Yes, we finally had the new baby!  He is now 12 days old and already a pound heavier than we left the hospital. He was 9lb. 3oz. at delivery and 21.5 inches long.  He slept so I could take some pics of him a few days after we came home from the hospital, and I think he has already grown enough for me to take more pictures.

I am going to be scheduling senior shoots for July soon, so if you have already called or emailed, I will be calling you in the next few weeks to get your times sorted out.  All other shoots are going to start back up in August, so I will be calling you all in a month.  Hope everyone is enjoying their Spring.

Raising a boy is hard work and trying at the best of times, but it is moments like the ones above that remind you why we do it.  These are the winners from the annual contest we run every year. You can check it out here.  I love doing these shoots because the winners are so happy they won, and the pressure is thrown out the window to get the perfect shot. Everyone is just happy to be there. If I could bottle that feeling and carry it with me always, I would.

He played with this toy with the most intensity I have ever seen an 18-month-old muster. See, you never knew which tooth would make the croc snap down. Even I was on the edge of my seat.

I am so close to being done with everyone’s proofs. If you see yours come across the blog, that means they are done, so keep an eye out if you are waiting.

Thanks for everyone’s patience.

It really is a coincidence that most of my baby planners have come to an end in the past few months, but nonetheless I have been hanging with a bunch of one-year-olds. Anyone who tells you there is no difference between girls and boys at this age is nuts, or they have never even seen a child before. Proof here: give a one year old boy a tricycle, and he climbs on it like Godzilla; give one to a girl, and she picks the flowers beside it. I am sorry to see this one go, but I know his mama will bring him back for the long journey to see me at least once next year. Can’t wait until then.

Still churning away here to get all of the proofing done before baby comes. I really had forgotten how many times you have to go to the doctor in these last few weeks. Man, I am sick of doctors…

Just a quick drop in to show my Little Dude.  I have likened living with him to living with a rock star since the day he was born, and not much has changed since then.  I thought dad’s amp was a good prop to remember that by.

I am slowing down in ways I thought not possible, so if you are waiting on proofs it is going to take longer than usual. But I will get them all done before this baby shows.

Usually, at the end of every shoot with little ones, they get used to my camera.  I try to take a series of pics all in a row. I am always amazed at how quickly little ones can change from millisecond to the next millisecond.  Here is the reason I do this: I think it makes a great storyboard.

I enlisted the man to help me with my maternity pics while the Will was at school.  I definitely like being behind the camera more, but it is also so great to remind myself about how it feels to be in front.

The weather here is unpredictable to say the least. Sunny and warm one day or cold and rainy the next.  So we did a session in the brightest room in my house on the hill and wiped out some background magic.  She is growing so fast I can hardly believe it, and she can totally work the cape! Only a few more shoots for me, and I will hit the “you are way to big to be shooting” size.  Then this blog will be taken over by pics of my babies for a few months. Did you see that? I said babies. I can’t believe I will have two kiddos to call my own. GUSH.

I really did intend on posting these family pics that I promised ages ago.  Something happens when you are pregnant, and it is called complete brain shut downage. I would forget my shoes if it were not so cold outside.  So here we go - a more in-depth look at a family shoot.

I am pretty well booked up until maternity leave starts. I still have a few openings, but they are filling up fast as I am already slowing down pretty quickly.  This belly thing really gets in the way!

This is the last pic I took at my last session of 2008. She was closing the door on me.  Pretty apropos, huh?! This past year has been a whirlwind of great clients and great sessions which have lead me to a deeper understanding of where I stand with my art and the medium of photography.  I still marvel at each opportunity to enter someone’s home and enjoy their family with them, all while capturing what I see while I am there.

The New Year is going to bring a lot of changes, including a new baby boy to the HiF house. I will be shooting baby planners and contest winners in Jan and Feb. March will begin my maternity leave, and baby is due April 16.  After the baby arrives, I will be taking a few sessions a month until I can build back up to a normal schedule. Like everything else in my life, I am not putting firm boundaries on a time line as I know life has a way of throwing you a curve ball when you least expect it.

Our pricing, baby planner schedules, and Senior packages are changing with the new year. Also, these changes are being made so that I may continue to give my very best to the clients I choose to take on.

I hope all of you have enjoyed these last weeks of 2008, had a lovely holiday season, and are looking forward to this new year with as much optimism as I am.

With love, Malin and the entire HiF crew.