Happy morning!

Another busy morning, I was in the kitchen making porridge, trying to get everything ready and make it to preschool on time, when I heard another "Muuuum!". I turned around, ready to say "Almost done!" and saw this:

All I could say was: "Aww, thank you so much". Nice big hug and lots of kisses. She said: "Look, a flower, and I wrote your name as well". Just had to get a couple of shots.

Wishing you all a Happy Morning!

Some Christmas cheer on New Year Eve

As I have promised, here are some of my favourite outtakes from my Christmas card shot. I will share my whole process with you, so a little warning, this post has a lot of photos! .

I really wanted to shoot outside, unfortunately it was quite cold so we had to shoot twice, that's why there are two different outfits. Both times were very short, literally 15 minutes each.

Carly, who won the comtetition, sent me this most amazing e-mail packed with ideas and even images to show what she meant. I loved her idea for my girls to hold a blackboard with a chalk writing on it. I have tried practicing and soon realised there is no chance they will hold it together. So I needed two! Well, Lucy being an angel, tried her best to help me, but Klara had other plans. Very cute though J!

 

 

Another idea which I was doing at the same time was to try and shoot as they decorate the tree. Since we went there twice, it has became "our big Christmas tree". We had a very small one this year so if certain someone tries to pull a decoration off it, no damage would happen.

And I really wanted to get a shot of both of them walking and holding hands:

I found two quotes about Christmas that I really liked and they helped me to choose the final image. Well, it was a tie between two images:

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." - Burton Hillis

And here is my chosen "official" image:

"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?" - Bob Hope

I'm glad I found time to do it even though December was so busy. I shoot almost every day and A few of those images will definately be framed and we had a great time decorating "our" big Christmas tree.

I hope you all had a nice Christmas and I wish you a great New Year! I am looking forward to it and everything it will bring all of us!

Merry Christmas 2011!!!

My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? - Bob Hope

Merry Christmas, everyone! Have a wonderful time with your families this Christmas and all year around! Thank you all for your support, it means a lot to me.

And a special thank you to all those who sent me Christmas card ideas, especially Carly :) I will be posting lots of my favourite outtakes next week.

A wee bit of heaven...

A wee bit of heaven
drifted down from above-
A handful of happiness,
a heart full of love.

The mystery of life,
so sacred and sweet-
The giver of joy
so deep and complete.

Precious and priceless,
so lovable, too-
The world’s sweetest miracle,
baby, is you.
~ Helen Steiner Rice

My favourite part of the session was watching the little tiny 10 days old baby fall asleep in her mum's arms... The way she looked a her - so much trust in her eyes.. Newborn babies are so amazing, so fragile but so strong at the same time. So dependant on their mum and dad, they find comfort in being next to those whose voices they have been listening to for many months..

 

 

 

 

A little competition - need your help!

Well, my dear blog readers, I need your help! So here is our little pre-Christmas competition, and the winner will be able to receive a free photosession with me plus 8x10 print.
For the last 3 years I have ordered my own Christmas cards and it's quite a big deal for me. A tradition I would like to keep up... Usually I have quite a few ideas that I try and then choose the image that "clicks". I love the challenge and it's my big creative project. I love the "outtakes" as well.. Even more, I know everyone who normally gets the card will be very disapponted if they will receive a "normal" card this year.

But here is my problem! My inspiration has gone somewhere! I find it very hard to really get into Christmas mood when it's raining outside and the leaves are still falling... I have even put our fairy lights up already and even watched "It's a worderful life" one or (two) times, but no solid ideas that would even be worth trying.

So I need your help, I need your ideas! Anything... a great quote about Christmas, a good location, links to some outfits, as elaborate or as basic as you want. The only big requirement - both of my girls should be together in it. Inside/outside, doesn't matter. Some kind of a set up where they will be able to just be themselves and I will be able to catch that one moment.

Here are the previous Chrismas cards:

2008

2009

 

2010

Of course your ideas are welcome whereever you are, but the session should be within 10 miles radius of BS32, Bristol. So, if you are interested, please send me an e-mail to tamara@tphotography.co.uk with "Christmas Card" in the subject!

Can't wait to read your ideas! And please, share this with your family and friends.