I just got back from the Ft. Hood Officer’s Spouse’s Club Super Sign-Up and met so many wonderful ladies!  Sounds like this fall season will be busy, busy busy!

Just a quick update to let you know that NOW is the best time to SCHEDULE your fall session.  We don’t have to shoot it right now, but if you want a spot on a date and time that works best for you and your family, you should contact me SOON to get it set up.  I usually schedule 4-12 weeks out.  That gives us enough time to arrange a time that works best for you, receive your paperwork in the mail and get it sent back to me, plan and/or shop  for outfits, and arrange a location.  In addition to that, I have four trips planned this fall to shoot sessions in other states.

Keep in mind these things: 

1)  The best time to schedule a session is two hours before sundown.  Currently, I am shooting at 6:00 pm, but in September it will most likely be 5:00, and possibly 4:00 in October and November. 

2)  I can shoot during the weekdays and weekends, but typically weekend dates get booked up fast.

3)  I will be out of town during these dates:

September 2-7     Washington sessions

September 16-20  Denver sessions

September 30-October 5    Kansas sessions

November 7-12    Hawaii

Now don’t delay…check your calendars, check with your spouses, and give me a call before the spots are gone!

Sharing an oldie but goodie that I just recently decided to have printed.  Some of you may have seen this one at the Super Sign-Up.  This is the adorable daughter of my wonderful photographer friend from KC, Heather Morrow. 

This letter I received today from a Kansas client (and dear friend) fills my heart and conveys exactly what I want each and every one of my clients to feel about having their family or child’s portraits done. 

 And just to prove that the Thomas family truly does have a funny, silly side, our porta-potty shot:

And the loving, quiet side:

Don’t you just love Friday afternoons?  Fridays seems so much more peaceful than the other school/work days.  I think it’s just the feeling of freedom and happiness that the weekend is here.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  ~K

*oh, did you see how Remy’s paw is turned upside down in the 2nd picture?  Isn’t that weird and uncomfortable looking?

After waiting a few months for some warmer weather, I was finally about to get with the Z family to shoot their “Giving is Awesome” photo shoot.  Andy and Suse were nominated by Andy’s sister-in-law because of their struggles to adopt and their subsequent blessings…Izak and Ellie.  They make a gorgeous family and I was so happy to meet them and do this shoot for them.

I always try to get a shot (or ten) of the family pet when I’m on a shoot at client’s homes.  Toby was such an adorable dog with one ear that stuck straight up.  I just had to say the word “bone” and this was the look I got.  Thank you, Z family, for such an awesome time!

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On another note, but still related…

Giving is Awesome was founded in December of 2008. It was a simple premise: photographers give a portrait shoot and products to a family who deserves it, but can’t afford it. In the twelve weeks since then, over 530 photographers have donated over $550,000 worth of custom portraiture to families who couldn’t afford it. Artists in places as far flung as Australia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and Mexico joined in. Giving is Awesome is also featured in this month’s issue of Professional Photographer magazine, and we’re looking to continue to spread the word about giving. Lenovo and Microsoft are sponsoring the ‘Name Your Dream Assignment’ contest, which grants $50,000 to the photographer who wins to shoot whatever/wherever they would like.

What better way to spread the word than to load 12 photographers into a tour bus and hit up cities with Giving is Awesome shoots? The blog traffic generated by the tour would easily reach 50,000 photographers per day, thus multiplying the number of photographers who sign on for the 2009 version of Giving is Awesome. (The goal: 15,000 photographers for the 2009 edition.)

…but how would we decide who to shoot for those tour bus Giving is Awesome giveaways? Why, we would rely on our friends at ConKerr Cancer, an international charity, to provide our subjects: children currently living with cancer. We’d be bringing awareness of both utterly smashing organizations to light, spreading the photographic love, AND rockin’ a tour bus! Now we’re talkin’!

What if this project doesn’t cost $50,000? Easy! ConKerr Cancer receives the funds to purchase cameras for their chapter coordinators, less the expenses of the tour. This allows the impact of the tour to go much further than the people on the bus, or even the photographers associated with Giving is Awesome. It’s the ripple effect in its truest form, giving sparking giving sparking giving.

For more information about the organizations mentioned: www.givingisawesome.com & www.conkerrcancer.org

DIG IT? GO VOTE! Click that little ‘pic’ button in the upper left of the assignment details, when you get there. (You’ll have to register to do so, but I promise it’s worth it! Pretty please, vote?)

GO!! : http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/givingisawesome/giving-is-awesome-tour/