Travis Dew Photography

….wait.  I know, that’s weird….but I’ve had a crush on this family for a l-o-n-g time and I figure…why not make them mine.  Since they are in my head anyway.  Mama and Daddy are friends of ours – and besides being the most beautiful people on the outside…..they are as well on the inside.  Seriously.  Humble, thoughtful, hard-working and kind.  Emily had her parents and sisters in town so we made it an afternoon party.  I know it was crazy….but that’s the way I like it.  Crazy fun.  I’ll let you know (soon) when the rest go up!  Thanks for a GREAT afternoon.

 

Yesterday I met up with two sweet, little boys….and the nicest parents around.  What I love about shoots with siblings is….inevitably I get a little ‘harsh love’ in there.  So the last time I shot these two – the baby was about a month old and older brother thought his nose needed to be pinched….closed….for a little while.  This time, he thought he needed grass in his face, a blanket over his head and some tight, squeezing lovin’!  It makes me giggle….partly because “B” is going to get a little bigger….and it will be game-on “T”…and partly because it’s just funny.  Merry Christmas to you and I appreciate you teaching me how to criss-cross Indian style!

I’m so stinkin’ sick and tired of seeing these new Mamas…with their perfectly straight houses….skinny jeans and well-behaved children.  What gives, people?!  My youngest is 10 and I’m pretty sure I’ve still got something in that pile on my kitchen counter from 2006.  Jeez.  Seriously….Whitney is another one of those really nice Super Moms who makes it all look easy and totally worth it.  Her children….could NOT be any more pleasant.  They were fun, moods were great, were considerate of one another and just, plain HAPPY.  Thank you for bringing me into what I surely thought would be chaos….but with a neat house, clean children, and a dang candle burning…..you got it going on, girl.  Here’s a quick sneak peek….

Little Miss “C” has a birthday coming up…..so we met up at the park to celebrate just a little before her ‘real’ party.  A ‘thank you’ to Nicole for passing my name along to these sweet people.  I enjoyed my morning with you guys and….PLEASE….check out these eye lashes.

I met these guys years ago after they had gotten a session with me from a local charity auction.  When Mama contacted me this year….I remembered who they were but couldn’t quite place faces….I knew it was two little boys, etc.  Um…..who is the boy that’s taller than me with hands like Shaq?  Wow how everyone has grown up and…love that never-ending undercurrent of the big brother’s need to wrestle!  Very familiar as I find myself wearing referee stripes often.  Good to see all of you again!

So….basically Mom’s a rock star.  So is Dad for that matter.  Little miss wearing ‘normal size jeans’ just had baby number THREE three weeks ago…and not only was she sporting normal attire…she was throwing “E”‘s birthday party that afternoon.  Sweet little family with a cool, calm demeanor.  I love getting to see these people and Mr. “J” is new to the mix.  All I have to say to you sweet fella’ is….hang – on – tight….You’ll be wearing fingernail polish and a tutu before you can even defend yourself.

 

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.