life, unposed

catch me on Facebook

2011-01-16T15:38:00.004-05:00

I really love the idea of a blog. I do. It is a great way to talk to my clients and friends, share sessions, etc. Except that I never end up with enough time to do it. When I'm at the studio, I'm editing or talking to clients or doing one of the other 294 things that always seem to be on my plate. And the blog takes a back seat.

So after a ridiculous blog posting hiatus, I've decided that I probably should just direct everyone to my Facebook page. It is quicker to update and I definitely do it more often that I post here. I'm not saying I'll never post here anymore (I'm pretty sure the urge will strike again, actually), but you're way more likely to catch me over there:-)

Gretchen Mathison Photography on Facebook

(and no post would be complete without a picture! Below are some pictures from a shoot I did for Fleming Clothing. Go check them out... super cute clothes for your super cute kids)

consider yourself warned

2010-06-10T11:30:00.004-04:00

The following pictures will make you want to have more babies, even if you already have 3 kids and your husband is 50. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

This precious bundle is gorgeous new baby boy, Maddox. He's the third boy in this family. Third boys have a special place in my heart. He was absolutely yummy!!

hey, is that a tee pee in your living room?

2010-06-03T17:01:00.008-04:00

So here's the thing about pets and kids.

They're completely, totally, 100% unpredictable.

And that makes my job always fun, always fresh, always something a little different. It can be the same family, same pet, same house and still be a completely different session than the last time. Kids can be cranky or happy, outgoing or shy. They may be incredibly reserved during one session and the next year, grab my hand and take me to show me their favorite toys and new big-kid beds. Pets can LOVE YOU! LOVE YOU! LOVE YOU! (okay, I'm pretty much talking about dogs in that case) or eh, whatever (cat lovers, you know what I'm talking about).

I just never know what I'm getting when I step out of my car and into someone else's home, and man, I love it. That's what makes me get out of bed each morning - knowing that even though I'm always incredibly busy, that there is just never going to be a dull moment. Like any job, this one isn't ALL fun and games... but there are many smiles along the way, even on my craziest days.

The photos in this post are from client sessions I did for Go Realty in Cary. Stop by and say hi to the great people who work there... you won't be sorry you did. And you may even get a really sweet coffee mug out of the deal:-)

This family had five kids. I love how this picture tells a little mini story of how their daily life must be, ie: controlled chaos:

Normally, if I tell kids this age to hold hands they are completely appalled. Grossed out. Mortified. But these three? They were awesome and did it without gagging or making faces or anything! (See, there's a little more unpredictability for you.)

Is it just me, or do you think this cat just KNOWS she's hot stuff?

This picture will make you yawn. Seriously. I just looked at it and did.

I don't care what you say, I swear this dog has a smile on her face.

Kid art. Funny how you don't see the true beauty in it until you become a parent yourself, and then suddenly you have 14 under-the-bed boxes full of it because you can't bear to throw away a single piece.

I think it is safe to say she was not my biggest fan (but HELLO, cute!):

For a brief moment I considered grabbing this puppy and driving away into the sunset, but then I remembered that puppies cry in the middle of the night. Often. Loudly. With sad, wimpering little puppy noises that make you get up out of sheer pity. When I weighed sleep vs. puppy, sleep won. (Also, I enjoy my lack of rap sheet, so I figured I would not start a life of theft now. But that might just be the cutest puppy ever.)

Girl vs. poodle. The only winners here are her parents when it is time for bed. Score one for exhaustion!

if at first you don't succeed....

2010-05-07T16:50:00.006-04:00

Yes, yes. Neglectful blogger checking in! Are you surprised? I own it. I just can't swing multiple blog updates a week. I'm always editing or shooting or driving someone to baseball practice or going to a preschool board meeting or seeing a show with my husband at the DPAC. It's life. So thanks for hanging in there with me despite my blogging downfalls.

Having said all that, here's a session I'd love to share - brothers Sam and Gordie. I've photographed this family several times before so I knew ahead of time we'd have fun. What I didn't expect was that on our first try for this shoot, it would be 32 degrees with incredible winds. We lasted approximately 5 minutes, and poor baby Sam cried for 30 minutes AFTER we decided to pack up and leave. It was C-O-L-D. Thankfully, our make-up date (several months later) was pure weather perfection. 75 and sunny with just a slight breeze.

Happy weather + happy kids = happy photographer. And happy parents, too... look at these cutie pies!!

Boys and sticks - it's in their DNA:

We stuck them in this spot, and they provided the cuteness:

Let me just stomp on my brother's head for a laugh: (it worked!)

city kids

2010-02-26T09:16:00.003-05:00

The first time I photographed Mychal in 2007, she was about 6 months old, and her parents drove to Raleigh from Wilmington for her session. When she turned one, I drove to their home in Wilmington and photographed her first birthday party.

And then her family moved away:-( Far, far away to (gasp!) NYC! (Actually, they may be over the river and technically in New Jersey now, but to this NC girl, that's just splitting hairs: it's all the Big Apple.)

So imagine how tickled I was to hear from Mychal's mom this fall and she wanted me to photograph Mychal and her new little brother while they were visiting relatives in NC. I had to laugh when they pulled baby Noah out of the car and he was the boy version of his big sister at the same age. I mean, the kids are like TWINS. They even have the same expressions!

Here are a few from our session. Could the little raincoat/umbrella/Mary Jane boot combo be any cuter? And Noah's little dragon hat. Sigh.

the Julie mini-sessions

2010-01-13T14:38:00.005-05:00

See those beautiful girls up there? They belong to my friend Julie.

On the morning of December 26th, Julie's younger daughter (who is also my son Gray's classmate) found her mom unresponsive with no pulse.

My vibrant 30-something, yoga-loving, vegetarian, volunteering, beautiful friend was in cardiac arrest. To put it bluntly: she died.

It took 45 minutes for the paramedics to bring her back, and at first no one, including the medical staff, thought she'd make it. I mean, how do you bounce back from something like that?

And yet, she did. Only Julie could pull off such a feat. I am convinced that the love and prayers of her friends and family (and many strangers) combined with Julie's amazing spirit and will are the only reasons she is still here.

Here is where this post comes in. In an effort to help Julie's family (she won't be working for awhile, and much to her dismay, she's not allowed to drive for 4 months) with their medical bills, a site has been set up for donations. Not so luckily for Julie, her hospital stay at Duke spanned two calendar years which means that she has to meet her deductible for each year before her insurance kicks in.

For anyone donating $50 or more to Julie, I am donating a mini-session to YOU. These mini's will take place outside at my studio (downtown Durham, NC) between January and May 2010. (Instead of doing everything in one day, I will set these up like regular sessions so you aren't pigeonholed into one date that may or may not work for you.) If 4 or more friends donate together, I will come to you (anywhere in the Triangle) and do back-to-back mini sessions at a location of your choice. Mini sessions are about 15-20 minutes long, and you will see 10-15 proofs in an online web gallery. They are best suited for children and babies who are able to sit unassisted, and parents are always welcome to hop into a few pictures. Due to time limitations, mini's are not suitable for extended-family sessions. Prints are purchased separately. (Oh, and if you don't have kids, but would like pictures of you with your significant other, or a portrait of your pet - that is great, too!)

You can donate here. Once you've donated, please email me (gwmathison at gmail.com) with a copy of the receipt you get back from Paypal and we can set up your session.

http://www.relief4julie.webs.com/

From the bottom of my heart, I thank anyone who can donate (no matter how small) to Julie. I truly would not be where I am in my business without her being my biggest cheerleader back in 2003.

xoxo,
gretchen

so many cuties...

2009-11-17T14:35:00.006-05:00

... so little time to blog! I'm working 12-hours+ a day, 7 days a week right now, but wanted to take just a few minutes to post some of my recent subjects:-)

it was a little bit like a fairy tale...

2009-10-26T18:17:00.008-04:00

Oh, Charleston. I do so love you.

Last weekend I had the total pleasure of photographing what was one of the most fun weddings I've ever attended. I've known the bride since our freshman year at Carolina, and I promise you, that is a long time. (And I dare say, neither of us looks a day older! Fancy that!;-)

It was a two-day event: the actual wedding took place in Eileen's aunt and uncle's 1750's house on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston. Words cannot express how beautiful this home is, so I'm not even going to try. Suffice it to say - it was gorgeous and could not have been more perfect. The second day was a party out at their farm on the sound. Martha Stewart would have envied the gorgeous setting and decorations. Every moment was happy and relaxed... exactly how a wedding should be (but so rarely is.) Just an amazing weekend all the way around.

Thanks, Eileen and Rod, for letting me capture such your awesome, perfect, pretty-much-a-fairy tale wedding. I know you have many happy years ahead of you!!

xoxo,
gretchen

The shoes had hearts on the soles. Did you just say "awww!" out loud? I did.

Rod getting an iPhone shot of the reception:

a table from the party on the farm the next day... love it!!!

beware of flying objects

2009-10-12T15:49:00.004-04:00

She flew so high, she lost a boot.

His stayed on.

Oh, to have your dad throw you in the air so high that if even just for a few seconds, you actually feel like you're flying. I've been doing this job for six years now, and I have to say - I've never seen a dad get his kids quite THIS high before. (I mean, he's NOT EVEN IN THE SHOT! These images are the original crops directly from the camera.) He must have eaten his Wheaties that morning.

I was totally impressed. And perhaps just for a minute, wishing I could be two again.

morning mini with baby harlan

2009-10-05T17:47:00.003-04:00

This little Mr. Cute is the kind of baby who makes you want about 10 more kids. He came in for a mini session and I don't think there was a single moment this baby was not smiling. I loved it!

Here he is at Brightleaf Square in Durham. Mini sessions are always fun because I get to hit up all of my favorite neighborhood spots in about 20 minutes (and share the goodness that is Durham with my clients who may not live here.)

Happy Monday, everyone!

giggles

2009-09-28T18:31:00.004-04:00

Oh how I love these two girls! Every year I check in on Haley and Ellie, and we have an hour of fun. (Their mom and dad are pretty darn great, too.)

See you again in 2010, girls!!

make-you-smile monday!

2009-09-21T13:34:00.008-04:00

So in an effort to be a better blogger, I'm going to try to at least update on Mondays with a picture (or pictures) that brings a smile to my face, and hopefully will to yours, too.

All the way from Brooklyn, NY is cutie pie August. The first time I photographed him, he was only 7 months, and here he is at 4 years old. It's been so fun to capture him each year on his family's trips to NC. Here he is, peeking at me in the mirror of his aunt's Mini. (It was raining and we had to get creative with August and his baby sister!)

big kids!

2009-09-18T17:36:00.004-04:00

Okay, so the more appropriate title to this post should be "holy cow, these girls are gorgeous!"

High school senior photography is not super big in this area of the country, but oh how I wish it were. What fun it is!

First up is Katie. Katie happens to be the daughter of my super extra fabulous assistant, Sharon. Katie will be going off to college next fall, and I'm already planning on stocking Sharon's desk with plenty of Kleenex. I loved how Katie's session turned out... in the picture of her and the truck, I think she looks like she could be on a country music CD cover:-)

And beautiful Morgan. These pictures were taken on my grandmother's Iowa farm on the day Grandma passed away. Morgan is the daughter of my cousin, and what a treat to photograph her! The weather was so gross (rainy and COLD!) on the day of her session, and as we got closer and closer to Grandma's farm, the skies cleared to a beautiful, midwestern blue. I'd like to think Grandma had a hand in that.

Here's adorable Sarah, who's off to her first year at UNCW. Not only was she as cute as a button, she was so sweet and mature. And, she let me drag her to crazy alleys in downtown Durham. That's my kind of girl.

And last but not least, these gorgeous sisters from Roxboro, NC. Carlie, Carson and Caroline were definitely among the most polite, sweet, and beautiful siblings I've ever photographed. I was so glad to be able to get their session done (immediately following a huge thunderstorm) just days before Caroline headed off to school at NC State.

So thanks to all of my patient clients and blog readers for hanging with me while I was on a blog hiatus. (And to Leigh Ann - thanks for kicking my rear into gear this morning when you saw me getting coffee and kindly prodded me for a new blog update!)

rollercoaster

2009-07-08T12:49:00.002-04:00

So, suffice it to say, updating my blog is not my strong suit. I always think about it - want to do it - but then life has a way of saying "pick me!! pick me!!" and that blog post that I'd formulated in my head... well, something else has taken its place.

Spring rolled into summer with a rollercoaster of emotions this year. May marked the end of school for my kids... my youngest (who was just a baby, like, yesterday) will be starting his last year of preschool in September. My middle one will be heading into first grade, and my oldest (insert panic) will be in his very last year of elementary school. I look at them and wonder just how did time get away from me?

I started June with a trip to Iowa for my cousin Abby's wedding. Sadly, but most fortuitously, the trip was perfectly timed to coincide with my beloved grandma's last days of life. She held on like the spunky, life-loving woman that she always was, and passed away the morning after the wedding. The trip was a whirlwind of emotions - so glad to see my unbelievably amazing family, to watch my beautiful cousin get married, to visit my other set of grandparents (still so spry in their 80's), and then to say good-bye to the grandmother who loved to bake us monster cookies and who loved to let us drive her golf cart every summer when she and my grandpa would go golfing (and buy us RC colas afterwards!)

After being home a little over a week, we were off again to Fripp Island, SC. Words cannot express the Mathison family's love affair with this tiny little island where deer eat right out of your hand and where fresh-off-the-boat shrimp is nightly fare. It is one of those places that makes you feel a little healed every time you leave from your week of R&R.

And in the midst of it all has been work. Oh, how I love my job. This spring has brought some amazing clients, some beautiful babies, some kids who've grown so much since I saw them last. I had the privilege of documenting a family who was losing a family member to cancer. (She passed away 13 days after our session, just a day before my grandmother.) Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for having a job I love so much, even on the days when I'm at my studio until 7:30 or 8:00 at night and feel so exhausted I just want to fall into bed.

This ended up being sappier than I'd intended, but I wanted to explain my long blog absence. Pictures to follow. Shortly. And yes, I promise.

elizabeth + steve

2009-05-09T16:24:00.010-04:00

So I know what you're thinking: Hey, Gretchen isn't a wedding photographer.

And usually, I'm not. But I do make the occasional exception. For Elizabeth and Steve, I'm sure glad I did. It was a tiny wedding, which is why I agreed to do it. (That, and the fact that Steve sounded pretty darn nice from his email.)

It was such a sweet ceremony, and I have to admit it was tough not to cry as they choked back the tears on the altar.

I love documenting love. Some days, my job just couldn't get any cooler:-)

Elizabeth's kids, David and Hannah. David was 4 and his antics while they were saying their vows had me (silently) chuckling to myself.

Isn't she lovely? :-)

Hannah's special bunny who was wearing the EXACT same dress as she was. How cute is that?

My future competition (or assistant!)

a fond farewell...

2009-04-03T13:31:00.007-04:00

Two pregnancies + two new babies = four sessions in the last 13 months for this awesome family.

And now they're moving away. Sniff, sniff! (Although as luck would have it, they're moving not too terribly far from my sister-in-law, so hopefully we'll be able to plan more sessions in the future:-)

The newest beautiful boy for this family is sweet, tiny Landon. He and his big brother Maddox both have February birthdays... just one year apart! They couldn't be any cuter if they tried.

I'll miss my trips to Wilmington to visit your family, Michelle and Bruce. I wish you well in your new home!

Totally unplanned... she thought I was just taking pictures of daddy and baby.

Is she not just so super cute while pregnant?! Here are a few from their fall session in Raleigh.

Big brother Maddox. DOLL. BABY.

see you in Italy?

2009-03-25T13:17:00.004-04:00

1987.

That is when I met Jon, who ended up becoming one of my best friends. Time and distance have never kept us from keeping in touch - sometimes more frequently than others. He's traveled the world as a military officer while I've traveled the world of motherhood. Our lives went down completely different paths, but he was always only an email away, even when I was in Durham, NC and he was in a desert defending our country.

A few years ago, Jon married Beth. And despite hearing how wonderful she was, I never made it up to Alaska to visit. Then in January, when they were packing up and moving from Alaska to Italy (yes, I'm officially jealous), they decided to make a pit-stop in the lower 48. The Mathisons were a stop along their way. They'd had a long day of travel and weren't feeling so fresh, but I talked them into letting me drag them into the cold and take a few shots. Just the two of them, before baby comes along this summer. (Yes, she's pregnant! Yay!!)

Jon and Beth, I hope when your package of prints arrives in Italy, they'll make you smile. I love how in love you are. That is what makes me smile every time I look at these... your love for each other practically jumps right out of the photographs:-)

xoxo,
gretchen

spring mini-sessions... shorter session, sweeter price!

2009-03-06T13:26:00.003-05:00

In honor of the spectacular weather that I'm just sure we have coming our way, I'm announcing another round of spring mini's! These are shortened versions of my regular sessions, and are held outside of my studio in Durham. (I'm on a really cute street:-) This is perfect timing for Mother's Day/Father's Day gifts!

Here are the details:

* Thursday, March 26th (morning and afternoon sessions available)
* $75 + tax session fee, due at the time you book the session
* good for up to 2 kids (mom/dad always welcome to hop in a few!)
* sessions are for 20 minutes, and you'll receive an online web gallery with 10-15 proofs
* if you'd like to schedule a session for your baby, this type of session is best for a baby who is sitting independently
* feel free to bring any props you'd like - tricycles, wagons, bubbles, that special lovey, etc.
* rain date is the following Thursday

Last year's mini's were super fun, and the weather was great. If you'd like to schedule a session, please email me at: info@gretchenmathison.com or give me a call at 308-2334.

coloring outside the lines

2009-02-21T11:58:00.011-05:00

In the fall I was contacted by Van Fletcher, a Triangle-area realtor with Allen Tate, who had a fantastic idea for a website. I knew after talking to him for, oh, 10 seconds, that not only was I on board, but that working with him was going to be an insane amount of fun. Instead of the standard realtor's website, he wanted a site that showcased the families whose homes he had helped sell and buy. I needed no persuading - I'd get to do my style of photography, and he'd get a cool and unique site. A win-win.

The project was even more fun than I'd imagined, and after countless hours of shooting and editing, brainstorming and laughter, Van's website is ready. I encourage you to take a look, and peek into the lives of his clients. Read how he feels about his job and interacts with his clients (the testimonials say it ALL). And if you ever are in need of a realtor, well, Van is definitely your man. He's real, he's funny, he's out-of-the-ballpark smart, and he's amazing at what he does. I have told him several times that I want to sell my house now, just so he can help me find a new one:-) (Nevermind we don't need a new house and have only been in ours for a year. He's just that good.)

Van's Completely Fabulous Website

...and a few shots from the site. (He has great clients... something we both have in common!)

happiest of holidays...

2008-12-23T12:19:00.005-05:00

... to all of my wonderful clients! In the insanity of the holiday season, I had to let my blog take a back seat. I have so many un-blogged sessions that I'm going to have to break my posts up over the course of several days.

To all of you who invited me into your lives to photograph your families yet again this year, I thank you. I can't wait to see your kids again in 2009.

(more to come soon!)

comic relief

2008-11-02T15:27:00.002-05:00

What do you get when you cross a fun, 6'6" dad with a spunky 3-year old on a trike?

The best laugh I've had all week:-)

well, hello fall

2008-10-08T16:00:00.006-04:00

Brr! Okay, maybe not quite "brr"... but fall is definitely here. Chilly mornings and tepid days mean jack o' lanterns and turkey are right around the corner.

Things have been oh so busy here... I've decided I'm just a bad blog updater. And I guess that will have to be okay, since I'm always working to get everyone their pictures:-) But I did want to take a few minutes to share the little ones I've had the pleasure of photographing recently.

First up is Cole, and boy was he a DOLL! He was about 6 weeks old when I photographed him and he was already smiling and happy. Such a precious boy!

This is my beautiful client (and now dear friend) Elizabeth's dad, Cliff. We recently did a session with their family. You see, Cliff is battling cancer and of course we needed an opportunity for him to wear his Life is Good "Half Full" shirt! And let me tell you, Cliff personifies that saying. Seeing their family together and how much they truly love each other was as much a gift to me as the pictures will be for them.

Two of Cliff's grandkids, Eli and Owen, wearing their age-appropriate wear! (I've been photographing Eli since he was still in his mommy's tummy!)

Luke and Isabel. Last time I saw Isabel, she was about Luke's age. And now she is FOUR... she went and grew up on me! Truly such a fun session for me.

And Ben. Ben went from newborn to one year old almost overnight, it seems. Now he's a big boy, and he made sure to show me all of his cool stuff, like his blocks and his wagon.

This is Ian, and this little guy has the biggest, most adorable eyes you'll ever see. Such a sweet boy!

And Sophie. Sweet Sophie makes my Top 10 Smiliest Babies list. What a happy girl she was. Her parents came to my studio to get some opinions on their wall portraits and I am afraid I was of NO help because I loved them all!

This little chunk-a-munk is named Grant, and belongs to my friend Shannon. Her third boy, which made her my soul sister for sure.

Baby Campbell and her lovely mommy. (Does she not look just FANTASTIC for having just had a baby!?) Campbell was the cutest, tiniest little peanut.

And another beautiful mommy and baby. This is Caroline and her mommy. I've known Caroline's dad since he was 12 (he's the younger brother of my college roommate.) What a lucky baby to be born into such a wonderful family!

This picture of Lindsey and her little sister Remy just about sums up our session... they were SO fun and, of course, adorable. Mom ordered a large wall portrait of this one and I think it is going to look just gorgeous in their home!

And precious Whit, who happens to be baby Oakley's cousin. (you can see baby Oakley in my last post) It is baby season for this family... lucky grandparents! Whit was such a calm baby for our session. I wanted to pack him right up in my bag and take him home with me!

This picture makes me laugh out loud... I love it so much! This is Landon and he is very much a 3-year old boy. I loved it - and felt right at home since I'm used to the boy mania. Picture of his cute little sister will be coming in another blog post:-)

And last but not least, Henry. He was so sweet and we had such a nice morning together!

So as the holidays quickly approach (at least for me... whose holiday season starts in August/September), I will not promise to post more, but I WILL promise to at least try. I have many more pictures to post that would not fit into this one... so much cuteness, so little time!

life's sweet reward

2008-09-21T12:33:00.004-04:00

Ahhh... such a busy season means I'm SO behind on the blog postings! I hope to find a few minutes again this week or next to update with more of the cuties from this summer. (Speaking of which, today is the LAST DAY of summer! Jeans and sweaters are just around the corner.)

My pre-holiday calendar is almost at capacity... if you're interested in a fall session, please send me an email ASAP. I also have one day of mini-sessions in the works for the many that have asked.

Today's pictures are beautiful mama Jana (this was her THIRD maternity session with me - doesn't she look fantastic!) and her sweet new girl Oakley. They have a gorgeous family that I have so enjoyed documenting over the past four years. Congratulations!!

busy, busy summer!

2008-07-26T08:21:00.010-04:00

Why is summer never quite long enough? I feel like the summer has flown by, especially since my oldest two kids are already done with their summer breaks and back in school! And August is in less than a week.... how in the world did that happen?

I wanted to share some shots from a few summer sessions. I swear, I am blessed with the most darned adorable clients.

That cutie on the left is Brantley, and wow was she a smiler! It was impossible to not leave that session in a good mood... what a gorgeous, happy baby she is!

Next are Ella and and little sister Maya. I've been photographing them both since they were babies. They moved last year, but managed to fit in a session with me while they were here this time. It was so fun to see how they'd changed since last year!

Sweet boy Atticus, aka "Doodle" to his mommy. This was our second session in just a few months... during the first session, he did not have his special blankie, and his mom decided she just HAD to have some of him cuddling that blanket while sucking his thumb. So she came back a second time:-)

Mercer and Jim, aka: The Future Heartbreakers. They are fraternal twins and both SO HANDSOME. (And sweet, too:-)

Katherine and big sis Elizabeth. These girls could be on some sort of hair product commercial, because they have both had the most gorgeous hair since birth! It is always a joy to photograph them.

I just want to say "awww!" when I look at sweet Molly with her new baby brother Sam. (Molly is on the front page of my website right now, too... the happy, smiling baby in the gingham dress.) Molly was really into the newborn session, and was more than happy to be included in pictures with her baby brother. Even though she's now taken a role as big sister, I love how her own "babyness" still shows through in this shot.

And last but not least, Turnage and little sister Anderson. The last time I saw Turnage he was just a little guy, and it was fun to see him in the almost-3 version! He was such a talker and unlike some kids this age, was totally into getting his picture taken. This was the first time I'd met Anderson... isn't she a doll!

sugar and spice, twice

2008-07-08T18:19:00.007-04:00

Meet Kendall and Lilly.

When I got an email from a long-time client filled with news of two very sweet new additions to their family, I was so excited to go and meet them. There they were - two tiny bundles of cute little fingers and cute button noses. They're fraternal, but at least for now look an awful lot alike. I was in baby heaven!

Congratulations Steph, Dave and big brother Noah on these little lovelies!

I love this kid. The first time I took his pictures, he was only a few months old. Now he's about to round the corner on 4! Such a grown-up boy and seriously one of the sweetest, most well-mannered kids I've ever met. And so proud of his new little sisters.

happy 4th!

2008-07-04T09:01:00.004-04:00

I wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day... I hope your day is filled with food, friends, and fireworks! And for those of you here in the Triangle, don't forget Festival for the Eno, which is a 3-day festival with lots of food, music, and arts & crafts. Always hot (it IS North Carolina in July, after all), but always lots of fun!

(Today's picture is my youngest son donning his patriotic swimwear at Fripp Island, Sc.)

the all-boy club

2008-07-01T16:35:00.003-04:00

I always arrive at sessions consisting of all boys with a combination of excitement and trepidation. Excitement because, as the mom of 3 boys, I'm in my element and I know boys. And trepidation because, um, I KNOW BOYS.

These three were so good and so much fun! They showed me their toys, jumped on the bed, took a ride on the hammock, and at the end of the session, took turns dressing in various pirate/knight/race car driver costumes for me.

Thanks, Caden, Beau and Avery!! I hope you invite me over again sometime:-)

kate & andrew

2008-06-24T15:17:00.004-04:00

I recently traveled down to Pinehurst to photograph beautiful new Kate and her big brother Andrew. I'd photographed Andrew when he was a baby - he was SUCH a doll that I couldn't wait to see him again and meet his new little sister.

Imagine my delight when Kate's mom pulled out this hat she'd purchased from Etsy. I loved it so much, I bought one for myself to take to newborn sessions. I thought it made such a perfect addition to Kate's newborn photos. (If you'd like one for yourself, here is a link: lamb hat)

On an unrelated note, I'm back from vacation and working as hard as I can to return all voicemails and emails. Whew! I think one more day and I'll have gotten back to everyone.

(Of course I had to share one of big brother, too. He was every bit as adorable as I remembered... just in the 2 year old boy version of the baby he once was!)

the lovely vanessa

2008-05-30T08:29:00.006-04:00

I love my job.

Several weeks ago I was contacted by an Australian publication, "Good Weekend" to photograph an Australian author living in Durham. Photographers are often sent fake scam inquiries from foreign countries, so I turned to my favorite source - Google. Through my search I was able to discover that not only was the publication completely legit (for us here in the U.S, I think it is very similar to "Parade" that comes in the Sunday paper), but that the subject of the photo shoot sounded totally cool.

She's a writer and a bonobo (which, from what I understand, are much like chimps, but nicer:-) researcher. Every summer she goes and spends several months in the Congo studying these amazing creatures. She's also an author who has published several books, and has another in the works.

And not only was she as cool and interesting as I figured she'd be, she was totally photogenic and one of the most fun people I've ever worked with. And her accent! I'm such a sucker for accents. Maybe she'll let me hop in her suitcase next time she goes home.

You can check out Vanessa's website here:
www.vanessawoods.net

nicholas & molly

2008-05-08T11:33:00.002-04:00

You may remember the sweet picture of newborn Nicholas and his mommy from last year. I recently went back to do Nicholas's one-year pictures, and was so happy to have captured a few of Nicholas with Molly, his family's black lab. We were all in disbelief that not only did Nicholas sat still, so did the dog! Just goes to show that it never hurts to give it a shot:-)

baby season

2008-04-29T20:25:00.009-04:00

Whew! It has been a whirlwind month of newborn sessions!

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an absolute baby fanatic, so these sessions are always a little treat for me.

Introducing:

Ben (on left), who had a fabulous head of hair. My two-year old watched as I edited part of Ben's session, and is enamored with Ben's "caterpillar" belly button (the cord stump that had not yet fallen off), and ever since has requested to see Ben's pictures whenever I'm on the computer. Ben is now famous in the Mathison house:-)

Mollie, below, who was so calm for the whole session. She was just a tiny, adorable little peanut who also had a great head of hair (and a very sweet big brother.)

Graham, who had the most scrumptious cheeks. His little smile here makes me smile every time I see this picture!

Will's little brother, Charlie, a mere 15 hours old. It was very hard for me to hand him back to his mommy... he had that unmistakeable newborn scent that I love so much!

Owen, my newest client ever at about 2 minutes old.

And Courtney, who was about 6 weeks old here and gave me the sleepy newborn curl (a little miracle for babies over a few weeks old!)

walking for Allie

2008-04-17T14:15:00.004-04:00

This is Allie, and she is in my son Gray's kindergarten class. Allie has Cystic Fibrosis.

This Saturday, April 19th, is the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides walk in Chapel Hill, and their kindergarten class will comprise part of Allie's team, "Allie's Gators." If you don't know much about Cystic Fibrosis, it is a disease that affects both the lungs and digestive systems, and causes the body to produce a thick, sticky mucus. Allie has to do daily lung treatments to keep her lungs clear and free of infection. The current life expectancy of a person with Cystic Fibrosis is 36.5 years, and hopefully by the time that Allie is in her 30's, the life expectancy of those with CF will be much, much longer!

I encourage you to get out and walk on Saturday morning, or to make a donation to help with CF research. For my clients (or future clients!) who make a donation by clicking the link below, I will give you a photography gift certificate in a matching amount of your donation, up to $150.

You can donate by clicking this link: CFF Great Strides walk

celebrating spring... with mini-sessions!

2008-04-03T20:14:00.003-04:00

(click image for larger version)

Spring is my favorite time of year, and I'd like to ring it in with a day of outdoor mini-sessions at my studio! These will be smaller versions of my regular sessions and will take place within walking distance of my studio on April 17th. The cost is $125 (plus tax), and a $50 print credit is included in that! This is the perfect Mother's or Father's Day gift, or just a good way to fit in a quick session between regular sessions.

The other nitty gritty:

* good for up to 2 kids (mom/dad always welcome to hop in a few!)
* sessions are for 20 minutes, and you'll receive an online web gallery with 10-15 proofs
* if you'd like to schedule a session for your baby, this type of session is best for a baby who is sitting independently
* feel free to bring any props you'd like - tricycles, wagons, bubbles, that special lovey, etc.
* rain date is the following Thursday

Times will fill up fast, so send me an email (gretchen@gretchenmathison.com) to schedule your session. Your session fee is due at the time of booking.

Can't wait to see you there!

urban maternity

2008-04-01T21:42:00.007-04:00

It's baby season! I've had an incredible amount of maternity and newborn sessions lately, and I just love it. So many gorgeous bellies and babies!

Erica and Dave were so fun and nice, and we had a great time at our session in downtown Durham. It was their last chance to have a maternity session before Dave leaves for training, so I was glad to be able to get them on my schedule just in the nick of time. I made them kiss about 759 times during the session, but they didn't seem to mind:-) (Thanks for obliging me!)

Erica had the coolest wardrobe... how cute is this dress? I want one for myself!

Congratulations to all of the mamas-to-be!

recent cuties!

2008-03-20T16:57:00.012-04:00

Just wanted to take a minute to share some of my most recent adorable clients!

Liza and Greta, who invited me to "stay and play house" after our session:

Lila, whose smile could light up a room:

Nora, who was just starting to sit up and was a cute as a button:

The ever-darling Kailey. This was my 5th time photographing her since she was a teeny tiny new baby:

James, who had also just learned to sit up and was such a happy, precious boy:

Jacob, who had changed so much since I saw him over a year ago. This was Jacob's 4th session:

Cute little man Jack, who was showing off his abilities to stand in his crib:

Greyson. She was just a doll and so cooperative at our session:

Ben, who was seriously one of the happiest kids I have EVER photographed:

Eliza and little brother Jake. Eliza entertained us by catching frogs (in her dress) at our session:

And last but not least, Nora's big brother Will. I loved this one of him playing peek-a-boo with me:

adored

2008-02-25T11:52:00.003-05:00

I recently made a return trip to Wilmington to photograph baby Maddox. He was only a week old... a tiny little package of perfection at only a little over five pounds when I photographed him. I loved this shot in particular, with his tiny little hand wrapped around daddy's finger.

new tunes

2008-02-12T11:34:00.000-05:00

I live in a house filled with music. When I married my husband nearly 12 years ago, along with him came his love (and huge collection) of music. Over the years my musical taste expanded (something for which my husband is eternally grateful), and if you walk into our home on any given day, there will most certainly be music playing. Rather than Raffi and The Wiggles, our children have been raised on everything from Emmylou Harris to the Beatles, Pink Floyd to Thelonius Monk. Music is part of who we are.

One evening in December on my way to do some much-dreaded Christmas shopping, I was listening to an NPR broadcast of the best children's music of 2007. Whenever I hear kid's music that is also palatable to adults, my ears perk up. I listened and enjoyed, and then went back to the hustle and bustle of the list of things I needed to do, making a mental note to remember the name of the artist I'd heard. Of course, my memory is that of most mothers of three children: terrible.

So once the insanity of the holidays had died down I did an internet search to see if I could find out who I'd listened to on NPR that night. It took a good 20 minutes or so, but I found him. His name is Dean Jones, and his CD is (so adorably) named "Napper's Delight." Knowing I needed a good new song on my website, I contacted him and am now excited to be using his terrific music on my site.

Please check out his music and share it with your kids - you will be glad you did!

Napper's Delight

twin bond

2008-01-30T00:34:00.001-05:00

I just love how the girls are each holding their brothers in these....

Camille and Johnny, 7 months:

Sean and Kate, 15 months:

first snow

2008-01-19T20:58:00.001-05:00

When you've lived in NC for awhile, you know that snow is no guarantee, even in the coldest winter months. I think it has been a few years since we've gotten snow (ie: not ice) of any consequence.

My kids have been DYING for some snow. The look of sheer delight on my 5 year old's face when he looked out the window today to see the huge, wet flakes coming down... well, it was priceless.

We bundled 'em up, I grabbed my cheapest camera and lens, and outside we went. We just moved a week ago, so some playtime outside was a welcome break from the unpacking and the other delightful tasks associated with moving your family of five.

It was my 2 year old's first real experience with snow, and despite the fact that he kept falling in his completely inappropriate footwear (um, Crocs), he loved it. And my 5 year old is completely convinced that by the time we wake up in the morning, there will be enough snow for a snowman and plenty of snowballs with which to pelt his 9-year old brother. Ah, to be a kid again:-)

If you have an extra minute, here is a short slideshow of our snow day:

snow day

one lucky baby

2008-01-17T14:13:00.001-05:00

On a recent weekend, I traveled to Wilmington, NC for several sessions. One of those sessions was a maternity shoot with Michelle and Bruce, who are getting ready to welcome their new baby boy in just a few weeks. It is hard to imagine two people more in love or excited to meet their new baby... his nursery is perfect, his tiny little clothes are washed and hung - all they need is him!

The picture above is a pier right across the street from their home. I told them that it would feel like being on vacation all of the time!

Michelle and Bruce, thanks for letting me capture a little snippet of your lives before your little guy's arrival... I know you're going to be amazing parents!

three little santas

2007-12-24T16:02:00.000-05:00

Are your homes as filled with anticipation right now as mine is? There is nothing quite like the wait for Santa... normally sleepy children all over the world are turned into tiny insomniacs waiting for the big guy to make his way down the chimney. I remember as a kid thinking how awful it would be to be an ADULT at Christmas, because adult presents are so boring! But what I didn't factor in is how unbelievably fantastic it is to watch your own kids' faces that first second they see the goodies under the tree. Truly priceless.

The picture above is from my Christmas card this year (Miller, 8, Gray, 5, and Everett, very, very 2). I knew my best shot at a successful card was to throw a bribe in there, so lollipops it was. They were a total mess by the end, but it was all worth it.

So to all of my clients from this past year... may you have a wonderful holiday season, filled with happy kids and yummy food and the company of friends and family. I'll see you again in 2008!

holiday madness!!

2007-11-28T20:09:00.001-05:00

This is always the busiest time of year for photographers. My holiday season starts in August and doesn't end until the week or so before Christmas. Whew! I'm tired! To make life more complicated, we decided to buy a new house this fall... a house that required lots of work (and time to coordinate the people doing that work.) Add into that the regular mom stuff, and I'm pretty much exhausted and ready to be in my PJ's watching my kids open their presents on Christmas morning! Until then, I'll be at my messy desk surrounded by a collection of empty Diet Coke cans.

Here are a few dates to keep in mind:

Dec. 1 (this Saturday): HOLIDAY ORDERING DEADLINE. If there is anything you need by the holidays, please place your order by this date. I will also need payment for all of these orders ASAP, as I do not order anything with my lab until payment is made

Dec. 17th: This is my target date for having all prints and cards out to clients. Please consider picking up your order in person at my Durham studio to avoid any potential lost/damaged package issues with shipping. I do ship all of the time and will still gladly do it at the holidays, but it is always fun to get to chat with my clients one more time and give them their orders is a nice shopping bag instead of a boring ol' shipping box!

If you need your envelopes early, you are welcome to come by my studio to pick them up in advance. Also, if you have multiple family members ordering, please consider putting everything into one larger family order... I will love you for it!

I'm currently booking sessions for January and February. If you missed out on a pre-holiday session, please call or email to set up your session for the beginning of 2008. Can't wait to see you then!

brrr!!

2007-11-12T21:43:00.001-05:00

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing Finn on an especially chilly morning. It was one of those days where lots of things weren't going right... I couldn't find a place to park, my cell phone died, and then once into the session, my fully charged batteries kept dying. But I left just knowing we'd gotten lots of fun pictures of Finn and his almost-3 personality. He was full of spunk and cuteness... the perfect combination for a great session!

This time of year, I field a lot of questions from clients about what to dress their kids in for outdoor sessions. LAYERS are the key if you'd like to avoid having them bundled up in a coat for every picture. Fall and winter can be so much fun with sweaters, hats and scarves (and perfect for that holiday card!) Usually a long-sleeved t-shirt under a thick sweater keeps them warm enough... especially combined with the considerable amount of time we all spend running around during a session! Another warm change of clothes is always a good thing to have on hand, and clothes that are easily washed are the best choice. A key element to a good session is lots of playing, and playing is dirty work!

I'll be back later this week with an update on holiday ordering deadlines, so stay tuned:-)

jack the dragon

2007-10-15T19:36:00.000-04:00

The first time I photographed Jack, he was about 5 or 6 months old and I was about 8 months and 29 days pregnant with my 3rd baby. I'm sure I was quite a sight rolling around, hugely pregnant, trying to get him to smile at me. I've now had five sessions with this little cutie, and he amazed me the other day by speaking to me. In complete, real sentences! Like a big kid, not that same little baby from a few years ago. Sniff, sniff.

Each fall his mom brings his halloween costume to wear for part of the session. This dragon (from Pottery Barn Kids, so you know it is cute) was so adorable and none of us could stop laughing at him running around in it. The best part was when he went running, little green dragon arms flapping in the air, towards a group of middle schoolers on a field trip, who were all looking at him with faces that words just really cannot describe.

The second best part was when Jack REALLY got into character, and decided to take a little bite out of my leg (no worries: it was more like a firm nibble and it didn't even leave a bruise.) His mom and I joked that we were glad my inaugural being-bitten-by-a-kid-other-than-my-own experience could be with Jack.

Jack turns three this week. Happy birthday, little man!

I don't do weddings, but...

2007-09-30T19:51:00.000-04:00

I love doing engagement sessions! Lucia and Brad are high school sweethearts and I had so much fun photographing them. Their love for each other is so apparent, and I predict they have many happy years ahead of them.

Here is the first picture I pulled from their session... this is at the top of a parking lot in downtown Durham, and the light coming in was just unbelievable. This image is really cool in black and white, also, but I just had to share that amazing pre-dusk sky.

the tiniest ones

2007-09-24T21:51:00.001-04:00

Last week I took part in a project to photograph babies in the NICU at UNC Hospitals. Fellow photographer Dana Atkins and I spent about four hours documenting families with their beautiful babies in the NICU, with the eventual goal being a series of portraits that will adorn the walls of the unit.

This was an entirely new experience for me, as my own babies were full term and home within a few days. It amazed me to see these perfect, tiny babies - some only a few pounds and born several months before their due dates - and witness modern medicine in action. Almost everyone has seen pictures of premature babies, but until you actually see dad's wedding band slip over the hand onto the arm, like a tiny little gold bracelet, it is hard to grasp just how small they are.

It was a pleasure to volunteer my time to this project, and I am really looking forward to seeing the finished result!

baby's best friend

2007-09-09T19:01:00.000-04:00

I've seen this look before. I've seen it each of the three times I've brought one of my own sweet baby boys home from the hospital for the first time... if only we could read dogs' minds!

It seems like almost every one of my clients has a "first baby" they'd like to have in a photo or two, but not all pets are as cooperative as Monet (posing here with baby Dylan, the adorable newest member of this family.) She was so sweet and careful while lying next to Dylan, and let me get a few great shots before going in for the lick:-)

I've been tagged!

2007-09-05T21:44:00.000-04:00

Today I was "tagged" by the awesome Corey Civetta. In this new spin on a chain letter (photographer-style!), I'm supposed to list 8 interesting facts about myself and then tag 8 other photographers to do the same. I'm not really sure if I can think up that many interesting facts, but I'm going to give it a whirl!

1). My heart bleeds Carolina blue. I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill more years ago than I'd really like to admit. However, my heart still flutters a little faster as I drive past the "welcome to Chapel Hill" sign. On more than one occasion I've shown up at a session only to realize I recognize one (or more!) of my clients from my time in Chapel Hill.

2). My husband is a fantastic stay-at-home-dad to our three little wild men. Okay, so that is not a fact about me per se, but I seriously could not do what I do without his support. (And his amazing ability to keep up with the laundry... a task I never quite mastered doing in any sort of timely manner.)

3). I grew up in a tiny town in Iowa. It was the idyllic place to grow up... my mom would shove us out the door on summer mornings, only to see us again at lunch and dinner. I spent my days riding my bike and swimming at the pool with my friends. I moved to NC when I was 12, so I feel like my roots are deeply planted in both places. We went back to Iowa this summer to spend some time with my grandparents and it was so great. If you hear me talk, it will be hard to peg my midwestern/southern hybrid accent!

4). Bad drivers are my pet peeve.

5). When I was a kid I wanted to be an architect. I kept a little notebook of my pretend houses and floorplans. Then I got into all of the high-level math classes in high school and realized that unless I wanted to do a whole lot more of that, I had better change plans QUICKLY.

6). In college I waited tables at Lone Star Steakhouse, where I wore short shorts and where, on Friday and Saturday nights, I had to take part in an all-waitress presentation of a song whose starting lyrics were "I was drunk the night my mom got out of prison." Or something along those lines. It's pretty easy to sell your soul singing country songs in a smoky restaurant when you're only 21 and need rent money.

7). My favorite treat is chocolate-covered strawberries, and I make them regularly. Too regularly.

8). If I could meet any celebrity in person (or better yet, photograph them), it would be Michael Vartan. In case you aren't familiar with the lovely Mr. Vartan, he played Agent Michael Vaughn on "Alias" and has another show coming on this fall called "Big Shots." A coincidence that my youngest son's middle name is Vaughn? I think not. I admit it proudly.

Here are the photographers I'm tagging:

Ann-Marie Hensley
Val Godwin
Jennifer Simpson
Cari Long
Bethann Frillman
Erica Ledrowski
Marie Cox
Jen Lane

itty bitty elle

2007-08-31T20:27:00.001-04:00

The past few weeks have been FILLED with newborns! I am so excited to have photographed so many of these new little people lately... no matter how many I see, it never ceases to amaze me how absolutely perfect they are.

I promised Elle's mommy that I would give her a sneak peek of Elle on my blog. No matter how many times we tried to tuck her leg in, she kept kicking it back out. And actually, it looks pretty darn cute just like that... her own little pose:-)

one moment he was sitting there so nicely

2007-08-22T08:45:00.001-04:00

If you are a parent reading this, you know where this is going, don't you?

Luckily I'd photographed Nate two other times, and LUCKILY he has very cool parents. Do you see dad in the picture below, about to catch him as he went into the fish pond? Well, Nate was faster. Nate ended up in the pond. And notice his proud grin after his dad pulled him out.

We all had a good laugh, and continued the session with a wet Nate. He didn't seem to mind a bit.

wading

2007-08-15T23:00:00.001-04:00

I loved this shot the minute I captured it. I loved that Audrey and Carson's mom & dad let them wade into the pond at the very end of the session, getting completely wet in the process. (Sometimes the wet/messy images are the BEST!) And I love that this image now has a place on the wall of their new home... I hope it is enjoyed for many years to come as a reminder of the simple joys of childhood:-)

foster at pullen park

2007-07-24T21:13:00.000-04:00

Five-year old boys aren't always what I'd consider the easiest subjects, but THIS five year old boy was a true delight. Not only did he do everything I asked him to do, but he did it with a smile. I left the session just knowing I'd have a terrible time narrowing down which ones to show to his mom and dad, and I was right.

We ended up with so many fun shots... jumping, climbing trees, and hopping from park bench to park bench. Foster, thanks for a great session!

his very favorite part of the session...

2007-07-14T12:57:00.000-04:00

... was when he got to shoot me with his "gun."

Noah, age 2. 100% boy. 100% cute.

rain, rain go away

2007-07-12T23:02:00.001-04:00

I hadn't been at Felicity and Cameron's house for more than 15 minutes when the storm rolled in. Unfortunately, this late afternoon summer storm was in no hurry to leave, so we are going to try this again next week.

Felicity was so cute in her rain gear, but high-tailed back inside it at the first sound of thunder (smart girl!) And I love how little Cameron looks in the big doorway, waiting for the rain to let up...

I just KNEW I'd have fun with this family when we started out the session in jammies....

uncle peter's pianos

2007-07-09T22:49:00.000-04:00

Getting to test out Uncle Peter's pianos was just one of the many adventures on our cross-country summer road trip. Peter is a professor of piano at Oberlin College, and the boys enjoyed making their own special kind of music in his studio. (I'm quite sure I don't have any future piano prodigies in my bunch:-)

I'm back from vacation and will be spending the better part of this week responding to voicemails and emails. If you're waiting to hear from me - you will be soon! (Boy, those emails add up quickly!)

perfect and new

2007-06-28T00:09:00.000-04:00

I've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this little guy. His mom and I met our freshman year at Carolina, back in the days where we lived off Diet Coke, bagels, ramen noodles, and Skittles. Ahhh... those were the days!

This little bundle of cuteness made his entrance into the world yesterday. He doesn't have a name quite yet, but the word on the street is that his mom and dad are getting closer to a decision. He is as cute as a button, with the tiniest little smidge of ultra-fuzzy light blonde hair.

Congratulations, Molly and Grant!

(edited to add: His name is Holden. I love it!)

ohhhh, mr. squirrel!

2007-06-23T16:46:00.000-04:00

It was the end of our session, and little Anna was giving Mr. Squirrel a run for his money. She chased him up a tree, and didn't realize that he was hiding on the other side, frozen in the hopes that she wouldn't notice him.

I was taking a few pictures of her mom and dad when I turned around to snap this. Definitely one of my recent favorites.... that totally unexpected capture that was the perfect ending to the session.

stretch, yawn, sleep

2007-06-12T19:43:00.001-04:00

All in a day's work for a 12-day old. This is Ward, and I wanted to take him home with me.

Here he is... stretching, yawning, and sleeping. Sounds like my idea of the perfect day.

parker and otis

2007-06-11T17:00:00.000-04:00

Though the vast majority of my subjects are of the human sort, who could resist a subject like this? This is Otis, part of the namesake of the brand new parker and otis on Duke Street in the old Fowler's location in Durham. (We had a mini-session the other day to get a shot of Otis for the wall.) I had the pleasure of eating there for lunch today on their very first day in business, and YUM!

Their candy selection is to die for, and the sandwiches and baked goods are delish. (I'm in serious trouble that this place is within walking distance of my studio.) They also have coffee, tea, and wine and grocery sections.

So go check it out... you'll be glad you did!

beautiful baby brooke

2007-06-05T15:23:00.000-04:00

The title just about sums it all up. Brooke was one of the tiniest, most adorable and CALM wide awake newborns I've ever had the pleasure of working with. (And, she had a super cute, nursery, too!)

Here she is at about two weeks old. In the second picture, she is cuddled up in the blanket that her grandmother made for her.

Welcome to the world, little Brooke!

lovely

2007-06-03T16:57:00.000-04:00

Bridal sessions are a fun change of pace for me. Although photographing kids is my true passion, I just can't say no to the occasional bride who is looking for something a little less traditional.

Lee drove from a few hours away and met me at this gorgeous church. She caused quite a stir and probably no less than fifty passers-by commented on how beautiful both she and her dress were.

Congratulations, Lee!

weeeeeeeeeee!!!

2007-05-27T19:09:00.001-04:00

This is Will, age 13 months. He started walking, oh, about a year ago (okay, maybe not quite THAT long, but the kid was a seriously early walker) and I've known his mom since back when I was only the mother of one.

As is the case with most one-year olds, he wasn't too keen on sitting and smiling at the camera, so we played. A lot. He has this fantastic grin that would light up a thousand rooms, and the cutest little dimples you've ever seen. Such a nice way to spend a Sunday morning!

carter at 11 months

2007-05-23T22:19:00.000-04:00

Carter's mom specifically requested to see a sneak peek of her littlest man on my blog. Isn't he adorable? I just want to smooch those cheeks!

(And if you would like to see YOUR child's picture on my blog, just let me know! )

BATMAN!

2007-05-19T22:58:00.000-04:00

One of the things I love best about being an all on-location photographer is the fact that I get to see who kids REALLY are. I LOVED the fact that this little guy decided to change into his Batman costume and invite me into his all-Batman room at the end of the session.

This is exactly who he is at five, and I think it is pretty darn cool that I get to capture that.

downtown

2007-05-15T22:56:00.000-04:00

Each year on Mother's Day, I take the day off to photograph my own boys. They are usually grumpy at the thought of their mom having her camera pointed at them YET AGAIN, but I give them no choice:-) This year, my 8 year old was outraged (and I do mean outraged) because I asked him to wear flip-flops for the pictures instead of his worn out sneakers. It made for the *perfect* start to picture day.

We explored downtown Durham, which is full of fantastic places to photograph, and nearly deserted on Sunday afternoons. I wanted to share these shots to show another cool location possiblity for portraits. My guys particularly enjoyed being in "jail" (first image.) We found cool alleys, great brick walls, and fun doorways.... the perfect urban backdrop.

And I hope all you moms had a wonderful Mother's Day full of homemade cards, breakfast in bed, and a few extra hugs and kisses from your (possibly grumpy) kids:-)

all grown up

2007-05-03T17:56:00.000-04:00

This is Baje. The first time I photographed her, she was only three. Now she's all grown up... a sweet, beautiful first grader. She thought this pose up all on her own... she'd climbed a tree in her dress. You just HAVE to love a kid like that.

baby love

2007-05-01T11:17:00.000-04:00

I actually said "awwww" as I opened this picture. To me, it sums up everything good and wonderful about having a new baby to love. This is 3-week old baby Nicholas and his mommy. Such a sweet pair, they are.

cheeky

2007-04-17T21:32:00.000-04:00

This is Keaton, and he had the most ample little newborn cheeks. I've had the pleasure of photographing so many adorable kids in the last few months... I love my job!

My calendar is full for the remainder of April and much of May & June. If you're considering a spring session, please contact me soon so I can get you on the calendar.

don't feel like framing?

2007-03-27T13:22:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share a product that I absolutely LOVE - gallery wrapped canvases. These pieces of wall art are the perfect way to display your photos without having to worry about framing. Your photo on canvas comes wrapped around the stretcher frame, and because the hanging hardware is already attached, you can have it up on your wall in minutes!

Gallery wrapped canvases come in sizes 16x20 and larger, and start at $350. (Sizes shown here: 30x30, and 16x24)

the difference a year makes

2007-03-05T20:53:00.000-05:00

From tiny baby to toddler, I just love watching little people grow!

I first photographed Kailey when she was brand new and still all curled up. Then at 6 months I spent a few hours with her again... she was just barely sitting up at the time, so I would snap the shots while her mom was just arm's length away. Last month I met Kailey and her parents again... she's walking now. Oh, they grow so fast.

I love to see the transformation in pictures. And Kailey, thanks for letting me capture your first year!

don't let that innocent face fool you...

2007-02-19T22:06:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to post a quick note that I am currently unable to check or respond to voicemail messages, courtesy of my 20 month old phone bandit. If I had something important and valuable to hide, I would give it to this kid. After hours of searching in every conceivable place a phone could be, it is no where to be found (and, of course, the battery died so I can't call it and follow the ring!)

If you need to reach me quickly within the next day or two, please shoot me an email. (He has not yet figured out how to hide my Mac:-)

big changes for '07

2007-01-31T21:45:00.000-05:00

I'm very excited to announce that I'll be spending the next month working on opening my new design studio! This will be a place to showcase my work, have consultations, and display samples of specialty products... and I hope to have lots of visitors! My new studio is located in Durham close to Brightleaf Square (and very easy to find off the Durham Freeway for all of my Raleigh and Cary clients.)

I'll post more details as the (busy!) month goes on.

(Today's photo: My husband and youngest son... the world's most fearless child who laughed hysterically with each toss into the air.)

70 degrees in January...

2007-01-18T14:30:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share a few from my latest Che shoot. We completely lucked out and got a 70 degree day in January!

You can see some of my past work with Che here: www.checollection.com. (There are some shots on their website that are not mine, but many are.) The clothes are beautiful... and as a mom of all boys, their sweaters are fabulous!

Here are a few of my favorites, all shot on UNC's campus...

scrumptious

2006-12-23T15:12:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I love new babies. This is baby Sullivan. I photographed her big brother (equally as adorable) at the same age, and they look so much alike.

There is nothing quite as wonderful, especially at the holidays, as a new baby to love.

Happy Holidays to all of my wonderful clients from 2006! I hope to see each and every one of you back in 2007:-)

boy, boy, girl, boy

2006-11-27T21:33:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite sessions this fall came in the form of four siblings. This was my second time photographing them... the first was two years ago, and they'd all changed so much. As a mother of three, I know chaos. I felt right at home with these four. I let them jump off picnic tables, run, and make incredibly goofy faces.

(And those curls. I could hardly pry my camera from them!)

holiday order deadline fast approaching!

2006-11-05T20:04:00.000-05:00

Can you believe that the holidays are just around the corner?

Just a reminder that the deadline for holiday orders is NOVEMBER 17th. Orders must be placed and paid for by this date in order to ensure holiday delivery.

Also, remember that to keep the process moving smoothly, please place your print orders within the week that your web gallery is online. Orders placed past that date will be delivered 5-6 weeks after payment is received instead of 3-4 weeks that on-time orders are delivered.

Thanks for your cooperation:-)

holiday cards '06

2006-10-18T15:06:00.000-04:00

If you click the picture above, you'll get a bigger view of some of the holiday cards I'm offering this year. In addition to cards printed on photo paper, I am also offering folded 5x7 cards as well as flat cards on cardstock. Prices vary based on the type of card and quantity ordered. All come with envelopes.

Bulk 4x6 reprints of your favorite image are also available. If you're looking for the insert-style cards to use with them, I highly recommend Exposures... www.exposuresonline.com.

california boy

2006-10-16T20:06:00.000-04:00

I just returned from the most DELIGHTFUL trip to San Francisco. It is such a beautiful place, and despite the weather that was just a *bit* too chilly for this southern girl, a wonderful time was had by all.

While I was there, I had the chance to photograph Ryan, age 4. It took a small bribe to get him to warm up, but after that, he was full steam ahead. He threw rocks into a creek, swung from the monkey bars, showed me his soccer moves, and even tried to talk me into going to see a dead cat that he and his dad had spotted earlier in the day. (I declined on the dead cat offer:-)

I will hopefully be able to go back and enjoy San Francisco again in the near future. Even after visiting Napa, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf (and the very smelly sea lions that live there), and doing a LOT of shopping, it still seems like there is so much more to do. If you've never been, I highly recommend it!

a boy and his dog

2006-10-03T15:42:00.000-04:00

Can you see the dog smiling?

Something tells me they are both loving this hug. I knew as soon as I pressed the shutter that this would surely become one of my favorites.

the pout

2006-10-01T15:16:00.000-04:00

This is Nate. There is absolutely no way to not fall in love with a pout like this on a baby who is only 2 weeks old.

Every newborn session I do makes me want another newborn of my very own. Babies are sneaky that way. They're so tiny and precious, and they (almost) always smell so good.

And they change SO fast, which is why I always tell clients to call me to schedule a session even before the baby is born so we can capture them when they're still all new and curled up and sleepy. That newborn stage is gone in the blink of an eye.

Below is another of Nate and his beautiful mommy.

holiday session update

2006-09-19T22:52:00.000-04:00

(I apologize for the lack of a picture. I've been having uploading problems!)

Thank you to everyone who has emailed and called for holiday sessions. My schedule is currently full for sessions through my November cut-off date for the holidays. I am still waiting on a few more confirmations/session fees, and after those will be implementing a waiting list. If you are interested in being placed on the waiting list for a holiday session, please let me know as soon as possible!

all the way from Colorado...

2006-09-07T20:16:00.000-04:00

... came this little cutie. He was only about 5 months old, and sitting up like a pro! His expressions were PRICELESS, and I could tell how much his mommy was enamored with him. After several weeks in NC, they were heading back to Colorado soon after the session.

Connor, I'm so glad I got the chance to meet you! (And make sure your mom lets me photograph you again when you're older.)

cute then and cute now

2006-09-01T15:00:00.000-04:00

This is Nina. The first picture is from when she was three months old. The second one is from just a few weeks ago... she is two years old now.

Her eyes and her cheeks make me smile.

And that hair? People would pay good money for those curls and that shade of blonde.

Yep. Cute then, and cute now.

yep, it's almost that time!

2006-08-25T23:41:00.000-04:00

As my calendar is quickly filling up, I thought I should post a short reminder for everyone who is considering scheduling a holiday session this year. My calendar is usually full by mid-September, and I start a waiting list at that point (or sooner, if my schedule is booked up before that.) I look forward to seeing everyone again this fall... it is so much fun for me to see how all of the kids have grown over the past year!

2006 holiday deadlines:

November 5th - last available session date to guarantee Christmas delivery

November 17th - last date to place print/card orders for Christmas delivery

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I plan to have all orders out by December 16th. Keep in mind that it is especially important during this busy time of year to place your order within the week that your web gallery is online.

(And just a reminder that a print enlargement order of $200 or more must be placed in order to purchase custom cards or bulk 4x6 prints for cards.)

sisters

2006-08-19T22:46:00.000-04:00

Meet Lucy and Natalie. Aren't they adorable?

As the mom of only boys, and as someone who never had a sister, I love photographing sisters. There is always a special bond there. (And I can almost always get them to hug without putting each other in a headlock.)

watching him grow

2006-08-16T09:49:00.000-04:00

One of the many reasons I love my job is that I get to watch babies grow. Baby Charles is no exception... I photographed his mom while she was pregnant with him, and have since had the chance to go back and photograph him two more times - as a newborn, and then just a few weeks ago as he was turning 4 months old. (Above you can see one image from each session.) He's gone from a scrumptious little newborn to an adorable baby with the cutest tuft of wavy hair on the top of his head. And WOW does he look like his dad!

It is especially fun when I can capture parents at the maternity session - before they become parents, but have already painstakingly created the nursery in anticipation of their new little bundle - and then again after they have become parents. Not only do I see the transformation in the babies as they grow physically, but I see the transformation in the parents, too, as they grow into their new roles as mom and dad.

Thank you to each and every one of my clients who invite me back into your homes to document your babies as they grow. It always makes me smile:-)

beautiful kids + beautiful clothes

2006-08-14T13:52:00.000-04:00

As promised, I'm sharing a few of my favorites from the clothing shoot. The clothes are by Che (formerly Manos Argentinas), a clothing company out of Argentina. Gorgeous hand-knit and smocked kids' clothes sold in boutiques throughout the US. Their website is currently under construction, but once up and running, the pictures from last week's shoot should be displayed throughout their site.

My sincerest thanks to Emma, Allison, Karley, Teresa, Kailey, Nina, and Everett:-) (And all of their parents, especially Emma's mom, who kept the shoot running like a well-oiled machine. Not an easy task with 7 kids.) You did a fantastic job!!

it was 90 degrees, and we had her in a sweater

2006-08-09T08:13:00.000-04:00

And what a trooper little Emma was! This week I am doing some commercial work and shooting the spring line of a children's clothing company. The images will be a change of pace for me - all in color! I will be sure to post more later after I finish shooting all of the little models.

The weather forecast is a little iffy this week... keep your fingers crossed for me!

{And Happy Birthday to Emma, who just turned 1 this week! }

three little inspirations

2006-08-07T14:26:00.000-04:00

I guess because I'm a children's photographer, the subject of my own children often comes up with my clients. So I figured one of my first posts would be of my little inspirations... Miller (7), Gray (almost 4), and Everett (14 months.)

I photograph them constantly, and they are great practice because they are perhaps the least cooperative children EVER when a camera comes out.

They keep me on my toes. But what else could I expect from three little boys?

all of the cool kids are doing it

2006-08-05T09:49:00.000-04:00

The time has come to start a blog for my business. I'll be showcasing favorite pictures from my sessions, and keeping my clients up to date on various happenings, holiday deadlines, and the like. I love photographs, and I love to share the stories from those photographs.

This is my blog.

Welcome:-)

{Today's picture: The tiny little feet of baby Carter. I've known Carter's mom since 7th grade.}