PictureLily Photography

FINALLY....

2010-07-13T19:35:00.003-05:00

A NEW BLOG!! COME ON OVER- IGNORE ANY QUIRKS, IT IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS. I PLAN TO MAKE CATEGORIES FOR EACH POST, SO YOU CAN PULL UP BABIES, MATERNITY, ETC! I WILL POST WHEN I GET A CHANCE.
http://picturelily.net/blog/

A Real Vacation...

2010-07-11T21:12:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know I will be taking some time off to spend with my family and friends starting Fri.. I will be checking emails periodically and doing some work. I will probably not be posting any galleries while I am gone, unless I have told you. I am going to try and have all due that week sent out bf i leave. As well as peeks:) Scott and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary and I have brought my desktop on all family vacations the past 2 or 3 years. All orders paid for will be submitted bf I leave and will be checked off and ready for pick up/mail when I get back. Thanks so much!!!

It's Cool in Here...

2010-07-09T14:41:00.002-05:00

Oh my goodness! Georgia is HOT! I had 2 shoots yesterday and totally roasted. Well, today, both of the kids are gone, Scott is at work and my backside has not left the computer chair. I am nice and cool:) Wanted to catch up on some peeks- here is the rest of baby Bennett (and his precious sister, Ava) and my new friend, Andrew ( and his precious brother, Will)
Stay cool!!

Fabulous 1 Year Olds...

2010-07-07T14:57:00.003-05:00

i think 1 is my fave age. I have always had so much fun with that age! Here are 2 precious babies celebrating their first bdays with me. A new (beautiful and happy) friend, Cindi Claire-

Isn't she a DOLL??
And little Bennett (we call him "B" or BB!) TOO CUTE! I put together a less traditional storyboard for the fun, little guy! More peeks to come for him.

Grandchildren...

2010-07-06T21:13:00.004-05:00

Thank you so very much to all my awesome clients for waiting on their tidbits of their pics! Brutal honesty here... I have been working my tail off!!! I am trying to wrap up editing all of my June sessions. 3 of them are newborn shoots, so we have been designing birth announcements. I told Scott when I get through these, I am in the home stretch! My calendar for July is full! I am really working hard keeping my scheduling light. It will be nice for me and my family for one, but huge for my business! I have an awesome lady that will start making me a new blog soon! I cannot wait. This is a DISASTER! I am so embarrassed that my blog is such a mess, but I am waiting patiently to make it perfect and user friendly:)

I have so much work over the next few weeks and then our beach vacation. I will be setting a date that ALL orders need to be submitted and paid by. I am throwing around the idea of a charge to repost a gallery. I am TOTALLY understanding of circumstances! Believe me- we have been through and still working on digging out. But, this is how I help support my fam. Please think about your pics and what you wish to get out of them and lets get those orders in!! Trust me- you will be so happy you did:)

I had a sweet lady call me awhile back and ask me to shoot pics of her granddaughter. We scheduled and even added in her 2 grandsons. Her yard was perfect and the children were precious! Thanks so much for having me over to hang out with the grandkids!!

Hope you love them!
PS- I LOVED her hydrangeas- they are my FAVE. I am so sad the blooms are drying up and going away:(

How Could I Have Forgotten This Angel....

2010-06-30T10:00:00.002-05:00

McKenna- babe- I am so sorry I skipped you!!! You are precious:)

Baby Ethan...

2010-06-28T15:55:00.001-05:00

He was such a doll! I am still in Sc, flying home tomorrow. My awesome sis is home sorting orders for me. Thanks for all your patience:)

A Wonderful, Fun Family...

2010-06-24T07:54:00.004-05:00

who could use an extra smile:) I hope these work!

I got up at 7:00 this morning, took a walk to the beach (my parents and grandmother live just a few blocks from the ocean!) I am going to work for a few hours and then tackle the age old fight- FINDING A BATHING SUIT! My bathing suit is currently being held together by a safety pin- how much do you trust a safety pin???....

Hey...

2010-06-23T20:06:00.002-05:00

Hi! I am in SC with my parents, with my laptop! I will be blogging in the morning. Travel has worn me out today! SO- my blog is sooo messed up- please just hang in with me until I can get it figured out or do a new one. I have ideas....
Good night!

Here We Go...

2010-06-22T17:42:00.002-05:00

Are you ready for the 1st round of peeks?? Due to the fact that I have so much work to do and STILL have not packed for our 10:20 am flight tomorrow, I am just going to post the pics-

Come back for more:)

Update...

2010-06-21T15:20:00.002-05:00

Hi Friends! I know I am so very bad on posting right now! I have been focusing on getting my galleries out, ordering and many birth announcements. It has been very BUSY over here. I am headed out of town on Wed, so my goal is to have at least one image from each shoot up here for you to see. I know you are anxious to see your sweet babies:) My schedule is slowing down when I get back. If we have not talked about scheduling, there may be a chance I may not be able to take you. I have some due dates on my calendar and there are some moms I am in contact with about scheduling- so no worries. Back to work bf my next shoot!

More Peeks...

2010-06-11T15:17:00.001-05:00

Sweet Estella- looking lovely in my walkway flowers.

And darling, Mason, strutting his stuff and playing with mom and dad.

Meet Camden...

2010-06-10T18:59:00.002-05:00

I am delayed in posting pics of my sweet nephew for 3 reasons. First, I am behind on computer work and have not taken or edited many, did not want to skip any clients and lastly, did not know what pics my sis wanted for announcements. Well, sometimes family holds the upper hand! People are begging for pics ( my fam) and I am *excited* to give in really quickly:)
Meet Camden Robert Davis (or Cam) born on June 1st- weighing in at 7 pounds and 8 ounces and a whopping 22 inches! He is the best baby and he is VERY loved!! So, many apologies for skipping anyone. But- just look at him.... AHHHH....

I am taking an average of 10 pics a day. Editing 1 or 2. I am pacing myself. He is next door, after all!!

Precious Kids...

2010-06-10T15:31:00.002-05:00

I am working hard on galleries and designing 2 (about to be 5) birth announcement! So, blogging is for sure on the back burner:( I wanted to share these adorable kiddos. I know mom is anxious to see. I had fun guys!! More to come...

I am Here...

2010-06-06T19:27:00.002-05:00

I know it seems like I have fallen off the planet! I am working away catching up. Looking forward to a slow period. I have had some terrific shoots- tons to blog, but I have had such a long day, I am literally exhausted and it is 8:30! I had the "it is not dark enough to go to bed fight" with the kids and I have won! Peace in the house and I am going to catch up on some of the THREE or 4 wks of TV that I have not watched!! Then off to bed early bc I have a shoot in the am. I hope you all are having an awesome summer. My brand new nephew, Camden, is doing fantastic! His mommy is doing well, too. She is just trying to rid herself of the post- c section swelling. Poor girl! Just wait until you see pics of Baby Cam- he is the sweetest baby! So beautiful!! I am biased....
Speaking of newborns- last time i saw little Lucas was when he had just come out of mommy's tummy. How cute is he??? I am so glad we were able to incorporate my milk stool. More to come- he has 2 older sisters. Good night!

Baby is Coming...

2010-06-01T07:08:00.002-05:00

Hopefully today! My sister, laura's, water broke at 5:30 this morning. I am trying to rearrange my schedule to get there to be there for her. Of course, I have a super packed day- but you cannot choose when a baby is coming!! Will post pics soon!

Those Sweet Baby Girls...

2010-05-31T13:02:00.002-05:00

I am taking a short break from working on this lovely Memorial Day. Scott has started his first shift at the station today! Then he will off for 2 days before heading back to work. Seriously- how great is that??! What an awesome weekend we have had! Our bestest friends all came to visit us! My bff and her fam came and our friends Troy and Nikki and their kids came- including our sweet godson! Always have to brag on that bc he is just the cutest!! So, we had great friends, a little pool time and a party at some other awesome friends' home with their whole fam. We celebrated Scott joining the brotherhood of the fire dept with an amazing homemade cake complete with the fire logo and lots of great company! We LOVE our hospitable, southern friends that are staright off of Long Island! We call them the most southern catholic northeners ever! Love you Bravys!!!
I am still behind on everything. I was getting up early and trying to work with my cup of coffee bf one of the 6 kids in the house woke. The best of intentions, right?? Anyways, I did get some done, but today is the day. It is sooo strange having the kids home ALL the time. I am very excited to be getting my new laptop on June 4th. I will be working at the pool- outside and maybe even the park. I went ahead and bit the bullet. What I need on a laptop is pretty darn expensive- kinda freaking out. You do what you have to do- right???
SOOO- here is that beautiful, sweet baby girl. We had such a fun shoot. I did the majority outside. It was pretty windy, but she did so well. Here are a few. I have to get back to editing...

LOVE the lips!

Mom looks amazing and big sister is doing great!

Of course, I have more shoots to share soon- keep checking back!

WHOA...

2010-05-26T13:58:00.003-05:00

May was the craziest month ever! You people kept me busy! (Thank you!!) I am slowing June down and looking forward to it. Here are 2 overdue peeks:)
First off, I had my session with Jake. We did his sis's pics last year and now it is his turn. Mom is the owner of My Beautiful Sophia- an online clothing boutique. Her link is on the right side of the page under Friends. Check her out! Jake is such a handsome guy- spitting image of his mom and dad. He is doing so well in his karate and enjoys it so much. We decided to do a little "Kung Foo Fighting" for a storyboard of Jake. This is not the final product, but a great way to showcase a few-

And here is GQ Jake-

Hope you guys love them!!
I got to meet some new friends, Franklin and William. Yes, 6 mo old twin boys! They were so adorable and mom and babysitter and I had a ball! We are cracking up so bad over this off the wall pic-

Really??? A peace sign??? The wind blew so hard and he gave us the pose. Too cute! Here a few more of the boys-

I am going to post some pics of one of my newborn's coffee table books- I keep forgetting. We did a custom cover with her birth announcement template and it rocked!! I LOVE the custom covers- I am sold. Will post soon...

Something CUTE....

2010-05-22T11:52:00.002-05:00

I know there are so many of you waiting on peeks and anxiously awaiting galleries! I am in my office, window open, music blaring and caffeine pumping through my veins!! last night, Scott and I went to a get together with his recruit class (Paulding county fire) and had such a great time. These guys are so close- I had no idea. They have spent 3 months training together and have built such a bond. It will be bittersweet to have them get their station assignments and be split up. If you live in Paulding- these guys will be taking great care of you!! Congrats!!
The kids are literally BEGGING to go to the pool every 5 minutes! It opened yesterday and I am desperately trying to figure out where I can get the dough to buy a laptop bc I have a feeling these children will not let me work this summer knowing that the pool is calling their names! Scott is about to take them and I will join when I need a break- won;t see me doing anything other than dipping my toes in. Way too cold!!
I have had many babies born this spring and tons of sweet, adorable children to photograph. How awesome is my job???!! My goals this summer is to take less shoots a week, get a new blog that will function a little more like a website, spiff up my marketing design, and revamp my packaging. That is something on my mind all the time. I res use alot to stuff that the lab ships to me with. I am really trying my best to reuse and recycle. I am sure in the grand scheme of things, I am a wasteful person, but BABY STEPS is my philosophy. I am so excited for the day I hand you a beautiful package of pics that is low cost and Green:)
So, in the creative side of my brain, I am trying to think of some cute, easy products for you. I am in a spring frame of mind and color is calling me:) I put this Storyboard together for a client-

Isn't it precious? How cute would it be with a white frame? Totally thinking of changing the color and making one of my kids...

Also, here is another image from my maternity shoot. I cannot wait to meet their little guy!!
These 2 are such the models:)

Updating the Boys...

2010-05-18T20:08:00.002-05:00

Here are some individuals of the fun brothers that I previously posted:

Cannot wait to dive in the rest of their images!
And here is a peek of an awesome maternity I did-

She looks good- huh? Well, her little guy is about cooked and ready to come out in a couple of weeks! You would never know:)

How Can You Resist These Faces???

2010-05-16T21:06:00.002-05:00

I had so much fun with each of these spunky girls! Here is 2 yr old, Nora, whom I have been photographing since she was 3 mo old! We went to a chicken farm and she even said- yee-hah for us!!

K- I can see the emails from the inspired moms coming in now!! Those boots!....
And meet Ashley. A spectacular (did I say spunky?) 3 yr old. We broke a few rules to get these shots, but you do what you have to do- right? What a doll...

We had a houseFULL this weekend and Lily had her Irish Dancing recital tonight. Very busy weekend. Things went well. I snuck off and worked when I could, but tomorrow will def be a computer day until my shoot. Good night!

Those Boys...

2010-05-12T20:58:00.002-05:00

My little guy is 4 now. While he still feels like a baby to me, he will be headed to the elementary school next year for Pre-K! Morgan brings adventure, sweet smiles and awesome snuggles to my day. He has opened my eyes to the world of BOYS...

Here is precious Colby, kicking around Grant Park, while mom, auntie and I are trying anything and everything to keep his attention and grab some of those precious smiles!! I think this is fitting-

And now a peek of some "big boy" brothers I had the pleasure of hanging with. I was very excited to have some brothers that I could capture the playfulness of that brotherhood. These 2 were perfect. And although we got our playful shots, we did manage to do some more traditional. But, for now, here is a peek of my fave-

More peeks to come! I am about to work really hard on some galleries and get ready for the loads of company that will heading in starting tomorrow!!

What a FABULOUS Weekend...

2010-05-08T13:41:00.002-05:00

Last night was full of good company and fun and today is filled with cleaning and throwing out so much junk. We have all the windows open and my mothers day wish is fulfilled- for Scott and I to gut this house:) Now, whether it gets finished is up in the air, but so far, so good! I am also going to make time to work really hard on the 3 galleries that are on my to-do list. These, too, may not get totally complete, but I am going to try my darnedest. I also have no shoots until tomorrow evening, so I will have Monday. So, do what I am doing- take the time to enjoy this weekend- I have to admit, I am feeling like a different person! I am sure that I will feel much better next week, for my house will be semi-decluttered!
Now, how about some pics for some very sweet babes??
First off, meet Baxter. Little guy was born early and spent 18 days in the hospital. He loves to hold his breath, but other than that - he is very healthy! Luckily, the hospital trains you in CPR and all sorts of things bf parents can take them home along with monitors for him. I had a blast with these guys!! Enjoy-

Next is my little babydoll, Estella. She graced the top of my blog during the winter- you will prob recognize the hair!
She was a little out of sorts for our shoot, come to find out she was coming down with an ear infection. If I had a dollar for how often that happens... But, she was so precious and we did some adorable shots-

Thanks guys!!
Well, we are off to Home Depot for phase 2 of the MOTHERS DAY WEEKEND! Pine straw and weed killer!!! I am sooo excited!!

Wonderful Twins...

2010-05-07T07:22:00.002-05:00

I had the chance to play with 2 adorable little friends. Mom and Dad were pretty cool themselves:) Thanks for waiting patiently on your images. I am trying to do good on my galleries and Morgan has been home sick this week with fever and croup:( I called my sitter today and begged her to take him for a bit, since he finally has no fever! Now, if we can get rid of the extra whining we have... LOL! Enjoy your peeks!

Tyler...

2010-05-04T20:08:00.002-05:00

What a doll!! I had such a great time with this sweet, beautiful family-

Family...

2010-05-03T11:19:00.002-05:00

My friend, Courtney, had her brother and his family come from Montana. Her mother got us all together for a fun shoot! Here are the individuals of the BEAUTIFUL children and a sweet one of the them together. Had so much fun, guys!!

Aren't they precious?? Sister had all boys and brother had all girls, including twins. Here is the last shot of the day...

More Amazing Girls...

2010-04-27T19:39:00.001-05:00

Lets just let this little gallery speak for itself...

Gorgeous Light and Gorgeous Girls...

2010-04-27T11:54:00.002-05:00

I am way behind on peeks, but I am catching up!! A friend of mine approached me about doing some pics of her nieces. It totally worked out, as they were traveling in for an insane round of softball tornaments. I know they felt hectic, but I was great- especially bc I was seeing this from my camera- beautiful, fun gals:)

Also, I got to meet a new sweet doll baby, Ali Grace! I had a terrific shoot with mom, GG and big sis, Ava. I am loving these images:)

Boys- Boys- Boys...

2010-04-24T20:28:00.002-05:00

Lots of them! Here are 3 shoots that I did. Lots of talk of plains, trains, dinosaurs. Lots of singing Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Yo Gabba Gabba and doo-dooing the Thomas "theme tune" How much fun!!

I am working to get these galleries done. Once I finish, I will be ahaed! Just have to get there:) Also,
MAY IS BOOKED! I HAVE AVAILABLITY IN JUNE AND I AM ABOUT TO OPEN JULY. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

Not the Norm...

2010-04-24T11:51:00.002-05:00

Yes, i am working really hard on galleries- i have SOO much to share! Thank goodness for no shoots and rainy weather today bc my butt has been in this chair since the moment i woke up! Feels good to work without having a stopping point. The kids are trashing the house, but oh well:) I have the pleasure of photographing a wedding a year from now. Nope- I do not do weddings and that is what I told this darling lady. BUT, nonetheless, I am booked:) I promise I cannot be swayed to do anymore! Time is such an issue for me and weddings are extremely time consuming afterwards. I have gotten to know Emily over the past year or so and she is such an amazing woman and I am so excited for she and Chris. Here they are in their engagement pics-

Ok- so hang on- I have so many more shoots to blog!

I am Still Here....

2010-04-19T20:31:00.000-05:00

and I will have lots of pics to share! I had to catch up on galleries bf I did anything else. I am working on the computer tomorrow- weather is not looking so hot- good excuse to drink lots of coffee and stay glued to this chair while the kiddos are in school. So... peeks tomorrow!! G night!

Breathing...

2010-04-13T09:59:00.004-05:00

Wow! Too much to do and so little time- right? I am about to use my blog as therapy:) I truly have an amazing job and it is incredible to make my own schedule. I usually shoot 4-5 days out of the week, sometime ~I wish~ 3. How come I cannot get it all done??? Here is my schedule (pretty much doing this for my sake, but chime in- it may make me feel better!)
6:45- wake up, get Lily ready for school
7:30- wake up Morgan and throw them in the car to Lil's school
7:50- WORK on the computer while getting M ready for school
8:40- take M to school
9:00- WORK!!!
12- lunch, errands, maybe 30 min of working out
1:30- WORK
3:00- get Lil off bus
3:05- WORK
4:15- Morgan comes home
4:20- get kids situated, a little housework
4:35- WORK
5:30- make dinner, baths,etc
7:30- bedtime
8:00- back on the computer until 10:30+
How can I improve:)???? Isn't that an 8 hr workday- LOL!
Well, as I sit here (feeling much better) I hear the birds chirping out my window, my kids are happily at school and hubby VERY happily at his firefighting academy and me LOVING my job as crazy as it is!! AHHHH- feeling better. I just might share something else that makes me happy. (PS- I had permission!)
My SIS pregnant with my nephew, Camden (Cam) He is set to arrive around June7th and I am beyond excited!! Laura and I grabbed a few shots yesterday bf time flies away from us.

Doesn't she look awesome??!! She was very skeptical about Maternity shots, so we used some beautiful window light and tried our best not to be corny. Love the results! Ok, back to work. Therapy session - over. Thx for listening....

Ballerina Kendall...

2010-04-11T15:57:00.003-05:00

Miss Kendall gets her own special post:) I had not edited any images for her peek and now i have! Check out her lovely ballet and tap costumes for her recital. Much prettier pics than on a background-huh?! Love ya, sweet girl!

Well...

2010-04-11T09:38:00.003-05:00

Things did not go as planned! We had a wonderful time on our trip. My friend, Christy, and I took the kids to see my family (and of course the beach) in SC. ALL 4 of them got sick!!! At different times! The first day, Lily ended up with a fever (bladder inf and STREP) and then Morgan comes out with a virus that had him at 103.7! It was crazy! Then I was without internet... UGH! So, I busted it yesterday and I am doing the same today. Here is a long awaited post:
Bf I left, I finished up my mini shoots at Clinton Preserve with sweet, 1 yr old Wyatt and 2 yr old Haley. We had a great time running around! Here are a few from then (PS- thx so much for your patience!!)

Then, I got to see Ella! A daughter of some old friends of mine. She has grown into a precious little gal:) What a cutie pie-

Check out the bowl and the bootie!!!

So sweet!!
Then... I had the pleasure of meeting baby Colton. A year after his older bro, Colby, was born! They literally had Colby's 1st bday after I left:) These 2 look sooo much alike. Add a couple of pounds to Colton, though. He was born 5 wks early! He was so tiny and sweet when I met him about 3 or so weeks after his trip home from the hospital. What fun this fam is going to have with these 2 awesome boys!! I am only posting one pic bc mom has seen more bc we are working on his announcement. Will prob add more later.

Well, back to work for me! I have 2 galleries that hit 3 wks yesterday, so i am working hard to get them done today. Wish me luck and a huge thanks to those waiting!! Will post a few pics from our trip when I catch up...

Forgot!

2010-04-07T08:35:00.002-05:00

Forgot to tell you that we are on spring break in SC with my fam! I am finally around to getting settled with my computer and will be on working tonight. I know there are peeks and galleries that you are excited to see!! Enjoy the AWESOME weather!!

It's a Mini...

2010-03-30T20:10:00.002-05:00

A mini- shoot of a little cutie (who is a mini version of her mom AND dad!) I met with Katelyn and her mom for a fun, quick shoot today. She was ready to go~ running all over! I am surprised I caught as many as I did. She was so much fun and so full of awesome personality. Check out the color-

And this one is my FAVE!!! I have to do something with it. I did not think it was focused, but when i got it on my computer, it was sharp as a tack and I am in love...

Thanks guys!!! Looking forward to my minis tomorrow! Will I do this again?? I don't know. Who knows- you never know what I will do!

Loving Spring...

2010-03-28T12:21:00.003-05:00

It is not super warm, but warm enough for some adorable children in some adorable outfits! I have craziness at my house and loads to do- I will let these pics speak for themselves...
Adorable, Spunky Mia-

A small wall gallery I put together:) I would LOVE these with the chunky, handmade wood frames!!!

Next, darling Gabby and her beautiful family-

And new, baby Brooks and his super cute brother, Beckham-

And love this picture of Baby brooks and my dear friend- his mommy!

August...

2010-03-25T08:59:00.004-05:00

I had the pleasure of meeting August and his cool parents last night. What a doll the little guy was! This shoot was amazing to me bc he stayed happy for 2 hours! He did not end it- we did:) I got a nice variety of shots that I know mom and dad will love. It was so nice to meet you guys! Here is the happy, lil guy-

AS FOR THE MINI SHOOT...
It looks like Tues's weather might work for us. NOT 100% yet, but if you are interested, please let me know! Here are the details:
Children only- prob need to be sitting up.
15 edited images on CD
$100 total due time of shoot
Will be in the morning- slots of 30 min
Clinton Preserve in Douglasville

OH- A MESSAGE-
Spring craziness is right around the corner. I am trying to wrap up orders and galleries. I am trying my best NOT to extend galleries, so we can keep the flow going. If you owe payment, please send as soon as possible. I will be out of town on Spring break with my kiddos and will be ordering bf I leave, not while I am gone. Thanks!!!

Anybody???

2010-03-24T20:34:00.002-05:00

Is anyone interested in a mini shoot next week? Thinking 15ish images edited to CD?? I never do this, so if I decide to- then jump in! I am thinking tues, wed or thurs Clinton Preserve in the am. So, prob no school kiddos and no families. Would be a good time to grab some great shots of the child you are behind with pictures... Email me if interested- picturelily@gmail.com

SPRING...

2010-03-23T10:59:00.003-05:00

yay! It's here! Georgia had snow yesterday- whatever! As long as it gets nice again. Here are some images from my shoots this weekend-
2 yr old Griffin- sweet, litle guy with beautiful eyes...

We trampled around the chicken farm-

and "rode" the trycycle down the dirt road-

LOVE that shot!
And I met my friend, Nicole, with their 1 yr old daughter, Addison. We had a great time at Grant Park. Especially the weeds:)

I had to add this extra shot - LOOK AT THE LEGS!!!!

Welcome Sunshine...

2010-03-19T10:38:00.002-05:00

it has taken you a long time for you to stay out all day! I love you!! Georgia is getting closer to nice weather. We have a great forcast for today and tomorrow- let's see what it leads to. I am finally getting around to uploading our Cancun pics. There are not many, but here are a few of Scott and I sitting on our booties:)

yes- 2 fisting it. Free- why not??

Girl has got some freckles!!
When we got back, we joined our good friends from new York at Atl Motor Speedway for our 3rd race. Like I have said before, we are not fans. Just being there is really neat with these guys. Their setup on the infield is so cool and we can stand on the bus and watch the cars circle us or go down and socialize. We took my dad this time and he had SO much fun!!

Here is Lily with her BFF, Julianna

We are so lucky to have had such a great week with wonderful friends and family to spend time with and take care of us! (MOM, DAD, LAURA AND BRAD)

How about some cute little kids???
I met my friend, Allison and her 3 for some 10 mo shots of her twins...

we also did a group shot with all the 8 grandchildren! They are so cute!
Meet my new friends, Lucy and Owen. They are 5 and 2. We had a fun time throwing rocks, hunting for nuts and chasing eachother around an old cemetary where they have family reunions!

Such cute kids!!
Meet Brooklyn, youngest of 3. Age 7 mo and cute as a button. Mommy and Daddy are old neighbors of ours. Fun to see their family grow.

Looking forward to all the shoots I have lined up for Spring!! April is almost booked and May will be soon. If you need an appointment- let me know asap!

Seriously...

2010-03-14T11:39:00.000-05:00

Gorgeous mom and daughters!

The REAL "Normal"...

2010-03-12T09:02:00.002-05:00

Well, after a wonderful, sunny getaway in Cancun and a great weekend with family and friends, Scott and I have hit the ground running this week! I have jumped on top of work and he has been thrown in the world of waking up early and studying (to be a firefighter!) From running a sportsbar to 8-5 training- we are in a "normal" schedule!! I am LOVING it! Scott is home every night for dinner and bedtime and I wake up early to take the kids to school and then hit the computer.

I left our point and shoot at a friends house- will post a couple pics from our trip soon. I am trying hard to incorporate Storyboards in galleries. They are extra work, but I feel it gives you more ideas and visual. I started this one with an idea for the back of an announcement, but have flipped to a desk storyboard- 5x7 maybe?? If I printed this, I would have it mounted with a styrene backing so parents can sit it on a shelf or use a small easel for easy display....

Cute- huh? Back to work!!

Off We Go...

2010-02-28T22:19:00.002-05:00

I am rushing to get us packed up and out the door at 5:30 AM! I ALMOST completed my list of work things to so. I have placed orders and will be adding one more gallery to the site as sooon as we get back! Thx for all you understanding. So, I have to skip comments and post pics- so much to do! Btw, I have some appointments open on WEEKDAYS ONLY in March, if you are interested. I am hoping we will come home to mild, warm weather- **fingers crossed**
LATER AMIGOS!!

Oh Little Lily...

2010-02-25T00:13:00.000-05:00

How much fun were you today?? Here is a peek~ in the bowl:)

Lots to Share...

2010-02-23T20:44:00.003-05:00

I have had some really great shoots lately and only THREE more bf we leave on our trip to MEXICO!!!
Picturelily will be CLOSED from Mon. March 1st- Sun. March 7th:)
We finally got to meet for dainty, Sophia's 1 yr shoot. Saturday was an amazing day in GA. It was still a little chilly in the morning, but we were very excited to have a nice day. Sophia was still not sure about totally loosening up for me, but luckily mom loves pics of
her baby" We did get some smiles, but as always, I pick the ones I love:) I know mom will too!
Very serious just like her brother- but she sure looks sweet, huh?

I loved the way she maneuvered through the big clumps of grass- slowed her down (hee-hee!)

Thanks K and J for a wonderful shoot as always! Hugs!!!
Next, I met 2 new friends. This was their first experience with a custom photographer. I am still not sure how mom felt about our shoot, but I am hoping that the pics will make her smile, regardless of all the convincing, jumping, singing and ahhem.. (bribing) we did:) A 6 month old and 2 year old boy- a good combination for some worn out grown ups. Boy- did they steal my heart- check out why...

Oh, sweet baby Chase:)

And can you say CHARMER?? Logan-

So great to meet you guys!
Next, I got to spend lots of time with baby Piper. At just under a month, Piper was ready for the party! Typically, I photograph newborns under 2 weeks bc they are much easier to settle into sleep (deep sleep) They are not as bothered when you move they arms and legs, etc.. Well, Piper's mom and sweet sister and I had a 4.5 hr session that ended in blissful slumber! Piper's pics are beautiful and worth every minute. She is such a doll:)

Beautiful mom-

And her amazing big sis-

And Piper in THE BOWL.
I PROMISE I have color images of Piper. I was just in the black and white "mood" while processing these.
I guess that is it. I am super excited to meet a 6 day old Lily tomorrow! I am not sure how they are spelling the name, but either way I love it. She is so tiny- around 6 pounds- FUN!!

Cold- Anyone??

2010-02-17T16:41:00.002-05:00

I am OVER this weather!! I am ready to be warm and toasty and chase sweet kids in tank tops around nice grassy fields.... Or, ready to be in Mexico- sitting on the beach with my husband- sipping on a tasty beverage... oh wait! I will be in less than 2 weeks!!! I think the cat is out of the bag by now- My husband is going to be a Firefighter! Crazy:) He will start in March. We are thrilled! The past few years have been pretty hectic, schedule wise. Taco Mac has been a great experience and we both will miss it, but it will be nice to see him more! In between jobs, I booked us a 4 night trip to Cancun. Our 10th anniversary and my 30th Bday is this summer, so why not!!??? When I get back, I have a SUPER busy calendar. Which reminds me- Please contact me ASAP to book a spring shoot. My weekends are pretty much gone already. What a response I have had. I sent out a newsletter to all my Waiting list and booked quite a few from that. Add old clients and more new... BUSY! Thanks so much for your continued support!
Time for some pics---
Here is an old Baby Planner- Dylan. He is one year old now! We totally froze poor Dylan during his shoot. The weather was terrible! I really like the ones we did get though. He is such a happy guy and super cute-

Going to miss you guys!
Here is Baby Reid with big bro, Jack. What a cute pair- don't ya think?

Reid is such a beautiful newborn with a good temperament- I loved holding him:)

This past weekend, I took the kids to TN to visit my BFF and her fam.. We had a good visit and woke up to snow the day we were leaving! Of course, they had to play bf we left. I skipped my kids and went straight to Libby and Lucy. It has been so long since they have seen my camera. Time for some new "Karen" pics for their new house. Here is 4 yr old, Libby in the snow-

And 2 year old Lucy in some yummy window light-

love you girls!!
Well, back to editing! I have a very busy week next week- gotta get ahead...

I'm Claiming These 2...

2010-02-04T21:27:00.002-05:00

All mine! They are all mine and precious! Aren't Scott and I lucky? I got my new light yesterday and the only way I could think of to get "in-home" models was to do a Valentines Day shoot for their cards. Those of you who know me know:
1. I do not like "un-classic" shoots- hints- holidays
2. If I get to the store any day besides V's Day for valentines- we are lucky! Who cares if girls get Spiderman cards- ya know??
3. My kids hate pics
So, Scott and I set them up in the kitchen and we were pleasantly surprised. I wanted these to be a surprise for Grandparents, but I could not help but share. Lily's turned out fun and super cute- just what I was going for. Morgan's- well, the dude was looking soo pretty- I am IN LOVE with them! Here is a little peek...

Just noticed how bad the heart looks. I have NO idea where it came from. Just saw it on the coffee table and grabbed:) I have a super busy week next week! Lots of shoots and then the kids and I are headed of to TN to see the BFF!! SO xcited. It has been awhile since we have had some time together, so we will be V day dates to her hubby's restaurant. Or her house if we do not get a sitter! Oh well, good times to be had with some dee-lish wine!!

New Storyboard Design...

2010-02-01T21:17:00.002-05:00

I have been wanting to add some 10x20 designs to my SBs. I played around with some of the images from baby Sydney's shoot. What do you think? I can totally see this mounted in one of the distressed frames I have....

BTW- BOOKING SPRING! GET IN EARLY! IF YOU ARE WRITTEN ON THE SIDE OF MY CALENDAR- I WILL BE IN TOUCH OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS:)

Beautiful Baby Girls...

2010-01-29T13:38:00.002-05:00

I am sharing a few more pics of baby Sydney- they turned out so great. What a good sleeper she was for me!

That bassinet was mom's and I had an idea to incorporate it. Luckily, Sydney was willing to go back to sleep to make it happen.
I got to visit with 7 mo old, Isabelle for her sitting up shoot! Oh my, is she a doll!!??? This family makes some pretty babies (I do believe I have said bf!) Check her out...

LOVE the hair! Reminds me of my Lil!

Sweetest expression- my fave:)
Hope everyone is doing well! I am so ready for the warm weather to come back to us. Looking at warm places online with free food and drinks.... AHHHHHH.....

Back to Work in 2010...

2010-01-24T11:00:00.003-05:00

I am sitting working on this dreary Sun morning listening to the kids run around and play and the sound of ocean waves in the room next to me. Nope, not at the beach! Scott worked late last night and we TRY and drown out the kids with the sound machine so he can recover and do it again:) I had 2 shoots on Friday. Both were fantastic and fun. Glad to be back at work at a decent pace. We photographers really soak up this time very every year- as if you have not heard me say that bf. The best part is- I shot these on Friday and I started to edit them Sat!! How awesone is that? Let;s see how long I can stay ahead...
So, I want to introduce you to some new friends of mine and hopefuly long time PictureLily fans:) Katelyn (sorry guys, I do not have her name written anywhere for spelling!) and her new sister, Sydney!!

Not always easy to get the sibling shot when they are so young, but we did it!

Mom and baby- how pretty!!
And now, 9 month old, Mason! We met Friday afternoon for a 9 mo mini session. Which, btw, I am only offering in between the newborn and 1 year mark AND you have to come to Villa Rica. So... we used some of my props to help him stand (including Mommy!) Look how cute he is! Cannot wait for your 1 year, little buddy!

What a Weekend...

2010-01-19T20:53:00.002-05:00

I hope all of you Georgians are enjoying this amazing weather! I walked about 2 miles today with some friends today and it was perfect. We had my cousin, Tina, and her family down from SC this weekend and we had a blast. We did tons of shopping/browsing:) Ate way too much, took the girls to see Annie at the Fox Theater and made the mistake of taking them to the American Girl Store with no intentions of buying the $95 dolls- WHOOPS! We ended up with 2 crying girls and one boy. Oh yes- Morgan cried bc he wanted a boy doll that looked like him. Quite sad:) We settled for matching outfits for the girls "fake" dolls and ran the heck out of there. Yikes!!
It has been so nice to live life the way it was made to be lived- working and still having time to enjoy my family and friends. I will be spoiled like every year and have a reality check when Spring comes along! I wanted to post a few faves from the past month. I never got around to posting many that I loved.

Well, off to edit a little and then watch a little TV- life is good!!

WINTER SALE...

2010-01-12T20:35:00.004-05:00

HURRY!!! 11x14's are on sale for $50!! That is $20 off 2010 prices and $15 off 2009prices! Get your order into me BY Friday January 15th BY 5:00 PM. New or old shoot. Print is mounted on styrene to prevent wrinkles. If you have a current gallery out right now, this will count towards your min. Look at any of your prints to find the number on the back. If you do not have the number- let me know and I will try to help by looking or re posting your gallery. NO TIME EXCEPTIONS. I am running the special bc my lab is:)

A fave from a Dec shoot- sweet cousins-

Our Snow Pics...

2010-01-12T16:58:00.003-05:00

Yes, we had a tiny bit of snow! We had friends come over and I got to live my dream of doing snow pics! Kids were not so keen, so I literally got like 5 shots per kid:) I have more, just have not edited. I am working away at cleaning off my computer and organizing finances. Good bye 2009- HELLO 2010! Hope you are having a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Mary Elizabeth...

2010-01-07T20:25:00.002-05:00

Look at this sweet baby! She was so cute and squeezable! Mom and Dad were awesome through our 3 hr shoot. We had plenty to talk about while we were convincing Mary Elizabeth to sleep. Love the little bow! I have quite a few babies being born this month! Lots of cuddle time- good for me:)

Only I Would do This...

2010-01-04T21:24:00.003-05:00

Post my Christmas card online bf i finished mailing them! Oh yes, they are not all mailed:) We have not sent one in 2 years and I am not current on my address list. I ordered 50, addressed them as cards came in. Gave fam in SC theirs (with a stamp on them!) and now, I have like 10 with names and no address and then a small stack of blank envelopes ready to find a home:( Maybe I will get them done bf Feb... So, it looks like January is almost booked! if you are looking for a spot for your baby- and think mid-Jan is for you- let me know! picturelily@gmail.com Now- my family....

HAPPY 2010...

2009-12-31T17:51:00.002-05:00

I know, I have been a terrible blogger! The holiday workload just had me tied up and running in too many directions. I am in South Carolina re cooping and spending much needed quality time with family (while hubby slaves away at home- sad face) So, we are doing well. I have many prints to receive from the lab and distribute when I get home to have me caught up on orders and then I have 1 newborn gallery and 2 other galleries to finish for the lovely, awesome people that agreed to be patient with me!! (God bless them!!) There has been a price increase for 2010 (please, no sad faces!) I have been working so hard and I am trying to find the happy balance between price, number of sessions and ... my family:) I am limiting sessions this year and being very strict about it, so BOOK AHEAD! You can find the new prices in the welcome packet. I have spaces left for some February babies, so let me know if you are interested. I will be sending a newsletter to all on our New Client list from last year as soon as I get home and settled so we can get you guys in!! Gotta go shower for the get together at my cousins house! I am sure you will see pics on facebook- as the beckhams do not let me get away with anything:) Gotta love them for putting up pics of me shoveling beans from the pot in my mouth at midnight!!! Cannot wait to see you and all your sweet, fast growing little ones in the new year. LOVE_ KAREN:)

A Cutie...

2009-11-27T01:07:00.000-05:00

Wanted to share little Austin!

I Did Not Drop off the Face of the Earth...

2009-11-26T00:34:00.002-05:00

I have been piled under images of some pretty darn, cute kids! And now, we are finishing up our Thanksgiving Vacation with my in laws at the wonderful Walt Disney World! Very interesting trip, it has been. Bad timing for me, but how do you turn down spending time with your family at the most MAGICAL place on Earth??? Anyways, the computer came with me, but the downtime I had planned never happened. So, I will be pulling some all nighters this weekend!! Thanks to all for your patience with me. We are home early tomorrow, so if anyone needs anything....
PS- i have not touched my camera this trip! Just savored all moments:) Sorry!!

EEEK!!

2009-11-11T21:35:00.002-05:00

I have just found out that our new invoice emails MIGHT go to SPAM. If you have placed an order on the PhotoCart BEFORE today and have not received a final invoice- please check your SPAM and let me know if it is there or if you need a new one. I will email everyone individually tomorrow morning. I am working away and have no pics to show tonight. :( I had a wonderful weekend with my fam (I am sure you have seen the pics on FB- many cousins- all armed with cameras ready to embarrass me!) I came home and that night Lily woke up throwing up. YAY. So far, it has not spread. WHEW!! Back to work. Thanks to everyone for their amazing patience!

I'm Off...

2009-11-04T21:22:00.003-05:00

I will be returning late Sunday. Going to spend some quality time with some of the gals in the fam! Will miss the ones not with us:) I have been very busy this week! Here are 2 troublemakers I had to deal with!!!

BOTH BORN EARLY!
If you need assistance, just call me and leave me a VM. I will be checking messages.

Peeking in to Say Hello...

2009-11-03T23:31:00.002-05:00

I am about to go to bed, but I wanted to let everyone know a few things. I will be gone the majority of the day tomorrow traveling to a newborn shoot (to see sweet baby Cash!) and will be working at night to get prepared for my trip. I will be gone Thurs- Sun. If you need anything- feel free to call and leave me a message. I am going to try and check email, but I am not sure who will have a laptop and If we have a signal. If you have your gallery and are wanting to do Holiday cards- PLEASE send me your ideas asap. This will help with the "flood!" Desi comes once a week to help me out and these are something we can tackle in that time. I have a new product announcement when I get back (or if I can get a pic of it tomorrow) SO excited!!! A GREAT idea for grandparents. My mom went NUTS over it! Simple, but perfect. I think that is all... hmmm... Oh- still running a little over 3 wks on galleries. I have had so many family shoots and those take much longer to edit. Crazy time of year! Speaking of families- we finally got our fam pic made. I set it up and my sis took the shots. She did great! I am very excited bc we already have a big one on the mantle. It is a little HUGE, but I think we will like it:) Off to bed!!

Happy Fall...

2009-11-02T21:57:00.002-05:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween! Our weekend was packed full. I had no shoots scheduled since my parents were in town visiting. I was spoiled by good food, good company and loads of babysitting!!! Scott had to work, so I took the kids out with friends in their witch and shark (SUPER CUTE!) outfits. We got off to a late start, so that means we only hide the candy for a month! Then, I (me!!!) got to have some Halloween fun! So, i dressed in my Halloween costume ( a very lazily put together jockey- complete with a polo shirt, leggings, boots and a hot pink boy cut pair of JOCKEY undies on top of my pants!!) They stayed on until people understood my wacky costume and then I was a girl wearing leggings and a polo shirt:) Anyways, I had a blast! Scott got off work and surprised me around 1:00 and I hit the hay about 5:00 am!!! Go me! Since I think I am super cool now, I might try a little dancing out with my cousins when I visit this weekend. (that is if my legs are not still sore!) So, the dreaded holiday was fun for me. End of story. Aside from visiting with my family and acting like a teenager, I am busy editing away on galleries. I need to get back to it, bc I have 3 more shoots bf I head to see all my girls in SC!! Here are some random peeks:

Sometimes a Stare is as Precious...

2009-10-30T22:57:00.000-05:00

as a smile...

Thank Goodness for Some SUN...

2009-10-28T21:28:00.002-05:00

I am still here! I have had so many SUPER shoots lately - as the weather permits. Today was gorgeous! I got a little excited about the light this evening and decided my blog needed a fall header. So up goes my friend, Jessi's adorable kids! I know it is a little big, but I am about done for the night. Long day. Maybe I will fix it tomorrow. I hope all of you are doing well- enjoying the fun fall. My parents are headed down tomorrow and we are all excited to hang and enjoy some good ol' Halloween activities. I MIGHT post my costume for the party i am going to. I am not a big Halloween fan, so for me to dress up.... Oh well! I need a little break from the ordinary- right? Until next time.... I leave you with one of Baby Planners who has grown up on me:( Precious, Trent-

Holiday Time...

2009-10-22T15:26:00.003-05:00

I am feeling the crunch!! For those of you have never been a client of a custom photographer ~ this time of the year from us is full of emails, editing, phone calls, designing cards, no sleep and juggling our families:) Starting today, I am going to be very strict on extending gallery times and payments. Christmas is approaching fast! With that in mind:
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR GALLERY AND WANT HOLIDAY CARDS- PLEASE CONSIDER SENDING ME YOUR IDEAS TONIGHT! MY HELPER IS COMING TOMORROW AND I WOULD LOVE-LOVE TO HAVE SOME CARDS FOR HER TO WORK ON AND GET AHEAD!!! PRETTY PLEASE:) REMEMBER, ALL CARDS ARE VERY CHANGEABLE. SO SEND ALL IDEAS AND REMEMBER TO INCLUDE WHAT YOU WANT IT TO SAY. THANKS SO MUCH!

**OH, AND I AM SURE THAT YOU HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM NOT POSTING PEEKS. I HAVE SO MANY GALLERIES ON MY PLATE, I NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT. WHEN I DO POST, I WILL TRY TO INCLUDE A PIC- THANKS!**
HERE IS ONE OF MY RECENT FAVES...

Please Vote..

2009-10-18T22:15:00.003-05:00

My mother in law has entered a picture of Lily dressed as Jasmine for a Disney costume contest for Facebook. The winner gets Disney $$$. Since we are going in Nov with no extra $$, that would be sooo awesome! I think she has to get alot of votes to go through to the judging. There are many levels of prizes, so maybe we can hit one! Thanks for your help! Here is the link- I think you have to be logged in on FB
http://apps.facebook.com/promotionshq/contests/7059/voteable_entries
THE IMAGE IS NAMED AWAITING ALADDIN BY SUSAN SIMONS. GENIE AND JASMINE ARE IN IT WITH LILY.
Oh- and I am working SUPER hard editing right now. My orders have been backed up bc I am still processing orders from the spring and summer. The new shopping cart allows 3 weeks for you to order. Please note that Chrsitmas is approaching faster than you know- it is freaking me out:) So, please get your order in on time (and payment!) Since i am behind on posting peeks- I might as well throw in one from today. Cannot believe how darn cute little Colby is!!!

Our Camping Trip...

2009-10-14T23:02:00.004-05:00

I always blog at like midnight when I am super tired. Not fair to my readers:) So, I am going to try and recap our little getaway without wussing out!!
We went to the National Forest outside of Helen, GA. Scott (hubby) LOVES to fly fish (trout) so he drove around looking for a place on the river that had good fishing. Well, could not find anything. i was begging him to find the area that we used to camp at over 10 yrs ago. We totally found it! We even found a new spot that the kids would enjoy.

We set up and walked around a bit, but did not have much time to play bc we needed dinner. So, we roasted some hotdogs, cooked some rice on Scott's handy little cookstove for hiking and I got really creative and roasted potatoes in foil with butter and kosher salt in the fire. YUM! EXCEPT, I had the bright idea they needed to cook forever. Yes, our potatoes were burned almost all the way through- whoops! Realizing this is boring, so here comes the speed...
Went to sleep (very uncomfortably I might add- I thought 29 was too young to complain about sleeping on the ground!) I woke up at 6 to the sound of rain. Normally would have been fine, but we knew that even after waterproofing tent, it would still leak (Walmart!) So, we packed up in the rain bf daylight. Took the LONG way home (cool way) and BOTH kids tossed their milk all over. Scott has so kindly passed on his car sickness, we have found:( The mountain we went on was a little brutal for 2 kids with empty tummys except for milk!! I know- yuck! We will do this again. With a better tent, now that we know the kids enjoy it. Now that I have bored you to tears, here are the rest of my snapshots on my old camera with NO edits! Off to bed to try out my new- side sleeper pillow!! SUPER EXCITED!!

Hehe! Just realized Morgan is in his undies!! He is wearing more than the usual:)

Scott had a festival at work the day bf. He was "icing" his feet!

Updated Holiday Cards...

2009-10-13T09:38:00.002-05:00

If I have sent you a link, there may be 2 cards missing. Click on this link!
http://piclily.smugmug.com/Other/2009-Holiday-Cards/9312489_Dn2sb/1/622507519_U3dJh
PS-IF YOU WANT TO DO A CARD WITH IMAGES FROM A COMPLETED SESSION- LET ME KNOW ASAP AND GET AHEAD OF THE GAME!!! I GET EVEN MORE BUSY AFTER THESE NEXT 2 WEEKENDS:(

Fly-by Posting...

2009-10-12T22:32:00.002-05:00

I am literally dropping some pics for you bc i know I am behind on posting and many people are anxious to see their babies! BTW, I see that ALL of you refrained from emailing me for a peek. You are too good to me! Anyways, this is not all, but I am exuasted bc i just finished a big gallery AFTER we got home from our super-exciting overnight camping trip in the N Ga mtns! Will post tomorrow with pics! G' night!

and one more.... more to come:)

Need... to move.. out of...chair....

2009-10-07T21:41:00.003-05:00

If I have major pancake butt next time you see me- you will know why! I have taken advantage of many canceled shoots to "catch up" and "get ahead." Ummm... yah. Not happening. Very thankful for the "catch up" time- what would I have done without it:)? So, about those cancellations- the weather has been a factor, but so has the STOMACH BUG-- **SCREAM** I am deathly afraid of it. Not only does it knock me out for at least 3 days, I have 3 other people in my house that can get it. So- moral of the story- PLEASE be like my awesome, thoughtful clients and cancel if there are any strange bodily fluids. Many thanks!
Lack of pics means I am still hard at work. So, I leave you with one family as the rest of you attempt not to send me hate mail:) I do love you guys- just have to stay on track- ya know?!!
Here are the Ava and Bennett (they call him "B" which I think is SUPER cute) Ava is the big 4 this year and "B" is 4 months. Their mother is a friend of mine and I SO appreciate her tracking it over her with her 2 little ones- about an hour and a half car ride- Love ya! Here are the 2 darlings-

Aren't they sweet?
Ava looking a little on the vintage side

Bennett in an angelic pose- awww!

Back to work- wish me luck!

Quick Post (or was supposed to be)...

2009-10-05T22:27:00.003-05:00

Yes, I am still here! I have been working hard. I have many galleries and the longest *to-do* list I have ever seen! I have spent a little extra time trying to get my house organized so my life does not feel too overwhelming. It just does not help to come into a home that exhausts you just by looking at it! My friends are laughing at me bc I taped and cut in HALF of the kids bathroom 2 wks ago. When do i have time to paint??? Seriously, I guess I was not thinking that day. Anyways, galleries, orders, etc take first priority over blogging. So all of those very patient people waiting to catch a glimpse of your sweet little ones- please bear with me. Just a quick share that I have ready- one sweet little 2 yr old-
Isn't she a doll??

We had such a fun time doing her pics!
A little business-
* The Shopping Cart is up and running! It is not perfect, but it is already making lives easier:) It is not set up for Shipping and any additional discounts, such as the tier- (like if you hit $250, you get 10% off) So, place your order and we will send you a final invoice.
* Mini Sessions are all booked and ready for me to assign time slots. I cannot believe I have not done that yet- on the LIST! I will also be putting final touches on the Holiday Cards (yay!)
* LOOKING FOR LOCATIONS IN SMYRNA!!!! FARM- SOMETHING!! THE RIVER PARK FLOODED AND I NEED LOCATIONS OUT THERE ANYWAYS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP IF YOU KNOW OF A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PLACE FOR GREAT SCENERY- THANKS!
* I will be uploading all unordered galleries onto the Photocart Site. Please consider ordering soon bc I will be adding a 15% charge to the orders in the near future. Not to mention, the holidays are super busy and I would love to have them to you and Spring/summer wrapped up.
I am about to fall over- soooo tired! Good night!

Gorgeous Day...

2009-09-29T21:37:00.004-05:00

What a wonderful day we had here in GA! The rain is gone and the cool breeziness of Fall is here- well, until we have a random heatwave some in. I have accomplished quite a bit today - very proud:) Tomorrow, I will try the same. I have no shoots tomorrow, so it is house cleaning and picture editing time!! And, now I am sitting at my computer listening to my 3 yr old, Morgan, rustle through his neglected toys at 10:39- as my eyes are crossing. Little guy had a catnap and he is wild! He'd better be settled by the time I get ready to hit the hay...
I have had some great shoots over the past couple of days. 1 of these shoots was FINALLY done after rescheduling 3 times! Weather, sickness and more weather. I am glad we are out of that pattern. Since I am so tired, minimal commentary!
( Bc I know you all come hear to listen to me ramble-right??)
First up, sniff, sniff, Andrew. A one year old graduate of my Baby Planner (not really in existence anymore) Andrew loved walking and was pretty tough when he tumbled. His blue eyes were rarely on me. he had better things to see and do! Well, I got ya kid:) I will miss the little guy- been doing his pics since he was fresh from the hospital!

Next up, a family that is new to me. Of course they have been on the books for awhile and after 3 reschedules, I was anxious to meet Miss Madeline. She is such a tiny, sweet 11 mo old. Mom and Dad warned me she was serious. Boy- was she hard to crack! But when she warmed up- awwwww! (ok, wait... most of you know that I love me some serious faces. I would have been cool either way!) We met at the Atl Botanical Gardens to find it closed (on a monday- I know!) So, we did pics at the entrance and I am sure you will recognise good ol' Piedmont Park. I love putting on entertaining shows for the homeless guys:) Surprised none of them came to help us get smiles!

Thought mom looked pretty here-

Oh- a SMILE!

OK, so I lied about the commentary. I am going to stop there and get in bed with my book. It is now 10:50 and Morgan just snuck in my room and is hiding under the covers. Enough is enough.... why is he so cute? Going to be mean mommy!

Adorable Kiddos...

2009-09-25T20:11:00.002-05:00

I went to a visitation for a friend, who's brother was killed in Iraq. It so crazy when you really think about the fact that there are people over there that you know. It seems so surreal until it hits close to home. My heart goes out to K and her family. What a tragic loss. He was a handsome devil too!! So, here it is Friday. I have a live Barenaked Ladies Cd on. And I am trying to get as much work done as I can bf I grab a blue moon and watch my recorded, Bones! the, I have GOT to get in the garage bc we have a neighborhood yardsale tomorrow!!! Have I done anything? Um- of course not! What I did accomplish this week... took adorable pics of these 2:)
Caleb and Isabelle- 2 yrs and 3 months.

I had such a nice time! Now, gotta get back to my editing and orders! Have a great weekend

FOUND MY PHONE....

2009-09-23T13:52:00.000-05:00

with my face bright red- IT WAS IN MY PURSE!

MY PHONE IS MISSING...

2009-09-23T11:24:00.001-05:00

IF ANYONE WANTS TO CALL IT OVER AND OVER- FEEL FREE! I am going crazy with errands to run, computer work to do and having my kids out of school for the 3rd day!! i need my phone:) Enjoy the sunshine- while it lasts!

Blue Eyed Andrew...

2009-09-22T21:01:00.002-05:00

In case you are out of state (or out of the country) and have not heard about our wonderful weather and conditions- let me update you. Hmmm.... when did it start raining? Um, forever ago! I think it was Sunday night that I sent a text to hubby, Scott, and told him that we need to build an ark and get the heck out. We should have! We should have hightailed it to FL or somewhere nice bc this state is a disaster! All of the creeks and rivers have flooded, leaving a mess. Our schools have been closed Mon and Tues and just found out that they will be again tomorrow! I guess I can be thankful that the worst I am dealing with is my kids at home all day and us having to boil our drinking water:) So... I was itching to hold my camera. I emailed Andrew's mom and said, "What about tonight?" It was sunny with barely any clouds. She said YES! We have rescheduled 3 times (pretty sure). Little guy will be 1 in 2 months. So, without further ado, here is 10 mo old, Andrew-
.

We had such a nice, easy shoot. I was revived:) My heart goes out to all that are having a hard time right now. I know that this will be a struggle for most bc insurance does not cover flood damage unless you have flood insurance:(

Newborns...

2009-09-20T10:34:00.002-05:00

I have had a good many newborns lately. So sweet and tiny. I get my baby fix in and get on with my life:) I have to post quickly bc my kids are off the chain- at least they are in good moods and not in front of the tv!
Here is adorable, Mary Palin- I had such a nice time with this new family of 3. The pics turned out so pretty. Dream lighting in a highrise with floor to ceiling windows... ahhh...

Next, Lucas came to see me! We spent a couple of hours in my foyer with crazy weather- rain to shine to cloudy! He is so cute with his red tinted hair! Scott swore he looked like our Morgan when he was a newbie:) Although, Morgan had over 2 pounds on this little guy!!

There is a newborn workshop I want to attend in Tn in Feb. It is $2000- yikes! I feel like I can learn alot... pondering on that one...

Beaming With Pride...

2009-09-20T09:50:00.006-05:00

My bff, Kelley, in Cookeville, TN sent me this link of her hubby on a local tv show. The own a casual, american bistro called Maddux Station. This place is their blood, sweat and tears! They have grown to be such a big part of their community and it makes me soo proud. The video is long, but the soup looks great (if you want to try at home!)

Here is their website-
http://www.madduxstation.com/
And might I add that the very talented, Sarah Dobbins of Tn did the amazing photos on the site. She really rocks! Here is her site: http://www.sarahdobbins.com/blog/
We have been having such a great weekend! I have gotten a good amt of work done and we have actually had a social life!!! AMAZING! We had dinner at Gabes on Thurs night with some friends and had some old friends over for dinner on Fri night. A miracle that Scott was off on a Fri night! It really sucks that I have had to cancel so many shoots. I am so disappointed:( Although, I am putting a pretty darn big dent in my editing. Maybe I can get ahead bf the Fall season really cranks up!!!
** JUST A REMINDER- THERE ARE MANY GALLERIES OUT PAST THE DEADLINE. PLEASE (PLEASE) GET YOUR ORDERS (AND PAYMENT) IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU SOOO VERY MUCH:) :) **

Since it is a Rainy Day...

2009-09-17T09:45:00.002-05:00

I indulged in a few minutes of web surfing:) For some reason, I ended up on Jeff Dollar from the Bert Show on Q100's Blog. I think he is a pretty funny guy, so I checked it out. I found this and it made me smile. What I would give to have Lily in a choir like this!!!

The Rest of the Fab 4...

2009-09-15T08:31:00.004-05:00

We had such a neat time at this farm that belongs to the family of their fab babysitter! Such a beautiful place. Here are the rest of the kids' pics-
Oldest, Max, who has a serious side for the camera. You can just see the sweetness oozing from him no matter what face he makes!

Emily, who tends to show her silly side in front of the camera. I had to talk and talk to her to get the sweet side to come out- such a fun girl!

Jack, Wow! What do we all say about Jack? When you know him, he is almost angelic. Hehe- I know there are many of you laughing out there:) But, really, this kid has something about him. The other something is HILARIOUS! He has the best personality and keeps all on their toes:) This might even be a "fake" smile for him. But, I thought it was precious, so I had to post it.

Next up, darling Baby Finley. One of those babies that you can soak up all day. He is so tiny and sweet. This is the biggest smile he has ever given me from the 5 times I have photographed him, so I am excited!!

Here is one last one with the horses-

Clouds, Clouds- GO AWAY...

2009-09-13T20:37:00.003-05:00

Well, as crazy as the weather has been, I have stayed pretty busy. As you are starting to figure out- I like sunshine! Cloudy says are "easier" for shooting, but I would rather have the challenge of the sun bc it makes much nicer images. I just let the dog outside and I feel the dampness in the air- preview of the cloudy morning we will have:( We had a good weekend- I actually sat on the couch and watched the GA/SC game on Sat night. One of my best friends and her son came to stay with us while their daddy was at the game and Scott was working. It felt so good to sit there and relax without my computer! Good game, too:) Poor Ginger came to hang out and she ended up watching my kids twice and even cooked dinner. She did say it was just good to see me and the kids:) Isn't she sweet??? I need all my friends right now bc the busy time is harder than ever. It is so important to know you have a shoulder to lean on:)!! Anyways- I have LOTS to share! My camera has been snapping away. First off- cannot forget our wonderful friends and their 2 little ones. They came for a quick visit from their new home in FL- we miss them dearly! Scott and I are God-parents to little Ayden. It has been many months since we have seen him and Scott and I are just smitten- he is such a doll!!

Here are some shoots that did not get cancelled this week! Little Wyatt- I met him and mom when he was under a week. This time, I had the pleasure of photographing the whole fam. He is such a sweet boy-

Next up, one of my little sweet girls I get to hang with every few months. I have been photographing her fam for almost 2 yrs! Love them so much! Here is serious and seriously adorable Sophia-

we did get some smiles- I realized that I only picked out serious faces!
And now an "out take" from my shoot this morning. I really do not want to call it an out take- I really think it is a perfect pic of these awesome kids! Anyone that knows them are nodding their heads right now:) More tomorrow- Love you guys!!

Hayes and Henry...

2009-09-09T18:48:00.003-05:00

Posting these 2 boys together, Hayes- one of my old Baby Planners is 2 yrs old! We had a playdate in his backyard along with their new DAWG, Molly...

We got some great pics! He is super cute, just like his 2 older sisters.
I met a new little friend this morning- 1 yr old, Henry. He stole my heart the moment I saw him! Soo cute! We even shot at a (new!) location where mom and dad got engaged in and had their engagement pics. Isn't that sweet? Such a pretty little place with beautiful light- add Henry- perfect!

Oh Yes, There is a Fourth...

2009-09-09T18:11:00.003-05:00

This family gets a whole post to themselves - they have 4 little ones!! I have known mom since Lily was a toddler (when she had 1 child!) Her blog was titled: "Carson, Cain and Carly- Will There Be a Fourth..." Oh, yes, there was! And along came little Camlin:) I know quite a few families with 4 children and I feel like I learn alot from them. For example, this shoot- Mom did not stress over the fact that little Cain wanted nothing to do with me or anybody looking at him-

So, we moved on and let all the kids shine in their own way. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "That's Cain." After hanging with each kid individually, I had the family play a little. I literally jumped up and down with a couple images of Cain SMILING!

If we had pushed the issue, he prob would have shut down totally. I am so glad we went with the flow and let everyone shine in their own time!! Here is the rest of the crew-
Carson, the rocker-

Carly, the only girl!

And the newest addition, Camlin-

And look- everybody is looking! A little chocolate cookie on the faces, but looking! Scott, might I add, you are looking really cool and intimidating here!!

Thanks guys!! Had a blast! So nice to meet Mr and Mrs S:)

Darling Baby Adelyn...

2009-09-02T20:43:00.002-05:00

What a little doll that came to me this morning! And a beautiful mommy! I cannot wait to meet big brother, too. 4 mo is always a funny age- you never know how they will act- happy, curious, tired or hungry! Or all of the above...
We lost her a couple of times, but with a feeding and a couple of scenery changes- I am certain mom will love them! Did I say how precious she was????

It was so great to meet you guys!!
NOTE- HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL MY CLIENTS WE EMAILED REMINDERS TO! WE MET THE DEADLINE AND I AM NOW WEEDING THROUGH ORDERS!! HAVING PANIC ATTACKS THINKING ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS:)

Where Does the Time Go...

2009-08-31T11:48:00.002-05:00

I am waiting for a gallery to load and thought I would put my thoughts on "paper!" I have been running my little bum off since 8:00 this morning after staying up until 2:00 am working! Does anyone have any tips for me??? Secrets?? I would say I need more hours in the day, but no- please! I am tired enough already!! My kids seem to have extra energy now that school is back in. I found Morgan in Lily's room last night (at 10:00-ish) blowing bubbles into the fish tank with a crazy straw! With his sister passed out literally right beside him!! I mean, I thought he was in bed!!! Crazy nut:) I am very excited bc my friend, Alisha, has introduced me to Madmimi.com a email generated newsletter site. i get to make my own templates, add images, etc.. I am super excited bc I always feel like people are getting left out of the loop bc they are not cool enough to read the blog consistently (like YOU!)) LOL! hope that does not offend anyone. Anyways, I will also be using it as my "Friendly Reminder" for late orders or payments. Just seems a little nicer than an email- don't ya think? So, I am hoping tomorrow is the day I get that set up. Also, I am saving up for a shopping cart!! Did I hear clapping??? Yes, I know, our system is a bit of a pain. But, PictureLily is helping to support the Pillow Family and the Pillow family is pretty darn tight:) So, big orders are welcome and will certainly go towards the "shopping cart fund." My gallery is done loading, so I will leave you with a REMINDER:
Tomorrow is Sep 1st- the deadline for some of your orders:) A 15% late charge will be added to your order if you are past this date. It is super important that I stay current with ordering bc Fall mean BUSY and DEADLINES- AKA the Holidays. Lab gets swamped, you get swamped, I get swamped- you get the picture. If your deadline is not Sep 1st, please keep an eye on your 3 wk mark. Many thanks!!!!

The Best Light Ever...

2009-08-30T10:59:00.003-05:00

My favorite light is when the sun is shining and the sky is blue with only a few clouds. We did Jenna's pics a little after 9:00 and we could not have asked for better light! It provided such a pretty glow behind her. One of the things I am looking forward to next year when I slow my shooting schedule down is being able to reschedule when we have super cloudy days. The clouds totally take away from the images- dark eyes- dark backgrounds... Take a look for yourself-

Guys, I had soo much fun! She is a doll and I cannot wait to chase her for her Bday shoot:)

Boys, Boys...

2009-08-28T20:16:00.003-05:00

Lots of sweet, little boy babies! I met a new little friend a couple of days ago named Robert. He is 6 months old and such a cutie! I went to their home and had such great time with him and his sweet parents. Robert had the -oh so common- "6 mo stare" It happens almost everytime. The moms say, " I do not know what is wrong- he always smiles!" I know they do, but for some reason, they decide to show us the sweetest faces they can make without a smile! (it is no secret I am a huge fan!!) Here are a few of those ADORABLE faces- check out those peepers, too!

LLLOOOVVVEEE this next shot!!!

And now an updated shot of Rachel's 2 handsome guys-

I get to see them again tomorrow afternoon!! Back to editing- well, after I put my wild children to bed. Night...

Catching Up...

2009-08-26T13:49:00.003-05:00

Ethan and his little brother, Brendan:)

REMINDER--
REMEMBER THAT ORDERS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED IN 3 WKS FROM THE TIME THE ORDER FORM WAS SENT TO YOU:) ALSO, IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE - REMEMBER THAT AUGUST 31ST IS LESS THAN 1 WEEK AWAY. ORDERS NOT RECEIVED BY THEN ARE SUBJECT TO A 15% CHARGE. THANK YOU!!

We Have a Baby...

2009-08-22T17:04:00.002-05:00

Aaron Reese Palazzo
Born 8:51 am August 22, 2009
8 lbs and 10 oz!!!! 21 inches!!
Big boy:) My assistant Rachel is at the hospital with their new bundle of joy. She had a C section this morning and all went great! Megan will be taking her spot while Rachel wrestles with her 2 boys for awhile:) Congrats!!

Newborn of the Year...

2009-08-22T15:36:00.004-05:00

Meet little Drake. He was 1 week and 4 days when his mommy and daddy came to see me. This sweet guy was so tiny and sleepy! We did not have to get him to sleep, just took him out of his carseat and started positioning him. What an angel!! Prepare for a little baby fever....

PS- STILL HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT HOW TO KEEP THESE HORIZONTAL PICS FROM CHOPPING OFF!! HMMMM.....

So Much to do....

2009-08-16T17:05:00.002-05:00

so little time! So, while I do other things, here are 2 adorable little gals!!
Norah- 18 mo

Norah and Mommy (and baby girl #2!)

Our fun painting

and Quinn- 1 yr

Walking with mom

Smile!

I Promise...

2009-08-15T20:50:00.003-05:00

I will have peeks up for baby Norah and Quinn tomorrow! I think I am about to hit the hay. Go me- Saturday night at 10!! I was thinking about it an hour ago! LOL! My father is having back surgery next Tues and I am flying out to Charleston on Tues and coming back on Thurs night. I will be busting it tomorrow and Monday to get any galleries due and orders mailed bf I go. I am not sure if I am going to be able to complete the galleries- if not- I will shoot you an email to let you know. Keep him in your thoughts- he has been beyond miserable for months now. Without embarrassing him, I will just say that standing up for more than 10 min is not an easy task. Not good when he is a strapping, young 56 yr old:) My Bday is on Wednesday, so I might have to prance around Charleston by myself for a few hours! Good night all:)

My Kid Cracks Me Up...

2009-08-14T21:06:00.005-05:00

Morgan and Lily have been playing police all tonight while I am working. I am pretty impressed that they have not been fighting a whole bunch! Morgan stumbled for a policeman name and came up with Rachel! We broke out the FLIP and had to record this- (HOPE IT WORKS!!) BTW- he is 3:)

Sweet, Sweet Mason...

2009-08-12T09:10:00.004-05:00

I got relish in some baby moments with 4 mo old, Mason. One look into his eyes just makes me want to squeeze him! We got some sweet baby shots and some adorable smiles.

Calling All Current Clients for MINIS...

2009-08-10T19:49:00.003-05:00

I am being really indecisive about the Mini-Sessions. So, I have decided to announce my ideas and get feedback from YOU! As of now, I am only taking current clients (unless I have talked to you). Here are my thoughts for locations:
- Carroll County
- Smyrna area
- POSSIBLY Loganville
- Grant Park
The Minis will be 30 min shoots with a gallery of approx 10-15 images (or more if we rock it!) The purpose is to get some terrific shots for Holiday cards and gifts. We can brainstorm ahead of time and figure out the "look" you are going for. I will be looking to book 3+ families per location. Price will be close to the sitting fee, but include some sort of credit. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED- PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAP. The Fall will be limited so please get in touch!!
You will LOVE the Holiday Cards this year! I have some gorgeous templates and will be adding a design your own template! TOO FUN! I get the best feedback every year:)

PS- I AM NOW REALIZING THAT BLOGGER IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH FOR SOME OF MY IMAGES- SO IF IT LOOKS FUNNY, IT IS PROB CUT OFF. ANOTHER THING TO FIGURE OUT!

This was the Only One...

2009-08-09T23:31:00.003-05:00

in that spot that turned out like I was aiming for- isn't it adorable?

I think I should clarify bf mom freaks out:) We got some awesome candids in this set of shots and then they turned and smiled and little jumped down. There are more awesome shots from this shoot!!!

The Proof Book...

2009-08-08T21:20:00.002-05:00

I have been meaning to post pics on the proofbooks i now offer. On the pricesheet the 5x7 book is listed at $125. I have now added an 8x8- my fave! I can work with the layout of the pics better with this size. I will be adding this to the menu and the price will be a little bit more than the 5x7, but worth it! I am thinking the 5x7 makes for a good brag/purse/grandparent book. While the 8x8 serves a beautiful purpose of displaying your images on the coffeetable. They come with choice of black or brown fabric or leather. The pages are press printed on semi-gloss, UV coated paper. They are not easily torn. The pages are also hinged, so the book will lay flay. You will not have to "break in" the book to get the pages to stay open. Here are a few TERRIBLE pics-
8X8 BROWN FABRIC:

5X7 BLACK LEATHER:

TOP VIEWS:

PAGES (PLEASE excuse how bad these pics are!! The pages are not even in focus!)
Photobucket">
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I HAVE FOUND THAT I CAN MAKE ANY AMOUNT OF IMAGES FROM A SHOOT WORK.

More to Share...

2009-08-08T21:13:00.003-05:00

I wanted to get the rest of Addison's peek and little Cooper's before the weekend was up. Such fun little babes with (of course) SUPER COOL parents! Baby Addison's mom is a very old friend of mine. Cooper's mommy let me "freshen up" at their home after their shoot to get myself ready for a memorial service. Thanks girl! So- here you go!
Addison's adorable smile-

Mom and baby- BFFs 4ever!

And the little Dude, Cooper, in some gorgeous window light-

Go Cooper- drag your parents!!

Oh- so sweet!

this child literally hugged my neck while we were sitting and chatting on the floor. I could have just taken him home!!!

In the Midst...

2009-08-07T16:37:00.002-05:00

Of a million things- HAD to share this sweet pic of almost 5 month, Addison. I have more from her session and some from a 1 yr shoot of an awesome little guy to share. But, I do not have everything ready. So, you decide- what do you like???
COLOR

VINTAGE

BW????

I think I already know the verdict:)