XOXO

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. I took a few minutes out of this snowy day to snap a few images of Katie. She's been begging me for weeks, and I don't like to let an opportunity like that slip by!

Sprucing Up

I always have (if only in my head) a list of "Winter Projects" to accomplish. For some, it's cleaning out the basement, or redecorating a room or catching up on some reading. For me, my winter projects are almost always photo-related! This year, I have a big container of photos from when Katie was a BABY that I've GOT to get into albums.

If your winter projects are photo-related too, why not take a peek at some of those oldies but goodies before you toss them out? Now, we can take those old treasures of the past and spruce them up a bit using technology that our grandparents would have ever conceived of! I thought I'd post a restoration job that I did this week. It's so great to see the faces of my clients when they, well, see the faces of their loved ones! It's also a great way to share those special finds with others. Though you may just have one image, we can create as many or as few as you need to share with the whole family.

So, this winter, as your going through your attics and basements, take a closer look at those treasures you find. A little TLC may be all they need! Don't we ALL need a little sprucing up this winter?

'What I Want for You — and Every Child
in America'

By President-elect Barack Obama

Publication Date: 01/14/2009

Cover Photo By Kwaku Alston/Corbis Barack and Michelle Obama with daughters Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10.

Next Tuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On this historic occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also a devoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for his children. Here, he shares his letter to them.


Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

Sasha (l) and Malia Obama at play in New Hampshire in 2007.

Bumper cars at the Iowa State Fair in August 2007.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad

The 4th Time's the Charm

The P. family have been coming to the studio religiously since Rach was just a little one. So when mom, Krista called (I think in October) to schedule their bi-annual session, I had no idea the comedy-of-errors that would have to take place before one of my favorite families would set foot in the studio.

The first call to reschedule came when Rach got a black eye. I can't remember what sport or incident caused the injury, but Krista and I had a good chuckle about how Murphy's law dictated that things like that always happen right before a portrait session. We discussed keeping the session and removing the boo-boo digitally, but with so much time before Chistmas, we thought it best to get Rach all better naturally.

Call two came a bit more reluctantly from Krista. I think it was an e-mail in fact. It started with "You're going to kill me...", resumed with "Nicholas just got a really bad haircut..." and ended somewhere in the "I need to reschedule again" area. There were between ten and twenty "I'm sorry's" in there and an "I promise not to ever reschedule again" if I'm not mistaken. Needless to say, I was happy to accomodate and rescheduled with pleasure as adding hair to a two year old would be quite difficult even for a PhotoShop junkie like myself.

The day of our third rescheduled appointment, I found myself at my home/studio with my parents, in-laws and a neighbor family of five (along with three dogs, two cats, a guinea pig and a bird). It was the big ice storm we had and it seemed like we were the only people for miles with power (though intermittent). I called to check on the P family to see if they too had an ice storm tale of woe, and as luck would have it (bad luck is luck too), they were just returning home from their hotel in order to get clothes to come to the session. There was no way they were going to reschedule again!

Since they had no water, and we had a houseful of refugees, we rescheduled once again. When they were finally in this weekend for their session the frst thing we did was have a good laugh about the broken road that lead us to portrait day. The second thing Krista said is that I had only 30 minutes to capture this year's family treasure... because now, basketball season is in full swing!

Portraits make a great memory, but sometimes there's a great story behind them too. The moral to this story? The fourth time's the charm!

"Scope" This Out

During the winter months, when we Mainers are all a few pounds heavier, and a bit more pale, the rush of family portraits calms a bit and the studio sees more clients of an inanimate kind.

Sue Rioux, of Sue Rioux Designs usually takes this time to update her website and brochures for her upcoming trade shows. it's fun for me to switch gears and slow down a bit. These beautiful kaleidoscopes don't run around the studio and they didn't just wake up from a nap, so the pace is quite different than photographing a two-year-old, but just as much fun!

Daddy's Little Girl

It's such a special feeling to follow a couple through some of the most important moments of their lives. I'm thrilled to have been a part of this family's life from the "I dos" to maternity photos to baby Evelyn's first portraits.

Capturing this family's special moments holds an even greater meaning for me because they've been traveling the country for Owen's career in the Navy, yet they always manage to squeeze in portraits into their brief trips home.

Amber was hoping for their first family portrait session, but because of the crazy weather, Owen's flight was delayed and we did a session with just the girls! Even Auntie Sarah came along to help out.

Owen is back on the boat already, and Amber is setteling in to her new home in Hawaii, but together, via the computer, they can view their images of their gorgeous little girl and build a few memories, even from afar.

Once in a while, my job feels really important, this is one of those times. I'm truely honored to hold a small part bringing a proud dad and his little girl together.

Winter Wonderland

Winter weddings have been much more popular over the last few years. These days, brides are recognizing the uniqueness of Maine in the winter and using the crisp colors and natural beauty our state has to offer to create a gorgeous, formal and special event.

Jason and Jennifer really took their winter wedding to a whole new and creative level. From hanging snowflakes from the ceiling of the Holiday Inn by the Bay to their personalized ice sculpture to the winter blue bridesmaids' dresses.

Even on a chilly winter evening, Jason and Jennifer managed to keep the feeling of the evening so warm and cozy... just like the two of them. Their guests danced the night away as the couple mingled about and made everyone feel right at home.

What a wonderful, winter wonderland wedding!