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a mama, and her boys… (Orlando Family Photographer)

Last week I had some fun w/ a cool family visiting from California. A mama and her three boys..throw in some tin walls, a skateboard and the top of an old school bus..we had a good time. Thanks Shay…the rest will be ready soon.

Two boys and some old trucks… (Orlando Family Photographer)

Whoa. Step back…did it happen, really happen?  Two blog posts in one night, I’m on fire tonight..and I like it.  I shot these two about a week ago. The family was here to spend some time at Disney and wanted to squeeze in a little photo shoot as well..unfortunately for them, they arrived just in time for yet another arctic blast. It has been an exceptionally cold winter this year, day after day of cold, wet and gray.  I am not a fan, so when it lowered to the mid 40’s again. ahhh.not happy!   The kids were troopers though,  they just kept smiling through the shivers, being from Wisconsin I’m sure they have dealt with much worse. Thanks Melanie for looking me up, and having me capture your boys. Your full gallery will be ready soon.

cowboy boots ‘n daisies… (orlando family photographer)

hello. hello. is this thing on… 6 weeks since my last blog post. unreal. I’m so sorry. I’ve been shooting, just not much blogging.  I have to admit, I am not a big fan of the blog post, and at this point, I’m so behind, its just one of those to-do’s that never seems to get scratched off the list..but…how could I not jump on here and blog this fun family. I met them out at the barn last week. coke bottles. daisies. cowboy boots. three insanely cute kids.  I know their mom is so anxious to see a little sneak.  Hope you love them, and thank you for allowing me to capture a little moment for your family.  More to come soon.

 

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All you need is LOVE…. (Orlando Children’s Photographer)

Ok. first of all. I know. I know…long time no blog. I have excuses, really. lots of them…way.too.many to list…so, I won’t!   I do have so.so.so much to share though. later. Right now, I’m just jumpin’ over lots of stuff to let you know about my FuN.FReSh.FunKy. Valentine mini-sessions coming up. I took my little ones out yesterday to give you all a little sneak peek.  and..hmmm. this boy of mine. WOW. how he hates my camera.  Moaning, groaning, wailing the entire time. It was cold, windy..and according to him, the worst day of his life. ever. really. You’ll notice that most of his images…no head. Yeah. that’s because his face was full of tears. true story. but I did manage to catch a few keepers of him. The Pip on the other hand..was working it..shaking, swinging…shouting…”Oh yeah,oh yeah…to the left..to the left…uh. uh. uh”  So sassy. Really only has one look..the “let me pooch my lips for ya” look…she works it…Anyway…the scoop on the sessions….

WHEN:January 23rd and 24th

WHERE: Downtown Winter Garden ( just 10 minutes from Orlando)

WHAT:  30 minute mini-session, 5-10 images presented in an online gallery, (1) 8×10, (2) 5×7 and a set of 24 custom designed Valentine Cards

HOW MUCH: $150 ( must be paid in full at time of booking)

So, pretty cute huh? And, tell me…how super cool would it be to have your child flash their own customized Valentine to classmates/friends/family…diggin’ the idea of it…check them out..

Go ahead, say it…soooo cute right? So, go..grab the phone and give me a call. 407.455.1714…or shoot me an email at mcristello71@me.com Spaces are limited and will fill fast…make sure you book yours today!

You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch… (Orlando Children’s Photogrpaher)

i know, i know…long time no blog. i have no excuse really, well..aside from the fact that i have been crazy busy…i have so much to share, but quite honestly the thought of blogging takes me to straight to the edge. i try to keep up with it..really i do, but night after night, i myself doing something, anything but blogging..chatting, you tubing, facebooking…sitting in front of the computer a zombie face, waiting to be unplugged…but tonight I popped together this storyboard of this insanely cute three year old and thought..a storyboard, that I can blog. wham.bam.quick…

Is this not the cutest thing ever, this little missy is the daughter of a friend of mine, a new friend who is amazing in every sort of way..I shot her family a few weeks ago, those images to come later…but for now..Miss Kaia, who at the moment is obsessed with the Grinch…according to her mama, she wants to BE the Grinch…

I have to just say that I adore these…these are the types of images that make my heart beat just a bit faster…images that capture that special something in a child’s life…it seems those moments pass away too quickly and we are left with only the memory of when..but now, next month, next week, or even tomorrow when the Grinch has gone..these images remain, keeping that little piece of  her childhood love alive…a time when a little girl wanted to be twins with Mr. Grinch and for her heart to be too small and her shoes to be too tight..its there. forever.

Babytalk Casting Call…

Do you want to see your baby on the cover of a national magazine? Or in an adorable fashion spread? Babytalk Magazine is holding a quick, little casting call at Lulu Belle Baby Boutique in Baldwin Park. Bring your baby (age 3 - 18 months) out for a quick snapshot and to meet the team on December 19th from 10 a.m. - noon. Looking forward to seeing you there!

The woods, a couch, and a girl… ( Orlando Children’s Photographer)

So much to say, so little time. A list of to-do’s that must be done..so here I am, popping on, popping up and putting out a little 411 on this shoot..

- You may remember this little lady here
- To say the very least..it was a full on production.
- Total shoot time: 4 hours…yes, 4 hours.
- It was overcast, we started early…at noon. It was perfect. We set up the couch and the lanterns.
- The sun came out and decided to settle right on the couch. Not good.
- I shot in the shadows thinking the sun would move again. It didn’t.
- We found a shady spot, we moved the couch, the lanterns…we were ready.
- The sun shifted. Again.
- I flipped, ok I more than flipped..just keepin’ it G rated…
- I was a hot mess and thirsty. Craving carbonation of any kind.
- We moved the couch, the lanterns back to the original spot. We were ready..again.
- Two hobos came by on bikes. They got off of the bikes. We freaked just a little.
- Finally, the couch shots happened and lasted all of 10 minutes.
- We pack up. I was bagged. I get in car, Cobra Starship is playing. Love Cobra…
- I am super happy with the images. Well worth the four hours of effort. I think. Hope mama loves…

my halloween crew… (orlando child family photographer)

Alright, lets begin with these costumes…its not what I wanted. I wanted to punk them out 80’s style..the girls all Cyndi Lauper-ish..and the boy, some rocker from a hair band…but, do you think they liked my idea?? Umm, no! They had their own ideas, they actually thought that this was supposed to be about THEM..really..news flash. I lost control this year, gave in…and we headed to the Halloween Superstore.

I told them to get in the car..all four of them. And as the words came out of my mouth..I was thinking, what did you just say, have you lost your mind. You see, I had a sinus infection…we are talking THE MOTHER of all sinus infections. The left side of my face was throbbing..from temple down to jaw, I had a headache that is indescribable, and to bend over, or even look down..well, just not possible. As we got down the road. traffic. bumper to bumper. ummm, hmm…5:00, great time to make a “quick” run to the store…our 10 minute drive turned into about 30 and I knew then, that this was going to go downhill fast.

We pulled up..I looked at them all and gave instructions. “Raygan, you’re with Adler. Sayler, you’ve got Piper. There will be no hooting..no hollering. We will do this calmly. orderly. quickly. Got it?” They all looked at me, fear in their eyes…and shook their heads “YES”..saying not a word. We walk to the entrance of the store and…BAM… Something came over every.single.one of them. something saying..run, grab stuff, try on masks and scream as loud as you can. What the?? They lost all ability to control themselves…and I was quickly losing my ability as well.

We start the search for “the perfect” costume. A hippie, a clown, a fairy princess…no, no, no. I’m still thinking..let’s go 80’s…they are still thinking. heck no. It’s getting wild. I’ve lost Raygan and Adler…Piper has on a rainbow colored clown wig..Sayler is starting to stress. My head is pounding…All of a sudden hear.. Mom, come look at Adler, we found it…I walked over, pulled open the curtain…and there he stood…in a penguin costume. A penguin made of foam, he was smiling and waddling. Hmm.. I’m just going to put it out there and say. I don’t do penguins..and I most definitely don’t do foam. So in my mind, hell no. He was not going to be sporting the penguin suit. I snapped a picture, sent it to my husband w/ a text that read. “your son wants to be a penguin. yes or no. a quick reply would be appreciated.” Within seconds, a text…”No. I will take him myself.” Perfect. Adler, take it off. You’ll go w/ Dad later. One down…three to go.

The girls decided that the superstore didn’t have the “good stuff” and they wanted to go to Party City..and why I said yes, still I don’t know…we head that way. traffic. headache. throbbing face. we arrive…we go to the wall of costumes, pictures on the wall w/ numbers beside them..Piper decided on 192. A ladybug. We go in, we try it on. She thinks she is cute. I am still thinking 80’s. I tell her she can get it. 2 down..2 to go. Raygan grabs a Sailor costume, which sent Sayler over the edge. She had decided earlier that she wanted to be a sailor…get it..sailor/sayler…but, we just couldn’t find on that she liked..either too young…or too old. Raygan puts it on, it fits..she gives her sister a sassy little smirk that only a sister can give..Sayler starts again. I tell Raygan, put it in the bag, get Piper and go walk around. three down, one to go…

Sayler. She tried on a Raggedy Anne. no. A poodle skirt girl. no I was pushing the hippie chick at her. no. and then it happens. she starts to melt down..going on and on about that sailor costume. I was about to flip. Actually, I did flip. We were in this little curtain stall, the size of a port-o-potty..I was sweating, on the verge of vomiting from the headache and at that moment. I lost it. I told her to get dressed. I found Raygan and the little ones. They had picked out some candy treats. tootsie rolls. I looked at them and said…we’re leaving. Put the stuff down..NOW! Piper bursts into full on tears…Raygan starts telling Sayler its all her fault. Adler is just looking at me like…whoa. and Sayler..I think, was about to cry. Piper proceeds to throw herself on the ground, screaming..i love my ladybug…my tootsie rolls. Raygan is still on and on….I think at this point I resembled something out of the Exorcist. I’m sure my head must have spun around a few times…I grabbed her up, whipped those tootsie rolls across the counter and drug her little self right out of that store. I can only imagine what on lookers must have been thinking..

We are in the car. Piper saying..you took that Ladybug from me for no reason. I think she said at least 20 times. We drove home..I was on a rampage telling them. No costumes, no trick or treat…that’s it. Piper continued to moan on and on. Adler interjects, “Im good, I didn’t cause any problems did I Mom and Dad is taking me later.” Yeah, yeah I tell him.. later.

We get home. It is two hours later. I take as much medication legally allowed. The costumes.. zero down. four to go…my husband comes home. I go to bed.

The next morning, I did sit them all down and apologize for my “episode”..and told them that we would go out and get the costumes. one at time. and we did…

They were happy. A ladybug, a pirate, a sailor, and a pink lady…not the most original. but them…but I’m telling ya, next year..we’re going 80’s…

As I finish this, I’m thinking, this is not what I sat down to write about..the costume episode, but I guess I’m just keeping it real. I’m sure you all have had some sort of ‘moment’ like that yourself…and what I think we can all take from my fall from motherhood is…Don’t take your children costume shopping when you are a walking sinus infection. A good lesson to learn.

Hope you all had a fabulous Halloween. We did.

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candy corn anyone?? (Orlando Child Photographer)

Down on the Boardwalk… ( Orlando Family Photographer)

A couple of weeks ago I went out to Disney’s Boardwalk to spend some time w/ the Wollitz family.  The mama of this fantastic group contacted me…umm, wow…seems like forever ago and told me that they would be vacationing here and wanted to have some photos taken. Perfect. I’m your girl. We spent some time deciding location..and spent a lot more time deciding on clothing…I think I had her ordering …and returning to way to many stores, Lucky Brand, Knuckleheads, Gap….taking snapshots…sending them over..I can only imagine what her husband thought..but anyway, it had to be right…vacation casual…but put together…we wanted orange…we wanted brown…and in the end, I think it came out perfect.  We had a great time, the weather was right on..and those little ones…such sweetness.

Thanks so much for choosing me to capture your memories..and tell that little man of yours that I miss him too.  xo

Just popping up one…and thought I’d share the slideshow with you all…just click the arrow…and I know, some of you…so impatient…just wait, it will come..

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