Search this site:    

**Disclaimer** this started out as a post to show some great family images from a shoot we did in October, but I ended up going on a little bit of a rant . Sorry about that!

I cannot believe I am just now getting to posting these! At the end of October my family packed up and headed out to Indiana to meet up with the amazing Rachel Vanoven. It was a long drive, but so worth it! We hung out for the entire afternoon and Rachel was so patient with a less than stellar Hailey. I’m not sure if it was the long drive or the missed nap or both, but she just wasn’t into being her cute little self. But, hey, it didn’t phase us. Rachel gave us the amazing gift of capturing an afternoon with our family and we are forever greatful! As a photographer myself, one of the  most important things to me is to have images that I can treasure for the rest of  my life. I have plent (p l e n t y) of images of my baby girl and her daddy, but the three of us together, or even just me and my little girl are rare indeed. So this session is something I will truly treasure forever.

Let me first say that I love each and every shot. But I do have to admit that I shutter a little as I look at these, because I can’t stand the way I look in pictures. Don’t even get me started on my nose…its the Polish nose…ugh! And I’ve lost more than 20 pounds since these were taken, but I am trying to look beyond all that and appreciate these little gems. I encourage you to do the same. How many of us run and hide when someone brings a camera out? Or how many of us jump to take the picture rather than be in the picture? I am the same way…believe me! But, I ask you this. How many of you look back at a photo from even 5 years ago and think “man I looked great then!” But remembering back to that time, were you still just as critical of yourself? The truth is, we are almost never completely  happy with the way we look. We are always judging ourselves, picking ourselves apart, being our own harshest critic. Maybe its the years I spent working with girls with eating disorders, maybe its how I see Hailey be completely and utterly accepting of everyone and not having a judgmental bone in her body, maybe its just because I’m getting older. But I don’t want to look back at photo albums in 20 years and wonder where I was during all this. I don’t want to be the one behind the camera 100% of the time. So, big Polish nose and all, I accept myself as I am today, right now. Because right now I have the best family I could ever ask for. The sweetest, most amazing little girl who blows my mind every. single. day. The best husband in the world. And for that I am so greatful.

So, all you self conscious peeps out there, get over it. You are gorgeous just the way you are. I am toying with the idea of doing a family self portrait a day for the next year…maybe one a week? I’m not sure. I’m not good with keeping up with these things. But I encourage you to do the same! Document your family! Whether you are using your simple (wonderful) little point and shoot camera, or you are hanging out with me for the afternoon and letting me capture those precious memories…don’t let your insecurities hold you back . We really only have today.

We had to sneak in one of me and the fabulous Rachel!

 We believe because we got to hang out with the big guy all morning last week! Sooooo much fun! The cutest little coffee shop ever, Not Your Average Joe’s, hosted Santa Clause for a hanful of lucky little boys and girls. Cookies with Santa is the best idea ever! For almost two hours we got to sing Christmas carols with Santa, decorate ginger bread cookies, read stories (especially The Night Before Christmas). The kiddos got to spend some rare one on one time and tell Santa all about what they wished for for Christmas. It was absolutley fantastic. I know Hailey isn’t old enough to understand any of this, but how incredibly magical must that be for a little one?!

Well, our little one had a blast. It took her only a few minutes to warm up to the strange man in the red suit, but when she did…it was all over. I kind of felt a little bad for the other kids because Hailey was so into sitting on Santas lap and giving him high fives! But he assured me that it was fine and I didn’t need to worry. He’s such a good guy that Santa . 

The sneaky little bugger couldn’t wait to climb up and check out that hat.

Just hanging out with Santa…they’ve got inside jokes…don’t know how I feel about that.

This is one of my favorite images ever!

She is convinced that reindeer are dogs and I’m sure she was telling Santa how it is.

 

I’m not sure what’s happening here…but I’m pretty sure I put the camera down immediately!

A big huge thanks to the owners over at Not Your Average Joe’s for hosting this morning with Santa. It was such a great time and I hope it continues to be a tradition for years and years to come!

We are up to our eyeballs in home remodels here at the Krager house. So that, along with the fact that our refrigerator is in our living room, right next to the Christmas tree (nice right? ), our oven is in the entry way, our microwave is camped out in the dining room and pretty much anything and everything that used to be in the kitchen is dangerously perched on top of the dining room table, this is going to be a quick post.

A few weekends ago I got the opportunity to photograph this little beauty for the second time. I always love working with this family! They are so warm and welcoming…and they have got some fabulous light in their house! . So I spent the morning playing with this little girl and letting her show me all of her favorite things at home. To all of my clients out there, this is the perfect example of how we can do a shoot even with the frigid temps and snowy ground! You don’t have to wait for nice weather to get those photos in. Kids are usually most comfortable in their own environment, which gives me the perfect opportunity to capture them just as they are. The things that truly make childhood special…reading their favorite book in their favorite chair, jumping on their bed, playing with their favorite toys, or just running around like crazy…as usual . When you look back in 20 years, these are the little moments you are going to want to remember, and these are the moments that I loooove love love capturing. So let your kiddos show me around, sit back and relax and come out with some amazing memories!

Oh yeah, and happy holidays everyone! I hope you’re all at least close to getting all the shopping done .

This was the view from the front of our house a few nights ago. I swear I didn’t touch this photo except to size it for the web…straight out of camera. Isn’t that blue sky gorgeous?!

This is why I am the luckiest mom in the world…

First, because this beautiful little angel chose Justin and I to be her parents. And second because I have the amazing opportunity to be home with her each and every day and have mornings full of Tinkerbell, sippy cups, flashlight games and snuggles. More pictures from this morning to come soon….stay tuned

Editing a recent session and I just had to post this…tell me this isn’t the most perfect Christmas card picture?! .

And a side note to all of our friends, family, clients, etc…I guess the holiday crazies have hit the Krager house. So please bare with us! Last Sunday we arrived home, after driving 13+ hours from visiting family in NY for Thanksgiving. While in NY we acquired a very nice set of kitchen cabinets. We have been planning a kitchen remodel for a while, and we had minor hopes of getting it done before Christmas. But Sunday night Justin committed us 100% by chopping off one of our counters. So, as with any project, things keep popping up that we hadn’t thought of and now we are knee chest eyebrows deep in “to-do’s”. Did I mention Christmas is at our house this year? Yes…I’m smiling because the only other choice is to hide under the covers until January and I’m thinking that’s not an option…sigh…

So for my clients, I’m working through each and every one of your sessions as quickly as I can and I will be in touch soon! Also, keep an eye out for a bonus little Christmas ‘thank you’!

And for our friends and family…please check on us every once in a while to make sure we haven’t killed each other .

Happy Holidays!

~S

It’s been almost 18 months since we welcomed our beautiful, amazing daughter into this world. I think back to those few weeks before she was born and remember sitting on the couch, on bed rest per doctor’s orders, watching TLC and playing solitare just waiting to meet this newest member of our family. That is such an exciting, emotional time in a couple’s life. Every child is special, of course, but something about that first baby just flutters in your heart and feels like nothing else on this earth. I love love LOVE that my job connects me to new families. I love that I get to be a part of capturing that time in their life that they will never get back. That time that passes so quickly ~ and I get to experience it with them. It was an honor to get to be a part of this family’s  memories. This mommy is due in February and she is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. When she talks about her baby girl her face lights up with the biggest smile. And baby girl’s soon to be daddy could not be more proud…you two will make amazing parents. I cannot wait to see your beautiful baby!