The time has come.  I’ve moved to a new blog. I’m not completely settled in yet – still lots of decorating to do, but it’s starting to look like a home. Things look a little different, all the links aren’t completely up and working quite yet, so hang in there with me. I’ll keep my old trusty blog here up and running for awhile, so you can come visit if you want to see my older work. But for the newer goodies, come visit me at my new home. Be sure to say hi. 

www.leighwilcoxsonphotography.com/blog

I know I’ve been saying this for ages now, but I really am moving to a new blog. A big, nice, professional blog where all my pictures can be displayed BIG and I will have cool stuff like a moving header and cool menus and lots more room so I don’t have to write long paragraphs if I

want

to

put

a

horizontal

photo

first.

Look for the new blog soon. It has been purchased and acquired and now just needs my effort to get it put together. I will announce it here when I have enough time to load it up with goodies and get it going live. If anyone knows how I can shove another 8-12 extra hours into my days, let me know.

And just because I hate to post without a picture, a peek at my little client from yesterday.  He’s so GQ.

I don’t know what it is about little boys. They seem to be able to make swords out of anything…broomsticks, straws, wooden spoons…if it’s long and pointy and within reach, it becomes a medieval form of weaponry.

I spent last Saturday with a sword (random stick) swinging little pirate who bravely fought against imaginary aliens and  monsters, as well as his older brother who was determined to find snakes with which to scare his mother.  I think this is why God gave me girls. Because I’m not nearly as cool as their mom.

I loved just getting a chance to watch them interact and be totally and completely wonderful. And funny. So, so funny.  You can’t help but smile.

Since I receive requests for sessions frequently, asking me my availability, I just thought I would do a brief little post to let you know how things are shaping up for spring and summer.

At present, I am booked through May. Most of my weekends in June are also booked, however, I am accepting weekday appointments from June to the end of August.  August is also starting to fill up, and I even have some on the calendar for September and October.  Please feel free to visit my website, www.leighwilcoxsonphotography.com and click on the calendar. All bracketed dates are booked.

And now, just because I am loving how this session is turning out, I thought I’d give a little sneak peek to Saturday’s clients. 

More later. 

This session was actually scheduled for Sunday, but because we were looking at a dreary forecast for Sunday (which came true), we rescheduled it for Friday instead. Unfortunately, despite the sunny skies on Friday, we also got Toto and Dorothy winds. I’m pretty sure I saw some flying monkeys at one point. Or maybe my blood sugar was low.

I think these little sweet peas are actually faster than flying monkeys, but they are a million times cuter.  See for yourself.

Ah, to be 18 and have the whole world at your fingertips. I remember that feeling.  I have to say it’s so much fun to be around my senior clients and experience that excitement secondhand. What school to go to?  What career to follow?  How cool is it going to be living on my own????!!!!    

My senior guy here is no slacker and there is no doubt in my mind that he will succeed in anything he wants to do.  Though I am rooting for his attendance next fall at my alma mater.  Go cream and crimson!

We had to showcase those muscles, you know. Extremely important. 

And so it begins. The Chicagoland weather is finally starting to perk up a bit and look a little  like something called Spring. And boy am I glad!  After a long, grueling winter, I’m ready to be back in action and outside with my camera again. And there was no better way to kick off the season than with my first little client. Talk about energy!  Wow!  She is a bonafied firecracker.  I love it!  I see a future in film with this one. Look out Hollywood!

I was totally digging this little flower shop. Even if she wasn’t. 

What a great weekend to start the photo shooting season!  If only the weather would stay like this every weekend.

Full blog posts are coming soon, but here is a little peek at a couple sessions from this weekend.  I gotta be kind to my patient parents…

Oh Spring, how I love thee, let me count the ways…

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

Five…

My heart jumpeth for joy.

You may not know this, and I almost hesitate to share this about me, but I am…most definitely…a blog stalker.

That’s right. I stalk blogs. Not just any blogs – but photography blogs. GOOD photography blogs. I have a massive list in my AOL favorites column of blogs that I saved, and I check them often. Sometimes daily.  Sometimes I wait it out for a few days without stalking them so I can save it all up and see lots of new stuff at once. It satisfies the greedy part of me.

Actually, most photographers are all secretly blog stalkers. There are some that won’t admit it, but it’s just what we do. We LOVE to look at each other’s work, see what everyone is doing, and look for inspiration.  It’s like the cheap version of continuing ed for the photography junkie.

So I thought it would be cool to share with you some of my favorite photography blogs.  I know some of you are photography junkies yourself who stop by to see what I’m up to (bless you) and some of you are clients or family members/friends of clients who  just come to see pictures of people you know. But either way, here are my top 10 blogs that are MUST sees.

1.  Tara Whitney, Orange  County, CA.  She is a fabulous, fabulous contemporary lifestyle photographer who has inspired so many photographers.  Tara is, hands down, the photographer I would hire to photograph my family.  http://tarawhitney.com/justbeblogged/

2.  Marta Potoczek, Poland.  In my next life, should I get married in Poland, Marta will be my wedding photographer.  http://martapotoczek.blogspot.com/ 

3.  Nate & Jaclyn, the Image is Found Photography, Oceanside, CA  Two words:  Crazy booth.  http://www.theblogisfound.com/

4.  Carrie Sandoval, Southern California  No one does newborn photography like Carrie.  http://capturedbycarrie.com/blog/

5.  Amanda Keeys, Sydney, Australia  Her images are so dreamy, it just reinforces the need to visit Australia. http://www.littlelabyrinth.com/

6.  Barb Uil, Jinky Art Photography, Australia  Barb is just a staple on every photographer’s admiration list. Someday, someday I’m going to go to one of her retreats. Someday.  http://jinkyart.com.au/blog/

7.  Kimberly Bee, Phoenix, AZ   I fell in love with her work after seeing an image she did of a couple sitting way up in a tree…you’ll have to go back several pages on the blog to find it, but oh wow.  Creative.  http://www.kimberlybee.com/blog/

8.  Denise Bovee, Southern California   Sun drenched and warm, she has such a gift with light and emotion.  http://denisebovee.net/

9. Michelle Huesgen, Untamed Heart Photography, St. Louis area  Her work has such fabulous artistic moodiness to it.  http://www.untamedheartphotography.com/ 

10.  Michele Anderson, Pinkletoes Photography, Austin, TX  If you can find it, go find the photo of the baby on the Harley.  So creative, she is. http://pinkletoes.com/blog/

Now, honestly, these ten aren’t even half my favorites. There are so, so many gifted photographers out there…Brenda Acuncias, Leigh Taylor, Shannon Stewart, Audrey Woulard, Julie Parker, Beth Jansen, Leah Profancik, Nichole Van, Kara May, Brianna Graham, Jay Reilly, Cheryl Muhr, Jodie Goodison, Peta Mazey…the list goes on.  And I’m sure those of you who are photographers who are reading my blog right now could list lots and lots more.

I also want to mention some names of my photographer friends here as well.  I have several friends who do what I do for a living, and it’s great to have someone to consult, pick brains, scatch heads alongside and who get excited about the same things I do.   Some of my friends have links to my blog on their blogs. My current blog set-up is so limited that I don’t have any space to return the gesture (but that new blog IS coming!) so I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight these talented photographers and their awesome blogs here as well.

Grethel Van Epps, Central Alabama:  http://grethelvaneppsphotography.blogspot.com/

Angie Higa, Alberta, Canada: http://www.angiehigaphotography.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Fata,  J. Fata Studio, Lansing, MI: http://jfatastudio.blogspot.com/

Andrea Hallet, Mount Airy, Maryland: http://andreahallettphotography.blogspot.com/

Kate Bogot, Gurnee, IL:  http://katebogot.com/blog/

Tina Louise Photography, Oregon: http://tinalouisephotography.com/

Happy stalking.