Kansas City Family Portraits: Ava’s One Year Old!

You hear it all the time….Time flies.  Yes it does.  Too fast for mommies of adorable little baby girls.

This past Saturday, Ava turned the BIG ONE! 🙂

Oops…bye-bye balloons…

HOW FLIPPIN’ CUTE IS THIS?!?!?!

Oh yeaaa…time for the good stuff.

And this one’s to celebrate EASTER!  FUN!

Kansas City Senior Portraits: Katie, the final sibling

Ah, yes.  Katie.  The last, but not least, little sister.

Katie is my youngest sibling, almost exactly a decade apart in age.  I was there at her birth and even cut the umbilical cord.  Good times. 🙂

I normally call the first 5-10 minutes of any session “the warm-up”…but for Katie, I just threw her into it, put her on the spot, called out modeling commands…”GIVE ME CUTE!, GIVE ME SASSY!  COME ON, YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT!!!” hahaha  I did mention that she’s the youngest sister…I have authority to boss her around. 🙂

Sister.  Friend. Love.

I’m very fortunate to have wonderful sisters.  Both of them brats, completely…but I love them dearly. 🙂

Kansas City Senior Portraits: Josh of 2011

Little intro for Josh…he officially became part of my family in 2006 when Josh’s dad married my mom.  So crazy to think how much he’s grown.  As my official step-bro, I am allowed to embarrass him for a moment…SO, for the past couple years, Josh’s appearance has reminded me of a troll doll , with wild-shaggy-hair and wearing clothes about 5 times TOO large for him (and yes, I told him this).  When I pulled up to pick him up for his portrait session, I did a rubbernecker move as I walked past him in the kitchen.  Not the same troll-Josh.  He had a stylish hair cut, fitted clothes…AND he was all nice and cleaned up.  “Duh, Christie…he’s getting pictures, looking nice is part of the job” you might say to me…but seriously it was kind of like an extreme makeover from his past look.  Needless to say, I am impressed. I would say he looks handsome, but as an older, mean step-sister, that would be too nice. 😉

As if his appearance wasn’t impressive enough, I have to say that I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed photographing a male senior as much as him.  Shocking and bold statement right there.  He was the perfect mix of compliant, goofy, confident, and efficient (since the sun was setting fast and I still had another session after his).  Oh, and I forgot to mention complimentary and appreciative (not always prominent among teenagers)…I let him peak at some of the images on the camera right away and he loved them.  That makes this photog-girl super happy!!!

Call me crazy, but doesn’t he have some Elvis eyes going on?

Thanks Josh for being awesome!  Hope you enjoy these shots. 🙂

Kansas City Family Portraits: Wyatt’s expecting a bro

One of my favorite couples has turned into one of my favorite families…and they just keep growing and growing. Al’s building his own small army…(psst, Lacey…make the next one a girl so to keep the boys in-check at home).

Doesn’t this little cutie have the most perfect profile?!?!?!  Reminds me that my kids are almost past the round-cheek stage in life. Soooo sad. 🙁

This is our special encore signature shot.  Shall we call this the “Business Casual” edition? 🙂  Check out the “Business Profession” edition from last time.

Such a DOLL….I mean, a MANLY doll. 🙂

Ok…and here’s the part when I get to brag about Lacey and her mad photog skills.  Her own wedding a couple years ago inspired her to tap into her creative side and has lead down a path of starting her own photography business, Lacey Dawn Photography.  She’s got some major passion and defines the expression “hit the ground running”.  Check her out.

Al & Lacey…always a pleasure.  Can’t meet to meet the next handsome Whitmer.  Should I stock up on bananas again? hahahaha

New fancy-pants cards available!

These new decorative-cut cards are a super awesome way to spice up the presentation factor of announcements and invitations.  Here’s my first design for these products, made for the queen of sweetness, newly born Sophia.  I’m in love with how they turned out and had to show it off.

Here’s the front.

Here’s the back.

These happy announcements are ready to be stuffed, sealed, stamped, mailed, and adored by Sophia’s family and friends.