so long, 2010 | jill heupel photography

I have been staring at this empty post for a few hours now.  This has truly been an amazing year, both professionally and personally.  I feel like I should have some great words to write to usher out 2010 and start 2011.  Not happening.  So instead of a sum-up, I am going to post some pictures that have really stood out to me this year.  Some are personal moments and some are pictures taken at photo shoots.  All of these moments have touched me for some reason or another.

This shoot was so much fun.  The kiddos weren’t wild about a shoot, so it turned into a play session and some of the best family pictures I have ever gotten!

Ah, my gorgeous sister.  She really rocks out hairlessness.  🙂  She runs a hat (and confidence building) company, in case you know of someone who is struggling with hair loss from chemo or Alopecia.

My daughter came along for a shoot and was able to show my customer how to really jump for a photo.  In pink rain boots.  In a field.

We had a big, fun surprise to share with one of my kids this year, and we snuck 150 balloons into the bedroom to greet them as they woke.  It was awesome…

Darn avian!

This was a special moment that I got to observe between a mother and daughter.  It was one of those moments that made me feel so blessed to even be there watching.  Such love passed between them.

I got to photograph the cast of a high school drama production.  It was a lot of fun and I got to work with some talented kids.

Cow.  Is there more to be said?

Ah.  This is the very moment that I realized my daughter was a young lady and no longer a kid.

Playin’ with my nephews.  I got to see these guys twice this year, even though we are 1000 miles apart.

I got to stand on the edge of the ocean this year.  I grew up with the ocean and miss it so, so much.

Something else that brings back childhood memories…  Redwoods.  Sigh.

And my brother and his son walking in the redwoods.

This shoot was a very fun shoot for me.  Not only did I get to work with a very cool family, the boys were not into photos and I am pretty sure Mom and Dad both thought that I did not get one shot of all of them together that would work.  I love the challenge and I love the surprise.  A few more pictures here, including information about the most amazing cakes you will ever see.

Also a very fun shoot!  This couple was so real with each other.  They were very fun to work with.  More here.

Adoption is so beautiful.  It was amazing to do my first {free} adoption shoot and also to see this family come together.  This is a shoot I will not forget.  Click here for more images from this session.

Trash the dress.  Love, love trash the dress.  More.

True story!  🙂  Aren’t sisters fun?  Here‘s more…

This was such a fun and creative family to work with.  I loved their shoot and look forward to what we will come with next time around!  Here is some more.

Desi decided to do a few trash the {prom} dress photos during her senior session.  Brilliant.  Go here to view more from her fun session.

Maia, the smiling dog.  More of her and her people here.

This was one of the only non-wedding shoots I did with my wedding assistant, Heather.  What fun we had at this shoot!  Here is the post from this session.

Drew’s photo above was taken moments before a giant rodent-monster-thing jumped out of a tree to eat me.  Seriously.  You can read all about it here.

I have worked with these kiddos since they were small.  It is so neat to document their growth together and to compete with myself to try to out-shoot their latest photo shoot.  I love this moment.  I love the puppy love and the “wha?” look I am getting from Sam.  More from this session here.

This is one of the pictures from my 5 year anniversary mini shoots.  What a fun day that was, with really cool props.  Best mini shoot day ever…  More here.

The miracle of Baptism…  This is my newest little nephew, Cooper.  A few more photos of Cooper here.

My oldest son is quite an athlete.  This was taken at an out-of-state cross country meet.  He was getting his head in the race…

I snapped this photo at a shooting seminar I attended this fall.  A highlight for me was meeting a photog hero, Jasmine Star.  I came home (and still am) pumped about all I learned.

And this is my Granny.  I got to spend some time with her this summer.  So love my Granny.

In 2011, I hope to continue to fall in love with photography.  It truly is a passion of mine and I try to make every single shoot special and unique.  I will continue to fall in love with my husband and kids.  We are a unique family, and I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams.

Husband and I were just talking about how this was the best New Year’s Eve we have ever had.  We made a huge Mexican feast, complete with hand made tortillas, home made salsa and hand-smashed black refried beans.  We watched Despicable Me with the kids.  Toasted each other with sparkling cider.  While husband and I were in the kitchen for a quick glass of champagne,  the kids started a dance competition in the other room.  It was one of those moments that we knew we could not walk in on, or the silliness would stop.  So we just stood there in the kitchen, holding each other and listening to the music and the laughter of our brood.

Thanks 2010.  ‘Twas awesome.

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Sarah We feel so special that you included us in your moments of the past year. Torah turns one in May and we’re so excited to capture more beautiful moments!

i’m not Oprah, but… | jill heupel photography

Now that Christmas is over and some of these neat items are no longer wrapped under the tree for others, I can share a few of my favorite things from the past few months.

This is Da Vinci Chianti, 2008.  It is the featured wine in Dierberg’s monthly wine news for January.  I highly recommend it!  You can sign up for Dierberg’s monthly wine related newsletter at www.dierbergs.com.

This is a spice set from Gneiss Spice.  The cool thing about these cute little jars is that the lids are magnetic.  The entire spice rack can stick to the side of your fridge.  You can check out the spice sets in the Gneiss Spice etsy shop.

These are shower steamers from Angel Face Botanicals.  You get one steamer wet while in the shower, but then place it in a corner that does not get much water.  The scent of the steamer is released throughout your shower.  Amazing.  Seriously amazing.  Steamers are just one of the neat products available at Angel Face Botanicals.  Here is where you can see many of their other products.

These are purses designed by Milloo.  Cute and casual, there are many more options in the etsy shop.

My last “favorite” is another etsy find.  These screen printed pillows are from Nesta Home.  The pillows are really cool, but there are so many other neat items in the shop too.  I love LOVE the napkin sets.  Check out Nesta Home etsy store here.

I’m so lucky to be able to work with such cool people and products.  These are a few of my favorites from the last few months.

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christmas miracles | jill heupel photography

However parenthood comes to a person, it is a miracle.

If you know me much at all, you know I have a heart for adoption.  I was fortunate enough to have married a man who also wanted to open his home and his heart to kids who need families.  My own children came into my life through adoption, and I can’t help but think that we are such a blessed family.

Last week, I got to see a miracle.  I was able to spend a few moments with a brand new family.  A family who has a lot in common with my family.  I got to meet little E and see how her new family completely loves her already.  I got to watch big sister in her new roll, kissing and loving on baby.  Here are a few of the images from their “Adoption” session.

As a reminder, I offer free sessions to newly established adoptive families.  Contact me for more information.  And always, if you are interested in pursuing adoption, I am happy to talk with you a little more.

And here is a link to Rachel’s recent blog post about her new addition.  It is beautifully written.  Please check out her post and leave her some love.

Merry Christmas all!

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an irish wedding | jill heupel photography

My husband does not have one tiny spec of Irish blood in his body.  I think I was told at some point that I am 1/8th Irish.  I never gave it much thought until I got to witness the union of Dan end Beth.  Now I want to turn back the {almost} 10 years I have been married and start it over again, really embracing the possibility of my 1/8th Irish blood.  Sigh.

Dan and Beth had a beautiful, albeit chilly, Irish wedding.  Chilly might be an understatement.  It was COLD.  The chill did not take away from their union though, and they were even up for some outside shots in beautiful Alton.

Dan and Beth, much congratulations as you begin your life together.

May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.

May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.

May the saddest day of your future

Be no worse than the happiest day of your past

– an Irish blessing

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micah, ian and riley | jill heupel photography

Working with older kids is refreshing.  While I love working with little ones (even 2 year olds who really don’t like cameras) there is something special about older kiddos.  For one thing, we can have quite a bit of variety on the shoot.  They are {often times} more cooperative with posing and my time can be more focused on portraits than trying to be silly enough for my subject to look at me for longer than a second.  I also have kids really close in age to Ian, Riley and Micah.  I like this age group.  A lot.

Here are some shots from our very cold shoot.  I thought that the kids did really great.  They took turns hanging out in the warm car, and then were able to turn on the charm when it was their turn in front of my lens.  Great job kids!

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