December Photo Challenge

One of the coolest things I have discovered since beginning this amazing journey into photography has been the amazing and inspirational world of photographers out there, all coming together to share their ideas and their artwork with each other and with the world.  One of the first websites that I came across was "I Heart Faces," which brings together people of all skill levels but who just love photography in these monthly contests. Every December they host a photo-a-day contest where each day's theme is holiday related.

Me?  I get starry-eyed just looking at lights, I dance around my kitchen baking Christmas cookies, and just the scent of cinnamon pinecones in the supermarket is like a drug to me.  Yeah, I love December.  The festive feeling, the cheer, the traditions, everyone coming together in their warm and cozy homes, the lights... It doesn't get any better than that.  So this year I decided to go for the challenge again (I attempted it last year, and only made it halfway through).  I nearly made it to the end this time in my efforts to capture that feeling of December.

(Sorry for the formatting here -- the vertical photos come out HUGE while the horizontals seem tiny in comparison.  It's to keep them all the same width for the blog, but it still looks kind of funny...)

Day 4  {9 o'clock}     When you're sending gifts overseas, you have to get them out early!  This package made it to Sicily on time, and we had a lovely skype date on Christmas Eve opening presents together.  :o)

Day 5   {Elves}    I loved this window display in a Saratoga Springs toy shop showcasing the characters in a new Swedish Christmas tale.  This store (G. Williker's) always has the most beautiful whimsical window displays.  I you know how much I love whimsy!

Day 6   {Fun}    This December Baby, Stevie, is having a blast at his cake smash!  Check out more of his cake smash photos here, and his newborn shoot here.  

Day 8   {Out and About}    Another Saratoga Springs storefront with a beautiful winter display.  This olive oil shop is one of my favorite shops in town -- we like to go in to test out the new flavors and for a midday snack sometimes.  ;)

Day 9   {Wish List}   My wish is to simply enjoy the little moments more... like a warm mug and shimmering lights in a room that smells like cinnamon pinecones.   

Day 11   {On the Tree}   A new ornament for our tree this year!  NY state.

Day 12  {Twinkling}    A favorite twinkly photo from last year:  little Genevieve looking in wonder at those lights.  She's got the holiday spirit!

Day 14   {Surprise}   Yes, I actually had to write this on a box to make sure this gift would stay a surprise until I could get around to wrapping it.   ;)

Day 16   {Warmth}   We got three snowstorms in a week, and when I left work I looked out over this pond and saw the moon floating over the town's rooftops.  I love all the sights I get to see over this pond each day, and I just had to stop and catch that little bit of warmth fading from the sky as the sun went down and the moon came out.

Day 17  {Tradition}   I've made my grandma's cookie recipe every year for as long as I can remember.  Rolling the dough out, using the same tin cookie cutters I always loved as a kid... it's not Christmas until we make these cookies.

Day 18   {Something Shiny}    City reflections in a glass bulb on a tree in downtown Saratoga.

Day 19   {Festive}    Ooooooooh, bokeh.  

Day 21   {Under}    A new take on "under the tree".  Commonwealth Avenue in Boston with sparkling ice puddles under the illuminated trees.

Day 23   {Red}   Another holiday baby, Camilo is rocking his sweet little Santa suit.

Day 24   {Merry}   Hosting Christmas Eve tonight, and finishing it off with this wintry forest cake.

Day 28   {Words}    Buon Natale!  A new ornament that I brought back from Sicily last summer.  I love the idea of having ornaments on my tree from all the places I've visited.

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What about days 29, 30, and 31?  Well, that's where I didn't quite finish it out.  But the first 28 are up and made for a festive month of photos!

Happy New Year!  

I hope you all enjoyed a beautiful holiday season with your families.

Camilo Jose {Boston Newborn Portraits}

He's here!  He's here! I've been friends with Isabel since our grad school days of analyzing Spanish literature in the basement offices of Boston University.  When she and Dallas were pregnant with their first child, she found her way into my kitchen at 7:30 on a snowy Saturday morning to share the news with me.  That first baby came along, grew up into a little boy, did a fun little photo shoot with me when I was first starting out, and before we knew it she and Dallas were back for a maternity shoot in the Arnold Arboretum last fall.

And now, I'm so excited to share photos my friends' newest bundle of happiness right here with you.  His arrival was marked with lots of loving, sweet little baby kisses, domestic and international flights, M&Ms, and mustaches.  (Read on, you'll see...)

Camilo Jose

11.12.13

7 lbs, 3 oz

18 inches

Oh!  Those soft little back wrinkles!

The dark hair and eyelashes on this little guy just have me mesmerized! What a cutie.  And this new soft gray background is admittedly one of my new favorites for newborn shoots.  Absolutely loving it here!

It was so much fun watching Camilo's big brother Nicolas learn how to be a big brother -- wanting to be involved, trying to give him kisses, seeking the attention of all the adults in the room, wanting to show off his baby, wondering why his baby brother was taking over his play room.  Such a fun time with these two!

(And yes, we may have resorted to carefully positioned M&M candies for a few of these kissy shots!  ;o)

Isa excitedly told me weeks before the baby was due about this adorable elephant hat and bottoms that a friend had hand-made for her and that her mom had brought over on the plane from Ecuador.  Such an adorable outfit!  Love this sweet and peaceful shot.

The boys were lucky to have their aunt visiting from Tennessee for the weekend.  We got a few beautiful backlit shots of them all together.  And a few more of that lucky baby boy in his family's loving arms...

(Yes, there was a mustache joke going on  ;o)     )

And finally, 'Tis the Season!

Wishing this family the most wonderful of Christmases with their two boys.....  And a Happy New Year to all of you!

Bienvenido al mundo, Camilo Jose.

Lowell Stanton {Newborn Portraits}

Lowell Stanton

7 lbs, 11 oz

21 inches

November 8, 2013

I was waiting on two November babies this month, and Lowell Stanton was the first to make his grand entrance into the world on November 8th.  He came a few days early, right in time for the weekend and for his mama to finish a full work week.  :o)  We got together 8 days later for his session, and he was such an angel.  What a calm little baby!

Honestly, photographing Lowell was such an amazing full-circle moment for me.  His big sister Genevieve was the first newborn that I ever photographed, and I was over the moon excited to be able to capture his first days on camera as well.    (Check out Genevieve's other sessions here and here.)

Those itty bitty toes just make me melt!

Lowell's mom Amy is known for her gorgeous hand-made quilts, and they have found their way into her babies' newborn shoots.  Love this robot one!

Big Sister Genevieve is figuring out what to do with this little baby that appeared magically one day, and capturing that curiosity on camera was so much fun.  (Shhhhhh, a little bit of ipad technology just might have been involved to get these shots.  You've gotta do what you've gotta do!)

Congratulations on your beautiful growing family!

Welcome to the world, Lowell!

Baseball and Babies

In case you didn't get enough of the little birthday boy cutie here at his cake smash, check out the rest of his session pics!  It was the last of the outdoor fall photo shoots I took this season, and we were thrilled to be able to go outdoors for a few family shots.

Sox or Yankees?  It's a friendly battle in this house!

And mama smooches are the best.  Just look at his little face and the way his eyes light up!  So adorable.

And finally, one for just the boys.  Happy 1st Birthday, Stevie!

Stevie's 1st Cake Smash

Stevie is turning one!  Remember his sweet newborn photos from last winter?  It's hard to believe that this little December baby is a year old already.

When I met his mom a year ago for his newborn session, she excitedly asked me if I did cake smashes.  I love babies.  I love cake (like, I REALLY LOVE CAKE).  And of course, I love photography and capturing moments in time.  So back then, cake smashes were something that I was so excited to get into and I was thrilled that we were already planning a session a year out.  When chatting about the smash again over the summer, she asked me the most important question of all: "Is it good cake?"  I reassured her that of course, it was the most delicious cake ever provided by the talented Jacqui at Cakes by J&J.  Jacqui made us a gorgeous cupcake cake with a stunning chocolate base, and it was perfect.

I love the photos when the cake first piques the babies' curiosity.... "Just checking things out... What IS this thing?!?!...... For ME?!?!?!"

Stevie was a little hesitant at first...

But before long he was really into it, smashing away and busting out some dance moves to show how much he was enjoying his first birthday cake.  Mom, Dad, and I were dying laughing and enjoying the little show he was putting on for us.  That's the best thing about these smashes -- the curiosity and the laughter that comes with the babies' pure joy and elation!

SUCH a fun cake smash.  I love his little expressions in these photos.  What a great afternoon!

Happy Birthday, Stevie!

Spunk & Sass {A Family Session}

I was so excited to get to meet up with this beautiful family again.  We first met two summers ago for our session at a gorgeous beach down in Eastham during low tide.  It was one of my favorite summer sessions to date, and after working with them again I realized that they are just such a darling family to photograph no matter what the location.  The four kids -- Jack, Ella, Charlie, and Lulu -- are so full of spunk and personality, and both sessions have just been filled with real laughter and truly beautiful beaming smiles. And now, without further adieu, the beautiful G family at home for a stunning fall session...

Charlie is a little clown and I love that I got a toothy second-grade grin and a bubbly laugh out of him in just about every frame.  His big brother Jack is a little more reserved, but I love the moment I got him to crack up just as I was hitting the shutter and caught his true smile peeking through.

Lulu is like a little elf running around her family spreading cheer and happiness.  I love all the different expressions I was able to capture on this little doll!

And big sister Ella was such a joy with her piercing eyes and her beautiful smile.

The moment I saw the color of Ella and Lulu's dresses, I knew I wanted this exact picture.  And right after clicking the shutter and stopping to look at my camera?  I just about died -- LOVE the colors here, love how they complement each other and just pop!, love that beautiful bond captured between sisters.

These kids love the "hold hands and run" pics, just like the last time when we were on the beach together.

And finally, one last family pic on the porch.  The first one up above was what we were aiming for, but this is what we got when the youngest little one insisted on doing a "gangster" pose... why not get the whole family do cross their arms for a silly pose!  :o)

G family -- you are wonderful and I absolutely adore capturing the six of you on camera!  Thanks for ANOTHER stellar afternoon together.

Mark {6 months}

I was so excited to finally meet up with this sweet little family on a gorgeous fall afternoon by the lake.  The mother Katie and I had been planning our session since early in the summer, emailing back and forth between the States and Siciliy to share our ideas for her little baby boy's first photo shoot. ::: On a side-note, one of the many things I love the most about meeting and getting to know the families I photograph are all of the connections we are able to make.  While I was spending the summer on a military base in Sicily, Katie told me how she spent her vacations in her college years over in Italy when her own family was in the military.  After so many Italian phrases and food exclamations later, our session was on! :::

It was such a fun session!  The light was perfect and the colors and locations around the lake were just begging to be photographed.  Little Baby Mark (6 months) was happy, cheerful, and loving the camera.  He never took his eyes off of my lens!

I LOVED the family's outfits -- jeans, plaid, stripes, boots.  What a perfect fall combination.  This is an example of mixing and matching patterns and colors that works so beautifully.

I love this series of B&Ws.   We had the most fun taking these pics here.  We were standing on a bridge, and Mark's attention wandered off to the side and everyone burst into laughter and smiles.  It just so happened that a friendly jogger decided to come by and coax some smiles out of Mark by making silly faces at him.  Best reactions ever!

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Thank you for a gorgeous session!  I can't wait to work with you guys again!

Mr. & Mrs. Alves {Wedding Photography}

Kate & Mario

June 22, 2013

Recognizing their four-month anniversary, here's a little wedding post!  Kate and Mario celebrated their wedding with an intimate backyard ceremony in June.  It was a beautiful summer day and they were eagerly awaiting their 5:00 ceremony when I arrived for their pre-ceremony portraits.  The white tent stood waiting, the lanterns were floating in the breeze, and the tables were just begging for guests to come over and fill their chairs with stories and laughter.

Their daughter Sophia greeted me, a beautiful flower girl twirling around the yard in her fancy little dress and sparkly jewelry.  She held on to her mom's hand and sneaked underneath the veil for a kiss and a few laughs.

Then the clock struck 5:00 and the ceremony began!  It was short and sweet, filled with laughter and a dramatic kiss where Mario literally swept Kate off her feet in front of their friends and family.  

In perfect summer fashion, the ceremony was followed by good food, good friends, and good drinks! The kids ran around the yard chasing each other in their dresses and collared shirts.  Salsa music was playing in the background as couples started pulling each other out to dance.  Friends manned the grill and whipped up some delicious dishes.  One of the more interesting moments was a Brazilian tradition where the men run around with the groom and people "buy" pieces of his tie.  They literally chopped Mario's tie into pieces, making for some fun moments and colorful photos! Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Alves.  Happy 4-month anniversary!

Waiting for Baby {Maternity Photos}

Isabel, Dallas and I have been friends ever since Isa and I met each other 6 years ago by sharing offices across the hall from each other in our grad school basement.  We have had so many fun moments together over the years, and we have shared oh-so-much laughter.  They were one of the first families that I photographed last year with their little boy Nico, and when Isa asked me to do her Belly to Baby photos (maternity and newborn), I was thrilled to be able to capture these special moments on camera for them as they await the arrival of their second little boy. We met up for our session at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain.  Afterwards, Isa told me how much fun they all had "playing in the park" during our session -- because that's how it felt, like a play date that just happened to involve a camera.

I am absolutely 100% in love with all of their photos.  There you go, I said it -- and yes, photographers aren't supposed to choose favorites.  ;o)  Their session was so much fun, so natural and full of laughter, that as I was going back through my photos to edit and retouch I couldn't help but burst into smiles and laughter so many times at the beautiful (and sometimes comical... just wait, you'll see what I'm talking about) images that we were able to capture.

LOVE.  Pure and simple.

What a stunning mama.

And the love & laughter between these two?  It was contagious!  Dallas and Isa, you two are so wonderful!  I loved capturing your joy and laughter on camera!

This series of photos literally had me laughing so hard when I was clicking through and editing.  Isabel wanted to do some photos like something she had seen where Dallas would be waiting impatiently for the baby's arrival.  We goofed around a bit, and got in a lot of laughs.  Their expressions are priceless!  Apparently this is what impatient looks like.  ;o)  Their silliness here captures the essence of them and the fun that they create when they're together:

Congratulations on your beautiful growing family!  I can't wait for your little boy's arrival next month!  So happy to be your "photografriend".

Dancing at Dusk {Senior Photos}

Soft.  Airy.  Whimsical.  Those are qualities I always work to pull out in my photography while making my sessions light, fun, easy, and memorable.  This session has got to be one of my recent favorites since it pulls every single one of those qualities together to create some truly stunning work.  I am so excited to share these photos with you, so pop in and stay awhile while enjoying some gorgeous photos of a poised young woman and a fairy dusk dancer...

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Simi is truly a stunning young woman.  She blew me out of the water with her poise, charm, ambition, and bubbly personality.  Her mother had contacted me over a year ago to set up her senior photos after meeting me at a good friend's wedding.  We've talked throughout the year in planning our session, and now that it's done -- WOW.  It was such a fun evening and I am in love with these photos.

Simi was excited about our shoot and was up for anything.  We wound up traipsing through the woods, laying in the grass, rushing through outfit changes in the trees, and running around chasing the last rays of sunlight.

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Here is my favorite photo from the session.  Hellooooooooooooo, bokeh!

(If you've been following me for awhile, you know how bokeh just makes my heart melt!  The second I took this photo I was drawn to the blurred background of trees with that beautiful dappled light shining through.  That right there?  That's the bokeh.)

And right when you think that it can't possibly get any better?  That you can't have more perfect light, a more unique setting with limitless backgrounds, or a more adventurous model?  Then she tells me she's a dancer and we start working on a few photos in her costumes.

She is literally flying in the photo below on the right.  Flying.  

Plus, I love it when I get such a wonderful thank you and kind words from the families that I work with:

Dear Nicole,

Thank you for coming all the way out to the 'burbs to take Simi's pictures. We love the one's you've posted, can't wait to see the rest. She had so much fun, and felt good about the session. She was previously hesitant when I told her I had scheduled her a senior photo session, since she doesn't like to pose for pictures of herself. But you made her comfortable and allowed her to be herself. So thank you! You have a unique gift, and the personality to make your subjects feel comfortable, a great combination. I'm grateful I ran into you through Kirsten and Mary. 

Hugs,

Kavita

Simi, you are absolutely wonderful and you are going to do great things in your life.  Thank you for a fun and beautiful evening in the park.  What a pleasure it was photographing you!

Congratulations to the Class of 2014!

A Very Hungry Caterpillar Cake Smash

Happy 1st Birthday, Alice Olivia!

Hard to believe that one year ago we rushed off to the hospital to welcome Alice Olivia into the world!  Check out her birth to the first year sessions here and here.

Alice Olivia is celebrating her first birthday on September 25, and how else to celebrate except with a cake smash!  We planned a very hungry caterpillar themed cake smash for her on a sunny afternoon at a park in J.P.  From the cake to the banners to the dresses, bloomers, and onesie -- everything came together perfectly!

Have you seen my tab above on CAKE SMASHES?

Alice was a little hesitant at first, but before we knew it she really got into the cake smash and went to town!  Look closely at her hair in these photos -- her mom had quite a time getting that frosting washed out of her hair when she got home!  At the same time, the only way to describe how she explored and tasted that delicious cake was DAINTY.  So adorable!

Happy first birthday, Alice!

Interested in planning a cake smash for your little one? Contact me now and we can work together to do our session in time for the photos to go on your first birthday party invites!  Beautiful and delicious cakes are custom made for YOU by the talented Jacqui at Cakes by J&J in Framingham, MA.

Sweet Sicily Session

I've been capturing families on camera for about a year and a half now, and I've never had a session quite like this special one.  A little background here:  I'm spending my summer in Sicily with friends living on a military base in Catania.  I was thrilled about the idea of squeezing in a few sessions in this gorgeous landscape on some sunny Sicilian days.  Word got around pretty quickly that a family photographer was coming to base for the summer, and my friends' friends got in touch with me within minutes of posting my Sicily specials on Facebook. So what was so different about this session?  Well, for starters, it was in the Sicilian countryside.  When Carin told me her idea for a session on her Sicilian friend's farm it was in a casual email, something to the tune of: "Well we were thinking of going to our friend's farm in Mineo. She has a gorgeous view of the valley, trampoline which Taeden loves, a pool, goats, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, cats, dogs, orange trees, olive trees, etc. "  I stopped dead in my tracks and did a double-take.  REALLY?!?!!  This is amazing!

We went to this farm, and it only got better from there.  The owners, Mariska and Emilio, were so kind and invited us to a home-cooked meal on their farm after the session was over.  Homemade wine.  Bruschetta with the bread grilled right there in front of us in the outdoor ovens.  Sun-dried tomatoes that were drying out on the patio behind us.  A stunning view of the valley and a gorgeous red sunset going down behind the mountains.

Quite simply, it was perfect!

Now back to the session... Carin, Kris, and their little boy Taeden were such a joy to photograph and spend the evening with!  Their photos came out so bright, colorful, and charming.  Taeden was a little hesitant around the camera, hiding behind his hands a bit.  But as the evening wore on his personality came alive and he just captured everyone's attention at dinner while staring at the lizards and geckos on the wall that he decided were most definitely dragons.   We taught him a few Italian expressions (Ciao, bella!) and a few Boston expressions (Wicked awesome!).

Doesn't Taeden look like he's surfing in the picture on the right?  :o)

What a gorgeous family!

And a fun little fact about our evening together?  A friend drove there later to meet up with us on the farm.  In Sicily when you get a phone call telling you that someone's lost because they followed the GPS and it took them straight through a river (into the water!) followed by a left into an olive grove and now your car is stuck... yes, that's totally normal for Sicily.  Our hosts didn't even flinch when they hung up the phone and wandered out into the night to find him.

What a great session.  Thanks for a wonderful time, Carin and Kris.  And thanks for the delicious food, Mariska and Emilio!

Fall Photo Specials!!

How about some fall photographs? I know, I know -- it's the middle of summer!  The dog days of August are just beginning.  It's 100 degrees outside.  Your #1 mission is avoiding the back-to-school aisle at Target (trust me, I am too!).  You can't even imagine warm sweaters, crispy leaves, apple picking, and pumpkins when your days are filled with sprinklers, air conditioning, beach trips and kiddie pools.

I get it.

BUT......  I'm so excited to share this beautiful fall season with you.  There are so many gorgeous, colorful, sun-dappled and laughter-filled moments to be created and captured on camera.  Let's do it!

New season, new school year, new backpacks and books... why not some new photos on the walls, too?  Real photos of your kids laughing, smiling, playing together and showing the world their personalities.  You can't get those with a school picture against a tired blue backdrop.

And let's not forget about the family photos for the holiday cards.  I love lights, and when the last delicious rays of autumn sunshine go away, there is nothing more beautiful than those sparkling holiday lights.  Put them in a photograph?  Challenge accepted!

So as a natural light photographer, my autumn days fill right up squeezing in all of those beautiful sessions with the last rays of sunlight and color.  Last fall filled up quickly, and after having to turn a few clients away because of a busy calendar this spring, I want to give you all a heads up to start thinking about your sessions NOW so that we can plan them together and not miss out on capturing these precious fall days that will slip right by.

NOW ANNOUNCING.............  FALL SPECIALS!

Here are some ideas of how THESE sessions and packages can work for YOU:

Package One: This is great for senior photos to get that one shot for the yearbook and a few for your walls, or for your baby's developmental milestones (tummy time, sitting unassisted, walking, first teeth).  Capture them before they're on to their next milestone!

Package Two:  This package is great for the whole family if you want a few fresh updates to your walls and a few stunning images for your holiday cards.  This is also a great package for a maternity session if you'd like to incorporate a big brother/sister and your significant other, giving you a few photos to share and a few photos to hang.

Package Three: I offer stunning canvases that will draw everyone's attention straight to your walls to exclaim, "Wow, what a beautiful family!"  Save the artwork for yourself, or give it as a gift to the grandparents this winter.  Then you can use the print credit towards a few images to frame for your family.

Package Four: This is my favorite package, and it is a great bargain since many families often purchase the CD with all of their images from the session.  This is a great option for those that would like to make photo books with their images from our session together.  Plus it includes print credit, because after all, photographs are nothing if they're only on your computer and not in your hands or on your walls.

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Do you like what you see here?  Are you thinking about it now?  See, it's never too early to plan for your next portrait session.  Tell your friends, tell your family, and then email me at nicoleschwalmphotography@gmail.com to start planning your fall session today!

One more thing!  Let's put our minds together early and head to some great locations -- apple orchards, pumpkin patches, barns, open fields, a woodsy area, a nearby lake that will reflect the foliage, a garden center... the options truly are endless!

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***Please note that these specials are not valid for newborn photos (under 3 months) or event photography.  These are both unique situations and shoots that require a great deal of care and planning, and I like to give them all the attention that they deserve.

***Also, additional family members can be added on to the packages at $25 per person.

Nicolas & Luca

I absolutely adore Sunday mornings.  Out of all the moments in the week, Sunday morning is the time that I just relish it's calmness, happiness, and anticipation.  There's something about those mornings that are just hugged on both sides by a day off from work, off from routine, and off from the go-go-go of the weekdays.  I'll wrap my fingers around a warm mug, find a spot of sunshine on my porch, and soak up the beginning of another great day. A little while back I got to soak up the love and the joy of a Sunday morning with this sweet family.

In typical Sunday morning fashion, when they welcomed me into their home one brother was playing in a puddle of dappled light on the carpet while the other was finishing his breakfast, the grandparents were visiting and enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee, and the mom and dad were moving around trying to get everything done because the one thing about Sunday mornings is that the clock always moves much too quickly and they fly right past you, unaware.

It was a lifestyle session, an on-the-go capture of the boys at play.  During our pre-session planning, we decided that we wanted to show Nicolas and Luca in their home, playing with their toys, exploring, and just being curious and playful little boys and brothers.

Have I mentioned yet how amazing this rug is?  Chevron stripes, soft backlit windows...  As a stripe-lover, ooooooh, this was the perfect setting for these photographs!!  Love how the rug photographs as simple, classic, and fun.

Check out the thick eyelashes on these two boys.  Their mom and I lamented over how the boys will never grow up to appreciate those eyelashes like a girl would.  But still, that sweet little fringe is absolutely beautiful to capture!  Love this angle.  :o)

Thanks for sharing your beautiful Sunday morning with me!  It was so much fun meeting your family and capturing your little boys together.  I hope these photos really do convey the joy, calmness, anticipation, and sheer magic that is nestled into each and every Sunday morning.

Coming Home {Newborn Portraits}

It takes a village to raise a child."

A little while back I was contacted about the idea of a gift session for a beautiful family who had just adopted their youngest son and brought him home from Florida.  So many families came together to give this precious gift to them.  And then listening to the story of their adoption journey while seeing that little baby in their arms -- it really does make it plain to see that this little boy found his way home to his family.

Jase Leo

May 5, 2013,  3:10pm

7 pounds, 13 ounces

There's a funny story behind the top B&W photo up above.  What do you do when a newborn is just not that tired anymore and doesn't feel like being out of his mother's arms?  Well, if you have such an amazing mother as Jase's mom, the mother volunteers to jump underneath the backdrop and be his cushion.  We put Jase on her backdrop-covered chest, and her heartbeat and breathing calmed him right down.  I had seen something like this on a comical Pinterest board once, and I couldn't believe that here we were getting to do the same thing!  New strategy -- check!!

These ones of little Jase curled up with his proud big brother Ross are just so sweet.  :o)

Congratulations to Jase's family.  Your little bundle of joy was certainly worth the wait!

Summer in Sicily

Summer vacation is just about here, and my summer trip to Sicily is right around the corner.  I'm putting work and my business here in the States on hold to go island hopping in the Mediterranean with my former roommate (a.k.a. Stepford wife!) and her husband.  Not a bad way to spend the summer at all!

I'll be staying with Kirsten and Dave in Sigonella from July 10th through August 15th.  Over the course of the past year I've been fortunate to gain a number of Sicily "fans" on my website and Facebook page, and I'd love to offer all of you some photo sessions during my time in Sicily.

I'm excited about this opportunity to meet new people on base, explore some different parts of Catania while shooting on location, and most importantly, photograph your beautiful families and capture your kids' adorable little smiles and sparkling eyes on camera.

Drop me an email with any inquiries and to let me know if you might be interested!  I'd love to chat with you about your session!

*Please note that prices are in $USD and not Euros.

Summertime Sisters

Charming.  Sassy.  Adorable.  Bubbly.  Sweet as sugar crystals in your iced tea.  That's what these sisters are:

I was thrilled at the chance to photograph Violet and Sophia for the third time.  (Check out their previous sessions here and here.)  They pulled up in their car, jumped right out, and were excitedly chatting with me and remembering the photo sessions we'd done last year together.  Simply that was enough to guarantee we'd have a beautiful and fun session.

But then the perfect golden light, the grassy fields of flowers, and the rustic barn walls just all came together to make this one of my all-time favorite family sessions.

After the Cake Smash

After Ryan's first birthday cake smash, we had an adorable idea for his AFTER the cake smash session. What do you do with a baby covered in frosting who is most definitely on a sugar high after his cake smash?  Stick him in a tub, of course!  And then you snap away with the camera!

Can't you just tell how much he loved it?  :o)  Such a fun way to end our session.

This cake smash was so much fun.  I can't wait to schedule a few more!  There are so many creative options that we can do with this type of shoot -- what would YOU like to do for your child's first birthday cake smash?  The possibilities are truly endless.  Let's chat!

Ryan's 1st Birthday Cake Smash

This is my new FAVORITE type of session!  I'm so excited about all the opportunities that will come from this first birthday cake smash. I've been wanting to get into cake smashes for awhile, and when Kristi contacted me to schedule her little boy Ryan's 1st birthday cake smash, I was thrilled.  We exchanged so many emails before the session, planning it right down to the colors so that everything would coordinate with Ryan's little birthday outfit.  Check out his cute tie, hat, and diaper cover from Etsy!  I made the ribbon streamer backdrop to match!

We met at Hanson's Farm in Framingham, a gorgeous location that was very special to the family.  I happen to have an affinity for farms and barns, so I was in love with this location for our shoot!

After our gorgeous family pics....... out came the cake!  Kristi ordered the cake from the talented Jacqui over at Cakes by J & J in Framingham, MA.  Jacqui and I are now partnering up for future cake smashes and events!  So thrilled at this networking opportunity!

Ryan was all over this cake.  At first he was a little hesitant, but once he realized that you could eat it... wow, he went wild!

Ryan was absolutely adorable!  He really got into it, and Kristi and I were just laughing so hard watching him.  When your own two hands aren't enough, what's a boy to do?  Use his foot to hold the cake in place!  Limbs were flailing everywhere -- so sweet!

I loved capturing his amusement and wonder on camera.   :)

Just wait till you see what we did for Ryan's AFTER the cake smash portion of the session... check back tomorrow for more!  You're going to LOVE this!!

Happy 1st Birthday, Ryan!

This cake smash was so much fun.  I can't wait to schedule a few more!  There are so many creative options that we can do with this type of shoot -- what would YOU like to do for your child's first birthday cake smash?  The possibilities are truly endless.  Let's chat!

Bar Mitzvah Sneak Peeks

Where have I been all month?  

My website has been a little quiet lately, but my Facebook page has been the one with all the action!  (HAVE YOU "LIKED" THE PAGE YET?  DO SO TODAY!!)    Tons of sneak peeks have made their way up onto my wall for all sorts of galleries and events.  One night last week, I was literally working on three galleries at once.  I've been so busy scheduling shoots, writing contracts, taking photographs, downloading and uploading files, retouching the photos, and making the galleries that there just hasn't been enough time to update my website.... And here you thought that all photographers did was take pictures and click the shutter on their cameras!

Most of my time last month went to editing 6 hours worth of shooting from a bar mitzvah.  Let me tell you -- 6 hours leads to a whole lot of photos!  So while the full post from the bar mitzvah will be coming soon, for now you get my little version of a sneak peek.  Consider this the "extended family and friends" post.

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Seth (the man of the hour!) with his Great Grandmother.

Love the soft light in this family photo!

While taking these photos of the little girls below, their mamas told me that they had wanted a picture of their daughters together for years and years.  So glad I was able to capture this one, and the one of the girls with their mothers!

These two siblings below cracked me up!  The sister was all about the pictures, while her big brother put on his best "I'm so embarrassed!" face in the second photo.

And here, how adorable is this brother and sister duo?

I love this shot of these two brothers.  The littlest one had so much excitement going on around him that photos were not high on his priority list.  But this shot?  Aaaaaahhhhh!!!  Pure magic!  Love everything about it!

Why did I choose these photos?  Well, I'm a storyteller after all and these ones weave together so nicely to tell a small part of the story of that day, with all the friends and family that gathered together to celebrate with Seth's family.  Why else did I choose these photos?  The beautiful light and the brilliant and sometimes whimsical colors say it all!    :o)

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That's it for today's sneak peek!  Remember to check back soon for the rest of the photos from Seth's bar mitzvah.  And be sure to "like" the Nicole Schwalm Photography Facebook Page to continue seeing those sneak peeks before I get them up on my website.