I found this SUPER COOL program that makes these collages today on the internet.  I'm pretty sure it's safe.  I can't promise anything, but it came to me via recommendation from someone else.  So go forth and play!!!

(seriously, don't get mad at me if you spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME playing with this - I warned ya!)



 

Okay, lemme just say upfront, if you book a session with me you're very likely to do some things you don't normally do.  Climb over trees, climb on hay bales, and sit on logs while simultaneously ignoring big, fat ants ("just pretend they aren't there!  I'll hurry!").  You just really never know.  Heck, for that matter I never know - at least until I start barking orders to people.  :)  I have the best families and kids though.  They ALWAYS do it!  Sure, they might look at me like I'm a little "off", but that doesn't bother me.  I get it all the time.

Anyway, this is one of those families I (slightly) tortured.  I hope they think it was worth it though because I LOVE the light in these!!!







What you can't tell from this image is that while I was taking it, my son was standing off to the left holding this big tree branch out of the way.  So I'm snapping pictures while also yelling at him to PLEASE DO NOT LET GO OF THAT BRANCH OR YOU'RE DEAD MEAT!!!  Yes, I'm a fabulous mother.  WHATEVER!  lol

Anyway, thanks Ray family for being so great! 

These guys were lots of fun.  The boys LOVED making their little sister laugh and their dad was a total trooper carrying furniture all over the place.  That's what photographers need:  furniture movers.  Big guys who follow us around carrying stuff.  That would be GREAT!!!!

Anyway......on to the pictures!!









Their mom shared a very interesting technique for how to make bows stick to babies' heads, and I was practically molested by a GIANT dog.  But you know?  I LOVE all that stuff!!!  That's the fun part!!!

I have the best job in the world.  Thank you to everyone who supports me!  :)

Sometimes things just come together.  Someone's running late, props don't pan out like you wanted - whatever.  But all those things end up helping to create a PERFECT situation, where photos like these seem to magically happen:







LOVE these photos!!!  Plus, it doesn't hurt to have someone that cute to take pictures of!  I feel sorry for her dad because 6 or 7 years from now his life is going to be total hell (I'm picturing the swarms of boys beating down her door and calling at all hours of the night).  :)

These photos were taken in the last 30 minutes of the day before it got too dark to shoot.  That's the PERFECT time to take photos - along with the first hour the sun is up.  So when you book a shoot with me and wonder why I either want you to get up at the crack of dawn, or meet me after dinner - these photos are why.  AMAZING LIGHT.  AMAZING COLORS.  I love everything about it.  Okay, so I don't really love getting up at 6 am for a shoot, but the result is so worth it.  So don't think I'm crazy - just go with it!!  :)

I'm not anywhere near finished editing the photos from this shoot, but couldn't wait to post a few of my favorites.  These girls were so much fun!!!  And I loved their clothes.  We picked the perfect place for this shoot too.  I can't wait until their dad and grandma see these!!!





These girls had a full session too, so we had plenty of time to do clothing changes.  They brought super-cute Easter dresses and it made for a completely different look.  I LOVE these - they look like prairie girls. 



Mini-sessions are fun - but they're definitely more down and dirty than the full sessions.  I LOVE having all that extra time to play around: change clothes, find lots more locations, and get to know everyone better.

I think I have the best job in the world!!!!

The good thing about being a photographer with a child is that you always have someone to take photos of.  And they're easily bribed.  Nope!  I'm not above bribery.  So what of it?  :)

Anyway, have been working on my lighting techniques, as eventually I'd like to add studio portraits to my "offerings".  I definitely am not giving up outdoor, natural light portraits because I think they're so much more natural and dynamic than studio portraits.  But it would be great to be able to do both.  YAY!

So here's what I did yesterday:



I love this one.  Definitely my favorite "in studio" so far.



Yeah.  I don't have any idea.  He snuck this one in on me.  Too bad that dimple in his chin takes away from the little gangster thing he's working on here.  lol

I can't believe it's going to be in the 70's here this weekend!  I can't wait to get outside and enjoy it.  Spring cannot come soon enough for me.  :)

So I realized when I was writing the last post that I had never really shown Toby and Fred on the blog.  It's time for some introductions!

Meet Toby:



In case you're wondering - I have no idea what kind of dog he is.  He came from a shelter.  We adopted him when he was 10 months old and he had been in the shelter since he was 6 weeks old.  How sad is that?  He's the sweetest dog too.  My mom always says that he must have been waiting for us to come along, and I like to think she's right!

One day soon I'll show you what he looks like with a haircut.  Doesn't even look like the same dog.  It's crazy!!!

And this is Fred:



We adopted Fred from my friend Sarah.  As you can tell he's extremely fond of the camera and snuggling.  He also thinks that his tiny stuffed mouse is real and will walk around the house with it in his mouth meowing. 

Toby and Fred like to pretend they hate each other, but I think they secretly have parties and play games when we leave the house.  I catch them sharing toys and snuggling occasionally.  Which means Fred must immediately jump up and swat Toby in the face.  Please guys, we're on to you!

But anyway, those are my other boys.  And now you know the rest of the story (yep, a little nod to Paul Harvey - he will be missed!)

Alabama doesn't get much snow.  So I didn't really believe the weatherman when he claimed we'd get 2-3 inches.  And actually - he was wrong, I think we got closer to 4-5. 




This is our dog, Toby.  I don't think I've ever had him on the blog before.  He's not much for getting his picture taken.  Since he can't really SEE the camera under all that fur I'm not sure what his real issue is.  :)

Here's another picture of him to get the full effect of his "furriness"



Sadly enough, the snow was almost completely gone by 3 this afternoon.  Oh well!  It was fun while it lasted!!