My baby boy and ramblings

This past week, I've enjoyed hours of time away from ... my computer, answering emails and being on the phone. I literally disappeared from anything media to just be with my family.

My fall season began with a bang and it was nonstop sessions. While I enjoyed each session, my heart was always pulled in all directions as I knew how bad my babies missed me. I would explain to them how taking pictures is my job...they just didn't get it. Each session I left for, they would tell me to just take one picture. This just broke my heart. I wrapped up loose ends with work and disappeared last week after delivering products two days before Christmas.

And just like last year, the busy birthday season in my family hit me like a ton of bricks. Christmas day is my husband's birthday and the day after is my son's.

While the timing is less than appealing, they are very important days. I committed myself to be sure that the holidays would never get in the way of celebrating. Then Wednesday night hit...all of a sudden, I realized how unprepared I was for the birthday celebrations. I literally think I had a panic attack. I had plans on Thursday that I bailed on and began baking like a mad woman with my girls. I cleaned the house, made my list for the birthdays and did all I could to be ready. And while I did try...I still have my husbands birthday party to do with just us 5. A few months ago, Camryn began saying she wanted to make TW an elk cake. I know....an elk cake...go figure! I just had to figure out how I was going to make it happen...and I have, but I'm keeping this a total surprise for him. Camryn rarely keeps surprises, and even she's kept this hush hush!

BUT I am happy to write, Easton had a great family birthday celebration with a pinata and all.

I spent his entire birthday remembering all the ups and downs we went through to discover we were expecting him and the day he arrived. I remembered how it truly broke my heart to ever hear him cry. I couldn't stand one second not fixing all his problems...from the moment he arrived. I remembered how peaceful he would sleep if he was just next to me.

Easton is truly my baby...my last baby. And my baby is growing up.

Here is a large glimpse from my session celebrating Easton's 2nd birthday.

I just love my little guys toothy grin. Even after he painted the toilet with my mascara (true story), this grin saved him.

Yep...this guy is my little devil.

Each one of my clients has had this chair in one of their sessions...at one point or another.

This chair is incredibly handy for toddlers...always perfect for keeping them still for a second...it was ultra special to use in Easton's session. My great grandfather made this chair for me and my siblings. It's part of a set that went with a little table we grew up playing on.




He loved the little candy tricks I kept using....needless to say, he had ONE belly full of candy by the end of his session.
And this...this...is what it feels like to be a photographer's child. By the end of the session, he kept walking to the car saying "bye bye". He was so done with me... Photographing my own kids is never an easy job...but it leaves me with fun memories.

{A quote from my favorite little boy book}

The simple playthings,

the everyday moments,

picking up that hundredth rock-

all of these are brimming with possibility...

if you slow down

and let the future begin

with the small moments of today.

Because everything depends

on letting a little boy...be a little boy.

Little boy, you remind me how so much depends on days made of now.

-allison mcghee & peter h reynolds-

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I'll be taking the next week off from any "official" work. But believe me, I have a long list of office jobs that need to be done. The kind of jobs that are incredibly boring. Paperwork is top on my list, but before that...I'll be tackling my website. For now, I have a few elements on my website that have been taken down. One of which is my session pricing...however, there will be no pricing changes for 2011, just better organization in the information sections. I literally went crosseyed when I'd look at what was up.

If you have any questions regarding a session, I am currently scheduling. Please feel free to email me any questions you may have.

As for changes in 2011, there will be one big change....session availability. I will be scheduling less sessions this spring and summer. If you're thinking of a session...no pressure, but please don't hesitate to call/email me to chat...I definitely don't want to turn sessions away but right now my heart needs to be with my family more.

Hugs to each of you and I hope all of you had a great Christmas.

And, blogland...I miss you. I really do. I definitely plan to pop in more often.

Harper's arrival |Gilbert Family Photographer

This past fall season has been busy full with mini sessions, full family sessions, extended family sessions, 5 newborn sessions and one scheduled birth session.

The one birth that made it onto my calendar was for a close friend. Photographing the arrival of her last baby was a shoot I had been dreaming of.

Scheduling a birth is a big commitment. It means allowing time on my calendar to be available...on call...and ready at a moments notice, to pick my camera up and head to the hospital. While my friend knew how busy I was and exhausted, we had many chats where she kept telling me she felt bad for me photographing her birth when I was just wrapping up my fall season. At one point, I told her I wouldn't miss her birth for anything in the world.

My girlfriend ended up going to the hospital for an induction. My mother came over to be available for me to leave when needed...hours passed and still no baby. Eventually my mother left after my husband came home. Hours still passed with my girlfriend's daughter in no hurry to arrive.

Then...just as I was giving my babies a bath my phone rang. I saw it was my girlfriend and I answered the phone with a question...."Is Harper ready to come out or is she getting forced out?" All I heard at that point was my girlfriend saying she was dialated to a 7 and it was going to happen fast. I grabbed my camera, kissed my babies goodbye and pretty much broke every street law while driving to the hospital. The entire drive there, my girlfriend's sister and I kept eachother updated on the status.

As I ran through the hospital finding the delivery room, I arrived...knocked on the door and found sweet baby Harper already in my girlfriend's arms. My girlfriend was in love. Her eyes filled with happy tears.

While I missed her arrival, I was there to capture all the firsts.

In my opinion, there is only one time in the world when everything is perfect...this was one of those times.

The first look...
10 perfect toes

Capturing my girlfriend's mother was beautiful. She is beautiful and this moment was beautiful.

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My session calendar for 2010 is officially over. I'm currently waiting on a few orders for newborn sessions, but that's it.

My session calendar for 2011 will be limited. I'll be scheduling fewer sessions and keeping this schedule...I swear, I swear.

At this point, I have 1 session opening for January and two for the end of February. If you'd like to have one of these session openings, I'd love to chat with you and schedule a session.

I've already been asked if I'll be scheduling any bulk mini sessions for families or siblings. At this time, I'm evaluating my calendar and will update when this decision is made. For now, the only mini sesssions being scheduled are for Milestone Mini Sessions. Which are for clients who are celebrating a birthday or another milestone in their life. Please email for details regarding a Milestone Mini Session...these sessions were a huge hit in 2010.

I will officially be off work December 21-January 4th. With that being written, I will try to answer emails as time is found between enjoying traditions and celebrating the holidays. If emails aren't replied to right away, please know I'm pigging out on cookies with my babies and promise to reply in the new year.

During any free moments, I also have plans to blog fall sessions...too many cute sessions to keep hidden...and maybe update my website. My website is a sad, sad, SAD neglected piece of my business and way out of date...kind of embarrassing actually! :)

I wish each of you a VERY Merry Christmas and hope all of you are enjoying traditions and a few Christmas cookies yourself!

Hugs to each of you!

All about the moments |Phoenix Family Photographer

One of the beautiful details in my job is getting to know each family, capturing them just as they are and in their element.

Each family has a style...the style that makes them.

When I arrived to this families house...it was on the darkest and dreariest day we've had in Phoenix in months.

I'll be honest, I was a bit sad driving to their home during a very dark, cloudy day. When I arrived there, I noticed how their home was filled with gorgeous, large windows that I could just imagine how beautifully lite their home would be. Even though the clouds were a huge damper on the sunlight I dreamed of capturing....it didn't interfere with capturing the lighter and laid back feelings within this family.

I loved my time with them. Getting to know them and capturing all the lauging moments between eachother.

This session was all about celebrating the arrival of their baby boy. Just as precious as can be and mellow. Totally fits in with his family. Thanks again J family!

Seriously...does it get much better than this! THE entire family smiling..with absolutely NO photoshop headswapping going on.
This season, I've had quite a few sessions where family pets were included. I love the variety the can be capturing with the first love in a family is included. There is no way around it...a family pet is definitely part of a family that needs to be in family sessions.


I loved capturing the little break big sister took during the session. There is nothing better than storytime with a favorite snack, a grandmother and THE ultimate book. I heard oodles about Simore from this story.



Slowly but surely....I'm determined to share all of the sessions with you. For now, if you'd like to see all the latest and greatest while I'm working, you can find me HERE on Facebook.

The newborn days |Mesa Family Photographer

This fall season has been filled with photographing past clients and building a relationship with new clients. Throughout all the sessions, I had in my mind that I was determined to have December to spend with my family. However, December hasn't quite gone quite as planned. I had several newborn sessions scheduled on my calendar and I've wrapped up my 2010 calendar photographing the most beautiful time in the life of families...welcoming a baby into the world.

Here is just a glimpse from one of my 5 newborn sessions in the past month.

When taking the pictures and selecting the ones for processing, my mommy heart was pulled in a million directions. And the child still in me, thinks of how much I would cherish these pictures if they were from my first days of life.

Newborn days are fleeting. They're filled with little sleep on the parents end. Along with a million minutes awake, in the middle of the night, watching a baby sleep. With each minute that passes, every parent knows that each minute is cherished as they'll never have this time back.

To the B family, thank you for sharing these minutes in your life with me. Squeeze those sweet baby girls for me and smile.

One sweet baby girl arrived! |Mesa Family Photographer

Many of you may remember this stunning mother from her maternity session.

Well, her precious baby girl arrived...with quite the debut.

LOVE this family and LOVED my time with them.

Funny side story...I went to high school with the father in this family. His sister actually graduated with me...sadly, my mommy brain has me forgetting almost everything from this stage in my life. But, that didn't get in the way of us chatting about all that we have in common and mutual friends. What I loved most is how he forgot when he graduated and me forgetting how old I actually am! LOL!

Happy December everyone...slowly I'm catching up over here.

Meet Abby and Louie |Peoria Child Photographer

Wow...I actually had to blow off the dust from my lonely blog when I opened it up. Needless to say, I've been keeping my head down to get through all the fun sessions that have been filling these last few weeks. Right now, I'm thinking I'm about 12 sessions needing some blog light...and I'm definitely going to get caught up. For now, I'm thinking I just need to get back in gear by sharing from the most recent sessions and work my way back.
I'm excited to share the sweet families I was excited to photograph this season. There hasn't been one day that has passed that I'm not thankful for the many families I've watched grow. Thankful for all the relationships.
While I'm exhausted, I do have great memories from each session. To share one sweet note, when I went to a recent session...my clients actually had the yummiest coffee and donuts waiting for me. Now that is ONE way to keep this photographer around all day. And it got better, after the session they gave me donuts for my darlings.
Now, do you have an idea for why I keep bragging about my clients being the sweetest.
Now, onto the fun stuff. Today was one jammed packed day. But it ended with a session for a sweet girl celebrating her birthday. I've loved watching sweet Abby grow up these last couple years. And I loved how we snuck a few pictures with her dog Louie.


Loved her snazzy purple coordinating...down to the nail polish. {squeal}

Sweet Abby, thanks for a great afternoon. Loved each second with you...and you still have me smiling big. I'm hoping we'll run into you during a upcoming visit with Santa. Merry Christmas and I can't wait to hear about the next chat with Santa...and if there are any new pets on their way.

Hugs to you!