I’m happy to announce that I will be participating again this year in the Layla Grace Portrait Party Charity event!  This year the event is expanding beyond the Houston area to cities all over the nation!

Last year, I was beyond honored to be asked to join 9 other photographers in the Houston area to help raise money for the Marsh Family who lost their little girl, Layla Grace, to neuroblastoma cancer… The event was called Portrait Party for Layla.  The money we raised by doing our photo sessions was donated to the family to help cover their medical bills that they incurred during their little angel’s battle with cancer.  The event was a big success with an overwhelming response and was covered by the news 3 times!

A year later, there is now a foundation in place, The Layla Grace Foundation, which raises awareness of childhood cancers and funds research for new treatments.  Read through their website and become familiar with the organization…  I’m sure you will be moved by the stories you read.  As a mother myself, I can’t help but try imagine the unimaginable situations of the children and parents spotlighted on this site’s blog.

If you are interested in being a part of this charity event, read this to see what it is we’re doing!

If you like what you read and want to be a part of the big day, click here to purchase a session with me.

The 20 minute sessions I am offering on April 9th will include 1 8×10 print, 1 digital image, and 20% off additional a la carte purchases…  All for $75 which is donated to the foundation.

Hope to have you join me in this great event!

Wow… I’ve been away for far too long! I forced myself to completely shut down over the holiday season (literally had to not open my email or listen to voicemails), so I could spend some much needed time with my family.  But, surprisingly, the resting went by fast and now it’s time to get back to communicating with you all!

I’m super excited to be back actually… I’ve got some fresh, new products to show for my 2011 line-up!  I’m thrilled to offer these new high-end products and I really believe that once you SEE them in person, you will fall in love with them just like I did!

The Chromolux Panel

This little baby is so sleek. So modern. And, so incredibly glossy.  Really, it takes gloss to a higher level!  It’s your image printed directly onto a wooden panel and then finished off with a super high gloss.  And to make it even more awesome, it has an easel built right onto the back of it… It’s a glossy photo and frame all-in-one!  So fun!

I tried to capture the gloss with my lens, but I really couldn’t get it just right… You really have to see this product to get the full affect of it’s wow-factor.

The Metal Print

This product is uh-maaaaaze-ing….  I couldn’t stop staring at it when I first laid eyes and hands on it.  It’s just so… so unique.  And, so gorgeous.

It’s your image printed directly onto a sheer aluminum panel…  Very shiny. Bits of metal peeking through the image giving it an extremely distinct look.  Clean rounded edges.  And, hello?  Did I mention, it’s METAL?!?  So awesome.

Here’s proof that it’s metal… See the metal edge?

And, the cool thing is that there are several ways to display this type of print…  On the wall using either brackets or a frosted frame (not pictured on this post) OR by using this very sleek Ice Block Stand for desktop display:

That’s all for now… I’ll be back tomorrow with some more fun product photos to share !  I can’t wait to show you all in person (I show all my clients sample products at the time of their session)… These new guys are going to knock your socks off!

reata

I am thrilled (and shocked, actually) to find out that Sugar Shots Photography has been nominated for the KPRC Houston’s Best Contest for the catagory Children’s Photography!!  I did not expect such a wonderful surprise…  But, now that it has been laid in my lap, I’m just dying to win (of course!)!!

So, please —  Click HERE and go cast a vote for Sugar Shots Photography!!  I can not win with out your help!!

Now…. I’m headed off to the beach!  I will see you guys real soon…. I have some really awesome stuff I need to post, including another commercial shoot with another phenominal clothing designer, CourtneyCourtney!

xoxo, reata

This has been a super busy week in my world…  4 more Mini-Sessions for Party For Layla and 4 Full Sessions have all taken place since this past Sunday!  WOW!  That’s a lot to handle in just 5 days time, especially when you got 3 little rugrats running around the house!!  (Btw, if you are waiting on me to get back to you by email or phone, please be patient with me….  I am trying to move through everything as fast as I can!  Ahhhh!  :-D )

Love this one so much!

xox, reata

Whew!  This Sunday started out as a total wash… Literally!  The rain came from down from the heavens like there would be no end… But then, the happy little sun poked it’s head through the clouds and dried the ground just enough for me to continue with my day full of mini sessions!  Yay for the sun!

This session was mainly focused on getting headshots for her upcoming Dance Contest…  Isn’t she gorgeous?!  And, she’s only 13!

We had fun doing some “non-headshot” stuff too…

Sunday also consisted of some Party For Layla mini sessions….  What GREAT fun we had!  Thanks to all that came out!!  AND, I must mention that I am adding ANOTHER date to the Party For Layla Mini Sessions!!  THIS Sunday, April 25th!!  Click HERE to get more info and schedule an appointment with me or one of the other participating Houston area photographers!

These little cuties did not like sitting in the grass…. too itchy, I guess. I love this shot anyhow… Such adorable little unhappy faces, don’t you think?!  But, don’t worry… we only made them site there for about 3 or 4 shots before we swooped them up outta the grass and put them out of the misery!  ;)

A tad bit happier here…  OFF the grass!

I love this shot of Little Miss and her momma… So sweet!

This little angel was so happy and sweet!

And, she started walking during her session!  She took more steps than ever before as my camera snapped away!  She was sooo proud!

One last black and white before I go…  

xox, reata

I’m not really sure where to begin with this story…  I guess I should start with how I first heard of Layla Grace, who she is, and why I’m posting about her.

It was a few weeks ago when my good friend randomly asked me if I’d ever heard of Layla Grace and I simply replied unknowingly, No… What’s that?  Errr, I mean, who’s that?  I had no idea how heartbreaking the next bit of info would be.

My friend told me about a sweet, beautiful little girl who was in the last stages of Neuroblastoma Cancer….  A bright-eyed, high-spirited little girl whose loving parents had started a blog to keep their friends and family updated on her progress as she went through horribly tough, tough times fighting her terrible desease.  Although the initial intentions of this blog were not to gain recognition, this blog eventually started being following by thousands (literally) of prayerful well-wishers… all praying for peace and comfort for this one lovely family.

My friend told me I should check out their blog if I wanted… but she knew for certain, I would cry while reading it.  Of course, later that evening as I read along, I cried and cried. And cried.

After reading Layla’s story and seeing the gorgeous photos that Cypress based photographer Christie Lacy had done for them, my heart was so incredibly heavy with grief, hope, love, and pain for Layla’s entire family…  I could not, for the life of me, get them out of my head.  Their family is similar in make-up to mine:  three young girls, about the same ages as mine.  I couldn’t image how Layla’s parents were making it through each day – obviously, they are very faithful servants to the Lord.  I prayed and prayed for them – and I still do.

Four days after first hearing about Layla,  I received a phone call completely out of the blue from Christie Lacy (the photographer who did their family photos)… She did not know me and I did not know her.  As she explained who she was and told me the exact same story I had just read online four days earlier, I realized God was setting the stage for something He knew I couldn’t refuse and I was in awe.  Christie explained to me that this special little girl and her family had touched her heart…  My heart pounded. I was shaking.  And,  I was completely astounded…  Why in the world am I receiving this call??  How did she even get my number?!  

Christie asked if I’d join forces with her in a charity event benefiting the family of Layla Grace… After working with the Marsh Family, she was so touched that she wanted to do something more for them – A Charity Mini Session Event, Party For Layla.  And, because of the overwhelming response she was getting from so many wonderful, prayerful families who wanted to book a mini session, she realized she would need help from other photographers.  This is why she called me.  I was in 100%.

I am beyond honored and feel truly blessed that God led her to call my phone number – after all, there are tons of photographers in the Houston area… why me?!  I am estatic that, in addition to the prayers I have been offering up to God for the Marsh family, that I have been asked to help a little bit more….   I am hopeful that we will have an amazing turn-out for this event!

If you are interested in helping the family of Layla Grace, please check out our Party For Layla Website and consider booking an appointment for a mini session with me (or one of the many other awesome participating photographers)!  The entire session fee is being donated to the family and each 20 minute mini-session will receive one 8×10 fine art print!  

Read the details HERE.

xox, Reata