{'Why can't I have a brother?'}

Oh what a fun and busy time of the year!  This is my absolute favorite time of the year - have I mentioned that before {wink}?  I just love the anticipation before Halloween and then the upcoming holidays and festivities that go along with Fall and early Winter.  Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time.  I love pumpkin patches as much as my kids do, I love running through hay and corn mazes with my kids giggling the whole way, I love baking breads (eggnog and pumpkin bread are my favorites to make), and I love the smell in the air and the changing colors of the leaves.  I just wish we lived closer to a pumpkin patch - it would be so fun to do a session there (and of course buy several pumpkins).  Maybe someday....but for now I'll take advantage of local areas.   Now who are these adorable kids pictured below?!  They are some of my favorite kids!  I met them over a year ago and every time I see them (which isn't that often since our kids go to different schools) I just want to bring them home with me.  My kids love them too.  Tyler said he wished Thomas was his brother - then he followed that statement with 'Why can't I have a brother, can you and daddy give me a brother?'  Jeff and I just looked at each other wide eyed and tried to explain that God gave him a little sister.  I don't know how comforted he was hearing that but he seemed to be content with our answer.  Kids are so funny...  Anyway, I was so excited to photograph these cuties again.  Here's  a little peek into our session.

Above 'Kara Colour', below 'Faded Yesterday' slightly tweaked. All the rest below edited in 'Kara Colour'. :)

{Cute-ness}

Yes, I'm sooooo behind in my blogging and sneak peeks.  I have so many updates but not enough time this time of the year to post them all.  I'll try though ;-)  Last  week I had a session with these two adorable girls.  They were so cute together - making each other laugh and just being silly (my favorite!).  Anyway, after talking to these girls I learned that I need to take my kids to Disney World - Anna told me all about it!  I'm now determined to take my kids after hearing about all the exciting things Anna and her younger sister Kate did at Disney World.  Anna agreed that I should take my kids and that they would love it ;-)  So cute - I love just listening to her excitement.    Here's a little peak at Anna & Kate's session.

'Warm Vintage' below and 'Deep B&W' above.

{Classic Beauty}

I feel so lucky to have this job!  My clients are so amazing and I have a blast during each and every session.  Some sessions make me laugh, some make me think and some turn me into a kid again (okay they all turn me into a kid again).   I love it!  And this past week photographing Amelia confirmed these feelings.  She was an amazing little subject to photograph -she was willing to wear anything I suggested and had fun doing it... a photographers dream.  Anyway, she really got into the session and even wanted to see how some of the shots turned out - I happily showed her and each time she smiled with approval.  So cute - I loved it.  I enjoyed every minute of this session with Amelia.  This little girl had a classic, elegant features that again called for a vintage look in some of her images.   So like Carter's session, I couldn't decide on one processing for all of Amelia's session images, so I went with several processing techniques - all home-brews. :) 

Below - 'vintage fade'

'Slight vintage B&W'

Another 'vintage fade'

Same image in 'Kara Colour'

'Slight Vintage' with a hand done border and overlay. I love this image - Amelia did the posing herself, she just did it so I took her picture.  What a cutie!  I loved her energy. :)

'Very Vintage' below with a touch of 'fade'.

'Kara Colour' below and in the last image.

'Slight Vintage' below

{Vintage Childhood}

This past week I photographed a little girl named Carter.   Even after the long car ride from North Carolina she was sweet natured and happy as ever.  She was so fun to talk to, her vocabulary was impressive and beyond her years.  I was amazed with her chattiness, fun spirit and soulful expressions.   Her beautiful curls, red heart shaped lips, and creamy skin were so classic that it screamed for a little vintage processing.  I actually thought her images fit so many different processing styles - Kara Colour, Very Vintage, Faded Yesterday, and the list goes on.  I couldn't decided so I did a variety of processing techniques, seen below all my own little home-brewed actions.  Here's just a little peek at our session.  Thanks for stopping by :) 

'Kara Colour' above, and 'Vintage Mocha' below.

Faded Yesterday - below...

This is one of Carters expressions - I call it the 'Oh No' face - so cute!  I couldn't resist showing it.  Her eyes and lips are amazing.  Note:  I didn't touch her lips when it came to editing - they are naturally a perfect pink/red shade.  Her mom said they used to be even more vibrant - lucky girl.  And her eyes are a gorgeous blue/green shade.  You can see the flecks of green in them in my close-ups. 

'Faded Yesterday with a touch of auburn' below.

'Very vintage' above and 'very vintage with a hand done border and overlay' below.

'Worn Vintage' below.

Side Note:  I've received a lot of e-mails asking if I am selling my actions, mentoring or offering workshops.  At this time I'm not able to do any of these. :(  I hope to mentor (if time allows) next year.   And I have a list of those interested already.  At this time, I'm not selling my actions.  In 2009 I may offer borders, card templates and select actions, but that too depends on finding time to dedicate to this.  Thanks so much for your inquires - I really appreciate them and I'm sorry I haven't been able to get back to so many of you about this.  As you know, this is a crazy time of the year and just finding time for sleep is a bonus right now.  You guys are the best!! Thanks again!!!

{Urban Family Fun}

Oh how Daniel has grown!  I photographed this little cutie last year when he wasn't even walking and now he runs so fast I was huffing and puffing trying to keep up with him.  He and his parents were so fun to photograph.  They were up for anything so it was really fun.  Daniel at one point found a little old, warn broom (random, I know) and suddenly got serious about sweeping the alley way.  So funny... I eventually hid the broom since he was determined to have the pavement spotless. I should have him over to my house...I could really use his help ;-) 

Anyway, here's a little peek at our session.  I did some fun process play on a few of the images below.  Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek. :)

{the princess & the lizard, a heart-felt devotion}

I'm a little bummed tonight...several of my sessions have been post-poned due to this rainy weather.  I love the rain, but when it interferes with this crazy time of the year it makes things a bit of a challenge.  I want my sessions to turn out the best they can and rain is not going to make for a great session.  Anyway, I'm excited for my upcoming sessions and trying my hardest to find spots for make-ups.  For those of you who have been post-poned thanks for hanging in there and being patient. :)

So my little girl has a strong adoration for animals, insects, lizards, pretty much anything living.  I've never seen anything like it - well actually maybe once.  She and my client Elizabeth share the same deep affection for lizards- remember her?  She so reminded me of how Brielle will be a few years from now.  Anyway, Brielle talks about her lizards every day, she'll  dance around in her Cinderella dress and stop to gently catch a lizard and giggle with excitement prancing around holding and singing to it.  We have 2 or more that live on our screen porch and she talks incessantly about them (they are all named Briella too, a little confusing to me, but I just go with it).  Every day on the playground at school Brielle is on the look out for ladybugs, lizards and frogs.  And she pleads with tears running down her cheeks to keep them, 'but they like me, they want to be with me, I love them'.  It honestly tugs at my heart and I give in and let her take the lizards home to our screen porch.  Today we found a few on the playground and when I suggested she leave him there so she can see him tomorrow the tears began to flow and she ran away to the corner of the playground.  Her affection for these little green guys is so strong that I get sucked in.  I know, I'm weak....but you have to see her - it's painful and heartbreaking.  Since I didn't have a container today to transport the lizard in, she assured me she'd hold the lizard in her hand in the car all the way home - I knew she would - she's so careful with them. She even carried him on our walk (she sat in the stroller and sang 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and talked to the lizard) and of course she wanted to share her 'pet' with the next door neighbors - Ben, Pat and Kristin.  Needless to say, we have more lizards on our screen porch now. 

She also loves grasshoppers and hand feeds them flowers - which they eat, at least they do for her.  It's amazing to see their little mouths munch on the pedals as Brielle softly talks to them and encourages them.  There's no way I can tell her not to touch them when she has this strong connection with little creatures.  I just hope she never picks up a snake - I've warned her about them since there are cottonmouths and rattlers here.  Anyway, I couldn't resist posting these pictures I snapped of Briella holding and singing to one of the lizards she found moments earlier.  Notice the Cinderella dress, she strips her clothes off the moment she gets home and puts on one of her many dress-up dresses or tutu's.  This day was no different. ;-) 

{A beauty and her adorable younger brother}

Oh look at this little guy's curls!  I love them!  And his older sister Curry is such a wonderful 'big sister'.  She was so patient with Drew (2 years old) and tried to help him when he was nervous about the big tractor (not shown in these images) that he was certain was going to drive off ;-).  She was so willing to help him and encourage him - I was impressed and in awe over their relationship.    Curry was amazing to photograph - she's just the perfect model.  And Drew had me giggling at his serious looks (clever little poker face) and the way he would just lean on the steering wheel of his tractor looking so unimpressed at the girl with the lens in his face ;).  Truly all boy!  I had a great time photographing these two- it was dark by the time we left our location.

Here's a little preview of our session! 

{FaithWorks4You ~ Designer Spotlight}

I'm so excited about these new designs that Faith has been working on!!   When she asked me to photograph this new design I was ecstatic - I L*O*V*E vintage designs so I nearly jumped out of my seat when I saw these!!  The design pictured below was inspired from a 1960's pattern and I couldn't resist pairing it with a pair of white go-go boots.  Brielle felt pretty  sassy in them too - as you can see, she started dancing when I was asking her to be still.  Always the opposite with these little ones. . .

This dress is black twill with a white cotton collar and front trim, a back zipper and two big buttons (you can request other button colors).  Once Faith has your child's measurements (from shoulder to hem) it takes her about two days to make it.  Wow, that's fast!   I'm loving all of her vintage early 1960's styles.  I want one of each for Brielle... {shrug...wink}.  This style is exactly what I have been looking for so I'm crazy excited about her newest designs.  Faith is soon to be even busier - not that she isn't already a very busy lady.  I'm thrilled to feature FaithWorks4You again on my blog!

{Designer Spotlight - Kait Emerson Designs & NuxieMade Hats}

How fun to do a collaboration with 2 designers!  I was excited when Nux, the amazing designer of most all of the hats I use during my sessions,  contacted me about doing a collaboration with the fabulous Huntington Beach designer - Feanna Otta of Kait Emerson Designs.  How fun is that?!   They worked together to make sure their designs complimented one another and came up with the great 'Fall' fashions below.  I love the Autumn colors - did I tell you 'Fall' is my favorite season {wink}.    Anyway, they even included items for boys.  Nux is working on some more fun hat designs and I can't wait to see them - as you know, I'm a hat freak - love them, can't get enough of them!    Anyway, I was thrilled they asked me to photograph their designs!  Check them out at Nuximade & Kait Emerson Designs  ;-)  

{Lost in his eyes...}

Look at this handsome little guy!  I get so excited to meeting my clients and this was no exception, Mason, is one of the most laid back, relaxed little guys and was an absolute treat to photograph.  Again, I was taken-a-back by another client with stunning eyes.  As I was editing these, I found myself just stopping to look at his beautiful eyes and perfect little round cheeks, sigh... And of course it made me want to have a 3rd baby....but I don't think that will happen so I'll just have to get my fix in when I photograph these little cuties.  Anyway, I had so much fun meeting Mason and his parents and photographing this handsome little man.  Here's a little peak into our session.  I added some texture and some of my own 'Kara Actions' to a few of these images.