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On Sunday, I had the pleasure of meeting and assisting photographer Ezra Marcos on an amazing retro lifestyle shoot. You can see his sneak peak here. Look for me on that post (hint: floral shirt).

In December, I purchased the Fujifilm Instax Mini 7s. I have been using it to capture special moments in my personal life and am absolutely in love with the pictures it produces. I usually always have it in my camera bag, but have never pulled it out for a session until Sunday. The pictures couldn’t have fit with the theme of Ezra’s shoot any better. I am so pleased with them. Here are a few:

I almost missed her. I scheduled my trip to Kansas in December around Lilah’s due date, but with newborns it is NEVER that easy. When Lilah still hadn’t arrived on her due date, I decided to change my flight in hopes of getting the timing right. Even that nearly flopped. Lilah finally arrived at 5:51 am on Sunday, December 27th-weighing just over 8 lbs and 18.5 inches long.

Jodi and Lilah made it home from the birthing center on Tuesday and I did her session Wednesday morning- hours before my plane left! I don’t think I have ever completed a newborn session so quickly and with such great results. Jodi and Cory are naturals in front of the camera and Lilah so easily soothed.

They seriously take my breath away!

Look at those cheeks!

It is so easy to take wonderful photographs when you have such beautiful subjects.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Jodi. The look on her face is so telling and it warms my heart.

The color image on the left is hanging large and in charge in the office of the doctor who delivered Lilah. Talk about ecstatic!

Jodi and Cory, I am so very happy to have had the opportunity to photograph all of your milestones (so far!). I feel incredibly privileged to still have you in my life even though we are thousands of miles apart. And I am incredibly appreciative of you opening your home to me just days after giving birth and the day after coming home from the hospital. I hope you cherish these pictures always.

P.S. I have film images from my vintage camera that I took in the hospital being developed right now. Fingers crossed!

While back home in October, I took my Taylor’s senior pictures. This is the same pumpkin patch Jodi and I trespassed on for her maternity pictures- only this time I thought i better not press my luck. I asked for permission You’ll notice most (ok all) of Taylor’s pictures are of him kneeling or sitting- that would be because he is darn close to 6″6″ tall. Yea.. WOAH. All of the standing pictures looked oddly out of proportion and I could see right up his nose. I never even thought to bring a stepladder. That’ll teach me.

That cute little black fur-ball is Samantha Jean. We call her Sam-bo or Sammy for short. I think she is half blind and half deaf by now, but I love her to pieces. She pretty much goes nuts every time I go home for a visit.

Couldn’t resist.

The second pose was his idea. So we went with it.

My favorite 2 of the bunch.

I had the chance to photograph this beautiful family back in October (and of course am just now blogging it). Avery is an absolute doll and her mommy and daddy are two of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Avery’s mommy, Amanda, has inspired/encouraged me to train for my first half-marathon. I haven’t gotten there yet, but I am up to 10 miles (3 and a little to go). Thanks Amanda, for being so fun to work with and for the motivation to do something I never would have dreamed of.

As my friend Charisse would say, “Ohhh, what a little dumpling”.

The little smile is the result of me acting like a complete goofball.

We did most of the session in the family’s spare bedroom- it had the most gorgeous light! Just look at the catchlights/reflection in her eyes. Her adorable little face also helps.

The color one on the right?? One of my favorites. Her little grin is just too cute.

As is the way she is so intently listening to her daddy.

All together now: “AWWWW”

Of course, the foot in the mouth shot.

During the session, we stopped to give little Avery a snack. Avery would tug on her daddy’s face and he would calmly tell her “gentle, Avery, gentle”.The intimacy of these two makes my heart smile.

Don’t let the sweaters fool you. We had one semi-nice day amidst the Florida humidity.

Picture perfect

It is December, less than 1 week from baby Lilah’s due date, and I am just now posting images from her mommy’s session back in October. Oh GEEZ.
I’ve been friends with Jodi and her twin sister Jenna since the 7th grade. They were my first friends when I moved to a new town and new school at a time in a tween’s life when everything is chaos (or at least feels that way). Without getting too mushy gushy–I’ll just say that words can’t express how fortunate I feel to have Jodi and Jenna in my life. Even though we live a full 24 hour’s drive from each other and all of our lives are too busy to keep in proper contact, I still consider them two of my best friends.

From the moment I learned Jodi was pregnant I was plotting a way to be able to shoot her maternity pictures– and then I learned of Jenna’s wedding in October. Perfect. I was able to to knock out my brother’s senior pictures (coming soon), attend (and sneak in a few shots at) Jenna’s wedding AND do Jodi’s maternity session.

Jodi’s belly was just blossoming and the leaves were just turning. I couldn’t have asked for a better setting to photograph a more in love couple.

I’m pretty sure we were illegally trespassing on private property for the next 5 pictures with the yellow leaves. So worth it.

And then more trespassing at a pumpkin patch that we found while hiking to shoot with the red-leafed trees you’ll see further down. Jodi and Cory just ooze love and happiness AND they’re naturals in front of the camera. Not that I can really pick favorites- but I do really love these two.

The interaction and smiles in the next two really get me as well

A beautiful, glowing, happy mommy-to-be. Sweet or what?

I’d say “beautiful” again, but I don’t want to be repetitive.. so I’ll say “gorgeous”.

These two make me giggle. I hope they make you giggle too. Cory got plenty of practice catching- lets hope he gets to “catch” the real thing VERY soon.

Again, not that I can pick favorites..but I do love this one an awful lot as well.

Note to Lilah: Please be kind to your mommy and I-and don’t arrive too late. You already have your first photo shoot scheduled and it just won’t be acceptable for you to miss it. Thanks.

Boy oh boy. Just when I think I am getting caught up- I schedule myself into a pit of 6 sessions in 3 days. What goes first? This blog. In an effort to get caught up, I am FINALLY posting these images of Heather and Jerry. We had their session planned for months- emailing back and forth constantly and even forming a friendship (not that my sparse communication is even worthy of being called that) and bonding over a trip to the local farmer’s market and my favorite antique stores.

We started in my (now old) neighborhood at a REALLY old apartment complex.

And then stepped across the street to my FAVORITE park. Ever. Ever ever. Heather’s expression in this one make me so happy.. I can relate to having felt that way before.

Oh! I heart the colors in these two. all the green and then the pop of purple from Heather’s dress. For the longest time I though Florida was the ugliest place in the world for taking pictures because of the palm trees. Palm trees (unless on a fancy schmancy resort) are really quite shaggy things with browning fronds-that give me a really bad taste in my mouth. But then I discovered how beautifully spanish moss photographs–and it makes me happy.

And then there’s the majestic Southern live oak trees… almost forgot about those. This specific tree is estimated to be around 250 years old– and may be the single oldest living thing in Jacksonville, predating the founding of the city by Isaiah Hart during the 1820s (how do you like that history lesson?). That left image is hanging large and in charge in their home.

Though this one, personally, is my favorite. The octopus-like branches of the Quercus virginiana make me swoon.

Beautiful. Heather sporting my vintage headpiece–scored at an antique store in Yoder, Kansas. The shallow DOF with the trees just brings me to my knees.

I absolutely LOVE when clients (I mean new friends..) come to me with ideas to make their sessions unique. Heather and I share a love of all things old and I was MORE THAN happy to help incorporate some of her favorite pieces into the shoot. When scouting out this location the week before, the grass was long and flowing. We arrived to it having been cut short. We made it work.

Heather, you rock. That is all.

A picnic with romantic pictures, anyone?

LOVE!

Or how about a picnic with a record player streaming love ballads? Note to self- find boyfriend who won’t think I am crazy for wanting to have a picnic in the woods while wearing my prettiest dress.

Heather and I spent way too much time and energy trying to find tan suspenders. It was worth it.

Saving more of my favorites for last. These are the last images from our shoot.

Can’t you feel the love? I can.

It warms my heart. Thank you for sharing your evening with me, Heather and Jerry, and letting me witness your beautiful relationship.

The last time I saw Caroline was back in March, while Natalie was still preggers with sweet Georgia. You may have recently seen Caroline when I posted her  costume here on Halloween (she was the cutest peacock ever). It seems like every time Natalie is in town visiting her parents I get the chance to photograph them- and I couldn’t be happier about it. I just love their whole family to pieces!

Caroline has grown so much since March.

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A couple of outtakes- happy happy

The glory of being 2. I love action shots like these and capturing the essence of childhood.

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CHUBBY WITTLE CHEEKS- I could just eat her up!

can we say “doll-face”?

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I have SO many great expressions from Georgia. By the time these were taken, it was actually DARK outside. I cranked up my ISO, opened up my aperture and slowed the shutter speed as much as I could (while not blurring her movements). She makes my heart palpate.

Thank you, as always, Nat for being so open to different ideas (pulling off the side of a road in rush hour traffic) every time we get together. I find myself waiting to hear you are back in Jacksonville just so that I can be in your lovely company and hear your sweet love stories and relationship advice.

Just had to share cutie Caroline from my session with her earlier this month. She flew to me all the way from Tennessee and I just had to get a few of her in her peacock costume.

Hope your day is filled with happiness and yummy treats! More posts coming soon.