Stacey and Adam's Wedding!

Oh my it's almost 3am and I'm up editing and blogging! LOL
Stacy and Adam were even more fun on their wedding day than than their e-session! I didn't even think that was possible. When I am around these two all I do is laugh and smile!
Stacey, you have the sweetest smile, it matches so very well with your personality and Adam I think all my hard work paid off because I have some really good proof that you too are a great smiler (is that even a word? IDK). I am so blessed to have met you both and your sweet, sweet families.
Mario and Tina, you guys are a blessing and you have such a great daughter! I'm so glad you found my website and hired me!
K so I have a few sessions ahead of you guys but I went through and grabbed a few I thought you might enjoy for a little preview!

Oh my if this picture doesn't do him justice! lol

In a few words-- DOLL BABY!


Ow OWWWWWWW! HOT MOMMA


I really like this one


See Adam, you have a wonderful smile!


Ok ok I'll give it to you.. you do pretty good with the serious look too


Another GREAT session with the guys! And to think I once feared the guys sessions


Waaaaaay to much fun being had here 'nuff said!




It rained... and it was beautiful, don't ya think?


I'm really starting to enjoy photographs where you catch them sneeking those loving gazes
LOVE this one! She looked at him all day like this sniff sniff it was beautiful

Beth and Kyle's slide show

To my babies:

I've been watching myself with my kids lately and I've noticed something. I'm saying "not now" and "maybe later" way too much. It worries me. Whenever I hear Trace Adkins' song You're Gonna Miss This, I get choked up.

There’s a plummer workin’ on the water heater,
Dogs barkin’ phones ringin’ one kid’s cryin’ one kid’s screamin’,
And she keeps apologizing, he says they don’t bother me I got 2 babies of my own one’s 36 one’s 23 it’s hard to believe

But you’re gonna miss this
You’re gonna want this back
You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast
These are some good times so take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you’re gonna miss this
You’re gonna miss this

I know every parent experiences some sort of sadness as their children grow and become independent persons, but I think what I'm feeling is a little different. I still have babies at home and I can try to make our days together better. I have to slow down and remember that someday I'm going to want my babies to spend time with me.
Even now as I type this Branson is sitting in my lap saying "I hold you Mommy" "I hold you Mommy".
So, hold me my sweet babies and I'll hold you. Tomorrow I might wake up and the "hold you" will be gone and the slap of baby feet against the floor won't be heard, but the love we've left on the heart will always be felt.

Recommended Wedding Vendor

I have a very talented friend who has opened his own pianist business! You can check it out @ OhioWeddingBells.com


Isn't that a great name! I have worked with Stephen on many occasions and I have found him to be very professional and friendly. I'm sure he will be the perfect addition to your special day!
Not only is he a talented pianist but also a web designer, his site is really well put together.
Hmmm I may require his design services in the future....
Great job Steph-O! You are such a kind person, I'm looking forward to watching your business grow!

Customer Service Post

I'm sitting here watching the news announce the much anticipated opening of the IKEA and all I can think is "great another giant store that will inevitably compete for the best price and worst customer service".
I'm not at all excited.
I am however excited that the lovely, family owned Chinese restaurant here in town will celebrate their 10th anniversary in May. They have the "BEST" customer service. Not because they give free stuff away or because the restaurant is the prettiest ever, because neither of these would be true. They do however, greet you with a smile, remember your favorite food, talk to you about their family, serve delicious food in quality containers and package it specifically so that it won't spill. They also work VERY hard just to make it and provide for their family I just can't help but appreciate that.
So check back in May for a special photo shoot to celebrate with them! And if you are ever in Brookville stop by The Great Wall and visit with Candy.

More of the beautiful Taitum

I was going to dodge the eyes on this one, but I really like the dark effect


Again trying out textures

I love my boys' eyes

They are so sweet and tender

Branson just can't resist ears! He's thinking about it....


He's going for them....


And he gets them... (mason doesn't like it) LOL

Blizzard!

Sunset at Cathy's

Boogers


action shot


Little stinker threw it right at me

Tracy I bet you didn't know....

That even the box you sent would be a gift! LOL

Kutless - Strong Tower

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way

I go runnign to Your moutain
Where your mercy sets me free

[chorus]
You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek

In the middle of my darkness
In the nidst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul

Beth and Kyle

I HEART THIS COUPLE!!!!! They were a dream to photograph! This is such a large post because I just couldn't narrow down my favorites. I loved them all, and how could I not, look at this beautiful couple!

Aren't they just adorable?

Look at how he looks at her! What a beautiful love


What a crazy beautiful and fun girl


I tried out some texture on this one


They laughed, I laughed and that's how the whole day went!








But man, they can rock out a serious look! This is my favorite one!


She's so cute





Ring shot


Another great serious one!

I did it!

I needed to get a few things from the store and I didn't go to to Walmart! I loaded the kids up and we went to Rite-aid here in town. When we pulled up Mason said "hey this is where my friend works!" Which is really a funny story because wherever we go, Mason makes a friend.

The lady he was refering to is a Manager we met while shopping there almost 5 years ago and her name is Nadene. Mason was type of baby that would go berserk in a store! He would SCREAM the entire time. It was so very dreadful. One time Nadene saw me in a state of distress and walked over and starting talking to Mason and trying to help him calm down. Well over the years they have formed a friendship and he really looks forward to seeing her.

We were in the store for no more than a few minutes and Nadene came over, with a smile and friendly attitude (as always). They spent time talking as we shopped, and when I needed something from behind the counter she gladly offered to go get it for me! There was no attitude, it was so refreshing.

While I was there, Nadene's coworker came over talk and turned out she was a photographer! We networked for a bit and hopefully I'll be hearing from her soon. Then the clerk that was checking me out was friendly enough to start up a conversation about her little boy who is turning one soon and she asked for a business card because she was looking for someone to photograph him! It was so nice not to be rushed blankly through the line and actually meet some really cool people and maybe even a new customer!
I love how the whole experience stemmed from not going to Walmart!

Ok so the pros and cons:
Pro: nice, friendly service
Pro: Met some really cool people
Pro: Networked
Pro: It was so close to the house
Pro: Left with a great feeling!

Con: I did spend a bit more

Conclusion: The great service so far exceeded the extra few dollars I spent that I didn't even think about the cost difference until now! I would gladly spend more for this type of service!

P.S. Nadene if you are reading this, I must tell you that you are so great at your job and you are a really great person! Thanks for spending time to get to know my kids!

Recipes for my photos

Tracy the 70-200 was TOTALLY worth it! I can see the difference!

Sorry guys those recipe cards are taking forever, I give up

I heart this picture! lol

Jamie this one is for you. I think it's a "real" smile LOL


I just love this pic. I think it describes them well.
When Terry described these two to me, he said the little one was
shy and the older one was a bit more out going


Cami, you were such a great model!


I really like this one!

I had such a blast this past weekend!

I am so very behind on editing, so I don't have much time but I did want to do a small post with a picture. This past weekend was great, I spent some time with my friend Tracy and we had a blast! This is one of the models I got to spend some time with and it was a bunch of fun! I will post more about it later but for now here is Tatum:



P.S. Tatum's mom, if you are out there I need to get your email address, so send me an email @ melissa@emulsionsphoto.com

Yeah! A customer service plus

Yes, I have already encountered a great example of good, maybe even great customer service.
I had to run to our bank in town, so I packed the boys up and we headed out. The teller, who is always pleasant and helpful, completed our transaction with a smile. Then she asked if I had one or two with me today (kids). So out with my receipt came two pieces of gum and stickers. Mason rolled down he window and shouted THANK YOU! This woman always does this and the boys love it! I must say I do as well. It's not about the free stuff, it's that she goes above and beyond good customer service. It just makes me smile.
Ok this is another good example.
We went through the drive-thru at Mcdonalds here in town. Immediately when I heard the voice over the intercom I knew who it was. She is always pleasant and asks me if "that will be all, and is your screen correct" before she completes my order. When we pay she always passes out cookies to the boys. Again not about the free stuff, because we all know that those cookies are back there for all the drive-thru employees to hand out. How many actually pass them out? Just her, seriously this entire year she is the only one that I've had hand them out. So then we pull up and the kid making the drinks, takes a napkin and wipes off the lids before he hands them out to me! I know, it's such a small thing, but it sure made a difference to me.
So I asked to speak to the manager and I told him how big of a difference it made for those two people to be as pleasant as they were. I think it made his day too.
So YEAH! My belief in customer service is on the mend!

Customer Service Rant

Currently on my worst list....(drum roll please)
1. Walmart
2. (close second) Click Camera

Walmart

Are we (customers) just not important anymore? Is the money that rolls like water, out of our account every week, just not relevant? I think these stores believe, or maybe even KNOW, we will inevitably return next week to load up our carts, deal with sales associates that continue to have little to no knowledge about the product, use the self checkout, and bag out own groceries! Where is the smile from the greeter? Where is the friendly, knowledgeable, sales associate? In every word that person is missing all together. I want to know what happened to the service from these stores? If we are researching the product on our own, checking out and bagging the product all on our own, what is the service we are getting? What is it, that will distinguish this shopping experience from the next? What overwhelming quality will make me choose this store verses the competition?
Is it all price driven? Is the savings really worth it? I am really asking myself these questions and challenging myself. I want to know why I keep going back when I continue to be disappointed.
I wonder if I would pay a fee for a membership to a store if I knew when I walked in that the store associates would know the product and the arrangement of the store? If when I asked for help they would do so with a smile? Would it be worth it if a bagger stood at the end of the isle and carefully bagged my bread and eggs separately? What if I was asked if I needed help out to my car, (which would be nice, considering I usually have both kids with me).
I'm on a mission...
During the next few shopping excursions I am not going to darken Walmart's door. I am taking my business else where and I'm going to blog about it. I am on a mission to discover if customer service can really beat a great price. It seems now days the two do not go hand in hand. I will be comparing the cost of each excursion and the service rating. So stay tuned for my conclusion.

Also, because of lack of time I will not even begin to describe my experience at Click camera, but if you want to know which store location just email me and I will gladly give you that information.

Please pray

I just received word that one of my brides from last year became ill with an infection which went septic. It was very severe and she nearly lost her life. It is my understanding that she has made it through the worst part and is attempting to recover. Please pray for this sweet family. It has been a hard year for them and they just need a peace and a calm to pass through.

Please also take this time to look your loved ones in the eyes and tell them how much you love and care for them. You have no assurence that tomorrow they will be with you. (James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. )
I would be a fool not to take this opportunity to tell you how you can have peace in your heart and a way you can give your loved ones the blessed assurance that after death they will see you again. Please click on the link below and read through:



A heartbeat away