1st Birthdays!

I have been asked a lot lately to shoot smash cake sessions. I must say, I'm pretty good at it. My number 5 will be one in July, and it's almost time to shoot hers. I don't know if I can stand it. I love how much preparation goes into them. Everything has to be planned out and somehow work out perfectly.

I personally love close up shots the best. (btw this is my beautiful Goddaughter) 

When I look back, what do I want to remember? I want to see her eyes, the smudges of cake on her cheeks, I want to see her little hands and tiny toes. Those are the things I focus on. 

I want to remember the adorable little outfit I poured over searching for, and I think many mamas have the same hopes for their sessions as well. While I can appreciate the backdrop, it's not nearly as important as all of the details of the little. 

It makes me very happy when they *dig in* I always laugh and think of each one of my children when they did the same thing. Sometimes they get so excited they can make a big mess they don't know what to do! That's the best. 

Lessons Learned: Have you ever looked at one of these sessions and thought "How on Earth do they clean these messes up after a session in the park? Because it was a common occurrence I was experiencing. So, this is what I have come up with. Always bring a cake stand so that baby... uh, toddler isn't sharing with ants. It also gives a better chance of not getting grass mixed it. On a blanket is ideal too. That way when they're finished it gets wrapped up and stuck in a trash bag to deal with when you get home. Also, instead of a massive amount of baby wipes a hand towel and spray bottle! It amazes me every single time just how hard it is to get the icing from between their little fingers. 

Everyone asks, "what is your speciality" I am beginning to think it is this. I love smash cakes, and I think they love me. 

What does 'family' mean?

I am the head organizer of my family. My... "blended" family. What does that even mean? It means that even though I carried and birthed all five of my children, my husband is not 1, 2, and 3's father. Not by blood anyways. What difference does blood really make anyways? For us, nothing.

It makes my heart very happy to see families. ALL families come together to celebrate being a family. Whatever kind of family they are, they are beautiful.

This past weekend I feel so blessed to have been asked to help a family announce to the world that even though they've been a family for a long time, they are now legally a family too. These boys made me laugh, and they brought joy to my heart. Their dad may be blood related to two of them, but he is a father to 4 amazing young men. You mama, should be so proud of your crew. I pray your lives together are nothing less than the best fairy tale ever told.

In case you can't quite see what the sign says, it reads

 "Our skin doesn't match. You don't have my eyes or mouth. I don't know what it is like to look at you and catch a glimpse of myself as a child. What I do see is the hand of God in my life. I see into the windows of Heaven. Our skin may not match, but we match hearts." 

Tips, advice, and how to's-- 1. Smiles

Don't be misled by the title. This is not a specific how to guild to pose crawling bundles of joy, this is my real life experience. This past week I have been setting up my studio and I need to work with setting the lights. I enlisted the help of 9 month old #5. I don't know what the "experts" say, but after shooting my own children for the past 12 years I can say, there is NO SHAME when trying to get a young child to smile for you-- even look in your general direction sometimes. #3 made me a maraca out of beads and tapped together plastic sporks with multi-colored hole puncher holes glued to it. That spoon makes small children happier than any other crazy thing I've bought! Way to go #3! (Mama's favorite today!) They laugh and smile at it, until they decide they want to play with it, then on to plan B. But, after moving baby back to the "X" 98 times, the final product is beautiful.

I may be bias, but the finished product is beautiful, as is #5. When I first started taking pictures of babies and children I felt silly making silly noises and funny faces, then was sad when baby wouldn't look at me. I got over it! Littles love silly faces-- that may sound like common sense, I think for me it was about confidence. Years later, I make a great chicken sound! 

I have also found when you have a little sweetheart who wants to laugh and smile at mom, mama needs to just about sit in your lap so it LOOKS like baby is smiling for you, so-- get to know each other! I'm just kidding... kinda. 

HI!! This is my story! ...and meet the rest of the Killinger Clan

Let's start here! This is my family. I call them by numbers, the children that it. 1-5 oldest to youngest. They've been a big part of my experience shooting photography. Not always willingly...but they've cooperated never the less. I'll start at the beginning with my current company-- Flash Photo Studios, llc. It began in Jacksonville, Nc at the end of 2011, and work my way to present day.  Please follow me on our journey raising youngins and maintaining what I hope will be a very successful business.


Wesbite: www.flashphotostudios.info