Can you believe it? Christmas Card Time!!!

I know, barely past Labor Day and some of you may not want to hear that in three short months we will be smack dab in the middle of the Christmas Holiday season.  Since portraits are not something you want to wait until the last minute to take care of I want to get this post out to show off some of the great 5x7 folded cards I have available.

These are great if you are looking for something better than the same old "Slim line" photo card.  The colors are bright, modern and look amazing!

You'll see you can order the card so that your images can fit perfectly with horizonal or vertical cards.

Also, what makes these great are that we can customize the text on the inside for a personal message.

Can't decide on your favorite portrait? There are some you can choose with 1 image or several images!

What a great variety!

Call soon to get those holiday pictures scheduled and tell me your favorite style!!

Here are a few samples:

Monica

757 692-8138

or email 

These show the outside of the card as well as the inside of the card with the fold down the middle.  The dotted line is there to show the fold for demonstration purposes only!

Weekly Photo Tips blogs about my self portrait work! Thanks

 How FUN is this? I was interviewed by Scott over at http://weeklyphototips.blogspot.com/ He has great bitesized tips, information and interviews on his blog.

He sent me an email a couple weeks ago about my self portrait I use as my profile picture and said he saw it and loved it!  Check out the blog and read about it there!  Before I get a "big head" I want to thank Scott for the mention on your blog. I am honored that it was noticed.  Especially pertaining to self portraits, which I find dreadful!  I'll take my families and babies anytime to staring at my own portrait!

Weekly Photo Tips

For all my readers, Scott has a great site and the information is easy to read , but more importantly it hits directly and precisely to many great photogrphy topics.

Check out Scott and all his informative posts! 

Family Celebrates A Golden Anniversary!

New session review of this beautiful family who got together to celebrate their Parents/Grandparents 50th Anniversary.   A big congratulations to you both of you.  Here is a look at this gorgeous couple (love the choice of outfits and color), as well as the rest of the family that got to join them on their vacation.

Hope you enjoyed your Anniversary and I hope you all enjoy your portraits.  I had a great time taking your session!

I love the way these two above turned out.  Mom and Dad suggested it and they look great!  It's a great way to cluster a few portraits together on a wall.

The color in the sunset was absolutely beautiful. 

Kids were such good sports taking a few extra here and there.  Great job to each of you!

Two Girls and 1 Mom - Missing Dad!

When I say too cute, I really mean it! Mom and these two girls were so fun to photograph. They called me to do a session so that they could send some portraits to Dad who is on a very long deployment. Although, to every military family facing this, what deployment isn't long?

I am so excited to get this beautiful wall portrait, that you see above, to mom. I just love how it turned out and makes a great example of a composite or collage.

We even got a little bit of a fun attitude showing up during the photo session! It's always welcomed and makes for a great shot! They both have one of Dads hats on. Makes me smile every time!

The older of the two was great at posing here. We did get quite a bit with her wearing the hat then we tried pulling it away from her for this sassy picture under the pier.

The younger sister had no problem posing for the camera either! She has such a beautiful innocent look with her adorable braided pigtails! I soooo love it! You know me, I have all boys, so all this cute girlyness is so much fun!

No beach photo session is complete with out a walk along the surf! They made it extra special by taking advantage as a moment to have fun together. I know their dad is going to truely adore these with so much of their personality showing through!

Full of giggles and grins!

And even mom joined in for the shoot! I'm so glad she did. Dad will appreciate it! I hope you enjoy your portraits and my prayers for you and your family will continue until he is home! Thank you for becoming a Cocoa Bean Customer!

Eisenhower Comes in for a great Homecoming!

As promised the update on The homecoming of the USS Eisenhower! Congratulations to all the sailors coming home to be with their family and loved ones. This time I got to snap up the reunion of Tyler to Lindsey. She has been counting down the days with so much enthusiasm it was a pleasure to see them together again.

I loved the shirts she and his whole family were wearing! Aren't they great?!

His family was excited to see him jump off that ship too. It's so hard to wait especially in the 95 degree heat and humidity. It is such a treasure to see thousands of families going through the same feelings of excitement and anticipation. Love it!

Couln't get away without a picture of his Mom and Dad looking on. Loved this one of the ship and family in the glasses.

It is great seeing the ship come around the bend of the Chesapeake Bay toward the pier. I was capturing this just under the bow of the USS Truman who I got to shoot Last year coming home. I'm sure Lindsey got some great shots too. She got to go up on the Truman with a few of the officer's wives to wait. At this point the crowd is starting to cheer and the exciment is building!

At one point I look up and had to capture this shot of Old Glory waving in the sky. I think they were waving in time to the music playing on the peir. I tell ya, it's a great experience.

And I never get tired of seeing the guys and gals come in lined up all around the deck.

I'm so happy for you two! I hope you enjoy these picture just as much as your last few sessions!

Thanks so much Tyler, for doing what you do! It's a pleasure shooting for you two!

The happy couple heading home!

Homecoming of the Bluetails

I now have a couple of homecomings to share with you all. For today I'll start off with the reunion of a very sweet family at the homecoming of the VAW 121 Bluetails.

Normally I would be shooting all the planes coming in together. But this daddy showed up a little earlier than the rest. I suppose he really couldn't wait to see these boys. They were all over him and did not want to let go. This was a very special reunion for this little man! He has cerebral palsy and has just learned to walk while Dad's been gone. Quite a special treat!

If you can't tell this is Mr. Superstar! All the planes started landing and he started jammin'! LOVE IT!

Can you even resist that look? This is my fav! What a look!

I had to put this one in with his sweet look that could melt chocolate.

Now, I made mom come out of the hanger for a few shots and I'm glad I did. Always great for a few shots dad can cherish. You look great Laura!

Dad found us and jumped right in for a little kiss. Perfect shot to a perfect day!

Caught ya!

Daddy's Home!

Looking for the planes!

Thank you so much for including me in your day. I hope you truely enjoy these and the rest of the images.

Also, thank you Justin, for your service. It has been a pleasure showing this family off.

Next blog coming soon that includes the Eisenhower homecoming and features a couple of familiar faces to Cocoa Bean Photography, Lindsey and Tyler!

Large Family at the Beach

I completely enjoy taking family portraits down at the beach. It is so relaxing and always makes for a beautiful portrait for any wall. I truely believe it. I must, considering my family portraits from the beach are on my walls.

I recently got the opportunity to capture this families portraits while they were vacationing here in Virginia Beach at Sandbridge. They were a joy to work with. Krista, I give you a lot of kudos for planning such a relaxing time with your family! Watch out, I may pack my bags and stay with you next time!

Although I normally show a preview, I have shown Krista and her family thier portraits and even have sent them off to her. In fact this blog has been sitting in my "waiting to publish file for almost a month now, so I now today it's a session review. I know, pretty bad on timing but I did take a very extensive and not quite so calm and quiet of a vacation back west.

To Krista and Family: Thank you!