Realizations...

As 2013 is nearing to an end, I thought that I would share some of the many things that I realize...

1. I am still so very far behind in posting photo shoots. As I have just finished sharing 2012's shoots 

with you.

2. I have said so many times in past postings that I would not allow myself to get behind like this again. But yet I find myself still there.

3. The reason I am so far behind in sharing shoots with you is because life happens... I know that

 there are lots of you that relate to that statement. 

4. I had an awesome year of shoots in 2013, not that any other year was not awesome too, and am finding myself in a place of some free time to play catch up. FINALLY!

Now a few things that I have realized not involving blog posts...

5. Our kids grow up too quickly... and there is nothing we can do to stop them.

 My oldest is just over a month away from turning 18, and becoming man. My youngest just turned 8 

and I don't know where the last 8 years have gone, let alone the last 18....

6. Family is very important. Keeping track of family memories is just as important.

 Because someday they will be gone and having photos and the memories in our heads keeps 

them alive inside of us.

7. As we grow we learn who and what really matters to us. There are some many things that we 

think matter or are important and when times passes and we look back and reflect we realize that

 they really were/are not that important.

8. That it is OK to let go of the control we feel that we have to have on things and let someone

 else be in control.

 This statement means so many different things. Like letting go of some of the control on our kids and letting them make their own choices, even when we don't agree with them.

 Or when there is something that you do well and have a hard time letting someone else do that thing for you.

(like letting someone else photograph my family without trying to pose us myself.)

9. People come in and out of lives and the important ones are never far away. We may not see each other everyday or even once a month or longer but when we need them they are never far away.

10.... let me think on this one.

So going back to number 6 and number 8-

We have finally had the opportunity to have a family shoot with my sisters and their families. The last time that we did this was before my youngest was born and my sister's first was born. We met up last weekend for a fun outdoor winter shoot with Julie Gendron.

Two of the photos were shared on facebook today, Thank you Julie for the great photos.

 https://www.facebook.com/JulieAnnGendron.

  and I thought that I would share them as well. As soon as I have disk in hand, ok maybe not as soon cause some will be Christmas gifts, I will share some more. 

The whole crew.

 Just the kids.

Newborn Twins- 2012!

These precious twins entered our family in September of 2012. I was so excited when we finally got to meet them and I could steal them away for a little photo shoot. I soon realized two things...

 1.- I was not cut out to have twins. (I was taking their photos without help, so of course that plays a little factor in that thought.)

 2. After spending 9 months together they did not want to be near each other. And I mean any where near each other. The few that I did get of them together were done quickly before the fussing started.

Meet Amelia and Miles...

 Another quick attempt at getting a photo of them together. This is not the original image I was 

aiming to get, I was trying to get them laying on each other and they wanted nothing

 to do with touching.

Amelia-

 

Miles-

They are the sweetest things! Now that they are one they are a little better about being so close to one another. I am hoping to have the opportunity this Holiday season to get another photo shoot of these 2. We might even include their 3 older siblings...

Carmon Family- Holiday 2012

Meet the Carmon Family! We met at Traditions at the Glen on a drizzly afternoon. We made it through the drizzling and got some great shots. We started with mom and the girls, as dad had to run back to the car and get a blanket that they brought along. 

Mom and her girls!

Sister!

 Some Christmas images.

Merry Christmas banner and candy canes.

 Dad and his girls!

 This was a pose that I have been wanting to do with a family. I thought that they would be a great family to use this pose with. Both girls are into very different things and thought it would be great to showcase that.

I am very pleased with how it came out.

Some snow blowing to end the shoot with. Just like the previous post we were not lucky enough to be able to use some real snow so we made do with fake snow. 

Have a wonderful Holiday 2013 season Carmon Family! 

Tamara & Family 2012- "My Secret" Location

Meet Tamara and her family. We talked about using several locations before we decided here. I explained that I had a location in my mind to use for sometime but just hadn't found the right subject. I explained that I would love to shoot her and her family here. So, she agreed and they headed the 30 minute drive to our location. 

If you are interested in using this location feel free to email me at kgrussellphoto@yahoo.com. 

Please keep in mind that this is a small location and  most areas may be used in each shoot. To keep each subject's shoots different, as I tried to do when using popular locations, I will make each person/groups sessions unique with different poses. 

This was a pose that I was wanting to try with a large family. It came out just how I was hoping 

and is one of my favorites from this shoot!

 To end the shoot I thought it would be fun to do a little "Girls against Boys" pose. I brought along some fake snow, since we didn't get any real snow; for the girls to blow at the boys. If there was some real snow I was hoping to do a "snowball fight". But we improvised and it came out great!

Merry Christmas Tamara & Family. May your 2013 Holiday be wonderful!

Swartz's Family Holiday 2012

I have been shooting this family since there oldest was born. I always enjoy seeing them, and this shoot was no different. We met at Ostiningo Park in Binghamton for their shoot. The weather cooperated and so did the girls and we got some great shots!

Mommy and her girls!

 This tree is one of my favorites. It got a little damaged when the park flooded during the flood of 2011, but it is still a great tree!

 Hailey and her bunbun. She has had him since she was born and he is loved very much!

I made sure to get a few of her alone as it December is her birthday month!

The sled used in these last three images was my husbands when he was a small child. His grandfather added the back to it so that he sit in it safely when he was younger. I love that it is still around and in great shape so that it can be used!

Merry Christmas Swartz family. I look forward to our future shoots!

Tina's Grandkids- Holiday 2012

Here is another holiday shoot that I had the honor to do last year. I have taken photos of these two cuties a few other times and it was great to see them again and how much they had grown.

 This is my favorite image of these two. You can just see the sibling love!

 Love when kids get to the age of giving you the "cheesy" smile!

Merry Christmas Tina and family! 

Holiday 2013 Mini Sessions post 2

KG Russell Photography 2013 Holiday Mini Sessions:

I am going to offer 3 days of shoots this year. Each day will be at a different out door location. Each session will be a half hour long. The sessions this year will be $45.00 and include 15 images on a Copyrighted disk. My plan for this year is to have someone with me who can share your session with you so that you can choose your 15 images. Each image will be offered to you in color and black & white and you may choose one image to be personalized with your Holiday Message. Any extra images or effects that you want on an image will be offered at 2 images for $5 extra dollars. Examples: black & white with a pop of color or personalized with your Holiday message (Happy Holiday's Love the Russell's.)

For each location I will have several props available. I have a old wooden sled, supplies to be used to  decorate a tree at each location, fake presents, fake snow. Also a Merry Christmas banner. I am also working on a surprise backdrop. Check back for the surprise...

Contact me via email at kgrussellphoto@yahoo.com to set up your session. If you have my phone number feel free to call or text me as well. When you email me I will give you my number to call with any questions or concerns.

The dates and locations are:

December 1, 2013 at Wolfe Park Binghamton, NY

Wolfe Park is a wooded park it has a small pond with a dock, a gazebo, trails, and a small creek with a waterfall. 

December 7, 2013 at a secret location in Binghamton, NY

To find out about this location you will need to contact me via email to find out about this location.

Sorry but this is one of my favorite locations and do not want to let the "cat out of the bag." so to speak... I did one Holiday session at this location and will be sharing them with you so you will have the opportunity to see what it has to offer. I will not be offering set times for this location but a time will be agreed upon for those interested in this location.

December 8, 2013 at Pork Dick Park Binghamton, NY

Port Dick Park offers a playground, tables, pine trees and the river.

Times for December 1st and 8th are

11:00

11:30- December 8th- Watkins Family

12:00- Unavailable on December 1st- My family photo shoot

12:30- Unavailable on December 1st- My family photo shoot
I will be taking an hour break (well technically, it will be a half hour once I finish the 12:30 shoot.) to eat, warm up, and do any catching up on shoots.

1:30

2:00

2:30

3:00

If these dates and /or locations do not work for you or you are interested in doing a shoot in your home I am willing to accommodate these with the same special.

I look forward to meeting with all the great families these shoots will bring!

Watkin's Family

This next family shoot I am so glad, for many reasons, that I had the opportunity to do a session for them.

They were a great bunch to be able to shoot and we had some fun. 

Also this year Larry, dad/grandpa, passed away. This was their last family shoot before he was unexpectedly taken away from them. 

I am hoping the posting of this shoot at this time of year will bring happy memories of this family day for the whole Watkin's family.

Larry & Paula- the beginning of this family!

 Another interesting fact about this shoot that I noticed while editing was that this is the only Holiday session that I did not use any props for. This session was more about having family photos then it being all Holiday. So, the only prop that was used was the location.

Watkins family, as it is getting closer to your first Holiday without Larry, I can only imagine how hard it will be on all of you. You are in my thoughts and prayers to have a wonderful Holiday season filled with memories of Larry. I hope that the posting of this shoot helps in the happy memories of this time of year for all of you.