This fall, my friend and fellow photographer Tracy did a picture swap!   She did my family pictures, and I did hers!   It is fun, and a little nerve-wracking, shooting for another photographer.  Because we each have our own style, and while we want to stay true to THAT, we also want to give the other photographer some of they style they shoot in, because, clearly, that is what THEY love!   It is also a pretty great way to keep learning and getting better and more diverse!!!

You may remember Tracy and her family from Grahams newborn session last year!

Somehow, we planned our Downtown Fredericksburg session for the SAME day as the annual Christmas Parade.  So we moved over to another spot down there that I love!  Tracy was a little disappointed because she wanted some Christmas lights in her pictures and there weren’t many there!  But we SO lucked out!

We TRIED this doorway … to see if it would work!    It didn’t, really!  But I loved this!!!

So then, as we were wandering around, we saw a door open and inside they were setting up for a banquet.  There was also a Christmas tree right inside.  We asked if we could shoot some in there, and the owner said YES!!!  I think Trace was about to EXPLODE with happiness! 

And I’m in 100% love with the way Tracy and Steve are communicating silently is the next one!

The boys were in their glory!  Tobin is 4… he has grown up SO much this past year!!!  He used to be super shy around me.. but he was open and silly and I totally loved it!  Graham is just a ball of sunshine.. these super cute, squishy cheek smiles are endless!

But it was all of them, together, that made this session so special!  Because in every glace, every movement… they were all in tune with each other.  And THAT, is PRET-TY special!

Of course, that was only the beginning of our session!Steve is such an affectionate daddy!  TOTALLY teaching his boys how to love in a gentle, hand-on way!  He is also playfun with them… which is fab!

I think it shows in Tobins, happy, confidant smile!

I have a “thing” for sibling relationships, as I’m sure you know!    Watching my girls, my boys, and them all together, just amazes me!  Tobin and Graham were no exception!Tobin tried hard to keep Graham close!Oy!

When I did Grahams newborn session, Tobin brought his mommy a flower….

… must be a theme… as he did it again!sweet baby!

Family pictures make me happy!

There was another, but for some crazy reason, it will not let me upload!  Argh!

Anywhoo!  These boys… I’m telling you!

Steve wanted to get in on the photographer action!  Apparently, he needed a new picture for his phone wall-paper!Obviously, this isn’t really encouraged during a session, but hey!  It was one picture!

One thing I know I lack… and Tracy, too… and, well, pretty much most mommies… is a nice picture of her with her kiddos!  I think this one… is… PRICELESS!  Worth the entire session, if you ask me!

And these!  Such a cute family!I wanted to get a shot of everyone, standing in a line, holding hands.  I just think those can be cute.  I think it even cuter, though!

Graham was getting his coat on… it was COLD out.   I am in love.  That boy has a magnetic smile!He also has a lotta love for that  mommy of his!

Tracy wanted some “playing” shots… pretty typical of the last part of a session with me!   And my favorite part, often!

Another fave!

ANOTHER of my favorites won’t upload!  Hmmmmm…

Graham was running all around!I love beginning walkers!

The sun was setting now, it was so pretty!  We were pretty much done, but decided to stop for a few more minutes on the way back to the car.   So glad we did!Whoooooa!

Proud mommy!

Tobin was all warmed up and goofy at the very end!  I took advantage.. and, clearly, Tracy was just completely filled with love for that guy!Happiness is… a chilly afternoon, lights, cuddles, playing, and smiles!

That afternoon.. the happiness exploded!

Trace, THANK YOU for trusting me, again, to capture your cutie fam!

Stacy ]]> http://focusphotographyllc.com/tobin-and-graham-fredericksburg-va-family-photographers/feed/ 1 http://focusphotographyllc.com/chicken-soup-and-popsicles-personal/ http://focusphotographyllc.com/chicken-soup-and-popsicles-personal/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:06:48 +0000 admin http://focusphotographyllc.com/?p=1902 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

Hello out there!

How are ya?

This time of year tends to be pretty slow for me… businessly (I know that’s not a word) and personally!   In fact, I only had 2 things on my calendar for ALL of February!  Well, two Official things… Of course, the month ends up getting busier than I expected.. and that’s a good thing.   But it’s also nice to just sloooooow down!

So, I’ve been busy dreaming of and preparing for my blog update (which I plan to have done by the 29th!).

But mostly, I’ve been hanging out with the kids, with my husband, and vegging!

You’d think I’d be well rested!

But we ALL know it doesn’t work that way!  Because sometimes, it’s 12:15 am, and you wake up to a screaming kid!  And you go in to find a scene that you hoped and wished would just not occur.   The dreaded tummy bug!

If you know me, you know I have a lit-tle bit of a fear of this thing.  I see posts of Facebook mentioning of kids who have come down with it… I get reports from my girls about who threw up in their class… and I think:

“It’ll be OK, Stacy!  It will…if it happens, it happens.. you’ll get through it.”

And, of course, it eventually does happen!

Luckily, my husband and I have a nice little “dance” going upon realizing what is going on… we both go in.. I get the kid and calm them and bathe them.. and he gets to clean up!  Poor guy!

I usually end up setting up a bed on the living room floor, put on a show for said sickie.. and help them through their hard times.  All the while Lysolling and washing my hands like mad!

But in the end, and I’m not sure we’re AT the end yet… fingers crossed, looking at these sleep-deprived days (Sun night I got 1.5 hours)…the overwhelming sense I feel is that I am lucky!

I get to be here to snuggle my sick little guy.  And the next day, we watch TV ALLLllll morning, it’s such a peaceful time (once the worst of it is over, of course).

Oddly, maybe, I looked over at Rowen , gazing up at the TV, sad to be so sick… and thought how CUTE he looked.  So of course I snapped a picture with my cell phone!  (I do that a LOT!)

I have recently added an APP to my cell phone… I know that sounds weird!  My very first app and I’ve had an iPhone since last March!   I added Instagram.  It’s pretty fun!   I don’t normally give my pictures any sort of wash treatment business wise, so it’s kinda fun to play!

I made a little collage of the past few days because I’m weird!

Top left… the sad, sad picture   But he’s SO cute!!!

When my kids have a tummy bug, I give them “jello water” as their first liquid, usually.   He was so tired, but loved it!  He pepped up SO fast, and was happy as a clam the whole day!  Crazy boy!

I made chicken noodle soup… I even made the broth myself!  GO ME!

We were a little worried that Valentines Day would be marred by our not-so-welcome visitor.. but it kindly went to the back burner so everyone could enjoy the day.   It popped back up last night at 4am for a one-time performance for Rowen AGAIN!:)  But he is back to himself now… after some popsicles and rest!
And I got our “job chart” done!  WOO HOOOOOOO!

Oh, and this is funny too!     I went to check on Chase to see if he was awake after naptime yesterday… and I COULD NOT FIND the boy!  Then, I realized there was a funny lump under the covers… peeled it back and found my super cute sleeping 4 year old!  SO sweet!

Anyway, I want to add a little more ME into my business… and, though a weird topic… it’s just so me!  Taking care of these people I made … taking pictures… all the time!

And I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

OH!  And WHY do my kids always get sick at NIGHT… ???  Does that happen to you too???

Stacy ]]> http://focusphotographyllc.com/chicken-soup-and-popsicles-personal/feed/ 0 http://focusphotographyllc.com/riley-reese-now-reagan-virginia-newborn-photographer/ http://focusphotographyllc.com/riley-reese-now-reagan-virginia-newborn-photographer/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:20:52 +0000 admin http://focusphotographyllc.com/?p=1859 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

When I met my husband, it wasn’t long before I met his friends from college.  I was a little jealous because he was still NEAR his friends from college… mine were all the way up in Massachusetts.  But I quickly realized that his friends were now mine as well.

He did a good job picking friends!

ALL of them have been nothing but supportive of my venture into the photography world way back when.  And ALL of them have kinda given me a hard time for making so many babies so quickly.   Especially Kenny!

Kenny and Michelle dated in college and got married.   They had their first baby, Riley,  about 5 weeks after we had ours.  We ent pumpkin picking with our teeny little bundles that year… and celebrated birthdays together.  It was a great time!!!  Then I had two more kids!!!  Then, Reese came along.

One, of many, things I love about them is that they don’t find out the gender of their babies until they are born!  I think it’s the best surprise in the entire world!!!  (I did find out 2 of mine.. had to be fair to Keith!).

Another amazing thing… Michelle gets incredibly sick when she is pregnant.. the ENTIRE time.  I can’t imagine feeling that bad for that long!    I can KINDA see, after having such sickness the 1st go ’round, trying for a 2nd baby.  Hopeing that it doesn’t happen again.   But going through that THREE times!?   Amazing!

But So worth it.. because then, you get to see this!

You get to see your baby become a proud, big sister!

You get to see INSANE amounts of pride and love beaming out of your daughters eyes when they hold the new baby!

Is the sickness worth THIS!?I think I’d answer that with a gigantic “YEP!”

6 little feet!

Doing the family pictures for this session … it was SO funny!   Kenny, Michelle.. and the girls.  Well, they usually got to a studio close to their house (They live near Charlottesville).  The studio does a great job…. just a VERY different style then me.  A very “posed” family portrait.   And soo…

Everyone sat, arranged themselves, and smiled.  And smiled.  It was pretty incredible!!!

But I got them to let loose a little!Kenny’s face = priceless!

Seeing Riley hold Reagan is adorable to me.  Since mine are closer together, they oldest couldn’t “help” like that when I had the babe!   It is so cute to see Riley and imagine Sage in her position!

I think Michelle is a proud mommy! Riley’s expression!  Ahhhhhh…love

Kenny got a turn too!  So…. the way my husband met his friends was through playing football at Randolph-Macon College.   You’d expect, then, because I’m totally stereotyping… that they would want to have a boy… at least on try 3.  Kenny didn’t!!!  He was hoping for another girl!  He loves his girls!!! 

Riley… you are one perrrrty chick!

As we have all become super busy with our growing families, we haven’t had as much time together.  So I feel like I know Riley more than Reese.  But spending the day with them… I saw more of her.  Reese is so sweet, so natural… and hilarious!!!  She was singing and dancing for me.   She laid down and looked right at me… this about sums her up!

Those eyes!!!

We went inside to do some newborn pictures of Reagan while the big ones watched a movie and relaxed!  I place Reagan onto the beanbag for a minute while I was getting myself organized and their pup plopped right down!

When I look at newborn photography, I love the pictures of the newborns nudie and posed.  Hats, headbands, chin in hands.. I LOVE those.   I am always impressed!   As I do more and more newborns, though.. I realize that try as I might to make they my style.. it just isn’t.   Now, I will never stop doing some shots like that … I think it is so simple, so pretty.  But I think I am evolving and becoming more and more comfy in the fact that it’s not “me”.   I am more of a let’s take what we have here, and make it work.. kind of girl!

And what we had… was a wide awake nugget… who wanted to snuggle her mom!

Oh… and this!  How cute is she??!

I know I’ve said it a million times, but I LOVE my custom newborn blankets by All The Trend!  The babies seem to love them too!  It calms them right down!   And they’re cute! I wonder what she is thinking about!

Oh, her headband is by Scarlett’s Poppies!  (Remember the birth I got to shoot??   Christina has opened her own Etsy shop with her crocheted hats and cute things!!!).

Reese wanted to see what we were up to!

Ohh.. just putting little Reagan into a basket!  That’s all!

Hey there, little peeker!

She really seemed to like being in that basket!  I just want to snuggle her and breathe in her head!  So soft!

This series… so sweet!  Baby feet are the best!

Since Reagan was still awake, I decided just to get her dressed and snap!!!  They confirmed for me that I am really loving the more natural newborn photography.  I get to observe more… and observing is pretty much my favorite things abotu being a photographer!

I became mildly obsessed with the heart on her tush… and her feet!

Because here’s the thing… those feet?   See them?   Those things will HOLD HER UP one day?  Like, she will walk on them!  LOOK at how teeny they are?!  So delicate!  And she will walk on them?   I may be a little crazy, but it amazes me every single time!

Look at that little body!Kenny and Michelle make STRONG babies!

LOVE…

I had such a good time watching her wiggle and move!

Snuggling Reagan… seeing Kenny and Michelle and their THREE girls together… made for a GREAT day after Thanksgiving!  They definitely have a lot to be thankful for…. I am thankful that they chose me to capture this stage.  It’s a great, great one!

Stacy ]]> http://focusphotographyllc.com/riley-reese-now-reagan-virginia-newborn-photographer/feed/ 1 http://focusphotographyllc.com/apparently-warrenton-va-photographer/ http://focusphotographyllc.com/apparently-warrenton-va-photographer/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:19:58 +0000 admin http://focusphotographyllc.com/?p=1852 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

Apparently, my personality… my wit and charm… have been lost on my own 2 boys!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Oh well!

We spent Thanksgiving at my parents lake house with my whole family!  It was so fun!  I love having us all live close together.  I hope my kids stay close by when they are grown ups too!

Anywhooooo… while we were there, we did a teeny-tiny mini session of her fam for their New Year cards!

They went with a jammies theme!

I’m sure you’ve seen “pyramid” pictures before, from me.  It’s kinda a family tradition.  I have clear memories of all of us stacking up on my dad and trying not to fall over!   The pyramid tradition continues…

I love this little family!  … and that face!  Oh Shaili!  I love ya!

A little bit of flying with daddy!   Levin borrowed Rowen’s hat!Shaili flew too, but for some reason her picture won’t load!

They ended up using the next picture on the front of their card.. along with the words:  “May all of your troubles last as long as your New Years Resolutions”

They all bought brand-new jammies for these pictures!  I want pictures like those for myself… but it would be hard to balance all 4 of ours kids on 2 sets of shoulders.  We should try!  it would be hilarious!

Jody decided she really wanted to balance on 1 foot. 

Craig got jealous of everyone in their hats… so he borrowed Rowens as well.

So, since my camera was around my neck… I ventured to the front yard to snap a few of the kids.  Rowen, who never got his “official” 2 year pictures taken (and neither did Chase.. well, his 4 year ones)… was looking pretty cute!

I love his face!  See his chipped tooth?  Poor guy fell on his face right before he turned 2.  They had to shave his tooth down a tiny bit so the sharp point would stop cutting his tongue.  It looks better like this than it did before! If I wrote about him in November, when I took these,  I would have said he was such an easy-going 2 year old!  And he still is… but in the past month.. PHEW!  The boy had a language explosion again, he says “I doooooo!” about everything, he schreeches, and just generally is becoming more independent.  It is SO interesting to watch this, in him… my baby!  And exciting!  Isn’t his shirt the coolest!???  LOVE it!

My brothers kids are not on the blog as much.. and only one was outside at the time… Reese!  I hope to do a little session for them this spring!  I don’t see them quite as often!  I wish we did because Reese is only 6 weeks older than Sage!  (And her big sister Cami is only a year older than that!)

Bry and Reese play together a lot!

I wish the other kids were outside!

Once all the big kids were in bed or baths, Levin was up hanging out in the living room.  My camera was next to me since we were looking at the pictures from the beach, and my mom and Lev were having a moment.  She MAY kill me for blogging these, but I am OK with that!  I think she is 100% adorable!

Side note:  I am NOT an indoor, dark place photographer!  I mean, for weddings, yes, but I have a flash!   But for normal photography..ummm.. nope!

I pretty much think that our kids are the luckiest on the planet to have the grandparents that they have!  The best!

A little moment with his mommy…

… and his daddy!

So, I know, I know.. these are just from November!  I’m getting there!  Next up… newborn Reagan!

I hope you are all enjoying this oddly yet amazingly warm January day!

Stacy ]]> http://focusphotographyllc.com/family-fun-lake-anna-photographer/feed/ 0 http://focusphotographyllc.com/delaney-newbon-peek/ http://focusphotographyllc.com/delaney-newbon-peek/#comments Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:55:01 +0000 admin http://focusphotographyllc.com/?p=1807 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

I got to meet 3 week old Delaney today!!!!

Such a sweet, tiny babe!

I got to meet her fabulous parents too!  I loved this cute little family! 

I ALSO loved the weather today!  Pretty amazing to be almost 70 degrees in January!

We took advantage, though!

Hope you all had a great day!!!!

This fall, I booked a photography session for my family.  I was so excited!  I thought about it a lot… I planned.  I picked out outfits for the kids.  I plead for help to pick out an outfit for me… went shopping for said outfit with a fabulous friend.  Coordinated everything on the dining room table.  I got a friend of mine to make some accessories for my girls.  I made sure to have my eyebrows waxed (HA)… I wanted it to be as “perfect” as possible!

I prepared.

NOTHING can prepare you for what this family went through prior to their session… in fact, their session was BECAUSE of what happened.

On November 5, exactly 2 months ago today, their house burned down.

They were at church when it happened… a few days after finishing their renovations and moving all of their already pared down belongings out of storage… a few days BEFORE their 4th baby was due.

They kept ONLY the most special items.  They let everything else go before moving it in to their home.

On November 5 they lost it all…. and they lost their dog.

When my husband called and asked if we had any toys or clothes to donate to a family that was connected to the school he taught at, I said “I’m sure we do”… he told me they had 4 kids.. (well, almost 4)… the oldest was 5.

Instantly, I could relate to them, times a million.  And I sat there, and I realized, if their house burned down.. well, then so did their pictures!!!!   For me, that would be devastating.

And so, this session came to be.   We contacted the person helping set up donations, and we offered….

The message from Trinity on my voicemail is something I’ll never forget.  Wavering voice, SO thankful.

I was nervous to call her back!  WHAT DO YOU SAY to someone who has been through the unthinkable?

I had nothing to worry about… nothing.  Because Trinity was amazingly open, friendly, and… grateful.   She was stunned by the outpouring of meals, clothing, gift cards…  She was so POSITIVE.   And, she was so excited… because apparently, this is something she’d been wanting!  A photo session for her family… with their new little one!

When I arrived, I was greeted with hugs.  All the kids poured out to say hello!  Trinity showed me to Phoenix’s room, decked out with clothes, baskets, a crib, a changing table, a rocker… ALL given to them!  We looked through the clothes for the 2 little ones and settled on some cutie outfits, as well as hats of the big boys!

Malachi, the biggest bro. 

I kept pronouncing his name with the Hebrew “ch” pronunciation.. he probably thought I was crazy!

He was so goofy and fun!   But the second we put newborn Phoenix in his arms… well… he pretty much melted!

It turns out, it was his first time even holding the baby at all!!!   He was so gentle.. making sure to keep his head and neck supported at all times!  I love how innate that is!

Gabriel was a little more shy… but he was also curious.. so he came to check me out!

Kyrie was a little elusive!  She wanted to be on… the… move!   So we got the boys ready first… for a group shot!

Kyrie would stop by on occasion… to check out the baby…

… to dump leaves on the boys… (I don’t know WHO would have given her THAT idea… ahem!)

…   putting leaves on the boys heads helped bring Kyrie over right where we wanted her!

And then.. she was off!^ see how Malachi is looking at her?  And how Gabriel is looking at Phoenix???

It is crystal clear that sadness is not the overwhelming aura of this family…. it is thankfulness, happiness… and family!

Oh… and fun!

As per usual, I let each boy pick a “spot” to have his all-by-himself pictures done.  Malachi went first!

What a face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   So handsome!

Love this next one!

Gabriel led me all the way across the yard to another wooded area… with steep, wet leaves.  If I was smart I would have worn REAL shoes.  Somehow I left the house with slippers on!  HAhahahaha!

Right after this, Gabriel slipped too.  He was DETERMINED to sit a certain way, so he insisted on doing the one last picture… even though his hand hurt.

Perseverance!   Pushing through…. I think he is getting these skills in abundance lately.

I decided to just follow Kyrie…

She let her inner silly goose come out!

And her “wonder” face!

In the meantime, Phoenix had fallen asleep in Trinity’s arms.

So we decided to do some newborn pictures before he woke up!!

A Phoenix is a mythical bird with a long life-cycle.  Near the end of it’s life, it builds a nest, and the the nest and bird ignite…. rising from the ashes, a new egg/baby bird is born.   Thus, Phoenix was the best name for this new baby.

He didn’t enter the world as planned, either.  In fact, some of the same firemen who extinguished the flames on their old house, were the same ones that showed up after a 911 call came in.  Micheal called realizing there was no way he could get Trinity to the hospital in time… in fact, Phoenix was born in the bedroom, on the floor, before the firemen got there!  How cool is that!??

He was born 12 days after the fire… and a few days after his due date!

He was a gorgeous newborn.  Perfect in every way!  ^See those puppies on his shirt?   He wore that shirt in honor of the dog they lost.  So sweet.

Love the awesome hat from Scarletts Poppies!

I was happy that Trinity and Micheal were Ok with having their new babe outside.  It was chilly, but not cold… yet.  And I love nature!

So tinnnny!

Remember earlier I mentioned that the pictures of the boys holding Phoenix were special because it was the first time they had held him?   Well, it’s funny.  It was a lesson to me in how each parent is different!   I thought it was funny that they hadn’t let the kids hold him, because I IMMEDIATELY let my kids hold my babies!!  Even though they are 18m apart, I didn’t bat an eyelash at that!

Trinity and Micheal were wary what I am super comfy with.. BUT… they are comfy, with what I am super WARY of!  

That hill is pretty steep!!  And the boys just FLEW down on the baby toys.  It was adorable!!!

The big kids had lunch and a rest… Trinity took a little break, and I snuggled and posed little Phoe!  (I would TOTALLY call him that if he were mine)

During these, the sun that was streaming in the window, hid behind thick rain clouds that were moving in!   It got so dark in there!   It was a little nerve-wracking… but my camera chugged on through and let me really put it through some paces!

Oh that BABY!!!!  So warm and sweet!

It was nearing Christmas, and I had a Santa hat I was dying to use!

Kiss … those… lips!

We just played around and Phoenix dozed on and off for a little while!

Kyrie was FINALLY ready to hold Phoenix!  Phoenix.. not so much!

I can’t remember who made this quilt, but I love it! I love using personal items … I think it makes the pictures so meaningful! LOVE the image above!!!

During the initial outside part of our session, Trinity expressed interest in doing some family pictures at their old house.  It was right down the road.   I thought it was a great idea…. it had gotten cold and drizzly out, though.  The kids were tired.  Micheal was hesitant… in the end, we decided to go for it!

I am so glad we did.  And I think they are too.

Driving over there, in their van, surrounded by their kids…. my favorite song came on.. “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit.   Malachi asked me if my house was on fire too.  So innocent.  I said that mine was OK, but we were going to go to his old house.  He nodded.

The boys… no hesitation!  They were ready!

The tree, it was HUGE!  And one of Trinity’s favorite spots!

This land, this house… so full of memories.

It was so well-constructed… of such quality materials… that the house was still standing.  Yet inside, most everything was lost.  Unsalvageable.

Yet everywhere, signs that things had changed.. yet were the same.  Ivy growing on the walls, new stepping stones that had been placed the weekend before..

potted plants…

But mostly… a family.   Still comfy together… but grieving.. each in their own way.

These next 2 pictures break my heart… but as so full of hope, too… bundled up in Trinity’s arms. 

And then, Kyrie, just looking around…

Old… and new! Lots of memories here.

But… together…

and with the support and help and love of a whole community…

this amazing family is moving forward…

And it could not be more of an honor to have met them.

As I was getting ready to leave, Trinity gave me a delicious piece of chocolate cake someone had brought over.. as well as some extra Boston Market Free Kids meal coupons.   I said I would only take 4… that’s all I needed.  There were 3 left… perfect for her older kids.

Trinity said … “Take them.  People have given us so much… we just want to give back in any way we can.”

Such a small gesture.. but at the same time.. huge!

I will keep following the story of this family on Trinity’s blog:  http://trinitywilbourn.blogspot.com

You should check it out if you get a chance… it’s pretty amazing, her positivity in the face of such loss.

When we were growing up, there was a plaque in our house that said something along the lines of:
A cat is a cat.

A fish is a fish.

A dog is a person.

It seemed so true!  Even though we were not the kind of people who DID treat our dogs like a person… it’s just so obvious that they ARE!   HA!  They have such clear personalities, they love to be together, they are just awesome.

Doing this session, and one last year, where it was a focus on the DOG… it made me feel a little neglectful of OUR dog, Kona!  Maybe I’ll try to do a little Kona session!

Summer was probably one of the most incredible dogs I’ve ever met.  She was so tiny, so sweet, and so well behaved.  She is a Cavalier King Charles.. and she’s 2 years old.    Her sweet demeanor is a 100% match to her owner, Andrea.    I hadn’t seen Andrea in a long time…. we met about 10 years ago when we both taught at the same school.  My husband reminded me that I took some pictures of her dog, Puck, before.   Somehow I had completely forgotten!  So strange.  I have a feeling it was way back in my film days!

Back to summer.  Absolutely gorgeous!!!

She was not thrilled with the idea of sitting still… but you’d NEVER be able to tell from these pictures.  She was amazing!

I think she MAY have thought she was a super model.  Maybe going to be Miss November or something!

She EVEN let me put her in a basket! 

She is soooo sweet.   A duck was swimming behind her… Andrea and I thought FOR SURE she was out of there… but nope!

She just gave him a knowing glance and kept right on being perfect!

The best reward??   Not treats.. but snuggles from Andrea!  And one other thing… but you’ll have to wait to find out!

The love people have for their dogs is incredible to me.  So complete… Andrea’s expression in the picture above, to me… it’s priceless!

Andrea… you are sooooo perrrrrty!  Just LOOOOOOK at yourself!  SO SO pretty!

And grass!  GRASS is Summer’s favorite treat!!!  She eats it.. like salad!   I have NEVER seen a dog eat grass as an enjoyable treat!

Well, grass and love!

I loved this random pond!!  It was in the neighborhood where Andrea grew up! 

I love her fuzzy eyebrows and lips!

I would say the next image was one of the hardest to get.  Summer just didn’t want to be very far from us!

We went for a walk back to the house for a change of scenery!  HA!  What a cute face!

.. and for some more Andrea time.   By now, Summer was getting WORN out.  Apparently, she is a kinda lazy girl.. and likes to sleep a LOT! She was ready to go!

I love these next 2!  Such a fun relationship they have!We decided to try to get some action shots!   READY, GIRL!???

HA!  She barely walked to “chase” her toys.  She did come check me out, though

Andrea wanted some inside pictures with the Christmas decor she made her mom put up early, for this occasion.  Summer lounged on the chair and alllllmost fell asleep! 

But there was ONE.. MORE… THING she needed to do first!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA!

Love it!

And I loved this session.  Dog sessions are such a fun thing to do… and SO much like a human session, since… after all.

A dog is a person!

So… HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

I love new…. it’s such a good fresh thing… full of possibility.  Sometimes, I think “new” will help me change something… a new comforter will help me keep my room clean, a new bottle of shampoo will make my hair look like the people in the commercial (HAHAHAHA), the new white-board will be a great place for me to keep track of all the business “to do’s”… a new baby will make everything, just.. BETTER!

It is a known fact that I love babies… but more than that, the thought that those wiggly, cuddly bundles are not just BABIES… they are actually PEOPLE!  Like.. a WHOLE person is IN that baby!   Just waiting to come out and make themselves known.

I’ve had 4 of them!  They are the most fabulous thing in the world!  They are funny, warm, goofy, silly, nice, happy (I hope), frustrating, exhausting, amazing little PEOPLE.  Each an individual in EVERY way.  It’s very interesting watching them grow and be “them”…. no matter that I am the mommy to ALL FOUR… they are each themselves!   I just hope I am encouraging them to be the BEST them!

Sometimes I think, I SHOULD be showing them that I am the best ME!    I don’t think I am doing THAT!   I am going to try harder on that, this year… I may even get up earlier than them for some quiet time each day, I may even try to go back to my healthy eating ways,.. baby steps, of course!

A few interesting things happened this year!

First, I feel like I MAY be getting over/ok with the fact that I will be the mommy to 4.   I think I got addicted to having babies!  I used to tell my husband that I wanted 4, but I wanted the 4th to be twins so I could have 5!!!  It didn’t happen.  And, while I KNEW Rowen was the last…. it made me sad to know that he will never be a big brother!

But now, over the course of the year… I have really enjoyed watching him grow!  He turned 2 in October.. and to me, it opened my eyes.  We can now go to the MOVIES as a family!   I can cook dinner without stopping to change a diaper…. I can go to the grocery store without stopping in the middle of an aisle, sitting on the floor behind some duct work, and nursing someone…   I REALLY am enjoying watching him be TWO!  I always had a baby when one of my kids was 2… I guess I didn’t get to revel in it like I get ot with him.  He’s my little buddy!

it’s very “new”!

Another new thing… I think, after SEVEN years… I finally feel like I can call myself a PHOTOGRAPHER… and BELIEVE it.

I…. am…. a …. PHOTOGRAPHER!

How cool is that!???????

I think it’s WAY cool!  Confidence is a good thing!   For me, it’s “new”!   It is inspiring too!

I know there is always more I can do… I can ALWAYS strive to be better (and I do…. so much!)

I’m always afraid no one will choose me… even still!  But I am confidant that they will…. and that I can provide great images of their family.

It makes me SO SO happy that people are choosing me to do their pictures because they LOVE my work… and, when they see their galleries, are having a hard time choosing!

All that… that’s a “new” for me!

I am sure this is all very random… it’s how my little brain works!

I have lots of plans for the business this year… just little tweaks here and there.  But I plan to keep with it… because I love it.

I love my job, I love my clients who are soooooo super sweet, I love my family…

I just feel so THANKFUL!

OK.. I guess I need to wrap this up!

And now, with a “new” year… it seems there are lots of possibilities!!!   I don’t have any real resolutions…  I just hope to keep moving forward… personally, professionally… just moving forward.

And I hope I make a few people smile too!

Thanks for reading my babble!   I will be back in a day or so with a VERY amazing post about a VERY amazing family!

Stacy ]]> http://focusphotographyllc.com/blabbering-personal/feed/ 0 http://focusphotographyllc.com/pugs-bealeton-va-photographer/ http://focusphotographyllc.com/pugs-bealeton-va-photographer/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:54:21 +0000 admin http://focusphotographyllc.com/?p=1642 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

I always feel it is a HUGE honor when a friend chooses to use me for their portraits.  It shows trust, respect, and just generally makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

I’ve known this family for a few years now… they live on my street, actually!   Tami and I are at the bus-stop together every day….. and realized we will be at the bus-stop together for a LONG time.  Where we live, you have to be at the bus stop with any kid in second grade or below… and our little guys are still WAY off from that!    Anyway, I feel like we’ve gotten a lot closer over the past 2 years at the stop!    Tami is one of the most sincere, open people I know.  She is super sweet, funny, and thoughtful!

Last year, she saw some Fig Newton dreidels in a magazine, and recreated them and brought them over on Hannukkah!  This year, she randomly saw a chocolate dreidel and brought THAT over with a super cute tag made of… DREIDELS!  She is a pretty talented gal…

In fact, you’ve probably heard me talk about her before… she is the sewer extraordinaire that makes my newborn blankets!   She made accessories for my kids for our family pictures… she made Hannukkah shirts… and her quilts are WAY incredible.  Mostly her own imagination-led designs…   I LOVE them.   And guess what!?   She’s making one for ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The quilt she is making me was inspired by their pictures, in a way!  She dressed her little guys, Kyle and Colby in grey, cream, black… with these tiny little yellow zipper pulls.  I LOVED the combo!

Now, I know Kyle and Colby… of course!  They are both super sweet… and love each other!!! 

Their session had been postponed a few times for various reasons… and then it became after Daylight Savings Time… BUT… my schedule was full on weekends, so we did a school afternoon.  Which meant we couldn’t go to our location of choice (where I’ve never been) 45 minutes away!  Instead, Tami suggested a random lot she’d driven by… and WOW!!!!!!!!!!  Love love love this location!!!

Kyle is in 1st grade!  He is a skilled one-leg balancer!  Look at Colby in AWE!

He is also great at making Colby feel like the happiest kid on the planet!  Big Bro’s have a way of doing that!

All fall DOWN!  Look past the cutie smiles and you’ll see….. the little yellow zipper!  Awesome, right?

Some more brother hugs before we move on!

Kyle was ready for his turn!  I’m telling you, this kid KNOWS how to work it.  I can almost hear him saying “Heeeeey ladies!”

Colby wasn’t AS in to it… but he came around  I realized later I should have had him show me his belly button… that’s his favorite thing to do with my little guy!  They just stand at the bus stop, comparing bellies!   He came around, though!

His face just makes me want to give him huge hugs!   He’s a little spitfire! So, as you can see.. this location = fabulousness!   Even this overgrown garden!  … Oh!  Hi Tami and Scott!Aren’t they just a super cute fam!?  yes!

“I’ll help you up little buddy!”

This is the OTHER side of the broken building!

And Kyle… showing off his amazing smile, again!

As I go through the final images, a zillion times… there are always a few that jump out at me over and over.  Sometimes, I wonder if I should only blog THOSE… and have smaller blog posts…. then I decide, no… those should go in a folder for my GALLERIES!  The best of the best (which will be redone, shortly!).   The image below is one of them… I just sometimes can’t stop staring at it!

OH Colby!!!!   You are amazingly adorable!

So, my little guy is 5 months younger than Colby.  I can NOT imagine Rowen jumping off this high porch in 5 months.  Rowen, in fact, can’t even jump OFF THE GROUND yet!  So this next series amazes me!

Colby wanted to jump! I held him off a second so Kyle could join him! (Kyle’s hand… so cute!)

Tami and Scott ordered a big canvas of this puppy!

Kyle, again!  WOW WOW WOW!

Happiness is…. the next picture!

I always think the kids in the front, mom and dad in the back are cute!    But especially these… so much love!And then, a little family playtime!   I loved how the setting sun brightened those trees in the background…Tami said, before the session, that they like to roughhouse a lot!  I would say so… but it’s mixed with so much affection… so much silliness!

Colby ran away for a sec!

But he ended up running right back… and straight into some more mommy snugs! I gave the boys a few cards to play with to keep them sitting for a few family pictures… but I love how these ended up!!  ^

A mini-couple session in the midst of the family one!  Scott has been, as Chase would say, “a HARD working man!” this fall!  He has been working 4 CRAZY long days.. and taking his final few classes towards, I think, a Masters Degree.  He took every Monday off of work (thus the 4 CRAZY days) to study!   Tami, in turn, has been a HARD working mommy… I think these pictures show that, even through all the tough craziness that is this fall, they are still MADLY in love.

10 years, 2 cutie babies… playing in the background!Love the front porch!

… and the boys playing with the cars together!

Kyle was thrilled right off the bat!

Colby did, however, come around!  Then, he just sat at watched, and watched… it was a LONG train!

The sun was getting super low…  but we couldn’t stop the session!  It was SO much fun!

Daddy and his boys…. I hope they cherish these FOREVER! Tami joined in too!

Then just some more playing! Oh Kyle… you crack me up!

We realized there weren’t many of Tami and KYLE… so they took a few minutes together!   Same with Scott and Colby!It’s kinda funny…  I pride myself on the “real” in my work.  Real expressions, real fun, real connections, real(ly in focus… usually!), and real color.   There are times I struggle, because.. say… as the sun sets, you often get a yellow cast to the skin.  If I try to “change” that, in post-processing.. I am never thrilled with the image… because, at sun set.. there IS a yellow cast  (that’s REAL!).   And, while I KNOW all this… I still try to “fix” it…

The sun set, this evening, was a reddish one.   It left a cast on Tami and Colby’s skin.  I struggled so much that I ended up posting the image on a photographers group on Facebook and asked for advice.  A few people said “it’s fine!!”… some said “if you have enough pictures, just don’t show it!”… After thinking about it.. I was going to leave it out.  But, when I hosted the gallery… guess what!?  I accidentally uploaded it!  

Turns out!!   It was one of Tami’s absolute favorites!   YAY!   She said, in fact, “I love the color… it’s so warm and sunsetty” (or something like that, she probably used a REAL word instead of sunsetty!)

One last image, then we headed for home!  It was getting pretty chilly out!

A lucky thing about photographers…. we get to see truly happy people.. every time we go to work!!!  I leave my sessions with these huge smiles on my face that last half way home!!  (At least!)… this session was no exception!

SO lucky to know these fabulous people!!!   Thank you, Tami and Scott… for choosing me to capture your family!  I feel like I got to know you even better that day!!!  And…. I promise… I will provide you with LOTS of Potato Latkes for years to come!

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