“What zodiac sign are you???”

and– as I thought…he responded: VIRGO.

Oh, the sweet, obsessive, crazy traits of a virgo only another virgo can recognize and appreciate. So I told B…. he was hired as my assistant.

But seriously, I loved this couple, they have the perfect combination of personalities. They just mesh into this perfect weave, complimenting one another so sweetly.

Can’t wait till we get together again!

I am constantly stressing that I value giving my clients a personalized experience. That it is one of the most important aspects of my job and my creative mind, that it is what gives me the results that I strive to get. I live for it. Not only behind my camera but I try to keep it real in all aspects of my life.

Starting now and continuing once a week, I will share a little about me and my life, my thoughts, my feelings. What better way to personalize my services than sharing some personal stuff about myself. Even the not so great stuff. I just want to keep it real.

Since I know a big camera in your face can be intimidating, and if you value photos the way I do, then you will want to know a bit about the person behind the lens,  the one handling your days old baby, the one asking you if you want shots of your bare belly when you are carrying that beautiful baby.

So here goes.

My main issue is keeping up with all I have to do. Can you believe that! I swear I never have enough time to get all the things I need to get done, I do my best but sometimes(many times), yes, I feel like I am spread too thin. I am a real person, I am not a super woman. I am a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a business woman. I am expected to be so many things all at once it can get slightly overwhelming but you know what…I  am just me.

I am not perfect.

I cry,

I laugh,

I scream,

I sing off key,

I sometimes forget to brush my hair before running out to bring all 5 kids to school.

I am not perfect but I have finally learnt that perfect is unrealistic. I make mistakes.

One thing you can guarantee, and I hope most people who know me would agree is that I put my heart into everything I do. This got me thinking. Though everything appears to be so perfect on the outside, things on the inside were actually falling apart.

I decided very recently, that I need to learn to better balance my time. I have been working so hard at getting this business off the ground, having babies and raising  them … that somewhere along the way, the special time with my Carmine always seemed to get pushed to the back burner. I realized through our fighting, that he needs me too, and I need him. We are the foundation of our home. If we aren’t good, everyone feels it.

So this is for him. I had to share this photo of him with our youngest. As strong headed as he is, he has such a soft side and I captured it perfectly here. It is what I love so much about him.

I love you baby. xoox

This session was extra special to me since it give me the opportunity to spend time with a long lost friend. Although I thought of her often, you just never really realize how much you miss someone until you see them again.

Shannon, you are still the same wonderful (and beautiful) person I remember and I am so happy you found such a sincere, sweet & loving husband…you’ve created together the perfect daughter and I really hope that this is the new beginning & continuation of our friendship.

Oh how I have missed you!

I want to be a part of your beautiful family from here on out. Love ya tons!!

xoxo

I love doing this, it forces me go through each and every session I did throughout the year and reminds me of all the good times I have had.

The babies I have had the pleasure to meet, the parents who trusted me enough to handle their day old babies, the siblings, the kids…. and most importantly the friendships I have created.

There is just something so personal about you allowing me into your homes, and into your life to capture the very soul of who you are…or at least that has been and always will be my goal. I thank each of you for giving me the chance to do that for you.

And so in return, I want to do something special for you…

The photos I picked were ones that meant something to me, something that tugged at my heartstrings…but trust me this was so hard since I love each session for different reasons.

Like last year, this will be a contest which you can have anyone and everyone vote… only one vote per person, I will be checking, since I want this to be completely fair.

Now for the PRIZES……

Grand Prize winner will win : 11×14 Canvas or Float mount of the winning Photo and a Photo Session to be used within 2011

2nd Prize Winner will win a $200 Gift Certificate good towards any session in 2011

3rd Prize winner will win a $100 Gift Card good towards any session in 2011

PLUS for each person who comments below: a chance to win a 50% coupon good for your session fee  to be used in 2011

Good-Luck to all the contestants and Happy voting…now go share the link with everyone you know.

The contest runs through the end of the month and will be over January 31st at 11:59pm. Winner announced shortly there after.

Just look at what a wonderful year it has been…..

VOTE HERE

don’t forget to hit vote at the end of the poll

******* Please make sure you vote via the poll and hit VOTE at the end of the list found with the link above “VOTE HERE” . Any Votes in the comments below do not count – Though a comment in the comment section does give you a chance to win the 50% off coupon******

They haven’t been all together in 22 years and I was fortunate enough to be there to capture this for them. You would never know it by all the love felt amongst the sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

It truly was a pleasure to meet all of  you and I thank you for inviting me into your beautiful home and share some of this precious time with all of you.

And so with every new year comes new experiences, this past year I must admit I was very blessed. The experiences I have had this year, has made me grow in so many ways, in my career, as a mom, as a wife, as a sister, as a daughter and as a friend.

I find a depth to myself, it seems, every passing year and I am slowly finding my authentic self.

Each day I need to remind myself just how lucky I am.

Each day I need to be thankful for all that I have and all that I am.

With the coming year, comes many great surprises for Mellanied Photography, and I anxiously await all I have to share with you.

Happy New Year to each one of you and God Bless.

xoxoxo

I then got the pleasure of meeting sweet baby A.  You may  remember she was our grand prize winner of the “best of 2009 photo contest” the winning photo just below.

It has been a full year since this sweetie was born and I was so thrilled when the family called me to be the one to capture this milestone. I can’t express enough how thrilled I am to see my newborn clients as they grow; I spend countless of hours editing, perfecting,  and analizing each session so I honestly feel like I know each and every one of you. I know the little dimple that appears when you smile a certain way to the way your face lights up when you look at your baby. Every client is important to me and I hope you all know that.

This couldn’t be more true for this couple, Fabiana & Julian, there is such a wonderful energy surrounding you, and I feel privileged to be part of your lifes.

Thank you.

xoxo

OH has she grown! She still looks amazing in red

Well not only did I prove that theory wrong but so did this family! After 2 boys, they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl and she is just perfect!

I must admit since having my baby girl, I do have a weak spot for girls!

However, boys are still sweethearts and I love all my kids…it is so obvious that this family does as well!!!

Enjoy!

One of my favorite all time quotes…one of which I live by and try to accomplish with my art. As a photographer, as your photographer, I put everything I have into our session. I want you to have your breath taken away when you look at your family pictures, your baby pictures; I want you to see exactly how I feel when I look at your kids interacting with you. I put my 100% emotion behind the camera, I am not just pressing a button, I am recording moments for you that otherwise may be forgotten over the years and I do it with everything that I am.

I have been told many of times, I am too emotional, too intense and even too sensitive. While this may seem like a ‘not so great’ quality to some, it sure does drive the passion I have to see and understand people. I love to make people feel as special as they are, because I know that life can be difficult and how easy it is to forget.

Let our kids be our good influence for once….lets laugh out loud over the silliest little thing, lets pretend that the only thing in the world that matters at this very moment is the smile you give me, lets be able to cry just because, in other words, lets feel every moment without worry.

Here is a sweet, little, expressive boy. And a beautiful family filled with love, it was great meeting you,

Enjoy your little sneak peek:)

I love when I meet a family, and I see how the kids mimic their parents even in the slightest, little ways.

Knowing this, knowing that these little people pay such attention to our every movement and they hang on to our every word, knowing that… really means something special.

I love capturing some of these moments, the way a little girl holds a baby doll, or smiles exactly like her mom.

As parents, we should stop and realize that even if it doesn’t always feel like it, our kids really do admire us and they really do look up to us.

We should all be proud of ourselves, nobody ever told us being a parent would be so challenging and yet so rewarding all at the same time!

Just remember…where it all begins…is with us…

A sneak peek for this gorgeous Family…enjoy, I had so much fun with you!

I have known this beautiful couple for quite some time  and they will always hold a special place in my heart!

xoxox

With me being pregnant and now having a young baby we didn’t get to book much this year in terms of weddings and I forgot how much I love capturing this special time in someones life.

It was no exception for this beautiful couple.

When two people come together to bind their love in front of their families and closest friends it is nothing but pure magic.

On this very windy day in September, there seemed to be an extra force with us when they said ~I do.  The winds picked up, making us all “feel” the strength in those two simple words.

May your love grow in strength each and every day.

Thank you for trusting us, and having faith in us.

Here is a little part of my take on the awesome day>>>> Also don’t forget to go see Josees’ take on it over on her blog.

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