April 2008

April has been so busy I can't believe it's come and almost gone already! Here are a couple of my favorite sessions from this month, first is Chloe, and she's 8 months old. Doesn't she just make you wanna eat her up? She was such a little angel the whole time she was here, this is one of my favorite ages because they're usually so happy and not yet mobile!

Micah Claire is back and she's on the move! Her Mama said she's a climber and she ain't kidding, I think she's gonna be a little dare devil. I hear she's already taken a couple steps on her own! She's only 9 months old! Brooke, I think she's gonne keep you hoppin!

This is Holly, my last senior for 2008. She came here from Strong Arkansas for her session at Garvan Gardens. We had a great time going through the garden and taking pictures. If you have not taken your family to Garvan yet, do take time to go out there, it was just beautiful!

Congratulations Holly!

March 2008

Happy Spring everyone! I love the Spring, seeing things pop up out of the ground, trees getting their new leaves, warmer temperatures just make me feel good! I've been uber busy around the studio and I wish I could share some from every session, I've narrowed it down to a few of my favorites from this month. This is Addison, she's 2 weeks old and is the newest member of the Lasting Treasures Family, I look forward to seeing Addison grow and capturing her memories for years to come! She was a little angel during her session and she's a lucky little girl, she's the first grandchild on both sides of her family, so her family is just ecstatic with her arrival.

I love doing maternity sessions because it is such a happy time, marking the impending birth of a new baby and each one is special to me.

I got some new angel wings in and couldn't wait to try them out, aren't they just the cutest! I'm thinking I may have to run a Limited Edition series this summer for little angels!

February 2008

Hey everyone! Here are my 2 favorites from February, aren't these girls the sweetest!!! Both of them are members of my Baby Plan Program and I'm really enjoying seeing them grow! This is Micah and she's 6 months old.

This is Chloe and she's 5 months old!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Are you all as tired as I am? This year it seems like Christmas came upon us so fast, maybe because I set my deadlines later and had sessions on into December where I normally do not do that. I think that 2007 as a whole really just flew by for us, maybe because we had so many events! Whatever the case, I am looking forward to a slower paced 2008! Not less work, just less life events!
Are you one who makes a new years resolution? I'm not, I used to, but like most people, I didn't follow through with them, so I quit. This year, my hope is that we will all stay healthy and spend time doing what we love. The older I get the more I realize how fast life seems to fly by and how important it is to enjoy NOW, and enjoy the little things. My kids are growing up so fast, and it's sometimes hard to believe when I look at them. I recently watched an episode of Oprah (a rare indulgence) and her guest that day was Author Mitch Albom. The topic was "how would you spend one more day with someone you loved" so it really makes you think about what is really important. Also highlighted was the book "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" by Richard Carlson, which I plan to read. His widow and 2 daughters were guests of Oprah as well and hearing their testimony really made me stop in my tracks and realize how unimportant some things that stress me, really are. So IF I had a resolution, it would be to just live life fuller and enjoy it! How simple is that? :) What about you, do you have a New Years Resolution?
So, I'm feeling sappy and nostalgic today, I'll share an image that I think looks nostalgic.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy and blessed New Year!
Hugs
Dawn

December 2007

Here are a few of my favorites from the Holiday sessions, Christmas will be here before we know and I am sure you all are right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the season. Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog and see what I've been up to. I'm looking forward to Christmas with family and Morgan being out of school and a slower pace for a while.

I'd like to say a special "Thank You" to all of my loyal customers who have continued year after year, to allow me to watch your children grow and capture your treasured memories. I do feel truly blessed to have had the pleasure to know your families and share your children's charm for another year. I look forward to next year and what the new year brings!

I'd like to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Love Dawn

Well, I'm getting ready for this weekends start of the Santa Season and the tree is decorated and of course I had to take a few test shots, the only semi willing subject was my Chihuahua, Petey. I couldn't get Santa to dress up for test shots, so this will have to do, but it gives you an idea of the color scheme. No surprises here, simple red and white Christmas tree, with gifts underneath, the little kids will sit in the sleigh, with or without Santa on the floor behind them, bigger kids can sit on the floor with Santa or stand by him in his rocking chair. We do take a variety of shots and poses, depending on the age of the child and how willing they are to have Santa moving around them. See you all Saturday!

November

Just look at this little Santa Baby! This is Harper and isn't she the cutest little thing! She's only 8 weeks old and she really showed her stuff in the studio at her session!

Here is Madison and Maddox, Madison has been coming to me since she was a tiny baby and she's grown up right before my eyes, now little Maddox is already turning one year old and isn't he the most handsome fella! It's amazing how fast time flies and these babies grow up into big kids!

Fall is in the air!

Wow, I am really enjoying the cooler weather and we are in full swing with Fall sessions. Here is Allie, she's been coming to see me since she was just a little baby, last time she came, it was to bring her baby sister, this time, a family session. BUT I caught Allie being the cutie she is and that is what I am sharing today. Look at her beautiful curly hair and bright eyes! She was bouncing and twirling around in her tutu, just being Allie!

Carter brought his new baby sister to see me for her first pictures, and it's easy to see how little Presli has made her way right into the hearts of all 3 of them!

October 2007

Holy Cow! where did September go? I can't believe it's already October! Fall Sessions are being announced today, you should have gotten the email already if you are on my email list! If by chance you didn't get one email me! Christmas Sessions will be announced in the next week or so.

Now, on to the fun stuff! Here are a few images from September sessions, look at these 2 little darlings. Aren't they dressed up so cute! I love their outfits!

This is Tucker, he came in with Big Sister for pictures and she was such a big help with him. Can you find a heart in this picture?

This is little Micah, she has the most beautiful little face. Expecting moms take notice, THIS is why you want to bring your newborn in to the studio as soon as possible after they are born. This sweet wadded up positioning is only possible in the first couple weeks. Micah was 2 weeks old here.

Olivia is back!

Remember Olivia from last year? (scroll down to Sept 06 and you'll see her!) well she's back and she's turning 3! I can't believe how much she's grown and how smart she is! Here's just a couple from her fun fun session!

Houston

Meet Houston! Isn't he just the cutest little thing? I've been so busy doing birthday invitations lately because I have so many little ones having birthday parties this month, it was fun to play with a baby again. Houston is at such a fun age, smiles easily and is just a joy to be around. He came in with big sister for her Birthday session, but how could I resist snapping some of him! He has the sweetest family, and they've been customers for several years now, it's been fun watching his big sister grow and welcome Houston into the world as well!

September 2007

Hi Ya'll! OMG I am so sorry I haven't been keeping up with this blog! I've gotten a few emails reminding me and I hope to be more diligent now that I know you all depend on this! Fall is coming and yes we will be doing Fall Families again soon, as well as Santa and other Christmas sessions. I will update via newsletter for sure, so just watch for that in the next few weeks! This year has been a whirlwind, we moved as you all know, the new studio took a while to get up and running, but it is now and I've been keeping busy, but probably the most exciting thing that has happened recently is that Mike and I have become grandparents! Can you believe it, it's been so much fun getting to know and love this new little angel. Aunt Morgan is learning a lot about taking care of little babies and she's had a ball with Miss Braylin. Braylin was born on July 25th and is almost 6 weeks old. Here's a peak at her, how can I not show her? Here is one of me and her, the day after she was born, the other 2 were taken at 4 weeks. Yes I am loving having a new subject! Isn't she BEAUTIFUL!

November 2006

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving! It's so nice to get together with family and eat all those yummy foods, but most of all, to remember how lucky we are and be thankful for all the blessings in our lives and remember those that are not as fortunate to be spending the day with family and friends. It's hard to believe that it's going to be Christmas before we know it! But around the studio it's seemed like Christmas all month long, we've been busy as elves doing Cookie Sessions (which the kids LOVED) and ending the month with a visit from Santa! Actually in order to see all the kiddos who wanted to see him, he had to make quite a few appearances!

I think I love the Santa sessions best of all, because all the little children who come see us for these sessions, to them, they are not coming to have pictures made, they are coming to see Santa! It's a big deal and I never tire of seeing their faces when they see him, their eyes light up and then they smile,well most of them anyway. Every now and then, we have some that are a little fearful, but most of the time, Santa can manage to make friends with all his visitors, even if it's from the other side of the room, he gets a smile out of them. Here are just a few from this months sessions.

October 2006

October began my busiest time of the year, we started with Family sessions and here's just a couple from those. I think I'm going to have to offer this again in the Spring because there are so many that want family sessions, it's hard to fit them all in on 2 weekends in the Fall!

September 2006

WOW this month is really hard to pick just one favorite, so I narrowed it down to 3, things have been so busy lately I hardly have time to get over here and update the blog. This past weekend we had the cookie sessions and had a great time doing that, look for some of those to peak at, next month! I hope to update the gallery with some really soon too. Anyway, back to September's favorite picks. First, yep you guessed it, another newborn! Come to think of it, probably 75% of them have been baby boys, this is Alex, and he was purely delicious! He didn't mind anything we did and just slept the whole time, I LOOOOOVE this one of his little feet with his Mommy's rings.

Here's Miss Olivia and she's 2 and she and I have formed our own special friendship, she's so smart she saw me a few days after her session at a birthday party, and she looked at me and made this little sound, it cracked me up because it was a sound I had made to her at the studio (it made her chuckle so big) she made that sound right back at me! So often I see one of "my kids" out in public with their mommies but usually they don't remember me unless they are older, but this time she surprised me big time and I thought it was so cute!

If you've been following the blog at all you might recognize this little lady from May's favorite pick. I really try not to use the same children in these favorites, but I couldn't resist this month, She's now 6 months old and I think this is probably my favorite picture I've ever taken of her. The sweetness of her little face and lips and her hands clasped together is so so sweet

Next month, look forward to Cookie Sessions and Family Sessions picks!

August 2006

I told you last month I had a ton of newborns! Here's another one, with his Daddy, he was such a tiny little fella, just over 5 pounds and just precious as can be, his parents were so easy to work with and he slept almost the whole time! These are just a couple from his session, I had a lot to pick from, but I thought these 2 were really sweet. If we could only know what he's thinking behind those big eyes.....

July 2006

WOW I have had a rush of newborns lately and still have a bunch to look forward too! It seems like everyone is having new babies lately and I have to admit, they ARE my favorite! I am always pleased when a mother chooses to bring the baby in when they are still tiny and so fresh and new. There is never again a time like this with your baby and they don't stay that way very long as you all know. That's why it's so important to schedule the newborn session as soon as possible! This little guy is just 9 days old, isn't he the sweetest?

June 2006

For June, I am going to change the normal routine here, June was our vacation month and although I had a lot of sessions I would love to have shared with you, honestly my favorite pictures for June were my own! We had a wonderful 12 day vacation in Florida, and I had the opportunity to have our family pictures made by someone who is a dear friend of mine. Our families vacationed together and it was the perfect trip. Although I have dozens of beautiful pictures of our family, and I would love to share them with you, I feel I should only showcase pictures here on the blog, that I actually took, so here's some of my favorite snaps. These are just a few out of about 700, so it was a hard decision to pick just a few! This first one of Morgan was taken at Destin on the boardwalk just outside our hotel, if anyone's planning a trip to Destin, I highly recommend the Holiday Inn Destin, it's great and has lots of things for the kids and has a beautiful beach!

This next picture is so typical of my child, whatever she's eating, you can always count on it being all over her face, you'd think as particular as she is about some things she'd be neater, but at 8 she's still a little pig. The hotel had ice cream free for the taking any time of the day or night you wanted to walk up and get one, so a few times we grabbed one on the way out to the beach. They melt fast!

I love this next picture, I snapped this as we were watching the fireworks at Magic Kingdom, it really shows how excited she was and can't you just feel the AAAH!!!! Also, here is a picture of the Cinderella's Castle all lit up over the lake. Gosh I wish I were back there right now!

Morgan wanted these silly Mickey hands from the first time she saw them! I held her off from buying them for several days and tried my best to persuade her it wasn't a wise choice, but the last couple days we were there she insisted on having them, I told her she'd have to use her money and she didn't think twice about shelling out the $20 for them. It wasn't long and she was tired of wearing and carrying them, and they ended up stuffed down in the backpack, and of course right now, I don't even know where they are, gee they were really important weren't they?

Okay, only 2 more, these were taken at St. George Island, we spent a few days there on the way home, on a quiet beach to let our minds calm down from all the Disney! If you're looking for a place to escape the race of vacation and just relax and enjoy the quiet and the beaches, St. George is your place!

Thanks for letting me share a glimpse into my life, so often I get to know your families and am blessed to share your lives, I hope you've enjoyed seeing a little about me and my family.