Photo of the week for 1/19-1/26:

You truly can find beauty in anything. This is a garage light shining through a glass door. It gave off such pretty light through the glass.

And...that is not condensation, it's ICE! Even more subzero temps this week! Stay warm out there!

Photo of the Week for 1/12-1/19

A sunset! Now, the only reason a sunset is my photo of the week is because for the last three months when getting out of work at 5 PM, it's been completely dark outside. This past week is the first time since October that it's STILL daylight at 5 PM. I am pining away for summer! A later sunset means we're all that much closer!

Photo of the Week for 1/5-1/12

After this horrendous week of "arctic freeze", "polar vortex" weather, I think even my pup is looking for any sign of spring!

Black & White Photography by fPOE

I truly love black and white photography. Most of the time, I prefer it over color photography. For me, it is incredibly striking and commands attention.

I'm proud to be part of a group on Etsy called fPOE (Female Photographers of Etsy), who are immensely talented photographers. My first contribution to the fPOE blog is a stunning collection of black and white photography. Head over and take a look!

In 50 Years...

When was the last time you flipped through (not scrolled through) a photo album or held a photograph in your hand? If you answered "recently," great! You’re doing it right. If you hesitated, I’m going to direct you to this article here because it was written not only for you, but for your kids, your grandkids, and especially your great grandkids.

I read that only 2 out of 10 images taken with digital cameras are printed on paper. It has become so acceptable to either keep photos on a CD or to upload photos on social media that we've become careless about getting them printed. The problem is that technology is constantly changing. Aside from a little aging, printed photographs do not change. The best part about it is that 50 years from now, wherever technology and social media may be, you will still be able to pull out that family photo album and flip through your amazing family memories.

Bottom line:  Do not leave your photographs floating in cyberspace. Get them printed!

Here is one of my grandparents from the 1940s that I may have never seen had it not been printed. It's one of many favorites of them that I have. This photo always makes me smile because it is exactly how I remember them. Happy and in love until their last days together. I miss them very much, but it's comforting to know I can reach for this photograph and many others at anytime without having to turn on my computer. Much like a conversation via text messaging does not compare to face to face interaction, seeing a family photograph on a computer screen will never compare to holding it in your hand.

Photo of the Week for 12/28 - 1/5

First photo of the week for 2014!

Looks like a pussy willow, doesn't it? It's really a Rose of Sharon bush covered in snow. More blizzard like conditions coming this week! Eek! What a winter we're having! Stay safe and warm out there!

2013 Favorites

2013 was a year full of portrait sessions. Whenever I am photographing kids, either outdoor or with studio setup, I always let them play, have fun, and just let them be kids! Nothing beats capturing genuine smiles and genuine moments.

Here are some of my favorites from 2013. Thank you to all of my clients who make my job so amazing, and just to use this word again, FUN! :)

The Amish & the Waterfall

A lot of the time, if not ALL of the time, photography is about being in the right place at the right time.

Hopefully this photo will speak for itself, but everytime I stumble upon it, it leaves me in awe. This was before I took photography seriously, so it was taken with my Canon PowerShot S5 IS. Granted, a slow shutter speed would have created smooth looking water, but it would have taken away a lot of the impact of this shot.

The back story: My family and I were being "touristy" at the stunning Letchworth State Park in New York when we noticed the Amish group of people climb up on the ledge in front of the waterfall. You'll notice that the ledge is of course wet, and more than likely extremely slippery. You'll also notice there is nothing protecting them from slipping and falling in. No rope, no fence, no nothing. Yet they seemed fearless. Now, I don't know about you, but whenever I'm around a waterfall with this much power, no kidding around, I get chills. The loudness of the water alone, without the visual, is enough to intimidate me. Looking at the rushing water too long also makes me a little dizzy. That might explain the awe I always feel when looking at this photo.

I could not do much but stare because we were too far away. I actually had to zoom in for this shot. It took me more than a few moments to realize I needed to photograph it because my jaw was busy dropping. Rest assured, they only stood up there for five minutes tops because the Parks Police stepped in, thankfully! Needless to say, I am glad I was there during that five minutes to witness, and capture, such an awesome moment.

Winter Storm Hercules

Hercules has arrived! Snow, snow and yes, MORE snow. Not to mention the bitter cold! I don't remember the last winter we had here in NY where we are pummeled with inches and inches of snow on a daily basis. And it's only January! NY winters last well into March and sometimes even April.

So far this winter, along with Winter Storm Hercules, we have also had an ice storm that knocked out power for thousands. My power was out for 9 hours, but others did not have power for up to 48 hours. I do love snow, but you can bet I am counting down the days until summer, which also happens to be my birthday! 168 days! I am a summer girl, through and through.

I have lots of winter photos to share, but for now here is one I took a couple of weeks ago. As soon as I stepped outside with my camera, it started to snow. And very heavily! We can complain all we want about winter, but there is no denying its beauty.