Sophie and Brock

I stayed up a little past my bedtime tonight so I could surprise my sister tomorrow morning with some of the most recent photographs I took of my niece and nephew.  (SURPRISE, Nicci!!)  They were here last weekend for their landmark photo session.  (Sophie just turned three, and Brock is already 18 months!)  I had to post more than a few:  Nicci had been shopping around for their outfits for awhile, and I love what she picked out!   They both looked A-dor-a-ble!

For the record: Sophie DOES NOT like her boots.  (We found that out during her holiday card shoot.)  We helped her forget about them just long enough to get some good shots this time!

(Brock was a little fidgety until we let him be in charge of the music.)

The elusive sibling portraits… Oh well; I guess we did alright!  (The lollipops might have helped a bit!)

This is one good way to tell the session is over:

I came across this last year about this time;  I thought anyone in a creative field could totally relate.  I found it so inspiring I had to dig it up again!

Romance on the Icy Tundra…

If it seems like I’ve been on hiatus, I haven’t. I’ve just been really, really bad at blogging!  I was really in a groove there for awhile, but now I’m shifting my focus to the business end of things.  (i.e., updating my brochures/pricing, and my horribly out dated website!)  I’ve already completed my price list, so now comes the creative part — my site!   It’s always really difficult for me to choose what images will end up there.  Of course I have my favorites;  the challenge lies in making sure that I’m showing the diversity in my work, and picking the images accordingly.   Anyway, I’m sure it will take longer than I expect.  It always does.

For now here are some photographs from the world’s fastest outdoor engagement shoot.  It was FREEZING cold this day…record breaking temps.  I was just really bent on doing it outdoors since studio engagement portraits can be somewhat tricky and awkward.  Jaime and Josh were here from South Dakota, so it’s not like it would have been easy for them to reschedule on a warmer day.  By the time we got back inside, my fingers were numb, and I was having a hard time talking.  I don’t even think we could have been outside for more than 20 minutes!  I might have liked a little more time, but afterward we went inside and took a few studio shots, anyway!

(Have I mentioned at all that I would really love a warm weather destination vacation anytime now?)

As long as I’m on the subject of engagements, I might as well mention that I am going to be very busy with weddings this summer.  I’m doing some freelance work for a couple other companies this year, and they will book me when they can unless I’ve given them close out dates.  My point is, if you are seriously considering booking me for your wedding, you should let me know ASAP so we can get a contract signed and your date on my calendar!

Balance

Just after I had commented to a friend that I hadn’t gotten my “annual cold” yet, it came from out of nowhere;  complete with laryngitis.  It’s not really bad enough to keep me in bed, but it’s definitely enough to take away much of my energy and ambition.  I’ve really had to plow through these last couple of days, which have not been easy with my husband working late and Aidan wanting my constant attention…  Such is the life of a mom!

Judging by the time Jeff has been walking through the door at the end of the day, I won’t be scheduling many appointments during the week for awhile!  (At least until Aidan goes to full time Kindergarten.)   I no longer have the luxury of daddy daycare!

As much as I hate to admit it, I may have overextended myself a tad over the past few months.    I wasn’t always proud of the quantity and quality of time I was spending with my family, and there were times I wasn’t able to offer the kind of follow through with clients I usually pride myself on.  Fortunately for me, I managed to eke through it, but I don’t want to put myself in that situation again.  SO: I’ve decided I’m  just going to have to schedule weekend time slots, and once they’re filled, they’re filled.   I need to find a way to balance my time now that I’m a working stay at home mom again.  (Just so you know; If you want your portraits taken in the spring or summer, it’s not too early to call now!)

Audrey

Remember my last maternity posting of the nice couple with the adorable Vizsla?  Well, they had their baby, Audrey, over the holidays.   They drove up from Rochester, and since the roads weren’t fabulous and I didn’t have another appointment scheduled until later, we just spent a relaxed and enjoyable morning chatting while I shot these:

Happy 2010!

I can’t wait to see what the new year has in store!  January through about the end of March are generally more sluggish months for me, but this year I picked right up where I left off after Christmas, and I hit the road running!  As it turns out, January 2010 is a big month for newborns!

In any event, because I have albums to layout and order for patiently awaiting clients and also a site and a price list in desperate need of updating, I have decided to take a couple of weeks off in February.  I will make exceptions for newborns, but all other appointments will need to be made before the 12th, and after the 26th.  (Reminder, if you want newborn photos, contact me with your due date in advance, so I can keep room available for you on my calendar!)

So here, again, is my model extraordinaire, Kendall–my first appointment of 2010!  Generally I think this age can be so tricky to photograph.  Kids around the age of 4 and up are so conditioned to smile when there’s a camera aimed at them; but unfortunately it’s rarely very natural!  I’ll admit, Kendall was no exception when it came to “posing,”  but she’s great at taking direction, she’s got a great smile, and she knows how to use it!

Here’s one where I asked her to not smile, and I love it!

Happy Holidays from the Dehler Family!!

I say it all the time, but I’ll say it again: I feel so lucky that I get to work with so many great families and be a part of their lives for a little while.    I loved working with these guys…I got the best vibe from Karen (the mom!) right away when she called to schedule a session.   It turns out my intuition was right on;  They were so cool!  Cool parents… Cool kids…  Cool dog, too!  It was just really obvious they all really like each other!  Karen and Dave are just laid back and not at all fussy.  This, to me, was great example of how well a session can flow when people are just willing to let things happen, without any expectations.

Good Boy, Captain!

I think Pierce, here, would have liked me to stick around all day for his own personal photo shoot!

I spoke too soon when I said things would be slowing down for me last week.  I had some families make last minute decisions to try to squeeze in some holiday photos just in time to get their cards in the mail before the 25th!  (Good luck with that, I’m pulling for you!!)     After I finish one more round of editing tomorrow it’s official:  I will be on Christmas vacation!    (I’m already as busy as I can be in January, however, so if you are thinking about portraits, don’t wait too long to schedule a session!)

Layla

Layla might win my award for the easiest newborn to photograph ever.   She hardly made a peep the whole time she was here!  We got all the token “awake” shots out of the way almost immediately, and after a good feeding, she was asleep and  putty  in my hands!

I love the newborn “fuzz” across her little shoulders!

Her big sister is so proud:

Emmett

Emmett has some of the BLUEST eyes EVER.  I just can’t get over them–Frank Sinatra had NOTHING on him!

I’m not a doctor, but I think he may be getting some teeth…!!

Why is it so stinkin’ cute when babies grab their toes like this?!

Madeline

Once again, here is my best friend Kristi’s daughter, Madeline, here for her four month photos!  Kristi had a plethora of hats with her;  the objective was to come up with some cute pics for her holiday cards. I wanted to get Kristi’s permission to use these photos on my blog since these were both of our favorites–I didn’t want to steal her thunder before her cards got out in the mail~!

I just love Madeline’s chubby little cheeks and her sparkling eyes!  I told Kristi had a perma-grin on my face the whole time I was working on these.  I think I feel a little sense of entitlement with Madeline, being that she’s Krisit’s baby;  sort of like a proud aunt or something!

Like most babies her age, Madeline has a great smile.    If you knew Kristi, you’d find it funny she was so ascetic in front of the camera:  Ever since we met 20 years ago, Kristi’s been one of the silliest- never-been-known-to-take-herself-too-seriously  friends that I have.  After all this time, she’s still the go-to person when I need a really good laugh!

Nonetheless, I still love the way Madeline’s photos turned out, and so does Kristi!  When I asked her if she was disappointed Madeline wasn’t smiling in more of them, she told me she loved them because this was Madeline and she really was this way sometimes…

(That doesn’t mean I’m not going to work twice as hard the next time she comes to get some of those great smiles out of her!)

Jacob

Jacob had a long car ride here and was in no mood for photographs when he walked in the door.  (And who could blame him?!)

All I have to say is;  thank GOD for these bells!  If you’ve been here before, you’ve probably seen them.  I’m not into tickle feathers on a stick or birdies, but in a pinch, these seem to cheer even the most obstinate of tots.  I got them at Creative Kidstuff; (and parents do ask!) and aside from my lighting equipment, they may very well be the best studio investment I’ve made.  Newborns love the sound of them and toddlers love to shake ‘em!

Before long Jacob was laughing and dancing and showing off his beautiful dimples!

Here’s where you can find the bells;  They come in these great colors and each rings a different note!

http://www.creativekidstuff.com/musical-hand-bells.html