Behind My Camera

Sleepy and Snuggly

2012-01-11T13:15:00.003-06:00

It has been way too long since I've had the opportunity to photography a newborn. These truly are the most challenging and most enjoyable sessions. It's always a game of patience but when you take your time, and the conditions are right, babies will sleep like a log and you can photograph them in all kinds of wonderful poses. Baby H was no exception. Her parents and I were sweating through the whole session, but she was happy happy as a clam. There are so many favorites from our Saturday together, these are just a few. Enjoy!

Another Sweet One Year Old

2011-12-06T14:11:00.004-06:00

Sweet L had so many great expressions. She was so happy too, and even if she had a moment of frustration or started to fuss she would instantly laugh when her mommy started to fake sneeze! Sally thank you so much for entrusting your precious One Year Portraits to me. I know these images will be treasure for a long time.

Oh Boy!

2011-10-16T19:55:00.003-06:00

I recently had the wonderful pleasure of photographing a sweet baby boy. Mom and I attempted to create some newborn images but busy little J would have none of that! He's a big 9 week old and was busy movin' and groovin'. So, we went with the flow, let him be the boss, and captured some gorgeous images that portray exactly who J is. Here's just a few!

I thought this one needed a little rock-n-roll feel to it. :)

The Busy Season!

2011-10-12T13:42:00.004-06:00

That's right! We're smack in the middle of October and officially in one of the busiest seasons of a photographer's year. Halloween in right around the corner, Thanksgiving is only six weeks away, and then of course the kids will be out for Christmas!

Inevitably every year I receive calls from potential clients asking about holiday portraits at the end of November and I hate having to disappoint anyone. My cut off date for holiday portraits is always Thanksgiving weekend. Any portrait sessions that take place after Thanksgiving will not be delivered until January.

Think this through with me friends... after your session takes place it takes me about 2 weeks to have your images ready for you to view. We schedule an order appointment and it takes another 2+ weeks for your order to be printed and delivered. If your session takes place the first weekend of December, you wont be able to order images until the week before Christmas. Then of course the images must be sent to the printer. That doesn't leave anyone time to mail out cards, or wrap them for gifts. October and November are a fabulous time for family portraits! If you would like to schedule a session this year do not put it off. Call soon to reserve your date before November comes and goes.

Baby Girl + Tutu + Cake= Fun!

2011-09-26T10:53:00.003-06:00

This session was lots of fun (and lots of work for mom :D ). I love photographing little girls because it's like playing dress up with a live baby doll. Harmony was wonderfully easy to photograph. Here's proof mom... we did get some big smiles after all!

Each of these has a been finished with a different processing effect. Which is your favorite?

Cinderella Images!

2011-09-20T12:20:00.009-06:00

I've finally finished reviewing over 200 images from the Gobel School of Dance production of Cinderella. Here are links to the 5 separate slide shows (there were too many images to fit into one).

Jazz and Alternative Dances

Cinderella I

Cinderella II

Cinderella III

Cinderella IV

If you'd like to order a print or digital image of any of these you're welcome to print off this order form and mail it and your check to me at the address below. Please please remember that after October 10, 2011 all orders will require a $100 minimum.

I apologize for taking so long getting these out, but as a voluntary project, it was placed on the back burner this summer. I'm glad to have it completed before the fall holiday portrait rush. :)

One Hot Session!!!

2011-07-07T07:44:00.003-06:00

I photographed this family in downtown Nacogdoches a couple weeks ago just before sunset and after being outside for less than 10 minutes we all started to melt. Mom planned ahead and had cold water and snacks and the kids handled the heat really well. It never ceases to amaze me how crazy a session can feel when you're in the midst of it all, but then I go home and cull through the images there are SO MANY more keepers than I ever think possible. This was one of those sessions! I'm still not sure how I'll narrow it all down before our ordering appointment. :) Enjoy!

Time is Running Out!

2011-06-29T07:35:00.006-06:00

The deadline for our Watermelon Bash is July 2nd! Call (936) 556-2265 to reserve the best time for your family. Space is limited so call today!

They Grow So Fast!

2011-06-11T16:32:00.003-06:00

I was so busy getting the images from this session ready before I go on vacation next week, that I've already shown Mom and Granna the full gallery to this session. Oh well, a little out of order, but a sneak peek none the less. :)

This image was taken about two years ago. Such a handsome little man, looking forward to meeting his baby sister.

These are a few favorites from our session last Saturday. My how time flies, and how quickly they grow!

McCain has grown into the sweetest big brother. He was so helpful and kind to Anna Caroline the entire time we were together. This image makes my heart melt.

Watermelon Bash!

2011-06-07T15:11:00.004-06:00

Join us for our first ever Watermelon Bash! Call 936.556.2265 to reserve your time slot soon.

Twice the Fun!

2011-04-05T13:16:00.003-06:00

I was so excited when Debbie called and asked to schedule a spring session for her children because not only is she wonderful to work with, but she trusts me to do my thing. To add to that awesomeness, her children are gorgeous and full of personality. We came away with so many great images it was hard to settle on which two to showcase on my blog. I decided on these, but trust me Debbie, you're going to have a hard time choosing your favorites! :D

So Good to Be Back

2011-03-10T13:38:00.003-06:00

After a four month hiatus, it feels so great to be back at work again. This family holds a special place in my heart. When my daughter started Kindergarten last year, she attended a new school, with a new teacher, and all new classmates. I prayed and prayed for a fabulous teacher and at least one sweet friend who loved Jesus like she did. After a week of school, the teacher helped me plan a play date with some of L's classmates. That's when I met this momma and her beautiful little girl. Our girls have been special friends ever since. Thank you Melanie for being an answered prayer in our lives.

Now, Can you believe a family as beautiful as this hasn't had professional portraits taken in more than 7 years?! That should be illegal! I'm so glad we were able to remedy that and although we were racing the sunset, I couldn't have asked for an easier family to work with.

Here are just a couple of my favorites... there are lots!

Wham Bam!

2010-11-16T21:03:00.004-06:00

In an effort to quickly wrap up my remaining sessions, I crammed three into one weekend. This is something I almost never do so I can pace my editing and still allow family time, but with the extenuating circumstances, I decided to make an exception. I honestly couldn't have had three more easy going and fun sets of clients than these three. Even though each session was so very different from the others, they all had a great time. The images speak for themselves. Enjoy!

This family of four is extra special to me. I haven't seen April in years but, being we are cousins, we saw a lot of each other when we were younger. I was honored when she called me to schedule a session and told me they wanted to travel from Houston just to have me photograph them!

When Wendy called me to schedule a session for her and her husband she specifically said they wanted something fun and different, that would really portray their personalities. This turned out exactly how I'd imagined it. I can't wait to finish up our session soon and photograph them with their other baby... Eleanor.

This is their fur baby, Samantha. She is such a daddy's girl. :)

And last but not least... a family I'm getting to know a little better with each passing mile. :) You see, Becky is my trainer. I feel like I'm rich or famous when I say that, though in all honesty without her schedules, accountability and encouragement I would not even think myself capable of running the 5 miles I ran last Saturday. But that's not all... the really special thing about this family, is their generosity. They won the bid for this session from the Heartbeat Pregnancy Center's silent auction.

This is one of my many favorites from their session. It's just perfect!

Thornton Photography is Closed

2010-10-31T13:16:00.003-06:00

My mother has become ill and I will be needing to help care for her. I am unsure how long this care might continue, but in effort to put my family first I will be stepping back from some previous responsibilities including my business. For those of you who have already contacted me about a photo session, are waiting to view images or place an order please don't be alarmed. I will be completing my current obligations. However, please be patient with me during this time. Thank you.

Allison

Energy!

2010-10-05T10:21:00.004-06:00

Have you heard how 'they' (I assume in this case it's child development specialists) say that a child's attention span is equivalent to their age in minutes. Therefore, a young two year old would have barely a two minute attention span. This young man was a shining example that 'they' are right. :D Young Wyatt was so much fun, and adventurous! He kept his parents and me busy constantly creating new ways to photograph him, so that he wouldn't become bored with our session.

We started out with a traditional family portrait...

Then we did some a little less 'portraitish' (yes I know... not a real word.)

This is one grandma may not be partial to... it's in no way a traditional portrait, but I LOVE how little Wyatt looks compared to Mom and Dad. This is my favorite from the session!

History

2010-09-28T09:43:00.004-06:00

I adore photographing families that I have a history with. It's so easy to capture honest expressions when you know your subjects personally. Take these siblings... I've known them since the day they were born. Their mother and I have known each other since college and she was one of my first portrait clients when I was building my photography portfolio. It's families like these that make my job look easy.

Here are just a few images from our 30 minute mini session...

Easy Peasy!

2010-09-21T12:08:00.004-06:00

Now that Family Portrait season is now in full swing, I'm working every Saturday until the end of October. Hint Hint... those of you who are putting off booking your family sessions, if you want a Saturday, call soon! :) I usually hire an assistant for my family portraits but decided to risk doing this one alone. It's definitely not that I like to live life on the wild side, but I knew the youngest subjects were school age, and girls. No squeaky toys or silly games would be necessary. This family was so incredibly easy to photograph, they had me considering the need to change my specialty. The images speak for themselves... just look!

Foursome

2010-09-14T19:32:00.006-06:00

This lovely foursome was a winner of the Relationships Blog Contest several months ago. Their son took a little warming up, and typical to his age and gender he wasn't thrilled with the idea of a photo shoot, but with a little coaxing we were able to get some wonderful images. See for yourself :)

This was a great way to start, if we could have had a photo shoot with only tickling and wrestling brother would have been so much more into it. This is one of my session favorites. Just makes me want to smile and then go tickle my own babies.
Little Miss here, was not the least bit camera shy, and actually busted out with some of the best smiles when she had the camera all to herself.

Have no fear mom and dad, this is only one of many wonderful family images. No head swapping necessary!

Ahhh... brotherly love. Don't you just love how big brothers show affection to their sisters. He kept telling his mom that he HAD to have his hand there so she wouldn't fall. Putting his hand on her shoulder was not good enough. :D

Returning from Vacation

2010-08-17T14:26:00.004-06:00

My husband and I dropped our three children off with his parents and then boarded a plane for a 6 day anniversary trip to San Francisco. The weather was beautiful, and after a day or two I stopped feeling like I was forgetting something. Going from a busy life with three children where you constantly remind little people to put on shoes, go to the bathroom, buckle up, get out, don't grab, sit down, mind your manners and lots more... to traveling with a handsome grown man who can care for himself, and actually looks out for me most of the time, took some adjusting. We had a wonderful time doing lots of grown up activities like hiking 10 miles in redwood covered mountains, driving and touring wineries in Sonoma and Napa, exploring the tide pools on the beach and then of course eating dinner whenever WE were hungry. Unfortunately upon returning home, it took me at least a week to settle back into my routine and my real life. Room service will spoil me more quickly than anything else!

I do apologize for not mentioning my leave of absence prior to our departure, but I did return emails and phone calls periodically so hopefully no one thought I'd dropped off the planet never to be seen again. Those that have young children know how difficult it is to pack a family of 5 and get them out of the house with everything necessary for a week long trip, and honestly, I completely forgot about my blog in the midst of all the chaos.

If you've read this far, thank you for sticking with me, and I am indeed back and working too. I'm booking into October with only 1 Saturday left in September so if you're considering fall family portraits, don't wait too long. Email me at allison@thornton-photography.com soon!

July Newsletter

2010-07-19T12:36:00.003-06:00

For those who are not on my mailing list, or have missed it, the July Newsletter is out. To view a larger version, simply click the image below.

Another Fashion Friday

2010-07-16T09:19:00.003-06:00

If you haven't been looking carefully over the last few weeks you might not have realized there are some rules to planning clothing for family portraits. As a general rule, it's best to choose two colors for everyone to wear. And no one person in the group should wear one of those colors. Different shades of the same color palette are acceptable and encouraged. Notice in the image below, I've used shades of blue and brown and even though not all the colors match exactly they coordinate well.

Family

2010-07-07T12:37:00.003-06:00

Last weekend I had the honor of photographing a family portrait for some business owners here in Nacogdoches. It was a very nice change of pace photographing a family with only grown children. I left the house with a nagging feeling that I'd forgotten something important. Then I realized, it was my bag full of colorful squeaky toys that are necessary to keep the attention of my littlest subjects. Aside from 100% humidity and saturated ground, Saturday was a beautiful morning for portraits!

Fashion Friday in July

2010-07-02T09:14:00.003-06:00

Here we are in July! It's hard to believe we'll be celebrating Independence Day on Sunday! I've found are some light summer colors and clothes for those hot July portraits. Enjoy and have a fabulous weekend!

It's Friday Again!

2010-06-25T10:00:00.001-06:00

I'm beginning to wonder if purple is a popular color right now, or if it's just one I'm really attracted to right now. Here's another take on some purple hues. I promise, next week... no purple! :)

Family Vacation

2010-06-24T10:00:00.001-06:00

My family and I are leaving for 5 days to travel to see relatives. We're excited about some time away from our usual routine, and sweet time with those we love and rarely see. Thornton Photography will therefore close Friday, June 25, 2010 and will reopen on Thursday, July 1, 2010. All messages and emails will be returned as quickly as possible on Thursday.

Contest Winners!

2010-06-23T09:13:00.002-06:00

Thank you all who participated in this year's contest! It was so fun to watch the votes come in and to be honest, it was fairly close for the first day or two. In the end though, with 62 votes there was no doubt image #3 (Kimberly and Rebecca) were the winners. Image #4 of Jonell and baby Jenna came in second place with 24 votes. Third place goes to Image #5 with 12 votes! Way to go Andi!

Your gift certificates will go in the mail this week! Enjoy!

Fashion Friday (Late) + Contest update

2010-06-19T20:06:00.006-06:00

Well here it is Saturday night, and I'm kicking myself for not having done this on time. Maybe having last week's post early will help soften the disappointment from this one being late. :)

I also wanted to be sure to thank every one who participated and voted in our blog contest! It is now closed and I'm tallying votes now. Winners will be announced on Wednesday!

Now, for the post... these colors are for those with vibrant personalities and who aren't afraid of a little color. No one ever said family portraits needed to 'match'. However, I believe it is important to coordinate and plan colors that work well together.

Let The Voting Begin!

2010-06-11T06:05:00.002-06:00

I just want to say how proud I am of all those who chose to participate. These are great images and just seeing the love shared in each one makes my heart smile.

Here are the five entries in random order. In order to vote for your favorite, simply send me an email via the 'contact' page on my website at http://www.thornton-photography.com/. Don't forget to tell me what number image you want your vote to count towards!

1.

2.

3.

Fashion Friday (early)

2010-06-10T20:15:00.005-06:00

The blog contest entries will be posted early tomorrow morning, so I wanted to go ahead and get Fashion Friday up a little early this time. This week I've created a softer color palette using pinks, greys, and shades of purple. Notice how even jewelry and shoes can be used to tie colors together.

Contest Update

2010-06-09T07:29:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited to have five contest participants and even more thrilled that two of them have never actually had a session with me! This is going to be so much fun! I'll post the entries on Friday morning and open voting at that time, but I figured you all might like to know what you'll be competing for. :)

The first place winner will receive a gift certificate good for a full portrait session and a 16x20 wall portrait.

The second place winner will have his/her choice of a gift certificate for 50% off a full session and a 11x14 wall portrait OR a gift certificate for a 30 minute mini session and a 11x14 wall portrait.

The third place winner will receive a gift certificate for a 30 minute mini session and a 3x3 mini album with 10 images.

On Friday morning check my blog to see what number your image has been given then visit my website at www.thornton-photography.com and send me an email from the 'contact' page telling me which image you want to vote for. Throughout the week you can increase your chances of winning by emailing, Facebooking, bribing and begging your friends and family to do the same. Only votes sent via email through my contact page will be valid. As much as I love having comments on my blog, any comments used for voting will not count. Please play fair and only send one email per household. I will be verifying IP addresses to ensure emails are indeed coming from different computers.

I will keep an email folder for each contestant and all emails will be tallied to determine the winner. Voting will close June 18th at 10:00 p.m. CST. If you have any questions regarding the contest you're welcome to contact me via phone or email.

First Fashion Friday

2010-06-04T13:03:00.004-06:00

As promised, beginning in June you can expect a post every Friday with clothing ideas for your next family portrait session. This collection uses shades of bright green and blue mixed with a little white and denim for a comfortable summer combination.

Gobel School of Dance presents Swan Lake

2010-06-02T09:48:00.005-06:00

I'm 32 years old, a wife, and a mother of three children. I am a grown woman who only last weekend learned something new about myself. I absolutely love the ballet! Last year the Gobel School of Dance performed excerpts from different presentations, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. This year, they performed three acts from Swan Lake and I honestly thought it was better than the movies. I have since informed my husband that until our daughter is a bit older, he needs to take me to the Houston ballet at least once a year, and I'll be attending more local productions for sure! Here are a few favorites that I've had a chance to edit. There are many many more (over 300 actually) where these came from, but it'll take me some time to sort through them all.

May Newsletter!

2010-05-27T20:21:00.006-06:00

Click image in enlarge.

"Sharing" Blog Contest

2010-05-17T13:33:00.008-06:00

As many of you know, my website has a portfolio section divided up into categories. One of my favorites is the “Sharing” section. This section is jam packed full of people “Sharing” their lives with each other. Relationships are vital to life here on earth. The way we love and treat one another speaks volumes to those around us. Some recent events have had me contemplating how uncertain tomorrow really is, and how much we each should treasure the gift of today. It seemed only fitting to theme my blog contest accordingly. This year I want you all to send in images of the relationships in your life. Images with cameras or phones are both welcome. I’ve included some images taken with my phone to get your ideas stirring. There are, however, some restrictions… so read carefully. 

1. No professional portraits may be submitted, these must be snapshots!

2. All submissions must have been taken sometime after December 31, 2009. (my goal is to encourage everyone to take recent photos of the relationships most dear to them)

3.All entries must be of YOU and your loved one(s). That’s right, if you’re submitting the image, you must be in the photograph. I prefer to have faces visible, but will accept an image if you are recognizable. If it’s just your foot in the corner, it doesn’t count! :D

4. Subjects in your entry must be people you care about. (parents, spouses, children, friends etc) You and your car don’t count… no matter how much you love your car!

5. Only one entry per household.

6.All entries must be received by Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 10:00 p.m. Email them to me at allison@thornton-photography.com

Once I receive at least 5 entries I will post them on my blog. Then I encourage you to email all your friends and family and have them vote for your entry. Voting will be the same as last year. In order to vote, you must send me an email via the contact form of my website specifying which image you’d like to vote for. Voting will close after 7 days and winners will be announced shortly after.

Prizes will include a free “Sharing” portrait session, a 16x20 wall portrait, discounted sessions and other prints or print credits!

So start snapping images of yourself with those you love, and digging through your iPhone photos, recent picture files, or camera cards. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful entries! Here are some of the favorites I’ve pulled off my phone.

Party of Five

2010-05-10T20:18:00.005-06:00

The last two weeks have been busy around my house. On Sunday, May 2nd I left for Dallas to attend Texas School for Professional Photographers. The Saturday before, I photographed a beautiful family with three spunky blond haired children. They were so fun! Amy, thank you so much for being so understanding about the craziness that occurs before and after mommy leaves town. I'm now home, and have adjusted to my normal routine again. :) Every year I come home still expecting room service! Ha!

These images were a joy to process! I know you'll love them for years to come.

Well, and I had to throw this one in too of course. Yes, the life of a family with three young children is never boring. :)

Celebrate Motherhood!

2010-04-22T08:49:00.004-06:00

Mother's day is less than three weeks away and with the recent passing of a few sweet women that I was privileged to know, I have a renewed sense of urgency to capture and preserve images for mothers and their children. I want to encourage every mother out there to get out from behind the camera! No one knows the number of their days, and no one knows what tomorrow will bring. Your children don't care whether you were wearing make up that day, or whether you never lost that baby weight. I personally have never looked back at an image of my mother or grandmother and thought, Wow! She really should have changed shirts before this picture was taken, or at least styled her hair.

My challenge to you all today is to put that camera in your husband's or friend's hands and have them photograph you playing with your children! If you have no professional portraits of you and your children that can be preserved for years to come, I encourage you to do that as well. From now until the end of May, you can schedule a Mommy and Me (or even Grammy and Me) session and receive a complimentary 10x20 story board with up to three images of your choice.

The New Display!

2010-04-15T13:29:00.003-06:00

Dr. Glymph's waiting area is finally complete! After much more sweat and frustration than necessary (a mathematician I am not), these portraits are now hung. It took me forever to get the math right in deciding exactly where to put the nails so that they would align perfectly. My assistant, however, was immensely helpful... thanks Brian! :) For those who haven't visited the office recently, here's a picture.

A Project

2010-04-08T12:33:00.003-06:00

I've been wanting to do this for about a year now. It wasn't until recently that I was able to make the time for it and I'm so glad I did.

Will definitely have to do more of these!

March Newsletter

2010-03-26T08:36:00.004-06:00

Or view a larger version here.

Easter Chicks!

2010-03-23T09:54:00.004-06:00

Easter is less than 2 weeks away and I'm so excited! I love Easter! I love the celebration of our risen savior, I love the renewal of spring and the splashes of color that appear all over town! I'm also excited because my mother needs some more baby chicks. :) Why would that excite me? Because that means I can purchase them for her, and chick-sit for 10 days until she arrives to celebrate Easter with us. My children don't know yet... ssshhhhhh. What makes this even better, is these chicks become free props! Imagine the suprise, and excitement your own children will experience with a special Easter session with baby chicks! I've decided to offer these sessions as Limited Editions. They can be scheduled any time between now and April 10th (though I'll only have the chicks until Easter Sunday) and will last 30 minutes. Your $115 Session fee will include one 8x10, one sheet of wallets, and a bonus low resolution digital image(same pose). The digital image is perfect for your facebook page, or digital picture frame. Call soon to schedule your session!

Peach Blossoms and Azaleas

2010-03-20T14:43:00.004-06:00

The Peach Orchard is in full bloom! Call me for a session soon because they'll fade fast. Oh and remember the azaleas will be at their peak soon as well. If you were waiting for springtime portraits NOW is the time! :) This is one of my absolute favorite times of year for photographing children and families.

Miss Molly

2010-03-04T10:31:00.005-06:00

Oh how I adore Miss Molly. You see, this sweet baby has three older brothers and her momma is a dear friend of mine. I photographed this baby girl for the first time when she was in the womb... you may remember this image. :)

Well now, she's 7 months old and so stinkin' cute I almost took her home with me. Here... you can see for yourself. :)

Much Loved Little One

2010-03-02T14:25:00.003-06:00

This sweet newborn was almost 3 weeks old by the time I had the opportunity to photograph her. I was unfortunately fighting a terrible cough and was not about to chance getting anyone especially a new baby, sick. I usually like to photograph newborns no older than 14 days but little Emma was perfect! Her big brother is so proud and couldn't wait to have his portrait taken holding his new baby sister. Here's your sneak peek Marcie, it was such a pleasure photographing your beautiful family.

Daddy's Boy

2010-02-23T11:20:00.004-06:00

This session was so much fun! For those who don't know me very well, I'm not afraid to get a little dirty, and I love riding a four wheeler with my husband. He practically proposed on one! Photographing this session was so relaxed and easy. How much more fun can you get than a father having fun outside with his son.

Dont worry, the engine isn't running but we sure had fun pretending!

Who can resist a face as sweet at that! Ha! He's the baby and he knows how to use it. :)

I love the way he's looking at his daddy here. Melts my momma heart. *sigh*

Another baby face, workin' to get what he wants. Love it!

Sweet 10 Day Old Princess

2010-02-16T10:53:00.003-06:00

This beautiful baby girl is already on the go. She has a school age sister and brother and they both play basketball. Baby R was able to squeeze in a quick 90 minute photoshoot before heading out to cheer for her older siblings. Given the multiple clothing changes a model must endure, and the brisk morning wind, Little R was simply perfect.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-13T19:04:00.003-06:00

Share the Love

2010-02-11T09:46:00.003-06:00

Alright everyone! It's February, and just days away from the big "V". Here's your chance to take advantage of a wonderful portrait opportunity! From now until February 28th, you and a friend can basically get half off your session fee! See details below.

Beautiful Mommy

2010-01-28T10:34:00.006-06:00

This beautiful woman was referred to me by Dr. Brian Glymph for the display going up in his waiting room. When she stepped out of her car, I immediately noticed her sassy red heals and knew she was going to be perfect! Sherri I can't wait to meet your sweet baby girl, and hope you'll enjoy these images in the mean time. Thank you for walking all over the SFA arboretum in those sassy heals with me. That's quite an accomplishment, but especially for a woman in her 38th week of pregnancy! It was SO worth it though! Enjoy!

Baby it's Cold Outside!

2010-01-07T10:37:00.005-06:00

In attempt to stay warm this winter, I've decided to introduce my Winter Baby Special! All baby sessions that take place in January and February will receive 50% off the session fee and a complimentary silver beveled 5x5 image. This offer includes all children under 12 months of age and must take place indoors. Space is limited so call today!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T08:29:00.004-06:00

Thornton Photography is officially closed for the holidays! I will return to the office on December 30th, and will return phone calls then. I pray you all have a wonderful Christmas with your family and take some time to celebrate Christ!

Adorable!

2009-12-22T14:40:00.003-06:00

I practically begged my sweet friend Katy to allow me to photograph her beautiful little girl. I needed a model for the winter baby special I'm having and well, Lily was perfect! Here are just a few from her session:

Last Minute Session

2009-12-16T14:00:00.006-06:00

Wow, when the momma of this sweet baby called me to schedule a session for her 3 week old and his cousins I was happy to oblige. When I realized she was traveling from Tyler the next weekend, I was thankful I was available, and we fast-tracked the planning and preparation process. In the end, everything worked out beautifully. We came away with some stunning images. Here are just a few...

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

2009-12-01T14:35:00.003-06:00

I just LOVE December! Yes, it's busy with all the planning, cleaning, wrapping and traveling we do, but it's also a time to reconnect with old friends and spend quality time with our families. This year, I'm having Christmas at my house! This means two things: one, that I'll be spending a lot of time in my kitchen this year, and two that I'll be in town and available for a one or two extended family sessions.
So if your family is coming here to Nacogdoches then consider taking advantage of everyone being together and capture the moment forever! I'm reducing the additional person fee to only $10 per person and gifting each family a duplicate 8x10 with the purchase of a large wall portrait (20x24 or larger). To schedule your session, or if you have questions, email me at allison@thornton-photography.com.

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2009-11-17T13:53:00.005-06:00

This family holds the record for fastest extended family session! The perfect light, and the energetic, but cooperative young boys made for easy transitions from one location to the next. My sweet assistant (along with mom and dad) did spend a lot of her time wrangling the little ones, but once we had them posed with everyone else, they miraculously stayed put, and were very attentive! This session was part of my donation to The Heartbeat Pregnancy Center this year. Karen thank you for being a part of such a great organization here in Nacogdoches, and for allowing me the pleasure of meeting and photographing your beautiful family!

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2009-11-17T13:35:00.003-06:00

Last Saturday I had two family sessions. It was a perfect day for it too! November really is the perfect time of year for holiday portraits in Nacogdoches. The leaves are lovely colors and the air is brisk and chilly, but not miserably cold.

This first family, is a favorite for many reasons. One of which has a lot to do with their oldest son being born the day after mine and at the same hospital too. I can just imagine Darrell and Jimmy side by side staring in the nursery window in awe of the baby boy they had each been blessed with. Another reason is just their energy! We always have so much fun at our sessions. Jimmy isn't afraid to be silly and just play, and Shannon is so laid back and relaxed. Here are just a few of my favorites. it was so hard to choose! There are so many!

Another Brisk Morning for Portraits!

2009-11-03T18:24:00.008-06:00

This young man's grandmother has commissioned me twice now to photograph her grandchildren and she informed me at the session that she has a new one! This is one of the many things I love about my work. I am able to become a small part of their lives. I see children and families grow and change. It's always such a pleasure to see the same family return year after year. I look forward to meeting the new grandbaby 18 months from now (or earlier of course :D ). Now, back to the handsome and energetic young man I had the pleasure of photographing last Saturday. He has such a great personality!

He loves to perform...

Is quite adventurous...

A little dramatic...

but oh so snuggly too.

Autumn Colors

2009-10-26T12:32:00.005-06:00

This sweet family of four was scheduled to participate in the October 3rd Mini-Sessions but had to reschedule because of a conflict with work. It ended up working out for the best. The weather last Saturday was beautiful (though a bit damp) and we were able to get so many wonderful images. This was my first session with an assistant, and let me tell you... I'm never photographing another family alone again! She was so helpful and really took the stress of entertaining and amusing the children off of me, and it allowed me to focus on getting the perfect image. The boys did great too and were playful and cooperative. They put up with me and my assistant for over an hour! Mom did a fabulous job coordinating outfits as well. You'll be even more impressed when I tell you that she did it all in a few days time. A cold front blew through just days before our session turning the weather from a mild 65 degrees in the morning to a brisk 48 degrees. It was all worth it!

Hahaha! I couldn't help myself. Sometimes the out-takes are too good to toss out. :D

Last Chance!

2009-10-22T09:46:00.009-06:00

November is approaching fast, as is your last opportunity to participate in this season's mini session event. I will be photographing families on Saturday, November 7th at the SFA Arboretum from 8:00am to 11:00am. These 20 minute sessions are a great way to quickly and easily take care of both this year's holiday cards as well as some Christmas gifts, and all for only $200! In addition, this year, I'll be donating a portion of the profits made from your mini sessions to The Helping House. This school educates children who suffer from autism and other developmental delays and is located right here in Nacogdoches! This is a wonderful way to give back to our community while you scratch Christmas cards and gifts off your list.

The SFA Arboretum offers so much variety for these sessions, so you wont have to be concerned that your images will look like everyone else. Here are some samples:

Sweet Sweet Baby

2009-10-20T10:11:00.003-06:00

This sweet little boy was such a joy to photograph. He calm and happy the entire three and a half hours I was there, and never slept a wink. His parents were so great and laid back and we were able to achieve some beautiful images. Baby C's big sister wasn't really into being photographed with the family on this particular day, but she did allow me to capture her feeding her own baby.

Careful, this one is a bit contagious. I'm yawning right now actually. :)

And one for Nana and all the Aggie fans out there.

Another newborn with great eye contact!

And of course, one of big sister.

Holiday Sessions

2009-10-12T16:51:00.005-06:00

Oh yes, it's that time of year. The seasons are changing, there is football on TV tonight, cooler weather has arrived and we are only 7 weeks away from Thanksgiving! I'm beginning to nail down details for the November 7th MiniSessions, and I still have openings for Holiday Sessions in both October and November.

Here are a few favorites from last year:

Blog Changes

2009-10-01T13:57:00.007-06:00

I'm not sure about you, but I simply have not been happy about the sizes of the images my blog displays. Over the next day or so you'll start to see some changes to my blog. My goal is to keep things very clean and streamlined as well as create a background that allows larger images. I may have some test posts as well. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to comment. I'm always up for suggestions.

Here is another favorite from my last session.

Do-Over

2009-09-29T12:44:00.008-06:00

This family was my do-over from the Galveston sunrise session that was rained out. It also took place at the cool location where I had tried to hunt down the land owner to get permission and in the end just knocked on the door to the nearby house and asked. Thanks Mr. Frank for not thinking I was crazy for knocking on your door and asking if I could have a portrait session on your property. :D

If you ask me it was totally worth it! What a fun session! Mom decided to do something a little more urban and with some clothing suggestions and a new funky location, urban it was!

I L-O-V-E this color! Doesn't "A" looks oh so cool?!

My favorite! Ha! LOVE IT! (plus a little vintage processing)

Peek A Boo!

My Display

2009-09-25T19:20:00.002-06:00

After several months of planning, I can now say, I'm finished! There are now two beautiful 18x24s hung in two of Dr. Glymph's patient rooms. They look great too! (if I do say so myself :D ) Thanks to Erin and Jodi for graciously allowing me to photograph them and their beautiful newborn baby girls, and then allowing me to hang the prints for all to see. You girls are great!

Sunrise? What Sunrise?

2009-09-19T12:30:00.003-06:00

Last night I realized I had absolutely nothing planned this weekend. Wow! A whole weekend where I could do or plan to do just about anything. So last night I decided I needed to have some one on one portrait time with my three year old. I have fewer images of him than my other two children, mostly because he would rather run and play than follow instructions. ;) When I told him last night that we were going to go, just the two of us, and take pictures he was so excited. He kept telling his older sister and younger brother, "Sorry, you can't go. Just me and mommy are going."

While driving down University Drive a few times this week, I noticed these huge cargo containers and kept thinking... that would be an awesome background. So, as I fell asleep last night I imagined how great the warm sunrise light would look bouncing off these colorful containers and lighting up my son's blond hair. Well, unfortunately it was a dreary drizzly morning when I awoke. Ugh! Oh well, if I wait, we might not have another chance. Who knows how long the containers will stay there?

Here are two of my favorite images from the morning:

Lighting Challenge of the Day for Me: Cloudy days are typically great days for portrait sessions because you don't need shade. You can photograph just about anywhere. The sun is filtered by the clouds and falls softer on your subject. However, you have to be careful of raccoon eyes and other shadows and pay close attention the the direction your subject is facing. I thought it'd be fun to try to make my three year old seem taller than he really is, so I had him stand tall against one of the container, then I lay down at his feet.

Cool idea, awful light. When he looked down, all the light in his eyes, disappeared.

I took just a second to retreive my trusty reflector, layed it open on the ground and then layed down on it, leaving most of the area open to bounce light back into his face.

Success!

I'm really enjoying these urban style sessions. I'll be on the look out for more fun and unusual locations with this type of style. It's fun and different from the formal feel of my typical family sessions. Well, as formal as you can call a family session with me! Ha!

Rain Rain Go Away

2009-09-15T09:10:00.003-06:00

The weather wasn't looking good on our way down to Houston this weekend, and it wasn't any better in Galveston by sunrise on Saturday. Mom and I decided to go ahead and try, and well, we had about 10 minutes of no rain or drizzle. The kids were great! I was slightly concerned the baby might be carried off by the mammoth sized mosquitoes that were feeding off of us, but she made it safely back into the van.

I honestly left this session disappointed. Disappointed for mom, who had been looking forward to this for weeks. Disappointed for the children who wanted to run and play in the water.

Disappointed for me because I had envisioned my first beach session much differently and I wanted to be able to bring the portrait in my mind's eye, to life. None of this was reality, except mom and dad were awesome and took the kids to play in the waves afterward (yes! even in the rain!). Kudos to them!

However, I was very excited to come home and find there are a handful of very good images in this group. Here are a few of my favorites captured in those precious 10 minutes.

August Newsletter

2009-08-23T20:00:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow I'll be emailing my quarterly newsletter to all my clients. However, I wanted to give my blog readers a chance to view it first. So here it is! In order to see a larger view, simply click on the image below.

Holiday Mini-Sessions!

2009-08-23T19:46:00.004-06:00

I realize August isn't even over yet, but I've been busy the last few weeks preparing for the holidays. I will begin scheduling holiday sessions in September and want to be prepared for the rush. I've been carefully selecting templates for holiday cards, and planning this year's mini-session event. The first Saturday in October, and the first Saturday in November have been reserved for these abbreviated sessions. Space is limited so contact me soon to reserve the best time for your family. Click on the image below for more details.

Beautiful Baby and her Big Brother

2009-08-14T19:38:00.003-06:00

I had the honor of photographing sweet Emma's newborn portraits 12 months ago.

My has she grown since then! She's a happy but busy little girl. Her mother and grandmother were busy keeping her in one spot so I could be ready with the camera to click the shutter before she crawled off again. ;) Her big brother, Mason, is such a handsome young man and simply adores his baby sister. This session was so much fun. I love walking a way, certain I captured many great images. Here are just a few.

Fun Urban Session

2009-08-09T14:26:00.003-06:00

These are long time clients and friends. I just love photographing them, and when mom told me she wanted to go downtown and do something a little more urban, I was so excited. We have so many wonderful shots, it was hard to narrow them down. Here are just a few that stood out to me while I went through them the first time around.

Enjoy!

We all did a lot of laughing.

C did some Spiderman!

S showed some Sass!

My absolute favorite of the day :D Sweet sibling love.

and then they did a little dancing on the sidewalk ... it does a kid good. We even had a car drive by with some music blaring... perfect timing mistah gangstah.

Rain Rain Go Away

2009-07-31T08:04:00.004-06:00

Though I feel so thankful that we have some rain after such a long time without, I'm not too thrilled with how it is hindering my sessions as of late. This sweet mommy is my other model for Dr. Glymph's patient room display. Her adorable baby girl was such a champ! She loved the hot sticky weather God had provided, though Grandma, Mommy and I felt like we were in a sauna with our clothes on. We unfortunately had to cut our session short because of rain and lack of light, but I was able to get an image for my display and a good selection for mommy and daddy to choose from as well. Enjoy!

Little Sister

2009-07-27T09:57:00.003-06:00

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing the 8 day old daughter of a sweet friend. This family has been a client of mine for a few years now and after 3 wonderful little boys, they've been blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Little Molly was awake for most of the session, but only cried once. However, she did have the hiccups twice! Ha! We had so much fun and her big brothers simply adore her, as you'll see. Have a peek!

I'm lovin' how Mason is looking at me in this one. He had his hand on his sister the whole time we were outside.
They are all so in love with her.
I love me some baby eye contact.Oh... and some yummy wrinkles too. How adorable is she? And yes, she gave herself a hickey too. ;)

Fun, Sassy and Silly

2009-07-15T12:47:00.004-06:00

Those three words best describe my most recent photography session. Kasey came to me needing some help with a project. She needed some head-shots but wanted some that would really show off her personality and style. I jumped at the chance to do something a little more creative and fun. Kasey was totally up for anything, including sitting, laying and standing in some of the strangest places. ;) It was a blast!

2+2=4

2009-06-23T13:17:00.004-06:00

This is another repeat client and a good friend. We had fun last weekend during our early morning session. I'm glad we met when we did though, by 9:00 am it was starting to warm up. There were so many beautiful spots out at the Native Plant Center and the kids did great!

Two Things

2009-06-17T07:51:00.003-06:00

First and foremost I had the wonderful pleasure of photographing a sweet 8 day old little girl on Saturday evening. She wasn't very sleepy so alas, no vases, bowls or flower pots with this one. She is a beautiful little peanut though but I never doubted that; her mother is simply gorgeous. Baby Jorja and her mother are models for my display in Dr. Glymph's office. Here are the two images I'll be using.Second, I have something I really want to work on, but with family, business and so many other distractions, I'm going to need you all to hold me accountable to it. As an artist I'm coming to realize the importance of keeping my creativity alive. Now don't get me wrong, I love photographing my clients, but I'm also realizing the importance of photographing for myself as well. I found an immense sense of fulfillment in the silhouette of my children. Not so much because it was my children, but because it was a vision I'd been able to see as reality. So here's my goal, (this is where you're going to have to be my accountability)by September 30th, I will have a new gallery on my website entitled "creating". This gallery will include special projects of mine. Examples might include my macro work, or a ballerina project I'm seeing in my head right now or possibly some more creative silhouettes. Thanks for your help on this!

Handsome Little Man

2009-06-15T08:23:00.004-06:00

This young man came all the way from Austin just for a session with me! Wow! Okay, so it was actually his "Granna" (who lives here in Nac) that hired me, but still! What a compliment that his mother would come all this way for a session. It was a pleasure working with this young man, he was so easy to entertain and very laid back. We even had enough time to have a mini maternity session with Mommy. She's expecting a little girl in a few months! Yay!

As soon as this young man came out of the car it was clear that his Granna's family has some strong genes. If you know the family you will see what I mean.

Forty Years!

2009-06-09T19:28:00.004-06:00

My husband and I are two weeks from celebrating our tenth anniversary... but I'm certain we seem like newly-weds to this fabulous couple. I hope forty years is this happy for us as well. Congratulations Dudley and Gayle! You have a beautiful family.

One Fun Family!

2009-06-08T08:21:00.005-06:00

One of the many things I love about my job is having the opportunity to see children and families grow. This family is a perfect example. Two years ago this sweet mother brought her three boys to me and she's been coming back ever since. Here are two from our very first session....

Not only have their boys grown so much since then, but so has their family. They are now expecting a sweet baby girl (you can all pray with me that she'll have red hair like her mommy). Here are some favorites from their sunset session. Have fun looking!

This was all daddy's idea! His wife was wondering (when she saw him loading tackle boxes) if he'd misunderstood when she said it was a photo session not a fishing trip. When he explained I totally understood his vision. I adore when daddy gets involved and is a joyful participant in a session.
I am loving me some silhouettes lately. *sigh* Perfection.
Another vision I had in my head beforehand. I love love love this one!

June is Full!

2009-05-28T09:31:00.005-06:00

Wow! I can't believe June is already booked up! For those of you wanting some sunny summer sessions please have a look at your calendars for July and August. Thank you all for your loyalty and continuing to use Thornton Photography for your portrait needs. I'm so glad I've decided to put my boys in school a couple days a week starting in the fall. I'm going to need that time to work!

Of course I have to post an image, so here's one from one of my favorite sessions from my trip to Arlington for Texas School for Professional Photographers. My teacher, Elizabeth Homan, contacted a ballerina she knew that attends TCU and she and two friends came in to model for us. *sigh* It was unreal.

Another Beautiful Mamma

2009-05-27T08:24:00.003-06:00

This beautiful new mommy is another model for Dr. Glymph's office. Thanks Dari for finding such lovely women for me to work with. Erin and I had lots of fun out at her family's cabin. It was a great place with lots of character and very sentimental to her family. We really got to know each other and were fast friends. I'm really looking forward to going back in July when baby Kennedy arrives.

Here's your peek!

Fun Family of Four

2009-05-19T13:46:00.004-06:00

This session was loads of fun. I would have expected nothing less from Katee and Jacob though. They are always so incredibly goofy and fun to be around. We did some images for mommy and daddy and then we did some for the children too. Enjoy!

My favorite of the four of them.

*sigh* just perfect.
I know mom didn't really like the idea of Katee sucking her thumb but for this image, it just fit.
When you have children this close in age, they aren't just siblings, they're best friends too.
Bwahahaha! Just had to add this one 'cause it cracks me up.

Concentration is key to a great pedicure. :)

I love how he's looking at me like, bet you didn't know I could fly like Spiderman. Told ya.

From Imagination into Reality

2009-05-18T20:20:00.003-06:00

I have to tell you that I've had this envisioned in my head for quite some time. At first I thought there was no way I could accomplish it here in East Texas; there are simply too many trees. But little by little the pieces started coming together. A few months ago I found the perfect hill that would allow me to angle my shot so that my children would be standing 'on the horizon'. Then I had to wait for a clear evening where I could keep my kids out late enough for the sun to set. Bedtime at my house is 8:00 so lately it's been daylight when their heads hit the pillows. Ah, but tonight was perfect. These are actually a practice run for a session I have later this week. With my husband's help I was finally able to see the image in my head become reality. This feeling is so incredibly satisfying. Here's a mock up of what it'll look like when cropped and printed as a 15x30 canvas wrap. It's going to look fabulous above my fireplace!

Texas School for Professional Photographers

2009-05-06T20:59:00.004-06:00

I'm smack dab in the middle of my week here in Arlington and though I am constantly exhausted, I'm also surrounded by a plethora of both fabulous and famous photographers. I've learned so much in the last few days. Both about my craft, that will improve my skills as a portrait photographer, and about my business that will help me use my skills to be a successful business woman. My teacher is the very successful Elizabeth Homan from San Antonio, Tx. Her style of photography is very different from mine, but that doesn't keep me from being able to learn lots of things about natural light portraiture and running a small business from her.

Today was "Country Store" day and tons of vendors brought all kinds of products photographers use and sell them at very discounted rates. Hense my new delima. You know when you only have a certain amount of money, but it doesnt cover all the fabulous things you want to purchase? Yeah, lots of things to consider. Want to help me shop?

Here's my list:

A beautiful expectant Mommy

2009-04-28T22:14:00.004-06:00

This gorgeous woman agreed to model for my project for Dr. Glymph. How awesome would pregnancy be if we could all look this good?! I'm just itching to photograph her with her tiny baby girl in June! Jody it was simply a pleasure.

Here's just a peek:

Summer is 'a Comin'

2009-04-22T13:07:00.003-06:00

Like many of you I'm beginning to feel neck deep in all the end of year activities. We have last day of school parties and dance recitals on the calendar for May but before all that can happen, I'm leaving town for a week. I'm wondering if the timing could have been better, but I'm so ready for this. May 3-8th I'll be in Arlington at Texas School for Professional Photographers. I'm so excited I can hardly wait. I'll be spending the whole week under the instruction of one of the best photographers in Texas. I'm trying now to remember the last time I was away from my husband and children for so long, and I think it's never. Ah!

However, I also wanted to pop in here and let you know that though I haven't posted a weekly session, there is one coming next week as well as May's newsletter. Keep an eye out for those and know that things are hoppin' round here. :)

Now I have a question for all you out in blog world. I have been rolling around the idea of offering photo jewelry to my clients. As a mother, I would LOVE to have some of these pieces but want to find out from you if it's something you're interested in as well. I hesitated to do this in the past because I felt none of the vendors I came across were reputable or had the customer service I expect and that my clients expect from me. However, that is no more. Feel free to visit http://www.peronadesigns.com/ to see some of the jewelry I could offer and know that the beautiful portraits you adore of your children and families could become fabulous accessories like these.

After taking a look, please post a comment and let me know what you think. Be honest, if you love it or think you'd rather invest in wall art instead. You're not going to hurt my feelings. I want to know what you want. Have you seen something else you liked? Let me know, I'm all ears.

Poor Daddy

2009-04-06T14:30:00.003-06:00

These three sisters are just so beautiful and so fun that I have no doubt in my mind, their daddy is stocking up on weaponry. If he hasn't started yet, he'll need to soon. I suggest at least one behind the front door so when the boys come a knockin' you'll have it handy. ;) We had so much fun, and between the mud, and cow patties some of us got a little dirty too. Oh but it was SO worth it!

I told you we had fun.

Daddy could make them laugh like no one else.

The oldest and her best friend, Dude.

One of my many favorites from the evening.

Troopers

2009-03-31T13:46:00.003-06:00

No, no, not Starship... but such great sports. See this family has been on my calendar since last October hoping for spring portraits. In January mom contacted me again and we solidified a date in late March so they'd be sure to have blooming azaleas and warm weather. Well, one out of two isn't bad. The azaleas were almost as lovely as this family, but the weather... well it was... Pbbbllt. Windy and upper 50s are not ideal for sleeveless spring clothing. Oh, but this family was tough, they make it look so easy. Here's your sneak peek!

Brotherly Love

2009-03-23T09:46:00.004-06:00

These boys were such a pleasure to photograph. Mom and Dad did have to work hard to get the baby's attention, but if that's the hardest thing about a shoot, I consider it a breeze. The baby loved playing with and tasting leaves as we all made noises and tried to get his attention. As soon as he'd look up, I went to shooting. It was so much fun! Mom and Dad were great to work with, and big brother and I were fast friends and explored my favorite places in the SFA arboretum together. Here's your peek!

The Month of April

2009-03-21T21:02:00.002-06:00

As I was reviewing my calendar today I realized it's almost April. For those of you who were wanting to book a spring session, there is only one Saturday left available in April and two left in May. Can I just say a big thank you to all of you who have been so happy with your portrait experience that you've shared me with your friends. I purposely have limited my business marketing because my children are so young. As I prepare for each of them to go off to school over the next 3 years (my oldest starts Kindergarten in the fall... yikes!), I've been wanting to slowly encourage more business growth. It's because of you that my business has taken some big strides in the right direction. I have doubled my number of sessions this year compared to last. Wow! It's been great to set goals and see them met. So... Thank You!

Per my new rule, here's an image. I took my babies out to the peach orchard Thursday. I wanted to check it out now that it was starting to bloom. The owner warned me that the trees weren't blooming in unison this year (weird, but I'm guessing it might have something to do with the dry winter) and he was right but I was able to make it work. I took a boat-load of images, and came away with one... and even this one includes a head swap. It's so hard to photograph my own kids. *sigh* Or maybe my expectations are just too high with them. :)

Handsome, Energetic and a Red Head!

2009-03-19T07:14:00.003-06:00

It really doesn't get much better than this. This pistol of a boy was always on the move. He's just about 9 months old and standing, crawling onto and off of everything. His mommy has eyes like a hawk and by golly, she needs 'em. Daddy was a great sport too. I mean, honestly, it's not many men who really 'enjoy' being photographed, but I come across a handful that really tolerate it well. Way to go Daddy'o! Here's your sneak peek. Enjoy!

Such a looker.
Loves to play.

A good eater too.
And oh so generous.

Beautiful Family of Four

2009-03-12T13:46:00.003-06:00

This wonderful family was referred to me by a friend when I announced my model search. They were lots of fun and we got to know each other a little more as we explored some areas in and around downtown. Their three year old daughter and I held hands through most of the session. I just LOVE making new friends!

Gorgeous Newborn!

2009-03-10T07:38:00.004-06:00

If (living in this small town) I felt I could make a living photographing only toddlers and babies, I totally would. I simply love working with children and most certainly newborns. I photographed this sweet baby girl at 10 days old. I'm telling you, the best time to do this type of shoot is within the first 14 days after birth. Fallon confirmed this truth so well. She let me put her anywhere and slept through 80% of the session. When she was out, she was O-U-T! Ha! You'll see what I mean, even in the last image, she barely stirred when I placed her in the bowl. It was great! Mom was a joy to work with as well. She was so relaxed and easy going. We just talked and played the whole time I was there. Enjoy your rather large sneak peek. I just couldn't narrow them down!

And The Winners Are...

2009-03-08T12:39:00.003-06:00

Everyone... Hehee! I love announcing the winners of a contest like this, 'cause well.... everyone is a winner. However there was a definite leader in the votes this time around. The first place prize (with 21 votes) goes to Kelly Finnerud. She entered the photo of her daughter's first tooth. Coming in second (with 12 votes) is Courtney Hays with her close up of a lemon tree flower. Only two votes behind her is Dari Pierce with her white spring tree blossoms. Thank you ladies for participating and for all who voted for them. It was so much fun seeing your work for a change, instead of mine. I will be sending you all gift certificates in the mail this week for your prizes. Congratulations!

Two More Days! Cast Your Votes!

2009-03-05T08:54:00.003-06:00

Voting for the contest will close at 12:00 Noon (CST) on Saturday, March 7th. Remember only votes that are sent through my website contact page will be counted. There are currently only 6 or 7 votes between all the contestants. It's anyone's race! Good Luck!

Here's a fun image I took about this time last year. I am pretty sure this nest and the one I posted a few days ago (Heather Beadles shot that one) when announcing the contest are from the same bird, but between cats, storms that destroyed nests, and other incidents I'm not sure any hatchlings made it to adulthood. Maybe this year she'll have more luck.

Baby Blues and Brisk Winds

2009-03-03T14:16:00.007-06:00

I'll admit, mom and I both left this session wondering what I got, if anything. It was no one's fault. Saturday was so so cold, and very windy. Poor baby A's eyes were watery and her nose was running from the windy and cold weather. She really was a good sport considering the weather, and Mom and Dad handled the situation like pros. I must say though, I was pleasantly surprised to come home and find not one or two, but 23 great captures. It seems there will be a gallery full of images for the S family this weekend after all. Here are just a few of my faves to tease you.

Oh So Cool!

2009-03-02T21:06:00.003-06:00

This beautiful woman called me wanting some portraits of herself for her husband's birthday. I was so excited to see a wife and mother who was confident enough, and who loved her husband enough to take a little time for herself and capture her beauty in portraits. We were freezing our tails off as it was a brisk 50 degrees on Saturday morning with 20 mile an hour winds, but as it turned out, the wind really added something to these images, and she doesn't look the least bit cold either! I am so excited about these images I just cant stand it! Here's your sneak peek Ann. Enjoy!

Voting Begins Now

2009-03-01T19:39:00.004-06:00

I'm so excited for all the contest participants because there are only three! Everyone will win something! Everyone walks away a winner, now who doesn't like that!? So here they are in random order:

A:
B: Look closely, there's a baby tooth in there, just popping through.

Anyone can vote for any image but only one vote per person please. These all represent the theme "New Beginnings" in some form or fashion. Tell your friends, parents, cousins, neighbors, or even random people at Walmart to vote. Pick a favorite then go to my website ( http://www.thornton-photography.com/ ) and fill in the contact page including the letter of the image you'd like to vote for in the comments section. Good luck to the three participants who were brave enough to play. :D

Contest Ends Tomorrow

2009-02-26T17:54:00.004-06:00

Okay, so I know you all can be hot stuff with a camera. I can't believe I only have one entry so far. I've seen what some of you can do. Don't be shy. Enter an image! You never know!

All participants must email their entry by 10pm (CST) tomorrow the 28th. I will only hold the contest if I have at least 3 entries. Wow, with just 3 everyone will win something. Contest images will be posted sometime Sunday. I can't wait to see all the fun things you all come up with!

Now, hmmm... need to find a picture to post. My new goal is to always post a picture when I update my blog. Oh! I got it! How about new beginnings in my family. I created this simple collage so I could compare each of my children as newborns. The image of Lianna was taken by my good friend Heather Beadles. The other two, I took.

Contest of Creativity

2009-02-17T13:56:00.003-06:00

Spring is a busy time of year for Thornton Photography. What better way to break into the new season than with a contest. This one will be a little different in that not only will we be voting for your pictures, but they will be ones you take specifically for this contest. I'm challenging all you moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas to get out your camera, dust if off a little and have some fun! Take a picture that symbolizes "New Beginnings" to you. Spring offers so many new beginnings for everyone and everything so use your imagination! You have until the end of February and voting will begin March 1 as soon as the entries are posted, and end March 7th at 10:00 p.m. CST. Here are the requirements:

Entry Rules:

Photos must be taken between February 17th and February 28th.
All entries must be emailed to me at allison@thornton-photography.com by 2/28/09 at 10:00p.m.
Only one photo entry per contestant. You must have taken the photo yourself.
All entries must fit the "New Beginnings" theme.

Voting Rules:

Only one vote per computer.
Your aunt, uncle, boy next door and neighbor you barely know can all vote for you and you can even tell them to.
In order to vote you must use the contact form at my website. Comments left on the blog will not be counted in the voting.

Here are some images for inspiration. Some were taken with my point and shoot, some my professional camera, and one even a friend did.

I will be awarding prizes for first, second and third place winners. All other entries will receive a little somethin' somethin' too.

The first place winner will receive a gift certificate for a full session (up to 6 people) and a 10 page brag book. ($300+ value)

The second place winner will receive a gift certificate for a 10x20 Storyboard and duplicate Desk Mini and easel from your next paid session. ($130 value)

The third place winner will receive a gift certificate for one box (25) of 5x7 flat cards from your next paid session. These cards will be custom designed for you and can be used as Thank You Cards, Birth Announcements, or Holiday Cards.

Good Luck!

Spring Portraits

2009-02-17T13:09:00.005-06:00

I think the first day of spring isn't until March 20th officially, but we all know that down here in Texas it starts much earlier. I am already starting to book into March and April so please be sure and contact me soon if you had planned on some portraits for the spring.

I'm tickled pink (literally) to share with you a new location I'll be using this spring. Promise Land Peaches has a large orchard just west of Nacogdoches and the owner has given me permission to take clients out there for portraits. Have you ever seen a peach tree bloom? They are absolutely stunning. I look forward to having my own images to share with you next year, but until then, this is an image from a similar orchard in South Carolina.

The trees begin to bloom just before the azaleas so we're looking at bookings in early March for the orchard. I'm so excited about this that I plan on taking my own children out here!

Changes!

2009-02-15T14:02:00.005-06:00

I'm so excited to announce that as of March 1, 2009 Thornton Photography is making some big changes for the better! From the beginning of my business I have always required my clients to order online using an Excel order form. This works well for those who are out of town, or have extended family, but there are some major down-falls in this strategy.

I've gone back and forth about this for a few years now, but over the last 6 months I've seen the need more and more to move to and In-Person Ordering system. Don't panic! Grandma and Grandpa will still get to see their grand babies online. I feel I've found a solution that solves all our problems.

Let me back up a little and explain. Economically, yes, online ordering is the way to go. My overhead stays low, and the process if fairly simple. Yet time and again I found myself calling clients to inform them, that they could have purchased a collection and saved themselves some money, then over the phone we alter the order and things straightened out. There have also been issues with being able to clearly view the images online. Plus, computer screens (unless properly calibrated) will not show you the true color of an image. Then there is always the issue with offering products like session albums that you don't see. If I put myself in your shoes, I would have a hard time visualizing my leather albums, or storyboards without ever seeing, or feeling them.

Beginning March 1, 2009 the ordering procedure will look more like this: After the actual photo session we will set a date for an ordering appointment. I will give you a small handout with some questions to help you organize your wants and needs and then 24 hours before our appointment I will put your images online. You and all your family can see them and choose favorites. When I arrive for your ordering appointment I will bring 5x7 photo proofs of your entire session. You can then, see and feel what your images will look like in print. I will also have sample sizes, and products for you use in deciding your order. I will walk you through the process step by step and I will make sure you get the most bang for your buck. We all have a budget (some larger or smaller than others) but everyone wants to receive the most product for their money spent. That's my goal here.

The other big change will be in my Portrait Collections. These will go live on the first of March as well and each one will include an album or box of images so that no matter which collection you decide is right for you, there will be a product that allows you to have several (if not all) of the images from your session. Here are some pictures of the New and Improved album that comes in the middle collection. Take a peek at my site on March 1st for more information.

Like my previous album this still has a small front window where I will include an image from your session. It too is available in either black or brown leather.

This one is different in that the pages do not 'slip in'. They are adhered to the stiff pages with an archival glue. This however, allows for a greater variety in display options. You see these images have a grunge/swirl border around them.

The smooth binding looks beautiful on a bookcase or on a mantel.
This album includes 20 images on 10 pages unlike the previous one that only included 12.