Jenna and Brody (and Jenna’s mom) drove up from Pine Prairie for their engagement session last Friday.  That’s a long drive, and I even think Jenna went to Lafayette that morning for a salon appointment.  We had a long session around town and even drove up to Columbia and back again to finish up.  As I pulled into my driveway after sundown,  I was thinking- “Man I am tired!”  How shallow right? Since- I had a 5 minute drive home.  That was nothing compared to these guys!    I hope they feel the trip was worth it- and I have been super excited about Jenna’s bridal which are later this month.  Can not wait!

I had been talking to Megan’s mom for months and it yesterday it was FINALLY time for her senior session.  I go into each Senior session with high expectations of delivering great images- and honestly, a lot of that does depend on the girl.    Megan blew me away!  Really, she was incredible.   I also really liked that she came with just a few versatile clothing choices.  I normally suggest that girls bring “their closet”  but this was really fun – we mixed and matched and layered and came up with lots of different outfits.   I really had a great time with Megan and her mom sloshing though the mud and Megan crawled into a few questionable places, walked out into freezing water and laid on her back and stomach on the wet ground-  she was up for anything and I hope she feels it paid off her!

Here’s Megan-

Why don’t I own a pair of mudboots?  It seems like I would have figured that out a few years ago??   Here’s mom and I after sloshing around in our first bit of mud…

Sunday was a gorgeous day and a perfect day for family pictures!  I am not sure Wendy and Matt’s little girl agreed with that.  I’m also sure Wendy and Matt thought I was crazy when I lead them into a field that should have required mud boots or a 4 wheel drive to get around.  I even thought I was crazy after sloshing around in the mud.   I ended up taking them out to a different, much dryer, spot and got really sweet photos with dark green moss.

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You can click the View with Piclens to sort scroll through them.. but I just can’t  help posting that last one in large form.  It just makes me happy-  you have to love kids and how a smile can make your heart just melt.

I think it would be safe to say that Nate, along with his siblings, hase the creamitest complexion of any child in the state.  I may be wrong here, but I willstand by that until someone proves me wrong!   With such a soft complexion, I had in my mind a few images with soft muted colors almost matching his yummy skintone.  Of course, Nate is beautiful, but I love the tones and soft colors contrast with his blue hat and striking blue eyes. It helps them  pop off the image.

Now- if I could have talked  Tamarra into having some pictures made of her, I think I would have gotten tons of shots.  I feel like I have sort of let her down, coming away with a handful of images of her boy.  Admittedly, these pictures were tough for little Nate.  It was a last minute impromtu photo session that he didn’t give his consent for,  he didn’t really care to be sat down (ie: Nate really loves his mom and thinks her arms are pretty comfy) and in the end it never helps if you came away with a bruised forehead.    I faired a bit better than Nate and managed to out manuever his rolling and came away with a few gorgeous images of incredible blue eyes and those nice soft colors I wanted.    It also helps that Nate is baby perfection:  chubby, rosy cheeked and big blue eyes!

I was just looking back over my blog for the last year and I was really working last Feb.  That seems crazy to me, since 1. it’s really terrible looking outside  2.  it’s colder than normal  3. I haven’t seen the sun in, heck I lost count of how long 4. it’s really terrible looking outside!  Is this not the yuckiest winter ever?     I say “DOWN WITH THE GROUNDHOG”  and phooey on 6 more weeks of winter-  I am ready to see some spring around here!  

But I suppose the winter rain is good for staying indoors and I had all my babies home sick today, so why not force them into some pictures?  I have always been inspired by those gritty real life dark black and whites-  lately I have  happened upon some images from Haiti  as well as images from Chernobyl that really moved me.  The images were so emotionally bleak, but beautiful in their play with light and shadows.  I have really been thinking lately about what type of photography inspires me.   I love fun, funky avante guard work and I am often being inspired by other’s work.  In particular, there is a photographer that has always stood out in my mind as  excelling at having visual emotion in her images.  Her black and white images are dark, yet vibrant. While her subjects are children in very odd places, they are beautiful in their composition and with the light and shadows balancing each other  in perfect proportion.  I love light- and I love, in particular, one window in my house that lets in the most gorgeous light filtered through sheer curtains-  that room never lets me down.  So today, with my babies home and me wanting to  play around with gritty black and whites, I went to that room and focused my attention on nice sidelighting and my babies’ beautiful, soulful eyes.  I did come away with dark, gritty black and whites, but also a renewed connection with my children.  I can’t help but look in their eyes and see so much deeper than just a picture, and that will always inspire me.   

I will never cease to be amazed by how fast babies grow!  In one year they change so much and it’s really amazing  how rapidly they go from tiny newborn to a walking toddler- all in the spand of 365 days that whizzes by in a blur of sleepless nights, diapers and sweet smiles.  While I have to say that I completely understand the biological need for a child to grow so quickly, both for it’s own survival and let’s face it- the parent’s sanity, just one year doesn’t seem like enough time to soak in every memory, does it?

Happy Birthday Gracie-  and Congrats Mom!  I hope Gracie’s first year was everything you had dreamed it would be-

Here’s sweet Gracie one year ago-

and here she is celebrating her very first birthday!

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Wasn’t sure how or where to put this, I could email my brides or post here.  I’ll go with that option- I am going to be working in New Orleans in April-  anyone interested in a doing an engagement shoot there?  It would be awesome to get several sessions while I am there!  May as well- and it’s only the coolest city in Louisiana.  Anyone game?

January seems to be a month that just whizzes by me.  I always consider it a month of playing catch up (on wedding albums, business) But this January was even more of a blur than normal!    I decided on January 5th that I would definately do the Cenla Bridal fair and I dove in head first, sink or swim style, to get ready for the show.  Four albums, brochure, business cards, network cards, 6 large prints, countless other print examples, frames, background walls, decor….no wonder we are tired!  If I had to choose sink or swim, I would say I “swim”  describes the outcome of that day.  Most of the swimming is owed to Sarah & Keri who did an awesome job!  Stu did a wonderful job with construction.   I was unbelievably blessed and surrounded by great people – so the day went off better than I had hoped.  Thank you guys!

I also had a nice break of two newborns this month!  Congrats Alisha & Mike - Keith & Courtney

One more thing-  I am rolling out a new site soon.  It’s gonna be a weddings only site.  All my portrait stuff will be moved here.  The only thing hindering my new site is trying to figure out a new way to proof portraits on the blog.  So if the new site is launched and you have a portrait session you need to order from, let me know and I’ll get instructions to you on how to see a use a new proofing system (one I get the kinks worked out of course!)

Keri and Matt got married on October 24th- which is over a month ago, I know!   I have 4 weddings in the last few months that I have also neglected to blog.   I did a Christmas card for Keri and just realized that I am totally crazy about her wedding!  It’s the type of wedding I would have myself and besides, these two are really great people.   Not only is she totally gorgeous,(and Matt could be a bit of eye candy himself), she has that type of friendly, bubbly personality that makes people want to get to know her.  Their wedding was laid back and fun, not too fussy and with a setting like Hill Country, her images turned out fantastically!   

Wild and crazy kids!  Three is chaos, I always say that . Sarah somehow manages to do what I strive for-  keep all her hair and never raise her voice!