My Favorite Fairies

 Yes, it's true - as much as I love all my Enchanted Fairies - I do have 2 favorites this year!  Maybe it is because I can see my precious nephew in his daughters. I love to here them laugh, and I love their imagination.
We had fun pretending to splash each other and look for fish in the water.

2016 in REVIEW

The past year has been in pretty exciting for our family and Hardgrave Photography.
The year started in Guatemala spending time with wonderful kids, celebrating the New Year and my birthday.  January was blessed with visiting universities with friends from Guatemala - and that led to information...  Angels were photographed in the studio and new babies too.
February started the hope and process of Jazmín coming to live with us and going to school at Arkansas Tech.  I also got to dress up and play fairies with beautiful little girls during the Enchanted Fairy sessions.
March was exciting as Jazmín got her passport - one more step toward making a dream a reality. The fire engine and kids turnouts was brought out of storage for Lil Firefighters.
April started out with an awesome education opportunity in Dallas at the Southwest Professional Photographers convention. It ended perfectly with the graduation of my oldest - Natalia from University of Central Arkansas.
May brought so many blessings! Jazmín was granted her student Visa to come to the US, and I spent Mother's Day in Puebla Mexico with Natalia.
June started off Senior season with the Beautiful Madison Rule. It was also  my pleasure to offer Father's Day  mini sessions for free. Everyone should have a great photo with their dad! Natalia moved to Fayetteville.
July was incredibly busy preparing for the Arkansas Professional Photographers educational event. This was my  year to be in charge. I was also voted in as the President of the organization. The day after the event, I was on a plane to Guatemala to pick up my daughter  - Jazmín - FINALLY.
August was busy preparing Jazmín for classes. She had to get new vaccinations. We had to find an orthodontist. Natalia started a dental assistant program in NWAR. I started teaching Beginner Spanish at FUMC Dardanelle.
September we celebrated both girls' birthday. Jazmín started learning to drive. There were lots of babies to photograph.
October was fun with spending time with our international students from University of Ozarks - David and Mandy.  Halloween night we did our annual free photos at the studio for all the kids. Over 100 kids come to have photos taken and $60 was raised for buying books for the library at Shadow of His Wings, in Guatemala.
November was really busy with all kinds of outdoor sessions. The colors were late this year - but perfect for November photos. Thanksgiving was special as I baked bread with my Grandma's recipe with both of my daughters. Santa came to see us too!
December 1 brought fantastic news - Natalia was accepted to Dental School in Memphis!!! We are beyond proud and thrilled. Also, December always starts out with photos at Needy Paws Animal Shelter. The fundraiser we have done for the past 20 years. Snow days photos were precious!  And Christmas is wonderful with all my family in one place.
Happy New Year - I wish you love and comfort.
GOD BLESS

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Brooks Baby

I have been visiting with Ashley for months about her maternity session. We are both huge animal lovers. Have both been involved with the local animal shelter. Spent a weekend volunteering for a fundraising event for the shelter.

I had photographed her and Cody's engagement session - which was so fun.  I had photographed Cody for his senior portraits.

So we set a date for the maternity session. Then a day or two before, Cody called me and let me know that they wouldn't be coming to the maternity session.

Baby Brooks decided to come on into this world a little early. I watched as updates came in through social media. I was so excited the day they were allowed to bring him home. A few days later, he became the perfect baby model.

Maisy

Maisy is quite the sweetheart. She came right before Valentine's Day for her profile pic. She is looking for someone. At the time she is single, friendly, and loves to eat. She is not afraid to be herself around guys. She wants to have someone she can wait for to get home at night with excitement and kisses. She will give her heart easily.
If you are looking for a Valentine like Maisy, she is waiting at Needy Paws Animal Shelter in Clarksville, Arkansas.

Tito y Tino

 Tito (above), and Tino (below) came to the studio for their professional profile portraits. You see, they are currently living at Needy Paws Animal Shelter in Clarksville, Arkansas. Both are very sweet, attentive, and active. They are brothers but have coats just a little bit different and of course, Tito has a "necktie" marking. They are part Labrador Retriever.

Fairies and Fisherman extended....due to FIRE

We're on FIRE....
 

Well,  we were and not in a good way.  As embarrassing as this is to confess, this morning, I thought I would burn a small pile of brush. I had some time in between Fairy sessions and I checked the wind and it seemed okay... so I started the fire. Then my husband told me  he thought there was a burn ban, so I went to check and see if that was true, when he came running in yelling that the field was on fire. (umm yea, it was true). 30 minutes later the fire trucks were leaving... THANK YOU Knoxville Fire Department!  Ironically we had a message on our home answering machine that we never check telling us there was a burn ban starting this morning.
Now I smell like smoke and am terribly embarrassed and had to cancel my afternoon Fairies - I need to be ready to play, not cry. But I am ok, only thing that got burned is grass, and I am extremely grateful that it was not more serious - just a little injury to my pride.
For this reason we are extending Enchanted Fairies to next Saturday also, and I have some appointments open. 
 

 

Enchanted Fairies and Little Fishermen

479-885-3835 for appointments
 

 

Every year, Hardgrave Photography turns into a magical fairyland with butterflies and fairies flying all around. We have the costumes, hair pieces, and imagination to let your little girl have a wonderful time, while creating priceless portraits you will treasure forever. Session fee is only $30 and portrait collections (including art work) start at $99.

Overalls and Fishing hats are perfect for this little boy set!  Let you little guy come play and us his imagination while we create sweet timeless portraits.
 Session fee is only $15 and portrait collections start at $99

If you have a boy and girl, you can do both for a session fee of $30, no second session fee.
The sets are very similar and easy for me to modify between the boys and girls.


 

 

Delta School of Professional Photography Delta School is next week so I will in Hot Springs most of the week. The phone will be forwarded, so you can still contact me and Sharon will be in the office Tuesday and Thursday from 2-6 for picking up photos and making orders. I  have had the honor of being the director of Delta School of Professional Photography for the past two years. Delta School is part of Arkansas Professional Photographers Association and is a week long school with speakers from across the country helping professionals improve their craft by teaching classes in lighting, posing, processing, Photoshop, business, and client relations. There are classes to help photographers that strive to be true professionals, not just "someone with a good camera".

Lil Sweethearts February 7 & 8

Lil Sweethearts
 

February 7 & 8

 

Vintage style portraits for Valentine's Day. Session fee only $15!  and portrait packages start at only $59. We supply all the clothing and props for a sweet photo.

 

 

479-885-3835

Seniors that grow up

Some of the perks of my job is getting to know my clients and forming a relationship with them.  You would think with the seniors it would be different, but I get so excited when I look at my calendar and see one of my past seniors scheduled to come in for engagement, bridal, or baby photos.
Last week, I got to reunite with Ariel, meet her wonderful new husband Willie, and their precious new baby girl Lily. It was great to see Ariel and Willie so much in love, with each other and with the new little life they have brought into this world.  And now, I will get to see Lily grow up in the next 14 months while I photograph her Baby Steps Program sessions.
- Yeah, one more perk!

Featured Senior - Hannah

Hannah has a twin, but they are very different girls. Both sweet, both beautiful, but each has a different style. Hannah's Ultimate Senior Session at Hardgrave Photography included styles from camo to business dress and all in between.