Connor | North Carolina Children's Photographer

I met up with Connor and his Mommy at one of my favorite session locations, Somerset Place. This NC historical site has lots of wide open spaces for little boys like Connor to run around in. Conner is newly walking so he still has a little wobble to him, but he can get where he wants to go. It was so much fun chasing after him; I definitely got my exercise for the day!







We had to get a few photos with his Mommy too!









All of that wide open spaces sure did make Connor a sleepy boy. His Mommy called me within 5 minutes on the way home and said that he was already asleep.

Sarah & Russ | Columbia, NC Engagement Photography

Sarah & Russ are getting ready to tie the knot! We met up down at the boat ramp on Frying Pan Road to begin their session. We had hoped to have to small wooden boat for them to drift around in but the boat began taking on water when they launched it earlier in the day to "test" it out so we were on to plan B. I think their images turned out great even with no boat!











After a quick clothing change we ventured over to an old barn that sits along the side of the road. This barn was a really cool spot to shoot.



















Sorry for the image overload. I have so many favorites from this session that I couldn't narrow it down anymore. Sarah & Russ, congrats on your upcoming big day! :)

Jennifer & James | Outer Banks Engagement Photographer

I met up with Jennifer & James just two weeks after their engagement. Jennifer and I have a mutual friend, Melissa, that as soon as she heard Jennifer's good news called to gift an engagement session to her and her fiance. {How cool is that? Great gift, huh?}

We first met up at Jennifer's parent's house on the OBX and went to a beach that Jennifer frequented while growing up.







Check out her ring!



From there we went to a friend of Jennifer's over in Martin's Point. They had a wonderful pier for us to shoot on and around.











Jennifer & James I had so much fun during our session! I wish you a lifetime of happiness! xoxo

Thursday's Tune(s)

If you're a big fan of American Idol then I'm sure you've heard lots about Scotty McCreery, young NC boy, who has made it to the top 3! Garner is only about 30 minutes from our house and on Saturday they welcomed him home since the show began. I'm not sure of all of the festivities but I do know the local radio station hosted him as well as the grocery store he worked at before his AI spotlight began. He also had a hometown concert where his idol, Josh Turner surprised him. I found this video of the surprise and wanted to share it.



Tonight's the big night for American Idol too. Tonight one goes home and they're left with 2. Think Scotty will make the cut again? Good luck, Scotty!

What to Wear Wednesday! / GIVEAWAY

I have lots of clients ask about clothing options for their sessions. I'm constantly looking in magazines and the web for inspiration and adorable outfits! Recently, I found a store on facebook called Duck Duck Goose, that specializes in contemporary ladies fashion and boutique styles for children with affordable prices! Check out some of my favorite items from their store...



I'd love everyone of those outfits for my little Grace. They have some of the cutest bathing suits for little girls too! And they have boy stuff too! Although I dont have a little boy I thought these outfits were too cute!



I could also add each one of these ladies clothing options to my closet! :) Seriously, swoon!



And the best thing is Duck Duck Goose is offering one lucky Megan Lane Photography blog reader a $25 gift certificate to be used toward anything in their shop!

To Enter:

Comment on this post letting us know which Duck Duck Goose outfit you'd put your $25 gift certificate towards!

Additional Entries:
(Please leave a comment for each entry you complete.)

*Become a fan of Duck Duck Goose.
*Become a fan of Megan Lane Photography.
*Twitter much? Tweet about this giveaway! (example tweet: There's a #giveaway going on over at @meganlane photography's blog. Enter to win at: http://bit.ly/jobk5e)

The comments must be left on this blog entry. All comments will be visible after approval.

It's that easy! Contest closes Wednesday, May 25th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced here on the blog Thursday, May 26th! Good Luck!

Baby Jackson

Baby Jackson came to visit and he couldn't be more excited about making his photosession debut, see what I mean? Isn't that smile adorable?! :)



Normally it's best for newborns to be sleeping during their session. It makes them easier to mold and position for photos. Jackson was so excited he wasn't up for much sleeping. It took his Mommy and I, quite a while to get him to sleep, but once we did. I think we got some adorable shots.





Jackson's Mommy found this adorable Sock Monkey diaper cover and hat on Etsy from NewbornBabyLove's shop. This lady is incredibly talented and has SO many cute things in her shop that I'd love to have. Lucky for me, Jackson's Mommy let me buy the outfit from her because Mr. Jackson was almost grown out of it anyway! So, I'm excited to add it to my collection and use it with other babies!



I couldn't decide which sock money outfit I liked best, so I figured I'd share both! :)





Jackson, thank you for beig such a good little guy and thank you to your Mommy for bringing you to see me! xoxo

What to Wear?

I have many clients that ask about outfit ideas when it comes to their family portraits. Something to remember is that there is no need to focus on matching everything from the color of your shirt to the color of everyone else's shirt in the photo. In fact, if you don't then there's so much more character that you can add to the photograph. There's no need to worry about each and every item, this is suppose to be a fun process.

When doing some research myself about outfit options for portrait sessions I came across another photographer, Kristin Rachelle, who put together these family outfit examples for her clients. I emailed her and with her permission I'm allowed to share them with you! It’s so hard sometimes to see how everything will look together and photograph in pictures, so hopefully these ideas will help!













Hope this helps you to see how items can be different, yet tie together too!

Happy Wednesday!

Someone's turning TWO!

Today, on this Mother's Day, I not only celebrate my Mother but also the day I became a Mother. Two years ago today my life was forever changed. I can't imagine my life any other way than having my baby girl by my side.




Image from her newborn session:



A snapshot from her *first* birthday party.


And this image was taken just last week!




Grace, I wish I could keep you at this age forever. You grow and change every day and its scary to know just how fast time files. However I love watching you learn new things and explore the world around you. Not sure why but this second birthday seems to be hitting me a lot harder than your first. I think Taylor's Swift song, "Never Grow Up" explains just how I feel recently.  You laugh all the time, you have no regrets. I will do everything I can never to let anyone hurt you, break your heart or desert you. I'm so not ready for you to grow up."Never Grow Up" by: Taylor Swift



Your little hands wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight

Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming

So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light



To you, everything's funny

You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that


Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple


I won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

No, no one will desert you

Just try to never grow up, never grow up



You're in the car on the way to the movies

And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off

At 14, there's just so much you can't do

And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots


But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older, too
And don't lose the way that you dance around
In your PJs getting ready for school


Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple


No one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up


Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs


I just realized everything I have
Is someday gonna be gone
So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off


It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on


Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up
Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple


Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple


Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even through to you want to


Please try to never grow up
Don't you ever grow up
(Never grow up)
Just never grow up


Happy 2nd Birthday baby duck! You are my heart and I'm so proud to be your Mommy.


PS- Since today is also Mother's Day- a big shout out to all the Mommy's out there. Especially mine, she's pretty awesome. Pretty AND awesome! I'm so glad I can call her my best friend too!

Hugs! XOXO

Meredith College | Class Day

Today I'm celebrating my daughter's second birthday with family and friends. Her actual birthday isn't until tomorrow but today's the day we chose to celebrate.

Today, I'm also thinking about my alma mater, Meredith College. This week they have been celebrating commencement week and celebrating the Class of 2011. Meredith College was an amazing place to go to college. One of the best things about Meredith aside from class size and beautiful campus, were its many traditions. On the Saturday of commencement weekend. Sophomores honor their senior "big sisters", and the seniors highlight their College years in an event called "Class Day".


The little sisters spend the morning constructing two 75–100 foot daisy chains to be used for the afternoon’s Class Day exercises in the beautiful amphitheater. The white-clad sophomores hold two daisy chains and sing as their sister class marches through the chains. Class historians recall and depict key events of the graduating class’ four years at Meredith. The sophomore and alumnae sister classes sing traditional songs to the seniors. The members of the odd year classes wear black gloves on their left hands and give their little sisters wish bone charms for luck. The even classes give their little sisters bags of sticks and stones “to protect them from the Odd Spirit’s bones.”

At the conclusion of Class Day, the sophmores and the chains form the class numerals of the graduating class. The seniors then go onto the island, form a circle around the numerals, and celebrate with their classmates.

I was cleaning out a chest this week and found this photo of me and my family from my Class Day. I had to scan it in because I wasn't digital back then. :)



Congrats Meredith College Class of 2011!