Did you also know…..

That we have a Book Club!? As our Tales From the Crib baby planners graduate, they can move on to our book club! What is Book Club? It’s AMAZING is what it is

For $650 you get 3 sessions per year, and an 8×8 album at the end of the year. JUST LIKE the Tales From the Crib plan! Awesome? Yea, we know

So, since this is a fairly new thing for Stylized Portraiture, we decided to make it part of our Manic Monday special this week! If you would like to sign up to be in the Stylized Portraiture Book Club, then now is the time to do it! Everyone who signs up for Book Club before July 31, 2010 will receive $50 off your fee AND a 10×20 storyboard at the end of their year! That’s a savings of over $200!!!

For additional information on the Stylized Portraiture Book club, you can visit this post http://www.stylizedportraiture.com/ask-and-ye-shall-receive/

Call or email the studio before time runs out! 706-247-5086 and info@stylizedportraiture.com

On this day, the goal was originally a family photo. But, I realized quickly, that there was NOTHING in any of their closets that would remotely match each other. Preparing for a family photo truly is a shopping event as I am sure many of our clients know! Well, I didn’t have time to shop…I had willing participants, so we scratch the family idea and went with individual shots.

I can’t complain really….They are each their own person, and we all know…getting the 5 of them in one shot, looking at ME, while not touching each other or arguing would have been nothing short of a miracle. So, here they are…meet The Wylies! 

Alexis: 
7th Grade
Sax Player
“The Helper”

She is starting to really grow up, and these photos are proof of that. Lexi has turned into an incredible young lady! She is very thoughtful, and is always thinking of others. She will be our child that lives at home forever….and we are TOTALLY OK with that! 

Aiden:
3rd grade
First year Tae-Kwon-Do student
“The Thinker”

 Ohhhhh, yes. And I truly mean thinker. Always thinking about a way to make a dollar…..thinking about a way to bother his siblings to their wits end. Some of the stuff Aiden comes up with is just freakin’ hilarious. His thought process is so fast that at times his mouth can’t keep up. His logic and rational arguments keep us on our toes. He will be our first child to move out. And, the first one to have saved up enough money to probably buy his own home by age 20, LOL! 

Kieran 
Pre-K
The video game pro
“The  Lover Boy”

 
This child is nothing short of sweet. Watching him interact with others truly makes us proud. He is so sensitive to the needs of the people around him that it is ALMOST to a fault. Even at the age of 5 he has such a mature way of handling situations involving things that are unfair to him and can always see the bright side of it. His laugh is infectious, and his smile can light up a room. The things that fly out of his mouth are nothing short of hilarious. Though you can’t really tell from these photos….he is a lover at heart. The first one to come snuggle in the bed, the first one to give kisses for no reason…..the last one to go to bed because he needs “just a little more mommy lovin’ ”  

Kelsey
10th Grade
Guitar Player and Vocalist
“The  Artist” 

Ohhhhh, this one. I could write an entire blog dedicated to this one, LOL! Talented isn’t a strong enough word to describe her musical skill. She can write a song in minutes….music, verses, bridges, refrains and all. 9 times out of 10 that song is directly related to something in her life. She has a way with words that is almost magical. You WANT to hear her sing…you WANT to know what comes next. And, after only one listen, that song is stuck in your head for days on end. Her talents don’t end with music. She is also a fabulous drawer….whether a project for school or just doodles on the paper, you wonder how someone with no training can create such things with something we all use everyday….a pencil. At 16 she is finally figuring out who it is she really is…..and LIKING it!!! If dealing with her is what life is like dealing with most teenagers, then we truly have it MADE! I never thought raising a teenager could be this….dare I say…..”easy”……but because of her ability to hear what we say to her, and actually apply it, she has made us proud to be her parents!  

 

Ella
3.5yo
Bug lover and Princess of all things WILD
“The One” 

The one….you know….the ONE….that ONE child….that reap what you sow child. She is the one. Every ounce of trouble Greg and I ever gave our parents will be handed back to us 10 fold in this one little spitfire of a girl. She’s feisty, scrappy, resourceful…. and doesn’t put up with anyone’s crap! Being the youngest of 5 can’t be easy, but it has sure helped her grow wise beyond her years. Talk about not knowing what will come out of your kid’s mouth….yeah….we always hold our breath when she starts a conversation with people. Ella meets no stranger. She’ll talk to anyone….anywhere…..anytime. And, will likely talk about anything! Her feisty, independent attitude is what makes us love her even that much more. We would never try to break her spirit, make her any less of who she is, but she does often need some reminding that she is in fact, only THREE years old. Three going on 30! 

 

So, there they are…..my 5 little bundles of joy. Bundles of nerve, bundles of exhaustion, excitement, attitude, and love. The bundles that I love so much it hurts sometimes….the same bundles that I want to duct tape to the ceiling fan at least twice a week. So very very different, but so very much the same. Life in the Wylie house wouldn’t make any sense without them.

” Stylized Portraiture is the dynamic duo of Frankie Wylie & Heather Lickliter. They both have fabulously distinctive styles, but each SO different in their looks they achieve. I think you will really enjoy their blog, its like a two ‘fer one! They have so much info on their blog for current or future customers, it is really brilliant. I am impressed, and that is not so easy. They serve Athens and North Georgia. Enjoy!”

Thank you to everyone who entered our drawings too! Prizes apply to a new session with Stylized Portraiture. Winners are:

Jacki Wood: Free session
Jessica Lawhorn: Free session
Missy Minardi: Free 16×20 Canvas
Karen Prasse: $50 gift card
Beth Greeson: $50 gift card
Christi Ward: $50 gift card

See, the thing about being a photographer is that you aren’t JUST some one with a camera. You are the person with the camera, and the computer, and the bank account, and the clients, and the contracts, and the events, oh, and the vendors, and the conferences, and let’s not forget about the continuing education….oh yeah, and you are the person studying for your CPP (certified professional photographer) exam.

And then, as if that isn’t enough…..You are the wife (who fails miserably at housework), the mom (who often forgets to sign permission slips), the friend (who never seems to be available for lunch or dinner dates), and then the daughter and sister….the one thing you’ve been all your life and here lately haven’t had much time to be (hard to travel to Florida when you are booked every weekend).

And, even though I juggle all of these things and occasionally get a little overwhelmed…..I LOVE THEM ALL. I am NOT complaining….I am NOT whining….I am PROUD, I am HAPPY, I am FULFILLED! The only time I do get a little whiny with myself is when I realize that I don’t have pics of my kids…and I don’t mean NICE photographs, I mean snapshots, everyday randomness, the stuff, that when you look back over you laugh so hard b/c “OMG, LOOK at Ella’s outfit!” “Dear Lord, WHAT is on Kieran’s face?” “Umm, Aiden, are you SURE you want to wear that to church?” “Alexis Nicole Wylie, what is going on with your hair?” “Kelsey, honey…..is that face your making REALLY necessary?”

Those photos that you might not blow up and hang on your wall, but that you will appreciate just as much when they are grown. Ok, so off my little “I stink at taking pics of my own kids” pouty box…..

Today…I was just a mom…with just my camera….and just hanging out with my kiddos on their last day of school.Their last day of school *crying*……It makes me so sad that this is their last day because my little ones love school SO MUCH! They go to Faith Presbyterian Mothers’ Morning Out program. Two days a week, three hours a day. Just perfect for them. We love Faith too, I couldn’t design a better school for my kid’s personalities and needs. Every year, on the last day, they have a full out FUN DAY!!! Different stations are set up and the classes visit them individually and have a grand ole time together. Kieran and Ella were beside themselves with joy, and if I could make every day this fun for them, I certainly would. All the hard work is worth it just to see their smiles so big!!! And some randoms from the day….click on it to view it full size!