Sometimes the best laid plans don't go as planned....

The adorable Caleb & Garrett have been featured on my blog many times...they are part of one of my favorite families to photograph. We had BIG plans for last Saturday...EASTER pictures. And I suggest Purina Farms....we checked out the website and it even talked about the baby bunnies and chicks you could pet. We figured it was going to be awesome! Well.....it was COLD...nothing Spring like at all....extremely overcast and I think everyone else in the metro St. Louis area decided to go to Purina Farms that morning. It was CROWDED. But we still got some cute pics and the boys had a blast. And I got to hang with Dawn and Jack...who are always so much fun. So it wasn't all bad....but we are doing it again in a few weeks on what is hopefully a beautiful day at a location with lots of room for Caleb to be his cute birthday boy self!! Can't wait...stay tuned for Part Two!

Parties....and Leaving Me Some Blog Lovin'

So I have been thinking I need to do some changes to my blog. I have many photographers from all over the world that I have bookmarked as favorites and I love to follow their work. I notice a lot of them have their blog through blogspot just like me....but their blogs are so much cooler. First of all people can actually leave comments...when my blog you have to be a google member or something to leave a comment...they also have photos across the top of their blog...bigger pictures, etc. So I as start to learn more about my blog and the wonderful changes I can make....I have learned how to add some of these things.

The biggest change right now is comments....I have changed the security setting so that anyone can leave a comment. So PLEASE comment away.....it will seriously make my day!!

Coming soon....a LOGO...across the top. I am in the process of having a logo designed and it will grace my blog shortly. One day my blog will be as cool as everyone elses.

Parties....they are fun...frantic....filled with fantastic people enjoying their big day. I find that every single time I have a party for my girls I think to myself "I wish I had a photographer". It is so nice to have someone else "responsible for the photos" while the party givers can sit back and relax and enjoy their party and their guests.

My latest party was a 1st birthday bash for sweet little Adnit. Happy 1st birthday buddy!!


Here is his family blowing out the candles on his super cool "Blues Clues" cake.

And the birthday boy and his big beautiful brown eyes.

A big gold star for the person who can find me in this photo...."Where's Waldo Style". And thanks to Jessica (my fabulous helper and sister in law for capturing this.....love the wide angle shot)

And Jessica hard at work :)

A great party....a great time by all. And a special thanks to Jessica for helping out and getting some great photos too!!

DON'T FORGET....I LOVE COMMENTS!!

In Honor of David

I posted this on my Facebook Fan Page, but I wanted to get it up on here too. My friend and client Jennifer (pretty lady to the far left) lost her brother this past weekend. This is David below in the center. It was a very unexpected loss for this family and they are reeling from it. He leaves behind a daughter (Hailey is seated on his lap in the photo below). David did not have a life insurance policy, at the age of 28 he probably thought he wouldn't need one. In times like this you feel just helpless...you know there isn't much you can do but pray for peace for families that suffer such horrible losses. I would like to donate 10% of all my March and April sessions to the fund set up for Hailey. So you March and April peeps....your sessions are even more appreciated.
My prayers are with my friend/client Jennifer and her family.

The Family that I Choose

Isn't there a saying that goes something like....your girlfriends are the sisters you choose. That couldn't be more true for me with my friend Mary...or "momma" as I like to call her. Yep, we have nicknames for each other and it is momma....don't know how long ago it started or how it started....and we say it in public not even thinking that people are probably like...did that lady just call that other lady momma?? Makes me laugh just thinking about it.

Wow, what can I say about Mary and her beautiful children. Mary has been in my life since the 3rd grade...I was counting on my fingers earlier and that is like over 25 years. We have some years of disconnect...but the majority of the time we have been very important figures in each other lives. She is one of the strongest women I know....she is insanely loyal to the ones she loves (and I am blessed to say I am one of them) smart, beautiful (duh! look at the picture below and it is obvious), funny as heck....too many times we have laughed so hard we have cried. She is an "Aunt" to my girls....a Godmother to my oldest daughter Abby. I could go on and on about her, she knows how much my family loves her and how important she is to me. My "soul sister"...that is what she is.

Can you believe since I have been on this "photography" journey I have never had Mary and her kiddos in front of my camera....tisk tisk tisk. Well, I did do a mini session of Mary...but not like this. I was so excited to do this for her, to give her this gift of her and her kids together. Her son Matthew is a Senior in HS and about the "fly the coupe"....so things as they know it will never be the same. These pictures mean a lot to me and will be proudly displayed in my home as well as in Mary's.

Ok....enough yackin'.....onto the beautiful people I love so much.....


My "momma" ha ha....had to say it. Mary you are the freakin' shiz girl!

And the 3 of them....we literally ran across the street to a park by my house and grabbed these one day during the week...it was perfect, perfect light...perfect people :)

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE....that is all I am gonna say about this one.

Matthew loves his little sister so much...oh yea, they fight...but he is so protective of her...it is so sweet. And Jacquelyn she worships her big brother. Mary, you have some fantastic kids (and so good looking too).

Miss Jacquelyn....this is my God daughter. She is a spit fire, funny as can be....when I talk to her I feel like I am having a conversation with a 30 year old. She has the most beautiful eyes...loves horses (well all animals)...is best friends with my Abby. They are either going to open a veterinarian clinic together or a horse ranch....we shall see.

Jax your are fierce girlfriend!

Matthew....geez, this is another person I can go on and on about. He is our pseudo son. I have watched him grow into this incredible young man...and I am as proud of him as I would be one of my own children. He recently joined the National Guard...because he is just that kind of guy. He is bound for amazing....AMAZING things and I can't wait to see what he does in the future...I known it will be great.

Sorry for the long post...but there was no way I couldn't blabber on about my peeps.

Love you guys! And Mary thanks for being one of my biggest cheerleaders....every time you tell me how talented I am (of course your biased) but seriously every time you tell me....it makes my heart sing :)

Peace!

Pretty In Pink!

I couldn't wait to meet this precious little girl....her Aunt Andrea is one of my awesome clients who sends me tons of business (love ya Andrea!). So I knew this session was going to be awesome...mommy (Jessica) was so sweet, one of those people you meet and your immediately comfortable with. And then baby Audrey, I am talking a seriously beautiful child here. With her porcelain skin, big blue eyes and huge smiles....I was in heaven. I think I said a million times that she looked like a baby doll, but she totally did. Cute as a button!

See what I am talking about....isn't she the cutest?

I brought my famous "basket" with the fur....babies loved it. Audrey could of hung out in there all day and smiled away for me :)

Then we tried some sitting up, and she gave me the best smiles. Just love this expression.

And a bit of a serious look :) So was really focused in on something.

Ok, favorite of the session. She was "gettin her hand" but I just love how her eyes look, the composition of the photo, love it!

Aww.....be still my heart. She is so stinkin cute! And look at those eyes, she is getting sleepy.

She is just as beautiful asleep as she is awake. And snug in momma's arms.

I had to show this shot of her dress, she got changed into this dress but then got sleepy....but it gave me some time to focus in on the details. The dress told a story....each flap had a sentence. I think it went like this "Stitched between these ruffles and folds. Is a pretty little tale just waiting to be told. About a wee girl and her little pink dress. She loved it so much it was always a mess. The End"

I don't think I can do it justice, but it was so original and beautiful...and such a great shade of pink.

Jessica, thank you for welcoming me into your home and for being so welcoming :) It was so much fun spending time with you and Audrey and I hope you love your pics as much as I do.

Happy Easter!

"Baby on Board"

I have been so excited to show you this awesome family that I met last weekend. They were so much fun, with the cutest little guy.......AND a baby girl on the way. I love seeing the excitement and anticipation of a family about to add a new member. You could just tell they were so excited and I feel very honored to have captured some fantastic pics of these last few moments of just the 3 of them before they become a family of 4.

Seriously, how cute are they?? I know I say that all the time....but I have some of the most beautiful clients...I am so blessed.

Here is the big brother to be and "star" of this session....Mr. Caleb :)

Caleb was so much fun....he was just a little ham. Within minutes we had become friends and he was more than happy to do all the special poses I asked of him. He was so great!

Here he is saying hello to his little sister who is snug in mommies belly :)

One of my favorite pics of the session!

Look at those big brown eyes!

Here is momma.....Kristina your so stinkin' cute!

Hubba Hubba....hot little couple. :) Kristina you are seriously the cutest prego lady eVer! I can't wait to see what this little girl is going to look like, I know she will be gorgeous.

Ok, I debated on putting "bare belly" pics on the blog (wasn't sure if that was something mommies were comfortable with) and I decided I would just put up one...and it had to be this one. Breathtaking! This is my favorite of the session and one of my favorites ever. Yea, I went there :)

Hands in the pocket...just like I asked. Did I say yet Caleb was awesome...well, I am saying it again...Caleb was awesome. :)

Boys!

Thank you guys for meeting with me, it was my pleasure. Good luck in the upcoming weeks and enjoy that sweet baby girl. I hope I get to meet her some day :)

Not ONE but TWO adorable girls!

These girls were too adorable for words....I could of taken their pictures all day long. They both warmed up to me right away...which of course I LOVED. This session had a real "life style" feel to it...something I strive for but find it comes the easiest when I take photos in a families home. I just think kiddos are the most comfortable at home, they are so happy to show me all their favorite toys and books. I really enjoyed this session.

I had the hardest time picking which pictures to put on my blog because I loved every single one of them so much. And I can't even begin to pick a favorite...I have like 20 favorites :)

Miss Lucy has the most beautiful BIG blue eyes....they literally sparkle in every single picture of her....take a look.


And little sister Hannah was so scrumptious.....she gave me baby fever as bad as any newborn session. She was just so sweet and ADORABLE....and how cute is that pink flower headband. It isn't fair that all these cute accessories come out when my girls are no longer babies...just not fair :)

Miss Lucy was wise beyond her years and I felt like I was talking to a 5 year old. She was so much fun and loved reading me Goodnight Moon...one of my favorite books.

Geez, I LOVE this image.....love her expression...her chunky little finger in her mouth.

Hi sweet baby girl.

I "HEART" black and whites....and they are especially stunning of these girlies.

Sisterly love :)

Look at that big smile!

How I love this one of Lucy.

We went outside for a bit....it was a little windy and the sun was pretty bright, but I got a couple cute ones. Made me realize though that I am ready for spring and green grass :)

Some little Easter eggs and Easter baskets :)

Thank you guys for spending your morning with me....and sharing your awesome girls with me. I hope you love your photos....they make me smile! Happy Easter Lucy & Hannah! Hope to see you girls again.