Here we are 17 days into the new year and I already have a big chunk of my 2012 session calendar booked.  I wish I had the time to take on every session that comes my way, but with two little ones at home it just isn’t possible practical.  I feel terrible turing potential clients away, but in order to keep the balance between my work and my family, I have to limit the amount of sessions I take on each month.  This limited work load allows me to ensure that I’m giving each client the attention they deserve.  Once Ellie starts school it will be easier for me to manage more sessions, but for now she is kind of hard to keep entertained while I work in the office and even harder to keep contained!

Click HERE to view my current session openings – All sessions are booked on a first come, first serve basis.

I took Ellie out to enjoy our unseasonably warm weather yesterday : ) watching her discover and explore the world is so much fun.

Have you ever heard the saying, “If you have to invite your best friend to your wedding, you are marrying the wrong person” ? I couldn’t agree more… but in Steph’s case, her best friend (me) was already taken (by Adam), so she had to pick her second best friend (which is Tanner).

All joking aside, I Love Tanner and can’t wait to stand by  Steph’s side as she promises her life and love to him this coming June : ) I LOVE weddings!

The Simply Loved family is ever growing.  In 2011 I was blessed with the opportunity to help welcome new additions, capture little one’s milestones, and help families celebrate major life changes.  Each and everyone of my clients becomes part of this family, a part of MY family.  Without your continue support this would not be possible.  I am so very humbled by the compliments and words of encouragement that are sent my way.  All the love you send me goes right back into this hobby of mine and this circle of love and energy is what makes Simply Loved bloom and grow.

On the account of the new year, I will be spending the next few weeks updating and upgrading a few things around here.  2012 holds new projects and many new products!

thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!

and our Christmas card this year

on my photography wish list for 2012 is a few births, a set of newborn twins, and more redheads!

Mr. & Mrs. Jura Morgan flew in from Florida to celebrate their marriage with a small hometown reception in Columbus.

We had planned to meet up downtown before their party, and in true Nebraskan weather tradition it was cold COLD for their session.  And I’m talking a high of twenty-seven plus wind cold, but Neely and her husband braved the weather and we got some great images to show for it!

aka: Ellie, Ellie Mae, Ellie Jelly Bean, Princess Ellie, Elinor the Great, Baby Elinor, Sweetums, Sweetie Pie, Sugar, June-bug, and Baby Girl : )

She’s made quite the name for herself in these short six months : ) we are still oh so very smitten with her!

Meet baby Jude…He was 9 lbs 4 oz at birth and still every bit of that on his ninth day when he came into the studio to play : ) I just LOVE big babies!How cute is he with his lovely momma!?!look at those chubby fingers!and check out that squishy newborn face*Swoon* don’t you just want to pick him up and kiss those chubby cheekies!?!

I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all my wonderful clients : ) your continued love and support has made Simply Loved what it is today.  You’ve welcomed me into your families, sharing magnificent life moments with me and I will FOREVER cherish each and every one of you.  You have all played such a role in making my life what it is today - I am so very blessed!

and because a photography blog wouldn’t be complete without a picture in every post – look at Ellie’s new “trick”…

Little Jaxson was such a doll : ) I could not get over his hair!

Last month I ran a Model Search Photo Contest in order to find a cutie to help with a little project I have coming up after the first of the year.  I received dozens of entries and was floored by the HUNDREDS of people who showed their support and voted.  I wish I could work with each and every one of the contestants, but do to time (and because it was a contest) there could only be one winner and that winner was Lyrik Miller.

Lyrik has adorn my blog several times already: first in his mommy’s tummy during her maternity session, then for his newborn pictures, next was his first modeling gig, and most recently in his mommy and daddy’s wedding.  I’ve watched this little guy grow through my camera lens and was so thrilled to get the chance to work play with him again.

Ashley (Lyrik’s mommy) is an AMAZING women!  She and I both advocate for many of the same things (cloth diapering, baby wearing, safe co-sleeping, natural birthing,  and breastfeeding) and she asked me to help her celebrate the last little bits of Lyrik’s baby phase (Lyrik will be one and a half next month).  Ashley and Lyrik are a nursing pair* and capturing the bond they share was at the top of the list…

*There is nothing more pure, more precious, or more beautiful then a nursing mother and child.  I have taken tens of thousands of pictures at this point in my career, but the first image of this post is now one of my new favorites.  Ashley looks absolutely gorgeous… I am so glad I was able to capture this image for her : ) being able to give other moms images that I know they will love and cherish forever is why I do what I do!