Little Red Wagon Photography

{Sneak Peek} Kristen+Dave=Engaged!

2012-01-31T00:49:00.000-08:00

Are they not a beautiful couple? I was so excited when Kristen contacted me about doing her engagement session...and wedding this Spring! What a seriously exciting chapter in Kristen and Dave's life. What an honor to take a small part in it. Thanks you two for a fun Saturday afternoon - enjoy this special time and all that wedding planning. I'm looking forward to capturing your day of days!

...and she's ONE!

2011-12-31T15:22:00.000-08:00

I can hardly believe it's my last post of the year! I was so excited last year around this time to meet sweet little Augustina, so what a thrill it was one year later to meet up with her (and her amazing parents!) once again to capture her as she prepared for her first birthday party! She is such a sweet girl and it is easy to see that she is the light in her momma and daddy's eyes. It is always so amazing to me to see how much a child grows, learns, and develops in their first year. August went from being a tiny precious newborn to a stylin' smilin' little lady! Happy Birthday Augustina!

I also want to wish a Happy New Year, to you all! Here's to a great new year!

{Sneak Peek} Oh What Fun it is to Ride...

2011-12-13T22:20:00.000-08:00

...in a Little Red Wagon! Saturday morning we completely lucked out with the weather - you just never know what you're going to get in almost mid-December, but we got pleasant and dry (and not too awfully cold) weather and that made the session lovely for all of us! I brought along my radio flyer and these kids just had a BLAST having "rides" in the wagon. I think someone may need to add a red wagon to their Christmas list :) It was fun photographing this cute brother-sister combo because they were just plain fun and easy to work with - and reminded me a tad of my two (space the same at 19 months apart) about a year ago. Such fun ages! Thanks so much, "X" family - the kids were adorable and it was so nice to finally meet you!

News!

2011-12-08T23:25:00.000-08:00

All those newborn sessions must have rubbed off on me this year...because...I'm thrilled to share that next June I will be doing a newborn session of my own - for my third baby! Oh how I love babies! I can hardly wait. The morning (more like all day) sickness has been killing me, but all is well. I would like to announce that from January through March I will only be doing newborn sessions. April and May I will resume with families - and then take a bit of a break or maternity leave. Thank you all for your continued support! This has been a fantastic third year photographing families and wee ones, what an honor!

Just for Fun...

2011-12-08T23:16:00.000-08:00

I went over to a friend's house earlier in the week...and guess what she had to show me?

Her brand new baby boy! This is her third baby boy! - although the first and second are much less docile :) It's always so fun to see/hold/smell a new baby. Aren't they the best? Congrats again, Mackenzie and family!

{Sneak Peek} Oh Boy!

2011-12-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

I love watching my client's families grow. I always get a little bit giddy when I get an email that tells me the fun and exciting news that they are expecting. It was so much fun to go and meet this family's newest addition a couple of weekends ago. How much fun to have one of each! First, a girl, and now, a boy! And what a sweet boy he is! He was such a good-natured, easy going baby during my whole visit. Always a pleasure to be in the company of this family. Congrats, again, to this wonderful family!

Sneak Peek: Three Little Ladies

2011-11-21T23:27:00.000-08:00

It was a treat to spend a bit of time with these three beautiful sisters on Saturday morning. They were tough girls! Quite the troopers! It was below 40 degrees so even though it was gorgeous at Golden Gardens Beach, it was super chilly! Their family recently moved here from the Midwest, so here's to show all your family and friends back home that you can still play on the beach all winter long in the good ol' Pacific Northwest! (as long as you bundle up a bit!) Thanks to these girls and their parents for braving the weather and being such good sports!

Featured on Babble's Holiday Gift Guide!

2011-11-09T15:37:00.000-08:00

I just got wind that the diy Baby Headband Tutorial I did way-back-when, is being featured in this year's Holiday Gift Guide over at Babble.

Click here to check it out - and other fun diy's for the entire family!

Sneak Peek: One Year Later...

2011-11-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

Last time I saw this little guy, he was only 6 days old (click here to see his newborn pics). One year later, I got to see how much he's grown and capture some photos of the whole family...

It was a GORGEOUS autumn morning at Gas Works Park. The sun was out in all it's glory - and it was also freezing cold! These kids were troopers in the cool temps and it was truly an enjoyable morning enjoying the park, the sunshine, and all that floats and sails by on Lake Union. Thanks so much "M" family - it was a pleasure.

{Sneek Peek} Lil' Darlin'

2011-11-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

It was truly a pleasure to spend the morning with this lovely family. We started at their home in the brisk morning hours and then ended up at Capitol Hill's Volunteer Park - a GORGEOUS autumn day! This couple hail from Austin, TX, and I must say - if everyone in Austin is as fun and wonderful as they are - I'll move there in a heartbeat! (wink, wink!) Their sweet baby daughter was a complete doll - and I couldn't get over how they called her "lil' darlin'". It melted my heart! It is such a joy to be able to work with great people - I always walk away feeling like I've made new friends. Thanks so much, Davis family, for the lovely morning. May you enjoy the holidays even more this year with your beautiful bundle of joy!

Happy Halloween from LRW Photography!

2011-10-31T08:43:00.000-07:00

My cute Little Red and the sneaky Big Bad Wolf want to wish you a safe and happy Halloween!

The photographer - and mom - in me wants to remind to you snap a few of your kids in their costumes today - what fun memories to look back on one day!

Sneak Peek: A Saturday Stroll in the Arboretum {Seattle Family Photographer}

2011-10-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

I've seen this family every year since their eldest was just a year old. It is an annual tradition for someone to get wet, or so it seems. The first year, their son ended our session by walking on his knees into the Puget Sound. The next year, it was raining - so we dodged the rain and went indoors. Last year, we had to reschedule because the rain was pouring - and then it was still misty at our second meeting (we made it work with "natural" umbrellas). Well, this year was no exception. I had waded into the frog pond to take a couple of shots (one of which is the last image posted) and I immediately saw the envy in the littlest boys eyes (I'm sure you can see it to...the boys are looking at all that shiny water and those fun lily pads and not at the camera, but thus is life with little boys!) So, while we finished up with a few shots of just mom and dad - he took the plunge, quite literally. It will certainly be a day to remember! Thanks, Anderson Family, for your continual support. In spite of one wet toddler to end the session, the rest was just as memorable :)

Well worth the wait.

2011-10-05T00:33:00.000-07:00

Her cozy warm place was just so comfy she decided to make her mom and dad wait 9 days past her due date to make her grand entrance into the world. She was definitely worth the wait!

Baby Kaylee was an angel to work with - never fussy, was bright-eyed and awake for part of the session and fell asleep in time to get a few of those oh-so-sweet sleepy newborn shots towards the end. Perfect! We got a wonderful combination of portraits and documentary-style/lifestyle shots. I am in love with the second to last image posted here - I just can't get over it. It was such a privilege to spend some time with this family and their newborn daughter - I always get a little "drippy" eyed when I drive away from newborn sessions - thinking of the miracle that has just come to earth, and also of my own two little miracles waiting for me at home.

Thanks again, Smith Family! Enjoy every moment with your new baby girl - the second seems to grow twice as fast as the first!

{Sneak Peek} The Rest

2011-09-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

Remember the sweet baby girl from last week? This is the rest of her family! It was fun to do two sessions back-to-back with this family and get to know the big brothers a bit before we did the whole family. They were great sports and I had fun "hiking" around the park with them. They even taught me something new - I had never heard of letter boxing before - but now I do! And it seems like lots of fun! Thanks once again to the Isaacson Family for a nice stroll on Saturday morning :)

{Sneak Peek} Sweet Elyse

2011-09-06T21:21:00.000-07:00

I always feel so honored to capture the littlest of the littles...newborn babes. With two older brothers, this baby girl is bound to learn to hold her own - yet - watch out, because they will also likely protect her like a pearl. She is so petite and lovely. This baby girl is plain blessed by such a wonderful family. Look for more of them soon, as the entire family is up next :)

A special thanks to Elyse's Mama, for being flexible and patient - and doing such a great job in learning how to dance to the "family of five" drum - you're amazing!

Custom Holiday Cards

2011-08-31T11:27:00.000-07:00

A reminder that the holidays will soon be approaching - so if you are thinking about getting your holiday cards out on time this year - the Holiday Design Shoppe is now open!

With 10 designs, 3 color palettes, and 3 paper choices - you're bound to find something you love. I can hardly wait to pick out our cards this year!

Click HERE to see more or click the link on the bar up top!

DIY Modern Baby Books

2011-08-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've done a DIY post, but I finally got around to doing one on something I've wanted to share for quite sometime (not to mention I've had several requests to share this as well) - so here goes!

How many of you out there have a completed baby book from when you were a baby? If you're like me, your mother may have started one with wonderful intentions, and then just got too busy being your mom to finish it. Granted, my mom had twins, so she was double busy - but I always kind of wished she would've finished it. So, long before I had a baby of my own, I vowed that someday when I did, I would do a baby book - and finish it - for him or her to enjoy.

I am a little particular (that sounds better then "picky" or "snobby" doesn't it?) when it comes to the aesthetics of things - the design. Once I had my son three years ago, I started looking around to see what kind of baby books were out there - and I didn't like any of them. I wanted something that was simple, classic, and modern. I didn't want to have to write down everything the day it happened, or have to worry about keeping a strand of hair from the first haircut etc.

So, I decided to make my own book. For my son - I used a Blurb.com - they had a variety of simple layouts which you could tweak in terms of color and then the page spreads were pretty easy to figure out. I did his the 7x7 square size, and it turned out super cute. There were also page options with text. I wanted primarily images from his first year of life - and then a few words at the end of the book.

My son LOVES looking through his Baby Book. I think his favorite part is the picture of his "Birth Day" cake, which his Dad and I made while I was in labor with him.

********************************

Fast forward a couple of years, and now my second child, my daughter, is 18 months old. I figured it was high time I got her book done. This time, I actually designed the book pretty much "from scratch" myself and had it printed through one of my professional labs. I thought I would share the formula I used so anyone else out there who might like to give it a go might have some ideas of where to start.

RECIPE for a BABY BOOK:

First, I start the book out with my child's name and the meaning of the name. You may want to include something personal here if there is significant meaning behind the name you chose - or if it is a family name, etc. Our names were just names we loved - so I kept it pretty simple. I ended up doing Aspen's 8x8 because that was the size my lab offered - I feel a tad guilty that hers is slightly larger than her brother's book (my husband has reassured me that my son won't care because "he's a boy" but still...) I really like the square format because it aides you in keeping it pretty simple with the spreads.

Next, I chose 1-3 images for each spread. The spreads were pretty much by each month from birth. Mine included:

"brand new" spread - from first day or two of life

"newborn" spread - a couple of favorite shots from the first two weeks of life.

"monthly" spread - 1 month, 2 months, 3 months...up to 12 months - the first birthday.

After I selected the images, I rounded up a few of my favorite quotes and then at random, added them into a few of the spreads.

Here are a few of my favorite spreads from Aspen's book:

They may be a little hard to see, so here they are in jpg form. You will notice that I tried to be somewhat consistent in my design when it came to background and colors. For Aspen, I first looked for a "theme" among most of the photos I had selected to use - and the colors that jumped out at me were white, pink, robin's egg blue, and then a taupe. So, I stuck with those colors throughout the book.

Next, I did a spread of "Before you Were Born". For my first child, I did a side that was called "The Beginning" and included where and when we were married and what each of us was doing before we became parents. In the "Before you Were Born" spread, I talked a little bit about my feelings about welcoming this new family member, and shared a bit of how the pregnancy went, cravings I had, how I felt, etc. I included one scanned photo from the ultrasound and then a belly shot or two, for good measure.

And then, I recorded the actual labor and delivery story - the "Birth Day Story". This is where my family blog came in very handy. Or, if you keep a personal journal, that would be helpful as well. Basically, I made sure to write the experience down a day or two after it happened so the details, feelings, facts, and emotions were all fresh in my heart and head. Then, all I really had to do was to copy and paste it into a spread in the book. Aspen's story was 4 pages long!

Naturally, after "Before you Were Born", comes the spread "When you Were Born". I included here some photos from the hospital, as well as birth stats (weight, length, and time born - in Sawyer's I also included the hospital and city of birth).

Finally, I ended the book with a spread of "Milestones & Firsts". Now, mine aren't to-the-date specific, more like to-the-week - and I don't have all of the traditional milestones of firsts listed. I made sure to include some firsts like: smiles, rolling over, sitting up, first tooth, word, crawling & walking etc., but then I add in a few fun ones more specific to the child. For example, in my son's book, some of the firsts I included were: first visitors, concert, hike, and roadtrip. In my daughter's I included her first walk to the park, first shopping trip (I took her to Anthropologie when she was 6 days old - gotta start off on the right "foot" :), and first plane ride/family vacation. I also included, on the last page of the book, a photo of my baby girl and her big brother. The plan is, when we (someday) have another baby, I will continue that tradition and have a photo of the new baby with the two older siblings.

And that's basically it!

My husband teases me that the books are really more for me, than for the kids. I guess in a way, he's right. I love looking at them now, with or without the kids. I can only imagine that as the years go by I am only going to be more nostalgic when I think about my babies and how fast they grow. The nice thing is, I can order another copy of the books - so they can have one, and I can have one to keep and treasure.

I promise you will never regret taking the time to do a simple baby book. It will be a sweet reminder of your little ones and as you look through the pages of their first year, you will be amazed at how fast they learn, change, and grow right before your very eyes!

Don't feel intimidated if you are not a "professional" photographer or can't afford to have professional portraits taken of your baby. One reason I like the simple way I laid out the book is that everyone can find one or two pretty great images of their child to go in a spread. I made it a point to just take a few minutes each month that first year to try and get a photo to mark the passage of time.

I also know not everyone has access to a pro lab or the tools of the Creative Suite to design your book. Like I mentioned, the free bookmaking software available through several companies makes it easy to make and customize your own book. Some even have the option of different paper weight and lay-flat binding these days. Two companies I have worked with and recommend are blurb.com and mypublisher.com I don't think you will be disappointed with any of them.

And with that - I wish you all well in Baby Book Making! It's a fun process to go through the photos from the first year and reflect back on such precious memories and then look ahead to the little toddler you now have on your hands. What a blessing are our children!

{Sneak Peek} The Herrick Family at the Beach

2011-08-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

Back again! It is always fun when my clients (and these happen to be long time friends AND clients) keep coming back and I get to keep watching their families grow up. Definitely a treat to spend the morning at Golden Gardens on such a beautiful summer day with the Herrick family. It was a bit of torture keeping the little boys from the brand-spankin'-new playground, but they were great sports and waited til our session was over to hit the slides and swings.

Thanks, Herricks, for the fun morning! It's always great to see you!

{Sneak Peek} Playground Fun!

2011-08-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a teeny peek into the fun I had playing around with the "O" family at Medina Park last evening. It felt like a playdate, chasing their cute daughter around and watching them play as well. My mission was to capture her "real" smile (you know, instead of the one kids sometimes put on when they know a camera is in their face - well, adults, too?)

Mission, accomplished!

One reason I absolutely love shooting "on location" in natural light, is that kids (and their parents) can relax a bit and let their true personality shine through!

Thanks, "O' family, for a fun evening - you can look forward to seeing the rest in a week or two!

{Sneak Peek: mini maternity session} Glowing

2011-08-10T00:15:00.000-07:00

This evening I had the pleasure of meeting up with the Smith Family to do a little mini session. I haven't done much maternity work, but was excited at the chance to capture this mama and her baby girl (in her belly) before I get to meet her in a few weeks for her newborn session :) This couple are already so in love with their first daughter, it will be fun to see how their love grows as they welcome their new addition next month. Thanks, Smiths, for spending the evening with me. And good luck with the countdown!

ps- I loved that their family dog got to join in on most of the family shots! Good girl, Bailey!

{Sneak Peek} Handsome Felix

2011-08-01T16:26:00.000-07:00

It's double the pleasure to photograph my friends' new babies...

I was super excited when Ivy grabbed me in our church parking lot during the "trunk or treating" festivities and told me the wonderful news that she and her husband were expecting their first baby (this was obviously last October)! She asked if I would take a photograph to help them with a special way of announcing the pregnancy. Instead of sending out holiday cards, they sent out new year's cards (click here to see their cute and clever announcement, designed by our spectacular mutual friend, Auburn, of Orange Tree Papers). Didn't it turn out SO cute?

Well, guess what? Their baby boy is even CUTER! And it was so much fun to get to spend a few hours with baby Felix and his parents on Saturday afternoon. It was refreshing to have a nice enough day that we could do a lot of the shots outside. Thanks, Michael and Ivy, for having me out and giving me the opportunity to capture some of the special moments with you and your new son. Parenthood looks good on you - Felix scored with his parents! May you enjoy each moment, because they just grow up soooo fast!

ps-even though Felix didn't exactly love wearing the hat his mommy got him from Etsy...I was SO in love with it! (She even let me bring it home! Thanks, Ivy!)

{Sneak Peek} "My Little Sister's Adorable Family" aka: The Read Family

2011-07-23T23:30:00.000-07:00

This morning I had a super fun session - I got to capture my sister's family at Carkeek Beach! It has been so much fun having her live closer and be able to spend time together with our families. We started the day with our session, and then spent the rest of the day hanging out. We picnicked, we played, we ate papusas, we played some more...and we also celebrated my niece's first birthday. We enjoyed perfect weather and a perfect day.

As we got the kids tucked into bed tonight I just had to "thumb" through our session and edit a few for their sneak peek because they are just soooo sweet. Thanks, Kaitlin and Taylor, for spending a fun day with us --- your girls are darling and your family is adorable! Can't wait til next time already! Love ya lots!

ps-does my sis not have the greatest hair ever?! BEAUTIFUL!

Sneak Peek: The Taylor Family

2011-07-20T00:32:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at Richmond Beach with the Taylor family the other night. It was a gem of a day - how summer should be in Seattle (ahem, we've had many gray days lately so it was truly a treat)! They were good sports to keep the kids out past their bedtime to humor me with using the best available light. I'm kind of a crazy lady when it comes to getting good natural light - which on a bright and sunny day is wonderful to bask in, and more tricky to shoot in. At least if you are a native of the northwest, like me :)

I just love the beachy-summer feel to these photos. Such great colors! I was loving the coral and white. And it really did feel good to get my feet in the water, too!

What an adorable family! Thanks, J + S, for the fun evening at the beach. We should do it again sometime, just for fun!

{Sneak Peek} The Flanders Family

2011-07-07T01:20:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to spend some time in Bend, Oregon, visiting with family over Independence Day Weekend. Part of my "family" in Bend extends across the field and into the home of our long-time friends and neighbors, The Flanders. I have known them forever, it seems - and it makes me feel a tad bit old to realize I babysat their kiddos and now they are both High School Graduates! :)

It was such an honor to capture a bit of this amazing and wonderful family. This couple has been so inspiring to me in my life, and helped guide me during some tender and formative years - always encouraging good choices and quietly showing by example what striving for better is all about. I can never thank them enough!

I hope that these photos (with more to come) will be a treasure to you - to look back at this moment in your lives, take a breath, and recall wonderful moments past...and those yet to come!

Thanks again, Flanders, for whisking me off to spend a couple of hours with you at beautiful Black Butte Ranch...all the way until the sun set. May you make wonderful memories this summer and always!

Sneak Peek: Little Miss M

2011-06-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

I was super excited to meet Little Miss "M" on Saturday! I have worked with her family for the past 2 years - and am pleased to say I am 2 for 2 now in guessing "boy" or "girl" correctly (first they had a boy, and now, a girl!) I will knock on wood as I say this, but so far, every time a client is having a "surprise" I have guessed correctly!

Here is just a tiny sneak peek to show off some of the sweetness that is their newest addition.

Always a pleasure working with you, "M" family. I wish you all the best as you settle into your new life as a family of four!

Birthday Boy

2011-06-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe my boy is THREE today!

Handsome little devil, isn't he?

Happy Birthday, Sawyer James!

Strike a Pose

2011-06-06T22:50:00.000-07:00

I was just sitting down to edit some more from my Saturday Sessions, and I came across these. If you haven't worked with me before, you should know that my strong point is most definitely NOT in posing people. I prefer to let families and children naturally interact in their environment and go from there. You can call it "candid" or "lifestyle" or whatever sounds good. The benefit of not being super directive and "posey" is that people's true personalities tend to shine right on through. Which is exactly what I like to see!

Well, let's just say this angelic looking little lady didn't need even a cue for when she should strike a pose. She even showed me a few dance moves later on. Isn't she adorable? I can't decide if she looks more like a blond Shirley Temple, or a mini, curly-haired version of Kate Hudson. Perhaps both?

Okay, now back to editing...

Handsome Carter

2011-06-05T00:24:00.000-07:00

His first name is the same as my last name - so how could he not be super cool ? ;)

This little guy is just SO downright handsome! He went with the flow and let me peek a bit into his world for a few minutes this afternoon on the Edmunds waterfront. This was his session, but I couldn't resist sneaking in a couple of him being sweet with his Momma. Such sweet little moments!

Later this summer, he will celebrate his birthday, and the birthday of a baby sister! Wishing all the best for the cute little man and his parents as they enjoy these last few weeks of "just one" and get ready to learn the two-kid-tango!

Thanks again for a lovely afternoon in the sunshine ;)

Sea Grass & Sunshine

2011-06-05T00:02:00.000-07:00

This morning the sun was shining and the weather was nice and warm - what fun it was to spend some of the morning with the lovely "S" family. I still can't get over how beautiful this family is! And those curls? OH MY GOODNESS!

Thanks again "S" family, for a lovely morning at the beach! I hope you enjoyed the sunshine!

New Website!

2011-05-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

A post without pictures on a photography blog?

Sure - because there's plenty to look at here!

What do you think?

I finally got my new/updated website up, just in time to celebrate the long weekend!

Take a peek here.

And have a Fabulous Memorial Day Weekend!

Sneak Peek: The Anderson Family

2011-05-21T23:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted. I have enjoyed having a few weeks of "down time" which really has given me a chance to work on my updated/new website, which I may have mentioned before, but I am really hoping to launch it by the end of the month, so bear with me - it will be worth the wait :)

Today I had two sessions, but I am only going to blog one for now...

The Dad of this family is about to graduate from The Art Institute, so the family chose one of their favorite locales just in case their job search takes them on a new adventure and they leave Seattle behind.

Greenlake Park.

One park and lake - yet so much to see and do! We had a great time walking just a bit of the 2.8 mile path, swatting at the bugs out on the dock, taking in all the lush greenery that the rain gives to us year round, and hoping the gray clouds would hold off just a bit on any sprinkles until we were done (it did, thank you to the rain gods!)

I was impressed at how well their 3-year-old son did for most of our session! What a handsome little man!

Anderson Family - I wish you the best of luck and blessings as you move forward to the future - it is bright and you have so much to look forward to! Thanks for the fun morning, and an extra special thanks to Diana (she knows why!) May these photos bring fond memories of this period of your life when you one day look back to remember a few of the moments of now.

Easter

2011-04-24T22:42:00.000-07:00

On Friday afternoon, I dressed my children in their "Sunday Best" and took them to the park.

We found a couple of cute little "bunnies"...

"Look, Mom, there goes Peter Cottontail!"

We had a blast.

And we hope you had wonderful Easter Weekend as well!

*****

on another note...

I have been working on a new/updated website and it is just about finished.

Stay tuned for it's debut coming soon!

Spring

2011-03-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a walk around the neighborhood with my kids in our red wagon.

We were searching for signs of

SPRING

and guess what?

I think it's finally arrived.

hooray!

and happy friday, too - now get out there and enjoy the weekend!

hello world! {meet baby owen}

2011-03-06T00:47:00.000-08:00

I had the best time on Saturday.

The sun was shining, the weather was warming (finally - fingers crossed!)

and I got to spend a couple of hours with this handsome little man and his proud parents.

world, meet Owen.

okay, the above image is one of my FAVE ever...look at that sneaky little smile!

I must mention, too, that Owen's daddy is a fire-fighter (fireman? I'm not sure what the official "pc" term is these days...) and that amazingly awesome quilt was made by the wife of one of his co-workers. I hope I got that right? Anyway...LOVE! What a colorful, fun blankie! The firetruck theme in this little man's room is meaningful. He will be one lucky boy when he gets bigger - I bet his Dad will let him come check out the BIG red engines anytime. Sweet!

again, I just love seeing new parents with their sweet new babies.

it's such a great combination of "we're new at this and not totally sure of what we're doing" but at the same time "we love you so much we will do anything in the world for you."

Thanks so much, handsome Owen, for being such a good sport (he slept through the entire session). You are a lucky boy. Thanks and again congrats to Owen's Mom and Dad! May the fun begin!

Sneak Peek: Baby Tyce

2011-02-28T14:14:00.000-08:00

What a handsome little guy! Aren't his cheeks just delish? And that little dimple on his chin? Oh my! He was such a good boy for me as I snapped away during his session. He is lucky to be welcomed to this world by an enthusiastic big sister and amazing parents. Not only was he fun to photograph - I had a great time visiting with his parents, and am pretty sure I made a new friend with his sister. Thanks again to Tyce's family for having me over - it was fun and let's definitely do dinner and talk about "world travel" soon!

Sneak Peek: Sweet Adele

2011-02-21T00:30:00.000-08:00

It was a sweet treat to meet baby Adele over the weekend. It was such a lovely day, she is such a lovely little lady, and such a lucky girl to come to such a loving family.

Oh, and isn't her name just perfect? Love it!

Congrats again to her parents - and thank you for the lovely Saturday morning. It is such a beautiful part of this little job o' mine to see new parents so completely in love with their new little one. Such a blessed and magical time!

{happy valentine's day}

2011-02-14T01:05:00.000-08:00

Little Photog Man

2011-02-11T14:59:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in what I'm doing on a daily basis - be it dishes, laundry, playing legos with my kids, or maybe (just maybe) snapping a few pictures of them doing random things to remember the small and simple moments that make childhood magical - and I forget how much they are watching.

They are watching, carefully, noticing how I do each of these seemingly small, sometimes very mundane, tasks. They are watching to see how I do things, so someday they will know how. So, hopefully I am doing things *right* most of the time, at least. Well, the other day, I had my camera out, and my son kept wanting to play with it. "Sorry, son, but Annie is off-limits". (Annie is my camera's name). He looked disappointed, so I instead handed him the Holga I keep in the top of my backpack. (If he happened to break it, $50 to replace it is nothing compared to what Annie is worth.)

And look what happened.

He pretended to take pictures. He said "I am like you, Mommy."

He is watching. Carefully watching.

It is the biggest and most important job I have to be his model. I hope I'm doing okay, since usually I am better behind the camera than in front of it ;) I guess the nice thing about photography, and life, in many ways, is that if you don't like how something is looking, you can always adjust your angle.

Here's to my son, who looks to me to be an example. Hopefully he won't have to change his angle too often while focusing in my direction. And here's to me - hoping to be the best I can for his good. May we love the pictures we take and make together, and tuck them away as good times growing up. Both of us :)

Oh, and Happy Friday!

{happy birthday}

2011-02-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

Our sweet girl turned one over the weekend. It's amazing how fast that year went by. I have loved every second of her in our lives. The party was a labour of love for my girl, worth every second and every pretty little detail. So, now she can have her cake - and eat it, too :)

happy birthday sweet Aspen Jane!

Mine on Monday: Spinning

2011-01-17T00:08:00.000-08:00

I am finally back! It has been nice taking a little "breather" and enjoying just being with my family these past few weeks. We took a much appreciated little vacay to Orlando, Florida and enjoyed some pleasantly warm weather and sunshine (I always crave sunshine and flip flops about this time of the year!)

Here is an image I took while boarding the Mad Tea Party ride at the Magic Kingdom. Don't you love those big eyes, seeming to say: "okay, Momma, what's this one going to do?" My little man was such a good sport, stepping beyond his comfort zone (he covered his eyes for half of The Haunted Mansion ride but by the end kept saying "I really like - he pronounces it "yike" - those dancing ghosts!" )on more than one occasion to indulge his parents during our visit to the park.

Well, my world is still spinning just a little bit as I'm planning my daughter's first birthday party! I can't believe she's about to turn one! Crazy how fast the time goes! So, I'm busy busy as usual. And excited that I have two newborns on the agenda for next month! I will be announcing availability dates next month - so stay tuned! In the meantime...back to party planning!

Happy Monday, friends!

New Year's Resolves: More or Less

2011-01-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

Does anyone out there make resolutions for the New Year? Silly question, I suppose. This year, on New Year's Eve, while we could hear neighbors on both sides of us enjoying guests and parties to ring in the New Year, I laid on the couch with the sniffles (darn cold!) while the hubs made me some mint tea. Then, we sat and talked about ideas, hopes, and goals for the New Year. I suppose you could call them resolutions, or resolves, to do a little better here, or try something different there, or omit something that doesn't seem to work well. I have actually been thinking about some of them for a long while. Trying to figure out how to realistically incorporate them into my overall theme for this year: Presently Simplify and Enjoy.

We had a nice little "date" on the couch, drinking tea and talking. It was a peaceful way to ring in the new year. We got out our fancy goblets and toasted with some martinelli's once we heard the fireworks going off. Here I will share just a few of the things I have been thinking about - some of the things I would like to have more of, and others, less of, as this new year rolls along.

There will be some new happenings with Little Red Wagon Photography as well. It may take me a while to get them rollin'...but soon enough, they will roll along right with us. Here's an official "Happy New Year" to all my readers, and may you have less of what you don't need in the year to come, and more of what your heart desires :)

Patience - with myself, and my family (especially my two year old)

Green - time outside, as well as mindfulness in caring for our Earth

Reading - something I've hardly done since becoming a mommy - reinstate this bedtime ritual

Exercise - don't let that gym membership go to waste! put it on the calendar and treat it as important an appointment as anything else on the list - make it a habit again.

One on One - time with each of my children - and their Daddy.

Less

Stress - work for a better life balance

Late Late Nights - going to bed before midnight is not a sin

on my "To Do" list - learn to focus on the essentials and not worry about the rest

Excuses - adjust my attitude when appropriate - see the sun behind the cloudy days

New Projects - enough already. Finish the projects I already have on the list before thinking of anything else!

ps- sorry no picture for this post. Just let your mind wander to create a picture of what you need or don't need in your life this year ;)

Sneak Peek: A Little August in December

2010-12-27T22:59:00.000-08:00

Meet baby Augustina (August, for short). Isn't she just a DOLL? I sure think so! Her parents were blessed this year with an early Christmas present - the best kind of gift ever - a beautiful and healthy baby. No doubt this sweet angel brings sunshine and warmth into the most cloudy and cold winter day. It was my pleasure to spend some time with her family on Christmas Eve. morning - a day which reminds us that the worth of even the tiniest little soul is beyond anything we can fathom.

Congrats to her amazing parents and family - she is such a lucky girl to have you as her guides in this big ole' world of ours. And she is as sweet and lovely as they come! I just love that cute, smirky little smile she kept pulling for me! Thanks for letting me capture some of her sweet newness!

Mine on Monday: Christmas Morn

2010-12-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

Experiencing Christmas through the eyes of children is such a joy.

I hope your Christmas was as magical and warm as ours was!

Sneak Peek: Mr. Funk & his Baby Blues

2010-12-21T00:23:00.000-08:00

his Grandmother knit him this beautiful little sweater

and

his Auntie brought him this darling outfit from France

(but his Daddy gave him those awesome baby blues!)

and his Mommy...well, honestly, who can top Mommy in the giving department?

This darling little man came all the way from Colorado for his session - well, also to visit his dear NW family for the holidays. I went to High School with his Mommy (& Aunt = they're identical twins!) and it was so much fun to have a mini-reunion-of-sorts after FIFTEEN years (okay, I guess I'm old now. It makes me feel old to remember something that happened that long ago! Like High School Graduation!) We all agreed, however, that we looked the same as we did in High School. (maybe even better ;)

To the Funk Family: You have one very handsome little man! Thank you so much for letting me capture him. It was a treat. And SO very good to see you again. Let's not wait 15 years again before our next visit :)

Mine on Monday: Terrific

2010-12-20T01:05:00.000-08:00

My son is now two-and-a-half and my daughter is 10 months old. The last week or so I have felt like the much talked of "terrible" part of the "twos" has come upon us. It's so hard when there are little people who are SO excited to do everything all by themselves, and you have to break it to them that they still need at least a little bit of help. Setting limits and boundaries sometimes makes me feel like a "mean" mom, but at the same time, I know it is imperative to the safety of my children. Anyway, I have felt like I have been struggling a bit with my son lately (we are BOTH as strong-willed as can be) and so I love when moments like this one happen. There are plenty of wonderful, beautiful "TERRIFIC" moments amidst the terrible ones, and I like to remind myself that. This image is a perfect reminder: first, that being two isn't always terrible, and second, that there is nothing better than seeing siblings love one another.

I hope during this season that we can forget all of our own "terrible" parts and let our "terrific" parts shine through.

Happy Christmas Week, friends!

DIY Friday: Holiday Card Display

2010-12-17T14:06:00.000-08:00

I have seen a lot of fun ways to display holiday cards this year, and wanted to try one of my own. Here is an easy way to display your holiday cards this season. My two-year-old son and I did this together while my daughter was taking her morning nap - which means it took less than an hour to do (and that, with a two-year-old "helping" out).

Supplies:

-clothes pins (I found mine at Target - had to ask around before we could locate them, as I don't think that many people hang their clothes out to dry these days...they had some mini ones at JoAnns which I am saving for another project, so these are the normal size.)

-Mod Podge (for gluing and finishing)

-pencil (for tracing)

-Paint brush (for gluing and finishing)

-scissors or xacto knife (for cutting)

-paper of choice (I chose a couple of scrapbooking papers. but you could use anything)

-twine or ribbon

Step 1: Trace a clothes pin on the wrong side of the paper. trace liberally, as you'll want to cover the front of the clothes pin. I used my ruler and then made a whole row after I traced the initial clothes pin.

Step 2: Cut the strips of paper.

Step 3: Paint mod podge onto the clothes pin.

Step 4: Place the paper cut-out on the clothes pin. Set aside to dry. Repeat process for as many clothes pins as you'd like to do - we did 30. If you're very popular and have lots and lots of friends who send you Holiday cards, you might want to do 50 or more ;)

Step 5: The mod podge dries pretty quickly. Once it is mostly dry, go ahead and paint a top coat of mod podge onto the top of the paper. I have the mod podge with the glossy finish (you can get it in matte, as well). It may look white-ish for a moment, but once it dries it will be clear and give a nice, somewhat protective finish to your paper.

Step 6: Find a location around your home where you'd like to make the display. At first, I did our stairwell but then realized we needed more room and the angle wasn't quite what I wanted. So I took twine and tied it on the sides of our blinds, and there began hanging up our cards as we've received them. Last year, I hung a pretty ribbon from the wall vertically and pinned them down that way. Either way, it is a simple way to display the lovely faces and well-wishes of family and friends during the season.

Besides a couple of high fevers and sick kids for a few days, I have been loving the season. I hope all of you are, too! I have two more client sessions before the year is over...it's been a marvelous year! Thanks to all who stop by this little blog o' mine from time to time. Merry Christmas!

Busted.

2010-12-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

The other evening as I was in the kitchen making dinner, I noticed it got quiet over in the living room. I turned around and looked closer, because silence almost always means that something is up when you have an almost-two-and-a-half-year-old and 10 month old around. Sure enough, my little daughter had discovered the bows on the packages under our Christmas tree. Harmless enough, I suppose - she wasn't ripping into the gifts, just tearing off the bows...and sucking on them.

I "redirected" her and got her interested in doing something else. As I was walking away, though, I burst out laughing as I noticed the "evidence" of her foul play. Cute, or what? I had to grab the camera!

I hope everyone is having a "Merry & Bright" weekend in spite of our gray, wet, Seattle weather!

Mine on Monday: Oh Bring Us Some Figgy Pudding...

2010-12-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, we went to the 24th Annual Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Event. It is a tradition in our family that we look forward to each year. This year, my husband and I each had a baby in a backpack as we perused the carolers and waded through the crowds of people downtown. Everyone was in jolly spirits!

Our son, Sawyer, is now almost two-and-a-half years old. Since he was a wee babe, his favorite thing about the event is the big Macy's Star. Our generally energetic and bubbly boy got quiet and more serious as he took in the crowds and the music, and gazed with big eyes at the Macy's star. I wonder what was going on in his little head as he took everything in? Perhaps he was a little overwhelmed, maybe even a bit overstimulated? Maybe just amazed that so many people would gather together under a big bright star and get crazy with Christmas Carols?

I love this image of him because, first, his favorite part - the star - is behind him, illuminating his world. Second, the expression on his face - it is evident he is taking it all in. Soaking it up. Being touched by the magic that music can be during the Holiday Season. Oh how I love my little boy!

I hope everyone else had an enjoyable weekend! If you're not feeling in the Holiday Spirit yet, just crank up some of your favorite Christmas tunes and it won't be long before you'll be tapping your toes and letting your heart sing ;)

LRW Presents: Advent Ideas for Christmas in Seattle

2010-11-30T13:04:00.000-08:00

In our family, we have a tradition. We celebrate the countdown to Christmas, or Advent, by doing something special each day and then closing our day by reading a verse of scripture about the life of Jesus Christ by candlelight. There are so many aspects to this season - from Santa and the secular to the real reason for the season, the remembrance and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which is much more sacred and holy. I love all the parts! My hope by doing something fun and also refocusing on the more spiritual aspect each day is that my children will grow up with many fond memories of holiday traditions we enjoy together as well as other real lessons that fortify their faith in our Savior along the way.

Over the past few years I have compiled a list of activities we have done or would like to do. Some things are very simple, others more extravagant. Most are free. A few cost something and a very few cost a lot. My hope in sharing this list with you is that if you are looking for a way to infuse some holiday cheer into this season, you might have somewhere to start.

I work with so many families and children, I felt like this was the least I could do to help spread just a bit of holiday cheer. So, whether new in town or Seattle-born-and-bred, please enjoy this list of ideas and activities and please don't hesitate to send me a note if you have any questions or if you have any ideas to add to the list. I am sure there are many other activities within each neighborhood community.

I will tell you the outings that are totally worth it each year and that I wouldn't want to miss out on: Figgy Pudding Caroling (LOVE it! LOVE the LLEW CREW!), Winterfest at the Seattle Center - just SO much to see and do and almost all free! Also, the Christmas Ships, and the Greenlake Pathway of Lights. Those are the things we never miss. I hope some of you are able to get in on some of this Holiday fun this year!

Let the Countdown Begin!

Above Image taken at the Seattle Center Winterfest Carousel, December 2009

Activity Ideas:

Deck the Halls - put up a tree and decorate for Christmas!

Do a Holiday Craft (here's a few fun ones I found):

3-D Paper Snowflakes, or simple, beautiful, 6-sided ones

Edible Snowmen

Pretty Paper plate Angels

or download, cut, paste, and gaze at these cute Christmas Creatures from Mibo Studios (cost is $5.80 from their Etsy shop)

make a paperchain garland

Send out Christmas Cards

Call someone special to wish them a Merry Christmas

Write a Holiday Newsletter - recap the year

Bake goodies for friends and neighbors

Drink some egg nog - or try it homemade this year!

Have a Christmas Cookie Exchange

Go to a Christmas Party - or host one yourself!

Go Christmas Caroling (extra cheer: if you ask in advance a lot of hospitals and nursing homes will allow small groups to carol to their patients)

Listen to your favorite Christmas Songs

Attend a Holiday Worship service at a local church

Have a Christmas Movie night

Research and learn about the symbolism of some of our current Christmas Traditions

Learn about Christmas traditions in other countries and cultures

Pick a name from a "giving tree" and shop for someone less fortunate

Donate food to the local food bank

Make gingerbread (or graham cracker) houses

Do some community service or volunteer work

Have a hot chocolate party (have you ever tried it a la mode with seasonal peppermint ice- cream? it's one of our favorite treats!)

Wrap presents - or volunteer to wrap for a good cause

Read favorite Christmas Stories

Read THE Christmas Story, or watch it.

Play in the snow - sledding, ski/snowboarding, or snow shoeing

Have a Twinkle Party - turn off all the lights except Christmas ones and enjoy

Go see a Light Display - one we like is Ravenna's Candycane Lane

See a Live Nativity - or create your own

Write a letter to Santa - or pay him a visit

Enjoy walking, caroling and luminaries at (D-foodbank) Greenlake Pathway of Lights

Attend a local Holiday Event (see below - a great range from free to pricey)

Local Events:

-There's always something happening Downtown

-(D) The Great Figgy Pudding Street Caroling Competition

-Seattle Center Winterfest: includes free and affordable Live Christmas Music, Christmas Carousel, Bonfires, Ice-sculpting, Train Village, Ice-Skating ($) and more

-Argosy Christmas Ships and Choirs at local Beaches

-Waterfront Park's Toyland Village

-Sheraton Hotel's Gingerbread Village

-Swanson's Nursery - reindeer, camel, donkey, and train village

-($$)PNB Nutcracker

-($$) Seattle Symphony: A lot to listen to including Handel's Messiah and A Charlie Brown Christmas

-($$) Intiman Theatre's The Black Nativity

-($$) Local Productions: ACT's A Christmas Carol, Greenlake Bathhouse Theatre: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, 5th Avenue Theatre: A Christmas Story: The Musical!, etc.

-See the beautiful trees (or buy one($$$$) for a good cause) at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel's Festival of Trees

Nearby Events (30-60 min. drive):

-($)Point Defiance Zoolights (South/Tacoma)

-(D)Bellevue Botanical Garden D'Lights (Eastside/Bellevue)

-See snow fall at Snowflake Lane (Eastside/Bellevue)

-($$)Ride the Santa Train at the Northwest Railway Museum (North Bend)

-($$)The Lights of Christmas Festival (North/Stanwood)

key:

D=donation appreciated

$=under $10

$$=$10-$100

Mine on Monday: Santa Baby...

2010-11-29T00:20:00.000-08:00

We took our little family to "Magic in the Market" at Pike Place Market over the weekend...and introduced Aspen to Santa for the first time.

It didn't go over so well.

But it sure is one of those pictures to remember! Doesn't every child need a picture of themselves freaking out on Santa's knee?

After we wiped away the tears and calmed our poor child down (her brother got super shy around the Big Man, too - although he was really excited about the candy cane Santa gave him)...we just enjoyed the festivities. The music and the lights were a marvelous way to get the magic of the season ignited in all of us.

Stay tuned later this week for a wonderful list of advent ideas -- outings, activities, and crafts to enjoy with your family on the countdown to Christmas...

LRW Photography Recommends: The Stitchin' Shoppe on Etsy

2010-11-22T23:08:00.000-08:00

Do you like my hat?

This is sweet baby James, a newborn I recently photographed. During his session, I pulled out this sweet handmade hat. I'm sure you're wondering if I made it? I only wish! I found it on an Etsy shop - now a favorite - made by the lovely and talented Dachael Houston.

I ended up ordering quite a load of these hats - for client sessions as well as for my own kiddos. The hats are sweet as props but functional (and WAY cute!) as well! To check out The Stitchin' Shoppe, click here. She has a few new hats in the shop - I am dying over the newsboy hats!

Dachael has extended a special offer to any of my readers who head over to her Shoppe. During checkout, enter the coupon code: redwagonphoto to receive a 10% discount on your order. And shipping is FREE!

So...whether as a photo prop, a gift, or just something for yourself (she will do custom orders and sizes ;) head on over and take advantage of the discount! I promise you will not be disappointed!

Note: Because these are handmade to order...if you'd like one in time for Christmas, make sure to order right away!

Happy Hat Shopping!

Mine on Monday: Good Morning, Sunshine!

2010-11-22T05:02:00.000-08:00

She looks how I feel on a Monday morning...well...make that most any morning. Especially during a Seattle winter when skies are gray and the earth is generally wet. And it's dark outside.

Lucky for me, my kids don't get up super early, and when they do, I don't have to rush off to work. So, we have time to stay cozy in our pjs and cuddle in my bed.

I love, love, love it.

Happy Monday, friends! And hooray for a long weekend coming up quick!

Sneak Peek: Another visit with Baby Ian

2010-11-20T23:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a tiny peek for this handsome little man's family...

Okay, {FLASHBACK} remember him as a newborn? He's already 5 months old! Isn't is A-MAZING how much babies can grow and change in such a short amount of time? And where'd his hair go? Funny how that newborn hair sometimes doesn't last at all. Or completely changes color and texture. With or without it, though, this guy is sure one handsome dude!

We took a few outside and a few inside and he was such an easy subject! Ian - your sweet smile will win anyone over instantly! No doubt you are on your parents list of "things to be thankful for" this Thanksgiving!

Sneak Peek: Layla + Brock

2010-11-16T01:00:00.000-08:00

I had waaaaay too much fun with these two! We had so much fun, we just kept right on shooting - I think we ended up playing around in 4 different locations. I have to admit it was kind of refreshing to work with a family without children (yet). Refreshing because I didn't have to chase after them or pull out any funny balancing acts on my head or camera to get them to look at the camera or smile. (don't get me wrong, I love the kiddos I work with, but you know what I mean, I hope!)

Layla and Brock, you two are such an awesome pair! Thanks for spending the morning with me! And thanks for letting me try out "urban" :) Enjoy!

Mine on Monday: Rewind

2010-11-15T01:17:00.000-08:00

I could stare at this image forever.

This is my daughter when she was all of 3 days old.

I truly do love that my daughter is now cruising around furniture and tried her first graham crackers this afternoon. I love that she's still cuddly, and that she lights up at the sight of me. And her giggle just kills me!

But...every now and then I look back through her photographs and I wish I could have a moment to just hold her newborn little self again. I know I repeat myself over and over again by always commenting on how quickly babies grow up...too quickly...but that's only because it's true. Yes, we enjoy them at each stage and it's amazing to watch their growth and development...but I don't think I'm the only one who occasionally finds nostalgia in olds photos. In my case, a 9 month old photo...not even old! If I'm like this now, heaven help me in a few years or when my babies head off to college! Yikes!

May each of you also find comfort in a small moment, in an image that "takes you back"...(it's okay to be sappy now and then :) After all, isn't that why we photograph all of those little moments we want to remember?

Happy Monday, friends!

DIY Friday: Pretty-fied Duct Tape Candle

2010-11-12T16:07:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I have done a DIY Friday project, so here goes! Truth be told, I've been super busy lately, so I only had time for a QUICK project: If you're short on time, this is the project for you, as it take all of about 30 seconds from start to finish.

This project came together randomly as I wanted to pick up a yummy scented seasonal candle. Me being picky as I am, I didn't like the sticker on it. Luckily, it was easy to peel off. Someone else really liked it, as you'll see below. One person's trash...is another persons treasure I suppose :)

Anyway, I had picked up the duct tape for a completely different purpose, but as I was unloading my shopping bag, the idea hit me: replace the ugly sticker with the pretty duct tape! Wa lah!

Materials:

-Candle in container (could be a jar, glass, ceramic holder...whatever. I found mine at Target for about $6)

-Duct tape of choice (again, I found this pretty baroque print -- I know, can you believe it? pretty duct tape! at Target for about $3)

-Scissors

Step 1: Carefully peel sticker off the glass (or if yours can't peel off, skip to step 2)

optional step: give the sticker to someone else who will treasure it ;)

Step 3: Carefully wrap tape around jar. If you couldn't peel off your sticker, make sure the duct tape covers any artwork or typography.

Step 4: You're done! Display wherever you want! I only had time to just set mine on the kitchen counter top - with my lovely collection of milk glass vases (I'm obsessed). Can't wait to burn it and smell the pumpkin spice in the air!

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

Sneak Peek: Sending Fall Colors to the Philippines

2010-11-08T14:34:00.000-08:00

It was so much fun to spend a little time with the "H" family Saturday morning (before it started pouring, mind you - we got lucky!) I have been friends with Karl since our good 'ole college days. It was so suiting that they decided the perfect location for their family session was on UW campus. They want to send some updated photos of their lovely family to Sheila's family, who live in the Philippines. They don't really have "seasons" there, and especially not the striking fall colors. UW Campus is beautiful in every season, but wow were the leaves ablaze with color!

Thanks, Karl & Sheila, and your two CUTE boys, for the morning on campus. It's always fun to see you!

Holiday Cards are Here!

2010-11-03T02:46:00.000-07:00

The Holiday Design Shoppe is now open!

Go take a peek by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

Turn around time is approximately 3-5 days.

If I did not photograph you this year, but you are interested in ordering cards, email me for details and a special offer:

tysha@littleredwagonphotography.com

BIG THANKS to SEEDBED STUDIO, and especially, JACOB CARTER (aka my main man) for the wonderful designs. You will surely get something nice in your stocking this Christmas :)

Sneak Peek this Week #2: Shades of Autumn

2010-11-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

I have to preface this one. This is one of my dear friends and I just love her adorable little family! They got all dressed up and were gorgeous! I felt so bad when the rain started teasing us...but they were good sports. New-ish to Seattle, their friends and family will see some good ole' Seattle rain in these pics - as well as the beautiful, blazing colors we enjoy here in the autumn.

Are these not some of the most beautiful babes you've ever seen?

Mr. Max just kills me! Such a fun kid!

Some Father-Son bonding time: learning how to skip rocks (in the rain, no less!).

Sweet Ruby and her beautiful Mama!

"I'm a lucky man..."

There is something romantic about getting caught in the rain, would you agree? At least these two make it seem so :)

Thanks, G Family, for letting me play in the rain with you. Hope you got home, had some nice warm soup, warmed up in front of the fireplace, and enjoyed a cozy weekend. You guys are the best - be seein' ya soon!

Sneak Peek this Week #1: Sweet Baby James

2010-11-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

I think they've been playing a lot of James Taylor around this house lately...with such a sweet, handsome, baby James being added to the family :) I always feel so honored to capture some of the first sweet moments of brand new babies, it is such a special time. This little man was all of 6 days old here. No sooner did we finish our session and he was already out and about - out with his big sis to watch his older bro in his preschool play. They say there's something special about the first...but really, there is something special about the first...and the second...and now, the third.

Welcome to this world, sweet James. Thanks for sharing your bright eyes, tiny fingers and toes, and fun little newborn squeaks with me - and for being such a great big blessing to your family.

Happy Halloween from LRW Photography!

2010-10-30T16:30:00.000-07:00

I always have waaaaaay too much fun with their costumes. Well, this is my first year with two...so I had to come up with some sort of theme, right? There's not going to be too many years where they'll be happy with me choosing their costumes, so I had to run with it. I get these big ideas in my head and then drive myself nuts until I get the image in my head into my camera's memory card.

Cute, though - right?

(Humility out the window)

OH MY GOLLY, MY KIDS ARE SOOOO CUTE!

It's okay, YOURS ARE SOOOO CUTE, TOO!!!

Happy Halloween!

PS: Thanks to the staff and patrons at Johnny Rockets at University Village for allowing me to get a little "trigger happy" during business hours (don't you worry, I got permission first). BTW - do you know they now serve breakfast at Johnny Rockets? (yep, and they usually don't serve chocolate milkshakes at 10am, but our server was so awesome, she made one up just to indulge me in all my picture-taking insanity ;) Thanks!

Sneak Peek this Week #2: Little Boys in Ballard

2010-10-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

Second sneak this week! Yes, Saturday was a busy one - first at the beach, and then in Ballard at the Locks dodging the rain! Luckily, this family (who had to reschedule once already because of the weather) just rolled with it. We waited for a little dry spell and looked for "natural" umbrellas. Their 3 year old was super excited to spend a little time looking for Coho and walking along the train tracks. This was my 3rd year in a row capturing this family and it has been fun to see their sons grow. This year (despite the weather) was probably the easiest yet - and the eldest boy I think remembers what I do now. He was ready to ham it up a bit, even :)

I really love that first shot. Mom requested that shot, as she has an old photograph of her and her daddy there when she was a little girl. (I'd love to see it sometime!) I hope it will be a treasure to her ;)

Thanks, "A" family - for being such good sports. I guess 3 of you are natives of Seattle, so you've learned to roll with the rain ;) It's such an honor each year to photograph you all *gush*. I just have the best clients!

ps- to the boys' mommy...we will get together for that dreamy James Dean shot...just name the day!

Sneak Peek this Week #1: A Little Boy who Loves the Beach!

2010-10-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a tiny sneak peek for little "D"s mommy...and hopefully not his daddy as these are going to be a wonderful Christmas surprise!

This boy loves the beach just about as much as I do! And NO FEAR! The cold water, the chilled air...nothing could stop this boy from having some fun in the sand and even getting his toes wet. Thanks to "D" and his patient mommy, for the beautiful morning at Discovery Park Beach. It was probably one of the last nice days to be had at the beach without totally bundling up...and I enjoyed every minute!

Mine on Monday: OH those eyes...

2010-10-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

...OH how they melt me...

(I'm okay with it ;)

I cannot believe she'll be 9 months old this weekend!

~~~

Speaking of this weekend...everyone ready for tricks and treats?

DIY Friday: Cool Boy Star Shirt

2010-10-22T14:30:00.001-07:00

Remember this post? It was the teaser for this project. I had already made the onesie when my little son begged me to make him a special shirt. I also made a couple of t-shirts as birthday gifts, and when he saw the "star shirts" he knew he just had to have one (he also wanted the cool motorcycle toys that went in the packages as well...oh, sometimes it's hard when you're two!)

So, I thought I might as well share this simple, easy, fun crafting idea.

Supplies:

T-shirt

Freezer Paper

Fabric Paint

Paintbrush

X-acto Knife or scissors

Iron

Graphic Stars (or other Graphic) (I downloaded a free font from dafont.com get the star font here. They also have a really fun animal font)

Step 1: Print out your graphic.

Step 2: Trace graphic on freezer paper (NOT the waxy side)

*a note about freezer paper: it is NOT the same as wax paper, as it is waxy on only one side. You can find it in most grocery stores - I found mine at Safeway, but didn't find it (surprisingly) at Target*

Step 3: Cut out graphics, saving all pieces.

Step 4: Iron graphics onto shirt (remember, waxy side down)

Step 5: Paint away! I used a blow-dryer to quick-dry the paint a little bit and then I did another coat of paint, since I was painting white onto a dark fabric.

Step 6: Let it dry for a few hours, preferably overnight.

Step 7: Heat-set the paint by pressing an iron down on the graphic for a few seconds.

Step 8: Present Star Shirt and get a great big smile from a very happy boy!

THANKS MOM FOR MY STAR SHIRT!

Back to the teaser...

I got the idea for this onesie from the FABULOUS Ashley Ann. I had seen it back when she originally posted it earlier this year, and as I planned my daughter's Halloween Costume, I thought it would be the perfect thing to go with her pink poodle skirt. Following Ashely's advice after washing a few times, I decided to do it with Freezer Paper Stenciling. I also just painted on the dots. I am excited to get my girl dressed up for her first Halloween!

ps- I just googled images for cat eye glasses and then sized them to my liking.

Leave me some link love if anyone tries something out with fp stenciling! I'm thinking of trying it on a decorative pillow next...

*thanks to pugly pixels for the sweet overlay up top!*

PREVIEW: Custom Holiday Cards by Seedbed Studio

2010-10-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to show you a preview of just a few of the Holiday Cards that will be available this season! Due to some great feedback from past clients, this is the first time I have offered holiday cards, and I am super happy to do so! There will be these plus a few more options, with several color palettes to choose from, to customize your family's holiday cards this year. I must confess, Seedbed Studios (aka my amazingly talented husband, Jacob) exceeded my expectations with the designs. I love that they are simple. modern. vintage. classic.

I randomly threw in a few family photos I've taken throughout this year to give you an idea of what they will look like - so these aren't necessarily what anyone will see in the mail :)

Specs:

5x7 flat cards w/ envelopes. Images on both sides.

Choice of papers (art recycled, linen, or pearl).

25/$50 or 50/$90.

So...if you've had photos taken by me this year and want to get in on these goods - email me @ tysha@littleredwagonphotography.com

More to come...(full line will be done Nov. 1st - plenty of time to order before Christmas).

Mine on Monday: The Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we visited The Pumpkin Patch, located on Sauvie Island, near Portland, Oregon. It was a magical place! We only had a couple of hours there, as we had to make the drive back to Seattle that evening, but oh, how I wish we had all day to spend there! I think my son would have agreed - he was in pumpkin heaven out in the fields! He rolled pumpkins around and stood, open-mouthed in awe and excitement, as he watched the tractors pulling the hayriders around the farm. The fresh farm market was amazing, too!

If you don't live near Portland, but are looking for a great Pumpkin Patch to visit near Seattle, our family recommends Carleton Farm - our usual place to prowl for pumpkins.

Wherever you find your perfect pumpkin - I sure hope you enjoy! Get a little muddy and maybe even a little chilly in the crisp autumn air, then find yourself some fresh, warm, spiced apple cider to warm up! It's divine! (and if you've never tried spiced cider a la mode - I highly recommend it!)

A Different Kind of Sneak Peek: Freezer Paper Stenciling

2010-10-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

Due to foul weather, high fevers, and runny noses, both of my sessions set for this past weekend had to be rescheduled (bummer). So, here is a sneak peek of another kind --

a) a peek at part of my daughter's Halloween Costume (think pink and poodles...)

b) a peek at an upcoming diy project (you'd never guess how easy freezer paper stenciling is!)

Isn't that vintage cat eye glasses onesie quite darling? (the girl wearing it is pretty darling, too - but I know I'm biased!)

stay tuned...

Mine on Monday: Binky Baby

2010-10-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Even with that binky in her mouth, she's a pretty cute gal, don'tcha think?

Off to School...

2010-10-08T22:46:00.000-07:00

My son (above, with the rather serious "don't disturb my dump truck fun" face) recently began attending Pre-school. This past week I had the pleasure of chasing around with the kids on the playground to snap some pictures for a couple of classroom projects we will be working on. I must say, this is one super fun - not to mention adorable - class!

I also must admit that I think I am enjoying being in class just as much as my son - although I think the dress-up and play kitchen/house area is super fun and he tends to gravitate towards the cars and trucks...constantly :)

Here's a wish for a fun and smooth school-year for all who have recently gone back to school (or for those who have just started for the first time)!

Mine on Monday: Jack Johnson or Bust!

2010-10-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

I had a hot date over the weekend. The hubs took me to The Gorge to see Jack Johnson in concert. I'll keep it simple and short and just say: My man + good, live music + being under the stars + perfect weather = HEAVEN.

For Kaitlin & Taylor...

2010-10-01T23:53:00.000-07:00

Today we went to visit my sister, who recently moved about an hour's drive from us (awesome!). She has a new baby girl, so I thought I'd take a few minutes during our visit this afternoon and snap a few of her new addition...

But first, here is Big Sister helping me test the light, and make sure everything is set up just right. (She had to have her turn in front of the camera, too ;) Isn't she a sweetheart?

And the rest are of Baby Sister, approximately 2 months old...pretty darn sure those eyes are gonna be stellar blue (like her Daddy's!)...

Kait and Tay -- sooo glad you're closer now. It's so good to have some family nearby, and such fun that we have cousins to play with! I hope you like these (there will be these + some coming your way at our next visit!)

Three cheers for my little sis and her cute family!

Mine on Monday: Pink Cadillac in the Sand

2010-09-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

I was sorting through some of our family photos from this summer and came across this one from Venice Beach, CA. My son is ALL BOY. He is, after all, named after Tom Sawyer - and the reason we gave him that name was because it is an ALL BOY name. He is sure living up to it! Sometimes it is a challenge (ie. why do boys get such a thrill from jumping off furniture? or ramming into it? or putting unders on their heads?) but most of the time, it's just plain ole fun. I love that he was just as excited (maybe even more) about driving his little pink cadillac in the sand as he was to jump in the surf and stomp in the little sandy puddles on the beach. Here's to boyhood!

I love my boy!

diy Friday: Learning to Fly

2010-09-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, Okay. Admittedly, I can't show you how to fly (as in stay in the air for any real length of time or cancel your airline miles program because you can get there yourself...) This post is just to keep with the recent tradition of a diy Friday post, and just for, well, f-u-n.

Well, then. If you're a thrill-seeker, I can show you how to fly - enough to get a small adrenaline rush, (maybe). More like, my 2-year-old can model how to fly, in his words, "like an Eagle." Take a look...

Supplies:

A daring little boy or girl (or a daring big boy or girl ;)

An object to jump from (ie. a small bed, or a bucket, etc)

Someplace (relatively) soft, and safe, to land. (carpet is a good choice)

Step 1: Situate yourself on the ledge or top of the object. In this example, a toddler bed.

Step 2: Jump!

(watch where you're flying so not to land on any legos, trains, or puzzle pieces)

Step 3: Land on your feet. If you have sturdy object nearby, as in perhaps, a wall, feel free to use it as an aide for a perfect "10" landing.

Step 4: Repeat until your Mother makes you stop, or it's time for dinner.

*please note this exercise is especially exhilarating if you leave the window open for fresh air and if there is sunshine pouring into the room. Oh, and if you decide to spin your body mid-air, it's flying like a "skateboard" and not just an eagle. So says my son :)

Happy Friday, friends!

Sneak Peek: Growing Up

2010-09-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

Here is just a little sneak peek for Little Miss "L" and her family. I met this little darling just over a year ago when I did her newborn photos. I absolutely love seeing babies grow and what a joy it is that I get to see some so fresh and new and then get to see how they've grown up in their first year. She just had her first birthday. Wow, I think I say this every time, but my.oh.my.how.time.flies! She is walking and climbing (future rock climber here?) and I know that pretty soon, she will be running. To her wonderful parents: good luck keeping up! And thanks for the fun Saturday evening!

Sneak Peek: Sweet Lincoln (and his Big Sister)

2010-09-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

It was truly a pleasure to meet this sweet, sweet baby boy. I was going to meet him several months ago, but due to a few little obstacles with his health - including way too many visits to Children's Hospital for someone so little - we were forced us to delay our meeting...until this past weekend. The instant I walked into his home and my eyes met his, I was overwhelmed with what a wonderful, sweet little soul he is. And how lucky to belong to the family he does. He has a beautiful big sister who is so gentle and kind with him and parents who love him like crazy.

Thanks to this lovely family for letting me capture your beautiful kids...they surely are your crowning blessings!

My Own on Monday: So hungry, So tired

2010-09-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Babies can sleep in the strangest of situations. A couple of weeks back I was getting lunch ready for my toddler and new-to-solid-food baby. I heard her start "singing" to herself (this sort of humming thing she does when she's tired) and by the time I mixed up her rice cereal she was out. Poor baby. So hungry, but more tired than hungry, it seemed.

Doesn't she just look perfect to cuddle up to? I sure think so. After I captured the moment to remember, I scooped her up ever so gently and cuddled her back to dreamland and a nice two-hour nap. So sweet. I just adore her! Seeing her fall asleep at her high chair made me think, sometimes we just need to slow down a bit. Or maybe that's just me?

Happy Monday, friends!

diy Friday: Pretty Baby Legs

2010-09-17T18:26:00.001-07:00

Ruffles are in. Rosettes are in. Are you tired of them yet? I'm not...hence todays little diy project: make your own pretty little baby legs (leg warmers).

I bought some knee high socks at Target at while back ($2/each)...thinking, 'wow these are just about the perfect size for baby leg warmers...I think I'll try to make some'. I already have some. Or I should say, my daughter already has some. My son even has some. The original BabyLegs were made right here in Seattle. But they are about $12 a pair and I found I could customize mine for about $3 a pair + the fun & challenge of making them and that good 'pat-yourself-on-the-back' feeling that comes from creating something, well, pretty. (and don't forget functional...it's getting chilly out!)

Here goes... (please keep in mind I totally just made this up as I went along and hoped for the best. I'm sure someone or several people out there can think of ways to do the ruffles better or more easily...but this is what I came up with - please share a link if you try this and find a better process to do ruffles!)

Materials:

knee length socks (old or new!)

scissors

about 1/6 yard knit fabric - 1 or more color

needle and thread and/or sewing machine

and a little dose of patience (always necessary when trying a new project!)

Step 1: Cut the feet off the knee high socks.

Step 2: Roll the cut parts over (this will happen quite naturally which is something that is nice about knit.) You could just leave them this way, if you'd like, or just put a small stitch in each side to hold them in place.

Step 3: Make the ruffles. I just used some knit material I had on hand and cut it about two inches across and then about double the length of the socks.

You can do this by machine or by hand: Make 2 long stitches through the center of the fabric.
Then, pull either the top or bottom thread (you'll soon see which one) until the fabric starts to ravel up into ruffles. Do this until the fabric is ruffled and arranged to just a tad longer than the length of the socks. Leave the threads hanging a little long, in case you lose any of your ruffle.

Step 4: Attach the ruffles to the socks. First, fold over that little roll we saw earlier and you can sew (by machine or hand) the ruffle right onto the roll/sock. Make sure to stitch across the ends to keep the ruffle threads in place and keep the ruffles. Does that make sense?

The machine can help make sure the ruffles will stay put.

Step 5: Unless you want to cut the socks apart to sew along the whole line of ruffle...just do a few little stitches by hand here and there along the ruffle to keep it in place. As you see below, the ruffle is attached at the top and bottom, but the middle just needs to be kept in place. I think I sewed the "here" spots onto the sock with just a couple of little stitches. Again, does this make sense? If anyone has trouble please email me and I will try to clarify ;)
And wah la! Pretty Baby Legs!

For the Rosettes, I just took a little knit and made leaves, which I stitched onto the sock, and then made a rosette like the ones in the Baby Headband Tutorial but by hand sewing the rosette rather than gluing it. Then, I stitched it onto the leaves on the sock. Easy peasy. Presto!

These two projects took about 2 hours - the time my kids were napping this afternoon. I am going to try some more later - I still have 3 pair of socks to make into Pretty Baby Legs! I think I might get more funky with a couple of them...

These would be a great gift, too!

Overall, these were pretty easy and lots of fun to make! I am happy with how they turned out. I think for washing, probably on gentle in the washer would be fine.

I know I am biased, but doesn't my little model have cute little chunky legs? I sure think so!

I found that these "homemade" baby legs actually fit her chubby legs better than the originals!

Happy Friday All! Drop me a note and link back some love if anyone decides to try these out! I'd love to hear how it goes and see how they turn out!

My own on Monday: A Pure Heart & Very Clean Hands

2010-09-13T00:16:00.000-07:00

I came across a couple of other blogs that have started the habit of sharing "My own on Monday" so I thought I might give it a whirl. Perhaps it will be an occasional Monday, but nonetheless here is one of My own...

A Pure Heart with Very Clean Hands!

That's my boy. He's been spending a lot of time in the bathroom lately. He's learning how to use the "big boy potty" (which is awesome! only two accidents in the past 5 days!) He's also learning how to wash his hands after he does his business. Tonight, I noticed it was a little too quiet when I was chatting on the phone with my mom...too quiet almost always means something exciting is happening, and it was: foamy soap fun in the bathroom! He was having so much fun I could hardly bare to scold him. Instead, I laughed and ran and got the camera. It was all fun and games until the soapy floor became a slip n slide...

At least he got squeaky clean! Here's wishing everyone a squeaky clean and fresh outlook on the new week ahead!

Happy Monday!

DIY Friday: Upcycled Cupcake Box

2010-09-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

Today will mark my first "DIY Friday" project. I can't promise to do a DIY project every Friday, but I will promise to do a DIY project - either one I've come up with myself, or one I will try that someone else has come up with - on random Fridays. If it's a hit, maybe I'll commit to once a week :) So...here goes!

It is our neighbor's birthday. My 2-year-old understands well, now that he has a few birthday parties under his belt, what usually goes along with birthdays: cupcakes. So, we decided to make some cupcakes to give to our neighbor for her birthday (one for her, her husband, and their cat, no less!)

I didn't have anything suitable - or so I thought - around the house to present the cupcakes in...so I made one. Keep in mind, I have a hungry toddler and a mobile baby under foot and in my ears while making this project, so if it's not seamless, please forgive me. But overall, I think it turned out cute: an upcycled* cupcake box.

Supplies:

Box of your choice

Paper of your choice

Scissors

Scotch tape

Pen

Cupcake Liner

optional: ribbon or other embellishments

and don't forget the cupcakes!

*Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

Here's how it went:
Step 1: Find a box that is the size you want.

This box was my inspiration. My son begs for fruit snacks, so we keep a stash in the cookie jar to bribe him on occasion. Just as I was opening this box we got today and unloading it into the cookie jar, I thought "this is the perfect size for the cupcakes we're giving to our neighbor!" (which were cooling on the countertop nearby, mind you).

Step 2: I took a cupcake liner and traced the bottom onto the box. It's okay to be a little generous. I must admit I ended up having to squish my cupcakes in just a little because I was trying to be a little bit too precise.

Step 3: Cut out the circles to make holes.

Step 4: Wrap the box.

I have a roll of easel paper on hand, which we frequently use for drawing and painting. I just wanted a plain sort of paper to cover the print on the box. You could use wrapping paper, colored paper, tissue paper, or even fabric, if you so desire.

Step 5: Poke holes in your wrapping job and peel the paper through.

Step 6: This step is optional if you already love the paper you wrapped the box in. But I wanted to add a little something extra, so I used a spare piece of scrapbook paper I had lying around. I knew it wouldn't wrap all the way around the box, but I didn't mind. I just tapes the sides to the white paper. I also grabbed some ribbon to embellish the sides of the paper just a bit. Easy peasy. Taped the ribbon to the bottom. The hardest part was cutting the holes out to semi-match the placement of the original holes. But it wasn't too hard, either.

Step 7: I taped one side of an extra piece of the scrapbook paper to the box, so I could write a little note, and then fold it in as a little tag. You could just tape a tag onto the box, or slide a small card under the paper if you wanted. I was going for something simple, especially since when I carry the box over, I will be wearing one baby and holding my toddler's hand near the busy street we live on.

Step 8: Add the cupcakes! This is the best part, of course!

I can hardly wait for the kids to wake up from their naps so we can deliver these pretty little things to our neighbor and wish her a Happy Birthday!

Oh...there's one waking up right now!

Happy Friday, everyone!

News: Availability Update

2010-09-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

I am sad that summer is leaving us. Oh-so-sad.

{Summer is my favorite season}

BUT.

I have to admit that I like that crisp little feeling in the air. I like that some of the leaves are starting to show signs that they are ready to brighten up their hues. I like the feeling of bundling up in a sweater after my morning swim. I like that jeans are extremely comfortable with flip-flops. And I admit I am looking forward to the warmth, albeit a different kind of warmth, that the autumn and winter bring.

Farewell, summer. You will be missed. But we must say good-bye before we say hello again, is that not so? So go - get out of here! I'll be anxiously waiting for your return...

NEWS: I am now fully booked through the end of the year. I will not be taking on any more sessions until next Spring*. This has been a wonderful year and full season, and I thank every one of my clients for the good times and great moments we captured this year. I am looking forward to seeing some familiar and some new faces this fall...and then let's all hibernate a bit and enjoy the way the cooler months naturally slow things down and beckon us indoors to spend more time with those we love.

Please contact me anytime after the first of the year to book sessions for 2011. In the meantime...Hello Autumn!

*note*I will take on a few newborn sessions during the winter months if you inquire - family photos can wait for nicer weather, but newborns change so fast we need to capture them quick!

Enough for Two Baseball Teams...

2010-09-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I photographed a family of SEVENTEEN people. At that, a handful were missing. In this immediate family, there are 12 children. (like I mentioned, there were 3 that weren't here...) Add in a couple of spouses and a sprinking of grandbabies to top it off and this family has enough for two baseball teams! The majority were visiting from the Midwest and it was a treat to see them all excited to be at the beach. Not all of them love getting their picture taken - or displayed, so I'm sorry you don't get to see the whole bunch of them. But here are a few - mostly of the youngest ones, to give them a peek from our session. Hope you all enjoyed your visit to the Great Pacific Northwest!

*I am laughing at this last one. Such a little goofball! Eating sand? I guess every kid does it at least a few times! The look on his face is quite priceless! Mud pie, anyone?

Besties

2010-09-05T01:28:00.000-07:00

from the urban dictionary:

Friends who have each other's backs, look out for each other, spend lots of time together, and are just really good friends.
They have inside jokes together, they go to the park and swing on swing sets, get ice cream, go to the beach, go to concerts, go bowling, and basically any activity that they like doing together as friends.

My daughter, Aspen, and her bestie, Ruby, at the beach last Friday. Yep. Aren't they adorable? Don't you just want to nibble on their cheeks and very plush little fingers? LOVE THEM!

Awesome headbands made by Ruby's super talented Mommy.

{You can buy them here}

Now I Know My ABCs...

2010-09-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this doesn't really have anything to do with photography.

but.

Like most photographers, when good design catches my eye, I get giddy.

...and...

giddy I am!

My friend Jeanie, amazing Mama of two sweet girls, also Principal Designer and creator of The Paper Nut, recently finished creating her Alphabet and now it's all ready to go in her Etsy Shop. I have been waiting patiently watching her create one letter at a time, so I was thrilled to see the finished product. I've also been "refreshing" my babies' shared nursery - a little tricky with two cribs and a girl and a boy. Anyway, I am thrilled that the Alphabet will be hung proudly in the new nursery. Eye candy for me during the many hours I spend playing with my kids in their room during the winter months (and anytime in between).

Here's the deal, all you design-loving-mommies out there (and daddies, aunts, uncles, grannies and cousins, too!) Jeanie has offered a sweet deal to my readers: If you purchase one of her fine art prints from her Etsy Shop in the next 30 days, she will throw in a set of 4 beautiful letterpressed cards for free! {your choice from the 4 designs on her site...meaning you can mix and match). Just be sure to enter the coupon code "Little Red Wagon sent me" in the "message to seller". Great deal, huh? Thanks, Jeanie!

*ps-stay tuned between sneak peeks to see another give-away coming up soon!*

Watching the Clouds go by...

2010-08-30T00:54:00.000-07:00

I recently had someone contact me about using one of my landscape/nature images to print on a large gallery-wrapped canvas to hang above their bed. This is the one they chose. This is a beautiful little scene I captured an Autumn or two ago while hiking through Discovery Park. It was the kind of day when you just want to lay on your back and watch the clouds go by. Maybe daydream a little. Maybe just bask in the sun of late Autumn and the crisp feel in the air. It is soothing, as you can see the beautiful waters of the Puget Sound below, and hear the birds chirping. You can look down at the water, or up at the big sky. It is like canvas to let your mind wander, and relax.

I think you chose a good one, Adam & Hilary. I can't wait to see how it looks on canvas!

And to everyone else - Happy Monday! As we move from Summer into Fall, I hope we can all appreciate the slower pace that naturally occurs with the change of seasons.

Sneak Peek: The Egberts of Fremont

2010-08-24T15:35:00.000-07:00

I had a fantastic time with this family during our session on Saturday. Here's a small sneak peek for them to enjoy! I was so impressed that their 3-year-old rides his mini bike without any training wheels! How awesome is that?! This family is just cool like that. We even took a few minutes as we meandered through "The Center of the Universe" to stop in at Theo's Chocolate Factory and try plenty of samples. MMMmmm. What a super fun family! Egberts - I hope by capturing your family amidst some of your favorite Seattle landmarks, you will always look back fondly on your time here in Seattle where your family's journey began. Cheers!

California Dreamin'

2010-08-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

I was just going through my "loot" of images from our California Trip (we tagged on a few days besides the wedding to make a vacation out of the trip) - and I found these. Those of you who know me well, know that I live for summer. I live for the beach. I just do. I think in another life I must have been Hawaiian. Or Canarian. Or, at least, Californian.

The past few days I have been pouting because I feel like this summer we got robbed of true summer here in Seattle. It's been oddly chilly in the mornings, and just not typical. Not that it ever gets raging hot here...but it's usually just perfect. So I pout. But a girl can dream, too, right? So these images are what I dream of. Lucky me, my dream was real for the few days we were staying just steps away from the beach on our California trip. Maybe, just maybe, one day we'll return. And stay.

Either way, I hope someone out there enjoys these images as much as I do!

Happy Friday!

Headband Giveaway Winners!

2010-08-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

We're real high-tech around here. This morning I put the names in a small bowl and in between bites of pancakes I had my 2-year-old son draw the winners. Yes, that's plural! I wish I could give a headband to each of you, but to make up for my mistake the other day of making it impossible to leave a comment, I decided to throw in one more. So the first winner is...(drumroll, please): Amanda G!

The second headband is a little different from the first. I hope you don't mind :) The second winner is (another drum roll, please): Sylvia Cook!

Congrats to the winners! Please send me an email with your mailing address so I can get those cute headbands shipped out on the double!

email me at: tysha@littleredwagonphotography.com

Thanks to all those who entered. Perhaps I'll try another giveaway in the future!

Rob & Mia: The Wedding

2010-08-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of photographing my first wedding. My sister-in-law, Mia, had asked me about a year ago if I'd be willing, and we've all been counting down the days to this event ever since. Mia & Rob were married in a quiet and peaceful grove of trees overlooking the sparkling blue waters of Southern California's gorgeous Lake Arrowhead. It was truly breathtaking! The day was perfect. Thank you so very much to Rob & Mia for being so kind and welcoming as I followed you around all day long clicking away. I have to admit, my "shooting" hand was a little sore that evening - now I have had my first taste of wedding photography. An extra big congrats to the happy couple! I hope you enjoy your photos as you look back on this most important day for years to come. And for those of your family and friends that weren't able to make it to celebrate with you - here's hoping you get a little feeling of how wonderful this day was. The day Rob & Mia got married.

PS - keep on dancin'. and swingin'. and singin' and lovin'= those are some of the not-so-secret-secrets of a happy marriage!

And the winner is...

2010-08-17T12:22:00.000-07:00

Oops. I left on vacation thinking I'd come home to find at least a handful of people who were excited about winning a cute headband, only to find that something was wrong with my blog and no one could even "enter" because they couldn't leave a comment!

I am SO sorry! What kind of person hosts a give-away and then makes it impossible to win? Me, I guess. That's what happens when you are trying to refresh your blog and you push buttons not knowing what it might change. Anyway...the good news, if anyone is patient enough to try again: the giveaway is now extended...

Leave your comment to enter by Thursday, August 19th, by midnight. Winner will be drawn and announced on Friday, the 20th!

I had to add a picture, because every post on a photoblog needs one. This just happens to be my daughter at a wedding we attended recently, showing off her version of the headband up for grabs. Cute, huh?

Thanks for your patience! Comment away!

LRW Creative: DIY Baby Headband and Giveaway!

2010-08-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

*update Nov. 2011 - this year this headband tutorial was chosen for Babble's Holiday Gift Guide! I am not sure who recommended it but thanks, whoever you are! I'd love it those of you who've made some headbands would link up with some photos, I'd love to see what you came up with ;) Cheers, Tysha.

I think I warned you I was going to be adding more than just sneak peeks to my blog? Well, here is the first project I would like to share...a little do-it-yourself project that will make somebody very happy, and undoubtedly very cute!

Ever since having a daughter, I have been obsessed with making her little "girly" things. Which is sort of against my nature, since I was always more the "tomboy" type growing up. But I guess that's what happens when you get a sewing machine for Christmas and then have a baby girl around. At least, to me!

For those of you who don't have a baby around, you can also use this tutorial to make a grown-up version. This whole idea started, in fact, as I've been planning our outfits for an upcoming event and wanted us to coordinate but not completely match. I decided to make ties for the boys (perhaps I'll share how that turns out later!) and headbands for the girls. So this is for girls, young and old! And if you're not a fan of headbands, feel free to use the rosette as an embellishment to pin onto a sweater, jacket, purse, shoes, or tea towel. Whatever you wish! I'm personally kinda obsessed with rosettes these days.

Supplies:

Glue Gun & small glue sticks

Scissors

Felt

Fabric - small strips about an inch wide and 12-18 inches long

Ribbon to add a little sass, if you like or

Ribbon to cover adult headband (I used a fine velvet ribbon)

Stretchy elastic or ribbon for baby headband

Plain Metal headband for adult headband

Here we go:

1. Cut circles out of the felt. One to glue the fabric to, and another matching circle to be the backing once you glue it to the headband.

2. Tie a knot on one end of the strip of fabric.

3. Glue it to the middle of one of the circles.

4. Start twisting the fabric and simultaneously glueing it around the knot and forming a circle until the circle is covered with fabric.

WARNING: be careful of your fingers and the hot glue!

5. Glue end to back side of circle. Cut any remaining fabric.

6. Glue elastic to circle, or glue circle to metal headband at a decent location. For the adult headband, you will probably want to try it on to find the best placement before you blue the rosette on. (note: I used 3 rosettes of various sizes for the adult headband, you can do whatever suits your fancy).

7. For baby headband - after you glue the elastic on, then glue your second circle on the backside to cover the elastic and make it nice and soft since it will be next to baby's head.

8. If you want to add a little something "extra" like I did, just tie a knot in some fun ribbon and snip both ends. Then glue in between the circles.

9. Finish placing and gluing the circles/rosettes to the elastic or metal headband.

10. Wear it to a party! Or just around the house to feel pretty on a dreary gray Seattle day (which is what I did - my oh my what is up with our weather this summer?)

Here I am, showing off the adult version. Not the best picture, but you get the idea...

This is what I do on dreary days when my kids are napping and it's dark inside and out in the middle of August to keep myself from going crazy dreaming about 80 degrees and the beach (which is where I should be this time of year, right!?!)

This model is showing off the baby headband. Isn't she cute?

AND for those of you who would rather NOT make something like this, I made an extra to give away! So now's your chance to score a free baby headband that someone else had to burn their fingers to make! Hooray!

How to enter:

Anyone can enter. Win a headband for your own baby, or a niece or a friend's baby or as a gift. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me something you LOVE about summer. Yep, it's that easy. Winner will be drawn randomly and Wednesday of next week. Be sure to leave me your email so I can get ahold of the winner, or make sure and check back in case it's YOU!

Deadline for entry is Monday, August 16th.

Good Luck!

My-oh-my...

2010-08-08T23:14:00.000-07:00

My, oh, my -- I can hardly believe it, but my little daughter is now 6 months old! It's amazing how fast they grow and how much they learn in such a relatively short amount of time, isn't it? I mean, she went from being a beautiful little sleepy newborn, to now this chub-a-licious babe who is starting to crawl and explore the world of mobility. Crazy!

On my to-do list this week:

-take some pics to mark this milestone!

(and maybe just maybe, my first attempt at a tutorial on this blog!)

(and maybe just maybe, a give-away!)

Here's to a new week ahead! Cheers!

One Already?

2010-08-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

I love that I've been in this business long enough now to have returning clients. I first met this little guy when he was still a baby bump (I did some maternity photos for his Mama). I love that I've had the chance to see him a few times throughout the year and to see how much he's grown!

I can hardly keep track of how fast my own kids are growing. But, seriously, it feels like yesterday that I took this little man's newborn photos.

...and...Wa La! He's ONE!

His Mom had a great idea to have me do some Thank You cards out of one of his 1 year photos. What a great way to show family and friends, near and far, how much her little son had grown over his first year. I love that she let's me get creative, too!

The cards were simple and perfect, and looked something like this:

THANKS goes to this family, for being great clients who've turned into friends. It is always such a joy to work with you and to see your cute family as it grows!

My Gerber Baby

2010-07-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, my daughter had her first taste of "solid" food. Rice cereal, anyone? Her big brother thought he wanted some, but after a little taste, he declared "I don't yike it" (I just love how he pronounces the "l" with a Spanish accent!) Since I have been her go-to girl when it comes to meals for the past almost-six-months, we let Daddy do the honors.

(of course, I made a special bib for the occasion)

It was a hit! She downed the rice cereal like a champ and there has been no stopping her since. We've added a new food every couple days and she isn't picky. I guess she's just like her mom...just plain loves food. Now it's time for me to break out the strainer and the blender and make a bunch of good ole' homemade babyfood! Anyone want to make a party of it?

7.29.2010 Update

2010-07-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

It is the end of July and I am almost booked for the rest of the year.

Yikes!

How did that happen so fast?

This is a little note to inform y'all that I only have 2-3 slots available for late autumn and after that it's wrap up time to fill everyone's orders by Christmas.

From mid-November, 2010 - April 1, 2011 I will only be taking on newborn sessions.

After April 1st I will take on all the rest!

Thanks for keeping me busy this year and enabling me to upgrade some of my equipment!

I really do have the best clients!

Sneak Peek: Another Beach-y Saturday

2010-07-26T14:50:00.000-07:00

What fun it was to photograph this stunning family on Saturday morning! They just happen to be old friends and neighbors who I hadn't seen in quite a while, so it was an extra treat to spend the morning together and see how their family has grown...

Can you even believe those big brown eyes? My, oh, my, little man - you just killed me with your cuteness!

I can never get over how much fun I have doing photo sessions. It is such an honor to spend a little time with lovely people and hope to capture something about their family that they will always treasure...

Thanks again, Paul & Gretchen - and your two handsome little lads - for spending the morning with me. We will have to do it again sometime sans white shirts and camera. (ie Bonfire on the Beach?)

Sneak Peek: At the Beach with Forrest {Seattle Baby & Child Photographer}

2010-07-19T16:52:00.000-07:00

Much fun was had Saturday morning at Carkeek Beach in North Seattle. Just-turned-two-year-old Forrest enjoyed exploring the beach and getting his feet wet in the water. (As did I!) He also loved chasing the birds. He chased the birds...and I chased him! (That's pretty much what you do with two year old boys, I know because I have one, too!) He didn't catch any birds, but I think I caught at least a few of him that will make his parents smile...I hope!

Thanks to this little man's family for being AWESOME. (And for the picnic after the session!)

Sneak Peek: At the Fountain {Seattle Child & Family Photographer}

2010-06-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

I met the S family a couple of years back at the Parent-Child Center of Seattle Central's Capitol Hill Campus. It was a pleasant surprise to reconnect with them in the past few months, and more than a pleasure to capture their wonderful family this past weekend. Doesn't Mom look stunning? I just love their colors, they are oh-so-summer-y! We started with clouds (perfect natural light filters) and ended with some sunshine and a sunny, warm day. That fountain came in handy at both the beginning and the end of our session. It's pretty funny to watch kids in the "I'm really getting tired of taking family pictures" meltdown, and then to see them turn their natural smiles back on once I say we're done. I always keep the camera out, though, because it is usually right when they think we're done that some of the best shots sneak up. I love the one with the boys running in the fountain behind their parents...it's just so the way almost 2 and 4 year old boys are and ought to be!

Thanks to this wonderful family for a fun morning. And to Little Mr. E - I sure hope your last t-ball game of the season was a winner! See you all soon!

Isn't She Lovely, Part II.

2010-06-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

My baby girl is growing up so fast. This week, she will be 5 whole months old. I just adore her. I love being her mother, it is the best job a girl could ever hope for!