KPOV community radio show {publicity}

Just for fun, the new home page of my boudoir website...to be launched soon!

I received an email from a friend a few weeks ago. She's a volunteer at the local non-profit radio station here in Bend. Being the great friend she is, she wrote a note to me, and one of the radio personalities who does a show she thought might boost some business for me.

The odds of me actually being on a radio show seemed low, although a great opportunity....YEAH right! Another few weeks went by, still no word from Aylette (our radio wonder woman/ radio talk show host) The dream quickly died for me and I moved on from the thought of everyone hearing me speak. After all...what could I possibly have to say of any interest.

One normal morning, I pulled myself out of bed, grabbed a cup of coffee and began the daunting task of checking my emails. I'm not that popular, but being a business owner I have seemed to end up on every junk mail list on the planet.

Nothing too important, an order or two...GREAT. Then, there I saw it....an email from Aylette, asking if I would be a guest on her show! OH NO....I completely forgot I'm deathly afraid of public speaking!

Ive been wanting to conquer a few fears lately, so I guess this is it....I'm going on the radio. Alyette wanted to make this comfortable and easy for me. We met up last Sunday to pre-record the show, that way in case I was at a loss of words, she could just take that part out.

The first few minutes were hard, but I tried to forget about the hundreds of people who could potentially listen to this. I cringed at the sound of my voice...I can't possibly sound this ridiculous in real life...can I? Once that shock wore off, I actually started to think I sound pretty great, and the things that just flew out of my mouth were almost incredible. Alyette is so excited about the subject that we fell into, no one knew what would come out of our interview. Insecurities, and self doubt that everyone feel at some point, and why I love what I do. The gift I feel I give to people, and what society has done to young girls self worth. For the rest you will just have to tune in. I hope it all flows together in the end, I'm really excited to hear it finished.

So, for all of you out-of-town-ers...no worries, they actually stream this stuff live on the web. Just click on the link below at 4:30, tomorrow, Friday the 30th. Please leave me feedback. I'd love to know what you all think.

Follow me to KPOV!

Annual Harvest Party

This time of year is a fun one. I've always enjoyed dressing up, in an imaginative costume, giving you the permission to be a little crazy. A few weeks ago one of the teachers at Kaci's school asked me about our costumes for the annual Harvest Party at school. He said we were a big Halloween family. This is not a thought that has ever crossed my mind...Big Halloween Family...well, Ok.

It's not too long after the shock of school starting wears off, that the ideas around here start forming as to what this years costume of choice will be. The kids change their minds two or three times and then we finally set out on a scavenger hunt for the pieces to put together our Halloween outfit.

One of my favorite school activities has become the Harvest Party. The entire school community gets dolled up...even the parents, costume contest and all. I usually am behind the camera at the costume photo booth, but this gives me an opportunity to check out all of the competition.

At the end of an exhausting night, I plop myself and my aching feet onto the futon outside the front office of the school, drool at the teacher I have myself a little crush on and anxiously await the kids to cash in all of their tickets for an array of useless prizes and trinkets that end up in the garbage, sometimes before the night is even over.

This year was no different. Taylor came over soon after the crowds had left, sits down next to me and says, "Mom, I think I want to change my costume...." just like she does every year. One thing I have always said is..."It's nice to know my kids are consistent. In all they do, there is consistency, and this years scramble for a second "great" Halloween costume is no different. After sporting her "amazing" Little Red Riding Hood, Taylor has decided on "Dead Ballerina" as of this evening...we'll see if she actually pulls it off.

The colors of fall {portrait}

This Saturday the kids and I piled into the photo mobile and headed down to one of the parks in town. This particular park is a photographers dream in the fall, with the beautiful aspens and the bright orange trees. It won't take long to run into another photographer here with a family dressed in their fall colors. I think we passed at least a dozen of them this morning. Each time the kids whispered..."Mom, there's another photographer...is her/his camera nicer than yours?"

We all say our hellos and secretly check out the equipment that photographer is toting, while we try to find our spot that no one has taken over yet.

As with all our attempts at a new family picture, the kids were mostly uncooperative, but it does make for some fun candid shots. I tend to get a lot of laughter and on the outside these kids seems like they are having the best time ever! While this is sometimes the case, it was not this morning.

I had grabbed a coat out of the closet, knowing I was going to need it. It wasn't cold, just a little chilly, and I've finally gotten to the point that I will sacrifice style for some warmth here in the fall and winters. To my surprise, when I put on the coat at the park....this was not my coat. I had grabbed Taylors, and since they are both black, it was an easy mistake. At least the sun was out on Saturday.

We started our walk and let me tell you, I got every last smile those kids had hiding anywhere in their being. There were tears towards the end, mostly by me...no Just kidding, probably Taylor...but she cries REAL easy these days. It was a beautiful walk, in the gorgeous fall weather, in a photographers playground.

Thanks kids, for the laughs, and tears, and the tad bit of cooperation somewhere in there to give us another set of amazing photos. Are my kids just "that" good looking?? Or am I just "that" good??

Happy Fall my faithful readers!

2009 Holiday Card Templates! {templates}

I' have finally come up with a few fun templates for your holiday card needs. I've made it SUPER easy this year, with mix and match fronts and backs....

"Romantically Chic"
This is the only design that has it's own back.




As for the rest....pick your favorite front and choose from two backs...it's THAT easy!

"Simply Chic"



"Cheerfully Chic"


"Elegantly Chic"




then choose your back design....




All colors on the back templates are fully customizable...that means I will change the colors to match your front design. It's really that simple. You can also change the text on your cards....Pick a fun Holiday saying of your choice. Just make sure to let me know.

So, this year, leave ALL the hard work up to me!

On the wrong end of the camera....

I think there is some truth to the saying that "most" photographers enjoy being behind the camera. This is definitely true for me. I'm uncomfortable, I feel awkward, and I just don't really like it. While this is completely a true statement, I also believe that in my case, it is important to see how the other half live, and have a little sympathy for my clients. So I will endure the pain of having my portraits done...every once in while.

Yesterday I met up with a photographer friend of mine, and the ever so talented, Kristi Eckburg, and had a few new photos done for the website. We also practiced a new off camera flash technique, and had a great time. Thank you Krisiti! The photos are beautiful. The fact that I found three I liked is somewhat amazing...I never like photos of myself. Well...it's a rare occasion to say the least.

So, you'll see these on the website soon, but here are the great photos of, none other than.....ME!

Some REALLY cute kids {portraits}

I had the pleasure of photographing a little pre-school the other day. These were some cute kids! I was not expecting such a young group, but we had a great time, and got some photos I think the parents will be proud of....I'm on a roll!

I love these little hands...She was absolutely adorable...and those cheeks!

This little beauty and her eyes...

This little guy...now he's a character.

Thanks Westside Christian Academy for thinking of me! And for your collection of beautiful faces to brighten my day!

Fun with Photoshop {for fun}

Today I got to hang out with a new friend and give her a little tutorial on Photoshop. I have had so much fun over the past few weeks experimenting with a few new actions....BTW, ever heard of the Get Totally Rad Blog? Can I say AWESOME! I love their actions packs and have been playing around with a mixture of PS actions and Lightroom presets. It's a tiring, but fun process and there are endless possibilities to what you can create. Here's just a sampling of what we did today in our "lesson" with Deb. I also added in the new AMAZING water mark...cause it so beautiful!

Ps. Is she NOT the cutest girl ever! I am a tad bit bias.....

Fun with Illustrator {for fun}

I met with an old co-worker this morning to give me a tutoring session of sorts. He showed me some basics, to keep me from pulling out my hair with this weeks assignment in school. He also showed me a fun little trick.

Since I had Taylor's school photo posted, just to be fare, (since that is most important in our house) I posted one of Kaci's many school photos I love, with my new trick, and my beautiful new watermark....Thanks Troy!

Feelin' the LOVE {portrait}

One of the best parts of my job is making a difference in a families life. Some people don't understand the importance of a good photo, whether it's an esteem booster....cause you look AWESOME!, a snapshot of life at that very moment, or a memory that is most important once someone is gone.....I LOVE what I do.

I had the pleasure of photographing my daughters school this year. REALMS is great about supporting local businesses and the students were stoked to have at least a possibility of a great photo...finally. No offense to the "typical" school photographers....but some are a little corny, and I know my daughters always dread to hand them out.

So, for two days I hung out with a bunch of middle schoolers, waiting for the "right" smile, the one that Mom will be proud to hand out to Grandma and Grandpa and proudly display on the wall. Let me just mention, there were a few kids that this was NOT an easy task...but I was not giving up, and we did it!

I finally finished the edits and scrambled to get everything on the online album. (Hopefully blowing the parents away with my abilities) The email with a link was sent out only yesterday. Since then I have had over 50 hits, and a flood of emails, and compliments from parents. One specifically hit me hard. I was so blessed by this fathers words, I just had to share....

Good Morning! Tambi!
I just got home from printing the newspaper and was offered your link from Amy for school pictures. Alizabeth looks amazing so much so that I teared up, that type of emotion had to be THANKED asap!!!! You have absolutly made my day and I THANK YOU so very much. I can't even express just how much that picture touched me, this was needed so very badly today! My girl is my world and I feel like you captured me a star to help light it
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH I hope you have a great day...

Jay Ecker

I remember being in Middle school, what a terrible time it was. It's the moment when your life can take a drastic change in direction, in the way of esteem. Today all these young girls are bombarded with images of beautiful women, who DONT look like them, aren't even real, and they think "something is wrong with me"

I have a daughter this age, and I see how confident she is compared to me at 13, for this I'am so grateful. Maybe she won't have to struggle with this like I did. It still effects decisions I make for myself, and I'm still comparing myself at times to "those" girls I see everywhere. Taylor is different, although she's anxiously awaiting the day when her "baby fat" as he puts it is finally gone.

This is another reason why the Boudoir photography has become so fun for me. I take these "normal" beautiful women, some who hate having photos taken, and with tricks of lighting and posing, give them beautiful photos. I've had women leave their sessions in tears at the way they felt, how liberating the experience was, and most leave with a new appreciation for the body they were given.

I'm so excited for Alizabeth, and all the other students who have a great photo of themselves to proudly display this year, or hand out a million and one wallets to all their friends. I wish I had had that one photo of myself when I was that age, the one that made me feel beautiful too. If you think I'm putting to much into a simple photo...you try being 13 and see how you feel too.