{DBT Holiday Photo Session Specials}

As promised, here are my

Holiday Photo Sessions & Packages...

The Holly Jolly Package {$200}

A weekend or weekday family session up to 6 people.1 hour location shoot within Santa Cruz County. COMPLETE EDITED CD with print release. 25 press printed card designs by Simplicity.

A Very Merry Package {$150}

A weekday or weekend studio session just for kids (up to 4 kiddos) COMPLETE EDITED CD with print release. 25 press printed card designs by Simplicity.

Additional Press Printed Cards Ala Carte

{25 cards & envelopes for $65}

Now booking sessions for

October & November

I will not be booking any holiday sessions for the month of December but will offer limited sessions for maternity, newborns and baby milestones.

{Friday Flashback #1}

So I was going through some old disks with images of my youngest as a baby and I came across this one. It is my favorite picture of him and I actually have it framed in my hallway. It was one of those pictures that got me going with digital photography about 8 years ago. I was a bit obsessed with black and white and I guess I still am. I take a lot of b & w's today in my baby sessions because the result is classic and timeless. The best part of this photo is how it captured his curiousness and delight of eating his very first popsicle treat...ala in the nude!!!

So there ya go....my very first Friday Flashback! Enjoy!

{Blue Eyed Boy}

It's no secret that I love photographing babies. I find each stage of a baby's first year to be fascinating. I marveled at the way each one of my boys developed. Unfortunately, I was too sleep deprived to really remember everything. That's why when clients come to me and want me to capture their childs first year, I strive to capture those fleeting moments.

This little guy is just 3 months new. I love the way 3 month olds play with their hands and blow bubbles with all that crazy teething drool. It's pretty darn cute to watch. This little man had some grins for us but his eyes are what dazzled me. They were sparkling and blue and I think I could see forever in them. I can see why him mommy is so crazy about him!

{A Splendid Christmas}

{A Splendid Christmas}

I just couldn't resist giving everyone a taste of what's coming up this holiday season. These are 5 x 7 press printed card designs by Simplicity. They are front and back designs which come with envelopes. I will be offering some holiday photo package deals which will include these press printed designs in them. They will also be offered ala carte for those just interested in purchasing cards but more on that later. Enjoy!

{Twin Baptism}

Meet Sofie and Max. Two adorable twins! Aren't they precious? I loved how they are so different and not just the boy/girl thing either. These two cuties were so different in personalities. Max...quick to smile and lil Sofie...soft pouty lips and oh so sensitive. Everything about this event was beautiful and I loved watching the God parents (7 in all) interact with them. Such lucky babies to be born into such a loving extended family. What blessings are in store for these sweet souls. Thanks for asking me to join your day. I enjoyed capturing these keepsakes for you. Enjoy your sneak peek!

{sunsets}

This was one of my last sunset pictures taken last November. It's one of my favorite pictures not only because it is of a special family but because it is such a powerful image that illustrates God's love. Let me try and explain... I found out this morning that my friend's husband lost his battle with skin cancer. You can read about Nathan's Story here. As I helped care for their kids this a.m. so my poor friend could take all the calls and necessary arrangements she needed to, I tried to make sense of such a tragic loss...4 young children and only 28 years old. I mean why? Why does this happen to such nice people? I was told that my friend's husband was a brave man and fought hard but I kept thinking to myself... it just wasn't in God's plan for him. As I was preparing this picture to be sent off for enlargement for his funeral, I looked at the sunset they faced with much more appreciation. The sun reminded my of God's grace and love. When we face tragedy we are not alone. He asks us to turn and face him...depend on him. We will all face sunsets and sunrises in our lives but what matters is how we face them. When we face those sunsets in life and embrace God's unconditional love for us it is only then that we experience his mercy. For God never gives us more than we can handle. He never leaves us. He knows our weakness and our breaking points and he knows how we suffer. So my prayer for my friend and her family is that they turn toward God right now. I ask that He help heal their broken hearts through this difficult time.

{Side Note}

I am not a perfect Christian. I don't pretend to be either. I don't talk about God or pray to him near enough nor do I attend church like I think I should. But I do know this... and I share this freely...I have experienced God's grace in my own life and it was only by loving him and leaning on him and living my life the way he wants me to, that I experienced the awesomeness of HIS love.

{momtog love}

Just sharing some love today for my virtual photography friend and mentor, Drew B. She has an awesome new buttons for her momtog blog site. Not only is she a fabulous photographer, she has created this way cool website for moms and photographers. Drew gives helpful photography tips and I for one have used many of them while building my little photo business. She is so helpful and I have appreciated her openness to share with moms everywhere. Please check it out if you have some time. Tell her I sent ya!

{Fresno Photo Sessions}

I'm hitting the road....Fresno Photo Sessions

September 4th-7th 2009

(Labor Day Weekend)

Limited sessions available

I will be traveling to Fresno to take some photos for some dear friends. I do have openings for 2-3 on location photo sessions to take place at your home/backyard or Woodward park. The price for these sessions are priced at $100 for up to one hour and up to 4 people ($10 for each addtional person) and they will include a semi edited CD with print release for reprints up to 8 x 10 in size. Other enlargements can be purchased ala carte through me and can be delivered directly to your home.

Whether you are looking to update your family portrait or just want a head start on getting your kids Christmas pictures out of the way, these sessions are custom designed for you. A $25 nonrefundable deposit is requested to reserve your time and date. This is due 2-3 days after booking with me. Please inquire about details and times via email with me at tonya@designsbytonyar.com

{Back To School Giggles}

So it's back to school time around our house. I had a couple of goof balls this morning who were dressed and ready on time. They were in rare form in front of my camera and so it was fun to see them cooperate and just have fun. I love this time of the year...full of promise...full of new friends and reuniting with old ones. So thankful for the great teachers they have and hopeful that they will have a great school year. Thanks for being such silly boys! Your goofiness made me smile all day. Love you bunches and bunches!

Mommy

{Meet Baby Bean}

Meet "Baby Bean"

This little one will make an appearance sometime late September and I had the great pleasure of photographing mommy and daddy today. Mommy To Be is near and dear to our hearts. She was the most amazing kindergarten teacher for my two younger boys a few years back and I know she is going to make a wonderful mommy. Daddy To Be as it turns out, is a Fresno State Alumni....Go Dogs!!! And quite frankly, that's all he needed to say to me... I instantly liked him! Doesn't hurt that they both have such fun personalities and brought some of their personality with them for our session. I love it when clients bring over sentimental items like this ABC blanket that used to belong to Mommy To Be. I've been told the nursery echos this theme which is so befitting of this Mommy. So why Baby Bean you might ask? Well, guess that's what Farmer Grandpa called em when he saw the very first ultrasound picture ..."It looks like a bean." Hence the name stuck and since this little one is a total surprise, we will all have to wait patiently to see how Baby Bean turns out. Best of luck A & B!!!! Baby Bean is one lucky baby to have you two as parents. So happy for you! Luv, T

{New DBT Logo}

Only one photo shoot this week which has given me some more time to study up on some photoshop skills. I'm finding that being a self taught photographer in this digital age is tough stuff. I can't tell you how many times I've gone over and over a photoshop video online only to find myself hitting brick walls. My program won't do this or I can't figure this thing out. Still, I have more time than money and so it is in these dark moments that I persevere. I have never been a quitter and once I commit myself to learning something, I usually prevail. So here is what took me the better part of 2 nights to learn and design....my new logo and watermark stamp. I may tweak it here and there but I think it captures my business signature.

{Presents}

What girl does not like getting presents in the mail? This past week, I received my new packaging which includes my much loved and signature pink and brown polka dot ribbon and tissue. Now all orders will include this packaging.

I also picked up another custom collage for a client. The custom collages are a great alternative to framed pictures. This one is a 8.5 x 11 glossy thin wrap featured with a classy black photo stand. Not only are they less expensive than a canvas wrap, these thin wrap products are excellent in quality and the turn around rate is so quick because the lab is local.

And the best present ever arrived today!!!!! I've been wanting to do this for months and finally pulled it together this summer to finish my very first portfolio book. I'm working on a maternity and kids version too but to see my work in a press printed book brought tears of joy to my eyes! It's a really cool product and alternative to the traditional baby book. I spent hours and hours putting together my childrens baby scrapbooks. Oh how I would have loved to have this as an option back then. The book features 40 images of baby's 1st year ($140 value) and it's something I'm offering as part of my watch me grow baby package. I think parents are gonna oooh and aaaah over it!