You know when a problem pops up in your life, and you want to talk to somebody about it, but you don't want to hear the wise, mature answer? You just want to sit on your friend's couch to freely mope, pout and gossip? You know what I'm talking about... you don't need biblical references or wisdom. You don't need to be put back in your place. You don't need to become more aware of the role you played in the problem. All you want is your ego stroked. Well... Raegan is not the somebody you call. If you're looking for a pity party, you don't go to Raegan's house. If you seek real, honest truths, accompanied by scripture to back it up, and words dripping in wisdom (literally, she spits like a camel), then you call Raegan. I don't call Raegan very often. THIS IS A JOKE. She's usually the first person I call when I'm fuming about something. We became friends about four years ago when our husbands joined the staff at Stonegate Fellowship. We bonded quickly, as we were both the new kids on the block that laughed at fart jokes and shared a mutual love for chai tea.  There are a lot of examples that I could give you about why I love her so deeply, but frankly, most of them make me weepy and I'm just not in the mood for that today. She and her husband Josh have blessed us time and time again over the course of our five year friendship, in every way imaginable. We love to laugh with them, and some of my very favorite memories with Raegan involved driving down some tollway in Dallas, laughing and gasping for air over things that probably weren't even that funny. She's the one I call when something is hard to understand. She's the one I call when my life doesn't make sense. And it always seems that when I find myself reaching down into the pity pit, the phone rings with a hysterical picture of her in one of her Halloween costumes. "What's goin' on?" she says before I even finish hello. She's the type of friend that you need. The type of friend that pushes you toward Jesus, and the friend that will make you laugh on the way. I'm so thankful for you, RaeRae! Check out her take on motherhood! 

What is your motherhood mantra?

1.Treat your family better than you treat anyone else all the time. 

2. Happiness comes when you choose to search for reasons to be thankful.

 *I think I was supposed to pick between the two, but I couldn't, so you get a twofer! Yay Wise Raegan!

What is the best advice you could give a first time mom?

1. Always share God's word with your baby and continue as they grow. Gods word doesn't return void. Isaiah 55:11

2. Put your children to bed early and in their own bed so you can recharge your relationship with your spouse. 

*see above. Yay wise Raegan!

What's the most annoying advice you've received? 

I can't remember any annoying advice... So here's the best advice I received: Your children are some of the greatest in God's kingdom, so treat them like it. Speak to them the way you want them to speak to you. 

What is your favorite thing about your kids?

My favorite thing about Millie is her thoughtfulness and sense of humor. Favorite thing about Guy is his zeal for God and his affection toward me. 

What's one thing you wish you could the "newborn mom" version of yourself?

I would tell myself to love my children where they are and accept them for who they are instead of what I think they should be.

I didn't take this picture, but it makes me laugh every time. I love you Raegan, and I love the way you embrace every ounce of what this life has to offer. I'm blessed by your wisdom and your friendship!

Solidarity, Sister: Bailey

Bails. Oh, Bails. I've been trying all day to describe our friendship. This makes it sound like a bad thing, but the best possible example I can come up with involves devils, and that's already making me laugh. But oh well, it's my blog, right?! You know in old cartoons (or in Emperor's New Groove, the best and most important cartoon of all,) there was a sequence with a devil and an angel resting on the shoulder's of someone trying to make a major decision? Consider Bailey the angel, and Kaylea the devil. We are both witty and hysterical, but she tends to stay on the good side, while I flirt with danger. By danger, I mean I'll ask a stranger at a Coldplay concert for advil and take it without considering that it might actually be something illegal. I'm glass half empty, she's glass half full. I'm worst case scenario, she's very "Let's see how this could work positively in our favor." She may not be this way with everyone, but she's this way with me. She knew about both of my babies within hours of the positive test, and text me so often with words of encouragement when I was so sure that something terrible was going to happen to my fetuses. She brought us dinners after we had our babies. And if you know Bailey at all, you know it's not weird to get a text that says "Look on your porch! :)" and opening your door to find just the right gift at just the right time. She once brought me a Smoothie and a Rosa's gift card when I was 9 months pregnant. Cody had been up with the stomach flu and I was up with contractions all night. We ran into each other in the HEB parking lot when I was stocking up on ginger ale and gatorade, and I cried into her window, because I just knew that I was going to have the baby that afternoon and Cody wouldn't be able to be there. Twenty minutes later, the smoothie and the gift card had me in tears in the entryway. She's sensitive to people's needs, she's just about the best hostess I know, and gentle is the actual best descriptive word I have. She counteracts me in so many ways, but I'm so thankful for it. I can call (okay fine, Voxer) her and say "What side of this am I not seeing?" and she always has the answer. Anyway, this feels like the world's longest introduction, so I'm just going to pass the text to Bails, to let her describe her version of motherhood with you...

What is your motherhood mantra?

Love the mundane. On most days, mothering is a big bag of normal. I try to recognize the moments that make my heart leap and sing with tenderness and gratitude and ask the Lord to help me tuck those moments away in my heart. I still think about a time when I was sitting in the rocking chair in the nursery for a night time feeding- the quiet and stillness washing over me and the baby... being so exhausted I wanted to cry... but I also wanted to remember. To remember her face and her wispy, soft hair and the sound of the rhythm of the rocking chair. I begged the Lord to help me not ever forget... and I haven't. The magnificent mundane... such beautiful grace that brings about gratitude on darker days. 

What is the best advice you could give a first time mom?

Find your tribe... be in community... beg the Lord for a best friend if you don't already have one. Friendships are Biblical and this request is not too difficult for the Lord. When my oldest was a newborn we didn't have good friends in town. I felt so lonely. We needed people and so we began to ask the Lord to help us make friends and to bring us people! He gave in abundance and brought the most precious and life giving tribe to us! Our framily is so special! Community takes work- get your hands dirty and be blessed by the fruit. 

What's the most annoying advice you've received? 

"It all goes by so fast!" I hate this phrase and although I know it to be true, it's not helpful when my babies have been up most of the night or when I haven't folded laundry and it's laying in piles in my living room. Sometimes we just need a hug and a listening ear and to know that we aren't crazy and that being a Mommy is hard. I wonder if this is advice someone gives when they really mean, "I miss being a Mommy." At some point when we least expect it, our kids grow and we turn into, "Mom" and that's all together different, isn't it? "It goes so fast" is something to ponder but not to say out loud to a Mommy who has spit up crusted on her shirt and black circles under her eyes. Hug her and buy her coffee! 

What is your favorite thing about your kids?

I love that my children are so different from each other! So different. These personality differences are becoming one of the greatest delights of my life. 

What's one thing you wish you could tell the "newborn mom" version of yourself? 

Search for grace... mainly for yourself. In every cup of coffee with cream, in every hum of the washing machine. Receive the gift of help from your friends, take more bubble baths and buy yourself more flowers. The Lord gave you these children on purpose and He chose YOU - on purpose- to be their Mommy. There is no one more suited or more called to love your children than you. So grace... not perfection... you are learning too.

PS Bailey made me take her family photos IN THEIR HOUSE, which I hated at the time, but it was super relaxed and her girls showed me every ounce of personality they could muster. One of these days, I'll get them outside... but my heart still smiles when I see those self-portraits. Thanks for your thoughts, Bails!

Solidarity, Sister: Christy

Christy and I became unlikely friends about a year ago. It started when our sons were born on the same day 2 years ago, when we had the same doctor and raced to deliver first. I won, but only because mine was pre-scheduled and didn't involve pushing 10 pounds out of my secret garden. We cry and roll with the punches together, taking turns talking the other off of the ledge. She shrugs most of the "big things" in life off, and knows when she's in over her head for everything else. She dishes and receives sarcasm like it's her love language, and we don't care what you say about sarcasm not being a blessing from the Lord. Check out the way Christy handles motherhood! 

What is your motherhood mantra?

I have no idea. Probably "it's not that big of a deal." Relax and take time to gain perspective. 

What is the best advice you could give a first time mom? 

Find what works best for you & stick to it. Ask around, read articles, but be flexible to find your own routine. 

What's the most annoying advice you've received? 

Anything a total stranger thought it was their business to tell me. 

What is your favorite thing about your kids?

Watching their personalities develop. They are all so different from each other. I love Katelynn's creativity & wisdom, Julia's free spirit & kind heart, Michael is a natural performer & go getter and Tyler is a super laid back milk junkie.  

What's one thing you wish you could tell the "newborn mom" version of yourself? 

Don't be selfish. Life isn't all about you anymore. The sooner you embrace this truth the sooner life will be amazing. Be fully present & enjoy each phase because time goes by so fast.  

Christy, I love you and your grit. And your gusto. And your willingness to hunker down and weather the storm. For owning your circus and your monkeys. I admire it now and forever. 

Solidarity, Sister: Kendal

I had this idea to post a series of photos that I've done with kids not cooperating, and the responses to a questionnaire that I sent to a few of my clients. As the responses started pouring in, I realized that this wasn't a one blog situation. This was a heart cry to mothers every where. I loved it. I couldn't narrow it down, so each person is getting their own blog! Unless they have specifically requested to remain anonymous, in which there will be one blog of mystery. 

We begin with Kendal. I don't know all of the specifics here, but I do know that her oldest daughter is four and her youngest daughter is already one. YOU DO THAT MATH. When we tried a family session, her toddlers behaved like toddlers. We were both exhausted at the end of it, but even in chaos, those little personalities shined through their session and we landed with some shots that perfectly represent this season. Check out Kendal's answers below! 

What is your motherhood mantra?

Choose Joy!

What is the best advice you could give a first time mom?

Allow the truths of scripture to define our way of thinking, and not truisms from the world.

What's the most annoying advice you've received? 

I'm not sure! I typically take whatever has been said and sift it through the word of truth... Taking with me any nuggets that remain. 

What is your favorite thing about your kids?

Every. Single. Thing. I love the way they love you... they have such grace in the midst of your imperfections... 

What's one thing you wish you could tell the "newborn mom" version of yourself? 

I would remind myself that the opportunities to bless my children are most often present when i least feel like it... this is why i must not depend on my emotions to dictate my actions. I must be obedient and discipline my emotions to fall in line with God's word. I am to love my children, and raise them in the nurture and admonition of the lord! All. The. Time.

Let's all collectively ignore how Kendal looks like she's babysitting with her fabulous crossfit bod. Let's not think about how she had 3 kids in 4 years and has no arm fat to show for it. Everything is fine. 

Thanks for your thoughts, Kendal! I love your girls and I love the way you choose grace! 

Micheal and Donica

To make a really long story short, Donica's sister is one of my favorite people in the universe, even more so now that she's set me up to photograph an amazing ceremony with amazing light and one of the best brides around. I mean, Michael is probably pretty great too, but I don't talk to him *quite* as often as I do to Donica.

The day of this engagement session, the weather was glorious. I was still reeling a bit from a maternity session that was INSANE with winds, and I was anxious all day to get out and shoot in the calmer weather. It is, of course, my luck that while driving to the shoot, clouds rolled in, winds blew, and rain fell. 

"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! (Mama Mia, mama Mia, let me go....)," I yelled, while high fiving my nod to Freddie. 

I pulled up to the shoot, gave it my best (unconvincing) "Everything is fine." And we hauled... booty... across the field to knock these out while there was a break in the rain. Gradually we all relaxed, as the weather stayed dark and windy, but the precipitation passed. We laughed at my terrible jokes, how long I made them hold poses while I adjusted light every three seconds, and at the cruelty of the wind ruining EVERYTHING. 

In the grand scheme of things, the shoot came together beautifully. It broke the ice well, and I couldn't be more excited to shoot this wedding in July!  

Cason

Remember that amazing maternity session from a few months back? Stunning blonde in the red dress? Adorable bloodhound? Seemingly clever photoshop effects that were actually the result of the grand Texas wind? 

I have amazing news. About a month later, sweet Cason was born, and in doing so, melted me to my core. We had grand hopes for a fresh 48, but as fate would have it, the stars never aligned. However, Two weeks later, I nestled a fluffy haired boy in my arms and we shot the most adorable newborns. 

I never would have pegged Brooke as a first time Mom. She trusted me to do my job and take care of her sweet boy. She didn't hover, she didn't panic when he cried... just sat quietly in her rocker and said "Let me know if I can help." It was a dream. 

It's kind of a given that peace accompanies looking into the face of a sleeping newborn, but to keep Cason asleep, Brooke had a worship playlist in the background. We hummed along, and there was such a special presence in the room. It reassured me that Jesus will always come down to meet us. No matter where we are. Physically or spiritually. One line of one of the songs jumped out at me while we were shooting, and I had the song on repeat while editing. 

"Let us become more aware of Your presence. Let us experience the glory of your goodness..."

I honestly can't think of a better way to approach parenthood or life in general. I also know that I'll never hear that song without thinking of this sweet boy ever again. Even 50 years from now. 

I love you, Brooke! Thanks for letting me love on that boy! 

Also, see that portrait of Merle? Her brother DREW IT WITH HIS BARE HANDS... I mean, there was probably some form of art utensil involved, but I am AMAZED every time I look at it.

Fresh 48s

I've had a lot of inquiries about my Fresh 48s, and most of them inquiring as to what they actually are. Hence, a blog post dedicated SOLELY TO FRESH 48S. And contrary to popular belief, this has nothing to do with the first 48 hours following a murder.

First and foremost, a Fresh 48 IS NOT a newborn session. I don't bring any props. No baskets, blankets, suitcases, or equipment outside of my camera. I don't trapeze through your house looking for the best light. I don't sit on the couch and wait for your baby to fall into a deep sleep. Every single picture is taken in the hospital, while your baby is still pink and Milia free. This almost always guarantees a shoot within the first 48 hours. See where that catchy title is coming from?

Most of these images are black and white. The main reason for this is that I believe these images are meant to tell a story. They're made to be raw and vulnerable. Black and white allows a certain conviction that I can't be swayed away from. Another reason is that while some babies are perfectly pink, other babies can be yellow like sunshine, or red like roses, and black and white photos are very forgiving of these tendencies.

This doesn't mean that I don't allow color in every now and again. And it doesn't mean that EVERY IMAGE will be black and white.

I know what you're thinking. "I'm going to be so exhausted and I'm going to look like crap." Maybe you will. Maybe you won't. I've had Moms go all out and put all of their make up on. I've had Moms wear their exhaustion with pride. I've had Moms throw on mascara and leave their hair a mess. Want to know the common ground? The images are still breathtaking. No matter what. The baby steals the show every time.

That bottom one is me. I was an exhausted and proud mom. Still my favorite image of all the newborn shoots we did with our first. That picture is actually what inspired these sessions that I'm so determined to get off of the ground. I love the image. I love the intimacy, exhaustion, and pride all wrapped up in one picture. It's motherhood in a nutshell.

These pictures always end up being so romantic and worthwhile. The hospital euphoria that accompanies a newborn reminds you of how deeply you love your spouse and how committed you are to this covenant vow, especially now with two little eyes watching you. I love capturing that renewed promise in the hours following the birth of a baby.

Geesh, I could share pictures of these shoots all day. I'm so passionate about them, but really there are a few things that I need you to know about them.

• These take thirty minutes, TOPS. I'm not there to do a newborn session. I do them as quickly and efficiently as possible, and I don't do anything you're uncomfortable with. I've captured truly stunning images of Moms nursing their babies, but I've also waited in the hall while they wrapped up a feed.
• You'll do your best to talk yourself out of them when you get to the hospital. I know better than anyone how exhausting birth is. But I can also guarantee that you will not regret letting me come and capture the calm before the storm. Every client that I've done these for has either 1. Opted out of actual newborns because they love these so much, or 2. Still loved these more than the newborns. These are the pictures that get printed first.

I feel like this covers the gist. If you have any questions about packages or how the whole process works, feel free to email or message me on Facebook. I'll be happy to answer any additional questions!