Better Late Than Never-Ann Arbor Children Photographer

Posted on August 28, 2010

These are the kids of my dearest friend. She is even more dearer because she is willing to wait and wait and wait to get her pictures. That is true friendship. We took these pictures and life turned upside down for me (the whole moving…twice…thing really does one in!).  Anne has gorgeous children and they each have their own look which is so fun! Thanks for still loving me even though these took forever to get to you! Miss you, dear friend!

We made it! Ann Arbor, Michigan Newborn Photographer

Posted on August 25, 2010

Hi there! I finally made my way through the cardboard jungle to my computer…and desk. It feels so good to be editing pictures again. After I take time off I always question whether I love it THAT much, but once I get back behind my camera or editing photos on the computer I am reminded that YES, I do love it THAT much. There is something so theraputic about creating art.

I am loving my new area. It is so different than Santa Clara, but Ann Arbor is so beautiful in a totally different way. It is green and lush (and cool) out here. My creative juices are flowing. Everywhere we drive I am scouting out great locations to photograph. There are so many old buildings, rivers, forests. I am very excited! My studio is getting all set up. I just bought a new prop today and can’t wait to scour the antique stores to find some more cool props!

On a sad note, my awesome pink chair did not do so well on the trip out here. She now has a big hole on the back and arm. Not sure whether I should try to recover it myself (I may be crazy), retire it, or spend a small fortune having someone recover it for me. It was a sad moment to be told it didn’t make it. I may have shed a tear or two over it.

So, if you are from Ann Arbor or the surrounding area or know someone who is, please feel free to check out my work and contact me for a session.

Here are a few pictures of my Jackson that we took before we moved out this way. I can’t believe how big he has gotten. He starts kindergarten (all day!) in a week and a half. Yes, I am excited and yes, I am sad. He is growing so fast. I unpacked some pictures of him at 6 months and the time has flown by since then! I sure love this guy!

Banner Boutique Giveaway!!-Southern Utah Photographer

Posted on June 9, 2010

I have talked about this and finally have my act together and am doing it. I found the Banner Boutique over a year ago and have been in LOVE ever since. I have a crazy number of hair accessories for my business and my daughter, but once I saw Lindsay’s flowers, I will never buy another flower elsewhere. Her flowers are so high quality, unique and absolutely gorgeous. She finishes them off so well too. Seriously…check them out. Buy some. They are amazing!!

So, on that note, Lindsay, at Banner Boutique has been kind enough to giveaway a $25 gift certificate to her etsy store. Is it sad that I am sort of jealous that I can’t enter my own contest? Before we get to how to enter, though, I want to briefly introduce you to Lindsay…

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I have been happily married for 7 years and have a 5 year old daughter, 3 year old son, and 3 month old baby girl. I am a southern CA girl and miss it dearly, but am embracing my new desert home in AZ.

2. When did you start your business?
The idea was probably born when I was five…but the actual Banner Boutique started about 4 years ago doing only wholesale to upscale boutiques. We have since expanded to do online sales.

3. How did you get into making flowers?
When I had my first baby, Kaitlyn, I searched high and low for cute hair accessories-they were always hard to find and way overpriced. When I did finally find them, they were never quite “right” as far as style…so I started making my own.

4. What is the favorite product you offer?
It changes day to day–they are like my children, I love them all! However, I would have to say “The Audrey” is my current obsession.

5. Anything else we should know about you?
I adore crafty, beautiful things! Nothing makes me more happy than to see a gorgeous baby with a gorgeous hair piece to top her off…it’s like the icing on the cake. NO ONE can resist coming up to a darling baby with a flower on her head!! NO ONE!!

So, go check out her etsy store (linked above) and her blog. Then, come on back and leave a comment telling me how awesome her hair accessories are and which is your favorite. Remember…most of the headbands can be on clips too, so they are great for all ages.

Here are a few recent pictures that I did with her flowers. Thanks, Val for letting me use your adorable baby for these shots. Seriously, folks, check out the hair on this baby!!

and thanks to my great friend, Lisa, for having such a cute daughter to model off my new purple clip!

Feel free to scroll back through old posts and see more of her excellent work! My Litttle Miss is modeling a few of her hair accessories in the last sesssion I did with her in the black pettiskirt!!

Mine on Monday-Southern Utah Photographer

Posted on June 7, 2010

So, my sweet Little Miss turned 3. That happened fast. It is such a bittersweet feeling to watch your children grow. On one hand it is so fun to watch them learn and on the other it makes me want to cry. It all passes so quickly. I fear the day that I am no longer her favorite person in the world. I mourn the day that I can’t pick her up and have her little legs wrap around my body. I already miss the day when she stops covering me in kisses. For now, though, I will try to soak it all in and make every day (even those when she drives me bonkers) count.

We had a princess party with just two other friends. They were in heaven. I made huge, rainbow cupcakes and they ate mac and cheese and other assorted little treats. There was a cute little favor provided by my friend whose daughter’s birthday we were also celebrating. It was fun, girly stuff. Here is one shot in her princess attire…

and, for her birthday she asked for a camera which she got from her grandma and grandpa (isn’t it so cute that she wanted a camera like her momma??). Her brother commandeered the camera though and when I emptied the quickly filled card I found oodles of great pictures and hilarious self videos.  That little boy of mine is a crack up. Here are a few of his recent shots…

He has got a unique eye. He may be staring a business soon.

Mine on Monday-Southern Utah Photographer

Posted on May 25, 2010

Though it is Tuesday, it sure feels like Monday. We had an awesome weekend with my sister in law, her hubby and their cute little girl visiting from Georgia. They left yesterday and I am still trying to get back in the swing of things! I love having company and it is so hard to have them leave!!

I got the pleasure of photographing my niece while they were here. It was so fun to see how her personality has changed from 8 months ago when we saw them last. I can definitely see some similarities in personalities between our kids and her. She also has curly hair like my Miss P. I know where some things come from which is fun!!

Cute Little Kiddos-St. George Children’s Photographer

Posted on May 11, 2010

These two were such fun to photograph! Their blue eyes are so gorgeous and they were happy the entire time (well, until the very end and bedtime was calling!)

Isn’t this such a fun stage?!? I love watching babies beginning to walk…I had a friend name it the “Frankenbaby” stage and it fits so perfectly. They are always walking with hands in the air to steady themselves. Love it!!

I have a little confession-St. George Children’s Photographer

Posted on April 23, 2010

I am only friends with beautiful people that have beautiful kids. I didn’t set out to do that, but as it turns out, all of my friends are gorgeous and their kids aint too shabby either! Staci is no exception. I so enjoy photographing her kids. Her little boy is the nicest little boy around and her girl has a spunk all her own!! Hope you love the pictures!

My kiddos-Southern Utah Photographer

Posted on February 10, 2010

It is a rare occurrence to get a photo of my kids together. One will make a silly face (usually the older), one (usually the younger) will claw the other’s eyes. It isn’t pretty. Every so often though, the stars will align and both children will cooperate. In those moments, I let nothing deter me and I shoot away. They are still usually bribed with copious amounts of candy and prizes, but that is okay in my book as long as I can get a good shot.

My two kiddos are good little friends. They are also the best enemies. I will see them playing so sweetly together knowing that it is only a matter of time before one ends up in tears. I guess that is how brothers and sisters are though. And you know what the best part is , that no matter how the day goes between the two, a new morning will come and they are little pals again. Having them as close as I did (they are just over two years apart–close for me!) has been really hard for me, but I am so glad I did. I hope they grow up to be the best of friends.

So, a few notes about this picture…notice my son’s hair. He has cut his hair more times than I can count…the most recent being right before Christmas. You can see that it is still growing out. That kid, I tell you. Also, many of you know about his accident at the DQ last August where he split his lip open…you can see his scar. I often edit it out, but I wanted to document what it looks like. It should continue fading, but it has already improved so much!