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

 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

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 =)

Something new on the blog starts today.  WORD ON WEDNESDAY will be posted weekly (on wednesday…’doh!) and entries will be due by tuesday at 6:00pm ET.  I have a feeling it may be only me participating and nagging the you know what out of Christi to play along (annoying her, bugging… begging.. you get it).  But anyone is welcome.  At the end of every “wednesday” post will be next weeks word.  The goal is to take the week to photograph your interpetation of the word and share it amongst others, as to show how we all interpet and see the world differently, how one thing can mean so many different things to different people… and/or just to have fun =)

If you are good with a resizing program, the image would be best sent at 750px wide on the longest side and at 72dpi – but full size/resolution images are accepted.  If you are a photographer and wish to have your image linked to your page that is fine, too.  You may also add a description if you wish if your photograph is more abstract and you would like to explain WHY your chosen subject represents the word as well!  Please send to dani@danielleluc.com with the subject as the word of the week so I do not miss it.

I think this will be a good mixup to the blog-o-sphere =) Or a flop, we’ll see.

This week’s participants: Christi

Next week’s word is:

Time

xo

dani

So not only are there twins here making it twice as nice, but twice the families in a normal blog post, too =)

This was my first experience with newborn twins, and it went a lot smoother than I thought it would.  I don’t get nervous often, but I know what it’s like to have newborns who sleep like angels, and newborns who choose to party for a while before they do.  No worries here.  For the first while, they were both out.  Meet this precious brother-sister duo, A. & A. at ten days old.

I just wonder what they think… these twins.  Even though they shared a seprate space in the womb, do they know eachother? Do they feel comforted by eacother?  What will they think when they are older.  Will they have a neat connection that other’s notice but cant “see”, be best friends?  What a blessing.  He’ll look after her, and she’ll be a princess =)  Mom and Dad are super smitten – and how could they not be?

Now, these two kiddos have a special place in my heart.  They make me laugh so much, and are so loving (well to me anyway, not always to eachother…hehe).  I got to see them twice while in town from Tennessee and both times got lots of hugs and silly knock-knock jokes.  L. and G. are the spunkiest, happiest little stinkers and are just as wonderful as their parents.

The first night we did portraits, I brought them each a cupcake.  I’d just baked some that morning and thought it would be a nice treat… and sure enough, they were so good that they knocked little G. off of the picnic table and busted a knot right on his head   Talk about feeling bad!

I had a few more but I think I am having export issues tonight.  I’m worried these are lackluster in color and that I need to re-post.  If that ends up being the case, I promise to do so and do them justice.

I’ll be back after labor day, enjoy your week and holiday!

xo

dani