Y’all are beautiful EXACTLY as you are!

But we made it alright! We took several hundred pictures of several hundred dogs and will spend the next several hundred hours editing, uploading, and sending them out to everyone who participated. Alright, alright…so it won’t *actually* take several hundred hours… ;)

Some of the dogs were cute. Some were funny. And some of the shots I got were so silly I wish they were my dog so I could print them out big and see them every day. Here are a few shots as well as a few entertaining outtakes…my favorite! It was *so* hot that day…lots of doggie tongues hanging out!

[insert here admission that I am the worst blogger in history, along with obligatory promise to be better in 2010]

Alright, moving on! The end of maternity leave about a month ago snuck up on me, and I have some blogging to catch up on. Puppies, seniors, and this *swoon* gorgeous family. With the GREATEST. HAIR. EVER. Not joking! Look at their boys’ hair!

The mom called me on Friday afternoon from the highway. They were driving to Texas. Her husband was being deployed to Iraq…on Monday. They needed an emergency photo session because the photographer they had hired couldn’t do it, and they wanted pictures before his deployment. I moved some stuff around and drove the hour and half to the town where they met, grew up, and fell in love. We took pictures on acres of land where generations of their families have swung on tire swings and run through the tall grass.

Totally worth it.

I promised myself I would pick only 8 images for their sneak peek. I lied.

Monica: Thanks for reminding me why I do what I do.

But, after two weeks, a lot of drama, a few failed backups and a bit of slow shipping, I’m up and running again with a brand new Mac!

To commemorate this special occasion, here are a few shots from a recent senior session I did.  I love the light in these, and my model was so much fun. Enjoy! (And go backup your hard drive…)

Though I’m not giving away any HDTVs for only $450, I will be offering a first come, first serve Black Friday Portrait Special this year! Starting now, and until midnight on Saturday, you can snag one of TEN full portrait sessions – complete with flash drive of all edited files – for only $150.

Email or call today for more information or to reserve your spot.

Happy Black Fridaying!

The fine print: $100 will reserve your spot.  Tax is included.  Full resolution images may be printed.  Sessions must be purchased by Saturday at 12:00 am and must be scheduled before May 31, 2010.  A typical session results in 25-35 high quality, fully retouched proofs.  Additional charges may apply for excessive travel or groups consisting of more than five people.

His birth is an interesting story…interesting enough to be featured on the news before he’d turned 24 hours old!  I woke up Sunday in labor…my husband woke up with swine flu.  I didn’t realize I was in labor (contractions were painful, but spaced too sporadically) until 11:30 that evening.  I went to see my midwife and she told me I was a nine! This was a shock (and bad news to me, as I hadn’t slept in a long time) and I called my husband who was trying to rest off the flu at his parent’s house.  He drove to the birthing center and watched the birth of his son through the window.

Will was born at  3:31 am after a very exhausting labor, but he was pink and screaming and perfect.  They had to put him under the incubator because he was hypothermic and my body heat wasn’t doing enough to warm him.  He seemed to get better and we went home before noon that day.  But more problems were in store…by the time Will was 19 hours old, he still refused to eat.  He had nursed (barely) twice since he’d been born.  We visited our midwife who confirmed we needed to go to the ER.

Watching strangers give my tiny newborn son an IV, catheter, and spinal tap was very difficult.  (I actually had to leave for the spinal tap.)  They hooked him up for fluids and we waited in the hospital for three days while cultures formed from his blood, urine, and spinal fluid.  In those three days they took him off fluids and he began nursing and keeping down fluids.  When his cultures came back negative, we were allowed to go home, and he’s been thriving ever since!

On top of that, we had just bought a house before Will was born, and had to move amidst all this craziness!  We had a ton of help from family, friends, and our church, and we’re all moved over (though not even close to unpacked)!

Today we took a walk around our new neighborhood.  I can’t get over how gorgeous this place is!

Save the dates! In an unknown and mysterious Dallas location (read: I haven’t quite decided yet) on October 24 and November 14, 2009, YOU are invited to take part in annual holiday mini-sessions! This is a perfect time to come away with a few great shots of the kids and family, and to get those Holiday cards in the mail before you can say “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.”  (Talk about a stress reliever!  Let a pro handle the dirty work.)

The cost? Only $150 (includes tax!) – and you get…

• Up to 4 subjects (2 more than regular minisessions!)
• 30-45 minute session at the “mini location” I choose (will be near the east Dallas area or suburbs)
• 10-15 digital proofs presented in an online preview gallery
• 25 folded greeting cards with envelopes, in your choice of elegant linen or modern pearl finish
• Your choice of 10 custom designs
• 10% off a la carte orders placed within 7 days of your gallery preview
• Option to purchase digital, full resolution files of your images

Call or email to reserve your spot!  $75 will save your time slot.  All times available on the hour from 8am-5pm, excluding noon for lunch.  Email me today!

I promised anxious mama a 5 picture preview by Monday, and I’m keeping my word! Here is a lovely little angel just 9 days old. Mom and dad braved excessive *ahem* stinkiness and were very patient, we got some great shots and I’m really excited about all of them!