I photographed the sweet Burke Family last week in City Park! The two girls, Lucy and Charlotte are just beautiful and their outfits were precious! I went to school with their Moms sister and it’s so funny so see how much they all look alike – such a gorgeous family!
Here are few favs:
Marlin & Varsha… these two had a vision! I can’t take much credit for this shoot besides being there to capture it. When I first met them at Starbucks, I knew they had lots of ideas in mind for their Engagement session, which is always nice. They had their props and poses down pat. I didn’t have to take too much time posing them which allowed us to get more shots. Sometimes its important to practice a bit if you are interested in doing some unique things for your shoot. I loved all of their ideas and overall I was excited about their session. We took these last week and did a mix of the French Quarter, Fulton Street and City Park!
Here are some that I loved:
Adam & Lori had a beautiful Wedding here in New Orleans on Saturday, October 15, 2011! Preparation, Ceremony and Reception were all held at The Royal Sonesta. Being that it was a Jewish Wedding, there were lots of new things I had the pleasure of photographing. The Ketubah signing, breaking of the glass during the ceremony, the breaking of the bread before dinner and the famous Hora dance! It’s always nice to get to capture different Wedding traditions. When the bride and groom were lifted up on the ballroom chairs, it made for some fun pictures. My assistant Kacie and I had a great time capturing such a sweet Wedding. It was a sit down dinner which is always nice, the guests really seemed to enjoy themselves as they danced the night away as the Band, “No Idea” played!
Here are some of my favs from the night:
Had fun with Addison last week shooting her 6 month photos!! She has the most beautiful eyes. Love getting to photograph all the kiddos lately and I’m really hoping the weather stays nice and doesn’t get too cold on us this year. Addison is such a doll, I can’t wait to watch her change over the next couple of sessions. I’m always a fan of the tutu’s, pearls and big bows :)
So it’s 4am and I am sitting in my office responding to emails from the weekend and trying to get some work done! I can’t sleep! My Godson Reed is expected to be delivered later today, so I am wide awake. I’m thinking of my cousin Erin and patiently waiting until around 8-9am when I will head to the hospital to take pics ;) I feel like I’m still sleeping and hoping that all the emails I just responded to made sense. Haha! These are crazy hours to be working.
Speaking of babies, I figured today would be a great day to post my friend Melanie’s Maternity photos! She is expecting another baby girl. Her daughter Cameron is going to be an awesome big sister! You may remember me talking about Melanie in a few of my Wedding posts. She was the videographer for my Wedding and did a fabulous job! She also owns a photography business and photographs children, seniors and families across the lake! Melanie is one of those people I feel like I’ve known forever. The very first time I chatted with her, we just clicked. It’s funny because sometimes we will be typing back and forth to each other online and we’ll say the same thing at the same time! Happens alot! Twins. She is a great friend and someone I’ve enjoyed getting to know over the years. We often chat about our photography business’ and are always striving to push ourselves to get better! I love going prop shopping with Mel for our kids shoots! We always say how our props are taking over the house! They really are… its not even funny anymore!
So here is my beautiful friend Melanie, her husband Kevin and their little girl Cameron! These are just a few of my favs :) We took these around this fun little wooded area near their home in Mandeville! Loved it! Oh and the sunlight…. couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day!
Just beautiful! 
Cameron…. a ball of energy, a great poser, precious! So full of life!
Weeeee!!!
LOVE!
Daddy and his girl!
Seriously, I could eat her up!
Makes me smile ;)
Those were Cameron’s shoes!
Reid was ready for his 9 month “Grow With Me” session and since it was around the upcoming Holidays, we also added big sister Bria in for a few too! :) Their mom, Sarah brought along these big pumpkins for us to use as props! Loved both sets of outfits! We took these in Rivertown which is always a cute place to photograph this age. Looking forward to Reid’s next session, the big ONE! Hard to believe it’s gone by so fast.
Here are some of my favs:
I photographed Myles last week and he was adorable! His parents found me through a friend of mine who’s photos I had taken. It makes me happy when my photos travel amongst groups of friends and they wind up coming to me to take their pictures. These were taken for Myles 2nd Birthday, but we also added Mom and Dad in a few, too! It was a beautiful day at City Park and I had a great time with them! They are another group that immediately took to the camera and me. Being comfortable is what it’s all about! I always tell clients that I’ll pose you, but I find I get the best shots when they are just being themselves! Thanks Joe, Melissa & Myles! It was a fun afternoon with you guys!
Darryl & Tricia married on Saturday, October 8, 2011. Preparation was held at The Roosevelt Hotel, the Ceremony was at Immaculate Conception on Barrone and the Reception was at The Federal Ballroom. It was a beautiful daytime Wedding in New Orleans! I remember meeting Darryl and Tricia for the first time at our Wedding meeting, it was as if I had known them forever. Very laid back and sweet! We enjoyed capturing their Wedding Day and I wish them much happiness! Thanks again guys, your special day was BEAUTIFUL!!
First look photos!
Some cocktails at the bar before the ceremony! Tricia – so beautiful!! 
The Wedding ended with an AWESOME 2nd line through the French Quarter, LOVE THIS!!! Makes for some fun shots!
Lily was amazing for her shoot! I love when I’m able to get a mix of indoor and outdoor shots! The weather was beautiful, a slight breeze but still warm enough for Lily to go outside. When I pull up to the parents home for a newborn shoot, my eyes are constantly moving looking for places we can find outdoors. There was a beautiful open field with those little cat tail weeds that I love! This shoot has me excited about my Godson Reed, who is supposed to arrive early next week! I’ll be posting some photos as it gets closer. I’ll be doing the birth photography my cousin Erin, I’m preparing myself for lots of tears! Anywho – more on that later!
Here is Baby Lily! She was an angel… as you can see :)
Last week I photographed Lyla for her 6 month session! We also added her parents in a few shots :) She is getting so big and turning into such a doll, love her last outfit change! Her baby blue princess costume! These were taken at Audubon Park, which is such a cute place to shoot. Looking forward to our next session! Love all my “Grow With Me” kiddos!!
Here are some of my favs:
Madison did great for her photos last week! I love getting the opportunity to photograph my “Grow With Me” kids. Sometimes for their newborn shoots we don’t get to do certain poses with them because they aren’t ready at the time. Once 3 months comes, we seem to always be able to get some shots awake and some sleeping shots where we can position them in cute little ways! Looking forward to watching Madison grow older, its amazing how much she has changed just since I last photographed her!
Here are some of my favs:
Sleepy Babe!!
Madison is a Curtis, so of course we needed some of her with her little blue and red tutu!!
Getting sleepy…. time to call it quits, Mom! ;)
I photographed little Jack last week for his ONE YEAR Session! We also included his family in some of the shots too! We took these at Audubon Park. It was hilarious to see Jack get into his cake- he loved it! We had icing all over the place when he was done, haha! Love this time of year for shoots!!
On a side note, I went to the Lakeview Harrison Marketplace last night and had a blast. Any of my clients that live in the Lakeview area need to check it out and bring the kids! 2nd Wednesday of the month right in front of Lakeview Grocery. We just parked at my cousins house and walked/strolled over with the kids. Live music, food and crafts/gifts for sale. It was fun walking around with my Mom, Aunts and Cousins- we had a great time! I look forward to doing it again. I’ve also been itching to go downtown to Wednesday at the Square, too! Maybe in a couple of weeks.
Here are my favs from Jack’s session!
Love this one, adorable family shot!! :)
Nothing like a mother/daughter picture! 
Addison had a great session with me last week, she had the cutest little outfits!! We took these in River Ridge this time, where we always have lots of nice greenery in the backgrounds! Her grandmother made the prettiest butterfly smash cake that I had ever seen! Addison had a little bite, but I think we had worn her out with all the cute pictures in the beginning, haha! She did great… but the last fussy picture is priceless. When she grows up – those are the kinds of pictures you look back on and laugh and wonder where the time went!
I am so blessed to watch all my “Grow With Me” kids change over the years, each one having a unique personality. They make my days brighter and I love this about my job. This pretty weather has us all skipping to a new beat! It’s just awesome. I’ve been a busy bee lately, you can expect a fresh session just about every single weekday from now and until the end of the year ;)
Here are some of my favs of sweet Addison!!
Danny & Sylvia were married on Saturday, October 1, 2011! Prep was held at the Intercontinental Hotel and the Ceremony was at one of my favorite churches, Immaculate Conception on Barrone. The Reception was at Magnolia Plantation in Elmwood. We had a great time capturing this fun Wedding, such a beautiful couple! The guests surely danced it up at the reception! Lots of Spanish salsa type music was played, I think I learned a couple new dance moves ;)
It’s been fun getting to know Sylvia since the day she booked with me. I enjoyed photographing her Bridals and Wedding – she’s just so sweet! Thanks again you guys, it was an honor to capture your special day!!
My assistant, Kacie and I! I can’t tell you how many times at Weddings people ask us if we’re related! 
I had a blast photographing Sylvia’s Bridals a couple of months ago. She is just so beautiful and the camera loved her. We chatted back in forth a good bit about adding certain props and accessories to her shoot to make sure she got that “look.” I think she did great and I loved the way her red lips just popped in the photos! These were taken at a few of my favorite little spots in City Park. I just love the natural scenery in the background, she makes the photos. I am looking forward to sharing her Wedding with you all tomorrow!!
STUNNING!!!! 
Olivia is now 3 months and she is just beautiful! She is Cooper’s sister! You may remember Cooper, he was also a “Grow With Me” baby! It’s always nice to see the Rongey Family for their shoots- looking forward to the next go round! Olivia has the cutest little outfits, as always!
Just another reminder to my future clients: I am now booking for Jan/Feb 2012. If you are expecting and interested in either Maternity, Newborn or the Grow With Me package – please contact me early to reserve your session. Starting next year I am only taking 4 sessions per week. January is already almost full. Look forward to hearing from you!
Here are some of my favs from Olivia’s session:
Olivia’s Dad, Josh plays the guitar — I laughed at this photo while editing. Olivia looks like she is playing air guitar :)
Such beautiful BLUES!
LOVED the Halloween outfit and pumpkins!
I’ve fallen in love with Shannon and Suzette’s skill from the very first time I visited UpSa Daisy salon about two years ago. This was the time I was having portrait sessions taken before my Wedding and needed some cute updo’s and pretty makeup. Now, these are my go-to girls whenever I need to look my best!! They did the hair and makeup for my Wedding day and just recently for my brother and sis-in-laws Wedding last month as well. It’s always so nice when I show up to photograph prep on a Wedding day and I see these two girls! Lots of my brides have booked them recently and I couldn’t be happier. They have a natural hand at just accentuating beauty without being over the top.
So Shannon, the owner of UpSa Daisy contacted me about doing a session of the entire salon. I couldn’t be more proud of her and her staff. She has accomplished so much at such a young age. What a beautiful representation of women business owners! Shannon and the girls had some ideas for their shoot. They wanted something indoors, something glam, and an atmosphere that reflected the Salon.
We headed to the International House downtown and took these! Thank you to my sister in law Jennifer for helping me with posing and lighting that afternoon. Couldn’t have done it without her- this was a big group!!! Double dose of Jen Amato that day, HAHA!
Here are some of my favs from their shoot. A little different than my normal photography, but its always nice to step out of my comfort zone!!! We did a mix of group shots and then head shots of each one of the girls! And of course we always need a mix of smiling, serious and laughing photos :)
LOVE!!!
So fierce.. huh!!? BEAUTIFUL GIRLS!!!!!!
Time for head shots!!
Shannon and Suzette…. SISTERS!! Love em!
This picture gave me goosebumps while editing. What a group of girls, huh? How amazing is it that they all get to work together at the Salon. So full of life, style and attitude!! Love this pic!!
I photographed Lilly last week at City Park and she was such a cutie! Her little dresses were so delicate and sweet. I hope to get to photograph more of Ms. Lilly girl in the future! :) So my mom gave me this mini mouse pot holder that you put on your hand. I brought that along with me for this shoot, it really seemed to work! I’m excited to now have something bright that looks familiar to them that makes them light up and smile! Lilly’s mom emailed me over a link the other day of some sock puppets that were so bright and funny looking- I think those would be perfect too! Love getting them to cheese it up!!
So it’s that time of year again when the weather is changing and everyone is ready to book photos! I put an announcement up on facebook today that I only had a couple of spots left for 2011 and I got about 15 calls, emails, texts and facebook messages about people needed to be squeezed in. You don’t know how bad I wish there was another month in there between November and December just so that I could make this work for you guys. The second half of January is currently booked too, so please get in touch with me soon if you are thinking about having your session done in the near future. I currently am shooting a Wedding almost every weekend and 4-6 shoots per week. Somehow in there I’m still needing to find time to edit and spend time with my loved ones. Bookings will change a bit next year to make sure I keep some balance in my life, but for now I am working like crazy.
If you are a person that recently inquired and I gave you a few possible dates, please get back with me so you can be guaranteed that spot. They will all be full in a couple of days. Right now I only have about 3 days left in December. I will be taking off for a week or so around the Holidays to spend some time with my family and refresh for the new year. And… also to try and enjoy Christmas :) My lower back is finally healing after time spent at physical therapy, a new back brace to wear while I’m editing, and some light exercises. I am really hoping I don’t hurt it again! It’s hard because I just want to keep my head down and keep moving right along but sometimes our bodies just tell us we need to slow down!!
I can’t thank you all enough for the love and support you’ve shown me. Thank you for hiring me as your photographer or just stopping by the blog to read and see whats new!
I was so happy to get lots of smiles from Tommy on the day of his session! He did GREAT! Loved his Saints outfits – I’m seeing lots of Saint’s gear with my sessions now that football season has started back up again! Whooo dattt! Tommy has such a beautiful blue eyes, they just pop in the photos!
Here are some of my favs:
I had a great session with Lainey last week! Her mom, Dianna always has the cutest little outfits for her! Loved the Halloween attire! One of my favorite things about walking into a “Grow With Me” clients home is seeing all of my photos scattered throughout the house. What a treat to see my photos in print – so often I don’t get to see them come to life! Looking forward to watching Lainey grow up over the next year! :)
Here are a few favs from our session:
