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.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I might be a little biased, but I think I might have some of the cutest valentine's in town. I hope you have a wonderful day with your loved ones!





My daughter's picture was featured as a valentine inspiration photo on the website www.confessionsofapropjunkie.com. They have themes each week and it is fun to see the creativity of other photographers.

A very personal memorial day

Both of my grandfathers served in Korea. I have uncles and cousins who have served in the military. It is one of the most unselfish, brave things a man or woman can do. I think for the most part we live unaffected by people serving our country. Until it is someone you know, you don't think about the dangers and the possible things they will encounter. To all who have bravely served in our military a humble thank you. We honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

In case you were wondering my grandfather, Ray, is one sitting in front. He had friendships with his fellow veterans that long outlived the war they served in.

Fiesta-DFW Family Photographer

We went to San Antonio a few weeks ago and got to enjoy fiesta. I loved seeing all the color around. There was good music, good food and time with family. I will take that any time I can get it! My son was instantly drawn to the wrestling masks. It made me smile because my grandpa Ray used to love to watch wrestling on the Spanish station on tv. I thought it was pretty hokey, but I would sit there and watch it with him just to spend time with him. I miss him. He's been gone since 1996 and I can't wait to see him in heaven.

Permission to be human

It seems like so many people I talk to lately are overwhelmed. Between work, kids and life that it is hard to stay positive.

As a mom, I struggle with that so much. I work full-time, I have two kids, I am a wife and I take pictures, too. I find it is easy to beat myself up about not being all things to all people. I don't want to let anyone down. I am sure you can relate!

I often try to remind myself that is is okay to fail sometimes. It is okay to miss one event, or not work late all the time like the inner workaholic in me wants to. An insane work ethic is sometimes hard to break.

I feel like the greatest responsibility I was given was to be the mother to my two children. I can help shape their habits and their little hearts.

So to my other friends out there who struggle with the same mixed feelings-you have permission to be human. We are all doing the best we can with what we have been given and sometimes that just has to be enough.

Have a blessed day!

Perspective

I love balloons! DFW childrens photographer

I generally just try to capture her, but for her birthday I decided I wanted to add balloons. It was fun for both of us!

Breast Cancer Awareness

It is breast cancer awareness month. I'm sure across the country you have seen a lot of pink everywhere. I want to share a very personal story with you. Last year, I shared briefly that my aunt was suffering from breast cancer. It was a really scary time. As I reflect on it, it was much scarier than I had let on.

My aunt Lisa and I have always been close. We are pretty close in age and she was the cool aunt. She would take me for rides in her camaro with her alpine stereo blaring. Clearly, I am dating myself but you get the idea. She never treated me like a little kid.

When I went to visit my aunt last December, she was starting to get her hair back. She was still really self conscious, but I asked her if I could take a photo without a wig. This is the closest I got. I didn't want to push her. She was still really scared and I think seeing a picture with a bald head would have made it too real.

I remember trying to console her with "your hair will grow back." Who really wants to hear that? All you want is not to have to go through chemo and not to lose your own hair. When she first brought up the double mastectomy I thought it was a no-brainer, but I didn't have to go through the surgery and the reconstruction. These are all things I can clearly see now but didn't think about then.

I am so glad to report that my aunt is well. We talked tonight and finally admitted to each other how scared we both were. She is now the poster child for breast cancer in her town of Kennewick, Washington. She still visits the cancer center and has been the star in a few parades. Cancer didn't know she already liked pink. She never lost her pink eye make up from the 80's!

I love you very much, Auntie Lisa. I'm glad God had other plans for your life!

Curious Monkey

He's mine. This little guy refuses to let me photograph him. He was screaming "no camera" at one point. I know my other photographer friends can relate--it is harder to capture our own. I hope you are having a great weekend.

Happy Wednesday

Sometimes the only way I can photograph my kids is if we play games. If that is what it takes....I hope you are having a fabulous week!

Something different

I took a morning for myself this week and took some pictures of a friend. She is a children's photographer and understood my desire to take pictures of an adult subject. I love looking at the work of other photographers and wanted to try something different. I know this isn't very far from what I do with children, but it nice to have a subject that takes direction and understands what you are trying to accomplish! Here are two of my favorites. Thank to to my lovely friend, Claire, for making some time for me!

High Style-DFW Children's photographer

My daughter decided that today was princess day. I was happy to let her play dress up. She also decided that she wanted pictures in "high style." I don't know where she heard that, but it was not from me. I'm not a girly girl. She has been walking around the house for the last few days in bows, headbands and bracelets. She is a fashionista! Well, here are the pictures from her "high style" session. I think she did it to make me happy and she did! I love being able to capture her big personality. Everyone should be friends with someone like my daughter. She can really light up a room! P.S. The poses were all her own. I don't direct her sessions!

Love!

I love my parents. I just got back from visiting them a few weeks ago. We live 8 hours away and it is really tough. I think it is so good to get back to my home town, where life is a little slower. The speed limit is 35 and after about 3 days I get used to it again. I often forget how nice it is to go places and see people who really know me. My parents have taught me so much--to love Jesus first, to treat people well and that life is not a race. It is easy to forget when I get back to Dallas and the fast life here. I was going back through pictures from my visit and just love this one I snapped when we were at the park with my kids. There is no dramatic background, no fancy settings, just a simple picture of my parents and my daughter. I just thought I'd give you a peek into my life.

A rare event

I had a wonderful day yesterday hanging out with another photographer and friend, Gina Propp. I love Gina. She photographed my daughter when she was a baby and we have a very similar style. I told her I was tired of all the pictures I had of myself and she photographed me with some vintage cameras. I wanted to share a few that I really feel captured my personality. Be sure to check out Gina's website www.realifephotography.com.

This all started because of her

I couldn't stop taking her picture. I wanted to remember every funny little face. I wanted to remember how small her fingers and toes were. I have always loved photography, but never knew I could be so passionate about it until I had her. I love that God gave me this gift and I found it because of her. I love it when she smiles so big her eyes seem to go away. That's how I know it is her real smile. I'm feeling blessed today. I hope you are, too.