There are many evenings I sit, edit and watch bad reality tv. Don’t judge…the nights get long and the editing is never ending.  The point of this, is that I am often scared about the youth of our country.  And then I meet Erika…a bright, cheerful and ambitious senior attending her last year of Hamilton High School.  Not only has she traveled around the world, met celebrities and authors, but is an extraordinary person all around.  And to top her many list of achievements in her young life, she also runs and maintains a pretty amazing book review website.   Erika - you have reestablished my faith in the youth of our nation.  You are also beautiful inside and out!

Elizabeth is beautiful, energetic and sweet.  She is also going to be a senior this fall and I had the great honor of shooting her senior pictures!

Elizabeth, her mom and grandmother traveled over from Saginaw for her session and even though it was hot, and humid, she rocked it out.  This sweet teen is also the cousin of one of my favorite brides from last summer, Nicole!

I loved everything about this session…mixing a little urban with a little country and showing off all sides of her personality.

I’m going to preface this by stating that I don’t do a lot of senior sessions. Not because I don’t enjoy them, but because my summers book up quickly and by the time many get around to scheduling then boom…the summer is completely full!  But Brooke planned well, called me early and we plotted out her session.  This beautiful girl is going to California next year to study on the west coast and I have no doubts she’s going to be amazing.

You know the saying ‘I’d give the shirt off my back’? Well Brooke realized halfway into the session that her beloved skinny jeans she had planned for this outfit were sitting at home.  I looked down at my own pair that I had on and offered to switch it lend her mine.  We switched outfits right then and there…no hitch in her original outfit intent.  Anything for my sweet clients ;).

Fashion is a fickle thing, isn’t it? Every week I find another new ‘trend’ that is the ‘must have’ item for the season. And I ruefully search the internet, usually purchase said item, and wear it once realizing it really isn’t me (dresses are adorable but leggings are just so much comfortable!) and shoving it to the back reaches of my closet, never to see the light of day again.  I shop, looking at just one more pair of boots, thinking this will be the staple item that will magically pull my entire wardrobe together and I won’t have to purchase anything else all season.  Uh huh.

So in an attempt to purge my closet, drawers and bedroom floor of these many unneccesary purchases, I am going to be gathering together items for donation, handing-down and selling on Smashion…a free marketplace for those selling clothing. We’ll call this one of my 2011 resolutions.  I’m also going to attempt to be more thoughtful in my shopping. Realizing that I need to purchase based on my lifestyle, not Blake Lively’s.

Tell me, dear readers…what are your shopping/fashion habits? Do you hop on the latest trends?  Are your closets filled with things you never wear? Are you still rocking tight-rolled jeans? Should we have a giant clothing swap?

Laura and Kyle are expecting their first little one in t-minus one month!

Pretty Laura and her hubby Kyle wanted a winter maternity session to celebrate the coming arrival of their son next month (the gender is not a secret, the name, however is under lock and key!).  We both had visions of swirling snowflakes and a blanket of white snow for our shoot, but wouldn’t you know Michigan had but a few small piles of snow to be seen. But with a lovely little location scouted out and this adorable couple, I think we did just fine ;).