PEYTON is...

ONE! i can't believe that it has been an entire year!  it seems like just yesterday i was invited to their home for her newborn session and now here we are chasing her around the fields of greenwell state park in her birthday tutu. this lil' gal is still just as sweet as can be and has a smile that just lights up my world.
mom found  ruffle bottom britches, which i think are just one of the cutest things, ever. petyon rocked those along with the tutu her momma made. we couldn't have asked for better weather. and big brother devon never fails to crack me up. this guy is wise beyond his years and says exactly what is on his mind.  this session was filled with love, laughter and all the other fun stuff that comes with turning one. kudos to mom and dad, you have two amazing kiddos!  happy birthday beautiful, goregous peyton! oxxo

ray bans, fedoras & toms...

OH MY! i headed to virgina for this session. mom & dad had picked an awesome historic spot, Chatham Manor. since mom and dad are both history buffs, it seemed more than appropriate. the manor was the perfect combination of historic buildings and open fields. add in this kid's amazing sense of style ((think GQ)) and hey, we've got it going on!
with new clients i always like to get the ages of the kiddos just to prepare. just on the brink of two is always a fun age. i never know how they will react to a stranger, but mark james took right to me and the rest is history. by the end of the session we were walking hand in hand. we spent the morning running and collecting rocks, climbing stairs and running back down. it was pretty much the perfect way to start the day! thanks again for allowing me to come spend the morning with you guys, can't wait to do it again!

heading to hollywood...

look out. this kid has got it going on. ryder knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go after it. he rocked his head shot session. he wants to get into acting and needed some updated portraits to send to the agencies. we were having an awesome time, had some outfit changes...and then mom brought out Bruno Mars, and that was it. this kid was dancing in the middle of the studio. i seriously thought he had taken lessons, but he said no, he just practices a lot. so combine an awesome personality, brown eyes that will just melt your heart and killer dance moves, lookout hollywood! thanks for the laughs, great company and spontaneous dance party. oxo

so there's this girl....

her name is lilly and she pretty much has my heart. i CANNOT believe this lil' darlin' is three. i have been lucky enough to capture three years of incredible memories for this family. i remember back to our first session on the beach when she was just three months old. i knew then she would probably be a beach baby. she was so happy and content. not much has changed since. still LOVES the beach and being outside.
mom suggested an incredible family owned location that was breathtaking. the weather was incredible. kudos to mom who always brings along what the kids enjoy at each milestone session. this time it was a butterfly net (((which doubles as a frog catcher))) and a fishing rod.  to see lilly in a dress and matching bracelet, rain boots and fishing rod. well, that is the lilly that i know and just love.
thanks for some amazing memories! oxo

this lil' guy...

melts my heart. meet max and his down to earth, fun loving, rad parents. i met this super cool couple when i first got into biking and the rest is history. i had a chance to come to their amazing home and visit with them. i am always so impressed at the fun projects this family has done. from goats and chickens, to a greenhouse, to all organic farming i am just blown away. they certainly have their own little piece of paradise.
they were sweet enough to invite me over for a delicious picnic lunch on the water. this was one of those weekends that i wish could have lasted forever. thanks guys for letting me snuggle your sweet little miracle. he is just perfect! oxo

p.s. when you have parents as fun as his, this may happen. lol

this lil' firecracker...

stole my heart. from the minute i saw abigale with her soulful eyes and healthy set of cheeks, i was done. i fell in love with this kid. she warmed up to me right away which was a pleasant surprise considering she is two. abigale loves to explore and is very independent. she knows what she wants and just how to get it. i LOVE her fearless attitude. we didn't plan on using the vintage trike for her session, but i mean hey, she wanted it. i had the cutest gerber daises that matched her dress, which she quickly tossed to get on the bike. to meet a kiddo that loves a bike as much as me, i can't even complain. haha

and life has a funny way of working out. despite how much we plan, pray and plead, sometimes it doesn't always go as we hoped, or as we think it should. i know abigale's momma would agree that this lil' blessing came at just the right time. babies have an awesome way like that.

 i feel like i have said it a million times before, but babies & lil' kiddos bring me so much joy. seeing the world through the eyes of a child is just incredible.  one of the greatest feelings is being able to capture fleeting moments for families to remember. time flies, faster than we realize. so thanks momma, for allowing me to capture these memories for you. oxxo

inspiration....

is an understatement when it comes to these two.  i was approached by sara & chris at our gym. they both wanted portraits to document their incredible transformation prior to their physique competitions. so i was pretty excited to say the least. i admire the dedication these two have. i think that if you ask anyone that competes. they will tell you it is one of the most challenging yet rewarding decisions. the process is long and often the last few weeks are the most trying.
i witnessed firsthand the tremendous progress that sara had achieved. i felt an instant connection to sara because i can totally relate to her journey. my heart was overflowing when i realized i would be able to tell her story. she picked me to document her progress. so amanda pearl clearly stepped out her shell and i LOVED every minute of it.
there is just something about this duo that amazes me. their passion for life & fitness is undeniable. these two have a certain spark about them and it is contagious. they have taken the advice of many (((including myself))) and have started http://www.brickhousephysiques.com/  i couldn't be more excited for them!