Let's GEAUX Tigers!

Lynda and I met through a mutual friend, Tiffany, and started talking about setting up a day to take photos of her and her two boys! Meet Tanner and Trace! They were such cute tiger fans! They brought the football to their session and were running wild while mom and I were trying to explain it was picture taking time! I asked several times, my favorite question, "Where's your teeth??" I also had to do some tickling but all the tricks I had up my sleeve seemed to have worked because we got some precious photos!! Thank you Lynda for choosing me as your photographer! I really hope to work with y'all again!!

Ellie Grace is here..

Mama Courtney and I met in high school. We had the same group of friends and hung out often. Finally one night we were all at my house, since that was the place to be my dad asked her last name. He figured out she was related to me down the line. She was something like my third cousin. It is so crazy how small of a world it can be at times. So from then on we would always say "hey cuz" or "what's up cuz" haha.. We thought we were so cool being related. About 3 months ago Courtney messaged me asking about my newborn packaging and pricing. Once I told her I would come to her home (as I do with newborns) and set up there in front of a big window, her response was "girl you are hired!" I don't think she will ever know how big that made me smile! Usually it's my job to make others smile and I love doing just that, but it sure is nice when my clients say the sweetest things that are simple that make my whole day. Ellie Grace was welcomed to the world a happy camper on September 27, 2013 at 5:45pm. She weighed 6lbs and 10oz and was 19 inches! We set up a day shortly after she was born and miss Ellie Grace was just a doll for me!!! She did so wonderfully, I couldn't have asked for a better baby! Thanks so much Courtney and Billy for letting me into y'all's home to take this precious babies photo. Here are some of my favorites!!! PS: This was my FIRST session shot fully with my new UPGRADE of a camera (Canon 5D Mark II!) I was nervous, but boy am I pleased!!!!

The PEACH of my eye!!!

Gentry and I have been best cousin friends since before I can remember. Our moms told us growing up that they were always asked if we were twins. Although we may not even be sisters, we have always been sisters at heart. We have laughed together, cried together, grieved together, and rejoiced together. We have memories together that I know I will carry with me and cherish until the end of my days. She knows the good, the bad, and the ugly of me. We have always been able to share with each other anything we needed to get off our chest even if it was something we weren't proud of. She is someone who is always willing to be weird with me. Like tracing our bodies in her driveway with sidewalk chalk. Or speaking whale. Or skipping in public. We are never ashamed when we're together. I'll never forget one time we were eating together (imagine that) and I had something hard and weird in my food that wasn't supposed to be there. It wasn't spaghetti and meatballs but for some reason I gasped and said "THERE'S A ROCK IN MY MEATBALL!!" We laughed so hard, and that is one of the many jokes we share that's more than off the wall. Now anytime our food is weird we say there's a rock in our meatball, and laugh together about it! It probably sounds absurd to the average person reading this, but I know when she reads it she will be laughing and know that's the weirdness we share. This past weekend my cousin became a WIFE! I think that is crrrrrazy! We have always talked weddings (being girly girls) and never realized how within reach we were. Finding out she was engaged was one of the coolest days of my life. (See engagement blog post.) I am so grateful to have been beside Gentry as a bridesmaid. In my heart she is more than a cousin, she a friend, a best friend, and someone who will be in my life until the end of time. Congrats Mrs. Olden, you deserve the happiness you found!

Shircarra & Jacob.. PLUS ONE!

Shircarra and I went to school together at BPCC. She messaged me a while ago asking if I would mind taking her and her soon to be hubby's engagement photos! She sent me photos of her ideas and we set a date! I saw the video that was uploaded to Facebook of Jacob proposing to Shircarra in front of their family and friends, and thought it was so perfect. Of course I couldn't be happier to have been their photographer! Jacob & Shircarra met over three years ago through mutual friends! Shircarra is a full time nursing student, works at the hospital as a phlebotomist, and co-owns Cindy's Performing school of dance. Jacob is an assistant basketball coach at Northwestern State university, where he obtained his Masters in sports administration & also teaches at the local private school. Jacob asked Shircarra to take his hand in marriage on July 4th 2013! She happily said YES and they set their date for June 28, 2014. Shircarra & Jacob recently found out they are expecting! So much joy is coming their way and I surely enjoyed sharing it with them during their session. Jacob and Shircarra, thank you both so much for allowing me to step into your world and get a little glimpse of y'all's sweet relationship. I really enjoyed balancing your ideas with mine for what turned out to be a perfect session. I know y'all will be wonderful new parents and I can't wait to witness that either! I wish you all the best in your journey through life together! 

Paisley is ONE!!!

Bryan and Brittany brought Paisley to see me for the first time at my watermelon mini! I fell in love with their little family! Paisley was so cute and she was a giggle box the whole way through the session. Brittany emailed me a while back to make sure we could do Paisley's one year old photos ON her actual birthday! I love when parents do this!! We went down to a field and Brittany had so many cute props she made for Paisley. We had a cake for the end but Paisley wasn't sure about it! I am so glad that I am the photographer they chose to be able to watch Paisley grow because I really enjoy it!! Bryan and Brit, thank you both so much and I hope I get to continue to work with ya'll through the years! :)

Back 2 Dance!

As some of you may know by now via my blog or just by knowing me personally I am dating Blake, who's mother is Susan Meyer. She is the owner of Susan's Studio of Dance and Fitness in Haughton. Mrs. Susan and I have become close lately and we were chatting one day about what inspires me and cool ideas for my upcoming mini specials. I love to do minis because they are a great way for several families to get a few neat photos for a great price. After doing some pondering we tossed around the idea of a "Back to Dance" mini. It was a great idea to both of us. She got one of her girls to come model for me. This is Shelby! Shelby has danced for Susan for years and is extremely flexible. We met downtown and got these shots! If anyone is interested in dance photos similar to these I would love to do something like this again! Contact me via email; LaurenRinaudo@aol.com. Thanks so much Shelby for being a model that stayed out of breath! ;) You did amazing!

We need a GLAM SHOT!

So, a couple of blogs up you saw and read about Miss Caddo, Shelby! After looking at the three final photos we both decided the photo of her needed to be a little more glamorous since it was for a beauty pageant. We decided to do a reshoot to get "the one!" So here we have the final photo of Shelby that we are certain will take her to the top! ;) Just GORGEOUS!