lilly | newborn session

I am naturally shy (some people may not believe this, but it's true!). It is hard for me to step out of my comfort zone and promote myself. So I was stunned, shocked, floored when I heard the words

"Do you have a newborn photographer lined up yet?"

come out of my mouth while talking with a pregnant teacher's assistant at the book fair! I wanted to do a double-take and find out who had just said what I was thinking! I then proceeded to hand her my business card and a copy of my newborn session brochure and told her I'd love to take her pictures if she didn't have anyone already booked. :)

About 6 weeks later I got the e-mail that she was going to be induced in a few days and she wanted to get the session scheduled! (Insert visual of me doing a happy dance here.)

Sweet Lilly arrived with a beautiful head of hair! She was nice and sleepy when I arrived for her session and settled right in.

She didn't mind having a little hat put on...

and even seemed fairly content for a few nekkid baby pictures... Look at those eyelashes! And I absolutely love those kissy little baby lips...

However she would have nothing to do with being on her tummy. Every time I'd try, she'd either start to fuss or somehow get back onto her side.

And if there's one thing I've learned with newborns, it's the need to be flexible and let their comfort guide the session.

She even woke up for a bit towards the end so we got to see her gorgeous blue eyes. And how can a baby be anything other than content while lying on a cozy, warm sheepskin?

I can't wait to come back to visit in a few months and take pictures of her with her big sisters!

brayden | 5-month-old session | baby plan

I love offering a Baby's First Year Plan to my clients! Not only is it a great value, it allows me to get to know these families a little better over the course of the plan. By the first birthday celebration session, we will have been together four times to document this special time of their lives.

I could not believe how much Brayden had grown since our last session. He went from being a hungry, sleepy newborn to a deliciously plump, smiley baby!

Amanda had bought some really cute outfits for his pictures, complete with accessories! He was not fond of the baby flip flops, but was happy to keep the shades on.

One of my favorite parts of photographing this family is that they come to our sessions with ideas for pictures that they'd like to have. So, no, Brayden's not really walking yet, but he liked feeling the grass on his teeny, little toes!

He is just starting to sit up, but still needs a little help to stay that way. I love his little furrowed brow in this picture--please, can someone tell me what this baby is worrying about?! 'Hmmmm, when's my next meal?' :wink:

Now, even though we still had another little outfit, what is a baby session without a little "nekkid baby" time?

Can someone please help me??!! These stripes are making me a little woozy!

He did great lifting (and holding!) himself up for these tummy-time pics, but Amanda had to be just a few inches out of the frame (like, less than 2 inches!) because this boy likes to roll...

After a quick wardrobe change into his little Easter outfit, we tried to get a picture with his new bunny, but little man was not really interested... He had other things on his mind.......

He flopped himself back on the beanbag and sacked. out. He was seriously down for the count! Went from a tiny little fuss, to sound asleep in about 10 seconds! Amanda asked if I was available to come over and take pictures before nap and bed times....

So we took the opportunity to recreate a picture from his first session.

We're planning to get together again in August, and I can't wait to see what this little guy has up his sleeves! Somehow I doubt I'll need my beanbag... I'm planning to bring my track shoes!

WHE Father/Daughter Dance

One of the great things about my job (and I use that term lightly, because it's hard to consider something I love so much to be a job!), is that I have the opportunity to give back to this community our family is a part of.

I'm fairly active with my kids' school, and happened to mention my photography to one of the PTO officers while discussing the Book Fair (I'm the chair person for our schools' book fairs--LOVE to read, LOVED going to the book fair when I was a kid, LOVE getting to pass along those memories to my kids!). Anyway, she asked if I would be interested in taking candid photos at the upcoming Father/Daughter dance. To say that I jumped at the chance may be downplaying my reaction... I am always asking Kev and the girls what they do at the dances each year and am never satisfied with the level of description I get. I was thrilled to get to be at the dance and spy on them see what actually happens!

I was told that I could keep all profits from any sales of photos that I took during the dance if I was willing to take the pictures for free. That sounded great, but I decided that I would prefer to donate the proceeds of the picture sales back to the PTO. We are so blessed to live in an area with low property taxes, but the current economy is taking its toll on our schools. I love to give back in any way that I can.

I have to say that nothing prepared me for the noise level in the gym and cafeteria! Especially when Justin Bieber started playing... But having the opportunity to watch the girls have fun dancing with each other, and then seeing the sweet moments with their dads was worth listening to every squeal.

zola | newborn session

My girls' teacher at AcroFitness
was expecting her second baby and I had the privilege of doing her professional newborn session! Typically I recommend scheduling newborn sessions during the first 5-10 days after the baby is born, but we didn't get together until Zola was nearly 1-month old.

One-month-old? Well, surely that is still a newborn, right? Of course! She was still teeny tiny, and capable of curling up in a ball. However, in those few extra weeks, she also has learned how to s-t-r-e-t-c-h her little legs and arms, and just did not want to be curled up. Or sleeping, for that matter! She was wide awake the whole time I was there. And she had found her hand, so when she wasn't moving around, she was sucking on her fingers.

I still got some adorable, newborn-looking pictures of her, though!

Her mom absolutely LOVES hair accessories: headbands, big flowers, big bows? Bring 'em on!

Just like her big sister, this baby was "Born for Big Bows!"

So, welcome to the world, Zola! I can't wait to see you following in your family's footsteps and flipping down the streets of Mooresville in the annual parade.

catherine | newborn session

I was both thrilled and honored when my daughter's teacher contacted me about doing a newborn photo session for her new grand baby! As a shower gift, she gave her daughter a gift certificate for my Baby's First Year package. Each Tuesday when I would come in to volunteer in the classroom during March I'd get the "not yet" head shake, while her teacher waited excitedly to become a grandma.

Katy came home with the news on the 21st that Allison was being induced the next day! We scheduled her newborn session for the 26th, and I had the pleasure of meeting this beautiful family...

When I arrived, Catherine was sound asleep, and she stayed that way for nearly all 2 hours that I was there.

It was such a laidback newborn session. I was able to move her around and pose her without even a flicker of her eyes.

And with a mommy as beautiful as Allison, is it any wonder that Catherine is so gorgeous?

This is why it is so important to schedule a newborn session during those first 5 - 10 days! The baby is wonderfully sleepy and happy to curl up in little nests.

Jimmy was positively bursting with pride over his new little daughter, and was so attentive to both of the girls in his life.

Their two dogs were in crates right next to where I was taking pictures, but Catherine slept right on through their occasional whines and yips. And even when Jimmy let them out for a family photo, she kept on snoozing...

Dublin and Oakley were so happy to be a part of all the activity they'd been patiently observing.

Finally, after nearly two hours of pictures, she began to stir just a bit. This is one of my favorite photos from the entire session. It's not posed, it doesn't really show their faces, but it absolutely shows how a new baby is utterly absorbing... and how parents' focus changes completely with a new baby's arrival...

Hey! There are those little eyeballs that we haven't see all morning! I am so looking forward to watching Catherine grow and change over the next year. Thank you so much for trusting me to document this time.

brayden | newborn session

Amanda called me to schedule a newborn session when Brayden was just over a week old, and we scheduled it for a few days later to allow for her husband to be home for the session too.

Brayden was just 14 days new, and had just started a bit of a growth spurt! You can already see some bitty little rolls of chub starting to form.

We had to take a few more breaks than some newborn sessions because he was working hard to increase her milk supply. And there's a funny rule with babies: more input = more output... So we had a few more messes too!

It was amazing to see how connected he already was to his parents, and of course they were pretty smitten too. That bond is just indescribable.

His daddy has the largest hands I've ever seen!

It may have taken a little longer to get him to settle down, but once he fell asleep, he was out for the count.

After our newborn session, Amanda and Alonzo decided to upgrade to my Baby Plan, so we'll be able to watch Brayden grow over the next year! I am already looking forward to our four-month-old session...

kyler, kamren, chase, peyton | children session

I can't believe that it has been 8 (!) years since Kelly and I moved in to the same neighborhood and were pregnant together. How does the time slip away? Since then, her family has moved twice, and we have moved to a different state. Oh, and she went and had a sweet little girl!

When I was visiting friends this summer, we were able to connect for a very short visit, and a mini session with her kids. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with our photo plans, as a HUGE thunderstorm rolled in about 20 minutes after I arrived. And the nice glowy evening light quickly grew too dark for a natural light session.

I did get to finally meet Peyton, who is quite a firecracker! She is the recipient of a lot of love from her three big brothers, and don't even get me started about how she has her mommy and daddy wrapped around those still-pudgy little fingers!

Peyton's arrival meant the end of the "R3SONS" custom license plate too. I could not believe how Kyler has grown and morphed from a boy into a young man. His changing voice kept catching my off guard! He was just 10 when I saw him last, and now he's this young teenager. Kamren is just a few months older than my son, and while he's grown taller, he still has the same sweet face I remember. Of course, Chase was only 4 the last time we hung out in the old neighborhood, and I wasn't prepared for how handsome he has become!

What I want to know is how these kids keep getting so much older when my friends and I just stay so young! *wink*

Seriously. He's killing me with those eyes! But don't let that serious look fool you... he is a complete joker and a ham. I just managed to snap this picture in between all his goofiness.

The light in the picture of Chase was the last glimpse we saw of the sun. The clouds rolled in. The sky opened up. The rain POURED down.

We waited under an overhang for the heaviest rain to pass, and then made a dash back to my van and their house.

Chase couldn't resist the puddle, despite being told to stay out, and I couldn't resist grabbing one last, quick pic.

Thanks, Kelly, for letting me photograph your beautiful family! We'll have to get together again for a full session the next time I'm in town.