MAGGIE HOLMES Photography and Scrapbooking Blog

Photography: Looking Back

I don't always have the time to get to all of the photos that I take of my kiddos which means I usually have quite the backlog!

Even though I have my post processing workflow down to a science, it still takes time and life keeps moving along at lighting speed. I wish there was a way to snap my fingers and have all my photos sorted, processed, edited, backed up and printed in an instant!

I'll keep wishing, but for now I wanted to share some older photos that I was editing this week.

I love this last one of all of them. Nathan just looks exactly like him with his chin resting on his hand like that without me even telling him to. And Matthew was being so attentive to Lizzy Kate, making sure that she was ok and trying to hold her just right. He has always been so nurturing and careful and sweet with her. 

Going back through all of these has made me even more thankful that:

1......I have this huge backlog of photos in the first place. I'd rather have a backlog than no photos at all!

2.....I am able to capture and photograph these moments of my kiddos. There is nothing greater than having all of these photos that depict them and their cute personalities at each age of their lives.

3.....I learned how to use a DSLR all those years ago, so that I can not only snap away whenever I want but do it with confidence that the pictures will turn out!

I've already sent this batch to be printed and can't wait to get them back so I can start scrapbooking with them!

Life: Fall, Floods & Cardigans

Another month has flown by and boy has it been a CRAZY month for us!!

We moved, went out of town for a few days & then came home to a flooded house... so now we are living in a hotel until they get it all fixed....  then we will move back in! What a whirlwind right? 

Fall is definitely in the air and I am loving the cooler temps! It means I get to start wearing all of my beloved cardigans every single day!! Yay!!

Trying to figure out what the kids will be for Halloween today since we have our ward Trunk Or Treat tomorrow night and then we will be working on school projects over the weekend.

Tis the season for fall photo shoots and they are now officially in full swing! 

Elizabeth Kate is a joyful happy mile a minute and she is talking up a storm. My favorite thing she says is "what?" when you call her name or ask her a question! Haha! Silly girl!

xoxoxo.... maggie

 

Photography: Utah Family Photo Shoot

Hi there! Popping in to share some photos from one of the sessions that I had up in Utah over the summer. I have been photographing this family for a few years now and it is always a pleasure to see them, catch up and take their pictures.

My favorite part about this session is that this little guy woke up the next morning and asked if he could go see me again! That's what I call a successful photo shoot!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Also there are still some spots open in my next Online Photography Workshop: Photography 101.

Class starts October 1st! You will be all set to go in time to capture amazing photos for the holidays!

In the 101 class you will learn things like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, metering, exposure, basic lighting, posing, creativity and composition..... It's really everything you need to get going -- whether you are just barely starting to figure out your camera or you have been shooting for a while but are still nervous to go into manual mode. This is the class for you!

You can find all of the details about the class and the link to register right on my website:

Maggie Holmes Design Online Photography Classes.

Oh and don't forget about the private message board. That is where you can post all of your weekly assignments and get individualized and detailed feedback and constructive critiques on your photos. You can also ask me questions the entire time on the message board as well as chat with the other students in the class. "See" you in class!!

Photography: SO Much Personality!!

There are some kiddos that I could take pictures of for hours on end. This little guy was one of them!

He was oozing with personality and had me cracking up the entire session! Can you believe how adorable he is? 

This next series of photos had me giggling again to myself as I was editing them. What a little cutie! You can't script this stuff! I am just thankful I get to be there to capture it on film for them!

And yes, we did take some more traditional family shots as well.... How adorable are they?

These were favorites as well...

Thanks for an amazing session Johnson family! It was a pleasure!

Creating Keepsakes {{Giveaway}}

I have another giveaway for you today! I am super excited about this one because it is very personal to me!

Do you recognize this sweet baby girl?

Yep, it is Elizabeth Kate! I was honored when the editors at Creating Keepsakes asked me to feature a photo of her on the cover of the March/April 2012 issue! And I got to create the layout as well!

The issue is on sale now and can be purchased on the Creating Keepsakes website.

Here is a little sneak peek inside the issue. This is a layout I created using some Instagram photos and I also shared some photo tips as well.

I am giving away one copy of this issue and will draw the winner at random. To enter, leave a comment on this post.

The other dream team members are participating in the blog hop as well which means you can visit their sites and enter to win there too! Now you will have more chances to win! Good luck!

Hope Smythe

Laura Vegas

Paper Crafts Magazine

Erika Hayes

Piradee Talvanna

Deena Boese

Also, did you know that Creating Keepsakes has online extras (including contests, downloads and techniques) that coordinate with each issue? Be sure to check it out!!

Colorful Kisses....

Heading back up to Utah for SPARK this weekend! I will be demoing and selling the latest Studio Calico products including the mists, masks and stamp sets!! I hope to see you there!!

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In case you missed it, my NEW WEBSITE is now live!! Please go there to purchase my PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS (for the most current versions) and to register for my ONLINE PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES! We are in the middle of my last class for 2011 but I have some 2012 classes open for registration already and people are signing up!! It's the perfect thing to put on your Christmas wishlist.... just make sure to give your list to your hubby or mom or best friend early so you get signed up before it fills up!

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It rained a lot and even SNOWED when I was up in Utah with my kiddos for fall break! They sure loved making snow balls and playing in it but I was a little upset that it interfered with my plans for taking LOTS of pictures while we were there at all my favorite Utah locations! I had even scouted out some new ones that I wanted to try but it didn't happen so I guess it will have to wait! Boo!

On our way out of town..... literally...... we stopped really QUICK to take some last minute pictures. I haven't even looked through all of them but I just saw this one and had to open it and do a quick edit. I am in LOVE with the COLOR and the KISSES!! These two are like 2 peas in a pod -- very similar personalities!! When they are not driving me a wee bit crazy with their ENDLESS energy, they are making me smile and laugh and they most definitely always make me feel LOVED!

Hope you have a colorful weekend!! If you need some creative inspiration come see me at SPARK!!!

Time to Share Some PHOTOS!!

Well sheesh! It is about time I shared some photos! I have been crazy crazy editing and editing my little life away these past few weeks! By now I know to expect it this time of year and I try to gear up for it but at the same time I seem to forget how super busy it can be! I become like a little hermit in here on the computer staring at all of my beautiful clients every day!

Wow, I have lots of fun shoots to share from this past couple of months and I doubt I will even get the time to post them all on here but I will try! Here are a few from a cute family that I photographed again this year. It's amazing how much this little cutie has grown since the last time I saw her!

 

 

Emily's Birthday Party

I simply cannot believe she is 3 years old already! She is all girl - full of sweetness, cuteness, drama, sass, giggles.... you name it! She loves everything pink and anything related to baby dolls, princesses, dress up, make up, and lipstick. 

She also loves to sing. She sings to us ALL the day long every single day. She will sing songs that are real songs like "Twinkle Twinkle" and "I am a Child of God" and then she will also make up her own songs as she goes along. Those ones will sometimes last for a LONG time..... she looks around the room as she sings and adds in whatever she can think of. They often sound something like this:

"I am so cute and beautiful and my mom is so beautiful and cuuuuuuuute..... My daddy is coming home and he will get me and he will stay home with me for the whole day and he will never leave again ever my life......... etc etc etc." It is quite amusing and very endearing. I can sit and listen/watch her do this for hours! Sometimes one song will literally last 15 minutes!

She will also say things to me randomly throughout the day like:

"You are my sweetheart and my best friend."

"Mom, I love you soooooooo much, ever my life." 

"Mom, you look beautiful today. Your hair looks pretty like a princess."

How can you not feel great about yourself when she is around? :) Oh, I just adore her!

Needless to say we had a PINK birthday party for her. She called it her "pink princess party" and we are still talking about it. She thinks she is going to have it again every day. Her favorite things were all the jewelry and lip gloss and of course the pink frosting! Oh, and I think she also liked the fact that everyone was doting over her. 

I love fussing over all of the party decorations and I tend to go all out, but hey it only comes around once a year! I spent the day making the decorations and the cupcakes and getting it all set up - so fun!

 

 

 

 

 

This next photo is one of my favorites from the day because of the expression on Matthew's face. He is always soooooo into birthday parties, even if they aren't his and it's all he can do to resist from jumping in and opening up the presents for the birthday girl/boy. In fact before this shot was taken we had to kindly remind him numerous times to step back and let her do it on her own. So I love this shot because you can see how excited and happy is for her - such a proud big brother standing over there looking over her and being there to help her but also doing a great job of not taking over and doing it all for her. So sweet!

 

All three of her big brothers and her cousin Sadie surrounding her and "oohing" and "aaahhing" over each little thing!

 

Lots of kisses for my Mimi as usual!

And a couple shots we took outside before the party started.

 

This is her best picture taking face lately..... she sees the camera and pulls out her biggest, cheesiest, squinty-eyed smile that she can possibly muster! We adore this look too!!

  

      

Blog Tour Day 2 and a Utah Photo Shoot

Moving right along with the Ella Publishing Blog Tour, here are two more links to two of my fellow nominees and there are more prizes up for grabs today! 

Click on the links below to say hello to today's spotlighted bloggers and enter to win! 

 

 

(Jenni Bowlin will be posting later tonight so her info may not be up yet.)

You can learn more about the MISA award, the other nominees and the blog tour at the Ella Publishing Blog. (They have a special section for the award! How fun is that!) 

Keep checking back each day for more links and more prizes!!!

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Today we are staying inside and avoiding the heat! I am editing images from some photo shoots that I did while we were in Utah. And it is making me miss the green and trees and the beautiful weather!

        

  

 

 

 
 

Another Year Gone...

I found myself looking back at some old photos tonight and can't get over how much Emily Jane has grown this last year! I took these almost a year ago and can't believe how much she has changed!

 

 

She just turned three this week and while I love the age she is at now and I adore everything about her right now, I also can't stand the fact that another year is gone and she is turning into a little girl.

It's one of those things that I have a hard time figuring out in life... always looking forward with excitement about growth and change and what lies ahead and yet always feeling equally sad about how quickly it all gets left in the past and wishing I could somehow slow it all down or even freeze us in time.

   

 

I guess that's what a picture does -- freezes things for us in a sense so that we can look back and remember.... but I can't get over the longing to be able to jump back there for a little while... just for a bit -- to squeeze those cheeks that are not looking quite as chubby lately... or to have her be excited and anxious about holding my hand while crossing the street instead of wanting to run off ahead.... or just to sit and be with her -- taking it all in, soaking it all up, savoring and treasuring every single second and making sure that I would know how quickly the moment would be gone.