My most requested shot that I take for families and couples is what I call the “eyelash” shot. It is also one of my favorite pictures to take of my clients. And I want to share with you how it all started. The picture above is my first ever eyelash shot and it was by accident. This little guy was having a hard time warming up to me and was being shy. I was snapping away, trying different angles, and even taking pictures of him not looking to show him on the back of my camera. We did eventually get some shots of him looking at me but when I went home to process the session I absolutely fell in love with this shot. The mom did too and then the “eyelash” shot was born! I have learned some tricks at getting the right angle even with fast moving children and babies. I photographed another photographer’s family a little while ago and when she saw me take the shot of her child she exclaimed “THAT’S how you do it.” I love the challenge! But, not only moms love this shot. Couples and seniors love it too! So, it is now part of my routine in most sessions.

Why do I love it so much? As mom, I have held my children as they slept and gazed at thier eyelashes. It is view that I never want to forget. I know other moms feel the same way. And for couples, I love the eyelash shot because the couple must be sitting close together to capture the right angle and it looks so intimate without being too close. It makes women look so feminine and I love it!

This is my sister’s brother here. You would think that would make him my brother, but he isn’t. I will just let you figure that one out. I have known him all my life and have known for the bride for a while now, so it was just like family! Do you see the bride’s beautiful dress and veil? Her MOM made it for her in less than 30 days!! Can you believe it? I think this was the longest veil we have seen yet and I think it accents the dress perfectly. It was such a blessing to be a guest as well as the photographer at this wedding. Oh… and the cake was Red Velvet from Edgars… and it was TASTY!

One different thing about this wedding for us was out kids being at the wedding. Since we were also guests, we were asked to bring our kids and the bride had the BEST babysitter in the world for them. It was really neat that the room they were in had a wall of glass that opened into the chapel. Both of my children really enjoyed seeing a wedding and seeing mom and dad work. Elijah asked me a few times what I was doing and if I could hold him. I told him no that I was working to buy him more tractors. He seemed ok with that! There were a few times that I forgot they were there until I turned around to see two faces watching us, trying to figure out exactly what we were doing. After all the pictures were complete and we headed to the reception area, Elijah yelled “TIME FOR CAKE”. That’s my boy!

My handsome nephews with thier uncle. I love the lighting on this one! Cory did a great job here!

My sister and her family…. love it!

I really thought things were going to slow down in December since we didn’t have any weddings booked and the cold was setting in. Little did I know that we would book THREE weddings in December in 4 weeks!! Praise God, seriously! We will spending our New Year’s Eve with this fabulous couple at the Tutwiler Hotel and I can’t think of a better way to end the year. This couple has been planning a wedding from out of state so when they were both in town, we scheduled the engagement session downtown. Of course, it was COLD so we  did some family shots in the Tutwiler then bundled up for some couple shots outside. Love it, love it…. LOVE it!

Thanks guys for a good afternoon hanging out, braving the cold… I hear there are flurries in the forecast for Thursday. : ) That would be great!

P.S. Don’t you love the little one in the hat? Great choice, mom.

Here are the winners from our relationship contest. The two families have been friends FOREVER…. the two dads went to elementary school together and the moms told me that the kids have all been friends since they were born. They acted like family too! Everyone was cutting up and having a great time. We changed our location at the LAST minute. I pulled up at our meeting place and said “Are you up for something different?” I saw this spot on the way to our session and I HAD to use it. Awesome location, more awesome family!

I am loving all the red and Christmas colors lately. You know these boys… my sweet neighbors! It is hard to believe how much the baby has grown. These are the 9 month portraits and of course, we had to make it a family session and get a few shots for the Christmas card! Big brother is smart, smart, smart… ask him about the presidents on Mt. Rushmore and at 3 years old… he can tell you! I am so in love with the eyelash picture of the baby. You can count every single lash… and check out the brotherly love in the pictures of them together.

P.S. Another couple married at Samford (10 years ago!) so we had to go back for a family session!