El Dorado, AR Engagement Session: Chris+Bethany

I’ve know known Bethany a long time. We met when we were involved in the same church. But I hadn’t seen her in a while because of life. We all know how that goes. But thanks to the power of social media, I kind of got to keep up with her family. But recently I saw her again at another wedding I was shooting and found out she was going to be needing a wedding photographer also. So of course, I had to ask! Not long after she messaged me about my wedding packages and yada yada yada (inside joke for you Seinfeld fans) I get the pleasure of shooting her wedding. I met Chris for the first time at their contract meeting. Super nice guy and a perfect match for Bethany! And their little boy, Ezekiel, is absolutely the cutest!

Chris and Bethany, I had so much fun shooting you guys and I can’t wait until your wedding day!

Til Next Time

Do Well and Do Good

J

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Hayes Maternity

Miracle. That’s the word that comes to mind with this blog post. Why? Because that’s exactly what baby Holden Silas is. He’s a miracle. Let me start a little farther back. Tracie and T.J. have been married around 14 years. Tracie is my best friend. A few years ago, I did a shoot with her and I called it “Twelve Years a Bride”. At the time she and T.J. didn’t have any children. It wasn’t because they didn’t want any. They have wanted children for 11 years. But there have been none. They, like many other couples in this world, have struggled with infertility. They have tried fertility drugs, IVF, and a couple of other options to help, but nothing ever did. It has been a long and heart breaking journey.
But there’s something that makes this post so much more special than anything I’ve ever posted. Earlier this year she and I were talking and she was telling me she felt bad. She started naming off the symptoms and in the back of my mind, I somehow knew. But I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to get her hopes up. In the meantime, she had been to the doctor to get a few tests run to make sure everything was okay. The doctor’s office called and let her know everything was normal. But God!!!
She got another call from the lab a little while later. They asked if she was driving and told her to pull over. She did and sure enough they ran a pregnancy test and it came back POSITIVE! Yep, you read that right. She found out that day that she and T.J. were expecting! When she called me and let me know, I may have cried as much as she was.
It was an honor to be asked to do this shoot and I CANNOT wait to hold Holden Silas. He doesn’t know how long we’ve all been waiting for him. He’s already so loved!

Til next time.

Do Well and Do Good

J

Hermitage, AR Maternity Session: Kasey and Jacob

Taking photos of these two is always fun and there are plenty of laughs to go around. That was the case last night when we met for their maternity session.   I know some of you will remember about two years ago when I put out a model call for a couple that hadn’t been married long. Kasey responded and I first got to know them then. I was excited for the both of them when I found out that they were going to have a baby.

The weather wasn’t bad, especially in the shade.  One might even call it pleasant.  Where I live there are plenty of fields so I suggested that first.  After, we headed to the lake.  I knew I wanted to get some sunset shots so let me say, that trying to get to the lake and making sure we didn’t miss it was more stressful than a wedding.  Seriously.  But in the end we got them!  And I love them!

Jacob and Kasey your baby boy is so blessed to have you as parents and  you are going to be fantastic parents.  Congrats you guys!

When I can bring natural light and laughs together, it’s always going to be a great combination.

Pure sweetness.  I didn’t even Jacob any instruction here.  I looked up and this was happening.  It’s absolutely true love!

I love images that are not posed.

Seriously!  I looooove Baby Toms!!

The view at Lake Monticello was breath taking!

They are so ready and excited for their baby boy, Sailor James to be here.  Only a few weeks left.

Isn’t Kasey an absolutely gorgeous momma?

Til next time

Do Well and Do Good

J

Warren, AR Delivery: Baby Jax

I think it may be an understatement to say that I love babies. I mean, I have four. I really, REALLY love babies! They are sweet, they smell good, and every one is a miracle. I don’t say that to be cliche’. I actually mean it. To get to see a baby come into this world is breath taking. So when Shelby asked me to be there the day Jax was born, I didn’t hesitate. This one was going to be different than the last one though. This one was a scheduled C-Section. I got there around 6:30 that morning and baby Jax made his entrance not to long after that. Weighing in at 6 pounds, he was beautiful! My exact thoughts when I was snapping a few images, were ‘He looks like a baby doll’. Every feature was perfect. When I first went to Shelby’s room, everyone was calm and waiting. The atmosphere was nice. Little brother, Javen, got there not to long after I did. Along the way he was letting everyone know he was going to get a baby that day. I enjoyed every minute I was there and I’m so grateful that I got to witness love come into the world.

Justin, Shelby, and Javen, I wanna give the biggest congrats on your new addition and I can’t wait to see the fun that Javen and Jax are going to have as they grow as brothers and friends!

There are a lot of images in this post because I couldn’t help myself.

Til next time.

Do Well and Do Good

J

Baby Day: Grayson Blake Carter

I’ve always said that if I wasn’t a photographer, I would’ve been a labor and delivery nurse. Having the job of helping to bring babies into the world is at the top of my list of amazing professions. So when Kelly asked me to be in the room when she delivered Grayson, I was ecstatic! I had to keep myself from tearing up right there. As the last week of her pregnancy came around, I found myself carrying around my phone like a doctor that’s on call. It went everywhere with me. Finally I got THE text. Kelly visited her doctor and was going to be admitted to be induced. I got my stuff together and headed to the hospital. When I got there, things were going along nicely. Kelly was having contractions and definitely in pain. She labored into the night and the next day. After around 30 hours, her doctor decided it was time for a c-section. Everything went very smoothly and baby Grayson got here without any problems. He was a healthy 7lbs 15oz. Aside from my own childrens’ birth, it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. I was snapping photos and crying at the same time. I will never, EVER, forget my first labor and delivery session.

Kelly and Bradley, God has blessed you with the most precious baby and he is beautiful. It’s gonna be so much fun getting to watch Grayson grow up!

Till next time.

Do Well and Do Good,

J

Warren, AR Newborn Session: Jase Cathey

Until recently, my friends Joey and Cassidy Cathey had two boys.  Jude and Luke.  One looks like dad and one looks like mom.  Well in my opinion anyway.  They then decided they would add one more precious baby to their family and make it complete.  Baby Jase is very handsome and favors his big brothers very much!

Thanks so much Joey and Cassidy for letting me capture your sweet, sweet baby boy! He is sure to be a heart breaker in the future.

These two older brothers love their new brother so much. They added such an element of fun to this shoot and both were very relaxed and comfortable in exactly what they were wearing. I asked Cassidy if it was ok if they were in their underwear and she had the exact same answer I would’ve. A very laid back, “Oh yeah”. I have found, being a mom of 3 boys myself, that you have to be pretty easy going.

The faces in this photo are my favorites.

Silliness!!

I can’t wait to see the fun that these three brothers have as they grow. Have at it boys! Til next time.

Do Well and Do Good

J

Zayland

I’ve said before, I love babies. Cause I do. Zayland’s mom called me and asked me if I had an Easter special planned. I don’t this year, but I told her I’d be more than happy to come and take some Easter themed photos for her. I got a few Easter photos, but I didn’t have any live animals this year, so I got more regular photos than anything. But I think they turned out pretty great.

Zayland was a great baby to work with. He had the best disposition and was so so sweet. I love that little guy. Til next time.

Do Well and Do Good

J

Jacob

Jason is a first cousin. He married Holly. They have been married a few years and they just had their first baby. A baby boy! Who is way to cute. Oh my gosh, he’s so cute. He is a good mixture of his mommy and daddy and he seems like he is a very happy baby. And he is VERY loved! I remember thinking about a year and a half back, ‘When are they gonna have a baby?’ I know I wasn’t the only one thinking it either. 😉
Not to long after that, Holly and Jason announced that they were expecting. Yay!!! And nine months later, he was here. I am so glad they asked me to take some newborn photos of him.
Now when it comes to my newborn shoots, I try to accomplish the cute poses and give parents what is always seen online, but I will forever love the more natural photos. The ones where the parents are interacting with the baby on the bed or just holding him or her and looking at the baby or just standing in front of a window. Just natural stuff that you do after you have a baby. I have four children and I know there have been many many moments spent just staring at the beautiful person that grew inside of me for so long. The one that I couldn’t wait to meet. Those are my favorite shots to get.

I am so glad when I get to photograph people that I get to see all of the time. Especially babies, because I get to see them grow, and a lot of times parents continue to ask me to take family photos. So I watch them grow in photos too.Do Good and Do Well

J

Callie Grace

I love taking pictures of babies. I get to snuggle them and love on them and just hold them. Baby’s do a heart good. So a day or two ago I got to take pictures of a beautiful baby girl, who happens to belong to a couple that I have been friends with for a long time. And there’s a beautiful story behind this baby. Her mom and dad have been waiting on her for 10+ years. When Victor and Michelle, mom and dad, got married, Victor had a precious little girl named Alyssa. They knew they wanted to add more to their growing family. But a few years went by and no baby. Another baby girl came into their lives through the process of adoption and they were happy. More years went by and I think they had given up on having a baby of their own. After a few more problems, Michelle announced to the family that she and Victor were expecting! And 9 great months later, gorgeous Callie Grace was born. This baby girl is such a miracle and she is perfect in every way. It was so great to get to hold her and love on her.

I cannot wait to see this baby girl grow up and I hope to get to take many more photos of her. Congrats Victor and Michelle!!Do Well, Do good

J