Trash the Dress Photo Soot by Downtown Studios Salon

I work with some incredibly talented ladies, remember the gorgeous Downtown Studios Salon? Well, the blonde is the owner and designer of this gorgeous place. So, their "Trash the Dress" photo shoot obviously couldn't be any less than amazing. So, if you are in the Fort Bend County, TX area, we can do one for you too! If not, take some inspiration and have your very own trash the dress shoot!

2013, Here We Come

2012 has been a year full of blessings and heartache. Pneumonia, having a totally adorable baby girl, my mom moving in with us, threatening suing our landlord/ us winning, moving, computer crashing and losing tons of family pics, youngest boy child entering preschool, returning to work after 6 years to an awesome salon, renewed energy in my jewelry designs, Auroa theater and Sandy Hook shootings, Jesse from My Mod Style giving me an awesome blog makeover, Obama winning again, leaving our lifelong, LDS/Mormon religion over REAL issues that most Mormons know very little or nothing about and seeing support from some family/friends and nasty claws come out from other family/friends over it... which I have to say is interesting that people will so quickly delete you simply because of a difference of faith... Now, we had our first *real* family photo shoot (by erin smith photography), just like I always wanted! 2012, you were a nasty you-know-what, but at least we got some good things out of you. Please be nice to us, 2013 as we continue our journey! But if not, we will roll with your punches and throw 'em back! Much love and peace to my lovely readers this year! And oh, my comp is STILL giving me major problems!  Visit me on pinterest to see what is inspiring me during bloggy dry spells :)

 Isaac, aka "Izzy" and "Future Heartbreaker", almost 7

Elisabeth, aka, "Lil Bit, Bit Bit, Miss Liss, Lissbiss, WizBif, Angel Bit, Fairy Berry", 7 months

Married 9 years, starting to show it!

 Caleb, aka "Cabah", "Chicken" and "Kissy Face" almost 5

 

 

 They love their grandma!

 I redid that chair, tutorial coming soon!

 She loves open mouth kisses, Elisabeth that is, not my mom....

  Year of the skinny pants, I kind of converted.

 

Staging Baby Photos in Your Home

My last two babies were born 6 1/2 and 4 1/2 years ago. Before the time of pinterest and what I knew of picasa/picnik, photo styling and all that jazz. So, my other two lovely baby boys do not have many decent baby shots in the slighteset. It's so sad, I know, and I have lots of regrets of not taking them to get amazing baby photos taken. But I have no excuses this time around, so I went a-pinteresting and found some excellent tutorials on how to set up a staging area in your home to get some good quality photos using natural light.  I highly recommend these tutorials: how to pose and work with newborns, Simple Portrait Set-Up , Creating a Mini-Studio in Your Home , Tips on Photographing Children and What to Wear for Family Photos. We are also having pro photos this weekend and so I have been pinning tons of family photo ideas as well. Check out my Photography Tips and Ideas pinboard to see all the goodies.

I think these photos of 2 1/2 week old Miss Elisabeth Rose turned out quite well for a non-pro such as myself. And while she is as precious as pie in the lacy, pearly, jeweled dress-up shots, she is truly my little angel baby in her natural state of nekkid gorgeousness.

 

 

Party Girl

Loving the frills and balloons of this lovely skirt. It reminds me of my gumball machine 

halloween costume as a kid.  Awesome.

But really, whether you are a party child or anti-social, you have to admit that in your own secret world, tons of golden glitter, streamers, colorful confetti, paper hearts and airy balloons would be absolutely delightful.

 

 ban.do shoes via oh so rosie and oh joy

 oh joy. photog Natalie Moser

 

 Adrian Ragasa

 

  oh joy. photog Natalie Moser