I was so honored and excited to take pictures of the Derr side of my family. I don’t get to see them much so this was a special treat for me! They all gathered together for a fun BBQ and asked me to come over and take pictures! We had so much fun and I just loved seeing the kids and how much they have grown….and I especially love seeing their parents (and aunts) features in each of them! Here is your sneak peek with some of my favorites and I will email you the password to your gallery soon!

The oldest and leader of the pack……such a beauty…..

Another beauty…..look at those eyes! WOW!

Mr Cool……

Mr Cool times two and full of giggles….Grandpa got the gorgeous old yellow Thunderbird out for some photos……couldn’t resist playing around with some selective coloring….so much fun!

Usually this little sweetheart looks just like her daddy…..but not here……she is lookin just like her mama……

The famous Derr eyelashes…..

And her silly sister…….with her shirt on backwards…….I couldn’t resist getting a photo of it! How true it is……GIRLS DO ROCK!!!

This little character threw me for a loop……I thought she was so serious…….

Mr B looking so handsome….and so serious here too…..BUT don’t be fooled by either one of them………

because these clowns were the life of the party!!!!

Thank you so much for having me out to take photos……I had so much fun and it was really great to see all of you!!!! Love you!

Last month my good friend Jackie from Jax-Creations asked me if I would take photos of her and the newest edition to their family…….Charlie Joe…..and of course I was estatic! How could I not? Being a photographer myself I know it’s hard to be on the other side of the camera….but SO IMPORTANT! I was super happy when Jackie wanted ME! to document her and her sweet little angel. He is SO CUTE! Just look at him…..a little angel……

He was just a little sweetheart….slept most of the time except for a little bit….saw me and my camera and I guess that’s why he’s sticking his tongue out!

How tiny they are…..

The smooth chubby cheeks, the back and arm fuzz, the constant curled little fists, the belly rolls………all the sweet wonderful little things that we NEVER want to forget…..

And that hair! This little guy has the perfect hair!

And of course there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes at a photo session! Miss Bells being the big helper and telling everyone to be quiet! The baby is sleeping!

And hilarious silliness over peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! I guess she forgot about being quiet!

Thank you so much Jackie for having me over to capture such a precious time in your life! I truly enjoyed every moment of it!

It sure was nice getting the rain last night….but the thunder and lightning went on and on and on….kept me up for about 3 hours last night!

My handsome…..(with a grubby face I see)…….playing in the rain……what I wouldn’t give to know what he is thinking at that moment……..

Ah….to be a kid again…..finding such joy in the little things……

Stay tuned for some great new photos this week! Had a session yesterday with some extended family and had a blast! Also, have a senior session today with another beauty! And I still have some pictures of this cute little baby I know that I need to post! Going to be a busy week!

Yep, that’s right……..you heard me……Let’s Party!!!!!

Portrait Party that is!

Looking for something different? Want some great natural light portraits of your kids without having to pay for a full session? Do you like hanging out with your friends? Tired of the yearly boring school portraits? Want a picture of your kids that you love and want to give to all of your friends and family?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then my portrait parties are just want you need! What are they you ask? Well, my friends, I will tell you! You invite a bunch of friends and/or family to your 1-3 hour portrait party play date, they pay a small sitting fee for each child, I take pictures of all the little munchkins, then you and your guests will be able to view the photos from the party at your own personal online gallery!!! Each guest sends in their own order to me so all you have to do is invite and enjoy!!! As the hostess, you get one sitting fee free and depending on the sales of the party….you get free prints!!!!! More sales = more free prints for you!!!

Times are tough right now for everyone and my portrait parties are the perfect way to save a few bucks AND still get the natural light professional photos of your angels you love!!!!

Please contact me for more details and if you are interested in hosting your own portrait party!!!! I can’t wait for the fun to start!!!

And since I am just announcing the parties…..I don’t have any parties to showcase….BUT I do have my angel to share! Mr Serious….not sure if he is blowing me a kiss….or pursing his lips because he is ready to go! Hee Hee Either way….he’s so handsome and I love him to pieces!!! I love this photo because it showcases so much of his personality……and also his favorite color….orange.

And of course….I HAVE to go in for a close up….to see mama’s favorite…..those big sparkly blue eyes!!!!!!

YES! HAPPY MONDAY!!! ARGH!

Ok……this really was supposed to be posted yesterday….but I ended up at the beach with Ryan and the kids all day…..so…..when I got home I was too tired to do anything but eat and go to bed. Well, that’s neither here nor there……so on to my exciting announcement….hee hee

I am so excited to announce that the super talented Jackie from Jax Creations….. http://jaxcreations.blogspot.com/

and myself will be teaming up for the 2009-2010 wedding season!!! We will be offering specialty wedding packages featuring our FairyTale Collections in addition to our individual wedding packages. You will have two studio owners at your beck and call taking photos of your special day AND working together to create you beautiful pieces of art. You will have not one, but two photographers at your disposal from beginning to end.

Please contact either Jackie or myself for more information if you would like us to capture your FairyTale wedding!

It’s Friday! Hooray! So a couple of big announcements……the first one is I am now offering wedding collections! YEAH! I am super excited about this adventure. Your wedding day is something you want to remember for a lifetime….and what better way to do that than with pictures? I want to capture the little moments of intimacy, the fun and laughter, the emotional tears, the magic of the moment…….but most of all I want to capture your Love Story.

If you or someone you know is getting married please contact me for more details!

And since I just announced this, I don’t have any wedding photos to share other than this…..my love story. After Jacey’s Race last Sunday, this was waiting for me on our front porch. My Lovie (aka husband) took our beautiful angels for a walk around our property to gather mama some flowers…..my heart did a pitter patter……and it does every time I look at this photo……

Happy Monday!

I had the best weekend……started off with a senior shoot on Saturday with the most beautiful girl inside and out….I mean seriously….this girl could be on the cover of magazines….and she is SO SWEET! We had so much fun……..I can not wait to post her sneek peek………

And then on Sunday was Jacey’s Race and it was AMAZING!!! There was an incredible turn out to support the two beneficiaries and the race is such a great cause. I feel so blessed to be able to help and participate in something like this, just makes you feel so good in so many ways…to be able to help someone else in such a crazy and hard time and also get your exercise in….it’s just a win win situation. Thank you Jacey’s Race for asking me to be a vendor!

I must say that I did get very emotional a couple of times…..one thing that just stands out is when cute little 7 year old Decker, bless his heart, got up at the end of the event and thanked everyone for “helping him pay for his cancer”…..to me, the words “my cancer” should NEVER have to come out of a 7 year olds mouth…..or a 19 year olds mouth……or any age really……but they did….and him and Nate are so strong and such an inspiration….fighters…..they both remind me of my two favorite sayings……”LIVE STRONG” & “CELEBRATE LIFE”……….I wish health, happiness, safety, and love for both of them always!

The weekend is over….and the beginning of a new week is here…..Monday. Monday’s are good…..and today is really good because I get to post not only about a great weekend….but also about my baby collections. Introducing my Sweet Angel Baby collections………

Isn’t she a doll? This is Miss Piper….and she is so cute. I got to take some pictures of her over the 4th and asked her mama if I could use her as my poster baby for the Sweet Angel Baby collection announcement…..not only because she is just darling….but because she is going to be turning 1 year old next month and I can not believe it! Time is flying by much too fast. And that single statement is my inspiration for the Sweet Angel Baby Collections.

The Sweet Angel Baby collections allow you to document your little angels life from mama’s belly or birth to that milestone of their first birthday. The collections offer multiple sessions and products at discounts so you can document every step of that first year….because trust me, it goes by FAST. And even though you think you will remember everything from that first year…..mama brain sets in….you know…the brain that can’t seem to remember anything after having a baby….and you forget. Your pictures during this time are going to be a major factor in remembering this priceless time. There are no do-overs. They are only a newborn for so long….only a cute babbling happy baby for so long….only a chubby, giggly, wobbly, baby singing “mama” and “dada” at you for so long….then the next phase begins to all the new milestones to be accomplished…..and then the next phase…and the next. The older they get….the more you forget…..and the more you will cherish their photos.

The Sweet Angel Baby collections are the first set of my new collections that I will be introducing over the next couple of weeks…..so stay tuned. And of course although the black and white of Miss Piper is stunning…….it just doesn’t compare to the color version…..because this little girl’s blue eyes will knock your socks off!

From itty bitty tiny baby…………to just learning to walk……the first year is amazing! Don’t miss a second of it….book your Sweet Angel Baby sessions now!

I am so excited that this year I am going to be an EXPO vendor at Jacey’s Race! This will be my 2nd year as a vendor…but my first year as a vendor for Staci Bailey Photography! Jacey’s race is an awesome community fund raising event and along with other great donations up for auction to help benefit this amazing event, I will be donating a photo sessio (for up to 4 people) and a free 8×10!!! What better way to donate to a wonderful cause and get something in return….priceless photos! Family photos ~ senior photos ~ maternity, baby, or children’s portraits ~ engagement session….you name it….let’s do it!

Want to know more? Check this out…………Jacey’s Race is a 5K and 1K run/walk event to raise awareness and money for children suffering from a life threatening illness. The first event was held in Boulder, Colorado to benefit Jacey Lawson, a 4 year old child with stage 4 cancer. I can’t even imagine. But, following lung and kidney surgery, radiation, and 1 year of chemotherapy, Jacey is happy, healthy, and living in Sandpoint, Idaho. Jacey and her family are grateful for the support they received when needed, and her family and friends have decided to continue the race so that others may benefit.

This year’s race is going to be held on Sunday, July 12th, 2009 at Sandpoint High School starting at 8:15 a.m… The 2009 beneficiaries are Decker Weill and Nate Rench. Decker is a 7 year old boy with neuroblastoma and he has been in active treatment for a little over a year now. Decker and his family live in Sagle and travel to Spokane and Seattle for Decker’s life saving treatments. Nate is a University of Idaho college student that was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the young age of 19. He lives with his family in Sandpoint and is able to receive his medical care from the Kootenai Cancer Center at Bonner General in Sandpoint.

My heart goes out to these boys and their families. Being a cancer survivor myself, I know that this is not an easy road….and their lives will be changed forever. I can not think of a better way to CELEBRATE LIFE than by supporting these families thru this event. Please join us Sunday for a healthy dose of exercise and fun!!!!

Here is a link for more details and if you would like to register. http://www.jaceys-race.com/Jaceys_Race/Welcome.html

Oh yes….and to entice you a little more….I will be hosting a discount mini portrait party that day to the first 25 participants that sign up. For $20 you will get an 8×10 natural light portrait of you or your little one….a discount coupon for your next session……AND the majority of the proceeds will go towards helping Decker and Nate!

Want to find out more about my portrait parties? Come on Sunday….and if you miss it (boo….hiss)….stay tuned next week for more info on them! In today’s economy we all need some options!!!!

And of course I just can not post with out a photo….so here’s my Strawberry Shortcake….and hopefully she will put a smile on your face today!!!