Babyhood Photography

Brand New Look, Same Great Taste

2008-08-11T19:43:00.002-07:00

The more I look through all the blogs of photographers who I greatly admire, the more weddings appeal to me. I've been thinking that maybe next year I might want to start shooting weddings. SO, I've been working on a new look, a new name, new brand, new well... everything!

I've transfered these blog posts over to the new blog which I will continue posting on. This blog will stay open to direct over to the new sites. I also have an ACTUAL WEBSITE! Which I am so proud of because I programed it myself - something I never thought I'd be able to do. So if you could, once you click over to the new site or the new blog, add them to your favorites and I look forward to posting on the new blog!!

Welcome Baby Vincent!

2008-08-04T21:30:00.004-07:00

"I feel like I've known him my whole life. And I don't know what I'd do without him." New mother Jess spoke the same words I had spoken only two years ago. This last Saturday I spent the morning with 8 day old Vincent Miguel and his lovely mama. Talking about labor and delivery brought me back to those first magical months. Those months where sleep, showers and whole meals are hard to come by but you hardly notice because you've got the most amazing baby in the world. Who needs sleep when you've got this little one?You could tell he was already in love with his mom.
And that she felt the same :)
Of course all new babies love to nurse! I think he would have stayed there the whole time if we'd let him!
Here's his papa, John who was sleeping nearly the whole time I was there - Booooo!
This one is my favorite of the day

If you're a friend of Jess or a family member, leave me a comment and let me know what you think! And Click here to see all the photos from the day :) Thanks for stopping by

Looks good in dots

2008-08-02T22:46:00.004-07:00

This morning I woke up and asked the sun if she could lay off today. Just for today. I'm gonna be out ALL day, I told her. Her reply was, "oh no. No no no no no, I don't think so." And just for ASKING, she gave Arizona double sun and double heat today.

My day started early and ended late -So I'm exhausted but I'll post tons more soon, and for now, here's a preview of 8 day old Vinnie who looks good in dots.

We're Fascinating Creatures

2008-07-17T17:37:00.002-07:00

Have you gotten a Frances England Cd for your kids yet? I ordered mine through the Pokey Pup and just received it today in the mail. I guess this is the older one, so I'll have to order the newer one soon. Frances writes the most beautiful children's songs - you can click here and here to hear clips of her music.

Linking Love

2008-07-11T17:38:00.011-07:00

I'm finally getting around to posting a few blogs I've come favor over all the rest. I've been meaning to do this for awhile because I'm sure everyone out there is always looking for a good blog to read. Lets start at the top:

1. Dooce. I'm sure everyone knows already about Heather B. She's called "Goddess of Blogging" and although I'm not much for profanity, her writing is pure gold. She's by far the most relatable person online and I can't say enough good things about her.

Heather lives in Utah with hubby Jon, Daughter Leta, Dog Chuck and Dog Coco. She's gone from BYU grad to a web designer in LA to a wife and mother in Utah. After reading just one of her posts, (particularly her monthly newsletters) your eyes will sting from crying so much and your abs will hurt from laughing so hard. You'll leave her blog an emotional mess with a greater appreciation for life, love and your family.

2. MeRa Koh

I first found MeRa last May when I was just discovering photo blogs. I think they way she is different from other photographers is that EACH INDIVIDUAL PHOTO IS CAREFULLY THOUGHT THROUGH. When I say that, I mean it. A lot of great photographers give a lot of sparkly images but none really evoke emotion or tell a story like MeRa's.

Her blog is loaded with photography tips and each month she holds a photo contest that her readers can enter and vote on. If you're a mom and love to take pictures of your kids, you'll dig MeRa's blog.

3. The [b] school.

Becker is probably the COOLEST photographer on the planet. He's been shooting weddings forever and has a ton of knowledge and his giving spirit decided to start the [b] school. Right now it's a video blog for photographers giving tips on taking photos, running your business, photoshopping, etc. Soon the [b] school will launch and be a place for photographers to learn and network with each other.

Beckers personal blog is another one of my favorites. Just look at these images!

Don't they totally take your breath away? Get addicted to [b]eckers blog, you can thank me later.

4. Melissa Jill

I actually used to spend hours at church camp with Melissa Hester trying to better understand The Bible. I'd thumb through HER copy in awe of ALL THE NOTES in the margins. Years later, I saw a beautiful photo taken by 'Melissa Jill.' Then I saw ANOTHER photo by Melissa Jill. Finally, I googled Melissa Jill and found that it was my Melissa Hester. Her blog is one of the best out there because she posts so often! I lose interest in a blog when the blogger posts like, once a month... Melissa posts FAQs from other photographers, she checks off one by one her 101 goals, and of course, she posts crystal clear, bright and shiny photos.

5. 5 Minutes for Mom

This blog is perfect for ANY mom out there. Theres so much to read through and take from it. This is a blog you really GET INVOLVED with. I think the banner alone is a great explination: Bringing Moms Togeher!

He Talks!

2008-07-11T00:01:00.003-07:00

Kayden has been saying "Bubba" lately. Only today did we figure out it means Zebra.

More From Tucson

2008-07-02T17:05:00.003-07:00

On our Tucson photo hunt, I found this awesome stoop. I wanted to get a shot of Kayden sitting like a little angel on one of the steps. I sat him down and backed up while he got up, walked over to the door and KNOCKED! Fortunately, no one answered, but he was anything but cooperative. Much too curious about these people and their stuff.
Last but not least, my friend Marilyn recently returned from Hawaii and brought me back this beautiful turtle necklace.
Isn't it the sweetest little turtle you've ever seen? Thanks, Marilyn! I love it!

Also, I just saw for the first time a preview for Hancock - it looks fantastic!!! I totally can't wait to see it!

Tucson!

2008-07-01T22:13:00.003-07:00

This last weekend was a convention in Tucson so we got to stay in a hotel. Kayden was excited to have so many pillows on one bed.

We arrived late the first day, so I had to park 4 blocks from the Convention Center and walk. On my way, I went on a mini photo safari and caught a little Tucson personality. I mostly saw colorful doors and windows since it was a residential area. Look at this guy with all the knobs.

And these three - crazy colors, huh?

This one might be my favorite from the neighborhood.
A few more coming tomorrow - I hope you enjoyed my first official [mini] photo safari!

Adios!

2008-06-26T15:46:00.002-07:00

We're off to Tucson for the weekend and I am stoked! I've really only driven through Tucson, so I'm really looking forward to spending some time walking around the town. Wish us safe travels and I'll post when we return!

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money. ~Susan Heller

24 Months

2008-06-21T21:39:00.003-07:00

I have a two year old! In a year... I'll have a THREE year old... in three years, my son will be in kindergarden... and I can go on thinking this way until all of a sudden, I have a 25 year old.

Monday was actually Kayden's second birthday and to do something special, we took him swimming at Uncle Matt's. He loved it. He'd dip his face in the water. He'd kick kick kick kick. And he'd jump off the edge into our arms.

Eric and I had planned to see The Hulk movie after Kayden went to bed that night, but instead, my mother fell and broke her ankle as we were leaving. It goes without saying - this week has been hard. Really hard.

I have made some resolutions this week though. I talked to a friend who did a Raw Food Diet for two weeks and said she felt AMAZING afterward. Although a 100% raw food diet probably isn't likely for me, I have increased my raw fruit and veggie intake significantly and cut way back on soda and sugary drinks. I've also started finding the time to run daily. Besides feeling good physically, I actually feel a lot better mentally. The time I spend running gives me some much needed thinking time as well as time to listen to my ipod, which I never get to do. I choose the music, I choose the pace, I choose what road to take - it feels great.

I also want to start posting "one thing I learn" at every shoot. I'm still a newbie in photography but still think that I might figure out a little pearl of wisdom at each shoot and should share it. Regardless of if the reader says, "no duh" or "thats a great tip" I think it will help me. And I know photographers always try to give each other tips here and there, so I should start too!

Thats my week - thanks so much for reading!

xoxoxo

Denise

Last Day as a One Year Old!

2008-06-15T16:20:00.002-07:00

I can't hardly believe that tomorrow, I will have a TWO year old! Over the past year he has done so much. He started walking, then running, then climbing, then climbing higher and higher. He seems to make a new discovery daily. Discovering whats in this cupboard and that drawer, how his toys come apart, what that button does, what the side of the table tastes like.

He said his first word at about 15 months - LION. He said it in a little "growl" voice, which he knew was appropriate. Since then, he hasn't said lion... but he does say Banana - it's actually NANA - which is the same word he uses for PANDA. He says Bubble, Rock, Choo Choo Train, and Fish. He also says mama and daddy often. We're anxiously waiting for him to say "Grandma" who sometimes seems to be his favorite person on Earth... besides me, of course. :P

We love him more and more every day and are so thankful for this last year.

Expecting Mother: Jess

2008-06-11T22:38:00.005-07:00

A couple days ago, I shot my first official Maternity shoot with Jess. Jess was a perfect model: up for anything, goofy, fun and BEAUTIFUL!!
These are some of my favorites - this one reminded me a lot of when I was pregnant - always day dreaming about your little one

Shortie better enjoy this attention while he can! He's already getting sprayed with a water bottle every time he sets foot in the nurseryDoesn't she look like a gap model? They should use this photo to launch their maternity line :P

This surprised me that this one was my favorite... I usually don't like my black and whites this extreme, but it really works for this photo.
I also wanted to take a second and say HELLOOOOOO MICHIGAN!!! Since Jess's baby shower, I've gotten tons of hits from her hometown in Michigan - so thanks everyone for stopping by! Check back after the baby arrives for some newborn shots too!

CLICK HERE to view all of the photos from the shoot and for print details

Jessica's Baby Shower

2008-06-08T18:32:00.006-07:00

Yesterday was Jess' babyshower and I loved it. I love all things baby anyway - so this was so much fun.
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The shower was hosted by Elizabeth who totally reminds me of my best friend in high school - she was completely sweet and hospitable.
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This gift got all the attention - it was beautifully wrapped with receiving blankets.
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The mom to be and the grandma to be.
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We're doing Jess' actual maternity shoot in the next couple days so you'll see more of her soon - but we had to get some "This is my baby shower shots" because she looked so cute!
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My favorite of the day
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I saw this mom and her little girl and had to pull them outside for a couple mother daughter pics.
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I love the way they turned out

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This is George - he was the only guy there and his prize from one of the games was this set of pink bath stuff - too funny!

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Measuring out crepe paper to guess the size of Jess' belly

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Baby Chloe got so much attention

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She got some amazing gifts...

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... I was actually totally jealous of this one - some Arbonne Baby products

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Poor George

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Her hat of ribbons - she wore it proudly

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Mama and hostess
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The mom and dad - aren't they cute?

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Thanks for making me a part of your special day - you guys will be great parents!

Preview

2008-06-07T23:33:00.004-07:00

Today was Jess' Baby Shower. Jess is due in six weeks and looks totally stunning. She makes a very stylish mother to be . I hope to post the rest of the photos over the next couple of days, but for now, here's a shot of Jess looking very pregnant at her shower.

Airport

2008-05-31T16:59:00.002-07:00

It had been over a year since I had been to Sky Harbor Airport so when we went, I was amazed at how much they had added. We stopped in at this air museum to have a look and I got this shot of Kayden looking at this piece. Think he'll be an astronaut when he grows up? :)

New Shoes

2008-05-30T20:34:00.002-07:00

Why does anyone live in Arizona? It is SO. HOT. And it's not going to get better until... New Years? We went to the mall to play today and just getting into the car felt like an angry oven. I can't tell if the sun hates us or loves us - I can't stand the heat. At the mall, I felt bad Kayden was wearing tennis shoes (it's definitely sandal weather), so we picked out some stylish new sandals. He had these same ones last year but unfortunately, these feet grow. So new shoes are in order every third day it seems. I'll be shooting Jess next week, so look for her soon!

When Life Hands You Lemons...

2008-05-29T18:54:00.003-07:00

Life has actually been giving me a few cups a sugar to go along with those lemons lately. Last weekend, our California trip was cancelled at the last minute, but we were able to book a flight out for my grandmother. She met my son for the first time and spent four days with us.

We cooked all weekend, watched movies, relaxed and went out on the town. Here's Eric watching Kayden run around while we were waiting for a table.

And Kayden pausing before running down to Mexico and back in 2.5 seconds. The energy of that one - my Grandmother was calling him a little machine in Spanish all weekend. With this shirt he wears, we say "Where's the cat in the hat?" And he looks down at his tummy. Have I told you I'm in love with him? Because I totally am.

Other good news: I finally upgraded from Photoshop 7 to Photoshop CS3 Extended and I love it.

And, yes, I made lemonade tonight and took that photo on my dining room table. I guess the secret to making good lemonade is to disolve the sugar in a little boiling water before adding it to the lemon juice and water... mine came out not so good this time. Maybe next time.

Caden

2008-05-20T22:02:00.002-07:00

Everybody remember Caden? Well, he came over the other day and played with Kayden's toys which completely freaked Kayden out.

It was pretty confusing to both of them with their names being the same

After Caden left, Kayden had a really long nap because that visit alone made his day long and tiresome.

and I caught a couple cute pics as well. :)

23 Months

2008-05-16T21:03:00.000-07:00

Satisfying our urge to get a new pet

2008-05-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

Father Son Post

2008-05-06T17:43:00.004-07:00

Kayden woke up from his nap too early and couldn't go back to sleep. So Eric took him to enjoy a cool breeze that was passing through our front yard to calm Kayden down a bit.

After swinging for a bit, dad's mission was accomplished. No more sad baby (even though he still had a rather large tear hanging out on his cheek...) ---

Until we got inside, then Eric was the bad guy for bringing him inside when he wanted to be OUTSIDE. I asked Kayden for a kiss and he gave. Then I said, "hey, can daddy have a kiss too?" and he shook his head no. Dad was in the dog house.

Headshots

2008-05-03T23:30:00.004-07:00

Awhile back, I posted about Katheryne Mitchell and Signing Hands Outreach and about the benifits of signing. Since then, I've spent a lot of time reading about signing and learning new signs and trying to get Kayden to climb on board. So the other day, I got together with Katheryne for some new headshots. While editing, I found that she looks totally dramatic and lovely in black and white - so a lot of them are converted and look fabulous! Here are my top five faves:

Thanks so much Katheryne, for inviting me over - I hope you like them! :)

Hula As I See It

2008-04-30T20:45:00.006-07:00

Saturday I joined The Hula Halau for their annual family and friends performance at Dobson Ranch Park. They had a great turnout and I got a front row seat at an amazing show! Since I took so many, I've decided to post my top 11 favorites, starting with number eleven: When I look at this photo, I see a lot of passion - I love how she's just totally rocking out and having fun.

10: One of my favorite portraits of the day

9: Everyone all day was saying, "Make sure you take some of Candice!" She seems to be an important part of the Halau. Isn't that great that they're all thinking about EACH OTHER rather than about just themselves? I love this group.

8: I usually don't tweak the colors that much but I kind of did a lot with this shoot. Once in a while, you have to do something a little one the artsy side like this one

7: And this one... wasn't it a beautiful day? And this was the first time I saw Marilyn dance and it blew me away!

6: I LOVE this one. The dance pose, the background and the pink flower - everything is adorable!

5: The glow in this one is totally not Photoshopped :P I also really like the orange of her dress.

4: I almost faint from cuteness overload with this one. Grandpa and... What's her name again, Loren?? ;-)

3. Mandi should be a model. I ALWAYS get the best shots of her, so no wonder 2 of my top 3 faves are of her...

2. There's nothing better than a baby hair swirl ... except maybe a mama's love for her little one... and this picture shows BOTH!

1. Mandi again... Seriously perfect picture, right? :-P

Thanks to all for letting me point a camera in your faces all day long! You are all so talented and beautiful! Let me know what you think, and to see the rest of them and to get info if you're interested in ordering prints, click here.

Big Day... Tomorrow

2008-04-25T21:19:00.003-07:00

Tomorrow is jam packed. From begining to end. Look for some more new photos of my hula girls soon - but for now, here's ANOTHER one of my sweetest and littlest - Kayden laughing at his dad today.

Big Lots, One Dollar

2008-04-22T22:35:00.002-07:00

I usually don't like bargain shopping with Eric (who LOVES it) but today, we went to the new GoodWill and to Big Lots together. I found these completely cute placemats for ONE DOLLAR! So exciting. So I came home, cleared off my dining room table and put them in their proper place. Then I dug out these awesome napkins I bought in Africa (for a LOT more than a dollar) and they went perfectly. What a good day.

22 Months

2008-04-16T15:42:00.004-07:00

I saw a t-shirt the other day that made me laugh. It said, "No one cares about your blog." I'm a blog-stalker of many and I have to say that the most annoying blogs I hit out there are the ones where the author posts nothing but a bunch of pictures of their kids. NOTHING. ELSE. This is Timmy in his new bed, this is Timmy on his first day of day care, this is Timmy in the kitchen, in the hallway, in the dishwasher. Today, I kind of feel like I'm running one of those blogs. And then I think, "How could I NOT post photos of this? He's PERFECT and so so cute." And that's what EVERY mom thinks of their own kid. I do have a good excuse though. My little one is twenty two months old today.

Juno

2008-04-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

Have you seen Juno? I just rented it yesterday and I have to say, I LOVE IT. It's the best new movie I've seen in a LONG time. I never thought an ending could be so extremely sad and so extremely happy at the same time. Get ready to cry, homeskillet.

Picky Eaters

2008-04-12T22:24:00.002-07:00

A few months ago, I tried to give Kayden a strawberry. He made a face, set it down on the floor, and ran away. Then, weeks later, I was eating a strawberry and he wanted to try it too. So I gave him one and he ate it, followed by three more. Parents with toddlers are constantly dealing with the "picky eater" problem. From what I've read online, we're not supposed to push the new food. Just try again later and introduce in small portions. Or try to pair the new food with one they already like.
I found a good article on Mayo Clinic that gives you 20 tips for working with a picky eater. To read more, click here. Don't forget to snap some shots of your little one getting messy with their new favorite food too!

THIRTY!

2008-04-11T21:12:00.006-07:00

Eric turned thirty today. For his cake, I made a 3 and a 0 out of chocolate and tried to use them as cake toppers, but the three broke so it didn't look as cool as I wanted it to.
Even though he didn't want his picture taken, I insisted and he gave me this creepy smile. This isn't really the way he smiles, but this is what I got... thanks, sweetie.
I hope you enjoyed your day, Eric! I love you!

Glitter Candles

2008-04-10T11:47:00.001-07:00

Birthdays aren't really a big thing in our house. We usually just go out to dinner or do something small. Since Eric is turning thirty tomorrow, I thought I'd put a little extra effort into his day. Kayden and I each picked out a gift for him and I went to Aj's today and got a cake as well. While I was there, I saw these ADORABLE glitter candles and thought, "Why not?" Aren't they so pretty? I can't wait for tomorrow!

Water Baby

2008-04-09T17:01:00.006-07:00

With Kayden growing so fast, our sink baths will soon be at an end, so I thought I would capture a couple bath moments this week. He's always been a fan of splashing around and playing with his bath toys, which I am grateful for. I know a lot of moms I've talked to have toddlers who loathe bath time, so I did a little research and found out a few things...Usually toddlers develop a fear of bath time because they've gotten soap in their eyes recently or water up their nose - some type of unpleasant experience. Other toddlers connect bath time with bedtime - "If I take a bath, I have to go to bed - if I DON'T take a bath, I DON'T have to go to bed!" Aren't our kids the smartest?

From reading through babycenter.com, parents are saying to take a bath WITH your child - especially if they're afraid. Other parents have found bringing in toys that are up to date with your child's interests. If your child is digging letters, bring in some of those foam letters to stick on the shower walls. If your child likes coloring, bring in some bath crayons. Parents usually get a "you're taking a bath weather you like it or not!" attitude, which is only going to create a traumatic experience for your baby (and frustrate you even more). Put in a little effort to make bathtime enjoyable for your little one and the phase will end soon... hopefully...

Aloha! (part 2)

2008-04-06T09:26:00.011-07:00

Remember Kaden? He and his family made an appearance at Saturday's festival in Gilbert!
He brought his new baby sister Aria (sorry if I got that wrong... I think that's right?)

She was a cutie and I was glad to finally meet their mama!
I love the colors in this one. The background gives it a funky feel. The dancers watch each other's performance to show support, which I think is so sweet! There were a lot of mother/daughter teams there too - if you have a daughter and are thinking of ways to connect/bond/spend more time together, look into hula lessons - these girls were so talented and were all ages!

One more of the boy. He was the lucky one that got to do the shell horn thing.
It took me forever to figure out what to do with this one and I'm very pleased with the final effect!

I can't believe this is the only one of Marilyn that I took! She's the instructor. I've known her since October and have heard about her Hula classes but this was the first actual show I'd seen. All the dances were beautiful!

And one more of Mandy who is so photogenic! I added some leather texture to this one to give it more of a western feel and really like the way it turned out.
Thanks again to all of you for being so great on Saturday! Some of these will probably go up on Marilyn's website after your next performance so if you weren't on here very much, remind me to get more photos of you next time!

xoxoxo

Denise

Aloha! (part one)

2008-04-05T23:17:00.007-07:00

I had a blast today at the Gilbert Spring Festival at Freestone park. My friend Marilyn teaches hula and she asked me to take photos of her performance. I had no idea what to expect from a hula performance, but this. was. awesome! I had no idea my friend or her students were so talented and now... I kinda wanna learn hula! I started out with this cutie who gave me some perfect shots.Aren't their costumes the best?
The little details like coordinating bracelets and anklets were my favorite.
I think this little one was the youngest... and the most energetic! :)
This one is my new best friend... they call her "cookie." :) I was actually feeling sick by the end of the day and she went and got a snow cone for me - the sweetest!
Another little dancer - check out those lashes!
If I ever see a bumper sticker that says, "Real men dance hula", I'm getting it for this guy. He was the only boy in the bunch and did a great job at the performace.
Pat was a total laugh - I liked her right away - definitely a funny one :)
Mandy was SO CUTE in her costumes - they did a cowboy hula that I loved and I had to get her in her straw hat!!
They used hula instruments as well. I think these are called Uli Uli's - a gourd rattle with colorful feathers.
And this one is an Ipu - a gourd drum. I actually love this photo - I added some texture and really like how it came out.
the park had set up the stage in front of a ton of wires - so I didn't get the best dance shots, but they have a performance later this month, so I'll try to get more then. For now, I put these two together.

That's it for aloha part 1 - get ready for part 2 coming soon from the rest of the day!

I enjoyed meeting all of you so much and can't wait to see you again. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! And if you picked up one of my cards at the festival, be sure to leave a comment or send an email as well - I'd love to hear from you!!

Mahalo!

Bubbles

2008-04-04T21:39:00.003-07:00

This week at Babytime, we learned the benifits of bubbles:

*Airborne bubbles stimulate eye tracking

*Bubble popping and catching encourage hand-eye coordination

*Bubble play encourages concentration and movement

*Bubbles provide amusement and interaction for bubble-lovers

So break out the bubbles for your little ones! And check with your local library for when they have a babytime or toddlertime - it's a great way to meet moms and dads in your area!

Vickie,

2008-03-29T21:46:00.003-07:00

Thank you for the Easter basket!

Adien and Kaylin

2008-03-25T09:44:00.007-07:00

Meet Aiden. Aiden and his family celebrated his second birthday on Saturday! So we all got together for a 2 year old shoot.Meet sister Kaylin. Kaylin is five and a complete sweetheart.

Aiden wasn't too into sitting under trees and getting his picture taken while he could be playing or jumping in the lake.
But we got a few sweet moments - this one is my favorite of the day.
Finally, he was so mad, his mama laid him on the grass and said, "ok, go to sleep!" and Aiden finally calmed down.

I think this is an awesome one of mama and baby - he kept wanting to look at the ducks, so she let him get close to the lakes edge to look.
Then he figured it was time to go off on his own.
Kaylin was a perfect model

It wasn't until we sat down for drinks that Aiden cracked a smile for us.
But then it was back to serious
I bought this frame at a Goodwill several weeks ago and brought it along to the park.

Another one of my favorites

By the end of our shoot, we were all pretty exhausted

Star Wars according to a three year old

2008-03-23T21:09:00.004-07:00

Have you seen this? Over five million people have, but if you haven't... you kind of need to.

My first attempt at textures

2008-03-20T21:34:00.007-07:00

I feel like this is a grade school craft project... my first attempt at textures. I've done every tutorial on this website at least twice and have learned so much about photoshop from them. Even if I don't like an effect, I'll do it anyway just so I can learn about the tools they use and apply it to my own effect later. Several days ago, I sent them an e-mail suggesting they talk about textures. I have no clue how photographers do the "texture thing" and wanted to find out. So today, when I went to their website, they had a tutorial explaining a little bit about textures! :) I started looking online and found a couple to play around with and this is what happened: I'm not so sure about the second one... I think I liked it better before. But the other four, I really like. I'm sure Jesh DeRox would laugh and shake his head saying, "you have so much to learn." And he'd be totally right. So I'll continue with textures on my own until I can take one of his workshops. :)

*note: I've never met Jesh De Rox, so I have no idea if he would laugh at me or not...I assume he's very nice so I'm sure he wouldn't ... probably.

Haircut

2008-03-14T18:18:00.005-07:00

Big pieces of hair have been falling into Kayden's eyes lately, so we decided it was time to get his first haircut today. I wanted him to have the actual "barber shop" experience, so we looked up local barbers. No one was in the first place we went to - no one except the barber. He immediately looked at us and said no! "I don't take 'em that young... if I had more patience, maybe I would..." And I'm thinking, "What else do you have to do? Read your newspaper?" Seriously, no one else was in there. So I left feeling a little offended. :( "We didn't want that mean 'ol man cutting your curls, did we, Kayden?" I kissed his forehead just to make him feel better... even though he had no idea what had just happened.

The second place was much better! Rusty, mismatched chairs, maxim magazines to read... perfect! Just the barber shop I was looking for! The man who was finishing up was handed a mirror to approve his haircut and exclaimed, "Just like Paul Newman!" One more and it was Kayden's turn. I explained to the barber, "I have a camera to take pictures and an envelope for his hair." The other men (of course) laughed at me... but I went on explaining how to cut it and what I wanted and then we got to cutting.

My little one was trying so hard to be very brave. He'd look like he was trying to hold back tears and then it just broke through all at once and he was crying... poor little guy. A man with a large dog came in halfway through and distracted Kayden for a few moments, but then it was back to crying... at least his hair is out of his eyes and I got some cute (and sad) pictures! :-)

Introducing

2008-03-13T23:30:00.003-07:00

I'd like to introduce Kayden and Eric (I'm surprised I haven't done this sooner!). Kayden will be 21 months in a few days and Eric has the big three zero coming up next month! These two really make up my whole life. Eric and I seem to hold each other up during rough times and Kayden always adds a splash of happiness no matter what. It's distracting having such cute boys in the house, but somehow I'm getting my work done and starting this Photography adventure. Aren't they adorable?

Check back soon for Mama Whitney, big brother Landen and baby Nora - we're hopefully shooting this weekend and I can't wait! :)

Signing Hands Outreach

2008-03-11T22:15:00.004-07:00

I've recently been trying to become active in our community. I know there are a lot of toddler classes we can go to and youth activities in the area. I will let you know what I find but this last week, we found Signing Hands Outreach.

We went to the AJ Library for "Baby Time." I had no idea what to expect, but when we got there, they were reading, singing songs and signing. Kayden had never really responded to signing in the past, but I actually think he picked up on a few things. After we got home, I tried to sign with him and he would look at his hands trying to figure it all out.

The woman who was teaching was fabulous! I was really impressed with her whole class. So if you want to learn more about the benefits of signing or see where and when her classes are held, her name is Katheryne.

If you're out of the area, check with your local library for when you can take your child to story time!

How To Make Larger Blogger Photos

2008-03-08T21:10:00.012-07:00

I've gotten some readers interested in how to make your pictures on blogger bigger. I tried to find a good link online already and couldn't find any instruction... so I'm making my own!

I totally don't know if this is the best way or the only way to do this, but this is what I do, so hopefully it'll work for you. I am actually and html dummy.

Start by opening an account with photobucket. You can upload your photos there and the website converts them to html code for you. I usually make my photos 5X7 before uploading them to photobucket. I have no clue if that makes a difference, but I think it might.

Then get to a fresh, new blank post and click on the "edit html" tab at the top (next to the compose tab)

Switch back over to photobucket with the image you want to use. Under the image, copy the "HTML CODE" and paste it in your blogger new post box.

click back to "compose" and see what you've done!

Thats it!!

So you go from this:

To this:

Go ahead and experiment with larger ones than 5X7

Ok, so now the pictures won't fit in your margins...

My template is the "minima" one... if yours is different, I don't know if this will help... I hope it will though!

Start at your Dashboard

Click on "layout" or manage layout...

Up at the top, click on "edit html"

Click the box that says "expand widget templates"... pause and let the widgets expand...(can someone fill me in on what a widget is? It sounds like fun)

In the big box of text, scroll down to the part that looks like this:

/* Outer-Wrapper

------------------------------------------------------*/

In that little paragraph below, find the "width" and make the pixles bigger... I have mine set to 910 - which makes way for my photos and also the page elements on the right side - and gives the Babyhood color some room on both sides. just make sure you leave the px; after the number, so it should be something like :

width: 910px;

Then save template at the bottom and you're done!!!

let me know if this post was helpful to you - thanks for reading!

2008-03-04T23:55:00.012-07:00

Meet Faith

Meet Faith's mama SomerSomer is learning guitar and Faith "plays" harmonica, so we went to the park to completely offend the musical Gods.
I love this one a lot - it has a definite musical feel to it.
We finally got her to put down the harmonica
One of my favorites of the day
Faith played some John Lee Hooker for us

Then decided to drop the harmonica inside the guitar
I need to have a daughter just so I can fix her hair

To be perfectly honest, Faith was being a little... grouchy... she was actually coming down with a cold or something, so I totally understand. But, after all the "moody moments" during our hour, Somer still looks at her little girl like this:
Aren't mother's amazing?

A joust, Mother Goose, and an Elephant ride, All in one day!!

2008-03-02T22:38:00.008-07:00

The Renaissance Festival comes to Arizona annually in February and March. I used to go in high school but haven't been in years. I've actually been begging Eric each year (this being the FOURTH year) to take me and this year, he finally did. We began with Mother Goose.
Then we found the sweetest little petting zoo. I bought feed but Kayden wasn't interested. He'd reach out to touch a sheep and then pull his hand back at the last second. One of them finally nudged Kayden's hand with his nose.
He is a totally into animals and makes little animal noises when he sees them.
Ye Hatchery was quite cute as well. Kayden started making small squeeking noises when he saw these little chicks.
These guys looked completely happy and comfortable. The festival had put them with tons of shade and the weather was great today.
It really was a fantastic day - look at the cloudy blue sky - it was sunny with a really cool constant breeze. I also love this hanging baby basket. Maybe I'll make one when I have my next baby!
We turned the corner and saw an elephant! Kayden is best at identifying animals so I knew he's recognize this guy. He was so close and would point his trunk in peoples faces and they'd reach out and pet him. It was great being this close to one because at the zoo, their elephant is really far away. We had to take Kayden for a ride. He looked scared at first but then started laughing... when he got off, he had this look on his face like, "WHAT did I just do????"

We then went to the joust but didn't get any photos. Kayden was scared at all the noise and was crying pretty bad. So I held him and he eventually fell asleep. I actually had to stand up and go over to a corner with shade where I could watch and where it was 75% less noisy. I held him for the next half hour while the tournament was going on. Eric stayed in the stands with the rest of the audiance and got sunburned. After that, we left - but not before buying $20.00 worth of cinnamon almonds!! I think I'll have to wait another 4 years before Eric takes me back again. :)

2008-02-25T20:52:00.005-07:00

Jeremy and Taylor are actually Joshua's cousins (From the last 2 posts) and so we had to get some shots of all three of them. I will say that it is a million times harder to get a good picture of THREE kids - one is totally easy, but three is totally difficult - especially since one of them can't even hold his little head up yet! But this one is my favorite:Doesn't Taylor have the sweetest little face?

Do you kinda feel a little bad for the little one? He's trying so hard to hold his head up for the picture. :-( We didn't stay in this pose for too long...

This one is another one of my favorites - I love how he's looking at her - and how she's still enough of a baby to enjoy some baby toys
And one of all of them - definitely a fun day!!

2008-02-25T10:36:00.011-07:00

Meet Jeremy

I thought driving to the shoot that he might be a little camera shy... he was quite the opposite

He's a really handsome kid though - look at this model face!

Meet Taylor
You can't help but fall in love with her and then start thinking if there's ANY way to steal her without anyone noticing...
There isn't
Meet beautiful mama Leslie

Maybe my favorite brother sister shot of the day
Are you falling in love with her yet??My favorite of Jeremy
As you can see, it was hard to get an unposed picture of him - but I rather like this one
I made the mistake of bringing balloons. Here she is perfectly happy with them and then we decide that's enough with the balloons and take them away
Then this happens
Mama explains that it's brother's turn with the balloons - LIFE IS SO UNFAIR!!!

We get back inside and get this little series
I think this is the "I'm done" look..

2008-02-24T22:37:00.010-07:00

Meet Joshua and his mama JenniferCan you tell they're totally in love?

Jennifer is completely gorgeous and way too put together for being a new momDon't you love little chubby faces?
He's still so little he doesn't know what is going on! He's only 3 months and I seriously can't remember Kayden being this small.

He climbed up there on his own

Completely sweet, huh? Jennifer, it was so nice meeting you and thank you letting me be a part in documenting Joshua's first months of Babyhood!

2008-02-20T10:06:00.004-07:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of doing a shoot with Kaden and his grandmother Marilyn. Kaden has the sweetest little face and says things like, "Oh My!" which cracks me up!
He also has very striking eyes
My almost favorite of the day
We found a tennis ball and he just lit up. He must have thrown it at me a dozen times!

We found a racquetball room that echoed which was tons of fun for him
He was running so fast it was hard to frame a shot at all
What adorable faces he makes!
He lost his balance and had to get a hug from Grandma

We saw a tree just outside and Marilyn suggested putting him in it

With all the attention from his Grandma, he totally wasn't interested in me
This little one can sign a little, so here I think he's saying "please"
And did I mention the park has an amazing view of the Superstition Mountains?

My official favorite of the day

When we got back into the car, Kaden was rightfully thirsty. Marilyn also teaches hula, so check out her website here. Mahalo!

Vincent Order Page

2006-08-04T23:31:00.001-07:00

Thank you for clicking over! If you are interested in purchasing any prints, the order numbers are ABOVE each image and pricing details are at the bottom :)

6445

6464

6359

6379 6385
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6039
6045
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6006 6007

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Single Prints:

4 wallets $5.00

2 4X6 (in the same image) $6.00

5X7 $7.00

8x10 $10.00

Proof Set:

One of each 4X6: $50.00

Please email me at denise@babyhoodphoto.com

Thank you and congratulations to Jess and Family for your newest addition!!