I love this family!! No Really, I DO!

So I normally don’t post this many pictures in a sneak peek, but since this is one of my BFFs (or one of my GIRLS if you will) of all time, the post is going to be a bit longer. And I also don’t usually get quite this personal with my posts, but again, it’s the whole BFF thing talking.

And also. I started this blog with really short posts, because I was trying to maintain a "professional" image. But it wasn't working out too well, cause I'm just not that serious of a person. It got really boring, really fast. And I just don't want this blog to be boring. I don’t want to write “these clients kids were so cute. Blah, blah, blah.”  I want it to be FUN and REAL like I strive so HARD to make my photography.

Laura, love you like a sister. I just love and ADORE those beautiful children of yours. And since it would be weird to say I love you John Michael (LOL!) I’ll just have to say you are all not LIKE family, but you all ARE family to me. In so many ways.

So in the interest of making this real, let’s take a very short trip down memory lane.

Remember driving around in my convertible as 16 year olds listening over.and.over.and.over to Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine, Madonna's The Immaculate Collection and Dr. Dre’s The Chronic? UM yeah, that’s only THE best music combination of all time!  Having a bad day? Program those albums in random order into your iPod, add Ditty by Paperboy, and you'll perk up instantly!

Remember our very first road trip to New Orleans in college ? And how I had to tell you to ignore Alicia so she would quit making jokes so we would quit laughing so hard since we all needed to get to sleep? And how it didn’t work because she just kept on cracking us up?

Remember your wedding? And particularly our bridesmaids photos with your little brother kicking and writhing on the floor in the not so distant background. Now THOSE are some real life photos.

Remember my wedding? And how I bumped my head on the table at my rehearsal dinner so that I had a huge knot on my forehead on my wedding day? That was awesome. I looked HOT! But you DID do a nice job on my hair ;-)... it kind of made up for the monstrocity on my FACE.

Remember when I called in sick to work so I could rush to the hospital to see you as you came out of your Csection surgery? I do believe I got some of his very first photos ;-)!!

And now. We already see a love connection between your guy and my Kaylee. How many times have we busted them sneaking off to smooch?  And the thought of being future in laws makes us oh so happy.

And Jesse makes fun of the two of us together. Trying to plan things. Both so laid back that the details, (like the actual meeting time and place) do not matter to us cause we just know that the important thing is that we WILL meet up.

This drives him bonkers. But I don’t care.

No, we don’t get to talk every day. But we don’t need to.

LOVE you!!!!

And because I know you appreciate a good outtake even more than myself, here's a GREAT one for ya. It's fairly reminiscent of the one of ME you have FRAMED on your wall.

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.

quite possibly.../{Houston Baby Photographer}

one of my favoritest shots ever! and i know thats probably not a word, but i dont care!

and this one was one of mom's favorites ;)