Meet Haley!  She is my newest Senior Rep for Lake Orion High School (LOHS).  Haley was so photogenic for her senior pictures, I had a difficult time narrowing down her sneak peek!  Check out her amazing green eyes…..To.Die.For.

So what does being a Senior Rep mean?  Free goodies….and lots of ‘em.  If you are interested in becoming a Senior Rep for your high school or for more information on the program, please contact me. 

Also, if you are an LOHS student and book a senior session with Mishka Photography, you will receive a $25 print credit!  Be sure to drop Haley’s name when you call!

Back in October, I posted a peek of some of my oldest’s Senior pictures.  I cannot believe how quickly his senior year went by.  Yes, they go through messy stages, shy stages, talking back stages, testing the boundaries stages, stages that will drive you completely batty….but I’m warning you….embrace each stage for our children pass into new stages in just a few short blinks.

The past month or so has been a bit of a roller coaster in our household.  My oldest, Alex, recently graduated from high school and is now at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD working hard at what they call “Plebe Summer.”  We took Alex to the USNA to report on July 1.  No cell phones, no internet, no computer access, no texting his first six weeks.  We are currently relying on good ‘ol fashioned snail mail.  In a world where we rely so heavily on technology and using it as means of communication….when it is abruptly taken away from you…..well, let’s just say it is difficult to deal with.  While I mail letters to Alex virtually every other day, he has only 45 minutes of free time each day which is usually spent polishing shoes, keeping his room in immaculate shape, cleaning his uniforms, memorizing his rates, etc.  His letters are short, but they are reassuring.  “Hearing” him write so positively about the chaos his life has temporarily become is reassuring and it makes my heavy heart just a little bit lighter every time I open the mailbox to one of his letters.  The good news is that we return to Annapolis mid-August to spend 3 days with him before he begins the Academic Year.  I am literally checking the days off the calendar.  I just can’t wait to squeeze him! 

I took tons of photos while we were in Naptown, but this one tugs at my heart and makes me tear up every time I look at it.  Alex, in his newly issued Plebe uniform, head freshly shaved, USNA issued glasses (awful, aren’t they?), being adored by his baby brother minutes after he took his Oath and minutes before we said goodbye to him and he marched into Bancroft Hall. 

So that is the short of the latest and greatest in our house and why the poor blog has been so neglected.  The couple weeks before he left were consumed with placement tests, celebrations and getting him ready to go.  The almost two weeks he has been away I have been consumed with worry, with writing letters, with sending care packages, with catching up on everything I put on hold to be with my family.  I have so many sessions coming up to make up for the last three weeks I had taken off.  Check back soon!

I am so happy to announce that I am in the running for WDIV’s 4 the Best contest again this year.  I would be honored, excited, happy, humbled and pretty much over the moon if YOU could clickity click your way over to WDIV’s page to vote.  Last year you all voted me into 3rd place (WOO HOO!)…..let’s see if we can push Mishka Photography up two slots to Number One this year.  And while you’re there, vote for your other favorite local businesses….I know I’ll be voting for Niki’s Pizza for my favorite pizza joint!

If you are inclined to spread the word about Mishka Photography and the WDIV contest, feel free to share this link with your friends:  ttp://ctvr.us/mishka

And because a photo blog is nada without photos, this guy was taking a sprinkler bath in my front yard a few weeks ago. 

I met Ethan and his family through The Littlest Hero Project.  Ethan’s first hospital visit was when he was just 6 weeks old and had pneumonia.  He’s fought bronchitis, upper respiratory infections and neutropenia.  Doctors even went so far as to suggest that Ethan may have had the beginnings of Leukemia.  After many hospital visits (8 visits since he turned one), doctors determined that Ethan aspirates any liquid that is not a milkshake consistency.   I can only imagine the relief his mommy and daddy felt with the diagnosis.

Ethan has also been diagnosed with Down Syndrome.  When I do a Littlest Hero session, I ask parents to complete forms on behalf of their children.  Ethan’s Mom answered one question by saying, “Down Syndrome does not make me who I am.”  After spending a bit of time with Ethan, I recognized that her answer could not be more perfectly stated.  Ethan is a typical two-year-old boy who loves hot wheels, loves his mama and looks for mischief. 

At his session, Ethan was not feeling 100%.  He was coming down with a cold and really was not feeling his very best.  While I was able to snap a few keepers at the session, I will see Ethan again at the end of July!  

I know I say it all the time, but babies grow so darn fast.  It is just crazy how much Joseph has grown since his 3 month session.  His little piggy toes are bigger, his once whispy newborn hair is now more full, his smiles more abundant.  Baby J is one handsome little man! 

I always look forward to photographing this family.  The kids are ridiculously over-the-top adorable, polite, and goofy fun.  With that combination, they usually walk away with some pretty awesome images.  Thank you “Z” Family for coming to see me again!  It is always a pleasure!

I haven’t shared photos of Porkchop in awhile and I am in love with this set….so….I’m sharing.  I did a photoshoot with Luke as a surprise for my Mom for Mother’s Day.  Now that I’ve [finally] delivered her goodies, I can share some of my favorites {ahem, sorry for the delay Mom}.  Luke rocked this shoot.  I had him laughing so hard that he had me laughing until tears ran from my eyes.  Those laughs are so contagious - - I wish I could bottle up that belly laugh of his and unscrew the cap for a listen on a rotten day. 

I have lots [and lots] to blog.  Hopefully I can find time to update my little sliver of the www soon.  Although the photos have been edited for awhile and private galleries are already available to them, I’ve got some client sessions to share on here.  Some from our April vacation.  Some from random wanderings.  During my busy months, my personal editing gets knocked to the end of my to do list.  I hope to get to my here and there photos…..soon.

Meet Madison and Graham.  Madison is nearly two and is just the sweetest little thing.  She was so perfectly patient the entire session - a very happy and content little girl.  I should have included a color version of Madison in this sneak peek as she has stunning blue eyes….the black and white versions do not do her little peepers justice.  And Graham - it seems he has the same temperment as his sister.   At only 11 days new, he is an uber relaxed little guy.  Thank you “P” Family for giving me the opportunity to photograph your babies.  You have an amazing family!

**10 comments earns the “P” Family a complimentary 5×7.  Give ‘em some LOVE!