Dodging snowfall and snow days seems to be the theme lately. We ended up being so lucky that we scheduled baby O for Monday as this week looks to be yet another very snowy one. As I type this entry the snow is falling steadily once more. Happy that I have an easy commute today - down the stairs!
It was a pleasure to meet baby O and his family yesterday. At only 8 days old he was already very aware of the world around him and was not too keen to curl up and act like a newborn! He was much more content to stretch out and explore the space around him.
"Big" brother was such a joy to spend time with. He was so gentle and tender with his new baby brother. I look forward to seeing their relationship grow. They are going to be perfect play mates.
Thank you so much for welcoming me into your beautiful home and a huge thanks for the tasty lunch too. What a treat.
Here are a few of my favorites from the session.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Back in November I was invited to Sleepy Hollow Middle Show to take part in their Career Day. I was honored to be asked to participate in this wonderful event. Students were asked to sign up for two workshop sessions. Each session gave the students the opportunity to meet with a professional in a field that they were interested in. The selection and variety of careers represented were phenomenal. The Village Judge, a Police Officer, several TV producers and Chef from a local upscale restaurant were just some of the 25+ careers represented.
The response from students was overwhelmingly positive and can be summarized by the comment, “I can’t wait until next year!”
Students were asked by the art teacher to create an art piece representing each career. This artwork was presented to each of us as a gift. I was thrilled with mine and it now sits in pride of place on my desk.
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the most adorable baby boy, Asher. His parents made me feel so welcome in their gorgeous apartment. When mommy had told me about their floor to ceiling windows I was very excited. What a perfect place for a photo shoot. His nursery was beautifully decorated with an owl theme.
The light was AMAZING. Asher was AMAZING. Mommy and Daddy were SO PROUD (and AMAZING!) I wish I had a second shooter as I missed capturing them adoringly watching on as I captured images of their handsome newborn baby boy. The pet cat even enjoyed watching over Asher and managed to get in a few shots too!
I was in awe of their calmness given they had been parents for less than a week. Asher is one lucky little boy.
Baby Noa arrived seven weeks early, back in December. Amazing to think that at three weeks old she was having her first photo shoot and technically she should not have been here quite yet.
As the third baby in the family she was getting lots of love and attention from big brother and sister. They have adjusted so well. It has been tough for them, with mommy on bed rest and then in hospital for so long. Mommy and Daddy's calm manner certainly has a great deal to do with the way I and J were so carefree and happy. They gave her a nickname before she was born, the cutest nickname I have ever heard, Twinkle. I have a feeling that may stick around for a long time.
At a birth weight of 4lb 14oz, Noa is my smallest newborn to date. All of my hats swamped her little head. Hard to believe that she has already started to out grow some of her premmie clothes.
It was tough getting her mommy's wedding ring to sit on her delicate toes for one of my favorite newborn poses. With a little help from mommy we managed it eventually.
I am looking forward to seeing more of the L family at the pool this summer. It seems like a distant dream right now, as I look out of my window at the snow covered garden.
A blog entry just does not seem complete without a slideshow these days.
Well the first week of 2011 is almost over already. I have been reflecting on the year 2010. It was a great year for Debbie Allan Photography. I had the pleasure of meeting so many new families and catching up with many "old" ones too. I love seeing how much each child has grown and how their little personalities begin to take shape.
I feel so lucky to be doing something that I absolutely LOVE.
2010 was a wonderful year, filled with opportunities and I feel sure that 2011 will be even bigger and better.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE 2010 A TRULY AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
I look forward seeing you again in 2011 and welcoming new families into my little world too.
Sit back and enjoy this slideshow, highlighting 2010 as seen through my lens.
PHOTO CREDIT TO GRETCHEN MCFARLAND for the image I appear in!
My New Years Resolution for 2011 and beyond ...... book a family portrait session for my family EVERY year.
Thanks to a great photographer friend, Stephanie and her photoshop talent I am now able to create custom canvas cluster layout ideas. I put together this one using some of my favorite images from M and R's engagement session. It features 4 8x12 canvases and 1 16x24.
I am looking forward to creating several clusters for our house.
Last month I had the pleasure of meeting up with M and R in Chelsea for their engagement session. It was the coldest day of the year so far, but they toughed it out and did not complain about the frigid temperatures and icy wind that was blowing off the Hudson!
This session was especially fun as I was working with Natasha. She always likes to think outside the box and so in order to get the first shot she had in her mind she had people tripping over her in the entrance to Chelsea Market on a busy, pre Christmas Sunday afternoon. It was so worth the funny looks we got as she absolutely bagged the shot she was after.
Cannot wait to see the rest.
I am finishing up my gallery this week. I am LOVING working on them and reminiscing - it was such a wonderful afternoon.
Thank you so much for your patience M and R. Here are my favs so far.
I put together a slideshow of the images from their gallery. I LOVE it and hope they will too.
Thanks to a great photographer friend, Stephanie and her photoshop talent I am now able to create custom canvas cluster layout ideas. I put together this one using some of my favorite images from M and R's engagement session. It features 4 8x12 canvases and 1 16x24.
Natasha and I are looking forward to partnering more in 2011. We have our first joint wedding venture in April. If you know anyone who tied the knot this holiday season please let me know. We have some great promotional offers for engagement sessions in the making.
So happy to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I am looking forward to 2011 and the opportunities it will bring for Debbie Allan Photography.
I have a list of plans for 2011, with some wonderful developments brewing.... for now I have the first of many announcements to make:
I am excited to inform you of a New Year Special Offer to all clients who booked a session in 2010. If you would like to purchase a high resolution DVD featuring all images from your 2010 session gallery I am offering a fantastic reduced price of $850 for the month of January. That is a saving of $145.
Each DVD will come in a gorgeous, personalized presentation case, with magentic closure. They look and feel sturdy, yet beautiful. They are the perfect way to preserve those precious images.
I know you will agree this is an amazing offer and one that will not be around for long.
Contact me before 31st January to order your copy.
Debbie currently lives in Tarrytown, Westchester, NY with her husband and two sons. She loves cooking, entertaining as well as hiking, camping with her family and friends and of course taking photos!
Quote of the week
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." ~ Sir Winston Churchill
