Taylor/Senior Photography/St. Augustine, FL

Soooo... this is really strange (for me- being a Michigander, where senior photography is HUGGGEE) but senior photography is not big down here (down here in Florida) at all. 

I asked Taylor if I could take her senior pictures and she (so nicely) said yes! 

As we were shooting, I asked her about senior photography in the area- basically, you get your picture taken for the year book by a company, and that's it :(  boooo!  Because I could really, REALLY get used to taking pictures of such beautiful seniors like Taylor!!

Isn't she gorgeous?? :)

....and here's where I stamp "dork" on my forehead :)

I have developed this passion for shelling.  Shelling the seashores of Saint Augustine.  Specifically, Crescent Beach. 

I actually went to Barnes and Noble the other night and paid 25 bucks for an "official" guide to shelling.

After I spend hours (literally- today I walked for 2 hours) searching the beach for shells, I come home and do a photo shoot with them.  (dork stamp here)

(**I'd like to confirm that I've found each and every one of these shells, in their natural environment :)

 {my stack of starfish}

 {my sharks eyes}

{my olive shells... a personal fave}

{my sand dollars}

{stack of sand dollars}

So there ya have it.  My shell collection (well minus a ton of your normal, run of the mill shells).  These are my special standouts.  My babbbies  that are kept in a safe place :) 

Fave Photo of 2011?!?!

What a daunting task to pick a fave photo from an entire year of pictures and memories! ;)  Especially for a gal that takes (on average) about 50-100 pictures a day... caaaaa-raaaazy!

But I narrowed it down to a picture, focusing on Stella.  Stella was the most incredible part of 2011.. therefore, it was only natural to pick a picture of her.

Soooooo... I came up with this one:

And because I'm feeling reminiscent, I'll give some background on the photo:

Stella was fresh out of the oven at this point- maybe 6-7 hours old.  We had had our slew of visitors, and all the excitement of her first bath, feeding, etc.  Ryan and I were left alone with our sweet miracle.  Ryan was holding her, and my camera happened to be within arms reach.  Even though the lights were soooo dim in the room and I had to crank up the ISO (which ultimately made this photo more noisy than I care for), I caught a few precious, sleeping moments of miss Estella June.  It's certainly not the most creative shot I've ever taken, or challenge, etc.  But to me, its pure beauty. 

I love you my StellaBella June bug!  You are the best thing of 2011!!!!  :D

The Glitter took First! :D

Thank you Chelsey (at The Paper Mama) for picking my photo for #1!!! :D  YAYYYYY!!!  It makes my whole weekend to know people think my photos are pretty ;)  YAYAYAY!

Cayden Turns 1! :)

What a sweet little man!   Happy Birthday Cayden!  :)

The Glitter Diaries... (and PHOTO CHALLENGE!)

I happen to be addicted to glitter.  I love glitter like a kid loves candy.  I am determined to get that "perrrrrrfect" glitter shot.  I've caught a couple that are nice, but nothing that really gets me yet.  The glitter diaries shall continue... :)

The Saint Augustine Dance Conservatory