Make New Friends...Asheville Family Photographer, Sonya Stone

But keep the old! The best compliment a client can pay me is to be a repeat customer! I will add this to the long list of reasons I love my job...seeing kids grow up and helping parents to revel in the present and cherish this moment always. When I last photographed this family, little brother was just a newborn! When they arrived for their mini-session, I almost fell out! Two years goes so fast especially the first two years! It was great seeing them all again.









and I couldn't resist...here is a favorite from the newborn session. :)

Back to School: Asheville Children's Photographer, Sonya Stone

This year we made a big transition as a family...we enrolled our girls in full time school. It's the standard of most families, but up until now, we have choosen to home school. The change in schedule and routine is huge and so far, so good.

Just before the first day of school, I realized the magnitude of this step, especially for my third grader. Of course, we had to take some photographs! Remember the standard school pictures? Cookie cutter poses, lame props, assembly line experience...yikes! I shutter at the thought. But these are the kind of school photos I want for my kids! If you want some for your family, let me know. ;)

Playtime: Asheville Child Photographer, Sonya Stone

One of the things I have loved about homeschooling are the amazing people we get to hang with and the cool projects that we do. This week we had so much fun dyeing shirts, play silks, pouches, skirts, shorts, even socks! Here's my big girl mixing some things up...

my boy doing his thing, hamming it up for the camera, being silly in the dye prewash tub!

my little girl giving me "the look"

and one of my favorite kiddos...I was at his birth so we're like, bonded. ;)

Getting Away: Asheville Family Photographer, Sonya Stone

We all have great memories of summer vacations as a kid, maybe even one in particular. Mine was a trip to St. Augustine when I was 7. As I met this family, I thought about that vacation and smiled. I think these kids are going to look back on their trip to Asheville for many years. Time together as a family with good friends...having fun, trying new things...the good stuff of life. Mandatory in childhood and often put aside when we grow up. But we still have the memories...

my loves: Asheville Child Photographer, Sonya Stone

Sometimes I even photograph my own family. My kids are especially cute...according to me. They are not especially compliant with photo shoots however, which is a real bummer for me. But every now and again, I catch them off guard.

Taking it to the Social Network: Asheville Photographer, Sonya Stone

I'm not sure exactly why I resisted this so. But I have finally come around to the current state of things and am hosting a Facebook page for my photography. Maybe it was because I wanted to have a personal page to keep some images just as snapshots...like the ones of my twins running down the street naked taken with my iphone. Both because I didn't want to be judged on these random everyday shots that are really just for giggles for my long distance family members & because I don't need DSS calling me up saying, "how come you let your kid run naked in the street?" Puh-leeze. They run in the street with or without clothes, how am I supposed to stop them?

Anyway, now I am a convert. I have opened up the pandora's box of Facebook giving me yet another place to share images and specials and connect with people who like me and who I like, which is really one of the biggest reasons I love my job SO much! Connection. Through the inquiry process, through the session, through the image, through the print...from you and your family to me to anyone who ever sees your beautiful photograph forever...ahhhhhh. yes. that is why I do what I do. Connection...it's magic.

Ok, so if you want to join me in the land of social networking, get on over to Facebook and like Sonya Stone -Asheville, NC Photographer...and it will warm my heart and inspire me to do some giveaway. Cause that's how it goes. I feel good that you like me/my work, and I get all mushy, gushy and think...I want to do something nice for all these sweet people.

And if you don't like Facebook or don't want to like me on Facebook, that's okay too. I'll still be blogging from time to time. Hope you had a happy start to your summer and I'll look forward to hearing from you soon!

Full Bloom: Asheville Family Photographer, Sonya Stone

As a storm rolled in across the mountains, we almost canceled this session. Thankfully, we decided to give it a shot and the weather held out. The result? Perfect timing for their blooming flowers and their blooming family! A sweet baby girl who just celebrated her first birthday and a gorgeous family. And when our session was graced with a beautiful butterfly who was content to hang out for a few photos, I wasn't complaining.

intimate vows: Asheville Photographer, Sonya Stone

Love is sacred and the vows of marriage are intimate. Maybe that's why I like small wedding ceremonies. There is a tenderness to an event that is shared with only your closest family and friends. I was honored to photograph a wedding like this at the Sweet Biscuit Inn recently. Enjoy a little peek into the special day...congratulations R & M!

Mother's Day Gift: Family & Child Portrait Photographer, Sonya Stone

I am unbelievably excited that Spring is here! The beautiful colors, the warmer weather, the spark that ignites growth and light. Yay! And to celebrate, I am offering a Spring Mini Session special just in time for Mother's Day. Because let's face it, I am a mother...I know what mother's like. They like photos! Scratch that...they LOVE photos. They love photos of their babies, who may be not so little any more, but will always be their babies!

SO if you have a mother, are a mother, are married to/dating/friends with a mother, let me offer a golden piece of advice, get beautiful, keepsake photographs for Mother's Day and you will hit the home run of gift giving. If you have children who are small and/or husbands who are gift giving challenged, GIFT YOURSELF. You have a right. And everyone will understand and thank you for it. Trust me.

Here are the details, the weekend of April 9 & 10, I will photograph children, families, pets, and the like all in the name of celebrating Mom. I will discount my session fee over $50 to give you an opportunity to have custom family or child portraits. You can order prints that are guaranteed to be delivered by Mother's Day. So you can have gifts wrapped and ready to go. And if you include Mom in the session, you get to tell her what the gift is and milk this truly awesome gift for a whole month before Mother's Day.

Then when she opens her prints on Mother's Day, viola; she will be overcome with joy and will be grateful for the whole next year. Make that her whole life because this moment in time cannot be replayed. It is in the here and now that we are laughing and playing and loving. It is here and then it is gone. But the photographs that you hang and archive, those will be the keepsakes that keep these sweet memories alive.

Get in touch and I'll fill you in on the details. And in the meantime, enjoy these photographs of an incredibly cute, sweet boy from last year's Spring minis.

baby power: Asheville Newborn Photographer, Sonya Stone

there are no words to describe how amazing new babies are. and this little guy...talk about amazing. born at just 32 weeks, I photographed him the day after his original estimated due date. and look at him. a miracle, a testament to the power of spirit. he is loved so completely. it was a blessing to me to just be a witness to this family's love affair with this precious little person. he is brand new to this world but already he has come so far. and his parents could not be any sweeter...I mean LOOK at these guys. oh, melt my heart! how I wish everyone could have these kinds of photographs of their babies and their loves!

baby fever: Asheville Baby Photographer Sonya Stone

Oh, the beauty of newborns...how I can I be expected to resist these cheeks? So soft and chubby! I think I am done having babies of my own but an occupational benefit/hazard is that I get to snuggle sweet babies. And when they look like this...

Lord, have mercy!

Also, you may have noticed the new and improved larger images on the blog. You may have also noticed that I'm picking up the steam again on blogging. These two things go hand in hand. I was not pleased with the small images on my blog so I was not motivated to get on here and post images. But now, bigger is better and it is boosting the bloggin' so let's celebrate! I'm going to be hosting a giveaway cause I'm excited and it's almost spring and life is good...so stay tuned.