When I think of "Up Close and Personal" my mind always first goes to amazing macro photography. But for me and my work, Personal is where it's at.  Every shoot tells a story that is very personal to my client, a time in life that they want to freeze forever. I'm documenting a chapter in their history. And that is the best part of personal.

Meet Shelby.

She dances with my baby girl, Madison and she is the daughter of one of my favorite people on the planet.  Earlier this year she had a terrible accident and almost lost her ring finger. During our photo shoot she kept hiding her scars. I whispered to her that I could hardly even see them anymore. When we snapped this shot, and I showed it to her on the back of the camera. She lit up. She told her Mom, "I didn't hide my scars" It moved her Mom. Mom held it together pretty good, but I almost cried like a baby. {and I could because I don't wear mascara while I shoot. That's right, I can cry every day if I want to. } I'm going to put this portrait in her Mom's hands today.  A brave up close and personal moment, frozen in time forever. I have the BEST job in the world with most amazing clients. It's a real blessing.

You guys really dug in there for this week's exciting theme. I loved all the macro and all the bright bold colors and all the wonderfully deep shadows of your black and whites. Great work this week!

Our top ten is always in NO particular order. When you LOVE the portrait, check out the artist. Artist links are directly below each shot.  Here we go...

ONE {I'm a real sucker for these Katy Perry lashes on a tiny tot. Great shadows and wonderful focus.}

9/52 Personally Love by Kara Gootee-Robinson 

TWO {Gorgeous bold color and GREAT detail!}

9/52 up close and personal by Detta Owens 

THREE {Welcome back Don! Amazing eye detail. Wow. Great POV}

Week 9 ~ "Up close and Personal" by Irela 

FOUR {What's NOT to love about this sweet face? Great lighting and lashes.}

Week 9/52 - Up Close and Personal by Lisa Kollberg 

FIVE {Great black and white. Love the set up and thanks for sharing your settings!}

9/52 - Up Close & Personal by Jennifer Nealy

SIX {EEEKS! Cuteness overload. Excellent capture of a very special moment. Love the wrinkles in the hands and the wrap. Well done.}

Week 9 - Up close and Personal by Jen Foster 

SEVEN {Whoa! Growing up in South Louisiana, these things really freak me out. They are lurkers. He's staring right at you with hungry eyes. Really seriously fab shot!}

9/52 A bit too up close & personal by Paige Weersing

EIGHT {Love the mask. Love the colors, all the tones are perfect together. And I love the story. Great Selfie sister!}

9/52 ~ Theme: Up Close & Personal by Catcher In My Eye 

NINE {Great color pop and the fuzzy border is just perfection.}

Up Close by Lissa

TEN {I absolutely love all the white mixed with shadows. Great details. Well done. This is my favorite Flower of all time. Daisies are the friendliest flowers.}

Up Close and Personal by jules1836 

Week 10's theme is "Signs" 

Week 11 Sneak Peek is GREEN.

What's new with Daphne Ellenburg?

I finished up my last weekend of dance recital portraits for Studio 43 in style with the big girls. What a day of fun and excitement and a little bit of Gatsby.

I loved this fun shot. And how is the CamRanger? Talk about amazing! Since I shoot 98% of my business in the studio the "not waiting for my card to load into my harddrive" has shaved hours off each day and who knows how many days it's added to my life. I love you Camranger. {and super awesome husband for discovering the camranger for me, and then then buying it. }

I changed my windows. It's Dance mania around here.

Gave out a ton of smiles to happy families.

Watched a movie. And it was Awesome.

Got this from my daughter. {If she'd have given it to me before breakfast I might have served up more than Lucky Charms.} Just sayin'.

And just in time for Sign week - MY SIGN has arrived. {The tiny expensive one by the street.}  I love it! Thinking about shooting it again for this week.

I am officially on vacation starting on Sunday. Yes, it will be me and my sweet Madison on a beach in Cozumel with my some of my best gals from Sigma Kappa Sorority. A full on Mother Daughter holiday through 3 states and 2 countries. Sounds like I'm really packing it all in, right? I am pretty darn excited.

Wishing YOU a fantastic week filled with family, friends and photography!

XoXoXo,

Daphne