Jordan and I have worked together a lot this year. I had a great time shooting her bridal session, wedding and Miss Mandarin High School (she coordinates the pageant). So when she called me about scheduling another session we joked that she was just thinking of excuses for us to see each other again. The truth is she's getting back into acting and needed new headshots!

Jordan, I guess you're going to have to get pregnant, so I can shoot your newborn session next. Ha! Or maybe you could give me some acting lessons?! We'll think of something. :)

Amanda met me at the Birmingham airport with a big smile, and I knew immediately that we were going to have a fun weekend. I've known of her for years (through family connections), but this was the first time we had ever met. The grand occasion for our airport meeting was Amanda's 30th birthday photoshoot. It was her Mom's genius idea, and I loved it. What a great way to celebrate a big birthday! We decided that Amanda's "children", Roscoe and Shrimp, needed to be part of the action. They reluctantly complied. So we spent an afternoon at the beautiful Samford University campus (where the birthday girl attended college) then took the doggies to downtown Birmingham for their turn in front of the camera.

Amanda, Thank you for giving me the grand tour of Birmingham, taking me to some of the yummiest restaurants I've ever been to, letting me sing in choir with you at church (ha!) and for the new friendship. Anytime you want to climb through a Men's bathroom window or break into a football field, give me a call. :)

Shelly contacted me and said she and her hubby, Justin, wanted to take some fun pictures to use for marketing their juice business. Actually what she said was, "We want funky/really fun pictures of us...showing our "wooo" personalities." Haha! Right up my alley. And I'm happy to say that I think we accomplished their goal!

I first met Becky in a Broadcast Journalism class at Jacksonville University. Our first assignment was to make a how-to video. I can't remember precisely what mine was, but I think it may have involved cooking something...in the microwave. Becky's was about how to change a tire. I was intrigued. The girl looked like a walking Barbie doll, but she knew how to change a tire. Why? If she ever got a flat there would be men lined up for miles wanting to help her. I learned that day that she is very independent and I liked her immediately. She's one of my favorite friends. Always loyal and dependable, and LOTS of fun!

I wish I had time to write about all my "fun with Becky" stories. But I have to tell this one: We were in the airport on our way to Vegas. We'd made unusually good time, so we stopped for essentials in the gift shop: fashion magazines. When Becky reached in her purse to pay for her mags she gasped and then quickly collected herself like nothing was wrong. I was clueless until she pulled me to the side and said, "I have a gun". Um, what?! "In my purse. I forgot to leave it in the car." (Yes, we both have guns. Just one of the many reasons we are friends!) We had been dropped off, so there was no where to take it. We quickly went through our options, and they were not good. Leave it in a planter, ask if they have lockers and stash it in one, put it in one of the suitcases for sale in the gift shop, and my favorite-just try to make it through security.

Things got really interesting when we went and told the security officers, "We have a gun."
We missed our flight.
Best trip ever. :)

Becky has a birthday this month, so we met up for a FUN birthday photoshoot!

Happy Friday, everyone!
Check back soon for all the details about my soon-to-launch Mentoring Program...and a giveaway-whoo hoo!

Last month Anderson's family was visiting all the way from Brazil and spent some time with us during Christmas! Do you have any idea how much fun it is to have a house full of people speaking different languages? It's chaos, and I love it! Anderson had to work during the day, so I got to hang out with his Aunt, Uncle and cousins. What fun people! They love to laugh and have a good time, so I really enjoyed being with them.

One of his (our) cousins is thirteen-year-old Karla. She loves music, photography and American culture, so she and I clicked from the start. One afternoon the two of us decided to roam around the neighborhood and take some pictures. We both had a camera in hand and had a great time snapping pictures and making each other pose! Thankfully she's much smarter than me and can speak English really well, because I'm ignorant in the language department. (I think I know a grand total of 10 Portuguese words). I was amazed at Karla's natural talent. The way she composed shots was impressive-most people have to be taught to have "an eye", but she's a natural. She's also a really fast learner. She shot all the pictures of me below in Manual mode...and it was her first time!

**I know we're well into January now and this is a little shameful, but I JUST finished my 2010 Pricing Guide and Information Packet. So...if you have the 2009 Packet and are thinking about booking a session this year, do it before January 31st, and I'll give you the '09 prices!**

Hope you're all having a good week-we're half way there! I'm headed to a belated birthday lunch with two of my girlfriends. :) Be back later this week with a fun necklace tutorial.