Chris & Brisena

We had such a great time photographing these two this past Saturday. I knew it was going to be an emotional day when Chris started practicing his vows as him and his groomsmen were getting ready. Then I really felt it as Chris walked down the aisle teary eyed even before he had seen his bride. But when I really started to cry was the moment they saw each other. Everyone at that ceremony felt the love that this couple had for one another as they saw their expressions.

Thank you guys for being so easy and so sweet. I know that you and your family are super excited to see your photos, so here are just a few that I have already edited. I will be posting a more throughout the week, so keep checking in...enjoy!

Eliza & Becca- Part 2

I'm not usually the hugest fan of the sepia tone (a brownish tone), but most of these images of Eliza were just screaming sepia to me, so I went with it :) Here are a few more of sweet little Eliza...

Eliza

I mentioned about a month ago that Maddie's boyfriend, Wyatt, had a new baby sister. She was born 6 weeks early, and finally came home from the hospital last week. I was off work today, so Becca brought her down and I finally got to meet her. She is adorable! She only weighs a little more than 6lbs. but is still a little chubster. I wanted to snap a few pics of her while she was sleeping, but she wasn't cooperating very well. She did finally take a small snooze though, so I got a few shots in. Here's one... more to come

Canvas Samples

I got my new canvas samples in the mail a few days ago, and I am SO in love! I have had one of Maddie hanging in our living room for the past year, and ever since I got it I have said that I will never frame a picture to hang on the wall again! Everyone that comes over comments on how gorgeous it is.
Canvas is the way to go....it looks amazing! They are a little pricey, but so worth it!
So, I got a few canvas samples to bring with me to show clients. You really can't tell how awesome they are until you see them in person, but here are a few pics anyways :)

Right above Brian's desk :)

New Website & A Crazy Hail Storm

Brian and I had an office day today. We brought Maddie to my mom's house, and spent the whole day glued to our computers. We both were so productive! Brian worked on getting everything ready to do our taxes, and I worked on the new website.
I'm thrilled to announce that the new WEDDING website is up. You can check it out at www.bekidawnphotography.com
go to the wedding site, and let me know what you think :)
I do not claim to be a website designer, but there were some changes that I really needed to make so I decided to re-design it by myself.

We actually had a shoot scheduled today in the late afternoon. I had been hearing that it was supposed to rain today, so I would occansionally glance out at the sky to see if rain clouds were coming. At about noon I checked, and there were perfectly blue sky...by 12:30, crazy amounts of hail were pouring out of the sky. It was pretty exciting...except for the fact that it destroyed all the new flowers that I just planted last weekend :(
Here's a few quick snapshots from our front door...

This mound of ice is still sitting there...11 hours later

Hiking

I am determined to get in shape this year! I finally started my exercise routine last week. I did a hour hike 3 times last week, and am shooting for 4-5 days this week. I just got this brand new hiking pack to carry Maddie in when I go hiking. It's rad because it adds another 45-50 lbs to me. My legs are burning when I'm done! Here's a pic that my mom snapped of Maddie and me on our hike today :)

Quarterly Price Change

I wanted to give a heads up that my pricing and packaging structure will be changing in the near future. I currently have a packages available, but starting in February it will become an ala carte system that will be more of a build-your-own package system. There will be a basic package that will include photography time for 2 photographers, a high-res CD with all edited images, a copyright release, on an online slideshow. It will be up to you to add on from there.
The current packages and pricing will still be available to those clients that already contacted me, or that do contact me before the 1st of February.



I had totally forgotten that I took these pictures. I just found them on a card that I was going through. I bought this rocking horse at a thrift store when Maddie was just a tiny baby. She is finally big enough to ride it, and really gets going super fast...I'm always so nervous that she's going to go flying over the handlebars!

.

and the winners are...

Past Client:
*Heather*
I photographed her adorable little girl almost a year ago, and now she is pregnant with #2. She will be receiving a maternity session and 1-8x10....CONGRATS!

Here is one of her daughter that I took last year

Future Client:
*Emily*
Emily is Heather's sister :)
She will be receiving a family session along with a 8x10...CONGRATS!

Inspired

I mentioned before that I was inspired by the man that gave us his piano, and to keep a look out for a couple little freebies that I would be giving away on my blog.
Well, here they are...

The first person to contact me, one from each of these two categories will receive the freebies. You can contact me by posting a comment to this post, or email me with the subject "Inspired" at beki@bekidawnphotography.com

*FUTURE CLIENTS*

---Free Session as well as your favorite image printed as an 8x10---

**future clients are clients that have not yet paid for a session**
**free session may be chosen from one of the following categories: family, children, infants, engagement, bridal, trash the dress, boudoir**


*EXISTING CLIENTS*

---Your choice of either a 11x14 from an existing session---

-or-

---A free future session as well as your favorite image printed as an 8x10---

**existing clients have already been photographed by me, or are awaiting a future session**
**free session may be chosen from one of the following categories: family, children, infants, engagement, bridal, trash the dress, boudoir**

The newest member of our family...

On Tuesday we welcomed the newest member of our family, our 1928 player piano. Brian and I had been looking for a really inexpensive piano to have in our dining room. We have been itching to polish up our skills, and get Maddie into music from an early age.
We searched and searched craigslist. We went to see a few pianos, but never had any luck. I saw an ad for a player piano with no price listed, just asking for best offer. I called up just to see what kind of condition it was in, and what was the lowest they would accept. I talked to a very nice man that said that my offer was no where near what he would want for it. I said thanks for your time, and went on searching. He called me back later that day, and left a message on my voicemail that brought me to tears.
He said that he had been thinking about what I had told him on the phone earlier. About how we really couldn't afford a nice piano, and just wanted one to teach our daughter on. He told me that he had gotten this piano for his daughter 50 years ago, and that she had just past away a few years ago from an asthma attack. He continued to tell me that he would really like me to have the piano. I couldn't believe my ears....do people like this even exist? I called him back, totally speechless, and just said thank you!
The piano is in stunning and in near perfect condition, and looks wonderfully charming sitting in our little dining room. He also included a gorgeous case along with almost 100 different rolls with songs for the player. There is nothing like hearing that piano play live, it is amazing!

I have been inspired by this man's generous heart, and have a few little prizes I have in mind for my blog readers.....so keep a look out for some free stuff :)

I'll leave you with some pictures...

The roll case

You can see the foot pedals below to pump the player

Haircut

Everyone is always so amazed by how long Maddie's hair is. It wouldn't be that way if I had my say, but Daddy wants her to have long beautiful hair. Her bangs we getting way too out of control, so I decided to take her to the salon to get them cut this time. Her bangs looked so cute when we got home that Daddy agreed that I should just go ahead and cut the rest of her hair. I got the scissors out and started cutting before he changed his mind :)
I don't know what is with Dads and wanting their little girls to have long hair. My dad was the same way.

I finally just got around to taking an after picture. Maddie was not in the mood though, so this is all that I got.

Tia's Family

Yesterday we photographed my sister-in-law's (aka Tia to Maddie) family. We met down at the coaster in Mission Beach, and got some really fun pictures at the carnival as well as on the beach.

Here's my nephew, Zachy Poo

He fell down and bonked his head big time right before the pictures.

I LOVE this shot!!! I love the you see his reflection in the mirror behind them.

so fun

the whole gang

Got Escargot?

I was just looking through some old photos, and came across this storyboard that I shot of Maddie back in October. I don't think that I ever posted it here. I love it so much, and just wanted to share.

Donuts

If you know me you know that I love donuts. I pretty much love eating any food that is totally fattening and totally not good for you. I have tried to not pass this bad habit on to my daughter, but it's hard when I want to always eat these things. I try to have her meals consist of a veggie or fruit, protein, and carb. The other day we got donuts, and the nutritious meal was scratched and she had donuts and only donuts for breakfast. She was the happiest baby on the block!

Yea, Mama was the lame one that had her take a shower right before chocolate donuts....stupid!

Potty Time!

We started potty training on Sunday, and it's been a hectic week. The first day was awful! She went to the bathroom all over the house! The next day was a little better, and the following days were even better. Then on Wednesday she wowed all of us, and didn't have one accident! She is doing so great, and we are super proud of her!

She has this rad potty that has sensors on the seat and in the potty. It sings to her when she sits down, and also after she goes. It also lights up and has a handle that she can push that makes a flush sound. I highly recommend it for anyone potty training. She wasn't as excited about potty training when we had just the regular little potty, but she has done great since we got this one.

She gets a sticker to put on her chart after she goes, and also one to put on herself. I let her have the sheet of stickers this morning....I thought that she deserved it :)