More from the beach

Well we got rained out last night for our once a year family portrait. I seriously cried all the way back to the beach house. I am so lucky though, b/c the photographer, the fabulous Ms. Kimberly Hill of Myrtle Beach SC (http://kimberlyhillphotography.com/), is going to squeeze us back in this weekend, for which i am so grateful!

So, in the meantime....

The Coastal Carolinas

Hi Everyone~

We are enjoying our vacation here in the coastal Carolinas. It rained yesterday, so we went shopping, but every other day has been sand and surf! My boys hardly come out of the water, except for catching little fish (well, trying to catch them), and building sand castles.

Some shots (of course I take my camera everywhere, LOL)

Baby H Sneak Peak

I am so lucky....I get to hold sweet newborn babies and watch them blow bubbles in their sleep.

Thank you for letting me photograph your newest beauty, Heather! All your girls are gorgeous, inside and out....just like their Mommy.

A Miracle

My boys in one shot together!

I went to Denmark, KS last week to visit a new friend who has a GORGEOUS farm out that way. I was showing her how uncooperative my two can be, but they surprised me.

This is going to be my new 30x40 canvas!

I cant believe I forgot to post this!

A group I belong to puts out an e-magazine for members every month and in May was an article about yours truly.

I am posting the article here, since the magazine isnt public :)

Just FYI

The studio will be *closed* during the month of July. I will NOT be returning phone calls and will have LIMITED email access. Please do not wait if you want to book something for the Fall, as those slots are going fast, and there are not many of them either!

When I reopen in August, calls and emails will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis, so appointments made NOW will obviously be better than hoping no one emailed me before you did :)

I went to Michigan

last week to teach a workshop. I was kind of nervous...but I met a great group of women, had a great time and I think (hope) everyone else did as well.

Our first night I touched on some basic studio lighting stuff:

Next day we went outdoors....cool locations:

But harsh sun! Oh well, gotta work what you have...

Then a nap for one of the hardest working kids in the biz!

More to come soon!

Thank You

I appreciate the support I have received in the last few days about the stolen text from my site. I was told by the web designer that the photographer provided the text, I was told by the photographer that the web designer provided the text. So you can see how THAT went.

Anyway, the stolen bio has been removed. The offender has been reported to the Professional Photographers of America, the AZ Atty Generals office (not by me, by a supporter) and the BBB.

Let this serve as a lesson to all of us (myself included) to be aware of thinking that copying someones hard work b/c we dont feel creative is OK. Its wrong.

Thanks~
S.

It is not OK

This is mostly aimed at the photographers who frequent my blog. 99% of them, totally decent, honest, hard-working and ethical. This post is not for them. This post is for the 1% who think its OK to steal from my site.

Its NOT OK to "borrow" my wording.
Its NOT OK to "paraphrase" my text
Its NOT OK to lift my BIO and slap it WORD FOR WORD ON YOUR SITE (this was done by Debbie Parrish of Debbie Parrish Photography in Gilbert AZ. If you go visit her web site at www.dpfotoaz.com, you can read MY PERSONAL BIO hijacked onto her site.

When I find out that you have stolen from me, I will out you publicy if you do not respond to my emails/calls. I have forwarded all screen shots of stolen, copyrighted work lifted from my site to my lawyer, the Professional Photographers of America and your web hosts. Most web hosts will drop you for copyright infringement, did you know that? I found that interesting.

If we have sent you a Cease and Desist letter, be warned that we are not playing around. I am taking this recent rash of theft from my site way more seriously. Taking my BIO was over the top and inexcusable.

I hope Debbie Parrish enjoys the slew of mail coming her way.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Wow...color!

Usually I stick to black and white in my child work...I just believe that black and white shows the child's soul instead of their clothing colors. But I sometimes have a shot or two that just *must* be in color....and this one of K. is one of those.

The petticoat, the light, the stone, her hair, her skin....all worked together to give this image everything a color images should have: style!

Baby A. Sneak Peek

Sometimes I just have to laugh...I wonder what Baby A. is thinking at this moment? Probably "what the heck am I doing suspended in mid-air with this huge light in my face" and "who is this looney woman cooing at me"?



Be done very soon with Baby A.'s session!

I saw a fairy!

Decided I needed some new locations, since I keep tripping over other local photographers in all my fave spots (its cool, you all know I love ya!). So luckily A's mom and dad were up for a new place. Actually its an old location that I had not been to in a couple years. And I found a secret little spot that was just perfect for magical creatures....

Special Project

Many of you know that I work closely with the local Ronald McDonald House on a photo project that means a lot to me. A couple of weeks ago, the Director called me and asked if I could provide 16 images to be printed on their new banners, which will be displayed at a June auction, then hung in the House permanently. I was so touched that they asked.

A few days ago, the volunteer designing the banners sent me the proofs from the printer, and I wanted to share them here.

If you can volunteer, donate time or money or supplies, please do so. This is such a worthwhile organization.

http://www.rmhckc.org/

New Display for June

I've been waiting for almost a year for it to be MY turn and it is almost here!

A FABULOUS local coffeehouse in Lenexa showcases local artists every month, and in June will finally be my turn to be displayed. What is this awesome place you ask?

Black Dog Coffeehouse in Lenexa, KS. (http://www.bdcoffeehouse.com/)

Here is a list of the children and Seniors that will be on display, please come visit, it will be gorgeous!!

Asher A.
Colin B.
Emma M.
Elizabeth H.
Landon L.
Lauren B.
Liam A.
Olivia W.
Colin E.
Elaina L.
Jack W.
Paige A.
Lucas W.
Jamie B.
Austin R.
Mikayla K.
Kyle W.

Hope you can drop by! I hang it on June 1 and it comes down June 30!

Happy Mother's Day

To all the First Time Mommies.
To all the Multiple Time Mommies.
To all the Mommies in Waiting.
To all the Mommies of Angels.

To all Past, Present and Future Mommies: Happy Mother's Day.

We couldnt get through an hour without all of you!!

The Eyes

I would say about 90% of the time, I get no shots of newborns with their eyes open. Just doesn’t happen…and that it OK, b/c a lot of the images I create are easier to execute with a sleeping babe.

And they are, of course, all cross-eyed.

But sometimes, one of these little darlings opens her eyes and gives me a look that just melds with my soul. A look that tells me a thousand stories with no words, a look that I can’t tear my own eyes from.

I was granted this look recently….and I just wanted to share it.

I will be done with your session soon! Love them all!!

New technique

I have just started recently becoming interested in this new technique. I had been using it on my landscapes, but have been working with it on portraits lately as well.





It is really interesting, and surreal...I enjoy it!

Asher Sneak Peek!

This little guy has got to be one of my fave subjects. He has the most amazingly soulful eyes for a one year old! And Mommy and Daddy dress him in darling clothes (I loved his shoes), AND drive all the way from Chicago to let me photograph him!

So, I will have your session done soon, but I fell instantly in love with this one....he looks very "America's Next Top Baby Model" here, so I had to show him off!

Thanks again for coming down!! See you in July!

Happy 2nd Birthday Baby L.!

I have been photographing Baby L. since before she was born. Her Mommy is a good friend (and excellent childrens clothing designer) and when I realized today was Baby L.'s 2nd birthday, I had to give s special Birthday Shout Out to her!

I hope your day is fabulous Baby L.! I guess we cant really call you that anymore, Big Girl!!

In honor of your special day: my most favorite image of you, ever:

Somone told me

yesterday that I have an "overdeveloped" sense of fairness, and that its because I myself cannot take the easier road in life. Presumably this means that I resent the fact that others arent held back morally by such things.

I think its true. I wish I could allow myself to treat other people the way they sometimes deserve, I wish I could cheat on my taxes so I wouldnt have to write that huge check, I wish I could just do whatever the heck I wanted all the time...

But what does that teach my children? That you can cheat, and if you get away with it, that its OK? Is this what we want our society to fall into being?

I admit that I wish I could take the easier road, I admit that I wish other people played by the same rules that I do. But I cant, and they dont.

Someone told me that I only see things in Black and White, and the real world is just shades of gray. But I DONT see things as Black and White, folks, I see things they way they ARE:

not black and white, but RIGHT AND WRONG.

Come Vote for Me!!

I am a member of the Society of Child Portrait Specialists, and we are having an Image Competition starting today! Its People's Choice and the voting is open....come have a look and vote for your fave (I hope it is me, but who knows, there are some awesome shots!)

http://integrityinart.com/imagecompmain.htm

My submission:

FLY!

Yesterday we took the kids to the park to play (whereas TODAY they are both sick in bed with fevers, but that is another story). They had each gotten kites from the Easter Bunny and my 5 year old REALLY wanted to fly his. My 3 year old just wanted Daddy to hold his.

We told the kids they had to hold on tight, and run around with the kite so it would stay up in the air. Younger son pooped out and went to sit in the shade, but my older son is truly a kite lover, and a natural born flyer...

Big Brother to be

Recently I had a maternity session with one of my FAVORITE clients (and friend). She is having a second boy any day now (I know she is HOPING for any day now). I asked her if she wanted to get some of her with her first-born, and she said sure.

She had him in a very cute dress shirt, just like Daddy's, but you all know me, I stripped it right off him (he was displeased). But I asked him if he was excited about his new baby brother coming, and he said yes. Then he went to Mommy and laid his sweet nest of blond curls right up against her belly, and wrapped his arm around her leg, and I fired off the shot and sent up a short prayer to the photography gods that I got my focus and exposure just right, b/c it was such a perfect moment.

A split second later, he was gone...and all that was left was the memory...and the portrait.

New Hair!

My friend Shelly is the BEST stylist/make-up artist in the area, I swear! I went for a trim today, was feeling kind of in a funk and she chopped off my locks and colored them RED!!

I LOVE my new hair!!!

St. Luke's Northland Maternity Unit Display

Ok, procrastinator that I am, it has taken me forever to get my beautiful Labor and Delivery Unit display ready for hanging...but it is in the process of being hung, and I just couldnt resist some quickie snapshots of a few of the prints on the walls....

I do have to say though, the 20x30s look really small! Maybe we should have done 30x40 instead? ;)

Main lobby as you exit off the elevator:



To the side of the elevator (bad lighting in hospitals, ever notice that?):



Hallways:







Example of patient rooms (each room has one above each bed):



So, the other prints (42 of them!) are still being hung! Its very exciting for me, and the hospital staff seems really pleased!

I Love Snapshots!

When I started in this business, I became obsessed (ask my husband!) with “portraitizing” (yes, I made up a word) every event. I never went anywhere without all my gear, 2 camera bodies, lenses, etc. I spent the whole event looking at possible angles, fiddling with my settings, and MISSING the event!

We were on our way to Camp Snoopy one day last summer and I pulled into Target. I told my husband I’d be right back. I went in and bought a point and shoot camera that fits in my pocket.

No more over-accessorizing for me!

I can go anywhere without attracting attention!
I can snap away without thinking too much about it!
I can play soccer with my 3 year old and still get the pictures!
I don’t have the pressure of the “perfect” shot, b/c that won’t happen with that camera!

Now I make it a point to take that little guy everywhere. I get shots at the park, shots at the games, shots at the McDonalds play land, shots at the gym, shots at my parent’s house and shots in my yard.

Celebrate snapshots, fellow photographers! Time slips away so fast, don’t waste too much of it working on the perfect angle!

Some snapshots to share:

Baby L. Sneak Peek

Ok, so it was a *bit* of a long session at almost 4 hours. But sometimes, you just have to wait 'em out. So we did, didnt we, M?

I thought after all that effort yesterday, you should get a quick look at what is coming!

Enjoy!

Why use a professional photographer?

This is something I have been working on creating for a while. With all the new digital technology and the affordability of such technology, I thought it was important to share *why* I feel a Professional Photographer is still SO important!!

Please check it out! It is worth your time, especially if you are on the fence and think maybe you could "do it yourself" or go the chain store route....

http://www.susanrobichaud.com/musical.htm

Happy (early) Easter

I saw this on a cartoon like 15 years ago, and when I was buying chocolate bunnies the other day, it reminded me of it...

More Blogging!

I have decided to ditch my quarterly newsletter in favor of posting on my blog more often~So I wil be using this blog for announcements, specials and all the stuff that used to be in the newsletter!

This works better for everyone, many people never could get the newsletter b/c of their ISP blocks. Now everyone can get the info they want!

Happy Spring!!

Childhood, the natural way

I've spent the winter working, working on skills. And now I feel as though I have gotten to the point that I can produce quality under these new conditions. So, I have been ditching the backdrop and using my client's home and (more importantly) their natural light to photograph their kids in their truly natural environment.

I just love when an idea works out...

BUMMER!!

A few weeks ago I was honored to be interviewed for an article in the New York Times Magazine. It was going to be about Maternity Photography around the country. I was just about to bust with excitement and couldnt wait to see the article.

But, today the phone bright bad news from the columnist. The Times decided not to run her piece after all. Bummed for me, bummed for her, bummed for the other photographers interviewed.

Oh well, maybe next time!

Unwritten

Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Natasha Bedingfield song that I *LOVE*. I was thinking about the lyrics and kept jotting down ideas of what it would look like to photograph the song. I had lots of grand ideas, but part of creativity is using what you have, and I have small kids.

So I decided that the song is so much about hope, and freedom to be whatever you want in life, without having to be constrained by traditions or other people’s ideas for you. It seemed fitting to have a child, whose future really IS unwritten, holding the world, which is full of wonder and possibility.

List of babies

I have had a lot of emails and calls asking which darlings are in the book!! Here's the list:

Garrett F.
Jade S.
Isabella D.
Emma M.
Samuel B.
Colin B.
Jenna K.
Alessandra R.
Jamison H.
Harrison E.
Thaddeus L.
Madeline K.
Peyton V.
Sidra S.
Conley D.

So, there you have it! The first printing of the books is going on right now! I cant wait til they come!!!!

Miracles of Love

I am almost finished with my new book, Miracles of Love, which will feature my newborn photography in a hard-bound book, with a linen cover.

I am so excited to have this project nearing completion! The price for the book will be $75, and can be pre-ordered at this time by emailing or calling the studio!

Here is an excerpt, just for fun!