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!

Triple Threat - Daytona Beach Baby Photographer - Triplets

May 2, 2017

I once had a dog and if you threw 3 balls, he would try to fit all 3 in his mouth.
That's how these three little people make me feel!

Here is a session that is proof that the best part of a session are the outtakes!
(SPOILER Lifestyle Photography IS basically outtakes.)

I can't really begin to quantify my job as a photographer, because it is so fun and awesome, yet also it isn't as easy as I make it seem! I have 1 hour to try and reveal the souls and connection between how ever many people I have in front of my camera and so often, I will encounter a subject or two who may even have been brought to the session against their will!

But this is how my job is wonderfully easy:

Life is beautiful.
Life is magical.
Life is REAL.
As long as I keep snapping up
little bits and pieces of REAL life,
I will capture a magic that only truly yours.

It's so hard to make all three of them happy at the same time! I can't imagine what these adorable parents have been going through, but watching them just love on these babies and let them be themselves and soak in the moments was such an amazing process.

And mom had the best attitude. "Everybody loves the ones where they are crying!"
GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT. :)

Life so real I can't even handle the cuteness!

Oh, NOW YOU'RE HAPPY. :P

Things I learned about tiny adorable gangs:
They do what they want.
They go where they want.
They eat cheerios.

After a little warming up, all 3 are almost happy. :)

identical triplets - daytona beach family photographer

The one in the middle KNOWS.

identical triplets - ormond beach family photographer

Finally the right mixture of cheerios, fan wind and me acting a fool.

I MEAN COME ONNNNNNNN.
How are they supposed to deals with this manner of cuteness all day and night?

You have no idea the amount of weird noises and exaggerated motions it takes to keep these three anywhere near THE ZONE. Of course with this level of content we had to try and throw the parents back into the mix!

Cutest family ever!

Each one of them is adorable in a similar but totally unique way.
But my favorite part is getting to know their little personalities as they grow.

And there ya have it.
To sum up: Somebody is hogging up all the babies.
I think it might be ME!

Daytona Beach Shores - Family Beach Sessions

April 18, 2017

I absolutely love all 3 of these people.
But this little girl truly has my heart, because she looks so much like my baby sister.

daytona beach shores florida family photographer

I have 2 younger sisters, and 2 daughters, so I am a sucker for little girls.
They have the best hair.
And twirls.
And dreams.
And stories.

I get so inspired just sitting down and listening as they go on and on about what's in their brains. The things they think about. The ways they express themselves.

The way they are so honest for a camera.

The ways they love to play.
I just love that their hearts are so big and so free.

Family.

SPOILER ALERT: These hearts are so full of love.

ormond beach florida family photographer

Family Love - Ponce Inlet Family Photographer

April 12, 2017

When this sweet mama contacted me, I knew I had to connect with this little family.

She wanted some special pics before Daddy went back to work for a few months.

I just love documenting families.
I really do.

I think this one might be my favorite.
Maybe my second favorite.

The last one in this set is so good it is hard to choose!

Everybody knows I am a sucka for little boys.
This one's little fauxhawk and man shirt had me starry eyed.

Wait, no IS THIS ONE MY FAVORITE?

Despite Daddy not being a "picture person" he ended up really liking it.
When he saw the inlet jetty walk he immediately asked if we could get right out there.
I love that he fell into the adventure.
When Dads believe, anything is possible.

Wind in hair is my absolute favorite.
Let your hair free.
Let things happen.

Let magic become real...

Family Sessions are my favorite and sunset or sunrise is the way to make them PERFECT!
contact me at 407-595-4185 to talk about customizing your family session wardrobe/location/accessories to capture your beautiful life in the beautiful color it deserves.

Or black and white. If you are into that. ( I AM )

Hello 2017 - Ponce Inlet Beach Vacation Photography

January 4, 2017

My favorite clients are on vacation here on the beautiful Florida coast. LAtely I have had lots of clients visiting their grandparents and wanting a big family/small family combo session, and these are just my favorite.

So much love and all of the smiles.
It is true that we are more lovely when we are with our loved ones.

And this mama right here?
I just LOVED her immediately.
She wanted to worry about kids getting wet or messy, and she wanted to worry about her hair.

But I didn't let her.

And when I pulled them aside and gave them couples' pose prompts, they giggled at the awkwardness, and then just breathed into the lovely space of what I wanted it to be.

And I loved them for it.

I loved every minute of the hour spent with this family almost as much as the time spent poring over each little joyous moments during edits.

This was my very last session of 2016 and I couldn't even imagine a better ending.
I feel like I grew so much and learned a ton, and met so many wonderful new people.

These moments right here. A mommy, a child, this love: this is my favorite thing to capture.
I am so excited for all the stories to tell in 2017!