You might remember this little guy as a newborn…http://jennifermott.com/blog/2010/02/retro-baby-toledo-newborn-photographer/  I was so excited when his mom called to have me back!  He is just so stinkin cute and his mom did the best time decorating his room!  I told her she needs to go into business somehow because she has a gift for finding cool things and pulling them all together!  I could use her help with my house!

It was so great to see D awake so much this time, he has the more gorgeous soulful eyes!

He is a serious little man:

This sleep baby shot takes me back…one of my kids sucked their thumb and another one played with their hair when they were tired…it’s such a baby thing that I miss!

So great to see you all again!!

A new favorite:

More soon!!  Also, if any clients from this year want to use a picture from their session for Holiday cards you can now find my new designs on the client proofing site.  At the top of this page, click on “Jennifer’s Web Sites”  then choose Proofs.  There you will find 2008 and 2009’s collections.  You can use cards from either set.  All cards are 5×7 printed on card stock on both sides.  Some designs have back designs, others I will work with you to come up with a custome design.  Minor modifications can be made to most cards.

The first round of mini sessions is this weekend and emails went out.  I will get emails out for next weekend soon!

Q was soooo adorable!

And I just loved his personality, we had so much fun!

He was VERY active, so the session consisted of lots of us chasing after Q and lots of fun running shots:

Toward the end he broke out a little air guitar, how cute is that?

Here’s a link to the story. Luckily there’s no video yet…we didn’t do the interview part until after I spent a good 30-40 minutes running around in the middle of the hottest, most humid day we’ve had yet this year!  Not a pretty site!  But Norm did a great job putting together my unorganized thoughts and tips and it was fun to learn that he is a photography professional himself with some great race car shots!

I can’t believe how fast this summer is flying by!  I am getting ready to head up to Detroit to go to a workshop, so I wanted to post about the mini sessions before I go.  I will be back Wednesday night, so if it takes a while to get an email or voice mail response back from me in the next few days that is why.  I’ll have my laptop, but I know we are going to be busy day and night…

And I know that I owe some sneak peaks,  I will try to get at least one more out before I go, but no promises!  It’s been a busy week and I have been working all hours to get some galleries and orders done before I go.  I also had a fun request from Norm Van Ness (a great photographer as it turns out!) over at NBC channel 24 and managed to fit taping a session and editing pictures for a “Darn Good Question” segment.  It will air either this Tuesday or next Tuesday at 7PM, so watch if you would like some tips on taking better pictures of your kids!

OK, mini session info:

The summer mini sessions will be colorful, fun, and nostalgic! I’m going to have several themes to choose from, and they will all be in cute spots around downtown Grand Rapids. Backgrounds will be picket fences, steps, flowers, or alleyways which I will choose based on the theme.

Themes (choose one):
Lemonade stand with bowl of lemons, old table & cloth, etc.
Watermelon slices with trike/wagon (or parents can buy an ice cream cone from a local shop)
Old- fashioned pull toy (for babies)
Colorful pop in glass bottles with straws: 7-up, orange crush, etc. (older children only)

I suggest colorful clothes and bare feet or sandals!

Dates:
Friday July 31 8:30 AM – 11 AM and 6 PM – 8:30 PM
Sunday August 2 8:30 AM – 11 AM
20 minute sessions every half hour, your session will be shortened if you are late.

Cost: $250 (plus tax)

You get:
Mini session fee, with at least 10 proofs viewable online
Designer 3×3 mini accordion album (see pictures below)
3 full resolution digital files on disk and loaded online at mpix.com
OR $240 credit toward prints at lower collection prices

Additional albums can be purchased for grandparents, spouse, etc for $25 each

Who:
Best for one or two children
Three or more children will be treated as a group with no promise of individual shots (I will try my best!)
Babies must be sitting and comfortable on the sidewalk or little red wagon

My calendar for July/August/September is getting full and I still need to schedule my senior spokes models’ second sessions…if you are interested in sessions in those months, let me know sooner rather than later…

Due to popular demand and some kick-”bum” ideas I have, I am going to have a very limited number of mini sessions at the end of July and early August.  Think fun, colorful, classic, nostalgic themes…  I have a few more details I hope to have ironed out tomorrow and will be sending out the info.   It’ll go to members of my facebook page and then my newsletter first.  Then I’ll blog it next week if I have any spots left.   Make sure you’re on my page or newsletter lists if you are interested:  FACEBOOK or NEWSLETTER

One more thing…the Toledo Botanical Gardens have changed their policy for photographers.  I know my families love the gardens and so do I…so I am happy to support them!  I’m excited to be one of the few photographers in the area allowed to hold sessions there, and I am looking forward to having less crowds to work around!

I had these images all ready to share though… I need to try to get more pictures of the albums before I send them out.  I just love the colors of this one and had to show it off!

Some inside pages:

Nice thick pages:

Albums are a great way to get all your favorite images… and show them off to your kids as they grow and their children too!

So pretty!!!

And how fun was her “rocker” costume?

Almost hard to believe this was the same girl!  What a fun session, huh?

So nice to meet you all!  Thanks for waiting on your sneak peak!

I have contacted my senior reps, started booking sessions…I’m updating my contract from last year and will have it out to you and your parents in the next few days.  I’ve been freeing up space on my computer for all these sessions coming up and my first wedding of the year this weekend!  So excited, think good thoughts for the weather for J and J!!

They were doing the “Man, man, man, man, manly man, man, man” theme from Two and a Half Men here:

We had some feathered friends join in, and Eli found new uses for my props:

Rain rain go away… and I love when I get pure laughs like this:

I contacted most of my senior reps, I have just a few more schools to go through.  I am leaving the application up for these schools only please: Maumee, Ottawa Hills, Maumee Valley Country Day, St. Ursula, and St. Francis.  All other school have spokes models chosen, so watch for them on the blog and then ask them for a referral to get free things with your senior session!

My oldest, Duncan, turned 9 yesterday!  I can’t believe it and I feel old!  Thank you to the family that told me I look too young to have a 9 year old at their session yesterday!!    I had a busy day with work, getting gifts at the last minute, wrapping, dinner out…I will try to get caught up on emails today.

So check out these cuties, I have some definite new favorites!  And mom, we got some great shots of all of you, check out the last one…

And 13 ABC did an  interview of me in the studio for the 5 PM news so watch tonight if you get a chance!

I let the kids splash around on the sidewalk outside for a little bit and took some pictures…this is the view out my back door, where I usually park.  The shed is my storage and I did have some Christmas pictures ruined before I could get to them yesterday:

I found a new friend and his ladder in my parking spot!   Aidan got new boots and had fun splashing until his jeans were wet up to his behind!  Luckily I had another pair in the car:

Lucy thought she was hot stuff:

Love her tongue out while she’s concentrating on splashing:

We’re going back tonight to take the furniture down off the blocks and put the rugs and other things back.  I should be good for all my appointments tomorrow and the weekend!