My new monitor is here and I’m back in action!  Time to catch up on a few posts. First come the seniors–Congratulations 2012 Grads!

Senior Portrait deadlines are fast approaching so remember to book your sessions at least 4 weeks before your deadline!

A special thanks to a wonderful and beautifully photogenic 2012 Senior Model, Carly Campbell! Here are a few of her latest photos!

Wow, what a summer!  This year was full of sunshine and good times.  I kicked off the season with a beautiful young lady sporting some sparkly pink shoes and fun outfits.  The day was perfect and sunny, the flowers were out in full force, and this adorable pint sized princess was full of smiles and giggles.  Okay, so there might have been some goldfish crackers involved, but generally speaking I think she was perfectly happy to play around in the grass and the flower beds for me!

I think my all time favorites are those of her in the yellow flowers.

My long time neighbor and friend and her cuter than cute pup named Darby graciously agreed to trek through Kincaid with me a few weeks back.  I was on a quest to get a few shots of the wild geraniums before they were lost to the end of summer.

Darby was unbelievably well behaved while I clicked away and tried to blast him with more and more light.  His black fur was sucking the living daylights out of everything I shined onto him!

My favorite shot of the day probably makes no sense to anyone else looking at it, but right as we were finishing up, Darby closed his eyes and sniffed at a flower.  It totally reflected his personality and was the sweetest moment.  Unfortunately, though, it didn’t translate well in the photo.  He just looks like another dog with his eyes closed!   You can’t actually tell that it was a flower he was supposed to be sniffing.  I threw it in anyway, though, because the thought of it makes me giggle!

Thanks you two for being the best neighbors ever!

My favorite muse is back in town for the summer and she volunteered for a little trek into the wilderness! Misty is always up for anything and although I would never have asked her to hike a mile a when I first met her, the past few years have added an adventurous outdoor streak to her life.  She’s been teaching in the remote village of Chevak for several seasons, and she’s just about seen and done it all.  Throw in a few trips around the world and now she doesn’t even balk when I tell her there might be a minor hike involved!

Thanks Misty for all the entertaining stories!  It was awesome catching up with you.  Let’s do it again soon!

One of the problems of being a child of a photographer is that you are unfortunately always around whenever mom needs to try something new.  Yes, it’s true, my boys have been photographed way too much and can no longer crack a genuine smile.  And, yes, whenever the camera comes out they practice their entire freak-show face making repertoire for me!  Granted, deep down, I can tell that their goofy little expressions will still be tugging at my heart strings 20 years down the line regardless of all the chaos they create during the moment!

Last week, we set out on one of those beautiful sun-shiny days to track down a field of arctic lupine (one of the reasons I think I moved to Alaska:) and to go on a little hike to the Winner Creek Gorge.  One stubbed toenail, a skinned elbow and a bloody knee later, we returned from the gorge and cruised on over to Chair Five for some much needed pizza.  After our day long adventure I was blessed with two little pint sized sleepers snoring happily all the way home.

Click on a thumbnail below to view a slide-show of the images.

**Prior Customers:  Look for your Summer Savings in the mail!

Summer flowers are in full bloom right now everywhere you look!  Geraniums, bunch-berry, prickly rose, bluebells and lupine.  Catch them while you can!    Look for a summer portrait session bonus to hit your mailboxes early next week.

My parents’ farm was spared any damage in the crazy tornadoes that tore through Birmingham yesterday.  Very thankful that my favorite oak trees and the crazy horses and barn cats are still there!

I’m feeling guilty for being so happy about an old tree when so many people lost their lives.  Sad days for sure.

To view thumbnails larger, click.

]]> http://melissashelby.com/2011/04/missing-alabama-once-again/feed/ 0 http://melissashelby.com/2011/04/ivan-the-terrible/ http://melissashelby.com/2011/04/ivan-the-terrible/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:01:30 +0000 Mel http://melissashelby.com/?p=2065

As a preemptive strike this year, we decided to have “Ivan the Adorable” groomed in preparation for blowing his coat any day now. Although from far away his fur resembles that of a golden retriever, it is actually this whacked out double layer of furriness that seems to be pretty common with sled dogs. Last year, we discovered after the fact, that when he starts to shed, his compact under layer becomes a thousand little dread locks that are completely hidden by his longer outer layer of fur.

Yesterday, Ivan had his very first “day at the salon”. He loved it, of course! He can totally be the belle of the ball. He came prancing out of there all shiny and glowing and I giggled to myself all the way home! For a canine usually covered in mud splashes on his forehead, his shiny white fur glistening in the sun caught me completely of guard. I knew he had to be photographed in this moment or it would be lost forever.

Unfortunately, Ivan, knows no doggie obedience so the whole family was enlisted to help with his photo shoot. Although he is pure mutt, on occasion he strikes a very regal pose reminiscent of a Russian Wolfe Hound. This is the pose I thought most appropriate for his glamour shots. This is also the pose most impossible to recreate with no obedience training. We sort of came close and then threw all plans to the wind in return for whatever he would give up.

I am proud to present “Ivan the Terrible” and his glamour shot debut!

Congratulations to the class of 2011!   The end is near… or is it just beginning!

Thank you to all the seniors I photographed this past year for choosing me as your senior portrait photographer! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of you and especially enjoyed all our beautiful treks into the open spaces of Alaska!

Now looking for a select few Senior Models for 2012. Email me at photos@melissashelby.com if you are interested in representing your school through a unique photographic experience!

I am sure it is not easy being this cute!  This little girl was about four months old during her photo shoot so she was already super strong and totally easy going.  She had a bevy of costume changes and even had her own dog as a prop!  Total cuteness!  I’m in love with her cheeks.

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