Treasure the Time Photography Blog • Sandi Bradshaw • Gilbert, Phoenix, Scottsdale Child, Newborn, Baby, Family, & Senior Photographer • Photography

15 Years...

That is how long these wonderful people have been married!!! Seriously...if I didn't know them I would look at these images and think that this was an engagement photo session! Not only have they been married for 15 years, but they have 6 amazing kiddos too! Wow! You guys seriously rock! :o)

I got so many really fun shots of them...and they were such willing participants...I had so much fun! I think this might actually have been more fun than an engagement session because after 15 years...you're just soooo comfortable together. Ironically...we did chat about how old we are all starting to feel...but, as I'm proofing these I feel like I'm looking at a couple of young kids in love! :o)

Til Next Time!
S

A Tribute to My Mom...

When I woke up this morning I was surrounded by 3 little boys, 1 medium boy, and 1 big boy...I think the dog was even around there somewhere. I was showered with gifts and lots of love...and I was once again reminded how much I love being the only girl in this family. I didn't always...there was a time when I wanted a daughter very, very much...but, I'm so content with the family that God's blessed me with...ALL BOYS! I couldn't be more grateful for my sons and my hubby...and most days...I thoroughly enjoy being the only girl.

But...because of the fact that I'm the only girl I think that makes my relationship with my mom that much more important to me. She and I truly are the only girls in our little family. So, while I often get told that I'm "just like my dad" those comments usually come when I'm doing something...well...umm...sneaky or silly or goofy or sneaky! Yeah...I said sneaky twice. Or when I'm bragging to my mom about my high IQ...I do that (so does my dad)...it's 147 by the way...you'd never know! See how I brag? I'll be the first to admit that a high IQ doesn't always go hand in hand with a whole lotta common sense...I digress...

But, when I am told that I remind people of my mom...it's usually for a much more feminine or graceful reason...and it's those things that make me so proud to be her daughter. So...this morning as I was thinking of this other "girl" in my family...and what it's meant to be her daughter through the years...I was reminded of so many wonderful things that make my mom...the BEST!

1 ~ She loves me. Period. And, historically speaking...that has not always been an easy thing to do.
2 ~ She has served my dad and our family with a servant's heart for all of the years that I can remember. She is tireless in serving her family, and that has been a beautiful example to me.
3 ~ She's organized (like really, really organized). I pretend to be. I am not. I admire that a LOT.
4 ~ She suffered through a good couple of my seriously delinquent boyfriends back in the dating years.
5 ~ She never lost hope in me...even during the handful of years when things looked relatively hopeless for this girl. (Most parents would have written their daughter off...not mine!)
6 ~ She {L O V E S} my boys!
7 ~ She does THIS every year at Christmas...
8 ~ She always notices when I post things on my blog or send an email too late in the night...and emails me a reprimand sweet reminder to sleep.
9 ~ She is super fun to shop with!
10 ~ She passes down all of her old (but hardly used) purses to me.
11 ~ She's my biggest fan!
12 ~ She understands my disdain for cards (even though she disagrees with me) and will not be surprised when I tell her that "this" is her card. :o)
13 ~ She taught me to be strong when she walked through the most horrible time in all of our lives...when my brother Tommy was killed in a car accident. 12 years later...and I am still amazed at her strength.
14 ~ She trusts the Lord.
15 ~ She makes fun of me EVERY time she pours me a cup of creamer coffee.
16 ~ She is generous like no other...except maybe my dad. :o)
17 ~ She's married to The King...at least he'll tell you that. :o) I guess that makes her The Queen! ;o)
18 ~ She makes THE BEST Texas Sheet Cake. Ever.
19 ~ She gave me life...not just birth...I mean LIFE. She worked hard to give my brother and I a happy childhood, fun memories, and a life full of activity and fun!
20 ~ She cries at sappy movies...like me. :o)
21 ~ She takes me out every year on my birthday and showers me with a jammed packed full day of girly glitziness.
22 ~ She loves traditions.
23 ~ She never brags about herself. Ever.
24 ~ She might be a little embarrassed by this post...because she doesn't like so much attention.
25 ~ She makes me proud to be so blessed to call her "MY" mom.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to Everyone...enjoy your sweet families!

Blessings,
S

Not So Newborn Session

This precious little guy was a little past the super curled up newborn phase, but he was the sweetest little thing...and WIDE awake just about the whole session. What a little trooper he was...didn't fuss a bit...just wanted to play. :o) His sweet Momma was able to get him to sleep for just a few minutes, so I was able to get a few shots of him sleeping. I love this one...

His mom was referred to me by another client whose photos I did last Christmas...and it once again reminded me of how thankful I am that I have had so many wonderful clients who have referred me to their friends. I've loved meeting so many new people and it's been so much fun getting to know so many sweet families. Some of you have become good friends...and I couldn't be happier about that! :o)

Here's a few more of Q...

And then this next image is just such a great representation of this sweet boy's disposition...I don't even recall him crying the whole time I was there.

Thanks Ann for letting me spend such a relaxed afternoon at your house...and for the fabulous decorating ideas...my goodness! I may just need to take you furniture shopping with me after we move! :o) I'm totally inspired!

Till...Next...Time...
S

At the Risk of Repetition...

I am going to post a couple more silhouettes! :o) I am absolutely LOVING silhouette shots! I printed the one of my son playing baseball that I posted a few days ago and he has proudly carried that thing around all day! It's going to be his new bookmark. :o)

This one was my favorite tonight...I love the smoochy shot...this is the KISSIEST child I've ever had! I so love it!

So...I've decided to make it a goal to get at least a couple good silhouette shots at the end of every evening session. We have the most gorgeous sunsets here!!! (Sidenote: Hey Robbin...wanna switcheroo to an evening session so we can do some cool silhouettes of you and your hubby???)

So...tonight we headed over to Logan's Roadhouse after my son's game (Wow! That place is LOUD!) My older three boys road with my mom and dad...so it was just me, my hubby, and Mr. R. So...just as we were walking up to the restaurant I noticed that the sky was so beautiful so I asked my hubby to jump up on a rock so I could grab a couple shots before we went in. Soooo glad I had my camera with me (I do tend to bring it everywhere)...So...by some WILD and CRAZY chance...if you happened to see a crazy lady laying on the ground outside of Logan's Roadhouse in Gilbert tonight, pointing her camera at her hubby and child on a rock and wondering what on earth all the fuss was about...well...it was about this...:o)

I adore how you can see one of my son's MANY cowlicks off the back of his head. There must be 50 of them on that little honey head!

So...enjoy the silhouettes...I am planning to post a few recent newborn pics tomorrow! Soooo scrumptious this little man! Can't wait!

I also have an update on the Secret Garden Mini Sessions THIS SATURDAY!!!...for LADIES ONLY! Shhhh! :o)

The location has been secured. I will be doing the Secret Garden Minis at Stonebridge Manor in Mesa! This is such a beautiful location! Just gorgeous!

I am also expecting one of my favorite people in the world (the man driving the brown truck) to bring me a simply fabulous little gift tomorrow...THIS SWEET THING!!! Isn't it beautiful? I can hardly wait to get my hands on it!

I also can't WAIT to play with it this Saturday at such a gorgeous location! So...you wonderful ladies get to be my first victims of this sweet lens! It's a Nikon Wide Angle 14-24 f/2.8. Soooo fun! I got this lens primarily for doing large group shots (mainly commercial work) and indoor family sessions throughout the summer. Which reminds me...I am booked solid for May at this point (other than if you have a Newborn Session to schedule), but I am booking now for mid-June through August for indoor child or family sessions and also maternity and newborn sessions.

NOW...back to the Secret Garden Mini Info...

The times for the sessions have had to be pushed back though from what I had originally planned due to them hosting a prom that evening...so the sessions will take place between 2pm and 5pm. I've had a couple of ladies with schedule conflicts because of the time changes...so I have a few spots left. You can find all the details about the Secret Garden Mini Sessions HERE (at the end of that post). If you'd like to book a session please EMAIL ME and I'll let you know what's available.

{Secret #3} & another belated sneak peek!

Okay...and now for secret number 3!!! I am soooo excited to announce that we are MOOOVING! Yes....this has been a little secret of mine that I was waiting for just the right time to share...and I am so excited! Our new house is only a couple of miles east of our current home so the move should be pretty uneventful and hopefully pretty easy. My 13 year old is thrilled to be able to avoid packing and moving duties since his leg is still in a cast...but, I've got news for him...we would all be MORE than happy to keep a steady stream of books coming his way to box up while he sits in any comfy spot of his choosing. :o) No problem. :o) So...we move at the end of this month...actually we close on the 21st which is approaching at an alarming rate! So this will be a very busy month!

I will also be taking the months of June-August off other than for Newborn, Indoor Sessions, and Commercial work. So...if you are pregnant and due during the summer, please book your Newborn session as soon as possible. I'll only be doing a limited amount of sessions throughout the summer. I'm still planning on teaching a couple of workshops this summer...I've been getting an awful lot of emails about workshops lately. The details on those will come soon.

And now...for a sneak peek of another one of the beautiful seniors I've had the privilege of photographing this year! I think I've had the prettiest seniors in the whole valley! Miss A. was such a sweet girl and I had a lot of fun with her during her session. We were at a location that I've shot at many, many times...but this time we kind of changed things up a little and I ended up getting some shots that I really loved that were different than any others that I've done there.

Here are a few of my favorites...

I Think My 10 Year Old...

...is Potty Training my 2 Year Old! Could life be any more strange? Remember Wacky Wednesday when you were little? I feel like this week has been one Wacky Wednesday after another. Everything a little...ummm...backwards. :o) But...I won't complain too much...if he wants the challenge...by all means...give it a go Mr. J.!!! I wish you well and great success!!! (So far it's looking pretty good!)

I need to catch up on a few sneak peeks...I've got several galleries done already that I have not ever posted a sneak peek for! So...today's highlight goes to Mr. W...

His mom wanted to capture his fabulous toothless grin before the time passed. I LOVED that idea! It's such a fleeting time...they're toothless when they're born and then we get to see those cute toothless grins for such a short time when they're around 6ish...and then it's over! I thought it was awesome that his mom wanted to treasure THIS time in his life! I had such a fun time chit chatting with W during the session. What a great kid!

I also thought it was so cute that he wanted pictures with his Webkinz. I got so many fun shots of him cuddling up with him and just being silly. I love it when clients bring things to their session that are special to them...he was so cute and so excited to have his picture taken with this little buddy of his.

And then...after being inspired by my son's baseball silhouette photo...I wanted to do a couple silhouettes of this little guy. I could not have DREAMED of catching a better shot! Here he is blowing a dandelion! Sweeeetness!!!

If you didn't catch yesterday's post about SECRET #2...then scroll down...don't miss the Secret Garden Mini Sessions! Soooo excited about these girls!!!

{Secret #2} & more workshop pics

Ok...are you ready for secret number two? I have had to delay posting secret number two because I was waiting for details to unfold...and they have...sort of...

But first...I've just got to share some more images from the most fabulous workshop ever! Seriously...I feel like I am spoiled for every other workshop to come...I think I could just go to this one over...and over...and over again. Chery Muhr was sooo inspiring...Amy Smith was sooo inspiring...all the wonderful photogs I met at the workshop were sooo inspiring. Need I say more? I could have stayed a week or two!

Here are a few more of one of the precious little guys we got to photograph during the workshop. I LOVE photographing newborns! They are just such heavenly little things!

Aren't these just the sweetest little toes ever???

And here are a few more of the kids we got to shoot. They were all so much fun!

& now...the big secret...:o)...

{ S E C R E T # 2 }!!!

I am planning a day of mini sessions that are going to be for the sole purpose of giving Dad a "secret" gift for Father's Day! I am super excited about this because I firmly believe that every man should have a beautiful photo or two of his wife on his desk. :o) Originally I had planned to do mini sessions with moms and the kids for Father's Day gifts, but as it turns out...I actually have a 4th secret that would make that very difficult to accomplish...(more on that later)...but for now...I am so excited to announce...

"Secret Garden Mini Sessions"...for ladies only...(shhhhhh)!

The location is yet to be determined...but, it will be either Gilbert or Mesa and I am working on finding a location that has the perfect setting with both indoor and outdoor options. The sessions will only be 15 minutes long (anyone can handle the pressure of a camera for 15 minutes!)

You will be shown at least 5 images in an online gallery...AND...every image will be given my special "beauty" proofing treatment. :o) You WILL look beautiful...and your hubby WILL be thrilled!

So...grab a girlfriend and book your sessions! Bringing along a friend or two will help you relax & feel comfortable! Isn't it so sad that us girlies feel so funky in front of the camera? (I admit that I hate having my own picture taken....so I totally feel your pain!) BUT, don't worry! We'll have so much fun that you'll forget that I even have my camera! Promise!

So...here's the quick details:

LOCATION:
Will be announced by the first of next week...

DATE:
Saturday, May 10th

SESSIONS AVAILABLE:
I will only be booking 10 sessions for the day!!!

SESSION TIMES:
4:00 pm
4:20 pm
4:40 pm
5:00 pm
5:20 pm
5:40 pm
6:00 pm
6:20 pm
6:40 pm
7:00 pm

SESSION FEE:
$85 (session fee includes online proof gallery with at least 5 "beauty proofed" images from your session)

The Secret Garden Mini Sessions are for women only...so grab your girlfriends and make a fun afternoon of it...and get your Father's Day gift taken care of early! :o)