Photographer's Family

For Father's Day, I decided to gather my clan together and ATTEMPT portraits. I was mainly hoping for some of just the boys separate, the boys together and the boys with daddy. That didn't quite go as planned because there is a rule to be a photographer parent....you must not raise the child with a camera in his/her face or else you will get pouty faces and "I never ever want to take pictures ever again"!

Either way, I did get some great shots and I even got a decent family photo that many seem to want.

And I must share this one in black and white as I am deeply in love with it

I have a few of my son and I but will add those later!

Signs by LC Earrings-Product Photography

I had bought these earrings from a great vendor Signs by LC not long ago and I am just now getting around to editing the photos I took of them and posting them online.

They are made from Tibetan Silver and are so great you won't stop getting compliments on them.

300 Fan Giveaway!!!! Over $100 in Prizes

This giveaway is not associated with or sponsored by Facebook. Liking any of the below Facebook pages does not constitute immediate entry into this giveaway. The off site (blog) entry must be completed to enter OR you MUST comment on a photo you would like to win in the album on the Facebook Fan Page....not "like" but comment!!!! 

This "journey" I have taken as a photographer has been, at times, frustrating yet rewarding! I have been very grateful to meet so many wonderful people; clients, vendors and other photographers. You all have been so support and shown me on Facebook that you like me. So, therefore, I am ready to YOU how much I appreciate it by putting together this awesome giveaway just in time to reach 300 fans! 300 may not seem like many to some of you but for me that is a goal I have tried so hard for the last month to reach and I am excited to have reached that big number.

If you are ready, I will introduce to you the great (and talented) sponsors!

Mai Prop Creations ~Newborn Bear Hat, Diaper Cover, Ball Tail Combo
Facebook Page

Mai Prop Creations sells beautifully, hand crocheted props for newborns/children of all ages. She sells them to photographers and/or parents! Mai Prop Creations has generously donated a teddy bear hat along with a diaper cover worth $25. This is a newborn sized hat/diaper cover.

Heather Maries Bows ~Independence Day InfantTutu
Facebook Page

Heather Maries Bows creates much more than just bows. She also creates hair bow holders, decorative hair clips, crocheted blankets, fleece tie blankets as well as tutus. These make for great photography props if not just to have your little one dress up around the house. Heather Maries Bows has donated this beautifully made 4th of July tutu (worth $25) just in time for the glorious holiday. The tutu is 14-20 inches wide in the waist and 8 1/2 inches long. Great for infants!

SewInspired ~Zebra Print Checkbook Cover
Facebook Page
Etsy Shop

SewInspired has some beautifully sewn products such as Cosmetic cases, coasters, purses/tote bags, Ipod cases as well as check book covers. She is pretty new to the industry and looking for this business to help profit her way through school. She has generously donated this zebra print check book cover with your choice of Red, Blue or Pink ribbon worth $8. This would be a great gift for yourself, your mother, your aunt, your grandmother, or any woman in your life! It is also great because with this cover, you are sure to never lose your checkbook in your purse or car ever again!

Signs by LC ~Tibetan Silver Wings Earrings
Facebook Page
Etsy Shop

Signs by LC custom makes signs, leather items, dresses, aprons, as well as necklaces from guitar picks, dominoes and scrabble tiles. She also makes earrings with many different charms. I am a huge fan of Signs by LC as I have a couple pairs of her earrings and I get a lot of great comments and compliments on them. She is very easy to work with as well if you would like anything custom made with photos of loved ones, favorite bands, etc and no 2 pieces will ever be the same. Signs by LC's earrings/charms are made of Tibetan silver and are great quality! I have already bought several from her! I had the privilege of choosing which earrings would go into this giveaway and I chose the Small Wings Earrings because I, for one, am in love with these as they are beautifully crafted and because I also have a pair and get lots of compliments on them.

Eternally Hooked (Crocheted Hats, Photo Props and More!) ~$10 Gift Card
Facebook Page
Etsy Shop

Eternally Hooked has handcrafted hats, beanies, newborn photo props and much much more. Everything is made to order so if you do not see anything you like in her shop, let her know and she will make it right up for you. Therefore, she will not leave you disappointed. Eternally Hooked is offering up a $10 gift card towards anything in her shop! You won't want to miss out on this chance as she has some darling products!

Sugar Baby Crochet ~Crocheted Headband
Facebook Page

Sugar Baby Crochet crochets custom made headbands, hats as well as blankets. She is still pretty new to the Facebook world but has some great products. She has donated a headband worth about $8. Sugar Baby Crochet made this headband just for this giveaway so the winner will be very lucky to receive this. It is beautifully crafted with gorgeous colors.

A tutu for any little princess ~Red Crochet Headband with Red/Zebra Flower
Facebook Page
Etsy Shop

A Tutu For Any Little Princess sells much more than tutus! Because every princess deserves a tutu, A Tutu For Any Little Princess custom makes any and all tutus as well as fairy wings and headbands. They have all sorts of headbands ranging from the skinny newborn headbands to the crocheted headbands and all come with or without a flower clip of your choice. A Tutu For Any Little Princess is offering up this beautiful Red Crochet Headband with a Red/Zebra Print Flower Clip. The clip is removable so you can put whatever flower you want on your headband if you already have more flower clips or you could purchase more from her. I, as a photographer, have already ordered about 4 or so of these headbands and clips and I like the range and style of them. Typically these are on auction on her Facebook or she has them for sale at $5. They are greatly priced but you could have this for free!

SaraLili Creations ~Hot Pink Bow/Blk &Blue Hair Clips
Facebook Page

Saralili Creations is super brand new to the Facebook world. Saralili Creations started out making hair bows for her cousins and thought it great to start up shop. I am so glad she decided to be a sponsor in this giveaway and I hope she has great success in the future with her shop! Saralili Creations has so sweetly offered to giveaway a hairbow as well as some small bow clips. These are worth around $12 together and are super-dee-duper cute (yes, I just pulled a "Barney")

Mingling with Beads ~Patriotic Ring
Facebook Page
Etsy Shop

Mingling with Beads makes a wide variety of jewelry for all different price ranges. She is generously donating this patriotic ring in honor of the 4ht of July coming up! Mingling with Beads jewelry is mostly wire-worked and very rare which makes it so unique and beautiful. She also makes jewelry for men as well as children. Also, if you do not see anything that is your liking, contact her and she will be more than happy to custom make something for you. This ring is adjustable in size but can be made to fit larger and is worth close to $8.

So, I bet you are now wondering how you could possibly win all these fabulous gifts?!?!

Mandatory Entry:
Please go through the list and "like" all the following Facebook pages with your personal page:
1. Photography By Teresa
2. Mai Prop Creations
3. Heather Maries Bows
4. SewInspired
5. Signs by LC
6. Eternally Hooked (Crocheted Hats, Photo Props and More!)
7. Sugar Baby Crochet
8. A Tutu For Any Little Princess
9. Saralili Creations
10. Mingling with Beads

Please "heart" the following Etsy shops
1. SewInspired
2. Signs by LC
3. Eternally Hooked (Crocheted Hats, Photo Props and More!)
4. A Tutu For Any Little Princess
5. Mingling With Beads

After you have become a fan of all these wonderful vendors, leave a comment with the following information (all in just one comment please!):
1. A statement confirming your likes!
2. Your name as seen on Facebook
3. Your Etsy username
4. Your email address.

Now you are entered for a chance to win one of these great prizes!!!

BUT....if you prefer not to do all the commenting, go "like" each of these vendors and tag me on their wall as well as comment under the photo of your choice that you would love to win for a chance to win that product! (only one comment per photo please)

This giveaway will end June 26, 2011 at midnight. (edited so that vendors/sponsors can ship their items in time for July 4th)


The winner will be selected at random on the following day. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email/facebook status regarding the win or another winner will be selected.

That's all there is to it. Have fun and good luck and thank you all for being a fan of Photography By Teresa!

Alexander-Full Session

Nathaniel's cousin also got his photos taken the same day and what a ham he was! He was so full of life and giggles. Most photographers I have been around would edit out drool strings or spit bubbles but I see them as pure perfection of a child his age. They also show personality so therefore, I leave them in the photos.

Baby Nathaniel-Full Session

I posted a teaser photo a few days back. Well, I am here to post several photos from that session. Nathaniel was so tiny and so very well behaved. He didn't sleep 100% of the time but I will take half of that over not photographing a baby at all, any day!

Behind The Scenes

I don't typically like for clients to snap photos with their "professional" cameras when I am photographing because I feel sometimes they may try to start up their own business and use those photos. I welcome anyone that wants to tag along or learn and have gotten my approval before lugging their bulky camera to a session. A pocket sized point and shoot is no big deal though. Or even a cell phone. I welcome them to take any photos in between shots or before or after the session as long as they credit the photos back to myself. I do love behind the scenes shots though.

Here are some behind the scenes captured yesterday during a newborn session. Most taken with a cell phone hence the reason they are dark or blurred.

Alexander-9 months Old

If you remember, I did a friend of mine's baby shower photos back in July last year. I was finally able to see her baby boy for the first time today as well as take his photos. He was a very active little man as well as very happy when mommy made him laugh.

When I first met Alexander, I was greeted by getting to hold him and then just a few seconds later he spit up on me. It was no big deal as I have been there done that with my own kid so I was not upset one bit. Clothes can be wiped and washed!

Here is a teaser photo of Alexander laughing at his mommy. The back story is that his mom went outside the house and stood in front of the windows I was shooting near. She would in turn make silly faces and funny noises to get him to smile or laugh. He is not quite looking at the camera but in my mind, that doesn't matter as it is capturing his personality!

Baby Nathaniel

Nathaniel was born several weeks early. His mother and I were actually just scheduling a time for his newborn session the night she went into labor. Well, actually several hours BEFORE she went into labor. He didn't want to be a July baby, he insisted on June. He was born at 5 pounds 10 ounces and 18.5 inches long. What a tiny little peanut.
I was a wee bit excited though because his great great great uncle carved a trench bowl and he was able to fit perfectly inside that bowl.
I always tell the parents not to worry if the baby pees or poos on my blankets/props because the blankets are all washable. Turns out, Nathaniel did his duty on a white blanket but no biggie because it is in the wash as I type this. The good news is, I have yet to have a baby pee or poo on me (including my own child) and I am still safe to say that.

With all that said, here is a teaser photo of Baby Nathaniel in his great great great uncle's trench bowl.

Battle At F-Stop Ridge