I Heart Photography

Cole Collective

I Heart Photography - Mel Ferro Cole — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:45:47 +0000

It’s been a work in progress this past year, but I am so excited to launch Cole Collective!

I Heart Photography has been such a lovely chapter in my life, but moving forward you will find all my current documentary children and family photography at Cole Collective. I’ll still be blogging, and the new blog site is at Cole Collective Blog.

Springdale Farm Dinner

I Heart Photography - Mel Ferro Cole — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:39:45 +0000

One of my favorite farms in Austin is Springdale Farm, The Foore’s are so inviting, sweet and just down to earth people. My girlfriends and our babies spent a beautiful fall evening having a a fun dinner on their porch with good laughs and lots of wine. Our dinner was made by Brandy Gibbs the owner of Fine Home Dining, it was a real treat. The seasonal vegetables were picked from the garden and everything was so delicious. It was a lovely night and it was in honor of Holden Stephens who I will always hold dear to my heart.

Black and white Ilford 400 HP5

Canon AE1

Film Mini Sessions

I Heart Photography - Mel Ferro Cole — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 14:59:27 +0000

This is a real treat and makes the perfect holiday gift for family. Contact me at Mel.Ferro@gmail to book your session and if you have any questions.

Fall photo shoots in Fayetteville Arkansas

I Heart Photography - Mel Ferro Cole — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:00:31 +0000

I have missed you guys up there in NWA! I have had lots of requests to get up there this fall for family and children sessions right before the holidays.

When: November 13 & 14 (yes weekdays)

Where: your home or choose a location you would like me to meet you at.

Packages: http://iheartphotos.com/blog/?page_id=97

You can choose a full session, details in link above or a 30 minute mini session for $200 which will include an online viewing page to order your prints from.

Holiday or Christmas cards can be ordered for an extra cost. These are some of my card templates I am offering this year above.

Contact: Mel.Ferro@gmail.com or 512-674-5992 to schedule your appointment.

Please feel free to pass this info on to any friends or family in the area. See you soon!

The Lupton’s: family documentary

I Heart Photography - Mel Ferro Cole — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:52:43 +0000

This family is simply awesome, beautiful and filled to the brim with life. Amy is one of those mothers that makes it ALL look so easy. Yes, Amy, you really do. Lily four years old and Oliver 11 months old have the sweetest sister-brother relationship. I loved being able to go into this family’s home and document an everyday evening with the “Lupton’s”. I enjoyed this session, this family, the intimacy, and the happiness and love these pictures portray.

One day at a time

I Heart Photography - Mel Ferro Cole — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:32:01 +0000

It has been nine months. Nine whole months since Jude has been with Chase and I on this Earth. It has been unreal. A roller coaster of emotions. You cannot imagine it until you experience loving this human more than ever. I smile as I write this, because I am just getting a minute to breathe from work and all I want to do is share this with you.

Every day I am finally feeling more and more like myself. I’ve found that most people rarely talk about how they really feel about being a mother. I have found that it’s hard to be honest and not feel judged or compared. At first I would constantly compare myself to other moms, wondering if I was missing something because I just did not feel I could relate. I was aching to get back into the groove of “life” or my new “life” I should say. I was missing work, but feeling lost in what I wanted to do. I caught myself crying in my car this week to a very dear friend. She was telling me how much she respected, admired and loved me for everything I do for my family. I could feel the huge tears running down my face, and all I could say was I never knew what it would feel like to be needed ALL the time. I was tired, and wondering how I would get through this insane work week or month or even season.

I made a promise to myself when I had Jude that I would try not to lose myself. Traveling was my world and I could not wait to share that with my children. Jude and I recently took trip a to New England. There was nothing in the world this mama needed more than that trip. I felt alive again, I was surrounded with my best friends, wine, girl time, my best friend’s sweet baby boy and Jude. We laughed for five days straight. It was beautiful and exactly what my soul had been aching for.

Now it is fall, my busiest time of the year with photography. I live for these months. These next few months are going to be wholly chaotic. Tonight I came to terms that this house will probably be a complete mess until New Years. Trying to balance a 50+ hour work week with Jude only in school 10 hours a week is going to be insane. With a husband in the creative field as well, our world seems a tad crazy. We literally bypass each other some days. We are trying to get new tenants in our house in Manor. I need to refinance our mortgage. I am expecting a new niece any day now. It is Jude’s first Halloween. Every hour I am not working, I spend with Jude. Chase works late hours at the restaurant on the weekends and I am jumping on a plane every so often for work. I have come to terms that I will always be the carefree mom that I am. Our lifestyle and reality demands it.

Jude is my BIGGEST inspiration. I finally feel alive with my photography again. He makes me see things that I could never see before. He teaches me to live in the moment. He is the light of my world and Chase’s too. Chase and Jude have a bond that melts me.

We are truly blessed.

It has been nine months and I’ve finally hit my groove as a mom! Every day is a new opportunity to better balance the many hats I wear, but for now, I am proud of myself. I am a damn good mother.

From day one as a mom, my hope has been that my gratitude in life would rub off on Jude. To hear most people exclaim that he’s the happiest little one I’ve ever met fills me with joy and resolve to take every day as an opportunity to be the best working mom I can be. I know that juggling both makes me appreciate each one infinitely more.

Cheers to Jude and to photography!

Film: Ilford 400

Camera: Canon AE-1

Thank you to my dear friend who captured the most beautiful moments of Jude and I. Mackenzie Rollins I love you.

Jessie & Jordan

I Heart Photography - Mel Ferro Cole — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 23:18:27 +0000

Oh sweetness! Jessie & Jordan are adorable and these two are getting married this fall on her family’s farm. Oh it’s going to be the most adorable DIY farm wedding that my heart completely swoons for. The very welcoming Springdale Farm sits on the east side of Austin and if you have not been, get there soon. Their farm stand is wonderful & the Foore’s are so kind. Wishing you guys all the love in the world!

I Heart Photography - Mel Ferro Cole — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 23:43:44 +0000

I picked this roll of film up today and started laughing as soon as I saw these images. Oh that diaper explosion was so NOT awesome.

Film: Kodak Portra 400

Camera: Canon AE1 Manual

Melissa & Nolan

I Heart Photography - Mel Ferro Cole — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:42:43 +0000

There is something special to get to see your best friend become a mother to a beautiful son. Having children together is beyond fulfilling. We just got home from spending a magical time together in New Hampshire & Maine. I didn’t want to say goodbye. Between unpacking, four loads of laundry, and answering work emails, I had a few minutes to upload my cards and drop off several rolls of film. I scrolled through my digital images and just had to edit a few to fill my heart with these two special people today. I miss you already.

So many more beautiful images to come from this insanely perfect trip.

First Roll

I Heart Photography - Mel Ferro Cole — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 02:10:34 +0000

I have been itching to get back into shooting film again. It is the reason I ever fell in love with photography 12 years ago in the first place. I haven’t felt my heart light up like this in a long time. I have been a tad distant from my blog lately and that is because I am currently working on some huge projects. I am taking my time, especially since I have Jude, I tend to cherish my minutes a little more. I am shifting gears, challenging myself and taking new risks.

I am headed to Bar Harbor, Maine & Lee, New Hampshire this week with some of my closest girlfriends and two sweet babies. Before I blew through a trips worth of film, I needed to do a test roll before I left. I just picked up the roll this evening. My heart smiles on the inside, I love the rawness of these images.