Shadeleaf Studios

Our Blog Has Moved!!

2009-03-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

Our blog has moved to a new, improved site. Check it out - I think you'll like what you'll see!

www.shadeleafstudios.com/blog

More Multiples {Durham Baby Photographer}

2009-03-06T22:35:00.001-08:00

I just had to share one more sneak peek from the Durham casting call sessions. One of my favorite parts about my job is photographing so many gorgeous babies. It's an added bonus when they arrive in sets of two - especially when they're sitting up but not yet mobile - it's the perfect age to have your baby's portrait taken!

Don't these sweet little ones have the most beautiful eyes?

Twins {Durham Child Photographer}

2009-03-06T21:36:00.000-08:00

I've finished the first round of casting call sessions in my home studio in Durham. I can't begin to express my excitement for the amazing response the casting call has received. It's been such a pleasure meeting so many fun families, and I can't wait to meet more families and adorable children during the next round of sessions.

If you responded to the casting call and still have not heard back regarding your session date and time, please know that I am working my hardest to finalize everyone's sessions. I'm still narrowing down a date for weekday sessions (darn that whole childcare thing), and plan on having at least one more Saturday full of mini sessions.

I'm still editing the first set of sessions, but this image immediately grabbed my attention and I had to play with it. These twins took a little while to warm up to me, but once they were ready, they turned up the cute factor for the camera, and we captured some beautiful images in a very short amount of time.

Expecting {Durham Maternity Photographer}

2009-03-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

I've received several requests for maternity sessions recently, and I couldn't be happier about it. I love photographing bellies - each one is a work of art. It's such a pleasure to capture the quiet joy on the faces of an expectant couple as they think about the little life that is about to join theirs.

Photographing maternity sessions reminds me of my own pregnancies. I have fond memories of the nights I lay awake feeling those amazing movements inside my tummy (and sometimes wishing the baby didn't have quite such good aim) and wondering what my daughters would look like and what the future would hold for them. I am grateful for the opportunity to relive those memories every time I have the privilege of photographing another family's expectant joy.

The "A" family was no exception. This sweet baby will be joining a family full of love. Mom and dad are ready to welcome their new bundle with open arms, and the baby will also experience the added joy of a big sister who is ready to play with and look out for her younger sibling.

These last two images are two of my new all-time favorites. I love how "K" looks like she's sharing a secret with her little sibling in the first image, and the squished-closed eyes in the last image melt my heart - she is going to be SUCH a wonderful big sister!

Thank you for sharing this time in your life with me, "A" family. I can't wait to photograph your little newborn in a few weeks!

Casting Call

2009-02-16T17:19:00.000-08:00

I have received an enormous response to the casting call I released a couple of days ago. If you have not yet heard back from me, I'm not ignoring you. I'm still sorting through emails as quickly as possible, and will be contacting parents very soon regarding portrait sessions.

Due to the nature of the casting call (I am seeking a wide variety of age groups and "looks"), I may not be able to use every applicant at this time. If I am unable to offer you a portrait session for this round of sessions, please know that I am grateful for your interest, and I will keep you on my waiting list for future sessions.

Adorable Siblings

2009-02-09T13:32:00.000-08:00

I had the joy of photographing these two adorable siblings for their Valentine's Day portraits. The baby boy was full of smiles, and he was at the perfect sitting-up-but-not-yet-mobile stage. I think everyone should have their baby's portrait done at this age. :)

This is not a typical facial expression for this little man, but it was so cute I just had to capture it!

Big sister was full of personality - we had tons of fun jumping and dancing
together.

She also gave us some more "dramatic" expressions.

We were also able to capture some adorable images of the two siblings together.

Miss "K"

2009-02-02T17:37:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Miss "K" also participated in our mini sessions. She was a joy to photograph, and followed directions so well that I was almost surprised at how quickly the session ended. We captured plenty of beautiful images, though, and I'm excited to share them with you.

Pink is one of my favorite colors, so I was thrilled when so many of my subjects showed up for their mini sessions wearing various shades of pink - especially since it coordinates so well with one of my favorite chairs.

We switched things up a bit to capture some action shots - I love the joy that can be captured on a child's face when they're jumping or dancing. Thanks, Miss "K." It was a pleasure meeting you!

Miss "A"

2009-02-02T17:29:00.001-08:00

Spunky Miss "A" participated in our Valentine's Day mini sessions. She was full of energy, and sitting still on the backdrop was the last thing on her mind (as it is for little ones with any sort of mobility). Through the combined efforts of her parents and with a little help from Hannah Montana, we were able to capture some wonderful poses and expressions.

Here she is all decked out for Valentine's Day. I absolutely adore the coordinating hair bow.

After a while, we switched things up and Miss "A" changed into a tutu. It was time to dance and play!

A favorite teddy bear joined the in fun at the end.

First Valentine's Day Sneak Peek!

2009-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun photographing Valentine's Day mini sessions this weekend. Here is a sneak preview from my first session. I will post previews from some of the other sessions very soon.

Valentine's Day Mini Sessions

2009-01-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

There are still a few time slots available for our Valentine's Day Mini Sessions on January 23rd and 24th. The session fee is just $35 and includes 20 mini Valentine's cards (perfect for distributing to classmates in school or daycare). Plus, if you refer a friend, you will receive a $20 print credit! Call today to reserve your preferred time slot!

Mr. "F"

2008-12-27T15:03:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when "F's" mother told me her idea for this series of portraits. She is absolutely gorgeous, and I knew the images would be beautiful. There are several more images in this series, and it was difficult to narrow down my choices to share on the blog, but here are a couple of my favorites. I also had trouble choosing between color and black and white (Mr. "F" has the most stunningly beautiful blue eyes), but I feel like the black and white provides a bit more impact on the second portrait.

The "G" Family

2008-12-27T14:46:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite things about portrait photography is the opportunity I have to watch families interact. Whether it's a mother and her baby, a young couple about to be married, or siblings playing together, every relationship is beautiful and fascinating, and I feel privileged to be able to share in these every day interactions.

The "G" family was no exception. Every child has a very distinct personality, which we were able to capture in their individual portraits. But I also love the images of the sisters playing with the "snow" and then showing the "snow" to their baby brother to help him stay still for the group portrait. They played so well together, and it truly shows in the last image.

I hope you enjoy viewing these Winter Wonderland portraits.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T16:28:00.000-08:00

The presents are all unwrapped and the little ones are enjoying their gifts, so I figured I'd take a moment to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is safe, warm, and enjoying the comforts of family and friends. I wish you all the very best!

I'm sharing a few images from our Christmas tree. It was a very last minute effort (we put the tree up on Christmas Eve), but it was actually a really neat experience to decorate the tree on Christmas Eve.

Here are a couple of the really neat ornaments I found at Old Navy last year after Christmas for 75% off. They matched my tree's color scheme (candy colors - pink, purple, blue, red, silver, green, and aquamarine), and I totally forgot that I bought them. So it was like an early Christmas present this year when I discovered them. :)

And a couple images of the full tree in all its' sparkly glory.

Little Miss "P"

2008-12-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

I truly enjoyed meeting Miss "P" and her mom this weekend. The portraits are a surprise for dad - Shhh! Don't tell! :)

I love the challenge of entering someone's home for the first time and finding the best area to set up for portraits. I was really lucky for this session - the dining room made a perfect studio! We started out using Miss "P's" favorite Pottery Barn chair. I love the fun, simple backdrop it created.

When she was bored with one chair, we traded it out for another chair - I love the texture, and she loved playing peek-a-boo with mommy.

After a while, she became bored with the props, and it was time to explore the rest of the house. I was mesmerized by her big, beautiful eyes.

Finally, it was time to play with toys and check out the Christmas tree.

Don't Try This at Home

2008-12-02T09:28:00.001-08:00

Most mommies would probably tell their child to stop immediately if they saw this going on in their child's room. We've all read "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed," and we know what can happen. Well, I just couldn't deny the photographer in me - I told my daughter to wait while I grabbed my camera, and then I told her to proceed with what she was doing.

I need to remind her of this the next time she gets mad at me for not being a "fun mommy."

Baby "R"

2008-11-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

I am so in love with this beautiful newborn and his gorgeous big brother. These images are the reason I highly recommend commissioning your newborn session within the first 2 weeks of life (the earlier, the better). Your baby will sleep through much of the session and will still be flexible enough for the "squishy" newborn poses.

Hats are my very favorite accessory for any baby session between 0-18 months. While I do have a few hats on hand for newborns (and I'm always adding to my collection), I highly recommend investing in one or two chunky knit baby hats for your portrait session.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Special... Double Your Dollars!

2008-11-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

Shadeleaf Studios is offering a great way to get more bang for your buck during the Holidays by offering Double Your Dollar Gift Certificates!

When purchased between November 28, 2008 and December 1, 2008 and redeemed between December 1 2008 and June 1, 2009, your gift certificate will be worth DOUBLE the face value!

Use it for yourself or have a family member purchase one (or two or three) for you. Portrait gift certificates also make great gifts for friends and family members, or FANTASTIC baby shower gifts!

Double Your Dollar Gift Certificates are sold in increments of $50. There is no limit to the number of gift certificates you may purchase, but in order to Double the Value, they MUST be purchased by December 1, 2008 and redeemed by June 1, 2009.

"Z" Family

2008-11-27T12:22:00.000-08:00

The "Z" Family was so much fun!

The twins were full of energy and absolutely adorable. And they didn't laugh at me too much when I talked about Bob the Builder speaking Spanish (my daughter has been watching Handy Manny recently, and I got the two shows confused).

Baby sister was just gorgeous, and such a sweetheart, even though we woke her up from a nap to take her portraits.

"J's" Official Sneak Peek

2008-11-15T10:19:00.001-08:00

Here are the rest of the images from "J's" session. I have way too many favorites to narrow them down any further than this, so you get a nice large showcase from your session. I truly enjoyed photographing your family - thanks again. :)

My Muses

2008-11-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

I would be lying if I didn't admit to photographing my own children on a regular basis. It would be a lie to say I don't photograph them more than I photograph other people's children. I think it's supposed to be that way.

I've always loved photography, and I learned that I was good at it when I took classes in high school (I'll always have a soft spot for the magic of the "real" darkroom). But growing up, I swore I would never photograph people. I was determined to be an artist, and only photograph abstract images which I would only print on archival fiber paper.

I never did manage to get a darkroom setup in my home. But I've learned that there is beauty and art in every human being I have the privilege to observe and photograph.

Fast forward a few years after high school. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with the most amazing blue eyes (she inherited them from her daddy). I could spend hours getting lost in those "anime" eyes (a genuine description given to a friend while she was teaching English in China and showed my daughter's picture to one of her students). I wanted to remember those eyes. Forever. And I wanted to remember all her cute little baby rolls, her tiny toes, her pretty little lips. I didn't want to forget anything.

So I bought a new camera, did a LOT of studying on photography technique combined with an embarrassing amount of trial and error, and started photographing my little girl.

All. The. Time.

There was a point in her life (from about 18 months to 3 1/2 years old) where she refused to look at me when I had the camera in hand. I have a lot of great images of her profile and her eyelashes from that period of time. These days, she prefers to ham it up. A little too much. I have to be sneaky to capture natural expressions and poses (she wants to be America's Next Top Model - I'm so not ready for that), but sometimes she'll comply. Especially when she's posing with her baby sister.

This little girl is the reason I discovered a passion for photographing children. Without her, I'd probably be photographing barbed wire and calling it art (although I do still enjoy the occasional "me" photo expedition where I try to find beauty in the abstract).

I want to share a few images of my first muse. These are recent images, but she still has those big baby blues that I love so much.

Our family was recently blessed with a new addition. She inherited beautiful red hair from both of her grandfathers. She looks a little bit like her big sister, but very much like herself. She is also in danger of being seriously over-photographed, and I think I need a new computer with more memory.

Her big sister loves her dearly, and I couldn't me more grateful for that. We were worried with the age difference between the two of them.

I feel truly blessed to have these two little girls in my life. I just wanted to share them with you today, because they truly are my muses.

Pre Sneak Preview

2008-11-08T22:14:00.000-08:00

I promised a sneak preview of Mr. "J's" family portraits this week, but life has been slightly more hectic than I expected. I'll have the session fully proofed in the time frame promised, and I'll have a larger sneak preview in a couple of days, but I didn't want to leave his cute family completely hanging. Here's a pre sneak preview in the meantime. I absolutely adore his smile, and I just had to share this one.

Adorable Baby "C"

2008-11-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege of photographing Baby "C" recently. We had a lot of fun with session, but she definitely made me work. :) We captured some great images, though, and I just had to share a few!

See, mom? I told you we got some great smiles! :) Thanks for sharing your beautiful daughter with me. I hope to see you soon for family portraits.

More cards - get yours for free!!

2008-09-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more samples of the cards available this season. These 5X7 cards are all two-sided and press printed on heavy card stock.

Book your portrait session by October 15 and receive 25 FREE Holiday cards with your portrait purchase. Your portrait session must take place before November 7 in order to guarantee delivery of your cards before December 25.

Holiday Cards

2008-09-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

I know it seems crazy to be thinking about Holiday cards already, but it really is that time of year again! I'm in LOVE with the cards I have to offer this year, and wanted to share some of the designs with everyone. Here is a small sample of this year's Holiday card collection - I'll post more samples very soon.

Holiday sessions must be held before November 7, and orders must be placed before December 1 in order to guarantee delivery of your cards prior to December 25. Stay tuned for news regarding Holiday mini sessions!

New website, new blog!

2008-09-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new blog for Shadeleaf Studios! With the move from Utah to North Carolina, I decided it was the perfect time to start over. While starting over is terrifying in some ways, it was a fantastic opportunity to create the look I always wanted. The new name, logo, and website are just the beginning. I can't wait to see how things progress from here!

Stay tuned. I'll be updating the blog regularly with session previews, promotions, and exciting contests.