I officially hit the two week mark with this one I try to have newborns hosted within seven days.  I now have time, space, and quiet – and my pc that my hubbster had built for me two years ago just took a royal dump on my celebration.  It’s been acting slow and funky for the last two weeks or so and finally yesterday it really went “wrong” – all the diagnostics in the world can’t seem to fix it – so I have a new one being built that I should have no later than the end of the week :-/  Adding more hours to my work week I can do, but without the tools, I have no options other than to apologize and wait patiently.  I suppose the timing is never good, however the week before a wedding when I prefer to have all of my editing and ordering and emailing documents all caught up isn’t really my first choice of “when”.

I think I have to be gently reminded that I am not always in control here, and I’m not the only photographer this has happened to and certainly not the last.  I never keep images on my computer so that has never been a worry for me, however it stinks anyway.  Not just for me, but for those who are waiting. I’m going with a 6 core over my current 4 core processor and going to a newer OS so I can support more RAM than the two sticks I have – so I suppose, as one of my computer boys said, the only upside is I get an even faster machine out of the deal (and a bit less in my bank account, teehee).

I also wanted to share a few from an engagement session from back in May – Meet Sarah + Josh!  Their wedding is at the end of August of this year.  They both have such a neat chemistry and a level of comfort around eachother that is so sweet, I just love it when couples can be themselves and let who they are together really shine <3 Their wedding portraits, I have a feeling, will be very telling because their connection is so obvoius and rich.

Upward and onward, I thank you in advance for your patience and know that I will be here dilligently upon the arrival of my new machine, getting your items requested/ordered/expected, to you as promptly as possible!

xo

dani

Welcome baby Mackenzie – and a special thank you to your BEAUTIFUL Mommy and your loving Daddy for coming over to be our models!  Taylor, my student, was an amazing help and took a few really nice ones herself.  I got two neat new wood tree pieces from an awesome woodmaker in California and I couldnt be more delighted with how they turned out. I cant wait to use the other one, too!

There really isnt too much for me to say here – I think they speak for themselves <3 Mom Keri and I used to be in a local bridal show for a bridal shop my grandparents owned when we were little. I think it’s so neat when you have the opportunity to know someone almost your entire life and see all of the wonderful things they accomplish and the beautiful families they grow.

And THANK YOU for the awesome feedback on my post yesterday. Whether it was a “like”, a comment here or on facebook, or an email – I am so thrilled that I reached you, if I did.  I like to write and always wonder if my personal life fits in on here. I suppose yes and no.  But I am so blessed to have such awesome support(ers).

All of my love,

xo

dani

Sweet little Zoe – even if she woke up, she was a sweet peach.  Transitioning sometimes is an issue but this little chick-a-dee slept through being moved all over.

Mom brought this little tutu/pettiskirt and headband and lucky for Zoe, it’s sizeable up to 12 months so she can wear it for her first birthday photo’s too =)

A small trip down memory lane:  Baby Zoe’s older brother, Carter, was one of the first newborns I’d ever photographed back in 2008 and… I think they look a lot alike!

If she is anything like her brother, I can’t wait to see how beautiful this child is going to be… especially when mom gets to shop for all the cute GIRL stuff now =)

We had a wonderful wedding yesterday and I am very excited to share some of those shortly on the blog <3

Thanks for stopping!

xo

dani

 Happy Saturday to YOU =)

Baby A. was 8 days old for these images and he slept like a champ.  It really does make a difference getting them in before 12 days old.  Sometimes I think people think I may be completely off my rocker when I say between 3-12 days, but I am most definitely serious about that.

Enjoy your weekend.  Lot’s of things goin on in the Luc household this past week or two and some time away from home is needed for all of us – even though the (finally) fresh air makes the back yard feel like a vacation, hehehe!

xo

dani

 Little Baby G. has been set to head this blog post, and inserting the portrait is as far as I got for almost a week now. Eek!

Happy (belated) New Year, everyone!

I suppose there would be a belated “Merry Christmas” in here, too.  Things just got away from me and I just haven’t had the chance.

Word on Wednesday will make a return. I miss doing it.

A new wedding website is debuting soon (off track from the Jan. 1 launch, but what can I say other than the above about things getting away from me).

Family sessions will be moving to Mini Sessions only and during October.

Lot’s of other things to come. And I really mean it, I’m really going to blog it all. Swear.

xo

dani

So sweet, content, easy to work with was little M.  We did her portraits at Auntie B’s house becuase mom loves all of her furnishings – they worked out, too =)

Mom and Auntie B. are sisters that I grew up with in my childhood neighborhood. We moved when I was 11 but I have some of the best  memories with them!  Obviously there were more than I’d realized as I kept spouting them off (sorry mom and dad, if that got annoying… hehe!).

I have to kind of keep things moving here, expect one more post before Christmas then DLP will be on a few weeks hiatus (you know, the one that is supposed to happen in december but NEVER does?!)  Lots to tell you, coming up… that’s for sure.

Enjoy your very first Christmas with your new little love, A. family <3

xo

dani

ps: i know word on wed. has been absent – i just cannot keep up. project resuming, have no fear!

My choice for “grateful” was my family.  I have this image framed in my house and have little wooden people that represent the four of us that sit on top.  I love it <3

Cindy, Alicia, and Christi sent in adorrrrrable images of the kids theyare grateful for.  Alicia wrote to me, how grateful she was that her two oldest can wrestle and play around, and no matter what (i.e. who gets hurt in the process!) they are always buddies at the end.

I dont know about you all but I am a mix of somber and cheer around the holidays.  I love, love spending time with my family and enjoying the cozy indoors.  But I am also the queen of empathy and constantly have on my mind those who are without.  I cannot imagine not having a family to visit with, food to eat, or a roof over my head.  I do not like to think of others being lonely, or hungry (not that anyone does) but it re-visits my head when I am at the store picking out toys or other things for Christmas… do I need to overload my children?  What other child would be happy to have just one of these toys? 

Always remain grateful and aware of those around you… but put your full heart into enjoying what you have <3

This weeks participants: Cindy, Alicia, and Christi

Next weeks word (might be more of a thinker!) :

Immerse

xo

dani

 word on wednesday is an ongoing project challenging photographers and non-photographers alike to take the given word and find representation or inspiration for a photograph with it. there is no right or wrong, it just “is”.  the goal with this project is to show ways we all can hear or see the same thing (word in this case) and have it mean many different things; to represent the colorfulness of the human mind and it’s ability to choose for itself.  submissions should be sent by 6:00pm ET on tuesdays

Lots to do, lots to do.

Wedding weekend this weekend (YAY!).  I’ve only got oh… 9 different galleries to host by friday morning.  No stress! =)

It was obviously a busy last week with every make-up on the books and lots of next years wedding couples scheduling their sessions for late fall.  I am a bit tired, but not sure what that has to say for someone who’s up at 1:45 am and has to do reading group to a bunch of 1st graders in the morning… hmm!

The first two images are two girls I’ve known for a little while now, and one of the very first I ever photographed.  Littlest C. was under one year old at the time!  Oldest sister E. went to pre-school with my daughter and they were cute buddies together.  I always enjoyed their mother’s company, but as our girls went to different schools – we didn’t get to see eachother much.  It was crazy refreshing to see Mom and how much her beautiful, amazing daughters have grown up.

Baby B. is turning ONE here soon.  His session came in with some family portraits as well – dad was overseas when B. was born, serving our country.  These were their first family portraits and I decided to let them view them first before blogging them.  Thank you, Kyle – for your service to our country and for all of the sacrifices you made on our behalf.  Thanks also to technology; Kyle was even able to be “in the room” when little B. was born via computer connection.  I know very few military men and women but I admire each and every one of you who work so hard to maintain a family unit.  I cannot imagine what you go through, but I thank you.  B.’s mom was there for me at a challenging time in my life when I was in college, and I don’t know that I ever thanked her appropriately, but maybe only how I knew how to at the time. I hope she knows I am grateful. She’s a tough cookie, too.

Lastly, Jenny + Mitch.  I’ve known Jenny since… ohh…. well, our dads played softball together since I know for sure I was in diapers so I’m guessing it just goes back that far.  Our parents were friends growing up and we spent many a nights at eachothers houses while our parents would enjoy “wing nights”.  There was a lot of insane karaoke, hair-doing, and crazyness between Jenny, her brother, and my brother and myself (and a few others!) for years.  Then we all grew up (she’s a DOCTOR now!) and had our own activities to keep up with and life just happened.  I’ve had a lot of jobs or even just run-in’s with long lost child hood/high school/college friends and lately, they have just been such a pick-me-up.

Our lives may have went on in bewteen the times that we were in touch on a more regular basis…

…but it is always so cool to meet up with the people who, in one way or another, shaped who you became.

xo

dani

THANK YOU for all the feedback on my last post, you made my night/day today.

-Booking: for the remainder of 2010 has closed, thanks for a great season!  Booking for January 2011 and beyond will resume after Holiday break.

- Weddings: are pretty much full for the main sweep season for 2011. I am both grateful and excited!  Weddings from dlp will be taking on a life of their own soon, branching out into something spectacular (in my eyes, anyway) and I cannot wait to share that with you all as 2011 nears.  I think you will love it!

Okay, back to the regularly scheduled programming.

I think it’s becoming baby-palooza around here! There are 3 more coming between now and the new year.

So far, it’s a continuing girl-scene.  There one boy coming for sure, one girl, and one surprise on the way!

Welcome to the world, baby I.,  you might have given me a run for my dough (and the need to change my shirt) but I win =)

I think she looks a lot  like her big sister, K. who was around 3 months old here and is a perfect girly addition to her amost all-girl clan of cousins (little P. is one of them!  I. has TWO big sisters who love to hold her, so there’s no shortage of love in that house =)

Again I am a bit short on words but sometimes words just aren’t needed or nessecary <3

xo

dani

 Miss Reagan belongs to my friend Alisha and her husband Nick – and I am tickled to finally meet her… a nearly two hour road trip seems to fly when there is something exciting waiting on the other end!  Little sweetpea slept peacefully and had a lot of teeny little grins to share.  A special thank you to Auntie Jamie for her help today, too – shes a reflector-holder extraordinare =)

It was so nice to take a day trip today, I also got to spend a late lunch with another great friend (Panera soup with my Jen!) who’s little baby BOY is due very soon and might surprise us with an appearance any time now.  I kinda cannot wait to get my mitts on him, either… hehehe. 

Today was a reminder to take time for myself to enjoy those in my life that I don’t see enough… to take a day, every now and then. 

I’ll go to bed happy tonight and hope that monday is real kind and gentle =)

Congratulations Nick & Alisha, shes perfect.

xo

dani

ps: dont forget the deadline for Word on Wednesday submission  is tuesday at 6:00pm eastern =)