Project 52: Week 2

Hi there! I'm back, just in time because next week's prompt goes up tomorrow. Phew. I was waiting for the right moment and idea behind the prompt for this week which is STORYTELLING. I realize that this could go so many ways, but I figured I'd tell my "story" of how I spend most of my days.

My oldest is in school, so he's away but that leaves me with my youngest (when he's not in school...it's our last year of being together almost all day every day - it's the big K next year).

I wanted to tell our story in one photo. I think this sums up most of our days. Playing in pajamas.

I wish I could reiterate the conversations and pretend play that goes along with this image. He reenacts the scenes from TMNT episodes and then adds in his own flair. It's pretty funny to listen from the other room. He loves his turtles. If he's not playing turtles, he's coloring turtles, or pretending to be  in training like the turtles with his shell and sword, sais or bostaff. It's really cute that he gets so into the characters. This is his story. And mine.

I hope you stay connected with me via the blog or my Facebook page, as I'll be sharing the images I photograph for this project. At the end of the year, I will be making these into a photo book for myself. I cannot wait to see what I photograph this year.

Happy 2015!

Happy 2015 to everyone!! I have big ideas and plans for this year, including many personal and professional goals of mine that I'm anxious to dive into. One of them was the desire to start a personal photography project. There are two types I've come across in the recent years. One is a 365 project, which is just like it sounds. You take a photograph every day for an entire year. It helps to inspire you by seeking out new and fresh things to photograph daily, learning to embrace getting that one photo for each day regardless your schedule, and to better your skills all around. I wanted to start a bit smaller scale than that. That is a big undertaking for me at the moment, so I opted to start with a Project 52. You take a photo based on a prompt for that week and photograph it! It's one photo a week. For me, that was much easier to commit to. That means I have an entire week to find something/someone that inspires that prompt.

I chose to join in on My Four Hens Photography project this year, or M4H Project 52. It's amazing to see the other fabulous images that are shared on her Facebook group already!! And I'm only in the first week.

This week's prompt is FRESH. Well, I could have taken so many different photos, but my week has been a bit crazy, so I decided to bake a cake today. Yes, I did actually bake the cake for this prompt, BUT in my defense, I did have overripe bananas that I needed to use, so that's the other reason for baking the cake. Hey, when a creative mind gets an idea, you just roll with it.

I did. I baked it, served it as an afternoon snack for myself and my two kids after my oldest got home from school, tossed some raspberries on the plate for um, nutritional value (totally had NOTHING to do with the color or anything), and snapped away. Here is the image that I loved.

I hope you stay connected with me via the blog or my Facebook page, as I'll be sharing the images I photograph for this project. At the end of the year, I will be making these into a photo book for myself. I cannot wait to see what I photograph this year.

It's Apple Picking Season

I adore fall for so many reasons. The colors. The crisp air. Pumpkin spiced everything. I could go on and on. But one thing I do love is apple picking. I love riding out to the orchards with the kids and hubby in the wagon and picking apples. It's a local place we've gone to a couple of times. It's a little pricey, but you're paying for the experience I guess. I'm going to share that experience with you!

And remember, these are what I consider lifestyle, so if you really love them, I can meet your family at a local orchard (or pumpkin patch/farm) and you can have fun, pick apples (or pumpkins) as a family and you'll have wonderful, professional photos forever. Contact me today to book yours before all my October dates are gone. I have just a couple up for grabs. You can email me at roxanne@newleafphotography.net or visit my website and send me an email there!

I hope you enjoyed "meeting" myself and my family!
- Roxanne

www.newleafphotography.net
www.facebook.com/mynewleafphotography

MORE Fall 2014 Fashion Ideas

I'm back again today with another fashion board. This time, a different color palette and a little dressier, but not overly dressy! That's what I call the in-between look because it's still casual enough to be comfortable, but still dressy looking. You don't want something you can't sit down in or something that your children will be uncomfortable in. Fact is, if it feels uncomfortable, it will look uncomfortable in the photos. And we certainly don't want that! 

The above looks today I pulled from H&M and Crazy8 for the kids fashions. I love both these places to find clothing options for the whole family because it's affordable.

Of course, you can use this as a guide for your family photos, maybe choose an alternate color palette (some ideas below) or different shoes. This is a fun thing to print out and take with you while you're shopping in the store. I've included some alternate color palettes below. I hope you enjoyed these fall 2014 fashions.

Fall 2014 Fashion Board

Hi everyone! I know it's been a long while since I last blogged, but I've been SUPER busy all this time. Between personal happenings, vacation, school starting, to my clients' photo sessions, there has been a lot going on!

I had some time to sit down and come up with a fall 2014 fashion board of suggestions for what to wear. My mock family this time has clothing options for mom, dad, big brother and baby brother. All these fashions can be found at H&M US. I'm not affiliated in any way, I just love their clothing options for the entire family!

These are fun for me to sit down to make because it makes me think of what I'd love a family to wear for a photo session outdoors and it helps to coordinate everyone, but not "match". You don't want to all wear one color because you blend together. You also want texture, color, and coordinating patterns as well. This is so fun to do. I encourage you to have fun with the wardrobe!! That and the location are the most fun parts to choose. And they're going to hang on your walls, so be sure you love the way you all look!!

Spring Means Everything New...

...including new babies-to-be! I'm so happy that we got to get this maternity session squeezed in. Just. In. Time. This little bundle you see growing in there decided to arrive just the other day!! I cannot wait to share the lifestyle session we have planned for this weekend with you all.

The optimal time for scheduling a maternity session is between 32 and 35 weeks. We went a little farther out for this one and she was, I believe 38 weeks here, but is so happy she got them done. I've also made a collage of some of the images we took that gorgeous day. You can get that printed, framed and matted for hanging in your hallway with other family photos or as a beautiful keepsake for the baby's nursery. Please ask me about pricing for this - very affordable.

For now, enjoy some beautiful spring blooming all around this glowing mommy to now 3!

Spring Has FINALLY Sprung!

I'm going to share some of my images I took while on a quick trip with my family to a local nature center and forest preserve. It's GORGEOUS. Guess who found an amazing new location for sessions?? This girl! Woohoo!

For those interested, this was shot at Crabtree Nature Center and Forest Preserve in Barrington. Not very far at all from our home, this is a place I know we will frequent. 

Enjoy a little spring bloom in action...