Goodbye 2016…Hello 2017

Davidson, NC     {FAMILY photography, CHILDREN photography, NEWBORN photography}       March 2017

 

Once again…my blogging skills remain my LEAST active or scheduled talent. Sorry friends. Life happens, and almost daily I think to myself- wow, if I could sit down for 10 mins and write “this” or “that” down, it would make a hell of a story. I also think I should have another blog just for my crazy life- so all of you wanting to see photography stuff only could enjoy just that, and all the others that want to hear about the gong show at our home could read a different blog. ahhh well- it’s not happening anytime soon. So for now- I shall do my best to update you pretty people here as much as possible.

Personal part- (so you can skip past if you’d like) The last time I wrote to you I think I was pregnant…well, she is HERE! And wow what a roller coaster ride it has been! The short version of our story is…Isla Drew (“eye-la”) was born in the water in a beautiful room filled with love and support. It was magical. And the very best way to end this era of my life. (the child birthing era) She was perfection but was grunting a bit while breathing, so we ended up in the NICU for 5 days to help her transition her lungs to air. Luckily I never once had to leave her side. Finally made it home to all our boys, which was incredible. They are obsessed with their baby sister. I was just getting into the flow of things when Isla caught a cold and within 2 days we were in the ER. The process from ER to Pediatric Intensive care unit went very very quickly- and there is where we spent the next 17 LONG days fighting.  She had come down with RSV (aka the devil virus) and it attacked her and her tiny little lungs. After lungs collapsing and a horrific case of pneumonia, the doctors had to intubate her. Beyond horrific watching your tiny baby suffer. The most amazing part is- she is now healthy. She beat it. Isla is one strong little girl. Our medical care and staff at the PICU was beyond incredible. The prayers, love and endless support from our friends, clients, family and all others was also humbling. That is such an understatement. But I have no words. God works miracles. Period. He was there with us the entire time. I felt him.  “What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger.”

With all that being said- I took some time off work. My camera snuggled in her pretty bag for a month and I snuggled with our angel baby. BUT now I am BACK! 🙂 Our family of now SEVEN is rocking the house and emptying grocery stores like it’s our job. So the show must go on…and my spring minis begin this weekend!!! WOOHOOO!!!! I am doing spring minis almost every weekend until June to catch up with all my precious friends and clients! Also, booking summer and fall regular sessions and newborns! Cannot wait! Don’t worry- I’ll have Isla most likely attached to me or on site with someone loving on her…so you should all get to meet her. She’s pretty awesome.

Thank you so much for supporting me and my little passion. I am so so grateful. ❤

Now I’ll attach some of the past sessions…I’m sure I’m forgetting some or many- but my Facebook page usually has MUCH better updates!! Go check it out… http://www.facebook.com/HeatherMariePhotographyNC/  or instagram @HeatherMariePhotographyNC

Oh, I’ll share of few personal pics of our past months in my next post today!! promise!!!

PS- Fall 2016 we rocked it out of the park!! Out of this world sessions to wrap up the year!!

Until next time…xx

 

 

 

 

 

GUESS WHAT???

I can’t believe I’m blogging again.

We have been keeping a secret. Sort of. I actually had not planned on ever “announcing” it but the Rasmussen Family is growing again!!! ❤  (let’s be honest, people think you’re crazy once you’re past the 3 kids mark–so I can imagine all the wild thoughts about 5)

We wanted a 5th little one to add to our family and we can’t wait to meet the little one this upcoming January!!

I don’t have any fancy photos to show you or beautiful maternity shots…because let’s be real…I am a Mom of 4 already, and I don’t have extra time pouring out. I do have a few iPhone shots to share so you can see the growing bump and our growing family!

Yes, we know we are crazy. And super blessed. And super brave. And super busy. Yes. All of these things. We cannot wait! Bring on the giant, awesome big family and big family holidays, big family trips, big family dinners, big family movie nights, big family CRAZINESS!

Our boys have begged for another brother ever since Beck was born and God blessed us once again!! When we found out at the ultrasound that their “brother” was actually a SISTER a month or so ago they couldn’t believe it.  A little girl?! How can that be? Their game plan is to have her as their 5th team member still, and hope she’s tough. “She has to be good at wrestling, right Mom?”- quote from our 6 year old, Jax.

I hope you guys enjoy our fun surprise and I can’t wait to share photos of all 5 of the Ras babies together soon enough!!

Thank you for all the love and support!! xo

 

here is our 1 and only attempt at a photo the day we found out we were having a girl… (classic fail)

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family shot from the UNCC football game this past weekend!

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oh hi there baby girl.

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wild morning at the bus stop with all my muffins last week!

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It’s that time.

Davidson, NC                                                      {family photography} {child photography} {newborn photography}

 

It’s that time again. Time to share some of my recent beauties with all of you. I wish I was better with this, but I’m not.  We have had a super busy Spring so far and I have a feeling it isn’t going to slow down anytime soon! Maybe in July we will get a minute of chill time in front of the pool. But until then…we work.

Since I usually offer mini sessions only in the fall, I decided to offer a few weekends of minis this spring as well. (due to popular demand) Weekends have been slammed with gorgeous families and babies and I can’t complain! Plus the weather is starting to show it’s love again!

Everyday my coffee tastes as amazing as the day before…it reminds me of how my photography is to me. I love capturing friends, family and change everyday. It always tastes good. Each day there is a new story to tell. I love it best when I spend time with long-time clients and they express how they adore looking back through the years of photos I’ve captured. Their lives have changed, and so has mine. All in front of the camera. ❤

Ok enough rambling…no one has time for my babbling emotions. Check below for some fabulous people. That is all.

Until next time…xxoo

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Here.

Davidson, NC      {family photography}  {child photography}

I am still in a moving coma, but I am here. We made it. Moving isn’t for the light hearted. Well, moving with 4 kids and 2 dogs isn’t.

Holy.

I am living out of boxes still…a month after we moved. And we may be living out of boxes until January. (ya’ll know this is a photographers craziest time of the year!) I don’t even know how I convinced myself to sit down long enough to blog this morning. But I did. WOOHOO!!! 🙂 I deserve a 3rd coffee. And maybe a 2nd bag of those amazing little lindt lindor limited edition peppermint white chocolate truffles I just killed between my sentences.

So, I have been juggling this insane weather, lots of newborns and a FULL schedule of sessions this month…and I have a great feeling that none of that is slowing down anytime soon. The monsoons we had here really ruined a couple weeks of sessions. But I did get to “start” working on my new office in our new home. I got myself a new desk, new rug and a bunch of fun stuff to add to my happy editing space. I will be sitting here. daily. often. Why not make it my one “girlie” place?! I may not be able to find socks, or pants but you better believe I know where every tiny newborn hat, charging cord and memory card is.

I want to share a few of the families I’ve been capturing lately and our last family shot in front of our old home! 🙂 Hope you enjoy! I’ll hopefully be back here soon…with even more memories to share! xo

My Crazy Family ❤

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and I needed to start off this fall post with this squishy-cheeked PUMPKIN

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Family Love

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our friend…

 

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Love this newborn session ❤

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awesome outtake ❤

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Such happiness ❤

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The Summer disappears…

Charlotte, NC    {family photography} {child photography}

 

So as you all have noticed…blogging hasn’t been on the top of my list lately. Like for the past 8 months actually. eek! Which also means my itty bitty baby is 8 months old already! Where do the days go?! I have so much to share and post that I really don’t know where to begin. hmmm. Our crazy family has been bouncing off the walls and trees (as usual) and we haven’t had one moment to consider even a thought of boredom. I have been doing tons and tons of sessions all over the city and I’m loving all the gorgeous families and babies! I even had a chance to sneak in a couple camping trips and a fun commercial photo shoot on the beach for the fabulous Shades Kids in Florida! In between all the chaos my camera broke. That was not fun. Nikon took her in and gave her a lot of love…so we are together again! whew! Ohhh and our home is under contract and we are moving in just a few weeks to a new home in Davidson! Oh no big deal. Just packing up a house full of crazies and all their belongings. 🙂

I am going to do my very best to update you guys more often and keep you up to date on our move too! Say a little prayer. Hopefully I will survive the move and the beginning of school! Enjoy these gorgeous people. and all their love stories.

xo

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ps- I have the very best 2 jobs on this planet. ❤ #mom #photographer

 

 

 

I’m Blog Challenged.

Charlotte, NC    {Family Photography}  {Child Photography}  {Newborn Photography}

 

So having 4 kids rocks, but is INSANE hard to “put” down to come sit at my computer and blog. I give those blogger Moms credit…they are stronger than me. I am doing good to post a few sneak peeks every once in a while on my facebook page these days. eek!!! Sorry about that friends!!! I love to share my work so I continue to try to update you guys here as much as possible!

My news: well, not much. Just getting use to the balancing act of LIFE! Mom, wife, sister, daughter, business owner, photographer, friend, cook, dish lady, house cleaner, laundry fairy and so on…you know…the normal stuff us mommies try to balance.  We have recently put our house on the market as well, just to add another fun “ball” to our juggling routine. PS- anyone ever try to clean a house with four boys while watching them destroy it as soon as you move to the next room? Oh so fun.

Anyways, my peace is coming from my fun photo sessions lately. I get to enjoy our people’s chaos and capture all their love! I did a maternity session last week that was so peaceful and calm that I sat down on the edge of the creek and had a moment to actually hear myself think.  I thought about that love and true passion I have within me for people and their stories. I am so grateful that I found my calling and so blessed that you all support me! 🙂 Thank you!!!

Beck is now 4 months old and still incredible. He is delicious and shockingly relaxed. I can wear him for sessions after sessions and he doesn’t make a peep! God knew what he was doing! He is almost 17lbs and laughs and smiles all day, unless he’s sleeping! Rockstar baby!

Ok now for some updates on sessions!!! Spring is finally here and the flowers are blooming! I have completely booked up all my spring minis and have a few more full sessions left here and there! I will be announcing some beach sessions dates soon and may open up some other locations in Florida this year! CANNOT WAIT!!!

Ok now for the stuff you’re all here for…a peek into my computer of editing fun! I have the most gorgeous families inside and out!  I hope you enjoy!!

xo

Heather

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The Knag Family

Charlotte, NC    {family photography} {child photography}

 

I’m skipping around today with my sessions and had to blog this gorgeous family that I got to hang with last week! The Knag family is drop dead fabulous. And even better on the inside. I would choose to photograph them every week if I could. Seriously. We did nothing but laugh and chat…and well take a few photos. We met up in the NODA area of Charlotte and just played around the city streets! I could share 100 of their images and never get tired of their beautiful faces! Their three girls have become such little ladies over the years and are such a joy to photograph. I’d have to say good parenting 101 is happening there! I feel lucky and honored to share this family with you all!!

ps- I am pretty sure these girls should all be full time child models. just sayin’ ❤

Enjoy! xo

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February!? REALLY???

Charlotte, NC   {UPDATES and more UPDATES}

 

Is it really the 19th of February? As I sit here nursing my new little guy (sorry if that’s too much of a visual) and writing, I am dumbfounded at the fact that January just disappeared and really so did December. I have yet to blog in 2015…whoa that’s pathetic!!!  Let’s start there.

It is 2015!!! woohooo HAPPY NEW YEAR!! We all survived 2014!! I had an incredible year of gorgeous families and I couldn’t be more grateful. I feel so blessed! Lots of babies were brought into the world and I am so lucky to have met and photographed lots of them! We welcomed our 4th little man on Dec 11th as well. He is perfect. We ended 2014 with a bang. I still can’t believe I am really a mom of four handsome boys!!! As you can imagine…this is part of the reason January and now February have completely disappeared. Four wild boys.

On another note…I went back to work pretty quickly after he was born and he just comes along for the ride with me. My sitter or friends come too and help out with little Beck man while I do what I love and can focus on my clients. It’s been amazing so far! I am learning to edit while holding a sleeping baby, and sometimes an eating baby too. I love having a partner to chat to while I go on long editing stretches.

I am so excited about all my upcoming trips this year…and all the fun clients I will get to photograph all over. I know it will be another memorable year meeting and capturing many new families, as well as watching my long time clients change and grow their families.

CHEERS to 2015 and all it’s beauty. To cupcakes. To friendships. To love. To puppies. To coffee. To warm snuggles. To babies laughing. To you.

Cheers to a year of seeing the best in people, and seeing the beauty in the light.

Here are a few images of our newest addition…enjoy xoxo

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Minis, minis and more minis OH MY!!!

Charlotte, NC     {family photography} {child photography}

Our mini sessions this Fall have been incredible!!!! I can’t even believe how smoothly they have gone! The weather has been spectacular so far and the locations and set ups have worked out perfectly! I hope everyone is loving their outcomes as well! I am down to two more full days of minis for the entire YEAR!!! AHHHH!! I will have some newborn sessions here and there but I will basically be closing down for the season after those!

This baby boy growing in my tummy will soon be too giant for me to be doing my normal jumping around and crazy acts when I’m photographing everyone. He is apparently 5lbs 8oz at this point- which is bigger than my other babies at birth (eek!!) so I need to prepare for a chubby little man! I will continue to photograph my family and friends through the Holidays so hopefully I will still be posting some fun blogs every now and then!! But for now, I still have LOTS of sessions and gorgeous families to share with you!! I hope you enjoy!!

Chat soon friends!! xo

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Fall Mini Session Fun

Charlotte, NC     {family photographer} {child photographer}

 

Our mini sessions this Fall have been overwhelmingly successful!!! I am loving all the fun styles and locations, then adding in all the gorgeous families- equals perfection!! We have completely lucked out with the weather thus far too! Yesterday’s sessions were actually hot~ I was in shock!! I know this is a crazy time of year for everyone so I’m keeping this short and sweet…check out this beautiful loves!!!

 

 

 

 

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And here are a few from my family this past week too 🙂 I’m not giving away any of the family Christmas card shots yet…but soon they will come too! 🙂 I can’t believe how fast this baby boy is growing!!!

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