nicolebradshawphotography

[nicolebradshawphotography]

Allison- High School Class of 2021

I met Allison and her mom, Christa, on a warm Friday afternoon on the UNM campus, where we were able to get a variety of photos of Allison for her Senior Portrait Album! It was a pleasure to work with these wonderful ladies on this photoshoot, and Allison knocked it out of the park with these photos!

Allison is a talented, award winning artist, drawing images of wildlife- specifically ducks! She is an accomplished Girl Scout as well. Allison is is planning to study theology at a small college in Tennessee this Fall in pursuit of her dream of becoming a Pastor.

#Senior Session #UNM Duck Pond #UNM

[nicolebradshawphotography]

Road Trip!! Part Seven: Courage is Deciding Something is More Important Than Fear

I’ve had a lot of friends tell me that I’m brave to be undertaking a six-week-long road trip as the only adult with three active boys. They’ve all also said something along the lines of, “I couldn’t do it. I’d be too scared,” or, “I wouldn’t know where to start,” or, “I can’t believe Justin’s okay with this!” It’s all been said with respect and- in some cases- even a little bit of what felt like admiration. But, the truth is I’m nervous about this trip too. I’m not worried about the planning, or the lack thereof. I learned how to plan trips like this at the foot of some master trip planners: my mom and her parents. They always talked things through in front of me, teaching me to read maps, look at road signs, and what to do when things didn’t quite work out. They never hid anything from me when planning a trip, and even started making me help them as I got older (I got so good at reading maps, I got my mom lost in a residential neighborhood of Shreveport, LA one time!). I know my plan is pretty solid, with just enough wiggle room to have fun and adjust when and where necessary. But, planning is the easy part. It’s safe. It’s done from your favorite spot on the couch while binging Netflix. It’s the execution that gets most of us. Justin is okay with me taking our boys and going on this adventure. We’ve talked about it numerous times. He’s seen my detailed plans. He’s watched me prepare. And, he also knows how independent I’ve always been. He has known me for over twenty years, and has known that I’ve always, always been self-sufficient and independent. Don’t get me wrong! I LOVE being part of a team! I love our family’s team, and there is no one I’d rather co-captain this team of boys with than Justin. But, I also know that for a team to work, we all need to be able to work independently as well as together. So, when I first proposed this trip, he knew I’d be okay, and he’s fine letting me go. But, even though I know I have a solid plan and I’m capable of executing it, I’m still nervous. Self-doubt and my habit of imagining worst-case scenarios like to creep in every so often. I’ve never done anything like this without another adult before. I’m still scared I’m going to forget something, make a bad choice, or just completely screw up. But, then I remember one of my favorite scenes from The Princess Diaries. It’s one of the lesser appreciated ones, where Mia is planning to run away before her coronation as Princess of Genovia and while packing, she finds a letter to her from her dad. He tells her that courage isn’t a lack of fear, but rather the judgement that something is more important than your fear of it. I know, it’s all kinds of cheesy, but it’s true. This trip- exposing my boys to all the things we’re going to see, do, smell, hear, taste, and feel- is WAY more important than my self-doubts and fears of screwing up. They are more important, so I have courage to try. So, to sum up this next-to-last post before we leave, yep, I’m scared. But I’m doing it anyway, because they’re more important.

[nicolebradshawphotography]

Road Trip!! Part Six: 10 Days and Counting!

Okay, peeps. We’re officially 10 days out from leaving on our first (mini) road trip of the summer. We’re headed to Oklahoma for a couple of days over Memorial Day weekend, before returning home for 24 hours and then leaving on our main road trip of the summer. Things are getting real!

My car is headed to our mechanic tomorrow for it’s check up. We’re in the midst of doing copious amounts of laundry so that we have clean clothes to pack. I’m avoiding going grocery shopping so that there isn’t food left in the fridge over the weekend, and so that Justin won’t be left with more food than he needs. And, I’m trying my hardest to get all my work done before leaving.

So, here’s our rough plan (I’m not gonna give y’all all the details to protect our safety!): We’re leaving on the 2nd of June- unless I get delayed by the late arrival of a dear friend’s new baby girl!- for Texas, where we’ll spend a few days in the Dallas area, before heading to Louisiana and New Orleans. A few days after that, Mississippi and Alabama to take a quick dive into the Civil Rights movement. We’ll take a quick jaunt across Georgia to get into Florida, where we plan to spend several days with my dear aunt and cousins. There will be no Disney World on this trip, but we’re gonna see a lot of other things Florida has to offer, before heading North, through Georgia, South and North Carolina, and up into Virginia before heading West across Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas before landing back here in New Mexico.

I have lots of stops planned for the boys and myself! Museums, National Parks, the Beach, and many more! We are so excited to be hitting the road in just a few short weeks to see what we can discover along the way!

Next up: actually packing this crazy crew and all of our crap into my car!

#Adventures #Andrew #Christopher #Family #Family History #Get to Know Nicole #How to Prepare #Tips and Tricks #Just for Fun #Joshua #My Three Boys #National Parks

[nicolebradshawphotography]

Road Trip!! Part Five: Car Care and Maintenance

When I started doing my research for this trip, I found all the mommy blog posts on how to pack, and how to keep the kids entertained while in the car. They are some great resources too! There is tons of information on how to pack to make life easier, as well as plenty of car games, and how to get the kids to behave. Their lists and resources are all invaluable.

But, what I did notice was a significant lack of information on how to prepare and maintain your car before and during a road trip. I know a lot of us usually have a partner who could be termed a ‘gear-head’, but if you’re not that lucky because your partner knows less than you do (or, in my case, if your non-gear-head partner isn’t going with you), I’m gonna go over the basics you need to know here.

Engine Maintenance

The first thing to know about your engine is that you NEED to check your engine’s fluids. Yep. There’s fluid in there, and you’ve got to check it regularly. Hop on YouTube, and search your car’s make and model and then the phrase ‘how to check the fluids’. I guarantee you someone has made a video about how to do this very thing. The videos will also show you how to fill them if they’re low.

Next, make sure you get an oil change! Your car needs fresh oil in order to stay functional. If the oil is too old, or too low, your engine can seize up and stop working all together, and then, well, it’s cheaper to buy a new car. You can get your oil changed at a number of different places (including Walmart), and you should have it done every 3000 miles. So, on my upcoming trip, I’ll need to have it changed before we leave, halfway through, and when we get back, because it’s a 6000-mile-round-trip. Unless your car is already over 100,000 miles and you’re using a full synthetic oil, then you just need to change it before you leave.

You should also get your trusted mechanic to give your engine a tune-up. This involves your mechanic giving your engine a once-over to make sure everything is in working order, as well as changing out the spark plugs (they wear out) and all of the fuses (they wear out too). If something is wrong, it’s best to know now, so that you can have it repaired before you leave, rather than have it break somewhere along the way.

Tires and Brakes

Next to your engine these things are probably the most important thing on your car. If ANY of your tires do not pass the Penny Test (Take a penny, turn it upside down, and hold it in between the treads on your tires. If the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head is visible, it’s time for new tires.) it’s time for new tires. I highly recommend that you also have the tire store do a balance (it’s where they level your wheels) and alignment (it’s where they re-align all your tires and your steering wheel so they all match). It saves wear and tear on your new tires. You should also search YouTube for a tutorial on how to use a tire pressure gauge to check your tire pressure. There is a sticker on the inside frame of your driver’s door that tells you what the pressure should be for your car’s tires. If your tires are low, you can take your car to any gas station, car wash, or tire store and use (or have the store use) the air compressor to fix the problem. Beware, though that the air compressors at car washes and gas stations often require quarters (some take cards).

Brakes are just as important as your tires are, because if they’re going bad, you’re not gonna be able to stop very well at all, which leads to car accidents, and no one wants that. If your brakes are squealing when you use them, it’s time to change them. You’ll know the sound when you hear it. The easiest answer is to take the car to your mechanic and ask them to change your brakes for you. Always do them in pairs, at the very least! And, if the mechanic says you need your rotors machined/turned, give him/her the approval to do it. Your rotors are part of your braking system on your car, and you want your brakes to do their job to the best of their abilities.

You should also YouTube a video for your car to learn how to change the tire, and then practice doing so before you leave. Practice in areas that aren’t just your driveway! You won’t always be lucky enough to be on a flat, level surface doing this job. Be sure to double check your car for your tire iron and jack before you leave to make sure that they’re packed.

One smaller item that you’ll also want to check is your windshield wiper blades. If you can’t remember the last time you changed them, it’s time to change them. Places like Auto Zone, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, and even Walmart carry wiper blades for all the common models of cars. Stop in, find a pair for your car, and replace them. They just clip into place, so anyone can do this job! If you’re not sure which set you need, most auto parts stores can look it up for you.

Insurance, Registration, and Driver’s Licenses

I know paperwork doesn’t seem like it belongs in a blog post about car maintenance on a road trip, but it does. You need to check and double check that your insurance and registration, and driver’s license are all up-to-date before you leave. You need to have updated copies printed so that you can take them with you. I recently checked my driver’s license and realized that it was set to expire about a week before we leave on our road trip. Can you imagine what could have happened if I got pulled over for any reason with an expired license? Personally, I don’t want to, so I got it renewed a couple weeks ago, and I’m waiting for it to come in the mail. I also know most of us have our insurance readily available in an app on our phone, but phones also tend to die right when we need them the most, so paper copies are always nice to have.

Tollways and Other Pay-to-Drive Roads

I recently learned that a lot of the highways in Florida are also toll roads, but that instead of being able to pay at each entrance, that they scan your license plate and send you a bill later. I certainly don’t want that, so I figured out how to sign up for their local transponder service called SunPass. I also plan on keeping change in the car to pay for toll roads in other states. It’s certainly something to think about, and to keep in mind while you’re traveling.

I certainly hope that this information fills some of the gaps about car maintenance before, during, and after a road trip! Your car needs to be taken care of so that you can get to where you’re going and back safely. It certainly needs to be high on your road trip priority list. I also hope it helps you to better understand what you need to check and do before you leave!

#Andrew #Christopher #Adventures #Family #Get to Know Nicole #How to Prepare #Tips and Tricks #just for fun #Joshua #Christopher and Joshua #My Three Boys

[nicolebradshawphotography]

What to Wear for Your Senior Portrait Session

It’s quite a common question for both parents (or guardians!) and their Seniors: ‘What does my student wear for their portrait session?’ And, the answer is both really simple, and very complicated!

First things first: what style do you like to wear? Are you normally a jeans and t-shirts kind of person? Do you gravitate toward more Bohemian-type dresses and flowy skirts? Are you more of a clean lines and classic suits wearer? Whatever it is, you should plan your outfits in whatever style it is that you like best. This is NOT the time to completely change the way you dress.

Now that we’ve got that sorted, you need to pick out two outfits: one is more everyday casual (something you’d wear to school or to hang out with friends), and one is more formal (something you’d wear to Church, or for an interview). Here’s what to look for:

First and foremost, your clothes need to properly fit. They shouldn’t be so big you look like you’re wearing a bag, nor should they be so tight you look like you’re poured into them. You want to find that sweet spot in between where things fit comfortably, because the camera is only going to exaggerate how baggy or tight your clothes are otherwise.

Colors should complement each other, and please don’t be afraid of wearing them! We all know the color combinations that look good together (red and green, blue and orange, purple and red, etc..) Pick one or two and a neutral color (brown, grey, black, white, silver, gold, and denim) and no more. Otherwise, your outfit will become too distracting.

Accessories are awesome! Bring a fun hat or scarf (so long as it ‘goes’ with your outfit), wear jewelry, and certainly wear complimentary shoes! Accessories are the best and quickest way to change up your outfit for a completely different look during your session!

Makeup should be as natural-looking as possible. I know the current fashion is to have heavy eye makeup and fake eyelashes, but like clothes that don’t fit well, these things get exaggerated by the camera. Besides, a more natural look will cause your photos to be more ‘timeless’!

Hair goes one of two ways, depending on if you identify as male, or female. Males should get a haircut a week or two before their session, so they have the freshest look possible. Females should style their hair in a more natural day-to-day style, because it transitions easier between outfits.

That’s about it! I know it’s a lot to take in and try to put together, but once it comes down to it, it’s really no more than you think about while getting dressed on a daily basis. It often feels more stressful because you want to look your absolute best, rather than your everyday appearance. I’m always available to my clients for help and advice, too!

#How to Prepare #Tips and Tricks

[nicolebradshawphotography]

Road Trip!! Part Four: Keeping the Kids Entertained in the Car

There is absolutely no way that I’m spending 6 weeks or so in a car driving cross-country with my boys without providing them some sort of entertainment- besides all the places we’ll be stopping!- along the way. I hear, “Mom, I’m bored!” at least two times a piece on the 30 minute drive from Los Lunas to Albuquerque. They’re not gonna make it for 11 hours without something to do. So, here’s what we’ll be packing to keep them entertained:

Books- I’m a HUGE reader, reading almost anything that piques my interest (I don’t read Sci-Fi. It’s just never appealed to me), so I encourage both Josh and Christopher to read as much as possible. Bonus: they don’t get carsick! I do… but, I’ll be driving so I’ll be okay.

Audiobooks- I have a subscription to Audible, and have a stockpile of books to listen to, including Anne of Green Gables (a personal favorite!), Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, and plenty of others. All three of my boys LOVE listening to audiobooks, and will do so for hours.

Kindle Fire for Kids- we have 3, so each boy has his own. With our FreeTime for Kids subscription, all three have access to age-appropriate games, videos, and books! I can also load audiobooks on there for them, and it keeps them entertained for hours.

Nintendo Switch Lite- this is more of a reward-for-good-behavior tool, than anything else. The boys get to play on the Switch when their chores and schoolwork are done while we’re at home, and they’ll have chores on this trip too, so we’re bringing the rewards, too.

Coloring books for Andrew- this kid loves to color, and I recently found a set of clickable markers by Crayola, so they a.) won’t melt in the car, an b.) won’t dry out because of lost caps.

Travel Journals for Josh and Christopher- using a 1-inch 3-ring binder, a set of 5 dividers, a set of photo pages, and a plastic snap envelope with holes for rings, as well as a pencil pouch and the aforementioned markers, I’ve created a travel journal for each boy. They both have daily pages to fill out about what we do each day, as well as activity sheets to learn about the states we’ll go through, and some fun car games to do along the way. The photo pages are for postcards they’ll collect, and the envelope is so they can save things like ticket stubs, information pamphlets, and other tidbits along the way. I did this so that when they go back to school in the Fall, and their teachers ask, “What did you do this summer?” they can pull out their journals and actually SHOW what they did!

Random stuff they put in their ‘Container of Entertainment’- Each boy will have his own box or backpack (I haven’t decided which yet) to fill with a few small items to play with along the way.

Genuine Boredom: I believe it is good for them to occasionally experience boredom. It gives them a chance to use their imaginations and to get creative. And, boy do they get creative! I’ve watched them invent plenty of their own games and storylines through the years, and because of all the practice, they can now keep themselves entertained for a couple of hours.

All of my boys travel really well. They’ve all been on long car trips through the years, spending a good 6-8 hours in a car at a time. The difference this time is that we’ll be gone longer than the week or two we normally are. These items should be plenty to keep them going throughout our trip, because we’ll be stopping throughout the day as well.

Next Up: The Zen of Car Maintenance Before and On the Road.

#Andrew #behind the scenes #christopher #Camping #Adventures #Family History #Get to Know Nicole #Just for Fun #Joshua #Christopher and Joshua #get to know nicole #My Three Boys #National Parks

[nicolebradshawphotography]

Road Trip!! Part Three: Digital Tools

I hope y’al didn’t think I’d forgotten to update you on our road trip planning this week! ‘Cuz I didn’t. Yesterday was just my birthday, and I decided to take the day off and enjoy my personal holiday (I caught up on some much-needed sleep!). Anyway, this week’s road trip planning topic is covering all the digital tools and apps that I’m using to actually plan this road trip. I have to say, planning a road trip in the digital age is a WHOLE LOT easier than it was when I was a kid… We were old school- we used an actual paper map! It’s also a whole lot more fun, because you find attractions, museums, and parks that you might have otherwise missed! So, here are the apps I’m using to plan this road trip:

Roadtrippers: this is an app that was recommended to me by a wonderful group on Facebook called Girl Camper. There are a whole lot of really resourceful and independent women in that group who do exactly what we’re planning to do: road trip and camp their way across the United States. So, when they all recommended this app, I knew it was worth a try. Turns out, this is one of my new favorite things! It does have a $33/year fee, but it is well worth it! This app maps your trip, provides suggestions for places to stay, eat, and play, and also gives you stats like mileage, estimated gas expenditure, and number of hours of driving required. Seriously, if you’re planning a road trip of any sort, check it out!

Packing List: this is another gem of an app that I’ve come across! It’s $2.00 lifetime membership fee is MORE than worth it! This little app allows me to create packing lists for all sorts of things, with sublists in there, as well! For example, I have a Camping list, with sublists for my cook kit, pantry box, and equipment box, so I don’t have to go through the entire list to make sure I packed something! It has already saved me so much brain space! Bonus: it allows me to actually check things off as I pack them, and it lets me designate specific numbers of items (i.e. number of shirts!)!

Recreation.gov: this is an awesome little gem for all of us campers who like to use state an national parks to camp! It allows us to reserve camping spots in advance, as well as pay for them up front. I have found so many camp grounds around New Mexico that I knew absolutely nothing about beforehand! I’m excited to use this on the road to see where we are able to find spots to camp each night!

KOA: If you’ve never heard of the KOA chain before, well, now you have. This is their app, and it works just like any other hotel reservation app, except this is for their private campground locations! It’s easy to use, and includes all sorts of information about their different locations- seriously, some of these places have full-on waterparks on their premises!

Travelocity: I realize that there will probably be some nights where the weather is just too bad to be able to camp, or we might find ourselves in a location where a campground isn’t available. Because of this, this app is my go-to for finding local hotels and motels. I’ve been using it for years (the old gnome commercials sucked me in!) for travel of all sorts- booking flights and hotels where I either couldn’t, or didn’t want to camp, and so on.

NPS: this app is produced by the National Park Service, and it’s comparable to having your own personal park ranger, right in your pocket! They’ve programmed all sorts of information on ALL of the parks into this app. You can find basic visitor’s info, such as when the parks open, how much tickets/admission fees are, locations of ranger stations, maps, and so on, but you can also find information on the history, geology, biology, and other pertinent information on the park! Oh, and if you have a student going into 4th grade, or just finishing up 5th grade this summer, you should totally get this app and pair it with the NPS Every Kid in a Park pass, which basically gets your entire family into the parks for free!

Fotospot: I’m excited to try this app out! It gives you the location of different fun photo spots all over the country, and as a photographer, I’m always looking for fun backdrops to shoot against! However, I do caution people to use this app with a dose of common sense! I noticed when I looked at the suggested locations for Albuquerque, some of them were private residences (albeit interesting ones!), and these should NEVER be photographed- or even entered!- without the owner’s consent.

HearHere: this is another app I’m excited to try out! A few years ago, actor Kevin Costner teamed up with a few other people to create an app that allows you to hear the history of different locations throughout the Southern and Western U.S. (they’re working on the rest!). The app features 2-3 minute stories of all those statues, roadside history markers, and other often wondered about sites.

iExit: this app promises to give you recommendations for gas stations, lodgings, and restaurants for each interstate exit along your chosen path. As a mom who will be driving with 3 boys with very little patience, I’m excited to try this app out and see how accurate it is, because when those lunchtime hunger pains kick in, and echos of ‘no more sandwiches’ start ringing, I need to feed them quick!

Modern-day road trip planning has certainly become a whole lot easier, and a whole lot more fun through the use of apps that help provide information that we would have only stumbled across when I was a kid! I’m looking forward to using these digital tools, and seeing what they help us find and do. However, I also plan to keep a road map and compass in the car- just in case technology fails!

Next up on the to-do list: Car entertainment for kids! I’m putting together age-appropriate road trip journals for both Christopher and Joshua, as well as looking at other options for keeping them entertained along the way.

#Andrew #Behind the Scenes #Christopher #Camping #Adventures #Family History #Family #Get to Know Nicole #Inspiration #Just for Fun #Joshua #Christopher and Joshua #my three boys

[nicolebradshawphotography]

Road Trip!! Part Two: Gear Check

A solution to my storage problem may have been found! A very dear friend offered the use of her cargo platform, which is a nifty device that attaches to the hitch of your car, allowing you to store and haul things on it with tie-downs! I am excited to give this option a go! Now, on to the gear!

Over the years I have accumulated a healthy amount of camping equipment- I own a couple tents, multiple sleeping bags, and my lovingly curated Cook Kit. Like I said, my boys and I like to camp!

But, over the years and the course of many mishaps and learning experiences, I have learned I need to double check my gear and my equipment lists to be sure I have everything, and that it’s all in good working order. So, this weekend, I pulled it all out, took inventory, and this is what I found:

A greasy camp stove that needed a good scrubbing

A misplaced pitcher

A ridiculous amount of knives to take camping

Outdated spices that needed to be thrown away

A tent with holes in it

A missing tarp

My camp stove was easily cleaned, the pitcher was found, the knives were thinned out (from 12 to just 6), the spices are on the shopping list to be replaced along with the missing tarp (I think I threw it away!), and a new tent has already been purchased, and the old one patched so it can be handed down to Christopher to start his own collection of equipment.

It is important to check and double check your gear before leaving on a camping trip of any sort. It’s a pain to get to where you’re going, only to find that your equipment isn’t usable for any reason. It’s like unintentionally packing dirty clothes on a vacation- you have to stop enjoying your time and do your laundry before you can do anything else.

Now that I know where my equipment stands, and that it’s all in good, useable condition, I can move on to other aspects of planning this road trip! Next, we focus on tips, tricks, and tools for actually planning a road trip with kids!

#behind the scenes #my life #get to know nicole #just for fun #joshua #christopher #andrew #my three boys

[nicolebradshawphotography]

Road Trip!! Part 1: The Preparation Phase

Y’all, I have probably lost my mind. This summer, I am taking my 3 boys on an extended road trip. I’m loading my 11 year old, 7.5 year old, and 4 year old into our SUV, and we’re gonna camp our way across the Southeastern U. S.

My family has always been one for extended road trips- we’d literally load up the car with two weeks’ worth of clothes and other necessary items, pick a direction, and hit the road. We’d stop along the way at all sorts of touristy places- museums, local attractions, national parks and monuments, state parks, and the like. I got to see some of the most amazing places on those trips! Weird fact: I’ve seen BOTH ends of the Lewis and Clark Trail!

Anyway, now that Christopher is older, it’s time to hit the road again. Now, the only way we can really afford such a trip is to camp (pro photographer ≠ rich). This isn’t a problem because my boys and I love to camp, and we already have everything we need. However, 4 people + camping equipment + all the stuff we’ll definitely accumulate will equal a really tight fit in one SUV. So, we encounter our first problem: how do we fit everyone and everything?

Options include: a small cargo trailer, a pop-up camper trailer, a luggage rack, routinely mailing things home, or packing three growing boys into one bench seat and listening to endless rounds of, “I’m not done not touching you!” Like I’ve said, I’ve probably lost my mind. But, we’re going anyway! Anyway, the probable solution of choice will be the luggage rack, (If you’ve got a great tip for packing these, PLEASE post them below!) as well as mailing things home.

Next problem to tackle? Equipment checking! Because of all the COVID restrictions, we didn’t do any camping last year, so I need to take inventory and see what needs repairs, what needs replaced, and what we need to add to our inventory.

Stay tuned for updates as we prepare to hit the road, and follow along on our adventures this summer!

#road trips #behind the scenes #christopher and joshua #andrew #my three boys #my life #get to know nicole #traditions #joshua #just for fun

[nicolebradshawphotography]

The Maliza Family- NMSU Alumni Pond

The Maliza family met me at the New Mexico State University Alumni Pond for their portrait session! It’s such a beautiful, peaceful area, so we were able to spend a lot of time getting great photos and chatting with each other! Mom, Mai, works as a dialysis technician at MountainView Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces, while Dad, Denmark, is taking a leave of absence from his career maintaining and repairing medical equipment to spend quality time with the kids.

Mai and Denn Mark are both immigrants from the Philippines who originally landed in California, but then moved to New Mexico a few years ago when they wanted a slower pace of life so they could spend more time together as a family.

They enjoy traveling- especially road trips to the beach!- and have a goal of seeing all 50 states some day! They also hope to travel to the Philippines as a family someday, so that the kids can see where Mom and Dad are from!

Oldest daughter, JD, is enjoys playing basketball and is a budding model. Denn Mark Jr. is a taekwondo champion who loves to ride his dirt bike. and Jenivive just likes to play outdoors.

I had an absolute blast hanging out with this precious family! They are all so incredibly kind and thoughtful! I know I say it a lot, but it truly was a pleasure to work with this family and I am blessed with the best clients!

#Family Session #Family #Las Cruces #NMSU Alumni Pond

[nicolebradshawphotography]

The Gutheinz Family- Alameda Open Space, Albuquerque, NM

The Gutheinz family and I met up a few weeks ago at the Alameda Open Space area in Albuquerque to shoot their portrait session, and it was an absolute blast to work with them! As we walked around the area, they joked and teased each other, making me feel right at home because my family does the exact same thing!

Heather is a nurse at Rust medical center, and has been working to take care of all sorts of people during this pandemic! Her selfless attitude and heart for service are evident in all she says and does!

Ray is a realtor, and had me laughing about some of the questionable design choices he’s seen around town! It was evident that his family is his whole world!

Mia just graduated from high school, and enjoys photography (she loves talking photos of flowers!) and participating in Special Olympics. It was wonderful getting to speak with her about something we both love!

MJ enjoys math in school and is excited to start high school this fall!

As a family, they’re dreaming of going to explore England on vacation!

It was an honor and a pleasure to work with this family! They were so sweet and fun!

#Family Session #Alameda Open Space #Family

[nicolebradshawphotography]

The Fraissinet Family- Private Residence in Los Lunas, NM

Nicole and her family are so precious! When we were discussing places for her portrait session, she sent me a few pics of her backyard, suggesting we use it, and I was sold, so that’s where we met! I love doing in-home (or in-yard!) portrait sessions because everyone is so much more relaxed. It allows me to concentrate on creating a much more personal connection with my clients.

Nicole and Roger’s boys both play baseball during the summer, and were super excited when I asked them to show me some of their stances so I could get some photos of them! They had a blast telling me all about their teams and different positions they play! One of my absolute favorite moments was getting to do some couple’s portraits of Roger and Nicole! You could just see how much Roger really loves his wife! She was pretty happy to cuddle up with him too! It truly was a pleasure to spend an hour with this fun, fast-paced family!

#Family Session #Family #Los Lunas #Private Residence

[nicolebradshawphotography]

The Prangner Family- NMSU Alumni Pond

I had the honor and the pleasure of capturing Monica and her son during their portrait session at the Fabian Garcia Botanical Gardens and the NMSU Alumni Pond in Las Cruces, New Mexico a few weeks ago! This precious pair were a blast to hang out with, and I couldn’t have asked for better company on that sunny summer morning!

Monica is a nurse at MountainView Regional Medical center, and has been actively caring for COVID-19 patients in our state during this pandemic. She shared with me that at the height of the pandemic in April, she even had to leave her beloved son with her parents for a few weeks in order to protect him! I am so grateful for her courage and selfless sacrifices to protect all of us! As we continue to face this pandemic head-on, I am amazed by the strength and dedication people like Monica have in doing their jobs fearlessly and without concern for their own wellbeing. She has sacrificed so much time away from her family- they all have! I can only hope she- and her coworkers- knows just how much I appreciate them!

I know its hard to stay home, and to follow the public health orders when we are out in public, but please do so, so people like Monica don’t have to be separated from their families. Do it so you don’t have to be separated from yours.

#Family Session #Las Cruces #NMSU Alumni Pond #Fabian Garcia Botanical Gardens

[nicolebradshawphotography]

The Harris Family- Los Lunas River Park

I had the honor and pleasure of photographing this gorgeous family a few weeks ago! Kenyatta Sr., Kenyatta Jr., Ashonna, Gloria, and Keyondre were all so relaxed and down for whatever I had in mind. We captured most of their portrait session in the Los Lunas River Park, down in the bosque, but then went to a second location to finish up.

Kenyatta works and lives here in New Mexico, and is a computer systems specialist. And, as you can clearly see, his kids are his life! They are all really close, and value their time together because they only get a few weeks all together each year.

Junior is a professional model, and let me tell you, this guy HAS IT! He knew exactly what to do, where to put his hands, how to do the head tilt- the whole bit! It made my job a whole lot more fun! Junior is also an amateur boxer.

Ashonna just finished her Junior year of High School. She loves to design clothes and is also a bookworm!

Gloria plays the violin and is active in her local orchestra.

Keyondre is a football player and will be starting his Junior year this Fall!

They love to travel as a family, and dream of taking a vacation to Europe one of these days!

I am blessed that this wonderful family trusted me to capture these special memories for them!

#Los Lunas #Los Lunas River Park #Family Session #Family

[nicolebradshawphotography]

Kimberly Woods, and Family- An Elena Gallegos Open Space Portrait Session

On Monday night, I had the honor of meeting Kimberly, her fiancé Gary, and Kimberly’s family: Jeff, Kari, Bryan, Jesse, Jacob, Kaitlynn, and her dog Charlie! We met at Elena Gallegos Open Space in Albuquerque for their gorgeous summer evening portrait session!

Kimberly is a security agent who has been working to keep our country safe during the pandemic. She and Gary actually met on duty, although they were working for different departments!

It was obvious from the start that this family is really close knit! They shared that they don’t often get to spend a lot of time together, but when they do the guys all enjoy Marvel movies and fishing, while the girls just enjoy spending time together, no matter the activity!

Jacob and Kaitynn will be graduating high school next year, and are looking forward to their Senior year. Kimberly and Gary are looking forward to their wedding, and Jeff and Kari are looking forward to Jeff’s retirement in a few short months!

I had the best time with this family, and I want to thank Kimberly, Gary, and Jeff (he’s a regional truck driver!) for their service during this pandemic! Thanks for spending time with me!

#Family Session #Elena Gallegos Open Space #Extended Family Session #Albuquerque

[nicolebradshawphotography]

The story these two lovebirds told me when we first met was one of absolute beauty. And then, to hear their closest friends and family go on about them during their ceremony and reception! It’s the stuff fairy tales are made of! I must admit, I was almost in tears listening to them speak about ⁠how well paired Jackie and Gary are.⁠ ⁠ Gary and Jackie absolutely gravitated toward each other all day long on their wedding day! They were so excited to finally see each other, and to get to be together, that they really didn't care about the rest of the details.⁠ ⁠ Their relationship and the story of their wedding has to be one of my favorite stories to date!⁠ ⁠ #nicolebradshawphotography #nmweddingphotographer #albuquerqueweddingphotographer #abqweddingphotographer #southwestweddingphotographer #abqsmallbusiness #ldsbusinessowner #loslunasphotographer #abqphotographer #nmphotographer #southwestphotographer #newmexicoweddings #lovestory #couple #wedding #weddingday #weddinginspo #weddingideas #weddingplanning #realwedding #weddingphotographer #instawedding #gettingmarried #summerwedding #weddingceremony #outdoorwedding #springwedding #theknot #ido #instabride https://ift.tt/2sVZpYE

#IFTTT #Instagram

[nicolebradshawphotography]

Photographs tell a story- of families, relationships, and special moments in time. They capture emotions, such as joy and happiness, love- romantic, or otherwise- and sometimes, even sorrow. They can indicate relationships, such as familial ones, or friendship, or romantic ones! And, photographs freeze moments in time. ⁠ ⁠ Photographs are the only form of art that can communicate all of these stories more effectively than words can. And, they can be universally understood. ⁠ ⁠ What stories have you found in photos?⁠ ⁠ #nicolebradshawphotography #nmweddingphotographer #albuquerqueweddingphotographer #abqweddingphotographer #southwestweddingphotographer #abqsmallbusiness #ldsbusinessowner #loslunasphotographer #abqphotographer #nmphotographer #southwestphotographer #newmexicoweddings #albuquerque #nm #nikon #nikonusa #abq #igersabq #professionalphotographer #prophotography #professionalphotography #freelancephotographer #weddingphotography #weddinginspiration #bride #weddingday #weddingideas #theknot #weddinginspo #brideandgroom https://ift.tt/2TY3mqT

#IFTTT #Instagram