The R Family
Today I traveled to Davenport to take photos of the R Family. 2 year old Emily is an absolute doll, I just love her curly hair and her pretty polka dot dress!! We went to VanderVeer Park so she could feed the ducks, and enjoy the beautiful sunny day. I just want to say again, thank you Mike & Amy for allowing me the opportunity to take photos of your family! Here are a few of my favorites from the session, I hope you like them!
I will name him George, and I will hug him, and pet him, and squeeze him....
You may be wondering what the title of this post is all about, but if you watched Bugs Bunny as a kid, you probably remember the Abominable Snowman (and if not, check out the video below - at around 22 seconds you'll see what I'm talking about).
My husband Josh was a big fan of Bugs Bunny growing up (oh, who am I kidding...he still is!) and has told me on more than one occasion that when I talk to Einstein I remind him of the (oh so loving) Abominable Snowman featured in the video above. At first I was offended - how dare he compare me to a cartoon snowman!! However, once I watched it, I really couldn't deny that I totally do that to Einstein. Can you blame me? Look at this face - don't you just want to hug him and pet him and squeeze him??
Unfortunately, despite my coaxing, my little fuzzy model wasn't in the picture taking mood yesterday and his posing mostly consisted of this:
What's a girl to do when her model won't cooperate? Offer treats, that always gets the little guy's attention!
My husband Josh was a big fan of Bugs Bunny growing up (oh, who am I kidding...he still is!) and has told me on more than one occasion that when I talk to Einstein I remind him of the (oh so loving) Abominable Snowman featured in the video above. At first I was offended - how dare he compare me to a cartoon snowman!! However, once I watched it, I really couldn't deny that I totally do that to Einstein. Can you blame me? Look at this face - don't you just want to hug him and pet him and squeeze him??
Unfortunately, despite my coaxing, my little fuzzy model wasn't in the picture taking mood yesterday and his posing mostly consisted of this:
What's a girl to do when her model won't cooperate? Offer treats, that always gets the little guy's attention!
One Goal Down + Please Vote!!
As those of you who have read my 101 in 1001 know, one of my goals (#32) was to babysit my little brother Sam while my parents took a trip for their anniversary. I completed that goal when they went to Charleston from March 3rd-10th and it was definitely an experience!! It isn't easy going from having no children (ok, well, a 4 lb Yorkie) to having a 5 year old (that's going on 25), and I absolutely have a newfound appreciation for mothers everywhere (especially my own)!
I also wanted to mention that KCRG's A-List voting has started, and if you would take a quick second to vote for Jen Madigan Photography, I would appreciate it very much!! You have to register (sorry!) but it only takes a minute and I would be forever grateful (just click on the banner below to begin). All of your support over the past 7 months has been fantastic - thank you to each and every one of you who has allowed me to photograph you and your families.
Also, if you're thinking of getting family photos, need senior pictures, engagement photos, etc this summer/fall - now is the perfect time to book! My 50% off sitting fee special is running until April 14th (session doesn't need to take place by then, but it must be booked by then to get the discount) - don't miss out!! Email me at madiganphotography@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to schedule a session. I hope to hear from you soon!
During the time Sam was here, he kept me on my toes, and I got to experience some new things in the Iowa City area like the playground at the mall (best to go early before it gets too busy), storytime at the library (he wasn't a fan, sadly), and the Children's Museum (where was this when I was a kid?? That grocery store is fantastic!). Although it was difficult at times, it was also pretty fun to spend some time with my little brother. Here's one of the photos I took of him while he was staying with us...
I also wanted to mention that KCRG's A-List voting has started, and if you would take a quick second to vote for Jen Madigan Photography, I would appreciate it very much!! You have to register (sorry!) but it only takes a minute and I would be forever grateful (just click on the banner below to begin). All of your support over the past 7 months has been fantastic - thank you to each and every one of you who has allowed me to photograph you and your families.
Also, if you're thinking of getting family photos, need senior pictures, engagement photos, etc this summer/fall - now is the perfect time to book! My 50% off sitting fee special is running until April 14th (session doesn't need to take place by then, but it must be booked by then to get the discount) - don't miss out!! Email me at madiganphotography@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to schedule a session. I hope to hear from you soon!
Alyssa and Sydney
When reflecting back on the session I did on Saturday with Alyssa and her daughter Sydney, the word "gorgeous" keeps popping into my head. I'm sure when you look at the photos, you'll see why that is - Alyssa is due in April with #2 and her daughter Sydney will be turning 4 soon...and honestly, have you ever seen a more beautiful mother/daughter pair?? I love all of these photos so much, I had a hard time narrowing it down for the blog, so you get a pretty big sneak peek this week. Alyssa, I hope you guys like the photos as much as I do, and it was an absolute pleasure getting to take photos of you both this weekend. Thanks again.
I think this moment between mom and daughter is just so sweet!
See what I mean?? Gorgeous!
Sydney informed me that baby #2 is going to be named "Blueberry". Could she get any cuter?!?!
You can see a few more of this beautiful mother and daughter by clicking HERE.
I think this moment between mom and daughter is just so sweet!
See what I mean?? Gorgeous!
Sydney informed me that baby #2 is going to be named "Blueberry". Could she get any cuter?!?!
You can see a few more of this beautiful mother and daughter by clicking HERE.
Addyson
Today was my first newborn shoot, and although it usually takes me a couple of days to get a sneak preview ready, I have been SO excited about this shoot that I had to work on the photos as soon as I got home. Addyson is the first baby for Josh and Monica, and is already working on earning her princess status! We did everything we could think of, swaddling, music, feeding, an exceptionally warm (for the adults) room, but Addyson didn't want to miss a minute of her closeup! (We did get her to sleep for a few shots.) I had such a wonderful time taking photos today, and I hope that Josh and Monica (and their families) like these pictures of Addyson as much as I do!
This first one is my absolute favorite of the session...
I had to include this one because it makes me laugh...this was the last shot of the day, I think she'd had enough!
You can see a few more photos of baby Addyson by clicking HERE.
This first one is my absolute favorite of the session...
I had to include this one because it makes me laugh...this was the last shot of the day, I think she'd had enough!
You can see a few more photos of baby Addyson by clicking HERE.
Thanks to Molly Mutt + Coming Soon...
Just wanted to say a quick thanks to Molly Mutt for featuring my photo of Einstein on her blog Mollycoddled Mutterings! Einstein feels so famous. :) Also thanks for linking back to my site, I really appreciate it!
Coming up very soon on the blog - my first newborn shoot, which will allow me to cross off #4 on my 101 in 1001. I'm so excited to meet little Addyson this weekend, and can't wait to see how the photos turn out. Want to book a session for yourself? The 50% off session fee promotion is going on for a little while longer!
Have a great Wednesday everyone!
And because every post is better with a picture...take a look at these lovelies that just made their way into my closet. Is it spring yet?
Mandie and Tyler
Mandie emailed me back in early December about taking some winter engagement photos. I was incredibly excited about taking photos in the snow, and surprisingly we only had to reschedule one time! Mandie and Tyler were so much fun to shoot...they both have stunning blue eyes (and seriously, I need to know what Mandie does to make her skin look so freakin' amazing!!!) as well as super sweet personalities. They are such a cute couple, and although I won't have the pleasure of photographing their wedding, I wish them the best on their big day in August!
You can also view a few additional photos by clicking here. Enjoy!
Want to schedule a session? Email me at madiganphotography@gmail.com for more information.
You can also view a few additional photos by clicking here. Enjoy!
Want to schedule a session? Email me at madiganphotography@gmail.com for more information.
New Look!
I just wanted to say thank you SO much to Marina over at Penny Lane Designs who did the new layout for the blog. She did an incredible job and I'm so excited about the new layout with larger pictures! I hope you all love it as much as I do!!
FAQ
What is natural light photography?
Basically natural light photography means that I use the natural light available to me when taking the majority of my photos (I do have a Canon Speedlite flash that I have used for reception photos).
Do you take indoor photos? Where do you take them?
I do take indoor photos (see Ronan's session for an example) of children and/or families. I do not currently have a studio but as long as your house has large windows with decent light, I can come to your home and take photos there. I can use your house as a background (as I did with the Christmas tree photos of Ronan) and I also have a mobile studio that I can set up in the room with the best light (although this only really works for children, not adults or pets).
Can we take outdoor photos in the snow?
Definitely! Scheduling can be a little tricky because you don't want to be outside if it's too cold, but we can make it work if you want some photos in the snow.
When do you take photos?
Currently I am only scheduling sessions for the weekends. If weekends don't work for you, please email me and we might be able to work something out. Click here to see my availability.
For a newborn session, are the photos only of the baby or can parents/siblings be in some shots as well?
Newborn sessions are primarily of the newborn, but parents/siblings can definitely be included in some photos. (Note: Newborn photos are also taken in your home, and the lengthy session time allows for breaks for changing/feeding/etc.)
Can we bring our dog along to our family session?
You know your pet and whether or not they will sit still for some photos, but generally I say absolutely! I typically bring my husband Josh as my assistant and he helps me get the dog's attention during the session, as well as walking the dog around while I'm taking photos of just the family. I also bring treats and some squeaky toys (which definitely helps with getting the puppies to look at the camera).
What should we wear?
See this post for some ideas. I would suggest avoiding white, logos (Old Navy, Gap, etc printed on your shirt), or anything too tight or too oversized. The main thing is that you (or your children) feel like themselves and are comfortable!
I don't see any information about wedding pricing, do you photograph weddings?
I recently photographed my first wedding in October and have another scheduled for November 13th. You can view wedding posts HERE. Please email me for more information.
Do you travel?
Yes! All of my pricing is based within a 30 mile radius of the Iowa City area. I have family in the Humboldt/Fort Dodge area so it is very easy for me to travel there for a weekend. Please contact me for more information.
Do you take senior pictures?
No, I do not take senior pictures (mainly due to the fact that I do not have a studio at this time).
If you have a question that hasn't been answered here, please email me at madiganphotography@gmail.com and I will gladly answer it to the best of my ability! :)
Giving Aid
I know that photos are the focus of my business and this blog but I had to take a moment to discuss the horrible earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday and what everyone can do to help.
As I'm sure all of you know by now (and have seen on the news and countless blogs), Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake on Tuesday and they fear 500,000 may be dead, and countless more injured. I just wanted to take a moment to list some organizations (courtesy of Good Morning America's website) that are now accepting donations and ask for all of you to donate if you can (even a dollar or two will help!).
The Red Cross is also offering an option where you can donate $10 by texting 'Haiti' to 90999 (I believe the $10 will be added to your phone bill)
Einstein + Molly Mutt
Sorry for the lack of actual photo shoots, but with the freezing temps and the recent holidays, I don't think many people are thinking about photos at the moment (but just an FYI, I can do indoor photos, just email me for more info!). I did take some photos this weekend though and wanted to share this photo that I took of Einstein on his Molly Mutt bed.
If you've never heard of Molly Mutt beds, they're actually duvet covers for dog beds and come in a few different prints. I like them because you can put in old blankets, towels, clothes, pillows...whatever you aren't using anymore (and the dogs like them because they smell like you!). Einstein doesn't sleep on his at night (as I'm sure you assumed, he's so spoiled he gets to sleep in our bed) but he does perch on it often during the day while doing his neighborhood watch thing.
If you've never heard of Molly Mutt beds, they're actually duvet covers for dog beds and come in a few different prints. I like them because you can put in old blankets, towels, clothes, pillows...whatever you aren't using anymore (and the dogs like them because they smell like you!). Einstein doesn't sleep on his at night (as I'm sure you assumed, he's so spoiled he gets to sleep in our bed) but he does perch on it often during the day while doing his neighborhood watch thing.
New Year's Eve 2009
Josh and I always try and do something different each year for New Year's Eve. Last year we had dinner with friends, the previous year we got dressed up and went out to a nice dinner downtown. This year we decided to be recession friendly and just make dinner at home, spending the evening with our favorite furry friend!
Einstein, ready to party...
Since I'm usually the one behind the camera, Josh took a few of me and my little buddy.
What are your New Year's traditions?
Einstein, ready to party...
Since I'm usually the one behind the camera, Josh took a few of me and my little buddy.
The last night of enjoying our tree (we always take it down on New Year's Day). If you look closely, you can see me in one of the ornaments!
For dinner I made flank steak, potatoes, and we also had salad topped with cranberries, feta cheese, and nuts. Dessert was espresso chocolate mousse with marscapone whipped cream. It was very yummy (if I do say so myself!)!
Christmas 2009
I didn't take a ton of photos over the holidays this year but I did want to share a few from Christmas Eve at my parent's house. Since the weather was kind of crazy (alternating between rain/snow/freezing rain) we weren't able to do what we normally do on Christmas Eve (get together with all of our extended family). We ended up having kind of a quiet night, but it was nice that all of my siblings made it home despite the crappy weather.
After dinner my little brother Sam busted out the Curious George game (and I got some wonderful blackmail photos of two of my sisters wearing a panda and a pig mask).
There are no grandkids yet, but there are 3 grandpuppies (my parents are SO proud, haha). My sister Abby's dog Rudy was surprisingly calm, and of course I had to capture Einstein's Santa's Little Helper shirt. Sam wanted in on the action too, as you can see...
After dinner my little brother Sam busted out the Curious George game (and I got some wonderful blackmail photos of two of my sisters wearing a panda and a pig mask).
There are no grandkids yet, but there are 3 grandpuppies (my parents are SO proud, haha). My sister Abby's dog Rudy was surprisingly calm, and of course I had to capture Einstein's Santa's Little Helper shirt. Sam wanted in on the action too, as you can see...
After the guys got sick of dominating Sam's "Whack-a-mole" game (I so wish I had photos of that!), they decided to play a few hands of poker.
Apparently my brother in law (in the foreground of the photo below) was the big winner of the night, although I'm not sure exactly how much he walked away with in the end (probably not a lot).
After the excitement of game night, Sam had a little quiet time with my sister and my dad...
101 in 1001
It was actually a lot more difficult than I thought to come up with 101 things, but if you're curious you can click HERE to view my list. Is there anything on there you could help me accomplish? What would be on your list of goals?
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year!
I just wanted to take a moment to mention that to kick off the new year, bookings through April 14th, 2010 will receive a 50% discount on my session fee (there is no restriction as to what month the photo session takes place, it just must be booked before April 14th to receive the discounted rate). You can view my entire price list by clicking here, and the discounted prices (before sales tax) are already noted in red. I also offer a referral program, so if you have any questions about that or anything else, please feel free to email me at madiganphotography@gmail.com.
And because every post is better with a picture...
I just wanted to take a moment to mention that to kick off the new year, bookings through April 14th, 2010 will receive a 50% discount on my session fee (there is no restriction as to what month the photo session takes place, it just must be booked before April 14th to receive the discounted rate). You can view my entire price list by clicking here, and the discounted prices (before sales tax) are already noted in red. I also offer a referral program, so if you have any questions about that or anything else, please feel free to email me at madiganphotography@gmail.com.
And because every post is better with a picture...
