Holiday season approaching

The holiday season is fast approaching signaling another year gone by and a time to look back at the year and see if it was all you hoped it would be. It seems the holiday time comes upon us faster for each year that passes. I vow to keep things simple this year. No extravagant gifts, no big holiday mailing, just time spent with family and friends. Time spent with people is far more precious than any gift it provides memories for years to come. So as this holiday season approaches that is my motto "less is more"
I did have to go out and get the holiday photo taken, the card that goes out to friends and family. This is an out take from today's photo adventure with the girls.

Halloween

What a great holiday especially when you have little people. There are no expectations with gifts giving or receiving, no need to travel to see family or friends. It is all about candy and having a good time, what is there not to like. Being from Norway I did not grow up with Halloween but it seems to be a holiday that is being taken up by many countries around the world even though they do not have a tradition with it. Who does not like candy and being a little spooked? Happy Halloween.

Fall in Oslo, Norway

The girls and I are on a short visit in Norway to see family. This is the best time of year in Oslo, most of the tourists are gone the air is crisp and the leaves are beautiful. Last week I was in Canada which is very similar to Norway climate wise, though it gets colder in Canada than it does in Norway. The girls are loving it here, we walk everywhere which makes me realize how lazy we are in the States when we get in the car for everything. Note to self walk more! This is also a great time to take photos, the light is gorgeous now.

Shooting in Canada

My photography takes me to Canada this week shooting for an American publication. Traveling out of country for photography can be stressful but with the right amount of research and preparation it causes little headaches. When shooting in Canada you need a letter from your American client stating you are working for an American company this ensures that you are not taking work away from a Canadian photographer. You also need to go to the US customs and border patrol people and register all your equipment proving that is all belongs to you. I have always found Canada to be a great place it is a wonderful combination of Europe and America.

Familes

Families are something we all have. They come in all shapes and sizes They can be great, loving, dysfunctional, maddening, nostalgic, caring, but they are something we all have whether we acknowledge them or not. I have photographed several families in the last few months and I love every opportunity I get to see other peoples family dynamics and to be a part of their life for a few hours through the lens of my camera.

Senior photos

I have been shooting more senior portraits lately and I really enjoy doing it. I am so encouraged to see how young people have vision and a plan for the future. You hear so many stories about kids these days not having manners, not caring, being spoiled. I must say the opposite, all the seniors I have photographed in the last few weeks have been wonderful and gives me great hope for the future. Appreciate the young people around you, they may be our leaders one day.

Bankers

My photo assignment yesterday was for American Banker, a publication out of New York dealing with the banking industry. It was interesting to photograph the heads of several of our large local community banks here in the Kansas City area. They eased my fears of the banking crisis we are in right now. The community banks are doing well which in turns means us the customers of these banks are doing okay. This is what I truly love about my job, everyday is different and I learn something new about the community I live in and the world that I live in. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?