Many thanks for allowing me to be part of your lives this year.

Please click the above photo to view the Joyce Smith Photography 2008

year-in-review slideshow.

What a wonderful journey it has been!

All the best for a lovely holiday season and happy new year!

Yesterday I did my last session of the year . . . what a phenomenal year it has been!  I was so happy to return to the beautiful historic home featured in this blog post over a year and a half ago. Then, Mr. N. was just three months old, and now he is a big brother to adorable H., who is three months. :)  It was wonderful to see all of you again!  Here's a quick sneak peek--enjoy!

A quick note: Joyce Smith Photography is on vacation and will be closed until January 5th.  There will still be blog posts, though, so keep checking in!  Photographers will definitely want to stay tuned . . . three products are due to hit the WordSmith shop very soon.

Now on with the sneak peek! We got some wonderful images of mom with H. and the whole family, but these were the first ones to catch my eye.  The last two are big brother N. in 2007, and H. yesterday.  I love that mom had the same blanket at the ready!

Is this the best expression of what? Love it!

Here I sit, staring at the date of my last blog entry in disbelief.  8 days ago?  Seriously? I have been busier than I ever imagined this fall--decidely a good thing!--and along with all of those sessions comes the seemingly endless effort of wrapping up holiday orders and moving them out of the door on time.  I am almost there!

For today, just a quick little share of a client display.  Thank you so much for sending this in, Kathy!  Kathy also apologizes for the mixed lighting.  ha ha!  Whenever clients send me photos they apologize for them, not unlike my former English students' parents, who would apologize for grammar and spelling lapses in their e-mails.  No judgment here on either count--just keep those photos and e-mails coming!

I love seeing what clients have done with their images.  This series of 11x14s graces the stairway in the N. family's Poconos home.  What a terrific idea to hang images of the family happily playing Chinese checkers in a room that has seen and will see vacation-time fun for years to come.  Here is the display, and a closer look at the images on the wall (you can see that last family image and others HERE).  I captured the first four at the end of the session and they were some of my favorites. When I arrived for the session, I saw the table and trees out back and the position of the sun, and just knew that in about an hour there would be some magical light back there. I was not disappointed!

Thanks again, N. family!  I look forward to featuring more client wall gallery snapshots in the future--just send those photos in, mixed lighting and all!

Yesterday I met Miss S., a 15 month old full of personality.  Like any toddler, she had things to do, people to see, and was on the move.  I truly love toddlers.  They are unpredictable, but one thing is constant . . . you will get REAL no matter what. Real guffaws, real smiles, even real tears sometimes. It's a true gift not only to witness such moments, but to capture them forever.

Oh, and did I mention that she had the best cheeks?  Truly.  Best. Cheeks. Ever. : )  So what does a busy toddler do early in the morning?

First order of business, play peekaboo (this was the first photo of the session).

Next, a good read with Dad.  Hilarious stuff, apparently!

Hmm . . . maybe a little stroll with baby, and a little tango with kitty.

Is there time in the schedule for a few tears? It seems that some people thought it would be a good idea to take a photo in the crib when it was decidedly NOT nap time.  Oops.  But it did result in one of my favorite images from the session. Finally . . . a wistful glance. Whew!  What an exhausting day . . . and it's only 9:30 am!!  :)  It was lovely to meet you, S. and D.!  I will be in touch very, very soon!

It's another adorable 6-month-old! My favorite. C. was such a good-natured little guy, and he really reminded me of a few little ones I have met before . . . one of the twins in the blog post below and another Mister C. from February. :)  Here are just a few sneak peeks for C. and his clearly smitten parents.  It was lovely to meet you all!  I am uncharacteristically light on the chatter today . . . more proofing awaits.