Perfect Ten

There is nothing sweeter than baby toes.  I probably took 50 shots of her feet alone!  Simply precious.  Babies are such an incredible gift from our Lord.  To think He would entrust us with such a tiny being to hold, love, nurture and cherish.  You can sense that awe in this new Mom.  She is totally smitten with little "A".  Thanks for a peaceful and sweet afternoon.  

Carrot Top and Cut Up

You'll be able to tell "who" is "who" pretty quickly in this post!  It is a nice change to photograph boys and these two were simply adorable.  Little "W" has the sweetest combination of red hair and blue eyes.  You will want to pinch his adorable cheeks right through your screen!!  "L" is a 5 year-old flirt who showed off his karate moves and Indian men during our session.  I love his messy hair and sweet smile.  It was fun hanging out with the boys!

Easter Sessions

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on its way!!  The weather is warming up and the flowers are starting to bloom.  Dress those cuties up in their Easter best for some beautiful, outdoor portraits at my favorite park.  20 minute sessions are $175 and include the 10 image CD ($75 savings). Sessions will be held on March 21 and March 29.  Limit of 3 children per session.

Call or e-mail me at juliestaley@mac.com for your appointment today.

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Cousins

How precious are little cousins, "G" and "S"?  G is a very active 3 year old but we managed several cute shots despite her busyness!  Little S grinned from ear to ear anytime his mama called his name.  I love seeing a child's face light up like that.  It was a fun morning!

Hollywood Heights Session

You probably weren't expecting to see airplanes with that blog title, but that is what these amazing machines remind me of.  I am sooooo fortunate to have access to not one, not two, but THREE awesome planes on Sunday, March 22.  The owner formerly lived in L.A. and had them registered with the Hollywood studios.  He even has Iceman's helmet from Top Gun that was given to him by the team who helped restore one of the planes.  That crew also managed the planes on that set!!  The vintage, restored Red Baron (red and white with open cock pit) has been used in several movies and ads.  The sleek black one is edgy and stylish.  The orange and white has a cockpit big enough for 4.  It is so cool!!  If anyone wants some very unique portraits (seniors, kids who LOVE planes or even a fun family session), please let me know.  There are only 2 spots remaining.  You can tell my 3 year old was a big fan!  I think I won the Cool Mommy Award today in her book!

Wedding as Art

 

Let me forewarn you, this post is going to be a little mushy. But I knew this wedding was something special even while I was shooting it. Maybe it was the unexplainable 70 degree day in March only one week after a big snow; maybe it was the purity of the blushing bride awaiting her many guests to arrive; or maybe its just the little girl in me who still believes in the fairy tale of love. Whatever the case, I am in love with so many images from yesterday. Weddings offer endless possibilities to create beautiful art for the happy couple to enjoy for a lifetime to come. I love these images for different reasons. The one above speaks to me of God's heavenly favor shining down on the love between a new bride and groom. We can only hope his blessings remain on all of our most treasured relationships.
These images are simple but honest and I am always a sucker for a good profile or silhouette shot.

 

This image shows how much I love lines. Shooting down bricks is one of my favorite backdrops because your eye is naturally drawn into the picture.  An unexpected and more raw finish is fun to me too when shooting brides.

Bridal parties that include little ones are always more fun too. Children just infuse FUN into the day and I love capturing their spirited play at weddings. The sunglasses, the smooches and the simple game of Ring Around the Rosies remind us that this should be a day of fun and celebration and not just taking tons of boring, posed pictures.
I love shooting at odd angles and using fun color finishes too to bring more life into a wedding album. It doesn't hurt when you have a gorgeous bridal party either! 

I challenge myself to see things differently at each wedding. Using foregrounds and different depths of field keeps me artistically engaged and I love surprising the bride and groom with unplanned shots.
The cake, the catering and small details of the wedding are fun to shoot too. But nothing holds a candle to a blushing bride. This image makes my heart beat faster for her. I remember what it felt like knowing your guests were arriving and soon you'd be walking down that long-awaited aisle. I am so humbled to share in these intimate events with couples and I continue to thank God for the passion he placed in my heart to do this job. May it never leave me. Or the belief that some people do live happily ever after.

Sweet Siblings

This big sister was very sweet with her baby brother. She thought it was pretty funny when we put him in a doll bed too. That picture is timeless to me. The blue eyes in this family are simply gorgeous! Squeeze them tight, Mom and Dad. These first years go by in a blink. Enjoy!