Blech!  I hate having my picture taken.  However, if  I want people to get to know me, and feel comfortable with me, then I need to step out from behind the camera from time to time….to show you that I’m more than just some words on a blog floating around the internet.  So, friends, readers, this is me…or some of me.  This is what I look like when taking a photograph.  I will say that when I’m taking a photograph of anyone but myself I am always smiling, or laughing, or barking, or singing, or doing whatever it takes to get the person on the other side of my lens to feel at ease.  I apparently only give myself this stern face.  Oh, and these are my new glasses, or at least half of them.  I bit the bullet & went in & got my old ones replaced.  They only had one arm left and were slightly tilted on my head.  Imagine wearing glasses or sunglasses and having only one ear…that’s how my old glasses felt.

I’m also working on a few little video blogs (vlogs???) to show you a little more of me & some cool products I’ve been trying out and am ready to offer to YOU!  Hopefully you will like what you see, ignore my awkwardness on the camera, and have fun!

Photos:  Megan Beth.  She’s funny.  She’s awesome at her job.  She’s real.  She’s local.  She inspires me.

Today was a day of personal, little disappointments for me.  I won’t go in to detail.  I probably just mulled over things too much in my head, had too many or too high of expectations of others, & consequently disappointment follows. Then, we had this glorious day.  We went outside & as I was picking up the recycling that the wind blew everywhere, I stumbled upon these little sprouts in my garden.  They are the beginnings of daffodils that bloom yearly.  And for some reason, they gave me hope & the sting of disappointment faded.  Thank you God, for new life, new growth, & new beginnings.

Here’s a quote on disappointment I found by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Amen.

Photos I’ve been looking at:  Meaghan Elliott…again.  These photos are so appropriate in talking about new life, new growth, and infinite hope.  The couple in this newborn session must’ve had infinite hope.  Just read the post, and you’ll understand.

I couldn’t resist posting two blogs in one day…just HAD to!  Because…..drum roll….I got a new logo!  Actually, it’s my first ever logo!  And to commemorate my 2-year-anniversary as a business, I am slapping that logo on four photos from my first ever session with Emerson.  She was 6 months old at the time of these photos (March 31, 2007) and is now a big sister!  I know her mom, Michele, won’t mind me showing off her now big girl again.  And if you LOVE my logo as much as I do, go and visit Fernanda Arce Designs!  She’s is super fabulous!  We met on Facebook because we both have children born with CDH.  Over the course of chatting back and forth, I found out that she was a graphic designer.  So I made the plunge, and Fer has designed some awesome options for my logo.  The ones you see on Emerson’s photos are the black and white versions.  The color version will be on my site shortly.  Thanks Michele & Fer for letting me share your handy-work!

*PS – I know Fer’s site is in Spanish, but she speaks (or types), perfect English…a wonderful friend to work with!

The new Mandy Sroka Photography

It’s official! My new site is finally finished! With little help from myself, Dustin Pfeifer has created an awesome new website for my budding photo business. It’s sleeker, smoother, and all around cooler! There are three galleries to view, a contact me page, an integrated blog, and more secure, private client galleries! I am so excited that I just can’t stop using my exclamation point!!!! I hope you enjoy looking around…tell your friends…and please, go to Dustin Pfeifer for all your website needs – he is AWESOME! Thanks!