The Sweetest Bond

might be that of teenage siblings with an adorable, tiny little guy! This cute family goes to my church, and I took their pictures last year around this time. Tanner and Jocelyn are both growing up so fast and are so courteous and fun to be around. Little Cole is lucky enough to be doted on not just by Mom and Dad, but also by these siblings. You can see in the pictures the sweet bond they all have with each other. I really enjoyed getting to do this session!

She Don't Know She's Beautiful...

Sammy Kershaw has been out of country music for a while, but one of my all-time favorite songs of his is "She Don't Know She's Beautiful". And some of my favorite people to meet? The ones who fit that song. Morgan Ellis is one of those people. This child is absolutely beautiful and I don't think she even realizes it. I was so happy to meet her, after having taken some pictures for her family several other times. This is one of those sessions I will have a hard time picking five because I LOVE THEM ALL. :) Thanks, Morgan! I had loads of fun!

Step Back, Ladies...

This good-looking guy has grown up a LOT since the last time I took pictures for his family! Sometimes I do pics for kids from Bradley or Walker Valley and I enjoy the session so much, it makes me realize that there are so many kids out there I wish I got to teach! Cody is one of those kids. He is just the type of personality I always loved in my 10th grade classes. He is funny, personable, and easygoing. I had a great time doing your pics, Cody, and I hope you have a wonderful year!

I Want So Badly to Use a Taylor Swift Lyric but I am Trying to Break the Habit...

What a privilege it was to do Courtney's senior session on this beautiful summer evening! She is the sister of one of my all-time favorite students (and that is saying a lot, considering he hated my very favorite AP book...) and her sweet mama contacted me a few weeks ago about taking her senior pics. She kept saying that I would love photographing Courtney and it didn't take me long into the session to see what she meant. Courtney is such a sweet, precious girl and she is SO photogenic! I didn't have to work hard AT ALL to make her look good-- she just intuitively knows what to do! Her choice of colors and clothes were so cute and her personality just glowed. I am so grateful I got to do this tonight and Courtney, I hope you LOVE your pics! :)

Sixteen Candles... and some Purple Lanterns... and Mosquito Repellant

So, sometimes I do birthday parties. I especially like to do them when the guest of honor is either very young or someone I know very well, when it is a momentous birthday, and when it is outside. Therefore, I was excited when Marlyss asked me about taking pics at Brittany's 16th birthday, which also happened to be outside. Marlyss has been a friend of mine for several years (I think I even baby-sat for her once, many, many, many moons ago...), they go to my church, I did her son's senior pictures, and Brittany was in my class this past year. Sometimes it can be awkward having church kids in your class. It's true. However, awkward at times or not (falling out of the desk), I LOVED getting to know Brittany better and LOVED her whole 2nd period class, many of whom were also at the party. Win-win, I say. So Brittany, Happy Sweet Sixteen and I hope that you will always know the joy of life and friendships that you do right now! I also hope you realize what you have in that sweet mama of yours and that you will always strive, as you do right now, to make her proud. :) Love you!!!

Some Girls...

... you only have to meet once to know what sweet, genuine people they really are! And Laura is one of those girls. I was struck immediately by how friendly and caring both she and her precious mom, Tina, were. I felt at ease from the first second of the session and we just have such a good time taking her pictures (and even picking them out!). Laura is set to graduate from Walker Valley High School in just a few weeks. I know that she will have a great college career at Lee U and I am really excited about the possibility of family pictures of the (large!) Benson family! Thanks so much, guys! Congrats, Laura!!!

They Jump then Fall...

(Disclaimer: I have something of a Taylor Swift addiction. OK? The lyrics are just too good and make excellent blog post titles.) :)

I got to do pics for some of this same prom group last year at the Cleveland Country Club. This year, I did not hear from them until the last minute but we were all so lucky in that it worked out perfectly for them to meet me after my other session in Coolidge Park! We had a wonderful time snapping some cool shots and I am so glad I heard from them again. I have done Audrea's family pictures earlier in this year (in the fall) and was excited to see her again. Hope it was a great prom evening, guys!

LAST Prom Night...!

Last Saturday, I got to go to the one of the most beautiful places around (in some GORGEOUS-- though HOT-- weather!) and take pictures of this beautiful group of teenagers! I have gotten to do pictures for Nikki and Chris several times and have done prom pics for this group one or two(?) other times. I have also done Erika's pictures before! Basically, it was like a big reunion before their senior prom. :) Had a lot of fun, guys! You are beautiful!

What Every Mother Wants for Her Birthday...

These kids are incredibly lucky. Their mother is even luckier. They have an Aunt Wanda who adores them and their mother has a sister who wanted to give her a very special birthday gift... so she had pictures done! These guys were soooo much fun to photograph (though still not as fun as they are to teach!). :) Kaylee is at Lee and Madison is in her senior year. I have taught them both and enjoyed them so much. Christian, the sole boy, is a freshman. Hopefully I will get to know him in class next year! I just love, love, love their pictures and I am so glad their mother was appropriately surprised and pleased!