Project 52 - Love Letters - Week 46

45/52

Last week was a sad week with the events in Paris and Beirut, but not something we exposed Riley to. However, I wonder if she felt how it weighed heavy on us as she was extra lovey. She does that. I'm crabby? She gives me extra love. She wrote Jesse and I multiple love notes over the week and I thought my heart might explode.

The first one she dictated to Jesse:

Mom I love you. You have a good heart. It's best when you are there. It's pretty when we have our love. It's good waving goodbye when other people love you. The most thing in my house is your hugs. It's the most day when we shout hooray! I love everything you do. It's such good when we are together.

Riley and Jesse

Later in the week I received another letter:

Oh mom. I love you! just so much, you are my mom! last day you made me feel good! {heart} Riley

Seriously heart melting over here. I love this kid.

Halloween

So yeah, Halloween was a couple weeks ago and I am finally getting around to posting something about it. Nothing too exciting happened. Riley went to a party at her friend's house the week before, her school had a party that I was able to make it to, and then the grandparents came over to go trick or treating with us.

Riley with two of her best friends

Earlier on Saturday, Riley and I decided to play with chalk which seemed like a good idea until the next day when we had chalk smeared all over our front steps (and then it didn't rain for weeks so it remained smeared with chalk until I finally washed it off... and then it rained the next day. Go figure).

Jesse carved the pumpkin, and Riley and I made a few ghosts to hang on the house, but that was the extent of our decorations. Our new (childless) neighbors went all out and dressed up... and put a poster in their window that I was even scared of. Here I was worried the mummy I drew on the sidewalk was too spooky for a small child. I didn't hear any kids go screaming from the neighbors house so it's probably more a reflection that I get scared easier than a 4 year old.

Riley was originally going to be a pirate, and then something else... I can't remember. I decided to take her to Target and go from there. She knew who Cleopatra was from one of her favorite cartoons so we went with that. It was fun to see how many of the neighbors figured out who she was and she loved showing off her costume.

And that was that. Happy belated Halloween!

Project 52 - Nature - Week 45

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I did something I told myself I'd never do - start taking paid portraits. I know a lot of people get into photography to have that specific type of business (family, seniors, weddings, etc), but those things never appealed to me. In fact, I really want to keep this as a hobby and not turn it into a business. I think my only exception would be more documentary type photography, but even with that, I would prefer to do that with my own family.

Recently, I had a bunch of people ask me to take their pictures, and in the past I've done this for free (even though everyone insisted on giving me money or gift certificates anyway). But recently, people started asking how much I would charge them and my husband suggested that I start charging to make it worth my while as there is a lot of work to it. Someone I know who just got into the photography business told me I needed to charge way more than I was, but I just wasn't comfortable with it.

It's just not really my thing and I felt that the last time I took family pictures. They weren't as good as I knew they could be and I felt like I really let them down. They weren't necessarily disappointed in me, but I was. Big time.

It was a lesson learned. Not that I won't ever do portraits again, but I want to treat them more as a learning experience - rather than me being a pro at portraits, because I'm not. It's not a goal of mine - I will leave that to others.

After this recent experience, I didn't even want to look at my camera. My picture of the week seemed to come and pass, but I decided to bring my camera to my doctor's appointment with me last night because I didn't want to totally miss the week. My doctor's office is located on a small lake so I headed out back after my appointment, just before the sun set, and snapped some pictures.

Ahh, it was just what I needed to do to reset... to stop feeling so horrible. I was taking pictures for me and not for anyone else and that felt good.

Red Wing Photo Session

Last weekend, I went out to Red Wing to Photograph my co-worker, Kendrah, and her family. I really have no plans to turn this into a business, but I've had a bunch of people asking me for pictures lately so I thought "why not". It's good experience and allows me to photograph something other than my kid.

Jesse, Riley and I thought about spending a night in Red Wing and making it a bit of a birthday getaway (Jesse's birthday is this week), but Jesse had plans to go camping on Sunday. Yes, camping in November... during hunting season. So we headed to Red Wing for a few hours (before he headed to the North Shore the next morning). We got there a little early so I took a few pictures around town before heading off to Kendrah's fabulous home. Seriously, such a beautiful home. I may have had a little home envy. We started out in a woodsy area right next to her house and then went to a cemetery as well.

Kendrah is on a 'sister' team of mine so I don't get to connect with her that often - especially since I don't work in the office so it was nice to connect with her and meet her lovely family.

I love the details around town.

Project 52 - Photo Assistants - Week 44

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Last week, when I took some photos of friends, my hubby and daughter tagged a long. I thought it might be fun for Riley to play on the playground while I was taking pictures and then fun for Jesse and I to check out a restaurant in our old neighborhood (we should have stuck to a fav, but instead tried something new and didn't love it). Riley did play at the park, but spent most of her time following me around. It worked out great as Jesse and Riley were in charge of blowing bubbles which helped the little kids looks in my direction.

Side note: While Riley was playing at the playground she turned to Jesse and said "Where's Jo and her friends?". Later in the week, she and I talked about making a book together and she said the book would be written by her and illustrated by "mom [my lastname]". Haha - apparently, she's experimenting with what she calls me.

Anyhoo, I snapped some quick pictures of my people. They aren't anything spectacular, but they help me remember how helpful they were that day (and how much I miss living close to this park).

And, I couldn't leave this gem out. I love this guy.

Boom Island Park Photo Session

Last weekend I had the honor of capturing family photos for my former co-worker, Stephanie, and her family. We were looking forward to the anticipated sunny and 60 degree day, but it ended up being chilly and overcast. No complaints, though - it could have been far colder for November 1st!

Stephanie and I were pregnant at the same time, but we haven't seen each other in a long time, and while I've seen her little ones on Facebook, it was so great to meet them in person. I was also able to bring my crew along and they came in handy blowing bubbles (a great tool for keeping kid's attention).

We shot these photos at Boom Island Park which is now my favorite place to take pictures (and I wasn't alone as there were two other photographers there at the same time). So many great spots to capture great scenery and we didn't even explore the entire park.