Fun in the Sun
Yesterday proved to be a beautiful day!! The temperatures were just right, there was a nice soft breeze and by mid-afternoon the sun had poked it’s head out of the clouds to give off some rays of sunshine!
We could not have asked for a better day for our Client Appreciation Picnic! As I write this post, I’m looking out the window at the ridiculous downpour of rain coming from the skies. Thank goodness our picnic was yesterday and the rain held off until today!
It was such a fun day! We had kiddos and parents coming and going all afternoon! I love seeing all the kiddos SO excited about everything! Not to mention all the hot, sweaty, sticky hugs I got – AWESOME!!!
Photography by Brandi blues and greens were everywhere this year!
I’m all about the goodies! This year, the goodie bags were stuffed full with lots of fun things. My two favorites: our fun, long sleeved black t-shirts, and the awesome, blue and green PhotobyB bracelets. I thought they both came out perfect and exactly like I had imagined!
Pebbles and Joey even got their own shirts this year! Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out how to fit the bracelets on them, or else they would have been really decked out.
Devin the magician joined us again this year! He was amazing, stumping and wowing kids and adults with his comedy magic! I think I heard “what the…” and “nuh-uh” many, many times throughout the afternoon. Every time I see Devin he’s keeping me on my toes with new tricks and variations to old tricks. Devin has definitely found his calling in life!
This year we featured two bouncy inflatables from Wacky Banana. The kiddos loved them! We had the Little Red Caboose with it’s fun, crazy obstacle course, and the Basketball Moonwalk, perfect for kids of all ages. I even ran the obstacle course and climbed into the Moonwalk – once! – and that was enough!
The brand new hit of the year was our Bean Bag Toss game! Our good friend, Cory, created and built for us two bean bag toss games in our Photography by Brandi colors. They came out awesome, and were a huge hit with adults and kids of every age!
Top all that off with some food, drinks and desserts and you can’t go wrong! Two Guys and a Grill were our food specialists this year! They grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken. I know the chicken was quite yummy, and I heard only great comments about the burgers. I even saw a few people head back for seconds and thirds!
My cookies were a huge hit! They were completely gone before the afternoon was even over. Not to mention, I saw many people two fisting the Rice Krispies! Despite parental wishes, I know a few kiddos out there who probably ate over a half dozen suckers.
All in all, it was an awesome day! Pete and I both had a blast. Thank you to everyone who joined us in making the day memorable and fun! Huge thank yous to our hard working assistants and helpers, we couldn’t do it without you guys!!! (Lori, Scott, Tracy and Chris!!)
Sucker Rules Again
Since Christgen was nine months old, he has been a busy body! Never stopping for anything, he was constantly on the run. His two year session was no different. He’d go from this chair, to that chair, to the window, to the radio…he was all over the place.
Towards the end of the session, I pulled out the sucker, and as usual, amazing things began to happen. Christgen sat down, and he sat in that one place for a good ten minutes! Of course, he had no plans of letting go of that sucker. He was all into his sucker, examining it, checking it out, giving it a taste, looking at it again, showing it to us. The sucker quickly became Christgen’s best friend!
Sleepy Baby
Jason may have been almost a month old, but in Daddy’s arms he fell right into a deep sleep! Though he would jerk and squirm every once in a while, I only ever saw a squint of his eyes.
When it comes to newborn sessions, my favorite is when they fall asleep. They just look so peaceful. You can mold and pose them any way you want. We don’t have to worry about crossed eyes or focusing issues. They’re just the most precious thing you have ever seen.
Jason was no different, whether in Daddy’s arms or laying on the quilt made by Mommy, he just looks so precious and tiny!
Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk
Always close to my heart are my clients with Down syndrome. Over the past few years, I have continued to use my photographic talents to capture and showcase the beauty of Down syndrome, along with supporting the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City.
For the last two years, Pete and I have participated and walked in the Buddy Walk. This year, the Buddy Walk has become the Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk. We are just as excited to participate this year as we have been in the past!
To make it even more exciting, we are creating our own team this year! I have so many clients who participate and create teams every year that I couldn’t decide what to do. Then it hit me, Pete and I will form the Photography by Brandi team. If we end up being the only two on our team, I’m okay with that. But, if you want to help us or walk with us, we would love to have you join our team.
Not only will you be supporting all of our adorable clients, but you will be supporting an awesome local organization, the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City (DSG).
The Step Up for Down Syndrome walk promotes acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and recognition of their many gifts, talents and contributions to society. All funds raised at the walk stay in the Kansas City area, and benefit the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City.
This year’s walk is just around the corner! Please help me, by supporting me or joining me at the 2009 Step Up for Down Syndrome walk.
The walk is a one mile walk around Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums. The festivities take place from 9 AM-1 PM with the walk starting at Noon on Saturday, October 24th.
Click here to join our team or to donate. THANKS!!
Sassy!
Miss Ellen Grace cracked me up during her entire session! She loves to make jokes and to say funny things. She was full of great smiles, but also tons of funny faces. Her most memorable move is her “sassy”. Mommy and Daddy said she does her sassy all the time, when she doesn’t get her way. Her hands go on her hips, her lips pout out and and you hear a humph! It’s hilarious! She knows sassy well!
Wrinkles
Jace really rocked his newborn session, from flashing me his big blue eyes, to falling asleep and letting me mold and pose him every which way!
My favorite thing about Jace is his forehead wrinkles! They are the most expressive thing I have ever seen on a baby. When he’s upset, he pulls his forehead together and creates a fold in the middle. When he’s unsure, he raises his eyebrows and creates these few wrinkles at the top of his head. When he’s about to let out a scream, they all bunch together. My favorite is the multiple wrinkles across his forehead when he’s content, but not quite asleep. It didn’t matter which ones he showed me, I loved them all!
A Whole New World
This is Meika’s favorite song of all time! Luckily Mommy & Daddy had it in the car, because the minute we put it in the CD player and started it up, she was cheering and smiling and clapping and dancing AND singing!! More than once she told us, “I’m happy!”
Of course, after hearing the song half a dozen times it sticks with you…but it was totally worth it to hear Meika belt out “a whole new world.”
Brothers
The minute I put the camera to my eye, and looked through my viewfinder, I thought I had seen a ghost!
Eric and Andrew are brothers, and there is definitely some family resemblance. I had photographed Andrew two years ago for his senior portraits. This year was Eric’s turn. Though I have met Eric before, it wasn’t until I started looking at him through the camera that the resemblance jumped out at me.
What I see when I’m photographing is so much different than what I see when I’m just looking at someone. All of a sudden, I see the pieces that make up the whole. I see the way their chin comes to a point, the way one eyebrow naturally arches when they smile, their slightly crooked smile, or their adorable dimple when the laugh. I love that I see all those little details, and I think everyone of them is adorable and endearing. It makes each of us who we are, and it makes us each unique!
Yes, Eric is a blondie and Andrew has dark hair. And, yes, Eric squints a little bit when he smiles, where Andrew tends to have bigger eyes. But look at those lips, those smiles, those eyebrows, even the shape of their noses. These two are brothers…no question about it!
Thanks for an awesome session, Eric! I had a ton of fun, laughing and smirking with you!
