Real and Beautiful Love Story Promotion for Milwaukee Families

Celebrating Real Life Love. Family Photography Promotion 

$200

February is my birthday month! This year I am celebrating a "BIG BIRTHDAY"! And in honor of my special day, I am going to make this amazing offer, so you can document your special day - which is every day.

Let's celebrate your every day. Real life. Real love.

What does real life love look like?

It's not just about heart shaped chocolates and red roses. Love isn't what we may be made to think and believe.

Love is sharing our lives with someone (or someones), and it's sometimes messy and chaotic.

It's taking turns getting up at night with a crying baby.

It means going to work after a sleepless night, or going to the doctor's office when you had 100 other errands planned for that day.

It's appreciating that you don't always see your spouse as much as you'd like, because they're taking care of the family in a different way, while you stay home trying to work on some of your creative ideas, while dealing with tantrums and food fights.

It's picking up some take out, so dinner doesn't have to be made.

Love is having the patience to repeat yourself calmly, even when your 4 year old persistently asks for the same thing, and you've already said "no".

It's having a date night at home, playing a simple game, because you don't want to leave the kids with a sitter for the second or third time in one week.

It's washing endless loads of laundry for your family, and never seeing the bottom of the hamper. 

It's potty training, and newborn poop explosions, and bath time. It's wiping tears, bandaging skinned knees and validating hurt feelings.

It's relinquishing the urge to protect your child from making silly choices, and letting them experience the natural consequences of their actions (obviously not if it will harm them in any way)

It's filling the car with gas, so you don't have to worry about it when taking your daughter to the dentist, then soccer practice then swim class.

It's letting your 10 year old follow a recipe from start to finish, and (probably) dealing with the flour, sugar and eggs all over the place.

And sometimes, it's saying nothing at all - just sitting together, sharing a knowing glance at the end of a long day.

Because after all, real life isn't about the gloriousness of golden fields and sun kissed hair.

Real life is sticky and gritty and messy, but oh so beautiful in all its ordinary simplicity.

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Milwaukee people (and those of you in surrounding neighborhoods and Chicago!)

This cold February, is the perfect opportunity to celebrate your real life love with a family storytelling session!

For $200, you'll receive a 2 hour Slice in the Life Session.

Includes a beautiful 8x12 fine art print, professionally matted and ready for framing (artist's choice). 

Afterwards, you’ll get the opportunity to purchase what you love from an a la carte menu of prints, products and collections - a stunning way to celebrate the love of your family every single day.

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Let's make meaningful art of your family's real, beautiful love.

(Send this link to your husband so he can get in touch with me. Or buy it for yourself. You deserve it)

Secure your session now.

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*Fine Print: This story session voucher can be used to book a family session, an in-home newborn session, or a fresh 48 story. As well, the value can be applied toward a longer Half Day in the Life and a Full Day in the Life session. The session can either be in your home, or at a favorite location of your choice or a combination of both. (No digitals are included in the session fee.)

All sessions are unposed and documentary in nature - they're intended to capture real life. Check out my family gallery and newborn gallery and check out my blog for some of my blogged sessions if you aren't currently familiar with my work  (goodness I have so many more to blog).

Sessions are for immediate family only and must be booked by February 28, 2018 and take place by July 31, 2018 to take advantage of this promotion. (Don't worry about choosing a specific date for your session yet. Reserve it now with your session fee, and we'll book the exact date as we get closer).

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Let's make meaningful art of your family's real, beautiful love.

(Send this link to your husband so he can get in touch with me. Or buy it for yourself. You deserve it)

Secure your session now.

Now offering Weekday Mini Stories // Milwaukee Family Photographer

I have an announcement to make. I know custom family photography is an investment. I honestly feel like it's the single most important investment your children will thank you for! And all too often, we only realize just how precious these memories are when they are no more. (So on a side note, don't wait for something drastic to push you into booking a session! Do it now. You'll be so grateful you did!)

Okay, back to the topic at hand. I am a mom too. I have expenses. Household. Clothing. Groceries. (Target...) and what not. So I understand if you can't make a full session a priority right now.

That's why.... (drum roll please...)

I am now offering Weekday Mini Stories.

FOR THE MONTHS OF MAY AND JUNE ONLY!!

These sessions:

• are a 30-45 minutes long. Perfect for one family activity like a walk to your favorite ice cream store, planting in your garden, bedtime routine, Mommy/daughter manicures followed by a special treat, picnic at the beach or just morning hangs.

• take place during the week only - Monday to Thursday. (mornings generally, but we can be flexible on that point)

• include 10 high resolution digital images

• include 1 framed 8x10 print.

$450. (Amazing deal, I know!)

Non refundable retainer of $150 due to book your session. Remainder due 1 week before session.

If you think 45 minutes is not enough for your awesome family, don't worry! I still have my regular sessions available at any time (weekends included). You can see the details for that HERE.

5 on 5 - March // Lensbaby Experiment // Milwaukee Family Photographer

Can't believe we're already up to the 5th of April! March here has been quite crazy! I felt like February was forever and March has just suddenly come and gone! From snow to sixty degree weather and lots of other things happening, it was all a blur! In a good way!

And talking about blur, this past month I borrowed a Lensbaby to add some variety in my day to day images. (For those of you who have no idea what a Lensbaby is - it's a lens that creates interesting blur effects on your images.) My kids funnily enough called it a Baby Lens! So apparently there are a couple different ones and they each have different effects. The one I borrowed, the Sweet 35 optic, had a very strong linear blur - almost like leading you into the scene - which kind of made me dizzy in some of the images. 

It worked well for these images taken on the swings - because you could almost feel the motion and movement.

And then I tried playing around with it indoors. It was so tricky and the backgrounds felt so disturbing, so I converted those images to black and white. 

And just in case you're wondering, no we don't usually brush our teeth in the bedroom! 

After all is said and done, I was not super excited with this lens. So now I have to decide if I want to try a different one, or just continue freelensing!

Make sure to check out Becky's 5 image story here. Becky is Milwaukee, Wisconsin Storytelling Photographer and a really great friend of mine!

Storytellers Blog Circle // Milwaukee Photographer

I am so fortunate to be part of a wonderful group of artist who contribute to stock photography websites. Within that community, we have come to admire and respect each other and appreciate the stories our photos tell.

Fo the Storyteller's Blog Circle, we choose one photo and give the background story into what makes this photo the strong Storytelling Image.

Lately, my girl's favorite snack is an orange. (To the point that we ran out of oranges, and she wouldn't eat a clementine!!) She loves when I cut it in wedges and she can suck all the juice from each piece.

This was a Friday morning snack before nap time. I basically just let her eat her orange and I worked the scene, shooting from different angles. I wanted to capture the one photo that sums up her personality - the enjoyment she has while eating the orange. I want the viewer to be able to feel her happiness and wholesomeness of how much she enjoys eating the orange.

So while I love the three images above, I feel like the one image below really gives you the full feeling of her intensity, and how seriously she takes her orange!

See the concentration in her eyes!! And the way she's holding her orange - as if not to miss one tiny drop of orange juice!

Settings: 1/250, f/2.0 ISO 800 Canon 6D, Sigma Art 35 mm

And since this is a blog circle, make sure to check out Jen - from Jen Lucas Photography's post to see how she tells a story with one image.

Motherhood // Real Life Documented // Milwaukee Family Documentary Photographer

Last January, I set out to preserve the daily memories we were making as a family. Morning routines, homework, shopping trips, the occasional meltdown, and the ever-present love and laughter. I realized that these natural, unscripted moments are what my children will always remember.

This year, I have made a couple resolutions, as I'm sure most of you have.

Firstly, to take one photo a day - a 365 project. To see what my first week of 2017 looked like head over here.

Secondly and more importantly, to get in the frame at least once a week. To be in a photo - either with my kids or without, so that when we relive our memories and pore through albums in years to come they should see their mother!

Which brings me to my third commitment. To document a day in our life once a month. I hadn't truly considered this until a fellow photographer, Sandi, challenged a group of us to take a photo each hour and document our day. I ended up making it more of a personal Day in the Life session and I'm so happy I accepted that challenge. 

This is an ordinary Monday in our house. Simple. Authentic. Beautiful.

From early morning stretches, carpool, nap time, carpool again, homework, dinner and bath time, I documented our day from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM. 

There was no golden hour sunset. We didn't all hold hands and hug each other. We just lived our Honest Real Everyday. 

Love. Laughter. Teamwork. Persistence. Joy. And even a meltdown (or two).

But this is my life right now and I love it! It's hard. It's tiring. And there's lots of responsibility. But it's invigorating. And rewarding.

Seeing the photos I made of my day, and watching them in the slideshow just gave me goosebumps all over! The beauty inherent in each moment that makes up my day is so hard to miss when you're not living in the moment.

This here is motherhood from my point of view.

And you can have the same experience and feel those goosebumps too. You might think your house is too small. Or too dark. You want to lose those extra 10 pounds first. Or "we don't do anything exciting". Guess what? I want to lose those extra 10 pounds too (okay fine, more like 20). And we don't do anything exciting either, unless you consider carpool, cleaning the kitchen and taking baths exciting! 

As well I joined a group of like-minded photographers who will be documenting one day a month too. If you click here and go to Laura's blog post you can see how she documented her day. If you keep clicking through you'll get to see the beautiful days of more of my fellow talented photographers.

Let's get real this year. ME AND YOU!

I'd love to help you preserve your family's everyday beauty. It can be the simple everyday. Or it can be a favorite activity you do as a family. DROP ME A LINE and tell me what memories you'd like to capture forever.

Also, make sure to SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST to GET YOUR OWN GUIDE with tips to help you capture your everyday moments.

{Personal Project} Documenting Everyday // Real Life // One Photo A Day // Milwaukee Family Photographer

I officially joined a 365 group this year. I've been documenting our daily life since last year, but I skipped many days last year. 

So this year, I joined some accountability groups and I'm aiming to do it right. I know there will be days when I don't get a photo, but as my friend Becky says, "Just do what works for you". And that's exactly what I'm going to do.

I'll just photograph our everyday moments. The beautiful. The mundane. 

So without further adieu, I present to you: Blimie T's Week 1 photos.

1. I started out the year with a self portrait (of sorts). Granted it's not in focus. But when I've got an overtired, cranky little toddler sitting in my lap, I take what I can get.

2. I don't know about your kids, but when my kids come home from school they are so famished they can eat a house. Okay, maybe not a house. But a container of cream cheese. By the spoonful.

3. When we woke up and saw fog, I was thoroughly excited! As a photographer, it's not often I get to photograph in foggy weather. You can read about our Foggy Day Story here.

4. This is what making breakfast looks like in this house. What do you do for your breakfast?

5 and 6. Winter in Wisconsin can be very drab. I've been focusing on trying to find light, and I was surprisingly awarded with some sunny days. For about 25 minutes every morning (when it's sunny) we get this one streak of sunshine that comes right through our kitchen and ends in the corner of the hallway. 

Capturing some house glitter (aka dust) has been on my list of wants (yes, photographer's like getting good dust shots!)

And just reading her favorite books.

And that's about it for this week.

If you'd like some tips on capturing your everyday moments, sign up here for my email list and I'll send you a quick cheat sheet! Also, if you'd like to join a 365 group please let me know in the comments below and I'll create a VIP Blimie T 365 group.

Family Holiday Traditions // Lake Country, Wisconsin Family Photographer

Imagine decorating 125 sugar cookies for the holidays with all the womenfolk in your extended family?

When it comes to the holidays, The Lake Country Mom and her family do it right! Grandma, Aunts, cousins and grandchildren all get together for a cookie exchange. Everyone brings baked goodies, packaged neatly for each family member and they eat a light brunch. Then the fun begins. Decorating Holiday themed sugar cookies, one at a time until they finish every last morsel of frosting, sugar crystals and reindeer antlers.

Here's a glimpse into the holiday preparation of a close-knit, fun loving family!

2016 Year End Thoughts // Milwaukee, Southeastern Wisconsin Family Photographer

It was just about a year ago that I started my official photography journey. 

I've always loved taking photos and freezing memories. It's just something I've always done since forever. I remember when I still had my disposable cameras and I would go through them like - well like they were disposable 😊. Then I graduated to a real camera. with film. and lab processing. and always ordering doubles. (remember that?). And then I got my first digital camera as a birthday present and I treasured that for a very long time. Until the day I got my first DSLR and it opened a whole new world for me.

Of course, like many moms with cameras and an overflowing passion for preserving precious memories, I wanted to offer this gift of capturing these treasured moments to other families.

So last December I decided to start portfolio building for my photography career. I learned very quickly that in line with my own natural leanings, I didn't like to interrupt moments or create faux connections. 

And that's how I discovered the big beautiful world of family storytelling photography, also know as family photojournalism and family documentary photography. Learning the skill and technique from giants in this industry, joining supportive communities, learning some more, practicing, and learning some more and then some more has really brought me to the place I am today. 

Starting with a 365 project last January in which I set out to take a photo a day, has enabled me to see and use different lighting opportunities and challenges as they present themselves. Admittedly I didn't make it too far into my 365 journey, but I do make it a point to pick up my camera every day. I may not have a portfolio worthy photo everyday, but I have a memory for us, unique to our family for (almost) every day of the past year. Slowing down and seeing every action and interaction and has helped me be more present in our day to day lives.  

Over the last couple months, I have been privileged to photograph some of the sweetest families. Documenting a typical evening routine, a trip to the bakery, holiday preparations and long summer days, I have been able to create images that show them just how beautiful their simple lives really are.

I can not wait to see what 2017 has in store for me, for my family and for my clients.

If you want to start documenting your everyday moments sign up here to get my top 6 tips that will help you preserve your precious memories.