7.9.10 Faith

Faith is our next door neighbor's daughter. I made arrangements with our good friend Meg, that we would trade 2 year old portraits of faith for a lifetime of babysitting. I win!

Faith was what you call a blue baby, she had a hole in her heart when she was born and Meg and Corby were warned that their first daughter would be whisked away moments after her birth to have open heart surgery. It turned out that she was in a better shape than they thought, they were able to take her home and fatten her up and get her ready for her operation at 3 months old. The doctors explained, they'll notice it in her color. It was true, she was always pale and bluish in the beginning, after her surgery she was decidedly more pink and healthy looking. A few short months after her heart operation she had plastic surgery to correct a cleft lip. In the future, around 16,  she'll have another operation to enlarge the vein going to her heart  and she may choose to have another operation for the scaring near the cleft lip site, but it's virtually unnoticeable. But young woman are their own worst critics, she may still find fault with her scarring. Today she is an exuberant, beautiful, screaming red head with a temper to match. She is the apple of everyone's eye. She's my neighbor.

As always you can view more images on facebook.

Thanks for looking.

---mel

She-N-He

Austin Family Photography

5.8.10 People Magazine

About 4 weeks ago I was contract to go to Dallas for People Magazine for a story about Brandon Henry. I love working with People, the stories are always really meaty and relevant. So I kind of had a grasp on his story, his girlfriend 7-8 month pregnant went to Italy on vacation delivered their baby and came home and lied about being pregnant still then came upw ith some story to throw him off. 

Well he finally go down to the bottom of the story went ot Italy found his baby in a convent there and went through all of the rigamarole to claim his baby and bring him home... If you want to read the full 3 page story, buy extra groceries and read it while you wait to be checked out. 

I inititally went in concerend for him and how he would be able to cope with this, but quickly learned that he is a remarkably equipped man and a great father. It makes me excited for their futures. He has a big supportive family and you just know everything is going to be wonderful for them. We wish them all the best in the world and congratulations, Dad!

As always you can view a few more images on facebook. become a fan.

---mel

She-N-He

Austin Wedding Photography and Design

4.15.10 Gullahorn Family

Six months ago, or so, I was asked to donate services to a cause I believe in. So Patti bid on our offer and won our services, she wasn't sure what to do with it at first but decided that she would hold onto it until her big birthday she had coming up. So while she had her entire family in town for her birthday we shot her entire family.

It's brief glimpse into what it could be like in such a large family (3boys and 1girl) plus all of their spouses and kids (6 grandkids) and (2 great-grandparents) so in total 15? It's a strange kind  of chaos, a happy chaos, the kind of blinding nuttiness that can only come with a family this size. We wanted to take portraits of all of the family units plus the whole family and different groups and singles where there was time. It was a smashing success. 

The Gullahorn's bought a giant piece of property "out in the country" 30 some years ago and it's fun to think this is just the scene they imagined when they made this wonderful purchase. 

Thank you for looking.

Tomorrow, stay tuned for Samantha's bachelorette party.

As usual you can see more images on facebook.

---mel

She-N-He

Austin Wedding Photography and Design

8.31.09 Cousins

Last weekend my sister Hillarie and her daughter Reagan (Bishop's cousin) came to visit for the weekend. Reagan is 2.5 years old now and she talks and walks and has this awesome personality that you just seem to be drawn to. She also gives the best hugs of just about anyone I know. She's not shy, she is extremely forthcoming and affectionate. I just can't get enough of her...

please enjoy these great big blue eyes. 

---mel

She-N-He

Austin Wedding Photography an Design

8.28.09 People en Espanol

About 6 weeks ago we shot this really fun job in Corpus Christie for People en Espanol. The subjects were contest winners. Ana had written an essay about the importance of family, so her entire family was awarded a trip to NYC to attend a Puerto Rican celebration in Central Park and a day or 2 to spend time with their family in the Big Apple. I imagine they've already been on their trip, but if you pick up a copy of People en Espanol you'll see one of these images.

I became friends on facebook with Ana and I can't wait to post her pictures. We have another big assignment coming up this next month and I am really excited about it. It's going to be meaty and challenging, and perhaps a little heart breaking. Wish me luck.

Take Good Care.

---mel

She-N-He

Austin Wedding Photography and Design

4-8-09 Bishop and Grandpa

Yesterday Grandpa Howe was in town and Bishop got to spend the afternoon with him learning how to flip over and count to 3. Enjoy.

3-20-09 Sheryl + Rob Wedding

3-20-09 Sheryl + Rob Wedding

1-15-09 Bishop Alden Howe

1-15-09 I've been a little bit busy.

So I've not written in quite a while we have been so busy, the least of which is our new addition to our family. Bishop Alden Howe (Alden for his paternal great grandfather.)

In a nutshell we began having company starting on December 26th for the holidays and we have had company ever since. He had holiday guests for the first week + 1/2 then we have had baby guests ever since. My mother-in-law has ben here since baby came to help get us assimilated. Thank goodness we could not have mangaed without her, I have not done laundry or prepared a meal since she arrived. So we are well fed and taking care of our sweet little one. Starting next week we'll be all alone and I think we are ready.

Here are a couple shots of our little bundle, many more to come. 

enjoy

---mel

12-11-08 Wow's Birthday

12-11-08 This is my sister Hillarie's birthday today. I tried to ring her on 3 phone numbers and a text but she is not surfacing, good for her for taking a day away from it all.

I'm sure she couldn't possibly miss our dad's faithful Birthday good morning jingle "You Say it's your birthday." You just haven't lived, until you've heard that song, full back-up bad, live @ 7:30 in the morning, over the phone. He has been honoring us with this tradition for several years now. I usually listen then ask him to call back and leave me a message so I can keep it for a few months, it's so fun. Then he calls back with the same number for next year. It is something I look forward to every year.

In honor of Hill's Birthday I thought I'd post some pictures of her daughter, my niece, Reagan. She is growing up now, she'll be 2 in February and really starting to come into her own, in terms of personality and she is so much fun to play with. Over Thanksgiving she found herself a little Santa hat and hammed it up for the camera.

Thanks for looking.

Happy Birthday Wow (it's a pet name)

---mel

12-10-08 O'Brien Clan

12-10-08 O'Brien Kiddos

These images were shot for the families annual Christmas card. Meet James, Emily and Hannah. They look like a Merry bunch ;)