ericamay | photography blog. » kansas city family photographer http://www.ericamay.com/blog The photography blog of www.ericamay.com Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:01:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Anakin at the park! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/anakin-at-the-park/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/anakin-at-the-park/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:33:31 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7144 He’s totally adorable, was super great to photograph, full of smiles and funny comments, and he’s the nephew of my sister- and brother-in-law! :) Anakin did such a great job during our photo shoot — he practiced smiling earlier in the day at Yogurtini! Here are just a few of the photos I love from our session.

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/anakin-at-the-park/feed/ 1 Maci is 1! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/maci-is-1/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/maci-is-1/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:07:10 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7132 I can’t believe it’s been a whole year of photo shoots with little Maci! :) She’s the cutest, and was hilarious during her one-year session, where she got to wear her birthday outfit and play with balloons and big swirly lollipops! She always has the cutest outfit changes and tutus for her sessions. Here are a few that I loved of little Maci!

I also cannot get enough of this adorable hat on this adorable baby! How cute is this?!

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/maci-is-1/feed/ 2 Layne’s 2011 Story http://www.ericamay.com/blog/laynes-2011-story/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/laynes-2011-story/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:04:09 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7124 There’s still a little time to take advantage of the Christmas portrait special this year, 2011 Story Shoots! :) The special ends next week, but if you’ve put off a family photo this long or still don’t know what to do about a Christmas card, I’ve got you covered! We’re doing these with super fast turnaround times, so you’ll have them in time to use them for Christmas!

If you missed the details the first time around, click here to see all about the shoots!

Here’s cute little Layne’s story this year:

 

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/laynes-2011-story/feed/ 1 What’s your story this year? (Christmas portrait special) http://www.ericamay.com/blog/christmas-portrait-special/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/christmas-portrait-special/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:16:32 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7105 Happy December 1st! I just love this month — the anticipation of Christmas, and the end of the year is on the horizon. It’s always a time of joy, thankfulness, and reflection on what 2011 held. A year in the life of a family, a couple, or a child is often marked by something big that happened. I can’t think of a year that has passed without something memorable happening, either a big occasion or just a funny story that will forever remain in the chapters of my life story.

So, this year, I’ve been thinking about how to give you the chance to capture your story right now, and preserve what it was about 2011 that sticks out the most to you. What is it that happened this year that defines who you are? How did your family’s story change and grow this year? What kinds of things are your kids doing right now that they haven’t done before and might not do in the future? Was 2011 exciting, challenging, fun, or heartwarming?

It’s time to tell your story — right now, as it’s happening. Now is the time to preserve your current reality, which becomes your family’s history.

My Christmas portrait special (available only through December 16th!) will do just that. I’ve never done this before, and I can’t tell you how excited I am!

Introducing…

2011 Story Shoots!

What are they?

30-minute mini-portrait sessions preferably at your home in the Kansas City metro area or a location that is connected to your story this year. Each session will include a small chalkboard for most of the shoot, which will have your 2011 story written on it (in your words, as long or as short as you want it to be). Imagine skipping writing that 10-page Christmas letter (ha ha), and instead sending an adorable photo with your story told in a concise, clever way. Your Christmas card recipients will love it, and it will be so much easier for you! :)

What is included?

The 30-minute session, an online gallery for easy viewing/sharing, AND a disc of the edited high-resolution digital files!

What’s the special price?

The cost is just $200, including the digital files! It’s a steal!

Will I have the photos back by Christmas?

Yes! Your disc of photos will be ready for pick-up in Kansas City just FIVE DAYS after your session! The portrait special is only valid December 1st through 16th, 2011, but schedule early to get the photos back sooner!

Are there any other details I should know?

Since I’ve promised a super fast turnaround time, I can only do a limited number of these special 2011 Story Shoots! Email now to reserve your date and time. Also, don’t worry about the chance of inclement weather — we will either shoot indoors at your home (which is so much fun!) or brave the chilly weather for a little bit, since the session is only 30 minutes long!

Click here to go to the contact page and send me a message to schedule your session! Type “Story Session!” in the subject line on the contact page. Or, email me directly at me[at]ericamay[dot]com.

 

Rachel and Ryan got married this year, got their first dog together, and have had a really big year. These are from their 2011 Story Shoot!

Click here to request your session!

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/christmas-portrait-special/feed/ 8 Lisa and her sisters! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/lisa-and-her-sisters/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/lisa-and-her-sisters/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:00:05 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7089 It’s the best thing to spend time with people who are so full of life. Like Lisa, who never stopped smiling during our whole shoot, who laughed a lot, and who was just a joy to photograph. People who are so full of life, like Lisa and her two sisters, Sarah and Emily — who are all so fun, and even more funny all together. These sisters made me wish I grew up with sisters, too (although, don’t get me wrong, I love my brothers dearly). We took photos of Lisa to celebrate her first year of college, and had to also capture photos of the bond that only sisters share.

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/lisa-and-her-sisters/feed/ 1 Aiden is almost a year old! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/aiden-is-almost-a-year-old/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/aiden-is-almost-a-year-old/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:49:15 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7050 Who has bright red hair, the biggest smile, the happiest disposition, chubby little cheeks, and super cool parents?

Aiden does.

And I got to take his photos just about two weeks before he turned one. It’s always great to see this family, and this time was no exception. It’s one of my favorite shoots of them so far (although I did miss Molly and Bella, their doggies!). Here are just a few of my most favorite images of Aiden and his sweet personality.

I can’t get enough of his red hair, that conveniently matches the fall colors!

Like father, like son… Aiden’s favorite toy is a laptop. :) The next three images need to be hanging on a wall!

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/aiden-is-almost-a-year-old/feed/ 7 Blake, Nigel, and their parents. :) http://www.ericamay.com/blog/blake-nigel-and-their-parents/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/blake-nigel-and-their-parents/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:31:53 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7035 I got to take photos of our good friends last week, which is always a lot of fun for me. Our friends have the cutest kids, and it’s so fun to be able to capture their family life at different stages. Sometimes we have to be really creative to make taking photos a game when all an almost-two-year-old really wants to do is explore. I’d say it was a success. :)

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/blake-nigel-and-their-parents/feed/ 3 I love photographing fun families! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/i-love-photographing-fun-families/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/i-love-photographing-fun-families/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:19:19 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=6980 I’ve had some super fun family sessions this fall. I love photographing families, especially families who let kids be kids. :) I had so much fun with this family of three, and we laughed a LOT as we explored the park together! 4-year-olds are at such a fun age, where photos can really capture their personalities. I love how these turned out! :)

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/i-love-photographing-fun-families/feed/ 1 My friend Kaley’s family! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/my-friend-kaleys-family/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/my-friend-kaleys-family/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:00:12 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7006 I met Kaley our first night as freshmen at K-State, brushing our teeth in the public bathroom on our floor in Goodnow Hall. Right away, she was one of the nicest people I had ever met. It’s still true today — when the days have passed of eating in the dining hall, watching the Bachelor in her dorm room, and getting rides to the far-away parking lot we had to park in (because her older brother had a great parking spot hook-up at the dorm) — Kaley is one of the nicest people I know. She wanted to get her entire family together for some fun photos, as they’re growing! Her nephew Daniel is completely adorable, so I couldn’t help but feature a few more photos of him, along with a few of the family! :)

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/my-friend-kaleys-family/feed/ 0 When all else fails, do a 20-minute photo shoot in the yard. http://www.ericamay.com/blog/when-all-else-fails-do-a-20-minute-photo-shoot-in-the-yard/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/when-all-else-fails-do-a-20-minute-photo-shoot-in-the-yard/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:56:02 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=6961 We had it all planned out. An epic location, the perfect time of day for dreamy fall family photos, and outfits that were layered, coordinated, but not too matchy. It was going to be amazing. But, what would a good family story be without a little twist? :)

The Natos are good friends of ours, good enough friends that they called us to say that they had somehow forgotten their two girls’ outfits at home — and would we mind running by the house to grab them on our way to this epic location? Of course, we said sure, and proceeded to look through every nook and cranny of their house for these elusive pink tutus and striped tights and cardigans and t-shirts and skirts… ha ha. We never found them. The sun was setting fast and the Natos decided to just come home and call it a night. When they got home, they found the clothes under the covers on their bed (that would have been weird if we would have found them there, right?), and we resigned to ordering some Jalapeno’s (yum) instead.

But, they were all dressed up. The clothes were there. The people were there. The light was barely hanging on by a thread. So, we jumped outside, quickly fixed hair and layered on their adorable outfits, and took photos in front of their house and in the “pocket park” behind their house — basically a grassy area that sits between a circle of houses. And now, they have some family photos. And a story to go with it. Because sometimes the most beautiful memories come from plans not going our way.

This shoot started out of a need for family photos with all three kids — Layne, Lila and sweet little Penelope.

Suspenders and a bow-tie on a Kindergartener? So cute!

I’m pretty sure it was dark when we took these. Thank you, Nikon D700.

Best family photo ever? :)

Jami is a great “mommy blogger” — her blog cracks me up, because she writes just how she talks. It’s real life stuff. You can check it out here.

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