Shoots

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Okay.  So before I write anything, I just want to say- the following photo may or may not be a bit of a spoiler to an upcoming and kinda new special we'll be introducing in the next week or so. Stay tuned.

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Anyways!  These shoots are always fun because, well, they're just for fun shoots!  It's a great way to be silly and creative and just try new things while exploring new areas!  Some things don't work out, but other things might turn out fabulous and serve as inspiration for my next 'real' shoot.

For this particular shoot I recruited my boyfriend's cousin, Zoe (for obvious reasons-the camera loves her!  Plus, we always have a blast.)  We've traveled through thorny brush, muddy fields, and down busy streets all while wearing outrageous clothes and cracking up at the strange looks passer-bys give us.  We've done it all, just to get that perfect shot.

Obviously, I can't do those kind of things with clients and that's why I have to have these random 'just for fun' shoots.  It gives me a chance to explore new places, play with poses, and experiment with editing. Then, when I get to the real deal photo shoot, I have it all down pat!  I know what I want to do, how I want to do it, and where I want it to be at... It's almost like warming up before game.  And as warm, spring weather approaches (which is theee perfect time to schedule a shoot) I have to get my game face on and get back into my grove after a long, hard winter.

So bring it on, Spring!!

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logo1We were so lucky to get to meet such a handsome little man, Braylon def stole our hearts! We have had the privilege of photographing his mom and dad's engagement session, wedding, maternity and now him, their first child! It makes being a photographer so very special, when all these important life moments were captured by us!

A little story about this shoot! We are always a little timid when first time parents bring their very new, very fresh, very precious babies to us because being first time moms, you know you are super over protective and worried about everything, things you have never even thought of before (like do I need to lock the car when I get out and walk around to the other side to get the baby out... I wouldn't want anyone to jump in and take him, paranoid mommas, like me!!!) and lets be honest the visit to Tiptoe is one of the first outings that you and baby have.

So, in comes Braylon, his mom carrying him in his car seat, she looks so well put together, like this whole mommy thing is a breeze!  Then I ask how has her first couple days been? And boy oh boy did I love her answers!   I loved, loved, loved listening to them, because seriously everything she was saying reminded me of my first days at home with my new little Olivia!  She talked about the struggles of being sleep deprived, changing out baby's clothes at least 3 times a day, nursing, what happened during labor, and how Dad has been adjusting (some of these stories, in general, are my favorites, because we know as moms that 8 times out of 10 Dads never get it right...Thank God for our maternal instincts!!) It was great getting to hear all that had happened in this short few days at home, she literally had me in tears with some of her stories. I also loved that Dad was so involved in bringing sentimental items that he loved, seriously it adds such a personal touch, and will be so special when the baby boy follows his dads footsteps.   And lets not forget the ABSOLUTE best part,  getting to hold and snuggle a fresh little baby gives all of us Tiptoe girls just enough of a fix so that we aren't too sad that we are done having little ones (well most of us are done...)  So here is a Tiptoe teaser for the Shultz family! I hope y'all love this little deer!

Also wanted to shout out to our resident knitter Whitney Jenkins for making this adorable hat for us!! She's fabulous!

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logo1So we may have picked a windy, windy day to do this session, but she totally rocked it!  Wind is sometimes one of our biggest enemies or it can be a beautiful thing when it hits you just right and makes your hair a tad bit fuller than normal!  Did we have to stop 100 times to fix her hair, yes! Did we have pauses that we stared at each other for a couple minutes just waiting for the wind to die down, sure! But every shoot has its story!

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One of our favorite tiny sessions of the year is Valentine's Day and this year we thought it would be super fun to bring our resident couple together for a little vintage inspired shoot! So first things first, and coincidentally my favorite thing, was the shopping!! For Olivia, I fell in absolute love with the dresses I found at Janie and Jack! I was so excited this store was the epitome of what I had in mind! Side note- I had been binge watching Mad Men, so I was mildly obsessed with what they were wearing and how they did their hair. I love how they always seemed to look so put together and fancy! See how you can find inspiration for shoots anywhere! Now we knew that Gabe needed to be equally as dapper, and it worked out perfect that we found him a "Don Draper" blazer and cute bow tie (also from Janie and Jack) ! Gahhhhh! Our first outfits were all laid out! So for the next ones we were thinking something a little more edgy like a mix between Grease and "these were the teens that got kicked out of prom". So finding a red satin dress with some red lips did the trick for Olivia and Gabe was so stinking adorable in his red suspenders and tie. I always think it is those little touches that make an outfit! Woo hoo! So we are ready for the shoot! We took the little couple to one of my favorite new places to shoot and went to town. Mind you it was about 20 degrees that day, we could literally see our breath, and I being a crazy photog mom decided it was OK to put my daughter out there in a short sleeved dress. CRAZY, butttttt it was well worth it! Now we have these adorable images of our two little ones that are Hallmark card worthy, be on the lookout at your local store for next years Valentine's Day cards featuring the Tiptoe couple. Wink Wink! Check out a couple of our favorites below!

 

View More: http://tiptoestudios.pass.us/olivia-and-gabe-valentines-day View More: http://tiptoestudios.pass.us/olivia-and-gabe-valentines-day

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What happens after we "shoot" you...

As our loyal clients already know, after your photography session, it takes us about a week to have the images edited and ready for you to view and order. Ever wondered why the wait? After all, the Picture People have them ready in an hour...! You put together the most fabulous of family outfits, the kids were well-behaved and you just know we got some awesome shots...and you just CAN'T WAIT to see them! Believe us, we KNOW! What you may not realize, is that we are super-excited too and can't wait to get home and start editing!

Yes, we are professional photographers and we can absolutely take a great shot that looks pretty wonderful in camera. But, the editing process is where the magic happens! It allows us take that great shot to the next level, resulting in a fabulous mind-blowing piece of artwork that you will want to display in your home as a big ole 20x30 canvas! (And take our word for it, bigger really IS better!)

Now, we are not fans of showing raw, un-edited images to our clients but thought it would be fun to give you a little taste of what a huge difference our editing process makes to our final product. So, the first example is up! This is actually from my son's 6th birthday session. His birthday is in May and I believe I finally got around to taking these sometime in October but don't judge me too harshly!

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This perfect example of adorableness (Can you tell he belongs to me? I am not too proud or anything!) didn't need a whole lot of editing. Children rarely do; they tend to have that perfect, creamy skin, bright eyes and a bubbly smile that makes editing an easy and enjoyable task. The original shot is great and I knew it as soon as I took it. At the same time, I was already imagining what it WOULD be when I finished editing it. I gave it the true Tiptoe treatment and I think the result is a happier, more vibrant image that I would be absolutely delighted to hang on the walls of my home!

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This was our family shot for Christmas of 2013. This was our second go round at a family portrait in about 1 week and I was not optimistic about the outcome.  For some reason, the Showen family can never get it together enough to get it right on the first try and I have come to know and expect this!   Jennifer had the pleasure of "shooting" my family for this particular session and I did the editing. And by the way, this is the shot that hangs in my home as that big ole 20x30 canvas I mentioned earlier. And. It. Looks. Awesome!

At first glance, I was underwhelmed by the setting in this image. The field was nice but didn't exactly fit my artistic "vision". However, when I started editing and the different colored grasses started popping, I was truly blown away! This shot required a little bit more editing. For one thing, there are 4 people instead of 1. Also, I put MYSELF through an insanely ridiculous and THOROUGH editing process before I go up on any walls (virtual or literal)! Do I look skinnier in the after image? Because I guarantee you...I am absolutely skinnier in the after image! 😉

Yeah, we can do that.

So, this is why you have to wait that week before getting to view your Tiptoe'd images! We are taking the time to make them a picture-perfect, custom work of art! It is one example of what separates us from "the pack". Our work stands out, creates emotion and captures a perfect moment in time, every time!

 

 

 

First, before I start let me apologize for my grammar mistakes, I am sure there are some...

Some days there is nothing I need more than a good session with an old friend. Campbell's mom, Amanda, and I go way way back to what I can now call the good 'ole days, when we were all young and kid free, where we didn't have anything to worry about except maybe what we were going to get into that evening... Ahhh big sigh!  Two kids later I miss those days sometimes, just getting up and going to work for a little while, then off shopping and grabbing a bite to eat with friends! (bigger sigh) As a "kid" we take for granted time, it often seems like nowadays between the kids, Olivia's school and activities, Tiptoe and my clients, fixing dinners, washing clothes, grocery shopping, trying to have an uninterrupted conversation with my husband,  (the list could go on and on)   that TIME is so precious.  My mom has always said that once high school is over you will blink and you will be 30 years old! I always thought she was crazy, I mean it took forever to get through high school.  But then I blinked and I turned 30! It feels so crazy that the 12 years after high school have gone by in the blink of an eye! So this makes me think of Amanda and baby Campbell and how his first birthday is already here.  I know Amanda feels like we just did his newborn images and now he is turning 1! She planned his birthday party just like it was her own wedding (we were there for that too) with tons of guests, centerpieces, cakes and matching outfits. Now all of her hard work and planning is turning into a very, very important milestone in his life... His first birthday. Sigh... One of my favorite quotes about photography is "Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still." -Dorothea Lange - And this is so true, taking these images of Cam has stopped time and forever he will be the happy little boy in our studio on his first birthday smashing that cake. So when baby Cam is all grown up- graduating from high school, getting married, and starting a family,  Amanda will have these photographs to look back on and remember that this man that she has raised was once her 1 year old  happy baby boy.

 

And this friends is one reason why I love what I do! So blessed!

 

 

 

 

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Welcome to the brand-spanking new Tiptoe Studios blog site! With the opening of this chapter, we invite you all to "come on in" and take a glimpse of everything that happens  on the front lines and behind the scenes of Tiptoe Studios! We want you to get to know us both professionally and personally, so we will be escorting you "into our world".

Be on the look out for 5 different perspectives on EVERYTHING! We all have a lot to say and to share and this is just the beginning. Here is where you can find it all: our favorite shots from recent shoots, funny or embarrassing stories of the day and our views on all things photography as well as all things in general! Thanks for checking us out and we hope you will stick around for the ride!

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