It was time for me to do her "3 year old" portraits. I toyed with the idea of doing a tea party shoot in a field, but... eh.... Luci is not a tea party girl. At all. I wanted to capture her in her natural environment. So I brought out her 2 favorite things in the whole world. Mama's high heels and her favorite song Beyonce "All the single ladies" I had this gorgeous vision of her dancing around in her high heels rocking out the Beyonce like the does at home....but not so much....don't let this cute photo fool you.
Because THIS is what she actually did the whole session. Wouldn't put on the headphones, wouldn't put on the shoes. Just stared at her Maw Maw off to side saying "I don't want to" but seriously, look at those puppy dog eyes? How could I be mad?
I don't mean to make her sound like a brat, she couldn't be further from a brat, or a diva. She is just very, independent and unique and has her own ideas of how things should go.We did get a few cute headshots because she was in a great mood, she just didn't feel like putting on show. I guess I forgot the golden rule when working with Luci, it's her world we just live in it.

So if there is something you've been wanting to ask me here is your chance. "ASK KELLY ANYTHING" I will start doing this a couple times a year and use it as a reference when I get repeat questions through e-mail. You can ask your question in the comment section below or if you'd prefer to do it privately you can e-mail me at Kellymanno@yahoo.com

During the ceremony when they asked for the rings Bryan started patting his pockets and looking around from his bride to his best man, shrugging his shoulders saying "I don't have them" - I thought... "Here we go with the forgot the ring trick, seen this one about 40 times" except, he really didn't have the rings. Someone left them on the bus they had to stop the ceremony while they were retrieved. First time I have ever seen it really happen.

The bride and groom have a beautiful little boy named Karter. Between the heat and it being mid-afternoon I had about 5 minutes to grab some shots of this kiddo with mom and dad, we made quick work of it and got some great photos.

Look at those boutonnieres! The bride made them herself I thought they were unique and adorable.

Photographer Extraordinaire Jasmine Star says : "It's not about capturing the kiss, it's about the moments right before the kiss and right after the kiss, it's life in the in between that's what you want to capture"

I adore Linen colored tuxes in summer.

Country Weddings = Lots of Beer

Have I mentioned yet this was a country wedding? If you haven't picked up on that yet I'll let the next photos do the talking....

The couple on the bottom right of that photo were one of my very first ever birth story clients so it was fun catching up with them again.

Coolest Guest Book Ever! It was a Tree, and see those leaves? Those are fingerprints from the guests with their names written on them. The table on the right held the stamp pads and wet wipes and I thought it was such a creative idea and will look gorgeous on their wall for years to come.

I think the one area I've grown the most over the last few years is reception lighting. It took me years for it to "click" and do something other than bring one flash and bounce it off the ceiling. I have finally set up a simple effective system that works like a charm. I think I might make it class one day, or maybe a break out session at the next shot party. I'm going to call it "How to make the K.C. Hall look like the Taj-mahal" Cute huh?

Thank you Jenna and Bryan so much. I know the heat was SWELTERING - seriously...hottest wedding I have ever shot. So thank you for keeping a smile on your face and taking the heat for some awesome photos that you will treasure forever. Thank you Gail Flemming for hanging out with me all day and being my right hand gal taking some awesome shots herself.

Well, it happened. I tried to pretend it wouldn't, dreaded this day for 5 years. Got a lump in my throat anytime someone said the nasty "K" word. But despite my attempts to stop it...

Rocky started Kindergarten.

...and now my little bird has wings. It is up to him to make good choices, pick nice friends, and be a reflection of the roots we have given him. Now I'm not going to be over dramatic here, I mean it IS only Kindergarten and I think his biggest decision yesterday was chocolate or white milk at lunch. But these ARE the kids he will spend the next 8 years with and the small decisions he makes now could be foreshadowing of what's to come.

And you know what? Dropping him off totally wasn't a big deal. I am so confident in the little person he has become, he is really, really a great kid. He is sweet, and kind and cares about people. Kids seem to really like him and flock to him, he hates to get into trouble and let people down and I know he is totally ready for this.

Bubba is gonna rock Kindergarten, I know it!

the only time I teared up a bit was when I came to pick him up. He was the very first one out of the whole school. He looked so big. He walked at me as fast as he could trying to hide his excitement. He bit his little lips trying to hide a smile.

But about one nano-second after I took this photo he couldn't hold it in any longer. His fast walk turned into a sprint, shirt un-tucked, back pack flailing side to side and a grin ear to ear.

There are 2 great gifts we can bequest upon our children. One is roots, the other is wings.

When I started a photography business 6 years ago, I wasn't exactly met with open arms. I wanted so desperately to make friends with others who shared my passion, but I was never quite "cool enough" for the cool crowd.

I think I will be on cloud 9 for a few weeks at least. I am so blessed to do this for a living and I don't deserve all the love and admiration I've gotten lately, but honey I will take it! I will take it and hold it close to my heart and not take it for granted.

I will see you PARTY PEOPLE in 2011! Woot! Woot!

and I will end with my favorite quote from Jasmine...