The Croly Family, Suffolk, VA Photographer

How much do I LOVE this family!?!  One of my favorite things about Suffolk is all of the wonderful friends we have made.  I remember one of the first times I met Antoinette... Emerson was just one and she was in that phase where I couldn't take my eyes off of her and new environments were overwhelmingly exciting for her curious little self.  So, I found myself at another friends house for a birthday party and I probably only got to speak a few words to some of the other moms because I was so busy keeping up with Emerson.  After the party, I was exhausted and felt like I would never be able to have friends again or a non-interrupted conversation at the least!  A day or so later I received the sweetest, encouraging email from Antoinette basically saying- "I see where you are.  I understand where you are.  It gets better."  It was just what I needed.

So, when she asked me to do a family session for her I was beyond flattered and excited.  The weather on the other hand, was less than cooperative.  We had to reschedule our first date and on our second date we had to make a quick call to shoot early.  I'm so glad we did because we literally caught the only  1 hour window of dry sky.  A sad sky did not deter us from having a good time though.  We played, we laughed, and we even enjoyed some time by the water.  Thanks Croly Family for being so loving, fun, and go with the flow! 

Enjoy!

Lindsey

He brought "ducky" along for a few shots : )

In case you were wondering what "happiness" looks like...

Braelynn Turns One, Children's Photographer in Suffolk, VA

This little monkey turned one recently.  Isn't she adorable!?!  She is such a silly girl, with a fun and curious nature.  I'm so glad to have been able to do a little mini session with her and her mama in order to celebrate one year of Braelynn!

This girl has some serious personality!

Love this shot with her mama.

Lindsey & Brian - Just for Fun, Suffolk Virginia Photographer

Seriously, these are some of my most favorite images.  We started session planning and in the middle of it I saw, for the first time, the music video "Somethin Bout a Truck" by Kip Moore.  The scene in that video made me think of Brian and Lindsey and when I mentioned it to Lindsey she was all up for it and knew Brian would be too if it meant that we would be including his truck in some of the shots.  Guys...

First stop though was a beautiful outdoor fireplace in the middle of a big wooded lakefront lot.  I want this fireplace in my yard one day.  It is gorgeous and the owners, parents of one of my close high school friends, graciously agreed to let us use it for the session.  The weather was alittle on the warm side, but that didn't keep Lindsey and Brian from workin' it in front of the camera.

Alittle back story on Lindsey and I... We have known each other since 6th grade although we didn't actually meet until 7th grade.  We were at different schools before 7th grade and as it turns out I unknowlingly "liked" was "boyfriend/girlfriend" (whatever you want to call it) with her ex-boyfriend.  Technically, I wasn't allowed to have a "real" boyfriend until I was 16- per mom and dad : ) We broke up right before I moved schools and met Lindsey.  I was a sheltered little private school girl transferring to a big, public school and all I knew was that there was a girl there named Lindsey and I was the "the other girl" who liked (had liked) her ex-boyfriend.  I was scared... very scared.  I arrived at my third period class, Chorus (how the heck do I remember this?) and discovered that she was in there too!!!  I did everything I could to act cool and like I had no idea who she was when I was actually sweating bullets and planning my incognito escape for when the bell rang.  The bell rang and I focused on the exit.  I was just about through the doors and she stopped me....

and was the nicest girl alive and my first public school friend!!!  Isn't that a great ending to my overly dramatic story!?!  Yep, we were two peas in a pod and have been friends ever since.  I'm so thankful for your friendship Lindsey and so happy for you and Brian!

Enjoy!

Lindsey

My lovely assistant/sister was in charge of stomping down the tall weeds : )

It's the Emerson Show

I know its pretty much turning into the Emerson show around here and I apologize for that, but I just can't help myself... and, its my blog : )  So my sister came up to visit recently and stayed for two weeks.  She is getting ready to start medical school in August in Miami and so she has been trying to soak up her freedom and mobility as much as she can until then.  When we get together we become "project girls" and pour ourselves into all kinds of recipes, crafts, and "projects."  One of our projects for her last visit was to make Emerson a pillowcase dress.  As you will see in the pictures below, the dress ultimately became a shirt.  It was probably one of the more frustrating projects that we've tackled, but we persevered and Emerson now has a cute little tunic shirt with drawstring pants. Don't look too closely at the outfit... it's alittle rough around the edges : )

I couldn't decide between color or B&W... I love this one!  She is smelling a flower.

Showing off some dance moves.

Head and shoulders, knees, and toes... we usually get stuck on head.

a beautiful bouquet that we picked up from this local farm

Aunt Olivia, aka Viva

She thinks everything is a cell phone, but just happened to get it right this time.

Always on the move.