A sweet 16 is such a special occasion for a young lady. It is also a great opportunity for you to capture updated portraits of your child. Your daughter is on the cusp of adulthood and it is important to capture images that document the all of the whimsy and light heartedness of this stage. Before you know it, she will be off to college. It is also a great opportunity for your daughter to dress up, have some fun, and enjoy the limelight for an hour or so. I mean, who doesn’t want to feel special?

Although most people schedule a baby’s first photo session shortly after birth, this is not the only time one can schedule a newborn photo session. You can schedule a photo session of your new baby whenever you feel most comfortable doing so. If you are open to a more relaxed approach to newborn photos, you can schedule a session at any point within those first six months.

My recent client contacted me because she was expecting her second baby boy in just six weeks and she wanted to schedule a family maternity session on the beach. She said that she wanted photos that documented her last moments as a family of three. I know how hard it is to schedule a photo shoot with toddlers, but I think it is such a great idea to document this special time.

Although I love a good golden hour session, this time of day is very late in the Summer months. Sunset isn’t until 8ish this time of year, so 7pm can be a challenging time for some babies. For those families, we can schedule early morning sessions at one of my park locations. You can still get fantastic and meaningful photos in the morning. So, for those of you who feel your little ones will not be in an agreeable mood at sunset, the morning session is for you.

Spring is in full swing and we are already midway through May. One of the best things about Spring is that cherry blossoms are in bloom. These beautiful trees are only in bloom for a short time, so planning a family session at a location replete with blooms involves some planning ad flexibility. This year the cherry blossoms seemed to bloom later than usual and then once they did bloom, we had consecutive days of wind and rain, which can damage the blooms. Fortunately, I found a location that worked well for this recent family session.

Those first few weeks home with your newborn baby are so special. I absolutely love documenting this time for my clients and I love that I can do so in the comfort of their own home.

There is something so intimate and cozy about an in home newborn session that really allows me to focus on the emotions and connections of those first few moments with baby.

A 16th birthday is a significant milestone in a young lady’s life. It signifies the transition into adulthood and it coincides with those last two years in high school, during which time your child is preparing for the next chapter in life. All of these changes make this moment the perfect opportunity to capture updated photos of your daughter. For many people, the only professional portraits they have of their children at this stage of life are school portraits. However, do those photos truly capture the essence of your child? A sixteenth birthday is an opportunity to capture your daughter and her maturing personality and do so in a way that is authentic and natural.

I just love photographing families in their homes. It truly is the most authentic way to capture families. This is especially true when a new baby is welcomed into a home. I am a mom and have photographed many babies, so I know how difficult it can be to get out of the house to head to a studio for newborn photos. This is one of many reasons why I travel to your home to capture your sweet little baby’s first moments. I truly want the entire experience to be as stress free and seamless for you as possible.

It feels as though I have gone somewhat into hibernation since the holidays. After the holiday rush, I took a few weeks off to recharge my batteries, which included taking a much needed break from social media and the Internet in general. I have been using that time to delve deep into a few professional development courses and I have also been shooting some fun maternity and extended family sessions over the last few weeks. I will be sharing those images once I get the OK from my clients.

Holy moly…it is cold out there. I don’t know about you, but I am over this cold weather and looking forward to the Spring. For many of you, this Spring is particularly special because your little ones will be receiving their First Holy Communion.

I love to document children on their Communion day. This special moment is the perfect time for me to capture a wide array of classic portraits of your child. My communion portrait sessions are centered on capturing candid and natural images of your child, as well as beautiful and artistic images that encapsulate this very special rite of passage for your child. Some of my most favorite photos I have ever captured are those of children on their Communion day. I just love the dramatic natural light that a church provides for portraits, but it also seems that this special day allows for a child's whimsical nature to shine through and I love capturing that silly and relaxed side of children too. Scheduling the photos before the communion day ensures that you capture beautiful portraits of your child in a natural and relaxed way, without the stress of rushing around on the day of the ceremony. Plus, most kids love the opportunity to dress up in their special outfit before the big day.

I had so many newborn sessions in November and loved every second of them. All of these sessions were scheduled right in the comfort of my clients’ homes. This particular client opted for the in home session because she also has two children under five and felt that scheduling the photos in her home would be the best route for her family. I couldn’t agree more, which is why I currently only offer in home newborn sessions. I want you all to be comfortable and at ease during your session, so we can focus on capturing beautiful images of your newly expanded family.

December is here and the holidays are right around the corner. My Fall calendar was jam packed this year with holiday sessions, newborns and family sessions. I feel like I blinked my eyes and the calendar jumped from September to December. It was so great to meet new clients and work with former clients again. I love everything about Fall sessions. The light is so gorgeous in November, the foliage is at its peak and the rich colors for wardrobe make images from this time of year really pop.

I had a jam packed Fall season with holiday sessions, family sessions and newborn sessions. It is hard to believe that it is December and we are approaching the end of 2021. The new year is a time for reflection and changes and I have decided to make a few minor changes to my business model. The first of which is with my newborn segment of my business. As of January 1st, I will no longer be offering studio newborn sessions and will focus only on in home sessions.

I can hardly believe that it is October and we are officially in the Fall season. The weather has started to cool down, school is in full swing, and I have already had my first pumpkin latte. I just love everything about the Fall. The weather is spectacular, the foliage is beautiful and I love Halloween and Thanksgiving.

I can’t believe that it is now the end of September and my 2021 season of sunset beach session, is coming to an end. I had a blast with all of the beautiful families with whom I worked this season. September is a great month to schedule a family session. The beach crowds are gone, the humidity tends to break, the weather is milder and, best of all, the sunsets are the best of the season this month. Many of my clients knew all of this and opted for a session over the last few weeks and each and every session has been spectacular.

I never thought that anything could top a surprise proposal at sunset on the water, but this recent session has proven me wrong. I recently had the pleasure of photographing the most adorable couple for a secret engagement at the Bayshore Marina and we had what was arguably the most perfect night for photos. The session took place on a crystal clear 84 degree September evening and as the sun was setting, the moon was also rising. It was one of those rare evenings when the full moon appeared brightly in the sky exactly as the sun was setting. I am not sure that anything can ever top this evening because I am pretty sure that moonlit engagement photos are the epitome of romance.

September is my absolute favorite month of the year. Not only is it my birthday month, but it also happens to have the best weather of the year. I love that the humidity drops, yet it is still pleasantly warm. It also happens to be the kick off to my Fall family photo sessions, which after months of shooting sunset beach sessions in a great change of pace for me. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love beach sessions, but I also love to photograph families in parks, foliage and any other location that is scenic and social to them.

Oh, how I wish more women would schedule maternity photo sessions for themselves during their pregnancy. There is nothing that can surpass the beauty of an expecting mother; as cliche as it might sound, the natural glow of a pregnant women is simply unsurpassed. Sadly, so many women do not see themselves as beautiful during this momentous time in life. Many women tell me that they just don't feel their best during their pregnancy and, consequently, shy away from the camera during those nine months. I completely understand and I too felt this way about myself during both of my pregnancies. Although I did not shy away from the camera and took my monthly photos of my bump, I never scheduled a photo session with a photographer and I still regret it to this day.

This recent engagement session warms my heart. The couple has such a sweet love story. They met in elementary school, dated in middle school for a brief time, reconnected in college and have been together ever since. To say that they are meant to be is an understatement. One of their first dates was a walk on the path along the Cross Island Parkway and it is a place they visit frequently. So, my client wanted to propose to her near that area. His plan was a great one. Choosing a location that is authentic to you as a couple is one way to avoid arousing suspicion for the big day.

As a dog owner, I understand how important it is to have your fur baby participate in your newborn photos. While my studio isn’t conducive to sessions with pets, an in home newborn session is perfect for those families who want to make sure that their pet is included. You, your children and your pet can be photographed in the comfort of your own home and have beautiful and timeless images of this special moment in life.