Christmas Card Special!

I realize Christmas is almost 4 months away, but I've had some requests for Christmas cards and decided to put together a special for my faithful clients. Because I know everyone is busy (including myself!) I've made it simple for us both. Just pick a photo from your session, as well a template from below, and presto! You'll get a CD with your Christmas card saved as a jpeg file, ready to be printed at the lab of your choice. All you have to do is drop the CD off, and pick up your cards. Or, if you're feeling really lazy, just upload the file to the lab's website. No more waiting in line to use the machine, only to get the same vertical card everyone sends out. Couldn't be easier! The best part is, the CD is just $50.00!


Guidelines for submitting your request:


*Make sure the photo you choose fits in the corresponding window on the template (e.g. if it's a horizontal opening, it must be a horizontal picture)


*Email me at: summer@summerknoblochphotography.com with your picture request (just look on the back of the photograph for the image number) and template #.


*Include your family member's names as well as your last name.

*These templates are not fully customizable. Only names and pictures will be switched out.

*I MUST have your request by October 1st. So you've got ONE MONTH to get your request in!

I can't end this post without giving credit where credit is due! These awesome templates were designed by a colleague I met on flickr. She has graciously allowed me to use them, so please, check out her work.
Kim's website http://www.unscriptedmomentsphotography.com/ and
her blog unscriptedmomentsphoto.blogsome.com


Template#1

Template#2

Template#3

Template#4

(All templates are 5x7 size)

It's official...

...I'm hooked on newborns. I just can't get enough of these sweet little ones! This little guy was so perfect! He slept almost the entire 3 hours I was shooting...he didn't even stir when I carried him outside for some shots. I just love him to pieces!

I'd love to capture more newborns, so if you know of any expecting mommas, please pass my name along!

"T", here's your sneak peek...lots more to come!

(click on this first one to really do it justice!)

I was so excited when I saw this little sign hanging on a birdhouse outside their house...I just had to use it!

Making Some Progress...

I am starting to make some progress on proofing all these sessions! I'm only 3 sessions out now, so that's a little better than 6!

Here's the sneak peeks I promised my last 2 family sessions from earlier this week. Please click on the images to view them best.

For the "K" family and the "L" family :)

This first session was for a very special woman & her family. "C" was one of Henry's PICU nurses, as well as one of his pallbearers. She is sweet, selfless, and always made us laugh :) She was his primary nurse after his first surgery, and we don't know how we could have done it without her. She took so much time explaining things to us when Henry was first diagnosed, and has become and stayed a dear friend, even after 2 1/2 years!
Here you go "C"!

This one cracks me up.....I especially love the little guy screaming in the background. Sorry moms, but I just couldn't resist this one!

"A" and I go back a long ways...she went to high school with my sister. We've lost touch over the many years that have passed since then, so I was excited to hear from her a few months back. She & her family were in town visiting family, and I had the chance to photograph them and meet her beautiful children. Here you go, "A"!

Clips and headbands and pony holders, oh my!

You may remember a post a few weeks back about a company called Oopsie Dazie. The owner, Cindy, commissioned me to do some commercial work for her, and here are some of the results! Shooting still objects is definitely NOT something I am used to :) and I have to say, while it wasn't as tiring as a child session (oh, and I got to stay in the air conditioning!), it still came with it's own challenges. I really had to get the creative juices going on this one, and I think for my first time, it turned out pretty well! Here's just a taste for Cindy, as I know I've kept her waiting for awhile for these. I should have the rest done by this weekend...and I'll add on the model shots then (Charlotte and her daughter were both models for me) :)

Here's your very belated sneak peek, Cindy...thank you for being so patient, and so sweet!

Back to real life

This post is more personal than usual...those of you who are friends will understand it better...

It seems like just a few days ago we were leaving on vacation, and here we are, back already! Vacations always go by so fast. We had a great time, and made lots of memories with the kiddos.

This was our first vacation for my whole family to take since Heidi has died, so it was bittersweet at times. I missed her so much this week, and really felt just how incomplete our family really is still. Drew asked several times (out of the blue) where his mommy was. I guess he has been asking that for awhile now, but I had never heard him ask before. He was so persistent in wanting to know. It was such a painful experience for all of us....not really knowing what to say. I think we all knew this day would come, but yet were unprepared for it. I want to protect him from the pain of not having his mommy here, but I know I can't do that. All we can do is pray for God to give us the strength to say the right thing.

All in all, we had a relaxing week, filled with beautiful weather (mid 70's.....ahhhh, such a relief from the 95 degree temps we'd been having here), sand, waves, and late night UNO games. I feel like another page has turned in this book of My Life, and a new chapter is beginning....filled with new traditions, as well as some old ones.

There are lots of pictures ahead....I have to warn you, I am without Photshop for the week, so no creative touches/editing!

We found these enormous sand dunes! That's Drew at the bottom of the hill (Matt & Andy had climbed to the top- crazy men!)

This is without a doubt my favorite photograph from our trip. I remember watching this and thinking, I wish Heidi could be here to see this...what an amazing moment between Andy & Drew. My mom was sitting next to me and said at that exact moment "I like to think Heidi can see those two right now, and how much pleasure it must bring her." Words just can't describe how I felt watching this scene.

Flying a kite...

Tickles

A common sight on the way up there and back

Exploring downtown St. Joseph....gorgeous town!

The whole gang! (do I look out of breath from running to get in the picture?)

My baby girl :)

Just a few to make you laugh :)

Two peas in a pod...

Hands down, my mom & dad are the best parents, ever!

The end! :)

Sneak Peek Palooza

I've been busy lately, therefore, the blog's been busy! I've got two sneak peeks in one today, so scroll down to see both. This first is from a 1st birthday party. The birthday boy was feeling a little under the weather that day, but he perked up when he got his first taste of birthday cake! J & J- thanks for inviting me to T's special day :)

In one word: YUM.

Having some fun with the big fan :)

This next sneak peek is for B & B (what's up with all these couples sharing initials?) They had a family reunion over the weekend, so I tagged along and snapped some pictures of the whole gang :) It felt like several sessions wrapped up in one, which made for a very fun night! Enjoy your sneak peek you two! (actually, all 17 of you!)

Lolipops were the perfect bribe for the kiddos :)

Ok folks, I'm officially on vacation starting tomorrow! For those of you with sessions scheduled this month, I may be running a little behind on proofing. I will do my best to get them to you early or on time (as I usually do), but if it goes closer to 2 or 2 1/2 weeks without hearing from me, don't worry- I am just up to my eyeballs in images right now, and am doing my best to climb out of the heap! :) Between babies being born early, some "fit ins" and a community outreach, I am a bit overscheduled this month. It's a great thing though - this new bad boy of a computer is still waiting to be paid for! :)

Ta-ta for now! I'm headed for a week on the beach!

~S

So much to say

I haven't posted snapshots in such a long time. Tonight we had a dinner party with some friends, and it was so nice getting some pictures of our kids all together. It was such a fun night (even though Charlotte was injured several times - ahh the life of a walker!)

Just a reminder: next week I am on vacation, and may or may not have access to email. I will have access to voicemail, so feel free to try me that way if you don't get a response via email. We are renting a house on Lake Michigan with my family and I'm pretty sure wireless is not accessible where we're staying (considering there's no tv! Yes, I said no tv. Whatever will we do?) I will probably be a little lost without my email but it will be a nice break to not be able to do anything work related for 4 whole days! (although I am planning on editing all the way up there & back) :)

This next month is CRAZY busy....lots of overbookings and "squeeze ins", so all you may be seeing/hearing from me for awhile is sneak peeks...so I apologize in advance! Hopefully by the this fall things will be more normal!

Ok, enough of my ramblings! I'll leave you with a few snapshots from tonights party:

*I know I am sounding repetitive, but really, you have to click on each picture to see it best!*

This handsome devil front and center is my brother-in-law. I'm pretty sure they were laughing at the kids doing something ridiculous.

Charlotte and her little friend were being bounced on the trampoline and got bounced into this position. So cute!
(I'm pretty sure Charlotte is eating leaves here)

Nick...a huge blessing in a tiny little body.


I am trying some new techniques using sun flare...obviously haven't figured it out yet :) but I'm getting better!

Future heartbreaker right here, ladies!

My sweet, sweet nephew...

and just when you think your heart can't grow any bigger...

it does.

Sigh. I love this little girl so much.

Until next time!

~S

Babies, Babies, Babies!

There seems to be a lot of newborns lately! I have a few more in the next month, so my blog will be filled with lots of sweet little ones! This little girl, at 5 weeks, was a little older than the typical newborn shoot, but she was still just as tiny! The hour and a half drive was worth it- to get my hands on a tiny little baby girl again :) Baby "A" decided she didn't want to sleep much for me, but it didn't keep me from getting some precious shots. Here are just a few to tide mom over until I finish proofing. "A" is just too cute!

{click on each image to see it best} :)

You really have to click on this one to see it best....what a gorgeous momma and baby girl!