Travis Dew Photography

Good grief….this is some serious fun, happiness and smiles through and through.  Moms and Dads….let this be an example of letting a shoot “be” and get in there and PLAY with them!!  This daddy plays this hard every time I’ve been with them.  Mama always says, “This isn’t just for the photo shoot….this is how he is all the time.”  Good for him.  A cool little nugget about this family?…This ‘day’ is a holiday tradition…..Mama and Daddy take the day off from work….have a morning photoshoot….mid-day visit with Santa…and afternoon shopping and movie.  LOVE IT.  This is the 4th year they’ve done this!  Merry Merry!

This cute family received a Gift Certificate from an in-law and what fun we had in the park!!  Fortunately for the kiddos….and maybe unfortunately for Mama….there were HUGE piles of mulch that were irresistible.  Mulch + tights is pretty much like magic marker on the face…….but we didn’t care!  Smiles, running and fun for the entire time!  On our way back to the car…Daddy says, “C’mon guys, we’re going to go home and play ‘restaurant’!” – I asked what that was…..it’s when Daddy feeds everybody at the counter when Mama has a night off.  LOVE IT!  Every household has their version for sure…and mine isn’t named anything…just the dish is a mix and match of lots-o-things….in one pot.  Here’s your sneak peek.

Wouldn’t you think….with a wedding in the back yard….reception in the home….and caterers, friends and family buzzing around… and in an hour you’re about to make your little family of 3….a big family of 8….that you’d have a small smidge of nerves?…SOMETHING….butterflies….anything?  This lady is a true, Folly Beach chill pill.  I am a huge believer in knowing when ‘it’s right’ as I think each of us possesses the inner voice that speaks when something’s amiss….be it through a knot in the stomach or a doubt in the mind.  These two knew it was right.  Cheers to a perfect day with perfect weather, family and friends.  Oh…you know how I knew it was right for me to be there?  Look carefully in the picture through the tree branches…..there was a GEORGIA flag flying at her home.  ‘woof. woof. woof.’, says this Athens girl.  

 

These are some of the sweetest and most special people around.  Ken was a minister at our church for years and he and “Boo” are great friends of ours.  Ken is one of those people in my life that I use as a filter…you know those situations when you say, “What would so-in-so do?”…..He’s my Alka Seltzer.  He has this uncanny ability and timing of speaking words of wisdom or advice at just the right time.  For instance, when my husband and I were fretting over school decisions for our 3rd child – the phone rang and it was Ken….just checking in on our family.  His advice?  ‘Relax…take this one year at a time.  You’re not planning this child’s entire educational career in the first grade.’  Never thought about it that way…he was right.

“Boo” contacted me to see if we could collaborate on surprising Ken for his birthday.  She and the girls told him they were headed to Charleston to “shop” and we got their little plan cooking.  Thanks for coming down….LOVED getting to see you and the girls and hope Ken was happy with his surprise.  Much love, hugs and kisses to all of you!  By the way….I feel like I’m looking at a Breck commercial.

 

Rehearsal Dinners can be ….tricky.  Stress, nerves and tension can be high for ALL sorts of reasons.  But…if you plan the night at Bowen’s Island on Folly Beach….you can kiss alllll that stress goodbye.  What a great night – to start a great weekend.  And….on my way to the party…..I saw THIS and got chills.  Yep, it was for her….

Pictures of a beautiful wedding coming soon….

I love, love, LOVE my trips to Palm Beach….but they wouldn’t be possible without sweet Katy.  She is my husband’s sister and I sort of have the guilts that I get the pleasure of visiting more than he does.  Her household takes me in and I am very grateful for their open arms, efforts towards my work and hospitality.  Sorry Jeff and Katy….but the best part is getting to love on our nephew…”M”…full of spunk, spit and smiles.  He has had a fantastic disposition from the second he was born.  Katy, I love that you’re starting to get the wrestling, dirty, little boy.  My household has had that for y-e-a-r-s…..in fact, I’m looking at smooshed banana on the floor right now….next to a helicopter….and a shoe.  Awesome.

 

I’ve been lucky enough to shoot this family a couple of times before and I always enjoy them for a few reasons.  Mama and Daddy are super nice and easy to be around….little “S” is always up for a lil’ posing for the camera….and “L” has got lots to talk about.  This time, he had a Curious George jack-in-the-box…..kickin’ it old school.  I love to see the pure joy of a child from a stuffed animal popping out of a tin box.  Aahhhh, we could all learn a little something from that, huh?  Mama…you’ll giggle to know that the very first picture on the beach…might have been “the” picture.  Here’s your sneak peek….

Sweet Joanne is one of my favorites down in Palm Beach.  Luckily, Bill was able to join in on the shoot this year and Bebe got to go swimming.  She loved liked hated it.  Sorry Bebe…we were just trying to celebrate your birthday!  Your Mama and I got a good chuckle out of your dip…Enjoyed seeing you, as always.

Part of what I enjoy about my shoots is trying…in that 45 minutes….to capture true personalities.  That’s usually why I tell people not to worry about clothes, bring something fun and let the kiddos just be.  I LOVE these feet and have a pair juuuuust like it at my house.  Enjoyed meeting everybody….here’s your sneak peek!

Um….really all that can be said is….

it was ON…from the GET GO.

Funnest. Trio. Ever.