Laughinghouse Photography

Tania and Justin

2012-01-20T13:45:00.000-08:00

Beautiful people, beautiful place to get married in downtown Orlando. The cake, made by Bake Me a Cake, was amazing. I ate two slices :)

Self-Portrait Times Twelve

2012-01-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

Self portraits are hard. Super hard for me right now, being that I'm in my first trimester of pregnancy and feeling pretty crappy most of the time. My husband took this one of me reading to the kids. I must admit to some serious softening on my tired-looking face in Lightroom. Hoping that next month's assignment shows me healthy and glowing :) Please go check out Stephanie Platt's self-portrait. And don't forget to leave me some Love!

Awaken, Sleeping Princess

2011-11-28T11:08:00.001-08:00

Fall

2011-11-22T15:01:00.000-08:00

So very many pictures to post...but just one for now.

this morning

2011-07-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

Good friends like to serve you breakfast.

Boredom

2011-07-19T18:25:00.000-07:00

I forgot about the dinner I was cooking and it burned while I was taking these.

summertime

2011-07-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

Atlantis

2011-07-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

I don't think they could see anything through the thick clouds, but it was enough just being there.

No one regards what is before his feet; we all gaze at the stars.

— Quintus Ennius

Sanibel Island, FL

2011-07-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

A few faves from our Sanibel Island trip. I hope the kids remember it being as beautiful as I do.

friday friends

2011-06-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

I think she was happy to see him.

Tania + Justin

2011-06-16T15:11:00.001-07:00

You two are too cute. Can't wait for the wedding in November.

Laundry Light

2011-06-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

We sometimes find the best light where we least expect it. And the best naps.

Satellite Beach

2011-06-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

It should always be 7pm on the east coast of Florida.

Beach Bound

2011-06-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

Waking up crazy early to see the sunrise over the ocean? No, thanks. Looking forward to no agenda for a few days.

beach fun and hijinks

2011-05-30T04:37:00.001-07:00

Shopping With Darby

2011-05-23T18:49:00.001-07:00

We don't always find the most practical things to buy, but it's more about the mall experience anyway. This cute dress is from Gymboree.

orange

2011-05-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

If I had to say which color Darby is, I'd say she's orange. I'm not sure what it is about her, but she's definitely orange to me.
"Orange is the happiest color." - Frank Sinatra

Everything Nice

2011-05-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

Makeup, hair and wardrobe styling by Whitney Parker. Sweets provided by The Bee's Knees Sweet Treats.

What Comes is Better (I try to believe)

2011-04-13T18:19:00.001-07:00

Darby will be turning four in a few days, on my mom's birthday to be exact. I can only imagine that she was a very nice birthday present four years ago. I don't think I got my mom anything else, so I hope so at least. I was too busy planning and wishing and buying everything pink. Then she was born and I couldn't believe that I had a baby girl. How lucky am I to have one of each? And I soon desperately wanted for her to sleep through the night. She was a pretty good sleeper pretty early on and then I wished for her to sit up. She was very early with the physical milestones, so soon I was onto wishing for her to start talking. Once she could talk, I think next I wanted her potty-trained. That took a while but then I wanted her to be old enough to go to school just a little bit. Now she loves school. She begs to stay all day, and I miss her too much to leave her that long. And now looking at her, almost four, I kind of wish I could have it all back. Or keep her forever, my Little Pookie.

Time Out

2011-03-20T18:10:00.001-07:00

We're so excited to be taking a much needed vacation very soon. I'm planning to go pick up a copy of this book after reading the rave review here. The name is totally cheese, but it sounds really interesting. I'm eager to read an actual book and de-computerize for several days. Of course, I will be bringing a camera and taking zillions of pictures. I don't think I could ever go to a new place without a camera and be okay with it. And, since no post is complete without pictures, here are a couple from a super fun shoot I did last week. I love fun people.

A Day

2011-03-09T16:08:00.000-08:00

Between multiple viewings of Snow White, we made it outside for most of the day. I was going to post about how Darby wears at least a dozen different outfits per day, but I stopped taking pictures after the second or third and it just wouldn't have had the same impact. The leotard and winter accessories was the second, I think. She also likes pairing that with some black suede heels. The things she tries to wear to school...

Holiday Wedding

2011-02-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

A few shots from a beautiful December wedding that I assisted Amanda Winters with.

Favorite Place

2011-02-22T17:48:00.001-08:00

On Sunday, we had our first beach day of the year. It was magical. If I could have anything in life, I would live at the beach and take lots of pictures. And I'd have lots of children to take pictures of. Because they are my favorite. And this is my favorite place.

Rainy Day Faves

2011-01-28T12:25:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite rainy day activities is taking pictures indoors. I can't say the kids are super fond of this game, but I move quickly and make it worth their while (brownies!). I also love when the kids dress up in costumes. I try to hit the after Halloween sales to build our collection each year.

It's Huge!

2011-01-24T16:42:00.000-08:00

We took the kids to the Fun Spot for some entertainment this Sunday. It was our first time taking them to play arcade games and they are already asking to go back. We have to, we're saving up our tickets to get one of the "big" prizes. We only need 29, 485 more. I worked that out and we'll have to go back 59 times at the same rate of winning to achieve our goal.

my little loves

2011-01-18T14:17:00.001-08:00

Less little every day.

Favorite spot

2011-01-13T13:08:00.000-08:00

Someone decided to park a motorcycle in the spot I had wanted to take this family to, a really pretty big archway with wrought iron fences and bricks. This spot was nearby, so we used it, and I love it!

Time

2010-12-30T13:45:00.000-08:00

My grandparents old house isn't far from where we live and I sometimes feel like driving by. It recently went up for sale and is currently vacant. I couldn't resist nosing around and peeking through windows. It's amazing how different it looks inside, not only because of the remodeling, but because it's been about 17 years since I was last in there. I rememebered the rooms being about 3x the size they actually are. I can't imagine how they fit their furniture in those little spaces. Anyway, I let the kids peek in and I took them around back to show them the backyard where my brothers and I used to play. I remembered it sunny, with a huge tree in the middle and a tire swing that made circles around the entire yard. And the clothes line, of course. Today the yard is very shady and the big tree has been replaced by several smaller ones. No grass, no tree swing, no clothes line. My grandpa's shed is still there as are his citrus trees, which are covered in fruit. So I let the kids pick some fruit and look in the old shed. Then I promised them gummy bears if they let me take pictures of them there. I'd like to go back and get more sometime. Pictures and oranges.

Moss Park

2010-12-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

We took a trip to Moss Park this morning. The water looks like chai tea, completely opaque only a few feet from shore. I can't imagine setting foot in that lake, which I'm quite sure is full of gators. But they have a whole swimming area, and my mom says she used to swim there all the time as a kid. In fact, my grandfather camped in Moss Park as a boy. So I guess that makes my kids the fourth generation of our family to visit the park. The kids loved birdwatching, gatorwatching (from a distance and we didn't see any) and finding animal poop in the woods. It's funny how poop is really exciting when you're walking through woods. It's proof that there are actually little creatures hiding up in the trees as you walk past. There aren't many places left in Orlando where you can go for a walk in the woods.

Christmas Break

2010-12-22T07:34:00.001-08:00

Sitting out by the fire at night, waking up late the next day, staying in pj's til whenever, four thousand changes of wardrobe all over Darby's room, last-minute online orders, fresh cookies everyday, Christmas-inspired artwork by the kids, using date night to hit every Walgreens and Target in town for the pink Zhu Zhu pet (unsuccessfully), no schedule. I love Christmas break.

mama

2010-12-15T16:41:00.001-08:00

They love "playing bed". Not so much actually sleeping in the bed, unfortunately. Mama is a favorite talking baby doll.

I see London

2010-12-12T18:16:00.000-08:00

This Time, Last Year

2010-12-11T08:21:00.000-08:00

Some pictures from our Christmas tree getting last year. I can't believe how much they've grown, especially Darby. She's definitely lost that baby-look. I'm sad that I decided not to bring the camera along this time around. Seriously considering getting a second tree for photo purposes.

Family Photo Fail

2010-12-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

I took all three kids (mine plus the primo) out this afternoon to try and get a picture of all of them together, smiling or at least with their mouths closed and reasonably pleasant, for grandma. That didn't happen. And after spending time trying to swap heads in PS to make it happen, I give up. There's something about taking your own kids' pictures. They know my buttons, and I'm less patient. It's a completely different experience than working with other people's kids. And therefore, these were the best shots I got. All cute shots (I think) but not of the kids together. Sorry, Grandma. Oh, and I took more of the Primo than of my kids because I already got their Christmas pictures. Not because I love them less.

mine.

2010-11-24T10:07:00.001-08:00

I love that this is all mine.

Getting Better

2010-11-20T18:15:00.000-08:00

Darbs is feeling much better today. Turns out she had a double ear infection on top of a respiratory virus. And she never once complained about her ears. This was from our backyard naptime the other day.

In other news, our dogs are terrible models. I got them these cute ram costumes at the 90% off post Halloween sale at Target for $1.27 each. Terrible, terrible job, guys.

Bees Knees Sweet Treats

2010-11-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

I have so much fun doing product photos for Erica and Emily of Bees Knees Sweet Treats. They let me eat all the sweets I want afterwards and I could eat these bite-size babies all day long. I just love people who bake good stuff. I know I seem to be favoring the little chocolate-chip covered treats and I think it's a tie between those bad boys and the berry tartlets. Those are mint leaves on the tartlets, which makes them so good. The wind was a-blowin that day, so that's why the mint leaves are looking a little sad. Anyway, they seem to have an endless supply of flavors and combos and I really think you should get some.

sleeping in a sunny window

2010-11-15T14:20:00.000-08:00

Poor Darby has a mean cold. Her little cheeks were so rosy yesterday while she slept.

Elouise.

2010-11-11T16:38:00.001-08:00

The sweetest little princess, who braved a very cold day for family photos, and her awesome parents. Thanks for all the cute faces!

Sunday Faves

2010-11-09T11:46:00.000-08:00

The second shot sums up about 90% of this shoot. Gorgeous kids with plenty of personality.

Cold Water

2010-11-08T17:57:00.000-08:00

It really wasn't that cold, but I like my ocean at bathwater-temp. These kids will never get away with claiming no relation to one another. And they were unbelievably well-behaved.

Things to Remember

2010-11-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

I've been super busy working lately, which is good. But I wanted to take a few minutes to post about the most important parts of my life. This week, they included roasting marshmallows with my favorite people, watching a jillion birds fly over our house each and every evening just before the sun goes down, and this. We went to bed last night to find these happy friends cozy and warm. It was so cute to think of Darbs tucking them all in our bed before going to her own bed for the night. I wonder what she must have been thinking.

Cherie and Teron

2010-11-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

The Queen and Tania's Brother

2010-10-25T11:43:00.001-07:00

You two are like coffee and cream. I hope you continue having (themed) adventures together forever and ever.

"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”

Windy Day

2010-10-21T11:42:00.001-07:00

The water was freezing and the wind was kickin. It was a very un-beachy beach day. Kids can make anything into fun, though.

puppies and the playground

2010-10-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

I bribed the kids with Slurpees to go shopping this afternoon, which resulted in exponentially raised engery levels, resulting in a late trip to the school playground. And there were PUPPIES! Probably the cutest little babies ever, and of course my kids thought so, too. Kids plus puppies equals Super cuteness. So....if anyone needs a puppy, I know someone.

Little Angel

2010-10-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

Just a minute to share a couple from my Sunday session. They don't get any sweeter.

Sunday

2010-09-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

I had one idea in mind. A pear. Simple, yes. But getting the subject to accomplish the simple task of holding the pear can be surprisingly difficult when the subject is three years old, with ideas of her own. So we baked cookies. And I promised her two, maybe three.

Blue Skies

2010-09-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Trying to soak in a few more beach days before we're too busy with holidays.

Born Free, Now I'm Expensive

2010-09-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

I would have to try really hard to not take pictures of this little girl. She appears everytime I pull the camera out, with accessories and new moves that I can't refuse. Her mommy will never have a shortage of photos.

Swimming, Remembering

2010-09-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

I was so happy the other day when Patrick got in the wading pool with Darby. He's far too grown up and mature for such things normally, but she really really wanted him to play. And he played so nicely with her, allowing her to climb on his back and spray him with the water hose and basically just be an insane little kid. It reminded me of when he was little and we lived in a tiny house with a tiny and somewhat scary backyard that backed up to an empty lot where transients sometimes hung around. It was a 1926 bungalow with original windows and old copper pipes and an unfinished upstairs loft with stairs built for dwarves (They were about half the width of normal stairs. Did people used to have miniature feet?) The house was so cute and charming from the front. I knew it would be ours the first time we looked at it through the windows. I loved the big front steps and the tiny front porch and the fireplace and the original cabinets and the pipes in the closets that we used to hang our clothes on. This picture is from the listing agent when we bought our first house. I wish I'd had a decent camera back in those days. I would have taken a thousand pictures of that house and all it's nooks and crannies.

And here are my loves....

While the Cat's Away

2010-09-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

It was just me and the kids this week, so we enjoyed some quality time together. Patrick and I started a Periodic Table puzzle, which has proven itself addictive. Then, like every classy mom, I took my daughter to the Dollar Store for entertainment. We got some giant sunglasses and a clown nose with glasses, endless fun. The last night before their dad came home, I let them each eat about a dozen fortune cookies at dinner. They love sugar, I love tiny messages on scraps of paper. Win!

Violet Star Turns 1 - Purple Party!

2010-08-31T13:34:00.001-07:00

Our super-cool friends' daughter turned one last week. She was so cute playing in her balloons and tearing into her little smash cake. But the best thing about Violet's birthday was that it was in the evening, so after cake came bedtime for the kids and cocktail hour for the grown-ups.

Happy Birthday, Violet! Time for #5!!!!!!!!!

Maria and Patrick Orlando Wedding

2010-08-30T07:02:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Maria and Patrick! You make such a sweet couple and your personalities compliment one another so beautifully. I hope you had a great time on your Honeymoon.

Orlando Boudoir Photography

2010-08-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

You would never guess that my beautiful friend has four children. Some gals have all the luck.

Quesadilla Boss

2010-08-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

(we really like the show Cake Boss)
I'm renting this lens (24-70 2.8) for a wedding and decided to play with it a little. I have decided that it's great for weddings and not so great for taking pictures of your kids in your house. I'm so used to my 50mm 1.8, I think not having to move around with the zoom is just confusing me. Anyway, Darbs was really cute in her big brother's old apron. So glad I pulled it out before she grew out of it! Helping me with food prep, however, was a bit of a joke as she kept eating all the tortillas and cheese. I really need to make her a more girlie apron. Good thing I bought some vintage apron patterns when I found out I was having a girl 3 years ago.

Birthday Party!

2010-08-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

Fisher turned one big year old last week. It seems like just the other day he was a bump in his mom's belly. Now he's all boy and go-go-go. His party was at the splash pad in Hannibal Square, Winter Park, and it only got rained out twice. Luckily, the kids were planning to get wet so the rain was no biggie. He was so cute with his cupcake. I don't think he knew to eat it at first because he just kept massaging the icing around. But when he got into it, it was serious business. It was a great party and we were so happy to celebrate with him. And take pictures, of course!

Two Minutes

2010-07-24T12:26:00.001-07:00

That's what I always promise my kids to get them to sit still for a picture. "Two minutes and then you're free. I promise." It usually lasts for more like five and then the complaining and tormenting gets crazy. This ended with Darby holding Patrick's head to her chest and force-kissing him until he looked like he was gonna puke. They're so sweet together.

Yoga Camp

2010-07-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

I visited my friend, Margo, while she taught a yoga class to children. They were all so cute and eager to learn. I was really impressed at how well they did. I'm hoping to go back next week to get some more, now that I know what to expect.

Morning Tea

2010-07-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

One of the sweetest children I've ever met. Thanks for spending your Monday morning with me!

Yankee Doodle

2010-07-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

My grandfather turned 87 ( I think ) yesterday. He's always saying "thank-you-kindly" for everything and you know he means it because he smiles constantly. And he's always telling us stories about the time he canoed from one side of Florida to the other and how people used to bathe in Lake Conway due to lack of bathtubs. He's a true salt-of-the-earth type so it seems fitting that his birthday falls on the fourth. Plus he's a great sport when I bring along my camera to torture the family. Here are some shots from our Fourth of July.

Flowers

2010-06-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

I miss cool weather (anything below 90 degrees would be great) and flowers. Mine are all scraggly and I keep watering them and moving them around and pretending they're going to come back to life. I won't post those pictures because they depress me. Here are some pretties from DC this spring and some from Orlando last fall.

Sanibel Island

2010-06-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

A few from our trip to Sanibel Island with family. It's so amazing there. Planning on buying a place there one day when I win lotto. The kids found the living sea creatures very amusing, as you'll see. Patrick was pretty much freaked out to touch them, while Darby didn't mind poking them to death. Blue water, sunny days, bliss. Only one thing could have made it better: a kids club at the hotel.

This first one is Darby running off into the sunset, carrying her little innertube.

Oh and the pretty lady with the cute baby and the guy who is not my husband are my brother and sister in law, and their son. :)

Kids, Kabobs, and Kamping

2010-05-23T11:43:00.001-07:00

I can spell it like that since we never actually slept in the tent ;) I'm so bummed now that I realize I took something like 300 pictures this weekend and no good ones of Patrick. I'll have to make that my week's mission.

The End

2010-04-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

On an empty shop window.

These are the last of my DC pictures to post. Patrick took the one of Chris and me in the park near the Reflecting Pool. Love that place and can't wait to go back for more!

DC randomness

2010-04-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

We love Lincoln. The Ford's Theatre was my favorite thing we "did".

Mrs. Jessica!!!

Pretty sure this is the house from "The Exorcist".

Playing like angels so mom and dad could shop at Patagonia, one of my faves.

"Enter God's gates with thanksgiving"

For this one I snuck Amanda's Lensbaby thru a tiny window in the shower to take it.

We Heart the Metro.

2010-04-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

Being from Florida, our only exposure to public transportation is riding Disney's monorail. And we like that very much. Then we go to DC and the metro is like a monorail on crack minus the mouse ears. And it takes you to see things like nuns buying frappuccinos.

Girl Day!

2010-04-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

Darby and I visited with our friends, the Parkers, this morning. And, of course, pictures were taken. Miss Violet is Such a good baby and So cute! I don't think I've ever heard her cry. The older girls were very well-behaved also, except for getting into makeup, which they did a surprisingly good job with. Kenzie definitely pulls off the "sultry" look very well, while Darby pretty much looks like a fashion train wreck. It's all in the genes.

Three.

2010-04-18T08:27:00.001-07:00

Darby turns three years old today. She's been telling people she's fourteen for months, so I think she was ready for this step up from baby-dom. Here are three facts about Darby:

1.Finnie, Winnie, Minnie, Ginnie and Spot are the names of the little horses she got for her birthday. Darby loves to rhyme-name her little animal collections. Not sure how Spot fits in.
2. She loves dinner for breakfast, not the other way around.
3. She's starting to play like a kid with her dolls. They get mad at each other and stuff. It's cute to eavesdrop on.

Not sure I'm ready to have two "big kids". But I guess I should get used to it.

Taxi's House

2010-04-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

Oh how I miss leaving in the morning and returning to find a clean place, beds made, fresh towels, the works. While we were out exploring in D.C., Darby kept asking to go back to "Taxi's House" and eventually we realized she meant the hotel. A taxi driver brought us there, must be his house. He's got a nice place. All Kiehl's brand toiletries, frosted glass bathroom, great views, fluffy beds, neverending hot water (Darby's fave since she took three showers a day). Coming home is hard. Here are a few shots of Taxi's House, the DuPont Hotel. Please don't mind our mess. Housekeeping hadn't come yet on that day.

Sunset Wedding

2010-04-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when Amanda asked me to help her photograph this wedding at the Global Gallery in downtown Orlando. The views were beautiful from the 16th floor. The family couldn't have been any nicer and I wish them all the best.

Please forgive the order of the photos. Blogger keeps mixing them up and, although I'm sure I could html it all in the right place, my two year old Really wants me to dance with her right now =)

Kayla and Isaac

2010-04-04T07:16:00.000-07:00

Kayla and Isaac were so much fun to photograph. And little Aidan was an angel for the entire two plus hours. Here are a few of my faves from yesterday. What a gorgeous family!

Tuesday

2010-03-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

Our day started off with 7 (seven) kids in the house. Everything went super well to the point that I thought I might have magical powers. Until the friends left and it was just the four of us. Sibling rivalry is alive and well at our house.

The Little Primo is growing up so fast. He was trying so hard to catch these three little balls as they rolled around.

Success!

Brown Family

2010-03-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Aundrea's super cute family back in February and I still love looking through the pictures. There's nothing better than people who genuinely love one another with their whole hearts. I think it shows through in their portraits.