Say HELLO to Melanie! 

I met Melanie about a year ago through our friend Tiffany. I've gotta tell ya- Mel is as cool as they come! She is a personal trainer and runs a gym (Power Glow Fitness) out of her home. What I admire most about Mel, is that she is completely genuine  and honest. When we met to plan her photo session, she flat out told me, "I'm not a body builder, I'm a trainer!" Melanie's main goal with her body is to stay strong and healthy. Don't let these pictures fool you, Mel may be one tough chick, but she is also a sweetheart! 

I was SO excited when she contacted me about doing fitness photography. I was able to spend all Friday afternoon with her, and despite a rather embarrassing incident (sorry again!) I am super, super proud of these images! As you scroll through this blog post, feel free to soak in all the awesomeness! 

Can we just take a minute here, and agree that Melanie's hair is so totally rad! Her style is stellar!

Melanie is a BEAST on the TRX

There is something very "Michael Jordan" about this picture, and I absolutely love it!

So fierce going into a push-up

namies da!

Every time I look at this next image, the new Katy Perry song plays in my head!

"I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar" 

Lastly, my very favorite image...

 BOOM!

Melanie, you are a rockstar! 

Thanks again Melanie for letting me take your pictures. It was a true joy!


Leave Mel some C.C.P love!

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of photographing a very lovely family! Isabella is six months old and her Momma, Katie asked me to do a few family pictures. In this post you'll meet Isabella along with both sets of her darling Grandparents, and her fun-loving parents, Katie and John. John is currently stationed in California and is home on leave for a few days. You could tell Isabella missed her Daddy!  There is so much love in this blog that I just LOVE it! 

Our session was at Eastwood Metro Park off of 835, talk about a beautiful place! 

Leave some love for the Murphy & McAdoo families! 

Alas! Abigail has been highly anticipated, and she finally made her debut Tuesday Morning at 3:44am! 

Before, we get into the exciting details about Abigail's birth, I'd like to tell a little back story about her sweet parents. Kyle and Ashley are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. I can easily say I'm truly blessed by their friendship. Kyle and Brycen(my husband) grew up together so perhaps you could say Ashley and I became friends by default :) Still, it's the best "default" friendship I've had my whole life! I'm sure you all know that as an adult, its hard to maintain high school/college relationships. Only a few gems can stand the test of time-Ashley, your my gem and my soul sister! The four of us have been friends for eight years. We were in each other's weddings (in the same month!) And now Ashley and I are becoming new mommas together! Looking back on all the fond memories of our friendship- two things will always stand out in my mental high-light reel. The first of which was night of Ashley & Kyle's wedding, I helped Ashley take the ka-trillion bobby pins out of her hair. We talked, laughed and recapped all the great details of the beautiful day. We even gossiped about the only two single members of the bridal party who made out on the dance floor! (Shout out MJP &KAP!) Yes, I realize it sounds cheesy-but it's a sweet memory! Fast forward three years later and I have the honor of quickly putting Ashley's hair up in a pony tail before she starts pushing. I had to giggle to myself while I was doing this Tuesday morning, because I immediately went back to her Wedding night and the bobby pins from h-e-double hockey sticks! Bottom line I love Kyle and Ashely AND Abigail with all my heart! Yadda, Yadda, Yadda!

Let's get to the good stuff! Don't worry, there isn't anything graphic!

At 11:45 pm I got a call from Michelle saying it was go time. I arrived at the hospital at 12:09am and Kyle and Ashley were already checked into Labor and Delivery. It's funny that Ashley would have a baby in the middle of the night because she falls asleep at 9 o'clock no matter what! She can't even stay up late enough to watch the ball drop most New Years! (I only know because we've spent the last 6 together!) 

Ashley is one happy camper! This is shortly after she got her epidural and she's sitting at 9cms! She labored very quickly! We laughed and joked the whole time! It was a very warm atmosphere!

The Entourage!!! Top- Ashley's mom, Michelle and myself. Bottom Ashley's sister in law, Emily and Kyle's mom, Sharon. I think we made a pretty great team ladies! ;)

We just found out it was time to start pushing! Abigail is ready to say hello!

I was able to catch this sweet moment of Momma Sharon saying a silent prayer for her grand daughter. Sharon is an incredible woman and I am happy to know her! 

Ashley was SUCH a rockstar! She pushed for almost two hours and didn't complain once! Kyle was pretty awesome too! 

Momma and Daddy finally get to see their baby girl!

Abigail Joyce Chrisman was born at 3:44am weighing 7lbs 14oz and she was 21 inches long!

Abigail recognized her daddy's voice immediately and stopped crying :)

Baby Toes!

Finally, The Granddads got to come in, and meet their FIRST grandchild for the FIRST time! 

Like I mentioned, Both Kyle and Ashley's parents are first time grandparents. The Chrisman's are expecting two more grand babies this year! Talk about exciting!

I love this image, so sweet :)

Finally, after the nurses were finished checking Abigail's vitals- she got to go back to Momma and Daddy! Here, Ashley is getting to take a better look at her sweet girl. It was so late (early?) that everyone decided to let the new family get some rest. 

I stopped by to visit again Tuesday evening and obviously Kyle is an expert already in the Dad department! 

GiGi's Cupcakes in Beavercreek gives each new Momma a cupcake for their babies' Birth Day- how cute is this?

Alright everyone, say hello to Sweet Abbey Girl! I love this babe! 

Before we said goodbye I had to take a picture with me and my "niece" who is also my future daughter-in-law! She won't even have to change her monogram if she marries my Andrew! 

I'm looking forward to see what many more years of friendship brings our two families! I can't say it enough- I love, love LOVE you guys! Thanks for letting me be apart of your special day! 

Congratulations to the Benson and Chrisman families!

Leave some love and well wishes to Abbey and her new parents! 

Yesterday we celebrated my Husband's and my Daddy's birthday. It's always fun that their birthday falls on a holiday weekend every year. It's rare that the whole family is in one place, so we HAD to snap some group pictures. For those of you who are new to the blog, I have twin brothers, Lucas and Logan-they kinda rock! Their long-time girlfriends are two of the sweetest girls I know! In fact, I already refer to them as my sister-in-laws. Seriously, boys-put a ring on it! Logan and Shannon (Left) live in Nashville. Logan is in his final year at David Lipscomb where he is studying Math Education. Shannon recently retired from European Basketball, she has amazing stories to share if you ever get the chance to talk to her! Lucas and Ali (middle) are seniors at Morehead University. Lucas is working on his internship in Cincinnati while Ali is doing her student teaching. My Mom and Dad recently celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary and they LOVE the fact that the family is multiplying. The little guy front and center is my son, Andrew (5 mos) He loves all the attention from his Mamaw, Papa, Aunts and Uncles. 

 This picture is a little bittersweet to me because we might not all be together until Christmas. 

Say hello to my Mimi and Papa! They celebrated birthdays with us yesterday too. Andrew is their first great grandchild and Mimi has no problem telling you that he is her favorite out of her seven grandchildren. Andrew thinks his Great Papa is so funny and loves to belly-laugh whenever he is around. Of course Andrew love his Great Mimi snuggles! No body gives better hugs than Mimi! 

"Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the 
people most likely to stick with you in the future" 
 
Can you tell the three of us have the same dentist :)

Lastly, here is an outtake from our little photo session. As the photographer in the family, I always do a test shot before I set the timer and jump in the picture. This is what I get. 

I love these goons with all my heart!