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| My oldest, Nick and me (with John Henry on his way), by John Blom (my dad) |
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| My little guy, John Henry and me, by Joyce Wilson |
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| Both my little guys, by me |
This week is a little hard for me. Three years ago almost to this day I realized that my mom was going to die. Of course I had known for almost a year that she was really, really sick and was not going to get better. I had looked on the internet and everything I read said she might live a year if we were lucky, so I knew in my head. She had been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer about 11 months before. But, it was at the very end of May that it became real for me, that her inevitable, looming death became a real thing to me. She looked like she was dying. Her body was shutting down. She was so gaunt, maybe weighing 90 pounds. I remember my dad called me crying. He was bringing her to the hospital because she couldn't keep anything down and finally had asked to go. I hung up the phone and went right to the airport so I could be there for him, for them. "This is it," I thought. Before I left though, I kissed my boys goodbye and stood in front of this portrait that I did of my mom and my boys. I looked a long time. When I took it, she had just come home for her surgery almost a year before. I made her do this with the boys because I knew that they, that we, would need it later. She was not happy about it. She didn't feel great and was self conscious about how she looked. But she was a sport. She put on her lipstick (she wore it right up until she couldn't put it on anymore) and became their "Gram" again. She was herself with them and they loved her so much. It shows in these images. So I stood for a long time trying to burn these images into my mind so that when I saw her this time, and when I was so sad, as I knew I would be, I could grab onto these. On the saddest day of my life so far, the day my boys said goodbye to their "Gram" and I stood at the door listening to her talk to them, and watched them read together in her bed, and listened to those two sweet little boys sob, I pictured this image. This hangs in our hallway and we all pass it every single day. Sometimes I will stop and look for a while. Sometimes I see the boys doing the same. Sometimes, if I am having a hard day I will see it as I rush pass and it helps me to put things into perspective. To have had a relationship and the love of my mother is a good thing. For her to have had a special, separate one with my boys is a great thing and something that they will remember every time they look at this. My oldest son Nick said to me just a few weeks ago after I saw him looking at their portrait, "Remember when we had my birthday with Gram and Papa and Gram got me 11 scoops of any ice cream I wanted instead of a cake (he was turning 11)? That was cool!" I have clients who have suffered incredible loss. I know what I do isn't saving lives. I know I am not a doctor. But, what I feel like I do give is something that will bring you back and make you remember those that you have loved so much. I know what it means. Life is so fragile and I know how quickly time passes and how an instant can change everything.
Their sweet laughter, mischievous smiles, chubby hands, cuddly bodies... How will you remember? Don't let them slip away, preserve your memories with a fine art portrait. Now through the end of March, save 50% on session fees and 20% on portrait orders of your precious little ones. Call today to reserve your session time! 602.263.5098
Have your child featured in my new book! I am looking for child models of all ages for a book that I am working on. You can pick up the model applications only at Urban Kidz, at Gainey Village in Scottsdale. Your completed application will entitle you to a complimentary session with Mara and a savings of 20% on a cute outfit from Urban Kidz! Final models will be chosen by online vote. Applications available now through February 20!
If you think that you can wait (till the economy gets better, till you lose 5 pounds, till your child's tooth grows in, till they get their braces off, till your hair grows out) to have heirloom portraits of your family or children created, you need to read this. As a mom with a 13 year old who is now taller than me, I can tell you that even if you are not experiencing what this beautiful lady experienced, time and memories fly by and before long you can't remember how sweet it felt when your little guy laughed with his brother or held your hand. Make 2012 the year to celebrate your life with beautiful heirloom portraits of your family and children.
Preserve your family memories with a family portrait session and take advantage of our family portrait special! Save 50% on session fees, 20% on portrait orders and 10% on custom framing now through October 31! Hurry, sessions are filling up quickly!
Please join us next Friday, October 14, from 2-8pm for our CARE CARD kickoff party! Bring some girlfriends, sip some wine and shop with your CARE CARD to save 20% with the cutest boutiques! Look forward to seeing you all here!
This is the summer to remember! I still have some dates available for July so call today to reserve your beach session spot. They go quickly because I only do one a day (at sunset) so don't miss another year, call today. They grow so quickly and you will be sad if you don't have any memories of this time. Now through May 31, save 50% on session fees and up to 25% on portraits!
Please bring your friends and join us this Friday, May 13 from 10am to 7pm for a great shopping event featuring over 20 local boutiques and everything from unique home Decor to funky beach bags, to beautiful baubles to amazing miracle beauty products. Shop in the am while the kids are at school or in the pm for happy hour Botox! Plus Artistic Impressions is offering 75% off all sessions (including beach sessions) at this event only! Feel good because 10% of all the $ you spend will go to UMOM shelters. Yippee! Get rid of that Friday the 13th bad karma!
What a beautiful place my boys and I visited this summer! We were in Ontario, Canada (Toronto and Muskoka) and had such a fun time playing and working (a little). We stayed with my wonderful friends, Christine and Andrew Burns and their great families. I love these images of my guys! The one on the deck together with the shadow was photographed with a very primitive plastic camera called a Holga. I love that camera but sometimes don't know exactly what I will get! I think this one turned out pretty great! The happiness you can feel with all of these images is what I love. I will post some more fun client images from this summer soon!
Mara still has a limited number of beach sessions available! So, if you have put off scheduling yours, now is the time! Call today and we will get your beach session scheduled. Don't wait another year to preserve your family memories! Call today!
