Perfectly Pinkalicious… (Orlando Childrens Photographer)
April 14, 2010 | Posted in children
Umm.wow. can you say…on fire? Look at me..three blog posts in four days. Feeling a little pleased with myself..but ahhh, you ask..will it continue?? Only time will tell…
Ok.ok…on to what you came here for…the pictures. This little girlie, is she not the cutest thing ever?? I shot this awhile back, before Christmas and I thought that I had blogged them, but after looking back, I see that I hadn’t..and well, she is just way too cute not to share. Her mom called me, she wanted something fun, girly..and somehow…I ended up with this. The book, Pinkalicious is about a little girl..who loves all things pink..especially pink cupcakes.. Throw in a pink balloon, pink sunglasses, pink pettiskirt and some candy bling…and well, we just ended up with the very pink of perfection!
I know..you are all wanting to know, where can I score those cupcakes??? I got them at Pottery Barn Kids. $24 for a set of four…and they also have the most adorbale cake to go with it. Check them out HERE
moments… (Orlando Family Photographer)
About a week ago…I missed a moment. A moment to capture a memory. I was cold. tired. just not in the mood. The images, if I would have taken the time would have been perfect, my kids, new friends, having a fabulous time..but I thought to myself..next time. I thought about that day today and it upset me..I want those images now. It seems I’ve missed a lot lately. The little things that make my world go round. My kids. The everyday. The little things… In the beginning those are the things that fed my passion for photography. I wanted to remember, remember it all, but it seems I’ve gotten away from that. Now, in order for me to put forth any effort, magic must happen. my kids must be perfectly styled, be in a fantastic location, with some kick concept behind it all. As I sit here and think back..my favorite images are of my kids..just being. just doing. the little play. the little conversation..the little things you seem to forget, but really..they are the very things worth remembering.
I was going through some older files today and came across these. Just my kids, looking sally..hair all over..mismatched pieces of clothing..in my bed, torn apart…I took these on December 31, 2009. I remember walking thru my room..seeing them all in bed, looking and smiling and walking out. something told me..go get your camera. i listened. snap.snap.snap. Later that day, after downloading them..I remember not being overly impressed. I saw..snapshots. wild hair. dumpy clothing. a messy bed. I closed the file..and haven’t thought about them again…until today. This time..I saw something so much different. I saw my kids. the laughter. the love. little changes in each of them. and it made me smile. it was there..in front of me..the moment. captured. the last day of 2009, my kids. together.
Its funny. life. you never really know what’s going to happen..day to day. hour to hour. highs. lows. laughter. tears… people come into your life..some for a season..some forever. Life moves quickly…and really, when its all over, all you really have left..are the images. I missed my moment last week. lesson learned, it wont happen again. I urge you to make the effort, grab your camera… I know, for sure…you’ll be glad you did. ~xo M
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.
The woods, a couch, and a girl… ( Orlando Children’s Photographer)
November 8, 2009 | Posted in children
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)
Fun Family of Five… (Orlando Family Photographer)
I met up with this family tonight for a little mini-shoot…earlier today we chatted on the phone a bit and I found out that they were coming from quite a distance…like 3 hours of driving for a 15 minute mini-shoot…Aggg..I’ll be honest and tell ya I was feeling a little bit of pressure. She told me it had been a while since they had a family image taken…like only two kids, and at that time the baby, which is now the middle child was ..something like three.. (ok, I may have that totally wrong..but it had been awhile..I know that) So..again..3 hours driving..15 minutes of shooting…yah, I wanted to get it right..I know she is checking..I told her I’d pop something up tonight, its late here…2am…2:32am to be exact…why I’m up..I have no clue…I guess because a promise is a promise…no…no…she didn’t make me spit shake on it..but I wanted to get them up for her…I’m sure she’s in bed by now..but first thing in the morning….BAM!
Thank you so much for allowing me to capture your family…and driving the distance…I hope that you (puffy heart) them lots…
hanging in the woods… (orlando child photographer)
September 22, 2009 | Posted in children
Short on words tonight..just popping on to pop these up..no story…no little tid-bits of this-n-that..I’m just tired. It’s 11:06 and I am bagged but these have been sitting on my computer, begging to be blogged.. so I sucked it up, pulled out some energy and here I am. Just some of Raygan..we messed in the woods about a week ago..she was willing, but not for long..complaining of things poking her here and there..and “microscopic bugs” all over her…her words..not sure if it was really happening, or just the drama of a tween, sweating in the woods..anyway..went a bit vintage-ish..it seemed to fit…
Ok. that’s it. goodnight. and now I’m laughing..tired and slap happy..I need to go to bed…
Grandma…what big eyes you have… (orlando children’s photographer)
September 8, 2009 | Posted in children
Here is it…our version of Little Red Riding Hood…and guess who landed the starring roll…you guessed it, The Pip. She’s had this for about two years, its an old Halloween costume..and although its about two seconds from being too short..I couldn’t resist getting some shots of her in it. We’ve been talking about doing it for sometime, but you know how it goes..it just never happened..until this weekend..she came out of her room..outfit in hand and said.. “ummmm, did we forget about something??” Hmmm, ok…let’s do it. We dressed her, grabbed the basket..bought some cookies..(YES, bought..I’m not that domestic folks)… ironed her socks..true story…some call it Obsessive Compulsive Disorder..I call it…”you can’t take pictures of a little girl in mary janes if the eyelet is not laying just so” disorder, so yes..I ironed the lace down…and headed off…she was excited..I heard thunder in the distance…
We get there…I get my camera out..she see me and proceeds to explain, we ARE NOT taking pictures…we are here to PLAY OUT the story….Ugh. She has her ideas…I have mine…its thundering..and Im not in the mood to argue with her…we play out the fastest version of Little Red ever…she was happy..on to the picture taking…
Our little session didn’t last long…thunder getting louder…and she with a cold, nose running…eyes watering…she said she was done after about…ummm, 3 minutes..I bribed her, not ashamed to admit that…she cooperated another 3 minutes. It started to sprinkle…
We headed to Target for the “surprise”..I asked her….”are you sure you want to go into Target w/ your outfit on?” Yes, Im fine…all except the hood, I’m not wearing the hood… that would just look foolish..” Ahhh…right, the hood…because the burlesque type-too short outfit alone was normal Target wearing attire…right.
She skipped through Target..turning heads and provoking smiles… as she was checking out the Barbie fishing rods…a lady stopped to chat with her a bit..and asked..”what is your name?” She looked at her, and with the cock of her head..replied..”why its Little Red Riding Hood of course…” Ahh…love her..and tell me..is she not the cutest Little Red evah??
Flower pickin’…(Orlando Child Photographer)
