Connecticut Newborn , Children and Family Photographer, Lexi-Bella Photography

thanks·giv·ing

[thangks-giv-ing]

1.the act of giving thanks;

2. a public expression of thanks

I have so many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I am thankful for all the beautiful families I have met and worked with this year. I am thankful for sweet cuddly newborns that give me so much baby love and their parents for trusting in me to capture those amazing first few days during such a private and special time in their lives. I am thankful for drooling, toothless, sloppy wet kisses; giggles and grins. I am thankful for all those children who have taught me patience, friendship and have refreshed and rejuvenated my spirit with magic.

I am thankful for all the tea parties, the dragon hunts, the magical balloons and the laughter it has brought not only me but these sweet little children.

I am thankful for all the families that are booked to work with me next year; some who have booked more than a year in advance! I’m anxiously looking forward to meeting you all and capturing some amazing moments for you!

I am thankful for my friends and family who have supported and encouraged me to follow my dreams during a year of EXTRAORDINARY personal and professional growth. I couldn’t have done it without you!

I am thankful for my husband and partner, who has pulled late nights working with me or studying lighting and equipment to teach me so that I can bring my work to another level. I am thankful for the hours he has spent shooting family sessions and weddings. Lugging and keeping tract of my equipment, assisting in lighting, keeping me calm, hydrated and fed during 16 hour days and at the same time delivering AMAZING images as my second shooter, I couldn’t have a better partner.

I am thankful for my little blonde cherub, the light of my life, the one who drives me to be better each day. I am thankful for her energy and drive for independence; she inspires me to have the same energy and drive. I am thankful that she can make me laugh so hard that I cry and can’t breathe! I am thankful for the magic she brings to my life, she is in the inspiration and muse behind everything I do here at Lexi-Bella Photography; hence why my company is named for her. Every memory I capture and treasure, I do while holding her in my heart at all times and I hope that the love I have for her radiates to all those around me.

I am thankful for 2010, a year that has made all my wildest dreams come true and then some.

Thank you!

I am thankful for little pops of color during gray and dreary days that warm my heart and soul.

Ahhh yes, the first birthday! Might be one of my favorite sessions to photograph!

So bittersweet as your sweet little baby turns into a rambunctious, opinionated toddler!

My next little girl is a little Southern Belle who came up to visit her grandparents and spent a few hours with me for a session!

WHAT A DOLL!

So around June of this year I started thinking about the holidays; YES 6 months out! I knew I wanted to do mini sessions again this year but I didn’t want the typical indoor studio shots. I thought about my client base and what I loved to do and I decided that mini sessions would be outdoors, in NOVEMBER!

Yes, at first it sounded like a great idea, I mean children ALWAYS do a million times better outdoors instead of being confined to a 5 or 6 foot backdrop . And of course I was thinking of this idea in June when it was 80 degrees out! Nevertheless, I started on this task to put together not only amazing family sessions, but an EVENT.

A few days were spent hunting down the PERFECT location. This was Long Island, so it screamed for a beach scene. But I couldn’t use just any beach, it had to be perfect, it had to be raw, uninhabited, a beach no one really knew of…… And we found it and I fell in love.

Then came a few dozen phone calls to state and local officials to get permission to use the beach for 2 days and set up for something that everyone thought I was crazy to do! But, we did it!

The next part of my task was a little more difficult! I needed a Christmas Tree. Yes, I said a Christmas tree. In my home we always cut down a fresh tree so an artificial wouldn’t do. Well I bet you didn’t know that Christmas Tree farms don’t actually open until after Thanksgiving…… Now you do!

So we called up Lewins Farms in Wading River, NY and got permission from the owner to drive out to the farm and find the perfect tree! Sounds easy, right?!?! Well the farm technically wasn’t open so that meant no hay ride to get the tree, no baling of the tree, and no help loading it on the car……

We headed out on Friday, the day before mini sessions and what we thought would be a 2 hour project turned into a 5 hour ordeal with one trip to Home Depot for stronger rope to keep the tree on the car but we did it, we found the perfect tree!

And so Saturday morning, before the sun or the birds were up we headed out to the beach to set up! A 3 foot hole was dug that held the 10+ foot Christmas tree and stand and was buried in the sand to make the tree look as native to the area as possible, in fact a few families didn’t believe me that we had actually brought it in!

The tree was trimmed in festive greens, red and silver and a table was set up with hot drinks and candy canes to keep all of the families warm. But, instead I was blessed with a record breaking weekend of perfect blue skies and 60 degree weather!

And so the sessions began, 18 families in 2 days!

The set up a secret……

And families walked out onto the beach to see this……

And the squeals of joy and delight from each family and child still ring in my heart!

And so the family sessions started, I even got a few from our little mascot who spent a few hours each day with us!

What an AMAZING weekend. Robert and I spent almost 24 hours on the beach this weekend and were a bit sad to leave but the memories of such a memorable 2 days keep our hearts warm.

And so, to those 18 families: we enjoyed so much meeting and working with you all! Here is a quick sneak peak from this weekend!

ENJOY!!

Click here to see image from The 2010 Long Island Mini Sessions!

XOXO

Robert and Maria Fuller

and Miss. Lexi-Bella too!