Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. First, it's my son's birthday. (We put candles in his pancakes and sang the obligatory.)

But beyond that, it's better than Christmas. Family comes together with the conscious thought of gratitude around a table to share in the collective joy of gluttony.

I went back and forth on whether we have friends over or not (since we don't have family in Texas) and it all ended up being too much to think about so it was just Daniel, Penn and I. I made steamed artichoke in basil with a side of melted herb butter, spinach, sauteed baby portobello mushroom, garlic and swiss cheeese stuffed puffs topped with poppy seeds, mashed potatoes and gravy, Guiness and sparkling grape juice.

Strawberry shortcake for desert.

My mother called and passed the phone around the Michigan table for a few hello's. My dad called during our nap. Whoops!

Daniel and Penn took bike rides. That evening Daniel cleaned and Mary came over with hoity toity beers and I beat everyone at Rummikub.

I hope all of your Thanksgiving events were as lovely as ours.

Sneak Peek, Chaney Portrait

Every time Shanon calls I'm shooting or cooking! But I was so excited to get to see the growing family again and get them in front of the camera. They're the best.

Thank you guys so much and safe travels back to Colorado!

Angela and Steven Sneak Peek

A few off the top of the file from this weekends fun afternoon in the studio.

Every Day is Take Your Kid to Work Day

He's going to start thinking his name is "Light Test Kid."

I heart

Oh how I want to show you all of the yummy food photos I've done this week! Alas, we have to wait till December.

And just for the record, Penn does all his own hair.

He wants to be a food photographer

A few outtakes from today's work.


Gluten free french toast from the Kozy Kitchen. This place has good service, food and atmosphere! Penn liked the guy helping us. "The one with the big mohawk."


Penn passed up the tofu scramble we were shooting at Spiral Diner and much to my surprise ate half of my spicy burrito. Every two bites he would say, "Whew!" and take a drink.


Mr. Daniel also happened to be having a lunch there with Mr. Rip. This is him walking out of the restaurant with my kid and not telling me why or where they're going. All I know is Penn came back really happy and with rocks in his pocket.

We also shot at a fabulous cheese shop where they plied my son with thin slices of awesome so I could shoot 38 pound wheels of cheese.

"Real" photos will be in December's issue of Modern Luxury.

Annual Portrait Special

Carissa Byers' Annual Portrait Special takes place near the holidays as a way to give everyone the opportunity to have at least one really good portrait taken a year without breaking the bank. Don't say I never gave you anything! The details are as follows:

• $50 for a half hour of shooting.
• Free color correction and online album.
• Discs of photos available for $30.
• Prints, cards and gifts are available from your online album.
  

Friendly advice:

FOR FAMILIES OF SIX OR MORE AND/OR EXTENDED FAMILIES
You might need more than an hour if you want to take anything home besides the laughter. Groups of 4 or less are much easier to work with.

I KNOW YOU HAVE LOTS OF CUTE OUTFITS!
But it's only 30 minutes and I suggest using the time wisely in front of the camera and out of the dressing room. We have a hard enough time getting children (and some men) to change clothes happily at home and we have a hard enough time getting men (and some children) in front of the camera, so I say let them be, and let them be happy. Having said that, you can change as many times as you'd like.

YOU LOVE PROPS AND SCENIC BACKGROUNDS!
And I hate them alot. We'll be using basic colored papers, a cool pattern and may potentially step outside. I have some santa hats and some feather boas.

SO WHAT DO I LIKE?
Chapstick. The women are usually armed with lipstick or gloss, but I promise the lips of men and children photograph better wearing chapstick. Brand new babies look better with some lotion, too.

For those wanting a photo for holiday cards I will upload all of the unedited photos for you within 24 hours and let you pick the one you want to be edited and emailed to you. For those who don't have a print deadline, you'll have them as soon as humanly possible. Delivery depends on workload. I edit in chronological order and I am editing constantly. First come, first serve. Cancellations are highly discouraged.

I look forward to seeing all of you again!

Contact me at carissabyers@gmail.com or 214.728.6809 for booking, questions and to tell me things that make smile. Click here for the contract.

If you're in my address book you will receive an email soon! Until then, feel free to forward this link to your friends!

If you're looking for a more dedicated portrait you are still welcome to book at regular rates.

Penn's Birthday

Your invited, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Penn turns 5 on Thanksgiving Day! But we're celebrating the weekend after.

If we know you, you're invited. Even if you don't have kids, you're invited! Unfortunately we don't know a lot of kids and our friends are Penn's friends, so come and help us celebrate the funniest little man you know.

There will be a light home-cooked vegetarian lunch available, kool-aid for the kids and libations for the adults. Kid drop offs are okay.

Penn likes transformers, spiderman, trains, helicopters, legos, paint, rocks and any toy you've ever seen a commercial for.

Family Portrait Shoot

"It's kind of like hearding cats, isn't it?" said the grandfather.

And he was kind of right. The setting sun and cold gusty winds had us all running around trying to fit people into photos. But it was a blast. This is an amazingly fun family! I'm so glad I had the opportunity to shoot them.

Thankful turkey

Thankful turkey, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Made from tracings of Penn's hands and feet because I am a sucker for all things construction paper.

Written on the "tail feathers" are things Penn is thankful for.

In no particular order: bike, poop, clouds, Santa Clause, eyeballs, transformers, birthday presents, Mr. Daniel, Papa, Mom, Ringo, Pavlov, music, paint, everybody in the world, his dad, turkeys and macaroni and cheese.

I added a few things I was thankful to get him started: Penn, coffee, camera giggles and art.

Stowaway

\
Daniel traveled to pay his respects to his grandfather today. It was a sad day for Penn who was determined to ask if he could go with enough times that it would convince Daniel, and if that didn't work, perhaps he could just stow away in the suitcase.

Penn's message in Obama's book + mush

Guardian News & Media is publishing a 140 page book of the "messages to Obama." Penn's message made the cut. Profits will be donated to the Guardian Katine project. The book will be available in December 2008.

This will be the second time Penn is published. The first was when he and I did the Global Night Commute for Invisible Children.

As a side note, we're thinking of giving him his own video podcast.

+
Another side note, my baby is growing up. Part of me can't wait. I want age to bless me with the ability to use more logic and reason and less yelling down the hallway to hurry up and spillage and "sit still" and "be quiet" and negotiating the rate of Halloween candy consumption. Part of me is ready for soccer teams and broken teenage hearts and college diplomas and grandchildren.

But the majority of me, the part that cuddled with him in bed tonight and buried my nose in his freshly sheared head of Suave Orange Mango Outburst shampoo and told him all the fun things we would do this weekend, kissed his soft face all over, curled him up in a kitten-like ball and wrapped myself around him, the part that has no idea how to have a career and a kid and do well at both and regrets each night how many times I opted for, "Mommy has to work---" instead of Hotwheels, that part wants him four years old and forever. That part makes me feel whole and important and happy and right.

I am with Penn 24 hours a day. And at the end of it, I often miss him. The things that annoy me about toddlers only annoy me because I'm so busy trying to do something else, for someone else. I don't have time to make Christmas cards or birthday cards for my family because I'm so busy doing that for everyone else. Not that I don't absolutely love my job and not that I don't have fantastic clients and not that I know if I'd even make any of you a card if I did have time. . . but trying to do everything at once makes me feel scattered and hurried and incomplete.

So, where is the balance, or is there one, or is there even supposed to be one?

The Finale

This couple perfectly combined their cultural history and family together with an amazing celebration and sense of taste. Thanks for letting me be a part of your fabulous wedding day!

Two Amazingly Beautiful Ceremonies

The finale tomorrow.

Congratulations Tara and Michael

Tara and Michael's Saturday afternoon wedding was blessed with beautiful weather and a stunning outdoor location at their church. Thanks, guys for letting me photograph your wedding day!