Priscilla Baierlein Photography

Oh I just loved this family! This was by far the easiest session ever. This little cutie was all smiles and just happy as can be throughout the entire session. I always love going to a client’s home. The kiddos are always so much more comfortable, everything is as customized as it gets, and I love using their beautiful home as a prop. Their home was absolutely gorgeous! Decorated perfectly and filled with warmth and love

Just look how beautiful!

The whole family together!

Not much time to write. I just wanted to give a quick HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Also wanted to give a little sneak peek of these beautiful blue eyed babies! You may remember the first cutie from last year. Well, he is now a big brother! Just look how adorable this family is! Thank you all so much for sharing this time with me! I had a great time as usual! 

What a little angel  

Gosh…she’s just precious!

Logan in his element here. Outside with his cowboy boots on Next time I will HAVE to take a video camera or something just so you can hear his cute accent! Carla…send me a video to post!

And he is identical to his Daddy!

I am so excited to be offering a new feature on my blog. Okay, here’s the deal, each month I will do a “spotlight” on a particular non-profit organization or program focused on helping others. I will donate $x (amount depending on number of comments and our financial standing) for every comment made on that particular blog entry (comments must be made on actual blog site and not through email). Also, anyone who makes a donation to that organization will receive $15 in print credit with Priscilla Baierlein Photography for every $25 they donate.

I ran across this first spotlight organization today (it’s really what got me thinking about ways I could help out). Reading the stories and seeing the pictures touched my heart.  This was only amplified when I read about the founder. At only 17, Felicia Reinhard , has had a very difficult life herself. Now, she is giving back and helping others! You can read more about Felicia here. She’s truly amazing.

The Littlest Heroes Project (Information comes from www.littlesthereoesproject.org)

Mission:

“Our mission at The Littlest Heroes Project is to help provide and capture memories for families who are dealing with hectic schedules due to having a child who is suffering from a serious illness or life altering disability. We understand that in the midst of being thrown a diagnosis and having to switch from a “normal” life to a life that is totally different, and often scary, things like getting photos taken is sometimes a huge challenge and is one of the last things families are thinking about. But when everything is done, and either the child has reached the end of their battle, or has proven the odds against it many wish they had more time to stop, and capture the journey that they lived through for so long. Through Littlest Heroes our photographers understand each and every case, and cater it to fit and honor each child and family. Our photographers are on hand to travel to homes, hospitals, clinics, fundraisers, and benefits to help capture your child’s journey in a “Day in the life” sort of style and work personally one on one with your child and entire family to get those special family photos and moments that you can cherish for years to come.”

Services offered:

• Photo sessions for children infant-21 who are dealing or have delt with any type of serious illness, children who have been a part of any type of serious illness resulting in illness or disability.
• Photo sessions for families who have lost children within the last 3 years due to a serious accident or illness.
• Organizations or foundations holding events/fundraisers for a child or for children suffering with serious illnesses.

All services are free as a way to give back to the smallest of hereos.

To apply for services:

Please click HERE to apply for these services.

*Please note that Littlest Heroes sessions run from FEBRUARY-OCTOBER. Only children with terminal illnesses are set up with photographers over the holiday season.*

Please click here to read FAQ’s.

How can I help?

• I Believe Team- “Just like we match photographers we will match a little hero from our project with young people from the I Believe Team who would like to collect donations or hold a toy drive at their school, church, with friends, or wherever they can find donations. All collected items are then sent back to us where we are able to then make special care packages for the children to get when we go for their photo shoots, visit them in hospitals, or are needing an extra smile because of surgery etc. This is our hands on way for children, young people, and adults alike to learn what what giving back really means. The goal behind the I Believe Team is to make children and young people more aware of these kids just like them who are fighting against some pretty big odds. We are teaching how to give back in a fun and interactive way. By being matched with a little hero the kids get a real look into the life of one of these amazing children and get the chance to make some new and very special friends. Together we can change the world and support these little heroes!”
• Families are welcome to sponsor a child
• Donate items such as: Photo props and costumes for the children (skirts, hats, boas,headbands, etc.); Boxes for sending packages; US postage Stamps; Gift bags; Photography materials of any kind (backdrops, lights,). “Most all of the donated items go right to the children from The Littlest Heroes that are already part of our team. But we also send donations to other places as well. When we hear of hospitals doing special donation events we also send donated items to them as well. In 2007 we sent over 1,000 hats to Children’s Memorial for their hat drive. Most of the hats came from a team who donated and collected them in memory of one of our fallen heroes who passed away from her cancer a few years ago. If we would like you to donate to a specifit hospital in honor of one of the children please let us know before you start your drive so we can figure out all of the details ahead of time!”

How can I become a part of this project?

*Applications for Littlest Heroes Team Photographers must be in by January 30th to be on the team roster for 2009.* 

If you are a photographer who is willing to donate your time and talent to bring smiles to these deserving families by being a part of this project … Please take time and read the information HERE and then submit the information at the bottom to apply to be a photographer for LHP!

I had the awesome opportunity to photograph another dear friend’s wedding. Ashleigh and John are seriously one of the cutest couples I’ve ever seen. I love photographing them because, not only are they beautiful, but their love truly just shines all around them. I love seeing them interact. It’s as if there’s no one else but just the two of them. As a “spectator”, you can almost feel the passion.  I just know they’re one of those classic love stories, but without the dramatic conflict that always goes on in the movies. I can totally see them 50 years from now still holding hands and excited to see each other everyday. Thank you Ashleigh and John for letting me be a part of your big day.

Sammye and Syd getting a little emotional watching Cindy do Ash’s make-up.

A little detail. Ashleigh wore her Grandma’s necklace around her wrist. Isn’t it beautiful?

This is just after they first saw each other. This is with no prompting from me. I just snap away during the first meeting and never give any direction. Well, except to tell the groom to turn around

The GRASSHOPPER FIASCO- So, the below picture shows the little break we had to take from pictures. Seems a certain little grasshopper found a cozy home in Ash’s wedding dress. This may be the most hilarious thing I’ve witnessed on a wedding day. But it doesn’t stop here. Keep in mind we did all the posed pictures before the ceremony. That night, way into the reception, when Ashleigh was changing out of her dress, another little grasshopper jumped out of her dress! The little guy had been there throughout the entire ceremony and most of the reception! Hey, grasshoppers have to party too!

Yeah…they were lots of fun!

I know everyone looks so tiny in the next picture and you can’t really see their faces, but there’s something i just love.

Look how stylin they are! I have 3 favorite parts of this picture….the guy on the left (sorry….we all know I am terrible with names), the ring bearer, and the superstar lady on the right. Yeah…they rock.

One of my favorite things to photograph are full body laughs. You know, when you laugh so hard you just throw your whole body into it. Nothing shows someone’s personality more. Nothing makes me smile more when someone can let loose and just throw that laugh out there. Some people rarely do this and some people do this all the time.

Okay…it just wouldn’t be right if I talked about the reception and didn’t show pictures of the greatest dancers. I so love sitting back and watching people dance at wedding receptions. It always surprises me how well everyone can dance. Every once in a while, you’ll see me break loose a little hip action. Most of the time I am watching wishing someone could teach me how to dance like that! Well, at this particular wedding, it was the kiddos who really got me. The first little girl could really get down. She was dancing to “Low” by Flo Rida. You know “Shawty had them apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur. The whole club was lookin at her. She hit the flo. Next thing you know, shawty got low low low low low low low low.” Ha…you can thank me for having that in your head the rest of the day! Anywho…can you guess what part she was dancin to here? The next dancing picture is of the ring bearer. Sorry for the crappy picture. It really doesn’t do him justice. He was break-dancing here. I was so excited trying to capture it and it didn’t work out so well. It kinda just looks like he fell. lol. I promise he was getting down! 

And last but not least…a shout out to my AOII girls. Ha…Natalie looks like she’s not sure about this whole chant thing. What you can’t see is her cute little belly that I get to photograph next month! Anywho…the picture after that is of all us girls. I’m the one who looks like she’s been run over and been sweating all day. I NEVER look good by the end of weddings. I don’t know how some photogs do it. Please…give me your secrets. Anywho…most of these girls I hadn’t seen in years. It’s funny how you don’t realize how much you miss someone until you’re around them. We always had so much fun together. I love and miss you girls!!!!

Yes….an actual sneak peak BEFORE they see their entire gallery! Can you believe it?

This family is absolutely beautiful and their story is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story with me and giving me hope.

Just look how adorable! I swear I just wanted to squeeze her cheeks as soon as I walked in the door. I may have actually…..

I felt so much love as soon as I walked into the house. These kiddos just laughed almost the entire time. They weren’t scared to let me into their everyday and show me their favorite toys. They held my hand and hugged me and had me hold them. Of course, I was eating it up! Now just look at their smiles! How can you not be happy around them!

Those eyes!

See….look how much fun!

Gosh…there’s just something so precious about the next one. It was such a sweet moment. You can tell they love their little sister so much.

How come my favorites are almost never the family pictures where they’re all looking at the camera? To me, this just shows a little moment in their lives, their personalities. I love it