Precious Beginnings

Hollie, here's a sneak peek into our session from this evening. Makyla is an absolute angel, I loved photographing. What a doll - I just want to cuddle and snuggle her.

Here's your sweet baby girl.

BBQ, Friends, Sun & Fun - and a very active & excited group of kids

Had to post these pictures of Miss Madeleine...she looked so cute at the BBQ and so bright eyed. I couldn't resist snapping some pictures of her.

Thank you for hosting a great BBQ play date Jen & Jim! Sorry I was tired before I even arrived. This trip has been a whirlwind and I'm so happy we were able to get together. Next time I'll be sure I'm not so tired - same with my kids...ha! I did love seeing you all again!! I felt like I never left. Thanks so much for being such wonderful friends! I can't believe I have to leave soon...uggg. But more trips will be planned with more fun to be had...

Pssst....Megan, look over here...

A little tid bit from our session last night! Lots more to go through but here's a few so far. Your children are absolutely adorable! Just look, they make me melt.
Anyway, I'm exhausted and need get some sleep but I wanted to be sure to give you a little sneak peek.

Pine Lake Park With Missed Friends!

So good to see my Silent Creek Ladies again!! Thank you for making the drive out to Pine Lake Park today - what a treat! I am still in awe over how much the kids have grown... Tyler and Brielle felt right at home again with their buddies. And it was great to catch-up with the mom's (well as much as we could while chasing kids around the park - ha!).
Miss you all tons! Look forward to seeing you again before I leave.
Below are a couple pics I quickly snapped today - boy the kids are getting fast, too quick for me to run around with a camera around my neck.
Miss you all tons!!

Urban Attitude

I spy the Ballard Locks…
After going to lunch on Lake Union, we ventured out to the Locks with my parents (today is their 41st wedding anniversary! Thanks for spending the day with us mom & dad!). In all the years I lived in Seattle, I’ve never been to the Ballard Locks. I’ve driven over the bridge many times near them and seen them from a distance, but I’ve never been up this close. It’s a little treasure that Tyler couldn’t get enough of. While Tyler and my dad ran ahead, we followed behind a bit slower… Brielle was so funny, social, sassy, silly, and wanting nothing to do with my camera. I did however sneak a few of her today. Below, the true sassy side of Brielle…I can’t help but laugh (at least right now, when she’s a teenager I will probably be pulling my hair out – ha!) And of course I had to take a picture of this colorful tugboat going through the locks!

Behind the lens again in Seattle!

I'm thrilled to be getting behind the camera again with great clients. While I was planning on easing back into photography, I'm happy to say that I am booked while here in Seattle with 9+ clients that I'll be photographing. As such, I am officially going to be a bi-coastal photographer...photographing clients in the Seattle area as well as in cities through-out the coastal areas of South Carolina. I appreciate those who have reached out requesting sessions while I am here. I plan on coming out at least 2 times a year to photograph clients in the Seattle area - with an extended period in the summers. Stay tuned for my brand new website, currently in production.

Below is a picture of sweet Mikayla, my niece! We didn't have a 'photo session' but rather just a visit with auntie running around chasing her niece and nephew with her lens. It was a treat for Tyler and Brielle to play with their cousins today.

Raykovich Wedding Peek Part II

I've gone through so many images from this beautiful day. Wow, makes me seriously consider photographing weddings. In time maybe... ;-) But for now I'm enjoying looking through these images laughing, remembering and reliving your wedding Reid & Nick.

Keep checking... more sneak peeks to come.

Missed Friendships

The kids and I needed this today... we had a play date with some of Tyler's friends from when he was a newborn. Michelle, you're amazing for planning and hosting the 10 moms and 18 kids. Tyler was energized and anxious to see his much missed play mates! The kids started right where they left off, it was so wonderful to see their enthusiasm and excitement. Below, are two of Tyler's friends and former class mates. He's known Dominick - cutie with the 'shark' styled red hair and Makenzi, gorgeous blondie below, since they were 3 months old! I love all of these young friendships.
Makenzi, you are an absolute doll. I loved the way you greeted Tyler, Brielle and I today with a big'ole bear hug!
Dominick, I love your spirit! And as Tyler said about you on the way home, 'Dominick looks all grown up'... We miss you all tons! Thanks so much for planning such a great play date!

Oh and I had to slip a piture of little B playing with the rocks on the gravel path at Michelle's.

Colors of Summer

Woo hoo! I'm in Seattle having play dates with old friends again! Of course I'm in awe over how much my friends children have grown since I last saw them 6 months ago. Makes me sad, but I'm thrilled to be spending this time together. Daniel looked so cozy wrapped in his towel after he, Tyler & Brielle got out of the pool, I couldn't resist taking his picture. What a cutie! Thanks for letting me snap away! We can't wait to play with you again!

Raykovich Wedding - sneak peek!

Reid & Nick, I know you're going on your honeymoon soon so I wanted to make sure you got a sneak peek of what's to come in your wedding proofs!

But first, I wanted to thank you both for asking and trusting me to capture this amazing moment in both of your lives. I was honored to be a part of your wedding day. Reid, you are a stunning bride! (don't scowl at the computer, I'm serious...). You honestly were radiant & completely composed. I love you!

Looking beautiful getting hair & make-up done.

Before the ceremony.


Groom waiting for his bride...


Husband & Wife...

Mrs. Reid Raykovich

Table settings & center pieces

And I couldn't resist including this picture that I quickly snapped of little JujuPuju! I just want to snuggle her she's so cute!
More to come soon! Have a great honeymoon! I can't wait to talk to you when you get back home! I love you both!!

Procrastination

Okay, I know I should be packing… but I couldn’t resist in getting out my camera and taking some pictures of Brielle while her brother was at camp. She picked out the boots and skirt and I added the jacket. It’s a very humid and hot day with showers and thunderstorms… but the air in the house is cranked up and that coupled with the foggy haze made it feel like Brielle should be dressed like this. Once we stepped outside however, I immediately began to feel the moisture with the 88% humidity. Brielle was just enjoying being on the porch and wasn’t bothered by being dressed so heavy. When we got inside, I tried to take off her outfit but she insisted on keeping it on – boots and all! She's approaching those terrible two's...
Anyway, here are a couple of shots from the morning. Now, I must pack!!

Lightning Struck Old Pine

The air is warm and moist today with 89% humidity and the temperature hovering around 80 degrees. The cloud cover from an approaching storm is easing some of the heat away leaving the air foggy and thick. About 2 hours ago I took a picture of the old pine in our backyard. The sun diffused by the clouds and moisture made everything outside brilliantly colored yet mystical and eerie. The Pine has been hit by lightening and portions of the tree remain brown. I love this tree - thankfully it's survived through several harsh summer storms and has been hit by lightning more than once. Hopefully the old pine keeps hanging on...

Vintage Effects

My Seattle trip is rapidly approaching, I'm so not organized and we leave Wednesday morning! I have been focused on packing, trying to get organized, and of course doing photography any free moment in between (which hasn't been near enough time). I've been playing with textures trying to achieve a vintage, scratched, old photograph look and a vintage, canvas textured look for the second one. So fun!

Brielle picture, pre-conversion...

Siblings

What a beautiful night! The sun was setting and the air was warm, dry and comfortable, not a typical Southern summer night. The kids were barefoot playing in the backyard and hardly dressed...a common theme these days. They were being very affectionate so I had to capture some of their sweetness as I never know when it will turn sour ;-) Luckily they were loving most of the night so it gave a few opportunities to capture these moments. I used my long lens so I could be sitting far in the distance while they played in the distance.

Tyler was showing off his cool new spider-man tattoo! I focused on his tattoo making his face out of focus for a bit of artsy look.

Brielle was fascinated by the bright pink bell shaped petals that were falling off the Crepe Mrytle in our front yard. She kept touching the flower so petals would fall. Then she would bend down and analyze each one. She ran across a beetle while she was looking at the fallen petals. She instantly grew attached and kept saying 'oh, spidey', 'oh, spidey'. After I convinced her it was the beetles bedtime and that we needed to say good-night to him, we headed in the house for bath time and book reading.

Jumping Game

Just before dinner the kids and I went on a nature walk behind our house. It was an overcast day and nearing dusk - welcomed change from the bright sun. Tyler found a branch that had fallen off a tree in our backyard at the start of our walk. He told me to take more pictures of Brielle - he was nicely saying, 'I'm not in the mood for your camera right now'. Tyler was so sweet with Brielle today... he helped her put on her cherry boots (which she loves) and he ran to grab his bug boots and then they were off and running looking for fire ant hills - ugg...

Brielle is so into jumping right now. She does everything jumping... gets out of the bath runs & jumps, gets out of her crib in the morning and shows me her jumps, brushes her teeth, then shows me her oh so high jumps - or so she thinks... Actually, she is getting higher off the ground the more she practices. Practice makes perfect!