Thank you to our beautiful (you’ll see just  how beautiful soon ) and generous panel of judges. One of the tougher jobs to do – to read the heart-wrenching stories of inspiration and hard challenges to pick one out of all very deserving women. We truly embrace and honor every single one of you. And know that you can always nominate yourself or another again.:)

Our winner this round is….Linda Conti! An adoptive mom later in life who went after all options and who has taken many into her heart. Linda, we celebrate you!

Her dear friend, Venea wrote:

“I would like to nominate my friend Linda. Family, friends and relationships are so important to Linda. She loves capturing relationships in portraiture. She takes pride and centers her life around her family, and still finds time to take care of others.

Linda and her husband tried for 12 years to have children, during which time Linda underwent acupuncture, herbal remedies, artificial insemination and embryo adoption, to fulfill Linda’s lifelong dream of becoming a mother. The last round of embryo adoption and implantation worked, and she was able to experience pregnancy, giving continued life to a baby created by another couple, but rendered unneeded by them after they attained their desired pregnancies. Linda’s joy was short lived as she suffered the tragic loss of the pregnancy a while later. Prior to the pregnancy Linda and her husband had opened their home to foster children and Linda was able to enjoy the responsibility of being a foster mom. Finally they were blessed with two beautiful children to adopt into their lives and home forever, now ages 5 and 8.

Linda lives for her children, most days driving them the 25 miles to school herself. While the children are in school, Linda finds time to volunteer. When not working in her children’s classroom, she is also a volunteer member of the National Assistants League of Everett, Kitty Young Auxiliary, which is for Working Women, volunteering for several philanthropic projects. Among the many projects, Linda donates time to the NW Regional Learning Center for disenfranchised teens, and one of Linda’s favorites, Operation School Bell where Linda is basically a personal shopper, helping match up needy children in Snohomish County with appropriate school clothes and basic supplies.

2 years ago when health prevented Linda’s mom from living at home anymore, Linda moved her father (now 83!) in to live with her.

Hard economic times have forced Linda and her husband to have to weigh their expenses, through no fault of their own. They had built their dream house out of sweat equity and are raising their family there. Unfortunately, just prior to the economy crashing, they put their house as collateral and built an investment home, in an effort to further secure their financial future. The colossal drop in value of both homes has caused them to risk loosing their investments and their financial future. Linda is always exploring new ways to expand her photographic abilities to offer a means to provide for her family. She is working tirelessly to build a clientele to help ensure her family’s security.

Linda could greatly benefit from a weekend of renewal. She got her first camera when she was 11 and I would love to see her advance and succeed. She is always doing for others and deserves a break for herself! In case you are wondering, I know she is available and I will gladly watch her children for her if her husband wants!

As Linda has blessed all who know her, I would love the blessings be returned!! Thank you for your consideration ”

Congratulations Linda!! I hope you’ll find both respite and inspiring joy at the workshop.  Brian and I look forward to giving you a BIG HUG this weekend!

xo,

m

p.s.  Three Spots Left for this Weekend in Seattle!

This Saturday and Sunday we have our CONFIDENCE Workshop in Seattle!  Want to start the New Year off with confidence in your photography and a creative spirit that is refreshed?! Then come join us!  Ladies only!  CLICK HERE for details!  Or you can email Genie (genie@merakoh.com) with any questions.  ALL LEVELS WELCOME!

Brian and I are coming to Vegas and Tennessee in February, and we would LOVE to meet you!

First stop is  WPPI 2012, February 16th-23rd in Vegas!

Wishing you could have a reunion with your CONFIDENCE sisters?  Why not WPPI!  Take it from the San Diego CONFIDENCE Workshop!  These ladies have kept up this reunion for three years now!

WPPI is the largest Wedding and Portrait Photography Conference!  Thousands of photographers come from all over the world, but don’t fret.  The attendees range from beginner to old pro.  The speaking sessions are awesome, down to earth, and cover EVERY THING you could think of from lighting, posing, social media, running a business, etc.  Every product, vendor, I mean…any photography related THING, is at the tradeshow–and often vendors save their BIGGEST discounts to offer to WPPI attendees.  So if you are thinking of upgrading your camera equipment, save your dollars and do it at WPPI!  This is an amazing conference!  It’s one of our Grand Prize awards in the Nielsen Photo contests!  In fact, I’m super excited for Leah, the Grand Prize winner of the New Beginnings Contest to go!  She gets full registration to WPPI as one of her prizes!

Remember the talk I gave at Photo Plus in NY called “Using Social Media Strategically:  What Works vs What is Noise”?  I know a lot of you were unable to attend Photo Plus but wanted to hear the talk!  You are in luck!!  The audience feedback was so great in NY, WPPI is letting me bring the talk to Vegas!

Mark your calendars.  My session will be on Wed, February 22nd, from 8-10am!  I will also be doing several shooting demonstrations at the SONY booth on the tradeshow floor.

So you better say hi!    Register for WPPI and save your spot for my talk online today!

From Vegas, we fly to Tennessee for  Blissdom 2012!

Calling all women who love blogging, taking pictures, writing and dream of running your own business (or currently have a business)!  Blissdom brings 750 women together for a two day conference that will blow your socks off and infuse you with inspiration and friendship!  I’ll be teaching all day on Friday for those interested in photography!  My talk is titled “Shoot Like a Woman”!  And I can’t wait to meet you there!  This is my first time going to Tennessee, so EXCITED!

Blissdom is held at the  Opryland Hotel.  From what I hear, this place is a great family vacation spot too!

But first, before our CONFIDENCE Workshop in Seattle and Florida, before WPPI in Vegas, before Blissdom in Tennessee, we head to Costa Rica this week to shoot a very, very special wedding!  (Bring me sunshine!)

So where am I going to see you this new year?  Seattle, Florida, Vegas, Tennessee or California?  …Costa Rica?

xo,

m

I’ve been catching up on holiday emails, and I found one that took me by total surprise!  Turns out I was nominated for the Stiletto Woman in Business Awards.

Out of 300 nominations, I’m a Finalist for THREE different categories;

Inspirational Entrepreneur of the Year

Artistic Entrepreneur of the Year

Photography Business of the Year!

Wow, wow, and wow!

I’m a bit speechless!  Seriously speechless!

Thank you so much to the people who nominated me, I feel completely honored and wow…speechless!  If you feel comfortable letting me know who you are, I’d love to send you a personal note of thanks.  What a wonderful surprise and gift to be nominated by you!

Thank you to the Stiletto Woman in Business!  Their community and magazine empower women in business leadership, and seriously, that is an incredible…beautiful committment that I can’t say enough about.

Congrats also to Keri Doolittle, a fellow SONY shooter, who was also nominated!  (Go Keri!)

It looks like they are doing a special conference for women.  We’ve been invited to come for the awards ceremony, and I’m so sad that our calendar is already booked for those dates.  But if you are in the Atlanta, Georgia area, it looks like a great day of women being inspired!

I know I said it already, but wow.  I’m so moved by this news.  Again, thank you so much.

xo,

m

I’m so excited to say that I will be doing a live interview with Martha Stewart Living Radio TODAY!  We are talking about family photo tips for the holidays!  Feel free to call in with your questions while I’m on the air!  The number is 866-675-6675!  It’d be so fun to have you join the conversation with a juicy, fun question!  You can also twitter your questions (or just tweet “Great job @merakoh” ) to @martharadio.

To watch more Family Photo Tips, and see how photography can transform and heal a family, see my latest Nate Berkus Show segments!  Or you can click here for my latest Photo Recipe for Capturing Wild Texan Boys and a Family Holiday Photo!

4 Good Things to Know!

1. Tomorrow (Friday) is also the LAST day to order our instructional DVD series, Refuse to Say Cheese and Beyond the Green Box, for holiday arrival! They’ve been flying out the door this week!  So fun to have them back in stock for the holidays!

2. You also have until tomorrow to win a copy of my book, Your Baby in Pictures, AND the SONY 3D Bloggie HD Camera by entering your favorite baby photo to the Random House/Crown Publishing photo contest on FB!  CLICK HERE to enter!

3. Give your wife the gift of CONFIDENCE with her camera in 2012!  Need help being convinced?  Here are the Top 12 Reasons a Husband Should Send His Wife to CONFIDENCE.    We have limited spots left in our Seattle and Orange County/LA, CA Winter workshops.  Women only (sorry guys!).  Tampa, FL is SOLD OUT!  CLICK HERE for Seattle Details and Orange Country/LA Details!

4. And, if your looking for a photo lover-stocking stuffer, join me on my FB page every day at 10am for a new contest and giveaways that your photo enthusiast will LOVE!

xo,

m

As a thank you to the military for all they give, especially the sacrifice to be away from home this time of year, I twittered a call out last week for military families to be my models on Seattle’s morning show, New Day.  My hope was to bring a little more awareness to these special families during the holiday season.

Kelly and her two daughters came with a framed photo of dad who is stationed in South Afghanistan.  He’s been gone for four months and has eight more to go.  (To the amazing dad of Lauren and Nicole, thank you so much for all you give.  You should be proud of your girls, they did AMAZING on TV.)  The second family is Capt. Borg, his wife Kristen and their 10 month old baby.  Capt. Borg helps head up the Warrior Transition Battalion, helping soldiers reenter life off the battle field.  It was an honor to personally meet both families and especially have them as my models for Family Photo Tips.  Hope you enjoy the segment, and most of all, a heartfelt thank you to all military families.

Today’s Daily December FB Contest has to do with thanking and honoring the military.  Starts at 10am and last 24 hours!  CLICK HERE to join us!

xo,

m

_____________________________________________

Our Favorite Holiday Gift Ideas for the Photo Lovers!

1. The Gift of CONFIDENCE with your Camera!   Tampa CONFIDENCE Workshop  is SOLD OUT!  Only a few spots left for Seattle’s and Orange County/LA CONFIDENCE Workshops!

2. Me Ra’s national bestselling book, “Your Baby in Pictures“, includes forty of her favorite Photo Recipes for capturing your baby and the password to watch ten of the Photo Recipes from Behind the Scenes!  See the trailer here!

3.  Her award winning DVD series, Refuse to Say Cheese and Beyond the Green Box.  FOX News featured these dvds as a Top Ten Holiday Gift!  The DVDs are back in stock for stuffing your stockings!  Orders must be received by Friday, December 16th to guarantee holiday shipping and arrival!

Do you still need to get your family photo done for holiday cards? If so, tune in this week on Thursday as Nate Berkus sends me to a special family who need family photos! I’m giving TONS of tips on how to take your family holiday photo (and more) in less than 30 minutes!

But it’s not all about photo tips. We are also transforming a family’s life with a special design surprise and something the mom never expected. That something is what Nate is pointing to in this photo. I was in tears, and I can’t wait for you to see!  It shows how powerful photography is in our lives.

But it’s not all about photo tips.  We are also transforming a family’s life with a special design surprise and something the mom never expected.  That something is what Nate is pointing to in this photo.  I was in tears, and I can’t wait for you to see!

I want to give a BIG thank you to SONY for also giving this mom the camera everyone wants this holidays! She is getting the SONY Alpha NEX 5 Digital Camera, and it’s for a special reason.

Set your DVR and tune in THIS THURSDAY for the most special show I’ve ever done for Nate Berkus.  We are transforming a family’s life with a camera (thank you SONY!), photo tips to capture your family holiday photo, smart design, and more!

Honestly, I was in tears working on this show.  This family is so special, facing challenges many of you will relate too.  It’s a honor to help Nate bring some sunshine and unexpected transformation to this family’s life.

My favorite part, the part I will NEVER forget, has everything to do with what Nate’s pointing at.  Can you guess what he’s pointing at?  Tune in Thursday to see it all!

And be watching for the AMAZING audience/viewer Holiday Discount that CanvasRox is giving!

It’s all coming this Thursday on The Nate Berkus Show!

Woo hoo!!!

xo,

m

CLICK HERE to see all the photo tips I’ve given on The Nate Berkus Show!

Today is going to be special for us.  I’m not sure how, but I’m going to look for it in small things–while being open to big things too.  I mean, it’s 11-11-11 today!  The date alone is pretty crazy and fun!  Right?!

We are getting things prepped for our Dallas CONFIDENCE Workshop this weekend with a few special mini photo shoots this afternoon…I’m so excited.   But before I head out to scout our mini location, I want to leave this special interview with you.

Some of you may have already got my FB news feed, but if not, I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss it.  Many of you have emailed me and asked me to do an interview of myself for our monthly Amazing Mom posts.  Well ladies, this is my version.  Women, especially moms with cameras, have been heavy on my heart–more than ever.   When Clickin Moms, a wonderful community of moms who love photography, asked me to do an intimate interview for them–I thought of all of you.  After four hours of going deep into the heart of why I do what I do, the interview is now live on their blog.

CLICK HERE to read the interview

May it empower you with your camera and comfort you in knowing you are not alone.

All my love and respect,

m

p.s. And you may find a special gift at the end of the interview that has to do with our CONFIDENCE Workshops and the number 50.    (I told you today had good things in store!)

Her words of wisdom give me comfort as I sit in my office in aisle 11, seat D.

Fay had been with us for 48 hours to observe all the different places that energy unnecessary leaked in our home, our family culture.  After Brian and I put the kids to be we talked late into the night.  She had made several observations over the last two days, but one of them rocked my world as a parent.  She said something to the effect of “I notice…you seem to spend a lot of energy throughout the day on trying to fill your kids’ cup with love, as much love as you can, but I also notice from your behavior that after they are in bed you seem to think the cup is now empty and you have to refill it all over again the next morning.  Me Ra, there are no holes in the bottom of your cup!  That cup you fill with love never, EVER empties.  And the truth is that your children will draw from that cup at unexpected times, as you will too, throughout their whole life.  But as you live each day, loving your children, you fill the cup more and more and more.”

I was speechless.  “Me Ra, there are no holes in the bottom of your cup.”

How often have I reacted to my parenting as if the opposite was true?  When a trip is coming up, and I’m not going to see the kids for a few days, I can easily get frantic inside that my love won’t be able to reach the kids because I’m not there to fill their cup of love.  When I stand in the airport and look at the myriad of parenting magazines, everything seems to focus on what we can “do” with our kids rather than who we can “be” for our kids.

Fay wasn’t finished.  With tears in her eyes, she spoke of her two sons who are both men now.  She said, “From one parent who has gone before you, can I tell you that the greatest gift you can give your children is a love for themselves.  If they love who they are, treasure who they are, it will impact every decision they make for the rest of their days.  And when you aren’t looking, they will draw from the cup of love that you have filled over the years–that holds all the truth about how much you love them through and through.”

This was in early June.  We only had one trip for work over the summer.  Fay encouraged me to fill the cup throughout the summer, but from a place that believes there aren’t holes in the bottom–from a place that believes the cup only becomes more and more full.  This was our plan because October loomed ahead, the month I would only be home for six days.  It would be important for me to know during the craziness of this month that the kids had a cup to draw from, a cup of wonderful, simple memories from the summer of long walks, lazy bbq dinners, working in the garden together, camping, giggling over hula lessons for homeschool

and just being…drawing on their experiences of being loved on by mom.

When The Nate Berkus Show called and asked if I could come to NY a couple days early for a project tomorrow…I knew it would mean I would only have four days home this month.  I pictured that cup of love in my heart, full and potent from the summer and our recent week in DC, and it gave me strength.

When I kissed the kids goodbye, I didn’t have guilt in my eyes.  And I could tell that this gave them that much more freedom to enjoy going to grammie’s house.  They are so smart, if they see me acting stressed or worried about an upcoming trip…they automatically start to worry.  But if I can believe the cup I hold for them, with all my love, is accessible to them night and day–whether we are together or not–I can freely hug, kiss and tickle them goodbye.  And in turn, they are set free to head to grammie’s house with freedom and anticipation in their steps.

I still cry when the house is empty, and I realize we haven’t carved pumpkins yet.  I still cry when I think about how hard it might be for mom to be gone so much this month.  I still feel my heart break a little as I type these words.  But carving pumpkins isn’t what gives them assurance.  The activities are fun and wonderful memories, but they are not the sustenance of what gives my kids confidence in my love for them.  To know they have my cup of love, and it never empties, sustains me for the next ten days.  And I have a feeling it sustains my babies too.

As I was growing up my dad traveled oversees every month.  Sometimes he’d be gone for several weeks at a time, and I vowed that I wouldn’t travel as a parent someday.  But isn’t it funny how God plants a dream in your heart, knowing full well that you will not only build a dream but work out your own pain and brokenness along the way.  That if you follow this business of dream building, you will encounter everything you said you’d never do and have to reassess why you made those vows and were they based in truth or fear?  That your dream, if it is true, will bring you to your knees.  The constant realization of how fear sneaks into my life is overwhelming at times and causes me to wonder if my dream is really about living without fear–more than any business plan I’ve ever written.

Do you know what I mean?  Have you also assumed there were holes in the bottom of your cup?  There is rest in knowing those holes don’t exist.

xo,

m

Would LOVE to meet you, catch up with you, HUG you in NY this week.  Come see me at the following places;

Wed. October 26th, 1:15pm-3:15pm, 2 hour talk on how to build your business with Social Media (so excited about this talk–sharing lots of stories and lessons of what has worked and not worked for us–and excited to answer in full a number of the questions our CONFIDENCE ladies often email) (Jacob Javits Convention Center)

Thursday-Saturday: Speaking at SONY booth all throughout the day, doing live shooting demos, showing how I post process my images and talking about how to get a book published (Jacob Javits Convention Center)

Friday, October 28th, 6:30-8pm, Special Book Signing at Chelsea Museum with other SONY Artisans, Brian Smith and Andy Katz!! See their books below! Buy an autographed copy or bring the one you own!

Chelsea Art Museum | Home of the Miotte Foundation
556 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011
Phone: +1.212.255.0719 x116 | Fax: +1.212.255.2368

Celebrities from film, music, television, and theatre sit for portraits with Pulitzer Prize-winning Photographer Brian Smith and work with The Creative Coalition to share personal stories about the impact of art on their lives and on society. Brian Smith’s celebrity portraits have appeared on the covers and within the pages of countless entertainment and news publications. The Creative Coalition’s arts advocacy programs, led by Robin Bronk, are well-known and respected in Hollywood and Washington circles. Their shared commitment to the arts led to their collaboration on a uniquely powerful campaign to raise awareness of the role of the arts in America, and culminates in the upcoming release of ART &SOUL: Stars Unite to Celebrate and Support the Arts.

Sonoma is the place famed photographer Andy Katz calls home.  His work shows us the life and colors of the seasons, from the barren, icy stillness of winter, to the tender push of the young vines in the spring.  Katz takes us places few outsiders know exist and captures their beauty, allowing us to pause and contemplate the intricacies of vineyards panted amidst stunning natural surroundings.

And yours truly! 

Meet Pulitzer Prize winning photographer and SONY Artisan, Brian Smith!

I know what you are thinking…”wait a minute…he’s not an Amazing Mom!”    Yep, your right.  But…Brian is freaking AMAZING!  And somehow, he has graciously made time in his busy schedule and accepted the invitation to be here today to talk about shooting celebrity portraits, his new book Art & Soul, and how to win the Pulitzer Prize.  But that’s not all!  Brian Smith  is ALSO going to be with us tomorrow night on the forum for our 2 hour Ask & Learn!  I personally promised him you would ALL come with questions, small and big ones, so mark your calendars ladies for this awesome treat!

CLICK HERE to register yourself on the SOARORITY Forum!

For those of you who feel intimidated to ask Brian a question, keep reading this fantastic interview we had.  Brian is completely approachable, super giving and just all around FUNNY!  I first met him through SONY three years ago, and he has a heart of gold.  I am truly honored to be a SONY Artisan alongside someone like Brian.  If you ever wanted to connect with a celebrity photographer, today and tomorrow night is your chance! 

 And now, on to our interview! 

Q: What’s your first memory of photography?  Or being enthralled with picture taking?
I think everybody from my era remembers the magic the first time they watched a print develop in the darkroom. It’s kind of sad that many people starting out now will never have that experience. The real magic came when I had my  first photo published in the local newspaper when I was in high school. I shot sports for my hometown newspaper and still remember the first time I went out to the doorstep and picked up a paper with one of my photographs. It was a bit surreal. A few years later I had my first magazine photo in LIFE and I was absolutely and totally hooked.

And Brian, thank you SO MUCH for being here!!  You are the BEST!  (There is just something about men named “Brian”.  )