Bella Vita Photography » Childrens portraits

Happy New Year from Bella Vita Photography (and a quick update)

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:55:50 +0000

Well, I am soooo far behind on this blog it’s beyond ridiculous! We’ve had a busy holiday season, and unfortunately I also lost my grandfather over the New Year’s weekend. My grandfather raised me, so he was essentially my father… and we were extremely close. He was also close to my two children, and my oldest son looked up to him as his only father figure for many years while I was a single mom (until I met & married my husband about 5 years ago). It was a really difficult time, but it did highlight one thing that I had somehow forgotten, even being a photographer. The importance that a single photograph can hold. It’s easy to lose sight of this, even when you’re a photographer, and sometimes especially when you’re a photographer. We take thousands of pictures a week sometimes. Hundreds of thousands a year. In our busiest season, we have to remind ourselves sometimes that we love what we do. It’s no different than anything else. We can become overworked & lose sight of the big picture. In fact, that is one of my main New Year’s resolutions… to stay busy, but not so busy I stop loving what I do, and not so busy that I lose sight of what it’s all really about.

In the days after my grandfather’s passing, it was a therapeutic blessing to be able to sit around their kitchen table sifting through pictures. Old pictures, new pictures, professional pictures, snapshots, torn pictures, carefully mounted pictures. They all hold a special meaning. Of course, some held up better than others, but I couldn’t help but also feel a sudden urge to send everything on my hard drives & discs at home to the print lab. What will our children be doing 50 years from now? Hopefully not sitting around some computer looking at digital copies. There was something really awesome about running my fingers over the edges of every single picture. Holding the same picture they held, they got in the mail, that they got handed down to them from their aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, mother, father, etc.

It’s really a lost part of our culture, the printed photograph. It was amazing to see some of the old pictures, and how they’ve changed. A huge stack of polaroids, which completely confused my children. Little flip books from the 20’s, which have been lost in our “bigger, better” culture. It’s just so amazing.

And really, now… all we have left are those pictures. A few other sentiments… but his generation didn’t keep much “stuff”, not to mention it’s really his face, those pictures of him loving his grand children & great grandchildren that I really want to hold on to.

And so – that’s another resolution of mine – I am printing every single picture I take of my kids. I want those prints. Forget the discs (I’ll still archive them, I am a techie deep down beneath it all). But, I want prints. Boxes and boxes of pictures, for my children to sit around with, and wonder what on earth we were thinking with that hair do, that outfit, that car, that kitchen wall paper design.

For my clients, friends & family who do want to make sure that they’ll have a print that will last, that looks great now (and later)… I usually recommend a consumer lab: MPIX. But please, if for no other reason, consider having a big box of family prints… don’t even consider a disc for your main way of keeping pictures, as an archive perhaps, but not your main archive. Get prints. Put them in a box. And every once in a while, sit around the kitchen table and reminisce

And just for grins, here is the last image I have of my grandfather with my two kids:

Stay tuned, I’ll be catching up on blogs & such soon!

Destin Childrens Photographer | The story…

admin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:14:40 +0000

This morning, I’d like to share with you the story behind another of our Small Miracles, a collection of childrens portraits aimed at benefitting the American Cancer Society… little Bella – Small Miracle # 16, daughter of Emily. This story is especially moving, coming from the perspective of little baby Bella:

Everywhere I go and everyone I meet, is always commenting on my big “blueberry” eyes. I hear my mother always politely saying “thank you” and looking at me with a huge warm smile. If I could say “thank you” to any one person, it would be my late Great Grandma Bonnie. My mother always says she was a warm spirited, loving, and kind person. Great-Grandma Bonnie, was always known for her “blueberry” eyes and always received comments from everyone she met. Sadly, she lossed her battle with Lung Cancer, and I never had the chance to look into those loving “blueberry” eyes, that everyone commented on. As my mother lays me down to sleep at night, she always wispers in my ear, that Great Grandma Bonnie, is looking down from heaven, with a big smile on her face. I know Great Grandma Bonnie is smiling down, because she passed her “blueberry” eyes to me. I know she is proud of me, for being apart of a charity that can help those who are suffering from Cancer and maybe give them one extra day on earth with the people they love the most.”

Thank you,
Bella

Thank YOU Bella & Emily

And here is beautiful little Bella, with her amazing blueberry eyes:

Thanks again to all the parents who brought their little ones out for their portraits to benefit the American Cancer Society & don’t forget to purchase your calendar now!

Destin Childrens Photographer | I proudly announce… the 13 Small Miracles

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:45:30 +0000

I am so happy, words cannot express how grateful, humbled, and amazed I am by the work of all the wonderful people in this community & across the country. When I first decided I wanted to do this project, I was sitting in a classroom of about 20 passionate women led by Lori Nordstrom, a woman who truly inspires me – not just through her photography but through her actions, her life, etc. We spent several days in this classroom, laughing, crying, and sharing with each other our passions, our goals, our hurdles, our strengths, and our weaknesses. Without turning this into a long story, I knew when I left that class that I had to do this project.

I’ve volunteered with the American Cancer Society in the past, and it was a cause that I identified with, and I knew many many other people in our community did as well. Little did I know that this would turn out so wonderful, so chaotic, and so fulfilling… all at the same time!

Anyways, standing in the kitchen one night, brainstorming with my husband… we settled on the name “Small Miracles” for the calendar. Quite quickly “Small Miracles Make a Big Difference” was the natural “slogan”. Again, little did I know just how true that would prove to be.

Here I sit at nearly 2 a.m., less than 2 months from the time I first approached the American Cancer Society about my hair-brained ideas (I tend to have a lot of them!), looking in amazement at the number of votes that came pouring in, and equally amazed that I survived it all! LOL

After 2 wonderful weeks of voting, I sit here, looking at the 13 images that made it into the calendar. So happy that I didn’t have to choose them myself because there was no way I could choose just 13, ecstatic at the number of votes that flooded in, and thankful for ever single person that participated. And so… that moment that everyone has been waiting for… I proudly announce the 13 images that will be featured in the 2010 Small Miracles Calendar to benefit the American Cancer Society… proving that Small Miracles DO make aHUGE difference!

(Gosh, even *I* have butterflies TYPING this!) (Names will be added with permission from their parents)

Miracle #9:

Miracle #8:

Miracle #42

Miracle #7:

Miracle #11:

Miracle #1:

Miracle # 31:

Miracle # 19:

Miracle # 12:

Miracle # 38:

Miracle # 6:

Miracle # 41:

Miracle #15:

And there you have it, folks… the 13 amazing Small Miracles!

In all, we received over 5,500 votes… an amazing accomplishment, especially considering this is our VERY first calendar. Rest assured, this is absolutely something we will do each year (though we will start much earlier in the year next year lol… no more shooting, editing, and voting marathons for me!).

And don’t forget, calendars are still for sale – we will be opening the gallery back up with the option to vote removed, just so you can see the cuties & purchase calendars at the pre-sale price of $10. Expect it to open sometime later in the day!!!

Thanks again for all your help, and to all the photographers & businesses who have helped make this possible! Stay tuned as we share with you the inspirational stories that were shared with me through out this journey!

Destin Maternity Photographer | Lisa’s little package – Maternity Session

admin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:42:52 +0000

Ok, so maybe not *quite* so little, but she’s expecting a package nonetheless. I did these a few weeks ago for a girl I met & know through La Leche League and Bradley birth classes. She’s quite awesome if I must say. Aside from her photogenic-ness (is that a word? I probably don’t know because it’s not a quality *I* personally possess!), she’s a stellar mom to a really cute little girl! And – she’s keeping the good genes alive by bringing another little girl into this world! So here are some really cool pictures of Lisa, her daughter, and her soon-to-be-arriving little one! I was so happy to have them out to the studio here in Crestview for this fabulous maternity session that also turned out some great portraits for her little girl.

Which reminds me, now is as good of a time as ever to mention my Grow With Me packages – catch them now while they’re at a good price. With new changes in November & December, I can bet the packages will increase in price! So book now & get it at the deal it is now! And of course, stay tuned for Lisa’s little arrival! I hope to see her back out at the studio for her newborn session soon!

Destin Family Beach Portrait Photographer | The Isder Family

admin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:12:22 +0000

I actually did these family beach portraits for this wonderful cute new family a few weeks ago, but I’m just now catching up to them & posting the sneak preview! Rainy days seem to be the theme, as this was another rainy day that turned out some awesome pictures on our beautiful Destin Beaches. That’s the great thing about the Emerald Coast & Florida Panhandle – rain is a common theme, but sun is never far behind it when you’re on the beach! They just moved away, so hopefully this reminds them of sunny days and beaches back in Destin, Florida! (And the previous post about Gustav probably reminds them of all the reasons they’re glad to have PCS’d! hahaha).

So – enough of my babbling – and lets see their family & their little bitty cutie (who as you’ll see, likes a high sodium diet of Florida Sand!).

As you can see, he loves the beautiful white sand of Destin so much, he even was willing to take it off Daddy’s feet! He probably won’t remember just how much he loved the Florida Beaches, but at least he’ll have this as proof when he grows up! All in all, we had a great time, and the gallery will be online soon! We’ll have more family beach portraits from our beautiful Destin Beaches to come!

Eden Garden Child Photographer | Guatemalan Princess – Celebrating Adoption

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:11:31 +0000

I am so eager to finish the editing on these, sweet little Cara was so much fun & what an adventure our shoot was! it was on my shoot with Cara that we meet Mr. Lubber the Grasshopper out at Eden State Gardens (past Destin & Sandestin, north of 30A, and still in Walton County but not quite to Panama City and just across 98 from where Alys Beach is).

But, I will say – Cara gave us all a run for our money – and I do mean RUN. Mostly, this is what I saw for the majority of our shoot:

Yep, that’s right – the tail end of Cara. She was on a mission, and she was FAST! But, luckily I’ve been trained by my two little ones & I can book it! So off I went, chasing Cara around:

Oh, and I just have to post these. Not only did Cara collect sticks, pinecones, and pretty much everything and anything else that wasn’t firmly planted & rooted into the ground (she even tried to catch a fish!), she loved to smell things. I am always amazed watching kids explore the world, and I always try to think about how they must see it from their perspective. Only kids can inhale, smell & actually appreciate the smell of a pinecone & smell a flower 20 times over & never grow tired:

Or – also in Cara’s case – climb the stairs of the porch at Eden State Gardens 1,743 times and never once grow bored!

Oh, and I just had to post this one – I’m not sure why I like it so much – because I’m not quite sure if it shows just how big the tree is or just how little Cara is – maybe a little of both:

But as Cara’s mother says, she is in fact, a little Guatemalan Princess – or doll, take your pick!

Thanks for being so much fun, Cara!

And if you haven’t checked out or been to Eden Gardens in South Walton yet, definitely check it out. If you’re in town visiting, it’s just north of Hwy 98, and a must-see! It’s also a state park, so there is a small fee to get into Eden Gardens, but it is well worth it & gorgeous year-round! (But because it’s not on the beach, there’s less breeze, but also far more shade!)

Grayton Beach Family & Childrens Portraits | Tani & Brayden;

admin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:48:43 +0000

So not too long ago I headed out to Grayton Beach and Alys Beach, just past Watercolor & Seaside along 30-A in Walton County to do some children’s portraits, which fell under our “Celebrating Adoption” portrait sessions.

Here’s an update/sneak peek as I upload all the pictures from this session just a couple weeks ago. View this Post

Tani & Brayden were absolute dolls. They’re not twins, just really close in age, adopted from Russia. They were such fun, and while I normally would post some really sweet & sentimental pictures, I’m gonna break the mold today. Why, you ask? Well, because while Tani & Brayden were certainly sweet, they were two of the funniest kids you’ll ever meet! Now, Brayden was a little sweetheart, he will certainly be a little ladies man before too long – but Tani reminds me of my daughter. She wears the pants for sure, and has the funniest & goofiest little personality. The world is her stage for sure! Here is a sneak peek of what it’s like to hang around Tani for a bit:

Yes, they’re definitely two peas in a pod!

And heres a picture that normally wouldn’t have made it through the editing process, but considering Tani’s face, well who can resist…

My littlest baby, Azlin, often sits on my lap as I edit photos late in the evening, and she saw this and giggled her little behind off. All she kept saying was “Baby punny mommy, baby sooooo punny”.

(For those not accustomed to little ones – punny is toddler-speak for funny!)

Ok, now in all seriousness… I can’t just post these without at least a few of the sweet sentimental ones! After doing the pictures you just saw with our portable studio set up at their home off 30-A, we headed out to Alys Beach. If you haven’t been out to Alys Beach, it’s a definite must-see when visiting our beautiful area especially if you’re already in Walton County & on 30-A. So many people already know Seaside, which is a beautiful community on it’s own. But take Seaside, less crowded, and certainly as beautiful if not more so, in a very modern, elegant & sleek Mediterranean way… and you have Alys Beach in all it’s wonderful Glory! It’s got a fabulous little children’s park, and a lush green lawn that walks right up to the white sandy beaches. Anyways, here they are with their sweet sentimental moments out in Alys Beach:

Alys Beach has the most wonderful architecture and doors that are made for taking pictures:

Who can resist baby feet:

As you can see, Alys Beach is almost as beautiful as these two cuties! It’s nice because it’s so not crowded, but in the same token… not just any photographers are allowed to shoot. Even we had to call ahead and get special permission before shooting out there!

Ok, More coming soon with a sneak peek of them playing in the park & on the big winding hill!

Destin Childrens Photography | Celebrating Adoption

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:03:14 +0000

Well, it’s nothing new, but I did want to blog about this wonderful organization called Celebrating Adoption. Recently, I’ve been able to do quite a few childrens portrait sessions for Celebrating Adoption as an active member/photographer. I have to say, I have absolutely loved doing every single session. I love children and I hope to one day adopt (just gotta work on the whole Dave Ramsey plan & convincing my husband!), so it’s easy, but in addition, it’s not every day you get to witness such giving, caring, and loving. Its truly a love that extends beyond all boundaries. I absolutely love listening to their stories of their adoptions, and it is really really a blessing to be able to meet people with such huge hearts, and witness first hand them truly changing another persons life. I am humbled more and more with every session I do… so much that it nearly brings me to tears. Every story is so different, so intriguing, and I thank God every day that there are families who have so much love to give to these children who so desperately need it. I can only hope that more people consider adoption to give a child a home and more importantly – a family.

Please pass the word along to anyone you know who might be interested – there are plenty of children in our area being adopted every day and a family portrait session, or a session of just the child, is an excellent way to celebrate the adoption & welcome them to the family!

Destin Newborn Photographer | FREE cloth diapers

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:49:42 +0000

Ok, so I desperatly need to update with my most recent sessions, but since I’m slaving away with Photoshop at the moment, I figured I could at LEAST post this!

As a cloth diaper junkie, this really screamed my name! I remember the day when I gawked at the thought of cloth diapers – after all cloth diapers sent visions of being slave to the washing machine (which is FAR too domesticated for me), or visions of my grandma, not my idea of hip stylish new age artsy mom (that I try so hard to be lol). BUT, as it turns out, cloth diapers really are the new posh stylish “thing to do”. I mean, who can resist matching diapers to your baby’s clothes in cool hip patterns & colors? When I stumbled upon cloth diapers I was really surprised to find out the things come in fabrics like Plush, Minky, microfiber, fleece, etc. And in totally cool designs. So… between that and my obsession with numbers (and hence, budgeting), Cloth Diapering is like an addiction!

And – so here it is – a chance to win FREE cloth diapers. Now I was hesitant to post this – because if I introduce you to the world of cloth diapers & you enter, then it lessens my chance? Ah, but no – I get an extra entry for posting it here lol. So – I’ll take my chances and let my secret out – we’re cloth diaper junkies & I make it my mission to convert!

So – enter to win HERE and you could win a Bum Genius 3.0 Starter Kit from Nature’s Child – Wholesome Goods for Mothers and Babies.

Crestview Childrens Portraits | Rebecca having fun!

admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:41:56 +0000

Most people don’t consider rainy days to be the best days to go out & get their little one’s portraits done – especially not on location up here in Crestview where it rains so often! But a little rain never stopped me – if you want to get good portraits, well… where there is a will there is a way!

So – we set out to do some pictures of my good friend’s little girl Rebecca. She shows up in her favorite dress. She was so cute, but with the shoot going on at the height of the Polygamist Compound Raid, I felt the need to let everyone know she wasn’t a runaway & we weren’t housing a FLDS kid with her in her “prarie” dress. Nonetheless it made cute pictures despite the horrible weather! And thankfully, my poor camera survived me running through the rain.

Rebecca NOT enjoying the thunder:

See… I told you we didnt take her from the polygamist compound,

They never wear these short dresses!

Now THIS is the Rebecca *I* know!

I’ll spare all the other “Hands over ears” pictures!

All in all, we made a fun day of running around to various places in Crestview including one of downtown Crestview’s antique stores, a fun little tea shop in the north side of Crestview, and a few other little local holes that only those of us that live in Crestview might stumble upon on a day to day basis. If you’re looking for some fun things to do with the kids, or even a fun spot to grab a few portraits, these spots are absolutely perfect! In fact, I hear that the tea shop hosts tea parties, which would be a great party idea for a little girl!