RACHAEL EARL » PHOTOGRAPHY: Lifestyle Portraiture and Wedding Photography

Sorry for the lack of photos from the last post, but I am sure you found plenty of eye candy to check out on those other blogs! So what have I been up to lately? Besides taking care of my cute little newborn (and her 2 other equally as cute siblings), this month has been about getting back into photography!

Here are a few quick ones from recent sessions (youngest to oldest!):

Remember that there are a few more days in August if you would like to get your mini session in while the rates (and temperatures) are hot!

When I’m not photographing, I also work designing for Spilled Milk Designs. If you are a photographer in need of a website, check them out! I also have been working on a new site for myself, which I am putting a deadline on myself of October 1st for releasing!!! (We’ll see if that deadline sticks…but I am excited to show you what I am working on!)

It’s hot. Like, REALLY hot. So what better time to do a short, fun, casual session?

What: 1/2 Hour Mini Sessions for $75
(includes ONE digital file emailed to you, option to purchase a disk from the session)
Who: Groups up to 5 people
Where: Your choice of one of 4 locations in Gilbert, Arizona
When: During the month of August, in the evening time
Why: Because it’s really freaking hot

Email me for information or to book your August mini session today!

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with some photos of little Charlotte, who we’ve been cuddling over here for almost a month now!

Starting next week, I will be back to work for portrait sessions. If you or your family would like to schedule a session, please email me. I will begin shooting weddings again in October. If you would like to schedule a meeting with me to discuss your upcoming 2010 or 2011 wedding, please email me as well! Thank you!

Also, I have to give a HUGE thank you to my friend, Jamie Burnett for this ADORABLE onesie that has been hanging over my computer for months…

And also my friends, Jason and Anna Ball for THIS adorably HILARIOUS onesie!!! And don’t forget to check out their blog for some super cute (if I do say so myself) pregnancy and hospital pics of yours truly!

SO many people I know are having babies-holy cow! Including me! Ours could be as soon as a few weeks! My good friend Kristin just had this little peanut a few weeks ago-the tiniest little thing I’ve ever seen! She was born at 39.5 weeks weighing just a tiny little 4 lbs 11 oz. It’s a good thing she stayed in the full time!

She wasn’t too fond of the camera at first!!!

This was a gift from Grandma-handmade-wow!

Ahhhh…finally a smile!

And Kristin, I don’t know how you’re still so cheerful with 4 kids under 6!

Since I’m about ready to have a baby, I’ve been getting these sessions done quick! This session was from yesterday. Now, I can’t guarantee I can get them done in 1 day, but my goal is to get any session I take before the baby DONE and out the door before he/she comes. So if you still want a session before I take leave, just let me know!!!

Gabriella’s sparkly new heart is ready for her, and she is off to have her transplant surgery! I know this is bittersweet news, as Gabriella receives her new heart, another child has lost his/her time here on earth. What a miraculous and amazing gift for one family to give another. I know that both families could use your prayers at this time!

Follow updates on Twitter by following GabriellasHeart

Apparently I have 90′s hip hop on the brain tonight? I suppose it’s fitting when I graduated from high school in 1998. I am always excited when people I know from high school call me up to take their pictures! And I’m twice as excited when I get to meet their awesome families in the process! Jen and I go waaaaay back-probably even to middle school-I can’t remember that far because I’m getting old (almost 30, you know), and I have pregnant brain at the moment. We have recently reconnected via Facebook and our mutual love for Tobias Fünke and all things Arrested Development (may it rest in peace).

Without further adieu, I give you Jasper, the adorable, animated little bundle of awesomeness that Jen and Nathan procreated (I sure hope that is the right word). I must say his faux hawk even rivals that of my husband. (Speaking of my husband…we just recently figured out that Dan and Nathan went to high school together…in Simi Valley…how’s that for craziness?)

THE BEST FACE EVER.

THE BEST FACE EVER TIMES 3.

Naked time. In the Bumbo.

Such a cute family

Thanks, guys! It was good to see you!

I was so happy to be able to photograph these little kids again today! Not just because I love seeing kids grow up, but I am particularly glad to see this little girl at two years old and thriving! Bela is the first of many heart babies (children born with rare heart conditions) that I have had the pleasure to meet and photograph in the last 2 years or so. She has had her ups and downs, but lately, it seems like a lot of ups, for which everyone is thankful.

These two are some of my faves from the session, hands down!

I love this shot of Benson:

Check out this smile!

And of course, we had to revisit the bench of our first session:

I’ve realized lately that I kind of like to break the rules. Really, just in photography, not in real life. My husband still makes fun of me for STILL refusing to go in the exit at WalMart. Most recently, I realized that I really like to put color on color. Oooh-taboo to put a green shirt on green or red on red? It freaks people out when I suggest it. “Won’t we blend in?” Nope. I like it. I think you will, too. I guess those are my baby steps towards being a rebel. Yours too.

Oh, and while we are on the subject of COLOR, I ALWAYS recommend wearing it for your sessions. See how VIBRANT and BOLD they are? SO much better than black, white, navy blue, brown…you catch my drift. Oh, and I am very anti-matchy-matchy despite the title of this post. The word of the day is COORDINATE. Take different shades of a color in different styles of clothing, or different patterns, or even better, mix several colors and patterns (time to retire the polos). Have a little fun with what you wear and bring out your individual personalities!!! You will love them so much more and they will be much more YOU!

I did 2 days worth of sessions with my friend Diane this past week. One for her little 8 month old, and one just for her and her husband. She wanted to make sure that she was able to focus on just her husband and her for the second session instead of lumping it all together in a family session. Great idea! Should you ever decide to do a double portrait session (with at least one person in common), I will take $50 of the sitting fee of the second session.* (For a limited time only)

Delicious (and colorful) sodas courtesy of Liberty Market in Gilbert!

Gallery wrapped canvases are on sale until WEDNESDAY at midnight, so I’m passing the savings onto you! Enjoy 20% off any size gallery wrapped canvas this week. Email for retail sales pricing and fabulously fun options. Happy Spring!

*Sale applies to canvases printed from sessions photographed by My Camera Loves You only.*