This weekend was jam packed with gorgeous babies and loving families. I am very proud to report that every family took this opportunity to be photographed with their child. It's easy to be behind the camera with me. It's comfortable. But getting front of that camera - that is MAGICAL. 

One day, every photograph you've ever purchased will go to the people that love you the most. Wouldn't it be nice to be in some of them? Trust me, they beg for all the ones with your beautiful face and wish and wish you had some more. 

I don't charge any extra to photograph Moms and Dads with their baby. Every session. Every time. It's a blessing to be photographed with your children. Don't miss out on the Magic. When you come back to view your portraits, and you see the most perfect portrait of your child looking up at you with more love than you could ever imagine - then you'll believe in the magic. Thank you to all the families that stepped in front of my camera today.

Daphne Ellenburg is the owner of a bustling Portrait photography business called Ellenburg Photography located in Southern Alabama. Daphne has a supportive family and a fancy-pants NEW 2000 sq ft studio. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Apple. She also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Daphne is a proud member of PPA, WPPI, BNI and the local chamber. Catch up with her at EllenburgPhotography.com or email her at daphne@ellenburgphotography.com. 
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August 1st always hits me like a ton of bricks. In my mind, it's the official end of summer. It's the day my entire house turns into back to school mode. Everyone is hunting school supplies and shorts and trying to find the best most fashionable pair of shoes that still fit into the rigid school standards for footwear. It's the first day, and I'm already sick of it.

I had BIG plans this summer. They included me and the beach. By now my tan was supposed to be killer. Extra-curricular activities have chained us hard to this town. I have a real LOVE-HATE relationship with high school football. But that is another story. The point is, I haven't even stepped my feet into the sand. Not once. Total sad face. I guess I just want to whine about going to the beach.

The best part of the summer is having that ONE amazing portrait that screams awesome summer.  You know the one. I can see it in my head perfectly. Bright bold colors. Happy faces. Maybe with a beach ball.  This week, I told Madison that we needed a super fun summer portrait - so we headed to the studio. We had nothing. Just each other. So we thought about it...and came up with an idea that would require a little photo shop, a new shirt and an orange - oh and something to slice up an orange. So glad we didn't forget that one.

We shot the whole thing on bold RED in hopes of changing the background color to match the orange slices. Wearing a lot of fun colors made it easy to manipulate the portrait in some really fun color blocks. Not only did the portrait come out great, Madison and I had a super fun Mother Daughter adventure. And we didn't have to take the photo outside in the 100 degree South Alabama Sunshine.

1. Can I eat these after?

2. My eyes are burning!!

3. Close your eyes Goofball! You're going to be Blind.

4. It's dripping. Can I lick it?

5. Do you think one orange is enough? We bought two. Maybe we should slice this one up too.

6. Aren't you glad you bought me this cool hat?

7. What other fruit do you want to try?

8. I love you Mom. This was fun.

That makes everything worth it. No children were blinded in this portrait adventure.

Mother Daughter adventure fills your heart. There is never a day that I look back and wish we wouldn't have done more together that day. Having a great fun photo from the day out together is priceless. She wants the color block portrait poster size for her room. Who am I to argue?

Moms you need a mother daughter portrait adventure. Contact Daphne To learn more about the fun adventures we can offer you both in and out of the studio this season. Keep the summer alive in bold bright color.

Daphne Ellenburg is award-winning Wedding, Newborn, and Baby Photographer. She is the owner of a bustling Portrait photography business called Ellenburg Photography and a brand new Boudoir studio both located in Southern Alabama. Daphne has a supportive family and a fancy-pants 2000 sq ft studio in the heart of Saraland, Alabama. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Apple. She also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Daphne is a proud member of PPA, WPPI, and the local chamber. Catch up with her at EllenburgPhotography.com or email her at daphne@ellenburgphotography.com. 
We love to read your comments.

Dads are the great men pasting the adhesive that is holding everything together in our crazy life.  Just when things are getting ready to fall apart into an epic mess of NO return, there is Dad, like a giant bottle of glue ready to fix what ales me or helps me up when I've fallen down or has a hankie and a hug and an ear ready to listen. A Dad is the most important man in your life, and here's why...

Dad's always have a good ear to listen. And he will listen for a bit - but Dad's are problem solvers. He's going to take it all in, and offer some solutions and some how tos. He will not let his baby become a pile of mush on the sofa. You're better than that. Famous words of all Dads.

Dads are like the your own personal cheerleader. They know you can do it and they build you up the entire way there. The roads there are HARD and filled with pep talks and pats on the back. And when you finally do it, he tells you that he knew you could do it all along. And you did. And there is Dad, beaming like the hot Alabama sunshine because you are his and he believed in you. And YOU did it!

Dad's encourage you to try new things. Even when those things are tough and sound crazy to your Mom. If Dad thinks it's a good idea, you know he will have your back. And if it doesn't work out, he will pick you up and dust you off. Dad knows that you learn something new every time you fall. And since he's there to catch you, it's okay to fall. Soon the fear of falling disappears. Soon you're out there being tough and brave all on your own. You are Daddy's little soldier. Dad's teach you how to ride a bike and drive a car. Encouraging you and telling you that YOU can do anything. His confidence in you makes you Brave. Just thinking about it makes me feel like a bad ass. Because I am.

A Dad's hug is tight and lingering. It's strong, just like Dad. It instantly makes you feel loved and cherished. It absorbs tears like a sponge and mends broken hearts. And bonus you get to smell him - that wonderful smell of green grass and old school cologne. Dad's hugs can fix most things and he's just giving them away like candy. 

Any problem you come at him with, he has a solution and a warm story to go with it - about his Dad or your crazy Uncle. And sure, you've heard that story before, but you were in your early 20's and knew everything and probably were not listening. Now, you are listening for your A-Ha moments. If only you heard that part last time. He's well versed on all subjects like your car, your bank account, your stupid boss, and your new love interest. And that is why he's on speed dial. That's right, What Would Dad Do?

Dad can always make you laugh. It started with those tickle battles, you know the ones where you begged Mom for the Map to Dad's tickle spot. It's not under his feet like yours and it's just not fair because he knows everything about you and you can't win these tickle fights. He makes funny faces at you during serious talks with your Mom. He loves your smile and will do whatever it takes to see it whenever he wants. He never wants to see you sad and making you smile is his super power.

Thanks to Dad, we can change a tire if we had to. We know we have to change our oil when that light comes on and he taught us what all the other lights mean. We can mow the lawn. We can balance a check book.  And he will help you do all of these things or just do them for you if you say please with a cherry on top.

We get to watch him love Mom. We know when to give flowers and when to expect them. We get to see slow dancing and hand holding and kisses even when we say stop kissing my Mom! We get arguing and making up. We get to watch the compromise and hard work of a marriage.  We learn how to make birthdays magical and all the hard work that goes into making the holidays special. Dad's give us something to look forward to - a nice guy like him or a sweet gal like Mom. He really sets the bar high for all the guys who want to date his daughter.

In Dad's defense, he didn't know MOM said NO at least 98% of all those times. And if he thought it should be a yes anyway, he stands his ground and pleads your case to Mom. Dad has a sneaky side full of secret deals that Mom will never learn about. You and Dad are thick as thieves. He's like a best friend that you're still a little scared will whip your ass at any moment like a parental ninja. Even when you are completely grown. It's one of his super powers.

I love you. He has said it a million times and wished he'd said it a million more than that. Dad doesn't say it, he shows it in everything he does from going to work to make sure you have everything you need when you need it and spending extra time cuddled up with you on the sofa watching the same show he's seen 1000 times. His love is strong. It empowers you to try harder and do more because he inspired you to want more. And his love makes you a better person because his caring and kindness pours right out of you. And one day, you will hold the glue and you'll know what to do because you had such a great example to follow.

This year marks 18 years that my father has passed away. My Dad was always my biggest fan. He just knew that I could do anything and when I did it, he couldn't wait to take out a billboard to make sure everyone knew about it. He didn't always dish out a ton of advice but he always had an ear to listen and a heart to encourage. I sure do miss him. I know that he would love my husband and that he would be cheering for my children the same way he always cheered for me.

Happy Father's day to all the Dad's and the Mom's pulling double duty. You are loved. You are appreciated. Look, you have a new gray hair! Wishing you a day filled with the love and laughter of family.

Daphne Ellenburg is award-winning Wedding, Newborn, and Baby Photographer. She is the owner of a bustling Portrait photography business called Ellenburg Photography located in Southern Alabama. Daphne has a supportive family and a fancy-pants 2000 sq ft studio in the heart of Saraland, Alabama. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Apple. She also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Daphne is a proud member of PPA, WPPI, and the local chamber. Catch up with her at EllenburgPhotography.com or email her at daphne@ellenburgphotography.com. 
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It was the Spring of 2006, and I was in love with my sleek black leather Kate Spade Barrel bag. It was everything. You know what I mean girls, it was the bag you scrimped and saved for. The bag you justified buying because YOU were worth it. Me and that bag were inseparable. It was the bag that matched everything. That same glorious Spring, I met my dreamy husband, Michael. We had a couple of good dates and he invited me to his house that he shared with a few guys to watch Lost. Yes - Lost. There were a lot of rules to lost night. Rules like, no talking during Lost. Wait for commercials to ask questions. I had never watched Lost so I was lost. At the end of a lovely evening, and what was maybe our 3rd date, I went to my car and my purse was gone. I of course thought I left it inside - but when the guys walked me outside so I could look in my car again, they saw him - just a punk kid robbing all the neighborhood cars. That jerk had my purse. My nearly one of a kind Kate Spade Barrel Bag. Before I could even be angry, my soon to be husband was off on foot chasing this kid down. His roommates picked him up in a truck and they continued the chase. It was like that scene from Kate and Leopold - you know the part where he takes off on a horse after a purse bandit and then Kate couldn't stop staring at Leopold with heart eyes. 

They caught that kid, but he ditched my purse. Sad face. I never got that purse back or ever found one like it. Believe ME,  I looked for it for years. I was also reading a vintage penguin book on the opera that was in that stolen purse that I have never been able to find again either. How does Les Mis end? Don't ask me.  I may have lost my bag that warm Spring night in South Alabama, but what I gained was invaluable. My eyes were forced wide open to the charming man who wanted to take care of me fiercely after only a third date, and who still loyally fights for me and what we love every day. I found a modern day hero. 

I wonder if it wouldn't have been THAT  bag, would getting some cheap trinket bag taken instead have changed the course of my love affair? my whole amazing life?!? Thank goodness it was that bag. Kate Spade created so many wonderful treasures that changed the lives of the women who bought them and loved them. Kate you will be missed.

Life can be hard. If you are struggling, know that YOU are loved. Know that you make a difference to so many people. Know that without you the world is much a darker place for the people who think you hung the moon. If you or someone you know needs help, then don’t be afraid to ask for help whether you text a friend, call your mom, or call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line.

Daphne Ellenburg is award-winning Wedding, Newborn, and Baby Photographer. She is the owner of a bustling Portrait photography business called Ellenburg Photography located in Southern Alabama. Daphne has a supportive family and a fancy-pants 2000 sq ft studio in the heart of Saraland, Alabama. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Apple. She also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Daphne is a proud member of PPA, WPPI, and the local chamber. Catch up with her at EllenburgPhotography.com or email her at daphne@ellenburgphotography.com. 
We love to read your comments.

Gardening in South Alabama is competitive. Everyone is out there hunting for the best plants to grow in the best soil to show off the best flowers or the most delicious veggies that you have ever seen. But me, I'm just trying to keep stuff alive. More green than brown is the goal of every black thumb. Every family has a black thumb gardener, I'm mine. Every plant you give me, I will kill.  Every plant I purchase will die. It is a cosmic truth. This spring, join me on a journey where I try to overcome my Black Thumb and make my Momma proud.

I started with seeds because that's what all the know it alls do - so here I am following their advice. My super awesome husband went out in search of the best seeds and the best containers so our plant babies can have the best start. The seeds and containers then sat in their protective store packaging for two weeks in a place that we each would pass by each day over and over again. Then one day, while I was out photographing South Alabama babies - I came home to find a planting party happening in my driveway. Yes, it was probably best to leave the black thumb out of this one. But I vowed to water them twice a day. And I did. For weeks. And then, out of no where, we had babies!

And as it turns out the planting party yielded a wide variety of veggies. Seriously, I will rival the market with varieties and colors of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, okra, squash, some herbs and more. And they grew... Everyone picked something they wanted to grow. Madison picked Zucchini, Michael picked tomatoes, Jefferson picked pumpkins - he's five, he'd grow a roller coaster if we'd let him, I picked Jalapenos and Grant picked Cilantro. Grant wants to have a salsa garden and if you tasted his salsa, you'd want him to have one too. Jackson chose nothing because High School Seniors are too busy to garden and they don't think gardening has purpose. I mean, he's going to always buy what he needs from the grocery store forever. I think he may have my black thumb.

So I've got all these beautiful seedlings basking in the hot Alabama sunshine and they are growing. Can you believe it!?! But do I have a place for them to live? NOPE. No flower beds. No tilled rows of farmland. That means they are surely going to die. Again. Sigh. But the husband came to the rescue and started building plant houses. He's a pretty crafty guy.

Magically scrap wood and pallets become this water treated masterpiece. A beautiful home or a new coffin for our plant babies. It's still too early to tell. I got around to planing them this week with a formula of perfect dirt and fertilizer from my Green Thumb Mother. (Moms always have advice.) They look pretty good.

Somewhere in the mixing of the dirt and the miracle grow and the South Alabama Wind gusts, I got some dirt in my right eye. Talk about embarrassing. Every studio portrait session this week, starts with a tale of the Hazzards of Gardening in South Alabama. Yep, it's still red. And embarrassing.

If you have some gardening tips, send them my way. A black thumb needs all the help she can get. Leave them in the comments below - not every black thumb will ask for help, but they might read this blog.

Daphne Ellenburg is award-winning Newborn and Baby Photographer. She is the owner of a bustling Portrait photography business called Ellenburg Photography located in Southern Alabama. Daphne has a supportive family and a fancy-pants 2000 sq ft studio in the heart of Saraland, Alabama. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Apple. She also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Daphne is a proud member of PPA, WPPI, and the local chamber. Catch up with her at EllenburgPhotography.com or email her at daphne@ellenburgphotography.com. 
We love to read your comments.