the day my bag came in...

It was an extra humid day in August. I was at a photo shoot, waiting on my husband to show up to assist me. Sometimes he gets to hold my reflector...if he's lucky. ;) He called and said, "I'm on my way! and oh, I've got a surprise for you!" I knew immediately what it was because I had been checking the front door steps relentlessly day after day since I ordered my Kelly Moore Bag. My bag was on backorder so it took a little longer to come in, but it was well worth the wait! I LOVE my bag! I have used it on 5 or 6 shoots so far and it's perfect! It holds all of my lenses, my keys, my sunglasses, my charger and any other little things that I throw in there. I am already trying to decide which bag I will get next!

Here is my hot husband opening the package for me... (I didn't want to post any of the pictures of me because it was after a shoot...let's just say I looked SCARY! I think it was 112 degrees that day!) He might be mad at me for posting these pictures of him but isn't he a hottie? ;)

Go get yours today! Click on the blinking bag on the right side of my blog to go to Kelly's site! :) (*hint- if you buy a bag by clicking on the link on my site then I get a percentage of the sale! Woo hoo! So get to buying people!)

Sneak Peak! Engagement & Maternity

This past week I had two great shoots:: a fabulous engagement session with an adorable young, so in love, couple and a maternity shoot with one of my best friends! Both were fun and I couldn't wait to share a few pictures with y'all! Check back next week for more!

What to wear to your photo shoot

I get asked all the time "What should we where to our photo shoot?" GREAT QUESTION! Your photo shoot is an important day and you definitely want to be prepared for it in every way possible. Many people even pick out new outfits just for the occasion! If your budget allows, I say go for it! But the perfect photo shoot outfit is probably sitting in your closet just waiting to be discovered!

Today I teamed up with GAP and Banana Republic to show you how to put together a perfect photo shoot outfit. As we get closer to the fall season I will show you several different options to inspire you for your very own photo shoot! Today I am showing you how to dress for a casual outdoor fall photo shoot. Keep in mind these are just *ideas* - in no way am I saying you have to go out and buy this exact outfit in order to impress. :)

Let's start with mom and dad.
Once the parents have children, mom and dad seem to no longer be the focal point in pictures (or in life for that matter- ha!). Therefore their color & clothing should be the foundation for the pictures but not necessarily the focal point. I usually suggest neutral colors such as brown, black, white, beige, grey, etc. You certainly do not have to stick to this by any means. Just a suggestion. :) You may be thinking this sounds boring but it's all in what you choose and any woman will tell you it's all in the accessories! :) Fall is the perfect time to break out the hats and scarves! I put dad in this casual button down grey shirt that he could easily roll up the sleeves for an even MORE casual look. Dad is wearing jeans today but he could easily switch to slacks if mom insists on a little bit more formal look. ;) I put mom in a simple cardigan but the ruffles give it a bit more of a flirty/feminine feel to it. Mom is also in jeans today since this is a casual photo shoot but she could easily change into slacks or a skirt for a dressier look. See how they are both styling but not overdoing it? They are both able to show some personality too through the clothes that they wear. Don't forget the accesories! For mom: a necklace, earings or bracelet, a skinny belt and your favorite pair of shoes. For dad: a great watch perhaps, your favorite necklace and a great sturdy pair a loafers.

My favorite part: dressing the kiddos. If this photo shoot is for your Christmas cards then let's all just be honest just for one second. It's all about the kids. Am I right? I am not even a mother (yet) and I just know that it must be so exciting to dress up your child and just know how cute your little one looks in that new outfit. Isn't that what Christmas cards are all about anyway? Showing off your adorable kids. (wink) So let's make sure they look their best!

I put Brother in a pair of cords and a button down shirt that get me in the mood for fall. This shirt is subtle in a way but it is colorful and has a pattern which is okay because it is not competing with any other patterns. I couldn't resist toping off Brother with this adorable "golfers hat" as I call them. Isn't he going to look so cute? I only wish I was actually dressing someone in this outfit!

Sister is wearing a cute little fall-colored dress, matching headband and pink ballet shoes. I imagine her being really girly. :) If it's a cool day and her little legs are chilly - no problem - just slap on a pair a tights on her and you're good to go!

Well, there you have it! What to wear on your fall photo shoot! Check back for more what to wear sessions. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to email me! carabethphotography@gmail.com

3 little red heads

This past weekend I was in Texas for a family wedding. It was so much fun seeing out of town family, especially these little guys. These adorable red-headed little guys are my second cousins. Their dad is my first cousin and is practically like a brother to me so they are extra special to me. In order of the way they are seated here, they are Jack (3), Ben (1), and A.J. (4). This was the fastest photo shoot I think I have ever done. Ben was a little wiggle worm and it was literally about 107 degrees so we finished this shoot in about about 15 minutes! We threw a blanket down on the ground and I just started snapping away! Here are a few of my favorite! Enjoy! :) The last one is my absolute favorite!!

Addicted.

If you know me at all, or if you want to know me better, than you should know that two of my (many) loves are (obviously) photography and COFFEE. I have tried (more than once) to quit but earlier this year I broke down and admitted to myself that I am, in fact, AD.DIC.TED. Yup. I'm addicted and I'm okay with it because this life is short. Why should I deprive myself of the things I love? This, my friends, is the reason I fill my life with photography, dogs and coffee, lots and lots of coffee. (I'll save my dog obsession for another blog post or if you just can't wait, head on over to our family blog to read about Conner and Scooter, my two furry babies.)

I tell you all of this to show you THIS. The perfect invention. The perfect combination of photography and coffee. Seriously? How cool is this? It's a travel coffee mug that looks like a lens- GENIUS! Anyway, I just had to share this with y'all! :)

Cara's head shots

Cara (yes, we have the same name) and I were trying to beat the heat by taking her head shots indoors but funny enough the power went out in the downtown lofts so it made for a warm evening anyways. Cara's wit and fun personally made the shoot enjoyable despite the temperature and I was excited to discover a new location for future shoots! :) Check out my favorite shots from the day!

Want to see more of Cara? Go immediately and check out her fabulous blog! You won't regret it!

Sneak Peak:: Cara's Head Shots

Here's a sneak peak of my gorgeous friend, Cara! We had a fun photo shoot last night. Ironically we were trying to avoid the heat outside by shooting inside these downtown lofts - however the power went out in the lofts. ha! Needless to say, it got a little toasty inside the loft building but Cara was a trooper!

If you get a second, head on over to Cara's blog, Live the Home Life, and check out some of her fabulous home renovations. She is a realtor and all around lover of houses and home decor and a talented crafter, I must say! :)

Stay tuned for more head shots of the gorgeous realtor!

something different

I love taking pictures of still life. It's actually how I got started with photography. I used to photograph anything that didn't move - in every imaginable angle! I still love to photograph the everyday life, especially food! As I am cooking or slicing fruit or vegetables, I take the time to get out my camera and arrange the items in natural light and snap a few and I am rarely disappointed with the outcome!

Weddings

Since I created a Facebook Page a few months ago, I have had many people ask me if I photograph weddings. GREAT QUESTION! Here is the answer: YES! I am actually starting to get into weddings more and I have found that so far I am LOVIN' them!

My first wedding, several years ago, was to say the least, the scariest day of my life. Oh, don't worry, the pictures came out fine and the clients were very pleased with the end result, but I almost gave myself a heart attack trying to remember everything to do. My biggest fear was that I would forget to take a crucial picture from the day. I mean, it's not like you can RE-DO a whole wedding day! But, as with most things, those fears subsided with practice. I have been a second shooter for my great friend and business partner, Christen Byrd, and have really enjoyed photographing weddings. I have learned that being organized pays off! I ALWAYS go over ahead of time with the client a list of pictures to make sure I don't leave out a very important shot. It also helps to have an assistant the day of the wedding. I would not have made it that first wedding if it weren't for my mother, the best assistant EVER! She followed me around with a clipboard and kept telling me, "Don't forget to take this one!" ha! She's super woman! If you are looking for a photographer for your wedding, I would LOVE to sit down with you and talk to see if we are a good match for your special day. You can always email me questions or a request for a price list as well!