Michelle Smiles

Teaching my children to question authority, except mine.

Celebrating adoption

April24

A lovely photographer, Amy Lynn Smith, contacted me regarding the Celebrating Adoption program. (Through this program, local photographers who wish to participate offer a free sitting and proofs to a family who has adopted in the past 12 months. You are free to purchase prints or not after the sitting. You can find photographers in your area through the link above.) She is new to the program and was looking for a family touched by adoption to do a session with. Brave woman that she is thought the beautiful but squirmy and impossible to shoot 19 month old Sabrina might be perfect.

We met up at our (mostly) empty new house so there would be a big empty space for Sabrina to roam. Sabrina was not very cooperative – she is way too busy these days to sit still and if she does sit still for a second she doesn’t want to smile about it. But Amy did a great job of letting her do her own thing (she has a daughter the same age and knows it is like herding cats to get them to cooperate). We spent 2 hours coaxing and encouraging and standing on our heads to get the child to look at the camera and smile. I’m excited to see all of the results but there is a sneak preview on Amy’s site. Click here to see.

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Just a little shout out for Amy. She is a stay at home mom who is passionate about photography. She works at her business part time while kids are in school and/or napping. As a mom, she is laid back about kids doing their thing so the photo shoot isn’t a stressful thing for anyone involved. She is officially launching her new site on August 1 so if you are in the Nashville area you can get some great deals on her prices before the launch. And I’m sure her prices will remain reasonable after the launch as well.

posted under nashville
31 Comments to

“Celebrating adoption”

  1. On April 24th, 2008 at 6:45 am Amy Says:

    Those photos are gorgeous! I especially love the second one.

  2. On April 24th, 2008 at 7:09 am Tina Says:

    The pictures are adorable, but then so is Sabrina! Congrats on the It’s a girl news. Can’t wait to hear the names cause I love Sabrina’s.

  3. On April 24th, 2008 at 7:19 am Anne Says:

    She has the cutest, most infectious smile ever!!!
    Anne

  4. On April 24th, 2008 at 7:23 am Meredith Says:

    Oh, I *love* the third photo when she’s holding both your hands. Sigh.

    You ought to get a big one for Steve’s desk.

  5. On April 24th, 2008 at 7:53 am Busy Mom Says:

    Wow! Great pictures!

  6. On April 24th, 2008 at 7:59 am soltana Says:

    I love the photos!!!!

    I trying to get brave and get Derek and Cerah’s done…

  7. On April 24th, 2008 at 8:10 am Abby (from Just Moms) Says:

    The pictures turned out great! Sabrina is such a cutie!

  8. On April 24th, 2008 at 9:39 am elle Says:

    As you know I’m all about the awesome photographers. Way to go! Hopefully you’ll build an awesome relationship with her and she’ll be photographing Sabrina and her sister for years to come.

  9. On April 24th, 2008 at 10:01 am Tracie Says:

    Cutest pictures I’ve ever seen! She’s a doll.

  10. On April 24th, 2008 at 10:23 am carla Says:

    wow.

    amazing pics.

  11. On April 24th, 2008 at 10:42 am Laura Says:

    Could I arrange a date with Pablo? He is only about a month younger. Pretty please? I know that arranged marriages are a thing of the past but come on! Seriously, those pictures are adorable beyond words!.

  12. On April 24th, 2008 at 11:02 am Emily Says:

    LOVE that pic, she looks so cheesy which is perfect for her!

  13. On April 24th, 2008 at 11:16 am Shelly Says:

    The pictures are great! In two weeks, we have our Celebrating Adoption photo shoot scheduled with another photographer in Nashville. I am so excited!

    Looking forward to meeting you at the picnic.

    Shelly

  14. On April 24th, 2008 at 1:28 pm Bobbi Says:

    They look so cute!! Can’t decide my favorite. I like the one you posted here, but I also like the one with the three of you holding hands.

    I heard about this just after Reese had been home for a year, and the place wa two hours away. I thought about checking it out, but decided not to torture myself!!

  15. On April 24th, 2008 at 1:29 pm Ashley J Says:

    OHHHH THOSE EYES in the last one… melt my heart!

  16. On April 24th, 2008 at 2:13 pm mama k Says:

    so gorgeous! I started tearing up when I saw the one w/ you guys holding her hands. (don’t laugh at me)
    What precious photos to cherish as she grows up. 🙂

  17. On April 24th, 2008 at 2:25 pm Tera Says:

    *eyes POPPING*

    The photos are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I adore them!!!! Love the pic of you and Steve holding Sabrina’s hands…such a sweet and creative shot and the last photo is PRECIOUS! Thanks for sharing!

    God bless.

  18. On April 24th, 2008 at 3:39 pm ani Says:

    that last picture is just amazing… her eyes are so expressive!

  19. On April 24th, 2008 at 5:08 pm Alleen Says:

    That last photo is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I was so sad that I didn’t find out about this until we’d been home past a year and didn’t get to do it. I so want to get professional(not chain studio) photos done but just can’t bring myself to pay the fees and that would have been a great way to do it.

  20. On April 24th, 2008 at 6:19 pm Gwen Says:

    Great pictures! I love the last one. It is so serious and we don’t get to see Sabrina serious very often because she is always so damn happy! Anyway I love them all. She is beautiful!

  21. On April 24th, 2008 at 6:43 pm Andrea Says:

    LOVE that last picture. Just makes you want to squish her cheeks. She’s just gorgeous. But of course, you already knew that!!

    Great pictures!!

  22. On April 24th, 2008 at 6:45 pm Julie W. Says:

    Michelle,

    First of all congrats on the baby GIRL news!!! I am just catching up… And, I LOVE the photos of Sabrina! We did a Celebrating Adoption session with a Nashville photographer in November and it almost broke the bank with all the prints we purchased – good thing the session and the proofs are free!! 🙂 Good luck choosing… as I am sure they are ALL to die for. I hope to see you on the 17th. Julie W. (P.S. Can I crown you the best trimmer of bangs? I cringe every time I have to do Lexi’s)

  23. On April 24th, 2008 at 7:12 pm Shelby Says:

    Gorgeous!!!!! Makes me wish we were up there. The photographer in our area pulled out of the program before we could have our session.

  24. On April 24th, 2008 at 10:07 pm Sarah Says:

    WOW!!! Amy did a wonderful job capturing Sabrina’s beauty! I love the one of her holding your hands too… what a gorgeous, gorgeous girl!

    Good luck on the move!!!

  25. On April 24th, 2008 at 10:56 pm Lindsay Says:

    I’m a long time lurker. Have been reading from the very beginning but I never knew how to introduce myself. But I just had to comment on this post. Sabrina is absoluty stunning. You have a beautiful daughter. Hope all goes well with the move.

  26. On April 25th, 2008 at 6:48 pm Debra Says:

    Amazing photos I love the last one! We have our photo shoot next week here in Florida. I was so excited to find out about this orgazination I thought it was a great way to celebrate our 1 year anniversary home on May 1st.

    Good luck with the move!

  27. On April 26th, 2008 at 1:42 pm Melissa Says:

    you lucked out. the girl who came to do ours was nice, but i did not like the pictures she took.

  28. On April 26th, 2008 at 8:50 pm Kathy Says:

    Those pictures are great!!! Sabrina is adorable! I wish I had heard about Celebrate Adoption sooner so I could have gotten John’s pictures taken.

  29. On April 26th, 2008 at 9:45 pm Denise :o) Says:

    Wow! Those are beautiful pictures. She’s really good!! I’ll have to check out their website and find a photographer in CA.

    By the way, congratulations on having a GIRL!!!! :o))))

  30. On April 27th, 2008 at 10:41 pm Kelly Says:

    I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! She is so beautiful. I haven’t been able to find a Celebrate adoptions photographer in my area, but Nashville isn’t too far away. Maybe we can use her. Thanks for the suggestion!

  31. On May 6th, 2008 at 6:16 pm Cynthia Says:

    I’ve been away from the blog for a bit, so sorry this is so late, but OMG – cuteness, wonderfulness, just really awesome!!!

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