Newborn | Easton Michael

Easton Michael, my first nephew from my sister, Kasey. Like her maternity session, we met again in North Carolina. This time to spend Christmas as a family. Everyone came, which was pretty amazing. It's hard now-a-days that we all have our work schedules and school schedules and my siblings have their spouses families to spend time with too. It is a rare, but a blessed occasion when we ALL are able to gather together. That's how it is when you come from a big family...and our tribe increases. 

Okay, so Easton is not really a newborn anymore. Obviously (I say that with a wink). He was born in December 2014. I remember I could not wait to meet him and take his newborn pictures. I only had a day and a half to spend with my family this Christmas because, at the time, I was working a retail job and had to be back to work the day after Christmas. It snowed on Christmas day, so the sky was pretty overcast. I am a natural light photographer, so I rely on any available natural light. I was so thankful for the large french doors in the kitchen going out to the back deck. Easton had just nursed, so he was fast asleep the entire session. I maneuvered him around quite a bit; I'm impressed he stayed sleeping the whole time. All my sisters were cooing behind me as I took each of these images. You'll also see that Easton's buddy, Bailey, made it in one of the shots as well. She is a beautiful blonde Labrador who was curious about what I was doing with the newborn baby boy. I captured her, blurry, but you can see she's sniffing the scene to make sure Easton is safe and sound. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be visiting Tennessee soon to photograph a gender reveal with Kasey & Mike, Easton...and maybe the pups will make an appearance too. They're part of the family. Easton is going to be a big brother!

The lips...so sweet!

Kasey & Mike chose this image for their Baby Announcement.

There's Bailey!

Rocky Top, for Daddy (Mike, who is a UT Alum).

Just because I love black & whites...and baby back rolls.

God is Good. Love is Life.

-K

Tuesday's Hues | Life Guard Stand #5

Life Guard Stand #5, Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL. I took this image on a warm breezy evening in May that I will never forget. It was the kind of evening that went by like the blink of an eye, but one that left a memory stamp to last a lifetime for recounting. 

"The person you think of when you stand in front of the ocean. That's the person you're in love with."

-Colleen Michelle

God is Good. Love is Life.

-KB

Kasey | North Carolina Maternity Session & A Trip to Tennessee

This post comes to you from my archives. Remember when I said I'd be "working backwards", well this is where I'm starting. In this post, you'll meet Kasey & Mike. This maternity session was shot in the mountains of North Carolina, home away home for our family. We've been taking family vacations here since I was 9 years old. The Boone area holds many good memories for all of us.

Anyway...back to Kasey & Mike! This was Kasey's first pregnancy. We knew at the time that she was having a baby boy. We had scheduled to meet one weekend here. I so enjoyed watching and hearing about all the pregnancy milestones. Kasey wears the pregnancy glow so well. I remember taking these shots and thinking how lovely the weather and the scenery were, but most of all how smitten she was with the babe growing in her belly AND how amazing Mike was with Kasey. They juggled a lot in their first years of marriage with a big move, pharmacy school, and work. They stayed the course of faith & love and I've seen God bless them in divine ways. The Lord always provides.

Exciting News! Easton, their son, is now going to be a big brother. So, I will be traveling this weekend to Tennessee, the Rocky Top (pretty sure Mike has this as his ringtone), for Kasey's second maternity session. This time though, it'll be a gender reveal, my first by the way, and I am totally stoked about it! My boys are coming too, so I'm sure that we'll have lots of fun and I'll have a story or two to share next week. Until then, here are some of my favorite shots from Kasey's first maternity session.

Always, I have to sneak a black & white image in a post because I love them!

LOVE the baby bump (insert big red puffy heart)!

You are a beautiful Mama.

God is Good. Love if Life.

-KB

L & J | Sunrise Engagement Session

This is it! The final engagement session. I knew this day would come. The day that I would shoot the last engagement session for my siblings. Jordan, my youngest brother, is getting married. He is marrying his college sweetheart, Logan, and she is so lovely. Logan has been a part of our family for several years now. Going on family vacations and get-togethers and dinners and spending holidays, it has been a joy getting to know her. (She is as sweet as she looks.) As his eldest sister, it makes me happy to see Jordan happy and in love. It's a beautiful thing to be an eye witness to love and it is even more beautiful when you see God in the center of it. 

Logan & Jordan came down for a weekend, which unfortunately forecasted rain. I usually work my office job on Saturdays, so we were pressed for time and according to the weather man, we were expecting storms later in the day. So..Friday night, we decided on a sunrise session near Kennesaw Mountain. Saturday morning came and we were out the door, headed to some grassy pasture. It could not have been a more perfect morning. Cool spring air. A little dancing in the tall grass and daisies. Walking hand in hand. Warm light. Kissing. Laughing. Love. All the goods...and I got to capture it. Feeling super blessed to write this post and share these images. 

 

 

Jordan and Logan, I thank you for allowing me to photograph this special time for you. I love you. May the Lord bless you and your union abundantly! 

God is Good. Love is Life.

-KB

Tuesday's Hues | Two Hearts at the Beach

Two Hearts at the Beach. These are some dreamy beachy hues. I can almost smell the suntan lotion. I took this photograph while spending time with My Love in South Florida. You know I had to, as soon as I noticed the cut out hearts in this beach tote. The theme is always LOVE around here. 

God is Good. Love is Life

-KB

Tuesday's Hues | Hot Air Balloon

This weekend was so great, full of laughs, good food, and family. I went out to eat at BeetleCat in Atlanta on Saturday night. I am preparing this post on Monday night and I can honestly say that I am still thinking about the amazing dishes I tasted. HOLY MOLY! I can't wait to go back. 

This Hot Air Balloon caught my eye as I strolled into the restaurant. It was across the street. I had my camera in tow because I was planning to take a few photographs on the Beltline, but then rain happened. I was able to snap a quick pic of this beautifully colored art. I love that it has been painted on this rippled metal door. The texture adds to the colors and suggests movement, Enjoy today's color inspiration.

God is Good. Love is Life.

-KB

The Buzz | My Mom is THE BEST Flower Arranger, Working Backwards & Quitting Project 52

I love flowers and I don't care where they come from, the grocery store, the farmer's market, the side of the road, wherever. They could be flowering weeds and I'd still think they were pretty. Many times I have gratefully accepted weeds with blooms on them and placed them in a little vase because they were tokens of love from the little hands that picked them (my sons). 

This lovely bunch of flowers, however came from my local Kroger. My parents were out of town for the weekend and I wanted to surprise my mom with a little flower arrangement as a "welcome home; we love you; aren't you glad your house is still in one piece" token of appreciation. Seriously though, it was a thanksgiving gesture on my part.

My Mom is THE BEST flower arranger EVER, next to my Grandma. I grew up around these creative women who could arrange flowers and bouquets like no one's business. My Mom often buys flowers for occasions or for no occasion at all. There have been times I'd walk in my room and find that she has placed her floral creation there with a love note for me. My Mom does this for others as well. She is truly an amazing woman who's gift is lifting spirits and making them feel loved. 

Above: The outcome of my attempt at flower arranging. Ha-ha, I didn't do too bad, I guess. Admittedly, I had visual help from a You Tube video. 

Now, as for "Working backwards" and "Quitting Project 52"...I have been on hiatus with my entrepreneurial endeavors for a little over year now. Dabbling in different mediums through out 2015 was a much needed creative break for me. Running a photography business, while rewarding in many ways, can also become exhausting, especially when going through huge life transitions with no one to defer to or to delegate to because I WAS IT! I did manage to change my business name. Score! Also, I have been working here and there on small projects, like Tuesday's Hues, but mainly taking photo sessions exclusively for family. My big project that I worked on last year while on hiatus was a 365 project called Capturing 2015. If you have frequented my Instagram or follow me on Facebook, you probably saw or read some of my daily entries. This was a journey for me, healing and insightful. (Later on that). It was also quite a commitment; there were times I had to catch up on an entire week because I had fallen behind. But I FINISHED IT! I thought I wanted to take on another photo journal type project, Finding the Light,  but my heart really was not in it. I lost interest immediately, I think maybe because I accomplished the big 365 last year. I may return to another one later, but not this year. I have lots of blog posts to write and will be "working backwards" from the sessions that I had the privilege to photograph last year. So, you'll be seeing and hearing more from me. I'm looking forward to sharing. My blog is currently still under construction. Good things are coming soon, for sure... 

God is Good. Love is Life.

-KB