Wanna see a cute baby?

I know I've been terrible at updating this blog.

I apologize.

(I won't pretend to catch up. We all know that one. I'll just apologize. I do try to toss a thing or two onto facebook every once in a while...gold star for trying? :) Now, let me distract you with this cute baby...)

So, there ya go.

Cute Baby.

10 days-old.

Taken today.

Sneak Peak for the family. More to come (maybe not here, sorry, I'm trying to be realistic). Big brother was adorable, and the family was lots of fun, too! So, more to come (again, maybe here, maybe not).

Okay, I really do want to promise to try to do better here.

Try.

K?

K.

Believe in me.

It helps =)

Booking for October! (REALLY? Yes.)

Pardon me for even mentioning this as we beg for Spring's return and summer's arrival, but I have begun booking for October.

I currently have one mini-session scheduled for Sunday, October 31, in the afternoon. I have filled one of the three slots. If you would like to book this day, please notify me.

This year I will be taking booking fees of $50, which will be applied at %100 to your final purchase. This fee is, however, not refundable.

Mini-session pricing this year will be as follows:

$125 Family of any size (immediate family) that can fit into 30 minutes slots. If you have a larger family, or extended family, then we'll adjust fees for size/ time needs. Portrait of each person in family, family as a whole, and portrait of children, and a few storytelling shots that make my work, my work. CD of proofs and release to immediate family for printing.

$100 3 family portrait options for a Holiday Greeting card, in color as well as black and white. CD of proofs and release to immediate family for printing. I usually toss in a few more shots, but that's my formal offer =) This package focuses on primarily a Holiday card shot.

October 31st location to be determined. I'm open to suggestions.

*October was my busiest month last year, so if you have your heart set on October beauty, please book early. I have already booked 2 others sessions in October.

** And yes, I apologize for not keeping up with this blog. Terrible, I know.

My web site is Up!!!

I don't think I need to make a case here for how terrible I have been at posting on this blog, so the good news is I now have a rolling gallery and contact center on my new web site.

=)

So, check it out.

It has lots of the shots from the last 6 months that I have not been able to post here. I think I posted at least one shot from each shoot since October, when I first started handing out model release forms.

And, as always, thanks for your support. I count it a privilege to work with you and your children.

"Photography without story is a missed opportunity."

Robyn

Click here.

A Bright Spot in January: 2 Sweet Kids

Every once in a while I like to drop a focus on something "just off." Sounds like a cop-out, doesn't it? But it's not. I promise. Sometimes, in my mind, it is fun to think you're about to stare into eyes, but the focus is stolen by beautiful, lively curls.

(The eyes are beautiful and lively, too, but I don't have to tell you that, do I?)

Okay, seriously, let me go ahead and mention how fun this shoot was,

unless it's clear that I need not.

Yeah, I think we're good.

As I note below, the little studio set-up in his living room was distracting to him, so we eventually opted for Sister getting a snack, and this sweet little boy and I crawling around the house to catch him "at his him". I think we got him- at least that's what I hear.

Adorable, eh?

If only I could take credit for how cute the kids are,

but I just show up.

:)

Not your most, e'hem, formal of portraits, but I just had to fall in love with it.

I love boys, and their love for the Classic Round Toy.

And formal?

Who needs formal when you have this kind of fun?!

In the family's CD, I had to include a picture of this sweet little boy's hand on my lighting base. I was using a short gorilla pod, and we'd shoot a shot, then he'd chase the lighting. So, we got some shadows as the lights kept moving around. But, he was a blast, and I'd wager he'll be very adept in the mechanical sciences :) So fun!

Yes, it took me this long to post from January.

Winter used to be so boring, but not anymore!!!

=)

Couldn't pass up posting these kiddos!

Thank You!

Smashcake Shoot!

Guess who's 1?!

He is adorable.

And pretty sure that cake is pretty adorable, too.

=)

Leah & Jake & Baby: Maternity Outdoor Session

See you soon, Baby!

Leah & Jake & Baby: Maternity Studio Shoot

I learned one of the things I love about studio shooting is getting to be in charge of "set design", & "art direction".

As an artist, it's fun to get back to those design roots.

& To me, maternity photography is incomplete without a thorough philosophy behind it, so I've been working on putting mine into words. That will come soon. Not today, but look- blog posts!

Maternity Photography philosophy to come soon enough...

And storytelling.

Photographers have to be good storytellers.

I don't know if I am, but I aim to be a really good storyteller.

So, I study good writers- their writings as well as their thoughts on writing.

I think studying good writing makes me a better photographer.

Who knew?

I'm looking forward to the arrival of their baby in a few weeks.

I love my job!

Maternity of late

Hi. It's been a while. (Insert good reason here.)

We've been having fun, enjoying winter, working on finalizing the new web site, and are now switching gears to spring shooting.

But before we entirely switch gears, here's some work of late.

(I'm going to try to roll out a few posts at once here.)

She's a teacher. I created a blackboard. We're going to put Baby in front of that blackboard when he or she arrives. I mean, what's photography without good story?

(The maternity shots and newborn shots will have continuity, allowing the story to unfold.)

Okay, so you want to know a secret? We shot these in my new studio that I've been working on. Well, I learned studio lighting this winter, and for this shoot I borrowed lighting. It worked okay 48 hours before, fine 24 hours before, perfectly one hour before (I always check everything!), worked fine at the top of our shoot, then totally conked three shots in. Gone. Nothing.

Lucky for us, I have the best lighting teachers Milwaukee has to offer. And, instead of merely teaching me how to turn lights on and shoot, they taught me theory. So, when our lights conked, we set up all kinds of white foam boards, sheets, boards covered in white sheets,

And Darned if We Didn't HARNESS THAT SUN!

It worked.

Thank goodness.

And this couple were really good sports while we made it work.

And I've ordered new lighting. I had debated how "high-end" to go on the triggers.

I've decided to go very high-end.

I love the sun, but it's not always that harness-able.

Like at night.

=)

Oh, and I'll be back soon to talk about June & October bookings. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but we're going to be booking those very, very soon!

Maternity Photography

I'm taking a light shooting schedule this January and February to:

A) Catch up on web site development (and blog updates!)

B) Build my indoor studio & learn interior lighting

C) Fall totally in love with interior lighting strategies (and taking them outdoors!)

D) Create sets and story telling techniques for Maternity and Newborn photography.

*E) All of the above!!!

In tune, I'm making a word web/ mind map for maternity photography set design. What, in all seriousness, are words that you want to describe you (in an ideal way) when you are pregnant? In other words, what adjectives would you want your maternity portrait to breathe?

I like a photograph that speaks, or is able to tell a good story. Sometimes the photograph simply speaks an emotion, and a good maternity portrait in my opinion, should do just that. So, pipe up, will ya? =) I'd love some input!

(Just an FYI, I am already 25% booked for March, so contact me if you want to get on the March schedule. I can take 1, maybe 2 more new-new-newborns in March.)

Now Booking: Newborns January-February-March!!!

Please book ahead so I can guarantee you a slot in the first 8 days. I understand the tentative nature of due dates, so I book by the month. I won't overbook each month, so as to make room for the babies booked.

Check the sidebar for combo maternity-newborn session pricing, and contact me for details.

Now go snuggle up and enjoy how cute you look!!!

(Gift certificates are available.)

Help-Portrait Milwaukee!!!

Hello, long-lost blogland!

I apologize that I have not been able to keep up the blog lately, but I thank you for keeping me busy! =) I will be updating the blog over the next couple of weeks (from oh, you know, August til now), but in the meantime I have an exciting announcement!

Help-Portrait Milwaukee takes place tomorrow. Tomorrow!

9am-5am in Riverwest

FREE Portraits with fabulous MKW photographers (wait, like for real? Yes, for REAL!)

More details here (including address).

International Details here.

This is a venture not to "take pictures, but to give them."

If you know someone who can't afford a portrait, please send them our way. We seek to provide for those of us in need. And I don't know if you can tell, but we're pretty excited about it!!!

Oh, and btw, yes, one of these days my R-E-A-L web site will be up. One of these days...

thanks for hanging in while I work!

Sneak Peek with my new lens...

(all photos copyrighted. thank you.)

Happy birthday to me: I got a new portrait lens! I love to work with zooms, because they allow me to work in photojournalistic style (paired with portrait work) & at times sneakily shoot from my shoulder. Plus, I have great zooms. But adding a fixed prime lens to my collection, is a lot of fun. It has to capacity for a very shallow depth of field, & I think they are going to pair together nicely. I received this lens, had 36 hours to research and practice, and hit the streets yesterday with this fun family to try it out. I shot with this lens, as well as my long zoom, and I'm pleased with how they will work together. Pretty much like best friends. These shots are exclusively from my new lens (sorry, Favorite Zoom). I'll post some more from the other lens next week. (Y'know- make new friends but keep the old...)
I like how this lens picks up the energy of the city, but allows the eye to rest on the beauty of the subject, or the beauty of the moment the subjects are caught up in.

This is me: I love these shots like the one above. They are storytellers- or "portraits of the story," as I like to call them. I try to incorporate these kinds of shots with family shoots. I love 'em.

and i really love these in black and white, too.
Oh, lenses are great. Also great? Fun families...and little boys who know just when to poke out with a great smile. Can't wait to show you guys more, A & T---Thanks! I had a great time!