Over the last couple months, I’ve been obsessed with beautifully-designed card templates that are available from so many designers – some I love and some? not so much. I’m allowed to be picky though. :)

For the first time, this past holiday I used a template for my own family card and I was thrilled with it. So in January, when I started checking out Valentine templates, I decided that the girls would have some unique cards to give to their classmates this year. When I told them the plan, they were so excited about it (thankfully!).

On the first Wednesday of February (a “late start” day for them), it was a beautiful warm day so we left for school a little early and stopped along the way to take their photos. We spent a little time along the creek and even did a little tree climbing. They had a blast and I loved how into it they were. (That has not always been the case when trying to take their photos!).

Next I had to find just the right template to use.

I love this simple design that I found from grady bug designs for Leslie’s photos. She was happy with it too…

For Kadel, I used a free template from MCP Actions and I changed the graphics colors because, well, because I wanted to. :)

Here is the final product (they were business-card sized on premium matte card stock).

I love how they turned out! The girls’ friends loved them too and I had extras to send to our family and close friends. Definitely doing this again next year!

My husband, JB, and I, in the 4 gazillion years (give or take) that we have been together, have never really made a big deal out of Valentine’s Day. He likes to surprise me with flowers, chocolate, or gifts on random days throughout the year and I am definitely not complaining! So it didn’t really faze me when I found out he would be out of town (actually “out of country” is more like it) for this day.

But I was surprised when he came home last Friday with a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me… until he said “Happy President’s Day!” and made me laugh.

JB, no matter what you proclaim, you are a sweetheart. Love you, hon.

And happy presidents day to you too. ;)

xoxo,

I really wish this wasn’t so late but after quite a bit of agonizing over various photos taken over the past year, I’m extremely pleased and excited to present the final images of my 2012 calendar…

January (Big Sky, Montana)

February (Longmont, Colorado)

March (Boulder, Colorado)

April (San Diego, California)

May (Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado)

June (Laramie, Wyoming)

July (Togwotee Pass, Wyoming)

August (Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming)

September (Laramie, Wyoming)

October (Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming)

November (Longmont, Colorado)

December (Longmont, Colorado)

So what do you think?

I’d love to hear which images are your favorite (go ahead… leave a comment… nudge nudge).

And if you’d like to enjoy these images all year long, then all you need to do is send $22 via paypal to tracy@twbphotography.com for an 8 1/2 x 11 inch spiral calendar and that includes shipping!

Happy Holidays and may your 2012 be truly awesome!

P.S. The bar along the bottom with my logo is not on the calendar images.

So lucky. That’s what you’d call it when just a few days after my photo session with the G’s we got dumped on with snow. And I mean dumped! So I’d say that qualifies this family as being truly lucky to have their session on a warm and golden fall day before the snow rolled in. :)

We met up in Boulder at the trailhead for Wonderland Lake and it was a perfect backdrop for two little boys to run around, heading down the trail… and directly into the lake!

What little boy doesn’t like to climb trees…

No wonder their boys are so cute – look at this beautiful couple!

This is my absolute fave…

I asked the boys to hold hands and jump in the air and look at how much fun they had doing that simple activity. Doesn’t it make you smile?

And then it was time to explore the lake…

…and, boy, did they explore it!

Awwwww.

It didn’t take long for this…

… to turn into this. :)

One last parting shot of Jack’s adorable little curl in the back…

Another super enjoyable time with Lisa, John, Tyler, and Jack!

To book your own family photo session, please call me at 303.588.8554. I’d love to hear from you!

Some people are just so easy and comfortable to be around. This family fits that description to a tee. The day of their session, my girls were supposed to have a playdate since JB was out of town on business. Unfortunately, their friend was sick so the girls had to tag along with me. Of course, the Remmerts are good friends of mine and they didn’t mind having the kids along for the session. In fact, they were great at getting some natural laughter out of the family and keeping their daughter, Grace, engaged.

It was another delightful fall day in Boulder and we decided to meet at Eben G Fine Park along the Boulder Creek…

After spending quality time getting photos of them all together, it was time for Grace’s turn alone. This is something we started doing last year where Grace and I have some time to take “surprise” photos for her parents while they hang out somewhere they can’t see what we’re up to. All I do is follow Grace’s lead and do whatever she’d like. :) Occasionally I’ll make a suggestion but it is mostly all her ideas. I think this is such a fabulous idea for older kids to keep them excited for the photo session.

This is Grace with my little fashionistas. It makes me smile…

Always love spending time with you, Sarah, Steve, and especially Grace!

Antke and I met almost 5 years ago through a playgroup to which we took our daughters. After a couple years, everyone else in the playgroup had moved outside of Colorado but Antke and I kept getting our kids together, I think, mostly for our own sanity. Not to be all insider-y but if you have kids, I’m sure you understand. :)

So last month, much to my dismay (but I can’t say that I was surprised), Antke told me they were moving back to Europe (she’s German and her husband, Peter, is Swiss). Devastation! I love hanging out with this family and so do my kids. :(

I took the girls over to their house not too long ago for one last family photo session. The new owner of Peter’s Ford Mustang hadn’t picked it up yet so we had some fun with it and Peter couldn’t have been happier to get some extra documentation of this stylin’ vehicle…

I am so happy to have captured this photo of my girls with their buddy, Zora…

Easily distracted by a daddy-long-legs…

These photos of Flurin with Antke are some of my favorites…

We were finally able to convince Zora to have some photos taken of just her…

… but she was mostly interested in catching butterflies.

One last photo for Peter. :)

We will miss all you crazy Messmers so much! Here’s hoping we are able to schedule a trip to Switzerland some time in the not-too-distant future. :)

mit Liebe,

Gorgeous red hair and adorable freckles! Sidnye totally rocked her session. More to come soon!

While I work on completing a post of another family session, I thought I’d add a little peek of my session with the Remmerts. Their little threesome is so adorable!

On a beautiful late-September day, Kerry and I met up for her senior photo session and when I suggested we start at a graffiti wall behind a total dive bar, she didn’t even flinch. I immediately liked her. :) I wouldn’t want to be hanging around here after dark but it made for a cool backdrop behind an even cooler girl. :) I loved working with Kerry. She is so easy-going, sweet, and fun to be around and she has a stunning pair of eyes. What’s not to like?

We escaped unharmed and then drove over to Golden Ponds to play on the railroad tracks and commune with nature. :)

That’s the pond behind Kerry. Smooth as glass and a beautiful backdrop for a beautiful girl…

One minute, Kerry is looking oh-so-fierce…

And the next she is cuter than cute!

We couldn’t resist one last walk on the train tracks…

Kerry, thank you for asking me to take your senior photos. It was an absolute joy to work with you!

Take care!

Mommmm! Can we rollerblade?

And so begins the half-hour ordeal of getting on rollerblades, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist pads, and helmet. In Kadel’s case, this is usually followed by about 5 minutes of actual rollerblading before she’s done and starts taking it all off. Leslie will usually last longer and venture farther from the ladder and crates I place along the sidewalk for them to practice around.

Kadel, can I take a photo of your cute little mug? Sure! Cheese!

Take a photo of my skates too!

How about you, Leslie? Not now, Mom!

How about now? What, no smile?

Just a little smile? No? Oh well.

I’ll do it, Mom! Thank you, peanut.

Leslie? Still nothing?

Ah, there it is. :)

Hey, look at how easy it is in the grass!

And during all that time, Pony B is content to watch the activity from her spot in the back of the car.

Who’s a good girl?

That’s right. You are.

Happy Friday!