The best, easiest, most-likely-to-please mother’s day gift you could ever imagine giving your wife who gave unbearably painful birth to your child(ren) and who dedicates her life to making a beautiful family life for you and them is now being handed to you. Handed right over to you in a really simple and easy way.

You guys may not follow my blog, but if you are reading this post-then it means your wife probably does. And SHE knows that my husband forgets every event-bc I write about it EVERY time it happens. My husband does NOT follow my blog, and I guess that is a good thing.

So, do the most simple, most meaningful thing for your wife this mother’s day and give her the thing she wants most-beautiful, real, breathtaking photos of your little ones. What is the one thing you would make sure to take in a fire after grabbing the kids and the pets? Photos. That is really the only thing that is priceless to a mother.

And I have to tell you a few things, bc I have been doing this a long time and I KNOW how much dads just love getting dressed up in their stiffest Sunday clothes and painfully smiling on cue to the camera while they pinch their kids from behind to do the same.

That is NOT me. We pick a beautiful outdoor location, like Chautauqua or Wonderland Lake, and we walk around, and just have fun talking, running, throwing babies up in the air (and catching them too), playing one-two-three swing, blowing bubbles. NOT smiling at the camera but instead laying a blanket in the field and reading your little one a book, or giving him fits of giggles with raspberries on his belly or tickles in place of the mechanical, frozen family portraits.

In fact, I hate the word portrait. I only use it sometimes because I want people looking for family portraits to find my site on google. Otherwise, I would NOT call my photos portraits EVER. They are more like real, spontaneous capturings of who your child is in this moment of time. But nobody ever googles ”spontaneous-capturings-of-who-my-child-is-in-this-moment-of-time-photographer,” so instead I fake-use the word “portrait” every now and then and people can find me.

When I send your wife the info on how to prepare, I will say things like “DON’T wear your sunday best. I love jeans and a good t shirt. Dress real. You want to remember who you guys were back when, right? Not who you wanted everyone to think you were.

I love the photos of my mother snuggling me as a baby in her cute 70′s bootie shorts and hippie tank top. Not the one where she is wearing a dress suit with shoulder pads (what WAS that fad all about anyways?) with a black backdrop behind us, and yes, she is pinching me to smile at the camera. Which one do you think is framed in my home?

Bottom line: a family photography session with me is painless, and could actually (gasp) be fun and enjoyable. And if you STILL doubt me, then just suck it up and do it for your wife. Because she is a great mother. And it is mother’s day.

So, I have two options:

Option 1: A mini photography session. I will either email you a gift card to print out yourself, and you can place it in a card of your choosing, OR you can pick up (in south Boulder) a beautifully wrapped gift card. This spring’s mini sessions ($195) include a 20-30 minute session with me, 10-15 beautifully edited images in an online gallery, 1 mounted 11×14, and 2 mounted 5×7 prints. No additional purchases required.

Option 2: A full custom session which I am offering at 20% off for Mother’s day, I will tailor a very special 1 to 2 hour custom photo shoot for you and your family. The $200 session fee which is actually $160 at 20% off gets you 35-45 beautifully edited images in an online gallery, and an in-home proofing session with my amazing sales manager Reg, who looks like Angelina Jolie (yeah, I am REALLY pulling the out sales tactics for the daddies here now). She shows you samples of prints, canvases, albums, etc… and helps you order from her ipad. Bc dads love Ipads. It’s true. There is a $400 minimum purchase requirement IF you love the photos, which you will, because I actually do create really beautiful photos of you and your children.

Again, you have the option of having a printed gift card for the full session or picking up a beautifully wrapped gift card. I am not trying to overuse the word “beautifully” here, it is just happening, bc it is late (2am), and I am late in posting my mother’s day mini sessions.

So, email me at boulderbabyphotography@gmail.com or call me at 720-310-0336 or 720-345-4674 and I will get the gift card to you asap so you can a) stop worrying about what to get for your wife for mother’s day. Bc she made it super easy for you (as I do for MY husband) by forwarding you this email or b) so you can take back whatever lame kitchen item you got her and get her something she will love forever. Can you believe for christmas one year my husband got me a dart board and an electric blanket? He did. It is true. Sad, but true. A dart board. A dart board. And I was pregnant with his second child, which makes it even worse.

I DO limit my mini sessions to 25, and they DO get filled up pretty quickly. This is actually NOT a sales tactic, but is really true, so if you want the mini versus the full be sure to email or call me today. The full sessions are limitless, and can be used any time.

The fine print:

*Mini sessions must be booked and held before July 1st, 2012.

*All mini sessions are held at Wonderland Lake in North Boulder. Bc it is gorgeous there and it is easy for me to get perfect, beautiful photos there in a short period of time. Or Martin Park, bc it is also beautiful and you can see the flatirons from there, and it is south Boulder versus north Boulder and the drive makes a difference for some babies.

*If you are doing maternity or newborn photos, these must be done in my home studio if it is a mini session. If it is a full session, I come to YOUR home so it is a bit easier on mom. If you live in south Boulder I will make an exception and do a mini maternity or newborn session at your home.

*All session fees are non refundable and must be paid in full to reserve your date.

*extra prints and digital negatives can be purchased separately.

*mini sessions have limited availability (25 is my limit)Anything more than that just makes my family and I crazy. In fact, 25 is really kind of on the verge of crazy.

xoxo stacey

So, it is that time of year again! I have been so busy that I have not gotten around to announcing my fall mini photography sessions and I am getting emails every day from clients asking when they will be. Since I have had so many inquiries I have opened up two weekends for the mini sessions:

Saturday October 1st

8am

8:30am

4:30pm

5pm

5:30pm

6pm

Sunday, October 2nd

8am

8:30am

4:30pm

5pm

5:30pm

6pm

Saturday, October 8th

8am

8:30am

4:30pm

5pm

5:30pm

6pm

Sunday, October 9th

8am

8:30am

4:30pm

5pm

5:30pm

6pm

*the fine print: sessions are nonrefundable due to the nature of them being back to back (who wants to sit in a field for a half hour waiting for the next family?:). But they are totally transferable!  Session includes custom holiday card design but the cards or digital negative is purchased separately. Small and large animals welcome. I have a new kitty if anyone wants to borrow it.

Please email boulderbabyphotography@gmail.com or call me at 720.310.0336 to schedule. Please also mention a few of your top preferred times when emailing so I can try and juggle the schedule for everyone! Once I confirm your session, I will send you all the fun info on how to prepare (what to wear, bring, etc…).

Can’t wait!

xoxo stacey

Mommy and Me Mini Photography Sessions!

Wonderland Lake, Boulder, Colorado

I was thinking that the best kind of mini session to do this spring would be a mommy and me session. At almost every family session I hear from the mom “I just want to make sure to get one good photo of my baby and I-I am ALWAYS the one behind the camera.” And this is so true. How many million sweet, beautiful images of do you have of your husband playing with the kids and how many do you have of you? I often set my camera settings for my husband, and tell him to shoot away at me and the kids. Usually, we can get one decent photo out of him clicking about 30 times.

I also make it a point now to often get photos of just the kids and I from a professional photographer.  Even though I feel fat since I had Amelia, and my skin is not perfect (thank you photoshop!), and I am always so tired because my 18 month old STILL does not sleep through the night (not even close), the ones from this past year are already some of my very favorite photos in the world, and I know they will mean so much to my kids one day.

Really, every child will one day become an adult and cherish the photos of them with their moms. They won’t be wishing that you had waited just a little longer to lose the post partum weight. They won’t care that you look a bit tired and worn out from staying up all night with a teething baby. They will see how young and beautiful you look, and how much you loved them, and there is NOTHING more precious than that.

Really, the sweetest thing you have is that special connection between you and your child. Remember it. Photos are not only the perfect mother’s day gift to you, but to your own mother and mother in law as well, so that is an easy task to get out of the way.

These mommy and me sessions will be held on Saturday, April 16th and Saturday, April 23rd from 4:30pm-6:30pm at Wonderland Lake in north Boulder. I will have a few spots open on April 23rd in the a.m as well.

$150 includes:

20-30 minute session

10-15 images in an online gallery

1 mounted 11×14 print

2 mounted 5×7 prints

The fine print:

*extra prints and digital negatives can be purchased separately.

*rain dates will happen the week of 4/25/11

*limited availability

Call me at 720-310-0336 or email  me at boulderbabyphotography@gmail.com to schedule

Let’s imagine what spring means to your child. Flowers, leaves, birds. Or cruising on his tricycle, wind in his hair, feeling free? Or, a winter coat being put away into the attic, short sleeves, long walks with the dog, flip flops, windows opening, tag football, the zoo…what? What does it mean to YOUR child? Go ahead and hand them your point and shoot (or phone, or ipad), and encourage them to spend a couple days just taking photos of what makes their heart sing when they start to feel those first few weeks of spring. You will LOVE what they come up with, I promise.

Here are the rules we all need to follow:

• Let’s keep this to kids 12 and under.
  
• Parents can not direct or edit, only upload and send the photo.
• Only submit one photo, and let your kid rock it however he or she chooses.
• Entries must be emailed to me by Sunday, April 10th, 2011 at boulderbabyphotography@gmail.com
• Please include the name of the photo (let your kid name it-please, it is so much sweeter that way!), age, and parents’ names.

After the entry deadline I will post all the photos on Facebook. The entry with the most number of comments wins! Only one comment is allowed per person.

GRAND PRIZE: A mounted 8×10 print of your child’s photo, AND, a $200 gift card for Stacey Potter Photography

(2) Honorable Mentions: A 5×7 mounted print of your child’s photo, and a $50 gift card to Stacey Potter Photography.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous spring break! Now, go out, and let your child discover their inner artist!

It is that time of year again! I love traveling and shooting, meeting new families, and seeing these babies grow up over time. San Francisco is one of my favorite places to shoot. There are so many beautiful, new locations to choose from and the families are always so laid back and happy. I can’t wait! This year, I will be scheduling only 12 mini sessions and three full sessions, so if you know you want spring photos contact me soon-these do get booked up pretty quickly-especially since we are so close to Mother’s Day.

When &Where:

Friday, April 29th 5pm-7pm Golden Gate Bridge (Baker Beach)

Saturday, April 30th 8:30am-10:30am  San Francisco (TBA)

Saturday, April 30th 5pm-7pm On the peninsula (TBA)

Sunday, April 30th 8:30am-10:30am On the peninsula (TBA)

Sunday, April 30th 5pm-7pm On the peninsula (TBA)

Mini sessions ($195) will include:

20-30 minute session

10-15 images in an online gallery

2 11×14 prints

3 5×7 prints

*prints and digital negatives sold separately

If you are unsure about whether to schedule a mini session or a full session, you can read up on the difference here.

Contact me at boulderbabyphotography@gmail.com for more info, pricing guides, and available session dates. Or give me a call at (720) 310-0336.

On a happy note, I am planning a trip to Spain this summer as well! I can not wait to photograph families and babies in such a beautiful country. Can you even imagine? I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love, meet so many wonderful people, and travel to such cool places. Details about that will be coming soon:)

Thanksgiving is next week already! Autumn in Boulder was way too short this year. And with Thanksgiving, that means that Christmas is right around the corner. For anyone with a current or past gallery, I need to have your print, album, canvas and card orders in by November 28th. Clients that have not seen their gallery yet or who are scheduled to have their session within the next two weeks will have until Sunday, December 5th to get their orders in. Although, in order for cards to arrive with time to send them out for Christmas, I do need ALL card orders in by November 30th. Thank you!

xoxo

stacey

The time has come! Fall mini sessions are now available to schedule. I think I put together a nice little package. And wait until you see my new Christmas cards-they are to die for! I love them! (scroll down, there are lots!) This is the perfect time of year (Boulder is GORGEOUS in the autumn) to get beautiful family photos for holiday cards and Christmas gifts. So, why is a mini session perfect for you? I find that full sessions work better for some families, while some do well with minis.

Choose a mini session if you:

*are trying custom photography for the first time. It is a wonderful experience, that ends with heirloom pieces for your family and home. If you have only ever been to a, ahem, cheesy portrait studio, you will be amazed at the beauty and thought that goes into your photos. I create custom artwork that expresses who you are as a family and captures who your child is now, in this very moment of time. It is sometimes intimidating to try custom photography for the first time, as you are not sure what you will get, so a mini session is a good way to try it out at minimal cost

*would like to have your children photographed several times a year. Mini sessions are a great way to get photos done more regularly. Most of my mini session families do one big shoot a year and then usually two mini shoots. It is also a great way to capture baby’s first year (one big newborn shoot, then a 6 month and 9 month mini).

*have children who would only last 20 minutes anyways. I actually find the opposite it true though: if you think your baby might only last 20 minutes, you might actually want to book a full session. There is less pressure in a full session, and it is more laid back and relaxed. Your baby does pick up on this.

Choose a full session if you:

*want a truly custom experience. With a full session, we talk at length about where the best location is for your family, what time of day works best for your kids, and what images you really want me to capture. We walk around the park, find beautiful backdrops, and don’t stop until we have exactly what you were envisioning.  Mini sessions are booked back to back and tend to go quickly. We stay in just one area of the park, and I go through a series of poses that are quite similar with each family. While mini sessions still produce beautiful images, it is not as custom as a full session.

*want a large variety of photos from which to choose. We will walk around, have fun, I will play with the kids and be silly all around. We’ll get daddy throwing your toddler up in the air, everyone reading a favorite book on an old quilt, baby snuggling up against mama’s chest, the whole family looking at the camera-everything.

*only do photos once a year. If you only do photos once a year, a mini session might not be right for you. What if we don’t get that perfect family shot that you need to have every year? With a full session we have more than enough time to get a bunch of family shots-ensuring that everyone is happy and looking at the camera in at least a few. If you only do photos once a year, you really want to be sure to capture everything you can about your child at this very moment-they grow up so fast. I get happy shots, angry shots, giggling shots, crying shots-everything. Since a mini session only produces 10-15 images, there is not enough time to capture every little thing about your child. In a full session we can.

*your kids are a little, ahem, shall we say rambunctious? I know you love your kids, but you are also in tune with reality. You know that they are a little out of control. They won’t sit still, they have a hard time listening, they like to destroy things. Yes, these kids do way better in a full session since we have more time to make it fun for them, they have more time to settle in and settle down, and I have more time to chase them around and corner them:) It is ALL good fun to me, so if your kids are like this, bring it on!

*your child is very shy or uncertain of new situations. Time and time again, I do these mini sessions (especially the spring ones) and my client’s babies have never been put down on the grass. So, I set them down, ready to take photos in a beautiful location, and they are FASCINATED with the grass. They can’t keep their eyes or little hands off of it. Or, they are used to just staying home with mommy, and can not understand what the heck we are doing, dancing around in a field making silly animal noises at her. Or, maybe your child is just slow to warm up, and needs to hang out with me a little before he will start smiling and laughing. That’s ok with me, I, too, like to check people out before I show them my soul. It is a sign of wisdom. So, if any of this might describe your child, it is better to do a full session so we have time to relax and get to know each other. Mini sessions are fast and I can’t take the time to get to know each baby (though I wish I could!). If you think your baby might spend a full 30 minutes playing with the grass, then book a full session:)

{Folded Cards} various sizes, press printed with envelopes

{Flat Cards} 5×7, double sided, press printed with envelopes

I have just been sitting here thinking about how busy I have been, and I have not had a shoot now in two days and I am feeling really sad about it! Once I start shooting every day, I get into such a groove and I LOVE it SO MUCH! It becomes the highlight of my day. I just love meeting new babies and seeing the ones I have photographed in the past all grown up. I love3 finding those unique expressions that are true only to that one child. I just have the best job! I know I am going to curse ever writing that since my super busy season is about to start (everyone will be booking sessions here in a week or two for their Christmas cards and presents). For now, I should just learn to settle down and enjoy the space. But, my new office manager, Kellie, is rock’n it and things are going really smoothly now, so I am ready to take on more. I have Amelia’s 1 year birthday party tomorrow (a year went by way to fast!) and then am shooting twice this weekend, so that will have to do!  My cell phone just isn’t working like it should, so please call my other office line if you need to get in touch with me or if you have tried to leave me a message in the last week- 303-443-1834.

xoxo

stacey

And bc no post is complete without photos…

I am so happy to announce that I will be in San Francisco on July 9th, 10th, and 11th to do mini photography sessions. I have had several families ask if I ever come out that way, so I was happy when a family in Redwood City suggested doing mini sessions in the Bay Area. Yay! I am partnering with a friend there to find the most beautiful location. I can not wait to see what amazing places we will find. I am thinking at least one of the locations should have redwoods, one on the beach, etc… If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like to schedule a mini session with me, please contact me at boulderbabyphotography@gmail.com or 720-345-4674 for more info.

SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was my first outdoor-playing-around-in-the-fresh-air session of the year. I have definitely taken people outside this winter during studio shoots but I NEED to get outside in the nice spring air-  nothing is like photographing people in beautiful spots all around Boulder like the one in the photos above. Which then reminded me that a lot of you have been getting on me about posting my spring mini photography sessions, so here they are!

I have timed them this year so that the photos will be ready for mother’s day. So, forward this to your husband, as a not-too-subtle hint, or sign up yourself as the prints will be the perfect gift for you own mother (or just for yourself!).

These slots tend to go quickly, so if you are interested try to sign up in the next week or so. Session fee is due in full at booking. Once I receive the session fee I will sign you up for one of your chosen time slots. Email me at boulderbabyphotography@gmail.com and I can send you all the info.

I can not wait to do these sessions! Yay for spring!!!!