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!

Happy 4th of July to all of my friends, family, clients and countrymen. I hope you have a super fun and safe celebration today!

I have opened up some mini session availability for July & August. Let’s face it…who wants to try and look pretty for the camera for an hour and a half while sweat is pouring down your face because the humidity is so high? Enter summer minis…a perfect way to get updated photos of your young ‘un in a quick 30 minute timeframe. Capture their latest milestone without melting into a puddle! Sounds good to me too.

Contact me at christy@christyjohnson.com to schedule your mini before they fill up!

I got to meet Miss Madden yesterday, a sweet and tiny little newborn! She was so good for me, sleeping for a good long while and only waking up for some lunch before passing out again. I had a terribly hard time narrowing down my favorites for the sneak peek, so I ended up just throwing in just about everything and the kitchen sink! I couldn’t help myself - I just love this session.

1. Hi, it’s me again. It’s been pretty quiet except for sneak peeks around here, hasn’t it? Lest you think I’ve run off to some deserted island with Jack from LOST my husband, I’ll share a little of what I’ve been up to.

2. I can’t quite remember if I’ve shared the news here, but I am doing a bit of rebranding. And when I say a bit, I mean the whole kit and kaboodle. New NAME, which means a new logo, new marketing materials, new everything! Including a new website, a new blog. New packaging. Oy, the list goes on and on.

3. I first started the rebranding process by meeting with my friend and business coach, Kathleen O’Grady. (I’ll be profiling her on the blog very soon!) Kathleen helped me to dig deep into who I am as an artist and how I want to define my business. She helped me brainstorm, she brought up fantastic points, she helped me muddle through the doldrums, and she cheered me on every step of the way. THANK YOU, Kathleen!

4. Geez, I love these two.

5. Macy has been quite the comedian lately. The other day, I got pretty stern with her about not listening to me, and she said “I don’t like you, and you don’t like me. Let’s talk about this.” Where oh where does she come up with this stuff?

6. Claire is at a stage that I think tortures a lot of parents. The stage where she pulls your hair or grabs your earrings and PULLS, or headbutts you. And then laughs and laughs when you correct her. Oh, it’s great fun, alright.

7. Why do I always get stuck on #7? I start off with furious typing, then always run out of steam by #7. Once I get to 8, the train usually starts off down the track again, but that elusive #7. Oh, and this totally counts as my #7!

8. We are heading to Georgia for a family reunion this weekend, and I’m excited. My grandparents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary just this week, which simply amazes me. I hope Mike and I make it sixty years. Heck, I hope I make it to 60 years old!

9. As we celebrate love and family, two dear friends are grieving the tragic loss of loved ones…one a husband, the other a father. I hope they both know that they and their families are in our thoughts and prayers every day.

10. Are you signed up for my newsletter? If not, what are you waiting for?! This month we had a very fun contest with a super cool prize, and there’s more where that came from! Plus, you’ll be in the know about upcoming events, see extra sneak peeks and get a first glimpse at new products! Stop on over to the photography website and sign up at the bottom of the front page. I’ll wait here…oh, wait a sec, no I won’t. That’s ten and I’m outta here!

Smooches!

Just thought I’d pop on to give a few quick updates. I still have some spaces available for the Mommy & Me mini sessions on Tuesday, May 18th and Sunday, May 23rd. Just think…Dad would like nothing better than a few photos of his favorite people for Father’s Day! Contact me by email at christy@christyjohnson.com to reserve your spot!

Also, I have one more spot available for June, and am now booking for July and August! If you would like to book a custom photography session, let me know!

Smooches!

Keenan is a rockstar! He turns three weeks old today, and totally rocked his newborn session yesterday afternoon. He went straight to sleep when we wanted him to, and gave us some quiet, alert time too! I hope that always listens this well, for his mom and dad’s sake. But then again…he is a rockstar!

Thank you, Kelly & Brian! Enjoy him - he’s a doll!

Lilah’s mom and dad are so smitten with their little addition, as anyone would be. Look at this smooshy newborn face and little lips…divine!

And my personal favorite of the session!

Thanks Chris and Melinda! It was such a pleasure to meet you yesterday, and an absolute joy to photograph Lilah!

I thought I’d share a few new pics of my girls. Macy is turning into a strong-willed little independent lady who does NOT like being told No. (well, who does, actually?!) And Claire, my baby, is walking. Say it ain’t so! Just a couple of recent snaps:

These two can just look at each other and start giggling. I love that. *sigh*

*new prop alert!* (ask me about bringing this antique high chair for your session!)

Out of the full memory cards of tongues sticking out, rolled eyes, silly faces…came this gem. I’m gonna have to print this one BIG.

Don’t let that big smile fool you…this is a girl who knows what she wants, and will stop at nothing to get it!

**Reminder about the Mommy & Me Mini Sessions! Email me at christy@christyjohnson.com to reserve your spot before they are gone!**

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!

Sorry for the disappearing act on the blog lately…the Johnson household has been in such a whirlwind for the last couple of weeks…Claire turned a whole year old (sniff, sniff), my beloved also celebrated a birthday, and three-quarters of us were hit by a nasty stomach bug. Macy was the only one who escaped the bug, because as her PopPop puts it, she’s too fast for germs to catch her. Tis true.

Now that I’m feeling better, I’ve been a busy bee getting galleries and slideshows uploaded and orders packaged for delivery, as well as trying to straighten up our neglected house and tackle the mile-high piles of laundry. I also need to get packing! We leave after work tomorrow for my parents’ house in Virginia to drop off the kidlets while Mike and I head to Vegas, baby! We’re going to a big photography convention and are counting on some much needed away-time - away from work, the kids, the responsibilities, the obligations. I think we’re due for a little break.

But of course, not even a little vacation comes without its share of stress. It’s supposed to snow here overnight tonight, putting a big question mark on our planned drive to Richmond…it’s supposed to snow in Richmond, putting a big question mark on our early morning flight on Thursday. And then, just for fun, we’ll be taking the red-eye back Monday night/Tuesday morning, grab the kids and drive home, just in time for me to repack my bags and drive myself to Charlotte for a day of work training on Wednesday. Whew!

Since I will be out of town, I may be a little slow to respond to emails or voicemails. I will get back to everyone by Thursday or Friday next week. I also want to share some of Claire’s one-year photos as well, so stay tuned for those.

And just because I can’t post without a photo, here’s several. I’ve been playing around with the ShakeIt photo app on my iphone…it’s so much fun! And free! So some random happenings from around our parts…