brayen.

After one busy busy weekend, I finally had the chance to photograph a brand new baby, little Brayen. I think this is the first time I'm photograping one of my bride and groom's children and I couldn't be happier for Melanie and Robert! I've known Melanie and her family for years and years and now I'm photographing her new baby! These two are just perfect for each other, and I can't wait to see Brayen grow and turn into a handsome little guy! He's got the cutest little thing he does with his mouth...it's almost like he's shivering, but he's not cold...it's adorable and he was cracking me up! And Mel, I love you in these photos...you look so gorgeous for just having a baby. He's beautiful, cute and just adorable! It's great to see a dad like Robert who can't get enough of his new little baby too. You guys seem so happy and I think it's awesome. Brayen is extremely blessed and lucky to have parents like you. So Mel and Robert, thanks for letting me come and hang out for awhile today, and I couldn't wait to show you these tonight! I hope you love them all!

william & lyndsay: married.

**click on the shopping cart (below the pictures, in the black box) and click on William and Lyndsay's last names to view and order photos from the wedding**

After checking the weather countless times on Friday, I finally turned the tv off and broke out the umbrellas and got my gear ready for Saturday's wedding. It was pretty gloomy out, and I'm pretty sure there was some rain accompanying that gloom. Those forecast guys on the news had been calling for rain most of the weekend, until the 11:00(pm) news came, and then something changed drastically. They were suddenly saying that there was a glimmer of hope...a slight, I believe was the word, slight chance for clear skies ALL day on Saturday. I clearly remember the terms tropical humidity like atmosphere, but, again, no rain. As wedding photographers, we nearly cringe when hearing "rain" or any kind of "water" precipitation in the forecast, but when your wedding is an outdoor wedding, the entire game changes. When you hear those words like precipitation on Saturday being used to describe the conditions from the weather guy, he may as well just go ahead and scrape those fingernails up that chalk board...and back down again. As a photographer, rain just isn't something we like to be friends with!

Still, this was one of those weddings I had looked forward to ALL year. It's September. This wedding was to be just down right gorgeous, held in the openess of a vast green area, under a huge oak tree. We were supposed to have blue skies, nice gentle breezes, and lots of green. With my black and white polka dotted umbrella in one hand, and my bag of cameras in the other, I left that morning to go to William & Lyndsay's wedding. I was trusting that 11:00pm news guy who told me that it would be a nice, tropical, dry day, but I couldn't help but be prepared. Yes tropical and humid I could live with, but no, no rain.

And it was exactly that. I first saw Lyndsay and she was about as happy as I was that it was going to be a perfect day. She looked just stunning as her bridesmaids and mom and everyone tended to her every need just before the ceremony. She was beaming with smiles from ear to ear. At this point, I didn't care if it did rain. This was going to be a perfect day with a beautiful and happy bride. And William, was all smiles too. This was my first meeting him, though Lyndsay had told me so much about him already. From the second that she came toward him there was just a look in his eye that he was about to married to his best friend. Lyndsay was so cute as she hugged her dad and took William's hand. He just kept smiling at her. And Lyndsay did the same. It was a perfect, day. Warm, but no rain. It was just perfect.

Lyndsay and William, thank you for allowing me in on your wedding day to photograph your love that you share for each other. I loved the expressions and emotions that guided the entire day. They made for some fantastic images and I couldn't wait to share some of my favorites with you. I hope you know just how lucky you were that the rain held up until Sunday for you! And I hope you made it up the mountain together! May you have many more adventures together!

**I'm going back to the 80's with this love song...hope you like it!

kaden & carter.

There is just something magical that happens when you give a kid balloons. When I showed up to photograph Kaden & Carter the other day, they both had huge smiles on their faces when I told them they could play with these balloons. Of course it took me and their mom a good couple of minutes to untangle them...but it was worth it in the end and we have some really fun shots with them. I just couldn't get enough of these two handsome guys as we rolled around on the ground taking photos. Keeping little ones attention is a tough thing to do and I think Carter was spent by the time we went for an outfit change. He let out some of best screams I think I've ever heard! While I thought it was absolutely hysterical he just wasn't having it! That's alright though, because I managed to throw in some of my super spiderman techniques and we ended the day with so many great images. (That was for you Kaden!)

Kristin, I had the best day spending time with you and your mom and your boys. They are both so much fun and I can't wait to do it all again soon with your entire family! Enjoy your photos!

soccer chronicles: chapter two.

Well, I had to miss last weeks game because I was on small child detail, but Wednesday I was back in full force, being the most feroche soccer auntie in the planet. Though I was a bit late, (shooting the 2 most ADOOOOooorrRable small guys ever...post is coming Kristin, I PROMISE!) and when I entered the gate I was oh so nonchalantly greeted by the PTA or PTO mom who was taking the tickets. As if it would stop the world to have a little cheer while taking the moolah you know you want and pass me my small purpleish ticket so I can move on about my business and do my photo-ing. Sheesh Louise, people smile!

Then greeted by small child Charis, (her soccer chronicle is coming soon too!) we of course had to visit the stand of tasty treats because she HAD to have a pretzel. While digging deep in my pockets for any spare coins to pay for the said, twisted dough piece, Charis managed to somehow convince the attendant that we NEEDED that cherry coke, because "That's my Auntie Darci's favorite drinky! She thinks they are good as desserties!" Knowing full well that I would end up NOT getting to delight myself in the cola, but rather she, would enjoy all this pop in it's tremendous fizziness and cherry flavors, she also added a water to our tab. She's a smart one, this Charis! So imagine my surprise when I was digging for change, and the lady was all like, "That'll be $5.50." SHUT UP HOLY MOTHER OF SOCCER!!! $5.50 for a pretzel, a cup o water and a sody?! Shut up!

So not only did I end up spending obscene amounts of money entering the soccer game, and filling the belly of my smallish niece Charis, I actually got to sit and enjoy what was left of the game. Right about the time I pulled the camera close, Number 30 went on an awesome play until the chicka from the other team stuck it to her in a nasty move, causing Number 30 to fall on her and smash her (the other chick) face into the grass. It was hot. These are THE moments that make high school games worth watching. Number 30 just bounced back whipping that pony tail through the wind as she barrelled down the green again. She's vicious kids! And she's my niece!