a baby story...

Every now & again I have to pinch myself when I look back on moments like these…  I know I'm not some big shot photographer with a huge following or clientele.  But I've always been a firm believer in quality not quantity.  I am just so happy to remember where I started & to see my continuing growth in portrait photography from then until now.  I've truly enjoyed getting to know my clients and being able to share in the stories of their lives.  That's the good stuff.  And this baby story will forever be near & dear to my heart.  

Well this day was unreal…  You see, some people can grow tiny humans, I just don't happen to be one of them.  One such amazing person invited me into her delivery room…  What an incredible and wonderful life experience…  Something I was never sure I would ever be intimately familiar with personally.  My heart goes out to you & your family for including me in such a beautiful & private moment.  Your new baby boy is absolutely perfect in every way…

And if it wasn't exciting enough to welcome this sweet baby boy into the world, I was invited into their lovely home to snuggle him and his perfect little toes just a short week later!

52 in 2016: January

I don't seem to be amazing at finishing these little projects, but a certain someone twisted my arm.  So… I am attempting once again to accomplish a 52 week project.  (I mean, at least last time, we did actually make it over half-way…)  This time, there is a small group of us encouraging one another.  The categories have been pre-selected and focus on improvement in three areas:  portrait, landscape, & artistic.  Let's just say I wanted to quit before I started, because week one was self-portrait.  Seriously!?  But I managed to translate the idea in my head onto the screen of my camera, so I guess it wasn't a bust…  One month done.

week 1 - portrait: self-portrait

week 2 - landscape: traditional

week 3 - artistic: red

week 4 - portrait: headshot

cabin life

One of my favorite highlights from 2015… our first family vacation with our sweet (and crazy) girls!  We were lucky enough to stay in a friend's cabin near Taos, New Mexico this past fall- just as the autumn colors were starting to emerge, and boy was it breathtaking!  The grey girls did lots of nose-to-the-ground exploring, and really enjoyed walking the golf course each day as the guys hit a few balls.  Let's just say we could get used to life in the mountains!

bake & take - graphic + web design

A client of mine's been coming to me for a variety of lessons, and I'm pleased to say we have struck up a happy little friendship!  So when she turned to me asking for a blog re-design… of course I jumped right on it!  Every week she pops in her kitchen and bakes up the most wonderful, yummie delights!  And I get to sample them… naturally, it's only fair.  I am currently claiming that her lemon scones were out of this world.  Honestly, I never even told my hubby about them, all because I didn't want to share!!  What!!?  Don't judge me.  Please see number 17- random things about me.  Anyways, I wanted to share her blog with all its fabulous recipes and the new re-design with you all!  bake and take - the blog  -by Gwyn Day

o'city st. patrick's day parade

Oh boy… I hope you're wearing your green today!!  (I have my pinchers ready, so watch out!)  Of course one special day of wearing green, pretty much isn't any different from any other day of mine…  But I did get to spend my Saturday loving up on a few extra cute weimies…  (You guessed it.  Day made.)  My family joined the Heartland Weimaraner Rescue group, and we got all decked out (humans and pups alike) & we marched (got pulled, trotted…) along the streets of downtown Oklahoma City for this year's annual St. Patty's Day Parade.

We even took 2nd in best dressed, yeah buddy!  Okay now, this may be just one of the reasons why…    

And if that doesn't put a huge smile on your face, well here's a few other favorites from the day!

Okay, not a weimaraner… but my sexy hubby in his green afro, well I'm really digging the vibe here…  

Of course you know I couldn't forget "chicken little"… I put on my mom hat & made her cute little outfit :)

You better believe there's a whole lot more cuteness & tutus & bowties & sequins to be witnessed from this day's festivities… so grab yourself a green beer & be sure to check out the rest!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

home sweet home...

I must say… I am REALLY loving me a few front porch shots lately… like ALOT.

There's just something so nostalgic about a family all crowded together on their front porch sharing a moment & a smile.

 

I even decided I needed one for myself… 

AND… it was while I was setting up the self-timer, that this happened… be still my heart.

loving autumn...

A cold front just blew through Oklahoma overnight… leaving us with a major temp drop!!  We've been slowly awaiting the arrival of fall and all its pretties for awhile now, but of course it feels like we are skipping straight to winter!  So before the snow decides to start swirling in the skies, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites from our fairly warm autumn… easy to see why this time of year kicks off my happy place!  Lots of color, falling leaves, plus a few crisp days mixed in- perfect for walks with my Gracie girl!

day in the life...

I really love documenting moments.  The little ones.  The so seemingly ordinary- that we just skip through life not realizing how much they hold a place in our heart- moments.  As I look through these, I find that I was drawn to the quieter times… They tell our story.  I picked an ordinary August day & followed these two around.  And although I didn't quite get an entire day (more like an afternoon & evening- oh and lots of napping)- I now have the stills of some of my favorite happenings between the two loves in my world…

and that means everything.

forgotten, a lonely ghost town

On our way home from Santa Fe, we happened upon this little ghost town.  I honestly didn't even know these things really existed… When I think of ghost towns, I think of movie sets.  We didn't spend a lot of time here.  Rumor has it, there are still a few inhabitants.  And as much as I wanted to explore every corner, I also wanted to be respectful.  The vibes you get here… well let's just say you want to get in & get out… We almost got stuck on the first road we traveled down, literally had to back all the way out- thankfully without incident.  So here are a few snaps of Cuervo, New Mexico & all its abandoned, eerie charm…