Edith's Senior Portraits

I met Edith in downtown Melbourne last week for her senior pictures. She is a senior at MCC and on the dance team. My daughter participated in "Stinger Dance Camp" over the summer and got to "perform" (she is four) at one of the recent football games which was super fun - I know she'll be excited for me to show her Edith's photos. We spent a our time a little here and a little there, using downtown, the railroad and Melbourne Beach. Edith and I stepped into some nasty mud down by the river but other than that it was smooth sailing! I love senior portraits! Edith and Marilyn, it was a pleasure and I hope you enjoy your highlights!

Whoops, was I a little late on the water warning? No problem, tousled hair is cool.

Baby Noah

Oh how I love babies! I love them now more than ever. I think the appreciation must just grow stronger as your own children grow older and you realize how precious that time is. There is only that short window of time where there are no "time outs" no "stop whining, eat your dinner, be nice to your sister..." Just a baby who is sure you are the love of his life. It must be why grandparents have such a sweet relationship with their grandbabies. These photographs make me wonder if I want more... for a few seconds, until I remember I am done done done (x3!) Noah's family came over from Orlando for their infant portraits. We met in Merritt Island and were lucky to use natural light the whole time. Considering babies need to stay out of the sun, that's not always possible. Noah is a few weeks old I believe so a little bigger than a usual newborn session which I reccomend in the first 10 days, but where it limited us in some ways it opened up new opportunites for expression and interaction. This is a great reason to have your baby's first year documented every few months (I offer packages for that,) they change so quick! Enjoy these highlights, Noah's family!

The DeVriendt Family

I shot the DeVriendt family pictures at their home in Suntree last weekend. They have a 3 y/o girl and twin boys who are just over a year. I am lucky to have known Erin since we were in middle school and it's so fun to reconnect now and see her beautiful family grow. Last time I photographed the kids, the twins were just little babies -- now they are on the move! I think those swing pics would make the cutest little series on a wall somewhere. I hope you guys enjoy the highlights!

Erin, your mini me!

Misty's Family

I love my children's teachers! Every year, they go above and beyond to provide patient, caring education for my sweet little ones. At the end of the year, if I think they would like it, I usually give them a free session including a package of prints. So it was my pleasure to photograph "Miss Misty" and her daughter and nephew on the beach last weekend. She was one of Mary's teachers last year and I know that is no small task! My sweet Mary is a determined little girl and slightly high maintenance. Okay really very high maintenance... but she is also smart, funny, kind and beautiful so we try to keep that in mind when she is making us "loco." Enjoy the highlights Misty!

Oh the irony...

I bought a bottle of "Mad Housewife" wine at Publix yesterday because I loved the label and wanted to bring it along to my friend's wedding shower this weekend. As I unloaded the groceries from the car, the bottle was in a plastic bag with 2 boxes of cereal (I didn’t have my reusable’s with me so I probably deserved this.) I lifted it up and all at once saw this big hole in the bottom of the bag and the wine slip right through crashing on my driveway. It was frustrating to say the least after an already difficult morning shopping with little Davis, picking up Mary late at school, then to deal with broken glass and red wine all over my drive. Icing on the cake. But it actually was, as I looked down at the bottle and the pieces and the label, I had to grab my camera. I didn’t touch any of it, the composition was perfect! I only wish the wine hadn't soaked into the concrete so fast!

I still haven’t decided whether to complain to Publix about the hole in my bag (shouldn’t wine go in paper?) without it I would never have gotten this shot! Besides, I do love Publix. There is a special place in my heart for that grocery store and all its happy, helpful, cookie offering, cart unloading employees!

Enigma Ladies Night

Just a few snapshots from Ladies Night at Enigma last week! Such good times, I think I'll try to participate a few times a year (not an easy task hauling all these fragile display products around!) When I get a chance (hmmm) I will photograph some of these items individually so you can reference them on the blog when you want to see a wrapped canvas or stand out or framed canvas, metal or acrylic mounting, ETC! What I really need is a space for keeping them displayed all the time - who's got space to sublet? Maybe in exchange for ongoing photography services? Hey it's worth a shot! (tee hee, that's a pun.)

Here's a blog bonus: if you can see your images in here anywhere I will give you $10 off any product you order with that image on it, no minimum!



My pal Kelly setting up for Indian River Soap Co. which I LOVE in downtown Melbourne... the Reggae Sunsplash soap and candles are my favorite and I use the glycerin soaps "by the slice" for all my sinks, they are beautiful and smell great too! All natural products is a big plus and they gave out some great coupons so I'm hoping to get in there and use mine soon!

Many thanks to Barb who organizes this whole thing!

And of course to Enigma also for thinking outside the box and great food too!

Preschool Pictures!

I had the pleasure of spending three days last week at First United Methodist Preschool in Melbourne. This is the best preschool ever; it's my family's third year there and we love it! Mary will actually graduate and move on to kindergarten next year but just in time for little Davis to start in the two-year-old class! I started providing the individual and class pictures for "FUMP" last year, so this was our second go at it. The goal is to get away from the typical school picture and provide something of higher quality that captures the personalities of the children. We aim for one formal portrait and one more candid in black and white. We had a little obstacle this year with a rainy playground but worked around it just fine and let me tell you these kids (and don't even get me started on the teachers) are awesome! I LOVE this age and I won't say it's easy photographing so many of them but I do really enjoy it and especially just knowing that parents are being offered this beautiful portrait that isn't usually available in a school setting. These examples are thanks to parents I know who gave me written permission to use them on the blog... I am a little partial to the cover girl up there...








Just a few preschool moments (actually some 1st grade ones too)... As I picked Mary up from school today she was telling me all about the "compound words" she learned like "wa - ful... Oh, I think I mean pan-cake..." And yesterday as she and Logan argued in the morning before school (facing each other) over which is way is right... Or, Logan's drawing of Noah's ark that came home from school with none other than Optimus Prime right there on the main deck (he had to survive the flood right?) I just can't get enough of that stuff. Do they have to grow up?

Derek and Holly were married last weekend at the Porcher House in Cocoa Village. What a beautiful place to get married and I'm pretty sure there was a weather miracle because what looked like an impending storm (including enough rain for guests to put up their umbrellas as the bridesmaids headed down the isle) turned into clear blue skies by the time Holly's dad gave her away! They moved on to a reception in Cocoa Beach and had a great time. DJ Tunes and Renaissance Catering kept everything running beautifully and it was a pleasure being their wedding photographer. Happy Honeymoon Derek and Holly!

I love the Grandpa dance.

This is Renaissance Catering; they do a fantastic job from start to finish catering your event.