The Latest from Lovebugs

The blog has moved!

2008-07-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

After spending a few hours moving things and setting things up, the Blog has now moved! This one will still exist, but if you want to see new stuff, you'll have to visit The Latest from Lovebugs at its new address.

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

Here we are in the hot, muggy part of the summer - what better time to have a holiday that is celebrated outdoors?

We did the all-American dinner of hamburgers and hotdogs, with watermelon on the side. No apple pie for dessert, but we did have white angel food cake with red strawberries and blue blueberries - how much more patriotic can you get?

The fireworks may or may not be on the agenda tonight. A storm is brewing up outside, and it's not really a good idea to stand around in the middle of it. The kids may just have to make do with the fireworks on TV.

Happy birthday Niyema!!

2008-06-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

Niyema just had her first birthday and we celebrated today with a little cake. She dug right into the gooey, sweet frosting and got it all over herself. Now she's all sugared up and ready to keep her mom busy the rest of the day.

She is growing so fast and is so close to walking. She's standing up with just a little bit of help and you can tell she wants to take that next step, but hasn't been able to do it yet. Any day now, though.

Happy birthday, Niyema!

A video that should make you smile!

2008-06-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

This is a video shot around the world - it's a happy video, filled with joy and life. It's a video I plan to share with my French classes during the first week of school. You just can't watch it without getting a smile on your face, even though it's such a simple idea.

This is what I want to share with people, whether it is through photography or through my job as a high school teacher. I want my students to see that no matter where you go, there are people who will share your hopes and dreams. No matter what part of the world you are in, people really do tend to want the same things out of life - they want to be loved, they want to enjoy the beauty of the world and life, they want to see their children grow up and raise their own children. Beauty is everywhere, you just have to open your eyes to see it sometimes.

Bubbles!

2008-06-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

Summertime is bubble time! Little kids love bubbles, especially little girls. Marie and Grace had fun last night just blowing bubbles all over the patio. Some of the bubbles were pretty impressive.

Grace hasn't quite gotten the hang of blowing bubbles yet. She huffed and she puffed, but the bubbles just wouldn't come out.

Some more stuff from France

2008-06-22T05:34:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty much done going through the 696 photos I took while in France. My room is being renovated this summer, with a fresh paint job and lower ceilings. I'm hoping to have some of the shots framed and displayed, and I took plenty of boring shots of things like bakeries and fruit markets with that in mind. But I also got lots of shots of students having a great time while in France - Miguel is standing in front of the Mona Lisa (la Jaconde is the real name of the painting!) and you can see that she's really not all that big. We also visited the Pompidou center and had some fun goofing around with a shopping cart on our last evening in France.

A smile waiting to come out!

2008-06-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

This is Reese, and she's 10 months old. I love the way she is about to smile here - you can see it in her eyes, but it hasn't yet reached her mouth. She was playing a very important baby game - clap! - and that was enough to make her happy. What a great thing it is to be easily pleased!

Class of 2009 - BFF sale through July 26.

2008-06-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Class of 2009, this is your time to shine!

Summer vacation is here and school just got out, but it will be over before you know it! It's time to start thinking about your senior portraits, and Lovebugs Photography has a special deal that will make it even more exciting - a BFF sale!

From June 20-July 26, 2008, book your senior portrait session - studio, on-location, or combination - and a friend can join in for free! We'll even take some shots of the two of you together, so bring a coordinating outfit or two. You can be the best friend ever and let your friend have the free session, or you can split the cost so you both get a great deal.
Sessions must take place at the same time in order to receive this special offer. Call 623-556-1227 or e-mail Heather@lovebugsphotography.com to book your session today.

Back from France!

2008-06-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

After a short flight to Frankfurt and a really looooonnnngggg flight from Frankfurt to Los Angeles, I'm finally back in the states! I'll be in LA until tomorrow, then it's back to Phoenix and back to work. As far as I can tell, my very patient husband has been able to hold down the fort, taking messages and processing orders while I was out of wifi range.

We visited Normandy and the D-Day beaches, as well as the Caen Peace Memorial. It's really a beautiful museum, with exhibits well worth seeing. Right now they have a special exhibit on 9/11 - it's called "where were you on 9/11/2001" and has interviews with people from around the world, as well as objects that were recovered from Ground Zero.

We continued to Rouen and saw where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake, and then returned to Paris for one more evening.

In all, we had a great time. If you're interested in seeing the 600+ photos I took, I do have them online - www.lovebugsphotography.com/Photocart/index.php - enter the gallery access code France. Not that I expect anyone to look at all of them...

More from France

2008-06-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

As you can tell from the photos, we've visited the Eiffel Tower. It was a beautiful night and we were there when the sparkling lights came on at 10 pm. We also visited Notre Dame and the palace of Versailles.

Miguel was able to realize his dream of eating escargots and he loved them. Everyone is having a great time, and we are filling every day with as much as we possibly can.

We've now left Paris and are in the Loire Valley. We saw the castle of Chambord today, and we are staying in a little village called Villandry. Our hotel is quite interesting, my room is in the attic and has a V-shaped roof! Tomorrow we are going to continue exploring the Loire Valley by visiting the castle of Chenonceau.

Posting from France

2008-06-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the pictures from our first day in France. We had a very LOOOONNG first day/night/day, and finally got a good night's sleep. We're so much happier now that we've had a chance to clean up and get some rest.

The first photo is a statue of St. Michael. We got sandwiches and sat in front of this fountain yesterday for lunch. The second photo is Miguel looking very distinguished in front of the fountain. He's so excited to be here! The third photo is Isabel standing on a bridge over the Seine river. The fourth photo is a candle that I lit for my daughter Marie in the the cathedral of Notre-Dame. It's in front of a statue of Mary, so this was the perfect place to light one! The last photo is the outside of Notre-Dame cathedral.

The weather is pretty nice, much cooler than Arizona. It's been a little rainy with sprinkles coming down from time to time. As always, the food is delicious. We had a big salad with potatoes on top last night - a weird combination, but very good.

Today we're taking a bus tour of Paris, then visiting Versailles in the afternoon. Tonight it's the boat cruise on the Seine and the Eiffel Tower.

Bon Voyage!

2008-06-02T03:29:00.000-07:00

This morning I will be leaving on a trip to France (again). It's one of the few perks of being a French teacher. I dread the long flights, but the country is absolutely beautiful. I'm taking several students with me, and their excitement is contagious!

While I'm gone, my husband is going to keep things running on the homefront. I should have Wifi at all but one of the hotels, so I'll be able to check my e-mail every other day or so. If you need to get in touch with me about an order or booking a session, e-mail will be easier than phone for the next 10 days - Heather@lovebugsphotography.com. I might not get back to you right away, but I will reply as soon as I can!

I hope to post some pictures while I'm over there, so watch the blog for those. Also, don't forget to vote in the Fresh Faces contest - there are 2 days left.

Fresh Faces - vote now!

2008-05-28T10:34:00.000-07:00

Well, I was supposed to have the voting up and running for this a few days ago but then I got swamped with literally hundreds of photos that needed to be edited, plus the last days of school, graduation, etc...that will teach me to run something at the end of May!

But here are the photos you can vote for. You have five beautiful children to choose from, and voting will run through 12:00 AM June 4. I've extended the voting by a few days since we got a late start.

Perfection!

2008-05-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

Isn't this little girl just perfect? I love the was she purses her lips, and she was so easy to work with. She's just under two weeks old and absolutley gorgeous.

A 9-month old heartbreaker

2008-05-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

This little guy was quite the sweetheart, but so active! He just didn't want to sit still for very long and he didn't like to look at the camera very much, but he was so sweet. He's going to be a trouble-maker once he starts walking, so watch out mom and dad!

Kenzie is baptised

2008-05-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

The beautiful little girl from earlier this week was baptised this afternoon, and she was so well-behaved! There were plenty of crying babies and fussy toddlers, but Kenzie was a real little angel. Almost no crying at all, and after the hard part was over, she went right to sleep.

Congratulations to Kenzie and her family. Enjoy your special day!

St. Clare's - May 2008

2008-05-18T05:09:00.001-07:00

St. Clare's recently held their Confirmation and Communion for about 250 young people. The older ones were there on May 17, and on May 24 Bishop Thomas Olmstead was present to confirm them. To see the photos of the event, please visit:

http://www.lovebugsphotography.com/photocart/index.php

Enter the gallery access code Clare17 to see the photos from May 17.

Enter the gallery access code Clare24 to see the photos from May 24.

The newest member of the Little Lovebugs Club

2008-05-13T04:57:00.001-07:00

A gorgeous baby and a gorgeous dress for her baptism - what a beautiful little girl!

One miiilllllliiion dollars...

2008-05-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

This picture just cracks me up! This cute little girl is so happy and fun, and this shot just reminds me of the scene in Austin Powers when Dr. Evil is asking for one million dollars to not blow up the world.

It's one of those shots you couldn't have tried to get, it was just a happy accident. I just love the look on her face, and the pinkie is just perfect!

New slideshow!

2008-05-07T18:12:00.001-07:00

This is a little slideshow made from my session with Jack and Conner recently. You can make your own slideshows too, it's so easy to do and eventually you'll be able to upload them to an ipod, etc.

Oh, and keep those Fresh Faces entries coming in!

Fresh Faces Contest

2008-05-05T18:15:00.001-07:00

How does it work? If you have a child between the ages of 6 months and 12 years of age and have not had a session with Heather in the past year, you can enter. Submit a recent (non-professional) photo to Heather@lovebugsphotography.com Be sure to put FRESH FACES in the subject line. (at this time prints will not be accepted)
Entries close May 22, 2008 : midnight EST, Voting will begin on May 23 and run until May 31, 2008.
Entries are limited to 30 entrants, so enter quickly!
All entries must include the child’s name, date of birth, and a valid contact email of parent or legal guardian (grandparents, you must have permission from parents to enter your grandchild. No names will be publicly announced. Also, if someone referred you to the contest that is a current client, please include their name so I can give them the proper thank you.
Twins and multiples may be entered together.
All submitted photos must be recent (within 6 weeks of submission)
Once entries close, the photos will be posted on the news page and be voted for by the public.
What does the winner receive?
There will be two (2) winning places. Grand prize and a runner up (based on total votes)
Grand Prize winner: Receives a complimentary session for themselves and one to give to a friend.
Second Place winner: Receives a complimentary session for themselves.
By entering the contest you agree to sign a model release. The model release allows me to use the photos from your session on my website and brochures.
But wait… My kids don’t qualify!!!
That’s okay! We still need you! Just forward this information to all of your friends and if they are one of the winners you will receive a $50 print gift card to use at your next session!
We encourage you to forward this information to your friends even if you are entering the contest as well; however there are a few quite notes that you (and they) will want to be aware of before entering.
Child(ren) entered must not have been photographed by us within the past year as of the date of contest entry – events don’t count, so if I’ve photographed your child at their first communion or another event, you’re in luck!
One entry per child. (if you have more than one child you may enter them individually as separate contestants; however, the winning session will be limited to the winning child only)
Standard session policies apply including but not limited to model release signature, ordering session to be completed in person, and all sales are final.
All photos submitted may be in color or in black and white and have been taken within the past 6 weeks of submission.
Submitted photos must NOT be from a professional photographer. We take no responsibility whatsoever for copyrighted materials submitted in this contest. By submitting copyrighted photographs into this contest you are accepting all legal repercussions that may arise from the owner of the copyright. Photos previously taken by Lovebugs Photography are not eligible.
Entrants may be from anywhere; however, the winning entrant must be willing to travel to us to complete the session.
We reserve the right to disqualify or deny entry to anyone at his or her discretion. This includes any clients who are banned from booking because of copyright infringement, outstanding balances, etc.
The Fresh Faces winners must book their session within 6 weeks of being named the winner.
In order to receive complementary session and print credits, the session date must be booked and completed before July 28, 2008.
Complimentary session MUST be of child who wins. NON-TRANSFERRABLE.
The digital version of the photo you submit becomes property of us for purposes of promoting the Fresh Faces contest. By entering this contest you are allowing us to post the submitted photo of your child in a public matter on news, website or in display promoting the Fresh Faces contest.

The boys of summer

2008-05-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

I've been taking pictures of Conner and Jack ever since Conner was a little baby - he sure has grown up! It turns out that both boys are big fans of the Diamondbacks, and for the first part of our session they were all decked out in red Diamondbacks apparel. I'm sure they're going to have a great summer watching the games, and they'll look really cute while doing so!

Best wishes for a happy marriage!

2008-05-01T04:43:00.000-07:00

I photographed a bridal shower this weekend for Leanne, who is getting married next month. It was simply gorgeous, with beautiful flowers and a lovely spring theme. I am sure that Leanne will make a beautiful bride on her wedding day as well, and I wish her happiness and a long and love-filled marriage.

2008-04-27T15:29:00.000-07:00

Annie is about 8 months old now, and she has the most beautiful eyes! She also has a bit of a drool problem, as you can see - hopefully she will be getting some teeth soon and will be even cuter the next time I see her!

Communion time again!

2008-04-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's that time of year again. There are over 100 kids this year getting ready to make their first communion and confirmation from St. Clare's. This year, I'll get a chance to experience it both as a photographer and a parent - Adam and Marie will be participating this year! That's Marie in her dress, standing outside the fountain at Prince of Peace.

The handsome young man isn't mine, his name is Steven and he belongs to another St. Clare's family. He was so polite and easy to work with; I look forward to seeing him again next month for "the real deal."

Niyema - almost a year old

2008-04-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

Niyema is almost one year old - but not quite! She's so proud of her four little teeth, and maybe she'll even have more by the time she has her birthday cake. We'll have so much fun at our next session, destroying a cake and making a mess.

Happy birthday, Elizabeth!

2008-04-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth just turned 3 years old, and I've been taking her picture since she was only 3 months old. What a difference between then and now! She started out a little shy, but soon got over it and we had a lot of fun dressing her up in different birthday outfits.

A sweet little flower

2008-04-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

This sweet little girl is three weeks old. Her name is Meadow - a perfect name for such a beautiful little flower! She was a pretty good sport about being moved around and dressed and undressed, but she was happiest in mom or dad's arms.

A beautiful day at the farm...

2008-04-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

This family was so much fun, and the location was beautiful. We met at The Farm at South Mountain for a session in the beautiful time right before sunset. Lots of trees, flowers and just a gorgeous place for a photo session! I also made a new friend who is 4 years old and full of energy - he seemed to enjoy climbing in the trees and flying like Superman, and I hope he enjoyed his after-session ice cream because he sure earned it!

Precious Payton

2008-04-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome little Payton! What a beautiful little girl she is. She was so good, not fussy at all - and she loved playing with all of the textures on the blankets and towels. She also has the softest, most beautiful hair I've ever seen on a newborn.

Ashely - class of 2008

2008-04-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

Ashely is graduating next month and has big plans for her future - plans involving a school whose name I won't mention, since they were MY college rivals! Congratulations, Ashely, enjoy your last few weeks of high school!

Welcome Baby Noah - sneak peek!

2008-03-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

Baby Noah is just 3 weeks old and he's already so curious about the world around him. He was awake and alert throughout our entire session, but it was a good alert - no crying or fussing at all.

Congratulations to Noah's parents and a big welcome to Noah.

Memories of the NICU

2008-03-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

I was at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center yesterday to do a session in the NICU. Sierra and Jackson are 30-weekers, now one month old. They are doing great and now growing and learning how to be a baby!

Visiting the NICU brought back a lot of memories of the time when my son and daughter were in the NICU. Some things have changed - the entire NICU has been redone so that instead of one big unit, there are individual patient rooms. But some things will forever be the same - the isolettes, the little signs put up by the nurses, the oxygen monitors, etc.

Lexi - class of 2008!

2008-03-26T05:09:00.000-07:00

The weather is beautiful now and it's time to start thinking about graduation! Lexi is going to be graduating and we were lucky to have a gorgeous evening at Sun City Grand for her senior photos.

Congratulations, Lexi - graduation is a huge accomplishment and hopefully the first of many happy milestones to come in your life.

Happy Easter from Max

2008-03-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

Max is playing with the gift the Easter Bunny brought...a cute little chick! Of course, it's not a real one - that wouldn't last long enough to take a single picture of him!

This chick is all that remains of 2 chicks, three ducks and two rabbits. Unfortunately, they are made with rabbit fur and thus very attractive to dogs. Our dog Mocha disposed of the bulk of the animals last year, I'm hoping this one chick will last a bit longer.

Mischief? Maybe!

2008-03-23T07:57:00.001-07:00

Isn't this little girl the sweetest thing? I love the look in her eye - it's the same look my daughter gets when she's about to do something mischevious - something that will probably mean cleaning up a mess, but that you'll just have to laugh about.

St. Clare photos - 2008

2008-03-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

The Easter Vigil was on Saturday, March 22. If you were baptized, confirmed, and/or took first communion, you can see your photos HERE. You will need to enter the gallery access code "Vigil08" (no quotes needed). Photos will arrive within 1-2 weeks of ordering and you may choose to pick them up at the St. Clare's office, at the studio, or sent via US mail.

Baby Arianna...coming soon!

2008-03-22T16:47:00.000-07:00

My recent run of newborn boys is coming to an end...this couple is expecting a little girl! I can't wait to meet her when she makes her grand appearance.

Happy 60th anniversary!

2008-03-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I photographed a family reunion/60th wedding anniversary. For some reason I'm doing quite a few 60th anniversaries recently - not 50th, but 60th.

I have to say I'm happy to do these, as it is so inspiring to see these couples who have been through it all and 60 years later love each other more than other. My husband and I were rather dismayed to realize that every single wedding we've ever attended has ended up with the couple divorcing a couple of years down the road. That's a sad realization for us, as every one of those marriages started with love and hopes for the future only to end in sadness and disappointment. So I'm thrilled to photograph couples who have made it work, and someday I hope to be one of those couples celebrating 60 years of love and happiness.

So congratulations on your wedding anniversary!

Welcome baby Kyler!

2008-03-13T18:58:00.000-07:00

Little Kyler was born on the best possible day - February 26! It's also the day my oldest two children were born, so it's a wonderful day for a birthday.

Happy birthday, Kyler - and congratulations to your family!

Adam shoots his mother

2008-03-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Keith Carson, who arranged for my son Adam to try out the flight simulator at Luke Air Force base.

Adam is obsessed with all things related to aviation. He loves to play flight sim at home, Wii games like Heatsinker and Blazing Angels, and he watches the movies Top Gun, Pearl Harbor and Flyboys over and over. When he got the chance to visit the simulator where the "real pilots" train, he was so excited! He wore his child-sized flightsuit all day so he would be ready to go, and he's still wearing it now even though we've been home for almost an hour.

He had such a great time. Keith showed him how to use the throttle and the landing gear and how to turn the plane, then let him fly. The first thing Adam wanted to do was shoot me! I was flying in the adjacent simulator, so he could see me. Typical little boy, shooting anything he can - even his own mother! I told him he's grounded, but he said it was worth it.

So once again, thanks to Keith for giving him such a wonderful experience! I'm sure I'll be hearing about it incessantly for the next months.

The Dread Pirate Roberts has arrived!

2008-03-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

This little one is called Westley, after the hero of the best movie of all time - The Princess Bride. And he wasn't at all dreadful as one would expect from a "dread pirate." No, he was sweet and cuddly and all of the wonderful things that newborn babies can be!

I wish him happiness and prosperity, and I hope someday he will find his Princess Buttercup.

Happy Birthday Grady!

2008-03-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

Grady is now one year old. He has such beautiful blue eyes, and he's such a charming little guy. Today he had one thing on his agenda: cake. He tore into the little birthday cake like no other baby I've ever seen! So I did what every responsible children's photographer does: got him all sugared up and then sent him on his way to spend some quality time with mom and dad!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-08T12:40:00.000-08:00

Is this not the cutest little bunny ever? She's three months old now and has sure grown since I saw her as a newborn! Such big beautiful eyes, and she didn't even try to fight the bunny ears.

Welcome, little Devin!

2008-02-17T05:10:00.000-08:00

Devin was due on Superbowl weekend, but luckily for his dad, he was born a little early! Isn't his smile just the cutest thing ever?

Huzzah from the Renaissance Faire!

2008-02-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again - the Renaissance Festival is in town! We've been going to the fair since it was a tiny little street with only a few entertainers. In the 20 years it has been around, it has grown to a pretty big event with a permanent location.

We did all of the typical stuff - buy the flower headbands and the wooden swords, eat the cinnamon almonds, etc. We saw the vegetable justice guy get hit in the face by some ripe tomatoes, and we pet some of the animals in the little farm. We also got a chance to take in a few shows - a tightrope walker, a juggler/magician, and the pipe and drum group Tartanic. As always, they were great! Now Marie has a crush on one of the pipers and she's decided bagpipe music isn't so bad.

The festival will run through the end of March, so if you're looking for something fun to do, stop by.

Welcome baby Natalia!

2008-02-02T15:11:00.000-08:00

Baby Natalia was a big girl when she was born - 9 pounds 14 ounces! She was a total sweetheart, though. She didn't fuss the entire time and I was amazed at how alert she was. No sleeping baby shots, but lots of beautiful shots with eyes wide open.

Congratulations to Natalia's family, and a happy welcome to Natalia.

Two little ones on the way!

2008-02-02T15:02:00.000-08:00

I've been busy with maternity and newborn sessions lately. It's normal for this time of year; most families did their portraits for the holiday season, but babies are born all the time!

I've had a rush of little baby boys coming into the studio recently, and one of these is going to be a boy as well. The other one will be a surprise, which will make it all the more fun.

Welcome baby Logan!

2008-01-20T17:02:00.000-08:00

Baby Logan was born on January 13, so he is only one week old today. He was still really scrunchy and squishy - the perfect age for a newborn photo session! Logan is lucky enough to have a big brother to teach him the ropes. Congratulations to Logan's family, what a blessing he is!

Welcome baby Charlie!

2008-01-20T16:59:00.000-08:00

Charlie was born January 3, and he is so precious. I love the colors and textures on this little outfit he wore today - it was his coming home outfit, so it's particularly meaningful. Amazingly, he didn't even fight the hat! I've seen many babies who simply can't stand hats, but little Charlie dealt with it quite well. Congratulations to Charlie's family, and enjoy your new little one.

Happy Birthday Braylon!

2008-01-19T17:13:00.000-08:00

Isn't Braylon a cutie? He's one year old and looks like he can't wait to get into mischief. It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I took his newborn photos, but time has a way of flying when there are little ones around. Happy birthday, Braylon - and may you have your fill of cake for many years to come.

2008-01-19T06:41:00.001-08:00

This couple is celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this weekend. I can only imagine the memories you share when you've been married for so long! It's certainly a blessing to be able to share your life with someone you love just as much as the day you married them. I wish them many more years of wedded bliss, and enjoy your special day.

Girl Scout cookies are here!

2008-01-12T15:09:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again...Girl Scout cookie time!

Cookies are $4 per box. This year's flavors are Lemon Chalet Creams, Trefoils, Do-Si-Dos, Samoas, All Abouts, Sugar Free Chocolate Chip, Tagalongs and Thin Mints. Most of them are classic flavors, but there are three new flavors.

The lemon chalet creams are vanilla sandwich cookies with a hint of cinnamon-ginger spice and a lemon creme filling. The All Abouts are vanilla cookies with a fudge coating. The sugar-free chocolate chip cookies are just what you'd expect, minus the sugar.

If you'd like to help out my daughter and her troop, just e-mail me at Heather@lovebugsphotography.com and I can place an order for you. Cookies should be in around February 20 or so.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-06T14:46:00.001-08:00

Now that the holiday season is over, I finally have a chance to sit down and take a breather. I know I got behind with posting sneak peeks to the blog, but December was really a crazy month. Maybe it's a good resolution to get the blog updated more frequently!

This was the first session in 2008. This little girl has grown so much since I saw her for her newborn session. Now she's excited to play with her toes, and what a sweet little face she has. She was so cooperative for most of her session, so that's a very nice way to start off 2008.

End of year "sale" - book now to get 2007 pricing

2007-12-15T04:27:00.000-08:00

It's the end of the year and time to re-evaluate the financial end of things. Unfortunately, since inflation and expenses always seem to go up, both session fees and print prices will be increasing as of January 1, 2008.

For customers who have already booked or are members of the Little Lovebugs or Watch Me Grow clubs - no worries! Your prices are locked in and you will pay the 2007 prices.

So, if you've been thinking about booking a session and have just been holding off - DON'T! Book before January 1 and you'll pay the 2007 prices. Even if you're pregnant and not due until June, by reserving your session now you'll save a little money and get yourself first choice of appointment times.

Please note that the 2008 prices have already been added to the main website, although the 2007 pricing is in effect through the end of the year.

Remembering our lost little ones

2007-12-09T17:43:00.000-08:00

For a photo blog, this is a rare occurrence: a post without a photo!

Tonight is the annual lighting of candles in remembrance of all of the children who have been lost. This is a worldwide event, and it lasts 24 hours. During the darkest part of the year, people in each time zone light their candles for one hour, from 7 to 8 pm.

Many people attend local ceremonies; many more light their candles privately.

I will be lighting my candle tonight in memory of my son Nicholas. He was with us for 11 days in 1999. He died due to complications from surgery he had after developing necrotizing enterocolitis. His brother and sister, born 5 days after him and weighing a few ounces more, will also be remembering him this year.

I am also lighting my candle in memory of the little ones I've met as a photographer for NILMDTS - nine little boys and girls who were only able to stay with their parents for a very brief time, but whose memories will live on forever.

If you'd like to know more about the candle lighting, visit the Compassionate Friends site.

Happy birthday!

2007-12-03T03:57:00.000-08:00

Aren't these just the cutest little ones you've seen in a long time? Not only are they celebrating Christmas, they have their first birthday coming up later this week!

Multiples can be tricky, they never seem to want to do the same thing at the same time. The key is the Santa Hats. Give them something that they can steal from the other one and they'll stop trying to get away and start spending their energy on removing their brother or sister's hat!

Happy Holidays from Max!

2007-12-01T06:17:00.000-08:00

Max doesn't really like to sit still for photos. Although he loves to hang out in the studio and keep the kids smiling, when it comes to pictures of HIM - he'd rather not!

I did manage to keep him occupied by giving him a beautiful Christmas-themed chew toy, so this will have to do for his holiday photo. No Santa hats for him...he's just not that kind of a dog.

The holidays are here!

2007-11-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

I last saw this family when the youngest one was a newborn - my how she's grown in 9 months!

It's hard to believe the holiday season is starting, when it has been in the 90's all week and you still need the a/c in the car sometimes. But the holidays are definitely here, as you can tell by the festive outfits in this shot. Somehow it's hard to get into the holiday spirit when everyone is still wearing shorts, but there are little signs that winter really is on its way.

Welcome, baby Elizabeth!

2007-11-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth was born on October 29, and I got to meet her when she was only 2 weeks old. What beautiful little hands she has, and the most expressive eyes. Congratulations to her family, what a wonderful little girl she is!

Niyema's baptism

2007-11-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

I just saw this little sweetheart a couple of weeks ago for her Halloween photo (she's the little bee from October 26). She was recently baptized and her she is, looking absolutely beautiful in her Christening gown.

Holiday photo cards - deadlines are approaching!

2007-11-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

Be sure to book your holiday portrait session in time for holiday delivery. If you plan to order holiday photo cards, you should book your session for November in order to receive your cards in time to send out before the holidays. Orders placed after December 7 can not be guaranteed to be received in time for Christmas, due to overwhelming demand at the printer.

Call 623-556-1227 or e-mail Heather@lovebugsphotography.com
to book your session today!

Happy Halloween from a busy bee!

2007-10-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween from little Niyema! She's certain to get lots of candy and goodies with that sweet little face and precious smile.

Baby Annie - 3 months old

2007-10-27T19:27:00.001-07:00

Three months can be a difficult age to photograph a baby - they aren't sleepy newborns any more, but they aren't yet old enough to be able to be entertained very easily. Baby Annie was such a great subject, though - she was full of smiles and was so easy to work with. Here she is safe and sound in her daddy's arms.

Playing catch-up

2007-10-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy with the start of the holiday season that I've fallen sorely behind on my Blog! Anyway, I loved this little girl's outfit, so retro but so perfect for her. She wasn't too happy when we started our session, but I'd like to think we were friends by the time she left. I love this silly expression, it's so typical 4-year old girl!

Halloween/Fall photos from Lovebugs Photography!

2007-10-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Halloween, Lovebugs Photography is offering
special Halloween mini-sessions! One day only -
October 27, 2007 - the studio will be set up with pumpkins,
straw and a cute fall theme. For $50 you will receive a
15-minute mini-session, one 5X7 and 4 wallets
(all photos same pose). As a bonus, if you bring a donation
of two cans of non-perishable food, you will receive an
additional 4 wallets for free! All ages are welcome,
even newborns will be able to show off their cute costumes
this Halloween.

The number of mini-sessions is VERY limited - so don't wait,
book today by calling 623-556-1227 or e-mail
Heather@lovebugsphotography.com

Happy birth day, Tatum!

2007-09-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Tatum is such a precious little girl - so cooperative, and she pretty much slept through whatever I did. She did open her eyes for a few shots, and what beautiful eyes they are. When she wasn't sleeping, she was certainly interested in everything that was going on around her. She's only a couple of weeks old, and what a beautiful addition to her family she makes.

Maddox - a bundle of energy

2007-09-16T11:06:00.001-07:00

Maddox recently turned 2 years old, and he had his birthday photos taken at Sun City Grand. He chased rabbits, met a cute little girl, threw rocks in the pond and generally had a good time. Happy Birthday, Maddox!

Will - two years old.

2007-09-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

Doesn't he look thrilled to have his very own birthday cake? Will is 2 years old and came in for some birthday portraits. The fake cake looks nice but wasn't nearly as much fun as the REAL cake he got to play with later on!

Welcome, little Brady!

2007-09-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

Isn't this little guy just the cutest? He was so easy to work with, such a happy baby! Congratulations to Brady's mom and dad, he really is a bundle of joy.

Cousins!

2007-09-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

These three little ones are cousins. The youngest one is visiting from back east, unfortunately he's here in the midst of a new heat record for Arizona! Hot weather or not, I know my kids love to hang out with their cousins.

Gorgeous blue eyes

2007-09-02T16:09:00.001-07:00

This is Kaden, and what a little cutie he is! I have loved his blue eyes since his first session when he was 4 months old. He's a bit older now and has grown up a lot in that time, but his eyes are just as beautiful as ever.

A precious little bundle of joy

2007-08-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

This is baby Hayden. He was born July 30, and I got to meet him when he was less than a couple of weeks old. He is definitely the most mellow baby I've ever worked with, sleeping almost the whole time. He looked so precious and peaceful, and really was a pleasure to photograph.

First Holy Communion

2007-08-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

This is Travis, he's the son of one of my friends from work. He had his first holy communion back in April and she wanted to get some portraits done before he outgrows his clothes. That happens so quickly at his age, it seems like nothing fits for more than a few weeks. Anyway, Travis is a pretty cool kid and he follows directions so much better than all of the newborns I work with. I think his marroon shirt was pretty cool too...all the kids wear white shirts, but he was a little different with his outfit.

Welcome, baby Steven!

2007-08-11T12:49:00.001-07:00

I got the chance to meet little Steven this past week - only he's not really LITTLE Steven! He was a big guy, born at 9lbs 11oz. He's got the most beautiful skin and hair and was wonderfully alert during our session.

Welcome baby Shanaiya!

2007-07-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

Shanaiya is the cutest little girl, isn't she? She has beautiful curly hair and the most expressive brown eyes I've ever seen. She was quite cooperative as far as newborns go, and she was so much fun to work with!

Welcome Gavyn!

2007-07-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

This is Gavyn, born July 20. He was so well-behaved and cooperative for our photo session, and such beautiful dark eyes!

3-month old Avery

2007-07-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Avery is the newest member of the Little Lovebugs VIP club. She's three months old and already a little cutie! I love her blue eyes, they are such a gorgeous color.

Baby Connor - an honor for me.

2007-07-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

This past week I had the honor of photographing the arrival and first hours of life for baby Connor. Connor is a miracle baby - he has a chromosonal defect that often causes babies to be stillborn, or to die within minutes or hours of their birth. Many babies with this problem don't ever get to leave the hospital.

Connor is a fighter, though - not only did he survive his birth, he was able to go home with his parents. Nobody knows how long he will be able to stay here with them - but every single minute is a precious gift that is appreciated by his family.

I have always felt that every NILMDTS session I have done is an honor for me. These babies are on earth for such a short time - and yet their parents allow me into their lives during that short time. Every baby that I have met through NILMDTS has been loved and has made an impact on those around them. It's not how long they are here on earth that matters - sometimes, even the smallest of tiny feet can leave imprints upon our hearts.

Update: Connor was able to spend several days with his family at home and passed away on July 22. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

At last - a girl!!!!!

2007-07-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

After all of these boys, I finally got to photograph a little girl this week! She was only 9 days old when she came in for her newborn session. It was fun to break out the pink stuff, since all I've been working with lately has been baby blue. She sure is precious, with such beautiful pink lips and a cute little nose.

Look how they've grown!

2007-07-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

I first photographed these little miracles back when they were only a few months old. Now they're 18 months old and getting into all sorts of mischief!

Multiples are one of the trickiest subjects a photographer can work with. There will always be one (or more!) child who doesn't want to cooperate with the camera. It can be very frustrating if you're not used to dealing with twins, triplets, etc. - it's easy to fall into the trap of expecting "the perfect shot" with all babies smiling and looking at the camera, then being disappointed when it doesn't happen. I'm lucky to have two surviving triplets of my own, and I can say for the record - you will never have ALL the babies happy or sleeping at the same time! It's an unwritten law for multiples that at all times one child MUST be contributing to his/her parents' impending loss of sanity.

Another little boy on the way!

2007-07-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

The trend of little baby boys continues! I've worked with so many couples this summer and it seems that the majority of them are expecting boys! This couple is expecting their first child in a couple of weeks, and it's going to be a boy.

Four boys in one day!

2007-07-16T05:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a busy day - four sessions, and ALL of them were baby boys!

First up was this couple. They are expecting a little baby boy who will be called Hayden. That's a cool name for Arizona, there used to be a ferry that ran across the Salt River to get to the Tempe campus. It was called "Hayden's Ferry" after the owner. Most people nowadays have no idea that was the case, largely because the Salt River no longer has water in it. Well, not enough to require a ferry.
Second up was a first-time mom who is due to have baby Steven this week.

Third was a sweet little newborn named Zaire. He's such a cute little guy, and only 9 days old! I love them when they are so tiny and scrunchy.

Finally, baby Braylon who is not so babyish anymore! He's 6 months old and has the cutest smile, we you can get him to show it!

A new crop of babies coming!

2007-07-06T05:26:00.000-07:00

I've been busy with maternities lately - LOTS of maternities! These three couples are all due around the same time, and I can't wait to meet their little ones. There are two boys and three girls, can you guess who is expecting the girl and which two couples are expecting the girls?

They always tell you ultrasounds aren't foolproof. But for every customer I've worked with (so far!), the ultrasounds have been correct. I'm sure one of these days mom and dad will be surprised, but I don't think it happens often.

Best wishes to all three for a safe labor and delivery. I just can't wait to meet your little ones!

Happy Independence Day!

2007-07-04T13:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's the 4th of July - and yes, I'm working today! It's so hot here in Phoenix that I'd just as soon stay inside and get some work done than try to do anything remotely festive. Sure, we'll have our hot dogs and hamburgers for dinner, but as far as going outside to watch fireworks? We'll probably be better off watching them on TV! A better view of the festivities and a comfortable 83 degrees - unlike outside, where it is supposed to hit 116 today.

This little guy is just about 4 months old. I posted about him several months ago when I did his newborn session. He's gotten a lot bigger, but he still has the beautiful blue eyes he was born with. It's so much fun to watch these babies grow up, and time always goes so fast for me. I'll get a call from a mom saying "hey, it's time to set up my 4/7/12 month appointment!" and I'll do a double take, since it just doesn't seem possible that the time has gone so quickly.

A boy's dream comes true...

2007-07-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

For the past year or so, my son Adam has been obsessed with airplanes. His two favorite movies are Flyboys and Pearl Harbor. He doesn't care too much about the story aspect of it, he just likes to watch the airplanes flying around. His favorite Wii game is Blazing Angels, and he loves to use the flight simulator. He dreams of being a pilot someday.

When we were in Hawaii a couple of weeks ago, we had the chance to send him up in a Stearman biplane. We didn't tell him ahead of time where we were going, because we knew he'd get way too excited about it - and we didn't want to be talking about planes for hours ahead of his flight! Our first trip to Dillingham Airfield didn't go so well - it was way too windy for a flight, so we had to postpone it a few days.

We returned June 19 to the airfield where Adam got his chance to go up. He was so excited, he had the biggest grin on his face the whole time. He got to wear the little cap (and goggles, if needed). He sat in the front and enjoyed seeing Oahu from the air. He came back with some nice pictures taken from the air, and a renewed determination to become a pilot someday.

Since we've returned from our trip, he's been diligently working to learn to "fly." He's been landing 747s on the flight simulator, "just in case" he needs to help out the pilots next time we fly somewhere. He knows the rules for getting a pilot license (16 to solo, vision 20/40 corrected). Only 8 more years to go, and he'll be pushing us to take flying lessons!

Aloha from Hawaii!

2007-06-16T09:00:00.001-07:00

We've been in Hawaii now since Wednesday afternoon. Yesterday we visited the USS Arizona Memorial. It is an amazing sight, full of history. Parts of the ship are visible from the memorial, above the water. The rest is under the water but still visible beneath the surface. It is Hawaii's most visited attraction, and there is a long line to prove it - even an hour before the ticket office opened, people were lined up all around the park. There were even a few survivors of the 1941 attack on hand to talk to visitors.

The weather is beautiful here, and you can walk very easily to many of the places you might want to go. It's much more expensive than Arizona, especially groceries. A box of cereal is about $6 and a gallon of milk is $5! But it's easy to see why people are willing to pay more to live here, as it really is a gorgeous place.

Cynthia - red, white & blue!

2007-06-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

Cynthia is ready for the summer with her red, white & blue outfit! I've known her now for a couple of years and boy has she grown...from a little baby into a precious toddler. And she just gets cuter every single time I see her!

Beautiful Christening baby & dress

2007-06-06T05:35:00.001-07:00

Abby is 5 months old and recently had her Christening. What a beautiful little girl she is, and a gorgeous dress! Congratulations to Abby's family on the precious new addition, and congratulations to Abby on her special day.

Willow Canyon class of 2007!

2007-06-06T05:33:00.000-07:00

This morning is Willow Canyon's graduation ceremonies, and Ryan is a member of the class of 2007. Congratulations on reaping the rewards of all your work over the past 13 years, and best of luck in college next year!

Heaven welcomes another little angel

2007-05-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes children are only here for a short time, and yet they still have an impact on the lives of those around them. Ethan was born just a couple of weeks ago, and yesterday he was returned to Heaven. He was truly a beautiful little boy, the most perfect nose and toes and hands, and it is sad that he wasn't able to stay a while longer. He spent his short life in the NICU, where he was able to touch the lives of his parents, the nurses and the doctors, as well as my own life.

Please keep Ethan's family in your thoughts and prayers. I am honored that they allowed me to share in Ethan's short time here on earth, and I hope the images of him will give them comfort and peace in the coming weeks.

Jack visits the park

2007-05-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

Jack is Madison's cousin (see Madison's fairy photo bel0w). I've known Jack for two years now, and I've seen him grow up a bit since the first time I took his photo. He's full of energy and all sorts of little-boy craziness. He's certainly a handful!

Jack chased the rabbits and the roosters, but never quite caught any of them. I'm not sure what he'd do if he did manage to catch one, but it's probably best that he didn't.

Welcome baby Preston

2007-05-27T08:23:00.001-07:00

This little guy is Preston. He's less than a month old and is so alert! He has beautiful eyes, doesn't he? He was a very cooperative subject, so easy to work with.

Congratulations to Preston and his family. Enjoy your new little boy.

A fairy and a rose

2007-05-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

I don't do a lot of fantasy stuff, but this photo just begged to have a little fairy dust thrown in!

We did this shoot at Saguaro Ranch in Glendale. It's a beautiful location for picnics and photos. I was happy to see that the animals have returned! I was there in February and there were only chickens - now there are not only chickens, roosters and chicks - but peacocks and lots of bunnies!

Of course the weather is getting warmer, and pretty soon the park will be a bit unpleasant for photos, unless you go around 7 in the morning. And who wants to do that?

Welcome baby Maya!

2007-05-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

Baby Maya is Addy's brand new little sister (see the previous post for more on Addy). Maya is just beautiful, and the perfect little subject for me to photograph! She was so cooperative at our session, and she's still newborn scrunchy, so she fit inside my little basket.

Congratulations to Maya's family, and welcome to the world, little princess!

Support the JDRF

2007-05-11T03:38:00.000-07:00

This is Adalyne. She is one of the approximately 176,500 children with diabetes in the United States. She has type 1 diabetes, which means she must take insulin to survive. She wears a pump to deliver the insulin, and needs to carefully monitor her blood sugar.

I've worked with Addy twice now, and she's been a real trouper both times, dealing with low blood sugar. I was amazed at how well she dealt with the fingerpricks for blood samples, I'm sure my own kids would have been screaming their heads off after the first one.

Here's what Addy's mom has to say about living with diabetes:

"Thank you so very much for putting the word out about JDRF and Addy. It's little stuff like your blog that will help find a cure one day. Low blood sugars are the pits and you've witnessed 2 of them...everytime it happens, my heart races, my palms get sweaty and I wonder if this is the one that will cause a seizure - is this the one I need to call 911 for - is this the one that will leave her little brain permanently affected??? When it's over and I have my Addy back, my soul cries inside - and on the outside sometimes too - because she's so little and it makes me sad that life with type 1 diabetes is our reality. "

This Saturday (May 12) is family zoo day for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Organization. The zoo will be hosting a scavenger hunt for diabetic children and their famililes. They are in need of volunteers to host the event, so if you have the day free, don't hesitate to contact them! They also host a walk in the fall, and can always use donations. If you have a little extra money in your pocket that could use a good cause, please check out their website and help Addy and many other children by funding research and support.

A visit to the Surprise police department

2007-05-03T19:08:00.000-07:00

My son's Cub Scout pack took a tour of the Surprise police station last night, and they certainly had a great time. Our tour guide showed us everything there was to see, from the communications room to the booking room and all points in between.

The favorite part of the tour was the cop car, of course. The boys got a chance to sit in the front seat and talk over the speaker. "Hi mom!" was a favorite. The siren and lights also were a thrill for them to see.

Thank you so much to the Surprise PD - we appreciate all you do to keep us safe, as well as entertained!

Welcome little Reese

2007-04-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Reese was born three weeks ago, and she already has her parents wrapped around her tiny little fingers! She is a beautiful little girl with the most precious little fingers and toes. She was alert and looking around throughout her session, no sleepy newborn poses for her!

Baby Judah - a precious bundle of joy.

2007-04-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

Judah is the newest addition to a family that already has one little girl. I first met them when they were expecting baby #1. It's so much fun to do repeat sessions for families, since I get to see how the children grow and change. Jadyn is now almost two years old and the best big sister in the world to little Judah. I was so excited to work with a baby so alert, and what a cute little head of hair he has!

It's that time of year...

2007-04-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

May is the month for first communions, and "the season" officially started for me yesterday. Sam is a beautiful little girl who will be making her first communion in a couple of weeks, and she is perfectly precious in her dress and veil.

My own children will be making their first communion next year. This is one of those events that really do remind you just how quickly children grow up. It seems like yesterday that they were being emergency baptised after being born 14 weeks early. Now they are "big kids" who can do so many things on their own, it's hard to believe they ever used to be so tiny and helpless.

Congratulations to Sam, and best wishes for a happy first communion.