My Life. My Love. My Art.

Is this thing on?

2010-12-06T20:18:00.002-06:00

*tap tap tap* Is this thing on? I know, I know...it's been forever (and then a couple days beyond that). The good news? I already have a blogpost up and ready for you! The bad news? You have to work a little to get there.

That's right - the Essence Photography Blog has permanently moved locations to a much prettier home.

Change your bookmarks, subscribe on the new blog, and have fun looking around!

The New Blog

An Influx of Cuties

2009-11-14T12:32:00.008-06:00

It seems I have some catching up to do on the blog!! I have been so fortunate to have had wonderful clients again this past year and of course, I photographed some absolutely adorable babies and kids. Let's have a looksie...

Sweet Kaya and Baby Cole (who isn't such a baby anymore). I have absolutely loved watching these two grow up.

This sweet baby was so, so good during the session...slept almost the entire time and only cried for a bit...but Mommy was able to soothe...
This next session was so fun and relaxed... Daddy was a DJ and so Mommy had a great idea to capture that in their pictures...I absolutely loved how they turned out.

And let's see what was inside that little tummy...

And finally the last of my babies this year...
It has been a wonderful year and I can't believe we have only 12 days until Thanksgiving already!! This will serve as my last posting for 2009 as I wrap up my last clients and get things in order for year-end so I can enjoy the holiday season with my family.

Here's wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year! Enjoy your time with your little ones - soak in all that you can and remember it all. Next year will fly by just as fast as this one did.

All my best,
Brianne

When did Seniors start looking like this?

2009-09-04T14:07:00.005-05:00

I'd like to think I'm not that old. Sure, I've had my 10 year reunion, but I'm not even into the big three-ohs yet (at least not for another couple of weeks). I can only assume that some sort of weird alternate universe happened between the time I went to high school and now. Or perhaps it's something in the water now.

Regardless...tell me this one isn't utterly stunning.

Yes, she really did hop in the freezing cold water of Lake Michigan here. And it was cooooooold outside.Senior portraits aren't on my normal list of sessions I do, but every once in a while I like to do one. They allow me to be creative in a way that you just can't be with itty bitty babies and chubby-cheeked kids.

Update on booking: Two slots available in September, October is booked, and a few remaining sessions available for November. If you want pictures in time for Christmas, remember that November is too late!! Call or e-mail to inquire about scheduling a session. 847-970-8055 or info@essenceportraits.com

Oodles of cuties

2009-08-11T10:52:00.008-05:00

Once again, summer has come and (almost) gone and Essence went from being fairly manageable to exploding in just a few weeks. It happens every year and you would think I would be used to it by now!!

I've been a busy bee with lots of tots, newborns and those gorgeous mamas. Here's a little taste of what I've been up to.

This family has been with me since the mom's first pregnancy. We've now made it through both her son's first years, even after they moved away to Tennessee. They've promised to come visit me again, though. :)
Big brother was too busy having fun to be concerned with getting pictures for Mom and Dad, so this was about the best we could do.
This is more of that hot mama I did a sneak peek for in my last entry. I've gone back and gotten the tiny baby pictures and I can't wait to proof them and see what ones we got!
Another of my clients that moved half way across the country and came back for images. They've been with me since Big Brother's one year images and we've now made it through Baby Sister's first year.

And, last but not least a pregnant mommy that is due...today I believe! Just waiting for the little bundle to pop out. Some of you may recognize her - I did her maternity images with her first child almost exactly three years ago!

That's it for now! More to come - a couple of tiny babies, some kidlets and even a high school senior.

Sneak Peek at an Itty Bitty Belly

2009-06-26T18:53:00.002-05:00

Not to worry - I will have more from this gorgeous mom-to-be, but her proofs go up tomorrow and I wanted to give her a little taste ahead of time!Seriously - is that not the cutest baby bump you've ever seen??

Can't wait till you see the rest Jennifer! :)

Babies and Bellies

2009-06-06T09:30:00.005-05:00

Well, it's about that time of year again where I get inundated with pregnant mamas and their new little bundles. I know I say after every session that the type was my favorite, but I fib a little bit. There is nothing sweeter than a fresh little baby all curled up. They are by far the most work, but they are also by far the most rewarding...

And, of course, we couldn't have new bundles without the mama bellies...

I know this isn't a mama belly, but come ON - look at those sweet eyes....More babies and bellies on the horizon...in fact, that's about all that are booked!! Sessions are now opened for July & August. Only a couple of slots are left in July - the summer books fast! If you are interested in scheduling, please call or e-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com.

Happy Belated Mother's Day

2009-05-16T13:05:00.004-05:00

I wanted to get this out last weekend, but - well - my boys kicked me out of the house and I spent the entire day shopping. Without kids or a husband. It was GLORIOUS. :)

Some of you may remember last year when I posted the questions Blake was asked by his Pre-school teacher about me. Well, they did it again this year and I just had to share the answers again...

1. What does she do?
She takes pictures of babies. (I don't know if that's her job, but she sure likes to do it!)

2. How old is she?
15

3. What is her favorite color?
Red

4. What is her favorite food?
Special K bars

5. What is her favorite movie?
Gilmore Girls...I love to watch with her.

6. Mommy is funny when she...
laughs at me.

7. Where does she like to take you for fun?
to Disney World

8. Mommy always says...
that she loves me (and I say that, too)

9. What special message would you like to tell her on Mother's Day?
I love her!

Awwww...He's the cutest, right? They had a fun Mother's Day event at his Pre-school the Friday before - they had snacks and tea, even little flowers for us to pin on.
And, because it's been too long and I keep getting requests via e-mail to see my cute boys already, here are some recents of them.

Now, on to business! Vacation was good, but I'm back in the swing of things. Sessions are filling up for the summer months already, and I currently have some June availability as well as session bookings for July, August & September. If you are interested in scheduling something, please e-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com.

Finally, because I like to give each session their individualized post, I won't post any of the sessions I have waiting to be showcase, but I will show you a creation I completed for a client. Her son loves to read, so I picked a quote by none other than Dr. Suess.
Enjoy the weekend!

Sweet Baby Girl

2009-04-18T14:21:00.003-05:00

So, it seems I haven't quite gotten down pat the whole time management thing with two kids at home. *sigh* Sorry for the neglect on the blog... I have oodles of sessions to show, but they are going to have to take a back seat because I promised this mom and dad that if I couldn't get their proofs done before I left for vacation, I'd at least give them a sneak peek.

I had a hard time narrowing down just two to show...I mean, look at this cutie!!

And, yes, you read that right. I will be away on vacation until May 3rd. I will have limited access to voicemail and e-mail during that time. Also, sessions are now booking for May & June. Please call or e-mail if you are interested in booking!

When I return - more babies, more bellies and boys galore. :) Oh, and I'll even slap on a few of my little rugrats...

Bellies are back

2009-02-20T14:30:00.004-06:00

I'm finally caught up with all things work related and now have a chance to sit down and post some images from sessions! Yay! (that's why we're all here, right??)

Last month, I had the pleasure of meeting this couple - welcoming a new little boy or girl into the world. Most of my readers know just how much I love maternity sessions and this one was no different.

Here's just a sneak peek for the couple:
You know how I love red couches....

*****

Sessions are now booking for March only. If you'd like to schedule something or would like to be put on the waiting list for sessions in April-June, please e-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com.

How about I end this with a shot of my newest little guy?

The New Addition

2008-12-23T17:13:00.006-06:00

Nope...didn't die. Although I've come fairly close to dying of exhaustion, I'm still kickin'. Albeit a little slower than I used to, but still doing so.

I know I promised pics of Cullen like....I don't know...two months ago?? But, did you know that life with two kids is HARD? So, all you moms of two or more, I officially bow at your feet. How do you manage to stay sane? Fortunately for me, I have a wonderfully fabulous husband that lets me hand off the kids as soon as he walks in the door, then proceed to run as fast as my legs will carry me up to our glorious bathtub for some much needed solitude.

In between crying jags, dirty diapers, coloring with my 4 year old and trying to find time to brush my teeth, I did manage to drag out my camera a time or two. And, the results are pretty sweet, if I do say so myself. :)

And, Cullen just about two weeks ago:

For those of you wanting to book a session in the New Year, I have officially opened up bookings for January-March. If you'd like to schedule a session, please e-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com with your information.

That's it folks! My last post of 2008... I hope you and yours have a wonderfully blessed Christmas and a very happy New Year! A little virtual greeting from my family to yours: Merry Christmas!

I'm in love.....again...

2008-10-28T10:57:00.005-05:00

I was going to come on and be all philosophical and poetic about the birth of our new baby. But, honestly, words elude me now.

We're so happy.
We're so blessed.
We're so in love.

Introducing....

Cullen Robert Norgaard
Born on October 24th
11:25am
8lbs. 2oz.
20 inches Day #2 we were right as rain...after a nice shower, that is. :)
And, just to prove I don't ALWAYS take professional pics - sometimes your little point and shoot camera is perfect for capturing all the special moments.... Big brother Blake with Cullen:
I promise to update with his birth photos after we get those done on Saturday! Thank you for all the well wishes I've received!!

It's about that time.

2008-10-11T13:37:00.011-05:00

Yep, this will serve as my last "official" post till after I return from maternity leave! It's hard to believe it's already here, but in a little over two weeks, we will have a new little bundle at home!

The last trimester of pregnancy has really kicked me in the butt (literally & figuratively!) so I've been horrible about posting the sessions I've been doing. So, this will serve as a catch all post (I've been doing a lot of those lately!).

Let's see what cuties we can find....

I'm sure you recognize at least one of these cuties. Here is Miss Kaya and baby brother Cole. It was Cole's one year session. I can't believe how fast the time went by! It's really too bad mom and dad don't have any luck making cute babies........... :)
And - TWINS! Yay! I love newborns, but what's not too love about twice the fun? These beauties were very good for our session - only breaking down once or twice.

I first met this little lady when she was fresh out of mommy's tummy. We went back to get some of those fabulous baby shots you can get at around 9 months. Lots of chub, dimples and smiles...
Remember all my preggo moms? Well, here is another product of that mom belly! I photographed big sister almost two years ago, I think. Introducing baby Canyon.

And, last but not least another return baby (now toddler!). I photographed little Evan a year ago when he was home fresh from the hospital. Here he is all grown up.
Finally, a couple weeks ago, I called up my younger sister and coerced her into driving up this way and standing in for me so I could get some maternity images of me and my little guy! Let me tell you, it was quite the production. I stood her where I wanted her, set the camera settings and angles and then we swapped places. No room for improvisation (which I do frequently at sessions!) but I'll take what I can get! I was pleased with a number of them - so a big fat THANK YOU to Kenzie for helping a sister out. :)
So, that's it folks! That's my last post till after this kid comes out of me (which, by the Grace of God will be soon...). I am currently (though not officially!) on maternity leave. Official maternity leave starts on Friday, October 17th and continues through the New Year. During this time, I will be unavailable via phone, but you can e-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com with questions/concerns or to book a session for the New Year. E-mails will be checked a few times per week. Please allow at least 72 hours to hear back!

Don't worry - I'll be sure to come on and spread the news of our arrival as soon as I can. Thank you to all my wonderful clients from this year who made it full of fun, silliness and creativity!

I'm still alive...

2008-08-20T21:35:00.006-05:00

And, so it seems that my little ritual of updating weekly came to a screeching halt! Well, my dear readers...I have a good excuse. It's called pregnancy brain. Apparently you lose 10% of your brain power while pregnant. And, I'm pretty sure all the moms out there can attest to that!

Besides losing my mind (or 10% of it anyway...), I've been extremely busy. Sessions have been solid since the start of the summer and I've been in a frenzy to get everything completed before I start maternity leave in just under 4 short weeks! Not to mention that we took a trip to Disney World two weeks ago (yes, I know it's hot there....pregnancy brain, remember?) and my little guy's birthday is coming up on Friday (cry....).

But, never fear - I'm here to pack in the goods in this post... I'm going to try and catch up from all that I've been doing cause I know I've left you hangin' for too long!

First off, here is the cutie I talked about in my last blog post. Miss Ellison. What a beautiful and unique name, right? I just loved it and asked mom where she comes up with all her names (big brother and sis have unique names as well) and unfortunately it wasn't a book or website, it was kids she used to teach! Drats. Well, if anyone has any ideas for me, don't be shy! Anyway, here she is - fresh to the world.
Next we've got this adorable guy - not much difference in age between him and my little guy. I love when I get kids that age cause it's so easy to interact with them. We went on several adventures - at first he was quite leary then I couldn't drag him out of the trees!!

And, I told you I had an influx of maternity and newborn sessions! Here's another one - the product of the beautiful family in my post "Must be the Water..." Welcoming baby Ava to the family.
Alright - last one for this post. I've got several more sessions, but I will taunt you for a bit and post those later!

Yes - another newborn. Shocked aren't you? This is the product of the beautiful family in my post "Reunion"... Two little boys for this clan. We had our ups and downs at the session - you should have seen some of the maneuvers mom and I were trying to pull on the baby - but in the end, we just have to go with the flow and remember that the babies generally call the shots in these sessions!

Think that will keep you satisfied till I can update again?? :) Just a quick reminder - I will be unofficially starting my maternity leave Sunday, September 14th. I will still be around - answering e-mails and phone calls, prepping sessions and orders and general office work, but will not be taking on any more sessions. I will "officially" be on maternity leave (i.e. you can call, but I won't answer!) starting Sunday, October 12th and will be returning to work Monday, January 5th. I believe I still have one session date available for the year and then I will be taking names and starting the list for January. If you're interested in a session, please call or e-mail me pronto! info@essenceportraits.com or 847-970-8055

I'm on a roll...

2008-07-15T13:43:00.004-05:00

What - not a month between updates?? Whatever has happened?? :-) I told you I was going to try and get caught up with blog posts, so alas, that's what I'm here doing...

Here we go with another of the plethora of preggo moms I had the pleasure of capturing. She is what I call a lifer with me. I've been with her since the birth of her son about two years ago. Soon enough we will be welcoming a pair of new babies to the family! Can't wait to capture those tiny little bundles. You know how I love my multiples!!

Now, I must say - I am getting a bit of a complex. It simply can't be good to be pregnant and have your career be shooting pregnant women that look like this (completely not fair!):

Can't wait to get the phone call announcing the arrival of these babies... I'm too excited!!!

Speaking of babies - next up might just be a sweet little thing that I finished up with. Beautiful girl with a beautiful name... Stay tuned. :)

Must be the water...

2008-07-08T22:13:00.003-05:00

I've joined....hmmm....four? fellow soon-to-be moms in the past month or so for sessions documenting their cute little bumps. I have this happen at least once a year - where I'm just bombarded with preggo moms and tiny little newborns. And, the only conclusion I can come up with is that it must be the water.... :-)

Here's a peek at a session I did a little while ago (I'm WAY behind on posting on the blog - so sorry...this little life in me sucks the life OUT of me!). I did little Jacob's pics when he just turned one and now we've got baby sis in the belly and soon to be out of the belly to work on!

I hope to get caught up with posting sessions very soon cause I know all to well how quickly summer is going to come to an end and just how fast mid-September (i.e. quittin' time!) will be upon me! With that, just a reminder to book your sessions now while you can. I still have a couple dates available in August and the beginning of September if you were thinking of getting your pictures done this year. Otherwise, I'll be back and hopefully not exhausted come the beginning of next year. If you want to book a session, e-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com.

Back in the groove

2008-06-13T20:26:00.006-05:00

I hate coming back from vacation. Don't get me wrong - I don't hate it enough to stop GOING on vacations, but still it's a pain. I just finally got my carry on unpacked and put away and I've been stepping over my still-packed suitcase for the last week hoping that - SOMEHOW - it will magically clean itself out and put itself away. Sigh.

But....no....I certainly wouldn't want to give up on vacations. Especially girls weekends. We had so much fun....laughed so hard...stayed up till the wee hours of the morning (with two pregnant girls, might I add).....and didn't bother sleeping in - afraid we might actually miss some of the fun.

So - to my girls - truly some of my closest and dearest friends....I had a BLAST. So, so, so much fun. And, I can't wait for next year.... ILYS!****************

Before I delve back into some session images, I wanted to tell you what I've been entranced with for the last short while. The Twilight Series has completely captured my attention. On a recommendation of a friend (and one of the eight fabulous girls pictured above), I grabbed the first book in this series on a whim the day before I left for my trip. I was more engrossed in my People magazine at first, however, than to start reading the book right away. I did manage to delve in on Tuesday on my way home though. By Wednesday night I was finished. With this 500 page book. Meanwhile, sensing the end was near - Wednesday afternoon I frantically purchased the other two in this series from Amazon and impatiently waited their arrival. Since I was so entranced in this book, I started it over - Thursday morning - and was finished, once again, on Friday. Much to my surprise and delight, my order arrived late Friday afternoon. I finished both the remaining books - 500-600 pages each - by Sunday. Ummm.....yeah. You could say it's a good read.

I do have to warn you, though....these books are addictive. HIGHLY addictive. So much so that I've read through the trilogy yet another time and have started again this morning on the first book. You might say I have a problem. :)

But, if you like to read (or are like me and you loveD to read - before life brought you children and housework and responsibilities) buy these books. I promise you won't be disappointed. I will caution you - you may want to wait to get this trilogy until the last week in July....cause, I have no doubt you will fly through them at the speed I did and then you will only have to wait a very short amount of time for the fourth - and final - book in this series to come out (set for August 2nd, I believe).

**********************

So, enough of my Public Service Announcement on those!! I am already back at work, proofing sessions as we speak. I hope to share some of these with you in the next coming weeks, but my schedule - as it does in the summer - is full and my time will be sparse! For those that e-mailed to book a session for July, August or September, I believe all e-mails have been responded to so if you haven't received a response, please contact me again.

For those that didn't e-mail but are interested in a session, please contact as soon as you are able. July is nearly full and August is close behind. Just a reminder that mid-September will be the cutoff for 2008 Sessions. Regular sessions will resume at the first of next year.

Getting excited!

2008-05-29T14:33:00.002-05:00

What for you ask? Well, in approximately 48 short hours I will be arriving in Dallas for four fun filled days of shopping, eating and pampering. I am lucky enough to be meeting up with eight of my dearest and closest girlfriends. I'm thinking we might have a *little* fun, but I can't be sure....

So, beginning this evening I will be unavailable to reach via phone or e-mail until I return on Wednesday, June 4th.

If you are inquiring about a session, please do send an e-mail or leave me a voicemail as they are booked on a first come, first serve basis. I am completely booked for June and will now be opening availability for July, August & September. If you are interested in getting a session done this year, now is the time! There will be NO sessions in October, November or December of this year as we welcome our second little bundle into the family and prepare for and adjust to the transition. Please e-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com or call at 847.970.8055.

So, until next Wednesday when I return sunburned, exhausted and extremely sad to leave my friends behind, I bid you farewell! Enjoy your weekend!

Reunion

2008-05-23T13:21:00.004-05:00

It's been six long months since I had seen this little cutie, but let me tell you - he smiled at me like I was just over for lunch the day before!!

This was his last session as a only child - next time I see him I will be photographing the latest addition to the family. Here are some favorites from the session.

Can't wait to meet the new little bundle in a month or two!! No doubt baby #2 will be as cute as the first!

Happy Mothers Day!

2008-05-12T19:32:00.003-05:00

I know I'm a day late and a dollar short, but this last weekend (and even the last week!) has just gotten away from me! I hope all my fabulous moms enjoyed their day and got treated like the queens we know we are, right??

We enjoyed a relaxing day - I got to sleep in (yay!), then met for brunch and headed out for some girl shopping later in the day. No cooking. No cleaning. No work. My kind of day!

Earlier in the week, I had the pleasure of going to Blake's preschool for a Mothers Day party they were having. Turns out, the kids had made something for us as a gift and had answered a questionnaire of sorts about us. I thought it was so sweet and had to share this with you - give you a little glimpse into the mind of a 3 year old:

1. What does she do?
She works upstairs in her office. She snuggles with me and cleans clothes.

2. How old is she?
41

3. What is her favorite color?
Red

4. What is her favorite food?
Cinnamon Rolls

5. What is her favorite movie?
Gilmore Girls

6. Mommy is funny when....
she laughs and runs after me.

7. Where does she like to take you for fun?
To the furniture store (in my defense, we just went last week and this furniture store has a kids play area like McDonalds!)

8. Mommy always says....
Thank you!

9. What special message would you like to tell her on Mothers Day?
Happy Mothers Day. I love you.

I was shocked at how many of these he knew (well, all except my age!!!!) and of course I loved how he answered them.... Talk about melting a mom's heart!

And, finally...I got pampered a little more this year than usual. Mostly cause I have the best husband in the world (and I've trained him well!)...but also cause.....

Aren't these weird alien pictures always the best??? Yep, we are expecting baby #2...due November 1st. For those that have been wondering where the heck I've been, the answer is I've been sorta busy growing a person. :) Not sure if it's the whole running after a 3 year old thing that's the difference, but this pregnancy has knocked me off my feet! But, I'm feeling much better now and looking forward to getting back in the swing of things. So, for those that have sessions scheduled in the upcoming weeks and months, don't be surprised if I'm a bit "rounder" than the last time you saw me. :)

Hope you enjoyed your wonderful day!!

Uh-oh Spagettios

2008-04-22T10:59:00.002-05:00

It has been a bad couple of days here in my world!! I am having technical difficulties up the wazoo. Please bear with me...

First and foremost, if you are a client that has contacted me via e-mail and are NOT getting responses, PLEASE CALL ME!!! I have a couple people that I can receive messages from, but I'm gathering from their responses, they are NOT getting the messages from me. I don't have phone numbers to contact, so please give me a jingle. 847.970.8055

Secondly, my brand spankin' new, suped up computer has died. My hard drive is no more. My hubby got it up in recovery mode so I am transferring the files that needed to be done since my last backup, and as of now, I believe I have everything moved over (whew!). But, in the meantime till I get my new hard drive in 5-7 business days, I will be scrounging up as much time as I can steal from my husband's laptop and checking in when I can. Please, if you need to get in touch with me, the best way for the next week or so will be via phone.

And, lastly - nothing to do with technology...just a reminder to show me your cuties! I wanna see them and am so anxious to get this project wrapped up!

Until next time when I can return with my sanity..... :)

Calling all Cuties....

2008-04-16T13:30:00.002-05:00

That's right...I need some cuties around these parts!! I am working on a new project and need some fresh new faces to fill the pages with. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, here's the full info on what I'm looking for...

What I need:
Boys and girls, ages 3-6, dressed in their most colorful, no-holds-barred kid friendly outfits. I'm talking tutus and cowboy boots, striped tights and polka dot shirts, superman capes with rain boots - whatever you've got, I wanna see it. The funkier, brighter, bolder and more outlandish the better. I want this to be about your child's personality...let it shine!

What you will get:
A complimentary mini session of your child in said outfit at a location of my choosing
A six image mini album (artist's choice images) for you to keep

What you need to do:
Get your kid dressed up in their ensembles, grab that handy dandy camera of yours and take a shot of them in it. E-mail it to me with a brief description of your child (she's really shy, but playful once she opens up... he's a wild man from the moment you meet him, etc) and his or her age.

I am looking for something specific, so I will review the images that I have been sent and select the few that I think will represent what I'm going for best.

What happens if your child doesn't have any outfits like this, but this sounds like too much fun, you just have to get in on it?? If you are willing to take my advice completely on an outfit to purchase, e-mail me with your child's picture and all the above information and we'll go from there!

So, what's the catch?? Only one...I can't have photographed your child in the last 18 months. As much as I love my current cuties, I need some fresh faces for this project!

If you are interested or know someone who is, send them on their way to contact me - info@essenceportraits.com. But hurry - I need to be contacted by Friday, April 25th for your child to be considered.

**********************************************
Finally, Spring has sort of leaped upon us (well, except for that snow the other day.......) and Summer is around the corner. May and June are almost fully booked - I have two openings left in May and only one in June. If you are interested in booking, hurry and call now!!! If you are an expectant mommy, please keep in mind I like to hold your sessions between 30-34 weeks (generally at 32, if at all possible), so don't wait till the last minute to book. And, if you are a new mommy or very soon to be new mommy, call right away for your newborn session....newborns are best done within the first FIVE days of life, so call ahead so I can pencil you in!!!

The best gift

2008-04-07T14:12:00.006-05:00

Portraits are priceless. No doubt about it. I can speak from experience when I say almost nothing has touched me quite like seeing beautiful, emotional images of me with my son. For those that didn't hear me rave on and on about the experience, you can get caught up to speed here.

With that said, I've been racking my brain since I left for vacation on what I could do to celebrate that wonderful bond Mothers and their children share. Of course, just in time for Mother's Day. So, here we have it.....

For the first time **ever**, I will be doing a set of Limited Edition Sessions, specifically for Mother's Day. Since these are a breakthrough for Essence, I will give you the lowdown on what it is, the cost and all other variables that are oh so important!!

Limited Edition Mommy & Me Sessions ~ $200
(with $100 from each booked session going to the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation)

Includes:
30 minute session for you and your child
Three different locations to choose from
5-10 images shown
One matted and framed 5x5 image of you with your child (frame shown below)

Of course, I loved this offering so much, I had to get one for myself!! That's me and my little man, proudly displayed on my nightstand. I get warm fuzzies every time I look at it!

Full details, such as location choices and times, will be given when you call or e-mail to book your session. These will take place Tuesdays and Thursdays in April. Space is limited, so call or e-mail today to book your session! 847.970.8055 / info@essenceportraits.com.

Don't let another day (or year!) go by without emotional, real and raw images of you with your child. Celebrate this Mother's Day with a little gift for yourself (or kick that hubby in the rear to get over here and book for you!). I promise you, these images will be priceless.

Spring/Summer Availability Now Open!

2008-03-16T20:37:00.002-05:00

It's that time already!! Can you believe that Spring is around the corner and before you know it Summer will be here?? I have opened bookings for April, May & June and while I have several dates taken from those that were on the waiting list, I still have a few dates available. So contact me as soon as possible to check if your preferred date is available!! Please contact me via e-mail (info@essenceportraits.com) or phone (847.970.8055) to schedule your session.

On another note, I will be gone March 20th through March 30th on a "working" vacation. If you would like to book a session for the newly opened dates, please contact me immediately to ensure availability. All bookings are done on a first come, first serve basis. The fastest and easiest way to get in contact with me over these dates will be via e-mail at info@essenceportraits.com. Voicemails will be returned after I return on Monday, March 31st.

And, finally - it's not too early to start thinking about Mother's Day. We've got only 8 weeks until the big day!! Keep your eyes open for ideas.....

Destination: Sioux Falls

2008-03-12T22:00:00.002-05:00

That's right - I'm headed out that way for a little Spring Break action. (why oh why don't I go South in March?!?!)

If you or someone you know is in the Sioux Falls area and is interested in a session, please contact me via e-mail at info@essenceportraits.com or by phone at 847-970-8055.

Sessions are extremely limited and will be booked on a first come, first serve basis!

*****
And, for all my local clients, I will be opening availability for April/May/June the end of this week, so stay tuned on the blog for details of that. :)

Year of Peanuts continued...

2008-03-04T14:37:00.005-06:00

So, I kinda left ya hangin' with just that one post of a little cutie, didn't I?!?! So sorry - I have been consumed a bit with behind the scenes stuff (prepping the new website, redoing all my marketing pieces to coincide with said site, returning e-mails, yada yada yada)... But, I did not forget! And, I couldn't forget to post about this pretty little girl.

She was so good at our session - I mean, REALLY good. Slept most of the time and curled up perfectly into a little ball!!

So, here's Miss Gia nice and snug in mom's belly:

And, making her appearance at 6 days old...
Such a cutie - can't wait to watch this one grow!!
*********
Stay tuned on the blog for Spring/Summer Availability to open up. I have a rather long waiting list now, so those will be contacted first for first availability, then I will announce on the blog! With Spring weather around the corner, I anticipate booking quickly!!

It's time!

2008-02-22T14:20:00.006-06:00

Well, this happened quicker than I anticipated!! I wasn't even aware it was made public till I stumbled upon it! (whoops...)

So, the new changes are here and ready to be unveiled!! As I said, I've spent the last six months working and perfecting and reworking and reperfecting and reworking again and I FINALLY think I'm over the moon thrilled with the results.

We've got a new logo, new colors, new website, new images, new sections.... And, to celebrate all that newness, I'm going to do a promotion. For those that have been with me for the past three years, you know that this is unprecedented. But, this new launch deserves it's own bells and whistles, if you will. So, for the next 24 hours, I am giving 50% off the session fee for a NEW session booked in March! I have limited availability left for March, so be sure to contact me right away to ensure you get the pick of the litter. I MUST receive your call or e-mail by 2:23 pm tomorrow (Saturday 2/23) afternoon. In your call or e-mail, please list dates that work for your schedule (remember, I take sessions Saturdays & Sundays only), what the session will be for and the location you'd like it held. You can e-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com or call at 847-970-8055, though e-mail is the best way to get in contact with me throughout the day. Payment for sessions are due immediately, via electronic invoice.

Now get over and see our changes!!! Shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment and let me know what you think about the new digs.

Come see the new look of Essence now!

New stuff on the horizon...

2008-02-19T14:23:00.004-06:00

Well, this has been in the works for months (not joking....six months, to be exact!!) and I am so excited that I am *almost* finished. What is it? Well, I can't tell you that....that would spoil all the fun!! But, I can tell you that a new, fresh look for Essence is on the way. :) Exciting!!

To celebrate, I'm thinking about having a ONE-DAY promotion....so, keep a watch on the blog for details of that. No advance announcement, just a spur of the moment thing and it will only last one day!!! No longer!! So, keep your eyes peeled for info....

And, cause it's fun to tease....a little peek at what's to come....

Memory Lane...

2008-02-14T14:40:00.010-06:00

One of the great aspects of this business is watching my clients grow (that's the kids, not the parents...). Some of my kiddos have been with me since before they were even out of mom's belly. And, some started when they were just babies....others started a bit later. No matter how they start, I'm always so excited to see how they've changed and grown.... what cute "tricks" they are doing now, who they look like and what their personality has evolved to.

I recently had the pleasure of doing a session for a long-time client - we've made our way through one kid and are now working on the next!!! So, I got double shocked at this session....my how they grow.

Remember baby Cole?

He's gotten a bit bigger now....My goodness was he smiley!!! I had him LAUGHING!!!! What a doll... Of course, I wasn't all that surprised...after all, big sis is one of my faves. :-)

Sweet Kaya when I first started with her:
And now....

Course, this session was for baby brother, but how can I not capture that?!?!? She is a hoot - even gave me a little "talk to the hand" at our session (not now, Brianne....I can't be bothered):
And, my personal fave series from our session....

I imagine our conversation went much like this:

Me: Whatcha eatin' Kaya?
K: What? I'm not eating anything...I don't know what you're talking about...
K: Alright, fine....they're m-n-m's.K: See?
Me: Huh....they're turning your mouth blue...
K: They're WHAT?
K: WhatEVER Brianne....I don't see how that's quite relevant at our session.....

OK....so *maybe* our conversation didn't go quite like this, but still comical, nonetheless!!!

Alright...signing off with some other faves from baby brother Cole:

And, finally - HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! - from my cutie to yours....

The year of peanuts

2008-02-05T14:06:00.001-06:00

Odd title, I know... But, I don't have any other words to describe this itty bitty boy!! I had the pleasure of photographing the brand new baby boy of a friend of mine. He arrived several weeks early and weighed I think around 5 pounds at our session. Needless to say my "just a couple of shots for a mini album" turned into a full-blown ordeal with way more proofs than I intended to show. But, I ask you.....could *you* have nixed any of these?!?!?

How cute are these?

2008-01-23T22:39:00.000-06:00

Yep, title pretty much sums it up. I had to hurry up and order some of the Valentines I posted for my little guy and I LOVE them!!! They are so cute... I'm gonna tie them to treat bags for his pre-school class.....Don't forget - orders need to be placed and paid for by January 31st to get them in time for Valentine's Day!! E-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com with your orders... :)

the perfect valentine...

2008-01-16T22:50:00.000-06:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I am offering some Limited Edition pieces that are perfect for that little gift you need...

Limited Edition Mini Storyboard - $50
*sized at 4x8 with two or three images
*includes desktop easel for display
*comes mounted and sprayed for protection

Here are a few examples of the designs available:

Limited Edition 8x8 custom art piece - $65
*mounted and sprayed for protection
*includes desktop easel for display
*one to three images per piece

An example of a custom creation:And, finally for your little Valentine...

Limited Edition Valentines
$55/24 5x7 cards w/ envelopes:

Or, $24/16 wallet sized valentines:

Orders need to be placed and paid for by Thursday, January 31st to ensure delivery to you by Valentine's Day!! E-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com to get your orders in!

We have a winner....

2008-01-15T14:44:00.000-06:00

I can officially say this was my largest blog contest ever... I had almost 700 people stop by to vote!! Wow. That's a lot of family and friends pulling for you all! Every single entry got votes so I know this was tough for everyone!

But, with a *very* close race - from day one, these two were within 1% of each other - we finally have a winner:
These adorable little peanuts are already growing up - Mom contacted me a while ago, saying she was having withdrawals from not having their pictures done in a while, and so I can't wait to see how they've grown! So, Cory - I will be contacting you soon about your mini coffee table book! Very exciting...

And, our runner up....a very close second.... This little beauty (who also happens to be a twin!):Angie & Adam - I'll be contacting you about the mini storyboard you are receiving!!

Thank you everyone for your votes and for sending your friends and family to vote for their favorite images!!

Last but not least, I've got a Valentine's Day Special I'm going to be posting tomorrow, so stay tuned. This will be great and affordable for all the moms and dads out there. Ladies - if you want to give your hubbies some ideas, tell them to swing on by. :)

The Best Image of 2007

2008-01-07T16:07:00.000-06:00

Pretty hefty title to carry, right? Well, I tell you what - I've spent the last couple of weeks weeding through, and re-weeding through all the images I took for my lovely clients in 2007. It was H.A.R.D. let me tell you. I'm pretty sure that I not only have the best clients in the world, but I also have the most photogenic. :)

Though I tried with all my might to select an image from each and every one of my sessions, I unfortunately couldn't do that. I thought it *might* get a tish confusing with a hundred entries to choose from. So, I went forth with the ultimate task - the selection process. The images I chose all spoke to me in some way... Some you will see when you look at them, and some may be cause of something a child said, how we connected, or some other reason that made me ultimately fall in love with it.

Now, the truly hard part I am leaving in YOUR hands. You, my friends, will be making the ultimate decision on which of these is named the Best Image of 2007. And, once you do, that lucky person will get something pretty dang special. I will be gifting a 20 page, 5x5 coffee table styled brag book to the lucky winner. These come with a beautiful frosted case to protect your book and are just the perfect size for your purse. The runner up will receive a 4x8 mini storyboard with their image and another of my favorites from their session.

All you have to do is enter your vote for your favorite. There are 20 images in the running and each are numbered accordingly. Find your favorite number (located ABOVE the image of your choice), then scroll down to the bottom for the poll and place your vote! Only one vote per person, please. This contest will end in one week - on Monday, January 14th!!

So.....get voting!

#10

#11#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

#17

#18

#19

#20

2008 Availability Now Open!!!

2007-12-17T16:09:00.000-06:00

I have officially opened availability for January, February & March of 2008. An e-mail has already been sent to those on the waiting list, and as always, bookings are done on a first come, first serve basis. Because I'm expecting these dates to get snatched up quickly, please call as soon as you know you'd like a session to see about availability!!! For quickest response at this time of the year, please e-mail me at info@essenceportraits.com!!!

For those slow in the game (ummm....me!), we are about a week away from Christmas!! It didn't actually dawn on me until this morning that I really probably *should* be out doing some errands....you know - BUYING gifts for Christmas, getting all the yummy goodies for our feast made to serve 40 (though there will be exactly 7 there...) and - oh yeah - shipping out those blasted cards and gifts.

I've decided that next year, instead of being downright mad when Halloween rolls around and out comes the Christmas decorations, I am going to take that as a sign that maybe I should get my butt in gear to save me from the chaos that has ensued this season.

With that, I bid you all a farewell until the New Year!!! Enjoy your friends, your families and most of all enjoy those kiddos. We know all too well how fast Christmas will find us next year, and like that another year will be gone.

All my best,
Brianne

Finally....our pictures...

2007-12-11T21:26:00.000-06:00

I'm sure you can about imagine the holiday craziness 'round these parts. Presents here, wrapping paper there, ornaments, cookies and boxes galore....then, add in all the orders to package, Christmas cards to complete and various other way too boring stuff to mention, and I've been a virtual chicken (one with it's head cut off, no less).

But...I promised these, and I don't got back on my promises!!! So amidst holiday craziness and all, here are my family portraits.

It really was a surreal experience to be the one in front of the camera... To go through the process from beginning to end just as my clients do. Wondering if she got anything (how could she possibly have gotten anything with my crazy three year old running around!??!?), wondering if I look as bad as I think I probably do (can she shave off 10lbs in photoshop, I wonder?!?!?), wondering how long does it really take to get these proofs up (my God....she must not work very fast!!). Alright - that last one was a joke...don't kill me Tiff. :) But, after all the questions had passed, and after a couple weeks, I got a call....they were up and ready. Do you all feel this way, too, when you get that e-mail?? That rush of adrenaline....excitement, nervousness and anxiety all wrapped up into one neat little package?

I wondered if I would react as many of my clients tell me they do... Would I cry when I watched it? Would I get goosebumps? Would I be forever grateful at the memories that were captured right there....right then....and kept forever more? Yes, Yes, and Yes. The shots that got me the most were the ones of Blake and I. As a mom (not even as a photographer here!), we somehow always get left out of the pictures... Whether we're the ones taking them or whether we're in the kitchen whipping up a batch of mashed potatoes, or cleaning the bathroom or making the bed, or working... We never seem to be there. And, if it weren't for these wonderful, amazing moments that Tiffani captured...well, Blake may have very well gone through old photo albums thinking he only had a Daddy... But, now there is proof. When he is 18 and ready to go off to college, I can look back and remember. At one point he loved his Mommy...and didn't mind cuddling. :)

For that, I will be eternally grateful that Tiff was able to capture these moments. I love them. Pure and simple. I love them.

Sugar and Spice...

2007-11-15T10:59:00.000-06:00

With one 3 year old boy already at home, mom was certainly pleased to get a brand new baby girl. Meet Chloe. Even her name screams girl, right?? Even at the non-newborn stage, I was able to get her conked out to sleep for some of my favorite shots (see below...I'm a master at baby sleep techniques!!).

Here's just a couple to tease mom a bit....

Sweet baby boy

2007-11-09T14:13:00.000-06:00

I got to this guy a little late - he was 5 weeks (I think!!) at our session. My preference is babies younger than a week old, just cause they can get squishy a little better and sleep a little more. It's amazing what those first few weeks do to change those new little ones!!

But, regardless of his age, I got this little guy to conk out towards the end of the session..... A perk of the job is that I've rocked countless babies to sleep and have a few tricks up my sleeve to get them that way!!

Here's a peek for Mom and Dad:

****And, cause I don't want to be too much of a tease a little peek at *my* family session with Tiffani Sunshine:
I will share more of the finished session soon!!! Promise....

E-mail/server issues

2007-10-27T14:52:00.001-05:00

I am finally getting moved to a different server with my webdesign company due to ongoing issues with e-mail and my site both being down multiple times each day. However, as good of news as that is, it does mean that my e-mail and site may have disruptions in service until it is straightened out. I'm hoping all will be peachy keen early next week. But, until that time, should you need to contact me, please do so via phone and NOT e-mail. I can be reached at 847-970-8055.

Thank you for your patience!!!

I survived.

2007-10-25T14:40:00.000-05:00

Man...I tell you what. Life in front of the camera is ROUGH. :-) But, we all survived and got some rockin' pics (of which I will show......just not now).

But, back on subject, this post is a little one to tease mom and dad (see above...I like teasing people). I got to photograph these cuties while they were still nice and warm in mom's belly. Before they entered the world of crazy dad. Crazy dad greeted me at the door in his robe for our "bare buns" session. Course, *I* was referring to the babies....not a grown man. Ha!! We have a great time during our sessions...that crazy dad is one funny guy.

And, this one I affectionately call "You want a piece of this??".... :-)

Is it time yet???

2007-10-16T22:22:00.000-05:00

I have been counting down the days for quite some time now and can hardly believe that it's only a few days away!!

I posted about this in a previous entry, but I am finally going to get to meet one of my very good friends - who just happens to be an awesome photographer - this weekend! I am flying her talented butt up this way and am strictly using her for the sole purpose of taking our pictures. :-)

Not only am I excited to get family portraits done (our last ones were done when Blake was only a year old!!), but what I'm really excited about is to get some new pictures of my little guy. I know, I know...I'm perfectly capable of taking them myself, but there is just something so emotional about seeing your babies through another's eyes. What do they see? How do they interact with that person? Will they notice things that I take for granted? I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

I will be sure to post pictures when they get done - but you all know the drill. Gotta wait a few weeks for them to be processed, but then my friends, I will most definitely share.

Until then, you can see her amazing work at: www.tiffanisunshinephotography.com.

Our second date.

2007-10-10T21:18:00.000-05:00

I've had the pleasure of photographing this little girl once before - a year ago. This time she was just as vibrant and full of spirit as ever.

She even ventured into Lake Michigan!!! Brrrrrr...........

Here's a little peek for mom :-)

Back in the swing of things...

2007-09-27T15:19:00.000-05:00

Note to self: Schedule at least a week of recovery time when returning from "vacation". :-) I don't know how (and it doesn't seem quite fair, really) but I ALWAYS end up with more work coming back from vacation than if I had just stayed in the first place!! But, nonetheless, we did have a wonderful time while gone and it was so great to catch up with friends and family.

But, one thing I did miss while gone was looking at pictures of all my adorable clients! These two cuties were no exception. This is just a little peek for mom before her proofs get posted tomorrow. Just a little tease (I know...I'm awful aren't I??).

Also - just a reminder that sessions are slim to none, folks, for the remainder of the year. If you are at all interested in Christmas or Holiday cards, your session needs to be completed no later than November 4th!! Please e-mail me if you are interested in finding out availability.

The blog slacker.

2007-09-08T14:43:00.001-05:00

Hi. My name is Brianne and I'm a blog slacker.

Sooooo sorry to all those that have been checking my blog daily for updates. I've been a naughty photographer, haven't I?? Not sharing the beautiful little faces I've been lucky enough to meet in the last few weeks. So, once again I'm going to do a little catch all of sessions I've done.

I got to do this little guy when he was VERY little...just a wee newborn!! It's always so much fun to see how they have grown. Got some of big sis and mom in there, too.

This next family was referred to me before even seeing their friend's portraits! I had to travel a bit for this session, but it was worth it...cutie patooties, that's for sure!

This little guy was so animated - I just loved his expressions!! And, little sis? Well, don't expect her to sit still....ohhh no... Gotta be on the move!!

And, finally, this client hired me to go to her home in Minneapolis for their session. Do a little work and even got a mini vacation out of the deal. Not too shabby! See...I told ya I photograph the cutest kids!!

Well, thassit for pics, folks!! I will be leaving tomorrow (9/9/07) for a much needed family vacation and will return home Saturday the 22nd. Only to turn around and head into the city for a Workshop that following Monday and Tuesday (9/24-9/25). So, I should be back into the swing of things sometime mid-Wednesday (9/26). I will no have access to e-mail and limited access to voicemail during this time. I will answer e-mails as soon as I return.

Finally - session availability for Fall is slim pickins, folks! I have two slots left in October and four in November. If you are interested in scheduling a session, please e-mail me as soon as possible, as they will be booked on a first come, first serve basis.

And, really finally this time...some exciting news - I've booked a plane ticket and hired a fellow photographer and good friend to come up to do our family portraits in October! I'm soooo excited I can hardly stand it. So, before long you'll get to see my whole fam-damily posted on here!! I will share more details soon... :-)

The suspense....

2007-08-23T14:17:00.000-05:00

So, I know it's not great for you guys to live in suspense for the weeks awaiting your proofs... But, it IS great to hear how much you are anxiously awaiting the results!!! That means I'm doing something right...right?

Tracy.....maybe this will let your mind rest for at least ONE evening! :-)

Errors, errors and more errors...

2007-08-16T14:47:00.000-05:00

My e-mail is (and has been) spotty to say the least for the last several weeks. If you have e-mailed me and haven't heard back within 48 hours, something is wrong and I haven't gotten your message. If you were expecting to hear from me and haven't, give me a call to check in. It's never more than 48 hours before I get back to clients via e-mail.

Thanks for hangin' in there with me....hopefully they will get this problem fixed soon!

Sweet Kaya got a sweet brother...

2007-08-14T15:22:00.000-05:00

I posted my last session with Sweet Kaya a few months back. Bittersweet, yes, but still LOVE doing sessions with her. And, I was so happy that my time with her (and mommy and daddy!) would continue on through the next year. Mommy truly is such a pleasure to work with and whole-heartedly trusts my vision in the portraits of her babies...and for that I am extremely grateful. I LOVE when clients put their complete faith in me and let me do my thing!!

Here is sweet baby Cole...

A quick note...

2007-08-09T14:28:00.000-05:00

I will be leaving early tomorrow morning for a photo session in Minneapolis and will arrive back late Sunday evening. I will not have access to e-mail and limited access to my voicemail. Please know that I will return calls and e-mails as soon as I can early next week.

Also, when I return next week I will be opening my Fall availability for September, October and November. If you are interested in a date, please e-mail me right away so you can be put on the waiting list and be one of the first to know. Last time availability was opened, sessions booked very, very quickly, so be ready!!

Enjoy your weekend!!

Smitten

2007-08-07T16:24:00.000-05:00

I do fall in love with a lot of the pictures I do for my clients. Their adorable children making hilarious faces, or a cute little baby all curled up in a ball, or a warm-fuzzy relationship shot. But, this shot... It was one that I knew the second I took it I was going to fall in love with it. Yes, I am definitely smitten with this picture.

Enjoy the peek, Rebeca!

So much to do...

2007-08-03T09:58:00.000-05:00

So little time! I have been swamped and I apologize for not updating this with all the cutie patootie kids I've been busy photographing!! So...this is going to be a catch all. My posting run-on sentence, if you will. :-) Once again, I've lucked out with wonderful clients who make beautiful children!!! Here are some of the cuties...

A little peek of a little guy

2007-07-24T14:47:00.000-05:00

This little man made his apperance a few days early (mom wasn't complaining!), and we managed to fit him in at only 5 days old. I love how squishy they are in that first week...

Just a little tease for mom:

Yep, I have a kid...

2007-07-17T00:10:00.001-05:00

But, apparently I don't show him enough. I've had at LEAST 6 clients in the last month ask how come I never show him on my blog!

So, here he is. My light, my laughter, my complete comic relief. The one that proudly brings me dead dandelions as flowers. The one that runs to the door when I come home. The one who gives me never ending snuggles, kisses and "I love you"'s. The one that sees me on good days, bad days and all the days in between. Yet, somehow loves me unconditionally anyway. Gosh, I love this kid!!

And, my recent favorite:

Before long...

2007-07-13T15:17:00.000-05:00

they will be grown. They will be talking and laughing and cooing. They will give snuggles and kisses. Tell you they love you. Get in fights. Probably even try to beat each other up. They will emulate their big sister. Fight for Mom and Dad's affection. Fight for each OTHERS' affection. Win awards. Go to school. Play. Laugh. Love.

But for now...let's just let them be itty bitty.

Snips and snails...

2007-07-07T16:14:00.000-05:00

It's always a treat when I get to photograph little boys. Though I've always been a girly-girl at heart and *thought* I connected better with girls, having my own little man has changed my thinking. Me and the guys just click. Of course, these little guys didn't know any of my cool lingo (read: Spiderman, Bob the Builder, etc), but they still smiled and cooed nonetheless which makes me one happy camper. :-)

Here's little Mr. Jacob:

And Mr. Logan...
These boys are gonna make the girl's hearts go pitter-pat. :-)

Beautiful babies...

2007-06-27T23:43:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if this role was one that was thrown at me, or one that I just kind of glided into, but whatever the case I seem to be a "Baby Photographer"! And, I have to say that I love every minute of it.... I LOVE that first year...everything about it. All the stages...the pudgy leg rolls, the itty bitty feet, that soft, soft baby skin, that dimply little bum. *Sigh*....sweet babies, that's for sure!! I do have some older babies to showcase coming up, but I'm going to double up and post a couple of newborns for you to "ooooh" and "awwww" at... So sweet. :-)

Don't you DARE....

2007-06-25T14:50:00.000-05:00

take another picture of me...
HA! More of this cutie coming very soon...

The Triplets have arrived...

2007-06-22T23:10:00.001-05:00

I think an overwhelming "awwwww....." will do for this post...This is just a little peek for Mom and Dad (well....Mom mostly...). There are more to come!

Paradise...

2007-06-10T15:17:00.000-05:00

In Wisconsin?? Surely, it can't be.... I hear a lot of my clients say that they assume that my beach shots are done on location - on one of the coasts perhaps - and surely not here in WI. Well, I'm here to set the record straight...ALL of my beach shots have been done right here - yep, in WI. You just have to keep your eyes open and look for the beauty...

Just a little reminder that I will be gone starting tomorrow until Tuesday, June 19th. I am attending a photography workshop in Portland. All e-mails and voicemails will be returned after Tuesday. Thank you!

Lil' Peanut

2007-06-05T15:51:00.000-05:00

Just a little peek for Mom and Dad... Miss Lily was just as pretty as ever...and even at 5 weeks was just a little peanut... Can't wait to share the whole session with you all!!

Bittersweet...

2007-06-01T15:00:00.000-05:00

I have so enjoyed watching my Sweet Kaya grow from an itty bitty thing to this vibrant, smiley and all around happy little girl. Though I love being there through the first year of these little ones, the last session is always quite bittersweet. I have seen them at least every couple of months for an entire year...it's hard not to get a little attached!! Well, as bittersweet as this session was, there is relief in sight....mom and dad are expecting baby #2, so not only do I get to continue watching Sweet Kaya grow, but I get to be a part of the first year for the expectant little bundle. I just can't wait!!

Yep, she's still sweet as ever:
Sheesh...talk about favorites!! :-)

And, just to see how she's grown:

Sweet baby face

2007-05-31T15:35:00.000-05:00

Just a little peek for Mom and Dad cause I know they're waiting in anticipation for these proofs!!!

Awww.....

Three...yes, THREE babies...

2007-05-29T21:13:00.000-05:00

So, I got this call from the soon-to-be mom and on her voicemail she said something about wanting pictures before and after the babIES come. So, I'm thinking to myself "ahh...twins..." Well, I give her a call back...only to find out it's triplets. With a 2 year old already at home!!! Talk about a chaotic household! But, no doubt it will be oozing with love... Here are some "before" pics. Those little bundles are due out soon...very soon!

Here's hoping for a safe, easy and quick (how does 10 minutes sound??) labor!!! Can't wait to meet those babies...

Hurry!!

2007-05-17T14:50:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to announce this new product...and just in time for Father's Day. I am always looking for unique gifts for all the guys in your life that aren't cheesy...poorly made...or just plain old lame. :-) When I found this piece, I was so excited. Not only is it a great piece - but I am able to offer it at a SIGNIFICANT discount from regular pricing.

Without further ado....here is the Mahogany Photo Tile Box...

Perfect for all the "Dads" in your life to store their wallets, keys, spare change, etc. The dimensions of this are 6 1/8" X 6 1/8" and 2 1/2" deep. Inside area is 5 1/4" X 5 1/4". The photo tile is 4.25"x4.25". Normal pricing for this piece is $170. However, my vendor is running a special and I will be offering these for $100 for 48 hours only!!! Request, payment and image selection MUST be completed by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday to ensure delivery before Father's Day!! Please e-mail your requests to me at info@essenceportraits.com.

Embrace the Mohawk

2007-05-16T15:05:00.000-05:00

So, my whole philosophy behind doing what I do is to capture your life - right now. And, sometimes things aren't as "perfect" or "ideal" as we'd like them to be, but nonetheless, they are you - and your family - perfectly as you are. So, when I first met this little cutie, I commented on her adorable mohawk of sorts. And, mom responded with "yes...we've learned to embrace the mohawk". :-) My thoughts exactly...

And, my absolute favorite from this session (and my recent favorite portrait, period!):
Stunning, isn't she??

For all the Mamas...

2007-05-11T21:46:00.000-05:00

In doing what I do, I'm fortunate and blessed enough to get little glimpses into the lives of my clients. And, what makes me even more blessed is that the moms and I tend to bond - if over nothing more than motherhood itself. They share their worries...joys...concerns...questions...elation...sadness...and sometimes even sorrow...and each time, I am grateful that they have thought enough of me to share that part of themselves. So, to all my moms - who love enough, give enough, provide enough, care enough and have strength enough to raise these happy, healthy and loving children.

(Yep...Kelley...this is a sneak peek for you!!!):

Thank you for sharing your challenges, your accomplishments and even your defeats with me... Enjoy your day on Sunday - I'm sure gonna try!!

~*~*~*~

Before I was a Mom

Before I Was A Mom,
I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom,
I slept as late as I wanted and never
worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom,
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot
words to lullabies.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't worry whether or not my
plants were poisonous and
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on, pooped on,
spit on, chewed on, peed on or
even pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a Mom,
I had complete control of my mind,
my thoughts, my body and I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so that doctors could do test or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million
pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having
my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry child.
I didn't know that bond between a
Mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle
of the night to make sure all was ok.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy, the love, the heartache
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know that I was capable of feeling so much
Before I Was A Mom.
~anonymous

Session availability now open!

2007-05-03T15:28:00.000-05:00

I'm finally back from my wonderful (and much needed!) vacation! We had a wonderful time, but it's still nice to be home. As promised, with my return I've opened up my session availability for the summer months (June, July & August). These are all booked on a first come, first serve basis, and e-mails have been sent to those on the waiting list. Because of that, I'm anticipating sessions to book up quickly, so if you're thinking of booking, please do so right away!

If I was an organized mom, I'd post some pics of my little guy and our great time on vacation, but since my pictures are still sitting on the memory card in my camera (gasp!!), I'll share some recent favorites. I hope to do featured sessions on each of these, so stayed tuned for that....

I actually stopped doing seniors last fall, but after this recent fun session (a favor for my little sis!), I'm rethinking that! I had a blast...

...well....okay....just one...

2007-04-16T14:36:00.000-05:00

Or maybe two... I know, I know...I lied. I said I wouldn't post anymore, but I can't help myself. A little sneak peek for the parents who are waiting every so patiently for their proofs until I get back.I got it!!! I got it!!! I got the "cute little eye thingy"!!! :-)
For real this time...enjoy the *hopefully* wonderful Springtime weather. I will be opening up session availablity for summer sessions when I return.

Leaving early...

2007-04-13T22:54:00.000-05:00

I had hoped to show at least one other session before we left, but am afraid that won't happen. Due to a very sad and unexpected family circumstance, we will be leaving early for our vacation and I will be unavailable from April 17th through May 1st. I will not have access to my phone or e-mail during this time. However, please feel free to leave a message or e-mail and I will be sure to get back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Taking some breaks!

2007-04-04T10:39:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how time is flying by, but my first vacation of the year is already upon us!! I will be gone April 20-30 and will not be checking voicemail or e-mail. However, because sessions are on a first come, first serve basis, if you have a date in mind, please leave a message stating such and we'll go from there.

If you live in SIOUX FALLS!! I will be back and accepting an extremely limited number of appointments while there. If you are interested in a session, please contact me ASAP to get info on availability and rates. Approximate dates are April 24-28. You can reach me at info@essenceportraits.com.

Finally, I will also be gone June 11-15 to attend a photography workshop (of which I'm VERY excited!!!). I will not have access to voicemail or e-mails during that time.

Already falling behind!

2007-04-02T23:39:00.000-05:00

Sad, but true. How can it be? Well...seems that life has gotten in the way of my blogging!!! I'm a few sessions backed-up on this blog, so I'm going to try to be good for a while and get them all posted and caught up!!

Anyhow...on to the goods... Here's more of my "I think I'm in love" couple... Beautiful people in a beautiful home. Apparently, it's going around that I only photograph that! Or at least that's what I figure cause that seems to be all the clients I get!!! :-)

So, Kelli & Josh are expecting their little bundle in May and I can't wait to get my hands on her. And, she is already expected to share the name of my younger sister........I like her already... :-) Without further ado...

I think I'm in love....

2007-03-14T14:45:00.000-05:00

with this new shot.... I don't normally do this, but this one jumped out at me and SCREAMED to be shown... So, a sneak peek for my expectant couple... Enjoy you two... :-)

...sweet, sweet baby...

2007-03-06T15:19:00.000-06:00

I just love newborn sessions. Love them. Sure, they take patience and they are a LOT of work. But, the end result always melts my heart.

This session was not at ALL what a typical session is like. Little Mr. Michael was not fussy...or crabby...or wide awake. He was exactly what I tell my new moms newborns NEVER are. But, I wasn't complaining...I was, however, jinxing us through the whole session ("I can't believe how good he's being!!"), but fortunately he stayed that way the entire time.

Some shots of this little peanut....

And, big sis... Do you know that I didn't tell her to come do that at all?? (Baby Michael was fussing...)

More sessions soon to come...

Make a Statement

2007-02-28T14:27:00.000-06:00

So...I know that there are some people who think that an 8x10 is just this humongous picture and they could NEVER find space for it up on a wall! But....there are also people (ahem...me...) who are bummed because the largest I could get this canvas in was 40" wide. I would have liked to go even a bit wider... :-)

Since you all welcome me into your homes, I thought I'd welcome you into mine and share with you my brand spankin' new canvas. I wanted to post these pictures to show you that you don't have to be scared of large wall art or canvases!! They really WILL work in your home...and they will look fantastic.

Bare wall (boooooooring...):
With the canvas (26"x40"):
It's life-sized!!

Just Glowing

2007-02-22T14:50:00.000-06:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again....I get the most beautiful pregnant women!! I think I must be like a magnet for them! Well, Angie called me up, hoping that I could get her squeezed in, as she was 35 weeks along...with twins... :-) You all know I like to do maternity at about 32 weeks (and that's with only one in there!), but we were luckily able to get something set up for only a few days later because of a reschedule.

We had a lot of fun - and her hubby is a regular hoot and a half... The last time I laughed that hard at a session was with my hilarious actor couple!! So - Adam - "from one photographer to another..." I hope you like these of your beautiful wife... :-)And....my new absolutely favorite maternity image:

A True Beauty

2007-02-19T19:50:00.000-06:00

How can you tell a "true" beauty? Well, I'd say if at 3 months old, she shows signs of being literally beautiful you're on your way to a real and true beauty. This little lady was so great at our session...she didn't have a newborn session, so I was quite pleased that we were still able to do lots of the "newborn" style shots.

Why must I always keep you in suspense with a story preceding the pictures??? It's just my way... :-) Enjoy...

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T23:05:00.000-06:00

Whew...almost missed it! Hope you enjoyed your day feelin' the love... :-)

Wine, Art...and Shopping...

2007-02-13T14:22:00.000-06:00

What could be better?? My friends at Yaya's boutique in downtown Libertyville asked me to join them this weekend in the special event "Don't Wine about Winter". This event will be held in Downtown Libertyville on this Saturday from 1-5.

I will have several new pieces up for display, as well as my new coffee table books and information on my new (yet to be announced...) exclusive sessions. Stop by and take a peek...

You can get more information on Yaya's site and they also have a link to the Mainstreet Libertyville site. So, grab your girlfriends and bring them down to view a wide variety of art, sample some wine and shop (girls love that, right?!?!).

The Gift

2007-02-10T19:59:00.000-06:00

I had several entries for this contest and though it was a tough decision, none touched me quite like this one. It's the story of a mother's love....a love that was there long before she even began her journey down the path of motherhood. A brief excerpt from this beautiful story:

"Anna, meaning; grace or favour, or as her mother refers to her, The Gift. Anna is the gift after 730 days, countless dollars, 3900 hundred miles, and hundreds of minutes slowing passing filled with yearning for one deserving mother. A mother's whose eyes well up in tears over a year later when she talks about her gift, her Anna...

Anna's mother and father chose not to have biological children due to the risk of passing on a serious genetic disorder that her father struggles with on a daily basis. Their passion to become parents led them on a two year journey through two countries, legal systems, and heartbreak. This journey proves love is patient...

You may ask, why does this family deserve this opportunity? If the journey described above does not convince you, I ask, have you ever felt love in a room? Heard it in a voice? Recognized it through tears in a mother's eyes? I have seen and felt all of the above when I have talked about Anna with her mother. I have heard spoken words, through a mother's story, of how her daughter smiled, laughed, or said a word. Her tears of joy let me see her raw, heart wrenching love. I have been touched by this remarkable family and had a glimpse at the wonder, joy, and meaning of motherhood before I became of mother myself."

This very deserving mother - and the wonderful friend who chose to write about her - will both receive a $250 gift certificate to Essence to spend as they choose. If this tale did for you as it did for me, you are thanking your lucky stars that you were graced with a child, or children, with whom to love....our gifts.

Time's up!

2007-02-09T22:35:00.000-06:00

The contest has officially ended! I've got some great entries here to read over... I will be announcing the winner tomorrow and giving you a peek at their story!

Time's almost up!!!

2007-02-07T14:15:00.000-06:00

Only two days left to enter the "you're giving away WHAT?!?!?" contest!!! So, hurry it up and send me some good, heartfelt stories. And, I don't care if you can't write worth a darn!! I promise I won't deduct points for poor grammar!!! Just send me something that tugs at the heartstrings....

I will close entries to the contest on Friday, February 9th. E-mail your entries to info@essenceportraits.com. You never know...YOU could end up $250 richer....

Growing up

2007-02-02T20:13:00.000-06:00

Three months come and go so fast now, I can hardly believe it! I just recently was able to visit Sweet Kaya for her 9 month photos. It's obviously too chilly outside to do much, so most of these took place in her - very much so - girly girl room. Pink, pink, and pink. Add in a tutu and I was clearly in heaven! Oh, and the fact that Miss Kaya is about the sweetest little girl I know helped a little, too... And, she just gets sweeter...
***Just a reminder that the itty bitty valentines need to be ordered AND paid for by Sunday, February 4th. E-mail me with questions or to order.***

Take time...

2007-01-30T14:17:00.000-06:00

Life is unpredictable. It's a ride into the unknown. But, one thing is for sure - it goes by all too fast.

Today, take time for the little things. Hug your children. Snuggle with them. Watch them play. Sit and enjoy their company. Be grateful they are here with you and that they have blessed your lives. Be thankful for them and all the ways their being with you has changed your life.

*******

In memory of Bobby. 1/2/93 - 1/29/07

itty bitty valentines

2007-01-29T22:59:00.000-06:00

How flippin' cute are these?? We had our own little "sessions" at my house specifically so that I could get some pics of my little guy to send in these adorable cards!!

These "itty bitty valentines" are perfect for you to send out to family and friends. These are also perfect for pre-school and school valentines!! They are mini cards - while folded, they are about the size of a business card. When opened, they are bookmark size (2"x7") - and come printed on beautiful Art Linen paper. These will come customized with two pictures of your choice from an archived session and with the sayings "be mine" on the front and "happy valentines day" on the inside. If you'd like to have yours personalized, you may do so with a minimum order of 50 cards (please contact me for a personalized quote).

Front (be mine):
Inside (happy valentines day):
These will be mailed to you and come ready to share - envelopes included. 10 for $22; 20 for $38 and 30 for $52. Shipping is $3 per order. All orders MUST be placed and paid for by Saturday, February 4th. Your mini cards will be mailed to you by 2/10.

You're giving away WHAT??

2007-01-26T23:33:00.000-06:00

Some of you will probably think I lost my mind... But, alas, I tell you - neh! I am perfectly sane and just in need of some uplifting stories...

So, that brings me to the new CONTEST. Are you ready?? Here's the scoop: I am giving away $500. Yes, that's right. For the winner of this contest, I will be giving away two - $250 gift certificates to Essence Photography for you and one other person... Now, what in the world do you have to do to get such a thing?? I want to hear (in as many or as few words as you like) why your friend, mom, sister, neighbor, co-worker, man on the street - whomever - deserves this $250 gift certificate. I want to hear lots and lots of good stories!! And, you don't even have to be a current client to win this....so, if you know someone who knows someone who could use this gift certificate, then send them here and tell them to enter!!

Well, surely there must be a catch, you're thinking! Just one....your "someone else" can't be a current client. That's it! I will close entries for this contest on Friday, February 9th, and will announce the winner shortly thereafter. And, oh yeah, the winning story (and possibly excerpts from others) will be posted on the blog....so, you must be willing to have your story shared!!

Send your entries to me at info@essenceportraits.com. I can't wait to hear everyone's....so, don't be shy!!

All the legal mumbo jumbo: The gift certificate is good on a future session and can be used towards the session fee and/or prints or custom creations (i.e. collages and storyboards). This cannot be used on canvas prints, custom jewelry or Altered Art. Gift certificates must be used within 6 months of issuance.

Move over Cinderella!!

2007-01-18T17:06:00.000-06:00

The answer to your question - I have no idea. The question, of course, would be how in the world do I get all the cute clients with awesome houses?? Do I have a partnership with Pottery Barn? Nope. Gerber? Nope. I guess I'm just that darn lucky!!!

So, little Bella here was at a great age - 6 months. Just about sitting up by herself. And, cute as a button. I absolutely LOVED this session. I had such great surroundings that my creative juices were just a-flowin'!!

Like I do with most clients, I helped mom pick out a few things for little miss Bella to wear and when I saw this tutu, I said - we have GOT to get a picture in that. Mom had purchased it for her first birthday, so it was a little big, but I LOVE that it covers her whole bottom half! And, to explain the title - that's what her cute shirt said!! Move over Cinderella, is right!!

Next post - I promise - will be the new contest....stay tuned!!

The Portrait of Strength

2007-01-13T14:18:00.000-06:00

This post will be one of few words... Mostly cause I've been trying to write this entry for four days, but can't seem to find the words. After a little advice from a wonderful client and a peek inside myself, here goes nothin'...

Meet Bobby. He is a fun-loving, quirky boy (sorry...umm...what are they calling 14 year olds these days?!?), and from what mom told me, he's quite the ham. I'm afraid I was there too early to get any "haminess", though. He is very sweet...I didn't get any "sass" at all while I was there! And, so willing to do whatever I asked.

It truly was a blessing and a pleasure to be allowed a glimpse into your lives and to help you capture and remember this time. I wish you all nothing but strength, hope and unconditional love as the weeks and months ahead pass by.

Finally - to Bobby - Here ya go....you're gonna be famous now... :-)

...this and that...

2007-01-09T15:11:00.000-06:00

I know, I know...these aren't the most fun posts to read, but they just have to be done!! A few housekeeping things that you should be aware of:

**I was notified by my online hosting company that I have too many active slideshows and soon I will run out of space. So, effective immediately, your slideshow will remain online for the two weeks allotted, then removed. Of course, you can opt to have your slideshow republished for the fee, but they will no longer remain online indefinitely. For those previous clients that currently have slideshows online, they will be removed on Friday, January 12th.

**There was set to be a new splash page contest to run in January. However, I'm planning to run a different contest...the prizes will be bigger and you will have to work a bit for this one, but I promise you it will be worth it! Stay tuned in the next week for details on this.

**If you are contemplating purchasing photo jewelry for Valentines Day (ahem...husbands? are you listening??), please start thinking about placing your order very soon. Turn around time is generally about 4 weeks, so we are getting very close to a deadline.

That's it! Not too bad, eh? And, don't fret....I've had a couple sessions already in the New Year, and I plan to stay on top of the featured sessions this year!! (notice how I said PLAN to... :-)...so, stay tuned for some new pics!

What a welcome back!

2007-01-02T21:22:00.000-06:00

Build train. Check. Watch movies by the light of the Christmas tree. Check. Stop and smell the flowers. Check. I can't believe it...but I actually DID stop...rest...and relax like I said I was going to! It was GLORIOUS!! And, of course, went by all too fast.... But, I am back in the swing of things and I think I'm caught up on all voicemails and e-mails left while on my little vacation. If you sent an e-mail and haven't received a response, please send again cause that means I didn't receive it!

Well, while on my little break, I got some wonderful news... In a November contest, I received two finalist awards and one second-place win! My "winning" image is from my 100% ~ head over heels ~ totally in love ~ blissfully happy ~ bride and groom that I had the pleasure of photographing for their wedding in September. Don't they look in love?My two finalists both come from one of my favorite little girls in the whole world....Sweet Kaya. I have my third session with this cutie coming up in a couple of weeks and cannot WAIT!! Awwwww....isn't she cute??Well, I suppose I better get back to work and quit slacking off.... Hope you all had a marvelous Christmas and celebrated the New Year in style (on the couch, like we did). :-)

~until next year~

2006-12-21T14:14:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that in four short days Christmas will be upon us! With lists a mile long - everything from sending out cards (I know...I'm late) to baking to shopping to wrapping...it goes on and on! I know you all can empathize with me! Never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything we want done, done...

So, this post serves as a farewell until the New Year - my last post of 2006. I have been so blessed over the past year with wonderful clients and friends welcoming me to a new city (two actually!) and loving what I do as much me. It's been an honor and a privilege to be let into your lives and allowed a brief glimpse at your life with your family. I cannot wait to continue this wonderful journey in the New Year.

I will be unavailable via phone or e-mail for the remainder of the year. All voicemails and e-mails will be returned after January 2nd. If you have orders in and paid for, they will be completed and mailed. If you have orders placed but have yet to send payment, your order will be completed after the first of the year. I am taking this much needed time to "stop and smell the flowers"... To finally build that train with my little guy and simply enjoy a movie by the light of the Christmas tree with my husband. I wish you all these simple things, as well.

So, I bid you farewell... Have a happy, safe and wonderful Christmas. May you have miracles happen all around you....and have the childlike eyes to be able to see them.

My best,
Brianne

Ahem...can I have your attention please?

2006-12-18T13:21:00.000-06:00

I am so thrilled....I have been anxiously waiting to debut this product line and finally have my chance. I contacted this wonderful artist a couple months ago to offer her truly artistic works and had to be put on a waiting list because the demand was so high. Well, I found out about a month ago that I am now officially the exclusive photographer offering her work for my clients in Lake Villa, IL (and surrounding areas), Kenosha, WI (and surrounding areas) and Sioux Falls, SD (and surrounding areas)!! I am beyond excited to offer this "Storybook Look" to my clients....these are truly works of art and ones that will, no doubt, become treasured family pieces to pass down.

So, of course, I had to get a sample done....and who else would I do besides my adorable little boy?? I love this so much, I've decided to get a very large canvas of this for his bedroom and a smaller version to bring with to appointments to show the true beauty of these pieces.

I am offering these wonderful pieces exclusively on Fine Art Canvas Gallery Wraps and Metallic Paper Standouts. Once a piece is purchased, custom folded greeting cards with the same piece may be ordered, as well.

So, without further ado....I present this gorgeous piece of art:

Original portrait: (click to enlarge)

The Altered Art: (click to enlarge)
For more examples of Jessica's art, please visit her website at www.wishyouwellsonline.com. If you are interested in purchasing a piece of this one-of-a-kind art, please contact me for further details.

The Special Twins have arrived...

2006-12-05T14:05:00.000-06:00

I think you've waited long enough to hear my special announcement!!! Well, these sweet babies arrived a couple of months ago, actually......but, me in all my blog slacker glory, haven't posted about them yet!!! And, since I have had many people wonder the status on these Special Twins, I thought I had better make an update...

They arrived...baby girl first, then baby boy....only five days apart. They are the cutest little things and were so much fun to photograph!! Mom and Dad are certainly in heaven.... And, when asked about pulling "double duty"? They said they don't know anything else, and are loving it.... :-) Enough chit-chat - here are some pics of these cuties!

I've been called out...

2006-11-26T22:52:00.000-06:00

on being a blog slacker. :-( I am so far behind on featured sessions it actually hurts my head to think about it! So, I'm gonna cheat a bit and do one (or maybe a few...) mega posts. See...I really have been working these past few months. Honest! So...enjoy...
As you can see, I've been quite the busy bee with newborns!! I'm sure you remember my infiltration of maternity clientele in July and August....well, those babies had to be born sometime!!

Stay tuned....a "special" announcement to follow very soon..... :-)

Holiday Specials

2006-11-21T20:13:00.000-06:00

Well, believe it or not, Christmas is right around the corner! And, with that comes a whole lot of people to buy for and if they're anything like the people I have to buy for, they don't often send lists!! So, I'm gonna help out a bit on a few specials for Christmas...

**Purchase any 10x20 collage or storyboard and receive a mini 5x10 collage complimentary. Whether you choose the small one for yourself, give it as a gift, or simply use at the office, you will love this mini version! They look fabulous on a little easel!!

**Black Onyx Necklace - $125 (regularly priced at $160)

**Charming Necklace $75 (regularly priced at $110)

These specials are good through December 15th. So, hurry to place your order today! If you want delivery by Christmas, orders for the jewelry needs to be placed and paid for by December 1st and orders for the Storyboards or Collages need to be placed and paid for by December 4th.

Happy Holidays!!

Site difficulties

2006-11-16T13:41:00.000-06:00

Well....on the bright side, the correct picture is finally on the splash page!! :-)

Please pardon the "mess" on the site. It seems my website company is having some difficulties getting this to work properly. Right now, you can go to my site and see the splash page, but can get no further.

I am in the process of getting to the bottom of this and hope to have a fully functional site VERY soon......

Thanks for your patience.

Brand Spankin' New

2006-11-08T22:00:00.000-06:00

So....I've kept you all in suspense for many, many weeks anticipating the changes to Essence. Well, the time has finally come! After much deliberation with my focus group, I am pleased to announce the changes to Essence, set to begin immediately.

The Products.

Many of you know that I have always offered Isabelle Chase Jewelry. While her designs and craftsmanship are exquisite, her prices took a huge leap in the last few months....more than I was comfortable passing on to my clients. So, I began searching for a new jewelry designer. I am pleased to announce that I have found my new line of photo jewelry. It is a collaborative grouping, made up of pieces from several different designers, to give you the best options when choosing your product. Prices start at $110. I think you will find these designs to be much more contemporary, funky and unique.......I'm in love with them and running out of pictures of my little guy to use on them!! Just a peek at a few of the offerings:

I am also pleased to announce the launch of Canvas Creations. These beautiful pieces of art are shown on Fine Art Canvas Gallery Wraps and are ready to hang. Most of these designs can be altered in color to match your decor or the portrait in use. Four designs available.

Finally, what I consider the "best of the best" in the new products. I am pleased to offer these gorgeous, Italian Leather albums, containing 40 prints. Your portraits are mounted on black pages and separated by vellum interleaves. The album is protected in a satin lined display box. These albums are available for purchase individually, or for a discounted priced based on your order. Please inquire for further details.
The Details.

As with most businesses, I like to re-evaluate my business policies and procedures on a yearly basis (sometimes bi-annually) and October is generally the time I do that to coincide with my business anniversary. After approaching my focus group and talking with a few clients on the matter, I have moved forward with changes in my pricing. For those that are previous customers, you will see an increase in my session fee, as well as my Table Top Portraits. But, you will also see a DECREASE in my Wall Art Portraits and my Custom Collages, Creations and Storyboards. Why? Well, that's pretty simple. My main purpose in decreasing my large wall portraits is to encourage my clients to fill the walls of their home with art, rather than decorating bookshelves with portraits.

There are a few other minor changes, but they just aren't exciting enough to post on the blog!! Except this one.... My ordering process is changing slightly. Online proofing will still be used as my main source of proofing. However, other options are now available to you for your ordering needs. Should you need to discuss further your portrait options, an in-house or phone ordering appointment will be available. For in-house ordering appointments, I will help you measure your space, bring samples and help you decide the best pieces and sizes for the locations you wish to display your pieces of art. For phone ordering appointments, we will discuss your ideas and I will guide you to what best works for your location. These are best done if you are a returning client who's home I've visited or a new client who's session took place at your home. Basically, it works best if I've been to your home before and have seen the location(s) you are hoping to put your portraits.

As I said, online slideshows will remain my main source of proofing. Your slideshows will now remain online for two weeks, after which time will be deleted from the system. Previous guidelines for reactivation apply. However, you now have "bonuses" available to you for ordering early. For every order that is placed in full within 3 days of your online gallery activation, you will receive 20% off your entire print order. For orders placed within 5 days, you will receive 15% off, and for orders placed within 10 days, you will receive 10% off. This is my way of giving back to you while hopefully maintaining a successful workflow and process with my clients.

Boy, that was a mouthful!!! If you have any questions at all regarding any of the changes, please feel free to contact me. I will be happy to answer your questions! One last thing - I will be announcing wonderful Holiday Specials in the next few days so stay tuned for that!!

Drum roll please.................

2006-11-08T13:43:00.000-06:00

And the winner is......................................

This is one of my absolute favorite mother/daughter portraits. I love everything about it - so many little details make this image incredibly powerful. So, as soon as I can get my husband (aka: computer guru) to get this baby loaded on the Splash Page, you will be seeing it every time you log on to my site till the end of the year!!

Finally, thanks to everyone that stopped by to vote!! I had very close to 500 votes in only one week! Keep your eyes peeled for the next time this contest will run - right after the first of the year!!

Last Chance to vote!!

2006-11-07T14:22:00.000-06:00

The splash page contest ends tonight!!! If you haven't yet, please vote! You will find the poll and photos to choose from just below this post.

A reminder on prizes:

Winner receives location on splash page, either an 11x14 or 5x15 collage and a $50 gift certificate from either Learning Express or One Step Ahead!!

Runners-up receive location on flash movie that will be seen when you first enter my site. They will also receive a 4x8 mini collage!

Thanks everyone for your votes thus far - keep 'em coming!!

Splash Page Contest!!

2006-10-29T23:23:00.000-06:00

So...I told a little fib. I said this would be ready the second week in October. Little did I know all that has to go into creating a splash page!!

Well, the time has come! The splash page is up and ready to be graced with one of these five beautiful pictures! Here's how this will work:

Five images are posted. You may vote for your favorite image ONCE. Voting will be held for one week and will end on November 7th. During the voting period, anyone at all can vote on the images, so be sure to send your family and friends to vote for you if you are one of the candidates.

The winner of this poll will be put on the splash page till the end of December. Starting in the new year, the time frame of the winners will change slightly. The winner will also receive their choice of either an 11x14 wall art image (from a past or future session) or a 5x15 collage. The winner will also receive a $50 gift certificate to Learning Express~children's educational toy store or One Step Ahead online catalog!

Runners-up in this contest will be put on my intro movie that you first see when entering the site. They will also receive a 4x8 mini collage of their choice!

Without further ado, here are the selections:
Image 1:

Image 2:
Image 3:
Image 4:
Image 5:

A peek at love

2006-10-27T21:01:00.000-05:00

I know many of you will remember the last time I posted about this couple ("head over heels")...they were so in love, I actually got e-mails from people saying that they could - without a doubt - see the love between these two.

Well, their story is far from over... In fact, they are just starting their happily ever after. And, I was lucky enough to photograph them. With this being my very last wedding as a photographer, I was so thrilled to go out with a bang with this one. Not only could I literally see the love oozing out of them - but they are a BLAST. The only way I could have had more fun is if I was there to dance instead of photograph it!

They have been waiting ever so patiently for their proofs and I'm SO close to being done, but I just couldn't have them wait any longer! So, a sneak peek at their love:

The first time they saw each other:

See the love??

OK...I know this doesn't really have anything to do with them as a couple, but I just love this one! Someone said something funny, that's for sure! I'm guessing it was Eddie!And, my personal favorite: So, Eddie and Karen - two people very much in love - I wish you 50 more years of the blissful happiness that you so clearly have with one another. And, all I can say is you better call me when those babies start coming!!

...and she just gets sweeter...

2006-10-26T11:27:00.000-05:00

I have so many wonderful things to say about this little girl and her wonderful parents I don't even know where to begin! You may remember this little beauty from a couple months ago - "Sweet Kaya". That was her very first session with me and her parents signed up for three more. Now, I'm a bit of a softy - probably comes from being a mom myself - but I tend to grow rather attached to my babies...especially those in the "As They Grow" package. That means I'm guaranteed to see them at least four times in the first year of their life. So, four sessions of Sweet Kaya? Yeah, I'm ok with that! If that wasn't pleasant enough, it also means that I get to work with her parents (well...mom, mostly!) and I can't tell you how much I enjoy it. It is so wonderful and refreshing to meet someone - especially a client - who shares the same exact thoughts, ideals and visions for photography as I do. This mom, Kelley, and I seemed to just click. When we first met, I told her of how I didn't want to be the photographer you come to once a year for wallets for the aunts and uncles. I wanted to be the photographer you came to when you wanted to decorate your home with art. Her response? I'm so excited! I knew right then and there we would work great together.

Kelley has given me so many wonderful compliments - saying that I will always be a part of her memories from this beautiful first year in her daughter's life. That almost brought me to tears!! I am so thankful to have clients like Kelley - and so many more - that make my "job" not so much a job, but more about creating lifelong friendships with wonderful people.

Well, that turned into much more about my wonderful clients than it did about Sweet Miss Kaya! But...I don't need many words for this little cutie. Those curls...big blue eyes...and smiley personality will do all the work for me.

Who doesn't remember their first time eating grass??
Not sure if you can see or not, but she has a big huge drool stream in this one! I loved it...and left it there...
Ummm...no words needed!
Who me? I didn't just eat grass!
The very last shot I got... Daddy was back there making her laugh with silly faces....awww....

Chain Letters in a digital world

2006-10-22T17:38:00.000-05:00

So...I normally hate chain letters. All the stigma that goes with the bad luck if you break them, and the hassle with mailing out everyone's letter...blah, blah, blah. Well, as with many other things in the digital ages, chain letters aren't such a pain anymore! And, they're kinda fun, even! AND, since this one didn't come with any bad karma if I didn't do it, I decided this one was A-Ok by me. So, here goes...

I was tagged by a fellow photographer friend (two actually...) and have to name five weird or strange things about me. Boy, this is gonna be tough... ;-)

1. The toilet paper roll must face out. Period.
2. I am incredibly superstitious, but I also have a bit of OCD. So...knock on wood? Yep, but instead of once like a normal person, I have to do it 12 times. Wow...never told anyone that one before!!
3. I hate the feel of grass. Hate it. I always, always, always have to have sandals on in the summer. Running barefoot through the grass? No thanks.
4. When I eat a sandwich or a hamburger, or anything really that involves the food directly touching my hands, I have to wipe them with a napkin in between EACH and every bite.
5. I hate mustard. Hate it. But, I LOVE honey mustard. I have to dip everything in it! I also hate tomatoes, but love salsa, tomato sauce, tomato soup, ketchup, marinara sauce...anything and everything made with tomatoes...just can't eat them!

I'm a kook, I know. Don't hold it against me!! Since everyone I know has already been tagged...the show must end here!

Oh, and yes, I'm back home and back to work! I will have some great and exciting things to post very soon. The changes to Essence have started and I can't wait to make them "official" on the blog. Stay tuned...