Ashley Maternity { Cypress Maternity Photographer }

Sweet Elijah Ryan is already here! How cute are Mom and Dad-to-be in the last-minute maternity pics??

I can't wait to meet their brand-new, darling boy!

Chelynne Maternity { Austin Maternity Photographer }

Once upon a time (what seems like quite a few years ago!), I was engaged to be married to my sweet husband.  He informed me that his four best friends would be in our wedding.  I thought I knew my betrothed fairly well, but I did not know of these elusive friends.  That was just the kind of relationship they had - they would go ages without seeing or talking to one another, mostly spread around Texas at various schools, then would reconnect like they had never been apart.  Around midnight on Christmas Eve 2003, we met them at a pool hall.  That was the first time I met most of them.  Two things were evident.  1. They were crazy and 2. these guys loved my beloved then-fiance.  Ben, Wes, John, and Drew definitely made our wedding interesting as well!

It seemed like for years we were living a completely different life than the rest of the guys.  Maybe Russ and I were on the fast track? :)  We continued to meet for mini-reunions when everyone was in town for holidays.  I saw girlfriends come and go.  By the time the next one, Ben, got married, we were pregnant with Campbell.  This past year, two of the other guys got married.  It has been fun to get to know the girlfriends, fiances, and now wives of the guys and go from being the only girl in this crazy group to making some of my own precious friends.

Fast forward to today.  Ben and Chelynne are expecting sweet baby boy Owen Patrick in just a few weeks.  He is the first baby (other than my own) to be born into this little group, made up of boys who were basically just babies themselves when they met.

It was a huge privilege for me to photograph this moment for them and to celebrate this next step in their lives.  I am so excited to watch them be parents, so excited for them to know the joy and chaos of parenthood, and the laughter and frustration and fear and transformation that comes as you try to be the very best parents you can be.  There have been few things sweeter in my life.

2nd Annual Portrait Party for Layla Grace

Many people who follow this blog are aware of Layla Grace Marsh and her fight against cancer. Layla went to be with the Lord one year ago yesterday, and a significant part of her legacy is to advance the successful treatment of other children with cancer.

Click here to read sweet Layla's story.

You can also read about my friendship with the Marsh Family on my personal blog here

The Layla Grace Foundation was created for the purpose of funding research and advancements in the treatment of high-risk cancers in children. The foundation also serves to educate, empower, and support parents of children with cancer. It is a privilege for me to donate my time for the advancement of this worthwhile cause.

What?

Photographers across the nation are going to be providing mini-sessions on April 9th, in support of the Foundation.

When?
Saturday April, 9 2011

Available Sessions:
7:30 am
8:00 am
8:30 am
9:00 am
5:30 pm
6:00 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm

Where?
A private location in Katy, TX

How much does it cost? What do I get?
$75 session fee - paid directly to and completely benefiting the Layla Grace Foundation, will get you:
*20 Minute Session
*Online, password-protected gallery of 10-15 images
*(1) 8x10 Fine Art Print
*A discount on additional prints ordered

Additional Prints & Digital Images?
*25% off Fine Art Prints
*Option to purchase digital images on high resolution cd with print release:
-CD with 5 images - $100
-CD with 10 images - $150

How do I sign up?
Go here to sign up. You will purchase specific session time desired.

Summer Maternity Session { Houston Maternity Photographer }

After a heartbreaking loss, Summer is expecting a sweet baby girl next month. It was so exciting to photograph these excited lovebirds, and to share in this much-anticipated joy in their lives.

Congrats guys!

Sweet Pierce { Katy Baby Photographer }

It has been foreeever since my last blog post. I essentially gave up on getting caught up with the blog and decided to move forward. Maybe someday I'll get around to posting my December sessions. Or maybe not. You'll all just have to wait in suspense, I guess.

Pierce's mom, Jenny, and I go all the way back to high school. I had followed her pregnancy with this little darling via Facebook, and was overjoyed to hear from her about shooting Pierce's first official photo session.

Little man did NOT make it easy on us, but the fact that he is just too adorable made up for his theatrics. It was truly a joy to get to know this little family!

P Family - Oh how I love them! { Houston Family Photographer }

I'm baaaack! While it was nice to have a little break and some time to settle in as a mother of TWO darling kiddos, I have definitely missed the creating and interacting that comes with this "work" I do. And when I'm back, I'm back. I've already had three sessions this week and am looking at two more before the week is over. I was so excited about this particular family session, that I raced through the editing and, of course, picked way too many images to post for it to be considered a small sneak peek!

Clint Paschall is not only the pastor of our beloved church, The Waters, but also played a significant role in me coming to know the Lord. It's hard to believe I have known this precious family since their beautiful daughter was an adorable, red-haired toddler and I was a silly high-school girl. As an adult, Clint and Tonia have blessed my family with friendship, accountability, and much appreciated parenting advice! They are people we feel blessed to call friends.

What a joy to photograph people that I love so.

My Newest Project { Cypress Baby Photographer }

Introducing, Bennett Russell King.

Born 10-10-10 at 1:10 pm
9 lbs 8 ounces, 21 inches long

He is sweet and cuddly.
He is a giant among babies (13 lbs at one month old!)
He's had a rough month - reflux, a 3rd week growth spurt that left him constantly hungry, and a fever that resulted in a trip to the ER.
He has a headful of hair. It keeps getting more blonde and is a little wild.
He is becoming interesting to his big sister. She keeps saying "Bennett's such a cute baby!".
He has already added so much joy to our lives.

I am just now feeling a tiny bit like myself. Maybe that's thanks to B-man sleeping some longer stretches the last few nights (who knew that sleeping 4 hours at a time could be so refreshing?). Keeping up with two kids has been quite the challenge. I have my first few sessions this week, so we'll see how I manage adding that back in!