Reading that title you are probably thinking one of two things-yes, please tell me how I can keep my kids clean, & happy & smiling at the camera, or pssshhh! there's no such thing! Truth is keeping kids "clean & happy & smiling at the camera" is a daunting task especially for that one specific moment during your whole entire vacation where you NEED them too & to the naysayers "pssshhh it is so possible" just maybe not your entire version of "perfect". 

Just take a look at this photo above...now to everyone that wasn't there for this session you should know something....this photo was staged.  Yes I purposely had the 2 younger ones running circles around their parents & sister.  Why?  well because they were already running around chasing each other so why not reposition them so that I could truly capture this "moment".  Will this photo ever get blown up to a 30x40 print & hung in their family room? maybe not, but then again to me this photo was what truly captured this family at this stage in their life.

I go into each & everyone one of my family sessions(weddings too) with a clear head & an open heart. MY goal is to make sure I capture real family moments, real laughs, & real hugs.

Our family takes family photos every spring so trust me when I say I have been in your shoes!  Our family photos this year included our FOUR dogs! Talk about absolutely madness but it helps keep everything in perspective for me as a photographer.  I have been in front of the camera I KNOW how stressful it is when your 2 year old decides today is the day they are NOT going to take a nap. (keep a look out for the next blog post with my family photos)

First off....Let me just say how much I am LOVING all of my clients this year!!  Dont get me wrong I love all of you from previous years, but my faith in humanity has been restored and broken down some many times this year already & my clients are a huge part of it being restored.  These families have such genuine love for each other OH I could just gush all day!!!!!!!


But on a different note, for you all that haven't had the joy of having family photos taken even if they aren't with me.....here ya go.


I can't tell you how many emails, calls, or text I get from people saying "Oh we haven't had family photos done in forever or We've NEVER had family photos done!"  & to be honest my family both the Phillips side & Calhoon side are just a guilty BUT don't fret there's hope!!!!!!  One of you needs to bite the bullet & take charge of that family affair! I finally did that with the Phillips family (my family-mom, dad, hubby,baby, grandparents, aunts, uncle, & cousins) We did our family photos in September

Listen! Family photos are about pausing your fast paced life for an hour to actually capture your family making memories & to take that one fleeting shot of EVERYONE being together!
Step-by-step instruction:
                 1. Talk to the people that are the most busy (in my case it was my twin girl cousins, they play college softball (& are the best ever!) so they had a gazillion practices plus school work & I told them to let me know what days (3 or 4) that they KNEW they would have off to take photos.
                  2. Next while they were compiling their days I contacted everyone in this photo & said "hey we are doing photos in September not sure what day yet but are there any days that DO NOT work for you.        
                 3.  By the time my cousins got back to me with their days I had already had DEFINITE no go days from everyone else, so the easy part which days did everyone have open & it turned out we all had about 3 days off together.  I picked the day & BAM! family photo day!
In my case I had a wonderful friend/assistant (Taylor) that helped me take the group shots so I didn't need to call a photographer, so in your case its best to talk to your photographer in the step 2 phase that way you have multiple days they can work with you on as well.

Family photos are sooooo important! because it requires everyone to be off their phones & interacting with one another!!!!!!  These are valuable moments where us adult kids can look back & laugh at how silly our sibling/cousins were...or where the parents can look back & say "see the kids do get along...sometimes ;)  or the grandparents can admire how much their family has branched out because at one point they were the grandchildren, & now they get to soak it all in!!!!!  These are cherished moments!!!!!
I grew up looking up to my older cousin (far right)  he was my 'big brother', he threw frogs, snakes, & lizards at me! & because of him I am not afraid of any of those things! (roaches TOTALLY different story).  I mean seriously we even snuck up on a deer 1 time!!!!!!! Crazy TRUE story!!!  

Anyways I saw all these to show you what I see in this photo-its not just my family, it my heart & soul! I love each & every one of you!!! Everyone needs a good family photo because in a blink of an eye everything can change! 

We are not promised tomorrow! &  the only constant thing is change!

Awe!!!! Babies...they grow up soooo fast!!! My little one just turned 1! Here are a few photos of her

The props in these photos are available for anyone that would also like to add them to their shoot. I decided to save them, as well as the polka dots in Chance's cake smash.  Polka dots are available in multiple colors & sizes. I just need to know what colors you prefer so that I can have them ready.

This stunning tutu was made by my dear friend, Ashley Throneberry!
& her Pinwheel Bow was made by her Aunt Michelle Calhoon!

Thank you ladies!

oh & i cant forget about her onesie! Thank you Bonita Lawhon!

Wow! what a whirlwind month it has been!  Now that Christmas is over I can finally post some photos from my mini sessions (several clients requested that I not post them because they were surprising other family members & I was happy to oblige).

and the cuteness just keeps on coming...

one more for good luck!

Its amazing how fast time really does fly by!  It seems to move its fastest when your not paying attention too. Today my husband and I have been together for 6 years!!!!!  We were 18 when we started dating & it seems like just a few days ago! 

Here's a few interesting fun facts about us: 
          Josh asked me to be his girlfriend after I had already told him I wasn't interested in a boyfriend, he asked I said "no", but I quickly changed my mind when I realized I really didn't have a good reason for not dating him :)
          He met my parents that same day because I told him if they didn't like him there was no point in dating, that same night we went to Build-a-Bear & made a fisherman bear named Bradley.
         We each had a crush on each other in 9th grade & I had secretly hoped he would ask me to homecoming, I even told him I had dress picked out & I would go if I had a date...he got the hint 4 years later lol
         The first major purchase we made together was a house which we closed on tax day 2 1/2 years ago.
         We picked out/purchased my engagement ring after only being together for a year, but Josh did not propose to me until we had been together for 3 years. Yes he had my ring for 2 years! We both wanted to be able to purchase a house & pay for our own wedding, + (my dad had asked me to graduate with my bachelors first, We actually got married 2 months before my graduation).
         Josh pulled out all the stops to propose to me, at Cinderellas Castle in the Magic Kingdom it was the best proposal ever!!!!!!!!   more details later
         Our engagement year was by far the worst year EVER!  Everyone either needs to have a short engagement or elope! lol but seriously...
         Following the worst year ever we have had the best almost 2 years of our entire relationship...marriage.
         I gave my husband the most expensive (for him lol) & best birthday present ever this year!  Lily, our daughter who was born 4 days after his birthday. 

I love you Josh & I can't wait to see what all God has in store for us for the next 6+ years!!!!!!!!