MAGGIE HOLMES Photography and Scrapbooking Blog

Happy Easter!

Hi! Just popping in to say that I hope you all had a great day today! I love Easter! Such a great time to reflect and focus on Christ and be with family. I love it! 

We also had General Conference this weekend so we watched that as well. Lots of great messages about parenting this time and it was a good reminder for me to keep a strong focus on being as good of a mother as I can possibly be! There is always room for improvement and I am inspired to step it up a notch and switch around some of my priorities. The last thing I want to do is look back after my children are grown and gone and feel like I didn't do enough or that I didn't spend enough time just being with them and making sure they know I love and adore them!

On another note Emily Jane is obsessed with bunny rabbits lately! She found and fell in love with a particular "bunny book" that we have and has since gathered quite a collection of books with bunnies in them - both from books we already had and a few new ones as well. She HAS to sleep with them every night and literally sleeps with them all over her. If I try to go in and move them she will wake up and say "My bunny book, my bunny book" in complete distress. 

Then since the stores have been stocked full of all kinds of bunnies for Easter she has also acquired a small collection of stuffed bunnies as well. My mom bought her one and then we have bought her a few little ones over the last few weeks as well..... just establishing the basis for the next part of the story.

Anyway, last week my sister in law and I saw a sign on the road that said "bunnies for sale or rent" and we decided it would be perfect for a little photo shoot given Emily's love of bunnies! The next day we had our daughters dressed up and ready to go along with a quilt and a beautiful location. We stopped by and picked up two white bunnies on the way and we were in business. It was great! 

As we figured she would be, Emily was actually quite scared or "gared" in her words of the live bunnies. She would only dare touch them when they were sitting and not moving. As soon as they would jump or start to move at all she would start squealing and get "gared" again. Then at one point she also named the one with darker ears "the blue one bunny" and she decided she didn't like it. So she would say "I don't like that blue one bunny" and cry until we got it off the blanket. She is a nut!! (At almost 3 she still doesn't know her colors except for pink even though we have tried and tried to teach her.... but that is another story.)

     

Scrapbook Q&A

Thought I would answer some questions that were asked about my Studio Calico layouts.

keri said...

so cute. as always. love all the colors. and the tidbits. you've really helped teach me how to make use of all my scrap pieces. i was just wondering about the heart pieces you used on the "us" layout. the tape piece (at least i think it's tape) and the heart keylock. i can't seem to find them as part of any SC kit. then again, maybe i'm not looking hard enough.

The heart keylock is a new Martha Stewart punch that I just got! It punches out a little key too! So cute! The strip of hearts in the middle of the page is a piece that I cut from one of the papers in the kit. It's on the back of one of the papers so that's why you couldn't find it. It is in the Add On Patterned Paper kit (still available here). It is the back of the My Mind's Eye be loved Sweet Hearts paper. 

LindaC said...

love, love, love these layouts and would LOVE some info about the dotted line journaling stamp. Your work is fab and i am a big fan!

The dotted line journaling stamp was in the Scones add on kit which is sold out unfortunately. But there is a similar one right here that I also love!

micheller said...

It's beginning to annoy me that your misting always looks so great and mine just looks like I let my two year old loose with paint. :) Is there a secret to it that I'm not getting? Really, your layouts look fab!

When I started reading this comment I got a little scared.... wondering how I annoyed you! :) But then I felt better after reading the whole comment! haha! You are sweet! I think the key is to go easy with it and spray it lightly from further away. I always start light and then add more if I want it darker. I also typically spray it on an angle rather than straight on. Hope that helps!

Let me know if you have any other questions! And just because posts are boring without a photo I will share a couple more of Emily from her Christmas dress shoot!

 Have a great day!

Christmas in February??!?

Wow, two posts in one day! That is very rare for me!

I took Emily out one morning last week so I could get some pictures of her in her Christmas dress or her "Chris Chris dress" as she calls it. Things like Christmas dresses just seem more cute and more sweet when they are little like this. I didn't get the chance to do this in December but knew that I would regret not taking her out so I figured that February is just as good in the grand scheme of things! Right? 

She is definitely at a difficult age for taking pictures... not as anxious to sit still and smile for me as she once was! :) But, I took my best assistant, Matthew, and together we got some fun shots! He is great at holding my reflector and also getting her to be happy or to giggle when the time is right! (He can make anyone smile with his cute personality!)

I have been dying to edit these and couldn't wait any longer so I pulled one into Photoshop tonight and ran one of my actions super quick. I know I always say it but I simply can't get enough of her. I have lots more to play around with and can't wait to print the photos so I can start scrapping them!! It makes it even more fun when you have pictures that you love and are anxious to work with!!

P.S. My March beginner/intermediate Photography Workshop is filling up quickly! If you want a spot, don't wait to register!! I always feel so bad after they fill up and I get emails from people saying that they waited too long and didn't get in! Will also be announcing the next Advanced Workshop soon. If you are on the waiting list, you will get first priority so watch for the email!

Workshops Update

Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a great weekend! Just popping in to give some updates on my photography workshops:

1. The Feb 1st Advanced workshop is now full. I will be doing another one this year. If you want to be added to the wait list please email me at maggieATmaggieholmesphotographyDOTcom. Those on the wait list will have first chance at registering for the next workshop. 

2. I sent out an email last night to those that are registered for the Feb 1st workshop. If you did not receive the email, please email me asap. Remember that unless you notify me otherwise, the only email address I have for you is the one linked to your paypal account. 

3. Registration is open for my next beginner/intermediate workshop which runs March 15th - April 24th. It is also filling up quickly so if you are interested, please register early. Now that I am doing the advanced workshop as well, there will be more time in between each beginner/intermediate workshop.... which means that the next one after this one probably won't be until the summer.

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to email me!

And because blog posts are always better with a photo or two, I will leave you with a few more images from this shoot.

 

 

 

  
 
 
 Cutest girls! Don't you think? Have a great weekend!

Photography Workshops..... Update

Hi there! Happy Monday! It's a brand new week and a brand new year! I am super excited for twenty ten and all that it has in store! I have been going through my calendar this morning doing some planning and looking at some deadlines (for something that I am doing later this year that I am dying to share with you but can't yet). I can already feel the excitement of creativity and new adventures and can tell it is going to be a great year! 

I am looking forward to the start of a brand new advanced photography workshop that starts next month and am humbled at the amazing response I have had so far. There are just a couple of spots left for the February start date and I am looking at the calendar to set dates for another one. 

I also just opened up registration for my next beginner/intermediate class which will run from March 15th - April 24th. (registration link here)

Starting a new class today with a great group and looking forward to getting to know all of them better on the message board and seeing them go through the journey from shooting in auto to shooting completely in manual in just a few short weeks! That is the one thing I will never tire of -- seeing the quick progress that the students make and also hearing their excitement and surprise at how quickly they are able to make the jump into full manual mode! It is so rewarding as a teacher to see your students succeed and accomplish their goals!! I truly love it! (If you are signed up for the current class and haven't received an email from me, please email me asap! Remember that the only email I have is the one linked to your paypal account unless you have notified me otherwise.)

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On another note I just want to say thank you to all of my blog readers, clients, students and friends for making 2009 such a fabulous year! I truly appreciate all of you and am amazed all the time at your kindness, your sweet comments and emails, your support and friendship and the simple fact that you keep coming back to share this wonderful journey with me! I want to make sure you all know that I truly appreciate you and your support! Thank you!

Lots of shoots that I still need to showcase from the past few months.... here is one to get us started:

(You may recognize one of these cute girls.... her picture from another shoot we did a couple years back was featured on the cover of Creating Keepsakes Magazine! You can see it here!)

 

       

 What do you think? Aren't they the cutest family? And I was in love with their outfits and the truck that they lined up for us to use! It was such a fun shoot!! I still have some more to share from this one but thought I would break it up... more to come! I am off to try to make a dent in this scrapbook room/office of mine. It is quite a disaster and is in some serious need of cleaning and organization. I guess you could say that is number one on my to-do list for the year! Have a great Monday!

Starks Family: {Gilbert, Arizona Family Photographer}

I adored this family.... beautiful girls, amazing parents. 

I know it sounds a little cheesy but there are some people you just instantly connect with and the session feels more like a reunion with old friends than "working" with someone I have never met. 

This was one of those sessions for me.... I could have spent all day with them.

 

 

 

 

Sorry for the image overload! :) I just have too many favorites! How is your week going so far? It is crazy busy around here as I jumped right back into an insanely full schedule and am also trying to catch up on everything I missed while being gone to Africa. If you emailed me in the last few weeks and I haven't replied, please don't hesitate to email me again. It could take me quite a while to sift back through my very full inbox and I don't want to miss anybody!

In workshop news, my January beg/intermediate online photography workshop is filling up very quickly. If you are interested in joining me for the first class in 2010, please don't wait to register. Of course, there will be others next year but if you are counting on taking that first one I would recommend registering now! I will also be announcing the dates for the advanced workshop soon.... still trying to work out some of the details. I will be emailing those on the waiting list with the chance to register first before I open it to everyone. If you have already emailed me then you are on the list. I haven't been responding to those emails but just know that you are on there. If you have left a comment on my blog or on the message board of my current workshop, then I can't guarantee that you are on the list, so please make sure you email me directly to get on it.

I think that's it for now. I am off to get some more things done before the kiddos get home from school!

filed under: Maggie Holmes Photography, Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler Family and Kids Photographer, Photoshop and PSE Actions, Online Photography Workshop, Childrens Photographer in Arizona.

Sneak Peek for Smith Family: Utah Family Photographer

Busily trying to keep up with editing around here.... I try to give a sneak peek to every family but as we all know, that doesn't happen every time (especially this time of year). Some families will see their images for the first time when I present their entire online gallery.... Sorry I don't have time to give sneaks to everyone... and thanks for being patient!! I have the BEST clients!!

As usual, I am loving editing the images from my Utah mini sessions. I think it is safe to say I am in love with Utah photo shoots.... it's really a shame I can't go up there more often! 

I adored this cute family (and actually I adored all of the families I got to work with).... didn't I say I have the BEST clients?? :) Jenni and I were actually friends in high school but I didn't know it was her until I got to the shoot and recognized her. It was great to see her all these years later with her beautiful family. I wish we could have chatted more and caught up a bit but I was too busy snapping away with these cute kiddos....

 

 

 

 

 

I guess that was a little more than a sneak peek.... I couldn't resist! That first one of the kids is my fave!! I heart little girls in hats! It is just too cute!! 

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are all having a great week! We got our fall/halloween decorations up this week and so it finally feels a little fallish around here. We are trying to get to the pumpkin patch soon too since Brian and I will be in Africa later this month! Lots to do before then and lots of fun things I want to do with the kids while they are on fall break........I am feverishly working to tackle my to-do list and I have to say we are making good progress! 

filed under: Maggie Holmes Photography, Arizona and Utah family and children's photographer, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements actions, PSE actions

Sneak Peek for Rachael: Utah Children's Photographer

These are from one of my Utah mini sessions that I did last weekend. Can I just say that I am in love with this whole shoot? The girls were amazing to work with and so naturally beautiful and their outfits were right up my alley. And then to top it all off, the location was a dream...... something we just happened upon and it turned out to be amazing.... gorgeous color, gorgeous light..... It was like a little bit of paradise for me! Like I said.... I am in love!

 

 

 

I could seriously post them all because they are all my favorites.... maybe I will post another round of these later on.

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In other news I announced the dates and opened registration for my next photography workshop -- the first one for 2010. So if you didn't make it into this last one, now is your chance to jump on it and get in..... All of the details (including the link to register) are on my photography workshop blog here.

If you are interested in the advanced workshop, the dates for that will also be announced soon so keep checking back. Hope you all have a great weekend. I am off to do a Senior Photography Session tonight and then will be watching this on Saturday and Sunday. 

filed under: Maggie Holmes Photography, Arizona Family and Children's Photographer, Online Photography Workshop, Photography Class, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Actions, Actions for Photoshop and PSE

Arizona and Utah Mini Sessions: Maggie Holmes - Family and Children's Photographer

... there are still a few spots open for this Saturday's mini sessions in Arizona... If you are interested, all of the details can be found here.

Looking forward to meeting some new clients this weekend... fun families + a fun location + some fun props = a happy photographer! I know we are going to have a lot of fun!

Here are a few more shots from my Utah Mini Sessions... still more to share from these... slowly but surely I will get to all of them! :) 

love the drool on this one! so cute and so accurately represents that age!

this one is my fave... love his eyes and his expression and those perfect little lips!

no actually, i think this one is my favorite... normally you would think this image might be an outtake but i captured it on purpose when dad was helping him to get his hands in his pockets and get all set to go and i truly love it... i love that it depicts a loving father being right there to jump in and help his son out... teaching him and showing him how to do something new and making things just right!

There are also still some spots available for the Utah mini sessions that I am doing later in September (can't believe that September is already here btw! eek!!!)..... If you are interested in those, all of the details are here. Hope you are having a great week so far! Thanks for stopping by!

filed under: Maggie Holmes Photography, Utah Family Photographer, Arizona Family, Children's Photographer, Photographer in Utah, Photographer in Arizona, Mesa Arizona Photographer, Phoenix Family Photographer, Photoshop Actions, Actions for Photoshop Elements

Another Cute Utah Family: Maggie Holmes Photography - SLC Utah Mini Photography Sessions

Still have lots more pictures to share from my last round of Utah Mini Photography Shoots. Loved all the color in their clothing. In fact, I am actually related to them so I got to help style their shoot! :) I love helping with clothing choices so please don't hesitate to ask when you book a shoot with me! 

And here's a funny little story that I have to share because it helps to reiterate what I am always trying to explain to my clients: that color is good and you don't all have to match... you just have to "go" and pretty much any color in the rainbow "goes" so that means anything goes in my book and the more color the better! When we were picking clothes and styling their shoot they kept asking if I was sure it wasn't too much color and if I was sure it would all look ok together and I just kept telling them to trust me. Fast forward to the day of their shoot... it was my last one for that day and so it was right at sunset which meant that there were a bunch of other photographers there at the same time doing shoots also. A couple of the other families made comments to my clients (as we were walking past them) how much they loved their outfits and how colorful they were. The other families that were making the comments were all wearing plain and/or dark clothing with little or no color. And it is not that they all didn't look nice too but it was pretty apparent that they wished they had worn more color after seeing how cute my clients looked in all of their bright clothes. 

Anyway, I was so glad they trusted me because their pictures turned out so cute! I love the way the color pops against the more neutral backgrounds and it really makes them stand out instead of blending into the landscape! So, here's to color and to wearing lots of it for your photo shoots! Bring it on people!! :)

 

Happy Monday! Hope you are all having a good one! Be back soon with more to share!

filed under: utah photographer, salt lake city family, children, kids photographer, family and childrens photography in draper, sandy and salt lake city utah, mini photography sessions in utah, photographer in salt lake valley, photoshop actions, actions for photoshop and photoshop elements, actions for CS4, PSE and PS