Look Whooooo's Snapping {20}

This linky party is for sharing your favorite photo(s). Just make sure to grab the button below to share on your blog post, showing others that you are linking-up!
(If this is your first time linking up, be sure to click here for rules and details).

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**********************************************************************************Thanks again to all who continually participate in my "Look Whooooo's Snapping" photo linky party!And welcome to all you new comers!

The most popular photo from our last "Look Whooooo's Snapping" photo linky party based on YOUR popular vote and this Month's Featured Photo (see right side-bar) goes to......("Winners" are chosen by your popular vote). 

This adorable image comes to us from Kelly-Marie {from Our Footprints on the World}. 

What an angel! So cute!!
Congratulations, Kelly-Marie, for winning most popular and thanks so much for sharing!

You are welcome to grab the button below :)

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A couple of my favorites from last month's party were....

How cute is this bubble photo by Mixed Molly {from Mixed Molly Designs}?!

I just adore the detail and texture in this image. 

Jennifer {from Foloplicity} shared this lovely photo with us!

Thank you both for sharing your wonderful images with us and congrats on winning the favorite "awards"!You are both welcome to grab the button below :)
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**********************************************************************************It's Party Time!
Here is my favorite photo....

We've been very busy this month with traveling and photo sessions and well, just life! So my favorite image comes from one of our trips to visit family (in North Carolina). While we were there we visited the aquarium, went to the beach, rode on rides at the carnival, and lots more! (More on our travels in future posts to come!) While the children were playing with their cousins one afternoon, I snapped this adorable shot of my littlest munchkin. She wasn't posing or smiling or even prepared for the shot (then again, what 15 month old is, right?!), but I simply love the image nonetheless because of how her beauty is gorgeously and innocently captured. Wouldn't you agree that she is just stunning?!

Now it's your turn to share your favorite photo(s)! 

And THANK YOU in advance for participating :)

Don't forget to "like" at least one other photo besides your own!
YOUR image just may very well be next month's featured photo!!! 

Life is About... {Blog Hop} Month Nine

Please feel free to link up again this month! This hop is going to continue through the month of July!
Thank you!

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If this is your first time linking up, click here for details about the hop.
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My favorite entry from last month's "Life is About..." blog hop was -
"Speedy Gonzales"provided by Mock-Turtle {from Jack's Paper Moon}

Thank you, Mock-turtle, for your lovely submission and for participating.Congrats on being this month's feature!You deserve to grab the button below :) 
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Time to start this month's hop!
MONTH NINE
For me: Life is About... slowing down and enjoying nature

 I snapped a shot of this gorgeous creation while visiting family in North Carolina last weekend. Sometimes it's just nice to slow down and enjoy all of God's beautiful designs, including the lovely flowers in nature. 

What is life about for you?!! Please link up and share below. We'd love to hear about what's important in your life!(And Please remember to steal my button for your link-up showing others you've joined the hop!)

Giveaway Extravaganza Winners Revealed!!!!

Thanks so very much to all who participated and contributed in my 

200+ follower Giveaway Extravaganza!

I won't keep you waiting any longer! The winners of each item are as follows:

(Winners were randomly chosen using random.org)

Urban Owl Knittery  

{Lattice Street Cap}:

Brittany Alies Photography

Cherry Creek Crochet 

{Crochet Cowboy Hat}:

Emily

Gramma's Gifts 

{Monster Hat}:

Jennifer Gregg

Elle's Prop Shop

{UpCycled Newborn OOAK hat}:

Melanie

Shocking Crafts 

{Baby Quilt}:

Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy

Kelly'z Klipeez 

{Fedora Cowboy Hat}: 

Callie Nicole

JB gallery

{1-2 hour portrait session at location of winner's choice AND 10% off print purchase}:

I didn't notice any participants from the WV area who entered this giveaway.

(If I am incorrect, please email me at contact@jb-gallery.com).

Life as this Mommy knows It

{one whole month free 150x150 ad space}:

Brooke Kenny

ThePhotoMommy 

{one high resolution digital photo card (with reprint rights)}:

Vanessa

All winners have 48 hours to contact their vendors to claim their prizes!

Portrait Session: Miss Brylee {Including Behind the Scenes}

I had the adorable privilege of photographing precious Miss Brylee on her fifth day of life! What a beautiful little doll she is and so very cooperative. Before I share the completed edits with you from her session, I want to first briefly share a little detail regarding the entire process as well as newborn safety.

Before any of my sessions, I begin brainstorming ideas about what kind of image I am wanting to create. I usually discuss the direction of the session's goals with my clients. I gather several different backdrops and many different props (i.e. hats, baskets, etc) that I plan to use during the session. (I generally have more on hand than what is used). I keep everything I would need during the session (i.e. props, extra blankets, hand sanitizer, etc) handily nearby. Refer to the image below for the set-up for this particular session. You'll notice that this session was set-up right in my very own kitchen. From the images below, no one would have ever guessed! With the proper lightly (from the large windows, soft boxes, and external flash), beautiful images can easily be achieved!

Here are a few suggestions regarding safety as well as great ideas for better overall images that I personally always utilize while photographing newborns (including this session with precious Brylee):

1. Don't force a baby into a position (some babies are more flexible and willing than others)
2. Always have someone nearby to spot your baby
3. Heat up the room to a comfortable temperature for the baby
4. Clean and sanitize your hands regularly
5. Support baby's head in upright positions
6. Take cues from baby throughout the session (whether it be the need for food, a diaper change, or just needing mommy)
7. Avoid using glass props with your baby
8. Keep baby low when hanging and have a soft cushion like a bean bag underneath
9. Put something heavy in the bottom of a prop (like a box or basket) when using it with baby to avoid any chance of tipping
10. Line any hard edges of a prop with soft padding (like a thick blanket or fur)
11. Keep lots of extra small blankets or burp clothes nearby for accidents or extra padding

The most important thing to remember when photographing newborns is to only attempt a shot if you can achieve it safely!

Here are a few of my favorites from Miss Brylee's newborn session. Enjoy!

Images are copyright JB gallery

{Click here to find us on facebook}

My Memories Winner Revealed!

And the winner of My Memories Suite Version 3 {a $39.97 value} is....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations Dana!
(You have 48 hours to send a response to thephotomommy@gmail.com to claim your prize!)

If you didn't win but still would LOVE to have this amazing software, don't forget to use the special code below to save 
$10 off the software PLUS a $10 coupon to the store 

where you can buy anything you like!

Here's the code:
STMMMS50104

GIVEAWAY Extravaganza! Celebrating {almost} 200+ Followers!

Friends, I am soooooo excited to announce another very AWESOME giveaway!!! 

In celebration of having {almost} 200+ wonderful followers, several incredible vendors have come together to offer a few of my lovely fans some really amazing prizes!!

Before I announce what will be so delightfully up for grabs, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of my readers, followers, fans, and friends for enjoying, reading, and exploring Life as this Mommy knows It! 

There are a total of NINE amazing prizes, which means there will be NINE very happy winners!!

Here's what we've got....

Urban Owl Knittery 

is offering this beautiful Lattice Street Cap {$24.00 value}

Winner chooses the color and size (newborn to adult).

FACEBOOK | SHOP

Use Coupon Code: GIVEAWAY10 during this giveaway to earn 10% off any item in this shop!

Cherry Creek Crochet 

is offering this precious Crochet Cowboy Hat {$20.00 value}

Hat is sized newborn. Color is tan.

FACEBOOK | SHOP

Gramma's Gifts 

is offering this adorable Monster Hat {$15.95 value}

Hat is sized newborn. Color is orange.

FACEBOOK | SHOP

Use Coupon Code: GIVEAWAY15 during this giveaway to earn 15% off any item in this shop!

Elle's Prop Shop

is offering this lovely UpCycled Newborn OOAK hat {$20.00 value}

Hat is sized newborn. Color is beige.

FACEBOOK | SHOP

Shocking Crafts 

is offering this beautiful Baby Quilt {$40.00 value}

FACEBOOK | SHOP

Kelly'z Klipeez 

is offering this super cute Fedora Cowboy Hat {$21.00 value}

Hat is sized newborn. Color is brown.

FACEBOOK | SHOP

JB gallery

is offering 25% off a 1-2 hour portrait session at location of winner's choice AND 10% off print purchase

Winner must be local to Photographer (WV)

FACEBOOK | WEBSITE

Life as this Mommy knows It

is offering one whole month free 150x150 ad space

(Size of button below is enlarged for viewing purposes)

ThePhotoMommy 

is offering one high resolution digital photo card (with reprint rights) {$10.00 value}

Winner chooses any card from shop's entire collection.

FACEBOOK | SHOP

Use Coupon Code: GIVEAWAY15 during this giveaway to earn 15% off any item in this shop!

HOW TO ENTER!

Mandatory 

{Leave a separate comment below for each entry}:

1. You MUST publicly follow "Life as this Mommy knows It" via GFC.

2. You MUST "like" each vendors facebook page.

Optional

{Leave a separate comment below for each entry}:

1. "Favorite" each vendor's Etsy shop.

2. Tweet about this giveaway {provide link in comment below}

3. Share this giveaway on Facebook {provide link in comment below}

4. Blog about this giveaway {provide link in comment below}

This Giveaway will end Wednesday, May 30th at 12pm (EST). All winners will be announced Thursday, May 31. 

Winners will have 48 hours to contact vendors to redeem their prize.

A runner-up will be chosen after the 48 hours.

GOOD LUCK!!

My Memories Suite Giveaway!

Folks,  oh boy do I have a WONDERFUL surprise that I am about to share with you!

Recently, I was asked by My Memories to review the newest version of their digital scrapbooking software,
My Memories Suite Verson 3, and I've got to say, friends, it's pretty darn amazing!

As a professional photographer and a creator/designer of custom high resolution photo cards, I use my Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom programs to do most of my editing and post-production. But, I've got to say that the technology offered by
My Memories has many wonderful, convenient, and easy to use advantages. I've noticed that in using this software I am able to not only customize my very own digital scrapbooking albums from loads of design options, but I can also create blog buttons, printables, headers, and more in just a matter of minutes! 

If you know me well, you know that I LOVE to scrapbook, particularly the old fashioned way. (You can visit a past post on preserving memories through the art of scrapbooking here.) But what's really nice about using My Memories digital scrapbooking software is the ability to create memorable gorgeous pieces of art without all the mess!

Take this A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E. page I created to remember my daughter's sweet first birthday party. 

Precious, wouldn't you agree?!

{Click here to read all about this very special event!}

I couldn't just stop there! While exploring the vast capabilities of this very same software I then also decided to create a
blog-a-versary button that I plan to showcase this December. Let me share with you now the step-by-step approach for just how I was easily able to do so.

First, open the software and select a new album. I chose square in this case to make my button.
I changed the units to pixels, and customized it to 200x200.

I then had fun selecting from various background options. There are extra digital kits on the website that have embellishments, papers, word art, etc in loads of colors and themes that are also available for purchase.

After I made my background choice, I then added and centered a couple rectangles and a fun flower to add a little character.

Lastly, I added my custom text.

And Viola!

And check this out... I made a lovely header too! Pretty snazzy, huh?!
I just picked Landscape for my album type, specified the pixels, and had a blast designing.
(Header is 3000x1000 when full size).

There are many more amazing creative ways to use this fabulous software, and I just know you would LOVE to try it yourselves! That is why I am sooo very excited to announce that My Memories has offered to giveaway a
My Memories Suite Version 3 {a $39.97 value} to one of my very lucky followers!

There are many ways to enter this giveaway! The Rafflecopter below with guide you through the entire process.

And, even if you don't win or if you just can't wait to get your hands on it now, there's more!
Just use the special code below to save $10 off the software PLUS a $10 coupon to the store 
where you can buy anything you like!

Here's the code:
STMMMS50104

Gook Luck!

NOTE: This giveaway ends Tuesday, May 29 at midnight (EST), so don't forget to check back then to see if you are a winner. The winner has 48 hours to contact me at {thephotomommy@gmail.com}. If I don't hear from the winner by the end of the 48 hours, the prize will go to the runner-up. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Springtime Sessions

This month has been packed full of portrait sessions! And I am LOVING it!! Instead of creating an individual post for each session, I plan to just go ahead and include a few of my favorite photos from the sessions I've had so far this month.

{Little Miss "A"}

Oh my, what a beauty! I really enjoyed capturing this little Miss on camera. I'm hoping to have another opportunity to catch her in front of the lens in the future!

 {Miss Ryelle}

This little lady came back for a surprise visit for some more camera love at three weeks of age! {Click here to see one of her portraits from just 5 days new}. She was just an angel to shoot! I think she may just like all the attention... and I know I just LOVE giving it to her! ;)

{Kris - Senior and Family}

This family was so much fun to photograph! With their care-free, playful attitudes, I could have spent the entire day with them! I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet them and to have been able to capture some of their wonderful memories on film!

{Miss Rylee}

This precious doll came to have me shoot her Two Year Old portraits, and a fun time was certainly had! Don't you agree that she has the most adorable little outfits and expressions?! 

  

{Stephanie & Kurtis - LOVEBIRDS}

I shot this lovely couple's engagement session just last weekend at a beautiful scenic outdoor location. These two were a pleasure to photograph, and I can't wait to shoot their upcoming wedding this summer!

And there you have it folks... well, for now ;) 

I still have a few sessions planned before the month comes to an end, so be sure to stay tuned!!

Linked: Oh Snap, Shoot. Submit. Edit