Castle Point Photography

Rainy Playground

It was an adventure for him, walking down a city sidewalk early in the morning, in search of a NEW playground.  The anticipation of it, the wonder, the promise of fun and play just a few blocks away, you could see it in his smile.  "where is it?" | "almost there" | "is that it?" | "no..." | "where is it?" | "almost there" | and so on, until finally... "OH BOY!!!!" 

These were shot on a recent trip Bodhi and I took to NYC to see his Uncle Jim.  He tired himself out so much that Jim carried him all the way home :)

Here are my favorites...

Blogosphere-coolmompicks

In my continuing quest to bring all things useful and cool to my readers, I present to you today... coolmompicks.com.  This awesome blog is written by actual Moms and features reviews of everything from Kids Clothes and Toys, to Decor and my favorite category, "Maternitywear That Doesn't Suck". 

Their posts are short, witty, and packed full of great links to online shops, kids events, and fun stuff for parents.  In their own words, "We're just a few moms that track down cool stuff so you can stay busy being fabulous. We know cool stuff doesn't make the mom, but it certainly helps make life a little better."

Go and check them out!

See, Mommy?

Me: "Oh.  My.  Goodness.  WHATareYouDoing?!?!"

Bodhi: "Washing my hair, see Mommy?"

Happy Mother's Day!

It's amazing how nature has a way of blessing us in small ways.  Ever since we moved into this house, our lilac trees have blossomed perfectly for Mother's Day.  As if the tiny little flowers are watching the calender days count down, each one opens on cue, day by day, until collectively they catch up to one another and smile proudly in full bloom.  My Mother has for 30+ years experienced the same magical gift from her Rhododendron plants.  Always in bloom for Mother's day, without fail. 

So, after gathering a few blossoms, our home is filled with the beauty of lilac and I am intoxicated with it's scent.  Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mother's and Mother's-to-be, Grandmothers and Aunties and special souls that guide our children and love them with all their heart.

Baby C and The Ladies

I have an old photograph from my childhood taken outside of my parent's house that remains a favorite of my Mother's 30 years later.  My brother is squinting, my sister is biting her lower lip and I'm gazing into la-la land as babies often do.  It's not a stellar photograph by any means.  It is, however, an amazing photograph.  Rare and precious and beautiful.  It has nothing to do with the print and everything to do with the subjects.  Four generations.  The Kids, the Parents, the Grandparents, and the Great Grandmother.  If you ever have the chance to capture such an image, seize it.

Rachel did just that after deciding on a beautiful Mother's Day gift of a photo session with the Ladies in her life.  When she emailed me a day or two after our first session back in March, I was thrilled to be a part of it.  My first thought was of that old photograph of my family.  The opportunity to give her not one, but an entire session of images made my heart jump.  Four generations.  The Child, the Mother, The Grandmothers, the Great Grandmother.  Rare and precious and beautiful.

Here are the favorites...

Elmo had a walk on roll for a bit :)

These images below happened moments apart... the first where Baby C was fluttering her dress and the second where she started to fuss a bit... the image needs a recorded clip to hear the collective "Awwww..." from all the Ladies doting on her.  She is so loved :)

The Miracle Twins

Babies are miracles.  I've said it more than once and probably at least one thousand times.  Often, the miracle of a new baby is doubled with twins.  And sometimes, the miracle is amplified by a triumph over life threatening situations.  This is certainly the case with Baby S and his twin brother Baby G.

When I met Rebecca yesterday, her little miracles were sleeping soundly and she quietly began telling me the story of their lives.  I sat before her, literally on the edge of my seat, as she spoke so calmly of all they had been through. 

An ultrasound at 18 weeks.  Complications.  A Diagnosis.  Your babies will not survive unless we go ahead with the surgery. 18 weeks.  The decision.  In-Utero surgery.  18 weeks.  Chance of survival at 25%.  Bedrest.  Waiting.  Hoping.  Praying.  31 weeks.  They made it.  Just over 1 pound and 3 pounds.  Weeks and weeks  in NICU.  Waiting.  Hoping.  Praying.

Now, as I sit before her, it is 6 months later, and they made it.  Not only have they made it, but they are thriving, and silly, and completely cute!  They are miracles indeed.

Here are the favorites...

Blogoshpere

Finding what you need on the internet can certainly be the proverbial needle in a haystack.  Other times, you stumble upon something that you never knew you were looking for!  I am a self proclaimed Tangential Internet Reader.

What is a Tangential Internet User?  Let me explain.  You sit at your computer with the intention of finding a florist for a new baby floral delivery.  On the florist's website is a link to a cute baby boutique that just opened.  You click.  You browse.  You find another link to a blog the boutique was featured on.  You click.  You read.  There's an article on the blog about this amazing new set of children's rainboots that are sold at Target.  You click.  You see if your local Target has them in stock.  Yes.  Awesome. 

Wait.  What was I doing?  (It's an hour later...) 

Yeah, I think you may know what I'm talking about.  :)  Thanks to this slight problem I have,  I have an endless list of bookmarked blogs and boutiques.  I thought it would fun to share a few here and there that I have found to be particularly cool.

That said, I have to start with the Big Kahuna.  Daily Candy for Kids. 

Daily Candy is an online newsletter that rounds up the best in fashion and products and fun stuff about town.  I personally subscribe to all of their Kids newsletters because I like to know about everything!  Of course, you can opt to only subscribe to NYC as well.  If you don't like getting email subscriptions, then you need only visit their site, all of the articles are posted there.

For you Mom's out there that know it's not ALWAYS about your kids, there is, of course, the original Daily Candy.  Same content, but for grown-ups ;)

Mother's Day Give Away!

Being a Mother is an amazing thing.  It has it's challenging moments or days, or YEARS... and it has it's kind rewards.  Being a Mother makes us stronger and softer.  It makes us wiser and it makes us a complete idiot at times.  Being a Mother gives you perspective and understanding.  It may come when you're child is 1 week old, or it may come when your child is 21 years old.  But once it comes, it never stops coming.  A mother's arms soothe cries and her kiss heals boo-boos.  A Mother has eyes that see beauty in her child far before others acknowledge it.  And all Mothers have eyes in the back of their heads.  Or so it seems. ;)

I wanted to honor all the Mother's that read my blog by giving something special away.  Starting today, you may leave a comment on this post with your favorite thing about being a Mother.  This will automatically enter you in my Mother's Day Give Away.  Winners will be chosen by random by a third party service.

The Grand Prize will be a free 3-hour photo session and a $200 print credit!

The First Prize will be a free 3-hour photo session and a $100 print credit!

The Second and Third Prizes will each win a free 3-hour photo session!

Yes, that's 4 (!) Free Sessions!  And, just because I hate entering a prize and not winning... anyone that enters and doesn't win a session will get a $45 print credit towards a session if they book in 2008.  I am so truly blessed to do what I love and I am honored to have such amazing Mother's as my clients.

The Small Print...

*The contest will end Saturday, May 10th at 6pm*

*Please only comment here if you would like to enter, you MUST leave a valid email address when commenting in order to be entered into the draw.  Your email address will not be displayed on this blog and will be used soley for the purpose of contacting you should you win.  If you live beyond NYC or the Hudson Valley, you will be responsible for all travel fees associated with your session.* 

Ugh.

Double Ugh.

My little guy is sick and so am I.  He's far worse off than I am with a stomach flu.  I just have the pesky cough that has seemed to follow me around since January.  I had a client cancel yesterday because her little boy is sick.  I think it's just going around. 

I do have one fabulous thing that I am announcing tomorrow that will definitely counter act the double Ugh I'm feeling now. 

Check back tomorrow.

I'll give you a hint...

Mommies are great :)

Storyboard Collections

When I was a child, I remember hanging out in my parents room to look at all the pictures on the wall.  There was one great wall with dozens of old photographs.  My father's black and white school pictures, my mother and my aunt as young girls, a news clipping of my Grandmother's golfing days, grandfathers and great grandfathers and so on for generation after generation.  It was a wall full of frames of different sizes, one huge collage that my eyes would wander over for hours.  I could probably draw you the layout of that wall, I looked at it so often.  Of course, times change and so do styles and trends.  Decor is much simpler today for most people, and a solid wall of photographs has been exchanged for simple, clean, and more "featured" displays.

A big problem my clients face after a session is choosing the images they want to display in their home.  I think it's a great problem to have, quite honestly, it means I did my job well!  I know, however, it is a REAL problem.  Often, the room you want your portaits hung in doesn't have a huge amount of wall space, but you are still looking for that simple look. 

One solution is to choose several favorites and have them printed as a Storyboard.

Storyboards are one print with several images designed into a collage.  The design possibilities are absolutely endless.  This image for instance, was designed as 30" x 30", but could easily convert to any sized square.   Visit the Castle Boutique gallery at Castle Point Photography to see some of my other designs.