I’m having one of those days. Nothing seems to be going right and it’s getting to me. I haven’t shared this with anyone yet because, to be honest, I was totally afraid of failure. I’ve quit smoking…it’s been 27 days. I did break down one day but I haven’t been bad since. I’ve tried this several other times but something always happens and I think I can’t bear to go through it without a cigarette. When my stepfather passed away 18 months ago from cancer caused by smoking, I tried to quit. Obviously, a high stress time like that is not a good time to make a decision like that. However, I found the answer..for me anyway.

About a year ago, a friend of mine quit smoking and recommended I read this book by Allen Carr. The Easy Way to Quit Smoking…it sounds pretty ridiculous right? Any smoker out there knows that quitting is anything but easy. I finally broke down and bought the book a few months ago because I was finally ready to quit. And while a smoker may be ready to quit, it’s never “easy” as the book suggests. I’ve actually ready the book twice. Once while still continuing to smoke (the book suggests not trying to quit until your finished reading it) and once after I quit. It helps to have the words in the forefront of my mind so I don’t relapse.

Sometimes, people are surprised when they find out I was a smoker (like how I used the past tense there?) because I always tried to hide it unless I was around other smokers. I don’t smoke in my home and I never smoked in front of a client. It got to the point where I was tired of being embarrassed by my dirty addiction. And folks, that exactly what it is…an addiction not a habit. The sad thing is that the nicotine only stays in your system for about 3 weeks. After that, brainwashing takes over. Smokers tell themselves they can’t live without them and that they enjoy smoking. I’ve learned those are two very untrue statements. Every smoker I’ve ever asked wishes they would have never picked them up.

If you are a smoker and are ready to quit, I highly recommend reading The Easy Way to Quit Smoking by Allen Carr. And please feel free to share your story if you’ve quit because I could really use the positive thinking right now. It’s a hard road but I think it’s worth the effort. I’m irritable and moody but my family is being very supportive which I’m so thankful for. Please say a  little prayer for me today. I’m taking one day at a time..hopefully it will turn into years. And because I’m trying to think about happy things today, here is an image I took while in Las Vegas last month.

People ask me all the time if I planned to have my children on the same day. I always respond by saying “Well, that would’ve been stupid on my part.” There is nothing great about having to plan 2 children’s birthday parties at the same time or try to show 2 children just how incredibly special they are on the same day. I grew up in a home where birthdays were the most special day of the year. It’s the only day that is your own and no one elses. My kids don’t have that. They have to share their special day. So why in the world would I have planned that? I definitely wouldn’t have.

But God had other plans for us. He chose to have my daughter come into this world on her big brother’s 5th birthday (only about 20 minutes from the exact time of his birth). So I’ve had to make the best of the situation for the past 11 years. And making the best of a situation is something that I’m pretty darn good at. So we’ve had big birthday blowouts for the kids…whatever they can imagine, we try to facilitate. Each year gets more interesting as the kids get older. Gage is really easy to please. Most of the time, he just wants something simple. But Lindsay is a different story. She likes grand parties and wants something different every year. So, I get to plan their parties every year with them and try my best to make each one of them feel like an individual and show them how incredibly special they are to me.

Today, my son is 16!! Gage is my firstborn. He’s my quiet child. Over the past 16 years, this boy has taught me how to love unconditionally and how to be a better person. He’s the most honest human being I’ve ever met. It’s just in his nature…he can’t lie. He has my eyes and my personality (well, my personality as a child). He and I are so much alike, it’s scary sometimes. We argue and he makes me lose my mind. But I look at him and I see myself when I was young. So very confused by the world. So we don’t stay at odds long. One of us always apologizes within a few minutes and forget what we were ever arguing about. We sound like a married couple, don’t we? Daniel says we are more like brother and sister than mother and son. I wouldn’t trade one single minute of it either. He’s my boy and I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s growing up so fast. In just a couple of years, he will be in college and I will miss him beyond belief..even the bickering.

Image captured by Nichole Alexandra Photography (www.nicholealexandra.com)

Today Lindsay is 11!! If I had to use one word to describe my baby girl, I would have to say “light.” She is my light. She brightens a rooms when she walks in. She brightens my life. She is the happiest child I know and nothing like me when I was her age. She’s confident, content, always singing and humming something, eager to learn. I call her my mini-me. But I use that term only in describing how much she looks like me. Her and I are nothing alike. Lindsay loves noise, which is why she is always making noise. She sings, she hums, she talks. Whatever she can do to fill a room with noise, she does. I am exactly the opposite. I love quiet and have had to get used to all of the noise that comes in with her. She has taught me patience and how to have fun. Lindsay has had to overcome some difficult circumstances in her life and she does it with grace and understanding. I love that about her. We spend most of our time together cooking. She loves to cook (not the cleaning up part so much though). So when I’m cooking, she’s right beside me learning as much as she can. The funny thing is that we’re learning together so we have lots of laughs at our kitchen disasters. Lindsay is my baby but I know the teenager years are coming soon. I plan on soaking up as much of this “girl time” as I can while I still have the opportunity.

Image captured by Nichole Alexandra Photography (www.nicholealexandra.com)

So this morning, I will go into my childrens’ rooms and wake them up with a special “Happy Birthday” hug and kiss. I will cook them both a special Birthday breakfast. And I will tell them about the day born, just like I do every year. And I hope they know just how special they both are to me in their own ways. I’m sure I’m just like every other mom out there that thinks her kids are the greatest. But mine are the greatest…for me. God couldn’t have given me more perfect children…my perfect children. And they came at the perfect time. The greatest day of my life…the day my children were born. Today is the greatest day of my life.

Image captured by Nichole Alexandra Photography (www.nicholealexandra.com)

I know it seems as though I’ve been ignoring the blog for the past couple of months. You know how when you’re juggling too many things at one time, you inevitably end up dropping some? Well, that’s been my life lately. Between getting the new studio ready and trying to get everyone’s portrait session done and orders back by Christmas…well, it’s just been crazy to say the least. So the first ball to be dropped was the blog. Now that things have calmed down (at least for the moment), I’ll have more time to devote to posting Sneak Peaks, studio news and tidbits about what’s going on in my life. So to start it off right, I wanted to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas…from my family to yours. See you next week!!

P.S. My wonderful friend and photographer, Nichole, took our family portraits this year in Charleston. Not only did we have a great time but we look fab! Thank you Nichole for your beautiful work! You can find out more about her and her work at www.nicholealexandra.com.

Before I say anything about Shannon’s Bridal Portrait Session, I’m going to tell you how incredible this woman is. She is fearless and fun and strong..not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. I mean really, she para sailed without knowing how to swim!! I’m terrified to para sail and I’m a great swimmer. Shannon is truly a beautiful person, inside and out. She has a beautiful soul and it shows in her smile. She is real. She is a breath of fresh air in a world full of fakes and phonies. She was married on September 18th, 2010 to Mr. Right (more on that in a later post). And now I don’t feel like I’ve lost a bride, I know I’ve gained a friend.

I first met Shannon at her Bridal Consultation. We had talked several times over the phone but didn’t actually meet until she drove down from Maryland to meet with me about what she envisioned for her wedding. We talked about her style (and mine) and how she wasn’t interested in doing a traditional (in southern terms) Bridal Portrait Session. I thought about what she said and it hit me. I knew the perfect place. She seemed taken aback at first but the more she thought about it, the more excited she got. We spent lots of time researching locations and ended up choosing The Donovan House on 14th Street overlooking Thomas Circle in Downtown Washington DC. It was absolutely perfect. The contemporary look of the hotel was exactly what we needed to set off Shannon’s dress and overall look. The fabulous Shaneri Vaughan of Hautely Kiss Me did an awesome job on Shannon’s makeup. And I can’t say enough about Shannon’s sister Brittany. Brittany was the stylist for the day and rocked it out! I couldn’t have made it through the day without her. I loved working with Shanerii and Brittany so much that we have since collaborated on other projects. Just love them both! But enough talking….I know you just want to see this gorgeous woman!! Don’t forget to leave her some blog love!

Sweetness!

Fierce!

Ok, now this was my favorite from the entire session. Something about this image makes me get all teary eyed.

Are these shoes not the most fabulous things you’ve ever seen?! I wanted to slip them in my luggage and hope she didn’t notice.

I absolutely LOVED the lighting I used here. It’s so old school Hollywood.

I told you she was fun!!

She is so channeling Marilyn here. Her smile can bring men to their knees!

Smokin’!!

Allie and Kevin’s love story started seven years ago on a camping trip. Both being self-professed “hard-heads” you would think that they spend all of their time together arguing. But that’s not the case. You can not imagine the amount of love these two have for each other. It’s not forced or fake. It’s real….natural. When Kevin looks at her, you see it. No question.

They both share a love of the outdoors so it was no surprise they decided to have their wedding outside on Allie’s father’s farm. When Allie described her ideas for the wedding during her Bridal Consultation, I just knew that it would be an event to remember. However, I had no idea of just how elegant and outdoor wedding could be.

Thank you Allie and Kevin for giving me the opportunity to spend the day with you, your family and friends. It means the world to me that I was able to capture these moments for you. Congratulations and best wishes!

Both Allie and Kevin got choked up during their vows. How sweet is that?!

Can you say FIERCE?!

This was such a meaningful moment. A father telling his little girl how much he loves her without saying a word.

The best man giving a toast to the newlyweds.

Could they be any cuter?!

You can’t have a wedding without “YMCA!”

Absolutely stunning!

I recently came across a wonderful article (via The Boudoir Divas) written by author Kat Rosenfield about how every woman should experience posing nude for an artist. I couldn’t agree more with everything Rosenfield talks about in the article. I come across so many women that are completely closed off to doing a Boudoir Session and I only wish that they realized how right now, this minute, they are absolutely beautiful…no matter what size or shape. If you are hesitant about doing a Boudoir Session, take a look at this article. And feel free to ask questions. I’d be happy to help squash any doubts or concerns that you may have about the experience. Enjoy!

An excerpt:

As an artist’s and photographer’s model, I’ve spent substantial portions of my early-to-mid twenties standing around in front of strangers with no clothes on. And while it might be initially nerve-wracking, it’s also one of the most interesting and worthwhile experiences I’ve ever had — so worthwhile that I firmly believe it belongs on the bucket list for any young woman, no matter what her shape, size, or level of confidence with her own naked body. Why should you take a photo or two in your birthday suit?

• Your body is beautiful. Really, it is. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re plump or slender, reedy or Rubenesque; your whole self — top to toe — deserves its day in the spotlight. Women put in huge amounts of effort each day just to meet society’s standard of beauty, only to get bogged down by stress and insecurity over failing to fit within that narrowly-defined (and often unhealthy) ideal. Stripping down and showing it off is a celebratory, powerful, even subversive act — and it’s exhilarating. And when you see those photos in the days, months and years that follow, it’ll be with a lasting appreciation for your body as the glorious, gorgeous machine it is.
• It’s a confidence boost. Between diet culture, celebrity obsession, and the airbrushed images that we see every day on billboards and in magazines, women have developed an utterly warped idea of what a healthy body looks like. And the effects go way beyond simply disliking what we see in the mirror; at this point, many women are battling body dysmorphia and/or too afraid to even look at themselves naked. Seeing your own body given just a fraction of the star treatment — with makeup, lighting, and a skilled photographer to help you pose — is a powerful way to fight back against that fear and insecurity. Basically, you are so much hotter than you think you are.
• It’s totally vain… and completely awesome. When it comes to balancing your busy life, you’re always being told to take care, take time out, and take one day a week to do something nice for yourself. Well, go big or go home, lady. Your “just for me” weekly manicure only lasts as long as it takes your nail polish to chip, but a private album of drawings or photos that show you at your prime — young, healthy, and before childbirth, gravity, and the vagaries of time have taken their toll — is a memory you’ll have forever. (Not to mention a great conversation-starter when someone pulls it off your bookshelf in 2072 and says, “Grandma! Was that YOU?”)

So, are you ready to get naked? You’ve got options, but they’re not all good. Unless you’re the edgy type, avoid amateur photographers with seedy apartment “studios” and no portfolio to speak of; chances are, they’re just looking for spank material. And even if your boyfriend is a totally trustworthy dude who would never, ever blackmail you with your sexy shots post-breakup, he may lack the photographic skills to do your naked body justice. (And while an unflattering photo is never pleasant, an unflattering naked photo is a special kind of hell.) Instead, plan to drop a little cash and consider the following:

• Boudoir photography. If you want to look gorgeous and play coy, hire a professional boudoir photog to snap some sexy, low-lit photos of you in your favorite lingerie… or less. (Check with your individual photographer to see how he or she feels about topless shots, straight-up nudity, or tasteful draping.)
• Go retro. Love the look of old-school pin-up shots like Marilyn Monroe’s famous series with Bert Stern? Photogs specializing in vintage-inspired photoshoots have begun cropping up all over the country; if you’re nervous about taking it all off, some studios also offer costumes and wigs to get you into character.
• Sexiness optional. Naked photos don’t have to be porn-y; if looking lascivious isn’t your thing, skip the sex factor and work with a fine art photographer to shoot some artistic, black-and-white nudes that explore your body’s form in a non-erotic way.
• Put it on paper. Taking nude photos absolutely isn’t the recipe for disaster that people make it out to be — you retain the rights to pictures you’ve paid for, but even if you didn’t, a naked body isn’t a moral evil in and of itself. (Meaning that if someone sees them, it’s not like your life is over. Just ask Carla Bruni!) But if you simply can’t stomach the thought of actual photographic evidence that, at one time, you did not have clothes on, consider posing for a figure drawing or painting class. The in-practice terror factor is substantially greater — instead of one photographer seeing you nude, it’s a dozen aspiring artists and an instructor — but the sketch that one of your new artist friends gifts to you at the end of class will forever be a cool and unique souvenir of your brass-balled bravery.

Now take your pants off, and say cheese.

Enjoy the full article here.

I was so excited to do JD and Morgan’s engagement session. I always ask my couples what they like to do for fun so I can create a really special portrait session for them. JD and Morgan love coming down to the Pier at Myrtle Beach State Park to fish so we incorporated that location into their session. It was so much fun to see all of their fishing pals congratulating them while I was taking their pictures. I think JD was just happy that we started the session at 7am before the beach and pier was too packed with people. We ended up having a great time and I was really happy with the images I captured. I’m really looking forward to their wedding this fall. Thanks guys for being so awesome!!

Doing a recent pet session with a truly amazing dog got me thinking about the differences between “dog people” and regular people. I never understood how someone could treat their dog like a person…or why they would want to. I’ve learned a lot over the past 4 years about dogs….and myself.

I grew up in Charleston, SC. For most of my childhood, we lived in an apartment which didn’t allow pets. My mom did a great job of hiding kittens so the Apartment Manager wouldn’t find out so I wasn’t always without a pet. However, I never had a dog. You can’t really hide a dog because of the whole pooping outside thing. But I loved my cats (even when they brought dead things up the door) and never thought anything about not being able to have a puppy. So as an adult, I’ve never been a dog person. I love all types of animals but owning a dog has always meant something different to me than “dog people.” I got my kids a dog and it stayed outside. I’d pet it on the head as I walked by but never thought much about it. Then 4 years ago, I moved in with my boyfriend and he is allergic to cats. We had a cat at the time…a beautiful Siamese that my son adored. But she disappeared the day we moved into the new house. I guess she wasn’t keen on the idea of living in a different house. After a year of not having any pets, I started really missing that great feeling when your pet jumps up in your lap and wants nothing from you but to be loved. So I decided to get an inside dog. I figured it can’t be much different than a cat. Boy was I wrong! We decided on an Italian Greyhound. He was gorgeous. He was sleek and could run faster than anything I’d ever seen. He was incredibly sweet. I was his human and all he wanted to do was lay beside me under a blanket. Me and this dog bonded from day one. But this dog was extremely high maintenance. I don’t mean we had to take him to the groomer every other week (he doesn’t have much fur at all). I mean all our lives revolve around this dog. I had never had a dog before. I thought all I had to do was take it out a few times a day and it would be trained. Um that’s not how it worked with this dog. He was stubborn, needy and scared of every freakin’ sound outside. He would literally shake and tremble for 30 minutes if a car drove by.  I had to use puppy pads in the house because he just refused to go to the bathroom outside. Several times I broke down and cried to Daniel about the dog. I couldn’t handle it. I already had 2 children and a man to take care of. Now I had this needy dog. I had to find another home for him or I was going to have a breakdown. He would always talk me out of it. He would say “Heather, you love that dog and he loves you. You can’t get rid of him.” Of course, that would always make me change my mind. Over the next couple of years, I just became accustomed to the extra care I had to put into my dog. That’s not to say that I liked it or didn’t have moments of pure insanity (ask Daniel) but I dealt with it.Daniel was right, I love my dog and he loved me.

Fast forward to the Fall of last year. My Stepfather passed away on November 1st. My family was devastated. He was only 54 years old. My children had lost the only male figure that had been a constant throughout their lives. Daniel was a great father to them but we had only been together 5 years at that point. My daughter wanted a puppy for Christmas. She had never had a pet because I always thought she was too young for the responsibility (I already had a crazy dog to take care of). But I thought if I got her the puppy, she wouldn’t be so sad about her Papa. So, I set out to find her a puppy. Daniel and I both agreed that the smaller the better so we  decided on a Chihuahua. Now, most of these types of dogs are really super ugly and “yippy.” We didn’t want that. I had to find one that was cute and acted more like a big dog. Good luck, right? It took some time but I found her the perfect puppy. I couldn’t wait until Christmas to give it to her so I took her with me to pick it up. It was love at first sight. She fell asleep holding the puppy on the way home. Ok, so now we have a neurotic dog and a new puppy in the house. What was I thinking?! Training the new puppy wasn’t that bad. She was litter box trained when we got her (yes, you can train a dog to go in a litter box!) so we just had to work with her a little to get her going outside. After a few months we decided to get my dog fixed being that he is a boy and the puppy was a girl (you know the birds and the bees stuff). I couldn’t believe the transformation in him. It seemed like overnight, he didn’t have a problem going to the bathroom outside, he didn’t try to crawl down my shirt when new people came over. He started becoming normal! Now I don’t know if it was because he was socializing with another dog and saw what he was supposed to act like or if it was the surgery. But whatever it was, I sure wish I would have done it sooner.

Now our new puppy isn’t quite so much a puppy anymore and my dog will be 4 next month. Life around our house has become pretty normal – or as close to normal as we’re going to get. We love our dogs and couldn’t imagine our lives without them. They are still extremely irritating sometimes especially when they both want to lay on me at the same time or when the have to go outside at 10pm. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I guess that’s why I’m a “dog person.”

My dog, Duke.

Our dog, Georgia (as a puppy).

When I got an email from Mrs. B requesting a Family Portrait Session, I was totally thrilled. You see, I had the honor of photographing Mr. & Mrs. B’s wedding almost 3 years ago. They lived in the midwest so I thought after their wedding I would never have the opportunity to work with them again. I was pretty bummed about it because they are such an incredible couple and so laid back. But when I got that email I got so excited. They were coming to SC to visit family and wanted ME to take their first family portrait. They had an adorable baby girl last year and hadn’t had any professional portraits taken of her yet. So I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to not only work with them again but to have the honor of taking their first portraits. We had so much fun with this session. Miss E loved the camera and really showed her personality off. We did some outside shots at Lawton Park in Hartsville, SC and then scooted over to the family’s farm where we did some inside portraits along with some great images outside. I was so pleased with the way everything turned out. Thanks so much guys for giving me the opportunity. Now I know that even when I think working with my past clients is never going to happen, nothing is impossible!

March is the first month of spring and already we are anticipating spring’s gorgeous colors. In the meantime, we’ve got some fresh, fun campaigns in full bloom to celebrate the season!

What other word could better describe your beauty? Make him burn for you. Breathtaking images of you is the essence of our Boudoir Collection. Forget-me-not portraiture at it’s finest. Enjoy a glass of wine, let your hair down, and relax on our luxurious set as we capture the goddess in YOU! Call us today to schedule your private session at 843-245-7320.

 Freshen your look this Spring! Look great in your business cards, networking sites, brochures, and newsletters with an updated professional portrait. You work hard to build your business. Now it’s time to improve your own ROI with a professional headshot.

It’s your birthday and the fun has just begun! May this day find you full of laughter, free spirit, and cheeks covered with cake and kisses! Happy Birthday! Please accept a gift from your friends at Infinity Images for a complimentary birthday session and 8 Complimentary Wallets from your session!