Designs by Prater Photography and Design Blog

My Holiday Gift Giving Guide!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 15:00:00 +0000

The holiday season is upon us! So I thought I would take a little time to share a holiday gift guide including some of my favorite items that might be of assistance to you in your holiday shopping. Have fun browsing/shopping!
DESIGNS BY PRATER
Shop my Black Friday sale to save money on your next portrait session! Save $25 on a MINI session, $50 on a FOCUS session, and $100 on a digiFOCUS session! Contact me for more details or to order.

STITCH FIX
A unique styling service where you create your personal style profile to receive a stylish package of goodies - unique clothes and accessories handpicked for you - delivered directly to your home. Keep what you like and send back the rest! Your $20 styling fee counts toward your fix. Find out more using my referral link!

My first Stitch Fix! I kept the polka dot sweater (because it was maroon...duh!!) and the striped blazer. I had a really hard time sending the green top back, but I just wasn't in love with the fit for the price tag. So I sent it back with the comments to keep the green tops coming! And the jeans were too long, so I sent them back with the comments that I need them in a petite length. You can customize your fix SO much!! C'mon...give it a try :)

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Goodbye Summer & Hello Autumn SALE {collierville family photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 20:07:00 +0000

Labor Day weekend is upon us and that means wishing our summer a fond farewell and gladly welcoming Autumn and college football with welcome arms! OK, maybe just autumn for you...? Either way, this is the perfect time to announce my "Goodbye Summer & Hello Autumn" sale!
It's never too early to start thinking about booking your fall or winter portrait session to plan for the holiday cards and gift giving prints you know you'll want come December. So why not save a little money by booking your session now??

Book now to save $25 on a MINI session, $50 on a FOCUS session, and $100 on a digiFOCUS session! For more information on each session, visit my PORTRAITS page...and then contact me to get your session on the books before both our weekends start filling up :)
Happy football watching, and GO STATE!! Still not on board with college football excitement??? Well, then just Happy Autumn to you ;)Fan Us on Facebook
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Mary Kay Skin Care Set Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 19:53:00 +0000

In celebration of Mary Kay coming out with a new acne skin care set, I'm running a sale on all of our skin care sets now through noon on July 31! Also, with any order over $60, your name goes in the running to become the mystery hostess for this sale - meaning you get the hostess rewards for everyone's orders all put together. So more free product could be yours if you are the lucky name drawn!!
So here is our skin care set line up:
Introducing the new Clearproof Acne System, consisting of a clarifying cleansing gel, blemish control toner, acne treatment gel, and oil-free moisturizer for acne-prone skin. Releasing in mid-August, this set will sell for $45. However, if you pre-order it now, you can get it for only $40! Contact me directly to place this order - susanprater@marykay.com or cell number available here.

TimeWise Miracle Set (Combination/Oily or Normal/Dry) - $75 (regularly $90)or Trial Size Set - $35 (regularly $44)- delivers the advanced age-fighting benefits you want for younger-looking skin- includes the 3-in-1 cleanser, day solution sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 35, night solution, and age-fighting moisturizer

TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Set - $175 (regularly $199)- reduces the look of deep lines and wrinkles; for more advanced signs of aging- includes foaming cleanser, lifting serum, day cream sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 30, night treatment with retinol, and eye renewal cream

Botanical Effects (Dry, Normal, or Oily) - $50 (regularly $58)- simple skin care regimen designed to help your skin achieve a healthy balance- includes cleanser, hydrate, freshen and mask products

BONUS - add on to any order the oil-free eye makeup remover for $10 (regularly $15) AND/OR foundation primer for $12 (regularly $16)
To place an order, just shoot me a text or an email (susanprater@marykay.com) or place your order online at www.marykay.com/susanprater. Your sale price will not be reflected yet online but you will be notified of your final sale order total BEFORE your credit card is charged if you choose to pay securely online. (It doesn't actually charge your card; I have to do that after it notifies me of your order.) Otherwise, I can shoot you an invoice to pay by cash, check, or credit card after you place your order. Just let me know if you have any questions!
Happy summer shopping :)Fan Us on Facebook
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photography news {pricing updates and policy changes}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:38:00 +0000

Getting back to my photography tonight, I wanted to share with you that I have updated some of my pricing and policies based upon customer demand and new software available to professional photographers. However, I think you'll find that you will love the changes for a couple of reasons, too:

MINI sessions are here to stay!

Since there are times when you might really only need 20-30 minutes of time just to grab those updated photos for your Christmas card, I'm keeping them permanently. And honestly, with an almost two-year-old, sometimes that's all the free time I might be able to spare that day anyways! ha...just teasing...kinda ;)

Digital images are yours!

All sessions include at least one or all digital images, as well as a print release for printing sizes up to 8x12 (or higher in some cases).

Say "goodbye" to DVDs!

Instead of you having to wait a week or two for your custom DVD to deliver to me so I can load the images onto them to then deliver to you, digital images will now be delivered to you via a PASS gallery. To learn more about the galleries, watch this wonderful video that they put together for us :)

And in case you can't watch the video right now, here's what it says bascially: With PASS, you can share photos directly to Facebook , Twitter and Pinterest from your online gallery. You can even download all of your photos directly through the browser without installing any additional software. Your gallery also includes full access to the photos for a year plus secure backup of that event for 10 years. AND you can order professional quality prints (up to size 8x12) without the markup straight through your gallery at super low prices. This is particularly AWESOME NEWS for weddings as your guests will be able to pick up a card at the wedding with a link to where your gallery will live so they can download and order their favorite prints from your wedding and reception :)

Are you excited about the PASS galleries as much as I am?!? So what are you waiting for?? Check out the updated Portraits tab above to see the updated MINI session and FOCUS session offerings. Then contact me to get your session on the books ASAP ;)
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Foundation Primer with SPF {Mary Kay Product Spotlight}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Each week, I'm going to focus on one of my favorite Mary Kay products that is also proving to be a huge hit with my customers. Then, you'll be able to grab it yourself at a special 24-hour-only spotlight price!

So first up, we are going to be looking at the Mary Kay Foundation Primer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15. It's a lightweight gel that glides on easily and then quickly dries to a silky matte finish. An oil-free formula with SPF 15, it can be used before your foundation to extend its wear or worn alone to give you some protection from the sun, as well as to help even out your skin texture and complexion. It is fragrance-free, dermatologist-tested, and non-comedogenic so it is good for all skin types.

It quickly became one of my fave products before I was even considering becoming a consultant, and all the ladies at my facial this weekend were also loving how silky it felt on their skin. Just look at how happy they are ;)

So, for the next 24 hours, you can grab up your very own tube of this silky foundation primer at a special spotlight price of $14 (regularly $16). Just shoot me an email to susanprater@marykay.com or place an order for it online at www.marykay.com/susanprater. If you shop online, the regular pricing will show up in your shopping cart. However, I will adjust the price before billing you or charging your credit card.

And remember, any gift over $40 also comes with a FREE GIFT - you choose from a mini translucent powder with brush or a mini oil-free eye makeup remover with lash love mascara.

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Summer Shimmer Sale {Mary Kay Beauty Consultant}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Schoooooooooool's....out....for....summer! {yeah, you're singing it in your head right along with me now, aren't you?!} So in honor of the unofficial start to summer, I'm holding a Summer Shimmer Sale from now until midnight on Wednesday, May 29. Basically, you get to select 4 products for $40 from some of our favorite summer products...so it's like getting one of them for free. AND since any order $40 or more always gets you a free gift anyways, you'll also be receiving a FREE trial size translucent powder with mini brush. It's one shade for all skin tones, and perfectly wonderful for that summer shimmer you want to sport out by the pool :) Find out all about it HERE.

So, which 4 products would you love to have? Text, email or call with your order...or shop online at my Mary Kay site by placing your 4 items from the list in your shopping cart and submitting your order! You can also securely enter your payment information online, or you can submit it without payment for me to send you an invoice to pay with cash or check. And if you do want to pay online, just submit your order with standard pricing, and I will adjust the prices of the items to send you your new total before processing your credit card! And you can always contact me with any questions you might have.Happy shopping! And...call me, beep me, if you want to reach me! {bonus product samples to whoever can tell me first where that song comes from!} ;)Fan Us on Facebook
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We Remember and Honor

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:30:00 +0000

The Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and while we many times look forward to and celebrate this weekend as the unofficial start to summer, there is a much greater purpose to this occasion. It's a special time for us to remember and honor the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. I am blessed that both of my grandfathers who served were able to retire with their health intact and live long happy lives, but not everyone gets to be so lucky. My heart especially goes out this weekend to those who have lost loved ones while protecting all of us who many times take for granted all the liberties we enjoy living in this great country.
I have to be honest, I was starting this post out to announce my Mary Kay Memorial Day Sale, and then I just felt a little nudging from the Holy Spirit humbling me that perhaps there was a different message that I needed to post today. So while I will still post later this weekend more information about my newly-named Mary Kay Shimming Summer Sale, I wanted to ask you guys to share with me your stories of loved ones who proudly served their country! Or perhaps maybe you know someone who has lost a loved one while serving. Please take a moment to just send them a little note of encouragement as this day probably brings up lots of joyous and sad memories for them.
So, anyways, I just wanted to share a bit from my heart right now! And if you are having one or participating in a Memorial Day sale this weekend, please don't think I am calling you out or trying to make you feel bad. I've done both myself before. I just wanted to step away from the commercialization of the holiday for a moment to say "thanks" and "they are remembered." I hope you might find yourself doing the same at some point over the weekend, too!
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Mary Kay and Photography : A Beautiful Partnership!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000

So...this just happened! I became a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant :) And while it may seem totally random at first, I have discovered that the two really do make sense together because of my passion behind both ventures - capturing your life just as it is and making you feel beautiful just as you are!

So without boring you with too many details (which I would be happy to share if you want to know!), it basically boiled down to wanting to learn more myself about how to 1) better take care of my skin and pamper myself at the end of a long day working and taking care of my family all while 2) wanting to develop and grow more friendships with wonderful women while pampering them at events and facials that incorporate skin care, makeup, AND photography :)

So to learn more about all the fun opportunities available to you, be sure to check out my new Mary Kay page! And one of my first contests is to find 24 friends to place $24 orders in 24 hours to earn free prizes from Mary Kay to help me get my business off to a great start! So could you help me out by getting excited about a fresh new eye color and mascara for summer (or any other product or combo that adds up to $24) to help me win my contest?? If you are like me and have been looking for skin care and makeup that holds up and protects your skin better and lasts way longer than what you buy on the shelf at Kroger or Wal-Mart (saving you money long term), then let me share with you some of my favorite products so far!

TimeWise Trial Miracle Set - $44 (3-in-1 Cleanser, Moisturizer, Day Solution w/ SPF & Night Solution)
Satin Hands Pampering Set - $34 (in fragrance-free or peach scent)
Satin Lips ($18) and a Lip Gloss ($14)
Cream Eye Color ($14) and Mascara ($15)
Simply Cotton Collection: Sugar Scrub, Shower Gel, and Lotion ($15 each)

Many thanks from the bottom of my heart! And don't forget that you are already beautiful inside and out :)

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shopping carts and simply done weddings {collierville wedding photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Don't you just love it when you meet someone new and it feels like you've known them forever?! That's exactly how I felt when I met with Carla and Joe who will be getting married on Memorial Day Weekend. They were so incredibly nice and easygoing, I know that their wedding will be a wonderful time for all. I mean, they even encouraged me to bring my 20-month old son to their wedding! They must have NO idea what they'd be in for if I did...ha! I can just see it now! Little JD walks right on up to the altar during the exchanging of rings and proceeds to drive his little shopping cart right through ceremony all the while shouting "Heyyyy" and blowing kisses to everyone. :) Yeahhhhh...so maybe I'll just let him come to the very end of the reception instead!

he takes his shopping cart with him everywhere...even to watch daddy umpire!

But back to Carla and Joe! What wonderful people they are, and I cannot wait to meet the rest of their family at their wedding at Simply Done just off the Historic Downtown Collierville Square. I also can't wait for their wedding because it will be my second wedding at that venue but my first wedding booked through the simply complete wedding collections the venue is now offering.
I am proud to be teaming up with Karen at Simply Done to offer my photography coverage to couples who want to have a smaller, more intimate ceremony in a historic old church building where your wedding and reception venue, food, beverages, cake and cupcakes, flowers, and photography are all included in one collection and one bill. It's all about weddings done simply!
For more information, visit my Simply Done Weddings page or contact Karen directly at karen@greatfoodsimplydone.com.Fan Us on Facebook
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spring mini sessions : booking now! {collierville family photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 04:58:00 +0000

i am booking spring mini sessions now for select saturday mornings and sunday aftenoons in march and april. contact me for more information or to book your appointment! :)

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focus : shelbye + kiel {memphis engagement photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:52:00 +0000

trying to catch up on some blog posts these days! this is another one from the gorgeous autumn season with one of the sweetest and most laid back couples i've ever met. i first met shelbye at a bridal fair in downtown collierville, and she was the lucky bride who won a 30-minute FOCUS session with me from the door prize entries. so i met up with them in downtown collierville for a get-to-know you session and to record this special time of their life. next thing we know, we're talking wedding collections, booking their date on my calendar, and planning their next full-length engagement session at their wedding site, heartwood hall. enjoy a few of my faves from their session and then check out the slideshow to see more :)

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focus : kanowitz baby {memphis newborn photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 05:30:00 +0000

wow! i can't believe how fast time has flown by, especially since my last blog post. so much has changed since then, yet so much has stayed the same. take this new family of three for example. the last time we showcased them, they were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their baby girl. their minds and dreams were filled with wonder about what she'd look like and what all quirks and personality traits she'd possess. now, just a few short months later, they have her every smile and facial expression memorized and are already seeing her sweet little personality come to life! their love for her grows every day, as does their love for each other.

i was once again blessed to follow them around for awhile to document everyday life with their new bundle of joy in their home. below are just a few of my favorites :)

post signature

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four years later {monday's memory}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:00:00 +0000

this past labor day weekend, we traveled to visit my hubby's grandparents and meet up with the rest of the prater clan to celebrate the opening weekend of college football and to just catch up in general. it was also fun to take some new family portraits of the cagle and price families in the same spot we took some 4 years ago. look at how much their sweet families have grown! they've each added new family members in hannah and gingerpup :)

2008:

2012:

2008:

2012:

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focus : kanowitz family {baby bump}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 05:05:00 +0000

i had such a blast hanging out with these two in downtown memphis capturing this special time in their life as they prepare to come a family of three. they share such a special love already and i know they are going to be such wonderful parents! i can't wait for baby kanowitz to get here :) below are some of my faves from this fun day downtown and don't forget to see the slideshow for more...

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summer is almost over {fall MINI sessions and a FOCUS sale}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:00:00 +0000

with the summer winding down and labor day holiday weekend just around the corner, i thought it was a great excuse to offer you a sale on your fall FOCUS session with DBP!

FOCUS sessions last up to two hours and are normally priced at $100. however, if you book and pay for your fall session now, you get $25 off! and you still have between now and sunday, december 16 to actually have your session take place.

one note to add here, though, is that all FOCUS sessions now require a minimum print/product purchase after the session of $150. this is to ensure that you take something tangible away from your session because displaying your photos in your home and giving photo gifts to family and friends is hopefully part of why you made the original decision to invest in a photography session anyways, right?! it makes me sad when images just sit on my computer for months and months and never get to go home to their families :(

also, i now offer in-home viewing and ordering appointments for you to see your photos outside of my normal instaproof proofing site, as well as samples of various products you can buy. this can take place either in your home or mine.

but what if you don't need 1-2 hours worth of photos and just need a couple for your christmas cards?! we are offering 20-minute fall MINI sessions just for you!

choose from two options where you get 20 minutes of time AND either 25 5x7 flat cards OR 1 digital image to order your own cards. additional cards and prints/products will of course be available for purchase, too, but there is no minimum print order here.

whichever way you go, we'll work together to choose your session location from popular choices such as the collierville greenbelt, johnson park, or town square OR germantown's oaklawn gardens OR any open park or field that best suits the adventurous spirit of your family...perhaps that's even your home. contact susan now to talk details and book your fall FOCUS or MINI session!
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i love etsy {friday's five}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 23:00:00 +0000

pinterest has become an addiction for many these days. with the ability and ease to create and save countless styleboards for a whole slew of topics, anyone can feel like a martha stewart of the craft world or a julia childs of the culinary world. but before there was pinterest, there was etsy! and oh, how i love etsy!

for today's edition of friday's five, i want to share 5 of my most recent purchases from some of the best shops out there selling vintage or homemade goods.

a personalized chevron iPhone 4 tough case from Pencil Shavings Studio

striped airplane applique onesie from Short and Sweet Peas

retro camera prints from handz' ReStyleshop

baby pilot aviator knit hat and felt goggles for JD's birthday photos from Goodnight Mouse

Christmas stockings in various red and green polka dot and tile patterns from bebe sniklefritz

what treasures and keepsakes have you found recently on etsy? what are some of your favorite shops? let us know either on the blog or our FB page :)

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a diaper cake alternative {thursday's trend from pinterest}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 23:00:00 +0000

earlier this year, a few of my best lady friends from collierville threw a little baby shower for angela was expecting her first baby, a precious girl, at the end of april. wanting to make something out of diapers that could double as a centerpiece and not be the traditional diaper cake, i took to pinterest to see what other diaper centerpieces the creative peeps were pinning.

and i stumbled across this pin on how to make a diaper motorcycle:

so with a step by step tutorial, i attempted to make one of my own! How did I do?

thanks amanda for the pics :) and thanks to this wonderful group of friends!!

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babies galore and another congrats {wednesday's window}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 04:21:00 +0000

so for today's window into my world, i had planned on posting some photos from a recent small and intimate wedding at simply done last month. however, that post will be coming to your computer screen next week now...because i have a very special congrats to share to a family that is very dear to me!

there is this girl named kathryn. she and i have always joked that we can't remember the first time we ever met, but we just became great friends instantly during our freshman year at mississippi state. she was my unofficial 5th roommate, a bridesmaid in my wedding, and one of the subjects from the recent girls day out in tupelo photos i just posted. and she is expecting a baby in just a month from now!

and if that alone wasn't something to cheer about (which it is!), her brother and sister-in-law had their own little bundle of joy today :) and just another tidbit, while they were preggo together, they also had another sister-in-law AND a cousin both preggo, too...just imagine how fun Christmas will be for the extended family with 4 little squishy cuddlebugs all rolling about in front of the Christmas tree!

many congrats and best wishes to them and all their extended family! enjoy this special time :)

kathryn the bride (on the right) getting ready for her special day alongside her sister-in law emily (on the left)

emily and kizer (on the left) welcomed Cannon into their arms just over an hour ago,
and kathryn and kevin (on the right) will welcome Kinley about a month from now

and kathryn and kevin, i fully expect you to sing just like this to kinley when she is born...haha!

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displaying prints on easels {tuesday's tip}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:00:00 +0000

do you have a lot of frames already holding pictures you don't want to replace in your house and want a new way to display a recent picture? or are you tired of how much of your image is cropped out when you print it in 8x10 size because it is too hard to find an 8x12 frame that you love? well, i have a solution for you that i use all the time in my house!

print your images in whatever size you want, give it a little backing with matboard or foam core, and then display it on an easel!

i love to order these landscape-oriented prints on metallic paper mounted on matboard
to display on these cute little easels i found at hobby lobby

a close-up - the easels come in black and dark natural wood finish

then i find these bigger easels all the time at places like big lots, pier1, tj maxx, etc.

and many thanks to previous portrait client Amy for sending in this shot of how she displayed her large print in her home on an easel, similar to the ones you can find at hobby lobby!

have you already displayed photos in your home on easels? if so, post a picture on my FB page and show off your mad skills! until next time, take care and...
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a recap and a renewed focus {monday's memory}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:00:00 +0000

i think i have apologized before for the lack of posts on this blog, but i am not sure i have ever explained why that has been the case. but before i can move on to sharing with you my goals for {designs by prater} and this ol' blog, i feel i owe you that explanation! so please bear with me as it might get a little emotional, but i hope hearing more about the person and family behind the camera might help you learn a little bit more about what makes up {dbp} and the style of photography i shoot. :)

this last year has held both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for our family. Almost 12 months ago, we welcomed our precious son JD into the world!!! after a scheduled 8 am induction, 14 hours of labor, almost two hours of pushing, and a c-section, he was born late on August 2 weighing in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces. and that day and every day since, we praise God for the sweet little boy we've been blessed with and thank Him for the opportunity to love on and care for one of His children this side of Heaven.

while not glamorous, our first family of 3 portrait that i will always treasure

then 10 days later, the hubs and i celebrated 5 years of completely blissful marriage! hahaha...if i am being honest, though, we are like any other couple - learning each day a little bit more about the other and how we each tick. we've fought over the important and the silly stuff, forgiving each other every time with a renewed commitment and promise to always put our relationship before our momentary emotions. Thankfully, the love we share only continues to grow stronger as we live, work, play, serve, and worship alongside the other daily. plus, we truly enjoy each other's company and love to laugh together, making life a lot of fun! :)

cutting the cake at our 2006 wedding reception at the palmeiro center in Starkville, MS
(many thanks to our wonderful photographer, Kathy Stephens)

fast forward another month, and we loaded up the car (and i mean loaded it up!) with everything we thought we needed to take our newborn to the beach for a long weekend to meet up with my hubby's family and celebrate the nuptials of his sister Megan to her now-groom Eric. and yes, i was blessed to have been able to photograph their wedding ON.THE.BEACH...

the Praters and the Wickers after the wedding

...and capture some very special memories that we will all cling on to so dearly for the rest of our lives. and here is why...

that beach trip was one of the last trips we would get to take with my mother-in-law and gave our son JD some very precious time with his nana that he now won't be able to get again this side of Heaven...

jd with nana and papa out by the pool the day after the wedding

Late last fall, nana's cancer spread with a vengeance to her colon and she needed surgery on top of her chemo to hopefully rid her earthly body of the cancer. after spending both thanksgiving and christmas in a hospital with only a couple of weeks at home in between the two holidays, her body, weakened by the chemo and an infection, could no longer fight off the disease.

on the hardest day of our lives, we made what seemed like both the quickest and longest 2.5 hour trip ever down to columbus, mississippi, to be alongside nana and family as we made the decision to take her off life support and release her spirit to inhabit her Heavenly body right next to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, where she has been completely healed. i cannot begin to express what those moments felt like as we witnessed both a tear run down her face once she knew she was leaving us behind and one last smile grace her face as she saw her Heavenly Father and ran into His arms.

one last glorious God-given day when nana got to spend time with all her grandbabies
just days before she went home to be with the Lord...this day was such a miracle!

...........so the next several hours, days, weeks, and months have been us learning how to move on. and we won't lie, it's been tough. while i only knew her 6 short years, i feel like i knew her all my life. she loved, and i mean LOVED, her family SO deeply, and our sweet JD and his cousins Peyton and Macie were the apple of her eye. and her husband and children grieve her loss every moment...when they long to hear her laugh or even her get on to them about something silly or stupid they just did. while they rejoice that she is no longer in pain, their hearts still break and their lives feel a deep void. but we keep going....Lord willing and Savior sustaining....we keep going....and we smile....and we enjoy life...and we tell JD HOW MUCH his nana loved him....and we show him pictures of their precious time together.

jd with nana on the quare

this is WHY i take pictures...constantly.

but wait...we aren't finished yet. somehow in the midst of this, life decided to throw a shoulder injury at todd that somehow managed to turn into an infection in his joint leading to surgery, a week-long stay in the hospital, 6ish weeks of daily IV antibiotics through a PICC line in his arm, and many weeks (still counting) of occupational therapy to get full mobility back in that shoulder...all without his mom there by his side. but we keep going...

jd hanging out with daddy in the hospital

we are healing. we are remembering fondly. and we are making memories together.

so that's why it's been hard to get back to life as usual in {dbp} world. but from here on out, you're going to see a newer {dbp}, one more refreshed and, hopefully, a little bit more polished and interesting! so for the next few months or so, i am challenging myself to blog at least 5 times a week with a mix of personal posts, business posts, and tips for you to make sure you are capturing and preserving memories for your family.

so here is what we are looking at for my new blog schedule:

monday's memory: blogging a personal pic from the past, coupled with a personal story

tuesday's tip - tip for you on taking photos at home, displaying photos at home, etc.

wednesday's window - sharing photos from a recent portrait session or wedding or family trip

thursday's trend - talking current trends found on pinterest and even attempting some of them :)

friday's five - sharing fave products, recent discoveries, and random thoughts

and yes, you guessed it! today's post was the first installment of monday's memory...so i hope you made it through to the end. i promise that future posts won't be nearly as long, i just had a lot to catch you up on this time. thanks for listening and take care!

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a congratulatory wish {and welcome to new baby}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:30:00 +0000

Just wanted to take a minute to extend a huge congratulations to one of our wedding couples, Jessica and Jacob, who just welcomed their son Jacob Carson into the world earlier today! May the next several minutes, hours, days, months, and years give you much joy as you experience the indescribable love each precious new gift from God brings to your heart and home. I pray blessings upon you and your entire family! and maybe i'll be lucky enough to get him in front of my camera one day :)

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a late spring cleaning sale! {memphis portrait and wedding photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:00:00 +0000

We are a little late to our spring cleaning, but if you are a portrait or wedding client of DBP from June 2011 or before, you might be interested in our current sale! :)

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mini : girls day out {tupelo mississipp modern portrait photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 03:40:00 +0000

i had the pleasure of spending this past weekend in tupelo, ms, spending some quality girl time with a few of my besties from the college days at mississippi state! we always try to get together every six months or so but especially when something big is happening for one of us like a wedding or birth of a child. So this get together was to celebrate the birth of kathryn's first child, the already so sweet and very active baby girl kinley :)

and since i arrived to town early that morning and we had some time to kill before lunch, we just had to do an impromptu photo session, right?!? i just couldn't wait to get kathryn's baby bump in front of my camera for my first photos of kinley :)

and because you don't really have to have a reason to get some fresh new photos of yourself, melissa and april indulged me by letting me at least give them some new facebook profile photos, too ;)

here are a few of my faves!

and yes, they even got me in front of the camera...and maybe a special prize for the first person to correctly answer why this spot was chosen for this pic ;)

thanks to april for this group photo where even my little man joined in on the fun

and for a few extras, watch the slideshow!

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mini : wallace family {collierville family photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 03:01:00 +0000

i was so thrilled to get danielle and her sweet and active little two year old sydnee in front of my camera again to see how much little miss has grown! and doubly glad that they decided to bring along the rest of the family, too :)

when i last photographed miss sydnee at Christmas when she turned two, she was the quintessential two year old - moving all over the place at lightning speed! it's crazy how much of a difference six short months can make, but while she was still very active, we were able to grab and hold her attention a little bit better this time. but if you know me and my photography style well, you know that the candid shots are my favorite images anyways! so whether standing still or on the move, i think we ended up with some wonderful photos that her family will cherish for years to come.

here are a few of my faves, and be sure to check out the slideshow at the end for more!

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focus : lee family {collierville family photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Susan P.) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:41:00 +0000

stylish + loving + hard working + God fearing + genuine + joyful + enduring + so much more = what you find when you get to know this precious family of three! My husband and I were blessed to meet the lee family several years ago when they were looking to find a home church in collierville. and when jennie and i met, we just clicked! we share a love for Jesus, family, frozen yogurt, and, of course, photography!! so not only do we get to call each other friends, we are photography partners in crime - helping each other always learn more about the world of photography while switching turns behind the camera to document special moments in the other's life.

almost 11 months ago, jennie was there for some very special moments surrounding my son's birth, so I am always eager to return her sweet generosity by taking family portraits for her. Here are a couple of my favorites, and be sure to check out the slideshow for more. :)

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