I had a great evening meeting up with Claire and her mom, Pam, again tonight for their ordering session. It was such a pleasure meeting the rest of the family, and I can certainly see why little William is the star of the family !  Here is her senior video to share with friends and family.  Enjoy!

ok ok.  so i’ve officially turned into one of those moms.  i can’t help it.  im just so darn proud to be her mommy.  Courtney has all sorts of new styles for spring that I had yet to photograph for her.  Just to clear the air … i dont actually plan photo shoots with Mia Grace.  This is what she wore to my bible study on Tuesday and before we headed to the park, I found a new little alley I am quite fond of so we took a few pictures.  Enjoy my little monkey today

These had such a retro urban feel that I had to do some fun things with them.  I originally just ran them through my normal processes, but it just didn’t look right … so I took the opportunity to play.  Let me know what you think!

Throwing rocks … taking pictures of the “rocks” too is the only way she will cooperate AT ALL.

A new absolute favorite.  The is the angle I see most of my little girl … when she’s sitting in my lap and i adore it.

I put these side by side because it is remarkable to me how she can look so much like me and then so much like her daddy in a split second.  This is proof!  The one on the right, she looks just like her daddy!!

This is my fav fav! I did some crazy stuff to it and I love how it turned out.  Dont you just want to squeeze her?

And … just a fun one at the park after our little shoot.  She LOVES to swing really really high!

Claire’s session was such a breath of fresh air!  Those of you who have been to Texas know we have the very BEST small towns, and Claire’s hometown happens to be my very favorite place to shoot.  I only get out there to visit my family every once in a while and I just love it.  I could seriously shoot all day and never hit the same location twice.  Its a photographer’s dream!  But, the location wasn’t the only reason I loved this session.  Claire is just oozing with gorgeousness (yup, that is a word today), not to mention her totally unique sense of style.  I thought I had died and went to heaven (where I absolutely believe I will still get to take pictures all day!)  If I could take Claire’s style and morph it into a studio, that is EXACTLY what Love, Me’s studio would look like …  vintage with a quirky and modern edge.  If I actually had any sense of fashion and wasn’t so lazy, this is how I would love to dress.  Claire, you totally rocked it!

People who know me well know I am very eclectic and that’s why I love senior sessions.  My heart bursts into a million little pieces of confetti every time I capture a honest and genuine moment between two people who love each other.  Those are the images that give me butterflies, make me weepy and squeal with giddiness all at the same time.  Those are the images that become an heirloom and tell the story of the people in them.  Those are the images that made me become a photographer in the first place. BUT (and its a BIG but (too much Nemo sorry!),  seniors give me the opportunity to explore my creativity and vision.   I get to do a little more directing by setting up the shots (which means I get to be the boss ) and it just works so well when I get a subject like Claire, who has similar taste and is willing to do anything.  So, thank you Claire for being a rock star.  I big “puffy heart” your session girl!

Here are my favorites.  I literally could have blogged so many more, but I wanted to save the others as a surprise.  And, because Claire is unique I tried out lots of new processing on the images and I hope you love the result.  Pam, thank you for driving us all around and it was such a pleasure to meet you and Whitney too!

She just looks like a bottle of sunshine in this one

My favorite by a long mile.  I couldn’t decide on the processing. The first is my regular color and I played with the next two, 1970 and faded color.  Tell me what you think.

I love this one too.  She’s just so stinkin’ cute!

I told you Mia Grace wears these clothes every day.  Here is Courtney’s new style with the flutter sleeves. SO cute!  There are more to come that are so much fun. If only the weather would get better so I could take some more.  Can you tell she isn’t really enjoying the photo shoots too much anymore??  lol.  I keep telling her she’s going to get fired as Courntney’s model   Check out her spring line HERE!

Can you say … NOT INTERESTED!  My pouty girl.

Isn’t this screen print so adorable!

Her little fingers here just make me giddy

Oh, and I promise Courtney’s clothes come out of the dryer wrinkle-free.  Um … this little dress, however, was left wadded up in the hamper for a few days … maybe I’m the one that’s going to get fired!!!

I don’t want to wake up from this dream. Seriously. I can’t even believe the clients I have! Have I told you lately how much I love my job. Even after another 4 hour newborn session today, I just can’t get enough. Little Isabella (dont you LOVE that name) was a dream and I stuck around 4 hours just because I love what I do that much! I think I need to start setting a timer or I’m going to start having clients kick me out of their homes.
I am in love with her images almost as much as I am in love with her … and that’s A LOT! Oh, the baby fever ::sigh:: …

LOVE little baby stretches.  They never stop being  cute.  I love my not so baby baby’s stretches every morning too …

a new favorite.

nothing better than mommy snuggles.

and a quick family shot to close out the session.

Jayme and Grant, thank you for letting me play with your new little one today. It truly was such a joy and I know I said it a million times … but she IS so beautiful.

I just love Andrew and his family!  Here’s his awesome Senior Video. Congratulations and many blessings to you!

Happy Easter everyone.  Tonight is one of those nights where I just can’t sleep. My head is spinning with reflections from the last several weeks, and overflowing with gratitude for so many things in my life.  My family, my friends, my business, MY LORD.

A great friend of mine reminded me of a quote I hadn’t thought about in a long time … “life must be lived forward, but can only be understood backwards.” We are often told we are much alike so I think he knew how much I would value remembering a simple quote that puts a lot about life in perspective for me.  I love to be understood and to understand … people, my surroundings, circumstances, motive, life, God.  In fact, it really is an unsatiable desire of mine that is often misunderstood (pun intended) as stubborness, inquisitiveness, pride, and the like .  I am quite certain I was the 3 year old that never ceased with the questions because I can remember that I never quite stopped like most toddlers do.  In fact, I’m pretty sure that the normal lies we parents tell our toddlers to get them to stop asking questions didn’t ever satisfy me.  Dont feel too awful for my parents.  They had my brother and he never really talked much so it evened out. I can remember one particular instance coming home from third grade asking my poor mom while she was cooking all about how long it took to have a baby.  Well, because I adore my mother, I wont give all the details, but I will tell you that I asked several times and instead of lying, my mom simply ignored me.  That’s right, not a uh-huh, um, or ask your father flowed from her lips.  only silence.  dead silence.  AND … it works folks!  It was at that very moment I learned how to use my critical thinking skills and draw a conclusion on my own, without the validation from someone else.  Thus, breeding a little girl that was independent and had her own opinion about, well, just about everything.

Anyway, the real reason for me bringing up the quote that I was reminded about was because I wanted to mention how dissecting every little thing about my life and understanding it backwards is one of my favorite things to do.  Every single time I am in awe of God and how He has always worked for the good in all things in my life. Every decision, good or bad, every smile, every tear, every hug, every heartbreak … not ONE, has ever been wasted.  It has brought me more joy than anything I can remember in a long time to think about our decision for me to go to Africa and all that continues to unfold from that ONE simple act of obedience.  I felt called and I said “Yes” for once.  And let me tell you, it makes me want to say ‘yes’ every time.  If only someone had told me what happens when you say “Yes” … why didn’t someone tell me what happens when you say “yes”???  Maybe He did and I just didn’t listen.

One of the great manifestations of saying yes has been the opportunity to be a part of something that I believe with my whole heart will changes lives far beyond what I experience on this side of eternity.  You have to go check out the new Revive Africa website that just launched yesterday!  I have looked over every last little thumbnail, link, bio a million times today.  Taking in every last detail and basking in the joy that is exuded from the faces of those precious 86 little souls.  Having the priveledge to take their pictures is truly one of the highlights of my life so far.  Please, if you feel so led, sponsor a child. It is only 37 dollars a month or 444 a year and each specific child will see every single penny you give and it will make a real difference in their lives and yours as well!  And if you want to meet them in person and feel that tug in your heart, I would say “You MUST go” … you simply must.  Thank you to everyone.  my clients.  my family.  my friends.  thank you for continuing to support this journey.

And because a post would be really boring without a photo, here is one of my favorites from my trip.  These are “My Boys”.  Meet Alfred, Jonathan Bernard, and Christopher Bernard.  They stole my heart while I was in Africa and I dont think I can ever get it back!  If I could bring all three of these little guys home to become big brothers to Mia Grace, I would do it in a heartbeat.  To learn more about them, check out their short bios on the website!  You can even sponsor them too!  But you must tell them you heard about them from Mum Crystal  

REVIVE AFRICA

I always say I have the BEST clients and I honestly mean it!  Because of that, I am always seeking to find every way possible to show my appreciation.  Whether its hunting down great locations, meticulously hand detailing all my images, etc.  I really want Love, Me to be set apart from other businesses, because quite frankly, I think my clients are “set apart”.  I am always on top of the newest trends and hottest products in the photography world.  It doesn’t mean I will always offer the trendiest stuff out there because I really desire to maintain my style and artistic vision, but more importantly want to create timeless images and keepsakes.  My primary focus is always on the images … capturing the innocence, the love, the connections, and hopefully those extrodinary moments, all with the desire to tell a story … YOUR story.  I dont want the keepsakes I create for you to be like your 1980s prom dress that your daughter pulls out of closest, not to reminisce with you about your glory days, but to bring to her middle school sleepover as a punishment for whoever loses “truth or dare”.  Anyway, Love, Me has some incredible new products we are introducing very soon, and one of them are the new image videos everyone will view at your ordering session.  Until now, we have been doing slideshows, but these new DVDs are similar to a movie trailor, telling the story of your session in a cutting edge production.  Anyway, I think they are pretty sweet and I hope you do too! You can also check it out on facebook, where its posted directly on my wall!

Enjoy!

Before we head out for date night, I had to share a few images I took of my baby girl before school a few days ago. Is she not the cutest?  I know I am biased, but she is just so much fun to photograph even if she makes me work REALLY hard for anything work keeping.  Again, this cute top is from the VERY talented Courtney Chu of CourtneyCourtney.  I know lots of you have asked lately where I shop for Mia Grace.  Courtney is our favorite and Mia Grace is basically a walking advertisement on a daily basis. Her clothes are fun, funky, and unique which fits my baby girl’s spunk. Oh, and they are super comfortable and wash up really really well!  Can’t beat that.  Make sure to tell her who sent you!  You can also follow Courtney’s BLOG to stay up to date with all her new styles.

She insisted that she wear “Mommy’s necklace” … from Africa of course.  Hey, at least it matched!

I’m all about the up close and personal shots with my new lens.  ::swoon::  I’ve been dying to get those eyelashes on camera for a while.

A new favorite.

This one is SO her.  This face cracks me up.  And NO, I didn’t catch her blinking. She’s closing her eyes on purpose.  My little drama queen.

My session with Andrew was another awesome senior guy shoot.  What a great great guy!  We had lots to talk about and so the time just flew by.  The last few shots were taken at the tennis courts with zero light, but I really do like how they turned out anyway. I think I may need to start my sessions a little earlier. I keep going on forever and ever until the sun goes down.  Andrew was a trooper scheduling his shoot the day after prom!  I’m starting to get to know lots of families in the Argyle area and so it was fun to talk about many of the girls and guys I’ve shot this past year and what they wore, etc.  So fun!  I’m a sucker for prom stuff. It brings back so many memories AND makes me realize how the years are flying by.  It feels like yesterday only my ten year reunion is next year!  Anyway, here are my favs of Andrew.  There were really SO many that I had a hard time choosing.

I just loved this shirt and how it matched his awesome green eyes.

I am a sucker for a musician.  I just love how all my shoots have involved guitars/ drums, etc. lately.  So so so cool.  Maybe its because I dont have a musical bone in my entire body.  But, I do LOVE music … especially an acoustic guitar, which Andrew plays of course (and quite well I might add).  I kept telling him I was going for album cover here.  I really love the vintage, rustic feel to these so they required some unique processing and unusual crops.

I had him just play a little bit and in that moment I could have shot for hours.  It was so soothing and fun to shoot someone while they are using their talent while I do my thing. Loved it!

There’s something about a good profile shot of a guy that I just love too. Julie, here’s the headshot I showed you on the back of my camera that I loved so much!

Something else that is meaningful to Andrew is his faith. It was encouraging to meet a young man who “own’s his faith” like he does … The authenticity of what he believes and the convictions he lives by were apparent and oh so refreshing for me.  Psalm 77 is his favorite verse.

Here’s a totally different shot than my normal work.  At the tennis courts (yes, he IS multi-talented!) the sun had pretty much set, but I just had to grab this shot before we ended and I love how it turned out.  Grain and all!

Hope you enjoyed your teasers!!!