MAGGIE HOLMES Photography and Scrapbooking Blog

Studio Calico Giveaway Winner!

Here is the winner (drawn at random):

Didee said:

Such a gorgeous page using the collection! I love the mirrors in your family room too!! Thank you for the chance to win this amazing collection! xo

Congrats Didee! 

Email me your info and we will get the Home Front collection sent out to you! I know you will love it!

Thanks to everyone for all of the really sweet comments about our family room and the mirrors! Who knew that you all would love those mirrors so much! :) To answer your questions -- The mirrors are from Ikea and I believe they still have them. And they weren't too hard to hang actually... lots of measuring and checking all of my marks with the level before I actually hung them to make sure they would be straight and even. And if you can believe it I hung them by myself! It was a little scary up there on the ladder but you see I have this flaw in my personality where once I decide I want to do something I have no patience and I want it done NOW because I get too excited, which usually means that I don't even wait for my husband to get home to help me.... and you think I would learn my lesson but I keep doing it -- like when I hung the cabinets in my scrapbook room by myself and when I put up the tile backsplash in our kitchen.... I must be a glutton for punishment or maybe I just need to learn a little patience! :) Silly me!

I am super busy editing photos trying to catch up and get everyone's proofs done... I will try to post sneak peeks as I go! Here are a few from a newborn shoot I did last week.... 2 adorable little girls!

(All four photos edited with my Urban Action at different opacities from the Color Mix Set.)

Oh and one more thing.... Have you seen the sneak peeks for December's kits over at Studio Calico? I just finished up my project using the Woodwinds project kit.... If you like the Making Memories Vintage Findings products then you will love this kit! At first I wasn't sure what I would do but I love how it turned out! Can't wait to share the whole thing with you! Here is a little peek....

Oops, I know I said one more thing but there is actually something else I just thought of.... I am working on some upcoming tutorials for Studio Calico and would love your input. Is there anything that you would like to see a tutorial on? It can be something you have seen me do on a layout or a project or something photography related or even something that you haven't seen me do. What techniques are you dying to try or would like more info about? Let me know by posting your comment here and your ideas may just turn into a tutorial! Thanks in advance! Can't wait to hear from you! Have a great day!!

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

More Arizona Mini Shoots -- Arizona Family Photographer

Because I am getting so many requests for more mini shoots here in AZ, I have decided to add some to the schedule. I will be doing them on Saturday October 10th in the morning. I already have some booked, so the remaining spots are limited and will go quickly. If you are interested, please email me ASAP: maggie[at]maggieholmesphotography[dot]com

The details are the same as the other mini sessions:

30 minute photo shoot

10-20 high resolution images on cd with print release

Prints:

1 11x14

2 8x10

4 5x7

All images are edited and retouched by me just like I do with my normal photo shoots and all prints are printed on my signature metallic paper. You will not be disappointed! 

Other than this, the schedule is pretty much full and I will not being doing any more mini sessions this year. I do have a few more spots available for regular sessions but anticipate they will also go quickly. If you want pictures in time for Christmas and images for your Christmas cards, NOW is the time to schedule! I always feel bad turning people away but this year I have booked up earlier than I anticipated.... so please call me today if you want to get in!

filed under: Maggie Holmes Photography, Children's Photographer in Arizona, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Phoenix Family Photographer

Mini Photography Session Updates and More

Hi there! This time of year gets so crazy for me so I promise to try to keep up with the blog....... but if I go missing here and there, you will know that I am just busy shooting, editing, designing Christmas cards, etc. The schedule is already almost full and I always get so excited because I get to see all of my past clients that I photograph around this time each year. It is great to catch up and see how the little ones have changed. I also look forward to meeting all of my new families and to making new friendships!  

A couple of weeks ago during one of my mini shoots I got to meet this little sweetheart and she was an angel! I love photographing babies this age..... but then again I think I love photographing babies of any age! :) I think the photos speak for themselves - and her eyes really are that beautiful. I didn't do any special editing to them... (just a little color pop and my urban action like I usually do).

Aren't those just the cutest little legs and shoes? I could almost have another baby just to be able to use all of the tiny little shoes again! I adore them!!

I am packing my bags and heading up to Utah this weekend for some more mini photo shoots up there! I loved shooting up there in July and I can't wait to go back! There are just so many neat places there! It's a photographer's paradise for me! I have had some spots open up so if you are interested we can still get you in! Just email me (maggie[at]maggieholmesphotography[dot]com). 

Also, if you are a photographer or an aspiring photographer (or if you just want to take better pictures of your kids) and you are interested in booking a one-on-one mentoring session with me, I am open to doing a couple of those while I am there as well. It would basically be you and me and our cameras and we can customize the content of the session to fit your needs and what you are wanting to learn -- we can cover anything from camera settings to photoshop to lighting, posing, whatever. Email me and we can go over all the details.

I am considering doing one more day of mini photography sessions here in AZ before the year is over but it depends on the interest and how the dates work out. So... if you are interested in that please email me and we can chat. If I get enough interest we will put it on the schedule!

And finally, I am heading to South Africa the end of October to teach at the Aquila Scrapbooking Xtravaganza! I am excited and a little nervous and still trying to finalize my classes and get all of the details put together. I have never been out of the country and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity..... it is still crazy to me that my little scrapbooking hobby gives me the chance to experience things like this!! If anybody has any tips for me I am all ears!! I am going to be so stressed packing for this trip! I have a hard time packing to go to Utah for 2 days, let alone Africa!!

filed under: Arizona Family and Children's Photographer, Utah Family and Children's Photographer, Maggie Holmes Photography, Photographer in Utah and Arizona, Scrapbooking Classes, Africa, Aquila, Scrapbooking Teacher

Tutorial - Photographing Layouts

A question that I get asked a lot either by email or in my photography workshops is "How do you photograph your scrapbook layouts?" Well, there is no one right or wrong way and there are definitely lots of different ways you can do it. Some people even use cute backgrounds that coordinate with their layouts or cards. But for me, I like to keep it plain and simple. Over the years I have tried lots of different methods of taking pictures of my layouts.... I have used easels, I have hung them on bulletin boards, propped them up against something, etc etc., but the one that I like the best is my current method --- again because it is nice and simple and it keeps the focus on the layout.

Today I posted a complete tutorial on how I photograph my scrapbook pages over on the Studio Calico blog - complete with pictures and everything. If you are interested, just click here and you can see exactly how I do it. 

Sorry for the absence around here this past week.... Nashville was a blast and I have since been busy trying to get caught back up on everything. Sometimes I wish I could just stop time for about 24 hours so I could hurry and complete my mile long to-do list without actually taking up any time.... ahhhhh, if only that were possible.... a girl can wish right? Anyway, I will be back soon to share some photos and some other updates - workshops, mini shoots, etc. Hope you are all having a great week!

filed under: Studio Calico, scrapbooking kit club, scrapbooking inspiration, photography tutorial, maggie holmes photography

Next Online Photography Workshop...

We are in the last couple of weeks of my current photography workshop and as usual I am amazed at how quickly everyone has learned to shoot in manual and how great their images are looking! Last week we worked on lighting and it is always fun to see everyone exploring new things with their photography!!

My next workshop starts right after this one ends... it runs from September 14th - October 24th... just in time to get your skills down before the holidays so you can take some awesome pictures! I have a handful of spots left so if you are interested, you can find more info on how to register here. This will be the last workshop I will teach this year.... (I will teach more next year but haven't set any dates yet.) An advanced workshop is also in the works for 2010, so if you want to be on the waiting list for that, please email me! 

If you are signed up for this next workshop and you received the confirmation from paypal, then you are in the class. Paypal should have directed you back to my site where you download some important info.... if you did not get that, please email me and I will send you the link. I will be getting everyone in the system this week and you will receive an email from me with some more info later this week. It's always exciting to start a new class, "meet" all of the new students and welcome all of you onto our message board! See you in class soon!!

P.S. I think I am setting a record for blog posts this week for me! :) Yesterday it was even two in one day!! 

filed under: Online Photography Class, how to shoot in manual mode, digital slr workshop and class, tips to improve your photography, Maggie Holmes Photography

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

She Melts Me... Literally

This little girl... 

well I honestly can't even finish the sentence... she just means so much to me that I don't have the words to explain it... and it's not that I don't adore my boys because I do and nothing can replace those relationships between mother and son, but she melts me in a completely different way... a sweet and sassy and cute and spoiled rotten with girlie things kind of way... it is just awesome and seriously indescribable.

This last one just gets me... right there... and literally chokes me up for the words to describe how much I adore her. She is why I can't focus on scrapbooking or editing photos lately except when she is asleep because I literally can't stop squeezing and kissing those cheeks and cuddling her and playing dollies with her and following her around in her "ship shops" (flip flops) and "oh piffy cutes" (oh pretty cutes -- necklaces and bracelets and bows)... I will have countless days in the future when she is grown up and gone to scrapbook the days away and edit photos but I will not have unlimited days of enjoying this... they go too quickly and are too precious and I don't want to miss one of them...

I love her...

filed under: Utah Kids Photographer, Maggie Holmes Photography, Family, Urban Photoshop Action, Family Photographer in Utah and Arizona, Actions for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements