3 Little Staytons...

One of my most favorite things in the world is seeing sunlight reflected in children's eyes. I love to sit at our own kitchen table with my back to the window and look into my kid's eyes as they look toward the sunlight. They just look so full of light and life and hope and happiness. Love it. These kiddos were no exception to that love. These blue eyes were oh so wonderful. 

I love this photo of this little guy because of what I cropped out of it. In the upper right corner was a blurry red heart that he had thrown at me, and that is exactly why this photo is of a real genuine smile. Love it. 

This sweet girl's daddy was making her laugh and giggle for the camera. No one can bring emotion out of their kids like their parents, for good or bad, am I right?

I asked the kids to bring along the toy that they "love" most. I love seeing those tattered and loved toys. My son has a puppy similar to this, all that matted fur. :)

This is the perfect photo to me. Just real. Little dude on the left is enthralled with my cut outs, little guy on the right has smiled for the camera more than any little boy should have to on a Saturday afternoon. And baby girl is yawning. Perfection. Because it is real and them. These are the moments I want captured with my camera, because these are the moments that we will look back and see remember what life was like when they were this small.

Thank you Stayton family for the privilege of photographing your little Valentines. They did amazing, and I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed capturing them. :)

Baby Delay...

I have been waiting for the chance to photograph this little beauty. This last Saturday she arrived at my home studio fully decked out in Valentine garb and a "milk drunk" look on her face. :)

We spent some time in the beginning trying to figure out what position made her most happy, and it ended it being flat on her back. Fully independent of all support, yea, that sounds like my first born as well. 

I love this sweet couple so much and love seeing them blessed with this precious baby girl. 

The emotion that came out of the baby's face when her momma kissed her was priceless, it was a true content joy. 

This was one outfit out of 3 that we did. A bit of a nod to the flappers with that head band and feather boa. And those bloomers! Oh my gosh. She was slowly fading by this point, she had stayed fully awake for a good 30 minutes, and this tongue sticking out was our clue that we had gotten enough photos at this point. 

Such a fun Valentine's mini session this was. I love my big ole window in my living room that allows me to set up this in home studio. It makes photos in the winter for young ones way more doable. 

Thank you Delay family for the privilege. And sharing your squishy beautiful little baby girl with me for awhile. 

A night with the Labus Family...

It was a warm Friday night for January in downtown OKC, so off I was for a night shoot with the Labus family! The last time I had been down at the Myriad Gardens was the second week in December, and there were about 500 people around and about 300 photographers. :) Kinda, makes a girl feel a little less special. But, I got over it. 

This night it was not crowded at all. There were a few people ice skating, and few taking a stroll. It was quite nice. 

 This is my first ALL night shoot. Not that we shot all night, but it was dark for the entire session. I was looking forward to getting some different light effects from all the various lighting downtown. The Labus' Thunder gear only made the look even better. Loved it. This sweet girl was happy when she had that ball in her hands! 

Sweet boy, right after this shot he was so helpful in feeding his baby sister while I snuck in a few shots of just mom and dad. 

The shots of the two of them are some of my favorites. I love watching as a couple faces each other and just gets a minute to really look at each other. It is fun to see the joy come out of their faces. 

Thank you Labus family. It was such a pleasure and I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them...

Last Official Blog of 2012... The Shirola Kids...

My friend Amy is best at coming up with these "in home" photo opportunities for her family. And she had another for this Christmas. Her kiddos in their PJ's around the tree. Perfection. 

Sibling love right there, whether it was forced or not does not matter. We got a photo of it, therefore it is real ;)

Then each kid picked the ornament that would be in their close up... 

The best part of these is seeing those tiny lights reflecting in their precious eyes. 

Yep, that is Gandalf. Which I think is kinda amazing. Poor Carson, I think I completely torture him with my camera. But, he sticks in there and does it for me anyways. :)

Thank you Shirola family. What a perfect ending to my photography year. 

The Precious Ellison Family...

So, when your first shot looks like this, you know it's gonna be a good day. This little boy had no problem locking eyes and even flashing that grin for my camera this whole session. 

This is why I am a photographer. To be able to capture moments like this. I look at photos I took of my own kids when they were this little and I can remember what their soft cheeks felt like and their sweet baby smell. We need photos to help us remember the details sometimes. Especially the details that come and go so quickly. 

Those eyes. Wait a few photos down, you will see where he gets em'!

Leaves are good. My son used to lick them all the time. Boys are supposed to do that kind of stuff. :)

See! Killer blue eyes! He got them from his momma! 

Ha, I would love to know what he was thinking about me right about now.

What is better than tasting leaves? Flying up into them of course! Sweet boy. 

Thank you Ellison Family for getting to know you and doing your family photos! Hope I get to do many more and see that little man as he grows up, and eats more leaves ;)

The Moroz Girlies...

 I could tell in the first five minutes that this would be a fun session. Heck, I could tell before I got there, I know their momma ;)

These two beauties had no problem just pouring on the happiness all over their faces. Seriously. Some kids get tired of it after awhile, but as we were wrapping up, I think they were just getting started! 

 Plus, I got invited to dinner by one the girls, which may be the biggest compliment I have received this year as a photographer. To have the kid want to hang out with you longer instead of never wanting to see my face again is a pretty big deal. :)

The blue eyes on these two tell the tale. 

Thank you Moroz family and girls for such a fun session. I can't wait to hang out, I mean, photograph you guys again! ;)

A first from the Sneed Family...

Well, this wonderful family was a first for me. Whenever I receive contact from a new client, I always ask how they heard about me. When I asked this family, the mom told me that she googled it! YAY! I was so excited about that because I work as hard as I know how to make an imprint on the internet with this blog, my Facebook page, and my own website and it had seemed that it had paid off! 

Meeting a new family is so fun, and I did not expect the cuteness that I was going to meet this day downtown. 5 girls. 5 GIRLS! Poor daddy. ;)

OK, this shot is just pure "the blessing of the Lord" cause that little baby girl just happen to blink at the exact moment that I pressed my shutter to make all 5 of them with closed eyes while mom and dad smooched away.  Pure awesomeness. 

As previously stated, forehead kiss required. 

Thank you Sneed family! I hope to be your photographer for many years to come to watch those beautiful girls grow up! And see how Dad is surviving when teenage-hood hits ;)

The Radiant Reza Family...

The Reza family. Very, very fun to hang out with for this late fall session at Martin Nature Park. We had planned to be at Will Rogers Park, but AGAIN the wind in Oklahoma was brutal this particular day, so we decided to choose a local with a bit more break from the wind. 

These two sisters reminded me a bit of me and my own sister. We are quite a few years a part like them. Such beauties and fun! 

Wonderful couple. Have a mentioned before that if you book me, I do require the man to forehead kiss the woman at least once? Well, it is kinda a requirement ;)

The girls did a quick change and we did just a few "sisters" shots. 

Thank you Reza family. You all are beautiful and it was a privilege to do your family photos and hope to do them again! 

2012 photos in 2012 GOAL TOTAL...

DRUMROLL....

2,017!!!

THANK YOU REZA FAMILY! You are the ones that put me OVER my goal for the YEAR!!! YAY!!!

An Autumn Wedding...

It was a windy autumn day, slightly cool, and over all beautiful. As soon as I found out that the Bride would not be wearing a veil, I knew it would be perfect! I wore a veil in my wedding and it was quite windy, and I just remember it stuck to my lip gloss a lot. :)

The flowers and colors were gorgeous. And there was burlap so my heart was captured. 

The venue was Harn Homestead in the heart of OKC. It is an old plantation that has been preserved from before the land run for events and school outings. All the rustic wood and beautiful fall foliage was enough to put this wedding over the top in my book, but add the amazing wedding party into the mix and you have a truly wonderful day. 

This little cutie. Oh. my. gosh. 

           After the ceremony, I got to steal away the bride and groom for their couple photos, and this was one of my favorite times of the night. Just to see the contentment and love between the two of them as they relished in the aftermath of their I do's. This amazing barn as a backdrop was pretty cool too. ;)

I can't talk about this wedding without talking about my baby sister. She was my first "second shooter" experience, and I loved, loved, loved having her there with me. I was pretty nervous (this is only my second wedding to shoot EVER) as I sat in my car before it all began, but as soon as I saw her I was immediately relaxed and at ease. And hey, even if she didn't even take one photo that is worth a lot! But, she did take photos, lots of them, and was able to capture some amazing emotion. So proud of her. 

Thank you Anne and Jeremy for the opportunity to shoot your wedding. 

It was so fun and wonderful, and I cannot wait for my next chance to do another! 

PS... I may or may not have used my camera to guard my face as I cried my eyes out during the "Daddy/Daughter" dance during the reception. ;)

2012 photos in 2012 GOAL TOTAL:

1,975 (it is looking good!)