Wendy Collins called me about coming out to her farm in Wytheville and doing some pictures of her little baby boy, Joseph . I haven't done any baby pix in a while so I was excited about coming out and doing this for her !
Her Farm has a long dirt drive that runs along side a creek and I knew as soon as I turned into the drive I was gonna beg for some pictures here! ( I have a weakness for shady wooded drive ways!) 

As I arrived in the clearing there were those old beautiful barns and tractors , and to the right, across the creek was Wendy waving from her porch.

When we met on the porch, little Joseph reached out his arms for me to hold him! Wendy said that was the first time he had ever done that with someone he had never met, so I was very flattered that he trusted me at "Hello" :)

Wendy is one of those easy going friendly gals that you immediately feel a kinship with and I liked her right off the bat !

We started the session with  a couple of Studio style poses to honor her Father in Law who had his baby pix taken in the same blue outfit.



Then we went outside and just walked around exploring anything that looked like a good background and would also keep little Joseph happy.
 The family dogs added their own energy to the session with little "Poppy" the Terrier- Poo dashing to and fro and yapping excitingly at the 'new comer' (But he warmed to me after a while ad gave me some kisses) The old wise 'Ganny' Retriever  (I may not have that name quite right) shadowed us and brushed along our legs with a big toothy grin. Wendy said her son loved cows, so we took some with his little stuffed Heifer. I had to get some shots with the doggies ! Then we went to that beautiful drive and got some sweet ones of Joseph devouring rocks and sticks! Ha! We had a good time trying to snatch those !

I added the tractor and butterflies because they just fit his expression and surroundings so well and added some 'story' to the pictures.
We ended with some of him on Daddy's tractor and just sitting in the tall grass. (while we watched out for snakes!)
I told Wendy Joseph looked like a little Budda with the look of meditation on his face! Ha! A true Zen baby at peace with the world!
We got him to smile and laugh some towards the end by mooing loudly and quacking like a duck! Us Moms will do whatever it takes and hey, it worked!

Thank you Wendy and Bubba for trusting me with your memories!  I hope you are happy with the pictures ! I had a great time taking them and really enjoyed meeting you all!

My sweet client Stephanie Patton ( I did her daughter and son's senior pix) contacted me several months ago saying she had a special family member expecting a baby in June and would I be available for a maternity session in May? I could tell that Steph and Brooke are very close by the obvious affection and joy that was in the air!
After several reschedules due to snow , I met Brooke and Stacey (Her hubby) at their home in Rural Retreat and we discussed what kind of session they wanted. They had just moved into a sweet new home with a sun patio and nice yard to welcome little Madison home. I could tell this little girl is already the light of their life!
We looked at some sample images and Brooke expressed how she did not really want just pictures of herself , but she wanted to include Stacey and do more of a couple -maternity session expressing their love and hopes for Madison. At first we discussed doing the session at Carter's Park, but I started thinking how the beach and woods setting would be so beautiful with the two of them , lots of great backgrounds and such a peaceful setting, so we agreed on Hungry Mother Park in Marion.
Then the rain started ! Once again we had to reschedule our appointment several times, but on May 21st we got lucky and the sun came out! We met at the park and although it started off a bit warm, the shady areas on the beach and the cool trails into the woods provided enough relief to keep us going. Brooke brought some adorable props from Madison's room: A sweet stuffed monkey ( We talked about how stuffed animals can become so special and seem so real ) and little baby shoes and a book "I love you Baby" , which we used in a few pix. Brooke also showed me Madison's ultrasound images and we can already see the family resemblance !
We walked from one end of the beach to the other, up the trail and then drove to a nearby bridge for some scenic portraits and stopped just as the sun was setting. There in a quiet cove , at the other end of the bridge,  we all sat down and gasped at the beauty of the lake with the perfect mirror reflections, the sound  of the ducks waddling around the waters edge and the love of Madison in the air. We all agreed that this place was just a perfect setting and Stacey and Brooke said they want to keep me as their photographer and will let me know when Madison arrives! Yay!!
Thank you Brooke and Stacey for trusting me with your memories!  I really enjoyed our time together and I wish you a joyful birth experience with little Maddy ! I have no doubt that little girl will have all the love she will ever need! Huge Congratulations !

 

It has been raining (Or snowing ) in this area for literally a month or more! I mean about every day I have had to reschedule or cancel Photo sessions! YIPES! No photographer wants to do that! 
In the meantime, I worked on pictures for my book project honoring Appalachian Musicians, attended Merlefest for the first time, which was a major blast! Met a long time facebook friend from Sweden, whom I hung out with and wrote an article for Photoshop Creative.
But the most important event was seeing my daughter , Cassidy Joy, Graduate from Radford University! I am so very proud of her! Not only did she gradate RU, but is going to JMU in the Fall for her Masters in Student Affairs ! Heck Yeah, I'm a proud momma!!!

I love music and writing and Adore my daughter more than anything , but I always long to be out taking pictures ! I mean, its how I make a living, so things get a little anxious when the weather goes crazy! Ha!

So Im doing a happy dance and Singing Praise to the almighty sun!

Elizabeths Bridal Session!

Finally the clouds cleared and the rain ceased and my beautiful wedding client , Elizabeth Wassum, was available for her Bridal session last night! Yay!! 
First I had a Photoshop class to teach which went well, and had packed my car with my Canon 5Dlll and my fav portrait lens, the Canon 50mm f/1.2 , which produces the dreamiest Bokah ever! (okay  the 85 f/1.2 is equally dreamy!) 

I arrived at the Wassum farm at 6:00. First her father Tom, made sure the newly installed commode was working fine (Yay Plumbing!) and we talked a bit about the age of the house and how he wanted to leave it as original as possible. (Good choice) I joked that I wanted to rent the place and enjoy the peace and he said he has considered spending some time there whenever he could. 
Teresa, (Elizabeths' Mom) showed me around this amazing 170 year old farm house! But first ,let me explain that the drive to the farm is down a wonderful dirt road that parallels the creek which flows so cozy and romantically between majestic Maple and Oak. There is lilac and honeysuckle scent drifting through the air and seducing you to stay on the path excited about what awaits you at the end!
As you arrive at the farm you feel as though you have walked into an Andrew Wyeth painting that has come to life . So, rustic and earthy ,and a sweet blend of milky white, beiges , browns , rusty red and bottle glass greens. Heaven!  To the right of the creek is a spring house, yes a real spring house with a crooked little tree providing just the right bit of sentimental whimsical mood ,and behind this rises the stately but very friendly  2 story farm house with an L shaped porch and 2 stair ways leading to the kitchen and the entry way of warm wooden floors, light beiges , pinks and floral wall paper that embodies the delightful touch of creme coffee color stain in the cracks and corners. The stairway leading to the bedrooms is the sort that angles around in a balcony affect where small children and curious adults love to lean and see who is rapping on the screen door below.
And the windows!! Oh My! A Photographers most sought after light source! Every window had those window panes with the almost patina texture producing the perfect diffusion of natural light that you could never purchase or hope to find via any manmade sources! But here, provided by God, and Elizabeths Great Grandparents spirit was this ideal setting!

After Teresa, showed me around the house with me gasping and ooohing and awing with every turn, Elizabeth arrived with that Joy filled face she has always worn since first meeting her as a preteen! But, now, this 'Soon to be Bride' is just glowing with Love and Hope and Dreams for her future!
Now I cant disclose anything about the dress because , well you know! Richard has not seen it yet! So, no pictures or description can be posted here until after the wedding, so please check back after this weekend! Lets just say he will be enraptured when she walks towards him down the aisle!
We took our first pictures in a living room area on the couch and there was an adorable little dressing table with a mirror ! Next we went upstairs and I told them they had to pull me away from those windows before the sun set , because, it was really so pretty I could not stop hitting the shutter!
Then we went out to that porch, where I swear I could see her Great grandmother sitting in the porch swing with a floral cotton dress and apron , snapping beans and singing "Amazing Grace".

After a few pictures here and down the path to the Spring house , we all stood and gasped at the "Maxfield Parrish' Sky (If you know this artist then you know this sky, if not, look it up & you will know this sky! :) The big brown barn cut a nice sturdy profile in the soft yellow-blue of the approaching night with just the most gentle wisp of watercolor clouds.  Elizabeth and I stood and appreciated this moment of passing light as her Mom ran back to the house and grabbed my newly bought flashlight with Saran Wrap diffuser that I have been wanting to try out.
Right then the cake lady arrived to insure to touch base and it was good to meet her.  Grandmother Erma, came down to chat and we all just had  a nice warm realization that indeed the wedding was so close and so real now and how wonderful it was for the weather to clear just in time and provide a forecast of a perfect 75 degrees for her day! YES!
Now we were loosing light pretty quick and I suggested we walk down the road by the river, but as I reached the road , I suddenly noticed a newly mowed plush lawn path into a thicket of trees and bushes providing the perfect environment of subtle light and a Camelot canopy that would provide just the right backdrop for Elizabeth's Sparkling eyes and radiant smile! We had to work quick, as it was getting darker by the minute, but the LED Flash really came in handy ! Teresa was a real trooper as she crouched behind Elizabeth to light her veil and walked into the tall grass to illuminate her face from the side.  ( Thank you Teresa!)
Even though it was getting chilly, Elizabeth said she was having so much fun that she hardly noticed the drop in temperature ! 
We all chatted about rehearsal and the wedding and how beautiful it is all going to be until the last drop of sun sunk into the rhythmic soothing sound of the creek behind us.

I drove home with a smile on my face thinking how blessed I am to be doing what I love and to be honored with capturing some of the most joyful times of good, honest, kind and humble folks.  Its a good life ...

Congrats Elizabeth and Richard!  May the 18th is YOUR day, bask in the beauty of each moment and enjoy it to the moon and back !!  Big Hugs!!!!!