Merry Christmas!

I wanted to get on and post this little video. Thanks to all of you who nominated a friend or family member for Giving is Awesome. I really only thought I'd get 2-3 nominations and I got 8! I realized after about #3 that there was not going to be any way I could actually pick a winner myself, so I decided to let Grady draw the name out of a box to ensure a 100% random and fair winner. Really, every nominee deserved this. In fact, I have decided to offer a free session to everyone who was nominated. If you nominated someone, please watch your email inbox on Monday for details. Anyway, I am typing too much as I promised Chris I would not be on here long tonight! Here's the video winner. Please excuse the crappy video, apparently I need to stick with still pictures. I always forget that when I talk, it can hear me....

Merry Christmas {Eve}

I know I haven't shared images in a long time, so here's my ONE favorite from all the sessions I have had in the past few weeks. Picking just one is a huge challenge for me, but I did it! I swear I have the most beautiful families in Tampa Bay!!! Merry merry Christmas.










Seriously, there's not many places in America where you can play with a ladybug 2 weeks before Christmas....

Giving back.

Yes, the ol' blog has been severely neglected this holiday season. I am finding with two kids this year things have gotten a little more hectic! Add onto that some illnesses being passed around the family and just trying to spend some quality time together, something had to give! But I was online today, reading my friend Kristie's blog. She's another amazing Tampa Photog and constantly amazes me. She's one of those people who knows everyone, and everyone loves her ;) Anyway, I could go on about her but that's not the point. She found a wonderful cause that I want to be a part of this holiday season. Here's all the little details.

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.
You know someone. I guarantee it.
I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $1000 worth, to be exact. Whether it's canvas or albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.
Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $250 print credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?
The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
* The nominee must reside in the Tampa Bay area. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
* You must e-mail me the full story : courtneyvickersphotography@yahoo.com
The winner will be announced on Christmas Day -- get nominating! I know it's short notice, but I am hoping the spirit of Christmas will envelop you and make you immediately sit down to email me ;) I can't wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

The most amazing part about this is that there are roughly 460 other photographers across the country (world, maybe?) doing this. That floors me. Rock on camera people!!!! If you are a photographer and would like to do this as well, sigh up here http://givingisawesome.com/.

I really am here.

I'm just trying to get a lot of galleries up! I am slacking on the sneak peeks, but the good news is there will be a lot to look at next week....
Until then, I leave you with week old "D". Who doesn't want to just cuddle him?

Tagged...

OK, I have been tagged like three times now and I haven't had a chance to do this, but I needed a break from proofing today so I am going to do it. Thanks Jenny
Lauren and Kristie for tagging me. I hope I didn't forget anyone who tagged!
The rules are posted below along with my response.
RULES:1. Link the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them & leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they have been tagged.
Ok, now on to the 6 things you may not know about me ….
1. I am extremely shy. Almost painfully, really. It takes me a long time to feel comfortable in any given situation, and honestly I have to psych myself up for sessions so I don't get cold feet. I have been mistaken for being snobby because of this many times in the past. My old high school and college friends can attest that I really took like at least the first semester to warm up. Once I do though, I love to have fun with my friends!
2. I don't like feet, although I love baby feet. But even if my husband touches me with his foot I want to gag.
3. I prefer pepsi over coke, but if it's diet I'd rather have coke over pepsi. Don't drink diet a lot though!
4.I am very artistic, but not at all crafty. People expect me to have amazing talent for things like scrapbooking or knitting because I love art so much, but no. Don't even ask me to try and draw you something unless you want stick figures.
5. I cannot type with the right fingers or play the piano. There's something not firing right between my brain and my fingers. I took, like, I dunno, 10 years of piano lessons as a kid and I still can't manage to plunk out more than twinkle twinkle little star. I even entered college as a music education major. When I eeked out a C in beginner piano I decided maybe I should do something else...
6.I still believe in Santa, Faries and all things little kid. Ok, not really, but deep down I am a big goofy five year old.
Ok, now it is my turn to tag some other folks. I don't know that I know six people who's blogs I read who haven't already been tagged, so forgive me if this is a repeat tag-and-run.

We'll start with my little brother. Who needs to update his blog anyway.
http://www.goingoutsidethecamp.blogspot.com/
And this is the guy who married my husband and I.
http://www.chadharper.org/
This is a fellow photog in Indiana who's kids are all over my website.
http://lisabforthefunofit.blogspot.com/
And the lady that runs Kidz Club here in Tampa
http://slatniske.blogspot.com/
Hmmm. I thnk all my other blog friends have been tagged. So, I'll just leave it at that.

And since it's Friday and I have way too much on my plate for the next week, I am going to make this announcement today. I had a group of my photographer friends on Flickr go through and vote on their favorite image from me this year so I can make it into my next canvas for Kidz club. Overwhelmingly, the vote went to little "Z" who I shot as a part of my Ybor minis in August. Seriously, people cannot get enough of her sweet little face. So, here's her picture to refresh your memory. Stop by Kidz club to see her Canvas starting next month. It's going to be gorgeous! Congrats Z!

BOYS!

Seriously I have been having a lot of boys lately! Which is great for me because I know how to deal with boys. C and L are back for another session. They had one last January, and I love hanging out with them. It's really fun for me because "L" is a year older than Fin, so I love seeing how my little man will be a year from now. It's hard to imagine by this time next year he'll be a toddler. (tear).

Anyway, I had a hard time picking a sneak peek because there were so many that I loved, so I randomly just selected them to edit. No rhyme or reason!

Smile.

This family makes me smile. This is their third year returning for a session, which makes them some of my oldest clients. I have loved watching little "I" grow up! This year he has a "very best girlfriend". If he is smiling, it's because I mentioned her name! Watch out ladies, heartbreaker here!

I thouhgt this one was super cute. I was trying to get "I" to jump and raise his arms, so mom and dad were helping. Look at his little grin, like "yeah right lady. Why don't you all just stand here on the boardwalk looking like morons and I'll stay cool."


Yep, this is where we were talking about his girlfriend...














I was actually going to scrap this one and then I noticed his little shadow hand reaching up for dad. So I cropped it in and now it might be my favorite.


OK, ok, I am done. Just gotta say "peace out"

Email issues

I got an email from a client this morning letting me know that an email she had sent earlier in the week had bounced back as undeliverable.THANKS J! I also know of one other that I didn't get, so if you have sent me an email in the past few days and have not yet heard back, please resend it or call me! Thanks.
And here's my gerber baby, since I hate posting without an image.

Go VOTE!!!

I don't care who you vote for, either way we're making history this year. Take part in that!
Aaaaaannnnnnnd. If I could, I would have voted for this lil dude. What a sense of humor. I had a blast with him last week at out session. Your gallery will be up thursday!









I am not joking when I say this child can hit a golf ball better than many adults I know. Myself included.

Mean mommy

Occasionally my friends tell me what a good mom I am. It is not true. I am mean. Mean and terrible. And a little funny.

I don't know where the black dot on his arm came from in this one. Must've had a brush on and hit it....
Yes, I dressed my precious boy in a pink dress for our playgroup halloween party. He went as his best pal, who happens to be a girl. Thanks "M" for lending him your clothes! All this does is strengthen my resolve that we do need to try for a girl. I mean, how cute would she be?

Just quick

Don't have much time today as I am playing vacation catch up and big G is sick, but wanted to pop on and share this little beauty!

All my bags are packed.

Well, sort of. Actually they are sitting in the middle of the living room waiting for the last minute things to go in for our family vacation to Tennessee tomorrow. I am looking forward to some cooler weather and seeing some fall colors. I will be "sort of " working on vacation, meaning I will be proofing some sessions in the car on the way up. I'll also be sporadically checking email as long as the internet where we are staying works. If you're waiting on a gallery to go up it may go up during the week, again, depending on the internet. If you are waiting for photos to arrive, they will be mailed out on Tuesday, Oct 28th.
And because I don't want to post without some pictures, here's little "C" and his family. I have been having a run of toddler boys lately and they have been so much fun! Makes me excited for when little Fin gets to be that age. It was one of my favorite ages with Grady.








OH, THE LASHES!