The pandemic has been tough.  Some were deprived of playing their senior year and my heart goes out to them.  Some dealt with depression.  Some families lost their job.  This year felt like things were getting back to "normal".  The youth needed to be a part of a team.  They needed to see their friends/teammates.  They needed to learn teamwork, sportsmanship and so much more.  

Photographing children just speaks to my heart.  I finished out the football season photographing at Autzen stadium!  While these kids are so cute, they are so darn passionate and tough.  Being able to capture a "slice of life" for the kids and their parents is where my business name came from.  I hope they will be able to cherish these moments for a lifetime!

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So interesting to work with 2 newborns and witness the different personalities instantly.  One was easy to pose and the other said, "what in the world are you doing, lady?"  AND..... these parents were on time to their appointment!  Mind blown!  

Loved the color scheme mom and dad chose for their twins, staying away from the traditional pinks and blues.  

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Having a sibling with 14 years between them, I am sure has its challenges.  I wouldn't know first hand as my siblings were only 2.5 years apart and my daughters are also 2.5 years apart.  However, when photographing these children, I can't help but experience and capture the pure bond they share!  As hard as it was to try to get a 2 year old to stand still long enough, these few images of the connection with his sister made it all worth it!  This lil' guy does not see it yet but he is extremely lucky to have a sister like Victoria!  She has a compassionate heart and a wonderful personality that he is sure to soak up in the years to come!   Friends Forever Friends Forever Friends Forever

I titled this one "Let them be little" because I want to let all of you know that sometimes the best pictures are those that are NOT posed.  They are usually ones that show the stage the children are in at the moment and often bring out their natural smile and personality.  A professional photography session does not have to be all about forcing the children to look at the camera and smile.  As they get older, those posed photos will happen more and more.  It is important to keep telling yourself that they are just being a child and it is what it is.   So what if they do not smile for the strange lady behind a lens, making crazy noises and funny faces.  A professional photographer should not take this personal, rather keep trying and get the shots they can get.  I can't tell you the number of times I have had parents say, "I had no idea you even got that many wonderful images from that terrible day!"  

I chose this photo from my last session because I just LOVED it and truth be known that prior to this shot, these 2 littles had other ideas which including playing chase, kicking off boots, throwing rocks, etc.  Mom and Dad were sweating and cursing under their breath and certainly wondering why they put themselves through this but looking at this particular image, would you have ever guessed that it was a bit challenging?  

"LET THEM BE LITTLE bc they aren't that way for very long"  Trust me, I know!  My 2 girls are 23 and 20!   untitled-0969

The Princess & Llama Mini Sessions will be held at Adelman Peony Garden in Salem, Oregon  https://www.facebook.com/peonyparadise/.  The sessions will be by appointment only on May 31.  There are only 8 time slots left.  If you are interested, click on the following link to reserve your time slot! asliceoflifephotography.bigcartel.com/product/princess-llama-mini-sessions  dresses, accessories and props will be available (size dependent).  

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There is so much that happens behind the scenes during a birth that a professional photographer can capture.   The support of family members holding your hand during those intense contractions, the nurses and doctors encouraging you along the way, the small details of the bassinet with the cap, equipment and tools all ready to welcome your baby, the EKG of the baby's heartbeat, and so much more.  

Having had 2 births of my own as well as having photographed many births in the past 18 years, it is one of the most emotional and honored tasks I have ever had.  Capturing when a family is born makes my heart so happy and each one takes me back to when my girls were born 22 and 20 years ago.  

Having a birth photographer might not be your thing.  That is perfectly fine.  You might consider a "Fresh 48" session or a Newborn session.  There is something for everyone!   5x7 flier birth newborn fresh48 copy

We begin all cake smash sessions on the clean side with an outfit and background of your choice.  Once we get what we want, we move right into getting down and dirty!  As you can imagine, some get into it way more than others but capturing their expressions is my absolute favorite.  I also love when they want to share their cake with me.  LOL  We finish up with bath time which most of them love!  Yes, that is right, you get ALL that in one session!  You might need a nap like myself when it is all said and done.   untitled-24 untitled-52 untitled-33

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Thank you again for choosing A Slice of Life Photography to make your memories last forever!

Happy 2020 and may all your dreams come true!

Friends

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Here are some interesting facts about alpacas:

     Alpacas were domesticated by the Incas more than 6,000 years ago. They were mainly raised due to their incredible fleece. The fleece is known for its quality and elite characteristics.    

     Alpaca fiber is a lot like a sheep’s wool but it’s much warmer and not as itchy. It doesn’t have lanolin, which is what makes it hypoallergenic and it’s able to be processed without high temperatures or harsh chemicals.

     Alpacas are known for using a communal feces pile. Due to preferring to use a predetermined spot for feces, many alpacas have been successfully house trained.

     Alpacas can live to be 25 years long and they’re able to survive in almost all climates.

     There are two breed of alpacas, the huacaya and the suri. The huacaya have fluffy hair, much like a teddy bear. The suri have long wavy hair that hangs off its body.

    Baby alpacas are called “crias” and they can weigh up to 20 pounds at birth.

Capturing an image likes this touches me more than most of you know!  Having your first child accept their sibling(s), hold, feed, kiss, etc. are not always things that we get the honor of experiencing as a parent!  Sometimes the differences in siblings make it very difficult for them to bond no matter how much we try!  If this is something you can relate to, never give up faith and just know that God has a plan and we have to trust Him! newborn photography with siblings

I am seeing the importance of placing community over competition and how mandatory it is to provide top notch customer service!  One of my personal rules is to keep busting my buns until I am no longer passionate about what I do, but more importantly to ALWAYS stay true to myself!

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