Summer is my most favorite time of year.  I can’t get enough of the warm weather, pools, flip flops, sundresses, long days, gardening, sprinklers, and early morning runs.  Summer is also my most favorite time of year to shoot.  People feel relaxed, the weather keeps everyone comfortable, and everyone just tends to have more fun.  So, where am I going with this?  In anticipation of all the wonderfulness (yes, I made that word up) that is the approaching summer season, I thought it would be fun to run my first special of the year in honor of my favorite season.

Here’s the 4-1-1:

• Call, email, or Facebook me during the month of May and set up a session for May – December.
• All sessions booked in May (for any date in the remainder of 2011) will book at $100 off!  Yes.  I am taking $100 off of your session.
• Do you have friends that need to update their walls/photo albums/want really cool pictures for their holiday cards? Yes!  Well keep reading…
• For every friend you refer to me take another $100 off of your session.  Yes.  $100.
• Got three friends that want to have a session too?  Well, my friend, you just got yourself a free session.  Yes.  Free!

Sounds fun, huh!  So, start thinking!  Do you need a new family portrait?  How about those holiday cards?  I know it’s only May, but what are you going to do this year?  Do you have a graduating Senior?  Are you adding a new addition to the family?  Maybe, someone is having a birthday, is getting engaged, or reaching another important milestone?    Better yet, who do you know that might be looking for portraits?  Whatever it is that is important to you, it’s important to me that you have gorgeous photographic memories of it.  Also, what could be better than getting a FREE portrait session? (OK, maybe a free trip to Hawaii, but I just can’t pull that off.)

I can’t wait to hear from you!  And I can’t wait to hear from your friends!  Make sure when they call/email/Facebook me that they let me know who referred them to me so you can start earning your way to a free session.

And because I can’t post without a picture, here’s a recent one of my two babes:

They too can hardly wait for summer! (Ignore the watermark.  I shared this image on my mommy blog a few weeks ago).

Now for the fine print…that I won’t make fine because it’s easier to read when it’s regular size.  Also, it doesn’t feel like I am trying to be sneaky.

• Sessions need to be booked from May 1-31, 2011 in order to be eligible for $100 off.
• A $100 deposit is due at the time of booking in order to save your date.  Once I have received your deposit, your date is secure.
• The deposit is non-refundable.  If weather does not permit you to have your session on the date you selected, you will be rescheduled as soon as possible for no charge.  You may also reschedule due to illness or other life situations that prevent you from keeping your original session date, when time permits.
• If you refer friends:  You will receive a $100 credit for each session booked AND deposit paid.  No credit will be issued for sessions booked without a deposit paid.  You can receive up to $300 in credits.  All credits must be accumulated (sessions booked and deposits paid) prior to your session.  Any referral sessions booked after your session will result in a credit that can be used on a future date by you.

It was so nice to get outside a few weekends ago.  What made it even nicer was a sweet little girl and her mom and dad.  This was her first time having professional pictures done, and I think she did perfect.  Most people are nervous about having outdoor photographs done in March, but not this mom!  Previous to our meeting, we had discussed her little one’s age and some of the options available to her.  If we chose indoors, we would be safe no matter what the weather did that day.  However, something I have learned over the last four years of photographing little ones, once they are able to walk, is being inside is boring.  Bored toddlers equals no smiles, no smiles equals tense mommies and daddies, tense parents equals sad toddlers, and well, you can see where this is going.  The bottom line is STRESS for everyone involved.  Stress is the LAST thing I want to be.  To me, having your pictures done should be fun.  I want you to look back at your pictures and remember how much fun that day was.  So, while it was risky weather wise to book a session outdoors in March, I think it totally paid off!  Fresh air, a little space to wander around, and the beauty of God’s creation makes for a great day.

See what I mean:

The next four pics I think make such a cute series.  If it were me, I’d hang them all together…

You know I love me some gorgeous baby lashes:

See! Everyone’s happy and relaxed:

Thanks so much “W” family for heading outdoors with me.  I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

Mr. Q,

I have loved watching you grow all year long.  You are one handsome little boy!  I pray that your second year will be full of blessings, and that you will continue to grow and dream big.  Thank you so much for coming to see me all year long and sharing all of your milestones with me along the way.  It was a grand time.  Can’t hardly wait to see you again.  Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!

“May you wake each day with God’s blessings and sleep each night in His keeping.  And as you grow older, may you always walk in His tender care.”-Unknown

I love it when I get to see the same clients over and over.  I love watching them grow and see them change.  I can’t believe that a whole year had passed since I saw this sweet thing:

Now she’s one!

And totally cute!

She was born on the exact same day as her cousin thousands of miles away.  How cool is that?  Well, her cousin and big sister came to share in the fun of picture day as well.

So cute!

The studio was full of babies, mommas, and even a grandma, and we all had a good time.

Happy first birthday sweet girls!  Thanks for coming to visit!

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a real blessing” -Psalm 127:3 TEV

Had the pleasure of having these two sweet brothers and their mom in studio last week.  Loved each moment of their session.  My favorite part was watching the little guy have eyes only for Mom.  There’s no doubt about it, that sweet boy knew who Mom was!

“H” brothers, you are truly loved and treasured.

⁴ “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you…” Isaiah 43:4

Sweet Boy,

Each time I see you, you bring a smile to my face.  Thank you for sharing your first nine months with me!

I’m so excited to start off this new year!  Last year was wonderful, and I had the chance to meet so many neat families.  Thank you to all who spent time with me this past year!  Over the winter break I had a chance to really relax, get organized, and think through some things related to the business. I can hardly wait to share with you some of the upcoming changes with Been Blessed!

First, most of you have recognized (and have even talked to me about this), but now I get to make it official.  Starting in 2011, I will be taking on only half the work load than I normally do.  After having a couple of months toward the end of 2010 of playing around with this new work load, I know that it is the right choice not only for me as a photographer, but also as a mom and wife.  Let’s face it, we all only get 24 hours in a day!  I really want each one of those to count, and not only at home with my family, but when I am in the studio or on location as well.  I found that the sessions were filled with much more passion, fun, and they just truly came from my heart.  I also feel like I get to have deeper relationships with my clients this way, which is one of my most favorite parts.  I know that this does cause some of you to feel like you are getting pushed off, or that I don’t have time for you, please know that is exactly the opposite of what I am trying to accomplish.  While you may need to book your sessions a little bit further in advance, know that when we do get together, we will have a great time that isn’t rushed.

Lastly, I have completely re-done my pricing and packaging page.  You should go and check it out if you are planning on booking a session with me!  I have decided to go completely digital.  This too was toyed with for the last half of 2010, and I found my clients absolutely LOVED it!  In fact, I could count on one hand the number of clients I had that decided to go with the print option!  With that kind of response, it would be silly for me to not make a change.  Plus, I found out something in the process: I LOVED offering digital as well!  I never realized how much work went into ordering and packaging.  WOW!  Let’s just say, I am happy to offer my clients this new freedom, and they are ecstatic to have this option! It’s a total win, win! (Clients who have booked sessions for 2011 in 2010,  the 2010 packaging/pricing will still apply for you)

I can hardly wait to see all that 2o11 has to offer.  I am so looking forward to working with you, getting to know you, and photographing your most precious moments in life.  I am excited to try new styles, new techniques, and working with passion straight from my heart.  It’s going to be a great year! I so hope I get to share it with you!

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet these two right before Christmas.  Typically, I close down studio for all of December, but with these two on the way, I knew I had to be flexible.  I was so richly rewarded!  These two sweeties were practically perfect.  Times two!  Big sister also came to help so I guess it was a triple dose of perfection.  Each time I go back to look at these pictures, I can remember just how snugly and small they were.  Mom, I hope that’s what happens each time you look at them as well.  I hope these images take you right back to the beginning of these sweet babies precious lives.

And some solo shots…

Beautiful Baby Girl:

And her handsome brother:

“Maternal love: A miraculous substance which God multiplies as He divides it.”–Victor Hugo

I was very thankful to be able to catch up with this family just moments before they headed to the airport to say their goodbyes to one of their family members after Thanksgiving festivities had come to an end.  What a wonderful way to end a time of thankfulness and celebration!  I pray that when they look back on their family photos they will remember the time they spent together celebrating.

“Moments spent listening, talking, playing, and sharing together may be the most important times of all”–Gloria Gaither

There’s not much more I can say about this family.  They are close friends of mine, and I love them so.  It’s hard for me not to love these pictures because I love each person in them.

Love you guys!