tiffany's dance academy and the nutcracker

In collaboration with Tiffany’s Dance Academy, my studio is proud to offer a collection of the most unique and highest quality products in the industry, from artistic works of art of all sizes to display options which complement any home décor. We dedicate ourselves to creating a personal, custom experience in order to surpass your portrait photography expectations.

This weekend, Tiffany's Dance Academy and the Bay Area Dance Company announce, "The Nutcracker" performing at the Chabot Theater this Saturday. Stay tuned for details on the photo galleries..... {see details below about the performance this Saturday}


~denise

Tiffany’s Dance Academy and Bay Area Dance Company Presents:
THE NUTCRACKER
Performance Date: December 18
Location: Chabot College Theater, Hayward
San Ramon, Pleasanton, Livermore, Fremont, Tracy and SSF Dancers

http://www.tiffanydance.com/performances/nutcracker/

I wanna win a LensBaby!!!

Jodi of MCP Actions has got a BIG contest going on and I really really wanna win this one. I'm tired of photoshoping this technique, man!!!! I want it out of camera!!! Hurry, you have until August 23rd!!!

Click below for details!!!!
Win a LensBaby!!

In the meantime, here is my photoshoped version of a "lensbaby"....not as good, but the real thing would seal the deal!!!!!

Here is pretty much SOOC. aperature between 5.5 - 8, iso 200-400 (I was changing the settings constantly while on the beach because we went from full sunlight to the open shades of the ocean caves...oooooo)


and here is adding the lens blur feature in photoshop (I sometimes also add a little bit of radial blur and motion blur depending on what it will look like )....along with some more blurring like gaussian blur...all utilizing as a mask over the background original. In this case I wanted to emphasize Meme and Maddie's hands....converted BW - in this case a straight desaturation, added LilyBlue's Sweet Water from her WaterPlay action set and then some lighting contrast adjustments, and some of Beth Armsheimer's textures {these are totally YUMMY!!!}..


now if I had a lensbaby, I would not have to go through all this work....and I would have tons of fun shooting!!!!

Help, we've been Quarantined!!!!

Sandy Puc created some awesome brushes and textures while quarantined in China for 7 days because of a passenger suspected with the Swine Flu while en route for her 3 week journey to China with her two children. One of the reasons for going to China was to do her daughter's senior portraits. Well, the series started at their lovely hotel in Shanghai. By all means it was no lap of luxury. The authentic grunge grouping includes, cigarette burned carpets, cracks in the walls, and filthy bathroom stains. They are available at www.samsworlduniversity.com and all of the proceeds will go to help orphans in China. These kids live like this everyday..... {Visit the Campus Store if your are not a member of Sam's University!!}




Used the following: The Quarantine Brush Set
Wall Stain 3 Texture
Fuse Box Texture
lch Designs, 20x20 sloppy borders


Poor Jack!! Yes, he did feel quarantined in his dragon outfit for Halloween this past year. I know that this would have been me if I were in Sam's place in China right now.

Hearts to you, Sam and your family!!!!

dandelion kisses.... COMING SOON!!!!

In addition to my blog, which by the way, will be changing soon too, I'll be creating a newsletter called, "dandelion Kisses" exclusive for my clients!! As part of a survey that was sent out a few weeks ago, one of the notions mentioned was to send out notices via email to get notified of upcoming photography events. The first one will be due out in March!! Stay tuned!!....

Plus, I've been working on my "Mommy's Closet" site...This site will soon be the new site for archiving all of Mommy & Me Photography's galleries - sports and portraits, detailed creations, and personal memoirs...it will become a secured site to ensure the privacy of my clients and my family. In addition, as part of my pricing packages, digital negatives will be an option. And for the convenience of my customers, I will have those photos ready for you to print through my online gallery (with only select packages). Go ahead and visit: www.mommyandmephotography.com and visit, "Mommy's Closet".

A new website, splash page, and blog are in the making for Mommy & Me Photography with the help of Kim Townsend of Kimtown&Co. {http://www.kimtown.com} and designer, Jessica Dittmer {http://www.jessicadittmer.com}. Cannot wait to launch all the marvels!!!

And finally, my sports will have a separate home: http://www.sportsstylephotography.com
....and will feature news and athlete highlights!!!. The galleries and pricing information for Sports Style will currently remain within Mommy's Closet for direct ordering and viewing.

enjoy!!
dandelion kisses!!
-denise:)

{Designers Note: Thanks for the feedback everyone. A lot of people have been asking about the font title. It is called LD Cursive Flourish....currently on sale as part of a bundle on ScrapNFonts. This font was designed by Lettering Delights which provides the cutest fonts ever!! ...commercial license pending...}

the Olson Family Holiday photo shoot...{my backyard}

Thanks to my photog friend, Nancy Porfirio, for doing our family photo session. With kids 3 and 2, the attempts of a group photo are 1 in 250....especially when you are near the water's edge. Can I just say that it was really nice not to feel the pressure of being behind the camera!!! But thank you, thank you, thank you, Nancy. I love 'em...and here is a quick peek...
hugs and kisses!!!

me & hubbie {isn't he the cutest thing??}


Jack Jack with the toy car that Nancy gave him to cheer him up:)


Jack Jack...so mystical


Maddie Moo with her Princess lipgloss that Nancy gave her for cooperating (btw, she did use it all up by the end of the day...she loved it!!)




fishy kisses....


Maddie Moo is the perfect candidate for a "trash the dress"session....


...had to bring out another fav action by Cari McIntyre of Purple Cow Graphics: Classic Mystic







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To view more of the photos, visit my friends & family gallery HERE.

oh, why is being 2 so hard??? {families}

I had another family holiday session a week ago with friends, and lit'l E wanted nothing to do with the lady holding the camera (me!!)...lollipops, bribes, throwing rocks....nothing made lit'l E happy. I even offered him my camera...no way. Even Curious George wasn't going to save the day...until mom offered him a brand new red matchbox car...however, the toystore was not in the woods. So we packed up our stuff and hurried to downtown to get the toy. We had about 15-20minutes of sun before it would it go down behind the ridge. So time was ticking...could I do it? Heck yeah, at 6 frames per second, we were going to get the shots. So near downtown, we stopped at one of E's favorite parks and voila....smiles everyone SMILES...that's all it takes is putting a child in their comfort zone (I guess the dirt path with deer, wild turkeys and rabbits was just not cutting it that day). So mom, dad, here is your peek. enjoy!!!

Before the little red car:





After the little red car:

We three....{tweens and teens}

It is something about photographing kids that is sooo easy....they are easily amused, and these guys just kept me going....Steve being the oldest...totally laid back and every once in awhile caught that boyhood to manhood look...and Megan - telling me her whoas about being the middle child and catching that playfulness in her.. (mom, despite all we discussed prior to the photo session, I think you are going to love these shots of her - her smile is just beautiful), and then there is lit'l sis, Kendalyn...loves the camera, loves the center of attention and ooooh those freckles - too cute...what a joy to capture these moments for your holiday session!!! So as promised, a little sneak peek.... enjoy!!

it is all about Max (for now:) )...{expecting}

I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph our friends, Mary, Nana and their lit'l dog, Max at Point Isabelle last weekend. Congrats to Mary and Nana, who will be expecting the end of January. I cannot wait to see this little bundle of joy!!! and I think Max is a little excited too!! hugs and kisses to both of you and Max.....:)