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WELCOME

Welcome to my blog site. This main page is where I blog about my recent work. If you need information on my services, use the main menu. Of course, the "Contact" button will put you in quick connection with me.

Current Specials

Sessions are back at $50 for 1 hour and 24-32 online proofs!

A new permanent "Mini Session" has been added. $25 for 15-30 minutes and 10 online proofs.

All sessions are on location - your favorite park, downtown or even your own home!

Long Time No Blog

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything. I’ve been totally consumed by a huge project. My brother quit his job to start a magazine and recruited me to do all the photography and graphic design. I have a love-hate relationship with graphic design, although it’s what I studied in college. I had a few notions to combine graphic design with photography, but as I grew to hate design, I never thought it would happen. Well, my roots keep finding me and here I am fulfilling a vapor-like dream I had years ago.

The magazine is called “Small Business Chronicles.” It showcases small businesses within a given area. Our forerunner is “Small Business Chronicles – Tuscaloosa.” The momma issue will be of Gadsden.

I was out today (in the rain) getting photos of local businesses and their products. Here is one I’d like to share. It was taken at “Gracefully Done” in Northport.

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To Train or Not to Train

I recently read a blog post condemning my method of parenting. I don’t know why I let a stranger’s uninformed commentary tickle my nerves, but I did. Maybe it was because she called it child abuse, neglectful and dangerous. Or perhaps it is because she is simply misinformed. This that I am writing is not pointed at anyone I know personally. I’m just stating facts that I know based on reading as well as experience.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is older he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6.

At what age do you start “training” your child? Do you wait until she can walk? Speak? Do you wait until he starts to school? I chose to begin training my child at birth. By the grace of God my parents’ first grandchild came from my brother and his wife. Had she come from my husband and me, we would have followed society’s most popular method of parenting – attachment parenting and would be sleep deprived with a toddler attached to us 24/7. My sister-in-law Amber has seven nieces and nephews who are as well behaved as the Duggar kids. Before Amber became pregnant, she asked her sister, “How do you get your kids to be so well behaved?” Her sister told her about the “Growing Kids” series by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo.

“Preparation for Parenting” is the first of the series and begins with infants. It instructs parents on how to obtain a stable sleep-eat-wake cycle for baby. This is called parent – directed feeding (PDF). Most babies don’t have the ability to organize their sleeping and eating into healthy patterns. Under the parent’s guidance, baby’s metabolism is regulated. This allows predictable time between feedings along with ample time of rest for baby as well as for the parents.

Parents not only direct feeding patterns, but sleeping patterns as well. With the AP method of parenting, mom may allow baby to fall asleep while nursing. Baby may nap for 15 minutes only to awaken hungry and wanting to nurse again. The nursing session may last 5 minutes, it may last 30. The only predictable factor is unpredictability. With PDF mom, not baby, decides when naps begin and end. The routine begins with feeding followed by wake time. Naptime concludes the cycle. When it is time for a nap, baby is laid down without being rocked or lulled to sleep. This is often referred to as “the cry it out” method. For the first few weeks baby cries until he learns how to fall asleep on his own. Many critics (including the above mentioned blogger) don’t understand how a parent can do this to their child. Those of us who stick it out soon see the benefits of a baby who falls asleep on her own verses the one who must be rocked and gently placed in the crib not to be awakened by mom’s quiet escape. When baby learns to fall asleep on her own she is also able to go back to sleep on her own should she wake in the middle of the night. With PDF, full nighttime sleep is achievable at 8 weeks of age!

Independent and full nighttime sleep are only a few benefits of parent-directed feeding. As baby learns he can trust his parents to meet his needs in a timely manner, he isn’t scared to be left alone or in the care of others. He isn’t fussy because no one can figure out what is wrong. In general, PDF babies are happy, healthy, well-rested and well-adjusted. When an AP baby is finally left alone, he may experience separation anxiety. He has been with mom for so long and doesn’t know how to cope when she leaves. Critics of PDF say babies learn trust by being held. They also make it sound as though PDF parent don’t hold their babies. The difference between PDF parents and AP parents is that PDF parents don’t HAVE to hold their babies in order to make them happy.

Of course it is each parent’s right to choose how they raise their baby. I’m just stating the facts and defending my choice. I have 2 happy and healthy kids. I can rock them when I choose to. I can cuddle them when I choose to. I can also leave them in the care of others without any anxiety from them or myself. If you choose the AP method do so with joy and without complaints later on down the road.

Myths about the PDF method and “Baby Wise”:

MYTH: You can’t breastfeed with the PDF method.
FACT: The PDF method described by the Ezzos recommends breastfeeding and gives instructions on how to do it properly.

MYTH: Breastfed babies are incapable of sleeping through the night.
FACT: The Ezzos have done many studies and I can attest that breastfed babies can sleep 10 hour through the night by 12 weeks of age.

MYTH: PDF puts baby on a strict schedule and has the parent ignore baby’s needs.
FACT: “Baby Wise tells parents not to use the clock as the only cue for feeding baby. The clock is only a guide.

MYTH: “Baby Wise” has been linked with poor weight gain in infants.
FACT: Demand feeding and AP parenting can lead to poor weight gain when baby only takes in the foremilk, then falls asleep. PDF instructs mom to keep baby awake until she has had a full feeding.

MYTH: Hospitals and pediatricians are against PDF.
FACT: If you look closely at the feeding instructions on the hospital release form it says to feed baby either on demand or at 2 – 2.5 hour intervals. Those intervals are where the PDF method begins.

Happy Birthday Addison

Once upon a time

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There lived a princess named Addison.

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The time came to celebrate her 4th birthday.

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Finally, people began approaching the castle doors.

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Knights and princesses from other lands came to celebrate with her.

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Everyone was given edible beads to create their very own necklace.

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But the castle needed a little decorating.

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There were some rambunctious knights who threw a party of their own.

“Guys, be careful not to trash the place.”

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The princess noticed something fishy going on and stopped her play to find out what it was.

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“Oh my! My castle!

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“WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!?”

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“I warned them.”

“I just got here, what’s going on?”

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“At least we still have balloons!”

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“I shall fix it!”

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“We are over here minding our own business.”

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“I’m looking for my prince.”

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“I will kiss this frog and he shall become my prince.”

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“Sorry, it’s my kiss he needs.”

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“Let me give it a try.”

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“It’s not going to work, I tell you. But it’s worth a try.”

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“I guess we need a real frog if we want a real prince.”

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“Just one more try!”

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Suddenly, an announcement was made that the dragon ate the King’s treasure.

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The princess ordered everyone to slay the dragon and retrieve the treasure.

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Are we slaying a dragon or playing baseball?

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The Knights of the Round Table

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Time to eat cake!

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Who knew this princess was so shy?

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Aww…you guys!

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Make a wish!

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I’m still wondering where the prince is.

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Here I am!

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What to Wear

I thought this photo was on my blog in an earlier post, but I was wrong. I want to post this to show an example of how to properly use patterns when selecting attire for a photo shoot. Stripes and polka dots are always popular for toddlers, but they can be distracting in photos. It’s best to dress your tot in a solid top and use a pattern for the bottoms. This photo is so awesome that it is on my portrait business card (I have a separate one for weddings).

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Little Valentine Wallets

Mini sessios are now a part of the session choices. $25 for a 15 minute sessions resulting in 5 online proofs. Get a sweet picture for your kids’ to have unique Valentines to pass out to friends. So much cooler than branded ones from the grocery store!

A set of 24 is $10.
A set of 48 is $15.

Choose from these 4 templates. Colors, text and fonts are interchangeable. Of course, change the text totally with your favorite verse or saying.

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Custom Valentines

When I was in school, we purchased a box of Valentines from Wal-Mart. We had to choose from Ziggy, Mickey Mouse, My Little Pony, etc. They were made of thin cardstock. On the back, read “from [fill in the blank].” I suppose that’s the way it is now. I believe I saw them in stores before Christmas. I got the idea to shake things up a bit from Taz, a fellow photographer and graphic designer whom I’ve never met. This is the first of my series of photo Valentines that you can order. These are wallet size prints that are great to hand out at school instead of Sponge Bob, Handy Mandy or Dora the Explorer.

A set of 24 is $10.
A set of 48 is $15.

Book a mini session now to get that sweet little picture for your Valentine cards. Mini sessions are $25. You will get 5 online proofs to choose from. The mini sessions will be different this time in that they won’t be held on a certain day or location. The choice is yours!

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Dan & Mandy

I assisted Sarah with this wedding. It was so sweet. Dan and Mandy were already married. They tied the knot just before he left for Iraq. This was the actual ceremony after his return.

 
THANKS DAN FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY!

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“Unformal” Bridal Session

Some call it Trash the Dress, others call it Down and Dirty. I’ve coined my own term, Unformal Bridal. I got the idea for the name after hearing the term “undead” which means, what used to be dead, now seems alive. Well, what used to be formal is now relaxed. The bride doesn’t have to “trash” her dress. She just needs to be willing to go to odd locations that contrast her beautiful white gown. Although it does help if the bride doesn’t mind getting a little dirty.

My first subjects were my sister-in-law Jill and her sister Summer. The day we chose was… what word should I use… YUCKY! We knew it’d be difficult to reschedule. Summer lives at the northern tip of Alabama, almost in Chattanooga. Jill lives in northeast Alabama. Here I am in west Alabama. So, the girls took in deep breaths and stood out in the rain and did everything I suggested.

I’ve been waiting to blog these for months. Now that their mother’s Christmas present (a 16×20 of the last picture below, along with a few other 8×10s from the session) has been presented, I’m free to show them off!

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THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE!
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Halle’s Hamper

Halle’s Hamper is a trunk show line of children’s clothes. Kimberly Mason designs pieces for spring/summer and winter/fall. I was blessed to be able to shoot her new spring/summer 2010 collection. I’ve also gone back to my design roots by designing her new logo, website, business cards, postcards and clothing tags. If design work comes my way, I will definitely take on the jobs during slower photography times. My heart is still in photography!

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Meet Haleigh

Haleigh is the youngest of 4 children; the last of a quad of homeschool attenders. Their family is an inspiration. The middle sister now attends public school and just had senior pictures taken for their yearbook. Haleigh thought she was something to have a photo shoot for herself. And boy, did she ham it up! There wasn’t any of that, “What do you want me to do?” No awkward looks when I asked her to flip her hair around. She loved every minute of it.

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