Julie Cottrell Photography

Grace

2011-09-18T21:09:00.001-05:00

I'm sorry that I have really been neglecting my blog! I took Grace's 4 year pictures last week. She is my daughter's best friend and such a sweet little girl.

Jessica's bridals

2011-06-16T10:01:00.000-05:00

We did Jessica's bridals all the way back in September. At that time, her June wedding seemed like a long time away! But time passes quicker and quicker these days, and she and Josh had a lovely wedding on the 4th. I'll be posting those pictures soon. She was a beautiful, beautiful bride!

a wall display and a contest

2011-04-19T21:53:00.000-05:00

i'm always looking for new ways to display pictures, and i found these cool frames at pier one on sale for 20% off a few weeks ago (which made them only $22 each). if you can't tell, there are wires with little clothes pins, so i can change out pictures when i want a quick update. i thought 3 in a row would fill up this space above our bed - i've been looking for something to hang there since we moved in 4 years ago!

also, i'm having a contest on facebook in honor of mothers day. go HERE and nominate one deserving mom or grandmom to win a free session (session will be in auburn/opelika). just leave a comment on that picture, then email me to let me know who you want to nominate. i'll draw a winner on april 30th. every woman deserves pictures of her with her babies!

josh & anna

2011-04-04T20:45:00.000-05:00

this family has so much love for each other, it was just nice to be around them! i especially loved watching josh and anna interact; they were so sweet with each other. josh just turned 8, and he was keeping us all laughing. i have two girls, but he makes me want to have a boy! and anna, with her missing teeth, could not possibly be any cuter.

pricing info

2011-03-23T14:12:00.003-05:00

updated prices for 2011 are now on my website HERE.

allison

2011-03-19T14:54:00.000-05:00

i looove "baby allison," as my daughter calls her. she is such a fun, happy baby, and has the prettiest blue eyes and red hair. and though we got lots of pictures of her smiling, i think i like the one where she looks a little serious the best. i have to admit that i really love those natural baby faces.

she had the prettiest cake at her poodle-themed first birthday party and we saved the top to use for these pictures.

hello internets!

2011-03-07T20:50:00.002-06:00

Yes, I do remember that I have this blog! Thanks to everyone for being patient with me. We've had an eventful few months around here. I've still been keeping my camera busy, though, with our new baby girl Libby. Here's a recent pic of her:

and my sweet girls together

I am ready to come out of hibernation now! I am itching for blue skies, sunshine, and flowers. If you want to book a spring or summer session, contact me now. My session fee is $100, and print prices have changed so contact me if you want the info on all that. I hope to get a price list added to my website sometime soon for your convenience.

I also wanted to let y'all know about a new product I'm going to start offering. I ordered these for our living room of the girls and love how they turned out. They're 16x20, but I probably could have gone up one size. (speaking of, HERE is a really helpful blog post by a photographer that I like about how to decide on print sizes. I can't tell you how many times I've wished I'd gone bigger!) These are prints on a standout mount, and I got a linen overlay on mine (which you can kinda see in the last picture). I love them because you don't have to worry about a frame, just hang 'em right on the wall. And I think they look better than canvasses because they're not flimsy at all, it's almost like a print on wood. They look great, see what you think:

Let me know if you'd like to order one of these from a past session. They'd be great for a bridal / engagement / wedding picture.

Also! Two years ago this March I decided to try out this photography thing. Thank you to everyone who has let me into their lives with my camera. It has been such a privilege, and I hope to continue learning and improving and meeting new people. Please become a fan of my photography page on Facebook and watch for giveaways this month. The first one was for 25 free birth announcements. Book a newborn session this month for anytime this year and get the free birth announcements!

It's good to be back on the blog! Thanks for checking in and come back soon. ;)

Emma Grace & Brayden

2010-11-07T18:41:00.000-06:00

Well, I haven't been doing sessions in a while because it had gotten too hard CKWP (chasing kids while pregnant ;)). But I made an exception for my friends/neighbors! Love these sweet kids! Brayden is 6 months now, and Emma is about two and a half.

Jayci

2010-10-10T21:57:00.000-05:00

I loved meeting two year old Jayci and her sweet parents this weekend. I did my best, chasing her around to get some good shots! I love her pretty blond hair and blue eyes.

Mackenzie & Katie

2010-09-27T19:42:00.001-05:00

What a beautiful family I got to meet last weekend! I really loved these sweet girls. They have the prettiest big brown eyes and contagious smiles.

Bobby & Will

2010-09-18T21:11:00.002-05:00

You remember Bobby and Will? Love these little guys. They're such fun to be around, and they've definitely grown since last year. What an honor to be able watch them grow!

p.s. I've noticed some pictures can look grainy or pixelated on the blog and on facebook, but rest assured that they are not! ;)

Grace

2010-09-13T19:11:00.001-05:00

Grace is one of my favorite little girls! She and my daughter Hannah are just one month apart, so they have grown up together and become good friends. I've loved getting to know her and all of her sweet family.

Just for fun, here's a few shots of the BFF's from Grace's 3rd birthday party this past weekend.

Josh & Jessica

2010-09-07T14:26:00.001-05:00

What a beautiful, photogenic couple. And super sweet, too. I really enjoyed getting to know Josh and Jessica Sunday. We met at their friends' house in Brewton, and found all sorts of cool places to take pictures. I love going to new places and exploring and working with whatever I can find. I can't wait til Josh and Jessica's wedding next year. They are so cute together, so in love, and so playful. I took Jessica's bridals this weekend too but can't share those until JUNE!

Colby & Brenna's wedding slideshow

2010-07-24T10:06:00.000-05:00

Colby & Brenna's wedding from julie cottrell on Vimeo.

a scheduling note

2010-07-12T15:09:00.002-05:00

Come November, I will have a brand new beautiful subject for my camera. A lot of you probably know this but we're expecting another baby! We found out a couple weeks ago that it's going to be another little girl! I always wanted a sister when I was growing up, so I couldn't be more excited for Hannah. She will be 3 in a month, so I think it will be a great age difference, and she's really looking forward to meeting the baby.

What this means for my photography is that I'm going to be slowing things down for the rest of this year. I have so much that I need to catch up on, both personally and professionally! If you think you'd like some Christmas card pictures, please contact me as soon as possible. I'm only going to be taking a few more appointments this year. You can email me at juliecphotography@gmail.com. Thank you for your understanding! I should be back in the full swing of things just in time for spring pictures next year, and I already have a few weddings booked next summer that I'm really excited about!

Emma Grace & Brayden

2010-07-08T08:04:00.000-05:00

I got to take pictures of my sweet neighbors last week, and believe it or not, these are taken in their backyard. Isn't it beautiful? It made a great place for pictures. I love pretty 2 year old Emma (she has the prettiest smile!), and Brayden is such an adorable little guy. It was fun to see Emma as a big sister, she's going to be a great one.

Colby + Brenna = married!

2010-06-30T13:30:00.000-05:00

I was so lucky to shoot Colby and Brenna's wedding in Brewton last month. It was a beautiful day and all of Brenna's hard work came together perfectly. She is a master organizer and I don't think she could have planned it all any better. Thank you guys so much for trusting me with this job. I hope you love the pictures as much as I loved taking them.

Ashley

2010-06-22T19:21:00.000-05:00

Ashley and her family were our neighbors in Prattville ages ago, and I was so excited when she asked me to do her senior pictures. She was just a little girl last time I saw her, and now she is all grown up and absolutely beautiful! I think I told her how cute she is about 700 times. She has a fun, vibrant personality just as bright as her favorite pair of shoes. I loved spending time with you, Ashley, and I hope you have an awesome senior year!

Mamunchis

2010-06-15T20:29:00.000-05:00

My friend Maria (Sofia's mom) is the co-owner of a new store downtown called Mamunchis. I photographed the grand opening last month. It's a really cool store with lots of organic products, and classes for kids and for parents. Check out their website and become a fan on Facebook to see all they have to offer. I'm really excited about the store. If you're in the area and you're a parent, you have to check it out. It's located in downtown Opelika on 8th Street.

Amelia & Will

2010-06-14T15:07:00.000-05:00

Amelia and Will brought their parents to the park yesterday evening to get some pictures taken. Even though it was hot hot hot, we had a great time picking blueberries, blowing dandelions, and finding some of the tiniest frogs I've ever seen. What a fun family!

Addison

2010-06-13T08:04:00.000-05:00

My friends Vance and Molly brought one month old Addison all the way from Birmingham to see me yesterday. What a beautiful baby she is! So sweet, and very alert and smart already! Just check out how well she can hold her head up. I'm so glad I got to see y'all yesterday. Thanks for driving all that way. I can't wait to watch Addison grow.

Blake is ONE!

2010-06-09T08:14:00.000-05:00

I've photographed Blake and his family since he was in his mom's belly! I've so enjoyed watching him grow, and have loved getting to know his mom and dad. He's such a little cutie. He was full of smiles when we met up, and he especially enjoyed his cupcake at the end of the session.

Brandon + Angela's wedding slideshow

2010-06-02T08:10:00.000-05:00

Finally finished the pictures from Brandon and Angela's late-March Vulcan wedding. L-O-V-E this couple. ;)

Brandon & Angela from julie cottrell on Vimeo.

Brenna's bridals

2010-05-26T16:04:00.003-05:00

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've last checked in! This month has been crazy. I have a few things to post and catch up on, but for now I'm so excited to finally share Brenna's bridals! We got together one weekend in March to do bridal and engagement pictures, and it gave me a chance to really get to know her better. She is a really sweet, fun, beautiful girl and I'm glad to call her a new friend.

Engaged!

2010-05-01T15:43:00.000-05:00

Tim, Hannah, and I visited Chewacla State Park for the first time about a month ago. We walked down to the waterfall, and after we sat there for a little bit we met a guy who let us in on a secret - he was about to propose to his girlfriend. He asked Tim to take a few pictures with their camera, but I couldn't resist sneaking in a few photos with my camera. It was a great moment to witness, I was so excited for them you'd think I was a relative. ;) I hope that you guys have a long, happy, blessed life together.

Blakely

2010-04-25T10:10:00.000-05:00

I had a great time with Blakely and her parents at the park last weekend. She is the sweetest little girl. She kept calling "Julie" and wanted to hold my hand. I could have taken her home! This picture of all three of them on the bridge is my favorite - such a pretty family!

Brandon & Angela - married!!!

2010-04-16T16:59:00.004-05:00

I met Angela when we worked together in college. I loved her instantly, she's so much fun to be around. She and Brandon are a perfect match, and I was so honored to be asked to take pictures at their wedding. They were married March 27th at the Vulcan. It was a beautiful day and quite a celebration!

Ella Clare is TWO!

2010-04-11T18:30:00.005-05:00

I've taken Ella Clare's pictures several times before, and I just love her, she is such a sweet and pretty girl. I was so excited and honored to be asked to photograph her 2nd birthday party. It was a Minnie Mouse-themed party, and perfect for two year olds, complete with a jumpy thing and a kiddie pool filled with balls. And some of the cutest little ones I've ever seen!

Talynn

2010-04-05T20:52:00.003-05:00

We lived across the street from this family for a couple years but it took them moving 40 minutes away for me to meet them! Their 7-day-old baby girl, Talynn, is sweet and adorable. She was awake the whole time I was there, and she was so calm and just seemed to be taking everything in. Such a good baby. And big sister Madison is beautiful. I loved her pretty eyes and cute little freckles.

Wyatt

2010-04-03T23:00:00.002-05:00

I got to meet sweet, adorable 5 month old Wyatt today at Chewacla State Park. Isn't he just the cutest thing? He was in a great mood for quite a while, and was always up for giving a smile to daddy.

Vance & Molly

2010-03-30T08:59:00.003-05:00

I've been looking forward to meeting up with my friends Vance and Molly for a while now. Our first session got rained out and though rain was in the forecast for this session we couldn't have had a more beautiful day. Molly is one of my favorite people and isn't she just beautiful?! Inside and out. I can't wait to meet their baby girl.

Gracie & Jackson

2010-03-29T21:50:00.002-05:00

I have to admit that Gracie and Jackson are two of my favorite kids! It made me so happy when they came running up to meet me yesterday for our mini session. I always look forward to my time with them!

Isabelle

2010-03-29T21:46:00.002-05:00

I first met Isabelle and her parents 6 months ago, and I was excited to catch up with them this past weekend for a mini session. Isabelle is so so pretty, as you can see, and always has the best outfits. I hope for many more meetings with this gorgeous girl.

Allison

2010-03-24T20:47:00.002-05:00

I spent a little while with my cousin and her pretty 8-day old baby the other day. I had forgotten how little newborns are! And so sweet. Although Allison was too curious to sleep the whole time I was there, I think we got a few good pictures to share with her family.

Colby & Brenna

2010-03-18T08:37:00.006-05:00

Ok, here's the rest! As I mentioned, I spent the afternoon with Colby and Brenna Sunday and we got some great engagement shots. They are really adorable together. Brenna is so photogenic. I love the way Colby looks at her. I know it can be uncomfortable for guys especially to get pictures taken, but Colby was a great sport. And once we got to the fire station, which was the first one Colby worked at and where the two met, he was as calm and natural as can be. It was fun to see that change in him. We had a lot of fun there, and the red trucks were a perfect backdrop! Maybe my most favorite location yet. The last two are at their house. They have an adorable house that they've worked really hard on.

I'm doing their wedding in May - I can't wait!

Sand castle princess

2010-03-17T13:47:00.005-05:00

We went to Pensacola beach Monday and Tuesday. As sick as I am of winter, I have been dreaming of this trip for months. I was hoping for lots of bright sunshine. And it was pretty, but really windy, and the water was cooold. But we had lots of fun. It's so entertaining to just sit back and watch Hannah enjoy it all. She loved digging in the sand, trying to build sand castles, throwing "sand balls," splashing in the water, and searching for seashells. And how cute is her little princess bathing suit?? I found it at Kmart last November for $3. Perfect considering she's obsessed with princess things.

Anyone interested in a beach session this summer? Hopefully we'll be back for another trip. And don't forget that I regularly travel to Brewton and Huntsville to visit family, so sessions can be booked there, too!

Love at first sight

2010-03-14T20:30:00.002-05:00

That's what I had with this picture. I met up with Colby and Brenna today to do some engagement pictures and the second after I uploaded the pictures to my computer I saw this one and said, "that's the one!" I love it! I'll post more about our day and more pictures later this week. I'm at the beach with my family now until Tuesday. I think it might kill me not having time to work on their pictures, though, I can't wait to edit more!

Matthew & Elizabeth

2010-03-12T19:06:00.004-06:00

My cousin Matthew had his senior prom tonight, and I was able to take a few shots of him looking snazzy and his beautiful date, Elizabeth. I may have a new favorite color - royal blue! Looks so great in these pictures. And we hit the jackpot when we found a door the same color. Hope y'all had a great time tonight! I'll be back to take more pictures of you on your graduation night, Matt. ;)

Bag love

2010-03-10T22:02:00.004-06:00

So I got this new Kelly Moore camera bag a couple weeks ago and finally got to take it for a spin last weekend. I love that that I can just drop in my camera body - with its battery grip and big ol' 24-70 lens and the hood attached right in the middle - and I still have two slots to put other lenses or miscellaneous things. There are also pockets on the outer sides, perfect for a cell phone and memory cards, pockets on the outer front, perfect for keys and a pocket on the back perfect for papers or other little things. I'm so glad I decided on this one. It's perfect for me, just what I needed. Plus, isn't it just beautiful??! I'd really like one in every color!

Blake

2010-03-08T22:07:00.005-06:00

I've been with Blake since he was in his mom's belly and I love seeing him and catching up every three months. He was such a sweet little guy during our shoot. He was crawling, pulling up and crusing. He'll be walking by his first birthday, for sure! He was full of smiles for his mom. And just check out his smooth dance moves!!

Sofia

2010-03-07T21:49:00.005-06:00

I had my third photo shoot with Sofia and her parents this weekend, which is weird because I kind of feel like I've know them forever! They are the kind of people you meet and instantly feel at ease with. I love spending time with them, and they make things so easy because they are so comfortable with each other and very natural in front of the camera. I love to see this real family interaction and it's such a privilege to be able to capture LOVE!

Sofia is going to be turning ONE at the end of this month, so she had a special treat near the end of our session.

Spring cleaning

2010-03-06T20:06:00.006-06:00

Got a fresh new look that I hope to stay with for a while. My new logo was designed by Susie from Pink Leaf Design Studio.
She was really awesome and patient with me and helped me evolve everything until it was exactly what I hoped for. Best of all, she is affordable! So if you need any design services, check her out and you can get $10 off if you use the code "julie". See the "J" and the "C" and the dandelion? I'm kind of in love with it!

I'm in the process still of changing out my website banners, business cards and watermark. Let me know what you think about the new look!

Mini-sessions

2010-03-05T21:37:00.002-06:00

I'm very excited about doing more mini-sessions in Birmingham! I had so much fun last time I did them in October. This time I'll be at the botanical gardens late in the afternoon on Sunday the 28th. These are 30-minute sessions and you'll get about 20 pictures on a CD with the copyright release for $150. This is a great deal! Email me if you're interested!

Alabama snow

2010-02-12T21:49:00.004-06:00

Took Hannah out in the snow today for just a little while - her third time seeing snow in her 2.5 years, not bad! She has a little cold so we didn't want to risk it getting worse by staying out for too long. I did, however, bundle her up in three pairs of pants, two shirts, a sweater, a coat and a rain jacket! She loved holding the snow in her hand and making snow balls, even though she refused to wear gloves. But she hated when the snowflakes flew into her eyes. She talked the rest of the day about how much she disliked that, actually. haha! If you live in Alabama, did it snow where you are? Did you get out and play in it? I was surprised to hear that it snowed in my husband's hometown in the southern part of the state. He said the last time he remembers it snowing there was 1996!

Lisa

2010-02-07T21:33:00.004-06:00

I met Lisa during my husband's family's Thanksgiving get-together, and thought she was just adorable, so I was excited when she contacted me about doing senior portraits. We braved the 40-degree weather and got some great shots in between her chattering teeth. ;) Lisa will be heading to Auburn after she graduates, and hopes to focus on studying to become either a teacher or a wedding planner. Believe it or not, she's just as sweet as she is pretty. I had so much fun with you, Lisa! Hope the rest of your senior year is great!

Valentine's Day mini-sessions

2010-01-21T21:52:00.003-06:00

I'm a little late blogging about this, but I have some mini-sessions planned on Valentine's Day (that's on a Sunday) at Callaway Gardens (weather permitting). I only have two more openings available! Sessions will last 40 minutes, and I'm trying something a little different here - the cost of the session will be $150 and will include a CD of at least 20 high-resolution images with the copyright release. I can't think of a better V-Day gift than preserving your love on film (er, CD?) for years to come. ;) And this is a bargain because my current price for just a CD is $200. Oh, and don't forget, admission to Callaway is free this month and next! Despite the lack of things blooming, there's still plenty of pretty scenery there. Let me know if you're interested! I have 1:30 and 2:15 appointments available.

Chris & Meredith's beach wedding

2010-01-19T21:56:00.007-06:00

Whew. I finally finished all the pictures from C+M's wedding in November. Let me tell you, going through 1000s of photos to choose the best ones and then editing all those is a lot of work! Then there are other design elements and an album to think about. BUT I loved it all, from start to finish. I hope I'm lucky enough to do more weddings in the future, and I thank Chris and Meredith for giving me a start. Their wedding day was beautiful, and I hope the pictures do it justice.

Here's the full story of their day.

Chris & Meredith's wedding from julie cottrell on Vimeo.

Canon in L Major

2010-01-10T09:16:00.004-06:00

dear new canon lens
24-70 is the range you cover
100 is the percentage that i love you
9 is the months i saved up to buy you
forever is the amount of time i will own you
thank you for being you
for taking pictures so crisp and clear
for blurring the background just the right amount
for having that beautiful red stripe
and that great big hood
i promise to do right by you
to keep you safe and warm
to keep your lens cap on when not in use
i love you
i love you
i love you

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T22:46:00.005-06:00

I tried to bribe Hannah with chocolate to put this New Year's hat on. Yes, that's what it's come down to - she is the hardest child ever to photograph. In the past she has REFUSED to look at my lens and give me anything resembling a smile. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but there MIGHT be a light at the end of that tunnel. She's given me some pretty good smiles the past couple weeks, usually as a result of me doing something completely stupid. And in case you were wondering, the bribe totally worked. She kept wanting to put the hat on alll day in hopes she'd get more candy. Stupid thing wouldn't stay on her head, though, so I didn't get a good picture.

Oh, how I love that face. I LIVE for that smile. I melt in those eyes. One of my New Year's resolutions is to take more pictures of her, so you'll probably be seeing more of her around these parts. Everyone always says, "You must have so many pictures of your little girl." And I do take lots of pictures, but for every picture I take, there is one that I miss - because of the aforementioned difficulty I have photographing her. But this year, watch out, no moments will be missed!

I also can't wait to see what 2010 brings for Julie Cottrell Photography. I have a lot of goals set for myself on that front - I want to continue to grow and improve and learn. Last year was SO GREAT. I learned so much and met so many cool people. I've completed building my portfolio, so there will be some changes to session/print prices. Stay tuned for news on all that.

I am looking forward to spring already! If you think you want to get some spring pictures, email me soon. I'm almost completely booked for the month of March.

Three Christmases with Hannah

2009-12-16T12:29:00.002-06:00

I love this girl. She is not easy to photograph, but I love her. With all my heart. She makes Christmas day and every day better than ever before.

Bobby & Will

2009-12-13T22:39:00.004-06:00

I met Bobby & Will this summer - what adorable brothers they are! (See their first session here.) I always love being around little boys, since I'm mostly around little girls. Bobby and I did a little bonding during the course of our session, and I was fully ready to bring him home with me. He grabbed hold of my hand while we were walking downtown and talked about what he wanted for Christmas, his Halloween costume (wizard - not lizard, like I thought), and sang songs he learned in school. How sweet is that??

Products

2009-12-08T18:54:00.001-06:00

I recently came across this handy catalog from my print service listing all the products that I have available to sell. Take a look, and be sure to click on the tabs to see prints, merchandise, and other stuff.

http://www.smugmug.com/prints/catalog/#Prints

Cooper & Owen

2009-12-07T23:09:00.004-06:00

Cooper and Owen are sweet brothers and one half of a beautiful family. We met up Saturday afternoon, when it was a little chilly but really a perfect afternoon for pictures.

Blake

2009-11-29T22:01:00.004-06:00

I can't believe Blake is 6 months old already! That is him as a newborn with his mom in my banner up top, and that seems like yesterday. I had a lot of fun with him and his family today, as usual. He is such a cute little guy - who apparently loves the Black Eyed Peas. ;)

Sofia

2009-11-28T18:36:00.003-06:00

I got to catch up with almost-8-month-old Sofia and her mom and dad today. They are such a warm family, full of love for each other. And Sofia has a great personality. We got lots of pictures of her smiling (mostly thanks to her dad/part-time clown, as he called himself ;) ), but I really love her serious face - it brings out her big, soulful eyes.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T20:58:00.004-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We sure did. I reminded myself all week of things that I am thankful for - which is sometimes hard to remember to do in the hustle and bustle of every day life - but I really made a concentrated effort to count my blessings. One of the biggest blessings is family, and we were surrounded by lots of loved ones yesterday. Don't I have beautiful family members?! Okay, technically, they're on my husband's side but that totally counts right? ;)

Leah

2009-11-24T13:30:00.008-06:00

I always love when I can hang out with this family! I've known Stevie since high school, and she is one of my best friends. Whenever we get together, time just flies! I also love her great husband and her beautiful daughter. Leah will be two in about a month, and she loves cheesing for the camera. She is a professional smiler! We concentrated on getting some good family pictures, since they haven't had many done since Leah was born. Here are my favorites. I'm also debuting my new watermark to match my new logo! What do you all think?

Mary Margo

2009-11-15T16:03:00.002-06:00

I had quite an adventure yesterday with Mary Margo and her mom and dad in their big, tree-filled backyard. Mary Margo is so sweet and funny - she ran around almost the whole time with baby Jesus in her hand, from a nativity set her mom had just put out. We watched planes, saw a snake (!), and counted acorns. And I LOVED the couch idea that Mary Margo's mom came up with.

Chris + Meredith = MARRIED!

2009-11-09T17:37:00.002-06:00

Do you remember my cousin Meredith from her engagement pictures? She and Chris had a beautiful wedding in Pensacola yesterday and I was lucky enough to get to photograph it. Thank you guys for trusting me with this very important job. I hope you love the pictures as much as I love you.

These are the few that I've edited so far. I'm sure I'll have more to share on this blog soon.

What to Wear Wednesday

2009-11-04T19:44:00.004-06:00

I haven't forgotten about this feature, but I guess it will just pop up here and there, when inspiration strikes. Tonight I want to talk about my love of orange. It's such a fun, happy color and really pops in pictures. I was looking for a dress on Etsy for my daughter tonight and came across this adorable shirt. Someone really needs to buy this for their little girl!!

Ella Clare

2009-11-02T12:09:00.003-06:00

I got to hang out with 18 month old Ella Clare for the second time yesterday. She really is one of the sweetest babies I've ever met. She has the prettiest smile and loads of energy, and is just a joy to be around.

Patrick + Allie = ENGAGED!

2009-10-31T10:14:00.004-05:00

As I think most of you know, this is my first year of business as a photographer. I've found out over these last several months that the best part of the job is that I get to be apart of really important events in peoples' lives. Last night, I had the honor of watching Patrick surprise his girlfriend Allie with a proposal at Provino's. Patrick made up a fake dessert menu that was eventually passed around to Allie. It was so funny when she said, "Is that why the photographer's here?" hahaha. The whole family except both of their parents thought I was there to make a Christmas picture. After she read the menu, Patrick got down on his knee to put a gorgeous ring on her finger. What an awesome night! I was crying happy and excited tears right alongside them! Thank you for letting me share in your special moment, Patrick and Allie (and family!). You are a beautiful couple, and I wish you all the happiness in the world.

My butterfly

2009-10-29T21:19:00.003-05:00

I have to admit I've never been a big Halloween fan, but it's been like 100 times more fun since Hannah's been around. This year she dressed up as a butterfly using things we already had lying around the house (free outfit - score!). She looked SO CUTE and we did some quick trick-or-treating at about 5 or 6 houses on our street, then came back to sit on the front porch and eat some candy.

Norah and Emery

2009-10-22T20:09:00.004-05:00

I was so excited to meet up with a friend from high school during my Morris Avenue mini-sessions! Shannon is still just as pretty as she was 10 years ago and she has two of the cutest little girls. I was so glad to see her again and meet her sweet family.

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And this marks the end of all my mini-session posts! Whew! A BIG thank you again to everyone who came out. It was really such an awesome day filled with the best weather, the cutest kids, the sweetest parents, the most beautiful couples - and all with that wonderful smell of peanuts in the air! ;) I will start on making Christmas cards next week, and will e-mail you when they're ready. Oh by the way, I promised to find this info several weeks ago - you can buy envelopes from Hobby Lobby for $2.99, 12 in a pack, and they have a bunch of different colors. Not a bad deal, right?!

Three beautiful girls

2009-10-20T20:54:00.002-05:00

These three pretty girls are my cousin's daughters, and they have really grown since I've seen them last. They were full of energy and laughter, and ran up and down Morris Street gladly striking poses. They had two adorable outfits, one for Halloween and the other for Christmas.

Gracie & Jackson

2009-10-17T22:26:00.002-05:00

Remember these two cuties from back in May (which seems like yesterday, by the way - how does that happen?!)? It's my second time hanging out with them this year. I just love them and their family, I feel like I've known them forever. Gracie is so pretty and smart, I'm pretty sure I could sit down with her over coffee and have an adult conversation. And Jackson... I love the close-ups we got of him because his eyes say so much. You can just see how full they are of joy and mischief. Please note the orange shirts - it's one of my favorite colors and it looks so great in pictures!

Two beautiful couples

2009-10-15T19:19:00.003-05:00

I don't know how it happened, but I was lucky enough during my mini-sessions to get not only the most adorable kids, but also some of the most beautiful adults. My first couple of the day was Angela and Brandon. Angela is a friend of mine, and she and Brandon are getting married in March at the coolest of places... the Vulcan. How awesome will that be?! I loved catching up with her and meeting Brandon. They are both hilarious, and really really good-looking to boot! I dare you to look at these pictures and NOT want to hang out with them!

The fun continued with Brad, Donielle and Bella - my first doggie client! Brad admitted that he had done some modeling in his past, modeling children's clothes in malls, I think it was. Well, it certainly paid off! ;) He and Donielle are so cute and I loved when they started getting into the photo shoot and coming up with their own ideas. That always makes it a little more fun for me. I think we got some Christmas card-worthy shots here, guys!

Sam

2009-10-12T20:38:00.002-05:00

Sam spent our hour together enjoying the trains that were passing by downtown, as a lot of kids did that Saturday. He is a deep thinker - I could see his wheels spinning. You've got to wonder what's going on inside those heads! And isn't he just the most handsome little boy you've ever seen? I would like to go ahead and reserve him for a date with my daughter in about 16 years. ;)

Isabell

2009-10-11T18:37:00.002-05:00

Beautiful, beautiful Isabell came with two of the cutest outfits ever. They were perfect for the backdrop of downtown B'ham. I couldn't believe how laid back and sweet she was. She went with the flow, just taking everything in. I love being able to work in special heirlooms, and Isabell's dad brought along a stuffed bear that was his when he was a kid, which I thought was a great idea.

Georgia

2009-10-10T22:26:00.001-05:00

I went out of town last week, and had a nice time relaxing from everything, even taking pictures believe it or not (but not from editing them!). I'm ready to get back to my normal schedule, though, and will start catching up on posts from my mini-sessions last Saturday.

First up is Georgia. Georgia was very much like my daughter, in that it took her a little while to warm up to her new surroundings. But after lots of hugs from momma and rifling through daddy's wallet, she started feeling better. How cute is she AND her parents?? I love watching families interact, and I could tell these two are really good parents.

Morris Avenue mini-sessions

2009-10-04T23:23:00.004-05:00

I had SO much fun yesterday doing mini sessions downtown Birmingham. It was such a nice change of pace to be somewhere different and get the creative juices flowing. I met some really cool people, and caught up with a few old friends, and to top it all off the weather was PERFECT. Thank you so much to everyone who came out yesterday. Maybe we can make it an annual tradition. Here are my favorites from each at first glance...

What to Wear Wednesday

2009-09-30T22:58:00.005-05:00

Here's a few outfit ideas for two boys and a girl. Lovin' those cute hats. Speaking of hats, you can find some really cute ones on etsy. I love colorful knit hats, and you can find them for girls and boys, in all different sizes. They look SO adorable in pictures.

On another note, can you believe it's October?? I only have one more weekend open this month - the 17th and 18th, but I also have some weekdays available. If you'd like fall pictures, contact me soon!

Kids Clothes Connection - fall edition

2009-09-26T13:09:00.005-05:00

Look for my table near the exit at this fall's KCC! I sure do wish I could have gotten those stinkin' wrinkles out of my fabric beforehand, but other than that I think it turned out nicely. I must say that I really do love all the pictures that are up, they are all very special to me. Thank you so much for all the wonderful people who've let me photograph their wonderful kids this year. It's been a great start for me, and I've had so much fun. I hope to continue on this path, and meet more and more new friends. :)

If you've gotten my info from KCC and you're interested in setting up a session, feel free to e-mail me at juliecphotography@gmail.com for more information, and let me know of any questions you have. I look forward to talking with you! I do a limited number of appointments each week and things are filling up fast, and if you'd like a picture for a Christmas card you should book an appointment date by early November!

What to Wear Wednesday

2009-09-23T14:34:00.004-05:00

A lot of people ask how to dress for family pictures, so I've decided to start this new weekly blog feature. I like casual clothes with texture, pattern, and bright colors (my favorite two colors in pictures - hot pink and orange). The key is to mix all these elements without going overboard, and to coordinate colors without matching. Fall is the perfect time to play with layers and textures, and it's also great for adding some fun accessories like scarves and hats (kids always look soooo cute in hats. browse etsy for some unique ones... more on this next week). Here's a sample look for a family of three, all clothes are from the Gap. Someone please dress their little girl in this adorable knit sweater dress and tights!!

Christmas cards!

2009-09-20T21:20:00.004-05:00

This might be the earliest I've started thinking about Christmas. Ooh, I cannot wait to put up our tree and decorations and see the look on my daughter's face when she sees it all. I have half of my shopping done, am planning a holiday party near the beginning of December, and I even have mine, my husband's, and my daughter's outfits picked out for our Christmas card photo (that's right, I got us some shirts to wear for Christmas pictures in August! I got a pretty green Chaps sweater from Kohl's for $8 and got my husband a green plaid button up there for $4...is there anything better than a good bargain?). I have turned into such a planner in my old age. ;) Mostly because time has started moving SO FAST. But I am realizing that it makes it so much easier on the wallet and my sanity to be prepared.

I am looking forward to taking pictures of some adorable families this fall, and putting those pictures on Christmas cards. Here are the designs I'll be offering this year. Most colors and fonts can be changed if desired. Cards can be ordered as 5x7 prints, but won't come with envelopes. However, you can get cheap envelopes from Hobby Lobby. I'm gonna go check them out this week and will update this with how much they cost. You can also find cheap envelopes online with a google search.

If you haven't scheduled a fall session, do so soon! It will be October before we know it, and my appointment book is filling up quickly. Speaking of October, I have one more appointment left for my mini sessions in downtown Birmingham on October 3rd - at noon. Let me know if you're interested in that.

Grace

2009-09-12T21:37:00.004-05:00

Grace just turned two a couple of days ago. She is my daughter's BFF,and I just love watching the two of them grow together. Grace so sweet and smart. And FUNNY! She kept me laughing the whole time. I love two year olds because they are such little comedians. This first picture might be my new favorite ever. Right after I took it, I told Grace's mom, this is THE shot!

My mom and dad

2009-09-11T20:34:00.002-05:00

I have the best parents. We went out for a Labor Day photo shoot, and I think we got a couple of really good shots. Mom hates being in front of the camera and always complains that she can't take a good pictures, but that's just not true - she's beautiful!

Ben and Jessica's wedding

2009-09-09T11:01:00.003-05:00

The adorable and talented Lisette Price let me second shoot with her at Ben and Jessica's wedding last month. It was my first wedding and I was a ball of nerves and excitement, but I couldn't have had a better time. It was the best experience - Lisette was so sweet and put me at ease, Ben and Jessica were totally in love, not to mention GORGEOUS, the weather was perfect, the chapel was so pretty... I could go on, but I will just say it could not have been a better day and I can't wait to do more weddings in the future. Please note Jessica's beautiful perma-smile and the way it lights up the room (as if you could miss it!).

Thanks for letting me join you, Lisette! I learned so so much.

See Lisette's pictures from Jessica and Ben's wedding on her blog.

Mary and Radcliff's rehearsal dinner

2009-09-08T19:00:00.006-05:00

I was delighted to be apart of Mary and Radcliff's rehearsal dinner in Brewton, Ala. Mary is so pretty and sweet - see?

Everything at the dinner looked great, and everyone had a good time!

Birmingham sessions

2009-09-01T19:14:00.003-05:00

I wanna do some mini-sessions in downtown Birmingham the first Saturday in October. These would be $40 45-minute sessions with at least 20 pictures in an online gallery, plus a couple of Christmas card samples. I'm really excited about this because I love downtown Birmingham - that old cobblestone street. Should make for some great Christmas card pictures. So let me know if anyone's interested!! Email me at juliecphotography@gmail.com

Blake - 3 months

2009-08-26T19:22:00.002-05:00

I have the privilege of documenting this little guy's first year, starting with his time in his momma's belly. On the sunny afternoon that we got together, Blake was happy as could be. We went out to his beautiful backyard and he was mesmerized by the water fountain his dad made. After a little while, he had about had enough of striking poses and was ready for a nap. His mom said he slept for 3 hours afterward he was so worn out! I hear that from moms a lot. Seems that looking so cute for the camera is quite exhausting for the little ones.

P.S. No matter how many times I see little tiny feet and toes... they always completely amaze me!

Ashley and Matt's baby shower

2009-08-22T22:06:00.002-05:00

I just met Ashley and Matt today at their shower, and they are a totally cute couple. Ashley has the beautiful mom-to-be glow going on. They had a great shower, and I wish them much happiness in the future.

Here are just a few shots from my first quick glance over the pictures. You know I am a sucker for all those little party details (or maybe you don't know it, but it's true!!).

Caleb and Savana

2009-08-12T21:57:00.003-05:00

Went downtown with this cute family yesterday evening. I love the colors they're wearing. Caleb turned 7 recently, and he loved the camera - he was like a professional model! And Savana was sooo cute and funny, and wearing the cutest little polka dot shoes! And check out that beautiful curly hair! I wanted to take her home with me by the end of the night. Thanks for sticking out the humidity with me, guys! Hope you like your preview pictures.

Cooper and Owen

2009-08-06T09:19:00.003-05:00

I had the privilege of hanging out with Cooper and Owen again a couple days ago. We all braved the heat and humidity, and I think it was worth it! We got some pretty good shots. I love the last one, where Cooper is saying, "Touchdown, Auburn!" So funny! His parents taught him that trick just in time. I can't believe football season, and FALL are right around the corner. I can't wait to bake up my favorite pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and wear comfy sweaters. Okay, enough daydreaming, on to the pictures...

Sofia

2009-08-03T20:23:00.002-05:00

Before you go any further, brace yourself for cuteness. I met four month old Sofia and her parents at Kiesel Park this morning, and they are just a gorgeous threesome. They are so cute and nice, and I'm looking forward to watching Sofia grow and get prettier and prettier.

Sign up for my mailing list!

2009-07-22T20:19:00.005-05:00

Hello all!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. I sure have been having a great time this year meeting new families and children to photograph. Thank you to everyone who has been in front of my camera. It has been such an honor, and I hope that you will cherish the pictures that we created together.

I am trying to gather an organized list of e-mail addresses. If you'd like to get on my mailing list, please sign up below. I'll be periodically sending out e-mails about upcoming events and specials. I want to get started thinking about fall pictures (right around the corner!), so be on the lookout for some new info on pricing changes, as well as a referral program.

I'll be setting up at Kids Clothes Connection when it rolls around again, so I expect to have a busy fall. I am a planner and LOVE to mark things down in my calendar way ahead of time, so feel free to book your fall session NOW! Starting in September, my session fee will be going up to $75, but book now and you can lock in my special $40 fee. Get those Christmas pictures made early and it'll be one less thing to stress about. I'll also have Christmas card prints available this year.

Each session is at a location of your choice, and lasts up to an hour and a half. A few hours later you'll get a sneak peek of my favorites on my blog, and a week later you'll get at least 40 professionally retouched photos in an online gallery.

Feel free to pass this along this info to your friends in the Auburn/Opelika area.

:)

Bobby and Will

2009-07-14T06:21:00.003-05:00

Bobby is gonna turn four next week, and he is a little heartbreaker in the making. And Will is a little cutie pie who turned one last month and is working on his walking skills.

I wanted a change of scenery from my usual downtown portraits, so we went out to Monkey Park and had a great time. I loved being somewhere different for a little change, and I think the pictures turned out nice because of it. I am liking most of these in black and white, except for the colorful balloon ones.

Hannah the Gardener

2009-06-21T21:50:00.002-05:00

For the longest time, Hannah did not want anything on her head - no hat, no bow, nothing. But suddenly, she's taken to wearing this hat just about everywhere. Whenever she sees it around the house, she grabs it and puts in on. The hose is another new favorite. We can't step outside the front door without her walking to the water spout to try to turn it on. But anyway we had so much fun this particular evening hanging out outside after it had cooled down a bit, watering the flowers and pulling weeds. Hannah can be a really great helper.

If there's a certain thing your child likes to do - could be gardening, running through the sprinklers, baking cookies, dancing, doing cartwheels, etc. - I would love to set up a session time to capture their personality doing what they love best.

Oh, and Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! I am lucky enough to have both a really wonderful dad and a really wonderful husband. AND a great father-in-law, too. Don't know what I would do without those three men.

More Owen

2009-06-10T22:38:00.002-05:00

I've been editing pictures tonight, and these are my new favorites of this little guy. I loved all his expressions.

Cooper and Owen

2009-06-09T20:59:00.002-05:00

I'm sure Cooper and Owen's mom wishes she had about 20 hands to keep up with these two, only 18 months apart. The boys were so sweet and adorable. Cooper is only a month younger than my daughter, so it was fun to see him doing a lot of the same things she's doing. We'll have to get together for a play date soon, for sure!

Blake

2009-05-28T21:36:00.002-05:00

Remember Chris and April? Only a month ago I visited the two of them and today I visited the three of them - baby Blake finally arrived healthy, adorable, and with a head of dark hair.

Georgia Aquarium

2009-05-27T22:19:00.002-05:00

I have lots of pictures to share from our impromptu trip to the aquarium today. So many fish... it was quite impressive! I think we liked the whale sharks and the beluga whales the best. Hannah was so funny - it took her a while to realize it was okay to stand next to the window to watch the fish, that she wouldn't be touching the water. She is deathly afraid of being in the water! Yes, even the bathtub. Funny girl.

Cousins

2009-05-23T19:17:00.003-05:00

These cousins came down from Birmingham today, and luckily the rain held off for about an hour for us to get some quick shots. They are the kids of some dear friends, and we had the best time together. I can only share a couple tonight because my computer is being crazy. Hopefully I can get it fixed tomorrow and post a few more later this week.

Aurora Rosalie

2009-05-11T20:32:00.003-05:00

Is that not the cutest name you've ever heard? Aurora definitely did not want to take any photos without being covered or clothed, but her dad was great at comforting her and I think we got quite a few priceless shots. She is so perfect, with her head full of dark hair, her tiny fingers and toes, and that beautiful baby face.

Sarah and Chas

2009-05-10T20:07:00.002-05:00

I hope I captured this brother/sister duo just as they are - lots of fun and full of life. I LOVE the orange shirts they wore, my favorite color! It was a great way to spend Mother's Day afternoon. I think their mom will be pleased with the pictures we got, lots for her to use in scrapbooking!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there. Hope you all had a special day, celebrating the most important job a woman can have. On my second official Mother's Day, I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful, funny, healthy daughter. Her hugs and kisses are what I look forward to most each and every day.

Gracie and Jackson

2009-05-09T21:09:00.003-05:00

Gracie and Jackson, who just turned 8 and 2, traveled from Birmingham today to hang out with me. Jackson is SO good and laid-back, and has the most adorable dimples. Gracie is a very mature, sweet girl. Thanks for coming today! I'm sorry there were no puddles to splash around in. ;)

Elizabeth

2009-05-02T19:13:00.003-05:00

From the first picture I took of Elizabeth, I knew we would get a ton of good shots - not only is she a gorgeous girl with striking eyes, but she was a pro at striking a pose and flashing her 1000-watt smile.

Blakely

2009-04-27T19:51:00.003-05:00

I met beautiful 6 month old Blakely and her look-alike beautiful mom this morning. I got lots of great close-ups of Blakely when I discovered her secret tickle spot - the same spot that always gets my daughter, that irresistible hunk of upper leg. Thanks for a great morning, girls!

April and Chris... and baby Blake

2009-04-25T20:20:00.003-05:00

My first maternity shoot today! April and Chris are hilarious. I had quite a few blurry pictures because I was laughing so much. Thank you guys for letting me get some practice. I look forward to many more maternity shoots. And I can't wait to meet your little guy.

Anna

2009-04-22T19:19:00.006-05:00

Hannah and I spent this beautiful afternoon playing with Anna, my neighbor's granddaughter. Isn't she gorgeous?! Anna showed us a few ballet moves and some cheers, and I pulled the girls around the backyard in a wagon. I'm actually sad that Anna is leaving tomorrow to go back home to Tennessee. She has been so much fun to play with. It makes me eagerly anticipate Hannah being that age.