Melaine has been a client for a long time now, and she’s always so much fun to have in the studio.  I love her older son, TJ, who is one of our Little Blessings graduates.  Now the fabulous Miss Ray has been coming in for her first year, too.  She visited last week for her one year session, and she’s such a busy little girl!  I love how much personality and spirit she has.  She’s a very smart and funny little girl, and I feel honored to have gotten to get to know her this year.  Thanks, Melaine!  Here are a couple of images from your session.

Mark your calendars: this year we will be open for portraits before the New Braunfels High School Homecoming Dance on October 11th.  You’ve spent a lot of time (and money) finding the perfect outfit — don’t settle for snapshots out in the front yard!  Save this moment in time with some quick and beautiful keepsake portraits at the studio.  The dance starts at 8, so our downtown loft studio will be open from 4-7 so you can drop in, have a snack, hang out with friends, and have your portraits done before you go to dinner or to the dance.  We’ll have a great set that is way more modern and stylish than anything you’ll find at the school or at other studios in town.

Samples coming soon!

I am still in a state of shock over the idea that September is already here.  Right now I am blogging between phone calls, trying to catch up with the messages we had over the weekend and the people who I know need to get on the schedule for this month.  Our “Prime Time” sessions — those weekend appointments and early evening location session times that everyone wants — are booking up quickly! If you KNOW that you need to be on the schedule this month (because you’re a member of the Little Blessings club, you have a Circle of Friends offer that expires this month, or you’re looking for a stress-free holiday session), please give me a call or shoot me an email asap so I can get you on the schedule.  Here is what I have left as far as weekends go for September:

Saturday, September 6th (this weekend, I can work in TWO afternoon studio sessions or ONE late afternoon location session)

Saturday, September 20th (again, I have two afternoon studio appointments available OR one late afternoon location session)

In October, the only weekends I have anything still available for a full session are October 4th and October 25th.  That means if you’re thinking about doing a family session for the holidays, you still have some date options available in September and October.  I know that some of you out there have certificates from auctions and events — if that is the case and you’d like to use that for holiday portraits, I need to get you on the schedule right away.

After a very busy week of work, school, and back to school “events” we’re taking the weekend off to relax.  As always, we’re closed on Mondays, but I’ll return all phone calls and emails tomorrow.

I can’t believe that it’s already September!  This is the time of year that I start getting really really tired of the almost 100 degree days, because I am ready for some crisp Fall weather.  I know — I should probably live somewhere else because we won’t have our first cool night until sometime around Halloween.

We can’t go to the library today because it is closed for Labor Day, so we’re planning on spending the day riding bikes in the neighborhood where I grew up.  Mac will have his first day on just ONE training wheel.  Even without the library trip, though, they chose a book and a song to share today.

Since we’re all longing for Autumn, the kids chose Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert, which they say is “kind of babyish but it’s pretty.”  I agree with them: it’s a beautiful book and has long been a favorite, but it’s one that Mac can read to Cheese himself.  The colors and textures Ehlert has chosen are gorgeous.

And in music, they’ve chosen Mac’s current favorite song: September, by Earth Wind and Fire.  I think he’s been waiting to use this one for weeks. 

I hope you’re all having a fun and relaxing week with your families!  I’ll be back later on this week with more portraits of cute kids and families to share with you.  To all of our friends in South Louisiana, you’re in our thoughts and prayers today.  Be careful and stay safe!

The delightful Miss Julia came in for her one-year session earlier this week.  I can’t believe she’s already a year old!  She brought big sister Olivia in with her so that we could get some sister shots.  I love their sparkly “1″ and “3″ tee shirts!  Here is one to tide you over till Saturday, Carrie.  Thank you so much for sharing Julia’s first year with me!

It is officially back to school time! McCurdy started first grade today at a brand new school and it sounds like he’s going to like his class and his teacher. The school needs to work out some kinks in the pickup/dropoff process (I never thought it could be worse than last year at the old school, but somehow, it is) but the building is beautiful and they seem to have a great group of teachers and administrators.

We have had a busy day and I am not blogging from the “big” computer so we’re going to skip This Week’s Picks for today. But here are a couple of shots of The First Grader being silly after school today.

As always, we are closed on Mondays but I will be back in the studio tomorrow morning to answer all phone calls and emails. I hope you all had great first days, too!

Mr Chance was back in earlier this month for his six-ish month session. He’s such a strong kid and such a good sitter already! I love this little guy… he reminds me a little bit of his brother at this age, and while I thought that Bryce was laid back his brother Chance seems really laid back. Plus, he’s every bit as adorable. His mom and dad are Aggies so we had to show that he is ready for football season. Mindy and Guy, I love spending time with your family! Thank you!

Another of our recent Little Blessings Babies, Presley came in last week for her 6/7 month session. She is such a sweetheart! Her mom and I were talking today and we had thought that maybe she was teething on the day of her session, because she seemed “not quite herself,” but she still did a wonderful job. Her mom said that when they got home, sure enough, a tooth broke through. Poor baby! She still looked beautiful in her portraits… what a little trooper. Thanks, Presley!

Meet Addison, from our latest crop of Little Blessings Babies.  Addison’s older sister Ainsley has been coming in for portraits since she was this age and she is always such a joy, so I was excited about meeting this new addition to the family.  Miss Addison is every bit as sweet and beautiful as her big sister!  She’s got a very sweet personality, and the most amazing blue eyes.  She was in last week for her 6 month portraits, but I never did showcase her 3 month session, so here are a few portraits featuring a slightly younger Addison.  ;)  Thanks, Jennifer and Addison!

I can’t believe it’s that time of year again! Charlotte started her first day of PreK 4 this morning, and she was so excited. She looooooves school and has been counting down for weeks. We left early (probably for the only time this year) and I took a few snapshots of her before we went in to join the other kids in the gym. She has a great teacher and there are a few old friends from PreK 3 in her class, so I know she’s going to have a wonderful year.

One down, one to go. Public 1st grade does not start till Monday, so Mac has a few more days of freedom.