Where Are You?

You may be wondering where I am--I'm here, I'm here! Life has gotten in the way of blogging recently. We've had more sickness (yucky stomach bug) in our house and even my camera got sick and is now at the Canon "camera hospital." Don't worry though, I am sporting a spiffy rental so that I still have two (one for a backup) until my "baby" returns.

I was thinking the other day about how many interesting people I get to meet as a photographer and how many different places everyone is from. I have many clients, of course, from here in Winston Salem, but I also have lots from surrounding areas. I often photograph clients from Greensboro (okay, LOTS from Greensboro. Hello all my Greensboro people!) and also from King, Charlotte, Wilmington, and lots of other places as well. I always like to hear about where everyone is currently living and where they grew up and it makes for interesting chat as we proceed through the shoot.

So for the much delayed April contest, I would like for you to leave a comment on the blog telling me where you are originally from and where you live now. Also be sure to leave your name. Everyone who does so by midnight on Wednesday will be entered in a drawing to win an album filled with 4x6 prints from their next session. The choice of the album will be up to me, but the choice of which prints will be up to you. :)

Here are a few shots from some friends who traveled all the way from Boston to get their portraits taken (okay, not just for the portraits, but I was so pleased I was able to photograph them while they were here!):







And here are a few from a recent Greensboro client--these photos were even taken IN Greensboro:):








And here's a little cutie right from my own house:):










So, leave me a comment and tell me where you are. It doesn't matter if you are a current client, someone I haven't seen in a while, or just someone stopping by who has never booked a session--everyone is welcome to participate. I'll let you know who the winner is and post some more recent work soon!

Sweetness

Yesterday I had a session with the sweetest little one year old and we ended up with some very "sweet" light out at Reynolda Gardens. The results are awfully sweet as well, I think. Little "A" had a cold but that didn't stop her from exploring all the beauty at the gardens. She was such a good walker to have just turned one, which always makes capturing images a bit more of a challenge! But she was such a good sport. At one point during the session she toddled straight for me and my camera. When she got too close for me to focus on her I pulled my camera away from my face and she came closer and gave me a little kiss--so sweet! Her mom says she doesn't just hand out kisses to anyone so I felt pretty special. :)

Since "A" was just turning one and at Reynolda Gardens in a little white dress, I couldn't help but be reminded of my three year old, Claire's, one year session--also in a little white dress just barely toddling around at Reynolda Gardens. It made me think about how quickly it all flies by, even though sometimes the days can seem so long (especially if my husband is out of town!) Then today I just happened to hear this song on the radio by Trace Adkins. Now, I can't say I'm usually a huge Trace Adkins fan, but his song really spoke to me today. It's called "You're Gonna Miss This" and here is the chorus:

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

I think all of us need to be reminded sometimes to enjoy each day and each stage as it comes because before you know it, they'll be on to something else. And I hope you'll be reliving the moments and memories in beautiful photographs!

Here is little "A" just entering the stage of toddlerhood:






And a recent favorite of my own little one, Stella. She gives that happy little smile to just about everyone. Just this week she entered a new stage herself and started crawling. Now I no longer have a subject at home who can't get away from me!

It's A Zoo Around Here!

Hi everyone. Well, the girls have been home all week for Spring Break. Since it was starting to feel like a zoo in the Wagoner household, Tory suggested we spend the day today at the actual zoo. So off we went this morning, hoping the rain would stay away. It was a great day to be at the zoo--not too hot, not too cold, cloudy but not raining. Keep in mind while viewing the zoo pictures--I'm definitely not a wildlife photographer so these are really just snapshots. I was really wishing I had a longer lens so I could zoom in even closer on some of the animals, but I made do with what I had! We all had a great time, so here are a few pics to encourage you to make a trip to the zoo if you haven't been lately:

Tory will kill me for posting him on the blog, but here he is with Stella:


The girls in a "polar bear den:"


The little ones in the stroller. Claire didn't want me to stop to take her picture hence the pouting, but I just had to capture how Stella was looking around her to see where we were going!:


Watching the otters(Claire's favorite because they would playfully chase you across the glass):


The only polar bear out today:


Birds(I found them easiest to photograph because I could get closer to them and they stood out against the green leaves):



There is a new exhibit that just opened today. It's a new home for the elephants, rhinos, etc.:



Grace loved the giraffes and zebras:




Okay, If you've made it through me boring all of you with zoo photos, I am going to announce the winner of the March contest. I asked you all to fill out a survey and send it back to be entered in a drawing to win three 5x7 prints from your next session. The winner of the three 5x7s is Denise Herrin! Congratulations Denise!! I can't wait to see your beautiful girls again soon.

Be on the lookout for a new contest for April and more photos from recent sessions coming soon!