A Beautiful Light

The Blog has moved! Dallas Child Photographer

2011-08-01T16:23:00.002-05:00

I will no longer be posting here. Come check out my NEW blog along with my all NEW redesigned WEBSITE at the links below! And don't forget to become a FAN on facebook. I am going to be doing a REALLY awesome giveaway soon and you do not want to miss it!!

BLOG!

ALL NEW WEBSITE!

FACEBOOK PAGE for Giveaways and Specials!

23 month old Beauty! Dallas Area Children Photographer

2011-07-27T12:01:00.004-05:00

I photographed the cutest little girl this week! Would you look at those curls?? She had a blast looking for turtles, doggies, and anything else we could think of to keep her attention for a few seconds. ;-)

I have photographed her brothers and sister in the past and this entire family is just beautiful!

She was so happy and playful. Made my job easy! Here is a sneak peek.

I am back!

2011-07-05T18:53:00.003-05:00

So after a very long hiatus due to pregnancy and the birth of my newest addition, I am finally getting back into the swing of things! I am so happy to be shooting people again (don't worry! it doesn't hurt!).

I have so many exciting things in the works! I will be updating my website in the new couple of weeks and working on my new DIGITAL photo packages! This is the first time I have ever offered digital images. I have always believed that my client's photos should be displayed BIG in their homes and not on a computer, and I still believe that! However, I realize that things are changing, and this includes the way we share our memories.

I am very excited to offer new digital photo packages. This is your chance to own ALL of your session images and the ability to print and share as many as you would like. Wow!

And now introducing the reason I have been missing and so incredibly busy! Miss Ava. She is 10.5 mos old now. I can't believe how fast time flies!

This one is so bittersweet. I cannot believe how fast she has grown. Seems like only yesterday......

Amazing how they change so quickly!

2009-05-30T12:03:00.005-05:00

Parents, your children are growing and changing sooooo quickly! It is so important to capture every stage. Before you know it, everything that seems so commonplace today will be different tomorrow!

Last time I photographed this peanut, she had hardly any hair and was barely sitting up! Now she is walking, talking, running, jumping and just all kinds of fun!

I LOVED the dresses mom chose for this session. I so love to photograph in color. :)

The Weather has not been cooperating! But finally....

2009-05-14T12:28:00.005-05:00

Well, this rainy May had me thinking that I was retired! But finally I was able to actually do a scheduled session on the scheduled day!

Of course, I woke up this morning and guess what was happening? It was RAINING AGAIN! *Sigh*

Oh, well, yesterday was gorgeous and so was this ADORABLE little girl!

She was a tough nut to crack! She would have much rather spent her time exploring the rain puddles and the flowers than looking at my camera. I can't say that I blame her! Still, she did look at me a few times, and I made the most of it. Her eyes are just amazing!

Until next time....

My, how you have grown!

2009-03-31T18:00:00.010-05:00

Last year when I photographed this little peanut, she was just sitting up. She stayed put! :) It is amazing how quickly they grow and change and before you know it....

They are off and running! She was so busy and had so much fun exploring. I remember these days with my own kids. So much to see outside, so much to do!

And big brother too! He is losing his "baby" face and trading it for big guy looks. So bittersweet!

The age that children start to change and look older is about 5/6 when they start losing baby teeth. The roundness leaves for a leaner, more mature looking face. I encourage parents to capture this age so they can always remember that sweet, chubby baby face forever. :)

Of course, I cannot forget about the biggest big brother! :) Is he totally GQ or what?

And because I just love a silly picture.....

My blog is back and your gonna be in trouble..... ;)

2009-03-23T08:30:00.003-05:00

Okay, you are not really in trouble, but I SHOULD BE!! Oh my goodness! My poor blog! I cannot believe it has been so long since I have updated here!

I promise to be better! Summer got the best of me, then it just seemed to run into Winter, and now it is SPRING and I am finally posting again. I will be posting more regularly, so be sure to check back for photos, links and some good ol' fun!

I will be posting my Fresh Faces winners as well.

Okay, onto the good stuff! This is a sneak peek of a recent session. 3 beautiful girls! The location was amazing, the lighting was perfect and the kiddos were fantastic! What more can a photographer ask?

Dear Blog, How have I neglected thee? Oh, let me count the ways....

2008-06-13T14:19:00.004-05:00

Or something like that.

Man, oh man, the summer of 08 is upon us and it is keeping me super busy! I am so sorry for not updating more regularly. I promise to post my Fresh Faces winners very soon. I am so excited to photograph all these gorgeous Tweens!

In the mean time, here are some super adorable twins from a couple of weeks ago. We had oodles of fun together. They really LOVED the jumping part of our session. It always puts kids in a good mood to see their "action" shots on the LCD screen!

Little Girls in Big Chairs are so CUTE!

2008-05-15T08:29:00.003-05:00

As soon as I saw this fabulous red chair, I knew it had to be photographed. :) This little girl was sooooo tiny and had such a big vocabulary! I was amazed by her. She is a photographer's dream. So attentive and happy.

Check out her lashes. They were super long and beautiful!

Leapin' Lizards, bubbles and blue eyes!

2008-05-05T10:26:00.006-05:00

Oh, wowee, this little guy gave me a workout! Little boys are so much fun and so much different than little girls. As a mom of 2 boys and 1 girl, I can say that with confidence. ;) I love little boy energy. LOVE IT!

This adorable 2 yr old was a mover and a shaker. We kept him still for seconds at a time with some bubbles and a lizard. Ha! Look at the lizard on his back. Can you spot it??

Til next time. :)

Downtown with the coolest kid......

2008-04-21T19:43:00.009-05:00

Yep, I can say that because he is mine. :)

Not only is he strikingly handsome(*smile*), he is also brilliant, considerate, kind-hearted and compassionate. I cannot say enough about him, but take my word for it, he is amazing.

This is not a great picture, he is squinting in the sun, cars in the background.... several things I don't love, but I had to get a photo of this stop-sign!

And in the spirit of the stop sign, I present you:
A blast from the past! You know you want a shirt like this.
Rock on. :)

It's that time again! "Tween" Modeling Contest.....

2008-04-02T16:52:00.005-05:00

I am looking for a few "tween-age" FRESH FACES!

Do you have a cooperative child between the ages of 9 and 15 years? Do you want to win a FREE custom portrait session and a FREE mounted 11x14 portrait? If so, then YOU may just have the next FRESH FACE of A Beautiful Light Photography!

Entering is simple! Just email one small, websized photo of your child to me at: sunshine @ abeautifullight.com (remove spaces). A simple snapshot is fine, just be sure we can see his/her face. No professional portraits, please! :)

The contest will be judged and voted on by several of my photographer friends (not me). The winners will be announced here and by email no later than 6-15-08.

The catch (isn't there always one?) is: I get to choose the location and the style of the photo shoot. These sessions will be fun and casual and more hip and trendy than a normal child portrait session. I will have creative control of the session and will advise on clothing and hair. Don't worry, it will of course be tasteful. ;)

Remember, you will receive a FULL session if you win and a beautiful mounted and coated 11x14 print (over $200 value!).

*The deadline for submitting photos is May 15th, 2008. All winners will be notified via email.

And since we are talking about tweens, I just have to include photos of a recent tween session. :)

Little Bitty Babies & Music.........

2008-03-30T10:33:00.007-05:00

I stumbled across the neatest website for music (thank you Laura!). You can compose your own playlist and use it on myspace, facebook, your blog, etc. And it is free! I think you can add something like 100 songs. I have been playing on it for a while now, setting up my playlist. Good times. Good times.

Here is the link if you want to check it out playlist.com

Music makes me so happy.

Know what else makes me happy??

Babies. I love them. I love their little baby sounds, their little baby smells, their little baby smiles.

These little babies are twins. They are very different though, both in looks and in personality. They are equally precious and beautiful and oh-so-sweet!

Yeah, in case you cannot tell, I love babies. :)

I just love how she is pointing at her cheek here. Like she is saying "you see this face, lady? it is SLEEPING, so take your camera and leave me be!"
They are blessed with a wonderful (and super fast running!) big sister.

Easter is behind us already?

2008-03-24T18:28:00.006-05:00

It just doesn't seem right. Seems like 2008 just got here and already we have had St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break and Easter all in the same week. Strange, I tell you!

Well, I hope you all had a great holiday with your families. We had a great day filled with egg hunts, good food and Uncle Drew's cannoli's! How could it be anything less than fantastic?!

Just have to share this little 3 yr old beauty. My goodness, her eyes are so soulful!

Officially Spring Break here! Yippee!

2008-03-14T14:45:00.006-05:00

Well, it is Spring Break for my kids starting at 3:00. They are SO excited, although I kinda think they are getting the short end of the stick with Spring Break and Easter weekend in the same time frame. I know it might seem strange, but I love when my kids are out of school and we can hang out, go watch movies, eat pizza and, um, oh yeah, SLEEP IN!

Anyway, it is sure starting to look a little like spring every where. Had a session with the nicest people and their beeeeeeeeeeeeautiful little boy. I have said it before and I will say it again, the people I meet really make my profession so interesting and inspiring. This couple is really going to make a difference in the world and I am so happy to have met them. :)

Don't let this happen to your kids....

2008-03-11T20:10:00.003-05:00

I know it is CRAZY to have two posts in one day, but this is a message needs to be shared.

:-) Cute, huh?

Poor, poor neglected blog....

2008-03-11T09:29:00.014-05:00

To my poor, neglected little blog. I am so sorry for not showing you any love lately. I am sorry for not brightening your pages with photos of adorable children and babies and teens. Please accept my apologies for not posting on you regularly. I will try to do better. I promise!

Okay, now that is out of the way, how about some photos?

I am getting back into the swing of things after my daughter's illness. Yippee! It is so beautiful outside today. It is beginning to feel like SPRING! Who would guess that last week it was SNOWING and ICY and CRAZY here??

More tweens/teens!

2008-01-23T18:39:00.000-06:00

This age is so much fun to photograph. It is so wonderful watching a tween or a teen start to relax and have fun and realize that they are truly beautiful(or handsome!) just as they are! I love to see photos of kids that are just comfortable in their own skin and I really try to convey that in my photos. Relaxed. Natural. Beautiful.

This mom really did a great job picking out clothing colors. It all came together so beautifully!

I am still here! Really!

2008-01-22T21:01:00.000-06:00

Oh my poor, neglected blog! I am so sorry for abandoning you for so long. ;)

Wow! The Holiday season is always a crazy time for me. Aside from the usual merriment, I also have 2 of my kiddos birthday parties in Dec./Jan.

The parties are over and things are *somewhat* back to normal around here.

Here are some from a session last year (that sounds so strange!) with 3 of the most handsome guys ever! Seriously!

We had SO much fun that day. I really love my job. ;)

Two ADORABLE little guys in the studio!

2007-11-28T16:53:00.000-06:00

For real now! HOW CUTE ARE THESE TWO??

Now, you guys know I always want to keep the kids. And I was REALLY wanted to keep these fellas! At least for a little while. They were both so darn cute!

Baby Brother was so strong. He held his head up like this for a LONG time just looking at me. He was a DREAM!

Big Brother was more of a challenge. He had me work! But it was oh-so-worth-it! His eyes! They are amazing! He loved reading and dancing. He was such a sweetie!

A couple more that I love. :)

Baby, it's cold outside!

2007-11-27T10:21:00.001-06:00

It is finally getting chilly in North Texas, so that means more indoor photos. I have to say, it was fun to get back in the studio for a bit. :)

This little doll was SO happy! Oh my goodness! I had such a good time with her. She was so friendly! And will you look at these eyes? GORGEOUS!

And this smile! I love it! Soooooo precious!

And of course a classic black and white. I love me some black and white portraits! ;)

Had to try just a hint of a vintage conversion here. :)

Last, but not least, here is a little snappy Holiday tune. One of my all-time favorites. It is sure to make you smile. :)

Getting back in the groove! :)

2007-11-25T09:53:00.000-06:00

Wow, did I ever eat too much! My mother is THE BEST cook! But I had to come down off my food high and get these pictures up. ;) Hope you all had a wonderful Turkey day too!

This little girl looks like a doll! Like an actual doll with perfect skin and features! I kept saying that over and over. Her cheeks, her eyes, her lips! So perfect!

And of course, we cannot forget about the handsome big brother. He had the most amazing eyes and eyelashes. He also had more cool toys than any kid I have ever met!

He loved playing in the leaves. You can tell how high he is going to throw those leaves in this pic!

A tiny angel and her beautiful big sister...

2007-11-16T09:25:00.000-06:00

Anyone that really knows me knows that I love kids. I always have. Even since I was just a tiny tot myself! It is not surprising that my line of work is working with children. And babies!!! Oh my goodness, does my heart melt when I am near a baby. I got to hold this little angel quite a bit and I loved every second of it. I came home and told my hubby I was ready for number 4! He is not quite convinced, but I am working on it! ;)

Look at this precious little angel....

And we cannot forget her beautiful big sister! She and I had a great time finding the "trails" and walking on the paths. She looked so ADORABLE in this pink pettiskirt!

Let's hear it for the older kids! :)

2007-11-14T19:09:00.001-06:00

I love photographing children of all ages, but I always have so much fun with the older kids! These two were a BLAST! They just had that special something that comes across so well in photos.

Look at this guy! He was such a natural. And so darn handsome!

And his little sister, well, her eyes struck me as soon as she stepped out of the car. Gorgeous! She and I really had fun. She is a natural too! They were both a DREAM to work with!

I really, really love photographing this age! Thank you guys for trusting me and being so fantastic to work with! :)

Don't be afraid of COLOR!

2007-11-13T09:06:00.001-06:00

I know that my paperwork suggests clothing in a similar tonal range and no logos, etc, but that does not mean we should shy away from color!

In the studio, you really do want to stay more low-key with the clothing choices and not go too patterned or bold, but outdoors, anything goes! Well, almost anything (I still prefer to avoid logos and graphics!).

Sweaters, hats and scarves make for amazing portraits! It is fall (according to the calendar anyway!) so let's break out those color knits, those bright hats, fun sweaters and colorful tights! Bold and bright can be so much fun!

The textures also make for some fantastic black and white photos!

So, don't forget to think about some fun, bold colors for your next session!

And, on the subject of bright and fun, here is just a little something to dance around to! Jamiroquai is my *happy music!*

So have a little fun and dance like no one is watching. ;)

Warning! Cute overload! ;)

2007-11-12T21:05:00.000-06:00

I sure do meet a lot of adorable kids in my line of work! I have so much fun getting to know a little bit of their personalities during our sessions. Even little babies have such unique personality traits that shine through in photos!

And 2 year olds, well, they have OODLES of personality!

We met at a really wonderful location. I adored the little kid-sized benches!

Would you look at those curls?! Precious!

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

2007-11-11T20:41:00.000-06:00

I have seen mom and dad and I know this to be true. Beauty abounds in this family!

Even thought I was running late (stupid Dallas traffic! Grr!) we still managed to have a fantastic session.

As soon as I took this one, I knew it was going to be one of my all-time favorites. :)

And of course, I have to throw in some close-ups, because, well, I just love them!

His curls were gorgeous!

Can I keep her?

2007-11-06T21:24:00.000-06:00

That is what I really wanted to do! Just keep her. I don't think mom and dad would have gone for that though! :)

This tiny angel was so much fun to photograph! She was so peaceful and happy and just absolutely precious. And look at those big blue eyes! Wow! Are they ever bright and beautiful!

I really had way too many favorites from this session. Did I mention she was a joy to photograph?!

Mom found these beautiful red and pink fallen leaves. I have never seen leaves like this!

I love this one in her birthday hat with her favorite book! She is just too cute for words!

She is stunning!

2007-11-05T11:14:00.000-06:00

I am all about the eyes. They are really the focal point of most of my work. I am constantly watching them, through my lens, during sessions. Sometimes they connect and I am not quick enough to nail the shot, but more often than not, I get it!

In a post below I talk about photos of "no smiles," how they move me. This is one of those photos. No smile here, but still a very pleasant, relaxed expression. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE smiles! LOVE them! But I love this kind of photo too. A beautiful portrait of an even more beautiful girl. :)

People ask often ask what I do to the eyes. How do I make them stand out? Why are they so sparkly? There are a couple of things that I do. One is proper exposure. If the photo is too dark, the eyes will be too and you will lose that "sparkle." The other is that I use a very shallow depth of field. Often the eyes in my photos will be the sharpest thing with the other details fading softly out of focus. Your eyes naturally go to the sharpest part of a photo and in most cases, in my photos, it is the eyes. :)

So there you have it. My secret to eye sparkles. :)

A hat, a pettiskirt and a Pancake!

2007-10-31T07:57:00.000-05:00

Oh, my goodness! I love what I do! :)

This "Pancake" is not edible. It is, however, pretty flat(read- well loved)! "Pancake" is this little sweetie's lovey. Can't you just see how much she loves her Pancake!?

And, hooray! Fall is here (well, kinda) which means I can get out my hats! I love hats in photos. I thought this white, cozy fur would look so pretty with her sweet freckles. :) Look at those crystal blue eyes! What a beautiful girl!

A brother is a friend given by nature-

2007-10-25T19:06:00.001-05:00

Jean Baptiste Legouve

These little guys were just so cute and soooo happy! They really made me smile with how sweet they were to one another. I have 2 boys and I don't remember them ever being so nice to each other!

I guess I am on a black and white kick lately. It is just classic.

So, you know I love non-smiley faces...

2007-10-23T19:12:00.000-05:00

Anyone that has looked at my website or blog knows that I love, love, love photos of non-smiling children. The eyes open up, the facial features are relaxed and natural. Something about this kind of photo just moves me. My "From the Heart" gallery is full of no smiles and that gallery really is from my heart. My favorite photos of my own children are like this. Real. Natural. Beautiful.

Most parents come to a session and really want smiling photos. I love those too, and always take them, but this look. This serious, soulful, still look is what gets me.

These 2 beautiful girls do the non-smiley face to perfection! Don't those eyes just pull you in?!

Important info on Portfolio Building Sessions. :)

2007-10-23T14:03:00.001-05:00

Wow, what an amazing time I have had with all my portfolio building sessions! I have been able to fill my galleries with so many beautiful children. Thank you all for making this period so fun and exciting for me.

I will not be offering portfolio building sessions after the first of the year. I will still be offering many fabulous monthly specials, so please keep your eyes peeled for those! I will post those on the blog and try to do something fun every month (key word is "try"!). :-)

For those of you hoping to take advantage of the fantastic portfolio special, be sure to schedule your session before December 31, 2007.

More sneak peeks to come soon!

A super cute sneaky peeky! :)

2007-10-20T23:00:00.001-05:00

Oh my goodness! How adorable is this bunch?! We met at the park on a yucky, misty, foggy day, but rain or shine, cuteness prevails!!

Take this, for example? Seriously, could she be ANY more perfect?

She was blowing a kiss here. :)

And this little beauty (sorry about my watermark on her face!)... She was so natural and sweet in front of the camera. Loving the black and white here. :)

I just had to include this one. I love silly pictures! She was very proud of her missing toofies. ;)

Would you look at those lashes? Goodness! This little guy was such a hoot! He gave me a run for the money, but he was not too fast for my shutter finger. ;) Look at this face!

A glimpse into their world... Part 2. :)

2007-10-20T13:56:00.000-05:00

More of the wonderful family I photographed on their family farm...

It truly was a pleasure to meet and photograph every one in this bunch! They were so laid back and easy going. Made me feel right at home, even though I had never met any of them prior to this day. :)

I loved this guy's curls! He was so quiet and mellow and truly a pleasure to photograph. And wow, is he ever handsome!

This guy was really a hoot! He has 6 girlfriends! Yes, SIX! He was so sweet and funny and can actually ride that skateboard thingy really well. I don't think I could have even stood up on it. So sad. But so true. :)

And this beautiful girl was a firecracker. I think she could do ANYTHING. Really. She is gonna be President or something some day. :)

And I had to throw this one in.
It was so great to see her in her dress with her pink boots and net tromping around in the mud catching frogs! And yes, she caught several!

Thank you ALL for letting me hang out and photograph each one of you just as you are. I truly enjoyed every minute of it. :)

A little glimpse of their world....

2007-10-15T20:18:00.000-05:00

The best part of doing what I do is the people.

Hands down.

I love meeting new people and interacting with children. I love learning a little about each family during our time together. I always leave a session feeling energized, motivated and happy.

This session was no exception. I was invited to photograph these adorable twins at their grandparent's farm. I was able to see where mom grew up and where she now watched her own children explore and run and play and climb trees and catch frogs! It may sound silly to some, but it is a great honor to be entrusted with such a task and be invited to one's home. Not just their house, but their home!

They were some of the nicest people I have ever met and I truly enjoyed every minute!

Here are just a couple of images that grabbed me. There are many more that I love, but for now, just a preview. :)

And this picture is one that I think is just the cutest! Not a particularly "great" picture, but it is especially funny to me. Here are the twins as "Jerry" and Rosie" and they are NOT posing as frogs. They are posing as TOADS. They were very sure to point out the difference to me and they assured me that their pet's Jerry and Rosie are indeed toads!

Give your child a self-esteem boost with PICTURES!

2007-10-12T18:43:00.000-05:00

I saw these articles posted on my friend Carrie S.'s blog and just thought they were too good not to pass along. :)

Decorating your child's room with pictures of himself/herself and family and friends can help build self-confidence and boost self-esteem. Let me tell you, no child can ever have too much self-esteem. I think it is so important in this day and age to give our children as much self-confidence as we can manage.

Here are a couple of great articles on the subject!

Boost your child's self-confidence with photos.

Build child self-esteem. Decorate with photos.

And some of my personal photos that are in my children's rooms. Nothing special, but my kids treasure them. :)

They were so precious! Beautiful sisters. :)

2007-10-11T18:27:00.001-05:00

Mom said she loved black and white and I am so glad! I love the classic, timeless feel of black and white photos. :)

These little girls were so darn sweet. The oldest one did a super cute "Happy Feet" dance for me. hee hee.

Another Sneak-a-Peek- 3 gorgeous littles. :)

2007-10-09T10:07:00.001-05:00

This was such a beautiful family! The littlest guy was so shy, but so sweet. The other 2 had such contagious smiles! I could have photographed them all day. :)

Sneak Peek for Mom and Dad!

2007-10-07T08:40:00.001-05:00

We battled rain, mosquitoes & humidity but still managed to get some amazing photos of some gorgeous children! :)

Here is a sneak peak for mom and dad. Kellie and I are working hard to get the whole session ready for you to see. Meanwhile, we hope you like your preview of what's to come!

These 2 were so much fun! We had a great time together.

Giving back, Paying it Forward- New Contest. :)

2007-09-29T11:16:00.000-05:00

I am very excited about this one! This is a new and very different kind of contest. I read about this on another blog and thought it was a fantastic idea and couldn't come at a better time of year!

This is a chance for YOU to help ME "Pay it forward" and also get something back in return!

Here are the details: Do you know a family that would love and appreciate custom photography, but it just cannot be a financial priority at this time? Is there someone you know that is in need of a little "pick me up?" The Holiday season is FAST approaching and this is your chance to help spread a little joy and cheer!

If you know a family in need and would like to nominate them to for a very special "Spread the Joy" session, just send me an email at sunshine @ abeautifullight.com and tell me why you think your nominee should be chosen.

*Everyone that submits a nomimee will receive a free session and a free 5x7 portrait! Just for helping to spread the joy! How's that for some Holiday cheer?!*

The family that I choose as the "winner" will receive a fabulous gift of a FREE session and a FREE session album! This is over a $500 value!!

This contest will run through October 15, 2007, so get your entries in before then.

I am so excited about doing this, so spread the word and help spread the joy!

A personal post- My father's birthday

2007-09-19T21:57:00.001-05:00

Well, I had my well thought out, lengthy post typed out and lost it. Grr!

I have to get the kids in bed though, so this is going to be the short version. I will come back and revise it later.

Today would have been my father's 57th birthday. He died on August 1st of last year. He was way too young, but even if he had been 100, it would still have been too soon.

This song reminds me of him. Every time I hear it, I cry. He was in a coma for days before he died and I wanted so much for him to open his eyes, and walk out of that hospital. God had other plans.

I love you, Dad.

More Holiday Card samples!

2007-09-18T11:42:00.000-05:00

We have so many different styles of Holiday and Christmas cards to offer for "Holiday in the Park." Here are some of the other styles and some of Kellie's work. Thank you Kellie for letting me post them!

We still have both morning and afternoon appointments available, so call or email ASAP to reserve your time slot!

Look at these gorgeous little ones! Sneak Peek!

2007-09-16T08:50:00.001-05:00

I had so much fun photographing these beautiful kids. When I arrived at their home, I could hear the oldest saying "It's Miss Sunshine! It's Miss Sunshine!" I instantly knew it was going to be a great time!

They all had the most amazing eyes!

Look at this perfect little angel. She was so so precious.

This handsome little man is also a FRESH FACES winner! Congrats Mr F.

And Mr. C. He looked SO handsome in this hat. He was so sweet.

Thanks for letting me come hang out with you guys! And thanks, Mr. F for helping me carry my things to the car! :)

Sneak Peek! Fresh Faces winners. :)

2007-09-11T17:46:00.000-05:00

Oh. My. Goodness.

These 2 could not have been any cuter! I had a GREAT time photographing them. Mr. N is 3.5 and Miss M is 5. They were perfectly adorable! Those eyes! That skin! Those curls! I could go on and on. :)

Just for Kenneth. :) Tagged again.

2007-09-07T08:36:00.000-05:00

Ha! Well, another talented photographer Kenneth Deboe has tagged me! Kenneth is such a great guy that he deserves his own post, so even though I have posted my 8 things, I am posting 8 more. Just cuz!

1. I get sea sick and car sick (if I am not driving).
2. I love David Lynch and love *almost* everything he has ever done. I had a chance to see him and a do a Q&A in Dallas on his new movie Inland Empire and missed it! I was devastated (not really, but close!).
3. I do not eat beef, pork or chicken.
4. We have a beta fish named Eddeddekka. Yes, you read that right. My daughter named "her."
5. I am left-handed, which is supposed to mean I am creative or something. :)
6. I am part of a "trio" of high-school best friends. One of them was murdered when she was only 20. The other is still my dearest friend and I love her and feel she is beyond "best friend" status and is now just "family." Love you Jen!
7. My favorite lenses to shoot with are primes. The 85mm is workhorse lens.
8. My childhood dream was to be a ballerina and to eventually teach and run my own studio.

I am tagging (I will try to add more later).
Susan Robichaud
Gen Lamky

Holiday Portraits in the Park!

2007-09-06T22:56:00.000-05:00

I am so excited! My friend and fellow photographer Kellie Friedman will be joining me to offer a limited number of Holiday Portrait sessions this year.

We have created specially priced packages with beautiful, custom designed Christmas and Holiday cards. Need a gift idea for grandparents? We are also offering slideshows, albums and more!

The cards we are offering this year are absolutely beautiful. We have several designs to choose from. I am sure you will find one you love!

The sessions will be quick and painless, approx. 20 minutes each, and will take place at beautiful Lakeside Park on October 6th.

If you would like more information, or would like to schedule a session, please email me a sunshine@abeautifullight.com.

Here is just a small sample of the cards available. Aren't they fantastic!?

I have been TAGGED. :)

2007-09-05T10:21:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness. I am gonna have to post about ME today. My very talented photographer friend Jodi Getz tagged me on her blog.

I love that she calls it "old people tag!" Haha! No running involved.

Okay, so 8 things you don't know about me.

1. I love reality TV. I particularly love MTV's reality TV (Real World, The Hills, Laguna Beach. Yes, all that super cheesy, mindless reality TV!). I am also an avid Big Brother watcher in the summer.

2. I regret never having photographed my father with my children. I do not have any pictures of him with my daughter and only pictures of him with my sons when they are itty bitty (they were 10 and 14 when he died). People, if you own cameras, TAKE PICTURES of your children with their parents (you!) and their grandparents often. Don't worry about the right light, the right clothes, the right location. Take snapshots. They matter more than you can imagine in the big scheme of things. :)

3. My house is never clean enough. With 3 kids it seems impossible to keep my house clean for longer than an hour. I am a neat freak so this stresses me out on a daily basis. :)

4. I feel guilty for driving a V-8 SUV. Every time I go somewhere I think about how much I am polluting the environment! I need to make a change but it is hard with a large family (I know, excuses, excuses!).

5. I do NOT like ice cream! I know, weird, right? Very *very* occasionally, I will have some crazy concoction from Cold Stone Creamery, but I have never been able to eat the whole thing.

6. I am married to the most supportive, positive person I have ever known. I consider myself very blessed to have a built-in cheerleader, motivator, mediator and advisor who asks nothing at all of me. He even does his own laundry!

7. I have a Starbucks everyday. No exceptions. A Venti Sugar-Free Vanilla Non-fat Latte.

8. I think if people are thinking of getting a pet, they should check the local shelters first. There are so many good dogs and cats out there that need a good home. I have a shelter dog and she is the smartest, best dog I know! :)

Now, it is my turn to tag someone! Or 8 some one's!

Kristie Kulik
Carrie Steffe
Cari Lyn Photography
Tara McGlinchey
Christy Lacy
Natalie Knabe
Lisa Russo
Kate Austin

Beautiful Children

2007-08-25T08:22:00.000-05:00

There was so much beauty and joy in this family. This little guy just could not stop smiling! He was so happy and joyful. And also very strong! I got to see his Power Ranger moves in full swing! ;)

His sister was a beauty. So serene and peaceful with gorgeous bright eyes. They braved the Texas heat and the Texas mosquitoes and I am so glad they did. I had a lot of fun with you two!

Sneak Peek- Fresh Faces Winner

2007-08-22T22:15:00.000-05:00

This is another of my Fresh Faces contest winners. He was so handsome and so polite! He had the longest eyelashes and such beautiful (err, I mean handsome) eyes.

I really enjoying meeting and photographing you. Thank you for being so sweet and easy going. I hope you play more tennis soon! Sounds like you are a natural. :)

Fresh Face #1- Meet Miss "K"

2007-08-21T12:04:00.000-05:00

This is my Fresh Faces 1st place winner!

I had so much fun photographing this little girl. She was so sweet and so beautiful! Look at those eyes. :)

We had so much fun and I think Miss K might come work with me when she is a little older. She loved taking pics and got some cute ones of mom and dad with my camera. ;)

Here is your sneak peek, Miss K! I hope you love your pictures as much as I loved taking them. You are gorgeous!

Sneak Peek! ~Look at this handsome little guy!

2007-08-15T17:23:00.000-05:00

This little guy was so much fun! He had tons of energy and was a real trooper in the hot Texas heat! Thank you so much for letting me take your pictures Mr. N! I hope you like them. :)

Fresh Faces Winners Announced!

2007-08-09T23:36:00.001-05:00

Oh, my goodness! I am so glad I did not have to choose the winners. There were just too many super cute faces.

I ended up with 12 "Fresh Faces" models due to several tie votes. If it were possible, I would have just chosen them all. :)

With that said, here are my 12 2007 Fresh Faces! The top vote-grabber was Miss "K." Her mommy wins the leather mini-album. Congratulations to you!

I cannot wait to meet and photograph all these adorable boys and girls. Aren't they precious? Thank you ALL for your entries!

Fresh Faces- Thank you!

2007-07-30T12:52:00.000-05:00

I received so many adorable photos for my fresh faces contest, that I have decided to choose 10 children, instead of the original plan to choose 5.

The voting process is underway now. I will update the blog as soon as voting is finalized. It will be no later than 8-15-07.

The top vote-getter will also receive this gorgeous handmade leather mini-album with 8 images from our session ($50 value). Perfect to toss in your purse and take everywhere. :) Look how cute!

A Sneak Peek!

2007-07-17T21:22:00.000-05:00

I have so many to proof from this session. This little cutie has oodles of sass! We had such a great time today. :) Thank you so much Miss. C! I hope you like your pictures. You are beautiful!

Contest Update!

2007-07-09T19:16:00.000-05:00

I have received some adorable photographs! I am so glad that it is not up to me to decide the winners, because I do not think I could choose! I initially planned to choose 5 winners, but I may be extending it. :)

The deadline is 7-25-07 so hurry and get your entries in if you want to have a chance to win.

The child with the most votes will also receive a leather mini-album! These are SO nice. I will post photos soon.

Hope you all had a wonderful and safe 4th.

New Blog, New Contest!

2007-06-17T22:42:00.001-05:00

We are looking for a few FRESH FACES!
Do you have an adorable (and cooperative) child between the ages of 6 mos. and 10 years? Do you want to win a FREE custom portrait session and a FREE mounted 11x14 portrait? If so, then YOU may just have the next FRESH FACE of A Beautiful Light Photography!

Entering is simple! Just email one small, websized photo of your little one to me at: sunshine @ abeautifullight.com (remove spaces). A simple snapshot is fine, just be sure we can see that cute face. No professional portraits, please! :)

The contest will be judged and voted on by several of my photographer friends (not me). The winners will be announced here and by email no later than 8-15-07.

The catch (isn't there always one?) is: I get to choose the location and the style of the photo shoot. For example, I may decide that I want your little girl in pigtails or your little boy barefoot in khaki pants. I may want to photograph your princess in the park or your prince in the studio. I will have creative control of the session. Don't worry, it will be extra cute. ;)

Remember, you will receive a FULL session if you win and a beautiful mounted and coated 11x14 print (over $200 value!).

*The deadline for submitting photos is July 25th, 2007. All winners will be notified via email.