“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.”

~Lin Yutang

I just adore this beautiful mama.    I first met her when she hired me to photograph her days-old first baby girl, and I have had the opportunity to photograph sweet little N and her family many times since.   Traci is just so incredibly fun and we have found ourselves chatting for hours on end on more than one occasion.  She was the talent behind the amazing hair of all the models at our recent Alice in Wonderland shoot.  Check her out and give her a call if you want a new ‘do–seriously, she rocks!  You will quickly find that she is one of the sweetest things around, too.  I am SO very excited that Miss N is going to be a big sis, and I cannot wait to meet their new precious joy.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of your lives, I just love you all so much.  I look forward to watching your family grow! And to Dada S, I just haven’t gotten to the fam’ photos, but don’t worry–lots of fun ones with you, too! 

xoxo,

laura

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advise, solutions or cures, have rather chosen to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand.”

~ Henri Nouwen

I am so very excited to announce that I have joined the team of Nurturing Hearts Birth Services as their recommended East Valley photographer!    Founder and midwife Stephanie Soderblom is one amazing woman, and I am so honored that she asked me to be a part of her incredible family.

I first met Stephanie when I attended a Birth Circle meeting (truly awesome!) at NHBS when I was eight months pregnant with my second child.  I was extremely emotional as I had a rather traumatic birth experience with my first child.  I came along with a dear friend who was also pregnant with her second child and was a “client” of Stephanie’s (I hesitate using the word client because those that have Stephanie as a midwife are so much more to her.  They immediately become family.)  I was welcomed into this group of women with open arms and hearts.  I sobbed out of fear, heartbreak, nervousness and sadness.  Some teared up with me, others nodded their heads in understanding and some offered me kind words of advice and wisdom.   It was one of the first times that I met other women that viewed birth the same way as I did.   Until then, I rarely found a woman that understood why I didn’t want an epidural, or why I wanted to avoid another cesarean.  Why I wanted to be emotionally and spiritually present at the birth of my daughter, why I was actually looking forward to the surges and waves of “pain”.  Why I wanted to experience all that because I had been robbed of it before, and because I am a woman and it is nature’s gift to us.  I felt so very relieved and relaxed when I left there that night.  Before leaving, each woman in the room presented me with a small, beautiful bead and a single, powerful word as a wish for me during my birth.  I had them made into a bracelet that I wore during my entire labor and in the weeks leading up to it.  It was a great source of strength and tranquility, and I treasure it always.  My twenty-nine hours of unmedicated labor were just what I was hoping for, and it truly healed me from the sadness associated with the birth of my son.

I would encourage anyone interested in exploring their birthing options to be in touch with Stephanie.  She is such a sweetie and would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.  I have seen her in action when I had the blessing of photographing the birth of a sweet baby boy last year.  Stephanie was the midwife and oh- so -wonderful.

I just adore photographing expectant women as they are just full of beauty and truly do have that inner glow.  It is such a beautiful and amazing time in one’s life, one that you can never get back.  I am so happy to be able to reach more pregnant women that wish to have their beautiful shapes captured forever.  I also look forward to helping them forever remember how small their little newborns were.  Such a miracle.  Such a blessing.

Thank you, Stephanie, and the NHBS family.  I look forward to photographing more beautiful women and babies on their journey.

Here is a sneakie peekie of a baby bump from a maternity session this weekend…more of this gorgeous mama on the blog later this week! 

You can view more of my recent newborn + maternity sessions here and here, or visit my website.

xoxo,

laura

“Birthing is the most profound initiation to spirituality a woman can have.”

~Robin Lim

What a super-fun session this was! Such a fabulous, sweet couple.  They were up for anything and were just natural models!  I cannot WAIT to photograph their darling little man when he arrives sometime next month! He is going to be just gorgeous!  Thank you for being such good sports, for making me laugh and for reminiscing about being an army brat + New Orleans with me, you two.  I look forward to seeing you again soon when you are embracing your new roles as mom and dad. 

Be sure to check out more sneak peeks + fun on Facebook!

Yay!  One of my photographs from the Alice in Wonderland photo shoot–styled by The TomKat Studio and featuring the talent of SO many fabulous artists–was a featured photo on the Martha Stewart Dreamers into Doers webpage!  SO fun and exciting that they loved it, too!  We had SUCH a blast at the shoot…don’t forget to check out my original blog post to see more of the shoot or visit The TomKat Studio blog!

xoxo,

laura

A special thanks to Kim of The TomKat Studio and Project Nursery (and a contributor many other places! ) for featuring the nursery of one of my clients! This mama has such an eye for design and I instantly loved this little tiger’s mod owl room.   How fun that Kim shared it with the Project Nursery readers!  I just adore that site–head on over and check it out!  There is a ton of inspiration for designing your child’s nursery, room, party planning + so much more.  Some of my fave features are the DIY Projects and the Fabulous Finds.  What’s yours?  Love their style, and I know you will too.    Thanks so much, Kim + Project Nursery, and thanks to mama A for sharing your design inspiration with us!  Love ya–give that little sweetie kisses!

“Where there is great love, there are always miracles.”

~Willa Cather

What a fun session!  I had a great time with this fab family that just moved here from Texas LAST MONTH!  I will be photographing their sweet baby girl when she makes her arrival in May, and I already have a soft spot in my heart for her.  Her name is going to be the same as my own Addison Grace!   Ahh, it brings back so many memories of just a year ago.  Babies are so incredible, aren’t they?  This mama rocked her session and had some fun ideas of her own, which I always love.  Big sister was a natural, too.  Thanks so much for a wonderful session–I look forward to seeing you again in just a few short weeks.    Enjoy your sneak peeks!

“Being a mother means that your heart is no longer yours; it wanders wherever your children do. “

~Author Unknown

What a fun session!  I loved this couple and am so very excited to meet their sweet baby girl when she makes her arrival next month.  They have been patiently awaiting their sneak peeks as I try to recover from complications from surgery (thanks for being SO sweet and understanding!) Her nursery is so sweet–fit for a princess.  We started off at their beautiful home and made sure to get some shots in of the new “big sis”–isn’t she so precious, and how cute is her shirt?!

I am in love with this gorgeous outdoor location, too.  I just adore doing maternity sessions in nature–I think there is just something so fitting about a woman with a perfectly round belly among trees, water and the outdoors.  This stunning mama-to-be was up for anything, and doesn’t pregnancy agree with her?  I just loved the look in her hubby’s eyes and the sound of his voice as he looked at her and spoke to her as she was being photographed.  Really, it was just so touching.  He is obviously just so in love with her and seems so excited and happy that she is carrying their child.  If this is how he is now, can you imagine when his daughter arrives?  Miss B, you must get ready for your next career–a pregnancy model!  You are a natural, girlie!!    Enjoy your sneak peeks, and I look forward to next month when I get to meet your new little peapod.

xoxo,

laura

“To be pregnant is to be vitally alive, thoroughly woman, and undoubtedly inhabited.”

~Anne Buchanan + Debra Klingsporn

These wonderful parents-to-be are just so fun!  Mama was up for anything and was game for all of my ideas–I loved it!  She is so gorgeous and has such a perfectly round belly, don’t you think?  She even sported high heels–now that is commitment to the art!  He he!  She was a former dancer and was a natural in them.  We found all sorts of fun little nooks and crannies to photograph her in–I was loving it!  I am just so excited to meet their sweet Brooklyn when she makes her debut next month.  Thanks for a fabulous session–it was so wonderful to meet the both of you!!

xoxo,

laura

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

~Maya Angelou

I am super excited to be part of a worldwide photographic event called Giving is Awesome!  I have always believed in the importance of giving back, and I am so happy to be able to through the gift of photography.  Something that will make someone having a difficult time smile through it.  What is Giving is Awesome?

You know someone.

You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography — $1200 worth, to be exact.  The winner will receive a complimentary, custom session with me, a high resolution digital negative CD with print release, a DVD slideshow and $100 worth of prints.  Tell me their story because it deserves to be recognized.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a complimentary session fee ($125) and $100 print credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make the annual trip to Disney World does not qualify as sincere financial need.) 

* The nominee must reside in the East Valley, within 30 miles of 85295 (or the session must take place at a location that is). Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself.

*If you don’t know someone that could use this, pass the link on! Post it on your blog, facebook, myspace, email it to your friends and family because I’m sure they could spread the love to someone they might know.

* You must e-mail me the full story : laura@laurawinslowphotography.com by Monday, December 21^st at 2:00 pm.

*The winning sessions will take place between January and May 2010.  Happy New Year!

You have from today until Monday, December 21st at 2:00 pm to submit your nomination. I must be able to notify the winner with a surprise phone call on Christmas Eve. I will also announce it on my blog that same day–so get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!

The premise is simple: think of someone you know who deserves custom photography but can no way possibly afford it. Nominate them to win it. Enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling you brought to the world.

Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,

laura

Learn more about Giving is Awesome project by checking out the website.  Want to nominate someone outside of this region? Check out the map for other participating photographers.

“If I had my life to live over, instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished ever moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.”
~Irma Bombeck

This gorgeous mama-to-be was so fun to photograph.  Her amazing auburn hair just glowed in the morning sun and she had a sunny personality to match!  Both she and hubby have red hair…hmmm…what color do you think their sweet baby will have?    I can’t wait to find out when I have the pleasure of photographing their sweetie when he–or she–makes their arrival right around Christmas.  Another surprise baby–I love it!

On a side note, does anyone else think that this anticipating mama looks like Tori Amos?    I just couldn’t help asking…I think she bears such a resemblance to her!  Beautiful!!

Their new baby will share the love with three sweet furbabies–two cute cats and a floppy bunny!  It is obvious that these two have a world full of love to shower upon their baby.  What a lucky little babe.  Thank you so much for a wonderful session.  I absolutely cannot wait to meet your bundle of joy next month…