June 30th….not my favorite day of the year….nor june 29 really…. b/c of the anticipation. I will say that I had an amazing fun weekend with my *little guys*…we went to seaworld, stayed at the JW Marriott;room service, inroom movie, AM Buffet, did the crazy fun lazy river a few times round…then the did the whole “DownTown Disney”, and sawKUNG FU PANDA” ….ska dooooosH”……so great times with the boo boos…but still. Today is the anniversary date of my brother Patrick’s death. He died of a heart attack 17 years ago. He was a really fun guy and we all miss him dearly. Here’s a few blasts from the past…. excuse the scans. I love you mom, dad & Caitie! Hope everyone has a great week.

woah! two posts in one day! (okay, so really, it’s 1:30am, so it’s Saturday….but I haven’t slept yet, so I say it counts! go me!)

Despite the fever (mentioned below)…I found some adrenaline in my backpocket for a ROCKSTAR party at the Hard Rock Casino on Tuesday night. Though this is not usually my genre of photography, I had an amazing time with some amazing clients, and FRIENDS! Barbie and Beth, who own a3 Institute (formerly spatampa) began as *clients*, but quickly became friends! Together with the DeBartolo family, they had an amazing charity event, featuring the great band, MIGGS. (ps… MIGGS is performing again at Skippers in Tampa on July 11th! I’m there! they are number 16 on the CHARTS! great new album, Unraveled… great myspace too: http://www.myspace.com/miggs). GREAT planning by Brooke: http://www.rsbpevents.com/

onto the rockstar pics (Laura was with me, so….she tried out her photographic talents, and I’m acutally in a few shots….GOOD times!) Have a great weekend!

here’s a list of some other sponsors….what a blast!!!

Candy and Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. were the events Platinum Sponsors, other sponsors include NicoleKhristine (jewelry line by Nikki DeBartolo and Khristine Williams), Neal & Harwell, Saddlebrook, Tampa Bay Metro Magazine, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus. Generous donations to the live and silent auctions from, Rustic Steel Creations, Lisa DeBartolo & Don Miggs, Gucci, Harrah’s Properties Las Vegas, Anti-Aging & Aesthetic Institute, Suitcase, Paris Isabella, Saks Ffth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Alycia Alvarez Photography, Jerry Rice, Dali Museum, NicoleKhristine, Jimmy Choo, Business Sense Solutions.

okay…I literally ran fever more days than NOT this past week and have been coughing like crazy! I got some sortsa *crud*….but I’m on the mend! woo hoo! I meant to post these last week, but didn’t get the chance (before I was “death warmed over”)…I have several NEW images to post…so kids, GET READY for the ride!

kiddos had new haircuts weekend before last (Gabs even got about 5-6 inches chopped off!) so I decided, since we had to stop at studio anyway…to get a few shots of the three of us. It’s not the easiest… I bought a big mirror so I can sorta see the “posing”…but it’s really not that easy! ha! Anyhoo…. I was pretty happy with what I got. My *babies* are growing so fast. Mister man is 12 (and a half!) now….and “sister” is 8. I love these little people with all of my heart and soul. They are so much of what I live for. I love to work on portraits of them (yea, andrew got a new wii mariokart and gabs, DS nintendo dogzfashion….no matter! love it nonetheless! haha!)

I want to be just like Miss Lydia! I want to stay on this beautiful earth as long as I have my health, my brain, and…. a PINK BOA! I did a generations session last Friday and towards the end, Lydia finds the BOA and requests it to be in her shots… She didn’t really think I’d take her seriously, (she apparently did NOT know who she was dealing with! haha!). I wrapped that mac daddy around her little neck and that was just the push she needed! Shortly after, the dancing ensued…and here’s the results! (she did have to make sure I knew that –and I quote– “these are just for fun, you know that?”, to which my response was “I wouldn’t have it any other way!”)

Keep on dancin’!!!

I’m really excited and proud to finally launch a new site, www.RingsToRattles.com! (special thanks once again to the amazing Photoidentities.com for creating such an easy and fun website! They are the bomb! Also a huge THANKS to TripleScoopMusic.com for providing me with a great fun “jumpin & jivin”–royalty free-diddy! ) As many of you know, I’ve been asked to do several speaking engagements around the country in the next year. Some are solo, however, for many, I’ll be offering a unique, hands-on workshop, together with Kevin Jairaj of kjimages.com, which will focus not only maternity and babies (:::my love:::), but also on the art wedding photography (I’ll leave that to Kevin! *S*). If you are a photographer interested in improving your skills and growing your business, then this is the perfect workshop! (oh and if you are not within 75 miles of my Riverview studio :::smiley face:::) Check it out!

What an adorable “Gerber Baby”…. I first met “Baby B” last fall and just fell in love with those AMAZING BIG cheeks and gorgeous BLUE eyes! She’s 6 months old now and I’m not sure how she’s holding her head up with those cheeks weighing her down! ha ha!

Since I never posted in the fall (and I’m on a roll, I must say)….Here’s some images from her first and second session. DOLLBABY!!

check out this belly button…. LOVE IT!!

I wanted to take a moment to wish all the daddies in the world a Happy Father’s Day! Here’s hoping that you all have a wonderful day and are treated like KINGS!

And to my own dad… life hasn’t always been easy… and we haven’t always seen eye to eye….but, I thank you for always encouraging and inspiring me and I know you have always wanted the best for me. I want the best for you too…and I hope you have a wonderful, amazing day. I love you!

(a few blasts from the past *S*)

and one of my favorite “daddy” songs…

10-daddy

Many of you know that Laura, my assistant, and one of my best friends, got married to her sweetie, Lowell, in Maui last month. I’ll have some “wedding” pictures to post eventually….but in the meantime, here’s some super fun shots of the two of them that we did before we left to send in their announcements from Maui. They are such a fun loving couple and we had a great time!

We had our annual “Battle of the Bays” Tuesday night, here in Tampa. It’s always a fun event where the Tampa guild goes head to head against the Brandenton guild, and then we kick their booties! (LOL….well, for the last 3 years anyway! Go Tampa!).

Anyway…I am excited to share that I won FIRST and third place in the Portraiture category and FIRST in albums. Always exciting to be recognized by my peers! Here’s the winning entries:

FIRST, “Big Brother”

Third place, “5 Generations” (can you believe that? FIVE generations! so cool!) (this one also won 2nd place internationally in Vegas for WPPI)

and First Place album, “The Toledo Family”