home for an early christmas.

I drove down December 14th all the way to West Liberty to pick him up to celebrate an early Christmas with us in Corning New York.  It was a lot of fun for all us.  Keith always likes a video playmate!!  LOL.

Jack Jack with his BIG brother Derrick.

Now 21, finally providing him with a belated "birthday" brew tasting.  Started at Ithaca Brewing Co. and ended at the Horseheads Brewery.

Jack Jack sampling some their of their "Roopy Roop".

Yes, he does eat when he get hungry.  Eat little man!!

Me and the family.  

Awe, my cute little ornament given to me by Sabra Wood, an artist that presented her pottery at the Spencer Hill Gallery during "State of Play"...more of that to come in a near future post.

Derrick with one of his gifts....a 5x7 250 photo custom canvas photo box (a product that is provided through my boutique studio!!) featuring all of his images from the 2012 West Liberty Hilltoppers football season.  But his favorite gift was "Zombie Island" for the XBOX.  

residential gallery

Currently my home is my studio...been working on getting samples up, changing photos, and getting everything looking pretty.

(and yes, I now have gotten to the point that I just want spring to be here!!  If its not going to snow, just bring in the flowers!!)

little tap shoes...

a little present coming to the Tiffany's Dance Academy studios this week....

{Artwork completed in collaboration with Jessica Dittmer}

And happy birthday to the little miss tap shoes!!!  With Jessica's artistic help, I created a gorgeous canvas art piece, commemorating Miss M's dance recital with Tiffany's Dance Academy this last summer.  The lyrics to the song, "Little Tap Shoes", are written on the sides of the canvas....the tune of the song goes along with Shirley Temple's, "Animal Cracker's in my Soup.".....soooooo cute!!!!  Miss M stole the show that day.  Happy Birthday baby girl!!!!

{Artwork completed in collaboration with Jessica Dittmer. ?Full name of dancer was applied to canvas for the client.}

~denise

(visit my new site: www.denisemarieolson.com...changes coming soon!!!)

published...

Wow, did not realize that the last time I blogged was April, right before our move.  Well, we are here in Corning NY and needless to say, still getting settled.  However, still working hard.  Setting up the business here in New York, slowly establishing a studio space (you would think with my new house there would be at least one room that I can call my studio...no; but I do have a fab office now!!  With a door!!).  Until then I love the adventure of the outdoors and other indoor establishments.

Well on another note, my collaborative work was published as an ad for CostumeManager.com in the July issue of "Dance Studio Life" .  Spear heading the ad project, President and owner of CostumeManager.com, Paul Henderson, and graphic designer, Arden Waters, approached me in choosing the appropriate photos for the ad and wanted to use the illustrative features of the  StoryBook Look ® Art by Jessica Dittmer, that I collaboratively offer to my dance and session clients.  The ideas were discussed and with Jessica's final artistic touches to the image, we came up with a unique look for the CostumeManager.com ad.

On display in the ad:

And the original artwork as artistically rendered by Jessica Dittmer:

©2011 Mommy & Me Photography in collaboration with artist Jessica Dittmer- Storybook Look® Art

(You can find more of the collaborative artwork under my category, "Children at Play"...stay tuned in the coming months for more art displays)

~denise

moving on

As of today, it is official.  We are moving.  We are moving out of the San Francisco Bay Area going back east.  Corning, New York to be specific.  My husband was just offered a wonderful opportunity with Corning Incorporated which will not only benefit his career, but also get my career back on track into biotech if I so choose to do so.  We will also be closer to my college football scholar son, Derrick, who plays for the West Liberty University Hill Toppers, and I will be able to attend almost all of his games!!!  I will be closer to my best friends in Pittsburgh, the Steelers, and  GOOD Buffalo chicken wings!!!!  Keith will be home more, and will be able to attend his Red Sox games at Fenway Park!!  We will also be closer to Keith's family.  Christmas in New England once again!!  And now my family is a tad bit closer, and more able to visit.  My brother and sister are terrified of flying.  We may be leaving a wonderful wine region, but only to have access to another wonderful upcoming wine region, the Fingerlakes Wine Region.  So yes, our Bacio Devino wine cellar is coming with us, but now we need to figure out how we are going to get our 600 bottle collection to New York!!!  eek!  I guess we have to start drinking more wine!



So how is my photography business affected?  My business will come with me as well.  I will continue building my portraiture business in the FingerLakes Region, and I will continue being the staff photographer for the Tiffany's Dance Academy Studios in the San Francisco Bay Area assisting Paul Henderson with photographing recitals, photo management, portraiture display and handling small projects for CostumeManager.com as needed.  However, due to the busy nature of preparing for our move early this summer, I will no longer be doing portrait sessions in the Bay Area.   My efforts during this time will focus only on Tiffany's Dance Academy and their upcoming recital events and capturing Pleasanton's Phantom T-ball Softball league {for moms and dads, your photos can be viewed through my Sports Style galleries}.  My creative services offered to the dancers of Tiffany's will remain and will still be offered for an infinite amount of time as well as my collaboration with artist Jessica Dittmer and her Storybook Look® Art . {TDAPics photo galleries are still online and available for purchase!!  Contact me at mommyandmephoto@sbcglobal.net or Paul Henderson at paul@tiffanydance.com for password details and for additional creative services}

We are all very EXCITED about this opportunity and can't wait to get moving!!!

look what happened!!!

I leave to put my home galleries together, and Jelly beautifies Maddie's hair.  Love it!!!  {of course it's softball picture day tomorrow....we are leaving it...it looks tough!!}



my home gallery preview....

a little snippet of the frame styles that I offer to my clients...

dance of the snowflakes~

Photos from the 2010 Nutcracker are still available at TDAPics.  Please inquire about special services.

Tiffany's Dance Academy:  http://www.tiffanydance.com/

Follow Tiffany's Dance Academy on FACEBOOK:

Group Page

Pleasanton

Livermore

San Ramon

Tracy

Fremont

South San Francisco

Costa Mesa

Performing Company

and on Twitter:  @TDA_Dance

home devine - "stepchild"

An idea on what to wear for your walls!!

camera boy

The inspiration for the fine art piece artistically illustrated by Jessica Dittmer...my little man and my dad's 330 Polaroid.



and the original images used in, "enchantment captured":

enchantment captured

Announcing my new fine art product, "Children at Play" !!!!   Exclusive fine art portraiture captured by Mommy & Me Photography for my clients in the San Francisco Bay Area in collaboration with artist and friend, Jessica Dittmer's - Storybook Look® Art.   I currently offer this as a product to my dance clients of Tiffany's Dance Academy and much love is being shared.  Contact me for more details on how we can create a piece of art for your children at play!!!!

children at play

a new product line to be announced shortly!!!!

tiffany's dance academy calendars...

Some dance parents have expressed an interest in the dance calendars that are on display in the Tiffany's Dance Academy studios in the bay area {Pleasanton and Livermore....Fremont, San Ramon, Tracy, and South San Francisco coming this weekend and early next week!!}....please let me know if you are interested and I would be happy to sell them to you.  Also, this is an examples of the many templates that will be offered to our dancers.

{Exclusive for Mommy & Me Photography in the San Francisco Bay Area:  ©2010 Mommy & Me Photography in collaboration with artist Jessica Dittmer- Storybook Look® Art
www.mommyandmephotography.com}

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/

thank you 800 fans on facebook...

and because of this everyone gets the benefit of a give-a-way!!!  So for this first prize winning adventure, I'm going to give-a-way a Mommy & Me Photography tote {the one I make for my new packaging} along with a special surprise for the inside....



To enter all you need to do is.......{and I thought of this in the shower}.......name a movie, show or series where dandelions are featured.  For example, in Charlotte's Web, the non animated movie, dandelions are featured in the ending credits (love that illustrated art btw!!)....enter your comments on my blog.  Double your chances by entering on my Mommy & Me Photography Fan Page ..... triple your chances by retweeting on Twitter.

oh, I will add:  you don't have to be local to enter!!! I'll send you the package!!!

A winner will be drawn Monday morning, May 3rd.

GOOD LUCK!!!!  Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend.

Playdate anyone???

With the warm weather approaching, and for some us its already here, our little ones are begging to go to parks, the zoo, or just in our backyards to play, play, and play!! Playdates, and other spontaneous fun-filled adventures are a fun way to gain social interaction for our children. But have you ever been to the park, and your child makes friends with the other children... the other moms realize that you all get together more often, and you go to your purses rummaging through old receipts to use as paper to write down your contact information...only to realize that you don't have a pen either. Business people have business cards, high school seniors have 411 or rep cards....adults have calling cards...well, kids should have "mommy cards" {daddies too!!}...
These fun little cards are totally custom made....the inspiration is to create adorable little mommy cards, with matching cute greeting cards to announce the beginning of spring!!! Contact me for some playdate fun!!

celebrating 75 years

Recently I was asked to put together a 75th birthday party announcement for Lorraine.... To just provide the intended guests with a "plain jane" announcement with party details would have not done this wonderful lady's justice for all that she has accomplished throughout her 75 years....so, I got together with her daughter, Liz, and we started to rummage through her past and present....finding old photos that needed to scanned and slightly restored...finding memories that were once forgotten. Each historical image was a story to be told and everyone coming to the party NEEDS to hear Lorraine's wonderful stories!!! So I've put together an accordian card announcment providing a wonderful timeline of Lorraine's 75 years....this is just a peek....more to come later....

Spring is soon...

Although Mr. Ground Hog noted a little bit more winter, flowers are sprouting and blooming here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Valentine's Day is right around the corner, as well as St. Patrick's Day and Easter...
For a limited time, you'll be able to receive benefits with your photo packages if you book your session on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays mornings. Contact me for more details!!!!
-denise:)
email: mommyandmephoto@sbcglobal.net
phone: 925.858.0911

Happy New Year....

Happy New Year everyone....
This year was full of many events....
~Jackson was diagnosed with Autism in Feb '09 and has since undergone many therapies and is currently enrolled in a wonderful preschool with children specializing with his similar condition....despite the diagnosis, he is the MOST social animal alive and so full love; soccer camp is next in line...
~Maddie started preschool and has been loving it. She recently started ballet and tap dancing and is learning to become the glorified princess she wants to become...
~Derrick graduated from high school, got a scholarship to play football for West Liberty University and played as a freshman for the team, which ended their season being one of the top 8 teams in the country....quite an accomplishment...going strong, he has already begun training for the next season...
~Keith took on a new opportunity and decided to work for a public profitable company, Life Technologies. Although on the road much of time, he loves what he does because he is one of the best at what he does...he turned 40 this year...
~the loss of both of my grandmothers was sad, yet both sustained a huge life of over 90 years...so proud to say that I'm their granddaughter. They will be dearly missed...
~our families, whether dealing with the loss of loved ones, or fighting battles of illnesses...much was endured and the strength of family helped them through...
~as for me, elected to the board of directors of the PPGBA (www.PPGBA.org), met many new and wonderful friends and reconnected with many, created a brand for my biz and worked diligently on marketing material and a web presence, trying to balance family with work {augh!!!}, and also turned the dreaded 40...

hoping for a prosperous, simplified year....



{additional calendars can be purchased HERE}

Holidays 2009 - The Ross Family Session Premiere

Minted.com - My Partnership

Recently I've partnered with Minted.com to provide my clients and friends added benefits of acquiring one of kind designer greeting cards and stationary.
Starting today through November 23, 2009, receive 10% off all Yearline™ Holiday Cards. Use coupon code YEARLINE.
Click HERE to view your options and go shopping.....!!!

Will be working my mine later this week!!! Stay tuned!!

PS. Totally MIA I know. Lots going on, but soon lots to share!!!! Thanks for stopping by...and go ahead, get a head start on those holiday cards. I am!!!