A New Birth.... A New Love Story

A new baby is such an amazing experience. The journey to get there is full of wonder, sleeplessness, excitement, and lots of HARD work. This journey is followed by love, admiration, support, and commitment.

I can only tell you how I saw this journey as an outsider looking in. The morning started out easy and slow. Everyone anticipating the arrival of this new baby. A surprise gender this time around. Family and friends all had a guess to whether it was going to be a boy or girl but soon enough we would all know.

It was a long day of waiting, but once the contractions really started, the hard work began. I saw so much support from the husband. At this critical time, all you need is someone to stand by you and help you get through these few seconds that can feel like an eternity. He was that rock for her. He talked to her and encouraged her the whole time. What a touching moment to be on the sidelines, in the background, watching and listening to the love here.

Once the time came to start pushing, Mom was amazing. After 3 great, hard pushes, the sweet baby was born. It is a girl!!! All of the pain that she was just feeling all melted away once they laid eyes on the precious miracle that just happened. If you have never personally experienced this moment, there are no words that can describe it. 

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Then the time came for the rest of the family to see the new baby girl, Reese. Watching everyone walk down the hall to see this baby was as exciting as waking up on Christmas morning!! The big brother and sister couldn't wait to see their new sister and more importantly, couldn't wait to see their MOM, the woman who unconditionally loves her children and will endure even the most crippling pain to grow her family. This is their NEW LOVE STORY....

The Time is Now...

Imagine it is around 50 degrees outside and the wind is blowing this nice chilly breeze. Now imagine you are walking on the sidewalks of a downtown area to see a family gathered to take pictures. It sounds all nice and sweet and then you see the woman who is dressed in a sleeveless black dress and high heel shoes. Wouldn't you think she is crazy!?! Yeah, that lady was me haha. 

As a parent, you are always thinking about the future and how to provide for everyone. Most of the time you are trying to take care of everyone else and seldom do something for yourself. Being a photographer on top of that, I am always taking pictures of my kids but rarely get any of Nathan, my husband, and myself together.

The past few years have just flown by. Ethan is now 5 years old. August Lynn has passed the 1 yr mark so she will be growing at super speeds and everyday is just a blur. This April Nathan and I will be celebrating 10 yrs of MARRIAGE!! If that isn't a milestone to celebrate, I don't know what is!

Besides the occasional set up the tripod and put the camera on it, we haven't had any real pictures taken together. I wanted some of just the two of us to put around the house - and we threw the kids in a few too :).  The weather was supposed to be mildly warm and I had this cute little black dress and red high heels that I was determined to wear. Little did Mother Nature care because it was FREEZING that day. But I did it anyway.  My good friend Erica was willing to come out early one Saturday morning to take these pictures and I am so grateful to her. There is only so much you can do on your own with a tripod.  Pictures taken by Erica Yarbrough and editing done by Landrum Studios Photography

Holidays Make the World Go 'Round...and Pictures

Wow! February has been quite a fantastic month. Boudoir portraits took off this month, just in time for some special hubbies out there. Valentine's Day was spent making treat bags and spending some time at school with my little boy. HE WILL BE 5 THIS MONTH!!!  A few cake smash sessions here, a few ladies there. Now I am preparing for the big FIVE party which consists of Star Wars theme with blow up light sabers and a fantastic layered cake that I am in the process of baking and decorating.

And for the next month... Easter MINIS are on the way. AND I step out from behind the camera and let my friend take some family portraits for me!!

When I see your face.... Birth Photography

The inquiries have begun on Newborn shoots. These brand new babies make you see a new perspective to the world and I just love photographing them. Along with the newborn photography, I have begun getting requests for BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY. What an honor it would be to capture such a special moment in new parents' lives. 

I sure wish I would have thought about this when my babies were being born. Now before anyone says, "Ewww, why would you want to have that photographed?" I just want to explain, it is capturing the hard work it takes for that baby to come into the world, the people who help make it happen, and the love that is going on before that baby is even seen.

Now picture all of that going on..... Now imagine that first glimpse of that tiny baby and how the whole world stops. How all you feel in that little time span is overwhelming JOY and LOVE. THAT IS WHAT I WILL CAPTURE FOR YOU!! A way for you to remember that moment for the rest of your life. 

Doesn't that sound like something that you want to hold on to?? Let me capture it for you. Just for a better idea of what you will see, check out this website: http://www.cincinnatibirthphotography.com/



You can book your session with me here: Landrum Studios

Valentine Minis- Something a little sexy, something a little sweet

Valentine season is such a great time of the year to really celebrate LOVE. We should love each other all the time and all year but it is so exciting to have a time of year where we can really just celebrate LOVE. This year, I have some cute little ideas for the kiddos, some super sweet ideas for the lovers out there and some steamy, sexy plans for those hot LADIES. Check out my specials going on until the week before Valentine's Day.

Be Mine; Sweetheart; Cool Dude

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. So..... Love is in the air!! First up is something for the kiddos. The mini session will take place starting this weekend.

Along with these sessions, I have designed personalized Valentine picture cards. These things are adorable and they are so awesome for your child to pass out to friends. These can be customized with a picture from your mini session or from any other picture you want to use. They are wallet sized so just perfect for sharing.

But that's not all!! I will also be having a special mini session for couples and a special little something for the LADIES!! Keep an eye here for updates  Facebook

January Photo Challenge with Rock the Shot

Happy 2013!! What better way to start off my new photography year than with a photo challenge!?
This month's challenge is to pick out my favorite picture from 2012. How could I possibly find just one the I LOVE? I loved every single shoot from 2012. All of the families were so amazing and some friendships have formed simply by getting to know them at our session. So if I had to pick just one from my whole year, it would have to be from the maternity session I did in November. This one is special to me because from the moment I met her, I could feel her excitement about this baby. She reminded me of myself, wanting to capture this special time in my life. Her vision was simple- she wanted something natural, easy, breathtaking! With these set of images, I knew that if it were me having these pictures done, the results were exactly what I have wanted. The moment she saw your gallery, joy filled her heart. I knew that I had captured the perfect moments that she and her husband would treasure. Here is the one out of hundreds of favorites that I chose.

www.rocktheshotforum.com 

Christmas Card are Here!!

Here are the fabulous cards that I am offering this year. If I have taken your pictures, let me know which ones you want on the card. If you want to use a picture that I did not take, just email the images to jessie@landrumstudios.com and tell me which card design you want. Payment can be accepted by Paypal, credit card, check, or if you are local to me I will take cash :) The cards come in sets of 25 @$30 each set and this includes shipping. Each design is on a 5x7 card with an envelope.

Without further adieu, here are the cards for 2012. (I can change wording on any of the cards.)

Card 1

Card 2

Card 3

Card 4

Card 5

Card 6

Card 7

Card 8

Card 9

Card 10

Card 11

Don't forget about the Double sided metal ornaments. Gift certificates are always availble.

Awesome, Fantastic, Metal Picture Ornaments

I have had several new clients lately that have has some wonderful family photos made. I have been thinking of a way for you all to showcase your beautiful pictures around your home at holiday time. Lots of us send out Christmas cards to family and friends but what do you have all your own to show off those cute pictures?! I have the solution!!

These ornaments are metal, double-sided, and will have your picture of choice printed on it. How fantastic is that!! I am ordering these for myself too. You can use any images that I have taken of you or any that you have with proof of printing rights.

There are 6 designs to choose from and it is only $35 for an ornament. If you like my page of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Landrum.Studios, then you will get 10% off the price. If you use one of my images that I have taken of you,  you will get an extra 10% off!

Orders must be in by Dec. 3 to get it before Christmas. You can message me on Facebook or email me here: jessie@landrumstudios.com to order or for more info.

Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL?!

Ok, I will admit, my family has never really been big into football (or any sports for that matter). But after moving to Alabama in March, I quickly realized that this is football country here. I see Roll Tide flags everywhere, War Eagle talked about, even a little bit of Tiger Pride is floating around. We are originally from MS and always surrounded by Go Dawgs (MSU) and Ole Miss.
Since moving back to the South (good gracious, it is HOT here!), my husband has decided to start claiming a football team as his own, although I'm pretty sure we are not quite on the fan level as most people around us. We started saying Roll Tide and all kinds of other crazy fan football lingo. He totally shocked me with this but I am on board with him and came up with a great photography idea.

How about getting your family together to get in the football spirit and cheer on your favorite SEC team?! So, I got by booty in gear, grabbed some Bama paraphernalia and got the fam outside for an impromptu photo shoot. It was fun and cute. Now I want to offer a little special for you, my fans. :D
Check out details under the photo.

For my FANS: I am offering Football Mini Sessions for $30. Bring your favorite team gear and enjoy a 30 minute mini session. You will get an 8x10 printed collage that coordinates with your team's colors (collage includes up to 4 pics). You may purchase any digital copies of your pictures for $5/each or order prints from me. Tell you friends! Grab your family and come over for some football fun. You may purchase this mini session between now and September 31 but may be redeemed anytime you like. Session must be paid in full to book.

Oooh Baby Baby

What an exciting privilege to photograph some newborn babies these past few weeks. I had one cute little boy and then the next week a sweet little girl. I am so blessed to be able to capture these memories for my clients and newly made friends. I have been itching to show off these babies but of course, I had to show the mommies first. This is my cure for any baby fever I may come across in the next few years. Hope you guys enjoy! Leave me some love if you agree that these babies are adorable.

Imagine: SELF

One of the things that I am trying to do this year is really expand my creativity. I have lots and LOTS of ideas that flow through my mind but chasing around 2 kids kinda makes me forget them lol. I am trying really hard to write my creative ideas down and then take the next step and do something with it! I have desperately wanted to do self portraits but am totally uncomfortable in FRONT of the camera. I can look at a beautiful woman or sweet couple and tell them which way to tilt their head, move their shoulder, etc. When it comes to me getting in front of the camera, I completely freeze up and don't know how to pose myself. I guess this comes with years of self doubt and lack of confidence (but I am working on that). In my mind for these self portraits, I wanted something very bright and breathtaking. Some women have flawless skin, great body language, and can just move at ease. I on the other hand, have scars from teenage sabotage :) (acne), a body of a woman that just had a second child, and the grace of a toddler standing in high heels trying to walk across the room.

I headed outside (my backyard, isn't it beautiful!!) with my trusty tripod and camera remote. I left the kiddos inside playing because it was waaayyy too hot to be out there. I can see inside my house from where I am shooting. I set up my camera, fix the settings to where I wanted them, programmed the remote to the camera, and began my self portrait journey. Now, someone watching me not knowing what I was doing would probably think I have just lost my mind. Here is this crazy girl in high grass, running back and forth to a camera. Then she sits down on the ground and moves around like a bee is flying around her! I have to admit, I probably looked pretty silly with some of the moves and poses I was trying. Remembering that I am very ummm, the opposite of graceful, I was attempting to run back and forth in my lovely pink high heels. I quickly decided to run barefoot and slip the heels on when I was ready for them to show. After all is said and done, I am in love with the way these pictures turned out. I just wanted to post these to let other women (and men) know that it's not about how you look at yourself, but how you envision yourself. I feel that these self portraits have brought on more self confidence and a love for how God has made me. I know that I do not have the perfect body. I eat healthy, minus my chocolate addiction, I am pretty active, and I a have a pretty clean lifestyle. This is MY body and my 4 year old tells me I am beautiful all the time!

See more from this session on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Landrum.Studios

Makes My Heart Sing

Business is booming lately and I love it. I have had a few photo shoots lately and I am so thankful for the beautiful people that I am meeting and thankful that I get to capture such a precious moment in their lives. At the beginning of every session, my nerves get started up and my brain juices get to flowing. I am so excited to be working with these wonderful families, nervous that they feel comfortable with me and in my home studio. I can just read the feelings on the mom's face during the shoots. She is thinking, "Oh I hope you can get some decent shots because my child/baby because I feel like all they are doing is running wild/crying." I love showing them some sneak peaks a couple days later because I have so much joy to show them exactly how perfect and precious their child is. My heart jumps out of my chest and sings a lovely song when I have so many great shots to choose from. After I finish working on every set of photos, I think, "Wow this one is my most favorite." Then I have another set that tugs at my heart strings. Here are a few of my favorite things!