Cake smash!! or frosting time!

My baby turned 1 today!!  I'd like to say this was her first taste of sugar, but she has been familiar with it for a while.  We've had fights over ice cream already.

Cake ready to be smashed!!

Tentative at first...

Wait, this isn't so bad!

Mmmmm, frosting

Done!!  Now to work off the sugar high!

Cute Headbands

I am getting ready for some cute kids to come to my studio for Valentine mini sessions tomorrow!   Today I started prepping for that and I also had some adorable headbands from Alicia's Design that I wanted to show off.  Luckily I have friends who put up with my antics and let me use their cute kids as models.  My kids also get a playdate out of it which tires them out.  So really it sounds like I just use people...

If this doesn't make you want to twirl, I don't know what will!

Here are a couple of the Valentine templates I have available.  

You can see the other 4 options at Summit Avenue Design.

Friday the 13th!

Well, it is the first Friday the 13th of 2012.  I think there are 3 this year??  I feel like I read that somewhere, but don't quote me on it.

So far so good (knock on wood), no major issues happening yet today.  Both kids are napping (YAY!!) so I'm catching up on some photo sessions.  So, if you are staying inside and laying low to avoid any bad luck, then the least I can do is give you some photos to look at.  I'll try to get another post out for your enjoyment in a bit :)

These are from a family session back in early December...

Cute Brothers!!

My kind of photo shoot!!  Coffee Break Time! :)

Guess how old this cutie is! 

Fitness Inspiration

It's a new year, which to some means resolution time.  One of my "resolutions" was to go to bed earlier, meaning at a somewhat decent hour since midnight just does not seem to cut it for some reason.  The problem is, that is MY time!  The kids are finally sleeping, it is quiet, I can finally get something done.


Things just seem to get out of hand the longer I work...
10pm, working but I should probably go to bed
1030pm, just a few more edits
11pm, what about that blog post
1130pm, Pinterest!  Yes, by this time I am not functioning and have no idea what I am doing on the computer.  I should have been in bed an hour ago!

My brain gives up around 11pm and all it wants are pretty things to look at, and fun crafts and baking ideas that I will never end up doing - but I might, right?  Oh, Pinterest...

Needless to say, going to bed earlier has not happened.  Maybe I need to aim for going to bed later to trick myself.

If you made a new year's resolution I hope you have better determination then I do!  And if you made a "get in shape" type of resolution then these photos are motivation for you!!  Emily Nowlan of Your B.E.S.T. Fitness is a supermom and she looks the part too!  Two gorgeous girls and abs that conceal any hint of being stretched while pregnant.  I guess she knows what she's doing!

If you made it this far you get an outtake shot!  How do you take photos in a studio with no windows and you didn't bring a studio light set-up?  A fabulous assistant named Lori, your speedlight, and a reflector.  Plus a few trial and error shots!

Photography Basics Class

January 9th, 2012 is coming up fast!!  

Q. What is the deal about January 9th?  

A. It is the first photography class I am teaching!!

Right now I don't have an official name for this "class" but it would be something like Photography Basics (I know, totally lame) or How to Take Good Photos of Your Kids (more descriptive but still kinda lame).

I am presenting to the Elk River MOPS group at Central Lutheran Church, Monday Jan. 9th, 645pm.

Q. What is MOPS?

A. MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers

If you would like to attend there is no cost, but please bring a food donation.

If you aren't the mother of a preschooler, or can't make it Jan 9th, but would like to have me speak at your event, please contact me!  Of course, January 9th is the trial run, so we'll see if I actually have anything to offer :)  

If you are interested, here are some of the topics covered:

• Exposure
• ISO
• SS
• Aperture
• Auto/S/A/M
• RAW vs jpeg
• WB
• Tips
• Lighting
• Editing
• Websites
• Prints

If some of those acronyms don't make sense, they will after the class!

Also, I don't pretend to know everything, mostly because I don't.  Where would the fun be in that?!  So if you come to the class and have a question I can't answer, I will do my best to help find the answer! 

I look forward to seeing your smiling face there!

Sleepy Baby

In case you were wondering, the best time to photograph newborns is in the first two weeks after birth.  This is because they tend to be more sleepy and "milk drunk".  Just something for all you expectant moms to know, so you can schedule with me in advance ;)

Sometimes, no matter what you do baby will not sleep.  You try heat, white noise, feeding, rocking, swaddling, and everything else under the sun, and nothing works.  It can be frustrating.

Well that was not the case with this sleepy baby boy!  He was still recovering from a bit of jaundice so that may have helped in my favor, but this guy was out for 2 hrs straight!!  Talk about a lucky photographer!

If you saw my Christmas photo post, the photos in this post are the same baby.  Those Christmas themed photos were purely selfish on my part because I wanted something to post that was festive :)  But how could you not want a ton of pictures of this cutie pie?!

So sleepy he's catching flies...

Valentine's Day Mini Sessions

My first post of 2012, written on January 1st!  Not a bad way to start the year, and I'm even thinking ahead to next month!

I am offering some mini sessions in my studio for Valentine's Day (see info below)!  Of course I mention Valentine's photos, and my husband immediately thinks "boudoir". In order to clear up any confusion, these mini sessions are a bit more tame and are geared towards kids and pets.  Photos for your grandparents :)

Right now I don't have any theme or specific prop(s), so if there is something you would like to see please let me know!!  Also, feel free to bring your own props as well.

My studio is a small space and can accommodate three kids at the most.  Please keep that in mind, and if you have any questions please contact me.