Giving Is Awesome!

I love my job. Every time a customer picks up one of my little white boxes, I feel like I'm giving them a gift - the best kind of gift possible. Memories are tucked inside that box and sealed onto paper. Their children's smiles preserved for generations, little hugs and giggles documented and ready to warm a heart whenever needed. However, I know that not everyone can afford custom photography right now. So...


Once again, I am delighted to be a part of the photography phenomenon that is sweeping the nation. Last year over $500,000.00 in free photography was given away to those who couldn't afford it. This year's goal is $1,000,000.00! BUT I NEED YOUR HELP!

Here's the deal:

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $1000 worth, to be exact. They will recieve a full outdoor photography session. Have I mentioned how FUN those are? Copyrights to all of their session images which will be burned to a disc, and over $200 in prints to delight their walls, give to grandma, or adorn their office desks.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $100 print credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in Washington. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : Niccolew@comcast.net.

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,


Nicci

For a Good Time Call...

So, I've always thought we have a pretty fun house. I mean really, bikes and tricycles owned our living room until we had furniture, but we ain't got nothin' on this family. When my son came home from spending time at their house he only had one word - "AWESOME". Flat screen tv's, Wii games, footballs flying, and crazy good times everywhere. When it comes to the word "fun", the Pulicella's own it.

We first met the Pulicella's on a coincidental camping trip. We pulled up with our 20ft rented travel trailer and parked it right next to their 100ft mansion on wheels. I think our boys thought our site was cool for about, oh...2 seconds. We soon found out that our mansionly neighbors had a son who went to school with our oldest and the camping trip was ten times more fun because of it.

Thanks Pulicella's for letting me document your family. You guys are awesome.

Over the River and Through the Woods

She called it clutter. I call it remnants of creativity. Because right next to that small pile of papers were freshly painted wood pumpkin cutouts. And right next to those freshly painted pumpkins were walls adorned with their children's creative powers. And next to those walls were doors leading to 5 beautiful acres filled with an organic garden and free range chickens. And really, when you're tending to all that goodness who has time for a few unfiled papers?

The love simply danced around this family. It showed in their smiles, their attention to little details, the love letters to their children gracing walls, the secret nook built especially for big brother's imagination to soar, and in their commitment to raise their children their own way. Which often means walking down a road less traveled, but oh, so rewarding.








This one absolutely cracks me up!

Oh To Be Two

Oh, to be two. The world just watches you and thinks everything you do is cute. Well..almost everything you do. Suddenly unbuttoning and buttoning and unbuttoning and buttoning again becomes absolutely charming. The tenth rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars still brings down the house. Each giggle is met with proud smiles. And photographers make fools of themselves just to catch one more of your darling grins.

I Wanna Be Like You

This family epitomizes cool. They own an amazing day spa, dabbled in creating a neighborhood cafe, work in real estate and if that wasn't enough they totally sealed their personal coolness factor by becoming true urbanites. They left suburbia for... The Pearl. When I first heard what they were doing I was jealous. Really. Really. Jealous. No one but the coolest people on the block could pull off such a gutsy move and their year was amazing. Restaurants, culture, shops, and neighbors - everything was within walking distance and at two years old their little one already knows the Pearl like it was her own personal playground. Did I mention I was jealous?

Haley and Taylor are more than cool. They are pretty amazing parents too. Some people just "get" it and they definitely fall into the "getting it" category. Whenever I see parents stooping down to enter into their children's world it makes me smile. As busy parents with a lot on our plates, it's so easy to rush around, try to get everything done and expect our children to follow, smile for the camera, and happily move onto our next important task. When in reality all our children want to do is explore their world, point at goldfish, and find one more amazing rock. And you know what? That's okay. It's more that okay. It's beautiful, and Haley and Taylor get that.

Love, Love, Love So True

You know, the camera rarely lies. When people love each other, it shows. And me and my camera, we LOVE families who love. This family is all about love. The smiles flowed easy and didn't stop even when my camera was packed and ready to go home. With a smile as wide as the Mississippi, Beckie glowed as she watched her babies pose and interact. I couldn't even begin to get Little Miss to stop smiling. When I tried for a pensive dow-eyed look she just looked at me and laughed some more. And then came Marley. I'm not sure I know of a dog who is more loved than this guy. I wish I could have bottled the smile of pride a boy gets when he is walking the most amazing dog in the world. With all of that going on and with a family as amazing as his, how could Aaron do anything but smile as well.

Made for You

Perhaps it is because I have three of my own, but I always have a soft spot for boys and an even softer spot in my heart for moms with boys. Blogland, meet Wendy. In an instant I could tell Wendy was made for boys - for her boys. She had this tried and true calmness about her and just let them be, well...boys. For those of you who have boys, you know what I mean. In an instant things can go from relatively calm and classy to throwing bodies and belches When one of her boys decided to pull the bunny ears out, she didn't stress and knew I would eventually have to get one without the added appendages. When they wanted to run, she didn't worry about falling and knee stained pants. She giggled at their goofy smiles and laughed even harder when the boys' attempts to make each other smile created more flying bodily functions.

This is an awesome family. You can see it in Wendy's ability to kneel down and get into her boys' world and in Dad's proud smiles. They aren't caught up in fancy schmancy pretenses but just love being together and having fun.