Collin M. Smith Portrait Photography

A week at The Lazy B

So we just returned from a wonderful place…a FABULOUS place…Collin’s parent’s farm in Missouri!  I can’t believe we’ve never visited The Lazy B this time of year before now.  I’m kicking myself.  This trip was SO Amazing!  Seriously, I think they should start renting out bedrooms in their basement and open up a Dude Ranch.  You would all want to go…Trust me!  We have always visited the week after Christmas, in the dead of winter.  And it has always been a nice visit.  We love catching up with Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa and seeing aunts, uncles, and cousins, but let’s face it…the Midwest is COLD the week after Christmas.  Frigid, even, for this Southern girl and her babes.  We have never had the opportunity to enjoy all that The Lazy B Ranch has to offer.  As soon as we pulled up the mile long drive last Thursday (after SIXTEEN hours of driving in ONE day!) I knew that we would ALWAYS visit The Lazy B in the summertime.  It literally Glowed.  Everything was so green and bright and perfect.  It was Spectacular!  Our little raggamuffin looking kids hopped out of the car and were reunited with their beloved grandparents after 10 months of not seeing them, and we began the perfect vacation!  They were ready to ride horses, play with dogs (as big as horses!), swim, ride the 4-wheeler, and of course be loved on by Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa.  So we did just that!

I have a ton of photos of us just playing at the farm, and I promise to post them soon, but here are some that Collin took of Mak and CB, me, our family, and his sister Dena’s family.  I LOVE this place!  SO Gorgeous!!!

My mom bought Miss CB some red cowgirl boots and I thought they were Perfect for her black and white tutu from Cottontails…and she did too!

And here’s my super sweet, growing up way too fast, HATES having his picture made little boy.  Mak, you drive your Momma and Daddy CRAZY when it comes to pictures…But we ADORE you!!!

I got for real Cowgirl boots on this trip!  And I love them!  Collin’s sister Dena and her husband Joe helped me pick them out because I had no clue what I was doing.  Thanks, Guys!  And then Collin took my picture on the farm…

AND…dum da dum dum…The dreaded FAMILY portrait.  So important.  So Wanted.  And SOOOO incredibly difficult to get of our own family!  I told Collin’s mom that Collin and I need marriage counseling after we try to photograph our own family. :)  It’s not quite that bad, but pretty close.  Apparantly, my kids have inheritted their Uncle Reeves’ (my brother) portrait smile.  It’s very painful looking.  Remember Chandler on the Friends episode where he and Monica had their Engagement picture done?  Yeah, that’s Mak and CB during a family session.  Just Beautiful!  It took two nights of attempts to get what you see here.  Collin’s parents stood behind the camera and pulled out all the stops trying to get my children to flash the gorgeous smiles that God blessed them with.  They made inappropriate noises, told stories about potties in the yard, bribed with candy and 4-wheeler rides…it was HARD work!  I think we may owe them a session fee!  Thank you, Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa!

And here are the kids with their Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa doing one of their favorite farm activities, riding the 4-wheeler!  Mak wants one so bad and is telling everyone “Me and my Daddy want a 4-wheeler Really bad, but Mommy says NO!”  He’s right!

Collin’s sister, Dena; her husband, Joe; and the kids, Jamie and Jake came down to play for the day on Saturday.  It was so much fun seeing them again!  Byron, Sara, Bella, and Camille (Collin’s brother’s family)…we missed y’all!!!  Collin did a family session for Dena Saturday night.  I love it!

It blows my mind that this kid will be SEVEN soon!

Could Jake’s freckles possibly be any CUTER?!?!

Okay, 42 images in one post.  This could be a record!  I’ll put more in soon, but until then…Have a Happy 4th of July!!!

Elizabeth and Kent

Wow, What a day!  Collin and I had so much fun photographing Elizabeth and Kent’s wedding yesterday.  This couple was great and so were their friends and family.  Everyone had such a good time celebrating Elizabeth and Kent at the reception, dancing the night away!  Some of my favorite moments included Elizabeth’s grandmother doing the twist with all of her grandchildren, Kent’s hilarious rendition of “Soul Man”, and just watching all of the wedding guests enjoy themselves!  It was a Fantastic party!!!

Another one of my favorite parts of the night was seeing one of  “our” wedding couples from a few years ago, Matt and Lindsey New.  It’s always fun seeing how couples have grown and changed, and Matt and Lindsey have added two beautiful children to their family.  Lindsey told us a funny story about  Elizabeth from a few years ago.  Lindsey told us that she actually brought Elizabeth with her to her very first consultation with us for her wedding, I’m guessing about 6 or 7 years ago!  Elizabeth would have been only about 14 years old.  Fast forward a few years and here we are, photographing Elizabeth’s wedding while Lindsey’s little girl dances the night away on the dance floor.  I love it!  Oh, and even better?  Elizabeth wore Lindsey’s veil for the wedding!

Elizabeth and Kent, y’all are a beautiful couple!  Collin and I truly enjoyed every bit of our time with you yesterday, and we are praying for many blessings on your marriage!  Enjoy your honeymoon cruise, and we can’t wait to hear from you when you get back!

He’s got…

PERSONALITY!!!!  A TON of it!  Blayne is such a fun kid and his session was so much fun to do!  We have known him since he was a teeny baby and have always enjoyed working with him.  This was Blayne’s first “Five Year Plan” session, and it was so much fun seeing him come back to us as a big boy.  That’s what Collin and I love about the Five Year Plan.  Seeing “our” little ones as they grow up!  We threw rocks, collected sticks, ran, told jokes, made funny faces…all the things that little boys love to do!  Here are a few of my favorite images from Blayne’s session.  And, please, check out this kid’s expressions!  He’s a Ham!

Sweet Caroline!

That’s right, Folks!  TWO posts in one night!  Don’t get too used to it.  I just couldn’t let another day go by without Miss Caroline being on her uncle’s blog. :)  As I mentioned before…She’s Here!  Caroline was born last Friday, weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces.  She’s unbelievably GORGEOUS!!!  I was able to be in the delivery room when she was born and I loved every minute of it.  Erin was a Phenomenal laborer and Andrew was a perfect coach.  Oh, and by the way, Erin did it with NO epidural!!!  I think I could get into this documenting the birth thing!  Here is a slideshow from Caroline’s “birth” day…

The next day, Saturday, Collin and I went back to the hospital so he could do Caroline’s first official session.  Here are some of those…

And, finally, Miss Caroline’s first studio session at 3 days old.  She just keeps getting cuter and cuter!  A comment was made on Facebook that she was so sweet she could be eaten up with a spoon, and I have to say that I completely agree.  Sweet Caroline has our hearts!

Thomas and his Momma!

WOW!  Things have been pretty crazy here lately!  I am LOVING that the kids are out of school and home all day long.  We are practically living outside…bike rides, swimming, playing in the backyard, catching fireflies in the evening (Our yard has HUNDREDS of them!)…it’s been SO FUN!  And did I mention that we have a NEW NIECE?!?!  Miss Caroline is here!!!  We are already madly in love with the beautiful babe.  Many sessions have already been done, and I will post them SOON!  Promise!  Add to all of that the craziness of the studio and well, blogging has once again been pushed aside.  It’s a shame!

So anyway, here’s one of my favorite baby boys, Thomas!  Thomas has the best HUGE smile!  I just love loving on him!  Thomas was joined by his momma, Hope, for a few portraits.  I just love the interaction in those.  Thomas, you’re a cutie and I know you’ve probably grown a ton since this session.  Let’s play soon, baby Boy!

Girly Girls!

The next Limited Edition series that we are offering at the studio is happening on June 18th…GIRLY GIRLS!!!  These sessions have been SOOOO much fun to do!  Collin has photographed nearly every age girl for these sessions, from 4 months to 18 years, and ALL have worked out so well!  We will provide the tutus and pettiskirts for the younger girls to wear, or you may bring your own.  These sessions look great with fun skirts or sundresses too…the options are endless!  Girly Girls sessions will be offered on one day only, June 18th, and session spots are quickly filling up, so call to schedule yours today!  The session fee for Girly Girls is $45, and portrait prices are up to 40% off!  843-665-4646

Here are some more examples of some fun Girly Girls!

Perfect for Sisters!!!

Girly Girls is a FANTASTIC option for a more budget friendly High School Senior portrait session!

Call to reserve your portrait session! 843-665-4646

Big Ben turns 1!!!

I can’t believe Baby Ben is already a year old!  I feel like I just blogged his newborn session last week.  Actually, Ben’s newborn session was the very first session that Collin did in our new studio space.  The construction wasn’t even totally complete!  And now he’s one…which means we have been here for nearly a year now!  WOW!!!  What a FUN year it has been!

Ben’s first birthday session was done in a setting that is very special to his family…their country property.  It’s a beautiful place full of dirt roads, wooded areas, and even a pond.  I know that Ben will love playing here as he grows up.  It’s a little boy’s wonderland!

Charlie!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more perfect “name fit” than this one.  This baby IS Charlie.  He just looks like a Charlie.  An ADORABLY precious Charlie!  He was so fun and expressive at such a young age…CUTE!  And that light hair…and smile…everything about him is just completely adorable!  Charlie, we can’t wait to see you again, Baby Boy!

Bennett at the Beach!

YES!!!  It’s that time of year again!  Time for…BEACH sessions!  I may be a little bit biased, but I happen to think that we live in a pretty great location.  I mean, an hour from the Carolina coast?  That’s pretty great in my opinion.  And Collin and I are always looking for an excuse to head that way.  So, if you’re interested in a beach session…Yes, we travel!  Gladly!  And at any time, I might add.  People frequently call to ask us when our “Beach dates” are.  The answer is pretty much whenever you want us to be there.  It’s not unusual for us to head to the beach for the evening several times a week in the summer.  And we love it!  Any excuse for some good ol’ SC seafood!

Here’s sweet little Bennett at the beach.  I’m blogging him right now for a couple of reasons.  Number one, I just read on Facebook that this little guy spent the night in the ER last night because he sliced his chin open.  Poor Baby!  Yes, Collin and I have been there for that very reason with Mak and I know how scary it can be.  I guess it’s just part of having a rough and tumble little boy, right?  Doesn’t make it any easier on Mom and Dad though!  The second reason that I’m blogging him now is that his gallery wrap was just delivered to the studio and OH MY GOODNESS!!!  It takes my breath away every time I walk past it!  This child is Gorgeous!!!  Seriously, I wish I could invite you all into the studio just so you could see it!  Bennett, I hope you’re feeling better tonight and that your chin heals up very soon, Buddy!

Katie and Grayson’s wedding album design

I had a lot of fun going through all of the photographs that we created at Katie and Grayson’s wedding! There we so many things going on throughout the day…From brunch to lunch, hair to golf, to the wedding and reception. It was such an incredible day, and Aron and I were so honored to have been there to capture these incredible moments for them! Here are a few of the pages from the album, and then there is a link to a slideshow for the entire album.

See the entire album design at:

www.cmsmithportraits.com/albums/01074album