Well Hello Beautiful

I'm short on words tonight, but this post is way overdue! After a long day of shooting and editing, I am heading out to the park with the fam <3 <3 <3.  

I am loving that most of my senior girls seem to be athletes on their way to play their sport in college. STRONG is beautiful, right ladies?  (At least that is what I have to repeat to myself over and over while I suffer through Ruth's insane Max Core Strength class at the YMCA :-) ) 

This gorgeous volleyball player was no exception... and she had THE longest legs and bluest eyes.  I had the best time with her and her mom (who was SO incredibly sweet and smiled the entire time we were shooting! Love that!)

I'm also jealous that she gets to share clothes with her stylish mom... my mom is barely a 5 footer... I think my feet outgrew hers in kindergarden, and my body outgrew her by fifth grade (hi mom!).

Playing More Catch UP!!

I'm trying to catch up the blog with all of the awesomeness I have been lucky enough to experience lately.

So let me show you my amazing clients, in order from youngest to oldest :-)

5 days old. She was such a chunky monkey for only being five days old! I can't wait to see her again in a few more months when we do pictures again- I hope she holds on to that chunkiness!

10 days old and ready to party. He did not want to sleep for me... I think he wanted to show me what I can already tell are going to be beautiful eyes :-)

7 months old. I am SO incredibly jealous of her pouty lips! Angelina- watch out!

A high school senior. Who brought a huge bag of some of the most rockin' clothes I have seen in a long time.  I'm almost jealous of her wardrobe, but then I remind myself even if I had all these cool clothes, I wear running clothes. Every day. All day. It's hot, I know. It's probably better than the yoga pants/fake furry crocs I was sporting last winter.  Hopefully mom jeans are not in my near future. Don't judge- it could happen to you too!!

It was about 127 degrees outside when we did her shoot, but she's as cool as a cucumber!

And a couple soooooo in love with each other. Oh, and did I mention what hotties they both are? Um hello! Take a look at Mr. and Mrs. Your Hotness.  

Thanks for playing catch up with me!

Back in the Swing of Things

Hi.

My blogging skills have stunk lately, but I am coming back around. Kids are in school now, which means I actually have some time to do this... YAY.

What's new in my world? Well I am glad you asked.  I am going to start this post by pimping out my hairdresser, Melissa, who gave me the most amazing treatment yesterday that, has liberated me from the flat iron forever!

Can I get a fist pump and a whoot whoot?

Before the treatment, my hair was, well- nappy. After treatment, it dries straight (but not too flat) and the best part is, even in the hurricaney, rainey season of Houston, Texas, there IS NO FRIZZ.  Let's hope I am this excited about it in a week or so, cause right now I still can't believe its MY HAIR on top of this head.

It kinda feels like a wig. In a good way.

And meet two beautiful young women who already HAD awesome hair :-).

If you have not already gotten your senior pix done, give me a holler!

Remember her?  Well, believe it or not, but the rest of the family is just as beautiful.  If I were a geneticist (say that word five times fast!), that was into building super good looking and sweet human beings, I would be stalking this family trying to get my hands on some of their DNA.

Here's her older sister and brother...

Posing animals like they are humans is fun. And yes, I am also one of those people that LIKES little sweaters and funny human costumes for animals.  If I had an animal, you can bet it would be the proud owner of a multitude of funny sweaters and tophats. And maybe even a football uniform like this!

Tags: The Woodlands Children's Photographer, The Woodlands Family Photographer, The Woodlands Senior Photographer, Houston Children's Photography

some BIG announcements and... ways to earn a FREE session!

Hey there blog readers. I've got some big announcements concerning my business that I am very excited about! This is a looonnnnggggg post, so read all the way through!

Announcement #1
I'm expanding into the high school seniors market! I tried my hand at it during a recent workshop and fell in love! Senior girls actually WANT to get their pictures taken, and I don't have to chase them around and tell them potty jokes to get their attention...it's like a whole new world for me! Not that I don't LOVE my active toddlers, but you know what I mean.

Some sample images:

Soooo, since this is a new market, I have some amazing modeling opportunities for senior girls. So senior girls, email or call me! We'll chat about some seriously discounted sessions that will be FUN, FUN, FUN!!

I promise, with hand over heart, that there will be NO big wooden numbers with your class year allowed at my photo shoots. Scout's honor. Maybe if you are lucky, I WILL show you my own senior pictures with just that.

Nope. I lied. Those will stay hidden in a box for eternity.

More sample images:

Announcement #2
Location, Location, Location- that's a mantra in real estate and should be in photography too. I wish I had oodles of free time to go location scouting and test shooting, but sadly, I don't. I'm one busy gal. So I am trying something new and am calling upon you to help me out! Anyone that suggests a new location, per the parameters I define below, that I end up falling in love with will get their session fee waived- to be redeemed between now and 6/1/2010. Yep, that's right- who said nothing in life is FREE?!?!?

See how excited this little guy is about my offer? Yipee!

Here's the deal:

• It has to be somewhere NEW that I have never shot at or scouted before, and I have to love it. You'll just have to trust me and take my word for it.
• It has to be safe and we've got to have permission to shoot there (if required).
• These things are good: old structures, peeling paint, rustic elements, open fields, orchards, old cars, junkitty junk. All of the pictures on this post (including the above senior pictures) are what I have in mind. Don't worry if YOU don't think it will be a good location, if it has these things, I will probably love it and be able to make it work.
• These things are not what I am looking for: new construction, pretty flowers, rock waterfalls, well groomed parks, a dozen mangy pit bulls protecting the property...
• Anyone that has already booked a session in 2009 with me that finds an awesome new location will get another, separate session to be redeemed anytime in 2010.

So this is an example of how it will work:

You: Ring, Ring. "Hey Tracy, my third cousin Lyle that is married to my best friend's cousin's half sister has this farm with lots of old barns and junk laying around. I think he grows green tomatoes there. It's pretty junky, but you said you liked that kind of stuff, its about 20 miles away!"

Me (with finger twirling through hair): "Omigosh! That sounds like, totally awesome and completely rad! I'll go check it out. Is he OK with me going out there?"

You: "Yes, definitely. Here is his number."

Me: (10 days later) "Wow, thanks for the suggestion, I checked out the farm. It's definitely what I had in mind! Let's schedule a time to go shoot out there!"

See people? It's THAT easy!

With neighbors like Magnolia, Conroe, and Tomball, there's got to be lots of rustic goodness around! Help be my eyes- you've probably driven past places like this a gazillion times and not thought twice about them.

And now some more yumminess:

Announcement #3

My strength is in child photography. I'm going to focus on this for a while (and HS seniors), as it is what I do best, and what I love the best. Does this mean I won't take family pictures anymore? Not neccessarily. I will definitely take a few family shots during sessions, but I'm not going to pose you. So just know that when you book me, you are primarily booking a children's photographer that will primarily be shooting your children - AND I would love to get a couple of candids of your family during the children's shoot, but that I'm not posing you. So you'll have to help me out here if you want some candid shots and interact and play with your kids at some point during the shoot. Tickle them, play airplane, give them zerberts, throw them in the air... you get my drift? You're going to have to WORK it ;)!


Announcement #4
My prices went up effective July 10, 2009. Why? Because, by golly, I'm worth it and people like me! Contact me for the latest and greatest.

Am I making any sense at all people? Do ya hear me? Can I get a fist pump?!?

That's what I'M TALKING about.

(I've had way too much caffeine this morning. WAAAYYYY tooooo mmmuuuuccccchhhhh)

Goodbye for now.