Important updates for everyone....

Oh my, how fast this year has gone by! After a VERY busy summer, my kids have both started school. Yes, you read it right---even my baby has started kindergarten. (Whah! When did he get so big?! He promised me he would stay little for me, but I just don't think he'll be able to keep that promise.)









So it's that time of year again....we've gotten the kids off to school and are now thinking about all the holidays that are right around the corner. With that in mind, I have a few important and exciting updates for everyone....

First the important stuff.....

I wasn't joking last year when I said this is my busy season. I really encourage anyone who wants fall colors in their photos or photos for Christmas to book EARLY (like May or June). My calendar is now completely booked through November 8th. I had planned to log on here last week and let everyone know that the last date for photo sessions intended for Christmas photos was November 8th, but after a very busy week of bookings, I am now full. If you would like to be put on a backup list for family sessions, please let me know and if I have a cancellation I will be sure to call you.

I will of course make exceptions for newborns, so if you've got a brand new little one (two weeks or younger) please give me a call and I will do my best to fit you in as I know they don't stay that little for very long.

Print orders that are intended for Christmas gifts/cards must be placed by November 23rd, as shipping times tend to run behind this time of year and I cannot guarantee delivery before Christmas if they are placed after that date.

Though my Fall/Christmas sessions are booked, I will still be available to do regular family sessions through December 7th. After that I will be taking off a few weeks to finish up all our Christmas preparations and spend some time with my sweet family. My calendar for January opens up on the 9th.

Now onto the exciting part!!

Barefoot Photography will have a new website with bigger pictures and online proofing which I believe will make your ordering process much, much smoother and easier. You'll be able view your session images online, order online, and pay through paypal online. Pretty sweet, huh? :)

I have been hard at work on the new site and have a few finishing details to put on it, but hope to have it live by the end of this week, so check back soon and have a looksie!

There are a few minor changes in the information sections and print prices, so be sure to check that out later this week. And while you're at it, let me know what you think of the new site!

Goodbye GG

I lost my GG on Friday.

Alice Loretta Hickok Werner
3/5/1920~6/20/2008




She's the first person close to me to die. She's always been present in my life. And now she's not here anymore. That's a very strange feeling. Sad. Kind of confusing.


My whole life it has been "GG and Pop". They were synonimous with each other. They always went together. It was never just GG. Or just Pop. It was always "GG and Pop". It was like one word. GGandPop. This weekend I kept having to correct myself from saying it.





Now it's just Pop.

That makes me so unbelievably sad for him. I'm just the grandkid. I've only know her for 30 years. But he's been part of the duo for nearly 74 years. And now it's just him. How lonely that must feel. How hard this must be for him.





He misses her. So much. He could hardly talk about her without breaking into sobs. So I just sat there and let him cry and cried with him. I love my Pop more than I can say. He's always been my hero. My heart literally hurts for him right now.



GG was like no one else I've ever known. She was feisty and spunky and confident and generous and adventurous and so very vibrant. She had a mouth on her which cracked me up. She loved us all to pieces. I am so thankful I got to have her in my life.





I was asked to put together a slideshow for her memorial so I got to go through all her albums. I've never done that before. When I went to visit it was usually for a limited amount of time and I wanted to spend it with her and Pop. But this weekend I flipped my way through years and years of photographic treasure. I realized that my love of pictures came from my GG.


She had so many albums. All lovingly put together. She had written on the front or back of almost every picture. Little notes. Sometimes it was just who was in the photo and the year or location. Often it was funny little details about the photo. It was like she was with me telling me about the pictures. So nice to have a little piece of her there.


I learned things about her. I didn't know she had been a beauty queen when she was young. I knew that Pop was in a motorcycle club, but I didn't know that GG had started her own ladie's motorcycle club.



She had several newspaper clippings in there, too. At one point she had written a letter to the newspaper trying to help a family whose child was dying of cancer. The little girl was a friend of my Aunt Becky when she was young. GG's letter ended up generating enough support to pay for her medical care and a proper burial service after she had died. She had a clipping about her famous fudge. (Everyone loved GG's fudge. It was legendary.) She had her engagement notice in there. And a news article that described her wedding to my Pop like a 1930's Hollywood newsreel.

In almost every photo she was either glamorous or goofy. Both trademark traits of hers. Open-mouthed chewed-food shots. (Typical GG.) And gorgeous two-piece swimsuit shots. It was such a treasure to me. It was GG and her personality laid out on paper.









I wanted to share a few of my favorites as a little memorial to her. So people can glimpse a little peice of this wonderfully fun, sassy, loving woman.








GG, I miss you already.

ROCK STAR!

I asked my dear friend Karen what she wanted for her birthday, and her birthday wish was to have photos of her son Ian done, so how could I say no?

Karen's sister Kristina is a worship leader and plays guitar, and Ian wants to be just like her, so we brought along his little guitar for his session.

Here is Ian rocking out....

He's got so much personality. Love this kid.

Will post more later.....

A few more of Emily....

A few more from Emily's session....

Lovin' this field...
*Click on images to see bigger*

Gosh, I love this job! :)

Sneek peek for Emily (and a new favorite!)

I had a chance to go out and do a senior session the other day with Emily who is my new favorite model. I've barely started going through the images (there are LOTS to choose from!), but wanted to put a few up here so she and her family could have a peek.

We had a great time and she was willing to try out all these ideas that have been brewing in my head for a while, so THANK YOU EMILY for being so great. :)

*Click on the images to see them bigger.

And here's my new favorite photo. It's the first time I've played around with applying texture to the photo and I am really happy with how it turned out. Besides, isn't she beautiful? She reminds me of a renaissance painting. Just lovely.

A few more of the Allens

I had a lot of fun with these guys.


I think they had a lot of fun with each other, too. =)


This is what the boys did when I told them to go over by their dad. They tackled him! Ha! Typical boys.

I thought the sunflare was rather yummy on that last shot!

There is a very special bond between this daughter and mother. Tons of love for each other.


Thanks guys for invinting me to spend time with your family!

this makes me happy...

I can't help it. I just look at these and feel happy.



Admit it, you feel happier now, too, don't you? =)