“Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ” ~Marion C. Garretty

Meet multi-talented and multifaceted mama Jennifer Pinkerton.  She is a mom to three darling little girls, runs a photography business, a fab etsy shop + is a part of one of my fave photography sites, The Maternal Lens.  Whew!  Do you feel tired for her yet? Read on to find out more about this amazing mama, like the fact that she might add roller derby star to her repertoire very soon!

{photo courtesy Jennifer Pinkerton}

Please tell us a little about your business and how you developed the concept for it?

A couple of Christmases ago, I made some camera strap covers for friends, thinking they were a great idea for any photog, and word about them spread like wildfire!  I opened up my etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkpooka) simply to help me stay organized with all the requests I get.  I am pretty casual about it, just as I am with my photography business, working at it when inspiration strikes.  I do it all because I love it!  I love to sew and take pictures for folks.  Plain and simple.

{How adorable is this little camera?!  Jen made it! I also have the most adorable camera bag that she made–can’t wait to have time to photograph it one of these days!!}

How did you choose your business name?

The Pink Pooka is obviously inspired in part by my last name (Pinkerton) and of course, every girl’s love of pink.  The pooka part is from a play I did in high school, called “Harvey,” about a man with an imaginary friend who is a 6ft rabbit.  It’s just a fun word with a quirky meaning… from old Celtic mythology, a fairy spirit in animal form, always very large.  Appears here and there, now and then, to this one and that one.  A benign but mischievous creature.

With my photography, I’ve chosen just to stick with my name to keep it easy!  I’m all about easy.

What makes your business so fab and awesome?

I am first to admit that maybe I’m not the most business minded person.  I think the best things about my businesses are that I keep things quirky and eclectic.  My work is a pretty accurate representation of me and you never really know when I’ll pop up with something different.  I thrive on the unpredictability of my inspiration.

How many sweeties do you have and what are their ages?

I have a house full of girls.  A five year old and three year old twins!

{Ummm…how gorgeous are these four?!  LOVE the setting, too!!  Photo courtesy Jennifer Pinkerton}

How do you make sure that you are a rockin’ mama to your kiddos while still running your own business?

I try to get the kids involved in my work, so they feel like they are a part of it.  They love to pick out fabrics for my sewing projects and of course, they are my little models for everything.  We are together all the time, so when I’m not working, we try to get out and explore new places.  I really focus on doing things with the kids that will make for great memories.

What is your biggest challenge as a work-at-home mama?

Staying focused!  As any stay-at-home mom knows, you are constantly pulled in different directions, and when you are trying to work on top of that, it’s extremely difficult to find large chunks of time where you can focus and accomplish a task.

Do you have a website/shop/boutique?

Yes, I do!  I sell on etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkpooka

My photography blog is http://jenpinkertonphotography.blogspot.com/

I keep my crafty+family blog (which everyone is welcome to follow!) at http://pinkertonfamilyblog.blogspot.com/

And of course, The Maternal Lens

http://www.thematernallens.blogspot.com/

{Love, love, love Jen’s camera strap covers!  I just adore this fabric, don’t you?}

If you could jet away on a vacation tomorrow, where would you go and why?

I’d definitely go somewhere new and different!  One place I *really* want to visit is a tropical island where they have little huts over the ocean.  I think Fiji would work.

What is something that people probably don’t know about you?

That’s tough because I tell everyone everything!  I think a lot of folks might be surprised to learn that I can be very systematic and disciplined, almost OCD, at times, which is very contrary to the laid back, chronic procrastinator that you usually get to see. You might also be surprised to learn that my newest ambition is to become a roller derby girl.  Those girls are hardcore cool and I must become one!

Jen, thank you SO very much–you are truly a rockin’ mama!!  Camera strap covers, beautiful photographs, fabulous blogs…is there anything you don’t do?!    Oh, and I have ALWAYS wanted to go somewhere tropical where they have those over-the-water huts, too!!  Meet you there!!

xoxo,

laura

“Don’t wait to make your son a great man – make him a great boy.”

~Author Unknown

My Jackson is on the verge of four.  No.way.  He still has two more months left of being a three year old, and I am holding on to those two months tight.  My sweet firstborn has quickly passed his baby days and is becoming such a boy.  It brings tears to my eyes when I think of how fast I feel he went from being a year and a half (when we found out we were expecting his sister) to celebrating his third birthday.  Really.  Where did two go?  It was a whirlwind of being pregnant–the sickness, the worries, the preparing, the anticipation, then a blur of those delicious yet sleep-deprived newborn months, all the while running a business.  It was an adjustment, but one that I didn’t even have time to realize we were making.  Some days I was sad for Jack that it wasn’t just days of mommy and Jack, other days I was delighted that he now had a sibling so close in age.  Some days were pure bliss–playing, giggling, learning, enjoying.  Other days were spent frustrated and wondering if it was just the age or was it because he has to share the attention now?  During that time, Jackson became extremely anti-camera.  Yet another stage, but my mommy and photographer’s heart sunk each time he would run the other way.  I longed to have images of my sweet boy.   It was no better when someone else photographed him.  Man, you should have seen our family photos last year.  You haven’t seen them?  That’s because they weren’t really “family” photographs.  A certain three year old was conspicuously absent in almost all of them.  Last week, my sweet Jackson made my heart sing.  He not only let me photograph him, but he actually enjoyed it.  We had fun “exploring” and spending a few quiet moments checking out some chickens and other fun finds.  He is so many things, my dear boy.   Above all, curious.  Kind.  Spirited.  Pensive.  Loud.  A doting big brother.  A master imitator.  Funny.  Lover of his “comfs” (comfy pants).  Inquisitive.  Rowdy.  Ahhh, my sweet, slow down.  Please don’t grow up on me too fast. Thank you for these quiet moments together.  Though we talked, so much was said in the silence…

i love you more than all the stars in the sky,

mommy

“A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you.”

~Brigitte Bardot

More fun + fab {wall art wednesday} today!  Check more posts out here!

Your child’s photo as pop art!  What fun it brings to this room!!  This would look super cute with your doggie, too!  Here is a company to order through.

{image via decor pad}

Blocks of color, interesting photographs…awesome!!  IKEA has some frames that would work perfect, too, AND they are only $2.99!  Easy, peasy!!

{image via domino magazine}

This room is so peaceful, isn’t it?  I love when photographs are mixed in with graphic prints in frames.  This would be perfect for that!

{image via room remix}

This idea is awesome for a playroom or a children’s room!  These IKEA frames are so inexpensive and colorful that you can mix sizes and colors and include both your child’s artwork and photographs (hmmm…IKEA should start paying me I’m giving them so much love in this post!).  I’m thinking that photographs of your child with their friends would be particularly cute!  I did have Jackson’s artwork displayed in these on our playroom wall, but they didn’t stay up for long.    I love the idea of the ledge for them to just sit on, away from little hands.  It is my dream and on my to-do list to have a mini photo shoot with all of Jackson’s little buddies so I can adorn his walls with fun images of them all interacting and playing together!

{image via ikea}

and, this image has no photo wall display, but this is my blog, right?   I just adored this room too darn much not to share.  Something about it just caught my eye! What do you think?  Wouldn’t you love to head into dreamland in THIS room?!

{image via decor pad}

xoxo,

laura

“A photograph is memory in the raw. ”

~Carrie Latet

I had a wonderful response to last week’s {wall art wednesday}.  I find it is a challenge for most people in this busy world to give thought to taking their photos out of albums and onto their walls.  Give your photographs and memories the place they deserve in your home.  Make a statement and go big.  You really will adore it and be so happy you did.  Here are a few more ideas to get you started…

I just love this one…I have a very similar photo of my two kiddos and they are around the same ages, too.  Think I should blow it up and put it in our bedroom?    One photograph blown up big can make such an impact, don’t you think?

{image via apartment therapy}

How fun!  I bet you would never think to put your frames this close together and in this pattern…look how they are all different sizes, too.  Might be pretty easy to do, don’t you think?

{image via real simple}

This one is similar to the previous wall display…I just love how it wraps around the corner!  So unique!

{image via apartment therapy}

Just by grouping six or more (I love at least nine even more) frames of the same size together, you are making a huge statement.  This is pretty much what I have on the wall in the office except the frames are all square.  I.love.it.

{image via ashley whittaker design}

What have you done to make a statement in your own home with photographs?  Share with us!  I can’t wait to share some of my client images…thanks to those that have already shared! 

xoxo,

laura

“Love is a symbol of eternity.  It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. ”

~Author Unknown

Such a beautiful wedding and a gorgeous couple.  I cannot wait to post a full sneak peek (today or tomorrow!).  There are just so many special and gorgeous moments to this weekend’s wedding.  A sampling: bed-jumping, giggling with BFFs, tears of joy, sunflare as vows are being said, In N Out, a vintage red bike + crazy well-wishers striking poses for the photo booth!  Can’t wait…can you?    Stay tuned…

xoxo,

laura

“A daughter is a miracle that never ceases to be miraculous…full of beauty and forever beautiful…loving and caring and truly amazing.”
~ Deanna Beisser

Quick, someone call a talent agent!  This little doll is just the cutest little thing, and she is so expressive!!  I get the biggest kick out of the many faces of Miss Z–all of them just so cute you want to squeeze her!  Her big eyes were so glassy and round, her curls were the perfect little ringlets and her sassiness was fit for a princess!  She is fabulous and she knows it! She recently celebrated her very first birthday, so our session ended with a fabulous cake smash…only she already is so posh that she didn’t entirely take to the idea of getting messy.  Loved it!  Thanks, B fam!

Happy First Birthday, sweet baby girl! 

Would you love for your sweetie to celebrate with a cake smash session?  Email me at laura@laurawinslowphotography.com to set up a session and I will put you in contact with the fab Angie of Custom Theme Cakes! 

Be sure to check out our Facebook page for more photos, casting calls + fun!

So, when we moved here two and a half years ago, Jack was just over a year old.  We joined a meetup, made some amazing friends and got out and did things.  A lot.  I remember the girls and I having to make a point to schedule time to stay at home just so we could get housework done–that was how often we did things!  Things slowed down a bit when Addison was born, but I am back to enjoying a packed calendar with tons of fun things to do with my children.   I love exposing them to awesome new places and experiences, and love when they can “get their wiggles out”.  And hey, let’s be honest–I also love when the added bonus is that they get all tuckered out and take awesome naps so mommy can get work done.    I am always on the lookout for new places, but we also have quite a few regular favorites.

This blog feature–which I hope to make a regular one–was born after chatting with a fellow mom wondering what things there were to do around town.  I actually get asked this same question quite a bit from my clients that have just become moms.  There is so, so very much to take advantage of around the Valley.  Get out and further enrich your child’s life and spend some quality time learning something new–or just push them on a swing with the breeze blowing through your hair at a park you’ve never been to! 

First up is one of my faves–Jack LOVES it, and so do I.  The Arizona Museum for Youth (AMY) is located in downtown Mesa and has inside of it a place called Artville.  Oh, Artville, how we love thee…particularly on blazing summer days.  Artville is an interactive play area for children ages birth-5 years old.  I highly recommend purchasing an annual pass as it can quickly add up if you go there a lot.  Children under a year are free, and there is a great little padded play area for kiddos under one.  It has mirrors for them to look in and soft little hills for them to crawl over.  The exhibits in the actual museum rotate (right now there is Play Ball, there is also Sounds like Art right now).

This photo gives you an idea of how long we have been going to Artville…doesn’t my now-three year old look so little here?

If you head out to Artville, or are already a regular, I would love to know how you love it too!  Leave me a comment to share your own experiences!

xoxo,

laura

We had a wonderful time, and this photo shoot was a long time in the making.    The babies were all so sweet and loved being so close to their mommies.  They looked adorable all snuggled up!  The slings are made by designer Ivy and A and feel great.  As our moms modeled with their babies, they loved having their hands free and the kiddos liked the comfort of being right next to their mamas.  Babywearing is wonderful for you and your child!  Learn more about it here.  Here are just a few from our morning –doesn’t everyone look fab?  Thanks for a super-fun session, my ladies, and give those precious little ones smoochies!

xoxo,

laura

So, it’s no secret that I adore all that designer Stephanie of Ivy and A creates.  I must share some of my shoots that I have had the pleasure of photographing with my clients wearing her ahhhh-mazing clothing.  How happy would I be if your kiddo showed up in one of these outfits?!  Happy, I tell you!    Stephanie just has a knack for pairing uber-cool fabrics with one another in the most adorable boutique designs.  Her style really lends itself well to style of photography, too.  Bright pops of colors, fresh style and contemporary textiles.  I swoon each time I see a new design, seriously.  Her outfits are so fun to accessorize and the possibilities for your session are endless!  Don’t you just want to smile just looking at all these sweeties having fun?

xoxo,

laura

{clothing from boutique Ivy and A}

{some headbands and hats from the fab Dolce Vita Mia}

{boy’s hat from the talented Cassi of Polka Dot Posh}

{Mary Jane shoes designed by the lovely Curly Birdie}

A special thanks to our amazing little models for rockin’ the clothing with style!

“A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm. “

~Bill Vaughan

I just love birthday sessions.  This little sweetie will be turning three in a few short weeks, and mom wanted to have a session to commemorate this special time in her daughter’s life.  We had so much fun!  I adored the outfits and accessories that mom came with, and this darling little girl just instinctively knew how to pose!  Let me tell you–I am SO lucky to have the most amazing clients, from my smallest newbies, to precocious toddlers to expectant mommies.  Don’t you think this little doll belongs in a catalog?  I always like to suggest when doing children’s sessions that we go with both a classic look and a more funky and fun look.  I love to capture every aspect of their full personalities.  Thanks for a great session–it was so fun to meet you and your little explorer!  I can’t wait to hear how much she enjoys her birthday tea party! 

xoxo,

laura