Newborns look their best during the first 2 weeks. I took these when Miss L was only one week old. She was so tiny and quiet! I forgot how much I enjoy photographing newborns. Mom is a good friend of mine and a trooper for venturing outside the house only one week after giving birth. I’m not surprised, though. Kelcey is not one to stay home and lie around! She’s probably already organizing and arranging Miss L’s couture baby clothes into color categories in her closet. Notice how I’m a bit jealous of my super organized friends? I have NONE of those awesome qualities.

Kelcey and Dave, you will be so glad you had these taken of her at this moment. It’s hard to remember them this small. It’s bittersweet and it’s also why I love what I do because I had the honor of capturing her as she begins her new life with you all. Thank you!

Lesli

This senior season has been fantastic! I’m starting to wrap it up, but not without sharing some lovely photos of Miss Jordan. Wow. She is so gorgeous! And she’s comfortable in front of the camera (Mom, you are right!) Jordan is planning to go to A&M next year. She likes to ride horses (and has one of her own), barrel race, and rope. Oh, and I cannot forget her dog Chance. He was unbelievable during the session. He sat and looked at the camera on command.Way easier to photograph than most toddlers! Amazing!

Congratulations, Jordan! I can’t wait for you to see the rest of these.

Lesli

Everything about this pretty young lady is spunky. She’s a cheerleader at Bellaire HS, thus the beautiful smile and lovely poise. Cat plans to go to Stephen F. Austin State University next year and may study. . . photography! I was thrilled to find out she is very interested in the craft.

Being the youngest of three children (and the only girl), Cat is the last to leave the “nest,” so this is a bittersweet time for her mom. I could tell right away how close she is to her mom, so I’m sure she will come home and visit often. Hang in there, Mom! I’m so honored you chose me to photograph this important milestone in your life, Cat! Congratulations!

Lesli

This precious little man will be 1 year old in May. He was really trying to walk while posing for me in the studio. Mom, Dad, and sweet family dog Sasha were all there to celebrate J’s upcoming birthday and watch him dig in to his cupcake. He wasn’t too sure about the cake, but he definitely loved the candle! Oh, babies are so cute, aren’t they?

Mom and Dad, the photo gallery will be ready soon! Thanks for your patience during this crazy spring season!

Lesli

Two years ago, I photographed Travis’s brother Tayler. Both boys are so handsome! Travis is a senior at Sealy HS this year. He plans to go to Texas Tech in the fall. He’s the last to leave the nest, so Mom is a bit sad but very excited for him at the same time. Oh, how I feel for these moms! I do know how fast time flies, so I’m savoring every moment I have with my dear girls.  This shoot was right on the heels of my previous blog post on Grant, the Katy Tiger linebacker. Travis lives right by the bridge where I photographed Grant and his family, so we tried it out again!

Travis was a gentleman (another athlete!). He loves old country music:  Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson. I LOVE that! Old country is the best. We drove around looking for neat spots and listened to 97.1 the whole time.

Congratulations, Travis! Good luck at Texas Tech! Go Raiders! (I won’t be yelling that during football season)

Mr. Grant is not just a Katy Tiger. He is one of the Tigers’ top linebackers. Grant was featured in VYPE Magazine this fall. You can read about him here:  http://www.ihigh.com/ourfieldhouse/article_47585.html. Needless to say, I was thrilled to recently photograph not only Grant, but his family, too. The weather tried to stop us, but we managed to get some fantastic shots! The whole family was so pleasant, even in the drizzling rain. And check out little sister Erin. What a beauty! Erin, you may not realize this yet, but your stunning looks come from your gorgeous mom. Dad, don’t feel left out! You deserve some credit, too!

Grant, you are a special guy. Best of luck to you at the Naval Academy!

Miss Katie contacted me for sorority rush photos. She’s another one of my former 8th grade students from the super fantastic Presbyterian School (www.pshouston.org) who is a glowing senior right now getting ready to graduate from The Kinkaid School. Katie was an outstanding middle school student, and no surprise, she has continued to be a dedicated high school student. That will pay off, Katie! I have no doubt that you will be great at whatever you set out to do (right now, she is interested in being a lawyer). And the sorority that picks you will be very lucky.

I’m so happy you chose me to photograph you, Katie! Best of luck to you in college and during Rush! Congratulations!

Lesli

This isn’t just any family session. These are my dear friends Samantha and Matt and their two lovely children Ava, 8, and Sage, 5. I’ve known Samm since college and she’s still the same:  carefree, witty, sincere, and trusting. We don’t see each other often but when we do, it’s like we were never apart.

Matt wanted this session to be a surprise for his and Samm’s anniversary, but he made an extremely wise decision by telling Samm about it beforehand. Husbands, take a cue from Matt and always, always tell your wife when you schedule a photo session. We wives like to get ready for these events. Being the smart guy Matt is, he told Samm and all is right with the universe. Samm looked beautiful and that’s all that matters, right? I’m so honored to be the one they chose to photograph them all in my favorite Texas city:  Austin.

Wish I could see you all more! Love ya!

Lesli

This week has been chock full of boy sessions! Busy, busy time of year. I love it! So Mr. Jake is a senior at Morton Ranch HS. He’s an athlete:  baseball player and football player. I know I’ve mentioned this before but photographing athletes makes my job easier. They are used to being photographed and take direction really well. They are usually confident, too. This makes for a great subject to shoot! Jake was the perfect model. He was exhausted from baseball practice and mom said he doesn’t like being photographed. But I don’t think that is evident in these sneak peeks photos! Good luck next year at Blinn College, Jake! Congratulations!

Rewind to August 2006.  A doe-eyed, freckled, fair-skinned, long-haired brunette sits in my 8th grade English class, so eager, so enthusiastic. This little darling is special. She likes to write. She loves to read. Highly unusual for this age. She can talk to adults, yet she can be silly with the rest of her adolescent peers. Her writing is original, so much that it wins a Scholastic award. She’s outspoken, witty, non-conforming. I love this girl! She graduates from middle school, I quit teaching. We keep in touch. She assists me with my photography and unknowingly prepares me to be a future mom of teenage girls. I watch her grow and change, but I still remember the bright eyes, the sly smile, the intent look on her face when we were knee-deep in class discussions or creative writing.

I knew this time would come fast! I just wasn’t prepared for how fast. I’m sure her mom and dad feel much the same way. But alas, it’s time for Miss Hannah to embark on a new phase of her life. I wish she could stick around forever, but more than anything I want her to be happy and glow with the same intensity I saw in her as a 13 year old student. I hope she never loses that spark.