Last year, my sister & I collaborated & did a cute Valentine’s session with Owen & Ellie filled with bright colors & balloons. So, when this year’s holiday was approaching, we discussed another session. At first, I wanted more of a cozy outdoor setting but my sister suggest Kaiser’s American Bistro in Midtown and I’m SO glad she did! We decided to run with the theme of soda shop. What kid can resist a root beer float or sundae?! (As a big kid, I can’t either) The kids did great and the employees were incredibly welcoming…a sweet worker even snagged some shots! Overall, we had a fun time and the kids did great. Although, I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty about sending them off with my sister after pumping them full of sugar! Then again, that’s the beauty of being an aunt! HA;)

Anyway, here are some of my favorites from the session!

Hope you all enjoy. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Introducing…baby Thea (aka “Teddy ” – as her loved ones so affectionately call her) and her older sister, Story! It is clear that Story has immediately taken to her roll as big sis. The two did so well at the session, I didn’t want to stop taking pictures! I consider this a success as newborns are often difficult to photograph. It’s so much nicer when they sleep the duration of the shoot!:)

Thanks to mom, Kristen & Dad, Brian for asking me to photograph their gorgeous girls!

I love a new year, don’t you? There’s something so refreshing about “starting over.” I’m so thankful I get to experience a new season!

As the new year approached, I decided it was time to sit & down and re-evaluate my business. Am I where I want to be? What do I want to do differently in 2013? How do I achieve the goals I set for the new year ahead? First & foremost, I decided it’s time to re-brand. I need a facelift, especially with my website. My number one personal goal of this year is to SIMPLIFY. I decided to orchestrate this into my business as well. So, this year I’m keeping it clean & simple. After much debate and with the help of some of my great supporters, I was finally able to nail down my new logo. I wanted to incorporate the wheat still but modernize & clean it up. I hope you all enjoy!

Aside from a new look, I am announcing that I WILL NOW BE ACCEPTING SMALL VENUE WEDDINGS! What exactly does “small venue” weddings mean? This means I will be booking weddings that are smaller, more intimate and not necessarily set inside a building with four walls. Over the last few years, I’ve photographed several types of weddings, some mine & some alongside other photographers. When I first began this journey I felt incredibly defeated by the wedding photo industry. I did not feel this was my niche nor the direction I wanted to go in. However, as the years have come & gone, I feel much more confident in my work and my equipment. I told myself if I were to pursue wedding photography I would only take what I felt most confident doing. For one, I’m not a huge church wedding girl as it is. I dream of an outdoor wedding, unique to my style, with endless room to create. I have found I enjoy these types of weddings more and am able to offer my best quality product for the brides & grooms out there who go in this direction as well. Not saying I’m against photographing in a church AT ALL! I will still take a small church wedding, this just primarily means the weddings I will be accepting will be small in nature (100-150 guests) and more intimate in setting.

Thirdly, I’ve created a facebook page. HELLO, it’s 2013, and YES I’m just now doing this. I KNOW! I have a hard time maneuvering my personal facebook so I’ve avoided it for a long time now. Well, no more avoiding! I’m going all in this year! I will be featuring all of my blog posts, updates, discounts, etc. on the page. I hope you will take a moment, check it out & perhaps even ‘like’ it!

As of right now, these are the updates. I have several new endeavors up my sleeve for the year and look forward to sharing them with you all as they unfold. I have made it a personal goal to blog SO MUCH MORE and share bits of my personal life, plus inspirations as they come. I cannot say thank you enough to all of my family, friends and everyone else who has supported my business thus far! You continue to inspire me. I’m moving forward with full speed this year and I’m excited to see it all play out.

Without you all, this would not be possible…so THANK YOU!

Stay tuned!

-Abby