Catching up.

So, I haven't blogged in awhile. I am about 15+ sessions behind now....so I will just post a few here in the meantime:) I didn't win Photography Idol, but I impressed the judges and the editor of Chic Critique. In fact I am going to be meeting with Kelli France this week to have lunch and chat, so I am looking forward to that. Fall has been very busy this year. My busiest year yet. So hopefully by winter I can catch up on showing you what I have been up to and all the lovely people I get to photograph:)

Thank You.

The live finale for Photography Idol is tonight, and I thought before we find out who won I would say thank you. Thank you to the many people who helped me through this journey. I entered this competition on a whim, it sounded like fun so I figured why not?! I decided that if I made it into the top 10, that would be awesome. But, being that from there it was based on popular vote I really didn't expect to get any further. Well, with the help of my family, friends and people I don't even know I have made it to the top 3. My goal from the beginning of this competition was to do my best and push myself creatively. Right away I was out of my comfort zone-asking perfect strangers if I could borrow their boat (and being rejected), working with models I have never met, and shooting in new locations are just a few examples. Giving that we only had a short amount of time to make it all come together, I had to ask for help in many ways. I honestly can say that even though this experience has been challenging and tiring, I am so happy that I had it. I feel like I did my best, and I am happy win or lose-Because I learned so much about myself, and because it made me realize what amazing people I have in my life.

Thank you Shawna, my parents, and my mother-in-law for watching my children while I was on shoots, looking for costumes, and getting everything together.
 Thank you Lola and Stephanie for being my models even though I have never met you before.(And Matt, Marc for your time and Janna, Amy, and Kellie for being on standby).

 Thank you Kellie, Ross, Jade, and Lola's parents for assisting me (which can be a messy job).
Thank you Jim and Crystal for letting me borrow equipment.
 Thank you Traci, Lyndi, Jake, Barb and Jocelyn for letting me borrow costumes and props.
Thank you Lyndi, Robyn, Kellie and all my photographer friends for giving me feedback on images, and support throughout.
 Thank you Ross for being so supportive and helping me get through all this.
 Most of all thank you to all my friends and family for helping me get votes and cheering me on. I saw so many of you sharing the voting link on your pages and helping me make it to the next round (and possibly win!)
 Thank you to those of you I don't even know who have left kind comments and are rooting for me, it means a lot. And thank you to my friends and family on Facebook for letting me clog up your newfeed all month with voting links and not de-friending me:) Love you all.

Final 3.

I made it into the top 3, and final round of Photography Idol. Thank you so much for your support and votes. This experience has really pushed me as an artist and photographer. It has also made me realize how much support I have from those around me, and even people I have never met. The final vote is today-and this one is for the win. Here is the voting link through Facebook and a mobile voting link. The winner will be announced Monday on the live finale:)

Top 5.

I have made it another round in Photography Idol into the top 5. This has been such a fun experience for me (well, fun and completely overwhelming too:) Voting for the top 3 is going on today, click here to vote for me!

Top 10.

I made it into the top 10 for Photography Idol, and I am thrilled. Here is my first assignment as a contestant. The top 5 will be chosen by popular vote and announced later tomorrow. Here is a link to vote.

Photography Idol.

So Chic Critique is doing a "Photography Idol" competition and it looks like too much fun. Plus the prizes are awesome, and I love the idea of having photo challenges,and critiques. It reminds me of my college days:) I chose this image because I feel like all the elements that I try to catch in my photography aligned in this image. I love her pose, the expression, and the way the light wraps around her.Wish me luck!