Angelica Grace Designs

FOLLOW ME ON MY NEXT JOURNEY...ANGIE SEAMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

2011-10-08T14:18:00.005-04:00

Hi all. I'm so sorry for the delay in posting here lately. I've come to the conclusion that I'd like to have one blog and one blog only. It's very difficult for me to keep up with my photography business blog as well as this personal blog here on the AGD site. Therefore, I've decided to make the official announcement that I've closed down my AGD website due to my photography business taking off far more than I ever could have imagined. My photography passion leaves me no time to sew the boutique clothing or design jewelry anymore as I always did in the past. Having a new little one also puts a damper on those plans. So...I closed my AGD website and will now be closing this blog too. I plan to leave it up and running so that others can always go back and read how it all began. However, from here on out...I'll be blogging full time over on my photography business blog which can be found by going HERE. I'll be blogging not only business there but personal as I always have.

Thank you to everyone whom has stuck by me since July of 2006 when I first opened this little spot on the web. Your encouragement, support, prayers, comments, compliments and so on have allowed me to become who I am today. For those of you who never judged me but yet loved me for who I am as well as who I am not...well...I cannot thank you enough. Thank you to my loyal AGD clients for buying my designs as well as for becoming my friends. Angelica Grace Designs was formed during a time when I needed an outlet - back when we were first learning of Kenidi's special needs diagnosis. AGD and all of its supporters carried me thru the trenches many times when I wanted to curl up into the fetal position and quit. You guys kept me going. Each and every one of you. And yes...even the select few negative n/ellies. You too...pushed me to keep crawling and to keep my head toward the sunshine. Thank you for the drive to be better, the determination to prove others wrong, and the ability to look back and smile - better yet - "grin" from ear to ear. In the end, here I am today. Still swimming.

This little part of my world has seen me thru the birth of my children, the birth of two businesses, the re-birth of many personal issues, the re-birth following a move across 4 states, and the many trials of just everyday life in general. Angelica Grace Designs was and always will be my "baby." I'm very proud of all that AGD accomplished in it's short time. It's very surreal to know others are wearing your designs clear across the country and even across the globe. My international clients are just as important to me as my clients located in the United States. I love all of you and always will.

So for now...I ask that you join me on yet another chapter - a new journey. Well not new but you get the point. I ask that we not say goodbye but yet that you stick by my side and watch with us how the next book will unfold. And should you ever find yourself with a need for photography, you know where to find me. Again, I'll be HERE (blogging personal and business together).

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. Hope to see you on the flip side at Angie Seaman Photography. Much love, Angie

PS...Once on the Angie Seaman Photography blog, there is a way to sign up/subscribe to my blog there just as many of you always had here. Go to the navigation bar on the top of the page and find "subscribe." You can enter your email address there and opt in for an email including my most recent posts - everytime I post. :)

KROSS - 9.5 months (NAPLES, FLORIDA CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER)

2011-09-13T14:25:00.010-04:00

Have you ever in all your life???

Granted...I am WAAAAYYYY biased but come on. Do those little chompers just make your heart skip a beat in the way they do mine? Probably not. Either way, I just had to share.

I opened the front door, let some natural light shine straight in, and then clicked away with Kross sitting in our entry way this morning. I wanted to get some 9 month shots and document him for this month as I do every month. He wasn't in the greatest of moods but you'd never know it here. That kid is such a ham. I'm taking full advantage of it too because one day soon...he'll detest my camera. I'm sure of it.

Speaking of clicking away, I did a fun retro pin up shoot this past weekend with some photographer friends of mine. It was a fun day and of course the clouds and crayola blue skies were there to "represent." :)

Of course the images are processed to look like an old time retro pin up girl calendar. It was different for me and totally out of my ordinary way of shooting but boy was it fun. A local Inn here in Naples allowed us to shoot at their location near the beach. Just shooting with my favorite photography peeps and challenging one another with something different was the best part of it all. The models were great to work with too. They were such troopers in that heat. It was blazing out and there were times where I had to sit down with a bottled water because I felt like I was going to hit the ground and pass out. Not good. I survived though and we trucked right on thru that Florida heat.

Suicide doors on this old car...crazy cool...

We got to use one of the rooms for some of the images too. It helped cool us down - air conditioning - YAY!

I'm so grateful for how well my photography business has been going here in Florida. I've worked very hard to pound the pavement and make a name for myself. It's a daily process - one that takes lots of work - but it has paid off for me and I pray it continues to do so. I'm thankful for the relationships I've established here. Those relationships have lead me to jobs where shooting for magazine spreads are consistently part of my line up now.

Albeit intimidating to work in the editorial world, it's challenging yet rewarding as well. And yes...I'll admit that it's a gratifying moment to skim thru a magazine while sitting in a doctors office and find images you've shot within it. Grateful indeed!

With that said, my clients and those relationships mentioned above have lead to a full and very busy season for me in the coming months. I'm pretty much booked thru the end of the year with the exception of a few random openings for tourists that stumble upon me. If you're coming to Southwest Florida at all in the next 6-8 months and were wanting portraits taken by me while here, please schedule in advance. I don't like having to turn people away. It breaks my heart. Therefore, hit me up as soon as possible and we'll solidify your place on my calendar. To all of you whom have helped propel my business in Indiana as well as here in Florida, I cannot thank you enough. It means more to me then you'll ever know. Seriously! I honestly couldn't have done it without you guys and all of your word of mouth referrals. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

With that said, I'll sign off with a pretty little instagram image from my weekly phone dump. I took this while driving thru one of our outdoor mall areas a few days ago.

PS...If you haven't stopped by my Angie Seaman Photography blog lately, pop on over and see what all I've been up to. :)(ANGIE SEAMAN PHOTOGRAPHY) Happy Tuesday my friends. Much love, Angie

FRIDAY PHONE DUMP

2011-08-26T11:49:00.006-04:00

It's Friday again. That means it's phone dump day. I've started sharing a few photos taken with my cell phone throughout the week here on my blog. The above shot was taken just this morning. Kross and I got his other two siblings off to school and then we hit the beach for a little "sugaring of our toes." Kross has it down to a science. No need to teach that certified beach bum how to do up the beach. He's mastered it already.

When we got there, I was carrying him and a big beach bag. I looked down and saw the shadow of my legs and captured my big ol' Mommy yoga pants flappin' in the sand via the reflection. Snapped the moment.

Although Hurricane Irene was originally heading right for us, it turned right and suddenly started veering up the East coast of Florida in stead. The beach was quiet and serene this morning. The water was dirty, sand brown, but the clouds and sky were still and beautiful as ever. You can tell a storm is brewing somewhere though. Mother ocean was roughed up, brown, and clearly ticked off.

The black and white version adds a bit more drama...wouldn't ya say?

This is what the sky really looked like...crayola blue as always...

Without rain though, there are never any rainbows. For any of you who know me well enough, you know that is one of my favorite quotes and has always been listed on my facebook page too. We are still in what is considered the "rainy season" here in South Florida. That means it rains at least once a day for about 30 minutes to an hour and then dries up and becomes as beautiful as it was before the rain. After one of those downpours off the ocean the other night, I captured this rainbow as the skies began to clear...

My favorite time is after the storm passes when the whole sky opens up and the brilliant orange colors pop out and shine this gorgeous golden light down on us...

When I came out of Dillard's the other night, the whole place was lit up like an orange fire ball. You can see that yummy golden light creating palm tree shadows on the front entrance of the mall in this shot below...

GAW-JUS! Love me some golden hour light. The light right before the sun sets. Amazing stuff

I always love to shoot in the morning around here too. More amazing stuff. I took the image below straight out the roof of my car the other morning as Brennen and I sat and ate our Starbucks oatmeal right before I took him to school. Yes...lucky for him (and me) there is a Starbucks almost in the parking lot of his school. Dunkin donuts too. Shame. Oh the shame. LOL!

The sun flare was magnificent on this morning and my iphone LOVES sun flare. Anytime I can capture some flare with my phone or my real camera, I'm all over it. I believe that sun flare is just another gift to us from God. Embrace the flare. :)

For now, I'm off to go finish editing some sessions. Can you believe that my brand new laptop is already in the shop? Won't hold a charge. The charge jack/port won't work when I charge it with my cord. Dang the bad luck. I swear laptops hate me. Yes, I said the word HATE as much as I "HATE" to. HA HA! I'm cursed when it comes to these computers. They are my work horses and I truly work them to death. Literally. Anyway, it's gone for two to three weeks so I'm back to editing in my office which I detest. So does Kross. That little dude is on the move and wants to be everywhere but holed up in my den right now. He has life so rough.

Have a great weekend and check back next week. Lots happening on the photography front. Lots of good news. Lots of cool shoots. Life is good. Love you guys.

Angie

KROSS, THE BEACH BUM (NAPLES, FLORIDA CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER)

2011-08-17T14:05:00.004-04:00

In the hustle and bustle of our travels back and forth to Indiana, I realized this week that I hadn't taken any photos of Kross for his 8 month anniversary. So...I we headed out the door last night to watch the sunset at the beach and to snap some "beach baby" shots of Kross. Needless to say, Kross was stoked. I'd love to know what he was looking up in the sky at in the top image and what he was thinking at that moment. If he could talk, I believe he'd be saying "Power to the surf" in this shot below...

Beings that Kross was born with the love of the beach running thru his veins, there is no doubt that he is a certified beach bum by DNA association due to his Mother being a beach bum at heart. So when he began sugaring his hands and toes in the sand the moment he got there...I knew he felt right at home. What I would have given to have grown up on at the seashore, on the coast, in the warm gulf waters with the wicked white surf.

It's a good darn thing a little sand ingestion never hurt a kid before because Kross ingested enough last night to feed a small army. Well ok...maybe a small bucket load anyway. LOL!

As a friend of mine said, he looks like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar here...

Like..."Who me???"

I love this boys smile. He can light up a room in an instant with these looks...

I think one of my favorite parts to the evening were these shots though...the blackmail shots of the future...

He was waving to passing beach-goers in this shot below. They were cracking up that he was "nek-ed." He kept on smiling and just kept waving to all of them like it was no big thang. :)

OK...I lied. My favorite part of the night was this moment...when Brennen was swimming with his baby brother...

God is good!

Until next time...Angie

PHOTO DUMP, GRATITUDE LISTS, & AN UPDATE ON KENIDI

2011-08-10T17:44:00.013-04:00

I've been obsessed with the instagram app on my iphone4 recently. I love being able to snap a shot, throw a filter & quick border around it and then instantly share it with hundreds or even thousands of others all at one time. Technology today never ceases to amaze me. With that said, I have a blogger on my daily blog reads that I love and I noticed she is doing a "phone dump" of her photos once a week. I thought this was a great idea. For those of you who haven't ever friended me on facebook, you miss out on A LOT of photos I share on there that never actually hit my personal blog. So...I thought the weekly phone dump from time to time would be great to do as well. I figured I'd share some of the photos I've taken via my cell throughout the past 7 days. The top one above was of my Dad holding Kross in his irrigation sprinklers the night before we left Indy. I love that shot. It reminds me of an old vintage image from years gone by or something. The joy that both of their smiles bring to me in that one photo is indescribable. Thank you camera phones!

The next shot is one that I snapped out of the car window as we left the Indiana state line in our rear-view mirror last Friday evening and crossed over into Kentucky via the Louisville bridge. Brent always laughs at me when we pull out of Indiana after our visits there. He tells me that I cry from the time I leave my Dad's driveway until at least Louisville each trip. Truth be told, he's probably right. It never helps when my Dad sends me texts such as exhibit A...(sorry Dad...I know you dislike when I share your texts but word pictures always help tell a story waaayyyyyy better. As a blogger, my job is to tell a story the best way I know how. That involves sharing your awesome words too. Nothing is sacred in our family, I know. LOL!)

Do you see now why a daughter might cry her heart out all the way from Indy to Kentucky after receiving a text from her dad telling her that he misses her already and that she needs to move back home? I must mention that he sends these each time I leave - before I'm ever even out of his neighborhood. See why I love him so much??? It's very clear what an exceptional father he is, isn't it? I know I brag on him a lot but really...this type stuff just confirms it all. I cherish my Dad's text messages. I should've listened to him when he tried to give me the box of Kleenex's from inside his house as I left though. I assured him that I had plenty of baby wipes in the car to use should I need them. Always heed a Father's advice. Always. Even when it comes to a simple box of Kleenex's. Dad's are always right.

At some point in the 18 hour drive back to Naples each time, I finally regain my composure, put away the Kleenex's and regroup. I sit and watch the sky, the clouds, the sunshine or rain as we drive that horrific drive back to Florida. I have high hopes that reciting what I'm grateful for (crayola blue skies, puffy white cotton ball type clouds, the golden sunshine, etc.) in my head throughout the drive will help pass the time quicker. It never does. Eighteen hours is still 18 frappin' hours. No matter how you look at it...the drive sucks. Bottom line. The only time it starts to get better is on the 2nd day - when you're about 45 minutes from home per the Navigation screen that you've been watching the whole 18 hour trip like it's the movie Twilight or something and Edward is secretly placed within the screen somewhere. See...you also begin to get delusional along that drive too. It's a serious side effect. Anyway, back to my point. You roll down the windows and begin to smell the sea salt air. It's a fo' sho' sign that you're in the home stretch now. In no time, you look to your right - and then to your left - only to see scenes like this again...

Moments later...you are driving over the ocean and the sun is setting...reminding you of that gratitude list that is forever embedded in your brain at this point...

Eventually, you pull up in the driveway and are never so glad to get out and touch your feet to the ground in all your life. You hit your bed that night still reciting the gratitude list..."sunsets, Starbucks, my parents, my friends, my kids, my own bed, air conditioning, palm trees, the salt life, my camera, my eyes to visualize shoots, pringals new honey butter stix, the fact that I didn't have to kill my husband this trip because he finally decided to stop at a hotel rather than drive straight through, and so on. Home is good. Real good. However, I have two homes. One where I lay my head every night and one where I lay my heart. You can guess which is which.

The next morning, I always jump up to watch the sun rise over the pond behind our house. It has a magnificent way of shining the most beautiful honey golden light down on the water as well as the tips of the palm tree leaves. The colors as the sun rises are amazing around here. When you live just 5 minutes down the street from the ocean, everyday is amazing around here. Even on the days when the enemy sets out to ruin your gratitude list or your "peppified spirit," you can still manage to always find something to be thankful for. A-L-W-A-Y-S!!! Like being able to stand under palm trees each and every day.

Even when it's raining on the palms and your power is out in your house due to the storm, life is still amazing and the palm trees are still beautiful.

Yes, life is good.

On a final note, before signing off tonight, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you who posted here on the blog last week, privately emailed me, called, texted, facebooked, etc. in regards to Kenidi's situation. I had no idea that my post last week would provoke such an outpouring of support. It breaks my heart that so many of you are experiencing similar trials in your own lives. On a positive note though, your words of encouragement, advice, and your own experiences helped our family beyond imagine. You guys armed us with so much knowledge that we didn't have previous to my post. Your own journey has helped prepare us for ours. There are no words to thank you guys for your love and true concern for our Kenidi. We are 4 days into her new medicine (Tenex) and unfortunately haven't noticed any positive changes. She is extremely tired because of it and can barely keep her eyes open most of the day. The doctor warned us that this would happen in the beginning and so did some of you who have your own children on this particular medicine. We are hopeful that her body will adjust to the dosage soon. We were told to give the prescription three weeks before we made a decision to switch to resperdal. So...we will give it 2.5 more weeks. It's still very early and we are still very faithful. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. We'll go to plan B at that point. For now though, I know without a shadow of a doubt that all will work out as it should and that like always...God is leading the way. Again though, thank you to each of you for continually being so supportive of our family in the past 5 years since I began this blog. I always know I can come back here, to my online cyber-space friends, and find encouragement and advice thru this blog when needed. All of you are on my gratitude list.

Much love, Angie

PS...If you'd like to friend me on my personal Facebook page, you can do so by clicking on the following link: ANGIE ON FACEBOOK If you would like to become a fan of my Angie Seaman Photography fan page, feel free to do so by clicking this link: BECOME A FAN I'm always posting new session images there that you never see here on my blog. I also post "casting calls" for models that we need for certain creative shoots there too. It's a great place to keep an eye out on all of the Angie Seaman Photography happenings. No matter what...I just appreciate your support. :)

MY HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED

2011-07-29T16:58:00.006-04:00

If Kenidi could verbalize her feelings right now, I'm guessing that these days she'd be packing Kross a suitcase and waving by to him as she booted him out the front door. She loves and adores her baby brother with all her heart but I honestly believe she is just now beginning to realize that he is here to stay and isn't going anywhere. In the beginning, he was like a new toy to her. We had small issues but she was pretty gentle with him from the get go. Because we have slowly but surely been noticing more aggressive behavior from Kenidi over the past year to year and a half, we knew that Kross's arrival would be touch and go with her as well. Over the past 8 months since his birth, I've watched her go from gentle to down right violent with him. We can't sit him down or look away from him/her for even a split second. Her aggressive behavior has not only expelled over and onto him but onto us and other people as well. We battle her hitting, kicking, spitting, biting, pinching, etc. What was once just a melt down when we went to leave the beach or a park is now an everyday occurrence and has caused our normal "out and about" life to come to a screeching halt.

As I sit down to type this, my heart hurts when I reflect back on how much Kenidi's demeanor has changed over the past year and a half. She really is a totally different child. We can no longer fly on airplanes or travel period because of the outbursts, aggression, and publicly displayed melt-downs that involve just about anyone within a 20 mile radius of us. We can't take her out to eat at restaurants or stroll along and hold her hand thru the mall anymore. If she is out and about, she has to be strapped into her special needs stroller. There is no rhyme or reason to her madness. We used to think it was an attention issue but now we realize these are uncontrollable outbursts where she will lash out at anyone within her reach. I was in denial for a long time...just believing and hoping it was only a phase. Ya know...the kind of stuff they pick up at school and bring home??? However, the behaviors have only increased. Each day she is growing bigger and stronger and it's becoming harder and harder for me as well as everyone else to manage her when she lets loose. I tell you all of this because just as I have in the past 5 years since beginning this blog, I'm writing to find therapy in the moment. By the time the evenings roll around each day, I'm physically and mentally wiped out. I've had numerous days of emotional spells where I just finally burst into tears from the exhaustion, frustration, and utter heartbreak as I watch our daughter act out in ways she is unable to control. Ways we aren't able to control anymore either. Kenidi is still the loving, affectionate child she's always been. However, there is a side to her personality now that is tough, harsh, and dangerous.

I had a neurologist in Miami last year witness a melt-down of hers and his exact words to me were..."You know there is medicine for this?" I walked out of his office, pushed open the handicap doors to the parking lot, looked at my Mom and swore to her with fury in my eyes that I'd never go back to that doctor again. I can remember how angry I was with his words. I couldn't believe he would suggest that I needed to medicate my child. Almost a year later, I now wish I would have headed to his advice then. I was in denial.

So...a big reason for our trip back to Indy this time was to have Kenidi seen by her Riley doctors here in Indianapolis. Brent and I took her and both kids this past Tuesday morning to her appointment with her neurologist. He was also the geneticist that ran the tests on Brent and I right after we were told of Kenidi's diagnosis back in 2005. After two hours in his office, Kenidi had reached her limit and was exhibiting full on meltdown behavior by the time he saw us. She proved to him, the child psychologist on hand, as well as a student resident doctor that she had the strength and ability to take everyone of us in that room on and then beat the hell out of anyone she had the chance to. It's sound rough and it was. Thankfully though, because what she did in front of the docs, we didn't have to do too much explaining. It was clear that medicine was necessary. I left the hospital that day with mixed emotions. I was feeling defeated, deflated, and like a failure as a Mom. I had prayed for so long that I could "fix" her without medication. Her appointment Tuesday was confirmation that there was no longer anytime left for my attempts to "fix" her. This was our reality and something had to give. Our family life is suffering because we can't venture out like we used to. Brennen pays the price for that. Kross someday might too. The thought of how much things have changed as Kenidi's demeanor has changed is gut-wrenching. There have been talks of taking vacations without her, dinners out while she stays home with a sitter, etc. It all rips my heart out to the core. She's our daughter - part of our family. She should be experiencing these journeys, these memories with us.

In order to begin the new medication, she had to go for an EKG first. The doc wants to start her out on Tenex. (sp?) If there are any of you out there who have any experience with this drug and children, please email me. I'd love to hear your feedback. The EKG was done today and now we wait the results of it to make sure it was normal before she can begin the tenex. If the Tenex doesn't show positive signs of working in the next two weeks, they are going to move on to the big guns as they called it. Risperdal. Risperdal is used to treat strong and irrational behaviors. It's scary. Both medicines are. I have no idea what the future holds but I'm praying with every fiber of my being that these medicines do more help than harm. Only time will tell. My how things have changed.

So...in my usual attempt to always find laughter and positivity in my life...I saw a photo on pinterest today and decided to do our own version of it with Kenidi and Kross. I grabbed my camera and used it as a therapeutic tool. The end result is what you see below...

I'm giving all of the glory to God - as always - for this journey. I've prayed to him with my expectations of healing for Kenidi. I've pleaded with him to grant us peace within our family and mainly within her little body. I'm no longer in denial and realize that this is the only option left. We are left with no other choice but to help Kenidi thru medication. I'm hopeful that these meds will work. Please pray with me over the coming weeks as we embark on yet another foggy journey in the Seaman family. God is leading our hands and giving me - and us - the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the next. For those of you with special needs children, I know you understand this TOTALLY. I owe my family a HUGE thanks for helping me to combat the meltdowns Kenidi has displayed since arriving in Indiana. I couldn't have made it thru the past 2 weeks without them. Transition is horrific on Kenidi's little system. If you take her out of her routine, you can expect all hell to break loose literally. God love her...

Thanks for listening to me today. I know it's been a long time since I've "dumped" on all of my readers like this. Sometimes you just need to purge everything that is floating around in your head though and today was my day. As you all know, I purge via writing. I journal to heal. Always have - always will. Yes, my writings have put my family on major display at times in the past but I don't care. It's my life. It's my truth. It's me being real. Take it or leave it.

Thank you God for being my Rock. My savior. Literally. You've heard my prayers and you know my expectations. Please heal my baby girl.

In him, Angie

FAIR TIME WITH THE FAM

2011-07-27T20:29:00.001-04:00

Despite the helldacious heat here in Indiana, we decided to brave it all and head out to the county fair a couple of nights ago. Ironically, the heat wasn't so bad and we even found several pockets of shade to stand in as we stuffed our faces with the FAB fair food that graces the concession stands there each year.

Of course I was there armed with my camera and managed to snap some very simple but oh so colorful shots of our surroundings. We even saw the typical crazies. You know...the ones who ride those ridiculous rides like these...

The crowd was down considerably because people are willing to tackle the heat here this year. So...it left tons of room for us to roam. I am always amazed at what types of foods they come out with each year. This year...the shocker was deep fried kool-aid. Yeap, you heard me. Kool aid. Come again???

There is deep fried everything at the fair. Even deep fried cookie dough. Now we're talkin'...

My favorite part of any fair is just all of the colors. There is so much color in life if we are just willing to look for it. At the fairs though, they throw it in yo' face. Like here..."Take some pink! Take some purple! Oh and how about some orange and bright sunny yellow too!!!" POW! POW! POW! Color is everywhere there and you never have to "search" it out. You'd have to be blind to miss the vibrant punch of the color wheel at any fair.

Lovin' these old school shades that I stumbled upon at a random table for sale. They're makin' their come back. ROCK ON!

Of course we all had to win Kenidi every stuffed animal under the sun during our journey there.

It's comical to me that I participated in that considering how many stuffed animals I pitch on a yearly basis out of my kids rooms. Kenidi has this set of baskets at my Dads that they keep stocked with toys and coloring books for her. Every hour on the hour...she dumps it all out. And every hour on the other hour...my Dad and I pick it all back up and place it where it all goes. You see...I get my OCD issues from him. He has always taught me that everything has its place. Therefore, when there is stuff laying out all over the floors...it makes me shake with distress. Almost darn near convulsions really. I told my Dad the other day that I wished I had a video camera of him and I picking that junk all back up and putting it away every two seconds and then Kenidi just returning the favor by getting it all back out again. It's a constant game to her. So...not only does my poor dad have the usual sprawled out all over his floor now...he also has cheap ol' fair toys dumped all over the place too. To know him is to know that it's silently killing him inside. However, he'd NEVER say it. LOL! He just keeps picking it up and putting it all away again. Speaking of my dad...check him out...this was at the fair the other night too...

Love that man!

Both him and Brennen played some games while there. In the words of my dad during this moment below..."Gimme' some dddaawwwggg!"

Kross did exceptionally well in the heat that night. He was obsessed with our water bottles. The pictures say it all...

Love that shot of Brennen and Kross with my step-mom Cathy. Kross is trying to be sneaky and steal her water bottle there. Too funny! I love his face in this shot below...

Kenidi Grace loved the sights. She played skee ball (sp?) and threw the balls in the fish bowls. My aunt and Brennen both won fish so now my Dad has two new family members in his house as well. LOL! Kenidi also played the water duck game and loved that. It's great to see her being able to participate in the stuff we all do.

I caught Brennen in the middle of his corn dog (BARF!). He wasn't very happy about it either...

It's hard to believe half of our trip to Ind is already over. We only have another week and a half here before we head back to Naples. I've enjoyed lounging around the pool with my best girlfriends, dinners and daily vegging with my Dad and Cathy, and shooting my photography sessions that I've booked while here. It's been a FAB trip thus far. I've got a girls night out planned with my friends this Friday and several more shoots to do before I head out. I'm soaking up all of the goodness that Indy has to offer before I have to say my "until next time's."

Speaking of until next time...until the next blog post...keep smiling, look for the color in life, and enjoy these summer nights. I'm off to go consume some more cotton candy.

Much love...Angie

THE GRISWALDS ARRIVE IN INDY

2011-07-18T17:50:00.007-04:00

We made it to Indy. The fields full of Queen Anne's lace were standing tall to greet me when we crossed the state line. People often ask me what I could possibly miss back in ol' Indiana - aside from the obvious friends and family - now that we live in paradise everyday. One of my answers is in the image above.(taken with my iphone4) I miss the fields full of wheat and the fields peppered with wild flowers in the summers. I miss the butterflies and bumble bees that run rampant on top of them. (They make for great macro images) This particular field will be used as a backdrop in one of 5 photo shoots that I have while in town this time. I can't wait for the golden evening light to shine down on this spot. It's going to make for gorgeous images with my clients.

Of course the 18 hour drive sucked - we drove straight through this time which was NOT planned. The five of us almost killed each other in true Griswold style before all was said and done but once we made the decision to just keep driving...we all regrouped, had some Starbucks, and trudged forward with great success in real Seaman family fashion. As I always like to say...all was good in da' hood. :)

In the short two days I've been here, we've been able to visit with both of my Grandma's who are ailing. I had worried I'd miss being able to see one or both of them before I got home the next time. By the grace of God, both are hanging on strong and I loved being able to touch both of their hands yet again. My Grandma DeNease - my Dad's Mom - also got to meet little Kross for the first time on Sunday. Another great grand child for her. Although she can't see, I made sure she was able to feel the smooth touch of his soft baby skin in her hand. Life - it's such a precious gift, isn't it?

Aside from the 5 photo shoots I have lined up while in town, I am planning lots of visits with my girlfriends of course. We also have lots of doctor visits while here. Ya know...those favorite doctors and my dentist that I refuse to let go of just because I live in Florida now. I try to get the kids in and myself to see them anytime we are here just to keep us current in their patient files. LOL!

I hope all of you are enjoying your week thus far. Until my next post and the next flood of Indiana images, stay safe and smile. Smile lots!

XOXO, Angie

THE COLORS OF KEY WEST

2011-07-09T19:44:00.004-04:00

You guys all know how very much I love "color." I love any kind of color in life - but especially when it comes to my photography. When my clients have been asked to describe my images before, nine times out of ten, they all use the word "colorful" somewhere in their descriptions. I love that. I strive to make my images stand out with color being a top priority. So...when we were vacationing last weekend in Key West, I tried desperately to soak up any and all the colors of the island that I could while there.

One day we rented the electric golf cart looking cars and roamed the island. I thoroughly enjoyed that part even though it was 250 degrees out. LOL!

The nooks and crannies within Key West were a photographers dream. They had tons of "grunge" areas to use as backdrops which was right up my alley. I also loved the Ernest Hemingway look of the decor, homes, environment, etc. The history and nostalgia there is simply amazing. I also loved that they have a street named after me right off the famous Duval Street...

Even their Walgreen's in Key West is colorful...

I am normally not a "Key Lime" lover but I did try some chocolate dipped Key Lime pie on a stick while there. Uuuhhmmm...can anyone say HEAVEN?

We saw lots and lots of characters around the island. Some weren't suitable for the eyes of my kiddo's so I was constantly burying Brennen's head when I'd see something he shouldn't. These were a few of the innocent yet funny characters we witnessed...

Spider man on a bike & a bar stroll group...

I can't imagine what those dudes looked like after hitting all those bars that night that were listed on the back of their shirts. Ha ha!

Grandma Debbie and Papa Ron were a huge help with the kids this trip and especially while Brent and I were at the wedding festivities for Chad and Sherry.

Our hotel was the 2nd oldest hotel on the island. It definitely showed that wear and tear inside the guest rooms. The lobby and restaurant however, were gorgeous. Here is a shot of the library area in the front lobby...

This guy and his dog were on the street each day. The sunglasses on the pup crack me up...

Last but not least, I also left my "clean eating" for one of these dudes while there. $5 cookies and boy were they worth every single penny. I had a sugar cookie (without sprinkles) and it truly hit the spot. Heaven again!

Thank goodness we were only gone and in Key West for several days. Because of food like that, my clean eating attempt was J-A-C-K-E-D with a capital "J." :)

We had a blast in Key West but I don't know that I'd voluntarily go back anytime soon. I saw it and can now say been there - done that. It's definitely a party town and I'm past the age of partying at this point. When you have kids and travel there with them, it's a totally different experience. LOL! Either way, it was good to have seen it. I've always wanted to go there and now we can say that we've been. Other than the ghost tour and seeing Hemingway's house up close and personally, I don't feel like I'm missing anything by not going back there for a while. I think the drive there and back killed the hoopla for me in regards to the island itself. That drive was brutal. Brutal I say.

Now I'm back home with the suitcase cleaned out but laid open once more. Time to start packing again. We head home to Indiana for three weeks come this Friday. YAY! Can't wait to see everyone back home. Until the next update, have a superb weekend.

Much love, Angie

CHAD & SHERRY'S KEY WEST WEDDING (NAPLES, FLORIDA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER)

2011-07-05T20:49:00.005-04:00

A quick sneak peek - basically just to confirm how much this past weekend ROCKED!

We came, we saw, we conquered Key West. And me...well I conquered my fear of shooting a wedding ceremony. Yes, I survived and the bride and groom have the wedding pictures to prove it. :)

Stay tuned...lots more to come as I begin editing the images from my dear friend Sherry's wedding. I'm beyond honored to have been asked to be their photographer on their special day. The hardest part was controlling the tears from behind my lens during the ceremony. It was tough to be the "photographer" when you're so emotionally invested in the people who are actually getting married. I kept fogging up my view finder because I was such a sap as they recited their vows to one another. What a stunning pair they made!!! CONGRATS Chad and Sherry!

I can't wait to share the rest of your images with you and your loved ones. We love you guys!

For the rest of you, check back soon. You don't wanna miss these. Much love, Angie

KROSS & KEY WEST

2011-06-30T14:32:00.005-04:00

Kross will be 7 months old this Saturday. He's got two very visible and extremely "sharp" teeth. Yes, I know this first hand. OUCH! He's also sitting up on his own and has been for a while now. I need to put him on the floor more so he can try getting to the crawling part but we have so much tile in the house that it worries me he's going to bang himself up. I miss carpet in the Midwest. LOL!

I shot a couple quick photos - these photos - of him this week just to document his age. He is such a Ham, isn't it? I could sit around and snap shots of him all daggone day long. He's a hoot!

It's Thursday and I'm packing like a mad woman for our trip to Key West this weekend. I'm shooting a destination wedding in the Keys for a dear friend of mine this weekend. It's for a friend of mine that I've known since middle school. I'm only doing it because it's "her." Ha ha! I am not fond of weddings at all and have no desire to shoot weddings on a regular basis. I've turned many away to date. I just don't feel comfortable shooting someones most important day of their life up to that point. Not only that but a wedding is a weekend affair. It's major time away from your family on the weekends when you're a wedding photographer. Between the rehearsal dinners, wedding the next day, reception into the night, etc. -it just isn't my cup of tea. I'd much rather do a shoot that lasts 1-2 hours and then be back home with my family again. Much less time and wayyyyyyy less stress. LOL! So...my friend lucked out. She will be the only one to ever see me shoot a wedding. Let's pray I don't screw it up for her and her soon to be husband.

My in laws are flying into Naples tomorrow night and are driving down to Key West with us. We are making it a little family get-a-way. My mother in law and father in law will be there to watch the kiddo's for us anytime I'm working the wedding festivities and Brent is with me. Thankfully, my sweet friend Megan, has agreed to come along as well and be the 2nd shooter for me this time. I need as many eyes and cameras as I can get for this day. We've waited for Sherry to get married for a loooonnnggggg time. I want to ROCK her images out and make them unique and different for her special day. Megan has a lot of my same shooting styles. We make a great team! :)

So, we head out for Key West on Saturday (our first time ever there) and I plan to get some great images of not only the wedding but also of the sights - as a tourist - while in town. I'm excited to see the change in scenery and witness first hand what Duval Street is all about. Good times for me and my camera. :) I'll be sure to share plenty once we return. In the meantime, have a great 4th of July holiday and be safe. Much love, Angie

We sure do love this boy!!!

CATCHING UP

2011-06-22T10:57:00.004-04:00

Here I am again...Mrs. blog slacker. I have things I could be blogging here and sessions that have yet to be blogged over on my photography blog too. I'm way behind. I guess that is what happens when you're having too much fun. Time gets away from you. :)

The above shot was a photo I took the other day of all three kiddo's. Needless to say...the shoot was a bust. Total bust. Kenidi wouldn't quit kissing Kross - which in turn ticked him off. Brennen was whining something about how on earth "was I going to photograph special needs child and a new baby all at the same time." I was sweating like a pig when all was said and done. I finally gave up and settled with this shot. Because this is our reality. This shot reveals our life. It's keepin' it real at its finest. LOL!

As you can see, Kenidi had a major meltdown at the end of the process so I of course just had to document it. I love this girl!

Speaking of her and meltdowns, I just had to document this one too. We went out boating on Father's day and we had Miss Drama Queen on board all day. One minute she was fine and the next minute she was a basket case. Did I mention that I love this girl???

Brennen spent some of his time fishing off the boat that afternoon. Here is a shot of him in action as well as one looking all grown up...

Kross loved every minute of the wind rushing thru his half bald head as we skimmed the surface of the ocean. Both him and Kenidi love to keep moving - to go fast. Neither of them are "stop and fish kinda' kids." LOL! That doesn't help Brennen much. :( At one point Kenidi through Kross's sun hat overboard. We tried to go back and get it but it sunk way too fast. Therefore, I had to drown his little white head in sunscreen. This is what the back of his hair looked like from my angle...

Loved it!

Kenidi celebrated her 8th birthday this weekend. She had a ball. Here she is sporting some of her new gifts...a doctors coat (she loves going to the doctor - doctwo as she calls it). Then she had on her new sunglasses and her rock star studded leather bracelet all while singing into her new microphone. She was such a hoot that I had to capture the moment. Four days later and she's still wearing the doctors coat around and hurting my ears all day long with the microphone. LOL!

That little pairing of photos really sums up Kenidi to a "T." I still can't believe she is eight already. Like Brent said today, she'll always be our little baby girl. :)

I got out with Brennen recently and took some shots of him in an urban grunge type setting. I look at him and can't get over how "teenager-ish" he is looking. Certain glances, certain facial expressions, etc. really give way to how much he is becoming a young man. Then again, like Kenidi, he'll always be my little boy. This photo proves it...

Here are some other shots from our morning together...

Annnndddddd...it wouldn't be a shoot with Brennen without one of these shots that follow my words "Just one more Brennen - I promise just one more..."

Yeap, that is a photographers kid for ya...fo' sho'!

Speaking of Brennen...congrats to him for making the honor roll again for the 4th straight time this year. He worked so hard and nailed his grades every nine weeks. We couldn't be more proud of him. He pulled off another honor roll at the end of this semester like a pro. Guess all of our threatening him paid off. (no xbox, no computer, no phone, etc.) We are such mean parents. :) Way to go B-Ster. We love you rock star!!!

Last but not least, I had to share this shot of Kross experiencing birthday cake & ice cream for the first time ever on Kenidi's birthday. He fell in love. I laughed until I cried. I couldn't feed him fast enough. He was squealing at me like a stuck pig - wanting more, more, more. It was hysterical!

For now, I'm signing off. We are re-decorating Kenidi's room this week in a mustard & gray color scheme so I'm headed in to finish that project up. We booted Audrey Hepburn & the whole Tiffany & Co. theme out. It was time for a change. I love the new look thus far. Here is a sneak peek...

Yumminess!

Happy Wednesday y'all! Much love, Angie

PHOTOGRAPHING A "MIG 28" (A.K.A. Kenidi Grace)

2011-06-07T11:45:00.006-04:00

It's Tuesday, June 7th and I'm waiting on the kids to get home from school. They both half days today with only two days of school remaining in the year (those being half days as well). I know Brennen is excited to be done for the summer. He has exams all this week so he is working extra hard to end the year with a bang. We were invited to his awards banquet the other night where he took home extra honors for being 1 of 7 top scoring students for language arts in the 6th grade. I still have no idea where that boy gets his smarts from. It didn't come from Brent or myself. LOL! We are extremely proud of him for his hard work and continued drive this year. Pulling straight A's is something I NEVER did as a kid - even in elementary school. LOL!

I took Kenidi out for a photo shoot last week. WOW! What a site that was. If someone could have video taped that escapade, we could have surely landed a reality TV show instantly. Brent told me to take her to an open field to do the shoot because that way when she ran from me, she could run and not risk getting hurt. So...I thought that was a grand idea. We went to a new field that had beautiful white flowers blooming up all around her. I got her up at 6:30am in order to get to the field in time for the gorgeous morning light shortly after sunrise that day. In a nutshell, the field was wet which proved challenging as she attempted to sit down every few minutes in dirty mud patches. Considering the fact that she was wearing this cream dress in part of the shoot, that would not have been a good look. She continued to keep running, and running, and running. I tried desperately to keep up with her and lock my cameras focus on her eyes in order to assure a sharp and crisp image. However, because she wouldn't stand still, I got very few. That girl was like the energizer bunny. I was out of breath five minutes after we began. I told my Mom that I felt like the Top Gun guys - chasing a mig - trying to lock focus on her. But with each step she took, I felt like I kept hearing "Negative Ghost rider - the flight pattern is full." LOL! It was craziness. I won't even begin to try and describe the act that it took to get her BACK to the car once she ran thru the said field - to the far opposite side of that field. I ended up having to carry her back to the car - all the way back to the car - thru a muddy, bumpy, wet field. My back was broke and I was a sweaty mess by the time we reached the truck. Keep in mind that we live in South Florida so it was like 900 degrees by that point. HA! Can anyone say "nightmare?"

One thing is for sure...I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I risked my out of shape body chasing her thru that field. It had been so long since I was able to photograph her because she just won't stand still for me anymore. I wanted to get some shots of her before we cut her hair back off again too. It's time for the angled bob again. Long and stringy just doesn't work well for Kenidi. It's always hanging in her face, has no shape, no style, etc. She ROCKS the angled bob so we are taking her back in this week for a new "do." She is growing up and getting so big - so very quick. All of our kiddo's are. Kross turned 6 months old this past week. Where did the time go? Brennen is a big 7th grader now. He'll be in high school before we know it. Insert sad face here. :(

I'm off to tend to the chaos that ensues as school ends each year. Speaking of the energizer bunny, she just came in off the bus. Kross's last few days of freedom are slowly slipping away this week. Hee hee! He has no idea what he's in for all summer long. I'm looking forward to long hot days, tired nights, and sand in shoes that prove a summer day was well spent. We have a trip to Key West coming up at the beginning of July and will also be traveling back home to Indy for three weeks come mid July thru August. Good times ahead!

Hoping all of you are enjoying your summer thus far. Until the next post...Angie

MISSING MY ELECTRONICS & MY GUR-FRENS

2011-05-27T15:25:00.003-04:00

Hi friends. Happy Friday. So glad to have made it thru this past week. My laptop came back from the shop only to have to go right back the very next day. Lovely! The rumor from Best Buy is that as of next week, I'll be going in to pick out a brand new one due to all of the trouble we've had. YAY! I just want a working laptop - that's all. My iphone went down this week too. I lost all of my contacts and phone #'s as well as over 400 photos from the past year alone. It's my fault. I knew better. As a photographer, I'm ashamed of myself for not having backed up those images like I would have on my computers. Bad Angie! Either way, Apple gave me a brand new phone so I'm starting over now. Please email me your phone # and email address if you are a close friend or family member. I lost everything and need to re-update them all.

Kross and I did a little "on the fly" photo shoot together the other morning. He is really turning into such a Ham. Now if I could just get Kenidi to cooperate in front of the camera anymore. I'm planning a shoot with her in the coming weeks but I'm still looking for the perfect ensemble and accessories for it. Stay tuned. I'm gonna remind that little princess of ours how she used to ROCK IT in front of the camera back in the day. Hopefully she will obey and cooperate with me for the session. Wish me luck. LOL!

I had a great time with my girlfriends who came in town from Indy this past weekend. They were here for four days and it couldn't have been more relaxing. I truly loved having them here with us. Such fun. I can't wait to get home to Indiana for those three weeks in July and August so that I can chill with all of my peeps again. I've missed them so very, very much!

On a side note, come take a peek at the photo shoot I did recently for the gorgeous Miss Lindsay. It was one of my favorite shoots to date. Here is a sneak peek...

To see the rest of my favorite images from her session, click HERE

Lastly, for my anonymous friend from Scarbourough/Ontario Canada who loves to drop by my blog and and spend all of her miserable life critiquing my spelling and grammar mistakes, see if you can unscramble this one... ISKS YM SAS!

Gotta' go repent now. Hope everyone has a STELLAR weekend! Love you all to bits!

Angie

WHAT IN GOD'S NAME HAS HIT THIS HOUSE???

2011-05-19T02:41:00.013-04:00

It's 2:40am and I'm up - wide awake - with a 5 month old sound asleep on my lap, an almost 8 year old princess in the bed asleep with Daddy (keeping my spot warm for me) and a 12 year old in his bed, sick yet again. It's been a helldacious week here in our household and it doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. Kross's face in the above photo gives way to the feelings were are spewing in our house these days.

Brennen was home sick on Monday. High fever and vomiting. He went back to school Tuesday feeling somewhat better. Tuesday afternoon while holding Kross on my tummy during my eye-brow arch at the salon (he likes sitting up on my belly when there), he rared backwards, arching his back and hyper-extending his arms as I clutched his little hands. He rared back with such a quick forceful movement that it immediately resulted in this God awful sound. I heard a POP! Not a good POP either. I knew right away what had happened. Two hours and several hundred dollars later, the doctor at the Emergency room had popped his elbow back into place like a pro. It took all of 2.2 seconds which is good considering how Kross was NOT happy about it. Can you blame him? They call it "nurses maid elbow" and I know it fondly because the same thing happened to Kenidi when she was a toddler. She was holding my hand as we stepped off a curb together. She pulled one of those "I'm gonna drop to the ground and make Mommy carry me" stunts as she was stepping off the said curb. By doing so, she went down and I was still holding her hand - which resulted in that same familiar POP. While at the ER with her that time, they told Brent and I it was very common in babies thru toddlers. I guess it happens a lot as their bones are growing and locking into place. The doc here in Naples told me the same thing when we were there with Kross on Tuesday. It was awful. This child never screams but that day - he whaled. I felt like the "suckiest" mom on the face of this earth. There goes my Mom of the year award. :(

Once his elbow was back in place, he was a happy camper again - instantly.

I wish I could say that our night got much better from there but it didn't. While in the ER with Kross, Brent calls to tell me that Kenidi's school had been trying to reach me at home. She was apparently in class vomiting. Needless to say, she came home sick. High fever just like with Brennen the day before. I was supposed to go out with my photography friends that evening but began questioning whether I should just stay home at that point. I got home and no sooner did I utter the words..."Boy I hope Kross doesn't get what you guys have" did little Mr. Kross himself puke all over me. I knew then that it was God's way of telling me..."STAY HOME ANGIE!" And so I did. I couldn't bare to leave Brent home fighting that fire with all three of them sick. I cuddled with my sweet babies and prayed that God would heal them both. Today was a better day for Kenidi. She seems to be on the up and up. Kross has some congestion and a runny nose but no more vomiting. However, que the 1:30am wake up from Brennen as he is making a mad dash to the bathroom because he is vomiting again. WHEW! I'm clueless as to what bug has taken over my kiddo's but I'm praying it exits our household FAST!

I have two of my girlfriends coming in from Indiana this morning. I pick them up at the airport at 9:30am. It's 3am now and I'm still wide eyed and awake. Go figure. It's the Mom in me that can't sleep. I keep going in to check on Brennen and make sure he's ok. Amongst the chaos this week, he's learning how to swallow pills for the first time ever. When he has a headache or has been ill in the past, we always gave him tylenol melt-a-ways. Well they've apparently taken those off the market now. It's no fun trying to co-erse a sick 12 year old to swallow tylenol pills while they are in the middle of being so ill. I tried all kinds of tricks. In the end, he broke them in half and chewed half of them on the way down. Gross!

I'm hopeful that the lysoling I've done and disinfecting I've embarked on will be good enough to rid our walls of the germs before my girlfriends arrive. I definitely don't want them (or me) getting sick too. No. no. no. Speaking of the sickies, my laptop is in the shop because it has the sickies too. It's been gone for a week now and I seriously feel like my right arm has been removed. It won't be back for another week to two weeks so I am basically going into convulsions as I wait on its return. Talk about torture. This is one of those times in life when you really find out what you're made of and how strong you really are. LOL! Just kidding! Ok maybe I'm not. :-) Either way, I need the next two weeks to cruise by so that my laptop can come back home to Mama realllllllll quick! I have photos similar to this one to edit...

Mama likes editing best on her laptop instead of my desk-top even though I realize it's a no-no. Since when have I ever been one to obey the rules anyhow?

For now, I'm off to snuggle with my boys while my princess is resting peacefully. I'm trying to be quiet so that I don't wake everyone but of course we always become a total klutz when we try to traipse thru our houses like mice. Don't we? You know, tripping over the sick 12 year olds shoes and backpack. Dropping silverware in the sink even though you tried to place it in there gently and ever so softly. Let's face it - being up and wondering around any house at 3am is never good for the additional occupants in your home. I'm thankful I have a fan club here and that they forgive me - a lot!

Have a FAB Thursday! Much love, Angie

MEGAN'S PHOTOGRAPHY HEADSHOTS - NAPLES, FLORIDA PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-05-08T21:28:00.001-04:00

I had the special honor of photographing one of my B/P/F/F the other day. That stands for "Best Photography Friends Forever." It's a fun term that one of our other fellow photography friends coined for our group. This particular photography friend shown here today is one of two who came and photographed Kross's birth for me at the hospital when he was born. Megan is a dear friend, a sweet soul, with rockin' style, and an edge for creativity that is like no other. We share the same photography passion and therefore we have a bond that only few understand. LOL!

Meg is gorgeous and has a fabulous personality. I love how she constantly goes out of her way to welcome others and to make them feel like she has known them forever in their first meeting together. She has a great way of taking the edge off of situations where you'd typically be somewhat nervous. Love that!

Megan needed some professional head shots taken for her photography business. She wanted to use some of the shots within her website. I was honored and humbled when she asked me to do the session for her. Once reality set in though, I began to shake in my boots. I get nervous enough just photographing people who know nothing about photography at all let alone when it comes time to photograph a fellow photographer, a friend, a peer.

Needless to say...as the day drew closer to our shoot together, I got more and more nervous. When you photograph another photographer, they know what you are doing, why you are doing it, how it should look, etc. I wanted to make sure I found the perfect locations for what she was after and I wanted to make sure the pictures ROCKED for her.

Thankfully, Naples has lots of great nooks and crannies that went along with the theme of what Megan wanted. Because we live in paradise everyday, it wasn't hard to find some beautiful locations that were pleasing to the eye and sophisticated in appearance.

I took a ton of shots but these were some of my favorites that I quickly went thru and edited to share. Beautimous Meg! Beautimous!

It's such a priceless gift to have found friends here in Naples whom you can share your same passion, business, and so on with. We are able to bounce ideas off each other, share secrets of the trade, teach one another and learn from another. It's such a valuable relationship that all of us have and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Don't you just love Megan's blue hair??? There are only a select few people who could pull that look off in a classy way and she has done it.

The year round colors in Naples are nothing short of amazing. Everything is gorgeous in the back drops here. As much as I love color in photography, the scenery in Naples really helps add to that must have color that I always search for in my shots.

I had a blast shooting this session for Megan. Lots and lots of laughs were shared. I've got some FAB out-takes of her too. Good times! :)

Thanks for including me in this experience with you Megs! It meant the world to me. Really!

I hope some of the shots will work perfectly for your website project and the goal you were after.

Love ya to bits girl! Thanks for being such a dear friend to me. Hugs, Angie

A CUTE FEDORA & AN EVEN CUTER LITTLE BOY - NAPLES, FLORIDA CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-05-02T11:53:00.003-04:00

Every once you a while, you get a client who gives you a challenge when it comes to collecting smiles during a session. With that said though, every once in a while when that happens, you can still make the best of shoot because said client is just so adorable that smiles don't even matter. This particular shoot recently played out just like that. We met the family downtown for an urban grunge shoot and found the best stand alone building for our backdrop. It couldn't have been anymore perfect. Following those shots, we headed across the way to a perfect little alley that offered up some great lighting and shaded areas due to the taller downtown buildings. Little Z-man here was so cool and so adorable that him not wanting to smile didn't affect his images at all. In fact, he gave me a more RAD look to work with by not smiling. I love how these turned out given the lack of smiles. It's something about the awesome hair, big gorgeous eyes, pouty lips, hole in the jeans, and the rockin' skateboard that played a significant role in his overall look. Such a heart breaker already even though he's only a mere five years old.

If you have a little one that you'd like to embark on a fun urban grunge session with, feel free to contact me. I've recently located lots of cool new locations that I'm just dying to try out.

Happy Monday! XOXO, Angie

A BRAND NEW LOOK!

2011-04-21T17:24:00.003-04:00

Just a quick note to announce the new look and new branding of Angie Seaman Photography. I spent a great deal of time with my web designer over the past couple of weeks re-vamping my website, blog, twitter page and adding a new facebook fan page to the Angie Seaman Photography collection. I poured my heart and soul into this new look so I hope all of you like it.

I wanted a fresh and colorful new look that represented my style. Crystal, my web gal, did a phenomenal job, (as always) in regard to bringing my visions to life. Thanks Crystal. I love ya girl!

Feel free to drop by our new facebook fan page and "like" our page. I'll be doing a big contest there starting tomorrow with a FAB give-a-way. Jump in on the fun. We'd love to have ya.

As a side note and FYI...I'm also offering a $100 print credit included in any session fee when you book a shoot with me. That is a limited time offer in celebration of the new branding so get in on it while the gettin' is good. Feel free to email me directly at Angie@AngieSeamanPhotography.com with any questions.

Lastly, this is the last week to sign up for my online beginner photography class and my online beginner photoshop class. If you'd like to register for either one of those classes, you can do so by going HERE and clicking on the "classes" page. Good times! Until the next post, have a ROCKIN' week! Much love, Angie

PS...Blogger has been giving me fits lately. My account is acting up and not letting me publish posts here on the blog. I've had to go to alternative measures to get it posted. I'm hoping they get this glitch fixed soon but blogger never seems to fix anything fast. Boo! I'm also missing blog comments that come through. Some of you have emailed me asking if I got your comment here on the blog and apparently I'm not getting all of them. Another BOO~! Again, I'm hoping all of these issues receive some attention quickly. In the meantime, thank you for your patience. Love you guys! :)

PRODUCT LINE - ANGIE SEAMAN PHOTOGRAPHY, NAPLES FLORIDA PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-04-18T12:00:00.005-04:00

you know that Angie Seaman Photography offers a wonderful product line for all of your photography needs? When you book a session with us, not only is your experience top notch all the way around but the products we offer to our clients are top notch as well. We've searched high and low for the best vendors and suppliers in our market. We've researched and sought out the best of the best when it comes to album designers, custom labs, etc. All of that makes your experience with Angie Seaman Photography even that much more enjoyable and exciting.

Our studio offers custom padded photography albums that are so exquisite and so gorgeous that you just never want to put them down. You'll find yourself thumbing thru these albums time and time again.

Not only do we offer these spectacular items but our turn-around time on getting the order back to you is like no other. We are known for being the best around regarding superb customer service with lightening fast turn-around times on your products. If you're an impatient individual like myself and want things that you purchase, like yesterday, then Angie Seaman Photography is the studio for you. If you'd prefer to order a custom photo covered hard back book filled with your images over a custom padded photo cover album, we've got those too.(see first photo above) Same great quality, just a tad different look and feel. I like to joke and call the custom "albums" the Rolls-Royce of albums. But then I also joke and call our hard cover books, the Ferrari of all hard cover photography books as well. Point being...both look elegant, sleek, and high class. Both are totally eye catching too. It's merely a matter of personal preference. When you purchase a slide-show of your session or a disk of your session, we also offer custom photo covered DVD and CD cases. These small but statement making products leave your memories tucked away safe for years to come and they do it in a fun and oh so personal way. Love! If you're looking for a photographer to help turn your memories into treasured pieces of art, I'm you're girl. We are offering a $100 print credit with all session fees for a limited time. Schedule your session with us ASAP and get in on this current and very rare special. Have a FAB week. We look forward to working with you. Much love, Angie

ISABEL - NAPLES, FLORIDA CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-04-11T10:20:00.006-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing an adorable little girl named Isabel this weekend. Her and her Mom drove all the way over to Naples from the East Coast of Florida for our session together. Isabel is seven years old but in a photographers world, she is wise and mature beyond her years. She ROCKED the shoot and was such a natural. As you can see from her images, the child is gorgeous!

It always helps too when you have a Mother who knows how to ROCK out her little girls outfit choices too. Isabel's Mom was a real pro at the style part. Way to go Mom! I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Christina and Isabel and am so honored that they would drive all that way for a session with me. I can't wait to work my way thru the rest of the session with Isabel so that I can see the rest of her amazing images/looks. We changed outfits three times during her shoot and her hair changed as well - thanks to her Mom who knows how to ROCK out some hair styles too. I could have shot with her all day had we been blessed with the time. :) Thank you Christina and Isabel. It was great spending the morning with you. Isabel, thanks for making my photography work look so beautiful. You are gorgeous sweetie! :)

xoxo, Angie

KROSS ANTHONY SEAMAN - 4 MONTHS (NAPLES, FLORIDA CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER)

2011-04-05T20:40:00.000-04:00

Little Mr. Stud-man, Kross Anthony, is 4 months old as of this week. It's crazy to me that this wee lil' one of ours is already four months old. He's really come into his own personality now. He's smiling, belly laughing, cooing, gooing, melting our hearts by the minute. And as for any concerns or worries that I might have once had regarding him being born with the same condition Kenidi has, well he's put that to rest. This baby boy has a ton of strength. No low muscle tone here. When I put him on his belly, he is already army crawling across the floor. He's scootin' on his belly like nobodies business. Aside from that progress, he still has the one tooth trying to bust through on the bottom as well. The amazing thing is just what a happy baby he is. Rarely does he ever cry and if he does, its generally at night in his car seat now or if I should leave him with someone he's not overly happy to be with. LOL!
In other randomness, our whole house is recovering from being sick. That Indy trip and the cold temps there really kicked our butts. I was so out of it this weekend that I finally broke down and went to the doctor which is soooooooo out of character for me. Kenidi and Brennen are healing up now and Kross's ear infection is on the mend. What a helldacious week its been. WHEW!
Speaking of doctors, I am having to go back to my cardiologist here in Naples tomorrow morning and get hooked up to another holter monitor. When I was in Indy, I had an appointment with my regular cardiologist and she was concerned because my pulse was racing again and they couldn't get it to come down. It was another episode of synus tachycardia that I'm so very, very familiar with. The weird thing is normally I can feel that when it's happening but on that occasion, I had no idea. Therefore, I'm off to be tested tomorrow for another 24 hour period to see if my heart is running at that pace all day or if its in spurts or what. The goal is to find the root cause and get it corrected. I'm praying it was just a fluke thing that morning in Indy and that my test will reveal good news. Can I ask that all of you keep me in your prayers as well? I'd greatly appreciate any you can take the time to send up.
And just because I'm so very proud of him...I wanted to send a shout out to my ROCK STAR son, Brennen, for making the honor roll yet again this nine weeks. He came home with straight A's and a 4.0 GPA on his report card today. He's worked so hard since moving to Florida and getting acclimated to a new world here. Brent and I are extremely proud of his drive, determination, and will to succeed. His teachers are all constantly bragging on him and telling me what a great kid he is and how glad they are to have him in class. He's been recommended for some honor classes next year but we are having long discussions on whether or not he should accept those offers. I personally don't want him to have to spend his whole life studying and stressed out. He has enough work now so I worry that putting him in the advanced classes will make it even that much worse. We've got some time to mull all that over though. I don't want him feeling pressured one way or the other. CONGRATS on all of your awesomeness B-Ster! We love you so very much and are elated at your accomplishments!
For now, I'm off to go work on some new branding and designs for my photography site. My web gal, Crystal, is in the process of helping me re-vamp and freshen up my photography site, blog, etc. It's been 2 years since my last change up and you know how I like to keep things new and vibrant. I'm excited to share the new look with you guys once it's all completed. So many great things are happening here in Florida for me and my photography business so I want to make sure I stay ahead of the game and always "awake" when it comes to knowing and "nailing" my personal style. I believe that in order to stand out in this industry, you must know and "own" your style. Branding is a huge part of that personal style. So...stay tuned for a new, fresh, funky, modern, yet sophisticated look. In the meantime, my classes are starting back up again at the end of this month. If you are interested in beginner online photography classes or beginner photoshop post processing classes, go HERE (on the classes page) to sign up. I hope all of you are having a FAB week. Until next time... Angie

OUR INDY TRIP - BACK HOME FOR SPRING BREAK

2011-03-29T12:53:00.001-04:00

We traveled back home to Indiana last week for our Spring Break. Our kids spring break vacation was a week before the Spring Break for kiddo's in Indy. When there, we got to introduce Kross to everyone that had yet to see/meet him. That includes his great grandma Dixie. Dixie is Cathy's mom (my Step-Moms Mom) and the closest thing to a grandma I've ever had. This photo above was taken the moment Grandma Dixie got to lay eyes on Kross for the first time. He was in a crabby mood because we'd been in a car for almost 10 hours at that point but I still love the photo. Cathy is the one passing him off to her Mom. I will always treasure this shot. This is a perfect example of the power of photography. This image "moves" me.
Speaking of moving me, the next image below does the same. It's of my Dad - laying on the floor one evening talking to Kross...

Grandma Debbie (Brent's Mom) got to experience Kross's crabbiness one afternoon as well. I love this picture of her though and wanted to share it. It also helps show that Indy wasn't all that cold while we were in town. The first 3 or 4 days we were there, we had temps in the 60's and 70's. However, the final two days we were in town, it did drop back down into the 30's - reminding us of why we love the Florida weather so much.

Our drive to Indy from Naples was pretty pleasant. Other than having a hard time finding a hotel to stay overnight in once we got half way there, all went smoothly. We eventually did find a Marriott in Atlanta that had some open space but that wasn't until 4am Saturday morning. We were beat by that point and would have slept in cardboard boxes had we not found a place soon. We got up a few hours later - around 11am - showered - and hit the road again. We reached my Dad's house by 8pm Saturday night. (about 24 hours after we left Florida).
Our drive from Indy back to Naples was a different story. Need I use the words...helldacious, horrific, & torture to describe the trip home? It was all that and then some. Before we ever left my Dad's house, poor Kenidi vomited all over his kitchen. We contemplated ever leaving that evening because we didn't want her getting sick in the car. (especially because we ordered a new vehicle several weeks ago and it came in thus allowing us to pick it up when back in Indiana) I didn't want Kenidi getting sick in the new ride nor did I want her to have to ride 18 hours while feeling ill. Luckily though, we believe she must have eaten something bad because after she threw up and got it off her stomach, she was right back to her normal self. We said our ~~goodbyes~~ "until next time's" and took off from my Dads around 7:30pm Friday night. I promised my Dad I wouldn't cry that time only because he is scheduled to come see me in Florida at the beginning of May. Needless to say, once I got in the car the tears rolled. Yes, I lied. :) Good thing I was able to hide in the backseat as we pulled away. Thank God also for illegally tinted windows on the new vehicle - "Florida dark" as Brent calls it. About 2 hours into our trip, the great state of Kentucky welcomed us with 2.5 hours of bumper to bumper traffic. By the time we made it thru that rat trap, I was ready to kill someone. It wasn't a pretty site. I kept trying to get Brennen to roll his window down and ask one of the semi-drivers beside us when the traffic jam was going to end because I knew they'd know from their buddies up ahead who had already gone thru it. However, he wouldn't do it. (even though he watched the car in front of us ask the semi truck next to us) I was in the third row backseat with Kross and not near a window. However, at that point, I was ready to jump out the nearest window and bail. Brent told me that the "devil" came out in me. He was right. Again, soooooo not pretty. Being car sick from that third row seat doesn't help a girl out either.
We got thru the traffic jam in Kentucky, made it to Atlanta and were on the hunt for our hotel. Unfortunately, the navigation in the new car took us to the wrong address which added an extra hour onto our trip. The devil was about to rear its ugly head again. Ending up in the hood - in downtown Atlanta - at 6am - is not my idea of a good time. It was a bad, bad, night. I had to pray for God to cleanse my soul afterward. I was doing a whole lot of repenting in the shower that next morning. LOL!
We made it to our hotel by 7:30am and we were paranoid that the kids wouldn't sleep once we got in the room. We pulled those hotel room shades though and you couldn't tell whether it was day or night. Believe it or not, by the grace of God, both Kross and Kenidi as well as Brennen slept from 7:30am all the way until noon when I got up to get my shower. I was shocked. Guess it goes to show how tired all of us were. We cleaned up and left the hotel with a late checkout at 1pm that afternoon. The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. We made it home by 10pm Saturday night. It was so great to step out of the car and feel those warm Florida temps blow across my face again.
I felt bad for Brent the whole way though because he drove like this...90% of the trip...

Some of you don't know that Brent has recently had to undergo eye surgery on both of his eyes. He had a torn retina in one eye and when he went to have it repaired, they discovered that his other eye was already detaching itself from the retina as well. He has lost most of the vision in his left eye so we are praying that the vision returns over time. The eye doctors have said it could take up to 6 months before he'll know how much vision he will get back. It's been horrible for him. We went thru the mountains in Tennessee and it started pouring down raining. He had such a hard time. Not only that but he kept scaring the ba-jeebers out of Brennen and I because his peripheral vision is so jacked up right now. I kept asking him to let me drive but of course he couldn't relinquish control to his wife (a.k.a Mario Andretti). Truth is...he didn't want to be present when I set a new track record. #ChickenLittle

Kenidi always does great on long car rides which is really surprising. She has had an extremely tough week because of all the up-rooting and change during our time away. However, the car ride is always a pleasant one for the most part with Kenidi Grace. She loves to watch her videos or color while riding. We recently got her an ipad after speaking with her teacher and learning that she uses them at school in tech lab and loves them. We downloaded the same apps that she uses at school and let me just tell ya...it was the best money ever spent. She loves it. With her special needs, we've found a ton of great apps that really help her. I'm on the hunt for some sign language apps now so that our whole family can learn some additional signs for her. We feel like the more sign language she knows, the more it might help her speak verbally in the long run - as backwards as that sounds. Kenidi rode like this pretty much the whole way...Miss long legs...

That girl loves her DVD head sets. She'd wear them around the house if we'd let her. Hee hee!

And Kross...well he was a perfect angel on the drive there and back as well. I couldn't have been more pleased with him. I was so worried that he would scream the entire way because he hates his car seat so much. However, most of the trip he spent like this...

Goodness I love those little toes and those fat little fingers. Unfortunately Indy gave him a going away present. We just got back from the pediatrician where we found out he has a 100.1 fever and an ear infection. Dang you Indiana weather!!!

And speaking of Indiana weather, check out how much Brennen loves the cold, gray, dreary look of Indy. And that thing he is wearing...it's called a COAT. (a.k.a - Cold Outside Again Today) I don't even own a coat anymore because I got rid of all mine last Fall beings that we never use them down here anymore. Just looking at the environment outside Brennen's window in that above picture reminds me of how much we really do live in paradise here in Naples. There just isn't any comparison. Living here and living in Indy is literally like night and day. Thank goodness we have awesome friends and family to make our trips back and forth to Indiana worth it. :)
This Coca-Cola sign below is in my Dad's garage. I walk by it a 100 times each time that I come and go while at his house. Each time I see it, I smile. Reason being...that little note on the corner of the sign...the one that reads "I love you Dad..." - well I wrote that years ago.

I honestly can't remember when it was that I wrote that on the sign but I know it was forever and a day ago. The crazy thing is that my Dad has left it there ever since. Never erasing it. Makes me smile. It's amazing how the little things of "home" always make you feel so good inside. Although the trip from Indy back to Naples was a nightmare and I now have two sick kiddo's because of the weather (yes Kenidi has a deep chest cold and runny nose now too), it was all worth the time that I got to spend with my family and my friends. I soooooo love you guys!

XOXO, Angie

BEACH SESSION - NAPLES, FLORIDA BEACH & FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-03-28T12:31:00.003-04:00

If there is one thing that intimidates me as a photographer, it's groups. Groups of people for a session. Beings that I live in a tourist area where the beach is many peoples location of choice for photography backdrops, I end up with "groups." Many times, just like the family shown here, you get calls from a large family wanting images which include their mom, dad, brothers, sisters, grandparents, etc. When I get those calls, my body starts to shiver and shake with not only excitement but also intimidation. Shooting groups of people, especially with children involved, is tough. Very hard to say the least. Add the harsh sunlight coming in off the gulf waters on the beach and you've got your mind made up before you ever arrive to do the job that it could be a potential disaster waiting to happen.
Thankfully though, once again, I didn't allow my negative thoughts to win and instead this particular shoot turned out to be a blast. Que Allyson and her family. She wanted images taken of her and her siblings as well as their children for their parents. Their family ROCKED! All of them. They knew exactly what they wanted, how they wanted it, and didn't mess around when we were attempting to achieve it. Allyson knew when to quit, when to push on with the kids, and when to call it a day. I absolutely loved working with her and the rest of her clan. Not only was this family gorgeous but everyone was a ton of fun too.

Allyson's family is from Miami but they were in town in Naples for this session. Her two boys look like something straight out of a Gap ad. And her sisters little one was too cute for words. What a happy baby - full of smiles.

The above shot was a candid, spur of the moment shot, between a Mother and her son. LOVED IT!

Above Allyson is with both of her boys. Such little studs! :)

The entire family was gorgeous. I couldn't have taken a bad image of them had I tried.

This last shot shown below was one where their entire family was trying to get Allyson's one little guy to smile. I love how relaxed yet energetic they all are here. It's probably one of my favorite shots of their session. Very candid and very real. Family is a gift and this family is truly blessed.

A huge thanks to Allyson and her family for the opportunity to work with them. I had a ball with you guys. :)

Lastly, on a totally different note, you can probably guess that we are back home from Indiana. We got in late Saturday night. Although a very short trip, it was well worth the time spent with family and friends. I have a few photos to share with you from our Griswold adventure and will be sure to post those in a day or so. Stay tuned. In the meantime, have a FAB week. Blessings, Angie

BE STILL MY BEATING HEART...

2011-03-16T15:44:00.006-04:00

I feel like I never get the time I want to photograph Kross. We are always on the go or I'm always photographing a client or editing images from a session or doing some other task that needs checked off my to-do list. Well today, I decided I was staying home and making the time to take some shots of him. Thankfully, he willingly participated. I timed it right - just after his late morning/early afternoon nap. He is such a happy baby so these shots were easy to get. :)

And for my "Jersey Shore" lovin' friends...this pair of images are for you. We love our Jersey Shore in this house. Now Kross has a tee to prove it. Actually, I'd rather have a Pauly D shirt for him instead but I have yet to find one of those. Anybody seen any?
Kross's hair color is just like what Brennen's was when he was this age. It's that strawberry blond. My Mom said it looks like we put "sun-in" on it. LOL! His eyes are just as gorgeous as Brennen's too. Same with Kenidi's. You can definitely tell that they are all related to one another. Love my kiddo's!

Speaking of Brennen...we celebrated his 12th birthday with a party on the beach this past Sunday. It was a gorgeous day and the boys that attended had a ball. I enjoyed sitting on the beach, watching the boys play in the sand and surf, while pouring over some of my favorite magazines.

I'm currently in the process of packing for our trip back to Indy. We leave this Friday evening and should be in Indiana by late - late Saturday night. It takes 18 hours to drive there but we break it up into a two day process because of the kids. We haven't flown the last couple of times because flying with Kenidi has become quite a chore. Now that we have a new baby, flying with both of them would be even more hard on all of us. Rather than get ejected off the plane in some random city, we've decided it's just easier to drive. LOL!

I'm leaving 84 degree weather to tred back to gloomy ol' Indy but it's all worth it just to see my parents and my girlfriends. I'm hoping it stays in at least the 60's while we are in town.

In the meantime, I'll leave all of you with the above image. For those of you heading this way for Spring break in a week or two, this is what is waiting for you. For those of you staying home in the cold and/or rain, we are thinking of you. :)
Much love, Angie

TOTAL RANDOMNESS

2011-03-09T19:20:00.005-05:00

You'll have to excuse me...I've been a bit tied up. A little preoccupied with taking photos of my babies. A bit busy just soaking up the title Mom and photographer all in one. I've grabbed some candids lately. Random shots that I've had a quick second to capture. These are a few of the random ones.

Kross has been sucking his thumb lately. I've expressed to him that only paci's are allowed in this house but he's already rebelling and defying me. He's totally out of control. LOL!

I took him for a walk thru the park the other day. Each time I seem to capture a shot of him, someone points out how he always appears to be flipping me the bird. It's happened so often that it's really becoming quite comical now. He's DEFINITELY the child of a photographer. Ha ha!

In other moments though, he totally hamms it up when I get the camera out. Cracks me up.

The shot above is a photo of his baby album that I designed the other day. It came in the mail yesterday. Can I just say L-O-V-E? It is now one of my most treasured posessions. I can't put it down. I just continue to keep thumbing thru it over and over again - remembering that early December morning just three short months ago. Thank God for photographs. What an amazing gift we have with the art of photography, eh? Moments frozen in time forever. Priceless moments.

Speaking of being a photographer, how do ya' like my new cell phone case??? Too cute, eh?

And these three vintage cameras...well Brent surprised me with them and brought them home to me the other day. I took this photo of them and then had it made into a 20x30 canvas for our great room. Again, can I say L-O-V-E?

In my free time lately, I've been a leach at this place...sprawling out over my laptop, my camera, and an iced cold carmel machiatto on their coolest of cool white leather couches. It's a quaint lil' place that a client of mine introduced me to. A swanky new coffee shop here in Naples called "The Brick." It's located on 5th Avenue in downtown Naples. Very European and very posh. Love, love, love. I especially love their beautiful chandaliers throughout the place. GAW-JUS! Pure yumminess!

This next week is going to be nuts for me. I've got several shoots to do, a mentor session with a client tomorrow, dinner with friends Saturday evening, Brennen's 12th birthday party at the beach on Sunday and then next week I'm prepping for our trip back to Indiana come Friday. Yeap, we are headed home for Spring Break - to the cold and fridgid temps of Indy. Brrrr! I don't even own any cold weather clothes anymore. I have to shop for some while there. Crazy, eh? When it's 85 degrees here in Florida - like it was again today - you eventually throw out all of your winter type clothes because they just sit there in your closet - never getting used anymore. We'll be home for a week visiting friends and family and introducing baby Kross to all who have yet to meet him in person. We then return to Naples on the 27th. On the 28th, we have our dear friends Tamara and Joe arriving in town with their son Derek. (Brennen's best buddy from back home) We'll be spending the week with them while they are here and in Florida for their spring break. We can't wait to see them again and introduce them to Kross. :)

So...life is going to be crazy busy in the coming weeks. I love it that way though. I'll be in touch via a blog post or two before we head out of town. Before leaving for Indy, I'm dropping my laptop at the shop for yet another repair so that it can be getting fixed while I'm traveling. Therefore, I won't be updating the blog while we are in Indy. I'll catch up once we are back home though. Hope you guys have a ROCK STAR weekend. Huge hugs...XOXO, Angie