Succulent Wreath | Boutique & Marketing | El Paso, TX Photographer

 I wanted to introduce y'all to a good (and very talented) friend. Jessica, with Knits & Wreaths, made this beautiful succulent wreath for me and I just had to show it off!

Since moving to our knew home/office, I've been wanting to make the front entrance welcoming. I have this new found obsession with succulents and wanted to incorporate that into the entrance way. (Along with my Americana obsession.) When Jessica made this and sent a picture, I knew it was going to be PERFECT. 

 And uh, hello?! Look at my front door! How much fun is that?!?!

On a tad personal and bragging moment for me ... I repurposed  and old chair that had been sitting around as a "prop" for the entrance way. I also took four $1 flower pots from the Dollar Tree and made them AWESOME.

Just a little bit of hot glue, left over silver spray paint, river pebbles left over from my wedding 14 years ago, fun leftover corn husk ribbons and clearance succulents from Walmart and my entrance is fantastic! I also made my first wire "welcome" plant decor with leftover wire I have. I guess having a craft obsession that leaves lots of leftovers actually helps out with you're a DIYer.

*** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Full of Life | Family | Fayetteville, NC Photographer

I am not going to lie ... when the momma of these beautiful children contacted me for a session, I was over the moon thrilled! They are the cutest kids, like ever, and that's saying a lot because I see cute kids all the time! ;)

She wanted cute and candid shots of the children all to gather and some by themselves. She kept telling me, "I'm not too worried about my girls, my boy though, he won't sit still at all." I mean, really what 2 year old does sit still? I know my 2 year old doesn't sit still. ;) But she wasn't lying, he is just as rambunctious as my little one. But wow, his personality is the greatest! He was making me laugh the whole time.

And the girls!? So well behaved and just rolled with everything I put them through. I had them chasing their little brother, holding his hand, and pulling big sister duties the whole time. And they still gave me the upmost best respect any child (including my own) has ever given me. What ever mom and dad are doing, they're doing a great job raising these children.

And I mean, they obviously share a special bond and love between them that radiates off of them and inspires their children.

 

 Beautiful family, inside and outside. Thank you for choosing me as you photographer and I look forward to being your photographer in the future! <3

  ** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. **

Momma, you need to shine too! | Personal | Fayetteville, NC Photographer

I'm a victim of it. You're more than likely a victim of it. And I'm pretty sure it's going to take a lot of work on our part to stop being a victim.

Yep, I'm talking about you momma. The one who's holding her smartphone camera trying to get her kids to sit still. Yep, you too momma. The one who has her DSLR camera with the huge lens chasing her toddler around the playground. And yes, you too momma ... the one who is hiding from dad who is toting your family camera around the amusement park just because you don't want to be caught on film.

Moms. Stop. Stop being the one who takes the pictures. Stop being the one embarrassed to be IN the photos. Stop. Just stop.

You NEED to be in the memories you're capturing. You NEED to be caught on film. You NEED to be experiencing these events with your children and you NEED proof that you were there.

One of my biggest fears is that one day my boys will be looking through our family albums (I make one for every year) once I have passed and they won't remember how I looked. Narcissistic? Maybe. But my fear is that even though they'll know I was there ... because SOMEONE had to have taken those family pics of all our amazing adventures, but without me in a few of them, how will they know what I looked like at that time of their lives? How will they remember me? I definitely don't want them remembering how I looked when I passed! I want them knowing that they gave me each and every single gray hair. I want them to know that each wrinkle on my face was earned throughout our lives. I want them to know that I loved them enough to share in the memories; that I wasn't just the catcher of memories.

Photographer mommas are the biggest culprits of not being in pictures. Why is that? For me, it's just that I know how to work the camera, I know what image I want to capture, and if I was to tell another inexperienced person ... it just wouldn't happen. Handing over the camera is tough. I know. But I have learned that even not PERFECT (to me) images of me and the boys are still worth a million to me. Luckily though, I have some awesome photographer mommas and we decided to get together and help each other out. We did a quick mommy and me session for all of us. And I couldn't be happier.

Photo by Tysha Hallman Photo

Photo By Jenifer Fennell Photography

But lemme make this clear, you don't need (even though I know I'm kicking myself in the butt and my business's butt for saying this) ... you don't NEED professional looking images of you and your children. -- though I highly recommend it! ;) Smart phone images of your memories, or a slightly out of focus images is priceless. Do you know why? ... because YOU'RE in it. You're experiencing life with your littles and they will forever remember how badass, awesome, loving and perfect momma you were, are, and always will be.

So mommas, GET IN THOSE PICTURES! (even if it's just a selfie!)

** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. **

Apple of my Eye | Maternity | Ramseur, NC Photographer

One of my favorite "go-to" models here in Fayetteville is this lovely woman. She always comes with the best outfits and rocks her sessions! You may remember her as our GYPSY and my CARNIVAL session. Well guess what! She's pregnant! ;) So of course we had to do a session for her!

We headed Millstone Creek Orchards and used their beautiful landscape as we took apple of my eye and nurturing to the lens. As you look thru my images, you'll see my classic maternity poses with gorgeous landscapes. I will refer to Will's concept further down with a link to his images as well. This is why I love photographing in a group, we all see something different in our art and it's fun to share our differences! (when he finally BLOGS his images ... he's as bad as me when it comes to blogging!)

Towards the end of the session, the wind began to pick up and was pushing her dress and hair out like a Greek Goddess. Of course I had to snap "just one more!" ;)

 

** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. *** 

Momma & her Boys | Family | Fayetteville, NC Photographer

Being a photographer is awesome. You know why? I'll tell ya. You get to meet so many wonderful and creative people that you can share your talents and passion with. This family is one of them. 

I can't exactly remember how I became great friends with this family, but I can tell you it more than likely happened by helping each other out. I believe I had asked her if she could be my back up for a birth session just in case ... I'm pretty sure we saw each other at homecomings multiple times ... and I know I helped her out on a First 48 session. She also got me hooked on baby wearing and TULAS! More importantly, we became friends because our boys love each other and we've watched each other's children multiple times so that we could do our job and take on multiple sessions.

So when she approached me to do a photography trade, I jumped at it. She photographed my husband's deployment and I was to photograph her reunion with her hubby. Well, things change. LOL She did photograph my homecoming, but her hubby came down on PCS orders and instead of returning to Fayetteville, he was returning to their new duty station. I was not going to be able to photograph those memories for her. BUT she asked if I could photograph her and her boys, since she never gets to be IN the memories she creates. And again, I was like YES!

How cute are they right?! Babywearing is super special to me now. I never thought twice about keeping my baby so close to me with my first son. But when I became a work at home momma, keeping my littlest close to me and still being able to work my photography business ... hello?! What better way? I wear my baby on many of my photo shoots and she does the same. It's also very comforting and empowering knowing I can be a momma and a business owner. Many people comment about my "side kick" or my "assistant for the day." One gentleman said that he was impressed that I could bring my baby with me on photo shoots and I was a great role model to all the mothers trying to start up a business. I felt super proud knowing that this was an accepted thing, bringing your child with you on work sessions.

Another empowering part of this session? The fact that she wanted to nurse her little. Breastfeeding sessions have become a phenomenon as of late. American society is starting to realize that this is a natural thing and baring your breast to feed your child shouldn't be hidden or kept to private areas. Sex sells and women show cleavage to sell anything from a hamburger to a car. Why does the American society look down on breastfeeding your child in public?! It's natural and intended for nurturing your little. So what's the problem?

Nursing both my boys was probably the best thing I could do for them. For my first, I could only last about 6 months as I had to go back to being a Soldier full time and wasn't able to pump as much as I would like to. Being a stay at home mom with my second, I was able to make it longer ... about 10 months until my littlest cut ME off! LOL He was done nursing and her wanted food he could hold! LOL But whether a momma nurses for a day, for a month, a year, of a few years, I'm super proud of each one. I'm also super proud of those mommas who bottle feed their children with formula. Face it, it's your child, you can decide what is best for them and for you! :) after all, you're a momma, the toughest job out there!

This location was just gorgeous. Yes, I had to edit out some trash from the river ... lol ... but I mean, logs, water, perfect light, greenery ... and a gorgeous momma and baby. Hello?!

 To book your own family or nursing session, EMAIL me today!

** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***