Stacy and Neil are engaged, adorable and planning their wedding.  They are also huge baseball fans.  The only problem is they happen to be on either side of a major MLB rivalry....bad news for baseball season....good news for a super fun engagement session theme!

My good buddy Tricia and I tag-teamed this shoot around Cedarhust.  Tricia had the hookup to all the little hidden corners and funky shooting locales.  Helloooooo awesome hidden-staircase...

this next one = hella cute.  (yes....I say "hella" now....try to keep up!)

gotta get that bling shot in there...

I'm gonna nip it in the bud before it happens....YES Stacy's hair is really that red and YES her eyes are THAT blue...gorgeous.

Nothing like some good old-fashioned snuggling in the sunflare...

TA-DA.  Stacy and Neil, mucho congratulations!!!! 

When we were growing up, my siblings and I were repeatedly denied permission to own a pet.  I never had a dog, cat, fish or even a hamster.  One time, in a futile attempt to find companionship, I found a snail in the backyard and put it in a shoebox with a bunch of leaves and hid it in my room.  It died pretty quickly.  I don't know what snails eat, but I can now eliminate cardboard and leaves from the possibilities.  

In my parent's defense...I can kind of understand (KIND OF) now why adding a pet to the stress of raising 5 kids might have been slightly unappealing.  So I don't hold it against them.

Anywho, fast forward 20 years and I, along with 3/4 of my siblings, have filled the void with pets of our own.  Last weekend I met the latest addition to the Dunbar animal kingdom, Aries.  He is an adorable little kitten that my brother Dan and his fiance adopted.  I recommend doubling up on pants though, he can and will climb up your leg when given the chance.

Watching my bull-in-a-china-shop brother holding a teeny little kitten is kind of adorable/scary.

Okay seriously, that last one needs to be captioned and submitted to LOLcats ASAP.

I'm going to start this post by making a list...

THINGS THAT ARE AWESOME:

1) Catching up with an old high school pal
2) Meeting her dashing fiance
3) Crazy adventures in Coney Island

Julie and JIm have created a new, "awwwwww" inducing tradition for 2012.  Each month, one of them plans a surprise "date-date" for the other.  In January, Julie was up first.  She and Jim headed to snowy Coney Island and I met them there to document it all in a "get to you know" session.  I repeat, this was not an "engagement session."  Jim has a weak stomach when it comes to overly corny things.  I'm right there with ya buddy.

This was my first trip to Coney Island (I know, I know) so Jim and Julie led the way.   I was immediately instructed that a Nathan's hot dog was an absolute necessity...

After hot dogs we mozied on up to the boardwalk...which was completely empty.  It was fun having the whole place to ourselves.

Julie:  We're not photogenic.  Me:  PLEASE.

Lemme break this next series down for you...we got in front of the wonder wheel and Julie suggested "maybe we should do something to reflect the shape of the wheel?"...and after a moment of confusion, Jim just follows suit.  I felt like the 3 of us were laughing hysterically for 70% of this session.  Good fun.

After shooting for a bit, we slipped into a cafe to escape the cold...

We only had a few minutes to warm up because the big surprise of this "date-date" was rapidly approaching....

WOAH WOAH WOAH...have I seriously not addressed Julie's ring yet?  It's been in Jim's family for a long time and I don't know what else to say about it except wow.  So unique.  I love the Victorian feel to it.

Okay okay, enough of the mushy gushy.  It's time for the big surprise....

Yes, you read right.  POLAR BEAR CLUB.  Julie secretly packed their bathing suits before hand.  I cannot believe how calmly Jim reacted to the news that he would be jumping into the ocean in 20 minutes...

Oh myyyy I love this next picture.  I seriously got goosebumps when all the polar bears circled up and started doing their chant.  I NEED to do this one day.  An item for my next 365 list perhaps????

VICTORY!

Here's a fun fact about jumping into 35 degree water - your skin becomes so numb that cold/snow/elements no longer affect you.  Introducing two of my favorite images EVER...

Bundled up, dry and ready to go home!  Julie and Jim, I had an absolute blast tagging along on your "date-date."  I CANNOT WAIT to shoot your wedding in May!

Just dropping in to wish you all a very warm and cozy snow day....

I have a reallyyyyyyyyyy fun and unique session scheduled tomorrow.  I CANNOT WAIT to share it.  It will be epic.  

Since the weather this weekend was feeling much more like winter, and since Joe was working today, I decided it was a good opportunity to tackle item #15 on my 30 in 365 list:  buy Gillies a doggie sweater when Joe isn't looking.  I ran out to the pet store and returned with the cutest little Gillies-sized cable-knit sweater.

The best way to explain what happened when I put the sweater on Gillies is to tell you what happens when he gets a bath.  Once that bathwater starts running (and he knows what's coming) he will hide in every corner and bark and bark and bark.  But when we finally get him in the tub, he freezes.  He barely moves and just stares at us with shamed eyes until it's over.

The sweater brought out the exact same reaction - except worse.  The good news is it was ridiculously easy getting him to stay still for a picture.  The bad news is they aren't very action packed pictures.... 

 I had to literally carry him outside because he wouldn't move once it was on.  I plopped him next to the fence and he froze again.

My delusions of a fun and spirited JCrew doggie photoshoot have died, but at least another item can be crossed off the list.  I hope everyone is staying warm this weekend!

Hi!  If you're reading this than you've seen my new website.  Yay!

I just wanted to drop in and say hello.  I know I've been a little M.I.A.   The web-redesign took up mucho amounts of my time these last few weeks but I'm back and ready to blog in the New Year.

By the way, you can go straight to my blog here www.catherinedunbarblog.com if that's easier.

I hope ya'll like the new site!  Be back soon...

I met up with my very best good friend Tricia this morning for some shooting, chatting and headshot swapping.  I am a total doofus in front of the camera - I start talking really fast and doing this nervous laughter thing but TRICIA on the other hand shows up dressed fabulously and rocking some awesome looks.  and awesome bangs.  I think I'll be staying BEHIND the camera from now on...

Tricia - you are GAWGEOUS DAHLING.  seriously, though.

Reasons why I hate you: You look awesome even when making a silly face.  SIgh.

HAHAH I love this next one.  

GURL...it was great catching up and so much fun shooting you!

I know I've been MIA, and I apologize.  I've been up to my you-know-what in a massive redesign of my website.  I have nothing witty or fun to add other than you should probably go ahead and feel sorry for me, because this is no fun.  ALTHOUGH I am super pumped to debut it {hopefully} next week.  Stay tuned muchachos!  

Here's a little peek at the new site via screenshot:

Thanks for hanging in there.  Be back soon...promise!