Baby Photo Shoot

So, I mentioned awhile ago that the hubs bought me a fancy camera for Mother's Day. Turns out, despite the photography class I took in college, I have no idea how to use it. It completely intimidates me. I get it out, take a few pics, and usually end up defaulting to iPhone pics for the rest of the day/event/holiday/whatever reason I'm taking pictures. I have managed to get some really good ones, but also some pretty terrible ones. I mean, I guess I should take some kind of class or something? And maybe actually pay attention this time? There's no way I'm going to be able to figure this out on my own.

Anyway, every once in awhile I get all inspired and I'm like, "I'm gonna get my camera out and take some really great photos and then I'll post them on the blog and I'll be like a real, live, official blogger!". And then I take like three and I'm all "Uhhh...I don't really know what else to do here, so...yeah.". So on one of these days that I was feeling oh-so-inspired, Grayson happened to look really cute. So we had an impromptu photo shoot of sorts.

Nothing else was going on that day. I think we were about to go out to dinner or something. So there's no "story" to blog. Nothing to tell. Just a few little photos of an adorable child. I hope that works for you.

Oh, and here's the even better part. Not only do I take mediocre photos, but I'm too lazy to edit them in any way. So you're getting the real, raw deal here, people. That's good stuff. Anway...Happy Friday? Haven't thrown that out there in awhile. Hope you have a positively fabulous weekend.

A Family Photo Session

A little while ago we decided to get family photos done. Or, more accurately, I decided we needed to have six month photos done for Grayson, Arsen disagreed, I got very sad and explained just exactly why I was so sad (I want to treasure and preserve every important milestone of our first precious baby, duh), and Arsen surprised me by scheduling a session with our favorite photographer without my knowledge.

And that is why I married him, friends.

So about two weeks ago we gathered up Grayson and Addie and headed to this beautiful waterfall area in Richardson for some photos. That morning was hectic, to say the least. I had planned out our outfits a few weeks before, and like the amateur mother that I am, I didn't try G's clothes on him beforehand. So about 30 minutes before we were leaving Arsen was getting him dressed and his sweater was HUGE. It's a 3-6 month size, so I figured we were good since that size always fits. So of course I start panicking, and I realize there isn't anything else that he has that I feel is "photo appropriate". So I found the only sweater he has that really fits him and matched with what I had picked out for Arsen and I, and I just went with it.

I had also decided that I wanted Addie to be in a few pictures, because we've never done photos (other than maternity, and I was too pregnant to care ha) without her. I decided this last minute, of course, so she hadn't been groomed and desperately needed a bath. So before I showered and got myself ready that morning I bathed her, brushed her, and made her look all pretty.

Needless to say, mama was the least primped for photos out of the entire bunch, but I still think they turned out beautiful. Grayson was the best baby EVER for the entire shoot, and we even got Addie to cooperate for a few. We tried getting one of just the two of them but she was not having it. No big surprise there.

The photographer was actually someone we hadn't used before that works for Laura, who normally does our pictures, but she did an excellent job. If anyone in the DFW area is looking for a photographer, be sure to check out Fairy Tale Photography. They do an AMAZING job. They've done our engagement, wedding, maternity, and now G's 6 month photos, and they have all been perfect. She typically only does wedding related photos, but I think once you're a loyal customer she'll help you out with just about anything :)

Here are a few of my favorites. I think I've looked at them a hundred times. That baby is just so darn photogenic I can't stand it!

Grayson's Newborn Photos

Like probably 99% of women out there who plan on having a baby I've known since before I was pregnant that I would want to do newborn photography. All the billions of adorable newborn photos popping up in my Pinterest feed while I was pregnant definitely helped reinforce the fact that we HAD to have them done. Arsen really didn't think it was necessary, but like most of the things I obsess over, he eventually gave in.

I kind of left things to the last minute and I didn't start researching photographers until early March. I  never found anyone I just felt like we had to use, so of course it started stressing me out a bit. Luckily, at my first baby shower I was gifted with a newborn photography session from Arsen's sister, mom and sister-in-law. Talk about a relief! They took all the work out of it for me. All I had to do was call the photographer after Grayson was born and schedule the appointment. Which Arsen handled for me. So I literally did pretty much nothing, which was perfect.

The photographer they chose was seriously like a baby whisperer. Anytime Grayson would start to stir or fuss a little bit, he would use all of these crazy tricks to get him to pass right back out. We've actually taken a few of his little tricks and we use them when he's screaming like a maniac at night sometimes. He came to do the photos in our house, which was great since he was still so tiny and we weren't getting him out at that point, and I was able to just throw on mine and Grayson's clothes at the last minute when the guy got here to avoid any disasters. He really seems to enjoy spitting up, peeing, or even sometimes pooping on both of us. Aren't babies just so sweet?

We just got the photos back last week, and I LOVE them. I can't believe how much he's changed already in just a few weeks, and I'm so glad I'll always have him frozen in time at just 13 days old. He's such a gorgeous little man and I love all of his sweet little faces. Plus, the family photo with Addie just melts my heart. If you're expecting, I highly recommend doing newborn photos....oh, and he did a slide show for us that brings everyone that watches it to tears. I honestly still haven't watched it all the way through because I can't get more than halfway through the song without breaking down. The song he used...good Lord. You can listen to it on YouTube here. If you're a mama, grab some tissues beforehand.

And if you're in the DFW area I 100% recommend Steve with Poetic Exposure. He did an incredible job, and I'm completely obsessed with the results.