I cannot believe the calendar reads August already…August? Really?!? Could it be that we’ve passed Christmas in July and are headed straight for the homestretch of 2011 towards the real HO-HO-HOLIDAYS? I’m shocked…can you tell? LOL! No seriously I am. And to prove it, I am literally sitting here with my jaw wide open flipping through the days of August and the months to come I see that my schedule is jam packed with documenting summer vacations, family gatherings and such practically every other day of every month. To say Photography by Chanda is booked would be an understatement but no worries, to remedy the bulging schedule, my amazing team gal Brandy will be taking over the mini sessions for the Fall. Sadly I have no more room on my schedule to do them but I have tremendous confidence in Brandy and I know she will capture everything you could hope for and then some. So for those of you looking for a quick session, mini sessions are for like 20 minutes, just enough time to capture a pic for a Christmas card or for a present or if you just want more pics to add to your ever growing photo library. Child mini is $200 and Family is $300. On another note, if you have not scheduled your Fall/Christmas photo shoots please give me a buzz because I’m filling up fast! In fact, I’m nearly full but would love to get you on the calendar if the dates and times work out. 

Speaking of Brandy, the girl, not the drink or the song (LOL!), although all three are spectacular in my book, I’d like to give her a big birthday Hello and Shout out! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRANDY! Here’s to you; an amazing person professionally and a super duper fabulous friend personally who I have been known to call for advice, but of course, not fashion advice. We all know that I got that covered! Will someone please gimme a WOOT WOOT as you all know I seriously rock in that department, hands down! LOL! However, Brandy will tell me otherwise suggesting that I stick with brown, black or blue. Me, in those colors only…BLAGH…so not me! Nah, I’m just kidding, but I have to say, she really does have great style! I love you Brandy!

I cannot wait for our girl’s night out on the LAKE! and i have always loved this pic i shot of you… i know you might kill me…lol
But before I can go play on the lake, I’m starting off the month on a lil retreat to Savannah, GA where my hubby Randy and I plan to celebrate 8 years of marriage…boy he is one lucky man!!! I have to write a big LOL on that as I’ve seriously tickled myself with that comment! Anyway, while we are there, maybe we’ll snuggle up under some weeping willows, my absolute fav tree. They are not only beautiful but they provide just enough protection from the summer sun and onlookers eyes so I can steal a few kisses from my man. 

My lucky man….lol and me…:)

you have to love MOSS…

pretty neat Fort!

of course my angle of the “Fountain”

a man alone at dark on bench…

City Hall at night.

super cool PuP…

of course love…

Mikey a superstar for sure on the water… documented him and his friend on the waves…

just something about a lighthouse…

yes, that is FIN to the right of this pic….!!!

so Savannah…

well of course i love to document anything especially people in ACTION…lol just some random pics to show you Savannah!

But sadly he and I cannot stay there forever as Louisville, Kentucky is calling for a close up or two or two hundred! There my gal pal Brandy and I will indulge in some SDF “Southern Deep Fried” and then head off to a sure-to-impress Red Carpet Event. It’ll be fabulous Darling and we cannot wait! Also we will get to capture this lil cutie again below…

Maddie is 1 now so we cannot wait to see her at her pad in KY this was her last time I captured her…to the left… precious lil peanunt!!!! When I get back from Kentucky and settle back into home life, well settling for me is a few days at home at most. I love, love, love to spend time with the fam.

Family birthday notables for this month are my sweet baby Pax, who is 6 months old and go on Monday to his checkup for his big 6 months… He might break the scale…lol He still has not rolled over yet… He is pretty lazy…loves to be held and talked to…well of course eat…lol  I think he might be hungry again as you see his look from above..his hungry look…!!! Always capture all emotions… love them!

And of course Celebrating a tad early my gorgeous god-daughter Hudson Faith. I’ll let you in a secret, Hudson Faith loves her some Ernie from Sesame Street. I wish I could insert an audio of Ernie’s giggle here because it is absolutely hilarious and well, young or old, everyone enjoys hearing him laugh.The Pope clan cannot wait to get in full costume to celebrate her birthday with her! Our attire is ready as we always come in style to birthday parties. Dress up is not just for the kids! Yup, even I will be taking a break from my hair bows and big frilly dresses to sport an Elmo costume. It should be fun and we are looking forward to it.
To round out the month it’s back to school time here in Carolina, which admittedly, I am dreading as it seems like it is just days away and I’m not quite ready for it. But before the school bell rings, I am slammed full of family, family and more family sessions that’ll capture the last summer smiles before the school day pouts emerge. And sadly, the kids returning to school are not the only ones pouting. I am too. I want to apologize to some families that I could not get on my schedule because I truly hate to turn anyone away. So I leave you all now with a friendly reminder and a big happy Chanda smile asking you to reach out to me as soon as you know you want me to capture your stellar vacation, your sparkly holiday or just your everyday super fun and memorable photos. I look forward to hearing from you.

August Highlights below…

COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER CHARLOTTE, NC

I was asked to document this sweet miracle Child Savannah’s Rock Star 3rd birthday for a Magazine for thier upcoming issue highlighting this amazing lil girl and her family and how they are trying to bring attention to her life threatening disease…. From the pics above you would never know what she is going thru…. Amazing peeps came together to put this Rock Star party on for her… She is a Superstar for sure… or at least i felt like one while i was there…:) Please go to this link and read more about ROCK the WALK with team Savannah!!!  Savannah has Complex I and Complex III Mitochondrial Disease. She was diagnosed 3 weeks after her first birthday but she has been fighting all of her life. Mitochondrial Disease has caused her body to experience poor growth, hypermobility (Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome), hypotonia, Eosinophilic Colitis and other gastrointestinal issues, hypoglycemia, asthma, immunodeficiency, chronic infections, seizures, dysautonomia, polydipsia/polyuria, dysphagia, reflux, vasso-constriction/dilation and lactic acidosis among other things. Savannah takes 14 different medications that help her body function better but there is no cure for Mitochondrial Disease…YET! Together we can be part of the CURE! The efforts in the Energy for Life Walk will benefit the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation–The foremost organization in promoting advocacy and funding research that brings us closer to finding cures and treatments for mitochondrial disease so that Savannah and the thousands of others who suffer from this terrible killer will get to live long and full lives. The theme for their team this year is to ROCK the WALK because Savannah really is a *ROCK STAR* to go through everything she does and still smile and make everyone she comes in contact with just fall in love with her. Anyone is welcome to participate! Bring the kids, husbands, grandparents, neighbors and friends! You can choose between a 1 mile, 3K or 5K walk route. The walk will also feature entertainment, and refreshments. It’s fun for the whole family this October the 15th at Freedom Park.  Also this is a link for the Saving Savannah facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/pages/Saving-Savannah/118859238127327

BABY PHOTOGRAPHER MOORESVILLE, NC

Isabella right here showing of her gorgeous looks and amazing skin at 8 months old…. documented her every move…from climbing to the love of texture in her hands…”yes” she liked that spiky pine straw!!! anything with textute on it she likes…. I know every lil one is different… some do not like even grass…and this lil mover loves the more texture things the better… What a lil joy she was…:) love me:)

MATERNITY/FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER CHARLOTTE, NC

 Yes, this family might be familiar to you…. the Jesse Family whether you might see the hard working parents in the hospitals working or their pics on here… bc i have been documenting this family since Miss Violet was just a tiny bean…. now going to be 2 with a big brother for her birthday present coming… so much fun… like to hard to only pic a couple of pics… momma glows like no tomorrow…her beauty is crazy gorgeous she is glowing ear to ear…. and daddy is along for the ride… to becoming a family of four…and i am just tickled to be documenting these special times in thier lives… truly a pleasure! love me:)

COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER CORNELIUS, NC

 

 This boutique is like nothing we have in Charlotte and beyond…. Everything you see here is made to fit a certain special gal… yes… Custom, Classic, and Couture all wrapped up in one gorgeous locale in Cornelius, NC. Belo Dia Bridal is the name of this special store…well of course it had me at hello when i heard that all i mean everthing is custom… since you know i love to design my own…. yet, i cannot sew…yet, i have some fab ladies that make my crazy interpertations…with pockets… and to have someone make a elegant affair, bridal, bridesmaids mother  of the B/G, and or flower dress…I was like… “Are we in NYC”? nope…. right here guys…. I had the honor to take the first steps in this gorgeous place and show you how I see Belo Dia!!!! Stay tuned for website, grand opening….etc…  Flowers were done by Deborah Bell.

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER CHARLOTTE, NC

The Stunning Bronson Family of four from NJ enjoying some summer fun downtown charlotte…. I have not seen this fam since  Max was 2… moved away… yet, they come back to visit…and now they have one lil cutie to add to their family… Mr. Luke “4 months” here…look at that awesome hair!!! rock star totally… Well both boys are in love with water… so of course not other place than “the middle” of it… yes, did find out that it is iilegal thou… always nice when the police add a lil spice in the session…. huh? yet, miss this family…yet, i have a feeling they will be back…:)  love me:)

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER CHARLOTTE, NC

 Yes this is Mr. Richard… look at him grow….and a couple of months ago I captured him with his other amazing set of grandparents…now with his other lucky side…. this always bring tears to my eyes…as i see grandparents love on thier grandkids….and they truly just want to be around them….all the time… and this time was an extra special occasion too… MOVING DAY into their new pad… the 3rd day of moving…. boxes, truckes everywhere… and of course why not a photographer too! so awesome! love me:)

NEWBORN BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHER CHARLOTTE, NC

 LOOK WHO ARRIVED ON THE 18TH OF AUG……. MY LIL SCARLET RAE STROUSE!!! Yes, this is my great friend Dawn the owner of gigglehouse studio and art teacher at MID.  This day was truly amazing and so touching full of tears of joy…. hearing Sulli “Ms Chanda I have been waiting to be a big sister for a long time…and today my wish is coming true”! omg… look at her face when she first sees her… i was crying and shaking full of emotion… as you would know if you knew their story up to this day… i am just happy i got the shot… then you see Scarlet in the nicu all cleaned up with daddy at the end…. totally precious at 34 weeks old… 5lbs 13oz 19.5 inches long at 2:24pm….truly blessed i was to caputre this… love me:)

CHILD/PET PHOTOGRAPHER LOUSIVILLE, KY

Yes,  this is Maddie 18months old at her pad in KY.. Brandy and I paid a visit to her and her fluffy sister Mckensie… which you can see from above she loves to dress up too and play…even take rides…lol i do not think i ever said omg so many times to one lil doggy…. what great fun….u can have in KY…:)

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER WAXHAW, NC

 The Kamont family Zachary is one amazing child as o you would see talking to him… carrying on a full conversion…. so cute…. you might reconize his face…. or thoese eye lashed…lol the day that Irene came to nc… i had the best weather for pics…So strange… how mother nature works…

Ok that’s all for now! As always!  Check back next week for more….
Love, Me