{kensington blue} mostly photography and a little bit of everything else

W {Portrait of 6 Month-Old}

2012-02-16T20:30:00.002-05:00

and we're done.

Valentine's Day Play Date {for Preschoolers}

2012-02-16T15:26:00.000-05:00

We had a few of my daughter's preschool friends over for lunch, cookie decorating, and cocoa the week before Valentine's Day. I'm sure the kids barely notice the food presentation, but it's sure fun for me. Besides, if you know me at all, you know that I can't resist any opportunity to use my Old Town Imports serveware. It's kind of a problem. Amidst the swirl of this little play date, I realized that it's probably time to stop having this little soirees for kids and maybe concentrate on having events with people my own age who might actually care :) But at the end of the day, I'm just happy to have a creative outlet and a daughter who loves parties as much as I do.

We kept it simple by picking up bagels from our favorite NYC bagel shop with Valentine's Day-colored cream cheese (strawberry, plain, and blueberry), and served cherries, strawberries, and peanut butter pretzels, per Ella's request. We had strawberry and plain milk for the kids, and then after lunch we decorated cookies.

Yes, I realize that "simple" is relative. But if you have the right equipment you can make a bigger impact than the effort it takes. For example, it's just as easy to wash cherries and dump them into a little pewter bowl as it is for me to wash them and dump them into a cereal bowl... that, and if you've noticed, you'll see running trends in the events that I host. For example, check HERE and see last year's V-day play date HERE. Notice any similarities? I'm so not original. I just try to recycle ideas and make them better the next time (hopefully with better photography and styling too!)

We used our awesome Kuhn-Rikon cake decorating set (I got mine for $12 at TJ Maxx), and it's perfect for kids because they don't have the option to stick their little fists into a bowl of frosting. I started out letting them use the "pretty bowls" of sprinkles with a little spoon, but after a mountain of sprinkles on one child's plate and a near disaster I put them away and pulled out the more kid-friendly $2.50 Target special- 5 little sprinkle shakers with Valentine's Day colors and hearts (see below).

The kids decorated glassine bags with stickers and crayons, and then they each got to choose a selection of chocolate and sprinkle-covered pretzels to take home with them. They liked that.

Hope you all had a happy Valentine's Day!

Regin's Sweet 16 {New York City}

2012-02-15T11:25:00.000-05:00

p.s. This was the first Sweet 16 celebration I've ever attended, and it was amazing (and I'm not going to lie, but I felt a little jealous that I didn't get one myself!). You can see from the pictures that it was a beautiful event, but what you can't see from the pictures is the amazing support Regin received from her family and friends and members of her church and community groups. I can't think of a better time of life to celebrate and remind a young lady of how loved, appreciated, and cherished she is.

My favorite moments were: the speeches that Regin and her parents shared by candlelight, the dance that Regin and her friend choreographed and performed, and then the candle-lighting ceremony where she invited 16 individuals or groups who have helped shape the person she is. It was truly something to behold, and I was honored to be there to capture it.

Happy Valentine's Day {and 40% off MyPublisher Gift Certificates}

2012-02-14T15:05:00.001-05:00

Some portraits from C&P's fabulous NYC engagement session was recently in a MyPublisher email campaign...

and while the offer above ended January 30th, for Valentine's Day they are offering 40% off gift certificates with coupon code HEARTGIFT. You have until midnight tonight {2.14.2012}.

I bought myself a gift certificate so that I can hopefully motivate myself to make a baby book for my son. I made a book for my daughter using MyPublisher, and I was blown away. The quality is the best I've seen, the designs are fabulous, and they have fantastic customer service. They didn't even pay me to say that.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Keep It Simple {Cupcake + Cake Decorations}

2012-02-13T10:40:00.001-05:00

Seems like this time of year I live from one holiday to the next, and it makes all the difference in helping us to enjoy the winter. I stumbled across images of these gorgeous cupcakes, and on Valentine's Day Eve they reminded me to keep it simple.

The ingredients speak for themselves {rather than a cutesy sign that states the obvious- napkins! rice! baked potatoes!}and the baking cups beautifully accentuate what's on top and really take it up a notch in terms of sophistication. I especially love the overall concept for the mint chocolate chip cookies. They look amazing, and you know exactly what you are putting in your mouth.

All of these gorgeous cupcakes were made by the amazing Anne, for Sara & Shane's reception in Oregon last summer, and the fabulous cake was made by her husband. Hand modeling by my faithful second-shooter Stacey.

Brian + Ingrid in Aruba {Honeymoon Portrait Session}

2012-02-08T20:06:00.001-05:00

p.s. Ingrid and Brian wanted casual portraits in Aruba that were decidedly different than their formal engagement session in NYC. We didn't take many formal portraits, but focused on capturing the love.

I adore this idea as an alternative to the "trash the dress" sessions some couples choose.

I love it when clients are fully invested in collaborating with me to create the types of images they are looking for.I will often tell my clients prior to a session "my job is to capture the moments you create." And although there are always moments where clients need a bit of direction (and of course, steering towards the best light) it's amazing when I'm nothing more than a silent observer.

We shot at the beach, on the resort grounds, and in the open-concept hotel lobby for three totally different looks in under 30 minutes. That made Brian very happy.

Brian + Ingrid Wedding Reception {Hyatt Resort, Aruba}

2012-02-08T19:45:00.001-05:00

Brian + Ingrid {Destination Wedding in Aruba}

2012-02-03T16:01:00.000-05:00

Favorite memories from Brian and Ingrid's amazing beach wedding in Aruba:

The collective sigh of relief when the rain stopped and the clouds lifted just in time for the ceremony (the reception had to be moved inside, but they had a perfect ceremony on the beach!).
When one of the bride's friends missed the first kiss and requested that they do it again. Hilarious.
The way the groom looked at the bride.
The music.
Watching all the cheeky tourists line their beach chairs up near the ceremony site to spectate in their swimming suits (see picture above). That had at least 30 uninvited wedding guests.
Watching the groom pick the bride up and threaten to run her into the ocean.
And how all the wedding guests lingered at the beach after the ceremony, took off their shoes and enjoyed the sand and the good company

Lizards, Parrots, Fish, and Other Friends {Hyatt Resort, Aruba}

2012-02-02T21:28:00.001-05:00

I know you're all just dying to see the wedding I shot in Aruba... or maybe you've forgotten about me since I haven't been posting too regularly :) Well either way, don't worry, I'm working on the wedding preview right now. It's epic. It will hands-down be the most pictures I've ever put up for one post, but I have a feeling you won't mind too much.

I don't really think that reptiles have a place in a wedding post, but I wanted to show you the friends I met in a five minute span while walked through the Hyatt resort. Amazing, right? I can't wait to take my kids to Aruba. They are going to love it!

And can someone please tell me why huge lizards don't phase me even for a second, but I am scared to death of snakes? Seems a bit odd to me.

Palm Beach, Aruba {Marriott Resort + Beach}

2012-01-27T11:22:00.002-05:00

p.s. we were in Aruba during an uncharacteristically overcast/rainy week. It was still amazing. Amazing, I tell you. We already have a return trip planned with our children. We can't wait! These pictures were taken over the course of our stay. Looking back, I wish I'd taken more of the fantastic food we ate, as well as some of us relaxing on the beach. Let's just say, I was too lazy to take my camera, because I knew if I did I wouldn't be able to get into the water. Or relax, because I'd be too busy thinking about sand getting into my camera. Ugh.

p.p.s. If you ever find yourself in Aruba, you must eat at Simply Fish at the Marriott Resort. It is right on the beach, and you are encouraged to eat shoeless with the sand between your toes. It's perfect for a special occasion. Most people would categorize it as "expensive" unless they are from NYC. Then it goes in the "normal" category.

p.p.p.s. Did I mention that this is one of the most kid-friendly places I've ever vacationed? The water is calm, the weather is lovely, the pools are amazing, and at the Marriott resort there are playgrounds, kids rooms, kids activities all day, movie screenings in the evening, and even an incredible lazy river. It's amazing! Definitely a great spot for east coasters wishing they were a bit closer to Hawaii.

Oranjestad, Aruba {Historic City Center + Harbor}

2012-01-25T19:43:00.000-05:00

Aruba is a hard place to describe. I didn't know what to expect when we arrived because we didn't really do any research about Aruba. That made it even more fun to discover. As you will see, it is an intriguing place, full of bright colors and beautiful, unassuming architecture. For the most part. Aruba is unique because it's not in the hurricane belt, and due to its location and the fact that it's essentially a desert, the weather is amazing year-round. There's virtually no off-season, and it's only a 3.5 hour flight from NYC. Perfect.

Perhaps one might say that Aruba has a bit of an identity crisis. You would have one too if you were a country located in the Carribean islands, but part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in close proximity to South America, and with two official languages: Dutch and Papiamento (which is a creole language that combines Portuguese, West African languages, Dutch, and Spanish- wikipedia taught me that). Most natives speak at least three languages, and many speak up to five fluently. Signs are in Dutch, Spanish, Papiamento, and English.

Oranjestad is charming indeed. The people are warm and welcoming, and seem to be perpetually happy in spite of the perpetual traffic. I still don't understand quite why there's traffic, but again, it adds to the charm of island hopping from Manhattan to Aruba. What a contrast.

We breezed through this part of town on our way to the Marriott Resort (on a cab ride where the driver suddenly realized he was nearly out of gas. So we stopped to fill up. Such is the pace of island life), and with all that we saw in a few eye blinks, we just had to go back and explore. And explore we did.

Kyle aptly said that it reminded him of places we'd traveled, but it was unlike anywhere we'd ever been.

Next up? Palm Beach, Aruba. You're going to love it.

p.s. This was one of the most difficult blog posts I've ever made because of all the contrasting, clashing color. You wouldn't believe how long it took me to put this together. It's kind of embarrassing, actually. For those of you who blog with a lot of pictures, like I do, you'll know how much time blog posts take anyway, but when nearly every image clashes with the next... sheesh!

How To Make A Wedding {DIY Wedding Prep}

2012-01-22T19:55:00.001-05:00

This isn't your typical wedding prep post. You know, the bride getting her hair done, the groom putting on his tie, people relaxing as they wait for the festivities to begin. No, this is the actual wedding prep. The prep for all the details before the bride and her family can even think about getting dressed and ready to go, days before the wedding.

A friend just reminded me that I never delivered on my promise to talk about our wedding prep. As many of you know, Stef's wedding was almost entirely DIY. A labor of love, indeed! My wedding and my sister Stacey's wedding were both DIY as well, and we didn't do a very good job of documenting the process. I promised myself that I'd take some portraits of the prep work so that we'd always remember (and so that the bride and groom would too) I didn't do the best job of remembering to take portraits amidst the swirl of it all, but at least we have what we have.

Stef chose her priorities, and put the bulk of her budget in the places that mattered most to her. We were able to pool our resources to put the rest of the elements together in a creative, inexpensive way, that still maintained the level of quality we were going for. I loved the result.

My family put this wedding together from the ground up, with the help of Pinterest, a pantone book, and an obsessive attention to detail. We are blessed to have a mother who is a master of color, so she nearly killed herself coordinating the wardrobe, flowers, and design elements to ensure that they were all perfect color matches. It sure paid off, because everything photographed beautifully.

From the very beginning, we focused on the photography. In other words, we focused on the end product and how each of the elements would be captured through portraiture.

We tried to avoid the common trap of getting caught up in the color scheme (say the bride chooses yellow and grey, so EVERY element has to be either yellow or grey, and what you end up with is just kind of a crazy mess of color that is just far too overwhelming).

We focused on creating a complementary, more neutral backdrop for the pops of color that came through the floral design and accessories. You see this in the wardrobe of the wedding party as well as in the decor. We used softer, complementary colors to the coral, and then allowed the coral to speak for itself through the floral design (without being overbearing).

When were actually putting everything together days before the wedding, it was incredibly helpful to take portraits of the various elements to see how they would photograph. The best example was with the centerpieces. We would try putting various elements together, take a photograph, and then start over. Then we were able to come to a final decision after reviewing the pictures side-by-side (see below).

We loved using Pinterest to create a design board (one for inspiration, and another for the final product) and it was really fun for my sister Stace and I to contribute to the board since we weren't in Salt Lake for any of the planning. And since my family members are all really creative and wanted to help, we were able to collaborate to make the wedding custom and cost-effective too.

One of my favorite projects was working on the fabric flowers for the centerpieces and flower girls (150+). They were each cut and sewn by hand. It was a labor of love, and it was a great project to do in the weeks leading up to the wedding.

Every single member of our family was at the heart of it all. Not just my mom and sisters, but my Dad and brother were right in there with us through it all. Here are the elements of the wedding that members of my family contributed:

-Invitation suite
-Engagement photos
-Bridal Photographs
-Wedding Photographs
-Wedding dinner name cards (see below)
-150 ribbon wands for the departure
-Reception centerpieces
-16 Custom-made flower girl sashes (my mom found the white dresses at Costco for $17 each, and then my mom sewed the sashes for a more custom, tailored look)
-Flower girl hair clip flowers and flowers for the sashes
-Bride, bridesmaid and flower girl dress alterations
-Custom-made guest book
-Ribbon-wrapped water bottles + stickered Mountain Dew cans
-Candy bar

-and let's not forget packing up, hauling, and delivering everything to the reception site + cleanup (a responsibility that is often overlooked, but takes SO much muscle and work. Thanks men!)

So what did we hire out?

Venue
Flowers: Melissa of Blossom Sweet (We did all the floral arrangements for my wedding and Stacey's wedding too, but Erin had a friend who did a fabulous job, and it was nice to not have to worry about such a huge element of the overall wedding concept)
Custom wedding dress
Catering
Bride's makeup and hair: Stephanie Brinkerhoff of Hair and Makeup by Steph
Wedding cake

And if you are new to this blog and missed the wedding pics I posted, here they are:

Bridal Portraits
Wedding Dinner Portraits
Wedding Portraits
Bride and Groom Portraits
Reception Portraits

From my perspective, Stef and Matthew's wedding was absolutely perfect. And what made it even better was being able to take a step back as a family and say "this is beautiful because we made it beautiful" I only hope that the bride and groom will remember their perfect day, and remember all the love that went into making it perfect.

my dad labeled everything so that we made sure we had everything, and so that everyone would know EXACTLY what was theirs (and wouldn't have to add to the stress of the day by asking)

staging the centerpieces: we looked at many options before deciding on the final version

This is what we decided on, but we chose river rocks instead of the little pebbles (too specular and looked a little cheap). The river rocks were the perfect touch, and were more in line with what we were going for. In a word: classy. See them HERE

Ella's Fourth Birthday Party {Lesson in Listening - Part II}

2012-01-19T23:18:00.000-05:00

We opted for a low-key birthday lunch for Ella's fourth birthday. We were going to do a party on a Saturday and invite more of her friends, but she really wanted her party on her birthday (which was a Tuesday). We had five of her preschool girlfriends over for a birthday party lunch right after preschool. As usual, things ended up being a bit more elaborate than I had originally planned, but when it comes to party planning, I can't really help myself.

Following last year's lesson, I asked for a list of requirements from Ella:

"a Hello Kitty wintery party with springtime flowers and butterflies" (tall order, right?)
a pink and purple cake with white roses and sparkles (she saw the rose cake on pinterest, and chose it over a Hello Kitty cake. What can I say, she has sophisticated style).
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
fizzy Christmas drink {sprite mixed with grenadine flavoring}
hot chocolate
balloons
candy
treat bags for her friends
dancing
coloring

We checked everything off her little list, and I managed to keep the little gathering pretty low key. Yes, low key. I wasn't running around like a crazy person, and I even got to participate in most of the festivities. I did as much as possible beforehand, and it turned out great. The coloring activity consisted of each girl getting a Hello Kitty coloring book ($1 from Michael's), and then it got rolled up, tied with baker's twine, and added to their favor bags. Easiest craft ever!

The cake was the hardest part, as I tried a new frosting technique, and I used cream cheese frosting- big mistake. It tasted great, but it was a little sloppier than I would have liked because it clearly doesn't hold its shape as well as butter cream. And sadly, you can't see it very well in the pictures, but we used edible glitter, and it made it so wintry and glittery. Ella got to put all the sprinkles on the cupcakes for her classmates, and she was in heaven. She also picked out the golden cupcake liners for her classmates.

One of my favorite parts of the party was helping each of the girls pick out the candy for their favor bags. They were so particular! I think the highlights for the girls would have been drinking hot chocolate out of mini mugs, dancing, and eating cake.

The color scheme was taken from the McDonald's Hello Kitty toys she's been obsessed with since before Christmas, but we brightened up the pastels a bit. Can you believe she requested a party based on McDonald's toys, and I agreed to it?

Well, it was her birthday. Some of the elements didn't really complement the others, but she didn't even care because it's what she wanted. She loved it. And that's all that matters.

p.s. the girls actually had two rounds of hot chocolate. The first was Hello Kitty PINK hot chocolate, the second round was the traditional hot chocolate. Brown. The mini hot cocoa mugs were a smash hit! And great because it meant not too much sugar :)

Happy Birthday to You {Valbella Ristorante, NYC}

2012-01-13T19:00:00.000-05:00

I had the privilege of shooting this amazing birthday party back in November at in the wine rooms at Valbella Ristorante (Meatpacking District in NYC). It was incredible, as you can see. Every detail was attended to, the food was incredible (I didn't eat it, but from the guests reactions, it must have been fantastic), and I loved the restaurant's setup and decor. Check it out HERE

Valentine's Day {Old Town Imports}

2012-01-08T22:29:00.000-05:00

p.s. I was asked to shoot "a few"Valentine's Day shots for the Old Town Imports website header images to add to the pictures Erin took last year... and I got a wee bit carried away. I think being a food/prop stylist would be one of the most amazing and fun jobs ever.

A {Portrait of a Little New Yorker at Christmas}

2012-01-07T00:40:00.000-05:00

I apologize for this post-Christmas post. I just had to give A's mama a sneak peek!

Christmas in Aruba {Palm Beach, Aruba}

2011-12-26T23:45:00.002-05:00

I hope you are all enjoying the holidays! We have had a whirlwind December, and I can't believe that Christmas is over! And now I can't even blog about all the awesome Christmas stuff we've been up to, cause at this point, let's face it, it's old news. And heading into the Jan/Feb/Mar duldrums, kind of depressing. So perhaps I'll show you some sunny, lovely Christmasy pictures from Aruba. How does that sound?

By the way, I went to Aruba expecting that all the festive decor I saw would be unique, but no. It was all sun-bleached evergreens and tinsel. So weird. There were a few gems, and these are some of my favorites (with the typical, totally out-of-context examples at the very end.) I've never really been anywhere warm during Christmas, but I wonder if Christmas decor like that in warms places everywhere? Chime in, Californians!

O's First Christmas {New York City Family Portraits}

2011-12-21T09:08:00.000-05:00

Babies + Christmas = Magic.

C {New York City Maternity Portraits}

2011-12-19T12:42:00.001-05:00

How gorgeous is this friend of mine? She was such a natural in front of the camera, and I love that we made the shoot work, despite the weather. I love photography because it really keeps me on my toes, and I never really know what to expect when I head out the door for a session. We shot in the rain (and the five short minutes when it wasn't raining) and then found the grotto of a beautiful church. I love the result.

Please leave a message after the beep...

2011-12-14T09:01:00.000-05:00

I'm off shooting a wedding in Aruba! I'm thrilled, thanks, but you probably didn't even need to ask. I'll be back in NYC next week and I promise to blog about some of the amazing sights in the city that never sleeps. There's no place like NYC at Christmas. Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!

W Family {New York City Family Portraits}

2011-12-07T18:34:00.001-05:00

ps. You thought this was going to be just another NYC family portrait session, didn't you? Gotcha! Can I tell you how amazing it is to work with families with older children (who willingly cooperate!). Ahhh, I love my job. And I love that they wanted these portraits show aspects of real life in NYC... not just the pretty stuff.

Handprint Ornaments {Easy Christmas Gift}

2011-12-07T15:14:00.001-05:00

Last year we made a dozen of these. Easy to mail, inexpensive to make, sentimental, perfect. We bought a set matte red glass balls, and then used green acrylic paint to make Ella's handprint on one side and Jonesy's handprint on the other side. After they dried I took a fine-point sharpie and wrote "Christmas 2010 - NYC" and then put their names and exact ages (years + months) next to their handprints.

I attached a simple cream-colored grosgrain ribbon to each, mailed a set to each grandparent (in case one broke) and then kept the rest for myself.

It was inexpensive set of gifts that were cheap to mail, and they turned out beautifully. One tip though, it's nearly impossible to get a newborn to uncurl their hand, put it in paint, and then place it perfectly on the ornament... so, do it while they are sleeping. Ella was nearly 3 at the time and it was a breeze!

This would be a great "baby's first Christmas ornament too

This year I loved unpacking these ornaments with their tiny hand-prints. I am sure I will treasure them more and more as they continue to grow.

E's Cookie and Cocoa Social {Holiday Kids Party}

2011-12-05T16:34:00.001-05:00

Last year we put together a little holiday party for a few of Ella's friends. At this little social the girls:

Made spritz cookies (which they covered with mountains of sprinkles)
Colored festive pillowcases that reminded the girls to be extra good
Ate a festive lunch, complete with a peanut butter tree the kids decorated with Craisins.
Had holiday mani-pedis (red and green toes, sparkly silver fingers) while they watched a fun Christmas special. It was Little Einsteins Christmas Wish, if you must know.
Ate their freshly baked cookies and drank hot cocoa with marshmallows
Left with a bag of cookies and a set of hair clips that Ella and I made (We pinned them onto cardstock trees and wrapped them up. I wanted to keep one for myself, they looked so cute. Ella picked out all the ribbon, chose the button or mini yo-yo for each clip, and assisted me :)

I was lucky to have my amazing mom and sister Erin here last year, and the event went so smoothly when I had two assistants (slaves) to help me with the 5 girls and all the logistics involved. I really wish I could have assistants for every little gathering I host.

I'm hoping to pull off another Cookie and Cocoa Social, but this year it's definitely going to be a last-minute endeavor. I like to keep my friends on their toes.

Are you hosting any holiday parties this year? I had grand plans for a holiday wrapping party (complete with fabulous wrapping stations and accessories, and an Italian soda/dessert bar), but I'll be doing that next year. I hope.

Holiday Train Show {at Grand Central Station}

2011-12-05T15:38:00.001-05:00

There are several holiday train shows around the city, but I was totally caught off guard by the train show at Grand Central Station. It is very small and unassuming, but it was amazing! We visited last year after my sister's friend Lindsay (shout out to my Brooklyn friend!) highly recommended it, and I'm so glad that we went.

There's something incredible about seeing your life in miniature. The streets of Manhattan, the subway, the Metro North trains stopping at the platform... it's just wonderful.

Grand Central Station is amazing at Christmas, so definitely go grab some Junior's Cheesecake in the concourse and then check out the train show. Did I mention that it's also free? Details HERE

Keep it Simple {Easy Christmas Ideas}

2011-12-05T08:24:00.001-05:00

The holidays can be really overwhelming for me. I constantly feel the need and desire to be doing something festive and memorable, and since there is something to do every single day in this city, it's even more stressful.

I'm trying my best to take a step back and remember that our days don't have to be adventure-filled to be magical. Creating the magic doesn't take much more than putting on Christmas music, having a cup of hot cocoa, or reading Christmas stories.

Or try dressing up your kids pb&j by using a festive cookie cutter. It takes just a little bit of effort, but watch their eyes light up when you make the ordinary extraordinary.

What are your easy holiday ideas?

Advent Calendar Idea {Teeny Tiny Gifts}

2011-12-02T19:31:00.001-05:00

Happy December to you all! Did it sneak up on you too? I promised myself I'd enjoy Thanksgiving to the fullest this year, and I guess I did, because now I'm a wee bit behind.

Thank goodness I have photos of my advent calendar from last year to show you :) Don't those tiny little presents look fancy? Guess what's inside them? Juice boxes, fruit snacks, boxes of yogurt-covered raisins, and the long, skinny ones are Trader Joe's mini chocolate bars. Fancy indeed. They're wrapped up and tied with baker's twine or decorated with a candy necklace or candy cane here and there. It was inexpensive, fun, and I can create an entirely different look each year for my advent calendar.

T&R {Two Little New Yorkers}

2011-12-02T12:24:00.001-05:00

p.s. My favorite part of this session was how baby brother would do everything that big sister did. If she stood by the door for a portrait, so would he, if she put her head on a pillow for a shot, he'd wait until she moved on and then do the same. If she sat down to read a book, so would he. It was darling and hilarious to watch these two interact.

M Family {Riverside Park Family Portraits}

2011-12-02T10:36:00.001-05:00

City Moms Gift Guide {perfect gifts for NYC moms}

2011-12-01T10:37:00.001-05:00

Looking for the perfect gift for a New Yorker? This gift is geared towards moms (products and gifts that I love, really), but will give you great ideas for anyone.

I had never really thought about giving experiences as gifts, but here in NYC there are amazing classes and short courses to suit every budget and interest.

City moms rarely have cars, so "on the go" and high-quality "in the elements" gifts are especially useful. Here are a few ideas to get you started...

NYC mamas, what else should I add to this list?

City Kids Gift Guide {perfect gifts for little New Yorkers}

2011-12-01T09:53:00.001-05:00

Living in NYC isn't for everyone, and it's not for most people. For most families, living in the city means a teeny tiny living space, shared bedrooms for kids, and no playroom or backyard. We are out in the elements year-round, and we walk or take public transportation to get where we're going.

How does that translate to gift giving? You will need to consider practical, versatile gifts that are ideal for the on-the-go kids whose backyards are NYC parks.

When you think about gifts for city kid, think about practicality and space efficiency. City families rarely have room to spare, so look for gifts that are not only space-efficient, but also versatile and practical. Invest in high-quality items that will last. City kids are notoriously hard on shoes, clothes, and toys, so instead of buying three pairs of inexpensive shoes, try buying one pair of versatile, high quality shoes.

If you are set on giving a city kid a toy, consider whether you can add something to a toy collection that they already have (like a train set, doll house, lego collection, toy kitchen, etc.).

A fantastic gift for an NYC family is a zoo or museum pass. Obviously, the kiddos aren't going to shout and cheer for a tiny plastic card that goes in mom's wallet, but you can add that Christmas morning wow factor with an inexpensive stuffed elephant and their favorite treat. Then for the rest of the year they'll have a gift from you that keeps on giving.

Chime in, city moms! What else should I add to this gift guide?

O Family {New York City Family Portraits}

2011-11-28T16:21:00.001-05:00

I had three family sessions in Central Park on this amazing, amazing day in early November. I'm not going to say that this was my favorite of all (because, like a mother with more than one child, they're all my favorites for different reasons [insert smiley face]), but taking portraits of beautiful people who are effortless in front of the camera AND have a darling baby who smiles at the drop of a hat makes me really, really happy. I always say that I could have posted every shot from the session I'm posting about, but this time I really mean it. And HELLO gorgeous styling. Don't you think these colors are perfect for autumn in Central Park?

They say they've never modeled, but I think they're liars. You be the judge.

T Family {New York City Childrens Portraiture}

2011-11-21T17:38:00.001-05:00

I'm often asked what my favorite subcategory of portraiture is. While I don't know that I have an absolute favorite, it doesn't get much better than photographing mothers with their children. Throw in beautiful subjects, an amazing NYC apartment, and perfect light? Heaven.

Thanksgiving in NYC {Take 2}

2011-11-18T23:28:00.000-05:00

While I'm busy finishing up some of my last portrait sessions of the year (stay tuned for more previews), I'm also busy thinking about Thanksgiving and the holiday season to come. We're staying put in NYC again this year, and I am so happy to be spending quality time with my husband and kids, rather than spending most of the holiday traveling. We will, of course, miss our families dearly, but we are looking forward to the holidays here in the city. NYC is pure magic during the holidays.

What do we have planned for Thanksgiving? Well, we're going to see the balloons inflated for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade the night before, then I am still debating as to whether I want to get up at 4am for a prime spot on the parade route, we're going to do a popcorn turkey again this year while we watch the parade (whether that's on Central Park West or on our comfy couch), and I will definitely be making mini pies for the kiddos again this year.

Originally, we were just going to go out to eat at a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner or get Chinese takeout. I think I've been successfully talked out of that. Last year I made everything, which was really just too much for our first Thanksgiving alone, and this year I'm just making my favorite things from scratch: candied yams, homemade rolls, and pie. I accidentally cooked our turkey upside-down last year. It was still delicious, but I'm taking a break this year. It was just too much.

Our original plan still sounds kind of lovely, don't you think?

the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons being inflated. They fill up both streets on the north and south sides of the Museum of Natural History. We're going early this year so we don't get trampled to death by tourists.

Popcorn turkey from One Charming Party

our feast last year

Lincoln Center {New York City}

2011-11-18T09:13:00.001-05:00

This is one of my favorite places. I adore the architecture, the travertine, the layout of the buildings, the contrasting and complementary modern/contemporary design elements, and the sprawling spaces that somehow make you feel like you have the city to yourself, but that you're at the center of it all at the same time. I especially love watching my mesmerized children stare at the fountain, and then run free in the open space as if they'd never seen such a thing.

I am not a huge fan of the color gold in general, but I could bask in the warm glow of the lobby of the Metropolitan Opera for the rest of my life. Glorious.

Lincoln Center is definitely on my must see list.

G Family {New York City Family Portraits}

2011-11-17T23:29:00.001-05:00

Being a parent is absolutely exhausting. Especially when you have children in the 12-36 month range and they basically just run from object to object and place to place and do whatever they want at warp speed. Warp speed, I tell you. I have no idea where they get all that energy. I think this little darling single-handedly wore out her mom, dad, and grandma during this session. And maybe me too. I don't think she stood in one place for more than 3 seconds together, which was highly entertaining from my perspective as a photographer...

G Family {New York City Family Portraits}

2011-11-15T20:24:00.001-05:00

I have been taking portraits of darling Audrey once a month since she was a week old. For her eleven month-portraits we met up at my favorite part of Central Park. I could never get tired of shooting at Bethesda Fountain, the Mall, and the surrounding area. Amazing.

This is the first of many fabulous fall family photo shoots (try to say that ten times fast). I'm hoping to post as many sessions as possible while I work through them, and then I'll probably spend my winter downtime blogging all my summer and early fall sessions that I've been too busy to post.

Falling Leaves {DIY Autumn Decor}

2011-11-15T06:30:00.000-05:00

I came across these images from last year and it reminded me to pick up a few extra leaves as we've wandered around Central Park (now that the leaves have finally turned). For Thanksgiving decor, it doesn't get much easier than leaves tied to thread and taped to door moldings.

I tried to get fancy last year by soaking leaves in glycerin or pressing them between books, but neither worked well for me. I simply hung the upside down by the stems ans that was that. I loved how organic and natural this looks. The leaves dried beautifully, and we just kept adding fresh leaves to the mix so that there was always a pop of new color.

Because most of you are probably in places where the leaves have already turned, you have the advantage of picking up leaves that have already dried. Here in NYC, I found that the red leaves and then the large solid brown leaves worked the best for this project. Anything yellow just turned spotty and brown. SO, if they aren't already dried, go for red, brown, and orange.

The best part is the way the leaves would spin and sway when someone walked by. So simple, so beautiful.