Story Time Cuties

These cute little guys were having a great time at Barnes and Nobles for story time. My girls are smitten by their smiles and have regularly asked if they could live with us....uh, no. I know that wouldn't fly with their loving parents! Glad to have them as new friends!


Chase tries to help out by shelving himself...too cute!


Ben buried in the buckets of animals that exploded all over the children's section!

Edisto Island Beach

The beach at Botany Bay on Edisto Island was remarkable and being there was even a bit surreal. It felt a bit unnatural and took some getting used to. Somewhat of a palmetto and live oak graveyard of sorts, the ocean has taken the forest away over time. This makes for undisturbed beach, amazing shells, bird and turtle nests, and some great visual landscapes. The afternoon we were there went from somewhat gray and monochromatic to the ward golden of an wonderful evening. Working on these pictures makes me want to go back tomorrow. So neat!

***Don't forget to click on the images so see them in true form!

This first shot is one of my favorites. I did hype up the saturation in post production for fun. The all natural glare caught some of the ocean mist on my lens and made a very cool star-like effect. I also love the balance of the pelicans moving through the picture. It captures what it felt like pretty well.




Always ready for a Chloe shot or a Chloe hug, she was the only one willing to be photographed most of the day!


A great look at the diverse foliage on the beach here. Having fun playing with the afternoon sun and a nice hot flare.


3 little monkeys....




This root became a sculpture in the sand.

palmetto grave....



On the beach.




Evening Horizon

Shell Roots


My Crew taking a break...


One of my other favorites...once again caught the birds in the right line...and love the wind in my girls hair!


Got to include a snapshot of me and my sweetie!



...and the whole family...gathered together for a quick self-timer pic! I might have been getting on their nerves by this point but we had such a fun day together, I am glad I pushed through the whines, found a branch, and got us all in one quick picture! Fun memories mixed in with some great picture taking!


I will forever LOVE this place!

Trees ,trees, and...more trees!

We went to Edisto Island and explored a place called Botany Bay. There are few words that could describe such a place and still do it justice for its aged beauty. There are some 23 historical markers on the property where a plantation used to reign the surrounding area. There is lake that promises some fantastic fishing that quickly won the attention of Chris and the girls. But, the real show-stoppers to me were the ancient live oak trees lining the dirt roads. These roads so quickly took you back to a time and place you really only see in movies. Instantly you can visualize the horses, cotton, and hard work that ran this rural farm. I keep feeling like the Spanish moss dresses up even the most unsightly places like a lace trim can do to a faded tablecloth. I love it. It was fun to play with the light and exposure of the shaded roads and hazy day.
We had a wonderful day there and have vowed to go back.

Please click on each image to see it correctly! Still having trouble getting the quality right on the blog!



Ethereal to say the least...

Another Little Hug Bug

I love it when you can feel an emotion just by seeing a gesture. This is Adam- showing his Daddy how much he loves him in a big way...<3. Can't you just feel the safeness he feels?! We all have those days when we just want to feel the safeness that only our Dad or Mom's hugs can give, no matter how old we are! This picture lifts me up and takes me there today!
Love it!

I Missed You

Chloe fresh home from school, happy to see her biggest fan. Isabel eating up every inch of that tackle of a hug. Warms my heart!

Dream Docked

Dream Docked
Chris and I were able to cruise around the South Carolina marshlands with some friends on their boat last weekend, a dream of mine come true. It was hands down the best way to 'see' or really feel, the Wando River and Boone Hall Plantation from the water. While it had been a little cloudy earlier in the evening, there was a break in the clouds just before sunset. Glowing is an understatement. You tell me...

Drip-sicle

Drip-sicle!

An August day on the Grand Strand will more than melt a Popsicle. It was hot! But it was a wonderful once-in-a-decade event to be on the beach with such wonderful family! We were able to spend the afternoon with mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, aunts, uncles, cousins...I can remember only a few such events as a young child. What a joy to share it with my girls and to hang out with family that I love so dearly!


I couldn't resist the colors in this shot of Isabel's fleeing moment of Tangerine bliss!

Beach Days

A fun-filled afternoon at the beach with the family; my favorite subjects, of course! This was one of my favorite days out on the beach. A quick storm ran everyone else off and we basically had as far as you could see to ourselves. I don't take a camera out onto the beach very often, too busy playing myself! But this day proved worthy of such occasion. ;)


Shell pickin'...





Under the IOP bridge- a great place to fish and graffiti.




A daddy-back ride for a tired little one.




"Take my picture, Mommy!"

My favorite of the day...

A Brand New Adventure

Upside down. That is absolutely how I feel. Can you pinch me, somebody? Still a little scared, and a lot excited. This is a new adventure! This is what I thought I would always do- I would be an artist, a photographer, a mother, a wife, a friend; I'd live near the water, play on the beach and run through moss draped, tree-lined streets. It is a perfect fit in so many countless ways. And...I am happy!

I am happiest when I am creating and surrounded by colorful art, design, life, laughter, and most of all: people. I love meeting new people. I love getting to know what speaks to them. I love that instant connection you can feel that lifts your heart in a familiar, we've been friends before kinda way. It happened to me today in the seafood section of the grocery store. That brief connection that is strong enough to turn into a real conversation with real meaning. These are the snapshots on my heart. So often I wish I had my camera with me; to capture and share these tidbit of my day and life. It is the thing I love most about art and photography, it is so personal, but so easily shared and so easily brings joy.

I have spent the past few years raising young girls, with some design, painting, murals, and art selling in local shops and shows. In the past year I had the opportunity to sell more of my work than ever. I have also had the opportunity to photograph a few weddings and some family portrait sessions, along with my usual constant clicking of family and friends! My two loves of painting and photography become very intertwined. I have a hard time putting down my painting completely with my renewed photography obsession. Photography is personally connecting for me. I love how the world looks from behind the lens. I love capturing people and scenes in their most graceful moments.

So... that brings us to this blog. It is a reason to get out and photograph the enchanting world around me; the people, places, and events that shape my days. A reason to paint and to share these passions with the world. A reason to put together a portfolio of my work.

I haven't put my camera down in a week....so where do I start?!



Maybe with the morning sun finding this bench. I love to pass this spot on my runs in our neighborhood!