This session was late in August, and the mom has her beautiful prints already hanging on her wall, but I couldn’t resist making a quick video of her images to share. Such a sweet baby boy and he cooperated so well with me moving him all around. Hope you enjoy!

This little guy was just 7 days old the day we took these, and OH SO SWEET!! I have known his mamma since we moved here in 06, as she does my hair! I love her to pieces and was fortunate enough to photograph her oldest when he was born too. I’ve been working hard on my newborn stuff (being preggers will do that for ya) and am excited that it’s summer and I can do so much with them outside!

June has been an awesomely busy month for me and I have lots of blogging to do! Started the month off with a beautiful family! She and her hubby took me out to a family farm location at sunset and we braved the poison ivy and heat to get these images. I SO enjoy photographing couples who are both cooperative and into the session and their daughter is SO cute! Didn’t have to work very hard to get what I needed!

I’m so excited! There are so many things going on that are wonderful right now that I just don’t know where to begin! I have been very blessed to have the gals at Polka Dot Pig as friends! We have teamed up again to bring you a one day picture special. Our theme this time is “Americana” and I’ve posted some sample images below. Anything red/white/blue will work really well with our theme! We will have a red chair, a wagon and some other things to pose kiddos from 0 months to 12 years.

Check out our event page HERE and be sure to like us so you can keep abreast of what’s going on, even if you can’t make it this time! I already know we’re going to do a back to school thing in Sept.

I know a lot of homes have some really cool things that are in our flag’s colors, so please feel free to bring something of your own to pose your child on if you’d like! Some sample items might be a tractor, a special rocker, or maybe a special quilt! Just please keep it to one item per child so I don’t hold up the line too long.

We can’t wait to see you Saturday!!

This past weekend I got to do EXACTLY the kind of session I LOVE! This cutie’s mama invited me to do the session at their home, and it was so fun! Kiddos seem to do so much better when they’re in their own environment, plus, added bonus, the images match your home and decor!

I could not have asked for a bigger smiles!

I just loved this vintage toy plane, and he did too!

I took him out back and he had his feet in the grass for the first time…. I’m not sure he was thrilled, but it was SO cute!

See what I mean? Such great, natural smiles. I love it!

Yay!!! My favorite time of the year is here, Spring!! I have the garden in, the flowers are coming up, and the leaves on the trees make everything look so beautiful! I have a wheat field behind my house this year, and I looked out this morning and marveled at the deep blue sky against that bright green wheat. Made me glad to be alive!

Polka Dot Pig, a local Hopkinsville, KY children’s boutique and I are putting on a spring event this weekend. You can check it out here if you have FB access. April 16th, 10:00 Am – 3:00 PM and April 17th, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM I will be at the Polka Dot Pig taking pictures of your little ones in their Easter/Spring finest! Weather permitting I will be set up outside in the yard with some spring flowers and other props taking portraits of your children. All ages are fine! If it’s windy, we might have mom hold up a block for a tiny baby. Yes, I’ll be prepared to photograph everyone from 0-12 years old.

If for any reason it’s raining and we just can’t be outside, I’ll set up indoors and do the same thing. Oh, and you can tell your kiddos that we’ll have live bunnies for them to see/hold!!  Our Hopkinsville Tractor Supply is loaning a couple of bunnies for us to use those days. Depending on the temperament of the child and the bunny, we’ll play it by ear how the bunnies are included in the image.

I have found in the past that these sessions work best if we photograph each child individually, but I’m willing to try a sibling shot or two as well!

Images will be posted to Facebook and available for tagging approximately 3 days after the event. They will also be posted for purchase here. The password “spring” will be available the same date as the Facebook images. Use promo code PDP15 to receive 15% off your purchase through the end of April. Please feel free to contact me at sally@alwaysportraitsbysally.com or 270-498-8255 (please leave a message) if you have any further questions! I’m happy to help and anxious to see your spring kiddo’s all dressed up!

This is my daughter modeling a couple of outfits from Polka Dot Pig. It’s our FAVORITE store!!

Having one newborn to photograph when you’re working on building a portfolio in that department is super exciting, but two, well that’s just heaven! These two girls’ were so sweet, and it was cold the day we photographed them, but they cooperated beautifully!

Now, in case you’re in the same “shape” I’m in… (I’m 21 weeks), and you’re wondering when is the best time to get newborn pictures done, and where, well, I have some answers! I LOVE to get newborns as new as possible, as they are more “pliable” the first two weeks, so I recommend calling to set up your appointment as soon as baby arrives! I know things often get crazy and time gets away, so I still call them newborn sessions until they’ve passed the 6 week mark. The babies in this post were about 3 weeks.

I get asked all the time, “Where do you do baby pictures? Do you have a studio?” The answer is wherever you’re comfortable! I do not have a studio, though I do have studio equip. My preference as an artist is to do them in your environment using your home/furniture/toys as additions to the image, though sometimes simpler is better, and I just use a blanket. Give me a call anytime and we’ll discuss your home and I’ll do my best to answer any of your questions! I’m here to help, and to create images for you to treasure, Always!

I’m originally from Missouri, a small town girl. I grew up in the country a mile from my grandparents which was a great thing for me! My grandmother, smart, witty, and a walking encyclopedia…. always knew the names of plants and bugs, could whistle bird tunes to help us identify them… she’s now in a nursing home, and since I’m here in KY, it’s a bit hard to visit her very often. One of my favorite things to do with her and my mom was to walk through the yard and check the progress of each tree and plant in the spring and through the growing season. I still do it!

So, since I can’t bring her to my yard, I’ll take my yard to her. My mom can print this post and share it with her for me, and that, my friends, is the one reason I love technology.

Starting in the front yard, nothing special, but just a view of the flower garden. I am excited that my hubby tilled up a spot for more plants on the other side of the porch.

This cherry blossom I planted year before last and I’ve had to take the top out of it because it got to tall too fast and wasn’t sturdy. I need to look up how they’re supposed to look!

The leaves on the Burning Bushes are coming out really nice.

Two years ago we planted Arbor Day seedlings, Red Bud’s, and they’re now nearly 4′ tall. Not blooming yet, but we have the beginning of leaves! Yay!

My favorite…. big beautiful blooms on our Bradford Pears.

On to the Back yard… The Purple Lilac that was planted from a 6″ sprout from my Grandpa’s Lilac. Now nearly 6′ tall. And our 5 year old Silver Maple has “helicopters!”

We had a really dry summer last year, and I neglected to water the Weeping Willow, so I ended up having to cut it way back this year, but, it’s alive and thriving!

My wonderful hubby tilled up a new garden plot for me this year. We had to move it because of the clothesline he built for me last year.

And, for one last bit of color, a Hyacinth that I planted near the Iris, but the Iris have really grown! Ha! I may have to fix that this fall.

Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas as much as we did ours! It was a little lonesome with my hubby soldier overseas, but thanks to the internet, we were able to chat and I shared pictures of our morning with him as they happened. Gotta love those smart phones! Last year I learned the hard way that when it comes to Christmas, it’s important that I finish my work stuff in time to “vacation” with them their full two weeks off of school. It’s a great time for me to unwind, take a breather from my computer (which often is glued to my arm) and focus on being a good mom. You know the drill… organize the house, cook for them, visit grandparents, aunts and uncles, take them out for a movie, ice skating (when available) and today we’re going bowling with my dad, Papa. These are the things that pass you by if you don’t pay attention.

Those of you who work from home know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s hard to figure out a way to draw the line between work time and family time. I know there are those who get it right, right away, but it’s taking this gal a few tries. I’m figuring it out though. Setting “office hours” and only checking email and answering work calls during those times is a great start. I’ve found that a bit challenging since most of my wonderful clients also have work schedules that make it so they can only interact with me after those times, so I’m working on some angles.

The good thing about taking a needed break is finding out how much you really do love your job! I gave myself a few “assignments” to do just for me this past week. The kind of things that normally get put off for others. I shared this with my FB friends on Christmas Day, but thought some of you might like to see as well. Oh, and FYI, I will begin normal business hours again Tues, Jan 4th. Have a blessed week!

Well, only a couple weeks left ’til Christmas, but Santa took time out to come to Hopkinsville’s very own Polka Dot Pig children’s boutique! The children had a wonderful time, visiting with Santa and most of them sat on his lap for a picture memory. I had a great time watching all those memories transpire… made me feel like a child again. I wanted to share a couple pictures and a video of the day. Hope it makes you smile as much as it did me!