Real Life

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I personally have been sooooo excited about this day for 10+ years!  My brother and sister in law reunited and got remarried this past Friday! Michelle has been in my life since I was little. The first time BA (my brother) brought her home, I remember my mom looking out the window when they were pulling in the driveway and Michelle was sitting in the middle of the Jeep and BA had his arm around her.  I felt the excitement that my mom was feeling, and as a kid, I just remember thinking  they were the perfect couple! That day quickly became engraved into my memory, and her riding in the front seat so close to him quickly became a country song in my head.  Michelle was like a big sister to me, during my early teenage years, she used to be allowed to take my moms car and drive me around. I remember feeling so COOL!  They married the first time when I was 12 years old, I was in the wedding, big braces and all (I still have the pictures to prove it, ahhh)!  They were married several years before they had my niece, the little love of my life, Mikayla! Boy oh boy, I did (and do) love that kid! At 18, I ended up living with the 3 of them.  Looking back at that time in my life, I realize more and more everyday what a special person it took to have a new baby AND take in your husband's kid sister.  They were just starting their family and I was there, probably driving them nuts. It was a tough time in my life, but never did I ever feel unwanted or like a nuisance! Knowing now what it is like having a new baby, I am confident that I would NOT be able to take in a 18 year old permanent house guest.  But Michelle did, no questions asked!  I love her more for that now, than ever! But this was also the time when their relationship had taken a downward turn and they ended up divorcing.  I remember when it was happening, and my mom and I saying that one day they will get back together.  We had confidence! They belonged together and seriously NO one was ever going to take the place of her as my sister! Michelle had mentioned at their wedding how mom had never taken down her high school portraits, they were hanging on the wall right next to my brothers and mine, TEN YEARS after the divorce. She belonged there!

So can anyone imagine my excitement when 2 + years ago BA started going to church with Michelle?  This was the path they needed to reconcile.  I am sure it hasn't been an easy path for them, but it has been a God driven one!  They have stayed true to themselves and God, equipped to work out any of those past demons! Their testimony is a great one! Our family is complete again, Michelle is back! So needless to say that being apart 10+ years then finding their way back to one another, has quickly become another country song in my head! LOL! Cheers to Ba and Michelle!!!

Here are some quick teasers from the wedding!

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Ok, so this is a totally personal post, but I felt like it could relate to some other ladies out there! Recently, I did a bible study with a small group of great and wonderful women, the study was called Breathe.  In a nutshell, it was about the bondage we have to busyness. How we busy our lives, rushing from one thing to the next and we never take the time to just BREATHE. How we need to try having some quiet, peaceful, reflecting time. Time to refocus and find the right path for us.  Priscilla Shirer, the author, made one example of her obsession with belts. She demonstrated with a huge belt loop, holding what looked to be 100 belts, all shoved together and unorganized, some even with tags still on them. She said that she was obsessed with belts, they were her favorite thing.  She pointed out that she could never find one that she was looking for because there were so many. She couldn't enjoy what she had because she had overloaded her closet with them.  So instead of them being something that she loved, they quickly had turned into something that was more of a problem/ hindrance for her. Every time she needed one she didn't even want to fight the battle.

And boy oh boy did this speak to me because this was literally an analogy for so many aspects of my life...

First and most obvious, my whole closet was the same as that belt loop of hers... jammed packed- I had so many items filling my closet: shoes, purses, wallets, scarves, pants, jeans, shirts, make-up, jewelry, fingernail polish, and literally anything else you can think of, that I wasn't enjoying anything that I had bought! And to top it off, I had done the same thing to my kids closets! I bought those items thinking they would make me happy or make my life better in some way for having them... but digging through our closets everyday to find an outfit was making my life worse and causing me so much more stress.  I could never find ANYTHING. Definitely not what I had in mind when I bought the items!  So to fix this - I cleaned out each of our closets! And honestly, I don't even miss a single thing that I got rid of! ....... Breathing a little easier each day!!

Secondly when I have a passion for something, I go hard for it! For example photography- I am obsessed with my job! I was always on the look out for the next thing, a new edit, a new shooting location, a new filter, a easier way to do something, a new way to find clients, how to get more clients, a new special we can run, I have felt like I was spinning and spinning in circles and not really getting anywhere.  It was exhausting! Instead this year it has been my goal to just BREATHE and take the time to really hone in the skills I already have, and just be ME in my photography! I love that saying "Be yourself, everyone else is taken" because it's so true, no one else is ever going to look through the back of my camera and 'see' the same thing the way I do! I have to have more confidence in that!

Third, my family life, I was filling everyday with them with a list of to dos. Whether it was grocery shopping, to after school activities, it seemed like there was no free time to enjoy our family as a whole!  We were just running from place to place. We have since tried to slow it down and geez I have seen such a difference in our lives! I feel like a have gotten the chance to look at my kids and husband and really SEE them. The beautiful creatures they are! I may be more in love with them now than ever before.

Reflecting back over the past couple months, I know that this BREATHING exercise has been working! It really is a relief when you are not worrying yourself with the clutter of what is next and just realize how amazing your life is.   I am seeing how beyond blessed I am, from my family, my friends, my job, and my God!  Things have just seemed to find their way to me and I don't feel like I am missing anything because I am not searching!! It has been a huge weight lifted from my shoulders.  So I guess my point is to try to take inventory of your life figure out what is important and allow some breathing room for it!  🙂 breathe

-Lisa

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I remember people telling me right after I had Maximus to enjoy every second because they grow up fast.  Boy is that so true.  I still can't believe he is 4 and my Maverick will be 2 in a little over a week.  I just want to freeze time and what better way to do that than to do what I do best.  Capture it.   So instead of the usual iphone photos I usually take, I got out my big camera and decided to just capture them doing what they do.  Maverick, reading his book in the rocking chair that was his brothers.  The same chair that I nursed both of my boys in and rocked to sleep every night.  Maverick getting his hair out of his face and sucking his paci, those little chubby fingers and long eyelashes, him cuddling his "baby" (glow seahorse), Maximus playing with his ninja turtle toys, him standing on the stool getting a snack, his toes that will never be that little again, and that  mole on the side of his foot.  I don't ever want to forget these little things, because they mean so much to me.  If anyone is interested in a "lifestyle" session where we capture your kiddos or your family at home give us a call.

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At 20 years old, I'm the 'baby' of Tiptoe.  Being the baby means I'm the only one who isn't a mommy.  So when the girls are all chatting about their kiddies, I'm just smiling, nodding, and silently being thankful I'm not the mother of a child.  All the while, one of the little ones is full-on squeezing a Capri-Sun all over the floor and laughing at the sticky mess I'll have to mop up later.

Okay, okaaay!  So they aren't total hooligans.  They're actually really sweet and well-behaved in between temper tantrums. I'll probably be a mommy one day, but hopefully not for another 10+ years.  I'm still having temper tantrums of my own while dealing with college shenanigans so there's no way I could handle another little Ande having a tantrum.

I am currently a mommy of some sort though.  I have a couple girls.  The thing is...they're ferrets. So it's different.  But!! It's also the same on a minor level.  They need the basics; food, water, poop duty, and an ocaisonal bath.  Julie and Joanna also demand attention ALL the time.  It doesn't matter if I've just gotten home from a fourteen hour work day or if I'm dead alsleep in the middle of the night.  Play time is a must. Every. Single. Day.  And whether it's voluntary or not, I am involved in play time.

Sometimes, I feel like I'm the mother of a set of toddlers.  Except these toddlers steal your wallet.  And your shoes.  And pencils/pens along with everything and anything they can get their little paws on.  Then they put it all in a designated pile under your bed.  But that's not all though.  These 'toddlers' also dig the dirt out of the house plants, chew on your toes, chase the cats, and oh! let's not forget that they take pure pleasure out of pooping in various corners of the house.  Keep in mind, this is all part of 'play time'.  It's great.  We have a lot of fun....

So although I'm still a 'baby' I'm also experiencing a tiiiiny sliver of motherhood with my girls. And although they're trouble beyond belief, I love them both to death and wouldn't trade 'em for the world.

Joanna;

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& Julie;

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Both my nuggets together;

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WHAT???  Mom's with tattoos?

What were we thinking?  Will we regret them as we grow older as our bodies change?  What will other Mom's think of them?  Will we be judged for them?  What will our kids think?  Will our tattoos embarrass our kids on family vacations with our grandkids 30 years from now?  How will we explain them? When our grandkids as about them... what will we tell them?  How will we explain them?  I mean, the questions are endless...tattoos are truly conversation pieces.

I guarantee that if you were you to ask Brynnen, my daughter, about my tattoos she would talk to you about them as if they are perfectly normal...because to her they are NORMAL.   Mommy has always had tattoos, and well...she always will.  🙂

So, exactly what I was thinking?  That's simple...I was thinking," I want a tattoo."   Why...you ask?  Why not?  Each tattoo I have is representative of a specific moment in my life.  Each one has its own timeline and story.  You only live once.  Life is too short to question or second guess every decision you make.

Let's face it, our bodies will grow older and change regardless of what we do to prevent it or what we put on them.   It's a part of life, so OWN it. Your tattoos are part of you so own your body, make it your own and most importantly, BE YOU!

Who are you?  Are you a Mom with tattoos?  Or maybe you just have tattoos, but hope to someday have the privilege of being someone's Mommy...tell me your story.  Tell me about your tattoo(s) and what they mean to you.

- Beth Williams - Tiptoe Winchester

 

Inked

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Before I start,  I do not write so please no judging! lol

So this isn't anything photography related just some real life struggles of a mommy needing some advice.  Maximus just turned 4 in January and ever since he was a newborn we have been doing the "co-sleeping"  thing.  Yes I know some of you are shaking your head, but we were first time parents, extremely tired because he wouldn't sleep through the night (still doesn't),  I was nursing and it just worked for us.  (Thankfully I learned my lesson with Maverick, he sleeps in his own bed and through the night).  I haven't tried putting him in his room in an extremely long time.  The ONE time we attempted the "crying out method" when he was little, he got so upset, fell and hit his head in his crib and I swore I would NEVER do that again! Talk about feeling like the worst mommy ever :'(.

Lately, I've just been getting fed up and saying tonight is the night he is sleeping in his bed.  We go through our nightly routine of taking a bath, putting  jammies on, getting a snack, and letting him pick a book to read, then I so nicely say "Okay, buddy its time to go night night in your bed" Oh my goodness its like ripping his heart out.  He takes off running into our room, screaming and crying, wants daddy because he usually gives in to him, and me after minutes of becoming EXTREMELY frustrated I just think to myself "if he wakes up Maverick I'm going to be mad" and of course a few choice words in there...I know bad mommy!  As always, I give in and let him sleep with us.  It's such an awful cycle that we have been going through and I literally can't take it.

I know consistency is key, but having him screaming and crying is torture and I WILL not do that to him, or us,  plus I have another little guy who is sleeping and don't want to wake him.  Bribing isn't an option as this kid has enough toys, we did his room in ninja turtles, he has a night light, and we even leave the bathroom light on for him.  We check for monsters, and give lots of hugs and kisses.  Nothing seems to work, NOTHING!  Did I miss my window of trying to get him to sleep in his bed?  At this point do I continue to just try every night, in hopes of one night he will just fall asleep on his own in his room or let him sleep with us until he's 25? lol  HELP! I want my bed back!

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I was browsing Facebook the other day during my spare time when I came across a link one of my 'Facebook friends' posted on her timeline about the "fake photographer epidemic".

The column was definitely, in a way, humorous.  It made a few good points about what a photographer ISN'T, but it never said what a photographer really IS.  It got me thinking about what makes a photographer a "photographer".

1. Photographers immerse themselves in their profession.

At Tiptoe, every one of us is constantly on the lookout for inspiring places, objects, and ideas. We get this image in our head and we work to create it in real life.  It's one thing to have the creativity and imagination to shape that image, but it's another thing to actually be able to make it happen and make it look good.  Aside from making this pioneering image come to life, we have to make it all about you (that's the fun part!)  And from there on, it's an endless cycle. Our lives revolve around creating the perfect photo.

2. Photographers constantly improve.

Like any other professional field, there is ALWAYS room to advance in the photography field! Whether they are skilled in landscape, editorial, or wedding photography, they should always be inventing new techniques and exploring and experimenting with new ideas.  As long as the creativity is flowing and the practicing is constant, improvement will follow.  Here at Tiptoe, we are still learning tons of new things about different ways we can use our Photoshop program and we've been using Photoshop for years!!  The learning never stops!

To me, that's what it means to be a photographer.  It's not because of the camera someone owns, it's not about the editing program they have at hand, nor is it about having a Facebook page dedicated to their skill...It's all about the skill they possess and how they use it.

Comments or questions welcome!!

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Welcome to the brand-spanking new Tiptoe Studios blog site! With the opening of this chapter, we invite you all to "come on in" and take a glimpse of everything that happens  on the front lines and behind the scenes of Tiptoe Studios! We want you to get to know us both professionally and personally, so we will be escorting you "into our world".

Be on the look out for 5 different perspectives on EVERYTHING! We all have a lot to say and to share and this is just the beginning. Here is where you can find it all: our favorite shots from recent shoots, funny or embarrassing stories of the day and our views on all things photography as well as all things in general! Thanks for checking us out and we hope you will stick around for the ride!

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