I had two shoots scheduled on the day we did this one, and then they called for rain. And I panicked. So we changed the time at the last minute and did this shoot in the middle of the day. And that made me uneasy because I am a light snob and like to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky. But I LOVE the light in these pictures, I think it’s good for me to be forced to shoot in different lighting situations, it helps me become better.

The shoot was intended for Marty, Gina and their four kids. But we got Gina’s parents in a few pictures too, considering we were at their house, it worked out perfect.

Amber, oldest – and only – girl in the fam. She’s been in front of my camera before

Gina said one of her earliest memories of her Dad is him on his tractor, he loves tractors and has always had them. So of course we had to get a couple of pictures of him with one of his tractors…

I just happened to get a closer shot of his watch that I noticed, and found out that he is almost never without it

Obviously, Trevin is part monkey because while I did some individual shots he climbed this tree like it was no big deal.

Marty, Gina, Amber, Trevin, Rendon and Quade- Thank you for getting in front of my camera. I loved having you there

So. I started a 365 day project of Tenley. Oh yes, I did. We are 31 days into it and I am not really sure how I feel. Some days I wonder why I even started, but most days I look back on what I’ve gotten so far and am happy that I am doing it. I have considered doing a 365 project for awhile, but didn’t want the pressure that comes along with getting a shot every day. Then, inspired by Drew B, I jumped on the bandwagon.
What I love about this project is I feel that I am capturing everyday moments. Un-posed, un-planned moments. And I love that. I already do a ‘weekly picture’ of Tenley, where I do a simple little shoot every week for the first year, but those are more posed. I try to get one really good shot out of those, and mostly keep them similar week-to-week so I can see her change and grow when put all together in a book. (Bristol’s book is still not done and she will be 3 in March! so, admittedly, I am behind…but, I do have the pictures!)

What I don’t love is the fact that I am using my iphone for this project and the quality is driving me a bit nuts. BUT, I think this will help me to take better iphone pix. And, doing this project with my ‘big’ camera would just take too much effort I think. For right now, anyway.

My plan is to use these pictures and create a little book at the end of the year. I feel like it will be a great story – in pictures.

So, I guess I’ll trudge forward with this little project. And try to keep it simple. And if I don’t get a shot every single day, I am going to try to be okay with that. Because really, I know there will be some days that it just won’t happen. But for now, we have 31 days of Tenley Rhyann.

(sorry for the bad quality of this collage…obviously, I don’t know what I am doing!)
*You can click on the image to see it larger*

Feel free to follow my project on Instagram using #tenleyrhyann2013

Thanks for looking And to all of you who do follow me and cheer me on along the way…thank you! Tell me, are any of you doing a 365 project, or any kind of picture project? If so, I want to hear about it!

The girls in this family support and encourage me in my photography (always have, and I am so thankful) and the boys? Well they show up, look at their watches and say to me “You’ve got 20 minutes…Go!” (then proceed to mock and make fun of me the entire time)

I love them.

This session was actually a Birthday gift for Keitha (the Mom, wife and Mimi of the fam). They considered having their pictures made (just the kids) and then giving her a large print to open on her birthday along with the disc of pictures. They decided to wait and include Keitha in the shoot, and opted to do a gift certificate for the session for her to open on her birthday. Which was in March. My due date was in May. We quickly scheduled a shoot, and I was all psyched up to do this session in April, 8 months preggo and all. Then Reece (the baby boy in the family) wound up sick in the hospital the weekend we had planned on.
Then I had Tenley.
Then it was summertime. Scorching hot + Large Family = Not a lotta fun for them.
Finally, Keitha got her Birthday session in the fall when it cooled down a little, but was still gorgeous and green and summery out.

I am so glad they decided to include their parents in the shoot… here are a few of my fav’s….

Here I go again, unable to decide between b&w or sepia!

Boys will be boys!

Okay, ending with this one…it’s real, and I love it!

To each and every one of you; Thank you. XoXo

Truth is, I have an entire family shoot that I planned on posting today. But for now, I pulled these few out of that file…because a) I adore these shots. And b) I simply don’t have time to get the entire family posted right this minute. But, it’s coming! Soon

Till then, Brooklyn:

I really could not decide, color? b&w? or sepia?… tell me, which do you like best? I think if I had to choose, I’d say color…but goodness those other two are gorgeous!

Skipping Miscellaneous Monday to blog this good-looking family instead

Steve and Brandy and their 3 adorable kids (well, I’ll go with ‘handsome’ for these two boys…they probably would not appreciate being called adorable!) got in front of my camera back in September. Yes, September, I am going back that far for ‘pre-Christmas’ shoots!
Warning: there is a smile-inducing baby ahead…

Meet Steve, Brandy, Nicholas, Luke and Olivia….

Love a good ‘everyone is looking’ shot. But I have to admit, I am drawn the crazy ‘this is real life’ shots more!

I just have to point out the sweet little hand Olivia has propped up on…oh.that.wrist-roll! Love!

We moved out into the sunshine for some gorgeous light…

I told ya…smile-inducing baby. This sweet girl was SO happy!

I couldn’t choose between these next 3, so they all got posted…

I’ll end with these shots of Steve and Brandy…because I love them.

Brandy, thank you for getting your family in front of my camera!

Chicken dinner!

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

Thank you to each and every one of you who entered to win the free Photoshoot. I am sorry some (or all?) of you had issues with leaving a comment here on the blog – I am not sure what to do about it, but I hope to figure out how to resolve this problem soon… any suggestions?

Right now, I know you just want to get down to who the winner is this year… Drumroll please………………….

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………. Random.org picked:

(iphone pix…sorry for the not-so-great quality)

Megan Commenter #31!

Congrats Megan! You should have an email from me in your inbox

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I think I’ll share a few Pumpkin Patch pictures on this post… oh, you know, just months after the fact!

Going to the pumpkin patch is one of our new favorite traditions. We go to Riverbend Farms and really, even I get excited about the sliding boards they have there!

But between the entrance and the sliding boards, there are some other cool things.

The sliding boards… these things are the talk for weeks after!  Notice Bristol’s face? haha! These things are fast! Which reminds me of the year before… Check out this blog post for a funny little story of how two Momma’s (one being yours truly) laughed hysterically as innocent kids came barreling down… I know, it just sounds so wrong. But I laugh all over again just seeing the pictures!

Tenley just pulled her blankie up, stuck her thumb in and napped. Sigh… I love having a good baby and trust me, I appreciate it after having Bristol who cried all.the.time!

Then we headed out to the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin. A tractor takes you there, drops you off and another tractor comes back for you. Of course Bristol had to peepee as soon as we got off.

Lets just say we made use of the field.

Then it was time to get down to the business of picking out that perfect pumpkin.

I didn’t manage to get a shot of all 3 of them with their pumpkins… But, here they are without the pumpkins.

Oh goodness. Christmas…how did it come and go so fast?! I love Christmas. I love the twinkle lights, cozy fires, the excitement, christmas dishes, family and friends, good food and lots of sweets, stockings hanging from the mantle, gingerbread houses….I just love it all!

And this year, I loved hearing Bristol’s sweet little voice when I quizzed her on “what is Christmas really all about?” and she would reply “Jesus Biwtday!”

Oh it was good. Kids really do make it so much sweeter. I feel like a kid all over again as I see Christmas through my children’s eyes. And it is magical.

I never got out my ‘big’ camera at all on Christmas. Instead I chose to simply set out my point and shoot camera and Stu and I both picked it up and took pictures whenever… I wanted to be present, in the moment, and not behind my camera. And I wanted to be in the pictures too, so the point and shoot just worked best.

Christmas Eve… they always get new PJ’s (my parents always did this for us and we loved it!)

Christmas morning!

I almost did not buy baby dolls for Kennedy and Bristol this year…this moment made me SO happy that I decided at the last minute to do it!

Thank you for stopping by! And if you haven’t done it already, please check out the Giveaway – there is still time to enter…do it before it’s too late!

Oh, and Tenley’s adorable hat? Made by Monica over at Liltwigs. Check out her Facebook page HERE, and her Etsy Shop HERE

‘Small world’ story connected with this family… I met Anna a few years ago when she scheduled me for a session for her little girl Adah (I don’t think Adah was even walking at the time!) Took pictures, had a good time…Anna mentioned that she was a nurse. Later, my cousin had a sweet baby girl who wound up in the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery, and guess who just happened to be one of their favorite nurses?! Yep, it was Anna!

Now, I love love love getting to see Anna, Nat and Adah a couple of times every year… this year, Adah was so grown up and full of personality! We went for an urban location and some pine cones to add in a little something Christmas-y….

Stopped for a little snack….

showing me her ‘march’!

Thank you Anna, for your trust in me to capture your family XoXo

**Don’t forget to enter HERE for a chance to win a FREE Photoshoot…or just go up to the last post

*I understand there has been some trouble commenting here on the blog… SO sorry! I don’t have any idea what to do to fix this problem, so if you are unable to leave a comment here, please go to my Facebook page and leave me a comment there – I will make sure your name gets in for the Giveaway. And please feel free to shoot me an email if all else fails   bobbiebrown5@hotmail.com
Thank you for your patience! *

It’s that time of year again…

art by the talented Julie… you can find her, and more of her work HERE.

For the past two years I have hosted a Giveaway for a Photoshoot – and I am doing it again this year!

Here are the nitty gritty details:

What: A photoshoot with me

Includes: Session fee and disc of images

How to enter: Simply leave a comment in the comment box! Yep, it’s just that simple.

Deadline: I will count all comments on THIS post till midnight Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013.

Fine print: Anyone can enter. If you choose to do a family shoot, only you and your immediate family are included. Weddings excluded. However, I will do engagement shoots, bridals or Day After shoots. Shoot must be done before September 1, 2013. One entry per person please. Not transferable to another person. Not transferable for money. Winner will be chosen by random.org. If you have a shoot booked with me already, and you are the winner, you can use this towards the booked shoot. Shoot must be local to Monroe, NC area. (while I’d love to travel, it just can’t happen this time!)

And please, spread the word about this Giveaway! Feel free to share on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media. Or just good ‘ol word of mouth I’d appreciate it, truly.

And last, but not least, GOOD LUCK!

So, I think we are finally (thankfully) well around here! We had the flu. 11 days of sickness. Let me say that right about now I am very much appreciative and thankful for general good health. My Dad used to always say that being sick was good for you every once in awhile, it made you appreciate your good health. I agree, Dad. I agree.

I had my first photoshoot of the New Year over the weekend. It felt so good to get out of the house (I had a little case of cabin fever after having been stuck in sick for so long!) and it just felt good to be behind the camera again. If you like me on Facebook, then you might have already seen this little sneak peek. But if not, well, here ya go!

I’ll share more from this gorgeous engagement shoot soon. But, before then I need to get busy sharing my pre-Christmas shoots! And…. I’ll be hosting another Giveaway soon! As in, really soon! So get ready for that