Playtime!!

First of all, I have a new way for clients to contact me- the wonderful world of IM! These days with the gaggle of children I have running around my house, I sometimes do not answer the phone because of all the noise and chaos here. IM is a great way to talk to me live and get your questions answered quickly, without all the background noise. Just add devinememories@hotmail.com to your MSN Messenger contact list and if I'm available, you can ask away!


I know I've talked about having the best job in the whole world. If this set of pictures doesn't prove it I don't know what would. I get to go to work and talk to 2 year olds and hear their views of the world--this little firecracker had me CRACKING UP and I got to play all morning. Not to rub it in but as some of my little clients would say, "Nah nah nah booo booo!"
Blowing me kisses... Calling Daddy to tell him about our little photoshoot
Reading to me and Mommy her favorite bedtime stories
Hugging Mr. Frog
And talking to her new baby sister, who will make her Devine Memories debut in December!!

Another year rushes by.

I'm sure that's how it feels to Mom and Dad (I can totally sympathize!) The baby who had Dad choked up (and all of us, in turn) a year ago is now celebrating his first birthday, and in style I might add! Check out the faux-hawk on this little charmer:

And we were able to complete our "couch" series, check out what a difference a year makes:

1 week old

6 months old

1 year old And here are "the guys" together, it is so neat to see how much their love has grown and developed over the past year. Their shot together last year is my most asked about image!

And all you Plano moms and dads must stop by Dad's gym (www.nextlevelfitnessclub.com) and tell him what a mini-celebrity he is (and while you're at it, check out the gym...it's awesome!)

Tons of sneak peeks coming in the next couple of days, stay tuned!

She's 10 months old now

Photography by the soon to be famous Michael Silvestre, age 8 (and you all can say you knew him when)

I haven't been posting much because I've been about 10 sessions behind in proofing thanks to my vacation, but starting to come up for air. Sneak peeks coming soon for all of you.

Time flies

I first met this family back in 2004 when their sweet little baby girl was about 7 weeks old. Now here I sit shaking my head yet again at how fast time has gone by, and here she is, a little 2 year old lady! And now she has a baby brother who looks almost exactly like her when she was a baby.

Here is big sister from her baby pictures:

And here she is now, still cuddling with Daddy-not much has changed:
And here is sweet baby brother! He slept through most of our session, which was perfect because it made cuddling so much easier!!

Big sister looks on lovingly as lil' one snoozes:

Happy 3 years to me!

**note** Pam and I always answer emails within 24-48 hours of receiving them. If you email me and do not hear back within that time period, I did not receive your message. You can call me at 972-596-5500. Also, because of my last name, my emails sometimes go into spam filters, so be sure and check your spam folder if you have not heard from me.**

I'm sitting here at my desk this evening filling out birthday cards for past clients who are having birthdays in the upcoming months, and I began feeling so melancholy when I saw how big some of them are getting. One 5 month old baby I shot for the cover of Baby Dallas is soon turning 3, two siblings that I have known since before the youngest was born are turning 8 and 6...where does the time go? Sometimes I have a bad day and feel very frustrated; that my work is trivial and meaningless...then I think back to the moments of capturing a 2 week old baby and then seeing him again for his 3rd birthday, and it hits me again why I love this job and why it is, indeed, important. One client once told me, "When I look back at his newborn pictures, it's like I can feel again what it was like to hold him at only 7 pounds, I can feel him melting into my chest again...what a treasure considering that now he runs from me at every opportunity."

This month marks 3 years since I quit my dayjob as a preschool director to follow this crazy dream full-time. If you ever get me alone for about half an hour, ask me to tell you the story (or read the condensed version here). In celebration of those of you who have stuck by me through thick and thin, especially those of you who have been there since $5 5x7's and $25 sitting fees :), I honor you with this look back :

2005

2007 20042007
2004 2006 20052006
2005
2007
2005 2007 2005

2007
Newborn-1yrNewborn-1yr And just for my own fun, my kids...2004-G's first birthday and my first digital images M, age 5- 20042003-still using film here!
2007, just M&G (baby was asleep), 8 and 4

2 weeks, to 2 years

The first time I met my featured client here, he was so fresh and new--only 2 weeks old. I saw him again last year for his 1st birthday, and couldn't believe how much he had grown. Imagine my shock when I saw him this past week for his 2nd birthday! He is a little man now, so full of life and energy, and he loves to run!

Fun bonus for him: Mom brought a cake! We let him dig into it (can I just say how great it smelled? I'm on a post-baby diet, ha ha) and he was delighted to indulge us in a messy photo-op.

Here he was at 2 weeks, then about 1 year...



And here he is now, celebrating the big TWO! Happy birthday, J!