You Sure Look Purdy....

Momma's Gotta Brand New Blog.....

2010-08-15T07:32:00.001-05:00

The new blog is now at www.purdyphotos.com/blog

Put a Fork in Me....

2010-04-17T16:32:00.001-05:00

.... I am done! Well, we are a little over three weeks away from the arrival of our third little bundle of joy and I am officially on maternity leave. Ryan and I took our own kiddos out for one final photo shoot before they welcome the new addition to the family this morning "on the way to get donuts". I have been eyeing this field of flowers for a few weeks now and the weather was perfect to try to get some pics. Even though the four of us only lasted about 15 minutes before the whining and sillies set in, I was able to get this one shot of my kids together - probably their last as just a two-some. Boy, do I love these goof balls.

Just think the next post will be of three little Purdy's..... until then.....

TTTBW.....

2010-04-09T00:04:00.002-05:00

I am officially Too Tired To Be Witty, so..... here are some pics of one of Riley's sweet preschool teachers kiddos....

Double trouble....

2010-03-29T15:37:00.001-05:00

I had the pleasure of photographing these two cutie pies a few weeks ago and let me tell you, it was a workout! They were both super well-behaved and full of energy. Usually when I have that combo, I look for a big bed to let them jump on. These little guys loved it and we got some great smiles to prove it! I have to laugh at my favorite one of the two of them on the bed on their bellies - their mom and I were pulling out every trick in the book to get them to look up at the same time. I included the frame before and after down below just to prove sometimes you only get one chance to grab that shot:) Enjoy....

T-Baller

2010-03-27T16:51:00.002-05:00

Jake had his first t-ball game this past week. He did amazing - which in t-ball terms means that he was able to run the bases in order, only sat down in the field to pick grass twice and did not tackle anyone while fielding the ball. We were extremely proud. Here are a few of our little slugger and the cheerleading squad we had assembled consisting of Riley and our sweet neighbor girls....

Part-E in Port-A

2010-03-22T23:23:00.000-05:00

Just a few quick pics from Spring Break 2010 in Port Aransas, Texas this past weekend. And don't let the picture of Riley in the bathing suit fool you, it was actually extremely cold and windy all weekend long....

Lookin' for Shade....

2010-03-21T22:50:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I had a fabulous session with this adorable little guy and his parents at Hermann Park. The weather was absolutely gorgeous that afternoon - bright and sunny, not a cloud in the sky - perfect for the thousands of people who showed up at the park, kind of a pain for us photographers. When it is super sunny like that, you have to worry about deep shadows and people squinting, two things that can be hard to correct in post production. Even though it took some searching, we did find a few secluded shady spots tucked around the park. Here are some of my favorites....

It's time for the Rodeo....

2010-03-11T23:30:00.004-06:00

Here in Houston, the Rodeo is a really, really big deal. To be honest, I think they schedule Spring Break around it so everyone can take their kids to the festivities. Last year, Ryan and I (and about 15,000 tweens) went to see Fergie in concert during the Rodeo. Even though Fergie does put on quite a show, the most entertaining part of the evening was before the music began when they had this thing called Mutton Bustin' in the arena. Here is the actual description of the event per the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show website...

Mutton Bustin' will follow Barrel Racing, just prior to the beginning of the concert. All Mutton Bustin' participants must be between the ages of 5 and 6 years old and not weigh more than 60 pounds. Participants will attempt to ride a "mutton" or sheep the longest....

And who said we don't know how to have a good time in Texas! Here are a few pics of the kids and their classmates from their Rodeo Days celebration at school. No Mutton Bustin' for Jake and Riley, but still some good memories!

Wordless Wednesday....

2010-03-10T15:15:00.002-06:00

Just some cute pics from a family I photographed over Christmas. Three is definitely a magic number!

Crazy Legs....

2010-03-05T23:26:00.004-06:00

Here is a quick sneak peak from a wonderful session I had yesterday. This little girl was a total sweetheart and a ton of fun to photograph. She is mastering the low crawl and had the most adorable little leg warmers. By the way, what ever happened to leg warmers? They were so stylish AND functional....

The work continues....

2010-03-04T07:34:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I got a new header up, but the body still needs some work....maybe this afternoon....

Under Construction....

2010-03-03T16:02:00.003-06:00

Please excuse the bland-ness of my blog header. I was trying to revamp it this morning so that I can post larger images and zapped the html code.... Check back later please!

Big Red....

2010-03-03T08:02:00.000-06:00

Who said red heads are wild and fiery! Photographing this cutie is always a piece of cake. He has the sweetest little disposition: always smiling and looking right at the camera - I mean what more could I want. These are just a few from a session right before Christmas. I am going get to see him again in a few weeks to take his one year old shots - can't wait!

PS- The last one is a little bonus. It is one I took of Riley right when I started up my business. She was totally red when she arrived. She was pretty easy to photograph as well:)

Lovely Ladies....

2010-03-02T22:32:00.007-06:00

As I have mentioned in the past, I have the most gorgeous kids just running up and down my street every day. I mean there are some real stunners just roaming my neighborhood, looking adorable. These three young ladies are no exception. I had a wonderful time photographing them with their parents and fantastically dynamic grandmother over this past Christmas. Here are some of my favorites - the ones of Grandma warrant their own post at a later date:)

Communication Black Hole....

2010-03-01T23:45:00.001-06:00

So, did I mention that technology blows. I honestly feel like all of my electronic items have simultaneously declared mutiny and are refusing to operate properly. As I was going back through my correspondence over the past month this evening, I have come to the realization that (in addition to my desktop completely crapping out on me) many of my emails have been shot off into a gigantic black void. I think I have the issue resolved now and have resent a number of messages, but for those of you who have not received a response from me via email as anticipated, please check your inbox in the morning.... Oh and by the way, my Iphone decided not to work this evening either. Just what I was hoping to have to deal with tomorrow, a trip to the mall to have them tell me I am going to have to purchase yet another replacement phone - my third in under a year.... yeah, this is going to be fun!

In other words, if you need to reach me, please call me at home at 281.778.9353 or shoot me an email @ lis_purdy@purdyphotos.com....

March On....

2010-03-01T14:49:00.007-06:00

Since Feb-blog-uary was so rudely interrupted by a catastrophic computer meltdown and then an unfortunate blogger.com posting malfunction, I will be continuing to post updates daily into the first few weeks of March to make up for it.... Here are a few images from a session I did last week for the most adorable chunk of a little boy, Sweet Baby T. I have known this no so little nugget from the get go- photographing him a few days after his arrival. What a cutie....

PS- Since the last two weeks posts have been stuck in cyberspace, you should take few moments and check them out.... There are some fun ones in there:)

A boy and his dog...

2010-02-28T23:57:00.001-06:00

Here are a few pics I took over a year ago of best buds, Jakob and Erica. I had forgotten how much I loved these images until a few weeks ago when I pulled them up to print an enlargement of the black and white picture as a gift. Unfortunately, Erica (a super mellow, well behaved black lab) passed away in 2009. I am so glad we were able to capture these moments for the family. There is something so Norman Rockwell about this first picture - I just adore it!

Two in Tutus....

2010-02-27T15:21:00.008-06:00

Tutus - the ultimate girly girl accessory. My sister-in-law bought the most precious yellow tulle (or tool, as I would have chosen to spell it) with peach satin trim tutu for Riley almost a year ago and the girl will not touch it. It is hanging in her closet, just looking spectacularly adorable and completely unused. Here are two little ladies who loved sportin' their tutus....

Low Light....

2010-02-26T23:48:00.003-06:00

Photography is so interesting to me. You have a camera that controls these elements (ISO, shutter speed, aperture) that work in concert to produce an image in a very specific lighting situation. Adjust one element and the other two need to shift in order to gain the right exposure. Here is one of my favorite images of Riley taken in an indoor aquarium on our family trip to Oregon last year. It was completely dark in all around her, except for a single dim can light right above her. If I had any other camera, I would not have been able to capture it because I had to crank my setting to the extreme - amazing what you can get nowadays at 3200 ISO with my 24-70mm lens wide open....

All Grown Up

2010-02-25T12:06:00.001-06:00

I seem to get quite a few inquires about photographing older kids and wether or not it is something I would like to do. The answer is YES! I think it would be so much fun to be able to photograph someone who I did not have to brib or chase:) I have been thinking about getting into the "senior market" after I take my maternity leave for nugget number 3. Until then, here are a few of some big kids I took awhile ago....

Wordless Wednesday....

2010-02-24T12:23:00.001-06:00

Just the way I always want to remember my sweet, smiley Riley Jane as a two year old:)

Oh, The Places We'll Go (Part 3) - Discovery Green

2010-02-23T15:12:00.006-06:00

Yet another wonderful place to take outdoor pictures is Discovery Green, which is smack dab in the middle of downtown Houston. There are wonderful textures and patterns throughout the park and some really fun places for kids to roam and explore. Here are some from a double session I did for two families this past Christmas. You can also see some other Discovery Green shots by looking in a few previous posts - the brother/sister shots from "Repeat Offenders" and the sisters in the sprinkler/grass from "Fudgie's in the House"....

Oh, The Places We'll Go (Part 2) - Museum District

2010-02-22T14:36:00.001-06:00

Another great place to go to take pictures is the Museum district. There are a ton of really cool backdrops within walking distance the Museum of Fine Arts Building to include a few beautiful church doorways, some lovely tree covered paths and the MFAH sculpture garden. Here are a few fun family shots from the sculpture garden - I just love the way color pops off the concrete....

Oh, The Places We'll Go (Part 1) - Oyster Creek Park

2010-02-21T08:45:00.002-06:00

I love being a "traveling" photographer. I really enjoy getting to come into a client's house to photograph their family. In addition to children being a bit more relaxed on their own turf, it is such an advantage for me to be able to get a client's sense of style from visiting thier home. It really helps me in the post production of images - do I keep them clean and crisp, do some heavy vignetting, go with more black and whites, etc. However, when I have already photographed a child at home or the kids are a bit older and can handle a new environment, it is super fun and challenging to head outside. Although we have to pay a bit more attention to the light and weather, there are some great places to take pictures around town and out in the boonies (Missouri City) where I live. Here are some of my favorite pics from a park in Sugar Land right off Highway 6. Bridge shots rock....

Jump For My Love....

2010-02-20T21:15:00.009-06:00

I love it when a song reminds me of when I was little. Do you remember the video for this Pointer Sisters classic. If I am not mistaken, it is basically the three of them dressed in spandex with these gigantic hairdos dancing while video clips of track athletes doing the long jump play during the chorus.... so totally 80's:) Here are a few of my favorite "in motion" pics from the last few months - it is awesome when you can capture the pure joy of kiddos on the go....

Second Time's a Charm....

2010-02-19T20:50:00.006-06:00

Let's face it, getting your kids' picture taken can be a truly traumatic experience. Pretty much everyone I meet has some horrific story to share about an awful experience at Picture People or JCPenneys filled with stress, tears and exploding diapers. Even having a photographer come to your home can seem overwhelming - is my house clean enough, what will my kids wear, what if they wake up in terrible moods right before my scheduled session time. The good news is that since I am right there in the trenches with you - side by side in this battle we call motherhood - there is really not much that you can throw at me that I have not already seen, done or smelt first hand in my own home. That being said, I also arrive armed with six powerful words that seem to set every anxious parent at ease - "I can always come back later". You should see the way faces lighten when I say these words to concerned parents - it is almost magical! And although I've only had to go back a second time to a handful of clients homes to reshoot, the mere fact that I would be willing to return in case we don't get the images we want seems to do the trick. Every once in a while, even the most giggly toddler becomes somber in front of the camera or in this little sweethearts' case, we just seem to miss the "happy" window of time. I ended up swinging by a few weeks after our first session to grab some quick smiles and this little lady did not disappoint. Here is the final "Put a fork in me, I am done!" shot from the first session and a few subsequent images from my quick second visit. Too cute!

Workin' Mommas

2010-02-18T14:53:00.011-06:00

One of the best parts about my work is that I get to meet the most interesting women, many of who have super cool jobs. I have worked with a few political advisers, a t.v. anchor, a geneticist and quite a few lawyers and doctors. I also have worked with a number of moms who, just like me, have created a small side business out of something they love. They get their entrepreneurial and creative juices flowing in between the gaps of stay-at-home mommy-dom, working around pre-school schedules and t-ball practices. Here is one such amazing woman and her two precious boys. Holly is an interior designer with an awesome sense of style. Check out her website at www.hollymathisinteriors.com ......

The Three Amigos....

2010-02-17T23:46:00.005-06:00

I have known these three little guys for almost a year now and let me tell you, they are a force to be reckoned with! The older two are twins with loads of personality and the youngest is one of those "full speed ahead" toddlers who skipped walking and moved straight on to running. Needless to say, our sessions are high energy, which I love! Here are a few from around Christmas time. On your marks, get set, go....

Sweet Lily Taters and Action Jackson....

2010-02-16T12:51:00.012-06:00

Since my desktop is on it's last leg, I have been sorting through all of my old images as I back everything up onto external hard drives. Here are a few of my favorites of my adorable niece Lily Kate (and one of my nephew Jackson) from at least a year ago. Trust me, they are still just as cute today as they were back then....

Hello again, Hello....

2010-02-15T23:17:00.003-06:00

Anytime you can reference in Neil Diamond song in the title of your post, you know it is a going to be a good one:) Now that I have backed up my entire desktop in preparation to migrate my system from my PC to my Mac, I am ready to get back to blogging! Hopefully I will be able to get through this update without my computer freezing up and then making loud whirling noises which force me to then unplug the power cord to reboot..... gotta love technology:) So I had my first session since Christmas this past weekend with a beautiful newborn and his two older siblings. I love photographing newborns, they are just so incredibly tiny and sweet - they make my kids seem like giants when I get back home. It is hard to believe I will have another one of my own in a few months. Take a look.....

Still here.... I promise!

2010-02-09T21:26:00.002-06:00

My promise to blog everyday has been compromised by illness - a virus in my desktop that is. Hopefully by tomorrow I will be able to access the pictures that I intended to post over this past weekend which include some of Riley's new room, which I finished up arranging today. Her "big girl room", as we call it, turned out pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself. We moved her from her little green room (which will not need to be repainted, since we are trying are darnedest to let this little nugget's gender be a surprise) to a two-tone violet room across the hall. She is sooooo proud of it and thinks she is such a grown-up now. In fact, she is completely convinced she is six years old. Just ask her - she will tell you emphatically, without hesistation that she is six. Jake has also become quite entertaining- here is a sample of his burgeoning humor.....
Jake: "Well Dad, I've got some good news and some bad news".
Ryan: "Okay, what is the bad news?"
Jake: "My right leg hurts."
Ryan: "So, what's the good news?"
Jake: "My left leg doesn't!"

Classic....

Repeat Offenders....

2010-02-05T14:58:00.003-06:00

One of the best things about my "job", if that is what you want to call it, is that I get a chance to work with some amazing families time and time again. It is wonderful to be able to see kids grow and change before my lens while learning the best approach to photograph them. Fortunately, they seem to become more comfortable with me as well. Here are some clients that I have actually photographed at least three times over the past two years. As always, I look forward to seeing them in front of my camera again.....

Fun Ones....

2010-02-04T23:55:00.002-06:00

One year old kiddos are so much fun to photograph. They are interactive, giggly and starting to develop their own little personalities. And although they are mobile, you usually can get them to stay still long enough to snap a picture or two. Here are a few of my favorites from some "I just turned One!" sessions that I took this fall....

The Great Picture Project of 2009....

2010-02-03T11:09:00.013-06:00

For Christmas this year, Ryan and I pledged that we would not be getting each other any big gifts. Neither one of us really wanted anything, so we decided to get each other something "from the kids" - flannel pajamas for me and some lounge pants for Ryan. Of course, I could not stick to our pact. Ryan is the guy that has guessed almost every birthday present I have ever got him. Since he had been commenting for months about how we have so many amazing pictures of the kids, but almost none of them on display - sad, but true - I thought this would be perfect! I could legitimately pinky swear not to get him a gift and then wrap up all kinds of framed prints for him to open up on Christmas morning claiming they were actual presents to the house - brilliant! For the weeks leading up to Christmas, I was secretly cashing client checks to avoid suspicious credit card charges, sneaking off to Aaron Brothers Frame Shop every other day to get collages put together and smuggling large boxes of prints in to the garage as soon as they arrived from UPS. All in all, I replaced the 12 pictures we have in the playroom of the kids with bright metallic prints, put together four 11x14s for my office, collected about 16 pictures from various trips to the beach in a hallway grouping, put three wedding images together for another hallway and printed about seven images for miscellaneous bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. I wrapped them all up, stashed them in closets throughout the house and waited. On Christmas morning, after the kids had opened most of their gifts, I sly commented that I actually had gotten Ryan something small and then proceeded to present print after print for him to open. He loved them all - except one, in which he thinks Jake is giving you a "I am about to completely misbehave" stare. I was so excited to finally surprise him, albeit somewhat deviously. I plopped down on the couch, proud of my ability to actual pull off a rouse of this magnitude. I gloated for all of about four minutes, until I was shocked to tears to find a gorgeous diamond eternity band wrapped up in my flannel PJs. Did I mention my husband is completely awesome?

So here are some of the images I used of my family (my nephew Jackson is the front toothless cutie). I always get questions about putting together collage ideas, so I will post pictures of the actual arrangements I hung at the house at a later date this month - don't want to run out of material too early....

Wedding Bells A Ringing....

2010-02-02T00:44:00.007-06:00

So, as I mentioned yesterday, I have been in Indiana the past ten days for my little sister Emily's wedding. Even though I schlepped my camera through airport security for the trip, I was so preoccupied with being the matron of honor that I didn't snap one photo during the entire weekend. Thank goodness my sister had a wonderful friend, Megan King (www.megelaine.com), who happens to be a fantastic wedding photographer there to document the event. I cannot wait to see the proofs! Here is one of the happy couple that she posted on her blog....

I am really hoping Megan got some good shots of my husband seating my mother at the beginning of the ceremony as well as some of my kiddos (the ring bearer and flower girl) walking down the aisle with me. This would of course be right before Riley passed out on Ryan's shoulder during the ceremony, started running a fever and then threw up all over herself in the car on the way to the reception causing Jake (who has the world's strongest gag reflex) to do the same on his little velvet jacket and herringbone pants. What can I say, we Purdys know how to party....

I did whip out the camera to grab a few pics during our visit the following week. Here are a few of my favorites of the kids and my parents. Needless to say, both Jake and Riley were missing Nana and Papa yesterday morning....

Welcome to Feb-blog-ruary....

2010-02-01T10:36:00.001-06:00

I know, I know..... I am such a blog tease. Almost six weeks ago, I posted a note about how I was SO thankful to be done with the Christmas rush and that I had SO many pictures to share from the last six weeks and I was SO excited to do that over the next few days..... and here we are, a month and a half later and not a single peep from little ol' me. Sure, I could list of a number of things that have kept me busy - Christmas shopping, Christmas cooking, Christmas itself, housing in-laws, traveling home for my sister's wedding, tending to sick kiddos, being PREGNANT - but these would all just be excuses, right? So, this is what I have decided - in order to rectify this tragic blog neglect, I have dedicated the entire month of February to blogging. For the next 28 days, I will be flawless - posting something interesting and witty every single day..... Are you ready for it? Game on....

PS- I thought this would be an appropriate image to kick off the month- a self-portrait taken a few days ago- gotta love the buddha belly....

Okay - Ready, Set, Relax....

2009-12-19T01:45:00.004-06:00

Almost six weeks, 53 families, 32 Christmas cards, and way too many late nights later I am proud to announce the 2009 Christmas Season for Purdy Photography has come to a close! Other than delivering a few more prints and cards, I am done with the holiday rush. Over the next few days, I will be posting some of my favorites from the last six weeks. To all of my amazing clients, thank you so much for letting me capture you and your children during this wonderful time of year. And to my incredible, incredible, incredible husband - thank you for being a single parent the past few months..... words cannot express how much your love and support means to me. Of all the thousands of images I have captured the past few months, this is my absolute favorite....

That's right - Purdy Baby #3 will be joining us in May.... Can't wait for that newborn session:)

Sport, Ganet and Baby Max....

2009-11-05T20:36:00.005-06:00

A few weekends ago, I made an extremely long-overdue trip to Hot-lanta to spend a few days with two of my best friends from college, Kelly and Janet. The trip was fantastic! Kelly and her husband Gordon really rolled out the red carpet for Janet and me - we slept in the master suite on brand new sheets with a wide assortment of pillow options, we were served the Ortner-family coffee cake (traditionally reserved for Christmas morning), we attended our first ever Howl-O-weenie Fest (an entire event devoted those lovable Dachshunds and the people who adore them), AND - most importantly - we were able to finally meet this little hunk of adorable, Kelly's 8-month old little man, Max. I'm mean come on now, could he be any cuter.... Thanks for the awesome weekend Sport, Ganet, Gordo, Nancy, Rob and Max!

Sneak Peak....

2009-11-01T00:09:00.002-05:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing ten fabulous families from my 'hood. Everything worked out perfectly - the weather was fantastic, everyone stuck to the schedule and the kiddos were wonderfully well-behaved and cooperative. I know my mommas are anxious to see a quick sneak peak, so here you go....

Party People....

2009-10-30T23:57:00.000-05:00

Picture Parties are the best - I show up with my camera, one of my clients invites over a few friends to swing by every 30 minutes or so, and presto - fun family pictures are taken. Here are a few of my favorites from my latest picture party in the Heights. Thanks Nicole for putting this all together:)

Get Carded 2009.....

2009-10-29T11:32:00.003-05:00

The Christmas cards I am offering for the 2009 are now up are ready for you to view! Just go to my site and take a look at the "Get Carded 2009" gallery to see 14 new card styles as well as the top 10 from 2008. Here is the pricing info and a few of my favorite new designs.....

Busy bee....

2009-10-26T20:16:00.006-05:00

Seeing as how I have photographed 17 families over the past 9 days, I thought I could get away not saying much this post:) Enjoy these images from two absolutely adorable kiddos I took pics of a few weeks ago....

Riley-Roo is Turnin' Two!

2009-10-16T22:43:00.003-05:00

I find it completely jaw-dropping that my little girl turns two today. She is such an amazing, sweet little thing who keeps us all laughing with her love of car dancing, apple juice and "uggs and besses" (hugs and kisses for those unfamiliar with Riley-anese). Here are a few quick pics I snapped of her this morning with her brand new singing vanity, high heels and tiara. Can you say debutant in training....

Girly Girls....

2009-10-15T11:14:00.000-05:00

Here are some adorable sisters I have had the chance to photograph the past few weeks. Whenever I take pictures of all-girl families, the only thing I can think of is that sweet, innocent father who hasn't the slightest inkling of the absolute mayhem and chaos that will be entering his humble abode in about 12 years - especially when the girls are such stunners....

Wordless Wednesday....

2009-10-14T22:00:00.004-05:00

I was going to post all of these recent pictures yesterday, but then realized if I waited just a mere twenty-four hours I could put them all under the title "Wordless Wednesday" and not have to feel additional pressure to write something witty....

Gettin' my Blog on....

2009-09-26T12:36:00.006-05:00

There is an extremely valid reason that I have not blogged in the last three weeks - it's called motherhood. I have had the best of intentions, waking up every morning thinking to myself "I really need to post some of these new sessions", trying to sneak a few minutes in between a quick load of laundry and nap time, only to get bogged down in scheduling and editing and playing Batman. But since my fantastic husband took the kids to the zoo this glorious Saturday morning so that I could get some work done, I was able to concentrate long enough to type this little note and post these from the last few weeks... Enjoy!

Fudgie's in the House....

2009-09-02T23:50:00.000-05:00

I'd like to take this moment to give a shout out to my sister, affectionately know as Aunt Fudge, who flew down to Texas last week to watch vigilantly over my sweet, sweet babies while my husband and I ran off to Colorado for a long weekend. It was amazing to get away for a mini-vacation and not worry once about my kiddos.... what a fantastic time! Anyway, in honor of my sister's absolute wonderful-ness, I thought I'd post some pics of some fun sisters I've taken over the past few weeks. Sisters Rule....

Just for reference, this is Aunt Fudge....

Little Sister....

Big Sister....

Sisterly Love....

Little Sister....

Big Sister....

Sisterly Love....

Little Sister....

Big Sister....

Sisterly Love.... (with parents)

Sisterly Love.... (without parents - notice the affectionate hug/headlock - all us big sister's know that move....)

And weighing in at 9lbs, 3ozs....

2009-09-01T00:47:00.000-05:00

The Purdy Crew was excited to welcome a new babe into the family this past weekend - Ryan's cousin Ashley and her husband Nate had a beautiful baby boy August 30th - Chandler Blair Smith arrived weighing in at a whoppin' 9lbs 3ozs. Since I will not be able to make the trip to Oregon the photograph the little nugget, here are some images from a session I just finished editing of a gorgeous little newborn girl here in Houston. What a sweetheart!

Summer Ends, School Begins....

2009-08-25T01:04:00.003-05:00

Although you would not be able to tell by the temperature, summer officially ended in our neighborhood yesterday morning. School is now in session! It has been fun to watch the little girls on our street get ready to start the first grade. For weeks they have been preparing - searching for the cutest backpack, deliberating over the perfect first day outfit, worrying if they will like their new teacher and wondering if the super-duper cute boy from last year will remember them.... kind of gives me butterflies just thinking about it:) Here are some of my favorite pics from a session I just did with a little sweetheart headed into kindergarten at Harvard Elementary. I hope she (and all the little people everywhere headed back to school this week) had a wonderful first day!

Wordless Wednesday....

2009-08-19T00:54:00.006-05:00

There is no need for words when kiddos are this cute.....

Dude, I'm with the Band....

2009-08-17T15:15:00.003-05:00

Rumor has it, my sister Emmy and I sound alike on the telephone. It always throws people off when we are at home together, because it takes a minute for them to decipher who they are talking to. So you would that if we sound the same on the phone, we would sound the same singing - yeah, not so much. Emmy has an absolutely phenomenal voice - she's traveled the world singing, even belting out a tune for the Pope (JPII, that is), while I on the other hand have been asked politely by my middle school music director to"just mouth the words" during performances. Anyhow, we were thrilled when she recently got engaged to her boyfriend Dave not only because he is totally awesome, but also because he is an amazing musician who appreciates Emmy's talent. While I was home a few weeks ago, I was able to hang out and take some pictures of Dave and his friends Jared and Craig (other wise know as the band, Nations). Here are some of my favorite images from my first band photoshoot. Rock on.

Numero Dos....

2009-08-12T20:02:00.005-05:00

You gotta love baby number two..... not only do they always seem a bit more laid back and easier to manage than your first, but you actually have a clue as to what you are doing as a mom the second time around. I am amazed how I could hear Jake (my first) sigh heavily from two floors away and I would be bolting up the stairs to check on him, while Riley (my second) could be yelling at the top of her lungs and I literally do not hear her. Ahhh, motherhood.... Here is a super sweet little number two and her big brother who live down the street. Told you all my neighbors are gorgeous....

Bow-a-riffic!

2009-08-09T15:56:00.009-05:00

My dear (and extremely wise) sister-in-law warned me almost as soon as Riley had hair to start putting her in bows so that she would get used to them. Of course I should have listened, but as a girl whose last non-bobby pin hair accessory was a banana clip, I didn't. Now to get anything to stay in Riley's hair for longer than 17 seconds, it has to be pretty much glued in there. That is not the case for this sweet little girl, who I was able to photograph before my trip home to Indiana. Here are a some cute ones from our latest session as well as a few from back in March. Needless to say, this girl can really sport a bow(and a clip and a feather headband!)....

Sister, sister, sister....

2009-08-07T07:12:00.005-05:00

Now that I have recovered from traveling alone with my children (which can take a few days) and gotten everybody settled back into a routine here at home, I have been ordering up a storm! I love going back through older galleries and rediscovering images I just adore. Here are some from March of the gorgeous girls down the street - talk about a fun session to shoot....

We're Back....

2009-08-03T01:24:00.004-05:00

After two fabulous weeks in Indiana with my parents, the kids and I have returned to Houston. It is a tough call as to which moment was my favorite during our trip, so I've narrowed it down to the top three....
3. Watching my recently engaged sister try on her wedding dress. One word, A-MA-ZING! I would show you the pictures, but that would be poor form:)
2. Seeing Riley drag my Raggedy Ann doll over to the corner (the place she spent a majority of her vacation), scold her and then stomp away.... classic.
1. Having a dance party with my whole family (soon to be brother-in-law included) and watching the kids twirl, which in my house is the mark of an absolutely fantastic family time. Just ask my mom, whose claim to fame is twirling on 5 of the 7 continents. Good times....

The Constant Gardener...

2009-07-26T23:34:00.007-05:00

Have I mentioned that my mother's garden is absolutely breathtaking? Every year, she seems to find a new way to make it even more stunning. Although we missed picking fresh strawberries and raspberries from the bushes out front by a few weeks this summer, being able to wake up, roll out of bed and let the kids roam this gorgeous backyard in their pajamas all morning has been pretty amazing....

I Scream, You scream....

2009-07-24T23:47:00.004-05:00

Today the weather in Indiana was absolutely perfect- high of about 80, beautiful blue skies and a gentle refreshing breeze. After a lazy morning playing in the backyard and a lunch of peanut butter, vanilla wafers and bananas, the kids and I loaded up in the car and headed out for a drive along the country roads that surround my little hometown of Zionsville. With the windows down and radio blaring "Life is a Highway" (no joke!), we cruised around for about hour and found ourselves at a place we frequent often in Texas.... Dairy Queen. Gotta' love the Queen....

Back home again in Indiana....

2009-07-22T15:51:00.005-05:00

As many of you know, I am currently enjoying my annual summer pilgrimage to Indiana to stay with my parents, affectionately know as Nana and Papa. We arrived on Sunday afternoon to wonderfully refreshing overcast skies and temperatures lingering in the mid-70s! Too chilly to hit the pool, we have been hanging out at home playing in my mother's magnificent garden, taking long naps, banging away on the piano and (since this is of course Indiana) shucking corn. Here are a few pics of the kids - we hit the Children's Museum this morning which is where Riley got to drive her first Indy race car....

The girl next door....

2009-07-17T22:31:00.004-05:00

I love living in the 'burb. Sure, finding a great meal when you realize at 6:00 in the evening that you have made absolutely no preparations for dinner that night can be a little more challenging when you live outside of the city, but you truly cannot beat living in a close-knit neighborhood. We are so lucky to have moved into a community that is full of wonderful people with wonderful children. Take a look at the beautiful little eight month old that lives right behind us. Can you say adorable...

Hair today, gone tomorrow....

2009-07-15T15:43:00.005-05:00

Since both my little toe-headed babies were in dire need of a haircut before our big trip back home to Indiana, we decided to swing by Snip-its after school yesterday and get a trim. Both Jake, who can be lulled into a catatonic state by almost any television program, and Riley, who is a sucker for lollipops, did great in the chair. I'll let you decide who enjoyed the experience the most.....

Riley checking out the possibilies....

Jake in the zone....

Looking perplexed....

Little bit's turn....

Chillin' in the chair....

Not so thrilled with the bow....

Put a fork in Jake, he's done....

Out cold....

2009-07-09T01:05:00.005-05:00

Being beautiful can be exhausting. Just ask these two little cuties I had the opportunity to photograph a few weeks ago. By the end of our session, this little fire-cracker of a two year old was ready to relax and watch Barney while her little four month old sister was completely out cold, conveniently in an adorable polka-dotted chair.... how do I get so lucky sometimes?! Enjoy!

In your eyes....

2009-07-08T00:50:00.010-05:00

This session reminded me of why I absolutely adore natural light photography. When the angle is just right and I've got a set of big ol' beautiful eyes staring me down, the most amazing thing happens....

I can actually see myself standing there with my camera in my subject's eyes.
This is the super-zoomed in version of the image above featuring me and this little guy's momma. By the way, I'm wearing capris, not high-waters....

I love this shot because every single one of us moms has stumbled on a similar scene in our own homes....

He really loved his books....

Sib-bliss...

2009-07-06T23:56:00.004-05:00

I love getting the chance to photograph siblings. It can be a challenge trying to figure out different ways to capture them genuinely interacting WHILE keeping them in the same general space. Here are some fun family shots I've gotten in the past few weeks from two very different sets of siblings. Just goes to show jumping can be fun at any age...

Going to the Chapel....

2009-07-04T16:14:00.006-05:00

I had the opportunity to shoot my very first bridal session this past week and had a blast! Not only was the bride gorgeous, the rain held off and the temp stayed below 100 degrees that day. T.B., her sister and I had a great time driving around the city, looking for fun places to shoot. Needless to say, she got quite a few honks and cat calls running around in her dress - but can you blame 'em....

four for four....

2009-07-02T00:31:00.006-05:00

I don't know how it happens session after session, but I literally have the most gorgeous children plop themselves in front of my camera. This weekend was no exception - all four children I had the opportunity to photograph where absolute stunners. See for yourself!

Growing before my very lens...

2009-06-30T16:29:00.003-05:00

Boy, how time flies! It seems like only yesterday I met this little man and his wonderful parents a few days after his arrival. Since then, I have had the chance to photograph him two more times. Take a look at how much of a difference seven months can make!

yo yo yo...

2009-06-29T23:59:00.004-05:00

Hard to believe my little nug is turning the big 0-4 in just a few weeks. Here is the front of his invitation. We've decided to go old school with this party - no gigantic inflatables, no lavish cartoon character embellishments. Just the birthday boy, the kiddos on our street, some cake and a handful of classic party games - pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, musical chairs, water balloons, lawn jarts.... just kidding- I'm pretty sure those bad boys are illegal now.....

sweetness with a capital S....

2009-06-27T01:41:00.006-05:00

Just had the opportunity to photograph the sweetest little guy and his beautiful parents the other evening. Although we had planned to head outside to take pictures, the unbearable heat we've had the past few days kept us indoors. So we just threw open the curtains, cranked up the ISO to 3200, hopped on the bed and started shooting! Here are a few of my favorites from the beginning of our session.... P&M enjoy!

Jeepers, Creepers...

2009-06-25T23:23:00.004-05:00

In my opinion, it's all about the eyes. Big, round, beautiful, innocent, smiling eyes that see every day as a brand new adventure. I love it when I'm able to crop out the clutter and noise and just let those gorgeous peepers tell the story. Here are a few from a session I am just finishing up of three wonderfully sweet and energetic cousins. Enjoy!

It's tricky, tricky, tricky, tricky.....

2009-06-23T01:13:00.003-05:00

It's amazing to me how much you can do with an image of beautiful sleeping baby and few hours to fidget in photoshop. A little over exposure here, a little heavy vignetting there and voila - you've got some fun images. Check out these I just finished for the G family!

Brand New....

2009-06-21T23:07:00.002-05:00

I thought it would be fitting for me to announce my new blog, with a new post about some new additions! Here are a few birth announcement concepts I have been working on. I love the ones with patterns - but I think the minimalist ones with nothing but birth info and beautiful babies are my favorite! What do you think?