Warren Family – Family Portrait

One of my photography goals for 2010 is to think out of the box, explore the settings of my camera a little more and do the untraditional since that is what catches my eye. I started early with this photo shoot! It was incredibly fun and comfortable… I thought hard about why it was so comfortable for me besides the warmth of this wonderful family… it was because I captured the untraditional, the real interaction between them… it was fulfilling that need to make photography fun and stress free for everyone. Dana told me several days later that they all had so much fun… such good words to hear!

It’s funny, almost every family shoot I do I get “that” email, the one the warns me that they are not the type to be comfortable in front of the camera, the one that says my husband won’t smile, or my son will be hard to work with… it is all from our past experience of getting the family picture taken and so we allow years to go by without one… then we give in and feel the stress of that. I so understand!! I am very much like that myself and maybe it’s because I haven’t found that right photographer to help us through that and get us all relaxed and ourselves in front of the camera.

I usually “pick” on the youngest one to get everyone relaxed… and Bailey was perfect for that! She was easy to make laugh and everything just fell in to place with her help!

This one was Amanda’s idea… I love that she came along with me and helped with the creative process… already talented at 12!

We only hit 2 locations (very close to each other) in this session, but really I could shoot in 1 city block and you would never know it was inches away from the last shot. I love that and it helps me to be more creative in short periods of time. I love this image of Rusty and Colby.

Dad and his boys…

The wind picked up and made for a fun shot of Bailey and her mom, Dana. Bailey takes ballet with Amanda and through that have become very close friends… so glad since I adore her family!

Dana and Howie have been together since 9th grade!!! So cool!

What a fun family… Bailey cracks me up!

Amazing that you can find this setting in the city, but you can!

We had to get a few more traditional shots for the grandparents :).

I love how they turned out since at the time we were being chased out by the parking police since we parked on the “sidewalk.” Joe would argue that it wasn’t a sidewalk, but that is another story :).

Love to you all!! Merry Christmas!

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Amanda and Friends at the 2009 Nutcracker Ballet

I know that I am a couple days behind in posting this, but come on, it’s the week of Christmas and there is just so much still to do! This is a special month for Amanda and I… it has been for the last 7 years. On the weekends leading up to Christmas we get to the Pantages theater in the morning hours and leave when it’s dark, we eat subway for lunch and sometimes dinner, we laugh, take pictures, play on our computers, read, listen to music and just enjoy the ballet family surrounding us. There are always a few new ones, but many of the familiar faces that we enjoy every year. The Tacoma City Ballet used to be called The Jan Collum School of Classical Ballet when my sister, Wendy and I took it many years ago. I can still remember the outfits we wore, the performances we had and practicing at the ballet bar in our living room. When I signed Amanda up for it I had no idea that she would fall in love with it… just as I hoped… maybe I had some influence or maybe she would have loved it anyway.

Amanda on her computer… it’s the glow of the computer screen so cool!

I love the long lashes they wear… there are days I put them on just because!

I love watching her put all the makeup on…

but she doesn’t like me in the dressing room… so I just ignore her comments and come in anyway…

I have always been impressed that most of the girls do their own makeup and have been doing it for years. Although, this year they had some help from another mom… made things easier for sure!

Amanda has been almost every part you can be, as a child, in the Nutcracker… most kids enter in as Bon Bons… it’s a very cherished part by many. Erin made an adorable one…

and her sister, Taylor a very cute soldier.

Taylor has a hearing aid in each ear allowing her to hear some of the music. I love watching her talk to the other girls… she is always full of joy and much loved by all the ballerinas…

There is a ton of waiting on these weekends, since the kids have 2 performances in a day… for me, it’s relaxing… I think Kacey likes it too…

Kacey let me take as many pictures as I wanted of her! Amanda processed this photo. Loved showing her how to use Photoshop.

She processed this one too… she calls it the “scary clowns”…

Hannah (Gingerbread Soldier) and Amanda (Bugle Soldier) struck up a friendship again after not seeing each other for a few years… glad to see her back!

Fun to see all the costumes… there are many… many… many different ones, but here are just a few…

Party mom… she is beautiful!!! So vintage!

Colleen as Chinese.

Her brother Alex as Fritz with attitude and everything.

Morgan as snow… even though her costume is undone… they are so hot after performances that they are half off my the time they hit the basement where we hang out…

Lauren as Fairy… It’s so fun to watch these kids grow up and take pictures of them along the way.

Natalie as a Gingerbread Soldier.

Another Party mom and her Party Girl daughter (really is her daughter :))

Amanda as a Bugle Soldier and Bailey as the Captain. Bailey is one of Amanda’s close friends. We did a shoot of her family on Monday and will be posting those soon. I also took a few with in this post.

Thanks for stopping by and if I don’t post before Christmas… Merry Christmas from our house to yours!
Much Love…

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Amanda – Nutcracker 2009 Sneak Peak

This is Amanda’s 7th Nutcracker performance… she has been a Bon Bon, Mouse, Gingerbread Solder (Cannon Soldier really), Silver Soldier, Bunny, Party Girl and now this year, a Bugle Soldier.

Sneak peak at a post coming tomorrow…

The last performance is always sad for the girls… they have so much fun doing this every year.
Kisses until tomorrow…

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The 2009 Riggio Christmas Card

I would REALLY love to learn how to custom design my own cards in Photoshop… maybe a goal for next year!!  This year I will go with a pre-designed Costco card. There are lots of options from other photo service labs, but really, these are the most economical for me this year and I found a retro-looking design that I liked.  What is great and is when you have a photo shoot with me, you get the images and you can order your Christmas cards this way too, as well as getting enlargements framed for the relatives as gifts.

The 2009 Riggio Christmas Card

Since Amanda has the Nutcracker every weekend it has been hard to get a picture of her, so I went with one from the summertime and then just took a shot of Nick yesterday. He’s a funny one… that kid of mine… you should see some of the shots I got of him making one goofy face after another… until I finally landed this one… heavy sigh… I am keeping the others for the great moment in time when he has a girlfriend and she wants to see old pictures of him and boy do I have some good ones from when he was just a little guy! Can’t wait… :).

For those that didn’t get to see last year’s card, I thought I would share…

The 2008 Riggio Christmas Card

Now to get them all addressed and sent in time for Christmas!

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Just for Fun – Random Photography

I used this black ice cream chair in Karly’s shoot. It used to be in my room growing up, but it was white back then. My sister has the matching one.  We shared  a room growing up, her side always clean, mine messy… it used to drive her nuts!  She would be proud of how clean I keep my room now :).

When I am on a portrait shoot there is no guessing on what else I might take a picture of.  Sometimes it is only the subject, but many times there are other things that catch my eye and I have to get a quick shot.  I have used many past images for cards and others, like these just sit on my computer and no one ever gets to see, so I thought I would share with you (and maybe make some more cards with some).

Beware, I take pictures of things that strike me as funny, even if it is on you! Hee hee

I love the look of rusted iron.

I know it’s just a traffic light, but I like it.

Joe doesn’t even know when I sneak a pic of him.  I captured this during the shoot of Joely and Steph.

And sometimes he does… I love the Canon 70-200 2.8L lens for these types of shots. I always use that lens when shooting railroad shots too.  I think Joe must be the only guy from high school that has MORE hair than he did back then!

Things like this just jump out at me.

I make anniversary cards from images like this one… the gum wall in Seattle’s Pike Place Market.

Amanda comes along occasionally… sometimes she lets me take a picture and sometimes not!

Abby had these great red shoes, so we had to get creative with them.

I thought this was funny while on a senior shoot with Kayla.

Sometimes it’s of people I don’t even know… just because… shhhh, we will just keep that between us, K?

I LOVE animals, so I have lots of images of dogs, cats, birds and squirrels.

Hope you have a great day!!
{{Hugs}}

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Welcome to the Riggio’s Parade of Trees

This post is dedicated to my sister, who is in Arizona and can’t see my house at Christmas time. Please join with us in celebrating this beautiful season.

The Parlor Tree – this is the only “real” tree in the house

Every year I look forward to Christmas… I love decorating and adding new ornaments to my trees, I love Jesus and celebrating His birth, I love spending time with family, shopping, the Nutcracker ballet, the cold crisp weather, the music, everything… and even though it was in December, 16 years ago, that my mom passed away I have chosen to still love this season.

December has so lifted my spirits. I am thankful to have a man that loves me in a way I have always dreamed of, kids that are good people and happy (for the most part :)), extended family that are loving and supportive in every way and friends that are genuine.

The Parlor tree is the family tree, the one that we pick out at the tree farm together, the one that has pictures of us through the years and the one that the presents are under Christmas morning. One of my favorite pictures on the tree is of Joe and I when we were only 17 taken during my senior photo session at Yuen Lui. In the 80’s everyone went to Yuen Lui for their photos and always indoor shots… things have changed today and that has helped me with my business since everything I do is on-location!  On-location sessions make you feel like a star.  I love that!

Don’t you love  Joe’s mullet (or in 80’s language – bi-level), not that mine was not embarrassing with the heavily sprayed feather goin’ on.

The Dining Room Tree – this is our special tree

On it you will find glass ornaments representing people, vacations, events and places.

I add new ones every year and this year I added an umbrella representing all the rain we get in Washington!

Cowboy boots since Joe has purchased so many pairs this year!

And… one for me :), perfect don’t you think!

There are also 2 extra special ones from our trip to New York that were also added this year.

The Basement Tree – since the basement is Joe’s high class “man cave” this is the instrument tree

I love this one almost as much as the dining room tree. I added 10 ornaments this year, since I upgraded it from a small one to a full size one.

There is another change in this room too… new carpet. Don’t you love the design! There are also new bamboo floors behind it that you can’t see in this picture. Someday maybe I will blog about all the changes we have made to the house this year. We have changed almost every room with new carpets, throw rugs, furniture, art, plants, wall color, etc. I am done for this year, exhausted for now.

The Master Bedroom Tree

When I was a kid I always wanted a tree in my bedroom and for years now I have had one. One year I even left it up all year long!  I know, a little too extreme even for me… but not really!

The ornament colors are warm and pick up the rich color of the new carpet (LOVE IT!!!) and the colors of the walls…. very comforting…

Nick’s Tree

Both kids got updates to their bedrooms this year. Nick has had the same room since he was a toddler, so we painted it and got him all new furniture and carpet.

The kids both have ornaments that represent the things they love. For Nick it’s penguins, Coke, swimming (water polo) and video games.

Amanda’s Tree

Amanda has informed me that when she has a house she is going to have lots of trees too. I told her I would come help her decorate and she said, “no mom, YOU are going to DO the decorating for me.”  We are already thinking of different themes for each one.

Amanda is a ballerina so there are lots of ornaments that represent dancing, pointe shoes and the Nutcracker.

And she loves reading comics.

She also got new carpet and a new wall color (ceiling too – the Pooh clouds are gone :()

This year she decided she wanted to collect snowflake ornaments, so in the future she can have a snowflake tree… what have I created?

That;s all 6 of them! I would have more if I could find the room.

Hope you enjoyed my trees. Come again :).

I love comments so please leave me one! Remember to visit my holiday special page to get in on the special deal for December.
xoxoxo, Connie

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Todd Family – Family Portrait

Time for family pictures again! Do you have yours yet? This is the second time I have taken the Todd’s family pics, but this time they have a new little one… baby Autumn Joy.. what a little darlin’!

Big brother Benjamin is an active one, but the sweetest thing! I chased him around the yard trying to capture what I could before he ran to the next interest.

We did manage to get him standing still long enough for a few pics with his little sister.

Then off again, playing… kids are so much fun at this age… I definitely get my exercise during these shoots. It was such a cold day that we didn’t venture off too far… jut stayed in the backyard…

Click on this one to enlarge it so you can see the art fun… love making artistic images. I will be doing a post soon featuring some favorite art images. What do you think for something different?

Then Benjamin found out that we had a drum set! Inside we go! Joe says he’s a natural… come on parents… time to get this guy a set of his own (Benjamin told me to tell you that :)).

We exhausted poor little Autumn… nothing sweeter than a baby sleeping…

Thanks for a great morning you guys! Such a cool family!

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