smitten photography

dreams come true...

words cannot begin to explain the magic that ryan & i just experienced over the last four days with our daughter, elle

disney world takes on a whole new meaning when you take your own child there.  i found myself emotional as we walked into the magic kingdom for the first time & when elle rounded the corner on main street, holding her best friends little hand, her joy was marked by skipping and screaming at the top of her lungs.  i couldn't get enough of watching her face be surprised as we met her favorite princesses, of her laughter as we rode dumbos circus & of her unsure excitement coming off of splash mountain with ryan :)  

she had fairy dust sprinkled on her, hugged cinderella, twirled in the street in her belle dress, rode her first roller coaster, faced her fears of the ugly stepmother & stepsisters, ate ice cream at 10 am, was dazzled by parades, ate dinner in the castle with cinderellas fairy godmother, got soaking wet in a dancing water fountain, hardly slept, didn't complain & was as grateful for all of these gifts as i have ever seen a three year old.

it was a magical week full of dreams. wishes. & fairytales.

here are a few stills and you can click above for a slideshow.  hope this brings back memories for you...

and the bride wore red...

as much as i am dying to show you the photos from this amazing session, i can't :)  but, i thought it would be fun to give a little taste of the personality of this fun. fresh. real. smitten bride!  you'll see more from this shoot after the wedding later this summer!

in other news...

less than 48 hours to go on the countdown until we load up the car and venture to the "happiest place on earth!"

thats right...ryan & i are taking elle to disney world in orlando...and insanely enough, we decided to drive & not fly :)

we are actually going with some great friends whose daughter happens to be elle's best friend!  arin & i are both having babies this year so we thought it would be a great chance to give the girls some magical time with mommy & daddy before our houses are invaded with spit up & diapers!  we also considered how much more fun it would be to share the experience with a little friend...riding dumbo together and squealing about every moment along the way.

elle is super excited & has been asking every day for the last 40 days if today was the day we leave for disney world.  now that its here, i think i am more excited than she is.  i have dreamt of her walking through the gates and being overwhelmed by disney heaven...carrying around a mickey mouse balloon, wearing a minnie mouse headband & having dinner with cinderella in her castle.  there is something to be said about being a 3.5 year old and believing in fairy tales,  glass slippers & endless fun.  i can't wait to share photos from our adventure throughout the week!

can i get a big "hooooooorrraaayyyyyyyyyy" for the kickoff to summer this weekend!!!!!!  the full return of tank tops & rainbow sandals is here :)

strawberry shortcake...

got to spend a fun afternoon with my favorite girl at the strawberry patch today.  it was her first time picking from the vine & she had more fun eating as she went, than actually putting anything in her basket.  we went with some of our favorite girls from north meck & then came back & indulged in homemade strawberry shortcake

 enjoy some pics of my little heart with strawberry lips...

 

fifty, what?

this week, the smitten photography blog has reached over 50,000 hits!!!

i am so grateful to those of you who have taken an interest in the way i view life through my lens & in the joys that come from capturing people doing what they do best...being themselves.

i think this is proof that there is something in every one of us that longs for memories of laughter, running, kissing, tickling, tears, little feet, twirling, doggie piles, snuggling, playing, holding hands, commitment, family, sunsets, rich blue skies, being barefoot on the beach, climbing mountains & giving in to the needs of our hearts that tell us that there is a god who wants nothing more than to make our dreams come true.

thank you for all the emails, messages & comments affirming my passion & desire to create something that is fun. fresh. & real!!

be smitten.

sharon

smoke alarms...

here is a little preview from a bridal shoot i had with caroline, who is marrying her charlotte fireman, chris, in august! all i have to say about their wedding is it will involve lots of fun friends, a big party & a ride on a fire truck that i am insanely excited about! because i like to keep you waiting, here are three of my favorites...

for kelly.

kelly, is a self proclaimed smitten blog stalker. she told me jokingly that i couldn't say this in her post, but i told her i was going to anyway :)
kelly is one of those people who everyone wants to be around. she is friends with one of my best friends & is the sister of graylynn, whose snowy wedding i shot in january. for months we have been anticipating a photo shoot & every time i photograph one of her friends, she writes me an email telling me she can't wait until its her turn.
i say all this because its people like kelly, who are so excited about smitten, that make me love what i do. there is nothing like arriving at a photo shoot with a family who can't wait to play together for an hour...despite what runny noses, potty breaks, or grumpy faces may come. they know that we will capture laughter & togetherness in a way that is so fleeting as little munchkins get older. all it takes is some tickling, lollipops & being with mom+dad to bring it out.
kelly, thanks for being patient and so excited about your photo shoot. can't wait for our girls night coming soon!! hope you enjoy lots of my favorites...

here's ware, 2.5

what a cutie:

little sister, caroline gray, 1 year old:

so precious:

oh.my.gosh. i love these next two:

c.g. looks like a little fairy:

i love doing this shot because munchkins always seem to giggle and smile when their arms are in the air:

with mama.

how cute are these kids?!

i'm CRAZY in love with this series:

signature smitten kiss:

love the mood of these next two:

another ridiculously gorgeous family in front of my camera making my job reallly easy:

this is the way i'd want to remember my family:

dirty feet from a hard afternoons work of playing for the camera:

sweet rewards:

love this expression of delight:

c.g.'s first taste of sugar:

love how this was caught at the perfect moment:

these last two of caroline gray are of her in her baptism dress. she looked precious in it:

pretty mama...

this in the belly shoot i had last week was totally awesome! lauren is such a tall, beautiful woman & have been dying for her belly to get big enough for our shoot! she is due with a little girl in early june and was looking radiant for her photos on a cool & windy thursday. enjoy my favorites...

you know this kids gonna be gorgeous with parents that look like this:

presh:

watch out, mama model:

okay, i LOVVVVEEEEE this and am using this shot with every in the belly session!!

man, lauren can WORK IT!!!!

really beautiful:

my absolute FAVORITE shot of the day:

how perfect is this shot for the smitten logo?! :)

in the belly:

this last shot is amazing, too:

lauren, i can't wait to meet your baby girl in a few weeks!!

molly + drew

that its in the way you lift me up
i can't offer riches but i'll fight for your heart
all that i can give to you
is a promise to be faithful and a love that is true
i'm a better man for you

this is the chorus of the song written by drew & mark wagner that mark performed during their wedding ceremony on saturday, in knoxville, tennessee. it was a wedding-weeklong-celebration, with friends & family from near & far. i was delighted to be part of this day in so many ways...capturing every moment with my camera, sobbing as molly walked down the aisle with tears in her eyes & watching the many ways god smiled down on them with a golden evening, lots of laughter & the joy in their faces as they made their vows to one another.
hunter valley farms was the perfect location for the outdoor ceremony & reception. their band, smooth groove, rocked the house and left everyone wanting more when the night came to an end. drew & molly, thank you for letting me share in one of the most wonderful wedding weekends i have ever been a part of. i love you both, dearly & couldn't be happier for your love and new marriage. snuggle lots. love, sharon.

here are some of my favorite shots...

at the rehearsal dinner:

picture perfect ceremony location:

my favorite ring shot EVER!

this is sooooo jcrew:

the boys:

the reallllly cute flower girl:

gorgeous moment:

married!!!

my favorite:

such a fun party:

love the green details :)

what a perfect night:

so HAPPY!!!

******click here for their slideshow & to hear their song written & performed by mark wagner******

love in the afternoon...

caroline & chris are getting married in charlotte this august & i had SOOOO much fun with them yesterday in uptown for their engaged&inlove photo shoot!!
they had a great time laughing & teasing each other which made for some of my most favorite shots! thanks caroline & chris for such a memorable afternoon & i can't wait for the wedding! i am running out the door for a wedding in tennessee this weekend, so i don't have time to comment on the pics...but, of course, i love all of these favorites :) enjoy...

girls just wanna have fun...

i played with these cutie pie girls this morning...on a golden-sunshiny day! it feels like summer is all over these photos & i LOVE that the mornings are warmer now & the grass is getting so green! enjoy an extra long posting of my favorites...

you know i'm loving this:

a friend saw some of these photos and said the next few feel like alice in wonderland!

a serious contender for a favorite shot:

gorgeous:

then came this cutie:

precious, tiny shoes:

i love this expression! she wasn't too sure about the grass:

perfect morning light:

sticky, summer fun:

priceless:

i could make this into a greeting card:

love this hug for mommy:

my favorite of the day:

or, maybe this is my favorite :)