DIXIELAND DELIGHT [Monica Brown, Pensacola Lifestyle Photographer]

My very favorite aspect of photography is how you can capture [emotion] in an image.

To you, this may be a very simple photo.

A dirt road.

But to me, this photograph brings childhood memories flooding to the surface.

Every time we head north to visit friends and family we pass by these gorgeous cotton fields, and I have always wanted to stop. So this time, I did.

Check out the farmhouse tucked behind the trees.

Most of you know that I was born and raised an Alabama girl. I absolutely LOVE L.O.V.E. everything about the South. My family is large. (I am the last of 19 grandchildren, just on one side.) We don't always all get along, or even get to see each other every year. But we all came from two very special people. In fact, Reagan's middle name - Claire - is derived from my Grandfather's name - Leonard Clarence.

I grew up on a county road in the middle of Alabama. All of my mom's family lived near us down the dirt roads. Looking at the first photo, I can just hear the sound of the road beneath the tires as we drove the short distance for visits. We passed cotton fields like these, as well as watermelon patches and fields of corn. I can just see the wash hanging on the outdoor clotheslines along the way...

If you haven't noticed, I am smitten by the natural beauty of a field.

You can see where we took family photos in a field off of Hwy 98 earlier this year. They are my favorite to date. It was just the 4 of us walking around. The only family shot we got was taken by the diaper bag.

There are so many things I love about the South.

Everyone waves, even if they don't know you.

Sitting on the front porch swing while drinking sweet tea is actually a hobby. I grew up with a swing on each end of our front porch. Anybody up for "who can swing the highest"?

Chirping crickets sing you to sleep on summer nights where it is cool enough to sleep with the windows open.

THE HUMIDITY. I actually do love it. Give me the sun and I will take the humidity that comes with it. After living in Washington state for 4 years, I don't care if you bake me to a crisp and then reduce me to a pile of sweat. Just don't take my sun away ever again.

Manners. Most everyone has them. Doors are held open for you. Sentences are finished with please, thank you and yes ma'am. And the handwritten, heart felt thank you note has not died...yet.

And most near and dear to my heart - Alabama Football. Yes, it is a religion down here. I pull for the Crimson Tide with every fiber of my being. I truly believe I can send my *vibes* into the universe and make good things happen. Go ahead. Laugh. But when I told Jake we really needed to concentrate on an interception, guess what happened the next play. I was really bummed when we lost last week. Like Greg McElroy, I was in a bit of a funk for a few days. In my defense, I did not get to watch the game, therefore I cannot be held responsible. I have since decided that I will not be leaving my house on Saturdays.

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

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE [Monica Brown, Pensacola Photographer]

I saw this post last week by Tara Whitney, and thought it would make a great read. I have never read nor seen anything to do with Alice in Wonderland. Although I have ridden the tea cups at Disney...

I went to the bookstore to buy the pretty pink book, and then wandered into the children's section. There I found this beautiful book. This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen. So Reagan and I are reading a chapter every night.

I don't know how kid-appropriate it is. I have trouble following the guy sometimes. But we stop and summarize and talk about the beautiful illustrations. And I try to read all of the grown-up jargon myself and skip to the kid stuff for her. She can't wait to hear what happens next every night. And neither can I.

delightfully,

Monica