I first met this family for their maternity shoot July, 2009.  Soon after in Aug, 2009 I had the privilege of capturing their first born son.  Fast forward to September 2010, I was once again allowed the opportunity to capture this adorable little family for little man’s first birthday.  This time, they shared some very exciting news with me!!  They were expecting their 2nd baby!!!  I ♥ following “my” families and watching them grow.   So, in Feb 2011 we met again for their 2nd maternity session and this past weekend, I captured their 2nd gorgeous little man.

By the looks of the last set of pictures, they MIGHT just have their hands full.   

Mark & Becky thank you so very much for allowing me to capture these special times in your life!!!! I love feeling like a part of the family!!! 

Much ♥~Julie MayRee~

Much ♥~Julie MayRee

Our hearts are all full of joy.  The kids are super excited!! Claire asks at least 10 times a day when the baby is coming over.  I keep a little grain of rice out on the counter to remind them the size of the baby & a calendar marked on the first week of October.  Yet, they don’t grasp that the baby can’t “come over” today.  Claire asks to sit on my lap with the baby, already.   Caleb thinks we are having a boy and of course Claira thinks we are having a girl named Claira Elizabeth. 

For a few weeks I have been EXHAUSTED, queezy and maybe just a tiny bit moody   Ohhhhhhh my lucky family.  This will be the last Oli baby, so I’m soaking every single minute of the pregnancy. 

Like I said, I’ve had this idea for months, now that it comes time to pull it off…..I’m just tired.  I slapped a hat on, tried to get everyone to behave and took a couple of shots.  So…here it is….

Announcing Baby Oli #3.  

The first 2 drops in the Julie MayRee Signature Series are near and dear to my heart.

The smell of fresh baked cinnamon rolls, the warmth of Nana’s hugs, the smile on her face, the place where family gathers, the comfort that you can only feel at home.  Being 800 miles away from my home and my family has really made me treasure those small things.  I actually cried when I opened this drop.  It’s stunning and SO VERY lifelike.  To have this piece of warmth, this piece of home in my photos to treasure forever!!! The first drop (pictured) is the “Little House” at my Nana’s.  It brings back so many warm memories.  The 2nd photo is of my Grandpa’s Toolbox. This one is special because my Grandfather passed away almost 35 years ago.  I never met him but through my family, I know he was an amazing man.   I am happy that I can share these special memories and places with you through this Limited Edition Signature Series.

If you haven’t already, please check out Lemondrop Stop. They offer affordable and versatile photography backdrops and floordrops featuring a line of faux wood designs and now Limited Edition Signature Series with SUPER QUICK turnaround time!!!   Their products have absolutely NO GLARE, in ANY lighting. They use an 8-color Fine Art printer that uses non-toxic UV Pigment Inks that are environmentally friendly. (which is AWESOME! Go Green!)

A little story about the shoot with this particular drop.  I hung it up on my backdrop stands and was moving them to get them in the perfect spot. Needless to say, I knocked over my stands and this gorgeous polypaper drop laid in a crumpled ball under my stands.  *tears*  I thought for sure that I had destroyed my new drop.  I picked everything up and the drop still looked beautiful!!  Even after this little mishap. Durable, afordable, green and gorgeous are just a few words I would use to describe Lemondrop Stop’s Backdrops!!

Check us out on facebook!!!  Julie MayRee Photography and Lemondrop Stop-Backdrops!!!!!!

Shooting with Emily was fun even with the gloomy Wisconsin day which turned dark on us quickly.  It got pretty darn chilly while we were shooting, too & I didn’t hear one complaint!! Both she and her mom were super nice and a pleasure to work with!!

Emily, I hope you have an amazing senior year!! Best of luck, girl!!!!

Much ♥ ~~Julie MayRee~~

I decided to do today’s little shoot as a “thank you” to Shell.  She had mentioned that she was a little down in the dumps & I was hoping showing her how beautiful her work really is would lift her spirits a bit.  So, once I got the little man out the door to school this morning, I started collecting my headbands that Shell has made.  I ran from one end of the house to the other.  These headbands & clips are an every day accessory!  We (Claire, my 2 year old &  I) wear them out everywhere we go.  We get constant compliments on them, too.  Anyway, from one end of the house to the other….the craft table, in her bedroom, on my dresser, in  my bathroom and EVEN out in the car.  I told ya, they are everywhere!

So, this is my tribute to Shell as an awesome crafter, super sweet gal & lifelong friend.  I am every day thankful for my business & the people I get to meet through it!!!

Oh yes, she does a super cute line of jewelry, too!!!  Go on over to Petite Fleurs by Bellasma and check her out! Tell Her Julie sent ya!

Much ♥~Julie MayRee

I’m pretty darn sure that he thinks she hung the moon.  He couldn’t stop looking at her with those googly eyes and that little smile.   I loved hearing the story of how he took her to Lapham Peak to the tower to propose and how she had ripped the ring out of a magazine and given it to him and how he went out and FOUND the exact ring she had jokingly given to him some time before and how it was rainy and windy and not the best weather…but like he told her, no matter where he is or what the weather is, he will be happy as long as he has her.  *sigh*  I actually got chills as he was telling the story.  I had such a good time with this gorgeous couple!!  My goal was to convey the fun, the love & the passion these two have for each other.  I hope you enjoy their photos as much as I enjoyed getting to share in observing how much they love & care for one another.

They are BOTH soldiers in the United States Army!!!  Thank you both from the bottom of my heart for your service to Our Country.

much ♥ and respect ~~Julie MayRee

This little dude was one of my very first newborns I ever photographed.  He was also the winner of the Best of 2009 contest.  I was so excited to get the privilege to meet with him again.  When Mama got him out of the car & told me he was grumpy because he missed his nap, I was a bit nervous of what migh happen in the hour that followed.  I just have to say, I wish every grumpy child acted like this one!!!  He is sooooo super adorable.  I just wanted to love all over him.   What a fun time we had!

Happy Birthday, little man!!!

Much ♥ Julie MayRee

Much ♥

~~Julie MayRee~~

As a photographer I feel very strongly about giving back of the talents I have been given. Two years ago I chose two charities that really pulled at my heart strings.  One being Operation: Love Reunited and the other being Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Please, when you have time to really sit down and check these charities out, do so.  You will be touched! I had no “personal story” to link me to either of these charities, but I do have a heart that goes out to families in both of these situations.

I am a very passionate person and when I hear of a family like this one, sending their Daddy, their Friend, their Husband off to war, my heart just aches.  I can’t even begin to imagine all of the thoughts and emotions they experience.  THIS is why I chose OpLove as one of the main charities I donate my time & talents to. We donate a free session for deploying, depolyed and returning military families.  In pre-deployment situations like this one, once the soldier arrives at his/her base, the solider or his/her  family contacts me with the mailing address and I send a 4×6 album overseas to the soldier, free of charge.  This is a way to try to to make them feel closer to home…. a little boost…a way to have a piece of home there with them.   I hope in some way, having these photos will help the families feel closer to their soldier & the soldier closer to their families.  It’s my way of saying, “THANK YOU for your service to Our Country!”

My words often fail me (as you can see) but I pray that my art & my heart never do!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for your service!!!

Much ♥ and respect ~ Julie MayRee

“The photos and other content of this publication do not constitute or imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense.”