JFP photo blog

This One Comes With a Disclaimer

***It is NEVER easy to photograph your own children***

Add in to the mix your 21 month old nephew and that just might spell trouble.  Today was the day to get the shot for my parents' holiday card.  (The first holiday session of the year...woohoo!)  And this is sort of what the day looked like....

For one second everyone is all organized and standing still.  By the time I get the camera to my eye, this is what I see...

An escapee followed by his trustee retrievers.  But see how obedient my dad is being? 

 

This time he aiming for my kneecaps...look at how the rest of them are just laughing.  Thanks a lot!

How's that?  You're done having your photo taken?  Lest you think only the small one was a challenge, let me reassure you that while the adults were on their best behavior, the other three had to be threatened with the loss of their Kid Valley milkshakes in order to gain some sort of control and still there were many faces made and looking off into the distance shots captured. 

In spite of it all, here are a few of my real favorite shots....

Am looking very forward to designing the card...I feel sure there will be some sort of collection of favorite shots from the day on the back!

Sidenote:  Yesterday our house was turned into a makeshift tattoo parlor.  When you look at the shots see how many tattoos you can count on the kids...those aren't all bruises and scabs on their arms and legs! 

And in case you are still with me...a few more that I liked...

 

These two can barely be parted.  Love the tickling!

See, she's not always naughty!

I was complaining the other day that I don't have many great shots of Henry this year, so today I made an effort to force the issue with him.  He would much rather make goofy faces but it is so worth the battle for his more serious side and his beautiful smile...

Happy weekend!  Fingers crossed for some cooler weather.

 

Out in Left Field

Now you've all seen Miss Annie's sewing project, but here are a few more photos from our little walk out in our field.

Awww, isn't she sweet...

Could her eyes roll any further back in her head?  Do you think maybe she's all done with the camera?

And I thought our weeds were bad!  Ummm, that dandelion back there is almost as big as her head!

Love the sun flare in her hair...she has the PERFECT hair for that...however, if looks could kill....I am so in for it when both drama queens are teenagers..or maybe, just maybe, I'm paying for it now and they will be angels then...well, a girl can dream, can't she?

That's decent of all of them...not an easy task.

Now, which one is it that is giving me gray hair??  She truly is the naughtiest of the bunch, in that sweet, innocent naughty way....

Love that one...makes my little heart go pitter pat....

 

Birthday Boy

I have had the pleasure of photographing this little man on several occasions and now he is going to be one...I can hardly believe it!  He actually doesn't live anywhere near us (boo hoo) but happened to be in town last week, which was as close to his birthday as we could get...though funnily enough, we will be in his neck of the woods on his actual birthday and as I am sure to be a camera toting tourist, we may have to try some outside shots too!  Anyway, here are a few of my favorites...including some with yummy, chocolaty cupcake goodness!

So this little man does the best SAS commando style crawling ever, and even though you can't tell he's moving in the next two, trust me, that's what's going on....

Love those cheeks and lashes!!

And then we let him loose on a cupcake...hi-lar-ious!

Love the expression of pure bliss!

Really?  share with me?

Didn't think so!

Super excited to see you guys twice in three weeks!

 

Check it out!

Run, don't walk, over to the new website!!  www.fernstromphotography.com   It is GORGEOUS (I may be slightly biased).  Be sure to check out the new "packages"...digital images with most of them!  Also, posted all the holiday card samples in the Client Galleries section, so you can see how that works.  Would love any and all feedback....feel free to post a comment or e-mail me directly.  And because what is a post with no pictures?? 

The goofy one and her home ec school project....love her funny little face!

Also, be sure to scroll on down for the holiday session info.....

Holiday Sessions '09!!

Woohoo!  Apparently it is time to start thinking about the holidays...what?  Someone just told me there are only 158 days til' Christmas...ack!  Anyway, all the fall photo sessions tend to fill up quickly, so I thought we could start the madness a little earlier this year and take advantage of the beautiful weather too.  Details are below and if you want to see the holiday card samples, run on over to the holiday blog. Notice the deadline for the early scheduling discount...right around the corner!  Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions!

Check back in the next few days...the new website will be live and you will want to see all its gorgeousness as well as some new exciting products and collections, including several with digital files!!

Wedded Bliss

Remind me that next time I get married (ok, really, how about when we renew our vows for our 15th anniversary...next month??) we should do it in Barbados.  These lucky two did just that back in April and then got to throw themselves a big party last weekend.  Hmmm....getting to wear your dress twice?  Yes, please!  Anyway, I was lucky enough to get invited along to document the festivities.  Here are a few of my favorites from the day....

The beautiful back of the dress, and if you look closely, you can see the gorgeous trim on her veil...love it!

She is serene and beautiful.

No nerves here...

Isn't their little one just the sweetest EVER?  Fabulous ringlets and her funny little monkey, not to mention her adorable dress...custom made for her by grandma.

A little smooching....

A little dancing...

and a little running away from the camera....though I do love this one for the ringlets, the bare feet, and the dainty way she is holding her dress.

Well, there are only about a million more I love, but that's all you get for now...

More fun stuff coming this week....

 

Funny Little Man

This little guy made me laugh the first time I met him (back in January....see here) and he made me laugh again last week.  Oh my has he changed and yet still the same sweet, funny, little guy!  He was asleep in the car when they all got here and there was some concern that he might be a wee cranky when he woke up.  Ha, I say!  Once he got warmed up to me there was no stopping him!  Here are a few of my favorites....

 

The questioning look...what are you doing?

 

So pleased with himself...and a little goofy too!

 

Working hard...moving buckets, knocking down towers of cups...

 

Mr. Big Shot on the go.

 

Check out those teeth!!

 

Love that one...

These guys were a blast this time too...there was all kinds of singing and craziness! Wish the rest of you could see the things parents will do (ok, I admit, I am worse than all of them put together).  Thanks for coming out last week, guys...more photos coming your way soon!

Also, holiday session info almost ready to be posted, so keep checking and have your calendars ready!

Sugar & Spice & and All Things Nice

That's what these little ladies are made of.

 

(I love the "conversation" going on here)

  Last week I had the pleasure of meeting this beautiful family and their newest member was only 7 days old!  This mom is maybe the most organized person in the world.  First of all, she called about 6 weeks ago to schedule this session for exactly one week following her scheduled delivery (doesn't that make it nice for planning things...a few of my babies were scheduled and I love it...perhaps I am a bit too much of a control freak??).  Second, the whole family got here 15 minutes ahead of schedule...ummmm, I'm sorry, don't you have a newborn and a 2 year old?  How is that even humanly possible?  Maybe she is a secret superhero?  And as if that isn't enough, unless you saw the baby in her arms, you would never know she had been pregnant a mere week ago!

 

See what I mean?  Gorgeous!  And look at her tiny little bundle of joy...here are a few of my favorites of just the baby....she was an absolute superstar and put up with all my poking and prodding without batting an eyelash!

 

She is only the second baby I have managed to get on the towels...they have to be super fresh and pretty small, as well as kind of squishable, in order to make this work...and she was a trooper!

 

So peaceful.

 

Love those baby back wrinkles.

 

Love those little feetsies! 

(Am I turning out to be like Tanner P. from the Bachelorette?)

 

So in all my raving about mom's fabulousness, I may have neglected to mention this family also happens to have an equally impressive dad.  He was so calm and friendly and comfortable and SO great with their bigger kiddo (who maybe wasn't so sure having her picture taken was actually on her agenda for the day) while mom and I wereworking on the baby.  Yay dad!

And speaking of little Miss big sister...she absolutely cracked me up with her tons of personality and charm....

LOVE her!

  Thanks again guys for such a fun morning!  Gallery link coming your way soon!

And the rest of you, another cutie pie coming soon, and next week, once I have waded through the million and one shots from yesterday's wedding, you'll get to see some of them too!  Happy Monday!

Yes, Ma'am

When you were little and you used to read (or watch) Little House on the Prairie, didn't you sometimes think it would be fun to go to school in the cute, little, one room schoolhouse?

I don't know....she looks pretty scary!  Where is her strap?  wooden paddle?  Yikes!

Just kidding!  This year my mom's school celebrated their 100th anniversary and she got into the spirit of things for their big event.  Rest assured, I'm pretty certain she doesn't REALLY use that face with her kiddos at school...ask anyone, not a mean bone in her body!

 

That's more like it.  Which of her crazy grandchildren do you think was being goofy behind my back?

 

The whole outift...it was the real deal...petticoat, gloves, boots...apparently it's quite warm.  That's showing some school spirit!

 

OK, happy Friday!  Here's hoping for a beautiful weekend!  Check back next week for some more fun stuff...tiny people and a wedding!

The Summer of Home Ec Begins

This summer I have a dream.  I dream that one day my children might be able to fend for themselves.  Therefore, I am enforcing so "home ec" lessons...some of which are LONG overdue.  There will be cooking (each kid will learn how to make something for each meal of the day), there will be laundry (thank goodness!), we have already been practicing our vacuuming and bathroom cleaning skills, and today we finished our first sewing project of the summer!  Yay us!  Here is a little photographic evidence...

 

Even more "yay" for Amy Butler and  Heather Bailey for the fabulous fabrics and  Frog Legs and Ponytails for the super cute and great for beginners pattern!

 

 

And how crafty are we??  Madelyn put a scrap on her head and it was so cute we actually made it into a fun little head-thingy!  (OK, so it totally made me think of the curtain outfits from the Sound of Music...not so much the fabric or style, but definitely the matching head-thingy!)

A few detail shots...

 

 

Ha, ha!  Look at us with the fancy "topstitching" finishing business! 

 Madelyn really got into it...measuring, ironing, and mostly the sewing.  I think she made about 50 little pouches with any scraps she could find today, and spent all day asking if she could sew more.  I have created a monster...  Anyway, Annie finally got inspired by the final product and chose her own fabric.  Can't wait to see how that one goes...I have a feeling I know who will be doing most of that sewing project!  And even though Henry is not so "into" the whole sewing thing, little does he know that he will be learning to sew on a button and maybe even sew a straight seam.