Wichita & Lawrence, Kansas wedding photographer // Jaclyn Marie Photography » Wedding photography and portrait photography in the Wichita, Kansas area // Jaclyn Lippelmann

So, you probably don’t know me all that well. But if you do, you know that I’m just a little bit crafty…or maybe more like a LOT crafty.
Ever since I was old enough to clutch that glitter and Elmer’s tightly in my little hand, I’ve been making things. All kinds of things.

It started simple. I’d sew “detective bags” and fill them with sleuthing supplies (God love that Nancy Drew…). Maybe I was dying the Barbie’s hair purple, or making beaded decorations for the tree house. OH, and the pillows…I’ve sewn some hideous pillows in my day.
These days, it’s a little more complex.  I wake up some mornings with an urge to create, and then something inspires me. The next thing you know, I’ve knitted the dog a sweater, made a scrapbook out of tree bark, concocted a new piece of “wall art,” decoupaged a frame, or sewn myself a dress (without using a pattern, mind you). So it’s no surprise that I count my sewing machine and closet full of craft supplies among my most treasured possessions.

Well, today I found myself inspired once more. Kali of Corliss Photography recently posted this super adorable image on her blog:

Melts your little heart, doesn’t it?! Now, I know that my dog is not NEARLY this cute (he’s got a face that only a mama could love), but I wanted some photos like this anyway!

Since I’m not a studio photographer, I don’t have a ton of typical studio equipment. But when I get that creative urge, all patience and reason flies out the window. I would have a similar picture, and I would have it NOW!

So what’s a girl to do? Well, a quick raid of the fabulous crafts closet and a trip to Hancock Fabrics was just the ticket. I ended up sewing myself a bigger softbox for my strobes and making a cute little doggie-sized backdrop setup. No welding (or anything equally dangerous) involved.
As it turns out, softboxes are harder to sew than one might imagine. It worked about as well as the time I tried to dye Barbie’s hair using purple food coloring. Okay, it wasn’t quite that bad, but I’m thinking a round two on this little project is definitely a must.

Despite the janky setup and my dog’s lack of photogenic talent, I grabbed one quick shot of Baxter doing his crooked sit. He sits in a new funny way nearly ever day, but he never sits symmetrically like a normal dog. His legs are always in various states of entanglement. We think it’s cute.

And just since he’s a little bit self conscious about his crooked sit, he wanted a tongue one too. He thinks he’s got a really nice tongue.