Baby Patrick {Family Fun}

Let's continue right where we left off.  Sweet baby Patrick is home with the coolest big brother and sister that love to laugh, cuddle and help in any way they can. It's so fun to see how the image series turn out when kids are just their silly selves. They will never, ever be this little again and seeing them with their new baby brother is just short of heaven. In addition to Patrick's newborn session, it was important to me to capture what this time in life looks like for the whole family. 

There's just something about the way they look at their new little baby brother that is so full of awe, curiosity and promise. Oh, the adventures, fights, tattles, lessons and a lifetime of firsts these three will have together.

And now, possibly my favorite nursery of A-L-L time! Harry Potter fans everywhere are smiling a cheesy full-teeth grin right along with me in seeing all the fun hand crafted little details in Patrick's room. I think I may need that "...up to no good" artwork in my office ;) And to top it all off, Hedwig hangs out right there in Patrick's crib to keep an eye on things.

Up next are some very special images for Connor and Paige. We had tons of fun hanging out in their rooms and playing with their favorite toys. Sometimes my favorite thing to do is to just sit back and watch the imagination at work. A simple car or airplane becomes a full scale rescue or invasion. Unicorns can fly for days to reach the party that Princess Poppy is throwing.
Everyday, a new adventure.

Paige was so happy to show me her big girl room with all her new books and desk. She even settled in and shared a story with me. She loves to learn but also knows how to have F-U-N!!! With her leading the way for her younger brothers, there is no doubt in my mind these kids are going places!

Baby Patrick {Sneak Peek}

Meet sweet Patrick. He's a snuggly bundle of joy and has just come home to two of the most amazing parents in the world! I can't even put into simple words how incredibly blessed I am to know and to have worked with Ryan and Caitlin since his big sister Paige was a newborn. I have also enjoyed loving on, photographing and snuggling with his big brother, Connor as well. 

My eyes may have watered just a bit seeing their images large in canvas on the walls. So for me, as much as for them, it was such a very, vey special session.  One that I will A-L-W-A-Y-S cherish!

Seeing how much Paige and Conner have grown and taking some time to be a little silly while Patrick was getting ready for his pictures was such a highlight for me. Their little personalities and giggles made my heart so full.

Patrick did wonderful with his session. Full and happy he slept through the first half but most definitely favored keeping his gator blanket close. But once his little eyes opened, he was wide awake and didn't want to miss any part of the rest of the fun. Ahhh, those BIG baby blues will just melt your heart!!!

I can't wait to share more images later this week with some fun we had with Paige and Connor in their rooms with their favorite toys. And I am still geeking out over Patrick's Harry Potter nursery, there may be some HP Marathons in our future! Caitlin and Ryan, thank you so very much for inviting me to be part of such a wonderful time for your family! xoxo

The Peterson Family

I have had the pleasure of watching these precious girls grow over the past five years! I absolutely treasure my time spent with each and ever student at First Baptist Academy and this family is just one of the many reasons why :) Their sweet momma is the picture of grace and I loved seeing them all have fun together and being silly with Dad... hugs, kisses and piggy back rides by the river- it doesn't get much better than that! 

xoxo!

Pay it Forward: 
We are so thankful to be partnered with TeamUp Foundation and their efforts to support other non-profits, organizations and youth programs. A new Free App from former EA Sports/ Madden Football designer, Mark Mongie is launching this October that is sharing a % of their in-app purchases and advertising with their participating affiliates. Please join us in the #iplaytogive campaign and click the here or the image below to sign up.

The Holliman Family {Big Brother Hunter}

There's a lot of things I love most about Florida... Disney, the sunshine and beautiful beaches are definitely near the top of the list, but it's reconnecting with family, friends and lifelong clients that fill my heart! I was soooooo overjoyed when Stacie shared the news that they were expecting baby #2 and that it would mean a new little brother for Hunter!!!

Stacie, Chris and Hunter all share my love for the beach so of course sunset at their favorite spot was the plan- complete with playing with some bubbles for Hunter at the end of the session, here's a sneak peek of some of our favorites :)

Pay it Forward: 
We are so thankful to be partnered with TeamUp Foundation and their efforts to support other non-profits, organizations and youth programs. A new Free App from former EA Sports/ Madden Football designer, Mark Mongie is launching this October that is sharing a % of their in-app purchases and advertising with their participating affiliates. Please join us in the #iplaytogive campaign and click the link to sign up below. 

Mersberger Wedding

I definitely have to preface this post with I think what many will find obvious- I absolutely adore this couple, their family and everything they stand for. This no doubt is a super-deluxe edition of wedding posts but I just had to share all the emotion, details, love and excitement that this family had. I hope you enjoy and please join me in congratulating the newlyweds!!!

I could not have imagined a more perfect day or setting for Caroline and Nathan to exchange their vows. Spending the afternoon watching these two send notes and gifts to each other amidst the preparations spoke volumes of the thoughtfulness and communication that these two already had for one another. Planning a wedding has so many details- flowers, cake, dresses, guest lists, menus, invitations, etc. To see that they took the time to remember the special little things and sweet love notes- not only for themselves but for their parents as well, was so encouraging.

Pair that with the lifelong friends and family that were by their sides, this definitely was a day celebrating a love that has grown and flourished for many years. I am so excited to share the images of their beautiful day- the details and fun little touches that put their personal touch on each and every part of the wedding. From the whimsical socks to the heirloom handkerchief used to wrap Caroline's bouquet, everything worked together to reflect these two and their family and friends who are so dear.

There's certain special moments of the wedding day that over the years I have learned are so very precious. While I love the details and documenting the preparations of the day- there is something so special in the gaze of the mother's and grandmothers as they look on as the bride gets ready. The small tears in a fathers eye- whether of the bride or groom. There is no doubt they see that little boy or little girl they taught to take their first wobbly steps or to ride a bike. That they are such a ball of emotion brimming with pride and also knowing that their son or daughter is embarking on the first steps of building their own family. It's absolutely priceless and as a mother myself, I have grown to appreciate it more and more with each family I am blessed to work with.

I love how Caroline chose to surprise her Dad with a special first look for just them two before the ceremony began. So incredibly sweet.

Following the ceremony and formals we marched right on into the reception where the big party was kicked off in style! The wedding party entered dancing their own unique stye and set the stage for Nathan to twirl Caroline right onto the dance floor for their first dance as Mr. and Mrs. That set the stage for the rest of the evening, partying and dancing late into the night with toasts from Dad and longtime friends until finally it was time to go out with a bang...and sparklers!

Wedding Vendors: 
Venue: The Wheeler House
Flowers: Funky Mountain Flowers and Gifts
Photographer: Kathryn Brown
Videographer: JMcLane Productions
Catering: Talk of the Town
Hair & Makeup: Level Spa Salon- Rian Bradford, Allison Strub & Caroline Mersberger
Cake:Lush Cakery
DJ: The TC Show

Pay it Forward: 
We are so thankful to be partnered with TeamUp Foundation and their efforts to support other non-profits, organizations and youth programs. A new Free App from former EA Sports/ Madden Football designer, Mark Mongie is launching this October that is sharing a % of their in-app purchases and advertising with their participating affiliates. Please join us in the #iplaytogive campaign and click the link to sign up below. 

Mersberger Wedding {Sneak Peek}

I am just so darn excited over sharing the sneak peek of Nathan and Caroline's beautiful wedding at The Wheeler House!!

I could really just go on and on about this amazing couple and their families- LOVE them to no end! But I am going to do my best to keep it all in until the full blog post... trust me, it's worth the wait!

For now, here's some of the favorites of the day and more will definitely come soon- Happy Weekend!!!

Welcome Home Baby Emma!

Sometimes people come into your lives and you can clearly see God's hand at work! Kristy and her sweet family are just that. We met at Bunco a little over a year ago and both our daughters began Kindergarten this year- I think we both had watery eyes the day we took them to Kindergarten round up. She invited me to visit and speak about Photography to her MOP's group and we have so much in common- I just adore her :)

So, naturally I was ecstatic when she asked me to schedule newborn photos and not only to meet the newest little princess but to also get to spend some time with her again. It's so hard in certain season's in life to slow down and make time for the people outside your normal routine of family, school and practice. But life is too short not to! Slow down, schedule it... Really- make it happen, you won't regret it.

Our first day together poor little Emma just wasn't feeling up to being away from mommy's swaddling arms so I was very happy just to truly visit and catch up with Kristy. We enjoyed coffee and sharing family stories. I took some of my favorite images of her and Emma! We had a wonderful afternoon together and made a plan for the next morning.

And the next morning little miss Emma totally owned it! She slept through the entire session... and I mean slept... like a rock- through 3 outfit changes!!! I was so incredibly happy that we were able to do everything that Kristy had envisioned- even incorporating her wedding dress for a few of the images.

And, this purple romper! Oh, my gracious!!! The ruffles... the bows.... It was so delicate and fit her perfectly!

Mia kept checking in on us and watching her new little sister. I cannot say how much I totally love seeing older siblings with their new baby brother or sister. The joy in their eyes is so sincere. I truly believe that they are forever changed once they see and hold them for the first time. It may not be quite the same feeling as what mom and dad have, but there's definitely a transformation that takes place in their heart and it's beautiful.

I love the way the last few images turned out with Emma being passed around and absolutely loved-on and adored by her Daddy and big sis, Mia. There's so much love here and I am so thankful to be able to be there to share in it!

Kristy & Luis, thank you so very much for inviting me to be a part of Emma's Welcome Home and I know the Lord has BIG plans for her- His timing is perfect and so is she!!!


"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " - Jeremiah 29:11

Welcome Home {Baby Presley}

Today’s post is pretty special to me. Mindy and Ben are long time friends and we have a lot of fun history together. From double dates in high school to impromptu family vacations we are two couples that are kindred spirits in marrying our high school sweethearts. Our kids are also pretty close in age and get along extremely well. Though we live in different states now they do not miss a beat when they are able to see each other again.

I was over the moon excited when Mindy told me that they were expecting another baby because I had seen the way Avery and Gage looked at Farrah and knew that a little brother or sister had been on their Christmas list for quite some time. There is something so unique and special about having a wider than usual age gap between children and as a parent I can tell you that it’s wonderful to see that love in our older children’s eyes when they hold their newborn sibling for the first time. It's something that cannot be taught- only felt and like us as parents, their hearts grow a little and there's a new sense of protectiveness and responsibility. 

That was definitely a moment I was looking forward to seeing. Miss Presley decided to come a little early and thankfully I was passing through town and was able to swing by for a quick visit and we made plans to get back together for newborn portraits when I was in town again. 

Oh, there is nothing in the world like holding a newborn baby. It truly is almost indescribable in words but there is something that happens in your heart and somehow life makes a lot more sense, priorities are forever changed and deep imbedded instincts you never knew you possessed come to the surface. It is beautiful.

I couldn't wait to get back to see everyone and was so happy to see everyone again. Hudson was so sad to miss coming again because he loves teeny tiny babies so much. Mindy had just gotten Presley to sleep so the timing was perfect.

Of all my years of newborn sessions, Presley is the only one who slept nearly the whole entire time- she was such a delight. We kept it very simple and incorporated the sweetest blanket that had her name in beautiful pink script repeated over it's surface. So precious.

Aside from making sure we have a beautiful portrait my favorite images of every newborn session are the itsy bitsy details- their little ears, button nose, tiny hands and feet. Ahh, I can never get enough and they will never ever be that small again. I adore the details :)

Avery and Gage were right there nearby for the whole session, helping where they could and watching. When we finished with Presley's session she was still sound asleep and none of us wanted to disturb her. Avery laid down beside her and kissed her- our hearts melted and of course Gage was not going to miss out on any of this sibling bliss. The images with all of them together bring tears to my eyes. 

Ben and Mindy, congratulations on your newest addition. You beautiful family is such a blessing to ours and it was such a pleasure to be able to capture these moments for you all. Mindy, you are so beautiful! xoxo

Life with Boys: Kalch Family Adventure

There's something special that little boys introduce into our lives. Crazy, silly, smelly, weird and wild somehow become a way of life and as a mom you learn to love it. Though there are times that you pray some of that energy could take a break or better yet- be sent your way. As wives, we even see our husbands in a different light. Their silly antics and boyhood charm come through in shining colors when we see them interact with their son. We fall in love all over again!

To say that I was excited to see Stephanie, Brian and Mister Grayson again would be putting it mildly. I love them like family and wish we could see each other more, so I completely cherish the time that we do have together. Over the years we've learned to have a plan (somewhat) and that plan mostly consists of letting Grayson explore, be wild, silly and capture life as it is. This is pretty much the way I approach all my lifestyle sessions and I love the results that come from it.

To me, there's nothing better than capturing the spontaneous moments we cherish as parents. And I can say without a doubt that our session at Big Talbot Island was absolutely spot on for this wonderful family and their spontaneous little boy!

We ran, jumped, climbed and laughed with Grayson leading the way. Stopping only briefly when something slowed him down long enough to pause for a few pictures with Mom and Dad. It was a great adventure and so much fun seeing it through his eyes.

As parents, this time of awe and discovery can sometimes be so brief. More often than not, it's over way to soon and quicker than we realize. From the dirty toes in the sand, soggy jeans, a million laughs and heart stopping breathes in-between, I hope the memories of our day playing on the driftwood beaches lives forever in Stephanie, Brian and Grayson's minds. What a great day it was to be a good 'ole rough and tumble, wild and crazy, sand slinging adventurous little boy :)

Welcome Home Baby Ryleigh!

A few months ago our pastor shared a series entitled, Be Rich. With the underlining message being that there is so much more to life than wealth described only in monetary standards. It's true of many of our lives if we step back and look at our various blessings, despite the reality and challenges of life that we all face in one shape or another- we can certainly see the richness in our lives. Without a doubt, it is also a feeling that new mothers and fathers know so well but may not exactly be able to put into words. Months spent praying over and in preparation of this sweet, innocent little being who is completely dependent on them for each and every need. The weight and stress of such a responsibility is by no small statement- life changing.

And it is in these moments that new parents realize not only how truly blessed they are but also how strong they are together as a family.

I love watching the love and wonder in the eyes of new parents. Even through the sleepless nights and bewilderment over each and every cry, sigh or whimper- learning the foreign language of their newborn baby. Beginning mostly as a process of elimination of sounds and wiggles until they recognize each and every little coo. Then the peace that can overcome any stress when a sleeping baby snuggles in the folds of your arms. That is beautiful and never ceases to amaze me!

Little Ryleigh was wide eyed and so intrigued with everything around her when we started the session. We all enjoyed her love and little snuggles as she settled in to some of the most adorable wraps and headbands that her mom had for her. I will be honest and say that I would have been happy to hold her for hours, but she's only a teeny tiny newborn once so we did have a little work to do ;)

After lots of snacking, snuggles, walks and the experience rocking of her sweet grandma little Ryleigh was sound asleep. She is simply adorable and so is this precious little family of three!

I am so thankful to all the families that welcome me into their homes to capture this time in their lives. I always leave filled with joy and thankfulness for another sweet newborn welcomed home with so much love. It's inspiring and a cherish every moment!

At Home with Ellie

I can't think of many things more fun than chasing after a one year old- letting them lead the way and completely being present in those moments. Their smiles, laughs and discoveries fill your heart with so much joy it can brim over for days.

Little Miss Ellie is exactly that type of one year old. We played, chased and she even paused here and there to let me capture some of the sweetest images of her. There was absolutely no doubt who was in complete control of her session ;)

Over the years I have fallen in love shooting lifestyle sessions with newborns- in their home, their nurseries and those special moments with their parents and siblings. As far as sessions with older children, this is the first intentional toddler lifestyle session and I am so thankful that Heather shared my vision for simplicity and just letting Ellie be herself.

We started inside and let Ellie take the lead in playing and snuggling in with momma for a story. When she was finished with her books she led us into the living room and there we enjoyed playing with all her favorite toys before heading outside :)

Once her little feet hit the pavement of the driveway she was off and running and only stopped for a few brief moments before taking a wagon ride.

After all was said and done we had only two goals with Ellie's session: 1) Capture her in all her one year old glory and 2) If possible have at lease one image with her and that oh-so-cute bonnet. And I definitely think that we not only reached those goals but exceeded them exponentially. Elli's expression says it all in one of the last images we took from her wagon ride back to the house for some snacks. So much fun!

Ellie enjoyed her snack while momma and I visited and shared reflections on motherhood, temper tantrums and the many blessings, fears, worries and joys children bring. It's a whole new world and I am so thankful for getting to see it through the eyes of this little one year old- Happy One Year, Ellie!

Sneak Peek {Sweet Blakeley}

I know if I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times... I LOVE what I am soooo blessed to do! And that is even more true when I get to cuddle with precious brand new little babies!!! I think I am just one of those people who will always, ALWAYS love being around newborns. Ahhh, they are just so tiny and cute- and they smell so good!

Our own little Farrah was hugged and snuggled so much (and still is). Holding a newborn takes me back every time to when ours were that small. It makes my momma heart skip a beat! Each and every session it is such an honor to be able to preserve those tiny little details for another family. They are only so small for such an extremely short time and those moments need to be treasured.

Little Miss Blakeley is the first (and only) newborn in my entire 8 years of shooting that slept the entire session! Besides some repositioning and bow changes she barely made a peep and even when she did, she quickly returned to her sweet little dreaming.

Here are some of my favorites from the session:

Wow, she's a cutie and I really hope we will get to babysit soon! Hudson always gets on to me when I take pictures of the babies while he is at school. He loves them when they are teeny tiny too so I know he will be my first volunteer to help and would be a wonderful excuse to see this darling again :)

Ashley & Bryan, congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! And I know her big brothers are so excited to have her finally here!
xoxo!

Wow, It's been a while!

I can hardly believe how long it has been since I blogged- it's honestly embarrassing! I would be lying if I said I have not missed it. Not because what I have to say holds any significant value, but it's nice to have an outlet of creative expression and ultimately my heart is to encourage others. Alas, life just gets crazy sometimes and certain things have to be set aside to focus on the most precious and important things.

Writing is a huge outlet for me and one that I have forsaken over the past years to just keep my head above water with everything going on. I made myself a promise that this year I would get back into the swing of things. We are in such a good place with our family and the time is right to share many of the changes and life lessons that we have encountered over the years- I am so darn excited to even begin with this simple post!

Thank you all to our family and friends who have prayed for our family- who continue to support us in such a wonderful way and also to all my clients who kept me busy- we LOVE you!

Hudson will be 10 (TEN!) this year and our youngest will be turning one year old soon! I blinked and KK all of the sudden was in Pre-K and Noah sprang into such a sweet (almost) 8 year old! Adam's recovery continues to make extremely positive strides and I have found amazing peace in the balance of being a wife, mother and small business owner. Learning to embrace the seasons of life that God places us in and that it's ok to let go of the things that are weighing us down has been SO incredible. It may sound silly but I think I know what it feels like to finally "grow up"- to be confident and comfortable in my own skin ;)


xoxo and please stay tuned for so much more to come!

...and because all posts are better with a picture- here's one of my all time faves of our 4 kiddos :)

Welcome Baby Eryn

There are some things in life that make you slow down- make you step back from the busy day to day tasks, to-do lists, etc. Something life changing, something BIG but so small and fragile that you don't want to even blink!

The moment you cradle a newborn baby in your arms is one of those things. Wow, Just Wow! 

Every. Single. Time. 

My heart melts and I am completely in love with every tiny detail!

I was so incredibly overjoyed to be able to document these special moments with Stacy and Luke. They are not only wonderful friends and parents but two of the nicest people you could ever meet. I am honored to have been there to document their wedding vows, welcome their first son (big brother, Shelton!!!) and now his new baby sister, Eryn!

Shelton and I had sooooo much fun together and I was so happy to help him earn his yummy sucker! He was so loving with baby Eryn- such a great big brother!!! I can't wait to share those precious images of him loving on his new little sister :)

but for now, here's a sneak peek of a few more of my favorites from the session...

The series below has got to be one of my all time favorites- as a mom, simply timeless!

Welcome to the world, Eryn!!!!

Ponte Vedra Family Session

Can I just say, Wow! This is what life is truly all about- FAMILY :)

When Parker and I began planning this session I could hear the excitement in her voice! It's so special when grandparents, siblings, cousins and grandchildren can all be at the same place at the same time... and to have that documented with a fun photo session is just icing on the cake!

I have the absolute best memories growing up with my brother, sisters and cousins. As we grew and started our own families, we just became closer. I saw that immediately with Parker's family as well- so much LOVE! I especially enjoyed watching the kids play in the sand and ask for more and more pictures of them together with their cousins :)

And it's so easy to see how it became that way- with a wonderful Mom and Dad leading the way :)

I have to say, you all were such a sweet family and a blessing to work with! Thank you all for inviting me to be a part of this great time in your lives, I hope you enjoy the images and that they will forever be a treasure for all! xoxo :)

Welcome Baby Connor!

There's very little in life that compares to the pure joy a newborn baby brings- but being there to share and document the love of a growing family is definitely top of my list!

And.... to be there for each newborn homecoming is simply Ahhh-mazing!!! I can still remember the excitement when Caitlin emailed me that they were expecting baby #2- and now he's here!!!!

It is my pleasure to introduce baby Connor :)

He was such a little champ! He settled in and definitely communicated very clearly his sleeping and snuggling preferences. His features are so handsome and defined as a newborn- just like a little man already!

And, I hope you are ready for this cuteness!!! Connor's little monster nursery was so adorable!!!

I think we all squealed a little when Ryan brought out the little gator outfit- A true orange and blue fan from the beginning- GO GATORS!

I had loads of fun with big sis, Paige! While Connor took a couple of breaks we set up for her portraits with her new little brother. Miss Bertha looked on as Paige played and snacked on her Goldfish- oh, and I almost forgot to mention we enjoyed a quick spot of tea with Minnie and Mickie ;)

Connor and Paige did so well! We wrapped up the session with some lifestyle family portraits. I am just over the moon with how sweet the images turned out and is such a testimony to the beauty and simple pleasures of living life within each moment. They are only this little once- and there's sooooo much to cherish!

This last one if for all the Gator fans- this is 100% all Connor- no baby posing necessary ;)