Designed For Life Giveaway!

Back in the fall of 2010 I was asked to help with a lunch that James River Assembly was hosting for the teenage girls attending their Designed For Life conference. I wasn't attending the conference, but agreed to come help out with the lunch.
It was the first time Mike watched Liam by himself. I was running late. Traffic was horrible. And then I show up and it seemed like everyone was bubbling with happiness because of this amazing conference.

 Except me. I was frustrated. Annoyed. Feeling left out. You get the picture.

The conference only had one session left and a few of my friends convinced me to attend. The theme was "dreams". I seriously thought you could not have picked a more lame theme. As I sat there, arms folded, pouting in my seat, I asked myself, "What are they talking about, dreams? I've graduated college, married a wonderful man, had a child, bought a house. All of my dreams have been fulfilled. This is such a stupid theme!"
And then, as crazy as this sounds, in my mind I saw our camera. About a year prior to this, my sister and brother-in-law graciously gave us their DSLR camera so that Mike could take pictures of his lighting design productions. I had no desire to even touch the thing.

I left that session feeling excited, hopeful, and renewed. I didn't know why, but God put that camera on my heart for some reason.
As soon as I got home, I told Mike, "God told me to learn how to use the camera!" Thankfully, Mike is a man of great faith (or a man who knows how to keep his mouth shut when his wife is acting like a total crazy person) and he said, "Ooooook. I'll teach you what I know."
For months I practiced, read everything I could, scoured blogs, and took pictures of anything and everything I could get my hands on (these pictures were terrible, by the way. I mean really just laughable!).

I had no idea that in the midst of a bad attitude, God was orchestrating an entire life-shift for me. It is because I was at the Designed For Life conference that He laid this vision on my heart and He has been blowing me away ever since. Never in a million years did I think that just three years later my life would be filled with so much joy from pursuing a dream and filling a void I didn't even know I had.

All of that being said, I want YOU to come to the conference!

We are giving away 1 free ticket to the conference! 

All you have to do is e-mail me at Laura@foster-photo.net and say, "I want to go to DFL!" and your name will be put in a drawing for the ticket! You do not have to be a client of Foster Photography or be a member of James River Assembly. In fact, women from over half of the states in the U.S. are attending this conference!

The conference is September 26-28th and the deadline to enter the drawing is Monday, September 16th. at 5 p.m. I will contact the winner on Tuesday, September 17th!

Please, please don't let excuses hold you back! God has something that He wants to share with YOU my sweet friend! James 4:8 says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." I know this to be true!

I am praying for all of you beautiful girls that God is tugging at your heart and saying, "This is for you! I have a message for you!" So take a chance, send me an e-mail to enter yourself in the drawing, and see how God will work in your life!

Visit the Designed For Life website for more information about the conference http://designedforlifeconference.org/

Sarah | Senior

I have been seriously remiss in the blogging department, but on a chilly day like today I figured we could all use a little sunshine from this summertime senior shoot!

Sarah is the perfect definition of someone that has an infectious personality! She is full of energy and life, has tons of creative ideas, and possesses the ability to make anyone smile! I don't need to mention the fact that she's gorgeous because good grief, just look at her! If we were in grade school together, I would totally make her a friendship bracelet.

When Sarah's older sister was a little girl, she had a picture taken in a studio for Father's Day where she was happily painting a white backdrop. Sarah is crazy artistic and wanted to re-create this image. One of the things I loved most about working with Sarah was the amount of trust she placed in me to make this happen even though I don't have a studio. Sarah painted the backdrop herself (amazing!) and brought it to the shoot. 

We set this up on a golf course.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, a girl covered herself with paint while a 7-month pregnant photographer (with lots of help from Sarah's parents) set up a backdrop stand and this custom-made background.

I can't even imagine what people must have thought at the sight of us!

It. Was. Amazing.

Sarah, thank you SO much for being the most fun client! Enjoy the rest of your senior year! And trust me, you are going to make it far in this beautiful world of ours!

For information about availability and pricing please contact me via email at

 Laura@Foster-Photo.net

Or visit www.foster-photo.net

Like what you see? "Like" the Foster Photography Facebook page!

Christmas Card Sessions

It's that time of year again...time to schedule a session for your family's Christmas card pictures!

There are only 8 sessions available and must be scheduled in advance. The available times are:

Saturday, November 10th

3-3:30 p.m.

3:30-4 p.m.

4-4:30 p.m.

4:40-5 p.m.

Sunday, November 11th

3-3:30 p.m.

3:30-4 p.m.

4-4:30 p.m.

4:40-5 p.m.

All sessions will take place at Rutledge-Wilson Community Farm Park.

Each session includes 30 minutes of shooting time, a high-resolution disc of 10 edited images, and printing rights for those images. The session fee is $75.

And of course, the pictures don't have to be limited to just Christmas cards! Feel free to schedule a session just for fun family pictures!

E-mail me at Laura@Foster-Photo.net for more details and to schedule your session!

Nora | Newborn

I could not be happier to introduce to you our sweet sweet daughter, Nora. She was born on September 24th at 4:56 p.m. after only 3 minutes of pushing. She already is a perfect fit for our family and God's great love is so clearly displayed in her tiny little body. Mike and I are mad crazy in love with her. Liam is adjusting to being a big brother wonderfully by singing her songs and constantly asking to "kiss the baby Nora? Hug the baby Nora?"

Here she is, our beautiful daughter!

Thank you to everyone that has prayed for us, sent encouraging texts, brought meals, and showered us with love. We are so blown away by the giving spirits of the people in our lives (especially my mom who has taken over the 3:30 a.m. feeding shift...holy cow, she's amazing!!). And seriously, if Starbucks gift cards keep showing up in my mailbox, I may actually consider having more children ; )

Much love to you all,

The Foster Family Foursome

What's For Dinner? | Pregnancy Edition

Ever since I posted the first (and only) What's For Dinner? blog post, I've had people (OK, like, 2 people) requesting me to write more about easy, family-friendly dinners. I've recently developed an enjoyment out of menu planning and Crock Pot cooking (because let's be honest, if it involves a stove, chances are I'll start a fire) and was even photographing many of the meals I was preparing with the intention of writing more What's For Dinner posts.

And then I got pregnant.

If I were to write about what I've cooked in the last 9 months, it would be Tums and Maalox. Oh, and I've reheated leftover pizza, which totally counts as cooking.

So here's my What's For Dinner? Pregnancy Edition.

The secret Foster "How To Survive Pregnancy and Not Starve Your Family" recipe is as follows...have your husband do 99% of the cooking.

I wish I could say I've handled the exhaustion, nausea, and general pains of pregnancy with humility and grace, but that would be lying. So instead I have just enjoyed Mike cooking almost every meal and am thankful that he didn't get offended when most of it didn't stay down for long : )

So here's to you, my wonderful husband, for not only putting up with a crazy pregnant woman, but keeping her happy and fed as well!

I have to give Liam credit too. After all, no meal would be complete without his "help you stir?" skills!

A homemade pizza for my birthday!

See, he can use the stove WITHOUT starting a fire! Be still my heart!

I'll leave the "how to raise a perfectly mannered, clean, calm child" blog posts to some other mother...

Making biscuits for breakfast!

 We're totally sanitary...

 So there you have it! Look for more What's For Dinner? blog posts in the future, but for now I think I hear a piece of cold pizza calling my name!

Maggie & Paul | Engagement

Maggie and Paul are tying the knot in just a few short days so I had to share their gorgeous engagement pictures before the big day! These two are an amazing balance for each other. A perfect blend of playfulness and tenderness that was so fun to experience during their session! Maggie knew areas downtown that Paul loved to visit and just how to make him laugh. Paul knew exactly which parts of their love story Maggie cherished. It was such a privilege to see these two interact and I can't wait to watch them say "I do"!

Maggie and Paul, thank you for the honor of photographing your love! Enjoy the wonderful and exciting journey of being newlyweds!

For information about availability and pricing please contact me via email at

 Laura@Foster-Photo.net

Or visit www.foster-photo.net

Like what you see? "Like" the Foster Photography Facebook page!

Stocktons | Family

One of my favorite things is getting to see the children of client's growing up. Even though it's only been a year since I first met this sweet-faced boy and his family, it is so fun to see how he's developing! He is full of energy, creative ideas, and laughter! And of course that adorable smile doesn't hurt either!

For information about availability and pricing please contact me via email at

 Laura@Foster-Photo.net

Or visit www.foster-photo.net

Like what you see? "Like" the Foster Photography Facebook page!