.birth announcement

Y'all are gonna love me today. I'm about to start your week off in the best way possible.

Last week my two nieces came over to my apartment for a photoshoot for Elsie's birth announcement! It was great fun. I can't wait to someday show these to Addie and Elsie, and tell them about the one morning they came over to my tiny apartment and we laid on the floor by the window and took photos.

Here's what I saw last Friday morning:

Honestly, how could you not be in the best mood possible after looking at these sweet faces??

Have a great Monday, friends!

Carolyn

.not-so "professional" shots

A couple weeks ago, Emily and I decided we were going to take some "professional head shots" for our blogs. So we got all dressed and set out to one of the local parks. We both figured we'd find a pretty green area, pose for a few shots, and leave. 30 minutes tops.

One hour later, we were still at the park. Cranky and discouraged we had nothing to show for our efforts. It just wasn't our day. Feeling defeated we were about to call it a day, when we both spotted a side street with some beautiful leaves scattered on the ground.

So we gave it one more shot. And I'm so glad we did! These may not be the style of photos we were expecting to take, but they are definitely more fun.

Here's what I saw:

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Carolyn

.portland aerial tram

Friday morning Emily and I rode the Portland Aerial Tram. The tram is a mode of public transportation that primarily exists to transport people from one terminal of the OHSU (Oregon Health and Science University) to another terminal, but alternatively provides some pretty killer views of the city. 

The Portland Aerial Tram bears a striking resemblance to the pods on the London Eye, but instead of traveling in a circle it travels in a "straight line". At 22 mph, it only takes 3 minutes to reach your destination - 3, 300 feet above where you boarded. I mean it's practically like a ride at Disney.

For $4 it's a pretty neat excursion while visiting Portland. I was a cheap date! :)

Here's what I saw one overcast Portland morning:

 

Have a merry Thursday, my friends!

Carolyn

Photo of me credit: Emily {plantbywater.blogspot.com}

.cortese. family session

Last weekend Ashley, of Smitten Design, asked if I could snap a few family photos for their Christmas card. They're so photogenic that it only took about 30 minutes to get more than enough images for a Christmas card! 

Here's what I saw last weekend on an overcast afternoon:

Tony and Ashley, thanks for letting me be a part of sharing your lives with others!

Have a great day y'all. I'm headed to Portland!

Carolyn

.amanda. maternity session

Hi friends, I'm so excited to share these photos with you today! 

My sister-in-law Amanda is pregnant with baby number 2. This sweet baby girl is due in January, but chances are she will come early, and our family will be blessed with the best Christmas present of all. 

Amanda is a fabulous cook, a kick-butt lawyer, and one of the kindest women I know. She has fed me more dinners than I can count, all with a willing heart and not even a thought of something in return. I am so blessed to have her in my life, and so grateful she let me coerce her into posing for some maternity shots! 

Here's what I saw last Friday as the sun shined fiercely over a Tallahassee afternoon:

 

Isn't she beautiful?? Clearly, you would have never known she was 8 months pregnant if I hadn't told you right? 

Have a wonderful Tuesday,

Carolyn

PS Only 3 days until I jet set to Portland, Oregon to visit one of my best friends- Emily!! 

.liam. senior shoot

I've known Liam and his wonderful family for about 10 years (give or take). I started "babysitting" Liam and his younger sister Riley when he was 10 years old, and from that point on I refused to babysit anyone else. They were my favorite, and I just didn't have time for other kids who didn't share our affinity for Harry Potter and mexican food. :)

Liam has been an artist from the beginning. One of my favorite memories of him was when he would lay on his parents bed and dictate short stories (that he had written) while I would type them out on the computer because he was too young to know how to type. Now, years later, he writes film reviews for our local newspaper. I like to think that I had a part in his early stages of authorship.

I feel so honored to have taken these senior photographs of my (not so) little Liam.

Here's what I saw while wandering around a local park with this cool kid:

Congratulations, Liam, on making it this far! I can't wait to see where life takes you in the coming years. Just be sure to remember your favorite babysitter when you become a big-time film maker and/or critic. :)

Have a wonderful Thursday, friends!

Carolyn

P.S. for other Senior Photographs check out my PEOPLE page, located in the top right corner of the screen.