All images from this session are available at www.pictage.com/888938

All images from this portrait session are available for viewing & purchase: www.pictage.com/876341

I also think one of the biggest dangers for an artist, and really for us all, is comparison. I recently watched a documentary about Annie Leibovitz and couldn’t help but think, “Wow. Now SHE is a photographer. I just dabble, but she is the real deal.” I look at other people’s photographs and think, “Now that is great photography!! hmm. What am I doing??” Then I run into someone randomly who says, “Regina, I’ve been following your work for years and it is amazing. I can’t tell you how much I love it!” I’m taken aback, flattered, surprised, wonder if she’s really talking to ME. I realize some people look at MY work and think, “Wow, she is the real deal.” But I don’t really FEEL like that.

Almost every edit I do follows the same pattern of mental dialogue. If you must know, it goes something like this…I start by looking through the raw, unedited mass of images: “Oh my gosh, really, Regina, you have GOT to figure out how to focus…maybe I need a new camera, ahhhhhh, what were you doing??! Well, you almost got it but not quite. Ugh, they paid how much for this? Why do you insist and shooting against this window?? blah, blah, blah.” Next phase, I’ve narrowed down 600 images to 180-ish decent images; I know I want to be closer to 50-75 of the very best, most perfect shots so I’m choosing roughly one out of three images. “OK, that’s a good one, this one is better than that one; yes, this is a little blurry but what a fabulous moment! This exact image was worth the entire photo shoot.” I’ve got my final edit and I do my processing/tweaking. Drop them in a slideshow, choose my song, watch the slideshow and get completely choked up. It is beautiful. And real. No one is photoshoped, no one is smiling unnaturally, the kids are just doing whatever it is they do, the interactions and expressions are genuine, and these images will be timeless for this family.

OK, I’m no Annie Leibovitz, or any of the other massively talented photographers, I’m just me and I shoot the way I shoot. People often ask me, “How can I niche myself as a photographer when there are SOOOO many of us??” My response is always, “you just have to stay true to yourself. That’s it. That’s the only way. Don’t try to copy other people’s styles, don’t try to shoot the way you think your clients want you to shoot, do a tight final edit of the images that YOU love best, show only what you love.”

Without further ado (if you’re still even reading this!!) I am so excited to share this set of images with you!

 
While new baby Melanie is getting prepped for her shoot, Adeline and I are just hanging out.

This little buttercup is all of two weeks old! She’s not sure about this business of laying in basins and whatnot, but can’t help but notice the overhead lights.
 
I cannot get over how adorable the print is on this blanket- not to mention the baby!!
Adeline is still getting used to the idea of a new kid on the block so we just let her kind of hang out in the background for a while.  
Eventually she warmed to the idea (or maybe she was just tired of Melanie occupying the spotlight!) This is the first time she gets to hold her baby sister.
Yeah, the whole family! This is a super tricky set of ages to get in a family shot!! But this whole series just makes me smile.
First sister kiss!!!
We always try to end on a high note so baby portrait sessions only take about 40-60 minutes. While Matt is getting Adeline ready to go I snuck this last shot of Jessie with her newest little one. So pretty.

Thank you SOOOO much Jessie & Matt for coming in and bringing me your gorgeous girls to photograph! A treat!

The Bliss Family Online Gallery is available here: www.pictage.com/840165

When Dan & Christy walked into my studio with this little button of a baby girl and she smiled up at me, I was undone. I melted on the spot. I thought, “a 3-month old baby girl is my most favorite thing in the world to photograph!” I had a delightful time with them and my heart is still dripping with delirium as I share my favorite images with you!

Zadie’s favorite song is "Wheels On the Bus.” Works like a charm!
I was SO excited to pull out this vintage sheet I’ve had tucked away all these years! It was perfect for this particular day & baby!
   

These shots with the little big sister or brother-to-be checking out the pregnant belly of their mom is about as adorable as it gets! And so very profound. I often wish I had an image of me with my mother when she was pregnant with my brother, Daniel. It would be such a treasure. Sometimes I wonder how much of my work is trying to create images for people that I wish I had for myself. What are the most priceless images you own? How do you have them displayed and/or archived? Share with the class in a comment below!

Maria brought this scarf from home and it was unbelievable cool on her belly!!
Kaliyah has a new baby brother or sister coming soon! And she’s not so sure about things at the moment. Maria says she is going a little bananas because Kaliyah prefers to be wrapped around her neck at all times! Can any of you mommies relate to that?  This yoga pose was for real. Kaliyah was kind of freaking out so Peter was having a moment with her outside. I asked Maria if she practiced yoga and if so, perhaps this was a good time to center and “come into her breath!” I love that we were able to create such gorgeous images in the midst of what felt like a very chaotic and emotional photo session. This is definitely what I do best- somehow!

Ross, the daddy, emailed me today and it made me smile inside and out:

“Thank you so much for the maternity photos, they are beautiful.  You have made my wife feel wonderful in her last few weeks of pregnancy.  I see how beautiful she is every day, but she needed a reminder. ”

Alli had no intention of having HER photo taken during this photo shoot. We all know how mommies feel for about 5-10 years after having babies, but we ALSO know how strongly I feel about capturing a few gorgeous images of the moms. You are more beautiful than you realize. Trust your husband, your mother, your friends and your photographer!! These images will be TREASURED by your children, I promise you.

I am delighted to present Recherché’s Best Children, Family & Maternity Portraits of 2009! We had a very difficult time narrowing this set down. So much so that we decided just to create a slideshow of the final selections. Enjoy! Please share with friends & family! Looking forward to working with you in this new year!

~CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SLIDESHOW~

Time is just flying by. This sweet baby has become a toddler. I’ve photographer her parents’ wedding, her sister’s first 2 years and now it’s her turn! She is just a doll baby and I had so much fun photographing her in her home. She doesn’t realize this now, but her mom is brilliant and impassioned artist, visual merchandiser and refinisher! Reb has been my friend for a decade (!) and has helped me not only furnish my home but has helped to arrange the furniture in EVERY place I’ve lived and worked! There is no way to count the number of phone calls she has received from me in a composition panic and arrived within 48 hours to quell the crisis. She is a kindred spirit in that she understands my perfectionist nature and my desperate need for beauty and order in my surroundings. And she has always helped me accomplish that. I am delighted to be able to create gorgeous images of her children to help balance the scales a bit! She ran Good Use for 8 years and is now refinishing people’s kitchens and bathrooms. Do you need a fresh look in your home but don’t have the funds or energy to gut the space? Hire Reb! Check out her website and be prepared to be wowed!!