One little girl on the way...

This lucky mom is soon to have THREE princesses ruling the house! With two older sisters to help show her the ropes, princess #3 will be certain to add joy.

Mom is scheduled for induction this coming Wenesday, so there's not much longer to wait. It's so exciting to meet these precious little ones.

A boy and his dog...

It's hard to decide who is cuter here - the baby or the dog! The dog looks scary but is really a sweatheart, and was perfectly happy to cuddle with his little owner.

Braylon (the boy) is so lucky to grow up with a furry friend. Dogs really can make your day better, just by wagging their tail and giving you a kiss on the cheek. Someday Braylon will be coming home from school and both he and his dog will be happy to see one another - and that's a precious thing!

Sometimes a dog just makes everything all right. Our dog of 13 years, (who recently died) was there for so many big things in our lives - the birth of our children, and the loss of a child. She was there when we weren't sure if we would ever be able to have children, and when I lost my grandmother. No matter what, she always seemed to know what to do to make it OK, even if just for a few minutes. We all miss her, but we're happy to have Max with us. Somehow he also knows what to do, and I like to think Mocha would approve of him cheering us up when we are down, just as she did.

Braylon is a lucky boy indeed!

Waiting for a little girl

This mom and dad-to-be stopped by this morning with the cutest little pair of pink sneakers. They are expecting their first child in June - obviously, a little girl!

There are so many cute things for babies to wear, and they somehow seem to outgrow the cute things faster than the ugly stuff with the vomit and poop stains. Maybe shoes will be different, and she'll be able to wear these for a while. I can't wait to meet her, she is sure to be a cutie.

Welcome baby Kye!

Kye is two weeks old, and what a cute little boy he is! He looks so precious sleeping there, so peaceful. Of course I'm sure he's really a handful when nobody's watching...

Kye is the youngest of 5 kids - 4 boys and 1 girl. I wonder who will be more spoiled as they grow up - the princess of the family, or the baby?

Congratulations and best wishes to Kye's family, enjoy your new little bundle of joy.

The surprise baby has arrived!

Last month I got to do a fun maternity session that was a bit different for me in that the couple did not know whether or not the baby was a little boy or a little girl. The waiting has ended! As you can probably see by the pink blanket, a precious little princess has arrived!

Congratulations to Reagan Aubree and her family, and welcome to the world. Try not to wake your parents up too often, moms and dads are much more fun when they've gotten some sleep.

A beautiful bride

It's that time of year...wedding season! In most places around the US, June is the big month for weddings. Here in AZ, the season comes just a little bit earlier in the year due to the heat.

Amber is getting married this Saturday. She was just gorgeous in her bridal gown, and I'm sure her fiance is going to be thrilled to see her walk down the aisle! Best of luck to both of them for their big day, and I wish them a happy marriage for many years to come.

Happy Birthday Elisabeth!

Elisabeth had a very lucky birthday on Friday the 13th. I've been taking her photos since she was just a little baby, and it's fun to watch her grow up. Of course, she's at that cantankerous toddler time when they don't want to sit still for anything, especially not some crazy woman with a camera! Luckily that period only lasts from about 18-30 months, so by her next birthday she'll probably be hamming it up for the camera.

Baby Preston - a coming attraction!

This mom-to-be is awaiting the birth of the first grandchild and first great-grandchild in the family. His name will be Preston and his arrival is much anticipated!

I love the texture and the shadow on this image. And of course, a little bit sexy is always fun! Just because you're going to be a mom doesn't mean you can't flirt a little. After all, isn't that how we ALL become moms?

Welcome to our family, MAX!!!

This is Max. He is a 1-year old Australian Shepherd mix. We are guessing Lab is the other part of his parentage, or maybe collie.

We spent a lot of time Thursday looking for the perfect dog. We didn't really find the one dog that we KNEW was our dog. When we adopted Mocha many years ago, we knew it was right. She had come up to us in the adoption center, curled around my leg and looked up as if to say "c'mon, guys - finish the paperwork so we can go home!" She was perfect for us and she knew it! That's what we were looking for this time around.

Friday evening I called a woman who fosters dogs up for adoption. She described Max to me - loves kids, likes walks, a little bit of puppy chewing trouble, but nothing horrible. Max had been with her for three weeks, then adopted out last week and brought back because he wasn't housebroken. It sounded good, so we went down to meet Max.

The minute we walked in, Max let us know he was the one. He was so much like Mocha, it was uncanny - he did the same thing, walking up to my leg and looking up to say "let's go! I want to go home!" He was great with the kids, gentle and sweet. Even when Grace played with his lips, he didn't show any signs of snapping. We filled out our papers and went to the van. As soon as I opened the van door, he jumped right in.

All was well until this morning. We discovered at 5:30 that Max had dug a hole under the gate and escaped. We drove around for 2 hours looking for him. We posted flyers everywhere. Everyone was scared and worried that we wouldn't see him again. I was glad he was chipped, but I dreaded calling the foster mom and telling her that he was missing.

Then, at 7:30, the phone rang. It was the foster mom, and she already knew Max was missing - in fact, she knew exactly where Max was! He had run two doors down the street to an open garage where a man was working on his car. The dog was so friendly, they put it on a leash and walked around the neighborhood at 11 pm trying to find a place where a dog might have escaped. They called the foster mom when they couldn't figure out whose dog it was, and she was so happy to be able to tell us he had been found!

We picked up Max and he's back home where he belongs. We've shored up the gate with lots of cement bricks. Our plans for the weekend include lots of playing and getting to know Max in the hopes that he'll realize he's here for the long haul, and there's no need to run off.

What pretty little girls!

These two little beauties are Hannah and Morgan. They came over for their portraits, but they also brought their bunny Fuzz. Fuzz was a very good bunny, but quite nervous with all of the children in the studio - of course, my own three kids just had to come torment the bunny for a little while! Fuzz wasn't all that thrilled about having his picture taken, but the girls were excellent and cooperative subjects!

Good-bye, sweet Mocha

Mocha died about 5:30 PM on March 26, 2007. She was a friendly dog, and often came out to the studio to greet customers. She never nipped or bit anyone, even when the most obnoxious child pulled her tail or sat on her fur.

We had Mocha for 13 years, and had rescued her from the pound when she was about 2 years old. 15 years is a pretty long time for a dog her size - and she had 13 good years with us, filled with love and joy. Now that she's gone, she's left a pretty big hole in our hearts. We got her shortly after our marriage began, and it's weird to not have her around.

We are lucky that she wasn't suffering, so we never had to make the decision to put her to sleep. She got to die at home, lying on our couch and surrounded by love. We all got the chance to say good-bye to her, it seems like she was holding on all day until I could come home from work. After that, it went pretty fast.

I like to think that she was greeted in Heaven by our son Nicholas, who died when he was 11 days old. I'm sure he would love a sweet dog who can now run and play with him without the problems of old age.

By far the COOLEST senior session ever!

This is my first senior of 2007 - the senior season is just starting up. Already, I have to say this was by far the coolest senior session I've done to date! John is going to be joining the US Air Force after graduation, so we were able to do his senior photos at Luke Air Force Base! What a neat thing, to be able to see the planes and use them as a backdrop for his senior photos!

John was a great subject - cooperative and interesting, especially compared to the toddlers I've been working with recently! I know that he will have a great career in the Air Force and I wish him the best. He was going to be sworn in by the commander of the Thunderbirds during the Luke Days celebration, which is another cool thing! I wish John the best of luck for his future, and thank you for serving your country.

The Thunderbirds!

We got the chance to see the Thunderbirds perform yesterday at Luke Days. We learned our lesson back in October when the Goodyear air show was mismanaged and a horribly bungled event...but the Blue Angels were still awesome. This time, we just found a nice empty parking lot and watched from afar. We were thrilled to see them perform, and even got some nice shots of them flying in formation!

Marie was excited today because she got a letter from "her soldier" in Iraq. Last month she sent a box of girl scout cookies to a soldier from Arizona, currently serving in Iraq. She got the name and adress from anysoldier.com and sent off the cookies. She got a letter back today answering all of his questions - no, he doesn't have a dog and yes, he likes pizza. We explained to her that some of the same soldiers who were serving at Luke had probably served or will serve in Iraq, just like "her soldier."

A very great blessing...

This is Grady. He's 9 days old and already the light of his parents' eyes. He is a very special little guy - his mom is featured in an entry back in February, so you can read her story there.

Every birth story is different, but as long as the story ends in the arrival of a healthy baby, every story is a good one. Grady ended up arriving via emergency c-section. So often I hear women lament that their birth plans went awry at the last moment and they didn't have their chance to have a "natural childbirth." If they only knew how lucky they were...

I knew that Grady was going to be born on March 9, that was the scheduled induction date. All day I thought about his mom and I prayed that she would have an easy labor with a wonderful, joyous outcome. At her maternity session, she had told be about Grady's older brother - a little boy who had arrived too early and left too soon. So I was thinking of her a little more than I usually think of maternity clients and their impending labor - we have so much in common, having lost sons to prematurity and gone through difficulties to start a family.

I got a call on the evening of March 9 and my heart just sank. I recognized the number - it was the local coordinator for NILMDTS. She only calls me when a baby has died, or isn't expected to live. Immediately I thought of Grady and his family, and I hoped that it was not them. Of course, the odds were greatly against it - the odds that something would go wrong, and that I would be the photographer "on call" for the NILMDTS person that evening. And it wasn't Grady at all - it was a little girl at St. Joe's who wasn't expected to last long. So I packed my gear and set out for the hospital - grateful that it wasn't someone I knew, but sad knowing that some other mom was going through a horrible time. That mom had gone into the hospital expecting to come home with a healthy baby - and that was not going to happen.

So I am thankful for EVERY birth that has a healthy baby at the end of it - natural, "unnatural," with a midwife, with a doctor, induced, or c-section - they are ALL great options if the outcome is good. Too often I see women who are disappointed because their labor wasn't their ideal - but really, isn't the best outcome of all a healthy baby we can take home with us when we leave the hospital?

Spring has sprung - a tale of two rabbits.

Spring isn't even officially here yet but in Arizona it's already more like summer...five days in a row of record high temperatures, 20 degrees above average - it was 99 a couple of days ago! But even if it feels like summer, it's still spring in the studio and that means Easter eggs, bunnies and chicks.

I was so ready for the Easter thing. I got a bunch of fake animals - ducks, chicks and bunnies. They were perfect - very real looking and so very soft. Looking at the label, I discovered they were made from rabbit fur, dyed to be yellow and orange in the case of the birds. It was kind of ironic, wasn't it - they were using real bunnies to make fake bunnies! I put the animals aside and waited for the big day to arrive.

Then, when I needed the animals - all were accounted for, except one cute little bunny. I figured one of the kids had taken them - probably Gracie, she's 2 and takes pretty much anything she wants. The whole family was looking for our lost rabbit. We went through the drawers, looked under the beds, cleaned out the toybox - nothing. Finally, we looked in the backyard. That's when we found it - the lumpy remains of a poor fake bunny. It turns out the dog was just too interested in the scent of real rabbit, and was fooled into eating my props! Luckily, bunny #2 was fine and able to participate in our sessions.

The future O. Sidney, esquire

This cute little guy is named Oliver Sidney - what a big name for such a little fellow! Mom and I were joking that he could someday become a big lawyer or politician and go by the name "O. Sidney" rather than using his first name - it sounds so dignified, doesn't it?

His big brother is holding him and what a great big brother he is! O. Sidney is a lucky guy to have someone older to show him the ropes.

A new little sweetheart!

Welcome baby Blythe!

Blythe made her grand entrance on February 20. She is so cute and precious - a perfect little baby girl.

Newborns are so interesting to photograph. Even at a young age, they already have a personality. Some of them just want to sleep, some of them are alert and watchful, others are cranky and moody. It's amazing how each baby arrives with a temperament and an agenda! Sometimes I think they spend their 9 months in the womb plotting...how can I take over the family in the most efficient way? Of course, being cute and beautiful does work in their favor!

Congratulations go out to Blythe's family, and I wish Blythe a healthy and happy life.

Girls 2, boys 0

My streak of boys is coming to an end...for a while! I got to "meet" two girls this weekend - one who has arrived and one who hasn't yet been born.

I don't usually do a lot of black and white - but this image just has so much texture and gorgeous shadow that I couldn't help changing it!

This was such a fun couple to photograph. They were in Surprise to watch a spring training game and have a "babymoon" before their little girl makes her grand entry. What a smart idea!

Babies are a blessing, but they do tend to change your life in ways you never anticipate. It's so important to remember to stay a couple, and not just be a parent 24/7. There's an old saying - "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" That is so true, and all the dads should remember it - keep your wives happy, and everyone in the family will benefit. Moms, keep in mind that you aren't just a mom, but also a wife - and your husbands will love you all the more!

A truly deserved miracle...

I have worked with so many pregnant ladies recently, and every one of them has been full of joy and anticipation. But one of the sweetest and most kind expectant moms came through my door recently and I had to share with you my experience.

Laura is such a beautiful soul - she teaches first grade, and she is sweet as can be. Her little boy is scheduled to join her family tomorrow, March 9. Right before she arrived at the studio, I received a call from the local coordinator for NILMDTS. There was a family who had lost a newborn, and would I be able to go to the hospital to take the photos of their child? I had to turn it down, as I had already scheduled a session. I did feel bad - but then I found out more about Laura and I know that things have worked out the way that they should.

Laura told me that she had lost a baby last year, at 28 weeks. So she knows exactly what that family is going through - the loss of the hopes and the dreams, the profound shock and grief when what is supposed to be a happy day turns horrible. This pregnancy, she was enjoying every single minute - because she realized exactly what a miracle it really is.

A cynical person might ask how miraculous it can be - how many billions of time has the "miracle of birth" taken place throughout human existence? And yet, for anyone who has lost a child or had a pregnancy go wrong, there is no denying that it IS a miracle - no matter how many times it happens.

So tomorrow I ask that everyone keep Laura in your thoughts as she goes in to give birth to her son. If you're a praying person, pray that she has a good labor and that all is well. I know that I really can't wait to meet her little boy, and that he will be loved and appreciated all the days of his life.

Waiting for a little brother

Jadyn is a sweet little girl who I first met when she was still in her mommy's tummy. Now she's just about 18 months old and is soon going to be a big sister! She was so cute, showing me where her little brother is. Of course, being so young she may not realize what she's in for - but soon enough, she'll find out how lucky she is to have a little guy to share life with.

For right now, the little boy is "Anakin." So grandparents - you will just have to wait to find out who your newest grandson is!

I love a surprise!!!!

Yesterday was a first for me - I worked with a couple expecting their first child, and they did not know whether it was a boy or a girl! I've worked with many expectant couples, and this was the very first time that it was going to be a surprise on delivery day.

When I was pregnant with my second daughter, we considered the possibility of being surprised. But I guess we just aren't patient enough to wait 9 months...I caved in and had the ultrasound technician make a little video for us, typing in "boy" or "girl" and then not watching the video until we could all watch as a family. We liked knowing ahead of time that it was a girl - but a surprise would also have been fun.

Medical science has advanced so much that I sometimes wonder how previous generations made it through pregnancy. There was no way to check for a heartbeat or make sure that all was well early in the pregnancy - you just had to wait and see. No way to know that your baby had all the important parts, or was developing and healthy - just wait 9 months and find out in the delivery room. Some surprises probably weren't for the best - if a baby has medical issues, it's better to be prepared ahead of time. But the surprise of "it's a boy!" or "it's a girl!" - those are great surprises.

If I had to guess, I would say this baby is going to be a girl. I don't have any insider information - I'm just basing this on the fact that I seem to get a whole bunch of boys in for maternity & newborn sessions, and then a whole bunch of girls. I have just ended my run of boys, and started a new run of girls. So that's my guess...but don't hold me to it! I'll have to be patient, and I will say that I am looking forward to meeting this new little one and being surprised myself.

Another little heartbreaker

This is Braylon. He is only 3 weeks old, but already you can see he's got his daddy wrapped around his little fingers!

Braylon's mom is almost done with her studies to be a neonatal nurse. I have several customers who work in the NICU, and I want to let everyone know what angels they are. I've dealt with them as a parent of preemies, and I've dealt with them as a photographer when I do my NILMDTS sessions. In all cases, I have been impressed by both their compassion and their professionalism.

The NICU is not a fun place. It is filled with babies who are sick, who are too little, but who are the center of their parents world. When your child is in the NICU, it is a very scary time. You have no idea what to expect - no matter how prepared you think you are ahead of time, the reality never hits you until your child is in the NICU fighting for his/her life. It is so easy to give up and think that you will never bring your child home. When you are trying to work through those feelings, the nurses will take care of your little one until you are able to do it yourself. Our nurses always tried to make us feel as much like mom and dad as possible, letting us do all of the diaper changes that we wanted to. They didn't mind when we just sat and talked to our babies for hours if that's what we needed to do.

I imagine that being a NICU nurse is sad sometimes because you always have to say good-bye in the end. It's a huge event when a baby is discharged after a long stay in the NICU. It's a victory and a happy ending - but for the nurse who has taken care of that baby, it is also good-bye. Some parents try to keep in touch, but many don't. And then the next baby comes in and the job starts again...

So to all the NICU nurses and staff out there, a great big THANK YOU. You guys are angels here on earth, helping the tiniest people and their families.

Welcome Julia!

This sweet little girl is named Julia. She's only a couple of weeks old, but already her family adores her. I'm happy to see a little girl, as my recent sessions have mostly been boys. But the tide is starting to turn...more maternity customers are expecting to see pink in their future rather than blue!

Julia is lucky enough to have a big brother and a big sister who help to take care of her. It's such a blessing to be able to watch the children who used to be the babies become the "big kids" with all of the pride and stubbornness that entails. Children who just a few months ago wanted you to do everything for them all of a sudden become more grown up when they are the "big brother" or "big sister." It's amazing to watch them grow, but it is always a little bit sad because it makes you remember when they were the brand new baby, falling asleep in your arms and giving you those contented smiles.

Isabella

This is Isabella. I've been photographing her since...forever! Seriously, I took photos of her before she was born - or at least, photos of her mom when she was pregnant with Isabella! Since then I've seen her quite a few times, from newborn until now. She's 18 months old and a real firecracker.

We took her to Saguaro Ranch, which is a beautiful old house and park surrounded by citrus groves. I remember going there when I was in high school, quite a few years ago. It has changed a bit, but it is still a beautiful place to take portraits.

We let Isabella run around, checking out the buildings and the staircases. She even got to chase a rooster or two. It was a beautiful day, and I am thrilled to see how perfectly the setting went with such a sweet little girl.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

Supposedly, 51% of the babies born each year are boys, and 49% are girls. But if I had to base the statistics on what I see in the studio, I would have to say the boys outnumber the girls by far. I've been doing quite a few maternity/newborn sessions the past few months, and for some odd reason - almost every single one has been a little boy!

So I was very happy today to photograph a mom-to-be and her precious little girl. Of course, you can't see her yet. But I'm sure she will be just beautiful and I can't wait to meet her. It's been so long since I've seen a girl baby, I'll have to go dig up the pretty pink bows and blankets! Or, maybe I'll use this as an excuse to go buy more cute little props - "gee, honey - I simply don't have anything for a cute little girl baby, I just must go to Hobby Lobby/Target/Michael's!"

Somehow, I don't think he'll buy it. He'll remember that even though he hasn't seen any little girls come through the studio recently, at some point there was a girl baby - and certainly I must have something to use for a session.

UR2CUTE. B MINE?

This is Cynthia - she's one of my longtime favorite little subjects. I've been photographing her since she was only 3 months old. She sure has grown, hasn't she? It's been such a neat thing to watch her grow from a little baby into a curious little toddler.

Cynthia is ready for Valentine's Day. She was OK with the present - but quickly unwrapped it. A rose caught her attention for a minute. Then the sparkly glitter-covered heart - well, let's say that it now has toddler-sized teeth marks in it! Finally, the solution to the problem of how to get a toddler to stay put - CANDY! Specifically, those little Valentine's conversation hearts. I don't think anyone over the age of 10 can stand the things, but Cynthia loved them. And the best part is, they're not too messy! Too bad I can't say the same thing about Easter candy.

Welcome little Austin!

This is Austin. He is a sweet little bundle of joy, isn't he? I love it when I get to work with brand new babies, for many reasons. They are so soft and squishy, and they pretty much stay where you put them. They don't have a lot of wants, only a few basic needs - make sure they are not hungry or wet, and make sure they are not too warm or too cold, and they will cooperate (for the most part!). Austin was a very cooperative baby! I'm sure by the time he's a little older he'll be more interested in rolling around, sticking things in his mouth and avoiding the camera - but for now, he's pretty easygoing!

Congratulations to Austin's family and a big happy birthday to Austin. I wish you many years of happiness!

A sweet little angel...

Yesterday was an odd day. I started the morning with a newborn session - a sweet little boy who was so tiny and cooperative. It was wonderful to see him, and a joy to work with him.

Almost immediately after that session, I got a call from the regional coordinator for NILMDTS. This is a group that does photos for parents who have lost a newborn, as these photos are the only images they are likely to have of their baby. The baby was a little girl named Amelia, who had been born in December at 24 weeks. She has a twin sister still in the NICU. Amelia had been very sick all week and the parents had decided to take her off life support.

Amelia was perfect, and very tiny. She had perfect little fingers and toes - just smaller than a full-term baby. She had a full head of hair. And she had two parents who loved her very much, and weren't really sure how to deal with this. Most parents never go through this situation, but every parent imagines it - what if something happened to my child?

If you would like to see a slideshow of Amelia, you can download it at www.lovebugsphotography.com/AmeliaNILMDTS.exe. The images can be disturbing, especially for young children - so watch with discretion.

I wish I would neverneed to get called again to do a NILMDTS session - I wish that every parent would have the joy of taking their child home and watching him or her grow and be healthy. But the pain of dealing with such raw grief is outweighed by the feeling of purpose I get from the NILMDTS program - I am able to give these parents something important, something they will value forever. When we lost our son Nicholas in 1999, there was no program to take beautiful photos of him. I'm glad that NILMDTS exists to help parents with their loss.

Looking for on-location maternity customers!

I was lucky to photograph a beautiful family this morning that is preparing to greet a new member in less than a month. If the doctors are correct, this little girl will have a new baby sister soon! She's thrilled about it, and I'm sure she'll be quite helpful. Her brother isn't worried about being outnumbered in the boys vs. girls count. As he told me "we have fish, and they are boys!"

As I mentioned below, I love doing maternity/newborn sessions. I've been doing lots of them in the studio recently, and it's always a joy. But I'd also like to get some images for my website showing what can be done on-location with just a little imagination and the right setting.

What I'm looking for is a maternity customer who has a home that is photogenic and has good natural light. This usually means a few good windows that we can open to let in the sunlight. As far as the decor of the home goes, it doesn't have to be Pottery Barn catalog-worthy - but having a clean house with a few interesting pieces of furniture can help. A nursery that is decorated and just waiting for baby can also look great.

If you think that you would like to do a maternity session in your home, here's what I'd like to do: the regular session fee for maternity/newborn is $150 in the studio. If you would like to do an on-location session for my portfolio, I would do the maternity and newborn session in you home at no additional charge - so $150 for two sessions, one 5X7 from each session and 25 custom birth announcements. This offer is only good until I have built up some portfolio images, so don't wait too long! The early bird gets the worm.

Be prepared for images that aren't typical studio shots - adventurous souls only!

Welcome to the world, baby Aiden!

This little guy was born December 3. What a perfect gift for Christmas! He was so sweet and very alert, I'm thrilled to have been able to meet him when he's so new.

I love doing maternity and newborn sessions - it's such fun to photograph the baby both before and after. You can never predict exactly how the baby is going to look or act. Sometimes the baby is very active while still in mom's tummy, then comes out kicking and screaming. And yet sometimes the most active babies will come out and then sleep through the whole session.

Anyway, welcome to the world, Aiden. You are so lucky to have a big sister to watch over you, she is a real sweetheart and I'm sure she'll show you how to get into all sorts of trouble.

Sweet Sixteen

In a couple of weeks I will be photographing the Sweet Sixteen celebration for one of my former students from Maryvale High School. I recently did some formal portraits for her to show off her beautiful dress.

In Arizona, the tradition of a Quinceanera or a Sweet Sixteen is very popular. I think it's a great tradition, and a beautiful way to celebrate the passage from childhood into young womanhood. It's a day for every young woman to be a princess for a day - and what could be more special than that?

Happy Birthday Maria!

This is Maria. She recently celebrated her first birthday, and came by for birthday portraits. I loved her little white dress, it was simple and had a vintage feel to it.

I like this image because it looks very similar to one that my parents had taken of me when I was little. The exact same position, the same simple outfit, the same simple background. Any one of those things alone wouldn't be particularly special, but put together they become a classic image. Twenty years from now, it won't be immediately obvious that this portrait was made in the early 2000's - and perhaps one day Maria will bring her own children for a simple, classic portrait that will become a cherished family heirloom.

Happy birthday Maria!

Merry Christmas! Wesolych Swiat!

Christmas is here and the kids are excited. Santa has visited our house and soon the kids will be tearing open presents. The dog already got her gift - a $6 box of chocolates from Poland that weren't meant for her. Luckily they weren't all chocolate, there was lots of non-chocolate filling so she isn't sick from it. Still, those chocolates were for Zbyszek, not Mocha!

I wish everyone a peaceful and Merry Christmas. This picture is a 7-week old baby I photographed recently. She'll be celebrating her first Christmas today, and I hope Santa is good to her. If cuteness = presents, she'll be unwrapping all day!

Get a head start on those New Year's Resolutions!

I recently photographed this little cutie who happens to be the cover baby for the January issue of a local magazine. Her parents run a local gym, which means that while my busy time of the year is winding up - theirs is going to start in a week or two! January is the time for resolutions, a time for fresh starts. It's the perfect time to begin working on new goals. But so many of those goals get set aside by...well, by January 15! It's hard to change who we are, especially when we don't yet know exactly who the new person is going to look like.

Here are some helpful hints to keeping those New Year's Resolutions and accomplishing those goals.

1. Make your goal realistic and measurable. Don't just say "I'm going to become a size 0 supermodel." That's unrealistic (although measurable!). Start with a small goal - "I'm going to exercise 3 times a week for 30 minutes each time." Or maybe "I'm going to lose 5 pounds by cutting back the sweets I eat." Both of those are doable, and certainly measurable.
2. Give yourself something to look forward to - what will you do when you reach your goal? Make it something you really want! In the meantime, set mini-goals with smaller rewards along the way.
3. Share your goal with someone else. This gives you accountability. It's harder to go back on a promise when someone else knows you made the promise! You don't have to tell everyone about your goal, but let one or two close friends or family members know. It's harder to look them in the eye if you've been slacking off! And sometimes they can encourage you.
4. Look back and enjoy your successes. Maybe your goal is taking longer than you thought. Maybe it feels like you're spinning your wheels. But chances are, you have made progress. Before my youngest child was born, I lost 49 pounds over a period of two years. I would NEVER have guessed it would take that long. Sometimes it felt like I'd never get to the end of my quest to lose 50 pounds (and I didn't - thanks, Grace!). But I knew that even if I never got to 50 pounds, losing 10 - and then 20 - and 30 - and 40 - and 49 pounds - those were all accomplishments in their own right.
   

Have a merry, merry, merry Christmas!

Yesterday I got the chance to photograph triplets. I've got two surviving triplets of my own, and I've had the opportunity to do sessions with triplets and quadruplets before - so by now I feel like I'm a pro at dealing with three little ones! If nothing else, it does give me the chance to really relax at sessions with "only" one baby!

It seems that invariably when you work with multiples, there will be ONE baby that just doesn't want to cooperate. They fuss and cry - or they want to sleep when everyone else is awake. So it's really a nice surprise when all the multiples are content and willing to work with me!

These babies were little cuties, and I'm sure Santa will have to spend a little extra time at their house Christmas Eve. What a blessing for their parents, to have a house full of love and little feet this year.

You know Dasher, and Dancer...

This is Matthew. Matthew and I go a long way back. When we first met, he did NOT want his picture taken - by me or anyone else. More than one session was spent waiting for him to sit still long enough to take even one shot. I'd usually end up with a couple of shots, but not very many smiles.

I think I've photographed Matthew at least 5 times now, some times more successfully than other. But we finally made friends in October. Instead of coming to the studio, he came to a church Harvest Festival where I was taking pictures of kids in a wagon filled with pumpkins. Somehow, that got him interested. And - it got him smiling! For the first time ever, I didn't have to fight with him to take his picture.

Yesterday he came over for holiday photos. He was so handsome in his Christmas outfit! He showed his little sister how it's done. And not only did he sit still, he even smiled! I think the promise of a big candy cane did the trick...and even got him to sit still with silly reindeer ears on his head and a nice red nose.

I hope that Santa is good to Matthew this year. I don't know how good he's been at home, but he was a very good boy for me.

Sharing a secret...

These two sisters I recently photographed. You can tell how much fun they have together just by the way they play and giggle with one another.

Sometimes photography isn't about capturing the "perfect" pose that will be a classic for all time. Sometimes, photography is about capturing two sisters being silly. While this photo may never become a classic for the world to admire, it will always be a reminder of the times when two little girls were able to just be silly. Those photographs can be just as important to a family as the perfectly posed classic photographs can be, but for different reasons. While a classic photo can show you how a person looked, they don't always show you who a person really is. For that, you need a little bit of silliness from time to time.

Welcome to the world, Iago!

I was lucky enough to photograph the recent baptism of Iago. What a wonderful name - the world needs more Iagos! And the perfect setting for a baptism - a gorgeous church, decorated for the holiday season.

I wish many blessings for Iago and his family, and congratulations on your entry into the church.

A little princess...

This little girl is such a sweetheart, and she looks like a little princess. Of course, every little girl is a princess. But some just show it more on the outside! I can imagine her with a little tiara, can't you? And yet behind the sweet smile, there is surely a little bit of mischief hiding.

The Cobbler's Children have no Shoes...

I've been so busy taking holiday photos of other people's kids that I didn't get around to doing my own until this morning.


Of course, everyone wants to do their own thing and I never did get that perfect holiday shot. Gracie wasn't willing to cooperate at all, so that was the end of that.

At least Marie made me proud by losing the second of her front teeth in time for Christmas!

Naughty or Nice?

This little boy is going to be a big brother not too long after Christmas. He is the sweetest little thing, but can't you just see the mischief hiding behind those eyes? I'm sure he will be an excellent big brother, but he'll probably also be really good at getting the two of them into trouble. I can't wait to see if his brother is as cute as he is. What a heartbreaker he'll be in a few years!

Happy "Black Friday!"

So the turkey is gone, the pies have been eaten and now it's officially the Christmas season. No better time to get some family portraits than the holidays! This photo is a mother and daughter I photographed today in their home. While the studio is great for formal portraits, there is just something fun about shots taken on location. And with the background of the home, they can be more meaningful to the family. Too often families assume they don't have a suitable home for a session - but that often isn't the case! A photographer will look at your home and furnishings differently than you do, and will see the location with fresh eyes. Sometimes all it takes is a little imagination.

Of course today is known for its holiday shopping frenzy. I was able to make it to Target and back in one piece. Really, I didn't have a choice - I needed some new props for an upcoming session and they were the closest place to have them. I was happy to see that while the morning may be crazy, the afternoon isn't so bad.

What a couple of cuties!

Last year, I took a holiday shot of these two little guys - who really aren't so little any more! They had a newborn sister and the older brother was missing his two front teeth. Now the sister is a much-more mobile toddler, and the teeth have grown back. I love how close they are, it's so easy to get great portraits when the people in the portrait care about each other so much. I'm sure they fight and argue sometimes, but brotherly love really is a special thing.

I'd like to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. It's been a great year for me and my family, and we have many blessings to count. Take it easy today, let the holiday madness start tomorrow. Enjoy a day of good food and good company, and know that I am thankful for every one of the customers I have, and that some of those customers have become friends.

The holidays are finally here!

Finally the Christmas season has started! The weather here is so nice that nobody thinks of holiday portraits until it's nearly Thanksgiving. Somehow it's just too hard to dress warmly and think of hot cocoa and Christmas trees when the temperatures lend themselves more to shorts and tee-shirts!

Anyway, I got to photograph these two cuties this week. I've known Conner since he was a newborn, and Jack since he was two. Jack has sure grown up to be a handsome little guy, hasn't he? And Conner...he has gotten MUCH more opinionated and forceful since he was a newborn!

A recent wedding

This past weekend I helped out a fellow photographer with a wedding. It was quite enjoyable, as the church was beautifully decorated and the bride was gorgeous as well! After the ceremony we went to the reception and got some shots on the golf course. I love how the green of the grass sets off the bride and makes her "pop" out of the photo.

Congratulations to Andrew and Melissa - I wish you many years of happiness!

My most recent session - Rachel

I recently did a maternity session for Rachel. She is due in December with a little boy. Here is my favorite shot from her session, you can see the love and anticipation in both of their faces! I love doing maternity sessions and then the newborn session - every little baby is a blessing and a gift, and being able to share the joy of a birth is one of the perks of being a photographer!

Holiday photo sessions

It's official: the holiday season is here! There are Christmas trees in all the stores and the music is playing. I still have a few openings available for holiday portraits, please check my calendar to see when those dates are.

And don't forget to vote in the cutest baby contest. Voting continues through November 30.

Finally, a very happy Veteran's Day to all those who served. My husband and my father both served in the US military. I am grateful to all those who are serving or have served our great nation.