When Ladonna Daughtry called me back in the Spring and said she and her sister, Tamara Brown, wanted to give their mother a family photo shoot as a Mother’s Day gift, I happily created the gift certificate for them that very day! You see, their mother, Joan Shive, happens to be one of my most favorite people in the entire world! She took me under her wing in the beginning of my teaching career at Blackwell Elementary (back in the early 1990’s) and, very patiently, guided me along those first few years as I learned the stuff they just don’t teach you in college. I could go on and on about what kind of woman Joan is, but suffice it to say that she is one of the wisest, kindest, most sincere, selfless Christian women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing….correction…not just knowing but the privilege of calling my friend. Joan loves our God first, of course, but the people in these photos run a very close second on her love list. She’s lucky to have them in her life, and they are oh-so-lucky to have her in theirs! It took us a while to actually cash in that gift certificate, but we finally got it done. Happy (belated) Mother’s Day, Joan! I love you more than you know! This “Sweet 16” photo session was SO much fun! “Lifestyle photography” is definitely my favorite way to capture moments in time! This particular afternoon, I asked the birthday girl (who also happens to be my neighbor) to simply show me what she’d do if she was spending the afternoon exploring in our nearby wooded area, and I just followed her around and snapped pictures of her doing her thing. A budding photographer herself, Charlee was very relaxed in front of the camera. Looking through my lens at her was a real treat! Isn’t she simply gorgeous?! She’s a lot more than just a pretty face though. This young woman is super-smart, very well-spoken, and isn’t afraid to stand for what she believes in….my favorite kind of teen! J I enjoyed our time together immensely and wouldn’t mind hanging out with her again soon! Happy 16th Birthday, Charlee! I hope your special day brings you much joy! (Thanks, Jamie and Jason Keblish for trusting me with "milestone moments"!) :) I always know I’m in for a real treat when I get the call from this particular mama about doing a photo session with her little guy. I never know what outfits/props he’s going to want in his pictures, but he never disappoints! Asher was one of my very first clients when I started this DTRphoto thing back in 2013. I did his 4-yr-old pictures…then his 5-yr-old pictures, and now, time has marched on to Asher’s 6th birthday! If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting/talking with this child, you are absolutely missing out. I SO enjoy our conversations. He is the perfect mix of smart, cute, independent, well-mannered, and well-spoken. One of these days, I predict he’s going to do big things. In the meantime, I hope I continue to get the opportunity to capture his true personality as he grows year-by-year. Thanks for trusting me with these milestones, Kelly & Kevin, and Happy Birthday, Asher! I hope this year is your best one yet! |
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