Leigh Wilcoxson Photography

When my grandmother passed away a number of years ago, we had to do the difficult but very common task of finding photos of her to display at the funeral home. My grandma moved in with my parents when I was four and she lived there beyond my own moving out and marriage and after the birth of Sydney, so she and I shared a long history of memories together. She was a unique person and definitely played an influential role in my life. One of the things I loved to do when I was growing up was to make my grandma pull out her old photos of herself for me to look through. I was convinced my grandma was one of the most beautiful women in the whole world.  She had wavy auburn hair, pale green eyes and beautiful bone structure. And even though she was gray haired and a bit wrinkly by the time I knew her, I still thought she was beautiful. And those pictures of her meant the world to me, and still do.

Fortunately for us, my grandma was really good about having her picture taken over the course of her life.  Even though she was very self-conscious about aging and always covered her wrinkles with a “high collared shirt” - even in 95 degree heat - she usually willingly let us take her photo.  Unlike so many of us - myself included - she didn’t duck behind a door frame or park herself behind the tallest person in the room when someone whipped out a camera.  No, she stood there and smiled and put her best face forward. And in the process, gave us gifts we would cherish forever.

When was the last time you had your photo taken?  I don’t mean photos of your kid’s birthday party with you behind the table, holding up the cake, or your annual family photo at Christmas that you send out (if you like how you look in it).  Not your wedding photos. Not your ID photo taken at work or your passport photo or your driver’s license photo. But a photo of you that your children or husband or parents or family member or friends could look at and say, yes, this is my beautiful mom, or my beautiful wife, or my beautiful daughter. This is a photo where she looks happy, where she looks content, where she looks relaxed and comfortable and beautiful, not only on the outside, but on the inside.

Ladies, I want to give you an opportunity to give a gift.  It’s time to set aside those reservations and self-conscious thoughts and toxic feelings that we have about our physical appearances, and do something not only for your loved ones, but for you.  For once, I want you to stop and recognize that this time in your life, whether you are young and energetic and trying to find your way in the world, or you are older and wiser and have a renewed perspective on life - this time is important to capture and remember. Maybe it’s not important to you, but it’s important to someone.  And someday it may make all the difference to that someone that you took the time to do it.

Beautiful You Mini Sessions are just about that - giving women the opportunity to give a gift to someone, or even just doing something good for yourself. It’s time to put away that notion that we need to lose 10 lbs, or 20 lbs or 50+ lbs, get our hair highlighted or wait until that collagen serum finally starts working and those fine lines around our eyes fade.  No one but you cares about that. Really. Not your husband or your father or your son or your best friend. No one but you is concerned about it, and no one but you thinks any less of  you because of it.

On Saturday, March 27th from 4-7 p.m., at the Lexington Arboretum on Alumni Rd., I will be holding 20 minute blocks of mini photo sessions for you, ladies. Only you.  Mini sessions need to be reserved, so please contact me to schedule your 20-minute block of time. These are very relaxed sessions.  You do not need to look a magazine model. Magazine models are all airbrushed anyway. You just need to be you - beautiful you. The cost is $65 and you will receive 5-8 photos of you in both color and black and white to choose from. In the event weather does not cooperate, a back up date(s) will be provided.

Reserve your spot today and I promise you won’t regret it. In fact, you may actually thank me for it.

And just so you can see - here is my grandma.  Isn’t she beautiful?

Now is your opportunity.

Contact me at LeighWPhotos@aol.com or 859-797-7112.

I was outside this evening, taking photos of my yard to send to my former neighbors in Chicago in the hopes that they would immediately put their house on the market and move to Lexington. To our street in particular. Unfortunately my backyard looks like a post-autumn apocalyptic mess so I don’t think my photos will be too convincing, but you can’t blame me for trying. They were good neighbors.

Of course, Molly was out while I was snapping away, so I said, “Hey, stand by the fence and let me take a few photos of you!”  Which to a 5-year-old immediately translates to, “Hey, pick up the closest stick you can find and hold it up in the air, whack yourself with it a few times, wave it around and then refuse to put it down.” 

What is it with kids and sticks?  Sticks are like magnets for children. If there is one close by, a child will inevitably need to hold it, swing it, poke their siblings with it, beat it on the ground or see how far they can throw it.  Why do we buy them toys?  We could just get them some stray kindling and they would be all set.

But…she is delicious anyway.  I love the fact that she wears her bedtime slippers outside. Or pretty much anywhere, and that it defeats the whole purpose of having bedtime slippers.  Or that there is always a long hair in her face no matter how short we cut her bangs, and it never bothers her.  She’s such a kid.

My kid.  Sticks and all.

If you haven’t noticed, I’m a little quiet.

Since the move to Lexington in November, we have been busy unpacking, getting settled and finding our way around town. And being happy. Really, really happy.

Business will kick up again in a couple months, because apparently it gets spring-like by late February here (yippeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!) so I am getting busy behind-the-scenes, planning new products, new offerings and new pricing.  And most of all, finding inspiration for a great new year.

So if you will forgive me for being quiet a little longer, I promise to have some new posts up and going soon after the new year.  I need to unwind from the holiday chaos and get my brain freshened up and the hamster wheel running again.

Until then, stay warm, be good and have lots and lots of fun.

Tomorrow morning at 8 a.m., there will be a giant moving truck pull onto our street, ready to load up all the “stuff” we’ve acquired over the past eight years. An amazing amount of “stuff.”  It really is true that you have no idea what you have until you have to move it.

It’s a bittersweet move.  It’s been a wonderful eight years here in Chicagoland. We have good friends, good neighbors, a good church and a good life. We brought a toddler into this house and are now leaving with a middle schooler and a kindergartner (who are clinging white knuckled and teary eyed to the front door).  I, personally, have met some amazing people through the journey of my business, and I will miss my tremendously supportive clients. You gave me the knowledge that I can, and the confidence to succeed, and I am taking with me so much of what I’ve learned here.

But the future ahead is bright. We are moving to a great new community where wonderful people are waiting for us. New friends, our loving family and an orange, glowing orb in the sky that shows its face a lot more than it does here. ;)  We are anxious, excited and ready. Ready for this new journey. And it will be a journey.

So as we tape up the last box tonight and prepare for an emotional day tomorrow, I just want to say thank you to all the good people of Chicagoland for all that you have shared with us, done for us and taught us.  We will most certainly be back to visit - don’t think for a second we won’t - and we will think of you often. And smile.

If you need to reach me in the next week, please do not hesitate to email me at my usual email address.  We will be in hotels for a few days until our new house officially becomes ours and all our “stuff” arrives. I will have limited access to email, but access nonetheless, and I will respond to any questions as quickly as possible.