This is Kaitlyn (aka KK) and she has some serious, self-admitted, senioritis.  She is Lovejoy High School-class of 2011.  I have known her for a few years and photographed her many times.  KK has incredible eyes, perfect skin, to die for/only on commercials hair and one of those 1000 watt smiles.  This girl makes our job very very easy.    We had two individual sessions with her for her senior photos and both times the girl brought it!  The session was bittersweet because not only is Kaitlyn moving on to become a part of the Raider Nation at Texas Tech, but the whole family is moving.  I am sad to see them go, not only because they are great clients, but also friends.  KK's mom was Rocco's teacher at preschool and so we share some fond memories.  I have photographed their family, their son's engagement, their newborn grandson, their 800 lbs of dogs, KK's prom, etc...  It has been great to work with y'all.  We wish KK and the whole family the best of luck in this new chapter. 

We had our annual bluebonnet sessions and I am so glad we got to move everyone up because they were just amazing.   The wind just about blew us to Oz, but everyone hung in there and it made for some incredible photos.  Nancy and I had a great time with everyone.  We ended on a high and low.  We were laughing so hard and listening to some pretty funny European travel stories when a bird decided to be not so nice to us.  Thankfully everyone has a sense of humor and we ended up just laughing some more.  Thanks all who came out.  Next on the horizon....Arboretum sessions Saturday. 

steph

We only have a few more spaces, but we are moving our bluebonnet day to tomorrow Saturday April 9th.  It looks like the few patches that we had won't hold on too much longer and we may have some weather coming up this week.  So in order to insure we get them in we are moving the day. 

You can schedule online here
You can pay here

We met Kathryn and Ryan back in the fall via another one of our clients.  Sweet is the word that comes to mind when I think about them and their special day.  They have been so nice to work with throughout our whole process...and I can't say that enough. 
 
The reception was full of really neat little ideas sweet personal touches.  For instance, flavored/colored popcorn vs. the candy tables that seem to be all the rage and, my personal favorite, a Paciugo cart.  Yes, I said it.  What an awesome treat for the guests.  The reception was at the Frisco HeritageTrain Depot.  There is a perfect chapel with a great tin tile ceiling and right next door the reception area is just right for weddings.  The ladies at MoonlightTwo did a fantastic job of putting it all together. 

Hi all.  Yes, it's been forever.  It's been a cold winter with kiddos stuck inside and a rather dreary vista outside.  But now Spring is officially here and to welcome it in we are ready to get rolling.  So many of you are asking about the dates and frankly I think we have been wondering if we would ever see color anytime soon.  Alas it is here and I foresee some beautiful photos in the future.  So with weather as our only "gotcha", we have our days settled. 

April 17th will be our Arboretum Mini Sessions.  This will consist of 30 minutes sessions at the Dallas Arboretum.  Each client will need to pay for their own parking and admission and we will send you our location the day of the sessions.  The Arboretum is VERY crowded, especially on the weekends, so we'll need to grab a good spot early on and hang on to it.   We will only be able to do one "look" as no changing of clothes is allowed in the bathrooms.  The price for the sessions is $130 which will will consist of the 30 minute session, 25-40 high resolution images offered via a downloadable online gallery and a ready to frame 11x14 mounted Canvas on Single Weight Matboard printed by our professional lab.  You must pre pay when your appointment has been accepted. 

Pricing for parking and admission to the Arboretum is as follows
$12.00 for each adult 
$10.00 for senior citizens 65 years and up 
$8.00 for children 3 to 12 years of age 
$7.00 per car parking 
Members and children under 3 years are free of charge 


April 23rd we are going to go for Bluebonnet D&D's.  We don't have the place, but hoping it will be here in McKinney.  In the event of rain, or early bluebonnets, we'll move the session date.  Please understand that we are at the mercy of the flowers. As usual these sessions are quick 15 minute sessions for $25 and you will get around 20-30 high resolution images offered via a downloadable online gallery.  Initially we will allow booking throughout the day, but may need to consolidate, but as always we check first.  Again it is our new policy that you must first pay in advance when your appointment is accepted. 

I hope I have all the information laid out here.  If you have any questions please let me know.  On the D&D page I will include the correct buttons to pay.  Hopefully that will make things easier.  Look forward to seeing you all. 
 

Me too.  Aside of the one week I am on vacation, I obsess about it for the remaining 51.  For me being anywhere but the beach doesn't qualify.  I don't care how nice that mountain resort is or how clean the air is, my batteries will only recognize the beach as their place to recharge.  I think it started as a child when we lived in NY and my parents would take us camping all along the East Coast.  I never quite got that out of my system.  Of course, back then we camped at the beach, no resorts or rentals.  But I have the most fantastic and magical memories of that time.  In places like Hammonasset we would spend sun up to sun down in it.  My mom in her bikini and oversized sunglasses would have her book underneath the umbrella that my dad heroically installed for her to last the full day no matter the breeze.  When sundown was eminent, we would head over to the fishmonger where we would pick mussels or steamers from big tubs and a lobster for my mom all of which were going to be absolutely bathed in a bowl of melted butter.  That is just how she rolled.  We would finish the night off by roasting marshmallows, playing card games all the while, the record player would vascilate between Rod Stewart, Wings, and Marty Robins.  Often times we would travel with friends or cousins and I tell you those were some of the best times of my life. 


For the past many years (minus one) we have vacationed in Florida.  Traditionally I have been a Carribean girl.  I thought I could never return to murky waters and rough sand of our home land after experiencing clear water and sugary coastline indigenous to the West Indies Islands.  That was until I found a little slice of Heaven in Northwest Florida.  It has water so clear you can see your toes digging in sand as schools of tiny fish swim over them.  Sand so soft you'll walk for hours combing the seawalls for shells to add to your collection.  All that and you can drink the water.  With the ridiculousness of the airlines and their fees, passport issues, issues with illness, etc... we agreed that our new place was Florida and we haven't looked back. 

One of the main reasons we love our vacations so much and are always in complete anticipation of them is a family-owned company called 360Blue.  They have consistently worked with us to provide the utmost experience.  Jeremy Sprenkle, one of the owners is fantastic with making sure we are delighted and overwhelmed at the location.  One of the big factors with 360Blue is that you can take that issue of wondering about the photos on a website matching up with the actual place.  In our case, the photos don't do the place justice.  Every property is well thought out and you know that it will have the best of the best from appliances, to design to decor.   The prices are right on and they have properties for every budget.  They did an amazing job of rehabbing an old an Florida Motel into Seagrove Villas Motel while maintaining so much of the uniqueness of the area and taking you back to summer days of Beach Blanket Bingo.  I have always been incredibly intrigued with this property in particular for obvious reasons.   Some of their other properties are beach front and some are more secluded.  They are spread all over from Destin to Rosemary Beach.  One thing I know is, they are all awesome!  Just browse through a few, you'll start to get a feel for their style and taste.  Then check out their reviews and prices.  I am amazed at what value you get when comparing their properties to those of Rosemary Beach and Seaside websites. 

So now when you are figuring out what to do during your snow day tomorrow, check out 360Blue and let's start collectively mind-over-matter willing that warm weather to come back. 

Now most importantly when you do make those vacation plans, check with us.  If we have enough folks there, let us know.  We just may be headed to Florida this year on a photo week.  I can see it now, D&D's at sundown on the beach!

Here is Knox, he and his family are ultra-uber-super-de-duper cool.  Me, not so much.   So I was definitely in awe of the great style these folks were throwing down...right down the the little man's shoes.  Yes, he was wearing Baby Toms. How cute do you need to be??  Skinny jeans and Baby Toms on a 7month old and in gray were about all I could take.  Oh sure, I had mine on too, but I wear mine white athletic socks which makes them infinitely NOT COOL.  Those little shoes made me almost want to go back to those days of infanthood, just so I could buy some.  But then I came to my senses.  Above this kiddo being a living Gap ad, he sat down and laughed on the first shutter and stayed that way right up until the last.  Kid you not, he smiled for the entire session and looked directly into my lens, kinda like "I dare you to take a bad picture".   I just couldn't. 

Thanks to Knox and his sweet family who so apparently loves him bunches.  I hope to see you guys again soon!

I have a Gigi.  She's 93, Italian, about 5', smokes, legally blind, and enjoys a daily afternoon cocktail with cured meats.   She used to be Grandma Barotta, then when my cousin was born, she was Granny Rose, then when my daughter was born and subsequently named after her,  she became Gigi (great grandma).  The odd relationship that those two share is another story entirely.  She is not your old fashioned Italian grandma that wears an apron, waits on everyone, eats by herself in the kitchen after serving others, and prays all night.  No.  The only thing I ever saw Gigi cook was out of a toaster oven and went on an hors d'oeuvres platter to be served with filthy vodka-martinis and she refuses to eat alone.  She is also not the warmest person I have met.  And let's just say she likes to stir the pot a bit.  She did not disappoint at all this year.

When my sister and I were kids living in New York our family would often travel to visit relatives for the holidays and loved having all our Italian peeps around us.  You know, multi-course meals, lots of laughter, midnight-mass, traditions galore, etc.. For the last 25 years I have pined for holidays filled with those people and activities.  This year I got a bit of that when Gigi decided to come visit us....for five weeks.  It was interesting as always with her.

I hate to cut the story short abruptly, but without going into too much detail her visit started on a Wednesday and she was on a plane home the following Thursday.  I am glad we got to see her, but a little tends to go a long way.  At any rate, I thought I would post some evidence of her visit. 

Today is Cooper's is 2 weeks old.  He was born on 12/31/10 and his mama, who is one of my sweetest friends, let me peek in on their first day together.  This is her fourth boy and so she is obviously a pro at all this mom stuff, which made for a very relaxed and effortless shoot.  Cooper's proud daddy was there too and as you can see he was ready to recruit his little man to OU right off the bat.  I am sure they had fun watching that game the next day.  I checked in on them this week.  All is well and Cooper's mama tells me he is just as sweet as the day he was born.  Congratulations to everyone the Branch family!