… and make sure you don’t forget the spice. 

Meet the adorable (and fairly spicy - in addition to her obvious sugar) little R.  Sweet girl was definitely a moving target, but she was also such a cutie and so worth the effort.  Thanks to her mom and grandma for allowing me to photograph her today - it was an absolute pleasure!

I got to photograph another sweet baby boy this week.  This wee one seemed so much older than his three little months to me.  He was already getting his sweet chunkiness (something so many seem to wait a little longer for), and he was VERY interested in looking RIGHT at the camera.  His beautiful brown eyes just shined throughout our session, and he was a good boy for me almost the entire time… until he got soooooo sleepy - but really didn’t want to miss anything and thus FOUGHT his nap. 

Thanks to baby A and his great mom for allowing me to be your baby photographer.  Now you start sleeping for your mama, little man - she needs some sleep so she can have fun playing with you during the day!

I had the privilege of photographing this sweet boy last year at this time, when he was still a *baby.*  Now he’s just such a little MAN.  He came in with his big boy haircut and his sweet, handsome face, all ready to go.  He reminded me so much of my own little man (who’s about the same age), and I so enjoyed working with him.  He, on the other hand, enjoyed my ridiculous antics (realistic elephant noises, anyone?).  Take a moment to envision this amazing boy… at the end of the session, I asked him if I could have a hug.  He gladly obliged and then began to walk away, but he quickly turned around and said, “And a big kiss!” then gave me a sweet kiss.  Awwwwwwwwww… sweeeeeeet boy!

 Thanks to D’s mom and dad for being such great clients and always so willing to try out whatever I suggest.  You are seriously going to have to fight the girls off with a big stick one of these days!

Here he is, little DD (not a baby anymore!) and his wonderful parents.

Oh. My. Goodness.  This little one I could have just kept forever… one of those babies you just want to hug, squeeze, love, kiss, hug, squeeeeeeeeeeeze… How did I get so lucky as to have such amazing clients?  Seriously - G’s mom is just wonderful - sweet, kind, incredible beautiful and still super humble.  Thanks to G’s mom for bringing such fabulous clothes and then being totally happy to let me photograph all her rolls in nothing but a diaper cover.  I can’t wait to work on your Christmas card!

I give you Miss G… the cutest little chunkey monkey I’ve seen in quite some time (maybe ever)!

The eyes have it. 

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a beautiful pair of eyes on a fourth-grader before.  Not only are they just a lovely color, but this young lady’s eyes seem to be the windows into an old soul. 

She was very smart, too.  At one point during our photo session, she said, “So, what are we going to do next?”  When I told her I thought we’d do some shots of her sitting down, she very craftily responded with, “Okay!  You know, I REALLY like my dress.”  :)  I guess that was my cue to let her change from *my choice* the jeans and tee shirt into *her choice* the fancy red dress.  When I asked her what her favorite subject is, she said, “Shopping!”  Ahhh… a girl after my heart!  (For the record, for her mother’s benefit, she did say that writing is her second favorite subject.) 

Here she is, Miss B… thanks for letting me photograph you today!

On the one hand, it’s so much fun to see these sweet twin boys looking so much less like babies and so much more like *boys.*  :)  On the other hand, it makes me sad to know that I will now get to see them less and less frequently. 

 This family has been such a joy to photograph!  From their newborn photography session to their one-year photography session, I have loved every second of working with these twins and their beautiful and ultra-kind mommy.  And, at long last, I got to photograph them in this amazing trunk. 

 Happy birthday, boys!  And thanks so much to your mom and dad for allowing me to watch you grow during this first year. 

 Here they are… G & B and their most BEAUTIFUL mother K.  (And, yes, I would looooooooooove to have been able to sneak out of their house with this trunk under my shirt, but I figured someone might have missed the two boys if I’d tried.  Plus, they tend to be a bit on the noisy side.  :D)

I don’t often seem to get to photograph larger families, but I so enjoyed this nice family of five.  All three of these children were so sweet and well behaved, and they didn’t even whine about the fact that we seemed to be walking around in a giant cloud of mosquitos.  It’s so nice to see the fall foliage and enjoy the nice weather out as we enter November, and these five were such a wonderful opportunity to capture the spirit of family as we creep into the holiday season.

Here they are, the lovely and kind W family. 

 For the first time ever, I am excited to offer Limited Edition holiday mini sessions. 

When:
Saturday, November 8th
sessions available from 8:30 am until I can’t stand up on my own anymore

Where:
my studio in McKinney

What:
a 30 minute mini-session devoted to capturing beautiful photography to give as gifts, mark the end of the year and add to personalized holiday cards
approximately 8 to 15 final images will be presented from the session

I’m offering two choices for these sessions, both of which are largely discounted from my regular session fees and product prices.  When booking one of these sessions, you can choose to either A) pre-purchase one of the collections mentioned below and pay NO SESSION FEE or B) pay a $75 session fee and wait to choose your Limited Edition Collection or purchase a la carte.

The Details:
If you choose to pre-purchase a collection, your images will be presented via an online gallery, and you will be able to use a coupon code to make your selections and place your final order.  If you choose to pay a session fee instead of pre-purchasing a collection, because it is not possible to set up collections within the online galleries, you will come to a brief proofing session on Saturday,  November 15th, in the studio and make your selections at that time. 

The Collections:

Limited Edition Archival Matted Prints - Especially for the holidays, these are beautifully textured 5×7 signed prints under elegant 8×10 six-ply white archival mats with archivally covered foam core backs and nicely packaged in crystal clear envelopes.  You can see in the photo the substantial thickness of these mats and the elegant presentation they provide for gifting. 

The Holiday Mini Collection… $545 (a $605 value)
- 6 Limited Edition 5×7 matted prints
- one set of 24 5×7 flat personalized holiday cards
- enjoy 10% off additional a la carte items

The Gift Collection…. $720 (a $900 value)
- 10 Limited Edition 5×7 matted prints
- enjoy 15% off additional a la carte items

The Holiday Basics Collection… $825 (a $1030 value)
- 10 Limited Edition 5×7 matted prints
- your choice of 48 flat 5×7 holiday cards, 24 5×5 trifold holiday cards or 24 4×5.5 folded holiday cards
- enjoy 20% off additional a la carte items

The Sophisticate Holiday Collection… $1135 (a $1622 value)
- 15 Limited Edition 5×7 matted prints
- 96 flat 5×7 holiday cards, 48 5×5 trifold holiday cards or 48 4×5.5 folded holiday cards
- enjoy 30% off additional a la carte items

A La Carte
Limited Edition 5×7 Matted Print… $90
5×7 flat holiday card, set of 24… $65
5×5 trifold holiday card, set of 24… $136
4×5.5 folded holiday card, set of 24… $87

As a thank you to all my 2008 clients, these Limited Edition holiday mini sessions will be open to you first.  If there are still session times available after Sunday, November 2nd, I will open these up to everyone else.  If you are an interested new client, I encourage you to call me to have your name added to my waiting list for available sessions after Sunday.  Call 214.578.8578 or email kate@kateparkerphotography.com to book your Limited Edition holiday mini session.

Limitations - These sessions are limited to nuclear families (one mom, one dad and as many of your babies as you get to love each and every day.)  You may purchase images from these sessions from my regular price list (both collections and a la carte), as well.

Note - numerous sets of white angel wings will be available for these sessions, as well as a spattering of lovely pretend snow.  :)  Also, print order must be submitted by no later than November 22nd to ensure delivery by December 25th. 

Here are a few of the holiday card designs available…

That’s what her shirt said.  “Where there is love, there is life.”  And I can think of no better phrase to describe this adorable little family.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a couple in my studio who so obviously glowed with love for one another like these two did.  And they’ve made a life.  A life with one another.  A life for their adorable puppies.  And, literally, a life in their baby girl. 

Thanks, S & V, for such a fun session and for allowing me to be a part of your adventure on the road to parenthood.  It is quite obvious to me that the two of you will be amazing parents and that you will definitely show your daughter that… where there is love, there is life.  :) 

Put away the kleenex now, and enjoy your sneak peek!

Oh.  My.  Goodness.  I photographed this tiny newborn today.  She was seriously so sweet that I felt sure she was edible (at least SUPER kissable and squeezable).  She had the most dainty, tiny little features.  Even at just 6.75 days old, she was quite obviously a little girl.  From her feminine face to her dramatic demeanor, I predict that this little one is going to give her parents a run for her money and will break many a heart in her lifetime. 

And I got to meet yet another fabulous grandmother, or, in this case, abuela.  I’ll say, though, that it was so hard to watch her as she had to leave to go back home to another city during our session.  I can only begin to imagine how hard it must have been for her to have to leave her sweet chiquita newborn granddaughter. 

So here they are, an absolutely adorable new family…