Sterling Maye is a Newborn!
The Sweet Cheeks. That’s what I call ‘em. The Cheeks family couldn’t be any nicer. They are warm, welcoming, and make ya feel like one of the fam. I have loved getting to know aspiring photographer Tomi through email, and a couple of weeks ago, we finally met “in real life”. As soon as she was preggers, she knew she wanted to do a Juxtapose baby plan, and I was ecstatic. As with all of my clients, it is just so wonderful to work with people who find meaning and so much significance in what I do. That truly inspires me on an artistic level, and allows me to crank out some fun stuff. So thanks, Sweet Cheeks. 
Just at the beginning of the holiday season, little Sterling Maye was born. What a precious angel she is! She hardly made a peep and was just so snugglicious. I could photograph her till kingdom come. Plus, her nursery is TO. DIE. FOR. Tomi really outdid herself…no bed-in-a-bag there, folks. She is such a whiz on the sewing machine and it shows!
Here’s the latest Juxtapose newborn, Miss Sterling Maye!
Favorite!
Since Sterling was recently born, she gets to have the Cheeks family birthday sombrero on display in her room.
Oh, the toes! And notice the feet are together…what a little lady!
They already have that fabulous mother-daughter dynamic.
The whole fam is just enamored with Sterling.
Favorite!
Doesn’t this make you want to be held?
Another favorite!
Oh, just gorgeous. Love it love it love it.
Thanks for such a fun session, Sweet Cheeks, and I can’t wait to see you at Sterling’s 6 month mark!
so sweet! she’s gorgeous. tell me more about this cheek family birthday sombrero! sounds like fun!
it’s our family Birthday hat. Everyone MUST wear it on their birthday, friends and family are subject to the silly non-sense of this fun family tradition! Everyone should have a silly birthday hat!
Dash is a 1 Year Old!
I’m playing catchup from so much time off during the holidays, so I wanted to be sure to get these up. Dash has been a Juxtapose baby for a whole year. It has been fantastic to get to know his mom, Anne, and to watch him grow into such a sweet, jovial little guy during our 4 sessions together.
He’s now a big 1 year old dude, and his cute little personality has come out for all to see. If these images of him don’t make ya smile, you are a cold, heartless individual for whom there is no hope. =)
What a cute Christmas cowboy!
The next Ben Folds? Billy Joel? Harry Connick, Jr.?
Dash is walkin’ and movin’ and shakin’!
The funniest Christmas image I have ever taken…I call it “Sad Santa”.
Happy New Year!
Hope you and yours have a wonderful evening and a super start to a new year. It’s brand spankin’ new. That means you can try new things and get outside of your comfort zone. Broaden your horizons. Think positively…and all that crap. But seriously, I believe that we can each do whatever we set our mind to, so set your mind, and let’s rock in ‘09. And if you don’t, it will make Baby Jesus cry.
And because we need some cheesy pics to go with my cheesy statements, here ya go.
Here are a couple of shots from my evening second shooting with Stacy Cross, a rad photographer and sweet friend. Can you tell we are total sticks in the mud and don’t like to have fun at all???
yep, we’re so boring. 
Happy Berfday to Me
Today’s the big twenty twelve, as I like to call it. Gawd, I am old. I can’t believe that my mother in law thought I was 27 and just came to realize the truth over this Christmas. Bless that woman! And bless face cream!
Anywho, after breakfast this morning, Mills and I decorated my birthday cake that was made for me by my other mother-in-law (Bobby’s step-mom, Lyn). It was kind of hilarious doing this with Millie, as she and I are on about the same baking skill level, but we worked it out. The most important thing is the TASTE, and Lyn can ROCK a red velvet cake like you’ve never tasted. That lady can cook! And this lady can eat!
Happy Birthday, Kate! You share a birthday with my grandma, who is turning 96 today!
Happy, happy, happy! Wish I was there to celebrate with you- that cake looks yummers! Have a rock star day!
Happy Twenty Twelve!!! Love that! Hope it was a fabulous day!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! You look FABULOUS and I hope you have a wonderful day!!!!!
Happy Birthday to you!
Twenty twelve! I love it! Happy Birthday! I will be twenty fourteen on Wed - I feel old too!
Many, many happy returns, Kate. Thirty years from now, you might begin to contemplate an elder future. In the meantime, enjoy!
So that makes me…twenty forty-eight!
My, my…you looking good, child!
hope you had a happy happy birthday!!!!
Happy Birthday Kate! You’re the youngest twenty twelve year old I know!
Hey Kate.. just popped in to say Happy New Year to ya!! Noticed you had a birthday!! You have same b’day as my mom!! Live it up and have a happy new year! Smiles!
A Very Mefford Christmas
Just thought I would put together a post of my favorite images from our Christmas 2008 festivities.
Next up, my birthday! (December 29th is the date, and yes, I have a wish list at Anthropologie!)
Millie’s school Christmas program was a hoot. Literally. They were hooting.
Like little owls, the kids were hooting, when they didn’t know the words.
What I loved most though, was seeing the grand exit. Millie later informed me that she and Sammy always share a ring on the rope, while everyone else has their own. I LOVE that! Sharing is fun.
Before Christmas, we traveled down to the Hill Country to visit Bobby’s parents.
Mills got in some bakin’ time with Gran!
Behind their house is a rad playground area that we definitely took advantage of.
Bobby and Mills tore it up on the swings!
Bobby took these next two of Mills and me.
I just treasure these, and think he did a pretty kickass job for his first time holding a DSLR.
Later, we got to open some gifts. I adore the way Bobby’s dad adores Mills.
On Christmas Eve, we walked (Mills rode in the wagon with the food) down to my mom’s for our annual fancy dinner.
Don’t know what this face is about, but it makes me laugh.
Somebody get me some oxygen, stat. Mills just took my breath away.
Christmas morning at our house was filled with laughter, the neighs and whinnies of My Little Pony, Barbie keyboard tunes, my new Kenneth the Page bobblehead’s words of wisdom (haters to the left), and later the snores of a worn out family.
Oh!!! I just love these. She gets cuter every moment, every frame. Looks like you had a lovely Christmas- with a Kenneth the Page bobblehead, how could it be anything but. Hugs!
Ain’t nothing better than Mills at the ranch!!!
We just love you guys!
Noopsy Got His…
…did you?
Tell me what your favorite Christmas gift that you got was! What was your favorite gift to give?
he is seriously so cute! i totally think he and zoey would hopelessly love each other.
A Shot at Second Shooting
It was only my second time second shooting for another photographer, so following my buddy Stacy Cross around was a treat and a challenge all rolled into one. I learned a lot about myself during that evening (December 6th) as I helped Stacy photograph Chris and Tara’s wedding.
Here’s the short list:
1) I was 100% validated that I am doing the right thing by making engagement sessions mandatory (since I give them as “gifts”, all couples have to accept!). It is really hard for me to get inspired while photographing a couple if I know nothing about them. I had a hard time that night, and I am positive it was because I couldn’t find any truths within them as a couple to reflect. They were adorable, but I just did not know them enough to satisfy my standards.
2) I am not as much of a control freak as I thought. It was very easy for me to let Stacy take the reigns, but I am also extremely comfortable to direct when it comes to my couples.
3) I value the journalistic aspect of the way I see the shots before my camera does, and doing a lot of posed portraits is just not my thing. The flow of the evening is very important to me. Nothing earth-shattering about that…just another confirmation.
4) Rowdy wedding parties are the best kind. I tend to love to photograph people who love to get wild!
5) I can’t wait till Wesley + Matt’s wedding next month because they hired the same killer band, The Atlantics, that Chris and Tara did. THEY ROCK!!!
Here are some of my favorite shots from that evening.
These guys kept me laughing till the very end of the evening…loved them! I think this shot is my fave from the day.
The details were designed by the fabulous A Stylish Soiree’s Becca and Kerrie. Love those chicas!
Now go over to see Stacy’s gorgeous and classic take on Chris and Tara’s wedding!
Love these pics, Kate! It was so good to see you. I want to work with you more often!!!
Thanks a million for your help, friend!
Thanks, Kate! You and Stacy did such a fantabulous job! We love all our wedding pictures!
Happy Holidays, Y’all!
Here’s hopin’ you and yours are enjoying this holiday season. I know Millie sure is!
Millie’s First Dance Recital (last Sunday)
My little ballerina is all grown up. Last Sunday we (and by we, I mean an army of about 15) went to see Millie’s first ever dance recital. Her 3 year old class performed a little number to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, and they brought down the house. OK…maybe not, but in MY MIND, they DID. Those little sisters rocked it out.
I would like to tell you that some of these first few backstage shots were taken just before the performance, but in actuality, they were taken on dress rehearsal day. The stress of walking the fine line between applying stage makeup and making Millie look like a baby prostitute PLUS fastening antlers in a two minute period was enough to push me in the general direction of a liquor store…so, no real photojournalistic images from the backstage on recital day. I mean, if I had just the camera, who was gonna put on the blush?
Bobby? I think not.
Best buddies!
OK…this WAS taken on recital day once the girls lined up to go on stage.
Can you tell Millie had just seen the fear in my eyes? She looks a little fried.
“OK, girls. We’re on stage. NOW WHAT???”
“We’re s’posed to do WHAT?!”
Tell it, girl!
The grande finale!
I love this shot.
This was just after they exited backstage and met the mommies and daddies in the hallway. Sheer joy!
Mills and Sam loved getting their flowers.
Say, “Rudolph!”
I love this…all five of the dancing queens from the 3 year old class!
Daddy’s little ballerina.
Oh, I am just so in love with her. Life with Millie is quite the life.
I totally just melted! I don’t think I’ve ever seen something more adorable. How many times did you bawl during this performance?
I love that she is holding the rose Jack gave her, I’ll need to show him that pic! He’ll be so excited!
I love it! She gets cuter every time I see her! Millie is so precious!
Absolutely precious!! Your daughter (and all her reindeer friends) are just darling - these are they “days”!
this may be the cutest post ever.
Quite possibly some of your best pictures yet! I wouldn’t have missed this for the world! She is a little angel… uh… I mean reindeer ballerina!
We love our little ballerina and her reindeer buddies! What a little star. Gran
sooo cute! love the shots you got, and am especially impressed bc i know how hard it is to get good images at those things. she is adorable kate!
oh my god! that child is unbelievably beautiful! cripes, ya’ll are in trouble when she turns into a teen!
the cutest little reindeer around!!! merry christmas!!!!
they grow up so fast! that made me a little teary. thanks for sharing. happy holidays!
Oh No You Didn’t.
I am in the process of getting a big blog post of Millie’s FIRST EVER DANCE RECITAL together, but I thought I would throw this one up of Mills and her teacher Miss Ryan from her dress rehearsal in case anyone was having a case of the Mondays on this here Wednesday. Feel free to insert your own caption in the HOLLA BACK box.
Much love to ya, and I’ll be back soon with a bunch of fun stuff!
“Since when did princesses wear antlers?!”
“Whatever! I didn’t feel like wearing pants, so you can just get over it!”
“Do these antlers make my butt look big?”
you’re not the boss of me!
Where is Santa?
I am laughing so hard I don’t know what to say! This is the best picture! I can’t even imagine what the others will look like! That “hands on hip” pose is PRICELESS!! Love me some Millie!!!!
Yea - I’m the star of the show. Me and my antlers!
“what part of ‘I’m a super start’ don’t you understand!”
Okay - you know I meant to type SUPER STAR right?
oh my oh my oh my!!!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!
The one of Chandler with Sterling will forever be a treasure to us!
Can’t wait to see the rest!
EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! (me squealing)