Here are a few fun updates for everyone!

1. Can you believe that a week from today our wedding with VH1, Big Fat Fabulous Wedding, will air on TV!

Put it on your calendar! We’re so excited to see this! It’ll be September 6th, Thursday night @ 7pm PT or 10pm ET!!!

NFL Running Back, Eric and his high school sweetheart, Shamea are on My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding tonight! Click for details! Or if you want to see previous episodes on line, check it out here! I still love Shae and Erica WAY more! I think they’re going to end the season with a bang!!!

2. The September 29th workshop is SOLD OUT!!! Expect an email in the next week or two on all the details to look forward too!

3. There are two spots left in the October 19th workshop!! And we’ll all get to meet the lucky winner for the mom contest!

4. We’re still accepting nominations for this so feel free to post your nominee here!

5. There are three spots left of the twenty for the 2 day Advanced Workshop!! (only 1 marriage discount left!)

6. DVD 2, Beyond the Green Box, still coming along–praying, pleading, hoping for shipments to happen in Sept. We’ll keep you posted!

So today I forced myself out of bed when it was still dark and got on my bike. I rode down along the water and over bridges where the train tracks almost seemed on fire as the sun rose.

It was amazing!

I thought about all the things I’m so deeply grateful for. All of you came to mind.

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend! I pray that each of you is surprised by an unexpected smile, a moment of rest, a gift or a treat from your little ones! My favorite treat was when Pascaline said she had a present for me. I closed my eyes, and she wrapped her arms around me. “Here’s a hug just for you momma.”

In case you missed the blog post about nominating a mom for a seat in our October workshop, check it out here!

We’re excited to see who gets blessed by this!

The contest part is the last half of the post! Thanks friends!

Three, Two, One–More Photos of the Bastien’s!

This little guy thinks his dad is the funniest guy ever! I just loved shooting them!

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And we can’t forget about the one who has dad wrapped around her finger!

Two kids later, a thriving business, and even more beautiful than ever!

Congrats to the Bastien Family! Wait till you two see the rest!!!

Moms are amazing in countless ways!

This mom is Theresa. She is probably going to freak when she sees this on the blog today because we’re finishing up their family portraits (and this is definitely a sneak peak shot for her!). I love how her little guy is just cuddled into her and loving on his momma. Running the August Special for Portraits was worth every minute (thinking about doing it again in September or October depending on interest–let me know!).

I’ve loved being able to focus all my attention on family dynamics while shooting a portrait session. And it’s got to help that I’m also a mom because I’m looking for the shots that I WANT of myself with my kids. I would die to have this kind of shot below with Blaze or Pascaline! BUT the BEST part is our clients reactions when they get their photos because EVERY family shoot is the same (kids riding a fine line of being out of control, parents frustrated b/c they’re worried I wasn’t able to get any thing :)).

So here’s the contest part! In honor of how wonderful moms are and all that they do and give, Brian and I have reserved one spot in the October 19th workshop for a special mom you nominate! That’s right, she’ll get a free pass to the beginner workshop! Here’s how it works!

Post a comment telling us about a mom who you think deserves a big break in life! If your a mom, you’re probably laughing because we ALL deserve a serious break. But the moms we’re looking for are the ones who have had a ridiculous amount of stress in their life whether from trauma or things just not going her way this summer. She is a mom in your life that needs a serious blessing to come her way. She needs a surprise giving her empty tank some fuel. If she is a woman that has miscarried, she is still a mom in my mind b/c I know her heart became a mother’s heart the moment she found out she was pregnant.

We’ll collect all the nominees, post them up for you to see and vote, and then announce the winner in the next couple weeks!

Nominate her today, and turn her day around! Be sure to let her know you’ve nominated her too! If I was a mom nominated I’d love to know that my friends were thinking of me whether I won or not.

Our good friend, Dane Sanders, came over a lot a couple weeks ago. So much that the kids started calling him Uncle Dane.

(Dane on the end next to me (and the super sweet Mike and Rachel Larson on the other side of Brian–awesome week with all three for dinner in one night!)

Every night Dane talked about this book he had just finished, The 4 Hour Work Week.

When he said the title, I almost wanted to hit him b/c ‘how can anyone have a thriving business only working 4 hours a week?!’ Since I teased him so much and gave him so much grief, I figured we should buy it and at least read it. And let’s just say that I devoured it in a couple of days! You have to buy this book! It’s AWESOME! The author, Tim Ferriss, blows my mind! (I’m sure Dane is laughing as he reads this!) I’m not going to give the book’s concept away, but if you are looking for ways to find more time with your kids—it’s a must read!

Brian and I have been planning our first mini retirement adventure ever since we came back from our camping trip (mini retirements are explained in Tim’s book)! We want to go somewhere exotic, abroad, cheap (cost of living) and life changing. We’re researching Bali, Portugal, Greece, Thailand…are we missing a place?

Where would you go with the kids (planning to stay for a month)?

Just in case you don’t know our family well, I should probably clarify the last blog so people don’t misunderstand.

The kids did not actually take any martini sips, BUT they did eat a ton of dessert, and they did dance on the couch (and the dancing on the couch is often a daily thing which Pascaline wants me to learn to appreciate—she’s serious.)

Here are some more fun photos from Erwin’s blog! Erwin is another awesome photographer based out of Seattle. Check out his blog!

I love the lighting Erwin caught on this shot of Brian and Blaze!

Ron trying out one of the AMAZING Shootsacs by the AMAZING Jessica Claire!

Jason, of Ella Blue Studio, helping Brian with the drink orders. Check out Jason’s site. He and his wife Crystal do some great work!

And Ron just posted this up on his blog! I LOVE it! Pascaline (still on the couch) singing about how Canon is better than Nikon! That’s definitely our girl!!

Last night we had our monthly photography meeting (PUG-Pictage User Group), and we decided to celebrate the season being more than half over with yummy martinis; Green Apple Martinis, Lemon Drop Martinis, Dirty Martinis…you name it, Brian mixed it up. (Just like Tom Cruise in Cocktail! :))

It was our first and is for sure going to be an annual Martini Garden Party event! We had door prizes, Michael brought his whole DJ set up and sweet vintage microphone. He has got to be the BEST DJ out there–besides the nicest guy! Check his site out if you need a DJ!

Who knows what the neighbors thought!

Here’s Ron, Laurel and Jen! It was Jen’s first time last night to one of our groups (we loved having you Jen!)!

And this last photo is seriously scaring me! Pascaline and Blaze went WILD on all the sugar, and at one point, Pascaline was actually mixing martinis. I’m seriously scared those two took little sips of their own (see my FYI not below). Here’s Pascaline dancing on the couch! The highlight is when she asked Ron if he shoots Nikon or Canon. That’s our girl!

Thanks for coming guys! It was such a great group with so many laughs! Ron Storer, these photos you caught are AWESOME! He’s also got more on his blog! And I think we hit a record of the last few people leaving at almost 2am!

FYI: For those of you who don’t know us well, Pascaline took one turn at shaking the mixer. And the kids didn’t take any martini sips, but they did eat a ton of dessert, and they did dance on the couch (and the dancing on the couch is often a daily thing which Pascaline wants me to learn to appreciate—she’s serious.)

I’m calling it “Workshop Sweeteners” because the latest new details just makes our time so sweet and even more wonderful!

First, we have decided to change the location of the workshops to the elegant and beautiful setting of The Villa (a bed and breakfast inn)! Check out their website, and you’ll see why I changed our spot from a beautiful one room space to a gorgeous ESTATE! I just got back from walking the grounds, and I felt like I was in a dream! It’s only blocks from where we were going to be, BUT it’s a whole VILLA with beautiful grounds for shooting, teaching and especially eating :).

The hostess, Kristy, is WONDERFUL and doing so much for our workshops! One, she is offering our workshop attendees 15% off their room rates at the Villa. I looked at all their rooms today, and I totally want to sleep there myself! Just beautiful and fresh!

(that’s the water!)

Since there are only 4 rooms, I would book soon, (mention my name and our workshop) to make sure you get in on this deal! And the best part is it alleviates renting a car b/c you now only need to call Carpool Airporter for a ride to the B&B and back to the airport. (#253-927-6179)

Kristy and I also sketched out the menus for each workshop. For the BEGINNER and ADVANCED workshops, plan to have a wonderful breakfast AND scrumptious lunch provided as well as cold drinks, coffee, tea throughout the day with a yummy afternoon treat! Since breakfast is now being provided, come as early as 9am to eat and chat before we get the day started at 9:30am! Isn’t that a sweetener to the workshop!

For those of you doing the 2 DAY ADVANCED WORKSHOP, we are thinking of having a wine and cheese meet and greet the Friday night before we start. Post a comment with your thoughts on that. I often prefer to go straight to my room and unwind after flying into to town, but if you’re up for hanging out before we start Saturday morning, do tell! The group will also be dining together on Saturday night at a local favorite spot. More details to come in emails to you!

Okay, so how much space is left in each workshop? UPDATE: As of Thursday, Aug. 22nd:

Beginner Workshop on Saturday, September 29th has only 2 spots left.

Beginner Workshop on Saturday, October 13th has only 3 spots left.

Advanced Workshop on October 27th and 28th has only 4 spots left. (we are closing at 20 for sure)

Brian and I are so excited to meet you guys in the next couple months! A couple great companies have also contacted us about being sponsors for these workshops, and I’m so excited b/c their products are the BEST! More sweetener details to come in on that later too!

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BTW, camping with the kids for five days was AWESOME! Can’t wait to share our adventures!

BTW #2, Garden Martini Party starting at 7pm at our place tonight and invitation open to all photographers between Oregon, WA and Idaho! Email if you need directions! It’s going to be a blast! See you tonight!

We are headed home today from an AMAZING, 5 day, camping trip with the kids! Can’t wait to share stories and photos!

We’ll be back in the studio tomorrow and post all the “stuff” we’ve been working on! Check back tomorrow after 3pm as we “spill the beans!”

Okay, I know I said I would post up some new announcements for the upcoming workshops, both the Beginner Workshops and 2 Day Advanced Workshop, BUT, I need a couple more days. I’m working on something for these workshops that (if it pans out) is going to be SO COOL!!! So before we make the announcements official (and I’m dying to share!), I’ve got a question for all of you flying in for the Advanced Workshop…are you open to sharing a room with someone or maybe sometwo? If so, post it up today and let me know!

In the meantime, I have to share with you the Pictage Conference Video that just went live! We did this while speaking in Chicago, and if you haven’t been to a Pictage Conference…you MUST go! They have changed our lives, and that is not an understatement!

Check it out!