Coffee With Carol

Ready Set Ride Update

A few weeks ago I told you of Ready Set Ride, an incredible place for special needs children to receive therapy while riding horses, giving them unparalleled freedom for a short time each week. I was priviledged to be asked to preserve memories of this experience for them and their families. Some of their siblings also enjoyed having their picture taken as well. Following are a few more images from this special time. I am excited to be going back again in August.

 

Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did! HUGS!

Cell Phones from Tots to Teens

Cell phones. Call them a business tool, a way of keeping in touch or, if you're a teenager, an absolute necessity, without which you would just die. For parents a cell phone can often be a mode of entertainment when a young child is fussy and for photographers it can wind up being a prop.

Such is the case with the above one year old. With the phone he was content, even happy. Without it he was crying and heading for a meltdown as one year olds will do a few times each day. It gave his parents a glimpse of what may happen if they take his phone away as a teenager--even if they don't realize it yet.

And I should know, I have a teenager. Been there, done that.

For these parents, who have twin boys, they have twice as much fun, anxiety, laughs, and discipline to look forward to...especially if they take away a cell phone. Here are a few more images from that session:

 

But don't worry boys, Dad has it all figured out. He just has to start saving now for those cell phone bills!

Lush Gardens

While I am truly sick and tired of all the rain we've had, I must admit there has been one very visible benefit. The perennial gardens behind the studio are absolutely lush and gorgeous! Those very gardens were the primary reason I chose this location over any other and the investment pays off with shoot after shoot as clients are so pleased with the results--and so am I.

One of my long-time clients returned a few weeks ago with the newest addition to their family as well as their niece. From pulling out a few flowers to patiently sitting on the favorite shabby-chic chair, the resulting images were sweet and bursting with color.

Here are a few more from that session:

It's Summer--Time to Trash the Dress!

  

Trashing the dress is a summertime senior favorite! There's just something appealing about putting on a fancy dress and being encouraged to play in the local creek as the steamy heat swirls and birds twitter overhead.

At first most of our seniors dip a toe in, laugh, and are a bit unsure of the whole thing. It isn't long, however, before they are laying in the creek as the cool water rushes by. Hestitancy swiftly turns to interest and posing becomes second nature.

Seniors can choose from our dress selection or bring one of their own. Either way, the resulting images are beautiful, fun, and are always among the favorites chosen by our clients! Call by August 1st to receive half off the session fee and you'll also get five Facebook images for free!

Before I sign off for today, let me leave you with a couple more refreshing images--and get ready to Trash the Dress!

Would You Agree to be 17 Again?

I photograph many high school seniors every year and my assistant, Lisa, and I agree--we love every moment of it. Contrary to what many adults think, teenagers are not scary, intimidating, or really all that different than we were when that age. They are fun, creative, smart, and a whole lot more in tune with what is going on in the world around them than they are given credit for. Certainly more than we were when we were in high school...only five years ago or so. Ok, so it's been a few more than that, but it doesn't feel much more than that a lot of the time.

Of course, we are not their parents so generally we don't get the attitude from them--unless we ask for it. And call us crazy, we always do. That teenage attitude, you know, the look that says, "You've got to be kidding me" or "You just don't get it" or "What the...", well, it just makes for some amazing images. It also captures a look that parents readily recognize, one that captures just one facet of the many each teen has.

These images are of Megan, a 2009 senior from Yorkville High School. She was fun, laid back, game for anything we asked of her, and, did I mention, beautiful? Her natural beauty, complete with amazingly perfect skin, had us saying again and again, as her images kept popping up onto the screen as they were downloaded, "She is so..." pretty, beautiful, amazing. They seem to be making the girls much more beautiful now, with a natural poise, than I remember all of us being at that age. Mostly my friends and I felt more awkward than the girls do now. Of course it might have been the '80's big hair days that did it. Or maybe it was the parachute pants that were so popular.

 

 

So before I post the last couple of images, let me ask you, if you had the chance, would you agree to be 17 and a high school senior again? I would, especially if I could take back with me the self-confidence, attitude, and knowledge that I have today--but only as long as I don't have to wear penny loafers or painter's pants again. I am so over that!

 

Cheesecloth and Organic Imagery

Introducing baby Liena. This beautiful little girl, the granddaughter of a friend, was only six days old when these images were taken. I love organic photography and the cheesecloth was a perfect blend of creativity and organic imagery.

Fathers and babies are another favorite of mine. The images can show the contrast between strength and fragility or the bond between a parent and child. Each image is precious and shows many different facets of fatherhood. Here are a few more from the same session:

I hope you enjoyed looking at these as much as I enjoyed capturing them. Have a great day!

Ready Set Ride--A Way to Give Back

Once in a while a particular organization really touches your heart. Ready Set Ride in Plainfield has definitely touched mine. I first learned of them several years ago when my niece, Kelly, began volunteering there. You won't find a more dedicated group of volunteers than those people who dedicate their time to special needs children.

Since 2001, the Ready Set Ride Therapeutic Recreation Facility has served countless special needs and terminally ill children by providing horseback riding services. It is their goal "to assist these children in achieving the highest quality of life possible through the use of horses and individualized activities focused on the needs of the student."

For many of these children, the horses provide mobility that is liberating, something they struggle with in everyday life. Each child, through the creative use of games and activities, barely realizes they are receiving physical, speech, occupational, developmental, and recreational therapy. What they do know is they are having a marvelous time on "their" horse.

Kelly has felt very privileged to be a part of Ready Set Ride and a few years ago even asked me to use their facility for some of her senior portraits. Below are a couple of the images from that shoot.

I, in turn, am very privileged as tonight I will be providing my expertise as a volunteer. I have been given the opportunity to photograph these children on their horses at the barn and I am excited to provide them with something that will help them remember this special time in thier lives. It will be an experience that I am sure I will never forget.

The Signature Sandwich and To-Die-For Deserts

If you find yourself near Oswego and you're hungry for something different for lunch, please, please, do yourself a favor and stop in at The Village Grind Coffee and Tea Co., 19 Main St., Oswego, (630) 554-6678.

Trust me. You will be glad you did, especially if you order The Signature Sandwich. It is a unique sandwich that I absolutely fell in love with a few weeks ago! I dream of this sandwich. I obsess over when I can reasonably go and buy another one. I tell all my friends about it and that includes you!

The cool, creamy, sweet, tangy, crunchy essence of the sandwich will pull you in just as it did for me and my assistant, Lisa. The details: A croissant with cream cheese spread on, turkey breast lunch meat, romaine lettuce, and the two ingredients that make it a stand-out....chopped pecans and a cranberry chutney that is tangy and sweet at the same time. Yum! It also comes with celery, carrots, and a veggie dip.

Then, because this girl can never pass up chocolate, I really hope they have my favorite desert on their menu...chocolate cake with fluffy, not too sweet, buttercream frosting. It's just like the church ladies would bring to a potluck when you were a kid. Of course they have other deserts too, each of them scrumptious.

And oh, yes, they have coffee and tea also. As I am not a coffee fan, I'll have to take Lisa's word for it that it is, indeed, world-class java.

Someday, when I remember to bring my camera along, I'll take some pictures of this quaint coffee shop and the Signature Sandwich...unless all I'm thinking about is food.

Hugs for today!

Uncle Sam and High School Seniors

I've missed you! It's been so busy here at Carol & Co. that I haven't taken the time to update you on all the exciting happenings here, and for that I apologize. The perennial gardens have revived from their winter hibernation and walking down the brick path I find the verdant, bright green foliage a welcome, calming break from the normal pace of life.

In fact, one of our clients suggested I just rent out the gardens by the half hour for those in need of relaxation. I won't be surprised if I find her in the middle of the hosta holding a yoga position!

Today I shot Uncle Sam. Well ok, not literally. I know, I know, you're disappointed; a lot of people wouldn't mind putting a hole or two in some faction of the government. But I did have a session with a corporate client who chose to have an employee dress as Uncle Sam for an upcoming newsletter. It was fun and the most challenging part was sticking the chin-beard on. Here's a peek:

In February and March we spent several evenings doing photo shoots with senior models from the Class of 2010 that we had been cultivating for the last six months. They are from area high schools and I had a lot of fun being creative, using various backgrounds that are new this year. We did night shots, posed the girls on various pieces of furniture, and used our new grafitti wall that we had done in the dark and scary studio basement. Here are a few samples:

  

 

 

 

I am also very excited about a new display we have up at Del Solé Tanning & Boutique in Yorkville! Brittany is an '09 senior at Yorkville High School who came to us for her senior portraits and is a client at Del Solé as well. Brenna Benson, owner of Del Solé, generously allowed us to cross-market with her. They do an awesome airbrush tan so be sure to check them out if you want a tan without sweating in the sun. Without further ado, here's Brittany:

 

The First of Our 2010 Models

We have 20 models lined up for our 2010 graduates from area schools.

Meet Hannah and Savanna. Our first models for the year from Yorkville High School.

You girls are BEAUTIFUL and I thank you for allowing me to create these photos with you!