Emily Dean Photography » Lifestyle & Family Photographer | Based in Birmingham, Alabama

Two families, one afternoon.  It had the potential for disaster & the potential for spectacularness (I like to make up words…whatev.)

To say that I was nervous…well…let’s just say that I was nervous.  That is, until 4 spunky, blonde beauties came around the corner and instantly, I knew we were going to have a blast.

Kristy is a friend of one of my favorite people on the planet (Heather, whoop whoop!), so when she contacted me about having a session for her and her sister’s kids, I was pretty pumped.

She mentioned to me that neither one of them had ever had professional portraits taken of their children, so they were a little nervous about the experience.  They shouldn’t have been.  They completely ROCKED it.  Pros from the start.

We spent the afternoon playing chase, soccer (with a Minnie’s Bowtique bouncy ball), peek-a-boo, rolling around in the grass and splashing in the fountain. So. Much. FUNNNNNNNNN!

Parker, Owen & Spencer were so sweet and patient with Cate.  They included her in all of their shenanigans and when they forgot, she made sure they remembered with a “{clap, clap} Here boys!!”  There is something so special about cousins.  Cousins are our 1st best friends.  Our 1st sleepover buddies.  Our 1st partners in crime.  Our 1st enemies & our 1st allies.  The relationship between these ‘almost-siblings’ is a pretty great thing, so the fact that these 4 cousins were having this 1st experience together, with me, was pretty UH. MAY. ZING. in my book.

I was honored.

Meet Owen, Parker, Spencer & Cate!vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEV

  • September 21, 2012 - 6:44 am

    Kristy - Emma,
    This day will forever be one of my favorites and I am so glad you captured every precious moment. To quote Parker, ” Emma, You take great pictures!”

    Thank you,
    kristy and DaciaReplyCancel

  • September 21, 2012 - 8:53 am

    Kristy - Emma,

    This day was filled with much laughter and some tears.. Somehow you managed to capture all the precious moments. Parker said it best, “Emma, you take great pictures!”

    We thank you so much for these memories!
    Love,
    Kristy and DaciaReplyCancel

  • September 28, 2012 - 5:13 am

    Lizzy Schwab - Totally adorable!! And looks like so much fun!! Way to go!!ReplyCancel

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Have you ever felt stuck? Like, for months you’ve been moving along, kicking butt and taking names and then all of a sudden you just stop and you don’t know what to do next? That’s kind of where I am right now.

Every ounce of energy and focus I could come up with was poured into trying to figure out who I am and who I want to be as a photographer and how to translate that into a website that would get that message out to the world.  A clear representation of me and the work I can do for you.

Success!! I did exactly what I set out to do and I feel great about the work I did.  It is a huge sense of accomplishment. (It’s a miracle that I even have any hair left since during that time I basically pulled it all out everyday from shear frustration.)

But now…now what? I don’t know what to do next. I mean, don’t get me wrong, my To Do list is 3 miles long…I have plenty of “things to do,” but as far as my business goes, I don’t know what’s next.  I don’t know how to keep it moving.  I don’t know how to build more steam.  I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.  Business 101 was about as far as I got with that subject in college, so if you were coming here hoping to find some great advice on this subject….well, sorry! No advice here, but I would love to hear YOUR advice if you have any…

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Technically, they aren’t my family, but in reality, they are.  My second family.  For as long as I can remember, the McNeely’s have been a part of my life.  A huge part.

Remember when I said I had multiple BFF’s?   Well, you are about to meet another one!

Jordan and I have been friends since before we even knew what friends were.  28 years ago, our mothers met at the park and we’ve been in each other’s lives since.  (Except for the hiatus we took during the middle school years…)

She is the reason I missed the New Kids on the Block concert and I’ve never let her forget it.  I could be “Mrs. Jordan Knight” if it weren’t for her.  I’m not bitter…and she’s not sorry, but I keep her around anyway for entertainment purposes.

I’ve been on almost every family vacation with them since 1996, so when it came time to plan the latest trip (the 1st in several years) it was a MUST that I clear my schedule…and I was happy to oblige!

Now, to go on vacation with the McNeely family is, well…like being on a reality TV show.  There is never a dull moment and I was grateful for the week-long entertainment fest.  They are a loud, fun, dramatic, no-holds-bar bunch and I love each and every crazy member like my own…even Teddy.

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  • November 29, 2012 - 11:55 am

    henry | university of montevallo children photographer » Emily Dean Photography - […] Jordan?  You know, my best friend since toddlerhood?  The girl that made me miss the New Kids on the […]ReplyCancel

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There were 2 problems with my brilliant idea to have a yard sale.

1.  I didn’t have enough stuff to hold a respectable sale on my own.

2.  I didn’t have the best location.

Which brings me to my next brilliant idea.  Have a joint yard sale with my bff Jordan at HER house! She lives in a great location and she has lots of stuff! GENIUS!  I presented this idea to her about a year ago, but we just put it off until it was too late.

So, I brought it up to her again a few months ago and she wasn’t too excited about it, but when her mom jumped on board, it was a go!  And let me tell you.  Her mom?  Her mom has a LOT.  OF.   STUFF.  A LOT.

We set a date and got everything ready for the biggest yard sale of the century. (Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating just a bit, but it was really, really big and really, really fun.  And really, really successful.)  We had a large and steady stream of shoppers from about 6:00 am until around 4:00 pm.  I’d call that a huge success!

vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVJordan’s little sister, Cait was our organizer and pricing commander.  She wasn’t very happy with our negotiating skills, to say the least.  Martha Stewart would be proud, Cait.vPINIMAGEVMeet Henry.  Oh my goodness, is he precious or IS.  HE.  PRECIOUS?!  He woke up to a party!vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVHenry decided to do a little bargain hunting.vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVMiss Organization.vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVCait playing hardball.  She drives a hard bargain!vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVJordan is happiest when her hands are full of cash.vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVApparently, Cait had a secret playing card hoarding addiction that she’d been hiding for years.  Admitting it is the first step.vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVCouldn’t you just eat him?!vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVCait!vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVYard sales’ woman of the year, Cait McNeely.vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVPacking up.  A super successful day!
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Huge thank you to the boys (Trace, Rick and Dylan) for being our work horses…Love you guys!  Can’t wait for the next one 😉

  • September 4, 2012 - 11:03 am

    Kim - Wished I could’ve shopped…lord knows I can only afford to shop at yardsales now!:)ReplyCancel

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