I know I am so lucky to have what I have, to some it’s not a lot.  But to me it is.  I hope to never take it for granted.  I have been known to take it for granted, but I need to make some changes!  We all do!!  I know I’m not the only one guilty of it.  Just this year 2 friends died.  One of cancer, everyone knew it was coming.  But the day it happened, it was still a shock.  And so sad.

Sadly,  a few months after Megan’s passing, the woman who introduced me to Megan was murdered.  Lindsay was a beautiful soul, who had a child the same age as Megan’s little girl.  These 2 beautiful babies will grow up without their mother, but they will always know the love of their mother, because of the stories by the family and from photos.

Now I am making a point to get in front of the camera more often.  I haven’t been in front much because I’m fat.  I remember how much I hated my mom saying that (she was not fat though).  But this is how they know me right now.  This is what their memory is of me.  So why wouldn’t I be in the photo?  They love me fat or skinny.  If God forbid something happens to me, I want them to have photos of me.  I give them the stories and my family will too, but I want them to have the photos.

So this year I am offering mini sessions for Christmas, but instead of just offering it to the kids, I want your family in front of the camera!!  Yes mom, even if you have a few extra pounds!  Dad will have to suffer thru it too.  He better be prepared to smile!  I’m keeping them short, just 20 minutes.  We won’t do a lot of forced smiles or a lot of posing.  I promise dad, it will be quick and painless and you will earn a LOT of brownie points with mom!!  Remember-”a happy wife, is a happy life”.  You could then surprise her with a big canvas or a beautiful photo wall-seriously dad, 20 minutes of photos could take care of all your Christmas shopping.  What could be easier? Much easier (and less frustrating) than going to the mall.

Don’t let time get away, I scheduled these mini sessions early!  Saturday, October 20 and Saturday November 10.  Times will be determined by clients and what days they want to come in.  If neither of these dates work for you, we have an option!  If you can get a friend to book another mini session on the same date (weekdays included) then I am willing to do mini sessions for you both back to back.  Just contact me to work out those plans. Please call Dayna at 832-449-6505 or email me at dayna@ohboyphotography.com

I’m going to try really hard this year to not just post on facebook, but to blog too!  I know when I visit websites, I always look for a blog.  I like looking at their little bits of their life.  Especially when they show real life, not just the perfect stuff.  And anyone that knows me knows I am so far from perfect!  I don’t let people come over unannounced because my house is usually a disaster.  I have also learned that my idea of a disaster is a lot different than most!  We have issues with our kids just like everyone else.  And some days I want to quietly walk down the street, while the kids play in their rooms…..just to be alone for a minute.  Of course down the street is only 5 houses, but whatever!  As much as I want that alone time, I never really enjoy it when I get it.  I have guilt when I ask others to babysit, I miss the kids so much I usually pick them up early and I am just so genuinely happy to see them and it’s usually only been about 2 hours.  Sad isn’t it?!  I know.  Please tell me I’m not the only pathetic one out there.

The best part about me telling you these things?  You realize that even your photographer struggles to get  good photos of her children.  I know y’all stress out when coming to me for photos.  I see it in your eyes, the way your worrying and trying to stop the kids from doing something.  I will usually step in and tell you it’s ok, calm down.  I don’t want you stressed.  I don’t want the kids crying and I certainly don’t want any yelling or fussing!  (not that any of my clients have ever done that!)  On that note, let me tell you how my recent session with my kids went.  One wouldn’t do it.  I didn’t give him a lot of notice, he had plans, but we all know he’s 18, he wouldn’t have done it anyway.  We will just face facts here people.  (For the record, he wasn’t even on our Christmas card last year because he wouldn’t do that session either)

So I took my 2 middle ones out, with another photographer friend and we had this great idea to use the same set ups, shoot our kids and get a little advertising out of it also.  We both walked away feeling a bit down about the images we got of our kids.  Taking photos of your own kids is actually very hard!  Which is funny because that is exactly why I got into the business, as is the case for a lot of photographers.  I went through all the photos and I think there are about 5 images that I really like.  My #2 kiddo refused to smile.  I know a lot of people know the 8 yr old grin, but his is worse.  He does the normal forced grin, but he also has the “grill” which is actually how I taught him how to brush the front of his teeth.  So picture that.  Then there is the “bite”.  He is going into the awkward teeth phase and his front teeth are big and he actually puts them over his bottom lip.  While I think all this is so him, I do not want it in all the photos of him.  I do not usually try to get smiley photos of him, it’s too hard for both of us.  A little tidbit, #2 is also my ADHD, Aspergers and dyslexic kiddo.  I try to make him feel really good about whatever I get from him, because I know he is actually trying really hard!

Then there is #3.  He is such a people pleaser.  His most common phrase is “I love you so much”.  For no reason, just because he heard me breathe.  He is the one that everyone is completely drawn to.  His charisma and charm just suck you in and you can’t help but want to just hug him!  It’s like he is trying to make life a little bit easier because his 2 older brothers are a bit of a handful.  (which is not to say that I love anyone more than the other! )  During the session he even told me that #2 was “trying so hard, but I can’t hear his funny jokes cause he’s not talkin.”  hahahaha How cute is that?!!  Here is the shot that #2 was supposed to tell #3 a joke so it looked like they were whispering at their desk.

And these are a few of what #3 gave me!

Overall, I am happy with their shots.  I will do some more, with help from the husband next time!  These images were shot getting ready for my Back to School mini session that I am offering this coming Saturday and Sunday.  It’s football season now, so I had to split it up because my oldest will be playing for his varsity team that night!!  Can’t wait to see my senior baby playing on the big varsity team!!!  GO EAGLES!!  These are short little sessions, but I took a lot of detail shots so the option to make a book is there!  Usually with mini sessions, there aren’t enough images to make a book, but these detail shots will help fill the book in.

Please call me at 832.449.6505 or email me at dayna@ohboyphotography.com to book your session time!  Saturday is 8-11am and Sunday is 4-7pm.

So here we go!  My first website special is my Christmas mini sessions!  These are on a limited basis, so please contact me now!  It’s  a short 20 minute session.  Limited to 3 kids, each additional child is $10.  Limit of 6 kids (all siblings please)  Mini sessions are, unfortunately not available for a family session.  Please contact me to schedule your family sessions.  These sessions are set up in a field of my choice due to the nature of these sessions regular travel and choice of locations is not available.

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