{Merry Christmas from my family to yours}

thank you to one of my sweetest and most fabulous friends melissa zihlman for taking out family pics this year! i love ya hun and for those of you in dallas please head her way she is truly the best!

{giving is awesome}

{a smile from miss camdyn belle for your viewing pleasure}

PLEASE HELP ME GIVE!!!!!!

It has been a year full of tragedy for many of us here in Houston, with everything from Hurricane Ike and so many families losing their homes but also the financial crisis that has negativly impacted everyone in some way.

Do you know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances? You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography. A portrait session and custom package of $400. It’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a portrait session too, along with $100 worth of product credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
* The nominee must reside in the spring/cypress/tomball/the woodlands area. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
* Giveaway pkg will include:
(1) mounted 11x14
(3) 8x10
(9) 5x7
(2) sets of wallets
(1) 10 page jlee leather mini album (filled with prints)
session fee waived
{approx value $400}
* You must e-mail me the full story - my email address is skc@ the website address. (Sorry - trying to avoid spammers.)
The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve — get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!
**** the session will be coordinated based on photographers schedule coordinating with the chosen families schedule, and will be held after jan 1, 2009
I’m not the only one doing this right now — Giving is Awesome is coordinating a lot of us. Maybe someone in your area if you’re not in Houston? Or maybe you’re a photographer and you want to participate too?
Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

with love
shalonda

{littlest heros}

I am proud to announce that I have been accepted as a photographer to join the Littlest Heroes Project ! The Littlest Hero's Project is a non-profit based organization founded in January 2008, made up of professional photographers nationwide that provide free photo sessions to our nations Littlest Heroes.

please if you know of a family that fits this organization send them to the site....

{family sandwich}

i love this family we always have so much fun during our shoots! you may remember them from here can you believe how much mr m has grown?! anyhoo here is a quick sneak peek bf i hit the road yall! Hope yall enjoy your trip as well!

{a boy and his bike}

well mr R wasnt too sure about me and my camera, he clearly didnt remember me from his 4 month shoot, lol...anyhoo he was as happy as can be when we busted out the bike!!!mom and dad enjoy the sneak peek, i didnt want to post too many to ruin any christmas cards possibilities....

so she is doing it....

cheeks #1 is turning two on me no matter how much i protest....yes her toddler-tude can be trying at times but what can i say i prob did the same thing to my mother, lol!

{vintage edit}

{cream and sugar}

gosh i love little miss a, she is so fun & very cooperative every time i shoot her, lol!!! she gives fab eye contact and thinks i am the most hilarious person in the world, heehee....here is a quick sneak peek of this little beauty's 6 month shoot

{the most anticipated sequel}

yeppers i did it again....but since cheeks #2 was much younger it was slightly more acrobatic this time, lol....remember this one?

Hope yall had a happy and safe Halloween!!!!!

{big boy blues}

after several situations which caused us to reschedule over and over again (ie stinkin hurricanes, getting the yuckies, etc} we finally got to have mr Y's first year shoot at 13 months old...we had a fab time and as you can see he wasnt all that into the cake.

eta these look a tad off on the blog for some reason...

its beginning to look alot like christmas.....

a huge thank you to all of you for allowing me to photograph your beautiful families this weekend! i had a great time and i cant wait to get them all done....here is a sneak peek until later, IF i magincally get both girls down for naps at the same time i will add more!!!!

i call this one blush and bashful, lol you know from steel magnolias....love it

...: clothing ideas for your session :...

Check out some of these sites for clothing ideas. You dont necessarily have to purchase clothes from these sites but they will give you an idea of how to layer clothing and ideas of things to buy if you are buying new clothes. Remember i am NOT your everybody wear a white shirt and jeans kinda photographer, i love color, layering, causual and most of all i love hats/striped tights!!!!!!

of course the good red or plaid christmas dress and attire would work fine as well, but if you dont have your dresses already a nice fall theme like the one below would work as well

http://www.teacollection.com/site/index.htm?gclid=CMLV9fPWkJYCFRxNagodjS3JEg
http://www.gap.com/
http://www.oldnavy.com/
http://www.miniboden.com/

CHRISTMAS IN OCT, lol!

DATE: Next weekend Sat Oct 11

LOCATION: VINTAGE PARK in Spring

TIME SLOTS:

Available times: SATURDAY
7:30 am
8:15 am booked {rogers family}
9:00 booked {scahill family}

5:00 booked {morgan family}
5:45 pm booked {harwell family}
6:15pm

After all of these available time slots fill up I will open up Sunday if need be.

However in order to book your family's time slot payment must be made, via paypal or mailed check made to Shalonda chaddock.

Also I have had several of you ask about a folded card option, yes there will be a bifold option available for $150 for ONE set of 24 cards and envelopes

{tutu long without power}

but we are back in action folks! however no i am not back to doing full sessions so dont get all excited. oh and i promise to get the dates for christmas sessions up asap i need to scout out how my locations fared after ike....

OH and the Matilda Jane trunk show has been rescheduled to Sunday, Oct 19 so REMARK yoru calenders and come join us!!!

{sweet sweet baby}

awwww yes Mr T, tried to be a tough guy but he very quickly warmed up to me and was an uber sweet heart....he was so teeny tiny and precious and although it looks like he slept the whole time he really didnt he was very alert for a two weeker and VERY interested in what i was doing to him, lol! had a great time yall cant wait to get your gallery up. enjoy your sneak peek for now...

sorry for the delay

but if you have emailed me via the website or pretty much just in general i havent been able to check email because we STILL dont have power at our house. we are coming up on two weeks and all i can say is i am ready to be back at my own house....i am in austin with family so if you are in the area and want pics give me a call, lol...either way if you need to reach me please call me at 832.229.8404....thanks yall i hope all of yall made it through the storm with minimal to no damage.

{addiction}

So in case you havent noticed i have a serious addiction to Matilda Jane clothing well as a gift to you and myself i will be having a MJ trunk sohw at my house Friday Oct 3...If you want to come and visit and see some super fabulous little girl clothes that no one else will be wearing send me an email or call me and i will give you more details....in the meatime here is Miss A in some of her MJattire

{the nitty gritty}

oh and i forgot additional Christmas cards can be purchased at a discounted price of $45 per set of 24 including envelopes.

now all i have left to figure out is when and where, lol! I am still eye'ing the first 2 weeks of october just fyi....

...:Christmas Cards and more news:...

A sneak peek of my Christmas card selection for this holiday season!!! As you prob already know i am NOT your red and green kinda gal but i did throw in a red and green one for all of you traditional folks, lol!

to clarify a mini session is a shortened session that lasts up to 30 minutes per family of 4 at a predetermined location and includes 5-10 proofs per family. I am working on three packages now that will allow you to pick an add-on to combine with your session for ONE set price! I am serious yall are going to love this!

..:GEARING UP FOR CHRISTMAS SESSIONS!!!!!!:..

okay so i have decided how i am going to handle the christmas season this year and yall are going to love love love it! More detailed info to come soon i promise but just keep an eye on the blog and your email if you are a past client, because i will only be booking TWO DAYS of mini sessions! That means there will only be between 4 and 8 spots for YOUR family!!! I will book on a first come first serve basis and only once i recieve your deposit....like i said more details to come soon but know that the dates will be in OCTOBER, and the locations have yet to be decided, so if you have any suggestions shoot them my way.

here is a little Miss Camdyn cuteness for ya on this monday

{newness}

{ me and sweet cam}

{the whole world}

She has arrived....

Miss Camdyn Belle arrived July 18, 2008 weighing in at 7lbs6oz and 20 3/4 ins long! We are all adjusting fabulously. Miss addi has taken on her role of big sister with such grace...more to come soon i promise but if you have emailed me and haven't heard back yet i am really sorry and will try to get back to yall soon....

{changes are coming}

as you can see i am about ready to pop! Big changes are coming to both my house and chubby cheek photography...well baby cheeks#2 should be making her debut within the next 3-4 weeks and the blog is getting a fabulous new twist!!!! I am so excited about all of this I could scream, well if i had the energy to i would!

...:IMPORTANT INFO:....

1. i am obviously not accepting any new clients for photoshoots or for design work, sorry yall i need a teeny tiny break before cheeks#2 arrives.

2. if you are still need of placing an order before i officially leave please do so asap. I WILL NOT PLACE/DELIVER ANY ORDERS AFTER NEXT FRIDAY

JULY 11, 2008. please feel free to email me with any questions yall!

3. for those of you that care i will definitly post when my little sparkler arrives

4. I will also be sure to post when i will be returning to shoots and when i begin booking for the holiday season, keep in mind i will be taking on significantly fewer clients based on the situation, lol, so be on the lookout!

{my heart}

The two loves of my life...

He could not be a more perfect father, soulmate, husband and a more amazing man...

while she, is half of me and half of him, the one who made me a mother and growing into the most beautiful little thing both inside and out.

Thank you God for both of them and the one that is on the way!
baby cheeks#1 and her daddy!