Nice way to start the week!

It is quite a compliment when a new client is referred to me by another client. I feel proud of my work and I'm very grateful for the referral. Today I had a session with a family who lives in MD!! Mom grew up here and is friends with a client of mine. I'm so happy we were able to coordinate a time to get together.

I am running around like a mad woman trying to finish up some editing, placing order, designing cards, AND packing for our Thanksgiving trip to Ohio... but I wanted to at least share this cute picture of the adorable children from this morning. Such a nice family! Thanks so much for allowing me to spend the morning with you.

I want to be a ballerina!

This weekend I had the cool pleasure of taking photos at a local dance studio, The Ballet and Dance Center.
I think every little girl has dreamed of becoming a ballerina at some point in her life. Ballet is so beautiful and graceful and I thoroughly enjoyed just watching the student in their class.
I swear this scene was not staged... I loved it when I saw it!!!!
Beautiful!
When we lived in Boston I belonged to a gym that offered so many unique fitness classes. One of them was "Cardio Ballet." The instructor, a ballerina, led us in a fast paced workout revolving around ballet... the class was ALWAYS packed and it was such a wonderful workout. Major core body stuff -- great class!

Somebody is SIX years old today!

Right about this time (10:30am) 6 year ago a new baby was born!!

Happy Happy Happy 6th Birthday Mary Adeline!!!!!!!!

Here's a link to her slideshow:

www.stephanieantshel.com/Addieis6

A walk on the wild side

This is such a nice family that I met a year ago. I was happy to visit them again this year for family photos.

I always love it when the outfits are super cute... and I really wish I could get away with wearing a skirt like this!

Love the laughs on the girls!

A little profile action... what do you think she's thinking???



The last time I saw this guy he was a CHUNK -A- MONKEY... SO cute! He has slimmed down but he hasn't lost his cuteness!

This little one is so kind and polite... sweetie!
Thank you for allowing me to capture your family again!

new... and two cuties

I recently bought a Mac and haven't really had quality time to spend learning about the cool stuff it can do. I have been wanting to start doing some editing (proofing) on it and I figured I would give it a try today. I am a bit behind in editing client sessions, so today I had two computers going - wow, I felt efficient! Anyway... here is my first attempt at editing and posting photos with it.

Meet J and J... two cuties I met last week on yet another mild fall day.

J is learning how to play the piano on her grandmother's piano (I think it was her grandmothers). She was very very good for only having just started lessons.

Love this photo of her...

Big brother was all about sports. Quite the hitter I must say. Thank goodness he has a large backyard to create sports fields and such!

Thanks so much for allowing me to capture the children doing what they do best!

more cousins

Super cute group of cousins...

We had a gorgeous late fall afternoon last week and I'm so glad we got to take advantage of it.
Are they cute or what?
Still cute...
STILL cute... LOVE this smile on the little guy.
If I recall, these two cousins are just a few weeks apart in birthdays. Its like having a sister (but when normal sister fighting starts they can just go back to their own home!). I'm sure they will have a fun relationship during their life. I love this moment captured here.

Thank you so much for having me over... your families are beautiful! I'm working fast and furious to get the gallery posted.

We Are Family!

What a family!

Last week I spent a morning with this fun, crazy, REAL crew... every time I see them it makes me recall all the dynamics that make a family go round - love, patience, understanding, bickering, pestering, name calling, more patience, understanding, lack of understanding... love, love, love!!

Working with teenagers can be challenging. They tend to be more inhibited and self conscious in front of the camera.

I asked these two siblings to describe what they would be doing if they weren't having their picture taken and this is what the brother did...

Another example of the craziness of this group:


love laughing!

The newest member of this family - he just joined them a month or so ago. He is so loved!

His big sister is so very happy to have him as her own.
Thanks for being such good troopers!! I hope you had as much fun as I did. I'm looking forward to your gallery!

ups and downs... ended on an up!

Raising children is no easy feat.
Not even when you have "good" kids.
There are good days with bad moments and bad days with good moments.
Sometimes the days just seem to blend together... same routines day in and day out.
You take the good with the bad.
And, you know that it is all good in the end...

We had an awesome end to our "normal" day of ups and downs.
Dance party in Mama and Daddy's room, clean, warm sudsy kiddos and lots of laughter.
We are blessed and lucky, indeed.

Double Trouble

I say "double trouble" in the most loving way, of course!! These two twins were NON STOP action. Constant movement - in opposite directions. We tried and tried and tried to get ONE picture of the two of them together and boy let me tell you what a task that was!

Here are just a couple of cuties of the cuties from Ithaca...
Loved his curls!


Watch out for this one -- she's going places in life!! What a fun personality!
Thank you , thank you! Your children are adorable!

Last wedding of the season

A week ago Saturday I had the privilege of shooting Gill and David's wedding with Genevieve Fridley. Gill and David were so great - relaxed, excited, ready to enjoy and SAVOR every moment of their big day. It was such a lovely wedding. Full of family and sentiment, truly a wonderful night to be a part of.

I got to spend some time with David and his groomsmen/family prior to the wedding. Here is a bit of what they were up to:

I love detail shots.

Happiness!!!

Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your day. You are truly blessed!

Two beautiful princesses!

What a treat for me on Halloween when I arrived at the home of these two beautiful little girls! They were dressed in their pink tutus and looked oh-so-cute. I just loved them!

The oldest is all about fun. I don't think she stopped playing the whole time I was there - she built pillow mountains, jumped and jumped on her bed and talked my ear off.

The younger sister didn't want to be left out of the action. Adorable. Loved, loved her head full of curls.

Sweet mama.
It was WINDY outside and the littlest one wasn't too keen on it. Thank goodness for Dada's great hugs!

Your family is wonderful! Thanks for allowing me to spend the morning with you.