Chris & Stephanie

I usually give my clients the option of structure or nature as their backdrop. Chris, a great friend of mine since college, decided nature would be the best for him and his sister to take photos in. Unfortunately they didn't realize just how much I would immerse them in nature, and Stephanie showed up in some super cute and sparkly silver heels. Thankfully she's an outdoorsy girl at heart so she hung in there while I walked them across a shallow creek and past thorns to get some wonderful photos that will hopefully move their mother to tears on Christmas day.

Gone country

My sister, her husband, and her son are in the process of selling their home in the suburbs and moving to the country. We had a little get-together on her in-law's land where they will be building a house next year, and while I was there, I put my camera to use for fifteen minutes worth of family photos my nephew was finally able to cooperate for. My brother-in-law was actually the least cooperative of the trio. Nothing new. The first time I took photos of him for their engagement, I tried to make it as quick and painless as possible at his request. He certainly appreciated it, and since then I've always worked quickly with my clients doing my best not to make them work too hard just in case there are others out there like the brother-in-law.








It's pretty evident that country life will suit my nephew just fine.

Lora

My first photo session with Lora took place in her parents' living room on a huge ottoman about 2 weeks after she was born. She was tiny enough that we put her inside a stocking for her birth announcement/Christmas card photo. Ever since then, one of the reasons I look forward to this time of year is because I get to take new photos for her family's Christmas card. This year, was by far the most enjoyable because I finally got to take more photos of her with her parents. Amie and Toby were my second clients when I started taking photos in college. I really didn't know what I was doing then, but Amie was my sister's best friend from high school and her roommate in college so they saw the photos I took for my sister and her husband and the rest is history. Hopefully when Lora is 18, I'll still be her Christmas card photographer, or at least get the opportunity for senior photos.

J'Lee turned 1!

When I took J'Lee's photos for the first time when she was 8 months, I thought she couldn't be any more beautiful...until we took photos to celebrate her first birthday! Her personality has come out in full force in just a few short months, and I found myself being so caught up in enjoying her that I probably missed alot of great photo opportunities. There's something about this little girl that makes my heart swell and then melt every time I see her! This time she almost broke my heart when I (gently) removed a used cigarette butt from her hand and saw that bottom lip of hers start quivering as you will see below.

Be prepared for involuntary smiling and sighing as you scroll through...

The Swindles

Of all the photo shoots I've had, families are the fewest I've had the pleasure of working with, especially ones with toddlers and babies. I tend to take the laid back approach when working with little ones and just take what I can get, but when there are two more people added into the mix, I just never know how will turn out. Somehow it always goes well despite my worry as I'm driving to meet them. Stella turned one a few days after our photo shoot, so as planned, her parents put these photos on a slide show for the rest of their family to enjoy during her party. From what I was told the following week, they were a big hit, and I should hopefully have an annual session with the three of them - or possibly more as their family grows - and I can't wait!!

J'Lee

Over a month ago, I spent a little bit of time with J'Lee on the Hardin-Simmons campus so we could take some photos of her at 8 months after her mom and I finished a day of work. I don't know why I'm just now getting these on here, but that's how it goes with me sometimes. Without further delay, enjoy this beautiful little girl...













Don't worry, this won't be the last you'll see of her. We already have plans for her 1-year photos in a few months. I can't wait!!!!!!!

Networking

I got a call on Friday from my friend/insurance agent. I immediately thought something was wrong with my insurance, but then I was hopeful that the call was going to be a request to take another round of photos of his daughter. I was doubly wrong. He called to tell me he's been developing a networking group in the city he works in which happens to be the city I used to live in, and he thought it would be a great opportunity for me to expand my business. He and his wife are fans of my work, and they always throw my name out for friends and family which I thoroughly appreciate. His business card even has a photo I took of his daughter so every person he comes in contact with gets to see my work...not too shabby!

Now at this networking meeting there's lots of card-swapping between real estate agents, insurance agents, and other self-employed/independent agents. Only problem is, I don't actually have business cards. So for the past couple of hours I created these to have printed up hopefully before the first meeting:

Olivia!

My dear friend Leslie's lovely little girl turned ONE last week!!! Her mom wanted some new photos taken of her so I did my best to be accommodating. The one draw back to photographing a baby that can crawl is well, they crawl and don't stay put long. So I do what I figure is the best thing. I just sit there with my camera attached to my eyeball waiting for the right moment no matter how long it takes. Here's a few from our little photo shoot. Excuse the extreme brightness. After days of rain and yuck, the sun was in full force that afternoon!




No matter what though, I always seem to enjoy the photos the most where I'm just sitting in the room with a little one capturing all the expressions and moments. These are my absolute favorites, and they're so cute, my heart hurts a little every time I look at them...in a good way of course!

Oh goodness!

I felt the urge to make a new blog that I will probably be updating far more than this one because this only gets updated when I have clients. I'm sure one of these days it'll pick up as more and more people are blown away with my mad skills, but in the meantime I'll be telling all sorts of stories you probably don't care to read about here -

Inside Looking Out

It's still under construction, but if you aren't sure how to make your Friday go faster, it should hopefully help you fill a few minutes.

Marcus, Kelley, and Kamryn

Only four days before Kamryn graced the world with her presence, I had the extreme pleasure of taking maternity photos for her parents Marcus and Kelley. Here are a few from that day...







If you want to see even more visit my flickr page - www.flickr.com/photos/sharaj