“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.”

~Lin Yutang

I just adore this beautiful mama.    I first met her when she hired me to photograph her days-old first baby girl, and I have had the opportunity to photograph sweet little N and her family many times since.   Traci is just so incredibly fun and we have found ourselves chatting for hours on end on more than one occasion.  She was the talent behind the amazing hair of all the models at our recent Alice in Wonderland shoot.  Check her out and give her a call if you want a new ‘do–seriously, she rocks!  You will quickly find that she is one of the sweetest things around, too.  I am SO very excited that Miss N is going to be a big sis, and I cannot wait to meet their new precious joy.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of your lives, I just love you all so much.  I look forward to watching your family grow! And to Dada S, I just haven’t gotten to the fam’ photos, but don’t worry–lots of fun ones with you, too! 

xoxo,

laura

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advise, solutions or cures, have rather chosen to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand.”

~ Henri Nouwen

I am so very excited to announce that I have joined the team of Nurturing Hearts Birth Services as their recommended East Valley photographer!    Founder and midwife Stephanie Soderblom is one amazing woman, and I am so honored that she asked me to be a part of her incredible family.

I first met Stephanie when I attended a Birth Circle meeting (truly awesome!) at NHBS when I was eight months pregnant with my second child.  I was extremely emotional as I had a rather traumatic birth experience with my first child.  I came along with a dear friend who was also pregnant with her second child and was a “client” of Stephanie’s (I hesitate using the word client because those that have Stephanie as a midwife are so much more to her.  They immediately become family.)  I was welcomed into this group of women with open arms and hearts.  I sobbed out of fear, heartbreak, nervousness and sadness.  Some teared up with me, others nodded their heads in understanding and some offered me kind words of advice and wisdom.   It was one of the first times that I met other women that viewed birth the same way as I did.   Until then, I rarely found a woman that understood why I didn’t want an epidural, or why I wanted to avoid another cesarean.  Why I wanted to be emotionally and spiritually present at the birth of my daughter, why I was actually looking forward to the surges and waves of “pain”.  Why I wanted to experience all that because I had been robbed of it before, and because I am a woman and it is nature’s gift to us.  I felt so very relieved and relaxed when I left there that night.  Before leaving, each woman in the room presented me with a small, beautiful bead and a single, powerful word as a wish for me during my birth.  I had them made into a bracelet that I wore during my entire labor and in the weeks leading up to it.  It was a great source of strength and tranquility, and I treasure it always.  My twenty-nine hours of unmedicated labor were just what I was hoping for, and it truly healed me from the sadness associated with the birth of my son.

I would encourage anyone interested in exploring their birthing options to be in touch with Stephanie.  She is such a sweetie and would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.  I have seen her in action when I had the blessing of photographing the birth of a sweet baby boy last year.  Stephanie was the midwife and oh- so -wonderful.

I just adore photographing expectant women as they are just full of beauty and truly do have that inner glow.  It is such a beautiful and amazing time in one’s life, one that you can never get back.  I am so happy to be able to reach more pregnant women that wish to have their beautiful shapes captured forever.  I also look forward to helping them forever remember how small their little newborns were.  Such a miracle.  Such a blessing.

Thank you, Stephanie, and the NHBS family.  I look forward to photographing more beautiful women and babies on their journey.

Here is a sneakie peekie of a baby bump from a maternity session this weekend…more of this gorgeous mama on the blog later this week! 

You can view more of my recent newborn + maternity sessions here and here, or visit my website.

xoxo,

laura

“Birthing is the most profound initiation to spirituality a woman can have.”

~Robin Lim

What a super-fun session this was! Such a fabulous, sweet couple.  They were up for anything and were just natural models!  I cannot WAIT to photograph their darling little man when he arrives sometime next month! He is going to be just gorgeous!  Thank you for being such good sports, for making me laugh and for reminiscing about being an army brat + New Orleans with me, you two.  I look forward to seeing you again soon when you are embracing your new roles as mom and dad. 

Be sure to check out more sneak peeks + fun on Facebook!

“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child.  There are seven million.”

~Walt Streightiff

I am working on finishing up this family’s gallery and just thought I would share a few more.  Can’t wait to show you the gallery, B family!  Such sweethearts!

xoxo,

laura

Yay!  One of my photographs from the Alice in Wonderland photo shoot–styled by The TomKat Studio and featuring the talent of SO many fabulous artists–was a featured photo on the Martha Stewart Dreamers into Doers webpage!  SO fun and exciting that they loved it, too!  We had SUCH a blast at the shoot…don’t forget to check out my original blog post to see more of the shoot or visit The TomKat Studio blog!

xoxo,

laura

“But then, shall I never get any older than I am now? That’ll be a comfort, one way — never to be an old woman — but then — always to have lessons to learn!”

~Alice, Alice in Wonderland

Amazingness.  Not a word, I know, but when I think of this weekend’s Alice in Wonderland shoot, I just think to myself…amazingness.  Yep.    The past month was spent planning and organizing and dreaming of this shoot, and it was simply awesome to see it all come together.  So many incredibly talented designers and creative women were involved in this endeavor, and I want to thank each and every one of them.  I know you will love checking out their websites and blogs to learn more and to see more of their fabulous talent.

The tablescape was styled by the ultra-talented Kim of The TomKat Studio.  She did such an amazing job, don’t you think? She turned this dream tea party into a reality!!! 

So, without further ado, Alice welcomes you to her bright, fun, modern + chic Wonderland!

amazing vendors

Tablescape Styling | Kim, The TomKat Studio

Hair | Traci Rogers, Assistant Brittany Martin

Hair Accessories + fabric floral rings | Dolce Vita Mia

Floral Arrangements + some vases/accessories | Zuzu’s Petals

Some tablescape styling items | Kim of The TomKat Studio’s own collection, including items from Homegoods

Vintage Bottlecap Necklaces | Belle Chateau

Party Printables | The TomKat Studio

Styling + creation of Mad Hatter mustache ensemble + accessories | Grace, Finley and Oliver

Vintage birdcages + some styling accessories | Belle Chateau

Cupcakes + cookies | Decadent Delights

Hanging lanterns, white poms, polka dot plates, cups + napkins | Polka Dot Market

Rosette tanks + chiffon ruffle tanks | Finley + Oliver

Clothing:

Boutique Mia | Three floral tuxedo dresses

Classy Sassy Girls | turquoise ruffle dress

Lillipops | Vintage camera dress + leggings

Little Mave | Lavender bloomers

Pink Confetti Boutique | Polka Dot tea party ruffle dress with hair accessory

Suburban Stash | Mad Hatter jean skirt/tee/legging ensemble, suspender dress

Sweet Plume | Leading Lady peacock feather dress

Three Yellow Starfish | teal + black floral knot dress, ruffle bloomers

Tiny Belles Boutique | Tutus

“A photograph is memory in the raw. ”

~Carrie Latet

I had a wonderful response to last week’s {wall art wednesday}.  I find it is a challenge for most people in this busy world to give thought to taking their photos out of albums and onto their walls.  Give your photographs and memories the place they deserve in your home.  Make a statement and go big.  You really will adore it and be so happy you did.  Here are a few more ideas to get you started…

I just love this one…I have a very similar photo of my two kiddos and they are around the same ages, too.  Think I should blow it up and put it in our bedroom?    One photograph blown up big can make such an impact, don’t you think?

{image via apartment therapy}

How fun!  I bet you would never think to put your frames this close together and in this pattern…look how they are all different sizes, too.  Might be pretty easy to do, don’t you think?

{image via real simple}

This one is similar to the previous wall display…I just love how it wraps around the corner!  So unique!

{image via apartment therapy}

Just by grouping six or more (I love at least nine even more) frames of the same size together, you are making a huge statement.  This is pretty much what I have on the wall in the office except the frames are all square.  I.love.it.

{image via ashley whittaker design}

What have you done to make a statement in your own home with photographs?  Share with us!  I can’t wait to share some of my client images…thanks to those that have already shared! 

xoxo,

laura

I recently photographed some In the Rose Garden dresses and it was so fun to see these cuties in them!  The fabrics are so fun and vibrant and they are just perfect for your little princess.   Isn’t it SO much fun to dress up little girls?  I adore my son, and when I find cute boy things it rocks, but there is just something so fun to dressing up a little girl.  My Addison has even learned how to say, “Preee-ty”, and often says it over and over as she touches dresses and clothes.  It starts young, people! 

Check out the beautiful designs at In the Rose Garden for  yourself! 

Turquoise beanie with melon bloom courtesy of the fab Dolce Vita Mia.

xoxo,

laura

“Divas are not made, they are born.”

{fiona apple}

I recently had the opportunity to shoot the new line of vintage headbands for Classy Sassy Girls, and our model Miss Z was a custom request from designer/owner Danielle.  Don’t you think she just rocks these gorgeous headbands?  I first fell in love with the ahhhmazingly chic ruffle dresses from Classy Sassy Girls, and when I saw these stunning headbands, I felt the same way.  Aren’t they seriously to die for?  Love!!  Fan CSG on Facebook + check out more of her fab designs!

xoxo,

laura

“Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.”

~John Betjeman

These two sweeties are just sooo precious!  I just love how they both are so different from one another!  Little Miss has the most gorgeous blue eyes, while her big bro has equally stunning eyes but of brown!  They are both so full of energy and curiosity, they reminded me so much of my own babies.    This little man took an immediate liking to my red chair (how could he not, don’t you love it?  He he!) and was happy to take care of my son’s toy airplane that I brought along.  Ironically, it was a Southwest airplane–where both of his parents work!  Fun!  It was a fun session of exploring and playing–thanks so much for an awesome session, B family!  Here are just two sneakie peekies to tide you over for now.    Have fun in Flagstaff–I’m sooo jealous of the weather you will have!

xoxo,

laura