Ella Jane’s Snow Day Portraits | Greenville Children’s Photography

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Snow in the South is such a rarity; when it comes, it isn’t “business as usual.” We slow down, hunker in, and live life a bit more intentionally. After Greenville South Carolina experienced a beautiful fluffy snowstorm in January, I couldn’t wait to photograph some magical children’s snow day photography sessions! Miss Ella Jane was excited to get dressed up and brave the cold to become a bit of a Snow Princess for the afternoon. We had so much fun twirling her beautiful dress through the snowy yard…and even her snowman pal Olaf got in on the portraits! Snow is magical…childhood is magical…and the golden sun beaming through the trees created a winter wonderland that, too, was filled with a bit of magic. I hope you will enjoy Ella Jane’s snowy portrait session.

Introducing…Ella Jane in the Snow!

This portrait is definitely one of my favorites of this sweet girl!

And as sweet and happy as EJ is, she can also give the camera one heck of a sassy, serious model face too!

Color or Black and White..which do you prefer? I couldn’t decide! As soon as I think I’ve picked a favorite, I change my mind again! And how cute are Ella Jane’s fuzzy American Girl Doll ear muffs??

Love the intensity of her eyes…paired with a hint of sweet freckles.

Ella Jane’s portrait session was right before the Clemson National Championship game, so she had to include a Clemson photo in the session!

In spite of goofy Olaf’s best efforts, this pretty snowstorm was powdery and wasn’t the greatest for building snowmen. Sorry, Olaf!

I hope you’ve enjoyed the magic of this southern snow day portrait session! As always, it’s awesome when you leave a comment below to show us some love! You can also “like” this post to share it on your facebook page if you’d like.

–Amy

Massey’s Miracle: Take That, Cancer! | Greer SC Family Portraits

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I think we can all agree that cancer is a terrible, scary, confusing thing. But the Masseys’ family portrait session at a farm in Greer SC wasn’t about cancer. Their portraits were about love, and hope, and overcoming, and faith, and family, and miracles, and making each day count. Their session was about having fun and loving on each other and leaving cancer behind for a while. It was about their “Massey Miracle,” which is still unfolding every day. It was about telling cancer to “Take THAT” and not letting it rob them of life. At the end of our portrait session, the whole family kept talking about how much fun they had. Among my prayers for healing, I also pray that during the tough days, these photos will remind Andrea, Randy, and Makenna that fun days DO still come.

I originally planned to publish these photos on Sunday, February 1st, because the family has asked their community to come together and lift Andrea up in prayer, all on the same day. I know, however, that the family is in the midst of waiting today…for tests, for test results, for answers…so I thought that today might be an even better day to be reminded of the fun times. Blog readers, please pray for the “Massey’s Miracle.” Please pray today, and please join together on February 1st.

Introducing, the Massey Family…

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Take that, cancer. The Masseys are strong!!!

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Andrea and I used to work on the same hall–she taught 4th grade and I was in charge of the after school program–and I remember the day she got the phone call that her beautiful Guatemalan daughter was born. What a special day! Makenna is beautiful, sweet, and FUNNY!!

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I just can’t decide…color or b&w??

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Massey’s Miracle!

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Andrea, you are beautiful! Inside and out, this lady just radiates God’s love.

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Take THAT, cancer. Love always wins.

The French Family’s Christmas Lifestyle Portraits | Greenville SC Documentary Photography

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I love when families choose a lifestyle portrait session to document their real family moments. There is something so beautiful about a family playing and relaxing together in their own home. It reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut’s quote “Remember the little things in life, for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.” The French Family has just moved into a new home in Greenville SC, and they wanted to me to document this new phase in their life. During our lifestyle session, they snuggled on the couch by their ginormous Christmas tree, decorated the kids’ tree together and reminisced over their sweet hand-made ornaments, jumped on the bed in their Christmas jammies, and played outside on a sunny winter day. This family truly savors their time together, and they really seem to “get” that life is made up of these sweet little moments. It was a pleasure capturing them just being them, and I have waaaaay too many favorites for you to see!

Introducing…The French Family, Greenville SC Lifestyle Family Portraits 

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A friend and I were just talking about how dreary it is after all the Christmas decorations come down. These sweet photos of little M and J decorating their kids-sized tree will have us all wishing again for the magic of the holidays!

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Miss J’s excitement over hanging an ornament is just too cute!

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One of my many favorites from their session: cute Mr. M hanging his ornaments just so.

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Another few favorites…

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One of the family’s favorite things to do together is pile in the bed for jumping, stories, and giggles. These photos were too fun to capture!

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Like I said…too many favorites! I saved this set from outdoors for last….I think you’ll see why. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

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Those lashes!!

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Sometimes, the instant I push my shutter to freeze a moment, I just know that I’ve captured something special. This portrait of J and her daddy was one of those times.

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To the Frenches: I can’t thank you enough for letting me capture this little slice of your life. I hope that these portraits will remind of this new phase in your family’s life and this sweet season of excitement and wonder. I also hope that it will give you lots of photos to help make your new house a home!

To view the family’s complete gallery, CLICK HERE. If you know the family, you can contact mom for the password!

As always, you can scroll over a photo to “Pin It” to Pinterest, click “like” below to link this to your Facebook page, and leave a comment to show us some love!

Many thanks!

–Amy

The Hartleys’ Extended Family Portraits | Greenville SC Family Photography

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If you’re a regular blog reader, you know that I LOVE photographing extended families when they are together. These days, our families are so spread out that it’s a big deal to capture a portrait when all the generations are together in one place. The Hartley Family came together in Greenville SC recently for a weekend of football (both Auburn and Alabama), corn hole tournaments, tons of laughter, and an afternoon portrait session with Amy Clifton Keely Photography at Furman University. My BFF Rebecca married into this crazy-fun family, so it’s been fun to keep tabs on the Hartleys over the years. I love their sassiness, their laughter, and their love.

Introducing…The Hartleys from Alabama, in Greenville SC

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Happy 10 Year Anniversary to my BFF and her Hubby! I was honored to be Rebecca’s Maid of Honor 10 short years ago, and she returned the favor in mine and Tony’s wedding as my Matron of Honor. Love y’all!!

As you see, Rebecca is no shorty….

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…so the step-ladder that I used for the kids came in handy with Marshall. 😉

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Patrick, April, and their beautiful and SWEET family

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Most little boys aren’t super excited to be in pictures, but Wyatt was AWESOME. He is so stinking cute, too!

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How precious is he???

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Libby is a beautiful girl, inside and out.

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She’s got a fabulous smile, but I am crazy about this B&W of her serious face. Mama and Daddy better watch out!! 😉

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Love this one!

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Melissa has got the greatest eyelashes. So jealous, LOL!

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I had the hardest time narrowing down Aunt Jane and Uncle Robert’s photos. They are SO cute together. You can see their love for each other in every single portrait.

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The Hartley Siblings…

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All three of these guys bear the name “Marshall.” I love this cute idea and their happy faces (thanks to Wyatt’s hilarious comments)!

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Uh oh–House Divided. (And Wyatt hasn’t picked a team yet….there was a bit of family tug-o-war going on to sway his decision. For now, though, he’s Switzerland.) But it’s all in good fun, right? Right?

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Hmmmm, maybe not. 😉

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Hartley Family, I loved spending the afternoon with you guys and I’m so glad you got to be together in Greenville as a family. I hope you love your photos and that they bring lots of happy memories of special family times together!

–Amy

As always, you can scroll over a photo to “Pin It” to Pinterest, click “Like” below to link this post to your Facebook page, and leave a comment to show us some love here on the blog! Happy Weekend, y’all!!

The Ely Extended Family Travel Portraits | Highlands NC Family Portrait Photographer

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Three of my favorite things combined for The Elys’ portrait session at Ray’s Roost cabin in picturesque Highlands NC: extended family, travel, and photography! I LOVE travel sessions–your family is together, having fun and relaxing in a beautiful location. Why not capture that time with professional portraits? I am available to travel to capture YOUR travels!

The super-fun Ely Family converged in Highlands NC for a relaxing weekend together, laughing over old stories, fly fishing amongst the fall leaves, and just enjoying three generations of love.

Introducing…the Ely Family

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Is there a better gift than love and laughter that parents can give their children and grandchildren?

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Fun giggles and snuggles!

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Miss Caroline is the sweetest big sister, and a SO pretty in front of the camera. And can I please have her boots in a big-girl size???

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Miss Elizabeth wasn’t so sure about me at first, but once she warmed up: incredible cuteness!!! I love her sweet smile!

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Little Miss Anna kept me on my toes! She is a doll baby, and I just love her dimples!

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And this giant laugh?? I want to laugh like this every day!!! 🙂

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I looooooove it when couples say they aren’t sure of themselves in front of the camera….and then they give me beautiful moments like these next two shots!

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I had to end with two of my favorite portraits….these two big sisters are beautiful girls, and I just melted with their love for each other.

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Sweet girls!!

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Ely Family, thank you so much for thinking to have your family photographed in such a beautiful place while you were all together! It was such a pleasure laughing with you guys and enjoying the beauty of the mountains in the fall.

Remember, you can hover over an image to “Pin It” to Pinterest, click “like” below to link this post to your facebook, and leave a comment below to show us some love!