I haven’t posted any images of Allison in QUITE a while. There’s a very good reason for that – she’s 18 months old now!! LOL. I know all of you moms out there know exactly what I mean without even describing it. But trying to get images of a child once they’re walking is like scraping cheese off the moon. (wow I’m not sure where THAT analogy came from – but whatever!)  A little backstory:  when I found out we were expecting another little girl – I was just elated. I was so excited to go through the princesses again, to buy little bows and ruffles and pink toys…I love it all – LOVE it. Well, one of the things I bought was the PERFECT outfit for her 18 month pictures. Why 18 months you say? WELL – I knew she’d be standing by then and the dress wouldn’t get all bunched up of course!!! So I bought the dress -now almost 2 years ago- and have taken it out periodically to think about the perfectly posed portraits I would make of her in that beautiful little dress.  (OK insert screeching record against a needle sound here and fast forward to realityville). I started attempting Allison’s 18 month pictures A MONTH ago (2 weeks before the mark). We’ve been to the beach, we’ve been to the park, we’ve been to the duck pond, we’ve tried putting her in a CHAIR in the park. I’m telling you there is NO getting pictures of her. It was like she thought a canon would fire out of my camera if she looked my way and her life depended on her running away from me and keeping her eyes on her feet. Whatever. Pictures aren’t going to happen.   I fold – I have no more cards left.   

Then last night happened. Funny thing though – she had messy, braided, bed-head, sweaty hair. She was wearing just a regular everyday Carter’s outfit and she had red ant bites all over her legs from the attempt at her pictures the night before and getting  set in a pile of red ants while mommy was 30 feet away drying desperately to get her picture in the weeds at the beach….So perfect conditions, right? OH and the sun was going down in about 1/2 hour. BUT on the other hand, she was very happy and acting silly. I thought – what the heck. I feel like playing with the camera, let’s take the baby out into the middle of the street and PLAY. Can’t HURT anything!!  Well what happened was nothing short of MAGIC. I have to admit that these are my favorite pictures of her  – bar none. THIS is my baby’s personality…messy braids, bug bite legs, nail polish on her shoes, dancing in the street in front of our house. Emma and I rocked out the Laurie Berkner Band songs – especially “ALLISON HAS  A COW ON HER HEAD” – (c’mon moms – sing along with me) and “Let’s go swimming let’s go swimming”…she rocked out and smiled and laughed…magic I tell you.  Here are some of the results…my heart be still…..

These little thighs….what can I say??!?

The next little series here has very special meaning to my heart.  If you  know Allie, you know she’s a very nurturing little soul. She LOVES her loveys, she loves anthing with a kitty on it, really. Emma has even drawn stick figure pictures of kitties on paper and she’ll hug it, rock it, pat it on it’s little paper back – it’s very sweet. When she RRRRRRRRRREAAAAAAAAAAALLY loves something, she’ll go through her routine of rocking and patting and then start kissing it and FALL on it -just total love there. She can’t love it enough, so she must SMOOSH it with her entire body. I’ve always wanted to capture this in a series – I just never pictured that I’d capture it in the ROAD in the front of my house!!!  Nevertheless, here’s my little Allison loving her little “Beries” lovey….These are the steps to properly showing affection to your trusty bear. 

Step one:  hug bear around the neck really, really tight. Pat him a little and rock back and forth: 

Step 2: Whisper sweet love in his pink furry ears…

Step 3: I’m not sure about this, but I’m suspicious that he whispers back because all of a sudden there’s a flood of emotion…

Step 4: Fall on bear in full-on bear lovin’ love…

Lastly:  FACE PLANT (make sure you remember that it doesn’t matter where you are, even in the middle of the road in between cars – this last step is CRUCIAL to showing your bear your love…)

Well, that’s it. I have triumphed over not only photographing the ever-elusive 18-month-old, but 18-month-old photographer’s kid. I’ll be back to conquer another day. You can count on it.    :)

Meet 5-year-old little “L”.   I can’t tell you how much fun it was to photograph this little fire cracker! She had personality OOZING from her veins – she also had a lot of ideas of how her photo shoot should go. Um…first we’ll go over “HERE” and I’ll hold the umbrella like “THIS”… I had to laugh because she was so darn serious – and so cute at the same time!!  

First she wanted some pictures done in her favorite Alice in Wonderland costume – doesn’t she look JUST.LIKE.ALICE??? such a pretty little thing. She danced and danced her little heart out in that costume – it was almost 100 degrees out too – I don’t know how she did it!!

Our next task was to get some photographs in her favorite yellow dress – again she danced her little heart out with the little parasol that matched perfectly. Can you believe the hand position in this 5-year-old?  Now I’m certainly no expert in ballet, but it looked pretty good to me!!

And one last one – just because  I love it. 

So finally after a couple of grueling  weeks, the new website and blog are liiiiiiiiiiiiive!!! I have to say, I really had no idea what an undertaking changing my name, website and everything would be – I’d forgotten all the details!  We finally launched WildSugar’s new website 2 weeks ago – but I held off on announcing it because for some reason, the blog didn’t transfer correctly! After going rounds with our hosting company, with WordPress, with other experts trying to help us figure out why WordPress wouldn’t let me into my control panel (but nobody knowing WHY we were locked out of the blog), I seriously thought I was about to lose my mind!!  I could bore you with all the details of what went wrong …hmmmm……well really I can’t bore you with the details because I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what Dave did to fix it – I’m just sooo very happy and thankful that it is!! (Haven’t I mentioned before I couldn’t do this without him?!?!)

So one last issue is for some reason everything is loading slowly – my background paper comes in basically when it feels like it … obviously some gliches to work out yet – but I’m happy!!  

After all of THAT — welcome to the new WildSugar Photography blog!!!   With a new fresh blog, new look, new name, I was thinking it’s kind of like New Years and I should make a resolution that I’m going to be a better blogger.  Should I even say that?? Kinda the kiss of death when you make resolutions and by the 7th you’re like – ehh… forget that. No really – I WANT to be a better blogger, I really do. So I’ve made a list. I have a list of topics on photography, on life, things about the kids, things about my WONDERFUL AWESOME FANTASTIC clients…. I’m gonna do it!! I can feel the change in the  air.

Ok done with the technical stuff – now on to the fun stuff. I’ve been absolutely chomping at the BIT to share one of my recent newborns with you…. We weren’t sure this session was destined to happen at first – I got to the house that was FILLED to the brim with the most gorgeous light you’ve ever seen…mom fed baby, we did a few mommy/baby pics – and it was like the apocalypse – I’m not kidding. As we looked out the 20 foot glass windows in the back of her house, we could see these black clouds come rolling in – stealing my beautiful light with every second. And wouldn’t you know it?? Little baby B had jusssssssssssttttt fallen into a nice, deep dreamy sleep.  Watcha gonna do?   I think it was meant to be because when I returned for the sunrise light a couple of mornings later, it was absolutely glorious lighting and I’m just so pleased and excited about these beautiful images.

Can you believe the gigantic blue eyes on this sweet little one??? He looks just like his gorgeous mama!

How cute is that little tushie in the air!??!

Now I must warn you – serious gorgeousness ahead — both inside and out…

This last one just took my breath away…little B was just a little fussy – we put him on mama’s shoulders and he transformed to an instant calm…I love that about being a mom….you get to be that magical, mystical person who just with a touch can make everything all bettter…

So cozy with mama…

I have so much to share!!!! It’s been busy around here. Till later!!!

I have been a busy bee these last few months – along with my FABULOUS designer Kim – working on a complete change to my  name, my website and a whole new look for EVERYTHING. It’s been a true labor of love and I couldn’t have done it without Kim. (Thanks, girl – I know I’ve driven you a little nutty).  We’re still finishing up a few of the final pieces to my materials, but I can’t wait any longer to unveil my new logo.

I have thought long and hard about a name change.  I know the reasoning behind going with MYNAME Photography – but in all honesty, I wanted something that really felt more true to my personality. Something very fun and whimsical, but still fresh and modern at the same time. I also really wanted to incorporate my last name (WILDS) into the name. We came up with the name WildSugar Photography and I’m so excited to share it with everyone!! Kim hit the nail on the absolute head with her design work and I’m just thrilled with the results. My NEW WEBSITE will be unveiled in the next couple of days. But for now -enjoy the sneak peak at my new logo…

If anyone out there is looking for a great designer  – check out Kim at Madilu Designs – here’s her site :  http://www.madiludesigns.com/  And stay tuned for the new site!!! If you type in “Teresa Wilds  Photography” it will still direct you to the new site -but to go directly, go to www.WildSugarPhotography.com.  See you there!!!

I had to share my new favorite photo – I know I say that a lot….I guess I should say my “newest” favorite.    There’s always that *one*. That photograph that when I first open it I go “ahhhh!! I LOVE that!!” I then proceed to process it ten thousand different ways and keep it open on my desktop to admire - the one I can’t WAIT for mom and dad to see (and secretly hope they love it as much as I do).   This was one of those photographs.   This one really speaks to me. Tells the story of childhood – the simplicty of being a kid, summers being long and fun, popsicles, sprinklers, playing with friends, just sittin’ on the dock kicking her little feet in the water.  Doesn’t it just give you a peaceful feeling?

That’s it for now! Can’t wait to share the rest of your gallery with you guys!!

T

I normally don’t post in black and white – you know me , I love me  some color!!    I had a great time shooting the B family recently and we did some really fun lifestyle shots in the master bedroom. As you can see, little man “J” had a blast  jumping on the bed – I laughed out loud when I first saw that image – little boy jumping on the bed and mom, dad and baby sister laughing in the background – PERFECT! A new favorite….  Here’s a little composite I did of my favorite shots from this session..

Here’s a couple more of sweet baby O and little  J – he and I became quick buddies…I love this little boy age with all the cars! He was just TOO TOO sweet too.

Don’t these children have the most gorgeous eyes!???!

I’ll see you guys soon with your beautiful portraits! I can’t wait to see them printed!

So funny story. I planned Father’s Day out all week (last week) – got the presents ready, kids ready, egg casserole for breakfast in the making…Got the kids up and did the whole “Happy Father’s Day” thing. Dave looked confused and said, “I didn’t k now it was Father’s Day today!” I thought…um ok – that’s weird that the DADDY didn’t know it was father’s day! So we go to church and I began to ask my friends what they were doing today to celebrate Father’s day – again, blank stares…I’m now figuring out that I’m on a totally different planet right now!! SOOOOO – my question to you is – did Dave really *KNOW* it wasn’t Father’s Day and was banking on me being nice for two whole Sundays in a row – or was he seriously as lost and confused in this world as I am!???!??! 

After a little embarassement, we decided to make a day out of it anyway and spent the evening/sunset at Honeymoon Island. Dave and I used to spend all our time there when we were first married….but haven’t been back since Emma was a baby….that’s too bad, beacuse this place is seriously heaven on earth. We had an awesome day  -  the sky was so cool b/c there was a storm rushing in. The best part was that Allison is finally starting to lose her fear of the beach and had a great time digging in the sand and watching the big kids play in the surf! FABULOUS I tell you. These are the days you look back on and say – OH REMEMBER that day???!  That was the BEST DAY EVER…that’s what kind of day it was.

This shot brought tears to my eyes….can’t believe my little beanie is 16 months old already – such a big girl playing at the beach!

AHHHHHHH – we need to do this more often.

My three babies playing together and laughing  – insert heart melting icon here….

Seriously….can it GET any better than this?

or this?

I feel like the luckiest person on earth that this is my job! It’s just such a blessing and joy to be invited into people’s homes to photograph this tender and precious time in their lives!  This little guy was only 5 pounds – can you believe it?? He was a pretty tough customer, I have to say. He did NOT like to have his hands touched! He would scrinch and squeal  -  he’s a fiesty little guy but ohhhhhhhhhh so tiny and sweet!!! Don’t you agree??

We endured some Florida heat for this shot  -  it was BLAZING hot outside. I think little E liked it best though -he was all snuggie and warm and happy!

One last one – I’m a sucker for little baby feets…

Till next time!! t

I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing Memorial Day weekend! I know we sure did!    I can see the end of the school year coming up here and trying to figure out WHAT I’m going to do to keep the kids entertained all summer! I always look so forward to this – but this morning’s experience with Josh has left me a little hesitant. I was enjoying my morning Cheerios when I was overtaken by this OVERWHELMING smell of SOMETHING in the air…I couldn’t pinpoint it, but as I began choking on my O’s, I hesitantly began making my way towards the offending smell. Josh comes running out of the bathroom with “the LOOK”…Moms you know what I’m talking about.   WHAT DID YOU DO?!?!?? Ugh. He had sprayed an entire bottle of OFF!  on himself and the bathroom. SERIOUSLY??? At 8:10 AM – you have to be to school in TEN MINUTES and you pull this stuff on me???! I didn’t even know where to  begin…his peacock hairdo from the night before, his mismatched Red striped shirt with blue shorts with white/red stripes down the side, his bare feet – and DRENCHED in bug spray.   Ladies with boys…PLEASE tell me how you do it??? Josh will turn 6 this summer and I feel like every day he makes me question my abilities to parent him!! 

I feel so badly for his teacher - I cleaned him up as well as I could – thought he was okay. But when we got in the car, I had to drive with the windows down in order to keep oxygenated air flowing through my lungs.  His poor teacher… 

OK on to the fun stuff!! Here’s another recent senior rep from Canterbury High School. We hit downtown St. Pete (I’m really loving shooting down there…each time I go I find somewhere new and FUN to shoot.  Here’s a few of our results!

I absolutely love this shot….

Till next time!!

I can’t believe it’s almost the end of the school year for 2010. Josh just had his end of the year concert last night at his school…I can’t BELIEVE my little man is graduating from Kindergarten already! Time really flies. Emma is graduating from 3rd! I do NOT know where the time has gone this school year – just a big whirlwind of dance lessons, tee ball, driving to and from school and here we are…another year GONE! I wish it would slow down a bit.

I do have to admit I’m looking forward to summertime. I think my favorite thing about summer is not having to rush everyone out of the house so early! No lunches to make – just take our time and head to the pool a couple times a week, catch a free kids movie or two at the summer movie events and a few sunsets at the beach! I love it. BUT – ask me in about a month if I STILL love it after my kids have had a month of playing together every single day!! We’ll see how THAT goes!

With the end of the school  year, comes time for next years’ seniors to think about getting their portraits done! I have a few more senior reps to share with you and I am already anticipating a VERY busy summer photographing the class of 2011 !!!   Here’s my  next gorgeous spokesmodel, Miss “J”. She has the most stunning eyes, don’t you think??

Don’t miss out on your chance to be photographed by Teresa this summer! Call and reserve your spot today!

If you know Miss “J”, ask her how you can recieve 16 free wallets with your session!

How much fun is this video of one of my senior spokesmodels? We shot in downtown St. Petersburg and, I have to say, this was a SUPER fun session!  It’s taken a few days to figure out how to embed the video into my blog  – so hopefully this works!!  If you know “S” contact her for further information on scheduling your custom senior portraits by Teresa!

Here’s a few more of my favorite images from this session!

Ms. T was so comfy in front of the camera – I wish I had this kind of confidence when I was so  young!! It was an absolute joy to photograph her! If you’re part of the class of 2011 and you know “T” contact her for more information on your senior portraits! 

Serious beauty – don’t you agree??

After attending a few classes in Vegas  WPPI on High School senior portrait  photography,  and hearing how much FUN it is to shoot seniors, I thought – hey, am I missing something?  I need to  check this out!! I admit it - I HAVE been missing something! I’ve shot three teens so far this month and it has been SUCH great fun! I love all the clothes, the jewelry – the SHOES – it’s fun when they pull up and the ENTIRE TRUNK (I  kid you not) is loaded with clothes to dig through. Add that to walking around hip, interesting places. OH and the best part??? They aren’t running away from me while I’m trying to photograph them! (Yes that is a bonus when you’re used to 2-year-olds!! ) 

I’m excited to say that I am now taking bookings for the class of 2011. I do even have a few slots left for high school spokesmodels – if you are interested, email me at teresa@teresawildsphotography.com and I will send you an application.  

Here are  a couple more from my first GORGEOUS model.

I can’t belive the time is FINALLY here for WPPI Las Vegas. I’ve been looking forward to this since last year  and  I am out of my MIND itching to get out of here!!  For those of you who don’t know, WPPI is the Wedding and Portrait Photographers Association and holds a gigantic conference and trade show every year in Vegas. EVERYONE will be there. SO MANY photographers that are leaders in the industry will be teaching classes and mingling with the “rest” of us! I’m going to meet people such as Audrey Woulard, Lori Nordstrum, Jasmine Star  and Brianna Graham!! AHHHH!!!  

I’m also especially excited to attend the trade show. There are hundreds and hundreds of vendors there and I’ll be able to get my hands on the hottest products available on the market. I will be choosing the very best and soon will be offering them to clients of Teresa Wilds Photography!! SEE? It’s a win-win for everyone. 

I plan on  posting bits and pieces of my week while I’m there. I’m taking my camera, but I’m not sure how much it will actually make it out of my room…I have a feeling my point-and-shoot may see more action this week so I can put my focus on soaking up the experience and all that I’m about to learn.  If you send an email or inquiry in the next week, please be patient! I will be checking emails on a limited basis, but response may be a bit slower than normal.  I will return on the 11th ready to  hit the ground running!!! See you then.

T

This is a topic that comes up in photographer circles all.the.time these days. It’s also something that occasionally comes up with clients as well. “What about digital files”. Do you sell them? HOW do you sell them? How much are they? 

I feel the question really needs to be “WHY do you sell them?” Or, from a client’s perspective, “Why do you want them?”  I admit the idea of having a digital file in my hand to keep for forever in a little black box on my desk is a comforting feeling…to know it’s there all safe and sound and tucked away sounds good. But I have to question, what’s the point? Sure you can EASILY find a photographer willing to charge you $200 or $500 and give you all your images on a disc. They are everywhere these days.  But let’s think about this a little further.

When clients come to Teresa Wilds Photography, they come to me expecting to get beautiful images and a fun, enjoyable experience for their kids and family. They want ART for their walls. Pieces to treasure for a lifetime, that will grace their walls, that friends and family will admire and that their great-great grandchildren can say – WOW wasn’t she beautiful wayyyy back in 2010?  I don’t know about you, but I have over 80,000 digital files of my family on my computer, backed up to an external hard drive, backed up onto CDs as WELL as an off-site facility (just in case an asteroid lands on my roof and destroys all my other copies of everything).  Just think about that….80,000 files. This doesn’t count the tens of THOUSANDS of prints I have from the pre-digital era. Who is ever going to  look at those? Is ANYONE ever going to sift through 80,000 files someday? (80,000 as of February 2010 mind you. My kids are only 9, 5 and 1 - by the time they leave my home, there could be 500,000 or  750,000 or a MILLION  ”digital files” on my computer). Is anyone EVER going to sift through them and pick out their favorites? print them? care about them? CHERISH them???  I challenge you that they will not.  The ones that will be meaningful to my kids are the ones they walk  past on a daily basis…portraits they have seen on the walls – portraits of themselves, their siblings, of family memories that we’ve shared – and that we TALK about because they’re hanging on our walls and we remember….

Portrait photography is a gift. It’s the one gift we give to our children that they will always have with them.  Long after the toys have broken, video games are obsolete, the clothes have been outgrown and the trips are all taken – these portraits are meant to be out in the open – meant to be shared with our children to help them remember their lives – remember the feelings they had running through the park, dancing in the waves, playing with their dog, chasing the seagulls, being held in their mother’s arms. 

When you are choosing a photographer to capture these priceless times in your family’s life, please take the time to choose someone who is PASSIONATE about the service and portraits that they provide to you. Someone who wants to see their service to you through to the end product  and provide you with beautiful art for your home and lifetime treasures for your children.  I feel so strongly about this that I really felt it was important for clients and prospective clients to understand why I do what I do. 

So back to the original quesion “Do you sell digital files”? The answer is yes – in a very limited basis. I do allow the purchase of digital files along with collections that include professionally printed and protectively coated gift and wall sized portraits. As a mom, I do understand wanting files for my black box on my desk. But I hope that if you choose Teresa Wilds Photography, your main goal is to provide your children with true gifts and art for your home.

And I leave you with one little, tiny thought…does this precious little face belong in a black box???

It’s technically  not Valentine’s Day anymore – it’s 12:16 AM…but I’ve been very busy today! I’ve been working on a little treat for you – a little Valentine’s treat for all my readers!  I WOULD have had it done ahead of time to be posted bright and early this morning. But this stupid dumb freezing cold weather here in Florida has kept me from the task at hand. NOW I know ya’ll from the north are laughing at our piddly 30′s, 40′s and 50′s weather…but really…I have a good argument.

See…we have long, hot 1029802830984% humidity summers – usually lasting from April-October with our windows shut tight and very little venturing outside before the sun starts setting…it can be a little claustrophobic. (Not unlike your cold winters up north, I’m sure). BUT we put up with these terrible, sticky, so-thick-you-can-cut-it-with-a-knife weather because we  know we have the holy grail come December. We have December through April of heavenly beautifulness. A wonderful string of months where our windows are open, there is no humidity to be found – NO RAIN – and 70′s sunny days that wrap their arms around you for days on end. NOT THIS  YEAR. Enter end of 2009-2010.  We’ve been waking up to 30-s a LOT lately. (that never happens). It’s been STAYING in the 40′s all day. (THAT never happens). It’s been raining for what feels like NON STOP. (THAT NEVER HAPPENS In the winter – we have enough of THAT all s ummer!) So forgive me if I whine and have a bit of a temper in regards to my STOLEN outside time this year.  I digress…

We woke up this morning to 38 degrees. UGH. I’ve had Allie’s v-day tutu in the wings for months now – just waiting for the perfect day to do  Valentine’s pictures so I would have this ready to go for today.  Finally, I surrendered to the ugly winter at hand and took my poor children out in short sleeves and no socks (allie at least) and had a little mini-frigid-photo shoot to at least have SOMETHING to work with. Besides Allie’s lips and feet turning blue at the end,  we ended up having a really fun time – we saw a beautiful sunset at the beach and then I came home and began my all-night-project at hand…First of all, I’ll share my favorite photos from the day.

I love this shot of my girls:

Allie was such a trooper in her little bare feet and short sleeve shirt! It was 50 degrees at this point, but hey, that’s rough on us thin-blooded Floridians. She was a good sport:

And here’s my little man….It’s so funny – he really likes having his picture taken all of a sudden!

Here’s my big girl – she’s a little shy at the camera at times…doesn’t realize how beautiful she is both inside and out.

Here’s  Daddy doing what he does best – playing with his iPhone:

Allie’s not so much a fan of the beach…we’re gonna have to make a believer out of her soon…see? Another casualty of a winter STUCK INSIDE…

Here’s all my babies together…

One more for kicks!!

SOOOO – now that I’m at the end of my post, this is the spot I was going to insert my video…apparently it’s too big and WordPress won’t let me upload it. If you are still with me, check out my facebook page where you can view my video from our day. These videos are a new product offering for Teresa Wilds Photography and I’m VERY excited about them!! Let me know what you think!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Teresa-Wilds-Photography/310913711986?ref=nf  Click this link, become a fan and check out my new video!!

I had the honor to photograph my very first set of newborn twins recently.  I can’t begin to describe what fun this session was for me!! Seriously – can it get any better than this?  They say when you are doing what you’re supposed to be doing with your life, it’s really not work. That’s EXACTLY how I feel with little newborns – but 2 at once?? That was TWICE the fun!!   These precious little guys were so fabulous for me. As long as their little tummies were full, they were the perfect little sleepers. It’s quite a long day with twins, I admit – but the payoff???!?! Check THIS out – Seriously can it GET any sweeter???! I think not.

If that’s not enough – how about this??

Here’s just a couple more – these guys were just such a joy…why can’t they  just stay little like this a bit longer???? Sigh…..

Kelly – thank you so much for the opportunity to photograph your precious little guys!!