Maternity meets Rock&Roll Glamour

I met a kindred style soul today. Not really “met” as I had shot her before but- only in the office type environment. So how awesome to walk in to her home and immediately see a gazillion ideas for backdrops for her maternity  portraits. Not to mention as we compared notes, she was willing to go for just about anything we could come up with.  Only the weather stopped it from being a crazy free for all- haha. Between what I brought for draping and her rockin’ furniture and house, we created what I have been dying to do with a maternity subject- just a little off the beaten path, glammed out rock&roll.  One more way to show that a mother-to-be can still be one hot momma! Thanks Deanna for a fab time and I can’t wait to put the rest of our ideas to work with the little one of yours!

(on a side note- I knew we would hit it off when I walked into the nursery and read “Sogni D’oro” stenciled on the wall! One of the favorite phrases my Italian cousin has taught me and there it was! Of Course this was going to be AWESOME!!)

Sogni D’oro Ya’ll!

How Gorgeous does this mom2b look? Sweet aside: the shot on the left includes a necklace of her hubby’s grandmother and their baby is being blessed with her name too! How cool!

She had the best places to pick from to shoot! I love how glam yet introspective this turned out.

I feel the cover model action on the left! It was raining on the right and she still rocked it!

"Bona Sera"

Mama Mia!

I have noticed with each new client, I get to try something new, maybe go a little outside of my comfort zone. It was hard to believe but when Kadie asked me to take her maternity portraits outside, I realized I am always shooting in studio. So I was hyped and nervous all at the same time.

It was the perfect balance of wind, sun, shade and location, plus she was a gorgeous mommy-to-be!

Its one thing to shoot outdoors for yourself but I had gotten spoiled by controling the environment for too long with strobes.  So this was acutually about 2 months ago but we both had so much scheduled  that I didn’t see her again until after Jonathan arrived and it was time for his first portraits.

One of my favorites! She gave me some great shots.

She got to experience some more firsts with me. I recently invested in some new props/furniture to add a little variety and elegance to these shots. I like the idea of doing my norm of closeups and such but I have been drawn to the idea of really pulling back and seeing this tiny thing in their huge new world. Establishing that idea of size and space really puts into perspective how delicate and special each little one is. 

On that note, ALWAYS remember that a newborn runs the show!!!! No matter how much you plan and how much you bring with you, if that little one doesn’t want to, good luck to you.  I actually did shots over a period of 2 days. Jonathan was a bit over a week so I had prepared myself for it to be either really smooth or crazy so I was ok. Mom on the other hand was worried that it wasn’t going to work out. Just remember, moms have alot to worry about and do your best to get what you need and don’t let them stress. I love Anne Geddes (got to meet her in Phoenix-whoohoo!!) but every mom thinks it is going to be this quiet little wonderland of a time where the baby is a doll that you can make do anything.  I got to see how Anne has set up her studio and the time it takes to get that one series of images and moms out there would be shocked. When I come to your home I doubt with hormones going crazy you are going to want to keep it at 85 degrees.  I figure I will try to get the basics in first and then try any new stuff either I brought along or the moms have come up with. 

Kadie and Jonathan were so great. I am posting some of the shots of peace as well as funny takes on what has become a pretty commomn shot photogs get of newborns. Combined with the lighting (which was my attempt to give it alittle flair from the usual shots) the state Jonathan is in made it priceless! I like that this shot was not too cookie cutter.

 And then there are the ones we all agreed were what our goal was to capture. (Both Kadie and I didn’t even remember the moments of calm on the bench.)

One of my favorites- Knowing he is looking right at momma.

Two more shots on the bench but in black and white…

“I’m Very Definitely A Woman & I Enjoy It.”

Never in a million years did I ever think I would be quoting Marylin Monroe but as I make the jump into the big time so to speak that quote has really made me think about how and why I photograph. The woman may have built a silly rep based on sex appeal but she had the brain to match underneath I bet but so often the two don’t coexist so well and it did her in. (Or maybe not she may have been a ditz for all I know, but the quote says alot to me)

So I have finally succombed to all those insisting on the purpose of a blog and here I am.

Whitson Blackwell Photography is officially kicking into high gear now that I have gotten back from ImagingUSA and discovered how much I can do to really get out there and let people know how much I love doing what I do.

And to start it off, I have added a new product line to complement my Maternity and Newborn work by offering a boudoir and Pin-Up style through my newly created No.5 Studios. It has already created some buzz and the results are so much FUN!!! Valentines Day has proved a great time to launch No.5- whether its for a loved one or just yourself- its always fun to play dress up right?

My style in this line steers away from the raunchy and I decided to try and pay homage to the “good ol’ days” of glamour photography. Less was more back then I like to think. I am offering individual sessions at your home or my home studio. And another idea to really have a good time has been hosting B&P Portrait Parties. This is a spin off of those classic tupperware parties- you host, I show up and do the work. Instead of leaving with kitchen crap you won’t ever use, you leave with a makeup and photo session that will knock’em dead. Its a great time to bond with your gal pals, feel gorgeous and even win door prizes (yeah just like they do at those other ones- you know you like those admit it). Plus by getting the girls together you get to discount the session cost (kinda like a group rate). We are getting ready to have our first annual “Valen-tease” Portrait Party to celebrate No.5 Studios creation January 31, 2009 and it should be alot of fun. (Thanks to Finao for the name idea! It has been a hit!)

So stay tuned to see what turns up and get a few glimpses of the results and everybody wish me luck!!