Christmas Wishes

This Christmas season has been flying by in a blur. I don't even have all the ornaments on my tree and let me tell you , that's just not like me. I have been enjoying every minute though. I have met some wonderful new people and spent time with old friends, I hope you can do the same this Christmas.

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas,
Julie

My December newsletter is late but be on the look out for information about our Premiere card and January's Princess Garden limited edition sessions.

Coming Soon

Check back soon for some images from our Halloween Charity Bash. Special thanks to Home Depot in Oswego, and Anderson Tree farm on 126 for donating pumpkins for our event!

North Pole News

It's that time of year again! (I'm using an older post to fill you in)

I know everybody is still trying to decide what they are going to be for Halloween, but I've got such great news I'm just bursting to share it. I'll start by telling you that Santa and I go way back. He kept pretty close tabs on me when I was a little girl. He still drops by the house every Christmas and we never forget to leave him some cookies and milk. I have kids of my own now so I haven't asked him for anything in a really long time. This year on a whim, I decided to give him a call and put in a request before things got crazy up there. Let me tell you, true to form, the big guy came through! Mettler Portraits is proud to announce the arrival of one of Santa's own reindeer! He'll be staying with us through Christmas and can you believe it, he loves to have his picture taken. He's still a little guy, his antlers barely come up to my chin so book a sitting early, by next year he may be strong enough to pull the sleigh and then he'll be too busy training to come and stay with us.

That's right our old friend is training with the big guys now but we have a new little friend this year and he's not camera shy either. Stop by our Halloween Bash (details on the Sept. 10th post) to say hello and help us name him.

A little clip of Summer

I've been so buzy this summer, I haven't gotten a chance to post many pictures. I threw this together very quickly this morning before my sitting. Thank you to all of you who helped me save a bit of summer with these pictures. (I wish I could have added images from every session.)
Enjoy!
J.

Halloween Bash

Please click on the image for a larger view. Call now to schedule your time slot. 630 421-0246.

Floribunda - This Garden is Mine

In every way, under every aspect, in every season, Spring, Winter, Summer, Autumn, this little enclosure exhaled melancholy, contemplation, solitude, liberty, the absence of man, the presence of God, and the old rusty gating appeared to say: This garden is mine.

-Victor Hugo

While to the contrary, Floribunda is not mine at all but open to the public, it did seem to call my name as I drove by the other day. Have you ever been to Floribunda? If you have you understand why it makes me think of the above quote. It is a beautiful nursery located at 2093 Collins Road in Oswego. The plants for sale are displayed under a canopy of leaves from the surrounding trees and tucked in and around the perennial plants that grow on the property.

It is also the site of one of my upcoming photo sessions. The owner of Floraibunda, Nancy, has graciously allowed me to use her nursery as the beautiful backdrop for my latest undertaking.

I am looking for little models. If you have a little girl or know one who likes to dress up and wears a 4t or 5t please contact me through the website below. The dates for the photo shoot are yet to be determined. If you would like to get an idea of the type of work this will be you may see "The Root Children" at my website under galleries. http://www.mettlerportraits.com/

If you are interested in some new plants for your yard, check out Floribunda.
http://www.floribundagardens.com/
Wed., Fri....10-5
Saturday......9-5
You may hear the rusty gate call your name too.

Julie

Custom Senior Pictures

At Mettler Portraits you can get more than just your average senior pictures.

Feelin' the love

Oh doesn't it just make your heart melt? At our house moments like this are few and far between. These two must not ever fight, and if they do....why, that's why you have these pictures.

Senior pictures

Newborn Photography

One of my favorite little girls came by with her new little brother. What fun we had! Being photogenic must run in the family.

Senior Photography, Oswego, Il

Welcome Class of 2010.

Senior Summer

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it"
-Alan Kay

Congratulations to all the 2009 graduates and welcome class of 2010. So begins my senior summer. I am looking forward to spending time with my seniors this month. I have some very exciting sessions coming up. Let's not forget the babies though. I'll be snuggling up to two new one's next week. I can't wait to post the sneak peeks. Have a great weekend all and Happy Summer!!

Thank you all

Inside you there's an artist you don't know about...Say yes quickly, if you've known it from before the beginning of the universe.
-Jalai Ud-Din Rumi

May marks the one year anniversary of Mettler Portraits. To thank all our customers who have helped to make us a success we threw them a party! Congratulations to our prize winners, Jennifer from Oswego, Sonia from Oswego and Lisa from Carol Stream.

I would like to take a moment now to tell you all how blessed I feel being able to work with you. Knowing you and your families has enriched my life. Thank you for letting me share in your pregnancies, births, birthdays, ages and stages. I truly get the best slices of life.

Julie

Spring

Spring, when all the world is new!

My website has gone live. Check out more of my work at

mettlerportraits.com

Happy Birthday

I have a website!!!

http://mettlerportraits.com/ WOOHOO!!! I HAVE A WEBSITE!!!! At long last my website has gone live.
Please check it out.

new sitting

Do you wanna dance?

Catch Up

Time for me to play catch up. I still have three more proof sets to post but I wanted to take a minute to thank all of you who voted in the National Charity Model Search. Your donations will mean so much to those families who must endure the unimaginable. Here is a sneak peek for one of my patient families (thank you!)

last day to vote

Today is the last day to vote in the National Charity Model Search!!!Hi all,
Today is the last day you will hear me banging my drum about the model search. Some of you did ask me to remind you of the deadline so, here it is.

Today is the last day to vote!!!

Please remember, your donation helps families who suffer the heartbreaking loss of a newborn. NILMSTS and their growing team of volunteer photographer's provide treasured keepsakes to the families of the only time spent with their beloved babies. This is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. The link is below. I currently have 2 girls in the top ten, Alexandra Brummel and Alexis Canon. Good Luck to all and many thanks to all who participated!
http://www.sandypucvotes.com/pickpic/gallery/jump.php

I just have to share!!! One of my clients traveled with the Nouveau Dance Company from Plainfield, IL to Davenport, Iowa this past Saturday. She participated in the Starpower dance competition and a most photogenic contest. The dance company took many top honors including numerous Platinum and Double Platinum awards. Way to go girls and our own Alexis Canon won Most Photogenic, beautiful and talented!! We couldn't be prouder!

The winning photograph!

Final Days of Voting

Time is running out but voting continues for the Nation Charity Model Search. Votes must be in by April 2nd to help me raise funds for, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. Please vote for a Mettler Portrait cutie. These families have joined with me to raise funds for this deserving organization. A most heartfelt thank you goes out to them. Go to the link below and click on Chicago. Mettler Portrait kids can be found under B, C, H, L, M, and T. http://www.sandypucvotes.com/pickpic/gallery/jump.php

Your donation helps families who suffer the heartbreaking loss of a newborn. NILMSTS and their growing team of volunteer photographer's provide treasured keepsakes to the families of the only time spent with their beloved babies. Read more from 2 articles that ran in Newsweek magazine:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/182665

http://www.newsweek.com/id/182572/1

Thank you all,

Julie

Extra, Extra - Portrait to be exhibited

I just found out one of my portraits has been voted into an exhibit that will run from April 6th-May 6th at Waubonsee. If you are passing through Sugar Grove then please stop by to see it in the Arrowhead room at Dickson Center. The work is entitled "Piece of Me" Also on display will be approximately 25 works from the 2009 Skyway Competition.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Mettler Portraits is proud to be involved in the National Charity Model Search that is raising funds for the non-profit organization, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. I myself have been blessed with three healthy children, so my heart goes out to those who must endure the loss of an infant. If you will, please take a moment to read the article that ran in the February 9th issue of Newsweek magazine about this charity, http://www.newsweek.com/id/182665.



If you would like to make a contribution to Now I lay Me Down To Sleep you may do so through voting at the following link: http://www.sandypucvotes.com/pickpic/gallery/jump.php Mettler Portraits children are entered into the Model Search under the Chicago Il category. Each vote is $1.
If you would like to enter your child please email me at metro_jm@sbcglobal.net or call me at (630)421-0246. For more information on the model search scroll down to see my December entry.

Photograph to be published

And now let us welcome the New Year
Full of things that have never been.
-Rainer Maria Rilke
2008 saw Mettler Portraits make a bit of a splash. (hopefully not flash, as in, the pan) For the first time I had work appear in an exhibit. I also was able to see one of my images published in a Best of Photography annual. It was a great year and it's bittersweet to see it end, but 2009 is a new year that has already brought things that have never been; the opportunity to participate in the National Charity Model Search and my trip to Arizona to meet Anne Geddes. 2009 promises change and the chance for adventure and so I look forward to what will be.
The New Year brings excitement for one my of my clients as well. The photograph below is one of my favorites and at the (very) last minute I entered it into a contest. For this little sweetie, this will be the year she appears in a book. (a second publication for me) Wouldn't it be wonderful if the next big news I announce is one of my clients winning the $5,000 savings bond for the National Charity Model Search?!
For those of us in the Midwest, January is still a time for hot chocolate and fires in the hearth. The snow is still falling and the temperature can chill your soul. So no matter where you live, surround yourself with those you love, count your blessings, close your eyes and dream big, our futures await!
Blessings,
Julie If you would like to enter your child for a chance to win the $5,000 savings bond from the National Charity Model Search please call me at (630) 421-0246 or email me metro_jm@sbcglobal.net. Scroll down past the Anne Geddes post to read more about the National Charity Model Search.

An Evening with Anne Geddes

Model search info-Scroll down

Please don't pinch me. If I'm dreaming I don't want to wake up 'til Wednesday. I'm on my way to Phoenix AZ for an Evening with Anne Geddes! My Birthday is just around the corner and my husband surprised me with the trip last night. (THANK YOU to all who cheerfully rescheduled their sittings.) I have been, not so subtly, hinting for many months now that I would love to go and had given up hope and started booking those days!

The Imaging Expo.
I cant wait! Along with Anne Geddes I will be getting pointers from Sandy Puc, (national model search coordinator) Julie Klaasmeyer :), and what a personal bonus for me, Audrey Wancket. For those of you who have been to my home you know Audrey is my own inspiration. Her portraits of my children have hung in my home for many years. What an opportunity, what a gift?! (Thank you Honey) So please don't pinch me!!

See you when I get back.