Maternity Shoot with Casi

Babies are everywhere! Well, it seems so in my life. This is Casi, she's been one of my best friends since we were about 18. She is gentle, very humble, selfless and I want to be like her when I grow up.

Casi was surprised by little Zoee when they found out 9 months ago they were pregnant with their second but just said "Alright God, you must have other ideas." Casi and I wanted to start a photography business together and did a few projects but little Zoee would not let her mom rest so we decided to do it separately and meet up again when life has gotten into a groove.

We did get the chance to shoot with Kendra Martin, of Kendra Martin Photography. I got to borrow a super awesome lens and take some cues from a real professional. We had a great time, Casi was a wonderful subject and I was so happy to do this project with friends.

Ironically as I finally finished editing this shoot- Casi went into labor and I am hoping later today I get to see little 10 pound Zoee.

J and Melody

I officially have repeat customers! It still counts even if they are good friends. This is J and Melody who have been together about 2 years now (I believe). Last year we had an urban/downtown look and this year I wanted to do something else. So, we found some tall grass, got some boots and found some nice golden light. I feel there's a great fall feel to these pictures. Thanks again guys, we love you, and enjoy!

Grimland Girls!

So! I had my first official shoot with someone who was not my immediate friend. I have to say I was really nervous. I prayed a lot about it and strangely I felt it would all be ok. And I think it was. Little Mallory (3 yrs.) did great! Little Emerson struggled with her cold (7 mos.). All in all I learned a lot, found I had come a good ways as I shot totally on manual and I cannot wait to do another shoot.

Also this is the debut of my final logo. I love the owl and I love cursive "L"'s so here it is and here are the best photos of the shoot:

When God gives you presents...

A few years ago I got the idea to ask God for birthday and Christmas presents. The idea was to get something that you just knew was from God. Once it was a dove outside my window singing the morning of my birthday. Another time I won a raffle to get the extended version of Lord of the Rings 1 (and I never win raffles). And of course one Christmas I got an engagement ring.

This year I got something special that wasn't even for my birthday or Christmas - yellow.

Yes, yellow. Alright, here comes the explanation:

When we were preparing for a baby room I cleared out our guestrooms and sold the furniture. Well, that left these two empty rooms that just reminded me of how I felt-empty. So, I furiously decorated thinking that getting those guest rooms back together would help me get back together and it did kind of help. The room that would have been the baby room is now blue, yellow and gray. For the past few months I just have been grabbing yellow things when I find them at resale shops and the room is coming together very nicely.

Sometimes you hear a song and it just reminds you of someone - maybe even for no apparent reason it just does. When the song "Yellow" came out by Coldplay I was in high school and it reminded me of Landon. I have no reason for that, it just did so when I heard it I thought of him. Weeks after the miscarriage I heard "Yellow" and for some reason it just reminded me of this baby that we lost. It almost blindsided me especially the line: "Your skin, oh yeah your skin and bones turn in to something beautiful and you know, you know I love you so, you know I love you so." Wow, so now my "Yellow" song is about this loss and this life.

A former student of ours went to Africa for 8 months. While he was in the field he found out we had a miscarriage and he was really sad for us. He told a member of our team and for some reason this other young man was very struck by it and he prayed for us and wrote us letters (he doesn't know us at all except through our student). He told me in his letter he saw a bright yellow sunflower called "Faith" and that God was growing it in my heart through this situation. Ironically I have a painting in my house that is a reflection of the garden of my heart and I paint new elements in it every time I learn something. I had just put pink gratitude flowers with lime green envy vines on. And I believe the yellow sunflower is the next thing to go on the canvas.

So, lately my eyes have been drawn to yellow and I love how happy it looks. This passed Friday my friend Kelly gave me a present. A yellow owl. Perfect! I wanted an owl piece because of my owl dream (to find out about that go back to the "Dreams" blog) and was hoping to spend some time in antique shops to find the perfect owl item and she got it! She really felt like it was the Holy Spirit and so did I. Also, this passed weekend was my original due date, Landon and I went to Austin to sort of remember this weekend in a new way and my friends and sister in law got me yellow flowers when we got back. And I managed to find an owl embroidery in Wimberly. The woman who owned the shop made it for her son about 40 years ago because he was afraid of the owl outside his window and so she made this to remind him not to fear.

So, yellow seems to be my reminder from God to have faith and to trust Him that He will turn mourning into dancing. My owls remind me to ask for wisdom and God will give it with generosity and all of these things remind me that God is very present in this time, He is very aware and He is near. So, thanks God for getting me presents, they mean a lot to me.

Blue

So, my first photography class assignment was "blue". Wonderfully nebulous. Now, my hope was to get some kind of blue jay flying or capture blue lights moving. I wanted to think WAY out of the box and see what I could do with someone's blue eyes and come to find- wow, that neato artsy stuff is a lot harder than I thought so...here's my attempt at "Blue"...I am such a beginner :)



Lily. I love the blue from our TV and her dismal look makes it seem like she's got the blues



Nice graffiti wall in Austin



Now to me and my husband's credit...I did the settings, he took the shot...we should at least get partial credit :)



Ok, and this is just for grins...this is the blue I see a lot that makes me see red!

Updates on life and my unending quest to be self employed

So, I haven't written in awhile so here's a small summary:

1. Considering just paying a friend to knit things when I need them and paying talented people on Etsy...knitting I just don't think is my "thing"

2. Got a little carried away with "refurbishing" furniture and my garage started to look like an episode of Hoarders so new rule: 1 project at a time.

3. Got obsessed with "Lost", then "Pawn Stars" and now "American Pickers"...I'm a pretty fickle TV fan :)

4. Took/taking some photography classes and learning a lot!

5. Got my DBA so I can "Do Some Business As" L.Schott Artistry - the banner under which my crafting, painting, photography-ing, makeup and hair do-ing will all live.

So, I guess moving right along? I have never really been great at one thing. I've always been pretty good at a few things and maybe, just maybe it can work for me. I don't know if I should call myself a "Jane of All Trades" or a "Renaissance Woman" but I am trying to make the best of being an expert of nothing.

But maybe life isn't about being an expert...maybe its about always learning.

And just for grins some of my new favorite sayings/quotes as of late:

"Nut Up" - Landon

"I want to invent a churro pencil" - Erik Hanson (youth @ our church)

"I split a bagel with the garbage" - Harvard Sailing Team

New Homecoming Packages!

The school year has started and fall is on its way (although, I went outside today and it doesn't feel like it!) and with that comes...HOMECOMING.

Now, when I was in school, a very small private school, we didn't have football and we didn't really have an "alumni". So, Homecoming was just an excuse to have a dance and wear a formal dress. I had no idea the intention was to have a wonderful nostalgic experience with football, homecoming queens present and past and cheer together our good old home town team.

So, in honor of fall, Homecoming and nostalgia...I am offering Homecoming Packages:

1. Soloist - $30, $45
For the ultimate "low-maintenance" girl. The Soloist package will include either a full makeup application for $30 or a full hair do, any way you want it, for $45. This is for the girl who says "I'll let you do your part but I got this!" I'll need just 45 minutes to create your look so plan accordingly.

2. Rockstar - $60
The Rockstar is for the gal who wants to make a splash. For $60 I'll do a full makeup application and a hair-do (again any way you want it). This package is a great deal to look your best and save on the services! This only takes about an hour and a half so you have plenty of time to do whatever it is Rockstars need to do.


3. The VIP Party - $150
The party will definitely not start until ya'll walk in. The VIP Party package is designed for 3 friends to get ready together in one house! I will do a full makeup application and hair-do for each girl unique to her personality and dress. Enjoy the fun together as you watch each other transform from school day to Glamorous! This will take around 3 hours just to be safe so plan accordingly. And if you think you want to have a party for more than 3 please email me- I've got some very talented assistants who would love to help!

If you are interested in booking a package with me you can email me at lindsay.schott@gmail.com. Let me know what date you need and the package you would like. Feel free to email me about any questions you may have as well. I can't wait to get started!

Remember, Homecoming is coming up fast so book now!

Much love!

~Lindsay

PS- some of my fun, party makeup is below and don't be scared I can do "natural" too!

Knitting!

So, I would love, to learn to knit. Many photographers shoot newborns with thick, wooly, knitted blankets. My favorite though is the hats. I found this amazing hat on Etsy:



So, today I am working on just a coffee koozie but then...who knows what else. And to anyone who doesn't know what Etsy is or is looking for a very unique gift for just about anyone and anything - go here! www.etsy.com

I'll let you know about my progress...

More dream stuff and this post is catharsis

The word "catharsis" always sounds like some cardiac condition to me. Anyway, I've had a bit of junk in my head and blogging has helped me in the past so here I am again.

I had a dream two nights ago that Landon and I bought a new house. It was a beautiful ranch-style sprawling 1 story with 5 or 6 rooms. I was "modern" but originally made in the 50's or 60's so a very cool "vintage modern" (I made my own oxymoron term!). I loved this house! I knew the house spread to the right where there were 3 bedrooms I think and then I went down an opposite hallway and was surprised to find another hallway to another wing and another 3 bedrooms!

Seems very normal huh...

I had 3 dreams like this just before I found out I was pregnant.

Now, with all my weird dreaming I rarely repeat. I had 3 dreams before I was pregnant that we bought a house and upon move in I found there was a whole new wing of the house I never knew about. One was an incredible workroom/ studio, one was a room filled with incredible antique Asian furniture and art and another was just more house-living room and kitchen and such. Now this...more bedrooms.

I don't know if this is an expression of where I want to be...or something God is telling me. The dreams before seemed random and weird and then made sense when I was pregnant so I thought it was God but now...that dream is back.

So, I don't really think I'm pregnant but that strange, visceral desire burns in me to have a family. I don't feel like I can explain it and I don't feel like it even makes sense. I know part of me has just given up, already, its silly but I do that to protect myself. I don't know where this is going, I don't know what we'll do, I don't know where God is leading and I have no idea how it will end. I've heard people say "If God told you the future and how your life would unfold you would freak out and run in the other direction"...I really hope so.

Kaitlyn Burke Shoot

Alright, the long awaited senior shoot finally came...and it was hot out there- I mean REALLY hot. So, thanks to Kaitlyn, her mom and Casi for just toughing it out.

I can say with this shoot there were a lot of creative ideas in my head but I discovered the HUGE gap between the image in my head and the image that I get in my camera. I have a lot to learn. But I told myself, we all have to start somewhere, right?

I am very grateful for Casi who also shot with me and between the two of us, we got some great images. Kaitlyn is also very pretty so it wasn't that hard. But here's a small look at 4 of my best shots.









I'm also playing around with what Casi and I's logo will be but we feel pretty solid about our name. It's playful because it's our nicknames, you see that it's a partnership of friends and it's unique.

So, at the end of this shoot I concluded that I have a lot to learn but- better to come to that conclusion than think you know everything and limit yourself. So, I will be pondering this shoot, learning from it and finding everything I can on photography...let the roller coaster ride begin.

Elizabeth McMann Shoot

So, this is my first Senior Portrait session and I learned a lot. We had to wait out the sun a bit but we made it. Eli was a great sport and we tried lots of things. I am glad it worked out for her and for me...she was so easy to shoot. And again, photographers, let me know your thoughts!