shoot-scoop, the laura bruen photography blog » personal work

holy snow!

laura bruen — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:20:40 +0000

We’ve been crushed with snow last week and we have about 18 inches expected today. We made the best of it…Daddy made a snow race car.

“A Streetcar Named Speedy” Images taken with my Blackberry Storm Mobile Phone.

The Snow Fort

Isn’t my husband talented? Mind you, this is ALREADY snowed over. Will post some new ones as the day progresses.

my colorado trip – august 2009

laura bruen — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 03:44:45 +0000

Meet my friend Erica. I’ll share her story here as it’s one that indeed should be told. She is an inspiration!

Erica and I grew up together and have similar family backgrounds. She was a soccer star in Chatham, NJ – the only girl goalie on boys teams. She was badass! I’ll spare you the embarrassing childhood memories (like our detective agency and playing with Cabbage Patch Kids) and even more embarrassing early-teenage memories (one of them included sneaking out of her two story bedroom by shimmying down on a garden hose attached to her bed frame…all the while she’s making me go first and saying “Don’t worry! I do this all of the time!” when she hadn’t. Introducing me to Jack Daniels – whom I have yet to meet since that experience. Your usual, run-of-the-mill adolescent stuff.

Erica was the first of my friends to get married, she met an amazing guy, Todd, while in College and they got engaged after graduation. I flew out to Michigan to be her Maid of Honor. Erica was one of my Maid of Honors (I had two) at my wedding, and agreed to wear – without complaint - the big poofy tulle dress I put her in despite her being pregnant – and rocked it (as did all of my girls- really…they were fun dresses, so, props to all of my girls)! She went to college in Michigan for something like physics but I’m pretty sure it’s more involved than that and is an Engineering Manager for Qwest Communications but is seemingly as smart as a brain surgeon. I’m pretty sure she’ll email me to correct me on her title or her major in college. She exercises regularly, runs half marathons, marathons and triathlons and any other “thelons” you can think of. She’s very book smart while also being extremely creative (makes her own tufted headboards and stuff…the ONLY thing I didn’t get a photo of). We always go a long stretch of time without speaking – every 6 to 8 months seems the norm. We aren’t on the phone wishing each other Merry Christmas/New Years/Birthdays/mushy type. That’s just not our way – in fact, she’s probably pretty embarrassed that I’m bragging about her. It never needs to be explained and the only drama in our relationship is my constant nagging for her to relocate back to NJ. She has two amazing children, Conner & Allie. The last visit to our home was I believe December of 2007.

It was a spring day – April, I received a phone call from Erica. Actually – that’s not correct. I called HER after receiving a text message – Erica “What’s up, how are ya?” Me: “Good, you?” Erica: “Just got through Breast Cancer Surgery, doing well”. This is so Erica. Of course immediately I called her – and found out that she had found out in February that she had a cancerous tumor in one of her breasts, (noticed a pea sized lump) about 2 weeks later had a double mastectomy. Erica had no breast cancer in her family, and is 35 years of age and in perfect health. Once I got over the fact that she had been through this ordeal and hadn’t even let me know it was going on, I quickly made travel plans to go visit her during another one of her surgeries to help out with the kids, whatever I could do. I was only there for a few short days but I was so glad to be able to spend time with her and the family, and, especially – experience her children by spending the day with them.

She pumps gas too.

Erica & Todd’s house

I didn’t have the time to hike the Rockies, but I did get some quick opportunities to photograph them a little.

Different time of the day – the clouds are SO CLOSE you feel you could just reach up and touch them. These are some angry Colorado skies ( not the same day).

I had the opportunity to chill with the kids. Conner & Allie. I love them!

Of course, kids will be kids!

Some Colorado Rock

Conner’s eyes are always smiling!

Are these prairie dogs? They’re so cute!

Being pretty much a city girl, it’s not everyday you see buffalo in people’s back yards like pets.

Such fun! Then I let Conner drive home. (ha ha)

What a great lookin’ fam!

Some of my friends are going to be surprised that there’s actually an image without my zoolander face I do so well

I’m happy to say that Erica will be celebrating her 1 year of being cancer free this April.

Go Erica!
I was thrilled to hear that you’re already running marathons again. I love you and I am so very proud of you!

A flood is coming…

laura bruen — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:53:41 +0000

Happy New Year!

I’m happy to be back from some time off and ready to rock and roll in 2010! I feel like I’m constantly saying how exciting things are going around here – I’m really looking forward to 2010!

I’ve been building up on blog topics ova here! Seriously, hold onto your hats in the next couple of weeks. Laura Bruen, Photographer Website is also getting a quick upgrade – as I believe I’ve mentioned before. It’s not going to be a whole new layout, but the images will be refreshed, I’ve made some gallery changes and of course added a ton of work to the main website – if you are a Shoot-Scoop visitor, you’ll recognize a lot of them, but there are NEW images that will be debuting on there that have not been blogged yet – that being said, weddings that haven’t shown up here on Shoot-Scoop from 2009 are going to be showing up there first. I have to post a few of the holiday portraits this year while it’s still cold outside as well (something is just not right about posting holiday portraits in the summer).

Stay tuned!

happy holidays, 2009 & service announcement

laura bruen — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:55:13 +0000

Merry Everything, Blog visitors.

It’s been a great and FAST year – I apologize that Shoot-Scoop has been lagging lately. I miss blogging! The great news is the staff is growing here. Yay! Announcements and blog posts will be picking up in the new year. As well as a refreshed look for my Website, Laura Bruen, Photographer and Shoot-Scoop will be following suit. I need to post on Laura Bruen’s CATWALK Boudoir as well.

I was pretty upset that I didn’t get a chance to blog a Holiday House Tour like last year, we added some new decor and I know that Jimmy was pretty upset that I didn’t enter anywhere to win another fabulous frying pan. Sigh. No time this year. It will just have to wait to Christmas 2010.

The Studio will be closed to take some time off to spend with family and catch my breath after another whirlwind year. Studio hours will resume on January 5 @ 10 a.m. Unless it’s an absolute photographic emergency, calls and emails will be returned at that time. Galleries expiring during this period have been extended. Order fulfillment will continue for orders that will be coming in – I will still be shipping.

I’m SO looking forward to 2010! I wish you all nothing but the Happiest of Holidays and a Happy, Healthy PROSPEROUS 2010!

I leave you off with this year’s 2010 Bruen Holiday Card

See you in 2010!

All the Best,

Laura Bruen
Photographer

happy birthday nana

laura bruen — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:16:06 +0000

My Nana is 89 this December. Happy Birthday Nana. I love you!

halloween 2009

laura bruen — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:46:20 +0000

This Halloween was fantastic. Had a great time with my kids and got together latter on with some of her school friends and the parent. I watched my daughter go through an extreme costume transformation. On Friday, Emma was Tinkerbell.

Doesn’t she look angelic?

We somehow misplace the wings overnight (which we have located), but in the meantime on the hunt for a replacement, this is what she chose. A Vampire Princess. Admittedly, I wasn’t envisioning my oldest daughter to be OLD ENOUGH to want to be creepy, but sure enough she was, and she was truly ready to play the part. She’s not exposed to any Vampire stuff, so I was pretty surprised that this is what she wanted to be, but she did it well!

And play the part she did! She took this pretty seriously.

Gwen, on the other hand, held on to innocence nicely and made the perfect Snow White!

I’m tellin’ ya. She was scary.

Emma, in her glory!

Yeah, she was happy. She loved it. What can I say? My kid will definitely scare your kid!

Mobile Phone Shot of my makeup (I had no costume, just the makeup and crazy hair)

My dining room, shot 100% ambient light – it gives a VERY warm glow and the candlelight bounces off of the paint.

Creepy Mantle

Jimmy’s pumpkins

Bought these vintage puppies on ebay. I don’t know why I didn’t use the fifth candle holder.

This will be getting a re-do next year.

A gift from a friend (short an “s”, we know – but cute nonetheless!)

My bat has bling!

Lastely, Jimmy’s Cemetary

Spppooookyyy.

Pretty fierce, eh? Jimmy did a great job.

Things on the “ghost” front have been quite save one or two creepy instances. About 1:30 am about a week ago, Jimmy and I heard footsteps in our bedroom. A few nights ago I heard a distinct knocking as if someone were at the door, but nobody was there when I went to investigate . In the event you never read about our Ghost Story, make sure you check out the original HERE, and then an update HERE. You won’t want to miss those stories!

Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween!