Giana - 15 Months

My godbaby Giana is now 15 months old... so it was time for a photo session!

She's been growing up so fast... today was the first day that she couldn't walk under our dining room table without the top of her head brushing up against the glass.

She's interested in everything - from the remotes and game controllers to the cupboards and the cats. The cats still aren't sure what to make of her. Two hide when she comes over, one plays with her when she has the fishing pole, and the last accepts her petting as long as it stays gentle.

She's also become quite the toddler - she wants to explore, to move, and to be independent. Sit still? No way! Stay in place for a few photos? Yeah, right! So we took lots of breaks for snacks and to wander about the house, talk to the kitties, and get into things. In between the breaks, we had some wonderful photo moments.

So here's a quick preview... "hippie Giana," "Classic Giana," "Vintage Giana." Enjoy!


And, of course, with Daddy too!

Vintage Teaser

Over the past month or so, I've been compiling outfits and items for the creation of a vintage set for special sessions. When complete, it will consist of outfits and props for children ages 6 months through 10 years or so... which will probably take a while as I'm combing thrift stores, ebay, and everywhere I can think of for the pieces, all of which will be unique.

Its not done yet, but I am so excited about it that I couldn't resist running a few tests... thanks Taylor and Nathan for being such great models!

Images shown are of the same pose, but processed for three different, distinct vintage styles.

1, 2, 3, Look at Me!

I've been photographing a lot of "sets of three" lately, which has been a lot of fun getting them all to interact with one another and just be siblings. My latest was the Tomé kids, who's sneak peak is right here:

1 - Camielle. Grown up at age six, but not too grown up to care about lost teeth or aways saying cheese. Never grow out of that!

2 - Ava. She's grown up so much this school year. At the beginning of the year she was shy, always hovering around her teacher at recess instead of playing... you'd never know the way she runs out to recess now!

3- Christian - All action, all boy. At one year he's running before he fully has his balance, just to see how far he can get. And when you go to take his picture, cheer and clap and he'll cheer right along with you!

Just a note: I'm currently offering free children's sessions to Creek parents who have purchased Spring Pictures so that they have the opportunity to get all their children, even those who are too old or too young to attend the preschool, photographed. This offer does expire on June 12, 2008 so any Creek parents who are interested in this need to schedule their on-site session asap.

The Best Tea Party Ever"

"It was the best tea party ever!"

That's what Taylor said as she danced along the sidewalk after her birthday party at Olivia's Dollhouse in Tustin, a big grin upon her face.

She's just spent the past two hours with seven of her school friends dressing up in princess clothes and jewelry, getting their hair and makeup done, participating in a fashion show, and having a tea party.

So here's a sneak preview from the party:

Newborn Model Call

I've realized lately that its been way too long since I've photographed a newborn, so its time to list my first blog special.

Free Session for Newborn Models under 4 weeks of age. That's right, no session fee (regular $150) to have your little one's first professional pictures taken.

Parents will have access to a password-protected online gallery of images where they will have the opportunity to order prints at VIP pricing.

Please contact me (stefanie@stefaniecarlson.com or 714 423-0662) if your baby fulfills the requirements and you are interested in having your newborn model.

Offer expires June 30, 2008.

The Newlyweds Return

My brother Kenny was married May 3rd, and has been on his honeymoon ever since... but he and his new wife Selah return tonight; their plane touches down in 15 minutes so I figure its safe now to post about them without the secret presents left on their dining room table being discovered here.

I have been planning this surprise since... well, its been months, and I assembled everything except the photos ahead of time. The photos though were the tough part for me - I wasn't shooting this wedding, I was in it, so I had no idea if the particular images that I needed for the gifts were going to be photographed or not. Luckily for me, I had my husband there during the formal pictures, and he was shooting with my camera. So between his work, a few I snapped off in between events, and an image sent to me by the official photographer, Preston Aldous, I had everything I needed.

This image is the "gift wrap" - Satin boxes filled with matching sage rose petals and an organza bag (also sage, her wedding color) that holds the presents.

Here's what is in each of the boxes:


Selah will receive a custom designed necklace; while similar in style to the "Single Drop Heart Necklace" in my store, this one differs in the dangling charm - a pale sage lattice heart.

(Image by Christoper Carlson)

Kenny's gift is a keychain - it holds two small pictures inside the black leather folio the snaps closed. I added a small "made with love" charm to the chain.

(Left image by Preston Aldous, Right image by Christoper Carlson)

I wanted to make sure that each of them had a small portable token of each other from the wedding so that when they were forced to part and go back to work and normal life, they would be able to carry a memento of their special day.

So to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Short, congratulations and welcome home!

Tea Time!

Stuffed Bears. Plastic Tea cups. A shady spot on the grass. All it takes is a little bit of imagination and you've got a tea party better than the one that shows up in the garden of The Marsh Hare in Alice in Wonderland. Because when you're almost five, and one of the most imaginative little girls out there, everything is possible.

Taylor will be five this month, and is celebrating her birthday with a tea party at Olivia's Dollhouse in Tustin. So of course we had to have a tea party for her pre-birthday portraits!

Thanks Taylor for being so amazing by just being yourself!

Happy Mother's Day

I wanted to wish all the Mommies out there a Happy Mother's Day!

My husband and I spent our day visiting my mom and his mother before returning home to our four kitties. I'm now working through proofs from a shoot earlier this week, and relaxing after working hard to get all the mother's day jewelry gifts finished in time.

I had the opportunity earlier this week to photograph Cecilia and her 7 month old sister Daniella - both girls are wonderfully photogenic, with amazing smiles. They were fun to work with, and we got some beautiful images. CeeCee is a great big sister - I can tell she really loves her baby.
I'm looking forward to seeing Daniella again once she's standing. I know we'll get some fun stuff.

Here's a few favorites from the shoot: