I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.

This session is one of those instances where I was meant to be their photographer.

No one else.

It started with a phone call coming in into my landline.  I don’t answer the landline anymore.

It’s actually hooked to a fax machine and the main ringer turned off so I rarely even hear it anymore.

When I do hear it – I ignore it – except this time.  It was meant to be.

The call was from this mom – saying Cori had sent her to me (thanks, Cori).  That she had already had another photographer picked out

for the job – but was calling me just because.  It was meant to be.

She told me that she was almost 40 and her only child, a son, is 9 (instant chills – my exact story in 2 years).  It was meant to be.

She wanted me to capture her and her son – their friendship, their laughter, their love – as her

40th birthday present to herself.   I’m almost in tears.  It was meant to be.

I assured her she came to the right place.  I WAS the photographer for her.  I wanted this for her

as much as I would want this for myself.

It was awesome.  Everything I could want it to be.

The weather was perfect.  The tide was perfect.  The North End was gorgeous.

Their relationship…………….much like mine and my sons.  I’m doing this for me one day, soon.

It was meant to be.

Moms, please take time to celebrate yourself.  Please take time to have portraits done WITH your children.

Contact me so I can make it happen for you.  It would be the perfect gift to yourself.

This is a picture heavy post – get a cup of coffee – and enjoy!

Mini-sessions are the best way for families to get quick updated portraits.

While not quite as in depth and not nearly as many connections as I get with a full session,

I’m always pleased at the end of the day.

These are crazy fun sessions.

The other thing I love about these sessions are the history I have with these families.

Each one of my families that I’m sharing today has been photographed by me before.

I love, love, love seeing them again.  I love watching their children grow up behind my lens.

I met this family last year when Hampton wasn’t even standing well on his own.

Mom had missed one of my breastfeeding sessions so hired me for a family mini-session followed by a breastfeeding session, too.

I just love how animated Hampton is.

I don’t think I blogged his last session:(

This family is one of my most loyal customers.  She first hired me when I was JUST starting out – 5 years ago.

Our first session Julian was only about 6 months old.  It was a VERY cold beach session.

Over the years I’ve really gotten to watch them grow up.  It’s the highlight of my year!

Here’s an old post from when she was pregnant with Elsa

This year I was able to squeeze in some of mom and her kids – Ulrica – you are just radiant!

I photographed the boys for the first time last year.  I met mom through my very awesome dentists, Karen and Brent of Bush Family Dentistry.

The office staff bought a gift certificate from me for them for a gift 3 Christmas’ ago (how cool is that?)

And I’ve been with the family ever since!

I was so happy that mom and dad jumped in on this session.  I LOVE seeing families together.

I don’t know if I ever blogged their session last year (I was getting slack then)

Cori and I have known each other for a long time.  We were pregnant with our boys at the same time.

In fact they are exactly 1 month apart in age.

I photographed the family just before Cori and Dan got married (one of my favorite sessions ever – check it out HERE)

and just the boys last year.  It’s great seeing them all together!

Oh, and if you’re looking to buy/sell a house – check out Cori – soon you’ll even see a new headshot from this session:)

I was in contact with this mom while she was pregnant with her twins.  They just celebrated their 3rd birthday

and I love photographing them each year.  We’ve done full sessions and minis over the years.

Our last full session we did using Grandma’s field in Southport – such an awesome location.

The year prior to that – they weren’t even sitting up on their own – we met just before Orton Plantation closed.

We’re already in the planning phases of a “Day-in-the-Life” session – can’t wait for that!

And folks – please leave comments!  Not only do the families love it – but it actually helps me

reach out to new families.  It makes me more searchable

and google likes it:)  So, thanks in advance for comments.

Businesses are harder to keep track of on Facebook – so if you want to make sure you don’t miss updates – subscribe to the right!

I’ve been fielding a lot of e-mails and phone calls from parents wanting last minute sibling portraits

and family portraits for Christmas cards and gifts.  I have something up my sleeve Nov 27-Dec 2.

Contact me.

How is it that my only son is almost 8?

Almost 8?!?  I can’t believe that.

I’ve been a professional photographer for over 5 years now, and like the cobbler’s children that have no shoes,

my house is barren of pictures.  Barren of the evidence of the life I celebrate every day.

I always vow to get better, but somehow life gets in the way.

I have had this great vision for the wall in my dining room to be covered in our everyday portraits.

But, yet, the same big chili poster is there.  Lame.  I’m lame sometimes.  I admit it.

Luckily, I’ve been inspired by my colleagues and friends to participate in a blog circle of our everyday life.

7 amazing photographers taking time to enjoy their family.  Taking time to reflect on it once a month. Taking time to share it with the world.

Taking time to remember.

I don’t know how I might evolve in this – but I’m looking forward to watching.

I’m bad about leaving my “good” camera home unless I’m working, so these won’t be stellar portraits.

Nope.  Not from me.  From me it will most likely be phone snaps – and I don’t even have any cool apps that make my pics look better.

And a whole lot of babbling.  It’s ok if you skip all the text and go right to pictures.

I’m babbling for me.  Because one day, when my baby is going to high school, or GULP, college, I’ll want to

Remember This.

If you’re friends with me on FB – then you might have read this story already.  But it’s so good, I have to write it here.

Eddie or I are usually able to walk Silas to school.  One morning I didn’t have time to walk and let him know we would have to drive.

He asked if we could park nearby – and I thought it was a great idea because then I wouldn’t get stuck in the traffic line.

Silas’ response: Park close and we can walk from there.  So I can hold your hand for at least 1 block.

Melt my heart.

(one day I’ll have a better image than this.  But for now, I remember)

October is the month for costumes and Halloween traditions.  I always regret I don’t take more pictures.

Carving pumpkins is one of mine and Eddie’s favorite things to do.  I ventured to try roasting my own pumpkin seeds.

Why did I wait this long?  We all LOVED them.  It even inspired Silas to dig in and get seeds (he never does this)

And you can’t have Halloween without costumes.  Silas gets scarier every year.  Last year was a vampire and this year was the Grim Reaper.

We continued our tradition of meeting with his best buds, Chan and Oscar, and hit the neighborhood – old school style.  We had a blast.

I hope I never forget this, but Eddie and I won a costume contest!!!  We really couldn’t believe it.

We never win anything and definitely not a costume contest.

We went to a murder mystery dinner theater with some good friends at a local winery.

The them was Death By Disco.  We didn’t don disco clothes – but went with the 70s theme (and already had the costume so it was easy).

Velma and Shaggy took home a win!

  

Speaking of Chan – I found a gem this month.

Chan really was Silas’ first friend.  They didn’t really have a choice since his parents are our best friends, too.

I hope they are always this close.  One day, one day, I hope to chronicle their friendship.

Then and now.  Sigh.  Melt my heart.  I love these boys.

   

I don’t get in front of the camera enough.  I want to change that.  So, I’m going to try to end each post with a snap of us together.

I only thought of this just now.  As I was going through my iphone pics to see what I wanted to share here.  This wasn’t this month.

It was right before school started.  This is us.  This is how we are most of the time.

Silly, laughing, having fun.  I want to remember this.  I want this on my dining room wall. It makes my heart happy.

So, yea, kind of lame, I know.  It will get better, I promise.

But I need to start somewhere.  I could already feel myself getting ready to bail out of this project because

I knew I would look real lame compared to my talented friends.

But this is for me.  And anyone else that wants to read.

Check out my friend Heather – and see what she wants to remember.

Three years ago when I met this family for the first time,

I had no idea I would become part of their summer tradition.

Every summer, this family spends a week (or more) in Carolina Beach,

and for the last 3 years, I feel like I have watched Megan grow up behind my lens.

And I feel like I’m the fortunate one to have the experience.

Having family portraits done are no small feat.

There’s the scheduling, the wardrobe coordinating, the location selection, and the investment.

Megan’s mom said it best in a recent note to me:

” I have to save ALL year long for this investment in our memories! Some people think I am crazy for the amount of money I spend on pictures…. and maybe I am crazy… but, I LOVE LOVE LOVE having our pictures done by you. So, I sacrifice other things so that I can ‘afford’ this. ;)”

This is why I do what I do.  This is why I love what I do.

Update:  I’ve done some re-arranging and have some spots available this weekend.

Friday (Ft. Fisher) at 4:00pm

Saturday (Wade Park) 2 morning sessions

Saturday (Ft. Fisher) at 5:00pm

Don’t miss out – contact me today!

It’s that time of year again.

Fall mini-sessions!!!

The perfect way to get updated portraits of your kiddos (and family)

at a fraction of the cost.

 I’ve been getting a lot of requests for sessions, so I’ve created lots of opportunities.

I’ll be in Southport this year using this awesome field I found recently while photographing two adorable girls.

I’ll also be using Wade Park, again.  It’s been a few years since I used it for a session

and I forgot how beautiful it was until I visited it again with a group of kids.

This park has the coolest playground and a great walking area and bridge.  Expect lots of different textures and colors for this session.

And for the first time ever, I’m doing mini-session at the Ft. Fisher maritime forest.

Folks, those sessions are filling up fast!

 If you’d like to book a session click HERE

then click on “session and fees” and add the session to your cart

Then contact me and let me know which day you’d like and I’ll let you know your time slot.

If you book the Instant Gratification package – you will receive a custom app with your images!  How cool is that?

Though I only met them for the first time when I pulled into the parking lot,

I feel like I’ve known them forever.

A very dear friend of mine is getting ready to be Gigi to a very special little girl.

I can’t wait to meet her, so I pacify myself by watching her grow.

To say this mama is glowing is an understatement.

Mini-sessions are a perfect way to get updated portraits of your kiddos.

They are fast and keep your kids moving and shaking and before they even have a chance

to decide they are bored with pictures, they are DONE!

Mini-sessions are one of my favorite kind of sessions.

Unless I’m running at a special location, mini-sessions are always located at Carolina Beach

which makes me very happy!

The first time I met this family, Abbey was just 6 weeks old.

It’s the highest compliment to be hired again (and in this family’s case again, and again, and again).

I’m especially looking forward to seeing Abbey be a big sister.

She’s going to be awesome I just know it.

I first met these girls when big sister, Lillian, was just 6 months old.

Every session since then has been a whirlwind because these girls do not stop moving!

I always look forward to new locations, so and was so excited for the opportunity to use Southport, NC as my backdrop.

It didn’t disappoint.

I knew when I met the family for their maternity session

that I was in for a treat with the newborn session.

They didn’t disappoint.  Meet Stella.