Click it up a Notch - July

Each month the "Click It Up a Notch" blog hosts a competition where you can submit your favorite picture of the month for a contest.  I really enjoy this contest because all month long I'm thinking about improving my pictures so that I can feel like I "clicked it up a notch" for the month.  Plus I really like to be inspired by all of the other beautiful pictures I see each month.  Here is my favorite picture for July.

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Check out all of the other beautiful images for July here.



Lens Baby Project 52 Challenge for July

I have to say this month has been a little off for the photography challenges for me - mainly because we went on vacation at the beginning of the month.  We had a great time!!  Lots of first for my kids - first time at the beach, first time at the zoo, first time in San Diego - it was fabulous!!   But I didn't even bother to carry my big camera with me - just my point and shoot - mainly because I didn't want to chance my camera getting lost or stolen on such a long trip.  So anyway, you will have to excuse the quality of my first picture for the month - it was with my point and shoot but I still love it.  :-)

{Week 26: "4th of July"}
We had such a great time in San Diego and I had hoped to get a great fireworks picture for this shot.  BUT there was a malfunction there and all the fireworks went off at one time - very short show.  :-)  So I'm sharing one of my favorites from the beach instead.

{Week 27:  "Weekly Favorite"}
Haha...my vacation kind of carried over a week or so once I got home.  I didn't get to the actual challenge for the week so I am sharing one of my favorites for the week instead.

{Week 28:  "A Day in the Life"}
This week's challenge was meant to help us tell a story with our pictures.  So I had a whole setup around my kids with cookies and milk, but I chose to do this one instead.  :-)  I was trying to get her to sit in the chair for a picture but before she would she had to dance first.  I loved it!!  :-)

This was more along the lines of what I had been planning for the week though.  :-)

{Week 29:  "The Golden Hour"}
I took the kids out to be my models for this week and they did so good (with a little bribe).  :-)  And I have to say I absolutely loved the lighting at this time of day (pretty much an hour before sunset).  It was gorgeous!

Cookies and Milk {McKinney and Frisco, TX Area Children's Photography}

My sister came over about a week ago and helped me do a Cookies and Milk session with the kids.  And I have to say we had such a great time.  My kids think she is wonderful so it didn't take much to get smiles and fun out of them for the pictures.  :-)

She had a blast.  There was a dance routine that followed at the end of the session.  Aunt Sara had her going big time!  :-)

Aunt Sara had him going too.  There was lots of running, laughing, and giggling going on.  Too much fun!!  :-)

I had always wanted to do a session like this with my kids because I love seeing these kind of pictures done by others. I also wanted to practice telling stories with my pictures.  So I hope you enjoyed our stories.  :-)

Announcing Play Date Sessions {McKinney, TX Area Play Date Photographer}

Ever since my kids have been very little, I have been blessed to be a part of an amazing mom's group that is centered around our kids and photography.  I have learned so much and gotten to take a lot of really fun pictures of my kids.  The moms in this group are super creative and are always coming up with cute ideas!

I know I have enjoyed the cute setups and want to extend that to my friends as well.  So today, I want to announce my new play date sessions.  Here are the details on how the sessions will work:

• Each session will be a play date consisting of a minimum of 3 (up to 5) moms.
• All of us will brainstorm a fun, creative session for the kids. 
• Each session will last 1-2 hours.
• Each mom will walk away with at least 5 images on disk of their kids to decorate their home.
• Each mom will pay $35 for the session.  (*The mom who books will receive a $10 discount.*)

I can't wait to set up a fun play date for you and your friends!!  Email me today to book a session.  The prices and sessions will be available through the end of 2012 but sessions will be limited due to how busy the Fall photography season is.  I can't wait to hear from you!!

And don't forget to check out our other specials as well:

Maternity Sessions
Senior Sessions
One Year Milestone and Smash Cake Sessions

Bath Time Fun {Mckinney and Frisco, TX Area Children's Photographer}

I noticed after I started my photography business that I wasn't taking as many pictures of my own kids as I did before.  So I had a great time doing a bath time session with just the two of them last Friday.  My mom went out with us and we all such a great time!!  Here are some of my favorites:

{Little man went first and he loved splashing around.  Hehe...I think he was trying as hard as he could to get Momma wet.}

{My sugars went next.  And Grannie had her cracking up!! I love those smiles!}

{And the absolute best thing about photo shoots with my kids is when they are done they come racing over to give Momma a big hug.  :-)  Love them both so much!!!}