Will’s One-Year Session | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST NC BABY CHILD PHOTOGRAPHER

This handsome little dude is Will and he’s recently turned one year old! He’s graduating my Baby’s First Year plan, which always makes me a little sad. I’ve enjoyed seeing him so much during his first year, and watching him grow and change. From his itty bitty newborn stage, to sitting, and now walking aaaaall over! I swear once little boys learn they can walk, it’s not long until they’re running and exploring and we’re chasing them! I had so much fun capturing Will at his one year session. He’s such a happy, great little boy!

If you want photos like this to remember your baby’s first year, please contact me! I’m taking bookings for maternity, newborn and Baby’s First Year sessions in the Raleigh Durham Cary Wake Forest, North Carolina area. Be sure to contact me early to reserve your space! I’m currently booking photo sessions for January 2016 and later.

Contact Melissa for a Session | View Melissa’s Portfolio | Follow Melissa on Facebook

Gavin’s Six-Month Session | RALEIGH DURHAM NC BABY PHOTOGRAPHER

This precious little guy is Gavin and he’s a part of my Baby’s First Year package. I was so excited to see him and his sweet family again for another portrait session. You may remember Gavin from his amazing newborn session, and my has he changed!! He has the greatest little personality – so happy and curious. And it was so sweet to see how much his parents adore him. They are such a beautiful family, inside and out. I feel lucky to get to capture this time in their lives for them. Here is a peek at their portraits!

If you want photos like this of your baby, please contact me! I’m taking bookings for maternity, newborn and Baby’s First Year sessions in the Raleigh Durham Cary Wake Forest, North Carolina area. Be sure to contact me early to reserve your space! I’m currently booking for January 2016 and later.

Contact Melissa for a Session | View Melissa’s Portfolio | Follow Melissa on Facebook

Clarkson 13 Months | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST NC BABY PHOTOGRAPHER

My little guy is getting so big! Walking all over, climbing, and (trying to) jump. He loves to be outside and is such a happy boy. Always smiling and always making ME smile. I took him out to capture him at 13 months. 13 months!!!! He’s getting bigger, but he’ll always be my baby!

Contact Melissa for a Session | View Melissa’s Portfolio | Follow Melissa on Facebook

Arden At Six Months | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST NC BABY PHOTOGRAPHER

A few weeks ago sweet little Arden came back to my studio for her six month session. I can’t believe this little sweetheart has turned six months and is sitting up all on her own! Back at her three month photo session, all our photos were of her laying down or being propped up. My, what a difference this new talent of hers makes!!

I had so, so, so much fun planning out this session with her Mommy, who is a dear friend of mine. We ordered new backdrops and flooring, her Mommy shopped her heart out for adorable outfits and accessories. IT. WAS. FUN. Having two little boys, I don’t get to shop or dream about girly stuff too often, so this was really exciting for me.

I was sooooo pleased with how the vision came to life for this session. Every detail was perfect, and it all just worked so well. Between the leg warmers, those ballet slippers (oh my, cutest thing ever!!), the pink tutu…. it was all beyond what we’d hoped for. And I think the willow tree backdrop is one of my new favorites! I ended up with so, so many favorites from this session! I can’t wait until Arden’s next session!

Melissa is currently booking for Raleigh maternity photography, Raleigh newborn baby photography and Raleigh child photo sessions in the Raleigh Durham Wake Forest, North Carolina area. Be sure to contact her early to reserve your space!

Contact Melissa for a Session | View Melissa’s Portfolio | Follow Melissa on Facebook

Creativity Contest | RALEIGH NC NEWBORN BABY PHOTOGRAPHY

A few weeks ago I entered a photo into a creativity contest at my favorite photography forum, Learn Shoot Inspire. I’ve been a part of this forum since close to when it first started, about a year ago. It’s an amazing place to talk photography and learn from other photographers. I’ve made some great friendships there, and I’m excited about the future of the forum!

So a few weeks ago on the “Pro” side of the forum, they ran their very first creativity contest. The topic for the challenge was Open Eyes. I really put a ton of thought into it and tried to come up with something original and “different” for me. The photo below was my entry – my little men being silly in the bathtub! To determine the winner, all of the Pros at the forum voted. And…. I won in the the Best Overall category!!!! I think it’s made even more special for me because my peers voted for me. I’m so excited about it! You can see the photo of my little guys and the write-up over on the Learn Shoot Inspire blog, here. So, so exciting! 🙂

And for those who are looking for a place to learn more about photography, please consider joining the wonderful group of ladies (and a couple of men!) over at Learn Shoot Inspire. I really feel it’s the kindest, most knowledgeable group of photographers! You won’t regret it. And check their FB page for specials!

Here’s the photo! I think I may have to hang this in my boy’s bathroom! 🙂

Contact Melissa for a Session | View Melissa’s Portfolio | Follow Melissa on Facebook

Baylor and Katie | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST BABY PHOTOGRAPHY

I am finally getting caught up with blogging all my fall photos — just in time for the rush of babies and pregnant Mamas in January! This is my busiest January ever, and I’m so thankful to my sweet, loyal clients for that. So, expect lots of cuteness on the blog!

Over Thanksgiving, my brother and his family came to visit us. We snuck in a few quick photos for their holiday cards. We literally ran outside for 5 minutes to get their family picture, and spent a whole 10 minutes in the studio to get a shot of baby Baylor in front of the twinkly lights. I had to share them here because Baylor and big sister Katie are ADORABLE and they deserve their own special blog post. 🙂

Melissa is currently booking for maternity, newborn and child photo sessions in the Raleigh Durham Wake Forest, NC area. Be sure to contact her early to reserve your space!

Contact Melissa for a Session | View Melissa’s Portfolio | Follow Melissa on Facebook

Tate | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST NEWBORN CHILD AND BABY PHOTOGRAPHER

The adorable little Tate was just 4 months old for his fall session. He has one of the sweetest families I’ve ever met. Not to mention gorgeous! They really are a stunning family. We met on a really cold, breezy day. Which just meant they had to cuddle up even closer to one another! See you soon, Tate! 🙂

Melissa is currently booking for maternity, newborn and child photo sessions in the Raleigh Durham Wake Forest, NC area. Be sure to contact her early to reserve your space!

Contact Melissa for a Session | View Melissa’s Portfolio | Follow Melissa on Facebook

My Dylan | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST NEWBORN CHILD AND BABY PHOTOGRAPHER

Here are some photos of my oldest. In all his perfect silliness. I couldn’t even begin to express to you all how much I love this little man, who seems to be changing and growing every day right before my eyes. He’ll start Kindergarten in 2013. ::SIGH::

Melissa is currently booking for maternity, newborn, baby and child photo sessions in the Raleigh Durham Wake Forest, NC area. Be sure to contact her early to reserve your space!

Contact Melissa for a Session | View Melissa’s Portfolio | Follow Melissa on Facebook

Resolutions | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST NEWBORN BABY CHILD PHOTOGRAPHER

One of my resolutions this year is to take more photos of my own kids. The other day I went through my personal photos of 2012 and realized I had only about four occasions where I’d taken nice photos of my kids. And that disappointed me. So I’m going to try to DRAG my kids out at least once a month! I’m sure they’ll just love it. 🙂 I also resolve to take more “everyday” pictures of them. I swear, they do the silliest things. And the most adorable things. Case in point – in our driveway a few weeks ago:

Oh my word, it tugs at my heart strings. This is them just being kids. AND getting along! 🙂 So my camera will come with me more places this year. And I hope you’ll all do the same. Don’t miss those moments!

Melissa is currently booking for maternity, newborn and child photo sessions in the Raleigh Durham Wake Forest, NC area. Be sure to contact her early to reserve your space!

Contact Melissa for a Session | View Melissa’s Portfolio | Follow Melissa on Facebook

2012 Year In Review | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST NEWBORN BABY CHILD PHOTOGRAPHER

Each year I try to set aside some time to create a compilation of my favorite photos from each session I had that year. It was really fun to go back through and remember my favorites! I picked one photo from each family I met this year — there are sessions I’ve promised not to share, for privacy reasons, but the ones you see below are all of my favorites from those I blogged about this year. I owe a big thank you to each of the families I met this year – you’ve all been so amazing to share your lives with me, and I’m blessed to call you my friends. I watched quite a few of your babies grow up this year, and it was an honor!

Coming up in 2013, I plan to get caught up on my blogging from all my fall sessions, and I have an extremely packed calendar for January, so I’m eager to get some new sweet babies on this blog! Happy New Year, everyone!

Melissa is currently booking for maternity, newborn and child photo sessions in the Raleigh Durham Wake Forest, NC area. Be sure to contact her early to reserve your space!

Contact Melissa for a Session | View Melissa’s Portfolio | Follow Melissa on Facebook