Melissa Miller Photos

The Last Hurrah

The studio will be closed from Friday, July 31st until Monday, August 10th.  I am taking my munchkins on one last hurrah before school starts, and enjoying two weeks of mom time! As always, email me with any orders/questions, and I will get back to you the week of the 10th.  Thanks!

  

Summer To Do List

At the beginning of summer, I always make a to-do-list with my kiddos to get them in the mood for vacation fun.  We brainstorm ideas, write them down and cross off when accomplished.  This gives us motivation for outings and ideas for rainy days.  Most are simple summer pleasures (the park, swim, make root beer floats) and some require planning and tickets (Driller's game, Worlds of Fun, aquarium). Do we accomplish the entire list? No way, but we have a blast trying. 

A picture collage including items completed so far:

They brought a little suitcase...

...full of clothes, shoes, bows, and girly stuff.  And I loved it! I had a blast at tonight's session with a happy little 13 month-er, her mom, and her aunt.  It was like playing dress up with the cutest doll ever, changing outfits and bows (complete with 'oohs' and 'aahs' over our choices).

A sneak peek for Little D's family:

I took over 200 shots of Miss Congeniality tonight, so look for a big gallery soon! Thanks for girl time, ladies!

 

Yearbook Yourself

I am cracking myself up!

Yearbookyourself.com is the funniest free entertainment I've had in a long time.   You upload a photo and  your face appears in yearbook photos from 1962 to 2000, complete with feathered hair, dreds, bouffant bee hives or whatever style was hip for the time period.   Sadly, I found many a 'do from my grade school and high school years that I recognized with shame. 

Humbling myself for YOUR entertainment pleasure:

Is it just me, or am I totally rocking the Farrah hair?

The bottom two pictures are so authentic, that it's frieking me out.  My sorority photo from college is EXACTLY like the lower left, and the lower right photo is an exact replica of my lion mane of hair from 1990. 

Ten

Ten Years Old!

The Brady Bunch?

Half of this six pack belong to me, the other half to my sister.  The cousins are stair steppers in age - six kids born in six years -- similar to the Brady Bunch (without the bell bottoms and live-in housekeeper).

Miss A is quite similar to Marcia, Marcia, Marcia, the bossy know-it-all oldest daughter.  Miss J is the youngest, with perfect Cindy Brady spiral piggie tails.

I ordered initial t-shirts to update the cousin portrait from last year, and love the results! Brenda at myhodgepodgerie.com made them for us again.  Check out her website or etsy shop for more goodies.

Sneak Peek

This year:

Last year:

Welcome to the twos, Miss C.  Your gallery is coming later this week!

Deep Thoughts

"Princesses don't  brush their hair....they just wear ponies and braids."

Miss J, age 3,  explaining her no-brush policy

Cowgirl

Remember her?

Same little person, same chair, 18 months later:

Wild, huh? This is Cowboy K's little sister, who is also ridiculously cute and photogenic.  These two had a whirlwind session yesterday with about 8 outfits, lots of bows, and only a few rolled eyeballs.  Seriously, they are beyond good. 
More of the Cowgirl J:

Thanks for looking! 

A Real Cowboy

My cowboy friends came to see me today.  They are real cowboys -- they have spurs and horses and ropes and big ol' belt buckles and a ranch and a barn.  Our circle of friends bombard  them with questions about rodeoing and riding and anything horse related or outdoorsy.  I find it fascinating to learn what goes on (often before sunrise) in their world.

Even Mr. K, who turns five this week, can rope and ride solo.  He brought along his newest saddle, HANDMADE by his Grandpa, which is an amazingly detailed work of art.  Take a peek:

One of my favorite portraits of all time is a 3 year old portrait of Mr. K and his gear:

Check back tomorrow so see the Cowboy's younger sister featured!