America!!!

Posted on February 3, 2010

I’m finally back in America where I belong! It was a LONG flight from Germany but we made it!! I was so excited to step foot in America and even though we’ve been here over a week when I step foot into American establishments and hear all English, it just makes me feel so happy and emotional! We’ll be getting settled into our Oklahoma life eventually, but for now we’re visiting my hubbies family on the East Coast. The last time we visited was about 1.5 years ago and I took some pictures of my brother in law John and his then fiance Ashley, they are now married and on a cold snowy afternoon I drug them outside my inlaws house and snapped a few quick pictures of them. They are a wonderful couple and I have SOOOO enjoyed spending time with them!

Word for 2010 & Photos

Posted on January 1, 2010

Last year I was inspired to come up with a word to jump start my year. A word to focus on throughout the year. Link to last years post. I chose strength as my word for last year and boy was it ever fitting. It was perfect for me as I was met with certain situations and I felt it was a good overall word to help inspire me throughout the year. Between becoming a mom of two, being alone in a foreign country during Davids deployment, being away from my family during times I really would have loved to be there for support. Strength was something I definetely had to tap into at times.  I wanted to also choose a word for this year and after much thought I’ve come up with: nurture.

Description:
Nurture: noun, the process of caring for  and encouraging the growth of something or someone.

I want to continue on the nurturing path I’ve already started with my family – I want to keep nurturing my children in spirit, mind and body, to help build them into quality, loving little people. I want to nurture my marriage and make it a priority to spend time with David one on one. I want to nurture my new home and help turn it into a home (I’m so completely pumped about decorating!!!!). I want to nurture my business as I move to a new area. And finally I want to nurture myself, I’ve gone a very long time not really caring for myself as much as I’d like, but I want to change that. So that’s it…my word for 2010 is nurture.

And in closing here are my Top 9 Personal Photos throughout 2009. Some of them I took, some I didn’t, but they are all special to me for one reason or another.

January 2009 – First Family Picture
My sweet Mama took this of us. It’s our first family image and one that is proudly displayed in my living room. I love this picture for so many reasons, but the main reason is it was the first time our family of four was documented. I so love my little family.

January 2009 – Claire Elizabeth
A close up of our new little baby girl. I wanted her so badly and faced something that was a great fear of my own – delivery in a foreign hospital – which ended up being an amazing experience, but none the less, it was something I feared and I’d put having another baby off because of that fear. Once she was here and the delivery process was all over I was so, so thankful. Thankful for the precious gift of life and thankful that I had another perfect baby girl to get to love and adore.

February 2009 – Sisters
I so badly wanted to give Kate the gift of a sibling and to see them interact with each other blesses me beyond measure. I just LOVE watching them love each other. I’m so grateful they have each other.

March 2009 – Holding Hands
More sisterly love here. This photo will be framed and displayed in our new home because everytime I look at it I’m filled with happiness.

April 2009 – Family Photos
Taken by Dream Street Photography
My wonderful friend Susanne took these photos for us. David was about to leave for a deployment and I wanted some family pictures to show to Kate while he was gone to help keep our family unit fresh in her mind. I love these so much!!!! These will also be displayed in our new home (remember I’m excited about decorating? I can’t WAIT to decorate with photos!)

August 2009  - Sissies
This might be my favorite photo of the ENTIRE YEAR. Oh my gosh I love it. I love how you can tell Kate is helping show Claire all about flowers (Kate is a great little teacher). I remember her saying things like, “These are flowers Claire, they are yellow” and followed up closely by “NO!!! Don’t EAT flowers” (said in Kate’s best frantic tone). I love these girls so much.

August 2009 – Katherine Grace
My sweet little Kate. She grew so much throughout the year (becoming a big sister does that to a girl). She completed so many important milestones – potty training, school, learning to write her name, becoming a more mature, obedient little girl. She is a blessing to us and we love her so very much. I love this picture of her because it shows off her big beautiful brown eyes and she really looks like herself here. So often when I bring the camera out she shows off her goofy face (and I do love it too!), but this face is her – really her.

October 2009 – My man and me
Photo taken by Valerie Raybon
This picture is sooooo us. HAAA! I adore it! David’s expression is priceless. I think it’s so very important to get pictures of just David and I together sometimes. It’s so easy to fall into the habit of only taking pictures that include our children, but it’s important to document us as a couple sometimes too.

December 2009 – Christmas Eve
A big part of our family routine is reading before bed. We always make it a point to read The Night Before Christmas each Christmas Eve night and this year we got to include Claire in our family tradition. Sure it was a little hectic since Claire doesn’t really have a concept of sitting and looking at the pictures yet, but it was still fun. I just set my camera on a self timer and take a ton of pictures of us interacting as a family. This was my favorite shot out of the night. I love that we’re all in our jammies piled up in Kate’s bed, I love the girls interacting with each other, David and I enjoying them. Great family stuff.

Hope all of you had a wonderful New Years! HAPPY 2010!!!

Favorite 9 in 2009

Posted on December 31, 2009

At the end of each year I love to post my favorites images taken during the past year.  It’s sooo much fun to browse through each years set of favorites to see how much I’ve grown and changed as a photographer! Here are links to my past end of year favorites: 2007 2008

2009 is especially special to me because it’s the close of our last year here in Germany, we’ll be moving in the next month or so and while I’ve had a lot of hard times adjusting to life here, I also have grown a lot. I dove into photography to begin with because I was lonely and sad here and needed some kind of creative outlet to put my energy into and photography fit the bill. So as I close out my last and third year here in Germany I’m for one – THRILLED because I’ll be back to living the easy life in America with closets, pay at the pump gas stations, mail delivery to your door & Target BUT I’m also sad because I became a photographer here and had such a plethora of gorgeousness to capture with my camera. I learned how to be stronger and more confident as a person and a mother during all the deployments my hubby went on, but most of all – I met some fantastic people!!! I met some seriously great friends who I’ll miss greatly and I cherish the opportunity I had to get to know them and become a part of their lives.

So here are the Top 9 Client Images taken during 2009:

1. April 2009

I so adore photographing teenagers, especially when they are ready to work it.

2. April 2009 – Sisters.

I two sisters of my own and I have two precious daughters so the interact between sissies is so special to me. I just adore how they are looking at each other and are oblivious (or at least appear to be oblivious) to me. LOVE when I get to capture a photograph that’s all about the subjects interacting with each other, not with the camera.

September 2009 – Sunflaire lovin’

Between April and September I had to take a break from accepting clients because my husband was deployed and I wasn’t sure who I could leave my girls with while he was gone. So when he came back and I got to start taking photos again I was a little nervous! This photo was my first photoshoot in 6 months and I was worried I wouldn’t remember what all to do! This great couple are friends of mine, so they did make it easy and were so much fun!!!!!! Love their silhouettes that inclue her sweet pregnant belly. Love the sunflare and the beautiful German sky. LOVE!

October 2009 – Running

I had this idea in mind for awhile. I love the idea of capturing the parents faces as they watched their sweet babies run into their arms, but for one reason or another it hadn’t worked out with past photoshoots, but when I started working with this family I realized this was my opportunity!! Their children are hands down the most affectionate and loving kids EVER! Big brother especially couldn’t stop loving on his family, so I knew the kids would have a blast with my explicit instructions: Run towards your parents AS FAST AS YOU CAN, then hug them AS HARD AS YOU CAN!” They were ALLLLL for it! Love these!!!

October 2009 – Giggly Sissy

This is the BEST WALL IN  ALL OF GERMANY! Okay…that might be a bit extreme since there is no way I have seen every.single.wall in this country, BUT I’ll still stick with my statement that it’s the most fabulous wall in Germany. The lighting here is so amazing! The way the sun hits the opposite wall during sun set and how it bounces back onto this wall making it so bright and warm and…well…like buttah. I have hauled so many clients to this wall, but I like this pic especially because of Big Sissies cute expression. She kept falling into little giggling spells throughout the photoshoot and I just loved it. Such a sweet, loving little family.

October 2009 – Sweet baby

The sweetie is in the family image above. Look at her big expressive eyes!!! And I’m a sucker for baby feet, always try and capture them alone anytime I have little newborn photoshoots.

October 2009 – Running and Kissing

I can’t even express how much I adore this picture. It’s that wondermous to me!! Love, running, fun, kissing – man that’s the good stuff!

November 2009 Gnarly Tree + Kissing = Totally Rad

Photographing couples has quickly become one of my VERY favorite things. I just love LOVE so very much! I couldn’t help but put this gorgeous couple infront of this totally rad tree, hello  AWESOMENESS!!!!

November 2009 Upside down laughing

What could be sweeter than big sissy tickling little brother?? I so adore sweet sisters little simple black shoes, her adorable expression and then of course I love little bro’s laughing fit…good stuff!

Thank you to ALLL of the amazing clients I’ve had throughout this year. I appreciate your business and your trust in my work. I have really enjoyed getting to know so many of the wonderful people here at this base and will miss you all. I hope to one day run into each of you again in the future throughout all our various Air Force moves. Happy 2010 everyone!!!!

The L Family

Posted on November 24, 2009

This sweet family was all about laughing and having a good time! YAY! That’s my IDEAL CLIENTS!!! I just want everyone to have a great time!! Big Sister E was SOOOO MUCH FUN! It’s impossible to be around her and NOT smile. Seriously, it’s impossible. Heck, it’s impossible to go through these images of her and not smile – seriously, try it and I guarantee you will fail.

The precious factor here is off the charts!!!

I had to really work with Big Sister to try and remind her not to hug her Daddy so tight that their faces were squished beyond recognition. HAAA! She hugs TIGHT! SOOOOOOOO SWEET!

Little Brother J was a precious cutie too! Look at that sweet smile!

I can’t even express how much I love Big Sisters expressions here. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her little face!!!

American’s Next Top Preschool Model – CHECK and MARK! Eat your heart out Tyra Banks!!

I am so getting my girls one of these wagons! Look how much fun it is for both big sissy and little bro!

And in closing the pose that has slowly become one that everyone asks for. Look at J’s gorgeous blue eyes here! Oh and boy was it hard for her to NOT laugh…if you look closely you can see one was starting to creep up.

Thank you L Family!!! I had a great time and can’t wait to share your entire gallery with you!!

B&U {Couples Photography}

Posted on November 10, 2009

This gorgeous couple contacted me about a photoshoot this Summer and I was so excited when the date finally arrived for me to meet them and photograph them in their lovely village.

The weather was in typical German fashion rather gloomy, but that didn’t stop this couple from workin’ it!!!

This photo, from a creative standpoint is something I’ve been wanting to get for a really long time. The sun peeked out from the clouds for just a MOMENT and had them just run out and kiss in front of it and I nearly did a happy jig once I saw the outcome. The sun was so fleeting I had maybe a minute to get this and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS CAPTURE! It’s romantic, beautifully grainy & textured and just flat out hot stuff.

Do you know how challenging it is to find the perfect weeds? Well lemme tell you it is! HAA! They might have questioned my sanity a bit as I told them to go wade through the weeds, but I’m THRILLED with the outcome. When I see this picture this one thing screams through my mind: PERFUME AD.

Sigh…I love LOVE!

And in closing my favorite from the entire session. I saw this tree and immediately labeled it, “Gorgeously Gnarly”…cause come on…IT IS! I love it so much!!!

Thanks so much B & U for allwoing me to capture you both. I had a fabulous time and can’t wait to share your entire photo gallery with you!

H&D {Couple Photography}

Posted on November 4, 2009

I got an extra sweet deal when photographing this sweet couple. Not only did I get to spend some time with them and get to know them, they ALSO had the fabulous idea of conducting their photoshoot at a castle. So much fun!! For starters this is one of the castles. Can’t you just imagine Rapunzel hanging her head out of the top floor window??

Something else that made this location extra special is that this is one of their favorite places to spend their weekends. They’ll be PCSing in the next little while and I love that they will have these images to remind them of their time in Germany at a location that’s special to them.

The colors here in Germany in the fall are just so amazing!!

The weather was pretty gloomy and I was nervous the whole time that it would start downpouring rain on us! This particular shot was taken toward the end of the session and literally as I took the last image I was wanting to capture it started pouring!! The timing of the entire session was just PERFECT!

And in closing my very favorite from the entire shoot. This archway is just beautiful!

Thank you so much H & D for taking me along to one of the Germany spots that is special to you. Wishing you both the VERY best!!

M Family with precious twins {Family Photography}

Posted on October 27, 2009

Confession time. When I was younger one of my favorite movies of all time was Parent Trap. I was convinced if my mom just let me go to camp I’d find my twin. Even though both my parents were (and still are) married it seriously wouldn’t be AT ALL possible but I was somehow under the impression that my twin was somewhere out there just waiting for me to find her at camp. Of course I never found her because such a person doesn’t exist, I mean a world with TWO crazy versions of ME?! Yeah, it would be too much! So as a result of my obsession with the movie Parent Trap I’m also a little more pumped than the average person would be whenever I’m around twins, so imagine my excitement level when I got the opportunity to photograph a these PRECIOUS twin one year old little boys…yup, I was pretty thrilled! Okay…enough about me let’s get onto this beautiful family’s photos!!

I totally love when clients have places in mind where they are wanting their images captured. This is just a short drive from their house and where they enjoy long walks together as a family. Love how personalized this location is to them!

When I saw this location the lighting, the background, the “foresty” goodness….I got full out GIDDY!!!

I put this one in black and white and then immediately switched it back to color because it’s CRIMINAL to not get to see this pair of perfectly perfect blue eyes!!

Mr. L was such a precious little man, I loved when he showed off that perfect smile!

This close up of Mr. C just makes my heart go pidder pat…look at those EYES!

Thank you so much M family for letting tag along on your Saturday afternoon stroll. Loved getting to know you all!

The M Family {Family Photography}

Posted on October 19, 2009

Another fabulous family who braved the chilly temps to allow me to capture their sweetness!

I can’t get over the PRECIOUS factor happening in the right of this photo. Look how sweetly the are squeezing on each other!  Never mind it was maybe for self preservation in trying to steal each others body heat…

Another shining example of how it’s IMPOSSIBLE to find an ugly village here in Germany. They get to pass this beautiful location everyday on their way to the bus stop. Gosh it’s beautiful here!! I’ve been wanting to photograph a reflection for awhile now and YAY! I finally got the opportunity!

I ADORE THIS ONE!!!!! Look how much fun they are having!!! THIS is the kind of photograph that makes me just adore my job. I’m all about FUN, FUN, FUN! And this stunning red door, window and vine. Sigh…just gorgeous!

You can tell this Daddy adores his children. Love that I got these of him one on one with his little man. Nothing says happiness (and take your mind off the cold) more than a tickle fest.

And can’t forget this sweet Mama and her little ladies!

Something tells me that this little angel doesn’t lack in the love department!!

Love the difference in eye color here. One sissy has the most beautiful brown eyes, the other has the most beautiful blue eyes. Gosh I love sisters!!

This dip was all their idea! Which makes me love this image even more!!

Sigh…goodness I love LOVE!!!

LOVE THIS ONE!!! I love how it’s like no one even seemed to know I was there. Everyone was just playing, laughing and loving in the moment. Just the way I love my photos to be!!

And I’ll close with another one of my VERY favorites from this entire session. This one is in a tie with the one above of the kids running around their parents. It was impossible for me to choose between these because everytime I look at them they make me happy. And my hope is that it will make this precious family happy too!

Thanks M Family! You were WONDERFUL! Thanks for allowing me into your lives for an evening to witness your sweetness.

The W Family {Family Photography}

Posted on October 16, 2009

This wonderful family braved the chilly Germany evening and looked amazing the entire time! Look how happy they all look! You’d never know we all had chilly fingers!

Look how precious Big Sissy is!!! She’s only been a big sister 2 months, but she’s already great at it! You can just tell!!

It was such a joy photographing Big Sister because it didn’t take much to make her erupt into a fit of giggles, and the photo on the right is proof of that!

Look at these beautiful little girls!!

I love how tiny and bundled up little sister is and how big sister is peeking over Daddy’s shoulder. Just sweetness!! And as a little side note, loved Mom’s fashion style – isn’t that headband just the perfect accessory! (Note to self…start buying headbands)

I just adore this one! Aren’t the autumn colors just incredible???

A to the DORABLE!!!

Then we headed indoors to capture some of baby sister in a few less layers than the outdoor shots.

Isn’t she just so pretty and serene?! Gosh I adore babies!!

Thanks W Family for choosing me to photography your beautiful family!!

The D Family {Family Photography}

Posted on October 12, 2009

Autumn is here! And in Germany along with that comes lots and lots and LOTS of rain. As I drove to this photoshoot I was so worried it would start downpouring, it looked like it might at ANY MINUTE but we got lucky and it didn’t drizzle on us even once! They were such good sports! They followed all my instructions without hesitation and had the best attitude even as I was instructing them to go stand in mud. They were GREAT!

Little brother was so affectionate! I LOVED IT!! Made me smile all throughout the shoot and even as I was editing their images I found myself smiling and sometimes laughing at how out of this world sweet this little man is. I love how no matter what I instructed him to do he would add in some additional love. Like in this picture for example, I just told him to sit on his Daddy’s lap, but he was bubbling up with excitement and love for his Daddy he had to reach around and give an impromptu hug. What a sweetie!!!

Beautiful foliage – check. Perfect stream – check. Sweet loving family – DOUBLE CHECK! The location is so gorgeous it almost looks FAKE! It’s just almost too beautiful to be true!  Being a photographer in Germany is like hitting the jackpot. Sure it’s overcast and rains a ton, but do you see this AMAZING LOCATION!!?? This was within walking distance from their house. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?! I mean it’s STUNNING!! Just incredible!!!!

This family unit was so sweet, so loving, I am just really, really thankful they picked me to take their family images!

I’m not sure who liked this photo assignment more, the kids or the parents. I gave the children VERY important and specific instructions: “Run as FAST as you can to your parents and give them the BIGGEST TIGHTEST hug you can!” They grinned ear to ear and took the challenge on with COMPLETE abandon.

I love these! I just walked near him and was attempting to get some un posed photos of him playing and he looked up and rocked the silly face for me…then was sweet enough to show me his regular precious smiling face too.

Look at that beautiful little face!!! SWEETNESS!!!

And the crowd goes “AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!” Could they be anymore precious??? The answer to that is a big resounding NOOOOOOOO! Cause it’s just impossible to get any more precious than this. IMPOSSIBLE!

And in closing I’m including this image and is possibly my favorite from the entire session. It encompasses all I love in photography – capturing real love, real life & real people all unposed and completely beautiful. This was towards the end of the photoshoot and we were walking back to the car and little sister was tired of walking and simply needed her Mommy, she scooped her up and kissed her and was making everything better and I was blessed enough to see their sweet interaction. How special is this??!! Being a parent you are presented with daily opportunities of comforting your babies, but because it’s such a regular daily occurrence it doesn’t seem all that photo worthy at the time, but it really is!! My hope is that about 10 years from now once this little angel is hitting her teenage years and is at a completely new stage in her life her Mommy will look back on this image and cherish it always.

Thank you D Family for the chance to hang out with you all and take some images of you. I had a wonderful time!!

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