As promised in the last post, we have more to show you!  Emma Lynn was in to help model some more of our drops and props for Spring.  We didn't get quite as many setups due to the fact that she was 7 weeks old and had decided she no longer required sleep. :)  We did get a couple of sleepy shots and most important, we got to try out the red backdrop!  Yes! I used red, well kind of a burgundy color, on a baby and it was absolutely gorgeous.  We also used a digital backdrop for this session.  Enjoy!

I am so stinkin' excited about our new spring drops and props!  I went shopping last week with Deena, my new assistant and we racked up on props and backdrops.  Of course, I couldn't wait for my next session to see how they would photograph, so I had a model call and we had 2 littles in to show them off.  Here are a few of the setups we found.  Welcome Miss Harper Quinn as she makes her modeling debut for DHPD.  

​Join us next week for our next model session featuring some more of our awesome finds!

I just got back from Imaging USA and all I can say is "Wow"!  Imaging is one of the largest photography conventions in the US and is held each year by Professional Photographers of America.  This was my first full convention as opposed to just going to the expo and I am just overwhelmed with the wealth of information I came back with.  I'm hoping to implement quite a few things in my business this year.  

Now for the good stuff ... first off, I was able to attend a 2-day workshop with fellow newborn photographer Julia Kelleher of Jewel Images out of Bend, OR.  Some of the images we created were just precious.  We had some gorgeous models that resulted in these images.

After my workshop with Julia, I headed back home to pickup my bff (who is also a photographer) and headed back to Atlanta for the actual Imaging Convention. I was blown away by the speakers and had the privilege of hearing Drake Busath, Ana Brandt & Ashley Brooke. The resounding theme I was hearing was "Slow down, it's about your clients, not you".  I needed to hear this.  I've been so caught up in the day-to-day process of photographing clients, editing client sessions, doing the sales session, and placing orders, that I've forgotten to slow down and really take time for my clients. YOU!  So this past year, if you've felt rushed (and I know some of you probably did), or as if the process didn't work that smoothly, I promise to try harder.  For all of you who have stuck with me through the past years of growing my business and working out all the little kinks, Thank You! I love you guys from the bottom of my heart.

OH! One last little thing before closing out this post.  I bought some of the most adorable newborn items you've ever seen!! Can't wait to use them. :)

2015 has seen a lot of changes for Dena Howard Portrait Design.  We moved into our newborn studio and started niching in Newborn & Birth Photography AND we on on the verge of launching a brand new website geared toward new parents! So exciting!  We will have a comprehensive list of resources ... everything from photographers to child and health-care providers.  Keep your eyes peeled for more on that after the first of the year.

I'm now looking forward to a happy and joy-filled 2016.

God Bless you all.

-Dena

We had a fabulous time in this 2-part senior session.  In August, we visited the John C. Campbell Folk School for some quick shots at the Blacksmith Shop and then this month, we traveled to Downtown Asheville to the Historic Grove Arcade for some artsy and unique shots.  I think we walked around with our mouths hanging open half of the time we were there, the other half of the time, I completely zoned out while shooting until I realized we had some spectators.  Carry on, carry on. :)

As we wave good bye to these last few hot days of summer and get ready for sweaters, falling leaves, hot chocolate & football games, I thought I would let a few of my favorite little clients do the waving for me. (Mainly because I can barely stand to see it go).

I. AM. A. SKEPTIC.

There, I said it. Let me just start by telling you WHY I'm so skeptical when it comes to natural and homeopathic remedies.  I have fibromyalgia and mixed connective tissue disease.  I was diagnosed in 2002 so I've lived with this for a lot of years.  When I first realized something was really wrong with me, it was 1998 and the doctors couldn't figure out exactly what it was. Some of my bloodwork came back abnormal, but still, doctors had nothing.  Fibromyalgia was thrown out there but no one knew much about it at that time.  BUT ... everyone thought they did! Any home remedy you can think of for inflammation was tried. Any medication you could think of to take for inflammation was given to me.  The ONLY thing that ever worked was VIOXX.  Remember that drug? Yeah, they took my miracle drug off the market because evidently you could have a heart attack from it.  So the search began for pain relief and then came to an abrupt end some years later because I just became disheartened from being a guinea pig.  I was done.  Through.  I would just "live with it".  And I have.  I hurt every single day and I just deal with it.

So, I told you all of that to tell you this.  I also have struggled (and I do mean struggled) with allergies my entire life.  I was taking (no joke, I'm not even kidding) prescription allergy pills, prescription nasal inhaler, and at least one 96 count box of sudafed per month.  Year round. I mean, I even asked the pharmacist once if I was in danger of being investigated for meth production -- that's how much sudafed I was taking. :)

Recently, I went out of town to visit a friend who mixed up some "allergy oil" for me. It was a blend of sweet almond oil,  & peppermint, lemon, and lavender essential oils. I rubbed one drop on my hands and thought, well, at least it smells good and it won't hurt to at least try it.  I had also heard that lavender will help you sleep so I went ahead and ordered the lavender and a diffuser to use by my bed at night to see if that would help me sleep.  Guess what.  It did!  I sleep like a baby now.  (Well, like a good baby, not one of those that stays up and cries all night).  I was adding 5 drops of the allergy blend and 3 or 4 drops of lavender to the diffuser and used it every night. I also noticed something else. I didn't need sudafed anymore.  I could actually breath through my nose. 

About a week after I started diffusing, I quit taking my prescription allergy medicine and lo and behold, I don't need that now either.

AND, here is a snapshot of my allergy relief. (Excuse the crappy cell phone picture)

It was an absolute joy to photograph this beautiful family!  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect session. Little man slept the entire session.  Mom & Dad are crossfitters and met through Crossfit so it was only right that we posed this little fella with his own little kettle bell. :)  

Enjoy a peek into Matthew Greyson's debut portrait session! (Sorry for the picture overload hehe)

Meet Quincy. This 12 day old sweet girl slept through her entire session.  Thanks so much Lauren for sharing your little one with me for a few hours :)