Everyday: Offringa Family

By now you should be very familiar with the Offringa family. I shot their maternity pictures, and I even got to be at the hospital when baby Jacob was born! I was totally honored to shoot his very first photos! It has been so fun to follow this family and their growth. It's so much fun when clients become friends. I am so grateful for the time I've been able to spend with Darrin and Jenn and their gorgeous family.

We had some fun shooting baby Jacob's newborn photos. He was so good for us, but he did NOT want to fall asleep! I believe he was only 12 days old when we shot these. Soooo precious! Sister Rylee wasn't having it too long... she was such a trooper, but so sleepy.

Darrin and Jennifer, thank you so much for letting me into your lives... thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey! I adore your kiddos and I am so blessed to call you friends! :)

Rylee giving her brother kisses.

I adore the photos of Darrin with his son.





Jenn you are gorgeous... and I love how happy you are being a mom!











"sloppy kisses"


I love Jacob's expression here!!





This is my favorite. Of all time. Seriously.





Baby feet are the best!











Tiny baby hands.

Oh blog... how I've missed you.

I plan to blog 4-6 times a week.
That is always my plan.
Isn't it funny how sometimes life gets in the way of our plans?

These last couple of weeks seem to have kept me busier than usual, and as a result, I have neglected my blog. It's funny how when it looks like I'm busy (from my blog), I actually have time to blog... and when it looks like I'm not doing anything, it's really because I'm too busy to blog!

I have a lot of fun shoots that I've already wrapped that I will be sharing with you soon... as well as some great ones coming up! (On that note, if you are wanting to book with me, shoot me an email asap because my calendar seems to be filling up quickly!)

But today I want to add a new blog post that I plan to do on a regular basis. I'm not sure what to call it. I see a lot of people doing this and I love reading them, so I thought it would be fun! I've seen all kinds of names for it, but maybe you can help me out? I have NO IDEA what cutesy little name to call this post.

I want to share with you some of my favorite things. Just little randoms. Sometimes photography related, sometimes not. If you have a great name for what to call these posts, leave it in a comment below! If I pick yours, I'll send you a Starbucks card :)

So for now... a few of my favorite things:

1. Red Nail polish
I have a love hate relationship with my nails. I love long, acrylic nails, but I hate the price tag and maintenance. So right now my nails are very short. And BRIGHT red. And every time I look at them, they make me happy!

2. Forever 21
A brand new, HUGE forever 21 store opened in my local mall. It is 2 stories of brilliance. I am a big fan of fashion and clothes, but I am also a sucker for a good bargain. I love searching and finding great deals. This store is full of them!

3. Jasmine Star Workshop
It's next week and I couldn't be more excited to meet these 20 amazing photographers and learn from my friend and amazing photographer, Jasmine Star. I have heard great things about her workshop, and if I were going to take ONE workshop, it would definitely be hers. So I am :)

4. Unexpected ways of making people smile
I am so excited to be working on an exciting project of bringing a Quincenera to a very deserving little girl in Mexico. We have gotten to know her through the years of trips to Mexico with our church and we've decided to throw her a Quincenera. I can't wait to see her face when she sees all the great stuff we're planning. If you are in the industry and have something to offer this little girl (services, products, etc.)... donations would be hugely appreciated as we are working hard to pull off a great event for her. Shoot me an email if you want to help!

And a couple of my not so favorite things:

1. Turtles with no names
Yes, you heard right... no names. Nothing has seemed right. I just can't pick.

2. 24 hour days
Can't we have just a few more hours a day???

3. uncomfortable shoes
I have blisters. Enough said.

4. Saying goodbye
Why is it always so hard???

Just so we leave the blog on a good note... here's a little preview of an upcoming newborn session with baby Jacob :)

Everyday: Baby Jacob

I've never really been sure if I wanted children of my own.
I have a hard time being around crying babies and whining kiddos. And I've never understood the choice to put yourself through gaining crazy weight and housing a living being in your belly... not to mention the pain of childbirth itself.
Until now.
When I walked into that hospital room at St. Judes and saw baby Jacob laying there, I was breathless.
And speechless.
Which doesn't happen often.
But I was face to face with a miracle.
A child that had been in his mom's tummy just minutes before.
And I couldn't believe it.
Here are a few pictures from the hospital. I'm doing his newborn pictures this week, so more are coming!!! :)

Teaser: Baby Jacob

I remember the day she asked me.
I was full of excitement, nervousness, and terror.
Photograph the birth of your child? Like the actual birth? Like when he's born???
I so badly wanted to say yes. And then I did. Without even thinking. The words just leaped out of my lips. And that was that. I was going to be photographing the birth of her child. I took their maternity photos, and we had a blast. She warned me that I should watch some videos of births and maybe even look at some other photos. So I did. And I was STOKED. I knew I was going to get to witness an amazing miracle!

As it turned out, Jenn went past her due date, so they scheduled a c-section and I wasn't able to be in the room. But they allowed me a chance to take a few shots during Jacob's first minutes of life. I went back to visit a few days later and got some more. I can't wait for the newborn pictures that we're doing in the next couple of days, but for now, here's a little sneak peak:



Darrin and Jennifer, congratulations... he is beautiful! And thank you so much for allowing me into your family for these precious moments!

Goodbye 2009!

I cannot believe that it is 2010. Seriously? Did that really just happen?
I think back to htis time last year and where I was in life, and in business and I cannot BELIEVE where I am now, heading into 2010. I am so excited at what this year holds! I know it is going to be a great year! I wanted to look back at my progress and remember some of my favorite pictures from the year. So here is a look back at my favorites from 2009. You can see how my branding has changed several times even in just a year! Leave me a comment and let me know which session was YOUR favorite! :)