Please Excuse My Mess

I'm so happy that you are here! However, you've caught me in the middle of a temporary blogging hiatus.

Kevin and I are in the middle of our huge move from Fort Wayne, Indiana...

to Phoenix, Arizona...

and I am taking some time off while we get settled in our new city.

I don't know how long I will be gone, but don't worry.... I will be back!

While I am very excited to get my business going again in Phoenix, I have lots of legal ducks to get in a row...

before I can open my photo session schedule.

I will also be busy scouting out new shooting locations in and around Phoenix, so I will be ready with tons of great ideas as soon as I am able to start accepting clients again.

In addition, I will be busy writing a series of blog posts that I have been planning for a while now, sharing tips on how to take better photos and detailing my method of shooting in manual mode.  I may even toss in a post or two on what I've learned so far about starting up a photography business while I'm at it.

I will be making major updates on my website...

I will be busy updating my photo galleries, and reworking my session and print options.

I will also be doing a bit of clean up on my blog, as I have recently realized that I have a lot of broken links and missing photos from when I moved over from another blogging program.

I've also decided that it is time for MWP to have a logo. So, I will be trying on some different options to see what feels like a good fit. Don't be surprised if you stop by one day and see a blog that it purple and green, only to find it red and orange the very next day. I'm going to be playing with colors, and styles, and fonts, and layouts, until I find one that feels like home. Once I do, I will be having a logo designed to compliment it.

So, please excuse my mess while I make all of these much needed changes and updates.

If you want to see what I am up to, you can always check out facebook or twitter, where I will continue posting updates while I am on my blogging hiatus.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by! I love hearing from readers, so while you are here why don't you leave a comment and say hello? :) If you are a fellow photog, please leave me a link to your blog and I will return the visit.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.

Saying Goodbye

For the past 11 years, I have called Fort Wayne, Indiana home. It's been a wonderful place to live, and I've meet a lot of amazing people here. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and my time to move on is quickly approaching.

It is with very mixed emotions that I write this blog post.

As I spend my final days putting everything I own into boxes, and sealing them with tape, it is impossible not to reflect on the life that I am leaving behind, and to look forward to the one that I am about to embark on.

I have always had a restless soul. I've never been a person to fear change, instead I constantly crave it. I get bored easily and feel a need to continually reach for the next new thing in my life.

In many ways being like this is a blessing. It allows me to roll with the punches of life, and to easily adapt to the world around me. It forces me to constantly seek new experiences and to learn new things. I'm constantly striving to be more than I am today. I refuse to settle for the status quo, when I know that there is more of life to experience on the other side of every door, if only I turn the key and walk on through. That need is what lead me to start my photography business to begin with, and without it I doubt I would be sitting here writing this post to all of you.

On the other hand, I constantly live with an inability to really relax into a comfort zone. I'm constantly looking for the next challenge, the next new thing to do, to learn, to experience. No matter how happy I am with my life today, there is a constant restlessness bubbling under the surface and I know that it is only a matter of time before it will break out and lead me down a new path. It gives every stage of my life a feeling of being a bit unsettled that I don't always love.

And here we are with the perfect example. Even though I really like Fort Wayne, and think it is a wonderful place to live, I've always known that I would never stay here indefinitely. As I've walked the walk of my daily life for the past few years, I've barely been able to contain the restlessness of my soul fighting to break out. Those who know me IRL, know that the reason I am still living here is because I have been waiting for my husband to graduate with his Bachelors Degree so we could begin planning this move. Now that it is right around the corner, I can barely contain my excitement. So many of the things that I am about to leave behind are the last remaining remnants of a life that ended a long time ago. I'm ready to move on.

While it is time to begin a new chapter of my life, I can't help but stop to reflect on everything and everyone that won't be joining me on this new journey.

The past year has been an amazing one for me, as I've started my photography business. Many of my friends and family went above and beyond to help me get things up and running. I've also met so many wonderful new clients, as well. Life in Arizona just won't be the same without all of you there to share it with!

To all of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart! I will carry a small piece of each of you with me wherever life takes me. I am richer for having known you all!

You all rock!!

I hope that each of you will keep in touch, and continue to follow me on my path as I grow my photography business in Phoenix. Please do not hesitate to email, call, or leave a comment here or on facebook! I'd love to hear from you!

And if you happen to know anyone who leaves in the Phoenix area, please send them to check out MWP. :)

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer currently located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Michele will be relocating to Phoenix, Arizona during the summer of 2011. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.

Sweetness Overload

If you ever have the opportunity to see me with my family, two things will become immediately apparent to you.  First, I am completely head over heels for my husband.  Second, my dogs have my heart wrapped around their adorable little puppy paws.

It's not often that I manage to convince my hubby that sitting for a photo session sounds like a good idea, but every so often I manage to twist his arm into it.  (Usually when I suggest it at the very last minute and he can't come up with a good excuse on the spot to turn me down.)

I was lucky enough to get him to agree to a handful of quick shots of him with Zoe and Lexi this past weekend at a local park.  So, please indulge me, and allow me to share with you some photos of my family: my sweet husband, Kevin, and my adorable sweet peas, Zoe and Lexi.

I'll even save the commentary, and just allow the photos to speak for themselves:

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer currently located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Michele will be relocating to Phoenix, Arizona during the summer of 2011. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.

A Rare View From the Other Side

I see the world through the lens of my camera, even when it is not in my hands. As I walk through life, I see things not as how they are but how they would look through my view finder. In my mind, I instantly convert the world into a series of photographs. I simply belong behind a camera.

The more comfortable I become looking at the world from behind my camera lens, the less likely I become to step out in front of it. It's not that I don't like being photographed, its just that I much prefer the view from behind the camera.

Over the weekend, Kevin and I were out with some friends. I wanted to take some photos while we were out, so I brought along my camera. The following photo is a completely candid shot, captured by my husband. I had no idea that he was taking it, or I'm quite certain I would have protested.

I thought perhaps it would be a nice change of pace if I showed my face on {the blog}, so here I am!...

I was torn between the image in color or black & white, so I posted both with the hope that my readers could help me decide. So, which do you like better? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer currently located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Michele will be relocating to Phoenix, Arizona during the summer of 2011. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.

Need a Laugh?

Last night after shooting the second part of a photo session, I took a handful of quick photos of my husband, Kevin, and our dogs, Zoe and Lexi.

When you photograph dogs, you never know what you are going to get!  This afternoon during a quick peek at the images, I found these two silly photos.  Both of them made me laugh out loud, and I decided I'd toss up a quick blog post to share the fun with my readers.

I hope Zoe & Lexi's silly faces bring a smile to yours on this fine Monday afternoon!

Zoe, licking her lips in anticipation of the treat that she knows is coming her way for being good...

Lexi, cheesing it up for the camera.  To me she looks like she's smiling with her eyes closed...

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer currently located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Michele will be relocating to Phoenix, Arizona during the summer of 2011. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.