A few months ago, I was talking with a couple of my friends about our upcoming 30th birthdays. We are exactly one week apart and we have always celebrated our birthdays together .. well since we have known each other which would be about 12 years now! 

I had probably recently done a smash session and I jokingly said , "You know, we should do one for our 30th ... all together!" They both agreed and I didn't really think much of it after that.

But then a couple weeks after that, one of my girlfriends asked me if I was serious about doing the smash session because it sounded like a lot of fun. You should have seen my face, ya'll. I was so pumped.

I shared some from their session last week on their birthday but here are more from the session ... with my girlfriends and also with my littles!

And a special shout out to Kristen (of K DiNenna Photography) and my hubby for helping take pictures and Susan from Creative Cake Designs for the gorgeous cake.

This was originally going to be one big post at the end of the year. However at week 10 I've realized that it is wayyyy too much for one blog post. I'll have a 52 re-cap at the end but without all the explanations and extra photos. 

I have known since I was a little girl that I wanted to have two children but I never imagined the overwhelming feeling of "completeness" that would happen almost instantly. It's pretty incredible.
Our daughter was our first and while I was pregnant we did the 16-week Fun Fetal Photo thing to find out the gender, kept it a secret for four weeks (hardest thing to do EVER) until our 20 week ultrasound where we had our parents be there for the reveal. We then had a gender reveal party shortly after to tell all of our friends that we were having a girl. We made a pretty big deal about it and it was so much fun.
However, this time I really wanted to experience pregnancy differently. We decided that we weren't going to find out the gender of our baby until he or she was born. It was pretty excruciating at times not knowing but as long as we held strong during the ultrasounds, it was pretty easy. Everyone had their guesses but I had no clue. Some days I would think boy, others I would think girl. Sophia was pretty adamant that it was a girl from the very beginning.
It was fun not knowing and if you think you are up for it, I would totally recommend it. It was definitely easier being that it was our second child since we had a fair amount of gender neutral things from when Sophia was little. We were very careful to get all the big things in a gender neutral (car seat, stroller, pack & play, swing, high-chair, etc) because we knew we were going to have another. It did get pretty difficult at the end because there are only so many gender neutral outfits out there that we could get in order to prepare for when our son or daughter was born and I am one that likes to be prepared!
Our due date for Baby2 was October 14 and we ended up scheduling an induction for that date, just in case our little one didn't come before then. So 6am we walked into Mary Immaculate and got started. This process was very familiar to us because of our first (I was induced 6 days after my due date because Sophia had no intention of coming on her own). However, this time I wasn't sure whether I wanted an epidural because of how I reacted to the 2nd dose last time (yes, 2nd dose ... Sophia got stuck on my hip and the pain was so bad that they gave me a 2nd dose of the epidural and it didn't go over too well both at the hospital and 10+ weeks later I was still having side effects! Not fun at all...). So I went in this time completely unsure of the epidural. I ended up laboring for two hours without the epidural until I just couldn't anymore. Well apparently sometimes when they give the epidural, it makes the baby drop down and guess what happened? Yup. Baby all of a sudden was ready to go! So we frantically called my mid-wife (who was at Riverside delivering another baby) as well as our birth photographer, Brannan. Being told not to push when everything in you is telling you the opposite is HARD but I had to wait until my mid-wife got there. This birth was totally different and I loved it. David even was able to help deliver the baby and he was the one to tell everyone the gender. It was incredible.

Birth photography by Brannan Blascak Photography

Then on Sunday before we were discharged, I took just a few pictures <3
... I wasn't able to take too many cause little man was hungry!

 So ... a few weeks ago I announced that Sophia is going to be a big sister!!! We are super excited about this change in our family and it's beyond adorable to see Sophia slowly step into the big sister role (although sometimes she thinks the baby is in her belly too!). 
Of course, with having a baby that typically involves taking some time away from life as we know it in order to adjust to the new family member ;) With being due mid-October, I am currently booking sessions through September and will extend that as I feel comfortable when the time gets closer. 
If you know me, you know I looooooove fall and so of course my mind is already thinking of when I'm going to fit in my Fall Minis into my schedule! Nothing is set in stone as of yet but I can tell you that it will not be in October ;) I will probably schedule something for late September just to be sure that I have enough time to edit and deliver images with plenty of time for you to order holiday cards or gifts.
As for when I will be scheduling sessions again on a regular schedule after October, that depends 100% on how things go for me and the baby and I don't want to over do it (which, I know I'm famous for). With Sophia, I was fortunate enough to have almost 4 months to focus on just her ... 
Backstory: If you don't already know, I'm a public school teacher as well. I had Sophia in April which is a teacher's dream because I simply took the rest of the year off and didn't have to worry about work again until August. I was also doing photography *and* taking classes at ODU for my masters. Well, I decided that I couldn't be super mom and something had to give. I decided, with an aching heart, that I could no longer do photography. (I sold most of my props and everything!) Well, then my husband's best friend's mom got remarried that summer and asked me to take photos of her special day. Weddings, if I'm being brutally honest, are *not* my cup of tea but of course I said that I would. I could not WAIT to get home and edit those wedding photos. Umm... wait, what?!? Yes ... I was actually excited about editing wedding photos. I knew I right then and there that I needed photography back in my life (even though it had just been a few months without it!) and started booking sessions again.
... but this time I know I need to come back to photography soon :) However, with it being so close to the holidays and end of the year, I haven't decided whether I will be booking again in November/December or just wait for the New Year. To be honest, it will probably be a case-by-case until I make a solid decision after the baby is born (so just email me with any questions!). Don't worry, there will be a huge announcement when I open booking again!
xoxo,
​Sarah

This one on the right she posed all.by.herself!!! This made my tog-mom heart skip a beat. She's always moving so I typically just tell her "hand on your hip" but she soon corrected me and said "no momma I have to do this and have my foot like this" ... NO IDEA where she got this idea from but I'm diggin' it! <3

Wow! I haven't blogged in a while!! When I logged in to write about my 2015 goals, I found this blog all ready to go! Clearly, I wrote it in the summer and Halloween has already happened! Haha! It just goes to show that I need to use my breaks in teaching to plan ahead with my life because once the school year starts, things get crazy busy around here!
Sophia was 3 months old and I was working on invitations to her first birthday. People were amazing how much I was "planning ahead" but the truth is that the invitation is just the first step for me. If I don't make the invitations in the summer, it won't get done. Plain and simple. All I need is a theme and I can plan out the invitation. Honestly, everything else is based off the invitation! Colors at the party, food tags, and even what food is at the party! ... And all this extra planning happens a month or two in advance :)
I love hand-making invitations and have been doing it since David and I got married in 2010. Yes, I handmade each and every save the date, RSVP card, and wedding invitation that went out! I'm continuing the tradition with Sophia - I made her gender reveal invitations, baby shower invitations, first birthday invitations, and first halloween (1/2 birthday) invitations. So here are some invitations I have handmade for Sophia for the second year of her adventures ... Can you guess what her 2nd birthday theme will be?? (The teacher in me is SUPER excited!)
xoxo,
Sarah

There's something about handprint art that I absolutely love. By doing handprint art, you capture time in the size of the hand. I love that idea!!! At work, I do handprints for each kid in the first couple weeks and at the end of the year, it goes into their scrapbook! I can only imagine "my kids" comparing their hand sizes to what it was 9 months before. 
When Sophia was almost 3 months old, we got her foot imprinted in clay at a paint on pottery place. We cut a circular shape surrounding the foot and painted the inside pink. It is one of the most precious things I have hanging in her nursery right now. I've been known to take it off the wall and compare her foot size to it once or twice! Even though she is only 14months, she has grown SO much in a year!

With this project, all you need is a paintbrush, paper, crayons, and paint (I used the same acrylic paint from the canvas project a couple weeks ago) ... probably things you have laying around your house right now!

For younger kiddos (like Sophia), all you need to do is paint their hand and help them stamp it onto the paper. Older kiddos can do this part themselves!
Because the paint is on such a thin layer, it dries pretty quickly. Ours was dry by the time we were done washing our hands! Once all the paint is dry, then either you or your kiddo can add to the handprint and turn it into art!

I hope you all have as much fun as we did!!!
xoxo,
Sarah

This week's Craft Day has a little DIY part to it ;) ... Gotta love Pinterest! I don't have a picture of these water bombs in use yet ... but you can do a couple different things with these lovely creations. 

1. Fill two buckets with water and have a water bomb fight (similar to a water balloon fight but NO MESS!)
2. Play with these in a pool or in the bath
3. Play with these in the house (no water, of course) - a soft alternative to throwing balls in the house!

Enjoy!
xoxo,
Sarah

In June, I really had time to get back into this project. No more Instagram photos ;) Woohoo!!! Doing a weekly Craft Day Series really helped me and motivated me to capture more moments <3
Enjoy my Project52 from June...

WEEK 22: BUSY
With the start of summer, I had to make sure and keep Sophia BUSY. She absolutely loved this project and now we have a beautiful project to hang on the wall!

WEEK 23: PERSONALITY
This little firecracker has quite the personality. She will let you know if she is having fun, and she will let you know if she has had enough! She sure had fun painting with water ... or at least spacing in the water!

WEEK 24: SHOES
One of her newest tricks is to find shoes and walk around the house with them like they are trophies! Sometimes, she even tries to fit them on her tiny little feet <3

WEEK 25: MORNING
Morning time is one of my favorites with my little munchkin. It is usually mommy+me time since David usually leaves at 5:30am for work. I love walking in with some warm milk and seeing her gorgeous smile and getting random kisses while I get her ready for the day....

WEEK 26: CUDDLES
Doc McStuffins has become a morning routine here in our household. It is a perfect time to get some extra cuddle time (she doesn't hold still often!)

How are you and the kiddos enjoying the sun this summer? Get out there and get your Vitamin D people! It's no fun being cooped up inside all day. You need fresh air and your kids need fresh air too!
So here is a quick activity you can do outside in the driveway! All you need is a cup or bowl, a paintbrush, and water... then you paint the driveway!! It's fun! It's simple! And the best part is that the sun cleans it all up for you!! If your kiddo is 3 or older, you can even talk to them about what happens to the water when it is heated up (in this case, by the sun!). Yes, you can start talking to your kids about this stuff this early ... I teach it every year to 4 year olds and they get it!! Your kids are smarter than you know ;)
Happy painting!
xoxo,
Sarah

This year my business has taken some major steps. Website. Gift Certificates. Blog.  And now ... I'm happy to announce that I will offer in-home ordering sessions. I decided that I really want to guide my clients to the right choices for them when purchasing prints for their home. I'm a huge advocate for getting your digital images printed and hung on your walls at home. That's why you had the session in the first place right? To document a special occasion or have updated photos of your family together. Why keep those memories in a file on the computer? You should look at them every day. <3
So ... what will this In-Home Ordering Session look like?
My goal is to come in with your gallery and we can decide which photos you  love, which photos you like, and which photos you can live without. Once we have categorized your photos, we will start with the photos you love. From there, we will figure out what you want to order. What better place to figure this out than in your own home !!! We can find the perfect blank places in your home to showcase these images. I will come in with samples of sizes so you can really visualize what will work with your vision.
I can't wait to with with my clients to make dreams come true <3
xoxo,
Sarah

Oh, summer! As a teacher, I love summers <3 ... but this summer is the first of many precious summers to me. This summer is the first time that I get to spend it with my little munchkin (Technically the second summer but I was on maternity leave last year!). 
As a parent, you want to keep your little babe entertained during those hot summer days. Let's be honest ... sometimes we draw blanks! So I've decided to start a new series of blogs that will go through the summer - Craft Day Wednesdays. Every Wednesday, I will post different ideas and fun activities you can do at home with your own munchkins. 
This week ... Mini Masterpieces! I went to my local Michael's store and picked up two things - a 2-pack of canvas and a 12-pack of Acrylic paint (it's non-toxic and perfect for kiddy crafts!). I snagged both for around $10! One of the reasons I love Michael's is because they always have a coupon going! You can download their app on your phone and that has coupons to use, too ;) They also have a nifty teacher discount! You're welcome :)
For me, I wanted something to hang on the wall after this project was complete so the canvas was perfect for that. If you just want your kiddo to have fun painting, you can cut apart a paper grocery bag and have them go to town with fingerprinting or paint brushes.
No matter what age your kiddo is, have fun creating your mini masterpieces!
xoxo,
Sarah

My photography journey hasn't been the smoothest of rides, and I'm sure I'm not the only one out there with a crazy story! I began dabbling in the photography world in high school with a traditional photography class. We learned how to operate an "old school" SLR with film, we learned how to develop our own images in a black room, we learned how to be creative with our images. This is where I first fell in love with the art of photography. From there, my photography career began by capturing a few special moments for one of my best friends. She picked up on my love for photography (which I hadn't really picked up on myself yet!) and asked me to take pictures of her while she was pregnant, asked to capture her small wedding, as well as some mommy and me pictures! Granted this was over a couple of years time but I was still blown away!! That got me thinking that I could really turn my passion into something bigger.
I dove in head-first to this new adventure. I starting doing some portfolio building. I signed up with some online courses with the fabulous Rachel Brenke. I began to get really into photography but my life started catching up with me quickly. I decided that I wanted to go back to school to get my masters, which made my life a little more crazy but manageable since I was planning on taking things one class at a time. Then David (my hubby) and I began talking about starting a family and I got pregnant. Then it hit me. Worry. Fear. I was convinced that I couldn't wear all these hats. The teacher. The student. The small business owner. AND the mom... Something had to give. It was with a very heavy heart that I decided to step back from photography. It was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make. Photography was (and still is) more than just another hat. It's something I enjoy. It was something I had put a LOT of time and effort into through educating myself with courses, research, and blogs - not to mention camera time. Not only that, but I had put a lot of money into it as well. I will step out and say that photography is a very expensive job. There's software, equipment, props, education, AND time. Regardless, I decided the best bet was to sell all of my props and keep my equipment. I didn't want to give it up as a hobby, I just knew that I wouldn't have enough time to commit to it as a job.
My "last session" was a newborn session in February 2013. It was bitter-sweet to say the least. As I was cuddling and posing Mr J, I was constantly reminded that this is why I chose to step away. Soon, I will have my own little newborn and my life will change forever. Fast forward to July 2013, only five short months after my "last session". I was asked by a good family friend to shoot a wedding. It was a second wedding for my friend's mom and she just wanted something low key to capture the memories. Of course, I was beyond excited to do this! It was this wedding that brought me back into business. After everything I had sold and everything I had done to mentally prepare myself for no longer doing photography as a business. It all changed. It was crazy how much I really loved shooting, culling, and editing these images. I still remember that I was in the middle of culling and I got up and went over to my husband. I sat him down and told him that I can't give this up. I told him how much I truly enjoyed every little part of what I was doing and how much I had missed it in the short five months that I had stepped away from it. It was then and there that I decided that I would once again dive in head-first to this business. I came back even more passionate and eager to learn. I wanted to push myself to do my best. I once again began to build my portfolio to let the world know that Wood Photography was back in business, I signed up for a workshop, I began putting myself out there, I invested in props again, and I began making and planning some big business changes ... I wanted to create a website, start a blog, invest in new equipment. I was coming back and I was determined to come back strong. I even took a semester off school so that I could focus on my business and figure out my workflow so that I can easily juggle my many hats for the next year and a half. 
So here's to meeting those goals and coming back strong.
Here's to pushing the envelope.
Here's to success :)
xoxo,
Sarah

Thanks to the lovely Brannan Blascak Photography and Design for these head shots <3

This past year, I've really stepped out of my comfort zone and become a part in the photography community here in Hampton Roads and I LOVE IT!!!! A couple months ago, I blogged about my experience with the Amanda Hedgepeth Q&A Group but my first workshop was with Keely of Kiwi Marie Photography. She hosted her first newborn workshop back in November and I not only learned SO much from her but I met several other photographers! She has created a tight-knit group of photographers, all with an interest in newborns. 
What I love most about what Keely has created is the sense of community. We are open and honest with each other, not cut throat and secretive (seriously, that's how it used to be!). We learn from each other and help each other. It is such an incredible bond that we all have! So we decided to all get together and do something to thank Keely for all that she done for us!  The bench that Brannan made was phenomenal! A kiwi to represent Keely's business and then we all signed it ... gorgeous!!!
We all love you Keely. Thank you SO MUCH for all that you have done. I wish you the best in Iowa. <3
Thank you to Brannan Blascak Photography & Design for the photos ;)
xoxo,
Sarah

So far you have met Sarah: The Mother and Sarah: The Teacher. Well, in amongst all the madness, I am also a student at Old Dominion University. I am working toward a Masters in Education and I am a little over halfway done with my degree - on track to graduate in Fall 2015!!! That date cannot come soon enough! Obviously I enjoy keeping myself busy, but I took last semester off and it was nice to be able to breathe a little! 
Even though I "only" graduated 5 years ago from Longwood University, I feel like I should have a deeper knowledge when it comes to the science of teaching ... if that makes sense. Longwood prepared me very well for my career but the teaching world constantly changing with new ideas and philosophies coming out, and I can't keep up! Let's be honest though... I don't necessarily care to learn about the different philosophers and memorize what they did. I'd rather learn the APPLICATION of it all and the HOW and the WHY. I want to see it all in action (or at least read about it being applied). I enjoy learning new techniques and getting ideas during research projects that I can actually apply to what I'm doing now in my career. I love stepping back and analyzing a situation that is going on and instantly coming up with strategies based on research I'm familiar with and projects that I have done. And guess what??? It makes my job so much easier knowing this stuff ;)
The only downfall is with having so many amazing ideas floating in my brain from all of this, I have to pick and choose what to do and what to put off to the side for a while. If you know me, you can attest to that being a very difficult task for me... I'm more like that person that has 37 tabs open up at once and is trying to do them all at the same time. Pulling my hair out and getting stressed that things aren't getting done. True story (ask my husband haha it drives him crazy!). But I am learning to do things one at a time to be the best teacher I can be for my little ones.
I'm not going to sugar coat it because it is *really* hard to juggle everything that I do and I am so thankful to everyone who helps me stay sane, especially my wonderful hubby!
xoxo,
Sarah

Welcome to the SECOND blog in my "Meet Your Photographer" Series!!! Missed the first one (The Mommy), check it out here!
If you have visited my website, you have may have read the home page where I introduce myself. (If not, check it out here!) I kept it short and sweet because I didn't want to write a book. ...And let's be honest, I'm not a fan of writing much! Haha! Blogging is different though. I am constantly thinking of what I can blog about. If photography was my only job, I'd probably blog Monday through Friday like some photographers I know do. However, photography is only a part of my crazy, busy, wouldn'ttradeitfortheworld life!
My "first job" is teaching. 
With the end of the school year so near, I thought this would be a great place to start this series.
During my senior year of high school, I sat down with my parents to decide what I was going to do for the rest of my life. I mean, that's how it is done right? Your life gets figured out in a single conversation over dinner? Ha. Luckily I pretty much had it narrowed down to three careers: architect/interior designer, nurse/caregiver (probably in a nursing home), or teacher. I quickly crossed off architect/interior designer because I was terrified that my job would take me to a big city like New York and as much as I would LOVE to vacation in the Big Apple ... I can't picture myself living there. NEXT! I umm'd and ahh'd over my next decision: nurse/caregiver or teacher. I love taking care of people when they are sick. I'm not a fan of shots, but being there for someone when they are feeling down ... that is something I get a lot of joy out of. The reason I decided against this career choice was the fact that I wouldn't be able to leave work at work. If someone was really sick, I'd loose sleep. Basically... I'd never sleep. So... teaching it is! Like most teenage girls, I got into babysitting and children were drawn to me! It was kind of weird! I never figured out WHY these munchkins were so excited to see me, why they were so upset when I left, or why their parents told me that their kids raved about me! I must have some sort of special skill? Yup, this is the reason I thought I'd be a great teacher! 
So during my college search, I decided to apply early to Longwood University (in the Fall of 2004). That was the only school I applied early for because I knew that it was known for being a great school if you wanted a degree in Education. I had a couple back-ups that I would apply to in the Spring if I didn't get in but luckily, I didn't need to ... I got in! I loved Longwood for many reasons... small town, gorgeous campus, "small" (less than 5,000) student body, small teacher-student ratio. Just a "homey" small-town school. It was the PERFECT school for teaching. The best part was that they really got you ready for life in the classroom. I had to do 2 3-week practicums, a semester-long partnership, and student teaching in two different grade levels! That's a lot of in-classroom experience! Basically, my ENTIRE senior year was in the classroom! It was fantastic!
After all this in-classroom experience, I had been in a Kindergarten classroom,  2 1st grade classrooms, a 2nd grade classroom, AND a 5th grade classroom. Of course everyone was asking me "What is your favorite? Which do you want to teach?" My response was automatic. I loved 5th grade. My cooperating teacher, Mrs. Bunting was AMAZING! She gave me so much confidence in my teaching. She asked what I was planning to do and how I would execute it and why I would do it that way. She shared her experiences with me. She would watch me uninterrupted and give me feedback that was incredibly helpful and made me reflect and grow so much. I'm not sure I thanked her enough for everything that she did for me. So Jennifer, if you are reading this, please know that 6 years later I am still in awe of how much you taught me! THANK YOU! <3
Well, I had graduated college. WOOHOO!!! Let the dreaded job search begin. Everyone thinks that getting a job teaching is a piece of cake. Well let me tell you, the good school districts are REALLY hard to get into! I mean, you apply and follow up and hear nothing. Many people who get newly hired in those school districts have subbed in the district for a while or have an "in" somewhere. I student taught in a good school district and even told the principal at the school I was in that I would apply and handed in a resume IN PERSON. Nothing. I guess it didn't help that the beginning of the awful job market was RIGHT when I graduated. So everyone was making cuts and moving people around to keep jobs ... not really looking hiring new people. Womp womp :( I had several interviews. I must admit I took anything I could get. I even interviewed for a 6th grade English position. You remember how I already told you that I'm NOT a writing type of person ... right? I'm SOOO glad I didn't get offered that job because I was in the mindset of accepting the first thing that came my way! Well, I ended up doing exactly that! I interviewed for a PK position and nailed it! This school was literally doubling the staff since they were moving from a half-day program to a full-day program in a bigger building. I was one of 9 brand-new, fresh-out-of-college teachers. YESSSS! I was so happy. Even though it was the complete opposite of where I thought I wanted to be. My heart was in 5th grade after college. But it was a job. A REAL JOB!!!
Here I am, almost done with my 5th year of teaching. Same school. Same room. So, is it "easy" to be a PK teacher? It must be right? All they do is "play"!!! Haha. If you want to annoy a teacher (ESPECIALLY a lower grade-level teacher), tell them exactly that! It's not easy to control 18 three- and four-year-olds who have never been in a structured school setting.  Oh, did I mention they go to school for a full 6 1/2 hours with NO NAP and NO RESOURCE! We do 4 whole group lessons a day, including Writer's Workshop. We are the music teacher, the art teacher, the PE teacher, the computer teacher. It's a very rewarding program for young children to be in. We give them SUCH a strong foundation for elementary school. I have kids right now that are reading on a first-grade reading level! 
This grade level is THE MOST REWARDING! These babes come in and are writing waves and random marks on their paper and they leave writing their name, sounding out their words, and writing beautiful stories. It's amazing to pull out their baseline writing that they made on the first day and compare it to what they are doing now. THIS is what makes it all worth it <3
Thanks for sticking with me through this long post!!! I tried to look back to see if I can split it up into two or three posts but it is a journey of my teaching career. It just didn't seem right to split it up! I'm hoping to have some blog posts in the future of things that you can do at home with your three-to-five year old munchkins before they jump into Kindergarten. If you have any suggestions or any specifics that you want to hear ... email me!
xoxo,
Sarah

From before we got pregnant, I knew who I wanted to capture my child's first year. Yes, not *just* a newborn session, but THE FIRST YEAR!!! I had seen the idea here and there about capturing baby's first year and fell head over heals in love with the idea. Some parents opted for once a month, others less frequently.  I decided it was necessary to have Lauren, from Lauren Dunlap Photography  document our baby's growth several times in the first year. Lauren is a local photographer in Poquoson. Not only is she an amazing photographer, she is also a mom to three gorgeous kiddos and a wife to another hard working small business owner, Jesse from DSD Landscaping!

When I began my photography career, I was immediately drawn to Lauren's style. Let's be honest... I idolized Lauren. Every image she posted was just jaw-dropping. I dreamed that maybe someday, I could create those gorgeous, timeless images too!
I didn't know her as a person then... but through her posts and blogs, she seemed so friendly and down-to-earth!  I first met her when I was de-stashing some props - when I thought I didn't have time for photography anymore (that's another blog in the making!). As she was looking through my props, I remember her telling me that I should hang on to some of this stuff in case I get back into photography ... So sweet! (And a little bit of a fortune teller, too!)

Lauren is such an amazing person and does so much for her family and her business. She is so hard working and does whatever it takes to deliver the best to her clients. I loved how she worked with all my crazy ideas and she absolutely blew me away with all of her creative ideas! Thanks Lauren for everything ... 
xoxo,
Sarah

Each.And.Every.Single.Page.Is.Amazing <3
But here are a couple of my favorite spreads...

On April 19, 2013 my life changed forever. I didn't know what to expect and I didn't know just how much it would change my life. I just knew it would be amazing.

David and I knew we wanted to be parents very soon after we started dating. I'm not joking when I say that we were two 16-year-olds discussing how many kids we wanted and when we wanted to start our family ... a week or two into our relationship. We just knew somehow that we would make it that far. Since we were 16, we were on a plan to start a family in our mid-20s. 

Our timing couldn't have been more perfect - we were due in April of 2013 ... a teacher's dream. To me, this meant maximum time with my precious little one before the new school year. I worked until Spring Break then it was a waiting game! She was 6 days late and I was induced, but that's a whole different blog post! Sophia Danielle was born at 7:55pm,  weighed 7lb8oz, and was 20inches long. Once she was born, I soaked up every.single.second. I can still remember staring at her the entire time she was asleep. Listening to her breathing change while she was dreaming, watching her facial expressions change and tearing up every time she smirked, and yes... I smelt her all the time. There is just something so intoxicating about a newborn.

It is absolutely insane how quickly these little humans grow. Within a few short months, she was a champ at holding her head up, and began to roll. Soon after that, she was able to lift her body up into the crawl position. Then came the crawl and fall. That stage lasted a while (and by a while, I mean a couple months!). Soon after that, she began pulling herself up on the couch, and tables, and anything she could! In March, she took her first steps (IN ENGLAND... what an amazing story!) Since then, she has taken off ... this chick is walking everywhere!!! She has such a personality to boot!

Being a mom is the most rewarding job in the world. Every single night before I go to bed, I open Sophia's door and just stare at her sleeping peacefully. I think about how I wish I could just stop time. I think about how perfect she is - every hair on her head, every little roll, every breath. All at the same time, I think about how I can't wait to see what the future hold for her. 

Thank you to Lauren Dunlap Photography for this image. Definitely a favorite <3

It always takes longer to edit personal photos but it is a New Year's Resolution of mine to *try* to stay on top of my personal images!! 
During Spring Break, we took the 12 hour drive down to Cocoa Beach, Florida to stay with family and RELAX! We had so much fun and were really lucky with the weather (only one rainy day!) We had a boat day, lots of game time at the house, and three park days! As always, I stressed about how Sophia will do traveling but somehow, we get lucky every time and she is an angel. I think secretly she knows I'm freaking out inside! Haha...
I'm already looking forward to our Florida trip next year!
xoxo,
Sarah

We started with a boat ride down the canal ...

Of course, we hit the parks! (Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure)... It had been YEARS since either David or I had been to Universal Studios and the first time for me at Islands of Adventure!

And we had a little bit of time to hang out, too ;)

Here comes the Instagram/iPhone pictures .... whomp whomp! As ya'll know, it was my goal to do this Project52 with my big girl camera. But I've got a lot on my plate (as I'm sure many of you out there!) and this project got de-railed for a bit. Luckily, modern technology has a camera almost always within an arm's reach so I did capture the memories and growth with my iPhone :)
Here are the images for April's Project52 ...
xoxo,
Sarah

WEEK 14: MISCHIEVOUS
This little one keeps getting into e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g!! She had so much fun getting herself in and out of this dresser drawer! Yup, I just sat there and watched :)

WEEK 15: HOT
We went down to Florida during Spring Break and it was quite a bit warmer than we are used to here in Virginia in the Spring! 

WEEK 16: CELEBRATE
SOPHIA TURNED ONE THIS WEEK!!!!!!! This came with a huge mix of emotions. I was so proud of all of her accomplishments, I was sad that the year passed so quickly, I was happy for her to see everyone that cares so much about her, I was AGH ... I was everything all at once. Moms, you know what I'm talking about ;)

WEEK 17: INDEPENDENCE
Good gracious this girl has a very independent attitude and loves figuring things out herself. She loves walking around with her lion walker, moving around her giraffe rocking horse and getting on and off ... over and over!

Yes, this happened about two and a half months ago... #mommyfail. But as you saw the other day, I have been taking the time to work on some personal images and just now got around to editing images from my baby's birthday!!! This will not be an emotional post, I am still in denial of how big my "baby" is... and we will leave it at that!
I began planning her party last summer. Yes, she was three months old and I was planning her first birthday party. That's how I roll. Well, I began planning early because I knew that once the school year started, I would be gogogo and I wouldn't have time to decide what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it. So yes, the planning process began when she was three months old! I decided on a theme ("tweet one") and handmade all the invitations over the summer. From that point, planning was put on hold until about March, when Sophia was 11 months old! I already had the hard part figured out - the theme. And I had already done the time consuming thing - made the invitations. So now I had to put everything together. As you can see, I went with a rustic chic style to this theme. I wanted it to be girly and classy! 

Cake: Creative Cake Designs
Cake stand: Amazon
Drink dispenser: World Market

I know I said this wouldn't be emotional but I just want to say that can't believe how quickly we hit this milestone ... it all seems like a blur. I'm so thankful that I have so many pictures (on my hard drive and on my walls or in albums) and videos to look back on because these moments happen so quickly it's easy to forget them. We live in an age where people are constantly taking pictures digitally with their cameras or on their phones. It is so easy for those files to get lost and forgotten. The reason for capturing moments is to relive them every now and then.
So go ahead take a look at some old photos, I guarantee it will make you smile. 
xoxo,
Sarah

As I grow my little business, I'm meeting many new faces in the photography world. All of these ladies are so amazingly talented, open, honest, and fun! I really enjoyed meeting them and spending the afternoon with such an awesome group of women. 

Amanda from Amanda Hedgepeth Photography
Kristen from K DiNenna Photography
Jessica from Nicella Photography
Lindsey from Candid Heart Photography
Audrey from Audrey Rose Photography
Michelle Marsh from Michelle March Photography
Jennifer from JM Photography
Ashley Doss

Amanda opened her home to us so we could talk about all things photography. It was a great way to learn about other photographers, hear and share about ideas and tricks of the trade. After we sat around and chit-chatted, we stepped outside and took some head shots where Amanda showed us how to rock out a session from both sides of the camera!

xoxo,
Sarah

To say that I'm behind on my Project52 is a major understatement. I got lost in the end-of-the-year madness and this project slipped through the cracks. I definitely didn't want this to happen :(
Thankfully, I've been doing a Project365 on Instagram so I will be pulling from those photos to help me cover all of the weeks in April and May. 
Here are my March Project52 photos....
xoxo,
Sarah

Week 9: DR SUESS
This week, Dr Suess lovers everywhere celebrated Read Across America in honor of Dr Suess' birthday! Dr Suess is one of my favorite children's authors so we have quite a few Dr Suess things in Sophia's room!

Week 10: IN THE KITCHEN
For the next few weeks, we traveled to England and Sophia got to meet many family members for the first time! Here she is in my Nanny's kitchen <3 There is a bag of clothespins on the little door here for hanging up the laundry outside on the line and she was so happy with taking them all out and putting them all over the floor!

Week 11: TIMELESS
It didn't seem right for me to do a "Luck of the Irish" theme this week... so I changed it to something more meaningful for the trip. I also edited this is black and white (which makes it even more timeless) and I love the edit but the colors that my Nanny is wearing in the photo make me lean toward color. I will share both edits though :)

Week 12: AT THE PLAYGROUND
This adventure was very special to me because I have pictures of me as a little girl playing on this playground! There have been some renovations since then so there are no more slides made of metal but it was still amazing to think that this playground has lasted generations.

Week 13: A STORY IN THREE
As much as I wish I could have continued these photos in England, we were home by this week and we took some belated pictures for her 11month session with me. Here are some outtakes...

I'm so in love with this project.

I love that it makes me take decent pictures of my own family instead of just using my camera for clients.

I love how I am capturing moments that otherwise, would not be captured.

I love editing my own personal images. 

So here are the last few themes from last month...

Week 5: RISE AND SHINE
Taken around 7am when this little one gets up. She is so good and can usually occupy herself until we are up and dressed. Granted there are those mornings that she wakes up STARVING, but we all have those mornings ;) Of course, here she is chewing on the rail that we don't have the teething guard on ... haha!

Week 6: ALL THINGS LOVE
This week, we headed to O'Doodle Doos Donuts in Suffolk to see the "love" sign that I had heard so much about on Facebook. While we were there, I saw this lovely masterpiece of a donut there and I just had to take it home and photograph it before devouring it ;)
The second picture has my heart. Although the sun was blinding us, we were able to get a couple cute shots in!

Week 7: BEAUTIFUL CHAOS
When is it not beautiful chaos at the house when you have a "mini toddler"? She's so curious and into everything and I wouldn't have it any other way! 

Week 8: TOES
Another detail shot! With this theme, I knew I had to get her while she was sleeping to get the shot I wanted. LOVE everything about this shot. The pink haze of her banner hanging from her crib. The handmade blanket made by a sweet colleague that Sophia adores. And of course, the rolls on her feet.

Next month is going to be a good one, stay tuned!
xoxo,
Sarah

So this year I have taken on two, yes TWO photography projects. I know, crazy right? Like my schedule isn't busy enough already. BUT these projects are something that takes priority over some other things on my long "to do" list. I'm only a month in and I already am SO glad I decided to do both of these projects.

My first project (and a really easy one) is my instagram365 project. It's so simple. I take a picture of Sophia and upload. That's it! I was kinda already doing all that so this one wasn't that much of a leap. I have plans to get these printed from printstagr.am and create a 2014 scrapbook. Although Sophia has such a routine, I try to take a picture of something different or new to keep it interesting ;)

My second project is my project52. This one is definitely more time consuming for me, maybe because I'm such a perfectionist. I use my "big girl camera" to take all of these photos and edit them, just like I would for a client's session. This is totally different for me - I rarely take (eh, took) personal photographs on my DSLR. I'm SOOO glad that Lauren (from Lauren Dunlap Photography) started this project and I chose to take it on! Each week, Lauren chooses a different theme for us all to take pictures of ... <3 

So here are my project52 pictures so far!

xoxo,
Sarah

Week 1: FRESH
I was playing with my settings when THIS happened. Even though the shutter speed was too low and caused it to be out of focus, I l.o.v.e her expression in this photo.

Week 2: REFLECTIVE
I took this week to reflect on how much this girl is growing. Seriously, every day I turn around and she has started doing something new or a new tooth has broken through!

Week 3: BABY IT'S COLD
Lauren couldn't have chosen a better week for this theme! Mother Nature really wanted us to capture this crazy cold weather! Needless to say, Sophia wasn't really a fan of the snow once she figured out that she couldn't crawl around in it... 

Week 4: EYES
Each month, Lauren will choose a detail to photograph. PERFECT excuse for me to pull out my macro and play a little! All the snow days gave me plenty of time to catch this shot during nap time ;)