Welcome to the blog. This is the best place to come and see my recent sessions as well as keep up to date on what is new and happening here at Stephanie Shirley Photography. I also use the blog as a place to post special promotions and contests, so check back often. You can follow me on Twitter and Facebook by clicking the buttons to the right.
Stephanie Shirley Photography specializes in maternity, newborn, child, family, and birth (labor and delivery) photography in the Greater Houston and surrounding areas. My goal is to capture the true being in everyone, young and old, using natural light. I look forward to capturing you!
I cannot believe we have already hit September! That means we only have a little over 3 months to fit your holiday sessions in. Like last year, I will be taking a much needed break in early December and will be on vacation until March 1st.
That being said, my LAST session date for the 2011 season will be DECEMBER 11th. I will re-open in March for the Spring season. This does not apply to those who have an upcoming birth or newborn session or to those who are on a Baby Plan. We will still hold your sessions.
Starting next week, I will be taking only 1-2 sessions a week through December 11th. Plus, the earlier you hold your session, the bigger discount off your holiday session you will get. If you hold your session in September, you can take $20 off either session fee. If you hold your session in October, you can take $10 off either session fee. Pricing in November will be what you see in the specials below.
I am offering two Holiday sessions this year. The Holly and The Jolly. Session fee is due at time of booking to guarantee your desired time/date. Once you contact me with your session time, I will send you an invoice for the session fee.
Availability:
September:
Week of the 4th: Booked
Week of the 11th: Booked
Week of the 18th OR the 25th: 1 Session Available
October:
Week of the 2nd: 2 Sessions Available
Week of the 9th: 2 Sessions Available
Week of the 16th: Booked
Week of the 23rd: 1 Session Available
Week of the 30th-November 5th: 2 Sessions Available
November:
Week of the 6th: 2 Sessions Available
Week of the 13th: 2 Sessions Available
Week of the 20th: 2 Sessions Available
Week of the 27th: 2 Sessions Available
December:
4th-11th: 3 Sessions Available
After the 11th, I will be closed for the holidays and will re-open in March. Please call me if your session is in regards to a birth or newborn session or a baby’s milestone.
Today it was like flash back city for me. This family is sporting 3 kids three and under with the youngest a newborn. So well do I remember those days. Well, I sort of remember them. Lol! Sleep deprivation will cloud the memories. I do know that there was a lot to be laughed about, although at the time, I was far from laughing.
I was a little nervous about how the session would go since Little {E} is over 3 weeks old. I have to say that he was an absolute dream, though! He slept for a good 45 minutes at the start of the session, letting me do whatever I wanted. Then, after his snack, he was content just hanging out. This was probably one of the quickest newborn sessions I have ever done.
I so enjoyed getting to hang out with Little {E} and play tickle monster with Big Brother and Sister. Totally made my morning.
Take a peek! Check out the head of hair on him! (he’s already gotten a hair cut)
Wow, what a summer it has been. I cannot believe how many beautiful bellies and babies I have gotten to photograph this summer. The summer of babies is not quite over, though, with a 4 newborns and a birth all left to do within the next 4 weeks. I cannot wait to meet all of these babies!
I hope everyone has enjoyed their summer. My boys and I stayed busy in the beginning of the summer with lots of camps (golf, tennis, VBS, etc) as well as mini vacations to the beach, San Antonio and back to the beach. Things have finally settled down for us in that aspect just to turn around and get crazy again. Football season for my older boys has picked up and the PTO is gearing up. It is reminding me that I have yet to send out my end of summer newsletter, come up with my holiday packages and update my calendar.
Don’t worry, though, I have started brainstorming what this year’s packages will be and what they will include. Last year I tried really hard to close shop for the holidays by the end of the first week in December, but ended up holding around 20-25 sessions over the course of the month. This year I am going to try to make a bigger incentive for you to get your Holiday sessions done earlier in the year. HINT: the earlier your session is held, the bigger discount you get. Holiday sessions will begin in September and will run through December 11th. Once December 11th hits, I will close for the holidays (aside from my newborn, birth and Baby’s First Year clients) and will not open back up until March 2nd. This gives me a much needed break and gives me the opportunity to spend the holidays with my family. Plus, if you didn’t know already, all 5 of our birthdays are in January and February. It makes for a very busy 3 months in December, January and February.
I can’t wait to finalize this year’s holiday specials and to get my calendar up and running. I hope everyone survives going back to work (if you are in the school district) and back to school in the coming weeks.
I have to say that as much as I get tired of the Houston heat and humidity, I really do adore the late summer evenings when the sun is at its best. Mom was glowing when we met up to take her Bump pictures. Despite the heat, the sweat and what seemed like the miles I made her trek during our session, she still slapped on a smile and enjoyed every minute of the session.
You have been an absolute dream of a client, patiently waiting for your sneak, so here it is!
I cannot wait to meet Tucker! Momma, you really are glowing and gorgeous. Enjoy every last minute of this special time.
Last week I posted a sneak of a homecoming of a soldier. A hero to this country, to his wife and to his children. As we were waiting on his arrival, Megan and I got a chance to talk and hang out. At one point we talked about the people in our lives and those who are there for us on a consistent basis. This stuck with me a great deal because, Megan, that is exactly what you are for Row. It is women and family like you that make it easier on these Heroes to go and do a job for our country like they do. Like Row has done. A year apart. Such a sacrifice to miss so many moments of his children’s lives. We are so proud of men and women like you, Row. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you, Megan, for being the rock he needs you to be while he is gone. You are beautiful, your children are amazing. Thank you for letting me into such an emotional moment in your lives. Welcome home.
Song: Nobody Loves Me True Like You Do
Album: How Do You Love, Aquamarine?
Oh, and here is a pic of Megan and I during the wait. Sometimes I get out from behind the camera.
I had an amazing opportunity to share in a soldier’s homecoming late last night. Not only have I never photographed one before, but I have also never been to one before. My dear friend was an anxious wreck all day. Which is to be expected since she has been waiting for this day since the moment he left 365 days ago. I got to share in all of the exciting moments from when she got his first text earlier in the day saying that he had landed in the states, to seeing his plane land on the skype video in the Welcoming tent.
I looked around at all of the families there waiting desperately for their loved one to finally make their way to the tent where we were and enjoyed seeing all of the joy and happiness on their faces. Such strong people there to support their loved one as they are deployed to make our country a safer one.
I feel so lucky to have been able to share this day with them. I was so exhausted last night when I went to turn in for the night, but was on such a high from all of the festivities that it took me a while to settle into sleep. I am sure the same was shared for them to finally be all under one roof again after being apart for a year.
It isn’t too often that I get to spend time with a brand new baby, much less TWO babies at one time. They were oh, so tiny. Only one week old and each weighing less than 5 lbs at birth. I know you’re jealous! We had many laughs that comes with photographing newborns in their birthday suits complete with lots of laundry for me and for the parents. Lol! It was all worth getting to get my baby fix in. I didn’t really want to leave them once the session was over with.
Congratulations to the family. They are absolute dolls! Enjoy every minute of it, even if it involves being pooped on numerous time. Hehe!
So, last week, I posted a quick peek of Paul and Holly’s wedding. Such a remarkable family who has had such a hard year which has ended in multiple happy endings. I met Holly when I was a special ed teacher at an elementary school in CFISD. She has such a great attitude and is such a fun person to be around. Unfortunately, her family was hit with the news that Griffin had a lump in his belly. She had her brother (a veterinarian) check it out, and he urged them to get some testing done. Just to give you a run down on what this sweet boy dealt with over the year, I copied a journal entry that was written by his Grammy on the anniversary of Griffin telling his mom about his tummy: (March 31, 2011)
“One year ago this evening, Griffin told his mother that his stomach felt funny…after his Uncle Mike examined it, he discovered a large protrusion in Griffin’s abd area (felt like the liver pushing against the abdominal wall). Dr Mike told Holly to immediately take him to the ER.
At the time, I was sitting with another grandson, Matthew, who was ill and in TCH….Holly, GJT, Pop and Uncle Mike were eating dinner at our house. I was trying to give Mike a break from the hospital.
I shall never forget the call from Holly….”Mom, Mike has found a big bump in Griffin’s belly…we are going to Methodist Willowbrook ER”. I waited at TCH with Matt while they were in the other ER….they saw something…..didn’t know what it was. John called me and said I needed to get to Methodist Willowbrook.
Mike returned to TCH and I met Holly, Pop and GJT in the ER…Holly was told to take him to his Pediatrician the next day for further tests.
We followed instructions..Went to his pediatrian’s office, the next day and tests revealed a large mass…..We went to TCH ER…..scans revealed there was a very large tumor in the right kidney…..and thus began the long difficult journey that lay ahead for Griffin. When you found out you would be admitted and undergo lots of test and eventually surgery…you asked us to promise you that either Holly, I or Pop would always be with you…we have kept that promise….one of us has always been with you while in the hospital or clinic. We will honor your request until the end of your treatment in May.
The first entries in this journal chronicles the difficult 21 day period before chemo could begin. Surgery, Port Placement, Differing Pathology tests and a very tough change in his diagnosis….. what a roller coaster ride of emotions.
It is still very difficult for us to look back at the beginning…
Griffin you have come a long way….taking all that has been thrown at you with courage and perseverance. This has been so hard on you….and we have suffered with you….cried with you…laughed with you at moments of fun…and have slept near you so we could hear you if you called for us.. We are here for the long run, Grifffin…… You make us proud. We love you, honey.
Your family!
Father…we thank you for your presence during each moment of this terrible battle….We seek you every day and rest under your wings every night. To God be the glory forever.“
Griffin was diagnosed with Wilm’s /Rhabdomyosarcoma kidney cancer and as of May 2011 has finished all treatment!!!!!
Skip forward a little bit and we begin the story of how Holly reconnected with a childhood friend. Literally into childhood… I am talking way back to Kindergarten. What started out as just a reconnection and discussions and old memories, grew much deeper than that. She found a best friend who went down the long journey of Griffin’s treatments. Some people have to work at happiness and love (well, all of us do to some degree), but with Holly and Paul, love just sort of happened. So, on June 11th they expressed their love to each other in front of a small group of friends and family when they got married in the backyard paradise that Griffin created from the Make a Wish Foundation.You might wonder why a bride would choose to get married with her hair shaved, but when you hear that she made a promise to Griffin to shave her head for as long as his chemo treatments went on, you quickly get a glimpse of the type of person and mother she is.
Holly… you truly are a beautiful person and mother (inside and out), Paul… you truly are a rock and such a perfect match for Holly, Griffin… at the young age you are, you have touched and taught so many people, Pop and Grammy… all of us can only wish that our parents would sacrifice as much as you have to help those that you love.
Congratulations Holly and Paul! I wish you a long and very uneventful life!
I never do weddings. I just have never had the drive to try and do them. BUT… when I got the email requesting to do this one, I absolutely could not turn it down. I have followed this family, the mother a woman I used to teach with, over the past 14 months. A lot of you know their story and some of you don’t. Griffin has quite the army and his story has such a happy ending. I will share more about his story and the Love Story that unfolded a little later, but for now a small peek at the beauty and joy this family embarked on this past weekend. Holly, you were {are} beautiful!
We sure did have fun dressing this little doll up. She was such a stinker and wanted nothing to do with posing for me… that is until we put on her pretty little pink tutu and matching headband. The tutu was not the softest material, but go figure, as soon as she had it on, she went into a coma and got very upset with me when I took it off. Watch out, Dad! Only one week old and she already has style.
My absolute favorite part of the session was getting to feed and cuddle with her. You never know what you will walk into when starting a newborn session. My luck, she was ready to eat, so I jumped on the opportunity to feed, diaper and burp her.
Take a peak at little {A} and all of her sweetness. Such a cute family.
