Susie B Blogography

Computer Update....Quad Cities Photographer

Well Hello out there...is anyone still listening.  It is just killing me that I can not post any pictures up here because my computer is out in the shop.  Right now I am borrowing a computer to have some email access, but other than that, I can not do a thing...no editing...ordering....holiday card template building....NADA.  Today was the day I was suppose to have my computer back, but now they are saying Thursday...UGGGHHH.  Then I will probably spend a day reloading software onto it...plus Steve is in Mexico this week again so realistically it will be this weekend before I get any work done.

So as most people I have a lot going on in life right now.  Some things are really exciting....like I just purchased clothes for Josie's four year pics and hope to get those done sometime soon....and I have started booking appointments in the Quad Citties already.  I know I have mentioned about 100 times how small the world is, but check out this email I got today....

SUBJECT::
It was meant to be..

MESSAGE::
Hey, Susie.
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is........ And, you, my friend,
have some FANTASTIC photos. But, more importantly, you have my cute nephew..... on your website...which I LOVE!  My sister and her family
live in Fargo. When they got their photos taken last year, I was jealous...like the
REALLY GREEN kind! 
I am planning on going to Fargo the weekend of October 16. So, I called my BFF,
and ask her to 'set me up' with you.  She gave me your website and I
found out that you have moved. NOOOOOOOO!!!!! was my reaction. Until, I realized
that you live in Heaven (aka Iowa). "Shut Up! So, do I."  I live in Cedar
Rapids...just a hop, skip and jump away from you!!!!  Yeah.

So, long story short...I would LOVE to schedule some time with you.  I have three
monkeys  I think they are pretty cute. And, I would love to have the opportunity to have you "shoot" them!

Are you up for it? What works for you? I am anxious to get them done before the
weather turns ugly. I can do it whenever you can.  Although they are in school, I am
willing to take them out of class...we can hit a museum after the shoot and call it
"education" right?

Please give me a shout.
You rock!

I am quite a happy camper that the world is small because I am so excited to start shooting down here and get my Quad Cities business up and functional!!!

Also, Fargoans...just FYI I am planning on doing some Holiday Card Templates and get them posted up on this old blogsky soon....The scoop is they will be 50 dollars for the digital card file in a 5x7 size and you will be responsible for printing them yourselves and I will get you the info you need for printing.  You can email me now if you are interested in Holiday Cards from anytime in your 2009 session or wait until they are displayed.

And finally, since I can not post a picture on my blog, how about I just post a whole gallery off my website.  I have done this before and it worked pretty darn swell.  The session password I am about to give you is from a session in the beginning of August on a very HOT night.  Two school age boys and their awesome mom and dad.  Everyone was so so into it, the oldest brother especially.  He wants to be a model so this was right up his alley!!

To access the gallery go to my website...www.susiebphoto.com....click on the proofing button, and type in the password....supermodel....enjoy!!

Bye for now....Susie

Computer Down!!!

My computer is in the shop and I am moving in so I will have very limited acces to my internet for the next several days...thanks for you patience!!

As Promised....Quad Cities Photographer

a peak at our new home...The house is a story of juxtaposition....old meets modern...cottage meets industrial.  I am so happy that the builder and his team (Ryan Windmiller at Aspen Homes..Tina...Stephanie..you rock) trusted this concept and went with it because after seeing about 20 very traditional houses during the home search I never thought I would find something that felt like us.  It has so many of the details I was hoping for including the white subway tile back splash, the wainscoting, and flooring that looks like it could have been ripped from an old school house and re-purposed for this house.

Check this out first though, how fitting is it that the house we find is smack dab in the middles of a corn field in Iowa.  We have cornfield in all four directions...encircled by corn we will be...

This picture is taken from the front door of the house..

I think the best place to start it the kitchen...it really sets the personality of the home and is my favorite part of this place...

A little bit of industrial..

The cottage elements are the hand scraped oak wood floors, front door, flower box, and wainscoting...

We even have "real" landscaping.  We sorta kinda neglected year after year to put in landscaping at our old house so this is a welcome change.  My only fear though is I will kill everything.  Every summer I got some flowers in pots outside my house and every summer they are dead and all dried up by August.  Wish me luck on taking care of this foliage..

  And finally...a little peak at my first Quad Cities Marketing.  I took the opportunity of the house being on the parade of homes and put up a gallery wall...

Also since I will be moving tomorrow I may not have access to my internet for a bit and if you are waiting for your gallery...I only have two left and hope to get them both done today.

Bye for now....Susie

Happy Birthday Baby

Some more crystal blues.....Quad Cities Photographer

 

How gorgeous is she right.  She is just one of those kiddos who is a head turner.  Plus she has a gorgeous set of peepers too.

 

Is the color of them not magnificent???

She is five and has now started Kindergarten.  She just lost her first tooth and you can see her pretty new tooth whole in the pic below..

 

 

 

 

In color too...just could not decide...

 

She came with her family too and her busy little brother.  The grass really helped slow him down though.  When we went to a location without the tall grass...the chase was on!!

 

 

 

 

 

This mommy was actually suppose to be Ella's first Grade Teacher this year if we would have stayed in West Fargo.

 

 

Bye for now....Susie

 

Seniors....Quad Cities Senior Photographer

I only like doing just a few so when I get to do it it is cool!!  Plus I knew her when she was young and awkward and now....well see for yourself...not so awkward anymore!!!

 

I just can not believe she is that same little girl at 7 years old from the picture sitting on her mama's desk...I mean seriously...

 

They may possibly need to lock her up to keep the boys from hunting her down...

 

and I know that she stalks my blog and will be totally embarrassed by what I said...sorry Beth...but you have turned into for sure quite the pretty lady...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then just because I am showing off seniors..here is just a tiny sneak peak of one right before I left for Iowa....more of her later. 

 

 

 

Also, to those waiting on their galleries.  I only have 5 sessions left to edit...YEAH!!  So excited about that especially because we move into our new house in exactly 7 days.  What a relief it will be to be "home".  I will try and get some pictures of it to show.  It is my dream modern cottage with industrial accents...what does that mean right?  Hopefully I will get over there and be able to take a couple adequate pics to show....

Bye for now....Susie

 

 

What can I say.....| Quad Cities Children's Photographer

Besides he is literally one of the most beautiful children I have ever photographed....

 

 

same pic...just bandw

 

 

 

More to come later on him...with his two older sibs and family...but seriously how could I resist..he looks like he should be in Hollywood...

Bye for now.....Susie

 

 

A couple rainbows in a black and white world..| Quad Cities Photographer

I had two back to back sessions where the little kiddos smiled and laughed almost the entire time.  Both of these sessions were so fun and after wards I really felt like I had made two new little friends:)

So this first session was done in the town of Pelican Rapids.  While I was waiting for this little guy to show up I looked across the street and noticed an orange fire hydrant and briefly thought to myself that it would be cool if the little dude were wearing orange and then I could do some pics by that hydrant.  Well little dude got out of the chair wearing orange crocs and orange in his shirt.  I took one look at him and said follow me little dude, we are going over to that fire hydrant.  I also brought along my orange monkey to "hang around with us"....let's play a little "where is the Waldo" in the next two pictures and see if you can find that Mr. Monkey.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

And just a couple without that big adorable grin...

 

 

And then the next day this little girl.  She was just so CUTE and fun...really just a play date and I just happened to have a camera with me...

 \

oh those amazing dark eyes...

 

Wanna see them a little closer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the last shot of the morning...

 

Bye for now....Susie

 

"He is a very busy boy" Photographer + Quad Cities

His momma told me before the session.  I said my typically "do not worry I have worked with children a long time and I am used to busy little people."  Well when I met little "J" he literally got out of the car running and almost never stopped.  He had the fastest little feet and he had no intention of slowing down...not for me, his momma, brother, or sister.  He was very sweet....and very active.  The fact that I managed to get pictures of him in focus looking at me is only luck I assure you:)...and maybe a little bit of patience which luckily I naturally am packed full of.

 

 

 

 

 

As I mentioned he brought along his older sister...

 

And big brother......

 

So they could get a group picture together....

 

And then, I thought I would show off a few more of this beauty since I have gotten so many comments about her..

 

 

 

 

 

Her family was so nice and easy to work with.  And that momma's eyes...amazing!!

 

And finally a favorite for sure.....

 

Bye for now....Susie

 

The "Perfect" Picture.....Quad Cities Photographer

So I have been thinking a lot lately about this subject of the "perfect" picture....a very subjective thought for sure.  For me personally what I value in a picture is more the imperfection in someone.  I hope to capture something a little more honest than perfection, because seriously I think all of us are far far from perfect.  I love honesty in pictures and images that celebrate that.  My personal favorite pictures are almost never the perfect smile, but a smile where you can feel the person's joy, I love that. Drool in babies and babies with toys stuffed in their mouths....Love that!  Siblings with a mischievous look on their faces looking at each other...Love that!  Curiosity in a toddler....awkwardness in a 9 year old..wrinkles on parents because we have earned them for sure..seriousness in a serious child...I love it all!  Maybe I am thinking about this more now as I enter into my new adventure and having to meet new people.  It would be so easy to be PC and say all the "right" things, but hopefully in my 30's now I have gained enough wisdom and confidence to be a little more honest with myself and just be me.  Which brings me back to the whole "perfect" picture thing.  If you are looking for a traditionally thought of perfect picture with hands in all the right places and hair in all the right places with a big smile on your face, I might not be the right photographer for you.  I have to say though that I really appreciate that style as well.  I went back to my wedding video recently and watched my brother-in-law who is a professional photographer who specializes in weddings work with us.  The details that that guy knew to look for were amazing.  If someone had anything out of place...he was on it.  It really blew me away.

Which leads me to this....my perfect picture is an honest picture (with great lighting:)).  Check out this amazing website of a photographer who is not afraid AT ALL to celebrate the honesty in life and relationships...happy viewing... Tara Whitney She has the most honest photography I have ever seen....a true celebration of life as it is.....perfectly imperfect:)

now a few pictures from a couple recent sessions.....

 

 

 

This one is probably my favorite pic from this session....

 

or this one....

 

 

 

 

Next session to share...pics taken at the same park...one of my favorites to photograph at...Trefoil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bye for now....Susie