If you did not get to see images from last year, click here. And now just a small part from this school year captures.

2012 is Leap year, everyone knows it. But this year is special to some people not just because of that extra day on the calendar. I know people who were born on February 29th and get a rare chance to celebrate the actual birthday. I actually gave birth to one of those people. Yes, my almost 8 year old son was born on February 29th. I remember my doctor saying “I wanted to catch a leap year baby..” I was not happy with his wish being granted

So, do you know anyone pregnant and due at the end of February? Are you pregnant? Are you feeling anxious about February 29th birth? Don’t be! It might be a great thing – in a spirit of being Leap year baby mom, I am donating one full newborn session with a set of digital negatives (value $1500) to a lucky baby born on February 29th, 2012. Please, send me an email with your name and due date at lina.jarmond@gmail.com. And if you deliver on February 29th, I will get to meet your growing family. Note: Only one free session will be donated at the discretion of the photographer; priority will be given to moms on my list.

But don’t get sad if your baby is not going to be born on February 29th. All booked newborn sessions with babies due in February and March will receive a complimentary six months session, just in time for those precious baby smiles. Six months is such a great age to photograph! Send me an email to lina.jarmond@gmail.com to inquire and book your newborn session. Note: 6 months old or whenever baby is sitting up without assistance.

If you are pregnant, a maternity session is a fabulous way to remember how beautiful you looked. I know you may not think so now, but in a few years you will remember it as a blissful time. This family below have already welcomed their second son whom I met least week. Their maternity session was all about their growing, happy family. Don’t they look amazing?!

If you want some amazing images of your dogs, Melissa travels worldwide. Look at her portfolio – she is a dog whisperer!

After listening to so many clients saying “oh, I’ve never even seen your website, only your blog…..I was browsing on a tablet while lounging on the couch…”, I knew it was time to catch up with latest trends of technology and make sure anyone anywhere can see my portfolio. New website is compatible with all mobile devices – no more restrictions! There are still a few bugs to be worked out and a few changes to be made, but for the most part – it’s done!

I would love to hear your feedback – anything to improve? Just shoot me an email lina.jarmond@gmail.com, and let me know.

And with this improvement, there is some great news coming up – something new for newborn sessions, something new for leap year babies (I am a mom to one of them ) and of course many beautiful images to share from the end of 2011 sessions.

Lina Jarmond Photography|Raleigh Newborn Photographer|Raleigh Children Photographer

From my family to yours, I hope your holidays are full with joy, love and laughter. Cheers to a happy, healthy New Year and more fun in photo adventures!

Please note:
Lina Jarmond Photography will be closed through January 3rd, 2012 with exceptions for pre-booked newborn sessions. All emails and correspondence will be answered upon my return. Happy Holidays!

Lina Jarmond Photography|Raleigh Newborn Photographer|Raleigh Children Photographer

Are you regretting you missed out on a chance to update your family’s photo this year? Do you always feel like you are not ready for a close-up? You hair has not been cut in couple months, your nails are not done, you still have those last few pounds to shed..no, no chances for pictures this year, maybe next year….. So when I came across this article, I felt it was a perfect summary of what is really important. Definitely put everything in perspective.

Spend a quiet moment to read it… is there a perfect time? by deb schwedhelm

a friend posed this question today on her facebook wall: what is holding you back from booking a family photo session?

quite a few women (moms) quickly commented that their weight is holding them back, which made me really sad. and a few posted money, which i understand but i also believe that there’s enough photographers out there to cover everybody’s budget.

this all led me to thinking about the perfect time.

is there ever a perfect time to have photographs taken of your family?

i posted on our wallflower friends blog today about an awesome article i read, which had the overall theme of taking the time to slow down and appreciate life and the everyday beauty that surrounds us. in a swirly kind of way, i feel what i shared there and what i’m sharing here is totally intertwined.

it’s so easy to say –
i’m too fat.
i have too much going on.
we’re too busy.
maybe next year.

but i just want to say STOP IT! we need to take the time to appreciate the value of family photos, if not for ourselves (because we’re too fat or whatever), then for our children. in 20 years, your children are not going to say,

i really love this photo of my family but i wish my mom had waited until she lost some weight.

and i think about steve’s mom, who died when she was 40, only months after being diagnosed with breast cancer. steve was five at the time she passed away. he cherishes every single photo of his mom (not just the ones where she was thin, beautiful and looked perfect).

and kirsten sandstrom, who recently passed away at the age of 37, leaving behind a husband and three young boys. i don’t think for one second that those boys will look at photographs of their mom (who pre-cancer probably wished she could have lost some weight) and see her as anything except the most amazing and beautiful mom there ever was.

NO, THERE IS NO PERFECT TIME.

i hope that this will inspire someone, who might be waiting for that perfect time or to lose a couple of pounds, to book a photographer…today!

and let us all try to slow down, remember what’s important and see and hear the everyday beauty that surrounds us.

Lina Jarmond Photography|Raleigh Newborn Photographer|Raleigh Children Photographer

I’m thankful for my baby girl who is turning NINE today. Happy Birthday miss T.!

I’m thankful for the climate I live in. Being born and raised in the country with snow season starting in October and lasting through April, I am extremely thankful for my flip-flops in November. I do not miss the pain of froze-bitten cheeks and seeing men with frosted mustache

I’m thankful for NBA lock-out – while negotiations aimed at ending the NBA lockout quietly resumed the other day, I am enjoying more time with my husband, no fantasy basketball phone calls and no time in front of TV following his favorite teams and players. (psss, don’t tell him I said this)

I am thankful for getting back in playing tennis. I grew up with tennis. Almost all family vacations were spent watching my dad play in various tennis tournaments. He still plays tennis a few times a week, and I am so proud of him staying active and healthy and ignoring his knees I did not start playing tennis till I was adult, and then an unfortunate accident prevented me from playing it for couple years. Just a few months ago I fully recovered and was able to play again. I missed it so so much! I tried running, joined morning boot camp, did pilates. And while all those forms of physical activity were good to my body and mental state, none of them gave joy and satisfaction as tennis does.

I’m thankful for TiVo. When my husband first mentioned getting it years ago, I thought it was just another “guy thing”. Boy, was I wrong! I don’t have time or desire to adjust my life to TV schedule. And I don’t think it’s realistic to live with no TV in this society. So having control over when to watch and cut time spent in front of TV virtually in half, is a wonderful thing! And by the way, I am looking forward to my busy season winding down so I can watch the latest season of “True Blood” I missed while traveling this summer. Bite me!

I’m thankful for anything Apple. It was very sad to hear about Steve Jobs passing away. My life is all about Apple – iPhone, iMac, MacBookPro, iPad. Even my daughter’s teacher uses iPad at school and a few apps improved her math skills. How could I not be thankful for everything Apple!

I’m thankful, actually, for all the bad things that happened to me. It made me stronger, made me appreciate and value good times and positive outcomes. If I did not know low, how would I know high?

I am thankful for stock market not crashing again. Not yet. As CNBC is always in the background when my husband is working from home, it is scary to know so much about the finance world. It’s so closely related to our daily life – the price of gas and milk and bread, and everyone’s jobs and ability to afford quality photography ultimately leads to my own quality of living.

I’m thankful for my friends. My true friends. Friends I see every day, and friends I see once every few years. But I know if I need to cry or laugh or ask for anything, those people will be here for me. And I am thankful for life’s lessons that helped me to find those true friends I love so dearly.

I am thankful for the kindness of strangers. I love it when someone I don’t know smiles at me or says or does something nice and sweet, just because. They don’t know me, and they don’t have to do that, but putting a smile on your face puts smiles on people around you.

What are you thankful for?

Lina Jarmond Photography|Raleigh Newborn Photographer|Raleigh Children Photographer