The sweet Rico kids. I’ve been photographing them for a few years now and each time they are just so much fun. Full of life and energy. I love it!
We met at Lake Bistineau on a beautiful fall day. The kiddos were out of school on break so we were able to do a weekday. It can be hard when kids are in school, especially in the fall, because we have to start our session so early. Time change is a fun one. It’s hard to know what I prefer as far as time changes. Starting sessions earlier in the day means I have to find someone to watch my kiddos, but then I still have time to spend with them before bed after I get back home. Summer sessions can start so much later so hubs can watch the kids for me, but the session is close to bed time for all kids involved. It’s a toss up!
Regardless, these kiddos were so much fun to work with. They gave me plenty of idea and I let them lead the way. I’m photographing kids I find it’s really important to let them do the leading. If I try and force anything on then, odds are they will not want to do it! We all know how kids work, right?! Haha!!
We picked lots of flowers, danced like a princess, waved out our imaginary fans from the “stage” (haha!!), and fought imaginary battles with sticks. I love kids. They are just the best!
Sweet David is turning ONE!! I can’t believe it! Seems like just yesterday I was in his home in North Louisiana photographing his newborn session and here we are documenting his first birthday. Time goes by so quickly!!
As a baby photographer in Shreveport Louisiana it brings me so much joy to be able to photograph such important milestones for my families. Documenting their maternity sessions, capturing their first family photos during their newborn sessions, and on to celebrating their baby turning one. It is so special to me and I love it so much!!
David was so cute for birthday session. It took him a minute to warm up to me and my big camera but once he did, he was so fun to photograph. I loved all the props mom brought for his session! We had the best time doing these photos! I loved getting to chat and catch up with his sweet mama and daddy.
It was the perfect day at the Red River Wildlife Refuge in Shreveport, Louisiana. This is always a favorite location of mine! We have lots of variety and I’m a sucker for big, pretty trees!!
Sweet little Jesse had his first birthday. He is one farm loving boy! We were able to get a few family photos and then we put him near the family tractor and he was the happiest little guy you ever did see. Seriously, it was the cutest thing. Jesse and his family live on a farm in North Louisiana and this is where we did his photos. They have cows, pigs, horses, a couple of dogs and a cat. The true farm loving boy’s dream!
I love getting to photograph babies for their first birthday. It’s so fun! You never know how they are going to feel about photos but it always feels like the greatest success when they warm up to you and you get some genuine smiles!!
Early June David and I took a trip to Pennsylvania to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. Technically, he had to be there for work and I tagged along but we went a few days early and stayed a few days later so that we could make a little vacation out of it. Our first stop was Lancaster, PA.
This part of our trip started off a bit rough with the airbnb booked being in a really rough part of town. What I did not realize is that Lancaster and Lancaster County are actually two totally different places. Lancaster is a big city and Lancaster county is smaller towns inside the county that make up Lancaster count and it is all Amish farmland. Or at least, mostly Amish farmland. There are shops and Sight and Sound Theaters and whatnot.
We quickly cancelled our airbnb. Tried to get a refund due to feeling very unsafe staying there, but the owner would not allow any amount of a refund. After going back and forth we decided to reach out to airbnb and they are giving us a partial refund. Hey, better than nothing!
Ok. So now we cancelled that airbnb, now what??
We planned this portion of the trip with some friends who were driving up from VA. They quickly booked an alternative airbnb IN LANCASTER COUNTY (haha!!) and we stayed there. It was soooo nice and peaceful.
For this portion of our trip we did Sight and Sound Theaters, Agape coffee shop and restaurant, we ate at a few Amish restaurants, went to Kitchen Kettle Village, a really good ice cream shop that I don’t even know the name of, and went to Main Street Skirt Exchange. We saw more horse and buggies than we have ever seen (which was previously zero because we DO NOT live near amish country) and more beautiful farm land than I could capture. Word of warning, don’t drive through farm land with your windows rolled down. Haha!!
Thursday afternoon we all split ways. David and I drove to northern PA and our friends went back home to VA. More to come soon!
Flying above the clouds always makes me happy The much better Airbnb*Singsong voice* agapeeeeeMy drink choices for the trip- iced dirty chia (amazing!!) and plain lattes (delish)About to watch Daniel at sight and sound- it was goooood
me
Such a beautiful drive across PA
Specifically for my horse loving Emma
Kitchen kettle village
This just takes me back to the 1800s.. not that I know anything about what that was like
A few months ago Minden, Louisiana had a Summer Soiree at the Fuller White House renovated by Sara Mcdaniel in conjunction with Magnolia Network’s In With The Old. Sara has worked so hard to put Minden on the map and I would say she is doing an amazing job!
This fun event was put together as a fundraising opportunity for the Mayor of Minden and the Chief of Police. So many came out to show their love and support. One thing I have noticed about Minden is they love big and they love well.
Incredible teams came together to make this event the success that it was. From event planners to caterers, everything was spectacular!
Thank you Minden for being the friendliest city in the south!
With the threat of being rained out and rescheduled, we had no idea if today was going to go the way we had hoped. After lots of praying and just committing it to God, we got a call at 6 am this morning saying they were delivering! What a sigh of relief!!
We all got out of bed bright and early to watch the home be delivered. We don’t get out much?? Haha!!
There were a few spots on our driveway that were very tight and it took quite a bit of maneuvering to get through but they did it with minimal damage. Thank the Lord!!
We are watching them all work hard to get the home set, tied down, and put back together. It’s an exciting time! It should be about 6-8 weeks before we move in. There’s still lots to do!
Phew, we were holding our breath Doggie driver. Haha!! She’s a beauty Our little fam
About two weeks ago, mid April, the pad for our home was completed and we went and closed on the construction loan of the home. The girls got to tour the model home that ours is going to look like for the first time. They loved it!! They have seen pictures and a virtual walk through but we made the choice on the home without them being there so they hadn’t seen it in person yet.
We were asked to take photos of the pad and send them in so that the company delivering the home could see we were ready.
We did our part but the next day we got a heavy downpour and parts of the pad were damaged. We immediately started contacting different ones to make them aware of the damage and to figure out what needed to be done next.
Because of even more rain, the pad repairs were delayed two weeks. We finally had a break in the rain and everything was able to dry out. The pad was repaired and drainage ditches were cut to redirect water from the top of the hill.
We picked up some hay from tractor supply here in Minden, LA to put down around the perimeter of the pad to prevent any further washouts from rain. Funny enough, we haven’t had any rain since. We had a storm that was supposed to come through but it missed us completely. I won’t complain.
As of now, our home is going to be delivered on May 29th. We are praying there will be no issues to cause delays on this part.
After the home is delivered we will have lots of things going on. The septic will be put in, the plumbing work will be done, electrical work, a/c work, inside finish work from flooring to sheetrock and whatever else needs to be done. We might try and sneak in some landscaping during this time as well. This process is estimated to take 8 weeks.
Once this part is completed we will have a final walk through with our contractor to ensure everything is the way we wanted it and if so, we will have the final close and get the keys to our home! This is estimated to be late July/early August.
We can’t wait for the move in and are trusting for no hiccups or issues along the way.
Pad work being done The first go around before damagesClosing on the home construction loan. This will be our kitchen view in a few short months! Sweet gifts from the company we are purchasing the home fromSome of the damagesAnother location of damages Ah, that’s more like it
The next updates will be that our home is here and construction work has begun. I’m excited for that post!! Stay tuned, it won’t be long now!
Babies coming back for their first birthday photos after having their newborn session with me means the world!!
Baker boy was a sweet newborn I photographed last year and I just loved his session. I have since been watching him grow through his mom’s social media posts and I have loved seeing how much he has changed. Then getting to see him again in person. Oh, he is so cute!!
I loved our time together out at Lake Bistineau State Park in North Louisiana and how easy it was to get sweet smiles out of this sweet little man.
My sweet girls in the spring Wisteria
I love the time of where when all the flowers are in bloom. It makes me happy.
We have a large patch of Wisteria on our land in North Louisiana that bursts to life every spring. I make it a point every year to get my girlies out in the flowers for photos. It’s something I just love to do! As they get older and older the images that I have taken every year get more and more precious. There is nothing NOTHING like having your family documented every year. I love looking back over years past and seeing my babies as babies. Boy were those times hard, but now that they are older those times are so very dear.
The Minden Louisiana Chamber of Commerce hosts a gala event for their members every year to celebrate the accomplishments and honor businesses and business men and women who go above and beyond. It was such an honor to photograph this event and meet so many of Minden’s business leaders.
The theme was Arabian nights. Did they not smash it out of the ball park?!? Wow!! It looked amazing! The many hours spent and the amount of effort wasn’t wasted.
So many men and women were celebrated that I couldn’t even begin to name them all but what a honor to get to see them all.
Enjoy the lovely details from such a wonderful evening.
North Louisiana Lifestyle Family and Newborn Photographer 