Maggie Malson Photography ~ Custom Lifestyle Photography ~ Southwest Idaho and Eastern Oregon

Love Printable ~ Thank You ~ New Blog | Idaho Lifestyle Photographer

2013-02-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed to have worked with many great families, babies and seniors during my last four years (and even before) of being in business. And I appreciate each one of them; what they shared with me about their lives and how they helped me grow, both as an artist and as a business woman. This is just a small thank you just in time for Valentine’s Day (since I missed getting out Christmas or New Year’s cards.) It’s a FREE Love printable just for you. Print it out and frame it or send it to a friend. Use it however you want. Credit goes to my great friend and designer, Deanna at Accent Design.

I have a new blog now too, so visit www.maggiemalsonphotography.com/blog from now on...

Thanks again for all of you who have shared your lives and trusted me to capture your memories. It's been a true pleasure!!

Sweet Baby Girl ~ Boise Newborn Lifestyle Photographer

2012-11-30T02:10:00.001-07:00

Baby girl turns 3 months old today! Seriously, I can't believe it. She's starting to coo and gurgle a lot. She has lots of smiles too and even a few chuckles. She's found her hands now and it's so funny to see her looking at them. Big kids still adore her. J Man calls her Happy Face and likes to sing her his "happy song". It's so cute. These images were taken about a month ago when she was almost two months old. Can't get enough of her cuteness. I love capturing babies like this!

Can't believe I haven't blogged for an entire month either! Life has been busy and I'm still trying to figure so many things out; how to handle work obligations, how to take care of my little family, finishing up client orders, etc., but really I have no complaints. I am too blessed to be stressed. :0) Looking forward to trying to simplify some things in the future and just enjoying the little people in my life.

Thank You! | Giveaway| Idaho Photographer

2012-10-30T17:55:00.002-06:00

We hit 400 likes on Facebook, so I decided to say thanks with a giveaway! First go "like" Maggie Malson Photography on Facebook. If you already do then leave a comment to that. If you "share" the post you receive another entry. Also, leave a comment here on the blog about what is the most important thing to you when having a photo session. Ready, set, go!

Here she is... | Giveaway Winner | Boise Newborn Photographer

2012-10-19T12:26:00.000-06:00

So many of you know our baby girl is here! She arrived three days after her due date (so did I when I was born, ha!) And, it was simply perfect timing--it was my grandma's 80th birthday too! (She also has her other great grandmother's middle name.) I really had hoped she'd come that day, and I even had a doctor's appointment for the afternoon. I was quite restless that night thinking about when she might be coming, praying that God would give me a sign. Well, at 3 a.m., he did; my water broke. I've journaled her birth story for myself and for her scrapbook, so I'll save you all the details. Just know it was another wonderful birthing experience and I am very thankful for that.

Looking back through the giveaway guesses, my mom actually was the closest to the correct stats. But Crystal was a close second, so I'll be giving away two prints! Thank you all for playing along, and for all your well wishes.

Introducing...

Brynleigh Marie

Aug. 30

10:12 a.m.

6 lbs., 10 oz.

20 inches long

We are totally in love with our precious new babe.

Don't Miss the Little Things ~ Boise Children's Photographer

2012-08-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

It was such a pleasure to capture this little sweetheart! He's grown so much since his newborn session. Looking forward to seeing him again at one-year-old!

They grow so fast! Let me capture all the details of your little one for you.

Call today to schedule your "Essence" mini session for ages 3 months and up.
Booking for October and November 2012.

One of the fun products offered for mini sessions is this adorable accordion album. They are 3X3 squares with a magnetic closure and frosted plastic cover. Up to 10 images can be displayed in them. Perfect to carry in your bag/purse or give as a gift.
Ask for more details when you call to book your "Essence" Session!

If this post receives 20 or more comments,
this little guy's family receives a complimentary 5X7 gift print! Leave them some love!

Still Waiting on Baby ~ Giveaway | Boise Maternity Photographer

2012-08-27T00:23:00.003-06:00

So today, Aug. 27, is baby's due date. I thought it would be fun to get all my friends, family and fans involved in this little waiting game and have a contest. Anyone can participate from anywhere and I have a really fun prize for the winner! Let's see who can guess the baby's birthdate, weight and height. The one closest to the correct stats will be the winner. Time of birth will be the tie-breaker if we need it. Please submit your guesses as soon as possible in the comments below.

The winner will receive a custom-designed print with their family's important dates on it. You can see a sample below (dates/names were modified for privacy). Winner will get to pick first/middle name/birthdates and color of accent font. The finished print will be 11X14 and will be ready to frame. Print can be mailed anywhere, so no excuses not to come join in the fun. Also, I have some modified wording if you happen to have not started your family yet. :0) Come play along and see who can guess when Baby M will make her appearance.

What a difference a day will make!

Couldn't resist sharing some sweet moments with my boy before he becomes a big brother.

Waiting on Baby ~ Boise Maternity Photographer

2012-08-17T15:55:00.001-06:00

Only 10 more days (give or take a few) until our precious little one arrives. Have had another great experience carrying this child. Need to take some time to journal all my thoughts.

Feeling very blessed!

Newborn Props ~ Boise Newborn Photographer

2012-07-27T13:49:00.000-06:00

Topic of the Day: Newborn Props

I don't use too many props for newborns as I think brand new babies are just perfect as they are. My sessions are lifestyle in nature as I photograph newborns and their families in their own homes. However, I think incorporating meaningful family heirlooms, special items or blankets can add a very personal element to some newborn images.

For example, we just received an old metal tub for our 10-year anniversary. It was used as a table decoration at my grandparents surprise 10-year anniversary party. It's the perfect size to hold our little newborn we'll be welcoming in a few weeks.

If you could use one prop to photograph with your newborn (whether you're having a baby right now or not), what would it be and why?

And congratulations to all of you having babies this year!

Here are a few examples of how we did incorporate some family treasures into newborn sessions.

This little sweetheart was photographed on the handmade blanket her great, great grandmother made. Definitely a treasured keepsake for her family and will help remind them of her every time they see this image.

This handmade doll cradle basket was given to my sister for Christmas when she a little girl. She loved playing house with it. Her baby girl fit perfectly in it and now all of her girls enjoy playing dolls with it. Both blankets used in this image were also wedding gifts from special friends.

During this 9-month session, my client pulled out a blanket given to her baby girl as a gift. It made the perfect backdrop for simple images that captured this growing little baby.

As you can see, these images are simple and focus on the baby, but by including an item special to the family, the image can evoke even more memories as it's cherished through the years.

Of Love and Marriage ~ Idaho LIfestyle Photographer

2012-07-20T14:06:00.000-06:00

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I remember thinking how fast it went by and how I just wanted it all to slow down. We were surrounded by our closest family and friends. It really was a wonderful day. We said our vows in a faith-filled ceremony, then enjoyed a wonderful dinner and dance to celebrate the joining of our lives. It was our wedding day, July 20, 2002.

Looking back on the last 10 years, so much has happened and it seems to have flown by! We'll be welcoming Baby #4 soon. We're living in our second home. We've grown older, and hopefully, wiser too.

I love looking back and remembering all the details of our wedding day and how wonderful it was. Yet, what fills my heart with greater joy is thinking how I love my husband even more today then the day we wed. And that is an amazing feeling.

Now sure there are days when I think, "have we not learned anything about each other in the last 10 years?" It's like I'm looking at a stranger. But, those aren't too common. For the most part, we're on the same page. I guess more importantly, when in a committed marriage knowing that it truly is 'death due us part', you just concentrate on working through those tough days. You know that the good outweighs the bad. For me, I'd rather go through all the ups and downs with my husband than without him. He loves me so much and really offers a lot of forgiveness. He works extremely hard to provide for all of us. He has a tender part of him that just melts my heart when he shares it with others. He makes me laugh-every day. He's a great dad and I love seeing him interact with our children. And I love spending time with him--even if it's just to run errands. Any one-on-one time spent together helps strengthen our marriage.

I feel extremely blessed to have found this man to spend my life with and look forward to many, many more years with him! Happy 10-year Anniversary to my hubby!

7 Days of Marriage Tips : From Proverbs 31 Ministries

{Day 1} Be the person you'd like to be married to. If you'd like a little more grace for your faults, give a little more grace for theirs. If you need more love and understanding, give more love and understanding to your spouse.

{Day 2} Nobody is perfect. Don't let the world at large find out about your spouse's imperfections via your mouth. "The heart of her husband trusts in her..." {Prov. 31:11}

{Day 3} Make it a point to give your spouse the best of you: the best of your smiles, the best of your touch, the best of your (good) attitude, the best of your laughter, the best of your words, etc. Don't always bring them what's left of you after the world has drained you.

{Day 4} Greet your spouse with a kiss. It's a mood enhancer. Science says touch releases endorphins, so you begin to associate seeing your spouse with a pleasant feeling. And you can't say anything you'll regret when your lips otherwise occupied. Voila! Mood enhanced!

{Day 5) Be intentional. Every day, look for a way to bless your spouse either secretly or openly. A thankful, giving heart will repulse the weeds of blame and discontent.

{Day 6} Love "Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." {1 Cor. 13} Choose to believe the best about your spouse, even when they aren't communicating well. Sometimes it is hard to find the right words to express yourself. Some folks find it hard to communicate with words at all. Grace, grace.

{Day 7} Keep in mind that time affects all of us and no one remains the same as we were when dating. Life's circumstances can make us lose our sense of humor, change us physically, act less romantic, etc. Take some time to find those two people who fell in love and reconnect. (Trust me, they're still in there somewhere.)

Hope those dating or in a marriage find these tips helpful too!

"Your Story" Belly to Baby Plan ~ Idaho Lifestyle Photographer

2012-07-10T15:27:00.005-06:00

I've always thought there was something beautiful and special about an expectant mother. And it's no secret how much I've loved being pregnant myself. Babies and toddlers happen to be some of my favorite subjects too! I find what brings me inspiration in my photography is my own need and great desire to preserve for other women and families what I so desperately want preserved for myself~TIME.

When I'm feeling and seeing that movement inside my belly, sitting in the rocker holding my tummy or reading our little one a book, I know I won't always remember these moments. I yearn for an image, a photograph of the moment captured so I can be transported back in time.

It's all the unseen moments I have with my children I want to remember even more than what we all look like. I want to evoke the emotion that parents feel when they hold their babies and gaze into those sweet faces relishing in the present, while hoping for the future.

A "Your Story" maternity session takes place at the location of your choice. It can be at your home or someplace special to you. I do have a few outdoor locations I can suggest, depending on the look you want, but I really love when clients want to use places unique to them. It only adds to your portrait experience and makes things even more special for you.

The "Your Story" newborn session takes place on location at your home. This is something that adds to the custom experience with Maggie Malson Photography. There is no need to bundle up that brand new babe because I come to you! My style is documentary in nature, so along with capturing all the precious details of your new baby, we'll also be photographing the decorated nursery and capturing moments of you and your spouse snuggling with, rocking, reading to, and taking in all the newness of your wee one. Siblings are also welcome at both maternity and newborn sessions.

My work is best displayed in custom-designed fine art albums or as wall gallery collections. Clients have chosen me because of my storytelling and timeless style and love having beautiful art to share throughout the years.

If my style appeals to you and you want to know more, or to book a "Your Story" Belly to Baby Plan, please call ASAP. I look forward to telling your story during this wonderful time in your life.

~M

A first year baby plan is available so please ask for details about it as well.

Portrait Products ~ Gallery Wrapped Canvas ~ Idaho Portrait Photographer

2012-06-26T10:00:00.000-06:00

What better way to share your images from

Maggie Malson Photography than with beautiful wall art!

If you have been thinking about a canvas or canvas cluster for your wall, now is the perfect time to order some ART of your children or family for your home! Here are some samples. Call or email me today and we can design a gallery for your home!

30"X40" canvas

We can take all your favorite images from your session and create a beautiful wall gallery.

Canvas Art Panels-One image is split into three separate gallery wrapped canvas panels.

A Tribute to Dads ~ Idaho Lifestyle Photography

2012-06-18T16:42:00.000-06:00

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~ Clarence Budington Kelland

God bless all the dads out there! Hope you were able to relax and celebrate Father's Day, as well as reflect on how important you are in the lives of your children-no matter what age they are.

Boise Lifestyle Photographer | Glimpses Week 22

2012-06-04T12:02:00.001-06:00

This is one of those images that is really a snapshot, and yet sooooooo much more. It really tells quite a story--maybe not to anyone else, but definitely to this sappy mama. At first glance, you see the big sister reading to little sister. I love, by the way, the enthusiastic expression of MJ reading. I can almost hear her. She uses a lot of inflection in her voice and is quite fun to listen to.

Looking deeper though, this image captures other details that may seem insignificant, but do matter and will fade from my memory over time. I see the cup and the Gatorade bottle on the top of the bed. E didn't like the pain medicine she had to take so I let her follow it with the flavored stuff. She really likes drinking water out of the new horse cup she received from Nana for her recent birthday. She's sucking those middle fingers; a habit I hope we can break her of soon, but still such a part of who she is right now. She twirls her hair too. Next to E is her favorite baby monkey. When I was expecting little brother, she went with me shopping one day, and spotted that monkey in the store. I let her carry it around while I tried some maternity clothes on, and then, of course, couldn't resist when she asked to take it home. She also has her favorite monkey blanket given to her by her Aunt Michelle for Christmas. Finally, there in the right-hand corner of the image is another detail, a small one to some and not too obvious as the image is in black and white, but it sums up the story here. E had an accident at gymnastics and broke her tibia. She's in a cast from her toes to her thigh. She's handling it all really well, considering. Her purple and pink cast is quite the sight to see; she resembles the Cheshire cat a little bit. :0) She even has bright pink toenail polish to match! MJ has been so helpful and compassionate through this whole thing. It's nice to see her showing so much concern for her little sister. This wasn't the plan we had to spend the first part of our summer, but we're rolling with it. And hopefully, she will be all healed by the end of the month. Until then, this little incident has caused us all to slow down. It's caused me to spend more time catching moments like this. And for that, I will be forever grateful.

To see more Glimpses, check them out at Chic Critique Forum

A few more details so I don't forget. We had recently moved little brother downstairs to a bigger boy room. He actually is in a bigger bed too. He's very excited about it. This room will be redecorated to be the nursery for baby sister. The timing was good because Little J had spent enough time in his room that he was perfectly fine with E needing to sleep in his old room/bed (thus the Cars sheets). It's right next to our room and I knew it would be best to have her close in case she needed us in the night. The first night was pretty rough on both of us. I ended up staying in the room with her. Even after she had her cast, she had a few nights where she woke up. But, now she's adapting well and we're all sleeping better. We had just gotten a tablet and J found some videos on it for her to watch. She spent the first few days in bed watching Angelina Ballerina, Thomas the Train and Bob the Builder, reading books, working on her letters and numbers, and napping. It's been a week and half since it happened and we've been able to venture outside a lot more to enjoy the warm weather. We just put her in the wagon and pull her around. The kids also spent the night with the grandparents last week and even slept in a tent. Good thing she's a kid; I don't think I'd handle a cast nearly as well. :0)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Journaling, photo taking and storytelling have always been a part of me and who I am. I hope to catch up some of our personal scrapbooks now that we're finding more activities to keep our hands busy since E can't run around yet. I know I've been sharing a lot more personal work on my blog lately, but instead of apologizing for it, I'll embrace it. My children have always been my inspiration and the little details I pick up when photographing them translates perfectly to when I photograph clients. I can capture the moments and details that happen in between all the other images we're taking. I'm also putting the final touches on my new blog (yay!!!) and am waiting to share some client sessions and albums in the new format. So until then, enjoy another glimpse into our lives...

My Thinker ~ Glimpses Week 20 | Idaho Children Lifestyle Photographer

2012-05-25T17:46:00.001-06:00

She looks older here, too old for me, really. But behind that serious look is a heart of gold, a big toothy grin and a girl I love more and more every day. I saw some great light in our living room, so I grabbed her for a little impromptu lighting practice. Love playing with light and shadows! I have plenty of her smiling too, but this one just strikes me. She's my thinker.

For more Glimpses, check out Chic Critique Forum

First Communion | Idaho Lifestyle Photography

2012-05-23T13:12:00.002-06:00

A few weeks ago our oldest reached another milestone in her life; she received her First Holy Communion. She had been preparing to receive this special sacrament all year along with the rest of her second grade religious education class. And, she was very excited for her big day! They had two wonderful teachers who not only shared their knowledge with them, but also helped them grow in their faith walk. Faith is certainly a very personal matter, but as Christians, Jesus calls us to fellowship with Him and others. First and most of all, we are called to love God and love others. It's not always easy, but something we are called to do every single day. It makes life so much easier when we remember this commandment too.

We were fortunate that my parents were able to make a trip out for this special occasion. And my sister and youngest niece also made a surprise trip out as well. She is Mackenzie's godmother. It was great having family here to help us celebrate.

Mackenzie wore the dress my mom made for me when I made my First Communion so that was extra special. She also wore my head piece and corsage as well. I just had some extra flowers and ribbons added to the wreath to make it her own.

Congratulations to our sweet girl! May you always carry the love of Jesus in your heart and share it with others. We love you!

It's a... ~ Gender Reveal Party | Getting Personal

2012-05-22T09:45:00.000-06:00

So most of our close friends and family know about the fun little surprise we're expecting at the end of August, but I thought it was time to let my clients know too. We are very excited to welcome another blessing to our family!

The Details:

We decided to do something different to find out the gender of this baby. When Josh and I went to the ultrasound on April 3, we didn't have my doctor tell us what we were having. In fact, it took quite awhile for her to see as the umbilical cord was between the baby's legs. My doctor then emailed Erin at Zoey's Attic, who has a custom t-shirt design business. Erin was awesome to work with. I had ordered Little J's "Big Brother" Tractor t-shirt in February when we told the kids we were having a baby. When searching for something special for him online, I found Erin's Etsy Shop. This little t-shirt was perfect, and so fitting as he loves tractors.

We had also made arrangements to have a onesie made when we found out what we were having. I ended up ordering the girls t-shirts also, which I'm so glad I did. It will be fun to get a photo of all four of them once "she" arrives. I decided instead of some of the popular ideas of cutting into a "boy" or "girl" colored cake, or opening a box of colored balloons, we would have the kids open up a package with the onesie to tell us the baby's gender. It was such a fun way to get them involved too.

The Decor:

I asked my sister-in-law, Stephanie, to be in charge of decorations and details. She's a wonderful party planner, and I knew I had plenty on my plate to think about. I decided I wanted to go with a black and white color scheme versus the traditional pink and blue. I guess I just love the classic combination. She went above my expectations with what she put together. She even sewed a table runner and two adorable buntings out of the cool fabric she found. I'm so excited because with a little tweaking, these pieces will work as valances and a crib bumper for the nursery. And with the left over fabric, I'll be able to make a quilt and other bedding pieces too. Yay! Can't wait to get it all put together. She even came up with the little diaper party favors stuffed with mints. (It was one of the triangle pieces of fabric, folded and glued to look like a diaper. Adorable!

The Food:

Spicy Pop Pulled Pork Sliders

Ham and Swiss Sliders

Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Salad

Mixed Fruit (strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, grapes, apples)

Veggies and Homemade Ranch Dip

Chips and Salsa

Cheese and Crackers

Summertime Fruit Tea

Black and White Parfaits (This was a quick and easy layered dessert served in individual clear plastic cups. I layered crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, white chocolate pudding, chocolate pudding and whipped cream. These were a huge hit with the kids and adults at the party.)

The Reaction:

On the invitations, I had told guests to wear black if they thought the baby was a boy and white if they thought it was a girl. Most showed up wearing black. Josh has four brothers and only one sister, so there are a lot of boys in the family already. I wore both colors! Up until a few days beforehand, I really thought it was a boy. I know several families who have two girls and two boys, and I thought we would be another one of them. But, then a day or so before, I just had the feeling I should prepare myself to be having another girl. And I did remember thinking a few years ago when getting rid of all the newborn girl clothes after we had Little J that it would be fun to have just one more girl. Ha! Little did I know...

I'm not very good at surprises either, so it was a feat for me not to peek or somehow find out beforehand. But, I'm so glad I didn't. It was fun and exciting at the same time to watch as the kids unwrapped the onesie.

Special thanks again to Stephanie for taking the photos from the day. She even made little "boy" and "girl" signs to have our kids and guests hold up to show what they thought the baby was.

The most priceless comment was Little J. He looked right at me after we saw the shirt and exclaimed, "It's a girl!" and with big crocodile tears said, "But, Momma, it's supposed to be a boy!" Oh, it about broke my heart. It was sad and sweet all at the same time. He has since decided having a baby sister is going to be just fine. Either way, bringing a new baby to the family will be a little of an adjustment for him. But, I know he'll make a great big brother. And the girls are quite excited to meet their little sister as well.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a recent post about my summer photography session schedule, I mentioned not taking any sessions in late August and September. Now you know why! Maintaining balance in my personal and work life is not only beneficial to me and my family, but also to my clients. I take a limited number of sessions already because there is a lot of investment of time and resources in "Your Story" sessions. Be assured, when I do schedule a session with a client, I am fully devoted to them and telling their story. Creating an amazing photographic experience from first consult to delivering of the finished albums and prints is my number one priority.

There are also some changes coming to my business that will be announced this fall, and I am excited to be working on them now. If you love my work, and want me to tell "your story", please contact me as soon as possible to discuss scheduling options. I am currently booking maternity, newborn, baby, child, senior and family sessions for June and July 2012.

Sweet and Spunky Six-year-old | Idaho Children Photographer

2012-05-21T14:42:00.000-06:00

Our sweet little E turned six earlier this month. What can I say, this girl makes me smile! She just finished Kindergarten and is headed to Pre-First. She is kind and loving, always giving people hugs. She's both independent and hesitant at the same time. Once she's comfortable in a situation, she's all energy and charges right ahead. But, if things are new and different, she hangs back for awhile analyzing the scene. She's a great big sister to Little J and adores her big sister M. She loves to sing and dance. She's a great runner too!

When you have more than one child, it's neat to see how each really have their own personalities. I want to help her shine in whatever way I can. She's our sunshine and we love her so much!

Glimpses Week 19 | Boise Lifestyle Photographer

2012-05-17T13:33:00.000-06:00

Daddy: "Little J, do you want to watch a movie with Daddy and eat popcorn?"

Little J: (Jumping up and down with fists clenched, grinning ear to ear-his really excited reaction.) "Yeah, Daddy!"

Daddy: "What do you want to watch?"

Little J: "Bob the Builder!" (He doesn't get to watch it much as it only comes on as we're headed out the door for church on Sunday mornings.)

Me: (Thinking to myself) I have the sweetest boys ever. Not going to miss this moment!

For more Glimpses, check out Chic Critique Forum.

Schedule Update ~ Idaho Lifestyle Portrait Photographer | Babies, Children, Teens and Families

2012-05-16T15:29:00.001-06:00

Hey folks, I know it's been awhile, but I have so many things in the works right now, it's hard to decide what to share yet, and what can wait. Stay with me though; some exciting changes to Maggie Malson Photography are coming!

I'd love it if you could leave some comments and let me know what you enjoy most about the blog or you'd like to see more of in the future. Do I blog enough? Too much? Do you want to see more recent sessions? Before/After edits? Tips for future sessions? More personal stuff/less personal stuff? Talk to me friends; love hearing from you!

Scheduling Update:

Two "Your Story" album sessions and one "Essence" session available in June, July and August. I will not be accepting any sessions in September (more details to come) and will have limited availability this fall. If there is enough interest, I will be offering family mini-sessions for Christmas cards in October. Please leave comments if you would like to be contacted about the date for it. Thanks!

Don't wait until the last minute to think about capturing your child's milestone moments or your family's lifestyle and relationships. "Your Story" album sessions include an in-person consultation to discuss style, location, clothing and all the details that will make your session unique. These sessions result in a custom-designed, heirloom quality album telling "your story", as well as custom wall art created for your home.

Here's a sample of a spread from a recent senior "Your Story" album. Oh how I love designing albums for clients!

Glimpses Week 16 ~ Flowers for Mama | Idaho Children Photographer

2012-04-23T13:30:00.000-06:00

Children give us a gift we sometimes don't even know we need. The gift of innocence. The gift of seeing the world through fresh eyes. The gift of Dandelion flowers...

I have to admit I'm not a big fan of Dandelions. In fact, they seem to have just exploded in our yard this spring. Boo! Hopefully the fertilizer application this weekend will help slow them down. :0)

However, I do love, love, love that my little guy got so excited the other day when we walked out in the yard and he saw all of them. "Flowers, mama! I pick you some flowers!," he exclaimed. Then he proceeded to run around the yard grabbing up fistfuls. I ran inside and grabbed the closest camera, my little P&S because his innocence and what he sees through his fresh eyes is exactly what I needed to remember, and capture...

To see more Glimpses, check out Chic Critique Forum.

Fields of Flowers | Idaho Children's Photographer

2012-04-20T16:22:00.001-06:00

It's definitely spring here! Lovely warm days intertwined with cool, rainy ones. Everything is in bloom. And even though these little purple flowers are technically weeds, they can make a really pretty backdrop, especially with a lot of bokeh!

What is bokeh?

"In photography, bokeh is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image," as defined by Wikipedia. It's the look when the image background looks all blurry and fuzzed out while the subject seems to pop out of the image.

Bokeh is achieved when you have a shallow depth of field. Without getting too technical, depth of field (DOF) is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in an image. So for example, because I focused on her face (mainly the eyes) anything in front of that plane (in the foreground) and anything behind the plane of her face (background) will be out of focus. Some lens do this better than others, and the distance of the subject to the background also affects bokeh.

Bokeh is also affected by the aperture used. Aperture controls how much light is being let into the lens and hitting the film or in this case the digital sensor of the camera.

This was by no means an in-depth lesson, but hopefully you learned a little something. And if you have more questions about anything mentioned here or other basic camera questions, leave them in the comments and I'll answer them in another post.

Essence and "Your Story" sessions are both available now, so call today to book your appointment. I will have a limited fall schedule, so don't wait until the last minute to capture memories of your loved ones. Enjoy your weekend!

Wordless Wednesday (Name that Photo) | Idaho Children's Photographer

2012-04-18T08:18:00.000-06:00

Glimpses ~ Week 15 | Idaho Lifestyle Photography

2012-04-15T23:07:00.001-06:00

Pure joy...

I captured this moment of my girls while out location scouting the other night. It's funny how I struggle sometimes with photographing my own children-at least when trying to take one of all of them together. I love photographing kids, and can handle just about anything they throw at me. I can capture moments of them showing their true essence the parents don't even notice until they see the final images. But, I seem to put a lot more pressure on myself with my own because I go back and forth between wanting that "perfect" pose and then also capturing their true essence. I should know better by now because my style really is photojournalistic and storytelling in nature.

Well, this night there was no pressure. It was windier than all get out, and getting quite chilly. So, we hopped out of the car really fast, ran to a spot I wanted to try and I told them to get close. They were being silly and sweet all at the same time. I had no expectations except to see what kind of light I had. And because I was completely relaxed, I captured one of my girls that makes me smile and fills my heart with pure joy....

For more Glimpses, check out Chic Critique Forum.

Glimpses Week 14 & Wordless Wednesday | Idaho Lifestyle Photographer

2012-04-11T09:59:00.000-06:00

Chic Critique Forum "Glimpses"

Sunbrella ~ Five-year-old Session | Idaho Children's Photography

2012-04-10T10:59:00.000-06:00

This was a super fun session with my spunky five-year-old. She's got lots of personality, which I'm sure you can tell by these images. I had picked up this umbrella quite awhile ago and was saving it for just the right session. She loved being able to twirl around play with it out in the sun. I love captured her just being herself. And the light that night was so lovely! Have to love yummy light!

I created a beautiful "Your Story" album for her to showcase the rest of the images, and I'll post some photos of it once it's finished.

Babies and children are my absolute favorite subjects. They are just so uninhibited, and my style of capturing them works perfectly with their personalities, whether they are outgoing and spunky, or quiet and reserved. Call me today to book a "Your Story" session of the special child in your life!