Kristy Finds Her Prince

I've known Kristy since I was 14 years old... which means we've been friends for 24 years! But she's been much more than just a friend to me and my twin sister, Karen - she is almost like another member of our family. Karen, Kristy and I all lived together during our college years; she was the one who Mom asked to tell us that our beloved Grandpa Carl had died; she gave our parents' dog her enduring nickname (Bonnie Blue Bell); and Kristy kept vigil with my family at the hospital the night I was in labor with my first child. She's been there for us -- a very loyal and true friend -- all of these years.

Today I did something very special - I photographed Kristy and her fiance, Bob, for their engagement portraits. And, since Karen, Kristy and I were a bit like the Three Musketeers, I think it was only fitting that my sister was also there for the portrait session tonight.

I am so happy for you, Kristy, and come September, Karen and I will wear those crimson dresses with pride.

Here's a few to look at while you await the rest of your portraits. All the best, Kristy and Bob!

Look who is 5!

Happy birthday to J., who is one of the sweetest little girls I know. I am so lucky to get to photograph this little face often. It's always a treat, because she's not only beautiful but she's also such a good poser and not shy with the camera at all. It helps that she's the daughter of good friends and the sweetheart of my 4-year-old son. I could have taken pictures of her all night, Shelly, but I know you already have a hard enough time choosing. So here you go - a preview for you to enjoy until your gallery is ready. Happy birthday, sweet thing!

(remember, depending on your monitor resolution, these portraits may look a little pixely - if they do on your monitor, simply click on them to see them better).

The unplanned portrait

So, Deb and her family came today for a portrait session - she really just wanted family portraits with her daughter, husband, dad and herself. Of course, the darling petticoats I bought recently were just sitting there, forlornly in their box, just waiting for for some equally darling little girl to come along and put them on. I've photographed this little girl before, during my winter ballerina portrait event at the Aspire Dance Center, and I already knew how much she liked tutus, so I figured pettiskirts would also go over well. Boy was I right! Isn't she sweet? And really, what more could you want - pretty little girl, Victorian settee and a pettiskirt! Pretty nice for a portrait we didn't even plan to take, huh? =)

Here's a preview of a few portraits Deb - I will get the rest of your gallery in about a week. Thank you!

P.S. I'm so happy you brought your dad today - I have written on my blog before how special I think grandparent portraits are - I just love the look on your dad's face - so proud.

Perfection

These little baby boys simply stole my heart yesterday. So soft and warm and cuddly and sleepy and just sooooo cute. I'm so happy to be able to show them off to you on my blog. They are the tiny little sons of my recent twin maternity session (see a few blog posts below this). This session took about 3 hours but it was so worth it. Daddy Jonathan, who is deployed overseas, was able to be here for the babies' births, and for this portrait session, but goes back tomorrow. It was so special for me to be able to do this session for them during their brief window together.

Congratulations Julie and Jonathan - the boys are just perfect, and I can't wait to show you all of your proofs, Until then, enjoy these.
And look at that smile! Awwwww!

Attention Recital Portrait Families

Information about your portraits:
(EDITED -- All Academy/Shawnee recital portraits are now online. Look for an email from Tonya Ebner giving you the password to the gallery.)

1. All prints are sold individually – Center Stage Photography does not have “packages” or “collections.” You are free to buy as many as you want in whatever sizes you need.

2. Prints will go online about a week after they were taken. You will have until July 14 to place your order.

3. To purchase your recital portraits,
-- Go to the Center Stage Photography Web site: www.centerstagephotography.net.
-- Click on “Dance Site”
-- Click on “Recital Portraits”
-- Click on the gallery that corresponds to the portraits you are looking for – we will have galleries divided up by studio, and day of the week the portrait was taken.
-- Tonya Ebner of the Academy of the Arts will email all dance families the password to the recital galleries.
-- You buy prints by placing them into your online cart, and paying with a credit card. Prints are shipped directly to you.

If you have questions, please contact me at lori@centerstagephotos.net

Recital Portrait Time!

Here come the recital portraits! That is, Academy of the Arts in Shawnee next week; and the Aspire Dance Center in south Overland Park two weeks later. I'm so happy to give you a peak at what my recital portraits will look like this year - how cool are these? Don't you just love this new backdrop of mine? Center Stage Photography is taking dance recital portraits to the next level. Thanks to my models here - members of the Academy of the Arts dance team. (and by the way, my 9-year-old is pictured twice here -- blowing the kiss in the second photo below this; and all scary for their platinum-award-winning "Nightmare Mix" production number.

When they sleep, they sleep!

This session was so fun! Christina (my "Drama Queen" maternity session from a couple of weeks ago) and her handsome husband, Jason, returned today to my Shawnee studio with their 7-day-old son. This little guy was so sleepy, which of course made me very happy and made for an easy session. Look at what I can do with a newborn who is sound asleep! Isn't he just a precious little man?

Thank you Christina and Jason - it was a wonderful session and I can't wait to show you your proofs. Until then, here's three.

(yes, those are his toes that he's resting his face on! Sweet!)

Just like snowflakes, no two newborns are alike

I love photographing newborns. There's something so incredible about being able to document the freshness of these new little souls. And each and every one of them is different. Not only do they all look different (who ever said all newborns look alike was plain wrong!); but they also all act differently during their sessions. This little man was awake and pretty unsettled, but that seems to have mattered little, because I still captured some wonderful portraits of him. I love the "still curled up in the womb" look of the first one. Born two weeks early, I photographed him this evening just about when he was supposed to have been born. Isn't he just a cutie?

Thank you, Katie and Terry. I'm so happy you chose me to photograph you newest baby - I look forward to meeting your other children soon. Enjoy your preview.