...Waiting for Palmer...

One of my favorite things to photograph is pregnant women, especially a first pregnancy. It's such a special time and definitely should be documented. A lot of women feel funny about having maternity photos. They feel too big or unattractive but it's one of the most important times in your life. To me, every expecting mother is absolutely beautiful!

The following images are from Lauran and Shane's maternity session. Talk about a gorgeous pregnant woman! And Shane's not too bad either. :D This will be their first baby girl, Palmer, due in July. I can't wait to meet and photograph her!

Spring Sessions and Great Gift Ideas for Mother's Day and Father's Day!

Easter, Mother's Day, and Father's Day are right around the corner!

Looking for a great gift for Mother's Day or Father's Day? Whether you book a new session or order from your previous sessions, photo products are the perfect gift for your loved ones. If your family is looking for a gift for you, ask for gift certificate!


Great Photo Gifts:

• Gift Certificates
• Accordion Books (Set of 3)
• Prints, Gallery Wraps, or Stand-outs
• DVD slideshow (I can also make slideshows with your own personal images as well!)
• Memory Books

Now that the weather is getting nicer and flowers are in full bloom, it's time to book your spring portrait session! April and May are filling up fast so call or email today to schedule your session!


info@imagesbymichele.com or 704.584.9516

A Lot Has Happened in 5 Months

I cannot believe it's almost March and I haven't written a single post in 5 months! A lot has happened during that time:

1. My sister (one of the 7) Terri got married
2. The busy season was awesome, busier but smoother than the year before
3. Pretty relaxing Christmas and New Year's (spent in NC...a little sad I didn't get to see my family but I needed some rest)
4. Attended Imaging USA in New Orleans (AWESOME!!! I got a great new gadget to help me entertain the little ones while I'm taking their photos)
5. Painted and redecorated the Gallery (not totally finished but it's going to be AMAZING)
6. Got a new car (Toyota Highlander, which I will be adorning obnoxiously with the Images by Michele logo!)
7. Jessy got her license! Ahhhhh!!!! I'm pretty sure I have a whole head of gray hair! She's actually a really good driver but I still worry like crazy. 

That pretty much sums up the last few months. I also discovered that I am gluten and dairy sensitive and that if I eat anything with either of those, my immune system gets thrown into a hiatus. Needless to say, once I gave up all of my favorite foods, I lost 10 lbs! :D I actually feel great and even though it's been rough, I've found lots of substitutes for some of my favorite eats. 

On a photography note, here are a few newborn images that I've recently taken that I love..yup I have baby fever!!:

Beginner Photography Classes Are Back!!

“Most photographers aren’t willing to share their “secrets” for fear that clients won’t need them anymore, but Michele was so open and an excellent teacher. Not only do I know how to use my expensive camera to a fuller capacity, I know the tricks to taking better and more thought-out pictures. The photography class flipped on the light switch for me and I would definitely recommend to others! Loved the mix of classroom and hands-on learning so that I could apply the knowledge to real life. And even though I’m better at taking pictures, I still need Michele and her professional skills!”     -Brooke W.

“I bought a nice digital SLR camera without any knowledge on how to use it. It was frustrating to spend that kind of money and keep ending up with photos I wasn't happy with. Michele taught me how to use my camera much better than the manual could. Thanks to her photography class, I have been able to take some amazing photos that I'm proud to display in my home!”     -Katie C.

“My camera was always on the same setting until I took this class. The pictures I take of my children have drastically improved. I've even had friends ask if they were professionally taken. Thanks for a great class!”  -Colleen Y.

Beginner Photography Classes are here again! You can bring any camera you own and we'll figure out how to get better photos using it. We'll discuss photography lighting, background, composition, as well as camera basics including aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. At the end of the course you'll know what each of the settings on your digital camera can do. Once you have a better understanding of your camera functions, you'll be able to decide when to use them to get higher quality photos. Beginner Photography Class Details: 4 1.5-hour classes Classes meet at my house on Wednesdays (starting September 7th) Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm Limit 6 students per class (If more than 6 sign up for the class I may open another night) 3 of the classes will be lecture/open discussion and the remaining 1 will be outside, hands-on (we'll schedule a Saturday or Sunday that works with everyone) $30 per person per class ($108.00 for all 4 sessions if you pay for all up front) Also, these classes are open to everyone so if you know someone who might be interested, pass along this email. If there are certain topics you'd like me to discuss, send me an email. Sign up today! Spaces are limited!!

Wow - It's Been a While...

If I could fire myself from Blog Editor I totally would! I really meant to keep this blog as up-to-date as possible but I've failed miserably!! Ahhhh! A LOT has happened in the last few months.

The Beginner Photography Classes were a total success. I found it fulfilling to teach clients and watch them become better photographers. As a result, I think I've also become a better photographer. In the upcoming months I'll be organizing another class and eventually an advanced course.

For Memorial Day break we went to Carolina Beach for the week. It's a trip we take every year and it was awesome! The slideshow below is from that trip. We had one rainy day and then several windy days which made some awesome photos. I also discovered (with Leigh) a love of finding unique shells and also sea glass. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all of the pieces I found but it'll be cool. CAROLINA BEACH MEMORIAL DAY WEEK SLIDESHOW 2011

The next big trip we took was to Italy!! It was amazing!!!! I will have a full post on that trip as soon as I'm finished editing. So far, I've only edited 350 images...and that was only the last day in Rome!

One week after we got back from Italy, Jessy and I drove to Connecticut for a family reunion. It was the first time in 5 years that all of the sisters were in the same state. We all had the week off, including my mom!! We had something planned almost every day and it was great seeing everyone. I took some family photos which I'll post here soon as well.

And...the final thing (so far) that happened this summer: Jessy became a big sister! Gabriel Anthony Maldonado was born on July 27th and is sooo adorable. Jessy can't wait to go back to Connecticut to visit her "baby brudder". :D

I will definitely try harder to keep this fresh but I might just have to hire Jessy to do this job. ;)

Fall 2010 Promotion - Mini Family Sessions

It's that time of year again! Fall is just around the corner and it's one of the best times of year for family portraits. Everything from the colors, weather, to clothing, is just perfect! From now until November 19th I'll be offering mini sessions for family portraits. The session includes 15 edited and retouched photos, fit to a slideshow, plus 25 custom-designed fine-art holiday cards!

Spaces are limited so call or email to book your session today! 

A Week at the Beach - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

A couple weeks ago we went to Carolina Beach for the week. Every year we try to go at least one week. It's always an awesome time, hanging out with friends, relaxing on the beach, and of course, delicious food!

We dined several meals at our friend's store/cafe, Surf House. If you ever get a chance to visit Carolina Beach, you have to check out this place. The Turkey Cuban is unbelievable! If you make it to breakfast on the weekends, try the House Hash. It's loaded with potatoes, cheese, garlic, bacon, ham, and then topped with a fried egg. It sounds kind of funny but it is soooo good!

One night we cooked in and had a shrimp boil or some call it a "a low-country boil." The basic ingredients are shrimp, spicy chicken sausage, mini corn-on-the-cobs, potatoes, garlic (lots of garlic), mushrooms, and then packets of spicy shrimp boil seasoning. It was delicious! Everything cooks together in the pot and is seasoned to perfection. Our batch was soooo hot...I think we used too many seasoning packets! My nose was literally dripping! It was great but if I ever cook it on my own, I'll take out a packet or two!

I can't go anywhere (especially vacation) without my camera. Here's a few of my favorites from the trip:

Giuseppe 02.20.2010

Giuseppe has been a frequent visitor to the studio since his birth...and oh wait...even before he was born! This time I wanted to focus on him alone and capture some more creative photos. My intention was to have some sleeping photos but when this cutie came in he did not want to sleep! The day before I texted his mom and asked her to bring some hats. That day she had just received this adorable hat! When I saw it I wanted to die...it was the cutest thing!

Here's a few favorites from that day:

The Parisi Family

This is the 3rd session with the Parisi's. The first session, Giuseppe wasn't born yet...but for the 2nd and 3rd he became the star of the photoshoot! Of course the first thing you notice about this angel is his hair...so wild and crazy. But it's his eyes that draw you in...

Check out a few photos of this gorgeous family:

 

A day in the park with Reese...

Reese is one of the most adorable little girls I've ever photographed. She reminds me of Michelle Tanner (the Olsen twins) from Full House. We went to the park and I basically chased her around wherever she went. Her favorite thing to say was "UP!" I could photograph her allll day long. I did need a nap afterward...

A link to the slideshow:
http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Mapel-01-25-10-web/

Here's a few of my favorites:

Evan's First Photoshoot

I've been on a newborn photo kick lately and I LOVE it!!! It's great to see first-time parents and their new addition. There's always sooo much love in the room. It also fulfills my urge to have another baby...at least for a little while. ;) Evan was an absolute angel. He didn't cry once! It was unbelievable!

Here's a slideshow of all the photos:

http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Sauer-12-27-09-web

Giuseppe's first photoshoot!

Here are some photos from Giuseppe's first photoshoot! He is absolutely adorable! He looked like a little Christmas elf! The photoshoot was a little crazy because although Giuseppe looks tiny...he eats like a horse!!! I was supposed to fly up to Connecticut this day but while I was at the shoot I found out my flight had been canceled because of a huge snowstorm. Everything worked out perfectly and I'm excited to photograph this little peanut as he grows more and more handsome!

Preview the entire slideshow:

http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Parisi-Giuseppe-12-19-09-web

Boone, North Carolina

This past weekend, we went to Boone, NC to photograph our neighbors, Mike & Leigh. We were originally going to photograph them at a winery closer to Huntersville, but it was raining out like crazy and we heard it was snowing in the mountains. Leigh (who also has known Teddy since High School!!!) went to Appalachian State (we won't even get into pronunciation now!) so she was very familiar with the area. It was the first snowfall and everything was sooo gorgeous! We felt like we were in "The Grinch", traveling up the mountain...it was magical! I was also really happy because it made me feel like I was back home in Connecticut. I was starting to miss the snow (well at least the first couple of snowfalls), and I had no idea that it would only take us an hour and a half to see some! :D The other crazy thing we saw along the way were tons and tons of Christmas tree farms. It was totally bizarre and I had to take out my camera and photograph through the window, right over Teddy's shoulder!!

Rob & Brianne's Wedding - Negril, Jamaica

Last week I went to Negril, Jamaica for our friends', Rob & Brianne, wedding. I have been to Negril twice and this trip was completely different. We stayed at the Moon Dance Villas resort and had a blast. We had our own bartenders (hilarious guys with tons of nicknames!) and our own chef (fabulous food). The wedding was incredible...every detail was beautiful...the beach, the ocean, steel drum band, lobster tails, dance floor on the sand, and of course the bride and groom. It was such a great experience, meeting new people, and sharing such a special time with Rob & Bri!

I, of course, can't go anywhere without my camera (especially a wedding!) so I took a bunch of photos. Check out the link below to a slide show of images.

Can't wait to go back to Negril...Enjoy!!!

http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Rob-Brianne-11-07-09/index.html

Here's a couple of preview images:

Michiko, Kai, & Toa 2009

I was so happy that I got to visit my friend Michiko (I’ve known her for almost a decade!) while I was in Connecticut this past weekend. She just welcomed another baby boy, Toa, into their family…just 4 weeks ago! She looks AMAZING…and her boys are gorgeous!! This wasn’t a planned photoshoot, just a few quick snapshots during my visit. Can’t wait to come up again and photograph the rest of her family. :D