Today was a great day.  I mean a really, really great day. 

I went and looked at a new studio space this morning that I am completely in love with.  Looks like we'll be moving in sometime in early May.  The landlord, Jim Reid, is just a great guy too.  His places are stylish and well designed and he has a great way about him that makes you feel at ease.  He even gave me a hug!

Our display at Fannin Pediatrics (in the TX Medical Center) is almost complete.  That has been such a great project.  I didn't know how much I was going to enjoy putting it together.  We decided that we wanted to have the walls feature the patients as well as the doctor's families.  That has been the part that I have enjoyed the most.  I have taken some of my favorite photographs recently during those sessions.  I am just so proud of how it has turned out and I love hearing how happy the Moms and Dads are to see their kid's faces on the walls.  Thanks to all the little patients and their families for letting me photograph you. A huge thank you goes out to Drs. Steve Alley, Angela Chia, Christa Filak and Vicki Regan.  I also want to say thanks to the office staff for all that they have done to help me in the process.  Your practice is so wonderful and I'm just honored to be a part of it.

Just like a cherry on top of an already great sundae, the Professional Photographers of America Magazine wrote an article about me and my website and it is out this month.  For this amazing gift, I am grateful to Angela Wijesinghe at PPA.  Thanks Angie for including me in your article!

In response to the article I have gotten some really nice emails from people.  Here's one that I got tonight that made me feel great.

Dear Farrah,
I just received my copy of Professional Photographer magazine today.  My name is Christy Parker and I am a Photographer in Savannah,GA.  I visited your website it is gorgeous!  I have worked under several photographers who were all very traditional.  I am now springing out on my own and you give such inspiration!  Your work is so fun and truly displays happiness for you as well as your clients!  I would love any tips or advice you could share if you are willing or have time!  I have three boys (5, 3, and 10mths) and they are definitely my most photographed subjects!  I need to get a website setup and get my name out there.  Just seeing your work and web page inspires me!  Thank you for being so great at what you do!
Sincerely,
Christy Parker

(This is like the time during the Academy Awards when the music starts to play) 

Before I get run off the stage, thanks my sweet friend Brene for a nice reality check this evening.  Everyone can blame her for this rambling thank you email.

I just finished working on this image for a recent maternity client.  I love it!  She's considering doing this as a gallery wrapped canvas for her nursery.  I love taking images like this and creating wall art for nurseries.  Isn't it amazing to think about how much has changed regarding women and how we celebrate our pregnancies in our generation?  My Mom and I talk about what it was like for her when she was pregnant and having children.  She's always marveling at how much "cool stuff" we have now!    Trends do come and go but I am happy to see that the maternity photography trend is still here and going strong.

Nurseries and children's rooms are great places to hang larger images.  I have these new frames at the studio by Paige Pea that look great in children's rooms.  They are colorful and sort of "shabby chic" and look really amazing in larger wall groupings.  If you'd like to see the frames in person just give us a call and we'd be happy to show them off to you.

I have been photographing Jake since before he even came out into our fine world and I've had the pleasure of photographing Dylan a couple of times.  I love this family.  Heather (Mom) loves photography as much as I do so I have had lots of fun opportunities to photograph her family.  These are the most recent installment of her fun and cool kids.

Dylan brought her SUPER cool SUPER girl outfit.

Her Grandma gave her these glasses.  They were cracking me up! 

What's awesome about Dylan is the she is just full of personality.  She just comes gunning and I love it.

Thanks for making my day Heather!  I had a great time. 

If you like this look (the white background and the fun clothing and colors) you should consider booking a spot for my special promotion called The White Sale.  The White Sale is happening on April 5th and May 3rd.  Here's how it works...we are offering 30 minute complimentary sessions in the studio.  Your baby or child will be photographed on white (like the images above).  This session is meant to be fun and energetic.  Fun and bright clothing is encouraged!  Hats are GREAT for this!  In addition to the complimentary session, you will receive a complimentary 5x7.  If you donate a fun hat to the studio hat collection, your 5x7 becomes a complimentary 8x10!  Yippeee!  Call the studio to sign up today (713-255-2882).  Sessions are limited and going fast!

I am heading off to South America today!  Southern Chile to be exact.  I'll be out of the studio until Thursday 2/7.  My new assistant, Julie, will be here some of the time that I am away so you can still pick up orders and get some questions answered.  Hopefully I'll be able to do some blogging while I'm away and share some pictures and travels details.  OK, now I better go get my camera packed!

Back in January I went to the Professional Photographers of America national convention.  I love going every year.  They have a big trade show and we get to check out tons of new products as well as take classes and hear experts speak on various topics.  I found some great new items for my clients this year including some really beautiful new frames and albums.  I'm excited to start showing them off. 

I was also honored with an award for my new website.  The website won "Best Website" in a national marketing competition!  It was a huge honor for me.  They are also going to do a feature on great web sites for the April issue of the magazine and they interviewed me for it, very cool!

My fellow winners were Wendy Rouleau and Jeff Woods- awesome to be included in such a great group. 

After the awards ceremony we all went an after party at the Tampa Aquarium.  It was hilarious to see so many people taking pictures of the fish!  I guess that is what you get when you put a bunch of photographers together somewhere...the cameras come out!  I joined in too.  Here are some little pictures of the fish with my iphone.

I also got to meet Gina Alexander at the trade show.  Gina makes the photo handbags that I sell at the studio.  She showed us some of the new bags, which are great and I can't wait to get some sample for the studio.

Now, back at the studio, it's time to sort out all the cool & new information and get back to work!