Big News

I have some HUGE news to tell all. BIRTHDAY sized news! BUT, I can't tell you yet till it's official. I know you will be excited though. I will keep you posted.

-Dara

Summer time.

Since this week is the last week of school for most, I decided to post about some things you would need during the summer. All things are from my favorite online store ETSY. This is where all things are home made/vintage. I have gotten so many great things from here, that I just love to see what I will find next. For your next summer trip I thought these few items might help you along.

1. For those sunny days on the river, the pool or just in the backyard, you could always use a big floppy hat. Every summer I have been getting one since 2006. I lost the one I had last year due to falling in the river. I did get it back, but it turned yellow and lost it's shape, so I had to retire it to Oscar the grouch's home. Here is my etsy find for a hat.

This hat is from the seller: sheenasatana. 

2. The next item on my list is another item that I currently have. I actually just got this item a few weeks ago at a local flea market that we went to when my brother came up. If you look at the post below of chelsea, you will see it. I have been looking for a great suitcase for a few years now, and when I saw this one, it was love at first sight. I had a suitcase that wasn't as cool, so I put travel stickers all over it to spruce it up, however it doesn't compare to my new one. Here's a similar suitcase from the ETSY shop of: Flyingace.

 3. This item I thought would be super cool for those summer nights by the campfire. I mean isn't that what camping is all about? A campfire? with smores? Even in 100 degree weather, you would still be cool with this thing. This item is from ETSY seller: rotisaprong.

4. Next is an item that just screams summer. I have been wanting this item for a few years as well. A Bike. I have a bike, but its from when I was 12. It still works thanks to my awesome coworker Tom. He graciously fixed Matt and I's bikes last weekend so that we could go geo-cashing with him and his girlfriend. But that's another story that I will get to at another time. Back to the sweet bike. Just imagine cruising through the park in your red flashy bike. awww, love it. This item is already sold on ETSY, but I am sure you can find one on EBAY or at a local flea market. The seller was: smackle.

5. Lastly, how could you make it through those summer days with out capturing it. Here is a cute lil camera that would give your pics a vintage touch.  This is from the ETSY seller: FalconandFinch. I know I have my camera with me at all times to catch all of those crazy moments that only happen once. So be sure to have yours with you too!

I hope you enjoyed my summer have to have list. Now go out and get ready for summer fun and heat. Maybe next time I'll feature sprinklers and water slides. Oooo, now that's a cool idea.

My new favorite spot

This is my new favorite place to shoot pictures. Last night I grabbed my coworker (although wed, was her last day) and headed out to shoot some pictures I had been thinking of for a long time. We headed down the road to a little town outside of College Station, that looks almost abandoned. For a photographer, that is great because that means the walls and buildings are very aged and are starting to wear down. That equals great backgrounds and texture. Check out the pictures I took of my beautiful coworker/my new model, Chelsea. Isn't she gorgeous?

I have been trying to do this laundromat shoot for a year now. 

        

I bought this suitcase sunday at a flea market for $5. Doesn't it complete the look. 

long time, no see!

Hi Friends, Family and faithful readers. I haven't posted in a long time and I apologize. So much has been going on in the last month. I have been extremely busy with photo work, my day time job and a fun trip. Some of you might know that I am a member of our local photographers guild and that I received a scholarship from them to attend the TPPA's Texas School of Photography. It was a week long conference in Dallas. It was amazing. I met so many wonderful people that I hope to keep in contact with. I learned so much that it was hard to organize all my thoughts, and stuff from the trip. I have some great ideas for maternity and newborn sessions that I learned. I also got some great props. All week we had class with one teacher. My teacher was Jenn Turner. She is awesome, some call her the Baby Whisper because of the great things she can do. AND, she showed us some of her tricks. Some of them I already knew from my learning days at P.I., however I was glad to see that those were tried and true tricks. Before I went to Dallas I was able to go home one weekend to see my best friend from High School's baby boy. I also got to take my nephew's SR. prom pictures. Now did you think that I would take regular pictures of them like most parents do? of course not! These are some of them below. I will post more from what I did @ Texas School and from my latest sessions soon! I promise to update more. Please give me a call if you would like to schedule a session. My summer is filling up fast and I would LOVE to take your pictures for you. ALSO, be sure to spread the word about my work! If you know anyone that would like my work you can also buy them a gift certificate.

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Regan & Lyndon

On Good Friday I had a bunch of photo sessions lined up while I was back in Louisiana. Here are some pictures of Regan & Lyndon, my first appointment that day. I took Regan's pictures back when she was a little girl and so now to take her little brothers pictures was so fun. Aren't these two just beautiful kids.

                 

Washington DC 2010

Last week I went with my hubby and his family to our nations capital, Washington DC. I had never been and was dying to see the Cherry blossoms in bloom, along with seeing all of the major monuments. We drove from Zachary, La to DC and it took 1.5 days. The drive wasn't actually too bad, we had beautiful scenery the entire way. We stayed in Manasas, VA, where the battle of Bull Run happened. We took the Metro into the city on Tuesday and Wednesday, which was fun and a first for some of the kids. The traffic in DC is supposed to be some of the worst in the nation so everyone highly suggested taking the metro into the city. On Monday afternoon we visited the Arlington Cemetery and visited JFK's resting place, the Tomb of the unknown soldier and the Iwo Jima Memorial. The Cemetery was such a beautiful place, being what it is. They take great care and honor there. Tuesday we toured the Capital and walked the National mall. Can I tell you that I don't think that I have ever walked that much in my life. My body started shutting down and things started to hurt that have never hurt before. Not to mention that they were having a heat wave and it was approaching 90 degrees. We were not prepared for that. We had packed our jackets and umbrella's and would have welcomed a cold spell. A few places that we saw that day are: The Washington monument, Lincoln memorial, the white house, Ford's Theater, Vietnam memorial, Korean war memorial, Jefferson memorial, The national Archives (I recognized it from "National Treasure" the movie, lol), the FBI building (recognized that from the Borne Identity movies too.), and a few other important places. Wednesday, we took it a little easier and just visited the Smithsonian museum's. We started at the Museum of Natural History and then ended at the Museum of National History. They were sooo awesome and I think we could have spent a day alone at each. The museum of Air and Space had closed early that day, so we were unable to visit that one. In the end we were soo tired that we couldn't walk anymore, but I think we all agree that we would love to go back and do more. There is soooo much to see and do in this city that it would take a month to do it all. Not to mention that pretty much everything is free!! So enough of my blabbering, I bet you want to see some pictures. Well here you go, have a lookie below. There is no way in the world that I could fit ALL of the pictures taken on this blog, so here are just a few. Enjoy.

babies and babies

On good friday I set up a quite a few photo appointments since I was going to be in the New Orleans area and had a couple of clients still in the area. It was a day chalked full of fun and energetic kids to say the least. I had a great time and was able to capture some great pictures. Here are a few unedited pictures. I will post more when I get back into town next week. For now, I hope you enjoy these sweet little ones.

                Sweet little Lyndon. Isn't he handsome?

Here are two of one week old Haylee. Isn't she beautiful?