Photographer – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Personal August 17, 2015

Week in Review

Mondays can be rough for everyone, so I’d like to start off with some exciting news: Only 129 days until Christmas! I am already excited for my favorite holiday and all of the festivities that encompass it (songs, decorations, wrapping gifts, etc.). Anyways, Houston had temperatures over 100 degrees all week long, so I clearly just need a mental escape from the heat. Hope that helped with Monday blues!

The past week was full of highlights, with the only low light being Isla’s three new teeth coming in (her fourth up top and two on the bottom). Teething really is terrible. The interrupted sleep is not fun! However, she is not sick, so we cannot really complain! Homemade popsicles really were a saving grace this week though (she woke up and had one at 1am one night!).

My favorite moments this week included:

Making a trip to the dentist (my friend Dr. Matt Nickolas) because my jaw has been extremely sore recently. It turns out I have TMJ and will be that really cool lady sleeping with a night guard in a couple of weeks. I am so relieved to know that my mouth will feel better soon!
Meeting our friends Lainey (a month older than Isla) and Kathryn at Sweet Paris at City Centre for breakfast and then playing in the central green afterwards. The photos of the two girls together are so sweet!
Getting juice at Big Power Yoga on Wirt with Amanda who works at Zomato. She told me about the company and the exciting things they have coming up as part of the official launch. I can’t wait to share more details in the near future!
Attending Houston’s first Rising Tide Society (Houston Facebook page) meeting (or a #TuesdaysTogether) at Kraftsmen Baking in the Heights. One of my best friends, Meredith, is the city lead and she did such a great job.
Shooting the cuteheads 3rd birthday party celebration on Wednesday with Esther, Megan S., Megan B., Lyndsey and Meredith at Fill in the Blank Studio. Esther posted this #bts post and will publish the rest of the photos today!
Going to Isla’s swim class at Dad’s Club after missing it for 6 weeks (mainly because of our trip to Colorado). She is so much more confident now than when we left.
Eating lunch at Dish Society in Katy with my mom and one of my favorite women in the world (also saved as ‘Mom’ in my phone). We had so much fun laughing and catching up – and Mrs. Burkett gave Isla the cutest flap books which have been read about 1,000 times since getting home!
Having my friend Erin over for a little work project and deciding that interior design really might be the most fun occupation ever (unfortunately, it’s not my calling but I do love it!).
Hosting a little dinner with my insanely sweet and talented friends, Desi, whom I traveled to Australia with in 2010 (photos here). She just graduated from the art conservation program at NYU and has been in Spain and DC interning and just returned home (so excited!). She starts work at my favorite gallery in Houston next month.
Visiting my older sister’s new-ish rental home (for the first time – worst sister ever!) and taking a walk around the neighborhood. She lives in the Heights and some of the homes nearby are unbelievable (like the one she owns!).
Eating lunch at True Food with Meredith on Saturday. I see her often, but we have never once eaten a meal just the two of us. Sangia, margaritas, delicious healthy food and good conversation – I had the best time!
Going to church (we attend Bayou City Fellowship) and volunteering for the first time with the pre-school kids after our service ended. I will be watching toddlers/babies normally, so this was a challenge of my readiness for older children. It was exhausting, but the little ones are so cute. BCF has the best kid’s ministry!
Getting a small gift for a friend at Macaron by Patisse and letting Isla try her first macaron (Birthday Cake flavor). Needless to say, she loved it. The photos of her shoveling it in her mouth are my favorite!
Taste testing Friohana Shaved Ice as part of my ‘Best Snow Cones in Houston’ post which I hope to publish soon. I’m going to try SnowBlock, Yeti Sunshine and Mango Beach next!
Watching Season 2 of True Detective with Sasha on Saturday night. As I shared here, we never ever watch television, but Sasha has gotten us hooked on this show. We’ve got three more episodes to watch, and it’s so captivating. I won’t lie though – I’ll be glad when it’s over to I can get back to reading My Paris Dream.
Getting a visit from my Dad (mainly to sign paperwork, but a visit nonetheless!). He is so incredibly cute with Isla, and I love seeing them play together. Melts my heart! I’m so glad he is retired now.
Swimming at our friend’s house on Saturday (going to publish a home tour later this week – they house is unreal) and also at our sweet next-door-neighbor’s house. I’m still incredibly pale, but it’s the best natural tan I’ve ever had! Besides the insane heat, I don’t want summer to ever end.
Shooting for Jessica’s blog, Feather Thread, in Discovery Green on Friday evening. We found some gorgeous tall grass and the fun, colorful walls outside of The Grove to photograph next to. Can’t wait for her to share more pictures!
Fulfilling our sweet tooth craving with our favorite frozen yogurt at TCBY! I used to eat it all of the time in college, and we normally sneak it in once a week now!
Letting Isla try her first vegan crepe, which she adored. I make them using very few ingredients – and no sugar! I’ll share the recipe soon! They’re delicious and a much healthier alternative.

Personal August 10, 2015

Week in Review

Is it Friday yet? Kidding, but only slightly. The past seven days flew by, and I’m definitely planning a much more relaxed weekend ahead! As I mentioned on Instagram last night, I am definitely not complaining, as we got to see lots of friends and family, meet new blogger friends (and old Instagram friends!), take lots of photos (with Cake & Confetti, Willow Crowns, Feather Thread, Butter and two first birthday shoots – one for Meg!), swim multiple times, praise God at one of the most incredible concerts I’ve ever attended and decorate a new set of bookshelves!

In a little more detail, here are some of my favorite moments from the week:

Attending the Outcry tour with Hillsong, Bethel Music and Kari Jobe (amongst others!) with my friend, Ashley, and catching up over food and drinks at The Grove beforehand. While we were gone, Sasha had three of his friends over with their little kids, and I managed to snap some cute pictures of Isla and Ellery before I left. She is such a little lady! I love her.
Going to the first Blogger Brunch hosted by Justin James and Carrie of Wear Where Well at Tout Suite on Sunday after church at Bayou City Fellowship. It was a lot of fun meeting ladies I’ve followed on Instagram for a long time.
Swimming and barbecuing at our friends’ house. I want to move into their home immediately. Everything is so gorgeous, and Nina is so sweet and is letting me do a home tour post, so be on the lookout for that soon!
Having couples over for dinner on Saturday to discuss Paris plans (they’re going next weekend, and I’m so jealous!) and then playing a few games of Taboo and Bananagrams (I’m such a game nerd!).
Shooting the fall line with Willow Crowns at Megan’s house on Tuesday. Her and Olivia, her daughter, are truly the sweetest, and we had the best time playing after we took product pictures. The new bows, headbands, clips, etc. are gorgeous, and I cannot wait for the launch!
Taking two sets of first birthday photographs – one for Sophia and another for Caroline (Meg’s daughter). Both girls were super cute and happy, which makes my job lots of fun.
Shooting photos for Jessica’s blog – Feather Thread – and hair styling photos for Brittany’s partnership with a hair product company. So much girliness going on!
Swimming multiple days at our sweet neighbor’s house – we’re so blessed to live next to her. Isla and Sasha also headed to my parent’s house after church on Sunday while I was at the Blogger Brunch to swim with them! She’s a fish.
Receiving our new Sawyer bookshelves from Crate & Barrel and getting to work on decorating them. They’ll likely change ten times in the next two weeks, but this is how they look right now!
Spoiling Isla with some Bahama Bucks (taste testing all of the sugar free snow cone places in Houston!) and cotton candy (made by Meredith for an upcoming cocktail!). She’s a lucky lady!

Personal August 3, 2015

Week in Review

Happy Monday, everyone! I cannot believe that it was only one week ago that we were running around the woods of Houston photographing this hippie shoot. Last week was busy with lots of photography, which made me very happy! Meredith and I got together to photograph her Texan cocktail (‘The Lady Bird’) for 5 O’Clock Fashionistas, and then the next day, Brittany came over to shoot photos for her exciting Instagram launch this week! Between those three shoots and catching up with friends and running errands, Isla and I kept very busy.

I am grateful that on National Sister Day (do people just make these things up for Instagram?), I was able to spend time my three sisters (two by birth and one ‘in law’). Ivana was in town for work from San Francisco, so we spent the evening with her on Saturday and then had a pool party at Sasha’s cousins house on Sunday. I got to see both of my sisters at their birthday dinner celebration at Pondicheri on Sunday evening (that place is so delicious!).

Some other highlights from the week included:

Going to a surprise birthday party for my older sister – she genuinely had no idea all of her friends were going to be there, and I absolutely love surprises like that! It was a great evening.
Celebrating my best friend’s birthday with lunch at True Food Kitchen and then a girl’s get-together on Saturday. She hosted us at her place, and we had a gorgeous table full of the most delicious food – plus yummy blackcurrant drinks she made us! It was the best afternoon.
Worshipping in Bayou City Fellowship’s new venue, which is slightly closer to our house than the last, which is great. We ran into a few of our friends, which made my morning, and then ate at Ruggles Green after (my absolute favorite!).
Meeting two of the sweetest (and most beautiful!) mamas in Houston – Destiny and Kristen – after being Insta-friends. We met at a splash pad near Kristen’s house, which was seriously the most amazing splash pad we’ve been to. Truman, Mila and Isla were so cute together – they would come together, then go on their separate ways. The photo of Truman biting Isla’s doughnut is hilarious!
Catching up with my friend, Amanda, at her house and talking about interior design, as they’re in the process of updating some of their rooms. Scott and Amanda just got a new dog, Gilbert, who is adorable. He was being slightly terrorized by Isla, who is used to a much bigger dog, but was a great sport about it.
After being in Colorado for a month, I finally got back in the gym. I’ve been doing my BBG workouts at home, but it’s much easier to do it at the gym. I definitely missed Lifetime!
Given that we went from breezy, dry 80 degree weather to hot and humid 105 degree Houston, I felt we needed to reward ourselves throughout the week with fun treats, so we had TCBY twice, juice from Big Power Yoga’s new Big Juice bar and snow cones from Mam’s. Needless to say, Isla loved every bite.

What were the highlights of your week? Hope you’re having a great Monday! xo

Personal June 30, 2015

Introducing Murphey Grace

Murphey Grace (1 of 1)-20 Last Thursday, I took newborn photographs for sweet Murphey Grace, whose Mom I was introduced to by a friend, but it turned out I had already met Morgan because our husbands were in the same MBA class at The University of Texas. Not to mention she went to college with my friend, Danielle, and played volleyball in high school with my cousin, Natalia. Smallest world ever, right?

Murphey was a little angel during the shoot, and didn’t even make a peep when her dad tried to pose her in one of his cowboy boots! That baby girl was over 10 pounds at birth, and she was not sliding into any leather shoe! Ha.

Izzy, their dog, was the perfect co-model. Belle was not having it during our newborn shoot with Isla, but Izzy just sat there and ‘smiled.’ Aren’t Izzy and Murphey just adorable? I’ve got a few newborn shoots lined up when I get back from Colorado – already excited about them! If you’ve got any pregnant friends in Houston, send them my way, please!

Murphey Grace (1 of 1)-17

Baby June 10, 2015

Introducing Pierce (And a Big Announcement!)

No, I’m not pregnant. I thought I’d clear that up immediately, as ‘big announcements’ are normally associated with telling the world this news!

We will, however, start this post with baby talk, as I had the honor of taking newborn photos for the cutest little man ever on Sunday. I know baby Pierce’s mom through a friend of a friend, and Melissa is one of the most gorgeous ladies ever. She already looks like she was never pregnant, let alone in delivery the week before. We took the pictures at their perfect house in Rice Village (another swoon), and Pierce was so well behaved! I always have the hardest time narrowing down the photos to share on the blog, as I want to show them all! Sweet little Pierce and his adorable friend Tucker both melt my heart, and after photographing two other baby boys recently (Kerr and Brooks), I have to say I’d be more than pleased to have one next (although a sister for Isla would be perfect too)! But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.

My big announcement isn’t that much of a surprise, as I mentioned here that I was quitting the world of consulting to do photography, but today I’m sharing the link to my new site. So here we go (drum roll, please!)… introducing Snapshots by Ailee Petrovic! I originally had another name for the business (She Delights), but I wanted the blog and the photography business names to complement each other, and so Snapshots by Ailee Petrovic was born. The website is not super fancy, doesn’t have a bunch of bells and whistles, etc. but it serves the purpose for now. I imagine down the line, I’ll revamp, but for now, it serves the purpose well!

So with this said, if you know of anyone who is pregnant or just had a baby, I’d love to take their newborn photos! I’m also doing family sessions, and I’ve got a few head shots and other shoots lined up too. They can contact me through the site or email directly.