introducing our EXTREME senior experience....

we have seniors in high school that want over-the-top experiences! our basic session is incredible, but for the senior in high school that wants more time, more outfits and unusual, one-of-a-kind, ExTrEmE experiences, we've GOT IT! withstanding the elements of cold weather, rocks on bare feet, friendly creatures in the subzero water....this is where ART is created! we load up the little nissan cube that's tried to run on diesel (though it has a gasoline engine), climb the mountains, brave the cold, weather the storms, handle the 100 degree heat, the "chicks-that-click" are READY for the excursion! no project to small/no adventure too large! WE ARE READY to create an amazing "YOU ExTrEmE" experience! our model in this shoot is caitlyn springer from new madrid. after this shoot, caitlyn expressed that she had the time of her life! caitlyn's images are ART...all of them, but today, i will share my favorite of her in a beautiful green, flowing evening gown in a creek! you think of the "ExTrEmE" or find the location, the "chicks-that-click" will do the rest!
looks like a warm, sunny day....NOT! this shoot was done on november 11! we have little tricks and secrets that make our senior look cool and calm....even if it is ExTrEmE!
i think caitlyn was surprised i asked her to lay down on a ledge under a bridge! you just never know what the "ExTrEmE" experience will consist of!
i asked caitlyn to fluff her hair....what an amazing shot! love that the bottom of her dress was wet! she didn't know where this "ExTrEmE" shoot was headed!
i am all about reflections! love her reflection in the water! just beautiful!
how cold was that water....cold! i had one boot leaking and my foot was frozen. funny as caitlyn didn't mind at all!
i love everything about this image! love the detail of the water rippling!
you knew it was coming....yep...submerged! hair and all! when we call it EXTREME, we mean it!
beautiful...wet air and all!
what a fabulous "ExTrEmE" senior experience! thanks, caitlyn, for choosing "simply stated" to photograph YoU!

keeping it "clicking!"-cheri!

congrats to my dear, dear friends on their newest addition to their family!! i had such an amazing time capturing baby lucas! these pictures show that you don't have to be in a studio to capture fabulous images. sometimes, the comfort of being at home puts everyone in a great mood. -liz

just to show that you don't even have to leave home!! this was taken in the middle of the living room! love, love, love
one of my favorites from this in home shoot!!

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

fabulous Santa Sunday at "simply stated!" i can't even begin to express how smoothly the day went! 42 children participated and not one child cry! i call that....SUCCESS! YIPPEE!!! a big thanks to all who took part in our day! next year, santa has agreed to come visit us twice and we'll be announcing the dates soon so you can mark your calendar!

some special ones from today....
santa and his favorite 2 elves...me and kendra! i'm so thankful for kendra! she helps me with my projects but is a fabulous photographer herself!
i love when this child is in front of my camera! she melts me....she had her list in her hand! love it! an organized girlie at such a young age!
love this one of carson! sweet!
this family drove 2 hours to share in our day! thanks, bradleys!
i adore this child. she melts me! donnie has come a long way in his photography!
pretty sure this one will have to come out each year at Christmas! I LOVE THIS!
our baby girl was the hardest child to get a smile out of or even look at the camera! but...she's sweet as you get!
merry Christmas from our family!

family photo shoot....

i don't even know the number of family shoots that i do in a month. i did five yesterday if that gives you an idea. sssssoooo....i took off a sunday from work and scheduled my own family shoot. my fabulous friend and associate let us stand in front of his camera for a couple of hours and i'll share those soon but....i couldn't have my family all beautiful and not have a camera in my hands. today, i experienced what my other families experience on "shoot" day....WOW! WOW! WOW! it all started about 10am when i skipped church to jump in the shower so i could have great hair and organized clothes. i answered emails after shower and stuff but sis was scheduled to get in the tub at 11:15....accomplished. doorbell rang at 11:30....john paul, friend/make-up artist, arrived! WHEW! i did my hair myself while sis was playing in the water (yes...she was in there an hour, but i did reheat the water) and john paul began my make-up. boys started stirring and asking about if they should wear t-shirts, belts, etc., but boys are pretty low-maintenance. i get a phone call from my friend...the photographer...saying weather not cooperating for our funky/innovative shoot....so plan b...STUDIO! john paul finished my make-up and girl....if he hasn't applied your make-up yet...well....call belladona spa and salon tomorrow. it's 10:42pm and i hate to wash my face...it looks fabulous still.

anyway....left house and at studio about 2:30. we played, we bribed, boys were bored....you name it, every emotion was experienced. BUT....mama was happy that the whole gang was together and all i wanted was one fabulous shot so i can have one new image in my house and one for the Christmas card....so..we'll see! i did get a sneak peek and i was happy. my lesson at the end of this day is the stress over finding the "perfect" outfits, fixing the hair extra special, stretching malaena-sloan's limits....worth it. here's a few that i shot....enjoy!
we begin our picture parade with lil' sis!
i believe this one must hang in my house!
love this one, too.
the man i love.
daddy with his first born!
daddy and his boys
thanks melinda for snapping this one! my son has definitely outgrown me!

an affair to remember....jessica + amzie

i try and wait to share images until the couples have made decisions. regardless of what brides say before their wedding, realistically, it takes three months after their wedding before they can think about "wedding pictures." on july 3, 2010, i had the honor of photographing the wedding of amzie and jessica! i take a deep breath before i continue writing, as when i think of their wedding, it was just full of "magical" moments! i have been friends of jessica's family all of my life, and when they contacted me last january about doing their wedding, i was simply overjoyed. little did i know, it would be so amazing. it was 100 degrees outside of nashville, tennessee, on july 3, but when donnie *my supportive husband*, and kendra *my rockstar right-hand photograher * pulled into the parking lot of the historical cedarwood, we were overjoyed. i was truly like a kid in a candy store....more like winning the lottery. jessica and amzie are just gorgeous people inside and out, and then cedarwood...well...breathtaking combination. from start-to-finish, it was an amazing day. i will be doing a full feature on their wedding very soon, but HAD to share today, as "simply stated" is featured on cedearwood's website. CLICK HERE!

stop by soon to hear more details of the wedding....and yep, i did get to photograph eli manning and one shot of his big brother. like i said....MAGICAL!

party pics part II

Party Pics

had a great time, thank you all from the "chicks that click" at simply stated for giving us a reason to celebrate!! and enjoy!