Welcome

Well, here it is! I have been wanting a new higher end blog for a while. No more dinky little pictures for those sneak peeks. Now I won't cringe everytime I open my blog :).

If you are new here...Hi, and thanks for taking a peak! I am a busy mommy of 3 wonderful kids, a wife to my soul mate, photographer, and designer. I picked up photography in 2006 as a creative outlet and a way to immortalize my own children's youth. I fell head over heels in love with it, and before I knew it I was in business and I could barely keep up! I photograph it all (well not it all, but I love to do all kinds). Weddings, boudoir, maternity, newborns, munchkins, seniors, art, and pets too.

Be sure to check in regularly. I will be posting sneak peeks, sales, specials (discounts on prints and sessions), contests, little tidbits about me (I get to know you, why not get to know me more too), and new and exciting products! I am a growing business, and I am always on the lookout for new products and ideas.

Lil Miss M

July 3, 2008 – 6:06 pm

I had the pleasure of a session with this blue eyed beauty when she was 2 months old as well. I can not believe that she is 1 already! Well, I can believe it. Because no matter how much anyone reminds you, children do grow up way too fast. It is so important to stop and enjoy each year while you can, because before you know it, they are off to school, driving, college, and then married. Sigh….

That is another reason I love doing what I do. I get the chance to freeze a single moment of their youth and save it for generations to come. It is truly a joyful job to have. And just as mom and dad get the goose bumps when they see the images. I do too!

Happy Birthday! And I hope to see you again soon!

Birthday Parties are exhausting….and so are photo sessions!

By admin | Posted in baby, family, kids, munchkins, sneak peek | 8 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. amy   -  

    Holy cow she is such a little beauty. Great shots!

  2. Judith R. Ellis   -  

    She has wonderful eyes.

  3. Julie Riley   -  

    Her eyes are so stunning….love the family shots!

  4. --cherry   -  

    These are so adorable!! Don’t you just love watching your the little ones grow up?! i’m sure her mom and dad will be thrilled with these!!

  5. Carly   -  

    Absolutely beautiful!

  6. Olga   -  

    So nice & sweet! Thanks!

  7. tiffani   -  

    These are so stinkin’ cute! Happy birthday to this cutie with the gorgeous eyes!!!

  8. kristi   -  

    stunning

Summer Bridal.

July 1, 2008 – 1:40 am

This beautiful bride is a dream come true for a photographer. I was lucky enough to photograph her and her beau for their engagement session and they put up with a marathon session of over 4 hours with 4 photographers and two of my kids. She was so open to all my crazy ideas that day, and this past Saturday.

It was hot…very hot! And I stuck her up on walls, awkward positions, and in a field full of bugs and itchy grass. She never looked like she shed an ounce of sweat (I know I shed gallons), never complained, and was just awesome. I hope she loves the images, and I am so excited for the wedding at the end of the month.

The first one I am posting in color and black and white because I just love them both equally.

By admin | Posted in bridal, weddings | 9 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. Leeka   -  

    She is absolutely beautiful- awesome images!

  2. erin   -  

    Tori~ these are stunning. they look like a high end ad for the dress! i love how you highlight her hair in the black & whites…oh, and the lashes…oh, and the lighting, she looks like an angel floating in each frame…you are amazing!

  3. Kristi   -  

    Tori, they are beautiful! I especially love the b/w and the third one were she is slightly swirling in the field. So beautifully done. I can’t wait to do my first one!

  4. Mary   -  

    Shannon! Oh wow! You’re beautiful, and all growed up. I’m wiping away a tear…I may need a hankie on wedding day!

  5. Aimee   -  

    GORGEOUS!

  6. Rashmi   -  

    Beautiful! Shannon looks absolutely stunning.. what a beautiful bride she is!

  7. Shannon   -  

    Marta, you’re amazing. I love them! Thank you so much.

  8. Teddy   -  

    Great job lady. Love the BW photo.

  9. tiffani   -  

    Oh yay…I’ve been so excited to see these beauties! They certainly did not disappoint! I LOVE the amazing lighting in the first few. Love all of them though…they rock! She is so stunning!

Baby Bows

June 29, 2008 – 6:42 pm

I know, I know….lots of posts today. But today I have the time to get these sneak peeks up. I had 8 sessions in less than two weeks, and I need to stay on top of getting them all done. So bare with me :). Fair warning though, there are two more coming. Maybe not today, but they will be up in the next day or so!

I have had the luck of photographing this little girl for the 4th time now. First her newborn images, 3 months, Christmas and now at a year old. She is such a doll, and sporting her big southern bows. We are not sure why, but she had a fascination with sticking her tongue out for the entire session. Seriously, only 5% of the time she did not. With a little patience and a quick trigger finger I was able to get some “non tongue” shots too.

By admin | Posted in baby, kids, munchkins, sneak peek | 2 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. Sheila   -  

    Tori…these are wonderful…thank you! being the mommy, I must say…she is just precious!!!!

  2. tiffani   -  

    Wow….what a cutie! She has the most amazing blue eyes! I love all of these, but I’m a sucker for the last shot for sure!!!

In from New Mexico

June 29, 2008 – 3:42 pm

I am so glad that I was able to sqeeze these guys in! My sleep deprivation may not be so happy in the next week or so with all the “extra” sessions I have done. But after doing them, they are all so well worth it!

Mr. H (the bigger boy) was super shy at first, something I have not encountered yet, but once I got him talking and telling me about his ranch in New Mexico, we became good friends and went exploring, mowing (the big huge branch is a mower, in case you didn’t know), and even some more bobble top weed whipping (on me this time :) ). By the time we were done, I was sad to see him go, and wanted to go play on his ranch with him.

If you haven’t noticed yet, I love the details of childhood. The simple things like dirty paint filled finger nails, stinky dirty toes from walking about, ginormous branches that are magic mowers, or even the trinket filled shoes they refuse to do without. They are the things as a mom that I wish I could immortalize for my own children. A day will come when they will wash their hands, they wouldn’t dare go without shoes (especially wear trinket filled crocs) and the big huge branch that was the day saving mower, just won’t mow anymore. So I have made it my task to be sure to help immortalize the moments as much as I can. This little guy reminded me of that, and I am so thankful to him, that he did. I hope his mom and dad are thankful, that I saved them for her.

By admin | Posted in baby, family, kids, munchkins, sneak peek | 7 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. kristi   -  

    !!!!!!
    In case you didn’t know…that means I am in love with these images! The one of mom and the boys is just perfect. Well done. you must be exhausted!

  2. Julie Riley   -  

    I went to school with Kathy and haven’t seen her in years…she has matured into an amazingly beautiful woman and her boys are just adorable! Marta, you are so awesome at capturing the best moments!

  3. tiffani   -  

    These guys are adorable! I love your attention to detail…you always make sure to show the true essence of each child.

  4. Lesley   -  

    Love, love, love those dirty fingernails!!!

  5. Ligia   -  

    As you know that huge branch was to have marshmello sticks with Gpa Kohnke.

  6. Melissa Miller   -  

    These are amazing. Your love of life, the outdoors, and family comes through in all of your shots. I love these family sessions that you do!

  7. TAHAG   -  

    These images are unbelievable. The boys are just beautiful as well as their mommy. I love your work and your clients are lucky to have you make their lifelong memories.

Boys will be boys…

June 29, 2008 – 11:56 am

First, I am sorry this is a little late. I have had so many sessions in the last two weeks, it has got the better part of my time.

Now for the actual post. Is it possible to fall in love with someone else’s kids? These boys were so cool, super polite (seriously, even reached out to shake my hand at the end of the session, thanked me, etc), fun, willing, and just too cute for words. I was a little hesitant going into this session. Two teen and pre-teen boys, it could have gone a completely other way than it did. They could have thought I was insane (probably did), and not wanted to be there. But once I got them going and realized that they didn’t think I was from Mars, I realized I could get them to do anything. The more goofy and funny, the more fun we had. Lets see, what all did we do. First my normal field shot (you know I love some fields). Then some wicked bobble top weed sword fighting (well that turned into whipping :) ). After that we were off to some open ground for some jumping that turned into about 20 takes of Belly Bumping…lol. They were so funny, and more than willing. Down the trail, we were back to business for some “real” shots. And just as they were so goofy, they were serious and gorgeous on command (loved these boys). As you can see…it was not ALL business. Oh, and of course I had to force mommy to do some images on her own too! Just stunning.

Thank you, all 3 of you for being such good sports, and so much fun. It was well worth the reschedule for some sun!

By admin | Posted in family, kids, munchkins, sneak peek | 11 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. Holly Sisson   -  

    Marta, all these images are simply stunning! Love, love, love the field shot with mom and her boys. And LOVE the bw shot of the boys at the bottom…if it were me that would be a large print on my wall, such a cool shot! You totally rocked this session!

  2. Samantha Chapoton   -  

    The pictures are spectacular. What a beautiful family I have.

  3. Sharon   -  

    These are incredible. I love the one of Momand her two boys, but then how could you go wrong with the three of them and a great photographer!!

  4. Sandra   -  

    I have know the boys and their mom since birth. They are a special family, and about the boys being polite, they truly are what you said and more, always gracious. Your pictures are breath taking. Very good job.

  5. Larry & Rosemary   -  

    Proud grandparents and parents. Made us cry. Beautiful. We love them so much.
    Great looking boys and beautiful Mom.

  6. Danielle Hobbs   -  

    Beautiful images - all of them!! Wow… this made me realize that my baby boys will be BOYS one day…. before I know it! These guys are gorgeous and I can see where they get it from! (Momma of course!) Wonderful job capturing them!

  7. tiffani   -  

    Awesome girl! I love that you can see just how much fun they were having. You truly captured their true spirits, not to mention the incredible bond that they share.

  8. Amy   -  

    Tori, they turned out beautiful. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m so excited!! Thank you again.

  9. Kristi Lindblad   -  

    Three of my favorite people in the world….and they look so beautiful…once again. Great job Tori.

  10. kristi   -  

    the one of the two of the boys together in color…just jaw dropping! They are really handsome kids…and you can just sense the cool relationship they have between them, as well as with their beautiful momma. Great, great job!! She will love these…..that one of the two of them though, breathtaking…it would look great in a really large 30 x 50 extra deep canvas! Wow.

  11. Carly   -  

    These are absolutely gorgeous! The shots in the field are just beautiful and the two shots of the boys against the wall are just stunning! Wow.

A break from the windy city…

June 26, 2008 – 3:59 pm

I had the chance to photograph this beautiful family while they were in town visiting family. We had a minor glitch in the locations but plan “B” seemed to work out just fine. This is at the beautiful Sunken Rd. in downtown Fredericksburg, and is becoming one of my new favorite locations.

By admin | Posted in Uncategorized | 6 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. Beth   -  

    Marta - these are beautiful (as usual!). What a gorgeous family and I love the one of mom and son - make me want to come to Fredericksburg with my kids - I have none of us!

  2. kristi   -  

    The mother and son image is so wonderful (they all are…but that is my fave!) You can just see the connection and love they have between them!

  3. Lil' sis   -  

    I love the one of him looking off in the distance and her looking at the camera. Also the first one of her in black and white. Beautiful family!

  4. tisha   -  

    Goodness these are beautiful!!

  5. Kristi Lindblad   -  

    You did such a great job with my sisters pictures I see! Thanks for working them in!

  6. Mary Anne   -  

    What a gorgeous family! I adore the mother/son photo. What wonderful memories you captured for them!!

In the fields…

June 25, 2008 – 3:06 pm

Have I mentioned that I love what I do? Seriously. Aside from my other job taking up way too much of my time lately, I have been on cloud nine with my latest sessions. My clients are trusting me, they trust that the weird places I take them are going to turn out great. That the dirty ground I put them in, the critter infested fields, the moss covered walls, steep slopes, etc are all a part of a larger vision. This is so liberating. As an artist and someone with visions, to have your clients truly put it in your hands and allow you to play and create is something that I am extremely grateful for. And hopefully I am giving them what they expect and then some.

Here is another maternity and a new field for me (yes, I location scout at every second of driving). We lost our sun just minutes before we got there, so I was not able to get the back lighting that I normally like and was hoping to get. But I really think the lack of back lighting gave these an entirely new look and feel. I am looking forward to a full year of this beautiful growing family. Good luck with the up coming arrival!

Oh, and be prepared to be in this field again : )

By admin | Posted in baby, family, maternity, sneak peek | 9 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. Lil' sis   -  

    I love the black and white with her and her husband!

  2. tiffani   -  

    Awesome! I love your locations…but your vision is the real deal. It takes more than a location to pull off greatness, and you’ve got greatness and then some! Wonderful as always…

  3. kimberly   -  

    these images are simply GORGEOUS!

  4. Kristi   -  

    They are just beautiful Tori!! We’ll catch up tomorrow:)

  5. admin   -  

    lol, Stacey…that made me chuckle “Marta grass” :). I started with the fields on 06 with my daughter…I just couldn’t convince enough clients to do it with me. Once I got one or two to do it, now they all request it :). The only problem is when I show up to my field and it has been mowed…gasp!! Luckily I have back ups. The odds of all of them getting mowed the same week are slim…terrifying to consider, but slim :). thank you all for your kind comments. I just love reading them all!

  6. Stacy   -  

    Marta do you know that Beth (Sugar Rush Photography) and I now call areas like this Marta grass! This is the reason why. These images are stunning! You are a perfect inspiration! Thank you
    ~Stacy

  7. christi   -  

    beautiful!

  8. Mary Anne   -  

    These are beyond gorgeous! You have outdone yourself again! So lovely!

  9. Julie Riley   -  

    SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!! LOVE THESE!! MARTA YOU ARE TOO GOOD!

Miss L.

June 22, 2008 – 9:20 pm

Every once in a while those little ones come along that just have way to much to see or do rather than be photographed sleeping in the nude. This little one we had to attempt two takes at. The first one at 8 days old we only got a few of her and her mom. She was a little fussy but wide awake. After two hours we decided that we were defeated and would give it another go, at a different time of day.

Fast forward to take 2 at 10 days old. It started out great, she was extremely sleepy, we get started…and then those peepers! No fuss, no squirming, just wide eyed and ready to see the world. She was such a good girl, but didn’t want to help me with my sleepy baby shots. So I decided to fake it…or at least attempt too. It took some quick hands from Grandma and a really quick trigger finger from me to get some sleepy (looking shots). Don’t be fooled there were no sleeping babies during this session :). With all that aside, her and her mother are stunning. Amazingly great sports and went along with my extremely tall grass on a steep hill ideas. I think it was all well worth it, and worth the two attempts! I can’t wait to see her again.

By admin | Posted in baby, kids, munchkins, newbies, sneak peek | 10 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. Angela Deville   -  

    My O my…how beautiful is this! What a lucky mom. Beautiful portraits indeed!

  2. donna   -  

    WOW!!! How beautiful are they? What a wonderful pic Marta!

  3. Peggy Birchfield   -  

    Oh My Gosh~~From this grandma’s point of view. These pictures are beautiful! You have captured the right moment. The sun, the grass, everything to make the photo show how a newborn is a sweet blessing. great job!

  4. joan zeller   -  

    I love to see your blog updates. Beautiful mom, beautiful baby. Nicely
    done. The wrap is pretty dang nice too.lol

  5. admin   -  

    my best yet…Kristi you are way too good to me :). I do love the mother and baby shots. You should have seen just how giddy I was out there…like a little school girl. I love my job :)

  6. Kristi   -  

    Just fabulous! I do hope the one of mom looking over her shoulder in the field gets purchased in a really big canvas for their wall…..It so deserves to be seen that way….Mom is so beautiful and that is such a classic nurturing shot. i really liked it in B/W as well. Big pat on the back for you….these are quite possibly your best ever and that is really saying something!

  7. Shannon Lawson   -  

    These pics are priceless!!!! Gorgeous!

  8. tisha   -  

    What a great session!! i think the chair shot is my favorite!

  9. Gemma Higgins-Sears   -  

    wow! these are amazing. (must have been the day to put babies on chairs this weekend ;) )
    really must get one of these OOAK ones :)

  10. tiffani   -  

    Beautiful shots Marta! You certainly did a great job of faking it! Wow…beautiful “sleeping” baby shots! And what a gorgeous momma! You rocked this session.

    And I’m totally diggin’ your new wrap! Love the colors!

Childrens Clothing Shoot…

June 18, 2008 – 10:27 pm

I did a little session for a children’s clothing line Girls Day Out. You may remember the name from a previous post in my “Favorite Things”. An old friend of mine has this little girls clothing line, and she asked me to do some images for her. So naturally I beg my daughter to be my model. 3 or 4 avoidances later…I got her to cooperate. See my kids have endured the painful task of being a photographers offspring. Which means having a camera in your face for the first year, and being the guinea pigs to all sorts of crazy ideas! They are a touch burnt out. The only reason the little one still lets me take pictures is because he is not old enough to tell me no (yet) or run away :).

My daughter loves these clothes. She wears the little skirts at least once a week, and now that she has the matching tops…she is set. They are so her!

And for me…as I wipe the tears from my eyes, I finally…sigh….got some amazing images of my Honey Bean. She is a beautiful child, inside and out. She has a heart of gold, and does not see bad in anyone. She received the Good Citizenship award this year because she was the first person to befriend all the new students that came to the school. She was never asked, she just did. My Bean is my believer, my dreamer, my animal lover, and my heart of gold. Thank you Bean for giving these few moments to capture your beauty once again. I know the grass was itchy, and your little brother kept running off, delaying the torture just that much longer…but thank you. Now I can share with everyone else, just how gorgeous you are…and how proud mommy is.Girls Day Out for sale on Etsy

By admin | Posted in Uncategorized | 7 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. Beth   -  

    She is definitely a mini-marta!!!! She is gorgeous and love the clothes - I am going to have to check them out! Love the lighting in these - as always beautiful work!

  2. Lil' sis   -  

    Those are great pictures as always! I would not mind having one of those skirts! they are beautiful.

  3. Kristi   -  

    these are great! I love her hair (not to mention the cute clothes!!)

  4. Julie Riley   -  

    These pics are great, Marta…and I agree, your daughter is simply the spitting image of you! Beautiful! Can’t wait til Claire is big enough to try some of the cute clothes!

  5. tiffani   -  

    Awesome shots….sweet location….beautiful bokeh….to die for clothes.;-) Love all of these so much. What a great little model you have on your hands. And yeah, I’ll say it again…there’s no denying that child!

  6. tisha   -  

    So cute!!! I love the clothes and OMG!! up close she looks so much like you!! Like a little “mini-me” :-)

  7. Dorinda   -  

    ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL… the pics and the girl! Congrats!

My Bean

June 15, 2008 – 12:09 am

I am going to be posting more often, personal and business. If you are on my mailing list and wish to be removed please let me know. Thanks for visiting

Now onto the gloating :). My Bean, my first, my only girl, and my heart has finally found her nitch. She is a very smart child and capable of doing anything she wants, and has tried plenty. Since she has a great love for animals we gave horseback riding a try. She fell in love. Possibly has hard as I did with my photography. Since we were still in the trial phases we started her in group lessons. They went well, but she was frustrated with the lack of progress and growth and riding time. A friend and client heard my frustration and gave us a number to an amazing trainer. She taught Bean more in her 1st lesson then she learned in 3 months at the other. After that lesson Merideth (trainer) saw something in her and thought that she was ready for a show in less than two weeks. So we ran around and gathered up all the gear we needed, had one more lesson and we were off to the show! She showed in 3 divisions of the Lead Lining.

Of course I had to take a billion pictures, I wish they were better but between the 1 year old strapped to me, and the flow of proud mommy tears, this is the best you will get this time around.

So our little Bean showed, and she not only took home 1 ribbon, not 2, but 3 1st place ribbons in each of the 3 divisions and then the Grand Champion Ribbon in Lead Lining! She was shocked, amazed and extremely humble. We are so super proud!

There are those times as a mom that you just bubble with pride and joy. My kids rock. I am biased….but seriously…they rock :). I had put together a slideshow, but I am experiencing technical difficulties. So I will have to just post some images instead.

By admin | Posted in "me", family, kids, munchkins | 12 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. Kristi   -  

    wow…these are great photos! love them! I especially love the second to last one, the tight crop of her mounted. just wonderful!!

  2. tisha   -  

    That is AWESOME!!! Congrats to her!!! These pictures are great!! Geeze maybe I need to strap a one year old to me ;-)

  3. rik   -  

    congratulations, little bean! she looks so confident up there, marta! my goodness…and she’s got the ribbons to back it up, too! good luck in all your future competitions, bean!

  4. christi   -  

    She looks so good up there! So glad she’s gound her niche- it looks natural as can be!

  5. Lil' sis   -  

    I am so proud of my favorite niece. She looks so grown up! And Jamie can buy me a horse too :)> Great pictures Tori! I can’t wait to see more.

  6. Shannon Lawson   -  

    Marta,

    These are awesome….. you are such a natural at this…..

  7. Mary Laing   -  

    Hey Tori! Lesley forwarded this to me and Marta looks wonderful. Congratulations on such a great first show!

  8. tiffani   -  

    Wow…that is amazing! I got chills reading this. How happy she must be with her success. And of course I know you’re super proud!;-) And one more thing…she is such a little “mini me”. Seriously…you could not look more alike!

  9. Michelle Yeager   -  

    Oh, wow! She looks like a natural. Gorgeous photos!

  10. Jamie Locklear   -  

    Little Ms. Bean. Now daddy has to buy you a horse!

  11. Melissa Miller   -  

    Congrats Marta! She does look just like you. You have every right to be so pround! I am so happy that she has found a passion and done so well at it. And the pictures are great!!!

  12. Cherie Yost   -  

    tell her I said congrats! She is beautiful…looks just like you!