Whitney & Gary Sneak Peek

I first meet this couple almost 3 years ago when they became our neighbors.
We didn't start talking with them and "hanging out" with each other for
 about 9 months  after they moved in. We hit it off well and it was great to have a couple
 that  were "our" friends.  (There are not many couples that we have that are not his or mine,
 so to say.) I soon found out that their little girl was born on my birthday. The first shoot I did for
them  was Charlotte's First Birthday Shoot & that was an honor as she is my

 "little birthday girl" as I call her. We then did a Halloween Shoot in which Whitney and her were
 Bumble Bees and Gary was the Bee Keeper. (I still have to post that shoot lol.)

 Also, our dogs, who are Boxers, hit it off too! Lucy (mine) was 9 at the time and
Lawson  (theirs) was not even 1. It took Lucy awhile to want to play with Lawson.
 She would snub him at first but as he grew she played with him more and more. 

We soon moved out of the neighborhood. We made a point to stay in touch. Whitney and

 I would take the dogs on their weekly "date" at the Doggie Park until it was too 

cold to stand out there. Then we got word that they too were moving out of the neighborhood. 

They bought a house a little farther out of town then us. We went over for a visit to see the 

new place and let the dogs play. While we were there Whitney announced that they had picked

 a date for their wedding. They were going to get married on 8/31/13.

 I was so EXCITED to be able to shoot the wedding.

You see I know Whitney well and knew how creative this wedding was going to be. Her and her Aunt did not cease to AMAZE! I have so many favorites that it was hard to narrow it down for a sneak peek. I guess we should call this a mini-post instead.

So with out further with due I bring you the sneak peek of Whitney & Gary...

 This first photo was actually taken in July when I went out with Whitney and the girls for a Bachelorette Party/Day. We stopped in Ithaca at a Nature Center and these beautiful purple flowers were out front. I just could not resist taken a few of the ring. 

 Several signs like this lined the driveway to the Whitney's Aunt & Uncle's home where 

the wedding was held.

 Instead of having a photo booth for the guest, I saw this great idea from www.pinterest.com 

and shared it with Whitney. Her & her aunt took the idea and "ran" with it. The frames hung 

from a tree and were gorgeous. They also made masks on sticks for the guest to wear. 

  She wore cowboy boots under her dress. (This pose came from another pinterest pin) 

She came down the driveway to the aisle on this handsome guy, Taz.

The Ring Bearer pulling the flower girl (their daughter Charlotte) down the aisle. 

 

 We were going to do some before the ceremony pictures, but decided the way that everything 

was set it up it was not going work. They already had the door complete and in the yard so we

 decided to stage a few to look like they were prior to the ceremony.

This is yet another pinterest pin that I loved. So before I left I made sure to take this. While I was setting it up, Whitney's grandmother told me that her ring belong to her mother. So this is an extra special shot because it has 4 generations of rings even though there are only 3 generations of hands.

Here are a few of my most favorites. I hope you enjoy these that it makes you excited to see the full post.

Check back soon for the rest of this amazing wedding. I also have lots of shoots that I am behind posting and all the great ones that I have had this summer!

Sisters!

These two little sweeties are sisters and cousins to the three little girls from my previous post.
I meet them at Arnold Park on a nice sunny summer afternoon for this shoot.

We did a little exploring first and found the perfect spot for their shoot. I little hidden stream and a great open field surrounded by trees.

I got the opportunity to shoot the older sister in December of 2011 while the little one was still in momma's belly. 

Some sisterly love! I love how sweet both of these two photos are.

I liked this image in the color and in the black and white so I thought that I would share them both.

The image above with baby sister holding on to the parasol was her doing. 

We did not set it up with her holding it she did it all on her own.

The image below was not in the original plans for the poses for this shoot. I brought bubbles to be blown

to try and get the girls attention if needed. Big sister thought that she needed a turn at blowing them when

we were all done shooting. She was so cute sitting there blowing them that I had to capture a few so that there was one to share. Sometimes the unplanned poses are the ones that come out the best. 

Just a quick Thank You to mom and dad for letting me have the opportunity to 

shoot your little sweethearts. I look forward to having the chance again soon!

2 Sisters and their Cousin!

I have been taking photos of this extended family for about 4 years. I first starting photos of Amanda when she was just 3 months old and as the family has grown I have had the joy of capturing all off them. I met Amanda and her cousins, Sam & Jaylynn, this sunny August day. (It also happened to be my birthday.) I was meeting them so that Jaylynn could have her first photo shoot and to capture some photos of the sisters together too!
Sam arrived first and we took some of just her while we waited. I was able to capture some great shots of her. I was so glad because her second birthday shoot we were not as lucky.
 

 

When Amanda and Jaylynn arrived we started with some shots of the three girls together. Making sure to capture some of the sisters as well as Jay by herself.

 



 

Although she was not a smiley baby this day, I am pleased with the shots that I was

able to capture of her. Solomon babies are better then screaming ones. 

 

I thought a little "picnic" in the park would be fun! The girls had a blast with this idea.

 



To end the shoot I was able to get a few smiles from Jay once we took her into the playground!

 

Since this shoot is almost a year old... I hope to be capturing them all again soon.

Charlotte First Birthday Shoot Part 2!

Again I had a shoot that I just could not narrow down my favorites.

So, I split into two post as to not overwhelm you with a large post.

We shot at Wolffe Park in between little spurts of rain.

 

 

 These are my favorites in the red tutu. The image below was the only one

 that I was able to capture of her sitting inside the frame. As soon as she realized

she was inside the frame she panicked a little and did not want to sit in it any more.

But for only getting one shot I LOVE it!

 

We then ventured down to the stream. This was mom's idea and I am glad that we headed

down there because she loves water and we were able to get some cute photos.

 

 

We finished a cake smash, of course. I bought a large piece of cake

 at the store and brought it a long. We did not let her eat too much of the cake

because she has reaction to dairy. But she did make a mess with the little bit

 that we allowed her to eat!

 

I look forward to getting to shoot Charlotte again soon.

 Make sure you check back because there is a Halloween Shoot

coming soon with Charlotte and her mommy and daddy!

Mother's Day 2013

Wishing all of my mommy friends a wonder Mother's Day!

 

Today I find myself relaxing in the husband's recliner and watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

 

I woke this am to my little girl wanting to snuggle with me. Shortly after that she came in with a glass of OJ and a plate of grapes and strawberries. She then woke her brother who made me a mug of coffee. But before that she gave me her art work that she made in school for Mother's Day. My favorite gifts! (the homemade kind!)

 

We soon be leaving for the little girl's soccer game and then headed to my mother's where we will be having stuffed shells cooked by my dad with my husband's homemade sauce! What a great end to the day it will be.

 

So, on this Mother's Day I want to thank my two wonderful children who have made me a mom.

Because without them my world would not be the same and I would not be celebrating being a mother!

 

My first born! It is hard to believe sometimes that he is 17! Here he is last night all dressed up and headed to his girlfriend's Jr/Sr Prom! (more photos of the two of them to come. We were short on time so took a few last night with the promise that we would go out another day and shoot more!)

 

 

My baby girl! Who made our family complete 9 years after her brother was born! My world would not be complete with out her! This was her at cheering at the beginning of this school year. I am thinking that she is due for a photo shoot too!

 

May you all enjoy your Mother's Day! May you all feel as blessed as I do today!