{ Casting Call }

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!

D is for dazzling ;)

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

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.

And the winner is...

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

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...

{ Miss Blue Eyes }

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!

Meet the Neumanns...

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:)

{ a family is love }

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!

{ FAMILY }

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;)

{ Daddy's girl }

"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!

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.