Happy 1st Birthday, Babies! {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 The end of 2011 and beginning of 2012 has brought me a handful of cute birthday sweethearts! Each were in to document their first birthday and were adorable as can be. It's amazing to see the difference between babies at that age. Some are walking, some are crawling, some are shy and some are grinning ear to ear. Each was wonderful and here they are!

 Lola and Landon were my first birthday kids in over the holidays and I just love twins! Mom, Emily, forewent the Cake Smash route in favor of bright and colorful balloons, streamers and fun accessories. They were a bit shy but loved the balloons and being given ample space to roam. After some time, patience and encouraging they opened up- Lola is a total diva and Landon is a shy little peanut! 

(Don't you just love their hair? I do!) 

 Gigi came in right after Christmas with her mom, Cait, and big sister, Fiona, for her third session. This one was extra special since we were celebrating her first birthday with a big Smash! She came in and was dolled up in the poofiest dress I have ever seen, and I have to admit that I was a little jealous. We played for the first half with blocks and books and she danced to a couple of her favorite songs. After, we pulled out her birthday cake for the smash and discovered that Fifi had already helped herself to some icing!

 It was her first cake and she was going off the wall after she attacked it on her own for 10 minutes. After she started running laps (no kidding) around the studio, we let Fifi in on the fun. The sisters helped each other demolish half the cake and they left with full bellies and a messy cake tier.

Sweet Amelia had her first birthday session and Cake Smash just after the New Year and I couldn't think of a better way to start it off! We've gotten together with her mama, Jess, and family around 7 times now and she just gets cuter and cuter with each session. I just loved all her silly smiles and curiosity over her cake. I don't know many babies who don't love eating cake, but she was one of them! She did like squishing in it though, which made for some great shots. So while smashing may not have been her thing, I think anyone will agree that is one of the sweetest faces ever!

 Savannah is my latest birthday cutie, and sweet as can be. Would you just look at those big, blue eyes? You can tell she's taking in everything she's watching. She is, by far, one of the messiest Smashers I have ever seen in action. That just made it all the more fun! I'm not entirely sure how much of the cake actually ended up in her mouth, but it certainly was everywhere else! I just loved watching her explore with touch, smell and taste and hope she had just as much fun at her birthday party.

 Thanks to all the parents who brought in all of their birthday babies! I'm looking forward to many future milestone sessions.

 Cakes were provided by Cake And Dazzle

 Lace Petti Rompers can be purchased from La Mia Bella

 Bow tie and most headbands are from Bella & the Fellas.

Mr. T, Mr. T and Mr. T Birthday sessions! {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 The T boys came by again for their birthday and Christmas portraits in late October. There were a TON of shots, three smashed cakes and one nose picker. 

 I got the idea for the Loves portraits from a shot I found on Pinterest. Are you on Pinterest? If so, you know how soul-sucking and addictive it is. If not, welcome to the party and make sure you kiss your husband and kids goodbye. It is a photographer's dream! 

 Mom, Amanda, has a great sense of humor. Take a look at that last image because that ended up being their holiday card's main image! Hilarious, right?

 Anyways, these are a few of my favorite shots and something just a little different for you all to enjoy.

 As always, thank you Super Mom Amanda for choosing me!

Aubrey Turns 2! {WNY Portrait Photographer}

Last month I shared this cutie's 2nd birthday Cake Smash with everyone. A week later was her birthday party and I was there to capture the fun for Aubrey and family. To go with her carnival themed Smash, a tutu was made for her in her favorite carnival colors and there were carnival accents all around! She and the rest of the kids had a blast running around and playing with the bean bag toss. She was really into her cake (obviously!) and received many thoughtful gifts. This little girl was surrounded by love. These are some of my favorite shots of Aubrey in action!

 Thank Kym, as always, for choosing me to photograph your beautiful family!

Having a baby? Know someone who is? Make sure they check out this link to win a custom creation from Monsters and Me and a gift certificate from me!https://www.facebook.com/notes/bossy-photographer/bossy-photographer-and-monsters-me-contest/257490947627094

Lions and Tigers and Triplets! Oh my! {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 Julia, Sophia and Emma joined me Saturday morning with their mom, dad and Aunt for their 2nd birthday portraits and a cake smash. It was chaotic but a lot of fun and ultimately we got a lot of great shots even though one girl did not want in on the cake action.  

 I had booked their session as part of my Giving is Awesome promotion at the end of May. I encouraged my Facebook fans to nominate someone they knew who deserved custom portraiture. Mom Danielle was one of 6 winners based on this nomination:

 "My sister, Danielle is a truly amazing person!  She deserves to win a photo session and credit! As a mother of (almost) 2 year old triplet girls(Emma, Julia, & Sophia) she cannot afford to have professional shots taken.  She is a special education teacher in the Rochester/Geneva area, originally from Sanborn.  She is a selfless person who always gives back to her community. She participated in the efforts to rebuild New Orleans after Katrina, gives countless hours to provide normal stable lives for her students, along with giving her all to her girls, and their  two step sisters.  She is the kind of person who inspires everyone she meets to be the best they can.  I often ask myself how in the world does she do?  However, she never complains. She feels incredibly blessed to be the mother of 3 toddlers, where most would feel overwhelmed.  She truly is the most patient mother I know, and I think this session would be so special to her to capture this moment in the triplets life! This is an opportunity she won't have again, as the cost to raise triplets doesn't leave much left for photo shoots.  Please consider her in your giveaway! She really does deserve it!"

I am glad I was able to photograph the girls and these are some of my favorite shots.

Grace's Tutu Glame and Cake Smash Sessions {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 Sweet baby Grace is just too much! I met her and her mom Amy a week before her 1st birthday party for her Tutu Glam session. She was just adorable and very easy to shoot.

 Well. Than we met back up three nights later with her sister Hayleigh for her Cake Smash and it was like a whole other baby had come in her place. Poor Grace was tired and a bit teary-eyed. I think even through the tears beautiful images can be captured so kept shooting. In between her yelling at me and standing in front of Grace I even captured a shot of her surly big sis. Their mom and dad shared with me that those two shots captured the girls perfectly. 

 Grace's mood was boosted when the cake was brought out. Hayleigh stood on the sidelines yelling at her "Don't eat the cake Grace!" while mom encouraged the gooey, delicious mess that followed. These are some of my favorite shots. 

 Thank you Amy and girls. I had a lot of fun shooting Grace and even a few laughs thanks to Hayleigh!

 (The Cake Smash was done as a rush job with a 16x20 storyboard. Many thanks to Paul at PDM Studios for getting the print done with a quickness! Rush jobs are charged a 15% service fee.)

Ella's Cake Smash! {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 This lovely girl, Ella, joined me for her 1st Birthday portraits and cake smash session on Saturday. Mom Erin told me she is having a Baby Minnie themed party so I made a pink, black and white banner to help set the scene and tie her storyboard in with the party. We started with some portraits in her beautiful dresses and a sweet petite romper from Tutu Girls Boutik before bringing on the good stuff. 

 She was such a sweet little girl! At first she didn't want to get dirty with the cake (which I plated on a large silver platter) but eventually got into it. After the session I boxed up the remaining cake for home and got to work on the finished images that night. These are a few of my favorites and the final storyboard included in her package. 

                                          

 Thank you so much Erin! And a very happy birthday to Ella!

 Don't forget that cake smashes pre-booked by June 1 are half off!

Max Turns 1! {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 Max is so incredibly special to my family and I- his mommy too! We met Megan in the hospital where both our babies were because of premature births and found out we were staying at the same place too. I was lucky to have a much shorter stay, Megan stayed close to her son who was in the hospital the first four months of his life. She is an incredible woman and selfless, dedicated mommy to her very sweet boy. They are two of my real-life heroes. 

 He was born at 24 weeks gestation, weighed a whopping 1 lb. and 7 ozs. and conquered many odds. The other moms in the NICU started referring to him as Mighty Max! Though it's taken Mighty Max a little longer to reach the milestones other 1 year olds have, he is doing a fantastic job and seems to have learned a new skill each time I see him.

 Getting to do his first birthday portraits was such a privilege to me, even more so because he and Megan traveled four hours round trip just for the occasion. Since monkeys are his thing I thought bananas would be fitting. I cleaned my local grocer out, found some fantastic bamboo blinds in the basement (and spent 2 days cleaning them) and got to put some of my new bells and whistles to use. 

 He is still learning to sit on his own so for the grand finale Cake Smash we strapped him into a booster high chair. Once he got in to it and discovered the delicious goodness of cake he went to town. When his girlfriend decided to join in the merriment a bit of a baby (and ultimately mommy) cake fight ensued. These are some of my favorite shots. 

 Max and Megan, I am so proud to call you my friends and cannot wait to see you at his birthday party. Thank you for sharing such a long and difficult part of your lives with me and my family. 

Victoria Turned 2!

Vicky's mom Emily asked me about Birthday portraits and grabbing some shots at their family party at Chuck E. Cheese. Since Victoria is also becoming more and more interested in ballerinas Emily also wanted to snag a Tutu Glam shoot for the young Miss. So 10 days ago I headed to the other big mouse's house and photographed her out of town family and the celebration. This morning, I once again packed it up and headed to their home for the portrait session (and to enjoy the birthday party for family and friends) and these are some of my favorite shots!

(new backdrop!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you Emily and family. A very happle doo doo to Ticvoria!

The tutu was made by Tutu Glam as part of our ongoing promotion- purchase a tutu and mini session for only $25.00.

 All Cake Smashes booked by June 1st for your 1 or 2 year old to-be are half-off! Book for any birthday by December 31st.

 My 500 fan giveaway is going on over on the fan page- be sure to check it out!

 Please visit my just launched website for more info on booking, or to just look at some of my favorite works! The Bossy Photographer.