These past few months feel like one never ending children’s birthday party where I’ve been playing pin-the-tail on the donkey and someone has blindfolded me, spun me around several times, and yelled GO!  I’ve been so busy with all the holiday sessions, destination sessions,  holiday orders + cards, 2 of my kids birthday parties, Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping…  the list goes on and on.  But, although it’s been a whirlwind of a fall season, I’ve somehow managed to keep my sanity and enjoy myself!  

Life is grand.  Here are some random photos from my life I haven’t had time to share with you, until now.

I took this over the Thanksgiving holiday of my three girls…  Check out the wide range of emotions A2 displays in only about TWO mintues time!  What a hoot!

The photo I used for A2′s holiday themed birthday party invite…

An impromtu photo shoot while the girls were scouting locations with me one afternoon…

And, I also have to mention that this afternoon I had an AWESOME engagement session with two totally sweet and obviously in love people…  Here is a completely random sneak from their session!  I can NOT wait to post more from it tomorrow when I’m not so dead tired!  I’ve been thumbing through their images tonight trying to pick out my faves and I can tell it’s going to be hard to narrow it down for their real sneak…  :)  

My gorgeous sister-in-law gave birth to my beautiful neice today!!

Congrats to M + A on an adorable baby girl…  I can’t wait to come up and see you guys this weekend!  (New little Baby K must really want to meet me.  Really.  She has perfect timing… You see, she and her family live right outside of Dallas and I am coming to Dallas THIS Friday for Destination: Dallas Sessions!!  Little Baby K… Don’t worry!  I’m coming to see you soon!!  Until then, Aunt Reata loves you!!!)

By the way, I must say that although Destination: Dallas session spots are all filled up…  Destination: AUSTIN Sessions are NOT.  If you have been thinking about signing up for a session in Austin, let me know ASAP!  I only 1 spot left and hope that you can be the one to fill it!  (For the full details concerning the super delicious sale prices I’m offering you folks in the Austin area, email me at reata@sugarshotsphotographysite.com!)

A little bit of planning goes along way.  So true…  even in the art of dressing your family for your photo session!  If you want to have a look that says ‘put together’ then you are going to have to plan a little bit.  Trust me…  I know it sounds scary.  But honestly, it shouldn’t be!  It should be fun!!  The age old look of everyone wearing matching shirts, jeans, and santa hats is totally out…  and good gosh, it’s about time!  No one dresses like that in real life (do they?!?).  You’re photos should say more about you than “I can buy 5 identical red turtle necks” for my family!  Start looking around in magazines (or even on commercials/online ads) for good color combos, pick something you like, and start seaching for pieces for you and your loved ones that will coordinate, yet still lend a touch of who you are! 

Here are a few easy examples I threw together just from searching on the internet at some pretty common stores….  And, for the record, I’m not saying you should go buy these exact outfits.  I’m giving you these examples to use as references as to how you can find things at everyday stores for the whole family that compliment each other!  

Good luck shopping!  And, as always, keep in touch with me during your shopping experience!  I love it when clients send me their oufit choices beforehand, so I can get a visual and lend suggestions when asked.

Now for the examples:

xox, reata

Absolutely wonderful.  Yes, it might have rained on and off today, which made my hair droop, hang, and resemble a limp, wet rat…  But, as a whole this day was one of the best!  

For starters, after days of worrying about the Halloween Mini Sessions being rained out, we ended up having beautiful, cool, overcast weather (no mosquitos!)….  Good weather aside, I got to hang out with some of THE cutest dressed kids ever!  The little ones did so well and had so much fun… I can’t wait to begin my processing on their images!  Too cute!  

Then, as I cruised down the highway on my way home with my windows down and my music turned way up, I decided to check my email (NO, I wasn’t driving while checking email… I was at a long stop light at a train crossing!   Don’t worry – I am not one of ‘those’ drivers).  Anyhow, I received one of the sweetest emails ever from Jen Culotta about her session yesterday.  I hope she doesn’t mind, but I really would love to share a bit of it…. Her email makes me feel soooo happy inside!

My daughter last night said, "Mom, that was our best photo shoot we have ever had."  and I said, "Yes!  It was great... Why do you think it was
the best ever?"  And she said, "Because the lady was so nice and fun."

Isn’t that just so great?!  I love it!  If nothing else, I want to forever be known as the nice and fun lady.  For real…  call me that from now on.  It really made my day to have Jen share that bit of info with me… Thanks Jen!  :)

Lastly on my list of why this was such a great day:   After the rain decided to stop drizzling I headed out with my oldest and youngest daughter to do a session for my youngest…. She’s turning two in about two weeks.  We had so much fun and I got so many great images… Something that doesn’t happen too often around my house.  For some reason, I rarely take them out for a full out session…  Go figure?!

Here’s to a great day!

I’ll leave you with an image of me having my great day:  Me, A1, and A3

xox, The Nice and Fun Lady

Let me start with this….  I can’t believe the weather this week!  After months and months of wishing I could move to a cooler state (or have a personal AC Unit adhered to my body) and sweating out countless days as the temp rose way above 100, we are finally experiencing weather in the 80s!  Thank you, sweet Jesus!

And because of the much cooler weather, me and the youngest two of my brood decided to step outdoors for more than the 60 seconds it takes to load into the car… We actually went to the park, went on a walk, rode tricycles, and picked flowers!  It’s been quite a week!  However, engaging in all this unexpected activity outdoors has made us need some pampering back inside the coziness of our home all the more.   So, being the thoughtfull sweetheart that she is, my nearly 5 year old decided to give me a “medicare”.  Well, she thinks she gave me a medicare…. but what she keeps forgetting is that it’s actually called a pedicure.  She rubbed my little tootsies for nearly 20 minutes the other night as she explained to me, in a very soothing, somewhat belittling voice, what all her “medicare” moves are and how she does them.  Anyhow, she rubbed and rubbed….  tried at least 10 different lotions on me, did her special moves, and never even asked for a single dime or even a return “treatment”.  Oh yeah, sometimes when she forgets to call it a “medicare”, she just calls it a “treatment”.  But, whatever you wanna call it… it was awesome and I had softer, happier feet afterwards, not to mention a heart full of smiles.

In honor of my little “medicare treatment” giver… Here are some photos of her showing off her glittery pink belt.  She tucked her shirt in just to make sure the glitter and heart were visible in every single photo.

She even tucked it in at the back…. gotta get ALL that glitter showing!

Enjoy your weekend – Happy Friday!

xox, reata

Oh yeah, baby!  Sugar Shots is hitting the road in November… Gonna be heading to Dallas, followed by Austin, to visit some family and do another round of Destination Sessions!  Only this time, I am giving away KILLER deals!!  Seriously.  I don’t know what I was thinking when I came up with this…  I’m offering regular full sessions, as well as mini sessions, at a great price with obviously no travel fee…  plus, I’m throwing in a discount and something digital!

If you live in the Dallas or Austin area and are looking for a good deal and fabulous imagery for your holiday card… give me shout and request info and set up your session!  These sessions are very limited.

If you live in the Houston/Sugar Land area and are wishing I’d do something like this in your neck of the woods…..  Don’t worry!  I’m planning on it!  Not only am I going to offer a couple of days of Holiday Mini Sessions very soon, I’m also going to be offering Halloween Mini Sessions again!  So, keep your eyes and ears open… That info will be out *very, very* soon!

xox, reata

This photo sums it all up.  This is the reason they come together… Fun. Family. Times.  Heck, it’s why any family comes together.  Through the chaos of screaming kids, summer heat, and mosquitos, there is an undying love for family and all that it stands for and represents.

Family.  That’s why I was called in to visit the Brooks’ family.  Four generations of family were all together hanging out for the day and needed to be captured in the raw.  Which included little ones, who didn’t want to sit still for me and my camera:

We even bribed the little ones with Doritos to get them to sit still… But, I’m saving those awesome images for the family’s fun filled gallery!  :)  Anyhow, thank you Brook’s Family!  I’m having a blast editing your session and I’m excited to show you all of them in your gallery… I’m almost done so it won’t be long till you have them all.  Hope this sneek peak helps!  :)

The afternoon consisted of all kinds of photos… 

And of course, a big family shot…

Had so much fun hangin with you guys… Can’t wait to show you the rest!  xox, reata

Quick update…   My email (reata@sugarshotsphotographysite.com) has been on the blink as of the last 5 days or so.  So, if you have sent me an email and are wondering why I haven’t replied, this is why!  Until I can figure out what is wrong, please email me at the following address:  sugarshotsphotography@gmail.com

And because I think this post will look better with a photo attached to it… Here is one I found the other night from the very beginning of summer!  It’s my littlest daughter.  I can’t believe how much bigger she looks now… This summer sure has flown by!

so excited…. I just can’t hide it!  (Yes, reach way back to 1982 for that one… The Pointer Sisters!)

Why am I so excited, you ask?  Well, I’ve got a ticket…

To my fave artist of all time…

Yes, internet friends… I’m going to see Paul McCartney!  And, if you’ve ever looked at the “About Me” page on this blog, you’ll know that he is my absolute fave.  Like, really.  I love him.  A lot.  No, more than a lot.  A ton.  And, as if it couldn’t get any better, this time I’m bringing 2 of my 3 little girls with me!  My oldest daughter came with me + my husband to see Paul when she was about 5… but this will be my middle daughter’s first time!  She is super excited…  She knows almost every Beatles song… plenty of Wings songs… and every new Paul song.

 Now.  If only I could get my hands on a backstage pass….  (sigh)

Oh!  On a completely unrelated subject…  We’ve had a major accomplishment in our household having to do with my 18 month old!  And actually, it happened without us even teaching her any of this…   She poses.  On command!  Ever single time I tell her to pose, she puts her hands on her little waste, pushes out one hip, and tilts her head!   Check her out:

As the above photo shows, she poses no matter what kind of clothes she may or may not be wearing!  And after her pose, she exclaims – “CUTE!”

Um, what else can I share with you today….  Oh, I know!  I have new artwork in my office today… They are all original, given to me straight from the artist.

Well, that’s all for now!  If anyone knows where or how I can get my hands on a backstage pass for the Paul concert in Dallas… Let me know!   I’d be your best friend forever if you can hook me up!  :)

xox, reata

Sometimes you can just tell you are itching for a change…  I had that feeling today when I went in to visit my wonderful hairdresser Lynn.  I’d been thinking of doing the whole bangs thing since February and just now got the nerve to go for it… I’m sure glad I did!  It’s just what I needed…  And, the best part is my daughter thinks I look like a mod 60′s go-go dancer!  Score!!

Anyhow… Not only did I get the fresh new look I was yearning for, but I also was able to give my husband and daughter a good excuse to shoot me (with my camera!).  I’ve been giving them lessons in composition, etc and they are coming along wonderfully!  Pretty soon, Sugar Shots will have a 2nd and 3rd shooter!  :)  My oldest daughter took the above photo… pretty swell, huh?

My husband took these fabulous ones:

Thanks A + C  for my photos…

xox, reata