New Blog!

Time to update your bookmarks and RSS feed! I've got a new blog address … come find me over here … for good!!!

I'm Over Here!

Find me over here today! Love That Shot is a great resource site for photographers. I'm giving away two $50 gift certificates towards custom design. Good luck!!

My new blog needs a bit of technical support. If you click to it via my site, it's up and running but don't update your RSS feed just yet! :) I'll keep you posted!

New Site Coming Soon!

The new site is almost finished. Just putting the finishing touches … kind of like the icing on the cake. If you're interested in learning the ins and outs of blog design, I highly recommend photoblog 101. Rachel and Nancy are awesome!!

94 Days of Summer

I realize it was only 94 days, but believe me, there were definitely times when it felt more like 500. And so it ends … yesterday was the last day before backpacks, crayons, markers and lunch money. I played hooky for a while. I needed to spend time with my kids before we get caught up in everything that fall brings.

I worked all summer … and worked, and worked and worked. I've got so much to share and show, but I'm sharing a bit about my kiddos instead. I have no idea how long this post will be, so before I forget, don't forget to check out my giveaway over at Inspire Me Baby. Everyone loves free stuff, right? Just make sure to come back because it gets really interesting. :)

So, as we were heading to the zoo, we talked about what they got to do this summer. Granted, not all of this was with their parents. Sometimes grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends were involved. It truly takes a village! My heart was full as I listened to the chatter coming from the back seat. I loved that Lucy put her two cents … she was part of it after all. The laundry list includes: a 16-hour car ride both ways and a week at Disney, Tower of Terror, the Haunted Mansion, watching fireworks at the Magic Kingdom, throwing up at Magic Kingdom, going to baby Simon's house and to his Baptism, a weekend at the Lake, getting carsick on the way home, Toy Story 3D, growing our own tomatoes and peppers, first summer with a dog, Despicable Me … just Lucy and her dad … it still causes Sam to cry. A 20-mile tube ride behind Grandpa Mustache's boat, a week at VBS, three nights camping at the cabin, making s'mores and watching Fourth of July fireworks with cousins.

A late night showing of Eclipse. Jack's crazy ride on the flat tube and the fact that his hair has magically stopped defying gravity after 8 years. Six Flags and the water park with more cousins and riding on major roller coasters until dark. A family reunion with lots of people we didn't know. Hosting three birthday parties with friends and family at the lake and three kids turning another year older. Getting Little People, Big Planet … yes, my kids play video games too … one who can officially water ski, lots of fighting and art projects. A babysitting safety class and first time babysitting for someone who wasn't related. Friends coming over to play and spending the night. A few golf outings with the grandparents, quick trips to the lake to swim instead of eating lunch.

So whew! We packed A LOT into this summer. Did we slack? Let's say fall sounds like an excellent time to tackle a very dirty house, a mountain of laundry and sleep wasn't a priority. However, I can't say I felt more blessed than I did yesterday when I was riding the zoo train with my kids and sweet nieces, when we finally gave up and ate our picnic lunch in the back of the van instead of walking to the park, when I was so tired I dropped my only vice (Diet Pepsi) and we made a pact to stop on the way home and get milk shakes and frozen Cokes bigger than our heads. It's the little things that make a difference. The little things that make my kids smile and remember this summer. Sam started kindergarten this morning. I blinked and it just happened. Madison is in 7th grade and almost as tall as I am. Jack is a fourth grader and is starting to look much older. The house is quiet … fall … here we come!

Have a great rest of the week. If you're still here … head to Inspire Me Baby!

Find Me Over Here!

Have you heard about Inspire Me Baby? It's a wonderful resource for baby photographers. Lots of inspiration! Zenia is the editor and a rocking photographer herself! Even cooler … you can enter to win one of two marketing sets! They are 4-piece sets and would make a great addition to your business or help you get the ball rolling. Good luck!!!

Couldn't Wait!

I know I said "no more blogging until I relaunch in a few weeks". Well, sometimes a girl can't help herself. Elizabeth's set was just too pretty to wait! We worked on her logo and all coordinating pieces. We actually started with a different color palette in mind but once we hit the "sea glass" it was a resounding "YES … this is it!!"

Hope you love it as much as I do! Have a great weekend. Keep your eyes peeled for the new site and all things fun to come. :)

What's Next?

I've got some really fun projects to share. It's a mix of things that I've designed over the spring and summer. However, I think I'm going to wait until the fall and share when my new blog launches. That's right … NEW, fun blog. I'm so excited to show everyone and brag on the ladies who have taught me their Wordpress tips. Look for new links, recommended vendors and workshops and more! Seriously. Cannot. Wait.

Question for you on a totally different subject … the kids' school is having a fundraiser auction this fall. I'm in charge of a few things. What makes a great donation? We're looking for fun ideas and I'd love to see what you have in mind! Any comments are much appreciated.

Have a great week!

Amber's Set and an Update!

Happy Summer! My Jackson turned the big one-oh yesterday. This means I have two children in double-digits. They grow up so fast. It's a good thing I still have the other two under ten!

In other news, look for exciting things this fall! I'm taking a blog workshop. It's awesome! The instructors, Rachel and Nancy, rule. Look for my new blog and a new look come September. Bigger pictures, a better portfolio, a special premade section and easier navigation! I'll also have a great list of resources that will fit right into your business needs and some other fun goodies. It's almost as exciting as having the kids go back to school next month. Seriously … we're on Day 68 so it's a big deal! :)

To leave you with something pretty, check out Amber's new set and logo. We've worked together on smaller projects over the last year. Love her! She was ready for a new look and here's what we came up with. Fun stuff!!

For Renee …

Red is one of my favorites and I kind of have a love of all things polka dots. Needless to say I'd thought about arm-wrestling her and keeping it for myself. Too bad she's an ocean away! Love it Renee … love your logo, love the rest. Cheers to you sweet girl! xx

Mari's New Set

Here's hoping everyone had a fabulous Fourth of July! This is usually the turning point of summer, where all of the hustle and bustle has ended and it's time to start thinking about school. I don't know about you, but I'd love longer summers! Ask me again in a few weeks and we'll see if I still have the same response. My daughter asked for Borax today so she could make her own "Goop". We may be running out of thing to do around the house!

I wanted to share Mari's new logo and set. She loves fall colors. I love how the reds, oranges and yellow come together on this one. I really like her bookmark and you've been spotted cards. Fun set … thank you Mari!

Holy Heat Wave!

The title has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but it is HOT outside. I can't remember when it's been so hot quite so early in the season. I love summer. I love gardens and fresh vegetables. I love swimming and sitting in the sun. I love going on boat rides and roasting marshmallows over campfires. I love ball games, popsicles and fireflies. Right now however, I'd love it if it was about 10 degrees cooler or if we had a pool. Thinking a drop in temperatures will happen long before we see a pool at this household!

Sharing a couple of new sets this week. The first one is for Carolyn. We designed her logo and marketing set. Her packaging ideas sound fun and I can't wait to see it all come together for her! The red set is for Sheila. Red is pretty much one of my favorites. I love the bit of life and warmth it brings into everything. It makes Sheila's set pop!

Keep watching for more updates … lots of fun stuff to show off! Don't forget to check out MadiLu Designs on Facebook … do you "like" it? Have a great week!

More Custom Sets!

Wow! It's easy to get behind on blogging over the summer. Things just tend to get really busy this time of year … ball games, swimming lessons, vacation, kids home 24/7 and work. I've found my groove though and have been plugging away. I'm sharing a few sets I've done. Enjoy!

This one is for Stephanie. Steph rocks birth photography!Tiffany at OTSS did her logo and I designed her marketing pieces. I love the colors in this one! We did a referral wallet and card. I think it's a great piece to give your clients to help generate business with a little bit of bragging rights for your client.


I designed Patrice's logo and marketing set. It's got a softer look to it, but very elegant. Patrice is not only an amazing photographer, she's also a talented seamstress. Check out her Etsy shop and clothing line! I would like one of each, please. :)


Last but not least, this is Clair's set. She had a logo, but wanted to pull it all together with a marketing set. The soft pinks and bright corals and chocolate really make it pop! Her tagline is "celebrate the beautiful things in life" and I think that sums up Clair. She's a beautiful person. She also volunteers for NILMDTS.


It's always fun to see how different everyone's styles are. I'm taking new marketing sets mid-July and would love to help you find your look. Things tend to book up quickly … let me know if I can help! I'm working on a post about an awesome gathering with girls I met almost two years ago through a photography workshop. Just trying to come up with words as beautiful as the women I've come to know. Will share soon! Have a wonderful week!!

I'm Back!

It's seems like it's been forever, but we've finally wrapped up our vacation. Never mind the kids are here 24/7 for the next 80+ days, but the part where we leave the house, unplug and get away from the daily routine is over. It will still be crazy busy, but my mouse will be permanently attached to my palm for a good long while.

We all survived the car ride and Disney. That being said, we'll never take that trip with four children again. It was tough to keep all ages and both sexes happy 100% of the time. The child I was more worried about (the youngest) was the absolute best. Lesson learned!

I'm finalizing projects and starting on my June list. I'm currently booking for July. Please email me if you're interested.

I'm sharing Amanda's set. We wrapped this up right before I left. I've "known" Amanda for almost two years. I've watched her grow as a photographer and mother and excited as she takes the leap! If you are in Texas, look her up. She's also a fantastic knitter … think baby cocoons.

Edited to add: I've had a few inquires on where you can find Amanda's knitted goodies. Check out her post and you'll see the cocoons she has made. I can also vouch for her scarves as she made some gorgeous scarves for Christmas. My girlfriends loved them! If you'd like to get in touch with her, please email me and I'll send your her address. Thanks!

See Amy. See Amy's Set.

This post is chock full of info, so get yourself a cup of tea and get comfy!

First, I'd like to share Amy's new marketing set and logo. Amy, supermom of four who I swear sleeps less than I do, loves all things Dick and Jane. We played on that theme and developed a block-like, whimsical set that ties to those stories we all grew up with. I can't decide what I like the best but I still smile every time I see that little wagon. :)

In addition to being a photographer, Amy also creates actions to make your processing easier. They are coming out this weekend and she's holding a contest and giving a great discount. Definitely head her direction and check them out. If you swoon over creamy skintones and a little sugar, you'll love her product.

Last but not least, we are taking a family vacation. I'm calling it the "SuperVacation" because who else sticks their four children in a car for a 32-hour round trip?? Yes folks, we're heading to the Sunshine State and spending a little time at Disney. The kids are stoked, I'm already tired and my husband seems, well, let's just say I'm really not sure how he feel about this. Anyway, I will be out of the office from May 21 through June 1. I will have access to email, but give me 24 hours to respond because I'm sure our schedule will be packed. I won't have access to your files, but I can probably talk you through something because I dream about Photoshop shortcuts in my sleep. I'm sending out as much as I can before I leave and will have lots of fun goodies to post when I return. I'll be taking new projects towards the end of June. If you'd like to get something rolling, please let me know.

Have a great week everyone and wish me luck!!

Dreaming Tree Photography

I keep looking at the new sets I need to blog and WOW! I've got some stuff to share. It's down to 7 days of school and about two weeks until we head on our family vacation. Doing this one Griswold style and will be on the road 32 hours with four children. I can't wait to share how that goes!

This set is a special one. It was designed for Amanda of Dreaming Tree Photography. We met last fall and she's just an hour or so from where I live. We went to the Pioneer Woman book signing in St. Louis and have also met up for photo shoots. She's an awesome photographer and I love her wedding and lifestyle work. As it turns out, she's actually photographing a wedding this fall and working with my sister who will be doing the flowers. Very small world but I bet the two of them will rock that day!

Amanda was looking to rebrand her business and going for a very soft vintage look. We really watched and pulled colors that would appeal to moms, brides, senior girls and not scare off senior boys! She just did a booth at a baby fair and it was so cool to see how she pulled it all together. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

(PS - Amanda … thank you for the images that I totally pulled off your Facebook page! Amanda, Ree and myself at the signing, my daughter, and Amanda's super cute display)

Anastasia's Set

I had the pleasure of working with Anastasia on her logo and marketing set. We developed her logo and then carried that same theme over to her set. I love working with circles! The colors in her set are great as the taupe gives an upscale vibe but that orange brings in a bit of fun. It was great to work with you Anastasia!

It's going to be a busy week! I've got a lot of projects going out the door and then we're taking a vacation with the kiddos. If you're interested in starting a new project, please contact me and we can discuss availability dates. Have a good one!

Ali-Oop!

Two posts in one week … shocking … I know! I just have some projects I've worked on that I'm dying to share! This one for Ali is super cute! When she came to me with her logo, I knew this was going to be a fun one! It started as a mini set and we added a few things. There are a lot of places where she can swap out the colors on this set and mix/match for different looks. Still in love with the name! Thanks Ali!

Kelly's Set and a Little Update

Good morning! I wanted to share Kelly's set today. Kelly and I developed her logo and marketing set for her photography business, Creatively Yours. I love the rich golds and plums in this one! We did a variety of pieces to get her rolling. Love it Kelly … thank you!!

In other breaking news, I'm going to be out of my office this morning for a few hours. I have the pleasure of accompanying my nine year-old son on his class trip today. We've got a long list of places to visit, including a county jail (YIKES!), the park, a historic home, an electric company and wrapping it up by making our own sundaes at a local restaurant. Class trips mean it's dangerously close to the end of the school year. My kids only have 14 days of school left! After that we're all here … all summer! I'll probably tweak my hours just a bit so we can enjoy the break together, but everything at MadiLu Designs will roll right on schedule. We're taking a family trip the end of May. I've discussed project deadlines with my clients and with those who have been inquiring about starting. If you're on the fence, let me know as soon as possible so I can complete your project before our trip. If it gets too close, I'll be taking more projects beginning June 1.

If you have a few minutes, keep little Parker in your prayers. Her mom is a fabulous photographer whom I met through NILMDTS. Parker has been in the hospital since Saturday after having several seizures. Some of you know that hits really close to home as my Lucy has had a few hospitalizations after seizures as well. Scary stuff for any mom! We're praying for you Parker!

All right … off to visit the inmates! Here's hoping all goes well on today's trip! I'll respond to emails as soon as I return. Have a good one. :)

Imma Be …

Imma be loving this one and NO I couldn't resist singing the Black Eye Peas the entire time I worked on this one! Very fun! Michelle and I worked on her logo for SassyBee Photography. I love how her marketing set turned out. I think my favorite part are the images in the honeycomb. Did you notice how her images coordinate with the set? Yeah … I noticed that too. Super fun! Thank you Michelle! You were a blast to work with!

I've been as busy as a bee lately! Ha! My kiddos are almost out of school for the summer … yikes! We're taking a family vacation at the end of May  … like a 16 hours in the car both directions vacation. I'm sure it will be interesting to say the very least. If you're looking to do a marketing set or logo, let me know so I can get you scheduled.

Have a great weekend!

OMGosh …

I'm over here today! Very exciting and wanted to say thanks to Robyn for the opportunity.

I'll blog more about this set because it's so, so fun. I loved working with Linsey and couldn't have asked for a sweeter client.