enter * daily dosage : a big sky country version

i’d just like to remind you all that i’m gettin’ my down-home on with the daily dose this week, because i’m still just so thrilled to be back ‘home’ in montana.  are you like me?  do you still call the town you grew up in ‘home’ even though you have a new hometown of your very own?  we head to montana and it’s like i’m going HOME y’all. yeah, that’s right, home baby. home.

i digress {*shock*} this week’s daily dose . . .

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a freezing cold memorial day parade . . .

that lead to a wonderful afternoon at one of my favorite coffee shops on planet earth {the leaf and bean} with some of my favorite little people . . .

{i am so beyond in love with this image. if i could put my finger on it, i would tell you why, but i can’t. i think it has something to do with the subject, the mood, the texture, and the fact that i managed to get a ‘sun flare-like’ image in an indoor space. boom, baby.}

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this makes me laugh . . . turbojet vs. the mosquitoes :

“AH! the mosquitoes are biting me! . . . they’re sucking my blood!! . . . i. NEED. my blood!”

and these images make me smile. turbojet vs. daddy :

{*disclaimer* no turbojets and/or lovers were hurt during this photography session. *guarantee* that much fun was had.}

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on a random topic . . .

do you have favorite words? words that make you smile for no apparent reason other than that they’re just fun to say?  i do {and i’m hoping i’m not getting any weird, vacant stares right now . . . } it takes a lot to get on my favorite word list; you have to have good rhythm, bounce, and flow . . . so it’s a pretty small list. my favorite words to say to date :

• garbanzo
• fender
• tiddly-winks
• rutabaga

have a favorite word list?  you should totally be sharing right now in the comments, so as to reduce the amount of dorkiness that has just hit the blog! :o)

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i realized the other day that i never posted anything about the WPPI conference i went to in february.  and while it might seem a bit outdated now, i’m going to say a few things about it. {better late than never right?! i’m thinking that this should be my new life mantra.}

a quick fill-in for those who have never heard of WPPI. it is a a HUGE conference for professional portrait and wedding photographers. a week-long event filled with learning and socializing and networking, and an AH-MAZING experience! if you are a photographer, i would very highly recommend it for next year. so start planning! seriously, get started. go!

the most fabulous thing about WPPI, though, was the friendships i made. and this was drawn to my attention yet again, yesterday when my friend spanki mills of spanki mills photography gave me a shout-out on Facebook, encouraging others to check out little-old-me’s website, images, and the works. i was shocked and honored that she would take the time to do that for me {though i shouldn’t have been; anyone who knows spanki knows she’s a sweetheart by nature!}

so beyond the insurmountable load of information that is dumped upon you at WPPI {in a good way!}, the connections and friendships that are made take you far beyond that week and continue to grow throughout the year. these are friendships that keep your education going through brainstorming sessions; that motivate you and encourage you to to grow and develop as a photographer and as a person; friendships that inspire. and the best part? watching in excitement as both your and their businesses continue to grow.

so in a belated way, i guess i’m saying thank you, WPPI, for the invaluable education and the irreplaceable gift of friendships. and thank you, friends, for your continual motivation and inspiration! i love you all!

{image courtesy of spanki mills photography : angela richardson, spanki mills, stacey worthington, carrie rainey, anna perrenoud demille, leah remillet stimmel, noel reynolds . . . i met so many other amazing women at this conference that i wanted to do one special shout out to kathy greeley campbell and lisa kirby heuer, who are not pictured, and many others!}

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*more montana fun*

boys will be boys, and the excavator with papa is always a highlight of our trips. i *heart* sunshine’s face in the image on the right . . . how he peeked back at just the right moment, as if to say, “look at me, mommy! this ROCKS!”

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bozeman has the most amazing downtown.  locally owned shops, coffee shops, and restaurants fill the historic buildings that line main street. and every time i’m here, i re-fall in love. here’s one of my purchases from one of these cute little shops called the beatnik. i’m a sucker for a colorful hat {cue happy dancing} . . .

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for now, i bid you adieu, and a fabulous weekend to you . . .