Is facebook replacing the blog??

Well I'm becoming a horrible blogger because of facebook lol. It just so easy to connect and clients love being tagged in the albums. So if you are wondering what I'm up to you may want to look me up on Facebook. Search for Melissa Esterline Photography or I think you can use this link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Brookville-OH/Melissa-Esterline-Photography/331139196444?ref=ts

Alas I haven't given up. Here are a few from my last baby session:

Baby it's cold outside!

We are entertaining a guest =(

It's not a happy visit. It's the sickies =( My boys are pretty sick. Mason has had strep for a few days and was put on antibiotic then he spiked another fever and we had to start him on a stronger antibiotic. Now Branson has come down with it. Needless to say all I've done for about 2 weeks now is strip beds and disinfect the house. I have a super fab wedding on Friday so I'm trying very hard to keep from getting sick. Please remember my family in your prayers this week we need it.

Just wanted to let all my wonderful clients know that I am still squeezing in a bit of work at night. I'm trying to keep up with the previews, but I have still fallen a few weeks behind. I will do my best to catch up once we are all feeling well. If you have any questions, email is the best way to reach me. Take care everyone and try not to get sick!
♥ Melissa

Lucky

I've always considered myself lucky to have this wonderful opportunity to do what I do. Photography is so much more to me than just taking pictures. It's an emotional release and a creative outlet. It's an avenue for meeting new people and traveling to exciting new places.
Most of all photography is an opportunity to give a beautiful a lasting memory, not just on paper but in the heart.

Today at an engagement session, we were walking through a field and I started a story about 4 leaf clovers, right while I was telling it, the bride looks down and says "IS THAT A 4 LEAF CLOVER, RIGHT THERE?"
Sure enough it was lol! I couldn't believe it, what are the odds of just walking through a field and finding a 4 leaf clover? Especially while talking about it. Just another way God reminded me of how lucky I am. =)

Patrick Swayze died today....

I grew up on Patrick Swayze movies, so this really took me down memory lane. I sat and thought about all the fun and growing up I did while watching Dirty Dancing. I fell in love with him in that movie. My sisters and I would watch it over and over. To this day we can still say all the lines. I can't help but think of his family and what they must be going through in this difficult time. He and his wife have been married for over thirty years and were still so in love. I went to youtube to watch the Barba Walters interview he did when he was first diagnosed and what struck me was the love he and his wife have for each other: This is the last segment of the interview but I think it will be worth it for you to watch all 5:

Seems like I find myself here each year...

Do I lose sight of who I am along my way? Yes. I look through my work and I search for me. Am I in there? Is the passion there? Did I open a tiny spout to my heart and pour a bit into it? I struggle, I lose sight, I sink low but each year around this time I search for my original eagerness to pursue a moment and pounce on it like a cat creeps through the tall grass and captures it's prey. Then the ecstasy of the moment when I find myself alone, in front of the computer, in the wee hours of the morning staring at a perfect moment. Tears mist up my eyes and I am breathless.

Then wedding season creeps up and I struggle to deliver on time and I fear I rush to fast and those moments seem to be coming farther apart. I miss them. I miss who I am during those times. When the room is quiet, only the humming of the computer can be heard and I am honest. I admit just who I am and I don't run from it... a dreamer, a lover, escapist, fantasizer, idealist, and a romantic. For a small amount of time life is simple and I am happy.

Tonight I decided to take more time to pursue inspiration.
I chased a sunset.
Have you ever tried it? Get your gear, jump in your car around sunset time and just drive until you find THE SPOT. You will know it because you will see it with your heart and when you look through your camera you will feel it in your soul.

Summer sunsets with corn stalks blowing in the wind....




I know this one is a little grainy but it was a beautiful memory between me and God. It was a cloudy sunset and right as I found my spot the sun sank behind a dark cloud. I closed my eyes and asked God if he could drop it out just for me. If you look right above the sun you can see the cloud. It was amazing. Right before it disappeared behind the tree line God dropped it out just like I had asked. I was breathless...

It's true you know...

If you draw nigh to him, he will draw nigh to you.
Things keep getting sweeter between me and him. Thanks to God for never leaving me, even in my dark times.

Verse 1:
When He moves among us all that He does
all of His mercy and all of His love
and the pen of the writer could write everyday
even this world could never contain
how I've been blessed

Verse 2:
The warmth in winter the flowers in spring
the laughter in summer and the changing of leaves
the food on my table a good place to sleep
clothes on my back and shoes on my feet
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me
**precious are His thoughts of you and me**
no way I could count them there's not enough time
so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good
I have been blessed

Verse 3:
Arms that will raise a voice that can talk
hands that can touch and legs that can walk
ears that can listen eyes that can see
oh I've got to praise Him as long as I breathe
I have been blessed

Verse 4:
A father and mother who nurtured and raised
a brother and sisters, memories made
our pastor to lead us the altar to pray
stripes that can heal the blood that can save
I have been blessed


Verse 5:
We live in a country the greatest on earth
our flag stands for freedom and what it is worth
she stands in the harbor Miss Liberty calls
all have gave some but some have gave all
for me to be blessed

Verse 6:
**He's my shoulder to lean on when I am down
the rock where He leads me when I'm overwhelmed
the place where He hides me under His wings**
He's not just a song He's the reason I sing
I have been blessed

Have I ever told you....

that I love what I do! I have met so many awesome people through photography. Some of you out there reading have grown so close to my heart. I am truly thankful for all my readers, you drop lines of encouragement on my heart every time you take a few seconds to comment. Thank you! I love you guys bunches! =)

~Just some ramblings from an inspired heart. =)

Someone help me! I just can't stop myself =)

Bubble wrap

Ahhh this is such a beautiful time of year!

I cannot relive yesterday and tomorrow isn't here yet,
so I will just deal with today.

Hang in there guys =)

To everyone that is waiting, thank you so much! I'm working my booty off and it won't be much longer!
Next up:
Preview from Rebekah and Jamie's wedding
Still working on Cassie and Robbie

E-sessions:
Aubrey and Brandon
Brittany and Alan (spring)
Sarah and James
Roy and Kelly

Keep me, protect me, share me and I'll live forever!

I love this commercial, reminds me why I love what I do.

A little girl time =)

Spent some time today with my friend Tracy, learning and laughing. We had a bunch of girls in a misqueto infested field! Needless to say I came away with more than one bite on my face! Uhhh I'm itching.
It was also very nice to meet Shannon,Victoria and our lovely model Amy. Also nice seeing my sweet assistant Lydia (can't wait till we get to hang out more, I'm so proud of you!)

Of course my favs are going to be a bit moody =)

really like this one






Yummy lighting


Is it me or is anyone else getting a Heather Locklear vibe here?

Columbus

Sledding with the boys!

It all started when Trav called me at 7:30 in the morning to tell me that I needed to look outside and see how blue the sky was. The day just continued to have the most beautiful sky for this time of the year. So sledding time it was! We bundled up (4 layers to be exact!). It was still VERY cold but we had the most beautiful light ever and a whole bunch of fun!

Check out that blue sky

Yes he is a booger


How Branson got around for the day (mush mason mush!) lol




And this is what happened when Mason needed to take a break


Pop-Pop stopped by for so fun


Disc sleds weren't made to hold 3 =)




whooshing by!


My little adventurer went down on his tummy!





Like I said it was a bunch of fun

Strange stuff!

Ok seriously.... I'm looking up stuff for the renaming of my business so I go to the thesaurus to find some new word for lady, girl or woman and looky what I found.... I just can't believe what the thesaurus says is a synonym for lady, I've been so kind as to bold my favorites:

lady - 2 thesaurus results

Main Entry:	lady
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	woman
Synonyms:	adult, babe, bag, baroness, bitch, broad, butterfly, contessa, countess, dame, doll, duchess, empress, female, gal, gentlewoman, girl, little woman, mama, mare, matron, missus, mistress, noblewoman, old bag, old lady, old woman, petticoat, princess, queen, queen bee, rib, squaw, sultana, weaker sex

CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE IT!!! I just know a man wrote this lol



Oh and by the way did anyone else notice that google.com got a new favicon?? How cool is that.