Mom and Dad were so laid back, and I have a lot to look to them to for their wonderful example of patience.  When I brought this up to A., she said “Listen, we learned a LONG time ago that this is their show…” and while it was indeed their show, they were all so relaxed and playful.  I love when mom and dad can let their kids just be their silly selves and let me take off with their kids on what ends up being an adventure =)  I always tell parents, “it is, what it is” when it comes to young children. You never know what youre going to get, but often get more than you thought was in store for you.

Mom kept referring to her children as “my loves”…”Come here, my love”… I adored that.  They really are her loves and it showed.  They are what she’s grateful for, what she breathes for, what she lives for.  And how do I know this, only having met her twice in this short time?  Because she dresses them in white in such a trustworthy manner and brings them balloons and a bubble machine to play with =)

But seriously, I know this because Mom and Dad showed it.

Show your children how much they mean to you today by letting the world know it – and letting the world know it just by being the family that you are.

xo

dani

D.’s beautiful momma and daddy – she’s glowing, and for good reason =)

If the reason she’s glowing isnt born a girl, there’s a chance that D. will be calling him by the girl name he has already appointed to it!

Auntie C. came along per D.’s demands.  And thank goodness she did, she was obviously put to good use handing D.’s new friend. Lake Erie Special find, right there.

It was so nice to spend a good portion of this day with D., his mom, and my kids.  It’s hard living far away from friends I care so much about!

Next up… a post full of tiny babies that I am sure you will enjoy =)

Have a great tuesday,

xo

dani

ps: there are a few new images weeded into the slideshow at the top!

To start with…  I suppose, like the ones that were actually supposed to be mailed, I could have shared this with my readers BEFORE the Holiday Season, huh?

Hour Christmas was filled with bits of Toy Story, Hamsters that crow for some reason…

…and a sweet piece of vintage that was GOING to be mine on ebay at all costs (unfortunately!).  I remembered playing with a garage exactly like this as a kid at my Grandmothers house – hours of it, with my cousins. 

When I took it out of the original box it just blew my mind!  This thing is pristine – straight from the seventies – high quality goodness… ahh!  I got E. the 2008 version of this last Christmas and it was a hunk of JUNK like most toys now-a-days.  The bell dings, the elevator works no matter which way you turn the handle ( just like I recalled!) – it’s just a blast.  It’s the first thing the kids go for when we have little ones as visitors.  Doesn’t that take you back a little?

That’s about as far into my personal Holiday photos that I’m going to go But they are all in good fun.

Over my vacation I had the pleasure of photographing the S. family, who were in town from Tennessee staying with family the week before Christmas to visit

This little miss – right before I was winding down got suited up by mom in her cutie pie tu-tu – lollypop in hand, makes me love it so much.

Dad plays the guitar and the kids really dig it

Okay, onto other news!

You can now find two brief PDF guides that are current at my portfolio, or by accessing them below:

www.danielleluc.com/guides/sessionfee

www.danielleluc.com/guides/prints

There are a few minor changes in the way proofing will go this year, and each will give a brief detailing of general investment and expectations.  I’ve never had anyone question it until now – but as far as “delivery” – in terms of my business, this means your boxed items and presentation.  You will be asked to pick up your prints when they are available, however if I will in your neighborhood or if you are absolutely unable to swing by, I understand and will do my best to bring your purchases to your home.

As of this year, I will NO LONGER BE PHOTOGRAPHING SENIORS.  I’m begining to find my niche and where my abilities side best, and Senior Photography just simply isn’t one of them   I need to be able to put my heart and mind 100% into what I do, and I know there are plenty of amazing photographers out there in the area who can photograph seniors very awesomely   Sorry for any inconvenience this causes to anyone.

Fall Mini Sessions will also be available to my 2010 regular clients for the first selection.  Mini’s will proof 5-10 (I have yet to decide on this as of yet) images.  I get a lot of first-time clients for mini’s and they end up being  just as much work and almost the same amount of proofs as a regular standard portrait session (I cant help it!) – so this needs to be adjusted, so that each and every family that books is allocated time and talent fairly according to investment.  There will potentially be a standard mini available throughout the year, but this, too, as of yet is undecided.

A few new guidelines with what happens to your unordered images – at the end of the week long proofing, any UNORDERED images are discarded.  Any digital files on my harddrives that prints were ordered from are cropped to 8×12 format and will be stored on my harddrive at that time.  Should you wish to be able to order other prints  in the future that weren’t ordered from in your initial ordering session, you will need to consider a digital collection so that they are available to you for…ever! For example, should you decide you do not want to order any of image number 4, 16, and 18 – and you decide at a later date you wish to reactivate your gallery to order, those images will not be available – as only the ones you have ordered from will be present.  This cuts down on me adding undesired images to harddrive space.  This isnt typically an issue as Digital Collections are of huge demand at this point – but it is in effect for 2010 and beyond.

In likeness, the same goes for web images. Web images (facebook, myspace) are available for any ordered image.  You will be unable to obtain a web sized image for any unordered portrait.

I thank you all for your understanding in some of these changes!

Full pricing and wedding catalogs are available upon request, should you have any other inqueries for 2010 that are not answered in the above PDF’s.

Once again, thank you ALL for such an awesome 2009 and I’m just squealing inside with delight over starting my 3rd year, and the BEATUFIUL BRIDES that are awaiting this season!  Which brings me to one more thing:  THERE ARE NO MORE AVAILABLE BOOKINGS FOR WEDDINGS IN 2010 and JUNE AND JULY 2011 are currently booked.  If you are looking for 2011 – now’s about that time.

Okay, goodnight and glad to be back!

xo

dani

This post is special to my heart and so are these girls.  Take a deep breath – in… out…. good.  Okay – remember from here on out how good it feels.  Every breath we take is so special, it gives us life – and sometimes a moment of clairity and refresh.  K.  is the BEAUTIFUL mother so precious J.  She is one of the most positive, amazing, faithful go-getters you will find on this planet.  Her rage of love for J. and the hope she represents is mind blowing.  A few weeks ago K. became the recipient of a new set of puffers – thats right – they do lung transplants and they work and they are unbelieveable.  Please consider supporting Organ Donation causes and becoming one yourself if you are able - these beautiful smiles, these moments – they will keep happening now because of such a precious gift.

K. – I am ever grateful for your friendship, your inspiration, and for just knowing little J. – she makes me smile every time I see her and will certainly grow up to be the fabulous woman that you are.

Aren’t they just… lovely? I didn’t want to share more until I knew what she picked for her holiday cards, so I will wait for that!

I also wanted to share a bit more of G. and his perfect family – so sweet!

Another of precious Norah, too – how hard it is to wait when I post sneak peeks to pick and choose what I post before mom and dad get to view them all! I just adore this image.

Now meet Mr. & Mr.s D. and their brood – I love strong  bonds and the awesomeness of a coming together of families!

Hello, beautiful children.

I hope this finds everyone well, warm, and healthy.  Keep your eyes out for one more post before Christmas, I’ve been waiting since before Halloween to share my family photo because I only have one (thanks Jessie!) and it’s for my holiday cards!

Take care everyone, and thanks for reading.

Her teeny little blonde swirl on top of her teeny little head and those little ears… oh the joys of my job   I’d like to steal mom’s patterned chairs too, but she has a few kitties who like to use them as scratch pads that would fight me for them.

Doting Dad, Smitten Mom – Life is good

I have momentarily returned from my crisis that caused my LOA for a few days.  Trying desparately to get caught up.  Please be patient when waiting for responses to your inqueries

xo

dani

All of the little newborn girls and gals I once photographed are turning one it seems – little C. – oh so handsome little C. , is the main man in the black and white “fresh” image on the blog slideshow.  He was FOUR days old in that image, and tomorow (sunday) he will be ONE!  C. and his Mom and Dad are great friends of my husband and I; dad works on my husbands crew.  Happy birthday little man – and congrats to mom and dad, you made it a whole year!

Isn’t this Lion costume about as CUTE and cuddly as they come?  Love him.

What’s a first birthday without a cake smash?  I think it’s kind of a given you must dig into a cake on your first birthday… however, C. insists he is King of his cake, and sat on it like his throne   I see a trend here…. King of The Forest, King of The Cake? Precious frosting tooshie – hehe

*sigh* Oh how beautiful is his Mommy?

So Lucky to call you all friends.  My children will be dressing up to join the jungle party tomorow, can’t wait!  However it would be nice to start FEELING better sometime soon!

One more to “sneak” in here – and these would be family!  Meet A&A – who would actually be my husbands first cousins!  I know I know, quite the age gap, right?   These are his Mother’s baby brother’s children, and I just think so highly of them.  They love my kiddos and are so well rounded and kind.  However I am a little disgruntled at them joking about this bridge.  You see this bridge and I, we are not friends.  A one way scarey looking bridge here in Fremont that you can see through?  No thank you.  I couldnt even go 10 steps out onto it, and that part is over LAND not water.  I think if I couldnt see beneath me I would be okay… BUT, it’s not for me, and going there was NOT my idea!  However, it made for some pretty amazing portraits, so I am glad we did.

More to follow.  For now I must be off to wish this sinus ordeal goodbye. Ugh!

See my previous post about how to find me on FB – or view it up top under the blogroll.

xo

dani

If you are a fan of DLP and enjoy my blog or services, please join my fan page on facebook by going  here!  I would love to see who’s behind me (if you are on facebook, of course!) and make special offers available to my FB members.  HOWEVER, if DLP’s page reaches 100 here soon, theres a treat involved! *wink*

Come join the fun, your sneak peeks will be tagged on facebook for you to share with your friends and family!

**END EDIT**

Oh where to begin.  I think my blogging has lacked very decent word content lately, but let’s face it – no one probably comes here to read very often:)

I’ll admit I am burried right now.  The being sick when I came back from the wedding, then my kids being sick – has really thrown my workflow into chaos and I am utterly behind.  However, I will keep trucking until I am caught up!  I haven’t missed a deadline yet, but it’s getting aweful close at times.

With that – Mister C. and his beautiful mother – M.  M. is a close friend of mine and… how I love them!

He is so very handsome and she is just radiant:)

Just a few from last weeks FINAL mini sessions – D. family and G. family.  I just love Miss A.’s dress – so vibrant!

Mommy and Her MJ   Mom C is an aspiring photographer herself  (and as soon as shes confident and ready I plan on doing a huge load shift her way when my schedule is full… she just doesnt know it yet!)

And my dear Trischa, who is patiently (so very patiently) awaiting her gallery.  These moments just cant be recreated – they are so special, and so full of emotion.

She met with her soon to be husband before hand – these shots were on the way there.  It was intimate and lovely and after witnessing it, I will forever be an advocate for having your moment together before your ceremony.  How awesome – let me tell you!

Okay, breaks over. Back to work!

xo

dani

A few of the “mommy whisperer’s” kids I just <3 them. Note: 1-2-3- weeeee! Never gets old. No matter how many times it’s done. It’s just too fun.

Mister Oh-So-Handsome found several of these little buggie friends that day…

And S & N, some of the happiest people on earth. You’d think they lived at Walt Disney word or something   Is it just me, or does Miss S. favor Ellen Pompeo from Grey’s somewhat?  Gorgeous

N. was a model in his day and knew the routine – I do believe carrying my chair was no biggie for him, as he was used to hauling flashstands and softboxes.  It was kind of neat having someone know the drill and come up with a few other ideas I’ve never thought of posing wise!

Like I said, short on words. Sick kids have really put a stand-still on some things.  I must choose my priorities wisely, and they hold the number 1 spot.

Happy monday to you when it gets here, and enjoy your “get dark early” sunday.

Hope your Halloween Festivities were wonderful.  Thanks for stopping!

xo

dani

…Because turning one not only involves lots of cake goodness (and if youre a lucky photographer and accidentally get some on you, you might just be foreced to eat it – painful, I know), lots of “oooooh!” from baby, and a precious mess at the end that for once, you really wont mind cleaning up.

Turning one is a victory for parents, I think.  When it’s the first baby, turning one means – holy cow – we made it.  In the last year, Addie’s (name used with permission, because I am so sure you recognize her from her 4 mo. pictures and all of my postcards! she’s the wide eyed girly-pie on the opening slide to the blog slideshow) parents like many others probably slept less than they’d ever had, washed more laundry than they ever had, and cleaned up more poop than they ever thought possible – anyone with kids knows poop becomes an easily conversable topic that no longer involves cringing  The best part?  Each sleepless night ends up with a gummy baby smile, maybe with a tooth or two.  You’ll cry when you realize its the last time you’ll wash that shirt because he/she has outgrown it, but gladly end up shopping for more – and the poo’ thing?  Well the potty comes soon enough. Can’t say I have to add any other celebratory words to that.

Turning one means you made it.  It’s a celebration for everyone, but baby takes the cake and gets all the presents

When it’s a second or further down the line addition, I’d say the “we made it to one year” victory deserves something more like a night out at the bar for mom and dad (smile)!

 Happy soon-to-be 1st birthday little Addie!

Now, onto a few more mini session sneakity-peeks:)

Meet little mister from the M. family.  Those eyes, if they haven’t yet, might just wrap you up and squeeze you!

How about that giggle-face?!  I know, I know, after mini-sessions I will retire the darn doorstep but I just love it!

I’ll be away for a bit more than likely, I have a wedding to finish up (see below!) and lots of ordering to do that I am way far behind on – and having a kindergartender whos missed now her 3rd day of school isn’t speeding up the process any.

xo

dani

Meet the R. family.  They had their mini session a few days ago and it was c-c-c-cold out!  For teeth chattering and intermittant coat wearing, I’d say things went pretty nicely

I just think this family is lovely, and their girls are just so, so pretty – and that they should be excited for their gallery to launch tomorow!

Now, a few more from S. family from a few weeks back.  I don’t often get to share deep into a session but I just had so much fun at theirs and they were all so interactive and candid with me – that I thought I would share some more images from their session.

And the boys? Hams. One slightly more than the other. See if you can tell which one

Shh… baby P. is still sleeping… well, in some of them

Many more sneak peeks on the way

Happy middle of the week to you all,

xo

dani