laura cebulski photography

Hailey: Senior Pics

2011-09-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

Seniors, Seniors, Seniors! 'Tis the season! I love photographing seniors. So much fun. So much opportunity to be creative and try new stuff. And have you noticed lately how good-looking 17-year-olds tend to be? Like beautiful skin and clear eyes? This young woman was no exception---and let me tell you, she brought it! She had such fun energy and just this spark that made me want to keep shooting and shooting. I had to pull my finger off the shutter after awhile :)

The VM Family

2011-09-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

Can it be that I'm blogging again?

I have lots to catch up on. So I figured why not start from my most recent shoot? If I went way far back I'd feel overwhelmed :) Oh man. This family is gorgeous, huh? Love, love, love this family. Add a few gorgeous settings...great evening light, perfect temperature...I almost had to pinch myself! I am so lucky to do what I do! I think I must be excited about blogging again because I included way too many pictures here :) How are they ever going to decide what to get printed?

With a 1 year old, you have to bring some flexibility and patience---and it's great when I only have to follow the parent's lead on that one. Mom and Dad were beyond relaxed and fun about this shoot---which makes everyone happy and the photos genuine.

We're in the middle of the fall photo season and everybody is thinking about Christmas Cards---if you are too, get in touch with me soon! I'll post some examples and ideas for cards this year--but it's not too early to start planning already!

Quiet

2011-08-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted on this blog in over 6 months. I know, because I have a little boy here who turns 7 months old tomorrow. That's him down in the post below, as a newborn. And here he is now, practically all grown up.

I don't want to make excuses for keeping a lame blog, but I am going to anyways. This whole having a third child thing has floored me. I consider it a pretty good day if I manage to feed all 3 kids 3 square meals (not to mention feeding the adults in the house), keep the pantry and fridge stocked with food, do a load of laundry and actually get it folded and put away, and keep the house from looking like a hurricane recently went through.

And I'm not even going to mention the sleep thing. Just not gonna talk about that.

HOWEVER, on top of all this I HAVE been very busy taking photos this summer---editing them and getting them to clients has been my top priority. Blog, not so much.

I've photographed some awesome extended families. Some adorable siblings. A handful of really cool and beautiful seniors (with several more in the next few weeks!).Some medical equipment (yes, some medical equipment, they were very obedient). A fleet of delivery trucks (they were also very obedient). Some scrumptious babies. And I've had a kind of thing with silhouettes this summer.

I love this blog, love this place to share, and I will, gol' darn it, I will start posting again. Soon. Maybe tomorrow, if I get some sleep tonight.

Gideon Joseph is Here!

2011-01-15T08:46:00.001-08:00

We welcomed a son, Gideon, on Sunday January 9th! 9lbs and 6 oz, 23" long...you can read about his birth and see a bunch more photos at the family blog HERE.

The H Family

2011-01-06T14:36:00.000-08:00

I'm going way back to summer here for this post---and I guess I'm kinda picking and choosing sessions that I WANT to blog on! This one I am biased on. This is my brother and his beautiful family. I love photographing people I know, but sometimes it can be a challenge, too. I SO want to get good images for them---but sometimes familiarity works against me as a photographer. I'm just Aunt Laura. Nothing new or exciting. And my brother has this little thing about closing his eyes for photos. Let's just say I've learned to take a LOT of frames!

We got some good ones during this session. I love this first one of my nephew. I had been taking pictures of his 3 sisters in this beautiful field of flowers, and he had to come in and steal the best image of all. Love this kid. Love this whole family. It's been a huge blessing to live near them in Grand Rapids (they are just a mile and a half down the road!)

Baby J, 7 months

2011-01-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

You'll maybe recognize this cutie because I took his newborn pictures---and some pregnant pictures of his momma, too. His dad is my first cousin. Yes, I have beautiful people in my family. I can't get over this kid's skin---it's still just perfect. And those eyes! And that hair! And that intense look he gives! I literally had to close my eyes and make decisions about what photos to post here, there were too many good ones!

He was such a sport for us the day we took pictures---interested, happy, calm even in a make-shift studio space (a small room in my house, with my two girls whizzing around trying to get his attention, but mostly being over-stimulating :) Yet another fun shoot!

The N Kids

2011-01-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful family, another very sweet trio of siblings! These fraternal twin sisters and their little brother were almost too good to be true---adorable clothes, easy smiles, patient with me and any ideas I had. They would be serious and then give the most genuine smiles. And they all had great laughs! We had a lot of fun at this shoot....I had trouble narrowing down photos to post here.

I also included at the end the Christmas card that I designed for them---it's a trifold, so the front is just 5"x5" when it is all folded. I need to post a bunch of other Christmas cards from this year---I did some fun ones!

The U Family

2011-01-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

One of my most favorite families to photograph---I got to take their pictures last fall, too (on a much colder day!)--and these 2 kids are just too cute and fun! Add in a super relaxed mom and dad and it makes for a great shoot. I actually locked my keys in the car during this shoot--and was relieved that it was THIS family, because they just rolled with me piling into their car and bringing me where I needed to go :) How adorable is this family? A brown-eyed boy and a blue-eyed girl...

A: Senior Pictures

2010-12-31T12:29:00.000-08:00

I got to photograph some of the best looking seniors this fall! This young man is the son of my youth group leaders from when I was in junior high and high school---so I actually went to the hospital to see him when he was BORN! If that doesn't make me feel old.

What a joy he was to photograph. Once again, not only is he a great looking kid, but he has a great soul, too. Just look into those eyes! I could have taken photos of him forever. We also had great weather, lighting, and location options---these are the kinds of shoots that make me pinch myself about how lucky I am to get to do this (and I assure you that not ALL shoots are like that!)

Road Atlas Cover

2010-12-31T11:54:00.000-08:00

A photo that I took a few years ago when we were living in California is on the front cover of a 2011 Road Atlas! Check it out below: Joe and Rowan are famous! You can even see it (or buy it!) at our local Meijers! Pretty cool!

The S Family

2010-12-29T14:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, this has been a long time coming! I just got behind on blogging and then sort of gave up for awhile. Now I have some hunkering-down time until this baby comes---hoping to get caught up!

This is a session from back in September---this gorgeous momma of four was a high school classmate of mine and good friend. And I'm not being biased when I say that her kids are not only beautiful on the outside---they are also sweet, gentle, kind spirits, beautiful on the inside, too. Each one in his/her own way. Which made for such a delightful shoot---a great location, beautiful weather, 4 super cooperative kids, throw in a fun mom and dad, a horse, and a couch....a dream assignment!

Piper is Two!

2010-12-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

My baby is two today! Just in time for us to add another baby to the family!

To see a letter I wrote to Piper for her second birthday, click HERE to go to the family blog.

And I promise to update this blog with more sessions from this fall---I have a lot I want to share!

The S Family

2010-10-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

This is the second time I've photographed this adorable family---last summer we met out at the beach on a windy day. This year we met at a cool old barn--and these 2 siblings were just too good to be true. So sweet with each other and smiley and affectionate. That just doesn't always happen with a 2 and 4 year old! We had fun exploring the barn and stopping occasionally for a few photos. Loved hanging out with these guys!

Baby C

2010-10-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

This is a little cutie I photographed this summer (I am SO dreadfully behind on blogging...this fall photo season is slamming me!) But I will still chip away at my ever-growing list of sessions to blog.

Look at these bright eyes on such a new baby!

And can you even believe that his beautiful momma has four children? Amazing. She is serene, naturally gorgeous, a very patient mom. It was sort of a whirlwind shoot (she cuts hair...so she gave me and Rowan and Piper all haircuts, then we took some photos! so there were lots of little ones rambling about...you can be sure that the backdrop was covered in goldfish crumbs for most of this session!) We still managed to get some good ones--I just love photographing babies.

G senior Pics

2010-09-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

I'm loving the seniors this summer/fall--aren't I so lucky to get the best looking ones around, too? This guy was calm and relaxed and patient and open to anything--my kind of photography subject!

Baby Girl C

2010-09-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

This sweet girl was a pleasant surprise. She was about 3 months old at this shoot--which can be a hard age (no more newborn squishiness, but not sitting up or sometimes even holding their head up very well, not always quick to smile yet)--but she was a delight. SO sweet and smiley and happy and alert....she was up for just about anything! Love her dimples, her bright eyes, definitely an exceptionally cute baby here.

I also love getting to witness first-time parents with their new babies---so much love and tenderness, you just about want to burst!

Baby C

2010-09-16T12:06:00.003-07:00

I noticed that I am almost 2 months behind on blogging photo sessions! Yikes! So I'm going to make a push here to get caught up.

This is a gorgeous, calm baby...who was so interested in getting his photos taken that he just would not go to sleep! But he was content and sweet and don't you just want to touch his perfect skin?

And his big brother is just as cute...I got to capture one of the first times he got to hold his new baby brother. What a moment! He was proud and gentle.

Look at those lips in the last image. Can they be any cuter? I'm sure they are getting lots of kisses.

E Senior Pictures

2010-08-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Does every photographer think that they have the best looking clients, or is it just me? This senior was so natural and laid back...she's an accomplished cross country runner, spends most of her days in a ponytail and workout clothes and no make-up....and wearing anything but for her photos was a tall order! She did pretty good, don't you think? She was so relaxed and comfortable in her own skin....this setting amongst the fields and flowers was just perfect for her natural personality. My only challenge was to get a serious-face photo out of her---her smile came so easily, it was hard to do anything else!

Any other seniors still in need of photos? I love photographing seniors! Give me a call!

The B Family

2010-08-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

This is my cousin's family...they were visiting from the east coast and I got to take their pictures! Their daughter was especially helpful and interested in the photo taking...she was super cooperative and had some great ideas. I told her that she should consider becoming a photographer herself! This family was really laid back and fun and it's always just a privilege to photograph people that I love.

The L Family

2010-08-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

This family has 4 adorable kids....the oldest is 6, so it's busy! But they are so sweet and we had such a fun time taking photos. Their mom is the sister of a good friend of mine--so I knew her when I was a teenager, and it's so cool now to see her as a mom. She is patient and loving....even when it is loud and chaotic!

M senior pics

2010-08-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Slowly getting caught up....slowly getting caught up...

I need to shoot more seniors. They are such a good time. So funky, fun, smart. Manon was no exception. What a beauty, huh? She was relaxed, confident, and her strong sense of self just came through on the photos.

The W kids

2010-08-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

Oh, man. I love it when I get to photograph some kids or a family once...and then do it AGAIN a year later! Love, love, love seeing how kids change and grow. Love feeling like I know them just a bit. I got to take pictures of these sweet siblings last summer right before they moved out to Arizona. They were back in MI on vacation this summer and we met up again for a fun session!

These two have soul. They love each other, love their mom....and they just have these special little spirits. It feels like a play-date to hang out with them, not a photo shoot!

Can't wait to see you guys again next summer!

The VS Family

2010-08-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

I am SO far behind on blogging! Summer has slammed me....okay, so I have had a lot of shoots...but I've also been spending lots of time doing summer stuff with my girls, going to the beach, swimming, etc etc...so don't feel too bad for me! I just haven't been able to prioritize blogging. I'll catch up eventually, right?

I have a bunch of fun sessions I want to share with you! So these are no longer previews....oh well....I can still put them here, right?

This is a really fun family. The mom has been Rowan's pre-school teacher for the last two years. We're going to miss her so much this fall when Rowan is in kindergarten! She has just been the best teacher for Rowan....so loving and sensitive. I've also been able to work with the dad on a few projects for the GR Christian Schools--he is a talented graphic designer. He has a great eye for photography, so it is an honor for him to want ME to take their family photos!

I loved this shoot. It's a different thing to take pictures of teenagers and young adults as part a family unit...not a family with the under-5 kiddos. I don't have to spend any time chasing kids around, which is kind of nice, but I do have to figure out how to get genuine smiles. And affection from teen-aged siblings!

These guys were truly up for anything (even a parking garage!) and good-spirited throughout. Thanks for a super relaxed, fun evening!

K and J's Wedding!

2010-07-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

Okay. Just a disclaimer: this is going to be the longest blog post EVER. At least scroll down to the end because there is a really fun photo that I put last. Have I mentioned that I have just a little problem with narrowing photos down? I just had to include all of these here. I couldn't help it. And K and J, there are a LOT more coming soon!

What a fun wedding! This was such a smooth, problem-free day...everyone was on time, where they were supposed to be...for such a big wedding party, this was a huge blessing for us as photographers! K and J were both so laid back and really seemed present and able to enjoy their day. So clearly in love with each other, and so supported by their families and community.

This wedding was a ton of fun to be a part of, thanks guys!

The D kids

2010-06-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

Another pair of cute, cute siblings! I got to photograph these two last year, too--it's so much fun to see kids as they get bigger. And I love watching the relationship between siblings--so different every time. These two were very sweet together, as you can see in the photos. Some day I will have a sweet picture like one of these of my girls....some day!

Baby L

2010-06-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

Ohhh....newborns. Love newborns. This little girl was so sweet and SO wide-eyed! We waited and waited for her to fall asleep, but she was just too interested in what was going on! What a cutie, though....such a perfect little face. It's so much fun to be with a newborn and first-time parents within the first weeks of new life. The adoration is just palpable. Such sweet, innocent love. These two new parents were impressively calm and laid back...which always makes for a great shoot!

The T Family

2010-06-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

Do I get to photograph adorable families or what? I went to high school with Mrs. T...and she is a fabulous massage therapist if anyone is looking for one! Anyways, these kiddos were super sweet....sometimes it is tricky to get siblings at this age to sit close to each other without fussing, but these two were naturals, and you could tell that they really love each other. Just look at how they are smiling at each other in this first one. And later, for some of the sibling shots, it didn't hurt to have mommy and daddy doing silly dances behind me!

Another V Family

2010-05-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

I get to photograph so many cool families! Working with multiple children under the age of five is always a fun challenge. These kids made my job easy, seriously. They were so full of life, loving, smiley, and also very good listeners! It's always interesting to watch parents in a photo session situation...it can be stressful, because everyone wants to get good images. But it helps SO much when the parents are laid back and not uptight about it! These parents were just that...letting kids be kids, being silly with them, and making it a good time for everyone. Just what a photo shoot should be. I think the photos show it.

The V Family

2010-05-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

Sarah's dad and my dad are friends from college---so we grew up knowing each other...we would visit their enchanted cabin up in the mountains in Colorado. They would see us when they came to boring Michigan :). Now, I get to take care of her kids (mostly the younger one, the older is in school) every few weeks while she works. What fun! They are such great, sweet kids. And they're expecting baby brother or sister #3 in just a few weeks! So we had to snap a few photos.

Aren't they all just so beautiful? And I'm really not biased on this one, really. Really, I'm not. Just look at them!

And I had to include this first photo to begin. Rowan might have just an eensy teeny weeny crush on this boy. Maybe. I'm not one to encourage such things among kids, but be honest...wouldn't YOU have just a little teeny crush on this fella?

The G Family

2010-05-21T06:50:00.000-07:00

I love photographing young families. What a challenge! But so much fun. Anytime you have multiple children under the age of 5, you have to be prepared for anything! How cute are these two little brothers? And they were both so sweet and obedient...it's always a nice surprise when a shoot with two little boys goes along so calmly! Thanks in no small part to calm, laid-back parents.

I always think that my clients are good-looking when I photograph them...but then when I'm editing, I often seem to be struck again at the beauty and diversity of the human face. The eyes on these little fellas! I just get lost.

Kai take 2, 8 months

2010-05-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

Are you tired of seeing photos of my nephew yet? I just can't help myself--both from taking his photos and from posting them here! The camera LOVES this little guy, let me tell you. We did a very impromptu shoot in my living room last weekend when my sister was in town...and got a few winners.

Are you kidding me? I can't take it! I want to kiss those little lips!

J and K getting married!

2010-05-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

I've never really pushed or marketed the wedding photography side of things, but there are parts of shooting weddings that I really really love.

One of those parts is engagement photos. Seriously....you've got 2 people in love, they are adults and so they listen to instruction!....and basically, they are just so darn cute. These guys were no exception. I had so much fun hanging out with them for awhile, talking, and taking some photos in between. They were good sports, playful, silly, and very much in love with each other.

Can't wait for your wedding in June, K and J! And K--I hope this tides you over until I get the rest of them edited. There were just so many that I liked, I had a hard time picking out a handful for this post!

Baby J

2010-05-07T14:02:00.001-07:00

Remember my cousin and their beautiful pregnancy photos? I finally got to take photos of their new little guy! He's over 3 weeks old already, so as you can tell in these photos...he's past that sleepy curly newest new newborn phase already! He was wide-eyed, alert, and interested the whole time.

Okay okay, I know I am biased to babies in my own family...but isn't this fella just gorgeous?

Okay, we have to see that pose a little bit closer :)

Cherry Blossoms!

2010-05-01T12:09:00.000-07:00

The cherry trees blossomed early in Michigan this year. Luckily I caught them before they were all gone--but I didn't get to do nearly as many shoots in them as I had hoped. Oh well, maybe next year! Anyone want to schedule a shoot for April or May of 2011? Because you cannot beat the beauty of this location--and it only lasts a few weeks out of the year!

I know everyone is curious to see how my beautiful nephew Kai is growing. He's 7 months old now, and cuter than ever. The first pictures are of him, and the second group of photos are of my girls, Rowan and Piper. I finally got some photos of them together that I like! Woo Hoo!

Mr. D

2010-04-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of photographing a very interesting, compassionate man last weekend--Mr. D. He needed some photos for a website, for a book jacket that is in the process of being published, and some head shots for when he has speaking engagements. I love photographing children and young families, don't get me wrong...but it's a whole different bag than photographing a sophisticated gentleman, let me tell you. It was fun to stretch and be creative with someone who stayed still and was up for anything! I really had a great time getting these photos.

Festival of Faith and Writing

2010-04-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

I had a really fun photography assignment last weekend. My Alma Mater, Calvin College, puts on a great conference every 2 years called the "Festival of Faith and Writing". It's rather big--2500 attendees-and they get some really fabulous writers who are there speaking and leading workshops. It's a 3 day celebration of words, literature, and the process of writing....all from the perspective of faith.

For anyone who loves words--either writing them or reading them--the weekend is an absolute pleasure. It's a chance to hear (and meet!) well-known authors, and learn how they work and how they are influenced and some of their life stories. As an English major, and a lover of words, this is my kind of conference. I wasn't planning on attending this year--because of the cost, and because of having to figure out child care for 3 days.

And then I was asked (by my neighbor, who happens to be on the planning committee!) to photograph the conference! Score! I could go, do work, a work that I love, and also soak up the thoughts falling all around me!

So here are a few pics from the weekend (I took hundreds)....there are only so many ways you can photograph a person standing behind a lectern :) I'll indicate who is in the picture underneath each one. I'm including here the main speakers...but there were many many others who were there doing workshops, including my favorite poet Luci Shaw.

Prof. Felch introducing Poet Scott Cairns.

Scott Cairns.

Wally Lamb ("She's Come Undone" and "This Much I Know Is True").

Wally Lamb signing books. He was such an animated guy!

Eugene Peterson (who wrote "The Message" and many many other things). He wasn't so animated while speaking...

...But had a great smile while signing books.

Kate DiCamillo ("Because of Win Dixie" and "the Tale of Desperauex" yes the one that was made into a movie) She was a hoot.

Scott McCurry, the photographer who, yes, took THAT photo that he is signing. What a thrill to meet him and be around him for a bit--the person who took probably the world's most recognized photo. And he has many other amazing images, and some books also...hence his presence at a Writing conference. His images are still on display at Calvin's art gallery through Saturday---GO if you can! I felt kind of intimidated taking photos of the photographer---he asked me a bit about what I do, and even wanted my website address. Eekks!

Richard Rodriquez ("Hunger for Memory" is a book he wrote, but mostly he is a journalist who writes essays)

Rodriquez from afar.

Prof. Hettinga introducing Mary Karr. This shot of him just makes me smile :)

Mary Karr ("The Liar's Club" and "Lit") She was super funny.

The 5 year olds

2010-04-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are a few more images from the 5 year old photo shoot from a few weeks back. These girls are not only beautiful, but also very sweet, and very eager to have their photo taken. A dream! A big thanks to these 2 for their positive photographic influence on Rowan, and to their mommas for loaning them to me for a few hours!

My 5 year old

2010-03-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

This post is about a month overdue. My oldest, Rowan, turned 5 in late February. We finally got out to take some photos last week. Rowan has never been big on getting her photo taken--so I tried to make it fun by inviting a few of her friends (who are also 5) who actually love for me to take their pictures (another blog post with some of those photos will follow eventually--they were all too cute!) Amazing what a little peer pressure will do. I'll tell ya, I kept asking myself who this child was that I was photographing....are you kidding me? Who are you and what did you do with my Rowan? Seriously, check out some of her poses (and I offered little to none instruction on any of these).

To read a birthday letter I wrote to Rowan, go to the family blog here.

love

2010-03-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

Most of my favorite photos are not "perfect" photos. The lighting isn't just right, the focus might be a little off, the composition not quite what I had intended....but they are still my favorites, just because they captured a moment that I loved and I want to remember.

I took this self-portrait of me and Rowan today. We were playing outside while Piper took a nap, and it was a rare time when no other neighbor kids were out playing, so Rowan and I had some great one-on-one time. She was actually letting me take some photos of her, but mostly we were just talking and enjoying the warm sun (finally!) that has been blessing us this week. We were sitting on the grass together, and she snuggled up to my shoulder---I quickly grabbed the camera, told her to look towards it, and snapped. It's not perfect, but I love it. We're looking towards the camera with the same expression. Content together. I love her sweet face, nestled up to my shoulder. I want to keep her there.

I want to remember her right now, at 5, and how free and beautiful she is. She took my camera for awhile and snapped away....taking pictures of the mailman, the curb, the neighbor's houses. I watched her intently---in her striped leggings, flouncy skirt, and peace-sign tank top, carrying a too-heavy camera, exploring her world. And I loved her more than my heart could bear.

Yep, most of my favorite photos are not perfect. I try to remind myself of that when I take photos for other people. It's not always about technical perfection...it's about capturing real moments and real emotion that bring us right back to a place in time.

This photo will always take me back to today, in the sun with my girl, happy to be her mom.

Brothers L and I

2010-03-13T11:16:00.000-08:00

You never know what you're going to get with an 8 month old and a 3 year old---and boys at that! These brothers were not only adorable (as you can plainly see in these photos) but they were also a joy to be around and photograph. The session was laid back (also in part to a laid back momma, that goes a long ways!) and these little guys were cooperative, happy, and sweet to be around. The baby's skin was so yummy...I had a hard time stopping taking pictures of him, and a hard time deciding which ones to include in this post!

S and C: Waiting on Baby

2010-03-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

Colin and Stefanie are expecting their little boy any day now! Colin is my cousin, we are close in age, were in the same grade in school...and I have always had a very special affection for him. He is kind, gentle, and has a quick smile and positive energy. He and Stefanie make a great pair, and we all can't wait to meet their new little guy! He's sure to be a cutie!

I love photographing pregnant women. I just love pregnancy and have always admired the way a woman's body changes and bulges to accommodate this small creature inside---I think that a pregnant body is simply beautiful. It's a privilege to capture this special time in a family's life....and capture that mommy glow that is beginning to emerge. Colin and Stefanie, you guys are gorgeous, you were so easy to work with---and you're going to make fabulous parents!

The D Family: A different one!

2010-02-11T17:23:00.000-08:00

I have obviously been neglecting this blog lately. For those of you who know me, I think I have a pretty good excuse. Nevertheless, it's time to get this thing updated again. So I'm going to start with a recent shoot, but then keep skipping backwards to fill in some gaps that I've missed. I will get in the routine of this, I promise. I'm trying to gear myself up for a (hopefully) busy spring and summer season of taking photos---start telling all your friends now to get a session with me on their calendars!

So how cute are these 3 siblings? I actually had to take their photographs earlier in the fall, as a part of a bigger project that I was doing for the GR Christian Schools, and let's just say....the little boy was not so cooperative :) I was THRILLED when his momma called me back a few months later to take photos of just the 3 siblings---I wanted another chance with this guy!

And as you can tell, he warmed up to me this time. Those eyes! On all three of them! And they were each so sweet, spunky, and long-suffering with photo taking. And it never hurts to have a patient mom and dad on the sidelines!

This first one just melts my heart.

Baby E, 6 days old

2010-01-13T18:04:00.001-08:00

I have photographed many newborns, but never a newborn as young as 6 days old. I was really wanting to practice with such a new baby--try out some poses that didn't require mom or dad holding the baby, focus mostly on sleeping pictures since that's mostly what newborns do. Good thing one of my best friends had a baby last week so I had a willing guinea pig!

Let me just say: I have a WHOLE new respect and awe for people that specialize in--and excel at--newborn photography. If you see a newborn photo with the baby alone, posed, calm, curled up just so--you better believe it took some serious work to make that image happen!

I am motivated to learn more and improve in the area of newborns--there were many poses that I was hoping to do that just didn't happen! I think we did get some good ones in the end---how could we not with such a good-looking baby? Thanks, Kate, for letting me spend the morning with your sweet boy!

My sister, pregnant

2010-01-10T17:52:00.000-08:00

You may remember some photos of my nephew Kai from a few posts back...well this is his lovely momma, my sister Jenny. We took these photos this summer when we were all out at a cottage on Lake Michigan together...and she was gorgeously pregnant...and it was a COLD week for the middle of summer! But we braved a few 15 minute sessions on the beach for these photos, and even caught some blue sky when her husband Mark decided (more like was forced!) to join us. I think it was worth it!

I love photographing my sister. She was one of my first "models" a long time ago when I was messing around with fully manual cameras....and has been a willing participant in any crazy idea I've had since. I obviously love to photograph her because she's my sister...and because she is beautiful...but there is something more. She is, hands down, the most comfortable-in-her-skin, confident, non-fussy woman that I have ever taken pictures of.

You know how it is...most women (and I hate to stereotype here, but it's almost always true!) are ULTRA picky about photos of themselves. I am, too! Women seem to have strong feelings about certain parts of their body...and are also highly opinionated about what photos of themselves they like.

Not so with Jenny. She's un-fussy, enthusiastic, and beautiful beyond what she understands. Oh, and she laughs. So easily. So genuinely.

(I posted some of these to facebook awhile ago...not sure how many are coming from facebook to here, so if you've seen these already, apologies).

The scene in my bathroom tonight

2010-01-07T19:22:00.000-08:00

In the third photo in, Rowan is laughing, although it looks like she might be crying. My girls were having a good old time in the bath tonight. I took some video tonight, too, because the sound of their laughter in the tub just cannot be captured in a still image. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but I have yet to see a photo that matches the deep-down good feeling that a hearty, unabashed, child belly-laugh can bring.

The D Family

2010-01-06T16:22:00.000-08:00

I'm using this post for my first official "sneak peek!" I'm still organizing and getting posts ready from sessions in the past, but I will try to keep up with some current ones, too.

I got to photograph a very good friend of mine's family when they were visiting over Christmas. They have adorable identical twin girls who are 3 and 1/2, and a son who is just a few weeks older than my Piper. The first picture-sequence is from an evening when we took care of their son...and we gave him and Piper a bath together. What's better than one year old naked bodies in the tub? He looks like he's in trouble in that first shot, doesn't he?

This shoot was fun. As always, things can be a bit harried with 3 kids so young (plus I had my girls with me!)....but the parents were exceedingly patient, the kids were agreeable, and overall I think we all actually had fun.

It's so interesting to see the special connection between twins. I loved trying to capture their individual spirits, though, too. I seem to have a lot of blue eyes in my life....and I just LOVED gazing into all these beautiful brown eyes! J and B, you guys better watch out in another dozen years--you're going to have your hands full! Enjoy the peek--your full gallery will be up soon.

Christmas Cards Galore!

2009-12-30T07:45:00.000-08:00

I didn't manage to get Cebulski family Christmas cards out this year (I never have, actually, but thought this year might be a first!), but I did do a lot of Christmas cards for clients and friends!

I'm hoping that next year I can offer more official Christmas card "packages" and have options pre-made for people to choose from. Below is a sampling of some of my favorite cards from this year. A few of them have notes above them. All the photography is mine as well (except for the one of us with my in-laws...Joe's cousin, a talented photographer, took that one on my camera for us. Thanks Teresa!) Also, many of these cards are flat (it's noted if they are different)....but on the back we printed more photos in black and white (of the client's choosing). I didn't include the backs for space reasons....but they all looked really cool!

The top is the front of the card, then it opens up and below is the inside of the card.

Below is a second option for this family (they chose the one above). Since I didn't have any templates made beforehand, I ended up creating 2 or 3 different options for each client--so it was a bit labor intensive for me! But next year I'll have lots of ideas!

The card below needs some explanation. It's a tri-fold card, so when all folded up, the square with LOVE is on the front. When that is opened, the one with PEACE is to the right, and the one with JOY is to the left. When the last flap is opened, you see exactly what the second image shows--three squares, with JOY to the left, words in the center, and the family pic to the right. And on the back is the photo of the grandparents and grandkids. Does that make sense? Tri-folds are cool looking--a really different option for a Christmas card.

This family below is amazing---these 2 woman have taken in lots of children with special needs, and right now they have 10 adopted children living at home (others have moved on). What a privilege it was to photograph them all! A little chaotic, but so much fun. Can you imagine?

This is my mother and father-in-law's card :) Recognize us?

Perfect fall day for this shoot, huh? I can't wait to show you the rest of the images from this session.

And a few birth announcements thrown in for good measure. These are 2 of my favorites from the last few months. Beautiful babies!

Cute Cousins

2009-12-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

These 2 guys are cousins--one is the son of a good friend of mine, the other is the son of her sister, also becoming a good friend of mine :) You might remember the gorgeous family who I began this blog with---the second baby here is the child who was still in his mommy's belly back then! These cousins are next-door neighbors, both have 2 older sisters, and were born less than a few weeks apart. Can you spell trouble? You might see some newborn photos of these guys eventually, I'm just posting these because they are fairly recent.

My Baby is One!

2009-12-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

Piper Jane is one year old today. Sigh. Check out my letter to her over at my family blog here.

Yes, she really does get this excited about reading books. In this picture, she just spotted the bird and is showing me her sign for it.

The J Family

2009-12-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

I got to photograph the J family as the countdown began to the birth of their second child. It was a perfect summer day and the cuteness and personality of their 2 year old daughter did not disappoint! This is a really fun family--laid back, flexible, quick to laugh and be silly. It's easy to see where their daughter gets her great personality! Stay tuned for photos of their newborn son---I'll post those eventually.

Judah

2009-12-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

I am lucky enough to get to take care of this little cutie every Tuesday. He is the son of my good good friend. He has an older brother, and a brother due to join them any day now...so eventually 3 adorable blondie boys will be gracing these pages. Judah is so much fun to be with--Piper just loves him, and gets all excited when I tell her we're going over to Judah's house! I wanted to surprise his mom and dad with some pictures, so we took them one Tuesday when I was there. Judah was loving the camera that day! He's my little buddy! The orange is just a blanket they had in the house...I love the way it worked out as a background.

Kai, 3 months

2009-12-16T13:31:00.000-08:00

My sister Jenny was up last week for our family to celebrate Christmas, and of course I had to take some 3 month pictures of my nephew! I just cannot get over his blue eyes, his chubby cheeks, and that pouty lip! A dream baby to photograph, not just because of his exceptional cuteness, but because he is a chilled out and content little fella.

and, just in case you missed the preview :)

How could I resist?

2009-12-14T20:29:00.000-08:00

I took a bunch of photos today (of my sister's son and some friends' kids) that I will post a preview of soon---but I had time to quickly look through them tonight and couldn't resist posting this one of my nephew Kai (3 months old).

Seriously? Do they make them any cuter?

The H Family

2009-12-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

I'm jumping forward in time to post some photos from a shoot last weekend. A quick scroll through these images and you get to know the H family: funky, cool, loving, adventurous, unique, and up for anything. A few of the kids in this family are moving away within the next months--so they wanted some family photos while they were all still together. My sister had dreads for almost 10 years, so I always have a special affection for dreadlocks. So much fun to photograph!

A sweet situation for a photographer: interesting, relaxed people as subjects and a cool location to play around in. The H family lives literally next door to this building--it's in the middle of being renovated (stalled), and they got permission and the key to get inside. Throw in an old retro couch from their basement and we were rolling. We had to climb a decently tall ladder to get to the second floor. Nobody (okay, maybe me) even flinched.

It wasn't a warm day (notice the snow)...but these guys were non-complaining, fun, and totally loving with each other. It was hard for me to choose which images to post!

The B girls

2009-12-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

These two sisters are just a delight. How cute are they? I've gotten to know them and their mama over the last year--and they have been a joy to spend time with. And it turns out, a joy to photograph! The youngest sister, E, is the most verbal just-turned-2 year old that I know. She cracks me up! These sisters are truly best buddies and just so silly with each other.

The S Family: Spring

2009-12-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

I'm going way back to the middle of spring. Maybe because we just had our first snow here and I'm trying to remember how beautiful Michigan is in the Spring? I had the good fortune of photographing the S family on a gorgeous spring day when the cherry trees were in full bloom. I drove past this grove of trees a few days before their session...and just knew that we had to go there. The spot felt idyllic. It seems like I must have done a lot of photoshop work on these images to get the vibrant colors. I didn't. This is what it actually looked like that day. Before we hung out at the orchard, we took a few shots by a red barn, too. Love the texture of old barns. Could shoot there all day.

Oh yeah. and it doesn't hurt to have stunning people to photograph, either. This session was in part to capture a family of 4 soon before they became a family of 5...so it had all the elements I adore. Family, small children, a beautiful pregnant belly, expectancy, mature love, patient parents, God's beautiful creation.

a first post

2009-12-06T14:00:00.000-08:00

I've been contemplating the need for a blog for my photography for awhile. I've had a little breather from taking photos during the last week, so it's given me some time to work on putting one together!

I will use this space to share current work--and as a place for clients to come and see previews of photos from their sessions.

Over the next weeks/months, I will be going backwards a bit and blogging about sessions I've had over the last 6 months. Just when I feel like it, since those clients have all seen their photos already :)

Figured it was fitting to start this first post with one of my more recent sessions--a few shots of my daughters: Rowan is 4 and Piper is 11 months. I'd like to say that my daughters are ideal models....but that they are not. These shots were taken as they zoomed by the backdrop, playing with this or that, stopping for an instant to see what momma was up to. My biggest "wish I had it" photo is a "perfect" one of the two of them together. That remains out of my reach. Maybe someday, you'll see one on this blog! For now, here are my girls in all their individual glory.

Check back with me soon to see more sessions from the last months, and anything current that I'm working on.