here’s the gist of what you missed:

Since we are more than half way through this year, I thought it would be a good time to send a quick update! I’m so grateful to have so many of you that invite me to photograph your family time and time again. Truly, it’s a blessing to be a part of such precious moments! This year I made the decision to only take sessions for maternity, newborn and families with young children. This will most likely continue into 2011 as well. Since the amount of sessions I can take is limited at this point in time, I wanted to make sure there was availability in my schedule for the sessions that I find the greatest joy in. I know some amazing photographers that specialize in seniors and general family photography, so if that is the type of session you need, I would be more than happy to send you some referrals!

EMP WEDDINGS

This year I officially opened up Erin McFarland Photography Weddings. This has been quite an adventure… and I am truly enjoying it! The website for EMP Weddings is in the works and I’ll be sending another newsletter update out once it goes live, but for now all things wedding related can be seen on the blog. Thank you so much to my 2010 brides and those of you who have referred your friends and family to me for wedding photography!  There will be an announcement here on the blog when it goes live!

EMP PORTRAIT

The EMP Portrait Website also just received a little face lift! New images that reflect this year’s sessions have been added. Check it out HERE… if I photographed your belly, newborn, or small child(ren) this past year, you will likely grace the galleries!

STAYING CONNECTED

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2010 SESSION AVAILABILITY

The scoop on regular sessions… I am completely booked for 2010, but am currently booking for January and into the spring of 2011.  If you expecting a baby in the new year and have been thinking about a session, please contact me soon!  I would love to get you more information and an official spot of the schedule!

HOLIDAY PORTRAITS

I have had many inquiries as to whether there are going to be holiday mini-sessions this year and I wanted to keep everyone updated so that you can make your holiday portrait plans. I will be doing something a little different this year. I will be doing one morning of what I’m calling “Holiday Snaps.” This is a 15 minute session designed to get a great holiday portrait. The cost is $95 + sales tax.

This will include:  a 15 minute session, an online gallery with approximately 5 finished images, your choice of ONE full resolution image (no sizing restraints) that will be sent to you via email zip file. You will receive a photographer’s release with your image so that you can do your holiday prints and cards with your image. The other images in your gallery will also be available to purchase in print or digital format if you choose.  The full amount of $95 + sales tax is due when you schedule your session to hold your spot. If you have to cancel, session payment is non-refundable, but you are more than welcome to find a family that could take your place and reimburse you for your session fee. Holiday Snaps will be held at the home of Erin McFarland. Below you can see what your scenery will look like… lots of green and I’ll have the couch out there to get you all nice and snuggled up with your loved ones! And as much as time permits, I’ll take some photos of your kids individually as well for your gallery.  There are only a few spots available for Holiday Snaps (Newsletter Readers got first dibs) and will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis. The sessions will be held on Saturday, November 20th from 8:00 to 10:35 AM.  Email me if you are interested in grabbing a spot or if you have any further questions!!

I’ll be back tomorrow with some photos!  This is some kind of blogging record for me this week! ha!

Enjoy the rest of your summer… and Fall, PLEASE come soon for us desert dwellers!

Joyfully, Erin

How in the world did we ever survive childhood… I mean without things like DVD players in the minivan!!  My kids know nothing different.  To them, being able to watch their show while we’re cruising is just part of a lengthy drive.  Crazy.  I believe my brothers and I entertained ourselves by constantly re-establishing the “do not cross into my seat territory” line and then dishing out dead arms to perpetrators.  Now, since my kids are all under 4, a good deal of the entertainment comes from the good folks at Big Idea, otherwise known as Veggie Tales.  I would like to thank the good folks at Big Idea for creating such catchy songs that they STICK IN YOUR HEAD AND NEVER LEAVE!!  Songs about belly buttons, hairbrushes, lips… not to mention a very entertaining Lord of the Rings Beans parody.  And that is why Veggie Tales have made it into a blog post.  We were driving from point A to point B the other day and my kids are watching another installment of the cutesy, surprisingly witty, life lesson world of singing vegetables, when I’m suddenly having a moment of conviction… from a talking asparagus no less.  Singing about a thankful heart being a happy heart.  And so that you can too can get the song stuck in your head experience this very important message for happy living, here is a cute little girl that I found on youtube singing the Thankful Heart Song.  Just wondering how dad was able to get all that on video AND drive… now that’s talent!  Now the the real fun will be seeing my kids in Sunday School as they refer to the Old Testament characters of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego as Rack, Shack, & Benny.

Since it’s Monday, I’m thinking it’s a Diggin’ It, Over It kinda day… aaaaaand because there are lots of things I’m DIGGIN and OVER.   And to keep on the Thankful theme, there’s going to be FOUR digs and only two overs.  I may have to re-balance the universe next time with more things that are irksome.

1. Vampires.  Let me clarify… Stephenie Meyer’s vampires.  They have officially made pasty fashionable.  I was completely baffled as a teenager by the fact that many of my friends would turn into bronze goddesses in the sun, and I would end up resembling Bob the Tomato.  I realized there’s this stuff in our skin that makes a tan happen and well, I just have sprinkles of it here and there.  Those would be my freckles.  Since my skin doesn’t darken in the sun, I had a Li-Lo style stint with the bottle tanners and then just decided white was better than Oompa Loompa orange.  I’ve learned to just own my pastiness and make best friends with SPF.  And now, thanks to sparkly vamps, it’s kinda cool to be pale.  
2. Jamie the Very Worst Missionary.  Anyone that can so eloquently convey the depths of a true procrastinator and even give it a more appropriate name, officially makes my Google Reader.  Warning:  not for those who are easily offended.
3. Post-its!  If you’ve been around my blog for any amount of time, you’ve heard me talk about Mom Brain.  Though I’m convinced having children makes the space left in your brain for everything non-child related significantly smaller, I refuse to let that be my cop out.  So my solution… POST ITS!  I’m telling ya… not only do Post-It crazed folk like myself keep that company in the black, but I’m pretty sure the CEO has a yacht and summer home in the Bahamas from the profits of Mom-Brain induced bulk buying of sticky little pieces of paper.  If I don’t keep up on the “to-do’s”, my office area could very well look like this:  
4. My minivan.  When I had my first child, it was like wearing this adorable little hip-accessorie wherever I went.  I drove around in a cute and sporty Kia Sorento and had a stylish little diaper bag with just a few diapers, wipes, and Hooter Hider inside.  Well, two kids later, a beach bag for a diaper bag, and the realization that three car seats don’t fit into zippy little Sorentos, I had to swallow my pride.  I swore I would never be a minivan mom because that just stereotypes you as a frumpy, been-in-the same-outfit-since-yesterday, on my way to soccer practice, all I am is a mom kinda mom.  Truth is, some of that is true.  I am still in the same outfit as yesterday as I type this and most days I’m sporting the frumpy look.  But remember our lesson from our Veggie Tales friends today… a thankful heart if a happy heart?  So I’m declaring here and now, I officially dig my minivan.  It’s a reminder of the three little blessings that require such a vehicle and I wouldn’t trade it for the world… frump and all.  Now sing it with me… “a thankful heart is a happy heart, I’m glad for what I have, it’s an easy way to start…”

1. Humidity.  So much for “at least it’s a dry heat” when monsoons come to town.  We’ve actually had very little rain, but that’s because it’s all sticking to the air.  Shay and I got to go visit my SIL Lori over in FL a couple weeks ago… going from hot & humid to humid & hot.  Now, my biggest beef with humidity is not that it makes your clothes stick to your body like you’re trying to win a wet t-shirt contest, not the profuse amount of sweating that occurs without an ounce of physical activity… my beef is the evil thing it does to my HAIR.  All I can say is I feel for you Monica.  Chia-heads unite!  
2. AT&T.  I love my iPhone.  Confused by the service.  Dear AT&T, how is it that I can go from 4 bars to 1 just by moving two steps to the left?

I love doing these posts… it’s therapy for me.  If you find something great, you gotta share it right!  And if you are irked, sometimes you just gotta get it out.  Got anything you are diggin’ or over’?? (that’s what the comment section is for)

Alright, I’ll be back tomorrow to talk business.  Newsletter subscribers already got the scoop (sign up HERE if you want to be in the loop early next time), but I’ll be getting the rest of cyber-space up to speed all thing EMP related here on the blog.  Hope your Monday is fantabulous.

Joyfully, Erin

“Babies are such a nice way to start people”  ~ Don Herrold

I really like that quote… how true, right?!?

Sweet baby Kyndall, you win the award for most smiley and expressive newborn I’ve photographed to date!  Loved seeing your little personality shining through already!

Baby bits always bring this to mind:

“For you formed my inwards parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you for I am fearfully & wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works;  my soul knows it very well.”  ~Psalm 139:13-14

Told you… smiliest baby

Beautiful big sis, Hailey…

God bless you sweet girl!  Thanks for inviting me to photograph your family D & M!

Joyfully, Erin