Announcing: Holiday Mini Sessions 2016

It's that time again! Mini Sessions and Signature Sessions are booking up more quickly than I'd imagined. That's a blessing and a beautiful thing, and I'm extremely grateful.

Click the image below to reserve your Mini Session before they're gone.  

*Updated 9/30 at 7pm: YOU SWEET-HEARTED PEOPLE. WE ARE ALL BOOKED UP FOR MINI SESSIONS THIS YEAR!! I do hope you'll reserve a Signature Session on the two open weekends I have left open until Christmas, or a weekday morning or evening. I cannot thank you enough! xoxox

Or if you'd rather have the next weekend and a morning session....

I only have a few weekend dates left open through October and November, so if you're looking to have gift prints, albums and/or cards in time for the holidays, I'd highly encourage you to get in touch with me today to reserve your session. 

If you're flexible, I can definitely offer you a weekday morning or evening. But those weekend dates are booking up more quickly than I'd anticipated. Be sure to reach out to me if you're even remotely interested in reserving a session with me this Fall, so that I can make room for you and your sweet family.

Thank you my sweet friends, for your love and support this past year. I hope to see your precious faces soon.

xoxo,
Stacey

"Mommy, I'll Carry You." | What I Love About Being a Mama

With Mother's Day just around the corner, I asked some of my favorite mamas a few questions about motherhood, how it's changed their lives, what they love the most.  Some of the things they shared with me made me smile.  Some answers made me giggle, and other responses made me cry.  (You know me!)  I'm very lucky to know so many amazing mamas who have hearts of gold! I've known these sweeties since Ocean was in his mommy's tummy, and I'm so blessed to have been able to document his sweet family every year since.

Best. Advice. Ever.

Ocean's Grandma got to join us for our session too, and it warmed my heart to see them playing together.  I know that little boys tend to have their own ideas of what constitutes "fun", so we decided to sneak up behind the ladies and "trick them".

Grandma was a terrific sport!  Mamas and Grandmas of little boys are pretty lucky, I think.

And so are those little boys.

Don't forget that Mother's Day is this coming Sunday!  All this month, I'll be featuring photographs of some really inspiring mamas, who are offering their best advice and thoughts on motherhood.  There is even a giveaway or two in the works, so be sure and check back or add this blog to your reader/rss feed.  

And if you're thinking of having your own photo session sometime in the future, make sure you sign up for our newsletter over there to the left!  I promise never to bombard you with email, but only let you know of fun things, special announcements, and upcoming dates and events.  If you're sold on a session right away, then click on the word "contact" below this post, or in the menu bar at the top of this blog.  I can't wait to chat with you.

How have you evolved through motherhood, like Ocean's mama says?  Do you stop folding laundry and play with your kids?  (That one convicted my heart.)  I'd love to know your thoughts, so leave a comment below this post!

xoxo, Stacey

A little break, and some recognition too. | Mother's Day Photo Sessions

You deserve a break.  You deserve a little recognition too, for all you've accomplished.

Whether you work from home, at home, or away from home, I know that you are busy 24/7, and that you have a BIG JOB no matter what.

Just think about the roles you play on a daily basis...

• You're a mama.  And maybe a wife, a fiancee, a sister and a daughter.  And maybe you play the role of Daddy most days too, which means that you totally win my award for Parent of the Year.  Hats off to you, my sweet friend.
• You're dependable, and you're always the friend with diaper wipes on hand or a safety pin in an emergency or the number for a fantastic hairstylist / dermatologist / family photographer (ahem) and your friends just adore you for it.
• You're a full-time nurse, and the most fantastic splinter-surgeon with the coolest band-aids ever.
• You're a nutrition expert.  You are a sous chef for picky eaters and kids with three different food allergies and a gluten sensitivity.  You're also a server.  (And the entire clean-up staff, most times, if we're being honest.)
• You're a taxi driver to ballet classes, a baseball coach, a cheerleader for your son's soccer team and an expert time manager to just keep up with it all.
• You're a housekeeper, a lunch-packer, and a laundry specialist. (My most favorite made-up title to date, ha!)
• You're an infant-sleep-expert by now, and a toddler-tantrum-diffuser as well.
• You're a psychologist.  (Even mamas of the youngest babies have to know a little "sly-chology" from time to time.)
• You're still in school, and will be for as long as your kids need help with homework and science fair projects and book reports and learning how to write cursive.
• You're a stylist for your family's wardrobe, your little girl's hair (and your own), and a master at finding tiny lost shoes under beds at the last minute.
• And let's be honest.  (I already know anyway.)  You're a photographer too. :) You've got thousands of photos on your iPhone, your point and shoot, or your dSLR.  Your Facebook timeline is peppered with photos of your children, and who could blame you?  They ARE adorable, we all agree.

However.  YOU are rarely in the photos.  And if you are, it's just a quick snapshot taken by Dad or a passerby at the beach.  (Sorry, Dad, we know you mean well.)

But guess what?  That's not enough.

You deserve more.

You deserve a professional photo shoot with you and your little ones snuggling and singing and holding hands and swinging and laughing and hugging and tickling each other and giving Eskimo kisses.

That would make the perfect Mother's Day gift, wouldn't it?  Either from someone else, or even as a gift you give to yourself (and indirectly, to your children as well).

And my whole reason -- my very heart's desire -- for this special event is that it might just give you a little encouragement to pull that mini-album out of your purse during soccer practice or week's they're away at camp.  It might make you stop and be grateful for these fleeting moments when you look at that sweet framed photograph on the wall, after dropping them off at preschool (or middle school) on the first day.  It may make your celebrations sweeter to be able to flip through photo albums with your children each year, as you reflect on how much they've grown, and they see through your photographs just how much they were loved, even way back then.

Photographs of my children are my most treasured material possession.  They are what we will grab in an emergency, only after each other.  They cannot be replaced or duplicated or substituted.

And you deserve them on this special day... the day that reserved just for hardworking, well-intentioned, sacrificing Mamas like you.  No matter if your children are still babies or if they are teenagers already.

It would be my honor to give you such a gift.

Session availability is extremely limited, and mini-sessions begin tomorrow.

Friday morning, April 11th Friday evening, April 11th Saturday evening, April 12th

Several sessions have already been booked, but there are a few openings left.

They are waiting for you.

Reserve your Mother's Day Mini-Session now by calling 727-698-0344 or by replying to this email. Your Session Fee will be required to book; all major credit cards are accepted.

xo, Stacey

Mother's Day Mini-Sessions

Mother's Day Mini-Sessions are now open for registration!  I'm honored to be photographing sweet, sentimental mamas and their beautiful children in Tampa Bay next weekend, and I hope you'll join us!

I want to be very clear... These Mother's Day Mini-Sessions are meant to be shared and enjoyed and made as meaningful to your family as possible.  If you'd like to, consider inviting your mother to join in!  Ask your mother-in-law.  Your grandmother.  Your children.  Your grandchildren.  Your special aunt, perhaps.  Or your mama-figure, whomever that is in your life.  Think about how precious a multi-generational photograph would be to your family.

We just want to celebrate you!

Sessions will take place in 30 minute increments:

Friday, April 11th morning 8am - 9:30am

Friday, April 11th evening 6pm - 7:30pm

Saturday, April 12th evening 6pm - 7:30pm

These sessions are limited, and some of the above appointments have already been filled by current clients and email newsletter subscribers.  If you'd like to reserve your session, get in touch with me asap at 727-698-0344, by emailing: stacey at staceywoodsphoto dot com, or by using the contact form on this website.

This year, receive a gift that won't fade or wilt, one that won't break or go out of style.  A gift that encourages you, just as much as you encourage your children, every time you walk past it hanging on your wall.

I can't wait to meet you.

xo, Stacey

Better Than Flowers: Mother's Day Mini Sessions

Ever since I was a little girl, Mother's Day has seemed so happy and magical to me.  At church, our pastor would give special recognition (large, full hanging baskets of flowers) to the youngest mother, the oldest mother, the mother with the most children present in the service that morning, and the mother whose child(ren) traveled farthest to be with her that day.  My own mom actually won once.  She tied for "mom with the most kids present" by having us three girls there.  She tied with Donna Prichard, who usually won that title, but tied that year because one of her four kids didn't make it there in time.  ;)  Donna graciously let my mom take the basket of flowers that day, and I've never forgotten that.

Mother's Day has always been a big deal, but even more so when I became a mama myself.

And not because it meant that I'd get a gift.  ;)  Like many of you, I don't think it's really about the gift itself... it's about the thought behind that gift.  Right, moms?  It's an opportunity to teach our children how to love well, to give with intention, to show honor and respect, and to make someone feel amazing and appreciated for the job they do and the sacrifices they make.

Truly, I could not be happier if I only receive homemade cards from my children, because their love is pure and sweet and simple and these precious art pieces are straight from their little hearts!

But.... Daddy doesn't get off the hook so easily.  ;)

My husband knows that I want to be recognized, appreciated for all I do for our family.  Whether that may be shown with a sweet gift that he thinks I'll like, or a special dinner out alone or with the family (so I don't have to cook or clean up the mess), or a bouquet of my favorite flowers, or lavish attention and a day of extra-special honor in front of our children.

Just notice me.  Recognize me and pay special attention to me today.  Encourage me that I'm really doing okay at this motherhood thing.  Tell me you love me and that I'm making a difference in our children's lives, even if it doesn't feel like it some days.

Because some days, don't you think that being a mama is the most challenging job in the world??

SO.  DO.  I.

Here's the thing: we all know that even the most beautiful flowers still wilt and fade.  Stylish jewelry goes out of style eventually or it gets shuffled around and forgotten in the jewelry box.  Dinner is only delicious for an evening.  Eventually I'll have to cook again, and the dishes will pile up in the sink tomorrow.  (Those handmade cards, though?  They'll be precious forever!)

What I'd really love is a memory.  A keepsake.  A way to freeze this precious time of life, to actually see how much my children love me, how happy they really are, after all.  An encouraging reminder on tough days (cause they're coming) that I'm still doing a good job.  That I'm doing meaningful work, and that I matter to these tiny people who call me Mama.

Do you feel the same way?  I thought so.

With that in mind, this year I'm planning something wonderful for my photography clients:

MOTHER'S DAY MINI SESSIONS.  

Sweet mamas, these are just for you and your children!  (Or you and your own mama.)  A few wonderful minutes, captured on film, with your children on your lap, in your arms, and holding your hand.  Your place of honor.  A printed, tangible reminder of their love, on the wall for years and years (because don't we all have kind of a sinking feeling that the teenage years are going to be worse than the teething ones??).

So I chose a gorgeous new location with lush greenery, sand and sea.  I have fun, sweet ideas in mind for getting you and your babies snuggled up close for real, beautiful portraits that will be an encouragement to you for years to come.  I've got special Mini-Collections that allow you to own digital files, matted prints and/or a beautiful modern album telling the story of your day.  And I'm offering them to you now, in plenty of time to have your prints in hand (and maybe even framed) by Mother's Day.

Now.  Tell me that isn't better than flowers.  

(Mamas, forward this post to your significant other TODAY.  If they are anything like my husband, they truly do appreciate it when you spell out exactly what you want!)

Or, gift this special session to yourself, to your mother, or to your children!  I promise, you'll never regret making the investment in photographs of your sweet loves.

Stay tuned this week for your opportunity to register for one of these limited-edition sessions.  I can't wait to give you this beautiful gift and to encourage you in your mama-journey.

xo, Stacey

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11 

Merry & Bright Mini-Sessions

It's Mini-Session time again!  Every Fall, I offer Holiday Minis so that you can update your family's photos if you've had them done earlier in the year.  Lots of clients see me every few years for those big milestones (pregnancies, new babies, birthdays, etc.) and then opt for a mini-session in between.  And sometimes, families who aren't quite ready for a full Signature Session opt to try a mini-session and dip their toe in slowly. So which one are you?  :)

I have THREE open spaces left:  Saturday September 28 at 6:30 (the sun sets at 7:20) and Saturday October 5 at 5:15pm and 5:45pm (the sun sets at 7:12pm).

The location we've chosen offers the best of both worlds: a lush green setting.... rows of pine trees, clusters of sea grapes, and a pond surrounded by reeds and rushes.  And it just happens to be on the beach as well... a picturesque boardwalk leading to the Gulf of Mexico, soft waves lapping over the sand, a huge stretch of white sand beach, dunes covered in sea oats and wildflowers, and even a tiki hut.  (How cool would a tiki hut be on your Christmas card this year, right?!)

To reserve your family's reservation, just send me an email using the contact button up there on the right sidebar.... ----> or give me a call at 727-698-0344.  All sessions must be paid in full to reserve your spot; all mini-sessions are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

I can't wait to see you!

The First-Ever Spring Mini-Session Event

Spring is HERE in Florida!  The skies are bright and sunny, Spring Breakers are lining the beaches, flowers are blooming everywhere, and temperatures are in the 70s again. Let's celebrate, shall we?

Spring Minis.  Saturday evening, May 4th.  For this event, I've selected a beautiful patch of sunlight amongst great, grand live oak trees with Spanish moss dripping from their branches... and it's just a few steps away from one of the Gulf's prettiest white sand beaches.  I can't imagine a more perfect Spring setting!  So whether you prefer the foliage or the coast (or a little bit of both!), we've got you covered.

Call me at 727.698.0344 or use the contact form in the sidebar, to reserve your 20-minute session and accompanying prints.  Exclusive Mini-Collections are available as well.

Hint: these would make amazing Mother's Day or Father's Day gifts!  Sessions will take place just prior to Mother's Day, and final prints will be back in time for Father's Day gift-giving.

Can't wait -- see you soon!

xo, Stacey

Mini-Sessions 2012

I'm bringing back mini-sessions this year!!  And I'm keeping them super-simple.  Here are the details.....

You can reach me at the number and email above to reserve your session.  I hope to see your family soon!!

Elevate: A Fine Art Photography Exploration | November 2011

"When my heart is heavy, the sun helps make it light."  -Astrid Alauda

This week has been so tiring.  Even though Charlotte is truly an angel baby, so easy and adaptable, just go-with-the-flow... I have to admit that being a mama to three little ones is much more exhausting than I'd imagined!  With a busy shooting season, a last-minute school presentation on the night that Daddy is working late, a bit of forgotten homework, a temper tantrum (or three), a broken A/C and far too little sleep...  you have the makings of a tired and weary mama and photographer.

But.  (And thank goodness for the "but", right?)  But, this weekend I got to see some of my favorite families during our mini-sessions.  And being drenched in such sweet morning light in the park was like therapy for my soul.  A tiny escape, thanks to my camera, my friend, lending me a fresh new perspective for a few hours.  My mind switching gears and letting me concentrate on something other than myself for a bit.  The fresh morning sun reminding me that today is "a new day, with no mistakes in it yet."

My intention this particular morning was to also shoot something different for my Elevate project; however, the more I tried to force myself to shoot something out of the ordinary for me, to stretch myself creatively and fulfill this vision I had brought with me..... the more I realized that on this particular day, simply being out in the sunshine and photographing these sweet clients and friends was what my heart needed more than anything.  I needn't look further.  I needed to take smaller steps, in fact, after being out on somewhat of a maternity leave for these past several weeks.  I didn't need to move outside the box, I needed desperately to be inside that box.  Where it's comfortable.  Calm.  Reassuring.

And yet, it's still new to me.  Sweet faces in sweet light.  Sunshine on my skin.  After being on maternity leave for several weeks, it feels good to feel like I'm back IN my element again!

I'm so grateful for the peace that photography brings to my heart, just when I need it.  I'm so very blessed.

///

As you know, I'm joining several other photographers who are exploring Fine Art Photography, and pushing our creative spirits each month.  I hope you'll visit Gina Oh next, and see what loveliness she has to share with us.