Julie Birdseye Photography Denton, Dallas newborn, baby, child, children, senior, and family photographer

Roller Coaster

Another summer newborn from last year is now a big one-yr-old keeping me on my toes as I try to capture him!
My job description sure changes as the kiddos age. As H 's newborn photographer last year, I was in charge of putting him on shelves, in baskets, molding him in to a little ball, and resting him on his puppy chair. My job this year as his one-yr-old photographer was to sing and dance to help bring out the giggles, chase him as he crawled away, help him look for squirrels and birds and especially puppy dogs, bark like a puppy dog, play ball with him, and keep him away from stinky dumpsters.
I love that my job not only allows me to watch little ones grow, but it is also a roller coaster that turns and bends from week to week. I love roller coasters.
:)

This was one of my favorite family shots from last year. Look at how sweet and tiny H is!

And now this beautiful family today...

H got to play inside of an old train! The nice museum-keeper came out when he heard us outside and asked if we wanted to shoot inside of the train. Yes please!

LOVE this metal "H" that his mommy brought! It looked great outdoors! (I love bringing things from your home in to your outdoor session. Not only is it fun to add personal items to your images, but I love the look of bringing things outside that are meant for the inside.)

And don't think that poor Teddy Bear had to suffer any emotional heartache as he laid there on the ground....it didn't take long for H to spot his friend in need of some lovin'...

#3

How old do you think this little guy is?
Take a guess.
18 mos? 15 mos?

If you were there to see him cruise around last fall, you would have thought he was that old. But how old was he really? ELEVEN months!
Little C was so speedy, making me chase him as we played, I think he is the youngest walker/runner I've photographed!

Mom was a very helpful baby wrangler! (You can see his cute, mischievous stance, like
'you only have me for a minute!')

You can't tell with him sitting down, but C gets his height from his tall daddy!






C 's advanced athletic skills will serve him in his future college football career!


He was so smiley for us. Such a fun little guy to photograph!

Peekaboo!

Though you may not see me, I'm still here! I just have my hands in front of my face, hiding till the holiday frenzy lessens, (and my fingers in my ears as well, for that matter, singing "la la la I can't hear you calling me, bloggy land!")

I want to say Thank You! to my clients for understanding that the blogging just ain't happening this Christmas season. Thus far, the season has been manageable - i.e. only about 2 nights a week working until 1 am, (versus last year that seems like I was way more stressed/crazy/bleary-eyed working late 4-5 nights a week.) Since I've accepted more clients this season than I did last, I think I've pin-pointed the sanity from this year with letting the blog slack for a couple weeks. You blogging mommies out there, you know how much thought, time & creativity go in to a single blog post! Well, so... all that to say, I know I am blessed to have the best clients, with their patient selves, getting jipped on the sneak peeks. (But can I say, the sessions have been the best yet, and I hope that I reward you with beautiful slideshows, for the lack of the sneaks!)
So we'll continue on this one-picture-per-session-blog-posting business for a couple more weeks since I still have 10 more shoots to capture, (I know - evidently I do not have the willpower to turn down the precious babies that come my way!) before I can close the books on another successful Christmas season.

Well, are you in for a doozy of an update! The past 2 weeks have kept me busy with 12 shoots, so I'm gonna give a little dose of each. (And come winter break - we will revisit each, giving them their Birdseye blog spotlight!)

First, my best bud Jenn married her man on 10.25 with a beautiful fall-colored wedding. We shot her bridals a couple weeks before her day, but of course I couldn't share them until after the wedding! She looked stunning!

(Even while running!)  ha!

These sweeties returned to my home this year (plus their baby sister!) for their annual jewelry shoot. Their parents own/create the jewelry for Obsidian Jewelry. Each year they have pictures taken of their little ones wearing their beautiful stones and use them for the posters in their advertising. What cuter models could you ask for?! I *LOVE* little man's swagger in the picture of him standing. He looks like he could be in the GQ magazine for kiddos!

Look how they've grown! I've looked forward to this season all year so I can see how my annual clientele has grown and changed! They are a beautiful family, with fun-loving boys!

 Oh. This family makes my heart happy. Their 4-week-old baby girl came from another mommy, but is now a part of A & J forever. I love adoptions. It is such a beautiful gift.

This little Chickadee planner has certainly changed since I've seen him last. 7-month-old T is getting so big, and a stud at showing me his new sitting up skills. During the home part of his session, I found the little knit hat and monkey on the table, and oh my, they made a beautiful combination. (As I've said before, hats = yummy baby.)

Another Chickadee planner who I have not seen since he was a tiny newborn! Mom & Dad also wanted to capture their first baby, Ranger, with the family, and I think, judging from these captures, that they have future best-friends-in-the-making on their hands. (The black/white shot - Rangers' adoring eyes for baby D, makes my heart melt.)

I got to play with big kids! (And 10-yr.-old E & 12-yr.-old D were fun too.) Kidding! But their daddy is a fun, goofy guy! And their beautiful mommy did great with the family's styling. Love their fall clothing! Such a sweet family.

This little man, 7-month-old O, is my newest Chickadee member! He has adorable, adoring older siblings who are great with getting him to laugh! His mommy found me in the DFW Kid's Directory that we both advertise in. She is a fellow entrepreneur with her business, Howdy Baby. Being an artist, her home was like a playground for me, with all the bright colors and texture. I'm tellin' ya, Staci, I'll pay you rent if I can shoot in your home with other clients!
:)

Oh, I love that smirk she is giving my way in the image with Mommy & Daddy! My Chickadee planner, K, is 6-months-old now and was ready for me to visit a second time. She is such a happy girl, with the prettiest eye lashes.

I've also done some commercial work recently. Music Inc. Magazine contacted me to take some portraits at a couple of music stores in our part of the nation. The first portrait was of the owner of Pender's Music Co. in Denton.

 

 The second shoot for Music Inc. was of the co-owners of Lone Star Percussion in Dallas. They were all super nice guys, (I highly recommend their stores!) and it was a lot of fun - taking me back to my Journalism assignments in college! (Oh, and I have to give my hubby props because he joined me as my lighting assistant. I couldn't have done it without him!)

And lastly, the Denton Benefit League asked me to photograph one of their fundraising events, the Sensational Settings luncheon/dinner, where different woman or businesses design themed tables. The candy store table was a lot of fun, but there were several, from a table about Claude Monet, to one about Dia de los Muertos! I really enjoyed getting to see all of the details (and hard work!) these women put into this fundraiser. They did a great job.

Whew! I can't believe I got it all covered! See? That's why I've been hiding from the blog. It's been busy around here, but I'm loving every second.

November Denton Connection

This beautiful, fun-loving, in-love family made the cover of this month's Denton Connection publication.

I, (in my non-biased opinion...of course...), think it perfectly captures this gorgeous time of year.

How to Get a 4-yr-old (boy!) to Laugh...

So during these kiddos' session last week, I'm talking, trying to make them feel comfortable, getting to know them a bit, but of course the goal is for them to crack a smile. I was getting little smirks here and there, but not a *real* smile, the ones you mommas know and love. So I recruit Dad to help me out, and the first thing out of his mouth...well, to be honest I don't remember the exact wording (probably to your benefit!), but something along the lines of flatulence taking place right there...and, Oh! That hit a home run!  (Mr. D - are you for hire?)

See what I mean:

And in case you can't tell, little B is quite smitten with big brother. The whole session, I don't think he could have kept any closer to him. Sweet.

Big sister, G, is so helpful and caring. (And knows how to rock a hat! I loved her whole ensemble - the accessories, sparkly jeans, Converse shoes! Mom did an awesome job putting the family's outfits together. She said orange is their favorite color, so she just based everything around that, with some accent colors, and voila! A beautiful, fall, family wardrobe.)

 

This image literally made me gasp! Family love & interaction - this sums up how I view my job as your photographer, and my goal: to capture you and your loved ones just being together. heart. heart. heart.

(I love how big brother, M, is gazing at Momma - too sweet!)

Little B, the daredevil. I asked his mom some questions about the kids' personalities, and when talking about B, she said he is "unique and funny - he is our smile and we are a happier family because of him." (Could any more beautiful words be spoken about a little guy?!)

*Oh, and don't you love B's saddle shoes, (and his hat!) I don't think I've ever seen that shoe paired with jeans before, and I think it couldn't be cuter!

You guys are such a sweet, loving, & FUNNY family! Who knew our time together was going to be educational and that I'd get to leave your session with a new technique to make my littlest clients giggle?!

Girl's Got Moves

Last week, I met this precious 2-yr.-old, A. Her mommy is best friends with a friend of mine. Momma was a bridesmaid in our friend's wedding 3 years ago, and I was the wedding photographer. We hadn't met again since then, but earlier this year, we reconnected thanks to technology, and from there, she decided I was the photographer for them this holiday season!
*(Random sidenote: turns out that this sweet mommy & daddy attended a couple's retreat this past Valentine's Day at Pine Cove in Tyler, and there, met my Home Group leaders from my church (different friends than our mutual friend who was the bride 3 yrs. ago), while they were at the camp to lead worship for the weekend. Once they got to talking there, they realized that they lived in the same North Texas city, and have since become friends. I figured all this out, also thanks to technology, and it was a fun little mystery to solve, (because my Home Group leaders didn't know how I knew this couple, as I didn't know how they knew them either!) And so it's funny because we 3 couples met under different circumstances, separately, years apart. (Did all that make sense?)
Well, on to their session!

Their little girl has such a personality. She's meek & outgoing at the same time!

Doesn't she look like she's looking through my soul here?! Well... she's not. I just told her that Dora was in my camera, and boy, she looked with all her might! (But forget about that Dora part, and look at that concentration! She is going to be one smart little gal.)

I *love* this next series of 3 pictures. These were snapped within about 4 seconds total, and her expressions change so much!

"Are we done here, or......um,....can I go now?"

Big, bright, beautiful eyes. Sweet girl!

Daddies make fun swings.

Dance, girl, dance! I'm jealous of your moves!

Thanks C, K, & cutie A for a fun afternoon!

Dimple (singular)

Siblings J, A, & K ran to me as fast as they could from California!
(Corny, I know, but moderately true...) They came in town last week to visit their grandparents, and we scheduled a session for the 3 of them & their mommy during their stay!

(I think the part about them not living here, but in perfect-weather California, was also given away by their perfectly tan little bodies!)

Guess how old big sister is... (Followed closely by brother J, 3 years old, and baby sister A, 2 years old!)

"CHEESE!"

Though the "cheese" doesn't stick around long when you ask a toddler to see her tummy! **Could she BE any cuter?!**

Their beautiful mommy is 6 months pregnant with baby brother. (I think in this picture, she looks Angelina Jolie-esque!)

Little A's personality is one you want to bottle up and sprinkle around! (And that single dimple on her left cheek! Kills me with cuteness!)

J made me work for his smiles! He just seems like at home, he would be the goofiest, funniest kid, but pull a camera out, and he gets all manly and serious! (Not that I don't absolutely L.O.V.E. non-smiley pictures - when kiddos just look you straight in the eye and you can see emotion come out, like the b/w image of him below.) Oh, how I love both of these shots of this sweet little man!

This guy makes me laugh. His look in this picture... as if to say " may I help you?" (While I'm shoving my big camera in his face!)

And lastly, a fun creation of these gorgeous siblings with my new card templates!

Momma's Kisses

When I visited baby C, we started in her home, and then finished at the park in the beloved blue bonnet.

But here's what happened first.

When I arrived, she was still napping, and my attempt to capture sleeping pictures (and keep my cooing over how precious she looked to a minimum), soon turned in to a not-so-nice alarm clock for this sweet angel.

But after an outfit change and diaper change, we were good to go! (Mom has a squirmy gal on her hands - having to put the diaper on upside down!)

We rescheduled her shoot from 6 months to 7 months because @ 6 months, she wasn't quite a confident sitter, and when babies master that skill, it really opens up so many new possibilities for your session. So look at her now! One month later, and she is a pro at showing me her new trick!

Her momma said she likes to grab for the butterflies on her mobile above her crib, and sure enough, she reached as high and hard for them as she could!

Daddy's little look-alike glows when she is in his arms.

Momma's kisses marked their territory on C 's squishy cheek. (Love their red front door!)

I love how C has as much adoration in her expression for Mom & Dad as they have in their's for her. Just a little love triangle!

I *think* she may be teething.

Transformation

Do you remember this newborn from one year ago? (And one of my fav. newborn photos!)

Can you EVEN believe this is the same little man?!?!!

 

Let alone the fact that he is the healthy size of a small linebacker, but the blonde curls, and his face! To me, as a newborn, he favored Mommy, but now, as a 1-yr.-old, he favors Daddy, and just looks completely different from the last time I saw him. Oh, how I just want to play with his locks! Gorgeous sweetheart.

He has perfected his "army crawl".

 

After reading my post about how cute cloth diapers photograph, H 's mommy brought his adorable, orange gDiaper. Admit it...you want to take him home.

Tradition

A few weeks ago, I was asked to photograph a Pakistani wedding reception. Getting to explore a different culture was like diving in to a text book of our Eastern neighbors. I enjoyed the sights, smells, and sounds from this new experience.

The father and mother of the groom, (to the right), greeted the guests while waiting for the bride and groom to arrive.

I *heart* this little moment caught of beautiful sisters sharing a secret. 

Soon after, the bride and groom made their entrance.

The groom and his father helped the bride to their seats.

Then guests went up and greeted the couple, and brought gifts of congratulations.

The groom's mother tied the smallest, little flowers around the bride's wrists.

The decorations came from Pakistan. They were bought while the family attended the wedding there, on 08-08-08.

Next came my favorite part, the delicious food! I sampled the tastings and everything was delicious. The flavors and spices were a wonderful change from my typical cuisine.

The women go through the line first, and fix their plates.

The men wait until the women are done, and then serve themselves.

You can see what a fun night it was. I am so happy I had the opportunity!

Suburban Urban

Remember these guys from last year?

I think it's safe to say they've grown a bit!

*Love sister's carefree little Swedish shoe in the air. (Daddy is from Sweden, and they go to visit family every year - and pick up cool items like authentic clogs!)

It's her birthday today. The big 0-5!

Brother, at 15 mons. old, is all.over.the.place! His momma warned me to be prepared to get a workout, and whew! I was huffing and puffing during this little stint of chase captured below.

Mommy caught him for some snuggles.

This is her birthday dress for her party Saturday. She's having a Mariposa party, and her mommy found the perfect, matching dress for L to greet Mariposa in when she arrives to her party!

K shared his books with me. (Poor L got left in brother's room when K's speedy feet took us to the foyer!)

The little pianist. She is so delicate and dainty here. Love it.

Happy Birthday big girl!