Yep! I finally completed my updated information for 2010. If you are interested in the new information head over to the INFORMATION tab at the top of my site, click on how it all works and it’s all there for you to check out. If you like what you see and want to get in front of my camera for a unique lifestyle session with me this year head over to the CONTACT tab at the top of my site, click on it and fill out the form. Spring is only a few months away and spots are filling up quick! Check out my calendar for availability.

I look forward to working with you this year!

Valentines Day is approaching fast! My kiddos have their school parties next week so I made their Valentines this year to pass out to their classmates. If you are interested in a heart day card send me a note in the next two days and we can get one for you! I will need to re release your images and will need your two favorite images from your session by Feb 4th.

Enjoy my little heartthrobs!

front of card

the back of the card

The following article was written by a fantastic photographer Jeanette LeBlanc Photography and I wanted to share it with all of you. Once you read this you will be ready to rock out your session and look FABULOUS!!

You are what you wear.

A little cliché? Perhaps. But when it comes to portrait photography, clothing plays a huge role in the success of the finished product.

Before we get going – let’s be clear what you’re clothing does NOT need to be:

1. Brand New
I’m down with your favorite ripped jeans, retro band T’s, and worn converse shoes – as long as you know how to rock them in your own fabulous style.
2. Fancy-Schmancy and Uber-Expensive
Unless it’s your thing (If it’s really your thing, then by all means baby, bring on the bling). If you’re not normally a dress-up kind of person, don’t feel like you have to be one for your session.
3. Matching
No need to focus on matching everything from the color of your fuchsia headbands to the stripes in your socks. In fact, I beg of you, please, please don’t. If you’re heart is set on everyone in white button downs and khaki pants, I’m probably not your girl.
4. Stressful
No need to worry about each and every item, or fret about the suitability of each accessory. This is supposed to be fun. If you’re unsure – call me, and together, we’ll make sure you look fabulous. I promise.

I want you to be happy, thrilled, over the moon about your images, and I know that this is much more likely if we take the time and work together to help you choose clothing that fits these few simple rules:

Feels Good.
During your shoot you could be sitting in a pile on the grass having a tickle battle, rolling down a hill with your fiancé, throwing your kiddos in the air or climbing a tree. Wear clothing that lets you do all that (and more) comfortably.

As for the kids? Well…uncomfortable kids have a tendency to look…uncomfortable, and are often cranky to boot. Happy kids make for happy pictures.

Bottom Line: Don’t choose outfits that make any of you feel constrained, stiff, itchy, scratchy, like you’re dressed up for Halloween, or that leave you with a nagging worry that a button might pop if you bend the wrong way. Trust me.

Looks Good.
This can be tricky, looking good is totally subjective – right? If you’re not a Carrie Bradshaw fashionista in real life, you might want to pull in some extra help from a straight-talking friend or your trusty photographer (that would be me) who knows about such things and has plans in place to help.

Sometimes last year’s of-the-moment dress has already become hopelessly untrendy. Sometimes the current fashions just don’t look or feel like you. Sometimes outfits that look good in the mirror might not be ideally suited for photography. If you’re really looking for extra help, I can put you in touch with some incredible folks who make people look good for a living.

Bottom Line: If you don’t feel fabulous-fierce-take-on-the-world gorgeous in your outfit, you’re not going to love, love, love the end result – and I’m all about you love, love, loving the end result.

Makes Sense.
Here’s where we pull it all together. It’s not just enough that everyone look good and feel good – you’ve gotta look and feel good together AND the outfits should fit with your location and the desired mood for your portraits.

Glup. That seems like a lot, doesn’t it? (quick – revisit #4 in the top list, and remember, don’t stress).

Before you even begin figuring out your wardrobe, we’ll have an in depth consultation to narrow down what you really want for your pictures, choose the perfect location and make sure you have an understanding about how that all comes together in the finished photograph. I’m with you every step of the way.

Bottom Line: It’s easier than it seems.Think twice about having Emma in a lace prom dress if you can’t get Tommy out of his spider man cape and favorite Star Wars pajama top. If we’re going to be running around in a park, you’ll likely not decide to wear your starched Sunday best. Hate the way stripes and plaids look together but Dad has his favorite stripped polo ready to go? Best steer mom away from her beloved family tartan. Easy-Peasy. [unless Mom is really attached to that tartan, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it).

~~~

If you’re still not certain, and you can’t decide between the yellow wrap dress with your red heels or your dark skinny jeans and purple belted shirt – I’ve got good news. You don’t have to decide. Bring lots of options. Heck – throw your whole wardrobe into the back of the car. When we get to the session we’ll wing it all with fabulous results. Trust me.

Now take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Imagine how blow-everyone-away-fabulous-ready-for-America’s-Next-Top-Model you’re all going to look in those pictures….

Can you see it yet? I totally can. OMG, you look INCREDIBLE!

I can’t wait for your session.

It’s a NEW YEAR! New things to do. New things to see. New things to capture. New places to go and one place to put all of it…right here! Happy New Year everybody! I am excited to see what this year brings and what it holds. I love newness!! Speaking of newness… I captured a new baby today and can’t wait to share the little guy… images coming soon. And while we are on the subject of posting images you can see that I did not get around to posting my big blog post of my favs from 2009. To be honest, there were just so many and I have been having so much fun with my family I just did not find the time (sorry). I don’t think the post will happen but what will happen are lots of NEW images this year starting with John Michael (the new little guy), a 6 month old coming next week and a wedding in Mexico in two weeks (super excited about the wedding!!) and more sessions at the end of Jan.

If you are interested in booking a session in 2010 I would be happy to have you over for a little consul to see images, I can send you a slide show of my style or talk to you on the phone about my style. I can’t wait to meet new faces, share life with new people and old and see what the world has to offer in 2010. If you want your life captured on film (the digital kind) contact me and let me tell your story. Many of you love my type of photography but say “you take so many images it’s hard to choose”… well, this year I have jut the thing for you… new image boxes to fill up with prints or timeless albums we can create from your session so you can share your life story and have all your images in one place (and little wallet books to go along with them)!

A post is not complete without an image. We went bowling last night with the kids and a bunch of friends. We were to make matching team outfits from what we had in our closets… as you can see we don’t have a lot of the same thing but having two boys in the family we were able to all wear a striped polo and we looked good (yes, I am not in this picture and the only good ones of me were taken from the behind so I am posting my three favorite people in the world).

Enjoy!! Happy New Year!!

It’s cold. It’s icing outside (my new favorite word.. better than sleet or freezing rain). We are STILL in our jammies today, yep a good day! We are all on the couch with our hot chocolates and espressos (made my me!!). We are all sitting here waiting for Santa to hop on his sled and come down our chimney (well, the kids are). Mostly today is a lazy day (with a couple sick kids) and a couple lazy adults but overall it’s the best day ever (in my world). I don’t get many of these but when I do I just eat them up and soak up every min of them. I love my family so much. I love how we just love to be lazy (one day out of the year…for those of you who really know me…). We went to our Christmas eve service last night (AMAZING, as always) so today was our day to do nothing before we see more family tomorrow!

I wanted to take a moment to THANK all of you. Yep, all of you who read my blog and whose lives I have captured this year in pictures. I said I was going to blog my fall sessions but instead next week I am going to give you a BIG post of some of my favs of 2009. I am really enjoying my downtime (not making it to the computer like I planned) so I will give you one big post of “some” of the favorites (there are way to many to post them all so I will grab a few!). I am also making a few small business changes (you will see those out here in a few places so check out the links at the top) and I will start booking for 2010!

Enjoy the time with your families! Merry Christmas and have a blessed New Year!! I have a couple things to post next week with a newborn session coming up next week but other than that I will see you all in the New Year!!

Again, thank you.. thank you.. thank you for YOU!