At a certain point we have had to come to terms that we cannot do it all, we must delegate – or we will surely fail. But this person that I have been dreaming about, I found, was not an easy person to find. It had to be someone we could trust with this business (the 3rd child), someone that understands our personality quirks, someone that would jump in, take the reins, and run with them. We dreamt that this person would bring their own expertise to the table, and help us find a better way to do things – to help take this business to another level.

Well…I am happy to say that we found her, and that person is one of my very best friends, Jill (I call her “Jilly Bean” or “Bean”…but you can call her Jill).

I have always loved my Jilly Bean, from the first day we were introduced at Southern, she was someone that just got me (not an easy feat). My unpredictable behavior, my irrational outbursts, my table dancing, my giddy all nighters before exams, my Starbucks addiction, and my obsession with then boyfriend, Eric (and cat, Ralphie). I can really say she has been there through most of our major life events and us for hers (click here to see her wedding images), I love that she quietly came into our room at Yale and held Avery the day she was born, she flew to Vegas to be in our wedding, and was an accomplice to so many of our shenanigans.

The best thing? She thinks Eric is the funniest person ever, and laughs out loudly at both of us, often. Many of you know that we have been seeking some help on the business front, some organization, and I have been on a serious mission searching for our “Queen of all Things” for quite some time.

Please welcome Jill everyone, she has changed our lives so much already, and you will love her – she’s exactly what Raw Photo Design has been missing!

Posted under news!, personal

So, you probably already know that we have been traveling A LOT – for business (mostly), not just pleasure. However, squeezing in some family time with our kids and loved ones is more important to us than ever before! When you are traveling to awesome places for weddings and shoots, and you are also fortunate enough to bring your kids along, it feels like the most complete little life package ever. I like to pretend that we are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (except we travel to Washington DC in our Honda Element, not to Nice, France in our private Learjet)…yet

First stop on our recent family adventure is always a huge favorite of mine, Newport, Rhode Island. Just wait till you see the images from the wedding we photographed there with Joanne of Picture Perfect USA at the Rosecliff Mansion on Bellevue Aveune.

The day after the wedding, we were not sure what to do, my parents were in town with us (they watched the kids while we shot the wedding) so we wanted to do something extra fun together. Joanne used to live in Newport and highly recommended the Flyer Catamaran sailing tour, so off we went at sunset. And I have to say, it was incredible!

How cute are my parents?

Ave and Ry made a friend and he had an iPod touch, so needless to say, they were intrigued…sigh.

Off to Washington, DC, or “Washington CD” according to Ryder for Jen & AJ’s awesome engagement session! We went to see all the typical DC stuff since the kids had not been there before, including the Carousel on the National Mall. Between us, the Carousel was pretty ghetto, but the kids dug it, it’s the simple things.

So, it was steaming hot. Like 100 degrees, easily. We took some shots of the kids near the fountain at the Sculpture Garden….

…then Ryder took it upon himself to dive into the sprinklers watering the nearby gardens, it was way too impulsive and shocking to be mad. We just took his picture instead.

Much needed ice cream after our visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. Good times.

I guess we are those sucker parents that can’t resist spaceships at the museum gift shop.

I will just go ahead and assume that my kids are not alone – apparently there is NOTHING more fun than jumping on hotel room beds.

Well, other than jumping on hotel room beds.

Hello Cape Cod, Hello Taylor Family. While I was very busy and very stressed out in the indoor wave pool at The Cape Codder Resort (wink, wink), Nicole Taylor and Eric were off shooting an awesome wedding on the Cape in Mashpee, Massachusetts. The good news is that the day after the wedding, we had a chance to play at Craigville Beach with our kids.

Nicole’s little Carson, too cute. Our little blondie kids look like they could all be related!

So much fun, it is so hard to believe that school is starting in a few weeks, makes me even more grateful for this amazing family time!

Posted under families & kids, personal

Eric Langlois (“lang-lou-ah”), my husband (the photographer guy), is Canadian…
French was even his first language…awwww (his mom loves to tell people that).

What does that mean? It means we get to take an annual trip to Sherbrooke, Quebec, so that our kids can see their
A-MAZING Great-Grandparents, we can eat Poutine, visit relatives and cousins to brush up on our French, and do as the Canadian’s do with lots of playtime, swimming, riding on quads, visiting local farms, drinking wine at lunch, Labatt Bleue at dinner, and eating lots of yummy Canadian food. Our kids are so happy there, we disconnected (I am sure you noticed), because family has gotta be what it is all about for this boat to float.

This trip, especially with Eric’s mom was really special for us, the weather was gorgeous, we shot a cousin’s Trash the Dress in Montreal (killer), we had quality time with the most important people in our lives.

And I must say how much we really appreciate the patience of all of our “out of this world” clients that allowed us to reset.

Below are some favorite images from our trip, the kids totally nailed their rockstar faces (take notes)! And tough question, which one do you think gets the vote for this year’s Christmas card? I really cannot pick a favorite!

So, we visited the COOLEST zoo on the planet, the Granby Zoo, in Granby, Quebec. This place would never legally fly in the US. First of all, it is a Waterpark/Zoo (genius) and they have very few (if any) rules about the animals…so they pretty much stroll right along with you. Ryder was riding a pig at one point, and I felt like I was on another planet, but, anyway, this moment below was precious! Avery put her hand up to the glass and this furry little guy came right over and put his hand up to match. Priceless.

Here’s Ryder showing Ma Tante Lucille the magic of Silly Bandz, don’t worry, before we left the kids made sure the relatives all had one to show off at the senior center.

Avery & Ryder’s adorable little cousin Sara….hearing her speak French was possibly the cutest thing I have ever heard.

Grammie and Pop-Pop! Someday they are going to build a statue of this lady, she runs circles around me – that is for sure. And whenever we stay with her, she does not allow the kids to wake us up in the morning, she loves children, and enjoys every minute with them, so this is her rule. I suggest if you do not have a lady like this in your life – go get one, she is such an inspiration and totally responsible for us getting so much rest!

What do you do when you go to a cheese farm?
You eat Out of This World cheese.
What do you do after that?
You take a rockstar picture with the cows…

Fromagerie La Station in Compton, Quebec is a little nugget of serious goodness. If you like cheese, go there.
And…take pictures with the cows.

and the corn.

The wave pool was a huge hit with these 3, I could barely get them out!

Good times! We are back, and ready to rock and roll!

Posted under personal