herd of birdz photography

valentine mini session | dallas child photographer

2012-01-15T12:33:00.000-08:00

for the first time, Herd of Birdz is offering Valentine mini-sessions and we couldn't be more excited! i love the fall with the pumpkins and warm yummy drinks and the chill in the air and i love Christmas with the shopping and the festive music and excitement that seems to drive people. but once the craziness of the holiday season is over, the tree is down and folks hunker down to wait out the cold weather, there is Valentines day. i LoVE Valentines day {no pun intended} because it is fun, it is quick and it is pure indulgence. decorations and food and gifts dont need to be he-uge, just from the heart.

so that is exactly what we did for you! we came up with a quick, fun excuse to indulge in your sweetie. An opportunity for you to capture that newly missing tooth or cute hat from Santa and share a quick hug and smooch with all your friends and family as you deliver your fun Valentines!

Happy Heart Day!

sweet face | dallas family photographer

2011-11-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

this is what i am working on for today. what a sweet face. more to come but i had to put this sweetie-pie up here for mom to see.

such a soulful look for such a little bug.

horton hears a who | frisco child photographer

2011-09-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

i walked into an estate sale and immediately fell in love with this hat. i guess the woman who owned this hat wore hats as a matter of practice {which i LoVE} and had a selection of unique and well loved items.

when i saw this hat i immediately thought of my feist little bean. she really enjoys hamming for the camera, always asking for a "just me" photo shoot, and this hat just seemed to fit her personality.

the session was short {ghastly heat, stickers with teeth, and fire ants} but she was so funny i didnt need more than a handful of minutes to get some "keepers."

doesnt the little puffball remind you of the puff on horton hears a who?

"c" words | dallas family photographer

2011-07-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

i met this sweet person during our adventures in england last month. i cant wait for her mother to see this post so that she will know some of what we were "up to" one evening while we were supposed to be admiring the sheep. :)

just a few things i learned while in england:

1. england has the nicest people. period.
2. england has the fluffiest sheep and they are everywhere.
3. everyone has a stunning garden with stunning flowers. ev-ery-one!

this family was so generous and so kind to invite my kiddo and i to share dinner in their home. we loved on their new baby kitties, oohed over the fluffy sheep and took an evening stroll in a lovely village. we also played a game of "C" words...the kids came up with cat, cheese, capture. things like that. i added cutaneous, because subcutaneous is kind of a favorite word of mine. it has such a cool sound as it rolls off the tongue :) but while i was feeling all cool and fancy because i threw out my favorite word, this fine english gentleman threw out a zinger that left his wife 10 shades of red and me at a loss for words...which doesnt often happen. i caught his "awww, shucks" moment just after he contributed his, ummmm, word as i was practically hysterical with laughter. i am amazed the picture is in focus because all i saw was a blur!

thank you soooo much for making us feel at home. we had the best time and made some new friends! till next time.....

summer fun | wylie family photographer

2011-07-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

relaxed. fun. lauging. more laughing. lots of pretty sun.

fat baby | dallas family photographer

2011-06-29T11:16:00.001-07:00

it makes me laugh when i meet families who have a sense of humor...about themselves.

i have photographed this family a few times and we always find something to laugh about...but this time i couldnt stop laughing. their newest addition is the smiley-est, squishy-est baby and a kick in the pants all on his own. but what had me giggling the entire session was the family "pet name" for the baby..."fat baby." he actually responds when he hears this...and smiles!

this baby is a chunk-o-munk. the other kids are average to small...then there is "fat baby," said with a louisiana drawl. when dad turned him upside down, this baby's eyes all but disappeared under his cheeks. {giggle}

they are going to have to find a new nickname because i get the feeling that when this baby starts walking, he is going to turn that chunk into muscle and be a force to recon with. :)

ok...how funny is it that dad is so trying to win this race?

thanks for the fun, guys. always great to catch up and i cant wait till next time!

sun-kissed | frisco child photographer

2011-05-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

i love this time of year. not too hot, not too humid, not too many bugs and the sun truly feels like it is kissing your skin.

this day was perfect.

as i started to get my trusty camera ready for the session, it became very clear that my window of opportunity for pictures was going to be about 30 seconds. this kiddo was definitely not "into" having his picture taken and made sure i knew where he stood on the matter. he was so serious and no matter what i tried, he gave me the "stink-eye."

until i found his magic and away we went. gads, he was so funny! kids are simply magical when they laugh and tell stories and play. ours was not the longest session but it had to be one of my most satisfying. every indication told me that this was not going to be fun...for either of us... but in the end we were rolling in the weeds laughing.

i have to admit, when you get right down to it, i am one goofy duck. i have no shame. i am one of "them." i may be...well, older than 20...but deep down i am about 10 years old with mud on my face, shoes untied and cotton candy stuck in my hair. it might take me a minute, but eventually these kiddos recognize a fellow goof-ball, then all is good.

thank you, kind sir, for sharing some of your magic with me.

about to fly | frisco senior photographer

2011-05-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

seniors are so much fun. the way they talk about their last year of high school and their college choice is riddled with excitement. they are a breath of fresh air and you just have to love that about them.

good luck next year, missy! you are going to have so much fun and your talents will take you far. i had a great time. come see me sometime... :)

miss a | frisco child photographer

2011-05-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

my niece is such a goof-ball.

i grabbed her one afternoon and we headed out to take some photos then back to the house where we set up a "stage" and the kids became rock stars.

i miss seeing your face every day, abnerd. :)

good day | frisco child photographer

2011-05-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

do you ever feel "ho hum?" hesitant and cautious? maybe a little frustrated and annoyed? and THEN......

someone does the smallest, kindest thing and it turns your entire day around. i love that. thank you, stranger, for the genuine smile at exactly the right moment that tossed a little light in my direction.

engagement | dallas family photographer

2011-05-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

i just love how engaged people look at each other. sweet. kind. excited.

these two were so cute with each other and i had to laugh when a fleeting thought danced through my mind...are we all this patient with each other "in the beginning?" well, more specifically, i was thinking, "was i this kind and patient?" you know, in the beginning...a long long time ago? i am sure i was, i mean, am. :)

thank you for a fun afternoon and i wish you all the best!

miss t | dallas headshot photographer

2011-05-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

i always love seeing this girlie. such a breeze to work with and i always feel warm and fuzzy inside after spending time with her and her fantastic mom.

you are beautiful, my dear.

see you in july!

bluebonnets | wylie child photographer

2011-04-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

you dont get any more last minute than this session. mom called me at 8am and wanted to take some bluebonnet pictures...that day! as luck would have it, it was overcast, my day was not packed and little finn was just as cute as he could be. i just love these little flowers. they dont last long but they sure are pretty.

gerber baby grows up | dallas child photographer

2011-04-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

i have a soft spot for curls, especially ringlets. they make me smile. when this little one's mom called me to take some pictures of her baby, i couldnt wait. aside from the fact that she is just beautiful and fun and goofy, i knew that she was sporting a full head of big squishy curls and i couldnt wait. the first time i met little missy, she was just about bald. the second time there was a hint of hair. this time i about fell all over myself when i saw that not only did she have gorgeous curly hair, but she had this fabulous duo of curls that were right at home in the middle of her forehead. GLORIOUS! i had to throw in the last picture because it just makes me laugh. she was barely big enough to stand on the swing and hold on. her mom and i were a little hesitant to let her try...visions of her landing smack on her face in the dirt racing through my thought...but she has no fear and climbed right on. the look of just plain 'ole joy is what gets me. two year olds make me smile.

sweet baby M | Frisco newborn photographer

2011-04-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

baby Micah was the sweetest little bug. his poor daddy worked all through the night and made it to bed just before we came a knockin' to take pictures. thanks guys for allowing me into your home to love on your little guy for a couple hours. he really is the sweetest little thing :)

family | dallas family photographer

2011-04-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

i knew going in that this family was a newly blended family. his + hers = ours. the idea was to get a few of him and his kiddos, her and her kiddos and them all together. the really great part was that i couldnt tell who belonged to whom. they obviously all belonged together. how great is that?! it was free-zing during our session and i just have to say that these guys were such troopers. one was sick and the rest were trying not to be. as a side note, i especially LOVE the picture of mom with her little chicken who isnt so little anymore. he is off to college soon and they were so so cute together. thanks guys for making my job so easy :) till next time...

monkey is back!! | dallas child photographer

2011-04-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

i. LOVE. this. family. they are fun. they are easy and they are willing to try whatever crazy thought races through my mind while we are out and about during a session. but, i have to admit, i also LOVE monkey. when they first visited me, their youngest packed around monkey like an extra limb. he was attached. dad was adament that monkey was not going to show up in any of the photos. well, you can see who won that argument. i think monkey made it in most of the pictures back then but it was not without a fight :) when little missy came to see me this year, she brought the family...the whole family which is to say, she brought monkey. she was a bit older this time so monkey was not hanging off her arm every moment but i was happy to see him popping up here and there for a quick smooch or cuddle. it is so much fun for me to see how "my kids" change between sessions. they get so big and smart and funny! but with these 2, while they did sprout up, they didnt change a bit. one is still so accommodating and sweet and polite. the other is all that with some serious "spicy" added in for fun. thanks guys for coming to see me. and THANK YOU for bringing monkey. i missed him too! see you soon...

sweet baby | dallas newborn photographer

2011-03-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

i just love babies. i love the way they squeak and snuggie themselves right into you when you hold them. and...i love the way they smell. they smell like warmth and love :)

i was able to cuddle this precious baby one afternoon and very much enjoyed my "baby fix."

makes you wonder what she is dreaming about, doesnt it?

{thanks to my mom for making the hat. love you}

sassy pants | frisco child photographer

2011-03-24T09:58:00.001-07:00

my little missy had the most HORRIFIC morning this morning {remember what i said about mornings at my house?} well, today we witnessed a meltdown of monumental proportions where only the cockroaches should survive.

sometimes mornings, wardrobe choices and being 6 is more than one small body can manage.

to remind me of what my child looks like when she isnt screaming, doesnt have steam coming out of her ears and daggers shooting at me out of her eyes i am posting this picture. :)

she was Selina Gomez for the day. she dressed herself, blasted the music and sang along like a pro.

have a better day, peach. i love you!

oh my goodness | dallas child photographer

2011-03-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

mornings are absolute chaos in my house. wake up at 6:30am to get out of the house by 7:40am? almost an impossibility. someone is usually dragging a backpack while hopping on one foot trying to put a shoe on, toast crammed in the mouth {breakfast} as we all rush the door at the same time. one of the kids is either crying, fighting or whining. there is always an "uh oh! i forgot...." and i look like a traffic cop waving my arms wildly directing the mob to the car as i bellow, "keep it movin'! let's go, let's go, let's go!"

my children will most certainly grow into old age and all laugh about how they always heard me claim, "hurry up! we are running late!" we are almost never late. lateness is a pet peeve of mine but we certainly cut it close on school mornings.

i could get up earlier, of course, but experience tells me that my children just move slower, i am more sleep deprived and the end result is the same. i have packed lunches the night before, set backpacks by the door before i go to bed, and made all kinds of attempts to get as much done the night before to ease the morning rush. it doesnt help. we are who we are. there are just some things i have learned to accept about my life, embrace them really, and mornings are one of those things. :)

so, after yet another crazy morning, i find myself at my computer sipping my coffee and thinking that i havent blogged in some time. there are no sessions scheduled today. no headshots, newborns, families. there are no orthodontist appointments or doctor appointments. i do not have to be at any of my children's schools for any reason till this afternoon and no one is home sick {i am knocking on the closest thing to wood}. today seems like a good day to blog. i look at the last blog entry and see that the date was november?

wait, what month is this?

i am the poster-child for multi-tasking. change a diaper while cooking dinner and washing the dog? no problem! throw blogging in there and i aparently start smoking from the ears from system overload.

i am not going to word vomit a bunch of reasons as to why i have "gone ghost" {we moved, kiddo #2 had tonsils removed, kiddo #2 was readmitted to the hospital for complications, kiddo #3 came down with the flu, we had a very busy herd of birdz fall/ christmas season, on top of all the nuts and bolts of raising 3 busy bees} but will instead accept the fact that life sometimes gets in the way and embrace the trade-off. my trade off as of the first of the year was to sacrifice a bit of today's to do list so that i can start on tomorrow's.

i dont "do" new year's resolutions. well, i dont usually hold to them anyway. :) this year, however, {and this may seem gushy} i felt that between the jobs and the responsibilities, the schedules and appointments, the day-to-day stuff of a family and business that i was missing the point. taking my kids to the park was always on the agenda...tomorrow. stopping to appreciate the small things required, you know, stopping and there was always too much to do today so appreciating life was on the agenda for...tomorrow. when we did do things, i watched. i took pictures while my kids played. while i was behind the camera, they were 'doing' and i was 'watching.'

so starting in january i took it upon myself to start doing what was on my list for tomorrow.

we fall down in the grass, close our eyes and no one talks. then we listen. what do we hear? at first, only the obvious but after a few minutes i we slow down and hear the small things. once my son declared that the "wind is kissing my skin." we stay on the grass for only a few minutes but it is long enough. we came to a screeching halt and appreciated where we were. we appreciated each other. then we jump back up and start the busy that is our life.

i have stopped carrying my camera everywhere i go when i am with my kids. i miss the pictures that i know i would have captured, but now i am rolling around in the dirt with my little chickens instead of watching them do it without me. i am baking more. i have pulled out the crochet hook, made some things...just for fun! sewing is next. i have made contact with friends, had more playdates and sleepovers, i am coaching my teenager 5 days a week on the track so that she now out paces me by almost 5 minutes every mile. i stop and talk...to everyone. :) i am also very proud to announce that i am the indisputable queen of Wii Just Dance II. really. i am untouchable. it is a gift :) who knew?

my kids think i am hopelessly weird because i hug them all the time and kiss their faces and have water fights in the house. i dance in the isles at the grocery store and engage in random moments of "stop and appreciate." i think 'weird' is just their code word for 'cool and supremely awesome.'

so while this new path i am on definitely takes time away from my list of things to do today, i am hoping that you understand and agree when looking at my sporatic blogging past that it is all a trade-off. that as i sacrifice some of my time from today's to-do list, i dive into my list of things to do tomorrow. and...life is good.

here is a wonderfully fun family that i would like to share with you.........

sweet | dallas child photographer

2010-11-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

this sweet girl so deserves a reward. during her session, a wind storm cropped up out of nowhere and blasted us both with sand...in the eyes!

other than the i-almost-lost-my-eyesight thing, we had a good time. no shortage of smiles on this kid!

monkey shine | dallas family photographer

2010-11-27T11:13:00.000-08:00

we have this picture of our family at one of our family reunions. we were at this camp, it was brutally hot and dusty and the look on every person's face reflected how we felt about that...except my brother. he was about 6, i think, and standing smack in the middle of a whole group of miserable looking people. he wore a smile that was bigger than his whole body and it was the "chessiest cheese-smile" ever! his hair was standing on end from playing in the wind and dirt, his eyes were closed up tight {every effort going into the smile} and it is probably one of my FAV.OR.ITE pictures of anyone...ever! because...he is the light and the focus of that picture.

and this little guy reminded me...all day...about that picture. when his family went left, he went right. when they smiled, he didnt. when they focused on each other, he turned into a monkey! he was in the railing, he was on top of the railing, he was on top of everyone's head! he was so funny...and i loved that the family just accepted that this is who he is and rolled with it.

mom and dad...you are so amazing with your children and even more amazing with each other.

and missy...i am just tickled when i look at your incredible smile. the smile that you have right now, with the missing teeth, is one of the best smiles out there!

i had so much fun with you all. thank you for sharing your family with me!

old soul | dallas child photographer

2010-11-23T11:51:00.000-08:00

this charmer came to me to update his portfolio. he is entering the working world and i tell you what, he is ready. he had me laughing from the moment he stepped out of the car.

by the way...mom and dad? i know ALL the family secrets! HA!

love | dallas child photographer

2010-11-23T11:30:00.000-08:00

what can i say...i LoVe this kid.

i have the opportunity to take missy's pictures a couple times a year - some for fun, some for her working portfolio - and i LoVe this kid.

so much fun. till next time!

fresh | dallas family photographer

2010-11-22T13:03:00.000-08:00

oh my holy moly! the fall season is sooo here!

i really have a lot of catching up to do on the ole' blog and cant wait to introduce you to the amazing people i have met.

this fun chickie is someone i did some commercial work for last year. i was so happy that she called me when she needed a few pictures of herself for an upcoming venture. she was just as cool as i remembered and it was a pleasure spending some time laughing and goofing one afternoon.

sweet | dallas child photographer

2010-11-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

you would never know by looking at this sweet face that he was adament about not looking at me or smiling. in fact, i think he made eye contact with every person wandering the street just to avoid me! HA! little toad....

i could just get lost in his chocolate eyes. so, so cute!

blewett | dallas family photographer

2010-10-30T10:28:00.001-07:00

i just love spunky kids. they keep you movin' and they keep you thinking and this pair didn't sit still for a moment. mom and dad were so patient and so...great! they played and goofed and i had a great time watching them.

it's funny because dads are always a mixed bag during sessions. they would typically rather go to the dentist than have some lady point a camera at them for a bit. but this dad was so fantastic. he was quiet from the start and i thought for sure that i would have to pull a couple tricks out of my hat to help him "embrace" the experience :) but he was all about the experience and such a good sport.

thank you, cute family, for allowing me to hang out with you one sunday morning. your kids are adorable!

almost grown | dallas child photographer

2010-10-28T15:53:00.000-07:00

the day i met this cool kid was actually on his birthday! he was such a goof ball but very serious all at the same time and we had a blast. i cant believe that he was able to do one handstand with full extension let alone something like the 100 handstands he wound up doing throughout our session.

i can do handstands too... if i have my back against the wall...and someone is holding my feet...and someone else is helping support my body...and maybe even pulling upward on my feet to alleviate some of the weight on my arms...all before i collapse because all the blood has rushed to my head and i feel woozy.

yup, i can do handstands too.

i very much enjoyed meeting you and cant wait to see what tricks you have for me next time!

soul sista | dallas child photographer

2010-10-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

do you know when you meet someone and you just know? you blend as people...you just "get" each other? this kid is one of those people, as is her mother. when i met these two we just meshed like we had known each other for years.

they had driven from san antonio to update little missy's headshots for her modeling portfolio and i am so happy that they did. i enjoyed every minute of our session and am looking forward to her next casting call in dallas so that we can meet for coffee.

LoVE you....

on a side note...i did NOT smooth this kid's skin. i did NOT "creamy" her skin. she is naturally this amazing. good grief!

you are stunning kiddo!

sweet cooper | dallas child photographer

2010-10-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

gads i love babies. i love the way they smell. i love the way they squeak. i love the way they squishy themselves into a bitty little raisin when they cozy in. i love how they tuck their feet under when they sleep.

i could just hold a newborn all day and be happy.

so when this little man's cute mom called me, i warned her that we may just have to settle for a coffee date and some conversation while i held this pretty little thing and smelled his head. pictures? well, we would try, but no promises.

i was so excited to get to the house. it has been sooo long since i have snuggied with a bitty baby. mom assured me that this kid - #3 - was a sleeper. that's when my red flag started flying. did she have to make that statement out loud? sure enough, our little bug came out of hibernation for...like...4 hours? i was sure that we had many pictures of grunting faces, crying, wailing, and squirming and little by way of sweet sleeping baby.

i will let you in on a secret. most of the "sleeping baby" photos were actually "blinking" baby photos! HA! mwhoohahahah....

is he not the most perfect little bug? ahhh. i love babies.

sparkling | dallas child photographer

2010-09-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

this little firecracker was so funny. i have a tendency to call kids "peanut" or "missy" or "peach"... you get the idea. well this funny little bug was having none of it, unless she was able to choose her own name. a girl who knows her own mind. LoVe that!

so allow me to introduce you to "miss sophia cow." a dazzling little person who sparkles when she smiles.

i heart faces {vroom} | dalls child photographer

2010-09-13T08:38:00.001-07:00

you might recognize this cute bug from one of my recent sessions. gads, i just LoVe his face in this photo!

i havent entered one of these contests in awhile, but when i saw that this week's challenge had something to do with a vehicle - toy or real - i immediately thought of this kidlet. he was laughing so hard...which was a major coup considering everything he endured up to this point...that his face reflected utter happiness. he was trying to run me over with the plane which might explain the joy on his face :)

head on over to this site to check out all the fantastic entries!

schuch | dallas family photographer

2010-08-31T14:31:00.000-07:00

i met this family at their home before our session. we talked about clothes, put together outfits and stole furniture from their back yard to take along. they were all so chatty and active and i just knew this would be a great session. but, i knew this group was fabulous when dad whipped out the iron - unsolicited {!!} - and "freshened up" one of the girl's dresses!! LOVED that :)

mom and dad were so much fun and the kids...well, how cute are they? check out little missy throwing me the "vogue pose!"

i LoVed that mom and dad were game for anything. i LoVed that the kids were so cool and polite and goofy. i LoVed that it was about 2 degrees cooler than miserable, i had a river running down my back {hot} and they look like they were frolicking at the beach...and...well...i LoVed that dad was every bit a part of this session as anyone. he ironed. unsolicited!! ...just sayin'

thanks guys! i cant wait to do it again...

my little squaw | dallas child photographer

2010-08-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

my little bug was asking about her Cherokee heritage. her paternal great-grandmother was Cherokee. one day she comes out after digging around in the dress up drawer and asks me if she did a good job and would "they" let her into the tribe.

i think she did swimmingly. in fact, she looks so much like her grandmother, its scary. now whether she would be invited to the tribe would likely depend upon whether they could handle her mischevious side...you can just see it...

it was quite early, the sun wasnt even out yet and the light was so yellow. it was perfect! and, of course, my smallest bug had to get in on the action.

i just love their sweet faces!

the cutest sisters | dallas family photographer

2010-08-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

it was cool to see how much these little people had changed since last fall, and, how much they were so very much the same. same personalities. same fire in their bellies. same sweet faces. they were all so cute and the interaction between them - the ever patient older sister and the sweet connection between the twins - was fun to watch.

this time around we decided to schedule our session just before the sun went down. with 3 active kids we werent sure how much we would catch before the light disappeared altogether - and, with the fire ant incident...well...we werent sure that we were going to accomplish much at all!

i have to say that i just LOVE the warm yellow light just before the sun sets. it makes me happy.

thanks guys for another fun session. i am already looking forward to next time :)

mr. t | dallas child photographer

2010-08-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

i had the privilege of meeting this sweet face last year when we embraced the city streets for our session. this little guy was so quiet and complacent. sweet and reserved. his sisters were so much more chatty and willing to be in front of my camera that i found myself spending just a little more time with him...to draw him out. eventually, i did find that smile. ultimately though, it had nothing to do with me. it had everything to do with tootsie-roll.

this year, when mom called, i knew he was going to make me work for that awesome smile. so, when we trudged out into the field and the little guy parked on a fire ant pile, i knew it was over. his face was streaked with tears and he was ready to "hit the road jack, and dontcha come back no more, no more, no more no more..." i figured i might get a cute picture while he wasnt looking, but...

then he spied my little airplane. of course he could hold it, fly it, play with it. i started running backward, in a field, with potholes and twigs just waiting to snag my feet and send me toppling over while he flew the plane faster and faster. it was the least i could do! ant bites are ghastly and i hoped to catch "just one" cute picture.

well, mission accomplished!

this was, of course, a sibling photo session and i will definitely post more because his sisters are adorable. but i felt that this little guy endured quite a bit at the hands of mother nature, triumphed and was so brave that he deserved his moment of recognition!

what a face!!

eyes | dallas child photographer

2010-08-15T15:44:00.000-07:00

this cutie-pie visited me to update her headshots. when she stepped out of the car all i could think was "holy sand cow!! look at those eyes!!!"

she is just stunning...

happy 10th!! | dallas family photographer

2010-08-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

i want to introduce you to a super cool family that i met not too long ago. this is the house we all wanted to hang out at as kids. they have a real snow cone machine that seems to run all the time. with the music blaring, the pool inviting and mom offering to make "fun" food i think i am moving in...today! in fact, i just heard about a tradition they have that i think i have to copy. they have "rock star wednesdays." the kids get to dictate what they do as a family from the time they wake up till the time they go to sleep. zoo in the morning? cool, let's do it. movies in the afternoon? grab the popcorn! dinner out? absolutely! fun, fun, fun.

so when mom and dad wanted to celebrate their 10th anniversary with some family photos i knew this would be a session a little left of center {a good thing in my book}. mom had it all planned out, i just had to show up with the camera. i pulled up at 6:30 am on a sunday, the boys were still in bed and mom was putting the finishing touches on her makeup. when the boys stumbled out, sleep still in their eyes i had to chuckle. they had on their swimsuits, their arms still bearing the marks of their swim meet the day before.

it was all very fitting considering the adult attire. mom and dad were married on the beach, then at the end of the ceremony, jumped into the water. LOVE. IT. the boys were delightful and sweet. mom and dad looked great {10 years and they can still look this great in their wedding clothes?!} and can you tell mom was a cheerleader "back in the day?" good grief! :)

it was fun. happy anniversary!!

sauve | dallas child photographer

2010-08-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

this little guy needed to update his headshots, so we had a quick session to do exactly that. after meeting him, i have to say that he is THE. FUNNIEST. 5 year-old i have ever met. in fact, i was laughing so hard at one point that i had tears streaming down my face and a few shots were just as blurry as they could be.

i tell you, everyone needs to meet a kid like this kid. sure he is cute. yes, he will likely grace many a magazine cover with that charming face of his. but, it is his sense of humor that has me laughing still.

LOVED our session, little man. call me again soon if for no other reason than to chit-chat!

being a 5 year-old action figure

he says to me "get a shot of my serious face! people will love this..."

cute family | dallas family photographer

2010-08-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

whew! we are now at the end of the summer and i cant believe how fast it has flown by. it seems like i have been "running and gunning" since june meeting fun new/ previous clients as well as keeping up with my own herd through summer activities. swimming, crafts, visiting family, swimming more and essentially trying to stay out of the blasted heat. if you live in our area, the term "africa HOT" actually means something. We are on day umteen at triple digit temperatures with a "feel index" of 110+.

GOOD GRIEF!!

so, here i am taking cover in my air conditioned home that is just a hair cooler than heat-stroke attempting to update. i have so many families that i want to share with you but will start with this wacky group.

i love this family. i first met these fantastic people a couple years ago and loved them immediately. they are so cute together and the kids are just...edible! when dad made his own appointment for a second session as a suprise for mom, my heart swelled.

i heard that they were expecting a second baby and couldnt wait to get my hands - and camera - on this bitty little creature who was surely as precious as her sister. i had to wait a bit longer than expected, though. the delivery was...complicated. they almost lost the baby. although she pulled through and was fighting like crazy, her improvements were not encouraging. then, all of a sudden here was my cute little family from south carolina, calling me for a session. the baby was responding, she was off support and she was starting to show signs of interacting with familiar faces.

as you can see from the photos, the baby is beautiful. the family is together and as fun as ever.

thank you, my sweet family, for allowing me to share your lives and continue to watch your children grow. you are all so dear to me!

till next time...

published | Dallas Commercial photographer

2010-07-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

we have made the metrocrst cover for july!! how cute is she? love her face...i feel like laughing right along with her.

check out this month's metrocrest edition of suburban parent!

Cool breeze | dallas commercial photographer

2010-07-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

i am so honored to have our photo featured on the recent cover of kids trends magazine! this is such a cool guide for parents to all things hip and "in" when raising today's smarty-pants kids. definitely check it out!

and...to see mr. "cool breeze." he was such an awesome kid to photograph.

dallas walk-about | dallas child photographer

2010-06-09T17:02:00.000-07:00

a few days ago i hauled the kids off to a friends house at the crack of dawn, in their jammies so that i could brave the sizzling heat and head downtown for a walk-about. i have never gone on one of these adventures and was so excited. the premise behind a walk-about is to gather a bunch o' photographers (professional/ hobbiests/ newbies) and stroll; taking pictures of anything and everything.

it was fun. it was crazy hot. the kids that volunteered to be our models were so cute AND (this is a very big and...) it was cool to just take pictures with absolutely no agenda.

i met a couple of "characters" along the way. the kids had a dance recital and had to leave so the other photographers started taking pictures of the architecture, etc...but i love faces. so i found me a couple of kind people who allowed me to shove my camera in their face. the first gentleman was ever so kind. he and i chatted for a minute in the scorching heat. he wore a smile the entire time. his eyes tell a story, dont they?

then there was one of dallas' finest. who knew the man was a natural in front of the camera?!! what a HOOT!

the kids were adorable and so easy to photograph. can you imagine how tough it is to be the focus of 30+ photographers cat-calling you "look this way?" it was like they had their own pack of paparazzi. but, they handled it all well.

thanks everyone for a great morning!

i heart faces {play} | dallas child photographer

2010-06-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

when i saw the recent photo challenge for i heart faces, i knew i had to submit this image.

it was field day at school and one of the stations was "wash the teacher's car." ingenious!! free child labor but call it "play!" it worked because each car had about 300 kids soaping it and the kids ate it up.

missy had more fun with the sponge and soapy-sudsy water flying everywhere than she did at any other station. i LOVE the sticker on her face. it makes me laugh. she couldn't have been happier at this moment if tinkerbell landed on her shoulder.

head on over to the site and see all the wonderful images submitted.

so excited! | dallas child photographer

2010-06-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

isnt this the cutest album EVER?!!

contest entry | dallas child photographer

2010-06-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

i found this contest at the 11th hour this morning (submissions end today!) and decided to enter. most of the commercial shooting that i have done has been for the bitty little kids and the magazine covers seem to be of the little bugs. so yesterday, my lovey asks me "mom...why dont you use my pictures?"

good golly, it's not like this kid isnt drop dead gorgeous!! so i entered her phto this morning, and now i need your votes. if you have the time and you like this photo, i would appreciate your vote! head over here and cast your vote NOW!!

thank you :)

summer experiment | dallas child photographer

2010-05-31T20:44:00.001-07:00

we were out of cereal. it was time to go to the grocery store. while we were all singing to the song during the closing credits of "meet the robinsons," the thought hit me....we should do an experiment. the kids and i. during the entire summer, we should taste test a new box of cereal each week. no, wait. each person should choose a new box of cereal each week. i mean really, there are so many choices out there - and i have 3 kids - you would think that we were cereal connoisseurs.

we arent. we are such creatures of habit that we choose the same few cereals each grocery trip.
we are stunted in our cereal growth. i thought "this will be fun," and i spoke the words before i really thought this whole thing through. it was too late. the kids were completely into it.

when i thought AND spoke at the same time, i didnt embrace the fact that i am 2, they are 3 (my husband rarely shops with us so i get 2 votes). since each person was to choose a new cereal each week, we were bound to find some new favorites. i should mention that we eat a lot of cereal. in fact, it is the one food that my 2 little guys will eat regularly. so i buy good cereal. you know, mini wheats, cheerios...

as i saw their smiley little faces light up with the knowledge that they got to pick the cereal, i knew i was in trouble. i was likely looking at sugar overload.

good grief! what had i done! the idea was to give in here and there to get them to branch out in the healthy cereal realm. i was excited to try something high in fiber... but like i said, it didnt dawn on me as quickly as it did them that i was sorely out numbered.

my youngest and my oldest quickly and collectively ensured that we were walking away with some horribly sweet cereal by casting their votes for the same cereal. Trix was it. Trix with swirls to be exact. so here are the findings:

Impression of the packaging:

Kid #1: The box is very colorful!

Kid #2: The box is kinda cool cause I like the decorations

Kid #3: (licking his lips) It looks really yummy. It has orange and I like orange. Hey! It has the bunny from TV!!

Me: It looks like a bunch o' sugar. I am scared to eat it.

Smells like:

Kid#1: It smells like color.

Kid #2: It smells really yummy!

Kid #3: (cramming a ginormous spoonful into his mouth) Ohhh! It smells like orange!

Me: Yup. It smells like sugar. A lot of sugar.

Tastes like:

Kid #1: It's just O.K. (suprising!!)

Kid #2: This is really, really, reeeeaaally tastey.

Kid #3: (inaudible with an over-stuffed mouth) iffs weawy gwooud

Me: it looks like art. it tastes like tangy sweet sugar.

Buy it again?

Kid #1: no

Kid #2: (preparing to go to war over kid #1 statement) YES WE ARE TOO BUYING IT AGAIN!

Kid#3: Can I have some more, Mom?

Me: My stomach hurts. Did I really eat this stuff as a kid? Where's my coffee?

Well, the box is almost gone (did I mention we bought it today?). Time for a new box and time for some new rules. I think we need to eat fruit first to ensure something found in nature actually makes it into our bodies in the morning. HA! This should be fun.

I am secretly excited for one of them to pick cookie crisp. I used to LOVE that cereal. I wont waste one of my choices though. I saw them eye-balling it this morning. It might be next. Then I can hit them with raisin bran!!! Mwhoohahahah....

published (3) | dallas child photographer

2010-05-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

i have been very fortunate lately to have some of our photographs featured on the covers of this magazine. of course i am honored to see my work in print. but i have to say that i am even more excited for these kids.

i was especially delighted {!!} to learn that this first image was set for the june issue. this kiddo is all tomboy and the idea of wearing a dress just doesnt crop up often. the wind must have been blowing just right and the planets aligned when we had this mini session because she was just as cute as could be. i have a special place in my heart for tomboys as i grew up with tree sap in my hair till i was in high school!

this second girlie just tickles me. she is absolutely her own person. she had decided on a very bohemian look and it just jelled with who she is. when you look at her picture you can just feel her independent spirit.

congratulations girls! you are beautiful!!

these issues should hit stands in the next couple days, so run out and grab a copy!

glasses | dallas child photographer

2010-05-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

i met this kiddo {woman?} a couple years ago when her mom approached me about taking some family photos. i have watched her evolve out of braces and pony-tails into this wonderfully strong and bright high school senior.

after our session, i was watching the photos load onto my computer and i about fell out of my chair. my god, but she is stunning! can you believe that she does not adore her hair?!!!

magnificent. amazing. missy, you are gonna take the world by storm.

thank you for a really fun and cool session. enjoy your graduation party!!!

oh, and anyone who wears aviator glasses is just plain fabulous. just sayin'....

i heart faces {yellow} | dallas child photographer

2010-05-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

when i saw the weekly challenge for this week i immediately thought of this photo of my nephew. we had just recently moved to texas from san diego and really missed the beach. when my sister and the kids made the trek from utah to visit and we needed something for the kids to do in the melting hot weather, we took them to the "beach" {lake} with surf board in tow. the kids had a blast trying to balance on the board in the calm water and the rest of the population looked at us as though we had lost our minds. HA!

i absolutely love how proud he looks, shoulders back, standing like a man of the ocean, watchin' for "sweet waves."

new hat | dallas child photographer

2010-05-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

i found this cute little hat at target...my fav.or.ite place. i couldnt wait to plop it on someone's head. it looks like it was made for her.

all i have to say is, i know i was never this cool when i was her age. i was such a tree climbing, scraped knee, sap in the hair, soccer playing geek.

i love this kid....

update | dallas child photographer

2010-05-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

our cute little bug didnt make the top 10, but she did make the top 20 {out of over 400 entries!!) try, try again :)

thank you all for your wonderful words of encouragement and support

i heart faces contest | dallas child photographer

2010-05-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

i entered the i heart faces weekly contest this week. the theme is "flowers." i immediately thought of this photo. i remember taking this picture. i knew i would love this before i even pressed the shutter.

this bitty little girl was so enthralled with the bitty little horse and they were friends immediately. it was just too perfect that she was wearing this tutu. the flowers seemed to attract the pony like a bear to honey and that was just fine with her.

head over to the i heart faces site and check out the entries. they are so creative and beautiful.

two cute kids | dallas child photographer

2010-05-16T20:59:00.001-07:00

these two incredibly sweet faces needed to update their headshots for their modeling portfolio...of course we had to have some fun along the way. i just love sessions with these kids.

is this not the most delicious smile? thanks for the fun day...

published | dallas child photographer

2010-05-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

i got the sweetest email from miss emily at suburban parent magazine. she had seen some of my photos and wanted to discuss using one on an upcoming cover. i was thrilled, honored and definitely excited.

imagine my suprise when she chose 2 images for 2 of their may covers. all i can say is...groovy! and, of course, thank you :)

these girlies are so sweet and so spunky. i just love that everyone can share in these 2 sweet faces. if you havent already, get out there and pick up your copy. the may issues are available today.

i see spots | dallas child photographer

2010-05-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

i have know this girlie since she was itty-bitty. she is sweet and quiet and ever so well behaved. and when i am handed these wonderful kids, i see it as a quest. a personal challenge to un-hinge them to the point of pure goofy. nutty. wacky joke telling and giggling at its best.

this kiddo did not disappoint. it took a minute, but she was definitely silly. it was a bit chilly on this particular morning and the poor little thing was in a tank top, not an ounce of fluff to her to even keep her warm. so after i quickly took a few pictures, she says to me, "so, did you get what you needed? can we go to lunch now or do you need another joke?" HA!

can you believe all those delicious freckles?

my cute mom | dallas family photographer

2010-04-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

i had to laugh when i looked through all of these photos. i took these some months ago after a commercial shoot for a children's clothing boutique. i had needed models so we gathered all the cousins together and hoped for the best. one had an ear infection, 2 were starving. one kept getting bug bites and one refused to cooperate. 2 used the closest tree when "nature called" and weren't too pleased. the boys wanted to play in the creek and one of the girls scowled at me from the moment she stepped out of the car. HA!

despite it all, we captured some great photos. we were exhausted. tense. ready for a "spicy frozen mommy drink."

my mom had asked if i would take a photo or two of her after the mahem and i have to tell you, that part - taking pictures of my mom - was so much fun. my sister was there, ipod in hand, blaring lady gaga. my 11 year old was trying to show my mom a few of her hip-hop moves and we laughed.

we laughed hard. the kind of laugh that makes you cry. i couldnt see a thing.

i love my mom. she is a really good person. and a good sport. and beautiful.

thanks mom, for being patient...and i will have you know that i didnt post any of the truly hilarious pictures. not becuase they are terrible but because ... well ... you know where i live! :)

i hope you like...

love this face | dallas child photogapher

2010-04-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

i love this kid. she is so easy, and fun. i typically have a session with her a couple times a year and she is such a goof-ball. this session, however, had a purpose. she needed to update her headshots. our little cutie-pie is a working woman now as a model and it's not hard to see why.

i have seen so many photographers use tents in their sessions and i love the idea. the texture. the color. missy is a little old for it, i guess, but i had just finished making it and wanted to try it out. i knew miss T. would roll with it as she does with most things and i LOVE how it all turned out.

thanks for humoring me and i cant wait to meet you for your next session - which is already in the works - with your gorgeous mother! it should be fun.

till then... peace

i heart faces contest | dallas child photographer

2010-04-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

so i decided to slow down enough to enter a contest with i heart faces. i havent entered a contest since...well...it's been awhile. the topic was laughter. although i didnt win {sad} 2 of my cuties were selected as favorites of the judges. how cool!

i will have to enter again! i have the bug now :)

my lovey | dallas child photographer

2010-03-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

my little girlie just turned 12.

our labor and delivery was not smooth. it was a bit rough, actually. in fact, i was in so much pain and goofy from the medications that i didnt hold her for hours...until she finally landed with me. i remember holding this itty-bitty bundle and feeling such a warmth in my heart knowing that she was mine...for a minute...it was kind of scary how much i loved this kid.

she snuggled right into me and we seemed to have stayed that way ever since. you know how you hear people say' "oh, she's a daddy's girl?" well, this is my girl. we seem to have this connection. i love that.

she has changed so much. the blonde curls, cute lisp and chubby cheeks are long gone. but the night she turned 12 i snuck into her room while she was sleeping. she was snuggled under her mound of blankets, surrounded by her stuffed animals and clutching her baby. in the dark i could still see the baby she was. i could also see who she is becoming. i am excited for her journey. i am sad for the time that has passed.

i dont know. 12 seems...big, old, independent. she is such a wonderful person. i just hope that as she outgrows her "kid stuff" she just doesnt outgrow the need for a mom hug.

{sniff, sigh}

i love you lovey!!

shy | dallas child photographer

2010-02-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

this guy was so shy...but what amazing eyes and an amazing soul. he was so very cute.

hunka chunka man | dallas child photographer

2010-02-25T16:09:00.000-08:00

this little guy was so funny. if he was awake, he was eating. if he wasnt eating he was trying to sleep...but that only seemed to work if his mom was holing him. i could have just held him all day and smelled his head.

LOVE the smell of a newborn head :)

(the significance of the box...his family name is johnson...go figure)

growing like a weed | dallas child photographer

2010-02-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

isnt she the most adorable little bug? i first met her when her mom called me for a newborn shoot...my first ever! she was the longest baby and simply refused to curl up into a tiny ball. we had this little nest, and it was quite spacious...till we tried to put her in it. we had to settle for her oozing out the side. HA!

now look at her. she is so big now. she makes me chuckle, though. she reminds me a bit of my little gracie - sweet as can be with a touch of mafia.

love you lulu!

cool man | dallas child photographer

2010-02-24T10:39:00.000-08:00

i just love when i get to photograph boys. especially at this age. they are just waaay too cool to have their pictures taken. they act like it is such a chore; they are doing you a favor if they look at you...then it happens! they start to enjoy it. this cutie-pie started "helping" me figure out where to take the next shot...how he should stand, etc.

LOVE that...

an open book | dallas child photographer

2010-02-18T14:40:00.000-08:00

kids are so funny to me.

if they are happy, they show it. if they aren't...well...they are not shy about letting you know. this little bug had the sweetest smile and the cutest scowl. she is definitely her own "woman" and knows what she wants - and doesnt want. :)

love | dallas child photographer

2010-02-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

i fell in love with this little boy. even though he refused to look at me. even though he repeatedly tried to turn his back on me in protest. i LOVED this kid. he had, quite possibly, the sweetest face and the sweetest smile and the sweetest disposition.

his sister...she is the 3rd kiddo that i have photographed lately that reminds me of my little niece who lives far, far away. so...she immediately felt special to me. her mom warned me that she may be a tough customer but i kid you not, the moment she hopped out of the car we were friends. goof ball friends...which is waay better than BFF's.

thanks guys for making me smile!

striking | dallas child photographer

2010-02-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

mwhoohahaha!! {evil laugh} you can try to hide behind the moody teenager front, but i will seek out your inner goofball and i will conquer!!

i should show you his dorky, goofy faces that he was pulling everytime he thought i wasnt paying attention...but that would just be plain mean. better to let him keep the moody reputation :)

had fun, kiddo.

sweet as chocolate | dallas child photographer

2010-02-04T09:16:00.000-08:00

the kids that i have the fortune of spending my time with are the most adorable kids...inside and out. you can just see it in their smiles. this little bug was just squeezably sweet and...she made me chuckle the entire session. her mom brought a bunch of apples as a prop but i had to be quick and get those apples in some shots because...this little thing ate like 4 apples!! i'm lucky to get my kids to eat a half of an apple a week.

musician | dallas child photographer

2010-02-03T05:05:00.000-08:00

this kid was a blast...so moody when he needed to be, and a live wire the rest of the time :) he is quite the musician...and cute! love his eyes

picture perfect | dallas child photographer

2010-02-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

when this kid stepped out of the car she was quiet. she was shy and she wanted to look anywhere but in my direction. i didnt even know what color her eyes were till i put the camera in front of my face. she looks like she has been a model for ages and ages and those eyes! i love eyes...

this girlie was a bucket o' fun and a great sport too! not only did it rain, we were caught in a virtual downpour. imagine me seeking shelter under a tree or bush to protect my camera and this cutie braving the elements...asking if we could take "just one more" picture. :) LOVE that.

it was fun...

walk in the park | dallas child photographer

2010-01-30T17:32:00.000-08:00

this had to be one of the most agreeable kiddos that i have ever worked with. i bugged him, and he just smiled. i put him in the middle of the street and it didnt even phase him. by the end of our session i was under an umbrella while he stood in the rain...and those images look every bit as great as the first.

i could take pictures of kids like this one all day every day. :)

wicked cute | dallas family photographer

2010-01-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

could these two be any cuter?

M.I.A. - dallas child photographer

2010-01-23T17:04:00.001-08:00

holy cow!

i was cruising along, enjoying november, when all of a sudden life happened. i had the opportunity to photograph a bunch o' families and a bunch o' kids. i turned 40 ( !!! ) and had one of the best birthday weekends i have ever had - (i will have to post some pictures. words just wont cut it). i went into editing overdrive and emerged just in time to enter the dangerous arena of "last minutes christmas shopping."

we spent christmas day in texas. our first ever. every year we load the kids in the car and make the trek to utah, my childhood home, to sled, ski, snowball fight and enjoy watching a good blizzard rage outside while we sit toasty warm by the wood burning stove. not this year. i have to admit that as the big day drew closer and closer my mood was...regretful? then, it snowed. the first frisco christmas eve snow storm in 30 years. i immediately turned on the gas fireplace, cranked up the christmas music and started baking. we even built a snowman...using the snow from our yard and the snow from our neighbor's yards...on both sides :)

i made lists on top of lists to help me sort through all of the changes i planned on making in our home (redecorating bedrooms, offices, garage), my business (new blog, re-vamped website, new packaging, new purchasing options), and in my life (start working out again, take more photos for me...for fun). then...

one day my first born sat me down and told me that she never sees me unless i am glued to my computer or camera. she missed me :(

so, the blogging, the camera and the lists quickly took a vacation. my kids and i started crafting. we baked. we shopped. we went to the grossology exhibit. we redecorated the kid's bedrooms and we laughed...a lot.

the whole balancing "thing" between working from home and family is a work in progress for me. i am admittedly a type-a overachiever kind of person, but once in awhile everyone has to slow down and take a look around. my mother has been telling me to do this for...ever? so i did, and it was great. but now it is time to "plug" myself back in.

i have not posted in quite some time, and i have a bunch to post. i am excited to share with you some of the incredible people i have had the priviledge to meet.

4 little birdz | dallas child photographer

2009-11-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

i am always amazed at how children can come from the same gene pool and wind up with such vastly different personalities. you would think that they would be more similar than not. i find that my kids are more like their unrelated friends than they are each other.

these kids are a perfect example. the oldest was such the well-mannered kid. he knew what he liked but was open to suggestion. he kind of "rolled with it" and got in and got the job done...all the while trying to make polite conversation.

then there were the twins. they were alike, of course, in many ways but distinct in their own way. the first girlie i photographed was a bit more hesitant and reserved. the other was...well...not! the second cutie-pie was unhinged and crazy and fun right out of the gate. but then a funny thing happened. when i got the girls together, both were immediately on the same page and laughing and hugging and squeezing and goofing. it was fun to watch them work in concert with the other without even really talking about it.

the baby bird really made me laugh. her older sisters are so tiny and her brother is long and lean. this little bug looks like she doesnt take any grief from anyone and has the muscle to back it up. she held back at first to test the waters but once she felt comfortable, she was telling me where we needed to go to take pictures and where she wanted to stand. i LOVE kids who are spunky.

thanks guys for a fun session!

fun | dallas child photographer

2009-11-05T17:02:00.000-08:00

em is such a help when i want to try something new. after my last please-oh-please-help-me-while-i-learn-some-flash-techniques i thought she would run away if i asked her to help again. she didnt. :)

i have this wonderful friend who has this amazing studio set up in his home. he has allowed me to drag my kids, their friends, tubs of props into his quiet existence AND has even allowed us to blast lady gaga and the likes from his computer while we shoot. love ya, bob. thank you

anywho, emily is one of my favorite people in the whole world to photograph and (for the most part) is one of the easiest. thanks, lovey

thought this was so funny. she and her friend were goofing around while i was moving the lights and i just happened to grab this shot with a light in one hand, camera in the other and in motion :)

emily accompanied me for a sunday shoot downtown. we quickly popped a few photos while we were waiting for our clients to arrive. you would never know that she had been up half the night at a sleep over, with a massive sugar high (halloween was the night before) and she was filthy rotten dirty. :)

kismet | dallas child photographer

2009-10-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

have you ever met someone and felt immediately as though you've known them for ages? you immediately fall into a groove that is comfortable and fun and...familiar? kismet. that is how i felt when these two cuties met me downtown. i couldn't believe how much this little girl looked like my niece. they are the same age, have the same features and the same energy. we seemed to find our pace immediately. i could have taken pictures of her all day long. most of the kids i meet are fun and creative, but i have to say this one has that little "something" about her that is so endearing. we hopped. we skipped. we spoke in foreign accents and we laughed. good deep belly laughs and i had a really fun time.

and her brother...how squeezie is he? he has the most angelic face, and the sweetest baby curls...ahhh...i miss this age.

these parents were fantastically groovy and i want to thank them for allowing me to give this baby his first candy ever!! he was all over the sucker...fascinated by it really and it was fun to watch.

so allow me to introduce you to little missy and her irresistable brother. i feel like they are practically family :)

the.best.hair | dallas child photographer

2009-10-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

this little bug was spunky with a capital S! she was a bitty little thing but there wasn't anything small about her personality...and you know i love them that way.

when she climbed out of her car i couldnt resist...i had to touch her hair. she had the best hair. it was fun and springy and so very cute...just like her.

the best part was how she "was" with her daddy. dad was very tall. he was quiet. he was along for the ride. but when this bitty girlie climbed into her daddy's lap or hugged his leg, his face just lit up and i LOVE that.

thanks for coming out in the rain and fog cute family. i had a great time watching and listening to a piano serenade to elmo in the city streets. it doesnt get any better than that!

spunk | dallas child photographer

2009-10-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

this little one had spunk...what a live wire! i wish i had 1/2 her energy. and really, how many of us could run down the street with our tongues hanging out and look this cute?

till next time

too easy | dallas child photographer

2009-10-19T20:23:00.000-07:00

sometimes a kid will climb out of the car just before the session starts and i know i have my work cut out for me. this was not one of those kids.

he was so easy. he seemed to have a calm within himself and everytime i looked his way all i saw was the perfect image. i almost didnt know what to do for a second! i didnt have to chase him down the road. i didnt even really need to engage him in conversation much to get him to look my way, he just seemed to know what to do. i could have done a dozen more wardrobe changes and several location changes and shot all day he was that easy. and friendly. and goofy. and incredibly cute.

i mean really...check out that face! and his eyes? good grief!

i think his mother better hold on tight to this one.......

what a trooper | dallas child photographer

2009-10-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

this kid was such a trooper.

the minute his mother pulled up in the car, i was off and running - as usual -dragging out clothes and chattering away. but he seemed to have a bit of a different speed...sloooow mooootion! he was polite and accommodating but moving like he was in a fog. this, of course, made me want to "reach him" all the more. mom apologized more than once saying this wasn't the norm for this kid and i took one huge breath and didnt stop talking the entire time. poor kid...

by the end of our session, mom pleaded, "do you think you got one good one?" i would say so! especially since the kid had PNEUMONIA during our shoot!!

i get a call from his mom a week after our session wondering, again, if there was any way we were able to get a half-decent picture. she told me that although he never complained that he wasnt feeling well, later that day they found out that the poor kid had pneumonia. good grief! apparently he has been quite ill...but i am happy to say that he is on the mend. :)

thank you for putting up with me. your pictures are so cool and i cant wait for you to see the rest. the fact that your session went so well and your images are amazing makes me all excited to do a shoot with you when you are actually in top form!!

isnt he handsome?

out of my box | dallas child photographer

2009-10-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

i am trying something new. i am a natural light photographer which means that i dont use a flash when i take pictures but lately...i am interested in flash. hey, what can i say? i am always a work in progress.

so, a friend of mine - who happens to have all kinds of camera toys - graciously opened up his home to me and 2 pre-teen crazy kids {a.k.a my daughter and her good friend} for some much needed learnin'

i was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but i loved it! i feel like i learned so much. actually, i need to wrap this up quickly because we are headed back for another afternoon in the studio but i wanted to quickly post a few images of these kids.

me & flash...who da thunk?

big girl | dallas child photographer

2009-10-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

em has been gracious enough to model for me for a local boutique and their really fun clothes. i have to say that while this age is enough to really do me in...it is also a lot of fun. to me, she is this moody pre-teen with a catchy mantra of "that's not fair!" or my personal fav of "YOU are not fair." then, i look at these photos and gasp. no little kid here. where did she go?

and, i become all emotional and start wondering how much time i have left until she decides i am no longer worth her time :(

thanks lovey. as always, you are a joy to photograph and even more fun to hang with. you are beautiful!

our angel...| dallas child photographer

2009-09-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

is back and getting so big and this time she brought her daddy with her! last time she visited me her daddy was far away and his safety was always a concern. she was such a bitty little thing then. now look at her...and her cute daddy who has made it home safe and sound. arent they cute?

i was so happy to see them...to get a few squeezes in...and was even more excited to learn that this session was a suprise for mom, who was at home alone for a few days for some much needed rest. mom was gonna' have another baby! so this session was a suprise to be opened months later when the baby arrived.

there were some complications with the pregnancy and some complications with delivery and the baby came very early...8 weeks early. she was in some serious trouble for awhile and although she isnt out of the woods, she is improving.

i was so touched to hear that baby olivia has some of these pictures lining her isolette. mom wanted this baby to know that she belonged. she mattered. there was a world beyond tubes and doctors and tests waiting for her when she was ready. she was loved. it brought tears to my eyes when i heard.

i love this family. when dad was fighting for our country in iraq i spent who knows how long hoping he would come home soon, safely. and now, i think of them often and send out all the positive energy i can for this new little baby who i am certain is every bit as squeezie as her sister.

thank you for continuing to allow me to be a part of your sweet family. and when you are able, you get that baby to me so that we can do a session of your entire family, now that it is complete. :)

grandpa's farm | dallas child photographer

2009-09-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

i get this phone call one day. a mom of 3 wants to know if i will caravan with her family to oklahoma one weekend to take pictures of her kids on her grandfather's farm. her grandfather passed away some time ago and this property holds a lot of memories for her and i think that it sounds really great, so let's do it!

there's a catch. the property is no longer in her family and she isn't sure who is living there or whether they will actually allow us to take pictures at 8 am on a sunday. so the plan was to drive for hours with 3 little kids and the hope that we will accomplish our objective. hmmm.... i remember smiling and thinking that this is the sort of thing that i would most definitely do!!

so we get up there and park in front of the property. we are out in the country, on a dirt road. there are like 4 cars/trucks parked on the lawn. a huge dog chained to an out-building, a bitty little dog outside in a kennel and a mess of dogs barking in the house. as the mom heads up to the front door of the house with a look of determination, her husband and i notice a bumper sticker on one of the trucks that makes me worry about the sanity of what we were attempting to do...and our safety!!

funny thing was, no one answered the door. so we start out by taking a few pictures with the property in the background...then we move a little onto the property...then a little more...until we are taking pictures all over the place. the dogs never stopped barking in the 2 hours that we were there! no one ever came to the door. i figured that they must be nursing one he-uge hangover :)

these kids were such trooopers. it was muddy. it started to get hot and we had knit hats, tights, jeans, vests!!! the oldest cutie-pie was just squeezie. i thought he was the cutest thing and he could play the guitar like nobody's business. it was amazing. i couldnt stop taking pictures of him, poor little thing.

his little sister...so cute. so fair and creamy. her eyes were the bluest blue. i love that age.

then there was my friend. i asked his name and he tells me W-Y-A-double T! ha! made me think of Tigger (T-I-double gu-rrr). i laughed all morning about that.

thanks family for a special treat. i love road trips and your kids are amazing. i couldnt decide which pictures i wanted to post so i posted a BUNCH! it was a great morning spiced with devious adventure :)

downtown | dallas child photographer

2009-09-22T12:21:00.001-07:00

my first set of twins! these 2 little bugs were so itty bitty and their sister was so cute with them.

big sister was a little nervous having some strange lady {that would be me} shoving a black box in her face {my camera} all morning. go figure! so to ease her into my world of crazy, she needed a friend...her toy fish. in most of her pictures you can see that little yellow fishy...unless i have strategically cropped it out.

mr. man was ever so stylish and i would have to say "politely" on the go. he was very kind and gentle but he was a man with a mission. a mission to go wherever i was not. but, as you can see, we made friends and thank goodness because he has a face worth sharing. so handsome.

then there was this little bug below. so quiet. so sweet and so fair skinned!! she was just as cute as they come and i will tell you that she has a bit of spunk hidden beneath all that sweetness.

thanks for a great morning!

is this sort of like a sucker lick from afar?

colorado trio | utah family photographer

2009-09-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

this family was groovy. i love it when people show up and say, "just tell me what to wear, what to do...." the world really is our oyster at that point. and...they drove all the way from colorado to meet me while i was in park city, utah. how cool is that?

i grew up in park city and to have the opportunity to take some pictures while i was there was really fun for me. we were all over the place.

i have to tell you that these kids were amazing. they were the right mix of polite, respectful and crazy goofy but not just with me. they were all those things with their mom. i loved that.

it was such a relaxed, kicked-back session despite the fact that there was a ginormous muscle-car show all along main street with an explosion of people buzzing all around and we were in a holding pattern for a couple hours because the weather suddenly turned cold and very wet.

thank you for sharing your morning with me, braving the rain, the people and the cars. i had a great time. but, before i stop rambling on, i have to say, diana you look fabulous!! (in case you were confused, the mom is the 3rd photo down!!)

cool utah senior | utah senior photographer

2009-09-15T13:16:00.001-07:00

first let me start by saying...when you have a soccer tournament all day in the sun and a photo shoot the next day, APPLY SUNSCREEN!! :) (just poking fun atcha mo')

this was one of the sessions i had while we were in utah and these folks took me to the coolest place...it was like a train museum/graveyard. all these trains had the most interesting features like very colorful peeling paint or interesting wheels. there were hardly any people around which was really great since "mo" and i were singing lady gaga because she forgot her ipod!! good grief.. :)

thanks for a great afternoon. we danced on the sidewalks, twirled our way past stores, sang off key and laughed. my favorite kind of session.

so for those of you who know this kid...is she not a scary replica of her mom?

all i said was, "look over here" and this is what i get...

such GREAT eyes...

hope to see you guys when were are in town over christmas!

just in time |dallas family photographer

2009-09-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

love these kids.

i met this family last year and we became friends. love their mom, love their spunk and we have so much fun when we are together. we had talked about another shoot for some time, but never set a date...until...cameron and her brother were playing and almost knocked out her first tooth. it was hanging on just long enough for us to get one last picture of her with all her baby teeth.

i just have to say that this feisty little thing has a special place with me. she is so much like my gracie i would swear they were 2 twinkies from the same package. they look alike, they are the same age, they have found their voice and they both have a little "mafia" in their soul. what you see is this pretty little sweetness. what you dont see is her stalking around with a giant pout on her face pounding on her brother. LOVE IT!

dont you just love mom's childhood doll? i am going to dig mine out this weekend.

gerber baby| dallas baby photographer

2009-09-10T19:24:00.001-07:00

oh my goodness.

this baby was the cutest little stink-pot, like ever!! as soon as i saw her i couldnt wait to whip out my camera and start pressing the shutter. she is the teeny tiniest little thing with the most infectious smile. i just wanted to gather her up and squeeze her. sadly...she wanted almost nothing to do with me (until after she was filthy and after i gave her candy).

this little bug was absolutely giddy about walking barefoot in the streets, crawling around in the dirt while her mother and i were practically sprinting to stay just a 1/2 step ahead of her. she had the sweetest clothes but by the time she had had her way, the bottoms of her feet, legs and hands looked as though she just crawled through a tar pit. after we finished our session, her mom and i looked at each other and sighed..."well, maybe there is one good one in there?" well, with a face like this, i couldnt help but capture something great.

by the way, check out your local sears stores and catalogs soon...you might just see her cute squeezy face staring back at you. :)

a natural | dallas child photographer

2009-09-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

when i met this little girl, her mother and i were talking about the details of their upcoming session. she was so shy and i remember thinking that i was going to have to really pull out all the tricks to get some great photos of her.

later, when she crawled out of the car to get dressed, she said something to me that was so quiet, i couldnt hear her. i just knew she was going to have a hard time in front of the camera.

ummm...dont think so! she was definitely quiet and very polite, but no problem whatsoever dealing with my big ole' camera lurking about.

gads i love her eyes. i am such a push over for eyes and the looks she was able to throw at me?!!! this little one will have no problem in her quest to be a model.

good luck cutie pie!!

we are our parents | dallas child photographer

2009-09-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

i am my mother. when people see me, and they know my mother, they say, "oooh! you look so much like your mother!"

i am my father, too. when folks who knew my dad see me, they know right away that i am his.

aside from sharing our genes, however, i am my parents when it comes to technology. we didnt get a vhs player until i was almost out of high school and do you know that the little space for the digital clock flashed 12:00 for years because no one knew how to set it and no one dared to try. what if you became the one to foul up the entire thing all because you felt the need to set the clock? nope. it was waaay better to just ignore the flashing numbers and after awhile, you didnt notice it anymore...in fact, mom, is the time correctly set on your vhs/dvd right this minute? hmmm, if i had to guess... :)

my father wouldnt touch the computer. wouldnt even push the button to turn it on. i think he worried that he might "do it wrong." my mother is better, but doesnt venture too far into the cyber-world. we are a tactile family. we like to touch, create with our hands, talk in person, use the phone, bake, build... this whole computer/digital thing is...well... lets just say that i think i am still licking my wounds after losing a 45 page college report 20 years ago when the university of utah experienced its first computer virus. i hesitate when i need to really create something on the computer.

today is that day. i am going to take the plunge. i need to re-vamp a few things on the blog and website. things i am not sure how to do but have researched and now need to test my knowledge. so, if you happen to take a virtual stroll by and notice a few things askew, chuckle to yourself and know that i am likely sitting at my desk staring at my computer, resting my chin on my hand mustering the courage to press the enter button and finalize the changes i am attempting to make.

so pardon the mess and cross your fingers :)

bag lady mom | dallas commercial photographer

2009-09-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

where have i been?

yesterday, it seems, that the kids and i were plotting our summer vacation, surrounded by swim suits and towels drying on every available surface, and buying popcicles by the case. this morning i realized how many sessions i haven't blogged, my oldest announced that although we just went school shopping she has now grown and has nothing to wear. my children are discussing halloween costumes and christmas lists and we are (sadly) getting up before the chickens every morning just to make it to school on time with 3 different schools for 3 kids and 3 different start/end times.

i feel it...fall is coming and i need to prepare! this is the time of year when my inner baking, crafting, creating soul shines. but to really do it right, i need to clear my plate, start fresh, give the 'ole brain some room to breathe. so for the next week or so i must attach myself to my computer and edit, blog, update. i have had some amazing sessions with some really cool kids and really want to share them.

you may recognize this feisty "thang" from a couple months ago. she has changed so much over the summer and has recently signed with a modeling agency (not hard to believe...she is beautiful) but she is still the same cheese-ball that we all know and love. i love sessions with this kid. she is so easy and fun AND her groovy mother has no problem whatsoever dragging our junk across dirt paths and helping with stealthy wardrobe changes in the woods.

thank you miss T for helping us model some great fall clothes for a really cool boutique.

see you soon! can't wait for our next shoot. i am excited!!

love the bag-lady look Cory. you wear it well and not many could

my little man | dallas child photographer

2009-08-19T19:57:00.000-07:00

i cant believe that he is just a skip away from turning 3. i swear i stare at his little face, drinking in every detail hoping that in my old age (like, tomorrow) i'll not forget how precious he is at this moment. because they change so much at 3. already, he is more boy than baby..."ine a bigga boy momma."

i love you. my boy

cool | dallas family photographer

2009-08-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

i dont get an opportunity to take pictures of this sort very often so this was really cool. we were at the olympic oval in salt lake city where he is training. i thought chasing toddlers was tough to get a focus on...these guys come hauling around those turns and most of it is a blur to my eye let alone through my camera lens.

did you know that the skates on a speed skate are razor sharp? or that the blade isnt solidly attached like a figure skate? it is attached (my words, my lame definition) at the front and it snaps up with a quickness when the skater lifts his heel. i almost didnt catch it until i caught it on camera and realized that was the cracking sound i heard as they came whipping around the ice.

very groovy to watch. these people are amazing. i didnt see one wobbly ankle!! :)

international language | dallas child photographer

2009-08-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

this cute family drove quite a distance to have me take their pictures, to which i am honored. but more impressive was the trust they willingly placed in me to capture what they wanted...especially since they came from mexico and didnt speak any english...and unless i needed to order a beer or ask for the restroom, i had no verbal means of communication without our beloved interpretor...who was going to have a baby literally at any moment.

you should have seen us. i would say something....pause...the interpretor would speak...pause...they would respond....pause

as adults, we did just fine but i can only imagine what this little bug was thinking everytime i opened my mouth and out came, "blah blah blah....ohhh...blah, blah, blah?"

i very quickly decided to scrap the words and i went straight for silly. my thighs were a burnin' after leaping like a frog and doing goofy dances for an hour or so.

despite our inability to communicate with words, i think that we became champions of the international language of FUN!

can you believe this is just how she would stand when she was in her tutu?

this HAD to be one of the moments when i tried to open my mouth. "who is this woman?" she must have thought

bubble fun | dallas child photographer

2009-08-05T18:42:00.001-07:00

have you ever read "family fun magazine?" i subscribe. and admit that with each new issue, i fold corners on the pages i want to mark for future fun. i make lists of crafts and projects i think the kids will like. then, i usually find those lists at the bottom of some huge stack of...something.

well, not this time! i saw this homegrown bubble machine and immediately went to work. this was by far the best and most amazing producer of monstrous bubbles that i have seen. and, more importantly, the kids loved it.

we actually combined a few ideas...we put a little food coloring in the "bubble juice" and then blew bubbles on the paper hanging on our make-shift clothes line. when the bubbles popped...we had ART!

how can you not LOVE a contraption that produces so many bubbles, it makes you look like a rabid dog?
she is so creative. she used her hand instead of a bubble wand and definitely won the "bestest bubble blower award" of the day
i mean really, check out this bubble stream!!
even the little dudes had a ton of fun
and when that became old news, heck, blow bubbles on your brother
or just get rid of the bubbles altogether and slather your brother with FOOD COLORING and thick dish soap...the kid foamed for an hour while i tried to wash off the soap.

sometimes a person just needs to jump for the sheer joy of jumping :) enjoy the remains of your summer!!

i'm melting | dallas child photographer

2009-06-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

i cant believe how hot it was on this morning. one of the kids asked me if i had ever seen the wizard of oz...and said we were all like the scene with the witch..."i'm mellllllting! what a world, what a world!"as we disappear into the ground.

pretty much.

these guys were so cute though. and this little man...he is my new boyfriend. :) he had these dimples that i swear touched each other on the inside when he smiled. and his laugh...infectious! when i told him that i was claiming him as my new boyfriend, he paused, thought about it for a second and said, "that would be ok with me," then gave me the absolute best smile.

have fun at the beach! you will have to tell me about all you fantastic adventures...just dont get a new girlfriend! :)

i LOVE that he walked right up to his mom and attacked her with a kiss from behind.

hot summer fun | dallas child photographer

2009-06-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

these kids were amazing. i dragged them out of bed early to try and beat the crazy heat but it was hot. africa-hot. melt your face, tennis shoes stuck to the ground, river running down your back hot...at 8:30 in the morning.

but they were still great. we played and we goofed and did these kids know jokes! loads of them. i was so impressed.

thanks guys for hanging in there.

is he sooo cool just hangin' out in the shade?

such a sweet face...

sweet | dallas child photographer

2009-06-17T19:29:00.001-07:00

this was part of our last minute, jump in the car without shoes, swimsuits still on, rush to the flower field before the sun goes down photos with the kids. the light was sooo pretty and glow-y until we got there which is when it turned a distinct grey. you would never know though because this kid just seems to radiate her own light.

friends | dallas family photographer

2009-06-17T07:14:00.000-07:00

this is my friend mary.

we met because her kids were among the first i photographed as a professional. we quickly became friends. we have a similar sense of humor and view of life which is to say that we are...interesting. :)

our kids - especially our oldest - have become fast and furious friends which makes it nice. its not often you find friends that not only accept your quirky-ness but cultivate it. these people are so much fun to hang out with and and give us a sense of family when most of our family lives so far away.

we LOVE you! thanks for being our bestest friends.

going in for a smooch...

body tackle for the smooch...

then off to a flower field for an impromptu mini shoot with one of the kids (more on that later...)

mary practicing for the alien fest in roswell, new mexico in a couple weeks. you are goin' to fit in just fine my friend....

luv ya.