a day to remember...

this shoot was so much fun that I could not stop!!! I just kept shooting, & shooting, & shooting...:) Charlie & Kate's grandmother came along to get in some of the shots & the ones of them together turned out so sweet.. definitely lifelong keepers:) It was such a special day of playing with mom & grandma.. the way life should be.  These kids were full of spunk! I love the shot below where Kate is posing like the mermaid who lives in her backyard. And Charlie's smile.... ohhhhh, these kids should be models!! 

chilly willy

It was FREEZING the day that we did this shoot but little Will hung in there! His little nose & cheeks were as red as rudolph's but you would never know it by that bright smile on his face! And those sky blue eyes... ahhh, I could just eat him up! I know he makes his mom & dad so proud! Presenting.. Chilly Willy...:) 

cousins, cousins, cousins...

I LOOOOOVVVVEEEE cousin shoots!!! These kids are the epitomy of cute! My friend, Amanda, started a company called Rik-Rak (http://www.rik-rak.com) so of course they were all dressed alike in rik-rak attire from head to toe. It was so much fun to see these cousins interact & how much they loved each other. They are all so close in age that I am sure they will have so many funny stories to tell of growing up together for years to come:) Chris (my husband) & Matt (father of 3 out of the 4 boys) went to the citadel together so maybe one day these boys will even grow up to be cadets:) - SCARY!!! I hope you enjoy...)

lucky ducky

is what I call this family. These floridian natives are now stationed in Charleston for the next few years. Not shabby, huh? I took them to one of my "hot spots" in Mt. Pleasant for this shoot.. Alhambra Hall. I grew up right down the street from this park & always thought it was so beautiful!  I have wanted to do a shoot here for some time so I was thrilled when they agreed to meet here. It was everything I thought it would be & more.  This family was adorable together! I really don't know which pictures were my favorites.. the ones of little sis with big brothers or the big family huddle.. what do you think????? I know... too hard to choose....:)

smiling faces, beautiful places....

I know.. that is totally cheesy, but is IS the South Carolina motto, isin't it??? That is seriously how I feel about Charleston. These pictures remind me of everything that I love & miss about Charleston. I LOVE the coast & living on the water. I LOVE the people that we left behind there too. This family is no exception. I met Mandy YEARS ago when we were both single & silly. We were Young Life volunteers & we had more fun than you can imagine together. Everything about Mandy completely reminds me of those days... I met Chris at YL so it is all good memories! Anyhow, we did this shoot at Adam's parents house.... talk about a photographers dream come true! Their son, Harrison, was unbelieveable. As I was going through these pictures, I noticed a common theme... his tongue was always out!!! It was histerical! Seriously.. every other picture... to me that is a true sign of happiness! Who wouldn't be the happiest little boy ever if they had parents like this?? The only thing missing in these pictures is a big Chick-fil-A cow in the background. Mandy & Adam, what do you think?? Ha ha!!! I loved meeting Harrison & being with you guys!

they call him little john...

but I call him Lightning. I mean this boy was FAST!!!! We set him down on the ground to take some "natural" shots of him & away he ran.. again & again & again!!! We had to literally strap him into his wagon to take his picture! The best part about Little John is that he belongs to my friend, Caroline. Caroline & I lived together for a while in high school so we knew each other very well & she has been like a sister to me for so many years. I absolutely LOVE that Little John is her son. He is like the total package of having a little boy. He is adorable, sweet, 100% boy, & unbelieveably cute! The best part about Caroline & Big John having LJ is that they have not changed their lifestyles at all. They were such a busy couple before they had him & so I always wondered what life would be like for them post child. As far as I can tell... absolutely the same. Everything they do LJ does too... I LOVE it! Caroline, I miss you dearly & I loved getting to spend time with LJ... he really makes me laugh b/c he reminds me of YOU!!!!

8 little reindeers sitting on the beach...

well, here they are.. this is MY family!!! Yes, I know.... they are ADORABLE!!! I spend so much time taking pictures of other people's families, I thought I would dedicate this post to our family. We took these pictures on the beach when I went home to Charleston last week. It was so much fun for me to be able to capture our lives together & especially the way that all of the cousins interact. By the end of the shoot, all of the kids were rolling around in the mud  - unavoidable with this crew:) They love each other SOO much... it really is sweet!  Six of these reindeer are my sister's (I know... CRAZY!) and two are mine. Let me see if I can remember all of their names.. :) Ellison (16 months), Mary Catherine (12), Grey (3), Matthew (13), Chase (3), Hopie(4), Morgan (13), & Noah (20 months). An early MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family to yours!!!!!