Simple fun.

I have met so many wonderful families this season.  I always love to photograph sisters, since I have two of my own (with whom I chat on the phone at least every other day!), and it brings back so many sweet memories for me.  These two were darling as can be, and were so fun to play with that evening.....

Talk about a heart-melter, huh?!

The sunset over their lake was so beautiful that evening.  I loved the reflection of it in the water!

This next one completely reminds me of my sisters and I.... holding hands and running through the garden, from our house to our grandparents' house.  We lived next door to them when we were little.  The three of us would sit on the back of our gold velvet couch and watch our grandparents' house from the window -- and as soon as we saw Momaw & Popaw step outside to hang up laundry on the line, or mow the grass, we'd wave madly and shout to them and ask to come over and visit.  I don't think I can ever remember a time when they didn't say, "Why, sure!  If your Mommy and Daddy say it's okay."  :)  Some of my best memories growing up....

I've got lots more sessions to share.  More tomorrow, stay tuned!

The festival.

A couple of weekends ago, the kiddos and I hit up the local Pumpkin Festival at Hunsader Farms in Bradenton.  We went with some great friends, and met a few more awesome friends there, and we ALL had such a fantastic time!  Even on my day off, I couldn't resist bringing along the camera for a few snapshots.  ;)   (And, well, I knew that if I didn't hurry and blog these, that they wouldn't see the light of day until after Christmas!!  LOL!)

Parker and Hunter figuring out the hay maze.  (Hunter's little cap pulled way down just makes me smile!)

We checked out the fresh produce stands, and bought some apple butter, pumpkin butter, strawberry preserves, and of course... pumpkin bread.  (Which I happily ate for breakfast the next morning, lol!)

One of the kids opened up an ear of corn... and guess who had gotten there first?  (Eww....)

Of course we had to stop sliding and bouncing and hay-mazing long enough to grab some lemonade, pumpkin pie, and good old-fashioned funnel cake... you know, just for sustenance.  ;)  I think Lila desperately wanted some, what do you think?!

Then the face-painting began......

Parker and his pal Tyler. (Chris and I have been friends with Hunter and Tyler's parents for about 10 years.... Tyler was born in FL but they all moved away a few years ago, before Hunter was born... and now they're all back in FL again!  It's so sweet to see our kids having the chance to grow up together and be such great friends.)  :)

Fresh country air, crafts, yummy fair food, carnival games, lots of friends...  and finally, a nap.  What a perfect day!

fresh and new

I had the pleasure of photographing this tiny little girl a couple of weeks ago, and oh my, she completely stole my heart.  She was sooo so good for her big photographic debut, and slept almost the entire shoot.  What a sweet little bean she was!  

And of course... I had to photograph those sweet piggies.  :)

Just totally sacked out here....  She was such a great sleeper, although Mom says she has her days and nights a little mixed up right now.  I'm sure that's not so much fun in the middle of the night, as it was for me those couple of hours during the day.  ;)

And I absolutely LOVED the dramatic light here..... 

I have so many amazing images from this session.... but I don't want to spoil the surprise for Mom and Dad!  So hang on guys, your gallery will be posted NEXT!  :)

19 weeks....

And my girl's still got it.  The "newborn curl", that is.  ;)

Can you believe those rolls??  She's just a bundle of squishy goodness to me.  This kid hasn't missed a meal, I can promise you that.  ;)

And for those clients out there who have ever apologized to me for their newborns "going potty" on my blankets or backdrops... let me just tell you again:  It's normal.  Don't worry, it happens.  (Almost every single session!)  It's really okay.  But, if it makes you feel better.... Lila peed on my bed just three seconds after I shot this frame.  LOL!

Two lovelies.

I had the pleasure of meeting these two beautiful girls a few weeks ago.  They were so much fun!  And sacrificed themselves to a "sticker bush" (because I can't think of the proper name for those awful prickly things), all for the sake of art.  THANK YOU, GIRLS.  :)

These next two shots just blew me away.  I think I audibly gasped when my finger pressed the shutter.

Sometimes you just *know* you're going to love a particular shot.  And oh my my, how I love these two.  Truly I do.

 

It's not every day that I'm serenaded by a budding pianist at a photo session.  :)

 

Aren't they gorgeous?!  And sweet as can be.

 

Loved the lighting here on their balcony...

 

Loved this shot of the V-ball star.  :)

I can't tell you how much I love this next shot.....  oh, how I am a total sucker for dramatic lighting... add that to the arched lines of the door, those wonderful tiles, and two amazing girls soaking up all that sunset light.....  this is pure bliss for me and my camera!

I have soooooo many more to show (I know their Mom is patiently waiting for her sneak peek!), but I have an appointment in a few minutes... so I'll come back and add more later on this evening.  Stay tuned!!  :)

**ETA:  I added a few more up there.  Mom, I hope your girls are the envy of the yearbook committee this year!!  ;)

Umm, wow. Thank you!!

I just took a quick look at my calendar and I can't believe how blessed I am.  I've been booked solid for October, and only have about three dates open in November.  Three!  My goodness.  THANK YOU ALL, so very very much, for entrusting your memories to me and this eye of mine.... and for BOOKING EARLY THIS YEAR!!  :)  It has been a very hectic couple of months, I have to admit, as I've come back from maternity leave to a jam-packed calendar.  Christmas sessions, maternity and family sessions, and fresh newborns... I can't even begin to thank you all for your business and for your patience as I continue to crank out galleries as fast as possible.  I've got several orders which have arrived this week that I will be shipping right back out, and lots of orders recently placed which should be back in a couple of weeks as well.  And just as many proofing galleries out, which are hopefully being salivated over by those clients.  ;)   That said, if you wish to book a session with me in November, please remember I have only 3 spots left.  First-come, first-served!  Also remember that THE LAST DAY TO ORDER FOR *GUARANTEED* CHRISTMAS DELIVERY IS NOVEMBER 1.  Orders placed after that date will be processed as quickly as possible, of course, but pre-Christmas delivery cannot be guaranteed at that point.

Okay... enough jabbering.  Now on to some photos!!  

This is one of my favorite families, and I've seen them three times this year already.  They get even more gorgeous each and every time I see them.....

Love the red cast on Brynne's arm....  good thing Daddy's a surgeon and fixed her right up!

I always love the soft pinkish light in her room.  And her sweet expressions do not disappoint!

This next one is a heart-melter...  just love the proud look on big sister's face.  :)  Guess who is 6 months old now?  Gosh how time flies....

 

Of course I had to grab some detail shots.... you know me and my penchant for photographing baby-toes.  :)

I just loooved all of that chub.......

Some well-deserved snuggle time with Mommy....  who, I just realized while proofing, reminds me a little bit of Carrie Underwood!  (Can you believe this beautiful woman just had a baby 6 months ago?!  Doesn't she look fabulous?)

Aaaaand then it was naptime.  :)  

Ten pounds of love.

I had the great honor of photographing my dear sweet friend Stacy's newborn a few weeks ago.  She's an extremely talented childrens photographer herself, just amazing.  (She was *one* of the amazing photographers who captured my own newborn just a few months ago!)  And just because Stacy was 5 days post-partum didn't stop her from shooting right along with me, love her heart.  She was up on the bed, down in the floor, camera in hand, snapping that shutter and gasping at her son's beauty.  As was I. And Brody James truly is beautiful...

Yes, folks, you read my title correctly.  I said TEN POUNDS of love.  Ten pounds and 7 ounces to be exact.  And, God love her, she gave birth to him naturally....  naturally, as in NO DRUGS.  None.  Not even a Tylenol.  (Let's all have a moment of silence for this woman!!)  So guess who is my new hero???  :)

Of course I had to get some detail shots...  you know me!

 One of my favorite moments...  a newborn's first bath....

I'll share more in a while.  I'm just getting set back up on my new computer system here and getting back to proofing.  (My PC crashed this week, and after much frustration in trying to fix it, I finally gave up.... and bought myself a shiny new iMac.  :)  Just doing my part to help stimulate the economy, you know.)

such a beautiful family, inside and out

I met this super-sweet family a few weeks back at Honeymoon Island, and we had such a fun time together!  

 

I loved how relaxed these two were the whole session.  I tell ya, it makes my job soooo much easier! 

These beautiful parents have five gorgeous kids.  Who were just about the funniest, most playful, and most well-mannered kids I'd ever seen.  Well, even if a few of them are practically grown-ups themselves.  ;)

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The girls...

Absolutely loved this one.....

And the boys...

 

And I just loved this one among the sea grapes....  :)

Thanks, guys, for such a fun evening at the beach!  And for playing along with all of my wacky ideas.  :)  I hope you enjoy these!