WEBSITE: Book One

Book One is done, finally. Man, time flies when you're having fun. (Wait, I'm not having fun.)

B. Toys 2010 Catalog

Just completed a toy catalog for B. Toys. The art director, Andrea Gavin and copywriter, Amy Flanagan were an incredibly talented team to work with, alongside the amazing client, Gisela Voss. In total, there were ten shoots ranging in age of kids being inspired by the toys, being silly, being themselves. (p.s. gotta love their motto!)

Find the toys at Target.

2¢

As an art director, I loved when a photographer inspired me with their promotional pieces not just harassed me. Those are the pieces that stayed clear of the trash bin. And they don't have to be fancy, just interesting. So my two cents, don't just send a pretty photograph—send an idea, send a piece of yourself with your work. (A piece of your mind, you big silly, not an arm or a toenail. Most people won't like that.)  
  
(2¢ post series is me offering up my mostly useless, sometimes helpful photo-ad industry tips. enjoy!)

Little Boy, Big Eyes

before-after (2007)

I've made some big changes to my garden over the past five years. Each year I take on one big project. Here's one transformation from 2007—this year I was preggers so I took it easy. I only transformed an old parking space and crappy front lawn into a wildflower and vegetable garden. 
  
Click here for more garden pics. (I've been trying to tell you I'm a little crazy about my garden. Clearly, you're not listening.) 
      

green thumb...

Keeping a visual record of my garden is easier for me. I don't have time to sit and spend hours writing in a garden journal, especially when I'd rather be in the garden getting my hands dirty anyway. So I take before-after pics of spaces I change or plan to change in the yard. I also take pics of what I'm adding to the garden, where I'm adding it, of the flower so I know what the color palette is in that space and of the tag so I always have info on the plant handy.  
  
(Green thumb post-series is me offering up my gardening tips, which I warn you, probably aren't all that helpful. Enjoy!)
  

Petal & Leaf Series

I know I'm a kids shooter and it's clear I'm not a great still life photographer. But there are some things I love so much in this crazy, giant world—small things that make me deliriously happy—that I can't help but photograph them. My garden is one of those things. I've put together a series called Petal & Leaf which I'll showcase on my new site.  Here's one of my favorites:  

WEBSITE: Pura Vida

My series Pura Vida is done. Edited 7500 photographs down to this small chunk. Man, was this hard. What I need is another trip to Costa Rica as my reward.   

before-after (2006)

Over the past five years, I've made some big changes to my garden and plan to make some more. I take on one huge project a year. Here's one transformation from 2006—I cut down an old clothesline (or should say sawed), removed 4 large practically-dead forsythia bushes—roots and all, dug out about 100 big rocks and then "built" a poorly constructed rock wall, added raised beds, removed a yew, and added beautiful peonies, dahlias and vegetable plants. Let's just say I was in killer shape after that!
   

Poop and Peat Pots

Over the past few years I've tried starting my seedlings in peat pots, in plastic pots, in cow pots, in egg cartons... and so on. The only thing that's worked for me are plastic pots. CowPots were the worst and I so wish that weren't the case. I really wanted them to work because I love the idea — recycling cow dung, how great! But the plants I started in plastic yogurt cups grew faster and larger than the same ones started in the cow pots and peat pots. So if you're starting your own plants from seed this year, see what works best for you but don't put all your eggs in one basket. (Very interesting post, right. Don't be jealous, you can aspire to this level of blog posting if you work really hard.)

Coming Soon

I couldn't possibly leave you with those last couple, lamo posts—that would have been so mean of me! I'm off for a couple weeks, figured I'd leave you with happy thoughts of your garden in Spring and Summer. My favorite flower: Belle of Barmera dinnerplate dahlia. If you aren't growing dahlias in your garden then you shouldn't have a garden. I just bought my dahlia tubers for this coming season from White Flower Farm.
    

Lame Blog Post

Wow, I just reread my last post -- so lame! My apologies. If I were you, I'd stop visiting my blog. That'll teach me. 

2¢

Stand out in a crowd—brand yourself, not just your photography. You're a whole package, corny as that sounds. Your business cards, your promos, your website, your blog, and your book should all be in sync. Not all creative directors/art buyers/etc. notice but the good ones do. 
(2¢ post series is me offering up my mostly useless, sometimes helpful photo tips. enjoy!)