The story of Strawberry Blonde Photography- as told by the Bounds family

I still remember when I got my first DSLR camera. My sweet Carson (who is now 8) was a tiny baby and I wanted to be able to capture his smile. My point and shoot just wasn't quick enough for those moments. I have always been a little obsessed with photos, my room as a kid and teenager was covered with them and being able to capture so many sweet moments of my very own baby totally fed my obsession. When I got that DSLR, I had found a hobby I loved (although if you ask my kids.. eating candy is apparently my "hobby") and I began taking photos of everything. I continued photographing Carson for fun, and when my little Charleston (who is now 5) was born, I got a little bit more serious about learning photography. Friends and family had begun to ask me to photograph them, so armed with my handy dslr, I started charging 50.00 for full sessions with a disc of all digitals. I shot these sessions in full auto (meaning I let my camera make all of the decisions for me). I had no idea what I was doing, or that those little knobs actually changed things in the images, but I knew that I loved it. I still remember the very first time that Wolf Camera (back in the day when you actually went into a photo store to order your photos) asked me for a print release for a photo that I had taken and I just about did a cartwheel in the store. I was so very excited that they thought a photo that I had taken looked professional enough that they wanted a print release! That moment, and their comment about the "lighting" in the photo made me want to understand what they were talking about. Not long after that I was ready to get out of my house a little more so I set up a booth at a local consignment sale (Wee-Peats) displaying some of my favorite photos of my children and friends. I also had some items that I was sewing and embroidering (needless to say that was not my strong suit). It was at weepeats that I found some of my very first clients, while I was offering free sessions. Little did I know that these clients would be lifetime clients. Shortly after gaining a few real-life clients, I decided to take a photography class locally and then another in Atlanta. With a Ton of practice, I learned how to shoot my camera in manual, got a business license, and started to think that it may be possible to call myself a "photographer". Emily Bounds, that first client from Weepeats and her family became regular clients and friends who I looked forward to seeing at each photo session. Neither Emily or I realized it at the time but she was a HUGE help in laying the foundations of my business. Emily gave me feedback and helped as I created my very first "baby plan", she encouraged me and praised my work. She loved her images and trusted me again and again with her sweet little Hartley. As I looked back through these images my heart nearly melted at all of these sweet captured moments. They are your memories, but they are my memories too. I remember how nervous I was at your maternity session, I was still pretty clueless but I tried to act like I knew what I was doing. You guys trusted me and just went with it...

Hartley was my very first "official" newborn session. She was perfect!

Throughout her baby plan, Hartley was such a sweet girl. She completely stole my heart and she set the standard high for all of my sweet baby plan babies that would follow. Through her massive amounts of drool, first curls, first steps, and probably her first splinters. I had such a fun time capturing her and watching as Emily and Matthew grew as parents.

I got to capture the moments as Hartley turned one...

and as she turned two and shared with the world that was going to be a big sister... for the first time...

I was there at the hospital when she welcomed her little sister and held her for the first time.

I captured the way that Hartley and Shelby loved one another and laughed together when it was just the two of them...

and I got to capture the moments after this sweet family became a family of five. These memories are priceless and the fact that you guys trusted me with them is huge. Thank you so very much for trusting me with your memories, for encouraging me and praying for my business and for growing along side me. Thank you for telling your friends about my work and showing Hartley's pictures to your co workers. You guys have been so good to me and I sincerely hope that these images bring smiles to your hearts for years and years to come. You are both wonderful parents. I have loved watching you grow and parent each of these babies. I am excited to continue as a part of your journey, and I am thrilled that you are back here in Augusta <3.