I had hoped to do a little work while up there…I thought for sure I’d be able to snag someone’s wireless internet or hit up one of the small town coffee shops for some free wi-fi, but wouldn’t you know it, there was none to be found.  My husband and I had a good chuckle as we were driving verrrrry slowly around the lake trying to pick up someone’s signal.  No dice. LOL The next day we headed into town, I thought for sure I could hit up the library or the coffee shop…NOTHING!  I thought it was crazy, but my husband reminded me that I shouldn’t be “working” on vacation anyway.  So, I apologize to those who emailed and got no response for several days.  I will be returning all calls and emails in the next couple days.

Before I left for vacation, I had the pleasure of photographing this next lovely family who happen to also be good friends.

Layla’s mom owns the Divas & Darlings boutique (27th & Pine Lake) here in Lincoln.  She has lots of great stuff in the store including designer baby/kids clothes, specialty baby items, and maternity clothing.  If you have a session coming up, or just need something super cute, head on over and check it out!!

I loved these two images together!

I mean how can this NOT make you smile?!?!  

Isn’t she just the most precious little thing??!!  So so adorable!!

Love LOVE this one!!  

A few of my faves…

Sharing a bunch because I couldn’t just pick a few…

This one makes me smile.

Something I love LOVE about this one too…

The lovely ladies.

A few of my faves…

P.S. A big THANKS to Melissa for her referral. This family recently relocated from Kansas and Melissa was so kind to refer them to me.  Thanks girl!

I super love this one!

A lot of families request this shot…and I never tire of shooting it.  I love how each family fits together differently.  

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IN OTHER NEWS…

Another exciting announcement….if you’re a Facebook Fan you may have already seen….but I haven’t blogged it here yet…a couple weeks ago I designed an iPhone/iPad/iPod/Droid/Blackberry friendly website.  I think it’s pretty cool, if I do say so myself!   I actually don’t own an iPhone, but my iPad – WOOT! WOOT! – arrived in the mail last week and I’m lovin’ it (welll….when I can wrestle it away from my kids and husband)!!!  Many websites are Flash based websites which are not viewable via iPhones, etc., so with a lot of people browsing via mobile devices I thought it would be fun to have something for them as well.   For touch devices, you are able to scroll through the site by swiping the screen (which is SA-WEET!) and view slideshow galleries that look like Flash, but they’re not.

Sooooo if you have one of the devices listed above, you’ll have to check it out.  Go to the website as you normally would, choose “view site”, and it should automatically recognize your browsing device and route you to the new site!  If you don’t have one of the devices above, next time you’re in the Apple store, test out the new iPad and visit the site…or steal your friend’s iPhone to take a peek.

Here’s a little preview…

His mom warned me that he was ALL boy and a little busy body, and she was right!  One is such a great age as they are so full of wonder and determination…totally fearless….so innocent…and just plain cute.

I have a whole series of images where he kept looking in this hole.  It was so funny and I couldn’t stop giggling.  I bet he was obsessed with this whole for at least 10-15 minutes.  He was determined to find something in the hole.  Mom said he has a toy where the ball comes out of the hole so he was probably looking for that, but it was just too cute.

First up is this adorable family that is always such a pleasure to work with!  As you can see, baby number 2 (a boy!) will be arriving soon…and lucky for mom, just before the heat of summer comes around.  Good timing guys!  The weather was beautiful the day of our session…just perfect…and the colors are glorious this time of year.  Oh how I love to be able to be outside again!!

Big sis was so sweet with mom’s belly…

…giving the baby a little tickle.

…and some loves.

These adorable sun glasses were her bribe reward for taking “just a few more” photos. =)  When mom finally took them out of the bag and surprised her, she looked at us like, “WHAT? This is it?”  Too funny.  I love 2 year olds, especially cute spunky ones.

For old time sake, here’s a couple from his previous sessions…newborn and 6 months:

He still has the best lips and such great expressions…and those teeth…I LOVE little teeth!!

There is something special I love about his look and expression here…

I’m hoping to provide you with a little inspiration to get some ideas flowing of how you can display images in your home.  The style now is pretty much anything goes!  Easy as pie….right?  Not so much?  Photos can liven up almost any space in your home, I mean who can resist those smiling faces looking back at you every day?  It doesn’t matter if you have a little space or a lot of space, the ideas in the gallery below can be adapted to any space.  Some of the ideas don’t show actual photographs in the frames, but hopefully just the arrangements might spark some ideas.

Here are a few tips to get you going:

1. Mix and match frames for a more interesting display.  For a classic, yet contemporary gallery look, choose all black frames, but vary the frame size and thickness and/or photo and mat size.

2. Always use a mat!  Why?  Besides giving your display more of a modern “gallery” look, a mat separates the photograph from the glass and allows the print to breathe.  No mat means that over time, your photographs are likely to stick to the glass which will in turn ruin the print.

3. Don’t forget the unexpected!  Have a long skinny wall?  Or a little nook in your bathroom?  Don’t be afraid to add photos in unexpected places.  Don’t forget about kids’ bedrooms and playrooms, offices, entry ways, dining rooms…

4. Request a custom size.  Want a long skinny image for above your queen size bed?  Or a particular size for above your fireplace?  Ask for it.  Most photographers are happy to offer custom sizes to accommodate their clients.

5. As I mentioned above, anything goes.  Whether you prefer more linear or “organic” displays…there is a gallery out there that will work for everyone!  Five 16×20 frames in a horizontal row can make just as much of an impact as a display of several different size and style of frames.

6. While dreaming up your design, cut out rectangles the size of your frames (using old newspapers) and tape them to your wall to give you a visual aid to work from.  Rearrange as many times as needed.  This is especially helpful for hanging the gallery too.

7. Ask your photographer for suggestions!  We love that!  

Now on to the gallery of ideas!  The following images come from a little site I LOVE called DecorPad.  DecorPad is a *fabulous* website for anyone interested in interior design or people who are nosy (like me) and just like to peep at other people’s spaces.  DecorPad is full of design inspiration from popular magazines and also members who can upload images of their own spaces. You can search by room or color and with a click….POOF!…inspiration at your fingertips!  (For example, at the top choose “Photos” from the drop down menu then type “Kitchens” in the search box…BAM…beautiful kitchens!) OH!…annnnnnnnd…you might also feel the sudden urge to redecorate your entire home!

*Disclaimer: I’m NOT responsible for the ridiculous amount of time that can be sucked from your life by this website!  So proceed with caution!! 

Inspired??  Got some ideas?  I hope so.  Your life IS art, so get off your duff and hang those photos!

A few other display inspiration sites:
Cool Photo Ideas
Pottery Barn
How to Arrange Art in an Artful Way
Martha Stewart

If you are a Facebook Fan you may know that I was out of town attending a huge photographer’s conference in Las Vegas last week – WPPI – Wedding & Portrait Photographers International.  It is always great to meet new colleagues and see old friends as well as learn a thing or two, have a few drinks, and leave feeling totally rejuvenated and I N S P I R E D!

One of the many inspiring speakers I was able to catch was Tamara Lackey.  Among other things, Tamara talked about the importance of capturing families….this resonated with me.  MY family is the most important thing to me and I bet YOUR family is the most important thing to you, but yet many photographers shy away from photographing families (because hey, let’s face it, it can be a bit chaotic!) and many mothers shy away from having images taken with their children because of personal insecurities or physical hang-ups.  “I need to lose 10 more pounds.”….”I have nothing to wear.”….”I’m not photogenic.” Sound familiar?  I know it does…I’ve heard it all before, and I’m guilty of saying the same things myself….BUT…you know what….(well, besides the fact I can “fix” muffin tops a bit and give you a little digital botox if you insist)…heheheee….

Your kids don’t care!  Let me say it again, YOUR KIDS DON’T CARE!  Trust me, they really don’t.     How many times have your kids looked at images and said “Gee mom, you have a huge butt in that photo?” or “Wow, look at your muffin top!”…chances are, not too many.  Kids are most happy and most comfortable when surrounded by their parents, so why not embrace it?  It’s great to have images of just your children, but when you pass your photographs down to your children later on wouldn’t you rather have them remember you?  The close bond your family shares?  The way your family just fits together?  I know I would.  I don’t want my kids to wonder where mom was when all the photos were taken.

And that is my goal for 2010…to capture more families.  REAL families.  Not just families sitting perfectly in the grass smiling for the camera…but REAL families…interacting, laughing, embracing, heck, maybe even dancing…H A P P Y…REAL families.  I like to think of it as perfectly imperfect, because that’s what families are…perfectly imperfect. Now don’t worry, we’ll grab a few of everyone looking at the camera too, but let’s face it…that’s not REAL…it’s pretty, and nice, but how often does that actually happen?  If your family is like mine, not too darn often!  

So…this is your fair warning!  Don’t be surprised if I tell you to jump in some images with your kids…or (gasp!) your spouse…and don’t tell me you don’t want to because you look fat…because remember, this isn’t about YOU, it’s about YOUR KIDS (and ahem…I’m the boss)!  

AND…because I’m making you all do it…*I* will do it to!  So…to those photographers reading this….who wants to photograph my family??  Haha! Warning: I might have a muffin top and I’m not photogenic BUT my kids and husband are pretty darn cute, and gosh darn it, I want photos with *me* in them! LOL

© 2010 Sarah Ulrich. All rights reserved.

Edited To Add: Attention Photographers: I have had several requests asking if it was okay to share this on your own blogs. Yes, I have no problem with that. Feel free to share a link to my post or copy and paste the text with a link back to the original. Thank you!

Since I haven’t shared photos of my own kids for awhile, I thought now was the perfect time to share some…

We used this on her Valentine’s Day card this year…and I love it…because it’s not “perfect”, but it’s SO her, and that’s what I want to remember.

And I should also note that my girls are 8, 6, and 4…and this is the FIRST time I’ve ever photographed them together AND got them all looking at the camera and smiling!  

Good Luck Jack!!