Storyboards |Queen Creek Child Photographer|

I love creating fun storyboards with favorites from each client's session.  Each client will find a personal favorite storyboard in their gallery as a sample...from there, my clients and I work together in piecing them together.  There really are limitless possibilities in creating them...it truly comes down to the best presentation and storytelling needed.  The best part...they make ideal gifts for grandparents, for office display, bedrooms... OH, I could go ON and ON and ON!

My favorite storyboard display....as a gallery wrapped canvas!  Oh....it's absolute perfection!  Clean, crisp, and UNIQUE!  The best part, it's life as art.

I recently had a large order of storyboards pass through...but sadly, photographing them slipped my crazy mind!  Ugh!  The post-it went up on my TO DO board for my next order.  Now the hard part, REMEMBERING!

Cabin adventures |Queen Creek Family Photographer|

I have been BUSY this past week!  We made two back to back trips to Pinetop, came home twinless, lived like a family of three for a week,  worked my tushy off, and got some seriously fun projects started and finished.  

I'm always in heaven in Pinetop...the skies are unbelievable, the fresh air is breathable, the temperature is perfection and the mood is SO relaxed!  On our first weekend up there, my girls were begging to go fishing...so fishing we went.  My husband and his father are serious fishermen, and my girls princess fishing poles were catching more fish then we could count. If only my girls had the attention span...it was fun while it lasted.

Cam is one with nature...she loves bugs, getting dirty and everything else that screams outdoor girl.  On one of her bug hunts, she plowed right through a little creek that was hiding in some tall grass...her reaction was priceless but her feet were soaking.
My little chunk...my sweet 6 month old chunk.  He just melts my heart...and Lord knows he HAS my heart!  While the girls were gone, he mastered the art of staying on my hip and I had a HARD time resisting.  

We spent one of the weekends with our friends up north...which is always a good time when our kids get together.  There truly is nothing better than watching kids grow up not only knowing eachother, but LOVING eachother...I love watching every second of them together.
Mr. R man....bff to my twins and in a marriage agreement with Cam.  The best part, he shares the same birthday with my girls.

These two...make me giggle!  My sweet Miss P and Cam.  Since she was born, my Cam has been obsessed with her.  A year ago, it wouldn't be odd to find Cam straddling her on the ground, trying to pick her up or convincing Miss P she could only find refuge on her shoulder.  I'm simply amazed Miss P doesn't run like mad when she see her...  Actually she does the opposite...she gets screaming giddy when she sees my girls.
My girlfriend's daughter was the protector from the snakes my Cash and Miss P were terrified of.  Of course my Cam was heading out to find them....she kept saying they were going to tickle her with their tongue...should I be scared?
The next few months, I'll be slowing down quite a bit.  I came across the perfect quote for my stage in life.

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."

~Ferris,  Ferris Bueller's Day Off

_________________________________________

While I have past sessions to blog, products to feature, contests to run, camera classes, a wedding to photograph (I know, slap me next time) and upcoming sessions...my blog will be taking a back seat for a bit.  AND, the remaining session dates available are limited to maternity and newborn sessions ONLY.   It is just too dang HOT!

Good times... |Tempe Twin Photographer|

I had a BLAST chatting with a friend with TWO...yes TWO...sets of twins tonight!  YEP...one set is 3 and the second is 3 months old!  Dear heavens...I know God only gives us what we can handle... but he would have to give it to me with some serious relaxers!  

Then, I remembered all the wonderful women I've met that have their hands full.  Each one of these women remind me of the power of mothering, that a mother's love is strong and can with stand ANYthing!

Here is one amazing mom that I worked with recently...this is her!  All smiles...and her personality just beams!  There are always rough moments when a 2 year old is part of a photoshoot...yet this mommy, just smiled.  I love it! 

Even though I remember my twin newborn days like it was yesterday...I miss them, I miss my sweet sleepy twins!  
TO this INCREDIBLY patient mommy...it's a matter of days until you see a sweet surprise!  Thank you for inviting me to capture these fleeting of your life.

REMINDER:  My newborn special is only available through the month of July. If your expecting and wanting a newborn session, let's chat soon!   Click HERE to read more about this special.  At this point, my calendar is full through August and I'm only scheduling maternity, newborn and high school senior sessions. 

Big brother!

As I'm editing a twin newborn photoshoot, I giggled when I came across this picture!  With twins, there are twice as many pictures I'll be keeping!  Deciding is stinkin' hard!    Add an adorable big brother, and oodles of cuteness fills my computer monitor.

Honestly, can a little boy get cuter than this!?!

My TWINkie! |Gilbert Maternity Photography|

I LOVE being a twin...like scream from the rooftop LOVE!  But the sad truth is....it was a love/dislike relationship....having a twin was fab growing up and then my sister and I hit an akward age and we LOATHED being twins.   Thankfully, our twin love rekindled around out early twenties! 

{side note}The part we didn't like about being identical twins was ... the comparisons...it SUCKED!  The comparisons were NEVERENDING....who's smarter? who's prettier? why can't you sit still like your sister?  why can't you be quiet like your sister? blah blah blah!  AND guess who was asked...why can't you be quiet like your sister!?!? YEP, little ol me!  Surprising, I KNOW!

My twin.  She is honestly my everything!  Don't get me wrong, my kids and my husband are my EVERYTHING but my twin is a different everything.  She is me, she knows me, she gets me, and she is and will always be with me.  AND, while we get TONS of twin "power" questions...sadly, I have no idea about that "twin feeling" but my sister does.  It's kinda creepy sometimes the things she knows and senses...I guess I might have those same feelings if my mind wasn't bouncing off the walls and ceilings every second...it would only require my mind be peaceful for a minimum of 10 seconds I guess!  Oh, but no time for that!:)

I do love my sister!  If you've ever asked me about my twin, the one word that would sum her up is SMART!  My sister is incredibly smart!  Like, it's not normal to be that smart!  Like, when I was 8 years old I would get her to do my homework smart so I could read Tiger Beat!  Like, get her to help me weasel my way out of ANYTHING smart.  OKAY...basically, my sister is extremely smart..textbook smart, nothing comes hard for her smart, a walking medical encyclopedia smart, talks like she's a walking dictionary smart, working on getting her doctorate smart, and almost everything smart.  Me...I could tell you TONS about the lastest Hills season on MTV and why I think "Spiedi"  needs to be put in a timeout and then get thrown over my legs to be spanked!  My sister and I are TOTALLY different!  The BEST thing, I so love our differences!  AND I'm proud of my sister.

Right now, my sister is expecting her second baby!  A baby girl!  

My soon-to-arrive niece's name will be the name my brother in law loved since he was younger!  How cute is that!?!  My sister's husband is from Montreal, and is French Canadian! While I'd love to give the name away to blogland, I don't quite have permission yet.  BUT I can say, it's a classic girl name from his country.

My sister was such a trooper during her maternity session!  My camera and I weren't getting along during her shoot...it was so incredibly frustrating!  But, my sister and husband stayed patient!  LoVED my cooperative models!

My sister never ONCe complained...but did need to take a few breaks!  Warning....it's not legal to look this good pregnant!  Last time I saw her, I thought how sick and wrong it was that a pregnant girl looked better than a non-prego girl!
Exciting news....I plan on photographing her birth!  Ahhhhh!  I can hardly contain myself!  There is only one problem...I have a commitment on July 4th that I can absolutely not get out of...meaning, I would be condemned to H E double hockey sticks if I tried!  Good thing is ... it's for only a few hours!  Let's just hope she doesn't come during those hours! I was lucky to witness my sister welcome her son and I can't wait to be part of the welcoming party for her daughter!  I'll be sure to keep you all updated!

Ramblings....and I'm off!

If you've followed my blog...you've seen my gorgeous friend. Here is L...I've been lucky to know her since she was 6! In July, she'll be 21! Now she towers over me and is the big sister to my girls. Every summer, she spends portions of her vacation with me. My girls LOVE her...and have grown up with her. She has grown to be an INCREDIBLE amount of help to me! And while she has her limitations, there really are no limits when it comes to my girls.

We were out and about today...and running late as usual...I picked up one of my girls to hurry and told L to grab the other. As she was walking behind me, carrying my Cam...I heard her tell Camryn she was getting too big to hold! Oh, she just cracks me up! What really makes me smile is knowing that my girls bring the best out of her. There is a world in her that I have yet to see, and my girls see it all. My girls are blessed...she is an amazing girl and the possibilities she has in life are limitless. And I smile BIG knowing my girls will be a part of her life.

Here are three of my favorite girls. If you could have only been there to hear L direct the girls for this picture...

I started to get the items together for my hint shoot, and then realized I had a million other things that didn't need my attention...but demanded it! So...no hints...I'm just telling it.

I am jumping for joy! I will finally be taking a trip to our families cabin this weekend. I'll have my unplugged day while I'm up there. The weekend will be filled with all that I love...

reading, hanging out on the porch, coffee in the morning and wine in the evening, tv time, going to bed early, tons of walks, and fishing. Ahhhhh, I can hardly stand it! No computer, no cell phone and cooler weather!

Here is my magazine stack! AND yes, there are magazines from November of last year YET to be read!
NOW for the ramblings!

A few weeks ago, my Cam found a caterpillar in our backyard. Oh she LOVED it! It was her pet. She was beaming ear to ear each second she had with it. That was until she put in the grass, and well, she lost it. My baby was heartbroken.

When we went to Walmart, I told the girls they could each pick out a treat to buy. My Cash picked LipSmackers and Cam picked worms. THOSE are my twins! They are as different as they look.

We took the worms over to our friends house. Cam soon assumed the nickname Lenny from the book, Of Mice and Men. It wasn't long until we noticed the worms were taking eternal naps.

Getting her to share the worms with her friend was TOUGH! He really did like the worm, just wasn't a huge fan of getting a picture with it.

And my baby...oh, my sweet Lenny!
A fun Easton update...he's sitting! Yep, he has gone upright!

He's sitting and he's falling! I just love this little guy...like obsessed love...like I don't think I'll ever let him move out obsessed.

He is the happiest baby!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! I KNOW I will!

Cuteness and Tender | Queen Creek Newborn Photographer |

I've found myself just swimming in piles of work.  Without working with cuteness and tender moments, my job would be  B    O    R    I    N    G!

Update:

An out of office adventure is coming up!  I'll be posting a picture as a hint tomorrow.   

And POOF, it's gone! | Queen Creek Child Photographer |

I've driven by this wheat field....and watched it grow! I kept thinking I had to have a little shoot there...and I finally did. Thankfully! Today I drove by there and the wheat is GONE...
G O N E!


While I'm a native to Arizona, I actually spent 10 years of my childhood in Kansas. Wheat fields were our scenery. When we returned to Arizona, we moved to Gilbert. THIS town was filled with crops...now it's filled with track homes...cookie cutter homes. Now there is the occasional crop and only found on the very outer areas. This crop being one of them. It's sad.

When Cash was in this field, she asked what wheat was. I love the innocence of this age but also sad that this innocence will soon get most of it's knowledge from books and little from learning it first hand. Unless we drive back to Kansas where it's still filled with miles and miles and miles of crops.


Then as we walked out of the field, I DID notice we ruined enough wheat to make a loaf of bread! Oh, I felt sorry....I really did...BUT I did get killer pictures.
I've had this dress for almost a year...now it's her favorite dress! I LOVE and dislike (the "H" word is just too strong) this age! We are growing into the stage where I no longer have a say in what she wears. Sniff Sniff...hint...why I always put bows in their hair, one day they won't want them.
Class update: My "getting to know your camera" class is filled. I've started a list for those interested and will keep you posted if a spot comes available and when another class will be held. If you want to be added to this list, please email me at tamiproffitt{at}yahoo.com


Product Update:
I'm excited to finally announce that I will be offering custom frames as part of my product line. I've been in the process of working with a framing company to get the details finalized for the best presentation and ease of availability.


Along with a new album to showcase the favorites from your session, in a stylish coffee table book. The best part is it's ALL customized to fit your style and home.


Also...I will start holding product features on my blog. I can't wait to start sharing the prints and products I offer.

Just for you! | Tempe Newborn Photographer |

Because I know you guying are waiting...and the countdown to your blog sneak peek is going too slow!

I just downloaded the pictures....and quickly grabbed a reasonable number of adorable pictures to post. NOTICE I wrote reasonable...ahem...ah yeah...when photographing twins there are TWICE as many too die for pictures than with one baby! Oh, the dilemas!

Introducing baby H and baby J...a delicate girl and a bruiser of a boy! There personalities were so fun to watch during the session. These two made their debut quite a bit early...8 weeks to be more exact. Imagine how giggly I was when their mother and I scheduled their newborn session. ACTUALLY, my month was already booked solid...here's a secret though, mention baby and I do the happy baby dance and I'll instantly squeeze in a session.

And yep, these two sweeties have some red in their hair...one definitely more than the other.
During our session, baby J broke out into full blow giggles...actual giggles! When it happened, my settings were NOT ready, but the moment was captured!
The proud big brother, who is taking the baby invasion very well! When I arrived, I was greeted by the most adorable blonde boy sporting some CUTE baby Paul underwear with Friday written on them! Of course, I'm in hot pursuit for a set for Easton!
Everyone is typically shocked when they hear how long a newborn session is...around 3 hours for one baby but typically take 4 hours. While it's hard to imagine a session this long...it's this long to allow for feedinga, consoling, diaper changing, moving around, positioning and a few drink breaks when homes grow increasingly WARM as babies are VERY happy when warm and with full tummies!

The problem I always run into with newborn sessions is I work straight through lunch. I then end up leaving the session at warp speed to the nearest crap food restaurant. So, next time you hear me complain about not being able to lose my baby weight...remind me of newborn sessions!

Here I am on Saturday....working...I've spent the past 6 days working late into the night...like 1 or 2 am late! Me....I NEED sleep, I CRAVE sleep, and LOOOOOOVE sleep! I now look like a walking zombie, pale skin, dark circles around my eyes, and tripping over my tongue when I speak. Somebody...please...slap me the next time I go this long without sleep and leaving my house decorated with dirty clothes waiting to be washed and clean clothes waiting to be folded.

Off to bed I go....and while I vow to not work tomorrow...there is a client waiting on a few items for her shopping cart and it WILL be done!

CONTEST WINNER

If you followed the contest...picture number 2 won! Unfortunately, there were a few voters that didn't leave their name and the vote was deleted!

To the winner of picture number two...the mother of the two little girls and aunt to the sweet older cousins! Let's chat soon to have your print ordered...decisions decisions!

Holiday Sessions

This is just a reminder that I will be opening up my fall calendar for holiday session at the end of July. And while it seems too far away to even think about holiday pictures...it really isn't! Last year my fall schedule as fully booked by mid September. If you're interested, start thinking about when you'd like to schedule it. ALSO, a reminder that the $200 non-refundable reservation fee is required to hold your holiday session date.

Just a few favorites... | Queen Creek Newborn Photographer |

This week I've photographed four sweet little newborns...of course I do favor two of the four. Why? Two of the four are twins...oh, my heart melted and I remembered the busy newborn days.

As of now, my sweet hubs is thankful that I can get my newborn fix from my sessions. I'm thinking he's pretty sure we are done with three.

Here are some of my favorites of a newborn...
.the sweet dots on the nose(i'm sure there's a word for it, just clueless on that one)
.newborn eyes
.squishy new cheeks
.pudgy, pouty lips
.fresh fingernails
.teeny tiny eyelashes
AND..... long, slender newborn fingers.

CAMERA CLASS UPDATEBasic "Getting to Know Your Camera" Class.....After rearranging my schedule a few times to accommodate other's calendar, I've decided on a date for the class.
I will be holding the class on July 11 in the early afternoon. If you are interested and would like to sign up and receive the details, as well as, the how to information on it, please email me at tamiproffitt{at}yahoo.com. The class will be 2.5 hours long. Class will cover:.basic lighting.ISO.aperture.shutter speed.creative modes.auto modes.meteringand anything else that goes along with REALLY getting good use out of your camera.Cost:$50

Started as an idea... | Gilbert newborn photographer |

...and here it is played out!


Putting my idea into play was quite the adventure! A HUGE lesson I learned is wheat slices and dices legs like little razors.....OOOOOOUCH!


There were so many more pictures from this adventure...but sleep NEEDS to come first tonight!
A fellow valley photographer recently welcomed her third darling to her family. When chatting on the phone about his arrival, she had shared how she wanted to photograph him in a pram. That is when my wheels started spinning and I was rattling off ideas all over the place! We then planned on the meet up spot and away the photographing went! While she was still within a week of having a c-section to deliver him...she went trucking through this field without a problem. I instantly went hmmmmm, and made me think my old age REALLY interfered recovering from my section as fast! She was quite the champ...or should I say spring chicken to this old gal!

Shutter day! | Queen Creek Family Photographer |

I'm officially declaring today as Shutter Day!


My day was filled with the sweet sound of my camera's shutter...! I think my total shooting time today was 6.5 hours. Starting with an ultra sweet session celebrating a princess.


I first met this family less than a year ago during a session celebrating her daughters turning one and two....when the mother and I chatted about being pregnant. At the end of the session, I was thinking...she SO is pregnant! Within a week, I received the news that they had JUST found out they were pregnant!


Introducing one of my favorite clients, who I happily call my friend...with three children 2 and under! Yes, you read that right! AND this mother, is a faithful blog reader! AND she blogs herself...almost daily! I honestly don't know where she finds the time, but time doesn't hold a weight to how important she feels web journaling is! I admire her....


Her oldest...who I happily had some snuggling and rocking time with! If I would have stayed just a few minutes longer, I think she would have fallen asleep.
The middle...rare to not find her with a sweet smile while she independently tackles everything.
AND the proud mother of these three princesses! Here, snuggling with her newest addition. I'm honestly speechless by a mother's love. NOTHING is stronger...
To the mommy of these three cuties...you ARE incredible, strong, a leader, powerful and so full of love. Thank you for having me document this time in your lives!

After this priceless newborn session this morning, life had no plans for slowing down. NOT one bit! The day was filled with all that made me smile!


Visiting with my sweet Ky and her mommy...over some yummy junk food! Playing and squeezing my 18 pound, 5 month old....who I JUST realized isn't a newborn anymore...his new nickname is Chuckwagon!


I had some fun camera time with my twins! WHO recently were cured from P.K.S. (photographers kid syndrome)...by a miracle!


Ending with a mini session of a prince in a wheat field! Oh, my photographic soul is happy!



Next up...a newborn twin session! Oh...I can't get enough of these babies!

More Mini! |Gilbert maternity Photographer |

AND did you really think I couldn't share a few more pictures from this session! This session was everything but dull!


As always....going funky in processing her pictures is incredibly fun. It's beyond my typical processing...I love getting out of the box I can get stuck in! It's EXHILIRATING!
{sigh} A mother's first...nothing can ever compare! It's the feeling that a mother never wants to forget, have her first born always cherish and can never be replaced.
Editorial...way out of my norm but I loved it...think I need more of it!
There is nothing greater than turning a hobby into a job...actually making a living at what I love. But then, I realize, teaching was also what I loved. I honestly can't imagine ever getting paid for something that I don't love with all my entirety! (my new word)

The only problem is when a hobby becomes a job, it can sometimes be just that...a job. With the passion eventually getting lost between the work hours, the paychecks and the demands that a job comes with. Then the hobby...is no longer a hobby...and the creativity gets sucks clean. I'll be honest, that's what I feel at times...like my creativity gets sucked dry by the demands. It SUCKS....
So, when I have a session that affords me full creativity...when I'm allowed to execute all that I have imagined...when I can actually try out every idea I have written down (yes, i have creative notes)....I find myself singing high notes for the rest of the day, while dancing a jig. It's a RUSH...a drug free HIGH...it's an INCREDIBLY feeling! I need more of these...this summer I need more and starting to put some fun projects in the works. Yipppeeeeee!


................A few updates...................
June is TIGHTLY booked and I'm going into July with a teeny tiny amount of dates available. If you want it....JUMP on it before they're gone. I'll be slowing down a bit to prepare for the fall rush.


If you're interested in a fall session....I will be opening up my fall calendar for sessions in July. Be ready...the dates tend to go fast.


This week...I have two newborn sessions and one twin newborn session...all by Friday!


Also be on the lookout for a creative newborn shoot...the planning went into action yesterday! LOVE last minute creative shoots! This session involves a wheat field I've had my eye on for the past few weeks...and a shoot theme I've had my mind swirling around for the last two months. Theme....organic and natural.


I'll also be shooting with this theme in mind with one of my twins...AHHHHH, I don't think I can contain my excitement! I'll for sure be doubling up my batteries!

Contest

No I haven't forgotten it! It just found itself down a list...on THIS one tomorrow! I SWEAR!

I have a feeling I know who won, I just need to get the exact count.

Now, it's past midnight and I have YET to do this night's to do list! Where the hell does time go!?! Okay....off to finish Tuesday's list!

Brothers! |Gilbert child photographer|

I've been lucky to photograph these little guys quite a bit and have grown to know them since the oldest, Z, was a baby. While this session was to celebrate L at 6 months, it was also held at a location that their father had a hand in creating. With being one of the brains behind the structures, including them in the session was a must!
Mr. Z! I've loved every second of watching him grow.... Seeing this fun personality is part of growing up with the same photographer, having a relationship that is carefree and past the getting to know you stage.
***************************** Contest
WOW...WOW...WOW! What an awesome voting turnout! There is a little over an hour left....
I'll be ready to tally the votes and happy to chat with the winner! The BEST part about this contest...is I think I NEED to have another one! DEFINITELY....OH YEAH! Now...what would be next....I think I know! Be sure to stay tuned!


This weekend...had a few changes in my schedule...which actually allowed for time to get the icky, yucky, stinky data that needs to be entered! It's SOOOOOO not good when the stack of papers is higher than the 27 inch computer monitor...ewwww, not good I tell ya! Have I written that I loathe data entry....like would rather scrub a toilet with a toothbrush, clean the dust out of the crevaces in my rustic wood table with toothfloss, scrub my tile grout with a cotton ball and use a spraybottle with soapy water to clean every fiber in my carpet!


This week, oodles of newborn goodness...including a set of twins...la la laaaaaa! I can't wait....oh the spinning of sweet ideas in my head!