Happy New Year!

I can't thank everyone enough for Star Portraits 1st year officially out to the public. {{BIG Hugs!}} with all my heart. Hope 2010 is filled with many happy blessings & good health for everyone!

Thank you!

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas & a Fabulous 2010 to all my stars & their families & to my family & friends. Hope the season is full of magic! {{Love & Hugs!!}}

Star Portraits In North Carolina

My sister-n-law has asked me to do her family pics since a couple years before I decided to go pro. We usually make an annual trip down to Fuquay Varina, NC to visit my husbands family & end up taking tons of pics anyways. Rather than do the usual pics at home we went to a park where we did some lovely lake pics too. And yes...this was the end of November & nooo jackets needed down south! Sooo nice!!! Thank you Mandi, Johnny, Joey & Lexi for making me feel pro before I even went there. You make my heart feel super happy! xoxo

Giving Thanks!

Ok, I will try not to cry..... Ugh! Too late!! : ) I can't thank allll of you enough for your business, your referrals & for your friendship. I had no idea when I put myself out there this past January that I would be blessed with soo many new friends! I really can't call any of you clients because you & your families have become soo dear to my heart. May all your beautiful families have a safe, healthy & blessed Thanksgiving! {{BIG Hugs!!}}

Another 1st Birthday Wish!

Happy 1st Birthday to a very special Featured Star ~ Brayden! Thank you for being such a wonderful 1st baby boy for me to ever photograph! May all your wishes come true! {{Hugs!!}}

1st Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to a very special Featured star ~ Miss Maribeth! May all your wishes come true! {{Hugs!}}

Falling For Fall

This was my 3rd opportunity shooting the Rinas family. Soo much of this Summer had been cold & rainy and this beautiful Autumn day was filled with sunshine & about 70 degrees!! I must say I am extremely impressed always with the photo shoot ideas that my mommy clients come up with to make them unique & their own. Karen's crazy awesome idea was roasting marshmallows!! How ingenious is that!? Not only did we capture some cute pics of that as well as leaf pile fun & playtime; it made it really hard to choose a pic for the blog. I went with this simply because it's a shot I've been dreaming of shooting for awhile & I reallly liked the way it turned out. It was soo cute & great to see that Luke & Jillian remembered me & how Jillian has grown into a tiny Gap model like her big brother. These kids are so photogenic you don't even have to tell them to pose. They will strike one for you including cute head tilts. I had SO much fun with them yesterday!!!! Keep watch on the Star Portraits website as they are a Featured family & this session will be added to their page. Thanks soo much to the Rinas family for having me again!!

Football Sunday!

Back in April I did my 1st E-Session with a fabulous couple Kim & Tim & this Sunday was honored to meet her lovely & fun kids Justin & Emily to do some football & cheerleading shots. Thankfully it was a beautiful Autumn day which made it even more of a great great time!

Baby Jack is 6 months old!

Little Hottie Hungerford is growing more handsome each day! His 1st Autumn & Halloween pics & of course cute boy pics with his big & little trucks & work boots. And after pics I got to hug him up some! Jackson is definitely always a fun fave of mine too shoot & he comes from a beautiful & loving family. More {{{Hugs!!!}} to Jack Jack, Sandy & Bob!!!

The bass player got married!

Last weekend I was honored to be the photographer for a special friends wedding. Brian is the bass player from Second Shade ( & also plays in numerous other local bands ) & married beautiful, fun & fabulous gal Melissa! My 1st Autumn themed wedding & it was soo pretty! When everyone at the reception would clink their glasses Brian & Melissa always obliged with some super nice smooches! I just see unlimited happiness & blessings for this great match & I can't wait to see it all unfold for them. {{Hugs!! to Mr. & Mrs. Brian Ruven!}}

1st Star Portraits Contest!

Location! Location! Location! Soo many great ones for the Spring, Summer & even the Fall if it's a warm enough day. Then comes the eternal Winter of Ohio. Sure a few outdoor shots can be done quickly before the worry of frostbite or camera malfunction. And...there's always a simple black or white background. Sooooo....the contest goes: Any ideas of a beautiful indoor location that is free to the public. 1st place winner wins a free Cd Session & 2nd Place wins 1/2 off a Cd Session. Have a feeling this contest will be a bust, but...Good Luck!!

1st Birthday Fire Trucks & Fun!

So I've yet to advertise that I could shoot mini events like birthday parties & such though I've already had quite a few requests. My 1st has been for Colin Klein's 1st birthday. They are the wonderful neighbor's to the Schmitt Family & little friend Sammy who's pictures I did earlier this summer. For the end of September...& in contrast to what The Weather Channel predicted it turned out to be a beautiful day! There were so many fun captures I didn't know which to post. Then I figured this was the high light of the party & even from the smash cake shots I had a hard time deciding which ones to use. I liked these most I think because you can see the great love & amazement Jen & Jon have for their baby boy. Happy Birthday Colin & may every birthday wish come true!

Look Who Else Is Now 9 Months Old!

Brayden's lil friend Maribeth is also an Ohio State fan & has also been a featured star since she was 3 months old. She's grown so much & she & I had the best baby gibberish talk during the shoot. An extra congratulations to her parents Elizabeth & Jarod! Maribeth will be a big sister come Valentines Day!! Many blessings to this growing & beautiful family!

Cliff & Jessica Wedding

The weather too much this month has been rainy & chilly, but...not this past Saturday. Mr. & Mrs. Askew had a beautiful day full of warm sunshine! I was honored to capture their day filled with love. A simply lovely couple & I wish them them many years of wedded bliss!

Twin Stars!!

Meet Bella & Brayden! I've always wanted to do a twin session & thanks to another referral from the Slater family I came across the honor of meeting the Stenger twins. I was completely in awe of them & of course have a huge respect for parents of multiples! Getting up in the middle of the night, diapering, etc...for just one baby is a challenge. Stephanie & Jeff have 2 beautiful blessings & I thank them for allowing their little ones to be my 1st Twin Stars!!

Look Who's Standing!

3, 6 & now he's 9 months old already! Does this extremely handsome guy look familiar? Yes, it's Brayden! He has gone from just being able to lay there & look cute to completely standing on his own. Such a charmer & I always am excited for his sessions. Also because his mom has the cutest & special themes & outfits planned out for him. She even had crew members & baby wranglers helping me out today. A BIG thank you to 3 of Brayden's cousins. They were awesome! Soo proud of you Brayden! Michelle, you are a lucky lady.

Ariana

Yesterday I had the absolute fun of doing our little neighbors 5 year pictures. The weather was crazy! On the way to a local park it was a torrential down pour, but passing thru a traffic light it stopped & was dry. When I looked in my rear view mirror I could still see how hard it was raining behind me. Thankfully the park remained dry though soo hot! Got a few beach snaps towards the end of the session & would have loved to do a few more if we had not been threatened with a fast moving black cloud & I feared for my beloved Nikon. I was nearly half way to my car running when I realized...I left my keys at the very other end of the beach!!! We beat the rain just as we pulled home, but my legs felt like jello. Besides the unpredictable Ohio weather Ariana was such a cut up! Another little one who likes to do her own poses & super cute head tilts & she just had me laughing.

Rock Princess

So my baby Lucy turned 11 months old today! I can't believe next month will be a year already. It flew by! Today we did a spur of the moment shoot for her birthday party invites & thank you's. Her theme is Rock Princess. I hope when she's older & looks back that I might be considered even for a brief moment as a cool mom! Had to get big sister Lily in on the fun. Their lunch & nap time was interrupted & we were all beyond hot & sticky, but Lucy remained super happy & Lily was in toddler Vogue mode so I was really proud of them!

Senior Portrait Star

Thank you to Chelsey & her mom Tammy for the beginning of a new portfolio for the galaxy of Star Portraits. I used this picture for the Blog simply because it screamed senior portrait, but...I can't pic a favorite or even 2 because the whole session rocked! Watch out world! She's a double threat! Not only is Chelsey beautiful she is also quite the academic & should graduate high school with 2 Associates Degrees!! Her parents must be soo so proud. I know I think she's fabulous & awesome & I hope my girls turn out just as wonderful! Very best & warm wishes to Chelsey ~ Class of 2010 &...Star Portraits 1st Senior Star! {{Hugs!!}} Keep an eye out for her completed session later to come.

The Hungerfod & Bille Family

Just realized I was behind in my blogs. Sorry everyone! I have been busy thanks from a referral of the Bille family from their neighbors & previous family stars ~the Rinas family. I loved how mom, Erin coordinated her husband Kevin, 2 year old Camden & almost 2 month old Grant in blues which even matched many aspects of their home. The week before I also was soo excited to take my dear friend Sandy's 3 month portraits for Jackson Hottie Hungerford. He was a doll & is welcome to date either of my girls in the future. : )

Sweet Sam

On a this past beautiful Saturday morning it was back out to the Hudson/Macedonia area. My fave! I met 1 year old Sam, his lovely parents Alan & Susie as well as their super accomodating neighbors, the Klines (sp?). Sam was not in the mood to have his picture taken, but I think his parents & I had a blast in all the cool set ups we had him in and...I hope deep down Sam really did have fun too. You can see he is a cute little guy & I was excited to do some shots with my new wooden blocks! Thanks Sam for being my 1st star with the name blocks!!

Sports Construction Group

I happen to have done 3 family portrait sessions from this company & was honored & excited to be asked to shoot a special company day down at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Sport Construction Group had a big hand in building of the new stadium & in through the years the families in this company have grown. We did some group shots as well as shots of the younger generation playing on the field. It was a gorgeous day & though I'm not a sporty chic it's cool to say I've been on the field! It was especially nice to see how some of my lil stars have grown. Baby Grace, Cooper & his big sister, as well as Luke & Jillian!

2nd E-Session

I've been emailing with Angela for awhile now so when it came time to do their engagement session today it was extra nice because it seemed like I've known her forever. Even though it was crazy hot we captured some great great shots & it was soo much fun. Some colorful Summer engagement portraits to preclude to their upcoming Winter wedding!

Lake Forest Country Club

Yesterday I met little Michael & his mom Meredith. It was a beautiful...& HOT day, but Michael was one of the happiest little guys I've ever worked with full of smiles. They belong to a country club which provided many beautiful backdrops. Most of all it was just a really fun shoot & such a pleasure to meet them both!

Calling the Class of 2010!

deviantart.com

Seniors...It's your turn to shine! Looking to add Senior Portraits to our constelation! All packages include:

An outdoor session

1 - 2 hours with unlimited wardrobe changes - time permitting.

Online proofing & blog spot

Minor retouching for blemishes & such.

Call or email for package pricing & the chance to share these special pictures with family & friends.

Another Growing Featured Star

Brayden's little friend Maribeth is also now 6 months old. Take a look at her Featured page & see how she has grown since she was 3 months old too!

Growing Featured Star

Brayden Cyrek...1 of my most special stars because he was my 1st baby boy to photograph. Not too mention an absolutely gorgeous little guy too! Check out his Featured page & watch how he has grown & his personality start to shine brighter from his 3 month to 6 month portraits!

Growing Grace

Saturday I was honored to meet 1 month old Grace & her family & do a shoot at her daddy's greenshouse. The biggest & most beautiful I've ever been to called Urban Growers. We are so getting some flowers from their soon. They look so yummy! Grace had colic, but she really did a fabulous job. Her mommy & daddy should be very proud of her. The beautiful weather was also a plus in capturing some beautiful pictures!

Portrait Party & Referrel Savings!

Had myself a very busy weekend this May thanks very much to Michelle & Elizabeth. Not only was I honored to come back & do Brayden & Maribeth's 6 month portraits after having done their 3 month, they also referred 3 of their friends. This also meant that Michelle & Elizabeth got a nice discount of their session! Alas, I started on Saturday in Hudson with Ian & his family referred by Michelle. A beautiful family & a beautiful day. The rain & warm weather held off till the very last moment. The following day was back out to Hudson & Macedonia to shoot Brayden who...seriously is growing more handsome as his little personality starts to emerge. The very same with my Maribeth who was next. Too cute & her mom had the set up of food & fun at her house where 2 other little darlings Addison who is 8 months who's family came up from Girard, OH & her cutie cousin Mason who is 1 month and who's family came up from Youngstown! It was fun & great that when 1 baby was off for an outfit change or needed a feeding; who ever was next was ready to go! Check back next week for Brayden & Maribeth's updated Feature section & see how much they've grown from 3 to 6 months! These moms became friends after they each lost a parent & found a special way to remember their loved ones in their portraits too making them so meaningful & a special keepsake for their children as they grow up. Thank you soo much again to Michelle & Elizabeth for all your referrals! {{{Hugs!!!!}}}

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Happy 1st Birthday to my beautiful Godbaby, Adrianna Rose! I can't believe it's been a year already! Which means my baby girl will be a year old soon too. : ( Alas, Adrianna was sooo tiny when she was born & sported some preemie couture & has grown into such a big beauty. Do you not want to nibble that face up? I hope her 1st birthday is every bit as special as her! xoxoxoxo

Lucy's 1st Memorial Day!

Hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend. God bless America

Kost Family Session

Thanks to the Rinas family in Macedonia I got a chance to meet the Kost family & their 18 month old cutie Cooper. Another beautiful & fun day of work!

Special New Stars!!

I'm excited to introduce 2 special new stars to the constellation of Star Portraits! I was extremely honored to to my 1st engagement session for Kim & Tim. The weather was gorgeous & how often can one say, "I had such a blast at work today!!" I had such a fun time that it wasn't till I got back to my car that I realized my pretty flats were pretty painful on my toes which look & feel like I had just taken a point class. Oh well...all the more reason for a pedicure! Alas, I could have done this session all day. Kim & Tim were soo great to work with. A fun couple with a super sweet engagement story too. Check back later to starportraitsllc.com for their complete session. There were soo many great poses & backgrounds it was soo hard to decide which one to use for this entry. Get out there & enjoy the summer weather in April everyone. You know there is still a chance for a snow fall here! ; )