Myles, Myles, Myles

What can I say about Myles. Myles is the first guy that I have done senior portraits of this year. We had ball! Him and his mom have a great relationship. They were cracking jokes back and forth with each other the whole time.

You got great portrait Myles. And I hope you had a great time at Wild Wings!

Apple of our eye

I can't say enough about the Tandy girls. Both Lauren and Rachel were the first two portraits that I entered into the Hot Tots and Cool Kids contest way back when. With their portraits I place first and second. I have watched the two grown into beautiful young ladies. This last session I had with them we had grandpa and grandma with us. I was great.

Grandpa and Grandma had fun too.

Bestfriends are we my sister and me

Lauren and Julia are two of a kind. When I first started taking portraits of Lauren at 6mths she didn't like it at all. Now she loves it! Julia on the other hand no so much. We did get a few of her.

And she loves her cheerios.

True Iowa Gal

Before I left for New York Jill and I got to shoot a awesome wedding. With a few set backs in the morning, we managed to get all that we needed to tell Andy and Kate's love story. It was really fun. Doing weddings in Iowa you don't get to do many outdoor ones. The weather was great and everyone that came from California had a ball. One of my favorite portraits that Jill captured was when Kate saw her dad for the first time! Enjoy the portraits.

It's been awhile

Well we made it home save and sound. However, I did not drive straight through this time. We pulled over about an hour outside of Chicago. I was a little bummed when woke up and realized that we were only four hours from home. Oh well better safe then sorry.

It was a little hard getting back into the swing of things but I managed well. I kicked out week with shooting senior portraits of Aleshia. She was lots of fun and was really what I needed to get back on track.

I really love her pink dress. It's not very often that you get to wear your prom dress twice. Aleshia enjoyed herself along with her mom and sister. We had a good time.

The week in recap

Hey everyone! Sorry it has taken me so long to add to the blog. It has been a real busy week for me.

To start off Tuesday was pretty laid back. We went into queens to see uncle Chris at work. The kids loved it. They got to see him in his uniform and take a ride in the police car. They thought that was so cool. I made sure to tell them that, that ride should only one they ever take in a police car. They also got ice cream out of uncle Chris!

Wednesday was a little stressful. Had to go into New Jersey. I was really excited about it. It was the first time that I actually went into Jersey besides driving through. However, I got lost for 2 hours and had no clue as to where I was. Thank god for Carrie. She was one of the moms of the families that I took portraits of. Also a big THANK YOU to her as well. When I spoke with her on Monday she informed me that she had other families for me to take portraits off. I was great. Later on in the evening I needed to go to another family who was a little further way. I did portraits of this family back in 2006 when they lived in Long Island. I again got lost of an hour. At this point all I wanted to do was pull over and cry. Brandy called to see if I was at Kim's yet and I told her no I was lost. She told me to stop driving, that it didn't matter because if I kept going I would just get more lost. So you a probably think can she get so lost. Well the answer to that is the have no road signs. And if you happen to find one they are only on the streets you turn on to. It is not like back home where where the avenues and streets are all marked.

On to Thursday, hung out with the boys in the morning and then on to Brooklyn for portrait of Brandy, Chris and the girls. I did sneak few in of the boys. I had never been into Brooklyn. It is really beautiful. They laughed at me because I found someone "stoop" to take portraits one. Well out here you just don't go and taken photos on someones front porch. Later on that night we head down to the South Street Seaport. Which is one of my favorite place. We ate and enjoyed the music and the view of the city.

Beach day. We took the all of the kids to Smith Point beach. It was so much fun. The waves were the biggest that I have ever seen. The lifeguards were very busy. I tried to ride the waves with Chris but it didn't work out real well. They were so big and fast it took me right down. The kids had no fear and were making me pretty nervous. They woke up Saturday morning and wanted to go to the beach again. They weren't real happy when they found out that I went to Long Beach to take more portraits.

Saturday was another day work. I got to see a lot of New York. The families that I did portraits of were families that I have done in the past. It was great to see them and to see how much the kids have changed in a year.

I hope to take off home around 10am. I not sure if I will be able to make it all the way through with out stopping and am pretty tried. I love coming out it and taking portraits. But, I love going home and doing the same. Enjoy the photos and I will let you know how the ride home was.

First Stop

We stopped around 6:30pm right before we got to Ohio. I attempted to take a time photo. I think it turned out pretty good. At this point they needed to run a bit. Eli this time was awake for awhile. They were both a sleep before we got to Pennsylvania. I am not a big fan driving through that state it is way too dark. The exits aren't even lit up.

Now into New Jersey, speed really picked up. You could tell that people were going into the city to go to work. We drove into New York around 5:30am. The traffic wasn't too bad. We were at Brandy's by 6:30am We made great time. I didn't think we would make it there until 9 or 10 Iowa time.

We had our greetings and then I slept for a few hours and then just hung out for the rest of the day. Alicia is very tall and beautiful. She was getting ready for summer school. For her it is camping. Hope to get her to go camping with us when they are back in August. Marissa is still a little spit fire and she was very excited to see Eli. They are having great playing with each other. Weston is having a good time swimming and playing the xbox. He is exited about going and seeing Uncle Chris at work. Normally he doesn't wear a uniform, but today he is. Brandy is doing good. She is off this week hanging out with the kids and keeping them entertained while I am working. The last few pics are of us at the park. Weston was ready to go home and go to bed.

I know everyone thought I was crazy to drive out all by myself with out stopping with the boys. I have to say it was not bad at all. I'm not sure how the drive home is going to be! Stay tuned for more photos.

The Drive

The boys were awesome travelers. I am not sure what Eli is doing with the wet wipe on his head but he was pretty content so I am not going to complain. However, we was out once again a few short moments later. Weston took a short nap and woke up right before we hit Chicago. He wants dad to meet us Sunday in Chicago so we can go to the Sears Tower on Monday. Don't think that is going to happen bud! He wants to see everything he reads about. Which is good until he reads about lions.

The only little problem we had was just before we hit Atkinson, IL I noticed in my side mirror that my left tail light was coming off. So I pulled along side I80. By the way not too much fun! Pushed it back in until I could make it to the next exit to put some tape on it. The right one was loose by the way too. Well back to driving only have 7 miles to make it to the to Atkinson.

Oops, lost the tail light cover hit a semi's windshield. I Felt so bad. He just waved me by, he seen me pulled over on the side of the road. Stopped at the truck stop in Atkinson and they had no tuck tape so had to drive a little further into town and go to Caseys. So now the SAYCHEZ van is missing a left tail light and the right one is all taped up. Hope to get it fixed in New York.

We made it

Well after a lot of packing we left Vinton at 12:05pm on Sunday the July 6th. That's pretty good considering my goal was to leave a noon. I had a lot of help from my husband Shane who ran around to get things like Eli's meds from the campground.

It was a little emotional for Weston to leave dad for a weeks, but after a few tears we were off. Eli was ready to go as soon as he woke that morning. He was out cold before we even hit Iowa City.

Very excited Troy

Hey guys I am very excited about your senior portraits. I had such a good time. The one in the gray shirt is the one I wouldn't let you see that I got so excited about. Enjoy the few that are on the blog. I know it is teasing you a bit since you have to wait until I get back from the big apple to see the rest. Thanks guys it was a blast!

- Carrie

Windy Wedding

Despite the windy day we had a great wedding with a bunch of fun people. Even though the bride lived real close to the field of dreams this was her first visit there. This was a little pit stop for us on out way to the reception. Jill did an awesome job! The flowers were great and were done by Nichole McKenna from Vinton. Enjoy the portraits.

-Carrie

Kristy

Can't say enough about Kristy's portraits. I think her eyes say it all. Even through it was hot, Kristy was a great sport wearing a winter vest with a fur hood. That shot by far is my favorite!

Thanks for letting me be apart of your senior year!

- Carrie

Mariah

Mariah and I had a great time shooting her senior portraits. Do to the recent events with the flooding we were unable to do some of the things that we had intended. Despite that we found some great places. Enjoy the portraits. You are beautiful person inside and out.

- Carrie

New York

Well as many of you know I will be leaving for New York this Sunday the 6th. This will be the third year that I have gone out to New York do to family portraits. I came across this opportunity through my sister Brandy who has lived out there for the last fifteen years.

This is great for me. I have a great time and I meet lots of great families. I also get to shoot in many different locations that are not available to me in Iowa. So it really forces me to think outside of the box. It is a great break for me as well.

However, this year I will be I have the great pleasure of taking my two boys Weston (7) and Eli (5) with me. This is not the first time my boys have been out to New York. We drove out in 2006. They had a great time with their cousins and I am sure they will again.

We will be driving 19 hours without dad! Some may say I'm crazy and maybe I am. But, I think this will be a great time. Not without stress I'm sure. So, stayed tuned for the crazy photos of the trip to New York with the two boys.

-Carrie