Adeo Arts photography by carrie vanalstine

We moved!

2010-10-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

To read updated blogs go to: www.adeoarts.com/blog

Stephens-Hotopp/Jeglum Gals

2010-07-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

One day these girls are going to break some hearts! They are so adorable. We had a great shoot playing in a tree, on the grass, and in a creek. Towards the end of the shoot Margaret wore a dress from her mom's childhood, so beautiful. Thank you ladies for a most splendid afternoon.

Matt and Colleen

2010-07-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

Colleen is a dear friend of mine. We have been friends for years and have seen each other go through many good and bad times. I was just thrilled when she told me about her engagement to Matt. They are adorable together, I can't wait until their wedding day! Thank you guys for a fun shoot... and the ice cream!

Mack, 6 months

2010-07-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

Sweet little Mack is already six months old! He has the coolest baby hair. We had a bright beautiful day and took advantage of it with some outdoor shots. He was quite a trooper as it started to get a little warm and windy out. At one point the poor guy was sitting and got blown over by a gust of wind! I love it when sentimental items are included in the shoots. The blanket Mack is sitting on while on the pier is his dad's from his childhood. Thank you Mack for a wonderful shoot. It has been so much fun to photograph you and watch you grow!

Congratulations Paul and Liz!

2010-06-28T20:31:00.000-07:00

Paul and Liz had a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Hawthorne Hall. You couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. A breeze was blowing, the sky was blue, and the fields were bursting with green. Paul and Liz were so laid back and fun to photograph. I wish you two the best!

Welcome to this beautiful world Amelia!

2010-06-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of meeting Miss Amelia in the hospital on her one day birthday. I am humbled when I hold a newborn. They are so tender, innocent, and truly a miracle. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of each day and miss out on the tender moments that await us. Seeing a baby so fresh to this big world overtakes my heart. Thank you Miss Amelia for reminding me of the beauty of the moment.

Collin and Liz

2010-06-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

What a sweet couple! Collin and Liz are runners. He proposed to her at the end of one of their races. I am so excited to photograph their wedding in September. Thank you for a delightful session... I'm now on the hunt for some size 5 red heels for myself.

Dance Creations Recital Rehearsal

2010-05-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

I have some more photos from my favorite studio Dance Creations. They just had their spring recital. Oh how I love little fluffy tutus. I was never the primo ballerina, but I trained in ballet for many years and love that Dance Creations provides an outlet for an aging ballerina like me to continue to dance. I feel so free when I am dancing. Little ballerinas you were refreshing, thank you for a beautiful performance.

My favorite red headed doll

2010-05-26T18:52:00.001-07:00

Natalie is two! It has been so fun to watch her grow up. Natalie is a very blessed girl. Besides having wonderful parents, sparkling blue eyes, and stunning red hair... she has a terribly adorable bff. I may be biased because that bff is my little girl Lyla. Every day before we eat our lunch I ask her if there is anything she would like to pray for and she always wants to pray for Natalie. Miss Natalie you have warmed our hearts. Thank you for a fun shoot at the creek!

Jake turned two!

2010-05-17T18:44:00.001-07:00

Mendy is a good friend from college. Her son just turned two. Is it possible that we are getting old enough to have toddlers? Jake is a champ. During the shoot he was running and fell on the concrete scraping up his chin. After just a few whimpers he was up and playing again. I like that there was some blood on his white shirt and a scuff on his chin. That is real life! I'm not sure there is a photo of me as a toddler without a noticeable gigantic bruise, scab, or scar. The shoot was cut a little short by a brewing storm so we headed to my house for a little play date. My daughter is still asking where Jake went, she had a great time. Thank you for a fun shoot and time together with the family. It is always a delight to see you guys!

Rob and Kim

2010-05-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

Rob and Kim are such good hearted people. They had an amazing outdoor wedding planned at Lumiere, then the windstorm and monsoon hit. At the last minute we were redirected to a beautiful little indoor chapel. They both had an amazing attitude about the weather and were just pleased to be getting married. The ceremony was beautiful and we were able to get outside for a few shots. You are both such wonderful people, I wish you the best. Thank you for inviting me to photograph your special day!

Eden

2010-05-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

Sweet Eden had a portrait session at her 5 year birthday party. Her "pink" party at Sugar Buzz was awesome. I love all the pink frilly attire. I ordered my daughter a pettiskirt after this shoot. During the shoot we had some fun shots of Eden and her family outside of Sugar Buzz. Then we headed inside for some games, dancing, cake, and of course face painting! Happy Birthday Miss Eden!

Dance Creations

2010-05-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

Bev Wohrle, Doug King, and Pearl Riggs have been amazing leaders for the Praise in Motion Dance Ministry at E91st Street Christian Church. I feel so honored to have had the opportunity to dance with them the past few years. I took a few photos at a recent rehearsal for the Dance Creations Recital. Bev is the director for the Dance Creations Studio in Fishers. I wish I had a studio like this to attend when I was younger. The instructors are all amazing and talented individuals who are both kind and knowledgeable. They teach wonderful technique, as well as, serve as amazing examples of servant leaders for their students. Many of the teachers at Dance Creations also dance with Praise in Motion. I love the costumes and creative numbers for the recital pieces this year. My last dance with PIM before I had my son was when I was 34 weeks pregnant. I was not nearly as graceful as I had hoped to be! My feet were so swollen I wasn't even sure I could get my dance shoes on. Hopefully now that I no longer have a baby on board I will be a bit more graceful. Thank you ladies (and Doug!) for your time and dedication to the dance ministry and students at Dance Creations. You have changed many lives, mine included!

For information about Dance Creations and Praise in Motion visit: www.DanceCreations.org

Lilly and Henry

2010-05-16T20:09:00.001-07:00

It has been a pleasure to watch miss Lillianna grow. I started photographing her when she was six months old and she is now two! Her family just welcomed their second child, Henry, into the world. He is so precious. Thank you for a wonderful shoot.

Mason

2010-05-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

After a brief maternity leave I finally picked up the camera again at my nephew's second birthday get together. My newborn is doing well, though I still don't have his photos edited!!! Mason is a treasure and was loving on our new little Levi. Happy Birthday Mason, thank you for the big giggles and grins!

Meet Mack

2009-12-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

Isn't he precious! Little Mack was absolutely perfect during his session. He was awake for most of the time and perfectly content. The dogs and even Grandpa joined in for a few shots. Thank you Aaron and Diane for letting me photograph your precious son. What a wonderful Christmas gift!

St Maria Goretti Daddy Daughter Dance

2009-12-21T11:18:00.000-08:00

I had the awesome privilege of photographing numerous daddy-daughter couples at the St Maria Daddy Daughter Dance. It is such a wonderful event. I loved seeing the little girls on the dance floor cutting a rug with dear ole' dad. By the end of the night the littlest gals were tuckered out and sleeping on their fathers shoulder. I was anchored to the lighting set up and unable to take candid shots. I wish I had a few images from the dance floor to share, they would have warmed your heart. The gals were decked out in their ball gowns and the fathers wore suits. Most of them went to a fancy dinner before the ball. This event was certainly the most creative and meaningful fund raiser I have been part of. Thank you for allowing me to play a small role in such a wonderful evening!

Jake is growing up!

2009-12-21T11:13:00.000-08:00

It seems like I just photographed Jake as a newborn a few weeks ago, now he is almost 8 months old! You have to check out these eyelashes. He is going to make some girl's heart melt some day. Thank you for the wonderful shoot, I just loved seeing how big he is now!

Ken and Susanna

2009-11-10T15:54:00.000-08:00

My last fall wedding of the fall season and it was spectacular. Though the air was a bit brisk outside the sky was blue and there were amazing autumn textures to work with like corn stalks, pumpkins, and leaves. Ken and Susanna were wonderful. They would cuddle, laugh, and be silly on their own. I rarely posed them and just kept clicking the camera. I had a delightful time, thank you for inviting me to photograph your wedding day.

The Wolfe Family

2009-11-10T15:51:00.001-08:00

Anna and Donnie went to Butler and decided that may be a fun location for this years family portrait. I used to eat lunch with Anna at HSE so I was particularly excited when she offered to pick me up and carpool to the campus together. It gave me a chance to get caught up with her family! Noah, Ellie, and Hallie were so good to me. They entertained me on our ride towards downtown. The campus was absolutely amazing! It was a nice warm fall day and leaves covered the ground. It made for a beautiful backdrop. Thank you so much for the wonderful shoot... and letting me tag along in your van!

The Canada Family

2009-11-10T15:44:00.000-08:00

Ryan has changed so much since our last photo session! He has the most adorable blond hair. It was so fun to capture photos as he checked out the train, played in the leaves, and drove his monster truck across the benches. Thank you for a wonderful session!

The Milleman Family

2009-10-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

It was such a treat to photograph the Milleman family. I worked with Jon at Hamilton Southeastern High School prior to having my daughter. He is the principal and it was so nice to spend time visiting with him and his family. I had heard a few fun family stories from Jon at the lunch table when I was teaching so it was a special treat to get to chat with Tamara and Noah a little bit. Tamara is very sweet, and quite funny. Noah was incredibly kind and very respectful of his parents. They brought along some wonderful props for our shoot, a Harley motorcycle and their Chicago Bears jerseys. I could tell in just our short visit together that they are a very close family. It was fun to see them laugh together. Thank you for the wonderful visit. It was a pleasure to photograph your family.

Jeff and Molly

2009-10-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Jeff's and Molly's wedding day was filled with so many meaningful touches. They were married outside the Chinese House at Conner Prairie. Molly wore a dress that was gifted to her by a friend of her mom's who has since passed. Molly remembered playing as a child at this woman's home. She said she knew as a young child that she wanted to get married in that dress, and she did. The cake toppers were also a gift from her dear friend. During their ceremony Jeff looked as if he couldn't find their wedding bands. At that moment their dogs Chase and Devee ran in as ring bearers to save the day. It was a big surprise for all of their guests. Molly and Jeff are animal advocates (they have two dogs and four cats). They used their reception as an opportunity to educate and share their passion for the Human Society and Indy Feral. It was quite fitting that on our journey around the grounds of Conner Prairie Molly spied a beautiful orange cat and took a moment to pet it. You both are wonderful inspiring individuals, thank you for inviting me photograph your wedding day.

The Marshall Family

2009-10-13T18:08:00.000-07:00

I headed to Muncie for a wonderful shoot with the Marshall family. Sweet Betsy is just as adorable as her American Girl doll. At some point during the shoot her brother Sam found quite a treasure, an acorn. He held it tightly in his hand then tucked it away in his pocket for safe keeping. I love how being around kids reminds me of the simple pleasures in life that are awaiting us if we take time to enjoy them, thank you Sam for reminding me of that! I have a soft spot for silly faces and got the most adorable shot of Olivia making a fish face, it warmed my heart. Fish faces, baby dolls, and acorns... childhood is a blast! Thank you for the fun shoot, your family is delightful.

Beautiful Lara

2009-10-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

I met Nancy at a family shoot for her parents when she was pregnant. She didn't know at the time if she was having a boy or girl (I've never been patient enough to wait until my delivery). Little Lara made her entrance into the world and I was so privileged to meet her. She is a doll. Her brother and sister adore her. It reminded me of when I brought home my little peanut. Oh, they grow up so fast. Thank you for a wonderful shoot, best wishes!

Eric and Jill

2009-10-06T18:18:00.001-07:00

Eric and Jill are so sweet. They celebrated their wedding day at Conner Prairie. Conner Prairie has so many beautiful textures, it is always a fun place to photograph. They exchanged their vows in the Overlook room with an amazing display windows as a backdrop for their ceremony. I love how they look at each other in their photos, so tender and kind. Both sides of the wedding party were hilarious and so fun to be around. During the reception Jill's sororitysisters serenaded Eric and one of Eric's groomsmen cut a rug with his mom (it became one of my favorite goofy shots of the day).

Mike and Jean

2009-09-28T12:48:00.001-07:00

You couldn't ask for more fabulous weather! Mike and Jean are incredibly sweet and I was so excited for them when I saw the beautiful blue sky they had on their wedding day. Their family and friends are just as kind. There were also a few kids in the wedding party, so adorable! It was a great day filled with smiles, laughter, and love. Thank you for having me photograph such a beautiful special day. I wish you the best!

Janel and Crew

2009-09-22T15:52:00.000-07:00

Janel is also a photographer. We met last year at MOPS (mothers of preschoolers). We were assigned to the same table and quickly learned that we both have a passion for photography. She and I recently decided to "swap" services and photograph each other's families. Her husband Todd was very warm and welcoming. Her boys are adorable. Carter is a very kind considerate young man. Luke is a sweet energetic little guy (he gave me a few silly faces which always seem to become my favorite photos). It was fun to meet her kids and husband after hearing so many wonderful stories about them at our MOPS meetings. Janel is a wonderful mom, wife, and photographer. Thank you for a fun, laid back photo session. I had a blast, your family is a delight!

StAT

2009-09-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

Most of my blogs tend to be peppy, this one may take a turn towards a much more serious topic. I recently photographed the StAT (Stand Against Trafficking) Community Forum in Indianapolis. The forum was created to educate our community on human trafficking. It is going on around the globe, and in our own community. At the forum there were two stories from women, Americans, who had been rescued from the trafficking industry. One woman told of her story being held captive across seas and forced into sex slavery. The other woman lives in Fishers, she was trafficked in Fishers, I was shocked. I can't decide if learning about this industry makes me mad, sad, scared, or a combination of everything. I appreciate the Wesleyan Women for developing this organization and bringing awareness to our community. I think many of us (myself included) consider trafficking a problem that happens across seas rather than in our own back yard. I never imagined a child being trafficked could attend school and be too controlled or scared to ever tell anyone, or that a woman could have friends and a seemingly normal life but on the inside be hiding a secret of how her husband is controlling and trafficking her for sexual favors with other men. The night I photographed this event I sat in bed sobbing. I knew at that very moment hundreds, perhaps thousands of people (many children) were being forced to do acts against their will. It is easy to think someone else with deal with this problem, but the reality is that it is to large for "someone" to handle. This is happening in our community, it will take a community effort to stop this industry.

If you are interested in educating yourself on human trafficking here are some sites I learned about at the forum:

The Not For Sale Campaign includes educational information and a store to purchase items made by women who have been rescued from a life of sex trafficking:

http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/

The Sold Project contains information about trafficking and a trailer about the film The Sold Project:

http://www.thesoldproject.com

Slavery Map shows reports of slavery by location. You can search your area, or report an incident. There are so many more incidents than what are mapped, but it is shocking to see that this is occurring everywhere.

http://www.slaverymap.org/

Bound For Freedom is a non-profit organization empowering young people to contribute to the global effort to eradicate human trafficking by using commerce to economically empower former sex workers to claim freedom:

http://www.bound4freedom.com/

StAT (Stand Against Human Trafficking) is a local anti-trafficking organization:

http://www.standagainsttrafficking.com/

The Altman Family

2009-09-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

It is always a pleasure to see the Altman family. Their daughter Kyla is about a month older than my own little peanut. They wanted an updated family portrait so we met for a brief session at Morse Lake. The sound of the water was relaxing, we even saw a family of ducks swimming nearby. I am in awe of the variety of parks that we have available in this area!

James and Riley

2009-09-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

James and Riley made their arrival a little early. They were six weeks old for their session, but still so tiny and delicate. I just love how their personalities are already shining through. Riley was very alert and active, James was laid back and soaking it all in. They were absolutely adorable!

Cooper

2009-09-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

Babies, babies, babies! I have been photographing a lot of babies lately, it's wonderful! They are so beautiful and innocent. My friends Anne and Mike just welcomed their first child into the world and I felt quite privileged to photograph him. I've known Mike and Anne since college. I love that we have been able to keep in touch and continue to share our milestones in life. They are amazing people, parents, and friends. I am so excited to see Cooper grow up and anxious to see his little personality develop!

Maria

2009-07-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun photographing Maria. She is beautiful, talented, and very sweet. I just loved her high heel shoes! I was never very good at wearing high heels (mostly because I couldn't take the pain). She is such a well rounded young woman, comfy in high heels or softball cleats. Her shoot couldn't have been timed more perfectly. She works at Keen's Children's Shoes in Carmel, I have been thinking about getting my daughter some good shoes. We are going to visit Maria at work! I must warn you Maria, she is a handful... I apologize in advance. Thank you for a delightful shoot, I hope you have a wonderful senior year!

Aaron and Erin

2009-07-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

I taught with Erin at Hamilton Southeastern High School. It was so nice to see her again, meet her husband, and visit during their shoot. They were married five years ago and were ready for an updated portrait of themselves. I love looking through photographs of my parents and grandparents before they had children, this shoot was a great idea on their part! I wish my husband and I had done the something like this. Thank you for a wonderful visit, you both are incredibly sweet. Best wishes!

Cape Hatteras

2009-07-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

Our vacation was over a month ago and I am just getting a chance to look at the images! It has been hectic here. I didn't take very many photographs on the beach. A few years ago I had a bad experience with sand (sand + camera sensor = grumpy photographer). I ruined a camera so I usually only take my point and shoot near the sand. Our little peanut LOVED the beach. The only thing I would change was trying to take a 15 month old on a 15 hour car drive. What were we thinking? At Cape Hatteras we stayed in a beach house with 16 family members in it, it was a blast. Within the 16 people there were 4 generations represented. It was a once in a life time experience, I am so glad we did it. Our family is spread out so it was nice to have everyone together for a week. Thank you all for going, we had a wonderful time and created some beautiful memories!

Jackson's Visit

2009-07-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

My nephew Jackson visited me on my birthday! We had a great time (although the weather here for the weekend of the 4th was pretty crummy, not good for fireworks at all). His first birthday is at the end of July so I took a few shots of him while he was here. He is such a sweet little guy. We will be heading out their way for his birthday party, I'm so excited! Due to hectic summer schedules we haven't been able to travel as much as we like to, we are looking forward to seeing everyone. Happy early birthday Jackson!

Jevon

2009-07-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

I photographed Jevon earlier this year for his senior portraits. He has decided to pursue a career in modeling and came back for a few more shots to incorporate into his modeling portfolio. He is very kind young man and incredibly easy to work with. Good luck Jevon!

The Wells Family

2009-07-02T10:15:00.001-07:00

The Wells family live in our old neighborhood. It was such a treat to see them again! Our cul-de-sac was very social. Almost every evening during the summer families would be hanging out together visiting in the front lawns. After dark it wasn't unusual to see a group of neighbors together roasting marshmallows over a fire pit. We met some wonderful people there! It was so nice to chat with the Wells and rekindle so many fond memories from the neighborhood where we had our first home. If the fire pit gets roaring tonight make a s'more for me!

Jake and Ashley

2009-06-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

I loved seeing all of Jake's and Ashley's personal touches on their wedding day. From a photo with their dog Mimo to the sequin "I do" on the bottom of her shoes, the day was filled with many wonderful details. Jake's father officiated the ceremony at the church where he grew up. Their reception was at The Noel Sanctuary in Zionsville. It is a beautiful venue for a reception or for a visit. The Sanctuary and restaurant are open Tuesday through Saturday. If you enjoy looking at art it is a must! At the reception there was even a candy buffet with little bags labeled "Mimo's Doggy Bag" for guests to fill. I couldn't resist snagging a couple Swedish fish myself. It was a beautiful day filled with love, family, and fun. I wish you the best!

The Stephens-Hotopp/Jeglum Girls

2009-06-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

These little ladies are so cute! The Stephens-Hotopp/Jeglum family came to Indy from Chicago for a brief visit. I met their family at a wedding I photographed last fall. Mags was barely walking then, now she is running! After a seven hour car ride (horrible weather and traffic from Chicago to Indy) the girls were still giggly and sweet. I am amazed! My daughter would not have been that pleasant after a day on the road. The rain held out just long enough for our shoot. I headed home and shortly after the thunder and lightning rolled in. I had a wonderful evening with your family, thank you.

Drew

2009-06-23T16:04:00.001-07:00

Erin and Jeremy just welcomed their second little boy to their family. Drew did quite well during his shoot. We had his diaper off for awhile and he didn't piddle once, when I did his older brother's newborn almost two years ago he couldn't resist the urge to go potty when his diaper was off! Thank you for having me photograph your sweet little boys. It was a pleasure to see your family again, Jackson is SO big now! Time is going by too quickly. I hope you are getting some rest and enjoying every minute of these precious days.

Paul and Stephanie

2009-06-15T20:00:00.001-07:00

Paul and Stephanie are adorable! They exchanged their vows on a Friday (much like my own wedding). Stephanie has the most amazing smile and dazzling blue eyes. After the ceremony Paul carried around a little blue cooler with a ham and cheese sandwich in it (Stephanie's favorite) to make sure she had something to eat, how sweet! Their guests were just as wonderful. During the reception I had a delightful conversation with Stephanie's grandmother and some of Paul's friends asked me to join them for a photograph, I had a blast! You both are amazing people and have surrounded yourselves with family and friends that are warm and kind. Thank you for inviting me to join such a special day.

Family

2009-06-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

I just had a wonderful time with the Werne grandchildren. The shoot was scheduled as a gift for their grandparents 40th anniversary, what a great idea! These kids were so easy to photograph. They did most of the "poses" on their own, we had plenty giggles and smiles. Thank you!

The Kail Family

2009-05-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful little road trip to Pendleton to photograph the Kail family. Their children are gorgeous. Annabel just turned one and was trotting around in the yard. Cameron is a very sweet older brother and loves having his photograph taken. During the shoot Kris and I were chatting and realized we went to the same college (the University of Indianapolis), graduated the same year, and even majored in the same area. U of I is a pretty small campus, I am certain we must have had a class together, or even been lab partners at some point! I love how my job gives me opportunities to meet so many wonderful people (or in this case "re-meet" people). Kris and Angie, you and your children are warm and kind. Thank you for inviting me to photograph your family and for the unexpected reminder of how small and interconnected our world is.

Mike and Jean

2009-05-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

The beautiful weather has provided an amazing backdrop for some fabulous shoots! Jean and Mike are getting married later this year. They are a very sweet couple, so easy and fun to photograph. I love it when couples are willing to relax and be a little goofy during a shoot. They danced, laid in the grass, and even recreated the pose from a statue in the garden (as promised I didn't post it on the blog, but it is quite cute). I had a wonderful time hanging out with you, thank you for a fun shoot!

Jared and Rhyan

2009-05-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

Aren't these kids cute!!! I've been photographing Jared and Rhyan for a few years. Each time as I drive to their next shoot I get so anxious to see how much they have changed. The first time I met Rhyan she was napping in her pumpkin seat, now she is a giggly, wiggly three year old. She danced for me during the shoot and tried to catch birds, she is a doll. Jared is such a sweet older brother, his goofy side came out when he started giving me some fun muscle shots. We had a blast, thank you!

Red turned one!

2009-05-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

The Vinton's lived in our old neighborhood (we've both since moved), but we have maintained a friendship though we live a bit further apart now. Miss Natalie is a blast! She gave me the most adorable hug with a little "pat pat" on my back, it made me melt. It is fun to see how little girls can be so similar and yet so different. Both Lyla and Natalie are giggly little girls and loved playing in the sprinkler pool at her party, but I have never seen a kid climb like Red. She pulled herself up on the roof of a decent sized riding truck toy at her party, it was impressive! At the shoot she was exploring all sorts of things, water, leaves, and rocks (and gave in to an occasional temptation to try and taste one). She is a sweetheart and it has been wonderful to watch her grow. Lyla, Ben, and I hope to have many more play dates together! Happy First Birthday Natalie!

The Farr Family

2009-05-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

I went back to my home town for Mother's Day weekend. While I was there I had a few shoots with some amazing families. I was so excited to meet the Farr family. Their children are so sweet, and little Brooke has the most adorable chubby cheeks! When I got home from the shoot I told my husband it gave me baby fever, he wasn't thrilled. :) During the shoot I learned that Shane's company built Fishers High School (I was teaching at Hamilton SE during that time). It is such a small world. Thank you for such an enjoyable shoot!

The Winer Family

2009-05-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

Kelli is as beautiful as I remembered her. Kelli and I went to high school together. If I remember correctly we were lab assistants and she helped the teachers while I talked, wasted time, and occasionally did homework. I think she was the much more appreciated lab assistant! She is now an amazing wife, mom, and entrepreneur. She and Adam are raising four dashing and kind young men and an adorable little peanut. Kelli also runs an antique business in Peru, she rents a room at the Farris Wheel. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but I hope to get there soon. We had a delightful day of hunting for mother's day flowers (or weeds), running, and giggling. It was truly a pleasure to meet your family, thank you!

The Cobbler's Son Goes Shoeless

2009-05-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

The cobbler's son goes shoeless and the photographer's daughter has no photo. My daughter is well over a year old and I haven't done her one year portrait yet. We had a beautiful weekend and I couldn't resist getting outside for some family fun so it seemed like a good time to get a few shots of her. My daughter is my most challenging model. She runs toward me to touch the camera any time she is loose which results in really fuzzy zoomed in shots and tiny finger prints on the lens. One of our local parks has a carousel and we were itching to see if Lyla liked it. Ben rode with her first, then I took a stab at it. He sat on the horse with her, so on my turn I had her sit on the horse by herself and stood next to it acting as her "seat belt." I wish I could have gotten a picture of her little hands clinched on the bar, she was all giggles but had a death grip on that bar. At the park my husband and I passed the camera back and forth so we could each play with Lyla. He is a wonderful photographer and has a very artistic eye. Here are some shots from our day at the park!

Lyla is giggling so much her face looks a little disfigured,

but I love the angle he took for the shot!

How cute is this sign! She is way too short to ride carousel alone...

I think I will take her photo next to this sign every year.

The Vanosdol Gals

2009-04-29T19:14:00.000-07:00

My maiden name is Vanosdol. I know, it's weird. I went from Vanosdol to VanAlstine, what are the chances? I have one older sister and two older cousins. They all got married before me so I was left to carry on the Vanosdol name. When I got married it seemed silly to keep my maiden name since it was so close to my husband's name, and so there is where our family name ends. My cousins live in Boston and we rarely get together. They traveled to Indiana and for the first time in twelve years all four of us were together, it was delightful! Among us we have five children. My grandparents are in wonderful condition. They still mow the farm, cook bacon and eggs when we visit, and banter like little kids. My husband helped me capture a few shots of my grandparents with their grandchildren and great grandchildren. I can only hope to have my photograph taken some day with my grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Emily's First Communion

2009-04-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

I was invited to photograph Emily as she prepared to participate in her First Communion. She is a kind gentle young lady, always a pleasure to photograph. During the shoot Emily and her mom taught me about her classes and their church, Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Church. I love learning and really enjoyed learning about their family and their church. It was a beautiful day and they are a beautiful family. I was truly honored to photograph such a meaningful event in her life.

Jevon

2009-04-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to meet Jevon. His father worked with me at Hamilton Southeastern High School so I had heard wonderful stories about their family. Jevon is such a kind pleasant person. He wants to become an Orthodontist. Both my husband and I had mangled teeth, as long as we keep having children there will be work out there for orthodontists! Jevon's dad joined us for the shoot and I couldn't help but notice how kind and respectful Jevon was of his father. I even asked Jevon for parenting advice and what I need to do with my children to help them develop that kind of character. He said he appreciated that his parents allowed him to do his own thing giving him privacy in his life, but always knew when to step in. That was good for me to hear. I can see myself as the "all up in their business" kind of mom. Thank you Jevon for the advice. You are wise beyond your years.

Park Chapel Infant Dedication

2009-04-23T18:48:00.000-07:00

I just love being around babies! Regardless of how crummy the weather is or how cranky I am from lack of sleep (my daughter still has her bouts of restless nights), photographing giggling babies makes my day! Park Chapel has the most amazing infant dedication program. They set aside a special afternoon service just for the event. During the service a message is shared, the children receive a Bible, and the parents dedicate themselves to teaching their children about Christ. The families are also given time to pray with a mentor/prayer partner that they selected. Some people chose family members, some chose friends. It is so powerful to look around the room and see groups of people huddled together, arms enveloping one another, praying for a child they love so much. My eyes welled up as I heard some of their prayers. These children are beautiful, and I am so encouraged by the love and support they have from their family and their church.

If you would like more information on getting an infant dedication service organized at your church Carole Miller at Park Chapel Christian Church in Greenfield (www.parkchapel.org) headed up the event. She was fun to work with and is a wealth of information.

Welcome to this beautiful world Jake!

2009-04-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

Jake's mom is a college friend of mine. I was delighted to have the opportunity to photograph her little guy. Jake was an April 1st baby, his family is a blast so I'm sure there are some fun April Fool's birthday events in his future. At just over one week into parenthood Mendy and Brian have already topped my list as the type of parent I want to be. I stopped by their house and Mendy looks as fabulous as she did before she was pregnant. Her home is as pristine as always (when I had a newborn mine was a total disaster zone) and she looked like she'd just had a full night of rest (I was a walking zombie). When Jake got upset Brian would cuddle him and Jake would melt into his daddy, I think Brian may be a baby whisperer. They are wonderful parents. Here are a few shots from the day, it was a pleasure to meet you little Jake. Welcome to this beautiful world!

Scott Palmer

2009-04-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

I just photographed a soon to be HSE grad. I dearly miss teaching at Hamilton Southeastern so it was nice to get the "scoop" from Scott during his recent senior session. It sounds like things are going quite well with the Royals. Scott is a cross country runner with AWESOME hair. My husband has had many a unique hair styles (platinum blond, bald, mohawk, and even a pink mohawk) so I find it quite a treat to photograph someone with a flair for fun hair. I even got out the polaroid camera for some goofy shots, which turned out to be some of my favorites. Thank you for a fun shoot Scott. Best wishes at IU!

Josh and Joy

2009-04-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Josh was on a brief leave from the military so I was just so happy when they were able to squeeze in time for a quick engagement session. We had a wonderful time at Forest park. I just love seeing the grass turn green and buds on the trees. I arrived for the shoot a little early so I could stroll around the park and enjoy a little quiet time with nature. Congratulations Josh and Joy!

A blessing in disguise

2009-03-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

I was on my way to an engagement portrait when I checked my voicemail. Half way there I learned that the couple needed to reschedule their session. It was my fault I found out so late, they called earlier in the day but my phone was lost. I am notorious for losing my phone. My husband and I go through a nightly ritual of searching for my phone. We first do a quick sweep of the house. If we aren't successful we then resort to using his phone to call mine taking the risk of waking our daughter (aka "sleeping bear"). If we are still unsuccessful we assume the ringer is on silent so we turn off the lights and call it while searching for the display to light up. One time the phone sat under a blanket for almost a week before being found. It's like a treasure hunt every night. I'm not sure why I can't keep track of my phone, I've just accepted it's what I do. Fortunately, he has accepted that about me too! This day was no different. As I dashed out the door for my shoot we did a quick check around the house and found my phone in the stroller. Since I was already on the road when I realized the shoot was canceled I headed over to my friends house for a visit. She just got a dog, Holly, a few hours earlier. Holly is a beautiful yellow lab. My friend adopted her from a rescue organization. I guess Holly was used for breeding a few too many times, and from her extremely timid demeanor she hadn't been treated very well. My friend Bonny has a nice quite home and tons of love to share with Holly. Since I had my camera on hand I took a couple of shots of her new baby. Holly is very shy and didn't care for the sound of the camera click so I kept the shooting very brief. I am so glad I was able to spend such a special day with Bonny, I guess misplacing my phone can at times be a blessing in disguise!

Danny and Abi

2009-03-30T20:03:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of photographing another beautiful wedding at Laurel Hall. I want to live there! Danny and Abi are high school sweethearts, they are so adorable. Laurel Hall has a chapel on the third floor, but the couple wanted a smaller more intimate setting so they set up a chapel on the first floor. It was a fabulous idea and just perfect for their event. The spring storm held out long enough for the ceremony and a few shots outside. The lightning was amazing! Laurel Hall has a large solarium and tons of stained glass windows. I love lightning storms so it was a special treat to experience the storm from inside the beautiful mansion. Abi said she had hoped for a storm, and it was awesome! Thank you for a fabulous evening.

Spring Break... sort of

2009-03-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

My sister is a teacher and was on spring break so Lyla and I spent the day with her family. I took the camera along to get some shots of the kids. Her son Mason will be one next week (Lyla and Mason were born five weeks apart). My niece Tressie turned eight last month and is so fun to be around. Lyla has "stranger danger" right now, but she loves her cousin Tressie. We had a fun outing, thank you for letting us spend a little of your spring break with you!

My sister's husband is a police officer. I like to call this Mason's police officer look.

Sleeping Beauty's Ball

2009-03-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

I had a Saturday off so I took my niece downtown to Sleeping Beauty's Ball at the Indianapolis Children's Museum. My niece helped design our princess costumes for the ball, she wants to be a fashion designer. At the ball we ate a delicious dinner, watched the Sleeping Beauty play, and visited exhibits at the museum. Perhaps my favorite quote from the night was said by a father to his daughter while we were waiting in line for the show, "Princesses don't bite." It was so fun to be surrounded by so many little princesses, even the ones that bite. I also learned a good lesson from the wicked fairy. She said, "I am I, you are you, and to our nature we must be true." I guess even a wicked fairy can teach and old princess a thing or two.

As we were leaving the house I realized it was a bit chilly for my princess costume so I added a quick touch. The nearest "warm" item in my closet was leg warmers (I attended ballet rehearsals earlier in the day) so they went with me to the ball!

At one exhibit we dressed up as sea creatures. I wore flippers, my niece put on a lobster suit (with only one claw because of a broken arm from a scooter accident), and a delightful little princess friend we played with dressed up as a shark.

Lilly turned one!

2009-03-19T16:52:00.000-07:00

Lilly just turned one. She has the most amazing eyelashes and adorable chubby cheeks. I just wanted to pick her up and squeeze her! She played with her mom's necklace and ballet shoes during the shoot. I wonder if she will become a ballerina too? Happy Birthday Miss Lilly!

Ellie

2009-03-19T16:43:00.001-07:00

Ellie and Nole (the alligator) just had their portrait taken. Ellie is getting so big! The first time I saw her she was three weeks old, oh how they change so fast. Ben, Lyla, and I just received an invitation to her first birthday party in April. Her dad is very creative, he typed individual invitations to each guest. Ours was quite hysterical. This family is fun to be around! We will certainly be at your birthday party Miss Ellie! Thank you for the invitation.

The Two Taylors

2009-02-10T10:16:00.000-08:00

Taylor Dasher and Melanie Taylor (the two Taylors) just became The Dashers. Melanie and Taylor traveled from Los Angeles to exchange their vows in Indianapolis at Laurel Hall. They had a very elegant wedding day. Perhaps my favorite moment was during their first dance when they showed off some of their freestyle moves, it was great. The day was sprinkled with a few tears, plenty of laughs, and tons of dancing!

Gracelyn

2009-01-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

I had been giving my camera a break due to my commitment with the musical and moving houses, but I couldn't contain myself and had to shoot miss Gracelyn. I'd been anticipating her arrival for several months. Angela had a speedy delivery with only two hours of labor. Miss Gracelyn was ready to meet the world and arrived before the doctor got there! I am so excited to watch her grow up. Congratulations Nate and Angela!

Two From Galilee

2008-12-10T09:19:00.000-08:00

I must be crazy! Right now I am.... photographing holiday family portraits, meeting with brides for spring weddings, moving into a new house, and rehearsing for a musical that I'm dancing in. If you are available this weekend or looking for some Christmas entertainment my church is putting on a wonderful Christmas musical called Two from Galilee. It is very professionally put together. The show times are Dec 12 at 7:00, Dec 13 at 7:00, and Dec 14 at 3:00. I believe tickets are only $5 and the show (and pre-show) are fabulous! For information and go to: www.east91st.org. I am a dancing angel so my role is pretty simple, no singing here (just some lip syncing at the end). I've been doing ballet with a dance company for several years (I've danced for as long as I can remember) and it has been such a treat to participate in the musical. I have yet to see Gabriel's costume, but he has been telling us that his wing span is supposed to be 8ft. I'm quite interested to see this costume!

The Flanagan's

2008-12-10T09:12:00.001-08:00

Kirk and Jamie have a delightful family! I recently photographed Kirk's twin brother so it felt a little like deja vu. Olivia and Owen were in adorable little Christmas outfits. We had fun looking that the train, reading The Polar Express, and romping around with mom and dad. Toddlers are full of energy, Owen even had me "chase" him around the room. How fun!!!! Jamie had the idea to do part of the shoot in their holiday pajamas, it was great! I may steal the idea for my own family. Have a wonderful Christmas!

Kiara's Birthday Party

2008-12-10T09:05:00.000-08:00

A few weeks after photographing Rhiannon's birthday party I was able to photograph her older sister's party as well. Kiara just turned 7 and she chose to have a Cleopatra birthday party. All of Kiara's friends got Egyptian eye paint and a really cool head dress to wear. Snakehead Ed attended the party and taught the Egyptian ladies about exotic snakes. The girls were squealing and laughing. To spare the faint at heart I am only posting one of the snake photos, it was a very creative birthday party! Thank you for inviting me to photograph your special day!

Rhiannon's Birthday Party

2008-12-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

Things have been quite busy here with birthday parties and holiday family portraits! In November Rhiannon had her 5th birthday party at Sugar Buzz in Carmel. This was my first shoot at Sugar Buzz, this place is a child's dream come true! The decor is like walking into a fantasy land. Kids get to select the theme for their birthday party. Rhiannon had a Hannah Montana party complete with choreographers that taught the girls a dance routine, professional make up artists that gave them stage make up as well as fun face paintings, and themed birthday treats. I had so much fun, the girls were full of giggles the entire time! Happy Birthday Rhiannon!

Grace

2008-11-14T08:20:00.000-08:00

I photographed Grace when she was two weeks old, she has just reached the six month mark! She is growing up so fast. I had a delightful shoot chatting with her parents and playing with all sorts of fun accessories. I couldn't get enough of this pink hat! I may have to buy one for Lyla.

Gracelyn

2008-11-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

Nate and Angela are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Gracelyn. We hope to meet her mid December!

Miss Gracen

2008-11-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

How adorable is this hair?! Gracen's birthday is on Halloween. Her parents were worried that it may take her awhile to warm up to getting her picture taken so we took our time strolling around the grounds at the IMA. She did great! She looked at the fish, rubbed some leaves in her mom's hair, and giggled at her daddy. She wasn't too sure about me at first, her dad does a lot of photography so it was different for her to see a stranger behind the lens. By the end of the session we had plenty of smiles and she even gave me a high five and knucks. Knucks from two year olds always make me smile. Happy second birthday Gracen!

The Flanagan's

2008-11-02T16:31:00.000-08:00

It was such a treat to get a message from Jenni Flanagan. Jenni and I were friends in high school. We lived in different towns, but were members of the same baton corp. Yes, I was a baton twirler. We didn't twirl with bands but went to competitions and such. It is sadly a dying sport. Over the years we lost touch with each other. She at was home on maternity leave a few months ago and decided to google my name to see if she could find me. She found my website and contacted me. I was delighted! We had a lovely visit and I was able to see her family again for their portrait session. Her girls are wonderful, they were so helpful and sweet. Thank you Jenni for making the effort to reconnect, you are a treasured friend.

Enterprise Marking Products

2008-11-02T16:06:00.001-08:00

Enterprise Marking Products had me in to photograph their 2008 Open House event. I learned so much by being there. I am a junkie for learning new information. EMP specializes in manufacturing labels, as well as, installing and servicing labeling devices, bar code printers, and data collection systems (scanners that read bar codes). While there I was able to see labels for Cosco child car seats being printed and zap a few bar codes with the scanner. Everyone there was so inviting and included me in the tours explaining the printing process and their products. I enjoy learning about local companies and the services they provide. For more information about EMP their site is: www.emp4labels.com

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Wolfe Family

2008-10-24T09:33:00.001-07:00

I traveled a little north for a very special family portrait. Anna and I worked together at Hamilton Southeastern High School. We have very similar backgrounds, we grew up in rural areas and in a very small school district... well small compared to HSE. Anna and I ate lunch together at work, it was nice to have some adult interaction and learn about her family. I sincerely miss my students and colleagues at HSE High School. My visit with Anna and her family was just what I needed! Their property is beautiful, and her kids are a blast!

Jack and Crew

2008-10-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

Jack is six months old! I had the pleasure of photographing Jack's older sister Emily earlier this year. Jack is so much bigger already. Emily, Matthew, and Jack are as adorable in person as they are in their portrait.

Andrew and Heather

2008-10-24T08:12:00.001-07:00

Andrew and Heather scheduled their engagement session in Carmel near the site where their engagement took place, it was a gorgeous afternoon! They are traveling to Vegas with their close friends and family for their ceremony. I love hearing different wedding plans and how each couple designs a day unique to their personality. Destination weddings are so exciting, have a great time!

Ellie

2008-10-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Ellie loves the camera! She was such a treat for her photo session. Ellie's parents have quite a history with my husband and I. Her dad played in a band with my husband, and her mom went to college with me. They are responsible for introducing me to my husband! Ellie is a few weeks younger than my Lyla. Several of the guys from the band are having daughters right now, we've discussed the beginnings of a girl rock band!

Cayde

2008-10-17T21:05:00.001-07:00

Cayde is the fifth generation in his family to live in the Bake farm house. I traveled to their farm to meet the newest addition to their family. The large old windows in the house spilled in tons of natural light on little Cayde. He is delightful. I love holding newborns, it is such a tender thing to cradle something so fresh into the world.

Marcus and Ally

2008-10-16T06:21:00.000-07:00

From the moment I walked into the church I felt like I was family! Marcus's mom made sure I was introduced to everyone as they arrived, how sweet! The wedding was beautiful, and you couldn't have asked for better weather for an outdoor reception. Marcus and Ally have such warm hearts and are surrounded by kind compassionate friends and family. The day was filled with hugs, kisses, laughs, and tears.

Metamorphosis

2008-09-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of doing a brief portrait session with my husband recently. He just got his first tattoo in honor of our daughter. He was a vocalist in a rock band for several years before we met and had always said he wanted to get a tattoo when they got signed. They were signed to a record label, however we were also planning a wedding at that time so his funds went toward our wedding instead of a tattoo. Eventually the record label went under (typical for the music industry) and the guys decided they were ready to venture on to new careers. When they liquidated their equipment I told my husband he should use his portion of the profits to get the tattoo he had always wanted. I thought it seemed like a perfect way to memorialize his years as a musician. He had a different idea. He handed his check over to me to start my photography business. His words were something like "I want the money from my dream to start your dream." Years later as I write this I still tear up. After we had our daughter I told him it was time for him to get the tattoo he always wanted. He did his research searching for the right image and artist to do it. The lotus flower signifies birth and strength, Matt at Metamorphosis in Broadripple worked on it for many hours. It is truly a piece of art, we couldn't be happier.

I guess when mom is behind the camera you get to make all sorts of goofy faces?!

Pete and Jennifer

2008-09-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

I am not very good at keeping up with my blogs, but I just got back from the most delightful weekend and have to write about it! Pete and Jennifer just had my dream wedding day. They were married on private property in Brown County. The weather was perfect, cumulus clouds, a light blue sky, and beautiful foliage. Their ceremony was on a pier overlooking a spectacular lake that had pink flower petals floating in it. Jennifer's father walked her down a stone path lined with petals. After their vows Pete and Jennifer participated in a foot washing ceremony. It was very meaningful as they had both walked around in the dirt and dust all morning in sandals, much like in Biblical times. It was emotional to see Pete wash her feet, but my eyes welled up when I saw her get down on her knees in her white lace wedding gown and wash his feet. It was a very touching and telling moment. I felt so honored to have an opportunity to be part of their day.

Experimenting with the Bulb Exposure

2008-09-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

I have been pushing myself to experiment more with different creative functions on my camera. I recently started doing more work with the bulb exposure. I still have some practicing to do, but I am headed in the right direction. I am a sucker for natural events and am prepping myself to take some photographs of the Orionids meteor shower in October. Yes, I am also a science nerd. I taught high school science (Adv Biology courses and Earth/Space courses) for eight years at Hamilton Southeastern High School. For most people the sciences and creative arts are drastically different fields. For me they merry together perfectly. I find beauty in understanding the body and the Earth. By knowing how each works it has helped me in developing my creative eye with photography. If my experiences with the meteor shower go well I would like to take a stab at photographing lightning. My father loves lightning and I would really like to get a one of a kind shot for him. Photographing natural events will never replace my love for photographing people, but it is good to stretch my artistic and technical skills... I think! I'll let you know after my experience with the meteors.