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Every time I shoot a mini session, I tell myself that I am going to keep it to 30 minutes and 15 images.  It never happens.  The reason why, you see, is that adorable clients like this family show up and I am suddenly overflowing with ideas that I am compelled to try out!  When I saw sweet Miss R with her arresting blue eyes, dark hair, and that porcelain skin, I was smitten.  Add in some classic little girl styling, and I was a goner! Her little brother, Master M, was a total cutie pie and was in that wonderful stage between crawling and walking, i.e. my favorite age to photograph kids!

This was another session shot in downtown Eliz. City, and, as you can see, each session brings out new hidden locations that keep things fresh.  This gorgeous mamma is expecting her 3rd little peanut this January, and I cant wait to meet her precious newborn daughter!!

Thank you, Woods family for blessing me with the privilege of spending an evening with you and for letting me be the one to preserve these treasured days for you <3

Just when I think that I have exploited a location for all its worth, I find new ways to capture a family.  Every family is different and every time I shoot a new family at an “old” location, it breathes new life into it.  I have been shooting a lot of sessions in downtown Elizabeth City lately.  Honestly, it’s a really photogenic town and I am thankful that I live so close to downtown.

This sweet family drove over from Raleigh to spend the weekend with some friends and asked me if I would like to do a family session for them while they were in town.  We had met before, when we did a mini session last spring with the vintage truck, so we wanted to mix things up and give their next session a more urban feel.  When we first started out, their three year old was feeling a bit under the weather and wasn’t super stoked about posing for pictures.  I find that, when this happens, sometimes the best thing I can do is take the child for a walk alone and help her warm up to me and to the camera.  Sure enough, after a few minutes of playing together and letting her mess with the camera, she was all about posing for me.  I got so many great shots of her that it was hard to narrow things down.

Roberts family, thank you so much for spending the evening with me and letting me get to you know guys better.  I can’t wait to do it again!

Photo Bomber!!!  My wonderful friend Alyson surprised me and showed up to watch my kids while I did this session.  Pretty stinkin’ amazing!

Nursing Break!  Little Miss A needed some mamma time <3

I could do a whole post with 2-4 year olds and their cheesy toddler smiles.  It’s my fav!

Real life – mom and dad looking on while the kids spin around and act silly.  I can’t script these things.

A few weeks back, I shared a maternity session with you from my gorgeous friend, Sabrina.  She was expecting her FOURTH daughter, and Miss Shaylee made her debut earlier this week.  Sabrina brought her little ladies over to the house yesterday and we took about thirty minutes or so to get a few shots of her quiver of cuteness.  Ladies, prepare yourself to have serious newborn fever after looking at this beautiful family <3

Although I never like it when Mr. Bean has to travel for work, I do take advantage of the opportunity to cover my dining room table with sewing supplies and not have to clear it off for dinner.  This top, called the “Cordelia Peplum Top” comes from the talented pattern makers over at My Little Plumcake.  You can see it here, http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyLittlePlumcake?ref=shop_sugg.

The pattern has the option of adding a Peter Pan collar, but I decided to leave it collarless because I thought it looked too big on this small sized top.  I made Avenlea the size 12 mos.  I thought it would be too big, but as you can see, it fit her perfectly.  She does have a little bit of room to grow, but I think it fits pretty true to size.  She’s 12 months old and 17 lbs, for comparison.

Sewing the top was very straightforward.  I had a bit of a hard time with the instructions, mostly because I’m used to following illustrated patterns instead of photographed ones, but once I read it through a couple times, it was super easy to go from there.  The pattern calls for a hidden bias finish on the arm holes, but I decided to use bias tape like this instead because it was faster, easier, and I liked how it looked.  I think it’d be super cute to use the chevron fabric for the bias too.  I might do it that way next time.

Overall, I am super happy with how this top came together and how it looks finished.  The keyhole in the back made it super easy to put on her and was easier to sew than I thought it would be.  I’m definitely going to start adding keyhole openings to some of my other patterns.  I love the style and its so much easier than a zipper!  I’d love to see this pattern with a lace overlay in the top part of even made into a dress or romper…..hmmm….