Susan W. Patton Photography: Blog

Dylon: First Holy Communion

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:24:00 GMT

Meet Dylon, who is about to mark his first holy communion.

{Ladies, don't hurt yourselves.}

Isn't he a sweetheart ?!?

Congratulations Dylon! And special thanks to Barbara, who stayed late at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church so we could take these pictures. You are an angel! :)

Natalie: First Holy Communion

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 02:23:39 GMT

You are witnessing the evolution of something.

It's my newest obsession.

CHURCHES!

I am suddenly head-over-heels in love with church architecture, the way light bounces around inside, the colors and textures used to decorate the rooms...oh my. I love it all. Last week, it was St. Mary's here in New Castle. This week: St. Vitus. Holy gorgeous mosaic is all I can say. Go check it out the next time you're around. It's amazing.

At St. Vitus, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Miss Natalie, who is about to celebrate her first holy communion next month. What a wonderful day in the life of this special little girl! Natalie, you were such a sweetheart to work with! Congratulations to you and enjoy your sneak peek :)

Sam B: First Holy Communion

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:07:36 GMT

I'm a very big fan of the following:

Faith.
Family traditions.
Beautiful old churches.
Sam B.

This session combines them all.

Congratulations to my little buddy, Sam B. on making his first holy communion soon. Enjoy the sneak peek of images :)

Andrea and Steve: E-session

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:16:00 GMT

Are you sitting? Because you'll need to be when you see how cute these pictures are. This is a sneak peek of Andrea and Steve's engagement session which took place on her family's property in New Wilmington, PA. When asked how they met, Andrea says that she and Steve were set up by mutual friends. Steve was looking for a nice girl and Andrea was looking for a nice guy. Matchmakers Todd and Corrin, made the connection in August 2010 and these two have been smitten ever since. Andrea says she and Steve are a "go on a walk/out to eat/see a movie/hang out at home/lay in the hammock/ride bikes/visit friends/sit by the fire (although not all at once)" type of couple. I'd like to add that they are highly competitive when it comes to Scrabble too. As a final note about these two, when Steve proposed, he gave Andrea a twist-tie ring (she had once said she'd marry him for one) but then quickly exchanged it for the real deal. Ummm...can we say cute? Congratulations to Steve and Andrea! Enjoy the pictures :)

Maggie & David.

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:56:00 GMT

Congratulations to Maggie and David, who have decided to put an official ampersand (&) between their names in March 2012!! Woohoo!! When I say these two are a match made in heaven, I kid you not. They're so unbelievably cute together, I get giddy just thinking about them. Enjoy the sneak peek of their engagement session and if you see them around town, be sure to ask them about their wedding. (They high-five each other whenever someone says the word!! I love it!!)

Maggie and David - I am so happy for you two! Everyone should be this excited to get married! :)

Just do it.

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:39:00 GMT

The date was March 1st, 2009. The Patton gang had gathered with extended family in Ohio to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of an aunt and uncle. We enjoyed our time together, as we always do. At the end of the afternoon, an aunt offered to snap a quick picture of us before we all headed home. So three generations of Pattons, 14 of us in all, squeezed together and took what would turn out to be the last group photo we have. It's not the best picture by any stretch of the imagination. The lighting was poor, the clarity of the image a little fuzzy, and a few of us blinked or were distracted by other things when the flash went off. But to our family this photo has become absolutely priceless. You see, my brother-in-law, John, at the age of 48, died from cancer just five months after the photo was taken.

Since then, I've come to realize just how important it is to document our time together. Life really is too short. And our time with each other, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, is limited. So promise me something. Make it a priority to get moving on capturing images of you with the special people in your life. Whether you ask a stranger to take a picture of you, use the timer setting on your point and shoot, or even go as far as calling in a professional, just promise you'll do it. Trust me. Someday you'll be so grateful you did. :)

Below are a few family images from this summer and early fall. Enjoy!

Now get snapping! :)

{five: how sweet it is}

Tue, 31 May 2011 22:19:00 GMT

Pictured above is my youngest, Sam, who will be five-years-old when he opens his eyes in the morning. Every day for the past six months he has been asking, "Mom, how many more days until my birthday?" And now finally {yahoo!} his day has arrived. The pictures above were taken yesterday, and so perfectly capture what I love most about this age. There he was, in the middle of a field of tall weeds and wild flowers, when he made the discovery. "Mom!!! I found the PERFECT flower for you! Stay right there!" And so he stumbled and marched and marched and stumbled through weeds as tall as he was, all the while holding a single, tired daisy above his head so nothing would happen to it. By the time he finally made it to me, I was almost in tears at the sweet gesture. When you're four {correction, almost five, sorry Sam} it makes perfect sense to do things like this...just to make your mom smile. Love, love, love this age...maybe even more than he does! Happy birthday, Sam! I love you to pieces :)

Looking good!

Sat, 28 May 2011 18:26:00 GMT

I must be sick. Or maybe I like a challenge. But I love hearing people say, "I don't look good in pictures" or "I'm just not that photogenic". I couldn't disagree more. In fact, I have yet to meet a single person who doesn't photograph well. Am I a rock star of a photographer? (answer: not on your life). But what I know is this: once people start to relax, guess what happens? They look like themselves. And who doesn't look good like that?

Not all of the following people believed they couldn't take a good picture, just a few. And looking over the pictures, I bet you'd be hard pressed to correctly guess who those silly people were. The following faces all have one thing in common though: They are all members of the class of 2011. And what an amazing bunch they are: smart {all are heading to college, one on a full academic scholarship}, athletic {several routinely graced the local sports pages as star athletes}, brave {one climbed a barn roof for/with me}, charming, witty, graceful, fun-loving...the list goes on and on. It was a pleasure spending time with each of you. In life, as in your photos, continue to be yourselves. I wish you all the best! xoxo!

Congratulations to the class of 2011!

Out of hibernation!

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:46:00 GMT

{Rubbing eyes, yawning + stretching.}

It is so good to be back in the blogging world after a long winter. I have been buried in behind-the-scenes activity, setting up the office, organizing digital files, researching equipment, new products and pricing, placing orders, designing print work, etc. (See below for examples of what's fresh & exciting in the land of new products). I was even able to sneak in a few winter photo adventures here and there too. Thankfully not all of them were outdoors! Baby, it was cold! This spring and summer are gearing up to be full of photography fun and I am really looking forward to being out and about with my camera. Thanks for checking in!

Rep cards! (see below): A fresh alternative to the traditional senior wallet-sized print. These cards measure 1.375" x 3.5" and can be customized with text on one side and an image on the other. Think outside the box and use them for business cards, thank you notes, save-the-date cards, itty bitty baby announcements...you name it, the uses are endless! Pick up to 20 images from your session and use the same message on the back. Comes with a sleek silver tin for carrying. Minimum order 25.

Custom flat cards! Pick your favorite session images and let me design a flat card (size 4x6 or 5x7) for you. Each card is two-sided (images on one side/text on the other) and printed on gorgeous card stock paper. Use for holiday cards, new years, baby announcements, new address announcements, graduation / birthday / anniversary party invitations, thank you notes...the options are endless! Trust me, people love receiving these as much as you'll love sending them. Minimum order 25. Cards come with envelopes.

Coffee table books: I have one word for these. Love. If you're like me, it's hard to narrow down your favorite images in a session. Well, now you don't have to! Put them in a book and enjoy them all. Each custom-created book comes with 20 pages (10 front/back and room for 20-40 images). You'll be able to preview your album on-line prior to final purchase. These make amazing gifts!

Stay tuned for more products, ideas, and sneak peeks from photo sessions!

M Family: Volant, PA

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 09:09:00 GMT

Please join me in congratulating this season's recipients of the prestigious SWP Patience Award. This honor goes to the family who exercises the most patience in waiting to see a sneak peek of their images. I have tortured them long enough....drum roll, please: Meet the M. Family of Volant, PA {cheers and applause!}. These pictures were taken back when the grass was...well, not covered in snow and you could be outside without needing eight layers of clothing. The session was a combo senior/family shoot which are always a blast for me because I love to watch family members interact. The dynamics fascinate me and I love to capture that energy in pictures. Aside from having a plain blast with these guys, I got an education in all things cow-related, as well as miniature donkey, llama, and several other exotic creatures I can't remember the names of. Thanks for the great afternoon and enjoy your sneak peek! :)

Have a wonderful holiday!!!

B, T, M and dog F: Canfield, Ohio

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:58:00 GMT

The day I was supposed to take outdoor pictures of B, T, M (and stylish dog F) of Canfield, Ohio, it was snowing. And cold. And snowing. I was ready for it, but when B suggested we head to her place to get some indoor shots of her, boyfriend T, and daughter M cooking dinner, I happily changed gears. Since cooking is an activity they enjoy doing together and I love taking pictures of food and families, this was a match made in heaven for me. Little did I know how much fun it was going to be. Have you ever met people for the first time and within minutes you feel like you've always known them? I had to pinch myself because they were that kind of family. They welcomed me {a total stranger} into their home like a friend, entertained me with their cooking and good humor, and then fed me. Yes, I said it. They fed me. I am officially ruined {in the best way} because of them. B, T, M and F: From the bottom of my full heart and stomach, thank you for the fantastic evening. Hope you enjoy the sneak peek of your images as much as I enjoyed capturing them. :)

Have a wonderful holiday season together !

C Family: New Castle, PA.

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:35:00 GMT

Meet the C. Family from New Castle, PA. Mr. C and I have known each other since the 4th grade when he transferred to my school. My 9-year-old self remembers that he was a nice kid from a nice family, he could run fast, and all the girls thought he was cute. I also remember wishing I had his older sister's hair, but that's beside the point. Anyway, Mr. C and I remained friends all the way through high school and into college. When life took us in different directions, we kept up when we could. These days, our paths cross in places like the grocery store and local restaurants. Every time I see him, I'm always happy to know that not much has changed about him. He's still the same great guy and now he has a wonderful little family of his own. I don't know how fast he runs though, so don't bother asking.

Thank you, C. Family, for the wonderful evening!!

B. Family

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 06:57:00 GMT

My favorite part of the holidays is seeing everyone together. College kids come home, friends and relatives from out-of-town pour in, the table is set and a feast {or two or three} is enjoyed. Watching the B. Family together reminded me that these are the times to savor. What a fun bunch this foursome was!! Mom P and son C were reunited with sisters K & K who were home on a short break from college. Watching them together, laughing with {and at} each other, was an absolute joy. If you're celebrating with family & friends this weekend, consider yourself blessed and enjoy every minute of it. It'll be over before all the dishes are done. Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Welcome, Quincy!

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:23:00 GMT

I'd like to welcome the newest member of our extended family: Quincy the cat. No, this is not my kitty. He belongs to my sister's family. Just a few short days ago, this little guy was a cat on the run...living life somewhere, somehow. Lucky for him, someone rescued him and put him in my sister's path. Now this little guy has a name, a family, and a warm home. Welcome, Quincy!

G Family.

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 12:19:00 GMT

Photography adventures recently landed me at the Martin Farm in Volant, PA with the G's (a.k.a. The family with the most beautiful eyes on the planet.) This was not a typical shoot by any means, unless you count seeing a newborn dairy calf as normal. And when I say newborn, I'm talking pop-the-cork-it's-a-girl new. There was no shortage of activity on the farm - everywhere we looked, something seemed to be happening: tractors, pickups, combines, and four-wheelers raced around. A farm dog begged to play fetch with rocks. Baby cows busted out of their playpens to burn some energy. Dust was flying and the sun was shining. What a great day on the farm. Along the way, wonderful little G Family moments were captured. Enjoy!

Thank you G Family for a fun shoot! And thank you Martin Family for letting us kick around your farm. You'll be happy to know I went home and drank a big glass of milk :)

C. Family

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:55:00 GMT

Spending time with the C. Family (H, M, big brother J & baby sister A) reminded me how quickly our babies grow up. I don't typically get weepy about these things when it comes to my kids ~ in fact I'm usually the opposite. I love each new stage. I love all the milestones. And I celebrate inside when they seem to grow before my eyes. But something about watching the C kids play made me miss those wonderful ages. I forgot how much I love when 3-year-old boys stop cold in their tracks to watch a truck roar past. I forgot how much I love when an 18-month-old enthusiastically repeats words. I forgot about the chubby cheeks on a toddler...oh my heart, the glorious chubby cheeks! And most of all, I forgot how much I love seeing the height/size difference between small children and their parents....just how little they look when they're in the arms or hanging onto the legs of a mom or dad. It just melts my heart. Those ages...those stages...they truly are gone in the blink of an eye. What a wonderful time in the life of this sweet family.

C's: Enjoy your sneak peek! Thank you for the fun afternoon!! :)

R. Family

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:30:00 GMT

Meet the R. Family: Mom N, and kids N & N. Every time I see this threesome, I am in awe. Talk about grace under fire. This family has experienced more loss in the few short years that I've known them, than most families experience in a lifetime. And they have managed to march onward, stronger than ever. The loss of mom's dear dad, then her grandmother, and then tragically her husband should be enough to put anyone under, but not her. She takes a deep breath, dusts herself off, and puts one foot in front of the other. R Family: You are truly remarkable. I sincerely hope the darkest of your days are behind you and I pray for nothing but blue skies ahead. (N, I won't forget to add God bless you too :) Enjoy the sneak peek of your images!

P kids.

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:29:00 GMT

Just when I think I can't possibly have more fun on a photo shoot, a family like this comes along. Love these kids. Love their parents. Love these pictures. Enjoy your sneak peek, P Family!

MK & girls

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:08:00 GMT

Meet MK and daughters, A & J. I've known MK since we were single digits old (don't try to do the math on that, you'll hurt yourself). She is still the same great person she was the day I met her. It's always a blast getting together with her because she has the most contagious giggle and loves to have fun. MK's daughters are just like her - funny, warm and thoughtful. If you see this fabulous trio out and about, consider yourself lucky because your day's about to get a little brighter.

MK and girls, I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek!!! Talk (and laugh) with you soon!! xoxo :)

S & D Families

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:57:00 GMT

I'm convinced that Western PA grows good families. How else can you explain the S & D bunch? This brother and sister pair (and their spouses and children) scheduled a shoot in the hopes of getting a family picture to surprise their parents for Christmas. The last time they had a group photo taken, that giggling little cutie in the front wasn't even born yet. So, they were definitely due for an update. I consider myself seriously lucky to have been able to spend a little time (or a lot, if you ask the men) taking pictures of this gang - what a riot they all were. S & D families: Thank you for the wonderful afternoon! I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I loved taking them :)

(I'm sorry but I just couldn't resist throwing in that last row of pictures!! ;)

S Family: Fall 2010 New Castle, PA

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:23:00 GMT

Meet the S Family: Here's the low-down on this fantastic foursome. Mom and Dad are teachers, Dad is a coach of several sports, Mom has more musical talent in her baby toe than most of us have in our entire bodies. The kids, S and J, are creative and happy-go-lucky little souls...the kind who are quick to cut loose and get silly (my favorite!). This is a family strong in faith and committed to serving in any way they can. If I knew how to clone humans, trust me, this is one family I'd select. Thank you S's for the opportunity to capture a little of what makes you so special.

AG sisters.

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:35:00 GMT

I got to have my sister fix yesterday! Yahoo! How lucky am I? You know how much I love little girls together. I love the hugging, the giggling, the hair accessories, all the girly stuff. Things always seem so gentle with sisters. I'm sure you've heard me mention that I'm surrounded by boys at my house. Gentle snuggling and 'nice play' are replaced with wrestling and trash talking. I'm convinced that they are members of a secret fight club that neither can discuss. Anyway, as you can imagine, it was an absolute pleasure for me to spend time with the AG girls. Thank you, G family, for a wonderful afternoon. Hope you enjoy the sneak peek of your pictures :)

What I want to be when I grow up.

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:24:00 GMT

After today, I think I know what I want to be when I grow up. I wanna be a cowgirl. But not just any cowgirl. I want to be the kind who wears ruffled shirts and cute flip flops and uses fruity lip gloss. I also think it'd be cool to be able to handle a hunting rifle without breaking out in a nervous rash. Meet KM, my cousin and a senior from Wilmington High. K is the perfect combination of girly girl and rugged farmer chick. She's the kind who will beat you in an arm wrestling match right after her nail polish dries. Talk about one in a million. Love this girl.

K, enjoy your sneak peek! I had a ball with you today :)

K, enjoy your senior year!!

Fun with sisters.

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 17:58:00 GMT

I have two young sons. They don't care about clothes or hair or fashionable footwear. They like dirt and wrestling. And dirt. For a nice change, I got to spend some time yesterday with two of the sweetest girly girls on the planet. Being with them made me wish for a second or five that I had more pink in my life. These two were the perfect photography subjects - up for anything, full of great ideas, and just plain beautiful. Hmmmm....I think I have the perfect boyfriends for them. Thank you P family!

Help wanted: driver.

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:23:00 GMT

I'm thinking of hiring a driver for myself, mostly for safety reasons. With the change of seasons here, I have a really hard time paying attention to the road when there are so many things to look at. I see one red or orange leaf and I'm completely distracted. Old pickup trucks seem to catch my eye too - not sure why, but I love rusted, old, banged up trucks. Recently I saw this old green Ford for sale and luckily I had my camera with me. Man, I love the door handles on this thing...and the big old grill on the front. Think I'll be able to find a trucker buddy to drive me around all day in this?

Pepperberry's grand {re}opening!

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:11:00 GMT

I had the honor of taking pictures at the grand reopening of Pepperberry's, my favorite little shop of treasures in New Wilmington, PA. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better...Pepperberry's expanded {cue the angels, will you?}. Everywhere you look, your eye lands on something clever, unique & just plain fabulous. From the old spigot handles on the window treatments to the mason jar lights above the cashwrap area...it's loaded with one-of-a-kind gift and decorating ideas. There are sweet gifts for newborns, delicious hostess treats, little surprises for your friends (and better yet, yourself). If you're anywhere in this area, do yourself a favor and stop in. Trust me. It's that good.

That does it. Looking at these pictures makes me miss this place. I'm going back!! Congratulations to Laurie and Team Pepperberry's on a wonderful reopening!!!

Senior moments.

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:11:00 GMT

I must be getting old because I don't remember people looking this good in high school. Back in my day, we had hair that defied gravity (thanks to awesome mega-hold hairspray), we pegged our pants and we wore electric blue mascara. Trust me, times have changed. And for the better. Below are some images taken of JMC, a local senior, who is a true beauty inside and out. What a joy it was to work with you, J! You are an absolute doll and I wish you all the luck in the world this year!