Visitors

So, 2 of my sweet nephews came over for a "visit" while Adrienne ran a quick errand. They wanted to color. Sure! "Here, Graham, let me help you open the bag." He pulls the bag away from me and shakes his head firmly, "No!" OKKAAAAY!!

So they proceed to pull every single crayon out of the bag.Graham then notices the way that Brooks is on his stomach and coloring.

He decided to get in on that action and give it a try.

Trying to get a shot of the two of them...Brooks was all for it, but Graham...not so much.The end.

Newborn LOVE

I am in love with photographing newborns! I took these pictures of Baby Elle yesterday...she was SO sweet and SO easy to work with! But, that was because she was only 6 days old! I will get to play with another newborn next week!! YAY!! :) He or she will be born on Tuesday...hurry up, Renee. I guess we should say hurry up Baby Beadle!

*If you are interested in newborn photographs, PLEASE contact me BEFORE the baby is born! I must take the pictures within the first 10 days of life to get the desired look. After this point, they don't sleep as easily and they don't "mold" as easily! I'm only half kidding when I say to call me on your way home from the hospital.

A Photographer's prayer

I LOVE this!! Okay, so I stole it from another photographer's blog...not very Christian-like, is it?! ANYWAY, it just puts into words how I feel about my photography and my desire to use my talents for His glory! It's something I pray for often - Lord, help me to use this talent that You have given me to serve You and show me how to use it in a way that is always pleasing to You!!

"Oh God, as I bring my subject into focus and prepare to make each portrait, never let me forget that I am creating treasures for some family, a keepsake for loved ones. Make me sensitive to the qualities and virtues of others, that I may draw out into the light the beautiful radiant belongings of their hearts.

Help me to be an artist, collecting the beauty of every soul, the glow of youth, the gentleness, the laughter or tears of each life that is precious in Your sight. Deeper than a means of livelihood, give me the perspective to see my photographer's art as a service to others, making life richer and more memorable.

And, dear Lord, between the lights and the shadows, the ups and downs and the rolling years, keep me from getting out of focus or off center, so that my life and work may be framed with dignity and colored with contentment...Amen."

~Author Unknown

Gorgeous Family!

You should be seeing a lot of samples from what I've been up to lately...my busiest Christmas season BY FAR!!! I will also be posting the custom-made cards that I did this year for Christmas, but I wanted to wait until everyone had sent them out before posting. I'll be picking up on posting my favorites from past sessions, but I couldn't wait to post these...

I seriously could take pictures of this family all day! Especially little Miss Priss Pot, Emma...she is a photographer's dream! She often had that natural "head cock" thing going on, and we had to get her to stop doing that in ALL of the pics, but it was just so cute!! And Mr. Man, William - what a doll!! Didn't want to leave his Daddy's side, so I got some cute ones with Daddy...and then managed to get a few of him by himself! That smile! He's gonna break some hearts, I can feel it! I feel sorry for Mom - how is she going to choose??

This totally says, "I'm SO trying not to smile!"

Breakfast with Santa

So, every year, we go to "Breakfast with Santa" at the Country Club...it's so cute to see all the little kids get so excited when Santa comes down the drive to the club in a horse-drawn sleigh. (Except, this year, I think they were ponies or a donkey, or something...I wasn't close enough). They all run out on the balcony to see him coming...Graham had to fight his way in there, but he made it.Anyway, John Collier and Brooks were SO excited to see Santa and tell him what they wanted. Graham, well, I don't know if he ever got close enough for us to really see how he felt about Santa...because by the time we were done eating and went downstairs to take pictures, Graham was in his prime...it was past his naptime, and we couldn't get him to stop "bucking" in our arms enough to put him on Santa's lap - crying or not.

So, here is John Collier telling Santa what he wants for Christmas, and Brooks listening intently in case John Collier mentions something that he hasn't thought of yet and can ask Santa for as well.

And here is the two of them proudly posing with Santa...minus one child...

...what was he doing?