So You by Erica Sue with Sew You by Erica Sue: Where the Wild Things Are

Since Lower Elementary has a Storybook Parade at school, my boys’ costumes usually have a storybook theme.  This year though was big one’s first year in Upper Elementary, and instead they have a Vocabulary Parade.  He got the word “monstrous”, which we figured would go perfectly with “Where the Wild Things Are”.  I made little one Max’s wolf suit, and big one was a Wild Thing.  He chose to create his own Wild Thing that wasn’t in the book, rather than emulating one of the characters in the story.

I used Butterick B3238 for the headpieces (since I already had the pattern cut out from Curious George last year) and substituted ears that we created.  I used Pellon sew-in heavyweight interfacing so the ears would stand up, and sandwiched that between felt. For Max, I traced some khaki pants, and sewed buttons onto an Old Navy shirt.  The Wild Thing is wearing gray pants he already had and we sewed his belly and spikes onto an Old Navy shirt.  Both boys have felt “claws” sewn to their sleeve openings. 

Here are some photos of our pre-trick-or-treating “wild rumpus” as the sun set over our street.
“The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another…”


“…till Max said “BE STILL!” and tamed them with the magic trick of staring into all their yellow eyes without blinking once and they were frightened and called him the most wild thing of all…”
“And now,” cried Max, “let the wild rumpus start!”
“But the wild things cried, “Oh please don’t go – we’ll eat you up – we love you so!”

Anna, Jonathan, and Coralee Maternity

After such a beautiful session with this family, I was excited to get them in front of my camera again, this time for a maternity session!  When Anna told me her vision for this shoot included flowers for the girls’ hair, I thought the abundant nature at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park would be the perfect backdrop.  We got a little more nature than we expected as we were pretty much attacked by no-see-ums.  Ugh!  But we didn’t let a swarm of tiny insects stop us!  We just kept re-applying insect repellant and cortisone cream, and smiling for the camera!  I’m still itching the heck out of my bites, but for photos this lovely, it was worth it!

Rachel, Greg, Ellie, and Cullen

For the past few years, this family has had their annual family portrait taken by my mentor, the best wedding photographer in the business, Ricky Stern, and this year, I was to have that honor!  Needless to say, I had big shoes to fill!  This family made it easy though, as they were AMAZING with giving me great candid moments. It's a tough balance between poses and free-for-all so insane I can't capture you, and they nailed it.  I always say to just be yourselves in front of the camera and I’ll be able to capture the moments that are “So You”, and this family did just that.

This was a special on-location session, as they recently moved into this house, and wanted to capture that memory.  Lucky for us both, behind them to the West is a golf course, which means lovely golden hour sunset lighting.  Cullen is also lucky enough to have a drain in his front yard so he can say hello to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles any time he wants!  I wish this family many more happy memories in their new home!

Abby’s Bat Mitzvah Celebration

Abby was Bat Mitzvah’d this summer in Israel, and after meeting her and her mom for her pre-Mitzvah portrait session, I was looking forward to capturing her celebration.  They “claimed the night” at the newly remodeled CYN (which stands for Claim Your Night, formerly Off the Hookah).  Abby looked beautiful beyond her years in her shiny purple party dress, a color which carried through to her family’s clothing, balloons, dance props, dessert, and favors.  Pure Energy Entertainment kept the crowd going as they enjoyed the bi-level dance floor / stage, colorful lights, and blasts of fog.  It was a high energy celebration, and I wish Abby and her family Mazel Tov, and may they look forward to celebrating many more simchas together.