We had SO SO many entries and it was so hard to to narrow it down to SEVEN favorite pictures. Now it is your turn to vote for your favorite and tell everyone you know to vote too! I can’t wait to see who wins! Each picture and story will have a number, to vote for your favorite please comment on this blog with the number that you want to win. You can only vote ONE time so make it count! We will be taking entries until Friday, May 21st at midnight. We will annouce the winner by Monday, May 24th.
* Please note that if you’ve never commented on our blog before that I will have to approve yours first before you will see it 
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Now for the fun part!
Picture 1 (Kelly):
Why this is Kelly’ favorite picture:
Sam, I love (love, love, love) all your photos. I can’t let myself visit your blog while working b/c I spend way too much time going gaga over every photo! But, my favorite photo (and I’m biased) is the one you took my kids, with big brother kissing baby sister’s head. I love them all, but you put that one on a business card and a stray found it’s way into my gym bag. When she was so sick and in the hospital, I couldn’t leave her side. Even when they kicked me out of the SCU, I just sat in the waiting room until they let me in again. Someone brought me clothes in my gym bag and I found that photo. The nurses let me back in so I could leave it for her. That photo helped me so much during that scary time. I’d hold Rosie and pray without words and just get lost in the photo of my 3 beautiful, happy, healthy kids.
Why Kelly wants to win:
I’ve been thinking for a while that I would love to have you take my family’s photo in Columbiana, in front of the courthouse. That’s where we eloped and we do not have a single photo from that day. I think it’d be a beautiful picture to revisit the courthouse (the place where we got married and where we made my son’s adoption official) and have you photograph our family…..me, my husband, and our three beautiful and HEALTHY (praise God!!) children.
And here is another picture she sent me when baby girl was in the hospital. See the business card? I am happy to say baby girl is healthy, PRAISE GOD!
Picture 2 (Kim):
Why this is Kim’s favorite picture:
My all time favorite picture is of the mom and her triplet boys….the one has his arms crossed in anger. One looks miserable in Amy’s lap. And the other looks like he is up to something sneaky, and mom looks like she is just thinking….”Yep, this is life with triplet boys.” I, too, have triplets (2 girls and a boy) and I can totally picture that happening if I attempted a family photo right now. This picture sums up life with multiples for me!!! Hysterical!!!!
Why Kim wants to win:
Like I mentioned, I have triplets. They are 6 ½ yrs. old and we have only had one professional family picture made together and that was when they were 2 yrs. old. We desperately need an updated family picture and I would love for you to capture their innocence b/4 they get to big. I don’t like to beg, but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pick me!!!!
Picture 3 (Tracy):
Why this is Tracy’s favorite picture:
You have so many photos to choose from but my favorite would have to be the one you took of my daughter in the blue tutu where she is faced away from the camera with her hand perched and tip toes showing. This is the photo that we got in a 16 X 20 of and proudly display as a fine piece of art in our home. This photo of my little one is one I have dreamed of when I have spent time looking at photos of children. I love photos of children that capture their expressions and show their faces but there is something about the ones where you can’t see their face, like the one that I describe, or ones where you capture only a certain body part, feet, hands, etc that just move me and you have a wonderful eye for this. Your pictures paint a story that leaves so much to the imagination. For example, in my favorite photo of my child, I do not see her face in the photo but I can only imagine the expression on her face when you took it. When I see the photo, I imagine that she has a look of wonder or surprise or just utmost happiness and that makes me smile and my heart melt. I will never forget what she said when we put her in the blue tutu. She said “Mommy, I princess.” I first of all didn’t even know she knew the word “princess” but you made her feel like one and she was so happy that day and I love that you captured her “princess” moment for us to cherish forever. I look forward to the day of telling her about those photos and what they mean to me.
Why Tracy wants to win:
As for why I would love to win, I just love photos, especially of things of people who are very special to me and I have a perfect subject matter for you. My daughter is very photogenic and loves the camera and I love how you captured her personality so beautifully and innocently when we worked with you.
Picture 4 (Melinda):
Why is this Melinda’s favorite picture:
The one that stands out is the one you did with all the five boys in the grass with the tulips. I guess because I know them it becomes more personal to me but watching them grow up and then captured in such a beautiful moment was breathtaking.
Why Melinda wants to win:
I remember your dream when it first began and to see where the Lord has brought you guys now and the work you are doing is priceless. You are able to capture such amazing shots and you will do just about anything to get them. So remembering those first pictures you took and now to see how God has blessed both of you with such amazing talent puts a smile on my face. My husband is always taking pictures of our family which means he is never able to be in the picture with us. I cannot remember the last family picture we had made together. He is also a very busy person and although he loves to take the pictures and edit them, he is not able to devote a lot of time to doing this. I would love for our family to have a photo session and I would love for you guys to do it!
Picture 5 (Angie):
Why this is Angie’s favorite picture:
My favorite photograph is the one from the “Trust Me” album where you can see the children’s feet! I love this photograph because you captured their personalities without seeing their faces. Once you see the other photographs in the album, their “feet” make perfect sense! The ability to evoke an emotional response from funky shoes and brightly colored socks is incredible!!
Why Angie wants to win:
I would love to win this contest to see how YOU see my family!! You seem to have a “knack” for knowing people even if you don’t know them. You connect with your subjects beyond a pretty picture. That is TALENT and an amazing gift you can give others!! Your pictures truly tell stories! Even though we don’t know these individuals, they become characters that you want to meet! (Just like when reading a book!) As you scroll through your albums, you can see the story of their lives unfold! It is amazing!! You allow people to be who they are and then you capture their soul!
Picture 6 (Rachel):
Why this is Rachel’s favorite picture:
The couple sitting in the Adirondack chairs sharing a kiss. I just see that as such a sweet picture and hopefully, one they can recreate 50 years later. So sweet and casual!
Why Rachel wants to win:
I have never had professional photo of my daughter taken. I, myself, have taken thousands of pictures, but there is something different about real professional shots. She is going to be 2 on May 27 and I would love to be able to have this part of her life captured by such a fun and whimsical photographer.
Picture 7 (Kelly):
Why this is Kelly’s favorite picture:
My favorite picture you have taken is of my little one at the Botanical Gardens. She is sitting by the wall in her bishop smocked dress and holding on to each of her big toes. I love it because it captures the essence of who she is so perfectly – sometimes shy, but still mischievous. A little princess, but not afraid to run outside barefoot and get dirty.
Why Kelly wants to win:
I want to win the contest because I love your pictures. Seeing how you are able to forever document the lives of people in the way that you do is unbelievable. I love your pictures because they are real. Looking at the photos you have taken, I feel like I know the people or at least something about them because of what you have captured in those moments. Sometimes the photos seem so intimate, almost as though the people are unaware they are being photographed. Simply amazing. I love them!
