I had so much fun doing it last year, I decided to go for it again!  That’s right, it’s the now “annual”, Favorite Portrait Contest!  I had an unbelievable 2011, full of so many great families, babies, kiddos, and seniors – it was nearly impossible to narrow it down to my top 30 favorites.  Last year it was the top 25, but I just couldn’t narrow it down past thirty.  I did force my husband to help me get to 30, because honestly, I get way too emotionally attached    As with last year, some are favorites because of technical aspects that appeal to me (for example: lighting or color), others I love for the emotion that was captured, and a few, just on the cute factor alone.

So, now that I’ve tortured myself over it, I’m turning it over to you, my clients, friends, and random strangers who like to look at pretty pictures, to decide on your Favorite Portrait of 2011.   Are you ready?!?

Here’s how it will work:

1.  Each person may vote for one image, one time.  Please, please follow this rule in the sake of fairness to everyone who had an image chosen.  Pretty please with sugar on top?

2.  To cast your vote, leave a comment in the comment section below.  Make sure you are commenting under this particular blog post (contest time), and use the identifying image number located above each image.

3.  As “extra credit”, facebook fans will be given ONE extra vote.  So, if you aren’t already a facebook fan, hop over and click “like”, then come back here and let me know about it by leaving a comment.  If you are already a facebook fan, let me know that as well so you can be given your additional vote.

4.  Feel free to share the contest with friends and family.  A little self promotion of your image is totally fine (as long as they follow the rules!).

Here are the prizes:

First Place:  (1) beautiful 16×20 gallery wrapped canvas of the winning image (valued at $475)

Second Place:  (1) beautiful, mounted 11×14 print of the second place image (valued at $100)

Third Place:  a handy-dandy $50 print credit to be used at a future session

Voting will end on Friday, January 20th @ 5 p.m. (cst)

Here are the selected images, have fun voting!

1.  silhouette

2.  brown eyes

3.  pretty with pearls

4.  together

5.  lemons

6.  field of dreams

7.  vintage high chair

8.  little boy blue

9.  baby in a bucket

10.  silver uggs

11.  giggle boxes

12.  peek-a-boo

13.  new love

14.  waiting

15.  windswept

16.  blue blanket

17.  see you next fall

18.  yummy

19.  special friends

20.  batman

21.  pretty girls

22.  cuteness in a box

23.  pretty senior

24.  sunshine and laughter

25.  tummy time

26.  in love

27.  simplicity

28.  little miss vogue

29.  blue eyes

30.  the future mrs. bieber

That’s it!  Have fun voting and be sure to check the studio facebook page , that’s where I’ll post the winners!

Until next time!

Tammy

Tyler Texas Baby Child and Family Photography

Sometimes photographing large family groups can be, well, not so fun.  It can be a little stiff, a tad stuffy, and can reek of over-the-top-traditionalism (yes, that was my big word for the day.  Go me!).  But, when the *b* family contacted me about a family session, they seemed different.  Not different in a bad way — in a good and potentially really fun way.  In fact, when they emailed me, they even included images of them being really candid (i.e. that’s code for acting silly).  Once I saw that, I was pretty much in 

So, fast forward to our session, which we decided to shoot at an awesome vineyard and winery in Athens, Texas.  It was crazy windy, but in spite of that, we had a great time shooting.  We had so many great shooting options at the vineyard and towards the end, we ended up with some absolutely gorgeous light.  Don’t believe me?  See for yourself!

And finally, a “candid” shot:

Thanks *b* family, it was fun!

Until next time,

Tammy

East Texas Family Photographer

I had a great time doing my Favorite Portrait of 2010 contest, thanks to all who played along!  Your votes coming in were fun to see and the response was overwhelming    Many thanks to my husband, Wes, for helping me count all those votes!  I will definitely do the contest again next year, it just may become an annual tradition.

So, let’s get right to the winners <drum roll please>

First Place and winner of a 16×20 gallery wrapped canvas of their winning image, goes to #6, “sisters”:

Second place, and winner of a mounted 11×14 print of their winning image, goes to #17, “laughing out loud”:

Third place, and winner of a $50 print credit toward a future session, goes to #11, “baby o”:

And because there was a close race, I decided to offer a fourth place prize of a $50 print credit toward a future session, and that goes to #21, “cuteness in front of a red door”:

Thanks again and I look forward to another year of fantastic images in 2011!

Tammy

It’s been fun getting to know this sweet couple, we had a great time shooting their maternity session, and an even better time during their newborn session.  For the newborn session, we did a little bit of everything – a big variety of studio images, and then we drove to one of my favorite fields for a little shooting.  It was a full morning, and I think I wore them out (ha!) but it was totally worth it.  So, let’s get to the eye candy

I *heart* this image.  Thanks to Dad for being such a good sport and letting me take this one (and blog it) 

Sigh.  Isn’t he just beautiful?  I could eat him with a spoon!

One of Mom with her new guy:

In my special field, baby *c* in an heirloom basket, with an heirloom blanket:

and finally, with his two favorite people:

Thanks *L* family, I loved every minute!

Until next time,

Tammy

I loved meeting this sweet family, Mom and Dad were so trusting of my location choices (sometimes I navigate us to some strange places!) and the girls were styled to perfection.  If we wouldn’t have run out of light, I just could have kept shooting all night    Here are some of my many favorites (it was hard to narrow them down for a blog share!).

The girls in front of my favorite red door (I *heart* everything about this):

Shooting this gave me two small heart attacks (she was a little elevated!), but it was worth it for this reaction:

This one makes my heart soar… it’s everything I want to capture between a family:

Such pretty girls.  Poor Dad, he is in for it in about ten years!

And though we were aiming for a more “sweet” image of Mom with her two girls, I couldn’t love this one any more had we planned for it!  It totally makes me realize how as a Mom, sometimes you just smile and hang on!

Thanks *H* family, it was great meeting you 

Until next time,

Tammy

I love shooting in new places, it’s like Christmas morning to me.  You never know what you are going to find, but it’s bound to be good    This session was definitely like that for me, there was a new “present” every couple of hundred feet.  Gorgeous leaves, trees, an old VW bug (best. prop. ever.), an old, chippy, red building… photographers heaven, I tell you.

In fact, I should ask the *D* family if I can set up a tent there, hang out a shingle and make it my on location studio – think they would be down with that?  Ha!

Here are some of my favorites from the session (sans their adorable family shot) – I’m not showing that one in case they are using it for their Christmas cards!

This is a photographers favorite for sure.  I love everything about it, right down to his freckles and little boy smile:

Pretty girl, pretty location, pretty light = yummy!

Blue eyes?  Why yes, thank you:

See?!  See?!  Best. Prop. Ever.

And the two people responsible for these adorable kids?  Here they are (and yes, I made them do this, but isn’t it totally making you smile?) 

Thanks *D* family, hope you had as much fun as I did!

Until next time,

Tammy

In my quest to catch up on blogging, I am so happy to share this amazing family session.  It had everything:  adorable kids, a gorgeous Mom and Dad, the location and light were just perfect, and the colors Mom chose for everyone’s look were so vibrant and apropos for this time of year.  I loved what we ended up with, have a look at a few of my favorites:

This image is PROOF that a family session is not boring or painful 

Mom and her girl… I big-puffy-heart this one:

Another great family shot:

see, I told you they were gorgeous:

Yummy light and a great laugh:

and finally… how cute is his little face?!?

Thanks *M* family – you guys were awesome!

Until next time,

Tammy

It’s almost that time of year again!  Cooler weather, beautiful colors, great light and my favorite, lots of family sessions!

Family sessions are always popular in the fall and this year is shaping up to be one of the busiest yet.  I am already booking sessions into Thanksgiving weekend, so don’t dilly-dally!  Drop me an email or give me a call and we’ll get you on the schedule 

In keeping with the theme, I thought I would share more what-to-wear goodness.  This time specifically tailored for those upcoming fall family sessions.  Have a peek:

I have some sneak peeks upcoming, stay tuned!

Until next time,

Tammy

So, I’m back with a little more “What to Wear” inspiration for family sessions.  Again, these are not meant to be set in stone, or in an effort to take the place of your family looking like “your family”.  I simply like blogging these for ideas on color schemes, clothing combination possibilities, etc.

I really like this particular grouping for it’s classic, soft and vintage feel.  Something like this would be perfect for a session in the home/backyard, a field, a garden, or park.  The soft colors would even work well in the light and bright studio.  Have a look:

Again, use this to build or expand!  Mom, if you are more comfortable in a long skirt, work with that.  If this look isn’t Dad’s norm, use the color scheme for his style… maybe a loose button up instead of a sweater.  You get the idea 

Until next time,

Tammy

So you’re all set.  You’ve officially booked a family session with me.  The date and time is chosen, session fee is taken care of, and everything is on the calendar.  You’re feeling pretty good, right?  Then, panic sets in.  You break out into a cold sweat.  A question is literally burning in your brain.

WHAT DO WE WEAR?!?

This is actually a question I get asked a lot, and even after I give suggestions of colors, how to coordinate without being “matchy-matchy” , and tips on where to shop, I still hear doubt in my clients voices when they hang up the phone.   So, I thought I would start including some visual inspiration on the blog to make things easier.

This particular ‘What to Wear Guide’ is great for just about any kind of session that is on location.  At your home, a park, a field, even an urban/downtown shoot:

And this is just a start, you can totally build on this to make it more  “you”.  Mom can add a denim jacket over the top of the dress, Dad can wear a fedora hat, you can add a funky headband for the little girl, you get the idea.  The key is to have fun and feel confident in what you are wearing.

And if you haven’t booked a family session in the last year or two, what are you waiting for?!? 

Until next time,

Tammy