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Michelle Pulsifer of On the Spot Body Art needed some updated portfolio portraits for holiday faces, and our models were running to and fro like firecrackers, leprechauns, covered in masks and more!

If you are interested in posing as a model for face and body art, specifically full-body or maternity belly art, please contact Michelle.

These 2 buddies had about the same photo shoot in Sunday best, tugging their collars and untucking their shirtst, the same, “Why is my mom making me do this?” attitude with the same gap-toothed smile (hence the closed lips), and both turned out looking like such handsome little men. Just goes to show that they don’t exactly have to cooperate to get great shots they’ll grow to appreciate in the years to come.

A year goes by so quickly, and it’s incredible to watch baby McD grow from a wriggling newborn to a laughing, running toddler! Babies grow so fast, it’s like watching mold in a petrie dish (except a lot cuter!) This family shoot was the culmination of a year’s portfolio from maternity, newborn, holiday card, 6 month, to 1 yr. Happy first birthday little man!

My friend Michelle Pulsifer is a face and body painter (www.onthespotbodyart.com), and it just goes to show that you never know the people you know! How could two art forms marry better than a face painter and a portrait photographer? Not only is she a joy as a friend, but wonderful to collaborate with. She does beautiful work, and has booked me with all sorts of event photo printing gigs as her camera-toting sidekick! Here are a few of her littler clients for her portfolio.

Filming life as it happens is a particular passion of mine. Of course while photos with smiling faces mugging for the camera are an important part of any family portfolio, it’s always a joy when a child ignores you enough to let you into his world. Because photography is more than just remembering how someone looked at a particular age, it’s also about remembering why someone is the most special kid on your planet.

One of the benefits of being a picture maker is sharing with our friends. The S family have been our close buddies for years now, sharing hobbies and kids. In fact, my 3rd daughter and her 3rd son are only a few days apart in age! It’s a pleasure to take pictures of such nice-looking people, thank you!

When will I learn that newborn shoots are a painful marathon with the sweetest moments at the end? The general pattern seems to be arrive to a sleeping baby whom I promptly wake up while trying to photograph sleeping while mom gets her make up on because I forgot again to warn her that she’d likely be in the the photos. Then the wriggly baby gives me some weird faces and postures before turning into screaming baby who nurses despite not really being hungry. For just a bit, I get active baby who makes great eye contact with the camera, or at least the appearance of it, for the “money shot” for the birth announcement. Then wriggly baby returns and swaps place on and off with screaming baby, who finally gets very hungry, and while stressed mom lamenting that her newborn won’t “cooperate” settles in for a long nursing saying, “We should have something decent by now, maybe we should call it a day?” But I persevere and assure her this is where it finally gets good, hours 2-3. Nursed and relaxed baby falls asleep and allows all sorts of prodding and repositioning. Finally, we’re shooting nothing but net! Thanks for putting up with me hanging at your house, even if we nurse and talk as much as shoot!

I love photographing grads! Young enough to look great without Photoshop, a wacky sense of self, style, and attitude mixed with shyness, yet old enough to follow instructions! And usually there’s only one of them. Find great sunset light and a great sharp lens, and it’s hard to go wrong.

Uncle L and little nephew N catching some outdoor activity together. Can you see the family resemblance?

My new “baby” arrived a few days before my baby arrived: a Nikon D300! I am officially a geek photographer carrying 2 giant cameras around because “They both do different things!” I was able to squeeze in one session with this adorable six-month-old little guy before taking an extended maternity leave.