Winters Family Christmas Minis

YASSSSS!!!! We are finally in the Ugly Christmas Sweater Season! Lord have mercy these we’re good ones too. Over Thanksgiving Weekend, I met the Winters Family at Adams Falls in Linn Run State Park. You’ve seen some of these guys on the Blog before during their Family Portrait Session and during a shoot with their eldest daughter, Kiara and son, Keon. They’re back and hitting us with their Christmas cheer!

Mama Bear, Lori, had the idea to collaborate her 3 with their cousins for an ugly sweater shoot. It was a cold and wet day but we were going to make the most of it. We hiked the trail to Slippery Rock and stopped along the way to let this family love on each other. Lori came prepared. She had brought a blanket to wrap the kids up in, umbrellas just in cases and a stuffed donkey to bribe one of the kiddos with. Because of the weather, we kept the shoot short and sweet. After listening to the youngest rattle off her name as if it were a song “Annabella Harper Hunter“, we made our way to an old abandoned settlement and took a few photos in front of the decaying fireplace. These guys are so fun and they make my job so easy. I get to just hang out with them and crack jokes. You guys really are the best! Merry Christmas!!

Up NEXT?? Kiara is finally graduating and we had the chance to shoot her Senior Portraits at Mammoth Park in Mount Pleasant, PA. And yes, we did take a ride down the slide. Next time? Bring Wax Paper!! Keep and eye out for her Portraits in 2017! Until then…

For Information on how to book your unique Portrait Session, shoot me an email at therustienailhead@gmail.com. Throughout the month of December 2016, I am offering $150 Mini Sessions in the Dallas Fort Worth area. These sessions include a 45 minute session within DFW, 15-20 Digital Images delivered in an Online Downloadable Gallery and Print Release. Perfect for Christmas Card Photos, Surprise Holiday Proposals and even Gifts. You can buy this deal for a limited time as a Gift Certificate in 2017!

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Pologruto Family Holiday Minis

Hey guys! A few weeks ago, I headed back to Pennsylvania to do a plethora of holiday mini sessions. It was a whirlwind of spending time with family, eating everything my Mom put in front of me and photographing the most adorable families for their Christmas Cards! This trio reached out shortly after I announced my travel dates and I was pumped that they had thought of me to capture their photos. In the last year, Sara and Anthony welcomed the most adorable little lady, Maggie, and they wanted to capture their little girl just playing in her own backyard. I loved Sara’s vision and couldn’t wait to see the place that they are lucky enough to call home.

With my photography assistants, aka my little sisters, in tow, we made our way into the mountains. Before the shoot, Sara filled me in on the location. Anthony and Sara purchased a home in Rector, PA. Just to give you an idea, these guys live in the woods. Like, really, in the woods. So far in the woods that my GPS literally failed me. Thankfully, Anthony stood by the side of the road waiting for us to arrive to help with the directions. Once we made our way across a wooden bridge, we traveled down a dirt road into a small community of homes spread out though out the expansive acreage of Powder Mill Nature Reserve. These guys really do live in a magical corner of the world. Both Mom and Dad agreed that their backyard was the perfect place to capture these photos because this is where Maggie lives and breathes her playtime!

From her little old lady coat to her pigtails, this angel could not have been dressed more perfect! It was a cold and wet day but you couldn’t tell looking at her. She was playing in the leaves and taking off the minute that they set her down. She is an explorer for sure. I have a feeling Mom and Dad are gonna be chasing this girl down for years to come. We strolled around their neighborhood and looked for spots with good light. As we quickly approached the sun setting, Anthony and Sara led me back down to the wooden bridge and we set up shop.

After snagging a few photos of Maggie with Mom and Maggie with Dad, we focused on letting them play with their little girl. In the end, I’d have to say we did just that. I love that these photos are so bold and wintery. I love that Maggie has the prettiest blue eyes, especially when she is carrying around her favorite little toy, a stuffed piggy. And, I especially love the way that Sarah and Anthony look at their baby girl. You can see how smitten they are with her every move. From their gorgeous backyard in the forests of the Laurel Highlands to the rich red gingham blanket Sara brought along for the shoot, these guys have gotten a hang of how to put a smile on their baby’s face. I am so thankful for this opportunity and look forward to spending more time with this sweet family and their wild child of a baby girl! Merry Christmas Pologrutos!!

For Information on how to book your unique Portrait Session, shoot me an email at therustienailhead@gmail.com. Throughout the month of December 2016, I am offering $150 Mini Sessions in the Dallas Fort Worth area. These sessions include a 45 minute session within DFW, 15-20 Digital Images delivered in an Online Downloadable Gallery and Print Release. Perfect for Christmas Card Photos, Surprise Holiday Proposals and even Gifts. You can buy this deal for a limited time as a Gift Certificate in 2017!

Kaison’s First Christmas

Hey guys, Happy Friday! I hope you all are getting into the holiday spirit as we approach the celebration season. Yes, I am that crazy person who has already watched Home Alone (1 &2), Christmas Vacation and my lights have been up outside since the middle of November. Christmas is such a magical and joyful time in the Norris household. To get into the holiday spirit this year, I started off my Mini Sessions in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. My first session didn’t disappoint either, this shoot was full of love, laughter and a happily ever after.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting my new favorite little dude, Kaison. His momma and daddy just so happen to be some of my very best friends in the whole wide world and I have been impatiently waiting to meet their handsome baby boy for months now. You may remember this guy’s parents from their last photo shoot. Kelly and Kendrick’s Maternity Shoot was featured on the Blog days before this guy made his debut! At eight months preggo, Kelly was a trooper and Kendrick proved to be quite the cheerleader as we made our way through the fields of Kelly’s grandfather’s farm.  Their beautiful baby boy finally made his way into the world not even a month later and these two have been wrapped around his finger ever since.

And as for me? Auntie Ang? She has been down in Texas just dying for the chance to come and snuggle this chubby cheeked butterball!! Finally, the time had come for me to kidnap their bundle of joy for a few hours and I was literally jumping for joy. Kelly’s Family joined us at the very location of our first shoot, their Grandfather’s farm. We headed out into the field to get the family shots first of everyone. As I split them up into smaller groups, they all took turns passing the baby around like a hot potato! And, I will never forget the look on Kelly’s Dads face when I asked him to take a photo with his wife “prom style”. And Kelly’s face when her Dad planted one on her Mama. These guys had me in stitches.

After the family photos were finished, we headed to the front of Kelly’s parents house. There, we set down a blanket and just let Kelly & Kendrick love on their baby boy. The leaves could not have been a better color and Kel’s scarf matching Kaison, so much awesome coordination. Long before he made his arrival, Kelly and I would sit around and talk about what his name would be and how we thought he might look. Every little detail that we dreamt up doesn’t even come close to how perfect this baby is. It’s so weird too! I’ve known Kendrick since we were 5 so looking at this kid and that butt chin, he is unmistakenly my buddy’s baby. But, he’s got Kelly’s big beautiful eyes and her smile. What a perfect combination of these two incredible people. It has been such a joy seeing your love story blossom. Good for you guys. You love each other, you are so smitten with your son and you continue to grow with one another. That’s so important. Crucial, really. So, cheers! Ya’ll are killing it! Now, come to Texas and be my friend and bring Kaison because I wanna eat him!! 🙂

For Information on how to book your unique Portrait Session, shoot me an email at therustienailhead@gmail.com. Throughout the month of December 2016, I am offering $150 Mini Sessions in the Dallas Fort Worth area. These sessions include a 45 minute session within DFW, 15-20 Digital Images delivered in an Online Downloadable Gallery and Print Release. Perfect for Christmas Card Photos, Surprise Holiday Proposals and even Gifts. You can buy this deal for a limited time as a Gift Certificate in 2017!

Fall Mini Session: Brit & Mia

Our Fall Mini Sessions are in full swing and I couldn’t be more thankful that little Miss Mia and her Mommy, Brit, made their way out for a photo shoot. Dressed in navy blue and pink, these girls showed up with some pretty amazing props. One of the props consisted of a huge frame lined with multi colored florals. Mia’s aunt had crafted it for this little lady’s upcoming birthday. The other was a letter “M” that Mia had decorated with jewels for her glam shoot! Both props were the perfect additions to this Mommy and Me Session. We started our shoot at Bear Creek Park in Keller and worked our way over to a secret sunflower field for a few shots around sunset.

This wasn’t my first rodeo with little Miss Mia. We met awhile back, around Christmas time. Mia had joined her besties, Zoee and Paizlee for a Holiday Mini Session. They all arrived in dresses with adorable fur vests. They loved posing and playing “ring around the rosie”. The three of them had me cracking up all night. Needless to say, I was really excited at the chance to get Mia in front of the lens again.

I was even more pleased to find out the other girls would be joining the shoot too! Little did I know, this would end up being a very memorable shoot. After trekking through the tall grass, I noticed a shift in the girls’ personalities. They all seemed to be walking on eggshells when just a few minutes ago they had all been giggling together. I couldn’t quite figure it out. I assumed it was because they were getting tired. Their mommas assured me that they would be fine.

After a few minutes of trying to coerce them into smiles, we could tell something else must be going on. We were shocked to learn that these brave little ladies were being attacked by fire ants and chiggers! And now, so were we. It was awful!! We ran screaming and crying from the field. We grabbed some ice and rubbed it on our legs while we all cried on the sidewalk. After more than a few tears had been shed, Mommy managed to convince Mia that ice cream was the only cure. I felt so bad after that and assured Mia that we would never venture into the sunflowers again. Brittney assured me that Mia would be ok. They headed out for chocolate chip cookie dough the minute we all started to feel a little better . 

Despite the hiccup in the sunflower field, our girls night turned out to be an adorable affair. With her polite demeanor and precious smile,  Mia lights up any room. And, she has the best giggles, especially when Mommy is around! It was a pleasure to finally meet Brittney and spend a little quality time with her pretty princess! I hope I have the chance to work with them again the future!

 

Fall Mini Session Information

We are currently booking Fall Family Mini Sessions. You choose the location (within DFW), you choose the style and I provide 1 hour of shoot time, 10-15 digital images delivered in an online gallery and a Blog Spotlight for sharing! These make for great Christmas Card photos! The cost is $150 during the months of September and October. if you’re interested in setting up a timeslot just shoot me an email. If not, no worries, just pass this info along to anyone who you think might be interested. I appreciate your time and hope we get the chance to work together soon! Consider following along on Instagram @therustienail or give us a LIKE on our Facebook Page!

Thanks a million,

Angelina Norris

The Rustie Nail Creative Studio

Creative Director & Portrait Photographer

therustienailhead@gmail.com

http://www.therustienail.wordpress.com

724. 216 8185

 

 

Senior Potrait Session: Dawson

Part II of our trip to Oklahoma consisted of meeting Dawson, a bubbly little thing straight out of Broken Bow High School. This curly haired brunette was interested in having a few Senior Portraits taken before Graduation the following weekend. She arrived in a delicate pink dress and light wash denim jacket looking the perfect picture of 18 years young. From the minute we started shooting, I knew that this shoot was gonna be a breeze, which rarely happens. Dawson was very comfortable in front of the camera and had this mega-watt smile to match.

 Turns out, Dawson just so happens to be the cousin of our first model, Raina (check out her session here) and we managed to snag a few photos of these 2 silly girls together. It was really interesting to see how different these girls were in personality. Raina, the quiet, dramatic fashionista and Dawson, the happy go lucky homecoming queen (I don’t actually know if she won, but I’d of voted for her). These kids were so comfortable together that it made my job a piece of cake. I kept hearing them telling little inside jokes and cracking each other up, which made for some awesome candids. I almost wish all of my Seniors could bring a few friends along for those giggly shots! It was a fun night chalk full of gorgeous sunset silhouettes and wet toes as we jumped in the lake towards the end of the shoot. This gorgeous gal is headed to Oklahoma University in the fall and we wish her the most amount of luck as she tackles this next big adventure!

To book your 2017 Senior Portrait Session, email therustienailhead@gmail.com for any and all Inquiries! We look forward to helping you and your family document this major Milestone! Best Wishes as you embark on the next step!

Florals graciously provided by Wanderlust Floral Designs. Check out their page here.

 

Rescue Session: Raina & Pumpkin

Words will never be able to explain how thankful I am for my time in Broken Bow, OK. What started out as a Christmas gift for our expectant brother and sister in law turned into a girls getaway for me and my ride or die floral fashionista, Tiffany of Wanderlust Floral Designs. From the start, the plan was to kayak, eat some Grateful Head Pizza and head to the Girls Gone Wine. But, the truth is Tiff and I have been itching for the opportunity to set up a styled shoot with some real live models and boy did we luck out.

After putting a few feelers out at a some of the local businesses, we heard back from a young girl named Raina. She was interested in having a few photos taken of her and her rescue pup, Pumpkin. Coincidentally, my puppy dog is name Reyna. From the start, I had this feeling we were on the same page when it came to styling the shoot. I let her know we would have an elaborate 30 foot floral garland and we proceeded to coordinate the details.

Beaver’s Bend State Park in Broken Bow, OK played the backdrop for this beautifully crafted session. After a few walks around the Mountain Fork River Beach and the shores of Lakeview Lodge, we managed to stumble across an area marked Overlook Circle. After a short hike down a semi-steep hill, we managed to come across a rock beach in a cove that was surrounded with cypress trees and an amazing view of the lake. To top it all off, we ended the portrait session as the sun set over the Ouachita Mountains, providing some amazing silhouette shots.

Raina was adorable, Pumpkin was even sweeter and these two were totally made for each other. Raina had a heart for rescue and adores having her pup tag along for all of life’s adventures. I am so happy that she set up the time to let me document their bond. My favorite part about this shoot was how vocal Raina was about her vision. Raina made it clear from the beginning, she wanted dramatic poses, a few smiles and some candids with her pup. She even managed to bring Pumpkin a bandana that matched her delicate baby blue romper. This chick was kind and patient with the beauty to boot. It was an absolute joy to meet her and Pumpkin. I’m continuously surprised by the kindness of the people I get to meet during my travels and look forward to the chance to work with Raina and her sweety in the future!

 To book your Custom Photo Session, email therustienailhead@gmail.com with any and all inquiries. We would love to meet you for coffee or a beer and discuss what your vision is for your one-of-a-kind shoot!

Lifestyle Shoot: Tonka Trucks and Muddy Butts

A few months back, we featured a sweet bride, Kristi, and her wedding florals on the Blog. Shortly after we posted the story, Kristi reached out to me with a few questions. After a few minutes of Facebook stalking each other, we both realized that we were raised in the same part of Pennsylvania. Actually to be politically correct, Ligonier and Latrobe are only about a 10-15 minute drive away from each other. Crazy, right? Turns out, we know some of the same people and we are both diehard Steelers fans. You can imagine that we immediately hit it off.

 Cue: “It’s a small world after all.”

I was beyond thrilled when she reached out not too long ago to see if I would be interested in photographing her little boys. I knew from the minute she contacted me that we were on the same page when it came to tackling a photo shoot for two wild and crazy little guys. We both agreed that if we were going to make it happen, they were gonna have to get dirty. This portrait session is all about what it’s like to be a Boy Mom because Kristi and her hubby have their hands full with these blue eyed babes.

I could not be more pleased with how the shoot turned out. These guys drove their Tonka trucks through the mud, splashed in puddles and dug up earthworms. We finished the shoot with a few slices of watermelon and proceeded to wear our Terrible Towels as Superhero capes around the park! In my opinion, this shoot was top notch. We had perfect weather, cheerful kiddos and a mom willing to let her guys just play in the muck! I look forward to photographing this sweet family in the future!

 

If you would like to book your Lifestyle Shoot with @therustienail, shoot us an email at therustienailhead@gmail.com and we would be happy to send Packages and Pricing Information your way. We love to see your vision become a reality. We have Portrait Session Packages available throughout the month of May and would love to meet your family!

Brit & Jeremy

Sometimes, just sometimes you walk away from a shoot with nothing but smiles. This was that kind of shoot. It was a beautiful fall morning when I met Brit, Jeremy and their sweet pup, Beau, out on a ranch in Keller, Texas. I met Brit at a flower shop in Grapevine. You could say she was a teacher of sorts, far more knowledgeable in the world of floral arrangement and design than I could hope to be. To say I valued her knowledge of the floral world is an understatement so you could imagine my excitement when Brit asked me to photograph her and her husband for some Christmas cards.

It was a warm morning in November when we ventured out onto the property. The lighting was impeccable and the weather was perfect. We managed to hike the vast acreage on the ranch and capture some amazing shots of this couple in the wildflowers. If you can’t tell by the smile on Brit’s face, these two are smitten for each other in all the right ways. Two years of wedded bliss can do that to you.  It was a pleasure to catch up with this sweet girl and her two favorite guys. Crossing my fingers these two give me a call when they are ready to bring the next Williamson into the world. Lots of love and Happy Holidays!