Tag: AGPhoto

Miss Paisley Grace

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A few weeks ago I received an inquiry for a newborn session on a week that I had very limited availability.  We were getting ready to leave for summer camp with my kids and vacation.  I had already told myself not to book anymore sessions because there just wouldn’t be enough time to get everything done, but I always will schedule newborns when possible because they are truly my favorite!  I am so glad I squeezed Miss Paisley Grace in for a session because she rocked it!

Paisley was a great little one who was 14 days new and slept for most of her session minus a few diaper changes.

Before my newborns arrive I try to lay out my outfits, fabric drops, props, etc so that I am ready to go and make the session move along as smoothly as possible.  I had set out an old wooden bucket/planter that I bought a few months prior and tied a belly sash to it.  I have been wanting to use this for a few sessions but haven’t had a baby sleepy enough to do so!   Paisley has no idea how excited I was that I finally got to put it into use!

Here are a few more of my favorites from her session!  Check out those proud new parents!!!  I love seeing how my clients interact with their babies, esp the ones when it’s their first baby.  It’s just so precious and cute!!

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4 Important Men

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Picture 517

4 of The Most Important Men in My Life…

In honor of Father’s Day I thought I would dedicate a blog to some of the most important men in my life.   I may talk more about one than the other but all are important in different aspects of my life.

It takes a special man to accept and love someone else’s child unconditionally. That is what my Dad has done. While he may not be my birth father, he is and always will be my Daddy.   He has treated me as his own from the beginning of his relationship with my mom. He has taught me so many lessons about life. I know there is a right and wrong way to wash and dry a car, bet you didn’t’ know you could wash your car the wrong way did ya!? He taught me how to swim, he taught me to make sure regular car maintenance is done or it wont’ run, how to cook some stuff, take your time and go down each and every isle of the grocery store lol, be proud of where you came from, love and respect.   He is 99% of the time the first one I call when something is breaking.   Having him as a Daddy is wonderful, but my kids having him for a Poppy is amazing. The love he has for his grandbabies is adorable, especially Trey.   When we lived in Huntington Trey loved watching for water co backhoes to go down the road to see if they were his Poppy so we could stop and see him and dig some dirt together. “Poppy Dumper” as Trey would say anytime he saw any type of excavating equipment.   Alee loves her Poppy too but she hates facial hair, says it tickles, so lovins from her are rare.

 

Second would be my Grandfather, I truly could do a whole blog about my adoration for my Papaw. From birth until 2nd grade I lived right next door to him. I was going camping with he and my Mamaw from the time I was 18 months old.   My papaw was one of the hardest working men I know. He grew up having to work hard for everything he had. Papaw was only allowed to go to school until 8th grade and then had to go to work to support the family, but yet is one of the most intelligent men I know.   His knowledge of mechanics, machinery, construction, farming, and so much more is crazy.  My mother and I lived in an apartment over his de-tatched garage and in the summer I would yell out the window at him to come get me and in the winter time I would yell through the furnace vent when I would hear him down below. Papaw would save me two drinks of coffee in his thermos each day and bring it home from work. I stayed with my mamaw each day when my mom was at work. I can still hear the sound of his car backing down the driveway when he would come in from work. He put my first bicycle together, helped me learn to ride without training wheels, taught me to fish, to love the great outdoors, taught me to try and fix something that is broken, not to throw it away.   Scares and amazes me when he licks his fingers and touches a wire to see if it’s “hot.” I can still remember his smell of grease and the stains on his hands that never washed off from work.   One of the hardest things for me to accept and see is that he’s getting older and he is not as strong as he used to be, I am so overprotective of him.  He gets frustrated that he can’t do everything he used to. I wish so much that he could get some of his strength back.  He had a heart attack a few years ago and the fear of losing him was just indescribable. I was ready that night to put a for sale sign in my yard, pack up and move back home. He spoiled me with things money can’t buy, his time, love, & lessons about life.   Papaw is a wonderful Great Grandfather to my babies, especially Trey.  I think Trey is like the son he never really got to have.   He struggles with disappointment that he can’t take him out and teach him to fish and teach him how to fix things because of his health. Trey and Papaw can sit to together for hours in his chair.   They just love being together. Trey watches over him just like I do.  I am so glad they have each other.  Although it has always been hard for him to speak his love, he always showed it with tight hugs and saying “you’re a good’un kid”. I will never forget the first time he actually said “I Love You Too”

 

Important man #3 in my life, my Father in Law, Ron Greer.   I joke and tell him I am his “favorite daughter in law” lol, well, I’ll will always be the only daughter in law. He treats me like one of his own girls, is always there for us when we need him. I remember when I was in labor with Alee, he and my mother in law were sitting there waiting, I was having some pain and he told Reg “you need to do something, I can’t stand to see her hurting.” My son is his namesake, and he adores him to no end. He was so excited to hear we were having a boy. Trey was due in January and we always joked what would happen if it were snowing because, well, if you know my MIL at all you know she hates SNOW! He was going to come if he had to plow his way down. Crazy enough, it was 70 on the day Trey was born. Alee is the only granddaughter in that family and well, lets just say he is easier on her than the boys lol.   She doesn’t hug him either because of his mustache.   This past Tuesday he and my MIL made a 10-hour drive (5 down & 5 up) to come my Mamaw Johnson’s funeral. That gesture just showed his love more. Ron overcame obstacles in his life growing up that no child should have to. He has become a respected person in his town and is constantly giving back in so many ways from running the youth basketball league, the Santa at the community center, and helping residents with special needs gain some independence through the shelter workshop. He is an all around good man who wants to help out anyone when he can.

And I have learned that I think I have 0 photos of him lol

 

Important Man #4, I only saved him for last because I have dedicated a blog to my husband in the past.   He is such a great father, husband, son, brother, etc. He works so hard each week at work and at home making sure we have the best and don’t want for anything. He has a love of gadgets, anything Apple, & dreams of owning a Tesla someday. I can’t wait for him to open his father’s day gift. The kids and I made him a book of photos of them pictured at all of his favorite places and places that mean something to his history.   I couldn’t ask for a better man to have, not behind me or in front of me, but by my side in this crazy journey called life!

 

Please take the time today to tell the Dad’s & Papaw’s in your life how much you love them!

Ellie’s New Family…

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Miller 5 WM

“I Was Chosen, I Was Wanted, I Grew in Their Hearts, I was the Missing Piece, I was Loved, I AM ADOPTED”

This is New Miss Ellicyn Ruth Miller!!!

Today this sweet girl is officially part of the wonderful Miller family with whom she has been fostered with the last couple of years.  She has no idea how lucky she is to have been chosen by this family.

Tracy is one of the most caring Dad’s I have met!  He is truly smitten with each of his children.  Holli, well I could go on and on about her for days!  Not only is she one of my very great friends, she is an amazing Mother!!  I have no idea how she keeps it all together, track of everyone and manage to have the most stylishly decorated house and perfect hair and makeup each day.

Tracy and Holli give themselves selfishly to not only their own children, but to children in need of a safe, warm, loving home.   They also are fostering another child too!   Miss Ellie’s new life is going to be magical and she is going to have opportunities, because of the Millers, that she wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Ellie has a Dad & Mom now, a big sister to teach her all the girly things, and 3 Big Brothers to protect her!!  Plus lots of puppy dogs at home too!   Her life will be grand and I pray that someday she realizes what The Miller’s have given her.

 

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Reflecting on 101 years of Life

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Mamaw Johnson 2-22-16Yes, I hear you, “Amanda you said you would start blogging more often and to hold you accountable,”   Well everything has mostly went up in the air into chaos the last 3 weeks!  It was the last week of school so I had PTO responsibilities to tend to, and my kids end of the year activities to attend, took the kids to Pittsburgh and back to watch the Bucco’s play, went back home to visit with my great grandmother who turned 101 on June 5th, and then a week in Columbus with the kids for summer camps!  It will get better and more frequent, please just bear with me!  Sign up to follow my blog please.  It will help increase the traffic to my page.

One week and 5 days ago, my great grandmother Ella Mae Johnson celebrated her 101st birthday.   101!!!!  Holy Crap!!!!  Who lives that long!?!?  She does!!   Her quality of life the last 5 – 6 years has not been anything she would have wanted.  That was hard to see.  She would not have wanted to have lived with in home care like she had, she would not have wanted to have been bed or chair ridden, she would not have wanted to lose her memory.   But she did, she lost her ability to walk on her own, her ability to take herself to the restroom, make her own meals, and know who we were when we were there.

One week to the day after her 101st birthday she took her last breath and went to heaven to be with her late husband and late daughter on what would have been their birthdays!  how crazy was that!  She dies on her husband and daughter’s birthdays.  I can only imagine the celebration they had in heaven Sunday.  I now think that’s why she passed away early that morning so she could get there and get their cakes made and dinner ready for them.

I knew this was coming, have thought it was coming so many times in the 10 years, but I knew for sure when I saw her on her birthday, that would be the last time I would see her alive.  I kissed her head, told her I loved her, and that it was okay to go when she was ready.

We buried mamaw on Tuesday.  I had cried but not REALLY Cried, I had been too busy keeping myself busy.  So Monday night before the service I wanted to edit a poem for her about a Grandmothers hands, well when I started that it turned into a letter to mamaw of some of my favorite memories, and turned into 3 hours of heavy, lose your breath sobbing.

I will share some of those memories with you today and then there will be a 2nd part to the story on a day that I spent with her for a college project.

I hope this takes you to a place in time with a good memory of your grandparents as you read…

 

“Mamaw this story at the end of this letter made me think of you, I changed it a bit to fit you better, but first I would like to share some memories with you.

The story is about a grandmothers hands. I remember looking at your hands, and you commenting how ugly you thought they were because of your wrinkles and liver spots. I always thought they were beautiful because you were a hardworking woman and those hands told your own story, kind of like the one at the end of this.   

I am so blessed to have lived between both of my grandparents growing up. I could go down my steps, turn left or right, and end up in the loving home of my grandparents or great grandparents who spoiled me rotten every single day!!!  

 I will always remember playing under the quilting rack in the basement while you stitched away. I will always remember in the mornings playing the Bozo Grand Prize game with your butter bowls in the living room and you would just laugh at that ridiculous show, then in the afternoons watching game shows with you. You cooked cakes for me in any color combination I wanted, even one Halloween making a pumpkin one, having a sleepover with you and camping out in the living room floor, working in the garden and eating raw rhubarb as you picked it, and swinging the days away in your glider and swing.

 Your adorable dresses that you always wore because you were such a lady. I remember how shocked I was when I saw you in pants for the first time, yes they were under your dress to protect you from the snakes but you never wore them so I thought it was so silly you would wear them under your dress. Summers were spent stringing beans and canning kraut and tomatoes in the basement kitchen to fill your cellar. While I may never get up the nerve to use a pressure canner like yours because I just knew one day it was gonna blow to the ceiling when it started to whistle, I will always have those memories. You made the best tomato and blackberry dumplins ever!! I have your recipes for those and your pie crust, maybe someday I will be able to make them close to as good as you did.

You would be amazed at the Lily’s and Hosta’s at my house. They are huge!  I told Reg that I wanted to get a Peonies Bush because you always had one and it had the biggest prettiest flowers on it.

 I will never forget the Christmas card you wrote me right after my divorce when you were begging me to move back home. You doubted my strength and were disappointed in me. I sat in the car at the post office and cried while reading it. I hope that I have proved you wrong and made you proud. My marriage is strong mamaw, and I am so happy now.

 You loved my son Trey so much! You called him “mamaws boy”. You always knew who he was, even when you didn’t know me or thought I was my mother, you would know Trey. I remember the first time last fall that you didn’t know who he was, you were hugging him and looked over and said, “who is this sweet little boy”.   He has great memories of you and was always so sweet with you.  

 I wish you‘d been of sound mind to have really gotten to know my daughter Alee Belle, named after your twin sister and your daughter. Geez, mamaw she is a free spirited child! Nothing like me at her age. But I love her for it and I know you would have too.   You always thought she was me when we were at your house. I wish she would’ve known the mamaw Johnson that I knew growing up. She would’ve loved those days in the kitchen with you like I had. She loves to cook and be outside in flowers just like you. I really need you to teach me how braid or “plat” as you called it, her hair. Mamaw she has the craziest curly hair, & you used to always ask where she got the curls from.

 Okay Mamaw, here is the story that started this silly rambling letter. Please just know that I will cherish my memories with you for as long as I live. I am so glad I got to say Good bye to you last week on your birthday, I knew, deep down that it would have been the last time. I love you mamaw and I know you are flying high as our angel.

 “Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the porch swing. She didn’t move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn’t acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.

Not wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and Looked at me and smiled. ‘Yes, I’m fine, thank you for asking,’  She Said in a clear voice strong.

‘I didn’t mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here Staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,’ I Explained to her.

 ‘Have you ever looked at your hands,’ she asked.   ‘I mean really looked at your hands?’

 I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them

Over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

 Grandma smiled and related this story:

 ‘Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

 ‘They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the Floor.

They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back.

As a child, my Mother had taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.

 They wiped my tears and trembled when I buried my child and husband.

‘They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were

Uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn great great grandchild.

 Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.

 They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well; these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

 ‘These hands are the mark of where I’ve been and the ruggedness of life.

 But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to his side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.”

If you hold your cursor over these photos there is a tidbit about them.

This was on her birthday in 1982
She made my 1st birthday cake as well as many others.
One of her many cakes
Even though there was always “work” to be done around the home, she always made time for me no matter what.
With her 1st Great Great Grandson
I love how it looks like Trey is talking to her in this.
Our 1st 5 Generation picture.
She loved to get in the floor and play with her grand babies.
“Mamaw’s Boy”
Trey teaching mamaw to play his guitar.
He loved her so…as did she
This was in Feb or so of this year
Mamaw meeting her one and only Great Great Granddaughter
This bonnet that Alee is wearing was Mamaw Johnson’s when she was a newborn!! She said she was saving it to give to her 1st Great Great Granddaughter.
5 Generations of Women.
Sharing a snack
Alee with her mamaw.
Imagine the things she has seen change and evolve since 1915
She loved watching out her front window because she loved to know what everyone was always doing.

 

 You see, I was spoiled as a child growing up in-between my grandparents and great grandparents but not with materialistic things, but with love, friendship and play!  They always made time for me through out the busy days of housework and farming.  Those are memories  that can never ever be taken away from me.  

 

AGP Seniors 2016

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On May 26, 2000 I graduated High School!!  I don’t know how it could be that I have been out of HS for 16 years!!! Although some days I do feel 34 or older for that matter lol, it just doesn’t seem like I should be in my mid thirties!

In honor of Graduation week I thought I would feature my 2 AGP 2016 Seniors.   I love to shoot seniors but don’t promote it as much as I probably should because I tend to stay busy with Newborn & Family Photography.

My 1st Senior, Ms Bethany, is a New Graduate of Cross Lanes Christian School.   Her mom reached out to me via Facebook and booked Bethanys “Travel WV Senior Session.”   Bethany wanted to have her photos done at Hawks Nest State Parkin the fall!  I love that area so I jumped at the chance to travel and meet her!   If you have never been, the New River Gorge area is just so breath taking and to me what West Virginia looks like when I picture it in my mind.   I asked my Shutter Sister Tabitha to come along and assist because she used to he a Zip Line guide in the Gorge and knew she would take us to all of the best hidden places to get some of the best shots!  Bethany was a star softball player on her schools team and since they were getting new uniforms this year we did a quick mini session in the spring to capture those memories too!

My 2nd Senior was Nate!  I have known Nate and his family for almost 7 years.  When we moved to the area we purchased his childhood home which was situated next to his grandparents home.  My children grew close to them, thinking of them as 2nd grandparents.   It was hard to believe when his mom contacted me about his session that he was old enough to be graduating.   Nate’s session was broken up into 2 separate dates as well so we could shoot in multiple locations to keep his photos from looking similar to other classmates.  We started at his Elementary School and then a week later went and shot at the State Capitol, Downtown Charleston and the Wine Cellar Park.  I was pleased with how they all turned out and he designed a great announcement with the photos.

I am so happy for Bethany and Nate and I know they will do wonderful things in life!  It was a pleasure to capture these memories for them!

If you know a High School Senior looking for a photographer please send them my way!  I love referrals!

 

Rain, Snow, & A New Baby Girl

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As I sat trying to choose which session and or client to feature on my blog next it began to rain AGAIN, for what seems like the 100th time this month, outside and it made me think back to one of my favorite sessions from fall.  Miss Henley’s 3rd Birthday photos!

We had this sweet girls birthday session scheduled for a Sunday evening and it rained ALL the live long day :/   Stephanie, Henley’s momma loves contemporary city like scenes for her session so were going to shoot around town.  They were still up to it so we made it work under some awnings of local business’s along Court Street.  She had this cute umbrella in shades of pink and paired with Henley’s cute rain coat and hot pink boots it made the most adorable photos!

Stephanie contacted me in December to give me a heads up that she wanted maternity photos within the next month either in the snow or a pretty green grass area so I could plan according to the weather.  Well in WV in the winter you will not find green grass but occasionally we will get a good snow!  We were getting close to her due date and things were just not working out weather wise then it happened!  Storm Jonas week!!  Hello SNOW!!!  Jonas wasn’t coming until Friday but we anxiously watched the weather and on Wednesday we were projected to get a decent dusting so we went for it!  It snowed all day  and just the right amount of flakes fell that afternoon during our shoot to make this Gorgeous Momma’s session all that she wanted!   It was so cold but so much fun!!!    Ethan was able to get us access to a local business’s rooftop for some shots too!  lol Never did I think I would on top of a roof, in January, in the snow, with a pregnant lady!  I love shooting in the snow and hope to do more this coming winter!

Then along came Sweet Baby Girl Delta Dean!!!   Such a sweet beautiful baby girl!  We ended up breaking her newborn session int0 2 different sessions because she just wanted to cuddle and nurse with her momma mostly during the first session.  I let my babies dictate their sessions, we take breaks and go with the flow of the baby.

I love capturing moments & memories of these girls!!  They are such sweethearts!!

 

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Strawberry Pie Week…its a Tradition

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I know it has been what seems like forever since my last blog post and I am sorry and putting it out here for you that I will do better and get a blog schedule going.  But in a great news I haven’t blogged because I have been so busy with sessions!!!  Sessions that were referred to me by clients and friends.

There was a few things though that I did make time for in the last few weeks in between shooting and editing.  Those were Family, Friends and Strawberry Pie!!!

If you are from the Huntington, WV area all I have to say is “Strawberry Pie Week” and you know exactly what I am speaking of!

Every single year, the week after Mothers Day, is Strawberry Pie Week at Jim’s Steak & Spaghetti!!  Jim’s has been in the same location on 5th Ave since 1938.  The atmosphere at Jim’s is truly unlike any other restaurant I have been to.  The waitress’s wear white uniform dress’s with hose and white shoes.   You sit in pea green booths surrounded by photos and memorabilia of celebrities who have visited the diner, such as John F Kennedy, Muhammad Ali, and many other politicians and sports figures.  Or you can also take a seat at the counter and watch the hustle and bustle of the grill.

While they are of course known for their spaghetti, I personally love their cheeseburgers which come on toast and the crinkle cut fries!   I am not a cole slaw person at all but when you go to Jim’s you must order a scoop of it!!  It is the best!!!

Strawberry Pie Week is a race that I would compare to the best black friday sale!!  To get seated in the first round that week you need to be in line really by 10:30/40 ish otherwise you will find your self in the line that wraps through the restaurant and down the sidewalk.  Jim’s is open from 11-9 Tuesday – Saturday.

This year I was lucky enough to drive down for 2 Pie Days!!!

My 1st trip I came down for a Dr’s appointment, which I left and rescheduled because couldn’t wait!!   lol I needed to get in line for my pie, I picked up my cousin Mary Beth and went to lunch with her.   I dropped her off in front of the restaurant while I went to park at 10:50 and were #’s 46 & 47 in line!!  This was a much needed lunch for us, not only for the pie but to catch up on the happenings of our families.   Laughter and tears were both shared about the old times and missing the way some things used to be!!  Distance may get in between us but we are always both just a phone call away.   Family by blood, Friends By Choice!!

My 2nd trip down was to have lunch with my best friend Christina and her sweet little girl Olivia!!   Christina has been to Jim’s before but never for Strawberry Pie Week and it was Olivia’s first time for both!    We visited and caught up on everything going on with life and it was so nice slowing down for a bit to chat in person rather than our weekly texts.

I can say the Strawberry Pie is truly nothing special, but it really is.  Not only is is fresh strawberries tossed in powdered sugar, placed in a homemade pie crust and then topped with homemade whipped topping; this pie brings people together!!!  That week is like reunion week, not just for me, but for so many that make dates to go enjoy pie that week with family and friends.

fyi; I attempted to take my actual camera in to do photos because I knew I wanted to blog about this but it was so busy and crowded that I ended up using my phone.

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One of AGP’s First Clients, Mr Brody…

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Let me introduce you to one of my Very First Clients!  Mr Brody!!!

Brody Newborn 28 WM

So much has changed since that photo of the tiny little boy in his Daddy’s fire suit pocket!  He has grown & I have grown my skills along with him.  I still can’t believe he fit in there! That is still one of my top 10 favorite pictures I have taken!

I have known Brody’s awesome momma Cassie for almost 7 years.  When we relocated here, we knew no one but our realtor, neighbor & my husbands nurse Monica @ his office.  I can’t remember how it all played out exactly but one day we needed a sitter and Monica suggested Cassie.   I do not know what we would’ve done so many times without Monica, Cassie & Lyndsay (Cass’s Sis who also sits for us).   They have babysat our kids, house sat,  and even cat sat.  All 3 of them are such blessings to us!  My kids loved Cassie coming over because she played whatever they wanted the whole time and she always styled Alee’s crazy hair so cute!   My kids were even in her wedding.  Well sort of, Trey was in it as the “Ring Security” and Alee was supposed to be a flower girl but literally fell on her face in the parking lot 2 hours before the ceremony and didn’t make it down the isle.  But that is a memory to maybe blog another day!  Cassie’s husband Matt has taken time out of his day to show my son around the Fire Station at the AirGuard Base & came to his school to present Fire Safety last fall.  They are a blessing and the family we needed here at just the right time!

I have photographed Brody for 14 months!  I still can’t believe that baby is 14 months! When I found out Cassie was pregnant I knew that she would be such a wonderful mommy because she was so amazing with my babies.  I never had to worry when she was with them. Facebook photoCassie and I have had so much fun this past year with Brody’s photo sessions!  We have dressed him up in so many crazy ways that I am sure will provide lots of laughs and memories when he gets older!

I feel honored to have captured Brody’s First Year of Life!  He is such a sweetheart!!  Thank you Matt & Cassie for letting me capture all of these memories of your sweet boy!  You all are amazing parents and friends!

Tatum Olivia is 6 Months!!!

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As a photographer each session is special and unique to me so I have been struggling on which to blog about first.  I knew I needed to incorporate sessions into my blog soon but which one to start with and then it just hit me… “I need to blog on Wednesday,  I just shot Tatum’s 6 Month Session Saturday, She is 6 Months ON Wednesday”

So I introduce you to my sweet client Tatum!  And her family!

One day last August I received a Facebook message from Stefani stating she had been referred to me from a friend of hers and she wanted to book me for the birth of her little girl in October!  I was so excited, both because I LOVE when I get new clients from client referrals, and I love shooting Births and Fresh 48 Sessions!!!    We scheduled a consult to go over details and most important, meet in person!  I felt like I had known them forever, Stefani knew exactly what she wanted that day from their time with me.  As a mother of 2, I totally got it and knew that I could capture Tatum’s first minutes & hours of life for her so she could cherish them always.

We knew Stefani was going in for a scheduled C-Section and more than likely I would not be allowed in the Operating room but we tried up until the min they wheeled her away to convince someone to let me in!  It didn’t work, but she did have a sweet nurse who let me wait right by the elevator so I could start clicking away when Todd would bring his new daughter back to the nursery to get prepared to meet her new family.

While they took Stefani down to get prepped the nurse showed Todd and I to what would be her hospital room to put their things away and she would come get us when they were ready.  We waited for what seemed like days!!!   Poor Todd, this was his first child so he was  of course a little anxious, after about 45 minutes of awkward silence/small talk (I had only chatted with him 5 min or so before the big day; ladies you know you are in charge of all this lol so I had only really dealt with Stefani)  he says so serious “You don’t think they started without me, do you?”  Just a few minutes later it was game time!  And then just a short time later here he comes off the elevator with the biggest proudest smile on his face pushing his sweet baby girl!  Tatum 54

While Stefani was in recovery I captured the first bottle, bath, weighing, foot prints, etc so she could see her new daughters first moments!   The family that was excitedly awaiting the arrival from the waiting room was allowed back a short time after and that was when some of my favorite moments of the day really began!  Jake meeting his new baby sister!!!

You see, I have a son and a daughter just like Stefani.  My son is 4 years and 2 Months older than my daughter.  When we had our ultrasound to determine her sex he pouted in a a corner that he wanted a brother not a sister and the told the tech she needed to look again.  lol that’s all history!  My son LOVES his sister more than anything!  They have such a precious relationship and I am so glad they have each other.

Jake was the PROUDEST and Happiest little boy ever when he got to see his sister!!  I always try hold all of my emotions during shoots but sometimes moments tug at my heart strings,  & I did shed a couple tears because I knew in that moment Jake was going to be so good to Tatum just like my Trey is to Alee.

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That is Jake & Tatum’s Pa giving his thumbs up to Todd after seeing his new granddaughter, but seriously look at that Smile and Sparkle on Big Brother Jake’s face!!!!  Preciousness!!!

Not only did I get to capture all of these memories for Stefani and Todd, but I have captured these sweet kids at Tatum’s Newborn, Easter, & 6 Month Sessions.  Here are some of my favorite shots from that day and Tatum’s 1st 6 Months of life!

Happy 6 Months Tatum!!

Stefani & Todd, thank you for letting me capture these precious moments for your family!

You can view all of the photos from Tatum’s Sessions on my website under Feature Photos.

Contact me to schedule your session!   Sign up to Follow my Blog and stay up to date on all of the happenings at Amanda Greer Photography!

Have a Great Day!

 

 

Life Advice…Date Your Spouse

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Greer111

So this blog is 95% not photography related and No, we weren’t at the beach this weekend but we had a wonderful weekend and I feel the need to blog about it. And give some unsolicited advice.

Like many married couples with busy schedules and with children with busy schedules you put your relationship on the back burner to get everything else done with your career’s and with your children. My husband has a very demanding profession and his job requires long hours both at the office and away from the office. He is working 90% of his waking hours no matter where he is, because he is dedicated and well, when you are the only physician in a small town practice you have to. His dedication to his patients and his profession amaze me! I am a “Mom-preneuer” my job is to chase my dreams into full time photography while keeping the kids and pets alive, the house clean, cook dinner, do laundry, run errands, and give as much time as I can to my children’s school. Many nights he is so exhausted that he goes to bed when the kids go to bed, I end up staying up to edit photos, return messages to clients and make sure backpacks are ready for the dash out the door to school the next morning. You get the idea… everything else tends to come before our marriage.

I was out with my sister in laws and daughter Black Friday Shopping in November and I was telling them how I just would love to have a night away with him. I missed him, yes I see him everyday but I just missed him, I missed us. Asking Reg, yes he likes time with me but he also misses our kids too, and I totally get that, however I am with them all of the time they are not in school and he isn’t. So he likes to go places as a family when given the chance. And that’s okay, we make wonderful family memories that we will all cherish forever. My sister in laws got us a couple nights at our favorite hotel and passes to COSI for Christmas so we could either turn into a night away with the kids or just us and take the kids a separate time.

Fast forward a month or so after the gift, my husband decides to sign up for a local CME conference 35 min from our home so he can still go, get his CME hours but commute each day and be home with us in the evenings. I get the idea to ask my Sister In Law to come down and watch the kids the last day of the conference and I will get a hotel room, and go surprise him for the evening. Take him to dinner, walk around downtown, just be together.

So this past weekend was it. My fear was he would leave early since it was a Saturday and I would pass him heading North on the highway while I was Southbound, so through the week I kept saying “well the kids and I will come meet you when you are done and we can all go do something after. That worked. Saturday morning came and I had booked myself full of photo sessions for the morning so in between shooting some precious babies, I was packing and making sure everything was ready to go. Finished my sessions and my sister & brother in law arrived about 15 min later. The kids were so surprised. They had no idea anything was going on either because you know they are kids, and kids tell almost everything they know.

To say my kids love their aunt and uncle is an understatement, the sun rises and sets with them in my kids eyes. My Sister in Law never hesitates to get down in the floor and roll around with them, let Alee paint her nails crazy colors, create fake food out of play dough for hours, etc. She is just the best and loves her niece and nephew unconditionally. My Brother in Law will talk with, well really just listen, if you have ever talked with Trey you know it’s hard to get a word in sometimes, about anything and everything Star Wars. The majority of their time this weekend was spent playing, watching or talking about Star Wars. Trey just thinks his Uncle Chris is the coolest. We couldn’t be more blessed to have them as our kids aunt and uncle!

I edited a few quick sneak peeks for my clients, ate 1/2 a salad super fast and then attempted the fun job of packing my husband for overnight. Remember, he doesn’t know. Those of you that really know him, know he is a particular guy. We played the game of “what of Reg’s am I forgetting?” before I left.

The weather the past few days has just been gorgeous! Sunny and Hot, not normal April weather, so the drive to Charleston was beautiful. I pulled into the hotel to check in and Reg had texted me about 5 min prior to see what we were all doing so I responded asking him if he was on a break and he was so I asked him to meet me in the lobby and told him what all was going on. He seemed happy. He went back to the meeting and I checked in, took my stuff upstairs, parked my car, then went and found his and moved it to the right lot.

After his conference was over we walked across the street to the mall and ate at one of the seafood restaurants there. It was just so nice to sit and have a drink and chat about things going on and not have to worry about making sure the kids were happy and content. The food was okay, not sure what type of review I would give that place. Then we walked around the mall and bought some goodies for the kids and back down the street to the hotel. Asleep by 9:15 and not having to worry about waking up at 6am! A dream! Although, as any mom can tell you, it’s hard to sleep at night because you are always waiting for a kid to wake up needing you.

Sunday morning we packed up and went to a little breakfast place, First Watch, a few streets over from the hotel. We got there at just the right time because as we left the line was out the door. The coffee was great and breakfast was delicious! We will most definitely go back. After that we went to the “Gucci Kroger” on Cor G to grab some groceries that our location does not carry and then home.

While I was sad to see our 20 hours together come to and end, I was really happy to see my kids and hear about their day. They had a wonderful time, both shed a few tears at bedtime last night because they missed their aunt and uncle. My sister in law and I decided that we are going to start doing this every other month. It is just good for all of us.

Reg is not only my husband but is truly my best friend! He has seen me at my worst, at my best, never hesitates to tell me his opinion when he knows I am in the wrong or the right, he works his ass off for us, and he encourages and enables me to follow my dreams! He is never in front of me, he is always right by my side! We needed this past weekend to slow down and reconnect, thank you Larae and Chris for keeping our kiddos so we could have that time.

PSA; Date Your Spouse!!!

 

Photo Credit to Tabi Donohew from our Beach Vaca a couple years ago. Greer113

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