At the Park ~ Omaha Professional Children's Photographer

The weather here in Omaha, NE has been beautiful!  It almost feels like early spring around here lately.  Yesterday was Lela's last day of  break from school so we decided to go spend a little time having fun at the park.

My Family's 2011 Christmas Session ~ Omaha Professional Children's Photographer

Whew!  Things have been a whirlwind over the past month and a half!  I have been a busy Editing, Shipping, Packaging, Gift Wrapping, Cookie Baking, Photo Taking Elf ~ and I have been loving every minute of it! 

I took a break today to start working on/editing my own family's Christmas session so that I can start to decide on the Christmas card I would like to use this year.  (One step at a time and first things, first, right? lol)  Here are just a  few of the photos from the session with my girls.  I'll be sure to share what my final decision for this year's holiday card is out here with you.

Wordless Wednesday - Omaha Professional Children's Photographer

Wordless Wednesday - Omaha Professional Children's Photographer

Giveaway Winner - Omaha Professional Photographer

Giveaway Winner

I am very excited to announce the winner of the October giveaway!  Thank you to all of you who entered for a chance to win two free weekend tickets to Vala's Pumpkin Patch. 

And the winner is......

Kimberly Dolphin

Congratulations, Kimberly!  Have a super wonderful time visiting the pumpkin patch!  

October Giveaway - Omaha Professional Photographer

October Giveaway ~ Vala's Pumpkin Patch

This time of year my family and I always look forward to visiting Vala's Pumpkin Patch. They claim that it is 'fun for the whole family' and I would certainly agree!  There are so many awesome things to do when you visit the farm.  Kettle korn (YuM), fun games, animals to feed (including a llama!) and ponies rides are just a few of the cool things that you can do at Vala's.

Lela and I visited the pumpkin patch this past weekend and had a wonderful time together.  Her favorite adventures at Vala's included the pig races, a train ride on the Pumpkin Creek Railroad, 9 holes of mini put at Graveyard Golf, Hackberry Hideout, a tour of the Lost Pumpkin Mine, the Corn Maze and of course a Hay Ride to the pumpkin patch to pick her very own three pumpkins to take home.

It was such a great time that I wanted to be able to share it with all of you that are local to eastern Nebraska (or able to visit the area).  So, I purchased two weekend tickets to give away here on the blog!  This giveaway is going to be a short because the fun at Vala's only lasts through the end of October.

This giveaway will start today, Tuesday, October 4, 2011 and will run through this Sunday, October 9th at 5:00 pm.. The giveaway will be closed on Sunday and the winner will be announced on the blog on Monday, October 10th.  The winner will be chosen randomly through Random.org. 

• How do you win the free tickets? It's easy as pumpkin pie! :)  The only thing you need to do to enter the giveaway is to leave a comment on this blog letting me know that you would like to be the winner. 

Want more chances to win the free tickets?  Awesome! 

• Just 'like' E. Vining Photography here and then come back and leave a 2nd comment on the blog letting me know you are a fan. 
• For a third entry you can share this giveaway on Facebook including a link back to this post. Please use the @tag feature to tag E. Vining Photography so that I can verify that you have completed this extra entry. Be sure to come back and leave a comment telling me you completed this step for your third entry.

There are a total of three entries available per person. Leaving a comment on this blog is required and the additional entries are optional. The winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, October 10th (sometime after 12:00 p.m.) and posted here on the blog once I am able to verify that the entry requirements have been met. Good luck and Happy Fall Ya'll! 

This giveaway is in no way affiliated with, or sponsored by Facebook or it’s entities, and all entries will be made directly through E. Vining Photography on this blog post. Winner will be notified here on the blog and via email. 

 Lela and her pig nose ...she had to have one after watching the above pig races! :D

Awkward and Awesome Thursday! - Omaha Professional Photographer

Awkward & Awesome Thursday!



Awkward:

• On a recent session my clients and I were walking through an alley and low and behold what do we see?  The above grafitti.  I couldn't help myself - I hollered out "Who ya gonna call?  Ghostbusters!" and then realized I wasn't with my family ....I mean, for real, what in the WORLD do pac-man ghosts have to do with downtown alleys?  It's all very bizarre- including my little outburst.  Sometimes I find myself so funny but then again, if you have to explain your own joke like I am doing now then it probably isn't that funny to begin with, right? *hanging head*
• Picure it: I'm getting ready to take a photo after switching lenses and waiting for a client to change outfits.  I lift the camera to my face and realize I have forgotten to take the lens cap off.  *blushing* I mean, I knew it was still on once the camera was up to my eye but still- how very embarrassing! ...I'd like to say that  a) I never lose my lens cap (always to be found in my pocket)  and b) I never forget to take the lens cap off  -- but then I would be lying on both accounts.  I wonder if I ever will stop experiencing those little embarrassing moments?

Awesome:

• Lily pads and koi fish ponds.  <3  One of my favorite venues for outdoor sessions has this little pond and I just love it.  It reminds me of when I was a child and we used to go feed the ducks and fish at a pond near the place I grew up. 
• Unlimited minutes! Free long distance! Believe me, I have a lot of words when it comes to chatting with my besties. :D
• All week long we have been playing a math flash card game with Lela and she LOVES it!  I am super happy and excited that she finally uses the words 'fun' and 'math' in the same sentence.  It's awesome. ;)

Remember to check out my fellow photogs' blogs for their always entertaining Awkward and Awesome posts!

Heather A. Scott Photography

Missie Jurick Photography

Wordless Wednesday - Omaha Professional Photographer

Meet Tori - Omaha Professional Senior Photographer

2012 Senior Rep:  Tori

I am so super excited to introduce to you my gorgeous 2012 Marian High School Senior Rep, Tori!  She is a beautiful person inside and out.  We had an absolute ball on her session together.  Tori has a great sense of humor, a quiet confidence and is just an all around great gal. :)  Here is her sneak peek and blog feature that includes some GoRgEoUs photographs and a fun interview!



Q. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be? 

A: This is super cliché and makes me sound like I am in a beauty pageant, but I would like to end world hunger.

Q. What quality do you like most about yourself?  Why?

A: My confidence. I don’t think I am cocky, I am just confident in my abilities.

Q. If you could go to dinner with any celebrity who would you dine with? 

A: I would want to go to dinner with Lady Gaga and Elton John (yes, they have to be together)

Q. If you were stranded on an island and could have one person with you who would it be?  What one thing would you have with you? 

A: My friend, Emily Fischer, just because it would be a total joke for us and we would have so much fun…hopefully. I would bring the 7th Harry Potter book. It never gets old.

Q. What's your most embarrassing moment yet? 

A: I can’t believe I am telling anyone this but freshman year I wet the bed….It had been years and years since I had done something like that so it was super strange. At least it was something no one saw or knew of…until now that is.

Q. What are your dream goals? 

A: Since I am a senior all I can think about recently is college so my dream goal is going to Loyola Chicago. I’m sure once I get past this college phase there will be another, better dream.

Q.  What is your secret talent? 

A: Even though I quit volleyball awhile ago, I would say I’m still pretty good at it. Does that count as a secret talent?

Q. If you had a free ticket to travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

A: Greece. Ever since I read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, I have wanted to go there. I forgot about it for awhile and then when I saw “Mama Mia” the desire to go there came back. For some reason I just think Greece looks really beautiful and relaxing.

Q. If you could star in a t.v. show what would it be? 

A: 30 Rock. That show is my all time favorite and I would love to be as funny as those characters are and get to hang out with Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin

Q. What is your favorite childhood memory?

A: My grandparents used to live on a farm in northern Wisconsin and when I was really young, my sister and I would spend our days climbing in the cherry or apple trees or swimming and fishing in the lakes up there.

Q. What are your favorite tunes? 

A: My sister says I listen to “whiney” music, but I disagree. I mostly listen to Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Florence and the Machine, the Beatles. If I am listening to the radio, it is either on 99.9 or the classical station (90.7?)

Q. What's inside a bocce ball?  (Becca really wants to know! lol) 

A: I cheated and looked online and found that bocce balls are made of either wood, metal or stone. The best bocce balls are made of hard plastic though.

 

Tori's favorite colors right now are lime green and turquoise.  She also told me thats she loves flowers. :) 

And because this post wouldn't be complete without some lovely black and whites.....

Isn't she just beautiful?!  Please show Tori some love and leave a comment below. I'm sure she would love it!   :)


Thank you, Tori, for a wonderful time and the opportunity to photograph you. I'm super happy to have you as my 2012 Marian Senior Rep.   I wish you all the best this last year of high school!  Best wishes to you  accomplishing all of your dreams (including Loyola Chicago!) :) 

Wordless Wednesday- Omaha Professional Photographer

Awkward and Awesome ...Saturday?!? - Omaha Professional Photographer

Awkward & Awesome Thursday Saturday

Awkward:

• Ummmm.  Really with that?  Did you even take the time to LOOK at those mushrooms?  *disgusting*  Michelle and I had a good laugh at that bizarre fungus.  Her dog decided to roll all over and smoosh another one to pieces and she about died!  I told her that spores do travel (read: quit making fun of my yard or else!) but she has rock in her landscaping so maybe she is safe? that and I am not really sure how to go about transplanting fungus.  We've never had mold or mushrooms or fungus in our mulch before but this year it is EVERYWHERE.  (I blame the floodwaters.)

 

See?  I wasn't exaggerating.  That yellow stuff right up there is sometimes referred to as dog vomit mold. (promise- google it) WT....?  You have NO idea the amount of stressing I did to myself throughout this summer mold season.  I was constantly rehearsing conversations/mulling over situations in my mind with potential clients visiting the studio.  They all went something like this:   "Oh please come in...oh that?....  Nooooo.  It's not dog vomit it just LOOKS like dog vomit." -horror with a hint of disbelief flashes across said clients' faces. Next, in my daymares, an obvious discomfort would envelop the room because inevitably IN EVERY SCENARIO the pretend client would obviously be watching where they stepped in the house to avoid  the dog's vomit. RIGHT?!  ...I'd like to say that I don't have a dog or that my dog doesn't vomit but neither of those cases are true.  However, what I can say is that stuff in my mulch is NOT my dog's vomit. Or any dog's vomit.

...I have no words for the mushrooms.  None.

• Hissing geese.  I had an amazing engagement session with a SUPER CUTE COUPLE and let's just say the geese around the lake weren't exactly friendly.  I might have let out a little yelp....maybe.  Okay, so a tiny little noise slipped past my lips. It was scary OKAY?  Next time I am bringing bread to make friends or just visiting that location AFTER the geese have all flown south for the winter.
• Missing TWO WEEKS of these super fun posts.  It's very {awkward}.
• Becca has a gradeschool acquaintence (read boy) that recently moved into our neighborhood.  I honk every.single.time. we drive by his home. --That's right.  I'm *that* kind of mom.  Becca is quick though. She is starting to act like it doesn't bother her and that, quite frankly, is taking all the fun out of it. 

Awesome:

• Becca got a car! :D
• I've been super busy with lots of sessions and frankly that makes me very happy. :)  I really do love my job!
• I've completely cleaned off my hard drive after backing up on the external hard drive and discs.  My pc is running SUPER FAST and that is SUPER AWESOME!  It feels good to take that huge task off my to-do list. 
• Lists- I like them.  It's nice to check things off as I go and stay organized.
• I got to visit with my cousin, Jennifer, last night!  She was on her way to TX and stopped here to break up her long trip.  It was soooo good to spend time with her! 
• Lifetime movies and SciFi movies.  Becca and I always watch bad t.v. while I edit on the weekends.  We both enjoy it. :)
• Long chats with good friends. <3

Be sure to check out Heather's blog and Missie's blog, too!  I can't wait to get over there and read what they've posted this week. :) 

Wordless Wednesday - Omaha Professional Children's Photographer

Wordless Wednesday - Omaha Professional Children's Photographer

Wordless Wednesday - Omaha Professional Photographer

Awkward & Awesome Thursday! - Omaha Professional Photographer

Awkward & Awesome Thursday!

Awkward:

• When emailing a client back this week with available dates for a session I inadvertently told her my available dates for 2012.  ... it was quite embarrassing to have to email her back and explain that I had jumped an entire year ahead in my calendar. Whoops!
• Watching a movie with Becca and Steve and JUMPING off the couch because I was so startled.  They laughed at me.  ... it's cool, though.  I {lOvE} the sound of their laughter AND in all honesty, it was pretty darn funny....almost as funny as when Becca and I hid from Steve in the garage behind the Pilot and waited for him to round the car to JUMP UP AT HIM YELLING. ....we SO spooked him.  It was {awesome}! :D  Who's laughing now? ;)
• Emailing Lela's teacher explaining that she has a Thursday appt. and realizing that I had switched the weeks.  What IS it with me and dates this week?!?

Awesome:

• Lela's owl lunchbox pictured in the photo up there.  Every time I look at that lunchbox that owl's big ol' eyes bring a smile to my face.
• Becca is officially a sOpHmOre!!  Friday was her first official day back.  This year, she is featured in the school's calendar for the month of August with some of her friends from homeroom last year!
• Becca getting a Justin Bieber folder and decorating it with all kinds of mushy things and writing Maddie's name and homeroom on the inside of it.  (Maddie is not a fan of JB)  Becca then talked another girl into handing the folder to Madeline explaining that she had found it on the floor near her desk.  Apparently, Maddie's face was priceless...it must have been a smidgen {awkward} for her.  I just wish I would've been there to see it!  I love harmless *funny* practical jokes.
• Lela actually *asking* me to take back to school portraits of her.  (I had to stop myself from shouting at her, "Where is my daughter and what have you done with her you alien impostor?!?!".) I think the above photo will be the one she hands out to her friends this year. 

What awkward or awesome thing has happened to you this week?  I'd love to hear about your adventures!  Remember to check out my {AwEsOmE} Photog friends' blogs to see what they have to share with you!

Heather A. Scott Photography and Design

Missie Jurick Photography Sunflower Studio

Wordless Wednesday - Omaha Professional Photographer

Awkward & Awesome Thursday! - Omaha Professional Photographer

Awesome & Awkward Thursday!

Awkward:

• Realizing last week that I title each of these posts Awkward & Awesome in the Title section and then in the text section type Awesome & Awkward.  I also post  it backwards on FB ....I guess I must be a glass half full kind of person at heart but geez!  *so embarrassing!*
• The top photo- I had to get Becca's permission to share it here on the blog.  It's awkward for her and that is why it was put in this section..... but I have to say that for me it hits both the awesome AND awkward categories because she is the best big sister!  The photo is of Lela and Becca on Lela's first day of school this year.  Lela requested that Becca curl her hair and Becca happily obliged.  I love that they are so close. <3
• The second photo.  It's a photo of Lela leaving school on her first day and walking to the car for the drive home.  She spotted me from far away and proceeded to weave in and out of people hiding from my lens.  She was like a cat!  I would move one way and she would dart the other!  As she got close and could no longer hide behind strangers she went with her last resort- covering her face.  She must have found it awkward that I was out with my camera trying to get her coming out of school. In my defense:  A) I maintain that I am *not* the only momma to do so.  B) You'd think she would be use to me taking advantage of every photo op.  It's important to document life!  You only walk out of third grade for the first time once!

Awesome:

• My dad's new trike! ..and their Frog Togs--  Great rain suits for you bikers out there!
• My parents came to visit to surprise Anna for her birthday. <3  It was a great surprise and a super fun visit!  We took advantage of the nice weather and went riding a couple of the days.
• Watching my girls and Maddie along with the neighbor boys have a HUGE water fight.  It was epic ..... and better than reality t.v. :D
• My husband surprised me and brought me home dinner last night. <3
• Movies!  Every night this week around 9:00 Steve and I have put down our work/computer and watched a movie.  It's been awesome. :)
• Today is book buying day at Marian.  After purchasing Becca's books and making sure everything was in the 15980763 lbs. bag we schlepped everything to Becca's new locker.  Above her locker was the recipe card you see pictured in the last photo.  What a great way to start the year and awesome advice.  I love that darn high school and so does Becca.  This is just one example of what sets Marian apart and why it is such a great experience for Becca.

Be sure to check out my awesome photographer friends' blogs to see what they have to share this week! 

Heather A. Scott Photography and Design

Missie Jurick Photography Sunflower Studio

Wordless Wednesday - Omaha Professional Photographer