Kansas City Maternity Birth Newborn Children Photographer

So long, farewell...

2011-07-03T13:57:00.002-05:00

This blog has had it's good days, but I have moved all blogging over to a new location! Please follow me at www.sarahmaxeyphoto.com/blog

Come on, all the cool kids are doing it :)

See you there!

Sarah

Is it hot enough for you yet?

2011-06-21T11:11:00.000-05:00

Happy First (official) Day of Summer!! I seriously cannot believe June is almost over! Why does the summer have to fly by SO fast, yet the winter seems to drag on and on and on?? Things have been pretty busy around here- juggling two kids (one of them needing to be constantly entertained and the other needing to be constantly fed) is waaay harder than I ever imagined, Have I said that before? If I did, sorry for repeating it :) My brain isn't the same it was 4 years ago...

Anyway, I've been working on a face lift for SMP and hopefully will be revealing it in the next day or two. If I could get a couple of uninterrupted hours at the computer then I would have it all done by now! I'm excited for the new look, although- as we all know, I do like to change things up once in a while so it's probably going to be ever evolving :) I'll be posting a new link to my NEW blog just in case my feed burn doesn't work.

In other news...I QUIT MY DAY JOB. I might be freaking out just a little tiny bit...ok, a lot...but I am super excited to have more time to spend with my family and on my business. This is good news for my clients since I will now be available more for you! I will now be booking weekday newborn sessions as well as the usual weekday evening portrait/lifestyle sessions. Although I will miss that second income, I am totally willing to make the sacrifices needed to be with my kids, especially while they are still so young and want me around. The freak outs are now not so bad :)

We are getting ready to go run some errands, mostly in an attempt to wear out Jake so he'll take a nap later. I leave you with these photos, taken on one of the hottest days so far this summer. Carnivals aren't so fun when you're dripping with sweat and chasing after a 3 year old...

::in my best Chandler Bing voice::

2011-05-26T21:10:00.005-05:00

Could she BE any cuter??

Miss Malia is NINE months old! Well...was nine months old. This session took place back in March, I'm just now getting around to blogging it!

Seriously, this little girl just gets cuter and sweeter every time I see her. She's so happy...I just love her :) If you've been around here for a while she probably looks familiar. That's because I photographed her as an inside baby, a newborn, at 3 months and 7 months. It's such a joy to watch my baby planner clients grow from little tiny people to big, happy, funny toddlers! The one year session is always so fun, yet bittersweet since I don't get to see my baby planner clients every three months after that. Malia's will be one year old next month and I am SO looking forward to photographing her again! I can't wait to see how she's changed since the last time I saw her!

Man, I was hugely pregnant for this session. It was hard to get down on the ground, get back up, bend over...whew! Walking around the park on that warm day was quite the cardio workout! Her parents probably thought I was going to give birth right then and there :)

Thanks B family See you guys soon!

On this day...

2011-05-19T06:00:00.002-05:00

On this day one year ago, I met Madelyn. It's amazing how someone so small can change your life in such a big way.

Happy Birthday, Madelyn. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you, sweet girl.

I have an excuse for my absence.

2011-05-18T20:33:00.004-05:00

It's a pretty good excuse too. Remember how I was pregnant and going to have a baby in May? Well, turns out he couldn't wait that long and decided to surprise us all in early April. Yeah. A whole month early. It was a shock to say the least! I had scheduled a repeat c-section for May and had planned many, many things around that date- the date he was supposed to wait for. I will type up his birth story one day soon, but the abbreviated version is I had a baby. He became very sick and spent two weeks at Children's Mercy in the NICU. He's a healthy 5.5 week old now and his big brother Jake can't get enough of him...and neither can I actually :)

I managed to knock out a handful of newborn shots when he was three weeks old. He had been home for a week at that point but it was a rainy week and when it should have been the brightest time of day in our living room, instead was kind of dark and not conducive for a natural light shoot. Let me tell you- attempting a newborn session - with your own baby - by yourself is no small feat. I knew it wouldn't be easy but it was waaaay more difficult than I thought it could be! I was still recovering from major surgery (c-section) and the constant standing/kneeling/bending was a little painful. My baby also has a slight (read: huge) spit-up problem. The child is a geyser. For real. I would get him in position and then he would barf all over the blanket and himself before I could get him settled long enough to pick up my camera and click the shutter! I would change the blanket, clean him off and lay him down again. ::barf::. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Hilarity ensued.

After a total of two hours I got a handful of images I was happy with. I do regret that there are no shots of him with myself or my husband. I guess we'll have to save those for when we have a family session- which I intend to do soon! I did manage to get TWO...yes two...shots of the boys together. Jake was more interested in seeing the last shot on my camera than sitting still for 2 seconds. Oh, the child a photographer!

Introducing...

Ryan Spencer Maxey

born a month early on April 8th at 9:15pm weighing 6lbs 9oz & 18inches long

This one makes me laugh! I love his expression :)

5 on Friday - Favorite Things edition

2011-03-25T14:43:00.005-05:00

I just wanted to share a few of my (recent) favorite things with you!! I have just enough time to type out a quick, enjoy!!

1. Lisa Leonard Designs - OMG, I am so in love with Lisa's jewelry!! Namely this necklace...and this one...and this one :) Lisa just launched a new decor line and there are some really cute items that would make fun gifts! I am particularly fond of this little magic wand and if I could find an excuse to buy one for myself then I would. Maybe I'll have to get one for a photo prop! Oh, and I also love this little wall hanging bird that I think I need for the baby's room...now if only we could decide on a name! I bought ornaments from her last year to give to my baby planners and I was really, really happy with the way they turned out. The quality is awesome and the ornaments were just so pretty. I can't wait to order more this year!

2. Old Navy yoga pants - I am pretty much living in these things these days. Regular pants and jeans cut into my waist when I sit and I feel like I'm bruised and beaten by the end of the work day. The yoga pants are so comfortable and so far have held up in the washer/dryer. Plus they are cheap, especially when you can get them on sale!! I need to head out this weekend and get a few more I think...

3. McDonald's chocolate shake - Have you had one of these lately! YOU SHOULD. Now, it has been a while since I'd had a milkshake from McD's. I think the last time I had on they were still the weird fake chocolate things served in the standard paper drink cup that fell apart before you could finish what was inside. Not the case anymore, folks!! The shake is a creamy, milky goodness and it's topped with whipped cream and a cherry and comes in a plastic cup (please recycle) with a dome lid to hold said whipped cream. Yep. Awesomeness all around. This is replacing my Eggnog milkshake addiction and I am 100% ok with that. I think I may have to try the Strawberry flavor soon!

I stole this from the McD's website, hope they don't mind :)

4. Aden & Anais swaddle blankets - these might possibly be the best swaddle blankets out there. They are big, like really big. You could probably swaddle two babies at one time they are so big. The fabric is a really soft muslin so it's breathable, perfect for summertime! I have several of these that I use for my newborn clients (those that like to be swaddled!) and I need to get some for baby #2 soon. I try to find the swaddle blankets for cheaper if I can. They are kind of expensive (still totally worth it!) but I can usually find good deals on Ebay so I always check there first.

They also have sleep sacks that I want to try- too bad they don't make those in adult sizes! I'd be all over that!

5. This gender reveal by, and for, this photographer is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. SO creative, SO personal and SO sweet!! I'm a HUGE fan of her work anyway, but this little video put her at the top of my "Totally in Awe of You" list. For realz. I think I've watched it like, 161 times and I get teary every time.

...162 times. Still teary!

And for those of you keep track, this is terrible phone photo #2- just to give you an idea of what I look like at 34 weeks pregnant and HUGE. I thought I was big before! I was so wrong. I know I don't look very happy in this picture, but I am. I'm just really, really, really uncomfortable and tired and wishing I could just go to bed until May. And I need a haircut but don't have time to get one.

Blech. This may be the last terrible phone photo, I'm really not doing myself any favors posting them.

Look, I'm blogging!

2011-03-18T11:48:00.004-05:00

I do exist! Hahaha! Sorry it's been so quiet around here. I've really been annoyed with my lack of presence on this blog so I'm going to buckle down and get some things lined up here soon. I've got several sessions coming up over the next month and I want to stay on top of things! The problem is that after sitting at my work computer all.day.long I get a stabbing, burning, oh-dear-God-make-it-stop pain in my right rib that feels only slightly better if I lay down and put ice on it. So the thought of sitting for even longer in front of yet another computer makes me want to cry...or kill someone. I foresee a few "personal" days in my near future just to get some editing done :)

I realized the other day that I never shared this little man with you guys! Meet Taven. He is the newest member of my friend Amanda's family and he is such a little cuddle bug! Well, he was...he's over 3 months old now so he's changed quite a bit :) I will go ahead and put Taven in my "babies that never sleep" category because he was pretty much awake the entire time. I'm hoping 2011 will be the year of sleepy babies (mine being one of them)!! Taven's mom and dad are just so in love with him, and big fur-brother Joker seems to be accepting him well! I can't wait to watch this little guy grow up and see how much (more) joy and love he brings his parents.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T18:59:00.002-06:00

I gotta say, Valentine's Day is more fun when you have an excuse to give out valentines...besides to your significant other of course :) I put together these cute little goody bags for Jake to take to his daycare friends today. Each bag has a couple pieces of big polka-dot sidewalk chalk, a few Hershey's kisses and a mini frosted sugar cookie (that are delicious BTW!). The big bag is for his daycare provider and she got a set of different sized metal heart-shaped cookie cutters that she informed me she would use for making heart shaped pancakes! I love that idea! I may run back and get a set of cookie cutters for myself :)

Jake came home with some goodies as well! Todd sent me roses and chocolate at work and we are having a yummy dinner of take out Mexican from one of our favorite local places. I'd say Valentine's Day 2011 was a good one. I hope you all had a fun day and got to give/get kisses and hugs from your loved ones!

She likes to stick out her tongue...

2011-02-09T20:11:00.002-06:00

...a lot!! Mom and dad say she does this all the time which I think is hilarious! I just love this little sweetie, she's always so happy and funny. At 7 months she was doing an awesome job of standing up (with some help) and I would bet almost anything that by our next session in a couple months she will be walking. Who knows, she may even be running!

This is my last indoor session of the season, aside from newborns, and I am SO excited for spring to get here so I can get back to shooting outside! Well, I'm also excited for spring because it means I'm that much closer to having this baby. He's decided to set up camp way up in my right rib area...ouch.

The Blizzard of Oz

2011-02-01T12:17:00.005-06:00

That's just one of the names I've heard for this monster snow storm we are getting here in Kansas! A few others: Sno.M.G., Snowapalooza, Sno-mageddon 2011...the list goes on and on- as does all of this SNOW!!

I personally am not a fan of snow. I like the first snowfall when it's all white and clean and I get to say "ah, now I remember what snow looks like. It's so pretty!"..and then I'm over it. Being from the south, we didn't get much snow- maybe like 3 times in my whole life did it ever snow in Houston and let me tell you, that was a treat fo sho!!! I would pray as a kid that our winter trips to KC would be snow-filled and cold, cold, COLD. You know, just for a change of pace. When the trip was over, we would head back home and welcome our short sleeved shirts and the occasional shorts. In December. That's right, December.

But I've lived here for almost 13 years now and am finally getting used to the cold. Well, kind of. I still don't like it but it's not as shocking as it used to be. I do love me some cute winter boots and fun sweaters though! And if my child enjoyed being out in the cold weather for longer than 2.5 seconds then I would have some pictures to share with you of him in his cute winter gear- but those don't exist because he, like me, does not like the cold.

So back to this whole blizzard thing. It's bad. Like, really bad. Not as bad as it is in other parts of the country but we just don't get this kind of snow. For one, they've closed the freakin' malls! Pretty much every business, school and church is closed but they do have the libraries open as warming centers...if you can navigate the unplowed streets and 4' snow drifts to get to them. We may have to attempt this feat later if our house doesn't warm up. The thermostat decided to go on strike the other day so it's kind of temping the house at whatever it feels like and today that has been about 63 degrees and that feels colder than it sounds, I promise. Especially when it's 15 degrees outside and the wind gusting at 35mph.

I'm telling you, it's a state of emergency around here! I think the National Guard has been deployed, the snow plows can't keep up even for a second and oh yeah, my office closed for the day. That last one might be the most telling sign of the impending apocalypse because in my 5 years of employment with them, they have only closed once and that was for an ice storm. B.A.D.

Well, I'm going to go throw on another layer of clothes, make a cup of tea and have another brownie. Sounds like we've got another 10 hours of snow ahead of us. Awesome. Maybe we should start heading to the library now. I wonder if they would mind us bringing our 80lb dog and psycho cat too...

Sweet Little Pumpkin - Kansas City Baby Photographer

2011-01-17T09:29:00.002-06:00

Waaaay back in October I got to have another session with one of my favorite little people- Miss Madelyn. She was turning ONE YEAR OLD and we thought the best place to take this fall baby would be a pumkin patch! We headed out to Schaake's one windy Sunday afternoon and were pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be. We explored the pumpkin patch from one end to the other. Madelyn found a Madelyn-sized pumpkin that she fell in love with...actually she wouldn't let it out of her sight for the rest of the session :) She loved looking at the cows and making cow sounds, which was just about the cutest thing ever!

We had a lot of fun and I can't wait to see her again for our next session in the spring!

(BTW, I'm going to go back to large photos for a while- I need a little change!)

The Birth of Joshua - Kansas City Birth Photographer

2011-01-11T16:23:00.003-06:00

This little guy was giving his momma some trouble so I wasn't sure if she was going to make it to her due date. Thankfully everything was fine and he waited until just the right time to be born!! It was a really cold Sunday afternoon when baby Joshua made his entrance into the world. It was such a great experience; the morning was filled with laughter and jokes, rest and reflection. Mom did an amazing job and pushed him out super, super fast! Like, super.fast. The second I saw him I knew immodestly he looked just like his dad...whom I had only know for about 6 hours :)

Congrats mom and dad!! Thanks so much for asking me to be there on this very special day.

A little update...

2011-01-05T13:25:00.006-06:00

It's been a long time since I've given any kind of update on this pregnancy so I thought I should write a quick blog post while I was thinking about it! My thoughts don't hang around for long these days...I've been saying that I have the memory of a fish (you know, because don't they have, like, a 5 second memory or something?). Anyway, things are going well. MUCH better than they were the last time. A lot has changed between 17 weeks and 22 weeks, one being my appetite! I think I eat pretty much everything in sight most days. Must be that my body is making up for all the food it couldn't eat the first 13-14 weeks of this pregnancy. Back then I remember thinking that I'd never be able to eat again and I just longed for the day that I could eat an entire meal and enjoy it. Hell, even just a couple bite of something really good seemed to be so far in the future.

This would explain my binge eating lately. No crazy cravings, just normal things like pickles & pickle juice (which I like anyway), oranges, salads, sandwiches, sushi...sometimes if I see or hear about a particular food item then I might want it rightthissecond but it's not common. One thing I've been craving is alcohol. I know!! What kind of pregnant person craves alcohol? I'm usually a red wine/beer kind of girl, but lately I really want a big Captain & Coke, or a big margarita on the rocks with lots of salt and limes. Vodka even sounds good and I definitely don't drink that- ever! I've never had much luck with Vodka so I stay away from it- my stomach just rejects it automatically. So of course the one thing I really, really crave is one that I can't have. Sad.

What else has changed over the last 5 weeks...oh yeah, MY HUGE BELLY. Oh my God, I'm telling you this thing has taken on a life of its own. I think I was about 30 weeks along with Jake when I was this big. I mean, it's starting to get uncomfortable and I still have 18 weeks to go. Not a good sign, folks. I think around 31 weeks with Jake was when things went downhill pretty fast- weird & annoying pains, tossing and turning at night, the swelling...oh the swelling! Can't wait for that!!

I really do enjoy being pregnant, don't get me wrong! I love feeling the pokes and the kicks, knowing that he's in there and wondering what he'll look like. I love that he's so loved by so many people already and that everyone is excited to meet him (but not for 4 more months, baby. Do you hear me? Stay in there for 4 more months!). I love that pregnancy is 9 months- no less and no more. Because really, if we had the gestation period of elephants, I don't think many women would be up for more than 1 kid. Can you imagine being pregnant for 22 months? Um, no thanks.

On another note, we did find out that we are having another BOY!! Despite me being 110% sure that this one was a girl, there is no denying what the sonogram showed :) Everything looked really good- he's healthy and growing and possibly a little big, but not enough to change my due date. He wighed 14oz at exactly 20 weeks but she said he was measuring about a week ahead. I'm really getting used to the idea of two boys...I think all the fun "boy" things Jake and his little brother can have, going to their sporting events (or plays & musicals if that's what they are into!), all the boy fights that will be way less dramatic than girl fights...I think it will be fun! Jake still doesn't get it though. We've been trying to talk to him about boy names and what we should call the baby. His response? Buzz. Or baby. Or Haley. I don't think we'll be considering his name opinions....

So hopefully this little guy will continue cooking until May. I hope he doesn't decide to come in April since that's Jake's birthday month and I'd really like them to have their own birth months, you know?

Since I try not to post too much without a picture, here is a really bad photo of me taken with my phone. I wish I had something better but if I waited until I looked good, was having a good hair day, had a cute outfit and had the time to take a "real" photo, then it would never happen. Plus we practically live in a cave so the lighting is bad indoors. So, this is what I have. Sara, this is for you ;) LOL!

Taken this morning @ 22w5d and growing by the second.

And just for fun, this is me the about 27 hours before Jake was born at 40 weeks. I'm not too far off from this at just over half the time. Speaking of elephants, I think I might be the size of one by the time May gets here...

Little Sweetpea - Kansas City Baby Photographer

2011-01-04T18:30:00.005-06:00

Here's another catch up blog post!!! This is Finley (love the name!) and she is...well, was 5 weeks old for our session. She was able to get a few winks in here and there but mostly wanted to be part of the action :) Check out her super cool room! Her mom painted that mural by hand...by hand! If I hadn't known already that it was paint I would have thought it was a collage of wall decals. Mom is a graphic designer so she's got mad skillz! Big (4 legged) sister Cleo was very interested in being the center of attention, as long as I didn't point the camera at her. LOL! She seriously did not like that at all. I had never seen a dog be so weirded out by having their picture taken!!

J family, it was a pleasure meeting you guys- and Miss Cleo, too! Thanks so much for asking me to capture Finley's early days. She is a little sweetheart and I hope to see you guys again!

A Year In Review

2010-12-31T15:56:00.004-06:00

Well, most of the year! Here's a look back at all the cute little ones I had the pleasure of photographing this past year. I am so lucky to be able to do what I love and to have the love and support of my family, friends and clients. As the year comes to a close in just a few hours, I am remembering all the happy, the sad and the in-between. Thank you all for an amazing 2010!

Wishing you all a Happy & Healthy New Year. Cheers!!

Double the fun :) - Kansas City Baby Photographer

2010-12-29T19:52:00.004-06:00

I've got several catch-up blog posts coming up over the coming days...and we'll start with my favorite twins!!

So back in November, I got to hang out with these two cuties- you may remember them from their newborn and 3 months sessions :) Look how big they are now!! At 10 months old, these kiddos can move! Let me tell you, with one crawling and one walking I can only imagine that mom and dad get quite the workout keeping up with these two! I'll let the photos speak for themselves, but I must say that I do have the cutest clients ever :)

20 + 10 for 2010

2010-12-29T08:00:00.001-06:00

At the beginning of the year, I made a list of 20 things I wanted to accomplish and 10 things I hoped to accomplish. I had it all written up in a blog post ready to share, then decided I didn't want to jinx anything (yes, I'm superstitious like that) so I just kept my list to myself. So as the final days of 2010 are upon us, I thought I'd revisit the list and finally share what I did/did not check off- I surprised myself a few times as the list went on :) Here is the original blog post:

I like to set goals- for myself and for my business. Problem is...I usually fall short of completing those goals for one reason or another. I always say "next year, I'll do this" or "maybe when I have more time I'll do that". This year, things WILL be different! Below I have a list of 20 Things I will do in 2010...I.Will.Do.

Then I have a list of things that I would love to do! Below the 20 Things is a list of 10 Things I would love to do- I guess it's more of a wishful thinking list since realistically, a lot of these most likely won't happen...but a girl can dream! Still, I'm keeping an open mind and focusing on my GOALS- realistic or not!!

In no particular order:

20 Things:
1. Design and print Jake’s 1st year album- never got around to doing this...and he'll be 3 in April!

2. Pay off two big credit cards- didn't happen, I bought a new lens instead :)

3. Go on two family trips- one with my in-laws and one with my parents/siblings- half right! Went to Omaha in May with Todd's family and had so much fun!

4. Take pictures of both our immediate families- nope, however I did shoot my sisters wedding and then my husband's niece's birth...I guess that sort of counts? Ok, nit really what I had in mind though.

5. Read 30 books this year- not even close. I think I read 3 total.

6. Not eat fast food AT ALL for an entire month- ha!! yeah right. Maybe next year :)

7. Find a decent proofing system for clients- DONE!

8. See a musical- nope.

9. Adopt a zoo animal- no, but I WILL do this next year, just have to decide on which one!

10. Participate in at least one photo workshop- DONE!

11. Get a new lens- DONE!

12. Hold another boudoir marathon- nope.

13. Make my office space a fun and inspiring space to work in- DONE!!

14. Lose 5-10 pounds- DONE!

15. Shoot at least 3 births- DONE! I was extremely blessed to be at 7 births this year!!

16. Paint our bedroom another color- nope.

17. Get new carpet, upstairs or downstairs (or both!)- DONE! Got awesome new carpet in our downstairs area.

18. Celebrate Todd getting a *new and improved* job- DONE!

19. Bake a multi-layer cake and finally use that cake stand I got for Christmas a few years ago- nope.

20. Go on a trip with my girlfriends- not really. We did spend a day at the lake though :)

10 Things:

1. Collaborate on a project with another photographer- nope.

2. Get pregnant :)- DONE!!! This was the very last thing I thought would happen in 2010, but I am so happy and so excited about it!

3. Hit up a baseball stadium I’ve never been to- nope.

4. Re-train our dog to be less of a spaz- nope.

5. Find the perfect planner (I’m pretty sure it doesn’t exist)- nope. I'm right, it doesn't exist.

6. Adopt a shelter kitty- nope.

7. Win the lottery- nope.

8. Quit my full time job- nope.

9. Stop using credit cards for purchases- DONE!

10. Get a bird- nope.

I'm pretty happy with the things I DID do and pretty ok with the things I didn't. It was a great year that kept me on my toes, for sure! I had a ton of newborn sessions that I loved, more births than I ever could have imagined and a fabulous (and super busy) holiday season. We had a great summer and got to do lots of fun things, hang out with friends and family and enjoy our time together. We are expecting our second son in 2011 and could not be more excited!

I haven't decided if I'll do a list for 2011...it might have 100 things on it and I'm just not sure I want that kind of pressure :) I wish you all health, joy and peace in 2011 and I can't wait to see what the year brings for Sarah Maxey Photography!

The Birth of Macyn

2010-12-28T15:17:00.004-06:00

Announcing...

2010-12-09T20:09:00.003-06:00

Joshua Thomas

12.05.10

4:04pm

6 lbs 14oz

I've been a bad blogger :(

2010-11-26T09:02:00.003-06:00

I know, I've been a bad blogger- even after I promised I wouldn't be and that I would post more, tell more and show more. My poor little blog has been feeling a bit neglected, but I promise there is a good reason!! Actually, several good reasons :) Most recently, I've just been so busy with holiday sessions, regular sessions, mini sessions, holiday card designing/ordering/packaging, 2 births and one waiting in the wings and on top of all that trying to find a balance between my my family, my full time job and my business. I'm pretty sure this "balance" thing doesn't exist...at least not for me at this point in my life :) I am starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel as December approaches and I'm taking fewer clients for the month and only have the one birth coming up.

Why fewer clients, you ask?

Well, because of this.

That's right folks, the Maxey family will be expanding by 1 come May 2011!!! Woohoo! We are very excited!! Jake doesn't quite understand things yet, but he does know that there is a baby in mommy's tummy- I don't think he knows it's not going to stay there forever :) So as of now I am 17 weeks along and I am pretty sure all the family/friends know by now so I'm safe posting this here!! We will find out the sex in 3 weeks and I'm literally counting down the minutes until then. I have felt very strongly that this baby is a girl. From the moment I found out I was pregnant I just knew it was a girl. Of course, I also thought Jake would be a girl but I feel it much stronger this time. I think one of the main reasons I feel that way is because this pregnancy has been a complete 180 from my last one. I spent pretty much the entire 1st trimester sick as a dog, sustaining on crackers and lemon water with the occasional chicken nugget thrown in :) No really, it was bad. The only times I felt somewhat normal were when I was at a shoot and could take my mind off of it for the most part. Finally, around 13 weeks the fog of sickness lifted and I started to feel like a human being again and it's only getting better. The cravings are in full force- currently it's anything spicy (hello buffalo sauce!) and eggnog milkshakes from McDonald's. I love that I love food again :) Needless to say, I need a little re-coup time to just chill and be with my family, so I will only be doing a limited number of newborn sessions for December and January.

So, that is why I've been a little MIA lately...well, since September I guess. I have a lot of catching up to do over the next month so anyone who's had a session with me in the past couple months, be looking for your blog posts! Many of you already have your photos in hand but I still want to get you up on here!

Also, we had an Elf on the Shelf make an appearance yesterday on Thanksgiving. His name is Quinn and no Jake did not come up with that :) We tried getting him to name the elf by himself but he was having a hard time coming with anything at all so Todd named him. See, I liked the name Quinn for a little girl but Todd has never liked that name so I knew it wouldn't happen. I'll settle for Quinn the Elf though! I'm sure you'll be seeing some of him on the blog too. I'm hoping Jake will really get into the whole elf thing and be a good boy...we shall see!

Here's Quinn in his first appearance.

Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know I've got some Black Friday shoppers reading the blog so I hope you guys scored some awesome deals! One of these days I'll brave the cold and join you!

Macyn, Born....Kansas City Birth Photographer

2010-11-22T21:12:00.005-06:00

Macyn Elaine

11.19.10 - 10:55pm - 8lbs 5oz - 18.5"

Holiday cards are up...finally!

2010-11-06T21:48:00.002-05:00

It took longer than I hoped but I finally have the 2010 holiday cards up!! You can view them by clicking "Holiday Cards 2010" right up there on the menu bar OR you can just follow this link :)

I am really excited about these and I can't wait to see your photos on them! All of my holiday mini sessions include cards this year so if you were lucky enough to book one of those, then start thinking about which design you would like to have! If you didn't get in on the holiday minis but had a session with me earlier this year then we can use those photos if you'd like. Just email me for more info and we'll get you hooked up ;)

Catching up!! - Kansas City Child Photographer

2010-10-30T10:02:00.004-05:00

I'm working hard today to get cuaght up on some editing and this session is at the top of the list!!

My friend Kristi has been patiently waiting for these photos so I'm giving her big sneak peak! A couple weeks ago, Kristi's sister and niece were in town so she wanted to get some fun pictures of everyone. The kids were great! I was pretty exhausted after this one...chasing around little ones is more exercise than I could ever get at a gym :) The gardens were really beautiful, thankfully! I wasn't sure what to expect as we have had some pretty chilly weather so I wasn't sure what this place would look like! I really like this location and will be going back again...maybe in the spring :)

Kristi, thanks for asking me to capture your family! I had a lot of fun with you guys and can't wait to do it again!!

The Birth of Burkeley Dare - Kansas City Birth Photographer

2010-10-27T12:40:00.005-05:00

I love birth photography. I love it more than any other kind of photography that I do because it's so...real. I get to witness one of life's most amazing events, capture it in photos and then I get to share that with all of you. Most importantly, I am able to give parents a beautiful documentation of their child's birth day. I mean, how many of you parents out there would love to have something like this to watch for years to come...to one day show your child how they came into this world, surrounded by love and excitement and amazement? I would give anything to have that for my son. Sadly, I only have a handful of snapshots from the day and both occurred within 5 minutes of his birth.

But this family...THIS family has so much more. This birth was beautiful and calm and actually pretty fast :) Mom did an amazing job- especially for this being her first- and dad was so supportive and patient. I know these two will be...are great parents to Miss Burkeley Dare :) BTW, how cool is that middle name?? It's actually a family name that has been passed down so it has extra special meaning.

Jenny and Tyler, thanks again for asking me to be there on Burkeley's birth day, to meet your families and to allow me to do what I love most. Congratulations again :)

Happiest baby on the block!! | Kansas City Child Photographer

2010-10-16T12:59:00.004-05:00

The first time I photographed this little sweetie was when she came into the world. Since then I've documented so much of her first year, so when her mom (and my friend) Carrie asked me to do one year portraits, I really felt like we had come full circle. I showed up for the session ready to photograph a baby, only to find that Abigail has grown into such a sweet and cute little girl. She has the brightest eyes and the biggest smile! Her face just lights up, it makes me smile just to look at her :)

The location was awesome, this little family was awesome and Miss Abigail was just...well, amazing! I seriously could have gone on all night. However, eventually she got tired of all the walking around and the tickling (is that even possible?!?!) so after bribing her for a few more minutes of time with a cookie and some Gatorade, we called it a night. This is one of my favorite sessions from the year!

Carrie and Scott, I hope you enjoy the photos. I think I will be ordering a few of these large for my office ;) Thanks again for asking me to be there for all of Abigail's moments, the big and the small!! Love you guys!

Oh, happy day!

2010-10-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

So, about a month ago my mom gave Jake some new rain boots. Not just any rain boots...Thomas rain boots!! To say he was excited would be an understatement :) He couldn't wait to put them on and wore them around the house for days. He's got a bright yellow rain coat that looks really cute with the boots, hopefully we can take the whole ensemble outside soon and play in some puddles!! I must say, I'm not really a fan of Thomas- I think he's whiny and bratty and just annoying. Plus I hate that they use "cross" instead of the word "mad". I mean, I know it's British and all but that just really gets under my skin! Thank God he's also into Yo Gabba Gabba, Cars and The Backyardigans. For a while it was all Thomas, all day, every day and we were about to lose our minds!

(My child is going through a weird pants-less phase. I think it's cute :) What's not cute is the diaper he's wearing but that's another post for another day. Not even his Thomas underwear can get him excited enough for potty training!)

PUBLISHED!!

2010-10-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to tell you all that I have been published! A local Kansas City magazine, M Magazine, used my photos from the fairy party that I shot last fall for my friend and amazing florist/event planner/mom/fairy party expert Erin Volante. This has been in the works for a quite a while but I didn't want to say anything until I actually had the finished product in my hands...which I received in the mail last week! I'm really happy with the way it turned out, the images printed so well and are really clear! I've seen some bad printing in my life (I do work in the publishing industry) and I know that photos don't always translate well with some printing processes/papers. M Magazine did a fabulous job and I'm so happy to be part of such a beautiful magazine!

For those in the area, pick up the October issue to see it in person :) My not-so-great product photography doesn't do it justice, but by the time I get home from work my daylight hours are too short and I didn't feel like dragging my "mini studio" out of the garage and setting it all up. I'm too tired for that tonight!

Future...tigercat?

2010-10-10T10:53:00.005-05:00

WARNING: This is a super-sized post! I had so much fun with these two and had a hard time narrowing down the shots so I am just blogging all my favorites :) Stephanie is due at the end of November and is expecting a girl!! I feel like my streak of boys is coming to an end as so many of my recent clients have had girls.

This was actually our second attempt at maternity photos since the first session ended quickly when I realized that I had left ALL of my memory cards at home, which was about a 45 minute drive round trip. There wasn't even an (open) store around where I could go buy some really fast before we lost the light, so we just had to reschedule for a couple days later. It worked out great since the weather was still awesome, even a bit warmer, and the park was less crowded. Fred was a trooper and hung out for a little while with us. Their little family of three is soon to be a family of four! I think Fred is going to make a great big brother, whether he likes it or not :)

Stephanie and Corey, thanks so much for asking me to photograph this special time in your life. I can't wait to meet little Macyn and I am so excited to be there for her birth day! See you guys soon!!

I was laughing...

2010-09-27T20:36:00.003-05:00

...the whole drive home from this session! This family was so fun and nice and I just wanted to hang with them all night! The goal was to get a nice family portrait of everyone, and I think we accomplished that, but my favorite shots are of the silliness and the in-betweens :) They all interact so well together and you can tell they just really enjoy each others company. The kids decided to do a super special pose where grandma got to be the center of attention. We were all laughing so hard as they were trying to lift her up while also trying not to drop her! People were staring...and laughing themselves. I really think that last image is mantle-worthy, yes? :)

Thanks, G family! It was great meeting you guys! Mandy, thanks so much for asking me to photograph your family, it was a blast!

Malia - 3 months

2010-09-26T17:40:00.004-05:00

I first photographed Malia when she was an inside baby, then again when she was a week old and now she is a whopping 3 months old!! I'm always amazed to see how big and how fast "my" babies get. Malia is growing like a weed these days- I mean the girl is going to outgrow me soon! I love her cheeks. I do, they are just begging to be squished and kissed. She is such a little sweetie pie! She wasn't really up for being outside in the wind and sun so we just picked the brightest room in the house and chilled.

Malia had some family in from out of town so we grabbed a few quick shots of everyone- 4 generations were there at the same time! I love that. What an important photograph to have when she is all grown up. Of course, the ones with mom and dad are equally important! Malia got a little fussy towards the end, but a little flying high with dad made it all better! Hahaha! Can you believe he's been doing that since she was born and it works!??! Of course, it made me a little weak in the knees to see her balanced on his hand like that...Todd likes to throw Jake in the air and every time my stomach does a little flip. I can't help it.

I hope you enjoy your sneak, B family!!! See you guys again in December!

So loved :) - Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-09-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

My friend Julie and her husband Dan welcomed their beautiful daughter, Bridget, into their lives recently and I could not be more happy for them! This little girl is such a tiny bundle of sweetness, I could not get enough! Despite several feedings, she wasn't really in the mood to sleep so this turned into more of a lifestyle shoot- which I love doing. It's so rare that you get photos of yourself admiring and cuddling your new baby so the newborn lifestyle sessions are my favorite thing to do :) Doesn't mom look gorgeous? I'd say motherhood suits her well! Dan and Julie are both pretty easy going people and I think Bridget picked that up as well :)

Congrats again guys! Thanks for asking me to photograph your beautiful new baby, it was an honor.

Burkeley...born | Kansas City Birth Photographer

2010-09-19T18:54:00.010-05:00

Burkeley Dare

09.19.10 1:04pm 7lbs, 7.6 oz

Congrats to the C family! She's beautiful and perfect...and yours :)

Levi, like the jeans. | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-09-13T19:38:00.005-05:00

I scheduled this session waaaay back in early spring and I couldn't wait to meet this little dude! He was such a little sweetie and I just wanted to cuddle him close. The first time I saw him I could not get over how much hair he has!! I mean seriously, at 10 days old this little guy has more hair than I do...sad but true. Levi's mom commented on how she had to pronounce his name for some people so now she says "Levi, like the jeans". Hahaha! I think that's hilarious!

His mom is a super creative lady and did a fabulous job on his room! I love what she did with the individual hand painted letters. This is a project that I would love to do but would have zero time/patience for. Maybe in another life?

Enjoy :)

What To Wear - Fall Edition

2010-09-09T01:40:00.001-05:00

One of the most common questions I get from clients is "what should we wear for our pictures?" I always say to get some fun and colorful outfits for the kids, then base the adult outfits off of those using similar solid colors with pops of pattern and texture. Here are two very cute wardrobe ideas for the fall season- either of these would be perfect for your upcoming holiday cards!! If you didn't want to wear a heavy coat you could switch it with a cute little puffy vest or a cardigan.

I am so in love with all the colors and textures...yum, yum. I need to start thinking of what to wear for our fall pictures and I am really liking that green! Or maybe the same idea only in orange...something to think about anyway.

By the way, there is only one spot left for the holiday minis!! Contact me if interested!

I have a few more ideas for this coming up later!

Holiday Mini Sessions! | Kansas City Photographer

2010-09-07T13:51:00.005-05:00

I am excited to finally announce my Holiday Mini Sessions to you all! My clients found out about them last week when I sent out my September newsletter, so several spots are gone and I only have TWO spots left! They are both on November 6th for the 4:15 and 5:00 time slots. If you want to grab one of these email me and let me know! Here are the details:

There are 8 holiday card designs to choose from and they can be either 5x7 folded or flat cards. There is a variety of modern, classic and fun :) I will be putting them up on the blog very soon so keep an eye out for that. I must say, they are THE cutest cards ever and I can't wait to see your photos on them!! Your friends and family will love them as well :)

Read Me :)

The full package fee is due at the time of booking to reserve your date and time. In the event of a cancellation, refunds will not be given, however the fee will be transferred to a full portrait session to be held in 2010-2011. Sessions are available for up to 5 people- anything over that requires a $15 per person fee.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions!

It's about time...

2010-09-01T10:45:00.004-05:00

I am happy to announce that Sarah Maxey Photography has a new monthly newsletter! It's called The Bird's Nest and I am really excited about it :) I actually started this project way back in April and hoped to have it ready to go by June 1st- obviously that did not happen. Summer was busy, very busy. Between all the birth photography, portraits, family vacations and all the newborns I hung out with over the past 4 months, the newsletter got put on the back burner again and again. It didn't help that coming up with a design proved to be more of a challenge than I thought, but I made a commitment to myself to get it out TODAY, the first of September.

And I did it!

The first edition went out to my clients this morning! One of the topics this month is my upcoming Holiday Mini Sessions (and they are already booking up!). Yep, that's right- clients and newsletter subscribers will get all the news first...new products, special offers, mini session details and fun things like photo tips, random fun links and more! If you want to subscribe, click here. I've even put a nifty little link up there under the slide show so it's easy to see :)

Holiday mini sessions are only open to clients right now, but if there is still space available I will be opening it up to everyone on Monday, September 6th.

Ok, now I'm going to so celebrate the newsletter launch by having a Coke- and then I'm going to sit and ponder where the heck my summer went to...

It's here!! Happy, happy!! Joy, joy!!

2010-08-26T22:09:00.004-05:00

7 long months after I ordered it, it's here. IT'S HERE!!!

It's 10:20pm and I'm almost 1/3 of the way through the book. I managed to stop reading long enough to eat dinner, give Jake a bath and have some kind of conversation with Todd, although don't ask me what we talked about because I wasn't really listening. ::ssshhhhh::

So far it's living up to my expectations, which pretty much did not exists because I had no idea what they were going to do in this book but I knew it would be awesome. And it is. Now I am debating putting on a pot of coffee so I can stay up all night to read...and if you know me you know that I don't drink coffee- unless it's a latte, and that doesn't have as much caffeine as a cup of regular Joe. Regular coffee makes me a little crazy and a lot sick. I think it's left over from my days working at Latteland where I lived on the stuff during my Art Institute years.

Ok, no coffee. Just pure will power to stay awake. I think I can at least get through half of the book tonight. And hey, tomorrow is Friday! Nobody really functions at their job on Friday, right??

Ok, done. Back to Mockingjay!

The Day I Met Madelyn. | Kansas City Birth Photographer

2010-08-24T13:50:00.013-05:00

The Day I Met Madelyn was a dark and dreary day.

The clouds threatened and there was a slight chill to the air. It was fitting, given the circumstances of the day. I had hoped for a beautiful, sunny day...one that would be a sign of hope and possibilities. Of course, that was too much to ask.

The Day I Met Madelyn I was terrified.

Terrified of not being able to do my job. Terrified of failing a family who asked me to be there to document the most important day of their lives. Terrified that my legs would give out and I would fall to the ground, helpless both physically and emotionally.

The Day I Met Madelyn was a whirlwind of emotions.

It was May 19th, a day that will remain burned into my brain for the rest of my days. It all started the night before, on May 18th. I got an email and a phone call from Kyle and Crystal, Madelyn's parents. They were scheduling an emergency c-section for the following afternoon because Madelyn needed to be born...like, now. We knew there would be a c-section and we knew things were unknown, but we didn't know it would have to happen so soon. You see, Madelyn was sick. Very sick. She wasn't developing correctly and there was nothing they could do to "fix" it. She was 32 weeks along. Sadly, we knew Madelyn wouldn't make it, we just didn't know how much time there would be- 5 seconds? 5 hours? 5 days? 5 months?

Unknown.

So late on May18th, I started to prepare my family for my absence, my equipment for the long day and myself for the pain in my heart. I will admit- at one point I didn't think I would be able to do this. I had never been in a situation where there was a life hanging in the balance and I was there to document it. I was afraid of failure, of breaking down in front of everyone, of panicking and not knowing what to do with myself. The I realized "who the hell am I? I am nobody. I am a person with a camera. I am there to do a job. I get to go home at the end of the day and be with my own child. This family doesn't.

So I did it. I turned my fear into determination and set a goal- to give this family something they would be able to cherish for all the years to come. My emotions didn't matter, not one little bit.

I arrived at the hospital a little early and took deep breaths all the way through the parking lot, willing myself to be strong for this family and this little girl. I thought to myself "I'll use my camera as a crutch, to hold me up, give me strength and to hide the tears." Funny how things turn out differently than you think...

The Day I Met Madelyn I witnessed something amazing.

As I walked into that hospital room, with Crystal and Kyle so calm and focused, smiles on their faces and determination in their eyes. Their families surrounded them with love and support, at times cracking jokes and being playful with each other. As I took it all in, I started to cry. Not because I was sad or scared (and I was), but because I felt a huge sense of peace. And love. And happiness. The air was thick with it. They were happy and excited to meet their baby Madelyn. Happy that they could all be there to pray and give words of love and encouragement to Crystal and Kyle. Of course, there was sadness too, but it was so overpowered by hope and calm that it just seemed like an afterthought. I was amazed since this was not the scene I had pictured in my head, it was quite the opposite and it gave me a sense of calm and a strength I could not have imagined. The tears flowed, my heart hurt for Crystal and Kyle, but still, the peace carried us all through.

The Day I Met Madelyn changed my life forever.

Madelyn was born on Wednesday, May 19th at 4:03pm and she.was.beautiful! The first thing I noticed was her tiny cute little button nose :) I could have looked at her all day, she was perfect. I never would have imagined that such a tiny little baby could have such an impact on me. She was so brave, such a little fighter! I knew then that I would carry her with me forever. I hardly knew her and yet she stole my heart the second I laid eyes on her.

Madelyn lived for 10 hours.

Almost every second of that time was spent in the arms of those that loved her so much. Not a day has gone by that I don't think of that sweet little girl with happy thoughts and a new appreciation for my own life. I hug my son and my family a little tighter, see the blue sky a little bluer, sweat the small stuff a little less. In her short time here, Madelyn changed many people, even those that never got to meet her. I'm different now...better, stronger. I thank God I was able to be there that day, to capture those precious moments Crystal, Kyle and their families had with Madelyn, to see the love and inspiration that this tiny girl brought out in their faces. I thank God for my own family, their health and happiness.

I thank God for my own life and I thank God for bringing Madelyn into it.

From those that knew her best, her parents Crystal & Kyle...some beautiful words about Madelyn:

Madelyn was a bit of a night owl, not unlike her Mom, and thought that bedtime was playtime – she was often starting her 10:30 ‘lesson’ (sometimes, Tai Bo, or Kickboxing, Tennis or Bowling) when Mom was trying to get to sleep. Dad was often scolded for playing with her and getting her riled up and would have to settle her back down before he could go to sleep. Dads never learn, I guess. We had some fun times though.

Madelyn loved to eat Cheerios and chips & salsa which made for some very interesting breakfasts at our house.

Madelyn was always a little shy in sonograms. Luckily she was happy to have her picture taken once she was born.

Madelyn saw more of the inside of Nebraska Furniture Mart than any child should ever have to.

Madelyn was able to enjoy many of the Kansas City favorites including watching the Chiefs, Huskers and Wildcats play football on TV, watching KU and K-State play basketball, eating Gates BBQ, going to the plaza, and tailgating at a Royals game.

Every morning Kyle would leave for work and give Crystal a kiss goodbye. She would say, “Madelyn says goodbye too” and sure enough there was a little kick there for Kyle to send him off on his day. “I love you Daddy” she’d say.

We have been blessed in so many ways by Madelyn’s life. These are some of the things that we remember that give us peace:

Madelyn did not know she was “supposed” to live longer. She lived as long as she needed to in order to accomplish her purpose.

Madelyn never felt pain.

Madelyn was surrounded by love her entire life.

Madelyn’s life purpose was complete. Whether 8 min or 80 years, a life’s purpose is complete when God calls us.

Madelyn never knew anything was wrong.

All of her immediate family was there for her birth and was able to say goodbye in person.

Madelyn passed in the most peaceful way we could have ever imagined; sleeping cradled in her mother’s arms.

Madelyn has many family members already waiting in Heaven to take care of her and raise her as well as we would.

Madelyn will always be a part of our family.

Thank you, Crystal and Kyle for asking me to be a part of Madelyn's Day. I will never be able to put into words what she means to me and what this experience has meant. I hope that the photos give you some bit of comfort as you heal and remember. You guys remain in my heart, always.

Sick kid. | Kansas City Photographer

2010-08-24T09:30:00.004-05:00

I'm home today with a sick munchkin. All he wants is chocolate milk and Cars in the DVD player.

In other news, my pre-ordered copy of Mockingjay has shipped! Who knows when it will be here but it's on the way and that's all that matters :) Too bad I don't have it today- I could start it while Jake takes his nap later. Then again, I won't want to put it down so it's probably good that I can't try to squeeze in a whole book in two hours time. That's cool, I've got about 5,3895 other things to do instead, none of which include what I should be doing like cleaning the house or doing laundry :)

New baby, new look! | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-08-20T15:34:00.014-05:00

No, you're mind is not playing tricks on you (cue Ghetto Boys song)...the blog has a new look! I try to keep it interesting for you guys and try new things. One of those new things is my blog posting format. Instead of posting one image at a time, I'm trying something different. I think it helps tell the story from the session instead of breaking it up piece by piece :) I'll probably be making some tweaks here and there as time goes on but I really like the new look. What do YOU think?

Ok, on to the pictures!

I think I've mentioned this to people like, a hundred times, but I am kind of in love with this little family. Mom and dad are SO nice, little Madeline is SO sweet and squishy, their house is SO cute and fun (they are art lovers!), the dogs are SO good...even for the trauma one of them had been through as a puppy (they are both rescues!) We had great morning light, it wasn't too hot outside...everything just fell into place for this session. I was even able to do it when Madeline was a great age- 1 week old exactly.

L family, you guys are awesome. I'm so glad you love your photos :)

Personality...check! Sweetness...check! | Kansas City Child Photographer

2010-08-17T11:33:00.004-05:00

This is my niece, Payton. She is 3. She has beautiful blue eyes and a sweet smile. She loves Toy Story, specifically Buzz Lighyear. She is a great big cousin to Jake. Most importantly...

She let me take her picture!

Seriously, this made me so happy. The last time we attempted a shoot she really didn't want anything to do with it. Understandable- she was two then and just trying to figure out her independence and rules :) Now she's a whopping THREE.YEARS.OLD. and a soon-to-be big sister!! She, along with her mom and dad, will be welcoming a brand new baby girl into their family this fall! I am super excited for them and I can't wait to see what an awesome Big Sister Payton will be!

Payton's session day was a hot one- so hot that the chickens were laying hard boiled eggs so we headed indoors at Union Station. (BTW, I had to google a "hotter than a..." saying because I didn't have one good enough, or appropriate enough, to use here :) Yes, I am that lame.) So to my pleasant surprise, Union Station was completely dead on a Friday night, a shame really. That is such a great building and used to be quite "the place" back in it's hay day. Anyway, we spent a little time getting some shots of P and mom and dad- and the baby bump :)

Thanks guys for hanging in there with me and being flexible with the location!

Side note:Doesn't my sister in law, Mary look so beautiful? Pregnancy looks good on her :) I am SO looking forward to the baby's birth in November!

5 Reasons to book a portrait session with a professional photographer | Kansas City Portrait Photographer

2010-08-13T11:23:00.003-05:00

This is not a ploy to get anyone to book with me, promise! I read something similar on another photographers blog and thought it was important to share my thoughts on the subject. So call up your favorite photographer and make an appointment! You'll thank yourself later.

5 reasons to book a portrait session with a professional photographer

Reason #1 - when was the last time you were all in a photo together? I'm not talking about when you were at your aunt’s house for dinner and someone snapped a photo with their iPhone because they wanted to show you their cool new ap. I'm talkin’ a really good family photograph that shows who you are as a family - how you all laugh together or the way you all look making your super-silly funny faces. It was only up until recently that I didn’t think about doing family photos- there was just always something else to do, some other important purchase that needed to be made, [insert excuse here]. However, I’ve changed my mind now. I know now how important family photos are and have made a promise to myself to have them professionally taken at least once a year. We had a session with a professional photographer when Jake was 2 weeks old…but not again until he was 2 years old!!! I’m really kicking myself for that. I missed a big time in his life when he was going though so much change and WE were changing a lot as a family. I don't want to miss any more!

Reason #2 - because there is never going to be a perfect time. I have to admit, one of the reasons we put off family photos for so long was because I just wasn’t happy with the way I looked, or my husband wasn’t happy with the few pounds he had put on…or my hair needed a cut…or we didn’t have anything to wear…or we needed to spend the money on something else (like that $1000 TV that we’ll have to replace in a few years that's not worth a dime compared to lifetime memories of my family). There’s always going to be an excuse, but you know what? Your kids don’t care. They don’t care that you’re a little thicker than you used to be, that you don’t have perfectly glowing skin or the most fashionable clothes. Honestly? They don’t care right now and they surely won’t care in 20 or 30 years! What they will care about is that you took the time and made the effort to get the family together for a good family photo. Most importantly, they’ll have those images to look back on and remember how you kissed their little noses or played their favorite game with them.

Reason #3 - because you need to be in some of your own photographs. Seriously, are you in any? I know I have a small handful, if even that, of photos with me in them. I’m usually the one behind the camera (and most of the time that’s perfectly fine with me!). However, when our kids are grown and have children of their own, I want them to look back at our pictures and remember the way we were as a family, especially when they were so young and full of personality! I want them to remember our pets and their favorite toys- both great additions to family portraits, by the way!

What do you want your kids to look back and remember?

Reason #4 - is for the new and soon-to-be mamas out there.... because you will forget what the first week with a newborn is like.Those first couple weeks of a newborn’s life are a blur of feeding, diaper changing, more feeding and multiple laundry loads of tiny baby clothes (seriously, how does one small baby produce so much laundry?). You barely have time to take a shower, let alone pick up your camera for a few quick pictures (that you are never in). Also, after those first couple weeks your baby starts to change and begins looking less like your tiny, squishy little newborn and more like your husband…or in my case, my father-in-law :) Jake looked exactly like a clone of my Father-in- law as a baby, yet I don’t think Todd looks much like his dad. Funny how that is…

Reason #5 - Because somewhere in your home, you have a naked wall that deserves some awesome art! And by art I don’t mean a picture of you all dressed in white or denim shirts and black pants, holding yourself in uncomfortable poses and plastered on fake smiles with a hand painted cheesy background. Yes, my family did this and yes it was many years ago. It was the 90’s and it was rad! Sadly, I have seen it done recently and you know that you and your family are so much more interesting than that!

Why not fill your walls with beautiful, modern, FUN images of the loves of your life…your family. Even if you’re not in the “perfect pose” with the “perfect smile”…even if your child is making a silly face that makes you laugh out loud…even if your child won’t put down his tattered blankey and it’s in every shot…even if you aren’t looking at the camera because you can’t take your eyes off your brand new baby and you just want to cry because you love him so much…

THAT is what I'm talking about.

And on that note, I leave you with what is possibly one of my favorite pictures this year. I seriously cannot get enough of this little family! I will be doing a blog post next week - I can tell you now it's going to be super sized :) I put it on Facebook the other night and I just love looking at it!

Love and Lashes | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-08-11T20:30:00.003-05:00

Kind of like Love and Rockets, only not really :) This was the second time I had the pleasure of photographing this family and they just get cuter and cuter! They welcomed baby #2 into their family recently and she just fits into them so perfectly! It's been quite an adjustment for Big Brother but I think he's warming up to his little sister and they will be best friends in no time :) I love watching families grow from two to three to four...to 20! Ok, ok- I've never photographed the Duggars...

.... but I'd like to! :)

You think his eyes are pretty?!?! Scroll down :)

:) I am *slightly* obsessed with these eyes!!! What I would give to have big blue eyes framed by beautiful, dark, looong lashes... ::sigh::

Of course his little sister is gorgeous as well. :) And SO sweet!! She's such a peaceful little baby.

Not peaceful enough to go to sleep (the curse continues), but she wasn't fussy at all and didn't complain when we moved her over and over.

Her great-grandmother made this quilt out of her own old dresses! I LOVE that and think it's such a special gift to have in a family.

A family, It was so great seeing you again. I am so happy for you and I can't wait to watch Mr. L become the awesome big brother that I know he will be! Hope to see you guy soon!

5 on Friday | Kansas City Child Photographer

2010-08-06T01:00:00.001-05:00

1. I love summer. LOVE summer. I love the way the air smells of fresh cut grass and humidity. Did you know humidity had a scent? It does. I can smell it. I love the sounds of kids splashing in the pool, the birds chirping happily in the early morning, the locusts in the late day breeze. I love they way the sun feels hot on my skin, soft grass on bare feet, the relief of getting into a hot car after being in a cold office all day. I love the way Jake's hair gets so blond it's practically white (mine did that when I was a kid).

Summer. It's the best time of the year...and also the shortest. Pretty soon we will be talking about Halloween, then Thanksgiving and cold weather will be upon us. <-----That, I don't love.

2. Jake is on the verge of switching to a toddler bed! I bought some super cute bedding from Ikea (via Ebay) but it's for a twin bed, not a toddler bed. I toyed with the idea of going straight to a twin but I think for now we'll just convert his crib and I'll figure out the bedding somehow. I have some new art for his wall and have some other fun ideas so I'm getting excited about switching it from his baby room to big boy room! I can't wait to get it all done. I'm feeling a little sad that he's almost all the way out of his "baby" stage, but I'm so thankful that I have a happy & healthy child and am reminded daily of that.

3. I've mentioned a few times that I love The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. If you have not read these books, I *highly, highly* recommend them! Read about book 1 here. and book 2 here. The third book in the series, Mockingjay, comes out August 24th- only 20 days! I pre-ordered my copy way back in January when August seemed like it was years away :) Now it's here! I am planning on locking myself in the bathroom for a day to read the whole thing.

What!? Like that's not normal...

4. I know I keep mentioning this but I promise that I will be announcing my holiday mini sessions soon!! I've had several inquiries and you all are being very patient with me. I can tell you they will be held in October and possibly November. I will have a couple date/location options and package options as well (some include holiday cards AND digital files!).

5. I've got a couple blog posts coming up next week featuring these two beautiful girls :)

We are heading to the lake today for a couple days and I am SO looking forward to it! I hope you all have a great weekend!

New. Improved. DONE!!! | Kansas City Photographer

2010-08-02T15:16:00.005-05:00

It’s been a long time coming…but it’s finally done! My new website is up and running! Actually, some of you may have seen it already- it’s been live for about a week but I needed to make some final adjustments in that time before I announced it to the world. I've been working on this for over a month and I'm just so glad it's finally done!! I am really excited to provide a portrait site as well as a birth site! They are so different and special in their own way and deserve their own space. You can see both at one URL- http://www.sarahmaxeyphoto.com/

Speaking of birth photography, did you happen to catch my photo over on the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers blog? It’s one of my favorite photos from my births this year; dad was walking the baby over to the nursery while mom was heading to recovery after her surgery and he just happened to run into two of the grandparents on the way. I love how dad is hugging his own father as they are both looking down at the tiny baby boy- so sweet and touching! Grandma was overwhelmed with love and pride for her grandson and was speechless :) The article, written by my mentor Lyndsay Stradtner of Life In motion Photography, illustrates the importance of birth photography for c-section births. I have done 3 c-sections this year with one more planned in the fall! C-section births are JUST as important as any other birth. There is no right/wrong way to have a baby and each birth deserves to be documented if you so wish to.

::OK…off my soapbox and back to the website::

Thanks to all those that gave me feedback on the site. I’ve made a few changes over the past week and I am so happy with how it has turned out! Along with the new site, you’ll see some other changes around here- more blogging of client work as well as my own personal family stuff, a couple announcements soon about my holiday mini sessions and a possible fundraiser (still trying to get that worked out). I’m also working on getting a monthly newsletter together and have a few other fun things in the works!

I’m really excited about all the new changes and for once, I am excited for fall, which will bring three births and more new babies :) Hopefully that excitement will get me through the bad thoughts of the long, cold winter ahead. It’s only August and already I am dreading December! I will miss the hot summer days, flip flops, the smell of sunscreen, lightning bugs…and of course watching Jake help daddy “mow the grass”...or the sidewalk in this case :)

Our dog, Simon, is *slightly* obsessed with the lawn mower (and vacuum!) and you can see him off to the far right looking out at Todd and Jake. If he could jump the fence I'm sure he would have, just to get to that dang lawnmower!!

On another note, I have 2 spots left for August and am already filling up fast for September! If you wanted to get on the books for fall, go ahead and give me a shout!

I scream, you scream! | Kansas City Child Photographer

2010-07-23T14:39:00.004-05:00

We were all screaming for some cool air on this day! It was a disgustingly hot 95+ degrees outside and probably not the best weather for a portrait session. About 5 minutes into it we were all dripping with sweat (gross) and just praying for a breeze or two...or two hundred. It was the kind of heat that makes you not want to even move.

Unless you are a two year old :)

Miss Eleanor turned TWO at the end of June and her mom wanted to get some photos of her to capture this time in her sweet little life. She loves Yo Gabba Gabba! I brought along some "assistants" (cut outs of Yo Gabba Gabba characters) and Eleanor was pretty excited about them :) however, even the love for Toodee and Foofa could not top the hot, humid air so we all headed to Aunt Jean's in Shawnee to enjoy some ice cold gelato!!! It was the perfect ending to a fun evening!

Thanks, R family!! I had fun with you- despite the weather :) Hope to do it again!!

I got a scoop of that Green Tea gelato- oh.my.gosh.it.was.so.good!!! If you like green tea, I recommend that flavor. It's sweet but very refreshing!!

Fave :)

Carson - 10 Days | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-07-18T13:11:00.003-05:00

I've had a crazy-busy past couple days spending some much needed time with Jake, getting some stuff done on the business side of Sarah Maxey Photography and hanging out with friends. I've got a new and improved website coming up soon and am really excited about some upcoming shoots! Lot's going on around here and I LOVE it!

So today I was finally able to sit down and get this post done! I got to spend some time with this little sweetie last weekend. He was so cute and cuddly and newborn-y :) Mom and dad just glow with love for him, it's so awesome to see that! Even in their most sleep deprived days, new parents always show the love for their brand new baby on their faces. I love that I get to see that and capture it for them to see for many years to come.

Kim and Michael, thanks so much for welcoming me into your home and allowing me to photograph your beautiful little family! I hope you guys enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them :)

Mom wanted to do something with a nest as it ties in with their last name. I love this idea and I think these next couple images turned out so cute!

I think Carson is going to bee seeing a lot of this over the next several years :)

Senior Rep Search | Kansas City Senior Photographer

2010-07-07T21:12:00.016-05:00

Yes, folks...you read that right! I am jumping into the world of seniors! I gotta tell ya, I am EXCITED about this! Excited to work with "big" girls and boys, people that will stand where I ask them to, give me that look I need, jump up and down if I say so! As much as I love, love, love my newborns and kiddos, I know I'm going to have a lot of fun with seniors!

I'm excited for funky outfits, fresh locations and new faces! Most importantly, I'm really looking forward to capturing one of the most exciting and hopeful times in a young persons life- the end of their high school journey. So I'm accepting applications for Senior Reps starting now!

What is a Senior Rep you ask? Weeeelllll, a Senior Rep is someone to help me get the word out about senior portraits with Sarah Maxey Photography. In return you get a free portrait session and free photo goodies and you also have the opportunity to earn credit towards products from Sarah Maxey Photography including albums, prints and announcements!

The Deets:

I'm looking for outgoing, positive, excited high school juniors who will be graduating from a Kansas City area high school in 2011. A signed model release will be required. The process is very selective and I will be choosing only one or two reps per high school so space is limited.

Interested? Click here to fill out the application. I'll be in touch with you shortly!

Brady - 17 Days | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-07-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

I think it's only fitting to follow up Brady's birth slideshow with photos from his newborn session, right? This little guy was wide awake almost the whole time- seems to be a trend for me lately... I blame the weather! Brady must have been going through a growth spurt because he wanted to eat...a lot! Food took precedent over sleep that morning but he was content enough to allow me to snap a few photos. He did close his eyes for a short time, although it was more of a long blink that a nap :)

The Birth of Brady | Kansas City Birth Photographer

2010-07-05T19:48:00.008-05:00

Shock. Surprise. Fear.

Those are the emotions I felt when I answered my phone one afternoon in early June. It was one of my birth clients calling to let me know she was in the hospital about to have a baby...possibly within the hour.

Shock because the baby was early- 3 weeks early. He was only 36 weeks along and not done cooking yet.

Surprise because he had been scheduled for a c-section late in June and this was the beginning of June. He was not supposed to be coming now!

Fear because I was worried about mom and dad and how this wasn't the way they wanted it. Fear because I knew how much me being there meant to them and that I might not make it in time. Fear because the baby was breech and at any moment things could get really scary if mom's water broke. Fear that the baby would have to spend time away from his parents because he might need some medical help after he was born.

Well, it turned out that I did make it in time, mom and dad were fine (all things considered) and the baby was a healthy beautiful boy! He did have to spend a little time away from his parents since he was having a hard time figuring out how to be an outside baby. After about a day in the nursery he was able to join his mom and dad and eventually went home to his warm, cozy home and to meet his four-legged brother and sister :)

I know this wasn't the way his mom had hoped things would go. It's a big disappointment when for most of your pregnancy you plan for a natural birth and then find out you have to schedule a c-section....and then end up with and emergency c-section. But things have a way of working themselves out usually and, for me at least, having a happy healthy baby is what matters most- not so much how you got there :)

Liz and Guy, thank you so much for asking me to document Brady's Birth Day. I am amazed at how you both handled the days events and how easily you rolled with the punches. Congratulations again on your sweet, beautiful baby boy!

Chase - 4 Days | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-06-26T16:16:00.005-05:00

Mr. Chase is the youngest newborn I've had the pleasure of photographing!! He was such a good little dude, so quiet and peaceful. Once mom got him to sleep he was good to go and he let me get to work :) I love his sweet face and his head full of hair! He is seriously so cute, SO not good for my baby fever!!

Thanks, Christina and Ron!! It was great seeing you guys and meeting your beautiful little man :) Hope to see you soon! Congratulations :)

Malia - 7 days | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-06-22T16:03:00.004-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was very excited to get the email announcing that these guys finally had their baby! They named her Malia June (isn’t that beautiful?!?) I’ve had several boy newborns this year and so few girls and I was ready to try some new things! I Arrived at their house on a sunny afternoon, ready to spend some time with this little munchkin. I walked in and she was sleeping soundly so I’m thinking “sleepy baby = smooth shooting”. She must have read my mind because as soon as we moved her to the area we were shooting in, she woke up and she was NOT happy! After a little soothing and swaddling, she was ready for action…however the weather had different plans! Big dark clouds were heading right for us and I could see it getting darker by the minute.

**Seriously, what is the deal with the weather lately? I have had the worst luck with it!**

Soon it was just too dark to even shoot- and for someone that shoots with natural light only, this posed a problem. So we waited it out for a bit, Malia had a snack and then it finally lightened up just enough to start shooting again. She was still a tad crabby so we did more of a lifestyle session instead of the solo-naked-baby session. I really enjoy doing these kinds of sessions and will be incorporating more of these shots into my newborn sessions. I love how mom and dad get to cuddle with her and you can just see that new parent glow :) Plus she was just so much happier being held!

Happy baby = happy mom and dad. And really, that’s the most important thing, right?

Thanks Jamie and Eric! I hope for our next session we will have better weather, maybe we'll get to go outside then :) See you soon!!

JJ - 1 Year | Kansas City Portrait Photographer

2010-06-20T10:00:00.004-05:00

I wasn't sure this photo shoot was ever going to happen! My schedule was pretty limited with traveling and client sessions, but we were able to work it in for a weeknight (not very common!). JJ's mom and I were both looking forward to it and we even had great weather so I was extra excited! Well, about an hour before I was supposed to meet up with JJ and his mom, I got a call from a birth photography client and had to head to the hospital right away. I had to make the dreaded call to JJ's mom but she was totally understanding and so cool about it. We were able to reschedule JJ's shoot for a couple days later so it was going to be ok.

So the morning of the shoot I pulled into the parking lot and my heart sank. HUGE black clouds were moving in and I could smell the rain. I just knew we were going to have to reschedule...again. However, JJ and his mom and grandma were there just a minute later and we decided to just do what we could before the rain started. This was the quickest session I've ever had- about 20 minutes :) JJ did AWESOME and was such a happy smiley baby. He really helped me out and had me laughing the whole time! This is a kid of many faces, it cracks me up!! Soon it did start to drizzle and we finished up and headed out. As I was pulling out of the parking lot, the rain really began to fall. We got done just in time :)

Thanks Stasi and Travis!!! I had so much fun with JJ in our short time :) I can't believe he's a year old already! Hope to see you guys soon!!

Second time is a charm! | Kansas City Child Photographer

2010-06-15T18:31:00.008-05:00

I met this family back in early May to get some shots of the kids and to do some portraits for Little Man Brett's one year birthday. Turns out, he wasn't really into having his picture taken that day so, after getting a few captures at the park, we rescheduled for another time. You just can't force pictures on the kids so when it comes to baby and child portraits, I am all for trying it a second time if they aren't into it the first go-round! After a couple more reschedules due to illness and weather we finally were able to meet up at their home on a beautiful Sunday evening :)

Brett and Carter had fun playing in the yard, blowing bubbles and just hanging out with mom and dad!

MISSION: Accomplished :)

I love his hair! It's like Fraggle hair! :)

Thanks L family!! I had fun with you guys...both times! I hope to see you again soon!

**10 comments on the post gets this family a complimentary 8x10!

Brady's Birth | Kansas City Birth Photographer

2010-06-14T23:06:00.002-05:00

So last Wednesday at about 3:30pm, I got a call from one of my birth clients saying she had been admitted to the hospital, had been having contractions and was dilating and might be delivering today. I suddenly got a little, ok A LOT panicky. "Why? What's the big deal?" you ask. The big deal is that this baby wasn't supposed to be here until late in the month because he was a footling breech baby and needed to deliver by c-section! This situation could go from "panicky" to EMERGENCY in about 2 seconds if her water broke...so yeah, I was quit nervouse for her! Mom was waiting to hear from her doctor on whether or not this was going to happen today or if they would try and hold off- since she was only 36 weeks they were hoping she would at least make it to the weekend when she would be 37 weeks. So I told her to call me when she heard something and I wrapped up a few things at the office and headed home to grab an 8G card.

She called me back at 5:00 and said the surgery had been scheduled for 5:30.

FIVE-THIRTY people!! I was only about 10 minutes from the hospital, only not really because it was 5:00 and rush hour traffic was in full force! I drove as fast as one can while stuck in traffic, parked my car in the first spot I saw and ran through the hospital and up to the L&D floor. I'm sure I looked like a crazy person with bags flying everywhere and panting like I had run a marathon (hey, that gear is heavy and well...I'm not exactlywhat you would call "physically fit"). I wasn't sure I was going to make it and they would have to start without me, which would have really upset me because I knew how much mom wanted to get shots of the baby's first seconds on the outside :) I ended up getting there just in time, quickly put on my super-sweet OR outfit and mask, then headed off to witness my third birth in as many months :)

Brady was born at 6:11pm and was such a cutie! He did a good job crying and got to chill with mom and dad for a bit before they took him to the transitional nursery. Since he wasn't quite 37 weeks he was considered a preemie and had to spend a little time in the nursery (just standard procedure for this age). He needed a tiny bit of help with eating and maintaining his temperature, but I am happy to report that the new family is home now and enjoying their time together! I'll be seeing this little guy again soon for his newborn session and I am so looking forward to it!

I hope you guys are getting some rest! See you soon! Enjoy this ver, VERY abbreviated version of Brady's Birth Day :)

Since he had to go to the nursery the night he was born, I went back the next day when he was feeling less camera shy :)

Slide show to come in a couple weeks!! There will be LOTS mor images to share there!

Gina's Birth Slideshow | Kansas City Birth Photographer

2010-05-26T22:43:00.002-05:00

Ok, I've been trying to find a good way to display video on this blog since September 09 and I am failing at everything I try! I think what I will have to do is upgrade to a website that allows video hosting, which is fine- I'm due for an upgrade anyway :)

Until then, you'll have to settle for a link. Sadly, this means that if you are on a Mac you will have to miss out on the slide show because it's not a Mac compatible program :( Sorry!

The Birth of Gina Karys Lynn

Abigail's Birth Story | Kansas City Birth Photographer

2010-05-24T22:44:00.005-05:00

How cool is this?!? Abigail's mom takes us through her birth experience over at the IAPBP blog!

I remember it like it was yesterday.... :)

Good things come in surprise packages!

2010-05-20T11:53:00.003-05:00

At least in this case they do! Mr. Dominic here decided to surprise his parents by arriving a whole MONTH early! I guess he was just anxious to meet mom and dad :) When I arrived at his home he was sleeping peacefully in mom's arms, so I started setting up my equipment, placed him gently on the blanket and fired off the first couple frames.

Almost immediately his eyes went from this...

...to this!!! And we didn't see them closed very much after that :)

I loooove his long eye lashes :)

International Association of Professional Birth Photographers | Kansas City Birth Photographer

2010-05-18T12:42:00.004-05:00

My favorite (and most important) part of this "job" are the amazing births I am asked to be a part of. There is nothing more beautiful than witnessing life at it's freshest! I know that birth photography is gaining popularity, yet it can be hard to find a photographer near you that provides this service. Well, now it's going to get easier to do just that!

Introducing the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers. As of right now, the photographer directory consists of 59 photographers spread out across the USA and 3 other countries and the list keeps growing!! Aside from the photographer directory, there will also be blog guest speakers such as doulas and midwives and a place where people from all over the world can share their birth stories. There is a section that lists resources to find a doula/midwife/birth center, birthing articles and reading suggestions. Founded by the amazing and inspirational Lyndsay Stradtner of Life In Motion Photography, this website and community of professionals is sure to help change the way people view birth photography and introduce this very important specialty to those who don't know it exists :)

If you are looking for a birth photographer in your area or just want a good resource for information on birthing methods, techniques and other birth related subjects then you should definitely check it out!!

International Association of Professional Birth Photographers

Madelyn - 6 months | Kansas City Baby Photographer

2010-05-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

Last time I saw Madelyn she was 3 months old and a little sweet pea. Now, she's a whole 6 months old and getting cuter by the second! Babies get to be so much more fun when they start sitting on their own and Madelyn has pretty much mastered this task- I think she likes it :) She is just the sweetest little girl and so easy going! I am already looking forward to her 9 month session! Until then, I will just have to enjoy these...

Jayson - 1 Year | Kansas City Baby Photographer

2010-05-12T00:01:00.000-05:00

Julie and her husband Mike are two of the coolest people that I know. Aside from that, they are super nice and like to have a good time! They travel to exotic places, Julie is an AWESOME cook and Mike has the best lawn in Olathe (if you could see my backyard, you would know why that makes me jealous).

Last year they welcomed their first child into the world and have adapted to parenthood beautifully! When I see them with Jayson, it's like he was always there with them. They all fit together so well and I had so much fun with them at our session! We started at their home, which I love doing because it allows the kids to get comfortable with the camera in their own environment and I get some great shots of the family being a family. The we headed to a nearby park and enjoyed the gorgeous day and the warm sun!

So Jayson is one year old now...crazy how they go from this to THIS so fast!

Ok, I have to explain this one: we had been taking pictures for a while and Jayson was getting a little tired of it all. We were trying to pacify him with snacks (dried fruit bits- genius!) and squeeze a few more shots out of him but when his mom and dad went to hold his hands, he wanted none of it! He got really mad, planted his feet, bent over and spit out his snack- which turned out to be A LOT of it! Apparently he's half squirrel because he had enough fruit stored in there to have snack for the next three days!! Hahaha!

We all thought that was pretty funny :)

Jamie - Maternity | Kansas City Maternity Photographer

2010-05-11T10:50:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I've gotten to do a maternity session- I've been consumed with newborns and little ones lately so this was a fun change of pace! We had to reschedule our original date due to weather but I think it worked out well for us. We had a nice cool morning with soft overcast light and had the park to ourselves- which turned out to be a good thing because Drake the Dog tends to get a bit distracted by...well, anything that moves:) He did great though and sat patiently while I clicked away, with only the occasional duck or two catching his eye!

These two also did a great job, even dad who could probably think of about 101 other things he would have rather been doing :) Thanks for hanging in there with me guys! I had a lot of fun and can't wait to meet the little one soon!!

Family photos = success!!

2010-05-10T12:35:00.003-05:00

Remember a couple weeks ago when I told you we were having family pictures? Well, we did it and Josh & Jenny have a few up on their blog! I looooove them and can't wait to look at the rest, but I'm going to be nice and wait to look at them with Todd tonight when he gets home from work. Josh did a fabulous job, despite a chilly & windy day AND a very shy kid who turned slightly cranky towards the end. Even though our sweet little friendly boy had been replaced by a camera shy crabby alien, you can't even tell :)

I am thinking we will do a couple fun canvases with these, yes?

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful, strong, amazing women out there who wear their hearts outside of their bodies.

Here's a few of the beautiful mom's I get to work with :)

My sister :)

Rylie - 9 days | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-05-05T21:40:00.005-05:00

Little Miss Rylie took her time getting here, but I think her parents would agree that she was worth the wait! She is the sweetest little ball of baby goodness and I am so glad I had the opportunity to photograph her. She took a little bit to warm up to the idea of pictures, but with a little soothing by daddy and some snuggling with mommy (and a couple snacks!) she was ready to go!

R family, it was a pleasure meeting you guys. I look forward to working with you and your beautiful daughter again!

Ha! I love this one. This is what a baby with a full belly looks like.

Content.

Colin - 8 days | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-05-03T21:15:00.004-05:00

This little man wanted to surprise his parents so he decided to come 2 1/2 weeks early!! I'd say that's a pretty nice surprise :) He was still in his sleepy, squishy, quiet stage so we got to do some fun things with him! I really don't remember hearing a peep out of him the whole time- if only all babies could be that sweet for new parents :)

Jenny & Piotr, thank you so much for inviting me into your home and asking me to capture this time in your family's life. You have a sweet and beautiful boy on your hands! I hope you enjoy the photos!

I knew I wanted to use this in a photo the second I saw it on their wall! I love re-purposing personal items for newborn sessions.

Big brother, Toby :)

Mom and dad have been reading to Colin since before he was born! I love that!! I think this will be one of his favorite books growing up, such a great story!

Gina Karys Lynn | Kansas City Birth Photographer

2010-04-23T20:38:00.004-05:00

Gina entered the world today at 10:52, weighing in at 7.3lbs & 20" long. She's beautiful and perfect and loved by so, so many!! Slide show to come later!

Congrats guys! She's the perfect addition to your family. (By the way, my cheeks are still sore from all the smiling and laughing from this morning (: )

5 on Friday

2010-04-23T03:00:00.001-05:00

Been a while, eh? Sorry, I've been busy :)

1. A year ago today I shot my first birth :) Happy birthday, Samantha!!

As most of you are reading this, I will be at the hospital documenting another tiny little human being's entrance into the world! MAN, I love what I do! This one is actually a scheduled c-section so I get to try some fun new things. I am so excited- it's been a while since I've gotten to be at a birth. I have another one coming up in June/July so that is something to look forward to!

2. I'm working on getting my mini sessions edited so if you're waiting to see your images, it will be a little longer! I'm going to park myself in front of the computer tonight and try and get as much done as I can before my super busy weekend. I've got 5, potentially 6, shoots over the next three days so the busy season had officially hit! It all these newborns popping up, I love it!

3. This has me dreaming of warmer days ahead...

4. I am totally in love with everything in this Etsy shop!!! IN.LOVE. I am hoping to turn Jake's nursery into a toddler room soon...I'm waiting until he won't stay in his crib any long (which doesn't appear to be any time soon). There are some really fun prints I plan to get so I'm starting a list now :) Here's her blog if you want to see more awesomeness!

I do plan on getting this one for my office very soon. I love how moody and vintagy (hey, it's a word to me!) if feels, kind of like an old photograph. I think it will be a good reminder that even on the "bad" days, I should be thankful for what I have, where I am and WHO I am....and most importantly that there is a today for me.

5. For the first time in two years, WE are having family photos done on Sunday with the amazingly talented Solar Photographers. We haven't had professional pictures done since Jake was 2 weeks old! Insane, I know. I kept meaning to get it done but something always came up- I didn't have the money for it, wanted to wait for warmer weather, wanted to lose a few pounds, insert-excuse-here. I've got a bazillion pictures of Jake, a million pictures of Jake and Todd together and about three snapshots that include me with the two of them :( Even though I prefer to be on this side of the camera, I'm sure years from now Jake would appreciate a few nice shots of him with his mom and dad together- even if I don't feel I am looking my best at the time! So finally I said "screw it, we're doing this now no matter what" and now am so excited! I'm making it a priority for my family to have photos taken at least once a year. So Sunday is picture day for the Maxey household.

Aaaand now I see that it's supposed to rain on Sunday.

Awesome.

Two.

2010-04-16T14:58:00.003-05:00

Today, my little baby turns TWO!!! It's so bittersweet for me. Last night I was looking at pictures from his very first days and I miss him being so small :( But at the same time I love watching him grow up and explore the world. He truly brings so much joy to our lives and it's so hard to imagine a time before him!

So this morning I put a bunch of balloons in his room (he loves balloons!) and when he woke up he was really surprised! He played with them and carried them around the house all morning until it was time to go to daycare. Then we stopped at the store to get cupcakes for the other kids and the nice lady at the bakery gave him a cookie. I figured the whole grain waffle and peaches he ate just before then would balance out the HUGE M&M cookie so I let him eat it in the car. He was happy :) The we got to daycare and they were going to watch a movie and eat popcorn so it was a great start to his birthday day!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACOB!! Your dad and I love you so much. Thank you for the cheesy faces, the high fives, the bedtime kisses and even the "I farted"s. You make our days bright and our nights sweet. We love you, monkey!

Collin - 2 years | Kansas City Child Photographer

2010-04-15T21:53:00.007-05:00

I had the pleasure of hanging out with Collin and his mom and dad last weekend! This little dude kept me busy, that's for sure! We played on the playground, fed the ducks, played with bubbles and did lots of fun 2 year old stuff :) Collin turned two last month and he is such a cute little guy! I'm always amazed at how much 2 year olds know...they are always so much smarter than what I expect them to be and Collin is no exception!

L family, I had so much fun with you guys! I can't believe how fast the past couple years have gone. Thank you for asking me to capture this time in his life :)

Bryce & Caylee - 3 months | Kansas City Baby Photographer

2010-04-07T21:12:00.003-05:00

Remember Bryce and Caylee? Well, they're growing like mad and are now 3 whole months old!! I must say, they are the cutest twins ever :) Bryce likes to have his sister around at all times, especially at night- I think that's the sweetest thing! We had to stay inside on our shoot day- the one attempt we made to go out ended quickly thanks to a chilly wind. I think we still got some good shots though! They were really good and just went with the flow!

Bryce and Caylee, lets keep all 40 fingers and toes crossed for nice weather in three more months- I want to go outside and play!! :)

A few random things...

2010-04-07T13:39:00.002-05:00

I'm working on editing a session with 3 month old twins!! Stay tuned for a blog post coming up soon!

Also, I still have a couple spots available for my mini sessions coming up on April 18th. Check out the deets here. First come, first served :) I'm pretty sure we will be at Antioch Park for the sessions so if you've already booked with me, be looking for an email soon with more information. These are the CUTEST little accordion albums that come with package #3. Seriously, they are really, really cute and perfect as little brag books for the grandparents (and yourself!)

I've had a few requests for birth announcements so I've been getting some designs together and will be putting them up on the blog soon, along with pricing. I must say there are some super cute ones and it makes me want to have another baby just so I can send them out to everyone! I've got quite a few newborns coming up over the summer months so I may do something special to kick off the announcements "season" :) Here's a preview...

Updated: Blog name

2010-04-05T13:35:00.002-05:00

I am dropping the .blogspot from the blog name. From here on out you can view my blog at www.sarahmaxeyphotoblog.com! Be sure to change it in your readers!

I have a couple fun blogs coming up this week. We were out of town over the weekend so I have a bazillion things to do to get caught up! I need a vacation after my vacation. Next week Jake turns TWO YEARS OLD and I have a ton of stuff to do for the (supposed to be a small) party. I am trying to schedule a photo session for him as well since we haven't had professional pictures taken of us as a family since he was 2 weeks old...I'm a bad mommy.

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter! We are still on a sugar high in our house- it's not necessarily a good thing :)

Peter - 9 Months | Kansas City Baby Photographer

2010-04-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I ventured out in Lawrence, KS where Peter (aka Doots, Pete and a hundred other cute nicknames his mom and ad gave him) took me on a tour of the KU campus :) The morning was a bit chilly but since we had already rescheduled the shoot several times because of weather, we decided to bite the bullet and go for it anyway. We made good use of the big windows at the library and other various indoor locations and it all worked out great! Pete was as sweet as could be and totally hung in there with us. I think he's one of the most fashionable babies I've ever met and he has his momma to thank for that!

Thanks M family for hanging out with me! You guys rock...and your little dude is pretty awesome too!

I think I'll kick it off with one of my favorite images from the day, mmmmkay?

Seriously, how freakin' cute is he ;)

Doots is NOT a fan of ivy! He didn't want to touch at all, he hardly wanted to sit in it! It felt pretty icky on his hands I guess :)

Will - 1 week | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-03-31T21:39:00.005-05:00

My good friends Jill and TJ welcomed baby Will into their lives on March 19th. He came into the world loved by so many people and will grow up surrounded by love and friendship. He was kind enough to take some time out of his busy day so that we could get some pictures of him :) He wasn't really a fan of being naked but I think he looks super cute as a burrito baby!

Jill and TJ, congrats again! You guys are already amazing parents and we can't wait to see you grow with your son. Love you guys!!

I love the soft light in this one.

A smile for mom and dad :)

Here he is at 1 day old.

Cutest thing ever!

2010-03-29T18:00:00.001-05:00

So today as I was catching up on my blog reading over my lunch break, I came across a post from Fresh Art Photography. As usual, I was excited because anything Jodi blogs about is sure to be entertaining/beautiful/inspiring/comforting...FRESH :) Imagine my delight when I see they are doing a giveaway! AWESOME! And the "prize" is this fantabulous, beautiful, fun, creative, personalized print from Kristin Graham of Hoot Designs.

I.Am.In.Love.

I love her style, the fonts, the colors, the graphics...it's perfect. It would be a great inspiration piece for a room makeover for a certain almost-two-year-old. Yes, Jake will be two in almost three weeks and I have been trying to decide what to do as a "bigger boy" room- I'm pretty sure I NEED this print. If I don't win it, I will be buying it :) In fact, I'm already starting to compile a list of words to use.

So go take a look at all of the super-cool thing Kristin has to offer, then head over to Fresh Art Photography's blog and have a look around. Go ahead and enter the giveaway contest if you want to, but be aware that if you win, I will hunt you down and I will steal it from you. I'll bring along my trusty stick-weapon wielding son :)

Ryland - 2 Weeks | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

2010-03-24T21:04:00.007-05:00

I had the pleasure of meeting sweet little Ryland and his awesome parents a couple weeks ago and let me just tell you, this baby has one of the coolest nurseries I have ever seen! See, Ryland is a big dog fan, or at least he will be as he grows up with his pals Zuri and Duke (who could not be present on picture day...but they do make a small "appearance" in a bit). After I took a small detour (read: got lost) on the way to their home, I was greeted by this little guy with smiles and coos. He loved to be held...and fed...and changed, oh- and swaddled :) I think we finally wore him out towards the end!

Ryland, when you are done with your room I would like to move into it please :)

I think he loves his mommy :)

Peace out.

What to Wear for Spring!

2010-03-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

It's been pretty dreary around here lately so I thought I'd bust out a What To Wear post with some fun, bright, colorful clothes! See below for mom/dad, kids and maternity ideas, then run out and buy the outfits for your next session :) All outfits can be found at Boden and Old Navy. If you see a specific item that you are interested, email me and I'll give you more details.

For the family:

For mom and dad:

For the little ones:

For the bump :)

Abigail - 6 months {Kansas City Photographer}

2010-03-16T15:48:00.002-05:00

Can you believe it? Abigail is already 6.MONTHS.OLD. Remember this and this (and this)? Well, she's definitely got a personality of her own and is such a happy little baby! We had a gorgeous day so after chillin' at home for a bit we headed to the park and enjoyed the warm, beautiful, WARM sun. Abigail played on the swings and the slide, then hit the merry go 'round...er, carousel? (By the way, merry go 'rounds make me nauseous. I don't even have to be on it- just watching it spin makes me dizzy. I wasn't always such a baby, something happened to me as I got older and spinning rides don't do good things for my tummy. Bummer.)

Dear sweet Abigail, thanks for taking me along on your journey through the first 6 months of your life. You are such a little cutie pie and I can't wait to continue watching you grow up into the strong, independent little girl I know you'll be :) Love you sweet cheeks!

Are you kidding me with that smile?!?!

In my pocket. {Kansas City Portrait Photographer}

2010-03-14T09:26:00.006-05:00

That's where I wanted to put this little family! I just wanted to fold them up and carry them with me, they were so sweet! Mom contacted me last fall about getting some pictures of her two adorably-amazingly-cute kids and we were able to get it scheduled for last weekend. Of course, Mother Nature wasn't really cooperating and we had an overcast, slightly chilly day...no rain though! Ellery and Hayden were both SO good and Hayden was such a good listener- and check out his smile! He's going to break a lot of hearts someday :) Ellery was a sweet pea and so laid back. She has the most beautiful eyes too!

Thanks S family!! I hope to see you guys again soon!

That smile...melts my heart :)

Ha ha!! I love these next two, it seems like Ellery is telling her big bro all about her rough day as he patiently listens to her. His arm is protectively wrapped around her, love it!

Hayden: "There, there Ellery. It will be OK."

Ellery: "Thanks, Hayden. I knew you'd make it all better."

Spring mini sessions are coming!! {Kansas City Portrait Photographer}

2010-03-07T07:00:00.005-06:00

What can I say about winter except that I'm SO ready for it to be over! I'm ready for warm, sunny days, blossoming flowers and longer days. I want to hear the birds chirping happily and my son's squeals of joy as he runs around in the yard. So to spring I say BRING IT ON!

Warmer days = shooting outside again and to kick it off we're doing spring mini sessions! Not just any mini session- DigiMinis!! This means you get digital files to print or share online! Woohoo!! I'm offering three different packages to fit your needs- digital only, digital + prints, digital + prints PLUS something extra!

The session day is Sunday April 18th, which is just a few weeks before Mother's Day and two short months before Father's Day! I'm sure the grandparents would love some updated photos of the kids (and yourselves!). Package C is great because it comes with three mini accordion albums that make great gifts! You can keep one for yourself and give the other two away. I'll be posting photos of these beauties shortly, but trust me- they are so cool. *Feel free to forward this on to your husbands as a hint for your Mother's Day gift :) *

All the details are below and space is very limited. As always, feel free to contact me with questions!

The Details:

Date: Sunday April 18th

Time: 9am to 3pm

Location: Antioch Park in Mission, KS

The Fine Print:

Sessions are for up to 5 people (the family dog is welcome!).
Half of the session fee is due at the time of booking to reserve your spot and is non-refundable. Balance is due at the time of the session.
Sessions are booked on a first come, first served basis and availability is limited.
Rain date is Sunday April 25th and session times will transfer over.

Here are the little accordion albums that come with #3:

Jacob, 2 months {Kansas City Baby Photographer}

2010-03-05T14:41:00.002-06:00

I have a certain fondness for all babies named Jacob :) but this little guy is such a sweet pea that I'd still love him even if his name were Aloysisus. Hey, it's a family name so I can make fun of it- and for those of you saying "what in the heck is that name?" it's pronounce "Al-uh-WISH-us".

So Jacob was not too excited about picture day. He would have much rather enjoyed his siesta in peace but really, what fun is that?!? We poked at him and dressed then undressed, then dressed again...good times! His binky kept him company in between shots and mom was always close so he was pretty content for the most part.

Thanks B family! Congrats again on such a sweet little guy :)

Mom was trying to gently wake him up so dad could have some shots with eyes showing.

As you can see Jacob wasn't having it!

I love baby parts!

Happy 101 and 5 on Friday {Kansas City Birth Photographer}

2010-02-16T16:09:00.010-06:00

My good friend Leslie has passed on the Happy 101 award to me! Thank you my dear :) Now everyone go check out her awesome blog and see all the amazing stuff she and her hubby have done to their house! This girl has some serious style!

Ok, 10 things that make me happy. I was hoping to take pictures of most of these but I just haven't had time so I'm just using the few I had laying around.

1. My two hearts. I don't know where I would be without them.

2. The smell of old books. I can still "smell" the library we had at my elementary school. I loved that place! I love any library really. Old, new...they all still smell the same :) And if you know me in real life, you know I like to smell things.

3. The smell of my son fresh out of the bath. If I could bottle it I would be a millionaire.

4. LOST- best show ever! Period. The show is in it;s very last season ever right now and only a few short months of time remain. I'm really going to miss the crazy story line(s), the plot twists and turns, the award winning acting...oh yeah, and this:

5. Red wine on a cold night (or really any time for that matter!).

6. A good book that I can't put down. Usually that would involve crying out of sadness or joy, but not always. My two current favorites books are The Hunger Games and Catching Fire (neither made me cry but that's ok). If you have not read these, I need you to do the following: stop reading this right now, immediately drive to the nearest book store, buy the books then drive home, turn off the phone/send the kids away for 24 hours and R.E.A.D. You'll thank me later. The third book in the series (Mockingjay) comes out in August and I'm literally counting down the days. 180 days to go! Seems like years from now...

7. Photographing a birth...or babies...or families :) By the way, if you (or someone you know) will be delivering a baby by planned cesarean section sometime in the next few months and are interested in birth photography, please contact me. I have a few ideas I've been throwing around in my head and I would love to discuss them with you! sarahmaxeyphoto@gmail.com

8. Waking up on a rainy morning then realizing it's Saturday and that I get to lay there and listen to it for as long as I want...or as long as my toddler will let me :)

9. Mexican food. I could eat it every day and would never get sick of it. A close second to that would be sushi.

10. Music. I have a wide range of music on my iPod right now but I'm currently obsessed with Phoenix, Ben Folds (always!), Koop, Feist, Rogue Wave and Kate Nash. I am always looking for new music to listen to so if you have a suggestion I'm open to it!

5 on Friday

Now I don't usually share my favorite blogs with just anyone- I like to keep them as little treasures for myself :) Howver, since I love you all so much and since Leslie was so generous, I'll be nice today...so here's 5 blogs that make me happy:

1. Color Me Kate

Amazingly inspirational and funny at the same time. Check out the Improv Everywhere section!

2. Life In Motion Photography

Lyndsay has been a HUGE inspiration to me in my birth photography and is the founder of a mentoring program I am currently in. If you are interested, check it out here!

3. Lost... and Gone Forever

Favorite blogger when it comes to LOST theories, ideas, predictions...you name it! This dude knows his stuff.

4. Baby as Art

Seriously the most gorgeous newborn photography ever. I could look at her blog for hours and hours...and hours. It truly is art.

5. Jonathan Canlas Photography

This dude shoots film- all film!! I am in awe. It's not too often you find people working in film anymore. I miss it so much. I miss the quiet of the darkroom and the smell of the chemicals, the soft hum of the color processor and the terrified feeling I got as I stepped into the revolving darkroom door, sure that there was someone just on the other side waiting to kill me. Yes, I know...I'm kind of crazy.

Think Pink {Kansas City Portrait Photographer}

2010-02-16T08:34:00.006-06:00

Sarah Maxey Photography is excited to announce a partnership with Think Pink Photography. Think Pink Photography was founded in October 2007 to support individuals and their families who have been touched by breast cancer. We are a charitable organization that serves two main purposes – celebrating life and supporting the cause.

Through our professional photographer network, we are helping breast cancer patients to celebrate life with charitable photography sessions. Individuals may choose to document their fight against the disease before or during treatment, or prefer to capture their victory by scheduling a session within 12 months after treatment is completed. Photographers world-wide are now available to donate time and talent to celebrate life and support the cause. There is no cost or obligation to the breast cancer patient. Clients participating in a Think Pink Session will receive a complimentary photo session, as well as a set of 10 small prints from the session. They will also receive a discount on any additional portraits they wish to purchase, although there is absolutely no purchase required at any time.

To support the cause, we have partnered with The Eric R. Beverly Family Foundation. All funds generated through donations and various fundraising efforts are paid directly to The Eric R. Beverly Family Foundation. As a 3-time breast cancer survivor, Danielle Beverly and her husband Eric joined together to form a foundation dedicated to promoting education, increasing awareness, and providing support and resources for families who have been touched by breast cancer.

Please subscribe to the Think Pink blog and tell your friends and family about Think Pink Photography. Awareness is everything and we can’t be successful without you. I encourage you to view the website, make a donation, or hire a photographer that supports Think Pink Photography! If you hire me, mention Think Pink and I will make a personal donation to the organization. If you, or someone you know, would like to schedule a Think Pink session, please contact me for details.

I am very proud to be a network photographer with Think Pink Photography and am anxious to get the word out about this amazing program. My Mother-In-Law and her mother are breast cancer survivors and I think this is an amazing program that I am so excited to be a part of!

Emerson - 10 days {Kansas City Newborn Photographer}

2010-02-06T09:13:00.009-06:00

I'm a little obsessed with newborns right now. All I want to do is photograph them all day and look at their tiny little hands and toes and ears, to smell their sweet scent and cuddle their tiny warm bodies. I guess that's a good thing because I have quite a few newborn shoots coming up over the next several months!

My most recent obsession is this little newbie. Our good friends Eric and Ashley recently added a new member to their family of three! Meet Miss Emerson :) She takes after her momma and has dark hair and a beautiful dark complexion- she's the complete opposite of her brother Miles with his blond hair and fair skin! He's going to be a great big brother though, I can tell. He loves to sit by her and touch her little face...so sweet! Emerson is already trying to hold her head up and is a pretty strong baby for only being 10 days old! She loves her binky and LOVE'S to be held- especially at night right when everyone is ready to go to bed ;)

Eric and Ashley, thanks again for asking me to take pictures of your family! It's so amazing to think how different things were just a few years ago and to see where we are now! You have a beautiful family and we can't wait to watch the kids grow up together :) Love you guys!

Aaawwwww :)

Oh. Mah. Gah! Look at all those wrinkles! I love, love, love them.

Their house is so bright and full of light, it was awesome!

Madelyn - 3 Months {Kansas City Portrait Photographer}

2010-02-04T15:29:00.004-06:00

So you may have noticed that the blog has a new look (as does my website!). I've been working on rebranding for a while and I'm finally able to get it all together and update everything! A friend of mine helped me with the logo (she's awesome!) and I loooove it :) That little bird just makes me so happy when I see him there on the tree...love!

So to kick off the new look I have a new little cutie pie to share with you all! Little Miss Madelyn is three months old and is one of my baby planners so you'll be seeing a lot of her over the next 9 months :) I don't think I can ever see enough of her, she is seriously SO CUTE, and good! She was such a good little model and hung with us through outfit changes, all the man handling we did with her moving her from here to there and back again and didn't make a peep until the very end when she was over the whole thing.

Thanks P family! I can't wait to see you guys again in a few months!!

I loved her little socks ;)

Saved my favorite for last! I just love how sweet mom and Madelyn are together...

Referral Program: Updated

2010-01-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

I'm so thankful for all of my amazing clients. SO THANKFUL. Many of my clients have been so awesome about referring people to me and it makes me so happy that they love their photos enough to share me with their friends and family. I have been trying to come up with a way to let my clients know how appreciative of them I am so...I introduce to you my new and improved Referral Program!

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this program or if you want to know how many credits you have :)

5 on Friday - What to Wear Edition

2010-01-22T14:55:00.009-06:00

Today's edition of 5 on Friday brought to you be the letter "W"...as in What To Wear! Read more below about clothing suggestions for your photo sessions :)

1. Color and patterns are very good things, especially on children! I usually tell the parents to pick out their kids' outfits first and then pull colors from that to create their own outfit. You want everyone to coordinate, but not look all matchy-match. See example below.

2. Avoid words or big logos as your eye will immediately go there. Men, it helps when you take off your watches- the big black think strapped to your wrist can be a huge distraction!

3. Maternity sessions: ladies, wear something you know you look good in. If it's jeans and a t-shirt, wear that. If you like to get dressed up and you have a fabulous dress you've been waiting to wear, we can find a fun urban location for pictures. Personally, I think bellies look great in form- fitting clothes like a jersey dress or flowing knit pants and a tank, etc. We want clothes that are going to show off that bump!

4. Newborn sessions: babies are best in the buff! I will be taking photos of your baby either naked or with a diaper on (hiding all the little parts of course!). Please make sure to have your baby in loose fitting clothing for an hour or two before your scheduled shoot time. This will help prevent clothing/sock/diaper lines that can be difficult to take out in editing. For mom and dad, neutral is best. Mom's are great in a plain tank top or t-shirt with yoga pants or jeans. Dad's look good in khaki pants or jeans with a plain t-shirt. Also, if possible have a plain black long sleeved shirt available for both of you :)

5. Most importantly, BE YOURSELVES!! Your family doesn't go out on the weekends all dressed in identical outfits, why do it for family portraits? Wear what you're comfortable in but spice it up a little bit.

Time is running out!

2010-01-21T15:00:00.001-06:00

Last chance to get in on the newborn portrait offer! Need a baby shower gift? Maybe a gift in general for parents-to-be? Perhaps you are expecting? This is seriously a great deal- over $140 savings!! You get prints AND digital files.

See? I told you it was a great deal! Contact me soon, offer expires 1/31/10.

Caylee & Bryce - Newborn TWINS! { Kansas City Baby Photographer }

2010-01-19T12:04:00.004-06:00

I don't think I can tell you how excited I was to meet and photograph these two beautiful babies! I was so excited I went to the session a week ahead of time! HA! Or should I say whoops...

Caylee and Bryce were almost three weeks old in these pictures so they are a little past the sleepy, balled up, oblivious-to-everything stage that is the "magical two weeks". We still got some good shots and they were SUPER good babies! They were so alert, just looking around at everything. Mom and dad did an awesome job with these two! I really don't know how people manage twins or more. I mean, it's a miracle if I can get my one child and myself ready and out the door on time (which never happens) so I'm in awe of parents of multiples! Secretly, I would love to have twins, but I would two brains to keep up with them, two homes to contain all the stuff and two sets of eyes to take them all in :)

C family, thanks for having me! I had so much fun with these itty bittys!

Mr. Man

Little Miss

I love this one with mom's hands! She was trying to help me with posing and her touch was just so gentle and loving...so sweet!

Seriously, how cute are they?!?

I think these next two would be so cute printed BIG, mounted and hung together :)

5 on Friday { Kansas City Photographer }

2010-01-14T13:33:00.008-06:00

It's been a while since my last 5 o F, I kind of missed it!

1. I bought some fun new equipment recently and I'm excited to start using it! I got this and one of these (but I got it off Ebay for $22 instead of $64!). I'm hoping the digital target will help cut down my post processing time, we'll see!

2. I took Jake out to play in the freezing-cold-will-it-ever-stop-snowing snow we recently got and he wasn't a fan so much. I think it was too cold for him and the snow was really deep, making it hard for him to maneuver through. He kind of just stood there and whined a bit. We didn't stay out long, but long enough for me to get some shots of him in his first several inches of snow! Last year he was still a baby so we didn't even attempt it.

Hahaha!! This one makes me laugh!

He is definitely my child! I hate cold weather too!

3. I came across this blog a while back and find it very inspirational, both creatively and emotionally. Check out her Improv Everywhere posts- they are awesome! My favorite one is "Where's Rob?". I laughed hysterically the first time I watched it!

4. I'm shooting newborn TWINS tomorrow and I'm totally stoked! I can't wait to smell me some itty bittys...I better warn Todd ahead of time that I will be coming home with a major case of baby fever- he might just want to leave the house so he doesn't have to hear me talking about babies for the rest of the day :)

5. I have a fun new product that I will be adding to my birth photography package! I'll be sharing that with you as soon as I can get pictures of it and send it off to the first lucky recipient.

The A Family { Kansas City Family Photographer }

2010-01-13T20:00:00.001-06:00

How cute is this family?? Little man L is 15 months old and breakin' hearts already :) His big blue eyes kill me! On yet another chilly winter day, we headed out for some family photo ops- and where better to go than the beautiful Union Station! It was a little crowded but there was a lot going on for L to look at so he was entertained most of the day, which makes for a happy baby!

Thanks guys! I hope to see you in the spring for some "warmer" pictures!

I absolutely love his expression here! It makes me laugh every time I see it!

The K Family { Kansas City Family Photographer }

2010-01-13T15:33:00.004-06:00

I love shooting families! I've been lucky and have had all really fun, really easy-going families to work with and they make my job easy. The K family was no exception! My good friend Leslie invited me to take some pictures of her and her husband's family (this is a common occurrence lately!). It was right before Thanksgiving and it was pretty dang chilly out so we weren't sure about an outdoor location. Luckily, Leslie found the perfect spot at Unity Village- I had never been here before but I will be visiting again for sure...in warmer weather!

Thanks K family! You guys are awesome! I'm sorry it took FOREVER to get your post up :)