Laura Alvis Photography

NEW BLOG

2010-06-08T12:16:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone! Just a short and simple post to let you know my blog has *moved* - from now on, visit www.lauraalvisphotography.com/blog . And to introduce it, I'm giving away a $50 product credit in a drawing, so leave a comment there to be entered!

Little Em's Divine Hats

2010-04-30T21:51:00.004-04:00

Every girl, big or small, loves a fun hat or headband to just be,well, girly! I have a wonderful business partnership with Little Em's Divine Hats, creator of custom hats and headbands. To show off the adorable headwear, we had a model day to photograph the hats 'in action' on very cute little girls.

The day dawned cold and windy, and we even had some rain showers come through. But these girls braved it ALL with smiles, and even some giggles. Thank you to all moms who drove out in the weather to bring your daughters!

Little Em's hats come with custom hand-made flower attachments - and the flowers are removable, so you can mix-and-match hats and flowers to match any outfit. Also, the headbands are adorable (that's my Sarah in the daisy headband for Easter). And here's a secret - I *love* wearing the headbands!! I have never been able to wear headbands, and I just love these - simple, cute and classy.

Visit: www.littleemsdivinehats.com

There are 5 models pictured below, and 5 in the next post....to see more, visit my Fanpage, www.facebook.com/lauraalvisphotography

More Hats....

2010-04-30T21:47:00.001-04:00

I mean, can you stand all the cuteness and personality??

Senior in the Square

2010-04-06T21:43:00.003-04:00

High school Seniors typically do their session the summer before their senior year or the fall as they start their senior year. But this time of year is when many seniors research their options for senior portrait sessions. Seniors can choose to be simply casual, or bring more formalwear, or even bring along the gear for their favorite activity or sport.

So I hit the streets around Marietta Square with this senior-to-be and did some fun & sassy senior casual portraits. when most people think of the Square, they think of the fountain/gazebo area. But I like to hunt the surrounding streets for great hidden spots - curbs, walls, doorways, and who knew a fence with a hole in it would yield amazing images?! And in case you're wondering, she really IS that beautiful (in other words, the beauty is not 'photoshopped' in).

Lulubelle's Couture

2010-03-31T21:43:00.002-04:00

You probably know that I"m in looooove with LuluBelle's Couture - custom handmade clothing for little girls. Sarah has several of their handmade peasant tops, long-sleeve and short-sleeve. She also has this fab-u-lous girly pantsuit with a halter top that I will shoot her in soon.

The clothing has these really neat little custom tags sewn in - am I the only one who's been fascinated by them?? They're that extra little touch.

Now thru April 8th, LuluBelle's has a 20% sale going on in their Etsy shop - check it out now!!

'Re"-Wedding Portraits

2010-03-25T08:17:00.004-04:00

Your wedding is one of the biggest days of your life - you wait for it, hope for it, plan for it, prepare every last detail. You return from your blissful honeymoon, anxiously awaiting to see your beautiful wedding pictures. And then you do.....and, well, they don't live up to the dreams of that day.

Now, I still do not photograph actual weddings (I leave that to talented wedding photographers). But this 're'-wedding session was so much fun! They went all out - suit, dress flowers, hair, the works!

Tey were married 5 years ago, and were not pleased with their wedding pictures. She told me that they didn't even have any of their wedding pictures up at the house! So when I asked her what she was desiring from our session, she said "sweet pictures of us" so that she can 'display them proudly in her home'. I think we accomplished that....

My Little Monkey

2010-03-24T16:29:00.004-04:00

To this point, I have kept my blog all business - session images, business updates, specials, new products, etc. But I have decided to begin sharing more about myself - my life, my family, what inspires me, and so on. It's important for clients to know more about the person behind the camera, to whom they're trusting their family memories.

so I will begin by sharing a little about Sarah, my 20-month-old (yes, 20 months today - eek!). I captured her playing with one of her favorite toys, her Fisher Price Zoo. It made me giggle too that she was wearing her little monkey pajamas. I'm amazed at how much she's learned about these animals - she knows certain animals, makes some sounds, puts them in the right spot. She's even learned to say 'seal' (and sometime she makes the sound too). And of course, ev-ery-thing must ride on the swing!

Little baby did what?

2010-03-17T20:21:00.004-04:00

Newborn sessions are sweet and precious, and sometimes they can afford us a good bit of laughter. Mom and dad said I could tell this story, so of course I will....

we were about halfway into the session, trying to get little S. to sleep. Dad was rocking, holding, swaying, shooshing, and luckily he was holding her with her head in towards his body and her, er, bottom end pointed away from him. Because suddenly, there was this ominous sound, and before we knew it, there is a fountain of baby poo shooting into the air from little Miss S. we all sort of looked around like "where is something we can use to catch it??...."

Then the fountain stopped. But just for a second. Then it started up again, a fabulous brown arc into the air onto their wood floor. At this point, mom is laughing too hard to even look for a towel, I just stared, and dad was afraid to move. When we all stopped laughing, we marveled that it missed dad's clothing, the carpet and my photography equipment! The little one has good aim, I"ll give her that.

Eventually we got cleaned up, calmed down, and proceeded to catch some sweet images....thanks again for the laughs, mom and dad!

2010-02-23T15:57:00.003-05:00

These 2 little guys are affectionately known as 'the tanks', and they are both fighters, to be sure. They entered the world a wee bit early, and it was a few months before they were both home together with their mom and dad. So this photo session was extra special, as we captured some time with this sweet new family.

The boys snuggled so sweetly together. Although prior to the 'sleeping' pictures, the chunkier twin was chewing on the head of his brother. It was just too priceless to miss, so I'm including it here with a few other sweet images from that day.

Divine Hats

2010-02-03T07:44:00.003-05:00

As my Facebook Fans already know, I am teaming up with Little Ems Divine Hats, creator of unique custom hats for girls young and old. In the coming months, you'll be seeing my images on her website, and also a Model Day for girls ages 4-12.

The hats feature fun embellished flowers that are attached with a clip. I love this part!! So you can interchange the flowers between the hats to mix and match looks!! The red hat with pink flower is their Valentine's hat. The other hats below are in their newborn series.

Visit http://www.littleemsdivinehats.com/ today and pick out your Bloomin' Beanie!

2010-01-22T18:39:00.002-05:00

I have been wanting to shoot this little guy for months and months, and was finally able to last weekend. He has the biggest, roundest, bluest eyes possible. Throw in the dimples, cheeks, tousled hair....you could eat him with a spoon. While I love catching smiles and serious faces, I think my favorite is becoming the picture of his little pout. Too cute!

New Year, New Look

2010-01-04T19:51:00.005-05:00

I have all sorts of things in store for this year. First and foremost, thanks to Kimtown for the wonderful work on my new logo! I've been applying it to everything for the past couple months so I'd be ready to roll it out in 2010 - hey look at that, I'm on time!

Also in store for 2010 - new business partnerships, more Model calls, Senior Reps, new products....become a Fan on Facebook to find out the scoop first.

__________________________________________________

Laura Alvis Photography - Your Life, Your Moments, Your Memories

Thanks to all my wonderful clients for a fabulous 2009. I look forward to capturing more priceless memories in 2010!

Santa Baby

2010-01-04T19:43:00.003-05:00

This little guy has endless cheeks, and was way too interested in the world to want to go to sleep for a silly ol' photographer. But mom and I persisted - closed the drapes, covered him up, turned up the heat, stuck a paci in his mouth.....and then waited........it was worth it, too, because once he was in the zone he was golden.

Perfect fall foliage

2010-01-04T19:32:00.003-05:00

This family session could not have been more perfectly timed - the fall foliage was *per-fect* this weekend. And the park gave us some beautiful little areas in which to shoot. We captured lake, rocks, trail, fence, leaves, the works! Besides being beautiful (and handsome), these 2 little boys were so well behaved, they even endured a costume change and still came out smiling.

Take note of their excellent clothing choices - nice solid, bold, colorful choices that work well with the autumn colors and yet 'pop' (especially the reds).

Catching Up

2010-01-04T19:22:00.004-05:00

Whew! Is it the New Year already?? I am seriously behind on blog posting (but they all got posted on Facebook, so if you're a Fan, look there first!).

These cuties are from a family session that took place in October, and it was one of those rare, early-freezing days. The little girl kept me running with my camera - but she probably had to run to keep warm!! when I first saw their outfits, I was drooooling at how beautiful they are, and wanted one for my little girl so badly....but they are one-of-a-kind, made by their very talented Mommy. I just loved the red hair on big sis, and the expressions on the little guy cracked me up.

Mom is also one of my business partners - check out http://www.theenglishpea.com/ for quality custom children's stationary.

Beautiful Bows

2009-11-27T21:48:00.003-05:00

With Thanksgiving complete, I can now allow myself to decorate for Christmas (I don't allow myself to do so before Thanksgiving). And this year, I was able to help those in need while doing it. A member of a local church is making beautiful bows - and even wrapping gifts, decorating your house, etc. - with all proceeds going to their Families in Need fund. I cannot make a bow to save my life, so I certainly took advantage of her talent!

I had fun shopping for sparkly wrapping paper to go with my sparkly bows. I wrapped up some old boxes I had laying around (yes, I keep every box that is every shipped to me), added my bows and voila! Christmas decor for the mantle, sofa table, etc. etc.

I also had a few pink & blue bows made - so I now have picture-perfect bows for all those newborn sessions!

You're Famous!!

2009-11-03T14:27:00.003-05:00

While I was shooting this brother and sister, I told them they would 'be famous' since I would be putting their pictures on my blog, website, facebook, etc. So, kids, you're famous!

I'm sure mom won't mind if I tell this story (at least I hope not).....the little girl's room has this great window that gets amazing natural light. And the room is a pale yellow, so it was just filled with beautiful light, the kind that makes photographer's drool (as long as no one sees the drool, we're OK...). So when I said to mom "oh, I would love to start shooting in here!" her response was "are you kidding?? It's such a mess!!". But I knew that in the end, we wouldn't see any mess, just beautiful children in beautiful light.

This Old Saddle

2009-11-03T13:20:00.003-05:00

At a recent session, out in 'the country' (as I call it), even though I was actually shooting the 2 children (their pictures coming in another post), my eye was caught by a saddle. The mom (and a dear friend of mine) told me it was her saddle, she had used it lovingly for years on her sweet horses that have since been put down. She could tell in an instant that I wanted to shoot it....I loved trying to capture all the little details. So, with some beautiful natural light, here's something a little different....

.

Two Peas out of their Pod

2009-10-21T10:24:00.004-04:00

You may remember awhile back I did a maternity session for a mom-to-be who was having twins. Well, this is their big debut! These little teeny ones really were happiest being fully swaddled. So the lesson at this session was - the value of a good and proper swaddling fabric. They endured a little bit of 'nakedness', but they really feel deeeeeep asleep once swaddled (and cuddled, of course, my favorite part!).

Thanks to the twins, and mom and dad for letting me into your home during this busy (and sleepless) time!

Cades Cove

2009-10-13T19:46:00.003-04:00

Recently, we enjoyed a nice weekend in the TN mountains, near a little town called Townsend. This place is near and dear to my heart, as I spent some time there every summer at leadership camp in high school. I think it's when I fell in love with the mountains....crickets chirping at night, clean crisp air, wooded forest paths, sitting around a crackling firepit singing songs in the evening....ah, memories.

Anyway, one day during camp we'd all pile into buses and drive the scenic Cades Cove, a beautiful 11-mile loop of pastoral landscape. There are refurbished original buildings there, too. someday I'd like to bike it (which apparently they reserve for Saturday mornings).

I enjoyed getting outside my comfort zone, and shooting something other than people. Interesting how differently I see the place now. It also has revealed my strange fascination with old buildings, fences and wood....

I"m getting caught up on a lot, so check back!

Fashionista

2009-10-13T19:24:00.004-04:00

I went shopping recently (which is kind of rare, as I hate shopping) and found these fabulous red cowboy boots! At first I thought I'd buy them for Sarah, as after all, every girl needs her own cowboy boots. But instead I snagged them for some photo prop usage - if your child has size 13 feet, and you'd like these in your session, just let me know!
I also have this great blue boa. Hey, why not wear them together? Childhood is all about play and dress up, right?

Sweet Expectation

2009-10-07T16:55:00.003-04:00

I love how every session is completely different and unpredictable. You can never know for sure exactly what shots will 'work', and what won't. This mommy-to-be let me play around with all kinds of props and poses, with some great results.
I was SO glad the rain held off for us. I didn't think we'd be able to go outside, but indeed we did; and as a bonus, the major cloud cover proved a fabulous light diffuser :)

Check out my Facebook Fanpage (Laura Alvis Photography) for more images from this session!

Daily Candy

2009-10-07T16:00:00.003-04:00

Hey blog followers, check out Daily Candy website (an insider's guide to your city)! You may remember that awhile back I took some product shots for a wonderfully creative Children's Stationary artist. You can see an article about her business - and 1 of my photos - here: http://www.dailycandy.com/kids/atlanta/article/75664/The-English-Pea-Childrens-Stationery .

More posts coming soon, I've been busy!!

Sassy Senior

2009-09-30T18:44:00.004-04:00

I don't know about you, but I remember Senior pictures being pretty boring, stuffy and 'posey' (think mirrors, robes and roses). I have been excited to see that the world of Senior Portraits has evolved into SO much more! Nowadays, Seniors can choose to get their portrait session done on location, with a multitude of outfits, accessories, etc.

And as I was processing this session, I realized why a great Senior portrait session is so important. Most Seniors probably haven't had the typical 'kid' portraits done in awhile (as they go thru that awkward middle school phase). And they likely won't have good pictures again until they get married. So this is an important time for Seniors (or rather, their parents) to get a killer photo session that's all about THEM!!

And that's exactly what we did here - this fun and sassy senior brought all her tack and lots of personality! It was lots of fun, and I"m looking forward to doing more Seniors next year!

Mommy's Sweet Girl

2009-09-30T18:33:00.003-04:00

Sometimes we are blessed with a friend not just thru a time, or a season, but for a lifetime. No matter where our lives have taken us (and it's currently several states apart), K and I have been friends since we were 3 years old. We met in dance class, and have many memories of classes, costumes, recitals, practicing (or not practicing). If our dear teacher were still alive, she would adore the sight of us with our sweet baby girls. Maybe someday our little girls can get together and dance to the music :-)

Anyway, I traveled home to see her and little Miss L for some newborn shots. Although, Miss L was about 6 weeks old, so she was out of the 'sleepy and curly' phase already. So she did much better with mommy holding and snuggling her. Which is great, because I adore mommy-and-baby shots, and here's a couple to enjoy....

Snuggly Little Sweetie

2009-09-07T19:55:00.004-04:00

This little guy is the youngest of 7 children, and is every bit as relaxed as he can be. He literally slept thru the entire session, which is fabulous because then I can get all those sleepy-curled-up newborn pictures. That's why it's SO important to get your newborn session done within the first 14 days of life (the sooner the better). after 14 days, they start to wake up, 'uncurl' and get stretchy, and it becomes more difficult to prop them into all the sweet newborn poses

Every newborn session is different, as different setups or props strike me at the time. Today was a 'big basket and white fluffy blanket' day. He snuggled riiiiiiiight in.....can you stand those big scrunchy cheeks??

4 Happy Cousins

2009-09-07T19:46:00.003-04:00

These little guys (and girl) are cousins who live in separate states, so they were together for a week of Camp Granny! I asked beforehand if it was OK to use the lollipops as props (because I reeeeally wanted to). I wanted the wrappers off because hey, I wanted it to look real. Hehe, did I get real....I quickly realized that the suckers would leave quite the brightly-colored mouths on my little subjects. HA!!

In order to prevent them from running around with huge sticky suckers (and the ensuing sugar high), after the pictures were taken, we told the kids that I needed the suckers back "because I had to use them again". The older ones were a little suspicious, since the suckers had been de-packaged and licked....hehe..

1 Year Old

2009-09-01T13:13:00.004-04:00

(sigh), I cannot believe it, but my Sarah turned 1 in July. Ack! I took her to Sims Park (winner of the location contest....I told you I loved it!) for some pictures. Contrary to popular belief, she is *very* hard for me to photograph. She just sees mommy behind the camera, and doesn't particularly want to cooperate. So shooting her involves daddy and/or sister and/or any other body to be the 'parent', as I'm wearing my 'photographer' hat (not literally a hat, but that's not a bad idea....).

I know this dress is a little big, but I looooove it - the sweet smocking and embroidery, and most definitely the color. I had fun editing her session, I played around with all kinds of effects and textures. Some are obvious (naked by the river with her blue bow), and some are more subtle effects that change the overall feel and look of the image.

Hard to pick my top 5 (even harder to decide which one to use as a 16x20 on our wall)

It's Twins!

2009-08-31T16:01:00.004-04:00

This mommy-to-be is pregnant with twins, and is doing so well with them. I know that near the end of a pregnancy you can feel bloated, and, well, unattractive. But she was both beautiful and brave. We had a lot of fun with this session, heading outdoors as well as doing some windowlight shots. I"m used to focusing on faces, but a maternity session has an entirely different focus! I normally love hands anyway, and being a maternity session, it was extra sweet. Thanks for letting me capture this precious time for you!

It's Fall Photo Season!

2009-08-31T12:33:00.003-04:00

It's here!! Time for those Fall portrait sessions! Maybe it's just a nice time for your family to get some pictures taken. Or maybe you would like to give some as gifts to grandparents, or send out unique holiday cards. Whatever the case may be, sessions are now scheduling.

A few quick details: Sessions *must* be completed by November 15th, that includes 'rain reschedules'. This allows time for your products and cards to be ready in time for the holidays.
December is closed to family portraits - only maternity and newborns will be scheduled during that month.

BONUS: If you had a session earlier in the year, receive a $25 print/product credit at your fall session!

Since weekend availability is limited, I"ll be scheduling some weekday sessions, too, so keep that in mind when scheduling.

Not 1, but 2

2009-08-13T18:49:00.003-04:00

As you read in a post below, train tracks were recently a big hit for some 'chick' photos. Here are a few photos from my other lovely subject that day. It was neat to see the difference in the images as the sun rose. In the shot with the train tracks here, the sun was coming up behind her and put a great glow on her hair - sweet!

Location Contest Winner!

2009-08-05T16:27:00.003-04:00

For all of you wondering, I didn't forget about the location contest - it just took me awhile to visit the various places. And we had Sarah's 1-year birthday thrown in there, too. So, the winner is (drumroll)...........Karen Pugh and her wonderful suggestion of Sims Lake Park in Suwanee!! Thanks Karen for the fab-u-lous location spot!!

It has everything I could want - lots of open shade, trees, trails, tire swing, lots of stonework, a black picket fence (love this!), a lake, open pasture, and texture everywhere. And it's in a new geographic location for me, up in Suwanee. I've posted a few pictures below - I even had Sarah stand-in as a subject. Visit my Facebook page for more pictures (and become a fan while you're there!).

Coming soon.....holiday season news and a Model Call!

Terrific Train Tracks

2009-08-03T20:44:00.003-04:00

These train tracks proved an exquisite location for some photos in the summer morning sun. Of course, we did have to take a break when the train went through (boy, was that LOUD!) - but we got to wave to the conductor, who surely was wondering what on earth we were doing out there. It got warm fast, but we got everything done before the sweat started pouring.

Shooting in the Square

2009-07-19T21:09:00.004-04:00

I've been so busy recently, I haven't posted much - I promise, more on the way!

This lovely gal and I hung out in and around Marietta Square one Saturday. (off subject, they have a farmer's market with THE best lemonade/limeade for $1.00, but I digress...) A couple of the storeowners were so cordial, they let us shoot against their fabulous brick walls. Here's a couple of her favorites....

100-Fan Challenge

2009-06-29T21:06:00.002-04:00

Head on over to Facebook and find my Fanpage - Laura Alvis Photography - and become a fan. I am having a 100-Fan Challenge! My goal is to have 100 fans by August 1.

And when the 100 Fan goal is reached, ALL of the 100 fans will receive a $25 print credit toward your future session order!! So become a fan, and pass it onto your friends so you can all benefit in time for the holiday photo season (which is quickly approaching).

Lastly, for some daily cuteness factor, I"m posting a couple pictures from Sarah's first haircut...

Location Contest

2009-06-14T21:35:00.002-04:00

You, my faithful blog followers, get first notice of my Location Contest! Summer is the perfect time to scout for locations, and I'm on the lookout for another good one. Submit your location ideas to me by JULY 4th via email at: lauraalvisphotography@yahoo.com - winner gets a FREE session at that location!

Details: Public property
Within approximately 20 miles of Norcross
You may submit more than 1 entry
No duplicate entries (you will be notified if your location has already been submitted)
The winning free session must be completed by 12/31/09

Tips: The location does not have to be huge
Consider trees, rocks, paths, water, flowers, walls, doorways, bricks, fences, stairs,
stonework
Easy access and directions will increase the possibility of your site being chosen

Happy Hunting!

Snuggle Bug

2009-06-09T13:03:00.003-04:00

This little newborn is such a snugglebug - happiest all wrapped up, in mommy or daddy's arms. So when we placed him in the teeny-tiny red wagon, he was a little confused; but the shot is so cute, I had to include it below. We got lucky and caught him in many moods - yawning, smiling, asleep, and eyes wide open. And of course, there are some beautiful images of mom and dad with their precious new little one - but I'll save those for their gallery. Thanks for letting me capture these moments for you!

Take Steps

2009-06-07T19:17:00.004-04:00

Last weekend, I had the privilege of photodocumenting the Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Take Steps Walk. In my 12 years as a nurse working with Crohns & Colitis patients, this event was near and dear to my heart. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon at Georgia Tech, and a wonderful turnout. There were games for the kids, face painting, bracelet making, a picnic and live music. While I cannot post the sweet and courageous faces I met that day, I will include some of the documentary shots. (Well, I can post one of my little Sarah, who had lots of fun in the grass!)

To learn more visit: www.ccfa.org

Thanks for this opportunity!

My new bag

2009-05-19T14:34:00.004-04:00

Exciting things are in the works for Laura Alvis Photography - a new investment guide, new collections, improved referral program, new products! But for today, I wanted to share what finally came in the mail!! I've been waiting on it for 6 weeks and I"m so excited that it's finally here. My original intent was for it to be a purse. But after just a few days, it became clear that it's the perfect 'baby bag' (you know, a diaper bag, but I hate to call it that because it carries so much more than diapers). It has 6 fabulous pockets inside, which is great for us organizing types. Anyone will know at a glance whose bag it is!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T15:54:00.005-04:00

Collages were a huge hit for Mother's Day, and I have been busily working on some for clients that were gifts for wives or grandparents. Since they were secrets, I couldn't post them on my blog and it's been SO hard to keep these secret! I"m excited to finally share them!

A New Little Brother

2009-05-04T09:37:00.005-04:00

This little newborn was very awake, even despite my heater and heating pad! But I loved it, because then I could capture his crystal clear eyes, taking in the whole world (including the silly lady with her camera...). But he couldn't resist the 'peapod' I put him in, he went right to sleep in it. We got some special moments with mom, dad, and even big sister.

Sweet girlhood

2009-04-21T21:01:00.003-04:00

As I was editing these images, I would chuckle to myself remembering all the 'costume changes' these girls had. They were SO excited, and had many clothing options picked out. Big sister, Miss 'C', made an excellent choice of her jeans and favorite shirt - cute yet comfy. At the end, they each got a 'girls choice' - they picked the outfit, the location and the pose. You'll see one below, I call it "Fairy in the Ivy". Thanks for being such excellent models, girls!

On the serious side

2009-04-19T13:42:00.003-04:00

Yesterday's session was at a local spot that shall remain nameless to protect the innocent ;-). These 2 were better at posing themselves than I was! While chatting with the kids, I said that some of the best photos are when people are not smiling. "Really?" they asked. "Really". I think they were somewhat relieved....all that smiling can sure wear a kid out. I can't explain it. But on the practical side, when most of us smile, our eyes crunch up, making them smaller. So a non-smiling face lets you have a lot more 'eye' in the picture. Other than that, I can't explain it. To demonstrate the point, I've posted my favorite non-smiling pictures.......and don't worry, there are certainly images of them smiling/laughing.....

She rocked it!!

2009-04-15T21:48:00.003-04:00

It was a beautiful spring afternoon today, and we hung out taking some fab-u-lous pictures. The last time I did her pictures, it was about 35 degrees outside - what a difference! She is a complete natural and the camera loves her, I had so much fun shooting her. Does anyone else think she looks like Julianna Margulies (from ER)? Way to go, sister supermodel!!

Sweet Baby Time

2009-04-14T20:12:00.003-04:00

I had the pleasure of spending some time this morning with this sweet little guy. He came into the world a few weeks early, so he's just a little wisp of a thing at almost 6 lbs. I already forgot how teeny they are when they're freshly born! He was so calm the whole time, just as precious as he could be. Mom, I enjoyed talking with you today; I hope you got some rest after I left!

Brother & Sister

2009-04-06T20:02:00.003-04:00

Here's another session from Piedmont Park. This 'tween' brother and sister were absolute naturals for the camera. They could do smiling, laughing, serious, togetherness - all without even thinking about it. I included the photo of the hat, just for Miss Em! Thanks for braving the traffic, guys, I hope you had fun!

A Day at the Park

2009-04-06T13:20:00.004-04:00

It really was a full day at the park on Saturday - and the first beautiful day all week! Lucky us! I'm working on many images from the day, and have the first batch ready for posting on the blog. I must say, I was somewhat frustrated by the parking/traffic situation down there. However, after viewing all these images, I am in love with that long and fabulously green grass at Piedmont Park!

This family of 4 was so much fun to work with, and the little ones did so well with all the different pictures and poses. And the little guy was quite a ham! The dad of the family served our country in the armed forces - *thank you* for working to keep us safe and free.

I know mom is anxiously waiting for the sneak peek, so enjoy (I had a hard time picking my favorites)!

Li'l Ju-Ju

2009-03-31T08:22:00.004-04:00

The weather cooperated on Sunday for a fun 1-year-old session. She had recently learned to walk, and so she wasn't standing still for anyone - too much to see and do! Mom and dad went above and beyond to enlist her cooperation. They even pulled out the red wagon - which is, I must say, my new favorite prop and I simply must have one. This was also the first official session with the pettskirt! It was so big and fluffy, little Ju-Ju just wasn't sure about it..... So here's a sneak peek!

Urban Outing

2009-03-24T21:23:00.002-04:00

This was a family portrait session (literally, as in they are my family); and for something different, we headed into the most charming downtown in western Illinois. I have the 2 cutest nephews in the whole world, and they are so funny together - I adore the one of them giggling in the doorway. Thanks for braving the cold and wind, guys, it was well worth it!!

'Cheeky' little girl

2009-03-22T20:19:00.005-04:00

I spent a little time with this 3-year-old cutie who has cheeks that go on forever. She was very stylish in her jean jacket and little cap. She was a teensy bit upset, and spent the whole time on mommy's lap - but you'd never know it from the beautiful pictures. Many thanks to her mom for letting me take some pictures of her!

The Pettiskirt is here!!

2009-02-24T11:59:00.003-05:00

I am SOOO excited about my recent purchase, it is everything I dreamed it could be! I will definitely be getting another in a different color - any suggestions? This is cute not just on naked babies, but also older ones who are fully clothed. It's just so darn girly! Can't you just see your little princess in this??

Mommy and me

2009-02-01T19:58:00.004-05:00

Saturday dawned bright and crisp, a perfect day for photos. This sweet girl and her mommy came over for a session, and little Miss Peanut was napped and fed (read: happy and giggly!). I know mom is anxious to see some of the final images, even though she got a sneak peek at the house. I am having such a hard time choosing from all of them, so I included one from each setting/outfit. Enjoy these while I work on the rest!

Product Samples

2009-01-17T22:26:00.002-05:00

An exciting post today....here is a small sampling of the products that will be available to clients! It's not just about prints anymore (i.e. 4x6, 5x7, etc.) - you can have customized products with images from your session. Before we review the products, I have my first blog follower! Welcome! You, too, can become a blog follower and stay tuned as I get my business up and running....

The first sample, 'Sweet Sarah', is a collage storyboard. There will be 15 or so available, all different sizes; type and color is optional on all of them. Like I said - customized!

Next comes cards - christmas cards, thank you notes, announcements, whatever! Flat, folded, different sizes.....

And lastly, the 5x7 desk calendar comes with 12 personalized months with photos from your session. a great memory year-round!

I"ll be posting more of these, I could get SO carried away.....

Together

2009-01-14T21:07:00.002-05:00

Here are some photos that speak 'togetherness' to me....(I have a thing for hands - old hands, young hands, hands together, you get the idea...). Sarah is holding Nana & Bapa's hands, and the last one is my nephew and my dad.