I met this sweet Mama years ago in Korea. See, that is the very cool thing about military life; yes, we move much too frequently and you leave great friends behind. But on the flip side, I almost always bump into someone I know at the new post! We both have husbands now, and children, but one thing hasn't changed: her incredible style, and though I told her we would be on a nature trail she didn't compromise good looks for comfort! I won't lie, we had to work really really hard (two whole packages of M&M's, a magnifying glass, and fruit snacks kind of hard!) to get one of our subjects to warm to the camera, but I challenge you to figure out who it was, and it's probably NOT who you suspect! Enjoy your sneak peek!

Remember these cuties from the bluebonnets a couple weeks ago? Back from a Disney cruise, and gorgeously tan, we met up to complete their session with an unusual, but oh so photo worthy request: the bedtime routine. I'm always encouraging clients to think of a time in their day that is special to them, so when this Mama approached me with the idea of bubble baths and books with Dad, I was thrilled for the challenge. It helped that they had recently moved into one of the beautiful new homes on Fort Hood that boast a ton more natural light than the cave in which I dwell. We started our evening relaxing on the patio with friends, continued on to a very bubbly tub, and concluded in Mom and Dad's room for bouncing and stories. The days when these kiddos want to curl up with Mom and Dad is certainly numbered as they grow and mature and take on big kid attitudes; enjoy this sneak peek of your precious memories!

I have been photographing this family since the arrival of "Mr Lashes". Seriously, this family is blessed with some seriously gorgeous brown eyes and lashes that probably would have Heidi Klum and her comrades quitting their day jobs. The morning was, well, to be perfectly honest, much too sunny, much much too windy, and we were all up too early in an attempt to beat the sun AND wind. But how can a mother possibly complain when the smiles are this charming! Enjoy your sneak peek!

(P.S. I know there are no bluebonnets in Arizona, these photos were taken in Fort Hood, Texas, but I am starting to pack my boxes for the big move to Ft Huachuca, AZ! I am now scheduling senior portrait sessions for the Class of 2010 beginning in August, these sessions will be in Arizona!)

Texas is a funny place. You can stand on the side of the road and look into what seems like a barren field full of rocks and weeds, "pokies", and certainly more than one mound of fire ants and wonder what on earth you might possibly be interested in photographing in this too bright sunshine at 10am. But then your preschooler and his "lady love" take off at full speed through said field and you suddenly find yourself with a 30lb baby slung on your hip, your Canon thrashing into the opposite hip, and sweat dripping off your brow as you chase and wonder where, on God's scorching hot Texas earth, are these children going to decide to stop running... Ahhh, yes, but they do stop running and after you catch your breath and put The Michelin Baby down, you have a chance to see this field for what it really is, a haven for the prettiest little treasures of Spring. And the morning playdate that almost wasn't is now worth all the effort. Happy Spring!

(The Baby is looking at Julie, and I'm sure she got the money shot he was giving her all morning long, but would he look at or laugh for his Mama? Not a chance. Head over to Julie's blog in a day or so and pester her to post what is surely the yummiest picture of this set of curls!

I am shameless. I gave myself every PS3 cosmetic procedure I know; eye lift for sun damage, check, better make-up because I never wear any, check, Visine for the bloodshot eyes after a full night of cuddling The Baby who has a fever of 104 degrees, check, a more even complexion to compensate for all that Easter chocolate, check, one last glance to make sure I don't look a day over 21? Well, let's test that theory; my husband just walked into the room and caught my portrait up on my 22" widescreen monitor and remarks "Honey! You look so young in that photo! I mean, you look so well rested!" Ready to post I'd say, and then I'll be off to find him some sheets and a blanket for the sofa. These were taken just minutes apart, I was sitting on the floor in my best lit dining room by the window trying not to look like a total idiot balancing my 20lb Canon on my knee and The Boy thought it looked like fun. To my great surprise he did not spit a giant zerbert in my face like he had been all day (and I wonder why The Baby is sick with Roseola??) but instead, offered an unsolicited kiss! Click! Lucky catch! I have to admit that the guest judge this week on I ♥ Faces is none other than my uber-talented BFF and "battle buddy" JULIE RIVERA, so I welcome your comments but will not make myself eligible to win this week. She has a hard enough job to choose her top ten out of hundreds of entries, she needn't worry about my precious ego ;)
ADULT CATEGORY:

KIDS CATEGORY:

As a mother of little ones, I truly have a hard time explaining to a client with small children that in the summer months, which are just beginning here in Texas, the light for photography is the best before 7:30am and after 7:30pm. And as a photographer it is always risky to schedule the little munchkins that late in the evening. Lucky for me, the smiles were as golden as the setting sun! I could not believe how well behaved and loving these siblings were, past their bedtime no less! I told their mother that when she was ready to write the book on "siblings that love eachother" I would surely buy a copy for everyone I know! Here is just a glimpse of our fun evening, born Texans in a truly Texan setting, back at those beautiful bluebonnets!

NOTE: Are you wondering why I have "Sierra Vista Photographer" on my blog header? Big News! Our family will be packing up and moving onward to Fort Huachuca, in Sierra Vista, Arizona, in two short months. I need to start turning some heads in my new hometown. Please help spread the word to Arizona that Photos By Karyn will have a new home in the coming year!