caitlin elizabeth photography turns 1! | then and now | caitlin elizabeth photography | eastern shore photographer

it's crazy to me that it's already JULY - where has this year gone?! 

before we know it christmas will be here!!

july holds a special place in my heart - that's when 

caitlin elizabeth photography was born!

we're a year old here at cep :) 

and although i get frustrated and want to pull my hair out sometimes, 

i'm one proud mama! i know there's a lot of growing that will happen 

in the coming years, but i'm excited about what has developed over the past 12 months too!

in honor of turning 1 this month, i'm going to show you a 'then and now'

i have a picture of my little brother that i took a little over a year ago 

(it was technically in june when he graduated from elementary school)

and i have a more recent portrait of him!

i think i've come a looooong way - but i also know that i have SO MUCH

to improve on too!

here it is :) then and now:

 gah! i know. it's crazy to think that a year can make that much difference!
even now though, i look at my more recent picture and i have critiques for myself:
should've dropped the frame slightly so i got his whole arm in the frame 
(at least enough to just have his fingers there)
the editing is slightly off (a little cool - and there is a green cast on his skin)
etc. 

and i'm sure in another year i'll be looking at this post and thinking 

'caitlin, WHY did you think it was ok to post those AWFUL pictures 

of your little brother like they were something to be proud of?!' 

but i am proud! because it's not just about the pictures - it's about the time/effort/energy that
goes into this. it's demanding. and rewarding. and i'm SO JAZZED to see where this all goes!

happy tuesday y'all! enjoy the beginning of July and the 4th tomorrow! 

how to make a pincushion | caitlin elizabeth photography | eastern shore photographer

since moving in to the new apartment i have space for an OFFICE.

and BESIDES the canvases of my beautiful clients on the once all-white walls 

and my computer (which is like a child to me. sad, but true)

my FAVORITE thing about the room is my craft table. (it might eventually be the 

old chest i picked up from a local thrift store that i'm going to finagle into a filing system,

but that isn't done yet - so for now, it's the craft table)

here's a look-see into the behind the scenes:

over the weekend i started making curtains for the apartment - will's mama was nice

enough to lend me her sewing machine!!

as i was getting stuff together though, i realized that i didn't have a pincushion!

i guess it got left behind in the move :( 

but it's ok, because i'm going to show you my quick alternative to the traditional pin cushion!!

i made this FOR FREE using things i already had 

 i took a piece of muslin (which i use for my packaging!) and cut it into a square

i pulled it tight around the mouth of the jar

and screwed the mason jar lid on

voila! i put some in the top, but put the rest in the bottom

i'm thinking about maybe using a wide-mouth jar so i can put allllll of my pins on the top

and then filling the jar itself with old buttons! that way it would be a little more decorative :)

what do you think?!

there you have it! an easy, FREE alternative to purchasing a pincushion

:)

eastern shore photographer | caitlin elizabeth photography | eastern shore of virginia

that's it.

i'm throwing my hands in the air.

 giving up.

and finally admitting:

i'm in love with the eastern shore.

it's like home - with water on both sides.

the beauty. the people. the fellowship.

i'm in love.

this week is bible school, so i'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off

(my kindergarten class is TOO CUTE - and we're DEFINITELY going to win the participation

award for the music portion of the week... we already know allllllll of the 

motions to our VBS songs!!)

i'm going to have a caitlin elizabeth photography CASTING CALL for models for a 

few upcoming projects... so tell all your friends on the shore!!

:)

caitlin elizabeth photography | wine a day | eastern shore photographer

through friends of ours, will and i have discovered a brand of wine called 'lucky duck' 

it's SUPER affordable and some of the flavors 

(does wine have 'flavors'? is that the right word?) are DELICIOUS.

tonight, i'm going to curl up with one of these at the table and craft my little heart out

so i can FINALLY have a few things on the walls of this all-white apartment.

i'll share my artistic endeavors here - and maybe give one away ;)

caitlin elizabeth photography | ashley, david, & baby lavin | virginia beach maternity photography

when i was in 8th grade i was a doof.
really, everyone was, it just SEEMED like i was the only one
who couldn't get a good hair cut or glasses that fit my face.
but despite my terrible fashion sense and general lack of coordination,
i was on the jv cheering squad (i know, i'm still trying to figure that out too).

occasionally we were allowed to watch the varsity squad as they practiced for competition,
and i SPECIFICALLY remember this one particular practice like it was yesterday:
i had already put my blue and gold wind-breaker on over my t-shirt.
the varsity girls had just finished practicing one last time
and i look up from closing my hawaiian print bookbag
and there was this girl, nay, a goddess,
walking off of those little blue tumbling mats.

her russians were flawless.
her smile could light up the football sideline.
her laughter was infectious.
and i'd never actually talked to her,
but i was convinced she was the perfect combination of girl-next-door and supermodel.
and i was TERRIFIED of her.
but as she walked off of that mat, she looked up and she smiled at me.
and i thought i would DIE. OHMYGOODNESS ASHLEY FISHER JUST SMILED AT ME.

let me clarify: i was NOT scared of her because she was mean,
she was just intimidatingly all-around all-american.  and gosh she was just so pretty.

so when this goddess emailed me asking ME to take maternity photos for her
i FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR.
and then i picked myself up and responded with something along the lines of:
YES PLEASE!!!!!

ashley and david, it was SO FUN frolicking with y'all at the beach - thanks for being good sports,
playing in the water, and getting sandy with me :)
and a big CONGRATULATIONS to both of you!
i can't wait to meet boop :)


hair: chelsea styles
makeup: kristinemarie makeup artistry

david practicing his reading skills ;)

SEE. GODDESS.

doesn't she have the cutest baby belly ever?!

ashley is the owner of ruffled skirt designs and she had all of these super cute ideas for the session!

gosh i love this next one:

HAWT. SAUCE. pouuuuurin' it on!!

this baby blanket was BEAUTIFUL!  

gah!!