Hair today, gone tomorrow.

No fear, concerned friends and neighbors and relatives and blog stalkers--Mark has not become a member of Al Qaeda. He is not a serial killer. And as far as I know he's not planning to ditch our family for a tent in the woods and a shovel for bathroom facilities.

But it seems that everybody wants to know what the beard is all about. At first I think it grew out of sheer laziness. He didn't want to take the time to shave everyday. Mark grows hair like I eat M&Ms (or did, but that's another story). It's practically a super power. By 5:00 PM he doesn't have the "five o'clock shadow". No my friends. He has what other men consider "two day's growth."

In short, Mark is one hairy dude.

So as the days passed, and Mark's hair grew and grew, he decided to use his super power for the good of mankind (well, for the good of Xango's employees, and the kick they'd get out of a Xango inspired beard cut). On the 5th of May Mark shaved his burliness down to two X's criss-crossing his face. And in return he won the Xango annual mustache contest. 

So hot, right?

Believe me, it didn't last long. But Mark is uberly pleased that he won the contest. And I have to admit, the gift basket from Bath and Body Works smells pretty dang good! 

Public Service Announcement from S.S. Summerill

For that which I would risk my life.

On Friday, I was late! And as you know that's a compulsory thing for me; however, when it comes to a photo shoot, I am always on time (Okay, 99% of the time). So when I was already five minutes late and the dude sitting in the truck two cars ahead of me slams on his breaks in the middle of State Street, of course I might swear under my breath. But I didn't. I just smiled and swerved around him.

As I pulled alongside Mr. Truck, I realized why he'd stopped. Just feet from the threat of his tires was a tiny charcoal kitten. My bleeding heart leapt in my chest, and panic flooded me. The kitten was headed across four lanes of traffic (two northbound and two southbound).

Like Mr. Truck, I slammed on my breaks and allowed the kitten to pass. But with horror I realized the kitten's death was sure to come. Just a half mile down the road the next stop light turned green and on-coming traffic approached at a sickening pace.

Without thinking, I flipped a U-turn on State Street, cutting across all lanes of traffic. I threw the van into park on the opposite side of the road (the side that the baby kitten was headed) and flung my door open. With one hand I motioned for the on-coming cars to stop, while using my other hand to honk the horn like a mad-woman. The cars in the lane nearest slowed. But beyond that lane, a semi-truck barreled down State Street headed right toward the tiny kitten padding its way across the road.

I panicked. The kitten's imminent death flashing in my mind. I didn't stop to think past that.

And I ran straight onto State Street. Holding my hands up, as if that might stop a Semi. But maybe it was luck on my side, or Heavenly Father watching over me, but the semi stopped in time. I reached down and picked up that kitten.

Or so I tried.

That damn kitten ran from me after I risked my life to save it! I chased after it for a half second and pounced on it. As I returned to the side of the road, with the little gray furball clutched to my chest, car after car passed with a thumbs up and a wave. It took at least an hour for the pounding beat of my heart to slow. You know, risking your life and all can really kick your adrenaline into overdrive.

And now, I present to you the newest member of our family:

State Street (Lizzy) Summerill

Picking Favorites.

Whenever I take someone's pictures, I'm always surprised that my favorite image isn't necessarily their favorite. I know they pick images for different reasons than me, but sometimes I wish they would choose the one I would choose. It's like a validation thing or something.
Last night I went to the capitol and shot bridals for the most lovely girl. Absolutely stunning. So when I got home and sifted through the pictures, I had a hard time deciding on my favorite one. But after I edited this one, I decided this one is it (or at least one of the top ten). There's something so charming about her in this image.

I'm not sure what I like so much about it, and I even asked Mark. But all he said is, "Yeah, that's nice." Uh, ok.  Anyway, you can decide for yourself...but for me, this one makes me smile with pride.

Eh you. Long time no talk, o wat?

(Translation: Hey you over there. Has it really been that long since we've spoken?)

I'm a terrible blogger. I ride the Bi-Polla' roller-coasta'. So sometimes blogging is all I do and than life hits and I fall off the face of the planet . . . which really means, I hide away in my cave of an office and spend countless hours EDITING - my book or my pics. Either way, my butt's often glued to the cheapo, vinyl office chair I snagged at a yardsale a couple years ago for 5 bucks.

Weekly Update:

1. Cruised around with awesome authors like J-Rall (Name drop-Janette Rallison) at the LDS Storymaker's writing conference. Met a fab agent and a super stylish editor (CSE-cute shoes editor) and pitched my book. There will be more to come on this subject.

b. Frantically worked on finishing and polishing my book to send to the aforementioned fab agent.

III.  Hit a hard wall of writer's block halfway through the week when I recieved my first 'I hate your photography' message. Sigh. It made me sad and I cried cause when it comes down to it, I'm a bit of a wussy.

4. Came back from my sad slump by shooting a KICK-A engagement shoot with the oh-so-awesome Tonja Merryweather taking position as the assist. Together we rocked the engagements.  Here's a sample.

You can check out the rest on my photo blog:
www.erinsummerillphotography.com/blog

5. Then I read the most AWFUL book yesterday. Ugh. I felt so angry that I couldn't think straight. Thus, this is the reason I'm blogging and not writing. The book is City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I've heard the other two books in the series are good. But honestly, GAG!  I don't know if I'll be able to bring myself to read on. 

I hope your week rocked. Let me know what's up with you. And leave a comment, because really I'm a sucker for it and with my low self esteem and all, it makes me feel fuzzy and good inside. Just sayin'.

STALKING

I was doing research for a book I'm writing and found the following tips online. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
 
Stalking is tough. But it doesn't have to be! These three tips will help:
1) Megaphones are stalking cancer. It may seem like common sense to some, but they're loud, they're visible, and frankly, they're unnecessary. Try stalking without one and you'll finally realize how stupid you were all these years.
2) Cancer is stalking cancer. Nobody wants to be stalked by some sicko (gross!). Instead, stay super healthy and light on your feet by not having cancer.
3) Dress for success. A nice leafy green jump suit, with a blazer that has twigs and leaves on it will work very well when you're hiding in nearby shrubs. Don't wear anythign that will stand out, like a yellow vest or a hat that's on fire. That's basically it. Happy Hunting!

Feel like this ever?

ha ha ha! This is one of my favorite commercials. Enjoy your mid-week laugh.

Trade? Anyone?

Hey all,

So lately I've been trying to fix up our house.  And our funny home-owners insurance has decided that we don't need as much money as we think we need to fix the basment. Or even get it back to where it was before the awesome flood of 2010. 

Anyway, that puts me in a bit of a predicament.  If you know me, you know I can't sit still with a giant mess in my house.  So here's my proposal.

First, Im all about trading.  What you can do for what I can do.

If you know how, or know anybody who knows how, to do the following, and you want to trade for a sweet photography package including prints and frames, let me know:

1.  Drywall and mud (1 1/2 walls) / ceiling texture in one room.
2.  Concrete patio over the area that is now a giant mud pit.  (Of course, Mark will help out).
3.  Soffett (is that how you spell it?) and gutter so our ceilings don't cave in from all the bird nests and poo up in the attic.

There you have it.  If you want to trade, I'm game.  You can email me:

erinsummerill(at)hotmail.com

Rue and Bear : Photography Tips for Kids

1. Have an assistant. I've been trying for weeks now to get a good shot of Ruby, but that squirrly girl won't have nothing to do with it. Every single time I get the camera out, push out my light and prop her little buns on a chair she starts screaming. Luckily for me, Shanna from JUST SO stopped by. She helped me wrangle in this wild one for some cute shots. Without her, Ruby just might have escaped yet another day of picture taking.

2. Use Candy. Candy works wonders, believe me, I know. If you tempted me with a box of Hot T's or some M&M's, I'd probably do whatever you wanted...well you know what I mean. In the first shot Ruby is looking at the candy, and in the second shot, she's kissing Teddy so she can get her piece of candy. 

3.  Shoot in Continuous focus on your Auto Focus or switch to manual. It takes to long for your camera to lock on a target when they're all squirrely, so make it easier on yourself.  Continuous shooting is the way to go!

To find out more random photography tips, you can always check my photo blog: www.erinsummerillphotography.com/blog

Or take a class from me.  Email for more info.

To Mark : Luv Erin

grateful.

I'm grateful that I have debt to pay off. A lot of debt.
Because it gives me something to work for. A goal at the end of the road.
It keeps me busy.
And it keeps me focused.
Photography started as a way to pay down Mark's school loans, and to help with our finances when he was out of work. Since I started, I can't say it's been easy, but I finally feel:

Busy.

Not a little, but so busy that sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Like I'm drowning in To-Dos. Sometimes, like yesterday, I didn't have time to change out of my PJ's until it was too late, and then I realized it was time to go to bed.

Today I woke up feeling a little cranky about how busy I feel, but then I realized I'm ungrateful.
Truly ungrateful for what I've been given. Ungrateful for the debt that gave me my college degree, and home, and even my babies. Ungrateful that being busy, could just possibly be my talent. My calling. Me.
So, I sat down today, forcing myself not to complain, and thought it out.
I would be sad if I had nothing to do. Depressed by boredom.  I'm ADD that way.  I need to be moving, doing, working, or helping to keep my mind alert and my psyche sane. I feel a constant need to be a productive human being. I NEED to be busy.
Does that even make sense? (I know sometimes, especially to my sweet hubby, it doesn't.)

So busy as I a may be, and stressed as I may seem, without all these things to keep me busy, I wouldn't be

ME.

Good Lookin' Old People

Today I shot my mom and dad...Nothing special.  Just a Sunday shoot, in regular clothes.  After I edited the image, I amused myself with the following scenario.  I repeat, the following is a figment of my imagination. 

Setting:  Somewhere in small town, USA in the not too distant future.

Old Lady:  Now, Vern, that there is some good lookin' old people. 

Old Man:  Why yes, Lucille, I quite agree.  Since when did folks like us get so gosh darn good lookin'?

Old Lady:  Since that dearie Erin Summerill presented those cursed with wrinkles with her wise photoshoppin' abilities. 

Old Lady:  Amen, to that Lucille. 

Disclaimer:  Lucille and Vern are fictional characters.  No old or wrinkled people were hurt in the filming of the following image.  (ha ha snort).  But the dog may have been a little traumatized. 

The CONTEST is on!!! Come win it.

Here's the heads up!  I posted a contest on my photography blog (www.erinsummerillphotography.com/blog).

You can win:

8x10 coal black OMAHA frame

Studio Session fee in my ONE LIGHT STUDIO ($150 value)

8x10 artistic print to fit into your spankin' new frame

To enter, you must go to my photo blog and read the rules.  However, since this is my family blog, you can also (in addition to going to my photo blog) leave a comment here too and that will earn you an extra piece of paper with your name on it to be placed in the jar.

Now go to my PHOTO BLOG and check out the contest

MY OFFICE!!!

It's finished and fabulous! 

Mark created this new workspace for me so I could turn my office into a "ONE LIGHT" studio! 

The lighting is purchased, the backdrops are here, and I'm ready to go.  In fact, I have my first 'studio session' this Saturday...so drop back by to see the new look of Erin Summerill Photography.  (And to check out the CONTEST...details to come.) 

I know you're feeling pretty sorry for Mark (and don't think that I don't know about you calling him my slave).  The new desk was actually Mark's idea and not mine.  He wanted to do it.  Seriously.  I'm not making this stuff up.  I actually wanted him to build me a desk somewhere else but, he insisted on pulling apart the old desk.  And voila, a week later here's his magic! 

If you're thinking you want an awesome shot of yourself in my ONE LIGHT studio, drop back by...I'll be announcing my Photography Package Giveaway later this week!!!  You don't want to miss out on a chance for freaking awesome complimentary pictures!

Crazy is as Crazy does.

Remember when I went away to Hawaii, and I came back to the coolest built in bookshelves? 

You probably think the pictures posted below are images of those bookshelves when they were being built.  Unfortunately, you would be wrong.

I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking, huh?  Why are those Summerills pulling apart perfectly good shelves that showcased Erin's books so masterfully.  Or maybe you think I went nutzo on Mark and this is my way of exacting my revenge . . . or you could be thinking Mark's finally leaving me and taking the bookshelves with him. 

To this quandry, I can only say that the answer is soon to come . . .

Above - Time Stamp:  Saturday, March 20th 9:37 am

Below - Time Stamp:  Saturday March 20th, 10:21 am

George turns 9 whether or not I'm ready...

Truth:  I didn't forget George's birthday, I just got my days mixed up.  I swear.  When I looked at the calender, I thought the 21st was Monday.  Not Sunday. 

Evidence:  On Friday, when Mom and Dad stopped by with dinner from El Pollo Loco (my favorite...go try it) I said, "Hey Mom, I think we're going to have a family party this year for the boys.  So come to dinner on George's birthday on Monday."

This evidence proves that I didn't simply forget my oldest son's birthday. 

Verdict:  Either way, I suck because on the actual day of George's birthday I didn't have any of the following items:  Cake, Ice cream, gifts, candy, and any other type of party item you can imagine. 

So, to make sure George had a great day, we sent him down to Grandma and Grandpa's house for all-you-can-play Nintendo, while we (yes, Mark was as much a part of the forgetting/confusement as I was) totally went to the Walmart . . . on the Sabbath . . . which, I promise, is not something we typically do.  But, given the pathetic circumstances, we felt it a must. 

In the end, I think George had a great 'family' party with his grandparents from both sides and his siblings.  Here's my handsome guy.  I can hardly believe that I had him 9 years ago!  Time sure flies and my baby just gets cuter and cuter. 

Oh, and of course we used today as a family photo-op day. 

My Georgie.

My Three Sons.

My boys.

My baby girl.

IN the Works : Mark's the Man!

Mark likes to make things.  Yes, I'll totally admit loud and clear that I'm a dang lucky wife to have such a handy (and let us not forget HOT) hubby.  So, when I approached him a while back ago about creating frames for my full-wedding packages, he was all over it.  I don't even think that covers it.  He was like a kid at Christmas time.  So here's what he whipped up for me . . . and he can for you too (well, at a reasonable price)

He's had quite a bit of success in orders from my photography clients.  So finally I said, why don't you start a little frame business.  And voila, here's Mark new business:

So Framed

(website coming soon)

Here are our first 3 styles in a variety of colors. 

(8x10 Coal Black)

(2'x3' Corkboard Roasted Pepper)

(8x10 Sage)

(11x14 Roasted Pepper)

Frames can be ordered in any size starting as small as 8x10 (print size).  They are non-glass frames and are perfect to show case a professional print, canvas, or textured print.  They come with Sawtooth hangers and are ready to hang.  Pricing starts at $39 for 8x10.

If you are interested in a frame, you can email me.  We use paypal!

Monday Checklist.

1.  Get up in time to get the kids off to school.  Dang, did anyone else have a issue with the whole time change thing?  Mark called me at 8:30 and I was dead to the world, still sleeping, all cozy in my bed.  I had to rush down, wake the kids and send them to school with a handful of dry cereal.  Great mom, right?

2.  Laundry.  Again.  We potty-trained Teddy a year ago, but for some reason, the kid's still peeing the bed at night...every night.  I tried just not having him wear pull-ups, in the hope that maybe he'll wake up while he's peeing and realize, hey, I should do this peeing thing in the toilet.  Did he?  No.  Has he ever?  No.  Have I washed a lot of peed clothing and bedding?  Yes. 

3.  Edit more photos.  I love this.  I do it daily for hour on end, and the kids know if they're looking for me to check the office first.  Is this a little pathetic?  Maybe.

4.  Beg for your help.  I have 'pre-paid' for the hugest, coolest, metal mural at WPPI.  I''m going to use it for my Bridal Show booth.  But the thing is, I can't decide which picture to use...because my favorite shot is not always the one I  probably should use.  So, here's the thing.  I shot super cool Nettie, a great lookin' gal, last night...and I wanted to use her on the metal mural.  (when I say mural, don't think lots of images...it's just one image cut up over one giant metal poster-ish thingy) I put the shots up on my photo blog.  Can you go there and vote for one please? 

5.  Go get screaming Teddy out of the tub. 

Have a manic monday too.  Luv, erin

P.s.  I didn't spell check or grammar check because it's 8:55am and one of those days.  Feel free to critique.

ROOM FOR TWO.

There is space in my PHOTOGRAPHY 102 class that starts this Wednesday. 

TIME:  6:00-7:30pm

DATES:  It's a four week course taught on the following dates. 

• Wednesday 17th
• Wednesday 24th
• Wednesday 31st
• Saturday 3rd. 

DETAILS:  If you've taken 102 before and you want a refresher, there is no charge to repeat the class.  If this is the first time you're taking 102, then the charge is $150.  As always, once you've taken a class, you are welcome to repeat any class at no charge!  This class is for those who want to take their photography to the business level, or simply to understand in depth portraiture, lighting, composition, and more.  For more details, check out the PHOTO/CLASS BLOG.

If you want in email me:

erinsummerill(at)hotmail.com

Old People. Pirates. And Funny Me.

First, my mom goes by Jo even though her name is Julianna.  And because she does, we named or little Ruby, Ruby Jo, after my mom.  Now that you understand that, you can understand how clever of a child I am when it comes to my mom. 

See, she came over for dinner.  Why?  Well she had some sort of eye-surgery today.  So of course there had to be heckling over her, hm hm, appearance. 

Finally, like a bolt of lightning hitting me, inspiration came as we sat eating stir fry around the dining table. 

I said, "Hey, what do you can an old lady, with white hair, and an eye patch?" 

The boys, said in unison, "what?"

"SCURVY JO!"

Bah ha ha ha.  Oh clever me. 

Having a pirate as a mom is awesome.

Here's Scurvy Jo and Pirate-Eye Teddy!  Two of a kind.  Now we know where Teddy got his 'good' looks.  ha ha ha...I crack myself up.