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Elliana | St. Louis Newborn Photography
Posted on May 10, 2012
Most newborns come to our studio but this year I am also offering in-home sessions too. Nicole wanted me to capture her sweet Elliana’s first days at their home and it was totally my pleasure! Luckily it was HOT that day so we even went outside for a few semi-posed shots (that is something I can’t promise for an in-home session but the stars aligned and she slept for us!). Their home was absolutely gorgeous, Elliana was a doll but the funniest part of the whole morning were the animals! They have two dogs and three cats who are VERY protective of their new baby! Most of the shots I can’t show you because they were taken when Nicole was nursing but the pets wouldn’t leave Nicole’s side! It was hysterical! And take a look at this shot I happened to catch when one of the cats was truly done with me being there…
Scary right? When I snapped it I couldn’t believe I’d caught him looking at me like that! Really the animals were super sweet which is what made this even more funny to me!
Ok, how about some cute baby girl photos instead of scary cat photos now? HA!
Even beautiful homes don’t always have the best light so if it’s warm enough I think going outside is a good back-up plan… especially if the house has a big front porch because that light is gorgeous!
Getting shots like these is really best done at the studio where Kim and I can both be there so that we’re making sure safety is first, but luckily I had the 30mm lens with me so I could be sitting close enough to Elliana that I was just inches away at all times. We also got lucky that the hot temps and her own little sound machine tucked in the basket with her kept her sleepy!
Thanks so much for sharing your baby girl with me Nicole! Her little grin in that first shot totally kills me!
Happy Thursday everyone!
Filed Under families, in home session, newborn | 1 Comment
tuesday’s at home | personal
Posted on April 6, 2012
I haven’t been a stay-at-home-mom in a long time. Maybe since I had three under three? I honestly can’t remember. Probably because those days were long and hard and full of absolutely no sleep which is rough on a memory I guess.
And I’m not officially a stay-at-home-mom now either but every Tuesday I am. And even though it’s only one day, I’ll take it.
Tuesday is the day that Gray is home from preschool, Parker has a half day and I have no kid-help so it’s just me and them. Because my schedule has always been so chaotic running between two jobs or last year when we didn’t live in our own house, I’ve never been on a good daily schedule. But Tuesday has broken this! Now every Tuesday I do ALL of our laundry, I straighten and organize and purge and deep clean and generally catch up from where I’ve fallen so far behind. BUT I balance that with lots and lots of play time.
Now, I’ve only had two Tuesday’s so far on my new schedule so I’m hoping in the next couple of weeks the bigger cleaning things will be more caught up… and I’m finding that working from home keeps the house a whole lot cleaner because every time I get out of my desk chair I do some kind of pick up. Are any of you like that? Every time I stand up to get a drink or a snack or go potty I clean up the sink or make a bed that someone forgot or change a load of laundry or put a toy away. It’s making our nighttime pick-up SO much easier! Anyway, as I get more caught up I’m hoping I have even more playtime!
Because honestly, at the end of the day, while having the laundry done was awesome, I loved every second I spent with my kids a thousand times more. For the first time in a LONG time I’m looking at my Pinterest boards for fun art projects and I’m making lists of parks to explore and I’m just being a better MOM. And it’s just one day! But that feeling is spreading, slowly, throughout my entire week. I’m finding myself more patient with the kids, enjoying the small moments with them more, chilling the heck out and just laughing more. Chris even noticed last night how much Gray and I were wrestling around, something Gray used to only reserve for Daddy, and I think it’s because I’m more fun now! I’m not constantly picking up and barking orders now that my time at home isn’t so limited. I’m just relaxed and so much happier.
If two weeks at home, working for myself, can make me feel this good I can’t wait to see how I’m feeling in a year!
Gray and I put blue tape all over the floors as a track and this photo cracks me up because I was taking photos of him playing when he tooted! He looked up and started laughing! HA! Toots happen at our house ALL THE TIME!
While Grayson slept Parker and I played a few games too. It was awesome.
It’s only one day a week. But I’m loving it. Every single second of it!
Filed Under allen family, in home session, lifestyle photography | 2 Comments
Momma and Moira | St. Louis Lifestyle Photography
Posted on March 28, 2012
Before spring break I had the awesome opportunity to hang out with my sweet friend, Tricia, and her baby girl. After two boys she was thrilled to have a girl so we decided to capture some of their special moments together. Mostly that’s nursing right now, so a lot of her session I won’t share on this bog ole internet, but the others we shot are so precious too! We’ve seen a lot of 6-12 month babies lately and every one reiterates that they are my favorite age. Still a little baby but starting to bubble with personality! Oh man!
Tricia has been instrumental in my being able to become full time. She’s my new business consultant, manager, BOSS, you name it and she’s running it! I trust her immensely and if we survive this financial change it will be so much because of her! THANK YOU friend for helping to bring my dream a reality! And thank you for letting my into your beautiful home to help capture your sweet baby girl who you know I adore!
Happy Wednesday friends!
Filed Under children, families, in home session, lifestyle photography, mini sessions | Leave a Comment
Harper | St. Louis Newborn Photographers
Posted on May 10, 2010
On Mothers Day, we got to hang out with 6 day old little Harper…
This was one anticipated little girl! You might remember her story HERE. It was so amazing to see Amy with a baby in her arms, for Colton to have a sister and for Jim to be the Daddy to a little girl. It was the PERFECT way to spend our Mother’s Day!
Seriously, is she not gorgeous?? And she was so sleepy! Which is great for us, like putty in our hands!
This is also a great time to share that we have big plans to expand our offerings for newborns! We will still be offering the full Fresh Art newborn & maternity experience, which includes us coming to your home, but beginning in June we’ll also be able to offer studio newborn sessions. Not only will this allow us to reduce the rate for someone who is only wanting a newborn session or willing to come to us, but also allow us to be able to photograph more newborns. Win, win! Jodie & I will be busy getting ready a dedicated studio space in her home and we couldn’t be more excited! More details soon!
Filed Under in home session, newborn | 6 Comments
the growing Heddell family – [St. Louis Maternity Photographers]
Posted on December 22, 2009
So our plan on Saturday was to meet up with the Heddell family for an outdoor maternity mini-session… only after attempting our first family session of the day resulting in all of us being miserable and freezing and wind whipped, we quickly turned it into an indoor at-home session! Not only was the temperature warm in the Heddell home, so was the conversation and just getting to know their sweet little family.
Christina was gorgeous and glowing
with the cutest little baby bump
and Jay was great and fun with an apparent hidden talent as a stylist (::snicker::)
but there was a little miss that maybe stole the show
maybe just a little
okay, so she completely stole the show!
this gorgeous girl is about to be a big sister! such a little peanut and a such a sweetie!
Thanks for the great *warm* afternoon, Heddell Family! We look forward to returning to meet your sweet new baby! And I’m still thinking Christmas Eve would be pretty darn awesome!
Filed Under children, families, in home session, maternity | 11 Comments
October Fresh Favorites!!!
Posted on October 27, 2009
UPDATE: CONTEST CLOSED… going to bed… will count ALL the votes in the morning! AWESOME DAY!
Ok people. This is a big one. And would be bigger if not for a number of rain-outs we have yet to reschedule!
Now you know what to do right?
Leave a comment on THIS post (comments on other posts will NOT be counted!) with the number you’d like to win! Feel free to ask your friends and family to vote for your photo!
Wednesday night , October 28th, at midnight this contest is OVER! So move fast b/c TRUST US, you are going to want this prize! The prize will be announced at the bottom of this post!
#1: The Westbrook Family
#2: The Kreidler Family
#3: Pamela
#4 Jack and Finn
#5 The Gion Family
#6 Maggie
#7 The Johns Family
#8 Josh and Lindsay
#9 The Cleveland Family
#10 Gwen and Rebecca
#11 Oden
#12 Phoebe
#13 – Alexa
#14 Kalen and Ryan
#15 The Beachy Family
#16 Marissa
#17 The Lane Family
#18 Shayne and Dan
#19 The Ulvsted Family
#20 Sabine
#21 Lisa
#22 The MacBryde Girls
#23 Lindsey
UM. Yeah.
We’ve been busy!
AND NOW FOR THE PRIZE!
A 16×20 CANVAS GALLERY WRAP!
WHAT WHAT?
Oh yeah baby! GO VOTE!
Filed Under children, engagement, families, fresh favorites, in home session, maternity, newborn | 545 Comments
at home with the Niehaus family – {St. Louis Family Photographers}
Posted on October 27, 2009
Last week Kim and I got to meet up with the Niehaus family at their beautiful home. We had talked about going somewhere, but ultimately, Jessica wanted to capture her family AS THEY ARE. IN THEIR HOME. DOING THEIR THING.
And that is freaking awesome.
I LOVE that.
Not one posed photo. No random places (although I do sometimes love random places!). Nothing planned or rehearsed or staged. JUST THEM. AT HOME.
We captured play time inside and out, bath time, books, bottles and bed. It was simple. And perfect.
Thanks Jessica, Brian, Gannon and Flynn!
Filed Under children, families, in home session, Uncategorized | 8 Comments