Seeing Sepia~ by Mel

Children's Entry


I am finally back in the game!  After a long absence from the weekly contest I am entering again.  Things had been so hectic that I did not have a chance to focus on entering as I would have liked to lately.  Now that school is out for the summer I have more time to devote to keeping up with the i heart faces contests.  This week's theme at i heart faces is Sepia. I took my children's entry photo when I attended the Amy Wenzel workshop this past May. My adult's entry is a one of my favorites from Jody & Casey's engagement shoot.

Adult's Entry

Head over to i heart faces to see in sepia for yourself!

Jody & Casey~ by Mel

Here are a few of my favorites from Jody & Casey's engagement shoot. What a fun couple...can you tell they LOVE to laugh? 

Mama Mia~ by Mel

Here are a few of my faves from the Mama Mia Maternity photo session.  Pregnancy is such a beautiful thing and documenting this time of a woman's life is a special privilege.  My take on the  Mama Mia sessions are focused on fashion and editorial style images.  Including everyone in the family is also an option for Mama Mia session and pictures from a session like this will be treasured for years to come.  The Plotts family really shows their love for each other in each and every image and I think Mar looks amazing in these images! 

Playing Catch Up~ by Mel

     It has been quite some time since I have blogged as life gets in the way at times.  This post is to update you all on some of the things I have been doing and where I have been!  Let me also say that being a teacher at this time of the year is crazy busy and one of my top priorities was finishing out the year with my students.  That went well and we had a great end of the year program and many special moments that I am sure the students as well as myself will always remember.  

     In terms of photography, first came a Mama Mia Maternity & Family session with Mar and company.  Mar was a great model and since she knows photography it was easy to take her pictures!  Next was an engagement shoot with Jody & Casey.  They are an absolutely adorable couple whose wedding is coming up at the end of June.  We had fun trying new locations and I look forward to their big day!  Following that was a Bebe' session with Brielle.  We did some inside shots to document her 3-4 month photos.  Brielle was such a sweetheart and that smile...oh my goodness!!!  After that I was asked to take the 8th grade graduation photos for Calvert Catholic Schools.  The students and I had a great time celebrating the fact that they are now moving on to the world of high school.   (especially the girls---they loved feeling like models!)   On May 14&15th I attended a workshop with photographer extraordinaire Amy Wenzel.  I had such a wonderful time at the workshop and learned a plethora about business, products and branding.  Amy's workshop helped me realize my true passion is for children's and women' fashion photography.  I had a great opportunity to photograph many children at the workshop and look forward to going back to catch the senior portion of her workshop. After the workshop I was inspired to get more images for my fashion portfolio.  I did a senior session with Katie and I think it highlights the style and image I am going for in my photography.  

     Also included in what I have missed blogging is another family shoot that I did several months back that I never posted.  Coming up you will soon see more fashion shoots for kids.     I will also share with you a collage I made for a graduating senior.  Keep collages in mind for all of your special events.  I'll explain more when I post the sample.  I will be putting up images soon of my faves from all of these shoots so keep your eyes peeled!

Whew!  I am outta breath thinking of all those things!   

Jody and Casey ~by Mar

live.LAUGH.love~ by Mel

Kid's Entry


Well I am back in the game entering the i heart faces contest again! The past few weeks have been quite hectic for me with teaching, photo sessions, trips out of town and being sick and I feel as if I have not gotten the chance to sit down and relax much let alone get to be a part of the weekly contest that I love. I am excited to be entering again this week. These two pictures are from recent photo sessions (which I will be blogging more about I promise!) and I thought they fit wonderfully with the theme of laughter. My children's entry is a photo of Brielle. (don't you love that name???) She is such a doll and I adore the look on her face and the way she is sharing joy just in her presence. My adult's entry is of Jody and Casey. While you cannot see much of Casey you have to wonder what he is whispering in Jody's ear. It had to be something good!

Adult's Entry


Head over to i heart faces to see some wonderful images of laughter!

Amazing Love ~ by Mel

Could there be anything more amazing than the love of Christ? This week's i heart faces contest theme is Easter. I was going to blog a little something about Easter yesterday but I decided to just wait until I posted my picture for the week as I knew it would give me a great chance to express my feelings.  

I have the distinct privilege of teaching in a Catholic school where I can share my faith with students on a daily basis. This past Lent we focused our hearts on the love of Jesus. As a class we talked about how we could prepare our hearts to be ready for Easter. We learned the Stations of the Cross, discussed the importance of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday and delved deeper into the Easter story.   We even had our own Last Supper as a class. (grape pop included) :) The students learned so much and I truly believe they have a great understanding of the depth of the love of our Lord.  As their teacher I found it not only rewarding to see each child grow in his or her faith but it was also a chance for me to focus my heart.  What an amazing act of sacrifice.  Jesus gave us the gift of his life so that we might all live.  We celebrate and sing Alleluia to our King!

Happy Easter and God Bless you all!

About my photo~ A little info about my photo: These are two students in my class. I meant to blur their faces (in case you were wondering)--I wanted all the focus to be on the crucifix that each girl is holding.  Incidentally, we made those as an art project out of clothespins and they turned out really beautiful. They will be a keepsake and reminder of our Lord's love for years to come.

Head over to i heart faces and see more Easter pictures!

Baby Brooks ~ by Mar

Friendly Fotos~ by Mel

Kid's Entry

This week's theme at i heart faces is "My Friend and I". When you have a good friend you certainly can sense the love and care that strong relationship is built on. For my kid's entry I have a pic I took last summer of Ashlyn and Landon. They are brother and sister and are such little sweethearts! I love the look in her eye! Don't brothers and sisters make some of the best friends ever? :) My adult entry is cutie couple Alex & Jess who are getting married this July. They were posing for another picture so I got to snap this candid of them and it turned out as one of my faves from our shoot last summer.  Soon they will be taking vows to be friends for a lifetime! 

Adult's Entry

Head over to i heart faces and see wonderful pictures displaying friendship and enter a photo or two of your own.  Maybe you will make a few friends along the way...I know I have!  

Not only will you make friends but you can also LEARN so much.  I Heart Faces  promotes photo sharing and additionally teaches you with amazing tutorials that will improve your images.  It is wonderful because you can benefit no matter what level of photography you are at.  There are awesome contributors who impart their wisdom weekly on topics from Photoshop techniques to camera settings and more.  Anyone reading this needs to click on the link above and see what i heart faces is all about! PS-I have to mention that one of my photography inspirations Amy Wenzel is a judge this week!  She is UBER-talented and I am excited for her just to look at anything I have done.  See more about Amy and ask her any questions this week at i heart faces! 

Pretty Pout & The Purrfect Pet~ by Mel

Children's Entry


This week's i heart faces contest is all about the pout and the pets! For my children's entry of pout I have a picture of the adorable Ashlyn. This was a picture that I snapped at the end of our photo session. She was just looking out the window in this cute way and I had to snap this pic. I like this pout because it is one that is different than what you might think of in terms of what the word means. Lots of times when kids are pouting they are looking a bit upset or cranky. But, Miss Ashlyn's pout is just more on the thoughtful and contemplative side. She is such a cutie!

For my pet picture I have entered one of my cat Lucky. My hubby and I have two dogs as well but I had to enter this photo that I took way back in August of our precious "princess". (as we call her) She has a great look in her eye. You know the look that cats give...the "I own you" one? I have to say despite that look she is a wonderful cat. She listens and is very loving. She hides a lot when people come around and she tends to be the less noticed of our three pets as our two dogs are attention seekers at all times. This week is Lucky's time to shine as my pet entry. I think she looks purrrrfect. Don't you agree? (okay excuse the complete cheesiness!)

Pet Entry


Head over to i heart faces and see this week's entries or join in on the fun yourself!

Au Naturale~by Mel

Kid's Entry

After a week off from the i heart faces contest I am back at it again! (Our internet went out last Tuesday night when I was going to enter for the green theme so I was not so lucky on St. Patrick's Day.) This week's i heart faces contest has but one requirement...NO FLASH. I selected these two from a recent session I did a few weeks back. (which I will be blogging more about later) :) I have found that I prefer not to use a flash at all. (unless I am in a dark reception hall or something similar) I think natural light is much more flattering and it brings out delicious colors like nothing else can! I crave the challenge of figuring out what ISO, aperture, shutter speed and lighting setting will work with each particular situation. It is almost a bit of a science to find out what settings will be the right formula for the yummiest capture.

Adult's Entry

Head over to i heart faces and check out the beauty of natural light!

Going Home~ by Mel

Today we celebrated the life of an incredible person. Chad's beloved Grandma Germaine Perry passed away this past Thursday March 12th. At the time of her death Grandma was surrounded by her family and I would have to say it was one of the most amazing moments I have experienced. It was certainly sad and hard however it also turned out to be a moment of peace in knowing that God was calling home one of the greatest persons most of us will ever know. It would be hard for me to describe in words how I felt that evening but there was something in the air and you knew that Grandma was surrounded not only by her family but by the angels. The house swelled with people and with the love we all shared for her beautiful soul.

At the time of her death Grandma Perry was held up in prayer by so many who she had once prayed for herself. She was dedicated to our Lady and saying the Rosary. I remembered back to when Chad and I were first dating and the first time I was invited to attend a Rosary recitation in the Beckley basement. I was in awe of this Grandmother who led her family in prayer and I knew at that moment that I had been brought into a special family. I will always remember the feeling I had that day and the faith that I experienced in each person. Grandma Perry had everything to do with the values instilled in her children and the faith that now I see in my husband. There is something so unique about the bond that the Perry's share and so much of that has to do with the lessons, guidance and life that Grandma Perry imparted to her sons and daughters by being an example of Christ on a daily basis.

Today we attended her funeral and said goodbye for one last time. Germaine was an extraordinary person whose faith permeated everything she did. She had 14 children and raised them all to be outstanding individuals. Her sense of humor was also a gift in our lives and she could make anyone smile with her frankness and witty ways. I remember visiting her in the hospital several times and she still always had a way of making all of us smile even through her hardships. Grandma Perry will be missed and I wanted to take this moment out to honor such a wonderful life. We know that she is in a much better place. And as we gaze through our tears and turn our hearts to God in prayer we are assured that she most certainly has gone home.

Grandma Perry may you rest in peace. Thank you for the gift of your life, your service to others, your faith-filled example, your humor in hard times, and your constant pursuit of Heaven. You have been a good an faithful servant...the reward is now yours.