Mother's Day Giveaway

Mother's Day is coming and I thought what a better way to show mom you love her than with one of my Vintage Word Necklaces from Artistic Icing that features the word "Mother" - it is a very popular necklace and I am sure that ANY mom would love it! The necklace is made of a base metal and measures 18" in length. The contest will run from today through May 1st. I will pick a winner and mail it out on May 2nd - for it to be recieved by May 8th (Mother's Day) ...

TO gain entries all you need to do is to TAG Artistic Icing in your Facebook Status, (to do this type what you want to say then type the @ symbol and start typing Artistic Icing - once it comes up you can click on the name, and it will add a link to my page in your status. This will appear on the Artistic Icing wall and gain you 1 entry. You can do this once per day for additional entries. Another way to gain entries is to REFER your friends to "Like" Artistic Icing's Facebook page, and have them post to the wall WHO (you) sent them! So REFER your friends!!!! Lastly - if you have made a Purchase and want to write a Review on my page - I will count ALL of April's reviews as 5 additional entries!

Good Luck and Have Fun! The Necklace is valued at $20 and are available for purchase either thru my Etsy Shop or email me at artisticicing@yahoo.com

"You never realize how much your mother loves you till you explore the attic - and find every letter you ever sent her, every finger painting, clay pot, bead necklace, Easter chicken, cardboard Santa Claus, paper lace Mother's Day card and school report since day one." -- Pam Brown

Lindsey & Logan

Twins ... Wow - I cannot believe that Samantha's twins are ready to start school this coming FALL ... How is that possible? When Samantha messaged me that she wanted to do one of the Mini Sessions with the twins, I had it in my mind that they were 3 for some reason, NOT 5!!! Where does the time go? Anyhow - I have a special place in my heart for twins, for obvious reasons. I am all about them and want to know what I am in for as they get older. Well these 2 were a dream, Samantha has taught them manners and they know when Momma means business! I love that! Lindsey and Logan are the typical twins, they want to be together , and they are alike , yet different. They had a good time with the baby animals. And Lindsey was NOT a FAN of getting her pretty white shoes dirty. We managed to dodge the puddles and the pics turned out fabulously!

The Pate Family

I've said it before and I will say it again - I just don't know how to act when I photograph little girls ... Little girls LOVE to have their picture made. I am so used to my little world of BOYS that I never get cooperation. This little trio of sisters were amazing! They were adorable to start with in their coordinated little Easter attire, and their personalities came through in their smiles and giggles. I enjoyed them alot! They had fun playing with the baby animals. Mom and Dad were cool too! I appreciate their cheerfulness and we even started to warm up a tiny
girls and make memories that you can look back on for years to come!

Shelbie and Sophie

These were 2 of the sweetest sisters I'd ever seen. They really love each other's company and it shows in their photos. Brrrrr is all I can say, still battling the COLD - and the sun TRYING to peek out - these 2 had their pretty white dresses on and flip flops as we tromped around in the soggy, muddy mess. I admire them for being troopers and allowing me to capture some beautiful photos that I am certain their mom, as well as themselves will one day cherish. There mom and aunt was there to observe and advised me that they had also had their pics made with ducks as children, so THAT was a MUST on the list. They did everything I asked them to do with a smile and it was a real pleasure to breeze through such an easy session and come away with some outstanding photos that just scream sisterly LOVE! I hope to shoot them again sometime!

Miss Rachel

This was my 2nd time shooting Rachel. She is one cute little girl who once she gets going gets a head full of ideas and doesn't want to stop taking pics. Haha... it was a chilly morning as I mentioned in my previous post and muddy/soggy from the rain the night before. Rachel was all about the baby chicks, and the baby duck tried to climb her cute little Easter dress. The 1st few shots we used the bunny, the sun came out and it was blaring in her face. This did not make Rachel too happy and her mom referred to her as being a young child going on 90 year old ... hehe. But once the chicks came into play - Rachel was working the camera just as she'd done back in December! She became full of ideas, holding my hand as we strolled about the barn. We had a great time!

Bentley

It was a chilly morning Saturday but we were thankful for NO RAIN. It had rained the night before and there was a promise of warmer temps as the day went on. Bentley was my 1st Mini Session of the day. We got started around 10:45am. This was the 3rd time that I had done Bentley's pics and he was dressed in the cutest little boy clothes ever, as always- Angie and Marty have him sporting the coolest attire! He has grown so much since 1 first shot him after his 1st Birthday, last year. Then again this past fall. He is talking and repeating words and just flat out growing like a weed. He was as serious as a Heart attack for the 1st half of the shoot, all of us tried all of our best tricks and silly sounds/faces but Bentley wasn't having it. Finally as we neared the end of the shoot I had him laughing those big belly laughs! Such a cute little man, full of all the things little boys are made of.

Let me Moon you ...

From the time I was a child I have always had a fascination with the moon. It is always so beautiful and mesmerizing. When someone mentions anything spectacular happening like tonight's Super Moon ... I get excited! So hours before nightfall I was getting camera equipment together and thought I cannot tell a huge difference in tonight's moon than any other one - I will take NASA's word for it that it is the closest to Earth than it has ever been in 18+ years! When I first went out to shoot the moon - there was a horrible haze lingering - but as the night grew later the sky cleared and I was able to pick up a great shot! Get out an enjoy the moon more often - it is a beautiful subject!

Back in the Wedding business ...

Well I say that - but let me clairify - BACK IN THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS , BUT - WITH a partner.
I said I was giving up weddings, Then Erica Love says "Come help me with a few and see if we can work like rockstars as a team the way we do on other sessions" and I have to say - YES we do. I helped with a wedding yesterday at the Holiday Inn and it was a blast! We had a wonderful wedding party, family to work with and the most fun reception that I had attended in awhile! There was a DJ, dancing and the food was awesome too, oh and that Groom's cake ... Chocolate/Peanut Butter slice of HEAVEN! WOW! But it looks like Captured Moments Photography and Love Story Photography are in the business of "Capturing Love" at weddings ... so more details to come in the NEAR future! Thanks Erica for making me LOVE weddings again!

Vixens TAKE 2

So my friend Erica Love of Love Story Photography and I decided the Valentine Vixen photo shoot was such a success that we would do another. This was Boudoir sessions take 2 ... we had the best time this past weekend with some really fun, ladies who came out of their shells. These are some of the MOST FUN sessions we ever take part in, we said that if we could do a weekend a month we would DO IT! We laughed til our bellies hurt. So the sessions began on Saturday night with 4 girlfriends, we liked to refer to them as the "Desperate Housewives" ... they were a hoot. No shame - No shame ... these girls were fabulous. We used eyelash adhesive in places it probably was NEVER meant for, but it worked and sometimes you just have to improvise! LOL! We had one more girl show up before we called it a night. Then the next morning we had 3 ladies , one of which was one of the cutest pregnant ladies I'd seen, she totally ROCKED the camera, as did all of the other girls. It was a great time and we totally look forward to the next one! Thanks to all you girls that were AWESOME! We had a blast!

A little Princess

Today I had the pleasure of shooting one of the most precious baby girls that I have ever laid eyes on. I don't have girls and let me tell you one thing ... IF I DID - I would surely go broke buying cute accessories for her to wear! Meet Sienna - she is a doll baby, I did her mom's maternity pics about 6 weeks ago and Amanda was never so happy to see the day come that she got to enter the world. I can tell this is going to be one spoiled little diva - she has a big brother that she loves to cuddle with and a little doggie that watches over her like a hawk! It was so fun for me to get to play dress up with a little girl for a change! Welcome to the world Miss Sienna.

Wow... THAT was God...

Every now and then there is an occasion that comes along that gives a purpose to being a photographer - someone who is able to capture raw emotion in a beautiful way ... yesterday - I felt that purpose - more than I have ever felt it before ... it is moments like this that make me fall in love with my "job" all over again ...

A few days ago I had the pleasure of shooting a special little guy's 1st B-day party. And yesterday we honored his late brother Samuel in a balloon release ceremony. I have never felt more honored than to be able to capture this families special moment. As a mother of twins, I can relate to Brandy's situation probably more so than anyone else. I really do not know how one can be so strong, but Brandy was ... she has to be strong for Jackson. I have great comfort knowing that little Jackson will grow up hearing about Samuel - they will teach him about his brother and that child will have an Angel looking over him for the rest of his life here on Earth and one day - they will be reunited in Heaven ... I really do believe that.

I witnessed something beautiful this day - I will never forget it ... sometimes you know you witness something that makes you step back and say "Wow - THAT was God" ... today was one of those moments. As the balloons were released and were drifting out of sight - Jackson just as plain as day uttered one word ... "Brother" ... everyone heard it and I am telling you - it was as plain as if an adult had muttered it aloud. That was special and YES THAT was God!

A Special 1st Birthday ...

I was honored to be a part of a wonderful celebration for a special little guy. Happy 1st Birthday to Jackson! Of all people I feel like I can relate to Brandy, the mom - more than most being that I am a mother of Twins... You see - Jackson is a twin, Brandy gave birth to Jackson and Samuel about 10 weeks early (forgive me Brandy if that is not the right time frame) but little Samuel was called on to Heaven to be with the Lord. Jackson faced many obstacles his 1st year of life and is a typical 1 year old now - into everything and ready to face the world HEAD ON. I cannot imagine what this last year has been like for this family - the best and the worst all at once. However I am sure that Jackson has his very own guardian Angel shining down from Heaven, I am sure that Samuel will always live in his heart! Thanks Brandy and Chris for allowing me to capture this special day!

A promising future...

Meet Jacy. At her age - she is one of the brightest High School Seniors that I have ever known. She carries a 4.0 GPA at Chucky Doak High School, is the Editor of the High School Yearbook and has a promising future ahead of her at either UT Knoxville or Vanderbilt ... It was a cold day when we shot these downtown. We about froze our booty's off ... We had alot of fun and shared alot of laughs! I look forward to seeing and hearing GREAT things in her future!

treasures ...

so today I was doing my 365 photos ... and somedays I link the 2 projects together ... other times I don't - but today was a linked kinda day ... I love cameras - old ones, new ones, doesn't matter ... I will buy a camera at a yard sale or flea market in a heartbeat! LOVE THEM! I mentioned to my grandmother about my new found love of collecting cameras and she brought out my Great-Grandmother's old Kodak Brownie Fiesta camera ... and gave it to me, Let me just tell you how this made my life - haha ... well needless to say - this little camera is now ranked with some of my highest possesions - on the priceless list. My "maw" (great-grandmother's nickname) - bought this camera new back in the 60's or early 70's .. it has shot MANY pictures - Oh how I would LOVE to hear the stories it could tell ... it still has a roll of film in it, it is in the original box with the flash - and instructions for picture taking hints! I have seen MANY MANY pictures in my granny's old albums that this little gem has shot! I just had to share this today ... along with my self portrait 365 - will all my treaures. Enjoy!



and my treaures ...

Hello world ...

So - I am embarassed at how long it has been since I blogged ... it is one of my goals this year to do this more ... post sneak peeks over here and such ... so I have cleaned out all of the old posts and I am starting from SCRATCH ... here I am and I have a mission to make my photography business bigger and better than ever in 2011! The photography business is tough around here in my area - I think it is tough in alot of areas. But I want to shine ... I want to stand out from the crowd - I want to be me - and have my personality show through my work. I am an artist - I create things - I create material things such as my jewelry line, but I also want to create images that are priceless - that "WOW" my clients. So here I am and here I will be. Let me show you the world through my eyes.
Up until this year - I have been a "jack of all trades" type of photographer - from babies, to kids, to families, to weddings and I really did not have a specialty ... I still really don't have a certain specialty - but I am gracefully bowing out of the Wedding business. I have come to realize - it is NOT for me ... It takes a special breed of photographers to tackle weddings and I am not in that gene pool. I really love caputing the details of weddings and such, but as far as the ceremony and the organizing of the people in post ceremony pics = too much stress for me ...
With that being said I plan to focus on Lifestyle Photography - with Families, Babies and Children ... I love me some High School Seniors too! Just regular people - living regular lives. Now don't get me wrong - I love the couples, and crazy in love people too ... but just not gonna handle the big "dance" ...
Please feel free to contact me on my website - - via mobile - 423-895-5101 , via Facebook - via Twitter and via email angelica@tellingstorieswithphotography.com