Giving Thanks

We've hosted Thanksgiving at our house for the past two years and we couldn't be more grateful for family who is willing to travel to us. We love having everyone here and the countdown for their arrival begins weeks in advance. My kids LOVE their cousins and we all love watching them together. Our Thanksgiving was very relaxed and simple this year. Lots of laughter, yummy food and tons of fun. I'm so thankful for our family and hope they know just how much they mean to me and us. 

My top 10 list of Thanksgiving favorites:

1. Having all of our family here for days on end! I love the early morning coffee, papers and talks, as well as the late night movies and Whirly-Pop popcorn.
2. Endless hours of jumping on the trampoline. Our kids barely came inside this week.
3. The "drippy" gingerbread turkey decoration
4. Celebrating Drew's birthday a few days early with a birthday song sang as loud as possible and bowls of whipped cream + sprinkles.
5. Black Friday shopping at Target and Barnes + Nobles....and introducing my mother-in-law to the dollar section at Target!
6. Giggling non-stop at Bad Moms and then concocting our plan to be "Bad Moms" for the rest of the weekend (fyi - our plan didn't work...we couldn't pour the cereal straight from the boxes into our mouths...).
7. Listening to Anna and Drew tell stories and read books together on the air mattress in our room.
8. Conversations around the fire pit.
9. The "talent show" complete with drums, dancing and a guitar solo the kids put on for us on Thanksgiving day.
10. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law cleaning my kitchen NON-STOP all week. Please come back. 

Costley Family | Raleigh, NC Lifestyle Photographer

When we moved into our neighborhood, we hit the jackpot BIG time! Our street is full of families, children, dogs, bikes, toys and more. It's a childhood dream for sure. The people we have met here in our little neighborhood are the icing on the cake. When our sweet friends, the Costleys, asked if I would capture some photos of their family, I couldn't say yes fast enough. We had a short little session, but the love and joy between their family was just palpable. I love getting to record the feelings and emotions between a family. Thank you, friends, for allowing me to capture your sweet family. xo

Bring on the holiday books!

We are SO excited for everything Christmas. I "may" have started decorating my house before Thanksgiving...oops. I just couldn't help it. My kids LOVE Christmas and they have been begging to get our Christmas stuff out every day since Halloween. I mean, how could I say no??

Because I'm a Christmas hoarder (yikes), we have TONS of Christmas stuff! The best part about it all is that I really feels like Christmas when we pull out all of our books, toys, decorations, wreaths, pillows. I'm over here like "look - I totally forgot we had this" and "whoa - I don't even remember buying this....". ;)

Christmas books are some of my kids favorites and they stay out on our bookshelves long into the new year. This year, we are so excited to add a few more books to collection thanks to Bookroo. We LOVE our Bookroo books. Each book comes individually wrapped and tied with a bow, so it's kind of like a mini gift! Each subscription plan includes either 3 board books (for ages 0-2) or 2 hardcover books (ages 2+)! If you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift for that bookworm, then stop on over and check out Bookroo!

Happy almost December, friends! We're getting pretty excited over here. And there are rumors floating around that our crazy elf, Happy, might be returning soon!! Does an elf come to visit your house (p.s. I have a love-hate relationship with our elf....he makes the biggest messes....).

Thankful

I have so many blessings in my life, but these two make my world go 'round. I am so grateful and honored to be their mama and I couldn't ask for a better role in life. I know our life isn't perfect and we definitely have our ups and downs, but I choose to look for the good, focus on the happy, seek out positivity and strive for contentment...remembering that each day may not be great, but there's something great about every single day. 

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. Warmest wishes from our family to yours. xo

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

Document Your December

The countdown to December is on and I am so excited to be offering a Photo-a-Day workshop to help you document your holiday memories this year. I have recorded and documented the 25 days leading up to Christmas for the past five years and these memories are some of my very favorite. The holiday themselves always bring out all the joy and cheer and capturing these precious moments is priceless.

If you are looking for a little inspiration and encouragement this December, then join me in my workshop at Big Picture Classes and let me guide the way! The class includes 25 photo prompts that will inspire you to document your month, memories and holiday cheer! I've also included a look at several different to get those photos OFF of your camera and into an album you and your family will love and cherish!

I hope you will join me! Please reach out if you have any questions at all!!  I'd love to hear from you!

You can all of my current workshops on my Workshop page.

Now offering client sessions

For as long as I can remember I have loved the art of photography. I love capturing my own family's everyday moments and I especially love helping others see how beautiful their life is through the lens. I've have been blessed with so many wonderful friends who have allowed me to capture their families over the past few years and I am finally stepping out of my comfort zone and am going to offer my services to others. Whether you are capturing your family together, welcoming a new, sweet bundle to the family or want to record those precious mother-child moments, I would be honored to help you preserve your memories. 

I am currently offering an introductory rate of $300 for 1-2 hour family sessions. These sessions are completely customized to you and your family and will usually occur around sunrise or sunset. You will receive a custom gallery of a minimum of 25-30 edited images as well as a bound and printed photo album. Feel free to contact me via my Contact page or email (stephanie@stephaniemakes.com) for session inquiries. xo

Afternoon Delight

There is nothing better than just hanging out with these two. Every afternoon is a delight when we have nothing on our agenda really other than coloring and watching the sunset. 

We braved the cold and wind this afternoon and ventured out to a favorite little field of ours for some giggles and fun. Fall is barely hanging on around here. All of the leaves on our tree out front blew off this weekend, so we can tell that old man winter isn't too far away. And my husband finally let me turn on the heat, so yeah...it's pretty chilly out there. 

Their school closes for the entire week of Thanksgiving (yippee), so I get to snuggle these cuties for the foreseeable future! We have so much to be thankful for and I am just so grateful to have these babies in my life. 

Happy Monday, friends.

xo

2017 Calendar Album

Tick, tock. 2017 will be here in no time!! Crazy, right?? 

Join me over at Studio Calico and create a mini album that's perfect for holiday gift giving (or perfect for getting yourself all ready to document 2017!). In this class, first we will create a classic calendar using templates + your favorite photos. Then we will build a unique album for adding those photos and memories throughout the year! If you're giving this calendar set + album as a gift, then your recipient will be ready to document their year using the photos (perfect for a grandparent, aunt, uncle or family friend). And if it's for you, then you'll be all set to document 2017.

There is a class kit that coordinates with the class, but feel free to use your own supplies and products here!! I'm keeping it simple and easy with my album!

I hope you will join me in this fun class and create an album to help record your memories!

Happy Friday, friends!!

Click here to see all of my current workshops.

Around Our Clocks - 8am

Happy Monday, friends! 
I am so excited to be collaborating with a group of amazing photographers and artists to capture our days. Our collaboration is all about how we spend the hours of our days; what makes us unique; what our everyday looks like. I have always been a HUGE proponent of documenting those everyday moments; the moments that seem to pass so quickly and are soon forgotten. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am for this opportunity.

For the first "around our clocks" post, we are focusing on the 8am hour. Our 8am varies during school days and weekends for sure. Most Mondays-Fridays both of my kids are tucked into their desks at school at 8am. I'm usually at home cleaning up the house and Scott is up working. Our weekends, though... they're a different story. 

Both Anna and Drew love their beds and pillows. Anna definitely prefers to always sleep sprawled out in her big ole beds and rarely comes into our bed, but Drew....he comes crawling in every once in a while in the middle of the night and I can't say that I mind it one bit. I know the days where he sneaks in to snuggle are fleeting. He's not the best bed-sharer, but he's pretty darn cute, so we let him get away with it. I love to watch him sleeping there next to me, and my very favorite part is when he first wakes up, sees me and smiles. You just can't beat that. 

So that's a look at 8am on our weekends....a sweet boy snuggled into bed with us. To continue the "Around our Clocks" loop, click on over to Aly Dawn's blog.

He, She + Me - December

SHE: loves to be the boss • is so tender hearted • makes lists all day • is the craft planner of our family • skips to the back of her books to figure out how it will end (I can't even...) • begs for breakfast at every meal • starts our family dinner game every night • is obsessed with Halloween but terrified of everything Halloween.

HE: is counting down the days until his birthday (36) • framed a picture of money in a family frame we made (m'kay) • is obsessed with counting + organizing + stacking coins and dollars • loves staying at home • idolizes Anna • prefers to go commando all.the.time • loves to dress fancy • collects + trades + begs for everything Pokemon.

ME: reading Year of Yes + feeling like Shonda Rhimes might be my best friend • working on my new website (yay!) + trying to get up enough courage to follow my heart • struggling with meals and meal planning (why do these people have to eat every night?!?) • obsessed with the light + shadows in my house • craving everything pumpkin + bonfires • leaving the messes the kids make just as they are and choosing to document and celebrate them rather then clean them up • feeling grateful for friends who feel like family

---

Project Mama + Me is a monthly project created to remember all the little bits + pieces of our everyday. Follow #projectmamaandme on Instagram.

Project November

As my kids get older and older, I really try to remind them to think of others and to be thankful for all that we have. It's so easy to get caught up in wanting all of the latest gadgets or hottest new toys. I'm guilty too. We all probably are. But, the good news is, we can all do something about it. 

This November, our family is striving to complete 30 acts of giving and/or kindness. I want my kids to think of others. I want them to WANT to give back and look for ways to spread love and kindness even on the most ordinary day. I want them to think of their friends, hold doors for strangers and seek the feeling of giving back. 

Below is our "action" list for November. We all sat down together after school yesterday and decided on what we could do for others. It was so amazing to hear their ideas and I know they will enjoy this project so much. Feel free to print a list and join in on the fun! (Just right click on the list below and save to your desktop.) Kindness is contagious and the more we spread, the more we receive! Hope you will play along!

Oh Halloween...

Oh Halloween. I am so glad you are over. :)

I do Halloween for my kiddos and that's about it. Halloween has never been my favorite. I struggle with what to wear, all of the orange stuff and I eat way too much candy. But my kids....well...they pretty much eat, breathe and sleep Halloween starting around October 1st. I will admit, though, that now that they're older, Halloween is just a weeeee bit more fun. And our neighborhood is fantastic and everyone is out an about, so I try to think of it more like a social hour, lol. 

Anna was the Pokemon, Pikachu, and Drew was Boba Fett from Star Wars. Pokemon and Star Wars are all the rage at our house this year, so these costumes were no big surprise. Kind of an eye-sore, but no shocker! Gone are the days of fairy princesses and pumpkins, I think...

Hope you and your family had a very happy Halloween! And HELLO November!! xo

Everyday Beauty

"It is up to you to see the beauty of everyday things."

Over the past four weeks, I joined many talented artists and photographers in Ginger Unzueta's, Everyday Beauty class at Bloom. I have been a long time fan of Ginger, but I truly didn't know what to expect for this class. I went in with an open mind, but also with a feeling of fear, comparison and negativity. I don't know where I "fit" into these classes. I think I always worry about being judged, or not good enough or bad or wrong or whatever. But Ginger's class.....it opened my heart and soul and helped heal those feelings of comparison, negativity and fear.  Most importantly, it allowed me to see the beauty of my everyday. 

One of the main points I took away from Ginger's class was to let go of feeling like I had to make a perfect shot. Over the four weeks I didn't really worry about composition or lighting or being technically "correct" when it came to shooting. I just captured our life and I found that the images and moments and BEAUTY came without even trying. It was like I finally let my guard down and could see the beautiful world around me. 

The images I captured during this class will probably go down as my very favorite ever. They are real and honest...and us. 

Ginger's class also includes a daily journaling prompt that helped me open my eyes and heart and taught me so much about myself personally, as well as how I wanted to grow. 

I am so humbled to have been a part of this class with so many other talented people, especially Ginger. She's a slice of heaven and I seriously cannot thank her enough for an amazing class. If you feel "stuck" or frustrated, fearful of failure or not being good enough, or maybe you just want to have a good reminder to seek the beauty in your life, then I couldn't recommend Ginger's class more. This class is so much more than just the technical side of shooting. It will touch you on a personal level and will help you grow in so many directions. 

Embracing the mess

I am a self-proclaimed neat freak. I like things clean. I thrive off of order and tidiness. Everything in my house has a place and try every single day to make sure things are back where they belong. I like my counter tops clean and the clothes in the hamper. I make up beds as soon as feet hit the floor, so yeah...obviously, I like things clean.

But...sometimes I feel like I'm missing out on the mess and creativity of my children. One day I know I'm going to wake up and their stuff isn't going to be all over the place. Their messes will be contained to their room where they probably will prefer to hang out. Their toys will be replaced with gadgets and gossip. This phase of life is so fleeting and I've decided to embrace the mess and enjoy my kids "leftovers".

After I drop my kids off at school each morning, I come back home to a "mostly" clean house. The breakfast dishes are put away and beds are made. But, I've made a point of keeping their "piles" and messes as they were. I've left their toys and games and cards just as they left them. And then I grab my camera and document these beautiful parts of our life. 

Sure, these photos aren't amazing or perfect, but they are our life. Our days. Our messes. And just like faces and special events, these "leftovers" are just as important to capture, I think. 

When's the last time you stepped back and EMBRACED the mess, rather than cleaning it up? Have you ever grabbed your camera and looked at those details through the lens before tidying up? If you haven't, I challenge you to do just that! Walk around your home. See the messes and piles and toys and try to capture those "leftovers" now, for soon those leftovers will be gone and replaced by something different.

Happy Thursday, friends! Thanks so much for stopping by! xo

Project 52: Catch Up III

A little Project 52 catch up today! I love this project and all of the images of my kids I've captured so far this year. It's hard to believe we are already 42 weeks into 2016. These little ones have grown SO much over the past year and having these photos is priceless. Here are weeks 35-42 of my sweet kiddos.

Seattle

I spent the weekend in Seattle at the Click Away conference, and like I say every time I visit the west coast - if it wasn't for my kiddos, I'm pretty sure I would have just stayed.  The weather wasn't the best in Seattle (which I hear is pretty typical), but the conference was phenomenal and the people I met were amazing!

I got to see some of my favorites in action, including Meg Loeks, Anna Larson and Mae Burke; and heard some amazing speeches from a lot of inspiring artists, like Amanda Jane Jones (woah, right?) Summer Murdock (total fangirl of Summer and I'm pretty sure she might think I'm a stalker...), Jesh De Rox (absolutely phenomenal) and Kellie Bieser (I wanna be her when I grow up). The conference was uplifting not only from a photography perspective, but a personal perspective as well. I have so many ideas and so much inspiration running through my brain and I can't wait to put all of these into action!

Until then...here's a little photo recap of my weekend!

Scenes from the backyard

The feel of fall is finally making it's way to North Carolina and we couldn't be happier.  The grass in our backyard is finally starting to green up again and our plants are slowing blooming. We're hopeful these cooler temps decide to stick around for a while because we're ready for boots, sweaters and everything pumpkin!

The Ordinary

"Joy comes to us in ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary." -Brene Brown

I'm taking a photography class with one of my favorite photographers, Ginger Unzueta over at Bloom, and one of the assignments for this week is to capture 10 photos of our day.  It has been a while since I purposefully documented the "ordinary" of our day, so I didn't hesitate to pick up my camera and start snapping away.

If you have never purposefully documented the routine and ins and outs of your day, I couldn't recommend it more. There's something about looking at the "ordinary" through the lens that makes it extraordinary. It's these little moments that I never want to forget....

You, Me & the Sea

We spent the weekend at the beach doing absolutely nothing and it was truly everything we thought it could be and more. We played in the sand and waves, watched the sunset and rise each day, snuggled on a tiny couch to watch Star Wars and giggled until our bellies hurt. xo

Seven

Awesome glasses from Jonas Paul Eyewear

She is seven going on seventeen. And she cried the other day when I tried to check her out of school early to hang out together. So it begins, folks.  And because they grow up too fast, here are some fun facts about my sweet girl.

Nicknames: Anna Banana

Favorite color: Turquoise

Favorite animal: Guinea Pig

Favorite TV show: Star Darlings

Favorite movie: Alice in Wonderland

Favorite song: Can't Stop the Feeling

Favorite food: any breakfast food

Favorite drink: Shirley Temple

Favorite breakfast food: Everything

Favorite snack: Bowl of cereal

Favorite outfit: probably my fancy long skirts and tank tops

Favorite game: Wax museum 

Favorite toy: mermaid tale that I can swim in

Best friend: Bree, Grace and Charlotte

Favorite thing to do: dance and sing and gymnastics

Favorite thing to do outside: play with my friends

Favorite holiday: Halloween and Christmas

Something you take to bed at night: my three lovies

Favorite restaurant: Cafe Mom (that's mama cooking)

Where would you go on vacation: Bahamas

What do you want to be when you grow up: a famous gymnast