Last Call for Holidays

I am happy to say the Holiday schedule is officially full. Please contact me if you would like to be placed on a waiting list for cancellations. I will be taking a few sessions in November and December, but those images will not be available until January. Thanks again to everyone for the amazing response!

Girls are Great

As a child I had a pair of overalls with that embroidered on the pocket, don't know why or where they came from, but they were my favorite pants. Long after I'd outgrown them, my mom cut the legs off to make them shorts, so I could squeeze another year out of them.. and by the time they retired they were so threadbare you could barely read the writing... but I knew it was there!

I don't know if that's where the seed was planted or if I was just born a "girl person," like how some people are cat people and some people prefer dogs.. but I have always had a soft spot for girls. Of course, it helps to have the three cutest girls in the world living in my house, but that's just an afterthought really. ;)

Way too much dialogue already.. but I could not stop thinking while shooting then editing this session how much fun I had, and how much I adore little girls.. from the infants to the teens.. they are just my absolute cup of tea. (If I drank tea that is... but "cup of diet coke" doesn't really have the same ring to it.)

Anyway, without further ado.. the most fun I have had at a session in a long time. Four girls, aged 8 weeks to 13yrs... each one her own little personality.. each one my new best friend! ;)











And finally, my absolute favorite (aside from the one I already shared, linked here).. this was one of those shots you just can't plan any better. I had the baby set up for the dramatic lighting by her window in this picture perfect nursery when big sister decided she had been out of the limelight for too long and popped in to "make sure the baby's smiling for Miss Ann." Just perfection, the best possible sibling shot I could imagine at these ages...

My body is home but my brain is still here...

IMPORTANT Scheduling Note

Short term update.. I will be out of town from Thursday, 9/21-Tuesday, 9/26. I will be without cell phone or internet access for that time (sounds heavenly, doesn't it??) but will be sure to return all emails and phone messages as soon as I return.

Long term update.. September and October are officially booked, with the exception of a few mini sessions. I still have 1:30pm on 10/15, 8:30am on 10/28, and 3:30pm on 10/29 available. No more full sessions are available at this time. The only remaining sessions with a guaranteed holiday delivery are on the week of November 6th and are filling fast. Please contact me asap if you are still interested in booking a holiday session for this year. If we have already spoken regarding dates, you will still be guaranteed a spot.

HUGE thanks to my wonderful clients, who have been sending so many of their friends and family my way. Your referrals mean the world to me, it is a vote of confidence like nothing else, and I am forever grateful. I am so thrilled and honored to have more work than I can handle, it is such a blessing! (but also the reason I need this vacation!!)

Finally.. since I hate to post without a photo.. a little sneak peek of the most darling little girl whose family I met last weekend. Mom will get the full gallery when I return from my trip.. but here's one delicious little preview...

The Reluctant Jumper

I love jumping on the bed shots. They just scream *childhood* to me like nothing else. This little girl was a tough cookie to crack.. very very good at the cheese smile and very confused when I asked her to do just about anything else. Camera=smile, right??

I had just warmed her up when we came into the bedroom and I saw this bed... so perfectly girly.. so prime for jumping. She was less than convinced, and it took a fair amount of negotiating to assure her that yes, mommy would be okay with this.

Just took this off my camera minutes ago.. haven't even looked at the rest of the session but absolutely in love with this shot. For all the hesitation she caught on pretty quick! :)

All the Small Things

We celebrated my oldest daughter's birthday this weekend with a tiny party. A big party, but a party in celebration of all things small. Confused yet? Stay with me...

She is currently obsessed with these tiny animal toys, we collect them, have entire "villages" of them (see this post) and so we decided to have a party along those lines. The tiny pets were our guests of honor...

And the subject of our games and activities throughout the afternoon. In accordance with the theme, everything was tiny.. including the plates, cups, favors, and food.

And of course, at the end of the party, we sang her big song as she blew out the candles on the tiny--but oh so cute--birthday cake.

More of the peaceful boy

Before the beautiful slumber this little guy was happy to grace us with his adorable smile.. and even this full on belly laugh!

And just one more from him.. a lot of photographers get the "baby parts"... hands, feet, ears, nose, etc. But I must admit my favorite part is the belly button! Isn't this just the most kissable baby belly you have ever seen?

Soft & Sweet

He was the kind of baby that makes you think "Hmmm maybe one more would be fun..."

Luckily my house was in chaos when I returned from the session, quickly snapping me back to reality. It was fun while it lasted though! Just one from this morning... mom and dad are so lucky to have gotten such a sweet baby boy!

9-11-01

I wrote about three posts for today, and none of them felt right. I could do a big thing about "where were you" and tell my story, which, while intensely emotional to me really isn't any more touching than anyone else's story. I could do a big thing about the power of photography, how the images of this event will be forever etched in our memory; I have heard it said that 9-11 was the most covered event in all of history, and the images we now share in our collective memory have shaped the direction of our nation. Or I thought I could just do a big thing about patriotism and pride, how much good the one terrible day has done in bringing us closer as a nation.

But every time I tried to hit "publish" I stopped myself. It just doesn't feel right. Finally, driving home tonight, I realized the problem. It isn't about the big things. Clearly, September 11, 2001 was a very big thing. But it's the little things that have changed in the five years since that day that are the most important. We don't have to remember with 50-ft tall bronze sculptures and philharmonic orchestras. Sometimes 16 preschoolers with plastic flags reciting the pledge for thier local firestation is enough.

Enough to remind us why we keep fighting, why we won't back down, why we can all stand tall despite the horrors of that one day. The big things make an impact, but the little things make us who we are. We remember the big things... but we LIVE the little things.

A Smile for the Weekend

This little girl is one of my favorites to photograph. You can see one of her images from last year on the information page of my website, and scattered around the gallery. Obviously, she is absolutely darling with a sweet smile that shines through so brightly in pictures.

But that's not why I love her so much. My favorite thing about this sweetie is her laugh. Anything--ANYTHING--can set her off. And once she's gone...

I told her I loved that when she laughed, it was with her whole body. So many people (especially us adults!) have fallen into the trap of the bemused smirk, the understated chuckle, the occasional 'that's funny' without so much as cracking a giggle. But when she laughs.. I can hear it coming from her toes!

Have a happy weekend.. and in the words of a good friend of mine.. don't forget to laugh! :)

Working Girl

I get a lot of comments from clients and friends about how fun my job is (it's true!) and how different it must be from the corporate world. That part, I disagree with. Afterall, if I want to get the attention of the folks in charge, it often means buttering up the little people first.




But all the elbow grease is worth the effort!


My days involve sitting for long periods of time in intense meetings


And every task is a bit easier to bear when you've got someone to lend a hand!


Not too far from big business... but I think I'll still keep my day job. :)

Bring on the Rain

I hope everyone else here in North Texas enjoyed the rain as much as we did! I'm sure there were quite a few Labor Day picnics cancelled, and I'm sorry for those people.. but we were THRILLED with a cozy rainy day indoors.

Okay, well maybe a little outdoors too.

Sneak Peek of my New Favorite Picture

Just a little hint of what's to come from this morning's session... these girls are cousins and kept me absolutely on my tippy toes! My goodness they were so much fun, I could have stayed all day! Can't wait to show the rest soon!