So excited! Vote for me please!

I am so excited to be one of three finalists with a chance to win a mentoring session with a great photographer! Her name is Jessica Feely and I would be so honored if I were the one to have the opportunity to go visit her in Seattle!

I do have to say that even if I don't win, I'm totally honored to be one of the finalists, and that itself has been a great thing~so thank you! That said, I would still like to win if possible:) Below, I've attached the note I wrote (as my entry) on why I think I deserve this mentoring session. I want to win so bad!!! Please vote for me!
You can vote by going to the Maternal Lens Blog site on this page or here: http://thematernallens.blogspot.com/2010/07/3-finalists-announced-vote-now.html
Votes have to be made by July 9th midnight.

MY ENTRY to the Maternal Lens:
Name: Britt Franken
Email: Britt.Franken@gmail.com
Portfolio: www.brittfrankenphotoblog.blogspot.com
also here: http://www.flickr.com/people/brittfranken/

I've always been a lover of photography. Just recently I've become a mom and therefore have taken a huge leap of faith and resigned from my full-time job to follow my passions: my family and photography. Even though financially, I knew that switching careers would be difficult, with my husbands support, I'm going for it! I dream that one day I can help support my family through photography while remaining present and flexible for my family. At this point I have never had a paid photography job. I've taken pictures of many children and families while trying to put together a portfolio but ultimately have found it hard to jump into the business. I've been studying and practicing my photography in between pregnancy naps and diapers changes for over a year now and I finally feel ready to gather up my confidence and my camera and take this leap of faith.

The opportunity to spend this time with you as a mentor would be a dream. There are SO many questions I have from composition and posing to work flow and pricing. I've tried to contact other photographers both locally and out of state but not one has responded or taken any interest in mentoring. I truly believe that having a mentor is one of the best ways to improve and grow in any aspect of life. Hopefully one day I'll have the skills to "pay it forward". Please consider me for this opportunity, it would be a life changing experience for me! Thank you!

First Day of Summer...

It was the first day of summer, and Luca and I were out for our usual run...in the middle of the day in the blazing Indiana heat no less. He really enjoys our runs, goes to sleep right away (what doesn't put him to sleep right away though?) and enjoys the breeze in the shade while I plug along in agony (well maybe not agony, but sometimes it feels like it)...I'm also starting a fun project for summer called "days of summer" where I will take one picture, of Luca or the Family, every day all summer long. It will eventually be a part of Luca's 1st year album. I'll post the pictures at the end of the summer!

In the meantime, I have made a promise to myself to keep this neglected blog updated. I have so many pictures to post right now I don't even know where to start...Next: the Lee-Kingsley visit and the community pool!

Texas in June...

We had such a wonderful visit in Texas! Luca misses Grandpa and Grandma though! It was so relaxing just to sit by the pool and bake in the sun (really the shade for us and our pale skin)...Luca enjoyed the extra attention from the family and we were even lucky enough to score another evening with Mom and Dad Franken due to flight cancellations!

Thanks Ellen and Alan for hosting the entire family! We had a great time! See you soon...

Us is April...