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Newborn and Family Park Sessions

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2011-06-08T15:41:49-07:00

The past couple of weeks have presented me with some really neat sessions. Somehow, in a small pocket of time there was NO May rain the D Family and I slipped this session in at William Land Park in honor of M’s 1st Birthday Month. I’ve had the privilege of photographing this family since big sister S was just about the same age. I love love love getting to watch families grow....Thanks D Family!

Then there is this very sweet family with their newest addition. While Mom and I were introduced a few years back by a mutual friend this is our first (of many!) sessions together. Believe it or not, this whole session was done in their living room just one week after Mom have birth via C Section. She was super grateful not to to have to pack up in the car with Baby, Big Brother, Hubby, and diaper bag to get newborn portraits done. Although Mom was getting around VERY well (I even forgot a time or two she just gave birth!) I have to admit I really like setting up in families homes. After years of doing in-studio photography, it can be easier for me to have all my lighting and background set in one place but I find families are so much more relaxed when I come to them. And THAT makes it all well worth it!

In Home Newborn Session

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2011-05-24T09:59:43-07:00

Here are just a few images I love from my recent Newborn Session at the B’s home. Big Sister E wasn’t too excited about me taking over her home at first, but then curiosity got the better of her. Ultimately, she warmed up to the idea and she couldn’t have been cuter! And then of course, her Baby Brother B was just one mellow fellow.....Thanks B Family!

Not Really a Wedding Photog.....But.......

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2011-05-11T17:49:53-07:00

Okay, I’ll be the first to tell you I am NOT a wedding photographer. Yes, I have photographed a few dozen lovely weddings over the years, but it is really not my thing. Unless you are close to my circle, you probably wouldn’t even think to ask me about it. (After all, do you even see any ‘wedding’ section in my online portfolio? Point made....)

Lucky for me a long time dear friend passed my number along to the mother of this lovely bride. Mr. and Mrs. had a beautiful courthouse wedding on Good Friday and before the ‘I do’s’ we spent 34 minutes in Old Sac. Yep, 34 minutes....that the time we had we used it! Can’t say this first made me think twice about promoting weddings professionally BUT is does turn out I LOVED this couple and the simple, intimate nature of a courthouse ceremony.

Where Did the Time Go?!?!

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-10-26T07:16:12-07:00

Well, true to form I have disappeared off my “daily blog” for weeks (months?!) now (again) but have been truly very busy taking pictures, pictures, pictures. As I’ve mentioned before, my husband and business partner Fred and I collaborate on his bigger projects and WOW did we work together the past several months. We have been criss-crossing Northern California photographing as many exterior architectural sessions as we can before Fall really arrives, which in Sacramento, looks like it really blew in this past weekend. We still have a few more to go before we will start having to be far more selective about which assignments to take on again until spring but it looks promising that we’ll pull those ones off in grand style.

In addition to driving around photographing buildings, I have been busy in the studio as well. Lots of new babies and big baby bumps have kept me hopping. And of course a wonderful wedding I had the honor of helping a professional photog friend photograph at a plant nursery of all places. It was BEAUTIFUL and the couple was a delight - very sweet and creative. She made her bridal bouquet of old family brooches. Not only was it stunning but a family keepsake for sure!

Believe it or not, even with the colder, wetter weather approaching I am still booking outdoor sessions left and right - all the way into December. I still have a few dates left if you are thinking about new family portraits outdoors in time for Christmas. Please book for sessions no later than December 4 if you’re hoping to use the images for anything related to Christmas.

Okay for now I am including a few cute cute cute pics from a recent newborn session of a sweet pea and his big sister - who I also photographed three years ago as a newborn!

Busy Busy June - Happy July!

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-07-06T11:32:21-07:00

Here is the just a peek at what my June was like! Too much (but never too too too much!) photo’ing means not enough bloggin time.....besides, I am not 100% convinced anyone actually reads these blogs anyhow! :)

Now back to more web updating and more maternity session scheduling! (Nevermind that I am *patiently* waiting on two more July babies to make their grand entrance to our world and my studio!)

Elizabeth Donham - Maternity Photographer

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-06-01T17:17:13-07:00

Happy Memorial Day always seems a bit strange to me to say - but Happy Belated Memorial Day. I spent mine swimming (for 10 minutes!) in a freezing pool (not QUITE swimming weather here in Sacramento) but I was determined to fully enjoy my freedoms that my little brother, Major Little Brother, and his wife, Second Lieutenant Sister-in-Law fight everyday for. Swimming and BBQ and family made for a very nice day.......Thank you to ALL our soldiers......

I am squeezing in a few blog minutes before my next Maternity Session with J and M. They are expecting their first baby - a boy! M tells me she loves black and white and wraps so we’ll see what adventure we can find!

My session last week with K and S was awesome as I knew it would be. They were so lovely they even hung out for a bit after our shoot and we chatted about things great and small - most of which is not fair game for my blog! lol.....I will tell you, however, I was entertained by K’s stance on fluoride in public drinking water.....yes, I am that kind of nerd.....I brought it up.......I am working on their images and I LOVE them.....as a couple they were fun and playful and bold. They expect to feel comfortable sharing their whole session and I hope they stick to that because we had some fun - certainly not “I got these taken at the mall” pics here.....

On Thursday I’ll see J and C.....okay, I better see C.....she is due very soon with baby #2 and according to J she is looking different to him within the last few days......wait for me Baby!!!!!! I have joked before no one has ever gone into labor in my studio but I am ready for new experiences so I’ll let you know after if we make it!

Okay, here is a quick mini-peak at K and S......I’ll share more after they have had a full day to look at their own gallery!

Okay - here for a quick moment of silly all-about-me-ness........After using the same headshot for nearly two years I broke down today and asked my fabulous husband and fellow photographer to snap me.....yikes....NOT my fav - I so like being behind the lens much better but I did manage to have some fun. The first one is what I am considering the real deal - that is me....the second I laughed thinking about doing, laughed while doing and am still laughing about to be honest. It is my “Trust-me-to-take-your-portrait-because-I-have-camera-in-my-picture-and-I-processed-it-with-these-cool-affects” headshot. Apparently every photographer needs one of these on their website.......I’ll throw it up and laugh about it - hope it makes you laugh too!

Many Hats - Maternity Photographer, Event Photographer, Mom...

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-05-24T10:42:27-07:00

I am soooooo tempted to fudge a few dates and give the illusion that I’ve been happily blogging all month long but it turns out I have this naggin’ conscious that won’t allow me to......This will just be one packed little blog update......

As I type this up I am downloading images from my most recent session - a fun studio maternity session with M and T. They were good people! T is due in a few short weeks (maybe even days now that her session is done?!) and her sister is due this summer so they both came in with their Mom (who was such a great sport and jumped in the pics despite being given no warning!). LOVED it......Then Gramma and Mom/Future Auntie and Grampa took off for their day and M and T and I continued with their private maternity session. Can’t wait to share the pics from this session!

Tonight I have a maternity session with K and S. I have spoken only briefly on the phone with K because my wonderful husband and business partner Fred took care of scheduling this session. I’m totally looking forward to meeting them tonight and turning out a beautiful session for them!

Yesterday I was in “end-of-school-year-report” heaven (or hell depending on the time of the day! lol......) Both Big Girl and Little Man had big reports to wrap up. Big Girl had a couple of friends over thru out the week end and it was heart warming to see a group of 6th grade girls all quietly and independently working on all things ancient Egypt. Little Man had a power point presentation to prepare for images he took while we were recently at Mission San Gabriel. Can you image a 4th grader knowing how to work a power point presentation!? Gotta hand it to him - he did it! By bedtime all reports were done and lined up by the door for morning. One proud Mamma here for sure......

Last week was a blur......a really nice blur. In an earlier post I eluded to a proposal I was excited about that would take us traveling. Well - WE GOT IT! Last week Sunday Fred and I successfully packed all the required photography equipment (no small feat!) and a few items of clothing and caught a flight for St. Louis, Missouri. We arrive late Sunday night to what I can only describe as a torrential rain. It was not hail but it was hitting the ground so hard and bouncing up again it almost seemed to be double raining. There were a few mis-adventures finding our hotel thanks to the dark, rain and naughty GPS connection we experienced. Regardless we were together and once we found a fabulous little joint called Steak ‘n Shake it was all good! With good directions from the nice server there (and some cheese burger sliders and a killer turtle shake!) we were off to an amazing week. Monday we had time to sight see (including seeing the Mississippi River and taking a tour to the top of the Arch) before waking up at 4am local time to start photographing at Scott AFB in Illinois by 6am. The crew out there was amazing. Because of lots of rain (something like 10 of the previous 13 days had been rainy) the construction was delayed so they were a bit behind their desired schedule but everyone was super accommodating in giving up access and help in setting up shots. Within a few days of our photography (in the case of one room just hours) the whole space was locked down to only those with specific top secret clearances. Needless to say FUN FUN FUN! Wednesday we were up by 3am to get on base by 5am to get started. We felt so blessed to have rain free days both of our scheduled photo days. Between the easy flight, all our luggage arriving, professional people on location and FINALLY finding a Starbucks we had a wonderful time. Turns out it is MUCH easier to find sweet tea in southern Illinois and Missouri than Starbucks.........By the time we flew out very early Thursday morning and arrived home that afternoon we were happy but exhausted. Friday we attempted to function at full speed in the studio but mostly it was for appearances! We answered emails, worked out a few proposals and were so thankful we had scheduled no sessions that day!

The week before no slow week either....between photo’ing at the Sacramento Bee for the Capitol CIty Young Writers group and a Senior Portrait session that rocked and a great 1/2 day session in Old Sacramento and the State Capitol and an architectural session in Rocklin and some more work with AAR we weren’t sure we were going to have time to even pack.....but of course we did.......

Moving forward now......My latest maternity images are ready for processing so I’d better get back on track! I’ll check back again soon!
Future studios of Bubble Gum Portraits - St. Louis, Missouri (lol.....)

Phew - One Happy Maternity, Newborn, Architectural Photographer!

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-05-06T10:48:22-07:00

Okay, so my daily blog is more like my weekly blog these days but in my defense I am cultivating cool sessions to blog about!

Last blog I lamented the need to reschedule a session due to rain. No need to fuss. All comes along in good time. Last week Thursday Fred and I photographed a beautiful room created by Jill Dudensing. Her ability to synthesize furniture and colors and textures is inspiring. She is entering a contest with the images we created so keep your fingers crossed that her efforts are properly received! On Friday we were off to AAP Corp (Innovative Products & Services for Aerospace and Defense.....if you think that sounds cool, it was just that cool and more!) Their 90,000 sq foot facility might have been a challenge to fully do justice but it wasn’t due to the amazing team work of Dave and Carlos and team and Marlene. They made the day fun and we got some great images. Thanks so much for allowing us to see the inner workings of airplane wing development and molding! Monday had us in Granite Bay at the GORGEOUS home of Danielle Petkus - our reschedule due to rain session. She has an amazing home but what is so great is she is designed her home from literally the foundation up. All design elements from foundation to curtains and pillows and landscaping were at her direction. Danielle isn’t indulgent - she has a long list of very happy clients she has done the same thing for! Tuesday morning we popped back over to her home to properly photograph her lovely and whimsical front courtyard by 7am. Late spring sun sure gets up early but I think we timed it well! Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday I took for some much needed and enjoyed family time with my Dad who was visiting from his home on the Caribbean island of Dominica. We went hydrobiking and had some Cinco de Mayo fun poolside with the kids.

Today I am scrambling to help wrap up the past week’s sessions and line up our upcoming schedule. Head shots, senior portraits and newborn announcements are all on the immediate horizon. Saturday I will be photographing at the Sacramento Bee for the Capitol City Young Writer’s seminar/workshop. Oh! And we are putting together a proposal that if accepted will take us to Illinois in two weeks.......I won’t jinx us by chatting too much about that one just now.....but I’ll keep you posted!

Session Called due to Rain

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-04-28T09:55:52-07:00

So “April showers bring May flowers” should also be “April showers brings rescheduled May sessions”. BUT.....it isn’t even raining this morning after all! lol......I guess the forecast can’t always be 100% correct. Luckily our client was willing to reschedule for Monday. I am grateful we had that day in common to reschedule but the bummer is now I won’t be available for brunch with my favorite ladies I and J......Luckily I love my “job” so as much as I’ll miss my lovely lady friends I’ll still be having a good day.

This switch up means a day in the camera room photographing sales product rather than on location. I am sporting sweats, hair up, shoes off and no make up so I am not complaining in the least bit. The camera room awaits.........

Happy Monday - Back at the Studio!

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-04-26T12:51:28-07:00

Phew! That was a fun, long weekend! The family and I hit the open road very early Thursday morning with coffee in hand and slid back into Sacramento early Sunday evening. Between the nearly 900 miles we drove we saw a mission, Disneyland and FAMILY! I have to admit Fred and I are feeling a bit run down today and are moving a bit slow but overall no worse for wear. It turns out that driving that many miles, sleeping in a bed other than our own, and closing out Disneyland (at midnight!) two nights in a row takes it’s toll at our age. Lol.......

Now we are back in Monday-Mode. Today I have been creating an ad lay-out for Probert’s Engraving with the images I took last week. Fred and I have been busy shipping, shipping, shipping purchases from the selling end of our business.. We have two big architectural sessions lined up this week. The one we have scheduled for Wednesday regrettably may need to be pushed back thanks to another storm blowing through Sacramento. (Is it is really spring yet?!) I am following up with several preggo Moms for their maternity sessions to be scheduled and I can’t wait to get those sessions on my books! I love the variety my “job” has but I really LOVE the preggo Moms and new babies. Just another busy Monday at Bubble Gum Portraits by PhotographerLink©!

Camagear and Probert's Engraving by Elizabeth Donham - Product Photographer

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-04-21T15:31:17-07:00

Nothing like cramming a full day in and lovin’ it! I deliberately did not schedule any portrait sessions this week because I knew it was a short work week for me, however..........when Dave Kern of Camagear and Jerry of Probert’s Engraving each asked to have some of their products photographed (t shirts and trophies respectively) of course I said yes. Between wrapping up loose ends with our buying (and selling) parts of our business and touching base with portraits clients and booking architectural and portraits sessions for when we return I actually managed to fit it in today! (Somedays I feel like I got the bull by the tail!)

Now I am home in time to clean the kitty box (my favorite......I do it only because I love my bad ass cat and well....frankly because while I have an awesome husband his version of cleaning the cat box is dumping the whole box out......what’s a lady to do?) and pack our bags before picking up the rental car. I love the fact that my in-laws live so close - they can practically live at my house (and mind my cujo guard dogs and bad ass cat) while we are busy. With a bit of good luck we’ll have a healthy family (Little Man is MUCH better today) and clear, warm weather!

Busy Busy

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-04-20T16:29:52-07:00

So much for posting daily on a daily blog. Guess I should say it is good that I am busy enough with work related stuff that I don’t have the time to post about it.....because this week that has been the case. With taking two work days (plus the weekend!) off to have some family fun it has really compressed this week. Then add to that Little Man getting the pukes late last night. At least he missed the carpet almost entirely and the clean up wasn’t too bad. So lucky me has the flexibility to work from home (no session scheduled this week due to travel schedule) and even luckier Little Man is doing much better. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is a quick one for him and that no one else picks it up!

This week work-wise has been lots of website updating, bid proposals for architectural sessions for Fred’s PhotographerLink©, and product shooting for equipment sales. I really love and prefer sessions with sweet little peas of all sizes, however, there is something to be said for photographing camera bodies and lenses; they sit still, you never have to coax them or wait them out, and they never have an off day! On the other hand, I never get the sweet coos and smiles from equipment so I guess I really love the babes best!

I am not ambitious enough to think that tomorrow I’ll make the time to post here but if you really miss new content - check out the rest of my site here because I’ve been adding a lot over the past couple of weeks!
I have new content on the about section, pricing and birth announcements! Okay - here’s to wrapping up a few more loose ends before some So Cal fun!

It's Coming Together......

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-04-16T21:28:48-07:00

Slowly but surely this site is taking shape. I just spent a few side-spliting minutes reading my “About” section out loud to my husband Fred. (To be clear, I was the one laughing, he was the confused one....”You mean you still like me?” was his first response! Now you gotta read the About section to understand this exchange. But yes, I still do like my husband, very much in fact.) Over the course of this past week when I was NOT blogging daily on my Daily Blog, I was finishing up my sessions. All of which are now complete. I even have some of the newly completely images on my newborn and crybaby galleries. My goal is to have this new website up an fulling running this weekend.

Next week I have a three day work week. Lots of equipment cleaning and inventorying and photo’ing and posting and selling. And maybe a series of on locations head shots for an attorney firm. (Just waiting to hear back from our bid - when I last called they were still compiling information.) Thursday morning we are heading down to Southern California to do Southern California things with my Dad who will be there attending work related conferences. He will be coming from his home base east of South America so to have him just 400 miles away is a treat worth pulling the kids out of school for. One of the So Cal things we’ll be doing is visiting a mission for Little Man’s project. The other simply has to do with big ears.....’nuf said. Perhaps I will take pictures. Perhaps I’ll even share....

Happy Monday!

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-04-12T10:41:43-07:00

After a weekend that included pulling together numbers for taxes I am so ready to be back in the studio! For those of you who are not procrastinators I am sure that you are freaking out at the thought of not yet having your taxes done but for me this is very normal. I love the art, not particularly the business side of photography. Luckily my accountant knows this and expects me in around the 14th of each April! The good news is that we have pretty much all the gather work done and now we just need to get in to see our favorite accountant Rich Eldredge. The other upside of doing taxes all weekend was that the weather here in Sacramento has turned very winter like again so curling up in the house in sweats and with a hot mug of coffee wasn’t too bad!

Now that I am back in the studio I have been down loading images from Baby A and Baby N’s Friday newborn sessions and creating an online gallery for Miss M’s session. Next I’ll begin working on the fun 3 generation session from last week. It’s great to have fun projects to work on.

Fred (my husband and business partner) is neck deep in camera equipment right now. As you may know, he is a professional photographer (specializing in architectural and product photography) and an AVID camera equipment collector. He loves buying vintage equipment. Much of it ends up on our shelves both at home and in the studio. Some is brokered across the world. When I am not shooting or wrapping my own sessions or assisting him in his, I help him with cleaning, evaluating and either displaying or selling equipment. Initially I wasn’t too sure about this end of the business. I like my state of the art 5 D Mark II digital camera and I have never used film professionally. It turns out that bringing on vintage equipment is fun for me too. He sees mostly the mechanical elements of the design and marvels at that but my imagination runs wild with curiosity about who used the camera and for what purposes. Another day when I have more time (only 15 minutes or less allowed for posting blogs when I have so much work to do!) I’ll post some pics of cool cameras we’ve had over the years.

I am heading back to more image processing but here a peek at Miss Myra’s proof gallery created for her Mom.

3 blogs, 2 newborns, 1 happy photographer

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-04-09T08:54:56-07:00

Yooo Yeeee......Look at me! Three blog postings in as many days. I am fire!

I am going to keep this short today. After playing yesterday afternoon I have much work to catch up on now. In addition to the pile I left yesterday and my newborn session today with Baby A I just booked another newborn session for later this afternoon. I photographed each of the Moms a few weeks ago so I am especially excited to meet their new little ones. Sweet baby girl is coming in first and precious boy just after her.
Of course I’ll post some pics from these sessions as soon as they are ready.

Even though I am feeling a bit behind on my work flow today, yesterday afternoon was SO MUCH fun. Nicole always has me in stitches. Our husbands joined us after work and we sat and ate and laughed until much too late on a school/work night. As expected, our collective 4 bouncers jumped and jumped and jumped.

Okay - I am ready to start checking off my “To Do List” now but here is one funky, artsy interpretation of my kids jumpin’!

Wow - Two days in a row!

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-04-08T12:45:57-07:00

I remember reading somewhere once that if you can do something 21 times in a row it can become a habit. This is officially day TWO in a ROW of blogging. I am so on a roll!

Right now I am wrapping up a short day in the studio. Honestly, it should be a long one based upon the number of projects I am juggling but all work and no play isn’t okay either. This afternoon I get to meet up with my dear friend Nicole and her two kids. I’ve known Nicole for years before her 8 and 5 year olds were born. (I LOVE those kids!) Besides being smart and loving, Nicole is FUN! It is a crime that we haven’t gotten together in a meaningful way since last summer. We will make up for that this afternoon with her kids bouncing to their heart’s content with mine and over homemade chicken enchiladas (that she is making!), chips and diet pepsi. And I really do mean bouncing. Nothing invigorates or tires out like non-stop jumping on the 15 foot trampoline. And yes, of course, I have a safety enclosure. I love happy, safe children! Nic and I will probably just sit around talking, talking, talking and LAUGHING........

If I were to spend more time in the studio today I could be so busy.

~I am wrapping up an adorable session with Baby S. Her images have been all done, gallery on line and I was just waiting for feedback from Mom on them. Spoke with her today and she loved them! (I am an insecure artist at heart so positive feedback always makes my little heart swell!) I’ll be getting a disk of her images into the mail first thing tomorrow morning.

~Yesterday evening’s multigenerational session went SO WELL......The family was amazing and kind and easy to work with. They live in my neighborhood so I took my 12 year old assistant (Big Girl), walked down the street with my camera bag and tripod and met up with this family in their oversized, beautifully landscaped backyard. Weather and lighting were my friend and in an unbelievably fast and easy 40 minute session we created several different family groupings. I’ll be processing their images tomorrow but from my sneak peek and I am very pleased with the results.

~I just finished processing the park session from yesterday’s two year old session. Love, love, love them. The ‘duck obsessed’ girl photographed beautifully and the gallery covers all of her traipsing about the park and feeding the ducks. We even managed to capture a few “portrait” looks along the way. I’ll fuss with them a bit in the next few days and get those online for her family.

~I need to set up the camera room for a newborn session tomorrow morning. I had the pleasure of photographing her Mom just a few weeks ago with a big ole’ belly (and little everything else!) and now I get to meet new baby A. Part of my fav part of this “job” is getting to meet all my new little clients. It is so incredible to see a big belly turn into a sweet little bundle. I love my 9 and 12 year olds BUT they don’t have that new baby smell no matter how many times I make them shower! Lucky me gets to see new ones so often!

Okay, my self-allotted time of 15 minutes blog time is up so I am going to wrap this up, shut down my studio and call it a day!

My first (semi) official blog of my new website design....

elizabeth@photographerlink.com — 2010-04-07T15:31:06-07:00

Okay - I am up for a challenge. I am a professional portrait photographer in California in 2010 so by nature of my willingness to swim up-stream I must be cool with living life on the edge? Yes? Sure....not that those who know and love me need more fuel for the list that is headed with “Examples of Elizabeth willing to do things the hard way” but I have undertaken self-creating a new website design. I am a bit hesitant to offer this tid bit for two reasons. #1 is I would hate to sound like I am bragging (but I am JUST A LITTLE BIT!) and #2 I would hate to suggest I can do this website development thing better than a professional website designer. Part of my day job is convince people that their portraits are best handled by a professional such as myself. There is something to be said, however, for me keeping all the creative control over my website and being able to post new portfolio pieces, blogs and other related information on my own. Now the only trick is keeping the rhythm going between business, family, kids, and website (and not necessarily in that order!) to keep checking in here and updating this site! Wish me luck on this one!

Earlier today I had the pleasure of photo’ing a sweet two year old that I have had the honor of photographing since she was a newborn and her two older brothers before that. We hit William Land Park. It is the perfect place for a low key two year old session. Lots of room to explore without tripping over other people or fear of on-coming traffic. Lots of flowers and large rocks and of course the pond and various wild life. She was so enthralled by the ducks. The ducks were equally in love with her after Mom pulled out the gold fish crackers. WIth a bit of patience, a quick shutter release finger and a careful eye we nailed the session.

Later this early evening I have the pleasure of photographing three generations in their backyard. Considering this session was booked almost three weeks ago I can’t be happier with the actual weather. I say actual because my imagined weather for today teetered between high gusting winds with rain and the glorious weather we are having today that I can’t ever bring myself to hope for!

I’ll post images from both these sessions as soon as I push them thru the processing part of my work flow. Like I always tell my clients - 1 to 2 weeks before the proof gallery is up, but perhaps for blogs sake I can sneak a few thru faster!