Fall is here?

Well the temps are slightly lower. Still waiting for the big cold front. But at least the pumpkins are out (& so is the pumpkin spice latte)!

We went for a quick visit to the Arboretum after dropping off brother this morning.  There were several hundred school kiddos there as well.  But we got a few shots in.

Thankful to say, after looking at brother's shots from here 2 years ago,
my photography skills have improved, somewhat.  Still learning.  

Mama & Mini Me time

Little bit has been a bit under the weather, since we got back from our vacation.  Well, since before we came back.  But she's on the mend!  Can't let a little viral throat infection get us down.  Since she's been fever free for a couple days, we ventured out to a new park.  I wanted to scope it out because I'll be doing some family mini photo sessions there soon, for a church fundraiser.  

I had the perfect model, so why not?

love that face!

Vacation Time!

We did it! We survived enjoyed our 1st family vacation.  It was a blast.  Maybe not as relaxing as vacations in the past, but definitely worthwhile.  The kids had their 1st plane ride & did pretty well.  Georgia was a little restless, but overall they did great.  It was a pretty smooth travel day, really.  In & out of the airport in a couple hours, in the rental car for about 30 min & we were at the beach!  My family had been to Sandestin when we were kids & it was just as I remembered it.  The whitest, softest sand & the bluest, clearest water, for as far as the eye could see.  Several people we talked to said they've traveled all over & always come back to this beach because it's the prettiest they've ever seen.  The weather was perfect & since we waited until October to go, it wasn't too crowded.  Georgia was fearless.  Levi was a little more timid when it came time for the ocean.  He loved playing in the sand & meeting new friends every day.  Georgia loved strolling the beach & saying "HI!" to everyone who would look her way.  Which, was pretty much every person we passed. Who can resist a baby in a bikini.  We will definitely be going back here.  We had a whole week of fun in the sun & were sad to leave.  But so happy everyone had a nice time & are now looking forward to our next vacation.  Maybe the mountains this time?

See more photos here.

Weekend Happenings

It's been a bit of a whirlwind last few days!  Sweet Levi had his 1st trip to the ER.  Something I'd hoped we could postpone a while, but I guess it was inevitable.  He was playing at a friend's house, standing on an ottoman & fell back, hitting his head on a table.  I'm not gonna lie… there was blood.  Lots of it.  Thankfully we were with some good friends who totally helped us through the situation.  Georgia stayed there while I ran Levi up to the ER & met daddy.  He was walking around & wanting to play by the time we got there.  I think I was more shaken up than he was.  It took some cleaning up & one staple & we were done!  So grateful it wasn't worse.

He was running around enjoying his 1st soccer game the next day!

tiny patient

2 days after! amazing.

so happy! even in the cold!

This weekend was also the photography workshop I had been waiting for, for a few months now.  

It. Was. Awesome.  

It was inspiring being with so many creative women & entrepreneurs.  Not the least of which was Sue Bryce.  Her keynote speech was full of helpful tips on what has made her incredibly successful.  One of the most touching points for me, was hearing her say, not to worry about being the best out there.  There will always be someone better than you.  Just be the best you can be for your clients.  They're hiring you for a reason.  Capture those moments the best way you know how.  Improvement will come.  Don't worry about not being good enough.  Just do it.  

I needed to hear that.

Another amazing part of the day was listening to & meeting Kelle Hampton.

If you haven't read Bloom, I suggest you do.  If you haven't checked out her blog, I suggest you do. One of her strong messages was, don't try so hard to create the most perfect, most beautiful image.  Look for the beauty in the everyday, ordinary, mundane things.  In a photography world that likes props & staging the forced happy smiling faces, I liked this statement a lot.  Some of the most beautiful photographs are the ones where the subject doesn't even know you're taking their picture.  

It was a day filled with new information and instruction, lots of emotion, new people, and new goals. 

I'm excited about what the future holds.

Stay tuned!

Sweet Courtney

Courtney started with us in our baby group back when Levi & Henry were babies.  Her family moved to Keller, and then she had Owen, who is now 1 year old!  I had the awesome opportunity to see them again & take some photos for her.  Sweet Owen wasn't really in the mood for photos that day.  So big brother, Henry, stepped to the plate.  (Stay tuned for more of Owen in the near future!)

The Sepulvado's

I think I have the most handsome families to photograph!

I met up with my friend Pam's family this weekend & her two precious boys.  Pam & I used to work together in HP.  I remember when she was pregnant with her now 3rd grader & kindergarten cuties.  It was such a treat seeing them.  Thanks Pam!

Jenny's Boys

Jenny & I used to work together (and play together), back in the pre-husband & kids days.  She now has 2 boys, ages 2 & 1.  And runs her own speech therapy practice.  And just moved into a beautiful new home.  She's busy.  It was so good to catch up & have a chance to photograph her beautiful and energetic little boys!

Up, Up & Away

We ventured out to the Plano Balloon Festival this weekend, with friends, the Whaley's.  It was hot.  It was grassy,dusty & hot.  The boys had a blast though, so it was worth it.  There were all kinds of slides & things for the kids to go on.  It just wasn't quite what I expected I guess.  I imagined all the balloons, laying out for us to walk around & see up close.  In actuality, they didn't bring the balloons out until about 15 minutes before lift off.  But we had a good seat to watch them take off, and good friends to enjoy the afternoon with.