In the right frame…

When a client asked if I would take a picture of her three most perfect double bloom hollyhocks, in lieu of fulfilling the Bébé Collection she had purchased, I jumped at the chance. Afterall, since I was moving and wouldn’t get to finish shooting the remainder of baby’s first year, I would be able to shoot her other babies first blooms.  She explained that the final images would serve as canvas prints in the baby’s nursery.  They were breathtaking and I raced to the studio, the air conditioner freezing me out, in order to capture their delicate beauty before they began to wilt.  I couldn’t resist making them antiqued and creating patterns with some of the final images.   It looks like I will have to add to my designs of baby album/card templates and make a few oriental style metal lunch boxes for the kids.

I recently went to a beautifully landscaped home for a 20×24 family wall portrait shoot.  These kids were the most politest and adorable kids.  I had such a great time working with them, although the heat index was around 110 degrees.  In fact it very well may have been the sunniest day of the year, as well!  They also had the cutest beagle, who was just about as easy to work with as these kids!   You guys are winners in my album!

Here is one you won’t want to miss.  This is another great place to find portrait clothing for children.  Aside from gorgeous clothing, both play and portrait, they have great hard-to-find toys and what-knots!  Remember, casual clothing with logos may be appealing to you now, but nothing flatters a child like classic clothing; today, tomorrow and the next twelve decades!

Don’t be too discouraged by the prices.  You always get what you pay for!

Chasing Fireflies Children’s Boutique.

I don’t normally find myself in stitches, while shooting, but if you are a photographer, you use a tripod, for many, many reasons.  Nobody likes the amateur motion blur of a hand held shot. Ever.  Call it art, only when it is on exhibit at The Louvre .  If I had not used a tripod, my belly and  my camera would never have stopped moving.  This kid had me at ‘hello’.  No joke.  Maybe it is because I am friends with her mama, or had just seen her at our 4th of July soirée, but my guard was down!  Moments from her entrance into the foyer (nope, I don’t pronounce the ‘r’ in boudoir, either),  I had a hard time catching my breath.  Miss Funny Girl, was such a hoot, I just had to do an expression collage, showing her vast range of emotions!  ”That’s Mademoiselle Comedienne, to you” is what she would say, if she even knew her own comedic talent…

I had the pleasure of working with Nebraska’s solution to Megan Fox.  I am sure there are many people out there who may resemble the Transformers actress or even rival her, but here’s our version, with an added bonus of some Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Marie Presley.  This session took place in my backyard/patio and my dining room {extra long bay windows, anyone?}.  Always pleasant and not afraid of the camera, she didn’t take a bad picture… I hope her husband likes these.

Before we move to the city, we have to get our friend fix as much as we can. Nothing beats having dinner with great friends, especially when one of the businesses they own is Amy’s Party Pizazz.  Never a dull affair, Amy does it again; this time, it is just for us!

One of my lab’s 2010 Baby & Child Portrait Contest has come to a close.  While the grand prize winner has not been selected, the winners can be seen by clicking or copying and pasting on of the links below.  It was quite an honor to compete with some of the nation’s top photographers.

Millers Professional Imaging Customers Only. http://www.millerslab.com/BabyChildContest/rounds.aspx?roundid=4

While the contest was nearing a close, I thought I would have my own contest on facebook, of my lab submissions.  This was the image chosen by facebook fans of the Valerie Caldwell Photography page.  Congratulations to The Wizards!  …Or as their mom puts it, “This is going on their girlfriend résumé!”  Nonsense Mom, they are the ones who will be accepting girlfriend résumés!

I thought long and hard for months (six, to be exact) about whether I was going to use a realistic looking snake, or not.  After all, I attempt to use real flowers, foliage, rocks, et al. whenever possible to decrease the mind’s ability to determine where reality ends and fantasy begins.  However after risking the hokey and cheesy impact a fake snake would have on the image, I came to the conclusion that 1) Snakes are evil and scary and that was the last thing I wanted to convey and 2) Babies in the Garden of Eden?  Of course that is cheesy!  Or is it?  The term ‘man’ in the bible refers to a species, not a specific gender past the adolescence stage.  So if Renaissance artists can make up an image, based on their interpretation, than I can put babes in Eden, as its first inhabitants!   So rather than fight it, I gave in to it and found the friendliest looking snake I could find from This Place Is A Zoo! that would at least somewhat resemble a snake found in the Middle Eastern region today (no corn snakes, rattlers, etc.)  The results?  A very lighthearted, playful and {almost} tongue-in-cheek recreation of the beginning of humankind, based on the Christian bible’s book of Genesis, complete with my ’she wouldn’t have done it, if not for him’ impression!

"Ladies first!"

"I was really hoping these would taste better."

"Adam, are you sure we won't get a time out for this? Dad seemed kind of serious!"

The Baby & Child Contest voting is underway.  Judges are weighing in on all images submitted.  Meanwhile, vote for your favorite submission by visiting Facebook | Valerie Caldwell Photography. To vote, click on ‘like page’ and add a comment to your favorite image(s).  Winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to one of six local business;Wynk, Tangles, Bourbon Street Blues Bistro,Time For Baby, Fanci That or Shopping Tripps!

Check this link out.  Zahn is a college friend who is in Singapore.  He is lucky enough to not only have the opportunity to travel like a bird but be an amazing photographer.  See the world in ten minutes by clicking on his gallery link.

Zahn Ismails Photo Galleries at pbase.com

Here are a few sneak peak images of my shoots yesterday.  This was the first time I used both my new Woodland Fairy backdrop and pink leather sofa.

I had to throw these in here from our trip.  In one image, the building seems to rise up out of the clouds.  Is this what heaven looks like?  Hmpf!  I’ll let you know when we move there in the dead heat of July.  I am sure Hell is a tad cooler than Texas, during the summer.  Although, Januaries are already looking mighty tasty!

In less than two weeks, summer will officially be here.  I thought it was time to take advantage of the fabulously cool spring weather we were having, while layers could still be worn.  These models worked so hard for me, I just had to pay them with ice cream.  Because these kids are my ringers, you will be seeing much more of them!

Yep, I just had to get a new camera bag, as my Lowepro backpack was absolutely functional for on-location (even bought it in Q-town, New Zealand, along with my monopod), but c’mon, let’s face it…It had no personality!  This baby is more in tune with my style, so I had to do it.  Get yours at  jill-e designs – professional quality, designer electronics bags (and yes, they have Jack bags for all you debonair gents).

Just another site I use to supply my studio with some classic clothing for boys. My faves to photograph have been the Eaton suits and the knicker/cap sets. Just say NO to athletic/gym shirts & shorts for little boys.  There will be plenty of time for him to dress down, in the years to come!

DapperLads – boys clothing, discount boys clothes, bargain childrens clothing, brother sister matching outfits, inexpensive children’s clothes, discount kids clothes, discount kids clothing, childrens fine clothing, cheap boys dress clothes.

As you may have read in a previous post, we are moving!  If you are interested in relocating into this fine home, call my bro, Trevor Payne, of NP Realty for a tour @ (308) 234-4275.  Tell him you want the V.I.P. tour! (That’s Valerie’s Important Peeps)…

MLS #  14470

Click on Trevor Payne’s View Virtual Tours at NP Realty, Inc. to see more options.

{Click on images below to see the larger image}

I had some time to just mess around with some night shots of the ‘Old’ Hospital & Museum in Kearney, Ne. These are straight out of the camera, hence the uncorrected flare from the lights.  Typical awesome sky right before a storm!

Some shots of Yanda’s/Pro Audio  for a commercial shoot.  The store was designed quite impressively on the interior.  Not bad for a small town!  If you check it out, tell Shawn I sent ya!