…TFP’s Top 25 photos of 2011 and a contest! As I’ve processed this year and what each of you have meant to my business, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. It’s been a big year for me as I’ve continued to grow my business, find myself in my art, and develop my niche. As a big exclamation point to the year, I recently spent time sifting through all my sessions of 2011. I smiled. A lot.

There’s nothing diplomatic about this list of favorites; perhaps I should have been. They’re listed in no particular order. They just spoke to me– for multiple reasons.

Leave a comment with your favorite image’s number. On January 4, I’ll randomly choose a person who has commented to receive a $50 print credit for 2012! You may leave more than one comment, but your name will only be entered into the drawing once!

Enjoy.

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#1 Oh Julia, you’re just beautiful.
#2 I love her styling. I love the tender look.

#3 The Wiley girls were one of my favorite sessions of the year. Not only were they styled perfectly (Go, Jenni!), but I left their session just loving WHO they were. So special.

#4 The warm, summer light. The unique location. One of the Falder’s favorite families.

#5 Cristin lives in Alaska. Although we had talked on the phone, we met for the first time on her wedding day. This picture represents more than a beautiful bride (and she WAS a beautiful bride); it represents a bride who TRUSTS me– even when I tell that bride to lie on the bed in her freshly pressed wedding dress!

#6 Most of you know that I don’t accept many senior sessions, but after working with Taylor earlier this year, I knew I wanted to be her Senior photographer. We worked for this image. The sunlight was intense so I was blinding myself through my camera lens, and I wanted her face to be just as I had envisioned in my head. She nailed it .

#7 It’s no secret that I love to shoot grandparents. Often times grandparents see my camera and then pose formally and smile directly at me. I love this couple. They completely ignored me and allowed me to capture them– just as they are!

#8 Aaah. Light. If only I could bottle it and take it with me. There was a storm about 45 minutes before this session began. I love the glistening, warm light and these two siblings showing a tender moment in a time of their lives when they could have been rolling their eyes!

#9 A stolen moment in the drive-away car!

#10 I want to sing the Cover Girl commercial! No really, there were a lot of pictures I liked in Holyn’s session, but I’m proud of this one. I  love that she looks fresh and beautiful and happy– just as she should.

#11 The perfect lighting and almost S.O.O.C. (straight out of camera). I’m proud of this one.

#12 I told her to tease him with her lips without kissing him. This was his immediate reaction. Priceless!

#13 Beautiful light. Beautiful girls. A cool Chicago hotel rooftop. Need I say more?

#14 Her eyes. The writing on her hand. His gentle, calm face. [sigh]

#15 A mother’s pure joy. Captured.

#16 I told her to close her eyes. It was just her and me. She was completely in the moment… trusting me… and so content…

#17 Reason #572 why I love working with a second shooter: While I was taking family pictures with the groom and his parents, I turned around and captured this shot. The bride could have been standing, just waiting for her turn to join our pictures, but Molly, my second shooter, made sure not to waste the brides’ time or the beautiful light peeking through the Chicago skyscrapers! They were my favorite bridal shots of the day.

#18 There’s some wedding parties that I’ll always remember. This is one of them. They were so kind. It’s not too often we can walk down the middle of a street without any concern of a car. Unless, of course, you’re in Wolcott, Indiana!

#19 Perfect. Sweet. Faces.

#20 Tender. Passionate. Intimate.

#21 We were playing a game. It wasn’t the shot I was looking for. But that’s why I like it. It’s unexpected.

#22 The joy found from a boy and his new dad. It makes me smile.

#23 Laughing together. Holding hands. Nothing else in the picture to distract. I wish I had a shot like this of me and my grandmother.

#24 What a handsome groom! And his fiance told me he didn’t like to get his picture taken

#25 A mother’s complete, selfless, infinite love for her daughter.

And because I just couldn’t leave out this image, I decided to include 26! It’s my blog. I can make the rules, right?!
#26 It’s not a typical TFP image. Maybe that’s why I like it so much. Wowser. You go, Melissa!

Thanks for a great 2011. There’s some exciting things on the horizon for TFP in 2012! I can’t wait to share it all with you! Remember to comment below!