The B Family {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 I first met Beverly almost 2 yrs ago at a mom's group and was so happy to hear from her in November. She explained to me that she needed a family portrait update since her last one had been at least 5 years earlier. Her family met a near-tragedy this Spring when one of her sons fell 40 feet and almost lost him, so it was a very important photograph to her. She now stays home with him and we decided it would be best to shoot the portrait at her home so they wouldn't have to put too much stress on the family with the almost 40 minute round trip. 

 I packed up my studio lighting and equipment for the session and we spent about two hours photographing the family of seven. These are some of my favorite shots.

 Beverly, thank you so much for asking me to photograph your beautiful family for the holiday! I hope your family continues to mend and stay in good health.

Cadence {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 It's been a couple of months, but Cadence and I had a blast shooting her 4th birthday portraits! After talking to her mom, Amie, I was inspired by this tutorial and we put together the perfect outfit for an outdoors Fall session. She got to run, jump, roll and lay in the leaves she was throwing in the air, as she looked like an explorer with her walking stick. She was just as lovely when she looked shy, bored and happy. These are some of my favorite shots!

 Thank you for bringing Cadence out to play, Amie! I can't wait to photograph the little Miss again sometime!

Samantha Portfolio Day 1 {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 Samantha K. is my Hair Stylist and MUA for Bella Donna Boudoir sessions. We organized two days for portfolio building, twelve mini shoots and one rocking portfolio. Each woman came with an outfit fit for a Bella Donna session and shot for about a half hour, after getting their hair and makeup done, to get the perfect image for a special portrait or album to give for the holidays. These are some of my favorite shots from day 1.

 Thanks to the beautiful ladies who came out to support Samantha and enjoyed a session! Samantha, you're the best!

Team Luna Chix {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 Team Luna Chix Buffalo  invited me to their post-season party and fundraiser to document the fun and good work these fabulous women do at the end of October. The team met up at Dandelions for cocktail hour and dinner, and while there had a silent auction, a jeweler and I set up a photo booth for the ladies post-dinner. That night they raised over $400 for breast cancer research!

 I met the Chix through Mary Lou, that beautiful woman in the center through her kind acts to others. She spent all of 2010 baking cookies for Ronald McDonald House residents and Gilda's Club. I emailed her (far later than I ever meant) to tell her thank you for making my month at RMH a little more comforting and we struck up a friendship. She is an inspiring woman and the whole reason for Team Luna Chix being in Buffalo. I hope to someday get to photograph her baking cookies and hear more about her good deeds. 

 The whole team was an inspiration! Members ages, sizes and backgrounds are all over the map, but running and fundraising brings them all together. If you're looking for a way to make some new, wonderful friends or keep your New Year's Resolution contact them! These are a few of my favorite shots.

 Thank you Mary Lou, and the rest of the Chix, for letting me join you!

MUAH Port Day {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 On occasion, I like to set up portfolio days for makeup artists and hair stylists I know. This one was set up back in October with Sarah B. Each girl had her makeup done and all but 1 had their styled as well. The girls each had a 5 minute shoot in the outfit of their choice wearing Stella and Dot jewelry. 

 Thanks for coming out ladies!

Vendor Spotlight: Bella and the Fellas {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 I wanted to share with everyone where I get my cute bow ties, some of my wonderful headbands and other fun and functional items! If you haven't already seen me linking to them, please check out Bella N the Fellas! I've been buying the ties, headbands, newborn crowns and their newly released top hats for about 3 months now. For the photographer, not only do they have the accessories but also camera strap covers, full and travel sized posing bean bags, bed posers and soon newborn sized beds. These are just some of the many items I regularly use from Bella and the Fellas. 

 Thanks Amber at BNF for such great products and many thanks to all my little models!

Jaxson's 4/5 Month Session {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 Last June, sweet little Jaxson joined the world and I photographed his newborn session. He came back in, in October, for his 4 month session as part of his Watch Me Grow package. As he is wont to do, he told us when the session was over, so after getting a few outfits in his Superman shirt and more formal outfit we decided it would be best to try to get the rest of the shots a few weeks later. 

 We decided to finish up his session closer to Christmas and the changes in him were astounding! He filled out a little, was sitting all on his own and was enjoying the discovery of mobility. He was so good during his Christmas portrait we decided to snag a handful of portraits with his beautiful mama, Kristin. 

 These are a few of my favorite shots. 

 Kristin, thanks as always for letting me photograph your handsome boy's first year!

Caitlin and Jeff's Engagement Session {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 I received an email from Cait two weeks before her wedding thanks to a referral from a portrait client (thanks B Family!). We got together to discuss her wedding plans and immediately I knew I'd love working with this creative and beautiful bride. 

 We planned the engagement session for the next night to allow plenty of time for their event cards and print order to arrive for the big day. Since we'd be shooting at night there were some different places I wanted to shoot so I could play with lighting and exposure, so we did a tour of Buffalo. 

 Things were running late so we didn't get quite the shot I envisioned for the two of them at the Botanical Gardens, but when they arrived we had about 5 minutes of light left and got a beautiful portrait with the building backlit and the clouds rolling in behind them. It took about 4 takes before we could get the 3 second exposure without poor Cait and Jeff shivering (it was very cold).

 We moved onto industrial Buffalo, where I lit one of my favorite images using headlights with the car facing away about 60 degrees. The two of them looked gorgeous together, him in his brown suit and her in her pinup clothes and victory rolls. 

 From there we headed to the General Mills plant to get some shots on their bridge. I loved it! I shot with available lighting for longer exposure times and would be happy to shoot there once every couple weeks. The gorgeous couple seemed to enjoy the location, perhaps because of how many times we did the dip kiss shot in the middle, and the center image below was the centerpiece of their sign in table as an 11x14. 

 Our last location was a lot less urban but still moody due to the lack of light. We shot directly behind the art museum and captured some more romantic images of the two. I love watching people in love just be together.

 I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed shooting them, these are some of my favorite shots.

 Cait and Jeff, huge thank you's to the both of you for being such a great couple to work with! I'll be posting the wedding within a couple of days!

Erin and Tim Tie the Knot {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 I photographed Erin and Tim's newborn last June and you could tell just how in love this little family is. When I heard they were getting married in October I couldn't wait for the big day! We did a quick, 15 minute session in studio for their engagement portrait and 2 weeks later they were getting hitched!

 They chose a sweet little gazebo to exchange their vows in, just across the street from the Niagara Falls. The ceremony was performed by her mother as they were surrounded by their large family. Their baby boy was the perfect ringbearer and looked mighty cute in his infant sized tuxedo. 

 After all of they're congratulations and family portraits were finished we crossed the street to do their newlywed portraits in front of the gorgeous Falls. I had some newlywed signs made up with their wedding date and a thank you on the backs and the fun message "I'm his Mrs." and "I'm her Mr." on the front for their announcements and thank you cards. It was cold out but Erin was a beautiful bride to work, even in a strapless gown!

 I covered the first couple of hours of their reception for them, making sure to capture as many details as I could with my second shooter and as many kisses as I could catch (there were more than a handful!). One of my favorite images from the night was of the newlyweds dancing with their beautiful baby boy. The cutting of the cake was a lot of fun and the cake was provided by my good friend at Cake and Dazzle. 

 It was a wonderful wedding and I couldn't be happier for the couple, who is now expecting another baby! These are some of my favorite shots.

 Erin and Tim, thank you so much for having me as part of your wedding day! I can't wait for you to visit home again and do some maternity shots of your beautiful bump!

Open House {WNY Portrait Photographer}

 Monday night I decided to host a New Year, New You open house in the studio with my friends Samantha (MUAH for my Bella Donna sessions) and Kristin (a rep. for Stella & Dot). A handful of wonderful women came and enjoyed trying on jewelry, snacking on goodies having their portraits taken and even some had their hair and makeup done. While these aren't finished images, they are some of my favorites from the night.

 Thanks to all the ladies who came out, and extra thanks to Kristin for snapping some quick portraits of me!