Before and After

I could have easily titled this post a lot of things, such as, "Why it is important to hire a skilled portrait photographer" or "Don't hang a baby from a tree" or "Reason #307 of why I don't give out unedited images". I figured before and after says it all!

The following images are an example of a before and after. They are also an example of a composite. A composite is when a photographer combines two images and blends them together to create one. In this instance, I took the image of the baby being supported by moms front arm and one where her arm was removed and blended them together. I then edited out her back arm, straightened the image, and then added a background to add depth. From that point, I did my normal amount of editing.

Please remember that half of your photographers job is editing your images. It takes time and skill and know how to acheive a polished image. It is likely that when you see an image of a baby hanging from a tree, that image was a composite. Please don't attempt it!

Remember that when you pay for your custom portraiture, you aren't just paying for my time at our session. You are paying for the time I have spent learning these skills and applying them to create unique images from your session!

{Beautiful Morning} Frisco- McKinney- Plano Child Photographer

I had the joy of meeting up with Eli and his parents for our 6 mth session. Time flies way too quickly! We were able to get some great smiles out of him. The funny part was when he was totally stone faced. A moving truck pulled up and the moving guys hoped out. He turned to them and gave them the biggest smile ever! We thought we were going to have to hire them to help us!

He was an angel though and I am so happy to share a few...



Couldn't decide on this one...

{A Hot Afternoon} Rowlett- Rockwall- Garland Family Photographer

This session was originally scheduled for March, but this sweet little man couldn't stay well! Fortunetly, we were finally able to schedule our session. It turned out to be a very hot and humid afternoon and he wanted nothing to do with it. Poor baby! In the end, a game of peek a boo won him over and we got some of the sweetest smiles ever!

{Goofy Girl} Dallas- Highland Park- Plano Child Photographer

Little Lucy Kate absolutely makes me laugh. I get so much joy out of editing her sessions. She has incredible expressions that just make me laugh out loud. She put up with quite a bit as we did our session. Not to mention that it was pretty hot out. We were able to capture some images of her doing the things she loved and included mom and dad in a few as well. I was so pleased with the results! Enjoy!



Another one that I did in both BW and Color... just couldn't decide!

{Much Easier} Dallas- Highland Park- Downtown Child Photographer

At our three month session, Mr. William would not smile when I pointed the camera at him. Seriously! I was there 4 hours. We finally got some amazing smiles at the end of our session, but it took a while! Well, we juat finished his six month session and he was a total ham for the camera! It was fabulous and we finished our session in 60 minutes this time. What a change! He was just an angel and up for anything we threw at him. Loving these images!

Loved this one in color and BW...

{Afternoon at Arbor Hills} Plano- Frisco- Allen Child Photographer

I can't believe Miss Ella is 6 months old already! We went out to Arbor Hills Nature Preserve for her session. It was a very hot afternoon, but she did wonderfully. She has the most beautiful blue eyes and put up with us as we wandered around in the tall grass and trails. They provided the perfect contrast. Enjoy some of my favorites!









One of my favs from our session...

{Silk and Flowers} Frisco- Dallas- Highland Park Family Photographer

I was lucky enough to meet this sweet girl in her mama's belly, then at her birth and her newborn session. I couldn't believe that she was six months already! Time goes too quickly. We did some of just her and some as a family. We even squeezed in Grandma and Grandpa. We had a lovely afternoon with spring flowers blossoming everywhere! Not to mention she was wearing silk. Did you know silk has to be dry cleaned? LOL! We think she knew that, as she decided it was the perfect outfit to get dirty. Babies are the best. Enjoy!

{Sleeping Willow} Mckinney- Allen- Frisco Newborn Photographer

I had the joy of photographing her mama's maternity session as well as her birth, so I was so excited to finally get to snuggle and love this sweet girl. She was an angel for our session and I was so glad her mama and daddy were flexible as I was called to a birth the first time I tried to do our session! It worked out though and her session is one of my favorites to date!

Just one little sneak...

{Mama's Love} McKinney- Frisco- Plano Maternity Photographer

I was so excited to see this family again! I was blessed to do maternity and newborn photographs for their first and again now, as they are expecting number two! This isn't a maternity sneak peek, but I loved it so much, I had to share it. His mama just loves him so much and he adores her. What a blessing. I promise actual maternity images are forthcoming!

{Beautiful Ava} McKinney- Frisco- Plano Newborn Photographer

This little girl threw everyone off and decided to come early! Thankfully I was able to work in her session anyway and I was so glad I did! She was just tiny and beauiful and slept so wonderfully for us. I can't wait for Mom and Dad to see the rest of these, but in the meantime, I thought I would share just one with my favorite new hat!

{Windows to the Soul} Arlington- Irving- Dallas Baby Photographer

This sweet little girl does not like to smile for me. I even went to her house and played with her toys and crawled around on the floor acting like a goofball. No luck. While I know mom was disapointed in the lack of laughter, I always come away from her sessions feeling like you could reach down and touch her very soul. Her face and eyes are so deep and she conveys great emotion even without a smile. I just love her to peices!!!









The only smile we got was in the swimming pool... our last ditch effort!!

{Welcome Jordan ~ April 30, 2010} Dallas- Plano- Richardson Birth Photography

This little man was welcomed with love by his mama and papa on Friday morning. Mom was amazing as she worked hard to bring him into the world at a local birth center, despite having been awake for a VERY long time. His birth was just beautiful and I love seeing babies come out awake and alert. He was very interested in everything he saw! Just beautiful. Congrats to this amazing new family!