Indigo Skye Photography

Time Is Running Out

Round one of voting for the Essence of Childhood portrait contest is gradually coming to an end.  You now have a little more than 36 hours to cast your votes if you haven't already done so.  So this is your last chance before it is too late!  The winners for round one will be announced early next week and will be contacted to come in as soon as possible for their mini session to move on to Round Two.   

Here are the polls once again.  Just follow the directions stated at the top of each poll to pick your faves. 

 

 

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I also want to thank everyone for all the prayers and well wishes you sent me after I posted my Breast Cancer PSA post almost two weeks ago.  So far everything looks okay, the lump on the right is a benign Fibroadenoma tumor.  The lump on the left is most likely the same, but the pathology report wasn't as definitive as they were hoping so I will be having a lumpectomy in the near future to have it removed.  So YEAH, it looks as though everything will turn out to be just fine.  Thanks again for all the calls and emails, it really made me feel better to know that you guys thought enough to send me the little words of support. 

Keep Those Votes Coming!

First off, let me just say that you guys are AWESOME!  In the week since the voting stared, there have been over 2000 hits to the Blog and nearly 1500 votes caste!!!  Way to go everyone.  But let's not stop now, there is still almost 5 full days left to vote.  So keep telling all your friends and family to check out the blog so they can vote as well.  Voting for Round 1 will end this Sunday at midnight!

Also, don't forget that if you leave your name, address, email address and phone number in one of the comment boxes you can get a FREE studio session! 

So let's see how the polls are coming along, shall we?

In the 1st ballot, the two with the most votes so far are Addison and Bryson.
In the 2nd ballot, the two with the most votes so far are Nate and Carter.
In the 3rd ballot, the three with the most votes so far are Avery, Claire & Boone.
In the 4th ballot, the three with the most votes so far are Sawyer, Keeleigh & Kendall.

But we still have 5 days left of voting, so you never know how the final results will turn out.  We shall just have to wait and see, won't we?

Oh yeah, and so far the farthest the votes have come from have been from Australia, both for Avery and Carter.  Followed by Greece for Konstantine and finally from the United Kingdom for Karis.  How cool is that?  We have ourselves some international voting going on here. 

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Well That Was Fun & Exciting!

Sadly, I must say that I am back from my "vacation" to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.  As usual, it was incredibly fun and completely exhausting.  I can't even begin to tell you how much I love photographing the bands performing at the games.  This year was even better than last year, if that is even possible to imagine.  Donovan Murray, the driving force behind Celtic Force, brought in some new bands to the games as well as some favorites from the past.  If you have never experienced the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, you have to put it on your bucket list of things to do.  The entertainment alone is worth it.  So here are just a few (cough, cough) photos of some of the bands that I photographed this past weekend.

First up is Scythian from the Washington D.C. area.  These guys were so amazing and energetic.  I just wish I could find a way to bottle up just a portion of the energy they brought.  You really need to go check out their music, it is a very interesting blend of all sorts of styles.

Alexander Fedoryka

Josef Crosby & Alexander Fedoryka

Mike Ounallah

Danylo Fedoryka

Kyf Brewer of Barleyjuice lends a hand to get the crowd revved up!

Next up is some pretty rowdy guys themselves: Barleyjuice.  Which I have had the pleasure of photographing this past June when they were here in the upstate for the Greenville Scottish Games.  (And I have to give a big thank you to Greg for keeping me company during the games.)

Jimmy

Billy, Kyf & Swanny

Eric

Greg

Then of course there is the infamous Albannach (and they are infamous for more than one reason).  And as always, they were a crowd favorite.  

Jackie & Davy

Jamesie & Aya

Kyle (hope you are feeling better)

Greg Schroeder from Barleyjuice,  jamming on the drums with Donnie (who is normally on pipes)

Then there were those fun and otherwise entertaining moments to be had.  Such as Big David Ross telling the story of Aya's ancestry and how the "Shiney  Shiney" came about.

And lastly, let's not forget the full out jam sessions with all the bands on one stage performing together. 

Greg from Barleyjuice, Mike from Scythian, Donnie from Albannach and Donovan Murray (the man behind the entertainment).

WOW! What a Way to Begin the Voting!

Way to go everyone.  I am so ecstatic to see such a great response coming in for the Essence of Childhood voting.  In the first 48 hours alone there were nearly 1000 hits on the blog that resulted in more than 800 votes.  I can't wait to see the final counts for votes and blog hits that come in.

Anyway, on to other news.  I am going to be on vacation and out of touch until Monday.  So if you call or email me in the next few days, don't fret if I don't get back to you right away.  But I promise that I will return all the calls and answer all the emails that come in as soon as I can on Monday. 

As you are reading this I am either on my way or have already arrive on the mountain.  It is that time a year again, time for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.  So I will be busy photographing all the bands performing at the games from Friday until Sunday.  I know, I know, I said I was going to be on vacation.  Well I consider this my vacation because I am outside doing what I love most and listening to some great music and hanging out with some fantastic bands while I'm there.  What more could a girl ask for?  By the end of it all I will be totally exhausted but still won't want to come home from all the fun. 

So I will see you guys on the flip side.  Don't forget to keep the votes coming in!  Use all of your contact sources at your fingertips to get the information out there to all you can.  I have seen hits coming in from Facebook, Twitter and some very interesting internet forums.  So if you belong to any of these, be sure to post a little note to have people click on over to the blog here so they can vote for your kids as well. 

Here are a few band photos from last year's concerts at Grandfather, you should go check out their websites if you want to listen to so new and different music.

Barleyjuice

The Killdares

Mother Grove

Let the Voting Begin!

Yeah!  It is finally time to pick your favorites in the "Essence of Childhood" portrait contest.  There are soooo many cuties in the contest, I don't know how you will be able to pick a favorite!

Some things you need to know about voting:

First of all, I had so many entries in the 0-24 months age category that I had to split them up into two separate polls.  Because of this you are only to pick your top 2 favorites in each of this age group's poll.  The other age group's polls I am asking you to pick your top 3 favorites. 

Also, because I only had 2 entries in the 10-13 age category, I combined these entries into the 6-9 age category.  So now there are only three age groups instead of four: 0-24 months, 2-5 years and 6-13 years.

And finally, if you did not enter your children into the contest but would like to receive a FREE portrait session with Indigo Skye Photography, you only have to leave your FULL NAME, ADDRESS AND EMAIL ADDRESS in the comment section of one of the polls.  I need all three of these in order for you to qualify for a free studio session.  And in doing so you are agreeing to allow Indigo Skye Photography to add you to our Constant Contact Email Updates.

Have fun voting don't forget to send all you friends and family here to cast their votes as well.  It is really fun to see how far away the votes will come from.  I have had them come from as far as Egypt in the past, so let's see how far away I can get them from this time!

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My Breat Cancer Awarness PSA!

Get Smooshed, Get Squished
Get Scanned!

Well ladies, I guess it is time for me to make a very important Public Service Announcement in regards to the importance of doing our self breast exams monthly to look for anything abnormal along with getting your mammogram done when the time comes to do so.  But let's face it, how many of us do this monthly?  Or even more than once or twice a year?  Well it is time to get with the program ladies and start FEELING YOUR BOOBIES!

 

When I was in my twenties, I found a fair sized lump in my left breast.  At the time, I was in nursing school and we had been learning about Breast Cancer and how important it is to teach women how to do self breast exams.  So I went home that night after class and low and behold, I had a lump!  Now I knew my lump was more than likely just a cyst because of certain characteristics that it had, but I still didn't want to take any chances so I called my OB and got an appointment as soon as possible.  This lead to me being sent to a breast specialist who in turn found several lumps on both of my breast (although I could still only feel the one).  So at the age of 26 I had my first breast ultrasound and mammogram.  Luckily, it turned out that the lumps were just Fibrocystic Breast changes. 

 

So over the years I have monitored this particular lump in addition to looking for any other unusual changes that might be there.  And I have had repeat mammograms since then.  The most recent being this past Tuesday.  It had been about 11 or so years since my last mammogram so my doctor scheduled me for one and an ultrasound as well to check on the lump that I have had for the past 14 years.  So I go in with the anticipation of them looking at the lump and saying that it is still just a cyst and that all is well.  WELL SURPRISE!  Not only does this cyst now look different and more suspicious, the mammogram actually found an even more suspicious looking area on my right breast.  Even I could see this little white spot that kinda looked like a fuzzy star and know that it didn't belong there.  So then it was off for my ultrasound, of which I was only scheduled to have the left on done to check the previous lump.  But the technician immediately started out with my right breast.  So okay, now I am totally aware that something just isn't right here.  When it came time to look at the left one I could see right away that it was no longer a nearly perfectly round cyst looking area, but now looked looked more like a cluster of little ones together. 

 

So in about a week I will be heading back in to the clinic to have a bilateral breast biopsies done on these areas to see what they are.  I can honestly tell you that I am a bit worried that I will get the dreaded "C" diagnosis.  But I am trying to just go about my days until I get the results without stressing over it too much.   So if you can, please say an extra prayer for me and my family each night that everything will be normal with the biopsies.

 

So there you go ladies, that is my story and it just goes to show you that you can never be too safe when it comes to your health.  As mothers, we all seem to put aside our own health care in order to care for our husbands and children.  I know, because I am very guilty of doing this myself.  But I have to say that we need to start focusing some that energy that we give to our families to ourselves.  It isn't selfish in the very least to do so, it is just a little preventative maintenance that has to be done.  Because let's face it, if we don't take care of ourselves then who will?  So that being said, I have just one word of advice to leave each and every one of you with:

 

Happy Birthday America!

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

I hope everyone has a great day full of family, friends, fun, good food and fireworks.   I love watching and photographing fireworks and am sad that I won't have the opportunity to do so this year.  But oh well, there is always next year!

Here is a slideshow of some fireworks I photographed 2 years ago at downtown Greenville's Forth of July celebration. 

If you would like to attempt to photograph some fireworks this year but don't have the first idea as to how to go about doing this, HERE is a link to a great Blog that gives some wonderful tips.  Including how to do this with a point and shoot camera.  So check it out if you want some ideas!

Have a safe and fun holiday everyone.

Final Days to Enter the "Essence of Childhood"!

Yep, the deadline is quickly approaching.  As of midnight Saturday, I will no longer accept any more entries into the "Essence of Childhood" portrait contest.  So this is it, stop procrastinating and get off your can and enter your little cutie for their chance to be the Grand Prize Winner!  I know you have at least one snapshot that shows just how cute your child is.  And that is all it takes to enter, just one cute snapshot.  Simply email the photo to indigoskyephoto@bellsouth.net and they will be entered as well.  The contest is open for all children ages newborn to 13. 

Now I must say that I am truly disappointed that there is a very said 4 entries in the 6-13 age categories, all of which are in the 6-9 age group.  Now I now that this can be an awkward age for children, photographically speaking.  But seriously, the missing front teeth (or braces) and everything else that comes with this age is PART of what makes them who they are.  And honestly, that is what embodies the "Essence of Childhood".  So don't hold back because you think that they just aren't as cute as they used to be or will be when their teeth grow back in or they get their braces of.  Children are beautiful just the way they are.  It is their innocence and the adventurous way they experience the world around them that makes them so uniquely beautiful.  Their physical beauty, in my eyes as a photographer, takes a backseat to their individual personalities. 

Okay, I will get off my soapbox now and just leave you with a reminder of some of the great prizes in store for the Grand Prize Winner.

A canvas wall portrait from:

 

A birthday package from:

A free cupcake and gift certificate from:

 

Not to mention, that everyone that enters will also receive a prize from Indigo Skye Photography as well!

Happy 17th Birthday Haley!

Wow!  I can't believe it, my little girl is 17 today.  Like any mother can, I remember every moment of her life.  From being pregnant and finding out she was indeed a she (thank you again to Dr. Gittomer for doing a 2nd ultrasound so I could see what I wanted to see).  To the moment she came into this world with a pink bow tied to her hair, because as Dr. Gittomer said "all little girls need to be born with a little class". 

I remember all of those special "firsts" ~ you know the ones, first time smiling her beautiful smile, first time saying mama, first time walking, and on and on.  I can look back over the years and say that I am truly blessed to have the world's most perfect and precious daughter (I know I am a bit biased but what mother isn't?).  But I can assure you that Haley is indeed a very special and talented girl, with her easy going, somewhat of a slight tomboy self.  She is not only a good student in school but also very talented in music and art, although she has chosen to put aside her love of drums and band to concentrate on her other love of art. 

And I know, without a doubt, that whatever Haley chooses to do in the future, she will do so with flair and a passion for life that will make her a success. 

Have a very happy birthday Haley!

Now, in celebration to my daughter's 17 birthday, I am going to have a very special offer for those of you that are following my Blog.  Starting at 3 PM today I will be giving away FREE SESSIONS for in studio or walking distance from the studio!  But the I will only be giving them away for 17 MINUTES!  So if you want to take advantage of my daughter's birthday giveaway, get on the ball and start calling at 3:00 because at 3:18 the giveaway will be over and I can only take so many phone calls in 17 minutes!  Here is the number you need to call in order to get your free session 864-801-1131.

* Free Sessions will expire on December 31, 2009.
* You may give your free session away as a gift.

Today is Your Lucky Day!

...that is if you thought that you missed out on entering your child into the "Essence of Childhood" portrait contest.  I have had a few people contact me to say that they hadn't yet received their applications and have realized that for some unknown reason, I haven't received some of the contest entry photos.  Because of this I have decided to EXTEND the application deadline until midnight on July 5th!  If YOU have emailed your entry photos in and have yet to receive an application and contest info back from me, PLEASE call me and let me know.  Together we can figure out if you might be among the others that are floating somewhere out in cyberspace.  If you are among the few that FORGOT to send yours in are have been on vacation and didn't get a chance to do so, then you have been given a second chance to send me a photo of your darling Angel(s).

So far I have plenty of wee ones entered into the contest.  But sadly, I am lacking in the two older age categories.  What is the matter with you guys?  Don't you think that your kids are still cute once they are over the age of 5?  Just kidding!!  But seriously, I find it quite funny that when I have these contests I never seem to get any older kids entered into them.  I know some of you might be thinking "well if my child hadn't just lost their two front teeth, I might enter them" or "but I don't have and good pictures of them that I can enter them with".  So let me put your worries to rest.  FIRST OF ALL, you don't have to enter the "perfect" photo of them.  This isn't a contest to judge you on your photographic skills.  It is a contest to determine who is the cutest kid here in the upstate!  All I need is a decent close up the shows them smiling or giving us a look at their beautiful personality.  That's  it, nothing more.  SURELY you have some fairly recent snapshots that do this that you can email in.  Even photos taken on you cell phones can be used.  SECONDLY, all kids go through the right of passage where they lose teeth!  This is part of being a child.  And personally, I LOVE seeing a big toothless grin.  Remember, the contest name is the "ESSENCE OF CHILDHOOD" not the "MOST PHYSICALLY PERFECT CHILD"!

Here is a reminder of just some of the great prizes for the winner of the contest:

A canvas wall portrait from:

 

A birthday package from:

A free cupcake and gift certificate from:

 

Not to mention, that everyone that enters will also receive a prize from Indigo Skye Photography as well!

To enter simply e-mail us your child's BEST snapshot (sorry, no professional portraits are allowed due to copyright infringements) to indigoskyephoto@bellsouth.net.  Be sure that the photo you send is a really good one where your child's face can be easily seen.  And don't forget to make sure that it's size is big enough to be seen on the Blog!  The contest is open to both boys and girls, age 0 months through 13 years.  Once you send in your child's application photo you will be emailed the contest application to fill out and return.