forms for our gingerbread houses. Wednesday I had lunch with my girlfriends, shopped with my Dad and we had a big spaghetti feed and gingerbread house decorating contest between our five families. Thursday we visited the museum, had lunch with my Dad, went to mass, had drinks with the family and stayed up late watching a Christmas movie and wrapping gifts. Friday we had a fun relaxing day at home opening gifts, eating cinnamon rolls, talking to our out-of-town family and then we joined the family for a big party at my parents house. Saturday we slept in, drank tea, played with new toys then capped the evening with a huge sledding and pizza party at my aunt’s house. And finally on Sunday we had a lazy day at home watching football , then we completed the day with a visit from my parents and a nice dinner with them and my brother!

While I was at book club the week before Christmas Mike took Lael to her first movie to watch the Princess and the Toad and in the movie they say “that’s the bee’s knee’s” when things are neat…so all week Lael has been saying that when something is cool. When we went to visit Santa, the only thing Lael asked for is Peanut Butter and Santa was shocked! You can only imagine her surprise when she got peanut butter called ‘The Bee’s Knee’s Peanut Butter’! Who knew they made Bee’s Knee’s peanut butter?!  Santa, that’s who! Although she loved all her gifts she was most excited about her slippers from Santa – she forgot to ask him for them, but has been talking about getting some anytime she sees me in mine.

It’s been a fun filled week we are so blessed to have had. The following are some of the snapshots from the week. The quality isn’t great, but the memories are priceless! Enjoy!

Amanda Furlong!

Amanda’s sweet sister Becky nominated her and I am proud to share her nomination…

So I was thinking of who I would nominate and the first person that came to my mind was my sister Amanda. She is a single mom of 3 and is expecting one now! Oh my! Her oldest is Alycia which is 6 and then there is Mathew who is 4 and the youngest is Ian at 3. They are all the sweetest thing and have their own little personalities. My sister is 23 years old and was a young mom to start with. She has really just had bad luck with men…she had this summer gotten married to a guy that we all thought would of been great! He was good with the kids and helped out. Then he just started going down hill and got involved in drugs. My sister didn’t want to put her kids around it and left him. She is pregnant with his child. Currently having medical issues ontop of being pregnant. The doctor just put her on bed rest and she in unable to work. She is getting state assistance which is barely enough to get her by. The apartment she just moved into she was just informed she needs to move out because the hospital bought the property. So now once again she needs to move…She has just really had a lot of bad luck. There is no way she could ever afford to get your beautiful pictures taken. I really just hope for things to get better for her. Pretty much she feels stuck. I know she has not had a huge tragedy or anything but just a hard time getting on her feet. I know she would love and appreciate your artwork and the kids love getting their photo taken! She is due with her next child in March but went into the hospital last night dilated. Way too early for that baby to come! So that’s who I would nominate

Here is a shot of Amanda’s niece Hayden to make you smile…Enjoy!

It is with great honor that I announce my Giving is Awesome petition for this Christmas season. Last year the entries were incredibly heart warming and overwhelming. This is a new season and I know you know someone who could use a little boost in their spirits this Christmas.

You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography – $1,265 worth, to be exact on me! That’s right, the fabulous find collection will go to the winner and it’s in your power to help me find a family who truly deserves it this holiday season. Need a reason to nominate someone???  Here goes…the person who nominates the winner receives a $250 print credit. I want to make someone feel absolutely special this Christmas so please help me find a family who would truly cherish this gift.

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Blowing their cash on their trip to Hawaii or the sweetest ride out there doesn’t count as financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in the Fairbanks area. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : cassy@exposures-studio.com

* Shoots will take place in the Spring, Summer, Fall of 2010 – a date mutually decided on by me & the recipient.

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve…get nominating! Please share this with your friends and family – the more people we reach the better. I can’t wait to read all of your entries! Open your heart to someone this holiday season – and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Cheers!

Cassy

We got a special treat of going to Seattle for a quick trip with my dear cousin, Michelle and her family. We only had time for a day trip to the zoo as a group, but it was worth it! I didn’t get many great shots of the day, but these few are fun…

Marek & Lael would wait for the otters then bolt when one came up to see them!

Our little snow leopards!

Zavier has the most fierce growl I’ve ever heard – seriously if I didn’t know better I would have thought a jaguar was there! He and Jahnna were giving their best growl…

After Seattle we headed for Pennsylvania…

I like to pretend I can sew and I tackle projects like making a quilt or pillows or halloween costumes and instead of patterns I use logic and ask myself how might these pieces go together…the results are usually pretty impressive if I do say so myself. The ladybug was a fun one!

This year we were lucky enough to spend Halloween in Pennsylvania and I can assure you I was stoked to trick-or-treat with a light jacket and not 5 layers of clothes. It was great! The bummer was Lael didn’t have any kids to join her so she’d see a random group on the street and take off running yelling “hey guys wait for me!” It was pretty cute!

Here’s the little ladybug getting her wings…

Never-mind that my logic of how the wings might stay on failed me…I thought giant construction staples and broken chopsticks would hold the straps on and keep the wings connected together. It sounded good right?!  So what if I was wrong and she didn’t wear them, that’s okay – we have a picture.

So who puts this awesome display in their yard then doesn’t have candy for the kids?! This house, that’s who…

Our real reason for our trip to Pennsylvania is Michael’s sweet Nan celebrated her 90th birthday and we wouldn’t have missed it for anything!

Nan is the hardest working woman I have ever met! Everyday she works in her yard or around her house to keep herself busy. While we were there we had to cut down a huge pine tree and she was right in the throws of it loading and pushing the wheel barrow down her two acre lot and back. When it was empty she’d toss Lael in for a ride back up! Oh and a little side note, she’s the tiniest woman…only 4 foot 8ish.

She lost her husband of 70 years a little over two years ago and though she’s lonely she doesn’t let it get her down – she puts herself in God’s hands everyday and lives by her faith. She is an inspiration and an incredible example for our marriage, our faith and our work ethic. She’s incredible and we love her dearly!

She did not want 90 candles on her cake so we settled for a little bunch in the corner.

Family…faith…health…healing…fun…lazy days…safety…snowy walks…baby belly laughs…silliness…     for all the simple things that make our life complete, I’m thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s been a while since I dedicated a post to our girl. She’s my favorite subject and with the crazy schedule of life my images of her get filed in their special folders to be enjoyed at a later date. Every morning I wake early to get my work done while she snoozes quietly next to me. She doesn’t mind the clicks of the computer or that she’s snuggling next to the cold, hard laptop. Lael inspires my work and her patient manner in front of the lens helps me to better my craft. She is patient with me when I work and allows me to easily balance my time with her and my work. I watch her mimic me as she carries my old 35mm around to photograph her ‘clients’ – usually the dog. The workings of the old camera intrigue and challenge her – I often hear the timer buzzing and then an ‘I made it just in time’ comes out of her mouth. Recently she said ‘I’m your little photographer momma’ – I imagine there will be some incredible images coming out of this little one in the not so distant future. My heart is more full than I ever imagined possible because of our girl. Enjoy a few of the many images we’ve filed away.

I’ve been dreaming about this shot since the ground was snow covered and summer shoot cravings consumed me! First, I needed a mom who trusts me enough to allow her week old baby to float in the pond and a baby calm enough to sit still for me. I found the right mix and for a first stab at the concept I’m pleased! It wasn’t without drama and great effort for sure…it’s 37 degrees out and the sun is quickly setting. We pull up, check the water, test the bowl to make sure it’ll work, get Max dressed and everything appears to be set. I forgot my waders so I take my shoes off and roll up my jeans. We look up and we’ve got company – over comes a happy black lab to check us out. We say hi to the pup and hope he’ll leave. Seems like we can keep him occupied and out of the water until…over comes two very large rottweillers! Okay now we are nervous. They seem to be nice so we settle down and hope they will all leave. After ten minutes of trying everything to get them to leave with no luck, Max’s trusting mom decides she’ll play with the dog crew while I do my thing with Max. Into the cold water we go – baby in bowl, bowl floating, (albeit a little lopsided) it’s go time! I get comfortable enough to let the bowl go and the wind quickly pushes it towards the shore. Out he goes again and just as I get a couple shots fired, Mom yells “Cassy, the dogs are coming!”. I steady the bowl and prepare for them to join us in the water, but Mom is a quick thinker and lures them away again. Okay, baby has to go out a little further so I can get the shot I want before the wind blows him to close to me – out he goes, shots fired…um is he starting to wiggle? I throw my camera on my back and grab the bowl, settle Max and steady the bowl. Here we go again…out he floats for one last shot – GOT IT! Phew! My heart was racing – I could hear the dogs fighting in the distance as I was watching the baby in the viewfinder and freezing in the water all at once. It was an ordeal,but worth it don’tcha think?! I’ll share more of this shoot in the coming weeks so check back. Enjoy!

Oh and I love comments – so call me crazy, show me some love, whatever, just let me know you’re checking in!