Boys Crack Me Up

Even when they are older, they can always be counted on to make me laugh....note how these handsome guys went from sedate to silly in about 5 seconds flat....or maybe I just have that effect on people?

I was happy to see Mom and the guys again, its been a couple of years...they came to a recent Short and Sweet Session (perfect for these ages)...hope to see some of you at the next ones!

My kids...

People always assume that I take portraits of my kids all the time...the truth is, I really dont. Its like a doctor doesnt have their child as a patient...its too close. And they annoy me during photo sessions...they dont cooperate like the rest of my clients kids do. I cant figure that one out ;)

But, during breaks like the holidays, I drag the kids to the studio and get some shots done so I can actually have something to hang on MY walls....they are growing up so fast...

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays

Santa (or not)

Our annual Santa sessions were a BIG hit again this year! I just sent a check to Harvesters for almost $300, so THANK YOU to those who came and donated....I know Harvesters will make good use of that money and your donation will feed A LOT of hungry families this season.

Here are some favorites from the day...

The Lamb

For the longest time, about 3-4 years ago, I had an image on the back of my car of a newborn curled up on this rocking lamb. Everyone in Kansas City knew that shot, so it seemed. People at Target would say "There's a great car in the lot with this baby on this sheep"...I *was* the sheep lady...

But its not an easy shot to set up, at all. It requires a few things, and mainly it requires a sleeping, teeny tiny baby, and a Mom and Dad who wont freak when I say lets put your precious newborn baby on this rocking sheep. So I retired the sheep.

Last year, I loaned the sheep to my friend Dena out there in Lincoln, KS for some of her photo sessions. When I saw how cute that lamb was, I decided I would drag it back out.

That was about 6 months ago.....and she's been waiting....

Waiting for Baby.....who wouldnt sleep on Thursday night, so came back Friday afternoon....and slept great. Until I put her on the lamb.....but, bright eyed, she looked so sweet, and I'm happy we did the shot....

Maybe for my next car image, I'll bring this oldie back!

Short and Sweet

Announcing:

The Short and Sweet Sessions from Robichaud Photography

Need a Half-Year Session for your Baby?
Desire a Milestone Session for your Toddler?
Want an “about to lose those front teeth” Portrait of your school-age child?
How about a “Just Because They Grow So Fast” Session?

But don’t “need” a full-service Portrait Session? What to do, what to do….

Oh, I know what to do….come to Robichaud Photography for a Short and Sweet Session.

Wow, Susan, tell me more….OK!

They are mini sessions, meant to "fill in" during the year between your full sessions with me!

They are 20-25 minutes in length, maximum.

They are booked on designated days every month, but the schedule is subject to change.

You will be presented with up to 15 images to choose from (a regular Robichaud Session consists of up to 40-50 images to choose from).

All galleries will be online only (a regular Robichaud Session includes a personalized Ordering Appointment at the studio).

Unless otherwise announced, all Short and Sweet Sessions will take place at the Studio.

Open to all ages and/or session types, except Newborns, Families of more than 4 people and Seniors (Newborns cannot be done in 20 minutes, my studio cannot accommodate larger groups and Seniors are outdoor-only).

The Fee for the Short and Sweets is $100, and does not include a print credit or prints.

The Fee must be paid on the day of booking (we accept all credit cards), and is not refundable (may be used on another Short and Sweet session if rescheduling due to illness, etc).

The December Short and Sweet Sessions are scheduled for:

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 from 630-800 pm (holiday set, but NO SANTA)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 from 630pm-800pm. (non-holiday set)

To book your Short and Sweet, please call the studio: 816-260-1529 or email Susan at susanrobichaud@gmail.com

Families Families Families

Fall means Families and Families mean....um, a lot of work? Yeah, but I love seeing "my" families all together....

Some of these are from the Fall Family Portrait event in October and I even included a couple of my own family portraits...hmm, whoever could have taken such AMAZING photographs of my family? Oh, it was me....
LOL

Urban Ballerina

A couple of weeks ago I had a super cool Senior that is a ballerina...she wanted a few shots with her dance gear, and I was only too happy to oblige.

We had to reschedule several times, and I made a joke to her Mom that I would attempt to conjure up a 70 degree day in November in Kansa City for M's Senior Portraits (as we both laughed, like that would happen).

That Saturday, 72 degrees and sunny. Now I *am* officially the coolest photographer in town...and I get the coolest clients, too.

Enjoy your Sneak Peak, will be done with your session soon!

Sometimes shots just....

happen, even though you didnt plan them. Even though you could have executed them in a more technically proficient way. But you see them, you take them, and you love them.

This happened to me a couple of weeks ago with one of my favorite families. Miss C. was dressed in her fairy finery, and awaiting her "bribe" for being such a good sport about the clothing changes. Mom sat her on this bench, and the sun streaming over her just was gorgeous. She was using her wand to turn Daddy into a frog or some such animal and so I took a couple shots. I really didnt think I would like them....b/c of those technical issues I mentioned earlier.

But sometimes, you just have to be able to look past what you could have done better and see what is right in front of you...beauty in the light, the girl and the day.

I never get tired of beautiful newborns...

I have been lucky enough to photograph the first 2 of this families gorgeous girls, and their newest addition was just as lovely.

I wish I had something witty to say, but this is just one perfect baby....so I will let the image speak for itself...

I owe her....

Senior C. has been really patient...so has her Mom. C. and her Mom were my "day after horrible back injury happened" clients. That week I had issues sitting at my desk for any period of time, so I fell behind with my sessions. I know C. and her Mom were really anxious, but I didnt want to rush..and honestly, its been hard to even narrow them down, I mean, look how beautiful she is!

I will be done today. Unless an anvil falls on my head while I am chasing the Roadrunner....could happen.

I'm being a bad girl

I'm skipping ahead and jumping over my current backlog of about 12 sessions to edit and putting up a Sneak Peak of Baby G. from yesterday. I know, I know....BUT....dont you all think a Mommy of Baby #4, who patiently waited with me through a 4 hour Newborn Session deserves an early peek at what I got of her little one?

I do....it was worth the time...I hope she thinks so, too...

Yummy!

Is it wrong of me to think a baby is just delicious?? She's like a sweet sugary cotton candy..those eyes! That smile (those new teeth!)...I just want to eat her with a spoon!

Hmmm.....maybe its just dinner time? ;)

Working hard on finishing up your session, and cant wait to show you your girl!

"Model" behavior

Some portrait sessions just flow...these 2 beauties seemed hesitant at first to do the urban safari thing with me, but soon they started loving it!

There was a bit of ear-covering when the trains came by, but how gorgeous do they look?

I'm a Vintage gal...

I love vintage toys, and luckily am married to a husband who loves them, too. And luckily have in-laws that saved things from when my hubby was a kid. He gave this old Viewmaster to our kids, and I swiped it for a shot I had in mind...the old ones are SO much cooler looking than the new ones with Batman on them...


And a great image of "Baby Girl" here at one year....!

You Know That "Little Voice"?

That one that tells you, in your head, NOT to do something.....the one that INSISTS that doing something might cause unbearable PAIN....

On Sunday morning, while I was getting ready for my full day of Fall Family Portraits, I ignored that voice...

Even though my friend Teresa was minutes away from my studio and I could have waited...

Even though I KNOW that I cant just dead lift the back off my backless couch....it must be "finessed" off, slowly and carefully...

Even though I spent weeks in 2006 on bedrest and going through horribly painful epidural steroid injections b/c of my back...

I still ignored that voice and tried the dead lift.

3 seconds later I was on the floor sweating and about to pass out from the pain.

Dont ever ignore that voice....it knows what its talking about.

(and yes, mini sessions went on, but had to cancel my afternoon session with Miss. C. and her family....I couldnt chase the toddler).

Am pretty sore and sad today, but have been moving around and can walk without actually crying out, so its an improvement.

Brothers

Having 2 boys myself, I know the challenges inherent in doing anything together sometimes, let alone having portraits made.

Especially on a bright sunny day when you KNOW you are getting to go to the playground when you are done.

And when your crazy photographer brings one of her OWN kids with her (BTW, my 1st grader was awesome at holding my white balance cards and my light meter for me).

But, these 2 boys make my job seem so easy...

One Space!

I had a cancelation for this Sunday's Fall Family Portrait Event...its the 1020 slot and if you want, call NOW!!

Sunday Oct 12, 2008 (rain date is Sunday Oct 19, 2008)

Fall Family Portrait Event Mini Sessions at Loose Park

20 minute session. Family portraits first, then sibling groups. We will not be doing individual children’s images during this event…please call the studio at 816-260-1529 to schedule a Child Portrait Session or Safari!

Special Pricing for THIS EVENT ONLY:

Bronze Collection: $150 Session Fee, includes 20 minute mini session and one 5x5 mounted Artist Print.
Silver Collection: $200 Session Fee, includes one 5x5 mounted Artist Print, and One 8x10 Artist Print.
Gold Collection: $250 Session Fee, includes one 5x5 mounted Artist Print, One 8x10 Artist Print, and One Set of Folded Holiday Cards (24, with envelopes).
Platinum Collection: $500 Session Fee, includes one 5x5 mounted Artist Print, One 8x10 Artist Print, One Set of Fifteen (15) Wallets, One Set of Folded Holiday Cards (24, with envelopes), and one 11x14 Mounted Artist Print.

The details for the Limited Editions:

1. They are mini sessions, meant to "fill in" during the year between your full sessions with me! They are 20 minutes in length, maximum. Sometimes I get the images I need in less time, but I don’t run over 20 minutes to be fair to everyone.
2. You must reserve a time slot and have your Limited Edition fee paid within 5 days of booking, or your slot will be released to another client. If you do not show up for your time slot, your fee will be applied to another Limited Edition of your choosing (must be used within one year or reverts to Robichaud Photography as payment for time).
3. The Fall Family Portrait Event will be held at Loose Park, off the Plaza, in Kansas City, MO. I will give more detailed directions about where to meet once the spaces have been booked.
4. All Fall Family Portraits will be shown in both Black and White and Color.
To reserve a space, please contact me at 816-260-1529 or via email to susanrobichaud@gmail.com

We will have sessions starting at 10am, and the last session will be at 1230. Please call ASAP, as these spaces wont last (I only do family portraits once per year).

A couple of cuties

I have had a run of CUTIES lately! I had been photographing nothing but boys...toddlers, newborns, preschoolers...then the girls started coming back!

I posted these 2 together even though they are from 2 different sessions and dont even know each other....b/c of the eyes on these little ones! They just grab me from the image and wont let go! I've always thought toddlers were so soulful...like they have seen it all, yet seen nothing all in one glance.

Galleries will be up soon (in your case, G. you know they already are, lol)!

I rarely show Maternity in color

but I could hardly convert this one to black and white. Ms. J and her handsome hubby were in my studio a couple of weeks ago for her Maternity Portrait Session.


I have been really digging the red and black thing lately since I had my new photography business logo made in those colors. So, I got out the red and draped her in black.


Is she not one of the MOST gorgeous women you have ever seen??


Will be done with your whole session soon....enjoy your sneak peak!

The Traveling Couch

I think that most of my High School Seniors figure out pretty early on in their sessions that I am crazy about furniture. This is the couch I recently snagged at a local yard sale and I have been using it a ton in the studio, but for R.'s Senior Portrait Safari in downtown Kansas City last week, I decided to bring it along.

R. had the perfect dress, we found the perfect wall with perfect light, and so, made the perfect Senior Portrait. (ok, well, I love it)

Be done with your whole session soon, but had to show you how great it all came together, horrible wind and all...

A Recent Beauty

I would love to show more of this fabulous Mom-to-be, but I know she would be embarassed (she thought she shouldnt even do a maternity session since its her 4th baby)..but of course she was glowingly beautiful and full of fun and laughter.

I had to show ONE....

BTW, you have email from me in case you didnt know...I sent you your link! Show your sister!

On the Occasion of My 37th Birthday

So I turned 37 today (scary, when I was 18, I figured by 37 I'd be all shrively and in a nursing home)...turns out I'm still young. Fancy that.

So last week I really made some mistakes...all in fun, but hard to overcome now. I broke the cardinal rule: Never Discuss Relgion or Politics (esp with people you either LOVE or dont know...well, I suppose the "dont know" people would be OK, as long as you NEVER have to see or speak to them again).

I'm a Democrat, I am voting for Obama and Biden. I like the guys, I think they will do the better job. Period. I didnt really think there was all that much to debate, but a couple dear friends of mine and I did it anyway. It all started in fun, and with one of these friends, we do this poking a lot...on lots of issues and in lots of ways. So with both friends, it was all in jest.

Then it took a serious turn in some ways...I started thinking too much. I started reading too much and I found out how sad the state of our country really is. How much NEITHER party had done much to help, as we spiral ever downward into debt and illness and suffering, both here and abroad. It stopped being so funny.

So I went to the bookstore and bought some funny political books to cheer myself up. They havent helped much....even the political humorists are sick of all of it. When Michael Moore is beating up on the Democrats, we are in bigger trouble than we know.

So, I admit, I have always kind of been a casual voter...not this year. This year I am reading, I am researching, I am asking the tough questions.

I am rejecting the Right Wing slandering of my candidate.

I am rejecting the Left Wing slandering of our opponent.

I am NOT basing MY vote on TV ads or even the Daily Show (ok, its really funny though).

I encourage my readers to do the same...research, dont just assume that your party is still representing your best interests.

Neither candidate is perfect, I am sure more lies/slanders/emotional outbursts will ensue during the next several weeks.

I ask you, as I ask of myself: look hard. And then look again.

Then call your friends and talk about something else.

Like shoes.

Elegant Baby (newborn)

Sometimes it just all works together...I have all these cool pieces in my studio and a couple weeks ago, Baby O. let me put it all together.

He slept right through most of his session, even with big brothers playing hide and seek around the couch while he dozed. Ah, thats what happens when you are Baby #3 (and 3rd boy).

Will be done soon, and cant wait to show you all your handsome guys Stacy!

I'm feeling a little behind....

I'm so busy! School is in session, BOTH boys in school full time and my calendar is PACKED with sessions! I've been neglecting my blog, and so some of the following "sneak peeks" arent that sneaky...some of the parents already have seen them.

But my readers havent, so here are some darlings for ya!