My Girls

I rarely share my own family portraits here. Mostly because I just forget :) But after I finished this session, I swore to myself it would make it to the blog.

And here it is...

These would be my two ladies and three of my nieces featured in a super rushed, last minute, after-school photo shoot! Not too shabby after the dirty knee, muddy elbow, broken tooth, booger, and snot removal!

"Cousins are those childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends."

I love you, Sweet Girls.

-XX-

A Celebration.

I sometimes have these grand ideas that swirl and tumble through my head all night long for many, many weeks at a time. Sometimes they fizzle out. Other times, they won't. These would be the ideas that I refer to as 'projects'.

In my head, projects are defined as this:

An activity, event, or creation that I would like to see completed at some point in my lifetime.

Being that I am a 97% natural light-using photographer, these wicked cold months are usually filled with new marketing ideas, some new branding possibilities, tax preparation, and warm fuzzy socks.

For 2014, I want more.

I have decided to take my less active months and use them to benefit others. Women, specifically. It is time for all women to look at themselves and see nothing but beauty. It is time for us to come together to lift each other up. It is time to put down the airbrushed magazines and start looking at who we really are. To really see each other as amazing, elegant, powerful, intense, natural, and passionate celestial beings. We are women. We are fierce. We are strong. And we are abso-freakin'-lutely gorgeous.

Now, back to these projects...

and...

Disclaimer...The two women featured above have given me their full consent to use these images.

Celebrate yourself and each other. It is urgent.

-XX-

Megan

Goal-Getter

I don't make resolutions.

I used to. I used to put all kinds of thought into how I would make this year so much better than last year. I used to make lists and get everything organized. I used to get my plan together and repeat it to myself over and over again. I used to.

I don't make resolutions.

I set goals.

I set goals for myself. Not to be reached by the end of the year. Not even necessarily with a time restraint attached. Just a goal. Something to reach for. And I won't go overboard. Going overboard can often lead to disappointment. Small goals. Small, attainable goals with the end results being immense. Once I complete a goal, I find a new one.

My last goal?

My website.

Oh, man. I could look at it all day.

My most recent goal?

Newborn artistry.

I will perfect it and I will specialize in it. It's where I belong.

Full Steam Ahead

As the year comes to an end, we all tend to reflect on the good, the bad, and the worse. Today, I reflect only on what is to come. No looking back. No turning around. No regrets.

No.Regrets.

Not a single one.

I can't wait to share my ideas for 2014 with all of you. Lots of changes, new beginnings, and amazing projects are in the works. And while I'd love to share about them all here, right now, in this moment, you must wait. Just a little longer. Promise ;)

So I leave you with this. The most "LIKED" MHP image of 2013. Definitely deserving of this title!

Words can't express how thankful I really am for each and every one of you, but thank YOU.  

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

May you be greeted with nothing short of peace and love in 2014.

-XX-

Megan

What do YOU want?

With the holidays upon us, I tend to get all sentimental thinking about the year that is coming to an end. And I get all gushy and excited thinking about the new year we are about to begin. Warm and fuzzy thoughts, ya know?

With the new year will come changes. It's inevitable. Last year, I didn't change a thing. My branding stayed the same. My pricing stayed the same. I liked it. I was comfortable. My business was up and running. I didn't want to mess with a good thing when it was working. ppssst...I don't like change...

The next year. 2014. Things have to change. I'm ready. As ready as I'll ever be. But are you? I need feedback. I know what I want. I know what my husband wants. I know what all of my mentors want. But none of that matters if you're not happy. So I bring it to you. It's simple. Don't over-think it like I do.

Following your session, what products are you wanting?

Do you want professional prints?

Do you want canvases?

Do you want albums and mini books?

Or are you really just wanting the digital images?

If you are only purchasing the digital images, are you printing them out?

What do YOU want from ME?

See? Simple.

Feel free to respond here on the blog, or contact me directly. The more the merrier. Share this with your friends so I know what THEY want too!

And I leave you with this. Warm fuzzies all around :)

Helping the little guys!

It's Small Business Saturday! 

Go shop SMALL!

A Late Summer Wedding

From the first time I met with Kayla and Andrew back in 2012, I KNEW we were on the path of several amazingly fun days! Kayla knew exactly what she wanted out of her wedding (as many girls do!), and I was fortunate enough to be on the sidelines as every tiny detail fell perfectly into place. 

We began with a snowy engagement session this past winter. Engagement sessions might just be one of my favorite things to shoot. Not only do they help me get to know my bride and groom, but you can see SO much passion in a newly engaged couple's eyes. 

I then did an awesome session with Kayla and a few of her closest friends. SO much laughter and encouragement the entire time. Truly an inspiring group of young women. Oh, and one of these fabulous ladies is on the MHP Wedding calendar for 2014!!! 

Having watched all of these pieces of the puzzle come together, I couldn't hardly wait to see it all play out. 

Breathtaking.

 

 I was busy getting a few shots of the father of the bride when I turned around and saw this: All the groomsmen huddled around an iPhone watching a YouTube tutorial on "How to tie a tie"!

Kayla and Andrew chose to have a "First Glance" set up so that we could do the majority of the pictures before the ceremony. SO happy we did this! I've never seen a more nervous groom on his wedding day, and I think this was EXACTLY what he needed!! 

 

 

And then it was time to get married :)

 

Congratulations Kayla and Andrew! 

Thank you so much for asking me to be a part of your day!

** For information on booking your 2014-2015 wedding, please contact MHP directly.