I'm so excited to offer a new product • CUSTOM IMAGE BOXES

I am very excited to share that I introduced digital collections to my product offerings at the first of this year. There are 3 different collections available (with a different number of digital images included in each collection). With each digital collection you also receive a lovely 5x7 photographic print of each of the digital images purchased.

My Have it All collection includes several large prints, and also includes EVERY SINGLE IMAGE in your proofing gallery in both digital form and as a 5x7 print!

I have recently found the perfect compliment to your CD of images, and your 5x7 prints in the Have It All collection, and the ideal way to store your prints when they are not displayed in your home. Best of all, it is included in the Have it All collection at no additional cost. It is this absolutely stunning custom made image box. Beautifully made, fabric lined, with no detail overlooked. It even has a ribbon across the bottom so that you can easily remove your prints without worrying about bending or getting fingerprints on them!

You select the image and I'll design your box for you. Each image box will be as unique as each of your children are!








I can't believe that I forgot to photograph the back and it is gorgeous. I'll share another picture in a day or two!

Finley • Seattle Baby Photography

I try very hard not to have regrets in life, but I will say that one of the few I do have is that I did not get professional photos of my son when he was a baby ( almost 20 years ago) and at that time I didn't have the ability to capture truly beautiful images myself.

Children grow and change almost before our eyes, and it is such a joy to have the opportunity to photograph each and every one of them! I absolutely love capturing images like the ones below, but have to fight that little twinge of jealousy because I don't have any of them for myself.

I got to spend a few delightful hours with 5 month old Finley and her Mom earlier this week. She is one of the most content babies I've had the pleasure of spending time with - lucky Mom and Dad! Look at those chubby cheeks, long eyelashes, and perfect little mouth....

A little sneak peek :)

My handsome husband helping me test out a new lens

I've been debating the 50mm 1.4 for quite some time. I've had the 1.8 for almost 4 years and it is quite the workhorse! I finally hit the buy button on the 1.4 and when it arrived this afternoon Brett was kind enough to let me take a few snaps of him with it. He even took off his glasses for me, which I know is tough for him because then he really cannot see a thing without them!

I'd typically never use this lens for headshots (there's definitely some distortion at close range), but I think it's going to be great for babies in studio!

I've got a baby victim....oops...I mean subject, coming over tomorrow afternoon to let me play around, and then a baby girl session again on Tuesday. The final verdict on the lens will be in on Tuesday night. I'm thinking it's going to be favorable ;) Look at the yummy bokeh, and it is sharp as a tack!

50mm on a D300 (so really 75mm), f 1.8 (yes I did take some at 1.4), ISO 160, SS 1/200, window light

Oh Happy Baby • Seattle Baby Photography

First off, I was downtown today and the temp on the readerboard next to I-5 said 59 degrees at 1pm. Can you believe it? What a gorgeous day today has been! Pinch me, I must be dreaming, this is Seattle, isn't it?!?

For those of you who had a baby session with me prior to the first of this year, we worked in my living room. While it certainly worked well and we captured beautiful images, it was a pain to set up each time I had a session scheduled! Since that time I've set up a dedicated small studio space (just the right size for newborns and babies) in my home. Little Miss V was kind enough to come over and help me try it out a couple of weeks ago.

I love the wide eyed look in this first image. I'm sure I was doing something strange or making an odd noise to get her to look my way, and I can almost see the wheels turning in her head thinking "what in the WORLD is that crazy woman doing?!?"



And because I adore baby pics in classic black and white:



And I can never resist and extreme close-up (does she not have the most perfect eyebrows ever?):

Combining blogs

This month marks the beginning of the fourth year I have kept a photo blog. I never thought I would still be at it, but am so glad I am! It's very rewarding to go back and see my photographic journey.

Since this fall, I've had a difficult time keeping up my portraiture blog as well as my "personal" one, so I've decided to combine the two here. Hopefully it won't be too difficult for my clients to wade through. I plan on building a portraiture website this spring, but in the mean time I've imported my blog posts from the other blog here, and hopefully it will work!

That said, besides photographing adorable kids, I love shooting macros. It is a wonderfully relaxing creative outlet for me, so you'll see lots of those sprinkled throughout. If you're having a sleepless night some time, scroll back through the posts, there are a number of images I am very proud of!

Today has been an incredibly beautiful day, sunny and 56 degrees....one that helps me remember that our dreary gray weather actually will not last forever. Days like today almost trick me into thinking spring is just around the corner, as do these primroses. Aren't the colors gorgeous?







Until next time.....

16 week old bundle of smiles • Seattle Baby Photography

This little guy is such a cutie pie, check out all that gorgeous hair! He is such a happy baby and obviously adores Mommy (and she him)...he was just all smiles for her!



I know I've been showing a square crop for almost every session I post, but the last few months I've really been looking for a photo or two per session that looks outstanding as a square. I think it gives a contemporary feel to the portrait:



As with any baby of this age, the hand in the mouth is an ongoing theme:



Big brother joined us at the end of little brother's session. While he was not interested in "studio pics" with brother at all (the lights and setting can be a little daunting to a preschooler), once we wandered around chatting and took pics on his terms he was all smiles!

Sometimes • Seattle Child Photography

Sometimes you've got to work through a little of this:



to get to this:







That said, I happen to love that first image. It shows shows who she is, and that she definitely has an OPINION (as most toddlers do) about having her pictures made :)

New Year's resolution?

I am not one to make New Year's resolutions, they're just TOO easy to break, and then feel like I let myself down.

That said, I am resolving (as a whole) to take more time to shoot more for myself this year. I got so caught up and busy this fall doing portraiture that I was overwhelmed and didn't have any time for ME. I've nipped that in the bud a bit and have cut back on the number of sessions I'm scheduling.

So, this year ought to be a lot more enjoyable for everyone than this fall was!

Couldn't resist picking up these paperwhites. Once the holidays are over I start looking for spring anywhere I can find it :)

Headshots

Just preparing a headshot file this morning and thought I'd share. I love doing actor headshot sessions - I get to meet and spend time with the most talented people!