Monday, February 21, 2011

Welcome to the World, Baby Clay {Newborn Session}

Yesterday I had the pleasure of photographing Baby Clay, who made his grand entrance last Sunday afternoon.

Since this was my very first newborn photo session, I did everything I could do to be prepared. I scoured the internet looking for ideas of what props I could use, and tips for posing newborns. I made a huge list of possible photos I wanted to take. Since the photo session was taking place at my house, I got everything all gathered and set up. I charged my camera batteries, and made my husband act as my model while I checked the lighting in the area where I had decided to shoot.

I had envisioned Clay sleeping through most of the photo session, while we positioned him in all sorts of cute little poses with his bare little bottom up in the air.

Only Clay had other plans!

Not only did he stay awake for almost the entire photo session, but the only way he would stop crying was if he was fully covered and allowed to lay on his side, or else was being held. So, I quickly tossed my plans out the window and re-evaluated. I always want my photography to reflect real life, so if Baby Clay was going to be awake and interactive then that was what we were going to capture during our photo session.

This first shot is one of the few we captured of him sleeping...


Couldn't you just eat those toes up! I cannot believe how tiny his little feet are...


Another one of the rare sleeping pics...


Another photo with Ric holding Clay...


It's just not a newborn session without this photo, right?...


All wrapped up and happy...


Tracy with Clay...


Isn't he just the picture of perfection?...


Congratulations, Ric and Tracy! I am so happy for both of you and your new little guy. Thank you so much for allowing me to photograph this special time in your lives. I wish all of you a lifetime filled with love and laughter.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Alex + Olivia's Sneak Peek

How about photos of the most ADORABLE couple ever, just in time for Valentine's Day?

A few weeks ago, I asked for a couple to volunteer to brave the cold and snow to be subjects for a winter photo session and Alex and Olivia were brave enough to agree to a session with me.  I warned them that they could expect to get cold and wet during the session, and I did not disappoint.  By the time the photo shoot was over they had been sitting, laying, and tromping in the snow piles, but I think the end result is some pretty great photos.

My awesome hubby, Kevin, was kind enough to tag along with us to the session to hold my camera bag and props for me, since I couldn't just sit them in the grass like I do during warm weather shoots. He was a real trooper, especially because our photo session got started bright and early at 8:00 AM!

This first one is one of my husband's favorites from the day.  I have seen a lot of photos of Alex on Facebook, and he always has THE BEST smile in every photo, and today was no different...


Kevin and Alex have been friends for a long time, and the two of them kept Olivia and I entertained during our ride between shoot locations with stories of their bike riding adventures from when they were kids.

I love this photo!  It was so awesome to finally see a little bit of blue sky peeking out after weeks of nothing but grey. Plus Olivia's gorgeous pink coat looks amazing against it...


Can we say adorable?...


Alex and Olivia are both college students. Alex wants to be a dentist and Olivia wants to be a dental hygienist. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me!

This is another of my favs. They just look so sweet, don't they?...


I fell in love with Olivia's scarf the moment I saw it! What a great accessory to add some fun and brightness to the photos on a cold winter day...



As we were walking by, Olivia pointed out this awesome tree to me. Once I saw it, I knew we had to get this photo in front of it!...


I asked Alex to sit down in front of this fence, not realizing just how much snow was piled up in front of it. He sank in with just his knees and torso sticking out of the snow, but he just went with it...


Both of these two were amazing to work with. They were so willing to try anything I suggested, and they were nothing but smiles the entire time.

When I asked for volunteers for the winter session, I suggested that the potential subjects be able to rock a winter hat. I'd say Olivia more than succeeded, wouldn't you?  She is totally rocking this adorable pink hat. And how about those GORGEOUS eye? I could see how amazing they looked in this photo through the lens!...


Thanks again for volunteering, and for being so accommodating to all of my crazy requests. You guys were awesome to photograph.  I wish you both lots of luck with your future careers. And, I hope you have an amazing Valentine's Day together.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Feeding Frenzy

I SWORE to myself that I wasn't going to pick up my camera today for anything other than today's joy of love class assignment. I am thoroughly enjoying the class, but it is time consuming taking photos for the class every single day.

For me, being behind my camera is an addiction. The more time I spend behind it, the more I want to be behind it, and before I know it all I'm doing is taking photos and editing photos, while the rest of my world is falling in around me. Kind of like it is right now! And I still have a little editing to do on the baby shower photos a took a few weeks ago, and on the winter photos I took a few days ago. So, I promised myself no more personal photos until I was caught up.

Things never work out according to plan in my life!

I got home from work this afternoon, and Lexi would not stop barking at the windows. I finally got up to see what had her attention and saw that there were TONS of birds swarming around outside. I went into the kitchen and there were probably 40 - 50 birds in the tiny cherry tree right outside the window, feeding on the cherries that were still hanging on the tree.

I grabbed my camera and ran outside to try to get some photos, but I scared half of them away when I opened the door so this was the best I got...


As I continued trying to take photos, more and more of the birds got scared off. I'd go back inside and they'd come back to the tree, but they'd fly off as soon as I'd go back outside again. I finally decided to just pop the screen off of the window and take the photos from inside. Luckily, the windows weren't too dirt!

You can see from the photo above that the sky had a distinct line between the bright blue sky and the clouds, so depending on where in the tree each bird was located, the background varies.  It almost looks like the photos were taken on different days!

Here are a handful of the awesome shots I got...



















Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Bare Branches

This afternoon I ended up with some unexpected free time, and decided to head to downtown Fort Wayne to shoot some winter photographs.

This was one of my favs that I captured today...


Nothing says winter quite like bare tree branches topped with snow.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.