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  • Welcome to my Blog!

    This blog is where you will find some of my current work, sneak peeks from recent sessions, studio news, promotions, personal commentary and other fun stuff.  Go grab a latte (and one for me, too please!) and settle in for a visit.  Leave me a comment if you are feeling chatty-I love to hear from you!

    {Find out more about Custom Lifestyle Photography Here}

    I also offer a wide range of graphic design services-please visit my design site WHP Designs! I am thrilled to be a designer for Photo Prop Floors and Backdrops where you will find most of my digital paper and texture designs available as backdrops and floor drops! I am also happy to design a custom drop for you! Find my exclusive designs on their beautiful new website here!

Featured Vendor {Pitter Patter Creations and Photography}

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

{Giveaway is now closed!} The winner is comment #50…Penny Hyde! Congratulations Penny! I am sending your information to the vendor so that you may claim your prize!:)

Hello! It’s WHP Featured Vendor time! This week it is my extreme honor to be hosting Pitter Patter Creations and Photography by Julee Pyke. In addition to being a photographer, Julee makes an assortment of gorgeous crocheted hats! Her hats make perfect props for those newborn and baby sessions and are a great accessory for the stylish baby! Meet Julee and learn about her passion for crochet, and then take a look at some of her beautiful creations! And, of course, we have an awesome giveaway, so make sure to read to the end and enter to win some goodies of your own!:)

About Julee and Pitter Patter Creations and Photography, in her own words….

My passion for crochet started when I was just 16yrs old. I began by making scarfs and blankets for family and friends. Now more then 10yrs later I decided to open a business, thus I started Pitter Patter Creations and Photography. I am still fairly new at the business thing so I’m learning as I go! I am also a wife, mother to a one week old son, a 16 month old daughter, and a step mom to a 15 year old daughter. I am a full time RN and a casual photographer, and though I am busy, I wouldn’t have it any other way! Crocheting is my passion! I love trying new patterns and experimenting with ones that I have used for years! Seeing my items on a newborn babe, a young child, and even an adult makes my day! I hope you enjoy my work as much as I do and I thank all of my present, past and future clients for your continued business, patience and encouragement as I strive to reach my goals!

{You can see more of Julee’s beautiful photography here.}

Now take a peek at the sweet hats and baby sandals that Julee sent for me to review. My little great nieces look just adorable in them! (I may be a bit biased, but the photos tell the truth!) The hats are very soft and I love how the flowers are on a separate clip that you can take off and wear alone, as well. Versatility is always great!

And who can resist little, baby piggy toes all dressed up in these cute sandals?!?!

Now, on to the giveaway! Julee is generously offering up a monkey hat with diaper cover AND an owl hat in the color and size of the winner’s choice. This is a $65.00 value and it will go as a set to ONE lucky WHP fan! You cannot win if you don’t enter, so keep reading to find out how easy it is to do just that!:)

Giveaway Entry Rules:

1. Go “like” the Pitter Patter Creations and Photography Facebook page {Here} and “like” my Wild Hearts Photography Facebook page {Here} and then come back and make ONE comment on this blog post that you have done both. This is the only REQUIRED step for entry! *And, while leaving love and thank yous on their FB page is not required, just remember that everyone loves a kind word or two!*

2. You may get an additional entry for taking a peek at the beautiful items available from Pitter Patter Creations and Photography and coming back to this blog post and commenting which item you love best.

3. Another additional entry can be earned by making a purchase from Pitter Patter Creations and Photography during the duration of this giveaway! Make sure to come back here and comment about your purchase!

4. You can earn two more additional entries for sharing about this giveaway on your Facebook page and Twitter account, including a link to this blog post. Please @tag our fan pages in the Facebook post or include a link in your comment here so we can verify it.

**Liking/joining the fan pages is required and the additional entries are optional. Entries will close and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on Tuesday, May 8th (in the evening-EDT) and posted here on the blog after the winner’s entry has been verified.**

{Please Note~ This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. By entering this promotion you acknowledge that you are providing your email contact information directly to Wild Hearts Photography in your entry. If you win this promotion you acknowledge that you will be providing your name and shipping address to the specified vendor and not to Facebook. All winners will be posted here on the blog. Please note: International entries are welcome, but you may be responsible for the shipping cost of the prize. Prizes do not have cash value and may not be returned or exchanged.}

Posted in Child Photographer, Children, Commercial, Contests, Featured Vendors, Newborns

by stacey

67 comments

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Featured Vendor {Caitlin Hoffman Thirty-One Gifts}

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

{This giveaway is now closed!} And the winner is…..comment #4 Jessica McMasters! Congratulations Jessica! I am sending your contact information to the vendor so you may claim your prize! Enjoy!:)

Hello! It’s time to kick off a brand new WHP Featured Vendor! This time I am happy to introduce you to Caitlin Hoffman. Caitlin is a consultant for a unique online catalog company called Thirty-One Gifts. When Caitlin first contacted me about being a featured vendor, I wasn’t really sure how this would fit into my usual featured vendor “structure”, so-to-speak, since most of my vendors have been owners of handmade photography-related props and items or private boutique lines. After taking a quick peek around her site, I quickly surmised that you would all love hearing about Thirty-One Gifts and would also love the wide range of products that they offer. Read a little bio about Caitlin and then take a peek at the adorable tote that she sent for me to review. And, of course, don’t forget to enter yourself in the giveaway for a chance to win an awesome prize!

Bio: I am twenty five years old, married with one child-an eighteen month old baby boy. I started with Thirty-One Gifts in December of 2011. I joined Thirty-One Gifts because I think it’s a phenomenal company that promotes the success and sisterhood of women (“Thirty-One” is based on Proverbs 31)…plus I love, love, LOVE all of their stuff!:)

You can take a look at all of the wonderful bags, totes, accessories, and home decor in the online catalog and also read about the company here. From both a photographer’s and a mom’s point of view, I see tons of items here that would make my life easier and more beautiful at the same time! Many of the bags and totes would work perfectly for hauling all of my extra equipment and props to a location shoot, while keeping me looking professional and stylish to boot! I think the baskets would also be great for some newborn studio shots! Here is the adorable monogrammed tote that Caitlin sent for me to review. It’s a sturdy tote with plenty of room for props and other goodies. Just look how cute it looks with my initials done in one of my two favorite colors!

{The super cute Dr. Seuss quilt set and fabric trees shown in these images are from my last featured vendor, Quietude Quilts!}

Okay, now the really fun part…you can enter to win a $50 gift certificate to Caitlin’s Thirty-One Gifts shop! Keep reading to find out how to enter! You can also find more fun stuff at Caitlin’s other online businesses: Discovery Toys and Body By Vi Challenge. Whew! She is one busy lady!:)

Giveaway Entry Rules:

1. Go join Caitlin’s Thirty-One Gifts Facebook group {Here} and “like” my Wild Hearts Photography Facebook page {Here} and then come back and make ONE comment on this blog post that you have done both. This is the only REQUIRED step for entry! *And, while leaving love and thank yous on their FB page is not required, just remember that everyone loves a kind word or two!*

2. You may get an additional entry for taking a peek at the beautiful items available from Thirty-One Gifts and coming back to this blog post and commenting which item you love best.

3. Another additional entry can be earned by making a purchase from Thirty-One Gifts during the duration of this giveaway! Make sure to come back here and comment about your purchase!

4. You can earn two more additional entries for sharing about this giveaway on your Facebook page and Twitter account, including a link to this blog post. Please @tag our fan pages in the Facebook post or include a link in your comment here so we can verify it.

**Liking/joining the fan pages is required and the additional entries are optional. Entries will close and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, April 24th (in the evening-EDT) and posted here on the blog after the winner’s entry has been verified.**

{Please Note~ This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. By entering this promotion you acknowledge that you are providing your email contact information directly to Wild Hearts Photography in your entry. If you win this promotion you acknowledge that you will be providing your name and shipping address to the specified vendor and not to Facebook. All winners will be posted here on the blog. Please note: International entrants may enter, but may be responsible for the shipping cost of the prize. Prizes do not have cash value and may not be returned or exchanged.}

Posted in Commercial, Contests, Featured Vendors

by stacey

32 comments

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Featured Vendor {Quietude Quilts}

Monday, April 2, 2012

{Giveaway is now closed!} The winner is comment #75-Amanda Daye! Congratulations Amanda! I will send your info over to the vendor so you can claim your prize!:)

I’m so happy to introduce you to this week’s WHP Featured Vendor~Quietude Quilts! I absolutely LOVE their sweet little beds, cradles, quilts, and other fun accessories (banners, tiny stuffed trees, pillow, and more)!

A little bit about Quietude Quilts in their own words:

We are Jonathan and Kelsey, a young married couple, together handcrafting heirloom toys and classic photography props. We are proud to come from creative families…both of Kelsey’s grandmothers were quilters, and both of Jonathan’s grandfathers were woodworkers who built and owned their own businesses. We love following in their steps with our own creative and miniature twist. Our work has developed throughout the last couple of years from a quilting hobby, to a toy shop of doll beds and doll quilts, to supplying photographers with newborn and toddler beds, canopy beds, princess and pea sets, cradles, bunk beds, and all sorts of bedding accessories. We love using classic and timeless designs for our woodworking and quilting, and especially that we’re able to blend our talents and interests together to create high quality props and toys for your businesses and families.

Take a peek at the adorable bed that they sent for me to review. It was beautifully made, assembled easily with provided instructions, and looked amazing in the photographs! I loved the color of the stain on this one as it gave it a look that blends with so many backgrounds and accessories. Perfect for baby boys or girls, it photographed perfectly with my pink props. It was sized just right for the newborn twins, and I can see using it for babies up through the toddler years and even older. The sturdy construction and simple styling makes it a great choice as a studio prop or as an heirloom toy for any child.

And now here’s something for you to get happy about! Quietude Quilts is giving away an unfinished newborn bed to one lucky WHP fan! Whooot!!!! Read below for information on how to enter. AND…as an extra bonus, you can use the code “QQWILDHEARTS15″ for a special 15% discount off of any bedding purchases in their shop throughout the duration of this giveaway.

Giveaway Entry Rules:

1. Go “like” the Quietude Quilts Facebook page {Here} and “like” my Wild Hearts Photography Facebook page {Here} and then come back and make ONE comment on this blog post that you have done both. This is the only REQUIRED step for entry! *And, while leaving love and thank yous on their FB page is not required, just remember that everyone loves a kind word or two!*

2. You may get an additional entry for taking a peek at the beautiful items available from Quietude Quilts and coming back to this blog post and commenting which item you love best.

3. Another additional entry can be earned by making a purchase from Quietude Quilts during the duration of this giveaway! Make sure to come back here and comment about your purchase!

4. You can earn two more additional entries for sharing about this giveaway on your Facebook page and Twitter account, including a link to this blog post. Please @tag our fan pages in the Facebook post or include a link in your comment here so we can verify it.

**Liking the fan pages is required and the additional entries are optional. Entries will close and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, April 9th (in the evening-EDT) and posted here on the blog after the winner’s entry has been verified.**

{This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. By entering this promotion you acknowledge that you are providing your email contact information directly to Wild Hearts Photography in your entry. If you win this promotion you acknowledge that you will be providing your name and shipping address to the specified vendor and not to Facebook. All winners will be posted here on the blog. Please note: International entrants may enter, but may be responsible for the shipping cost of the prize. Prizes do not have cash value and may not be returned or exchanged.}

Posted in Child Photographer, Children, Commercial, Contests, Featured Vendors, Newborns, Studio

by stacey

152 comments

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Me and Mine

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Well, you got to know me a little better in this post-probably a little more than you really wanted to know!;)This time, I wanted to show the beauty of my life instead of the struggle. We try to do photos in this field of daffodils every year. Most years we manage to get it, but we missed last year, so I was extra determined to make it happen this year. I also had something special in mind for the styling of this shoot. I had these two dresses from when I was younger. I wore the dark pink one when I was about five years old in my uncle’s wedding and the peachy colored one when I was ten in my brother’s wedding. When I pulled them out of the closet I realized they were just about the right size for my girls. I liked how the design of the dresses was similar, even though the colors were different. So, that was the inspiration for this shoot. A little bit of “flower child” from the 70′s. A little bohemian flair with a soft touch. My friend Jennifer, owner of OLDCHATEAU, did an amazing job with the headpieces. She created these from just hearing my vision and not even seeing the dresses. They were absolutely perfect! Wardrobe was all set and I had a few props ready to go. I had planned to keep it fairly minimal, with just a few items that were also of nostalgic value to me. Yep, the guitar was mine. I took years of lessons as a child and spent many long hours practicing. So, the shoot was ready to go, I just needed the right weather, light, and mainly for the daffodils to bloom. So I waited….

We had driven by the park a week prior to the shoot to check the flowers and they were starting to open. With all of the unseasonably warm weather we had been having, I thought one week was going to have the whole field completely in bloom. As a matter of fact, I was starting to panic as I watched the weather forecast since they were calling for rain the whole weekend and I thought I would end up missing the flowers all together-again. So, I talked the hubby into getting home early enough on Friday evening to get to the park in time for the photo session. This is where everything began to fall apart. The best laid plans and all that, you know. He did get home, but just a little later than we had hoped. The sun was just starting to come down in the sky and it seemed like it would be perfect! Then, by the time we were half way to the park, it started to cloud over. We pushed on and by the time we got there, the sky was overcast and appearing about an hour darker than it really was. And, the flowers were not all bloomed out. I was pretty bummed out about that, but figured we could still do the shoot with a little fill flash. Well, I pulled out the flash and the batteries were completely dead. Okay-checked the bag. No spare batteries. You have to be kidding me! I never do that! I am always prepared with this stuff! So, I turned up my ISO and did the shoot with all natural light. The girls complained a bit about the little “surprises” that the geese had left in the grass, especially since I made them go barefoot. They were also a little sad when a super “nice” lady yelled at them for picking a few flowers to hold (even though we were not on private property, but at a public park). But, all in all, they were troopers and did a great job! I even took the time to get myself ready so I could step in front of the camera for a few shots and Jim was sweet to snap them for me. He really is a big teddy bear, but he does not like handling my camera. I don’t know what he’s so afraid of, lol! The only thing missing this year was a few shots of us all together, but I’ll take what we got.:)

I was pretty tired and a bit flustered by the end of the shoot (and did not get to have as much creative freedom as I wanted due to the fading light), but I have to say….I love it! I’m SO happy to see us all together in such a beautiful place. I love the soft, retro tones in the images that give them the feeling of matching the time era of the dresses. Even a little graininess just adds to the effect. I love that I was able to use things that were special to me in this special shoot. And yes, I shoot tons of images of my family, but each one is still special. They change and grow so fast that it’s important to me not to miss out on these opportunities to capture them. And so I do. And I love it! And their “serious” model faces crack me up! I hope you enjoy this sweet, little peek into my life.:)

If you love the blog templates I used in this post, you can find them in my design shop here!

Posted in B&W, Child Photographer, Children, Commercial, Families, Lifestyle, Natural Light

Featured Vendor {OLDCHATEAU}

Friday, March 9, 2012

{Giveaway is now closed!} The winner is comment #37-Lorie Hall! Congratulations Lorie!!!! I am sending your information to the vendor so you may claim your awesome prize!:)

I have been super excited about this week’s WHP Featured Vendor! Jennifer of OLDCHATEAU is not only a FABULOUS designer, but she is an sweet and amazing person to work with for custom products! I can’t tell you how easily she takes ideas and translates them into real world props that are stunningly beautiful! We have been working together for several months and I am so honored to feature her on my blog for a second time. Get to know Jennifer and find out what the buzz is all about!

A little bit about Jennifer in her own words:

For as long as I can remember I have always gravitated toward and found beauty in the rusted, frayed, weathered, and overgrown. My shop, OLDCHATEAU, was created based on my love of all of these things-especially Vintage. My signature style would be soft and romantic, and I love creating with natural materials including: burlap, vintage lace, and cotton fabrics. From baby blankets to photography props, each piece is unique-often being one of a kind. All of my products are made with the utmost care & attention to detail, in hopes that they will become something that you or a friend will treasure for years to come.

Here is just a small selection of the gorgeous items that are available from OLDCHATEAU, including the beautiful Vintage Lace Basket Garland showcased by Son Kissed Photography, and several items that I have had the privilege of photographing.

As a photographer, I really love how you can get a set of coordinating props that can be used together or separately for endless flexibility in your sessions. All of Jennifer’s creations are extremely well-constructed and crafted from the nicest materials, making them a great and lasting investment. The wide range of products makes them appealing to a large audience, with something perfect for everyone.

I was especially excited to feature this beautiful fabric canopy and matching vintage style headbands in a very special newborn twin session. The sweet nursery pillow was also crafted by Jennifer. It was all so dreamy!

And now it’s time for YOU to get excited! Jennifer is giving away one of these gorgeous canopies and a matching headband to one lucky WHP fan! You will even get to have your choice of several fabric/color combinations. How FUN is that?!!! Read below for information on how to enter. If you just can’t wait to get your hands on some of the shabby sweetness from OLDCHATEAU, you can use the code “WiLDHEARTS10″ for a special 10% discount off of anything in Jennifer’s shop throughout the duration of this giveaway.

Giveaway Entry Rules:

1. Go “like” the OLDCHATEAU Facebook page {HERE} and “like” my Wild Hearts Photography Facebook page {Here} and then come back and make one comment on this blog post that you have done both. This is the only REQUIRED step for entry!

2. You may get an additional entry for taking a peek at the beautiful items available from OLDCHATEAU and coming back to this blog post and commenting which item you love best.

3. Another additional entry can be earned by making a purchase from OLDCHATEAU during the duration of this giveaway! Make sure to come back here and comment about your purchase!

4. You can earn two more additional entries for sharing about this giveaway on your Facebook page and Twitter account, including a link to this blog post. Please @tag our fan pages in the Facebook post or include a link in your comment here so we can verify it.

**Liking the fan pages is required and the additional entries are optional. Entries will close and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on Saturday, March 17th (in the evening-EDT) and posted here on the blog after the winner’s entry has been verified.**

{This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. By entering this promotion you acknowledge that you are providing your email contact information directly to Wild Hearts Photography in your entry. If you win this promotion you acknowledge that you will be providing your name and shipping address to the specified vendor and not to Facebook. All winners will be posted here on the blog. Please note: International entrants may enter, but may be responsible for the shipping cost of the prize. Prizes do not have cash value and may not be returned or exchanged.}

Posted in Child Photographer, Children, Commercial, Featured Vendors, Newborns

by stacey

145 comments

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