Here's Sydney, another little friend I first met and photographed a couple of years ago. Look how much she's grown up, Mom and Dad!


This time we were able to include Sydney's parents Amy and Dale in our session. I'm so glad to have been able to capture the tenderness this family shows toward one another:

Sydney makes my red chair look good, don't you think?

And she has no shortage of people to snuggle with, which is a good thing because this girl is a born snuggler.

It was so fun to catch up with you and hear that you're loving school, Sydney. You've already been given two wonderful presents named Mom and Dad, but I hope Santa also brings you two front teeth for Christmas!

Live in harmony by showing love for each other.

Be united in what you think,

as if you were only one person.

Be humble and consider others more important than yourselves.

Care about them as much as you care about yourselves.

Philippians 2:2-4 CEV

How fun is my job? I get to watch kids grow up before my very eyes and take photographs of them to serve as milestones. This time last year I was corraling cousins Reese and Piper at Sunny Hearts, and this year Reese's baby brother Jake joined us:



These are three very sweet kiddos, as you can see by all of the hugging they did for me with only a little bit of prompting.

Reese is proving to be not only a thoughtful big sister to Jake but also a generous cousin and stand-in big sister to Piper. Piper returned the love by sharing one of her itty bitty pumpkins with her for a minute or two.

Just too cute!

And finally, the many faces of our three little friends, from oldest to youngest:

I can't wait to see how much the gang has grown up by next year!

Treat me with kindness, Lord,

so that I may live and do what You say.

Open my mind

and let me discover the wonders of Your law.

Psalm 119:17-18 CEV

Can you imagine anything more fun than being asked to come to work at 7:15 a.m. for a staff photo shoot for Christmas cards? Wouldn't you be eager to stand in whatever position the photographer demanded, hopefully getting to hold something ridiculous or "just do something funny?"

Well, the folks at PCCare found themselves in this exact predicament a few days ago. Some of the folks assumed their roles in order to get this over with as quickly as possible, while others ... well ... let's simply commend them for not getting in their cars and driving back home. As you look through this series of shots, pick a person and decide which group he or she falls into:

Somehow I have a feeling that a shot more like this one will make the cut for the Christmas card:

Thanks for humoring me, guys, and for giving me a good laugh when I look through these images. Now get back to work!!

I may not be all that eager to move into wedding photography, but I just LOVE doing bridal portraits!

Lovely Jill and I started with a few "formal" poses ...



... in a couple of different beautiful locations.

Then when Jill asked me to get a shot of her fabulous shoes, I discovered something even more spectacular:

Since Jill is a runner, she of course needed this tattoo representing the Greek god of running. I think it's pretty amazing, and it said a lot about the multi-faceted woman I was working with. Time to step it up a notch and try out a few new, less "formal" ideas:

By this point we were rapidly losing our last bits of sunlight. The streets were quiet, so we of course ventured out into the middle of Business 288. Since Jill's younger sister Amber had come along for the shoot, we insisted that she follow us out into oncoming traffic. Evidently word spread quickly that three crazy women were standing in the road because cars suddenly started coming from both directions. I'm happy to report that people seemed glad to swerve to avoid hitting our beautiful bride!

Lots of drivers enjoyed honking and waving at Jill as they cruised past. Fortunately she took it all in stride and smiled all the wider for my camera.

Lucky seventh grade math students in the Dallas area get to look at this face every school day. I wonder whether that helps or hinders their learning process...

I really like the images we were able to create together, Jill. Thanks for your patience and adventurous spirit. I hope you weren't too worn out to run the next morning's race with grace and perseverance. Blessings to you and Matt on your upcoming marriage, and may you learn and live with great love!

I run in the path of Your commands

for You have set my heart free.

Psalm 119:32

For those of you who would love to have family portraits done in time to create custom Christmas cards:


Basic packages include a 20-minute mini-session producing an online gallery of 10 to 12 edited images PLUS 30 Christmas cards incorporating your favorite images from the session. Package prices begin at $150 for 1-4 people.

Morning mini-sessions will take place in Old Downtown Freeport, and evening sessions will be in the heart of Angleton. A few mini-session slots are still available, so contact me today to claim yours!

When you turned three, what sort of birthday party did you have? Well, Mary B had her party at Buckhorn Ranch, and oh my goodness was she delighted!



Little sister Lila was also celebrating her first birthday, and she kept her grandmas and friends busy trying to match her pace. "Let's play here! Ooooh, nice hat. Can I borrow it? Mmmmmm, I hadn't realized I was so hungry. Hey! What's going on in here? Pony rides! Lemme at 'em!"

As much as Mary B loved riding the pony, she ADORED the animals in the petting zoo. This ball of fluff occupied much of her time and attention.

Mary B's eyes are saying, "I must touch that rabbit. I must. I must find a way to get. that. rabbit.

...

I had never before realized that cages are as much a form of protection as they are restriction.

Some of the other patient animals who seemed perfectly content to let small children pet, pat, and poke them:

This goat was out enjoying a stroll. Had he had his fill of children petting him? Is he more of a roving ambassador free to roam where he chooses?

Finally the time came to cut the beautiful horse-shaped birthday cake. Mary B and some of her friends got front row seats for the occasion...

...while Lila was happy to wait for someone to bring her a slice and let her dig in.

What a fun party! Happy Birthday, Mary B and Lila! Thank you for inviting me to come and take pictures of your big day. Many happy trails to you!

May all the gifts and benefits

that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ,

be yours.

1 Corinthians 1:3 MESSAGE

I apologize in advance for the first photo in today's post. It simply had to be shared, now that you've seen the senior photos of Maggie, Hannah, and Heather. John's turn will come up within the next month.

We've always said that when the Guidry Triplets arrive, they bring the party with them. Here's how the party looked at the end of their first day in kindergarten at Angleton's ECC:

Now, here's how the party ringleaders look today at age 18. (And you thought you'd never make it to this point, Shelly & Lloyd!)

Even though they're triplets (and to top it off, the girls are identical twins), Leslie, Lloyd and Lauren could not have more distinct personalities, gifts and interests if they tried. Can you see what I mean?

I had fun using essentially the same location to create a different look for my three subjects. Maybe God was thinking something along the same lines when He created Lauren, Lloyd and Leslie!

L, L & L, I do believe you're growing more fascinating every year, and I'm looking forward to where the future will lead you. One thing is for sure...

... we can count on you to bring the party!

Celebrate God all day, every day.

I mean REVEL in Him!

Philippians 4:4 MESSAGE

Yes, these sweet sisters are beautiful in full color, but I'm swooning over a few shots in black & white. Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to introduce you to Zia and her tiny new best friend Zoe!


Zoe slept peacefully while I rolled her around looking for nice angles ...

... and then she woke up ...

... and saw that PERSON, that LOVELY CREATURE who flits past her line of vision every now and then!!

Can you blame her for being so smitten by Zia? Don't you wish you could lie there and just look at her all day?!

Of course there's this lovely lady to snuggle with as well:

Aaaahhhhhhh, life is good!

Thanks for sharing your precious girls with me, Adde. Somebody sure knew what He was doing when He placed them in your tender care!

Children are a blessing

and a gift from the Lord.

Psalm 127:3 CEV