Gifts for Grandma

Happy 85th Birthday!

On May 19th, I drove across Limestone County to meet a family that was gathering to celebrate their grandmother on her 85th birthday.  It would prove to be a challenge as there were would be three different families and a grand total of twenty-nine family members in the group.  This also includes EIGHT grandsons, all five years old and younger...and two are just months old!  But I do love a challenge!  

Happy 85th Birthday!!

After the whole group portrait, grandma really wanted one photograph with her grandsons...but eight grandsons were not loving this idea at all!  So we just went with it!  

A hilarious peek at the photo with the eight grandsons and grandma.  They were NOT about cooperating for this photograph at all!  

After the photographs were taken, there was still time to capture some candid photos of the family just enjoying the day as they went on the paddle boat, drove little motorized cars, swung on the rope swing, played horseshoes, and disc golf.  Grandma had a constant smile  on her face as she enjoyed the day with her family.  I am glad I was able to be there and capture these memories for everyone.

Happy 75th Birthday!

Almost one month later on April 15th, I drove to Thornton to meet another amazing family that was gathered to celebrate thier grandma's 75th birthday.  This too had a beautiful setting near the water.  There were twenty family members plus one fur baby that came together to celebrate grandma's 75th birthday.  

The whole group photograph of the family celebrating grandma's 75th birthday.

Grandma also expressed to me that the one photograph she really wanted was one with all of her grandchildren.  Unfortunately, there was one granddaughter that could not be at the celebration.

Grandma really wanted a photograph of her with her nine grandchildren.  She has one more granddaughter, but she could not attend unfortunately.  

After all the different photographs were taken, everyone promptly went into the house and changed into different clothes.  It was seriously the quickest I've ever seen a family change!  By the time I walked up to the house they were all changed!!  I hung out with them for awhile and captured some photographs of them just enjoying the company of one another.  

Both grandmas chose FAMILY PORTRAITS as their gift from their family.  These families have so much love for one another and I am beyond blessed that I was able to have the experience of witnessing these celebrations.  I hope both grandmas had a birthday celebration they will never forget.  

The Milestone of Turning ONE!

I was so excited for Saturday, August 29th to arrive!  Why you ask?  Well, it all began on June 1st, 2015.

I received a message from a young woman named Myranda.  She was inquiring about a One Year/Cake Smash Session for her daughter.  She explained to me that she was referred to me by a close friend and she actually didn't need the session until August.  This made me extremely happy for two reasons.  One, she was a referral!  This means that her friend would receive a $10 credit towards a future session and that she would receive a 10% discount on her session.  I LOVE referrals!  Two, Myranda was excited about the session that was over 3 months away!  When clients are excited for the session, it just makes it that much more fun.

The week leading up to the session I was busy planning (as I do with all of my sessions).  I was making a list of poses for the session, as well as a list for the possible props I would need to bring to the session.  I make lists for everything...literally! 

One Year/Cake Smash Combo Sessions are really two sessions rolled into one.  They require more time, more planning, and more cooperation.  And when you consider the subject for the entire event is ONE, you honestly never know how it is going to go! 

Last Saturday I arrived at the Falls on the Brazos Park in Marlin, Texas early to begin setting up for the session.  Soon enough the beautiful little one year old, Kadence, arrived with her mother and grandmother.  This was the moment I've been waiting for since we began planning the session.

One Year/Cake Smash Combo Sessions always begin with the One Year Old Session.  Typically the kiddo is more focused at the beginning of the session so this is a great time to get some "posed" shots.  Another reason being that the kiddo can arrive on location dressed in clean clothes with a clean face.  After the Cake Smash portion of the session, they are no longer wearing clean clothes with a clean, smiling face.

Sweet Kadence sitting so pretty for one of her one year session poses!

After the "posed" portrait session, we move on to the Cake Smash Session - which is my favorite part!  It is so amusing to watch a kiddo work through the curiosity of a cake smash session.  Kadence was a perfect kiddo for this!  She sat down with the cake in front of her and she just looked at it, examining it carefully.  I imagine she was asking herself, "Do I touch it?  What will mom say to me?  What is it?  Why is it here?"  Soon enough she decides to touch it and her hands are coated in frosting!  She does not like this too much, but she's not bothered by it enough to stop messing with the delicious cake.  One thing is for sure, she does NOT want to touch it with her hands anymore!  How else do you eat cake then if you don't have a fork?  It didn't take Kadence long to figure out that she could take bites from the cake without touching it with her hands! 

Kadence loved the cake, but not the messy hands!

Kadence sat back up and just looked at us like she wasn't quite sure what our reactions would be.  Of course we all clapped and said, "YAY!"  It didn't take her long until she was bending down for a big bite and sitting up smiling as we cheered her on.  All the cheering put her in the mood to dance!  I have never seen a kid dance the way that she danced!  It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen a kid do! 

After all the eating and dancing, it was time to clean up with a nice bath in the park.  She loved the bath!  I think Kadence had a pretty good time at the park.

Bath time!

Personalized storyboards are perfect at showcasing the entire cake smash session from start to finish.

If you are interested in a One Year Session, Cake Smash Session, or a Combo Session, message me for more information.  If you book a Combo Session, you save money by bundling two sessions into one!