Happy Thanksgiving to ALL!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and family, hope you enjoy your day!  My day started off with great news from my supervisor, Tammy.  She called and OVERSTAFFED me which meant NO WORK.  It also meant eating with my parents and my brother and his family.  Once I got to my parent's house, Mason and PaPa had to learn a new sport.

 

 

Now at first Mason thought this was more like golf, so Papa had to explain there was no major swinging involved...hahaha!

 

Papa also loves to show the kids all his neat finds at yard sales.  He wanted the girls to try on the rabbit skin hat.  Needless to say that DIDN'T happen.

 

Another things that ALWAYS happens when the kids get together is motorized vehicles come out.  Dad has found all these at yard sales and has quite a collection to get out at parties and get togethers.  Endless fun right here!

 

Inside Mimi's playroom there are tons of toys, but somehow old Thomas the Train finds it's way out and played in!

 

 

Mason loves to blow bubbles and set a "not so good example" at the table.

 

Addie wants to laugh...haha!

 



 

Mason decided he would eat Mimi's pumpkin pie.

 

 

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday...Thank you to everyone who looks at my blog and enjoys my work!!

 

Is anyone shopping today/tomorrow??  This is what my mom's counter looked like today. 

 

 



Family

 

Family

fam·i·ly / ˈfam(ə)lē/

I can't begin to even try to "define" family.  There are normal families, not-so-normal families, big families and small families.  No matter what kind of family you have or I have, it's just nice to know you and I are a part of a loving group of people that support and enjoy each other. 

 

Today the McArthur's got together at my husband's Uncle Gary's house.  It was a lot of fun to see everyone!!  We had 3 little cousins running around, along with my husband's brother and cousins and uncles and aunt.  My father n law took advantage of my camera in his face and got a few good shots of him and his best friend, Mason.  These two are inseparable. 

 

 

Below is Uncle Gary and Mason

 

 

Father n law and Mason racing through the yard

 

Cousin Candace and her daughter, Addison.  

 

 

Cousin Cody and his mother, Aunt Jeanette...photobombing poor Addison.

Well it's not really photobombing when you are in focus...hahaha

 

 



Camera love....it's here!!!

 

Today my new camera came in the mail...thanks to all of my wonderful friends and families that I've photographed throughout this year, I've been able to save for it!!!

 

I picked Mason up from school a little early and made him model for me...hahaha!
P.J.'s are from ACH giftshop and the super messy lollipop is from The Candy Jar in Cabot. 

 

Gavin and Mackenzie

 

Happy baby definition: Gavin Green.  This lil guy was great, not to mention his very photogenic and beautiful sister, Mackenzie.  These two were so much fun and absolutely gorgeous to photograph.
Mackenzie is a wonderful big sister and did such an awesome job helping Gavin sit up and giggle for our pictures!

 

Of course, these two had to have a few photos by themselves!  You only turn 4 months old once, right?! 

 

 

 

Oh the beautiful fall colors make me smile with delight, especially when there are some cutie patooties to photograph along them.

 

What happens after a photo shoot...from my perspective!

     As I finish up another beautiful session, I am reminded that even

though delivering the final product to my clients should be and is an

exciting and joyous time, I am a little sad that my intimate editing

relationship with them is over.  Or at least for now.



  

  I go through many phases as I aquire a client to photograph.

Initially I am thrilled that they have chosen me to capture their

cherished moments.  This means they've seen my work and they enjoy it,

they love it.  I then go into a slightly terrified state that I won't

fufill what they want and that I may dissappoint them.  This fear is

what keeps me on my toes. In order to calm that sense, I go straight into

my research phase where I study the area we are going, techniques that

I may need to get familiar with on my camera, etc.  This also involves

a little research on my family or couple so that I am aware of their

likes, dislikes and interests.  Of course, when the day comes that I

get to release the creative juices, I am on top of world!!

 

 

    This brings me to what I call the intimate editing relationship.  I

get to exam each and every picture not only for technical things such

as sharppness, exposure and composition, but for elements such as

emotion, laughter, candidness, goofiness, and the list goes on.  And

as I do this, I myself am laughing, smiling and even at times shedding

a tear because I capture such warm, loving and down right gleeful

expressions.

    After I get some photos narrowed down, I begin the detailed work of zooming

in and learning every nook and cranny of clients face...their eyes,

their nose, their gorgeous smiles and adorable dimples.  I see scars

and wonder how they happened and I see chins and wonder which parent

contributed to them.  This is one of my most favorite times of

editing...diving deep into that person's substance!!  I will examine

little hands and feet, along with whispy hairs that fly across a

brimming smile, shiney headbands or sparkly shoes, and the occasional

little toy train that a certain little someone couldn't put down.

These little details are what make the photographs I take so

extraordinary for the clients.  These particular little elements that

others may overlook or find accidental are what remind my families of

that funfilled, remarkable day that their lives were recorded for

years to come.

    So when you receive that little package with your CD and a thank you

note, please know that I truly thank you for inviting me into your

life for a brief moment to experience the love, support and happiness

of your family, your event and your MOMENT in time.

--

Audra McArthur

Crystal and Keith

 

So let me start off by saying what a cute couple these two make...especially when they, and I, are jumping all over Burns Park dodging spiders and falling leaves...hahaha!  I have to give Keith props, he did a great job in front of the camera! 

These two are getting married next May in Florida.  They both love the outdoors and baseball and they are both just super cute!

 

 

 

 

Funny how the most miserable pose (below) can make for a beautiful picture.  Keith's knees were killing him and Crystal wasn't feeling it...but I had them hold it a bit longer and it's turned out to be one of my favorites for sure.



 

 

I can forget my very existence in a deep kiss of you. ~Byron Caldwell Smith

 

 

 

How can you not grab a shot in the bridge...and the trees are to die for!