In through the studio door  strolled this magnificent lady with no makeup.  Fantastic cheekbones, a hint of  sassy in her eyes, and just a gift of making you feel so at ease talking to her.  She bubbled over about her Shawn and her Keith.   i was immediately thinking of shoot ideas and poses.

We did the first shoot!  This is just a sampling.  Shooting with them was a dream.   A hint of a pose was all they needed to own it and make it their own.   I can’t wait to do it again!~~

Tuna tartar.. let’s talk about it a little.  You can tell it is fresh by its beautiful purple color. Now don’t freak out about eating raw fish.  I am not a fan generally speaking of fish that tastes like fish. Translate that to mean I like lobster, shrimp, crab, and scallops.  BUT I love tuna tartar at Bix Bistro because I have every confidence in its freshness and how it is prepared at Bix Bistro!  You have got to try it if you haven’t yet!

Bix Bistro has some incredible new offerings on their menu!

St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Read about it in Wikipedia

I knew I had an interview with a bride and groom for July 30, 2011 at 5:30pm.  It was clearly on my calendar.  Alarms were set. I would be right on time.  Me who hates being late so much I always arrive early……there I was 30 minutes late to my appointment.  I apologized to them several times throughout the interview. Meantime in my head was the thought that perhaps they were thinking, “If we hire you will you be on time to photograph our wedding”?

What happened?  Very simple truth.  I got lost in going through images from a recent wedding I was processing.  I didn’t hear the alarm. I lost track of time.  I love what I do so much that I can and often do forget about everything around me.

Was I wrong in being late? Very much so!  Here I am the day after blogging about it because it bothers me very much.

They were really delightful, cute together, and at locations I love to photograph at.  I sat there during the interview mentally posing them and thinking of ways they would look fabulous in their images.

All you can do when you make a mistake is come clean and be totally frank.  Then you apologize and mean it.   I am very sad over this one!   I have missed two appointment lately.   I need to rethink my calendar and alarms on events AND NOT EVER NEVER EVER DO THIS AGAIN!

Me getting eaten by the MISSED APPOINTMENT monster!

more images to come!!!!

Last night at Connections in Davenport the community came together to say good bye to a friend and fellow entertainer Morgan St Claire.  Twenty One female impersonators brought their talents to the Connections stage. Many of them were dear friends of Morgan St Claire, and they often expressed how they were nurtured and helped enter this field of entertainment by Morgan.

The evening was all about saying goodbye and raising funds for the family.  I had the privilege to photograph the evening and listen to Morgan’s friends and fellow entertainers express their love.

More images to follow. This is just a sneak preview.  There is only one Tara…….one of her many images throughout the night.

One of the beautiful things I get to do because I work for me and make all the decisions (good, better, and worst) is write from the heart.  It has always been my thoughts to share some of me with others that are thinking of hiring me to photograph their wedding.  You don’t hire a machine. Photographers live, breathe, bleed, and like everyone…..eventually die.   It is not possible to have just part of me show up to shoot for you.  It’s a package deal……all or nothing!

So! Tonight while Lightroom exports a disk of images I choose to write and expose a little more of my heart.

Why do I shoot weddings?
I do so because it gives me the biggest emotional jolt.  I feel good!  NO matter what is going on, I am alive, vibrant, and liking what I do!  I believe in marriage, and I know just how hard couples are going to have to work at it to make it last.

Would it surprise you to know I pray for my couples?  That side of me so often remains on the quiet side because all the world wants to tell you there is no place for religion in business.  They are right. “Religion” is overrated.  I believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Will I shove my beliefs down your throat?  Nope!  You have to find the way home on your own. Of course I am going to pray about it

I am a trained chef.  Credentials to prove it.

I can design a fairly nice website!

Godiva Chocolate is great but I like Ethel M’s better.

Bare feet, jeans, and ride bareback…. I grew up riding shortly after I was three.  There’s a place on the back of the right horse just letting the horse have his/her way…….riding in the wind and sun.  The mind turns off and the spirit soars.  Love it!

As much as I hate to admit it a friend nailed me perfectly by describing me as an armour coated marshmallow.

I love flowers.  Favorite?  One yellow rose given to me out of love!  If you don’t love me………the whole freakin’ dozen.

Passion in photography?  The next image.

Why do I choose this image to post with Reflections?  She chose to be vulnerable for the camera.  No pretense.  “This is me!  Love me or hate me….this is me behind the mask”!  Most are not that brave!

See what I mean?  “This is me”!  No apologies!  I love anyone willing to put their heart in their hands and let me really see them!  Game?  Yes?  Then perhaps you are my next wedding!

Ok… enough honesty for one evening!!

Meet Chef Jeremy at Duck City Bistro (Facebook) .   The “boy” can flat out cook!  I guarantee you won’t be disappointed, AND he is a marvelous hugger!  It is one place in the Quad Cities they are pleased to greet you arriving and again when you are leaving them.   A must!   Just sayin’ no one has captured his heart yet!