Surprise! You're going to be a Grandma!! Happy Mother's Day!

I love a good surprise and I am very good at keeping secrets.  This week I got to do a shoot for Amberly and Chris who just found out they are expecting their first child.  We did a top secret photo shoot last weekend for the big Mother's Day reveal for the unknowing, expecting grandparents.  It was so, so much fun.  I can't express how special I feel to be a part of this big moment with them.  It truly touches my heart when people trust me with moments this big.  We got a few ideas from Pinterest and then tapped into our own creative brains to come up with ideas for this maternity announcement photo shoot.  Here are a few of my faves.

Shine Bright Like a Diamond

Oh how my bones and muscles ache today.  Sometimes I think I am just getting too old to keep on doing the prom thing but then I get rested up and I sign up for another year.  This year's prom was a tremendous success.  The prom committee outdid itself with the decorations.  I wanted to share a few of those pics with you.

 

 

We had a great deal of fun "blinging" out the cafeteria to turn it into a glitzy affair! 

After the walls were covered, the arches were ballooned, the signs received extra bling, it was time to work some magic on the tables.  Each table featured its own unique design that had a fairy berry light in the center.  If you haven't had the opportunity to see a fairy berry light, they are awesome.  They glow off and on at random and just seem magical in the decorations.

Of course, a highlight of prom is the crowning of the King and Queen. The prom committee decorated the voting boxes.  Each attendee received 2 crystals to use to cast their vote for king and queen.

One of our favorite parts of our prom is our fruit fountain.  Jayne Guthrie is so incredibly talented.  Each year she manages to pull of a stunning fruit fountain for us that fits our theme.  This year she even carved fruit to look like diamonds.  The fruit was yummy too.  I mean who can turn down chocolate covered fresh pineapple and strawberries.

Pictures alone just can't do justice to the beautiful decorations and the overall impression of Prom 2013.  It truly was a night to "Shine Bright Like A Diamond"

Pearl and Me.....A journey

Pearl.  My first newborn shoot.  I was so clueless on how to stage a newborn shoot but we forged ahead and we got some shots that I still love to this day.  I purchased a brand new bowl to use not even considering the base width or important things like that.  To pull off the picture, we had to hold on to the bowl from the back to keep it from tipping over.  From that session, I fell in love with "Pearl in the Bowl" and used it in my initial online advertising, website and on my business cards.  Here it is: 

Since that "beginning" shot, I have had the incredible pleasure of continued photo shoots with Pearl.  Today we did Pearl's 3-year-old session.  I couldn't resist a picture of Pearl and her iconic bowl.

Since Easter is this Sunday, we dould miss out on a bunny rabbit in the frame.  Rowdy has raised two rabbits and I have to admit I never go out to pet them or pay them any attention.  Today I decided to hold him for the first time.  It was surprisingly calm and only scratched me a time or two.  Thunder (yes, that's his name) did incredibly well.  I guess I'm going to have to spend more time with that rabbit.

 

Now, instead of all of the commentary, I just want to share the many faces of Pearl.  She is a dream with all of her expressions.  I can't wait to shoot her again and again and again......

Family, Remember to Capture those Memories

I love, love, love my photography job.  I get to share in so many special moments.  There are weddings, births, holidays and more but there is another moment I love to get to share.  It's just a plain family shoot with the "whole" family.

In the beginning, it's not a big day.  No one (except the Mom or Grandma who scheduled) is excited about the shoot.  In fact a lot of family members come under protest.  They arrive and look at me like it's all my fault.  The shoot usually starts out a little slow and stilted.  As a photographer, you start out making sure you get the shots you MUST have before anyone bails.  As the shoot continues, it's fun to watch the transition.  People start loosening up and enjoying themselves.  After awhile, those that were unhappy at the beginning start coming up with ideas for poses.  We play, we joke, we have fun and we make memories.  I love it when a customer walks away and said, "We had so much fun."

This shoot was a large family shoot.  Becky contacted me and told me she was going to try to pull off a session with her parents, her children, and her children's families.  I don't know if she begged them or threatened them, but she got them all there.  The first person I realized that wasn't really excited was Grandpa.  He would let me take a picture and then ask if he was done.  After another, he would again ask if he was through.  The first picture we took was of the Grandparents.  We took the official posed pic and then I asked Grandpa if he wanted to give Grandma a kiss.  He grinned and then obliged.  I love it!  It has become one of my favorite pics.  See what you think:

Ok, so tell me that isn't the most adorable picture ever.  It makes me smile every time I look at it.

After this, we worked on getting the whole family in one shot.  We thought it was important for everyone to be with their own family but we wanted to show a creative post that would how they all fit together with grandma and grandpa as the center of it all.  This turned out beautiful as a large print.  After grandpa saw the first print, he ordered one for his house too.

I spent about an hour and a half shooting lots of poses including each family unit, the cousins, the brothers and sisters, some individuals and more.  I appreciate Becky and her family for letting me have a small part in making some family members in the trees on a beautiful Fall afternoon.

 

Sending Christmas love to Afghanistan

I've been sitting on these pictures for awhile.  Kyle is a Navy Corpsman currently serving in Afghanistan.  I was honored to shoot Kyle and Brandi's wedding awhile back.  When I found out they would be apart on Christmas because of Kyle's deployment, I wanted to do some, small something for them.  I contacted Brandi and we got together for this shoot.  Brandi and Kaylie along with Brandi's Mom (Kayla) showed up with a plate of Kayla's incredible homemade cookies.)  Oh, how yummy they were.  But anyway, back to the shoot for Kyle.  We shot for 3 hours and quickly went through the proofs.  We put the pics in a book and mailed them with hopes Kyle would get them for Christmas.  About a week before Christmas, Kyle's unit was moving and all mail was shut off so our Christmas surprise was put in a holding pattern.  I got word today, January 5th,  that Kyle finally got his Christmas present.  

Special Requests

Even though I would like to claim them, some of my best shots aren't my ideas.  Many of my customers come in with ideas for shots.  Some have a specific plan while others have an idea in mind that we are able to take and run with.  I love it when they have an idea and tell me I can use it as inspiration for a unique memory for them.  Here are a few of those inspirational ideas:

 

Kyle is proudly serving our nation in Afghanistan.  Brandi brought in his boots for us to use in our surprise photo shoot for him.  While we were looking at his empty boots trying to decide how to use them, we realized the empty boots told the whole story.

This photo is an example of a not-so-perfect shot becoming perfect.  Who would want a picture of a child not looking at the camera.  I was getting ready to chop this picture from the final proofs when inspiration hit again.  I think it is perfect as she looks over to the words on the side.  Can't wait til her Daddy is home safe to say her evening prayers with her.

This spunky young lady and her Dad came in with Mom and her new little brother for a newborn shot.  Her Mom had seen a picture similar to this and asked.  I think it turned out precious.

And here he is....that sweet new baby brother of the dancing feet in the above picture. 

 

The Guthries

It's always so much fun to take pictures of families but this one was even more special because this family is part of my own family.  I got to take pictures of my baby brother and my favorite sister-in-law with my spunky niece.

For my Mom's Christmas, I promised to try to get family pics together for her of everyone of her kids, grandkids, and greats.  It is a challenge to get everyone in to the studio for a shoot but I am up for the challenge.  Jim and Tammie and Gab were the first to come in for their family shoot.