Mar
20

Lilac Festival Spring Giveaway

Lilac Festival and Spring Giveaway

Lilac Festival and Spring Giveaway

Happy Spring

Spring is upon us in Rochester, NY (even if the weather may not always agree). It has been a pretty decent winter compared to most, but I’m looking forward to warmer days, outdoor portraits, and one of my favorite events of the year; the Lilac Festival in Highland Park. 

It has become a yearly tradition for my Mom and I to celebrate Mother’s Day at the Lilac Festival. We take our time looking through the artist and vendor booths and we always stop to take some portraits of the kids in front of the rows of tulips. My kids especially enjoy the frozen bananas on a stick (Just don’t forget the wet wipes if you’re going to try this delicious treat!) and stopping to play at the playground. 

There is a reason that Highland Park has long been a favorite portrait location for local photographers for generations. It is picture perfect this time of year. Even my mother and father had their wedding photos taken there more than 30 years ago. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking but I can almost smell those lilacs now!

What are some ways that you celebrate Mother’s Day? Will this year be your first?

Lilac Festival Spring Giveaway

Lilac Festival Spring Giveaway

In honor of Spring, Mother’s Day, and the Lilac Festival, I’d like to give one Mama a complimentary Lilac Themed Newborn Session at my studio in East Rochester (a $150 gift). This Lilac Festival Spring Giveaway is open to women due with a girl in the last week of April.  Send me your name, due date, and your favorite way to celebrate Spring. I will randomly select a participant from those that contact me.

(P.S. It helps if you like the color purple!)

Details

The winner will receive a full 2-3 hour studio session in exchange for allowing me to use the images for marketing. Prints and products can be purchased at an ordering appointment 2 weeks after the session, but no purchase is required. Photo shoot must take place when the infant is less than 14 days old.

Ready to enter? Contact me here.

Mar
15

10 Things Every New Mom Should Know

10 Things Every New Mom Should Know

As a new Mom we learn so many new things every day. This list of 10 Things Every New Mom Should Know will help you along your journey. I wish that someone had told me some of these things when I had my first baby 9 years ago.

1. Take Your Finger Off the Shutter Button and Press Record

As a Photographer this lesson was a really tough one for me to learn. My first instinct is always to take a photograph in order to capture a memory. While Photographs are amazing for documenting those little changes, there is something completely priceless about taking little videos of your baby too. That way you’ll be able to hear their little coos and watch the facial expressions when they are much bigger. Someday they will really enjoy watching those videos with you too.

2. Wade Through the Sea of Unwanted Advice

By the time you give birth you will probably be up to your ears in everyone’s advice. Complete strangers have probably already accosted you in the grocery store telling you about their pregnancies and what you should expect and do. Politely put in the invisible ear plugs. Ultimately you need to do what’s right for you and what works best for your family.

3. Trust Your Intuition

Every mother has it. With this new super power you will be able to know when something is not right; you just have to trust yourself.

4. It’s OK to say NO

As a new Mom you won’t always want everyone and their Grandmother touching your baby. Those instinctual hormones will kick in and there may be people that you just won’t want touching or holding your kid. It is perfectly OK for you to say no if it’s making you uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid of offending that person.

5. Embrace the New “Norm”

Things will never go back to the way they were before baby was born; but life just got richer and more full. Take time to find your new normal.

6. Treat Yourself as Often as Possible

Do you love drinking Starbucks or having your nails done? Whatever you love to do that makes you feel like a pampered princess, make time for it. Even if it’s just taking an extra long shower in the morning. It’s easier to take care of everyone else when you are taken care of first. Don’t neglect yourself.

7. Find a Community of Support

There are so many groups of Moms out there that can offer advice or playdates as your baby gets older. Search for a local group in your area and join up to make some lasting friendships. If you’re stumped, Facebook is a great place to start.

8. Document Baby’s Growth

Art projects may seem a little daunting right now, but find a fun way to show how baby is growing in their first year. Some people take photos in the same place each month with a little sign, some go to a professional photographer, or you could try your own Baby’s First Year Collage.

9. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

If the house doesn’t get clean today or the dishes don’t get done, try not to be too hard on yourself. You just spent the last 10 months growing a human being in your belly and now everything is different. Savor your baby and don’t feel guilty if everything doesn’t get done.

10. Every New Place Your Go With Baby is a Victory

It may seem scary at first because everything is new and unpredictable, but pretty soon you will become a seasoned veteran at taking that baby out of the house. Again, go at a pace that you are comfortable with and if you need to leave somewhere because it’s too overwhelming; then do what is best for you and the baby.

Mar
05

Photographer and Mom lost 80 pounds

The Secrets to My Success

Would you like to know how a Photographer and Mom lost 80 pounds in 8 months? My name is Kimberly and I’m a Newborn Photographer in East Rochester, NY. I’m also a single Mom with three small children. This is the story of how I found a formula that works perfectly for me and has allowed me to lose 80 pounds in 8 months and to maintain my dream weight. I didn’t just lose my pregnancy weight, in fact, I didn’t even factor that in (I was 278 pounds when I was pregnant with my third)! I’m going to share with you how I blew my pre-pregnancy weight out of the water and finally achieved the body I’ve wanted my whole life.

Photographer loses 80 pounds in 8 months

Before and after losing 80 pounds in 8 months.

Worst Hula-Hooper Ever

When I first started, I wasn’t even trying to lose weight. In the fall of 2014 I went to one hooping class and bought my first hula-hoop. It’s probably safe to say that I was the worst hooper that ever existed. I would give the hoop a push, it would spin once (if I was lucky) then fall down. There was definitely more bending than hooping going on. But I didn’t give up. The teacher had said that it takes 100 revolutions to strengthen the muscles needed to keep the hoop up. Throughout the winter I kept trying with very little improvement. It wasn’t until Spring of 2015 that I picked up the hoop and began trying every single day. Little by little I was able to keep the hoop up for longer periods of time. The confidence that I gained from persevering through the discouragement was what propelled me into a weight loss journey. I thought, “If I can be good at this, then I can do anything.

Running and Diet Changes

I began taking my kids with me to the outdoor track 2-3 times a week. They played in the “sand box” (long jump pit) while I ran a mile each time. At this point I hadn’t done anything to change my eating habits but I was inspired to begin making small changes there too. We had already made the switch to Gluten-Free when my daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I started to very slowly eliminate foods from my diet and replace them with healthy raw and whole foods. The first thing that I cut out was carbs (breads and pastas, not fruits). I allowed myself to eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as I wanted. Almonds and avocados became a staple in my diet. Without carbs, I had no more cravings for sweet things. If I chose to sweeten something I used raw honey or pure maple syrup.

When I started running the track as my kids played in the big "sand box"

When I started running the track as my kids played in the big “sand box”

Going to the track was working well for me. I had a good routine and the kids were having fun. I began running 2 miles every time I went. Then one day as I was walking the kids to school I saw caution tape blocking the entrance to the track. When I asked the crossing guard about it he informed me that the track would be closed for the entire summer while they tore it up and replaced the track and field. I almost felt like giving up, but I had come so far. I needed to find a new routine. Something that would fit into my life as a single mother with 3 small kids. Going to the gym sounded appealing, but wasn’t a possibility. So I found a used treadmill on Craigslist and put it right in my living room.

My diet continued to evolve. The next thing to go was dairy. Originally I gave it up to try and help with seasonal allergies. I never thought I’d be able to give up cheese for good, but pretty soon those cravings stopped too and I just kept going. The final change was the switch to a vegan diet. I stopped eating all meats and eggs. I’m not 100% strict and I’ll occasionally eat wild-caught Cod or Salmon.

My Workout Routine

I was in a great place with my diet and I had a steady workout routine. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings I ran 2 miles on the treadmill (alternating every quarter mile between 5 and 6.5 mph) then hula-hooped for 800 revolutions. Sundays I ran 3.1 miles. In October of 2015 I ran my first 5K race and I came in under 30 minutes! In November I finally reached my dream weight of 155 pounds.

Woman runs 5K after losing 80 pounds

Ready to run my first 5K race!

Living the Dream

Not only did I lose 80 pounds in 8 months, but I’ve been able to maintain that weight loss steadily. I’ve added arms with a resistance band and a standing ab workout to my routine, but nothing else has changed. When I was running the track where I used to do cheerleading as a young girl, I imagined my younger self cheering me on. I used to hate running more than anything. I knew that if younger me could see grown-up me I would have been so proud because I was finally doing it. When I was younger there was nothing I wanted more than being thin. Now I’m living the dream, and it’s a very good one.