Art From The Heart Studio Photoblog

Summertime!

We are having fun because it's summertime.  June is a great month because it's not too hot and humid quite yet.  Here in Missouri it has been way too rainy, though, so not as much fun outside as usual. Still, we take it as it comes, and hope the rain slows down and the heat holds off at least for a little while.  On Memorial Day, we went to the farm for a family dinner and my mom took the boys on rides in the trailer behind her John Deere mower.  Do you think they had a good time?  I'll let you judge by the photos:

Ethan looks like he might be excited about the ride!

Mommo and Ethan were having a really good ride.  Ethan sometimes looks serious, but it's because he's taking it all in.

I think he could have stayed in the trailer all day!

Elijah got into the action up front.

In just a few years, these young farm hands will be ready to help. Elijah thinks he's helping already!

 

Speaking of Elijah, since he's going to be THREE next month, and since preschool's out for the summer, he needs a little summer activity. So the past couple of weeks, his activity is coming over to our house while his brother is having a nap. When you're almost three, you do not want a nap anymore, so going to Ama's house is way better! So, I have lots more pictures of Elijah than usual. Here are a few from around the house: 

Can you believe I let him eat sprinkles out of a bowl??! He and I share a great appreciation for colorful confection.

 So handsome!!!

 Sometimes we read books and play with toys.

Sometimes we dump out the toy basket and sit in it because it's awesome.

 

Okay, we have monkeys jumping on the bed.

So many pictures...well, just two more for now:

There's more to come soon...I had a mini shoot a couple of days ago with a 14-month-old cutie pie. A brown-eyed girl who just couldn't be sweeter! And today, a lovely little two-and-a-half year-old is comng over for a modeling shoot! She will be modeling some of the latest offerings from Little Daisy Designs. My daughter is the designer behind Little Daisy Designs, and you won't believe how CUTE these little dresses and skirts are! So we'll be getting photos for marketing purposes, plus just because this little model is so pretty! I'll be putting some pics up here on the blog very soon. So, lots to look forward to! See you soon!

Beautiful.

Yes, she's beautiful.  Inside and out.  And she's smart and sweet.  Her name is Katie, and she's my son's girlfriend.  Which makes me really lucky, because I got to take her pictures!  Here are a few from a recent afternoon:

 

We miss Katie right now because she's doing a few weeks of study abroad in Germany.  Thank you for being my model, Katie!!!  I hope you like your pictures as much as Andrew and I do!

Happy Dance

Every month I enter several photos into an online contest at one of the biggest photography websites, BetterPhoto.  It is a huge and really great site dedicated to sharing and learning about all types of photography.  I've been fortunate enough to have Finalist badges awarded to 21 of my photographs during two years I've been a member.  It's a bit of an honor... for instance, this month 447 entries received Finalist titles out of over 30,000 entries from all over the world.  I was really excited to find out yesterday that three of my entries in the April contest received a silver badge.

First, here is cute little Jonas.  This was one of his first birthday portraits.  Wow, what a Q-T-Pie!  I think I'm going to get to do more photos of Jonas and his brother River (whose portrait is also in today's post!) soon. Their Gram and Papa live next door to a house with a park-like yard and I think we might get to do pictures there.  I can't wait!  R & J's Gram, if you're reading this, I owe you a birthday lunch, along with a late card and gift.  I haven't forgotten. I know, I'm a loser.

 

Now this is the beautiful Lily!  I called this photo "Daydreams", and I just loved how the light fell on her here.  She thought this pose up all by herself, and I'm glad I was ready!  She is such a smart and pretty little girl, and I believe she is celebrating her third birthday this month!  Happy Birthday, Lily!

And, how about this?!  Lily's new baby sister, Valerie, won an award for April, too!  I don't know if I've ever seen a more beautiful 8-week-old baby.  She was bright-eyed, strong, and happy for portrait day.  Just look at this face:

Lily's and Valerie's mommy and daddy, if you are reading this, it comes as no surprise to you that your girls are prize-winners, I know!!!  I hope we'll get together and do some more photos soon!

I have to share a couple more for today.  These are the two which were recognized from the March contest.  The first, Jonas' awesome big brother, River.  How about those eyes?!  I don't know how you could find two cuter little blondies in the whole world. They are just the greatest.

Here is one last image, kind of something different.  I love photographing children more than anything in the whole world, but sometimes it's fun to experiment.  This experiment won two gold badges at BetterPhoto; one for Photo of the Day and a Second Place.  Oh, happy day!

That's all for now...I've been planning to just have a few days where I post (or re-post) my very favorite photographs.  I have so many favorites, though, it will be a challenge to narrow them down!  Well, it's off to the shoot I mentioned yesterday...look for a sneak peak soon!

Just Around the House

Today, for your viewing pleasure, I bring a few more images from the little events that have been going on around our house.  May continues to be fun-filled and just a great time of year.  Here we go:

Have you met my parents?  They are awesome.  All the flower photographs I do are from their yard.  It is so pretty.  My mom and dad are having a little family get-together on their farm on Memorial Day.  I hope the weather will be nice for a day of relaxation and fun for us.  I'm hoping to get outside with my camera; it's so beautiful there.  Anyway, here are my parents.  They are the best!

I still am finding more Birthday/Mother's Day photos hiding out in my computer. 

First, some goodies.  I've got to make some more of these...they went fast.  It's not like they're fancy or anything, just yummy:

Elijah, who likes cupcakes, but also loves veggies of all kinds.

Here he is with a cupcake face. He looks like he had a good time eating!

He can also be quite serious when he is reflecting on the yumminess of birthday party food:

A few days later, Ethan stayed with us for a little while while his mommy, daddy, and big brother went to Silver Dollar City. It won't be too long before he'll be able to ride the rides, but until he gets a couple of inches taller, he has his own fun at our house. For example, climbing up on the kitchen table and looking at that interesting green candle is always a good time:

TV is awesome. Noggin is good.

Here's my new favorite of Ethan. What a beautiful smile!

I should have some photos from a new shoot up this week...a beautiful freshman in college is going to model for me. I can't wait! See you soon!

Happy 28th Birthday to Emily!!

Today our baby girl turned 28.  Actually, it is after midnight, so her birthday was yesterday officially...but she was born at 10:05 pm so she's been 28 less than two hours.  Where did 28 years go?  It was just yesterday she looked like this:

What a CUTE baby!

And a sweet toddler:

Such a pretty little girl!

With Elisabeth...ages six and four:

And 2nd grade and Kindergarten:

In high school:

And a senior picture:

Graduating from Missouri State University with honor cords and two bachelors degrees:

She met the man of her dreams:

They fell in love and got married:

Back to the present day, celebrating with cake:

Happy Birthday, Emily!!! We love you!!!

It's May, It's May...

I love May. We have family birthdays to celebrate, Mother's Day, school is out, there are flowers, leaves, birds, green grass...I could go on and on.  And even though our Spring here in the Ozarks has been the rainiest ever, on the days where the sun is out it is like heaven on earth.  I can't wait to get some of my clients out in the beautiful outdoors for photos!

And, speaking of photographs, here are a few from my neck of the woods:

Here's Ethan, enjoying the feel of the green grass on his bare feet:

And more Ethan, playing with Papa (who turned 50 last week-shhh):

And one more of Ethan, just such a pretty boy!

Here is our big Elijah, so happy and cute:

And here he is, a good boy to model for Ama:

I love those blue eyes! When I told him we were going outside to take pictures, he brought his red chair out to the yard to sit in.

Now, it just wouldn't be Spring without the dogwood trees around here. This one is in my parents' front yard. It is one of the biggest and prettiest dogwoods I've seen. They planted it when I was about three years old.

Wow, I could look at that tree all day! So, hooray for Spring! More pretty photos here soon, so come back often. I am setting myself a goal of posting pictures at least three times a week, hopefully more. There's no telling what or who I'll be seeing through my lens!

Lucky Me, Lucky Me...Little Girls!

One of my favorite little models came to see me a few days ago, and this time she brought her new little sister!  Lily is quite the lovely young lady at almost three and Valerie is a sweet, smiley girl at nearly two months!  The girls and their parents just couldn't be cuter.  What a nice family they are.  Here are a few highlights from the morning:

And you wonder where all that cuteness comes from? Look here:

Thank you so much to this fun and sweet family for allowing me to be your photographer!  You're all awesome!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Having some Fun O' The Irish today!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and yours!

Happy Birthday Andrew!

Yay!  It's Andrew's 20th birthday!  In the grand tradition of all parents everywhere, I must say, "Where has the time gone?"  Not even a teenager anymore.  But Andrew has grown into a fine, handsome, kind young man, one any mom would be proud of.  Oh, but he was such a CUTE baby:

And a few favorites, more recent than the one above: A senior picture:

Arrgh, matey.

Such a nice boy to model for his photographer mom. When I'm trying out a new technique, or get a new lens, he often gets to be the guinea pig. I bet he doesn't get tired of THAT. But he's a very good sport.

Oh, so handsome, looking Bondish:

Happy Birthday to my (not so little) boy!

A Few Recent Family Faves

Today I have a few photos of the E Bros.  They are both bursting with cuteness, and I have all these pictures, and they've got to go somewhere...

Elijah has a lovely smile for me even strapped in his carseat:

The boys sharing a toy. Who'd have thunk it? Karaoke Night, here we come.

I just love this sweet picture of Ethan. It might be my new favorite.

How about this cool dude rockin' the Guitar Hero guitar?

What a nice boy!

Mommy and Elijah sharing a special moment:

Ethan is quite the little chatterbox these days. Here, he was telling me something obviously important. I wish I knew what it was.

I'm guessing it was:

a) I want to go play on the big bed.

b) I really like animal cookies.

c) No, of course I don't need a new diaper. What would make you think that?"

They are good, good boys. It is awesome to be their Ama.