I Love the Time of Year

As I wake up (begrudgingly) early this morning I am greeted by giggly boy in my bed cuddling close with cold little toes. I here the heater click on as I pull them close and we snuggle deep into the covers talking about the upcoming day with lots of fun activities in store for us. A visit from grandparents, a soccer game and a trip to the Pumpkin Patch. It’s Fall and there’s no denying it. And to make it even better it is a beautifully sunny, blue sky Saturday! With all the record breaking rain fall we’ve had of late the sun’s appearance just makes it all the better! Despite the bad weather I have been able to squeeze in some of my favorite shoots to date. I have awesome clients! I know that every photographer says that but mine are not only cute as a button they are happy and well behaved and do everything I ask of them. Well maybe not everything but close! I am a firm believer in that if you expect the kids to just sit and smile then you, as the parent, are going to be frazzled five minutes into the shoot. I usually let the children roam and explore the setting and get used to me, the camera and their surroundings. After I’m acquainted with your child I might start asking them to look my way or stand/sit somewhere specific but I really try not to force a situation. What I want to capture are those unplanned moments, sweet smile and reactions because seriously, if you ask your child to sit there and say “cheeeeeeeeeese” the end result is going to be something forced and contrived and that’s not what you are paying me for.

Here are a couple shots I’ve gotten lately that demonstrate what I’m talking about.

(I love it when the dads make a special effort to be there and get into the shoot!)

I have had some great first birthday sessions and I love that the parents are bringing little cakes out for the babies to feast on. They turn out really cute!

When I work with siblings it’s definitely more challenging but if you let them be themselves and play off each other you can get one of a kind results.

This works also one on one with each child.

Once the kids are comfortable with me I can usually get shots like these.

I also like to capture shot when they are just being themselves.

Whether they’re being pouty…

… or thoughtful

…or just being silly.

What I want to capture is little snap shot of the way you as the parent see and remember your children. I am loving the “imperfect” pictures more and more because they’re the ones where the personality shows through.

Well I have a ton more I want to show but it will have to wait.  Have a great weekend!

I love my job. I really, really do. But when you get a session like this it doesn’t even feel like work. There was hardly a bad shot at all in this session. These girls came ready to be photographed and were a dream to work with.

Here is what I saw.

Girls, Girls, Girls

I have boys.

My boys love being boys. This means that we have boots, Leggos, ball caps, Transformer t-shirts and every sports ball you can imagine and all this is usually covers with some sticky goop and a nice dusting of dirt. What we do not have in my house is anything soft, pink or frilly and certainly not anything that can be described at “pretty”. So, when I have a chance to shoot girls and they have dresses and bows and sweet little rings and necklaces on I get a little excited and enjoy the nice change of pace. I have had a lot of girls lately and it has been so much fun for me. They have all be such little models and really know how to work it!

I had forgotten that girls are not real big fans of mud and bugs. The Taylor sisters were such troopers in the wet grass!

Here is what I saw.

Preview

Here is a snippet from a shoot I did yesterday. More to come… but it’s off I go to another shoot.

Have a great weekend!

Miss Personality

Yesterday I had, though still soggy and damp outside, a wonderful shoot with this little firecracker! Little M knew just how to pose and work the camera and had the cutest little personality.

We had a great time romping around Kiroli Park and snapping pictures along the way. Her mommy was good to think ahead and have several changes of clothes. This is a good idea if you are wanting both formal portraits and then some that really shows your little one’s personality. I’m so glad that we went ahead with the shoot because it is raining again now. I can’t complain as it has been a very cool first day of Fall here in Monroe!

Happy Fall!

Here is what I saw.

The Ratcliffs

Last week before Monroe turned into the soggy mess it is now I was able to have a wonderful session with Kim and her family. Kim was Lunden’s assistant teacher last year and I  also took her two eldest Christmas pictures last year. In May Kim had daughter number three and I finally got to meet her four months later! She is a cutie pie and very laid back. The verdict is still out on whether this one will take after here sisters and be a clone of Kim also.

Here is what I saw.

Well I have a busy weekend coming up so get ready for some more regular posting.

I leave you with a sneak peek from a shoot I had today.

Grandparent’s Day

Today was Grandparents Day at Grace where my boys go to school. The boys have been singing me all the the songs they had learned and were excited to show off their art work the their Grandparents.

I was there to capture the program and then to take portraits too. I love this day! Grandparents are so special and I’m thankful the the school makes a point to include them in this special way.

Here is what I saw.

I was so proud of Bryce for singing.

Note that Lunden was moved to the 1st grader’s row and was still a head taller than most of them.

My boys with Nona and Papaw

Here are a few of the other portraits. It turned out to be a great spot.

It was a busy week at school for the boys. Here are some I got yesterday at the Book Fair.

It’s fun to see the kids so excited about book.

Bryce back in his class room showing off his mad dance skills.

Later that day Bart was reading the new books to the boys and I had to snap this one.

This is what I don’t want to forget. 

Teens

So, I know a lot of teens. Maybe I should clarify. I have younger siblings who know a lot of teens.

I have been wanting to do some senior shoots for a while and it occurred to me that if I was going to get some business I’d have to market myself to an entirely different audience than the ones that I was currently working with. So I started brainstorming on who, what and where. That is when having younger siblings started working to my advantage and that took care of the “Who“. The “What” was a little tricky as I tried to define what the style and feel of the shoot would be. When I decided on a editorial look I just started combing through magazines to see what I liked. Now the “Where” was really tricky, that is,  ’til I started asking myself “where do teens hang out?” and then that was easy. So here is what I’ve got. I am going to be working up some mailers to send out soon but if you are interested in booking a Senior session or just a Anytime session email me and I’d love to talk with you!

BTW, you don’t have to be in high school to book an Anytime session!

Preview

Here is a preview from some shoots this week.

Website Woes

Well I am patiently waiting  for my site to go live.

Not really. What’s that saying about the squeaky wheel getting the oil first…

Anyway, I have a little sneak peek because I just can’t help myself. I am just so ready to have it up and going already!!!!  Oh how I wish I was tech savvy and could do it all myself. But alas, I am at the mercy of the internet hosting misers and I’m forced to sit here and pine for my sweet little site.

OK! I feel a little melodramatic today. It took me a whole afternoon to figure out how to do this but where there’s a will there’s a way… or google!

The splash page. (don’t ask why it’s called that because I don’t have a clue!)

Home Page

Events and Seniors Page

Package Collections

As soon as the site is live I will be shouting it from the roof tops. Just keep your ear out for my pitch perfect singing.

That was a joke.