Elena [Towanda, PA photographer]

"You have to meet him," she told me. "He's only 4 years old, and sometimes he likes to pretend like I'm his big sister - and that's okay, we love to play together." She squeezed through the foliage that led from her yard to the neighbors yard, looking for her little friend.

I think it's pretty safe to say that, Elena has a bigger personality than mine. In fact, I think her personality is bigger than my house.

When other kids are saving their money to get new toys & gadgets [if they can save their money at all], Elena is saving her money to feed people who are poor. She knows all about all of her neighbors and has adopted the lil 4 year old boy next door as her little brother, because "he needs someone to look after him sometimes." She even told her Mom that she plans to invite the homeless man under the bridge in Towanda to stay the night at their house, which was when Mom stepped in and said no.

She's giggly and loud and has big ideas about what she wants to do with her life and how she wants to impact this world. I have no doubt that one day, she's going to have a name as big as her personality - you simply won't be able to hold her down :)

Another lil guy that Elena has adopted as a little brother - Mr. Sidney! Yeah, he's getting wayy too big too fast!

And we had to end our evening with some photos with Elena's kitty-cat! The little girl definitely has a heart for things that don't have a home - she rescued a kitty which she has affectionately named: Giddy-Pie. I must say, he is the most well-behaved cat I have ever met in my life!

PJ's turning 3! [Waverly, NY photographer]

There is some magical moment that occurs when a baby becomes a "grown-up" little boy - and somehow I missed that moment.

Don't get me wrong: I see my nephew at least once a week, but somehow, when I went over to take photos celebrating his 3rd birthday, I saw a whole new little guy.

He was adorable as ever, but he had something new: he had a more mature look in his eyes. He didn't look like a baby anymore, and he was sneaky as ever when it came to getting the Smarties I brought along as bribery out of my pocket and into his little hands :) And he knows who his Uncle Derrick & Aunt Kara are now and will come running to see us - it's so awesome!

He's your typical little guy - loves to run around, wants to dig in the dirt [and then for goodness sake, get that dirt off his hands!], and loves to pick flowers for his Mommy. 

I love him to death - and like someone told me recently: the best photographs come from someone who actually loves their subject - well, if that is the case, PJ will have the best photographs in the world :)

For the special and once-in-a-lifetime experience of 3-year-old birthday pictures, PJ's Mommy got him a super-hero cape & mask - I want him to come & rescue me ever day :D

And this is his super-hero pose! We told him to put his hands on his hips and this is what we got :D

Now, his Grandma can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he looks just like his Daddy & Uncle Derrick did when they were little boys [from pictures I've seen of course :D]

Maui [Pet Photography, Waverly, NY]

Dogs have always been a super important part of my family.

When I was born, it was into a family of a Mom & a Dad & 2 dogs - Reo & Zeke.

Then there was Tanner, who decided I was the only important member of the family and who was the rebellious one.

Then came Susie & Buster - who are still holding the family together.

When D & I got married, we knew we wanted a dog but we wanted to get "settled" first - which is when Abby fell into our laps - at the most unpredictable and perfect time :)

So, to say I've always been a "dog" person would be an understatement. Not even getting bit by a Great Dane when I was about 7 years old could deter me from loving dogs. So when Marci contacted me about photographing her dog Maui, I knew this was something I couldn't pass up!

Here's the deal: photographing a dog is wayy different than photographing people - it's so much fun! Maui is such a character - and if you didn't grow up around dogs you might think I'm crazy, but dogs really do have their own personalities that set them apart from other dogs! If you don't believe me, I can tell you that Maui's middle name is "smiley" and that fits her personality perfectly - see for yourself!

[I Heart Faces] Pet Faces

I haven't entered an i[heart]faces challenge in so long! Ever since they changed their format to a once-a-month-challenge instead of every week I kind of slipped away.
But when they announced this month's challenge was "pet faces" - I knew I had to enter my Abby-girl. Isn't she the best? She's such a good model :)

Be sure to head over to i[heart]faces to see more pet photos!
---

don't forget to follow me on facebook

& on twitter

Ellen [anytime photos, Sayre, PA]

She made me a big sister.

We shared a bedroom and slept in bunk-beds.

She blamed me for everything and for some reason my Mom always seemed to believe her.

She was in love with Orlando Bloom while I was in love with Elijah Wood.

Once, I pushed her down the steps and she broke her wrist.

She's the one who laughs at everything and makes you want to laugh with her.

She can sit down at a piano and ticker away forever - no sheet music - no problem.

Ahh to be little girls again :)

My sister Ellen is fierce.

She's a fierce photographer. A fierce student. A fierce worker. A fierce survivor.

She's fiercely amazing :)

I remember staying home from work one day because she was having brain surgery. I was so scared for my lil sis. I remember laying in bed that morning, squeezing my eyes tightly shut and praying my heart out for her. I couldn't imagine going thru such an ordeal myself and here she was being so brave.

She's still brave.

She came and visited me last week and we had an amazing time. It went way too fast.

And both being photographers, we had to do some shooting - it was a requirement.

Check out how fierce she is :)