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! 🙂

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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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Happy Holidays! | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST NEWBORN BABY CHILD PHOTOGRAPHER

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season! Here’s a photo from my house – our annual tree picture with my two little men. 🙂

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!

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Dinkins Family | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST NEWBORN BABY CHILD PHOTOGRAPHER

You’ve no doubt seen this family on my blog before, a few times. 🙂 And if you’ve missed them, here’s little Cooper at eight months old and here he is at his newborn photos. And some maternity photos of Lindsay are here and here. I was very excited to take some updated family photos and individual photos of the kids for their holiday cards. And now that the cards have been mailed, I can finally post the photos! Lindsay already has a big canvas picture of their family hanging in her living room! Such a gorgeous family! We even came indoors for some to-die-for photos of them in their Christmas jammies!!!! LOVE THEM!

And here’s Cole and Cooper in those cute jammies in front of the twinkling lights!

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!

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Gabe & Hayley | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST CHILD NEWBORN AND BABY PHOTOGRAPHER

Earlier this season I did a special family session for a very dear friend of mine. She’s finally sent out her holiday cards, so I think I’m in the clear to share a couple of her photos! 🙂

Melissa is currently booking into 2013 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!

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Harper | RALEIGH WAKE FOREST CHILD NEWBORN AND BABY PHOTOGRAPHERS

I was so, so excited to see the GORGEOUS little Harper again. I first met her parents for their maternity photos, then I had the pleasure of taking Harper’s very first portraits, which are GORGEOUS if you ask me. 🙂 And now she’s six months old with a cute little personality and learning to sit up on her own! We had a fantastic session and I just love how her photos came out. See you again soon, Harper!

Melissa is currently booking into 2013 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!

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