I heart asheville

I love Asheville. Of course we spent the better part of an afternoon walking the streets of downtown Asheville. Very cool shops and restaurants, and if I lived there, it would be my favorite locale for photo sessions. Really interesting alleyways and buildings. I was able to take some photographs of my sisters. I wish we had more time and that it wasn't so bright out! But that's what happens when you take pictures at noon!

My favorite store in Asheville!



My sisters...............

Chelsey......



Mallory....

North Carolina

So while in North Carolina I got to take some pictures of my sisters and cousins. It felt good to focus on my family, being that I focus on everyone else's.

This one is hands down my favorite!




Miss Em

Em looked at the photographs with me after they were taken and said, "Wow, I could be an Abercrombie model." Now of course she has her parents to thank for that, but I still felt that it was quite a compliment.

These two are also favorites!


It really meant alot to be able to take these photographs and give them to mfa (my favorite aunt!!!).

What a week!

I am so behind on my blogging. I had two sessions before Christmas that are yet to have their "sneak peak" on my blog, although I did get their online galleries to them before the holiday. I just got back from spending 5 days in North Carolina. Owen and I left early the day after Christmas and Lenny joined us on Friday. There are really no words to describe what they holidays are like at my Grandparents' house. It was only a few years ago that almost our whole entire family lived here in South Florida, but over the past few years it seems that everyone has made the move. Most to the western North Carolina/South Carolina area, but also to Virginia, Pennsylvania, and even just to northern places here in Florida. Family get togethers now are something movies are made of. 18 people of all ages staying in a big beautiful house in a beautiful location. Really, you just have to imagine......one group singing karaoke in the living room, while others are rocking out Guitar Hero in the family room, to later everyone playing a massive game of "Cranium Pop Culture Edition." Big breakfasts (bacon every morning), big lunches (roasting hotdogs in the outside fireplace), big dinners (spaghetti anyone???...). Lots of hugging, and laughing. It really is amazing. I am so blessed to know this. Soooooo.....I'm exhausted, Owen's asleep, and Lenny is still playing Guitar Hero!!

So as promised here are some sneak peaks from the two families I photographed the week before Christmas! What makes these two sessions so unique are the fact that they are families themselves. Two sets of cousins! Their mothers are sisters! I'm sure their Christmas is one for the storybooks too. There's nothing quite like the fun when cousins get together!

Nothing like the Last Minute.......

Nothing Like the Last Minute.......

I am the first to say that "If it wasn't for the last minute I'd get nothing done", but waiting till the week before Christmas to get Christmas card pictures taken is definitely cutting it close. The sucker that I am, just can't say no. The crazy thing is that this is the first of two Christmas card photograph appointments that I have this week. Well little "D" is absolutely adorable! Gotta love those curls.

His Future's so bright......

Forever Family....Miami Seaquarium

Wow, there are no words to describe what a wonderful experience I had yesterday. We all had so much fun. And hopefully, after the segment airs on NBC6 December 29 & 30, these two sisters will receive the best Christmas gift of all......a family!

I look forward to my future involvement with the Heart Gallery!!!


Go and hug your family tonight!

The Heart Gallery

Heart Gallery is a traveling photography exhibit of the more than one hundred foster children of Broward County who are in need of a permanent, loving home. With the help of volunteer, professional photographers, Heart Gallery captures the personalities of children who are waiting to be adopted. Biographies of the children accompany each photograph to give viewers a glimpse of their inner spirit.......and guess what????!!!!! I was asked to be a photographer for the upcoming 2008 exhibit!!!!!!!! Wow, I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am. In fact I have my first shoot tomorrow morning! Two young sisters are swimming with the dolphins tomorrow at the Miami Seaquarium. NBC 6 news will be filming it as part of their "Forever Family" news feature. I'll be there to photograph the whole thing as well as do a portrait session with both girls! The series of Heart Gallery photo shoots will begin in January. The new exhibit is set to be unveiled in the spring!

check out their website
www.heartgalleryofbroward.org

My family and I are truly the luckiest people in the world!

Here's a picture......this boy has my heart!


a little fuzzy.....but that's how he makes me feel inside.......warm and fuzzy!

I Won a Contest!!!!

I just wanted to share this.....I won a photo contest. A small one at that, but I did win. Flickr is a photo site. A great community of photographers that share photos, ideas, and knowledge. A group that I'm a member of decided to choose a new icon photo. All members of that group were able to contribute a photo to be voted on. I entered the photo of Owen's reflection in the green metal table. I WON!!! It really is an honor especially since I won by a vote of my peers.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/371188@N20/

If you cut and paste the above link, you'll see my winning photo. It's the icon for the "Photographic Techniques: Children & Babies" discussion group!

Coral Ridge Homeowner's Association Children's Holiday Party

This past Saturday, the 8, I had the privilege to be the official photographer for the 7th Annual Coral Ridge Homeowner's Association Children's Holiday Party. It was started seven years ago in Viki Pristo-Revier's front lawn and has grown into an a free event that is held at George English Park's Community Center. I can't even begin to describe the amount of hard work that is put into this event by the members of the homeowners association. It's free for all children. Any proceeds donated or earned from food and raffle sales is donated to the Boys and Girls Club. Cut and paste the link below to view pictures from the event.


http://gallery.mac.com/courtiz#100400

At Your Own Risk...

No lifeguard on duty....jump at your own risk!

Now I have to be honest, I'm not usually a fan of sessions at the beach. But this one went far beyond my expectations!!! When you are photographing a girl with as much sugar and definitely spice as "EJ" the photographs are bound to be awesome! And in this case they are!!!!! I had such a great time this afternoon!!!!

That, and I broke in a brand new lens that I just got hours before. Hands down this is my new favorite lens!! AWESOME!!

Thank you Scudder family!!! We'll get those holiday cards done and out with plenty of time to spare!

Takin' a break....

Takin a break from holiday cards and storyboards to look at some pictures I've taken of my boy the past few days. I really like this one. I've been experimenting with close up wide angles. They are super fun!

Last TY post

I just want to say, "Thank you" again to all of the wonderful families that allowed me to capture their children on Friday!!!! I look forward to hearing from all of you soon!!

more TY pics....

TY Continued......