The 2010 Beautiful Babies Calendars are on sale NOW! Purchase yours today. $30 for the first calendar and $20 for each additional. Great gifts for the holidays.

Its a great cause!

The Holidays are quickly approaching in "real life" but at the studio the holidays have been in full swing since mid October. The Holiday Portrait Special weeks are over and everyone looked great and DID great. One of my favorite images from the Special is shown here. "Mom" couldn't have picked out more perfect outfits for the kids and I don't think the kids could have hammed it up anymore!

Here comes the Holidays...

So now that the end of October is here, so is my busy holiday season. This is my true test of courage, strength and endurance as a mother of four and as a business owner. Everyday I look at my to-do list and wonder how I'm going to get it all done.

But I do, I make it through. My family and my house suffers a bit, but only for a little while. A little too much take-out food and a little too much time with the sitters for the kids, but it is all worth it when I'm done. Then I realize that its mid-December and I haven't even put a dent in my holiday shopping!

Have a happy and safe Halloween everyone! I hope to see you at the studio for the "Once Upon a Frozen Pond" holiday portrait special.

My Family Portrait

I am always asked during my portrait sessions how it is to photograph my own children. I must say, most of the time, it is a bit of a nightmare. Most photographers I know will say that. If they don't, they are lying. The challenge is that my kids know all the tricks up my sleeve. They're also too used to me. I loose that stranger factor. Not that I am a stranger to most of the children I photograph, but kids respond so differently to others than they do their own parents. Don't you remember your parents telling you that your teachers would always tell them that you are such an angel in school and your parents had to question if they were talking about the right child? It's the same thing.

After many months of SAYING I was going to do a family portrait, I finally did. With the help of my sister who has assisted me many times during my on-location sessions, we were able to pull it off. It may not be the best since I wasn't behind the camera to make adjustments, I think we did pretty well.

I also want to take a moment to remind everyone that there are about 2 or 3 sessions left for the Outdoor Portrait Special and Fundraiser on August 14th and 15th. If you are interested, give the studio a call ASAP! For more information or to see more samples, visit my "Special Offers" page on the site.

Another Watch Me Grow Graduate

Little Scarlett has just finished the Watch Me Grow Club. Although I have babies that complete the WMG club every month, I had to giggle about Scarlett's family. Soon after I hand the finished WMG frame to her parents, they'll be coming back in again with baby #2. Congratulations to them and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Scarlett!

Gabriella & Isabella

Here are a few quick pictures of Gabriella (who went through the Watch Me Grow club a few years ag0) and her little sis Isabella (who is in the Watch Me Grow Club now). They are so fun to work with and so cute. I've now known their parents since Gabriella was a baby and its great getting to see them and "hang out" with them a few times a year.

Recent Communions...

Photographing 7 & 8 year olds that are receiving their first holy communion is lots of fun. Within about 3 minutes I usually have them giggling and they don't stop until they leave. Here are a few from the last few weeks.

Back from Disney

My family and I just got back from Walt Disney World. We had a great time. It ended up POURING the last few days of the trip but with the wonderful help of my sister, stroller covers, ponchos and umbrellas, we ventured to the parks anyway. The kids and even I were very disappointed to go home, the vacation went by way too fast. I'm still working on gathering all the pictures from the trip, but here are two that are funny.
Notice in the picture of the four kids my foot is reaching up and pushing my daughter down into the stroller. My ONE and ONLY attempt at taking a great shot with my nice camera and the kids refused to cooperate. I'm laughing because most of the pictures that I took (and there weren't too many) were with my son's point-and-shoot. It is way too crazy with the two babies for me to whip out my camera for a great shot. Maybe in a few years when we go back I will get those great "professional" images, for now, its all about the memories...

Model Search

As you may know, I recently participated in the first National Charity Model Search. The contest's goal was to discover America's cutest kid and to raise money for charity.

It was a huge success, 2,000 model's images were submitted to the contest, and most importantly, the competition raised $164,775 for the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS) foundation.

The competition was so much fun. We were thrilled to enter our community's cutest kids into the contest. The feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive. People were enthusiastic about my philanthropic efforts to partner with NILMDTS. So many folks have experienced the loss of a child or know someone who has. Raising money for NILMDTS was an effort everyone supported.

The 50 finalists have been selected. Photography and modeling industry experts will select the grand prizewinner, which will be announced on May 1st. The finalist gallery is available for viewing - just click here.

This has been such a positive experience that we plan on participating in the National Charity Model Search next year. I hope that just as many of you step up to partner with me in this fun endeavor, and that we raise even more money for NILMDTS in 2010.

Falling Behind on my posts

It has been awhile since my last post since it's been a little crazy lately in the studio and in my home. The studio was buzzing with little models coming in for the model search contest. Although none of the cuties I photographed had enough votes to win (or as some of us discussed - had enough of a rich uncle to cast $1000 in votes to win). They all did a great job and looked fantastic in the model gallery on Sandy Puc's Model Search Web Site. I am proud to have been involved in a fundraiser for such a great cause.
I will be formally announcing this in my next newsletter, but here is a preview of the newest background. Its an overall light beige with touches of color. Although a scenic, its muted enough to be used as a simple backdrop for boys or girls. Although not shown in this image, there are light trees on the sides.
I am very excited to announce there will be a great Mother's Day promotion this year including a possible Mother's Day Contest. Stay tuned for the next e-newsletter which will arrive shortly. If you are not on the e-mail list, join today by going to the "contact us" page at the top and filling out the form. Happy Spring to all!

Nadya Suleman - cuckoo cuckoo

I know this may be VERY controversial, but I need to vent. I actually find that I HATE Nadya Suleman. Every time she is on TV or in the paper, I find that I have to watch or read it because she makes me so angry. I do believe that many of you feel the same way I do...claiming she is NOT getting public assistance yet SHE is. Claiming she is NOT trying to look like Angelina Jolie yet SHE DOES. UGH, sickening, I really could go on.

BUT, I really want to hear someone argue FOR her. Not that I will change my mind, but please, someone fill me in on at least one positive about this woman.

Handsome James

Saturday's shoot was of James; he is in the Watch Me Grow Club. It's a different approach to the WMG since we are using the brown background. James is such a little man with his full head of hair. I enjoyed meeting him and his mom Johanna.

Baby Lexi

Yesterday I photographed three month old Lexi. She was so sweet and so cute, we had a really great day. Her mom, also named Cara, and I laughed at how not only do we have the same name, but our "baby girl names" lists were so similar. Julia (my daughter's name) was her runner-up name and Lexi was mine. Interesting...

So I am giving Lexi's parents a sneak peak at her portraits but I also just wanted to share ANOTHER adorable baby with you.

Lainey-Loo

Today's session was of little Laine, Lainey-Loo, gosh, I could really go nuts with the nick-names if she was mine. But, thank goodness, her parents Wendy and Jeff are into nick names too so I get to play around during the shoot and make up names and they don't get offended! (Thanks W & J!). This family is so much fun and they have two older daughters who love gymnastics so during 2008 we had a great session of their "Grace-ful" oldest daughter and we all (including myself) were showing off our gymnastic moves in the studio. Lots of fun and I hope to do it over again this year with their next little gymnast.

But today was about Lainey-girl and she was oh so cute and everyone just has to see this hair! The last time I saw her she was only a few days old and since then her hair has thickened and so has her little BOD! After a while she got so tired from her big day at the studio that she just conked out. Sleep tight little baby...

The Keskinyan Twins!!

Look at these beautiful babies - they are delicious and I want to just bite them! (Is that wrong to say?) Since Roni K. came to the studio just her and the babies, I got to help feed and dress them, and I LOVED it! Roni now has four like me, two older boys and now Eden and Colby. Its amazing that they look so much alike, but Eden has little feminine features and Colby is turning into a little bruiser.

New Blue Background

Those who know me know that I love to dabble in other creative areas other than photography. One thing I enjoy every once in a while is painting. A year or so ago I painted the scenic background that you can see in the indoor gallery of my web site with the "flowers for sale" sign and the boys in overalls. More recently I finished a blue background that I am very excited about. This background is great for families and individual wearing denim. Warm tones also look great on here against the blue because of the hints of warmth behind the subject. Feel free to comment about the background, I would love to be critiqued!

Spring Portrait Special

This year it's a different approach to the Spring Special. Instead of a portrait package and one background being offered, you will be able to choose your background based on your child(ren)'s clothing. During the phone consultation, we will discuss all the details. These images can then be used in conjunction with the charity model search as well as the contest my lab is running. This will give you two chances to win prizes! Link to the portrait special here. Portrait packages start at $69, but you can also purchase them "a la carte" at 25% off the regular portrait prices.

Jocelyn's Portrait Session

Yesterday's shoot was lots of fun. Jocelyn is "three-two", in other words, a three-year-old who is sort of in denial about turning three. Geez, don't we all feel that way? She was a tad shy at first but once she warmed up - look out! With Mom and Dad's help – "Ta-Da"– we got some great images. Jocelyn is part of the Watch Me Grow II club for toddlers. This was her last session since she is now three! We also took some pictures for her book as well as images to submit for both model contests that Cara Hromada Photography, Inc. is a part of. Here is some more pictures of the little curly-haired cutie...

Model Search - great fun and a great cause!

I have been getting a great response with the Charity Model Search that I am part of. Not only is it going to be so much fun since the sessions are really to capture “head shots” of the children (ages 18 mos to 14 years), but NILMDTS is such a great cause. Go the special offers page on the web site to learn more about the portrait special.

NILMDTS stands for “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep” and it is an organization that offers gentle and beautiful photography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner to families who have just experienced the lose of their newborn baby. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives. Although I have NOT YET been a part of the foundation directly, I would like to be a part of it when my children are a bit older. I don’t think that I could contain my emotions and remain professional in these situations. In the meantime, this charity model search is a start to help raise money and awareness for NILMDTS.

To learn more about the organization, please visit this site.

It's Sessions like this...

It’s sessions like this with adorable, little, cute, innocent, yummy-smelling newborns that make me question if I really feel DONE having kids. I mean, look at this beautiful baby, she is exquisite!

I think I should just enjoy the fact that I get to photograph all of these cuties and then I get to send them home to keep their parents up all night!

Bad Hair Day

For some strange reason, my daughter's hair is always static-y and sitting on our couch makes it just out of control as you can see here!

Boys are SO rough!

My first blog post is going to be about raising boys - its crazy, but, in the long run, still easier than raising girls. My daughter is a tough one, she has the attitude and the dirty looks to go with it. The boys pretty much listen to what I say. There is A LOT of rough-housing. My oldest had to get stitches in the early part of ‘08 and now my one year old “baby” needed them a few weeks ago. He was not happy being swaddled in sheets on the hospital bed as the plastic surgeon stitched layers of muscle and skin together (who, might I add, I highly recommend - Dr. Anton from Southampton).

I find that my three boys are a bit more even tempered than my daughter. As long as they have something to entertain them, they are set. As soon as there is a bit of boredom, the wrestling begins. In most cases, it doesn’t end until there is blood or at least crying. I’ve learned to pretty much tune it out until it becomes out of hand. Boys will be boys and they are very physical. This is apparent when I am in the middle of a shoot. Certain tricks that will work on the girls (talking about things they like, singing) doesn’t work as well with the boys. I have to play games, jump around, blow bubbles, throw balls, etc. The only talking that tends to work is, well, let’s face it, POTTY TALK!