Miss Madelyn is 6 Weeks! {Tarrant County Baby Photographer}

Meet Miss Madelyn (or Maddy as she's known to her posse). She is by far, one of the most adorable little ones, I've had the honor of photographing lately...yes??!!!!!...
Miss Maddy recently celebrated her big 6 week birthday, however she wasn't quite in the mood to party in front of the camera. Partying mood or not, she still provided me a few gem moments to capture this beautiful time...

Now, I don't have children of my own yet, so I'm not exactly sure what ages babies begin to learn and explore their surroundings, but I think it's rather obvious that Miss Maddy is certainly exploring the use of her tongue...so cute!!


This is one love little girl...and how could you not simply adore this precious little angel!...

Babies...I just love them...and not just playing or photographing them!! I have to admit, ones like Miss Maddy turn my tinge of baby fever into a full blown outbreak! Just don't tell J yet...he will want to start trying tonight. Hahaha!

To learn more of how I can capture your beauiful kiddo's precious moments, at any age, drop me a line at Jessica@catturamemories.com.

http://www.catturamemories.com/

Remember the small moments... {DFW Photographer}

Some of you may have already received our Cheers to the New Year cards (or seriously belated holiday cards, however you want to look at it) that J and I sent out, but I absolutely love the saying that I wanted to share it...

"Remeber to live in the small moments, for one day, you will realize they are in fact the big moments!" - Author Unknown

It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, that we (certainly me) often forget those small moments that make life interesting, exciting, wonderful, scary, (insert your phrase here). 2011 is a year for me to focus on that small moments that make up the life I love, the life that I'm so blessed to have. I hope that you remember to live in those small moments!!!

Kudos to my sister for a great "in the moment" photo of us...It's definitely one of my favorites thus far! Cheers to a wonderful 2011!!!
http://www.catturamemories.com/

The Gunters {Dallas-Ft.Worth Family Photographer}

I'm making a dent in the catch-up chase!

Just before Christmas, I had the honor of spending the afternoon with with the Gunter family. It had been years since they had professional family photos, but you'd never know it. They were such troopers, driving clear across town and bearing those piercing cold winds for that perfect country-chic feel.

These kiddos were pros infront of the camera too! I love the unexpectedness of photographing children, as you never really know what kind of mood they will be in, but I'm always a little anxious leading up to a shoot. This was no different, especially knowing I'd be photographing a family with 4 children under the age of 10, and no assistance from J to help with lighting or goofiness to enhance attention/smiles. Honestly, I didn't even him this time! These kiddos were a photographer's dream, absolutely adorable and so fun!


Lindsey and Shawn were so fun too! And talk about troopers...Shawn recently had surgery on his hand, pins and all, still required to wear a brace, but determined to not have it on in the photos. He continued to manage lifting and moving the kids, all with the one good hand. We were almost in the clear with no "situations", until Lindsey (totally not thinking) squeezed his hand...I think there was some kind of smart remark made and that was her gut reaction...it totally would have been mine!! :)

Guys, thank you for an awesome afternoon...I had a total blast. You are such a beautiful family, and hopefully we can work together again soon...in WARMER weather! Hahahaha!!

If you're interested in fun family photos for you and yours, please drop me a line at Jessica@catturamemories.com. We can find some great options, perfect for your family style!
www.CatturaMemories.com

Bangs::Testing the Unknown

Another installment of Testing the Unknown...the Brussell Sprout blog post was not intended as the beginning of a possible series, but now I'm about to discuss Testing the Unknown, vII, so why not! As I've said, I'm excited to make 2011 a time of change, revamping, rebranding, re-(fill in the blank)...

I've been super bored with my personal style lately and itching for a change! So for now, change=new hairdo! So a few weeks ago, I decided to leave the reddish theme and sport a new dark hair color. Now, I realize it's not super drastic, but J and I think it's a pretty blatent change. No one really seemed to notice. Sigh...Now, I'm not one that changes things up for other people, but it's always nice to have change acknowledged, either good or bad. So, the style boredom continues...

Fast forward to yesterday...I haven't had my hair cut in about a year, which in my mind is totally crazy!! I love getting my hair done, relaxing, chatting, changing, and everything involved in that hour or two, treating myself. I decided it was finally time...time to for change...time to test the unknown!!

BANGS! Bangs=change! Bangs=unknown! Bangs=a end to the personal style boredom! I did it! I chopped the safe look and got myself some bangs!!! Now, bangs can be really scary. What if the cut turns out horrible?! What if it makes your face look fat?! It's really too short to pull back into a bump or something cute! What if you totally regret a split decision everytime you look in the mirror?! What if?! What if?! What if?! Ehhhh, I just decided to test the unknown and go for it...I LOVE IT!!!! I found myself walking out of the salon, with a little extra sass in my stride, sporting my new bangs, and feeling like a viscious fashionista! So now, Bangs=bravery! Bangs=awesome! Bangs=Jessica!

Testing the Unknown vII=Success!!

PS...if you're in the market for a pamering, you should give the Aveda Institute in Dallas a chance. The facilities are awesome, the students are really talented, the instructors are super involved (ensuring you don't walk away looking like you were attacked by garden shears), not to mention I feel like I received a $100+ pampering for ONLY $15...need I say more?!!
www.CatturaMemories.com

Brussel Sprouts::Testing the Unknown

Testing the Unknown, the uncomfortable, the uneasy...

It's all quite exciting actually...I welcome new opportunities, possibilities, experiences, relationships, ideas! Though I must say, I also love the comfort and stability of those everyday moments, routines, nuances that just seem to make the day flow smoothly. Moments like letting our big girls out of their bed BEFORE the little ones (mostly because they are talking so loudly that you just want to shut them up, but more so they don't trample the little ones as they barrel down the hallway pouncing over the couches and out the door). Moments like that wonderful kiss goodbye, before walking out the door to start your day, that would just throw everything off kilter should you go without it! Moments like instictfully heading straight in to change into comfy pj pants and a hoody, because the day of fashion is clearly over! Moments such as needing that armpit to snuggle into, otherwise falling asleep is far too difficult! There are so many small moments in the day, that are so comfortable you don't even really acknowledge them.

Then those are those moments, of really any size, that just test you. Mine today was so minute, it was really quite stupid. I have grown up firmly believing that I HATE, no truly despise, brussel sprouts. Honestly, I've never tried them, but apparently my mom has hated them all my life, so like mother like daughter (we'll blame her). So today, I finally get to catchup with my parents over dinner, and what's on the menu?...brussel sprouts! Of course they also make broccoli and peas, beacuse brussel sprouts = EWWWWW, but I decided to test the unknown and give them a shot at my taste buds. Honestly they weren't too bad. Don't get me wrong, they weren't good, but they weren't bad. They were actually rather bland and kind of remind me of a leafy lima bean, so I guess you could say I was indifferent.

So why, you ask, am I blogging about a rather ugly vegetable? Well because it's a new year, a new month, a new day. I've decided to get uncomfortable and test the unkown professionally, planning lots of fun new changes and announcements for Cattura Photography over the next few months...so why not test the unknown personally as well?! And yes, that means testing even those silly minute unknowns, like do I really hate brussel sprouts?...ehhh, indifferent! (Side note - I even tested whether or not I really hate jelly, and NO...it's actually quite good on an english muffin!)

Who knows, by the end of the year, I could have a whole new diet of preference. So what kind of unknowns are you going to test?
www.CatturaMemories.com

Mike, Davani, & Miss Sabrina (Lewisville Family Photographer}

Meet Sabrina, the toughest little cookie I've met in a LONG time!

Miss Sabrina was so excited to take on the world, she was born about three months early. Before she burst on the scene, I could have only imagined the emotional roller-coaster of the preemie world, but I must say, I have truly learned alot though this amazing family.

Our session started in Miss Sabrina's room in the NICU, a room in which she shared with a boy, oh my! Heheheee! While she was getting ready for her big photo shoot, I couldn't help but capture just a few snippets of her surroundings, to remember her first home, though strictly temporary as Miss Sabrina fought hard tocome home!



Miss Sabrina was doing so well, growing and fighting, that we were able to move into the family stay room, free and clear with no wires or sensors, for about 20 minutes! It was so exciting to see Mike and Davani interact with the beautiful baby girl...so much love!!!!!


Just as we were wrapping up this awesome photo session, the doctor pulled Mike and Davani aside for a quick chat. I sat in anticipation hoping for the best news that these amazing parents deserve...YES, Sabrina would make it home within that week, and BEFORE Christmas!! Woohooo!!!!

Mike, Davani, and Sabrina, thank you so much for the honor of capturing these precious memories!! I look forward to capturing many more as spunky Sabrina grows into an amazing little girl!

www.CatturaMemories.com

Morgan: A Sneak Peek {McKinney Portrait Photographer}

Why hello old friends! It's been too long! It was a crazy busy holiday season, as I felt like I had no down time to even collect my thoughts, less even to blog or post or anything. So, I took some much needed time off during my staycation and feel pretty rejuvinated at this point. Now it's time to buckle down, share some awesomeness, and build up Cattura Photography for success in 2011!!

So, what happens as I try to share some photos I'm currently working on?...I can't upload any photos, so we are going to give it a shot through here. There are tons of photos waiting to be shared with the world, but I am so loving the way Miss Morgan's portraits are turning out, I had to share at least one!

I think it goes without saying that Miss Morgan definitely has a presence about her as she begins the later half of her freshman year, but does she remind you of anyone, especially in this photo...???...

Tell me you see a some Kate Hudson in her!! I mean, picture Kate Hudson's character in the movie Bride Wars...the blunt cut bangs, strong smokey eyes, and that beauty even without a smile...it's TOTALLY "Liv" from Bride Wars!! Ok, maybe not totally, but I think I've definitely made my case!

Believe me...TONS more awesomeness to come from Miss Morgan...and a bunch of other sessions too....
www.CatturaMemories.com