I had a big lapse in my blogging last week. I was busy prepping for my workshop (which was great and I will share more on that later) and dealing w/ horribly cold weather. Where is spring??
This sitting was threatened all week by 70% chance of rain. It was a rain or shine shoot because family was in from the East Coast and Denver so I was so happy when I woke up to dry skies that amazingly turned blue later in the day. It was a cold morning but we managed to get some pics of these cute little cousins.

Last week I couldn't wait to share with you a new little product I am offering but I couldn't post about it until my parents received the very first ones in the mail. I wanted to surprise them with them as a gift because I really LOVE them and thought they would too. I think it will make a great gift for my clients and brighten up peoples' day when they see them on their desk. It is a little desk calendar that is personalized w/ images from a sitting. Each month is a different image and they all sit in a little cd-like case.
Here are a few looks at it and if you want to see what one sitting would look like for the calendar you can go to the client proofing section of my website and type in calendar for the password. You can also see my family calendar there too.

With rain and absences it took many attempts to get the last class picture taken. So it is a relief to be posting this final Secret Garden class picture. I love putting these together and seeing the finished product. I still have Cooper's from last year hanging by my desk. I think it is one that I will look back at for years and it will always put a smile on my face. Hopefully this does the same for the Fours class families.

A little gift that made me smile!

Last July I attended a great mulit-day workshop of a photographer that I admire. I was so excited that she was coming to Seattle. The second day we went out and did some shooting w/ models and Cooper and Oscar joined us as models. Oscar fell asleep just as we were getting started but Cooper entertained a few of the photographers. Last week one of the photographers, Tara Rochelle from southern California sent me a cd of the images she had of Cooper. I have been so happy looking at them...it is rare that I see pictures of my boys that I didn't take so it is fun to see how he did in front of someone else's camera.
So here are a few of my favorites. Just for fun I am showing you the image as I received it and the finished product after I played with it. (Tara R. didn't have time to work the images so know that the before image would not be here finished product for her client). I think there are some people who read my blog who think the images they see on my website and blog are straight out of my camera...I wish my work was that easy!
So as a proud mom...here is Cooper. And a big thanks to Tara Rochelle!

I always say I have the best clients ever but it is true!! When I walked into Lauran's home for her maternity sitting I immediately got a great vibe from her. She was up for anything and I knew she would be great for an urban setting. So we did a few around her house and then jetted across town. I am excited for her to see the pictures and see how great she looks!

Sold Out

I am away for the weekend but have continued to emails for the workshop. It is now completely filled. I have received many requests to have another workshop so it is very likely I will be offering a workshop in May...stay tuned.

2 spots left...

I have had a number of inquiries and it looked like the workshop was filled up but due to childcare/travel 2 spots are now still open.

Secret Garden Pre K

I know there are some anxious parents out there curious to see how their little one did on "picture day". The Pre-K class is my last class which makes me a little sad because I really love working on these images (my husband may have a different take on it as it has been keeping me up late at night) and think the kids did such a great job. My son, Cooper, is in this class and although I could tell he was very proud that his mom was taking all the pictures he didn't make it easy on me to get a picture of him...I hear all the time, "I just can't get a good picture of my kids", let me tell you it is just as tough for me. But I will start w/ the belly laugh he gave me when we started.
To all the Pre-K parents--I hope you love these. Cooper and I will miss seeing all of you next year and we will look back on these pictures for many years to come and think about what a great place he was at with such great families.

I was overwhelmed by the response I got for the workshop. There are 4 spots remaining and I think we are going to have such a great group!
One question that I have been asked that I realized I should post my answer here is, "What will be covered?" So here is a brief overview:
-the camera...I will discuss key settings and functions that will improve your ability to capture your kids. I will not be covering every function of the camera and what they do so it is not a "how to use your new camera" workshop.
-the lense...I will make a few recommendations on lenses and how to get the most out of them. There will not be lots of f-stop/shutter speed talk that has probably gone right over your head in the past.
-taking the picture...use of light, angles, etc.
-post-processing...key tips to bump your image up in Elements or Photoshop.
-image/file management...ways to ensure that you don't turn your computer into the old photo shoe box.
-vendors/software...there are great products/vendors/software out there.
And more!!!
Call or email me soon if you would like to join in the fun!

I've had so much fun photographing the school kids that I can't pull myself away from my computer late at night because I am so excited about finishing them and sharing them with all their parents. Here are the Fours class. I am taking the group picture on Monday, but I couldn't wait until until next week to post these images as the kids are all so cute.