Merry Christmas, everybody!

I hope all of my wonderful clients are staying warm, enjoying some great family time, and experiencing real JOY today! I've got a fun little Christmas present for all my 2008 clients, so you'll be hearing from me soon. Best wishes for a warm and wonderful day today and a fantastic new year!

Counting down...

Business is slow right now, but I'm just counting my blessings and using this time to regroup and think about some great additions for the new year. Times are changing and the economy is putting a damper on some businesses that offer "extras". BUT, since your children are only this age for a brief second.....I don't think custom photography can be considered an "extra". Of course, I think its an ESSENTIAL! :)

So, cut back in other areas, but not this one. Ten years, twenty years from now...you'll be so glad you did make a commitment to remember your child or teen in this way! Coming in the new year, I'll be announcing more ways to help you do this and make beautiful portraits more obtainable.

Is the tempo of your life getting a little busier as Christmas gets closer? Are your children getting more excited? My little D. definitely is! She's made her own hand-drawn calendar marking off each day till Christmas, and then tells me several times each day! That reminds me that I've got to show you the calendar (from MKoegelenberg) that I've got on my fridge. Here it is:

It takes this to make this....

Here's two shots from a lighting seminar that I went to several weeks ago. It was a wonderful eight hours, chock full of info and "hands-on" experience, along with the chance to get to know some fantastic other photographers in the Seattle area. But I just wanted to show you one of the things that makes custom photography expensive (but so worth it!)....all the equipment that it takes! This is not even a real complicated lighting set-up! But it takes all of that to make this great portrait:

My Soon To Be Senior.....

It's hard to believe that in just a few short months I'll be taking C's senior photos! Wow...how fast the time flies! We had a fun session outside enjoying the fall colors (until we got stopped by a Camano Island sheriff for parking in the wrong place!) Here's a few....

Senior shoot slideshow....

I've been having fun today experimenting with making slideshows. Check this one out!

Gift Certificates now being offered....

Do you have a special someone on your list that you're at loss on what to get them for Christmas? What about an SH Photography gift certificate....good for a free photography session or for free prints? This makes a great gift for anniversaries, birthdays and BABY SHOWERS too! Let me help make your shopping easier!

Cutest Christmas card in all of Stanwood, WA....

I got the cutest Christmas cards back from the pro lab that I use the other day and I just had to show it off.  This is a 5x7 card, one of 10 different designs that I'm offering this year.  These cards are printed on the front and the back, and have a wonderful linen texture.  Here's a look at the front and the back of this design.  And if you hurry and call me soon, there's still time for you to send out your own custom Christmas cards this year!  

The cutest little Christmas elves....

The Christmas sessions are in full swing, everybody!  Here's a sneak peek from one of them.  I had such fun with this Christmas shoot!  I had to really work at holding the camera still,  since I was laughing so hard at the antics of these two precious, little "Christmas elves"!  Aren't they adorable?!

Ooops! A few more....

Remember my photo shoot in the rain?  Well, I've been meaning to post some more from it since it was so much fun and we got so many great shots, even several great shots with one of their horses.  So, here's a few more to enjoy.

So fun....

Take a look at this little sweetie!  This is little Miss M, all of 8 days old.  She and her sweet mama were so much fun to have in the studio a few weeks ago!  And I loved getting to hold her! Welcome to the world little Miss M!  

The Little Blessings Club special....

I can't post just three, not of a precious newborn!  Here's two more,  from a photographer who dreams about having another baby in the house!!  :)

While I'm on the subject of babies, this is a great time to enroll in my Little Blessings Club, since I'm running a huge special right now for my baby plan babies.  Call me (425)330-0554 or email me (sh100@aol.com) for more info. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

Guess what's right around the corner?  CHRISTMAS!  So, October is the month for the Christmas Mini Sessions with SH Photography.  These are specially priced 20 minute sessions where images are viewed and ordered right after your shoot.  Don't miss this chance to send out fabulous Christmas photos and custom designed Christmas cards this year!  But call or email quick for more info and to book your appointment.  These sessions fill up fast and there's only a limited number available!

In the rain, no less.....

I feel like a true Washingtonian now!  I had my first photo session in the rain, and instead of cancelling like I normally do, I went ahead and did it, and I'm so glad.  The rain slowed down to a drizzle and we got some fabulous photos of this little one and her older brother and sister. Here's a sneak peak of the littlest with more to come of brother and sister.  G family, ya'll were wonderful to work with and I can't wait for you to see all your images!

Another fun senior....

I had the pleasure of doing the senior session for J a little while ago.  She was so easy to work with, so patient and so pretty...even after a long day at school.  J, I hope you're recovering okay from the dental work and I hope these sneak previews cheer up your day...you look fantastic in all of them!  (I couldn't resist showing the black and white in these, since I think they're so stunning!) Have a fabulous senior year and a great basektball season! 

Another cutie pie, this time with blonde hair....

This must be my month for handsome little guys with loads of personality to come in!  This little cutie pie had the blondest hair and the darkest, sparkly eyes you've ever seen!  And there were so many wonderful images of him that I've had a hard time even deciding which ones to post for a sneak preview.  Here's a few to look at, but just know that there are loads more!

A senior....

I had an awfully fun senior in for a session a few weeks back.  We had a great time chatting away as we did a studio and an outside session.  I know M. will be a famous author one day and I'll be able to say I knew her way back when!  Here's a few to preview and yes, that is a kitten...just a few weeks old and totally adorable! Have a fantastic senior year,  M. and thanks for giving me the opportunity of taking your senior portraits!

One more for you, Husky fans....

One more for you, Husky fans out there!

More of this cutie-pie.....

Between this note and the last, business has been BUSY. To top off the craziness, my beloved Mac died right in the middle of working on a zillion different orders! But I'm now on the other side of it, repairs have been made, and I'm making it through the backlog. So, here's the promised shots of my cutie-pie from a few weeks back, Mr. Personality....

Working that camera.....

I had the cutest little guy in the studio last week and boy, did he know how to "work the camera"! He was so patient, so cute and just knew all the right moves. Needless to say, the camera loved him and I think HE loved being in front of one!! Here's just one from the session for now and I'll post more later. Such a cutie!

Reminding everybody.....

This Saturday (August 23) is the August Extravaganza at Warm Beach Camp. It's like a country fair with lots of fun things to do for old and young alike. There's also several auctions going on to raise scholarship money to send needy kids to camp, and I've got a portrait package that I'm offering in one of them. So, show up and I promise you'll have a good time! Here's a storyboard that I worked up that'll be on my table....its too cute to not show off!

Love that gorgeous red hair....

I had one of my favorite people in the studio a few weeks back, Miss K! She's such a sweetie, so fun to be around, and its always a treat to get to see her! Not only does she have the most gorgeous red hair, but along with that she's got the most beautiful blue eyes in the world....but watch out guys, she's got a black belt in karate! So, here's a few of Miss K .

Time for the cousins....

Two weeks ago, I had a great time taking photos for the wonderful S. families. It was "cousins" shoot with the five grandkids, ages 13 down to 2 months old. They were all so much fun and it was a such a treat getting to photograph little Mr. L again and see how much he's grown! Here's a few from the day.