{weak} week

Bad emme. Bad blogging again. Argh. I'm trying. Really! I promise. I've had a whirlwind of a week so far and have just got the sneek peeks of M&N's wedding ready from Saturday. I had to cancel my meeting with the Chamber of Commerce since Pants got sick on Monday, I had to help "re-wardrobe" my sis B {stupid principal changed dress code with a month left in the school year}, meet up with my GF M, move sis B in and oh yeah...softball on Monday and Tuesday eves {ok, A's softball games} and I'm pretty sure I managed to chip my elbow. Again. Today....I'm sore. A bit crankified, but that's because I awoke with a tension headache I'm yoga-ing out. Other than that, I'm in a good mood.

Did I mention that I also brought our dresser up the stairs solo yesterday? And did a number on my toe? I didn't? Well, there it is. Spring fever has hit with even more fervor than in March and I need to mow the lawn. It's crazy green and long =D

Apparently I'm a bit ADD this AM, but I promised photo <3; so here they are! {If you want to see them in more glorious hugeness, please visit my flickr stream here} *I finally upgraded my flickr account to pro...they told me I had too many photos...WORTH IT!*

Namey & Steventh

It's been awhile again; I've been crazy busy with wedding season kicking off for me last week. So, not much to say, but here's some photo love for your morning.....

{sneek peek}

It was foggy. It was windy. It was chilly. It was...AWESOME! Muchas gracias to Aminda Villamagna for coming along! I'm so stoked about these photos and working more with Aminda this year, I can hardly contain myself. Here's a quick sneek peek:

Learn and Grow

I've been doing a lot of reading and thinking lately. As well as having a sick Ms. P who's challenged my patience. Ok. I've had a serious short amount of patience lately-I blame the winter. I'm sooooo ready to see some grass and be able to walk without boots and winter hats. In fact, I started most of my seeds for this year already. I cold-start them, so here's hoping! {I wasn't aware that verbena has a 12-week starting period, in the dark, so I'm glad I started early!)Here's to getting back to nature with dirty hands, knees, and that streak of mud on my head where I wiped the sweat away with my gloves on. (^.^)

And if all goes well, we'll be up to our noses in pumpkins. My lovely darling husby picked out the "Competition Size" orange pumpkins, so there goes the back corner of the yard {not that I mind...pics of the yard will come} and I opted for some lovely blue and white ones {planning Halloween theme already...} Oh...my...goodness! Who's excited? This guy.


On another note, I've started a new chapter in both my business and my personal lives. Since I really pay attention to details {the ones most miss}, I'm going to create details in everyday life. Like text messages to A like "You make me smile." {Of course, it's followed by a slew of q's from him so I add the Dwight Schrute "That is all." at the end} Or being even more conscious of others around me in public places and opening doors, offering a cart, or just saying 'hello'. Call it what you will-golden rule, situational awareness, etc. {I call it Karma} I enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling I get from helping others. {Helper's High?} I'd like to say I'm also trying to not complain for a month, but I like my b!tch sessions too much for that. Hey, I'm not perfect by any means.

On a side note, a friend texted me this message that made me both tear up and laugh:
"I feel deprived of the D___"{last name here}
May I mention that we saw these guys last on Monday and I got the message yesterday?
I love my friends.
Magical.

Happy weekend!

~e

{bright & fun}

I ordered one of these yesterday for wedding season...I think they're simply fab and can't wait to try it out!


{image courtesy brightnight.com}

As if you can't tell by now, I love umbrellas...but not necessarily having to use them. =D And a bride holding this...oooo ideas! I've even spotted them on some of the wedding blogs as attendant gifts. {After all; useful, fun, and who doesn't love their own ray of sunshine on a cloudy day?}


~e

{Shiny pretty things}

I didn't notice the similarity of P's shoes {she picked out herself} to mine until today. Like mother, like daughter =D

{reese's pieces}

Friday was a full day! I started out the day @ the Reese family's house for little Sean {aka Monkey} for Sean's 1-month photo session. He was a hungry lil' dude, but full of smiles! I can hardly wait for their next session!

Weekend of shoots coming up!

I've got a FULL weekend....and I'm ECSTATIC! I've been honing some skills in the tech dept {hence the constantly changing blog layout}, redesigning and relaunching the website, and trying to find the "perfect" logo/identity to use. {If you've got mad graphic design skills, contact me. I'd love to utilize the barter system and give you full credit for design work} So the blog has been designed, redesigned, re-redesigned and not posted on...{don't give me that look, I feel guilty already!} So here's the post and my humble explanation and apology.

I'm sorry.

Anyway, I've still got slots in the bridal "Give it to the people, Stick it to the Man" {little wordy, I know} promotion. $300 off any wedding package {prices on website}; and I've restructured the rates. Let's just say prices didn't go up... I want to be affordable and offer services to a lot of the couples out there that don't have a huge budget but still want that BANG for their bucks.


Tomorrow is usually Day 1 of Weekend; not this time! I have a family/newborn shoot and consults pretty much all day. {yay!} Then Saturday rolls in and off to a family century farm for a fun engagement shoot. {Don't worry, you'll get some peeks at the photos soon!} 


Did I mention that it's tax time? {oof!} Lots of extra paperwork {being my 1st official tax season as a business owner} but worth it {new equipment please Mr. Tax Man!}


I'll have to post a bunch of wedding tips/tricks for all budget-conscious couples in the next couple days too.  S---T---R---E---T---C---H that budget! =D

emme's 'pic' du jour

Proud dad {and plane enthusiast} Eric with Grace

New features on the site!

Hello all!

  Yes, I've been MIA on the blogging thing for a month now...but that's not a bad thing. I've been busy with the free family shoots, engagements, and just for fun shoots all across Central MN {I drove over 200 miles in one day and didn't hit any towns bigger than St. Cloud!}

  Combine that with me reworking my logo, getting onboard with up-and-coming band Citizen's Arrest, getting sick, and voila! Me missing blog posts. Anyway; I'm back and running at full speed. The website {link above} has been reworked, complete with music in ALL galleries as well as the main page; and a RAVES section with feedback {and of course, more photo love} from recent shoots.

  If you've been a client, please email me at emily@emmephotodesign.com with any feedback of your experience with me. If you HAVEN'T been a client, why not? Book a session today and have prints in hand for Christmas!

  Hope to hear from you soon!

~e

DONATIONS NEEDED

My latest philanthropic endeavor is taking off like crazy. Here's the scoop: I've had this tugging at my heart to donate my talent and time to local families in need of some hope and love. So I put an ad on Craigslist for free family portraits to families struggling and in need. My initial goal was to just pick one family and donate my time and an 8x10 for them. However, reading the emails from these families makes choosing impossible. There are families of 1 child to families of 7 children(who recently lost 2 daughters). There are families whose children have medical hardships (as many as 5 in one family), families who have had to send one parent away for work, families that have struggled through adversity and remained together.

My philosophy is that everyone should have a way to remember their loved ones...together. I never had a family portrait and my one remaining snapshot of my father is so very special. I want these families to have a little more joy.

I'm hoping that readers (and fans) will stumble across this and also feel the call to help. Any bit is appreciated; monetary(for prints), food shelf donations, time, talent, photographic equipment, etc. I'll put a $5 PayPal donation link on my website, but you can also mail your donations to:

emme photo design
1710 Pinecone Rd N
Sartell, MN 56377
*Please write "Family Event" in the memo tab*

If you're in the St. Cloud area, I can also pick up any donations. Please help me make this event a success. Let's prove that humanity and hope are still alive.

Ok. Here's the inaugural post of the blog! I thought I'd feature a few shots of the gorgeous wedding of Frank & Robin. So bear with me, I'm new at hoisting here!

~e