102 Degree Smiles :: Augusta, GA Family Photographer

I met up with this sweet family on one of our hottest days! Shortly before our session I drove by a sign that read "102 degrees" and that was at 4:45pm! This Georgia heat is something else, but that didn't stop us!

I arrived at our location a bit early and decided to walk around to check out some spots. Unfortunately, this turned me into a sweaty mess and the poor Hinson family met me for the first time completely sweaty and gross! They braved it though and we ended up having a nice time.

Little Evan is about 20 months old and just as cute as can be. He's at that stage where he wants to explore everything and does not want to sit still, so cute and of course something worth remembering! This session held an extra special meaning to the Hinson family for another reason, as well. Cindy is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan for 6 months. This will be her second deployment, but the first time she didn't have sweet Evan she had to leave behind.

Cindy, I can't imagine how difficult it must be to leave your family, but I thank you for your service. I hope these photos will provide some comfort to you and your family while you are away and in the future.


















Cindy and Rich, thank you for choosing me and I wish y'all the best in your new adventures.
-Melissa

The Jackson Family :: Augusta, GA Family Photographer

I met up with the Jackson Family on Saturday and we had a very nice time. As seems to be the standard these days, the weather was threatening rain, so we moved our session up a bit earlier. We started heading down to our location and watched as the clouds just continued to get darker and just for good measure, some thunder was thrown in there, too! But, thankfully once we reached our destination the clouds parted some and we were even blessed with a decent breeze every now and then.

I met Lauren a couple of years ago when they moved here for her hubby to start the same residency program that my hubby is in. They've become good friends and are always so laid back and fun to be around. Lauren approached me about doing a large family session for them because Lynn, her husband, is about to deploy for three months to do his research time in Afghanistan. So, Lynn's family drove in and made it a great get together and also a nice farewell.

So, Jackson Family, here is your sneak peek. It was wonderful to meet you all. Lynn, we will miss you and look forward to your return!



















Thank y'all!
~Melissa

The Miller Family :: Augusta, GA Family Photographer

The Miller Family and I met on Saturday for their second ever family shoot. Due to the supposed rain, we moved our session up to the morning and while it was slightly cooler, it wasn't cool enough to forget that we're in the middle of summer in the south! No matter, this family is awesome! They were troopers through the heat and so relaxed.

Right off the bat you could tell that this is a fun and playful family. Michelle and I kept in touch up to the morning of the shoot and she mentioned that her hubby really wanted to include their family Jeep in some of the pictures. Instantly I was excited! This Jeep is something they use on the weekend and she said they do some off-roading behind their house! What a fun prop to include in your family photos!

Overall, it was a fabulous experience, especially getting to see casual, real play not only between the kids, but with the parents, too. Michelle, thank you for contacting me and I hope you enjoy your sneak peek. There are many other great ones to come :o)

The Strongest Bond :: Augusta, GA Family and Baby Photographer

Rewind just a minute:



When you are pregnant with your first child there are so many things to occupy your mind and time preparing for that little bundle of joy. You spend time organizing the nursery, folding their freshly laundered little clothes, and maybe even reading up on "What to Expect." All of these things seem to be the first steps in bonding with your little one. Each kick or nudge from inside seems to create another connection, but it's nothing compared to the bond formed after they arrive.

Bonnie's maternity shoot was one of my favorites for so many reasons, but mainly because she allowed me to be a part of such a special moment, a couple of hours where she focused on what was inside of her and what it all meant. Well, fast forward a few months and now I get to be a part of that miracle again!

Miss Anna Ryan is almost 4 months old now, and is as precious as can be. You can see that the bond that began with those little nudges has increased infinitely between this sweet mother and daughter. Anna was full of smiles and squeals throughout the whole session and I don't know if I've ever felt so relaxed during a shoot. I contribute it to Bonnie's calm approach to caring for Anna, which was evident immediately. When I got there Miss Anna was almost completely dressed and ready when she had a mini diaper disaster. While it wasn't what was planned obviously, it gave me the opportunity to capture life as it happened...a bath was in order!



Shortly after, Anna was ready for her assignment...to be cute! Mission accomplished!



She loved the extra snuggles and attention she got from her mommy, and Bonnie seemed to absorb every moment of it, as well.





It's amazing how each teeny tiny feature is so perfectly formed. You can't help but want to just squeeze those cheeks or hold those little feet.



Photos like this help us to cherish all these small moments, but they also make us excited for what the future may hold!



Thank you, Bonnie for letting me be a part of your memories.

Just Mommy and Me :: Augusta, GA Maternity and Child Photographer

This shoot was just so sweet. Lilah and Stephanie were such troopers as we made our way through the tall grass in order to capture some great mother-daughter moments. Stephanie did say she wanted more of Miss Lilah too so we let her guide the shoot.

Lilah was a fan of all the goodies her mom brought along, however, the ultimate had to have prop was the giant lollipop! From the time she got out of the car that was all that was on her mind and she was determined to have it in her little hands on her time schedule! This little girl is just awesome; she's sweet, but strong-willed and her personality just shines through in these pictures. I think it's a mixture of those eyes and that smile.

Stephanie, thank you for letting me capture these special moments. Savor each and every one. Lilah will no doubt bring you tons of blessings along with baby boy, but as we know they grow up way too quickly and we're left with the pictures that froze those moments in time, so that we can refresh the ever fading memories in our minds.

Carlisle Family :: Augusta, GA Family Photographer

After going back and forth on whether to go through with this shoot because of the threatening rain, we finally decided to go for it and I'm so glad we did. It ended up being a nice evening with some very sweet people. I really enjoyed spending my time with you guys and your sweet girls. I hope y'all like your sneak peek.

Childhood Innocence :: Augusta, GA Child Photographer

Caroline and Lily are two sweet little girls that I had the privilege of photographing on my birthday! Dressed in their best, we headed out to a location of the family's choice and it was wonderful!



We started out trying to get the girls posed together and I could tell very quickly that, as these things go, the kiddos were the ones that would guide the shoot. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. There is nothing better than capturing that childhood innocence, the real moments, their true spirit. We were able to laugh together and just watch as the girls explored their surroundings and played both together and separately.







Through the eyes of a child you will see the world just as it ought to be.



Watching kids investigate is such an amazing thing. You can practically see their minds absorbing everything. It truly makes me happy to watch their little faces light up with new knowledge and experiences.





While we try to teach our children about life, our children teach us what life is all about.
- Angela Schwindt



Thank you to the E family for letting me capture some of that childhood innocence and helping me to remember what life really is all about.