I can hardly believe that I am writing this blog post about a very special girl named Kylie. I have known Kylie from the day she was born and to me it’s so hard to believe that she is now entering middle school (which makes me a little stressed as to how fast the years have flown by)! While taking the time to edit these photos, it gave me an opportunity to look back at all the wonderful moments that I have shared with this amazing little girl. From the moment I started editing, I knew that I had to take a deep breathe and realize that while the little girl I still see is now a pre-teen and looking forward to her first year in middle school. Even while writing this entry it makes feel a little sad to know that the time goes by so quickly and that one day, I will be writing a post about my little guy going off for his first day of school. It’s moments like these that make feel so proud to be a photographer and capture these moments in families lives where ten years from now we can look back and know how precious they were and will always be.

So…to Kim and Kylie, I wish you both the best of luck on your new beginning. Take every moment for what it is and know that you both are loved and forever kept close to my heart!

I cannot express my gratitude enough to all the wonderful couples who submitted their entries for this year’s Wedding Day Giveaway. I had no idea when I announced the giveaway last month, that I would have this hard of a decision to make. Your stories touched me dearly and allowed me to see a small glimpse into your hearts and lives together. It was amazing to see the diversity in stories and how life has truly changed since you have met the loves of your life. So to each and everyone of you…Thank you! Thank you for sharing your stories, opening your hearts, and most of all, for making true love an daily reality!

So now it’s time for the BIG announcement and while I do this I am taking a deep breathe as I would LOVE to give this to all who shared their stories with me. However, there is only one winner of this year’s giveaway. This year’s lucky couple will be winning eight hours of wedding day coverage, a $250 print credit, and a cd of all edited images from their special day to share with their friends and family! And the winners are….

Congratulations to Maggie Gray and her fiance Jason!!!

I chose Maggie and her fiance for a couple of reasons, but the biggest one was while reading her story, you could tell her passion for celebrating life of those who have passed and those who are contunually supporting Maggie and her fiance Jason was true and dear to her heart. She also expressed her love for photography and how it was important above all to capture her love and special day with Jason. She was willing to sacrifice everything to have beautiful photos that she could hold and cherish for the rest of her life. I am very excited to be a part of this couples special day and capturing their love together.

Lastly, congratulations to all the beautiful couples who entered on your engagement and upcoming wedding day!

I can’t even put into words how fun and full of life this little girl is. From racing back and forth together in the grass to her little Diva poses, she’s just a sparkle of light. Going through her photos I literally could not just pick just one or two, so hold onto your seats this post is full of smiles, laughter, and great connection!

Alright moms of babies and toddlers, I am right here with you for this week’s Wardrobe Wednesday! As a mother of one active two year old (boy). I know all about the difficulties of getting your child to work with you for that one moment it would please you. We have all been there I am sure know, but this week Erica from Erica May Photography gives us some really great tips on how to prepare for your upcoming session and also some helpful ideas on what to bring with you…Hope you enjoy!

Erica shares, “Babies and Toddlers can definitely be the hardest age group to photograph. Between the spitting up, drooling, crying, and running away from the camera it can get pretty difficult. However, when you get that great shot of a challenging toddler all the hard work pays off! But dressing your baby/toddler doesn’t have to be hard! This is the one time in your child’s life that they won’t have a strong opinion about what you dress them in so go for it! I give you permission to go crazy and get your toddler something ridiculously cute to wear to their session! I put together some great outfits below that are full of personality, color, and layers – all things we have been talking about every week in our Wardrobe Wednesday posts. Of course, I would never spend $100 on an outfit for my little boy to wear everyday but I do splurge for his photo shoots. Why? Because it totally makes the pictures come alive! For babies and toddlers make sure to try their outfit on ahead of time to make sure it fits them just right (even if it means buying the size they are about to outgrow!). It is always a good idea for a toddler session to bring a snack and drink for them so they can take breaks during their session (being that cute is hard work!). A really good trick to get portraits of your baby/toddler holding still is to bring something for them to do. We had a fantastic post a few weeks ago about props and toddlers are a great example of how a prop can make a picture. I added a few pictures below of toddlers in action with their props. Often we can save the prop for the end of the session when they are bored with it all and it gives the child an extra boost of energy and smiles! Remember toddler photo shoots don’t always go as planned but just relax and try to have fun!”

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I am so excited for this week’s installment of Wardrobe Wednesday because our special guest Stacie of Stacie Hawley Photography gives us five easy tips to prepare you for your child’s portrait session. So without any further ado, let’s get right in!

Stacie says “My favorite people to shoot, you ask? KIDS – of course!! They are so fun, spunky and full of personality. Even better, they don’t mind being goofy and crazy – they welcome the unusual – and they love to be unique. That’s why when I give style suggestions for kiddo shoots I always recommend these FIVE things.

• Go for the BOLD…
It’s all about the color and pattern! There is no better way to show off their bright shining personalities then through their clothes! Colors should be bold – not neon. Deep strong color is key. Also, patterns can be your friend. Thick stripes, large polka dots, and chunky plaid are all great! Just make sure to stick with one bold pattern per outfit.

• Three’s Company…
This is a simple rule and I have no idea where I heard it, but I live by it. It’s all about coordinating your colors. You wonder – how in the world do I know what color goes best with what? Ack. It can be very intimidating. I’ve been there. But don’t worry – breath – what I tell you next will free your mind. Are you ready… ANYTHING GOES TOGETHER. It’s true! Anything goes as long as the colors appear a few times throughout your outfits. For example, in the pictures below –so graciously borrowed from the miniBoden website (love their style) – you will see this rule used over and over again. Yellow, brown, blue, burgundy – WHAT? They can’t go together you say – oh yes my friend – they can!! Yellow appears in the jacket, tights, and hat. Blue appears in the tights, skirt, and jeans. Burgundy/brown appears in the shoes, tights, hairclip….etc. I usually suggest 2-3 main colors and then have them appear 3 or more times throughout the outfits. Easy Peasy lemon squeezy. Right?!!

• One Singular Sensation…
When building an outfit, pick one thing your child likes – this could be a hat, necklace, jacket, tights, boots, shirt, etc. – and build up. If it’s a hat, then look at it, find the colors in it, and then add to the outfit by following rule number 2. For example, I heart the little grey kitten shirt below. If I started with this, I could then build up my outfit using the colors within, which in this case are blue, red, and white. Adding a jacket, jeans, shoes, and then creating a complimentary look following rules number 1 and 2 leaves you with the completed look. Bravo miniBODEN.

• Layer Cake…
Now that you’ve got your colors squared away, just make sure to layer…layer…layer. Chunky layered looks add dimension and spunk – especially when you use various textures. Add a fun jacket, a sweater, a vest, a belt, a hoodie – well the list goes on and on. Just do it – I promise it will be just what the doctor ordered! Check out the cute kiddos below, layered to perfection!

• Comfort Zone…
Last but definitely NOT least – make sure all clothing is comfortable!! Kids want to be able to move and groove as they normally would, and as the photographer, I want them to too. When they feel comfortable in their clothing it shows, again letting their personality shine through. Then I can do my oh-so-fun job of capturing them dancing…jumping…laughing…being themselves – being kids.
Well – I hope this helps ya’ll!! Happy Kiddo Stylin’!!

All outfits can be found at www.miniboden.com. They are awesome for way cute kid fashion. Plus sometimes most of the times – they do the hard styling work for you – fancy that! Ha ha.