The Roys hit the ice...(a short read)

I'm not a winter sports kind of girl...but last night the ice beckoned to me and I answered the call! I asked Jean to dig out my skates.....in the basement, top shelf, in the original box, pristine white and upon inspection by the boys...still perfectly sharp!

My plan: to glide along like Dorothy Hamil and show my children I did have talent outside the home and could do "something" athletic. They always get amazed to see me doing things like this but I try to think of it as building a memory for them. It's more special when its not a regular thing! wink! When I talk about being "me" and "athletic" in the same sentence....its just weird..I've never been that way! I do remember just after I gave birth to Cameron, I was sure I could enter a marathon. It seemed I jumped off the delivery table just so happy to have that beast out of me! He was a tough one to carry...thought I'd split in two just before his arrival! He had a broken clavicle if that expresses the tough time I had with that one! That's how he was nicknamed my gentle giant....a sweet, sweet boy though! I digress.......

I got to the chair (in my easy to slip-on/off black dress shoes) and proceeded to lace my skates. Hadn't done that in years....and found that bending like that was something I should do more often just so my body doesn't forget how its done! The right side (I'm right handed) was much easier to lace up than my left, I felt so clumsy...and then my jeans....well, they are low-rise so need I say more! Jean thought it was funny to "point" it out to me!

Once laced, Marleigh asked for assistance with hers - it was her first time out on the ice...EVER...on skates! We found a pair for her that were too big - but I knew my time on the ice would be short lived and a pair too big would work just fine for this time. I asked Jean if he'd help Marleigh....knowing I was sacrificing my own support for my 3 year old! I stood up....and with all the grace of a lady, plopped right back into the plastic chair I'd just come from. I giggled.....its okay....I can handle this....there are enough people around to call 911 if it comes to that. I tried again........but grabbed the chair to take to the ice with me (so I could use it for support like they do when teaching the little kids at hockey!) I don't care if I looked silly......I was thrilled to be on the ice and my feet immediately remembered how to skate! I didn't last long as my feet cramped right up from all the tension. But I skated....and my kids were thrilled!!! (I cropped the chair out in this pic....no the dog is not pooping on the ice behind me...he found something under it he was trying to dig up)

Marleigh had a great time....her smiles were HUGE! She needed a rest so I let her use my chair while I shot.
I needed to capture this...

The boys were all over the idea I was out there.....I should practice more (my chubby legs could use the workout) but I'd only do it alone and would need one of those "I've fallen and I can't get up" buttons around my neck just in case.

Anyway, it was fun, memorable and something different for the girls and ME! I'm afraid this weekend will be the end of the rink with rain on the way I'm not sure if the temps will remain cold enough to make use of it after this week. I didn't want regrets of not getting on it at least once!!

At the request of clients, I'm having my first ever Easter special on March 22!! As with all my specials, I will have discounted sessions, a free print and discounted add-ons! I am working on my mailing list and hope to have an email with the details blasted out to every one soon. If you see this and want a time slot for your family, please contact me and I'll write you in. These sessions fill very fast and even faster once I put the e-mail out so don't wait....you're hearing it here first...my blogging pals!!! If you're not on my mailing list and want to be, please send me a note and I'll get you entered in! jkroy(at)roadrunner.com or phone is above.

Oh, and before I go....can I just brag a bit.....I'm a published photographer now! Remember my shoot a month or so ago on the cliff of the ocean with a natural waste company? My photo got the cover and a three page spread in PUMPER magazine!! www.pumper.com

Enjoy!
~kel~

Revisiting.....

This morning I went looking for a few more prints to decorate Marleigh's bedroom walls. We repainted her room in a light beachy blue with matching sheers alternated with white....its simple and airy. I thought the photos from her third birthday session that we did on the beach last summer would be perfect. It was fun to revisit this session with the girls....seems going back to the photos makes you appreciate the ones you overlooked.

This was taken at a little pond before the girls and I ventured to the beach. You know, sometimes you make these treks hoping they will be memorable and often times the details just don't stick in the brain....but this day....just me and the girls venturing out....it was special. It was last minute and low-key. I know Marleigh adores wearing this dress so I knew she'd be cooperative for photos. When I arrived to check my balloon stash at the studio, there was helium in the tank and exactly three balloons that matched her dress perfectly (an odd purple/pink color). I had forgotten to bring a hair tie that day know the beach winds would be crazy but found a white one under all the JUNK in my car! Just one of those days where all the pieces fit together like a puzzle.

I think this photo looks better LARGE....are you able to click on it? I adore the movement in her hair and how her body is twisting as she runs down the beach. She was thrilled at the idea of having balloons on the beach to play with. Makenna was off the hook that day....only along for the ride and a chance to wear a pettiskirt and play with a balloon was what drew her in. Her relaxed look made for another fantastic print....why didn't I notice this shot back then?

Here's an updated photo of my Jacky boy. He's a great dog...and finally his fur is growing out some! I wasn't fond of that crewcut, maybe this summer, but certainly not in the winter months! I trimmed around his nose a bit so he could see....but I love the fluff!

Enjoy!
~kel~

Sunday's Get Together

I'm cancelling/rescheduling it. I'm on my way out the door....I'll post again later. There were too many who wanted to be there but can't make it so Im going to choose another time! Contact me if questions :)

kel

Just a splash of summer......

Last year I waited too long to look for summer dresses because, evidently I was way off season...you must look for them in FEBRUARY!!!! While grabbing groceries at Walmart, Marleigh spied bright florals surrounded by ruffles and insisted we "check it out"! I was glad she did....sweet little splashes of summer for $6. We grabbed a handful because that's all she wears in the summer months. Once home, she tore them out of the bags, ripped the tags off and immediately tried each one on. I adore how thrilled she gets about things like this and told her that if she wore her jeans and a long-sleeved shirt under them, she was welcome to parade her new dresses around town as she accompanied me for errands. Here's my girl...following in her sister's footsteps with a style all her own...a summer dress, a denim jacket and a winter cap on a 30-degree day! But look at that happiness...........


You know you've got good friends when their kids are willing to help you out with a project that they have to drop everything to participate in.

I called Stephanie (she used to watch my kids in the summers and they all claim her grilled cheese sandwiches are THE BEST) to see if she would help me "practice" shooting a bride in the middle of the day in the snow! I had this dress (donation) and was just chompin' at the bit to get someone to stand in a snowy field for me! I loved how the trees were still packed with snow from the last storm and I just couldn't wait another day. Steph dropped everything and ran over to assist......she's lovely!!!!! Okay, this princess pose.....is to cover the picnic table behind her...but it works!!!
She totally faked it....you'd never know it was so CHILLY!

How lucky am I to have this beauty to call on????

Enjoy!
~kel~

Revisiting the wedding......

I'm editing some of the wedding photos and hope to put them on my UPDATED website! I added two galleries to the site in hopes of giving potential brides an idea of my style. If you haven't looked at my website lately, go have a look, you might recognize some photos there! Here are a few of my favorites....

He dipped her....perfectly...and only twice (sometimes I worry it will be overdone but not this day!)
Because its winter in Maine, the bride prepared with some boots to tromp through the snow...her entire gown/wrap and puff were matched beautifully with her pink plaid boots!
This was just as we came inside the reception hall and she was removing her outerwear. I loved how the sun played off her silhouette....I took LOTS of these :)
As they walked to the boardwalk, I stepped back (something only a second shooter could do as Deb was just behind them getting ready to take the shots....it was cold and she wanted to be quick) but when I saw this view, I wanted to create a memory for the bride...even though it was cold, her day was gorgeous and sunny!
As she walked away, I snapped this photo.....the flow of the dress and the resting bracelet...simple beauty.

Sorta makes me think second shooting is BETTER than being the first photog on the job. I had an opportunity to step back a bit and take creative shots as Deb worked the crowd! AAAAH...after this year I'll know which role I like best as I already have a few weddings on the books that I'm really looking forward to! I'm also shooting with Deb on a few more....I'll keep ya in the loop!

I have no appointments the next few days so I may resume to nonsense posts! I will always have photos though!

Enjoy!

~kel~

Look a this beauty.....she's got brains and is a dream to work with! Another model shoot - she's trying to raise money for a mission trip to China! I hope these help her get some work!

I'm hoping these look okay ... I'm working with a new monitor and its a real pain trying to figure out the settings on it. Anyone with an eye for this stuff, could you let me know if I'm heavy on any of the primaries in these! Thanks!


I've blocked off a few hours this coming Sunday (starting at noon) for a chat session about photography!! I'd just like to know who's coming to pick my brain! I'm truly hoping I have all the answers! If there is not enough interest, I'll reschedule for another time.

This morning Mainers woke to a beautiful site......another several inches of pristine white snow! The snow was weighing on the branches and bending them over into beautiful, touchable rainbows perfect for hiding under. I ventured out for a few errands and since I'm always thinking of the blog....I dragged my camera along for some shots. Just down the road, I saw the sun trying to come out....she's getting warmer now so I'm sure this white stuff won't last long now.

This last one is blue....I shot it through the windshield to show the drifting snow. The way the blowing snow softens it, I think it looks like a painting.

Enjoy!

~kel~

Livin' with a Diva.....

There are moments in my day when I get this brilliant idea to charge admission for everyone to come and see my life with this little girl. She's got the biggest personality and brings so much joy to our home. Expecting her was a surprise....and finding out about her impending arrival on Christmas morning was most appropriate. A blessing in every way!


She's 3...its a hard age. I don't know who ever decided that twos were terrible....obviously THEY never lived with a three year old before making that statement. Three....a year for pushing boundaries and discovery. Learning you are a person and just like adults, you have opinions and feelings that need to be voiced. Ahh yes, finding that voice!! I would describe my Marleigh as: comical, boisterous, sensitive, emotional, happy, vibrant and a love bug. I think most who know her well would agree. She's not perfect......and to me, that makes her perfectly perfect. I look at her and think how lucky I am to be her mom, that some people think she looks like me and most of all, I love to hear my husband tell me how much she is like me! Really, I'm like that???...like that little Diva that runs around here in her cool Tinkerbell sun glasses sporting a tiny dancer style dress and looking like a million bucks even though she has blueberries smeared across her face and tousled hair that hasn't been combed in a day.


I really believe that the world would be a better place if every home had a Marleigh in it! I want to share her with everyone...but only for a limited time....she's mine....forever....this perfect little person. She comes to me to ask for help as I'm writing this...I'm engrossed in what I am saying so I don't turn to her immediate request for attention...she gently puts her hands on my cheeks and turns my face to hers...nearly nose-to-nose, she requests again "Mom, could you help me, please?" I button her brown sweater, ask if that's okay and she looks up to me and says "Thanks mom, now I'm cozy". SEEEEE what I mean.....she's totally edible!!!

Enjoy!!

~kel~