Renewed, Restored and Refreshed!

I thought being without my camera for a few weeks was going to be the end of the world.  I was at the end of my summer boudoir special when suddenly my camera started to fight me.  I would take a few shots, then suddenly I would get an error message and it would freeze up until I took out the battery and turned it back on.  After quite a bit of back and forth, I completed my last session (thankfully she was a good family friend and was very patient with me!) and then my camera totally STOPPED.  "Fabulous", I thought.  I'm going to have to send this stinking thing to Cannon.  I checked my schedule, and by some miracle I only have a few sessions the next couple of weeks.  I went ahead and canceled those, which I hated to do, because I almost never cancel shoots.  The only times I have canceled on a client was when I was so sick I couldn't get out of bed without fainting, and when my Mimi and Papa were in the hospital and passed away at the beginning of this year.  Needless to say, I felt terrible. 

I spent my "free time" working on editing several sessions, visiting family, and going back to some very neglected projects that needed finishing!  I also got around to having some t-shirts designed.  If you haven't seen the fantastic design that Jennifer Johnson of Century Graphics in Midland (which happens to be where my hubby works), let this tickle your optical taste buds:

 

Yeah, that's me :) I'm a sailor girl!  Cute, huh?  Jen even put my tattoo on my foot for me!  You can order your very own Mari Annelise Photography shirt here!  This is your only chance to choose your color of shirt, by the way.  After July 20th, I'm placing the shirt order, so after that you are out of luck!  And you should seriously think about getting one.  Have you ever heard of Taylor Swift?  Yeah, I'm sure you have.  Well, along with doing my design, Jen did the graphic art for her TOUR BUS. 

Um, hello.  If that's not awesome, I don't know what is. 

So yes, you should get a shirt.  

I think the break from shooting was really good for me.  I don't know why, but I'm always surprised by how God knows just what I need.  He knew I wasn't going to take the break on my own, so He forced me to!  I'm so thankful He takes care of me.  I was getting burned out, frustrated, and overworked.  Now I have a renewed passion and desire for photography!  

My NEW camera is supposed to arrive tomorrow.  I have my fingers and toes crossed that it gets here on time because I'm ready to get after it again!