just trust me. charleston family photographer

i love when my clients just trust me. i had a session last week in north charleston. while k and i were discussing location, i mentioned a place i loved. it had old, abandoned, falling-down houses, pathways, etc. not everyone "gets" that and i understand that. but k just said, "i trust you. if you like it, i'll like it too." oh. how i love this spot. seriously, love it. and she is the first client i've taken there (although i've taken my kids a few times).

i love this family. they are so cute and up for anything. miss m used to be one of my preschool cuties. i remember when she was a wee little one in the youngest class. and now, she is just becoming this beautiful little girl. sigh. little brother was just a baby when i first met him. and now he's a full-fledged toddler who really doesn't care about my camera. there are WAY too many more fun things than miss emily! and mom and dad are just up for anything. i dragged them around for two hours, until our light was completely (and i do mean completely) gone. i love it!

a lovely beaufort day

i would love to have a second home in beaufort. i have found some of my favorite spots there--if only it weren't such a drive. i can't exactly ask charleston clients to drive ninety minutes with me! beaufort is such a beautiful town. and maybe it's that it's still fresh to me since i see a different area almost every time i visit! i am so fortunate to have met some amazing clients, many of whom have turned into wonderful friends.

last week, i traveled to beaufort to meet with two wonderful families. the first was a cute little family--mom is sister to one of my other clients. it was wonderful to meet them and hang out with them. and get to know their little cuties, who were shy, but giggly!

the second is a family who has gone through SO much. the first time we had a session scheduled, mom ended up in the hospital with emergency surgery. so, obviously, our session was postponed. this time, mom had a little boo boo that morning and didn't make it into the pictures. once i get back for their family pictures, i told her there are to be no emergencies! nonetheless, i had a BLAST with her and her boys! she was a great sport, even though i know she was probably tired and in pain. and dad was great too--he pushed those boys on their swing SO much and SO high (and you know how i love old swings!).

at one point, mom mentioned the property next door, with an old barn. i asked if they knew the owners or if it was abandoned. abandoned. um. hello! jackpot! old barn. old car. oh yeah.

i'm nothing...

...if not perpetually behind! i will get caught up. it's been a busy holiday season and i am most definitely NOT complaining. i am extremely grateful for my wonderful clients. it is such a blessing to watch these children grow up. i cannot believe how fortunate i am to be able to do something that i love. i feel truly and completely blessed.

a few weeks back, i had another portrait party at a home in west ashley. a gorgeous home with an amazing dock on the water. sigh. i love my life. i am very grateful to the one who opened her home to us. and also to my faithful hostess, who i can definitely say has been a key figure in the growth of my business.

anyway, if the week prior had been HOT, then this week was chilly. this week, the children were shivering (instead of sweating). but we made it through and had a blast. and most of them had more fun AFTER their session, running around the yard playing. what can i say?

first holiday portrait party of the season

i love doing portrait parties. yes, it's a lot of work. but it also means i get to meet some new clients and make new friends. this first one was a blast, but HOT. it was hard to think we were taking pictures to go on Christmas cards when it was in the 90s. craziness!

i got to see two "old" friends and then meet some new ones. i love watching these littles grow up. it's one of the highlights of my job! and to meet new friends who i hope to follow through their childhood as well--it doesn't get any better than that!

anyhoo, a huge thanks to miss s for scheduling the sessions! you know i love little e--she is a girl after my own heart! and i sure do love them spunky!

preschool portraits

every fall/spring, when i do the portraits for a local preschool, i am struck by how blessed i am to have met the owner. not only does she "get" me, she lets me do my thing. she lets me skip the backdrop and lights and shoot things my way. and she has become a friend too, which is the best part of all.

for fall pictures, i took my antique desk along. i let the children draw in my book--how fun will it be to have a book full of drawings by the kids who've sat at that desk!

anyway, thank you to the coolest preschool in town!

another cool senior

i have been fortunate to have some great senior guys this year! it has been a blast! we actually taught this young man when he was in fourth grade (sunday school). what a nice young man he has become. his parents should be really proud!

we did a two different sessions. one was downtown, walking the streets. the second was at a community recreation center for some basketball shots!

he said i'm funny, until i tease him. then, i'm not so fun (or funny). sorry, z, it makes you smile when i tease.

one long day. two amazing sessions. beaufort family children photographer

two saturdays ago, i made my way to beaufort, one of my favorite towns. i was driving there as the sun was coming up. and i drove home as the sun was going down. it was totally worth it though. i was able to see two of my favorite families!

we started at the beach with the p family. the beach has the most amazing trees growing from the sand. i love when beaches have more than just sand and water--it adds character. after the beach, we traveled to a private island that was in the family. it's such a gorgeous location and mr p grew up here. so, we have a lot of history to include, which makes it a really special place.

i love the p kids. they are just so much fun. and they were SO patient--two locations and several hours. but they didn't complain and did a great job!

after that, i traveled to bluffton to meet the s family. i photographed this family last september in a gorgeous house on the battery. but today, i was in their neck of the woods. on the trip in, mom called me and told me to drive a little past my turn and check out a location. she had me at "old barn" and "old truck." seriously. i was downright salivating and could've easily pulled over to do cartwheels. but we did some family pictures at her house and some formals of the girls in their Christmas dresses. and then, i got to play at the farm. i took a gazillion pictures. and the girls were wonderful! we ended the session with their feeding and brushing the horses. all in all, a great day!

impossibly beautiful family. charleston family photographer

life is good. i love my job. for some reason, i am blessed with the most beautiful clients any photographer could ever hope to have!

mom was an acquaintance in college. she was older than me, but we still remember each other. i took pictures for her sister's family when i was in ohio in june. but they were going to be in pawley's island, so i gladly made the trip.

isn't cute little bro just adorable. i know he was so tired of my calling him "cutie" all night. and big sis is beautiful too--those eyes. and tons of personality!

it was wonderful to see them all again. and to visit after the session--that's the best!

extended family session. charleston family photographer

last week, i met a great family from both here and georgia. they were vacationing out at wild dunes (love wild dunes). i loved that, when i got there, they told me that the two-year-old twins didn't like to have their pictures taken. challenge accepted. :) by the end of the session, at least one twin was asking me to take more!!!

cool senior with his family. charleston portrait photographer

last saturday, i had a high school senior along with his very cool family. we got permission to shoot at joe riley stadium! it was supposed to be empty, but rain the night before had meant a rescheduled game (and thus, a double-header on saturday). so, what was supposed to be an empty stadium was filled with some people. we worked around them anyway.

after that, we met the rest of the family at folly beach to finish our session. super fun family--we all laughed again and again! and got bit by a LOT of bugs.

cool twins, downtown charleston. charleston portrait photographer

a few weeks back (yes, i am behind on my blog), i had the opportunity to photograph twin senior girls downtown! and it was hot! but we managed. these girls are super sweet and funny! and pretty much game for anything! i love that!

thanks for the fun few hours and for the laughter!

see in a new way

i have been making the effort to learn new things and techniques that can keep me improving my photography. one of my current studies has been off-camera flash. but, my friend jodi at mcp actions is having a great contest to win a lensbaby composer. lensbaby's tagline is "seeing in a new way." and that is definitely something i want to always do!

to me, seeing in a new way involves seeing beauty in everything! even something that someone else views as ugly, i want to see the beauty. it is important to me to always find something beautiful in everything and everyone i come into contact with.

here's the address to jodi's blog/contest: http://mcpactions.com/blog/2009/08/18/win-a-lensbaby/

and, here is a spot where others probably drive by and think as ugly and run-down. but to me, it is beautiful!

there's a storm a-brewin'

last weekend, i drove down to beautiful spring island, just south of beaufort. i met with a wonderful extended family from all over--including california! anyway, i think i have never shot a session so quickly in my life. i have shot quickly, to avoid a potential storm. but this time, the storm was hanging out across the water from us. the longer i shot, the closer it got. we just barely got done before it finally got to us. and once again, i drove home in a storm (that was fun).

anyway, i wanted to share a few shots here. in some of them, you can see the dark sky in the background. it was literally lightning right across the water from us. and we ventured to take one group picture on the dock (crowded, but we managed). that was a little crazy!

cute kids! i love cute kids! the little guy told me he was not photogenic? seriously. that's crazy--he had gorgeous blue eyes and freckles! i told him i'd be editing some of him in black/white because i love freckles in black/white. but i thought i'd share a color one here.

anyhoo, without further ado...thank you, m family, for inviting me down to capture your family on your parent's anniversary.