Senior picture season can be stressful for parents and students - as thoughts of expensive $$$ pictures capturing a cheesy smile are forever plastered on nana's wall. The best pictures are always the natural ones - teens just being themself in front of the camera. The right prop can turn a good photo into something unique and special.

Imagine the picture of my friend Katie, without the funky bracelets. Still beautiful, yes; but you must admit you get a greater sense of  her personality with the baubles.

I am sooooooooooo getting more bracelets tomorrow.

I was recently reminded that beauty isnt planned, a celebration doesn't need to be extravagant to be meaningful, true love doesn't care about silly things like seating charts, wedding cake and flowers...and true friends stick by you in the rain.

We have dozens of heroic stories about how friends and family sprang into action to save the cake and the DJ's equipment.  Funny stories of how guests grabbed wine bottles/glasses and ran for cover under the eaves and shared with others - having a great time as they said "We will never forget this wedding."  We've heard touching stories of the couple who were laughing and crying at the same time - because it had rained at their wedding, too. 

There is something to be said for the bride and groom who embrace the rain.  If this is any indication how they will brave the storms of life, we can all sit back and take notes because this bride and groom never got wet...

xoxo 



***By the way, I think the Mossman's catering staff just might be the Power Rangers in disguise.  (Ninja food servers, at the very least.)

I'm planning a wedding.  Life is crazy right now!!! 

This is my new friend Josh.  He could care less about wedding plans and that is why he's next on my blog.  I had a great time with his senior photo session and for a minute he helped me to forget the wedding planning stress.  Notice how easy his everyday smile is. Such a natural smiler and hansome young man. 

Talk about a beautiful child...This is one of my favorite first birthday shots ever. She was just so happy on this day and every thing she did could have been photographed for a magazine layout.  Some sessions are just that easy...but most are not. Little children are so unpredictable.  We watch them do cute things all day and just when we grab our camera they become shy.  I always tell parents before a photo shoot that we will ALL work hard - and it will take all of us - but it will be worth it in the end.  Little ones are my favorite.  Little hands, little feet, little smiles, little chubby cheeks...

 

So here's my first blog entry...  I like to tell people (anyone who will listen, really) about my favorite pictures taken over the years.  I like this one because it describes how I feel on most days:  a little embarrased, a little giggly and very happy to be surrounded the beauty in the world.  It just seemed like a good place for me to start the blog.  This is Taylor and she is "something else". (Notice her fingernail paint peeling off.)  It's nice to see that other girls besides me are sometimes too busy playing to stop and get their nails done.  Taylor didn't have a lot of notice for this picture...  Her mother scooped her up and met me at the flower patch just before the sun set.  I think she did great!