Hi Friends!
Crazy September so far and it looks like it is not going to get any calmer!  As always, we expect it and plan for it. 
Today is "Market Day" in Newtown.  A time where stores have sidewalk sales, vendors set up booths and in general, fun, fun, fun!
If you are Jewish, I am sorry that this day was planned on your holiday.  The Market Day committee sent out a sincere apology not thinking when they pinned the date a year ago.  So, don't email me and rant!  I do respect your hurt feelings and I am sure that the committee has heard an earful.
On to more fun stuff!   Anyone who drops the studio today will get a complimentary 4 x 6 fun photograph.  Of course you have to be with a parent or perhaps 18!  No, this is not a portrait, just a fun picture!
So, stop on in!  From 10:00 to 2:00!

Look!  They look like party animals don't they!

Today is the first day of school in my district.  Call me weird, but it is both a sad and happy time.  A new chapter is opening and the summer has come to an end.  My elementary school is only about 1/4 mile away (about 8 streets as the crow flies).  I didn't move far from the house that I grew up in.  As a matter of fact, my husband Dan and I are living in the house he grew up in.  (We bought it years later from his Dad.)  He also went to the very same elementary school as I.  When our kids were born, they too went to the same elementary school.  As a matter of fact, my son Jason had the same 3rd grade teacher as my husband did when he was there!!  (Yea, kinda weird I know.)  She was a great teacher and soon retired.

Anyway, as I watch the neighbors kids head off with parent's hand in tow, it brings back a ton of memories.  My mother always took a photo of my two brothers and I on the first day and I continued to do so with my kids.  I also volunteered my time to go to the elementary school to take every single kids photograph on the first day.  Crazy isn't it?  The teachers all then put the photos either in the kids journal or outside on the wall for back to school night.  (That volunteer job of course stopped when they went to middle school.)  I just  thought that it was important to remember the 'firsts" in life.

As I sit on the sofa with my laptop, the front door is slightly ajar and for some strange reason it is cooler than normal.  A sign of things to come.  The summer birds are not chirping.  My kids have moved on and it's just the hub and me with of course two very sexy Chihuahuas.   In the background, I hear the familiar sound of a school bus come to a halt down the street.  Silence for a second and then I hear a small voice yell "Bye Mom!"
Another first.....  another last.

I know the last post was about my kids, but I thought I would post again about one word:  Commitment.    Indeed my kids are my pride and joy.  When my son was a little boy we were at the Willow Grove air show just spending a hot June day walking around.  We walked past a few vendor tables and then came upon the Air Force table.  My son stopped, looked at the uniformed soldier and moved on.  The same thing happened with the Navy table and then the Army table.  The last table was the Marine table.  A very well built Marine was standing there with nothing on the table but a bumper sticker.  Next to the table was a stand where you could do a pull up.  My son paused, looked at this Marine and stared right into this guy's eyes.  The Marine said to him, "Son, if you can do 5 pull ups, I will give you a t-shirt."  My ten year old took the challenge and completed it.   It was then, that I knew there was no going back.

Being in the military is such a commitment not only by the individual, but by the people that surround him or her.  Granted, it is not easy on the associated loved ones, but it is the least we can do for what they give up.  This weekend, my husband and I will drive to North Carolina to see my son again.  Yes, I was there last month.  And yes, it is a long drive.  Could I come up with other excuses not to go?  Sure.  If you are not involved with someone in the military, you don't understand what they give up for us.  So, is it an inconvenience?  Yes.  But I would drive to the end of the earth for him no matter how tired I am. 

Jason had a short leave before leaving for North Carolina in May.  At that time, he tried to re-connect with friends and family.  My daughter and I l were lucky enough to spend a few days with him in the beginning of the summer up at our cabin.  Wanting to squeeze every last minute with him, I closed the studio for a few days and we spent a few days just "hanging". 
Here is a photo I took of both Ashley and Jason while fishing on a quiet lake the night before the rest of the family came. 
Will my butt hurt from the 9 hour ride.  You betcha!  Will my legs hurt from sitting that long?  Yep!  But it is all worth it to see his smile.  Will I cry as I drive away?  Without a doubt.
Commitment:  Thank you Jason.  I understand even though some do not.

A few weeks ago my daughter Ashley and I took a trip down to North Carolina to see my son Jason.  As many of you know, he is an officer in the Marines stationed at Camp Legeune.  Before we headed out to dinner one night, I dragged them on the beach which is literally 5 houses away!  It was about to rain as evident by the grey skies.    The other photograph was taken by Ashley herself by my point and shoot on Jason's balcony. 

Needless to say I am so happy to spend time with my kids.  Now that they are grown, spending time with them seems to come less often than we all would like.  So, spending a few days with them is always fun.  I couldn't be prouder of what they made of their lives.
  

 
Ashley!

A commercial for sunglasses?  The temp was 90 and it was only 8:30 a.m.!

Okay weather Gods, enough with the 90 plus heat!

 Last week we spent the entire week at the Middletown Grange Fair.  As in last year, we set up a booth and met some truly fun folks.  Not kidding anyone here, it was really really hot!  Everyday it was over 90 degrees outside.  I can't even think what it was inside one of those large tents.  Definitely a humid week for sure!

Other people and photographers ask me why would we do this event for 5 days.  Well first of all, as many of you know, on a scale from one to ten, (ten being alot), I advertise about a "1". The business that I do get is primarily word of mouth.  Past customers refer me. I am thankful for that!  Believe me, it takes years and years of priming the pump to finally get the water to come out if you might say!  For years I did newspaper ads, one day fairs and shows, magazine ads, postcard mailings, newsletter mailings, etc.  Except for our online newsletter, all of that has pretty much ceased.  We get a great response from our online letters and our clients seem to love it!

So, crazy as it sounded, two years ago I said "Hmmmm....... lets do this whole week event!"  Some family members and staff looked at me and just nodded and others were enthusiastic.  I love meeting new people and showing them my style of photography. Plus, it gives me a chance to do something different other than shoot, paperwork and more paperwork.

There are all types of photographers out there with many styles to their work.  There were two of them at the fair this year.  All three of us had a different style.  Just like a great pair of pants, you have to find the one that fits you!

So, here are a few photographs I took with my point and shoot Canon G9.  These were taken the very last day after spending 5 full days from ten in the morning until eleven at night meeting and greeting hundreds of people.  I didn't crop them so they are what they are.  You can see we hang prints from the ceiling.  Pretty cool!  The booth next to me was selling Halloween stuff and the other side of me was an investment dude who was never there.
I kid you not when I say there was about five to ten thousand people a day there and many of those stopped by to say hello and/or inquire!

Hanging prints.
A different angle.

My daughter Ashley!  Without her help and bathroom relief, I would have never made it!  Thanks Ashley!

While cleaning out some files on my laptop, I came across this photo I took back in February of my husband Dan up our cabin in the middle of PA.  Temp outside was a balmy six degrees!  I remember thinking "if only it was just a few degrees warmer!"  Okay, not 90 degrees!  In this photo, snow is falling.  I had to take my hands out of the gloves to shoot and I thought my fingers were going to freeze to the camera. 
A big thanks to Dan for putting up with my crazy ideas.  We are complete opposites when it comes to everything!  The funny thing though is that for 31 years now it has worked!

I saw a great bumper sticker yesterday and I had to post it.  "Are you what you wanted to be?"  How great is that statement?  Makes you think about all the times someone asked you as a kid "What are you going to be when you grow up?"  Well.... are you happy with  your path?

Its back!
Once a year we have our gift certificate sale and now is the time!  185 days until Christmas and 120 days until Hanukkah!  This sale ends on August 28th at noon! No exceptions! 
Get a jump on holiday shopping or suggest this to your check writing mom and dad!
Purchase a $200 gift certificate for only $100.  A $400 certificate for only $200!  What a deal!
**Only valid on full portrait sessions!  Not to be combined with any other program.  Gift certificates valid for one year from date of purchase.

Call the studio now at 215 968 5220 and have your gift certificate customized with your special person's name on it!

Purchase a certificate NOW and use it next year for a beach session for your extended family!!!

On my quest to document funny unusual signs, I came across this one in Dushore PA this past weekend.  This sign was not just near a church, but smack in the middle of town at the only intersection for miles.  Usually in a small town you may see a yard sale sign or a flea market announcement.  But nooooooo!
Make it a great day!

As you may know friends, I don't always blog about photography.  Why, cause frankly I get bored about blogging about the same old thing.  So, every once and awhile, I express an opinion.  Some say it is more like being opinionated, but hey, what the heck, it is my blog right?
So, this week, after close to 7 years in the waiting, our local once thriving shopping center that was torn down made way for a spanky new Walmart.  The Walmart that I usually frequent is 2 miles in the opposite direction and they closed it for the new, super duper, fancy schmancy, food inclusive Walmart two miles south of the old Walmart.  Confused? 
The buzz around town for the past few months is all about the new Walmart opening up.  One stop shopping.... yada yada yada.  Of course I wait until day 2 to inspect this man made all purpose giant.  Finding a spot rather close, I thought it was a good sign since it appeared the heavens were going to open up at any minute.  Entering through the garden department, I proceeded slowly as to engulf myself with the Walmart experience.  Close to ten minutes into the store, I came to one conclusion..... I hate it.
Here is why:
Dull lighting.  What up with that?  Can't they make it bright and cheery?
Warehouse Feel.  Yep, grey cement floors.
Screaming babies.  Two words, NOT MINE!
Meat and Chicken Department:  Nothing to write home about.  Mostly empty (opening crowds I suspect)
Banannas:  The only fruit I like...... All spotted and old.  OR so green they may be ripe by Halloween.
Crowds:  Who brings all of their kids and your grandmother?
Music:  None
Ambiance:  On a scale of 1-10........ maybe a 1
Cheaper:  Yes, but not on everything

Having said all of this, I went with the intention of getting the mother load of groceries.  Instead, I spent $62.  $7 of that was insecticide for my roses! 

As I headed back to my car, the heavens opened up and buckets of water filled the parking lot along with thunder and lightening.  A sure sign that perhaps I will head back to my local Shop Rite, where a very nice old gentleman greets me at the door and hands me a flyer.  I will shop and spend more money, but I will shop in peace with some background music that I find myself humming long after I leave the store.  At least they will have the boneless chicken that I am looking for and the local high school kid willing to bag my bananas!
Sometimes change is not so good!
Stay well!
d