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  • Hello, thank you for visiting Carolyn Bowles Photography. I'm so glad you're here! Please enjoy your stay as you browse through my portfolio, see recent sessions on my blog, pour through old archives, and learn the details about booking your own session. If you have any questions, simply use the contact form and I will get back with you right away. Thanks!

• beautiful family, ugly news •

This beautiful family got some ugly news the other day: that mommy has breast cancer. Not exactly what you are expecting to hear when you visit the doctor’s office. It’s a diagnosis that quickly turns life upside down. Yet in the midst of such shocking news, one of the very first things this brave mom asked for was to have special portraits made of her and their whole family together. To remember this time when things are as they are now—life before chemo, before the many tests, before all the doctor visits. Simply put, just life before.

So, hours later I received a phone call from one of her best friends asking me if I could quickly pull together a photo session. I said of course and the planning began. I wanted everything to be perfect for this family so I spent extra time driving around to find the absolute best location, selected the prime time of day for soft lighting, and brought some extra props like flowers to make everything just right. This family was so gracious with gorgeous spirits, and I am still just so honored that they trusted me to capture this slice in time for them.

This mama and her whole clan are strong believers in Jesus and would welcome any prayers as she combats this cancer. If you’d like to take a look at her blog and pray through this journey with her, she welcomes you to visit her daily journal at  http://andersonfamilyzoo.wordpress.com.

 

Julie - Jen is our niece and thank you for the lovely photos you took…Love them all!! I watched the video and slideshow…amazing.

Ann - Carolyn, these are an absolutely gorgeous collection of images and what a beautiful family they are! Love Mom & Big Sister’s strawberry hair!! :)
I will be keeping this family in my prayers! God will be with them every step of the way!

Erin - I love these pictures. And I love how calm and strong this mom is in all these photos. You captured such a strength in her. I enjoyed reading her blog and I’m praying for her continued strength and full recovery!

Julie - Beautiful images! I know these will be enjoyed and treasured. Prayers for the journey ahead for this lovely family.

Wiff - What a gorgeous family. I know they are thrilled to have these fabulous pics. Prayers all around, way to go!

tracy - Your images just sparkle – and so does this family! Prayers for them all…

Cara - Carolyn you ROCK! These photos are gorgeous. It brought such tears to my eyes to see this lovely family and all they are up against. I am so glad you were able to do this for them! I am so hopeful they will face this obstacle with all the love, hope and happiness they show if these photos.

Jen - Eeeeeeeek! Carolyn I am freaking out! I love them!!!!!!!Thank you for sharing your time and *talent* with us. A-mazing!

• still working on blog •

Thank you readers for continuing to be patient with me as I finish my updated blog. I am still working on the portfolio piece, product details, and what to wear information. I started to get busy with spring sessions so got sidetracked a little (and yes, I have sessions I must soon blog!) so please bear with me. All will be back to normal on the blog real soon. The plan is to resume my regular posts this month. Thanks friends, and enjoy the Easter week!

 

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• blog & site will soon merge •

If things around here appear a little out of sorts, it’s because I’m in the process this week of merging my blog and site. I have decided to keep my portfolio, session information, and blog posts all in one simple place so it’s easier for readers to navigate and enjoy. You may notice that I am making all these changes while both sites are live online. So, you may visit one hour and it will look one way; while the next hour it will most likely look and read very differently. So, thank you for your patience and understanding while I play with all the buttons, order, text, and layout.

 

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• you make life sweeter, happy valentine’s day! •

Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s one of my favorite holidays. This past weekend we celebrated as a family with cheese and chocolate fondues, game night, and movies. We stayed in and made special Valentines for the kids to hand to friends and teachers in school. And I surprised my husband with a special sugar spoon for his daily indulgence of coffee or hot tea. It’s a little way to let him know every morning as he starts his day just how much I love him and how he truly makes my life so much better. Thank you Brady for being the love of my life and for my girls. I love you all!

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To give credit for these lovely gifts, the vintage hand stamped spoons are created by:

the loose goose at http://www.etsy.com/shop/theloosegoose?section_id=10880963

And the adorable tiny valentine’s are designed by:

green apple paperie at http://www.etsy.com/shop/greenapplepaperie

We thought they would be cute tied to bags of Swedish fish, and they were! Friends have been so excited to receive these delicious delights.

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day!

Debbie - You are so talented Carolyn. I love getting lost in your posts! I also how festive you are-Halloween, Valentines. . .all so wonderful!

Jane - Wow. Pretty impressive!!

The other Carolyn - Happy Valentines Day to the Bowles family! What a sweet way to spend Valentines. You are so creative and talented. Hope to see you tomorrow.

Nicole - Amazing photos!
I wish I could take pictures like you do!
They are spectacular.
Thanks so much for featuring my spoon:)
Happy ♥ Day to you & your family.
Nicole

Wiff - So sweet! (and gorgeous!)

robyn - cutest family ever ;-)

• one month old •

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There’s nothing quite like a sleeping baby…

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or pink ruffles and tiny toes and sweet smiles….

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or stretching and cooing….

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or wide eyes exploring her surroundings…
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or the love of family.

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When this mom of four called me to photograph her new baby, she requested we get it on the calendar as soon as possible before her baby starts to change too much. I know that feeling of wanting to capture the early days and make them stand still as newborns seem to change by the hour. :) I was so happy to make a special spot for this little baby girl and have the opportunity to photograph her. As you can see from the images above, she is such a sweet baby. It was such a joy to see each sibling hold her and interact with her in such a gentle way. This baby will have lots of love in her life for sure.

Ann Westerman - What gorgeous images of a beautiful little baby! Such special memories of an adorable family and you’ve captured that joy perfectly Carolyn!

Wiff - What a beauty! I love absolutely all of these images. I know the family must be proud!

Erin Lang - So beautiful as always Carolyn. I love your style of photographing newborns so softly and sweetly. wonderful!

gwen - oh, these are just SO sweet! I especially love the sibling photos – they are adorable. Wonderful session, Carolyn!

piper kinney - Oh Carolyn, your images are beautiful as always…I love the light in this session and that sweet baby!!!

Cindy - Such a sweet session, Carolyn! I love all the moments you captured…truly the ones as moms that we want to remember… when our babies are so tiny and new. Wonderful work, as always!!

Sally - What an adorable baby! I wish I had awesome images of these of my kids when they were young. I really missed out and regret it to this day … I’m sure mom will love and cherish these! (love the ones of her stretching!)