top five of 2008

happy new year!

i almost hesitate to do a list. but it gives me a chance to go back through the portraits i've done throughout the year and see how much i've grown. i really feel like i hit my stride this past holiday season. i hope the good groove continues!

without further ado, here are my top five favorites from 2008. and they may not be the best pictures of the year either. a lot of times, my favorites have a back-story that speaks to me more than the actual shot itself.

for example, peter pan and mr. giggles. oh, how i love these boys. no matter what i said, mr. giggles would snicker and laugh. he totally made my day. this picture wasn't my favorite from the session (i actually liked an individual of each of them more, but then that would take up two slots, so...), but it's my favorite of them together because of how much fun and silliness it shows. total boys.



this picture of the beautiful miss ac is one that i love because it is different from most of what i get to shoot. this portrait was taken in one of the historic homes downtown on south battery. the setting was just perfect. and when i shot it, i knew i had it. i love the dramatic lighting. and i love LOVE her toes!



these two boys were obsessed with the olympics. so, mom decided to have them race up the beach and back. poor little brother didn't stand a chance. but he figured out a way to win: he just turned around early so that he made it back to mom first.



this beautiful girl is very special to me. i blogged about her back when i shot this portrait. i've known her for years and she was in my awana group when she was in 3rd and 4th grades. i just adored her then. i told her mom once, when she was in her awkward phase, that she was going to be the prettiest in her already impossibly beautiful family. and my, is she ever!



finally, i don't shoot a lot of weddings. i have a pretty specific style and personality and i want to ensure that it's a perfect fit between me and the couple. well, this couple was a total blast! michael and i left the wedding saying how much fun it had been, even though we'd been working the entire time (well, i had at least). anyhoo, i could pick a lot of shots from that wedding, but chose this one. just because.