Southern Expressions Photography

{ We've Moved }

2010-03-03T20:34:00.000-05:00

You will find my new blog here. Come on over for a new sneak peek:)

{ Prince Cullen }

2010-02-20T15:04:00.000-05:00

Mr. Cullen is my blog star... again! You will find him here, here, and, most recently, here. I truly ADORE watching "my" babies grow:) So, you will see this handsome little fella quite often. Here is a small sneak peek. It was SO HARD to choose just a few because this cutie really rocked my camera! Enjoy... until next time;)

{She has that glow }

2010-02-14T13:00:00.000-05:00

"I saw a couple walking by they were holding hands
Man, she had that glow
yeah I couldn't help but notice she was starting to show"

Yesterday, we had a baby shower at my home. I think it's safe to say that a good time was had by all:) Here are a few shots of the happily expecting parents-to-be (and the adorable cake.) Yes, I normally like my maternity shoots to be further along, but this couple lives about 9 hours away. So, we took what we could get. To see two people so clearly in love and eagerly awaiting the arrival of their baby is almost magical to me. Congratulations again!

{ Casting Call }

2010-02-11T10:38:00.003-05:00

Good morning to all my wonderful blog readers! I have some great news and a wonderful opportunity to share today:) It all begins with a casting call. You see, I feel that I am "pretty good" with newborns, but I want to be AWESOME! How do you get awesome??? Well, with practice... remember that old saying, practice makes perfect;) So, I am announcing a casting call for newborns. I am offering prints at a reduced rate and no sitting fee. Extra special things will be given to multiples;) I'm not going to set a specific number of offers. I'm just going to play it by ear:) So, if you know of anyone who just had an adorable baby or is about to have a baby, send them my way. You can either respond here or on my facebook fan page. There is a catch, I need the babies to be less than 3 weeks old, preferably less than 2 weeks old. This is the stage where they are still super sleepy, curly, and squishy. Take a look at the gorgeous babies below. Also, these are a couple of examples of the wonderful storyboards that I can create for you. I look forward to hearing from you!

{ Colin is growing too fast! }

2010-02-07T19:33:00.003-05:00

"Little boys come in all shapes and sizes,
Shy and adventurous, full of surprises,
With misshapen halos and mischievous grins,
Small dirty faces, and sweet, sticky chins.
They'll keep you so busy, and yet all the while
Nothing can brighten the world like their smile.
And no greater treasure has brought homes more joy
Than a curious, active, and lovable boy!"

If you follow my blog, then you will remember sweet Colin from here, here, and here. It has been awhile since we have had a playdate... and it showed. Little Colin make me work for his attention like I have never worked before. lol! But, this adorable cutie is more than worth it:) Here is his precious sneak peek.

I couldn't help but add this one. Colin already knows the BEST... Nikon;)

D is for dazzling ;)

2010-01-31T20:18:00.000-05:00

Here is a good example of a "different" use for a session. Miss Diane braved the cold and wind to update her modeling portfolio. Gorgeous is all I can say! She has some of the most perfect features I have ever seen! Hope you enjoy your sneak peek:) Lots more to come!

Operation: Love ReUnited

2010-01-21T14:02:00.007-05:00

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a generous heart (which is why I LOVE the giveaway contests:) and that I am always looking for ways to help and "give back." So, when my awesome friend, Kayse, suggested this, I jumped at the chance:) I am thrilled to announce that I recently became a volunteer for a wonderful organization. Operation: Love ReUnited is a non-profit organization that helps connect deployed service members and their families through photographs. Through Operation: Love ReUnited, if you have a family member deployed or about to deploy, I offer you two free on-location photo sessions. The first family session takes place before deployment or after the service member is deployed. I will then send a complimentary 4x6 album of the photos to the deployed service member. A follow up session happens at homecoming. If my schedule allows it, I'll join you when you're reunited with your loved one and capture the memories for you. If not, we'll schedule a reunion photo session at a later time to capture your family, reunited.

Operation: Love ReUnited clients are under no obligation to purchase any additional prints. However, as an added thank you, I offer 15% off all prints to OpLove clients. Remember, Operation: Love ReUnited photo sessions are only available for military families with a service member who is deployed or about to be deployed. As a thank you to the rest of the military community, I will offer 15% off of all prints and specialty products for military families with military ID.

For more information regarding Operation: Love ReUnited click here.

{ Newness }

2010-01-16T14:23:00.000-05:00

I have been inspired this week by all the new babies. I have decided to offer a special for all new Mommys-to-be:) Receive a free newborn session with a paid maternity session. Can you just imagine all the sweetness we can capture? Please pass the word along to all your expectant friends!

{ Precious baby boy }

2010-01-14T14:21:00.000-05:00

I am sooo blessed with my job:) I had the pleasure of snuggling two babies this week. Today, Carson was a dream. He was so sweet and cuddly. He slept nearly the entire time and didn't wet me even once. yay!

And the winner is...

2010-01-14T06:57:00.001-05:00

Southern Expressions Photography's "Best of 2009" is...

Miss Abby

2nd place

3rd place

This contest was extremely difficult for me because I had so many favorites, many more than I could include here:) A HUGE thank you to all who voted! The response has been truly incredible. Congratulations to all the winners. I will be sending you emails today with the details. I look forward to next year!

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities." ~Eda J LeShan

2010-01-12T15:25:00.000-05:00

It has been a long time since I have snuggled a new baby girl. My last few newborn/baby sessions have been sweet baby boys. Well, all that changed today. Meet precious Hallie! She was an absolute dream to photograph this morning and we produced some of my favorites to date. (Look out "best of 2010" :) Without further ado...

"Best of 2009"

2010-01-06T12:25:00.004-05:00

Although it feels like I have been doing this forever, it has only been a year since I decided to really pursue my little photography business. The past 6 months has seen an EXPLOSION in, not only, the amount of business I have had, but also the quality of the work I have produced. Although I am extremely proud of the level I have been blessed to reach, I am also keenly aware that I have a LONG way to go to accomplish the goals I have set for myself.
I am so very thankful for all of you. Whether you have been a client of mine or a follower of my work, I offer my sincerest appreciation. Thank you for "spreading the word" for me! It has been a bit overwhelming at times, especially the past two months, but such a learning experience. I pray that 2010 will bring even more success:)

I was trying to think of a way to give back to those who have given to me. So, when a couple of friends of mine requested/suggested a "Best of" contest, I jumped on the idea. I grossly underestimated the job of picking my favorites. I can honestly say that I have had at least one absolute favorite from every single session I have done. But, I had to narrow it down:( Once I narrowed it down as far as I could, I brought my wonderful husband in. Once he narrowed as far as he could, I called in my wonderful friend, Kayse, for her expert touch. After all that, we still have 15 images for you to choose from!

Now for the 411...

One vote per household.
Voting will be for one week starting today with the winner being announced on January 14th. (Also my awesome MIL's birthday:)

1st place -
*2 sessions - one to keep, one to giveaway
*11x14 canvas OR a custom photo purse of your winning image

2nd place-
*$50 print credit for a future session
*8x10 print OR a custom photo pendant of your winning image

3rd place-
*$25 print credit for a future session
*8x10 print OR a custom photo pendant of your winning image

View the images, then go below, make your selection, and click "vote." Remember, word-of-mouth is the BEST advertisement. Let the voting begin...

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

{ Miss Blue Eyes }

2009-12-28T19:35:00.000-05:00

Meet my cousin, Rivers. (Yes, I do have a GORGEOUS family!) I absolutely love working with teenagers. They are willing to try just about anything... and have some pretty cool ideas themselves;) Here's your sneak peek. Hope you love them as much as I do!

Merry Christmas...

2009-12-24T19:53:00.000-05:00

from our family to yours!!!

Meet the Neumanns...

2009-12-19T20:26:00.000-05:00

I know that I said I was taking the rest of December off to spend with my family. Well.... this family is like my extended family. Our daughters are best friends. It seems like we have get togethers every weekend. So, when Mom called me for a shoot (a little late- haha) I couldn't say no. Here's your sneak peek:)

"What are little boys made of?"

2009-12-14T20:53:00.000-05:00

What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails
That's what little boys are made of !"

Meet little Mr. Gannon! He is the cutest little fella and I think he closes out my year of boys. Seriously, it feels like I have only had boys this year. Not that I am complaining:) Boys are always fun. I know this for fact as I have three myself. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek and get a look at gorgeous Mom!

{ a family is love }

2009-12-13T17:36:00.000-05:00

Lucky for me that Daddy could watch the sick little ones today so that I could run out to Joanna's for a family session. We have been trying to get this together for quite a while now, but the weather and illnesses kept making us reschedule. Well, we finally made it today. Thanks for the fun! Watch where you step;) Love y'all!

"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero." ~Marc Brown

2009-12-11T21:09:00.001-05:00

My sick, little rugrats have finally gone to bed. Now, it's time to catch up. I recently had a quick session with a family that is very near and dear to my heart. (So sorry for the delayed post, Kara!) Here is your sneak peek:)

{ FAMILY }

2009-12-06T18:58:00.000-05:00

F is for Familiar... there is no place like home.

A is for always welcome, no matter how far you roam.

M is for memories, more cherished each day.

I is for inspiration given along the way.

L is for Love you feel each time you get together.

Y is for the years to come for family lasts forever.

I had a blast today with Natalie and Craig and their beautiful children. Hope you enjoy your sneak peek! Lots more to come;)

"A baby is born with a need to be loved - and never outgrows it."

2009-12-05T12:55:00.000-05:00

I met little Mr. Kayden this morning and I can tell you one thing, he is one loved little fella! He was completely at ease and we had a blast. For the first time ever of taking pics of babies, I didn't get wet! Yay! A BIG thank you to the Beasley family for bringing me this cutie to play. I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

Many prayers needed...

2009-12-05T01:46:00.000-05:00

This touched my heart beyond belief. Please follow the links to read the story and see the pictures that brought me to tears. This family needs your support via prayers and donations if you can. I did both and hope you can, too.

For Chasity's story click here

"A happy family is but an earlier heaven.”

2009-12-03T19:07:00.001-05:00

I have literally known this Mom all her life! She lived next door to my grandparents. We have had so much fun through years. Now, our children will be going to school together, too:) We had an interesting time on the farm today chasing little Gannon, but I think the results are INCREDIBLE! See for yourself.

{ Daddy's girl }

2009-11-29T16:51:00.003-05:00

"Come on in boy sit on down

And tell me about yourself

So you like my daughter do you now?

Yeah we think she's something else

She's her daddy's girl

Her momma's world

She deserves respect

That’s what she'll get

Ain’t it son?

Hey y'all run along and have some fun

I'll see you when you get back

Bet I’ll be up all night

Still cleanin' this gun"

Cleaning This Gun lyrics by Rodney Atkins

(sentiment shared by Jerry, father of Amber- the beauty on my blog today;)

I know that I am further proving my friend, Nikki, right. She thinks that I ONLY know beautiful children. What can I say??? I LOVE my job;)

MA MA MA MAKENZIE!

2009-11-25T18:05:00.004-05:00

This post really needs no words. Let's file it under Wordless Wednesday. Thank you Joanna and Kenzie! I had a blast and these images show it;) Can't wait til next time.

{ Meet Tucker- future explorer }

2009-11-24T14:51:00.003-05:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Tucker today. What a cutie! He has the creamiest complexion with some of the brightest blue eyes that I have ever seen. He is a mover, though, and will keep you on your toes. I had to think and move fast to keep up with him. He wanted to explore the yard, leaves, sticks, and a kitty that came into my yard. Don't worry, Grandma, I have plenty of pictures of Tucker's sweet face. I just couldn't resist sharing his adventures, too!

Such a sweet smile!

This little horse is an antique in their family.

This was as close as he could get to the kitty.

See the kitty to the left at the bottom of the tree?

This is my frontyard right now. the white camellias are blooming and dropping their petals beautifully. Contact me if you want to schedule a holiday session. They won't be around very much longer.

{ Jada's Creations }

2009-11-22T17:19:00.004-05:00

I am way overdue for this vendor spotlight! Michelle at Jada's Creations (here) and (here) made me this super cute and ultra comfortable personalized camera strap. After using it for a few weeks, I can tell you that I love, love, LOVE it! It is so much more cooler than the generic Nikon strap that was supplied with my oh-so-cool camera;) (Love my Nikon, not it's strap.)

I have known Michelle and her hubby, Joey, since high school. They make an awesome couple and team. But, I digress. Yes, I tend to get off subject quite often. I blame my ADD. haha! There I go again:P Anyway, over at Jada's Creations, Michelle offers so much more than just these pretty camera straps. She has to-die-for purses, blankets, crib bumpers, pillows, crayon holders, key chains, and so much more. If you don't see what you want, be sure to put in a special request. Michelle gives you the choice of material, thread, and font. Everything she makes is custom just for you! You just can't beat that;) Go now, take a look!

"To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there." ~Barbara Bush

2009-11-21T19:15:00.004-05:00

Today is the beginning of a very busy couple of weeks for me. This morning was a precious baby and this afternoon was a sweet family. You won't find me complaining! This is what I LOVE to do;) I will have plenty of sessions for your blogging pleasure.

Back to the current task... a new sneak peek. I haven't seen Mom in a long time (another high school buddy,) but it didn't take long to catch up. We had more family fun on the farm and tell Hunter that he IS "the man!" ;) lol! Hope you had fun because I know that I did. Lots more to come!

Here comes Santa Clause, here come Santa Clause...

2009-11-21T14:29:00.004-05:00

This morning, I had a play date with the super sweet AND handsome Cullen (which you will remember from here and here.) Omgosh has he grown! He has Daddy's eyes, but Mommy's beautiful mouth. He also has the cutest little dimple in his chin. Although he was playing hard to get with his smiles, I think he was adorable all the same;)

"I see Santa! I see Santa! There he is!"

{ Glass Pendant }

2009-11-20T14:06:00.003-05:00

This is another new product that I will be offering... glass pendants. So cute! I had a little trouble with the product image, but they are actually very clear and distinct:) I will be offering a variety of "necklaces." The ball chain you see pictured is just one choice. I will also having sterling chains and ribbon chokers. I am contemplating making Swarovski crystal necklaces to go along with them. The first two pics are from recent sessions. The last pic is a surprise for my daughters. I am taking them to see New Moon today and I thought they would LOVE the Team Jacob and Team Edward images!

"To love is not to look at one another, but to look together in the same direction"

2009-11-15T18:36:00.001-05:00

I had the most wonderful experience of shooting a wedding at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. The setting was magical, the scenery was divine, and the happy couple was glowing. Here is a few to whet your appetite. Head on over to the wedding blog for more;)

* NEW & oh-so-cute! *

2009-11-13T16:13:00.001-05:00

I am in the process of packing and getting ready to head out the door. I am so excited to shoot a wedding for a friend from high school at the BEAUTIFUL Opryland Hotel. What I didn't pay attention to was... this puts me getting on a plane on Friday the 13th! Ugh! Lots of prayers!
Anyway, the first of my new product lines came in today and I wanted to share them with you before I left. I will be offering a full line of photographic purses and totes. Omgosh! they are even cuter than I thought they would be:) The colors are oh-so-vivid. The quality is excellent and the price is reasonable;) These would be just perfect for Christmas gifts. Moms will LOVE a shot of their babies or a whole family picture to proudly display. Get with me if you are interested. Take care and have a great weekend!

"Rocky Top you'll always be home sweet home to me."

2009-11-12T11:25:00.003-05:00

This past weekend, I was able to go "home" for a long weekend. Have I ever told you how much I LOVE Tennessee??? I do! If I had my choice, that's where we would be:) I only managed to snag a few pics because my camera was the last thing on my mind. We had our 5 plus my sister's 3 running through Nana's house all weekend. Can you say Excedrin? haha. Just kidding. It was a blast. I have always said "the more the merrier." If any of you have any kids out there you don't want anymore, just drop'em on my doorstep;)

Here is Taylin trying to escape the madness and acting like a recluse teenager. lol

This is one of my twins, Jesse, before he ran off. I couldn't get Jake to sit still. Don't you just love their plaid with the adorable overalls?!?

My beautiful niece, Sommer, at Opryland Hotel. I am shooting a wedding there this weekend for a friend from high school. Yep, I get to go back home again:)

My beautiful sister, Shelia, not really wanting to pose for me. She is my baby sister, but she isn't a teenager even though she still looks like one:P That is her daughter, Sommer, pictured above.

Another one of Shelia. Yep, she got all the style in the family;)

"While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about." ~Angela Schwindt

2009-11-03T19:04:00.000-05:00

Today, I had the pleasure of an afternoon playdate with a fisherman and a wood fairy. How sweet! The light was just right and the personalities were even better. We got a lot of good shots and I hope Mom and Grandma love them as much as I do;)

{ as good as it gets }

2009-11-01T19:28:00.003-05:00

Ok, I know that there are more images here than my usual sneak peeks, but I could NOT narrow down my favorites any further than this. This session was "as good as it gets!" Mom teaches my fitness class (yes, she kicks my butt) and we have been talking for a while now about getting some family shots. I have known Dad since high school. Together, they have surely made a GORGEOUS family and I was more than happy to prove it;) I LOVE their kiddies and wanted to bring them home. (What's a few more when you already have 5, right?) Enjoy the pics, you have MANY more to look forward to!

{ Wordless Wednesday }

2009-10-28T18:21:00.002-04:00

{ Wild in the Park }

2009-10-24T14:51:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I had a wonderful playdate at a cool park on the waterfront. It was great to catch up with Ms. Kerry, my son Jake's previous speech therapist. We have missed her:( But, I digress.

It was a perfect day to play and that is exactly what we did! Little Will is still learning to balance, but that didn't stop him from toddling everywhere. Miss Katie is very active herself;) She ran, went for a swing, climbed to the slide, and keep me moving;) I think I managed to sneak a few "good ones." Hope you enjoy your sneak peek, Kerry! We will have to plan another date and I'll bring the twins to keep up with Miss Katie:)

{ Holiday Cheer }

2009-10-17T07:59:00.002-04:00

Good morning! Southern Expressions Photography has a holiday special. Normally, a CD with all edited images (usually 40-60) from your session is $250, which includes rights to print plus a spiral bound proof book. For a limited time, I will include the personalized Christmas Card of your choice on that CD. This means that you can print as many images as you like, wherever you like. I will give you a copyright print release plus instructions and suggestions. Think of all the possible Christmas gifts;) If you look down at my calendar, you will see that I am seriously getting swamped. Yay! But, contact me today if you are interested and we will find you a spot:)

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses." ~Joyce Brothers

2009-10-13T18:20:00.004-04:00

Wow! My week has been full! I have had the pleasure of having a couple of play dates in the past few days, but, today, I had the honor of photographing a beautiful family. (Ummm, can they get any prettier???) We went to one of my most requested spots, a scenic old farm.

I have been excited to work with this family since Mom booked me, but now I'm even more excited because Mom has agreed to go on a "Scarlett" adventure with me within the next couple of months. Stay tuned for those images! For now, please enjoy today's outing.

{ Before they can be men, they must be boys }

2009-10-12T12:18:00.001-04:00

I have had some wonderful play dates lately and today was no exception. Luke and I ventured around a farm. He played on a tractor, peaked in a barn, and wanted to feed the cows. Luke is only two, but his vocabulary and language skills are HUGE! We had a blast... as you can tell:) Hope you enjoy your sneak peek, Melanie!

{ Enchanting Emma }

2009-10-09T13:19:00.004-04:00

Emma and I had a blast today hanging out at the swamp. Emma's family was working hard at the Homestead to get it ready for the Okefenokee Festival this weekend. It is more than obvious that they care so much for their heritage. I was amazed just watching them.
Back to Emma... she is a riot to be around. Surely, there is never a dull moment. We watched Cars, talked about spelling, and played for her pictures. Mom promised Dairy Queen once we were done, but I think Emma was more excited for the biscuit her Aunt Sheila wrapped up for her. Thank you, Cheryl and Emma, for our play date today. I hope you enjoy your pictures!

{ the beginning of something beautiful }

2009-10-07T14:07:00.002-04:00

Today, my friend, Kayse, and I went "live" with our new photography collarboration. We formed Double Exposure Weddings. We are so excited to begin our new adventure. Won't you join us in the fun??? Pass the word around... word-of-mouth is THE best advertisement:)

{Something fun}

2009-10-05T09:48:00.000-04:00

Good morning! There are two reasons for the blog update today. One- I am having so much fun learning and creating new things on Photoshop that I wanted to share:) Two- I wanted to post a few more of my favorites images from this past week. Hope you enjoy!

{Motherhood becomes her}

2009-09-30T15:54:00.006-04:00

Doesn't every woman just WISH that they looked like this when pregnant?!? I had the pleasure of sharing some time with this beautiful couple today. This is only my 2nd maternity session, but I must say that I am in love with them. To see the love between Mom and Dad at such a special time is simply amazing. I can't wait to meet the new little one, which won't be long since Mom is 39 weeks! Yes, I said 39 weeks. Let the envy begin:)

{Pretty, pretty girls, pretty girls!}

2009-09-26T19:50:00.005-04:00

It is always fun when I get to work with people that I have known for what seems like FOREVER and today was no exception:) One of my old high school friends brought a crew over for a session. We had a little fun in my front yard. We didn't dare travel too far because it looked like rain. Lucky for me, the girls were prepared and beautiful for the camera. Hope you enjoy your sneak peek:)

We are on a roll! ;)

2009-09-26T17:45:00.004-04:00

Today, my BFF, Heather, and one of her twins, Jessie Lynn, were in a mother-daughter pageant. Now, Heather hasn't been in a pageant since high school, but you know how convincing your children can be:) Well, the above picture was their photogenic entry and it WON! Yay! This makes 3 out of 3 for Southern Expressions Photography pageant entries for Miss Photogenic. Congrats to my beautiful girls!

{Meet sweet baby Cullen}

2009-09-23T20:43:00.004-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of photographing my first maternity session with the beautiful Jenna and her handsome husband, Bobby. Today, I had the honor of capturing precious Cullen. He is so very adorable, but you can already see that;) It was fun and messy! lol. But, we all know that is part of the job. I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

{Congratulations!!!}

2009-09-19T20:48:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Julianna and Hannah on their most photogenic wins tonight in the Miss Okefenokee pageant. Above are their entries:) Girls, you both did great!

{Meagan... part 1}

2009-09-19T14:54:00.003-04:00

I truly love working with seniors! They are always so creative and fun and Meagan was even more than I expected:) Here are a few shots from this morning's shoot. Hope you love them as much as me!

{Even more Hannah}

2009-09-16T14:53:00.005-04:00

This is my very first storyboard. Thanks to the wonderful Lyndsay for the inspiration (and the "permission to borrow,":) the talented Jen for the design, and, of course, the beautiful Hannah for all the great shots! I LOVE it and I'm hooked on them!

"You are your child's keeper until she's mature enough to keep herself." ~Laura Ramirez

2009-09-14T13:23:00.002-04:00

It's always fun working with my best friend, Heather, and yesterday was no different. One of Heather's twins, Jessie, talked her Mom into being in a mother-daughter pageant. As Heather has won many crowns herself growing up, it didn't take much convincing from Jessie. We got together to take a few shots for their photogenic entry. Here is a sneak peek. Enjoy;)

{NEW!}

2009-09-13T22:33:00.007-04:00

I bought photoshop! I FINALLY bought photoshop and I can't stop playing:) I have been experimenting with different templates, textures, pictures, etc. This is sooo much fun! As you can already see, I will have just about anything you may want. Keep checking back for the latest updates on my newest obsession=)

"It’s beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart."

2009-09-09T18:41:00.004-04:00

Lucky for Julianna, she has both:) These are just a few of the shots that we captured today for her photogenic entry. Miss Okefenokee pageant is next weekend. I think Julianna has a pretty good chance, don't you???

"Life is magic, the way nature works seems to be quite magical."

2009-09-05T15:19:00.005-04:00

Today was my very first maternity session. Thank you, Jenna & Bobby, for sharing this magical time with me. The love between the two of them was more than apparent. I don't recall seeing a soon-to-be Mom that had "the glow" more than Jenna. Little Cullen is already loved beyond measure! Congratulations!!! I can't wait to watch him grow:)

And the winners are...

2009-09-05T15:00:00.003-04:00

A BIG thank you to all my entrants:) After reading all the comments, I realized that there was no way that I could pick from them. So, we did away with all the scientific methods and just pulled from an old hat. Okay, without further talk, the winners are...

Free sitting- Tina Thiel
Free sitting- Carla Chesser Rodeffer (I couldn't pick just one:)
1/2 off sitting fee- Cheryl McMillan
1/2 off sitting fee- Becky Bandy Bonfanti (Again, I couldn't choose just one:)
To everyone else, I would like to extend a $25 print credit.

Everyone was so sweet. Again, thank you!

Come join the fun:)

2009-09-01T18:57:00.004-04:00

Ok, I'm new to the contest thing. So, I'm going to start simple. I have a very cool idea that my friends thought up for Christmas, but, for now, we will keep it simple:) Here's how it goes...

I'm going to give away a couple of free sessions. ( $75 value ) All you have to do is leave a comment here, on my blog, telling me why you want a session with me. The contest will start NOW and will end on Saturday. Yes, my Tennessee friends are eligible because I will be there in November.

What are you waiting for??? Get commenting;)

{Hannah's a senior! - part 2}

2009-08-31T13:36:00.004-04:00

{Where has the time gone?}

2009-08-29T13:55:00.006-04:00

I remember when Hannah was born and now she is a senior. Wow! She has always been the sweetest, prettiest little thing. Now, she is taller than me and, as you can clearly see, she is a total knockout! We had fun today and look forward to even more fun tomorrow:)

{big, beautiful family}

2009-08-23T20:32:00.004-04:00

We have wondered all week if today would even happen. First, it was a toss-up as to where we would meet. Then, we went back and forth over a time. Lastly, we were concerned if the rain would clear out and hold off. Thankfully, it all came together.

I had the pleasure of working with the Petty family today. I LOVE big families. (I think it is because I grew up in a small one for so long. Of course, I don't have a small one now:) We had fun today trying to figure out where everyone would go and who would be by who. The young granddaughters also had their own ideas of what they wanted to do;) But, I think it all went very well! Hope you enjoy your sneak peek.

{Christmas times a coming}

2009-08-21T11:05:00.007-04:00

Yes, Christmas time is coming... faster than we realize:) I am proud to unveil my Christmas line with quite a few options. I'm sure that we can come up with something for you. These are traditional, but not typical. Classic, but not too stiff. Simply beautiful;) If you have already had a session with me, we can get these printed up quickly. If you haven't had a session yet, then what are you waiting for??? Book now for a Holiday mini-session and mark one thing off your list;)

NEW site!

2009-08-18T12:41:00.005-04:00

This past Saturday, I went LIVE with my WEBSITE! Yay! I was so excited that I forgot to make a post about it. Well, here it is:) I put a lot of work and thought into what I wanted. I got in touch with a high school friend, Jen, who made my AWESOME background and graphics. Thank you, Jen!!! And, a big thank you to everyone who has stopped by to take a look. The feedback has been tremendous:)
Check back here often for new sneak peeks showcasing my latest clients and look out in the coming weeks for new products;) I can't wait to let you all see my new "stuff." Have a great day!

"Children are the bridge to heaven." ~ Persian Proverb

2009-08-13T13:49:00.004-04:00

To say that I had my hands full today would be an understatement! I headed over to Amelia Island Plantation for a photoshoot with one of my co-worker's grandbabies. They came all the way from England for a 2 week visit with Grandma. These little fellas had the cutest accents and kept me busy;)

Hope you enjoy your sneak peak!

{Meet the Chanceys}

2009-08-08T14:10:00.004-04:00

Ok, remember a few posts ago, I got to hang out with a cool family that had four daughters??? Well, today I had the pleasure of spending time with the Chancey family... FIVE daughters! All BEAUTIFUL, too! WOW!

I went to highschool with the middle daughter, Michelle. We had fun catching up and, yes, she still looks exactly the same as she did in school. Apparently, there are some awesome genes in this family! Can I join? lol! Anyway, here is your sneak peek=)

{C H E M I S T R Y }

2009-08-05T07:27:00.004-04:00

Beautiful eyes...

2009-08-02T17:58:00.003-04:00

I couldn't come up with anything better to name this post, but now that you have seen the pictures... you can see why:) Holy cow! These girls have some gorgeous eyes!!! They are extremely photogenic. Yay for me!

I have known Mom for a long time and love her dearly. She can always make me smile and today was no exception. I had fun with this family... dodging cow "presents" and rain drops, but I think the results are worth it. Hope you love them as much as I do:)

{Wow!}

2009-08-02T11:16:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of tagging along with beautiful Lyndsay (http://pinkcoffeephoto.com)/ and her cute husband, Anderson. She is working on a project and I was honored to help out. Well, she picked the location and the accessories. All I did was supply the model, my beautiful niece, Jade:) I got to snag a few shots and lots of ideas. Thanks for the fun. We can't wait to see the results;)

Here comes the sun...

2009-08-01T19:00:00.006-04:00

Today was my first family session on the beach. Lucky for me, it was with a family I truly adore:) The sun was way too bright, though. Apparently, Jade and I brought it with us from Folkston. lol! Still, I think we got some good shots. Of course, the last one was for pure fun and would have been too cute if the bucket could have held. Oh well, we can always try again;) Thanks for the fun!

{ Meet the Parents } :)

2009-07-27T10:52:00.005-04:00

We had the pleasure of spending last week with my parents in Tennessee. Mom took the opportunity to get me to take a few pics for her:) I think they turned out quite well. (It helps to have a beautiful couple:)

Loading this gun... ;-)

2009-07-25T14:46:00.006-04:00

Ok, how many beautiful girls can you get in one family??? Seriously! Between the 4 daughters and gorgeous Mom, Dad has his hands full. But, I have a sneaking suspicion that he is up to the challenge:)

I had the pleasure of hanging out with the Moss family this morning. I can tell you that there probably aren't very many dull moments in this household. We had fun on the family farm with some camera- hog horses and one ornery goat. lol! Here is your sneak-peek. Thanks for having me and yes, we would love to have that barbeque on our next trip back:)

{Family ties}

2009-07-24T21:12:00.005-04:00

Today, I had the pleasure of hanging out with my cousin, AJ, his beautiful wife, Mary, and their two handsome sons. I haven't gotten to spend very much time with them over the years, but we had a lot of fun today:) We WILL do it again soon. I hope you enjoy your sneak-peek!

{Meet Megan & Colby}

2009-07-23T21:03:00.006-04:00

I was excited and more than a little flattered that Nikki and her family drove over two hours to work with me today. She lives in Alabama now, but I went to school with Nikki way back when;-) Her personality is still as sweet as I remembered. She has beautiful, entertaining kiddies and we had a blast! I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.

{Sommer}

2009-07-22T19:20:00.006-04:00

I am currently on vacation with my kiddies at my Mom's in Tennessee. We try to come up here a couple of times a year. If I had the choice, we would live here. We don't have the humidity or the bugs that reside in south Georgia. The land is so much prettier. Plus, I would get to see my family more often:)

Well, I don't have all of MY editing essentials with me, but I wouldn't let that stop me (ok, I will have to re-edit when I get home) from posting some pics of my GORGEOUS niece, Sommer. She is such a sweet, kind, intelligent natural beauty. There is absolutely NO make-up on her face! Doesn't it just make you sick??? :)

{J&M}

2009-07-20T14:12:00.006-04:00

I have not laughed as hard as I have today in a long time! I have not seen Jack in many years, but I remember his sense of humor very well. We worked together at a local restaurant many years ago and he is the only reason that I made it through some of the nights;-) He made it extremely hard for me to concentrate and keep a straight face.

My best friend, Heather, went with me today because she and Jack were very close in high school. We got to meet Matt and discovered that he is just as fun-loving as Jack. Needless to say, we had a blast. If some of the pictures are a bit off, I blame the company I was keeping because I was shaking so hard from laughing:) Thank you for the memories!

{rain, rain go away}

2009-07-19T12:11:00.007-04:00

Last night, Lisa & Joey got married:) We had worried all week about the rain. Needless to say, God gave us a break. YAY! It was a GORGEOUS wedding. Lisa was so excited, but, if it's possible, Joey was even more so. The love he had for his bride showed through the light in his eyes and she was so pretty. I don't think I have ever seen two people more in love and ready to get married! Thank you, Lisa & Joey, for inviting us to be apart of it. I hope you are pleased with the results;-)

{Pricing- prints & packages}

2009-07-16T09:01:00.009-04:00

OK, I have had many people ask for package pricing. Why shouldn't people be able to see, up-front, what they are getting into? lol! Anyway, I have researched locally as well as Camden, Glynn, Ware, Nassau, and Jax. I have tried to price fairly and "with the market," but just a little better:) I looked at so many different package offers that I can't even count them all. So, here it is... (session fees are still on the right side of this page;)

Packages:

A- (1 pose) $35
(1) 8x10, (2) 5x7, (8) wallets

B- (up to 2 poses) $85
(2) 8x10, (2) 5x7, (2) 4x6, (32) wallets

a la carte:

wallets (8) $8
4x6 $8
5x7 $10
8x10 $15
11x14 $45
16x20 $75
spiral bound proof book $30

I will also offer canvas art, storyboards, albums, an assortment of speciality cards, etc. If you think of something you want, I'm sure we can find it:)

*All prices are subject to change at any time.

{♥jade♥}

2009-07-15T13:21:00.006-04:00

My beautiful niece, Jade, has been spending a few days with us. I have really missed her. She is such a sweetheart. I know that it can be hard growing up nowadays, but her heart and smile makes me proud. She is a GORGEOUS redhead with killer baby blues. How cool is that??? It's easy to see that I ♥ her!

{Colin is such a Cutie!}

2009-07-09T12:21:00.005-04:00

This little fella is my favorite model! He is such a sweetie. I adore his sweet expressions and that perfect face. Love, love, LOVE his family, too! Lucky for me, I can "borrow" him anytime;-)

{Amie is so Adorable}

2009-06-28T14:52:00.004-04:00

Okay, it was almost impossible to pick my top 5. Amie is my youngest daughter, Taylin's, best friend. She is here at our house so much that she isn't considered company anymore. lol! They are practically joined at the hip. That is perfectly okay with me because Amie is as pretty inside as she is on the outside. As you can see from her pictures... that is GORGEOUS!!!

{Lisa ♥ Joey ♥ Lisa}

2009-06-26T16:26:00.007-04:00

I have known Lisa since high school. (We won't even talk about how long:) On Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of taking her engagement pics. My husband, Allan, went along as our chauffeur. We had so much fun! Attempting to take a picture while trying not to fall down from laughing is not an easy thing to do. Thanks for the amusement:) Congratulations! I look forward to the wedding.

{Meet Mallory}

2009-06-23T15:44:00.005-04:00

Mallory is one of my daughter Taylin's best friends. She is such a sweetie! Not only is she so very sweet, polite and BEAUTIFUL, but she is also very talented! She helped take our mind off the heat last night (no power- no A/C) with her game of charades. Also, I love, love, LOVE her hair:)

{Magical}

2009-06-17T07:15:00.004-04:00

It was 9am and I was playing on the computer, I looked over at Jake and this is what I saw. He was sitting there so peacefully, holding his blanket and staring out the window which had the perfect amount of light filtering in.Yay me!

Even if I hadn't had my camera right there to capture it, I was still thankful to have witnessed this sweet moment. So many people say that if their house was in danger of being destroyed all they would want out of it would be their pictures. Everything else can be replaced, but not those sweet moments frozen in time. That is what photography is to me... capturing those precious, magical moments to be able to enjoy and share forever.

T- R - O - U - B - L - E :)

2009-06-16T15:31:00.003-04:00

LOL! Yes, my Tracer can be trouble, but mostly the aggravating, determined, self-confident kind;-) Thankfully, there isn't a mean bone in him... just a lot of stubborn ones. We are thankful to be able to say that Tracer has a HUGE heart to go along with his brains and good looks. He keeps us on our toes and there is NEVER a dull moment when he is around.

{I'd like to check you... for TICKS}

2009-05-31T18:08:00.006-04:00

Okay, couldn't help but to laugh when I wrote that title! When we went out to this BEAUTIFUL place yesterday to take pictures, the last thing I expected was to come home covered in these parasites. YUCK! Well, I guess that I would have to say that it was one of the job hazards:P I probably wouldn't have gotten so many if I would have stayed OUT of the bushes, but I wanted the perfect shot;-) Now that I have seen the results... it was worth it all! Thank you, Danielle, for allowing me to have fun with your gorgeous children!

{Meet Paco}

2009-05-31T07:20:00.005-04:00

I thought that I would share a couple of pics of a friend's pup. (The children's pics will be up soon.) Paco is 8 weeks old and sweet as can be. We snapped a few shots of him just for the fun of it. Enjoy:0)

{Girls just want to have fun!}

2009-05-28T21:36:00.004-04:00

My daughter and a couple of her friends decided that I needed to take some pics of them. They were so funny. We experienced a LOT of clowning around, but I think the shots turned out beautifully;-)

{Sweet Alyssa is turning one!}

2009-05-25T17:41:00.004-04:00

I can't believe that Alyssa is almost one. WOW! Time really does fly the older I get:( It seems like only yesterday that I was taking her first pictures. She really is just as sweet as she is pretty. She reminds me of a little porcelain doll. Happy Birthday!

{Scarlett}

2009-05-19T17:14:00.008-04:00

That's what we have named this dress. (Thanks, Heather) Yep, we named a dress:) It's very original, too. Don't you think? lol. Anyway, these are Jessie's pics. I think she did beautifully. Of course, she has her mother's genes... carbon copies!

We had a lot of fun doing all of these shots. Then, we had an idea, kinda like a "where's waldo?" sorta thing:) We want to see how many different places we can take Scarlett for pictures. We will only use shots where the full face isn't seen. This way, we can put different girls into Scarlett. We want only the dress to be the focal point. This little project is for artistic value only... unless we come up with other ideas;-) So, if you have any great, unusual, or just plain cool ideas... leave a comment below!

{She's COUNTRY}

2009-05-19T13:38:00.005-04:00

This should be titled Playtime- part 2. I went out to shoot my best friend's twins again. Not only do I get to hang out with Heather, I get to spend some quality time with the girls, too:) Everyone was A LOT more cooperative this time. (I think it's because they liked how FABULOUS the first set turned out;) Anyway, hope you all enjoy these as much as I have.

Oh, featured here is Jaycee- I'll post Jessie's later today.

{Taylin} is growing way too fast!

2009-05-16T08:57:00.006-04:00

I haven't taken my youngest daughter out for pictures lately. She LOVES to be the model;0) So, I thought that we would get just a few before the flowers are gone. She did great, but, oh no, she looks too grown up:( Where does the time go???

{Playtime}

2009-05-13T22:02:00.007-04:00

I had fun today with my best friend and her girls. We decided to have a play session... kinda like dress-up:) We were short on time today, but plan on picking up where we left off this weekend. Be sure and check back;-)

{My precious flowers}

2009-05-12T19:16:00.006-04:00

I haven't taken pictures in a field of black-eyed susans in a few years. I decided to try it again tonight. (Thanks, Teresa!) My twins weren't really too fond of the gnats since I went so late:( But, we still managed to get a few keepers:)

Beautiful Briana... & Braden, too;-)

2009-05-09T10:10:00.008-04:00

I had the pleasure of getting to meet sweet Briana this week. She had a different mind of how things were going to be done. lol! No sleepy pics for her. She was a cutie, though. Big brother Braden was happy to join in the fun:)

Shelby:)

2009-05-02T21:34:00.009-04:00

After Heidi's family photoshoot, I told her that I just HAD TO "borrow" Shelby for a few pics. (Thank you, Heidi!) We had fun. As you have seen from the family shots, ALL of Heidi's children are gorgeous but, Shelby is EXTREMELY photogenic and loves it. I told Heidi that she needs to enter her into Seventeen or Teen magazines' model searches:)

Welcome Colin!

2009-04-30T11:42:00.006-04:00

I was honored to be in the delivery room when a great friend of mine, Melissa, had her beautiful baby boy, Colin. It was such a miracle just to get him here safe and healthy. He was even a good little fella for his pictures... as you can see;-)

Boys WILL BE boys;-)

2009-04-20T10:24:00.006-04:00

I had the pleasure of working with Tara and her family this past weekend. I have known Tara since elementary school. She is still just as beautiful now as she was then! Her boys kept me laughing. I can't imagine a house full of testosterone 24/7. Bless her! :)

Easter Fun:0)

2009-04-15T11:10:00.005-04:00

We had a very blessed day and I hope you all did, too. Here are a few pics that I managed to get. It seems that my children, at least my twins, don't want to stay still long enough for me to snap a few shots. But, my nieces were happy, ok, maybe not so happy, to oblige. They still looked beautiful anyway. Oh, of course, I didn't take the last picture, but it was too sweet not to share:)

{The Lloyds}

2009-04-06T11:49:00.006-04:00

I have known this family for forever. It seems like only yesterday that the Mom and I were in school together and now our children are. Wow! Time has flown by. I had a lot of fun during this shoot and look forward to many more:)

Jacksonville Zoo

2009-03-27T17:32:00.000-04:00

We took our twins for their first trip to the zoo today. I love the zoo, but I don't think that they share my fascination just yet:) I guess that 2 is not quite old enough. The zoo continues to get better every year. I encourage everyone to go visit it.

Alyssa

2009-02-09T09:21:00.002-05:00

Amazingly beautiful churches

2008-11-01T20:03:00.003-04:00

Here are some beautiful churches in my area. They turned out so gorgeous that I had to share;-)

{Jay}

2008-10-03T19:45:00.001-04:00

I had the pleasure of working with Jay and his Mom, Debra, for my first senior session. Dad went along for the ride, too. We had a lot of fun and I think it shows;-)