Blog | Page 4 of 7 | Leann Messina Photography | Baton Rouge Newborn Photographer

Milestones

Katherine | One Year Old

September 1, 2020

From birth, to newborn session, then six months, and now her one year session, this babe has always been kind to me. Each time I’ve edited her session, I’ve told myself “OK, this is my favorite one so far.” I swear she just keeps getting cuter and sweeter as time goes on, but that’s probably true for all of our babies, right? I guess so until we reach those dreaded teenage years. Thankfully, I have quite a while before mine reach the teens! In the meantime, I’ll just be over here trying to think of a way to keep them little.

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Studio Newborn

Jeremiah | Studio Newborn | Denham Springs, LA

June 4, 2020

I am in awe over how cute this baby is. He has hair just like his sister when she was born. To say that I am jealous would be an understatement! I loved getting to see him in my studio for his very first portrait session, and I can’t wait to see how much grows at each milestone.

I look forward to watching his little personality develop and see how he interacts with his sister over the next year.

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House Reno

House Renovation Project | Part 7 | Denham Springs, LA

May 16, 2020

We did it. We FINALLY [mostly] finished the house! Our first night in it was February 24th, with it being about 95% finished. There were still a few things to be completed like toilet paper holders and towel racks, missing cabinet doors in the laundry room, exterior door thresholds, and random things like that. My handy husband planned to complete these tasks, which he has mostly done. The Coronavirus Pandemic did slow some of the progress, but we have managed just fine.

We are still working on getting everything decorated just like we want it, but that is a work in progress! At this point, I’m so happy to be settled in with NO MORE BOXES to unpack!

I have to warn you: there are a lot of pictures. I hope you scroll through them all, but I understand if you don’t. I would love to hear any ideas you may have for the mantles in the master bedroom and the kitchen. The wall art that’s above the fireplace in the master bedroom will actually be mounted over the bed. I am definitely not an interior designer, but trying my best! I will take any advice!!

Thank you so much for following our journey with this project. We have definitely made this house our home, and we wouldn’t want to be quarantined anywhere else! The sunsets are gorgeous, the fish from the pond is fresh, and the space is plentiful! God is so good.

I would love to hear your thoughts and answer any of your questions in the comments section below.

***We have also started renovating our pool, expecting to finish this week. My husband is blogging that journey as well. You can find the link below if you are interested!

house renovation livingroom — The view never gets old!

house renovation kitchen — This. You need one of these. I’ve only ever cooked on electrical glass cook-tops before. I am LOVING this gas cook-top!

house renovation — French doors to the Laundry Room

house renovation laundry — We are still waiting on the cabinet doors to be installed in this room. (Thanks COVID)

When Randy and I were looking for a house, one of the requirements I had was to be able to see the sunset. Boy, did he deliver! You really can’t beat this incredible view.

So that’s it! Well, for the inside, anyway. We are still working on flowerbeds, and making out outdoor spaces comfortable. There is still a LOT we want to do, like replace the decking in the back, adding tile to the back patio area, maybe extending our patio cover, and invest in quite a bit of outdoor furniture! We spend SO much time outside, especially since we’ve been on lockdown for the last several weeks. We can’t wait for our pool to be finished. We just need it to stop raining!

Thanks again for reading! Now go tackle your own project!

Lighting and electrical by Ned Bordelon

Plumbing by Green’s Plumbing of LA https://www.facebook.com/greensplumbingoflouisiana/

Tile and Flooring by Todd Cosby @ Essential Flooring

Countertops by J&B Countertops https://jbcountertops.net/ https://www.facebook.com/jbcountertops/

Trimwork by Jimmy Bell Carpentry

Cabinets by Gerald Feucht facebook.com/feuchtscustomcabinets/

Paint Colors:

Cabinets and Trim: Sherwin Williams Oyster White
Walls: Sherwin Williams Alpaca
Walls in Master Suite: Sherwin Williams Grey Screen
Guest Bathroom Cabinets: Sherwin Williams Meditative
Laundry Room Bench & Pool bathroom cabinets: Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent

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Family

Front Porch Sessions | Coronavirus | Denham Springs, LA

May 1, 2020

For the last 6 weeks or so, most families have been confined to their homes, only leaving for necessities like groceries and prescriptions, due to the pandemic of COVID-19 or Coronavirus. Each home looks a little different, though.

Some people are considered “essential,” and must continue to go to their jobs at places like the plants, power companies, grocery stores, and banks.

Some people continue to punch the clock, but do so from their new kitchen or patio office.

And some people selflessly dress in their scrubs and armor themselves with head to toe PPE, and provide loving care to some really, really sick patients.

The last six weeks looks a little different for all of us, but one thing is the same. We are slowing down. We are spending more time with our loved ones. We are taking a break from our busy schedules, and we are actually getting a chance to soak it in.

You know how you have a baby and wake up one day and three years seems to have flown by? And the next thing you know, that baby is five years old and too smart for her own good? This is our chance to see each other. See your kids. See your spouse. See your pet, your neighbor.

There is a common phrase that says “The days are long, but the years are short.” Use these last two weeks to really fill those long days with something meaningful. What’s important to you?

While this Coronavirus has been a burden for a lot people in some way or another, the time we are encouraged to have at home is a blessing. Make the most of it.

During this time, I was able to meet several families and take their pictures Front Porch style. These are some of my favorites:

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Maternity

June | Maternity Session | Baton Rouge, LA

April 30, 2020

I first met June when she and her husband asked me to do a Fresh 48 Session two years ago when their daughter, Jasmine, was born. I’ve seen them every three months since then, documenting all of Jasmine’s milestones. I was beyond excited for them when she shared that they were expecting another sweet baby! It’s a BOY this time. His name is Jeremiah, and I can’t wait to meet him! This Coronavirus is kinda cramping my style, though, so I need that to go ahead and go away so I can get my hands on that baby ASAP!

Looking absolutely gorgeous in blue, June rocked this maternity session! These are just a handful of my favorites. I had SO many! These were taken at the Capitol Park Museum and across the street in the beautiful garden at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

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House Reno

Pool Renovation | Part 1

April 25, 2020

Hello, my name is Randy, and I am Leann’s husband. I’m taking over her blog for our next project. One, I like to blog. Two, I’m bored and looking for things to do to keep me out of trouble. So, it’s time to renovate our old concrete swimming hole. If you’re considering a pool renovation and don’t know where to start, feel free to send us an email at contact@leannmessina.com

Pool before renovation — *She’s seen better days*

Pool Draining and Demo

It turns out it’s really deep, and after draining and inspection, the pool appears to be structurally sound. The pool is around 20 years old, and this is its first facelift. We are replacing the tile around the waterline, coping, plaster, lights, and a few other mechanical components. This is our first pool, so I have no idea what I’m doing.

Since this is only the 2nd layer of plaster for our pool, we do not have to chip out all of the original plaster. The contractor is using an ax to identify hollow spots due to delamination. This process is why you’ll notice dashes all over the pool surface, and it also allows the new plaster to bond to the old surface.

*Chipping away looking for bad spots in the old plaster*

Selecting Materials

Draining the pool and starting the demo process stressed me out, but the contractor finished in two days. We picked out our tile, coping, and spa material.

Show tile and coping choices — *Picked this combo. Disregard the shadow version of me. Leann is the photographer, I’m just funny.*

We still need to pick out our plaster color. We’ll be using Quartzscape plaster, which is a quartz aggregate material. I am leaning towards a white or gray base to keep the pool a light blue color. The plaster distributor pointed something out that I didn’t consider; if you have kids, make sure to select a light color plaster so that you can maintain visibility at the deep end of the pool. Initially, I planned on replacing our old lighting fixtures with new LED units, but after doing some research, it appears they do not last. Instead of spending $1,200 on new LED fixtures, we’ll keep our existing lights and replace the bulbs with LED bulbs for around $260.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TZPKZZK/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07TZPKZZK&pd_rd_w=I3XVC&pf_rd_p=48d372c1-f7e1-4b8b-9d02-4bd86f5158c5&pd_rd_wg=BTGV6&pf_rd_r=J94MFH5923HQHGKYZ5GP&pd_rd_r=b3cbf544-73b9-4b32-8ede-7440b50c230a&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTjhMWVNESkhURDRYJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODc3MjE5VFRHV0hSRFhWV0FXJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwMjUyNTdHQTNSSkNPNEFaRUImd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Ready for tile and coping

On Monday, they’ll start adding the new coping and tile, and our pool builder has been great so far. She is independent and does not work for a big box store. If you’re looking for a contractor to help out with your pool renovation, leave a comment below, and we’ll send over her contact information. Let us know if you have any questions or comments on the project.

Pool after the demo process. Ready for coping and tile. — *Clean slate*

Blog Categories

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In-Home Lifestyle Newborn

Laken | In-Home Lifestyle Newborn | Denham Springs, LA

March 6, 2020

This session is one of my favorites to date, and I’m so excited to share some of their images with you. This new little family is adjusting to their new normal just perfectly. Sweet Laken is a dream, and so incredibly sweet! I loved getting her tiny snuggles! The smaller the baby, the bigger my heart swells! Having had two babies 5lbs and under, I know how delicate they seem to be. And getting to hang out with her parents again wasn’t too shabby either. Photographing her delivery and newborn session has been a pleasure! Thanks for having me, guys!

Blog Categories

Recent Posts

Caroline | Maternity Session | Baton Rouge, LA | Newborn Photographer Baton RougeJuly 13, 2024
Newborn Photographer Baton Rouge, LA | Leann Messina Photography | AnnieJune 19, 2024
Jacob | LSU Senior Graduate | Baton Rouge, LA | Baton Rouge Senior PhotographerApril 28, 2024
Newborn Photographer Baton Rouge, LA | Leann Messina Photography |EastonNovember 7, 2023
Laila | LSU Senior Graduate | Baton Rouge, LA | Baton Rouge Senior PhotographerMay 3, 2023

House Reno

House Renovation Project | Part 6 | Denham Springs, LA

February 10, 2020

Most of our flooring is in, and boy does it dress the place up! We have also wired the house for security, replaced the in-wall central vacuum and AC units. Our tile has been grouted, and most of the lighting is in–looking fab!!

We are still waiting on the carpet in the kids’ rooms, and a few other things here and there like the ceiling fans, shower glass, and doorknobs. Those things should be completed by the end of this week as well as a final coat of paint. And then we will just need a good cleaning!!

Cabinets by Gerald Feucht facebook.com/feuchtscustomcabinets/

Trimwork by Jimmy Bell Carpentry

Countertops by J&B Countertops https://jbcountertops.net/ https://www.facebook.com/jbcountertops/

Tile and Flooring by Todd Cosby @ Essential Flooring

Plumbing by Green’s Plumbing of LA https://www.facebook.com/greensplumbingoflouisiana/

Lighting by Ned Bordelon

Paint Colors:

Cabinets and Trim: Sherwin Williams Oyster White
Walls: Sherwin Williams Alpaca
Guest Bathroom Cabinets: Sherwin Williams Meditative
Laundry Room Bench: Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent

Recent Posts

Caroline | Maternity Session | Baton Rouge, LA | Newborn Photographer Baton RougeJuly 13, 2024
Newborn Photographer Baton Rouge, LA | Leann Messina Photography | AnnieJune 19, 2024
Jacob | LSU Senior Graduate | Baton Rouge, LA | Baton Rouge Senior PhotographerApril 28, 2024
Newborn Photographer Baton Rouge, LA | Leann Messina Photography |EastonNovember 7, 2023
Laila | LSU Senior Graduate | Baton Rouge, LA | Baton Rouge Senior PhotographerMay 3, 2023

House Reno

House Renovation Project | Part 5 | Denham Springs, LA

February 5, 2020

We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Lots of pretty things are going in, and we are finally starting to feel like we are making this house our home. We have most of the tile completed, some plumbing fixtures, new toilets, and new lighting! Our quartzite countertops are in and look wonderful. Our wood floors are going in today, and I hear they are beautiful! I can’t wait to see them tomorrow.

It won’t be long now, guys. Won’t be long!

Cabinets by Gerald Feucht facebook.com/feuchtscustomcabinets/

Trimwork by Jimmy Bell Carpentry

Countertops by J&B Countertops https://jbcountertops.net/ https://www.facebook.com/jbcountertops/

Tile and Flooring by Todd Cosby @ Essential Flooring

Plumbing by Green’s Plumbing of LA https://www.facebook.com/greensplumbingoflouisiana/

Lighting and electrical by Ned Bordelon

Paint Colors: