Cora and Crew :)

This is Mr. and Mrs. Street....

Together, they raised my friend from jr. high, Cora, and her older brother, Joe.  Cora and I have kept in touch over the years through myspace.   She recently messaged me and asked if I was available to take some family portraits...a gift for her mother's birthday.  I was delighted, to say the least.  Nothing means more than people from my past acknowledging who I've become.  It's one of the greatest compliments ever.

Anyway, here's a shot of Cora, her brother and the parents...

They're a great looking family, right?!  I think they were taken aback when I started the session by asking them to not be so posed :)  They are used to studio portraits and my style is more of a relaxed, fun, candid style that captures the individual essence of the family I'm shooting.   They caught right on and I think the portraits turned out awesome!  Although. I must say Cora's husband can be a little "too relaxed" in front of the camera! haha  He's a ham!  Check these out...

   

He has a GREAT personality!  Hilarious!

And here is the final family portrait...

Thanks Cora!!!  I had so much fun and can't wait to do it again!  Maybe Christmas cards?  ;)

Before and after......

WOW!!!  I have finally mastered my editing style :)   Notice the softness in the skin and the slight color difference in the hair compared to the original.  Nothing dramatic, but definitely obvious to me.  

before...              

                          

                                                                                 

after...

Sweet sleepless nights...

On May 30th, 2008 Glenn and I welcomed our third child into the world...a healthy

 baby boy weighing in at 8lbs 7oz (did I mention he was 2.5 weeks early?!)  Since his arrival I seriously have not slept more than three hours at a time.  Almost two months later... it's finally catching up with me! hahaha  I don't mind though.  Chance was my third c-section and first boy, so for safety reason's we have decided that if we want more children... it will be through adoption.  Being that the process is so expensive and potentially emotionally draining, adoption is a dream of ours and nothing set in concrete.  With that being said, Chance may be our last baby.  *tearing up*  I have chosen to slow down and embrace every moment...even the 5a.m. feedings.  Once his belly's full, he is usually wide awake and ready to absorb the new world around him.  His sweet innocence and complete vulnerability and helplessness consumes me sometimes to tears.  I am so in love with a little person that hasn't even developed a personality of his own...he can't even smile yet!  :)  Yes, I have experienced these feelings twice before...with my four year old, Dreama, and almost three year old, Grace, but there's a slight difference with every child.  I love them all, but each a little differently.  

At night, with Chance wide-eyed and ready to hear my voice, I don't struggle for things to say to him...I just say what's on my heart.  It's funny because my husband holds him and loves to talk to him, but the only thing he manages to get out (over and over again) is, "Hey Buddy!  Hey!"  I giggle and without fail he shoots me a look and asks, "What should I say?  I'm just not good at talking to myself."  I tell him I speak of everything from how much I want for him and his sisters to follow their dreams to how much I hate doing the endless laundry pile!   Chance gives me the same stare he gives his Daddy, so I know that no matter what we're saying to him he just loves to hear our voice...but that doesn't keep me from melting just the same.  I'm in love :)

Midnight thoughts:

I'm exhausted just thinking of the responsibility I have chosen to carry on my shoulders.  I am a mother of three.  It's my job to mold these little people into responsible, productive and thriving adults.  Childhood should be filled with innocence, laughter and big dreams, but somehow I have to incorporate teaching my children about 'strangers' and drugs all while attempting not to rob them of their childlike views on the world.  I can't isolate them, I can only try to incorporate my morals and values into our every day life and pray that they make wise decisions as they grow older and more independent.  It's sad and it's scary.  I have  one chance and I hope I'm doing things right.  

Wow, that last paragraph went really deep!  I think I need to lighten things up a bit!  ;)  Life with Chance is amazing.  He completes our family and we couldn't have asked for anything more.  The girls must believe that their new baby brother is a doll.  If they could, they would hold him every second of every day.  He is the luckiest boy in the world to have sister's as much in love with him as they are.  

Big sister Dreama...

Big sister Grace....

Motherhood and photography go hand in hand for me...I couldn't imagine me without either.

Crissy & Jon

Ah, Crissy and Jon!  I met Crissy about a year ago after my old photography partner referred her to me.  Crissy spilled all of her wedding details and from that moment on... I was psyched to shoot her big day! 

A couple months went by, and surprise!!!! ...I discover I'm pregnant and due days after her scheduled wedding.  After asking Crissy if she'd be more comfortable with me returning her deposit and finding someone else, she decided to stick with me:)  I was now even more determined to shoot this wedding!  haha

Long story short, I ended up delivering a gorgeous baby boy by c-section on May 30th and shot Crissy's wedding (against doctor's advice) on June 7th.  I am sooooo glad I did!!!!  The ceremony took place at the extravagant Wells Theater in Norfolk.  Oh, and the reception!!!!!!  Crissy and Jon memorized the Dirty Dancing dance and performed it as their first.  

The night was amazing.

Larissa & George

 

Larissa and George were married May 17,2008 in Virginia Beach, VA at the gorgeous Founder's Inn.  The evening was filled with laughter, lot's of great food and plenty of dancing.  

Ava...growing up!

Little Ava isn't so little anymore!  I remember a little over a year ago when I met her... she was barely visible in her infant carrier and my now almost three year old used to be able to scoop her up in her arms.  Ava is now walking, talking (well, a few words that is), and has a personality all her own!  Embracing every milestone is the key to watching children grow.  Every age is special and will be cherished.  It was so much fun singing the ABC's and Itsy Bitsy Spider during our session! ;)  Although, I do miss that tiny little bundle that I used to squeeze and kiss...I do love the now sassy and 'put me down so I can get going' budding toddler!

Lynn & Lewis

Wow! What an amazing weekend! Lynn and Lewis were married in Raleigh, NC on April 20,2008. The couple had been planning this day for over a year, and down to the last detail, every moment was magical. I feared that thunderstorms would ruin my idea of formal shots outdoors, but the GORGEOUS church had the perfect covered porch to shade the bride and groom :) Congratulations Lynn and Lewis (and Kelly)!