Welcome Braxton Michael!

Here is our newest Itty Bitty baby boy.  Katie and Jason contacted us about a BirthStory months back and upon meeting them I was so excited for their upcoming arrival.  They are the sweetest couple and at the newborn session Braxton tried to stay awake and Mom and Dad kept their cool and were so very patient and helpful and it paid off!!  Check out his announcement design...

Here is the front:

Here is the back:

Welcome Itty Bitty Liam

Welcome Itty Bitty Liam!!! He is the second baby boy of my dear friend Meghan and her hubby, Tom. I must say, this married couple makes some CUTEEEEEE CUTEEEEEE babies, and Liam is no exception!!!      Look at that little smirk he gave the camera!!   This kid was born ready to be adored!!  

Welcome Itty Bitty Claire!

We recently did a newborn session for this little angel!    It was the final shoot in her birthstory, and it was extra special, because were were also there for Big Sister, Jane's Birthstory almost two years ago!   Time flies, but it is always special when we get to follow the family on their journey through the years! Here is Miss Claire's adorable announcement!     

Welcome Itty Bitty Olivia!

I am loving all things Olivia right now.   John Mayer just dropped his new album Born & Raised on 5/22 which features a song I can not seem to get out of my head titled, "Something Like Olivia".   Quick apology to Andy, Laura and baby Olivia who had to endure my attempt at singing while shooting their Itty Bitty Session.   :)    I wanted to keep this design girly, simple, and beautiful.    I used the soft color palate of neutrals, pale green, and shades of pink to keep it all flowing together.   I am in love with this little lady!!   

(one side of the announcement is on the top 1/2 below.  other side is the bottom 1/2.)

Welcome Itty Bitty Will!!!

First we met Christi and Dan when they were anticipating the arrival of Grant.    It was love at first sight with this little man....and that love has only grown and grown!    His big blue eyes, that blonde spiky hair, and the most recent development......he says my name, but only in that cute, remind me of my baby brother kind of way.......   "Ash-ee!"......Just when I did not think I could fall in love with this family any more.....BAM.....Christi tells me the news that they are expecting, and she wants us to capture a BirthStory for their baby boy on the way.    I am proud to introduce to you all   William Christopher!!!!    Can't wait to share the rest of this BirthStory with you all!!!     

Welcome to the World: Madilyn Grace

I met Madilyn's mom about six years ago.  I was honored when she asked me to capture her BirthStory.   I always knew she was going to have a girl, so it came as no surprise when she called me with the news....but when she shared the baby girl on the way's name, I could not help but smile.   It's a name that holds a pretty near and dear place to my heart......a name that my niece shares (with just a little different spelling).   Welcome to this big world Madilyn Grace.   Can't wait to share the rest of the BirthStory with y'all!  

Meet Itty Bitty Stella

Take a look at the Itty Bitty Announcement for one of the 7, that's right 7 BirthStories currently in the works.  Meet Stella, and have your heart melted.   :) 

Welcome Itty Bitty Kennedy!

"Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice."

Everything about this announcement screams sweet baby girl to me.  Welcome to the LeLe baby club Kennedy!  :)   The front of the announcement is on the left, then the right is what you will see when they flip it over.  :) 

Welcome Itty Bitty Ryan

Another day, another LeLe baby!!!   Meet Ryan.   Chubby little cheeks.  Cabbage Patch Kids style brown hair.  Blue eyes to melt your heart with.   I couldn't decide on which style announcement I liked better......so I need your help!

Announcement #1......

Or Announcement #2.........?

Welcome Itty Bitty Peyton!

For anyone who may not already know....a little something something about me......I am a yogi.  I have done yoga for about 7 years.  I started teaching about 2 years ago for fun.  I made it my new years resolution to become certified.  By February, I was teaching and leading other yogis from handstands to downward dogs.  Months ago, I began to notice that one of my students was cooking up a little bun in the oven.  I gave her my card after class and she reserved her Itty Bitty session months in advance.   Here is her beautiful baby girl!    Congrats Dan and Mary!  And Mary....can't wait to have you back in our Monday and Thursday classes!!!  :)     xo   

And.......Game 6 of the NLCS starts in less than 2 hours!!!!  COME ON BIRDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ryder's BirthStory: Imagine. Believe. Achieve

"Let the beauty we love be what we do." 

-Rumi

"The starting point of all achievement is desire."  Strong desire only creates stronger results.  I give all of me in every shoot that I take on.   I think it is impossible not to when you get to do something you are so passionate about on a daily basis.   I become emotionally invested into my clients, their stories, and figuring out a way to truly capture the essence of the emotions that they are feeling at that exact moment in time.  I make it my goal to document it in a way that whether it be 5 months or 5 years later, the moment they look at those pictures ,they are instantaneously brought back to what they were feeling at that exact moment.  I am constantly planning, thinking, and trying to push myself to the next level and capture the beauty of life.

I never know when the moment is going to happen, and out of nowhere..... BAM!  There it is.....That feeling.  A feeling I had never really felt before and was unsure of what it was.  I can remember the exact times this feeling has happened.  The first time was when I was editing Kelly and Terry's wedding in October of 2009.  I began looking through the images from their day, and immediately felt overwhelmed with a sense of wonder.  A sense of "Did I really do this?"  A feeling that is powerful enough to stop me in my tracks and immediately trigger tears that begin to well up.  That moment happened again while editing this BirthStory.   I took the time to stop in that humbling moment, and take time to recognize it for what it is, a milestone in my creative journey.  It is what it feels like when an aspiration becomes a reality.  It is everything that I have worked towards and have tried to create staring at me through my iMac screen.  The realization that my vision was reached and now transcends into the next chapter of what I hold my creative standard to.    

(Below are a few of those images that triggered that moment.)

Kelly & Terry (2009)

and HERE is their wedding blog

There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing my clients watch their BirthStory or see their images for the first time.  They get a glimpse at the moments they may not have even realized were happening.  Snippets in time they will never get back.  When my clients thank me, I smile, but honestly, I feel as if it should be the other way around.  I hold such gratitude towards my clients.  They invite me into their lives.  They allow me to witness, document and become a part of their most intimate moments.  To Jen, Erik and every other client who has been a part of becoming the photographer and person I am today, shaped the artist I work towards becoming, and allowed me to dream a little bigger....I am forever thankful for you.

Here is Ryder's BirthStory.  Turn up the volume, grab some tissues, sit back and press play.   

Ryder BirthStory from LeLe Photography

Imagine. Believe. Achieve.

Welcome Itty Bitty Ryder!

I must forewarn you....this family is hot! They could not be any more perfect if they tried. The moment I met them, I was so thankful that they had found us. Not only are they super easy to photograph, I instantly felt like I had known them for years. We became instant friends. They did an entire LeLe BirthStory, which I can NOT wait to share. At times I am a little indecisive. Today was one of those days. I could not decide for the life of me which theme I wanted to go with for their announcement.....so I made two. Let me know which one you like best......

1. Ryder's room is decorated in a vintage cowboy theme filled with olive greens, dark reds, browns, and stars, lots of stars......This western theme was my inspiration....

2. I went with the picture. Basic, classic, and clean boy announcement......

Which one will it be!?

Welcome Itty Bitty Evie! (Hi! My name's Ashley!)

"Hi! My name's Ashley. What's your name?"

My sister always tells the story. We were in the checkout line at Schnuck's grocery store. Alicea, the shy one, would blush as I would try to make friends with everyone we came across, yes.....even the checkout lady, oh and the bagger boy. I would march my way up to anyone and everyone, introduce myself, ask their name, and then ask them to be my friend. From four years old all the way until today, some things never change. I have always been drawn to people....connections with people. You never know how one person can change your life in a big, small or unknown at the time kind of way.

This brings me to our second Itty Bitty Session of the day. When we showed up for the session, I asked the mom how she found out about LeLe. She said, well actually....."My husband sat next to you on a flight and brought your business card home." It all clicked!!! I remembered exactly what she was talking about! Her husband, Evie's dad, was sitting next to me on my flight to San Francisco. I was working on my iPad, and he kept noticing the baby and family pics. So we started chatting and he told me how him and his wife were expecting, how she is a graphic designer, and I told him how he had to look up our stuff and call us when their baby arrived!! Five months later.... we captured the pictures of the absolutely adorable Evie. The real kicker, they live less than 5 miles away from me! Small world. Here is that family I would never have had the opportunity to meet if I hadn't had taken the time to say, "Hi! My name's Ashley. What's your name!?"

Best furniture ad ever below........

I had to feature this nursery on the blog. It is one of my favorites for a little girl that I have ever seen. The soft blue, mixed with the pink. The tree on the wall and the mobile that I LOVE! The refinished knobs on the dresser.....love it all.

Love this one. Looks like Evie is flexin' too!

Welcome Itty Bitty Jack!

I never really know how many people actually read my blog. It's true. I love writing, I love posting new pics from my most recent sessions, One thing is for certain, I ALWAYS check my reader comments. I love them, and I honestly get a little bummed when the bottom of my blog reads "0 User Comments". Womp Womp. It is the one source of feedback after all of the work that I put into a session. I love sharing my life with people....even though I don't really know who exactly those people are. When we arrived at Jack's Itty Bitty Session, we began to set up and Edie had me literally laughing out loud when she was telling me how much she loves our blog and my Facebook page. She went on to tell me, "We read it in bed.....well Chris usually reads books, and I read the blogs and make him check them out." I began to envision the two of them in bed snuggled up to a laptop reading my random Facebook posts about everything from music to my clients to my travels..... Well Edie and Chris....Snuggle up and get ready to smile, ohhh and ahhhhh, because I have an extremely special one for the two of you for today. Your family is absolutely beautiful and you are the LeLe Blog Stars today! Thank you for inviting us back into your lives to capture your growing family. :) xoxo

Could you two make any more perfect babies??! I think not.
Remember this from last summer????

Well what a difference a year can make! Ann-Dyas grew up so much and she now has a little brother......

Classic. Beautiful. Timeless.
This little girl... Full of personality!!!
It's crazy to think that 7 days before, he was just like that in Edie's belly.....

Sometimes I see things and just know that it was meant to actually be a photo prop. Like this Antique Dresser.

Welcome Itty Bitty Gianna!

Her little pink hat. Her stunning blue eyes. 10 perfect little toes, and that little baby nose. I fell in love with all of it. We were there to welcome Gianna home. Here is her personalized Birth Announcement.......

The Front

and then you flip it over.......

I had to leave you with a few more of my favorites....

Pilar: you are an absolutely stunning mother. :)

Check out Gianna's Slideshow HERE.