Emily Eggebraaten Photography

Follow the yellow brick road!

2009-10-21T00:48:00.002-05:00

If you are finding yourself here, keep going! I have a NEW BLOG SITE! Click here or go to www.emilyeggebraatenphotography.com/blog for my new site, and enjoy!

James is ONE!

2009-10-20T11:42:00.009-05:00

Happy first birthday James! I had the pleasure of photographing James shortly after his first birthday, but before the actual birthday party. Let's just say he will be entertaining at his party! He dove right into the cake, and I have never seen such a mess! It was so much fun, and James loved every minute of it... right up until we started trying to get the cake out from between his toes and out of his eyelashes! :)

On a side note, clean up went much more smoothly this time since I didn't let the cake crust to my floor!

New Referral Program!

2009-10-14T22:05:00.005-05:00

I'm so excited to announce my new referral program! For the ~~many~~ few of you that loyally read my blog... yes, YOU! :) The greatest compliment that I can receive is a good recommendation, and so I give you my thanks through a new program. For every session booked through a referral, both you and the person you referred will receive a FREE 8x10 print! I am thoroughly enjoying my time with you and your families, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to work for you!

And just for fun, a picture of my cutie pie on her birthday a few weeks ago. :)

Mother of the year!

2009-10-10T22:47:00.007-05:00

It is now quite obvious to me that I am an AWESOME mother. My poor child is wearing his coat from last year. We couldn't find his snow boots. The mismatched hat. And not to mention my mittens... You know, since I'm prepared for the season and have purchased some that might actually FIT him. AWESOME.

The frozen tundra

2009-10-10T22:24:00.014-05:00

It is OCTOBER people! It is not supposed to be freezing cold and snowing! Kudos to the Beltman family for sticking it out in the cold, wet weather! Devin was a trooper, and Aubrey did great, despite being obviously cold and changed into several different outfits. We didn't get many smiles out of her, but I really can't blame her! I think my nice, Indian Summer for photography is officially over... did it ever really start?

Mia 7 months

2009-10-05T22:26:00.008-05:00

Yes, I did manage to make another baby cry! We did pretty good with Mia until I tried to put her in a basket. We lost her! She was a trooper though and cheered right up after we put her in the tutu. She had a contagious smile... I could just eat those little cheeks right up!

I have a new favorite thing!

2009-10-05T00:12:00.015-05:00

It's called istock photo! I could spend all night playing around with the different textures and backgrounds that can be applied to my photos, but sometime I'm going to have to go to bed! There is so much learning to be had, and I can't seem to get enough! I had a maternity session with my bestest, best friend Heather and her family last week, and we had FUN! At one point during the session I was literally rolling around in the grass laughing.

The sex of baby #4 is unknown... I'm hoping for a boy, but with three girls already, what are the odds? I'm guessing that we will find out on November 6th, sometime early morning :)

Scott and Heather are a beautiful couple, and truly in love. These two love to laugh, and we had a little bit of a hard time getting some serious pictures... lots of laughing in between! And I'm not going to talk of the unspeakable things (and smells) that occurred when Scott was laying opposite of Heather with his head near her bottom. YIKES! Love you guys!

Matilda Jane Party!!

2009-10-01T22:44:00.006-05:00

Okay girls! Here is your opportunity to get some of the cutest clothes for girls, tweens, and yourself! I am hosting a Matilda Jane trunk show on October 11, and I am sending out a blog-wide invite! Matilda Jane makes the most unique dresses, tops, leggings and skirts, and I am proud to show off my daughter and her friend in the popular knot dress! The new fall line has just arrived, and you can view the new collection at www.matildajaneclothing.com. Come one, come all, and bring a friend! Please contact me at eggebraaten11@hotmail.com for directions if you are interested! The fun starts at 2pm on Sunday, October 11... don't miss it!

This is what happens when someone else runs the camera!

2009-09-28T21:10:00.002-05:00

Welcome home from Las Vegas! Mike and I traveled with another couple, and while the boys did the bike thing, we girls did the SHOPPING, getting tattoos (me), sitting at the pool, sleeping thing... We stopped at the M&M store, and I finally talked Helen into taking a picture with me by the Elvis M&M. She took the picture. Not me. Note that I am hardly even in the picture at all... and Helen didn't even want to take a picture! It was quite the funny moment, and I just wanted to share. You are welcome.

Mr. Independent

2009-09-27T16:31:00.009-05:00

It's back to real life for me! My husband and I had a short hiatus in Las Vegas without the kiddos last week, and now it's back to reality! Shortly before leaving I had a session with a friend from my childhood swimming days... Sarah and I swam together in my middle school years, and she was in town from Michigan for a wedding, so we did a little family session while she was home. It was so neat to see her family, and great to see her again! Easton ~~was~~ (is, as I understand) quite the independent, stubborn type, as most 2 year olds are, but we had a great time exploring the Falls area.

Ummm, cake!

2009-09-15T23:01:00.011-05:00

My little girl isn't so little anymore! Baby Kate turns one on Friday, and it's a little bittersweet... it's so fun to see her grow and learn, but she's not my little baby anymore! I decided to do Part 1 of Kate's 1 year pictures tonight, and we had our good moments and our bad... outside she was bound and determined to go play on the play set, and every time I tried to put her back by the grass she threw a fit! Inside, she really liked to play with the cake, but refused to eat it and wasn't a big fan of getting cleaned up... nor was I! Note to self: cake sessions are fun, but it is IMPERATIVE to clean up immediately and to not let the cake crust to the floor! :) Even though the dogs had a run at the cleanup, it still took me lots of scrubbing on my hands and knees! Happy birthday to my little kicker, I love you!!

New package offerings for all of you baby mommas out there!

2009-09-14T20:02:00.002-05:00

Well, this post is going to be photo-less. :( I know, I know, how could I do such a thing on a PHOTOGRAPHY blog?!? Well, I'll tell you... 'cause it's all about my new packages for babies and expectant mommies, that's why!

Blossoming... $175
This package includes a maternity session and a newborn session within 2 weeks of your babies birth. Each session includes can be done in my home studio or at the location of your choice and includes 1 5x7 print. You will also receive 25 custom (4.5 x 5) birth announcements. At the end of both sessions we will design a custom 5x30 collage to include your favorite portraits from each session! Additional prints are available.

Small seeds to little weeds... $400
This package includes 5 sessions over the course of babies first year of life (newborn, 3 mo, 6 mo, 9 mo, 1 year). Available at my home studio or the location of your choice, each session includes a 5x7 print. At the end of the year, we will design a custom mounted 20x20 collage of your favorite images. A photo CD with reproduction rights of your favorite 20 images is available for an additional $150.

Seniors '10

2009-09-14T08:44:00.018-05:00

Josh... senior picture taker extraordinaire! And yes, he can play a mean cello! I had a blast taking pictures of Josh, thanks for the opportunity!

2009-09-11T08:35:00.011-05:00

I'm finding that it's really hard for me to narrow down my favorite pictures from an entire day of over 2000 pictures! I was able to spend all day with Chris and Allison, and I feel honored to have witnessed their love for each other in all of the small details that made their day special and unique. Congrats!!

New offerings!

2009-09-10T11:53:00.010-05:00

Check out these new offerings from my print lab! The mini accordions are a great way to show off your favorite photographs from your session, and come with a variety of templates and cover options. The mini accordion is available in a 3x3 or 3.75x2.75 inch book! The wooden image box is a great way to store your favorite photographs or keepsakes, and is wrapped with a leatherette cover with an aluminum photo inlay. The 8x8 box is crafted from poplar, and has a black silk inlay to protect your treasures!

What a beautiful day

2009-09-08T16:41:00.017-05:00

My first official wedding! I had an awesome time with this wonderful bride and groom and their family, and it turned out to be a beautiful day. The ceremony was really moving, and I could feel the love between these two. Congrats Lindsey and Ryan, the new Mr. and Mrs. Madsen!

4 and almost 5 yrs!

2009-09-07T22:46:00.009-05:00

Isabelle was a beauty, and such a joy to photograph! She had such a fun time running around the playground from one area to another, and then to another... We did a little exploring at the outdoor campus, and even got a little lost! She took us on all sorts of trails, looking for birds, dragonflies, and even deer (although we didn't seem to find any of those!). I can't wait to photograph the rest of her family soon!

October is Family Portrait Month!

2009-09-03T17:12:00.006-05:00

Check out this AWESOME special! October is Family Portrait Month! I have recently joined the Professional Photographers Association (PPA), and have found a great way to give back during October! During Family Portrait Month, I will donate your $40 session fee to PPA Charities to benefit Operation Smile, which treats children around the world who suffer from cleft lips, palates, and other facial deformities. This cause is particularly close to my heart. I have been to Honduras on medical missions trips twice, and have witnessed first hand the immense need of many children suffering with facial deformities. Operation Smile is one of the only charity groups that provides this service, and we often referred patients to groups traveling to Honduras at a later date. This special is a great way to celebrate your family and help a child in need at the same time, and family portraits are perfect for holiday greeting cards! With each donation, you will receive a FREE 8x10 print ($20 value) as a thank you. Call now for an appointment, and help spread the word!

Am I really that scary?

2009-09-01T15:55:00.009-05:00

I had a fun family session this weekend with 4 1/2 month old Nolan, although I don't think that he would agree! I seem to bring out the cranky side in children... do I really look that scary?!? All kidding aside, we had a great time trying to get him to have a good time, and it was so fun to see Tom and Erin interact and love on their son. We did get him to give us a couple of good smiles, including the "Elvis grin" that you can see in one of the photos with Erin... so cute!

Madsen family sneak peek

2009-08-29T15:58:00.009-05:00

I had to opportunity to have a session with this fun family last week. Carson sat on the couch, smiled for a couple of pictures, and then asked if we were done and if he could go outside! He did a great job, and was such a cutie! Lindsey and Ryan were married at a beautiful ceremony a few days after these pictures were taken, and I was honored to photograph that as well! I'm so blessed to be a part of your lives!

Queen of the kitchen

2009-08-27T10:35:00.004-05:00

Or not. This, my friends, is what happens when I try to cook something for my poor children. Poor microwave too... Maybe next time I'll use a bigger bowl. :)

I'm hopeful that this afternoon will be a productive one, and that I can get some time in production and work done for an upcoming special - be on the lookout!!

I'm leaving on a jet plane, or rather coming back on one...

2009-08-25T19:07:00.008-05:00

I had such an awesome time visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Oregon this past weekend! We had a jam-packed schedule, and visited the Columbia River Gorge, Mirror Lake in the shadows of Mt. Hood, the coastal beaches and even went crabbing! It wasn't quite as dramatic as Deadliest Catch, but close with my dad's boat driving skills. Just kidding dad! Enjoy some of my favorite pictures from my trip.

New babies and bedtime!

2009-08-19T23:44:00.012-05:00

I am now officially on vacation! I have my work done for the week, and I am headed to Portland to visit my brother. I'm super excited to get some sleep, but my kiddos and hubby are staying home, and I am REALLY going to miss them! I had an awesome session yesterday with a beautiful family and their newest addition, 5 day old Luke! I'm off to pack and head to bed... see you all next week!

Facebook special

2009-08-18T23:05:00.004-05:00

Attention all faithful blog readers! All ~~three~~ MANY of you! Join my Facebook business page by the end of August and receive a session 1/2 off and a free 5x7! This is the perfect opportunity to get a session booked for the fall or holiday season and to become part of my mailing list for upcoming specials and studio events. Look for Emily Eggebraaten Photography and become a fan today!

Going to bed now...

2009-08-17T23:52:00.002-05:00

Maybe instead of dinking around on the internet looking at funny photography comics, I should go to bed... you know, since I have ~~nothing~~ LOTS to get done in the next two days, including a photo shoot, mom's night out, 2 wedding consults, dinner with friends, a 10 hour shift at my "real" job, unpacking from my recent trip to the Black Hills, laundry, and re-packing for my trip to Portland... but they are SO. FUNNY.

2009-08-14T21:54:00.010-05:00

This is my sweet spirit! She started off a little shy at the session, but warmed up pretty quickly, and was pulling flowers off the plants left and right by the end! Whatever keeps the kids happy, right!?! I had such a good time at this session... kids bring such an innocence, it is just so refreshing! Thanks Tricia for sharing your beautiful daughter with me!

New Logo!!

2009-08-13T22:53:00.003-05:00

Check out my new logo! I love you bean sprout studio, and all of you graphic designers out there! I had an awesome shoot this morning with such a sweet spirit! I have to tell you that I truly fall in love with all of my clients... photographing your children/seniors/weddings, etc... it is so special to me to capture the essence of you! I feel so lucky to be a part of your lives, and am so blessed to be given this opportunity! Thank you all for the positive feedback I receive, and I can't wait to watch you all grow!

Hopefully I will have pictures from this morning done tomorrow... it's going to be busy the next few weeks so I need to get them done! I'll be out of town twice, working my "real" job, and doing 4 sessions and a consult in the next 2 weeks! Yeah!

I just can't help myself!

2009-08-10T23:50:00.008-05:00

What's that you say? You want to see more cards? For the third day in a row? AAAH... I'm going to go broke if I keep this up... don't tell my hubby! :) I just can't help it - I keep finding all of these awesome templates that I know you are going to LOVE! These make me want to get married all over again so that I can make myself some! In addition to the cards for wedding/engagements, I also have templates to make an AWESOME wedding/engagement album! The bottom 4 pictures of samples of the pages... they all have this same theme and are available in 10x10 or 8x8 with or without a custom cover. LOVE. THEM.

On a side note, does anyone know how to download free fonts? I have lots downloaded onto my computer, but can't seem to figure out how to get them into Photoshop or Word. You know me and my awesome computer skills... Comment if you have any tips, thanks!

Long Overdue!

2009-08-09T23:27:00.006-05:00

I have been asked by several people for some wedding pictures, so people, here they are! My brother got married last summer, and although I wasn't the professional photographer, I was able to get some really great pictures of the happy couple! I have a couple of weddings on the books for the next month, so there will be more to come, but this will hopefully tide you over until then!

Jack of all trades!

2009-08-08T23:11:00.001-05:00

When I started my photography business a few months ago, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. I am always nervous to try new things, afraid of rejection, and fearful that I didn't know enough about the business to make this successful! God has blessed me beyond belief, and I am so thankful that He has provided clients, confidence, and a supportive network. I envisioned having friends and family as my main customers, with the hopes of spreading the word through them... My expectations have been exceeded! I have several sessions on the books for the next few months, and an exciting special planned for the month of October. I've done a senior session with a couple more planned, and I have been booked for two weddings! I am so excited for what the future holds, and I thank you all for supporting me, encouraging me, and letting me chase my dreams. My goal is 100% customer satisfaction, a fun and relaxed session, and beautiful images that capture your most precious moments - thank you for letting me serve you! Be on the lookout for more information about my October specials in the next few weeks... you won't want to miss out!

And since this is a photography blog and all, what post wouldn't be complete without a picture! I recently ordered another backdrop (brown) and a funky chair...

Go big or go home!

2009-08-07T22:54:00.013-05:00

Go big or go home!! I guess you could say that has been my motto the past few days... I may have gone ~~slightly~~ WAY overboard on the whole card concept, but I am just having so much fun with it! And it's so easy!! I think I've designed something like 55 cards in the past few days, in the midst of working my real job, keeping tabs on my kids, and staying up WAY too late! My print lab is offering a special too... I have the option of ordering just one card to use as an example rather than having to buy an entire unit, so I am so excited to have example templates to show you when it comes time to ordering birth announcements, graduation announcements, open house invitations, save-the-date cards, holiday greeting cards and more! I did have a small 4 hour hiccup yesterday afternoon, but what learning experience wouldn't be complete without one for me? :) Praise be to God for providing friends that know things about computers! I'm so looking forward to the holiday season... it's not to early too book your session!

I'm no graphic designer, but...

2009-08-04T23:34:00.012-05:00

...I can pay someone to design templates for me! I was so excited this afternoon to find an awesome graphic designer that has made it so easy for me to design all sorts of cards - these are just the tip of the iceberg! And, as you may or may not know, I am NOT good at figuring out computer things, so to tell you that this was EASY is a miracle! Here are just a few examples of what I am able to create for you... I have many more options, including LOTS of holiday greeting cards!

Hey and Diddy!

2009-07-30T22:27:00.010-05:00

We went out to dinner with the family recently and I had my camera along (of course!), so we had a little impromptu photo session with my niece and nephew. Hank and Ashley were great sports (Noah calls them Hey and Diddy... so cute!). I tried to get a couple of serious shots with Hank, but we all ended up laughing, and I think they turned out better anyways!

True beauty

2009-07-23T16:45:00.022-05:00

I had the blessing of photographing this family last weekend, and I had so much fun! I have known Stu and Tashia from church before they moved to Iowa, and this is a family that has been through so much. It was so awesome to see smiles on their faces, to see Abby again, and to see how much the Lord has blessed them through their trials. I thank God every day for giving me this opportunity!

I (heart) babies!

2009-07-19T14:30:00.005-05:00

I just LOVE babies, even crying, screaming and not sleeping babies! It (almost) makes me want to have another... maybe someday when my second is sleeping through the night!! Jen was gracious enough to share her brand new baby girl with me, and even though she cried through most of the shoot we had a good time! It was nice to catch up with an old friend, even though I have a little bit of baby fever now!!

Calling all seniors!

2009-07-15T01:08:00.018-05:00

I had such an awesome time last weekend doing my first senior shoot! There is such a different feel to this, and it had so much variation from my usual photo session! For a guy who (according to his mother) wasn't very excited about getting pictures taken, Josh did great and was so willing to try anything. I absolutely LOVE what I have been given the opportunity to do, and I thank you so much Josh and Sandy for giving me a try and having faith in me! I hope you love your pictures!

Caroline!!

2009-07-10T21:12:00.008-05:00

Isn't she a cutie!! Caroline is so full of life and spunk, and is always on the go! Her parents are great friends of ours, so when the opportunity came to photograph her, I jumped. We ended up being unable to do a full session because Caroline had fallen the night before and bruised her eye, but we got a few good shots anyways!

Family vacation

2009-07-09T09:02:00.015-05:00

We just returned last night from a family vacation in the Black Hills, and we had a great time! My dad has a cabin that he lets us stay at, so other than gas and food, it's a free trip! FYI-never eat food that has been left at the cabin by my father, it is 99% expired or freezer-burned. Sorry dad, it's true... eggs: expired 5/09. Cheese: expired 4/09. Waffles: I'm not even going to go there... sometime in 2005. There is no tv at the cabin, so we enjoyed each other's company by going for walks, swimming at the lake, hanging out with friends, and going to the petting zoo. Noah LOVED looking for baby deer at the cabin, and had the best time at the petting zoo. I'm ready for my work week ahead!

Lil Liv

2009-07-02T22:27:00.015-05:00

This shoot is exactly what I love about photography! I had the opportunity to shoot Olivia, who turns two soon. I had such a great time watching her play! As is the case with most 2 year olds, Olivia wanted NOTHING to do with sitting down, or being held, or sitting with, and being anywhere near mom or dad during this shoot, but I think that some of the best moments are captured just watching them play! It just goes to show that even when kids aren't always "cooperating" we can still get some great shots! Thanks Annie and Brad for sharing your daughter with me!

I might as well blog while I wait

2009-06-28T23:48:00.012-05:00

By all accounts, I should be in bed right now. I am gearing up for a long few weeks ahead, as I go from part-time to full-time pharmacist while my co-workers go on vacation. I am not a morning person and have to be to work by 8am... not fun! So here it is, Sunday night at 11:50 pm, and I am still up and working on uploading a proofing gallery from one of my latest shoots. Still. You know, since I have such a stellar computer and all, and it's taking FOREVER! Mike noticed that the recycle bin on the computer was getting pretty full, so he thought that I should empty that and maybe the computer would start to work a little faster. It only took 15 minutes for the computer to delete everything - I kid you not. I don't think it's working any faster either, and it froze up everything else I was doing in the meantime. Aargh!

And I just want to tell you all that I did find my lens cap after all, pretty much right after I hit the "publish" button on my last post. I won't mention that it was sitting right in front of my computer screen the whole time either. I digress. I had a great shoot last week with a great friend of mine and her beautiful family - here are some of my favorites!

It's here!!

2009-06-26T22:28:00.002-05:00

It's here, it's here! My camera arrived today!! I can already tell that I am going to LOVE this camera, and I am so excited to use it at my session tomorrow! My husband has already started to lecture me on caring for my new purchase, since I am often known for leaving things out, and putting them in places where they might, say, get scratched or get breast milk on them... So I am planning on taking GREAT care of this new camera. However, I am already having troubles with that. Let me explain. My wonderful husband charged the battery for me and was putting on the neck strap and said, "you should leave the lens cap on the lens so that it doesn't get scratched." Yes, I agree. Except that I already cannot find it. I'm sure it's somewhere in my kitchen or office (the only two places the camera has been), but when your house looks like this, it might be easy to see why I can't seem to find it...

Heavy Heart

2009-06-21T20:49:00.009-05:00

I know that I already did a Father's Day post, but I wanted to write again because I am so appreciative of my family, our health, and our blessings. A family from our church lost their baby girl today, and although I didn't know them well, my heart has been so heavy and heartbroken for them this evening. This really isn't a photography post, but a hope that all of you reading will count your blessings this evening and hold those close to you a little tighter. This world is full of heartbreak, and it is so easy to question God at times like these, but we must remember that He is our refuge, and as Kristin said, He will turn our sorrows into dancing... So on this Father's Day, as Kristin and David mourn the loss of their daughter, I am holding my family tight and praying for families that are suffering tonight.

Guess What!?!

2009-06-21T11:15:00.004-05:00

Everyone, I know that you are just dying to know what I just ordered on the internet! Can you guess? You know, something that I've wanted for sooo long... Something that every avid photographer wants, and you know, "needs"... A big, major, life changing purchase! Yes, yes indeed I did order my dream camera this morning! I finally convinced my husband that I was in dire need of a new camera, one with an active view finder and screen that is not scratched and covered with breast milk, one that has an awesome lens on it, one that operates quicker for better results, and one that has settings to automatically control saturation, color, sharpness, and more!! A dream come true! And on sale! Look how much money I saved you honey!! :) And most importantly, it should be here just in time for my sessions this week! YEAH! I am SO EXCITED!

Happy Father's Day!!

2009-06-20T22:16:00.006-05:00

Happy Father's Day to my most awesome husband!! This man, who started out wanting zero children, is the most amazing father, friend, and partner. I couldn't ask for a better father for my children, and I am so blessed to have the family that I do. He has been nothing but supportive in my business ventures, and has partnered with me while I have photo sessions. He stays home with the kids when I'm working at my "real" job, and loves those kids like I could never have imagined! Now if I could only convince him to have just one more... :) Happy Father's Day Michael! I love you more than you could ever know!

Calling all newborns!

2009-06-17T22:44:00.012-05:00

I have found some of the cutest photography props for newborns and have them arriving in the mail daily! I'm so excited to use some of them and need newborns! Contact me today if you are interested in setting up a newborn session!

On a side note, my daughter is now crawling and pulling herself up on furniture, so my life as I know it is now over. And no, she is not wearing pants :)

What is wrong with this picture?

2009-06-14T12:02:00.007-05:00

Well, this little girl is NOTHING like her daddy! Her daddy hates feet, even to the point of not wanting to give a foot massage for fear of getting "athlete's hand". And while I'm not a huge fan of feet either, it seems that my little girl can't get enough of hers! It seems like every time I set her down to take a picture, she either has a foot in the air or a foot in her mouth. What a hoot!

Almost done!

2009-06-11T09:46:00.018-05:00

My days of single motherhood are almost over! THANK GOD!! I love my children dearly, but I am in dire need of a break and some SLEEP! I'm not going to tell you that I have left my 8 month old awake on the floor while I slept on the couch this morning, no I am not. But never fear, Mike returns tonight! A day early!! Oh, how we have missed him! I finally finished editing photos from a photo shoot last weekend in the wee hours last night. I had such a great time shooting the Quittem family, especially Angel. Pat and Missy have two miracle babies, and they are a beautiful family!

It's going to be a long 6 days...

2009-06-07T16:36:00.012-05:00

Hubby is out of town for the next six days (count them, s.i.x.) and we are in hour 11 of day 1. Things have been going pretty well today, and I have had some time to sit down and edit some photos from a shoot the other day with a dear friend's daughter while my son scoots around on the floor playing with his cars between nap time. I really need to be cleaning my house, but there will be plenty of time for that later...

I love my photo lab!

2009-06-05T23:51:00.003-05:00

My photo lab is the best. Again, when faced with developing a picture that would look sub-par or take the time to call me and suggest a change, they called. What great customer service! I really do feel badly that every time I submit something for print they have to call, but who does that in today's world?!? So now, after submitting a photo for a gallery wrap for my brother for the second time, I'm hoping that they don't call... I do love you CPQ, but I'm hoping to get one done on my own someday!

I have photos coming out of my ears!

2009-06-03T23:08:00.013-05:00

And I thought that I was behind on scrapbooking... If I keep taking pictures at this rate, my bottom is going to become permanantely glued to my office chair, and I'm going to go blind in post-production. I guess it's a good problem to have! I took pictures this evening of my brother and his BEAUTIFUL wife, home from Oregon, for their first anniversary. Man, they are so easy to photograph, and so in love! I had such an awesome time taking pictures downtown with them... something I've been waiting to do for a while now! I am really happy with the turnout, and hope the happy couple is too! Happy Anniversary Tim and Jen - I love you both!

Sweet baby Kelsey

2009-06-02T23:44:00.006-05:00

Babies are falling out of the sky in my group of friends, and I had one over today for a little playdate/photo session. She is a beauty, and so sweet, and her mom let me play a little with her and try out some new props. Thanks Kelsey and Breann!

One tough cookie

2009-06-02T20:04:00.011-05:00

I had a photo session a couple of days ago, and mom's one request was to get a picture of her sweet 18 month old smiling. I thought to myself, self... this should be no problem! Boy, I was wrong! This girl cracked a smile maybe twice in 1 1/2 hours, and the first time my photos were kind of blurry because she was jumping up and down on the couch bouncing a GIGANTIC blue ball... Needless to say those pics weren't my finest... I have decided that I need to somehow separate my photography area from the remainder of my basement, because the toddlers I have photographed so far are REALLY not interested in taking pictures and just want to play with all of the toys in our basement. I found myself doing all sorts of silly things to get Bree to smile and to stay on the couch, most to no avail. The ball bouncing and jumping and my running at her and then frantically trying to get my camera into position all while trying to run myself, not fall, and get a crisp picture were all that worked. She was one tough cookie! I had a good time though, and it was great experience, despite me tickling her, making silly faces and noises, and generally feeling ridiculous!

We're back!

2009-05-28T12:13:00.008-05:00

We are back from a great trip in Minneapolis! We took the kids to the Mall of America for a trip to the aquarium and Nickelodeon Universe, where Noah had a GREAT time riding some rides and seeing a few of his favorite characters. He is OBSESSED with The Backyardigans, and had such a fun time running around and riding the Pablo, Dora, and Sponge Bob rides. We had great intentions of getting to the zoo, but the weather didn't cooperate, so instead I subjected my entire family to LOTS of shopping, where they all sat in the car and waited while I made quick runs to many stores...sorry family. I may have made just a few too many purchases for my children that have closets full of clothing already...but I saved so much money on sales!! :) May I add that the photo does not include all of my purchases? Again, sorry family...

My husband has requested that I mention that he purchased a pair of $10 crocs for mowing and a $18 sweatshirt. The sweatshirt was purchased only because it was 55 degrees and we were all wearing shorts. Because it was supposed to be so nice out.

Anyways, at least I had a good time! Here are a couple of photos of our time at the hotel pool, where I refused to get in because the water was too cold, and the Mall of America, where we did very little shopping! You are welcome family!

And so I blog...

2009-05-24T21:52:00.010-05:00

It has been a busy past few days, and I am wiped out! We are headed to Minneapolis tomorrow for a little getaway with the kids, and I'm not sure that I'm entirely ready for all of the activities! Yesterday was spent cleaning, spending time with family, running errands, and a GLORIOUS photo shoot! I had so much fun with Bethany and Carsten - thanks Jeremy and Paige for sharing your kids with me! I spent much of the evening and early afternoon today in post-production, and after that I was able to do a little gardening! The deer really did a number on a lot of my plants from last year, so many didn't return and I spent a lot of my time outside pulling up dead plants and leaves. I am almost done cleaning out the front yard, and then it's off to the back... AHHH! I'm not exactly an outdoorsy girl, so when little creepy crawlies and worms jump out from under the rocks, it's not a pretty site! I still can't get the dirt out from under my fingernails and my back is killing me, but I feel like I had a very productive day. Now I'm off to pack, take a long, hot bath, and head to bed!

I AM a professional, really!

2009-05-23T12:16:00.010-05:00

Let me just start by telling you that my print lab called. Again. For the third time. Poor, poor Dalene! She is so sweet, and very helpful. I think that we have the problem solved, and my business cards will hopefully be here early next week. They will end up looking slightly different than the cards on my blog, but that is OK because there will be readable text that is not cropped out... I really should stick to letting the REAL professionals do this stuff!

My cousin got married last night, and we had a great time! I got to see family that I haven't seen for years, and my grandpa got to meet his baby great-granddaughter for the first time today! Last night I had planned to bring my camera and get a few shots of the bride and groom. Yep, I forgot my camera. WHAT!?! No worries, I still had my point and shoot in my purse. Um, no memory card. WHAT!?! Took one out of my phone (thanks, dad!). Went to take a couple of pictures... dead battery. SERIOUSLY!?! Don't worry folks, I AM a professional, although my brother might think otherwise! Here are a couple of photos that I took this morning of baby Kate with her great-granddaddy... so precious!

Things are blooming!

2009-05-20T20:16:00.004-05:00

I am happy to tell you that my print lab called today and informed me that my business cards that I designed will indeed have the text cropped out. STILL. I guess something like the 14th time is the charm... So I gave it one more try, and hopefully they don't call tomorrow! Oh well, I guess this is a learning process! I am happy to report that I have several sessions on the books, and would like to extend an invitation for new customers! I am offering a FREE session ($40) value, and 10% off all photo orders for my first 10 sessions booked, and I have a couple of openings left. Contact me soon to set up your FREE session! Things are really in bloom here!

My butt is too big...

2009-05-19T22:05:00.010-05:00

No, I did not teach this phrase to an impressionable 2 year-old today, no I did not... On a more pleasant note, we had a GREAT day outdoors with friends and family. I feel like summer is finally here, and I even broke out the plastic swimming pool today! We had my best friend and her daughter over, and while my son napped, we played outside in the pool. He got his time this afternoon after he woke up, although he missed seeing his girlfriend mostly naked. :) He kept hijacking his toys from inside and bringing them into the pool, but otherwise we had a great time. This evening for dinner we went to one of our favorite local hangouts with Mike's family to send off Michelle and the kids... they leave for Florida in the morning for ALMOST 3 WEEKS!! No, I'm not jealous, not at all... Well, maybe a little... Noah absolutely LOVES his cousins, and they have a great time playing with him and Kate. We are so blessed to have them in our lives!! Hope you had a great day too! Enjoy our day in pictures...

I'm at it again!

2009-05-18T22:54:00.006-05:00

I really am a glutton for punishment. Yes, it's designing something on the computer time again. You guessed it! It took me WAY too long!! This time I have been working on business cards, and I am relatively confident that they turned out. Here was my problem... I had a lovely template from my photo lab to just plug in photos and text and TADAHH!!! Only the program wouldn't let me send my order. Why??? Because nothing can be simple, easy, or done in a timely fashion when it comes to me doing ANYTHING on the computer. So I decided to use my new found knowledge of photoshop (thank you google!) and make a similar "photo" and copy and paste it into a template. It worked until I realized that all of the text was going to get cropped out. And then I couldn't figure out how to edit my photo. And so I made 3 copies of the same thing, 3 different times. And got frustrated. And ate a lot of cupcakes to compensate for my increasing stress level. Don't worry, I only had 4. I'm going to head to bed now, and I'm just going to have to watch The Bachelorette tomorrow...

Check out my website!

2009-05-17T23:33:00.002-05:00

It was my goal to go to bed early tonight... didn't happen... I am hosting playgroup tomorrow, and leave it to me to wait until the last minute to clean up my tornado! So now it's 11:30 pm, and I seem to have gotten my second wind. In case you haven't noticed, I added a link to my website at the top left - just click on my little beauty! Or you can get there the traditional way at www.emilyeggebraatenphotography.com. Give me a call or shoot me an email to set up your session! I just feel so blessed to be giving this a try, and am encouraged that today my blog had around 50 hits!!! Nothing compared to some more popular bloggers, but pretty cool for me! Thanks!

Don't be alarmed, it's just frosting

2009-05-15T22:39:00.007-05:00

I had the JOY of attending a dear friend's birthday party this evening at Chuck E Cheese. Admittedly not my favorite place, but it is so much fun to see how much the kids enjoy themselves. Lydia turned six this past week, and looked just GORGEOUS at her party. If my son wasn't already betrothed to her younger sister, I would tell him to go for that older woman!! (Sorry Heather!) :) And yes, it is just frosting ALL over Noah's face. The cupcakes were apparently a big hit (and no, I didn't eat three tonight...)

It's official!

2009-05-14T23:10:00.005-05:00

They really should include directions with this thing...

I opened up the big box, followed by all of the little boxes, followed by all of the bags just waiting to find that little sheet of instructions that tells me what piece attaches to what, but to no avail... there were none! Now for some (most) people that wouldn't be a problem, but for those of us that are just a little (not at all) mechanically inclined, I had to resort to this yet again for assistance. Not at all embarassing!

I did finally figure it out, and I have the studio all set up, and the website is LIVE! Noah REALLY tried to help me set up my studio, which was more than just a little annoying, but we managed to get it all done! And did I mention that my website is LIVE?!? I'm officially in business!

I DID IT!!!

2009-05-13T22:32:00.002-05:00

You have no idea how excited I am!! Back track to my post on my logo... So after uploading said logo to my website, there was a different color background on my photo than the background on the website, which caused a little box around the logo. I wasn't too happy about this, but after "changing" the background color (or so I thought) and emailing bludomain, I thought it was just my browser and that there was nothing I could do about it. Well, I decided to give it one more go round tonight, and I FIGURED IT OUT!! Well, actually Mr. Google figured it out for me with a little photoshop tutorial help, but it is FIXED!! And it looks GREAT!! Now I am sooo close to going live, and so close to getting ready to be in business!! So stand on top of a mountain and shout to all of your friends that need pictures taken - I AM READY! Except for the minor detail of getting my studio set up, but I have grand hopes of getting that done tomorrow... or the next day... or someday soon!! :) Woot woot! Now I'm off to find out who got kicked off Idol. I leave you with a picture of my little peanut...

Someday...

2009-05-13T19:31:00.004-05:00

Here it sits... still...

And here it will go...

At least I'm making some progress! And I'll have you know that I moved a piano all by myself to get this beautiful shot! Go muscles!

The first of many firsts!

2009-05-12T10:51:00.007-05:00

UPDATE-

Here are a couple of photos post-pony... it did not come out well, and still looks silly this morning.

I got all of my studio equipment in the mail yesterday, and just need to find the time to set it all up! In the meantime, enjoy some photos of my sweet Kate with her first ponytail! It is a little crooked and a little loose, but oh so entirely CUTE! She didn't really enjoy me pulling, combing, or holding her head still, so hopefully that changes, as she is my first girl, and she WILL be all things girly! :)

How do you work this thing?!?

2009-05-06T22:36:00.004-05:00

So I'm not the most computer savy person. Let me just start by saying that I can rarely figure things out on my own, and even with the help of a rather large instruction book and google, I still can't seem to figure things out! I have been trying (rather unsuccessfully) to create a VERY simple logo for my website - nothing with drawings or anything, just something with a nice font. Now, in order to upload said logo to my up-and-coming website, the image must either be in jpeg or png form. WHAT IS PNG FORMAT?!? Did a little more googling, read a little wikipedia, still don't really understand it, but I guess that's ok. I digress... This may not seem like a tough task to some people, but I just could not for the life of me figure out how to make a jpeg file on my computer with this lovely font. AT LAST!! I finally found a photoshop tutorial on how to make a logo. I am not going to tell you how long it took me to finally complete this simple project, no I am not. It took nothing like several hours, no it did not. And people wonder what is taking so long with the website... Here is a lovely picture (saved in both jpeg AND png format!!) of my creation - enjoy!

Not to be left out...

2009-05-03T23:15:00.005-05:00

Kate has been quite cranky the past few days due to teething, so I thought that I would post a couple of photos from her happier days in Florida. She hasn't had much face time on the blog, and if I do say so myself, I think she's quite a beauty! She is really starting to develop her own personality, and is pretty laid back, or at least until the teeth started coming in! I love to capture her in her happy moments, but it's fun to get a couple of her screaming every once in a while too... if only I had gotten those precious memories on film on the plane... yeah right!!

FYI-the website is almost complete, so keep your eyes peeled for updates when it goes live!

This one's for you

2009-05-02T22:44:00.006-05:00

This one's for all of my loyal readers... :) My family just returned from a great trip visiting the in-laws in the Florida Keys... I know, you are all jealous! We had a great time relaxing with family, but it's good to be home and resting in our own beds! The kids were a nightmare on the plane ride home, and if it would have been more appropriate, I would have taken some photos. Somehow I don't think that the people sitting in our general vicinity (strike that - anywhere on the plane) would appreciate me setting down my screaming child for a little photo shoot. Maybe next time. Noah absolutely loved going to the pool, especially the "pirate ship pool" (argh po po as Noah would say), and Kate was pretty content just hanging out wherever I happened to set her.

We made lots of new memories, but a few in particular stand out to me. I have been traveling to the Florida Keys with Mike for almost 5 years now, and we like to do a lot of kayaking where we often see sting rays, sharks, starfish, sea turtles, and birds. I, however, have been living for the day when I see a manatee and dolphins while kayaking. Mike has seen the dolphins while out without me over Christmas... not happy about that. Anyways, I had a dream the night that we got to Florida that I saw a manatee in the water as I was snorkeling above, and guess what I saw while walking at the marina!?! Yes, you guessed it, a MANATEE!!! My mother came with us for part of the trip, her first time to the Keys, and she sees a manatee on her first day. Go figure.

After raising one child and having another that has been on "solids" for almost 2 months, you would think that I would remember that when dining out, I have to bring the essentials such as food and a bib for my messy baby. I cannot seem to get a handle on this simple task. We were eating at a nice restaurant on the eve of my mother's departure, and yet again the kids were cranky. I decided to feed Kate before my food arrived, but having no bib, improvised with a lovely green linen napkin as to not get her pretty (BRAND NEW) dress dirty.

And then she pooped. Ok, not a huge crisis. Diaper, check. Wipes, check. Mother-in-law and Noah to help, check. Got to the bathroom and noticed a stain on my shirt. Poop? Check. Yes, a blow-out. All over the pretty NEW DRESS. So off came the dress with poop getting all over her beautiful hair, and meanwhile my son is crouching down to look under the stalls at a poor girl doing her business. It was a night to remember! And being the fantastic mother that I am, I had no spare outfit for my baby, so she went naked the rest of the evening.

And so we are back, and Mike has vowed to boycott flying for the next 7 years. We had a great time Mimi and Bop - many thanks!

My Boys

2009-04-19T21:38:00.006-05:00

I've spent much of the past few days editing and organizing years worth of photos to post on my new website (coming soon!!). Here are a few favorites of my little peanut...

Watch out world!

2009-04-17T21:04:00.006-05:00

Well, here goes nothing! Photography has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and I am excited to start what will hopefully become something a little more! I have been encouraged by several friends to give this a try, so here I go! Watch out world, here I come!