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The blog has been so quiet this summer… but back to school means back to the regular routine… lots of sessions to share, so lots of blogging to do!
A few peeks from last weekend’s mini sessions at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, and then a few peeks of just a few of our fabulous new card selections… it’s going to be a fun holiday season!
Thee-se three kids, to be exact.. no, not my own.. but sometimes I wish they were! Some of my favorite little clients and their amazing mommy.. back again for another storybook session. The day in the life of a FIVE year old! Be still my heart.. seems like we just did Reagan’s one year old session! But five! And such a smart, silly, sweet little girl she has become! Oh, how much fun I have had watching this little family grow and blossom… I have a feeling some amazing things are coming to them in the next year… goodness knows they deserve nothing but the very best! (I just hope they all know it too!)
Hugs to you all.. see you again very soon!
Last Sunday I got caught in the crossfires of a fierce gun battle. The Sheriff had a rouge Native cornered, and the two battled it out with pistols firing and tomahawks flying. When both had run out of ammunition, they boarded a pirate ship and finished with a duel, swordfighting for my honor.
Or something like that.
It won’t be long before these boys have no interest in anything that doesn’t plug in to the wall or have an ignition. But how amazing is my job, that I got to help their mom capture just a little sliver of this age.. bottle up a moment that will be gone before we know it… lest we ever forget the magical world little boys dwell in, where the good guys always win and a kiss from mommy can still cure even the most fatal of battle wounds. Thank you guys, for reminding me how lucky I am… and starting my weekend off with a smile!
I am officially out of commission for the next two weeks as I head north (way north!) to a family wedding. I’ll be posting regular updates along the way on twitter if you’d like to follow the fun, follow @annbeckphoto or go to http://www.twitter.com/annbeckphoto. In the meantime, phone calls and emails will be checked regularly and returned as needed, but anything not urgent will be replied after we return on June 4th. Thank you for your patience.. and wish us luck on the open road!
Sunday was a crazy busy day last weekend… after the birthday party (see below) all day on Saturday and then a super fun fundraiser for Kelcy (see above) Saturday night, I was EX.HAUST.ED. But.. I had a day jam-packed full of fun new faces and visits with old friends.. too much fun to pass up, so rest would have to wait!
I began with a big family session in Dallas.. grandparents, moms & dads, and three two year olds! Yes, it was just as busy as it sounds! But the girls were so cute, and the weather could not have been more perfect.. it was a great way to start the day!
After that I met up with a family I have photographed many times over the last five years and this session in Las Colinas was no exception… they are always so sweet and fun, and give me so much to work with that I want to keep going and going! This time we had an interesting twist.. they didn’t want to stop either! Even Cooper, the sweet three year old, kept asking “Can you take my picture again?” It was so heartbreakingly precious… I would have stayed if I could!
The next session was for some new friends in Fort Worth, who were so sweet and excited for the session.. can’t help but get excited too! The girls were the same ages as my two youngest, so we hit it off right away! And OMG did I mention their eyes?! Simply stunning.. I couldn’t stop myself from taking LOTS of close-up shots of those bright blues, especially contrasted by their darling freckles… faces with such character make me giddy as a photographer!
Finally, we ended in Grapevine with a family I have photographed many times, this time with the addition of their cousins! So a total of six kids, four of them three and under… yes… that’s what I said.. but surprisingly, it was a very smooth session. Sure, a little chaotic, but never out of control, and just a fun, happy chaos.. the kids were all so sweet and well behaved, and by the end my cheeks hurt when I left from smiling & laughing so much!
Weddings are not my usual specialty, but I have been known to accept a few here and there, when it’s small and casual, when the people involved are really fun and get my style, or when it’s just for someone I really care about! This event happened to fit all three of those criteria, plus had the added bonus of completely gorgeous subjects AND an amazing location… how could I say no?
The bride to be is the niece of some really great clients of mine, and could not have been more stunning. We did her bridal portraits last month, but I’ve been waiting until the big day to share those so as not to spoil the surprise!
And then this past Saturday, on what could not have been a more perfect day, especially given all of the crazy weather we’ve had lately, I can back for the big event. The wedding was held at the family’s farm, which they rent out for parties, events, and of course, weddings! Between the rolling hills, quaint farm house, and stunning barn, it is the most amazing setting I could imagine! A few hours in the bridal suite primping, playing, laughing and stressing, and then it was finally time to begin! You could tell they had thought of everything; every detail was perfect, every moment happened exactly as planned, and the amount of love surrounding this great couple was just breathtaking. Congratulations.. may the next fifty years be as amazing as your first day together!
The perfection that was our Deep Ellum minis, that is! I can’t say enough about what a fun day it was… and I can’t WAIT to share all of the fabulousness!! For now, a little peek..
First up, one sassy big sister who had me cracking up the whole time. Little sis was a complete giggle box and sweet baby brother could barely take it all in.. lucky for him he’s already learned how to live in a house full of girls.. keep your mouth shut and go with the flow! These three were so easy, especially for their ages, and their session is OVER.FLOWING. with delicousness I can’t wait to show mom.
Next, a brother/sister duo that might have been the cutest combo I’ve had in a while. Not only were they each sweet (and a little spunky!) in their own right, together they were unstoppable! I can barely wade through all of the darling images of them together.. hugging, wrestling, giggling, screaming.. all in the same shot! Love love love siblings like these.. as close as hands and feet… and with all of them wrapped around each other!
After them we met another brother/sister couple, slightly younger and slightly (okay a lot!) more energetic! They gave me a run for my money but BOY was it worth it! They made us work for every shot.. but each one is better than the next, so much cuteness packed into these tiny little bodies, it’s almost too much to bear!
Next up was a little man that regular blog readers will probably recognize! He is a frequent flier with Ann Beck Photography and we couldn’t be more pleased about it! Never a dull moment with this one, he had pockets full of ponies, rocks, and other treasures when he arrived, and continued to add to his collection as the session went on. Knowing the area, we really had to watch what exactly he picked up! 
But as usual, he was a rock star when it came to the photos, and I’m thrilled to give his mom a totally different and cool look from his previous sessions!
Finally for the day we met up with a young old friend. I’ve photographed this little heartbreaker a few times before, and it seems like each time he’s grown a foot.. now he looks like such a little boy! No longer the toddler or preschooler.. just a real boy! A real boy that gets embarrassed by his mom and his photographer oohing and ahhing over how he’s still just as cute as a button, but too bad! Thank goodness he humored us long enough to get some really amazing new photos.. definitely something for the walls, and then some!
Hope you all enjoy the peeks.. look for your gallery updates on Monday!
that’s what we’re expecting at this weekend’s mini sessions in Deep Ellum! It’s a great location for kids and families who want something a little different than the norm… especially the ones who think way outside the box! Best of all, these sessions are coming at the perfect time for Father’s Day gifts, and what dad wouldn’t love some fabulously fresh new images of his kids? Exactly!
We still have a few spaces available on each day (Sunday and Monday) but they are limited.. call or email asap to grab one up and give dad a totally hip & fun surprise this year!
p.s. we’re giving away one session on each day to the first people to reply… send us an email asap!
Finally getting caught up on the last of last weekend’s busy days.. Sunday morning I visited a wonderfully sweet family for a nice and quiet storybook session… which was anything but! The Elkins family was a busy bunch, and with one girly girl obsessed with ponies and dramatic dress up games and one bright boy with a lego empire in his domain, there were more than a few times when we were going in two (or three! ) directions at once! Lucky for these kids, mom & dad are old pros, and were bouncing back and forth, keeping a good balance on what needed to be done and what they wanted to do, so we stayed on schedule and still had plenty of fun to last the whole week! (Hence the reason this update is a week late.. I needed some time to recover from all that smiling!)
And now.. the best part.. the pictures! Storybook sessions generally take a few weeks before full proofs are ready, so I like to be able to give enough of a preview to keep mom & dad happy while they wait patiently!
We started the day with special breakfast and playing in the kids’ rooms..
Then we headed to the park down the street to play on the playground, hunt for bugs, pick dandelions, ride scooters… oh, and take a few pictures!
Back home for some quiet time on the porch, and what might be one of my favorite sibling images of all time.. I love this laugh!
And finally, we wrapped with some pictures that mom planned just for me… you all know how I love jumping pictures, so why not get the whole family on the trampoline! Love!!
Another big! big! moment from last weekend… my dancing shoes are still sore! Adorable and glamorous Mallory celebrated her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday and I was thrilled to be a part of the festivities. And festivities, there were plenty! Such a special day to honor this huge milestone for a special girl… surrounded by so many friends and family, I lost count of the hugs and kisses.. but you could totally feel the love in the air!
We started at the temple for the sacred ceremony. Obviously, my camera was not allowed in for the private moment, but I came by early to capture a few with a very excited (but oh so nervous!) Mallory as she prepared herself for the service.
After that.. it was time to let loose and party! Mallory’s parents thought of every.single.perfect.detail. and my head was absolutely spinning with all the perfection! The room was to die for, the cake stunning, and so many fun features like flashing neon ice cubes and a donut fondue station (yes! as delicious as it sounds!) that had everyone, from the seasoned veteran parents to the giggling tweens, absolutely buzzing with excitement!
We even set up a photobooth station in one corner for the guests to come by and express themselves… and express they did! I am still laughing at some of these images, such personality!
As hip and modern as the party was, they didn’t miss a beat adding in the traditional, and the glittered kids in neon socks danced the Hora just as well as the grandparents, with everyone united in love and celebration for one amazing girl… Happy Birthday Mallory, thanks for including me in your amazing day!
