Happy Memorial Day!

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. Besides the spotty showers, the weather was perfect. Chris, myself and the two girls had a fun filled weekend full of hanging out with family and  friends. We spent time at a campsite at Saylorville Lake, traveled to Sun Valley Lake for 2 days/one night and had a bonfire with a group of friends back at home. Now I've never been a person with a strict schedule and routine with my kids (even though I would like to be sometimes) so you can guess with all this going this weekend their naps, bed time and waking up time were all over the place. While my kids handle being out and about very well, it does take a toll on them after a few days. Now the problem with this is that I planned to take their 3 and 1 year old photos this morning. Boy did I find out that it was a bad idea and poor planning on my end.

Both girls were exhausted which ended up in Addison running all over the place and not cooperating and Kensington crying and wanting to be held every time you put her down. She spent most of the morning in my arms or with a death grip on my legs Of course I ended up holder her and not doing a lot of photo taken. Smiles or tears, I can't resist her when she wants her mommy.

But I did end up getting one shot of Addison I just love. She's such a doll and so adorable to me.  And just because I don't want to leave Kensi out, here is the one and only slightly decent photo of her.

The rest of the day, were were a couch potato, moving watching, napping, lazy, p.j. wearing family. It was great! Enjoy your week everyone!

A group of fun!

My friend Chris and her two sisters got all their little, and big, kiddos together to capture some images for themselves and the grandparents. I had so much fun meeting them and seeing all of their different personalities come out as we played around the park. Thank Chris for the opportunity.

Baby Blues!

One of my favorite features of the face are the eyes. I love eyes no matter what color. In my family we have brown, greenish/blue, blue and green all represented. The eyes draw you in, say a lot about a person and are a window into the soul. You can almost always tell a story and understand it from the eyes even if you are unable to see any other feature or expression on the face. That is why you will find in my photos a good mixture of posed and spontaneous images but always at least one focused on the eyes.

Baby E was no exception. Her sparkling blue eyes draw you in. They are so fresh and innocent, just like she is at this stage of life. Thanks mom and dad for letting me play with Baby E and capturing her during this special age. Here is your sneak peak of Baby E's first birthday photos and your family. Enjoy!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Five years ago today, my hubby and I, along with 38 of our friends and family, were in Cancun, Mexico for our wedding. We had an amazing time during a sunset wedding right on the beach and then dinner to follow at a restaurant in the hotel. 

I can truly say that I love my husband just as much and more as I did five years ago. He is my best friend, loving husband and a wonderful dad to our two little girls! 

In honor of my 5 year anniversary, I am offering one lucky couple in the Central Iowa area my Love Bug special! Here's how it works:

• Send in your nomination - Tell me why you or a couple you know deserves a photo session for $75! That's a $50 savings for the couple session price.
• Email your nomination to debbie@dkaphotography.com
• The only criteria is what I feel makes a strong and successful relationship - The couple you nominate much exemplify love, trust, honor and respect
  
• The most deserving couple from the nominations will be selected.

Nominations will be accepted today through the last day of May.

Having photos of the one you love and that shows your special relationship is a wonderful item that can be treasured forever. My husband  and I take photos all the time but since having kids, the ones of us two are now far and few between. As part of our anniversary gift to each other, we are having a photo session dedicated to us. No kids allowed this time.

Party planning

My little girl will is turning one this week. How does time go so fast! I'm in the midst of planning all the little details to do before the party. One of those things includes charging our video camera and clearing off one of my camera memory sticks. I totally forgot to get the video camera ready for my other little girl's 3rd birthday and realized the battery was dead when I got ready to use it right before the pinata activity. So I thought this would be a good time to share some birthday photo tips with you. Some of them I'm good at doing and others I need a reminder myself.

• Charged and cleared - double check your camera and video camera is ready
  
• Photo spots - Think about the background where most of your photos will be. For example, I always but the most balloons by where Addison blows out her candles and eats her cake so the images really gets the birthday party feel.
  
• Say cheese - If you want a good pictures of your child alone and all dressed in their party wear, plan this into your schedule and do :15 mintues or so before the guest arrives. Once other people are there, it will be hard to get your child to focus on you and cooperate.
  
• Capturing the moment - Once the party starts, try to capture your child in the moment catching their expressions and not always them smiling at the camera.
  
• Pass it - Don't forget to hand the camera over to a guest to capture some images so you look you were at the party as well. I do not have one picture of me at Addison's 3rd party. I totally forgot to hand the camera over to get a few of me with her.

We'll be celebrathing Kensington's birthday this week. Stay tunned for her cake smash session and photos from her birthday.

I hope all the moms had a wonderful Mother's Day today and got the opportunity to do what makes them happy. Me, I got to sleep in till 9 a.m. instead of getting up at 6:45 a.m. like my normal weekend time. The extra sleep was nice but the best part was getting out of bed on my own terms rather than by the cry of a baby. Ahhhh...my bed was so cozy!

Sweetness Alert!

Saturday I got to play with a sweet little two year old who has a great first name... it just happens to be the same as my little one. :) By the end of the shoot, we were walking hand-in-hand and I had a new little buddy. I'm heading off to bed but wanted to give her mommy a sneak peak  to what will be coming her way in the mail this week... her high-res CD with photos of some serious sweetness. 

Thanks Michele for letting me capture your little girl at two-years old. I hope you have a great time at her birthday celebration!