San Antonio Photographer, Children and Families-moxie photography studio

Newborn Photography Workshop with Fresh Outta the OVEN

We will be "formally" announcing this in 24 hours! So act Fast ;-)

This workshop is about being the BEST YOU, not just doing what everyone else is. We do not want to create Cookie-cutter newborn Photographers.

This workshop is an investment for the serious photographer.

Its more than just posing, its more than just having a nice camera, and its more than just a great prop.  These are all important...but have you mastered the technical aspect of photography?  Are you limited when in a low light situation?  Can you shoot anywhere?  Confused on pricing, marketing, getting new clients.  Would you like to know a simple lighting setup that would help when you are limited with natural light?  

Posing is important, having a decent camera is important and of course props are curtail, but this course is decided for the person who is interested in perfecting their newborn business.  

The Three important aspects we cover:

Creative Thinking

Proper Technique

The Business Side

This workshop is designed for the serious photographer or one who really prides themselves in professionalism.

The Agenda:

Planning the shoot before hand

Creating the props

Working with an assistant

Working with the parent...making the first time mom comfortable.

Getting the most out of your equipment

Photographing a newborn,  (this will not be paparazzi style) and you will be working with a team (you will have a chance to be the photographer and assistant)

After the Shoot...post processing

After the Gallery.

Creating products that work for your market.

The Business Side (yuck)  but it is a important component.

HOW are OUR workshops DIFFERENT?

1.  You will be working with an internationally published photographer(s), who has shot for major magazines and has a very BROAD technical knowledge.

2.  Also, getting to work with one of the hottest Prop Makers, who has clients all over the world.

3.  This workshop is hands on, intense, but really fun.  You will leave this workshop with a plan for the future!

4.  Working one on one and not having to compete with others for the shot.

COST:  1200.  Includes Room and most meals.  We will stay in a rented house to be able to simulate real situations you might encounter.

OPENINGS:  10-12.  We will limit this workshop to 10-12 students per class, for an intimate experience.

PAYMENT:  $200 down and you have two other options...pay installments via Paypal or make your final payment 2 weeks before workshop.

DATES:

July 20-22 2012  San Antonio, TX.

ITINERARY:

Friday, July 20th  

Free maternity Underwater Lesson: 1 p.m.

Arrive in San Antonio by 6 p.m.

6:30 Dinner and get to know each other.

7:30  Discussion about planning the shoot, working with parents and props

Saturday July 21st

8:30 Breakfast

9:00 Discussion of equipment props and creating the sets.

11:00-3  Photographing Newborns

12:00  Lunch (informal, while  you are not photographing)

3:00  Nap (just joking)  Post processing

5:00 Downtime for discussion or Rest!

6:30  Dinner (Let's eat out or you can be on your own)

Sunday April 22nd

8:00 Breakfast

8:30 Discussion on business issues (pricing, marketing, etc)

10:00  Photo Critique

Noon:  lunch

1:00    Wrap up

Thousands in giveaways and prizes.  Participants will come home with Props, Lab credits and chances at winning PS actions, frames and other great prizes!

REGISTER HERE:  Click here

Making a quick stop by the blog

Every day I have something funny, important or just plain crazy to talk about.  YET, trying to get one moment of time to write is IMPOSSIBLE.  Everyone kept asking me..."how are you going to do it?"  and I keep asking myself that every day. 

ALTHOUGH...I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the twins or as we call them the "fuss-a-lots"  it is extremely exhausting to be covered in body fluids all day.  I have clients calling asking if I am back to work, or they feel guilty asking me to shoot something.  ASK away!  Getting out of the house, using my brain and interacting with other's, feels like a dream ;-)

SO, just a bit on motherhood.  hmmmm....where do I start.  FIrst TWINS are HARD.  Yes, I said it, yes I admit it and Yes, even this experienced mom is struggling. Everyone has told us to put them on a schedule and maybe I can do that when they are a tad bit older, but right now when the fuss-buckets are both SCREAMING at the top of their lungs...it becomes a bit un-nerving.  SO we dumped the schedule.  If one wants to sleep 7 hours...My but is not waking her up.  If one is stirring while the other one is eating...well then we will wake her.  I think schedules would be great if we were the type of family that could adhere to one

CRYING IT OUT>  so much controversy over this.  No, we usually don't let them cry it out, especially this early on.  BUT when they get older and won't take a nap or go ni-night...heck yeah...cry it out. BUT that said, I have had to let these to little babies cry a bit more than we did the others.  There is simply sometimes not enough hands to go around.  I've noticed one or the other crying themselves right to sleep as I attended to the other...hmmm. 

Well, more later, I just hit a wall and then I will go sit and fall asleep in chair while I watch DWTS.

PS...Happy birthday to my 3 older children who turn 8, 5 and 2 this month!

An appropriate title may include the word...

OVERWHELMED.

First thanks for all the encouragement that has come my way.  Now don't get scared...this is not some long depressing post.  Well maybe long, but trying to stay away from the "depressing." PS...if you are not interesting in reading...you will have to go to my facebook page to see the latest work.

So since I don't get to the blog much these days, I will try and "throw up" as many of the ideas and thoughts in my head that I can put down before one of the fuss-a-lot sisters wakes up!

THE KIDS.  Many of you have asked how the kids are doing.  AND most assume that the youngest, Rowan, would be having the hardest time. AND that the oldest must be the greatest help.  UHHHH lets flip flop that situation.  The older two have taken it the hardest.  Why, I am not really sure.  Maybe Rowan is easy going, maybe because he has always had to just roll with the punches or maybe becasue we spoiled the other two rotten and are paying the price.

BIRTHDAYS.  Many of you know that 3 of my children are born in the Month of May, So I just realized that today will be the start of an INSANE month.  Grace's motto is Go BIG, or go HOME.  I told her we might not be able to do a big bash this year...to which she responded that she didn't want a part then because it will not be fun. Why I ask?  To her response:  If its not big, its not fun.  SO, that is one party taken care of.

SOCCER:  the crazy part of our life is between all my kids which includes the person I am married to, we have soccer 7 days a week.  Season will be ending soon and for once I will WELCOME the break. 

BABY PRODUCTS:  So stroller, bottles, swings you name it.  I think EVERY baby is different.  In fact I KNOW EVERY BABY is DIFFERENT.  The girls hate silicone nipples and love the cheapo hospital latex ones.  BUT because they are gassy and spitting up like crazy (which is their 2nd nick name, the spit-a-lot-sisters) we are trying different bottles that don't have a tone of parts.  For 3 kids we have used Dr. Browns.  This time around we tried the Playtex drop-ins which were a no go b/c they were not good with the shape of the nipple. So now we are on to Tommee Tippee.  Thanks to my sister in law for giving them to us since they did not work for her.  So what I think about Tommee is... you really have to experiment with that nipple.  To me it does seem closest to the breast.  The verdict is still out.
THE STROLLER:  it really does ROCK.  Thanks to ELLEN at Bloommaternity.net (BTW, she is local).  She showed me the what I think was a prototype or one of the first production models months ago.  IT really is so cool and does so many things.  and the fact that it acts like a single stroller is the best.  People all over town keep coming up to me commenting on the stroller.  Wow, its like the Louboutin of strollers.

Breastfeeding:  ah not much to say here.  AGAIN, its not going so well, so pumping and bottle feeding will be the main stay.  I will say the hospital pump is far superior to any of the other pumps I have used.

WORK:  Yes I am back to work this week.  Trying to figure out how to balance it all out.  Many suggest take off for a while.  Which would be ideal, if I didn't have a business with OVERHEAD.  I am not just someone who works on the side or just out of my house.  Although lately it has crossed my mind.  I have done a few sessions and not having to drive anywhere is really appealing.  NO, really, in all seriousness, I am going to try and find a happy medium.  Doing more commercial work and less potrait work?  But then I hate to limit myself to that becasue I need variety.  I never plan on doing weddings, so wedding photogs don't worry, I won't be treading into your territory. So now I feel like brainstroming...hmmm I still will be photographing babies, but maybe the best way to control my other portait work is to offer more mini sessions and special theme sessions.  I have really had a blast building the sets for the previous ones.  Ok...I'll do the rest of the brainstorming on my own.  Someone is stirring so I need to spell check this before she wakes up!

COMING UP...My home reality and more on the fuss-a-lots!

Not Bad for a first shoot in almost 2 months! | Johnson High School Senior

Short and sweet...that is what this post is about, b/c I have screaming babies calling my name!  More on my crazy life in a bit!  For now I leave you with an AWESOME first shoot back.  IT sure felt good to be behind the lens.  And thanks to my handy assistant, AKA, her mom, I got some great shots!

15 minutes to share a month + worth of stuff.

So many of you follow me on facebook, but in case you don't...the Twin Baby Girls are now 1 month old.  Boy how time flies. I have been meaning to post for weeks now, but days are blurring into night.  YES, I cry UNCLE!  Sleep deprived and delirious I admit, I might have bit off more than I can chew.  Most of you know I LOVE the newborn stage, but its hard to enjoy when running around older siblings to nightly activities, and dealing with sick"ies" which now includes one of the TWINS.  Yes Carlee, we did not avoid RSV.  UGH?  I am sure our 22 month old probably brought it home.  Having kids at school and an Open concept house leads to a hard time "containing" germs. 

On another note...I think I might have misnamed the girls. Their names should have been Lunesta and Ambien...see why...

AND they even managed to get Leslie...So if you are an insomniac, please come do an overnight at our house...you will for sure be sleep every time you hold one of these beauties!

So hopefully, I will get to write more about my journey with twins and 3 other kids and a life that couldn't get any crazier.  (oh and by the way did we tell you we let go of our housekeeper and gardner...yes lots of hormonal decisions going on!)

On a professional note.  I will be going back to work part time starting next week and something we haven't been able to do since we started our ventures, leslie will be joining me again and shooting as part of MOXIE, while still keeping the Dallas business.  I am not sure her decision to do this resulted from a "help Nikki out" perspective, or "I am in LOVE with the TWINS and want to spend more time with them" perspective. But either or...I am good with it!  Leslie will be empty nesting it VERY soon...so maybe the twins are a much need distraction from her daughter going away to college.

AGAIN, I want to thank her and KIM for taking all the WONDERFUL newborn pictures of the TWINS.  I couldn't have asked for a better present. Especially since I wasn't able to be involved.  Ok...7 minutes over...I will have to make a stop back by and talk about C-sections, Anemia, Parenting 2 and a host of other little things that are going on!

 

Bluebonnet and Easter Sessions Announced

Business first and then I will post about my new additions and my status later ;-)

First.  EASTER:  we will feature a custom Vintage set as voted on by your the customers. The photographers will be leslie from urban photo {dallas} and mario.  Unfortunately not Me as I had hoped.

Easter details:

Dates:  Saturday March 31 with Mario:  Times are 8:30 am. - 2:00 pm.

             Sunday April 1st with Leslie:  Times are 9 a.m. to 2 pm

             Monday April 2nd with Leslie:  Times are 1-7pm

Cost:     $129

What ya get:  5 digital images delivered to you electronically for unlimited pricing with a printing guide if you don't have one within 48 hours

NOTE:  This session is for children only.  If you have more than 1 child you may consider booking 2 sessions back to back.  We are on a super tight schedule so that is something to consider since we cannot run over.

Bluebonnets:

OMG...after making fun of them, I have never really had the opportunity to photograph people in them because of the drought!  And wouldn't you know it, Now I can't photograph, because I am having a touch recovery.  KARMA...

So here are the details:

April 1st with leslie:  4 pm to 7 pm

April 2nd with leslie:  9 a.m.-11 a.m.

Any other times, please email, mario is available.

Bluebonnet mini session:
Location:  you will be emailed location upon booking
Duration:  20 min. session.  If you have more than one child you may think about booking 2 sessions or if you are a family and feel like 20 min is not enough you can book out 2 sessions! 

Cost:  $129

What do you get:  5 images delivered to you electronically within 48 hours. Also a 50% discount on any canvas order.  Also a 50% discount on any canvas order.

ALL SESSIONS must be paid for in advance if you are not a current Moxie Customer.

Booking Link: 

https://moxiephotostudio.acuityscheduling.com

And of course a picture share....My babies taken by the amazing Leslie and Assisted by the Amazing Kim! With Help from many more of my friends!

Today's thoughts from the peanut gallery

TOM BRADY...today as I see some of the pictures come over feeds of Tom Brady and his anguish...I am almost brought to tears.  Because what I see is my 4 year old little boy who has a LOVE of sports and the DRIVE to win.  Can you teach a 4 year old to want to win so badly.  NO, I don't believe so.  I have been around a lot of athletes in my time and what I see is those select few who the sport dominates.  They live, breath and eat...what they love...their sport.  NO matter how bad a parent wants their kid to be the BEST...the best are usually those kids who want it more than the parents.  I saw the same look and game face in Tom Brady as I did on my son during his Saturday Night basketball game.  And yes he cried b/c they lost.  I watched him watch the game clock every time he was on the bench.  I saw him frustrated when he couldn't play.  He is only 4.  He wants to practice all the time, was upset last night because his soccer season has not started yet and Grace's has. My Neighbor across the street always says he can't wait to see what Devin does when he grows up b/c he will likely be a prof. athlete!!!  (well we have a few years to prepare for that, HA,HA)

When I watched the superbowl last night I saw so much intensity on Tom Brady's face.  I am not even a patriots fan, but of course I was wanting them to win b/c the Giants beat my 49ers.  All I could think, is that is how my son will be the rest of his life.  We have just started the "sport circuit,"  I have many more years of consoling him as he loses a game.  Even on Saturday night, he scored all 12 points, but that wasn't good enough.  Good enough for us, yes, for him, no.

 

THIS is DEFINITELY the LAST time...

I have uttered those words 2x now and saying them a 3rd. BUT THIS TIME...I really mean it.  I can vaguely remember screaming in excitement when Devin was Born, and he was a BOY...that I was done. GIRL, BOY...done.  Well, oops, then came Rowan...SOOOOO done.  Well, he was such a joy that I just couldn't go through with it at my 6 week appt.  Well, the one more that has turned into two more is about to come to fruition....and yes I keep uttering the words I AM SO DONE!   And this time I am, no mater what. Someone asked me the other day if I have everything ready...READY?  What is that?  What do I need...why does it feel like I am a first time mom? and The answer is NO...we are not ready.  Except for a few gifts and people bringing stuff over...we have NOTHING ready.  I guess it is time to get on the ball!.

AND HERE are some of my other Random Thoughts:

PREGNANCY:  Yuck...there is not way I can go through this again, every symptom known to man I have x2.  That includes the EMOTIONAL.  Yes, I can really cry about anything and everything.  I also can get upset about anything and everything.  I know the end is near b/c I ALWAYS go through the...how am I going to have enough LOVE to spread around feelings. 

THE END:  Speaking of the end...it is near...I can tell in the way the kids act, the dogs act and the way my husband acts.  Well and how I feel.

PHOTOGRAPHY and the BUSINESS:  Although I have tons of loose ends to tie up...it pains me not to shoot.  Even though this pregnancy has been VERY difficult...my creative juices have been flowing like crazy. So to not be able to act on them is a bit tough. And yes...I am officially off the market until the babies come.  Luckily Leslie is picking up some of my work. I will be back in April on a limited basis.  I figure...hit the gym or photography...I choose photography!!

So I will end for now with some more Valentines Pics (which by the way, my asst Mario can still shoot, b/c the set is still up!) and one BEAUTIFUL belly.  This Belly is 35 weeks I believe...I know for those of us who turn into whales, Gag right...it is so perfect...and guess what?  Their is a surprise in there.  I know for some of you, you can't imagine that their are those of us who wait...but it really is exciting at the time of delivery!!!

and...

and...

 

too tired to be witty!

On the verge of being a mom for the 4th and 5th time, I have a few insights! Maybe better categorized as observations, or experiences or well just my 2 sense.  First of all I would love to write a book called...Every child is different, or You have to do what works for you, or maybe even...Parenting for your lifestyle type (ok...I took that one from "eating for your blood type!).  But really hear is the skinny.

1. You have to parent for your lifestyle. I am not a rigid person, so those certain books out their that put you on a strict schedule are not for me. 
2. We really try to read the "cues" of each child. 
3. I don't believe that you should schedule feed your child, or limit their intake.  Unless maybe they are like my chowhounds and eat up to 40oz by the time they are 6 weeks.  So what to do?  Common sense...we put oatmeal in their bottle.  They where not getting satisfied and eating that much made the reflux much worse.  BTW...they are far from obese...in fact devin is so thin now...we are trying to find ways to "beef" him up!
4. Formula does not make them fat.  I was led to believe that breastfeeding  reduced that chance...and Yes I BF...but I will tell you that while I BF'd they were the chubbiest! And Again, I will not kill myself because "breast is the best."  I will attempt again to BF and if it doesn't work...well thats the way the ball bounces.
5. Sleep.  RARELY do babies sleep through the night before 12 weeks.  So don't kill yourself, thinking they will.  Sleep is one of the single most important things to me!  But I realize their is a time when they are ready and for my kids that was between 12-14 weeks.  And here is when I become rigid.  If they start sleeping through the night on a reg. basis...I do not get up and feed them in the middle of the night...no way jose!  The only time we cave is when nothing else works to sooth them. 

HERE IS FUNNY THINGS about HOW I got our kids to sleep through the night!

1. Grace...Slept on tummy.  The back to sleep campaign did not work for us b/c she had silent reflux and would choke. She once aspirated...so she was put on a sleep apnea monitor and we put her to bed on her tummy.   By 6 months she was off and all was great.
2. DEVIN...he would sleep long periods in our bed, but not in his?  hmmm....we finally wondered if it was our sheets.  So like the crazy people we are, we found 600+count sheets put them on his crib and there you go...he slept away.  Whenever on a trip...the one thing we never forgot...the SHEETS!!
3. ROWAN...BLANKETS...he liked it "cushy"  and I still never get over that SIDS fear, but we took his magic bed (fisher price rocknsomething) and put baby giraffe blankets under him.  He couldn't roll over and he was swaddled a lot of the time...so their really was no risk.

So the point of this is not to say don't follow the recs from your Ped  but to say sometimes common sense can win out.

OK so my last rant is Pacifiers.  Baby's natural instinct is to suckle.  Please do not get confused... I personally do not believe that they will get nipple confusion from them.  They figure out really quick were the meal comes from!

I can't leave without posting a picture!  Good night!

So get your Violins out!!!

Really for me being pregnant is the HARDEST thing ever.  (I know...you are like...then why do you keep getting pregnant!)  Luckily,for sure these are the last babies!  I can't wait till they day they get here, not only to see them, but to get back to my normal self.  So this post really isn't about me whining (well, ok...it is)...but I am often asked for advice on the business side or how I do it (whatever that is). 

For the most part my job is the most fulfilling thing I do besides raise the kids.  But there is another side to it...that isn't always so pretty and that is the business side.  All working mommies, especially those who own a business feel my pain.  Torn in two different directions and each can equally be important at any given time. 

For me it becomes harder because we don't have family here.  So I could be on an all day commercial shoot, someone gets sick or hurt and my husband is busy at his job...it then becomes a struggle to figure out, who is going to take over.

I have always hated being labeled a "mom" photographer by some. Because like others I know...we are far from that, we are 100% business owners/photographers.  But on the flip side I do get to make my own schedule most of the time, which lets me be flexible for the kids.  That is definitely a PRO!

I have worked very had to be respected by those in the commercial community and although I have mostly ventured in the Portrait world the past few years, I continually try to uphold the standards of whatever industry I am in.  Which in this case means...not giving away your work

A CON, would be the legal and accounting aspects.  Yes I should have consistent bookkepper besides myself.  But usually I am so anal, that I have already prepared the documents in such a way that I've done the bookkeepers job.  NOTE TO SELF:  let go of the small stuff! 

Then there is legal/Ins/Tax crap.  Do you have adequate insurance...well you better b/c you can get sued at any given time.  ITs not just about having hazard insurance.  Do you have access to an attorney for business matters?  Because I now realize first hand all the I's and all the T's must be crossed and dotted.  PEOPLE will try and take advantage of you.  THIS is the part of the business I don't like. Plus, there are some really crazy people out there that will do or say anything.

So, if you are reading this and consider yourself or are considering being "professional,"  consider this, are you really a legit business?  I almost Question what it is to be considered, "professional," anymore.  I barely call myself professional.  My mentors and counterparts that I respect are in some ways light years ahead of me.  Maybe not in the "baby" world, but in overall photography...Lets just say I still have a ways to go to be where I want to be.

So all that said...although my job may look uber glamourous at times, and for the most part it is super great...there is a whole other side that aspiring photographers need to consider.

So what really was the point of this whole "poor me" rant!?  Well, just to say, that I 100% admit that my life is not easy.  Would I trade it?  Somedays yes, most days...no?