I posted earlier about the Hold That Hug event, but there’s a new addition to the site- a really touching slideshow of photos from all of the photographers at the event.  Many are mine!  It’s pretty nice to watch with the music on, if you tend to turn the sound off.  Give it a try!

In related news, I’ll be assisting and second-shooting at a couple of weddings in the next few weeks with Silver Box Photographers of Columbia.  I am very excited to do this, because they are a really great team and do some fantastic work.

Last weekend, I was excited to be a part of the Hold That Hug photography event at Stewart Park in Columbia, Missouri.

The event was held in memory of Columbia photographer (and wife and mother) Sarah E.M. Becking, who died of cancer this summer.  Although Sarah Becking photographed her children, there weren’t very many photos of her with her children.  Her photographer friends decided that every mother and father should be photographed with their children, so they set up a party in the park last Sunday, complete with musicians and crafts for the kids, and did family portaits for anyone who showed up. 

I was invited to take photos of the overall event!  I had a great time.  It was a beautiful fall day in the park, with lots of happy families.  A wonderful tribute.

The portraits are now available online, on the late photographer’s website, with proceeds going toward Picture of the Year International.  Mine are included in the ‘Event Overview’ gallery.

Photographer Kim Wade of Silver Box Photographers, Anastasia Pottinger of Anastasia Pottinger Photography, Amy Enderle, also of Silver Box Photographers, and LG Patterson of Recess Inc. were four of the photographers present at the event last Saturday.  Ashley Turner of Ashley Turner Photography and David Rees were also doing portraits that day.

Meanwhile, at the children’s craft and activity area:

The event was mentioned in Monday’s Columbia Missourian newspaper, and I’ve heard that a writeup with some photos may be included in this Sunday’s Columbia Tribune.  (Some of my photos may be included with that!)  I will update this with a link if it happens.

Updated:  There were pictures in the Columbia Tribune on Sunday, and I was credited for several of them (including one that was credited to me but that I did not take!).  It was in the Style section (I think) on the second page- several large color photos with a description of the event.  But unfortunately the Columbia Tribune does not put many pictures on its website, so the only way to see them is to get a copy of Sunday’s paper.  Maybe sometime I will start scanning in these tear sheets!  Anyway, it was there, but no link.  Sorry.

Last weekend, I was the photographer at the 25th anniversary party for Bluestem Missouri Crafts, one of my favorite stores in downtown Columbia.  It was a great celebration of the dedication and work of the women who co-own the store.

In the above picture, Columbia mayor Darwin Hindman recognizes the owners of Bluestem in appreciation for their involvement with the community.

What a great party!  And I was so happy to be involved with it, as Bluestem is my go-to store for arty gifts as well as feeding my personal need for stained glass.  (I love stained glass!)