Brown-Eyed Brothers

Today I met two of the most handsome brothers with the prettiest brown eyes in Frederick. It was so much fun editing their close-ups because I could see all sorts of things reflected in their eyes, even the ducks!

I told you I stick my tongue out sometimes. And sometimes they stick them back out at me!

Is anyone in there??

Want to see something really sweet?

Specially designed by their mom!

The Best of Summer Contest!

Vote for your favorite photo of the summer. The winner receives their choice of a prize listed in the contest details in the post below. Vote using the poll located on the right side. The contest will last for two weeks. Only one vote per person and duplicate votes are automatically discounted so don't cheat! :)

My new website and contest details

My website is finally ready...and it's great timing because I couldn't feel more ready to take on this business venture.

http://www.luckyladybugphotography.com/

I've had 21 awesome photo sessions this summer (I had one more scheduled with my nephew whom I've been chasing all summer long but we rescheduled for next week) and I'm finished portfolio-building!

Thanks to 21 awesome families and their children, I am so proud of the galleries I've been able to compile. So as another form of appreciation to those families, I am having a contest!

Here are the contest details:

• This Friday, August 29th, I will post my favorite photo from each of the 21 sessions from this summer.
• You will have 2 weeks to vote for your favorite photo.
• Pass around the link to your friends, family, hairdresser, babysitter, etc.. and tell them to vote for your photo!
• Only one vote per person... duplicate entries are automatically discounted!

What's the prize?

The family with the winning photo will have a choice between:

• a) a gorgeous 30x20 mother of pearl photo pendant (see jewelry post for a photo) and a sterling silver necklace to go with it along with a complimentary mini-photo session if you so desire to create the perfect photo pendant.
• or b) a sterling silver charm bracelet with up to 3 photo charms (see jewelry post for a photo) and a complimentary mini photo session if you so desire to create the perfect photo charm bracelet.
• or c) 50 holiday fold-over cards from the design of your choice and a complimentary mini photo session if you so desire to create the perfect holiday card portrait.

I'm offering a mini-session with each prize choice because it occurred to me that maybe someone would like to give the jewelry as a Christmas gift and maybe there's a few grandkids, etc... that they would like to include in the photo. Totally up to you!

So... stay tuned for Friday and VOTE!

Photographer's Child Sydrome

There is a little joke among child photographers that their own children become so jaded from their crazy parent's quest for the perfect photo and enduring having a million photos taken of them per day; therefore, they become a typical photographer's child, refusing to take any and all photos.

I've been pretty lucky with Madeline so far. At 20 months, she's had a lot of photos taken of her. I put hats on her, I put her in fancy dresses and I sit her on the grass *oh the horrors!* and she usually models for me quite nicely. Most of the time I have to run through my bag of tricks though, I sing, I dance, I sneeze, I bark (that one used to be her favorite), I tell her she can have a lollipop when we're finished...whatever works long enough for me to get a decent shot.

Yesterday, I wanted her to model a gorgeous dress that her Aunt Susie recently sent to her. She was not having it. As soon as I took my camera out of the bag, she started to cry. I'm afraid I may be pushing my luck with her lately.

It's so much easier with other people's kids!

So folks, the moral of this story here is that your kids have not heard my song and dance for the millionth time yet, or my fake sneeze and they haven't grown bored of my lollipops. And they might actually think that me stinking my tongue out at them is funny. So don't ever feel like your kid won't cooperate or isn't going to be a good model. They always come around!

It's not until photo #4,000,001 'til they catch on!

The Littlest Heroes

As many of you know, children overcoming obstacles and disabilities are near and dear to my heart. This is why I am so happy to have been accepted as a photographer for The Littlest Heroes Project, an organization that provides free photography to children with serious health challenges who sometimes feel forgotten because of their illnesses and to let them know that their photographs are beautiful too.

Cancer, Cerebal Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis and Autism and many more are all among the types of health challenges covered under the project.

For more information about the project or if you know of a child who may qualify, visit http://www.littlestheroesproject.org/.

My littlest hero has given me a new appreciation for the meaning of the word "hero."

Sweethearts

This evening I photographed the B family who have two very sweet and very photogenic little girls at the beautiful Catoctin Mountain Orchard. I'm so thankful to be given the privilege to photograph at the Orchard because it always provides for a ton of gorgeous backdrops!

Can you see the clouds in the window?!!

I love this photo.

Who doesn't love a good old fashioned game of Ring Around the Rosey?

I asked her if I could have her ladybug rain boots because you know I'm a ladybug girl too but I don't think she wanted to part with them. I don't blame her. I think this one is right up there with favorite photo ever #3,999.

Or maybe this one.

Oh who am I kidding. Everytime I have a new session I have a million more favorites.

Back to School

Okay, not for at least another 3 years but if she was going back to school, wouldn't she be cute?

Stay Tuned...

... if your photographs are one of the 19 portfolio-building sessions I have done this summer (and two more that I have to go!) you are eligible for a great prize in my very first contest.

Details will be announced Friday, August 29th.

Look what's coming!

I am so excited to offer photo jewelry starting September 1st with the launch of my business.

Why did I choose this jewelry? It's high quality and timeless. And you can customize it to your liking! All products are made with natural and gemstone materials, .925 sterling silver, Swarovski crystal accents and all pendants are hand made with mother of pearl which is known for incredible strength and beauty.

Photos below are for display purposes only and do not represent my photos.

Do you love them as much as I do?

Pricing is influenced by the size pendant you choose and the length of the chain/necklace. Pendants are purchased separately and start at $55. The double pendant is $75 and the triple pendant is $95. You can wear them on a gorgeous gemstone necklace starting at $100 (you can even customize your own gemstone colors!) or wear it with an 18" leather or rubber rope necklace which is $20. The omega sterling silver slider chain shown below starts at $40 for a 16" chain. So for example, a 30x30 square pendant on a black leather rope necklace would be $120.

The bracelet with two charms is $75, add is $20 per extra charm.

Pendants are double sided so you have the option of purchasing the same image or different image for each side. Also, with each pendant, you can choose between 4 accent options:

Average lead time is 2-3 weeks but can peak around the holidays. More details will be available to download in PDF form on my new website but feel free to email me for more information.

These are so gorgeous and I can't wait for my samples to come in!

Picture Frame Sisters: Part 2

To my photographer friends, don't worry, we got permission to take the photo above... actually, it was suggested that we take it!


I really don't think it's possible to take bad photos of these two. For the rest of session, the sun was starting to set and I used a lot of the sun's natural glow. I love shooting in the evenings.

Fun, Different and Totally Gorgeous!

... is how I would describe yesterday's photo session with the beautiful D sisters.

When I asked their mom if I could do some urban-type shots with them (in downtown Emmitsburg--so urban... ha!) and she happily agreed, I was so excited! These girls are absolute naturals in front of the camera.

Yes, I took them to a laundry mat! I've been dying to do this and everyone looks at me like I'm crazy! Not crazy at all ;)

Since it's not every day that I get to work with such pros... stay tuned for part 2!