As 2014 Comes to an end....

I can not believe that 2014 is coming to an end. It is amazing how fast the year has gone by.

This year has been eventful year for my family, some good and some bad.  So here is my year in a nut shell...

In January of this year my baby sister, Samantha, became in engaged to her college sweetheart, Elijah. Only a few weeks after asking for my parents blessing, which was graciously given. (stay tuned for their engagement session, but here is a sneak peek) I am so happy for them and glad to be part of their wedding. She has found her match in this man! The wedding party has all been asked and accepted. Us sisters and Grace (flower girl) went for a weekend to visit Samantha to find her gown. We found the gown only to discover that a wedding Eli was in the bride wore that gown... But no worries, she went back and was able to exchange the gown for THE GOWN. Then a weekend visit here for Samantha and Eli we found the girls dresses at a STEAL!!

I started a new venture in my photography business in May. A friend of mine rides and shows horses and she asked me if I would be interested in taking photos at a few horse shows, that she was a part of, for all of the riders in the show. So, I paired up with another photographer friend of mine to assist me in shooting the shows. We tag teamed the May show, I shot the June show by myself and she shot the July show by herself. Then I was contacted to shoot a show in September that was just a "fun" show. This show happened to be on my daughter's 9th birthday and they allowed her to ride. For her first time on a horse she had a blast! This line of my photography business I have named Horseshoes and Saddles Photography.

(Grace up on Alphie for the first time)

My family suffered a very great lose this year, the lost of my mother, a young (54), beautiful, wonderful and kind women whose heart touched so many people. Even in the event of her death she did something unselfish. She decided to donate her body to science, for more research to be done on the disease that took her from this world and brought her to a better place. She had MSA (multiple-symptom apathy) a disease that attacked her body in a similar way that Parkinson does. Her body was given to Rochester University, where she was seeing a specialist. This loss came in June of this year 15 days after we celebrated her 54th birthday with friends and family (she was at her best that day) and a day after my husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. 

Kathleen H. (Melious) Woloszyn  6/5/1960-6/20/2014
*please do not copy or alter this image. I did not write my logo on it as it was taken at my sisters wedding by another photographer*

My son graduated this year. Something we were not sure that we would see this year. We knew he would graduate, we just did not know when. In January he decided to go for his GED. He attended classes and took the exam in March and passed with flying colors. The GED program that he participated in held a graduation ceremony in June. This came after the loss of my mother, it was very nice to have something good to celebrate. Our whole family attended to show our support and how proud we are of him. 

In July my family along with my husband's cousins family rented a time share in Hilton Head Island, SC. My sister and her family as well as friends of her and 3 of her in-laws rented a time share in the same resort as us. We invited my dad to come along with us for a much needed break. My brother in law, who lives in SC, came and spent a few days with us as well. The week went really considering between the two apartments there were 20 of us. We spent time at the beach, the resort pool, the guys went golfing, the girls went shopping at the outlets, and the adults went out to dinner while dad stayed with the little kids (6). We also had three teenage boys with us and they were excited to find a skate park to spend some of their time at. We even made it down to the beach to watch the sunset two nights. One of those nights we climbed the lighthouse and collect washed up seashells. We were glad with how well everyone got along that maybe another vacation together will be in the future.

Here is one of the shots that I got at the beach at sunset.

The loss of my mother was not the only loss that we went through this year... In September our loving boxer, Lucy, who was 11.5 yrs old passed away. She was not feeling well for sometime and we knew our time with her was getting short. One day she was just not good at all. My husband and daughter loaded her in the car to head to the vet. She did not make it there, she passed peacefully on my daughters lap. We were thankful that we did not have to actually put her down that she passed on her own peacefully. We had her cemented privately so that we were able to keep her ashes and they also took a mold of her paw pint for us.

Lucy Lu Russell 1/11/2003-9/ /2014

We pulled off two bridal showers for Samantha. We did one here that was a Tea Party theme and one in Eli's home town that was a Stock the Christmas Tree theme. Both shower themes were a surprise for Samantha, for someone who is not great with surprises, they went well. Both showers were successful and they received a great deal of the items that they registered for. At the second shower they also made out with a collection of Christmas ornaments to start their life with. The wedding planning has been going very well and everything has been falling into place. We have the church, the reception hall, the photographer, the DJ, invites have been mailed. The weekend of the shower in Eli's home town us sisters even had a very successful shopping trip for decorations for the reception.

The first two images are from the Tea Party shower- the centerpieces and Samantha with a gift and the next two are from the Stock the Christmas Tree shower- the invite and Samantha with a gift and her tree behind her.

Grace has started to cheer this year for a local church's CYO basketball team. This is opening some doors for her and she is enjoying it a lot. The team even had the opportunity to cheer at our local college university's basketball game, Binghamton University (SUNY Binghamton). They even performed a dance that they did great even though they had only 3 practices. Now they are getting ready for their Cheer Competition which is at Binghamton University the day after the wedding...

The players gave the girls flowers at their last game, 2/28/15.

As every year goes we had some good times and some bad times. We came out with our heads above water and are healing from our losses. We are looking for a more promising year.

I thought that I had gotten this posted before 2014 actually ended. I did not want to miss sharing this post with everyone since I took the time to put it together. We are 2 months into 2015 and only 8 days away from the wedding and competition. Stay tuned for news about them and the things that I am looking forward to offering in 2015!

KG Russell 2014 Holiday Mini Sessions

KG Russell 2014 Holiday Mini Sessions

This year’s sessions will be $50.oo and will include the following:

A 30 minute photo session

15 edited images in color and black & white on a Copyrighted disk

1 image with a personalized Holiday Message

Locations-

Wolfe Park Binghamton, NY

Washington St. Bridge or Binghamton Court House

 Port Dick Park Binghamton, NY

I am available for these sessions on:

Saturday November 22, 2014  11am-3pm

Wednesday November 26, 2014 11am-3pm 
(Discs will be ready for delivery by December 1 for Holiday printing and gifts).
and
Saturday December 13, 2014 11 am-3pm

(Discs will be ready for delivery by December 17 for Holiday printing and gifts).

Please feel free to email me for more information at:

kgrussellphoto@yahoo.com

*I am willing to make other accommodations if these dates and times are not convenient for you or if you would like a session in your home.

I am going to offer one more day for these Holiday Sessions
Sunday November 30, 2014 11am-2pm

Here is a small sapling from last years Holiday Mini Sessions!

Jordyn 2014 Senior

Jordyn was the second senior that I had the privilege to shoot last year and the second senior from the same school. Jordyn is the daughter of my cousin and it has been great to watch her grow into the gorgeous girl that she is. 

We headed out with the sky not looking so promising. Sure enough it started pouring before we could finish the location. We were not the only group doing photosJordyn  at this location that day that was trying to out beat the rain. Thankfully this location has a gazebo where we were able to take shelter and take some photos while we waited out the rain. It finally slowed down enough for us to make it safely to our cars and head to our second location. 

We still had a little rain when we arrived at the second location. Thankfully that location also offered some covered areas to shoot. The rain came to an end and we were able to finish the shoot with a few images out in the open. 

Jordyn was a cheer leader and I wanted to make sure that we got some shots of her in her uniform. So, we met up again a couple days later and did these next two images and then the ones of her in her uniform. 

Jordyn has lost her Dad and her Grandfather and wanted to do some images at the cemeterys that they are buried at.  I decided not to share those images as they are personal to her. But I wanted to share that she chose to do that to make sure that they were included/honored as part of her Senior year. 

These first tw images were shot at the first cemetery and the cheer collage is at the second cemetery,

 I was also able to shoot Jordyn's Prom pictures. Make sure you check back to see those too.

"You gotta friend in me..." Kris & Mark 2013

Meet Kris and Mark. They have been friends since they were about 4 yrs old. Kris' aunt is Mark's sister in law and Mark's brother is Kris' uncle. The two were brought together through the relationship and have been best friends since.

 The two of them were both graduating and I was shooting Mark's senior pictures and I thought that this would be a great time to capture some photos of the two of them. Making a memory for the two of them to have. Pictures of the two of them to share with their families later in life. 

New Blog- KG Russell Photo Art

I am starting a new venture... 

check out the new blog at: http://kgrussellphotoart.blogspot.com/.

Here is the link it should take you right to the page.
http://kgrussellphotoart.blogspot.com/

Another Young Life Taken Too Soon... Eric

I found out that on the same day that my mom passed away, a friend of mine lost her husband later that night.

I was heartbroken already and did not think that my heart could break anymore, but I was wrong. Stefanie and Eric were 2 days away from celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary. Not only that but the year before they were married Eric had gone through a kidney transplant. Eric's cousin donated her kidney and they went through the procedure on 7/22/11.

I was so glad that Stefanie found Eric. She was so happy with him and to see the way he looked at her you know he felt the same... They were in LOVE!

I went with a couple other friends to be with Stefanie on the evening of the funeral service. We did not stay for the service as I was sure that I would not be able to make it through the service. 

To celebrate and honor the life of Eric I wanted to share some photos that I had taken on their wedding day.

I was not the photographer that day, I got to go and be a guest! But of course I had to capture some of my own photos that day.

Stefanie- I want to say that I am sorry for your lose, but I know that is the "go to" phrase that people say to those who have lost a family member. It is something that people say to us when they do not know what to say. So instead I will say...

My heart breaks for you. I know what it feels like to have lost my mother and can only imagine how you feel on the lose of you husband and best friend. The man that you chose to share your life with. The man who accepted you for you and welcomed your children as his own. You have every right to feel angry and fell that it is not fair It is never fair when a young life is taken from the people who love them. 

I send my love and prayers to you and your family. My wish for you is that you overcome your anger and begin healing. I am here for you anytime that you need someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on. Or even if you just want to scream and shout and let it all out!

Love- Trisha

Saying Goodbye to a Wonderful Women, my Mother!

On Friday June 20, 2014 my mother, Kathleen, went home to her Lord and Savior.We had just celebrated her 54th birthday 2 weeks prior and am glad that we had that day with her.  For three and a half years she had a diagnosis of Parkinson's, but December 2013 the doctors changed her diagnosis to MSA. MSA stands for Multiple Symptom Atrophy. She passed in her home, with many family and close friends coming for visits during the two weeks prior to her passing. She made a choice to donate her body to science, hoping that future doctors could learn about her disease. 

She was a breast cancer survivor of 10 years. My sister was married in September of 2003 and I was married in June of 2004. In between the two weddings she was diagnosed and went through her chemo treatments. Her last treatment given the weekend before my wedding. When I went to her and said that we would postpone the wedding until the fall of 2004 she refused to allow me to do so.

She was the type of women who always thought of others first, was always willing to drop what she was doing and help a friend in need. She had a beautiful smile and an infectious laugh. She loved to dance and could always be found on the dance floor at any function. She loved to dance around the house with her grandchildren. She was a creative women and loved to try out new craft ventures.

She was a single mom for many years, raising my sister, Becky, and I. She met the love of her life 25 years ago and they had my sister Samantha. During those times as a single mom she never gave up. She was always there to guide us and teach us right from wrong. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. My friends always called her mom and she always made them welcome in our home. She would say that she did not just have three daughters but more like 6 or 8 or 10! 

She was the youngest of 6 children and loved by all of her siblings. From stories that we heard while we were growing up it sounded like all of her siblings doted on her. Even as an adult you could see the love that they had for their "baby" sister.

To say that life will ever be the same again is an understatement! There will forever be a hole inside of me that will never be filled again. I am just glad that I had the opportunity to sit with her and tell her how much I loved her and that I was glad that God gave her to me as my mother. To thank for all the things that she gave and taught me. Even those things that I learned from watching her. To tell her that she was a wonderful grandmother too. That she was my super hero. She put her all into everything that she did and never gave up on anything. Even having that opportunity to tell her those things did not make the lose any easier. 

The only was that I can explain how I feel is to say that I have this feeling of being "orphaned". Maybe that is not a good thing to say or the proper word to use. But that is the best word that I can use to explain the hole that is now inside of me. I know that it is not true as I have my sisters and my dad. I have my husband and my children. I have my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I also have my in-laws. But I will never have my mom again. The person that you turn to when you are hurt and feel like a child again. The person who bandaged my bo-bos, who hugged me through broken hearts, and praised me for my accomplishments. 

I wanted to share some photos that I have of her. I am having some difficulty with all my burnt cds telling me that the images are not on them. I do have three to share now though. I will post more when I get more loaded onto my computer. But I wanted to get this posted since it has already been 4 days. 

Two of the images are my mother with her siblings and mother and then the siblings, their spouses and her mother. These were taken about 5 years ago at my grandmothers 80th birthday. The other is of my mom and her granddaughter, my daughter. Both of these images are of her after she had breast cancer. 

Kathy, Debbie, Diane, Grandma (Edna), Norman, Howie, & Kenny.

back row- Karl (my dad), Gary, Kenny, & Howie. middle row- Debbie, Kathy, Diane, Joanne, Mel, Norman. front row- Edna.

Grace and Mema (this is what the grandchild called her) warming up by the pool!

I love you mom, forever and always and to the moon and back!

Love Trisha

Mark 2014 Senior, Johnson City, NY

The school year is coming to an end and those graduating will be starting the new adventures in their lives. I thought now would be a good time to get caught up on my High School Seniors. Share the sessions from the beginning of a chapter that will soon come to an end. It is also a good time to share these for those becoming seniors have some ideas to look at for their sessions.
The next three postings are going to be High School Seniors. I have two female and one male session to post. These three seniors are family or just about family. I have had the privilege to watch two of them grow from very young ages, one since a newborn and the other since the age of 4. The other senior entered our lives a year prior to her session. It has been a joy watching her change in that year.

The first session that I am going to post is the male session. He's the senior that I have watched grow since the age of 4. He is the brother of my brother in law. While he and my sister were dating they would bring Mark and my son along with them to the park. They became fast friends and that friendship is just as strong now. They are like brothers and we care as if Mark was our own too.

Mark and his mom headed to our house early on Saturday afternoon. The plan was to only do some head shots. So, he had some to pick for the yearbook and Mom & Dad had some nice images to hang and share. I convinced them that we needed to do a few outdoors. It was a beautiful morning and I didn't want to waste it. When we finished the head shots, which included Mark in a dress shirt and tie, we headed to the park down the street from my home. (The dress shirt and tie poses were even to make Mark want to be done, but he was behaved and did what I asked).

Meet Mark-

 A head shot option for the yearbok.

 I LOVE how these two brick wall shots turned out. I added the wording to the images to add a more personal effect.

 Lounging back to express that he was done taking photos. I"'tortured" the two boys. Mark and my son, with a few images of the two of them together. So, at this point in the shoot they were both done. Check back soon for the posting of the two boys!

 I could not decide which way I liked this collage, so I shared both of them. There are SO MANY cute girl ideas to include the year number in the shoot. I thought and thought and thought what could I do that would be "cool" for Mark. That is why I chose the dice. I was thinking "there were dice in the mirror", lol. But I really did think it would be a great idea, well that was a FAIL! He did no think it was that great of an idea, but he did do what I requested.

To end the shoot a collage of Mark in his dress shirts and ties. I know that it is not his "thing" but he pulled them off!
Congratulations on your Graduation this year! Good Luck where ever the road may take you. 

Caleb 4 week Newborn Shoot- Oneida, NY

 We all have one of those best friends that is like a sibling to us, that our kids call "aunt/uncle", well that is M and I. She is the God Mother to both of my kids and they are proud to call her aunt. I have waited since I become a mom myself for her to become one too. She was always the friend that we all knew would be a mom and take great honor in that title. And she has not fallen short of that thought at all. She is an awesome mother and her husband is a awesome dad too! Also, I am honored to have this little call me Aunt one day. Ya, I know when he starts talking.

So, to introduce you to this wonderful little guy...

He entered the world in May and he was a a long awaited baby. His parents married in  2008. They started their journey to become parent soon after. After a very long journey they finally got pregnant. They were in town in summer of 2012 and M handed me a jewelry gift box. She said it was what S had given her for her anniversary that year. When I opened the box it took a second to register what I was seeing. What I saw inside that box was a positive pregnancy test! I was so excited for them. I literary was jumping up and down!  They live a couple hours away and two weeks after my surgery my family ventured up to see them. I could not wait as it has been several weeks since I had seen him last and this was going to be the first opportunity for me to have him in front of my camera. 

He just celebrated his first birthday and I can not wait to share those photos with you too, very soon. But until then enjoy baby Caleb's 4 week shoot.

M loves frogs so I had to make sure that I got a shot with the frog hat.

 A smile! This was something rare in this shoot. For some reason he wanted to be serious in between not being a happy little camper.

 Wearing one of Daddy's ties. I got to pick out the tie to use and loved the color combo in this one. I think it looks great one Caleb too!

 For the shower M requested that everyone bring a book instead of a card to build library for the little guy. I came across this book and gorilla set after the shower and brought it up with me for this visit. I was excited when he started to dose off. It was perfect for the title of the book to capture him sound asleep with the gorilla. 

To end the shoot a collage of all his cute baby parts. Little hands, little toes, nose ears, and eyes!