Pebbles Of Joy

Rockin' School Family

2009-12-15T16:46:00.001-08:00

I have had the opportunity to do some pictures around my school, for little people of all ages. It's super fun practice for me, and just something special for the families. I was THRILLED when one of the most amazing families in my school asked me to do their Christmas photo shoot. They totally rocked it at 9am in the freezing cold, and then were troopers when the sun sneaked up on us and I was no longer beating myself up for wearing flip flops :) It was one of my favorite Saturdays of the year, hanging out at the park with an awesome family, playing with the kids, and taking pictures. What more could I want?

(The floods here in Atlanta made this river rise really high...but it made for awesome pictures!)

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-29T16:56:00.001-08:00

Misty + PJ

2009-11-29T16:48:00.001-08:00

Jazmyn - Mini-Session

2009-11-29T16:41:00.001-08:00

A Redhead, Pumkins, and a Fall Photoshoot

2009-10-22T18:05:00.001-07:00

Random Photography

2009-10-22T17:52:00.001-07:00

of Girls and Craziness

2009-10-22T17:41:00.001-07:00

Florida...August 2009

2009-10-22T17:24:00.001-07:00

Jonathan + Rebekah {8.22.09}

2009-10-22T17:10:00.001-07:00

(I can't believe my hair used to be that long!)

Felicia + Jed {6.20.09}

2009-10-22T16:50:00.001-07:00

The New Me

2009-09-12T20:17:00.000-07:00

Felicia and Jed: Engagement Shoot

2009-06-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

Felicia wanted to put a twist on the usual engagement pictures, and carry Jed, instead of the other way around. I think she quickly realized he was heavier than she thought, and they quickly switched :)

This is THEM. Purely, and completely, them.

Allie

2009-05-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

Allie is a fantastic subject. She's not only gorgeous but she's fun too :) She is an amazing girl! She writes, takes pictures, and makes quilts. She is going through some fiery storms these days, but her smile never fades.

"The gift of a true friend is that she sees you not the way you see yourself, or the way others see you. A true friend sees who you are inside and who you can become."

Erica

2009-04-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

My new *baby* came this past month. My sweet little Canon Rebel Xsi, with the most amazing lens I have ever seen. This was the first photoshoot with my baby, but unfortunately my lens had not arrived yet! This was actually all done with a telephoto lens, which really cramped my usual style of getting in close. So many times during the photoshoot Erica would laugh at me as I squealed at seeing the perfect shot, then getting frustrated and stomping pack 10 or so feet. Definitely challenging. I had fun, and am in love with this thing we call photography. :)

Joyfully Hannah

2009-04-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

Hannah is a beautiful girl, but even more beautiful on the inside. Her heart is tender, loving, and her life is spontanously joyful. I was so blessed to be able to take her senior (college) pictures for her this past month, while she was home on Spring break. Love you Hannah!

The World Was All Algow

2009-03-14T05:58:00.001-07:00

Towards the end of our snowy day, I was sitting inside, and suddenly I could see through the windows, the clouds parting, then sun setting, and the world was all aglow. It was SO beautiful! I stepped back outside for just a few minutes to capture these images.

Snowy Silence

2009-03-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

Things got a little crazy :)

Some hushed, still moments.

Feeling so alive, amazed at the beauty of God's creation

Snow is yummy!

Being brave...laying in the snow...

A Day at the Park

2009-02-08T16:36:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Becca

2009-02-08T14:53:00.000-08:00

I spent a nice lazy Friday/Saturday with Becca, and before I headed home we literally took five minutes to do a quick shoot. She is gorgeous, inside and out. I love you Becs!

A Florida Christmas

2009-02-06T18:52:00.000-08:00

You're Gonna Miss This

2008-12-13T14:58:00.000-08:00

This is the older sister of the little baby from my last post. She is such a little ham, and was always saying or doing something crazy, once she finally got warmed up to me. Much better than the first time I did her pictures :) Later we hung out and had oranges and crackers together :)

"You're gonna miss this, you're gonna want this back, you're gonna wish these days, hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times. So take a good look around, you may not know it now. But you're gonna miss this."

Big Blue Eyes

2008-12-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

I took this little baby's first pictures, and her mom asked me to come to their house to do their Christmas pictures too. I was excited because last time I did her pictures she could barely stay awake, she was so little. This time her mom came out, handed her to me, said, ok, do whatever you want, and then left. :) I love that she was wide awake this time! She is my new little cuddlebug...I love her! I told her mom she looked more like my kid than hers :) More of this precious family to come!

Happy baby!

Look at those big blue eyes!

SafeHouse Outreach 11.29.08

2008-12-04T12:01:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to volunteer at an outreach in downtown Atlanta, working with the medical staff of volunteers. The head volunteer (Ann), who is part of the Baptist Nurses Fellowship was in charge. She knew what she was doing, and I ended up helping out with more than just photography. :)

Olivia was always explaining some medical thing that I never did understand.

I had to put this one, with an explenation. I kept trying to take Grace's picture, and finally she goes "You taking good looking boy's picture?! I know you not taking my picture! Take his picture!" :)

Susan was awesome, sweet and active. :)

Ann and Erica having a little chat

It poured for about four hours and was freezing cold!

Grace was the calm strength in the mad rush of people.

Love God. Love People. www.SafeHouseOutreach.org

We have so much to be thankful for. Give to others who have nothing, not even a home. A couple of times I stepped back, and looked at the mass of people crowding the gates, anxious for a blanket, for medical help, for a warm meal. I nearly lost it when I saw a beautiful baby girl, and realized this little girl had no home. She sleeps outside. The cold and wet I was feeling could be exchanged for warmth and comfort when I got home. Home. She had no home.

SafeHouse

2008-12-01T13:07:00.000-08:00

Soon to Come...

Safehouse Homeless Outreach

Christmas Portraits

2008-11-25T09:32:00.000-08:00

This fun family took a few minutes out of their Sunday to group together for their family pictures. I've worked with several of their kids during these past couple of years, and graduated with Paul and Sarah. They just wanted a quickie shoot, and I knew I had accomplished that when the two oldest guys thanked me profusely for how short it was. :)

(I'm not sure what Abby was doing with her arm, but it's still cute!)

Yay, all eleven of them are smiling and not blinking! :)

They didn't have time to do individual pictures, but there was a special request made for Bekka to have a updated picture, so we took a second to take a few.

She is gorgeous!

Family Portraits 2008

2008-11-21T07:18:00.000-08:00

I finally convinced my family that we needed more than a 2 minute photo session in the driveway. I managed to bribe them long enough to get dressed up, actually go to a nice location, and be cooperative enough for 10 pictures.

Seasonal Saturday

2008-11-17T16:02:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday I spent a few hours outside, walking around, looking for little things, anything, to take pictures of. I managed to find something from all the seasons but spring. Fall leaves, summer berries, and winter holly. I really enjoyed my day out in God's creation, and I would encourage you to do the same. Step outside and really look for the little tiny beautiful gifts that God gives us everyday.

Abstract Self-Portraits

2008-11-15T18:10:00.000-08:00

Little Snapshots of Life

2008-11-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

Book Love

2008-11-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Old Self-Portraits

2008-10-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

I love finding old(er) pictures and re-inventing them. :)

PS- Anyone in the Metro Atlanta area, book now for your Christmas portrait sessions!

Christmas Photography Sale!

2008-10-21T11:43:00.001-07:00

I was asked to design some prints and samples for a fall festival sale. I have decided to also offer them for sale here! A 8x10 print is only $6 (plus 50 cents for shipping if needed). Larger sizes are also available, so just email valelapena07@gmail.com for more information. Each picture is printed on a black background with the title as shown below.

Snowy Silence

Solitude in Spring

I Promise

Juicy Fruit

Scents and Sunshine

Blessings in the Thorns

Florida Horizons

Beauty From Brokenness

Forest Reverie

Courtney and Jeff ~ Ceremony

2008-10-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

This little munchkin would not stop staring and laughing at me the entire time I stood over there.

Mom and son walking down

The poor bridesmaids cried through the entire thing.

Jeff sang "Can't Help Falling in Love With You" to Courtney

The flower girl was SO adorable!

Dad hugging his new son, Mom hugging daughter.

Reception pictures coming soon...

Courtney and Jeff Part 1

2008-10-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

Shawna graciously allowed me to follow her around at this wedding, and I had a blast! Courtney and Jeff ( and co. ) were so easy going and made me feel at ease. Thank you everyone for this amazing opportunity!!!

The Maid of Honor (who broke her finger the day before the wedding)

They got ready at the cutest little salon named Studio Red

The super-cute (and cooperative) flowergirl :)

More to Come...

Aimee and Mike

2008-09-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

Aimee is a good friend of mine that I met only a couple of years ago. She recently got engaged and so her, Mike, and I went exploring over at a home and office complex. We dodged security guards, other photographers, and even a bride and groom, but had an amazing time. Here are just a few of my favorites. (Sorry about the quality, hopefully I can update with better pics soon!)

Mike picks on me for my love of backlighting (he's also a good photographer), and he and Aims have taken to calling me Mrs. Kinkaid. They say my style reminds them of those paintings. Hmmm...

I have always wanted to shoot on a stairway and a parking deck. Score!

Mike works with the Health Occupations Students of America and they wore these shirts to get a few pictures to give to the kids he works with.

I think this is one of my favorites of the favorites :) I've always wanted to do a picture like this, through the fountain, and while we were waiting for another photographer to move, we did some by the fountain!

I love this one.

This one makes me dizzy, but I love it! (I love them all :)

Such a beautiful couple, inside and out. I'm so happy for you both!

Full of Heaven's light

2008-09-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

I am pretty random when it comes to my photography. So when our church replaced their old stained glass windows and announced the old ones were available if we wanted them my immediate reaction was "those would be awesome for pictures!" Finally I got my windows home, and pulled them into the yard, regardless of the heat and clouds of mosquitos. Here's just a couple quick pictures...many many MANY more to come...I cannot WAIT to use these more!

Countryside Morning

2008-08-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

Best Friends

2008-08-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

Dave and Suzanne are such an amazing couple. They are literally best friends, and a true team! They are awesome parents, and Suzanne is a great friend.

This is true Suzanne and David style. :)

And Baby Makes Four

2008-08-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

I love the little things going on with both girls in this picture. They are so adorable, and baby's yawn is so cute!

Baby girls

2008-08-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

This part of the photoshoot was so funny to me. Gabrielle would hold baby McKayla on her lap for a few seconds and then go "oooh, heavy!" and proceed to push her off. Suzanne and I were busy catching the baby, and rolling her back into Gabrielle's lap, where she would stay for a few seconds until Gabrielle decided "oooh, heavy!" again. :)

Gotta love precious baby feet!

Angel Baby

2008-08-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

This little 3 week old beauty was a suprise to most. Her mommy thought
for sure she was having a boy. I said it was a girl, and I would take her picture.
Right on both counts! :)

Spunky Girl Part 2

2008-08-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

Her mommy's only special request was for a picture with selective color editing. I'm not very good at that, but I was willing to give it a shot!

Shawna's trick about telling kids that a bunny lives in the camera, and then asking them to look for it worked so well!

Bubbles were so much fun for this shoot, and she was so cute about it.
One would land on her foot and she'd go "owie owie, ooooh"

Spunky Girl

2008-08-04T20:16:00.000-07:00

This little munchkin was so precious! More to come!

A Glimpse of Heaven

2008-08-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

Brian and Jenny

2008-07-28T17:44:00.000-07:00