Such cute kids!

I met this family up on the mountain recently for family portraits, but I managed to grab a few of the kids individually and a few with siblings.



This beautiful little girl wanted to pose for me, so I took the opportunity as much as I could. This is just one of the shots I captured of her.

I have others that I am working on of their family, but I need to share some for their gallery! I hope to have it to you soon!!

They did it for Mom!

I met these handsome young men this weekend, and they cheerfully had their portraits taken all because their Mom asked it of them. It made my heart warm to see them do this for her, because I know how difficult it can be to get young men to sit for portraits.



In the midst of text messages and joking with each other, we captured some great images.



The rest of your proofs should be ready soon.

I never could figure out this puzzle!

I think I need more time watching and paying attention. I know I've seen it before, and I remember having a tough time then as well. This is a total snapshot, but I just loved how it converted to B&W (and I love that look). I feel like he is thinking, "enough with the pictures already!"

Thanks W family!!!! I sent your gallery information today as well. :)

Worth the wait?

The next feature on my blog, I fell in love with this shot. I knew, as I was taking it, that I would love it. Sometimes it happens that way.

(okay, it's as sharp and nice as the others...off to figure out what I did to save it differently for this entry)

Mom, be on the lookout tomorrow for an email with the info on how to access your gallery! :) I'm hoping to have time while they put in the new carpet to get it all uploaded for you.

Whew!

We have the house prepped and ready for the new carpet tomorrow. That is a lot of work to do, and next time, someone PLEASE remind me that it is totally worth paying someone to move furniture and take up the old carpet!

The W family still has some "features" to go, and I'm just about done with their proofing gallery. :) I know they will be excited to see them. I missed out on getting to see them again this weekend though, and for that I'm very sad. I am going to do my best to make it to the next "event" to see them in action!

Stay tuned...I promise to post the next feature tonight!!!! (okay, it's probably going to be after that young lady is in bed though).

Serious?

Isn't he handsome? He has a great smile, when he decides to give you that genuine smile. I tell you, he's great to be around as well. He climbed up in a tree, no questions asked. Encouraged his siblings to do the same (do we call that "encouragement" Mom?).

Moving right along...

Meet the next member of the W family! :) I decided to "feature" each child (well, those who wanted featured).



Doesn't she have the most beautiful eyes?! I noticed during the session that all the kids had incredible eyes, but it wasn't until I was proofing this session that I got a full taste of just how beautiful they were. These eyes just sparkle, and to me it fits her personality so well. Just full of light and life!

More for the W family

I'm in the midst of proofing this session, and I know I need to show them more of their images.



(okay, this is not as dark when viewed at a larger size, and I do love it in color as well...you'll see it both ways in the gallery)

Then, I just loved this boy's smile!




All of his big brothers and sisters will just have to wait for THEIR day on the blog! :) Unless of course they tell me not to post.

Somehow, I think the threat of calling Santa no longer works!

I have had some of the best families lately. These kids loved joking around with me, and they cheerfully put on Santa hats for me. I asked them if they wanted to do silly pictures first, and after a few shots, this is what we had.



So, W family, the rest of the sneak peek is coming, but I wanted to give the kids something to see today (since I promised). Thanks for putting up with my Santa hats, and I do want to use this image with a card.

It starting to look like Autumn!

While on a recent session, I got this photo. I love it. I love this location. I love the changing colors. I love this season.

Just thought I would share!

*W family, I'm working on your sneak peek!*

Why do I never show families on the blog?

Well, I've discovered that most adults do not like to see themselves. Myself included. So, since I don't particularly like showing photos of myself off to the internet, I assume others do not. Then, there are safety issues involved. Because I don't want to be in a position of having to remember those who did not wish their photos online, I just don't post them period.

There have been a few times when I really wish I could share a particular image with you, but I wait. I wait to share it with you in the website gallery. Blogs are just so vulnerable for picture stealing that I just do not chance it. Okay, so the real reason is that I don't like having my own photo on this blog, so I give other adults that same courtesy!

Now, kids, well, I love showing off the kids I come in contact with. These clients of mine all have the most gorgeous children, with the best personalities. Every single one of the children I have met are wonderful. Every last one of them.

Take the family I met today, I had a wonderful time with them and I really wish I could have watched the magic sticks trick so I could figure it out, but I didn't want to appear the fool in front of them. So, B, next time I see you, make me watch the trick. I don't promise to figure it out, but I will try. Perhaps I'll have my husband go with me and let him figure it out. He actually likes brain teaser puzzles and such.

Be on the watch for your sneak peek! I'm not sure which photos I will show, but I know I have lots to choose from. Thanks so much for a fun fun fun afternoon!

The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act

If you feel led to support The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, then please do so here.

I can tell you that being a member of a national photography group and a member of ACPCG (American Child Photographer Charity Guild) I have heard of many children who have died from cancer. These kids fighting to live are true heroes. I hope to hear that they have found the cure for cancer. Would that not be awesome?!

Sneak Peek for the B family

I, once again, have so many good shots that it was hard to not edit all of them right now. I must save some as a surprise for that slideshow though! Don't worry, many will probably show up on my website when I get it updated.

When I asked M which pose she wanted on the blog, she chose the waterfall one. So, this is for her!



I do not remember asking the two boys, so I picked two of my favorites of them.



But I think Dad is looking forward to seeing this image the most. I love it as well. I think it needs an official name, don't you?




In case you missed it, be sure to check out these 3 kids just a couple of post down.

Just a small sample

How can you not fall in love with this baby? He was in the best mood, and I have so many good ones to choose from for his proofs. These are just a very few from the beginning of his session.






Despite what I am showing here, I do have some of him smiling! I'll just have to post those later for everyone to see.

M, J, and N - I had a wonderful time!

You three are some of the best kids I know, and I had a great time with you during your session! This shot is for you. I saw it when I was downloading and had to immediately edit because I know you all will love it like I do. Your true sneak peek is coming soon, and I do have some great ones.



(yes I'm jealous that I can't do that with my tongue even though it has to be in the genes somewhere as my youngest can! She is rolling it if you can't see it clearly)

100th Post!

We don’t take pictures with our cameras. We take them with our hearts and we take them with our minds, and the camera is nothing more than a tool.

~ Arnold Newman

Okay, I know I have some families (and kids) not so patiently waiting for their previews. I know it's almost like Christmas. I'm working on it, and stay tuned!!! :)

I've been TAGGED!

I can't believe, my first tag. *what a great day this is* Thanks Kimberly (yes, you can choose to add the sarcasm or not, it's up to you)! Kimberly is one of the best high school Senior photographers I know, and she lives in one of my favorite places - Myrtle Beach! If you are planning at trip to Myrtle Beach, definitely look her up for your family beach portraits. I'm waiting until we have Katie in our family before I plan our trip. :)

Brace yourselves, you are about to learn 8 completely random and useless facts about me. :)

The Rules are that I'm supposed to answer and post 8 random facts and then tag 8 people to do the same on their blog.

1. I got married when I was 20 years old, 4 months shy of 21. I was 3 semesters from graduating from a university that I had a full ride scholarship. I threw away that scholarship to get married, move to Tucson, Arizona, and go into debt. 1.5 years maximum to wait. I don't regret getting married though. :)

2. I once played an orphan in Cumberland County Playhouse's version of Annie. I was 12, and the tallest Orphan. They needed me for the bottom of a pyramid we built on stage, and the ONLY way for me to get to my spot in time was to sing a 1 line solo. I'm not sure anyone who ever attended a performance will ever be the same. I sure hope their ears have stopped aching by now!

3. Yes, I have a degree. No, it's not in photography. I graduated with honors from the University of Arizona (after also going to Tennessee Technological University for 5 semesters). I earned a Bachelor's of Science in Math with a minor computer science. I even worked a "real" job once upon a time.

4. I love to read, but I especially love fluffy historical romance novels. At one point I think I was single handedly keeping The Book Shelf store in business with all my exchanges. Since then I have joined a book exchange group, and my expenditures for purchasing books has gone down. However, shipping book rate packages has cost more than I care to admit. I think I currently have around 100 books sitting beside my bed...waiting for me to read them.

5. I despise driving. It took bribery on my parents part for me to even consent to getting my driver's license at the age of 16 and 4 months. I especially despise driving long distances by myself. So, when I tell you that I drove back from Orlando and drove the entire way myself (the car was full of my family though), I hope you get the full and entire appreciation for my feat. Not to mention we hit Atlanta at rush hour. Are you suitably impressed?

6. I love going to Disney World. Yes, we even went on our Honeymoon and returned for our 10th Anniversary. If you are planning a trip, give me a shout and I'll help in any way I can. The next best thing to actually going is planning a trip to Disney. I've learned it doesn't even have to be my own!

7. I play the piano and the french horn. I'm a little more accomplished on the piano as I started playing in 3rd grade. By 12th grade I was playing competitions with original classics. My favorite composer for the piano is probably Mozart for classical music. I also enjoy playing Dino Kartsonakis pieces for contemporary (his compositions really make me sound great). The french horn I played through high school, and ended up section leader. I'm such a band geek.

8. I fell during a band competition my Senior year. It was our last competition, and I fell during the drum break. The very next song I played a solo, and mud dripped off my mellophone (the marching version of the french horn that actually sounds nothing like it...just easier to carry I guess). I tell people I ended my marching career with a splat.


OOOPS! I forgot to tag people! I will have to think on that and update this soon.

I'm tagging:
Jill
Beth

I think I'm at the end of this tagging thing. All my other friends have been tagged already...is it fair to tag them back?! LOL

I entered a new phase of my photography career

"Yearbook Photographer"

Ah yes, going back to my roots. :) Only this time I'm not just doing the candids, but I'm also taking the school yearbook photos (for my children's coverschool). It was very fun, very entertaining, and I have a lot of work ahead of me (I'm also on yearbook committee so I get to help put all these photos into their appropriate pages as well).

As such, if you have any businesses that you like to advertise in our yearbook I would love to talk to you!

One of these days I will have to show you some of my earliest photos, those candids I took for yearbooks. I think you will all be amazed the amount I have learned through the years!

Emails sent!

I have sent emails to the clients I know who took advantage of the special I ran, and if you know you were getting this special and did not get an email from me then please let me know!

If you have not completed your session yet, but want to see the cards then let me know as well. I will give you the access code.

If you are wondering if you want me to do your Holiday cards, then send me an email as well and I will be happy to share the access code with you as well.

Does this mean I have openings still? You bet it does! However, I do not have many and those few left will not remain open for long at the rate of inquiries I am getting.