nicole renée newborns {baltimore newborn photographer}

Photo of the Day {Baltimore County Newborn Photography}

2012-02-21T14:36:00.002-05:00

Love this color combination! Precious little hat from Mel's Crocheted Creations, thanks Mel!

A special little Valentine {Baltimore Newborn Photographer}

2012-02-14T21:21:00.004-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my readers!

I hope it's a blessed day filled with spending time with your special loved ones. I know this gorgeous baby girl sure is getting some lovin' today! Give your babies some extra squeezes from me :-)

Happy birthday babies! {Baltimore Baby Photographer}

2012-02-13T20:43:00.003-05:00

Do you remember these adorable babes? I photographed them a year ago when they were fresh newborns. Well they're back and they are no longer itty bitty ... It has truly been an honor to capture these two cuties through their first year! I've gotten to know this family and have had so much fun watching them grow from just 2 to 4 ... and then watching these precious babes grow into little people. The personalities that were blooming during our newborn session were in full force for their birthday session, oh how fun it was to watch them!

Mom & Dad, thank you for such a special privilege ... for inviting me into your life and allowing me to capture it through my lens! Just for fun, here's the year in review:

Six-Month Session

Newborn Session

Maternity Session

Pretty baby girl {Perry Hall Newborn Photographer}

2012-01-24T10:19:00.007-05:00

I had the super-duper big pleasure of spending Saturday morning with this preciously adorable babe. Such a tiny, sweet little thing, she also had quite a bit of feisty in her too ... reminded me of my Brooklyn :-) I got to work alongside Mel of Mel's Crocheted Creations for this session again, what an awesome gift that is ... having 4 hands that all know what I want to do at the exact same moment. Just perfect. I'm still working through this gorgeous session, but these were a few of my favorites thus far.

This baby girl was actually photographed in my home studio where I have more props and accessories available. Unfortunately due to the extreme amount of *stuff* required for newborn sessions in my clients' homes, I just don't have the capabilities to bring everything with me. But in my home studio, I had access to several bigger props that I really enjoyed working with. If you have a newborn session coming up and would prefer a few more options, email me to discuss shooting the session in my home studio!

Likewise, if your home is dark or you are worried about not having enough window light, I have complete control over the light in my home studio and know that I can get consistent results with ample light!

Introducing Red Thread Sessions

2012-01-15T17:20:00.002-05:00

Several fellow photographers and I have been working tirelessly on a new organization that I am so super-proud to help "found" and be a part of.

Red Thread Sessions is a group of volunteer photographers that have graciously agreed to donate their time to offer complimentary photography sessions to adoptive families. The idea for RTS was born in 2011 by myself and a fellow photographer, Nicole Bradley. With both of us being adoptive mommas and photographers, we really felt the need in our communities to celebrate the beauty of adoption through photography. Over the past year, so many ideas, thoughts and emails have gone back and forth, and there have been countless hours worth of work involved. We brought on two more photographers to help as well - Jenna Stoll and Amy Vecchio, both also touched personally by adoption. We know the need to create new portraits for adoptive families is great, but we also all understand the importance of capturing the precious, happy, confusing, exciting, exhausting, traumatic, life-changing time that is so often brief and fleeting in the life of an adoptive family. And with so many fellow photographers expressing an interest in adoption photography, we are so thrilled to introduce Red Thread Sessions!

The name "Red Thread Sessions" comes from the commonly-used Ancient Chinese Proverb that is well-known in the adoption community. It symbolizes the bond that all adoptive children have with their adoptive parents, even before they meet. An invisible “red thread” connects them to the people they are destined to meet. Although this Proverb truly relates to all people, it has a particularly strong connection to adoptive families and seemed like the perfect name for our organization.

A Red Thread Session is a complimentary photography session held during an adoptive family's homecoming or shortly after they have become an adoptive family. Participating photographers have agreed to celebrate adoption by completely waiving their session fee and offering edited proofs from these sessions at no cost to the families. Red Thread Session photographers offer three different types of sessions:

a family portrait session within the first 3 months of a finalized adoption to capture family portraits of the new family,
a homecoming session where the volunteering photographer meets the adoptive family at the airport upon arrival home to capture the first moments as a new family
a birth photography session to capture the birth of the adoptive child in an open adoption

We are excited to offer so many options to adoptive families - adoption means different things to families and we wanted to make sure that all needs for photography are met! But, we need your help! Red Thread Sessions will only be successful if people know about it! We need as many photographers and adoptive families to hear about Red Thread Sessions as possible so that these adoption sessions can be offered and experienced in every city, all over the US. Will you please help by telling other photographers and families about our new organization? You can blog about RTS, grab our button (with the code at the bottom) to display on your blog, and Facebook about it by linking to our Facebook Page.

We are especially in need of volunteer photographers right now - there won't be any Red Thread Sessions if we don't have volunteer photographers! If you are an adoptive family looking to receive a Red Thread Session, please tell your local photographers about RTS and ask them to consider joining us! Or if you are a photographer, please head over to our website and find out if Red Thread Sessions might be a good fit for you. Photographers choose how many Red Thread Sessions they want to photograph each year and are only asked to waive their session fee and offer a set of proofs to adoptive families. Please visit our website for more details using the button at the bottom of this post.

Thank you for helping us spread the word about Red Thread Sessions - passing this information on to others will allow more photographers to use their gifts and talents to help new adoptive families celebrate through photography!

Before/After {Baltimore County Newborn Photography}

2012-01-08T15:43:00.004-05:00

I thought it would be fun (and hopefully helpful) to share a SOOC (straight-out-of-camera) file versus the final portrait after editing. My goal as a photographer is to get close-to-perfect images in-camera, as much as possible. In this situation, I cropped slightly, boosted the contrast and exposure a tad, warmed up the color balance and ran a skin smoothing action. Ta-da, done!

And yes of course, I do have capabilities to do much more in-depth editing and sometimes need to, especially with family session when working with multiple subjects. I also sometimes have to work with newborn skin a bit more, but this little guy had creamy skin to start! I do try to minimize editing time by doing most of my work in-camera, at the session. This pays off especially for newborns!

Next Workshop Date! {Baltimore Photographer}

2012-01-04T08:46:00.004-05:00

The next SHOOT MY KIDS! Workshop date
is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2011 at 7pm!

Don't know what a SHOOT MY KIDS! Workshop is?
No problem, hop on over to THIS BLOG POST
or click on the big camera below
to be directed to the SMK! website!

And then, email me at nrportraits@yahoo.com
when you are ready to register for the February workshop!
I'll see you then!

2012 Announcement {Baltimore Newborn Photographer}

2012-01-02T22:30:00.007-05:00

2012. A new year. A new announcement.

And a new little guy ... isn't he precious?!

My 2012 fees are remaining the same as 2011! However, in an effort to focus my energies on my favorite type of work, Newborn Portraiture, I will only be accepting new newborn clients in 2012. I will of course, continue to work with my past clients! I love my clients and adore creating portraits for them! I am also excited to work with the new clients that have already been in touch with me.

I will also still be offering family mini-sessions - a Spring date will be announced soon! Current NRP clients will have the first chance to secure a mini-session, but the schedule will open up to new family clients as well.

Thank you for your continued support as I shift my business focus to newborns, it really means the world to me!

Happy New Year! {Reisterstown Newborn Photographer}

2012-01-01T22:09:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year to all of my followers! I spent New Year's Eve morning with this precious beauty. I think it's easy to see that she was so. good. to. me. Seriously, I had so much fun working with her and getting to know her family. And, well ... it's been a little while since I've had my hands on a baby girl, so I was super-jazzed when Mom was excited about some of my new props ... ones that I've had for a bit but haven't been able to use yet. Pink, purple and pretty headbands just aren't the same on boys, ya know?

Thanks Mom & Dad for welcoming me into your home and allowing me the privilege of capturing this special time in your family! And thank you also to all of my clients for making 2011 such an amazing year! I had some really awesome, although somewhat challenging, personal family changes and everyone has been so patient and caring with me through the process! THANK YOU! Stay tuned for a 2012 update from me :-)

He's 1! {Maryland Baby Photographer}

2011-12-04T22:51:00.004-05:00

I took a drive up to PA, just over the state line, yesterday to spend the morning with this handsome little guy and his family. They are the first ever (yes, the first!!) that I started photographing and I have so enjoyed capturing all 3 of their precious kiddos. This little guy just turned one and has such a sweet, angelic little face. Totally adorable. And he's walking ... and into everything. LOL. That always makes it more interesting for me :-) Fortunately Mom and I were ready to go and had everything set up, so we moved him around their home quite a bit to keep him entertained. We worked in his nursery first and then moved downstairs to the foyer and living room. Lots of nice, natural light coming into the windows made things easy for me, and some of my stay-still tricks worked long enough to get some really nice shots of him :-)

It was so much fun working with Mr. O. again, it's hard to believe he is already one - the time just goes by too darn fast, I tell ya. He is such a great little guy and so, so adorable! Thanks Mom, for an awesome morning!

WINNER! {Baltimore Family Photography}

2011-11-29T21:21:00.004-05:00

Drum roll please ...

The winner of the 2011 CyberMonday Mini-Session Giveaway is

#36, Johanna Cannelongo!

CONGRATULATIONS JOHANNA!! I am thrilled to be able to photograph your new family of SEVEN in April! How exciting!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:36Powered by RANDOM.ORG

CyberMonday Giveaway! {Baltimore Newborn Photography}

2011-11-28T00:00:00.002-05:00

I will be giving away 1 FREE MINI-SESSION today only!

The mini-session will take place during my Spring Mini-Session weekend - April 28-29 (rain dates are May 5-6). The time of the session will be scheduled in the Spring. The Mini-Session is 45 minutes and includes 10 high-resolution digital images. The session will take place at my outdoor Mini-Session location in Owings Mills, Maryland. Mini-sessions are for immediate family only and are not appropriate for newborns or very small babies.

So this is what you need to do to enter ...

Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite Christmas tradition is - it can be anything you want! Make sure to leave your name AND an email address for me to contact you. If I cannot get in touch with you, you can't win! Next, go tell all of your Facebook friends that you entered a giveaway to win a free mini-session with me - make your status "I just entered to win a free mini-session with @Nicole Renee Photography and you can too!" Please use the little "@" symbol to link to my Facebook page. (You must be a fan to use that feature.) Blog comments may be made on CyberMonday only - November 28th - from 12:00am - 11:59pm. Comments made before or after the timeframe will be disqualified. One entry per person. Comments made on my Facebook page will NOT be entered in the drawing - all comments must be here on the blog. One winner will be randomly drawn and notified on Tuesday.

GOOD LUCK!!

Cutest little caterpillar ... ever {Parkville Newborn Photographer}

2011-11-27T15:43:00.005-05:00

To say that I fun at this newborn session in an understatement! LOL. I have been waiting for this one for a long time - I finally got to welcome home Julie's new baby son AND I had the privilege of having Mel of Mel's Crocheted Creations (her Facebook page is HERE) as my assistant. Yup, it was a pretty wonderful day. Having an extra set of hands that knew exactly what I needed was terrific and made everything go so smoothly. And well, just LOOK at this little guy - could he be anymore edible?!

He was such a dream for us and put up with us for quite awhile with all of the prop changes. Having an aunt that owns a crochet shop automatically makes you a model, right? And then, having a mama that's an animal trainer at the Baltimore Zoo ... well that just adds a whole new layer of utter cuteness as well. And that's why I am so excited about the little giraffe and his "friends" in the 4th portrait - I had envisioned that one as a 10x20 (but don't worry mom, I have a regular-sized file for you as well!).

Oh I just ADORE newborns! Funny, because I didn't always used to say that, but yes it's true, I definitely have newborn fever and I am so excited for 2 more coming up in December! THANK YOU Julie for inviting me into your home (and taking care of lunch!) and allowing me to capture such a special time in your family. It was such an honor and I am so happy we were able to do this together! Congratulations to your family of FIVE, there are many blessings to celebrate this Christmas for sure!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE {Baltimore Baby Photographer}

2011-11-23T17:13:00.003-05:00

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!!!!

The Black Friday Sale is here! On Friday, November 25, 2011, from 12am - 11:59pm, Nicole will be offering the following promotion:

Receive a $25 savings when registering and paying for the first 2012 SHOOT MY KIDS! Group Workshop! Regularly $99, the Black Friday Sale tuition is only $74!

This Workshop will be held in Nicole's Perry Hall home studio on the

evening of Friday, January 20th!

This is an incredible Workshop for moms who want to take better pictures of their kids with their DSLR cameras. For a tuition of only $74, you will learn the following:

*10 key elements to capturing impressive images

*Finding the light

*Instruction on elements of exposure including ISO, shutter speed and aperture

*Using your camera's basic settings

*Introduction to lenses and their capabilities

*Advanced topics of aperture mode, manual mode and white balance

For more details about the SHOOT MY KIDS! Workshop, please visit the website with the link at the bottom of this post.

Once you have decided that the Workshop is for you, send Nicole an email at nrportraits@yahoo.com letting her know you'd like to register for the 1/20/12 evening Workshop date, and she'll send you an invoice for the $74 tuition via paypal. You *must* send her an email and pay for the workshop on Black Friday to be eligible for the discount. Each workshop is limited to 10 STUDENTS ONLY. Email Nicole early to avoid missing the date! (If needed, a second date will be opened in February and will also be eligible for the Black Friday discount.) Remember, the $25 savings is good on Black Friday ONLY - after Friday, the tuition goes back to the regular $99 fee. This is a fantastic Christmas gift too!

*****Nicole hopes everyone had safe and happy Thanksgiving day filled with lots of blessings and family time! And GO RAVENS! Also, be sure to STAY TUNED for the Cyber-Monday Mini-Session Giveaway!*****

So Excited To Announce! {Baltimore Newborn Photography}

2011-11-22T16:25:00.016-05:00

I am so thrilled to announce the SHOOT MY KIDS! Workshop coming in January 2012! Is your fancy new DSLR camera still in full auto, just like it was when you first took it out of the box? Are you frustrated that the pictures you snap of your kids haven't improved since you bought it? Then the SHOOT MY KIDS! Workshop is for you!

The Workshop lasts about 3 hours and covers the following:

*10 key elements to capturing impressive images

*Finding the light

*Instruction on elements of exposure including ISO, shutter speed and aperture

*Using your camera's basic settings

*Introduction to lenses and their capabilities

*Advanced topics of aperture mode, manual mode and white balance

The Workshop is $99 per person with a minimum of 5 students (maximum of 10).

Please watch for a Black Friday only discount on the tuition!

The workshop is designed for people that own DSLR cameras, although point & shoot owners will likely learn quite a bit as well. The workshop is not for professional portrait photographers that charge a fee, just moms who want to take better candid shots of their littles! Each attendee will receive a take-home workbook and is guaranteed to have a fun time!

SHOOT MY KIDS! is offered two ways - private Mom's Night Out Workshops or public Group Workshops. Group Workshops are held in Nicole's home studio in Perry Hall, Mom's Night Out Workshops are held in a client's home.

The first 2012 Group Workshop in Nicole's home studio is scheduled for Friday evening, January 20th!

Mark your calendars!

For more information about the Workshop and samples of the types of images you will learn to create, please visit the SHOOT MY KIDS! website with the link at the bottom of this post. For demonstration purposes, Nicole uses only snapshots of her own children on the website and at the Workshop. No fancy lighting or special equipment is used to create these images, just the knowledge to use the settings on a DSLR camera.

Nicole is also available to give standard 1-hour talks to local mom's share groups - she loves to meet new people!

So Loved {Kingsville Family Photographer}

2011-11-21T21:57:00.006-05:00

Oh how I adore this family! This is the 3rd time just this year that I have worked with them ... and I gotta say, I think our sessions keep getting better and better! I had so much fun, as always, and just love the portraits we captured. They are so good are forgetting that the camera is there and just being themselves. And it's easy to see how much they love their little guy - I think love just radiates off of them! We had a bit of (ok a lot of) a gray day, but it certainly didn't stop us from having fun and playing around! F. Family, thank you so much for giving me the privilege of photographing your family - I have so much fun working with you!

Meet Mel and her precious family {Kingsville Family Photography}

2011-11-20T22:26:00.005-05:00

Meet Mel. She's the mama of this adorable family. And she's the owner of Mel's Crocheted Creations. Yeah, she pretty much rocks. A lot :-) Didn't she do a fabulous job with color choices and wardrobe this year?! I adore these rich, warm tones! I always love getting together with her family every year - her kiddos are so sweet and so much fun, we always have a blast together. And it's super nice to be able to spend some time with Mel also. I'll be doing that a lot next Saturday too, for her nephew's newborn session - cannot WAIT for that one! Hope the little guy is sleepy, because we have lots of crocheted props waiting for him to model!

A beautiful day with a fun family! {Kingsville Family Photographer}

2011-11-06T23:57:00.004-05:00

We had just perfect weather on Saturday afternoon for our session! I am so thrilled with our results and I had such a fun time seeing this awesome family again! This is the third time I've had the pleasure of working with them, and we always have a great time :-) Brother & sister are so adorable together - it's easy to see how much they love each other. And I also love the shots we got of Mom & Dad with their kiddos. There's nothing like seeing parents interact with their children - those are always my favorites!

C. family, I am so glad we got the opportunity to work together again! I will let you know as soon as I finish up with the rest of your proofs!

Love this little guy! {Kingsville Child Photographer}

2011-11-06T21:28:00.003-05:00

What can I say? This little guy is totally adorable. He has hair to die for and he is ridiculously happy and silly. I think he smiled the whole time I was with him, even in the a-bit-too-cold temperature. If all adults were as happy and carefree as Mr. J. ... well, I think we'd live in a pretty awesome world. People could learn a thing or 2 from this little man!

Thanks Mom, for another wonderful opportunity to capture your son just as he is. He is so perfect and I feel privileged to be the one to photograph him!

Pretty little lady {Timonium Newborn Photographer}

2011-10-13T10:17:00.004-04:00

Oh I just love newborns ... they way they curl, the way they smell, the way they sound. This little lady was so good to me yesterday ... and even when she woke up, Mom was able to nurse her right back to sleep effortlessly. I adore that. Please enjoy a few portraits from her session yesterday, I had so much fun getting to know her family!

Boy, girl, boy, girl {Baltimore Baby Photographer}

2011-10-09T22:27:00.004-04:00

I was so excited to see this brother-sister duo again! I shot their newborn session at the end of January this year and cannot believe how much they have changed! Mom & Dad have such a twinkle in their eyes when they're with their babies - it's totally precious to see. I am so, so glad I got to meet up with them again - it's been such a pleasure to work with them!

I am ecstatic with our results - you can never say for sure how individual babies will do at sessions, let alone two! I think it's safe to say that Mr M. and Little Miss E. rocked their session, wouldn't you?! Thank you Mom & Dad for a spectacular morning - it was just wonderful to see you again!

Girls! {Baltimore Family Photographer}

2011-10-09T19:09:00.005-04:00

Oh this is one of my favorite families to work with. Not only are they good friends and neighbors, I also went to school with Mom ... a long time ago. LOL. I always have so much fun with our session every year and this time was no exception! Unfortunately for Dad, he is a bit outnumbered :-) He is such a good sport though and it's easy to see how much he loves all of his girls.

Thank you for another fun evening - I think our results speak for themselves :-) You are such a beautiful family!

Double the fun ... again! {Harford County Photographer}

2011-10-09T17:16:00.004-04:00

Take a look at these precious little cuties! It seems like just yesterday I was shooting their newborn session ... and here they are celebrating their first birthday. Amazing how time flies. I have so enjoyed getting to know their family over this past year. Mom & Dad are so wonderful and have such patience!

As you can imagine, twin sessions are always a bit challenging :-) Add in the fact that the twins are one, are walking, and have different personalities ... well, it gets even more interesting! LOL. We had a great time though, I so enjoyed following them around and watching them revel in their freedom :-)

I just *had* to share this funny outtake because it makes me smile. LOL. I love that Mom & Dad continued to laugh even when the girls were done. I told you - lots of patience :-)

Thank you for allowing me to capture S. & L.'s first year. I have so enjoyed getting to know your family and it has been such a pleasure to work with you!

Cutie patooties! {Kingsville Child Photographer}

2011-10-02T17:27:00.004-04:00

Seriously, these kiddos could not have been any cuter! I told mom I wanted to pinch her little guy's cheeks and I am definitely not what I would consider a "pincher" ... LOL. They were so energetic and full of life, so good at just being "kids."

In fact, one of my absolute favorites is #2 - that was a stunning result of them messing around and actually not doing what I asked. Are you kidding me?! Gorgeous. I love setting kids up and then watching them play together ... waiting for that special moment to capture is so thrilling to me! And I think the resulting portraits are always my favorites ... seeing those relationships frozen forever ... oh it's just perfect.

Thanks Mom for giving me the opportunity to photograph your beautiful babies - I had so much fun! It was such a pleasure to finally meet you after almost a year of chatting back and forth! I think our results were worth the wait :-)

Daddy's little pumpkin {Harford County Newborn Photographer}

2011-09-19T19:59:00.006-04:00

This little guy was my first newborn since being home from China ... oh how I have missed newborn baby snuggles. And although, I will say, little man definitely made me work for these portraits ... oh it was so worth it. I captured a few of my favorites, ever, with him!

Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa - it was so wonderful to spend the day getting to know your family! I so enjoyed my time with you and can't wait to watch little P. grow and change! It was truly a pleasure!

Brown-eyed baby girl {Baltimore Baby Photographer}

2011-09-17T21:52:00.003-04:00

This little one is such a precious thing ... oh those brown eyes and long eyelashes just melt my heart! You make remember her from the pretty portrait of her and her mama earlier on my blog. She's back and just as gorgeous as ever! We were lucky to fight off the rain - so glad mom stuck it out with me! In between raindrops, we were able to get some really stunning results :-) Mom, I hope you adore them as much as I do! Have a safe and fun vacation and thank you for the opportunity to capture your baby girl!

Cousins {Baltimore Custom Photographer}

2011-09-17T18:49:00.004-04:00

I met with this set of cousins this morning - how adorable are they?! The little ones definitely kept me on my toes but that's to be expected when celebrating your 2nd birthday ... lots of things to see and do at that age!! :-) I'm just thrilled with our results, these kiddos are so stinkin' cute! The girls have the sweetest little smiles and older brother was so gentle and wonderful with them. Thanks Mr. Z. for all of your help - you were really awesome!

It was so great to see everyone again - it had been a year since I last photographed the girls ... my how they have changed! Thank you for the opportunity to photograph this next milestone in their lives! Happy 2nd birthday to A. and E.!

Mama and her baby {Baltimore Baby Photographer}

2011-09-05T17:00:00.003-04:00

More to come from this precious little lady next week ... but for now, just one with her mama. Everything is *always* better in mommy's arms, isn't it? Just love these mommy portraits ... it's so important for us to be in front of the camera too!

We beat Irene! {Owings Mills Baby Photographer}

2011-08-31T17:01:00.007-04:00

This post is waaaay overdue! Mom & Dad have been so patient and I am very grateful for that! No power and a flooded basement have made it difficult for me to do much work. Fortunately power is back and the basement is beginning to dry out! We were able to photograph this little guy's one-year session on Saturday as Hurricane Irene was approaching - seriously I think it may have been chasing us! So glad we met earlier (Dad's idea) - it worked :-)

If I had to describe this little guy in one word, it would be busy! He's also totally adorable though, so maybe I should use two words - adorably busy. He definitely wanted to do his own thing on Saturday and wasn't buying into many (or any?) of my stay-put tricks. LOL. That's ok though - we still got some really awesome shots of him ... I even caught eye contact and cute little smirks from him. I think we all got a workout chasing him around - totally worth it, I'd say! Thanks Mom & Dad, it was such a pleasure to meet you and I am so appreciative of your patience!

Peanut is 2! {Baltimore Child Photographer}

2011-08-27T21:31:00.006-04:00

It's always so much fun meeting up with Josef's family! You have seen him multiple times on the blog, as I have been photographing him since before he was born! His last session at 18 months was a casual, inside-his-house kind of day that was spectacular. And now, after 2 1/2 reschedules, we finally got his 2-year session photographed yesterday too! It was a bit (ok, a lot) humid and the mosquitoes were out in full force, but that certainly didn't bother this little guy! He was so happy and content, it's easy to see how much mom & dad love him. He also reminds me so very much of my own little guy, oh I just love our sessions together!

Thank you (again) ... I had so much fun! Let's hope for zero reschedules for the next session!! Happy 2nd Birthday to Josef!

He's 1! {Harford County Child Photographer}

2011-08-14T14:49:00.003-04:00

I met up with Mr. B. and his Mom & Dad to celebrate his first birthday! We had Swan Harbor Farm all to ourselves along with some really great weather! Mr. B. definitely kept us on our toes - he has been walking since he was 10 months old and is quick! We used a few of my tricks to snag shots of him though, and I'm so happy with the outcome! He was such a joyful, adorable little guy and so full of life! Thanks Mom & Dad for the opportunity to capture your son at such a special time (and a special thanks to Dad for being such a great sport!).

Fall Mini-Sessions are back! {Baltimore Family Photography}

2011-08-11T22:42:00.005-04:00

Newborn Workshop {Baltimore, Maryland Newborn Photographer}

2011-08-11T19:41:00.004-04:00

I had the truly amazing experience of a newborn workshop last week! I have oodles of un-edited images to work through, but this was one of my favorites and I wanted to share. It's been 3 months since my last newborn session because of our adoption trip, and boy oh boy (or girl!) am I craving another! If you haven't seen the work of the uber-talented Keri Myers, you should - you are really missing out! She is based in Seattle and does workshops all over the U.S. It was fantastic to be able to learn from one of the best AND I also had the pleasure of meeting several other great photographers as well! I have already purchased a few new newborn goodies and cannot wait for my next session in September!

A sweet surprise {Maryland Adoption Photographer}

2011-08-05T09:57:00.005-04:00

I had the honor of surprising our very dear friends, the Weldons, at the airport when they came home from China with their new baby girl on Wednesday. They didn't know that their family would be there waiting for them, and of course didn't know I would be there either! After just doing this myself, I knew how sweet the reunion would be, especially with their 2 sons. Lots of tears were shed. The utter joy and relief you feel after the journey of adoption and then traveling for over 24 hours ... wow, there is just nothing like it ... to finally be able to bring your new baby home ... truly one of the most amazing moments in life. And for me, to be able to witness this reunion for their family, was absolutely priceless. I am definitely not an "event photographer" but I think the emotion in these images totally speak for themselves.

Their daughter, Emery Lin, was born just one day before our Brooklyn, in the same province, and taken to the same orphanage. She was also born with the same special need as Brooklyn - cleft lip & palate. To say these girls and our families are forever bonded is an understatement for sure ... we have become each other's extended families for life. I'd love it if you would join me in congratulating the Weldons! Please welcome home the newest American citizen - Emery Lin Weldon!

The images above are just a few (or a lot) of my favorites ... please visit flickr for the whole set!

Weldon's Homecoming, a set on Flickr.

This is also the perfect opportunity to tell you about a new organization that I am really proud to be helping to start - Red Thread Sessions! RTS is a non-profit group of volunteer photographers that donate their time & talent to offer adoption photography to new adoptive families. Adoption and photography are two things that are very close to my heart, and they just go hand-in-hand perfectly. Homecoming photography, like in the blog post, is just one of the types of photography available to adoptive families. RTS is still in its infancy, but please help me spread the word! We need volunteer photographers and also need the word to get out to adoptive families! I have linked the website below and please go "like" RTS on Facebook!

My favorite red head is back! {Kingsville Baby Photographer}

2011-07-31T16:24:00.004-04:00

Seriously, is he not the cutest little guy?! I had so much fun seeing him again and I just love our results! Little man was a bit more moody than usual - but that is a-ok with me because he is so stinkin' adorable! Those baby blues in combination with his red hair ... oh he is just perfect! It's hard to believe he is celebrating his first birthday ... I've had the pleasure of photographing his first year and am a little sad that it's over! He is growing into such a handsome little guy though - it's been so fun to watch him change!

O-N-E ! {Harford County Child Photographer}

2011-07-23T14:35:00.007-04:00

I had such a fun time with this little guy! He couldn't have been MORE perfect for the camera - he seriously rocked his one-year session! Mama chose Swan Harbor Farm for our location because it's where the said their "I do's" ... love that! We also had the most perfect weather anyone could have asked for! I have had the pleasure of photographing Mr. K. for his newborn and 6-month portraits too and I *would* have photographed his mama's maternity session as well ... but he decided to make his debut a little too early.

I have loved getting to know his family over this past year - they have been so delightful to work with and I am so happy to be a part of their lives!

Natural beauty {Baltimore Child Photographer}

2011-07-17T14:30:00.006-04:00

Mel, her daughter, and I met at Sherwood Gardens yesterday morning to celebrate little lady's 5th birthday! I still can't believe that several years have passed since the first time I photographed her! She just gets more beautiful each time I see her - especially with those crystal clear blue eyes, beach blonde hair and glowing tan - wow what a natural beauty!

And of course, it's always such a treat to work with Mel of Mel's Crocheted Creations also! She is a great friend and I just adore all of her handmade one-of-a-kind crocheted accessories! If you haven't seen me write about her and *still* haven't visited her site, you are totally missing out!

Thanks Mel and Miss Gloria for another super-fun, extra-girly session! Can't wait to show you the rest! And PS - I posted that first image on my Facebook page in color but I think it's more stunning in black & white ... thoughts?

Little man is back! {Baltimore Baby Photographer}

2011-07-13T15:30:00.004-04:00

So I am *finally* getting the chance to post the sessions I shot before we left to bring Brooklyn home! I can't believe it's taken me this long - I shot this one over Memorial Day weekend!

Anywho - here is Mr. O., again! His family are literally my first clients and I have had so much fun watching them grow from a family of 3 to a family of 5! It's always such a joy to meet them for another session! Mr. O. was a perfect model for us on this day and did everything we asked of him (definitely a change from his newborn session HERE!!).

I adore so many of the resulting images, but I think my favorite is the first one ... I just love seeing his family look on at him as he proudly shows off his new skill of sitting :-) I had a great time hanging out with everyone, again! And I can't wait to see this gorgeous little guy at his next session, when he will celebrate his first birthday!

Everyone loves a brown-eyed girl!

2011-07-10T23:23:00.004-04:00

I had the pleasure of spending Saturday morning with this 7-month-old cutie-patootie! She had the sweetest little smile and was such a joy to be around! Plus, she has brown eyes - the same as BOTH of my baby girls - LOVE! I had such a great morning and it was so fun getting to know her mama and daddy! It's easy to see how much they love little Miss S. too - they just doted all over her!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to capture your precious baby girl - she is just beautiful and I had a great time! I'll let you know as soon as I finish up with the rest of your session!

Smiley little guy is back!

2011-07-03T23:44:00.008-04:00

You may remember this awesome little guy from THIS POST HERE ... I captured one of my most favorite images ever at his newborn session :-) Well, he's back and just as adorable as ever at 7 months! Plus, he has inherited Mom & Dad's stunning fashion sense and looked totally perfect for his session yesterday - I just *adore* (like really adore) his hair!

I am so thrilled with our results - my favorites are the ones of Mom with little C. - there is nothing like a Mama with her baby boy. S. family - it was such a pleasure to see you again! I can't wait to show you the rest - I saved the last portraits (more of my favorites!!) for your gallery so we don't ruin any surprises! I'll let you know as soon as I finish up!

The newest American citizen!

2011-06-16T14:19:00.003-04:00

I am so pleased and proud to introduce our daughter, the newest American citizen!

Brooklyn Jinggui Chryst

Born May 27, 2010

in Fuzhou City, Jiangxi, China

Adopted June 7, 2011

We got home last night and everyone is doing really great! We are a bit (ok, a lot) sleepy, but are so ecstatic to be home again! Thank you again for all of your support during such a special time for our family!

I'm leaving for CHINA!

2011-06-02T10:19:00.003-04:00

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!

We leave tomorrow to go get our girl! I am so ecstatic but also sad to say goodbye to Peyton and Ryan at the same time. When I look at that pretty little face below, it definitely helps put my mind at ease! It's amazing that all of the work we have been doing for the past year (actually, over a year!) is finally coming to a culmination ... our ADOPTION TRIP ... the goal we have been working toward for SO LONG! Holy cow, I'm going to CHINA and I'm coming back with another beautiful daughter! It's still hard to wrap my brain around that ... maybe I'll "get" it when I am on the plane?

Some housekeeping ... I plan to return to shooting sessions in July - I know the clients I need to contact when I get home to schedule and I promise I'll take care of you when I return! I ask for your patience in my responding to email when I get home, I'm just not sure how we will transition. I'll be working a little lighter than usual through the summer but plan to get back into the swing of things in the Fall - just in time for Fall Mini's!

Thank you so much to ALL of my readers, seriously from the bottom of my heart to the top of it, for all of the love and support you have shown me during this process! It's been crazy and long, sometimes frustrating but always joyful ... and now the REAL work begins. Please, please, please follow our adoption trip on my PERSONAL BLOG!! I am all set up with a VPN and should have no problems blogging in China. And even if I do have issues, a very wonderful friend has offered to blog for me if needed (I just love her!!). The pictures won't be quite as plentiful as usual (no Macbook in China), but I promise you'll be able to still get the idea! Also, I'd love for you to follow along in our prayer schedule - it's based on what we are doing each day in China. HERE'S THE LINK with the information.

Another princess is 1! {Baltimore Child Photography}

2011-05-22T22:38:00.007-04:00

Miss M. is another one of my baby's first year "graduates" ... what a bittersweet thing! Although I am always so thrilled to watch little ones grow from a newborn into a toddler, it's still a little sad each time I photograph the one-year session. So many changes in such a short time!

I have truly enjoyed working with Miss M. through this past year - I keep thinking we can't top the prior session, but somehow we always manage to! I have so many favorites from this session, but my most-favorites are the shots of her with her mama. I just love seeing parents with their babies, it's so important to capture those connections! I included a couple of Dad and big brother in the blogpost too because they were just too precious to leave out!

Thank you K. Family for such a fun year! Miss M. is blossoming into a lovely little lady - such a happy and joyful little girl and SO beautiful!

Little Miss is One! {Baltimore Child Photographer}

2011-05-16T23:39:00.005-04:00

Another little one celebrates her first birthday! Bittersweet but oh-so-fun! Here's her 6-month session back in September. Miss A. was a total blast on Sunday, I am so jazzed that the weather held out for us to get outside yesterday! Even with only a 30-minute nap, she was pure joy and absolute delight. Oh I just loved her!

Mom asked to do the session at Boordy Vineyards because she and hubby got married there - what a wonderful idea! She got permission from Boordy for us and we had a blast. It's always nice to photograph at a new venue and Boordy was just breathtaking! So much awesome architecture and natural beauty - pretty much a dream for me! It's been years since I've been there, and I'm now 100% convinced that Zach and I must go back for a date night!

T & B - THANK YOU for another perfect session. I know I keep saying that we couldn't top the last one - but I think we did! I'll let you know when I finish up with the rest of your proofs!

The newest little Raven {Perry Hall Newborn Photography}

2011-05-16T21:07:00.007-04:00

This was such a special session. Aside from it being my last newborn before I leave for China, this little guy is also the new son of a great friend! His momma is the gorgeous lady in my last maternity session :-) He is the spitting image of his 2 older sisters - there is definitely no denying him!

Little J. was such a good sport for me yesterday. He put up with everything I asked of him and gave me a couple good hours with the camera. He was wonderful and squooshy and has eyelashes that the girls will be SO jealous of when he's older. He was the perfect little model! Thank you SO much momma for letting me capture this special time in your family! It was such an honor!

They're back! {Kingsville Baby Photography}

2011-05-02T16:45:00.007-04:00

I had SUCH a fun time with these two twin sisters! I was shocked at how easy going they were - they couldn't have treated me better actually! It amazing that, already, I can see their little personalities budding. I think you'll be able to see them too - I threw in a few fun shots because I just couldn't help myself! I love how Miss L. is cracking up in the 4th one and then is *so* over the camera in the 7th. LOL. What a riot! Miss S. was a bit more laid back but was also SO full of smiles and such a sweet little lady.

It's so difficult to believe that these little gals started as itty bitty curled up newborns HERE. Wow time flies by way too fast! Before I know it, I'll be photographing their one-year session, yikes! Thank you Mom & Dad for a wonderful afternoon - your baby girls are the sweetest little things! What a fantastic way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Lil golfer is proud to be 1! {Towson Baby Photographer}

2011-05-01T23:19:00.005-04:00

I had such a fun weekend! Two one-year-olds in one day - how lucky am I?! This little guy was SUCH a delight yesterday! So happy and totally curious - love him! I have had the amazing pleasure of photographing his first year of life too ... I have the greatest job in the world!

Mr. G. was an absolute ham and so fun to be with! He did everything we asked of him and was totally adorable while doing it :-) LOL. We couldn't have asked for better results! The 'lil golfer image HAS to be one of my new all-time favorites and I just love that he is showing everyone he is ONE in the last shot! Thank you Mom & Dad for inviting me into your life over the past year, it has been such a privilege!

Bittersweet {Baltimore Baby Photographer}

2011-05-01T09:38:00.004-04:00

I am still having a difficult time believing Miss A. is ONE! Wow! This past year sure has flown by and I am so honored that I had the privilege of capturing it for her family. It's always a little bittersweet for me when my Collection babies "graduate" with their one-year celebration session. I just adore watching them change and grow, but at the same time, I certainly wouldn't mind if they stayed a "baby" for just a little bit longer. I totally sound like a mom! LOL. I am definitely a mom though, so I'm ok with wearing that hat :-)

Miss A. was a spectacular model for me yesterday. It was a bit chilly in the morning, but she was a trooper and we had exquisite natural backdrops to work with! She was such a happy little lady and her eyes just sparkled every time she smiled at me. Oh I just love one-year-olds!

Alert! {Perry Hall Newborn Photography}

2011-04-25T17:21:00.003-04:00

Well this little lady was definitely alert on Saturday for her newborn session! At just 10 days old, I think she was the most awake AND happy baby, that I've ever photographed. She was perfectly content to just lay in front of me, wide awake. LOL. Unfortunately for me though, she had clear opinions on how she should be posed - she is definitely all girl!! She did pass out just long enough for Mom and I to work together for some really stunning shots. Thank you Mom for your awesome assistance - what a team we make!!

I was so happy to photograph this newborn session this past weekend, but am now a little sad because it's the last one I have scheduled before our adoption trip to China! I'm excited too, but I will certainly be going through some newborn withdraw in the future :-) We *still* don't have our travel dates because of a few hold-ups on approvals, but we are really, really, really close! I'd love to say we'll be leaving at the very end of May, but I think June is more realistic. I hope that everyone will follow along on my personal blog when we travel to bring home our daughter!

Has it really been almost 6 months?! {Abingdon Baby Photographer}

2011-04-25T15:28:00.003-04:00

Another (almost) 6 months has passed, where the heck does the time go?! HERE is this (not-so-little) little guy's newborn session from the fall - what a difference just a few months can make! I had such a fun time hanging out with him again - he is such a happy little man and it's so easy to see how much Mom & Dad are in love with him. He was a little serious for us this morning, but Dad seemed to work his magic a bit for a few little smiles :-)

I can't wait to see what changes another 6 months will bring! My bet is this little one will be walking, moving all over the place and getting into everything by then! Thanks Mom & Dad for another great session, I'll let you know as soon as I am finished with the rest of your proofs!

Mine {Kingsville Child Photographer}

2011-04-21T18:31:00.002-04:00

I am, indeed, blessed enough to be able to call this little guy "mine." I fell in love with this image a few weeks ago, back when I shot it at Jerusalem Mill. It was one of those spur-of-the-moment, lifestyle shots ... I called his name and he turned around with the most angelic smile on his face. His eyes pierce right through my heart every time he looks at me. Ahhhhh, total mama bliss :-)

And because I have had *SO MANY* rain reschedules for my most recent sessions (a big WOW on the amount of rain April has given us!!), I haven't had much activity on the blog ... so I though I'd share this one of Ryan. Let's hope all of these April showers really do bring big, gorgeous May flowers!

It's so fun to be 1! {Parkville Baby Photographer}

2011-04-11T17:13:00.005-04:00

Well the weather didn't cooperate for us this weekend and Miss A. wasn't all that excited about the cold. What the heck happened to the gorgeous Sunday weather forecast? Regardless of that though, we still had a blast watching pretty Miss. A. with her cake. She forgot all about the cold when she saw her cake - I'm convinced it fixes *everything* :-)

Here are just a few for now - the full sneak peek to come when we can get back out in warmer weather!

Gorgeous soon-to-be mama of 3! {Perry Hall Maternity Photographer}

2011-04-06T15:38:00.006-04:00

I had so much fun with S. last Saturday! She happens to be a good friend AND neighbor, so it was even more fun for me! Unfortunately we had *NO* sun, so I had to get a little creative with the window light but I am just tickled with our results :-) This is mama's third baby - seriously, isn't she stunning?! She is such a natural, glowing beauty! Her first two babies (well, not so much babies anymore I guess!) are girls ... I think we all have our guesses on whether the 3rd is a boy or girl. Only time will tell - just a bit longer now! We're hoping this baby makes his/her debut just a teeny weeny early so that I am still here for some newborn portraits!

A new baby brother! {Baltimore Newborn Photographer}

2011-03-21T21:12:00.005-04:00

Big sister was nice enough to introduce me to her handsome baby brother yesterday! I had the pleasure of taking her 6-month portraits just a year ago. HERE is that session :-) You'll see that Miss Happy has grown quite a bit but she still has those stunning baby blues! I think she is going to be sharing them with her brother though - I am in awe at how similar their facial features and expressions are already. I can't wait to see what the little guy looks like 6 months from now - I bet he'll be a little mini-me! Super adorable!

I was able to use some accessories that Mom crocheted for this newborn session. I love the images we got from them - aren't they sweet? That's actually a scarf in the 2nd shot that Mom made for when he is a little older. I think it will be so fun to look back on these portraits and see how small he was compared to when he will be using the scarf :-) And I think it's awesome that Mom made them - what a special gift.

Thank you Mom & Dad for another opportunity to photograph your family - we got some really beautiful images of your precious little guy! Congratulations!

Such a little lady {Parkville Newborn Photographer}

2011-03-19T18:00:00.005-04:00

I had the pleasure of sharing this beautiful morning with a teeny tiny 6-pound little lady. She was soooo incredibly good to me. Not only is she a stunning baby girl, she slept the whole time I was visiting and was very accommodating to me :-) She made a few whimpers here and there but would quickly settle back down and drift off to sleep every time. I told mom that I can see already that Miss L. and I are going to get along just perfectly as she grows up! LOL.

Mom & Dad - thank you for such a wonderful morning! It was such a pleasure to meet you both AND your gorgeous baby girl. I'll let you know as soon as I finish up with the rest of your proofs!

Meet my nieces! {Kingsville Child Photographer}

2011-03-17T13:57:00.004-04:00

My nieces were in town from Wisconsin this week - what better way to celebrate than with a girly-girl, sister session?! I think you can see that we had ... ummm ... a total BLAST! They were so much fun. I just love their personalities - all 3 so different and absolutely amazing in their own way. You can see the love beaming from them for each other ... I just adore that. So special. I hope they look back on these portraits one day and remember that love. So sweet. It was really special for me to capture all of their girly-ness ... lots of giggling, hugging, tickling and funny faces. I think it helped that we made Dad stay back in the car :-)

And I will call him squishy {Baltimore Newborn Photographer}

2011-03-16T21:33:00.008-04:00

What a squishy little guy! Weighing in at over 10 lbs at birth, he was the biggest newborn I have photographed yet. I love all of his yummy little baby rolls and totally squeezable lips! I was super-excited about this session but he unfortunately did not share my enthusiasm ... poor little guy was having some belly trouble and didn't like being posed. That's ok though - mom worked her magic mommy superpowers and with lots of patience, we were able to capture some really sweet portraits of him!

Red {Forest Hill Baby Photographer}

2011-03-06T17:45:00.006-05:00

Today, I am head-over-heels in love with red-headed baby boys and silhouettes! This little guy was the cutest, complete with chubby cheeks that I actually wanted to squeeze :-) He is also the best toe-grabber on the block - check out that first shot!

He was absolutely perfect for me, even despite him not being in his *best* mood. And he wasn't even crawling yet ... super bonus! We had a fantastic morning and were lucky enough to get outside for a few shots! Spring is coming, I can just feel it! It was such a pleasure to see how much this little guy has changed - the last time I saw him he was a tiny little thing. His newborn session is HERE. I am SO excited to see how much more red hair he has at his one-year session!

Sweet new life {PA Newborn Photographer}

2011-02-27T21:48:00.005-05:00

I have the best job, seriously! Two stunning newborn babies with incredible eyelashes in one weekend ... ahhh, swoon! This little one didn't want to go to sleep right away, but she was so good to me when she finally did! So squishy and bendy, six tiny pounds of newborn goodness. I just loved her! I am ecstatic with our results and I hope Mom & Dad are too! It was a pleasure to meet your family - thank you so much for allowing me to capture your new little miracle!

Meet Mr. Z. and his big brother! {Baltimore Newborn Photography}

2011-02-26T23:24:00.005-05:00

I just can't get enough of this little guy and his big brother! In fairness, their Daddy was on of my high school classmates - so this sneak peek is a bit larger than usual :-) But seriously - how adorable are these two?!

I had so much fun catching up with Dad and meeting Mom and the 2 little guys - it was a great morning (and afternoon!). LOL. I am absolutely thrilled with our results - I love the individuals of both boys and I adore the shot of the brothers together - total perfection! Thank you so much for inviting me into your home - it was an honor to be a part of this special time in your family!

Such a contagious smile! {Perry Hall Baby Photographer}

2011-02-20T16:01:00.006-05:00

I haven't seen this little guy since his newborn session a year ago - seriously, WHERE does the time go?! He was such a tiny peanut then, I can't get over how much he has grown and blossomed! He isn't walking yet but was definitely a busy little dude for our session!

I am so excited I got to use this most-adorable bee set - thank you to Mel's Crocheted Creations for perfectly matching my leg warmers! And thanks to mom too - she was willing to let me use her baby boy as a model for the set - woohoo! I am so thrilled with how that first one turned out!

Ok, is this not the *happiest* little guy ever? He has such a contagious smile - you just can't help but smile right along with him!

I was so happy to see that mom & dad brought along a cake - I love photographing smash cakes to celebrate first birthdays. It's such a fun way to end the session. This next image might be favorite cake shot, but I really love all the others too!

It was a really terrific morning, thank you so much Mom & Dad for bringing your little guy over to celebrate! Happy Birthday to him!

Relaxed Saturday morning {Aberdeen Family Photographer}

2011-02-13T22:07:00.006-05:00

I spent a really fun morning with the F. family on Saturday! I have photographed their family 6 times (I think), so this makes a 7th? We wanted to capture little J. at 18 months but were obviously limited in outdoor locations, so Mom opted for a relaxed session at their house. We went for a lifestyle/photojournalistic session - there was lots of playing and I just sat back and photographed. It was SO fun! We read books ...

And more books (ok, maybe there was a little posing - LOL) ...

And more books!

We built and then knocked down intricate block towers (seriously, I think J. may have architectural work in his future).

We took apart and then put all of the puzzles together.

We played in J's beautiful nursery that was custom-painted by Mommy. J. also gave lots of hugs to his favorite toy, Scout.

He got some nice hugs and snuggles from Mommy too :-)

F. family, thank you again for yet another opportunity to capture your family. I can't get over how big J. is getting - he has blossomed into such a fun little guy. I just can't wait until our next session when we'll be celebrating his 2nd birthday! Where in the world does the time go?

Happy girl! {Perry Hall Baby Photographer}

2011-02-07T22:48:00.004-05:00

This was *such* a fun session!! The birthday girl was an unbelievably happy girl - full of lots of pretty smiles :-) Mom brought along a ton of beautiful outfits and accessories too - so awesome! I just loved that colorful tutu and the gorgeous dress! And of course, the adorable baby girl made all the difference!

Happy Birthday to Miss Maeve! It was such a pleasure to finally meet you and your parents! I am so thankful that you made the trip to see me and I just loved being able to capture this special milestone for you!

Blue-eyed beauty! {White Marsh Baby Photographer}

2011-02-07T13:29:00.006-05:00

What a little cutie pie this baby girl is! At 7 months, she was a dream to photograph - she was so happy and was willing to do just about whatever I asked of her. *And* she wasn't crawling yet! LOL. It's the perfect combination :-) In addition to that, her home has perfect natural light just about everywhere. We got to make use of several really great locations including the nursery, which was just adorable. I love being able to incorporate nurseries and bedroom into sessions because it really personalizes the portraits!

It was a great girls morning - lots of pink and fun accessories - my favorite! Thank you Mom & Dad for the opportunity to photograph your family for the 3rd time - it's such a pleasure to watch your little ones grow!

Double the fun! {Middle River Newborn Photographer}

2011-01-30T19:32:00.006-05:00

I always feel so incredibly blessed every time I get the special opportunity to capture new life for families. This session was a double privilege! It can get interesting with just one newborn, but adding another makes things really fun :-) Fortunately for me, this brother & sister were so well-behaved! I am thrilled with our results - they really did a wonderful job and mom was such a great assistant!

It's already easy to see personalities budding - I cannot wait for the next opportunity to see these little ones! Mom & Dad - thank you for inviting me into your home to share such a miraculous time in your family - it was truly a pleasure and I had so much fun! I hope you're getting a little more sleep!

Isn't she lovely? {Bel Air Newborn Photography}

2011-01-24T16:55:00.005-05:00

Seriously, isn't she just lovely? This little lady has had quite the journey in her tiny life! She made her debut 8 weeks early and spent a few weeks in the NICU. She now holds the new record for my smallest baby - I think Mom said she was 4lbs 12oz yesterday but was born in the 3lb-range! She was such a cutie pie ... not only was she just as sweet as can be, she also had the most "personality" of any newborn I've ever photographed! She was super-entertaining :-)

I am beyond thrilled with our results from yesterday, but my favorite is definitely that first one! She looks so angelic and peaceful, I just love it! Mom & Dad, thank you for the special opportunity to capture your little miracle, she is such a precious little lady and it's easy to see that she is very loved!

Happy Birthday Little Guys! {Perry Hall Baby Photography}

2011-01-23T21:24:00.005-05:00

I had the super-fun privilege of celebrating two first birthdays yesterday! These little guys are so adorable and SO FUN! They couldn't be anymore different too ... LOL ... Mr. J. is walking and into ... well, everything ... Mr. C. is crawling but pretty content with just hanging out. Their different personalities made things interesting, but I'm pretty thrilled with our results!

Thank you, thank you Mom & Dad for bringing your boys to play! I really enjoyed getting to know your family and I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

Sweet Beginnings Graduate!

2011-01-15T14:22:00.005-05:00

This little beauty graduated from the Sweet Beginnings Collections today with the celebration of her first birthday. It's bittersweet ... I'm a little sad that she has grown up so quickly right in front of my eyes. But at the same time, I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to capture her first year of life AND to watch her turn into such a gorgeous little lady (I adore her fluffy hair too!!)!

I'm really super-thrilled with our results today - in fact, I couldn't pick just a few favorites, so I included all of them! I love that we caught so many different facial expressions - Miss Zoe is definitely a character! :-) I also just love the last one - it's a traditional Korean dress called a Hanbok that one-year-olds get to wear on their birthday - how cool is that?! The colors are so vibrant and bright, right up my alley!

To Zoe's Mommy & Daddy - it's been such a privilege to capture all of your baby girl's milestones, thank you!!

My personal top 30 of 2010

2011-01-13T19:31:00.004-05:00

I already shared this post on my personal blog but thought it would be fun to post it here too so you can see a few snippets of my life :-) A lot of these are just snapshots, but I think oftentimes they mean the most!

I tried really, really, really hard to get this "Top" list down to 20 images but it just wasn't even coming close to happening. I got the list down to 40 and the was somehow able to shave off 10 more ... hence my favorite top 30. These are in order from January - December to kind of "tell the story" of the 2010. So without further adieu ... #1 - one of my absolute favorites of Peyton - we were showing off her new hair cut and somehow ended up with one of the best. shots. ever. (especially in sepia).

#2 - another favorite - it was an amazingly warm day for January, so we headed outside to the swing set. I wanted to try out a new b&w action I had bought, so this beautiful image was born :-)

#3 - I don't think anyone will be forgetting THIS blizzard anytime soon.

#4 - just another average day at home - we were playing with moonsand and it was *everywhere* but the kids had a blast.

#5 - my pink boots! These are kind of a symbol for a lot of things and remind me of my Dad, so they had to be included.

#6 - Peyton in this gorgeous red velvet dress that my very-talented mom made (seriously - she is VERY talented and I feel so very blessed to have her in my life for more reasons than 1!)

#7 - my new self-portrait at 30, the wrinkles and all :-) I guess 30 isn't so bad ... lots of really amazing blessings this year so it's impossible to complain.

#8 - my little lovebug doing what he does - he has an obsession with hats AND trains ... so this just fits him perfectly.

#9 - Ok, this one is for my Dad - Ryan unfortunately isn't a huge fan of this hat (go figure) but it's adorable anyway.

#10 - Ryan again - my attempt at some Easter portraits didn't yield a ton, but at least I got this beautiful shot of him. Looking back at this, he has grown up a lot over this year!

#11 - another new favorite of Peyton. Believe it or not, this was my test shot to make sure my settings were correct before I handed the camera over to my Dad to take our dossier pictures, which leads us to #12!

#12 - the storyboard I made out of our dossier portraits. My Dad took these for us and our really (there aren't words for) awesome neighbor, Suzi, made the kids laugh perfectly. These were the *easiest* family portraits we have ever done!

#13 - this pretty much sums up the first 5-6 months of the year - paper-chasing for our dossier.

#14 - Peyton's "Big Sister" charm from Jiayin Designs was her 5th birthday present (added information here - I just got my charm with Brooklynn's Chinese name and it's just beautiful).

#15 - Peyton's 5-year pictures on the beach. We surprised the kids with a trip to OC the morning we left - we were already packed and ready to go. It was really awesome.

#16 - when I took this, Zach and I knew instantly that this shot would become "let's sit down and show your boyfriend all of your childhood photos" bribery material. I still totally think that. LOL. Poor thing took a really nasty fall in OC and had a busted lip for about a week!

#17 - My gorgeous son holding a zucchini from our garden this year! It's a shame he won't actually *eat* any of the veggies we grew but at least I got several really cute pictures of him anyway!

#18 - one of my all-time favorites from 2010. Zach was smart enough to take the camera from me and shoot a few pictures. I'm so grateful he did that because I just adore this shot.

#19 - bedhead - this sums up my goofy, "funny guy" son.

#20 - this one is also a perfect summary of Peyton. When she's home during the day with Ryan, she is ALWAYS getting into something - she has quite the imagination and Ryan is happy to oblige her by joining in. I think they were headed off to school or something. I'm not sure why she wanted to "go" to school in the summer though.

#21 - actually GOING to school on the first day of Kindergarten. This breaks my heart but makes me so proud all at the exact same time. Being a parent is so weird sometimes.

#22 - another shot I really love! We were heading out for Zach's birthday and I actually had makeup on and looked nice, so I asked my Dad to snap a few of me and Zach. So glad he did!

#23 - just another day home with my Ry Guy. At first I really didn't like having Peyton gone everyday, but it's grown on me. It gives me some 1-on-1 time with just Ryan ... and even that time is fleeting!

#24 - another attempt at a family picture for the dossier. We were at Clark's Elioak Farm and had such a fun time. Of course you wouldn't know it by Peyton's face but that's kind of typical for her with family shots so really it's just perfect.

#25 - another new favorite of Peyton, gosh she's beautiful! This was a product shot for the very-talented Melanie Pizzini of Mel's Crocheted Creations.

#26 - best friends. This is Johnny, our neighbor, and he's pretty much the coolest. We can't wait to see how their friendship grows as they get older.

#27 - the Aquarium! We had such a great day - no school, no work, just us. Zach had taken off for our I-800 fingerprinting and we spent the whole day hanging out. It rocked and we need many more days like this.

#28 - the last family picture we needed for our dossier! Finally! Our awesome neighbor, Suzi was behind the camera again on this one - she really rocks! The kids always smile with her!

#29 - Ryan's 3rd birthday. I mentioned earlier that my Mom was super-talented. Now you can see another one of her talents - check out this cake!

#30 - probably the best photo to sum up all of 2010. Although we had so much fun as a family and saw so many blessings throughout the year, we were constantly working toward our daughter in China. We didn't know who she was, but we knew God was leading us. Amazingly, we got to "meet" our daughter through pictures right before Christmas this year. And here is our final 2010 portrait - of our beautiful family of 5.

So there you have it ... a year in my life :-) And what a really wonderful year. I mean really wonderful. So, so, so many blessings. So much to be thankful for. So many reasons to praise God. Thank you again to all of my clients - each and every one of you has a special place in my heart. I am so grateful to be able to have a "job" that I truly love. Thank you for giving me that opportunity.

Some really exciting family news!

2010-12-31T22:34:00.005-05:00

Many of my readers may already know that my family has been in the process of adopting from China for most of 2010 (you can read my original personal blog post HERE). Christmas was really, REALLY special for us this year - we got to see the face of our new daughter, Brooklynn!! A few days before Christmas, we accepted a referral for a beautiful 7-month-old baby girl with cleft lip/cleft palate. Although she wasn't technically *with* us to celebrate our excitement, she was definitely with us in spirit! She is already very loved and very much a part of our family! If you're interested, you can read the whole story HERE on my personal blog ... it's my attempt at explaining our family's perspective on the adoption :-)

My husband and I will be traveling to China in April or May to adopt Brooklynn and bring her home! We will be gone for 2-3 weeks and are not sure of the exact travel dates yet. We are thrilled to be adding to our family this way ... but because we don't have specific travel details yet, I will be taking a small hiatus from work in April, May and June to allow for our travel time and then several weeks at home to adjust to being a new family of 5.

I will know our travel dates a few weeks beforehand and depending on when they are, I would like to work in as many sessions as possible before I leave. (Or, if we travel earlier in April, I may have availability in June instead). I have started a small wait list for last minute sessions before I leave - if you'd like a Spring session (April or June), please get in contact with me as soon as possible. I have already added my Sweet Beginnings Collection families to this list, but get in touch with me anyway if you fall in that category just so I can be sure I have everyone accounted for!

I have already received so much support from my family, friends and CLIENTS during such a special time ... THANK YOU for your continued support, it really means more that I can express in words. I am so excited (and a teeny weeny bit nervous) to meet Brooklynn and make her a part of our family.

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T10:05:00.004-05:00

This baby girl was *such* a smiler! She was a total joy to work with ... I don't think I really ever heard her cry ... such a pleasant and well-dispositioned little one. Both baby and mama are natural beauties - that sure makes my job super-easy!

Baby girl made her debut several weeks earlier than expected - she was supposed to be a New Year's Day baby! I'm sure mom is thrilled to have her home for Christmas and I am so happy we were able to schedule the session before Christmas too!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the opportunity to capture such a precious time in your life - your baby girl is such a pretty little miracle! Merry Christmas!

He's back and so happy!

2010-12-18T21:58:00.007-05:00

What a wonderfully pleasant little guy - it was such a pleasure to photograph him again! I last saw Mr. C. at his newborn session HERE. He was much more excited about his session today compared to last time - we had a TON of fun today! He has a fantastic wardrobe and such a beautiful little grin - a little GQ model in the making :-)

Mom, Dad, Auntie and Mr. C. - thank you for such a great visit today - I had a terrific time and am SO excited about our results! I will let you know as soon as I am wrapped up with your session!

die klein prinses {the little princess}

2010-12-13T21:53:00.004-05:00

Miss L. was *such* a lady for me yesterday afternoon. She slept the entire time I was working with her and let me position her just about however I wanted. She even sleptwhile laying in her great-grandmother's bowl ... ahhh, total perfection :-) She has beautiful creamy skin, lots of newborn wrinkles and the most squooshable lips ... I could have cuddled her all day!

This session was even more special for me because I have known her family for years. I am SO glad I had the privilege of capturing such a fleeting time in her life :-) It won't be long before she's sitting up in that bowl! Congratulations Yolande', Mark, Ethan & Austen on your new blessing ... I can just *feel* how much she is loved!

Little guy isn't so little anymore!

2010-12-12T20:23:00.005-05:00

What a difference 6 months can make! You may remember this little guy from his newborn session HERE, but he barely resembles the little peanut he was then. He was born a few weeks premature but you sure wouldn't know it now!

I saw a LOT of different facial expressions from him yesterday ... he ran the gamut of super-serious to seriously funny. LOL.

This last one just makes me smile - how utterly happy does he look?! You can definitely see how *funny* his daddy is - he was cracking up!

Mom, Dad (and big sis!) - thank you for the opportunity to capture your little man (again!) at such a fun stage - this is one of my favorite ages to photograph and it's so easy to see why. I just love watching little personalities blossom :-)

Thankful {Perry Hall Newborn Photographer}

2010-12-06T16:29:00.005-05:00

Welcome Baby Christian! This little guy made his debut on Thanksgiving last week - what a perfect way to celebrate :-) So, so much to be thankful for!

Not only does Baby Christian have two of the most loving parents, he also has an awesome house! I loved using our surroundings for this session - they made the most beautiful backdrops!

I know I *just* posted an image of the same pose below, but I couldn't pass up sharing this giggle. Unfortunately I don't get to decide which poses little ones will smile during! He was literally laughing in his sleep and it completely made my day :-)

Isn't the furniture in this home amazing? Mom has amazing taste ... can't WAIT to see what she comes up with for little Christian's 6-month session :-)

Mom & Dad - I truly enjoyed spending the morning (and afternoon - LOL) with you. Christian is a beautiful little guy - you are so blessed! Thank you for being so hospitable and helpful - I loved getting to know you!

Gum Ball Princess {White Marsh Baby Photographer}

2010-12-06T11:56:00.005-05:00

Miss M. is back and she definitely rocked the gum ball machine! Actually she pretty much rocked her entire session, but I was particularly excited about the gum ball machine :-) We picked it up at a yard sale several years ago and it's been collecting dust in the basement. But after a clean-up job (thanks to my awesome hubby for that!) and tracking down some colorful gum balls, it now has a super-fun job as the newest prop in my collection :-)

I just can't get over her eyes, just stunning. I am *such* a sucker for blue-eyed babies.

This last one cracks me up! LOL. I just *had* to add it into the peek. I snapped it right after she tried to eat the machine. Boy, I sure do love babies. LOL.

Thanks Mom for spending an awesome girl's morning with me! Your little girl just gets prettier and prettier every time I see her! I can't wait to see how much she's blossomed at our 1-year session! I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

An early Christmas gift!

2010-12-05T22:29:00.004-05:00

I'm pleased to introduce Mr. O. at just 3 days old - how tiny is he?! I was really excited about doing the session so early on, but he didn't share my enthusiasm. LOL. Fortunately he cooperated *just enough* for me and I was able to get some really gorgeous shots! I just LOVE him in black & white (as you can see - LOL).

Kristen & Mike - Congratulations and THANK YOU for yet another opportunity to capture such an amazing time in your family! You newest little one is totally adorable! As always, it was an absolute pleasure! Hope you enjoy your sneak :-)

Faces of the 2010 Christmas {Mini-Sessions}

2010-12-03T17:00:00.007-05:00

This post sure is *LONG* overdue! LOL. I'm coming off of my mini-Thanksgiving break and really wanted to get these posted before sessions started up again!

I'm pleased to introduce you to all of my 2010 Christmas {mini-session} families! These kiddos are all so stinkin' cute and I had so much fun with them! It was wonderful to see so many returning faces, but I also really enjoyed meeting some new ones too!

Merry Christmas!

Be Inspired. {wall art ideas II}

2010-12-02T15:46:00.008-05:00

And if you missed the original Be Inspired post, here is a link to it:

Be Inspired {a guide to wall art}

Winners of CyberMonday Giveaway!

2010-11-30T12:30:00.005-05:00

Winners of the CyberMonday Giveaway have been randomly picked!

Erin Feury and "Ang" are the proud new winners of one mini-session each!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Erin & Ang - please send me an email so I can get some information from you! nrportraits@yahoo.com

Ang - I'm sorry, I don't know your last name! You are comment #38 when counting ALL of the comments (including the one I deleted). If the free mini-session isn't claimed with 48 hours, I will pick another winner :-)

And to all of my 2010 clients - remember, you can still enter to win another FREE MINI-SESSION by snail-mailing me your Christmas card! Send me an email to get my address!

CyberMonday Giveaway!

2010-11-29T09:02:00.004-05:00

I will be giving away 2 FREE MINI-SESSIONS today only!

The mini-session is up to 45 minutes and includes 10 high-resolution digital images. Session will take place at Jerusalem Mill, in Kingsville. Mini-sessions are for immediate family only, up to 5 people. Newborns may not be photographed during mini-sessions due to time restrictions. Session must be scheduled with Nicole in advance.

So what's the catch?

No catch ... but this is what you need to do to enter ... go tell all of your Facebook friends that you entered a giveaway to win a free mini-session with me - make your status "I just entered to win a free mini-session with @Nicole Renee Photography and you can too!" Please use the little "@" symbol to link to my Facebook page. You must be a fan to use that feature. THEN, come back to THIS blogpost and comment on the post by telling me you posted to your FB page! That's it! Entries will be taken until tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday, November 30th at 12:00pm. One entry per person. Multiple blog comments will automatically be disqualified. Comments made on my Facebook page will NOT be entered in the drawing - all comments must be here on the blog. Two winners will be randomly drawn and notified on Tuesday.

There's more!

For a little bit of Christmas fun, I am going to give away ANOTHER FREE MINI-SESSION! To enter, snail mail me your Christmas (holiday) card with a portrait (or portraits!) taken by Nicole in 2010. Images must be part of the card, not just a print. You can shoot me an email to grab my address. All Christmas cards (AKA entries) must be received before Christmas day. Cards arriving after Christmas will not be counted. Winner will be randomly drawn after the New Year (sorry - I'm leaving on vacation on Dec. 26 and won't be back until Jan. 3). I can't wait to see all of your creative Christmas cards!

Black Friday Sale!

2010-11-25T22:51:00.007-05:00

Christmas Card designs are 50% off!

Still haven't taken care of your Christmas cards this year?

Are you looking for a unique card to show off a portrait from a 2010 session with Nicole? Purchase a custom NRP Christmas card design for only $15 - that's a $15 savings! You will not see cards like these anywhere else - what a perfect way to show off your custom portraits!

You may pick an image(s) from a previous 2010 session and customize your wording. All designs are 5x7 and include a front & back. Most designs can accommodate more than one image. After Nicole has received customization information from you, she will send you 2 flattened jpeg files for printing. Upload the images to Mpix and voila! Cards are best printed as postcards for a true custom feel, Nicole does not suggest creating prints from them.

Check out the previous blog post showcasing all of the custom designs HERE! And just for fun, a new design has been added (#9) for the Black Friday special! Remember, this offer ends Sunday at midnight! Click on the "Buy Now" paypal link below. Happy shopping!

Gorgeous weather for a stunning family {Kingsville Professional Photographer}

2010-11-22T15:10:00.005-05:00

What a great day we had for a session! In mid-late November, it truly does not get any better than the weather we had over the weekend! I had the pleasure of hanging out with and photographing this beautiful family :-) Mr. N. is about to turn 3 so we wanted to capture some shots to commemorate his birthday AND grab a few family shots. He also brought along his very pretty Aunt - Miss E. - who is only 12!

Although Mr. N. wasn't super-fond of the camera at first, you can easily see that he warmed up quickly. I just love what I've gone through so far - I couldn't narrow down the peak to just a few. Mom & Dad - I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed creating them! I'll let you know as soon as I'm finished up :-)

Oh those baby blues! {Perry Hall Baby Photographer}

2010-11-21T09:16:00.003-05:00

Ok, I am totally in love with this baby. Our newborn session didn't go *nearly* as smoothly, so I suppose we are making up for that with this rockin' session! I just adore so many of the images we captured yesterday, it was difficult to pick only a few for the sneak peek! Miss A. has the most captivating baby blues and was such a joy to be with!

I still had my Christmas mini-session set-up (I know, so lazy of me but it really ended up working out beautifully!), so we started with a few Christmas card portraits and then moved onto some fun stuff. As you can see, this baby girl has a stunning wardrobe. Mom, Dad and I all commented that she has more clothes than we do! LOL. I think that's the way it always is with your kids, isn't it?!

Anywho, I really enjoyed myself with this session. Have I mentioned that the 6-8 month range is one of my favorites to photograph? That's especially the case when they aren't crawling yet :-) Hehe. Thank you Mom & Dad for bringing her out for another session - we have so many winners to pick from, that's for sure!

Meet Miss Sassy!

2010-11-09T11:06:00.003-05:00

I am SO pleased to introduce 6-day-old Miss P! She is such a perfect little bundle and her hair just rocks! She had a pretty dramatic debut at the hospital and our session was pretty similar. LOL. She now holds the record for my longest session :-) Fortunately though, my time with her paid off BIG time! I have several favorites from this session ... I'm really, REALLY tickled with our results. Here are just a few, but I have plenty more that I just love!

Thank you Mom & Dad for inviting me into your home and being so hospitable! I think you'll see that our hard work most definitely paid off in the end - I'm so glad! Miss P. truly is such a little angel! Congratulations!

Mr. Peanut is back (and he's not a peanut anymore!)

2010-11-08T11:01:00.003-05:00

I photographed this little guy's newborn session in April ... oh my how he has changed since then! No longer is he an itty bitty peanut - he is now an adorable chunky baby complete with rolls! Awesomeness. This is one of my most favorite ages to photograph and I'm sure you can see why - isn't he adorable?! He has beautiful twinkling blue eyes and a precious little laugh. He also has a great collection of clothing - I just love that last shot with his Janie & Jack outfit!

Mom & Dad, thank you for another great session - I cannot believe how much little G. has changed since our last session! He is a beautiful baby boy!

2 is better than 1! {Kingsville Professional Photographer}

2010-11-06T12:43:00.003-04:00

It was such a pleasure to meet up with this awesome couple this morning! Although a bit brisk outside, it warmed up a little after we started moving around. As you probably figured out with the first portrait - they are expecting twins! Baby A is a girl and Baby B is a boy - how cool! I have the honor of photographing these little miracles in February (or maybe January?)!

Mom & Dad - I hope you enjoy your sneak peek! I had so much fun getting to know you today!

'Lil Pumpkin {Abingdon Newborn Photographer}

2010-11-01T17:57:00.005-04:00

Yeah, pretty darn precious! LOL. I am still kind of in shock over how well this little guy did! It took almost an hour before we actually started the session, but he was out like a light for about 2 hours! Yes, 2 hours. Amazing! Mom & Dad were so accommodating and helpful and are SO in love with their little man - it definitely shows!

I can't decide on a favorite ... it could be the smirky pumpkin shot, but I also adore the b&w with Dad. Then again, all of them are pretty precious ... it's an impossible decision really :-)

Mom & Dad - I hope you continue to enjoy your new son. He is such a beautiful baby and you two are already such wonderful parents!

Fall fun! {Bel Air Photographer}

2010-11-01T13:37:00.005-04:00

I think it's pretty easy to tell that I really enjoyed this session! The kids were a riot and they really had a ton of fun together. Mom & Dad joined in too ... what a super cool family to spend the afternoon with!

Although I personally prefer to see all of the colors of fall, Mom really loves black & whites, so I included a few for her.

Totally adorable - Miss. P. is the same age as my Peyton and she loved the camera (soooo unlike my daughter)!

Can you believe all of this beauty is in their backyard?? Amazing! The next few shots of Mr. N. were shot behind their backyard - there is a stunning beachy area, sand & water included! It's "his" spot and he goes there all the time.

I had to jump over a stream to get to it, but Mr. N. was such a gentleman and held the pricker bushes out of the way for me! It was certainly worth the hike - I was in awe, it's no wonder he likes to go there all the time! I joked with him that I'd have to ask Mom to let me come back to photograph other kids there too! LOL.

One last shot of some sibling love - I really enjoyed watching them play and roll around in the leaves!

Mom & Dad - THANK YOU for inviting me into your home! There is obviously a lot of love in your family, it truly shows in your portraits. I am tickled with the moments we captured - so much that I couldn't narrow down just a few images for the blog :-)

A Chilly Morning in B-more, Hon!

2010-10-30T21:37:00.005-04:00

These kiddos were SUCH troopers this morning! We met early at Sherwood Gardens - it was less than 50 degrees outside and the ground was still *really* wet with dew. Surprisingly enough, Miss G. is the only one that doesn't mind getting dirty. LOL. Go figure :-) Mom's sweater turned into a nice sitting pad for the boys though, so all was good! I will say that I got covered in mud ... but hey, that's one of the fun parts of my job!

P. Family - it was so awesome to see you again! I had fun, as always, and I'm pretty excited about our results ... I hope you are too!

PS - to anyone that has ever ordered a crocheted accessory from Mel's Crocheted Creations, you can finally meet Mel! She's the beautiful momma to these kiddos!

A good time was had by all!

2010-10-27T16:29:00.006-04:00

Have I told you how much fun I had at the Fall Mini-Sessions? If I didn't say anything - let me bring it up again - I HAD A BLAST doing these sessions! I met a total of 17 families over 2 weekends ... sounds like a lot but they were spread out enough that it was so effortless. We got a ton of gorgeous portraits and couldn't be happier with our results.

I hope all of my Fall Mini-Session clients enjoyed their sessions as much as I did! I will *definitely* be doing these again next year!

What a beautiful family!

2010-10-25T22:46:00.004-04:00

I has a blast at this session! Mom is a sorority sister (that makes 3 sisters in 3 weeks!) and I have photographed Miss T. a few times also. I was really happy this time to finally incorporate Dad too! We got some stunning family portraits ... I told Mom at the session that I was jealous of her - we just don't have a bunch of really nice family portraits at home (hm, wonder why? LOL). We have a boatload of adorable individuals of the kids, but the family portraits are a little lacking :-)

It is also quite helpful when you are working with a happy, willing (and super photogenic) kiddo ... Miss T. totally rocked this session. My family portraits never go this smoothly. Hehe.

Needless to say - I am ecstatic with our results! This is a bigger-than-usual sneak peek because Mom waited a little longer and was so patient (thank you!). We celebrated my son's 3rd birthday yesterday, so I didn't get to edit as quickly as normal. Thank you A. for waiting on me - I hope the wait was worth it!

Best-dressed baby girl!

2010-10-23T22:27:00.004-04:00

This gorgeous little one came prepared with a stunning wardrobe! I had a lot of fun checking out all of the super-cute outfits in her closet :-) The first orange set complimented the changing leaves so well. It's really starting to look like fall out there!

After not having her usual nap this morning, Miss E. needed a little encouragement, but we got a bunch of really nice smiles out of her :-) I meet so many funny daddies!!

Speaking of daddies - this is her Daddy's favorite outfit - he has amazing taste in clothing!

This little dress matched perfectly with my little hat, so we just had to use it! Miss E. can definitely rock the pink & black - so sassy!

And a dramatic black & white to finish up this peek ... honestly - sometimes the serious portraits are my favorite. She has such soulful brown eyes!

Mom & Dad, it was a privilege to spend this morning with you and your baby girl! She is SO pretty and did such a fantastic job putting up with us and the wardrobe changes :-) I'm just thrilled with our results and I hope you are too!

Gorgeous weather and more mini-peeks!

2010-10-18T18:08:00.008-04:00

Phew, here is a little snippet of last Saturday's mini-sessions at McDonogh! What a bunch of precious kiddos! I have so many favorites ... it's just impossible to narrow it down to just a couple. Everyone was so wonderful, the campus was breathtaking and seriously, the weather was totally perfect! I couldn't have asked for anything better - I really enjoyed myself ... such an awesome way for me to spend the weekend.

I also got to re-live my high school days ... LOL. So super strange to be walking around the sidewalks and through the buildings of the school I called home for four years (a LONG time ago!). All of the sounds and smells are exactly the same ... it's amazing what you remember and how those memories can really "take you back." I am definitely reminded of how stunning the campus is too - I will definitely be doing mini-sessions there again!

I am officially finished with Saturday's images - all digital files will be available tomorrow! Unless we discussed a pick-up, I'm heading to the post office tomorrow :-) THANK YOU, thank you, thank you to all of the families that met up with me! I am beyond thrilled with our results, I hope you love your portraits as much as I do!

A few more mini-peeks

2010-10-12T19:30:00.004-04:00

A few more images from the first weekend of mini-sessions. Actually this was the 2nd weekend because it was our Sunday rain date ... but I guess still "technically" the first weekend at Jerusalem Mill. What a bunch of cuties I had ... AGAIN! I love my job! LOL.

Thank you to all of these great families - your kiddos are absolutely wonderful and I had such a blast spending the morning with you!

{Christmas Mini-Session} Details

2010-10-11T22:33:00.006-04:00

Yes people, it is TIME for Christmas mini-sessions! I can hardly believe it myself!

If you are having trouble reading the flyer, click on it to open in a larger window. Click HERE to see the Christmas card designs.

A is for apple & adorable!

2010-10-02T14:56:00.004-04:00

I *had* to share one more from the fall mini's last weekend. Doesn't this one-year-old beauty just rock the purple boots? She even kept the headband on long enough for us to grab a few shots! I can't decide which outfit I like more - this one or the apple tutu from the previous post. Both are pretty darn adorable!

More Minis!

2010-09-28T17:23:00.002-04:00

A few more I've worked on from the mini-sessions. Didn't I have the BEST kiddie models over the weekend?!

A few from Saturday's Mini's!

2010-09-27T17:13:00.003-04:00

Just started processing the images from the fall mini-sessions this weekend. I was able to photograph all of my Saturday sessions but unfortunately had to reschedule my Sunday clients.

Lots of boys on Saturday - how adorable are these kiddos?!

Beautiful girls {Baltimore Custom Photographer}

2010-09-19T19:34:00.005-04:00

What a fun session this was! You can just see how much this family loves each other and it shows in their portraits (especially that last one - love it!!). Both of the sisters are gorgeous and I'm thrilled with our resulting images. It's easy to see where they get their beauty from ... can you believe mom had been awake for 36 hours before the session? You'd never be able to tell, that's for sure!

She is a doula and was helping to bring another miracle into the world. So amazing. If you know anyone looking for a doula, please let me know - she is super patient and has a bunch of births under her belt!

Anywho, the girls did such a wonderful job, especially considering it was dinner time! I just love all of portraits we captured last night :-) Thank you G. family for another perfect session! I'll let you know as soon as I finish with your proofs!