Let me be honest and say that when the season for Christmas pictures comes I go into a cave!  An editing cave that is and it starts in October and I just now am starting to see the light once again!!  :)  I have been so blessed by this business and the full schedule that it brings this time of year.  The funny thing is that in my mind every year I say I am really going to limit my sessions this season and believe it or not I did, but it didn’t change too much of the busyness!  Between four little ones, a husband with a crazy schedule (now a new schedule that we are getting used to), a business of my own and the busyness of the season my poor BLOG has suffered!!  Hmmm…two months MIA, I know that’s horrible!!  Sometimes this time of year I also hesitate to post too many family photos in fear that they will be using it for their Christmas card and I don’t want to spoil it!!  Well, since some of the Christmas cards are already in the mail I thought I might give you some of the highlights of the last few months and the wonderful families I have had the privilege of working with!!  So, here a few of them in no particular order…

Now back to editing because there are still lots more to finish before I can say the year is over!!  I’ll have to do one more highlight before the end of the year with some more amazing families!!

Blessings!

Janelle

This family is getting it right.  Raising kids is hard work, day in and day out and they are intentionally raising kids that are sweet, kind, respectful and fun!!  I have known this family for quite some time and have spent time with some of them individually, but this was my first time hanging with them as a whole.  They were so fun and we spent most of the time laughing (thank you, Reese!).  We did both a family session out at Lake Pleasant and some of Tanen’s senior pictures too, which I will post tomorrow.  It was a beautiful day out and the water was crystal clear.  Although I was fairly sure Reese would have taken a dip, we decided we should stay dry for the pictures.

I always love doing this with this kids…ha!!

Soooo Reese!!!

Brothers…Age is not a factor here, this is Thing 1 and Thing 2!! 

More of this guy to tomorrow…Tanen Class of 2011

Taylor you are beautiful…

Faith, pretty and sweet…

One of my favorites of the two of you.

Fun Fun Fun!!!!

Fairly certain that I want to steal the Mustang and have a family picture that looks just like this…FAVORITE!!!!

Reese’s expressions are priceless.

Thank you guys for an awesome afternoon!!!  It was such a pleasure to be with all of you!!  Stay tuned for Tanen’s senior pictures tomorrow…

Blessings!

Janelle

Meet part of my husband’s amazing extended family that I married into.  Uncle Freddy, Aunt Gale, Courtney, Olivia and McKenzie.  At the beginning of April they all piled into a less than big enough rental vehicle and traveled roughly 1900 miles to Arizona for me to capture Courtney’s senior pictures.  Honored?  I think so.  Of course, I think that my children were the real draw!! 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this family.  We already miss them so much {tears}!!  They blessed us throughout the week with loving on our children and just being with us.  The last time I saw the girls was when Gage was eight months old and we took him to Michigan in December (Hello, I am a true Arizonan - why did we go in the winter??  I was an ice cube the entire trip!).  So, to say that they have grown up a little would be an understatement.  Although here in these images you get to see their outward beauty, make no mistake these girls are the real deal inside and out.  They too have a passion for Jesus, dance, softball, family and possibly boys!  ;)  Girls, we were so blessed by you and can’t wait to see you soon!!!  xoxoxo

Uncle Freddy & Aunt Gale, what can I say…your girls are beautiful a reflection of your love for them, each other, Jesus & life.  You both are amazing.  We enjoyed every moment we had with you and are praying for what God will have for you in the future.  Oh to have you closer to us would be incredible.  Thank you for making the trek all the way here for Courtney’s pictures it was a great excuse to spend time with you.

We love you!!

Ok, because they traveled so far…they will get some extra love…we did three separate shoots, so throughout this week you will get to see their family AND Courtney’s senior session.

First up, part 1 - The Family (& a few with us too!!)

Courtney

Olivia

McKenzie

Beautiful Sisters

The start of Courtney’s Senior Pictures…

Family…(Thanks, E for the pic!)

Hard to believe that these two girls were the flower girls in my wedding when they were just turning FOUR!!  BTW, Gracie is a dead ringer to McKenzie at this age!! 

More to come in the next few days!!  Have a great Monday!!

Blessings!

Janelle

There is something about the fun colors and eclectic feel that draws clients to this particular location.  It’s not very big, but the set up allows for different looks without going here and there.

Linda asked for pictures for her birthday present this year (hint to your wives that have hesitant hubbies!!) and of course her hubby obliged, along with the kids.  This family was so great and listened to my rambling and spontaneous conversations about nothing (people I do not get out alot, so I am mostly talking to little people - when there are willing ears I kind of talk much like a tidal wave!)

ANYWAY, they were awesome and I we were in & out with some fabulous images that I think made for a great Birthday present, how about you?

Some favorites…

I just love this one of the two of you…and I feel a small victory here with Joe and his smile

Looking good, Michael

Stunning, Deanna

One of the awesome things about this particular venue, you always have some GREEN!!

You can’t go here and not do a blue door picture…it was very bright (sorry Michael, I know your squinting!), but still loved it!!

Thank you so much Joe, Linda, Deanne & Michael…it was such a pleasure to meet & photograph you all!!

Blessings!

Janelle

Well, we were missing one (he is stationed overseas right now), but Deborah said it had been a REALLY long time since they had family pictures.  So, we decided to get some new ones, but we’ll be doing it again soon when Dan gets back!

We met for an early morning shoot, which I am loving more and more these days.  The kids were so amazing, really how many kids really LOVE getting their picture taken.  They could have fooled me because they were awesome and we breezed through a great session.  These were a few of my favorites!

One proud Mama

Meet Jason

and David

and the ever so sweet, Kaitlin

Their beautiful Mama

I have shot at this location so many times and I have never had a peacock show off like this guy!!

This one is for you Deborah…I think that I want a print of it too

Thank you so much for inviting me to photograph your family!

Blessings,

Janelle

These boys are just too fun for words.  We had a great time downtown with these four guys & their Mama, who is an old high school friend (love facebook)!  They brought some of their favorite things to ride along with them, which was great.  Boys at this age are captured best doing what they love.  Love that Mom thought the same way!! 

Here were some of my favorites from the afternoon…

Seriously look how handsome all of these guys are!!

Meet Jacob

Meet Adrien

Meet Braedin

Meet Parker

And their beautiful Mama, Dawn.  Love this one of you!

Boys and their toys…

I {heart} this last one!

Thank you guys for being so great!  I had such an awesome time with you and it was great to see you, D after more than a decade (wow! we’re getting old!)

Blessings!

Janelle

I am running out the door in five minutes, but just finished my brother and sister-in-law’s family pictures and I HAD to post them because quite frankly I LOVE them.  I am even a little bit jealous of them!!  They are just the sweetest family ever and I love that these pictures captured them perfectly.  I really don’t like that they live farther away than I would like.  On the positive they live in the state, but still 50 minutes away still makes it hard to see them as much as we would like.  Well, lucky me though I am running out the door to shoot a senior session in their neck of the woods, so I get hang out for a bit & I am excited!!  Ok, so here are my favorites, although really I could have posted every image from their session…love love love!!

Lorie…I love that last one of you.  You are beautiful.

Love you guys and can’t wait to see you soon!!

Blessings!

Janelle (aka Aunt Nell)

I can hardly believe that Maddy is already headed for EIGHT months!!  She is just the sweetest little mover & shaker!  There are BIG plans beneath those beautiful blue eyes.  I just LOVE this family.  They have supported me from day one and I appreciate them so much!!  Maddy’s amazing mama, Genea has an amazing heart for Jesus that she is instilling in her little ones and she has recently started a business that shows her heart for both Jesus & Kids!!  Check out PRAISEwear!!  I just bought her LOVE themed clothing line for all of my munchkins…I’ll be posting a picture of that soon!!  So, here is Miss Maddy-Moo (& one of Big Bro JD too!!)

Jayden showing off his BIG muscles!

Love her face here…she was humoring us at the end of our shoot…too cute!

Seriously, I am jealous of this last picture.  It totally captures Genea with her children, she is an amazing mom who intentionally find the joy in this journey…LOVE!!

So, thrilled to be on this journey with you sweet friend!!  XOXO

Blessings!

Janelle

Another decade down…good-bye 2010, welcome 2011.  I think that all of us at some point yesterday, today, or sometime soon will take a moment to reflect on the year(s) passed and look to the future.  Some of us have a lot of excitement and change on the horizon (like my sister-in-law, Becca, who is ready to deliver twins ANYDAY - how about 1-1-11 birthday for my niece & nephew??) and some a little unsure of what this next year will hold.  My hubby had to work last night and today, which makes us do our reflections in a day or two, but my only real resolution is to live with intention…to let go of the everyday mundane and to live with purpose.  My dad always says that if you are still taking in air then God has a reason for you to be here…a purpose.  That is my mantra going in to 2011.  So, here is my family wishing you a Happy New Year!!  May God be present in your life, may you rest in the knowledge that although we don’t know what this 2011 holds, He does and He loves you more than we can understand.

Thank you, Erin for capturing this one of my family and hubby & me!!

Those of you that know my Grace know how perfect this picture is! 

Gage lost his bottom two teeth this last month!!  He looks way too grown up here, but I love his smile…it’s contagious.

My sweet Sadie-Lady who has a tender heart for others and her family.

My firecracker, Gracie, she keeps me on my toes and has a precious soft side that I love.

Little Gunnar, who just passed SIX months…I can hardly believe it, but he is a delight to all of us.

My husband and I will celebrate ELEVEN years married in a week.  We have learned to enjoy the “everyday” moments, especially when you have little ones around and to cherish the quiet times when it is just the two of us.  Although if you know me this might be hard to believe (ha!), but I am not always the best communicator when it comes to my feelings…sometimes I write it better.  I am thankful everyday for Jason, he works hard at his job and provides for our family, he protects us, he loves to be with us and he can’t wait to come home after his shift, he loves me unconditionally (even when I am a pain - which is practically never ), he loves our children without reservation, He chooses to be a man of his word, He chooses to put his relationship with Jesus first, he LEADS our family, and trust me the list could go on.  God knew just what I needed and I am thankful.  I love you, Babe.

Happy New Year, Friends!!

Blessings!

Janelle

Well, I am finally back to blogging for those of you that missed me.  When life gets busy the blog definitely gets put on the back burner.  One of my goals for 2011, work on streamlining blog stuff so that I can get it posted with ease and regularly!!  :)  I have a New Year’s Post on the brink, but because I have to post this one to say that I did one more before 2011.  I’ll get to it.

This is my sister-in-law, Michelle and her family…we did a two for one and some of these images are used for marketing for her salon DollyRockers.  Which if you haven’t been there you are missing out, all the girls are AMAZING!  Our shoot was cut short because the cops showed up and thought we were involved in a bank robbery that had just happened down the street…seriously no joke!  However, happy to say that was cleared up!  :)  Now, to the images…

Blessings!

Janelle