Brand New Blog!!!

I am so excited to finally announce my brand new blog! I have been working on it so hard, and I love how it turned out. I kept trying to make this site work but was never really thrilled with the look of it...so I just made a new one somewhere else! You can find my new blog at the super simple address of: cassidydawn.com/blog. Much better, right?!

I hope you like it! Be sure to bookmark that site because that is where all new posts will be...now what are you waiting for? Go check it out!!!

Brand New Blog!!!

Christmas is coming.

So, are you almost ready for Christmas???
I haven't bought a single gift yet this year (we are planning on doing that this evening). The strangest part...I am not stressing about it. I've been thinking so much this year about Christmas and all the traditions that go into it. For me, it's lost it's focus. It's become so much about "I need to get one more gift", or "when will I have time to get this gift", or "we don't have the money to be spending presents this year". Seriously folks. That shouldn't be what is in my mind this year. So a couple of weeks ago I stopped it. I've really just swept it aside and decided that it's not important. I wanted to share this video that has completely changed my thoughts on the matter. For me, it's always been more important to go to Church and celebrate the Lord, and just spend time with family, but this video made an impact on me for future years.

http://www.adventconspiracy.org/

It's not only because things are tight for us (hey, we are just starting!) It is that this time becomes so stressful. So what can be done to change it?
Our solution:
Next year we won't be participating in gift exchanges. Not only do we not really have the money to buy a gift for the person we drew, in the big scheme of things, is that what really matters? We want to make the season for us to be completely about the Lord, love, family & friends. In place of one of our gift exchanges next year we will be having a big dinner (like Thanksgiving, but not present stress). Any money that we feel we can give will be going to a Charity - let's face it, they need it so much more than we do. Maybe we will even make some gifts, aren't those the best anyway!
Of course this won't be the case every year, but for next year, it's our plan. I know when we have kids (a long time from now!) things will be different.

This post wasn't to bring anyone down, or make people mad. Everyone has their own opinion on the matter (so please, no mean comments). I do think that giving gifts is a great way to show people you love them - however, when you don't really have the means to give them, why put so much stress on yourselves. Isn't the holidays really just about loving each other & celebrating our Lord.

So Merry Christmas. I hope it's a great one for you this year!
Love, Cassidy

Detrich Family

I *love* when a family "gets" it. When they get that it is so worth the time to take an hour or two and take photographs of your family - everyone changes so fast, why regret that you didn't do it sooner?! Diane "gets" it. After we photographed Ellie's senior pictures she started organizing a shoot for all her children. They are all in different places & so busy. The oldest lives out of state, one just spent a semester in Italy, and so on - they are busy! That didn't stop her though, she made it work.
The shoot was a blast - obviously, look at who I got to photograph. Beautiful & so stylish, I can't complain. I will however mention that it was freezing that day, the wind was awful - but fun never-the-less.
Have a great weekend! Christmas is just around the corner! - I guess I should start my shopping :)

sneak peak: detrich family

Just wanted to share an image from a shoot I just finished editing - love it!
More to come soon!
keep checking the blog - I have some exciting blog changes coming your way very, very soon!!!

it's snowing!

and it's really coming down! I thought I would post a little video of it for those that aren't getting any snow.
*Yes, Aunt Vikki - it's for you. Can't wait to see you next week!


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a winter wedding

Since I have been meeting with such fabulous brides lately, I am so in wedding mode! I found this inspiration board on Snippet & Ink (my favorite wedding blog) and just thought it was so lovely! Just my style & perfect for this time of year! Have a wonderful wintry weekend!

*Oh, and if you don't have plans tomorrow evening, head over to my Church in Bainbridge! We are going to have a great evening of praise & worship! Email me if you are interested or need directions. Here is some info about it on facebook!

eek. it was my turn.

Yep, it was my turn in front of the camera. Every time I need a photo for something I have to dig through snapshots from over a year ago (I just don't get in front of the camera). So on Saturday when we were out photographing our new place, Justin decided that it was my turn to get a few headshots to use on the blog & other things.
So here is a sampling...I've got tons, but not tons of time to edit photos of myself...so these will have to do :)I really just love the snow coming down in this shot:

Of course Justin wasn't going to get off easy, his turn!The many faces of Justin:

Now, on to editing some fabulous sessions...

Our Home.

Saturday was bliss. Absolutely wonderful. I am sure you have caught on to how much we love our new home...it's perfect. We had our first snowfall here on "pine ridge" and we decided to go out and have a photo shoot or two...I wanted to have some photos our our place to share here on the blog, and I was desperately needing some updated headshots - so yes, it was my turn in front of the camera...yieks!
I thought today I would share our home, and tomorrow I'll give you a little peak at MY photoshoot...of course I had to put Justin in front of the camera too - so check back tomorrow for that...but for now....

View from the road:From the driveway:

This is the cave under our driveway - how cute is that "window"?A view from our porch:Have I ever mentioned how much I love pine cones?
Well, that was just a sample...more to come soon. Have a great Monday!

gift idea - my first one!

Last year I posted a few random things that might make good gifts...so for a lack of an idea of what to post today, I thought I would post a cute little item.
I know records aren't that popular, but we always had fun playing with dad's old records when we were little - so they aren't quite so foreign to us.
I just thought this was worth a post, I don't know how well it works, but the idea is cute. (I can't imagine would be that powerful, but oh well).

Soundwagon Portable Record Player

Cruzan Kids

I'm back! So sorry for the lack of blog posts recently, but as most of you know...we moved! We are finally officially out of one house and into another and we absolutely love it! The house is so great, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else! Right now, as I type, I am looking out my window at a h-u-g-e pine tree, a stone bridge and it's snowing...seriously, it's stunning! I promise to post photos soon, but there is still a little unpacking to do!

Now, back to the point of the post! I wanted to share a few more images of some of the cutest kids I have ever photographed! I had a little photo shoot in Indiana a couple weeks ago to get images for this family's Christmas card. It was quick, but we got so many great shots! Here area few of my favorites!
As for Christmas Cards, we have done quite a few around here at CDP this year, I promise to post photos of them after the Holidays.

Have a wonderful wintry Tuesday!

Contest Winner!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered, watch the video below to find out who the winner is!
*please ignore the background...our moving process begins tomorrow, so it's a bit of a wreck!

Ok, I have just spent over an hour trying to convert my video so I could upload it...I am giving up.
So you must go here to see the winner! *if you let it play once, the second time there isn't a picture over the video...

Congratulations....

I can't wait to find out what image they choose!!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

I thought that it was only fair to post a photo of the family in honor of Dad's birthday (since I did it for mom). Well, it was yesterday, but since I didn't get a chance to do it then, I wanted to be sure to do it today!
Happy Birthday Dad, I love you!

*Go here to see the inspiration for this photo.
For one of our family photos (a couple years ago) we gathered around Mom's Volkswagen...so we thought this would be appropriate for this year :) Dad bought this truck for $200 for hauling trash at the festival, we hate it, but Dad wont part with it...go figure.

No, this isn't the picture Mom is using for the card this year :)


*Don't forget about the contest! It's ends tomorrow at 6pm EST!

sneak peak...

How on earth could I not have a great day when I had the chance to photograph Rose...seriously. Better yet...she has brothers, too! More to come on this little family very soon!!!
Have a wonderful Sunday.

*Don't forget about the contest! It's ends on Tuesday!

don't forget!!!

Be sure to enter the contest! It's the thing to do :)

Contest Time!

That's right! I said contest! I have been wanting to do this forever and what better time than before Christmas!

Here is how you play:
Leave a comment on this blog post. It must be this particular post. It doesn't have to be profound, witty, or creative - you can say "hi", but it must be a comment (and you must put your name - I have to know who you are!)

The drawing will be on NOVEMBER 25 - 6pm EST! Be sure to leave a comment by then.

Prize: An 11x14 mounted print (feel free to ooh) of any photo I have ever posted on this blog (that I photographed). Yep, that's right, any photo. Take your pick! Could be a portrait, landscape, random photo...anything!
I have been blogging since November 2006 - so you may have a few pages to go through :)

What a great Christmas present for someone! Let's face it, the economy isn't the best right now, and Christmas may be tight for some, so I am stepping in and helping out - this could be one less gift to worry about!

*Anyone can win, and I mean anyone - however, you must be a human :), as much as I love pets, they are disqualified. Only one comment by each person will be put into the drawing, so unfortunately the more times you comment - well, it doesn't matter. However, I do love your comments, so just leave them on other posts :)

*depending on how well this goes, I might do it again - so impress me!


Contest begins...NOW!

Always moving on...

Because of our constant need for excitement, a bit of a.d.d...or always needing something big going on, Justin & I are moving again! Yep, I know, we are crazy.
The fact of the matter is that the Farmhouse is a bit too big for just two people and it's going to be pretty hard to heat this winter (we spend our evenings now with hats & scarves on... and sometimes gloves, seriously.)
It just so happens that when it comes to living arrangements, we get the good end of the scale...we have been very blessed.
When I was on a photo shoot one day, I looked up and on a little cliff set the most beautiful little cottage. “That’s my dream house” - yep, that’s what I said. Well, you guessed it...that’s where we are moving. Just two days after we decided we wanted to move soon, this all fell into place – very cool!
Some good friends own the house and they are doing some major work on it before we move in, and we are so excited! Even better, I will have a Bainbridge address again, just as God intended ;)
We are actually going to begin a bit of the moving this week, but plan to do the majority over Thanksgiving. Prepare for many blog posts about the area! You might have thought I had some neat pictures from where we are now – it doesn’t even compare! Really, it is absolutely stunning there - a small, secluded paradise.

*Oh, also, because amazing homes or vacation places always have names, we decided the cottage needed a name (because it’s like a mountain vacation – you’ve got to see the views), hence “the cottage at pine ridge”.

Our Kitchen...

I mentioned a few posts ago that I would share some photos of the work we had done on our kitchen here at the farmhouse. So, here you are :)
Before:Justin said it was like standing in a watermelon.Oh, and we can't forget the results of what a little Clorox will do:
After:
I blogged a while back (here) about these great flowers and I LOVE how they turned out! So cute!We decided that we would go with a light gray color to work with the floors and door (and tone the place down just a tad...and it's my favorite color :)

I love my baker's rack, oh and see the painting by our friend, the amazing Ken Swinson (we have 5 pieces of his work...and I still have more that I want on my list!)

64' & 76'

My dear friend Hayley has been putting her family in the yearbookyourself website this evening and putting them on her blog...I just had to do it for myself.

So here you go...this is Justin in 1976 & me in 1964.

How funny!

*Justin's just makes me laugh everytime...really, really loudly :)

A shoot at the Brick!

A few weeks ago, I got together with Lindsay & Brian and photographed his family! His mom Patti is actually the owner of the beautiful Sunroom @ the Brick in Frankfort, so of course that is where we decided to do the shoot. I just thought I would share a few of my favorites...My favorite...I love this wall!Don't forget about the Christmas deadline...it will be fast approaching, feel free to email if you have any questions!

Print Order Deadline!

November 23rd is our deadline for Christmas print orders. If you are hoping to have your prints in order for Christmas please place your order by November 23rd...there will be *no* exceptions!
All events from this year have been re-posted online, so if you wanted to order more images but your gallery had expired, it's back! Feel free to email me if you have forgotten your password. *the galleries will expire after January 1st (it says, 9 weeks...but it's wrong).
Email me if you have any questions. If we have had a session and you haven't seen the proofs, they will be coming in time for you to place your order for Christmas, no worries!

I hope everyone is having a great day...Justin's off and we are working on our latest project...more details on that soon!!!