Manic Mother Photography

Online Photoshop Class

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Thought I would share this over here too. Many of you have expressed and interest in taking an online Photoshop class from me, well I am excited to announce that I am now offering online Photoshop classes!

I remember when I first started out on my photography journey, I had no clue what I was doing in Photoshop. I thought if I bought a lot of Photoshop actions all my problems would be solved. Not so much. Don’t get me wrong I still use some actions, but today the majority of my editing is done with steps I have learned through trial and error. You don’t need actions to have great edited images.

My class is a one on one class, we will even edit some of your images together.

Here is a little of what you can expect to learn:

- skin smoothing and tucking, teeth whitening, bringing out the eyes

- how to do a black and white

- how to correct skin tones

- head swaps

- how to apply a texture to a photo

- how to change colors

- how to pop colors

- how to sharpen for web and for print

- how to remove distractions from your images

- and so much more!

Cost: $200

I am offering $25 off for the first 5 people that sign up.

The class is open to anyone!

If your interested or have any questions please email me at: manicmotherphotography@gmail.com

Gainesville Model Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:08:00 +0000

Last year around this time, I headed to the beach and did a fun shoot with a model. It was my favorite shoot of the year. I vowed I would do more of these type of shoots this year. Enter Arlyn Crabtree, she is just so stunning and equally sweet. A special thanks to Memory Lane Classics for the use of the Mustang. This was so much fun for me, I must do more of it soon!

Gainesville Photography | Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:43:00 +0000

My good friend and fellow photographer Elise and I took our kids out to attempt to take some pictures of them. We may or may not have bribed them with ice cream and Skittles.

Gainesville Family Photographer | And Baby Makes Three

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:21:00 +0000

This is my dear friend Katie and her adorable family. When she first told me she wanted their dog on the photos I thought she was crazy. But it actually turned out super cute and the dog took directions fairly well! Don’t worry the dog is harmless. I am so happy for you guys!

Gainesville Baby Photographer | Mini Sessions

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:24:00 +0000

I am now going to be offering mini sessions year round! These are perfect for when you are wanting to document milestones.

These are for kids only (6 months and up). Up to 2 kids. Add $25 per additional child (up to 4). Sessions must take place in the Gainesville area.

You will also have the option to buy the rest of your gallery at a discounted price.

Gainesville, FL Family Photographer | The H Family

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:09:00 +0000

This is my good friend Lauren and her beautiful family. Daddy is a musician so we thought it would be fun to incorporate the guitars. How cute are they?!

Thank you for helping me out Lauren, you’re the best!

Gainesville FL Photographer | Family Session, R family

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:39:00 +0000

Another stunning family! This was another one of my mini sessions that I did in Micanopy, FL.

Gainesville, FL Family Photographer | Micanopy J Family Session

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:24:00 +0000

Beautiful kids, check. Beautiful parents, check. Beautiful location, check. Beautiful light, check.

What more can a photographer ask for?

Gainesville Wedding Photographer | Herlong Mansion Wedding 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:33:00 +0000

I had so much fun photographing this wedding this fall. These two are so full of life and love its almost too much! It was such a beautiful wedding and day. Thank you Mike and Elena for letting me capture your big day!

Gainesville Photographer | Best of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:51:00 +0000

I can’t believe how fast 2011 went by! I also can’t believe how hard this post was to put together, I have so many favorites! I will be posting more on my Facebook page soon, I still have to blog some of these sessions.

Thank you SO much to those that have supported me along the way, my clients, fans, family, and friends. This dream would be nothing without all of you. I grew so much as a photographer and a business owner in 2011, I can’t wait to see what 2012 holds!

Gainesville Family Photographer | Fall Colors

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:48:00 +0000

One of my favorite families! This was little man’s 9 month shoot, how cute is he?!

Gainesville Family Photographer | Fair Session

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:13:00 +0000

This is my dear friend Elise and her family at the Alachua County Fair.

Gainesville Wedding/Engagement Photographer | Coon Hollo

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:09:00 +0000

This was such a fun shoot at Coon Hollo Farm in Micanopy. Some of their friends got together and bought them one of my fall mini sessions. Much to my surprise, it turned out I knew this guy, he is a nurse at the pediatric oncology clinic my son goes to. Such a small world!

Gainesville Baby and Child Photographer | Cake Smash

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:17:00 +0000

This was a fun cake smash from this summer. Ms. M did a fantastic job on smashing up her cake.

Gainesville Photographer | Holiday Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:23:00 +0000

Here is a sampling of some of the holiday cards I am offering this year, I have about ten other designs not shown. All of my holiday mini sessions come with a set of 25 flat 5x7 cards. You are welcome to upgrade to the luxe or folded cards, they are sure to impress!

Gainesville Child Photographer | Pumpkin Patch!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:40:00 +0000

Happy Halloween everyone! I had such a great response to my pumpkin patch sessions this year, I was going to try to post a few pics from each session, but I would have been up all night. So here are a few of my favorites + an adorable picture of my little guy.

Have a fun, safe Halloween!

Gainesville Maternity Photographer | My Dear Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:43:00 +0000

Meet my dear friend Katie. We have been friends for a little over 5 years now, and for as long as I have known her she has always wanted a baby. I was SO excited when she told me she was pregnant, she is going to make such an amazing mother. I know this because she has helped watch my boys on numerous occasions!

Besides being a sweet, compassionate, hilarious woman, Katie is also an artist. She specializes in painting beach/ocean themed paintings. And she loves mermaids. Since she is drawn to the water and we have had a few ladies nights out in Cedar Key, we decided it would be fitting to do her maternity session there.

Because Katie is a friend and an artist I knew I could try out a lot of different creative ideas, and she was such a trooper. We had SO much fun, and a special thanks to our friend Erin who came along and helped out.

I can’t wait to meet your little man Katie!!

St. Cloud MN, Wedding and Family Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:19:00 +0000

I am so behind in blogging! Here is another one of my Minnesota sessions. This family was so adorable, and so much fun. I love how this session turned out. Perfect light, cute family, and lovely location. What more can you ask for….?

Gainesville Family Photographer | Pumpkin Patch/Fall Mini Sessions

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:38:00 +0000

Halloween may just be my favorite holiday, and I just love doing fall themed mini sessions. This is my best deal for mini sessions all year long, so don’t miss out!

I will be offering mini sessions all through October, but I am limiting them to weeknights. My weekends are filling up with holiday mini sessions and weeknights are generally less busy at these locations.

Cost: $50 (covers 2 kids, add $10 per additional child)

What: 20 minute session + 6 digital files, with the option to purchase the rest of your gallery for $25. Gallery will include 12-15 images.

Where: Alachua Pumpkin Patch or Coon Hollo Corn Maze

Alachua pumpkin patch obviously has lots of pumpkins, hay bales, and a tractor. Coon Hollo has a corn maze, old farm machinery, farm buildings, tire swing, and more. Coon Hollo would be better suited for fall attire. There is admission cost there,info found here.

Email me at: manicmotherphotography@gmail.com

St. Cloud MN Photographer, Family in the Gardens

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:05:00 +0000

I am finally getting around to blogging some of my MN sessions! It was so much fun shooting at different locations. I had forgotten how beautiful Minnesota is in the summer.

I went to high school with these two, and it was so good to see them again. They have some of the cutest little boys ever (well, next to mine). We had a fun time running around Munsinger Gardens. It was so good to re-connect with old friends, something I hope to do much more of in the future!

Gainesville Family Photographer | Holiday Sessions

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:56:00 +0000

Fall is in the air! Which means Christmas is right around the corner. Why not be ahead of the game and schedule your family photos now?

My Holiday Mini Sessions are not scheduled on certain dates, rather you get to pick a date that works for your family’s schedule. Its also a great time to get those highly coveted digital files at a really great price! I am only offering eight of these sessions. Once that number is met, any sessions after that will go back to my full pricing. So don’t miss out!

Details:

- $75 dollar deposit is required to hold your date, this money will go towards your total.

- Sessions are for 5 or less people, add $20 per additional person

- Collection one and two will come with an online gallery with 10-15 edited photos for you to choose from. Collection three will come with 20-25 images for you to choose from.

To book your session email me at: manicmotherphotography@gmail.com

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month | My Son.

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:48:00 +0000

I can still recall with great clarity the moment we were told our son has cancer. I remember the nausea, the disbelief, the spinning room, my muffled screams. Surely, there must have been some sort of mistake.

My ignorance up until this point had been gloriously blissful. I never in a million years thought this would ever happen to our family.

But there was no mistake about it.

My son has been receiving chemotherapy for a little over two years now.

My son Ezra is the bravest, strongest, most vivacious little boy you ever will meet. My son has leukemia.

Our lives and our outlooks have changed over these last two years. The initial shock has worn off, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Certain parts, perhaps, but as a whole it has not gotten any less complex.

It never gets any easier to restrain my baby as people poke him with needles and prod him with machines.

It never gets any easier to watch him cry, or to listen to those heart wrenching screams of his.

It never gets any easier to look into his pleading eyes, and not be able to answer those pleas.

The other day when they went to access Ezra’s port with a needle, he screamed “I’m dying, I’m dying!” or when he told us he doesn’t want to be sick anymore….I feel so very helpless.

I know we will beat this.

The cure rate is phenomenal for his type of leukemia, its just that small grey area that worries me.

I have moments where I emotionally berate myself, because I feel as his mother, I should be able to fix this.

And I can’t.

I can’t make it better.

My love alone won’t cure him.

That my friends, is one of the hardest parts to accept.

I can’t wrap myself around him, hold him close and cure him with my kisses.

I can only care for him as best as I possibly can, and have faith that his doctors know how to cure his tainted blood.

But such is life.

Horrid things happen to really virtuous people. Amazing things happen to really immoral people.

Babies get cancer and morons win the lottery.

While fairness is a commendable notion in theory, it is just not plausible.

Life is not fair, it does not play favorites.

Revel in your bliss, count your blessings each and every day, you never know when life may throw you a deviant curve ball.

I can not stress it enough…life is too short!

Live with no regrets. Love freely. Flourish in everything you do.

This is our reality. And we are not alone, tens of thousands of other parents share our story. Over 10,000 children a year are diagnosed with cancer. AND THE INCIDENT RATE IS RISING. Roughly 2,000 children will lose their fight against cancer every year.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Sadly, most people don’t know this.

And trust me I get it. No one wants to think about sick children and dying children. To think about it, means you have to admit to it’s existence. You have to admit that this does happen to people, and that there is a small chance it may happen to you. It is far easier to turn a blind eye. I know this, because this is what I did too. Until it happened to me.

I am implore you though, don’t be like me. Don’t turn a blind eye. These kids and families need your help. There are ways you can help that won’t even cost you a dime.

Help

-Donate blood at Red Cross or Life South

-Donate baby’s umbilical cord, most hospitals have this option, please ask. Or contact Cord Blood Registry

-Donate bone marrow, sign up at the National Marrow Donor Program

*These three things alone could save a child, and it doesn’t cost you a dime.

Give

-Nellie’s Catwalk 4 Kids , this is a wonderful organization that donated so many Christmas present to my boys one year.

-Layla Grace Foundation

-Make A Wish

-Give Kids The World

-American Childhood Cancer Organization

-The National Children’s Cancer Society

-St. Jude’s

Photog’s consider becoming a part of the Tiny Light Foundation.

Lastly, you can share this post on Facebook, like this post (see below), Twitter, Blogger, email, etc. Please help spread the word.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and its about time we all knew about it.

Gainesville Photography | Baby Cake Smash

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:05:00 +0000

Happy Birthday sweet boy! How fast a year goes by. It seems like only a few months ago we were waiting your arrival.

When it was just the four of us, we always felt something was missing. With the addition of you to the family, we now know what we were missing. One more sweet, silly, baby boy.

With you, you bring a ray of sunshine everywhere you go. You make every day so much more enjoyable, its hard to remember our lives before you.

No matter if your one or twenty-one, you will always be my beloved Judah bear.

Happy Birthday baby boy!

Gainesville Wedding Photographer | Engagement Photo Shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:23:00 +0000

I am so excited to photograph this couple’s wedding this fall! They are getting married at the Herlong Mansion, so we decided it was fitting to do their engagement photo shoot in Micanopy too. We took some fun shots on one of their motorcycles, they do a lot of riding together, so we thought it would be fun to incorporate into some of the photos. Plus I got to try my hand at panning. We had such a fun time together, minus the bugs that tried to take us out towards the end. Mike your a trooper! I can’t wait for the wedding!

Gainesville Photography | First Day of School

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Mancuso) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:26:00 +0000

Today was a pretty big day in the milestone department. I sent both of my older boys off to school. Ro started 1st grade, and Ezra started pre-school. I have to admit, I think I was more nervous than them. I had my reservations about sending Ezra off to school this year, due to his compromised immune system. But really, I know in my heart that he needs school and that he is ready. That doesn’t make it any easier though!

Both the boys had great first days. Rowan was so excited when he got home today. And although they said Ezra did cry a couple of times, he did tell me he had a fun time, and that he wants to go back tomorrow. All around the first day was successful!

I am so proud of my boys and so excited for the new school year!

You can find the Smarties printable here.