Sneak Peek...

It's up! Come take a peek at the all new Red Dirt Girl Photography website!



Better yet: brew some coffee, pull up a comfy chair, settle in and stay awhile... Make sure to bookmark the site, share it with your friends, and of course as always-

September 7th

Caution: This one's emotional for me. You're about to enter a blog post filled with sentimentality, image overload, and surely some "sap." Consider yourself warned ;)

I'll start by telling you that today is the 7th anniversary of mine and Robert's wedding at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Forest, VA. There's a little bit more of a story to our marriage/wedding dates (as some of you well know ;) ), but for now it's enough to note that on a perfect late summer evening 7 years ago today, this 30-year old wife and mom was just a 23-year old girl in love, standing at an altar in front of friends and family, pledging her love to a man. And that man? Oh, he's turned out to be everything that girl could've hoped for. He is strong and gentle, wise and patient. He is steady and reliable, compassionate and peaceful, possessing an open heart that desires to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with his God. And on top of all of that, he is a romantic partner, and an amazing father. My breath still catches in my throat on a regular basis, at the realization of just how blessed I am to be walking through life with this good man. (And ladies, he's handsome too!)

Well, that turned into a bit of a rabbit trail! The reason I first brought it up actually is relevant to Red Dirt Girl Photography...stay with me for a minute.

See this picture?



Yup- that's me on my wedding day! But, that's not why I'm posting it. Do you see that other lovely young girl? That is my cousin, Rebecca. (And her fantastic brothers, TJ, Johnny & George!) Rebecca was a bridesmaid in my wedding, and was just 15 years old on that day. And do you know what? In these past 7 years, not only has she blossomed into a smart and accomplished young woman (who is beautiful as ever!); she's also fallen in love...And now she's the one preparing to pledge her vows.

So, it seems appropriate to post a sneak peek for Rebecca and Zach's engagement session today. Just as she stood in celebration of my marriage 7 years ago today, I'm posting these pictures today in celebration of her upcoming wedding, and the love she shares with Zach.

Hope you guys love these images as much as I do- I can't wait to show you the rest! (I've said so much here on the front end, that I'm just gonna hope these pictures can speak for themselves ;) ) ENJOY!



On fire!













Um, yeah....how GORGEOUS are they?!?





I love this moment, when serious devolved into silly in about half a second flat...

The Golden Hour

I know I mentioned that we recently returned from vacation. What I may not have mentioned was that it was almost entirely thanks to the generosity of my parents that we were able (for the second year in a row) to spend a week on the Gulf Coast in Florida, lazing about and forging a circular footpath leading from the house to the pool, from the pool to the beach, and then back again.

We slept soundly.

We read many books.

We all came home with tanned limbs, despite our religious application of sunscreen.

We watched spadefish circle our ankles in the water, and captured sand dollars and starfish in the waves.

Ella learned to swim fearlessly under water, and we delighted not only in her sudden progress, but also at the sight of her lithe little body wriggling like a fish beneath the rippling blue surface.

We cooked and shared meals with my parents and my sister's little family of 3.

We witnessed my niece's first flight in an airplane, and her first moments on a Florida beach.

We imbibed mojitos and pina coladas at sunset each evening...
...and we bathed in the light of the golden hour.





"small waves, slowly paced, broke lullingly along a thinning
beach; I listened to my child sing her part of this ceremony."

[excerpt from The Evening Light Presuming our Wishes by R.D. King]

Just a little nibble...

...to whet your appetite for what's to come.

After returning from a brief, (but certainly refreshing), end-of-summer family vacation, I've been bogged down with website building, session editing, and a whole host of other photography related tasks. Chained to the computer would not be an exaggeration. I've got a bunch of sneak peeks to post here in the next couple of weeks, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share this little nugget of deliciousness- to tide you over, and keep your attention ;)

This is my sweet friend Jen's little guy. He never fails to charm me with his flirtations, and this day was no exception. Just LOOK at those enchanting eyes!!!

A long time coming...

Not just these photos, mind you. My daughter will tell you that the arrival of her cousin Riley was itself " a long time coming." After 4 1/2 years as the only grandchild on both sides I can't tell you how happy Ella was to usher in the arrival of her cousin. And a little girl to boot?! Ella's stars were certainly aligned on this one ;)

My stars? Well on the day of this shoot, not so much. Did I mention that my fresh-from-the-womb niece relieved herself on every. single. blanket, backdrop and prop that I brought to photograph her on? Oh yeah, and every single person in attendance, as well. This was a newborn session for the books, to be sure. Luckily, soiled props were not the only thing I walked away from the shoot with...

I also scored these lovely, fleeting moments in time...


Why, hello there!



You are so scrumptious...



...I could just pack you up, and take you home with me!



Ok, ok, I'll settle for some snuggles, a picture of those squishy little lips, and unlimited babysitting gigs in the future ;)

Add to the Beauty

No images in today’s post, just some thoughts from the photographer, as I approach the launch of my new website, www.reddirtgirlphoto.com (Nothing to see there yet either, but I’ve been working hard to get it up and running, and as soon as it’s live, I’ll let you know.)

In the meantime, I wanted to bring you behind the scenes a bit, to talk to you about my tagline: add to the beauty.

Yesterday, while picking through overripe avocados, and searching tirelessly for the elusive fennel for our dinner salad, something caught my attention, right along the edges of the produce section. It was just a simple display of those square greeting cards with the catchy quotes displayed in bold, graphic fonts. I’ve pondered similar displays many times before. I’ve bought these cards for friends, and received them myself. I have a few of the magnets scattered throughout the house, landing somewhere between my refrigerator and my file cabinet. But yesterday, I spotted a quote I hadn’t seen before, and not only did it capture my attention, it also took my breath away. It was one of those moments where all of the thoughts you’ve been having collide, as someone else puts words to exactly what’s been stirring around in your own heart. The quote on this particular card was one I’d never seen before, and it really summed up succinctly what I am hoping to accomplish in and through my business.

The card read:

“Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.” Minor Myers, Jr.

If there were only two things that I could accomplish through Red Dirt Girl Photography, I would choose to create meaningful photographic art for families (do well!) and to give back to the community out of the proceeds generated by the business (do good!). So, in the midst of hours spent brainstorming, conceptualizing and implementing my mission, vision and business plan, I made a simple decision. For every Portrait Collection sold, Red Dirt Girl Photography will donate 10% of the price of that collection to a carefully selected non-profit organization.

In the past, consumers were happy for their purchases to define them in merely superficial ways. It was enough for your clothing purchase to reflect your “personal style.” You might buy a car as a status symbol, a certain sneaker for its brand recognition, or a house because it was situated in a good neighborhood with professionally manicured lawns and an award-winning school district. And while I’m not here to dismiss any of those things outright (hey, I’d like to think I still possess some personal style!), I see a new trend taking hold. I am seeing a new, enlightened consumer emerging- one who seeks out clothing not just for its label, but because it is produced ethically, for a fair wage, and without reliance on child labor in third world nations. This new consumer will spend a little more for a car, not for more luxury add-ons, but because driving a hybrid is taking one step in the direction of treading more lightly on the earth. The consumer I’m encountering buys their shoes from a company that donates a pair of shoes to a child in need with every purchase. I personally know people who are trading in the dream of the single-family home, the white picket fence, and the manicured lawn in order to move to the inner city and forge neighborly bonds of love with the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten. We want our lives to matter, and as consumers, we’ve begun to realize that we have to put our money where our mouth is. Every purchase we make, every corporation we support through our almighty dollar, says something about who we are. Not something about our personal style, but something about our personal mission and legacy.

And Red Dirt Girl Photography wants to be part of this trend. Well, actually, scratch that. This is not a trend or a passing fad for us. Red Dirt Girl Photography wants to be part of a long-term commitment to doing good in the world, and enabling our clients to do the same, every time they make a custom photography purchase!

We currently have partnerships established with 2 reputable organizations, and are in discussion with several more. Why several organizations? So that each client of Red Dirt Girl Photography can decide where to direct the donation that results from their purchase, based on the issue that is closest to their heart. When the website goes live, clients will be able to read a synopsis about each organization and the important work that they are performing on behalf of children, the poor, the marginalized, and those without a voice. Then, they can make their decision accordingly.

As you can see, I want people to choose Red Dirt Girl Photography for two reasons. Yes, I want clients to seek us out for our photographic style, our attentive customer service, and our exquisite, high end product. But I also want them to choose Red Dirt Girl Photography because they want to find ways to make a difference through all aspects of their life- including their purchases, and Red Dirt Girl Photography helps them to do that.

And, so enters the tagline…

As I’ve been working out the details of how to both “do well” and “do good” here at Red Dirt Girl Photography, I decided that I wanted to place those efforts front and center. And the simple tagline “add to the beauty” seemed to sum up all of my hopes and dreams for the studio. As a visual artist, I want to add aesthetic beauty to the world through my craft. But as a person, as a human being, I want to add a deeper kind of beauty to the world- I want my contributions to help lay the foundation for a more compassionate community and a more just society. I want to carve out corners of kindness, and illuminate the glimpses of grace that are waiting to usher in change. And I want Red Dirt Girl Photography to be at the center of it all! Can you tell how excited I am about this?!


The tagline was inspired by the lyrics of a song by Sara Groves, so I thought I’d wrap this up by sharing those lyrics with you:

Add to the Beauty
(Sara Groves and Bronleewe)

We come with beautiful secrets
We come with purposes written on our hearts,
written on our souls
We come to every new morning
With possibilities only we can hold,
That only we can hold
Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces,
Calling out the best of who we are
And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That’s burning up inside
It comes in small inspirations
It brings redemption to life and work
To our lives and our work
It comes in loving community
It comes in helping a soul find its worth
A soul find its worth
Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces,
Calling out the best of who we are
And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That’s burning up inside
This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful
This is grace, an invitation
Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out our best
And I want to add to the beauty
I want to shine with the light
That’s burning up inside
I want to add to the beauty
I want to tell a better story
Shine with the light
That’s burning up inside…

Before...

...I became an "auntie" for the first time:



Sadly, my sister and I didn't get around to a full maternity session before baby came :( We did, however, take a few shots on the day of her baby shower, and I liked these 2 in particular.

Seriously- how smokin' hot is she?!?!?



Stay tuned for the "after" shots of my precious niece, Riley...coming soon!

Reunion

Throughout the past few years I have been struck by what a small world it really is. My "accidental" reunion with Shannon is just one more bit of evidence that our big world really does boil down to a mere seven degrees or so of separation.

Shannon and I went to elementary school together, and had many a slumber party in our younger years. But gosh, it must have been 15 years or so since we had last laid eyes on each other...

First we found each other on Facebook. Next, we ran into one another at Target. (Of course! What young mom do you know who does not spend an inordinate amount of time at "Tar-zhey"?? LOL!) And then, when I posted a promotion on Facebook for my children's photography business, Shannon and her husband Bill (did I forget to mention that Shannon's husband is an old youth group acquaintance of mine?!) decided to have me come photograph their kids, Ethan & Violet.

What a FUN shoot! Shannon (much like myself) is a purveyor of all things funky, colorful and vintage...So in addition to the props I had brought along, I had a blast incorporating some of Shannon's finds into the shoot as well. Ethan and Violet were little movie stars. Seriously, you could tell that these kiddos are used to having their pictures taken! And they are such sweet siblings.

Shannon and Bill- I hope you enjoy your sneak peek! I can't wait to show you the rest of the gorgeous images from our Sunday spent together!

Repeat

Just a few more photos of the lovely Noa Claire to tide you over until my next (long overdue!)post...

It's been a crazy couple of weeks, what with the birth of my first niece (welcome, Riley Boden!), a few photo shoots to keep me on my toes, and a delightful surprise 30th birthday party, thrown for me by my hubby-love! We partied atop the amazing Dockside building, overlooking the Delaware river and the fantastic Philadelphia skyline!

I promise that I am on the verge of chaining myself to the computer this week, and that there will be a plethora of fresh photos shown here soon...But in the meantime:

Talk About a Photogenic Family!

I had sooo much fun this past week photographing my friend and former co-worker Joanne's kids, Jake & Bridget.  Jake was a champ, despite his initial skepticism, and endured everything I asked of him with a smile.  (Not to mention the fact that he lugged my gear around for me without complaint.) Bridget was brilliant!  As you can see from the few pictures I've posted below, she is an absolute natural in front of the camera!  

We had gorgeous weather, lovely light, two beautiful campuses to shoot on, and of course my two stunning subjects didn't hurt things any ;)

Enjoy this sneak peek from our session!

Just Because I Love Her So!

And because my 'public' requested it... (::ahem, Mrs. Hebler, cough cough::)

And because the grandparents always like to see her face...

And because I can't resist those eyes!

Seriously though, how blessed am I?!?

Three is the Magic Number

We're self-proclaimed music snobs around here. Which, when you have a child, becomes an interesting and amplified dilemma. Luckily we've discovered a few proverbial diamonds, in the "rough" that is children's music. Elizabeth Mitchell is among those, and a song of hers that we've always loved (the title of which is the same as the title of this post) talks about the magic that happens when "a man and a woman have a little baby..."

Yesterday I got to bear witness to that magic once again, photographing the adorable Noa Claire, and her proud (first time) parents, Kim & Bryce. This was doubly special for me, as Noa, Kim & Bryce are not merely clients, but also friends. This is a 'sneak peek' from their session- I can't wait to show you guys all of your images!

In the meantime, enjoy the magic!

Final Chapter from Charleston

First of all, I apologize to any of you who visited this morning while I was tweaking the layout, and had trouble reading the text or viewing the images. I'm trying to make this a suitable site for sharing photos until my professional blog is up and running, and I encountered a few snafus this morning in that process. Things should be back to normal now, so thanks for your patience!

And now, a few final images to share from my time spent in Charleston-

"E" was the daughter of another of the photographers in attendance at our workshop in South Carolina. She and her daddy had tagged along for the weekend, and so when it was time for the 'open shoot' she donned her Easter dress and dazzled us all. As most photographers will attest, our own children are our most difficult (read- uncooperative) subjects...But place those same children into the hands of another photographer, and they're sure to strut their stuff.

Thanks "E" for strutting your stuff!



And finally, the pretty and precocious "G." She may well have been the most sought after model of the day, what with that pouffy pink tutu and sassy stance. Luckily, she enjoyed being photographed and absolutely basked in the glow of all of that camera love! See for yourself:



Thanks again to all of the models (there were many more!), and their parents, whose participation made this shoot possible. It was such a pleasure!

More from Charleston

After photographing the effusive and outgoing "P", next I got to work one-on-one with "E." A totally different experience, but no less a pleasure! This gorgeous little girl with the moody blue eyes had me enthralled instantaneously. After a little conversation and coaxing, I even managed to draw a few smiles from her. But these are the images that won my heart and were my hands-down favorites: