52 fridays 51 | 52 family

so this is the beginning of the end of this project...51 weeks. that's just bananas to me!! this week's theme is family. in my heart, i'd planned to get some family images at christmas time. no such luck... but i did want to share a few family session images. in photographing a few families this year, i've learned this...the kids especially if they are toddlers or younger, often end of being the stars of the show!! like this:

or this:

or here at a large family session...a moment stolen of the youngest being a total ham!

and this little one who ALWAYS steals the show. just one more from this favorite session

but it's not always the toddlers... sometimes the babies in the family just don't grow out it...ha!

it's been a great year and i've loved photographing families this year! hoping for even more opportunities in 2012! happy new year! to see more family images visit my lovely friend, laurie here.

miss broken arrow 2012

so excited to share these images of miss broken arrow, dani delso. she is such a lovely lady and absolutely photogenic with those gorgeous blue eyes. just like the shoot with miss broken arrow outstanding teen, i teamed with elizabeth hughes and tasheika cole. loved shooting miss dani - just stunning!

miss broken arrow outstanding teen 2012

so excited to have teamed with tulsa area premier makeup artist elizabeth hughes and her company, amaranth collection. additionally, we added stylist from tyson barber salon (tasheika cole and taneisha hunt) for a full on glam squad. coupled with this absolutely stunning and poised teen - a fantastic shoot. and what a trooper, it was chilly outside and you'd never know! i'm pretty sure my parents would have just locked me away if i'd been this gorgeous at her age...yeah...didn't have to worry about that ;)

thanks danielle!! can't wait to finish going through these...more to come!

52 fridays 50 | 52 toys

yay!!! it's christmas week and this week's theme is appropriately "toys". we have wrapped lots of new toys around here...but as far right now, this is a favorite "toy" at the tolivers...my kids love anything "i" although they totally replace the "i" with "my"... "myPad" and "myPhone"... hope everyone has a wonderful holiday filled with warmth, love, and lots of toys for the kiddos! merry christmas!

now head over to see what laurie pulled off during this busy week!

52 fridays 49 | 52 cold

our theme this week is cold...and it's so relevant because it's been so cold lately. i'm not a cold weather kinda girl. it's just not my thing. based on that, there was not voluntary shooting in the cold this week...but...big BUT...i did capture the cold aisle at my favorite store in the world...you guessed it...target. yeah...i know...lacking in creativity...but at least i shot for the assignment, right?

now go check out laurie's cold post here. happy friday

our project ten | december edition

the day before thanksgiving, we got on the road to travel to dallas so the girls could spend time with my husband's family in dallas. it is always nice to spend time with everyone...they have a much bigger family than i do here...

we convinced my husband to get a quick snapshot of me and the girls...so yeah...nala is completely out of focus, but usable nonetheless.. now go check out andrea's ten

52 fridays 48 | 52 whimsy

i absolutely loved shooting this girl. it wasn't until i got home to process them that i noticed some whimsical qualities to these...

i'm not sure if it's her fierce stare, porcelain skin, or gorgeous waves...but yeah..definitely something whimsical about her on camera. just dreamy! now go check out "whimsy" by my good friend jayme franklin | sb area natural light digital and film photographer. happy friday!

52 fridays 47 | 52 strangers

when i went to the amanda holloway workshop...we got to see her do some "model bombing" in action. model bombing is a method of approaching people that you'd like to gift a session to in exchange for them modeling with the ultimate goal of building your portfolio. i chuckled to myself because it wasn't a brand new concept to me. in august, i did my own little model bombing at target and found this awesome little model. i did a session for her and her friend in september this year...she is gorgeous. ...now a part of my growing portfolio...so glad i had the courage to approach this lovely stranger.

so excited to see what laurie has this week! visit her site here!

52 fridays 46 | 52 thankful

this week's theme is thankful and i can't help but use one of these from the recent session i did with my parents. i'm incredibly grateful for my parents. perfect they are not...but they are mine and over the years i watched them make so many sacrifices for me and mine and my sisters and theirs. love them with all my heart.

now head over to my friend laurie's blog to see what thankful means to her.

oplove | "r" girls

pictured here are three beautiful ladies. three ladies that make a sacrifice every day and night. husband and daddy "r" is away in afghanistan and they are home missing him...for us. being able to give him the gift of seeing his girls for christmas in these images makes my heart smile. thank you ladies. had a complete and total blast! more to come...

to learn more about oplove go here.

my parents

tonight i had a little session with my parents. my mom is funny. she mentioned to me that she felt like her and my dad needed some pictures together before they go on to glory...lol! of course, i was more than willing to make that happen. here is to many more sessions before they go on to glory... mom...more to come! i hope you like!

52 fridays 45 |52 shapes

it's week 45 and i'm pleased we have added a couple of new photographers to our group, heidi and tonya.  welcome welcome girls!!!! 

this week's theme is shapes. 

i chose to use an image of one of my own this week.  i'm loving the geometric patterns and shapes of the window.

now head over to see what my sweet friend laurie has in store this week...

be sure to leave her some love and all the other girls too!

52 fridays 44 | 52 favorite song or album cover

this week was a challenge, but i knew as soon as i saw this image that i was going to use it for this weeks theme.  the light here is so sweet...and provides a perfect covering for my friend bershunda and little boy jaxon.  i love seeing the pair of them together...there is just something special about a mama and her boy.

and a few more from this  session...because i just love them...

now go check out my dear friend jayme franklin | sf bay area natural light photographer to see what she came up with this month!

our project 10 | november edition

i missed last month with the busyness of life and captured this month last minute...but i couldn't not participate two months in a row...so here is a less than exciting day...

check it out then head over to vals blog | the red balloon photography.

this family

the idea of doing large family sessions is nothing short of intimidating...but for this family...i'd do it all over again any day of the week. 

they just have a way of making you feel like you're one of the clan and are just genuinely good good people.

i puffy heart love them!  and whoo hoo!!  i got everyone looking except for one ;)

52 fridays 43 | 52 shadows

tgif!!
it seems unreal that it's been 43 weeks.  downright unreal.
this week's theme is shadows.  for this theme i took a pic of my own shadow and as i was looking at it in my editing software my daugther walked by and said it was AWFUL.  she did quickly guess the theme though...alas...i'm not posting it....

but i pulled a shot from this summer of nia.  i'm intrigued by the balance of light and shadows. it's not textbook perfect...but again...i'm intrigued by it.

i'm excited to be linking to sweet and beautiful laurie today.  love her blog!  Check her out at here!

davis family

i'm sitting in front of my computer kinda proud...kinda proud that i can give my bestie a gift. i know how important it is to her to have pictures of her baby girl.  but i also know how important it is to have a mama in front of the camera too!

brandy and i have been best friends since high school and i just really really really love her!  along my photography journey, no one has encouraged me more.  seriously, nearly two years ago when i was still shooting on auto mode she told me..."i think you're really good".  i wasn't...but somehow her saying that planted a seed...suddenly i wanted to be good.  she's been wonderful enough to listen to my ups and downs along the journey and willing to sit through conversations about things that surely she couldn't care less about. but listen she does, because she's kinda awesome like that.  she's let me practice on her and the family and for that i'm forever grateful.  i kinda love photographing our hannah! and just look at them...they are one beautiful family...who wouldn't want to, right???

so hopeful that genuinely loves what we got...these are just a few of my faves.  

52 fridays 42 | 52 pink | breast cancer awareness

this month is breast cancer awareness month.  in acknowledgement and celebration of that, our theme this week is pink.   

and indeed, the cure begins with "hope".  learn how to become an advocate and or donate to the cause by visiting the susan g komen foundation website.

i had a bit of fun with this image with some digital eye candy vol 25 overlays. 

looking forward to seeing the other ladies' images for this theme.  you too??  start by visiting jayme franklin | san francisco bay area natural light photographer.

have a great week.

52 fridays 41 | 52 wind

we are 41 weeks in now.  crazy how this year is flying by.  this week's theme is wind/breeze.  the truth is...i haven't picked up my camera much as of late.  so i'm pulling again...

i'm currently working on a senior welcome packet and this is my prelim cover page.   i love the wind in her beautiful hair.  seriously...her hair is amazing...and all hers (ha!)...just gorgeous.  more to come of this beauty!

now hop over to dana cubbage | lifestyle pet photographer and see what the wind has swept in her way!

happy friday!

52 fridays 40 | 52 lines

lines are such an important compositional element in art. i kinda love the use of lines here...

isn't she gorgeous?? just one of the models we got to play with the amanda holloway workshop. so much more to come. happiest friday...i've been waiting on this day all week long! now hop over to see what dana cubbage | lifestyle pet photographer has posted this week. once you've made it through the circle don't forget to check out the party going on on the bloom forum | everythingbloom blog. so many awesome prizes.

52 fridays 39 | 52 reflection

this week's theme is reflection. when i was going through taylor's session, i knew i wanted to use this shot for this week's theme. weeks later as i reflect on her session, i remember how much fun the whole process was...planning, shooting, and editing...i love senior photography...and by the time this is published...i should be on my way to a much anticipated senior photography workshop. so excited to hang out with friends and learn from premier senior photographer | amanda holloway. can.not.wait.
want to see dana cubbage | lifestyle pet photographer's reflection image? oh my gosh... go here...i just peeked...way.2.cute.
jealous you aren't attending the workshop?? head over to the bloom forum and register for seat in her online workshop, evolve. opens tomorrow at 9 a.m. cst!!! run!!! it will sell out.

52 fridays 38 | 52 body parts

this week's theme is body parts or body scapes...

um... i just love little baby feet....

excited about linking to my friend jayme this week. i'm sure you won't be disappointed to find out how she interpreted this week's theme. check her out - jayme franklin | s.f. bay area natural light photographer

"c" family sneak peek

never in a million years did i imagine as a 4th grader that someday i'd be photographing my p.e. teacher's family...but...an undisclosed number of years later...here we are... :)

i remember when "mrs. johnson", then, was single.  i remember when she was dating her now husband.  i remember when they were married...and wow.  i remember when that tall kid here...yikes...i remember when he was born.  and then...i remember when she was pregnant with her 2nd...it was the same time i was pregnant with my oldest and my older sister was pregnant with her first.  and then she had one more around the time my sister had her 2nd daughter.  and now...they are all "big" boys and outnumber mom.  i can't even imagine what her house must be like...well the exact the opposite of mine i guess...

anyway...c family...i do hope you all enjoy your sneak peek...more to come!  thanks for trusting me to capture this time...because as we can see...time flies.

52 fridays 37 | 52 delicate

nothing in the world more delicate than a newborn baby girl.


 
 want to see more on this theme?  visit dana cubbage | modern lifestyle pet photographer.

growing "a" family

Not every two year girl I meet is ready to be a big sister...but this one is. Gosh, Miss B is adorable!

Look at those eyes...

If her new little sister is half as cute as she is...I foresee trouble for daddy in five short weeks!

Thank you A Family for spending the evening with me!  Much more to come!!

52 fridays 36 | 52 in the kitchen

morning light and evidence that the twins were here... now go check what's in dana cubbage | modern lifestyle pet photographer 's kitchen

Our Project Ten | September Edition

i'm convinced life is going by far too fast.  it's already time for another ten on ten post.  if you missed last month's edition check it out here.  essentially i've teamed up with an amazing group of nine photographers for a very personal lifestyle photography project.  ten photos posted on tenth of of each month...with just one catch.  the photographer has to be in one shot. 

a quick glance below will reveal that i failed on that catch this month.  my camera battery died at the end of the day so my project just kinda abruptly ended without me.  but i'm thrilled to have taken the time to slow down and observe.  as a working mom, i don't get enough days to just hang with the girls.  but this time of the year begins a series a months where i will get at least a day or two each month.  love love love bank holidays.  this month, i spent labor day with my girls, just watching and observing.  they are constantly busy and moving.  happy to have captured that...someday i'll miss it...today i've documented it.


now i'm sure val spring has some beautiful moments that she captured this month. i just adore the way she captures her beautiful girls. check her out | the red balloon photography.

52 fridays 35 | 52 happiness

happiness is
only real when shared...

"cooler" summer evenings of september
freedom to let your skirt reveal your undies
having the park to yourself
playing chase with your sister


now run along and check out happiness by dana cubbage | lifestyle pet photographer.

Miss B | Gorgeous Teen Session

This is Miss B.  She is super gorgeous in a adorable tiny package.  We've been chatting back and forth planning for her session and I'm so excited that everything came together so well. She is a perfect little model. 

She brought along her sweet boyfriend who was just great...seriously, way more patient than my husband would have been.  We squeezed in a few shots of the pair of them too...

But for now...just a few...



Thanks guys so much for hanging out with me tonight. So many more to come!

52 fridays 34 | 52 headshot

cheating again...well, because this week's pressures were just a bit high and i haven't picked up my camera in a while...

but i love this headshot...

now head over to check out dana cubbage | lifestyle pet photographer and see what her headshot looks like. 

52 fridays 33 | 52 monochromatic

if you knew how my week had gone, you wouldn't be surprised that i pulled from the archives for this week's monochromatic theme. 

is this even really considered monochromatic?  tell me it works... everything is pretty much in the same neutral color family...that's monochromatic, right??



now check out dana cubbage | lifestyle pet photographer for her interesting take on the theme.