Well, the time has finally come…Christy Johnson Photography is now Be True Image Design!

Please visit the website here.

The new blog is here.

And the new Facebook page is here.

And today is a good day to visit, because there’s a Groovy Giveaway starting today!

Don’t forget to update your RSS/google reader/feedburner thingys (heehee) and thank you for joining me on my new journey!

Yes, I know it is literally 100 degrees out there! But my fall calendar has a tendency to fill rather quickly, so I want to give a special gift to all you overachievers out there (like me!) If you book and pay for your family photo session by July 31st, you’ll receive a FREE set of 25 custom holiday cards! I’ve got some super cute new designs this year!

To book your session, please email me at christy@christyjohnson.com!

I’ve been working on my website, all the live long day.
I’ve been working on the website and I need some more bell-ays.

Okay, sorry about that. I know, it was bad. But keep reading! What comes up is good!

I need to freshen up my maternity portfolio for the new website. I am looking for 2-3 ladies who are in their third trimester, somewhere between 30-36 weeks. I’m offering a complimentary maternity session and a free 8×10 in exchange for a model release allowing me to use the images on my site!

Please contact me at christy@christyjohnson ASAP so we can set up your session before baby arrives!

Almost three years.
Three miscarriages.
Seventeen weeks of bedrest.

And on January 14th, Rachael Lenore was born. Two months early. Three pounds, six ounces. Fifteen inches. She spent two months in the NICU at Duke, and finally made her way home on March 8th, into the loving arms of her mommy and daddy. Who, by the way, are absolutely over the moon thrilled with her.

Can you blame them? She’s a beauty!

Rachael is almost five months old now, and just thriving.

Sara and Mike, your perseverance and positive natures are just inspiring. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart on your beautiful daughter. You are such fantastic parents, and the joy just radiates from both of you. I only hope she’ll be a little less rascally when she becomes a teenager!

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Mommy & Me mini-sessions scheduled in May! Dads, this would be a fantastic and original idea for Mother’s Day! Photographs can last a lifetime, and they never go out of style. And one size fits all!

I have changed things up a bit, and added a digital collection to the offering. Questions? Email me! christy@christyjohnson.com.

I’m so sad that Harper is a year old. I mean, I’m happy for her, but I’m sad that our baby’s first year plan has come to an end. And I’m sad that babies don’t stay babies forever. Somebody should make a law about that.

I’ve been photographing Harper since she was in her mama’s belly, and it has been pure joy to watch her grow. It crossed my mind during today’s session to sneak her into my camera bag and take her home with me. But I guess her mama and daddy probably wouldn’t like that too much. I think they like her.

A whole lot. It’s too bad, really.

Of course, big brother Jack might have something to say about it too. As he so seriously informed me today, he is BIG. He might beat me up if I stole Harper!

Good thing he thinks I’m funny.

I think I’m safe.

THANK YOU to one of my favorite families in the universe! I love and adore you guys, and I’m so thankful we’re friends!

Maddie is turning one year old - today! We celebrated with a photo session on Sunday at one of my favorite parks in Raleigh. We did her mommy’s maternity portraits at this very same location a little over a year ago, and it was so fun to see it come full circle.

It was terribly hard to narrow down the cuteness for a sneak peek, but here are a few faves so far…

Maddie’s uncle serves in the US Navy, and is just returning from a long deployment this week. Mom and Dad thought he’d love this little sailor dress…how could he not? She’s stinkin’ adorable!

Of course we saved a little time at the end of our shoot for some birthday cake! Maddie was content to just peel off little bits of icing at first.

Then she really got into it and showed us how it’s done!

Maddie, happy first birthday! I’ve loved knowing you since before you were born, and to see you turning a year old is just amazing. Your parents are over-the-moon in love with you, and who can blame them? Stay little as long as you can, for their sakes, ‘kay? Smooches!

Sam and her family are getting ready to move out of state next week, so we squeezed in her 9 month session yesterday. And what a Good Friday it was! Sam’s dad has the MOST cool 1959 Chevrolet truck, and we put that baby to good use before it drives out of town!

I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have clients that trust in my vision! Jen, Ben and Sam, thank you from the bottom of my creative soul! I hope you have an easy time with the move, and I can’t wait for Sam’s 1-year session this summer!

By the way, don’t forget to register for the Mommy & Me Mini Sessions! Not only would this be a fabulous gift for Mother’s Day, but moms - consider giving Dad a beautifully framed print of his favorite people for Father’s Day!

Calling all moms! Do you have the “always-behind-the-camera” blues? Do you ever flip through your family’s photo albums and wish you were actually IN the pictures?

The time is NOW. Don’t worry about getting your hair did. Forget about those last 10-20-30 pounds you want to lose. Your relationship with your child is so special…it’s unique…it’s right now, ever fleeting. Put some photographs in that album that your child will cherish for a lifetime.

Mommy & Me Mini Sessions are limited, so make sure to get on the calendar soon. And Dads - can you think of a better Mother’s Day gift?!

A quick calendar note: April and May are fully booked, and I am beginning to book for June and July! Of course, I always try to leave room in the schedule for newborns - but make sure to contact me before baby arrives!

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared my own kids on the blog…far too long, in fact! I got some cute shots of them playing earlier this week in our (messy) playroom, so I thought I should come and share.

Claire will be a year old in February, and I just can’t believe it.

I know I’m biased, but admit it - you think she’s seriously cute too.

Awwww, sisterly love.

It just makes your heart melt. Until the big one grabs the little one in a headlock and spins her to the ground. Not that that ever happens around here or anything.

Claire’s latest thing is brushing her own hair. Good thing, since she’s got quite the messy mop!

OH! And she said “mama” for the first time today! I was cooking lunch, and she was really upset that I couldn’t pick her up. She kept pulling up on my leg, and I’d have to sit her back down on the floor as I moved from one spot in the kitchen to the other. Finally she pulled up on my leg one last time, and literally yelled “MAMA!” clear as a bell! Of course, she hasn’t done it again since, even though we’ve been trying since lunch. Lil stinker.

Is it just me, or does Macy look so grown up here?

She’s really giving me a time lately. Defiant, independent, stubborn, actively ignores me. We thought we were lucky because we never really had to deal with the terrible twos…but I honestly think this is worse. She is so smart and has comebacks that make me stop in my tracks!

Tonight, she absolutely refused to eat one. single. bite. of dinner. I know she was hungry, and I knew it was a control thing. I also know that I’m not the kind of mother who is going to get up from my dinner to go make something else for her. I tried taking away privileges. I tried reasoning with her. And as lame as it sounds, I even pulled out the old “choooo choooo…open up, the train is coming into the tunnel!” Oh yeah, she opened up, I deposited the “train.” One second later, she spit the food out and said “the tunnel is broked.”

Seriously! How am I supposed to discipline this child when I can’t stop laughing? (By the way, we compromised on 6 bites of dinner. And then some healthy, no sugar applesauce to make me feel better that at least she got a vitamin or two in her.)

No matter what though…this girl has me smitten.

We got about 5-6 inches of snow here today, and I got to stay home from work and enjoy some super awesome family time. I got a lot of fun pictures from today, so look for those to come (hopefully tomorrow!)