Oh man......

I should have started this post last night. So many photos to share I'm going to keep the chatter to a minimum so you can just scroll through the images. I have such a hard time choosing which ones to post here! Lisa used to use the same photographer I did when the kids were little...but they went out of business and forced me to learn the art I'd been admiring...it was a good thing for me but I miss their signature style...now Lisa is taking a chance with me...I really hope she likes these!

Disclaimer: Blogger is doing strange things to my photos...they are darker, slightly distorted and not as crisp as they should be....please know its only the upload to the web causing this.

Cute or what? These two are twins....

Thank you for choosing me, Lisa...your family is lovely!


Melody was referred by another client of mine.....remember the girls in the field of flowers!! Thank you Angie for sending Melody and Paul my way!! I hope you like these and are a little shocked at how many good ones I got!!

I love this one.....its boys being boys and I have a similar one of mine that hangs on the wall. It makes me smile every time I look at it.

My first group in a while....my pal Donna has been a great support for my photography ventures since the beginning when she let me use her son (middle) as a guinea pig for his baby portraits. Donna, thanks for subjecting your family to my company for these photos...you guys were awesome!

Enjoy!

~kel~

Cuteness Warning.....

Yesterday was a full day....The morning started with a shower for my niece with gifts for her new baby who is due in just a few weeks. It was a sweet shower.

I had a few sessions yesterday and promised a sneak peek here. I will keep this entry short and sweet because I have another full day today.





When I am hired, my goal is to get a few keepers that meet my style and hopefully are something the client likes as much. This is truly one that I consider my style...a close crop of a sweet face.

Siblings hugging.....makes you wanna join them!

Three beauties....thank you for calling me Julie!!

Lindsey called me to photograph her blondies....but we kept getting rained out for an outside session so we decided to give in-studio a try. I think it works!

He's like a little Gap model!

She's a living doll!!

Thank you so much for choosing me!!

Enjoy!

~kel~

Oh, Mrs. Potter......

This one's for you!!!

I hope you remember the obsession last year that Makenna had with the toothless children in your classroom! She wanted so badly to lose a tooth and there were days I thought she'd make one fall out prematurely and we'd have to wait a whole year to fill the gap. Well, yesterday I got a frantic call from the school nurse...it seems my drama queen was upset and in extreme pain over her "wiggly" tooth. The nurse seemed unnerved that she'd be so bothered by this and when I called back about five minutes after initially telling her I was on my way....she blasted to the school secretary who announced my presence on the phone...."she's supposed to be on her way"! I happened to be on the phone with Jean when the phone call of tears came in and he said he'd go get her but I'd already told the nurse I'd be right there. Makenna was crying, sobbing and nearly hysterical that she was bleeding from her mouth and I'm sure her tongue and gums were sore from all that wiggling.

When she arrived home....a happy face....she was away from the stares of the other (sometimes not so kind) children in her classroom and free to have cool drinks and soft snacks on the couch...cause that's where you go when you are sick. We did have more tears throughout the day...and she was actually reluctant to lose it after all that wishing last year!! She didn't think it was funny when I sang her the "All I want for Christmas" song and told me that she didn't want to grow up.. She said she was going to keep all her teeth for the rest of her life and the tooth fairy wasn't welcome here!

At 5:00 AM, she woke me to tell me that her tooth had fallen out in the night. I got the detailed story whether I was awake or not....I was awake enough to object to the light going on so I could see the tooth explaining to her that I would wait to see it when my eyes weren't so sleepy. We lounged until just before 6:00 when her excitement was too much and we all got up to check it out. She loves her toothless smile!

I've just signed on with a new vendor for a line of photo jewelry. While going through my photos trying to decide on pieces I would like for my samples...I came across this one and it makes my heart melt. I can't believe I didn't see it before! Of course, I wish Marleigh was in it....but its perfect the way it is. Just wanted to share here.

A crazy lady stalked me in Walmart yesterday! Miss Marleigh and I took a quick trip up to deliver prints in the area and I wanted to get some cough medicine as the cold season is upon us in the Roy home. I was venturing back through the store when a woman stopped me to comment on how cute Marleigh was. I thanked her and tried to continue on my way. She commented how the baby looked like me....and had my eyes....I thanked her again but she continued to ask me more questions....and more questions.....and whatever she could think of to keep me chatting. I might have been worried but she wasn't obnoxious and didn't mean harm. I could smell the wine on her breath and her questions weren't too personal. She offered to buy Marleigh candy (taking out her wallet and actually handing my 3 y/o a crisp $1 bill) and while she had it opened, she asked me if I had enough money because she likes to "help people". Got me thinking....what did I look like? Did I forget my lipstick (sometimes I look sick without it...well, I think)......was my my eye makeup smeared under my eyes (maybe it looks like Jean beats me)....was I dressed like a hobo (maybe that oversized sweater is not a good look for my already too plump behind).....no matter what it was....she thought I needed financial assistance!! Nah....she's just a woman high on Pinot Grigio and feeling generous....after all, we had stopped her based on our beauty......she just wanted to be my friend!

I finally broke free from my new friend and continued to the cold medicine isle. My thoughts were on that lonely woman thinking I hope I take long enough back here that she has plenty of time to check out! I'm not sure Marleigh could handle hanging around any longer while the woman went on and on about how beautiful she was! I stopped in the hair accessory isle to grab more headbands for the girls...they disappear around here...and while looking at the selection I hear it....OOOHHHH there you are! YUP, she found me!!! Admittedly, I was hiding out..... She walked over to me holding a small paper bag and a piece of white paper. I thought maybe she needed some help reading the paper. She handed the bag to me and whispered....its for her, just a small gift, please look inside the bag later to see that its appropriate before you give it to her and let her know its from her secret Santa. It was one of those grab bags you buy for $1 at the checkout and a receipt so we could show the cashier it was already paid for!

She walked out with us to the front of the store. She went one way and we went the other. She asked for my number but I didn't have any business cards available to give her ;-) so she jotted her phone number down on the bag and asked me to give her a call sometime. I was glad to get on with my errands....but, I sorta felt sad for her....

Enjoy Friday!
~kel~

Don't you agree.....

Sharing is FUN.....sandwiches are always better when made by someone else....and kids say the greatest things!!!!

I just finished sharing a bowl of Cheerios with my girl...I spoonfed her bites like when she was little and just learning to walk. I'd hold out the spoon and she'd make her way to me with that huge toothless smile. It was a game then and now its more. She stood here next to me, softly rubbed my arm and quietly said "Thank you for sharing your Cheerios with me, Mumma.....they are delicious."

Yesterday upon her return from school, Makenna asked me: "Mom, you know what Piligrims are….they are little people who can't find homes and get sick and chilly….I know a song about them!

I ask: Ahhh, is it a bad song?

Kenna (innocent head shake): No its not bad…it makes your heart feel kinda sad.

Gosh, I could listen to them chatter like this all day! Its the bickering that makes me insane.

Tuesday night my friend Jackie and her sister Jane brought their boys by the studio for some Christmas photos. I won't share the group shots we too (so cute) but I had to share a few of the test shots I took. The older boys always have "good ideas" for photos and I try to accommodate them :) Brian has many "looks" ... I eat them up!

Danny is just learning to walk!!! I posted photos of him a year ago at his mom's side in the hospital......just shortly after he entered the world! They grow tooo fast....I always say that!

I'm off to make my grandmother look beautiful for her date at Soup & Seniors!

Enjoy!

~kel~

Boys & Girls.

Taking a break from the business side to talk about boys.....


Boys nearing puberty....(stinky creatures.....but I love them)....and the obsession they have with sticks. Mine are now into "carving"! When I think of carving, I have visions of them quietly working on small figures with intricate details and carefully carved faces....they bring them to me beaming with pride...something I can proudly display upon the windowcil above my kitchen sink...

I went to check on them - making sure there is no blood. Branden knows me well enough to know that if he comes in bleeding the carving will end (he's right).


Out the window.....I look right...........

and then left...............(you can see where this is going)

WEAPONS!!!

Just as I was putting my secret spy camera away, the cries came in the door...."He threw a stick and stabbed my arm"...... "He threw one at me!".........."No I didn't, I gently tossed it"......."No, you THREW it!" Ahhhhhhh the joy of boys.....with puberty comes BIG stories and white lies!!!

Then there's this one.......who in this photo looks like a boy.....but that's my girl!!!! Jean took this for me - Makenna's first day on the ice as an official hockey player was Sunday but I was working. When I saw this photo, I cried.....my little girl is branching out! She didn't think she wanted to play hockey...because it makes her chin sweaty and she doesn't like that. But, as I was standing there with tears in my eyes, she rounded the corner with a HUGE smile and said "I love hockey and I can't wait to play again!" I know....its a dangerous sport....but I refuse to hold them back from trying new things. Its life....they need to live it and experience it and decide for themselves what makes them happy.

She also made me this card......I adore her drawings!!

Enjoy!
~kel~

A sneak peek.

I'm getting the photos from my Christmas Special ready for upload and wanted to share a sneak peek here. First off....big THANK YOU to Joanne for sharing this awesome backdrop with me!! Most know I share studio space with another photographer and when Joanne had this hung at the studio when I arrived one day, I knew it would be perfect for the special. It was awesome to shoot on....we tossed some fake snow on the kids and had a great time! Thanks again, Jo!

If you're seeing these and thinking it would make a great card for your family too, please contact me for a special promotion I am going to run through November. It won't be as great as if you'd come to my Christmas special...but......Tis the Season and I think a discounted mini session for those who still don't know what they are going to do about their cards yet...I just might be your Santa Clause! I only have limited studio time still available for these mini sessions so I'll only be able to offer a few....don't wait!

These are posted in no particular order. They were quick grabs and the rest will come in the following days.

Someone insisted he ride "the bike" and I think it looks awesome!!

Love this little sliver of tongue.

Beautiful!!

and there are TWO of them!! stunning!
My idea comes alive with one of my favorite clients!

Soak up the cuteness here....don't you think he'd make a great boyfriend for Marleigh (in several years)? They are the same age!

TODAY (Veteran's day): I'd like to gift a session and 25 Christmas cards or an 8x10 print to a family who cannot afford portraits. I'd love for this to be a family that hasn't had a family portrait done in quite some time and could really use this gift as an update for their home (a single mom....a family with tough financial or health struggles). If you know a family who would like to receive this Gift Certificate from me, please send me their name at: jkroy(AT)roadrunner.com This is not a first come, first serve...I will put the names into a drawing to be held at 9:00 PM. I want to help someone get the holiday season started on a positive note. Please be sure they want this gift as it is non-transferrable.

Enjoy!
~kel~

Sorry 'bout that....

I had a full day of sessions at the studio yesterday so I left very early and when I returned home again, it was still all business getting the photos off the camera and saved. I'm back to blogging this morning with photos from my weekend to share.

Saturday my mom was kind enough to keep ALL the kids overnight (again) while we attended a benefit dance for Cure for Cancer with benefits going to Camp Sunshine a local children's camp for kids with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Five bands donated their time and the people came out in droves.....it's awesome to see people come together for a great cause! We went with my brothers and had a really great time. I brought Jean's little pocket camera and took a few snaps with it. Though they are a bit blurry, I had the best results when I turned the flash off.

Look at this cute couple.... :P

This morning was the first time I got to see Marleigh since Saturday when we left her at Meem's house. We don't have lots of times apart and I left her crying for me. Though I know its a stage she's in, it aches a little to leave her like that. We have definitely grown closer since the start of school.....its just as I planned! This morning she slept a bit later than usual and I found I was anxiously waiting for her to get up. I needed to squeeze her! She's been awake less than 30 minutes and I've held her in my arms most of that time....its a perfect fit! I can tell she's missed me as much....as she sits in my arms its like we can't get close enough....she looks up at me then snuggles in more, I hold her a bit tighter...another glance at me and I feel her crawl closer to my face....she presses her cheek to mine....she's craving me as much as I am her. I always describe that feeling as loving them so much I want to eat them up.

I'm off to squeeze my babe some more and then I'll be working on the photos of all the beautiful people I saw yesterday! Thanks much to everyone who attended (stay tuned for a few sneak peeks)!!

Enjoy!

~kel~