the skinny. the long-winded, over-amplified skinny.

I totally plan on doing some blogging today (do you  know that I have a Blog To Do List? I do. And there's like 15 items on it. Lord have mercy.). Because I do have multiple sessions AND a wedding that I have got to show you! But, first, a heads up... I was going through my calender and beckoning spring lining up all of the events and promo's (yes, events and promos! woot!), and I realized that I have very few openings this year due to my heavy wedding load! It would be ideal to import a calender here for you to see, but I'm not that cool.

I should probably add that I was a super (uneducated) freak last year and thought that booking 5-8 sessions a week was feasible. It is not. I have four gorgeous kids that I completely neglected to "professionally" photograph. (I know, right?!) I have a husband that deserves a wife. And a house that shouldn't ever be the train wreck that it is was. ;) I have a fabulous church that I love being involved in. You'll find me there Sunday mornings. I'm also there, teaching preschool choir, Sunday evenings. I'm heading up an Outreach in May that I have a passion for, and the Lord reminded me that I was making poor choices when it came to time management (you know, like when I was blaming Him for my dark circles and intense coffee addiction?). Therefore, I am now only shooting on Wednesdays and Saturdays (maybe a couple Friday evenings, if I'm feeling spunky).

I have two weddings a month from May until October (with the exception of September, which there is only 1). Which means that I only have two other Saturdays a month for sessions! Here is how it's lookin' for availability for the next few months:

March: Wednesdays and the 19th
April: Wednesdays and the 2nd, 16th and 23rd
May: Wednesday the 18th and Wednesday the 25th
June: Wednesday the 15th and 22nd and Saturday the 18th
July: Wednesday the 6th and Saturday the 9th
August: Wednesdays and Saturday the 6th

Without sounding cliche? Book early. (I'm also not cool enough (or have the time) to figure out how to do that cute lil' mark above the 'e'. g'head and offer up your free tutorial. I'd dig it.) Anyway... I cannot be as lenient this year and squeeze people in. I have to stick to my guns or I'm gonna have to check myself into the psych ward. You think I'm kidding?! Understand, I am crazy, in love with my camera. I'd sew it to my hip and never get sick of it. I am head over heels for the people I've met this far and uber pumped for the people I still will meet. The rush is resilient. The Lord told me August of 2009 that this would work, but I gotta do it His way! So, there ya have it, folks. My next few months in a nutshell. Well, add in a few stinky diapers and missing sippee cups stinking up the ol' Mercury and we're all set.

(Oh, and for my fabulous previous clients? Yes, there has been a price increase for my sessions. After much consideration and evaluating my first full year, adjustments just HAD to be made. But, I do plan on incorporating many ways for you to chisle some dough off the fees. (pay attention to my Facebook Fan Page. I will do most of my contests there!) And I have a referal program! I love y'all and sooo appreciate your business, so I promise to be fair!)

THANK YOU for your support and encouragement, and for trusting me with your families precious memories!! Here's to another awesome, crazy, busy, GLORIFIED season!




*this is my precious baby #4. I took these last week. LAST WEEK. it had been almost a year... ya feel me?!



spring savings

     Regular Session @ DISCOUNTED Price! Perfect for spring FAMILY or EASTER photos! Featuring LIVE BUNNIES and other SuPeR cUtE props, AND includes special Easter KEEPSAKE! Limited openings! $50 deposit required to book. Email nicoleleephotography@yahoo.com for your spot today!

COMPLETELY BOOKED as of 2/15! (if you'd like to be on the waiting list, please email me!)

iheartfaces weekly photo challenge "hearts"

This is my first time entering the iheartfaces photo challenge, but being that I had a few great "heart" images, I couldn't NOT enter! I had a hard time choosing between four of my favorite, so I left it up to my fans to decide! And here is the People's Choice entry....

....and I am quite happy with their choice! These two sisters hold a very special place in MY heart. The irony in the challenge, the image and the meaning behind it AND my love for these two is beautiful really! You can view their entire Sassafrass Sister Session here. Aren't they lovely?! Big, huge, sassy love to my girls and many thanks to my fans for their help!!

If you have an apple and I have an apple...

So, I'm in the market for a (preferably local) vendor that would be interested in exchanging merchandise for photographs of said merchandise, with the option of marketing/advertising designs. I do all of my own ads with my own photos. If you like what you see, and think your favorite vendor would, too, AND you would like to see NLP pair up with some of your favorite hair bows or tutu's, etc., I would love for you to be the middle (wo)man!

I have a million ideas running through my noggin about PROMOS for the months to come. Some of these ideas would be fabulously incorporated into another business specializing in making our children look even cuter! I'd love to spill the beans, but I'd hate for my brain to be sold...well...given away! (annnnd, anticipation is fun.)

Here's what I suggest: email everyone you know that has one, or knows someone that has one, of these types of businesses and tell them how freakin' awesome NLP is forward this information and this information to those you think would be down to barter. ;)

Here's what I will give you if YOU bring two worlds together: a free mini session jam-packed with your favorite items from your favorite vendor to choose from!

In the words of my superly handsome and brilliant seven-year-old, "Easy cheesy!"

And because I could not possibly create a post without a photograph; here ya go:

{Proverbs 27:17}

think sweetheart. think snapshot.

Click HERE to view the options!

"How did it get so late so soon?!...

...Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?!” -Dr.Seuss

Dude was really on to somethin'.

On one foot, it seems as though August through December lasted all of maybe five minutes, and on the other, as though it lasted five years. If I could recap those months, they would look something like this:

You think I'm kiddin'? 

Ok, ok. I know. That's not me. (I looked worse than that.) But, one day out of those months for sure looked like this:

Yep. Sideways.

I lost mucho sleep, but I gained mucho knowledge (and wrinkles and grey hairs).  And met a ton of cool people in the process. And took a lot of cool photographs that I'm pretty stinkin' proud of. So, all in all, mucho cool.

You're welcome to check out the real deal of my crazy, wild ride here. I devoted the little updating time I had to Facebook. But, alongside some other things, I'm thinkin' that's gonna change a bit this year. (I'll fill ya in on more of that later.) 

That being said, this is what the next few months will look like:

And a little bit of this:

And, for January, a bit of this:



I'm uber excited about what this year has in store. The Lord blessed my brains out in twenty-ten. I NEVER dreamed I would have experienced 96 sessions in a year. NINETY SIX! (with 33 in one month! that was just crazy fabulous!) AND my first wedding (check it)!

NLP is going to be even better this year, peeps. Fresh ideas, more funk and just as much fun.

Get excited.

learning to dance in the rain...

all kinds of happenings for NLP. tons-o-updates to come, but until then, here's a little peek at what I did today. in the pouring rain. with an umbrella down the back of my coat.


thank you, Lord, for RAIN (in allll forms, y'all.). and little girls willing to play in it.