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Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Appreciate your blessings not just today but everyday!

Dean is thankful for his Tonka trucks…

Enjoy your turkey & pie, Samantha

Dean goes to the Grand Canyon before this we had Dean goes to the zoo, Dean goes to the atlantic ocean & one of my favorites Dean goes to Washington D.C.!

He is a traveling boy and we are very fortunate to be able to see all these places!

I am excited for our future adventures, Samantha

I love these two photos above! Dean wasn’t into them but they still turned out well! These are some of the photos for our Christmas cards. I still have to take some creative photos of the two dog children. I’m sure one day when Dean’s older we will look back at these photos and laugh. Every stage is worth remembering.

Enjoy this pre-holiday time,

Samantha

Good morning to you!

I have been meaning to compose a blog post along these lines for awhile now. Most of you are aware of the crazy amount of photographers out there and it’s overwhelming. I think you really begin to realize how many are out there when you are in need of one for portraits or wedding photography. I truly began to realize how many there were when I started my photo business in 2009. Facebook is very helpful in locating photographers all over the world! I love seeing others work however it has it’s downfalls. Naturally you begin to compare yourself to others and what they are currently doing. I have to remind myself that everyone is at different places in their lives. I have an Army husband. Some don’t. We aren’t going to live in one solid location for awhile. Maybe once we get out of the Army. Our family and friends in Minnesota aren’t just a drive away. They are a 3 hour plane ride away. This makes things difficult to establish a business when you are always on the move. We are going to be in Arizona until May and then who knows after that?

I’m having a hard time with deciding to pursue photo opportunities in Arizona. Or just relax and enjoy my little boy & husband. I have some other photo-related projects in the works and that is keeping me busy for now. I am looking into volunteering for some local cancer organizations. I will keep you posted on how that goes. Needless to say, there are a handful of other photographers that I have always looked up to and that never fail to inspire me. Some are photographers I’ve been following for years and some more recently I have started following. On days when I don’t have the motivation or inspiration I can go to their facebook pages or their blog pages to recharge. Below you find the list of my top 5 most inspiring list:

(click the names below and you will be redirected to their websites!)

1. Tara Whitney–Just Be Blogged

2. Sarah Beth Photography–an amazing pet photographer (you must check out her joy sessions!)

3. Lynsey Stone Photography–DFW Birth Photographer

4. Wendy B. Photography–She met me for coffee back in 2006 when I first was thinking of starting a business. Such an inspiring and helpful lady all throughout my process of starting my photo company.

5. jewelimage photography–I love how this Canadian thinks and how she captures life. All of these photographers have that in common…I love their point of view and how they celebrate life!

I also come to my own blog and view the slideshows/check out old blog posts. I love listening to Roma Di Luna playing in the background of my website. I feel inspired and peaceful after perusing my own photo page. Sounds funny. But this works for me. I also want to say, “thank you” to every client/friend/family member who has believed in my photography and pushed me along. I am not able to photograph every session or wedding day I would like to because I live 1,500 miles from home. I LOVE you more than you know for those that have waited to print their child’s 1 year old birthday invite until you confirmed the day with me. And for the couple who moved around the wedding day so that I could be there. Those are the clients I want who absolutely trust and value my work. You know who you are and I appreciate every bit. I know I am not the photographer for everyone as everybody has their own style and needs. I just wanted to say, “thank you” to those photographers that inspire me (there are more than I can list here). Keep up the good work! Thanks to my clients who I have stuck with me through my crazy military life. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Samantha H. Until then, I am still enjoying my break down in Arizona and I am currently working on a 2011 photo slideshow with all my favorite photos I’ve taken this year. Stay tuned for that! Enjoy your day and thanks for reading my rant, Samantha

The main person that inspires me to keep going with photography is my sweet little boy, Dean: