Sweet Liberty {The Patrick Family}

One of my favorite benefits of being a photographer is getting to work with so many wonderful families; meeting everyone and getting to experience so many special personalities & moments is something I truly cherish. Sometimes, though, I get an extra special treat - the opportunity to photograph a family that's close to my heart. This was one of those sessions...proud new papa Eliot was the Best Man at my wedding {almost six years later everyone still talks about his speech} and last year Mike & I were there to help him celebrate his marriage to his gorgeous wife, Crystal. I don't think there's enough words to describe how ecstatic I was to be able to catch up with the two of them and finally meet their sweet new baby girl, Liberty. 

Parenthood looks amazing on you two...congratulations again!

Miss Libby was not the happiest of campers in the tutu, but I still think she looks so stinkin' cute, even with the tears. {and how could I ignore her Mom's awesome shoes?}

The Chacko Family

Zeus & his favorite people make up a super sweet family, and it was my pleasure to get to photograph them outside their beautiful home in Maryland this past Monday morning. After a week dedicated to the triathlon I was competing in, I was so excited to put down the sneakers and swim goggles and pick my camera back up!


I love getting to photograph families at their homes; having a setting so personal gives extra special significance to the portraits...not to mention it always seems to flow so smoothly for kids & pets since they are in a environment they can feel relaxed and familiar with. When you think about locations for your next family session don't be so quick to rule out your own yard!


A cool summer morning, bare feet on green grass, and getting to play with a fun little furry friend...that's what childhood memories are made of! Thanks so much you guys for welcoming me to your home to capture these moments for you. I really enjoyed getting to work with you!

Awkward & Awesome Thursday {A fun little group posting}

Welcome back for another Awkward & Awesome Thursday!

The Awkward:

• You know those dayz dais daze days where every word you type just looks weird and you  suddenly can't seem to spell worth a lick? I'm having one...
• Me. On a bike.  (reality check: my triathlon is less than 10 days away now! oh, @*#$ !)
• Gooseberries. blechk!! So very sorry gooseberry farmers & gooseberry lovers...but what are ya thinking? I saw these seductive little translucent pods glowing in the artificle artificial (see, told ya) sunlight in the produce aisle. They looked so intriguing, so delicate, so....good. I had to have them! Had to! I excitably hurried home and called my Mom to tell her about these gorgeous little gems I'd just discovered. I carefully opened the little pod, popped the waxy fruit into my mouth, took one taste....and immediately spit it out, gagged, made all kinds of weird noises, and waved my hand in front of my tongue as if that would really help get rid of the bitter aftertaste. My mom...simply laughed. 

The Awesome:

• Birthdays! It was my fabulously incredible, sexy, funny, heroic, sweet, goofy, & selfless hubby's 33rd Birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday, sexy butt! I love you!!!
• My Trainer, Nick...ok, I've really not enjoyed a second of my training sessions, and I've had to explain to him several times that telling a gal that she's "thick" is NOT the compliment that he claims it is, ("Athletic" = OK, "Curvy" = OK...."thick" = NOT OK.... ) but I think he finally got the message. And now that I'm a week out from my tri, I can finally appreciate all the pain and suffering he's put me through. So I'll let the "thick" comments go...for now...and will appreciate the fact that because of his training I'm starting to feel pretty bad-ass in my workouts. In fact, if I can just get over my silly fear of riding down hill on a bike, I think I've actually got this triathlon in the bag!

OK, so I feel pretty bad for knocking Goosberries so hard, and for spitting one out and not bothering to give it a second chance, so to play nice here's a link to some Gooseberry Recipes. I hope that redeems me in the eyes of any Gooseberry Advocates out there....

Have a fantastic weekend! I'm taking the next 7 days to focus HARD on last minute training for my upcoming Iron Girl Triathlon. Wow, can't believe in just a few days I'll be able to say I did this...and I'm sure while I'll be cursing my friend, Ali, for getting me into this while it's going on I know I'll be thanking her profusely when it's over. This is certainly not something I'd have signed up for on my own...so cross your fingers for me & my race buddies Ali & Kirsten, and say a little prayer to the Bike Riding God that I can get through the 17.5 mile, 4-hill course without winding up kissing the pavement. THANKS!  And don't forget to check out Heather & Erica's blogs for their weekly dose of funny :-)

Awkward & Awesome Thursday {A fun little group posting}

Welcome back for another Awkward & Awesome Thursday!


The Awkward:

• Realizing that after almost six years of marriage you still have the stickers on the majority of the gorgeous crystal glasses you registered for. {I think it's time to have a few people over for dinner & drinks!}
• Dog farts {and the faces they cause you to make}.....gross! I don't know what Quilla got into....
• Taking your car to the car wash, and getting completely tangled up in that huge industrial vacuum hose.

The Awesome:

• Seeing my cat & dog snuggling together all the time will just never get old. I love that they're such good buddies!
• Clinique Bonus Week...getting whatever cute new cosmetic bag they have always makes me happy. It's like a little makeover for my lipstick and mascara.
• An exterior shot of the Extreme Makeover home being built was the cover photo for the Spartanburg Journal this week! How cool! I'm not an architectural photographer, so for that to be the type of image that becomes my first cover shot is something I'd never expected, but I certainly enjoyed it happening!
• Being spoiled! Not one, but TWO bouquets of sunflowers were delivered to me this week; one from my wonderful Mother- and Father-in-Law, and yesterday one from my super sweet hubby. My living room looks so bright & cheery now!

Thanks so much for stopping by these week...don't forget to check out Heather & Erica's posts, too! XOXO