Gaddis Family

A month or so ago one of my former colleagues had asked about my pricing for family portraits. They booked me and said it will be their first professional photo session. I was shocked, they are such an adorable couple and their boys are cute as can be. But I also understand as a parent how hard it is to get kids to be stay clean and be in a good mood with their schedules and limited time over the weekends. I think that is where hiring a professional photographer who can go on location is one of the best money spent. It's much easier for me to come to your house or a park and have fun with the kids in their environment instead of going to a mall or studio and dealing with meltdowns knowing you only have a 30 minute session to hopefully get one decent photo. I like to get to know the kids. Get on their level, literally. I shoot a bit, we play, I check out their Matchbox cars or dinosaur food, we take a break, have a snack, shoot some more. Patience is key to getting those really nice shots. The other thing is that the parents don't have a meltdown either. Bribery still comes in handy, but they know they are not under a gun with other people waiting and watching their children misbehave. They are breathe a sigh of relief. Here are some of my favorite shots of the Gaddis family. I hope their first photo session experience was great and that they will come back for more pictures of their amazing family!

Sophie is ONE!

I had the distinct pleasure of being asked to shoot my cousin's daughter, Sophie Rose's one-year-old photos earlier this month. This darling little girl was so easy to work with and made my job very easy as you can see. I took Cate and Liam up to Northern, VA, for the weekend to share in her birthday festivities. I can't think of a better way to spend a late summer weekend enjoying my family and celebrate the angel's big birthday!!

Meghan made this amazing Ladybug Cake just for Sophie to Smash. She definitely loved the Oreo dots the best!

Look how proud she is on her walking skills.

I love this family photo of them.

Nikki and Josh Engagement Shoot

I am happy to announce the engagement of our dear friends Nikki and Josh. I have known Josh for many years and was thrilled when he met Nikki and fell in love. They are so awesome together. They really compliment each other and know how to have a fun time. They got engaged on a cruise this summer and called a week later to book me for their wedding next April. I was so honored and also excited for them. The next step was to plan their engagement session. I suggested the usual places, the beach, a park, Ybor, but they chose to go to University of Tampa. I love shooting there. I had such a great time with Nicola and Abhi and I knew we'd have just the same luck! Here are a few of my favorites from the day. I can't wait to see their Save the Date card and see what photo they picked as their favorite.

The Spanish moss with the setting sun was great!

I love how he always has a way of lightening the mood and making her laugh.

Big Girls Don't Cry

Big news in the Miller house. The Bug is off to kindergarten.

It seems impossible that I have a child in elementary school. I'm don't feel like she is old enough to go off and start her school life. Preschool was one thing. But this is the beginning of 13 years of school before college. Ok, I'm getting ahead of myself, but honestly it's serious business. A full day of school without snacks and naps. YIKES! Cate, I mean Catherine (that is what she would like to be called in big girl school), was accepted into an amazing Charter school called Academy of the Farm in Dade City. We are so excited about the school and are confident that she is going to do great! Here are a few photos from her first day!

She was assigned to be the Messenger this week as her job in class.

Here's she is at her desk. She's on the Pink Bear Team.

One of my favorite things about this school is they have to wear uniforms! Makes life so much easier in the mornings with my fashionista daughter.

Wishing Deacon a Happy First Birthday!

Last August I had the pleasure of photographing baby Deacon. Today he turns 1!

I hope that this big boy enjoys his day and I look forward to celebrating with him and his family on Saturday. Come back to see some smash cake pictures!

Happy Birthday Deacon!

balancing act

I am very much enjoying my new job.

Well, it's a job I took on 5 and half years ago, but now I am doing it all over again, jumping back on the saddle, and for the most part doing a lot of it on my own. I have a very important title with my job that I hold dear to my heart. I honestly never thought I'd love it as much as I do, but I do.

I love being a mom.

Like I said, Cate is almost 6, so, it's not brand new to me, but with age and experience it's a whole new world and I'm really getting the hang of it. I'm not saying I don't miss shooting full-time for a newspaper, I do. I miss it terribly some days. But I miss what the newspaper use to be, the people, the community, journalism, but, not the product.

I am now trying to get that right side of my brain to wake up and help me with marketing ideas for my business. I have enlisted a few friends to help me and they have some fantastic ideas. I am also so grateful for the awesome referrals I am receiving. My family and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

So, to bring all of this together. My first passion being motherhood and my second being photography. Here I give you new photos of our children, Cate and Liam.

I can't believe my baby boy is three-months old. This month last year I found out I was expecting and now I have this beautiful, healthy son.

I'm blessed.

Changes

Sorry I haven't posted in a while it's been a huge adjustment with a new baby at home. I forgot how much sleep you lose with a newborn and all the other ups and downs. He's amazing. I'm so in love with him. We are so blessed. Our family is now complete. The summer has had a few challenges, one being trying to entertain The Bug, the other that I lost my job. Starting with the first Cate is use to being super active at school. Having all sorts of activities and fun. With Liam we can't do as much but we are keeping busy with swim lessons, trips to the Grandma and Grandpa's house, the library, mastering Mario Cart on Wii and having play dates with her cousin and friends. She's doing well and very excited about starting kindergarten on August 24. The other big news of the summer is I lost my job as a news photographer at the Tampa Tribune. I started at the Trib in January 2000 and was laid off on my first day back from maternity leave. Talk about a shock! I strongly believe that things happen for a reason and even though it's hard to think about that now, I have found a few silver linings. One being I can now stay home with Liam and be home for Cate when she gets off the school bus every day. I also won't have to worry about missing a holiday with my family.

With my days as an editorial photographer numbered it's time to jump feet first into launching this company. None of this half-fast crap, let's get this party started!!!!

Things are going to change around here. I will be blogging at least once a week if not more. It will be a nice mix of personal and professional. I have already signed up for a wedding show in September which I'd love ideas from you all for my display. I am going to start a page on Facebook for the company. Please become a fan. I need to get the word out.

I can't go on this new adventure with out help from all of you!!

Thanks and keep coming back.

Here are a few photos I shot last month of Natalie Butler who just turned 1 in May. She is such a great little lady. She started taking a few steps the week we shot and now I hear she is off and running. I had such a wonderful time documenting Bear's first year. Enjoy!