BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. BEAUTIFUL BEACH [Monica Brown, Pensacola Photographer]

What a wonderful summer so far! It has been busy and fun around here, and therefore I am behind on blogging. Doing my best to catch up :)

Here is a session I did a few weeks back at Ft. Pickens and the beach just outside the gates. The [H] family was LOADS of FUN!

The natural light at Ft. Pickens just can't be beat. It is so beautifully flattering. This image is straight out of the camera...and totally going on the website :)

Oh my goodness. Just look at these beauties. You two have some breathtaking daughters. They were a total pleasure to photograph!

Love the Jeep over to the side. The fun-mobile of Pensacola. I am so getting one of those once my kids are a bit bigger.

And just to let you know - This part of the beach WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE OIL SPILL.

This beautiful white sand is over the dunes and protected. I LOVE the seagrass and other vegetation at this location. Natural Florida is so beautiful. I simply love it here!

We were off of the beaten path (imagine that) so [J] gave us a reminder of how to find our way back.

My specialty - non traditional family portraits!

And DOWN HE WENT!

We all looked over and the only [N] was laying in the water. I am still kicking myself for missing that shot.

LOTS of fun was had by all :)

I also specialize in that.

If you are interested in beach photos this summer, we are still ON! There are PLENTY of places to shoot that will remain unaffected throughout this crisis.

I have yet to make it to the beach and see the tar balls myself. I figure the president can look for me. He is in town assessing the damage so far. So for all of us locals, let's make sure we support our local business to help them through this. Even though the oil has not hit shore, our beaches are mostly empty which means the business along the coast are going to need our help this summer. We can do it! Thank you to all of the locals that support my business also. I love my clients!

delightfully,

Monica

ONE HOT MAMA-TO-BE [Monica Brown, Pensacola Photographer]

I just love the energy of an expectant mother.

How her smile warms you to the core.

How, if you are a mom already, it brings back that time so vividly.

I had the pleasure of photographing [S] and Dad-to-be [M] at lovely Ft. Pickens. Have I ever mentioned how I love that location? How the light is just SO yummy? How beautiful natural Florida is? Thought so. :) It is the perfect backdrop to almost anything...and [S] TOTALLY ROCKED IT.

Something about this gives me the warm fuzzies. Holding hands is so sweet. Not in a [cute] sort of way, but in a [I will love you forever] sort of way.

I can barely wait to meet Baby [C] and capture her first days - The first days that [S] and [M] will have become a [family]. I know I have said this before, but watching a [couple] transform into a [family] is one of the most beautiful experiences.

Congratulations again you two :)

delightfully,

Monica

FUN TIMES! [Monica Brown, Pensacola Photographer]

This week has been SO fun! My cousin, who is more like my sister, is in town with her family. Ever since we were little girls we have dreamed of our kids playing together. We always said we would live next door to each other once we got married. Ah, the dreams of an 8 year old. Maybe we'll retire next door to each other...

It is so fulfilling, yet surreal, to watch our kids play together. Seems like only yesterday we were riding our bikes, playing in the tree house that Uncle Ronnie built, and I was getting run over with the go-cart! Fun times! We spent our summers together. She lived in Georgia and me in Alabama. That 6 hour drive seemed so long. I couldn't wait to get to her house to play, and I cried the whole way home when I had to leave. I can only hope our kids have the same kind of relationship.

I had the pleasure of photographing them yesterday. Of course, my family tagged along so I got some fun shots of my kids too. These are straight out of the camera. You will hear me gush over and over about my camera, lens, and the beautiful light at Ft. Pickens. LOVE that place!

For now, here are some of the fun shots I got yesterday. I will post more family shots once I edit their session :)

I LOVE family photos rockin' the sunglasses!

Can you BELIEVE she is 5 months pregnant???? They are having another baby girl! EEEEEEEEE! I am SO excited!!!

[And what is a family photo without your niece running around in the background? That is exactly why I chose this one!]

i can't believe my kids actually cheese for the camera. what am I doing wrong??? LOL

This is my FAVE. Hugs, kisses, and togetherness.

It makes my heart swell to see our kids together.

Once Savannah had had enough of the camera I found my kids balancing on a large piece of driftwood. I love capturing kids just being. Kids. That is what they are. This time is so fleeting, and so FUN. I am trying to take mental snapshots (as well as actual snapshots) of this time as often as possible.

Oh, this may be my favorite post ever. I love my family. Wendy and [her] Jake are 2 of my favorite people on the planet. Isn't it funny that we both married Jakes? And only 5 months apart. We both have sweet little girls, and poor Luke will just have to hang with the Jakes I guess. I cannot wait to meet new baby [H] in September. She is due on her daddy's birthday. How perfect is that???? Just thinking of what they have gone through to have this precious child and grow their family makes me well up with tears.

I love you, Wendy, Jake and Savannah. And I can't wait to meet you baby [H]. I see family vacations, lots of sleepovers and plenty of family photo sessions in our futures.

Congratulations guys!

delightfully,

Monica

WHY I HAVE WORKED SO HARD [Monica Brown, Pensacola Photographer]

I totally feel like THIS SESSION is why I have practiced, been frustrated, practiced more, and finally understood my "calling"...

What seems like a long time ago, I was a student at the [magnificent] University of Alabama. Busting my butt. Trying my best to be the smartest person I could be. Earning my degree in Chemical Engineering.

Then one weekend, I met Jake Brown. My PERSON. The ONE to make my life what it should be. And here is his sister. The one he shared his life with before me.

My desire to become a professional photographer (instead of a professional nerd) seems as if it was all meant for her.

These images of [R] pregnant with baby [B] take my breath away. Call it conceited, but I think these are the most beautiful images EVER. [R] and [J] (and ME) can't WAIT to meet baby [B].

To know he is THIS CLOSE. That I can FEEL and see him move amazes me.

[R] and [J] - you are about to experience what life has to offer. To become parents. To be responsible for a human life.

You will be fantastic :)

I couldn't even make these into a collage. I felt that each should be separate. Different. And to top it all off, [R] sat on a CACTUS before these last photos. One with LONG spines. LONG. Like an inch or MORE. She just stood up, pulled them out of her [hiney] and we proceeded. I think, personally, I might have cried... It looked painful. Butt [pun intended], she assured me she was fine. :)

So any day now, i will be an AUNT, again.

And I couldn't be happier.

delightfully,

Monica

GETTING READY FOR BABY(part 2) [Monica Brown, Pensacola Photographer]

I just couldn't wait to post these images from Sunday's session.

They make my heart sing.

I will post LOTS more soon...when I find time to edit...but for now, here is just a tiny sample of this GORGEOUS couple...soon to be FAMILY.

delightfully,

Monica