Maternity Session with Marc & Melissa

So I'm out running on a trail and I find this beautiful field that I'd LOVE to shoot in. Bea is usually my guinea pig (she got lucky that day) because we were in town so I gathered up Marc & Melissa and took them to the field. What I didn't realize is that there were sticker bushes everywhere! Well, they were good sports and we just went with it - scratches and all! CLICK HERE to view a sneak peek at our session together.

Dear Santa...

So we HAVE to see Santa..you just have to see him every year. We go..with a mission. Notebooks in hand..we go through our list and let Santa know what we want. Bea asks if he's the REAL Santa or just an imposter. She whispers to me that he must be an imposter because his beard doesn't seem long enough. Then, as we are leaving, she wonders WHY she can't see his sleigh and reindeer on the roof of the mall. "Hmmm! Must be an imposter then." I tell her they LEAVE Santa and come back and get him at 5pm. She really checks out the roof. HE told her today she should ask for her two front teeth. Heard that one before Santa - think of a new one. Now mind you..I don't dress my kids up. Today, Bea had a 'Polar Express Day' at school so they all came in pajamas. So we stood..among the plaid, tafetta dresses. The black pleather shoes. The parents brushing and fixing and fidgeting bows, wiping mouths. It was great! Here's the bad part..I also HAD to buy a 25 dollar package just to take my own pictures. Do you believe that? I had to pay to take pictures of my own kids with Santa Claus! But I took a lot so I guess it was worth it. (Fun Stuff: All shot with natural 'mall' light, ISO: 1250!!!) CLICK HERE to see a few:

Beth & Aren...

So I have a soft spot in my heart for teachers. My mom just retired from teaching. She would always help with the Giving Tree at Christmas and she would make Easter Baskets for the kids who didn't have much and she would deliver them to their homes. She has such a good heart and I could go on and on about my mom...BUT, this little story is about another teacher. My daughters' 1st grade teacher. She absolutely loves the kids and she is magical. Really. I have so much respect for what she does - what all teachers do. Beth & her husband, Aren, stopped by for their Christmas pictures. I don't know about you but my 1st grade teacher didn't look like her. I guess being so little, I remember the Nuns...and they were NOT warm and fuzzy and sweet and gave you lots of hugs and icepacks and bandaids and hand sanitizer. CLICK HERE for a sneak peek at a few of Beth & Aren's pictures:

It's my turn!

I finally took my family christmas pictures. Every year..I try to think up some really fun spot - and I had a great idea this year..but it never happened - too many excuses to list. So, Greg & I cleaned up the kids and we headed into the studio. It really was so much fun! I wish we had video...I'd set the camera on the tri-pod and run into the scene..sometimes, for fun, Bea would run with me. Every year I get better at 'running' into the scene. The first few times it would be an action shot or a shot of my rear or my head would be behind someone else's...it's always a good time. So here's a few - these didn't make the cut but they sure were fun!

See? This is one of those..my head behind someone else's...


The advantage to having a studio is having props! I mean really. Doesn't everyone own a sunflower headband?


Lollipops are always a sure thing..they keep everyone in one place for at least six minutes.


Another wonderful lollipop shot...






Oh Bruce. He absolutely dislikes having his picture taken. Doesn't he look like he's having a great time? It was probably his Christmas sweater..too itchy.




We did these while Greg was getting ready - set on the tri-pod with the timer. I LOVE hats! This one has a little ball at the top - you can't really tell in this shot but it's a fuzzy little thing!

Katie, Trey & Madeline...

So I get Katie, Trey & Madeline into the studio for some last minute Christmas pictures and Ohhhh! what fun we had! We started with your basic shots and by the end..there was wrastlin' going down. They were really..just themselves and those make for the best shots. CLICK HERE to view a sneak peek of their session:

just two front teeth please...

All I wanted for Christmas was two less teeth in Bea's mouth. I have been patiently WAITING to do my christmas cards in hopes that the OTHER front tooth might wiggle it's way out. But, I'm running out of time to get them shot and printed. Last week her stubborn little tooth had some help. Blake accidentally took the end of our 'Stick Horse' and hit Bea square in the tooth. So, this weekend I plan on having a nice little family shoot with two less teeth. AND I think that whole nonsense about a lisp when you don't have two front teeth is bologna. She can say 'Sister Susie sitting on a thistle just fine.' A quick studio shot of her missing a few.

The tie...

He looooved the tie....

Six under seven...

and what fun we had!! They showed up in these adorable, matching plaid outfits! Here's a few:



This one is with Grandma...


My favorite stone wall:

For Bea...

20x20 canvas..

Gracie & her fam....

Grace, her mom, dad and Gigi (Grandma) stopped by for some Holiday pictures..Of course, I had to bust out the tutu and some sugar..because you know sugar and tutu's go hand-in-hand with little girls! And Coco Chanel once said...“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous," and tutu's are fabulous! CLICK HERE to view a sneak peek of our session together.

Allison & Brendan's Album...

absolutely love this cover!



one of my favorite images from their wedding - I made this a full spread.

Pages from Dionne & Brad's album...

A canvas for Angela...

David, Sherri, Candice & Emily...

Oh, what fun we had! David was such a good sport and the girls really hassled him but he put up with all of US! We started in the studio then headed outside for a few 'fall' shots. Sherri is an interior designer and just 'wows' me with what she can do! I wish I had that talent! Click HERE for a sneak peek of our session.

Christa & Greg's album..

Some of the pages from their beautiful album:

Carter, Cate and Cooper..

Carter, Cate and Cooper stopped by today to 'break-in' the studio! It's not quite finished yet but it's workable and I've really missed using it! We started inside and then headed out for a few parting shots. I had to bribe Cate with a Swizzle Stick (rock candy) so she would wear my tu-tu (because I'm addicted to tulle or anything that resembles tulle) and we headed to the stone wall. While we were there Cooper fell asleep in his mommy's arms so we got some sweet sleepy shots. He's 3.5 months old and usually sleepy shots are hard to get but he had a rough night last night so he was out! Click HERE to see a sneak peek of our session together.

Collage for Bridgette...

Twin Canvas

I liked this shot of the twins on a canvas too. I have a vision for this image though...something like a 10x20 or 10x30 - something long and skinny so your eye flows with the subjects horizontally. I think this would be good in an obscure place - down a hallway or up the stairwell. Not a centerpiece and not by itself -some sconces or something. I think it should blend. And not in a bright location where there is a lot of light somewhere low-key.

A canvas for Laney...

A little collage/canvas I did for Laney:

Laney my baby!

Alanna is my niece and I love her so very much. She's got a little round face like my brother and big brown eyes like her mother. She is, really she is...a WILD woman. I think I got maybe ONE picture of her actually sitting. Don't get me wrong..I'm all for action shots but this child...seriously..does NOT walk anywhere...and she WILL leave you behind to suck up her dust. She might come back for you..but it's only to DRAG you DOWN with her! I got a shot of her pulling my hand while I'm taking her picture. The girl has places to go and people to see. Oh, and her beautiful, pouty lips when she doesn't get her way! Here is a *glimpse* of Laney.



Some sweet shots of Laney and her mommy...





Laney and her Grandma.

At least she looked back this time.


Here is my hand and Laney...trying to take me somewhere with her. She could care less that I was attempting to take her picture!