Siblings=SuperFun

This shoot rocked my face off. Four, rockin' siblings decided to do a photo shoot as a Christmas gift to their mom (who is going to FaaaLIP). I seriously dare you to try to look at these photos and not smile.

~ familyful ~

Corey and I met this lovely family through our church this past winter. Both the mom and dad are some of the warmest people you'll ever meet. I was convinced that they were from the South. ;) 

Here's a few pictures from our time together. They're a full family, raising four kids...all who were wonderful, respectful and blooming with personality. It was an easy shoot to do. 

************

I'm sick. Haven't been sick in almost 4 years, but sure enough it's here. I'm just thankful that it's in these times I work by myself. No one else to get sick...no one else to be grumpy to. 

We made it!

Exactly a year ago I was spending a weekend with my family at our home in Banner Elk, NC. Meredith and her family decided to take advantage of my locale and made the morning drive up from Raleigh, NC for me to capture their family photos.  I had heard so much of Meredith. Rebecca, a very dear friend of mine (whose husband was in medical school with Corey) was best best best friends with Meredith. So much so that when I talked to Meredith on the phone I got totally weirded out. Their voices and communication styles are identical. I had to keep reminding myself just who I was talking to. The beauty of it though is that from the second I met Meredith I've always considered her a friend. Not just because she reminds me so much of Rebecca, but because of her overall warmth and kindness. She's incredibly personable and very easy to like. 

Fast forward one year and Meredith, her husband, son and pregnant belly travelled up to Cincinnati to spend some time with family and for Meredith to see Rebecca (Both Rebecca and I's husbands got placed in Cinci for residency). It was the weekend I was in Knoxville for this wedding and these shoots. Luckily, they decided to leave on Monday morning so we planned to work our hardest to squeeze in another round of family photos before their car pulled out. 

Sunday: blue skies, puffy clouds, high of mid-70's.  Monday's forecast: snow flurries, fog and high of 45.  No lie. 

Obviously Meredith was so disappointed. She wasn't sure when the next time would be that we'd be in the same city. I told her to not give up hope. We could definitely bear the cold so if we woke up the next morning and it was still dry the photo shoot was on.  And, so it was and so we did. 

Funny thing is is that I thought little guy was acting just normal, but Meredith kept saying that he was not being his usual self. Only hours after the shoot he started projectile vomiting (you're welcome). Had we done the shoot in the afternoon it would not have happened. I'm SO glad it did because I love how our time together turned out. 

Here's to many more shoots to come! Can't wait to meet your little girl. 

This photo just makes me laugh! Does he not look like he's posing for a Ralph Lauren ad?  

{This is actually Rebecca's little girl giving Stu the warmest of hugs}

For some reason this photo makes me feel all weepy. I'm not sure quite what it is. Maybe it's because it's a picture that perfectly captures his size...the fact that he's growing into a little boy, but still just a child. Maybe it's the story beyond...the story of a little boy with a bright future ahead....the difference he will make on this Earth, on the people who surround him, on the people who will come in and out of his life...the impact this one human life will make on so many others...

Perfect example

...of how outfits totally make a shoot. Of course the faces, personality and energy also make a shoot, but I just have to mention how much I loved these little girls' outfits. So fun & colorful. They didn't necessarily even match, but it didn't matter - the layers, textures & color made for some fabulous pictures. These shoots (they were a 2 in 1 - the girls are cousins) were done the day after the wedding I shot two weekends ago. I was feeling half dead, but luckily both of the families were so fabulous and so easy and fun to work with. 

S & G families....I am SO glad we finally connected. Perseverance has paid off! :)

isn't her hair adorable?!