my daughter's birthday

My daughter turned seven this week!

And she had a family party and a friends party....here are a few candid shots from her parties...

She was thrilled to get an American Girl doll that looked like her!

So her friends party was an American Girl tea party. Formal attire required!

Three friends came over with their dolls for our party

Demonstrating the proper way to drink tea--pinky up!

 Adorable cupcakes from our local grocery store/bakery Oregon Dairy

even the dolls had cupcakes!

Dana's maternity session

I had such a great time shooting this couple, expecting their first baby in April. They chose Longwood for the session, and spring was in full bloom in the conservatory. We also lucked out with wonderful mid 40-degree weather for February and were able to get some shots outdoors as well.

 Yes, it's a girl!

Thank you for the privilege of capturing this special time in your lives!

Abandoned amusement park

Outside of Dillsburg lies the abandoned Williams Grove Amusement Park, a fairly creepy, and very sketchy place that local college students like to visit in the middle of the night. Technically we weren't trespassing, because there is a flea market on the grounds every Sunday--except today. Perhaps the 24 degree temps and 5 degree wind chills kept the vendors away.

The bitter cold today made this the fastest photo safari I have ever done, and my hands were so cold I could hardly hold the camera. The park's roller coaster track still stands and the coaster cars are parked in the station, as if waiting for the riders to arrive. The last trip this coaster ever took was in 2005. The park began as a picnic grove in the 1850's and rides appeared in 1928. This coaster was built in 1933. The Hughes family bought the park in 1972; later that year Hurricane Agnes almost destroyed it. But the park continued operating until 2005 when the owners decided to devote all their attention to the adjacent Williams Grove Speedway. And although up for sale as an amusement park, no one purchased the place so the rides were auctioned off and it now falls into disrepair.

Creepy paintings are still vivid at the old fun house. In fact, much of the paint on the old buildings is still quite bright. Popcorn machines and pretzel warmers still sit in the old concession stands.

Environmental Graffiti online magazine has included Williams Grove in its 10 Creepiest Abandoned Amusement Parks on Earth list! I don't think I would want to be here after dark!

I'll be definitely returning here in the spring when the weather is more conducive to exploring.
Seniors--this is an awesome setting for a senior shoot! Contact me to book at session.

soon to be seven!

My daughter Olivia will be seven in a little over a week. We had a little fun taking some "pre-birthday" photos with her Ugly Doll Trunko hat.

 (Ugly Dolls are the rage in the first grade at her school....Olivia's teacher has a collection of them, and they help her teach the class, complete with special voices and sound effects and each has a distinct personality)

Valentines

Here is a look at our finished Valentines

Each girl helped to fill the treat bags with Valentine's M&Ms and they will give

them out at school on Tuesday

Yum!

I also made these wallets using a cute template from MCP Actions. We used these as a candy bag topper for family friends.

Stay tuned....

I'll be sharing the love later this month with a giveaway! I'm working on getting the prizes together..what will they be??? Stay tuned.....

and more mothers and children...including mine!

I finally got a tripod so now I can get in the shot once in awhile! Of course getting all four of my kids together is a challenge...one is in college near Harrisbug, one has graduated college and lives in Harrisburg--neither too far away but they aren't home much...

Here I am with half of my kids:

Had another fun session this weekend--for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day:

although we've been having unusually warm weather for central PA in January, this shoot was on a cold day so we worked in my "studio."
Now the last two days have been 60! Maybe spring is coming early!