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Once again I had a huge response for the Fresh Faces contest, over 50 entrants! While I was in Orlando, a group of my colleagues voted on the top 10! Congrats if you made it….all the kiddos were so cute, I’m glad I didn’t have to do the choosing!Voting begins today and will end on February 28th. Only ONE vote per person is allowed, so please be fair. The boy and girl with the most votes will win, and winners will be announced on March 1st. All sessions will take place sometime after we are able to get outside again.

Without further ado, here are the Top 10!

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

Congrats, Good Luck, and let the voting begin! Vote for your favorite based on the numbers above.

Well…I’m baaaaaaaaack! I had a FABULOUS time at the convention in Orlando! It was 5 long days of learning, shooting, and inspiration!! It’s always wonderful to meet people who love the same things I do and hang out with old friends from across the country. It’s nice to be able to take some time away, let loose, and come home feeling totally rejuvenated…ready to take on the world! Of course, it wasn’t all work and no play…we made some time for a few nights of karaoke fun!

Our speakers were some of the top photographers in the nation: the ever inspiring David Jay, the fabulous Jen Hillenga, lighting guru Doug Box, and the uber talented husband and wife team, Garrett and Joy Nudd. If you’ve got some time, check out their work. If you’re a photographer looking for a speaking engagement to attend, I highly recommend any of these fabulous people.

While I was there, I also entered a few images in a print competition to be voted on by my peers. I was pleased to receive first and second place in the newborn category and first place in the children’s category. My suitcase was 5 pounds too heavy on the way home from the glass trophies! Here are the images!

First Place Newborn

Second Place Newborn

First Place Children

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Ava’s Rule

On another note, I wanted to blog about something that touched my heart so incredibly deeply as soon as I heard about it. Ava’s story is one of heartwrenching sadness…I can’t even begin to imagine how families survive such a thing. Here’s an excerpt from Ava’s mother (a fellow photographer) that was posted to her blog last February:

“On Saturday the 3rd of February, on a very “normal” day in our normal, happy life, our World was shattered. In short, our beautiful daughter Ava got into our car which was, unusually, parked in full sun in the middle of the day. She had been with Grandad who lives next door (we have one wall around both properties) and said she was returning to my house but in fact went searching for something in the car. We always lock it. Just not that day. Once she got in she shut the door and was not able to find her way back out.

Our princess fought so bravely for two days in ICU but on Monday the 5th of February, she flew to Heaven.

Words can never express the pain in our heart or the void we feel. It makes no sense but we are so grateful to have had her for three years and we will continue to work very hard to provide our other three children a wonderful childhood filled with happy memories.”

On February 5th it was a year since Ava’s death. In memory of little Ava, her family set up a memorial website in her honor. Please take some time to browse the site and read Ava’s story. In hopes to prevent this tragedy from happening to other children, Ava’s parents have put together the following postcard. Please feel free to share this card (and Ava’s story) with family and friends.

Hug your loved ones extra special tonight!!