Children’s Fall Photo Sessions

It’s time for fall photo sessions!  I’ve been busy creating a fun fall theme for the kiddos that will also lend itself to getting some beautiful portraits.  We begin the session photographing children in front of a white wall with simple props that will be suitable for creating classic wall art to hang in your home.

Aren’t they Adorable?

After getting the classic images, children will be invited to play in the red wagon and the John Deere tractor. While shopping for John Deere toys to enhance the fall theme I found the large tractor at Target.  What child can resist a ride on a tractor?  And, thanks to my mother, we now own it!  We will load the wagon and trailer with pumpkins and siblings to create memorable photos.  The kids will look adorable in their overalls and plaid shirts!

Radio Flyer Wagon with Fall Pumpkins

Adorable John Deere Tractor with Pumpkins

Teddy Bear and Red Wagon

Teddy Bear on a John Deere Tractor

Photos can be beautifully edited as is, or families may choose from several backgrounds that are perfect for the classic images and the wagon or tractor.  All of the images will have ground cover with fall leaves.

Gray Weathered Fence Background

Rustic Wood Photo Background

Worn Red Barn Walls

Rustic Wood with Peeling White Paint

Gray Weathered Barn Doors

The children’s photo studio is set up for kids to have a fun experience.  Toys appropriate to the theme are available to play with while listening to music that makes children feel comfortable.

More of my work with children can be seen on the photography page and the fall page.  Fall sessions may be scheduled in September through early October.  Families can contact me for more information and to schedule a photo session at 971-506-8911.

 

Advertisement

Children’s Photo Studio

 

Aren’t they Adorable?

Last week the garage was converted into a photo studio.  I’ve always wanted to do this but couldn’t in my Portland home since the gym was used for the preschool.  Having to share space with the preschool meant needing to set up and take down equipment for each photo session.  We cleaned out the garage, hung some curtains to hide the storage area, and painted the wall white. There are still some things to do, but at least the space is now usable.  I love that we can hang items from the ceiling.  We couldn’t do that in the preschool gym since the ceilings were too high.

Fall Photo Session

Aren’t they Adorable?

Photo Studio from the Parent’s View

Photo Studio

Photo Studio

After converting the garage, we decided to do an autumn portrait session with Tessa.  We gathered a few fall items and had some fun with our new set-up!

I recently completed Sandra Coan’s strobes class and would like to try out the skills with some child models.  More info about my work with children can be found here.

 

 

 

 

White Cuddle Rose Easter Bunny

2018 Sew Stitchery Expo

I took the beach house and headed up to Puyallup, WA a few weeks ago to attend the Sewing and Stitchery Expo.  The shopping was incredible, and there were way too many seminars to choose from!  I went home with a multitude of  patterns, tools, and ideas to keep me busy for a couple years:)

I’m in Love with the Bunny!

I fell in love with the purple cuddle rose rabbit that was sitting in the  Carol’s Zoo  booth.  The pattern was purchased, and I finished the rabbit a couple weeks ago.  The rabbit was made from Shannon cuddle rose fabric in snow white, and the eyes and nose were purchased from Carol’s Zoo.  They can also be purchased in bulk online.  Carol had made plastic templates of her patterns, so I bought the plastic at Joann’s thinking it would be easier to use than paper for tracing the patterns onto cuddle, minky and fur fabrics.

Cuddle Rose Fabric

Template Plastic Info

Plastic Rabbit Template

Seam Tool

Purple Rose Cuddle Rabbit

Carol’s Zoo Rabbit Pattern

The plastic templates were perfect and made tracing very easy.

Rabbit Pattern Tracing

Patterns on Fabric

Finding the Straight Grain on the Fabric

Cut Rabbit Pieces

A minky and cuddle workshop was offered at the expo where participants were given many helpful ideas for working with these fabrics.  Since the fabrics are slippery, the presenter suggested using lots of pins or clips.  I purchased a box of Clover’s Wonder Clips and was very pleased with them.  I probably over clipped the rabbit, but it didn’t slip while sewing.  After the rabbit was sewn together, it was stuffed with just enough fiber fill to give it shape, but loosely enough to cuddle with.  A yellow ribbon was chosen for Gymhawk colors, and it works for Easter too. The Easter card was made with my Silhouette Cameo.

Fabric with Wonder Clips

Front of Rabbit

Ready to Sew Front and Back Together

This Rabbit Needs some Stuffing!

This Bunny is Just Too Cute!

Easter Bunny and Card

Best Friends Forever!

The rabbit was shipped to its new home in Iowa and is now best friends with the most well loved green bunny.  Fourteen years ago the ER nurses gave the green rabbit to Misty-Jade after she broke her elbow.   The rabbit has been to every gymnastics meet since, traveled all over the country, and rescued several times after being left in stores.  She now has her own ID tag!   I only wish I could thank the nurses who gave the rabbit to her.  The rabbit helped Misty-Jade get through surgery, a year of physical therapy, and a change in gyms.

The Green Rabbit

Easter Bunny Arrives in Iowa

Kinders Farewell Party & Last Photo Session

W and R left for school last week, and B went this week.  We’ll miss having them at preschool, but I’m sure they’re ready for the next adventures waiting for them.  Although, since W’s sister is still in preschool, we might get to see her occasionally.  Before leaving for Kindergarten the girls had a final photo session and a Peter Rabbit party.

Here are some snapshots of the party.

Opening Gifts

Ready for a Party

Party Table for B

Peter Rabbit Party Tables

Serving Table with Peter Rabbit

Peter Rabbit Serving Table

Their final photo session.

In the Tree

W All Grown Up

Best Friends

Morning Photo Session with W

W Ready to Conquer the World

Wow! Just too Grown Up

Umbrella Photo Session

Off to Kindergarten

B in the Tree

All the teachers wish the girls the best of luck in their educational journey!

Kayaking on the Columbia

We’ve been on vacation for a couple weeks and didn’t have access to internet for much of that time, so I haven’t posted in a while.  I’ll begin with our weekend in Irrigon and follow up with some posts about our California trip.

Boondocking on Farmland

We experienced the most awesome weekend in Irrigon visiting with my cousin Laurie and her family! Irrigon, as with most of the surrounding area, is largely farmland, and the beach house was parked just outside Laurie’s property with a view of horses out our front door.  Country noises of farm animals and frogs were a welcome change to the city’s sirens and constant traffic.  I think we saw only a couple cars drive by the entire weekend!  What more could anyone ask for in a boondocking spot?

Hiking at Hat Rock State Park

Boondocking in Irrigon, OR

Shadow of Truck and Trailer

Info about Lewis and Clark

Hat Rock in Oregon

Photo Shoot

The main purpose of our excursion was to deliver a Nikon D7000 that I helped Laurie purchase for her daughter’s birthday.  We did two photo shoots with Tresa’s six beautiful children who were absolutely a joy to work with!  The morning shoot was done at Hat Rock State Park.  The sunlight was beautiful, and we were able to get some great photos of the kids in tall grass, in the trees and on some logs.  The kids also wanted to take photos on a bridge that worked out perfectly.  After a potluck dinner we took the kids to a beach near a wildlife refuge for a sunset photo shoot.  We captured some 4th of July photos as well as shots of the kids playing in the water.  Unfortunately, the filter on my lens had marks on it and resulted in sun spots on many of the photos.  I’ll have to go back and do that photo shoot again.

Kids at Sunset on the Columbia River

A at Hat Rock State Park

Sisters at Hat Rock State Park

Siblings at Hat Rock State Park

Sisters at Hat Rock State Park

Photographing the Kids

R in the Grass

Kayaking on the Columbia River

The plan for Sunday was to go kayaking, and I let Laurie know that since our kayaks are inflatables, I prefer to kayak on calm water such as lakes and ponds.  Tresa suggested Warehouse Beach, so off we went to Wallula Lake.  Little did we know that this “lake” is part of the Columbia River!  It doesn’t actually meet the formal definition, but resembles more of an inlet or bay.   At that point I couldn’t back out so went for it.  The lake’s configuration resulted in rougher waters with waves that crashed over the top of my kayak before I was able to get myself or the dog in.  Amber, on the other hand managed to stay dry getting into her kayak. And then Laurie in all her cousinly love thought to catch my plight on her phone and post to Facebook!  Oh well, it was fun and the water with the cool breeze felt wonderful in the 100 degree weather.

Red Flag

Dueling Photographers

Amber Kayaking on the Columbia River

Cocker Spaniel enjoying the Water

Kayaking on the Columbia River

I had not previously kayaked or done anything else on the Columbia River, but it was very peaceful and the serenity of the river and birds was much appreciated.  I like to imagine people’s lives in earlier times and could see Lewis and Clark paddling down the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean.  I’m sure it was much rougher and more challenging when they made the journey.  While I was hesitant to take an inflatable kayak onto the river, I would highly recommend paddling on the Columbia if you have the opportunity.