New Year Special!

2009 only has a few hours left. My pricing and policies are changing dramatically in 2010. Take advantage of this special offer - a discount off my 2009 prices - before the 2010 pricing takes affect.

Use coupon code NewYear and receive 15% off your order.

Offer is good today and tomorrow only. The coupon will expire tomorrow at midnight.

And, because I'm quite happy about a fresh start in 2010 - another special for today and tomorrow only...

Book your 2010 session before midnight tomorrow and reserve the $150 session fee. Please note - the $50 print credit will not be applied to 2010 sessions. $150 is for my time only.

Thank you all for a very busy 2009! Can't wait to see what fun we come up with in 2010!

{Pediatric} {Boutique}

SO ... do you follow me on Facebook and Twitter?

If you do, you may have seen my post/tweet last night. The one that prompted multiple messages and emails. The one about my latest epiphany. The one that sums up the changes coming to ccphotodesign.

Exactly WHAT am I talking about?

It occurred to me in the last few weeks as I was drowning in work, struggling to keep up and consequently spending a LOT of face to face time with my own images... that I am actually NOT a lifestyle photographer. I've called myself that for years because I knew I wasn't a traditional photographer. If you're not a traditional photographer - then you must be a lifestyle photographer right? I mean, that's the conclusion one would come to when blindly following the industry forums and watching the leading industry photographers.

Now, before I go on, please know - I AM NOT BASHING ANYBODY (well, anybody but myself). I have dear dear friends who are lifestyle photographers and fantastic ones at that. There are photographers that I follow and admire who are absolutely lifestyle photographers. There are also photographers I follow who are traditional photographers. The point is, just like there are landscape photographers, wedding photographers, fashion photographers, food photographers... (I could go on and on)... there are different portrait photographers as well.

I knew I loved photography in a non-traditional way. I've been an artist far longer than I've been a photographer - so obviously I knew I was an artist. But I got wrapped up in trying to be what I thought everyone wanted me to be. I followed - and I did it blindly.

I have made a decision. It's a hard one...

I. Will. Not. Follow. Anymore.

I am me and I will be me in my work from now on. I will forge a new path. Are there others out there that do the same thing I do. Oh, I'm sure of it. But it's a new path for me. A new path for my customers. Possibly a new path for KC.

My dear fans, customers and friends.

I am a pediatric boutique photographer.

{Pediatric} - noun

the branch of medicine concerned with the development and care of babies and children.

Ohhh... I know... I am NOT medicine. No way, no how. But I could think of no better word to describe the age I photograph. If you go to a pediatrician, I will photograph you. If you are too old for a pediatrician... I will kindly send you to one of my fab fab friends who photograph a variety of ages. (btw, if you want the best pediatrician or pediatric dentist in town - email me - I know them!)

-a note - I will photograph the parents of the children as long as they are with the child.

{Boutique} - noun

1. a small shop, esp. one that sells fashionable clothes and accessories or a special selection of other merchandise.

2. any small, exclusive business offering customized service

3. a small business, department, etc., specializing in one aspect of a larger industry.

Stay tuned for more information and a one-time special offer tomorrow!

Merry Christmas from the Carver Family

I know I haven't blogged lately. So unlike me. But you see... I was working ridiculous hours to tie things up before Christmas. Then - like every year - I was struck by the flu the minute I slowed down. So, I spent Christmas week with the flu. Ickk. My body is very angry with me. Too many work hours, no play, no sleep, no family time. Yes, my body has started a war with itself.

Why am I sharing this with you? It's important to know this - to understand where I am coming from as I do a series of blogs this week. Important information is to follow. One-time specials will be posted only on the blog. Follow the studio on Facebook and Twitter to get first-hand news that the specials have been posted!

And below is the reason for all of this. The reason for the studio, the policies, the work, the inspiration.

My Family.

Merry Christmas to all from the the Carvers! And thank you, Kami & Jamie for shooting rare shots of all 5 of us (I am actually IN the PHOTOS!!)

see - even the often-photographed child has meltdowns in a shoot!

attitude adjustment - it's actually the perfect shot of our family!

notice the youngest is eating his marshmallow

Christmas Baby

By now, you may have figured out that I love newborns. Heart them. There's something so calming about them. So sweet and warm - and they smell so good {c'mon don't deny it - there's a newborn smell. you can smell it when you walk into any maternity ward - it's fab.}

So the newbies are special to me. But people, if you know me, you know that my favorite time of year is Christmas. So obviously the Christmas babies are double special. Magical.

The Stork and Santa teamed up this year to make an early Christmas Delivery. Welcome to the world little "A."

doesn't want to sleep - might miss something

getttttinggg sllllleeeeeepyyyy

and she's out

Mirror Image

Are you ever out and about and see someone... and you think "oh...that must be what I look like." Now, I don't mean your physical appearance. I mean - like when I see a mother with infant twins - I think "oh...that must have been what I looked like when the twins were little." {that would be tired, wearing sweats and balancing two babies and two bottles while pushing a shopping cart}.

When this family showed up for their session - I thought "oh! this is exactly opposite of what my family must look like!" Three girls. Girly girly girls. Basically the same ages as my kids. So, I guess that wouldn't be opposite - but follow with me anyway. The girls hugged each other, sang, danced and had plenty of information on Hannah Montana to share with me. Now see - I told you - opposite. My boys wrestle, make strange noises and have plenty of information on Star Wars. {don't read this wrong - I still LOVE being a boy momma}

The other opposite? These three were perfectly well behaved. Mine {lately} have been perfectly naughty.

I won't elaborate any more. It's 2am. On Sunday. On Thanksgiving weekend. I am now headed to bed people! "T" family, enjoy your sneak peek and thank you for a fun afternoon!

'Twas the Month Before Christmas...

When all through Johnson County
Moms are begging for smiles

with suckers and candy

The children are all dressed

in red down to their toes

and I and my Canon...

are gonna need a long winter's nap

{sorry - my brain is too fried to come up with something that rhymes with toes at the moment}

Daddy's Boy

Not often you hear that phrase is it? Daddy's girl ... Momma's boy - those are the phrases we're used to hearing. And it's usually quite true. Why is it that little boys love their mommas so - and little girls melt their fathers in an instant? One of the wonders of the world.

But this little guy - he is absolutely enamored with his father. Now, don't get me wrong - clearly he loves his Momma. He flashes a huge grin when he catches a glimpse of her. But people - he looks at his Dad with the adoration and amusement you'd expect to see in a Norman Rockwell painting. It's such a {I wanna be JUST like him} look.

This session reminded me of the phrase {or is it a poem?}...

"When you thought I wasn't looking... I looked"

Check it out! I can roll over!

{btw-the backdrop is much more interesting than the crazy lady with the camera}