moonbellephotographyblog.com

Lovelace: Maternity Session

jessica — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:40 +0000

It had been awhile since I’d done a maternity session, and I was excited. I adore working with couples and expecting women, there’s an excitement they share that translates soo well through the images! I met these two in downtown Huntsville for their session and we had a wonderful time. The light was gorgeous and these two were so cute and flirty! Baby Locke is due in 6 weeks and I know he’s going to be a cutie!

Mother’s day: Starbucks and Staying In

jessica — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:35:34 +0000

It’s been a good day. I love waking up to the sound of rain, and knowing I have nothing to do for the next several hours. It’s nice. It’s even better to be greeted with Starbucks, flowers, and coffee cake. I had the loftiest of plans today. I’d planned to spend the day outside, finishing up with yardwork and working on a pergola for the back porch. However, after looking outside my window, I decided I’d much rather stay inside, lounging about in my fuzzy robe and sipping coffee. And you know what? I think I’m better off..I spent the latter half of yesterday (and almost all of last night) being a workaholic—-editing, redesigning, and (once again) overhauling my blog and website. So I’m taking the day off. Because isn’t that what Mother’s Day is for? Relaxing?

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! I hope everyone is having a wonderful time. And to my wonderful mother and grandmother, I love you! <3

Raylan: 9 months Monte Sano Mountain Child Photographer

jessica — Sun, 13 May 2012 02:32:52 +0000

I was a little apprehensive. Clouds had been looming dark and grey across the skies since the day before. The ground was wet from the night’s rain and the smell of it still hung in the air. Before I left the house I checked the weather website one more time (just to make sure)…cloudy but clear. Thank goodness. I have been plagued by on-again, off-again rain for weeks and I’m glad this session went off without a hitch….because oh-man. I love babies. Cute, big-cheeked, giggly babies. It reminds me of when mine wasn’t quite so mobile, and just sat on the floor smiling. *sigh*

Jennifer found me last month through a mutual friend and after meeting today we (sort of) already knew each other. Small world! Jennifer and her husband wanted some new portraits of sweet Raylan, and some nice shots as a family. Yay!

Kisses & Disses: Return to civilization

jessica — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:43:38 +0000

Umm…wow. Can you say overdue? I’ve been dying to post but thanks to my (well-meaning) toddler and a bottle of windex, my modem is no more. However, I’m very lucky to have a guy who is ridiculously more tech-savvy than I and he’d rigged me a solution.

Yay! So here’s your next installment of Kisses and Disses!!

This week’s KISSES go to:

1.) Having a job that encourages the eating of cake. (Confession: sometimes after weddings, I have cake for breakfast. Can you say awesome?!)

2.) The return of Domino magazine. Seriously. I was soooo sad when they went under before. I am in decorating heaven.

3.) Awesome wedding clients that send you home with loads of homemade organic salsa….sooooo delicious!

This week’s DISSES go to:

1.) Making fresh chocolate chip cookies only to realize the milk you bought to go with them is buttermilk. Oy!

2.) Singing songs to yourself while driving, completely missing your turn, and getting lost. (I really, really need to fix my cd player!)

3.) Four year olds wielding bottles of windex…or anything really. They’re like a tornado of cuteness and destruction.

Lucas & Grace: Mentone, Al Wedding Photography

jessica — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:19:58 +0000

It was a perfect day. Really. The makeup was applied, the decorations hung, everyone was calm and smiling, and all throughout was the feeling of love. It permeated the air. Tangible. Real. It’s impossible to not get into the spirit of a wedding day. And this wedding day was perfect. Grace and Lucas were married in the picturesque town of Mentone, Al at the beautiful Preston House and it was GORGEOUS.

I love when my clients agree to a First Look. It makes for beautiful images and allows the bride and groom some sweet time alone before the ceremony. Beautiful.

Isn’t she just stunning?!

These two were soo sweet! Lucas carried Grace into the woods to make sure she wouldn’t get any poison ivy.

There was the most amazing field of flowers. Luckily, we had tons of time set aside for bride & groom portraits and were able to get some amazing shots. Thanks guys!

Grace & Lucas, I had such an amazing time working with you guys! Enjoy your honeymoon in Brazil!!

1 Year Ago and being thankful

jessica — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:30:57 +0000

It’s difficult to put into words. The sort of soft horror you feel when something really terrible has happened. Fuzzy around the edges because you can’t quite believe it yet. That’s how I felt one year ago. Fuzzy. Out of focus.This giant wave of tornadoes hits the southern states—Alabama, and I felt….lost. I was trapped in a house without power, without gas, unable to help, unable to move.

I’ve never been good at accepting things that come my way. There’s something in me that lacks the grace to nod my head and move forward. But when something like this happens, that’s exactly what you have to do. I was fortunate enough to make it through unharmed. And one year later, I can’t help but reflect on how thankful I still am. My family is safe. I have a home. That is enough.

Five days without power? I read more. I went to bed earlier. I took long walks with the people I love. That is enough.

I’m looking forward to spending this Saturday at a beautiful wedding, capturing the moments of two people vowing to spend their lives together. I’m still amazed that I get to this. All the time. That even when my life isn’t quite perfect….it kind of is. And that’s enough for me.

(You’ll see more of this couple after their wedding Saturday. Yay!)

Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Gardening

jessica — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:16:22 +0000

There’s something therapeutic about working outside. The feeling of working with your hands, creating something, and having immediate visual payoff. It’s awesome. This week I was productive. Like, super productive. The weeks of being cooped inside and sick filled me with the need to be doing something. I weeded my flower garden, I re-mulched for spring, I cleaned out the fish pond, and I made a raised garden bed. By myself. In one day.

Internet, I cannot begin to tell you how cool this felt. I’ve wanted a garden for as long as I can remember. Partially because I hate grocery shopping, and because walking right outside for fruits, vegetables, and herbs is an amazing feeling.

However, I really need to figure out this watering thing. I broke the sprinkler on Day 1 (it didn’t even reach the whole garden) and have been going back and forth hand watering like Laura Ingalls Wilder. There has to be a better way.

Josie: 18 months Huntsville, Al Lifestyle Photography

jessica — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:51:03 +0000

I had the pleasure of working with the cutest little girl yesterday. Josie just turned 18 months old and was full of energy and smiles. I spent the afternoon running around, rolling on grass, playing with flowers, and watching bubbles float through the air. (Not a bad deal) I don’t get the chance to work with many little girls and it was sooo much fun!

Those eyes!!

Jacqueline & Ryan: Green Mountain Engagement Photography

jessica — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:12:08 +0000

It was a morning shoot. We’d scheduled and re-scheduled over and over, finally settling on a morning session. I’m a schedule person. I like lists, I like order, and I like having a schedule and sticking to it. But sometimes (especially in spring) nature has a not-so-subtle way of telling me to chill out and I have to listen. (Until I figure out how to control the weather)

I met Jacqueline, Ryan, and their two dogs at Green Mountain Park for their engagement session and I understood. Sometimes plans change. In a really beautiful way. The skies were blue, the flowers were blooming, and the light was perfect.

Kisses & Disses: Baby Sloths and Spring Sickness

jessica — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 05:41:26 +0000

I’m finally over the hill. No, not the age hill. The runny-nosed, red-eyed, breathing like you’re Darth Vader spring sickness hill. FINALLY. And I couldn’t be more ready. I rested, I ate chicken soup, I drank tea, and I watched re-runs of Boy Meets World until….ok…maybe I’m still watching.

Nevermind that.

I’m better now and I’m ready to come back to the blogosphere. Here’s your next installment of Kisses & Disses!

This weeks KISSES go to:

1.) Boy Meets World. Because Topanga was just that cool.

2.) The tissues with Vick’s Vapo Rub built in. Omigosh.

3.) Pinterest. For helping me through the nights when Nyquil couldn’t. And for teaching me 80,000 things to do with baking soda.

4.) BABY SLOTHS. (!!!!) This is possibly the most wonderful thing I’ve ever seen.

5.) Spending time with awesome new clients! I’m sooo psyched at the ridiculously awesome couples that will be gracing my camera this year.

This week’s DISSES go to:

1.) Springtime pollen. Once again.

2.) Running. I started feeling ill only after I went running for the first time in YEARS. Coincidence? I think not.

3.) Taxes. Ok…I did them. But there aren’t enough psuedo-cheerful Turbo Tax emails in the world to take away the empty feeling it’s left in my bank account. Not cool Uncle Sam. Not cool.