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!
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.
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!
The summer of babies continues on in full force. This sweet baby girl was so calm and peaceful. She was so content throughout the session. I fell in love with her right away when I walked in the door and saw her all swaddled and peaceful in the light of the front window. She is just perfect. Oh, and her little lips were plump, pink and absolutely to die for!
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.
I am going to have to go a little out of order here on my peeks. I had a very busy weekend and a wonderful Mother’s Day. I think after 6 years, my husband is getting the hang of it (either that, or my kids are finally getting older and easier to handle without me). Lol! I hope all the moms out there were spoiled rotten and shown great love by their Little Love Bugs.
I met this family on Saturday morning. The weather was in our favor. We didn’t have to deal with all of the wind that we have been experiencing lately and the heat didn’t really kick in until we were walking out after the session. This was such a cute family. The littlest guy in this group talked my ear off on the walk out to the location, but once we got there, refused, and I mean refused, to crack a smile for me. Every time I would get him to smile, he would quickly cover his mouth and then turn his head away from me until he had controlled his grin. So silly! You never know what you are going to get with near two year olds. It is always an adventure.
A tiny one at that! How cute is this bump? She insisted on meeting early on so that she would have pictures to share at the her shower. I have met Big brother before, but he was under a year old. Now he’s running, laughing and politely saying “no” when he doesn’t want to do something. My favorite part is when he ran up to his mom while we were trying to do bare belly shots and said “No” and proceeded to pull her shirt down. Lol! It worked out in my favor since every time he tried, it deceivingly made it look like he was being super sweet and saying hi to his baby sister. Hehe!
I cannot wait to meet this sweet little girl, even though I will be waiting a good 6-8 weeks to do so. This is definitely going to be a summer of babies!
Take a peek!
I love the look on his face. Lol! Couldn’t resist putting up this outtake.
Definitely hippity, but not from the Easter Bunny. Nope, these kiddos were much more interested in the tree frog that mom caught and put into a water bottle for them. I met them Saturday morning on Little Brother’s 2nd birthday. Have I ever mentioned what it is like photographing kiddos between the age of 18 months – 2 years? It is definitely fun, challenging, but fun. They are certainly off in their own world and want nothing to do with the things you try and bribe them to do. So, instead I follow them around, stalking them if you must, and wait for the rare occasions they sit still for a few minutes. Lol! It is definitely the age that you will capture them at their true state of play. Happy birthday big guy!
There really is such a difference between boys and girls. I don’t care if you have a girl that is the biggest tomboy on this planet. Boys truly are their own species. There really is no other way to describe it. Lol! I got to hang out with this family a couple of weeks ago. Big brother would occasionally stop to pose with his brother and then go off running in circles. I asked him to give his mom a kiss on the cheek and he wanted nothing of it. I ask him to blow a raspberry on her cheek (to make it look like a kiss) and he’s all for spitting all over her face. Hahaha! I often find myself looking at my boys and wondering where in the heck they came from. They can do some of the most strangest things. Wouldn’t trade being a boy mom for the world! Glad to have another mom, like this one, join the club.
I already showed a quick peek of one of the girls from this session on my Facebook page, but really wanted to share some others of all the girls. Yes, girls. Three of them. A perfect compliment to my three boys. Lol! Don’t tell their dad. Again, I was in love with the light from this evening. I absolutely couldn’t get enough of it.
