Jeff and I are going to this amazing photography workshop and I’m so looking forward to the experience. Thank you all for being so patient with me as I’m slower than usual replying to emails and returning phone calls during these last few weeks. I’m excited to pick back up with shooting incredible weddings this weekend!

For now, here’s a shot of the Santa Monica Pier. I was there taking photos of the WLC ambassadors doing a community service project for Heal the Bay, where they picked up trash and helped keep the beach clean! What a cool project! Anyway, I also snapped this while I was there. Enjoy!

I wish I could remember the name of the artist to give credit to her work… if you’re reading this, leave a comment below so we can give you credit!

Here is the photo I took:

And here is the painting that resulted! Pretty fun, huh?

I’m excited to participate in the event, alongside Jeff (www.reclaim-creative.com).

The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 14th. More information should be available very soon at www.lidias-kc.com or at KC Weddings!

I hope to see you there!

I’m heading to California today for 10 days to photograph the amazing HOBY World Leadership Congress. It’s going to be an incredible, busy experience and I’m so excited that I get to photograph this event with students from around the world! It will be quite a change from wedding photography, which should be a fun challenge.

I’ll be gone until July 31st, but I should at least have some access to e-mail while I’m gone. Please feel free to contact me as you normally would, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can! I have also set up some blog posts to publish while I’m gone, so hopefully I can at least keep things her on the blog a little entertaining while I’m away.

I’ll leave you with a few photos I snapped at the local Kansas HOBY seminar back in June!

In 2009, we did a lot of shooting. I tried to count all of it, and I think I got close at least. Here’s what I counted:

• 26 weddings (I can’t even describe what it’s like to be a part of those stories)
• 27 engagement sessions (Some of my favorite things to do)
• 46 sessions with babies and children (I’m crossing off #41 on my list of things to do)
• 26 portrait sessions (Of all different types — mostly “just because”)

That’s (at least) 125 various shoots! Wow! I am so thankful to all of you for asking us to be a part of your lives. I wanted to do a quick look back at the year’s sessions, so I grabbed one photo from pretty much every session and put them all together for you! Enjoy this little video of our 2009 shoots!

ericamay.com – 2009 in review from Jeff Short on Vimeo.

I had the chance to meet up with this adorable family, and when Jennifer (the mom) said she wanted something urban, I said “YES!” We decided on the Crossroads district, and I love what we captured while only walking about 2 blocks!

Jennifer is a portrait photographer, too, which is super cool. I love that photographers take the time to get on the other side of the lens and capture photos of them WITH their family. Here of some of my favorites of this adorable family (with another little one coming next May!).

Little Owen is so cute. I love this face!

I love this — the look on his face is so cute and adventurous (which is definitely his personality!).

I think this is my favorite of the whole family:

Isn’t she the prettiest mom? I hope I’m that pretty when I’m a mom.

So cute!

Thanks so  much for asking me to take your family photos!

The Cans for Comments campaign is still going on this week (through Friday!). Leave a comment below and I’ll donate a canned good to Harvesters, Kansas City’s local food bank.