Archive for 'Featured'
Jan 01, 2012
I sat down to post the annual Year in Review slideshow, but instead, I’m finding my mind is still swirling from what happened yesterday. I need to explain to you just how grateful my heart is on this first day of 2012. As some of you may have seen on my Facebook page, I spent the very last day of 2011 worried sick over my baby sister in the hospital. She had been complaining of a pain in her leg since her trip to New York earlier in Dec. and she called me early yesterday morning saying she had just blacked out in her hallway. My first thought was a blood clot…and then immediately, the fear of a pulmonary embolism. [I want to pause right here and thank someone very special–she will know who she is–for unknowingly giving me a key bit of knowledge about this very dangerous condition and possibly helping to save my sister’s life. Thank you and my heart was very much with you during this holiday season.]
My first words were, “We’re going to the hospital..NOW!”
As she was going through the barrage of tests with so many unanswered questions and the very real fear that my sister could die, all I could think was how desperately I wanted the gift of another year with my sister. Just the day before, she and I watched this and marveled over his courage and peaceful outlook on life and death. While we were waiting in the hospital, we read this and this, pleased with how many of those we had done and vowing to check off the rest this year.
Turns out, she did indeed have a blood clot in her leg, but thank goodness her lungs were clear!!! She has started treatment, but now we have to figure out why the clot formed so we can keep it from happening again. She is so young and a very healthy, non-smoking young woman…this kind of thing just doesn’t make sense for her. As I’m writing this, I am actually glad to share this story with you in the hopes that should you or someone you know experience symptoms of DVT or a pulmonary embolism, you’ll know to get immediate medical attention.
2011 was one of the busiest years I can recall in a long time and I know that busy=blessed. I had the privilege of meeting and/or working with hundreds families and photographers from all over the world. (It’s funny how small my world has become thanks to Facebook ;-). However, to be honest right now, when I think back over the year as a whole, it’s pretty much a blur to me–the only thing I can really remember is yesterday.
But I feel it’s important to always acknowledge and thank the people who allow me into their lives and trust me photograph their most important family moments. I want to remind them how beautiful they are…how special their connections are…what a gift their families are. So, like I’ve done every year since 2007, I pulled just one image from each session to create the 2011 Year in Review…
(Google Reader users: you’ll need to click THIS LINK to see).
My sister, my mom, and I all had separate plans for New Year’s Eve yesterday, but all of our families ended up at my house last night. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful evening…cooking up an impromptu batch of homemade chili, all of us watching the 360º of fireworks in the horizon at midnight, listening to “Auld Lang Syne” on the iPod, toasting in paper cups, ringing in 2012 together. Grateful.
[p.s. Clients: I sent out the details on the 2011 Pinkle’s Pic of the Year contest to you all. If you had a session with me in 2011 of any kind and did not get this info, let me know ASAP so I can get you up to speed.]
Dec 30, 2011
You know that feeling when you just click with someone? Well, she and I do. And I like that. A lot. So grateful to know her and her bright, enthusiastic, energetic, sparkling family! (But, she better watch out because I’m going to come by and steal that umbrella of hers–and possibly her shoes, too–in the middle of the night…I do know where she lives 😉
Dec 27, 2011
We were scheduled to do maternity portraits for her. We had the perfect timing…waiting until her hubby was home from deployment. And then about 5 weeks before this little baby was supposed to arrive, baby boy surprised everyone. Listening to his mama tell the story of his birth brought tears to my eyes. I don’t think she believes me, but I think she was an incredibly brave, powerful, and strong woman. In the wee hours of the night, she went into labor. Alone. His daddy was still gone, her MIL was a long plane ride away. So, She. Drove. Herself. To. The. Hospital. IN. Labor. And she had that baby boy…all by herself. Pregnancy, labor, and birth can be frightening even with a room full of loved ones there to support you, I can’t imagine doing it without someone like that to help. Wow!!!
His newborn session was one of the most beautiful, peaceful newborn sessions I’d had in a while. I loved being at home with them…watching the three of them together (at last!)…seeing the love they had for their new baby. I very much look forward to seeing this little guy grow up!!
Nov 26, 2011
I’ll be cliche…it seems like it was just yesterday when we…
I hold onto those precious memories so tightly, I sometimes worry if I will squeeze the joy out of them.
*You* are pure joy. Even in your sassiest moments (and lord knows, you have plenty of those), we can’t help but to smile…
That giant image above will join the other two canvases from here and here. I feel so blessed that you’ve allowed me to create this tradition and I hope you’ll continue to humor me for at least another couple of years ;-). (Oh, and let’s be sure to thank Daddy for snapping some of just you and I together ;-).
You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. You have more love in your heart than I’ve ever seen. You are clever, and intelligent, and witty, and creative, and brave. How did we get so lucky, Amry? Why did you choose our family? It is such an incredible honor to be your mother. I don’t think you’ll ever comprehend how much you made our dreams come true. I love you and I wish you the happiest birthday in the world, my princess.
[Speaking of princesses, dress by Palm Tree Princess]
Nov 23, 2011
I spent the most delightful morning at their house a few weeks back. Her session was all things sweet and simple and easy and cuddly. In proofing her pictures, my gosh, she reminded me SO much of my daughter as a newborn (her room even has owls, too!). I’m very much looking forward to seeing how this little cutie grows up over the years.
Nov 21, 2011
While working on their holiday card design today, I realized I had promised a part 2 to this post. There were definitely too many fav images to tell their story in just one post. So here you go!!!
[Note: If you book a 2012 family photo session now, you can still qualify for a holiday mini session. But you should probably hurry because I only have a few openings left. Also, if you had a session with me this year and you wanted to order holiday cards, please contact me THIS week! I won’t be able to process holiday card orders any later than that.]
Nov 17, 2011
Sigh. This seems like forever ago. In a way, it kinda was. It was the this summer before she began her senior year in high school. I remember it was sooooooo hot that day and we were so relieved to have the chance to get into the water at the end of the session. She laid down in that grass for me and I can tell you, it wasn’t comfortable in the slightest. She was a lovely girl and I feel so lucky to have gotten to capture this time for her.
Nov 16, 2011
Soooooo much has happened since Brooke’s story was featured on The Creative Mama. Soooooooo much. In fact, I just got word that their story is going to be featured on Austin’s KVUE TONIGHT at 5 p.m. if you can catch it!!! ETA: HERE’s the news story from tonight on KVUE. What a great piece!!!!
Not only has the word spread all over the world about securing furniture to protect small children, but an entire business has been launched. If you haven’t checked out these beautiful necklaces (new styles have been added, like the one pictured above) made by Brooke and her mommy, you should. A Brooke’s Angel Wing necklace couldn’t be a more perfect, meaningful, or heartfelt holiday gift.
And now, a gift to you, The Pinkle Toes Blogstalkers:
Go browse around Brooke’s Angel Wings and make it one of your favorite stores on Etsy. On Monday, November 21st, I will select one of their etsy admirers at random and send this awesome “Pinkle Toes pink” angel wing necklace your way as a thank you. Brooke and her mommy have been working very hard (along with the help of another very special person) to keep up with the inventory and create new designs and I couldn’t be more impressed with their incredible efforts!
(Sporting *my* wings the other day 😉
Nov 14, 2011
…I photographed weddings, because if I did, I would have photographed this wedding in a heartbeat. I believe I may have screamed out loud with excitement when she asked me to do bridal portraits for her. I enjoyed their engagement session so much! And then she sent me a picture of the dress and I just about fell over.
Yes. It was perfect:
To say she was stunning would be the understatement of the year. She was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen and her personality just makes her 100x more amazing. I bawled like a baby watching their amazing preview video by Mason Jar Films. I absolutely cannot wait to see what dreams come true for their new life together as Mr. and Mrs. Congrats again, you two!!!
Nov 11, 2011
I told mom tonight that my face literally hurt when I was editing these pics…I couldn’t stop smiling!!! These people make me happy. Their energy, enthusiasm, and zest for life is contagious, I swear. This has to be my favorite session with them to date, but it’s hard to commit 100% (remember this? Of course, I can’t for the life of me locate his newborn blog post, but that was a blast, too.) Doesn’t matter. What does matter is that they’ve got a fantastic family connection and a bazillion pictures to preserve those memories forever.
Speaking of, if you want to preserve your memories in 2012, there’s a little bonus incentive to book your session NOW. Running out of spaces much faster than I thought…