Want Pizza?

On Tuesday, December 16, I will be hosting a Class of 2010 Senior Focus Group at the studio so I can pick your brains on what you want and like regarding senior portraits. I am looking for 15 students, both guys and girls to participate. It will take about an hour and we will have pizza and soda for you, as well as some cool things to take with you, like cash, discounts, iTunes gift cards and more. We will start at 7:00 p.m. and will limit to 15 students, so if you're interested, call the studio today at 585-393-9242. Hope to see you there.

Seven Years

I can't believe it's been seven years since my Dad passed away. If you knew him, you knew that he was one of the greatest people to have ever stepped foot on Earth. I hope that I can be half the man to my kids that he was to me. Before he died, I always wondered how I would live without him. Over the past seven years, I have come to realize that I don't have to. He is in everything I do. I am the person that I am because of him and his death does not take that away. I see him in the mirror and hear him in my voice every day. I thought that after seven years, the presence would fade and it would be harder to remember the little things. I'm glad to say I was wrong. He is still so "here" and so tangible, I could practically feel his hugs right now. I find the times I miss him the most are when I'm experiencing things that didn't exist before his death that I am so passionate about now, things I want to share with him. The biggest thing is my son Cade. He was born a month after Dad died. It blows my mind that they never knew each other. They are both such monumentally important parts of my life, how could they not know each other? I wish I could have taken my Dad fly fishing. I don't know if he would have enjoyed it as much as I do, but he definitely would have appreciated my passion for it with genuine interest. It's odd, you would think I would miss him when I do the things we used to do together, like going to the stock car races or boat fishing. That's when I feel the closest to him though. The things that we shared together were his gifts that he sent along with me, to savor the rest of my life. I miss you Dad. xoxox

Ms. Van

A few weeks ago I did a session with my son Cade's kindergarten teacher Ms. VanDereems (now Ms. Stout). She came in with her kids and it was hard to take a bad photo of them, not that I was trying to. Here are some of the photos and a plug for Kuek's Master's Academy.

Jo's Kids

Before the Thanksgiving break, I photographed my friend JoLyn's kids at the studio. I do their photos this time each year and it never ceases to amaze me how fast they grow.

Gift Certificate Sale

Beginning "Cyber Monday", December 1st and continuing through Christmas Day, we will be offering "Buy One, Get One Free" Gift Certificates or "Double Value" on one certificate. The gift certificates are for new sessions only and will be valid from December 26th, 2008 through May 31st, 2009. The certificates are good toward sessions and product orders. We also have our standard gift certificates which do not have an expiration date at 10% off our regular studio pricing.

Midtown Madness

Yesterday afternoon I went in to Midtown Manhattan with my family. What better time to go Time Square than the busiest shopping day of the year? My brother brought his camera with him and here are some of the results.

My brother Rich outside of a restaurant we ate at in Harlem.

One of my all-time favorite buildings is the Chrysler Building. I love the Art Deco style. We tried to go in to it, but it's all corporate now and we're not allowed past security.

Rich took this shot at Rockerfeller Center.

He also took this shot of me risking my life in NYC with a Red Sox hat on. I swear I'm a Yankees fan. I borrowed the hat to stay warm.

After all the walking we did, the kids just about fell asleep on the subway back to Harlem.

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and the wish that you are blessed to have wonderful things to be thankful for. I am with my family at my sisters place down in Harlem. We didn't dare fight the crowds to see the parade, much to the kids disappointment. Instead they spent their time watching it on TV, helping out in the kitchen and shopping on 125th Street.

Caren heard that the turkey cooks quicker if you yell at it. Actually, she discovered that touching your skin to a flaming turkey hurts.

Sarah with my Aunt Gloria.

Caren's cat "Fish" that she got from Fish's Farm Market in Manchester while up visiting me.

My sister, Caren, the host of our visit, makes a pre-dinner toast.

Ultimate Fighter

I did a cool senior a week or so ago from Spencerport. He was a kick boxer so we did some cool images to show that.

Playing in the Kitchen

I was playing in the kitchen sink like all full grown adults do, reminiscing of my childhood baths in the sink. The only difference was when I as little I wasn't playing with macro lenses and wireless flash units.

Sarah Shoots, She Scores!!!!!!!!

It's been two years in the making and the stars finally aligned today for Sarah to get her first career goal in a game vs Olean. She switched over to left wing for her last shift of the game. She came in to the offensive zone, picked up a loose puck by the left face off circle stepped in and took a wrist shot, beating the goalie through the five-hole. She got leveled just after shooting so she never even saw her own goal go in. She looked up, saw the puck in the net and raised her arms in disbelief. She skated over to the bench with me waiting there with my arms in the air. She thought I was going to pat her on the head as she skated by and I thought she was going to hug me which resulted in my clothes lining her sending her flat on her back with her feet flying up in the air. It was one of the greatest celebrations in hockey history. Congrats Sweetie Peetie, or as her teammates call her, "Nacho".