The Prather Family

One of the things that I love, love, love about my job is that I control it. I am my own boss so to speak. When I first started out in this industry, I gave away a lot of shoots to build my portfolio. I made a lot of easy deals. Now that I'm neck deep, I've had to get serious and really draw a good line at the deals I make and shoots I give away. Not that I wouldn't love to give everybody and their brother a good deal, but I'm also a business woman and have to make some dinero too!! It used to be kind of gray, but I think I have a good system now.

One of the wonderful things I have kept in my 'system', however, is being able to provide family photography to my pastors at church. Growing up as a pastor's kid myself, we were always well cared for and showered with gifts from our church families. Providing photographs is sort of a pay it forward that I can do for them. And let me tell you, it's easy for me to do because we have such a tremendous staff at my church and Derrick and I definitely call them family. Our church is our home here. Our mission at church is to love each other with no strings attached and I've taken this a bit literally and given this gift that I am able to give them with no strings. Just memories in the form of pictures.

This shoot is of our Children's Minister, Lori and her family. When I asked Lori what kind of story she wanted her shoot to tell, she answered that she wanted a laid back, fun feel because that's what reflects her family. They also wanted to shoot at Papago Park because that's where they spend a lot of time as a family.

I've really come to enjoy photographing pre-teen and teenage girls. I think that at this age (especially since we live in the era of America's Next Top Model) a lot of girls really just like having their pictures taken. I had so much fun with Megan. I loved her little sense of style and her giggly, free spirit. Such a beautiful girl!

And I mean, how can you not just dig these shoes? I think I need her to help me out in the accessories department for sure!

These two reminded me a lot of my brother and I at this age. A sweet love between them; playful and bantering all within two seconds.

Their playfulness..

Is he not so stinkin' cute?? Watch out Mom and Dad...the ladies'll be a knockin'.

I know this one is similar, but I couldn't resist his bashfulness.

I set Megan up here and we both got up with little spur thingies stuck to our behinds! She was a trooper and sat through it for me for just a sec before we got up!!! So worth it though, I loved this photo.

One of my favorites.

A little family fun.

And even more fun..they totally got into this!

This is my favorite of this little man. He was kinda grumpy by this point (boys don't enjoy the photo thing like the girlies do sometimes...). But when I saw it, I fell in love with this look of little boy that seeped through. Such a sweet little moment that if I had to bet, will make his mama melt too.