Halloween Mini Session galleries will be send out in the next few days! Be on the lookout for your client access code!

All kidding aside... these pictures were the highlight of a pretty bad gameday. I'm so excited with the results and am super excited to share them with you! Katie is precious pregnant. You can't even tell she's about to pop from the back! Nolan is going to be one lucky little fellow to have two very awesome parents!

Belly Bump!

Nolan, I'm SO excited to get to snuggle with you very soon!!! 

Steve Langley is a "bubbleologist." Bascially, he blows bubbles for a living. Sounds pretty fantastic, right? Aside from the fact that he's living out every kid's dream, he holds numerous Guinness World Records. It gets better. Steve performs his bubbles and juggling all over the eastern coast for massive events... and if you're lucky (like me, right, Steve???) you might even catch his calendar on a good day and book him for a birthday party! He's even showcasing during Charlotte's Thanksgiving Day Parade and introducing his amazing bubble mobile. Okay... you're as hyped up about this gallery now as I am. Enjoy. ;) 

Cool from every angle...

:) 

Maybe my fave. Maybe. It's hard to pick but the way the bubble affects the light here is pretty awesome.

This picture makes me think of Disney's Dumbo during the song "Pink Elephants." 

So perfect!

Bubbles inside of bubbles? Why not?!

Feel free to visit this gallery again if you just want some bubbles to make you happy. Or call Steve... 704-904-5471

There's something about a big smile...

SO handsome! 

See... I told you... TONS of light! :) 

Sweetness!

This was right after dad saved us all from a snake!

One of my favorites!!!

She's BEAUTIFUL!

:)

These pictures were SO sundrenched, but I LOVE how they turned out! I should send the sailboat peeps a thank you note for parking so perfectly! ;) 

ADORE!!! This goes into my all-time faves folder!

Awwww :) 

Aren't they the cutest family?!

By this picture BW3 was MUCH more appealing than smiling for the camera, but the kiddos gave me their last smiles for a great shot!

Prowler family, it was AWESOME spending some time getting to know you guys! Thanks for protecting me from the snake and choosing me to capture these memories of your family. It was an honor!

If baby girl looks anything like her momma, daddy's in trouble!

Loved these two! They were so willing to do whatever in order to get a great shot!

From what I gather, it's predicted that Emerson will have dark hair. Eye color is still up for debate, but I'm guessing brown!

Sweetness!

How is she about to give birth in less than a month?!! Congrats on hitting the genetic lottery, Emerson! ;) 

LOVE!

Emerson sure has a beautiful mommy!

:)

Maybe my fave...

Emerson, I can't WAIT to snuggle with you soon! Go easy on mommy's ankles and rest up! We'll be waiting....

***ADORE***

Maybe my favorite??? It's hard to pick just one fave from this session!!!

Okay, maybe this one is my favorite! (See what I mean- tough decisions! Glad I'm not the one deciding what to frame!) ;) 

Ahhhh! Love this one too!

Look at her eyes! Beautiful!

Loving the light!

Gigi's mom brought this beautiful sunflower to symbolize Gigi's aunt. I love what it added to our session and how special it makes each picture!

l

This reminds me of a magazine cover from the 70s... loving the retro vibe of this pic!

Gigi, I'm honored to have been able to capture this awesome time in your life! I hope you look back on these pictures in years to come with amazing memories of your senior year! Good luck and may God richly bless your future!

Nola wanted to make sure she was front and center for at least one family picture!

See what I mean by mom's eye for design! How FUN is baby Alexa's room! Love!

Focusing early!!! She's brilliant! 

The whole family is smitten with their new arrival. :) 

***ADORE***

Those lips!!!

Sister love 

Alexa is beautiful!

Sweet sleepy smiles :) 

Alexa, I'm so glad I got to be a part of your first few days! You were a rock-star model... once you had a happy tummy! I can't wait to watch you grow into a beautiful little lady. And if you're ever in doubt... look to big sister! I have a feeling she'll always steer you in the right direction. :) 

This is a blog so full of sweetness, it might very well give you a cavity! Meet baby Will. He's beautiful... and before you ask, yes, I can call a boy beautiful! (I have my own beautiful little boy.) I'm not sure if it's the head full of dark hair, the sweet precious lips, or that adorable chin... but he's one of the most handsome little munchkins I've seen in a long time. 

And meet Will's family. One of the best things about being a newborn photog is making new friends during some of the most exciting (if not exhausting) weeks of their lives. Being invited into a home when a new baby has just arrived is so special and I enjoyed the time I got to spend with the Baatsen family.

Look at that hair!!!

Jack is an awesome big brother.

This beautiful boy has his mommy's dark hair and lashes!

And Jack looks just like his daddy!

love.

ahhhhh... breath of heaven

Look at those squishy lips!!!

I have SO many favorites from this session!

THAT HAIR!!!

Sweet little details :) 

such peace

Will, it was so wonderful spending the morning with you. I look forward to watching you grow into a handsome young man! Make sure you keep big brother on his toes and give mommy and daddy plenty of rest!

If you're like the majority of women and felt like you were 300+ pounds with a horrible complexion, huge ankles, and yucky overall appearance when you were pregnant, then don't read this blog. For real... run the other way.

Meet Emily. Don't hate her- she can't help that she looks insanely amazing pregnant. I've known Emily since college and was so honored when she asked if I could take her maternity pictures. It's always extra fun when I get to take pictures of friends, especially now that I live so far from home... it makes me feel a little more "in the loop." Spending the afternoon with Emily and her husband John was awesome! They even introduced me to a new area (or rather, new to me area) in Birmingham and now I know exactly where I want to live if (when) we move back!

Lexie is going to be a great big sister!

I love Colton's name! I guess they didn't need another "John." ;) 

For real... Emily looks amazing!

Colton, you have one beautiful mommy!

Time for Lexie's closeup! 

Maybe Colton will get mommy's beautiful eyes?

I have a feeling there will be many stroller rides down this sidewalk!

Not only is Colton getting an amazing family, he's getting a brand new home! And it's amazing too! 

Colton, I can't wait to get to know you and to watch a Bama game in your new home! You've scored an awesome mom and dad, so treat them well and Roll Tide!

Baby Bratina is a BOY!!!

Eli loves his baby bro already!

And Sydney is already an amazing big sister! Baby Bratina will be so lucky to have her!

Here's the glowing Tiffany! She looks amazing!

I can't resist that cute smile!

Family of FIVE!

As we were leaving our field, we saw a man blowing massive bubbles! They were amazing! Steve Langley is certainly a bubble master and was SO kind to fill a few shots with bubbles for us! I can't wait to use Steve in some shoots in the future!

Not only were the bubbles beautiful, they were SO much FUN!

***FAVE***

When celebrating an upcoming baby boy, you must visit a red caboose!

These two will be the best big sibling pair! I can't wait to meet your brother in December!!!

Are they not the cutest?!!!

Big Bro is SO handsome. Look at those eyes!

She is BEAUTIFUL!

That lollypop was not a bribe. I promise. ;) 

LOVE him!

***adore***

See ya soon, guys! It was a blast!

See these two below? Yeah, they're my awesome neighbors... and they're pretty hardcore. By that, I mean that tiny Tina just carried TWINS for 36 1/2 weeks! I'm more than impressed and SO happy that my two newest neighbors got to come straight home with no NICU time. I say all of this because Georgia and Everett are my youngest set of newborn twins yet! At only 9 days new, I got to snuggle with these two ADORAble babies and they were fantastic! All of that aside... how gorgeous are mom and dad?!!

Brand new family of four!

Baby LOVE!

***swoon***

Handsome Mr. Everett

And here's one of the beautiful Georgia...

Nah... dad's not a Cubs fan. ;) I have a feeling that this is going to be a daddy/ Everett spot for years to come!

How "tweet!" Hehe!

adore

Georgia and Everett, you have a gorgeous mommy!!!

Sleepy baby (and daddy)

Baby smiles are the BEST

"Hold me closer tiny dancer..."

And finally, a shot to honor dad's time in the service.

Georgia and Everett, you guys are quite amazing. I can't wait to watch you grow and will certainly enjoy my front row seat! You're certainly blessed with the BEST team of parents ever! Treat them well and make sure they get tons of sleep... ;) 

Big sister Parker (aka Harper... not really) ;) is the MOST adorable little girl! She's got LOTS of smiles to give away!

Baby Alexa sure has a beautiful mommy!

***ADORE***

I know this was a family session and one key member is missing from this picture, but I can't help thinking that this might be my fave! I see it all the time with couples and have even experienced it myself, but when babies are on the way we tend to place all of our energy and focus on our new additions and their siblings. Sometimes it's nice to slow down and remember the reason that there are bouncing babies bundles... all because two people fell in love. :) 

SO not my typical edit, but I LOVE it!!!

shhhhhh! There's a baby in there! ;) 

1... 2... 3... SWING!

This sweet "baby" girl is about to graduate to "big sister!"

Oh, Parker! You are ADORable!!

Powell family, thank you so much for letting me be a part of such a fun morning! I hope Target was all Parker dreamed it would be and I CAN'T WAIT to snuggle baby Alexa! Rest up because six weeks will FLY by!

SUCH a beautiful family!

There's a big soft spot in my heart for little blonde headed, blue eyed boys!

Miss Stella could certainly strike a pose. She's ADORable!!!

I always love catching sweet moments. As a parent, getting a rare "candid" moment of myself and my husband (that I like) is pretty much like winning the lottery. Moms and dads are much more concerned about getting beautiful images of their children, so being able to capture a moment between of the parents is always a goal. Looks like we hit the jackpot!!!

Yeah. LOVE. You should see it in color...

***FRAMER***  (or maybe a really big canvas???)

We finally made it to the beach and welcomed the sun-drenched setting!

Cutie patootie!

This was pretty much my angle on Hudson from the moment he realized he was in sand. Good thing he's stinkin cute from any angle! ;) 

***Swoon***

Besties...

Gotta love the mommy-daughter moments :) 

Kessler family, it was SO much fun getting to spend the afternoon with you! I look forward to watching your family grow. Welcome to North Carolina!!!

This was precious Camden 7 months ago...

... and this is Camden now!!! It's amazing how much they change in the first year!!!

Camden is a momma's boy! And why wouldn't he be? His mommy is the BEST!

I don't think Camden will have the opportunity to become a volleyball player... hehe ;)

LOVE this family!!!!

Who could resist that sweet face??!!!

Camden and his family are beautiful in black and white :)

We worked hard to get a Camden "squishy face"... which I'm proud to announce that we accomplish! This was one of our attempts, and I have to say, Camden is a pretty amazing fly boy! ;) I actually have a picture with him higher than this. Yeah....

Sweetness!

Camden, I can't believe that in 5 months we'lls be celebrating your first birthday! I'm going to make sure mom and dad want to do a cake smash session! ;) You'll love it... I promise!!! Until then...

Meet the Schierloh family! Jaxon and Julianna are the sweetest brother and sister pair! And I doubt I've met more polite children in my entire life... Toni, I know exactly where I'm going next time I need parenting advice! It was a joy getting to take pictures of children who are so beautiful inside and out!

The Schielke family had just welcomed their newest member, baby Katelyn, three weeks prior to our session. Isn't big brother Clyde the coolest? I loved this family and was totally obsessed with their dog. ;) The best part about this family is the fact that they're my neighbors! I'm not sure baby K loves me though. I think having her pictures made in the bright sunlight wasn't her favorite activity. It seemed she was more interested in cuddles with mommy and chugging milk. Baby K sure is a beauty though and I look forward to watching her bloom into a lovely little lady. Maybe she'll trick-or-treat me one day. ;)

Meet the Williams family. Mom is from Alabama, like me! However, unlike me she's an Auburn fan. (I guess I can put that huge difference aside since Sutton is SO stinking cute!) ;) Sutton was my first session of the day and the camera loved him. The precious jacket he's wearing in the pictures was a special gift that mom was given prior to Sutton's arrival and she wanted to make sure she captured him wearing the priceless keepsake. I'd say we did a great job of accomplishing those wishes! Sutton was a huge help and was all smiles throughout our session, even though he was totally NOT into giving his "bunny" love for the camera. Maybe next time! ;)

Sutton just had a birthday... he's now TWOOOOO!

Another fantastic session was the Kraus family. They had a special announcement to make and I loved that I got to help them tell the world that their family is growing! Big sister was the CUTEST thing and I was totally obsessed with her cheeks and piggy tails! She was obsessed with her raisins! ;) Now the big question is... will baby Kraus be a boy or a girl???!!

This might have been one of my most favorite picture of the day. Love!

The Bratina family was another highlight of my day. They were awesome! Eli and big sister Sydney were a joy to photograph and the camera loved them! I adored the navy and aqua color scheme that mom picked out and was so impressed with Sydney's kindness and love towards her little brother. One of my most favorite parts of photographing families is watching the dynamics between siblings. Since I have no siblings, I feel like it shows me what to do when my own little boy has a sibling one day. And no... that won't be any day soon! ;) I just always like to plan ahead and Sydney was a wonderful example. Eli was too cute and such a little gentleman. Needless to say, these two made my job easy on mini session day! ;) 

The Vincent family was awesome! Sweet children, fun-loving and laid-back parents... what more could a photog ask for? I loved that Caden was a little mini-me of his dad and sweet Ella Grace had the most precious smile. I only saw it once, but it was stunning! I'm thinking the bright sun was a little much for her beautiful blue eyes, but she was a trooper... even when big brother tackled her to try and coax out a smile. ;)

I adore natural moments like this!

 Precious Maddie captured my heart the second I met her. She was so pretty in her pink and white bunny dress and so happy despite fighting her allergies. I was impressed! Maddie's mom was referred by her neighbor who I was blessed to get to take newborn photos for back in January. If you missed it, scroll down and vist Jack's blog! Maddie's session was full of life and smiles and was certainly a highlight of my mini session day!  

She loves her momma!

My last session of the day wasn't a mini session. The Harris family are my next door neighbors and we'd been discussing doing a session for them for a while. This was the perfect opportunity! We did the "mini session" set up for them, but I treated their time the way I do my full sessions and had them bring things that were personal to them. Since their family came from California and love the beach, we moved from our field to the park's beach area. If you didn't know, you would have totally thought we had our feet in coastal waters instead of Lake Norman. ;) The personal items they chose were the kids' scooters. I adored this because when I think of Carter and Kaylee, I think of scooters. It was perfect! As much as I loved shooting all the mini sessions, ending the day with a full session reminded me of why it's important to spend a little more than 30 minutes with each family. While capturing growth spurts and special times of the year are perfect for mini sessions, full sessions allow you to personalize the pictures to each family. Personalizing this session to the Harris family was so much fun and allowed us to capture some beautiful memories that will stay with their family forever!

Be sure to keep checking W Image's Facebook page for information about the next mini session date... and if you're looking for something more personal, contact W Image's for full session pricing. Happy Easter!

Newborn sessions are always amazing. They're even more special when the newborn in question belongs to someone I consider a good friend. I met Jack's mom, Allison, for the first time at Zoe's Kitchen. We were meeting because I'd just been hired as a new third grade teacher on Allison's team. She was our team leader and my across-the-hall neighbor during my first year teaching in North Carolina. I'm not sure what I would have done that year without Allison. Being a part of a "team" of teachers is like having a second family. No one quite understands the life of a teacher except those who are in the trenches with you. When baby Jack joined our "team", I knew that letting another photog spend those precious hours immortalizing Allison's newest family member was out of the question!

I loved every minute I got to spend with baby Jack, big sister Catherine, Allison, and Jimmy. Oh! I can't forget Oakley and Dublin! To have such a new little baby in the house, the two fur babies were incredibly well behaved. (To be totally honest- I would've expected nothing less from super calm and super well-organized Allison!) ;) And without further adeiu, meet nine day old baby Jack!

Allison's got that new mommy glow!

Baby LOVE!

There's just something special about mommas and their baby boys...

Happy family of FOUR!

Daddy was a big fan kicking back to catch this photo... and a few minutes of shut-eye! ;)

I think Catherine realized before any of the adults that this picture was hopeless. Funny... but hopeless!

This baby is super advanced! I swear the kid was already focusing on my with those 9 day old eyes!!!

***heaven***

***perfection***

"Breath of heaven"

very dapper

Catherine is a great big sister!

I can tell that big sister is going to keep Jack on his toes!

Can they be any more beautiful?!!!

iPhone? Doughnut? Will smile for bribes... and let me say, those bribes were well worth it!

Jack, I can't tell you how honored I am to have been able to shoot your newborn session and how excited I am to watch you grow into a wonderful little man. Be good to mommy and let big sister dress you up from time to time. She'll probably share a doughnut with you when she's done! ;)

Enter the Christmas family. (Yes... How fantastic is it that their last names are "Christmas"?!!!) Not only was their session one of my favorites all year (and maybe one of my favorite holiday sessions ever), but they wanted sneak peeks and didn't care if I shared their pictures prior to sending their cards!!! Yea!!!

Lisa, the mom, is super creative and loves coming up with unique ideas. The last few pictures were a special request that resulted in about 5 minutes of insanity and what I can imagine was about 5 hours of clean-up! It was all worth it though! Without further adeiu, meet the Christmas family...

Oh! And I almost forgot to mention that Duke, the furbaby, was the EASIEST dog I've ever photographed. He's not spoiled at all! ;)

Kaylee is such a beautiful little girl! I swear she belongs in an Abercrombie ad!

Duke even smiled for pictures... for real though...

It's the small moments that hold the most memories...

ADORE!

***heart***

The madness prior to this picture is one for the memory books!

The End. (with a handprint) ;)

Merry Christmas all and may your holiday season be full of blessings and cheer! God bless!

Brooklyn's mommy has such beautiful eyes!

Jacob will be the best big brother. He's also the most well behaved dog I've ever photographed!

Eager puppy! He can't wait to meet his little sis!

Loved this one of Nicole and Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is going to have her hands full with these two! ;)

LOVE!

Brooklyn, I can't wait to get to know you! I already know you're going to have one fantastic life with the parents God has lined up for you. They're hilarious and so much fun. Don't cause them too much trouble, because if my guess is right... knowing mommy and daddy... you're going to be a handful. Don't worry though, I've got TONS of dirt when you need just the right ammunition to get out of trouble! ;)

Camden, you were a joy to spend my Saturday morning with and I can't wait for many more Saturdays filled with you and your family! 

We had a very happy and alert Camden for about the first hour of our shoot.

Someone loved how warm daddy was :)

There's nothing like the love between a momma and her baby boy...

***Pure Joy***

I have a love affair with tattoos and babies. I think it's the contrast between our dependency as infants and growing independence/ personalities as we age.

~Believe~

Dad's a huge OSU fan and as I was editing this picture, Ohio was losing to Northwestern. I do have to say that I pointed out this picture would be lucky on Facebook during the game and guess what??? I was RIGHT! Ohio fans, you owe your saved season to baby Camden and me! Just sayin... ;)

Mom and dad were super helpful during our shoot. Here's a behind the scene pic of our newborn session... It takes a village!

I have a feeling that baby Camden will be an avid volleyball player like his mom and dad. I also have a feeling that he's going to enjoy surprising them whenever possible. During this picture Camden gave daddy not one, but TWO exciting surprises!

We were all very tickled.

After trying to tell us he was cold all morning, Camden was more than excited to go outside for a nap.

They're such a beautiful family!

***swoon***

For all the Raven's fan in the family...

And for the volleyball enthusiasts...

Last, but certainly not least... here's my personal favorite of Mr. Camden.

Camden, you are one lucky little boy to have such an amazing family. I can't wait to watch you grow!

Meet Jack and Maeve (again) ;)

SUCH a precious family!

Grandmother was a wonderful help and is certainly loved by these two munchkins!

Gorgeous Maeve!

Cutie Patootie!

Handsome Jack... I ADORE him!

Jack and Maeve's mom made the most adorable cakes for the "smash bash"... I was super impressed!

Here we go!

"Mom said you have to share"

Sweetness!

Nom nom nom nom!

It's a family affair :)

and in less than 30 minutes...

What comes after cake??? Bath time!

While the twins cleaned up, Kuma started on my floors :)

Jack and Maeve, I can't imagine what this next year holds for the two of you, but I'm super excited to find out! I'm also looking forward to dad's two-year-old, one-kid-per-arm photo. ;) Thanks again for allowing me to be a small part of your special moments.

This past Saturday Ashley attended her senior prom and asked me to come take pictures prior to her fairytale evening of dinner and dancing. I've spent plenty of time with Ashley and have met her parents in passing, but Saturday was the first time I spent an extended amount of time with the people who made Ashley into the incredible young woman that she is. Ashley is a clone of her mother and is the apple of her father's eyes. It was so much fun to watch a family so full of love celebrating their baby girl!

Ashley, you are AMAzing! I hope your senior prom was everything you hoped it would be!

Dad was sure to get plenty of his own pictures of his baby girl!

At times, I was more entertained watching Ashley's dad dote on her than I was by taking pictures!

Ashley and her beautiful mom...

Daddy and his little girl!

Besties

Breathtaking...

Oh... and I can't forget to mention that the entire look (dress, accessories, etc) was styled by dad!

And then the date arrived! Meet Andre!

*sweetness*

Had to do the "prom pose"... duh! ;)

the flowers....

Very dapper!

Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye...

Ready for a great evening!

One last shot for dad!

A thumbs up from the driver reassured all the parents that their babies would be well taken care of

Ashley, I hope your evening was beyond fantastic. You deserve it, beautiful girl!

The day began with a 3 am text message (that I'm ashamed to admit didn't wake me) and I headed to the birthing center at 8 am. Since it was about a 40 minute drive away, I should have arrived well before 9. Due to miscommunications with the address, I actually wound up on a dirt road in a cow pasture where my GPS told me I'd have to "get out and walk to reach my destination". I panicked. This was a time sensitive photo shoot and I was in the middle of nowhere. Thankfully I was able to Google search the birthing center and found that one little word left out of a hurried text message from the soon-to-be daddy put me face to face with Deliverance... not delivery! ;) It certainly made for a great story though and I arrived at Natural Beginnings in plenty of time.

Typically I enjoy giving a mini-narration of the pictures I post on a blog in order to enhance the story being told. These images need no enhancement or color to communicate the day. The story of Alyssa's birth is a beautiful and powerful illustration of love, faith, and one woman's determination. Johanna, you were incredible! Thank you for allowing me to be part of such an amazing day! And without further adieu, the birth story of baby Alyssa...

Alyssa, your birthday was incredible! I can't wait to watch you grow into a beautiful young lady and tell you many stories about the day you were born! I'll even include the part about the placenta...

I met Melanie while student teaching and we became fast friends. We even joked that she needed to get engaged while I was her student teacher so she'd have time to plan her wedding while I was teaching her class. Little did we know, a few months later an engagement would come to pass.

I was so excited to photograph Melanie and Bryan's wedding day. Since this was the second time around for both of them, it was extra special to see two amazing people find the love that they absolutely deserve. It was so special in fact, that a wedding guest approached me after the ceremony to comment how touched he was that the photographer was so moved by the ceremony. (Had I known they were writing their own vows, I would have worn waterproof mascara!) I didn't have the heart to tell him that I was personally invested in the day through my friendship with Melanie. ;)

The wedding day festivities began at a local Denver salon.

I was obsessed with black and white when I edited this gallery!

Swoon!

Melanie planned so many special details that added to the beauty of the day.

The camo garter was a surprise for Bryan.

Bryan also planned special details for the day.

Everyone enjoyed the moment when Bryan saw his bride for the first time.

There's such an amazing love that flows from these two whenever they're together!

Happy tears!

It was so special to see two precious families become one!

Sweet girl!

Melanie has such a wonderful group of friends!

More special details...

These guys were troopers during pictures and made my job easy... as long as I'd let them hide their beverage cans behind their backs during pictures. ;)

Ear muffs!

Bryan had to sit back and take the torture ;) He was a great sport!

Sweet siblings

Bronson escorted his mother down the aisle and gave her away

A fun evening was had by all and to end the evening, lanterns were lit and released into the night sky.

Melanie and Bryan, thank you so much for including me in your special day!

Johanna is always beautiful, but there's something SO classic about seeing her in black and white.

Sweet Mason joined us after his bath!

He's going to be a great big brother!

Handsome boy!!!

They don't have have much longer to wait on baby sister...

LKN

Kimberly, Mike, Ava, and Barkley... you guys hit the baby jackpot! Congrats on the new arrival. Anytime you need an extra pair of hands to snuggle little Elle, you know how to reach me!

Yes, I know this picture doesn't show Elle exactly as I described her, but give her a break... It was time to eat. ;)

They're SUCH a precious family!

Mike will certainly have his hands full with so many beautiful ladies in his life!

Sometimes it's the unplanned moments that are the most precious behind the lens.

Big sister is ADORable!

Say "popsicle!" ;)

Meet beautiful Elle!

The love is contageious!

*swoon*

Did I mention how much I ADORE this baby?!!!

Pure Heaven

How can this NOT give you baby fever?!

I LOVE the squished lip!

Elle, even though you are a dream baby, I want to make sure you know how lucky you are to have such amazingly awesome parents. Don't spoil them too much and remember that you can get whatever you want out of big sis if you have a popsicle handy! ;) I can't WAIT to watch you grow into a beautiful young lady... just take your time and don't grow up too fast!

Blair is ADORable! She has the BEST smile and is such a happy baby. (I'm told I should be very thankful that her reflux meds were working) And to top it all off, the outfit she was wearing was made by her grandmother! Yes, Blair comes from a beautiful, kind, and TALENTED family... and I'm not just saying this because Blair's mom is my bestie. In the south, we say "they're good people". Well, they're not just "good", they're GREAT! I'm thinking Charlotte will require some of this greatness to visit very soon!!!

And without further adieu... I present beautiful baby Blair's 4 month session!

Blair is going to be beautiful inside and out... just like her mommy!

LOVE them!!!

See... I told you Blair's smile is awesome! :)

yep... my heart just melted!

SWEETNESS!!!

*swoon*

And I saved my favorite for last! :)

Blair, I think you need some Christmas pictures... you should talk your parents into bringing you to Charlotte so we can get those done soon! ;)

We've been awaiting the arrival of Miss Avery, and she finally decided to grace us with her presence after only a week of extra waiting. This beautiful little darling certainly has the "diva" gene and has already become very apt at ruling the roost! She was determined to stay awake for her photo session (and we all know I prefer sleepy angels), but in the end, I got the best of her. And when I say I got the best of her... I did!!! I got some AMAZingly beautiful shots of this teeny beauty! Avery, thank you for allowing me to snag some photos of that precious pout... go easy on your mom and dad!!!

Avery was getting "down and dirty" during this shot, but that sweet smile made it all worth it!

She's such a little punkin!

Momma and Daddy are crazy in love... and tired. ;)

SUCH a sweet family!

And baby makes three!!!

*swoon*

What a perfect pout!

Avery is beautiful!

She's certainly going to break some hearts!

Those tiny features make me happy!

Bonjour!

LOVE!

Avery, thank you for letting me be a part of your first few days! I can't wait to watch you grow into a beautiful young lady!

In true Misty fashion, Sofia's momma planned an awesome first birthday for her little angel. Even though it was officially the first day of fall, we were having a luau at the Valjevac home. Everything was bright, colorful, festive, and perfect for a perfectly precious princess!

Sofia, you are one lucky little girl to have such an amazing family! I hope one day you look back at these pictures and realize how much you are loved!

Everything was pretty and pink!

There were a ton of wonderful details, but I think the napkin wraps might have been my favorite!

Sofia's "watch me grow" line... I can't believe we've taken 12 of these already!!!

Ridge has enjoyed his party favor!

It's all about the details!

The cakes were wonderful!

What beautiful work!!!

The best part about a first birthday?... the smash cake, of course!!!

Not only did Sofia turn one, but the day after, her sweet momma turned 30! September sure is an expensive month for Daniel! ;)

How fun! Right?!!!

Aunt Dawn got some cuddles before the crowd came.

She's showing you "how many" she is! :)

"I'm made for this present stuff!"

I like to think that Misty is wondering where she's going to put everything! ;) Notice my sweet Ridgers playing in the background ;)

Little miss priss was super sleepy by this point.

There's the serious little girl I know and love! :)

I have to say, to be so tired, she did a pretty good job eating cake!

She's ADORED!!!

I had to make sure I got someone to take a pic of me at the party... I am "mommy Whitney" after all!!! ;)

Happy birthday sweet Sofia!!! And happy 30th to your awesome mom! I can't wait to spend many more years loving you and watching you grow... and who knows... maybe I'll be doing your engagement photos one day with a certain handsome blonde, curly haired boy! ;)

Love you all!!!

From the very first moment that I met Jackie, I realized there was no way anyone could be around her and not be happy. It was no surprise that she chose such a happy and colorful setting for her engagement photos. I'm getting ahead of myself though... Enter Billy. Actually, Billy entered this story years ago when Jackie was a junior in high school. Yes folks, Jackie and Billy were high school sweethearts. *Awww.* I loved hearing all about J & B's past. Everything from recalling the decision they made to skip Billy's senior prom and attend Jackie's instead (since they were on the same night), to the fact that Billy casually mentioned he actually likes Jackie more now than he did then makes me sing a sappy country song in my head. (Just in case you're wondering, that song is "Katie and Tommy".) I feel so honored to be a part of your story and hope that I've captured a small piece of your magnetic personalities.

Jackie and Billy, I wish you both every happienes in the world!

Special Delivery!!!!

Look at those lips!!!

Little man has a head full of hair already!

Cole is a wonderful smiler! The only problem was the fact that he'd smile every time I was moving a prop, adjusting the camera, or talking to mom! At least I caught this sweet smile! PRECIOUS!!!

Swoon :)

"Dear God, thank you for my wonderful family. Amen."

Meet the Newberry family!

Butters is a baby too! :)

Cole's mom is BEAUTIFUL!

LOVE

Jenna, Stuart, and Cole... it was wonderful working with you! Thank you for letting me into your life at this super special time and I hope you will cherish these memories forever!

Of course I made sure to get some of my favorite type of images... sun-drenched!

Avery's daddy has some incredible eyes and eyelashes!!!

Her mommy is beautiful too!

*LOVE*

The next picture was requested since it was a remake of one of Jessica and Kaylon's engagement photos... cool idea!!!

While we were waiting out the rain....

Black and white, baby bump, ring in focus... how could this NOT be precious?!

.... swoon ....

Avery has daddy in her back pocket already... even though she rode around in his for awhile! ;)

I'm loving the hands, heart, and belly!

These *three* are so adorable together :)

Jessica is ALL belly!

Thanks again for allowing me the honor of sharing such special memories. There are SO many more to come and I am over-the-moon excited about continuing this journey with you all!

Every now and then you meet a family that blesses your heart. This week, the Cottone family did that for me. I previously shot an engagement session at their beautiful Lake Norman home and was so excited when their sister-in-laws "gave" me as a present to Chris and Jackie. As I entered their home for the second time, I was greeted by my new friend, Anabella, and got to meet her little brother as well. The home was full of life as everyone was finishing dinner and getting ready for their family photo shoot. The energy level stayed high as I took tons of photos of this beautiful crew... but the thing that blessed me the most was the fact that they were just as beautiful on the inside as they were to my camera lens. As a mom, I know that parents are never concerned with getting pictures of themselves, only their children and family, so I wanted to make sure we got a couple of awesome shots of just Jackie and Chris. I loved that while "mom and dad" and I went to snag a few pictures of them alone, the precious children excitedly turned on "their" music... children's Christian praise music. It completely took me back to riding in my mom's car as a little girl, singing worship music at the top of my lungs. Jackie and Chris, I very much enjoyed the time I got to spend with your family! Thank you! Oh! And I hope the cinnamon rolls were everything Anabella and Christian hoped they'd be!  

Gotta love these kids!

Swoon :)

You'd think balancing four people in a hammock would be difficult... not for these guys!

One of my favorite images ever!

Sun-kissed photos are always my favorite!

SO handsome!

This couple is GORGEOUS!

Thank you for allowing me to spend time with your wonderful family! May God continue to bless you all!

The owners of Retro Designs, Daniel and Misty Valjevac, were wonderful and gracious hosts. Daniel, the creative mastermind and restorer is quickly taking the classic car world by storm. Recently he participated in a car restoration television show and will appear on the cover of an enthusiast magazine next month! As a friend of the family, I knew Daniel was talented and passionate, but seeing his talent and passion first hand was inspiring! Without further adieu, I give you Retro Design's 2012 open house!

Celebrating their much deserved success!

The open house was filled with friends, family, and clients!

Daniel's parents and precious Sofia!

I LOVED all the details of the cars!

Daniel and Misty, Thank you for letting me celebrate with you! I can't wait to watch Retro Designs continue to grow!

Meet my fabulous assistant!

These two are so in love! It's written all over their faces!

Vanessa, this gives me that "Notebook" feel...

Lake Norman was a beautiful backdrop!

LOVE

Aren't they gorgeous?!

I'm playing the Miami Vice theme song in my head as I attach this photo :)

Jason and Vanessa, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your day! Your gallery will be up very soon!

I adore sun-drenched photos! 

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These kids are crazy gorgeous!

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Silly much?

There's always a need for a good "stache" picture! The rock candy, or "real" candy as MaKenna thought we were saying, was a last ditch effort to curb the sillies so we could end the session with a bang... I have no idea why it worked so well?! Maybe they get their sugar itch from their mom. I seem to remember something about a can of frosting and a spoon...

Everything about this shoot was my absolute favorite! I walked into J & M's home to find myself surrounded with fantastic style, welcoming parents, an awesome pet, and two of the most beautiful babies you've ever seen... that's right, I said TWO! Twins were the order of the day for me this past week and they were a dream to photograph. Even though Jack refused to curl up (which happens to be his favorite position I am told) and Maeve decided to tinkle on mommy, these newborns and their parents made my job super easy. Oh! And I can't forget about Diesel... He was the most well behaved four-legged brother I've ever met. All in all, this photo shoot made its way to my top 10 list and the more I oogle over the final products, the higher it climbs! Ladies and gentlemen... meet Jack and Maeve!

Did I mention that I adored their parents? It's always a bonus when you meet a couple that you automatically like... especially since you're about to spend the next 3-4 hours in their home! Oh, and on that topic, their home was decorated perfectly for family shots. I'm a sucker for a newborn family shot on a bed... there's something so personal about a bed that completely enhances the intimacy of any shot. But first, let me reiterate how much I enjoyed this family. Most of the time, it's the moms who are excited and will try anything to get the perfect shot of their precious newborns. Sarah was certainly excited, but it was Daddy who willingly took off his shirt for me without putting up a fuss! Which was great since it lead to the image below...

Isn't mom beautiful?! You'd never know she has two week old twins by looking at her! Sarah, Ryder, Jack, Maeve, and Diesel, thank you SO much for allowing me to spend a couple of hours with your family during this special time in your life. I'm honored you allowed me to capture the memories of your little angels.