So this time of year when it's cold and blustery, when the wind howls and the shutters rattle, when the birds fly south and the pretty spring flowers are safely tucked in the ground, I get a lot of emails and questions about Spring sessions beginning. Warmth returning and "surely you don't photograph on location in *this* type of weather!" and "my child is turning two this month but it's sooo cold outside!" and "what do we do?"

Well.

Yesterday had a high in the low lows. The wind chills were in the negative 20's and the snow came down and blew around like hard sand.

But that didn't stop me:

From doing what I love:

with the cold safely outside:

But I do know that we had fun playing. Even though it was freeeee-eeeezing.

I have these blue walls in my bedroom. This space is in between my bathroom and closet and was littered (until I dumped it all in a laundry basket) with shoes and towels to be folded and other junk I needed to put away. This space is about four feet wide and not (believe me) a "pretty backdrop" for photos. But it worked. The light was good and the subject darling (If I do say so myself). I have clients all the time that are concerned about their homes saying "it's not very pretty" or "it's so messy!" or "but I have so much laundry EVERYWHERE!"

I'm going to let you in on a secret….

I live there too.

I am not a great housekeeper. I have laundry and toys EVERYWHERE. I have dust on the bookshelves and tables with handprints on them. My dishes are still in the sink and the dog is shedding on the carpet. I know what it's like…I am a mom of three with messy children, play dates, school functions, lessons, church activities, volunteer rotations, doctors visits, and a demanding and wonderful career in photography. But in all of the mess, I see life.

Homes are meant to be lived in….loved in….played in….laughed in: