How did you do?

Congratulations to Jennifer M. from Warren for being the first to find ALL 11 differences. Jennifer has one a wallet album valued at $45.00. I've been getting emails asking what the solution is, so here are the answers for those who asked. Thanks for playing!

What's the big diff?

For those of you who have an IPhone or Ipod Touch, be warned. There is a free app that you can download by ESPN where you get to compare photos to see the differences between them. It is addictive!! Since it has been occupying much of my time recently, AND I even got my family in on the distraction, I decided it might be fun to create my own version. Here we have the same photo on both sides of sweet little Anika. Your mission is to find the differences between the two photos. Find 10 differences in the photo if you can. Lucky for you, my version isn't timed. There is also a bonus 11th difference. The first one to find the bonus difference will win a special gift from the studio. Look very carefully. Have fun!

Baby it's Cold Outside!

When it comes to accessories, hats are definitely the best. Say what you want about the Michigan weather, but you don't see people in Cali sporting sweet hats like this! Seriously though, hats are awesome accessories for portraits. They really put the focus right where it belongs-on your eyes. They really help to create dramatic portraits and I think they are AWESOME!
p.s.~ Check out the cute hat on Wyatt in his blog too! I was tempted to put it up here, but I figured I should at least hold out for a *little* longer. he he

Magazines

With Senior/Grad portrait season winding down, I thought that it was finally time to post a few images from this season. Also a good time to finally introduce a new product that I am now carrying in the studio...Design|House magazines. These mags are so much fun and everyone seems to just LOVE them-myself included. So, if you're interested in something like this, let me know when you call to reserve your next session.

Perspective

It may be weird to some people, but this angle is quickly becoming my favorite for portrait sessions. Actually, it has been for a long time, but I have just recently started including them in my selections for clients to view. I guess I just didn't think that my "vision" of the portrait would actually come through in the actual image. Thankfully though, in the more recent sessions where I have included these images, the clients have shown the same appreciation for the style that I had hoped for. Yay! So, here are a few for you all to see. Just love the beauty of the way the eyelashes lead into the other facial features. (Is that too artsy for you all. lol. Yep, I'm a geek!)

Holiday Portraits at Gigglebeans...

For those of you who don't know, Gigglebeans is an indoor play place for kids here in Lake Orion, MI. It's a great place for kids to go and get some energy out and also a great place for parents to sit back and relax. Anyway, the wonderful folks at Gigglebeans contacted me to request that I come and do holiday portraits for their clients and of course, off I went. It was a fun day for me and I even brought Wyatt to play as well. Even as young as he is, I think that he enjoyed it. Here are some images of the sweet kids that I had the pleasure of photographing during the day. I also spoke with Dawn, the owner, and she suggested that we may try to make this an ongoing thing with upcoming holidays. I look forward to it. If you're interested in going to play for the day, check out their site HERE: WWW.GIGGLEBEANS.NET

Continuing Education...

I get asked all of the time about how I became a photographer and what kind of education I have. Most of you have heard that story, so here's a better one.

How do I maintain and update my education base? The answer is that I continue my education through workshops and seminars around the country and sometimes internationally. At the beginning of the month, I attended an awesome seminar in Nashville, Tennessee called the Inferno. It was a great week of intensive training and information. Guess what one of the topics was?...Anyone?...That's right! Updating your blog on a regular basis!! So, here's to the first of many posts coming before the end of the year. We'll call it my "pre-new year's resolution" and I'm sure that you'll all remind me if I fall behind again, right?

Last post of Wyatt...

Well, as most of you know, I have been VERY busy in the studio lately, but no one who hasn't spoken with me would know that since I haven't blogged about it in for-ev-er!! Seems like every time that I get a cute pic of Wyatt though, I want to blog it for family and friends who are out of state to see. Not really the best content for a photography blog, right? (especially those AWESOME iphone pics. lol.) So, I created a new blog just for Wyatt and his photos. (the ones that I get to take anyway) Having said that, this is (or at least should be) the last post of Wyatt. I know that many of you like to keep tabs on him still, so here's a link to his new blog:www.wymatt.blogspot.com and I promise to get back on track blogging in both sites. :o)

Landon Revisited

Well Landon's family came in for their ordering session yesterday to see the images of their beautiful baby. I convinced them (and trust me, it took a lot of convincing ;o) ) to let me take just a couple of extra images and I would post them on the blog for all to see. I hope they like them, because I definitely do.

Wyatt Matthew 8.30.08

Check out this laugh. He just cracks up all of the time lately. Such a happy boy. I love it.

Another goofy little smile...

Now does this face mean we're done??

Well, as I posted already, Wyatt is getting so big! I just can't believe all of the changes he's made. He's been rolling over for about a month now and he's really good at it. He's also been teething, which is just no fun at all. (as you can see the teething is causing lots of cool drooling. lol) Also, this week he started getting up on his hands and knees so it looks like he will be crawling in no time. He's actually already trying to get the hang of moving his knees and hands in coordination. Anyway, here are a couple of cute shots from yesterday. Obviously, no time for a wardrobe change. I was just lucky to get him into the studio at all. I hope to get some more creative shots in the very near future.

Landon

This little guy came in to the studio today with the sweetest little face. Here's a cute shot of him with his daddy. Can you believe that he slept almost the whole time!?! This session just reminded me how big Wyatt is getting. Almost four months already, can you believe it? So I made Matt bring him down to the studio for a few pictures. Can you believe this is actually he first time he's been in the studio since he was 6 weeks? I told everyone that this was my greatest fear and it's definitely coming true. While I am super busy with all of your children, my little one is getting nothing but snapshots (with my phone, no less..ewww) I am such a bad momma. lol. So, here's one from today-inspired by sweet little Landon...
more to come, I promise.

New try at video slideshows

Okay, here is my try at slideshows using a new program that I actually purchased awhile ago, but I FINALLY (with a little help from fellow NoBSer and Utah Photographer Tina Miera) was able to post it here. This is the rest of the images from the Swanson session with little Ian that you see below. Let me know what you think...

Why I love my job...

Okay, so I had this family come to the studio the other day from Rochester, MI and it was one of my most favorite sessions EVER! (is that even proper grammar? oh well, who cares?) One reason is because their son is only a couple of days younger than my little Wyatt and just as cute, but also, because his parents were so cool. Ultimately though, it's because of the BEAUTIFUL images I will be able to present to them during their ordering session. I want to show you all of them, but for now, this is my favorite so far. I know you will enjoy it as much as I do. There's just something about the sweet innocence of a newborn against the contrast of the awesome tattoos on dad. (just wait til you see them in color!).

Free Designer Photo Cosmetic Bag!

Okay, I am so excited! I just received a shipping confirmation for my GA Designer handbag. It should be here on Friday and I CANNOT wait to show it off! For those of you who have seen the cosmetic bag that I have, you'll be excited about the July handbag special:
Now through July 25th receive a free matching cosmetic bag with your purchase of a qualifying handbag, including the Fairfax Handbag (shown). This is a great summer special if you've been waiting to order a bag for yourself or as a gift for someone. Think about it...one for you, and one for a friend. lol. Great justification for gifting yourself!

Six Weeks and counting

Wow! who knew that babies could grow sooo quickly? Wyatt is doing quite well and he is growing like a weed. He's six weeks old today and we took a few pictures just for kicks. I love this outfit and can't wait until it actually fits him. (he's swimming in it for now) Anyway, I thought these would be cute for a newspaper announcement (no, we still haven't done one yet-don't get me started...I am still working on creating a formal birth announcement to send out. Then again, maybe I should just start working on 1st bday invites. lol.) but grandma still likes the original announcement photo, so we'll see...

Get Back to work Lady!!

okay, okay. Having a new baby is hard work but due to popular demand I had to get back to work, so with some help from family members, (especially my sister) I was able to return to a very busy week. Clients came in from Ortonville, Oxford, Ferndale, Clarkston and Lake Orion. Here is a review from some of those sessions...

In the studio

It's been hard to get images of Wyatt in the studio, but we've made it a few different times. These are some of my favorite images from the first couple of weeks.

Introducing...Wyatt Matthew

So, since my phone has been blowing up lately and my email box has been PACKED for the past week, I know that everyone is anxious to find out how the baby is doing and what he looks like. Therefore, I am posting a few snapshot from the past few days for you all to see. My labor was super long, but it was totally worth it in the end. Wyatt was born on Tuesday May 6th, 2008 at 6:01am. At the time of birth, he weighed in at 8 lbs., 8.4 oz. and he is 21in. long. He is a great baby so far and he is really healthy. Lots of hair too, as you can see. So, for those of you waiting on return calls about the baby, please be patient. We are trying to get back with everyone, but the list is a long one.

Thank you to all who have come to our home, called, or emailed us with well wishes. We are so appreciative of your support!

B.Y.O.P.

That's right, Bring Your Own Props...

Okay, so I know that I have a TON of props in my studio, but maybe you want something different-or more personal. I always encourage my clients to bring in props that are meaningful to them and this awesome family did just that. The Brodie family is from Illinois (I know, you would've never guessed that, right?) and they are HUGE Illini fans. Most of the session was littered with chanting "Go! Illini, GO!" from the kids while they shook their pom-poms for the camera. You can see how special these portraits will be for their family for many years to come. The next time you schedule a session, think about the special props that you might bring to create your own one-of-a-kind image.



See you soon!