Doug and Leann : Maternity | 5.16.13 .. {Kingsport TN Maternity Photography}

Isn't this mommy-to-be just beautiful?!  You may recognize this adorable couple.  They were married back on 11.11.11 and their wedding was the first I had the pleasure of photographing.  I will forever be grateful to them for believing in me enough to capture the memories of such a special day. They are now expecting a baby in July and keeping the name and gender a surprise!

We could not have asked for a more beautiful location or better weather.  I look forward to meeting baby Taylor in just a few short months.

Addison - 5 & Weston - 1 : 4.14.13 .. {Kingsport TN Children Photographer}

This family is so special to me.  Addison and Weston are really close in age to my two boys and sharing my most recent pregnancy with Tiffany was awesome.  It stinks knowing we could have done the same with our first pregnancies but didn't know each other then.  Addison's and Weston's birthdays are just a few days apart, February 27th and March 2nd respectively.  Weston had the cutest "Little Man" themed birthday party, and Tiffany wanted to use some of the decorations in his pictures.  With really cold temperatures and their vacation to Disney World we pushed the pictures off until April 14th.  This meant we were also able to take some in their adorable matching Easter outfits.  I mean really, there are few things cuter than a tiny boy in a tie!

It is hard to believe that Addison and my own son Shepherd will be starting Kindergarten in just a few short months.  They have enjoyed being in the same preschool class this year and Tiffany and I are anxious to see if they will have the same Kindergarten teacher.

Part of me wishes we had endured the cold temperatures and taken these a little sooner ... before Weston was walking good to be more specific. Let me tell you, this boy is on the MOVE.  He loves the outdoors and exploring ... but that makes pictures (especially pictures in specific places with birthday decorations ;) ) a little challenging.  Trying to do pictures with both of them together ... it was just comical.  I had to include a couple shots of Addison trying to hold Weston when he was having NO part of it.  It captures his independent, adventurous, determined little spirit ... and let's be honest ... isn't that the point of yearly pictures anyways?

Bostic Family of 5 : 4.7.12 .. {Kingsport TN Family Photography}

Back in October I did a post titled "Waiting on Malcom" that featured this lovely family.  They welcomed Malcom not long after our session and I couldn't wait to meet him!  Jessie let me know almost immediately that she wanted to have family pictures taken, but wanted to wait until Malcom was sitting up and smiling.  He was just over 5 months old when we met at the same lovely location in NC as before.  Malcom is the perfect addition to Laraya and Cassius ... serious GORGEOUS children!  Jessie confessed that she didn't have a single family picture of all 5 of them together ... other than one from the hospital when Malcom was born, that she didn't really like. ... but let's be honest, what mother out there loves the pictures of themselves while still in the hospital after delivering a baby??

I wanted to share the post Jessie put on Facebook after she received these pictures.  Comments like hers are what make this job so rewarding!

"Oh my gosh, I am in tears looking at the beautiful pictures that Stephanie Johnson did of my family...Thank you five million times...you out did yourself this time!!"

Derek and Jessie, congratulations on a beautiful family!