smitten photography

wonder what this could be??

perhaps its a big fat-blurry-tease of the new look of smitten photography?  

only days away...

what a year...

amazing.

the one word that describes 2008 for smitten photography.  i have talked so much about whats coming in the next couple weeks, but i wanted to wrap up this year in style...so i put together a slideshow of my favorite little munchkin photographs & hope you enjoy them!

***CLICK HERE FOR THE SLIDESHOW***

i am now booking for 2009 family & lifestyle sessions & can't wait to meet some new faces in the new year :)  i am scheming up some really fun ideas to make YOUR family's photos stand apart from the rest!  if you are interested in scheduling a session email me!      sharon@smittenphotography.com

*also, the january smitten photo academy is full!  be on the lookout for another workshop coming in march...

smittenNews + spa day announcement!

wow, things are getting fun around here :)

-i simply cannot explain my excitement and anticipation of the SMITTEN MAKEOVER taking place this month!  you are going to be blown away by the sheer awesomeness of the new look & feel of this blog.  it gives me happy chills just thinking about it :)

-the very first post on my new blog will be details regarding the smitten love story contest!  it is being released a little later than last year because of all the crazy stuff that's been going on around here.  so, make sure that you or your friends who think you have the greatest-story-ever are getting ready to submit an entry to win a wedding photography package with yours truly!  

-i have been booking 2009 weddings like crazy for the past several weeks!  if you have been lurking around and are curious about my availability - shoot me an email and i'll be happy to let you know if your date is open.  sharon@smittenphotography.com

-i've got some fun shoots coming up in the next two weeks including a couple mom+dad+kiddos sessions, in the belly, two bridal shoots & an engaged and in love shoot!  check back to see some photo candy over the next few days :)

and finally.... 

THE first SMITTEN PHOTO ACADEMY {SPA} of 2009

i am really pumped up about the great response over the smitten photo academy!  this four hour workshop has become a fun part of my desire to help others  pursue their passion for photographing the people and things that they love!  as of today, open enrollment for the next class begins!  here is what one person said after taking part in the last workshop:

Sharon, I've been meaning to email you and tell you how much I enjoyed the SPA day.  I learned so much and it really was a blast.  I could have stayed all day.  I've had my camera for a while and I would alway just guess on the settings until the picture turned out the way I wanted it to...but you made it so much easier for me:)

the next SPA day will be:    JANUARY 31, 2009  from 10am-2pm in huntersville, nc.

the class is $150 and is open to anyone who has a digital SLR camera and wants to learn how to take pictures that you will be proud of!  this isn't a class to learn how to become a professional photographer - but it will enable you with skills that you may have never known you possessed :)

if you are interested in signing up OR giving this class as a gift to someone you love email me:

sharon@smittenphotography.com

there are 10 spots available and they are first come first serve.  

***if you have already received confirmation from me regarding the february class - this is not the date for your workshop.  you will be getting an email this week with those details.  the february class is FULL!***

can't wait to share my love for this art with some fun people in january!

a perfect engagement features SMITTEN!

WOW, two fun honors in one week!  today, smitten photography was featured on {click link to view feature}  a perfect engagement event design's blog!  alyse woodward is the creative & talented eye behind this company & i was thrilled when she contacted me a few weeks ago wanting to know more about smitten's flavor and style!

i think its a great decision when brides work with wedding and event designer's, like alyse, because it really helps to make the day run so smoothly knowing that all the details are taken care of.  the vendor spotlight features a few of my favorite wedding photos, as well as a photo of me, taken by my {then} THREE year old daughter :)  

and yes, alyse hints to the BIG news that the smitten love story contest is returning in a few weeks along with an ultra-fantastic blog makeover!  you know i love surprises - and, well, this blog is gonna knock your socks off :)

wedding published!

i was so excited to receive a copy of carolina bride magazine -raleigh edition- in the mail yesterday with a two-page spread featuring  parker & adam's wedding!  what an amazing thing to see smitten photography in a bridal magazine...i'm so blessed to do what i LOVE so much!

here is the cover for the fall edition:

and the magazine spread featuring parker & adam:

yay!

tip of the rainy day...

its been a while since i posted a fun tips & tricks blog entry, so i thought today would be the perfect chance to do that!

it may seem obvious - but, there is something magical about letting your kids play in the rain.  rain is oftentimes forbidden, unwanted & just plain messy.  this morning, for instance, elle said goodbye to her best friend lilli after their very first sleep over.  it was pouring rain when she left and as we stood on the front porch, elle was looking out into the drizzle & fog & i totally knew what she was thinking.

the girls had been playing in dresses & i asked elle if she wanted to go dance in the rain.  she got so excited and ran upstairs to get her rain boots!    i sat on the porch {dry, of course :)} & snapped away at the few minutes that she was twirling away & having not a care in the world.   here are some of the photos & then i will share some tips at the bottom:

tips & tricks for the rain:

-don't put on bathing suits!  you get plenty of those shots all summer long...having on normal or even dressy clothes adds to the effect of being in the rain.

-get your child to use a rain friendly, colorful item - like rain boots, a fun umbrella, rain coat, garden hose, etc.  the color will stand out in the gloomy photo & it will make it more exciting for your munchkin.

-get some close ups of rain drops on your child's face.  you can capture so much emotion in the rain because it brings out excitement, joy & wonder for a child.  it is amazing when the drops are dripping off a nose or scattered in  their hair.  don't be afraid to get in & get close...you can dry off your camera later :)

{on that note, a piece of bubble wrap works great to lay over your camera when its raining to protect it}

-encourage lots of movement & click as fast as you can!  you want to remember the moments as they happen & its 100% free to shoot digital so you can shoot now & delete later!

hope these tips are helpful & since it looks like rain is in the forecast for the next couple of days...go outside & have FUN :)

smitteNews

i wanted to formally announce some of whats-a-happening in the smitten photography world!  here it is...my version of the weekend update :)

1.   a lot of you have emailed asking when i will be hanging up the camera when the little bambino comes along this fall!  well, here is the official word on that... {  i'm NEVER hanging up the camera...i'll just have two subjects close to home for a few months while i take some time to rest :)  }

-i am all booked for weddings for 2008 & have been for quite a while.  i usually don't like to say this because i never know whats going to come up & if i would have a weekend that i could shoot more than my usual two weddings per month.  but, i have three weddings left on my calendar for 2008 - next weekend & two in september {one of which is a mere 4 weeks before guido arrives in late october!}   i am currently booking for 2009, though!  so, if you are a fun. fresh. real. smitten bride getting married next year - holla back at me :)              sharon@smittenphotography.com

-i am still booking mom+dad+kiddo, little munchkin & other lifestyle shoots through mid october.  i will probably only do one  shoot in late november & one in december, so if you'd like one of those spots, get in touch, now!  since i will be out for the majority of november & december, i am going to load on the family shoots in september & october to try to get everyone in who wants a shoot in time for christmas.  but, i only have select sessions still open...keep that in mind.

2.  the september SmittenPhotoAcademy  is full & happening in just a few weeks!  i have 10 really fun & excited people coming to the class who will be learning how to take better photos of the people & things that they love!  i will be announcing a date for the next workshop, to be held in late february, so be on the lookout for that!  if you are attending the september class, i will be sending the info email out the week of the workshop.

3.  this  years smitten love story contest will be announced in the next several weeks!!  spread the word to anyone who is getting married in 2009 & would like to submit their love story to win a wedding photography package!  once the contest is announced, i will take submissions for one week & then have a panel pick the top three stories to be voted on by blog readers!   the contest was really fun last year & i have been excited to bring it back in 2008!

4.  only 9 weeks to go until baby guido arrives.  can't believe its coming so soon... thanks to everyone for all the well-wishes & baby boy thoughts you have sent my way!  i'll post a belly photo next week :)

5.  there is a BIG smitten blog/brand change happening in november...probably the most exciting project of the year for me!  i cannot wait to share it with you - since this blog has been the source of my meeting tons of amazing people - i can only imagine what this change will bring!  thanks again to all of you who stop by here to check out whats going on in the smitten world!  i am blessed everyday by this gift that god has given to me & hope to continue to share it in new & exciting ways!!

ahhhhhh.  deep breath.  updates are done :) 

but, before i go...here is a picture of my new {22 year old} house that i love & proves where all my time has been spent these last several weeks!

{click on photo to see it a little bigger}

when i was a little girl, i always wanted to live in a black and white house.  well, this house needed many-o-updates & a fresh coat of yummy white paint was one of the first on the list.  it took a 3-4 man paint crew almost three weeks to paint the outside, strip all the wallpaper inside & paint it with my yummy new colors!   needless to say...if anyone needs me...i'll be right inside here :)

whew, i think three blog posts in one day is my new record!

what does that look mean?

my friend amy brought it to my attention that my mug was on front & center for this little clothing shoot i did for her a couple of months back.  never in my dreams, did i think this would be what turned out on eileen's new site that was just released!!!!  i mean, i love it, but i cannot believe that is me!  amy, you did such a great job....i hope you are feeling pleased with these photos, not just for the products, but for the models within the pages..hoping for nothing more than to feel beautiful for a day!   :)  i think you did a great job!!

Some of you will probably recognize Sharon Clark of Smitten looking quite gorgeous front and center! Thanks for being on the other side of the lens... you are stunning!

smitten photo academy {SPA} x 2...

here are the long awaited date announcements for the next upcoming SPA classes...

friday, july 11  {5-9 pm}

&

saturday, september 13 {10am-2pm}

where:

smitten home studio.  huntersville, nc

tuition:

$150 per person

details:

your tuition to the SPA includes the workshop, lunch or dinner, tips & tricks, a photo shoot with two models to practice your new skills and a q&a session.  there are only 10 spaces available for each class, so sign up quickly!

what to bring:

-your camera { a digital SLR is preferred }...with battery, lens & memory card!

-a pen & notepad

-any questions you have

who is this for?

this workshop is for anyone who owns one of the most amazing tools on earth...a digital SLR camera & wants to learn some easier ways to take the kinds of photos that will make your happy instead of frustrated!  moms, dads, grandparents, husbands, wives, college students, etc. are welcome!  please remember that the material is not geared toward professional photographers or those who are looking to enter the field.  this is specifically for those who want to know how to take better pictures of their favorite people!

questions OR to sign up:

contact sharon clark

sharon@smittenphotography.com

yippeeeeee for fun pictures! :)

and the bride wore red...

as much as i am dying to show you the photos from this amazing session, i can't :)  but, i thought it would be fun to give a little taste of the personality of this fun. fresh. real. smitten bride!  you'll see more from this shoot after the wedding later this summer!

in other news...

less than 48 hours to go on the countdown until we load up the car and venture to the "happiest place on earth!"

thats right...ryan & i are taking elle to disney world in orlando...and insanely enough, we decided to drive & not fly :)

we are actually going with some great friends whose daughter happens to be elle's best friend!  arin & i are both having babies this year so we thought it would be a great chance to give the girls some magical time with mommy & daddy before our houses are invaded with spit up & diapers!  we also considered how much more fun it would be to share the experience with a little friend...riding dumbo together and squealing about every moment along the way.

elle is super excited & has been asking every day for the last 40 days if today was the day we leave for disney world.  now that its here, i think i am more excited than she is.  i have dreamt of her walking through the gates and being overwhelmed by disney heaven...carrying around a mickey mouse balloon, wearing a minnie mouse headband & having dinner with cinderella in her castle.  there is something to be said about being a 3.5 year old and believing in fairy tales,  glass slippers & endless fun.  i can't wait to share photos from our adventure throughout the week!

can i get a big "hooooooorrraaayyyyyyyyyy" for the kickoff to summer this weekend!!!!!!  the full return of tank tops & rainbow sandals is here :)