After a great hospital session, the *G* family came back to see me for a one month visit.  As usual, I had such a great time during our session.  We were able to catch up on how things were in “newborn land” and there is never a shortage of laughs.  In fact, one of these days, I need to do an “outtake” blog post on the *G* family.  Sometimes I end up with some really funny expressions…

Anyway, I thought I would do something different and let baby *G* just hang out.  Sometimes, we work so hard getting the newborns all curled or placed in a basket (which I love and is always beautiful), that we miss some of who they really are.  Those adorable expressions and funny faces are a glimmer of a real little person, albeit a small, wrinkled one!  So, we just laid him down and I simply shot.

And here you have it, the many (and very cute!) faces of baby *G* :

Next, an image of Dad and baby *G* (I have a very similar shot in color of Dad and big brother on the main site):

*K* is such a good Mommy.  She’s the type who is always perfectly prepared with snacks, toys, wipes, lots of patience and fun activities.  I hope I captured what a warm and loving Mom she truly is:

And of course we photographed the whole family.  There were so many relaxed and fun shots, I had a hard time choosing.  But something about the happiness in this one tugs at my heart:

And since I had gone outside my box earlier, I stepped right back in to do just a few curled “newborn” shots (totally making fun of myself here).  This one was a favorite:

Thanks *G* fam – your gallery is almost ready, I’ll be in touch soon!

Until next time,

Tammy

I’m a little short on words today, I’m trying to catch up on editing sessions and I’ve been a little under the weather too.

Despite all of that, I had to share a few images from one of my sessions last weekend.  This particular family has a very special new addition, a beautiful baby boy, who was much anticipated.  They live about three hours from Tyler, and coordinated a visit with family who lives in the area (who are also wonderful clients) so that I could photograph the little one.  I was so very glad they did, he was such a muffin, so pretty (little boys can be pretty too!) with the most beautiful light, almost amber colored hair and sweet little mouth and chin.

And did I mention he has a gorgeous big sister too?

I love how he is tucking his little lower lip in:

And baby boy makes four:

Okay, back to editing — more blogging later this week…

Until next time,

Tammy

Had a great session at the studio a few days ago and I’ve been just dying to blog some of the images (you’ll see why soon!).

*B* came in for a maternity session, and if you notice the subject line, the subject line says, “last minute”… why last minute?  That would be because *B* has a due date that is just a couple of days from today (and yes, she was just at the studio on Wednesday!).  Her super sweet Mom booked the session for her last week and we were both hoping she wouldn’t go into labor before the session, she was that close!  I think when *B* sees the images, she’ll truly be glad she decided to do the session.

Pregnancy has it’s challenges, and from experience, I know it can be exhausting (!).  But, it’s such a special time between Mom and baby, a time you will look back on with a heart full of emotion.  And though it doesn’t seem like it, in the big scheme of things, it goes by so quickly.  That is the absolute fact of why I am a huge fan of maternity sessions… it’s about capturing the moment before it is gone.

and check out the new wall behind *B* at the studio, I’m loving it!

These next two… oh my, I so *heart* them… <happy sigh>

And while most of my favorites featured a more serious look, *B* has a gorgeous smile, so I have to show it off here:

I can’t wait to meet the little one in a couple of weeks (newborn session!), best wishes *B* for a speedy delivery!

Until next time,

Tammy

Here’s part two of my custom photography series, this time, talking about price.  Yes, our old friend, Mr. Price.  Surely you’ve met him before.  In fact, maybe you are well acquainted with Mr. Price?  Maybe, just maybe, he’s the one thing holding you back from the custom photography experience?  If so, you should definitely read on!

Again, the following is borrowed Marianne Drenthe, via Professional Child Photographer :

APPLES to ORANGES to BANANAS: Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $19.99 for an 8×10 “sheet” or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains.  The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service.  In February 2007 a company who has leased photography retail space in a rather well known discount retailer closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation.  The reason it happened is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ “professional” prints if you do not sell enough of them.  Interestingly enough – those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their a la carte pricing vs. many custom photographers (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10).

A little history – the whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait services in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments.  Your “PORTRAITS” are considered the “loss leader”.  Your portraits that are meant to symbolize a once-in-a-lifetime stage in your child’s life are part of what a store considers a way to get you in there door to spend more money on goods that you might not really want or need but because you’re there “anyway” you buy.

Also keep in mind that when you go to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for as well as the lovely captures of natural expressions.  You simply get a bare bones, “SAY CHEESE” experience.

More on price next week    And of course, I can’t post without an image, so I thought I’d show off one of my little muffins (that’s my Mommy code for “children”).  Coben turned three last Saturday <sob, my babies are growing up!>.  We celebrated the day with a party, complete with tons of Batman paraphernalia, friends, cake and pizza that night.  He’s still stoked over it all.  Anyway, these images were taken as a test for lighting one afternoon at the studio, but they make me smile every time I look at them, so I decided they were keepers.

Until next time,

Tammy

If you are an adult (well, over 21-ish) it’s probably been awhile since you had a professional photograph taken.  I mean seriously, past having a senior portrait session, until you are married, you are kind of out of that routine (boo on that, it’s important to document all stages of life!).  So, imagine how cool I thought it was when Pamela (new to Tyler) contacted me and wanted to have some really great, really candid, really *real* images taken of herself.  The main intent is as a gift for her boyfriend who lives out of town, but also for the parental units, sister, grandparents, etc.  Seriously, good for her!   And it’s good for me too, always nice to do something different.

So during our session, somehow the subject of “Laughter Yoga” comes up.  As a transplant to Tyler from a much bigger city, Pamela had experienced something called Laughter Yoga.  I had no idea this phenom even existed, so she educated me on the subject.  Basically, classes are held, and the focus is on… um, well, laughing!  At first, you force yourself to laugh, but then you start really laughing at everyone else laughing and the end result is leaving feeling relaxed and refreshed.  I guess it goes back to the whole, “laughter is the best medicine” thing.  So, I ended up practicing Laughter Yoga with Pamela during our session.  When Pamela started to get a little too “serious” during our session, I asked her to use her Laughter Yoga skills and her forced laugh would result in a real one and well, check it out for yourself 

See exhibit “A” :  image on left, forced Laughter Yoga laugh… glancing to the right, the real deal.  This LY stuff works!

And two more images I like simply because they are so relaxed and fun (way to work it Pamela!)

So next time you are feeling a little too serious, force yourself to laugh and see if a real laugh doesn’t come along with it.  I’m telling you, this stuff works!

Until next time,

Tammy

There are tons of places in east Texas where you can have “pictures taken”.  And I’m sure many of them do an excellent job at doing just that.  But, there are only a few photographers (like myself) in the area who truly offer “custom photography”.

So, what is custom photography?  I mean, wouldn’t you think it’s all the same?  You make an appointment, show up, snap-snap, picture taken, you’re done.  Right?

<insert annoying buzzer noise> WRONG!

It’s this train of thought that I often hear, that has prompted me to do some educating on the subject (wow, I am making myself sound really smart!).  So today, I offer part one of several little installments I plan to do, explaining what custom photography is, what’s included, etc.  And since I always give credit where credit is due, let me say I did not write the following, rather borrowed it from the author Marianne Drenthe, via Professional Child Photographer .  Let’s get on with the learnfest!

Custom photography is more of a luxury than your entry level cookie cutter chain experience. Custom photography truly is not for everyone, it requires a level of commitment, investment in time  and money, forethought and planning on the part of the subject/client and requires a larger time commitment for the photographer as well.

Clients who enjoy taking a more active role in the creation of their families’ memories have the desire to have portrait art that is truly personalized.  These more discerning clients have been known to budget and allot time for a custom photography session. Many clients opt for it to be a once a year special experience, some opt to have custom photography sessions done to record their child’s stages in life.  Having said this, it is clear that custom photography is not in everyone’s budget,  it is something that most families save for to splurge on from time to time to memorialize their children as they really are (not posed and primped in the cookie cutter studio setting).

There is a great deal of time involved in creating high end custom photography sessions for a client.  The luxury of great service, better choices and a supberb end product.  The result of all this are heirloom quality images.

Custom photography has been likened to purchasing a fine vehicle.  To get to point B from A let’s face it, even a bus ride would suffice.  If you want to luxuriate in a finely appointed vehicle, customizing your own experience by listening to smooth jazz while sitting in a climate controlled setting adjusted purely for your comfort in a body hugging leather interior, perhaps that Lexus you so desire is your cup of tea. Custom photography is much the same cup of tea.  It is the Lexus of the photography world.  It is where the intangibles make the experience truly wonderful and the images themselves make the investment of money and time truly worthwhile.

Custom photography can be broken down into even more levels.  There are on location, studio, mixed studio/on location, specialty location and destination type photographers.  The beauty of custom photography is in the choices and in the luxury of thoses options.  The customized service level you are sure to experience will be amazing.  The knowledge that your final images are the result of someone caring about those moments so much that they take extra time ensuring that the artwork you receive is good enough to stand by with their name on it.  That level of quality and commitment  is all but lost in the age of “mass produced,” “mass marketed,” corporate “everyone is a number”.  Custom photography is based on being unique to you.  How great an experience would be,  to be able to sit back and allow a photographer to do this highly custom work for images that you will most likely cherish for a lifetime?

Keep in mind more than anything that the Lexus will never appreciate in value the way your portraits will.  The portrait art you become invested in from your custom photographer will no doubt increase in value and become more priceless as the years pass.

Look for “part 2″ of the installments next week… (more custom photography education coming your way!).  And  since I always have to include an image with a blog post, have a look at what I just put together and ordered of the boys.  I am loving it, the funky font, their crooked smiles in the first frame, their best funny faces in the second… it’s all so very ‘them’.  This will hang in the hallway near our master bedroom (and yes, sadly these were taken almost a year ago and I’m just now getting around to ordering it).  Sigh.

Until next time,

Tammy

I am loving this blog share, it’s full of images that tug at my heart.  Not only because the images are fun, candid and full of baby love, but mostly because they are of two people I think are super sweet.

Kayleigh has been a source of help for me over the last several years, as I have navigated through a crazy-busy time in my own life.  Juggling two little boys who are less than two years apart, a husband who at times has to work long hours, three large dogs, a household, a growing business… it gets a little crazy around here at times!  I know many of you reading this can relate…

I have been so grateful to have someone I can trust with my boys, who even helps with the dogs, sometimes surprises me with an unloaded dishwasher, and more than anything, doesn’t look at me like I’m crazy as I rush around the mornings she is here, simultaneously doing three or four things at a time!  She just steps in, in her quiet way, and starts doing what needs to be done.

And now she has her own little baby boy!  Who has chubby cheeks, an adorable bald head and big blue eyes.  Now, he comes over too.  And let me tell you, my own two boys think this is the greatest thing EVER.  Now they have someone new to show off for, act silly for and to love on.  Poor baby O, he often gets petted at our house.  I have to remind the boys he isn’t a puppy, he’s a baby – but hey, it’s all in the name of love, so whatever works.

Anyway, enough babbling — here are a few of my favorite images from our recent session at the studio:

The image on the far left, if I could eat it with a spoon, I would.  That’s how much I love it.  Really.

More favorites, a few in black and white (it was a hard choice, I could have gone either way).

So, leave “Miss Kayleigh” some comment love, she deserves it — she puts up with me and my boys, that says a lot! 

Until next time,

Tammy

Chubby baby + Cute Smile = Happy Photographer

Baby Eli came in for his 9 month session recently, isn’t he cute with all of his baby chub?

Possibly my favorite from the day (chub lovers rejoice!)

More chubby baby sneak peeks to come later this week, stay tuned!

Until next time,

Tammy