Life...with kids!

I think what I love most about photographing children...is when they're themselves.

No forced smiles....no sitting nicely with hands in laps...no slight head tilt while pleasantly gazing into my camera...or softly looking to the left to leave just enough room for me to stamp a foiled studio logo in the dead space.  It curiousity, laughter, tickling, running, and talking.

It's just kids being kids...reminding us how with each second that passes is one more second we won't get back in their lives.  How each second is characterized by their personality: their giggles, their sassiness, and all that makes them.  And capturing each second of those sweet, fleeting, goofy moments is what I love about my job.

Who wouldn't love this picture?  

What a blonde cutie...full of curls and sweetness! Surely a dreamy one!

Newbie in the family...

This weekend was JAMMED packed with family visits...from friday afternoon to this afternoon. We spent time with my family, my husband's family, VERY close family friend, and my cousins.  Our babies were troopers and learned how to party like rockstars....well rockstars with a 10 o'clock bedtime! (late for our babies)

Two weeks ago, my cousin and his wife welcomed their adorable son.  I had plans on getting some camera lovin' time within his first week but between my computer going wonkers, my car out of commision, and a gazillion little what nots interfering...it didn't happen until today!  

The best time for a newborn shoot is truly within the first 10 days from delivery...so driving there I was thinking I could be there for awhile as a newborn shoot can get a little more difficult from 2 weeks old and on.  BUT this little guy...he totally played off the newborn gig and slept 90% of the time and let us capture EVERY. SINGLE. roll, wrinkle, smirk, and all of his newborn glory.

My cousin is a RIOT to photograph and they are one of my top two favorite families to photograph. NO, I'm not shmoozing since he's my cousin!  

They are NOT shy in front of the camera, they do WHAT ever I ask them to without question, smile A LOT and keep me laughing!  THere is never a dull moment during their shoots.  Just after I told my cousin he was done in front of the camera and I was getting ready for some mommy time....he POPS right into my frame with his corny grin!  His payback....he went topless of the next ten frames...oh yeah....he was topless!

Their ADORABLE set!  They totally have their poker faces on...the little miss is not a serious one though!  Just for this picture...she was wanting the raisins I had just taken from her!  
Meet the new mister in the house!  Mr. L.
Could this picture be anymore about a mother's pride...a mother's love.
R and J...thanks for ALL the laughs and chats!  And Rob...as much as you love being in pictures, I'm going to send some of your giggling shots off to some random model search.

He's home!

My brother is finally home.


Home from Iraq. Home in America. Home with this family.
My brother returned home a couple weeks ago but I hadn't hugged him until today. While I was itching to drive faster than any speed limit set...he needed to be with his family. Be with his daughters.

It was good to be with him. To look at him and know he won't be returning...at least not any time soon. I couldn't help but just listen in awe of all he saw while he was there. My brother toured the majority of Iraq, servicing soldiers all over as he is a Chaplain, that holds a Captain ranking and returned home awarded with a bronze star for his service. He was rarely in one place for more than 5 days for the entire 15 months there. I only heard a small handful of his experiences there but heard enough to be humbled by his service and the service our soldiers are doing there.


The little darling was born 7 months into his tour...
He was able to come home for her arrival (view HERE) and will now have a chance to get to know his daughter.

All about the love!

The love between a father and daughter.... is unmeasurable.

I'm a HUGE lover of a yummy black and white...but I'm SERIOUSLY picky about my black and white conversions...obsessively PICKY!  These two were just what I love...and perfectly showcased the love in them.

If you're waiting on a sneak peek...it's coming right up!  While I'm playing catch up with editing...I also have two projects in the works!  

LOVE....LIFE!

This session truly is ranked as one of my top 5 favorite sessions in my opinion!

Here are a few pictures of what might be considered portrait "outtakes"!  My opinion...this is how life should be remembered.  

This family just loves life...and embraces excitement!  This picture is EXACTLY how each person is...

I loved the clear opinion of this sweet one year old....probably thinking....

"They've totally lost it!"
And the four different personalities!

(the cutie on the far left isn't a grouch though...)

While I'm a sucker for a nice portrait...that isn't how we'll remember that time. It's the "outtakes" or "snapshot" feel in pictures that make my heart pitter patter...and swell to the point of exploding in love!

AGAIN...recipe for a perfect session with children involved....

BE REALISTIC+CELEBRATE LIFE+LAUGH+BE YOU = PRICELESS pictures

Too fun!

1 year old+2 year old+3 year old+ 5 year old= ONE FUN SESSION

All I would have to do to get a photographer to scrunch his/her face while saying, "ahhhhh!" is tell that fun recipe above!  It's just plain difficult to get the fun, squishy, all in love family picture with this age range...but I can say...this family was F - U - N in trying to achieve it.    Having the right attitude is what makes a session go from frustrating to hysterical!  

These two families came together, attempting to get a sweet picture and they had the right, realistic attitude.  And that is what helped this session get great pictures and go smoothly.

This picture cracked me up....so the story of a session with a one year old.  Her mother couldn't stop chuckling at the fun antics...and looking forward to the days when little ones are more cooperative.

AND here are the fun sisters that arranged the ADORABLE, perfectly dressed cuties.  I actually think they could be twins....don't you think?

Funky, different processing but I liked it...a bit out of my usual processing though.

I could have photographed this cutie all day long...and she was all about it!  


Annnnnnnnd, I had to share a fun b/w of this guy!
AND yes...I did get a CUTE group shot...holding out on that one though!  Off to finish editing this fun session...

Personal favorite!

I'm always beyond happy and flattered when I schedule a session with a client.  Flattered that they CHOSE me....out of the hundreds of photographers in the valley. 

I'm even more flattered and honored when the client is a friend of mine from high school, AND played high school baseball with my husband.  My husband and I think the world of this little guy's father and agree, hands down, he is one of the nicest and most sincere men. 

With that being written, I was excited to meet his three little darlings and see how his life has changed.  When I met up with his wife and children, I was SHOCKED see how strongly his son resembled him....in looks and personality.

Meet Mr. K.

Up next....Mr. K's gorgeous and "prettied" up sisters.  Along with another funny story to add!

Celebrating!

I couldn't let a day go by without giving a fun shout out to my nephew on the day of his 3rd birthday party!  We spent almost 4 hours at a exciting train park that is loaded with any and everything a kid could giggle at just the thought of!  AND .... wearing his SPECIAL birthday shirt...sporting his obsession...a train!

What I loved most about this park is we maybe waited 3 minutes for each ride!  But when we did wait, the look of anticipation on the kids faces were priceless.

My sweet Cash...on her first train ride...just sat with a look of questions of what was to be.
No, my Cam wasn't stealing my nephew's birthday blow...my sister was sweet to give her a turn!  
Again...the look of what was to come!  Each ride she stood with anticipation...looked with anticipation...and was never disappointed.

By the end of the day...this is what they looked like!  Still begging for another ride but totally wiped out.

Happy Birthday Jake!

AND more!

Children+camera=one super happy girl!!!!!


When this sweet group of kids arrived for their shoot...with their super stylish mothers...I instantly grinned ear to ear! When I saw this color, I knew this session was going to be F-U-N!


In my former life...prechildren...I was a VERY happy teacher of 8 years. I've always been drawn to children...for a number of reasons! In my eyes, children are full of zest, uncontrollable happiness, a rolling ball of unbridled emotion, and pure honesty.

I'm back!

I couldn't be happier to write...my computer issue has been solved! Today I met with Mr. Photoshop himself...well, not technically Mr. Photoshop...but I could give a good argument for him to change his name to Mr. Photoshop. BUT, all I care is that I can finally get back to what counts...my client's portraits!

Here are two of my sweetest clients that I've had the pleasure of seeing three times in the past year! This last time together, we had a CRAZY game of hide and seek in their front yard. I just love my clients...

Taking flight....

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NOPE....it's Miss Tami's computer!

Here is just ONE picture....Still a work in progress! BUT...I might be seeing the light soon!

Random question!

Is it normal curiousity to see if a computer can fly? I mean, fly after it's been thrown out a window?

I MIGHT...just MIGHT have the answer to this question in the next few hours!

Where have I been!?!

When I opened up my blog for updating, I honestly thought I could hear crickets chirping and the sound of dust collecting.  REALLY? !  Has it really been that long since I posted anything worthy?  

Since I was on top of my game in keeping you in the loop of my daily in and outs and all that I love of photography...it really wasn't fair to fall right off the internet.  I EVEN had a few emails and text messages checking in on my status!  Ahhhhh, how sweet was that!?!    

I've been peachy keen with a tons of craziness surrounding me. The craziness was on top of my first "official" week back to work.  I ended up surfacing from my craziness with TWO amazing sessions with the CUTEST kids!  Then when I reached the surface, I was welcomed by my editing software doing flips, somersaults and going complete wonkers!  

GASP!!!!  I had two absolutely fabulous sessions that I was DYING to get started on and yet...they still get no attention!  Since these sessions, I've spent a total of 6 hours on the phone with Adobe and a loooooong time with a sweet Apple Genius (i'm a mac user).  AND all that time with STILL no resolution and told it's work in progress.

While patience is a virtue...can it get fixed already! 

For now...I'll indulge you with some photo lovin' of my oldest daughter.

I'll be sure to be more faithful in keeping you in the know of my status!  Pinky promise!;)  

Dear Blog,

First let me begin with, I'm sorry!  I'm sorry I've neglected you. I'm sorry you've gotten NO play in my house.  I'm just plain sorry!

While excuses are just that, excuses...I have a few reasons that have kept me from you.  I'm now "officially" back to work and have had two AMAZING sessions.  Actually, two sessions that were scheduled a bit closer than I'd like to have them, but hey, sink of swim right!?!  An entire week of running every which way but loose.  A trip to the doctor to make....what I like to call a donation.  A donation meaning, paying my co-payment for this worried mom to only hear that my baby's tummy might just not be feeling too happy.  Several nights of " baby that doesn't seem to be feeling too good" sleeplessness.  And driving my girls to THREE...yes THREE....playdates this week. My girls have a better social calendar than me....geesh!  AND tonight...polishing off my week with my computer doing nothing but frustrating me!

At this point, all I can do is crawl into bed and rest my puffy and burning eyes by getting a little sleep. I promise I will be back...hopefully sometime soon!  Believe me, I'm DYING to share with you the sneak peeks from my recent two sessions!  Seriously to die for fun was had at both!  Unfortunately, I AM at the mercy of my computer and right now it doesn't want to play to nice!  UGH!

I'll be sure to keep you more in the loop of my crazy life!  

My apologies,

Tami  

Captivating...

at the young age of 12.  

Simply gorgeous!

Crack me up!

One of the many attempts in getting a "self-portrait"!  These days, I'm thinking this will be the best way to provide proof that I actually exist since I'm the one behind the camera.

Then to my surprise...I should start having my daughter Cash do more of my documenting!  Not quite sure I should be trusting her with my gear yet! Here is one Cash took.

My Cash, the budding photographer apparently showing me how it should be done. LOVE that girl!  

Cccc-ute!

I had an amazing time photographing some GORGEOUS young ladies.

I was shocked that some of these girls were only 15.

If I remember correctly, when I was 15 I was still climbing trees and having mudball fights with the boys in the neighborhood....not to mention carrying my Rainbow Brite doll around in the basket of my banana seat bicycle!  

I hope to share more of the gorgeous girls in this group with you soon!

ETA:  I've recently been notified that emails being sent to me are not going through by way of the sender receiving an error message. If you should be having that problem, please contact me at 480-205-0926 with your questions and the additional information needed.  Thank you!

full of giggles!

I was lucky enough to be able to get some fun camera time on this cutie JUST as I'm coming off my maternity leave.  Much like his sisters, it's a blast to capture his fun personality.

When his mother pulled out this FAB shirt...it was a dead ringer for the IT outfit to be photographed in!!
At the end...we worked HARD to get him to stay in this chair for some fun pictures!  But..he had other plans...plans that involved climbing, rolling, giggling...basically nonstop moving!  Here are a few snip-snaps of it.

To Mr. H's mommy....once again, thanks for sharing your cutie with me!  Loved every second of it!