Apparently, cell phones don't like sweet tea....

Can you believe that?!  Of all things.  ;)  On Friday afternoon, I was sitting in my car talking to a client on the phone (at least I was safely parked!).  When I went to flip the phone shut, it slipped out of my hands and sank to the bottom of my super-de-duper-size cup of iced tea that I had in my console.  Submerged would be a good word I think.  Soaked.  Waterlogged.  Ruined.  And such a waste of a good cold glass of sweet tea, too!!!  Needless to say, I've been having phone issues all weekend, so it's off to the Verizon store I go.  I don't think I've *missed* any voicemails; they just buzz in several hours after the calls actually come in.  Nice.  Hmm, maybe I should get the cell phone insurance plan this time, eh?!

In other breaking news, I'm digging my way out of my Christmas-session proofing cave, and I have several sessions to blog about this week!!  My last mini-session date was this morning -- and again this evening -- in downtown Clearwater.  Coincidentally, this was the morning that VP-nominee Sarah Palin came to our little town.  (I wondered if she'd have liked to jump in on a quick mini-session with the family?!  LOL!  I sure would've loved to get my camera on her sweet little baby.  :)  :)  :) )

she took my breath away...

This sweet girl stole my heart.  She was 6 weeks old and scrumptious in every way.  She was such a trooper for me, and I could have photographed her all day long....  if only she didn't live so far away.  :)

She even slept awhile for me. 

Her favorite place to be was in her mama's arms.  And what a gorgeous mama she has....  dang I wish I looked that fantastic just 6 weeks post-partum.  Ohh, who am I kidding, I wish I looked that fantastic 3 MONTHS post-partum, lol!  ;D

Okay... that one just melts my heart into a big puddle on the floor.  Loooove how they're "holding hands".  *sigh*

The lamb was a sweet surprise from Daddy, who tucked it into her suitcase before she and Mama left.  Precious!  

 

Couldn't resist that last shot.  :)  Thanks, Angela and Adeline, for a beautiful morning.  I hope you girls enjoy your preview!!  xoxo

Mini-session reminder!

Just a quick reminder, the first day of Mini-Sessions is THIS SATURDAY, September 27, and a reservation IS required to hold your spot!  (This is the ONLY Saturday our Mini's will be offered!)  There are so many amazing places to shoot at our first location:  a small beach, wide open fields, wooded areas, and lots of graceful old live oaks -- with their signature Spanish moss hanging from the limbs.  You have a couple more days to sign up, but ya gotta be QUICK!!  Email me at stacey@staceywoodsphoto.com to book your Holiday Mini-Session today! Here is a small sampling of the Christmas card line for this year.... 

 

If you'd like to take a look at more, go to http://www.staceywoodsphoto.com , click on "client proofing" and use the password cards.  Most of the Stacey Woods Photography holiday cards are flat/memo-style and have a matching reverse with completely customizable text.  They measure 5x5 or 5x7, and include envelopes as well.  I'm also offering folded cards again this year, and they promise to be absolutely gorgeous... sure to make an impression on your lucky card recipients this year!

See you soon!  :)

 

Resurfacing, remodeling + other random updates!

Yes, I'm still here!!  :)  I have finally resurfaced.  The busy Holiday Shooting Season is officially here, so the ol' blog has not gotten much love lately...  poor thing.  But that's about to change: I've got a ton of sessions lined up to "sneak peek" here, so stay tuned for upcoming posts.  SUCH fun I've been having lately!  I swear I have the best job ever (besides being a Mama, of course!) and I'm so blessed to be able to hang out with these fantastic families all the time. I'm also working on an exciting project that I'll be able to share with you soon!  It's been so much fun for me, and I can't wait to show the families involved!  I can't divulge details just yet but I'll be able to let the cat out of the bag here pretty soon.  ;)

And please pardon our dust.  My server is in the process of being upgraded, so if you notice anything funky happening with my website or blog, don't fret.  It'll be normal again soon!  Also, I seem to have been having some email trouble the past two weeks or so.... apparently some emails have gone missing and didn't bother to ask permission first.  So, if YOU have tried to email me, and are still waiting on a reply -- please email me again or just give me a call.  Chances are I've actually responded to your email, but it's gone down the Black Hole of Electronic Communication instead of to your Inbox.  ;)

Okay, enough chatter!!  I'm going back underground now to edit some more sessions.....  be back soon!

 

(Can you believe my little bean is this big?!  I can't!!)

Hush little baby...

Funny, isn't it:  I think I do a pretty decent job of keeping a newborn asleep during a session.....  throughout all sorts of bending, folding, squishing into poses, moving from person-to-person-to-beanbag.  However, it would seem that I am TERRIBLE at keeping my own little baby asleep in her bassinet these days.  Be it night-time or naps....  nah, Lila's just not interested in either one.  Now, she does drift off to sleep quite easily by herself (we've finally weaned her from falling asleep ONLY on a human chest), but STAYING asleep?  Well, I guess it's just not her thing.

Please tell me, blog readers:  How did you get YOUR baby to sleep through the night?  I'd love to know.  Actually, I'd love for you to come over to my house for a week and just do it for me.  So I can sleep in the meantime!!

rainey day!

I have photographed Rainey since she was in her Mama's tummy.  And my goodness, how this little darlin' has grown since I saw her last!! 

Rainey had a very special little "buddy" on the floor!  She snuggled the daylights out of this sweet lamb.

I

Reading to herself........  :)

 

Loooove this combo, snuggling in her reading chair with her Mommy.  And I adore creating these "peeking in" types of images!

One of my favorite little family shots....  I love that they're interacting so sweetly with just each other instead of looking at me.  (And can you tell that this baby is completely adored?!)  This is THE most "honest" family portraiture.  This is what it's all about.  And what I LOVE to capture!  It melts my heart. Every. Darn. Time.  :)  I would bet that this is the way they love on a typical Saturday morning.

 

Last but not least... her first ride on her new Radio Flyer!!

Aaaaand then it was naptime.  :)  But she was such a trooper for me.  A perfect angel.  Thanks so much guys, for such a fantastic morning.  I can't wait to show you the rest!!

 

Henry.

So I promised big brother Henry his own blog post.  Did you see his face?!  It's no wonder.  He stole my heart from the moment I walked in the door!  Maybe my heart is a little on the soft side when it comes to big brothers these days.... what do you think?  ;)  That's okay though!  Regardless, I just cannot wait to show Mom and Dad this little sampling, before their gallery is ready. 

 

With Daddy here.....  melts your heart, doesn't it??

And one that his Mama never knew I caught......  This little hand-snuggling is just precious to me.

 

Last one..... 

 

What a sweetie.  Thanks Little Man, for a fun morning.  :)

The luckiest girl.

So the number 8 is supposed to be very lucky, right?  According to Chinese lore.  Well, Marlow (isn't that the sweetest name?!) must be the luckiest baby in Tampa Bay.  She was born on 08.08.08.  And just take a guess at her birth weight?!  Drumroll here.....  8 lbs, 8 oz.  :)  I love it!

I don't know who is luckier... Marlow, or her sweet family.  They clearly are blessed beyond measure.  Just take a look at all this love.....

 

 

And you know me... I have to sneak some detail shots in.  ;)  I love photographing babies' hands.  The tiny fingernails that are so thin, and yet so razor sharp, lol!  Sweet little messy cuticles that you just can't bear to trim for the first time.  (Okay, speaking from personal experience here:  I was a big wimp; I made my sister cut my firstborn's fingernails for me... I was petrified of cutting off the end of his finger.  ha!) 

Ahh, Marlow... you are so adored.

And big brother Henry... oh, dear Henry.  I am smitten.  You get your own post, buddy.  :)  Tomorrow.

The 411 on Mini-Sessions...

Haven't you just been biting your fingernails in anticipation?  ;)  Here's the scoop on the Holiday Promotion for 2008...  Two days:  Saturday, September 27 (morning slots, then evening slots) at Phillippe Park in Safety Harbor.  Lots of live oaks, a small beach, wide open fields, shady spots to relax.  Then Monday, October 6 (morning and evening) in downtown Clearwater.  Brick walls, bright colors, relaxed urban feel to this spot.  (Rain date Saturday October 11.)  A twenty-minute session gets you 8-10 images from which to choose.  The session package includes 1 8x10, 2 5x7s, and two boxes of holiday cards of your choice.  (And I'll post card samples here on the blog next week!)  I'm also offering a couple of fun, "with purchase" bonus items this year (a little something new!)....  a gorgeous limited edition brag book including all session images, and exclusive session CDs!  Contact me for further details and pricing. 

I anticipate these slots to fill very quickly again this year, and they're on a first-come, first-serve basis (yes, voice mails count, lol!).  So don't wait!  These will be the ONLY mini-sessions I offer all year long.  These are PERFECT if you want to experience a little taste of what a full session is like, or if you are a current client and simply need an updated family photo for holiday cards and *ahem* grandparents' gifts!!  ;)  Call me at 727.698.0344 or shoot me an email at stacey@staceywoodsphoto.com to reserve your spot.

*All holiday orders MUST be placed no later than November 1 to ensure Christmas delivery!  I will still be shooting well into November and December, but I can't guarantee holiday delivery for any of those sessions.  So.... jump on the bandwagon guys!  Talk to you soon.  :)

 

(Oh, and since I can't have any more posts without images... it's just not right at all, ya know...  here's a recent shot of my little sweetie.  Can you believe Lila is already two months old?  *sniff sniff*)