I usually shoot my Firefly Sessions at a local park that has a rose garden.
The high wall of pine trees behind the roses make for great light all evening.
As I sit and wait for my clients I often see college students come from across the street and set up hammocks in the trees next to the garden and read.
It looks like an completely indulgent act at my age.
I have always loved the sight of these utterly relaxed people, leg lazily hanging out one side, soft light filtering through the trees, just visible above a soft blur of pink and red rose petals in the bushes.
Well my In Laws bought me a hammock for Christmas!!!!!
Guess what we are shooting next summer!
So three months without work destroyed my studio budget.
BUT I WANT ALL THE PRETTY THINGS!!!!!!
I really did grow up watching way too much Willy Wonka.
A photographer friend gave me an amazing idea.
You, the client, buy the dress of my dreams, I give you a free mini session, then you gift the outfit to the studio!
Buy more then one outfit, you get a longer session! Buy an outfit over $200 you get a Full Portrait Session.
Message me with the outfit you are thinking of (make sure I don't own it already!) and the time and kind of session you want!
PRESTO CHANGO IPSO FACTO MAGIC!!!!!! You get beautiful images, I get beautiful clothes!
Here are some recommended shopping places that I love most everything from:
https://sewdarncute11.bigcartel.com
https://www.joyfolie.com
https://dollcake.com
https://www.littledreamerscouture.com
https://bentleyandlace.com
http://janieandjack.com- swimsuits and formal dresses and coats
https://jamiekay.com
https://www.facebook.com/sewromanticdesigns/
https://www.wearereclamation.com
https://www.shopchicaboo.com- (If you find a dress through this one please message me first and shop through me, they give a photographer's discount)
https://www.mii-estilo.com
If tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today,
while thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you care for me, and how much I care for you,
and each time that you think of me I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
that an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand,
and said my place was ready in heaven far above,
and that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,
for all life, I'd always thought I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for and so much yet to do.
it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for a while,
I'd say goodbye and hug you and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realised that this could never be,
for emptiness and memories would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things that I'd miss come tomorrow.
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through Heaven's gates, I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity and all I've promised you,
Today your life on earth is past but here it's starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last.
and since each day's the same, there's no longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful, so trusting, so true.
Though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn't do.
And you have been forgiven and now at last you're free.
So won't you come and take my hand and share my life with me?"
So if tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart,
for every time you think of me, please know I'm in your heart.
I'm in the living room.
Going on God knows how many hours of ignoring my family while I work.
My son walks into the room and freezes.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!!!"
I froze too.
Involuntarily, like a kid who got caught sneaking cookies.
My son has rolled his eyes at me, back talked, whined, complained, squeaked, interrupted, harassed and every other manner of speech out there.
But he has never, EVER raised his voice to me.
"What? What did I do?"
"Why! How could you delete those! They are beautiful!"
***Additional Note to the client in the images- Yup my son wanted me to not delete a single one. He thought you were stunning in all and was horrified I did not have the time to edit every single one no matter how similar they were. LOL
In the last three years you see it all over social media so I don't need to go through explaining why Mommy & Me Sessions are important.
I will just explain the process.
15 minutes
Not very long huh?
Most kinds of photos you definitely need longer.
Why only 15?
Well it's not a about the posing.
It is about how your little ones express their love for you.
Ask a little one to sit and smile at the camera and it might take a whole hour to get a decent shot.
Ask them to hug and love Mom?
The smile is immediate and each hug is different!
Do they come up behind Mom in the stranglehold move?
Do they wrap around the leg like a koala bear?
Do they curl up in Mom's lap and breathe in her scent?
Sometimes it's peaceful and a moment in time.
Others are fast paced, rib crushing madness that is your life.
The last Mommy & Me Session I did was with Lisa and Ridley.
Ridley can't run away yet she's under one so you think it would be a cake walk right?
Well at her age little ones usually have stranger danger, and I look nothing like Mom!
After she warmed up to the big, scary photographer (I usually tell my clients to come early so they get use to me and the studio!) we sat on the bed.
Ridley starts crawling around, talking to Mom.
I tell Lisa to lay back on the bed figuring I would get a shot of Ridley sitting on her while Mom kisses her fingers and toes.
Ridley had other plans.
She crawls over to Mom, lifts up her shirt and starts planting raspberries on her!
I stopped shooting and laughed so hard I was doubled over.
Not the loving, tender moment I was planning on, but something real and even better!
So come on in! I can't wait to see how you are loved!