Christmas delivery info

If you have not yet ordered your ballerina or Nutcracker portraits, please take note: Smugmug has published their Christmas delivery cut-off dates:

Christmas Delivery Cutoffs
First Class: Dec. 7
Express: Dec. 14
Second Business Day: Dec. 17
Next Business Day: Dec. 18

To ensure that you get your portraits in time for Christmas, please make note of these dates and plan your order accordingly.

Finally!

I have been wanting to get this family into my studio for as long as I have been a photographer ... which is only a year... but it seemed like a long wait! Our kids go to school together, and their girls are just so beautiful - a portrait photographer's dream. The parents aren't too hard on the eyes, either! With the girls' birthdays coming up, it seemed like a perfect time.

We had a great time tonight, Greg and Brenda! Enjoy the sneak peak and you will have your proofs in after Thanksgiving.

See how they grow!

What a difference a few months makes - this mom is a frequent visitor to my studio, even though she lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. Often when she visits family here in Kansas she stops by my studio for portraits. Last I photographed this baby, he was 7 weeks old - now, at 5 1/2 months, the difference is striking. What a handsome little guy he is! I have a lot of fun watching my baby plan babies grow, and look forward to each appointment.

Thanks, Angie for bringing your baby for portraits. Hopefully next time Daddy can come, too! (if a portrait does not look clear, simply click on it).

She wasn't having any of it!

The tiniest girl in this portrait really, really dislikes being in my studio. Can you tell? Even though these are not traditional portraits, I think they are cute enough to share. Big Sister loves having me photograph her - maybe one day Little Sister will, too! Until then, they can amuse us with portraits like these! (click on a portrait to see it bigger/more clear).

Hmmm. Maybe this one will do? =)

The Finals! Vote for your favorite ballerina portrait!

Here it is! The final round!
All of these portraits won their preliminary round of my "vote for your favorite ballerina portrait" blog contest. The winner will get a set of Moo cards! These are the cutest things - everyone who sees mine wants some of their own. (Please note that only those portraits that you have ordered will be on your cards).

So, here they are - the winners of the preliminary rounds. Have fun voting! The contest will end in one week.
(remember - if an image does not look clear, simply click on it to see it better)

By the way - there's still time to order Christmas cards. Please send me email for information or stop by the studio Monday-Wednesday evenings.

EDITED Nov. 23 - We have a winner! Congratulations to ballerina #5 for winning the Favorite Ballerina Portrait contest! A set of mini Moo cards will be coming your way! Thanks for everyone who voted!

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The Center of Their World

Monday night I photographed a family of adults... and then that one tiny little man who is at the center of their universe. It was really sweet to see how captivated each member of the family is with their 18-pound little prince. They had not had family portraits taken for some time. I like to think I made it an enjoyable experience for them. It was nice meeting you all! Your proofs will be ready in a few days.

I love faces!

Sure, environmental portraits are nice. But I love faces. Always have. Now that I'm a portrait photographer I love to get rid of all of the extraneous and focus on the face. Tonight I had some great faces to work with. Yes, Shelly, I have some portraits that are not this much face, but these are certainly among my favorites. Thanks for choosing me -- your proofs will be ready in about a week.

Loving those seniors!

I photographed another senior today - it's quite a difference to photograph a senior after a month of creating portraits of little people. Maranda didn't run away from me, refuse to smile, or scream during her session! Can you tell I spend a lot of time photographing the under 4 set? When I was in high school, we always had our senior portraits done in the late summer so that we could meet our yearbook deadlines. I'm quickly learning things have changed a lot since the... ahem... late '80s. Thanks for choosing Center Stage Photography for your senior portraits, Maranda! Here's a few for a sneak peak - it's always very difficult choosing but these three caught my eye. (click on the image to see it better)