Bitty Bundles of Beauty!

This year is going to be a year of growth for me and my business (but hopefully not my waistline). I’m striving to find the areas that need improvement the most and to take concrete action toward that improvement. While I have considered myself a “professional photographer” for some time, I also have a full-time job in cancer research, a husband, friends, family, and hobbies that fill my life. While I am just as passionate about photography as all of these other facets of my life, I haven’t necessarily given it equal time. That’s no way to learn and grow! So this is the year to change that!

With that in mind, last weekend I attended a photographer’s workshop all about newborns! It’s an area of photography I love more and more, but I wanted to be more familiar with how other photographers set up their session and pose the baby etc. This workshop gave me just what I was looking for, and I’m really excited to use what I’ve learned on future clients!

 

First up was Gwyneth. She was eleven days old in these pictures, and just as precious and gorgeous as they come!

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Our next beauty was Jayden. She was so much fun and had the best facial expressions and movements, not to mention that gorgeous head of hair!! Her mom did Zumba all the way up to being 33 weeks pregnant, so she already knows how to shimmy. :)

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Then came Imberly (sorry if I’m butchering the spelling!), who was oh-so-sweet, and very willing to let us pose her and then play papparazzi. She had definite grace through it all. I’m thinking she just might be a movie star one day.

The first image, I just love in black and white, but the peaches and creams in the color are swoon-worthy, too!

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Our last gem of the day was Tristan. I loved meeting Tristan’s mom, for whom this is her first child. You could tell from a mile away how smitten she is with this peanut, and it’s not hard to see why! Tristan was three weeks old for these pictures, and served as a perfect example of the fact that babies of this age may not be so easy to move and pose as the younger guys, but it is still possible to capture their beauty!

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I hope you enjoyed these! Even more… I hope you are pregnant (or know someone who is) and are mere milliseconds from contacting me to take your newborn pictures!  I’ll leave you in peace so you can do that…

Go ahead… Click that beautiful “Contact” button at the top of your screen. ;)

No Personality without Personal… and dogs!

I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately about branding (a business…not cows) and marketing, and how blogging fits into all of this. Some folks are of the opinion that a business blog still needs to be buttoned-up and professional. Others, however, see the benefit (in creative markets, at least) of injecting personality into a blog. I have really come to love this idea, because my photography business isn’t just about the photos. As weird as it might make me feel to say this sometimes, it’s also kind of about me — because the way I see the world shapes the way I make images. Sure, there could be a case where a potential client liked my work, but hated my personality and went elsewhere. In the the long run, though, I don’t think I see that as a real loss. The best experience (and images!) for photographer and client is going to come when we can feel comfortable with each other. And how can you feel comfortable with me if you don’t know who I am?!  That said, I am going to attempt to blog a bit more frequently and to let this blog show anyone who doesn’t know me just what I’m all about, and anyone who already knows can just come join the fun!

Along that vein, I thought I’d share a bit of an adventure that my friend Kate has embarked upon…and she let me help a little. :) You may remember that Kate has two flippin-adorable Boston Terriers. Having a huge heart filled with BT-love, however, she decided that 2011 would be the year she helped the breed even more by fostering one if she could arrange it. I am still a little shocked that Boston Terriers would need a rescue organization — how could you possibly not want one of these little canine gems?? Despite my disbelief, there are in fact no shortage of lonely bostons looking for a place to call home. But I digress! Life apparently thought Kate’s goal was a good one, so it went ahead and delivered two sad little bostons to her on New Year’s Eve! Since her husband had to work, I went with her to the airport to pick up two of the sweetest, most loving babies I’ve ever met! They have temporarily been named Ethel and Pearl, because everyone knows Bostons prefer old-people-sounding names. After about a week of love, checkups, and spaying, they were ready for their petfinder closeups! I ran over to Kate’s house and spent maybe 10mins running around the yard and sun porch with these wonderful ladies.

 

 

First up is Pearl. She’s spunky and is a big fan of giving kisses. I love her to bits, and I like to think the feeling is mutual. A rather large part of me wants to take her home for good, except that the rescue is attempting to keep these ladies together (they love to cuddle!)…. oh, and my dog also hates other dogs. Minor detail.

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Next up is Ethel. She has an air of wisdom about her in the way she checks everything out before jumping in. When she was first introduced to Kate’s house, she reminded me a little of goldilocks — she tried all of the beds on for size and decided which one was going to be hers from there on out. I’m pretty sure it’s the same bed in these pictures. She’s also a big cuddle-face!

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And while I can’t take these ladies home, they are still looking for a permanent home as far as I know. Click here and here for their petfinder pages with information on how to file an adoption application if you’re interested.

Happy New Year, Happy Website!

Welcome, 2011!

And welcome to the new, fully-operational jmcarrphoto.com! The site and the blog have been operational in different forms and different times, thanks to my FABULOUS husband. The challenge has been finding time in our mutually busy schedules to put everything together so it was ready for primetime. After that, it was 100% my slacking in getting the content on here, I fully admit!

But today begins a new year, and I hope the launch of this site is just the start of great new things for me and this photography business! In addition to owing thanks to my husband, I am also so grateful for the support and encouragement of my friends, family, and clients. There is a lot I want to do –and I have a long way to go– but every ounce of progress has only been possible because of YOU! So from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Please poke around the website and let me know what you think! I will be updating the portfolio galleries later this month, but not until my new computer comes in (YIPPEE!!) and I (aka Dave) get things up and running on the new system. Harder, better, faster, stronger!

 

Happy New Year! I hope 2011 gives you what you need to be content, and then adds a little more. :)