Here are 7 Tips for Making Family Photos Easy and Fun! Having great family photos means so much to many families. You will love flipping through the photos years to come and love seeing them framed on your walls. It’s amazing to see how everyone changes over the years. However, taking the photos is another story. It can be stressful and sometimes painful for you (and the photographer). So here are some tips to make the day memorable, not frightening! Find a photographer that is right for you. Don’t just go by word of mouth. Look at their FB page, their Instagram, their website, and Pinterest. You will be able to determine if you are a “match” to their style right away. Some shoot indoors only, or outdoors only. Check with that as well.Decide on a date & location ahead of time. Do you want springtime photos? Beach photos? Do you want to play in the snow? Make sure you discuss your options with your photographer in advance to secure a location and time. And remember, if you are shooting at a public venue; make sure to check if you need permits or if there are any events going on beforehand.Props: it is usually the responsibility of the family to bring props. Examples may include blankets, picture frames, matching clothing/scarves/hats, or toys for kids. But, be sure to discuss ahead of time, for the photographer may want to bring props as ...

For her 14th birthday...Carly's parents chose to surprise her with a fun, personalized photoshoot! What fun we had! Her grace and presence were well beyond her 14 years. Enjoy the sneak peek!!   

Sexy and desired, ileostomy bag and all... After I saw the Amy Schumer "somewhat nude" image going around on the internet, I put it out there, on my photography page, offering 5 free shoots to anyone willing and brave enough to do something like that!! The next day, I met Shelbie at a LV Style Magazine shoot and she was 100% all in to do a shoot...but there was something more.  This past summer, her body was permanently changed...here is her story.   "One day after doing this shoot I went on my first date since having my colon removed back in July 2015. I was nervous for the obvious reasons. What are we going to talk about? Is he going to think I’m funny or weird? Is my hair too frizzy? But I wasn’t nervous about telling him about my ostomy. I thought to myself, “I don’t have a colon anymore and that’s OK.”  I have been living with Crohn’s Disease for 10 years now, so you could say I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with having a “pooping disease.” Before my surgery I showed no outward signs for having the disease except for when I was running to the bathroom with an expression of panic and agony. If I did tell people about it I would brush it off and say, “Oh it basically causes stomach pain and occasional diarrhea.” I tried to spare them the truth in order to hide my ...

"Shopping for kindergarten supplies one day and diagnosed with Leukemia the next. Our beautiful, vibrant 5-year old Phoebe has cancer," - Phoebe's mom (September 2015)  I remember watching my mom die in 2006 from Lung Cancer. (She never smoked, by the way...she was a stay at home mom, died 5 weeks after diagnosis)  What she endured in a 5-week span was more than someone with cancer would endure in a 2 year period.  The meds, the nausea, the hair loss, the aches and pains, the fear.....then her her final day.  People often ask me why I volunteer my time to "Pediatric Cancer" research, activities, events, fundraisers etc....and my answer is this....because I HAVE to!  I have three beautiful little girls, that are healthy.  Something I pray for everyday.  But "what if....." Some people I know....live the "what if...." It happened to them.... And if I can help them cope in some small way; if I can make someone smile just for a minute, to escape the horror of what they are going through, I will. My gift to her was a photo shoot. A magical, fairytale-like photo shoot. I made her dress, I called a local vintage supply warehouse (The Fox & The Finch Vintage Rentals, called on some friends to help (Kristine Ortiz and Veronica Caggiano)...  Meet Phoebe.Here's her shoot and BTS footage and pics. ...