Simply Smiles Photography

The F Family {Family pictures Mt. Pleasant, Texas}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:31:00 +0000

The sweet "F" Family came to me a few weeks ago for some family pictures and I'm so glad they did! We had a blast walking around and snapping pictures. Little Miss A is well on her way to being a model....Dad better watch out!
Thank you for booking me you guys, I can't wait to do it again :)

Babe Case {Mt. Pleasant, TX Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:35:00 +0000

I've always wanted to take a shot like this. So happy I got the opportunity a few weeks ago!

The B Family had a baby!

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:02:00 +0000

A few months ago I photographed the "B Family" and Mrs. B was beautifully pregnant.....it's amazing what a few months will do! Look at the adorable new addition to their family: A healthy, baby boy! Thanks for letting me play for a couple hours :)

Here is why I've been MIA for so long :)

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 21:47:00 +0000

On July 11, 2011 our family was blessed with a sweet little miracle, Case Daniel!

Although he's given us a run for our money and been the reason I've been missing in action so long, I wouldn't trade a missed blog update or a sleepless night for anything :)

I think I have two of the proudest older siblings in the entire world!

The B Family is having a Baby! {East Texas Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 02:55:00 +0000

'B' not only stands for this fam's last name, but it also stands for 'Baby' and 'Boy', which is what they have on they way! I was so excited to do this session because Holly has the BEST pregnant tummy ever, not to mention their family is absolutely adorable and I love them all to pieces! This was a fun session because we combined downtown Naples for some moden shots and then headed to the family farm to get some pretty outdoor shots. SOOOO fun! I mean it when I say ANY location can produce gorgeous pictures...especially when you have a family this cute :) Thanks for an evening of fun B Family. Can't wait to meet your little guy when he arrives.

The L Family {Mt. Pleasant Texas Family Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 02:27:00 +0000

The L Family is sooooo special to me. Mama L has been my best friend since the 5th grade....how someone could put up with me for THAT many years is beyond me! I was lucky enough to get a family session scheduled with her and her beautiful family while we were visiting California last month, and how editing this session has made me miss 'home'! Don't get me wrong, Texas IS MY HOME and will be for the rest of my life, but California will always be where I call 'home' since I grew up there...and the mountains, oak trees and vineyards make my heart ache when I review this session! Thanks L Family for letting me see you! Love you :)

Sweet Baby T {North East Texas Baby Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 01:47:00 +0000

Meet Sweet Baby T! She came in to this world 11 WEEKS early and I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful fighter. She is her Mommy & Daddy's pride and joy, and with good reason! Even though she came a tad earlier than anyone would have liked, she is perfect from head to toe. As a Mom of preemies, I'm amazed at just how alert and strong she is. When her Mommy spoke to her she would open her eyes and follow her voice where ever she went...it was the neatest thing. She melted my heart and she will remain in my prayers to grow big and strong because this little Cowgirl has big cowgirl boots to grow in to :)

Weddings--Update to availability

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:48:00 +0000

Spring is almost here and with that comes weddings! I *love* weddings. I love the beautiful flowers, the sparkly rings, the adorable flower girls, the look of the groom when he catches that first glimpse of his Bride to be. I love the look of sadness mixed with pride as the Daddy walks his little girl down the isle...I love it ALL! Because I love weddings so much, I thought it was time to do an update regarding my wedding coverage for the next few months.
I've had a high number of inquiries over the past few weeks about wedding coverage for spring and summer weddings, and I've had to turn a lot of you down....and I hate that! For those of you who don't know, I'm expecting a little munchkin the end of July. Yes, July is a long time from all of your April, May and June weddings, however, a wedding is a once in a lifetime event. I have prided myself in doing whatever it takes to get the perfect shot...even if that means taking my shoes off and standing in a creek, or laying on my stomach in the middle of a road! When I'm 6, 7 and 8 months pregnant I don't feel like I would be able to do enough of a good job for your wedding, which is what you deserve!
I can't tell you how much I hate turning away weddings, but more than that I would hate to miss 'that shot' because my belly has my balance a little off!
So although I'm taking the Spring/Summer 2011 wedding season off, it's not because I don't LOVE weddings...it's because I LOVE weddings so much I don't want to miss a perfect shot because I've lost my balance and landed in a planter box :)

Mr. C {Mt. Pleasant Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:33:00 +0000

Mr. C's Mommy came to see me to get some 1 year photographs of the little guy, and what a HEARTBREAKER!!! He has the prettiest blue eyes I have ever seen and the sweetest smile! More than that, he's such a good sport! It was COLD the day we shot his photographs, and he was perfect.
I had such a great time with him and I thank you for entrusting me with his photographs!

Mr. K's 1st Birthday {Mount Pleasant, Texas Child Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:21:00 +0000

I was hanging on to these and another session's photo's until after the little guy's turned one....and then pregnancy-brain kicked in and I completely and absolutely forgot to blog about them-SO SORRY!!!
Meet Mister K. I've been photographing this little guy since he was a few days old and he STILL melts my heart! He just turned one and I still can't believe how quickly his first year passed.
Thank you R family for letting me play with him for a little while :)

The L Family (Mount Pleasant Texas Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:21:00 +0000

The L Family was one of the winners to the contest I held a couple months ago. She was the author of entry #3, one of the entries that pulled at quite a few heart strings :) This family is very special to me to because they entrusted me to photograph their wedding and welcomed me into their family with open arms...such a sweet family!

This is a couple that I admire so much for the love and admiration that they show each other.

The morning that we met for photographs was cold...no, cold is an understatement...it was FREEZING, yet they were such good sports :)

Thank you L Family for coming all the way from Dallas for your session. I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

The R Family {Mt. Pleasant, Texas family photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:07:00 +0000

The R Family has to be one of the sweetest families I know! J & A are two of the first people we met when we moved to Texas and I love and adore them. I love their little guy even more because he's the perfect combination of his Mommy & Daddy :)

I've been hanging on to this post for WEEKS now but have held off because I didn't want to spoil Christmas cards. As much as I hate to see Christmas over, at least I can do some blogging! Thank you for letting me take your family photographs R Family!!!

Stay tuned and check back in a couple weeks. I just might have a couple more of the little guy to share :)

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner :)

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:16:00 +0000

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!! Hahaha, I've always wanted to say that ever since reading it on Miranda Lambert's website a couple years ago! Glad I got it out of my system :)
We have a winner to the giveaway. After a week worth of voting and over a HUNDRED votes, the top two were seperated by ONE vote. Can you believe that?!?! ONE VOTE! Soooooo, are you ready for the winner?!?!
Real quick, I need to share with you an email that came in after we had already begun voting, but what she wrote gave me goosebumps, so I MUST share it with you:
"Family....Family is a bond that can not be broken, it is the strongest team, the strongest unit. If love could be visualized, Family would be its blue print. Family is heaven sent." Is that not beautiful?!?! Thank you Miss A for sending it to me. I'm so sorry it didn't make the deadline, because I love it.
Okay, enough beating around the bush. Are you ready for the winner?!?!
Congratulations M Family, author of the Family #2 entry! You won the photography session, disk and set of greeting cards!
....But! I seriously would not be able to sleep at night if I didn't give the second place finisher something for the AMAZING words that she shared. Her story brought tears to my eyes and the eyes of MANY people that voted for her! SO, Congratulations L Family, author of the Family #3 entry! You will receive a photography session and a disk of images!
Thank you to every, single one of you for taking the time to vote for these amazing families. And Ladies, thank you for taking the time to enter my first contest. It means the world to me that you took the time to enter, and I hope the images from your session become images you will treasure forever.
Winners, please send me an email when you're ready to book your session. I can't wait to meet with you!!!

Contest is almost over...and the announcemet of my new site!

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:09:00 +0000

Voting is still underway for the Simply Smiles 'Family' giveaway and boy oh boy have the votes been rolling in. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to submit a vote for their favorite Family. I can't wait to add them all up and announce the winner. It is close right now...really close!
...And now, what I have been dying to tell you all about...the latest addition to my Simply Smiles family...Drum roll please.......

Simply {Beautiful}

Yay!!! The secret is finally out, and thank goodness because keeping my mouth shut has been killing me! You can find the link to the new site above in the menu bar, or you can visit www.simplysmilesbeautiful.com. Finally something for all of you beautiful ladies out there, it's a service all about you :) Just in time for Christmas too! Contact me should you have any questions or to inquire about appointments.

Have a wonderful rest of your week!

The Giveaway...I need some help!

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 02:42:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway last week. The entries were amazing, believe me! They were SO amazing that my helper could not choose a winner, so after narrowing it down to the top 3, I need your help, blog-followers!
Here's what we're going to do. I'm going to post the top 3 for you to read, then you email me with the name of the entry that touched you the most. Send a simple email with the entry of the Family # that you liked the best as the subject line. At the end of next week (October 29th) the story that has received the most votes will be the winner! Send your emails to Lyndeeboo@yahoo.com
And to the girls in the top 3: feel free to get your friends and family to email on your behalf, a vote's a vote! :)

Here are the top 3:

Family 1: "Family is the people I love, admire, trust, and can't live without! Family is not just made by blood but also by the people that God blessed us with! They are just as close as the real thing or even closer!"

Family 2: "My "Boys" are the wind beneath my wings! Without them I am nothing...not a wife...not a mother...nothing! My husband & my three boys bring more joy and fufilment to my life each and every day. I never in a million years thought I could have so much love in my heart for them & my cup run'eth over each and every day. God is GREAT!"

Family 3: "Family…The other day I came home from work..tired, mentally drained, and J had already gone to pick up L. I opened the door, debating which household chore I should work on first, and making a mental list of the groceries I needed to pick up later, as I enter the laundry room.
I couldn’t see my boys yet, but I hear them. I hear J saying “I think I hear Momma” and says “Yaaay!” L mimics him perfectly saying “yaaaayy” clapping, and saying ma-ma.
And guess what…everything went away..the stress, the never-ending to do list, the worries, frustrations..it was all gone. All that mattered was those 2 boys in the living room who wanted nothing more from me, but for me to just be there. So what is family to me… It’s the knowing that you are all they need, just you, nothing more."

...See?!?! All 3 are so different, yet still share the same message...that family makes our world go 'round, and our hearts go pitter-patter.
Okay, pick your favorite, then send an email to Lyndeeboo@yahoo.com with the family # that you think should win as the subject line. You don't even have to write anything in the message portion of the email :)
Then come back Saturday, October 30th to see who has been selected to win the prize!

A Giveaway! {Photographer in Mt. Pleasant, TX}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:49:00 +0000

Hey everyone, I told you we would be doing a giveaway to celebrate the launch of my new blogsite, and I am so excited to announce it's that time! This is the first giveaway I have done and am excited.

What is the giveaway?

The winner of the contest will receive:

-A photo session at a location of their choice within Titus, Camp, Morris or Franklin County
-A disk of high resolution images from that photo session

-A set of 25 custom designed Greeting cards (these can be used for birth announcements, Christmas cards, or thank you notes, just to name a few!)

So what do you have to do to get this lovely prize?

Tell me in a short sentance, essay, note...whatever is easiest, what FAMILY is to you. When you get it ready, send a short little email to Lyndeeboo@yahoo.com with what you think of when you hear the word 'family'. In the subject line, please put 'Contest'.

I have entrusted an impartial judge to assist me in determining who the winner shall be.

The contest is open from now, October 14th, 2010 until Friday October 22, 2010 at 5PM. The winner will be announced shortly thereafter, just in time for Christmas card pictures! If you happen to win, don't feel like you MUST use the session for Christmas card pictures. It can be used for any service I offer. You also don't have to use it now, the session is good until June 30, 2011.

Anyone can enter. If you're new to Simply Smiles, Welcome! Now jump on in and send me a note! If you're a returning customer, thank you for coming back...get in here and send me an email!

Please tell everyone you know about this contest, the more the merrier :)...and what would a post be without a picture? This photograph was captured in Morro Bay, California while I was on vacation a couple weeks ago. That is MY sweet family. In a later post I will tell you what they mean to ME :)

Welcome to my new Blogsite!

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:13:00 +0000

Welcome to my new blogsite! Feel free to take a look around....actually, please do so! Help me make sure all of the links work properly and that you don't see any terrible typos...if you do, please let me know :)

I'm so excited about my new site. I will still use it to showcase sessions and give sneek peeks, as I always have.

Why did I get rid of my website? Most everyone now cruises the internet with their phone. A lot of phones weren't equipped to view 'flash' sites, so customers were having a hard time viewing their galleries and any part of my website. Add to that I never seemed to have enough hours in the day to keep both the blog and the website completely updated and that's just not cool! So there you go, that's the story in a nutshell :)

My website will stay live for about another week or two until I'm sure I have all of the kinks worked out of my new blogsite.

Leave me some love and let me know what you think.
.....Remember my post a couple weeks ago about the new service I was going to offer to you ladies out there?!?! The announcement is less than 2 weeks away and I am sooooo excited I can hardly keep my mouth shut. Ahhhh the suspense is killing me....I am soooo bad at keeping secrets! Here's a sneeky-peeky of what it will be

This service is for ALL Women. All ages, shapes and sizes will benefit from this beautiful, classy service. Stay tuned :)

....Also remember that giveaway I talked about? Check back in the next week for details. I can't wait!

Excuse my mess :)

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 04:13:00 +0000

Pardon the dust around here, but I am in the process of a remodel :)
You may find links here and there that don't work quite right....please be patient as I get it just perfect. I will post an update when I'm done moving things around.
In the meantime, please use my website www.simplysmilesphotography.com for current pricing & other information.

Simply Smiles will be closed for vacation from September 23rd - October 4th, 2010.

Thank you!

Changes are coming! {Mt. Pleasant, Texas Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 12:47:00 +0000

Changes are all around me. Summer is slowly fading into fall, the leaves are starting to think about falling from the trees, my sweet kiddos are about to turn 3, I started a new 'day job' a couple weeks ago (which helps fund my love for photography!), I'm getting ready to offer a new photographic service to you ladies (that I am SOOOO excited about!) and I'm getting ready to launch a new blogsite!!!
I can't decide if I'm more excited about the launch of the new blogsite, or about the new service I am about to offer to Women. I think it's a toss up :)
The blogsite will combine my website and my blog, which will be great since I'm not the best at keeping them both updated all of the time. It's being designed by Rita at Coffeeshop Designs, who is absolutely amazing!
The new service for you ladies is perfect for those Mom's out there who are constantly going from one thing to another...picking the kids up at daycare, dropping them off at soccer practice, stopping by the grocery store, racing home to get dinner on the table, only to spend the rest of the evening doing dishes and a load of laundry. This new service will allow you to slip off your 'Mom & Wife' uniform and slip into something beautiful. It will remind you that you ARE beautiful, and that although you may be a wife and a mother, you have still not lost that beautiful sparkle in your eyes. More details to come in a couple weeks :)
I will be on vacation until the start of October, so stay tuned for the reveal of the new site which will occur in the next 2 weeks....and there might just be a fun giveaway when I get back from Vacation!!!

Baby Love {Mt. Pleasant Childrens Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:44:00 +0000

I did Baby K's newborn pictures when he was only a couple weeks old, and look at him now! It's already been 6 months and boy-oh-boy is he a heart-stopper! He's at that perfect age where all he wants to do is smile and be soooo happy. I loved everything about our session and think he is truly the perfect baby model. Here's a couple of my favorites from the session....hope you enjoy :)

Miss "L" {Mt. Pleasant Senior Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Fri, 07 May 2010 03:55:00 +0000

I have known Sweet Miss "L" since before she was born. You have no idea how old it made me feel to have done her Senior photos. As hard as it is for me to accept she's graduating and getting ready to go out into the real world, it's also such an amazing feeling. She has grown and matured into such a wonderful lady and I am SO proud of her. I wish you all of the luck in the world LK. Knock 'em dead girlie!

A Beautiful Wedding...

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:57:00 +0000

A couple weeks ago I got the pleasure of shooting a wedding in Dallas for a lovely couple. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful this couple is, and how much they adore each other. It was so refreshing to be around a Bride that is sweet, loving and easy going. The morning of the wedding it poured buckets of rain but that didn't bother her at all! About an hour and a half before the ceremony, the rain stopped, the clouds parted and the sun started shining. It was perfect! I have to believe it was a reward to her for being such a wonderful person, both inside and out.
With every wedding I shoot I come away with a 'favorite' shot of the day. Sometimes it's the first kiss, sometimes it's Grandma sitting on a chair keeping to herself. With this wedding I have wayyyy too many favorites. At first I thought it was one of the Groom making a funny face while looking at his watch just before the ceremony...then I thought it was one of the ring bearer and his Grandparents....then I captured a very intimate moment shared by the Bride and her Bridesmaids saying a prayer just before the ceremony started...I think that might be an all-time favorite. I LOVE what this image says: regardless of how fast-paced a wedding is, there is never too much going on that you can't stop to give thanks and ask for a special blessing.
Thank you for allowing me into your lives and for giving me the opportunity to photograph your very special day! Hope you enjoy your preview.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs! I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness :)

Sarah & TJ

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Have I said before how much I LOVE my clients and how lucky I am to be doing what I do?!?! If I haven't said it yet I have meant to a hundred times. With each new customer I fall deeper and deeper in love with photography, and realize just how truly blessed I am.

Meet Sarah & TJ. Sarah contacted me about taking photographs of her and her Hubby who recently returned from being deployed in the Military. I knew from the first email that we would get along, but I didn't realize just how much fun we would have together! Sarah is a trooper. She and her Hubby were driving in to see me from almost 2 hours away. The morning of our appointment, dark nasty clouds started rolling in. When I emailed to ask if she wanted to cancel she said no..I thought she was crazy! Then at lunch time I got a weather update saying my area was under severe thunderstorm warnings and to expect hail and damaging winds around the EXACT time we would be meeting to take pictures. I text-messaged Sarah thinking surely she would want to cancel...she said no. Again, I thought she was crazy! An hour before we were supposed to meet thunder was crashing and hail was falling from the sky. Again I texted Sarah just to update her and again she said they were still coming...and am I ever glad they did! About 15 minutes before we were supposed to meet the rain stopped, the thunder and lightening rolled away, and with the exception of some soggy grass the conditions were perfect!!!

I had such a great time getting to chat with Sarah and her Hubby TJ, and enjoyed getting to know them both. They are such a great couple and I wish them all of the best. I also want to thank TJ for serving our Country and protecting our freedom. Because of brave Guys like him I'm able to live in a wonderful Country, and for that I am grateful. Thanks Sarah & TJ for a wonderful afternoon! Keep in touch, okay?

Happy (almost!) 1st BirthdayMister C and Mister E!

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:22:00 +0000

Let me start by saying there is nothing sweeter than a little boy...that is until you are faced with TWO little boys! I first met these little guys almost a year ago when they were less than 2 weeks old. Within the blink of an eye they are already getting ready to blow out the candle on their first Birthday cake, and I was honored to get to take their 1st Birthday pictures. These little guys continue to melt my heart!
Happy 1st Birthday little guys!

503 Photography Workshop {WOWZA}

noreply@blogger.com (Simply Smiles Photography) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:48:00 +0000

Let me begin by saying I am a BLOG STALKER! I totally, completely, absolutely can’t help myself when I blog stalk either, and I have no shame. I will just go ahead, admit it and get it all out on the table. I stumble across a blog, see something shiny, click it, head to another blog, see something a little more shiny, click it, see something a little shinier than the last that catches my eye, click it…you get the picture. Before I know it I’ve wasted hours upon hours and can’t tell you the road I have taken to get from Blog A to website G. That was the case the day I stumbled across 503 photography’s workshop website. I was happy in my own little world of not knowing much about my camera but still somehow getting okay-enough results that other people commented on my photographs. When I visited Jessica’s workshop page I wasn’t looking for a class, I was just following that ‘something shiny’ I had mentioned to you earlier.And that’s when I saw those couple of words that changed my (photography) life forever.
…Turning wannabe’s into photographers…
WOW. How did this person possibly know that I would be visiting her site today? How did she know that she was describing me to a “T”? How did she know that with 4 little words she could change my life so drastically?
In case you don’t know me, lets back up a little bit. I live in a rural area. We have one Junior college, that for the past 4 years had only taught photography classes during the day, a time that I was working and unable to attend a class. I had scoured the internet for tips, tricks and advice…anything that could help me learn my camera and become a better photographer. I can’t tell you how many books I purchased in my quest to really learn my camera. All left me frustrated, and with a little less cash in my pocket.
Fast forward to the day I stumbled across those sweet little words….Turning wannabe’s into photographers….I was HOOKED. I had to know what this person could teach me that would turn me into a real photographer. I HAD to know what 503 photography could possibly tell me and teach me that I hadn’t had sink into my head from all of the books, tips and tricks I had been exposed to in the past. I HAD TO TAKE THIS CLASS.

And I did.

And it DID change my life.

UNBELIEVABLY.

Jessica has an approach that is second to none. She has an attitude of caring and kindness that I felt through my computer. She has a style of writing that made me laugh out loud at times. She challenged me to get out of my comfort zone, and she educated me, more in 6 weeks, than books and research had done in 6 years.
So why am I telling you about her and the 503 workshop? Because someone might have the same blog-stalking problem that I have and might somehow stumble across my blog in search of that shiny object I am often searching for. I hope that I can be the light at the end of the tunnel for someone else out there who was in the same situation I was in all that time ago. Even if you have no desire to offer your services to anyone else, you owe it to yourself to be able to use that camera of yours. Because if not, what a waste. I think 503’s workshop says it best…”This course is NOT for professionals. It's for those of you who want to take pictures like one. It's possible, you know. You've just gotta quit being a wussy and setting your camera to full-auto. Instead, learn what those buttons actually do! Quit being a wannabe and start being a photographer! Take that step toward being someone who takes pictures that leave people asking, "Wow! Did you take that?!" forcing you to humbly answer, "Why, yes...yes, I did." (All the while secretly thinking about how much of a rock star you are.)
…SO, what are you waiting for? If you have ANY desire to learn your camera, allow me to be that something shiny that you know you’re searching for and head over to 503 photography’s website. Seriously, what do you have to lose?

...And what would a blog post be without a picture or two?!?! Here's a couple doodlebugs playing in that freak snow storm we had a couple weeks ago!