Naughty or Nice?

This little boy is going to be a big brother not too long after Christmas. He is the sweetest little thing, but can't you just see the mischief hiding behind those eyes? I'm sure he will be an excellent big brother, but he'll probably also be really good at getting the two of them into trouble. I can't wait to see if his brother is as cute as he is. What a heartbreaker he'll be in a few years!

Happy "Black Friday!"

So the turkey is gone, the pies have been eaten and now it's officially the Christmas season. No better time to get some family portraits than the holidays! This photo is a mother and daughter I photographed today in their home. While the studio is great for formal portraits, there is just something fun about shots taken on location. And with the background of the home, they can be more meaningful to the family. Too often families assume they don't have a suitable home for a session - but that often isn't the case! A photographer will look at your home and furnishings differently than you do, and will see the location with fresh eyes. Sometimes all it takes is a little imagination.

Of course today is known for its holiday shopping frenzy. I was able to make it to Target and back in one piece. Really, I didn't have a choice - I needed some new props for an upcoming session and they were the closest place to have them. I was happy to see that while the morning may be crazy, the afternoon isn't so bad.

What a couple of cuties!

Last year, I took a holiday shot of these two little guys - who really aren't so little any more! They had a newborn sister and the older brother was missing his two front teeth. Now the sister is a much-more mobile toddler, and the teeth have grown back. I love how close they are, it's so easy to get great portraits when the people in the portrait care about each other so much. I'm sure they fight and argue sometimes, but brotherly love really is a special thing.

I'd like to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. It's been a great year for me and my family, and we have many blessings to count. Take it easy today, let the holiday madness start tomorrow. Enjoy a day of good food and good company, and know that I am thankful for every one of the customers I have, and that some of those customers have become friends.

The holidays are finally here!

Finally the Christmas season has started! The weather here is so nice that nobody thinks of holiday portraits until it's nearly Thanksgiving. Somehow it's just too hard to dress warmly and think of hot cocoa and Christmas trees when the temperatures lend themselves more to shorts and tee-shirts!

Anyway, I got to photograph these two cuties this week. I've known Conner since he was a newborn, and Jack since he was two. Jack has sure grown up to be a handsome little guy, hasn't he? And Conner...he has gotten MUCH more opinionated and forceful since he was a newborn!

A recent wedding

This past weekend I helped out a fellow photographer with a wedding. It was quite enjoyable, as the church was beautifully decorated and the bride was gorgeous as well! After the ceremony we went to the reception and got some shots on the golf course. I love how the green of the grass sets off the bride and makes her "pop" out of the photo.

Congratulations to Andrew and Melissa - I wish you many years of happiness!

My most recent session - Rachel

I recently did a maternity session for Rachel. She is due in December with a little boy. Here is my favorite shot from her session, you can see the love and anticipation in both of their faces! I love doing maternity sessions and then the newborn session - every little baby is a blessing and a gift, and being able to share the joy of a birth is one of the perks of being a photographer!

Holiday photo sessions

It's official: the holiday season is here! There are Christmas trees in all the stores and the music is playing. I still have a few openings available for holiday portraits, please check my calendar to see when those dates are.

And don't forget to vote in the cutest baby contest. Voting continues through November 30.

Finally, a very happy Veteran's Day to all those who served. My husband and my father both served in the US military. I am grateful to all those who are serving or have served our great nation.