Baby E, 6 days old

I have photographed many newborns, but never a newborn as young as 6 days old. I was really wanting to practice with such a new baby--try out some poses that didn't require mom or dad holding the baby, focus mostly on sleeping pictures since that's mostly what newborns do. Good thing one of my best friends had a baby last week so I had a willing guinea pig!

Let me just say: I have a WHOLE new respect and awe for people that specialize in--and excel at--newborn photography. If you see a newborn photo with the baby alone, posed, calm, curled up just so--you better believe it took some serious work to make that image happen!

I am motivated to learn more and improve in the area of newborns--there were many poses that I was hoping to do that just didn't happen! I think we did get some good ones in the end---how could we not with such a good-looking baby? Thanks, Kate, for letting me spend the morning with your sweet boy!

My sister, pregnant

You may remember some photos of my nephew Kai from a few posts back...well this is his lovely momma, my sister Jenny. We took these photos this summer when we were all out at a cottage on Lake Michigan together...and she was gorgeously pregnant...and it was a COLD week for the middle of summer! But we braved a few 15 minute sessions on the beach for these photos, and even caught some blue sky when her husband Mark decided (more like was forced!) to join us. I think it was worth it!

I love photographing my sister. She was one of my first "models" a long time ago when I was messing around with fully manual cameras....and has been a willing participant in any crazy idea I've had since. I obviously love to photograph her because she's my sister...and because she is beautiful...but there is something more. She is, hands down, the most comfortable-in-her-skin, confident, non-fussy woman that I have ever taken pictures of.

You know how it is...most women (and I hate to stereotype here, but it's almost always true!) are ULTRA picky about photos of themselves. I am, too! Women seem to have strong feelings about certain parts of their body...and are also highly opinionated about what photos of themselves they like.

Not so with Jenny. She's un-fussy, enthusiastic, and beautiful beyond what she understands. Oh, and she laughs. So easily. So genuinely.

(I posted some of these to facebook awhile ago...not sure how many are coming from facebook to here, so if you've seen these already, apologies).

The scene in my bathroom tonight

In the third photo in, Rowan is laughing, although it looks like she might be crying. My girls were having a good old time in the bath tonight. I took some video tonight, too, because the sound of their laughter in the tub just cannot be captured in a still image. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but I have yet to see a photo that matches the deep-down good feeling that a hearty, unabashed, child belly-laugh can bring.

The D Family

I'm using this post for my first official "sneak peek!" I'm still organizing and getting posts ready from sessions in the past, but I will try to keep up with some current ones, too.

I got to photograph a very good friend of mine's family when they were visiting over Christmas. They have adorable identical twin girls who are 3 and 1/2, and a son who is just a few weeks older than my Piper. The first picture-sequence is from an evening when we took care of their son...and we gave him and Piper a bath together. What's better than one year old naked bodies in the tub? He looks like he's in trouble in that first shot, doesn't he?

This shoot was fun. As always, things can be a bit harried with 3 kids so young (plus I had my girls with me!)....but the parents were exceedingly patient, the kids were agreeable, and overall I think we all actually had fun.

It's so interesting to see the special connection between twins. I loved trying to capture their individual spirits, though, too. I seem to have a lot of blue eyes in my life....and I just LOVED gazing into all these beautiful brown eyes! J and B, you guys better watch out in another dozen years--you're going to have your hands full! Enjoy the peek--your full gallery will be up soon.

Christmas Cards Galore!

I didn't manage to get Cebulski family Christmas cards out this year (I never have, actually, but thought this year might be a first!), but I did do a lot of Christmas cards for clients and friends!

I'm hoping that next year I can offer more official Christmas card "packages" and have options pre-made for people to choose from. Below is a sampling of some of my favorite cards from this year. A few of them have notes above them. All the photography is mine as well (except for the one of us with my in-laws...Joe's cousin, a talented photographer, took that one on my camera for us. Thanks Teresa!) Also, many of these cards are flat (it's noted if they are different)....but on the back we printed more photos in black and white (of the client's choosing). I didn't include the backs for space reasons....but they all looked really cool!


The top is the front of the card, then it opens up and below is the inside of the card.



Below is a second option for this family (they chose the one above). Since I didn't have any templates made beforehand, I ended up creating 2 or 3 different options for each client--so it was a bit labor intensive for me! But next year I'll have lots of ideas!

The card below needs some explanation. It's a tri-fold card, so when all folded up, the square with LOVE is on the front. When that is opened, the one with PEACE is to the right, and the one with JOY is to the left. When the last flap is opened, you see exactly what the second image shows--three squares, with JOY to the left, words in the center, and the family pic to the right. And on the back is the photo of the grandparents and grandkids. Does that make sense? Tri-folds are cool looking--a really different option for a Christmas card.




This family below is amazing---these 2 woman have taken in lots of children with special needs, and right now they have 10 adopted children living at home (others have moved on). What a privilege it was to photograph them all! A little chaotic, but so much fun. Can you imagine?

This is my mother and father-in-law's card :) Recognize us?


Perfect fall day for this shoot, huh? I can't wait to show you the rest of the images from this session.

And a few birth announcements thrown in for good measure. These are 2 of my favorites from the last few months. Beautiful babies!