High School Seniors… I love this Generation!
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye, Apalachin NY
© Lisa McQueeney 2012
I always say, “My favorite age group to photograph is 3 year olds.” They can tell you what they want, they can joke with you and they’re always ‘straight up.’ Case & point: my last name is McQueeney. When Pixar’s animated movie, “Cars” hit the theaters, a young boy, Clayton was a client of mine. His Mom prepped him so kindly to walk in the studio and say, “Hi Miss McQueeney!” He looked at me… looked again… “Is your real name ‘Stickers?’ You should just go by ‘Stickers’. It’s way easier to say!” lol! HOW can you NOT love that??? So for years, 3 year olds have been my heart throbs.
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye, Apalachin NY
© Lisa McQueeney 2012
I blogged at the beginning of the High School Senior season about a young man I thought was really exceptional and then the season exploded as it always does… Seniors with sports uniforms, trendy outfits, and interesting hobbies flood into my world every evening. 
This year however, there’s something crazy in the air or I’m simply in love with a new age group. I’ve met kids already accepted in college, kids in programs that allow them to experience their career choice for more than half the year, kids with ‘out of school’ interests like ice hockey and scuba diving and the list goes on and on. If I could generalize; this may very well be a generation with everything at their fingertips BUT the coolest thing about them is they take advantage of all of it!
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye, Apalachin NY
© Lisa McQueeney 2012
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye, Apalachin NY
© Lisa McQueeney 2012
What’s the second best thing about them??? In the midst of all that they have in their reach, they really aren’t that much different than the generations before them. Last week I had the pleasure of meeting a young woman, with such a witty sense of humor, she kept me on my toes the entire session.
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye, Apalachin NY
© Lisa McQueeney 2012
She bravely came alone , so to start conversation, I asked her to run down her outfits with me and give me a sense of her style. She made this typical but unusually polite “dig” on her Father… “Well I have this shirt with this great scarf, that my Father, all of a sudden thinks is too warm for this time of year! When did he become a “FASHIONISTA?!!” Ha! I didn’t even know what say – I just filled the air with laughter.
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye, Apalachin NY
© Lisa McQueeney 2012
As we moved along to our location, I asked…”what are you into? what are your hobbies?” In this time of mad-crazed video graphics and high tech everything, she replied, “I really love to read and write.” I continue to fiddle with my photography gizmos and gadgets and she blurts out.. “Do you know ‘so and so’ author? He’s very controversial but he’s my favorite!” I stopped everything I was doing… if there was one moment in my entire life that I wished I read more and could have related to her interest… it would have been THAT moment. A 17 year old with a favorite author… LOVE it!
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye, Apalachin NY
© Lisa McQueeney 2012
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye, Apalachin NY
© Lisa McQueeney 2012
Now she piqued my interest and as we chased the light through the evening, I kept trying to think of different things to ask her while listening VERY closely & contemplating f-stops and apertures because she would hold me to the answers with her humor. Hmmmm… very much like 3 year olds! She was currently earning money as a waitress, started cosmetology school- but it definitely wasn’t her style, and for as many times as she changed her hair color- today’s color was closest to her original roots. (Incidentally, it’s amazing when the light catches it!)
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye, Apalachin NY
© Lisa McQueeney 2012
As we wrapped up the shoot, I asked for a password for her session and began chatting about the fee and purchasing details. OUT of no where, she threw a smirky smile my way and quickly interrupted…”are you going to hack my Facebook account!?!?!!?” DANG! She got me again! No words came out of my mouth- just laughter. At this point in the game, I was robustly belly laughing.
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye, Apalachin NY
© Lisa McQueeney 2012
But that wasn’t the last time she was going to get me before we parted ways. I asked if she had any more questions or ‘anythings’ for me (hoping she would say her Dad sent a check with him)… pause, ”Nope.” I awkwardly asked…”How about a check from your Dad?” This gets real good… “Oh no, I have cash for that!” and she began to count it. Why I thought I could help this established, pip of a Senior is beyond me.. but I did! Counting, counting, counting.. “can I help you?” ”Nope! There’s extra. I’m a waitress…. I believe Tip Karma! It’s good energy!” and away she zoomed, leaving me standing there to pick my jaw up off the asphalt. Couldn’t you hear that from someone in the 70′s???
Regardless the timeframe, these are savvy Seniors and I love their personalities!
Kate & Bill at Glenora Wine Cellars, Upstate NY
Katy’s dress from Bonjulie’s in Horseheads NY http://www.bonjulies.com/
Last week’s activities landed the crew at The Camera’s Eye Studio in the vineyards of Glenora Wine Cellars for the celebration of Kate & Bill’s wedding vows.
Vows under the sun: http://www.thecameraseye.biz
Initially greeted by Kathy Marchenese, Wedding Coordinator at Glenora (kathy@glenora.com); my assistant, Patrick Boyer and I received a complimentary glass of Pomegranate Pizzazz.
Wine and cupcake tower at the Reception at Glenora
So kind of Kathy and very indicative of her nature and business style. We learned the lay of the land and watched the bridal party rehearse under the arbor that overlooked the grape vines and beautful Seneca Lake.
Ring exchange on the lawn of Glenora Wine Cellars: http://www.thecameraseye.biz
The next day, under the heat of an unforgiving sun, the bridal party and guests engaged in a lovely ceremony as Bill and Katy exchanged vows and rings in the late afternoon.
Maid of Honor, Glenora Wine Cellars, NY
We photographed in the vineyards and off location at an amazing privately-owned waterfall while guests ate gingerly at a wine & cheese tasting on the lawn and then a cocktail hour on a red and turquoise adorned deck overlooking the water.
Privately-owned waterfall near Glenora Wine Cellars
Later, we joined the guests inside for a red and teal themed reception decorated by an Ithaca florist who grew all her own flowers. You have to see this bouquet!
Bridal Bouquet from Ithaca-based florist
Our DJ on the night was Ryan Bombard from Ryan Bombard Entertainment, who entertained quests with his photobooth pictures that were glued into an album for the bride and groom to use as a quest book. What an great idea! Of course… we jumped in with our cameras, mexican hats and enormous red sunglasses! Not exactly work-related, but hey, how could we tell you how fun it was if we didn’t try it?!!
Bridesmaid’s Bouquet from Ithaca-based florist
Congratulations Katy & Bill and hats off to all vendors involved! For additional information, don’t hesitate to e-mail: lisamcqueeney@gmail.com, Facebook: Lisa McQueeney or visit the Glenora website: http://www.glenora.com/Weddings/Weddings-at-Glenora
Relief and excitement from our Bride and Groom
This Week’s Adventure: Caretakers Tree Service
There’s always something brewin’ in Upstate New York in the spring & summer, but sometimes it’s not always a picnic… often times it’s a Storm!
Cutting up a storm-fallen willow tree, Caretakers Tree Service
I blogged earlier in the year about understanding the sound of trees falling in the darkness in the middle of a storm. They don’t always sound like you think they would, nor do they make the noise you would imagine when they land on your house. A few years back, the tree providing shade over the roof at The Camera’s Eye Studio split in half due to a wild storm. Later that day, I found a postcard in my mailbox…
Caretakers signature postcard, 607 768 9764
I was skeptical, but thought, “how convenient!” I didn’t have to search for help or ask all my neighbors “who should I call about this dilemna???” The person even wrote in their own handwriting on the postcard a short assessment of the damage and offered a free quote. Who does that in our fast-paced society today?
Working amongst the branches, Caretakers 607 768 9764
I gave him a call about the tree stretching across my yard onto the roof. This tree specialist was so skilled at tree climbing, professional and informative that I shared him with all my neighbors! I gladly paid him for his services (even though I would have rather bought something nice for myself ), and offered my skills in return if I could ever help him.
Quartering the stump for grinding, Caretakers 607 768 9764
- Grinding down the stump, Caretakers 607 768 9764
Well, he took me up on it! This week’s adventure covers Patrick Boyer, owner and tree expert of Caretakers Tree Service located in Nichols, New York. Caretakers’ business motto is: “The RIGHT tree in the RIGHT place” and the business didn’t get it’s name for the purpose of making money. Patrick spends a good portion of time educating homeowners about the maintenance of trees in their yard and caring about the potential danger of trees during storms.
Dangerous powerlines, Caretakers 607 768 9764
- Clearing branches around power lines, Caretakers
He’s not a pushy salesman.. the choice is up to you what you want to do on your property, but you can rest assured in hiring him that he will leave you educated and satisfied with the end results of his labor.
Check out his work here and on Facebook, Patrick Boyer. If you’re in need of tree work and no one left a postcard in your mailbox, give him a call for a free assessment: (607) 768 9674.
Notching a tree for falling, Caretakers Tree Service
- Removing a tree from the top down, Caretakers Tree Service
If he’s done work for you in the past… take a moment and leave a comment! There’s nothing better than a good testimonial!
Last Week’s Adventure
Staying regularly involved in some aspect of Tioga County; Tioga County Chamber of Commerce brings a new adventure to me every week. Last week’s event brought me to the fingertips of Jody Tackley, owner of Handprints Massage Therapy and NEWLY created Wellness Center…
Open house celebration July 11th at Handprints Massage & Wellness Center 4 Delphine St. Owego, NY
Jody, a licensed massage therapist, brought her Massage Therapy business to our area on Delphine Street, 7 years ago to the date that she turned it into a Wellness Center. How do I know that??? When I arrived to photograph the Open House held last Wednesday, July 11th, I asked… “did ALL Star Sports (the business next to her behind the Owego Agway) make all your signs?” She replied… “You’ll never believe this, but when I went into the closet to see what I used for the first Open House… the date was exactly the same! I was just meant to do this in my business on THIS day.”
The Staff at Handprints Massage & Wellness Center 4 Delphine St. Owego, NY
Handprints Massage Therapy,
http://www.handprintsmassagetherapy.com
which normally specializes in various types of massage, including deep tissue and hot stone massage, expanded its doors to an additional massage therapist, an accupunturist and a yoga instructor.
Miranda Lynne Delaney, licensed massage therapist, giving a chair massage while Loreen Murawski Maley, yoga instructor, provided a free demonstration at Handprints Massage & Wellness Center, Delphine St. Owego, NY
For more information on who and what is being offered… please visit any of the above links or drop Jody a message and ask about her new services: 607-687-4263, jodyshandprints@yahoo.com.
Loreen Murawski Maley, yoga instructor, providing a free demonstration at Handprints Massage & Wellness Center, Delphine St. Owego, NY
In the meantime, take a look at the people who freely enjoyed the new offerings last Wednesday July 11th from 11 – 2… and yes, I absolutely jumped in the yoga demonstration, relaxed for a 10 minute chair massage and had a little stress relief applied to my ear from the accupuncturist!
Laurie Passmore, N.D., L. Accupuncturist places a “blood seed” on a stress point in the ear that stimulates calmness in the nervous system. Open House at Handprints Massage and Wellness.
Adopt a Pup on Independence Day!
Happy 4th of July Everyone!
Visited my favorite animal shelter, Stray Haven again and here’s a showcase of the cool cats AND pups I met this time…
Lilly at Stray Haven, Waverly NY by The Camera’s Eye
Lilly… brought in with her sister or companion, Baby Girl
Baby Girl at Stray Haven, Waverly NY by The Camera’s Eye
came from a family that could no longer keep them. They have been in the shelter since February and would love a playful family or owner who gives lots of lovings. Once you see the pictures, you’ll understand why. They give BIG kisses!
Baby Girl at Stray Haven, Waverly NY by The Camera’s Eye
Lilly is a little milder than Baby Girl and you can see that on her face.
Lilly at Stray Haven, Waverly NY by The Camera’s Eye
Baby Girl would be perfect for kids… she has spunk and energy, but is gentle enough to still give face kisses. That’s a great dog right there.
Baby Girl at Stray Haven, Waverly NY by The Camera’s Eye
Next to jump out of their kennel, were 3 Spaniel puppies,
Spaniel pups at Stray Haven, Waverly NY by The Camera’s Eye
or should I say “waddle” because they were just fed and their bellies were enormous. Too funny!
Spaniel pups at Stray Haven, Waverly NY by The Camera’s Eye
Like all pups they are super soft, adorable and friendly.
Spaniel pups at Stray Haven, Waverly NY by The Camera’s Eye
This little one kept crawling up my leg while I was trying to photograph.
Spaniel pups at Stray Haven, Waverly NY by The Camera’s Eye
None of these pups were “nippers” which I really like because I can rarely see anything around me while I’m shooting and like to keep my gear in one piece ; )
Then we moved on to a super interesting cat, Sam. Sam, the fat cat was brought to the kennel when his owner passed away.
Sam at Stray Haven by The Camera’s Eye
He is the biggest cat I have ever layed my eyes on, and remember, I’m a cat lover. His paws alone are huge! So cool!
Sam at Stray Haven by The Camera’s Eye
His weight on arrival was 25.7 pounds, lol. He’s in tough competition with Garfield!
And last, but certainly NOT least were the 2 cutest, 8 week old kittens…
8 wk old kittens at Stray Haven by The Camera’s Eye
very inquisitive lil’ buggers and friendly! One had a two-toned face and super soft fur and the other had amazing stripes.
One male and one female, not related but great litter mates.
8 wk old kittens at Stray Haven by The Camera’s Eye
They can be adopted together or alone – just like Lilly and Baby Girl. Kindred souls are they, BUT having an owner would be the best thing for all of them so adopting them separately is ok too! I couldn’t resist including this last image… I think the caption should be, “alllllright! Enough with the lovin’s already!” Email about your favorite interest, stray.haven.3@facebook.com
8 wk old kittens at Stray Haven by The Camera’s Eye
Rockin’ Seniors
All high school seniors are someone special to me at The Camera’s Eye Studio… I spend approximately 2 hours with all of them, learn their likes and dislikes, their interests and hobbies, and definitely share some good life stories.
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye Studio, Apalachin NY
Every now and then though, you’ll come by one that stays in your memory and this one happens to be THAT one. PLUS, he kicked off my Senior Season so I have such a warm fuzzy going into this 2013 Graduation Class.
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye Studio, Apalachin NY
The Session started off with his parents telling me all about his hobbies and places he liked to go in our town. As I was getting the formal shot out of the way so we could move into the fun stuff, he saw an image of a baseball player on my wall and asked if we could create that image for lacrosse. I was thrilled! Of course… but I know very little of lacrosse and so asked him to educate me on the sport. No attitude, no eye-rolling, no hesitation… he just started telling me what I needed to know. Bang.. we kick that shot out too!
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye Studio, Apalachin NY
The next several hours – and I honestly could have kept shooting for much longer because it wasn’t even like work – he took me to his favorite fishing spot, through a huge field in his shiny, red jeep (in which he gave me a front seat ride), to meet his dog, and to a Hose Company, Croton Hose Co. A fire department?? Hmmmm… why ask why, but because he was so friendly, you know I did! He’s a Volunteer Fireman!
Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye Studio, Apalachin NY
I meet a lot of interesting people in my career as a professional photographer, but this kid I will remember for a very long time. What a cool cat!
Senior portraits at The Camera’s Eye Studio Apalachin, NY
- Senior Portraits at The Camera’s Eye Studio, Apalachin NY
It isn’t WORK when you get involved in what you LOVE…
So here at The Camera’s Eye, http://www.thecameraseye.biz, it’s no secret… I love cats. I have a Studio Cat named, 2Dots that adores infants and tries to snuggle them in their baby carriers and mauls all the High School Seniors who dare sprawl out on 2Dot’s studio floor. I can’t hide her and I can’t hide my love of cats. Of course, I get a kick out of photographing them!
Last week, I visited Stray Haven Animal Shelther in Waverly NY, Stray Haven and met the animal- lovin’ staff who showed me this year’s kittens. The Staff was amazing… one woman was nursing with a dropper a lil’ set of black kittens whose eyes were barely open. So sweet! 
I asked… can I help you adopt these guys? They had no idea what I meant. A day later, I stopped in with a backdrop, props, a feather duster and anything else I knew that could attract the attention of these lil’ guys. Everybody has a thing… this is my thing. I genuinely connect with cats and so does this staff! Within 10 minutes, 6 of us (Junior, Darlene, Shanna, Lynn, Dezi and I) 
were scooping up familes of kittens,
solo kittens, all the way down to the two, lil’ buggers whose eyes were barely open. No flash- just window light and a lot of lovin’.
All these kittens are for adoption and in need of your love! Take a peek and if you see someone you like… give them a call: (607) 565-2859 or visit your interest: 194 Shepard Road, Waverly NY 14892 Stray Haven Humane Society for directions.
Describe who you saw… they will know who you’re talking about. They affectionately name all the kittens based on some attribute about their arrival or their character… it’s very very sweet. For instance, the white/ black tiger striped male to the far left in the basket is “Chunk” and when you lift him up… You’ll know why!
For more images, please visit http://www.thecameraseye.biz, click Client Proofing at the bottom after entering the site and type: Kittens
Happy hunting!
The Benefits to Burning the Midnight Oil
It’s common to hear artists say they “burn the midnight oil” or “come alive” once the clock hits 12:00 a.m. but I rarely hear anyone say, “That’s awesome or That’s so healthy for you!” Like many of my colleagues, at The Camera’s Eye Studio I work late into the wee hours of the night and I usually hear, “You’re crazy! Why do you do that? Whoa, Lisa… you need to sleep!”
Well everyone, I have your answer…. I’m not only a Night Owl, last night I became a Super Hero. ; ) It was about 3:00 a.m. and I was up working on Senior Graduation Announcements.
I heard this loud bang as if a construction site popped up outside my office window. Then quiet. I continued working… It happened again. I went for the flashlight and shown it towards the road outside the window… Nothing. Odd, but stranger things happen in the country. 
Ten minutes pass and I heard it again but louder this time…. I looked a the cat, she looked at me alarmingly, “Beats me Shutter, but I’m glad you’re ears are perked up too” : ) I thought, if that’s a burgular… they’re stealing the barn doors because that is LOUD! Just then we heard this huge crackling noise and BANG! Now that noise I recognized! I opened the front door at 3:30 a.m. to see an enormous tree cracked in half and covering the road with limbs and branches all the way to the very edge of the mailbox by the driveway entrance!
One 911 call to our local Fire Department and about an hour and a half later… local work traffic zoomed up and down the hill without a clue! The only trace of evidence is a totem pole (the other half of the tree) tucked into the hillside along the road.
So for all my friends and clients who say..”what are you doing up sooooo late???” I’m playing Super Hero!
Just a little Family Fun!
When you can’t get ‘em the way you want them… take what you can get! lol This lil guy gave everyone a run for their money until his Dad ran away with him!
Thank goodness his older Sister was waaaayyyyy easier! :)
Supporting The Valley Kiwanis
Every Spring, The Camera’s Eye,
http://www.thecameraseye.biz
donates several packaged portrait sessions to The Valley Kiwanis to help with all the good they do year round. This year, we packaged one for a 2013 Senior, one for a Newborn and one for any woman whatsoever… The Madonna Session. Because this is a new concept and a little different, my phone is ringing off the hook with this question, “what on Earth is a Madonna Session???” One woman asked…”What is a Madonna Session… MY HUSBAND won it for me!” I thought that was super sweet becuase I’m sure he didn’t know either! Some women may roll their eyes at that one… I give him a thumbs up for trying something new and taking a risk that it might be something special for her on Mother’s Day. :) Obviously, he got a lil’ nervous because she called this week and Mother’s Day is May 13th, hee hee. ; )-
So a Madonna Session is a session that simply celebrates Women. Single women, working women, retired women; Moms… Moms with 5 children, stay at home Moms, Moms with babies in their bellies, Moms who split their lives in sections to be all the people they need to be in one day: Wife, Mom, Money-maker, House cleaner and fabulous Chef! You think of her and we want to celebrate her life by giving her a session where the world slows down a bit. Coffee, tea and mid-morning snacks to start the session, a hair and makeup stylist and then some quality portraiture to make her feel incredible. And it doesn’t have to be our style…. it’s about her style. She’s a gardener… well then, we’re going to photograph in the garden. We usually invite her best friend or Sister or Mother for some solid estrogen support and then we photograph that person with her because obviously she’s there for a very good reason… 
Here’s a few samples of a new Mom and an expecting Mom. It just happened to be that my most recent Madonna shoots revolved around pregnancies, but they don’t have to at all. If you have a question about a Madonna Session that I didn’t answer
… do post and ask. I bet someone else is thinking the very same one!
Sometimes a new cut makes you feel like a new woman!
This young, stylin’ Senior cut her hair before she graduated and scheduled a second session to match her new look. Gotta love spunk like that!
Who says “blondes” have more fun???
This lively “red head” had a blast during her Senior session at The Camera’s Eye
http://www.thecameraseye.biz
last Fall. Finalizing her order for Graduation made me think of the expression, “blondes have more fun”… not in this case!
Celebrating Women
The Camera’s Eye is always looking for an event in which to participate or a Holiday to coordinate a fun, theme shoot. This Mother’s Day is no different, except we’re planning to celebrate more than just the month of May.
My primary client is under 24 inches tall most days and so I spend a lot of time with Moms. Working Moms, single Moms, Moms with aspiring ambition, Moms with 6 children (2 sets of twins plus 2 singles)… it never, ever seizes to amaze me. Everytime you leave the studio, I sit down and think… “How on Earth do they do that??? …and then I think, they deserve an award ….” Thinking, thinking, thinking….
“What if I could just give them a half day of relaxation and pampering? What if I carved a moment in time that was all about them? WHAT if The Camera’s Eye CELEBRATED WOMEN?!?!?”
And so; I tried it with a woman I find to be amazing… School teacher, Mom, Volleyball Coach, Wife and HypnoBirthing Practitioner. Yes, all of that! Meet Tiffany Glielmi, HypnoBirthing Practitioner
http://www.fuddyduddys.com
a photo session just for her and one that emphasized her connection with her daughter! We created a session that made her feel like Superwoman without lifting a finger… well, she did lift one, but it was so tiny and it was attached to the hand and arm that hugged her back! We call it the Madonna Session. :)
Connections…
We’re social beings. We connect, network, and converse with friends, colleagues, and family all day, everyday. There’s one connection to me that’s more precious than any other… and that’s the connection between a Mom and her baby. I love it!
I’ve been photographing babies for 12 years – from 5 days old and up. I can truly empathize with Father’s who say, “no one has the ‘touch’ like Mommy when baby is crying.” I can do all the same things she does in a shoot and the minute she lays a finger on her lil’ one, WhaLaaa!… Baby’s all better.
There’s a thrill in capturing that connection for a Mom and an even bigger one knowing she can show it to her child when he or she is older. They grow and grow and grow away from us and sometimes all we want is to “remember when…” One Mom put it best when she said, “Sometimes I want a day without anyone clinging to me and then I think to myself… I better take all the clinging I can get now, because soon they won’t even want to stand next to me in public!” How true is that??!!! ha Ha! Those are the moments you look at a picture like this and close your eyes to remember…. Aaaahh. :)
We made it through Easter…
Two bunnies, two dozen eggs, and two weekends of Portraits with Peter Cottontail… we made it through Easter with these fun-filled images!
Our first bunny, “Pip” affectionately named for his energy, did a wonderful job our first weekend, until he realized I had outdoor cats. Standing in front of the tall sliding glass doors in the Studio, I was holding him sharing what a great job he did that day… and then… he saw my cat, Sophia, sitting on the stairs outside and shot out of my arms like Dumbo the flying elephant! Sooooo sad… we rescued “Pip” from under a stairwell and that explained all the scratches he had endured on his journey to The Camera’s Eye. Stray Haven Animal Shelter in Waverly, NY Stray Haven Humane Society & SPCA, Inc. in waverly, New York … gladly took our furry friend and before we had him inside, Pip was taken by a gentleman who loved rabbits and had to have him. That’s a happy ending for a rescue bunny!
Franceso, aka Antonio was given to us by a family who had a very ambitous bunny who broke through the divider in his cage to visit his female cage mates on the other side…lol ; ) The second to last to be adopted away, I had to have him because he sports an adorable mustache. The children who gave him to me said they had been calling him, Franceso… BUT, after my first shoot… I had to change that. A little girl convinced me he should be named “Antonio… like Antonio Banderas!” She said it with accent and all! She’ll be in theatre by age 11, for sure. =) So know lil’ Antonio lives at The Camera’s Eye,
http://www.thecameraseye.biz
with 3 cats, all of which eat breakfast right beside him every morning – it’s hystercial. I can contribute that oddity to the fact that a cat lived on top of his cage as he grew up… Gotta love cats!
“What do you do in your down time?
That’s a question we ask colleagues, new friends, and business clients all the time. It’s a great conversation starter. Ask any professional shooter what they do in there down time and I guarantee they will respond, “shoot!” I bet most of them will answer… “well, why do you think I went Pro.. that’s all I do is shoot!” The funny thing about that answer… when do any of us, photographer or not, ever have down time in this fast paced world we live in?! Ha!
This past September, mother nature provided a lengthy stretch of down time when she flooded the Southern Tier of NY and parts of PA with record amounts of water stemming from Tropical Storm Lee. The flood waters forced residents to live without electricity for more than 5 days… that’s Mother Nature sanctioned DOWN TIME! So go ahead an ask… “what did I do in that precious down time?” Ha!… I photographed. Surprise!
I didn’t photograph objects or projects I put on the back burner… Oh no… that would have been too easy and relaxing. I pulled up waders and trekked out into Owego and Apalachin, NY and photographed over 5,000 images of history we HOPE never comes our way again. I was addicted! The sun rose and I was out & about, camera in hand… the sun set and I sadly walked home to the darkness.
At the end of the 5th day; I had met so many people in need and heard so many fascinating stories, I convinced myself I would do something with 5,000 images… and I did. I wrote a book about a devastating storm, a shocked community and the power of neighborly love. What else could I do.. put ‘em all in an album or storage?! Ha!
The book was released last December and it had such a over-whelming response, we printed a second round, which is currently on sale as paperback at the Riverow Bookshop in downtown Owego, NY.
Riverow Bookshop, RIVEROW – BOOKSHOP
In addition to those, I printed a limited run of 75 hard copies. They can be purchased through The Camera’s Eye, http://www.thecameraseye.biz Simply send me an e-mail and I will respond within a day. You will be able to see images of the Flood on my site and images from the book on my Facebook page, The Camera’s Eye Studio
Or maybe, you’re just interested in viewing a little bit of history on line… either way, it’s worth the look!
The Excitement of your Children…
Life’s crazy isn’t it? As a woman, it moves a mile a minute. Monday hits and you’re getting the kids ready to jump on the school bus, you’re off to work and the day rushes into after school activities and dinner… REPEAT. Most women can relate to that, right? We look forward to the weekend and in an eye-wink it’s over.
The best part about being a woman with children though; when it comes to your kids, you’ll go above and beyond EVERYTIME and the excitement is endless! You as clients taught me this! You find ideas on Pinterest, You network in Mommy groups, You Facebook your children’s events in photos, vidoes, instagrams…. Oh and you love Holidays OR you fake that you do flawlessly! =)
St. Patty’s Day is around the corner & you know somewhere in the midst of your life chaos you’ll bake cupcakes with green icing and shamrock-shaped sprinkles. lol! Easter is right behind that with fun-filled baskets, chocolate, fancy clothing and the hint of Spring! A few places I recommend to go crazy this Easter…
Fuddy Duddy’s Fudge Factory in Owego, NY (607) 687-3834
They provide us with all our chocolate goodies for Portraits with Peter Cottontail at The Camera’s Eye Studio and our exciting Easter Basket Giveaway. One lucky child who smiles with Peter during Portraits with PeterCottontail,
March 10th to the 18th, wins a basket filled with chocolatey delights from Fuddy Duddys.
Simply Precious Boutique
http://www.simplypreciousboutique.com
This little business is comprised of Moms and ambitious young women who fill a need for embroidered wedding and baby items, frilly hair pieces, and anything else they dream up! I know them personally – they are great gals who celebrate life’s important moments!
