My Sisters, the Holidays, Memory Lane and Two Gorgeous Dresses

December 28, 2017

The holidays were AMAZING this year, and one of my favorite parts of it is watching the family grow. I have BROTHERS now! and Mom has SONS. And of that she is enamored. I feel like the family is finally complete, and of course, I have subjects to photograph at Christmas. Here is a picture of said gorgeous boys and a couple of presents from their doting mother-in-law.

WARNING: This post gets political as I zoom in on the socks she gave each of them.
(The views and opinions expressed by these socks are those of the socks and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any person in this picture.)

Mom couldn't stop giggling about these socks.

I think they even like each other. And might be starting a band.

BUT THIS POST ISN'T ABOUT THEM.

It's about my sisters!

These two have been lighting up my life since 1987-88. Probably the first little things I fell in love with, they have always been my living dolls. I get super excited when we all get to be together.

I get SO EXCITED, in fact. that I JUST MIGHT bring a trunk full of dresses and make them play dress ups for me. I mean, you are never to old for dress ups with your sisters. And I can never get enough of these two. And then I'm all LET'S RUN DOWNSTAIRS AND PLAY CATALOG MODEL. And they come. Because I am the big sister and there will be NO TURKEY OR NAPS until I get some PICS. :) (I'm the meanest!)

I am so crazy about these two. Best presents my parents ever gave me!

Every little thing they do looks like magic to me! I am smitten.

Aren't they lovely? My favorite part is getting pictures of them that I love capturing of my own daughters. It's like a time traveling experience. BABIES GROW UP TOO FAST!

I'll take "Pictures that make a mom cry." for 2000, Alex.

The dresses my sisters are wearing are from the newly released collection by Whims + Waves.
The texture and flow of the material was absolutely luxurious and soft. The halter dress could be styled for any occasion, and the teal keyhole maxi is just really would make a beautiful choice for bridesmaid dresses. They wanted to keep them forever, but as much as I love my sisters, they only gets dibs on LAST YEAR'S client wardrobe.

But I told them, and I will tell YOU, if you order from Whims + Waves and use my discount code (KVAND25), you can order these dresses for your very own closet, and get 25% OFF your order! No shipping in the United States.

2018 is THE YEAR OF THE DRESS

December 27, 2017

I LOVE BOHEMIAN BEACH DRESSES.

THERE I SAID IT.

I love them on myself, and I love them on my subjects because THERE IS ART to the way a dress like that moves. And also there is the LOVELY. In the right dress, even if it is not something you would NORMALLY wear, YOU WILL FEEL BEAUTIFUL, because it is beautiful and it is ON YOU.

I mean, you don't NORMALLY get your pictures made. It is a SPECIAL OCCASION. Even if we are looking for an easy breezy casual candid adventure documentary, the wardrobe should be SPLENDID and you should feel and look amazing.

AND THIS IS WHERE I GET MY DRESSES.

I mean LOOK AT THESE DETAILS. GUH THIS IS A DRESS!!

A little skin, a lot of flow, those gorgeous scallops - YOU CAN BE A MERMAID QUEEN, I am in love with everything about this dress but WAIT TIL YOU SEE THE BACK.

This gorgeous dress and the lovely jewelry can be found HERE.
Use the code KVAND25 to get 25% off!!
(always free shipping in the USA)

A dress brings DRAMA to any session, I love the layering of textures and jewelry and fabrics as they work together to create something amazing.

I am absolutely in love with this dress, and it has a little jumpsuit inside so you feel like you are beautiful and ready for action all at the same time!

Find this gorgeous dress HERE.
Use the code KVAND25 to get 25% off!!
(always free shipping in the USA)

Can we all take a moment to drool over this mixed metal BLING?
I need ALL THE BLING.

These necklaces are TO DIE FOR.
(Don't forget the CODE!! KVAND25!!)

Do you want one more peek into this gorgeous collection??
DO YA??

OF COURSE YOU DO!!!

This one might be my favorite. I love the color and the fit of this one.

AND THE DETAILS OMG.

This dress is perfect for any body. It can be styled up all kinds of ways and would be quite lovely on a pregnant subject as well.

This gorgeous dress will anchor any photo session in just the right amount of lovely. Mama should shine like an heirloom diamond in family photos, and layered with a beautiful shawl and just the right jewelry, this dress is pretty much perfect.

Find it HERE.
And don't forget to use the code KVAND25 for 25% off your purchase!!

The bad news is, I have run out of time for this blog.
The good news is, I HAVE MORE DRESSES!!!!

STAY TUNED!

Newborn Sessions - Let's stay home

August 1, 2017

YOU JUST HAD A BABY!

Or you are about to. And you know you want pictures but THIS IS YOUR FIRST ONE or maybe it's YOUR 4TH, either way, we talked and decided to do it at your house, because YES MA'AM I ABSOLUTELY MAKE HOUSE CALLS. I prefer to get to your baby between 4-10 days after they are born but circumstances certainly sometimes prevent that. You just have me come the soonest moment you are comfortable.

I love capturing the lifestyle side of a new family, and although I try so hard to replicate that in the studio, there is just something so much more intimate at home.

So yes, I will pack up my SUV like a gypsy and bring all kinds of blankies and fabrics and headwraps and hats and bowls and baskets and what have you for the baby (and also some things for you because you will want to wear them and get in the frame) and this is why it is SO IMPORTANT that we talk about this first so YOU can get JUST AS EXCITED AS ME.

THE INTRODUCTION AND WALK THROUGH

When I first get there, I will basically look like I am moving in and I will bring in all my things and then I will wash my hands AGAIN because at first I will just want to hold your baby.

It's been a while since mine were little, and they weren't even little long.

Your baby is a little person and as I hold this precious little subject I will get a much better idea of how they move, bend and what makes them comfy. Generally babies get VERY EXCITED about how FUNNY I am, even if they were just asleep, so baby and I will find our artistic groove and you can show me all the cute things you have to choose from for wardrobe and pretty little spots and we will find some pretty pockets of light in the house. We will go to the nursery.

It doesn't really take that long to do but I feel like it took forever to type it.

POSED SHOTS

I will wrap the baby in something soft and lay the baby on something full of texture or or color or fuzz and I will get to business. It takes a bit to get baby both visible and comfortable so I will be basically molding the baby to relax fingers and faces and you will stand right behind me oohing and ahhing because it really is just the cutest thing ever.

I love to give you tips as I go so that as you try to capture pictures daily on your phone you can get the very best pictures of your baby as they grow and do new things.

I will totally stop and snap a phone pic of your baby for my Instagram and maybe do a little social story behind the scenes and I will encourage you to grab your phone as well. YOUR MOM IS GONNA FREAK WHEN SHE SEES HOW CUTE I MADE YOUR BABY.

And then, if like, Easter is that weekend or something, I MAY DO SOMETHING SILLY.

Ugh. I cannot EVEN with this guy.

Just blogging this makes me miss him like crazy!

LIFESTYLE SHOTS

But HEY! Don't think it is all posey posey cute in a basket. While I have been doing THIS, you have been trying on clothes I brought and you have finished pulling together that new mom gorgeousness so we can get some sweet dreamy environmental portraits of your new baby's new world.

I come to your house so I can capture the world you are in right now. In 10 years when you look back and get emotional over the beautiful moments we have captured, you will feel your heart tug as you remember that old couch and the how young the dog was and that sweet home that was just a starter version of the beautiful family that has grown and changed.

These little details mark time, show history, build a legacy of heirloom images for your children to cherish, and your children's children. You will value these images over so many other tangible items as you grow older, and so will they.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL

ONE THING THOUGH: I may not have mentioned a whole lot of the WORK involved or the ATTITUDE of your baby yet, I've made this whole process sounds peachy keen but when I get there, and your baby is having their first OFF DAY and you didn't sleep last night, and the baby won't stop nursing/fussing/whatever other skills your baby was blessed with at birth, DO NOT FREAK OUT - THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT *I* EXPECT. (That's a whole separate blog topic. ;P)

I don't expect anything to be perfect when I get there, and have (more than once) struggled through getting a baby to cooperate to the 9th hour when Mom, and Dad and Grandma and I were all just going to throw in the towel but then BOOM THE BABY GIVES UP and gives us 20 minutes of sweet dreamy newborn sleep and I TAKE IT FOR ALL IT IS WORTH AND WE GET THE SHOTS.

So that's it. After 2 hours we are all exhausted and I am sweaty and I pack up my car and sprinkle you with glitter and drive off into the noon day sun to get working on making magic with what I have just captured and you all go take a nap.

I send a few sneak peeks right away and you will ooh and ahh and then 2 weeks later when I deliver your gorgeous gallery you will already see the changes in your growing baby and you will be SO GLAD we got in there early and made it all happen.

Wonder how much it costs? Click here.
Want to see more examples? Click here.

A Baby Baptism Party - Apopka, Florida

May 15, 2017

I was super excited to attend and photograph this little one's baptism in Orlando last month. His parents were actually one of my first weddings, and it had been years since I had seen or photographed them, though we kept in touch on Facebook.

I had been wanting to get my hands on this little guy for sometime, to say the least.

This was my first baptism session, and it was absolutely lovely and so touching. It was a private event and therefore I was able to move and photograph freely during the ceremony, capturing all the sweetness and this beautiful light.

This handsome guy.
He has the sweetest little face.

orlando florida baptism event photographer

Baptism Day is a huge day for a baby.
So much family and so much party.
So much celebrating of life.

After the ceremony we headed back to the house for a family party and pictures with every grandparent, auntie, uncle, cousin and family friend.

And of course my session wouldn't be complete without a little getaway with mom and dad.
We sneaked a couple of quiet minutes in the living room for some cuddly family goodness.

I am so in love with their little family.
Only thing missing is their gorgeous dog.

So I guess I will have to go back.
Because family isn't complete without puppers!

New Smyrna Beach Florida Couple's Session

April 16, 2017

Her: What if it rains?
Me: Then we make magic in the rain!

I might have a special place in my heart for this couple, since they are MINE.
My sister and her THEN boyfriend were visiting for a weekend and nothing makes me happier than family members who value the gift of beautiful images forever.

These two recently tied the knot, and I had to blog these babies up (finally!) before I got to the wedding pictures!

Anyhoo, it was rainy, and beautiful and I am so happy they didn't let weather stop them from giving everything to these beautiful memories I was so lucky to document.

Rain happens.
Love happens.
And when the two mix?
MAGIC HAPPENS.

new smyrna beach engagement photographer

I love the way he hold her so gently,
more careful with her heart than she has ever been.

The way he makes her smile with her whole face.

This one is my favorite.
They are the cutest.

Rain brings in the moody clouds and windy sea oats.
You can't beat that.
It's the beach at it's best.

It's totally romantic to dance in the rain at the water's edge.
In a fancy tutu.

She loved every minute of this session.
I could tell.

Because sometimes the skies are dark, and the future in uncertain.
But I have you to hold me, so I will not fear the unknown.

twirl her....

hold her...

tickle her.

kiss her.

Love her like this.
Every day.
And I will let you live.

I've never seen her so happy!

To sum up:

1. My sister found an incredible guy and he has promised to love her and cherish her for absolutely ever.

2. Don't worry if it looks like rain for your picture day. But if it's a total downpour we can reschedule :)

3. My sister brought the t-shirt, and i dressed her in everything else. I love to help you figure out what to wear, and I want you to look your best! SO, let me help.

Couple's session are so good, and I absolutely LOVE documenting LOVE. Sessions begin at $350 and My dreams and visions are absolutely free. Call me at 407-595-4185 and we dream up a perfect session for you and true love. You deserve beautiful images of yourselves in your home. Let me turn your love into art.