Jessica had her baby!

I recieved this text message and was so excited to hear about the birth of little Miss Julia!  She was born in the middle of the night at 3:22am.  She's beautiful and healthy at 7lbs. 3 oz.  And I, like you, am dying to see some pictures!

I so wish I could have been there for the birth but I'm waiting for all of the wonderful details.

Jessica has been a wonderful addition to the Davina Studios team and I'm thrilled to have found her.  I have been so grateful for her sweetness with everyone who contacts the studio, her attention to detail, and her ability to coordinate all of us and help keep us working as a team. She's great at working in an artist's space and knows the importance of having a system for everything that happens.  She's great at keeping things organized and has had so many great ideas that have helped the studio to be a better place to work.  She's been a gift and I'm so grateful for her.

Obviously, Jessica will be out of the studio for the next few weeks.  I'll be trying to keep up with her email box...thanks for your patience on that... :)

Make sure to welcome Julia into the world!

Best wishes and congratulations to you Jessica, Caleb, and Julia!  Julia is blessed to have you both as parents...

new. LIFE.

Pictage. PartnerCon.

I look forward every year to September because I get to see photographer friends that I've not seen in quite a while.  I'm also blessed to have the opportunity to get to speak again this year.  I love the opportunity to teach and this year it's going to be extra fun because I'm speaking with Millie Holloman.  

Over the last couple of years we've made the jump from doing everything ourselves to hiring help so that we can have a life outside of drowning in our businesses.  We've jumped through that terrifying ring of fire...wondering if we could really afford it, made mistakes and lived to tell about them, and also more fully gotten ontp paths that are leading us where we want to go.  We both have different destinations and visions for our businesses but we have fundamental ideas that work for both of us even though one of us is planning to staya small boutique and one of us is hoping to have a large number of studio photographers.

If you weren't planning on going to PartnerCon jump on a plane and come see us.  The Pictage Conference is a photographer convention with more of a workshop feel.  It's small so you actually meet people, become friends with them, and then share hotel costs with them at the bigger shows or attend cool workshops together.  The very first Pictage PartnerCon is where I met Millie and we've been friends ever since.  We've talked each other through fun times, mistakes, figuring out html, business decisions, and encouraged each other through business and personal circumstances.

Register Here.  (you need to be a pictage member to register)

Don't miss out on friendship or a great learning experience!  If you can't make it this year plan for next year's Partnercon.  Hope to see a lot of you there.  If you're attending tell me in the comments!

fun. LIFE.

yay.

We closed on our house just before the weekend and then found out that the movers couldn't bring the entire contents of our house until Monday.  That meant: nothing to sleep on, no beds, blankets, pillows, etc. because our temporary housing also ran out on Friday.  So we've been in a teeny hotel over the weekend trying to keep our kids from going insane.  It's been a crazy week not to mention being without computers.

The movers were here all day yesterday and stayed until after Open House started for the kids' schools.  As soon as they left we rushed to everyone's Open Houses and then hurried over to get Emmett to football practice.

The kids start school tomorrow.  Seriously.

We're a little...NO...a LOT crazy around here.

We were hoping to be in our house by the 8th of August (those darn inspectors) so that we wouldn't be trying to get moved into our house and get the kids in school at the same time.  

As a reminder...everything that was in process before I left Utah is now on hold until the middle of September.  This includes all albums that were not completed and approved and sent to the printer, photo shoots, etc.  I am on vacation until then trying to get my family through this transition.

Thanks for your patience.

Have a great week!

my borders.

Brent just blogged about my borders on his site and I just wanted to say THANKS! 

Brent made the border action that goes around all of my pictures.  He is an amazing graphic designer and I'm grateful for his help.   He also did all of Millie Holloman's identity work, and some things for Lauren and Kelly.  And, we can't forget that he did all kinds of work for Love Affair!

sweet. brave.

Saylor is going through a very difficult surgery right now.  I would love it if you would keep her and her family in your prayers. 

I'm heartbroken that circumstances with my move have kept me from being able to be with Saylor and her family at such a piviotal time.  To read more about them and their story click on these links: 

Saylor's family blog. 

Saylor getting her casts removed.

Saylor at home.

I miss you Saylor.  Thank you for the gift of you and your family in my life.  I'm so grateful.

intense. LIFE.