Life | Hello There Cupcake

Yesterday was bliss, and I'd say that's an understatement.

A couple of days ago, I was browsing Facebook and an ad appeared on the side of my browser for Hello There Cupcake. Now, as you all know, I am a photographer, and fell head-over-heals for the crisp lighting and vivid colors in the photographs of their cupcakes. I am also in love with everything cutesy and girly and sweet (sugar and spice and everything nice), so cupcakes are right up my alley.

So, I walk in and unashamedly request permission to take pictures. I was enthralled. The decor, the pastels, the natural lighting streaming in from the huge windowed store-front. A girly-girl photographer's dream.

As if it needs to be said, I did not stop by only to take pictures. My friend (Tess Harper) and I shared two cupcakes: Lemon and Red Velvet (paired with the Starbucks coffee--EggNog Lattes--we picked up prior to arrival).

Sigh...

To die for. Well, you know what I mean; the kind of dessert you daydream about the next day.

So, since excitedly snapping away at Hello There Cupcake (what an adorable name, too!), I have been eagerly awaiting this blog post. I could hardly sleep last night.

Enjoy, friends. And a Very Merry Christmas to you and yours.

 (Tess on the left, Me on the right--my picture courtesy of Tess. She's a natural!)

(Tess' cupcake matched her perfectly! We didn't plan it, I swear!)

 (Evidence of Customer Satisfaction.)

Creative Session | Leanna Brown

I love it when clients contact me for "just because" shoots. For every one of my shoots, I desire to show my clients how amazing they are. Really. I love to show couples how amazing their love is--how their husband still looks at them. I love to see a teenage girl's face light up at a picture of herself; those sessions of which usually start off with a disclaimer such as "I don't usually take good pictures" or "I don't really like any pictures of myself". I love to see a mother melt before pictures of their little one, recognizing the familiar expressions from flashback memories in her heart.

This is what portrait photography is about. Capturing what's there. The amazing, wonderful, genuine beauty that already exists in people.

Leanna's session was just that. I watched as her confidence progressed throughout the session, and I personally became ecstatic throughout the session with expressions such as "Oh! I love this one!" "That was amazing!" "I can't wait to get you these pictures!!!" (For my former clients, you know what I'm talking about. :)

Anyway, enough chatter! Let's get to these fabulous pictures!

Senior Session | Jamie Jones

It's always a special gift to be able to do a photo shoot for someone I am close to. In this case, my younger cousin asked me to do her senior pictures (I can't believe she's a senior! Ah!). Because we know each other so well (she's been my only immediate cousin up until last month), the session was so laid-back. I brought lots of my clothes, and we had a little dress-up adventure driving around the wonderful backdrop of Crawford County, where both of our families live.

I love you, Jamie Jones. Reach for your dreams and don't settle a bit. I believe in you. :)

Here are my favorites from the session! LOVE!

My favorite. She is stunning!

Mini Session | Kaydin Turns Two!

It was an honor to work with Kaydin and his family again! He is SO adorable, I don't think he could take a bad picture! I loved his little sweater, and his "2" shirt.

Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot!

Life | Family Vacation Christmas '10

So, let me go ahead and state that it feels SO good to start posting again! I'm still having to keep some of these treasured shoots bundled up until after Christmas, but it is GREAT to share these prizes with the world!

My husband and I just got back to our good ol' home town of Warner Robins, GA after enjoying a 10-day family vacation with my immediate family and our extended family up north (Michigan!). For the trip, we traveled to Boyne Mountain. This was my FIRST TIME EVER skiing, and I decided to attempt snowboarding. Of course, I took a few tumbles, but it was an awesome experience, and I wasn't scared to try again on day two.

I have had some issues with my 40D (so sad) the past couple of weeks, and am sending it in to Canon to get it repaired while borrowing my sister's camera. Luckily, I was able to get the 40D to work for a couple of casual baby shots of my new little cousin, Braxton.

Here's some shots of my [awesome] little sister, Chelsea. 

{I love these two!}

And I convinced my brother and his girlfriend, Taylor, to do a mini session of sorts. Love.

And, for kicks, my husband getting plowed by a snow attack. Hilarious.

More posts to come tomorrow!