)cool people make for cool couples(

 I am a little late posting this engagement session. The pretty lady in the photos is the daughter of a sweet friend of mine that is a regular at the HHTC (Happy Hot Tub Club for those of you not in the know). They are just the coolest couple! Very down to earth, and you have to love that they were very generous with their time, considering a big college football game was coming on, and I still had them tied up :) While they were getting ready for our session, her dad had me try a "ghost" chili pepper (which he was eating A LOT of ). Have to say, it was very warm. But this girl is SMART. I just swallowed it. I probably would have died if I had actually chewed it. And it was a tiny little piece!

  Each of the settings in this session has a lot of sentimental meaning to the bride to be. Especially the truck (which was her grandfather's, and he used to take her riding in it). She and the groom to be have loads in common, and are matched quite beautifully. It was a pleasure for me, and I hope it was for them.

Baby Z at home...

  When baby Z was born and I first saw him, his eyes were wide open. I was delighted to see them, and then the realization hit me that his newborn session would be very interesting. LOL. He didn't disappoint. I have to say, he is SO good. And I personally, would rather see his eyes in photos. Needless to say, he was precious and sweet, and awake for most of the session (sleeping great when he was held :) . Can't complain...he didn't cry! So a happy baby is a good baby, whether awake or asleep.
   We ended up going with a more non traditional newborn session. Yes, I had baskets and blankets and hats, and all sorts of other stuff in tow. But we got the sweetest, and genuine photos of this cool little family just doing what they do. In my opinion, this session was a success, and I was so happy to not be tied to the trendy props and ideas. Twenty years from now, I hope this family won't be looking at these portraits and saying to themselves "Why did we ever do that?" So hopefully these will never be outdated, and will be cherished always.

   I might just mention here that I love this family. They have put faith in me to capture their most precious moments, without having anything else to go on. That is huge to me. Can't wait to see more special milestones with Z and his family. I am blessed!

"C's" senior session peak...

I have known this guy for 5 years. He is my best friend's son. And he was super willing to take direction. We had a good time! He is full of all sorts of knowledge, for real. 

I did some of these in vintage, and 70's rock comes to mind. :)

(And baby makes 3)

  After a long, hard labor and a c-section, baby Z made his big debut. It was an absolute honor, and a humbling one at that. I first photographed the fabulous Mr. Z during his beautiful mama's maternity shoot. And just as I had suspected, he is a very handsome baby. He couldn't help it if he had tried. He was the most wide eyed baby I have ever seen. Even with all the flashes going off from the masses (yes, there were loads of people there to welcome him) he was wide eyed and just took it all in. Which is giving me an inkling as to what I will be up against when we do his newborn shoot lol. And that is ok, because he has lovely eyes.

   It is incredible to witness people go from a "married couple" to a full fledged family in a matter of minutes. To be able to see someones priorities change from self to child in a breath...deeply touching. So WELCOME baby Z! You are LOVED, sir! And congratulations to mom and dad...it was a fight fought well. And the prize is certainly spectacular (and has that nice new baby smell :)

Mini Sessions...what are they?

   I am totally tickled to be offering a mini session soon. August 28th I will be at Noccalula Falls, in Gadsden Alabama for mini sessions. What are they though? What do they include? My mini sessions are 1/2 hour long, they are a short and sweet, fun little shoot. I will take approximately 30 images (conservative estimate, as I am quite shutter happy) that will be previewed on this blog, and on FB. Then you can order as little or as much as you want. Check out my "Investments" page for pricing and sizes.

    The scheduled times for this mini session are 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m.
    $25.00 per child ($15.00 for each additional)
    $50.00 per family

You're a photographer?

  Who would know? If you visit my house, I have loads of photographs everywhere. BUT, the portraits of the girlies are not done by me. I had a little party at my house not too long ago, and someone I didn't know well asked who did the photos of my daughters. Of course they are beautiful, and done by my sister. When I was finished pointing them out, I realized that none of the professionally done portraits were done by me. Lol! I figured that I probably NEED to have some of my own work, in my own house. Granted, I just started this photography trip recently. Sooo, I have been working on three new portraits of my sweet girlfriends. I have two of them (begrudgingly) completed. I only have one more to pin down. Our last portraits were done when we first moved here. I treasure those, because they show my girls so little! And the fact that they were done by my sister is a bonus! Here are the middle and youngest girls...

I can't believe my cousin is a SENIOR already!

  While I was home, I did my cousin's senior photos. I can not believe that she is a senior already. We have lived here in Alabama for the past 5 years. So I missed a big part of her growing up. She is so beautiful. I look at her and know that it won't be long before my girls are getting their senior photos done. It goes by so fast.