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!