St. Louis Photographer » A Journal by Holly McCaig

Look at my cutesy pie, Jack! On the Featured Layout at 2Peas in a Bucket!

You can click here to go to the layout and see it a little bigger.

Last night, I was hired to photograph a group of networking women in Belleville, IL at Candid Gifts on Main Street. Melissa owns this adorable little store and her real specialty is corporate gifts for businesses. How did I ever meet this talented and lucky lady? Through the awesome and great friend of mine, Tammy Tutterow of course! Tammy and Melissa are sisters-in-law.

April and I headed over to set up and walked in with our jaws dropped. This space is perfect and so what I’d dream of seeing in my own future space! But, her products are so unique and so original. Not the kind of thing you find just anywhere. I love that! She also hosts a few local artists on consignment too – so I have to support that for sure!

Before I get started on editing the headshots from our event, I’m thrilled to show you this cute store. I walked around to grab a few great shots for her. If you’re in Belleville, stop by on 18 East Main at Candid Gifts!

I love this ceiling!

Let’s see. It’s a busy world out there. I’ve been spending all day trying to maintain my inbox. Geesh. I let it go for two weeks and four hours later, I’ve finally got it under control. It’s obvious that I have to do that daily.

So, this past week has been cold and icy here in St. Louis. Well, not nearly as icy as those have experienced south of us, but enough for me to see some slips and slides. We have snow on the ground. I expect it to melt tomorrow because we are hitting up to 40-something degrees. Thank you!

Last Saturday, I attended our monthly, St. Louis Blogger’s Guild meeting. I highly recommend people in the area that blog joining this group. It’s a great way to network and meet more people that can help you out in the blogging world. While I was there, I did some headshots for people. Nothing says professional like a good headshot for your blog! Let people see you! Here are a few that I did (still waiting on some other’s to view their proofs):

Blogs you can check out of these amazing people:

A Bun’s Life

Scott Robert’s Web

2 Guys Talking

Parachuting Without A Net

Thanks to Shock City Music for letting me use the “Dream Room” with the amazing light.

Last night, I was part of a professional portrait night at Candid Gifts in Belleville, IL. What a great event hosted by the lovely Melissa Tutterow over there. Her shop is adorable and I promise a new blog post about that soon so you can see it. I recommend you check them out over there!

Hope you’re having a great week and can’t wait to share more later!

21 years ago today, I was a freshman in high school and my mom was scheduled to be induced with our wonderful surprise, “Baby Jake”. That’s what we have always called him. All day long, I waited patiently, wondering. I had to go to school anyway! Of course, I was much more calm and collected than when I was six years old and had to go to school the day my mom went in to have my sister, Amanda. Then, the school’s administration had to call my father for someone to come and get me because I was so antsy.

Jake changed our lives forever. At 15, I had a newborn brother! Through the years, we laughed and had so much fun with him. My father would have been so mad if he had seen how many times we put dresses on him. Or when that sweet face would do what I told him and say bad words like, “damn, and hell”. HA HA. Yes, we used to make him curse!

But, the best part is that he’s done an amazing job at being the man of our family. I wish our dad and our sister could see what an amazing man he’s become. His head is firmly on his shoulders. He’s so smart and determined. I can’t be any more proud than I am of him.

So, here’s to a wonderful, exciting time of your life and celebrating your 21st birthday, Jake! I know you have to work long shifts today through Saturday, but on Sunday, we’ll have your first (legal) beer!

All my love,

Your Big Sister, Holly

I feel as though my poor blog is being neglected these days. Usually, I blog every day. I’ve just had such a full plate and as it clears off, I pile on more.

Remedy?

iPhone blogging. So nice to have the Wordpress app.

So, I’m alive. Trying to fall asleep. Thinking about how I need to blog last weekend’s headshot sessions and how I’ll be doing another one in Belleville tomorrow.

It’s how life rolls these days. Grateful the big snow was yesterday and not today.

More creative posts to come in the future. night!