I heart faces-best face of 2012

I am dusting off the blog and had to enter this week's challenge. I know you have seen the picture before, but I love this face. I'm lucky she's mine. Be sure to check out all the other awesome entries at iheartfaces.

The fall fairy-Irving, TX children's photographer

There are times that I have to do sessions just for me-something out of my box and a little creative. Thankfully I have a great subject in my little princess. Before I get through the grind of the Christmas season I wanted to do a little shoot of my girl. So I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do. Every little girl wants to be a fairy, right?

Baby Hope - Flower Mound, TX Newborn photographer

I love newborn sessions, but this one is special. Baby Hope's mom had prayed and prayed for another little one. Her prayers were answered with this sweet little one. It was so neat to witness an answered prayer and have the honor of photographing this baby!

It is always such a challenge to get in siblings and I just love this shot.

I heart faces-Enjoying Life Challenge

It has been a while since I have posted to this blog, much less tried my hand at the I heart faces challenges. This week's theme is enjoying life. This image immediately came to mind. Who doesn't enjoy life on a slip n slide, although they are much safer than the ones we had as kids. Be sure to check out the other amazing entries at I heart faces!

My United Colors Project-DFW Children's photographer

In the fall, I was feeling really burned out and wanted something different for myself. My friend and mentor Jean Smith of Jean Smith Photography suggested doing a session for myself-something I would find interesting and challenging. I'm so glad she suggested it because it got me over my funk and I was able to get inspired for the Christmas rush!

When I was younger, I used to love the advertisements from Bennetton. They had a "united colors" theme where they used models of different ethnicities and I loved the contrast. I used it as inspiration to do some pictures of my daughter and her friends. It is so amazing to me that she has such diversity in her friends already!

I am so thankful for all the moms who brought their daughters to be part of this session. It meant a great deal to me. I hope you enjoy the photos!

Mother's Day

I am going to change things up this year and do an open letter to my children to commemorate this Mother's Day.


Dear Monkey and My Princess:

This year I want to write a letter to you as we celebrate Mother's Day. I hope you will look back on this some day and smile.

I cannot tell you how much the two of you mean to me. I could never explain such intense love like a mommy has for her babies. The minute I delivered you, my heart left my body and clung to you.

Your daddy and I are so blessed to be your parents. Each one of you has such special and unique qualities. I honestly believe the most difficult job I will have is to make sure I guide you on the right path and help you develop into awesome adults!

My little monkey--you have an analytical mind. You are definitely the son of an accountant and engineer. I love watching you play and line up your toys into different shapes. I can't wait to see what you build when you grow up.

My little princess--you have the most wonderful imagination. I love to hear you playing make believe and teaching your brother to act in your little plays. Your drawings are amazing and so creative! I imagine you being a designer or something way more fun than what I do!

I always want the two of you to know that I really try to find balance. I do work full-time and I do photography in my spare time (really my spare/spare time). I don't ever want you think you are not a priority. I know sometimes it is hard to get my attention, but you are always in my heart.

I want you to love Jesus. I want you to have the best. I want you to go to college. I want you to become the best you can be, but understand you need to be gentle with your expectations of yourself. Sometimes your best has to be enough-even if you don't win, you don't get promoted or things don't go the way you expect them. Everything happens for a reason, but always have faith.

I love you so much and I know I have a tough exterior, but I adore you with my whole heart.

Love, mom.

Cultivating Confidence-Jill's story

When I was a teenager, I ran long distance races and qualified to run in State contest. I was actually pretty good and had a chance to place. When the gun went off and the pack started around the track, I got caught up in the crowd. My foot was stepped on, tripping me up and causing me to fall onto the track. The pack moved on without me and I had a choice . . . get up or quit? I got up and can still remember the crowd cheering me on, even in last place.

Growing up I thought of myself as a confident person. It was actually one of the traits I would immediately put down if asked to describe myself. Confident, Aspiring, Kind, Considerate, Devoted, Forgiving . . . As I got older and had things that didn’t quite go the way I planned, I began to question my own abilities, traits, and value. I began to realize that I had based my self-worth on what others thought of me. Being approved or accepted was more important to me than doing what I really wanted to. I even made concessions for my dreams and desires in attempt to be a person I thought others would like better.

I am not sure whether its age or life experience or both, but I feel more confident in my own opinions and decisions about my future. I wouldn’t necessarily change anything about my past, but I do appreciate that I worry less about how others see me and focus on how I feel about a situation. I am not always successful though! As with many personality traits, you can work on them, but they do not go away entirely. I find myself leaning on those that mean the most to me when I feel down on myself or stuck in a bad place.

If asked today how I describe myself I would make the same list, but for different reasons. I have learned acceptance in myself and a faith in God’s love for me. I am who I am and I am very important to many people in my life. There are people that count on me to be there just the way I am.

I don’t run races any more, but I do still trip at times and fall down. It happens to all of us, young and old, but the important thing is not that we fall. It’s how we handle ourselves after the fall that truly matters. Get up, dust yourself off and go on holding your head high. Sounds cheesy, but that’s what works for me!