Mom In The Picture | A Mother's Day Blog

Mothers Day 2013

Mother's Day is approaching slowly and sneakily, like a child trying to get into the cookie jar.  I know that sound well - it's eerily quiet.  So quiet that at first I breathe a sigh of relief that it's quiet in the house.  But wait.  If you're a mom, you know that feeling.  Something MUST be wrong.  If they were playing, having fun or underfoot, there would be noise.  Quiet can only mean one thing - something is going on that I need to know about!  I've had two approaches to this lack of noise.  One is to call the child's name (or all of them in quick succession) and see if I can pinpoint their whereabouts and then decide to either rush or not worry.  The second one I've been using more frequently.  I try to sneak up on them!  I notice the quiet, start quietly moving from room to room, looking and listening.  Then when I find them I act all surprised!  My kids are big now so I can usually find them doing a quiet activity like Legos or playing on the computer.  But still....  there is the chance...  that they will decide Sharpies are just as good as Crayola markers.

Spring holidays can be like that for me too.  It sneaks up on me and before you know it I'm standing in the card aisle of the grocery store trying to find cards for every mother and grandmother in my life.  With 3 kids who are also looking for cards.  And also with ten other people who are all looking for that "just right" card with the "just right" sentiment and "just right" humor or something.

Finding a gift for a mom isn't an easy task, and any Dad who has taken that on will testify!  Is she a jewelry person?  Perfume?  Clothing?  Purses? Shoes?  If you ask her she will probably say "pedicure, peace and quiet, no cooking."  So this year, I'm here to help you.  Do something she won't expect.  A portrait session for the family, just for her or maybe just for the two of you!

And for you moms who are thinking of a gift for YOUR mom, this works for you too!  Why not surprise your parents with the gift of a portrait session just for them?  For many couples, the last time they take a picture of just the two of them is their wedding.  Let this spring mark a new chapter for them - a time to get MOM in front of the camera!

For more information about family portraits with an emphasis on MOM, leave a comment or send me an email!  info@ndrobbs.com

Fun with 85mm | Puyallup Women's Portraits

I recently purchased a new lens and asked my friend Tonia F to come model and play with me while I got used to it being a prime lens with a narrow field of view.  We toted our kids (two of hers, one of mine) to a park I know is VERY green and has lots of shade.  Tonia was getting ready for a date night pretty soon anyway and had dolled herself up in a beautiful vintage style dress, sweater and done her own hair! 
So let's see how silly to mom-photographers can be when there's no pressure, no client, just us an cameras!
First up - I had to decide which direction I wanted to go with it.  The Vintage edit seemed too soft and I love the pop of colors in the Clean edit.  So clean it is...

I love this one so much it's the cover on my FB page. :)

And if you know Tonia - she laughs a lot!

Boy do you love her hair or what???  Plus this lens' low aperture (2.8 here) allows for lots of detail in the subject but a beautiful smooth "blurred" bokeh background.

Thanks for playing with me Tonia! 

For more information on women's portraits, family portraits or wedding photography please email me at info@ndrobbs.com. 

WINNER! 2012 Fresh Faces | Puyallup Family and Women's Portraits

Wow, what a whirlwind week!
Thank you so much to all of you who were involved in this year's Fresh Faces contest.  I was looking for some new blood, as it were, someone I haven't worked with either in a while or maybe ever, and you guys came through!  I'm so proud of the ladies who nominated themselves, that takes guts!   I'm so glad for the huge outpouring of support from their family and friends that voted for them.  They each did a fantstic job!  Way to go ladies!!

Yes, I am looking specifically for ladies.  But these ladies may choose to use their portrait session with their children, a mother, a girlfriend, their parents or their spouse.  But as the contest states, they do have to be in the picture. It's all about relationships!

So with no further mumbo jumbo...


I'm very pleased to announce the 2nd place winners of the 2012 Fresh Faces Contest with ND Robbs Photography of Graham, WA....


Kristin and Christine!!

(enter deep announcer voice here)
"These beautiful ladies have each won a mini-portrait-session, a mini-album and a $30 print credit!  The total value of the 2nd Place prize package is...  $100!!"

And now, the nail biting and heart stopping finale...

The winner of the 2012 Fresh Faces contest is.....

RORI!

 (continue deep announcer voice)
"RORI is a super active suburban mom who gives and gives and gives some more!  It's time for her to get in front of the camera and let that giving nature shine for all to see!  RORI wins a one hour portrait session, a mini album and five digital images!  The total value of the 1st Place prize package is...  $200!!!"
(end deep announcer voice)

AND THE CROWD GOES WILD AND RUSHES THE STAGE!

(sorry, I guess I slipped into game-show mode for a minute!  But it was fun!)

So ladies, I look forward to talking with you soon and planning out your sessions! 

For all you who voted - THANK YOU!!  And if you are interested in some kind of portrait session please email me at info@ndrobbs.com.  As always, the website will give you a feel as to my favorite work - http://www.ndrobbs.com/  AND, if you have a session scheduled and CAN'T THINK OF WHAT TO WEAR... please follow me on Pinterest!  www.pinterest.com/ndrobbs 

Thank you all and have a beautiful day!

Real Moms, Real Women | Puyallup Tacoma Womens Portraits

What is beauty?
Thanks to the amazing and wonderful Sue Bryce on Creative Live, I got to explore this question beyond just my personal thoughts and explore it as a business person.

What is it?
Is it a personal quality?
The turn of a nose?
A range of dress sizes?
Is it a sense of humor?
And then..
How do I capture that?
How do my clients feel when viewing their images alone in their home?
Do they say "wow what a great picture"?
Or do they say "nice picture, but I'm glad the kids are in front of me"?
I KNOW my clients are beautiful.  I want to make sure they see what I see!

So I asked a few friends to model for me.  Size is not an issue.  Skin perfection is not an issue.  I told them to just be comfortable and wear something simple.  These are all taken in their home, usually in the living room.

These are real women, real moms, and they deserve more token images in the once a year family portrait.

I'd really like to expand this project.  I sincerely want to photograph every age, every stage in life, every range of woman.  If you'd like to be a part of it please contact me or comment here on the blog.

Remember, I'm also looking for Fresh Faces for this year's advertising.  If you, your mother, your daughter or your friend are interested in joining the contest I'll take pictures until 9 pm May 12th!