Charlie and Rachel (and Oliver) are Engaged!

Last week Rachel and Charlie came over from Orlando so that we could shoot some engagement photos. Rachel contacted me a few months ago, and I'll always remember her email: "I have researched long and hard, and I have decided that I like your pictures and style the best!" Wow! After an email like that, I couldn't wait to meet the two and shoot their pictures.

I enjoyed working with the couple and their little "kid", Oliver. He is definitely one cute (and slightly spoiled! :)) puppy. I realized that shooting dogs is not too different from three-year-olds - neither sits still or listens to me! It was fun to try, though ;)

I love Oliver's expression in this one!

I think Rachel has one of the biggest rocks I've ever seen! Good job, Charlie! :)

Oliver was just DYING to chase the birds :)

Congratulations on your engagement, you two. Thank you so much for spending the afternoon with me!

Congratulations Thomas and Sheiresa!

I have really been so blessed - I get to work with the most amazing couples. And Thomas and Sheiresa were no exception! This couple lives up in New York, and were married there, but they were planning their honeymoon in Orlando. Because they didn't have a photographer then, they decided that they wanted some pictures while they were on their honeymoon.
We met up in Cocoa, and it was a beautiful (though a little chilly, at least for this southerner!) day for a shoot. Sheiresa started off in her Chinese dress, which she wore to honor Thomas's background. It was a gorgeous dress!

Then we headed over to the beach, and Sheiresa changed into her traditional white dress. I found out during the shoot that she actually got the dress just for these pictures; she wore her Chinese dress for their wedding!

I love the light in the next series of pictures.

Congratulations you two! I enjoyed getting to know and work with you both, and I pray God's blessings on your new marriage.

America's Cutest Family

Could it be yours?

I am excited to announce that I am participating in an International Charity Model Search to select North America’s Cutest Family and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. (NILMDTS.org) NILMDTS is an organization that pairs photographers with families whose babies will never leave the hospital alive, so that the families can have photos free of charge that they will treasure forever.

Are your loved ones North America’s Cutest Family? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! Many exciting prizes will be awarded, and the grand prize winner receives A NEW CAR!

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org).

Grand prize international winner will be determined from the 52 city finalists. The winners will be selected from the finalist gallery by photography and modeling industry experts. The winning family also receives a session with the renowned portrait artist Sandy Puc’ and international recognition.

Call (321) 368-9639 or email me at caroline@carolinenicolephotography.com now to enter your family in this exciting contest!

So Proud

Growing up, it would be an understatement to say that my little sister Jessica and I did not get along. Our parents got married when I was about 9 and she was about 4, and I thought she was a brat. And I don't think she had a much higher opinion of me!
As we got older, things slowly improved, especially after I went off to college. At that point we at least got along.
And now that we are adults, I think it is safe to say that we are friends. I had the honor of photographing her engagement, wedding, and the birth of her baby Laynie. And posted below are a few shots that I grabbed for their Christmas cards (yes, I know, I am a bit late in posting these!). Little Laynie cracked me up: she is just a tad on the serious side. We could not get her to smile for a single shot! Scott and Jessica claim that she does sometimes, though.
But really I just want to say to Jessica: I am so proud of you! I am proud of the beautiful woman, wife, and mother that you are. Even though things aren't always easy, you have handled everything with grace and wisdom. Dad would be so proud. I love you!

My Anna: 9 Months Old!

I know I say it all the time, but I really can't believe how quickly time flies! And I know I have been really bad about posting pictures. I realized the other day that not only was I late in posting some 9 month pictures of Anna, but I'd completely forgotten about the 8 month ones. So, here's an unusually long post to catch up on both :)

First is the "naked chair" picture.. haha. But you can really see how big and strong she's getting, as well as how much hair she has now!

And here are some of her in her room at 8 months. For those of you who don't know the story, it was quite a long process to get her in her pink room - but I love the result! I love sitting in there with her and playing.

And here are some, also at 8 months, of her in her Christmas outfit. I am having SO MUCH fun dressing up my little girl! For those of you who are interested in the bows, it was made by my beautiful friend Shannon, you can get more info here.

And of course Chris had to join in the fun :)

And here she is at 9 months. A good part of our day is spent on the living room floor (a.k.a. our "playroom") with about a million toys all over the place!

Just like her brother, Anna is always happy outside!

The weather has finally been warming up, so we've been going out a bit more. Chris loves to ride his bike (no, we didn't buy our son a pink bike. It was a hand-me-down from a neighbor!)

This is how we've spent far too many days: all bundled up! I am SO GLAD it is warmer now!

The exersaucer is on it's way out- she is rarely happy in it any more. Though she can't crawl yet, she scoots and pulls herself wherever she wants to go. So she does not appreciate being trapped! I did manage to get this shot of her in it, though.

Her newest passion, though, is those little Gerber Puffs. She LOVES them! Whenever I even pull the container out, she gets really excited and starts waving her arms and legs and making all kinds of noises. And she is really good at getting them in her mouth.

(Chris begged me to take his picture too)

She also loves her sippy cup, which is a good thing since she doesn't like bottles.

My baby girl (and boy!) is growing up!