pride and joy

there is nothing I love to do more than doing my 'thing'
and to promote others in doing their 'thing'...
WHATEVER that 'thing' may be...

I don't get anything for doing it...
just joy in the journey...

hmmm....I guess my neices know what they are getting from aunt nikki this year...
check them out at...
www.prideandjoycharms.blogspot.com

and "WHATEVER you do...do it with all your heart..."
nik

a cut above

press products for the class of 2011*


sample card fronts.

5x5/5x7.
boutique card.
$1.90 (per card)
fully custom design.
personalized messages.
front/back printing.
multiple paper options.
envelopes.
only available with photo session*
love it.
nik

Cream colored ponies...

and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings...

These are a few of my favorite things...
nik

secret

ok, here goes, I am going to revel a big photography "secret" today...

sometimes it is not the "lens" you use...

that's it.
nik

meet Sarika and Ellie.

these are a few of my favorite things...
when the dog bites...
when the bee stings...

when I am feeling sad...
nik

for V.A.L.

this one is for my voice activated light...who said to me...
"I want to see one in the wheat...
post one in the wheat..."


you're the best VAL. ever!
nik

meet Carlie.

the weather was moody!

and in spite of the wind and rain...Carlie ROCKED it!!

I love her.

I mean we are exactly alike...well, I am NOT exactly...
lady-like
gentle
petite
soft spoken
or a dark haired beauty,
But, other than that, we are practically twins...

my goodness... the girl should never be allowed to go to any Rodeos...

ever.
nik

dell drama

my computer is FINALLY operable...
thank you thank you Dell,
for sending Mr. Richard, from Fresno, genius!
Yay! just a few more things to transfer over from the old machine...

for now, the big guy and my little men are napping...


hmmmmm...let's think...
what should I do? (:

nik

happy easter

meet the fabulous Ms. Jackie O Kelley.
Fresno native.
gospel singer.
beautiful.
stately.
gracious.
regal.
ARTIST.
www.JackieKelley.com


what a pleasure!
the beautiful make-up courtesy of the fun and fabulous
Stacy Francis, Face2Face Makeup Design, Fresno. 559.270.2508

Bruce, the boys and I....are heading up to three rivers today...
to go fishing...
our sunrise service...(:

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
Praised is the name of Jehovah."
nik

more...

dominic and olivia

just a whole lot of kid goodness...
nik

iheartfaces!

I love expressions...


I so enjoy the privilege of "seeing" behind the lens...


I guess some would describe what I do as
"lifestyle" photography...


I don't.
I think of myself as a digital portrait artist...
using my point of view to...
"show the inner essence"
of my subjects...

for me, it's all about the face...


in the words of Aristotle...
"the aim of Art is to present not
the outward appearance of things,
but their inner significance;
for this, not the external manner and detail,
constitutes true reality."
nik

valley goodness.

another signature of our valley...
I mean...Homer was right...it is "liquid gold"...

feeling lots of valley love...in spite of my week...

I have been on the phone to India for 4 days.
no joke.

my brand new Dell computer doesn't want to work
with my beautiful Dell monitor, which i love love...
it works with my old HP computer, but not my new Dell...
go figure.

so now...I am back on my old HP...
until mr. Dell can send someone out to mess with my motherboard...
blah!

THE GOOD news...I got a major tip from agent #214822 who recommended
I travel to India in May...wedding season...
and he is sure I could find plenty of weddings to shoot...
a life long dream of mine, to shoot an Indian wedding.

ok, back to work...4 days behind...
blah!
nik

meet Gunnar.

isn't he adorable! Can you call a senior boy adorable? my goodness,
it makes me realize my little boys are going to grow up...my goodness.

www.springville.ca.us
springville is beautiful...I somehow always forget that...until I am up there again...

I had such a great time...in spite of the massive, huge, ginormous ants...and the fact that I had brief concern...
I was going to be shot for trespassing on private property...

thank goodness Gunnar IS adorable...and had permission to be on the "ranch"...
I also learned a valuable lesson, and made a mental note...
springville is NOT a place you want to tresspass...
and then beg for forgiveness (a policy that I sometimes embrace)...

I mean you may loose a toe, a foot, possibley even a whole limb...I shiver...

battle mountain, gets
its name after the 1856 battle that ended
the Tulare County Indian Wars...
just a little factoid for you, thanks to Gunnar...
just adorable.
nik

meet Emma Grace.

she is a cherub.



from the mouths of little children and infants, you have created praise.
nik

happy day.

Tad is officially 5 years old.
April 7th.

holy moly

he starts kindergarten this fall....

holy mackerel...

holy cow...

holy smokes!

I am already starting to hyperventilate!!!

nik

cutting.

The Tulare County Cattlewomen & Cattlemen Presented
The 10th Annual Jeanne Erickson Memorial Country Round-up
Sunday April 10, 2011
Your local cattlewomen and cattlemen's connection...
www.visalialivestock.com

this was waaay to much fun to watch...I came out to Ritchie Barn to let my boys see real valley cowboys...
unfortunately, I only was able to watch three teams (before the boys were hungry for pizza)...
BUT, it was amazing...I could have stayed shooting this all day...

held at the Clarence Ritchie Barn, Visalia, CA

a beautiful location...

I can completely understand why a country wedding would be so delightful here...

total athletes...horses and riders.

my lil' wanna be cowboy.

thank you TCCW/TCCA...for being so welcoming to these little city boys....
we had a great time...
another reason to love our Valley!
nik

shadow bandit

he made an ordinary fight look like a prayer meetin'...

what can I say?
I gave him all my money...
nik

meet Logan.

his daddy is a hunter.
hunting people can understand this, when you are a real hunter....
you kill things and put them on your wall...
I feel slightly qualified to ruminate on this...

I mean, I did live in Montana for 10 years...not to mention,
my baby sister and best friend...
is married to a hunter-man...
which means lots of stuffed dead animals RIP
at my sisters house, in little ole' hanford, ca:
a black wildebeest
a blue wildebeest
a silver fox
a nyala
two impalas
a warthog
a black bear
two bucks
a wild boar
a Canadian goose

annnnddddd in the rug department we have:
a blue wildebeest rug
a blesbuck rug (had NO clue what this was until mr. google)
a zebra rug
a bear rug
and a very nice Pier-one-import jute rug (which, I think she should let me have since it clashes terribly with the warthog...just sayin').

my boys, think their uncle brooks, with his guns and his wild games
of chase/safe house, is just totally terrific...

as, I am sure Logan will completely admire his daddy...

a new story begins...
nik

meet Blake.

and Blake's gorgeous mama...I mean y'all...

she is absolutely timeless....

one word: trū'blū' (a very sexy word phonetically don't you think?)

as in, she is loyal, faithful and steadfast.

master blake...

and miss brooke.

I am so sorry if you get tired of me blabbing about how much I love what

I get to do...

truth is...

when it comes to this...
I'm tireless...
nik