Danica Nelson Photography - St. Louis Child Photographer

I've Moved!!

2010-08-15T22:52:00.000-05:00

My new blogsite address is http://danicanelsonphotography.com. Please follow me there, since I will no longer be posting at this address! I hope to see you at my new site...

NEW WEBSITE! | St. Louis Child Photographer

2010-07-21T12:43:00.001-05:00

I have great news! My new website/blog is live and I'd love for you to start following me at my new address: http://danicanelsonphotography.com. I'm especially excited because it’s a website and a blog all in one! It’s definitely been a labor of love as it's taken me over four months to fully put together (thanks to our big move and getting settled), but I’m beyond excited to finally be launching Danica Nelson Photography here in St. Louis. You can click on “Portfolio” to view image galleries of my work, and you can follow my posts to stay up-to-date with my latest work, helpful hints and photography finds. Don’t forget to change your links and/or bookmarks, subscribe to my RSS feed or add me to your Google Reader! If you'd like a button for your own blog, you can use the code at the bottom of my new site!

I owe a big thanks to Lacey of Lacey Reimann Photography for being a HUGE help to me throughout the process, and for referring me to Portfoliositez.com, the company I used to create my site.

I also owe a huge thanks to my awesome friend Stacia for helping me with my rebranding and the design of my website. She walked and talked me through the whole process, helping me really figure out what I wanted, and saving me from a possible lawsuit with National Geographics someday!! Haha...yes, the first logo I designed had an uncanny resemblance to theirs, which Stacia kindly pointed out.

Thanks also to all the friends and family members that gave me feedback. XOXO to you all.

I've got a Tell All Tuesday for this week that I'll be posting on Thursday (sorry folks!). Stay tuned and I look forward to seeing you all on my new site...

Cool Relief! | St. Louis Child Photographer

2010-07-15T12:44:00.002-05:00

Oh boy, are you feelin' the heat? I feel like we've moved to the Amazon Rainforest. :) We've been taking advantage of our pool as much as possible for some cool relief!

This girl's faces kill me...

Bam! How's that for some sass?

The light outside of our town home in the evening is gorgeous. Love these two...

Stay cool, St. Louis!

Can't Help Myself | St. Louis Children's Photographer

2010-07-09T13:36:00.002-05:00

I hope you don't get sick of seeing pictures of my kids any time soon! I don't have my new website up and running quite yet and haven't started taking on sessions here in St. Louis. So until I do, I'm afraid you'll have to *endure* a few more of my little loves.

Left- such a Cami face. Right - love the clasped hands.

These are her "silly eyes" - she thinks she's hilarious.

We spend a lot of time doing puzzles these days. Carson loves them.

...and he loves crossing his eyes too. Let's hope it doesn't stick!

I think next week I'll start back up with Tell All Tuesdays if anyone's still visiting this blog. :)

Sweet darlin' girl | St. Louis Children's Photographer

2010-07-07T20:07:00.004-05:00

A few candids of my sweet (okay, actually pretty crazy), darlin' girl the other morning.

Her hair kills me. Love it to death.

Splish Splash | St. Louis Child Photographer

2010-07-01T20:17:00.002-05:00

Did I mention our new place has a pool? LOVE.

We go every. single. day. It's a blast spending time with Daddy at the pool after dinner!

A Family | St. Louis Family Photographer

2010-06-25T07:39:00.001-05:00

Finally - a peek of my last family session in Philadelphia. This was a quick session with baby C.J. and his awesome parents. Enjoy you guys! Miss this little guy already!

Still sporting that cute scowl. :)

It turned out all C.J. needed was a nap. So he promptly fell asleep to the sweet whisperings of his mama.

Congrats again on your beautiful family. XOXO

Coming Soon... | St. Louis Family Photographer

2010-06-22T12:32:00.002-05:00

A sneak peek of the sweet A family! Stay with me, Martha!

Baby Jamie | St. Louis Newborn Photographer

2010-06-12T08:28:00.003-05:00

Last, but not least, here is baby Jamie's full peek. Jamie is one of the most gorgeous (in a handsome way) newborn babes I've ever seen! No touching up necessary - this little guy had the most perfect newborn skin imaginable. I just loved this session, and what a pleasure to finally meet baby Jamie and his wonderful parents.

Isn't this monkey hat beyond cute?! His mom bought it on Etsy and then GIFTED it to me at the end of the session. Whaaat?! You are so sweet Adela!! It will make newborns even cuter for a long time to come... :)

Like me, Mom loves the detail shots.

His cheeks are the sweetest things ever.

And check out those lips!

Snug in Dad's arms.

Love this shot.

The barnwood's back...

Dad played baseball, so his mitt was an extra fun prop.

Thanks again C family. I will be sending the disc as soon as possible! :)

Baby CJ | St. Louis Newborn Photographer

2010-06-10T07:04:00.000-05:00

Martha - I'm sure you're more than ready for your full peek of baby CJ. Here it is! This little guy was beyond sweet and only a week old. The perfect age for his first photo session (out of his mom's tummy that is). Enjoy, you guys!

Like I mentioned before, CJ rocked an adorable scowl most of the session.

Don't you want to kiss those toes?

Love what a little bean he is in this one.

Sweet dreams...and more scowls. :)

Thanks A family - I hope to have your family session peek up sometime next week!

C Family | St. Louis Family Photographer

2010-06-08T11:02:00.002-05:00

Here is the rest of the peek for my darling friends, the C family. Thanks so much for your patience. I will get the disc to you as soon as I can!

Can you even resist this smile??

Haha, last shot of the day.

Look for more peeks this week...

Safe and sound... | St. Louis Family Photographer

2010-06-03T15:36:00.004-05:00

Well, we made it through three days of car travel with two small children...and lived. Actually, the trip couldn't have gone any smoother. The kids did great and we got to St. Louis all safe and sound. We are currently living in a display unit at our new apartment complex until our unit is completely ready. We decided to upgrade at the last minute even though it wouldn't be ready for us to move directly in. The people we have met have been fabulous and we are excited to get settled in around the 10th of the month. I'm so sorry to my clients that are still waiting for their session discs, or more peeks. I promise I will have things to you as soon as possible, but until we move into our actual apartment on the 10th, we don't have access to the internet and most of our stuff. I appreciate your patience with me!! We miss Philly, but love St. Louis so far. Stay tuned for more next week.

Baby Jamie | Philadelphia Newborn Photographer

2010-05-27T07:03:00.000-05:00

Just a peek from my last newborn session in Philly (sigh...and maybe a tear or two). Meet the gorgeous, perfectly behaved little baby Jamie.

And here's a preview of my new barnwood floor mat. It came! It's great! I'm excited for all of the possibilities...

Precious in Dad's baseball mitt.

This one caught my eye right away - it's an in between moment, but it just speaks to me. Love it.

Congrats S family - we got so many great ones. I can't wait to show you them! Thanks for being so awesome...it was a pleasure to meet you and photograph baby Jamie.

*P.S. We move in to St. Louis in T minus two days! Holy moly.

Caleb | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-05-25T09:17:00.000-05:00

Loooooved this session. Caleb is one of the cutest little guys around, and I've had the pleasure of photographing him and his family since he was a wee little lad of six months. Now he's two and is a big brother to sweet Charlotte, who was born at 24 weeks and is proving to be as full of fight as her family and friends are of love for her. {You can follow her story on a blog her parents write for her HERE}. Keep her in your prayers as she continues to grow and get strong enough to come home!

Meanwhile, brother is growing like a little weed himself. And isn't he adorable?! He sure loved the trike I brought.

Showing me baby sister.

This boy loves him some trains.

Going to miss you Amanda! Thanks for being a wonderful client and a beautiful example of faith and strength during this amazingly hard time. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. No really. Like all the time.

*P.S. We move to St. Louis this Saturday!*

C Family Peek | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-05-22T20:36:00.002-05:00

I owe this adorable family a sneak peek in the worst way! I'm sorry it's still not a full peek, but I at least wanted to share an image of each of your GORGEOUS little ones.

Beautiful Taybree.

Adorable Amity.

Handsome stud Colben.

Cutest ever Lincoln.

And darling little Ivan.

I love this family and am sad to say goodbye to these cute faces! Your full peek to come...

On hold! | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-05-18T20:18:00.002-05:00

Hey folks! Danica Nelson Photography is ON HOLD for a couple weeks. My cute hubby graduated from the UPenn Dental Medicine program yesterday and we have nine (!) family members here to help us celebrate! We're also moving to St. Louis on the 29th and are in the middle of packing and preparing for that. I'm sorry to my sweet clients waiting for their discs or sneak peeks, but I'm taking a necessary break for all things business to take care of my family during this crazy time. I will be in touch soon and will get to emails as I'm able to! Thanks for your patience... :)

Noah is One! | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-05-15T06:32:00.000-05:00

Get a load of this adorable little guy! When I saw his gorgeous curls and huge eyes I knew I was in for a treat. We had a great session - Noah just sat where we wanted him and alternately gave me big smiles and soulful looks...couldn't ask for more! What a beautiful family!

Lovin' some mama time (p.s. Mom's gorgeous, no?)

Didn't really want anything to do with his messy cake. :)

Loooove.

Seriously. Beautiful people, inside and out!

Thanks again for the fun session! (And sorry again for all the gnats - yuck!)

D Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2010-05-13T08:18:00.002-05:00

This was a fun session in a beautiful part of Fairmount Park. You have seen darling Lillian on my blog before, when she was a little baby. She was one of my first sessions. Now she's all grown up (okay, well, she's TWO!) and she still has the most gorgeous blue eyes ever.

And adorable baby Sydney has since joined the family!

So many smiles and giggles during the session - loved it.

The Strawberry Mansion bridge is special to their family, so we finished up with some shots out in the warm spring sun.

Ooh la la! Just kidding. Aren't mom and dad cute though?

Thanks for the great session and fun time, you guys. Enjoy!

Baby CJ {tiny peek} | Philadelphia Newborn Photographer

2010-05-11T10:48:00.003-05:00

I'm not in the mood for a Tell All Tuesday...I'm in the mood to share an image of this handsome, practically edible little dude. (He's finally out of THIS pretty mama's tummy!) Enjoy the tiny peek, Martha.

CJ rocked his cute concerned scowl the whole session. :)

P Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2010-05-08T07:30:00.001-05:00

Yet another fun urban family shoot! Elfreth's Alley residents probably run and hide when they see me walking up their darling cobblestone street lugging my green chair and another cute family (I pretty much make a fool of myself during sessions, including talking way too loud and making uncool sounds)! These good friends of mine are moving from Philly soon, and wanted images that say Philly. Jen and I agree: row homes = Philly. :) And these happen to be the cutest rows around. Fitting, then, to put some of the cutest little girls around in front of them and take their pictures! Jen made the girls' adorable, coordinating skirts. They were perfect for this session.

First up...Lauren girl.

Next, twin sis Halle!

This picture of Halle makes me smile. And there's big sister, Olivia, on the right.

They are all just beautiful.

Thanks P family - hope you enjoy these as you head to greener (ok, maybe only figuratively) pastures. :)

Barnwood Floor { for photographers}

2010-05-07T10:30:00.003-05:00

Heads up to fellow photogs --> barnwood floor mats are back in stock as of May 3rd. I ordered mine today and hope it gets here before we move to St. Louis in a few weeks! I didn't want to wait and have to wait another few months...

I ordered it from Bargain Outfitters HERE. I also used a coupon code from RETAIL ME NOT - the one I used is SB920, which is listed as expiring today. My total, with shipping, was $99.97. I wish it were $9.97, but oh well. :)

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up!

C Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2010-05-06T07:31:00.003-05:00

Oh man, this was one. fun. shoot! These are friends of mine - and how cute are they? Stacia and Juan really did their homework and found the perfect outfits for the look they were going for. They also did a great job of figuring out what sort of images they were hoping to get and giving me an idea of what they were going for, all while instilling confidence in my vision to make it happen. It really was so fun. They wanted an artsy, super urban session, so we headed down to Old City and had some fun.

Oh. And it was chilly. Really chilly. They were such troopers as we put jackets and blankets on in between shots (and poor Stacia had to endure the many looks from old ladies walking by who were telling her to get jackets on her girls!).

Siena playing peekaboo with me.

Aren't they a beautiful family?

My favorite shot of the night is the image on the right - the windswept look, the way Siena is holding onto her mama...

We had some fun at the end of the session with some mom and dad shots. Stacia!! You are gorgeous, girl! Don't kill me for posting this shot! Really, this was just a moment caught between smiles - she wasn't posing. :)

LOVE the one on the right - they are so darling.

This series makes me laugh every time...you guys are awesome.

It really was too cold to get decent shots of the girls (at least without bright red noses!) the day of our session, so we did a super mini session at my house later on.

Qiana is one of the prettiest baby girls I've ever laid eyes on!

Look at those perfect rose lips...

And Siena is a ball to be around! So full of spunk and beauty.

Thanks so much, C family! I really had a wonderful time with you. Enjoy the peek, ya'll!

Tell All Tuesday - Straighten & Fill | Philadelphia Photographer

2010-05-04T22:25:00.005-05:00

Okay, today's Tell All Tuesday is a quick one. Ever used the straighten tool before? I used it all the time when I had Elements 5, but when I made the switch to CS4, straightening wasn't intuitive and I didn't figure out how to do it for a little while.

Sometimes tilting the camera is a good idea, and sometimes it's not. When there is a clear horizon line in my image, I typically like to make that horizon line straight if it isn't already. Of course, occasionally I break this rule. And when I first started, I was tilting the camera like crazy. I've heard it said that one way to pick out a new photog is by how often they tilt their cameras! Probably true. :)

So - here are the quick and easy steps to fixing a tilted image. I'll also touch on filling in the canvas. *I learned this method from Ashley McNamara's tutorial HERE.*

Here's the image SOOC.

Find the eyedropper tool on the left palette (6th down) and change it to the ruler tool. Then click and drag to form a line along the horizon line.

Then head to Image --> Image Rotation --> Arbitrary

Don't change the angle. Hit okay.

Done. Your image is straight. Now you need to crop and/or fill in those spaces on the edges. With my small "studio" space, I end up cloning out pieces of my background fairly often. You can use the clone tool, or you can use THIS METHOD of "stretching the canvas" from MCP Actions. I use this a lot.

Here's the final image after filling in the missing pieces and a little Touch of Light. Oh, and getting rid of that blue tint in the blanket and diaper cover. Don't know how to do that? Read last week's Tell All Tuesday post HERE!

Hazel is one! | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-05-01T07:38:00.000-05:00

Miss Hazel came back to see me for her one-year pictures...and I just want to eat. her. up. I love her party dress and her sweet as can be smile. She crawls at lightening speeds, and let me tell you - this girl likes to move! Enjoy, my darling friend.

Standing all by herself!

Oh Haze honey, I'm gonna miss you!

Baby Josh | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2010-04-29T07:37:00.002-05:00

Josh was just beyond adorable, and a joy to photograph. From the start, he won me over with those huge hazel eyes and gorgeous smile. I hope you guys enjoy the peek as much as I enjoyed the session! :)

He looks like a little Ralph Lauren baby.

Playing with me!

This series is one of my favorites ever.

Thanks so much for trusting me with your precious Josh. I had a blast!

Tell All Tuesday - Color Casts | Philadelphia Photographer

2010-04-27T09:39:00.000-05:00

Hi all - sorry for the late Tell All Tuesday post! Better than nothin' is what I say.

Today we're going to talk about a specific type of color cast. Many times in images, clothing and accessories that are white end up having a color cast, or tint. Most commonly in my images, the cast is blue, yellow or magenta - or a combo of all three. This is a quick tutorial on how to get rid of that color cast.

*Also check out Ashley McNamara's tutorial on this HERE - it's a good one!*

Here's an image SOOC. Click on the Quick Selection Tool and select the white that is tinted. Sometimes I do all the white at the same time, and sometimes I do them piece by piece because the tint is different. This time I selected the blanket and not the diaper cover.

Sorry, I adjusted the color without taking a screen shot. This next one will show it. After I adjusted the blanket, there was a shadowy area that still looked wrong to me. I selected it. Then went to Hue/Saturation in the Adjustments palette.

I lowered the magenta. Ashley McNamara's tutorial shows you how to find out what color to decrease.

I also selected parts of the diaper cover that were magenta. Here's the image after fixing the color casts.

Make sense? Hopefully!

Jade | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2010-04-24T07:12:00.001-05:00

Little Jade is 10 months old! I'm sad that this was my last session with sweet little Jade before we both move. She's just adorable in every way.

Baby chub + bathing suit = ADORABLE!

Good luck, J fam. I'll miss you! :)

Baby Benton | Philadelphia Newborn Photographer

2010-04-22T07:50:00.002-05:00

I finally got a newborn BOY in for a session! When baby Benton arrived, his mama topped off his little tummy and he soared off to dreamland without a single fussy second. What a dream baby he was...slept like a rock the whole session. We even had to wake him up when we were finished. It was easy to see by his adoring fan club that he is already very, very loved. With good reason - look at him!!

Of course I got plenty of shots of his delicious details.

I call the shot on the left: "Put up your dukes!" :)

It was wonderful to meet your little guy! Good luck with everything.

Tell All Tuesday - Baby Tips | Philadelphia Photographer

2010-04-20T12:34:00.010-05:00

It's time for another Tell All Tuesday. This time our question is from Jenny:

"So for a Tell all Tuesday idea, I'd love a list of suggestions for baby sessions...where you've bought some of your accessories (diaper cover, blankets) and any tips for someone about to do their first baby session!"

Well, I'm no expert on baby sessions, but I've done a lot of them and have a way I like to do them - so take or leave my suggestions! I'm not sure if by "baby" you mean a newborn, or an older baby, but for both I tend to keep my sessions pretty simple. I use simple props and like to focus on the child, especially capturing the details. Here is a list of the things I use the most and where I got them:

Diaper cover - I use a white knit diaper cover in nearly every baby session. I also have an off-white one. Both were bought on Etsy. I would highly suggest buying from Titchbiz's store. The cover I use most is from her store. It's the white Rib Leg diaper cover size S (2-5 months). It fits tiny newborns with some adjusting and also can stretch to fit some 6 month olds. Visit her store HERE. I want just about everything in it.
Doll bed - I use a basic wooden doll bed I bought from Ikea in the toy section. I painted it white. I use it for babies, and also sometimes use it as a bench for older children.
Blankets - I want more and better blankets. The best blankets are stretchy and washable. I think knits are beautiful. I wish I were a knitter!
NEWBORNS - I use a bean bag for my newborn sessions (it was $5 at a yard sale). I put a hot pad where the baby will be laying, and drape my blankets over it, pulling the blanket back tight and clipping it to my backdrop stand. I also use a sound machine with white noise or womb sounds, and also set a small space heater blowing really warm air directly on the baby. When the baby arrives (hopefully with just a diaper on), I put the diaper cover on and usually suggest Mom tops him/her off with milk. Then we may rock baby for a minute and place him/her on the bean bag right in front of the space heater. It doesn't usually take long before the baby is out. GETTING BABY ASLEEP IS THE KEY. I don't even bother turning on my camera until the baby is totally asleep. Once the baby is asleep, don't be afraid to touch/move/shift/bug the baby! He/she will stay asleep, and you want to make sure you can see all the important body parts...hands, fingers, toes - pay attention to where all these are! Most importantly, you must also pay close attention to how the light is falling on the face and make sure the face is being lit well. From my own experience, when the light is coming down from the top of the head across the face of the baby, the resulting shadowing is not flattering. I like to angle the baby around 45 degrees, or sometimes closer to front-lit. Use a small f-stop (a wide open aperture) so that the background blurs into a nice bokeh. During "set changes," have Mom or another helper hold baby in front of the space heater and make the change, then position the baby. When the baby is asleep, it's easy to get "the shot" in only a few tries, once everything is set up. It's allllll about setting it up right.

I hope some of these tips help! Good luck. Babies are hard, but so worth it.

J Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2010-04-17T05:50:00.003-05:00

You've seen this adorable family of five before on this blog, but this session tops them all. It was so much fun! I love going downtown for urban portraits, and this family just did it so well. I thought their outfits were absolutely perfect - coordinating without matching exactly.

Mr. Keyan wouldn't hold still for a second, so imagine my surprise when I got home and saw all the gems we got! His eyes are unreal.

Big brother is such a happy kid (who's young enough to still think my jokes are funny).

And biggest brother (7) was totally into giving me the perfect closed-lip smiles. I loved what a little model he was.

Thanks again J family - hope you enjoy!

Baby Adrienne | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2010-04-15T07:45:00.000-05:00

Baby Adrienne is already three months old (see her newborn session HERE)! I was delighted to squeeze in another session before their family moves to North Carolina. She is one of the happiest, smiley babies - but the day of our session, her mom had to wake her up to drop off big sister and come see me. After a little while, she was DONE with pictures and just wanted to sleep. I was more than okay with that! She's just adorable and we'll miss the B family in our neighborhood for sure.

Love those curls...

And toes...

And fingers...

What a sweetheart.

Good luck with everything guys!

Tell All Tuesday - Loading Actions | Philadelphia Photographer

2010-04-13T19:55:00.004-05:00

Tell All Tuesdays are back! Some of you have questions, and I'm here to answer as best I can. :)

From Julie (of J. Hawryluk Photography):

I downloaded a preset (from coffee shop) to get the images side by side when posting but I can't figure out how to load it into photoshop CS3? Would you mind doing a tutorial on that?

Julie mostly uses Lightroom to edit, so she had a question of how to load actions for use in Photoshop. My version is slightly different than Julie's (I have CS4), but it should be the same process for all versions. Elements is a bit different, but if you Google it you'll find good instructions! :)

Okay, so start by saving your downloaded action to your Actions folder (as detailed below).

Here's a shot of my Actions folder - the actions should have .ATN extensions. If there is a THUMBS file that is just an image for the action button once loaded.

In Photoshop, click on this little button to pull up the pop-out menu, then click on Load Actions. (I dragged my Actions palette out to the center of the screen so you can see it better.)

The Load box will come up. Click on the action you downloaded and want to load.

It should now show up in your Actions palette! Now just click on the little blue arrow next to the action to run it. Have fun!

Baby Hadley | Philadelphia Newborn Photographer

2010-04-12T08:54:00.001-05:00

Prepare yourself for some serious newborn cuteness! Baby Hadley was born early at 32 weeks, but did so well she only stayed in the NICU for three weeks. Now that she's the ripe old age of six weeks, she's loaded on the weight and was already around 6 pounds for our session. :) She is, as you will see, beyond gorgeous, and was a dream to photograph. Pardon me for sharing so many.

This is a new processing I've played with...I call it Lavender Baby Action. I'm so creative, right? :)

LOVE the one-eyed bandit look she gave, and then the smile one second later like she knew she was so funny. Joking around at 6 weeks old...that's my kinda girl.

Oh heaven help me, how sweet is all that baby fuzz?

Love.

Love those delicious little details.

Mom brought the tiniest pettiskirt I've ever seen! Oh I love these next few.

This is what she really wanted to do...stretch out!

Big sister, Evie, was born at 32 weeks also...and is also one of the most darling little girls ever. She was actually one of the very first babies I ever practiced on (which may or may not be very embarrassing to look at).

Jess, you've got two beautiful girls on your hands!!

F Family | Philadelphia Maternity Photographer

2010-04-09T07:51:00.000-05:00

The F family is about to grow by one! Is there any doubt he will be absolutely beautiful (in a handsome way)?! What a fun session this was. It was a pleasure to be able to capture two people so in love and happily anticipating such a precious gift.

Nicole - you are absolutely stunning!

It was so wonderful to meet you both. Good luck with everything coming up!

J Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2010-04-08T13:07:00.003-05:00

Here's the rest of your peek, Rushell! This was such a fun session. They wore sneakers and brought their smokin' heels with them! So great to meet your family and I hope you enjoy. :)

S Family | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-04-07T21:55:00.003-05:00

Here's a peek at a recent Mini Session. Meet Sahara and her little sister Samantha. Miss Samantha wasn't really in the mood for a session, so it was fun but quick!

They're beautiful girls, no? Thanks Evelyn!

J Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2010-04-06T21:48:00.003-05:00

How sweet are these sisters? Cute Rushell promised to stalk the blog waiting for her peek, so I really do owe her one. See girl? I told you we got some good ones! Many more sessions in the works...seriously, I need a freeze button for 9pm so I can edit all night and not feel like I'm going to bed at 2am!

Baby Elsie | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-04-02T07:56:00.002-05:00

Isn't baby Elsie just the most darling little thing? She's 8 1/2 months old and perfect in every way (just ask her mom). :) I especially love those big baby blues and soft blond hair. Enjoy the peek!

M Family | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-03-30T07:41:00.010-05:00

Boy oh boy are things busy around here! I'm still working on my new website and getting things ready to launch Danica Nelson Photography in St. Louis. We're moving in T minus two months and counting! Spring is in the air and I'm up to my ears in sessions, which I'm enjoying immensely and very grateful for. Needless to say I have much to show you, so be sure to stay tuned (seriously, how often do I use that phrase?? Sorry!).

Well you will just die when you see these darling boys! Gregor (5 yrs) and Levi (2 yrs) were such treats to photograph - handsome as can be and full of personality! And just like the last session I posted, these two were the cutest little siblings...hugging (and poking) and laughing together like there was no tomorrow.

Thanks M family! Enjoy the peek...

K Family | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-03-27T16:47:00.006-05:00

I am so glad this session worked out - the family was visiting Philadelphia for the week and we were really hoping for nice weather. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and these are some of my favorite images. Andrew (6) and Sarah (4) were a photographer's dream. Seriously. Not only are they just plain adorable, they were filled to the brim with love for each other and it came out in the photos! Plus, Andrew is a little model in the making! He had such great natural poses and his smiles are all so real. I loved meeting you K family - enjoy your (really big) peek!

These sibling shots kill me - are you serious? Doesn't get much cuter...

Couldn't decide...color or b/w?

Just check out those eyes and modeling skills!

Talk about eyes...

And a few fun ones of mom and dad.

Thanks so much, K family. It had a delightful afternoon with you!

Baby Alexandria | Philadelphia Newborn Photographer

2010-03-24T11:21:00.003-05:00

You got a tiny look at beautiful baby "Alex" a couple days ago, and here is the rest of the peek. She did so well during the session and was too too adorable.

With handsome (and hilarious) big bro...

Thanks, B Family! Enjoy your little one.

A Sunday Picnic

2010-03-22T11:14:00.008-05:00

On Sunday, my little family took a walk to the beautiful nearby Grange Estate, which was built in the 1600s. We ate a picnic dinner on the grounds and enjoyed the perfectly wonderful weather.

You may have guessed by the pictures, but we had a nice time. :)

Honey, I'm home | Philadelphia Custom Photographer

2010-03-19T23:42:00.003-05:00

Boy, this week has been a whirlwind of late nights and major frustrations. I feel like I'm wound into a big ball of stress right now. I won't go into details, but I'm having calibration troubles, SOOC white balance troubles and website troubles! I've been working furiously on my new website this week, hoping to have it all ready to go in the next two months before we move to St. Louis...and in the process I've neglected this blog a bit. Sorry about that! To make it up to you, here is a sneak peek of the absolutely beautiful newborn girl I got to spend Wednesday with...

And there's a lot more on deck, so stay tuned. Oh, and if you have any Tell All Tuesday questions for me, please do contact me! My inspiration has run dry at the moment.

Fair Warning | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2010-03-15T09:56:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone! We're back from a fun, quick trip down to D.C. for the weekend to visit family. Hopefully I'll get to everyone's emails and calls by later today. This is also a fair warning post that a new website is in the works, along with a switch in my products and services, photo lab, and just about everything else! Current client galleries will be expiring at the end of the month. My new website will have client session galleries built in and you will still have the opportunity to buy prints - it will just be through a different lab. Stay tuned for lots of changes!

Jaden | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-03-12T07:55:00.000-06:00

I've had the pleasure of photographing Jaden's BROTHER and SISTER before, but this time it was his turn! He just turned 8 years old, and I must say, he is one handsome dude. Just like his siblings, he was a pro behind the lens. Enjoy the peek!

Thanks again, Melisa! It's always fun...

Tell All Tuesday - Round Up | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-03-09T11:29:00.012-06:00

Today's Tell All Tuesday is a simple round up of good photography finds I've been bookmarking lately (in no particular order):

- Becoming Mom - this website is awesome and has neat Photoshop tutorials that I've never seen anywhere else.
-Starting a Photography Business - advice from Shannon Holden that I found very helpful.
-Melissa Davis Design - lots of photography design freebies.
-Erin Cobb's new FAQ video - so many great tips for you photogs out there.
-Ashley McNamara's Photoshop Tutorials - she's a great photographer, and she's even greater in my book because she shares great Photoshop tutorials. I learn something from every single one...check them out!
-Becky Earl (BeArt) - another great photographer, and I recently found her Hints and Tips section. I'm excited to play around with her tutorials.
-Baby As Art - That masters of newborn photography share a video of them doing their chin-on-the-wrists pose...fun to watch.

That should keep you busy for a while! Have fun. It's BEAUTIFUL here and I couldn't be happier that's spring's almost here!

Poladroid Project | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-03-05T08:44:00.001-06:00

Oooh, look at me getting all funky with Poladroid's cool download (get it HERE). I snapped these quickly during the kids' bath a few nights ago, in terrible light, and I'm okay with the fact that they are far from perfect. I did just order a Lightscoop from ADORAMA, thanks to my friend Lillian's success with it, and on THIS POST from the Momtog blog. Hopefully my next set of night time bath pictures are a lot better!

I promise the bath water was (relatively) clean, not green and murky!

I'd even kiss that cute nose with snot and food covering it.

Giving sis a kiss on the arm (not sucking her blood).

I just love those little wispy pieces of hair by her ear.

Tell All Tuesday - Seamless | Philadelphia Photographer

2010-03-02T14:31:00.004-06:00

You don't have to look far on my blog to see that I use seamless paper in almost every session I do in my home (also known as Mini Sessions). Several people have asked me what brand/colors I use, so I thought I'd do a quick Tell All Tuesday post about it.

I own two seamless papers, both of which are Savage brand and purchased on Amazon.com. They are the 57" x 12 yards size.

The first one is Bone (#51), a fairly new acquisition, and the second is Thunder Gray (#27):

These next two are ones I'd love to add to my collection - Ocean Blue (#36) and Coral (#3):

For an example of Ocean Blue in use, visit my awesome photog friend's blog: PHOTOGRAPHY BY LACEY. At least, I think that's Ocean Blue. Correct me if I'm wrong, Lacey! :) So nice though, right? It also helps if you have adorable built-in models and mad skillz like she does!

*Edited: Lacey's seamless is actually Baby Blue (#47) - sorry guys!

And for an example of Coral in use, visit a blog I recently stumbled upon called BECOMING MOM. I also love the fake distressed flooring she uses (I've seen it termed 'barnwood flooring' a lot), which is actually a giant mouse pad (basically). She links to where she bought it, but here's the LINK again just in case. I want one so badly right now. Just another thing to add to my wish list...Zack is thrilled.

Your turn to share: what are your favorite seamless colors?

Hayden | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-02-28T09:16:00.000-06:00

Sweet little Hayden is one of Cami's girlfriends - you may remember her fun birthday party at the start of the year. It was a treat to photograph this little beauty again...her eyes and creamy skin and thick hair and chubby cheeks are to die for! Hayden's talented mama has started a fun website called Mommy TLC: check it out HERE!

I love all of the darling expressions she makes.

I know you want to kiss the computer screen right now looking at those cheeks!

Such beautiful tiny lashes...

Thanks Paola! I hope you enjoy the peek. Hayden is beyond precious. :)

Cameron | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2010-02-26T07:41:00.001-06:00

Remember this drop-dead gorgeous (in a handsome way) baby boy, Cameron, from his summer mini shoot HERE? Well his first birthday is just around the corner! We had a fun little shoot, and I was excited to get some serious shots along with the smiles, since he is one of the most adorably serious babies I've ever known.

I love it! "Listen, lady, if you don't back off, I'm gonna hit you with this here leg!"

Ha! "Mom, you're making a fool of yourself."

I love that little boy: cheeks, rolls and all!

Tell All Tuesday - Light | Philadelphia Photographer

2010-02-23T08:39:00.004-06:00

Today's Tell All Tuesday post is a quick one about light. After getting the silhouette shot during Martha's session (see last post), I had her lean up against the wall of the arch for some closer portraits. I didn't pay attention to the light for a moment and shot a couple frames. When I quickly checked them out, I realized the lighting was terrible and I was shooting her from the complete wrong side. Simply walking around to the other side of Martha and shooting into the arch made a huge difference, right? In the first image, her face is mostly in shadows and the light is hitting only part of her face and very harshly. In the second image, she is lit evenly and her skin is naturally glowing (all of these images are SOOC - straight out of camera - except for an exposure fix in Camera RAW and a slight sharpening for web, by the way).

Finding the best light makes your post-processing so much easier and since I try to get it as close to right as possible IN the camera, it's important for me to always pay attention to light. Let me repeat that: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS pay attention to the light. Look around and see if another angle would light your subject more evenly. Try to look for natural reflectors in the environment around you (in this case the snow was doing a great job, but a white wall or reflective bumper would work) to bounce light into your subject's eyes so you get nice catchlights instead of dull, shadowy eyes. I'm far from perfect at this, and in the past have done a terrible job in some cases, but as I'm learning more and more it's becoming natural. Note the habits of the light coming into your home and practice placing your subjects in different ways until you get the best results. You'll begin noticing patterns and realizing the best way to light your subjects. Then when you're at a client's home, or outdoors on a shoot, you'll be better equipped to find the best light.

P.S. Another quick question from Adri: "What is a crop sensor camera?"

HERE'S AN ARTICLE that talks about the difference between a crop-sensor camera and a full-frame one. Canon cameras that are crop-sensor are the Rebel line and the 40D/50D/7D. The 5D and 5D Mark II are full-frame cameras (sorry Nikon users...I know the D700 is full-frame but am not sure about other bodies!). Some lenses are made for crop-sensor cameras (like my Tamron 17-50, which only works on crop-sensor bodies), but others aren't (like my Canon 85 1.8). My Canon 40D has a crop factor of 1.6, so when I put my 85mm lens on my crop-sensor camera, it is actually more like a 136mm lens. Does that make sense? A little bit? Let me know if you still have questions.

Miss Martha | Philadelphia Maternity Photographer

2010-02-21T07:31:00.000-06:00

This beautiful mama-to-be also happens to be my son's music teacher...she's known as "Miss Martha" in our house (or Miss Marfa if you're Carson). Carson adores her and so do I! We had such a great session together and I'm so glad she braved the cold wind to get some beautiful outdoor portraits. All my normal socks were dirty that day so I threw on a pair of tiny ankle socks. That poor decision made for two frozen solid ankles after roughing it in some deep snow to get these shots. It was worth it though. Isn't Martha just glowing?! Love these!

Lens info: these first two sets were taken with my Tamron 17-50 and the rest were with my Canon 85 1.8.

I've been wanting to get a maternity silhouette picture for as long as I've been doing this!

Enjoy the peek! Can't wait for your little boy to make his debut...

Vday Wishes | Philadelphia Photographer

2010-02-18T08:13:00.001-06:00

Better late than...yada yada yada. The USB cord I use to get the images off of my camera has stopped working, and I carelessly told my dear friend the WRONG card reader to pick up for me while she was out (since I don't have a car most days - thank you, never-ending-student-hubby!), so I wasn't able to get these images edited until today, after borrowing another card reader.

So...without further ado: Happy (late) Valentine's Day from me and my sweeties! (Cheesy, I know.)

And here are a few I snapped after church on Vday.

This is the real Carson.

I love my little valentines.

Tell All Tuesday | Philadelphia Photographer

2010-02-16T07:34:00.002-06:00

Question from J:

What lense do you use the most for indoor and outdoor? I am looking into getting a few new lenses but dont have millions to spend and its easy to spend alot. Also right now I dont have studio lighting just been using natural window light for indoor shots, should I invest in that if I have a shoot that doesnt have alot of natural light inside?

Well, first off, let me post a part of the FAQ section located HERE on my website:

Q: What equipment do you use?
A: I love when other photographers share what type of equipment they use, so although my equipment isn't my dream "line up," I'm happy to share what I currently own and shoot with. I started with a Canon Digital Rebel XT and loved it; however, in February 2009 I upgraded to a Canon 40D. Virtually every picture on my website was taken with my Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. In July 09 I was able to add the Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens to my bag and I love it. Since then I've used it almost exclusively for every outdoor session. I use the Tamron 17-50mm for every indoor shot, since the 85mm is too tight for me to use indoors on my crop sensor camera.

To add to that, I'll say that my dream line up (right now) is:

Canon 5D Mark II
24-70mm f/2.8
50mm f/1.2
85mm f/1.2

Someday...but for now, I do like how the Tamron 17-50mm lens performs indoors. And the aperture is fixed at 2.8 throughout the range of the lens, which isn't common for zooms. So you can achieve a bit of nice-ish bokeh even zoomed in all the way to 50mm. It only works on crop-sensor cameras, though, just FYI. I also loooove my 85 1.8 lens. I've had a 50mm 1.8 in the past, and while it was better than, say, a kit lens, the 85 1.8 is a much better performer in my book. On my crop sensor camera, it makes it too tight to use indoors, but outdoors I adore it. And I found an almost-new mint copy on Craigslist for $300. Not bad for the quality of the lens.

Now onto the lighting question. I know that adding my light has helped me this winter...I like it because it doesn't add weird white balance issues...it seems to compliment the natural light very well and doesn't come off looking like any studio lights are being used at all. The one I own was only $40 on Amazon and is very low-watt, so it doesn't give off a ton of light at all. I think it's a pretty small investment that could definitely help in low-light situations. I'm also planning on investing in a reflector when I can, which I think will help utilize as much available natural light as possible. HERE'S A LINK to the light I own.

Thanks for your question, J! Hope that helps...

Baby Jade | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2010-02-13T07:36:00.000-06:00

This was my fifth time photographing 8-month old baby Jade (if you count when she was in her mom's tummy). -you can see her other sessions HERE- She's such a happy baby and was a delight to capture this time...and "capture" is a good word to describe how the session went! Let's just say she's on the move and Mom got a good workout this time. Can you even stand all of those beautiful rolls?! Oh, I could just eat her up.

She just loves sticking that tiny tongue out.

Love that wavy blond hair, baby blues and new little teeth.

Could NOT resist getting a shot of those darling thighs.

Aren't her outfits just perfect? I love the simple girlish look of the dress, and the trendy tulle in her purple ensemble.

Did I mention she's a happy girl?

Thanks Heather! I look forward to at least another session before we both move!

Tell All...Thursday? | DIY Backdrop Stand | Philadelphia Photographer

2010-02-11T14:55:00.004-06:00

Ready for a Tell All...Thursday? All right! I finally found time to put this tutorial together for a do-it-yourself backdrop stand. This one was designed and put together by my husband's awesome parents. I'm sure there are many ways you could do this. This one simply dissects my stand and hopefully offers enough instruction for you to build one for yourself.

Hopefully this is self-explanatory, but please let me know if you have any questions!

*Sorry this is so small - for some reason it won't post larger! You should be able to save it and then zoom in yourself...but please don't repost or use it without proper credit and a link. Thanks!

Here's another look at the base, without all the writing. The reason the two shorter legs of the base are different lengths is so that they can twist and accomodate uneven ground. This has actually come in handy in some situations. Most of the joints are glued together with pvc pipe glue, but some aren't so that they can be pulled apart for storing and changing out pieces, etc.

Good luck!!

For some reason I couldn't get the tutorial image to post as large as I wanted. I've included it again below so you can hopefully click it and have it open larger in another window.

Snow Days! | Philadelphia Child & Family Photographer

2010-02-10T14:27:00.003-06:00

Unless you have your head under a rock, you know that the East Coast has gotten a lot of snow in the last five days. :) Here are some images I got of my cute little family checking out the winter wonderland outside, and even playing in it a bit. Today it's snowed even more - it's just crazy. Hope you're staying warm.

Love that dimpled hand.

And those dark eyelashes.

Whoo hoo!

2010-02-10T12:47:00.000-06:00

Computer problems are fixed (crossed fingers)!! Come back soon for new posts!

Computer Problems...

2010-02-09T14:35:00.003-06:00

Urrrgh. Our main computer is having major issues. We'll hopefully be getting them worked out soon. 'Til then I don't have my Photoshop and a few other major things. Stay tuned for session peeks when I get back up and running. I'm still able to check email on our old, almost-dead, laptop. But be patient with me please! And wish us luck. Someday I'll be able to afford a Mac...

Hang with me!

2010-02-03T21:25:00.002-06:00

We were out of town last weekend and I didn't get a Tell All Tuesday together for ya'll. Hang with me, it's coming, and it will be a guide to making your own background stand on the cheap.

Baby Wayle | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2010-01-30T14:27:00.000-06:00

Baby Wayle was just about a month old for his session. He was asleep when he got here, so we did the whole session in his cute decked-out outfit so we wouldn't wake him up! He woke up at the end of the session so we stripped him down to a diaper cover. :)

Loving those tight curls!

Wouldn't mind those pouty lips myself.

Thanks for a fun morning - it was so great to meet your little man!

Tell All Tuesday | Philadelphia Photographer

2010-01-26T20:53:00.005-06:00

All right, folks. It's 10pm and I'm posting a quick Tuesday Tell All post.

First up - a picture of the beanbag I use for my newborn shots. What a beauty, right? It was $5 at a yard sale and it's actually a children's beanbag chair, but it works for now. You also get a free peek at my messy basement. You're welcome.

Secondly, a few people asked about my lighting in the last few sessions. I supplemented my window light with a small umbrella light I got when I very first started out and haven't used much at all until now. It's only 27 watt so the light it adds is minimal, but I like it because it doesn't create any weird white balance issues. HERE'S THE LINK to the one I own.

Lastly, a new piece of equipment I used in the last two newborn sessions is a gray card. HERE IS THE ONE I own (it's the same one Erin Cobb uses), and I've loved it so far for my indoor newborn sessions. I just got it at Christmas and haven't used it outside on a child/family shoot, so we'll see how well it translates into those types of sessions. But for my immobile subjects, it was really easy to use. Each time I set up a shot, I would hold the gray card near the subject and adjust my exposure to -0- on the center of the card. Then I'd set a custom white balance using the picture I just took, and then I'd shoot away without adjusting the exposure at all, even though in most cases my camera was telling me I was overexposing since I used a lot of white in my setup (Want to know why that is? READ UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURE BY BRYAN PETERSON!). It was a quick step that saved me time in post-processing since my images were all nearly perfectly exposed (and let's face it, that just doesn't happen for me yet without a gray card).

Good luck in your photographic adventures this week! Feel free to email questions so I have something other than my gross basement to post next week.

Pigtails! | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2010-01-21T07:21:00.002-06:00

My little girl in her first pigtails. Oh. my. word.

Girl, I'm in love with you.

Tell All Tuesday | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2010-01-19T07:21:00.001-06:00

I declare today to be Tell All Tuesday. Just made that up right now. I bet you all have never seen a "Tell All Tuesday" on a blog before!

I sorted through gobs of question emails (ha) and found a couple to use for today's Tell All Tuesday. This one comes from Amber C. -

"You helped me early with getting my picture larger - thanks. I had one more question- if you need to crop the photo when do you do this in relation to the MCP Crystal Clear action [she's referring to MCP's Crystal Clear Web Resize and Sharpening action found HERE]? I still feel like my pictures are pixelated on my blog compared to Photoshop and I am sure some of it is how well I take the picture in the first place but it is frustrating when it looks different from my edit screen and the web. It is also hit and miss, sometimes it looks great- any ideas on cropping would be great."

Well, Amber, although I'm no expert on these things, I'm happy to go into more detail on posting images online (my first post about it found HERE). You want to make sure you crop before you use do any resizing. When you resize an image, you specify the dimensions you want the image to have (in pixels). Once that resizing has occurred, the image won't look right with any other dimensions. That's one of the benefits of resizing (besides creating a smaller-sized, more maneagable image), since people won't be able to save your image and print it without losing major quality.

Here's a little play-by-play of what I do when I resize, sharpen and watermark the images I will be posting online so you can follow along in using the resize & sharpen action with cropped images. There are probably better and easier ways to do this - I just don't know them. So if anyone DOES, please feel free to share!

This is my edited and slightly cropped image. It has been saved as a high resolution file. When I'm ready to resize and sharpen, I first double-click on the Image Size line.

The Image Size dialogue box pops up. Specify your resolution first (72 pixels is good) and then set the width (the height will auto fill). You want to make sure your width is NOT set wider than the width of the column it will be posted in (otherwise, it will be condensed to fit and you'll get pixelation of the image). Now hit OK.

The Image Size line will run, but the action in its entirety WILL NOT run. So what I do is hit Ctrl+Alt+Z to undo. The Image Size dimensions you set previously will be saved, but your image will go back to being really big.

Now we need to run the entire action. Click on the Crystal Clear Web Resize & Sharpening line and hit the play button.

The action has run. You can now see the image is being shown at 100%, so it should be the size you want it to be. If not, rework the Image Size numbers and redo it. Also note I've changed the opacity on the Sharpen layer to 30%.

Now I open the .psd file that has my watermark logo on it (sorry you can't see it very well, the background on the .psd file is transparent, but I've circled where the text is). I simply click and drag the text over onto my main image, reposition it, flatten, and save my now resized, sharpened and watermarked image.

I've also gotten a few questions about my setup for the newborn shots I've recently shared. First, every single image was shot with my Canon 40D and my Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. While I don't like using that lens outside, inside it does a fairly good job. I'm happy with its performance on these. I used a new seamless paper background that I love - it's by Savage and the color is Bone (bought on Amazon.com). There were also a couple questions about my lighting. I used the same setup I shared in THIS POST, with my table next to two large windows; however, I also pulled out my small umbrella light since the winter light is much more diffused and doesn't come in as strongly as in the summer months. I used the umbrella light on the opposite side of the window for some fill light. I also used one of my favorite actions for newborn work, Touch of Light (found free on MCP Action's blog HERE) quite a bit in some of the shots to brighten the skin. And one last question was if I softened the skin or used Portraiture at all. I wish I could afford Portraiture right now, but I can't. Instead, I use an action called Botox Brush, which I bought from VIBE ACTIONS (I have the Mixed Ride set, which I bought for Elements, but which works fine in my new CS4). They sometimes have sales (like their 50% off sale last Black Friday) and I'm happy to pass along word of sales here when I get them.

Okay, all, hope that answered a few questions! Feel free to ask away any time you'd like - who knows, maybe another Tell All Tuesday will be in our futures...

Baby Adrienne | Philadelphia Newborn Photographer

2010-01-16T06:46:00.001-06:00

Feast your eyes on another beautiful newborn! Baby Adrienne, who was 8 days old for her debut photo shoot, is as gorgeous as she is petite. She was an absolute rockstar and promptly fell asleep after a few minutes on my warm beanbag (with the space heater and sound machine mimicking an ocean getaway :) and stayed that way the entire time. I was also able to use a new prop - a gray netlike material I sewed into a wrap. Total? $1. It was a Halloween decoration I picked up at the Dollar Tree a couple years ago. Don't be afraid to get creative! I wasn't able to reign myself in this time either...so enjoy the huge peek.

Her tiny features and button nose are just the sweetest things ever.

A little smile!

I like this one in b/w too.

She looks like a tiny dewdrop on the right!

I love how these net ones came out.

Oh those little fingernails...love. them.

Thanks, cute B family. Loved every minute of this session!

Baby Kaitlyn | Philadelphia Newborn Photographer

2010-01-12T23:15:00.002-06:00

Baby Kaitlyn (who you've already seen a peek of) was 9 days old for this shoot, and was as sweet (and feisty) as can be. She fought going to sleep like crazy! But once her tummy was filled to the brim, she was out cold. Oh my, she is so gorgeous, and I just love the images we were able to capture...I'm really not leaving much for a surprise, but I can't help it.

LOVING those back wrinkles.

Finally got around to painting my doll bed (from Ikea) white. What a difference - I love it.

Kaitlyn's mom brought this darling hat.

I swear I could look at these all day long...I just love newborns.

Oh those lips! And toes!

Thanks for a fun morning, C family! Enjoy your precious baby girl.

In the details... | Philadelphia Newborn Photographer

2010-01-11T13:23:00.003-06:00

Oh how I love newborn shoots. Love. And lucky for me, I've got three to share with you soon. Here are some sweet detail shots I couldn't resist editing first from darling baby Kaitlyn. You'll be seeing much more of her soon! Enjoy the sneak peek C family!

Loving the back wrinkles and flaky newborn skin!

Oh, those tiny fingernails...

Stay tuned for more soon!

My Boy & Some Snow | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-01-08T19:51:00.004-06:00

This morning we woke up to a fresh layer of snow. During Cami's afternoon nap, I willed myself out into the cold to make my cute little Carson boy happy. I was even able to snap a few of him having some fun (until we got just too darn cold).

His reaction when I said, "Pretend you're a snowman!"

Little did I know he was planning a sneak attack.

SO happy at the thought of "getting me."

Cool kid.

Ready for a ride down the hill...

For some reason I just love this silhouette of a tree on our street.

Hope you're all staying warm!

Moving to St. Louis!

2010-01-07T13:53:00.003-06:00

As I previously explained, our family will be moving to St. Louis at the end of May. We're excited for the new adventure that lays ahead, and I'm excited to meet new wonderful children and families to photograph. In order to have my business up and running when we arrive in St. Louis, I will be using St. Louis tags instead of Philadelphia ones from now on.

P.S. My family sessions are completely full for the rest of my time here in Philly. I still have openings for newborns and indoor child shoots however!

Hayden | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2010-01-07T13:42:00.002-06:00

This was a fun, but different, type of shoot for me. Darling Hayden's mom hired me to photograph her first birthday party at The Little Gym in Narberth. The event was such a success and the little kiddos had a blast. Here's a peek at the fun party!

Didn't love the frosting. :)

Congratulations birthday girl on your big first year!

My Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2009-12-31T07:47:00.001-06:00

Every year I take pictures of our dear friends the J Family and Clar takes some of our family as well. It's a fun little tradition and makes getting a Christmas picture a lot easier! This year I wanted to be able to manually set the settings but make it doable for Clar - so I brought along my tripod (duh) and it worked like a charm. I'd have her stand in for me and get the shot set up and then all she had to do was snap the shutter! I'm so happy with how these turned out. These were taken the weekend of Halloween right as the leaves were turning, at my favorite field.

My dad was in town and helped out so much.

I love these sweet little moments with these two great guys.

Carson (3 1/2) and Camille (10 mos)

Clar took this one to update my profile pic...too bad I look like a hunchback! :)

We stood in the middle of the road to catch the beautiful leaves on a lawn across the street.

One I snapped on our way out.

Thanks so much for capturing these for me Clar...you da besss.

Baby Preston | Philadelphia Newborn Photographer

2009-12-28T07:24:00.000-06:00

My dear friend, Adri, had her second baby boy while I was vacationing in Utah for Christmas - so I was lucky enough to photograph the little 5-day old darling. I just wish I could have snapped my finger and transported him to my house where I have all my props and my little setup. But we were still able to get a few candids that I love.

He was a tough little guy and never quite fell all the way asleep. But is he not the cutest little thing? I love all that fuzzy hair. He reminds me of a teenage boy with a shaggy 'do.

Oh-so-kissable little lips...

I just love that fuzzy hair.

So sweet.

A not so happy moment.

LOVING the fuzzy skin.

So great to meet your little Preston, Adri girl. Love you all.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T14:20:00.002-06:00

...and a happy new year to you, too! We're still in Utah having the time. of. our. lives (we'll be back on the 29th). I hope your holiday was nice and warm and bright!

B Girls | Philadelphia Children Photographer

2009-12-23T07:42:00.002-06:00

These cute girls came over for a quick session before their baby sister came onto the scene this month. Aren't they adorable??!

Maggie Jane | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2009-12-14T22:26:00.001-06:00

My little friend Maggie (see newborn pics HERE) is about three months old already, so it was time for an update. She is the happiest, sweetest, smiliest baby girl and she is so very loved.

She just loves that thumb, and so do I.

You've got some nice rolls goin' there, Mags.

Hip hip, hooray! (Julie, we did catch the dimple.)

My other darling neighbor Amee crocheted some new hats for me and I love them!

In her sweet little happy place.

Couldn't resist snapping a few of her on Mom's lap.

Julie, if I promise to take pictures of Maggie allllll the time, will you please please not move?!?!

Full, yo...

2009-12-11T11:47:00.002-06:00

Thanks for all who have responded to be on the waiting list. I'm now booked for Spring 2010 family sessions! When the time comes, there may be cancellations, so if you'd still like to get on the waiting list, you can do so and I'll contact you if there are any openings. I should still have some openings for mini portrait sessions for newborns, babies and children in my home throughout May, but on a limited basis. Again, if you have a date in mind, email me NOW to reserve it. Thanks all!

Calet | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2009-12-09T07:29:00.000-06:00

Photographing this little beauty to celebrate her third birthday was such a treat! She's bubbly and a beautiful little girl, plus Mom is really good at suggesting additional poses, which I love. Some children lend well to b/w images, and Calet is one of them. I love the images we got and hope you do too, cute M family!

Couldn't decide...color or b/w?

On a personal note...

2009-12-08T21:36:00.002-06:00

My husband has matched to St. Louis University's orthodontic program! Although very exciting for our little family, it's already bringing on some very bittersweet emotions for me. I will be horribly, excrutiatingly sad to leave our awesome friends (who are more like family) and just as sad to leave my wonderfully fantastic clients here. As of now, the plan is to move around the end of May. So be aware that spring will be a very busy time as I try to cram as many sessions in as I can while packing up and moving as well. If you'd like to get on the waiting list for any session in 2010, email me as soon as you can to up your chances of making it happen!

My Girl | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2009-12-07T21:09:00.005-06:00

On Cami's birthday last week, I awoke to miraculously warm temperatures (about 60 degrees) and realized, with Carson off to preschool and limited time before Cami's nap, I had a short window where I just might be able to pull off an outdoor birthday shoot with my darling. In that little dress would you ever believe she's in Philly in December? So I dressed her on a whim and gathered things in a whirlwind, and headed for the trusty field a few miles away where we took our family pictures this year. It was muddy. Really muddy. It was deserted. A little scary (was that a rattlesnake I heard, or the wind whipping through the trees??!!). I was holding her, my giant bag, my camera, a doll bed and flokati rug as I squished and squashed my way down the slope from the street into the field. The sky was overcast and it was getting chilly, but my girl pulled through and gave me the images I was hoping to walk away with.

I adore with a capital "A" the work of AMANDA KEEYS. I love everything she does and she's one of my biggest inspirations. I was especially inspired by THIS POST where she hung bunting banners outdoors. On my way out the door I realized I could do the same thing with the banners I made for Cami's little party that night. I grabbed some sticky tack and hoped I'd figure something out. I am also constantly amazed by JINKY ART'S BLOG and the way she somehow perfectly captures the wonder of childhood in her photos. I was hoping to come away with a sliver of that in these images too. They fall far below the bar those two photographers have set, but I still love them nonetheless. My baby girl out in the field, just the two of us. And what do you know, she stayed still like a champ, taking in all the new sights around her. It was a perfect afternoon, if you ask me. And you did, right?

Sorry if they get a bit redundant...

Some of the backgrounds look almost painted, but they aren't photoshopped.

She kept picking plants and showing me. LOVE her.

Definitely a fave. This is her silly smile.

Another fave.

Adore that profile.

Every time she'd laugh, she'd turn away from me in glee.

Happy birthday, beauty. Thanks for making my day (which is par for the course for you).

O-N-E! | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2009-12-04T21:49:00.003-06:00

My Cami girl turned ONE yesterday! I was able to snap these shots right when she woke up. She's at such a tough age for me to photograph right now because she's all over the place, but these were just for fun anyways. Later in the day while brother was at preschool I took her outside for a fun shoot. Those pictures to come...I love them so hopefully I'll get them up soon.

Not in focus, but I still love her cute reaction to me singing her happy birthday.

No, Cami Jo...stay! STAY!!

I'm pretty sure this is what she was yelling...if I remember right.

Nothing like a great birthday snot shot (this taken right after a sneeze, poor thing).
I love this girl more than her little body can even imagine. I can hardly stand it!! Happy birthday, cutie pest.

Cami and Cameron, sitting in a tree... | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2009-12-02T09:35:00.003-06:00

Here's a little series I got of my Cami with her little boyfriend Cameron when we took family pictures in October. Aren't they cute? I'm playing with this new watermark. What do you think? This one or my yellow logo?

Oooh, Cami...your first diss from a boy. Ouch.

Love these babies.

Vibe Sale Today

2009-11-27T08:07:00.002-06:00

I got a Black Friday email from Vibe and thought I'd pass along the news...their entire shop is 50% off today. I use their Mixed Ride action set (for Elements 5...but it works fine in CS4 now too) quite a bit. I use the Gentle Boost action on nearly every single image I edit, and use the Botox Brush action on newborns.

Go to their site HERE, and happy shopping!

These are a few of my favorite (photography) things...

2009-11-25T14:03:00.018-06:00

I've been compiling this list in my mind for a while now, and figure it'd be better to share them sooner than later!

1. MCP Actions Touch of Light/Touch of Darkness action (found free HERE, along with her other free actions). I've used this on almost all my photos lately. LOVE IT. I typically use it to softly lighten up a few areas of the face - especially around the eyes. Just follow her directions to use it. I use it at 20% on the brush, and sometimes change the opacity of the layer to 80%.

2. High Pass Filter. This is how I've sharpened my photos lately for print (for online viewing I do additional sharpening as detailed in my Help on Posting Images post HERE). I followed Stacey Bishop's tutorial HERE and it's very easy. I created an action that does a high pass filter and then changes the opacity to 50%, which is typically how I leave it.

3. Understanding Exposure, by Bryan Peterson. If I haven't mentioned this book before on my blog, I should have. This is my absolute favorite photography book and it's what catapulted me from shooting on the "P" setting to manual this summer. Yes, you read that right, I only started shooting manual this summer (ouch, it's painful to admit). This book made everything click for me. If you haven't read it, please oh please do. I rented the old film version from our library and it was phenomenal.

4. Shortcuts for zooming in/out. I can't remember where I read this (maybe Digital Photography School's blog?) but I use it all. the. time. Hold down Ctrl + Space bar as a shortcut to the zoom in tool, and Ctrl + Alt as a shortcut to the zoom out tool. This has saved me so much time and I don't know that I would ever have figured it out on my own. Also, if you double-click on the hand tool (looks like a white hand), your image will fill the screen (use this ALL THE TIME too!), and if you double-click on the zoom tool (looks like a magnifying glass), your image will go to 100%. These are such handy tricks I only recently learned about.

5. Highlight/Shadow Clipping Warning in Camera Raw.

Recently, I somehow accidentally turned on my Highlight/Shadow Clipping Warnings in Camera Raw. I LOVE THIS!! Here's a screen shot. Look in the upper right-hand corner where the histogram is. There's a triangle at the shadow end and another at the highlight end. Click on those so that the warnings are activated. Essentially, this means when your highlights are blown (or clipped on the histogram), they'll show up as red on your image, and when your shadows are blown (or clipped), they'll show up as blue. You can see in my image above that there's a bit of both in my image. I then move the exposure slider over until the red disappears (unless it's on a part of the image that I don't care about, like the background if my subject is backlit) and not further, since you want to push your histogram as far as possible without clipping. This has really helped me figure out how to better nail my exposure as I see I consistently over-expose a bit, even though to my eye it's not over-exposed (if that makes sense).

6. Learning to read my histogram. Along those same lines, these videos on learning to read your histogram to nail your exposure were helpful to me, posted on MCP Action's site and created by John Mireles:

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

Well, that's all for now! Hopefully this helps someone out there. Let me know if any of this doesn't make sense!

G Family | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2009-11-17T07:45:00.000-06:00

Here is what will likely be my last outdoor session of the year, and likely until next Spring. These girls were adorable!! I loved their outfits and they were so sweet with each other. The first set of pictures speak to me about the bond they have with each other already. I was going for a classic look, but that embodied a bit of what childhood is about...out in a grassy field on a doll bed. Not sure why that touches me as what childhood is about, but it does. Hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Meet Rachel (4) and Laila (almost 2)

Laila makes some great faces...had to include this one.

Showing me her "sunflower" (which is her favorite).

I love all the images where Rachel is smiling at Laila.

Doesn't that big smile just make you want to smile?

What a beautiful family.

Thanks so much for working hard alongside me to get these images! It was great to meet you and I'm glad we were able to pull this off last minute. :)

B Family | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2009-11-12T07:43:00.001-06:00

Another (non) Mini Session from last weekend. I'm posting tons because I love them all. This family was a blast to work with and I have to admit I got extra excited when I saw the little guy's red hair. Meet Joe Joe (18 months) and his big brother Gideon (4 years) and their super fun parents.

So great to meet your cute family...I hope your drive home was less eventful than your drive to the session! :)

W Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2009-11-09T07:12:00.001-06:00

I met this adorable family for an outdoor mini session last weekend. I learned that I really can't do outdoor mini sessions! I took a lot of pictures and edited far more than I was planning on because I simply couldn't just toss those priceless moments. Dylan (13 months) did his job and gave me a run for my money at times. He's so cute and all over the place and was in heaven outside running around.

He LOVED the trike I brought...and I think Santa was listening!

I love Dad's smile in this one...is it the picture of contentment or what?

Thanks W Family...enjoy!

J Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2009-11-04T21:16:00.007-06:00

Awww...love this family. They're some of our bestest friends ever and it's a tradition of ours to take each other's family pictures every year. Last fall I drove by this little park close to our home and knew I wanted to do pictures there this year. I love the wildness of the foliage and the diverse texture. So without further ado, the J family:

Carson thinks Tommy and Cameron are in our family. :)

Like it in b/w too.

3 1/2 years old!

I'll post some of what Clar got of our family sometime soon...

Outdoor Mini Sessions | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2009-11-02T19:09:00.003-06:00

Since the weather warmed up a bit, and I had several families on a waiting list in case I had any more availability this fall, I decided to hold an afternoon of mini sessions THIS Saturday, November 7th. I only have ONE more spot available.

The details:

Saturday, November 7th 3:30pm
$75.00
20-25 min session
5-7 images on a disc
Merion Park (on Merion Rd. off of City Ave.)

If you're interested, email me ASAP!

Strasburg Railroad | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2009-11-01T09:57:00.001-06:00

Yesterday we drove out to Lancaster with my dad, who was in town. We stopped by the Strasburg Railroad Station on our way home and I love these. A train pulled up a few minutes after we arrived...perfect timing.

It's so beautiful near Lancaster.

(It was a windy day :)

C Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2009-10-30T08:46:00.000-05:00

What a treat this session was! The C Family moved from Philly to Vermont a few months ago, but came down for a visit last weekend and we were able to squeeze in a session. The forecast was rain all day, but we wanted it to work out so badly...and it did! We had a half hour or so of rainfree morning and then we pulled out the umbrellas and they worked it.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention why this session was such a treat...A) how cute are they? B) they were just placed with their beautiful baby girl not long ago and wanted to document their darling family in Philadelphia! I absolutely love working with families that have adopted...the love in this family was so apparent, and it always makes me extra grateful for my beautiful children.

Love Park.

Had to include this outtake...Mom's got a hand on her head and a baby sucking on her arm!

Handsome Tayeson (5 yrs)

And darling Ezmai (2 mos)

Umbrellas on Broad Street

Hope you made it home safe and sound...it was lovely to finally meet you. Good luck with everything, C Family!

Daven | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2009-10-26T09:13:00.004-05:00

Meet handsome Daven, the six year-old cutie I did a portrait session with last week. He was so cooperative and went along with all of my chair-moving and spot-finding in the alley (maybe I'll start capitalizing it? The Alley?). I look forward to more sessions with this family in the future.

Love that darling gap!

What a cool dude.

We had planned an indoor mini session, but it was so nice outside we did most of the shots outdoors...but then we finished up with a couple inside.

Thanks, M family - your gallery's coming soon!

Cameron | Philadelphia Baby Photographer

2009-10-22T07:29:00.000-05:00

Cameron's big brother, Tommy, is Carson's best friend. They hooked up for a park playdate today and then we hung out for a little while at our place. I just couldn't look at Cameron's beautiful (in a handsome way) blue eyes, porcelain skin and fuzzy red-blonde hair for one more second without capturing it for forever! So....I pulled out the white chair and walked out to my trusty alley (tired of alley shots yet? sorry, more to come soon...). Oh he is the cutest guy ever with his three (yes three!) arm rolls. Almost eight months old already...

Clar - here's a good shot of those two new teeth!

Look at the starbursts in his eyes...unreal.

Oh what would I do without a camera? I do believe it's become a part of who I am.

Porter | Philadelphia Newborn Photographer

2009-10-19T07:32:00.002-05:00

Meet baby Porter, a darling, brand new eight-day old I was lucky enough to photograph recently. We were able to squeeze in a session right before his family moved to Washington state. Hope you're getting settled and enjoy these images of your adorable little ones.

Porter sported this cute scowl for the first part of the session.

Oh, I just LOVE that baby fuzz!

There's that scowl again...

Such kissable little lips.

This is Porter's big sister, Morgan. Such a cutie, right?

Givin' him a good squeeze.

We stepped over to the alley for a couple quick family shots. I swear this was the last nice day we'll have til Spring. :(

I was pulling out all my usual tricks to get Morgan to look at me and smile, but the more I tried, the more confused her looks became. "Wait, there's a princess IN your camera?? You're not making any sense, lady!!!" I still love this one with her creamy skin and beautiful eyes...and you can see the gears just turning in her head to try and figure me out.

Then she started spinning on her own...who'da thought that was the key to smiles?

Thanks for trusting me with your new little guy, cute W family. Good luck in WA!

J Family | Philadelphia Family Photographer

2009-10-17T07:26:00.001-05:00

This family is always such a treat to photograph. Jade and Taegen probably look familiar by now. I was excited when Mom said she wanted the session to have an "urban look" - we headed to University City and everyone did great, considering it was chilly and a bit windy. I love the outfits...what a fun session.

Can't believe she's already four months old!

So fun to see her smiling now.

Can't wait for our next Jade session!

Tips from Amy Wenzel

2009-10-15T19:06:00.003-05:00

Here's a helpful post from photog genius AMY WENZEL giving 10 tips for getting sharper images. Read it HERE. I subscribed in the sidebar to receive email tips, etc. Check it out!

Pricing

2009-10-15T10:44:00.007-05:00

{All prices and services subject to change at any time.}

SESSION PRICING

Classic Session - $125

Up to a 2 hour session
Location of your choice (if not within 30 minutes of Upper Darby, PA travel fee may apply).
Session disc included with ~30 retouched images and rights to reproduce.
Up to 5 people ($15/person beyond that).
Applies to couple, maternity, baby, child and family sessions.
20% off one order placed from your online session gallery.

Mini Session - $75

1 hour session at my home (in a small natural lit, studio-type setting).
Session disc included with ~15 retouched images and rights to reproduce.
Applies only to baby and child sessions.
For more than one subject, add $10 per child.
If there is more than one subject, the time and images will be split between them.

Newborn Session - $125

2-3 hour session at my home (in a small natural lit, studio-type setting).
Session disc included with ~25 retouched images and rights to reproduce.
Includes sibling shots and parent/baby shots if desired.
20% off one order placed from your online session gallery.

A Bit of Both Plan - $250

TWO Mini Sessions and ONE Classic Session for your baby and family.
All three sessions must take place within one year (e.g., a newborn session, a six-month session, and a one-year session OR a maternity session, a newborn session and a family session, etc.).
Two sessions must be Mini Sessions taking place at my home, and one session may be a Classic Session taking place at any location of your choice.
Session disc included for each session, with rights to reproduce.
20% off one order placed from your online session gallery.

PRINT & PRODUCT PRICING

Print Packages

Basic Package
2 - 8x10
2 - 5x7
4 - 4x6
24 wallets
Regular Finishes - $40
Metallic Finish - $55

Multiples (same pose)

Regular Finishes
50 4x6 - $30
75 4x6 - $40
100 4x6 - $50

Metallic Finish
50 4x6 - $40
75 4x6 - $55
100 4x6 - $65

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Individual Print Pricing

Regular Finishes (Matte, Luster & Glossy)
4x6 - $2
5x5 - $4
5x7 - $6
4 wallets - $4
8 wallets - $7
8x10 - $12
10x10 - $15
11x14 - $20
16x20 - $50
16x24 - $65
20x24 - $80
20x30 - $95

Metallic Finish
4x6 - $3
5x5 - $5
5x7 - $7
4 wallets - n/a
8 wallets - $9
8x10 - $14
10x10 - $19
11x14 - $24
16x20 - $65
16x24 - $80
20x24 - $95
20x30 - $105

Canvas Prints
All canvases are gallery wrap-mounted.
11x14 - $100
16x20 - $150
20x24 - $200
20x30 - $250
24x36 - $300
30x40 - $350

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Additional Products

Greeting Cards (all sets include envelopes)
25 4x8 photo cards - $25
50 4x8 photo cards - $35
10 5x7 folded cards - $30
25 5x7 folded cards - $45
12 3.5x5 folded cards - $25
24 3.5x5 folded cards - $35

Ada | Philadelphia Child Photographer

2009-10-14T07:18:00.000-05:00

Is little Ada just the sweetest little thing, or what?! I was pleased as punch to photograph her and her awesome parents. I adored her darling outfit and loved her precious little smiles and wispy hair even more!

Told you the hair is darling...

Couldn't NOT get one of her super cute shoes.

Thanks, F family...your gallery will be up shortly!

Simmandi Recap 4 | Philadelphia Fitness Photographer

2009-10-11T08:43:00.000-05:00

Here's the last set of Simmandi images. Good luck in New York, girl! I've got a good feeling about you. :)

Simmandi Recap 3 | Philadelphia Fitness Photographer

2009-10-09T08:32:00.001-05:00

I adore this next set of Simmandi pictures...it was SO fun playing with the light and catching that yummy sun flare. I've decided I must try it more often.

Simmandi Recap 2 | Philadelphia Fitness Photographer

2009-10-08T13:49:00.002-05:00

Here's a recap of Simmandi's second look - bathing suit! We were in a park shooting these, so she had to suspend her embarassment and work it. At one point, some older gentleman walked by with an earpiece saying he was a federal agent looking for someone and then continued on his merry way. What?! What was the point of saying that? Did he want us to be careful? Because he didn't say that...and as Simmandi was in a bikini and heels she wasn't exactly in "run from the bad guy" mode. Was he lying and trying to impress the pretty girl? No idea. It still makes me laugh though.

My favorite is as I was editing these thinking, "Man, she looks SO GOOD!" I was sitting on my butt chowing down on chips.

The light was delicious.

Playing with a tilt-shift action...verdict? Love it!

Stay tuned for the last two looks!