oh, for crying out loud...(the jMaltbie Photography blog)

Bye, Bye Blogspot!

2010-03-19T16:59:00.001-04:00

I have finally moved my blog over to a Wordpress blog. Hooray! Bigger, prettier photos, and a promise of more of me...blogging. Sure--I know.

If you subscribe to feeds (yeah, like anyone does) please make sure you change it up and subscribe here. You won't be sorry! The new blog is still a work in progress, as is everything in my life, so expect to see it change every now and then. I like to mix it up a bit.

My next trick is to retro-blog all of the shoots I've done since July 2008. If you are bold enough, become a fan on Facebook and take a peak before I get to blogging it.

Coming Clean

2010-03-17T19:05:00.020-04:00

Hello 2010
In case there are actually people out there that follow this blog, a few things:

1. There is a new blog in the works, so stay tuned.

2. I'm down, but I'm not out.

3. Two years ago in June, I stopped writing in this blog. That day changed everything. My oldest daughter, then 3 1/2 years old, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The road has been a long one, and I am now a different person to say the least.

Her name is Emma and she's the light of my life. Since then, she has been through two brain surgeries, countless therapies, and six weeks of radiation. She is a cancer survivor...at age five. She is my inspiration.

What I have learned from her, I share with others. Emma has taught me strength and thoughtfulness, and has shown me God's grace. I have learned that life cannot be taken for granted. Not a single day.

I put my photography business away for a while, fulfilling only a very few previously booked commitments for the remainder of 2008. I contemplated closing up shop and only taking photos for my personal use for the next year. But in January 2009, I was contacted by a family with a 2 year old boy who was going into battle with leukemia. They asked me to photograph their little boy before he underwent treatment, as their cancer journey would be a long one too.

I think that was a sign of what I was supposed to do; to continue documenting families in their everyday lives. To not stop, but to go on. Bigger and better, wearing your courage, and showing your strength. I now go into shoots with more heart than I had before. Taking nothing for granted. Not a single day in their lives, because you just never know.

Late last year, as Emma was recovering from her second tumor resection, I delivered my third child, a son named Joshua. Our family is doing very well. Here is Emma's story if you are so inclined.

All About Amy
When I saw a blog post about photographer Amy Wenzel's workshop giveaway at I Heart Faces, it made me sad. I realized that I had been slacking for too long. Not giving people an explanation of what had happened in my previous post.

You see, the irony is I have been a HUGE Amy Wenzel fan for years, reading her blog, being inspired by her work. So when her husband David was diagnosed with brain cancer last year, I was surprised to learn that she didn't hide. Not like me. She took the Lord's hand and He gave her the strength to continue. Now that's inspiring.

This made me realize that though I had made my cancer journey public, it wasn't exactly "public" in my work life. But now it is. Amy Wenzel has made me come clean. Thanks for that. Will I be a chosen for her workshop? I doubt it. One thing is for sure though, I have gotten it off my chest. Like it or not, I won't hide anymore.

That said, look who's back. :)

Regret to Inform

2008-06-29T23:20:00.004-04:00

Due to a family medical emergency, I will only be able to take limited portrait sessions for the months of July and August. Please email me directly to inquire about sessions at jayne@jaynemaltbie.com. Please note, the contact form on my website is NOT working. Please email me directly instead.

Thanks for your understanding and please keep us in your prayers.

Little Cowboy

2008-06-21T03:01:00.005-04:00

Sweet JT. It's so crazy how his face looks so much like a grown child instead of a 16 day old newborn. He was such a good baby; I love it when they pose for me.

He loved his family blanket that had been passed down from generations. So cool to have a piece of history to wrap yourself in.

He has the coolest "cowboy" bedroom.

Tots and Taters

2008-06-21T02:44:00.007-04:00

Look how big Max got! He's such a big yummy baby now. Nothing better than a chubby little baby face. Remember when he was only 6 days old? I love watching them grow. And I know you've never met his awesome big sister. She was such a dream to work with! We had so much fun running around. I don't know who was more tired by the end of the session, me, them or Mommy. I hope Daddy loved his Father's Day gift.

The Newness of Being a Mom

2008-06-18T13:33:00.004-04:00

You have a new baby and you just stare, and watch her. Every second, every move. At what point did you just fall so head over heels you started to cry? That surge of pure emotion because you've never loved any one thing more? The amazement that this little thing was inside you for so long. And she's all yours.

Yeah, I remember when I did that with my two. And everyday I look at them and still can't believe they're mine. You'd think I'd get over it by now, 3 years later. Nope, they never cease to amaze you.

This is Hanna when she was 3 weeks old; so fresh and new...and little. I remember her Mommy and I on the phone preparing for her maternity session and me asking what she was going to name her. I was so floored when I found that we have the exact same first and middle name for our daughters! Crazy, huh? Same names but different spellings. My Hannah is 15 months older; I told her giving your girl the name Hannah means she will be fiesty (in my experience). So far at 3 weeks she was an angel.

PS, I will put Mommy's awesome maternity session in another post.

Note to Self

2008-06-18T11:52:00.006-04:00

Never go to bed at 4 am. With kids in the house, it's like waking up totally hung over. But without ever having the fun of an adult beverage--bummer. I should probably nap sometime today, but naps never happen at this house. Especially for me anyway. But the good news is that I was able to get some work done. Yes, I was working until 4 am. (Shh...don't tell anyone; makes me sound so dull.)

This big boy is Grant. So sweet. His was probably one of the easiest newborn portrait sessions I've done in a long time. He was so good, and perfectly asleep for most of the shoot. Grant was a total life-size doll, and poseable too! If you've never seen a new Mommy so in love with her child, it's worth just standing in the room to watch.

Once a Month

2008-06-17T15:40:00.003-04:00

Yeah, so I average about one blog post a month! Ha! That is so sad. Please don't think I've just been sitting around. Oh no! I WISH I could just hang out and do nothing. Truth is, I am so thankful to be so busy, just a little too busy sometimes. A good problem, yes. And the lack of blogging...well, it's not that I don't have anything to share. On the contrary, I have so much, I don't really know where to begin. But I'll start here...

Meet the best 22 month old ever! Ava was so fun and easy to work with. She and her folks met up with me at Memorial Park (when it was still bearable outside), and we had so much fun. SO much fun I ripped my pants (not a joke)! Mom and Dad were so in love with their little girl; she hammed it up for the camera perfectly. She was all smiles, even between mouthfuls of Goldfish crackers.

For Pete's Sake!

2008-05-05T15:29:00.004-04:00

ARGH!!! Sorry folks. Adding to my website issues, the email contact form is down on my current site. Please do not use it. If you have sent me a message in the last couple of weeks using this form and have heard from me, then I probably did not get your message.

Please email inquiries directly to jayne@jaynemaltbie.com or call me at 281.650.4580. Sorry for the inconvenience. Just know there will be a new site very soon and we will all be happy campers!

What a Day!

2008-04-30T15:30:00.006-04:00

Man! So you know I am a huge Grey's Anatomy fan, right? Well, I am. I've been so busy I haven't had time to catch up, thank the heavens for TIVO.

Seeing as to how the laundry had been neglected for a few days, I decided to watch last week's episode on the couch and fold. Great show in case you didn't see. Is Lexie getting on your nerves yet? I know Izzy does for sure, and now Lexie. It was only a matter of time. Somehow they all irritate me, but I am such an addict. Wish I had more time, my tv misses me.

So anyhow, I was elated when they closed the show with my favorite artist, Greg Laswell and his awesome song, "What A Day." He rocks--amazing talent. I was so fortunate to see him and other great artists when I shot the Hotel Cafe Tour at the Red Room in March. I was so busy with other stuff, I never got to blog about it. So here's a few images from that show.

Greg Laswell

Ingrid Michaelson

Josh Radin with Ingrid Michaelson on backing vocals.

More photos on my Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cricketsoup/sets/72157604366402249/

If you haven't heard of these people, I urge you to do so. They are such talented musicians. Check out the tour that sponsored them, Hotel Cafe Tour, and brought them to Houston. Oh, and Greg Laswell's song is on the player at the bottom right of this blog page. :)

I Love You, You Love Me...

2008-04-28T19:18:00.002-04:00

These two were so much fun to work with. Will was totally portrait-ready and Kate just needed a little coaxing. But when we got them together, they really showed us the true meaning of "brotherly love" (or sisterly love, what have you). I think anyone with multiple children can relate.

It Goes By Too Fast

2008-04-28T19:07:00.003-04:00

Doesn't it? First met this little guy at 6 days old...next thing you know, he'll be a teenager! Which means I should blog this before he gets there. Ha ha.

Here he was when we first met: http://jaynemaltbie.blogspot.com/2007/10/sleep-like-rock.html

Senoritis

2008-04-16T11:19:00.012-04:00

Remember the term "Senoritis" from back in high school? (Do they even use that term anymore?) How the very last months of your senior year you had all of these emotions over school ending and it just overwhelmed your already crazy teen life? Yeah, those were the days. Ahhh, to be young and carefree again!

jMaltbie Photography is now offering Senior Sessions...so much fun! I am currently accepting applications for high school Senior portfolio models for the 2008/2009 school year. Looking for Seniors that are fun, hip, not afraid to express themselves and want a different style...think fashion.

What does this mean for you? It means that you get a killer Senior Portrait Session, special rates, incentives and other cool stuff. what do you have to do? Be yourself, be a Senior for 2008-2009, and be willing to spread the word about my awesomeness (ha ha). I have a ton of great ideas, but need more faces. So bring it on!

Just a sampling with my very own girl...

More on my Flickr.

Old and New

2008-04-16T10:30:00.004-04:00

I had the pleasure of working with 4 generations of women (well, 3 women, one baby) back in January. It was a great experience to listen and watch them interact with each other. I felt really privileged to have been chosen to document all of them together. And to talk to Great Grandma...way cool. She told me a story about back in her day, and I was all ears. It totally thrilled the historian in me. :)

Blogalicious

2008-04-16T10:14:00.004-04:00

So I missed the whole month of March. How embarassing. It wasn't for the lack of trying...I just can't find the time. I promise, I promise, I promise...

I worked with Steven and his family back during the holdiay rush. Here he is at 8 months old, my how he's grown. I tell you it goes by so fast. What a yummy little boy! He was so ready to have his portrait taken again.

See more new stuff on my Flickr.

Busy, Busy, Busy Bee

2008-03-25T02:43:00.004-04:00

That's me. Way too busy to really tell you much more. Here is my blog entry for March. I'm so bad. ;)

A Few Kinks...

2008-02-28T12:59:00.006-05:00

A new website is in the works and I just have a few wrinkles to iron out in the process. If you are missing your web gallery or slideshow, please don't worry. Please follow the links that I have emailed to access your gallery, and note upper and lowercase letters. My site has some sensitivity to cases apparently.

But pretty soon, we won't have to worry about that. Stay tuned for some new stuff! Yay!

Please email me at jayne@jaynemaltbie.com if you have any questions. I appreciate your patience.

Where to Start?

2008-02-01T17:13:00.000-05:00

Yeah, so as if you didn't know...I suck at blogging. Keeping up with it anyway. I am one busy girl these days. I've had so many sessions from last year that I never had a chance to post. I've worked with so many beautiful families and children. It would be a crime not to show them off. So look for posts from old sessions, as I have lots of them to share. ;)

I'm working on improving my website and blog this year. I will also be running a bunch of promotions and specials as well as looking for new models for my portfolio...so look out for that.

Anyhow, without further delay...Tyler and his wonderful family for thier Holiday portraits. Love his little smile.

Happy New Year

2007-12-26T17:52:00.000-05:00

Well, looks like I'm too late to say Merry Christmas, but I hope you had a great one anyway! I've had a very busy Holiday season, and I wanted to thank all of you who have welcomed me into your lives to hang out with you and your family. And to take some photos too! I've had an exhiliarting experience doing what I love and I hope that the new year brings more of that.

I will be on vacation from now until January 5th, so if you are interested in a session with me, please contact me soon. January dates are filling up rather quickly. I would also like to announce a price increase for 2008 effective April 1st, so book today to lock in those 2007 prices.

Hope you all have a safe and blessed New Year!

If You Give Your Kid a Camera...

2007-12-03T13:17:00.000-05:00

Ever read those books by Laura Numeroff--"If You Give a Pig a Pancake," or "a Mouse a Cookie?" The characters ask for more and more and get into so much trouble and mess. It's the same way if you give your toddler a camera.

We got one of those indestructible kid digital cameras from Fisher Price for my daughter's 3-year birthday. Of course she loves it. She always wants to mess with my camera and equipment so she was so thrilled to get something of her own. I highly recommend it for those of you who take lots of photos and has a kid who wants to do the same. They really are indestructible if you drop them, and they also withstand countless hours of chewing and drool from the baby. The flash is a little bright, but it's still pretty cool. Plus, it's never to early to encourage a young photographer's eye.

It's so weird how she gets really creative with it. Seems she's into shooting abstract, art-type things. I'm so proud! (sniffle.) See for yourself.

Her feet in the car.

Her feet at home.

Love this one...What art! The baby gate. ;)

And my all-time favorite...portrait of big sister in pajamas with lovey blankie by her side. (Those are the 3-year-old's blankies, not the teenager's.)

I also recommend the Barbie Baby Photographer doll for girls. Wow! They think of everything. It has so much detail, it's crazy. A surefire hit from Santa. Now what are you waiting for? Go out and get you one!

Back for More

2007-12-03T12:38:00.000-05:00

I first met Julia at 9 days old and she was a beauty. Totally alert and almost posing for the camera. It was really uncanny. I came back again at about 8 weeks for more photos and she was huge! And even more beautiful. But the interesting thing is how alert and responsive she is already! I told her Mom that she may be in for it sooner than expected. Ha ha. We'll see. ;)

It's amazing how much they change in that short amount of time. So if you're expecting, let me know. It's never too early. You blink and they're grown.

"Bye-bye."

Sparkle and Shine

2007-11-30T17:47:00.000-05:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my job? The truth is, I work with the most beautiful people, inside and out. This family welcomed me into their home for a newborn session a while ago (hmmm, I should post that one) and I had the best time working with their beautiful daughters. Celia has such a bright personality (and the most beautiful face). And now it seems little Mira's is coming out too. They must get it from their parents; the nicest bunch of people you'll ever meet. Hope you guys love this sneak preview...super hard to choose images to share! Happy Holidays!

Ready for Baby Sister

2007-11-30T12:26:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to be able to photograph Julian and his family again. I shot his Mom while she was pregnant with him and now again while she is pregnant with a baby girl. They are a gorgeous family and so easy to work with. Julian was having a blast jumping around on the bed. He was dancing up a storm. I know he will be such a good big brother. Can't wait to meet the new baby!

Cousins

2007-11-28T14:00:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of hanging out with some friends and shooting their holiday family portraits. I love these kids! They were so much fun to work with. I think I laughed more than they did. I'm excited for the two new little boys on the way. They will be here soon, so look out for some newborn photos! Can't wait! Happy Holidays guys!

Cinnamon Rolls

2007-11-28T00:49:00.000-05:00

That's what I think of when I look at this little guy. Not just sweet, but his little arms and legs were so full of rolls...you just want to take a big bite. Chunky babies are my favorite. He is a total pleasure to work with as usual. Always knows how to work the camera with his smile. And the weird thing is he looks like such a little man...kind of like a baby version of Russell Crowe. Check out the last image...total celeb look alike. :)

This is what he thought of that Santa hat. Couldn't keep it on his head for very long.

Public Service Announcement

2007-11-27T15:34:00.000-05:00

The holidays have arrived and it has already been a crazy season here at jMaltbie Photography. I am sure you are likely feeling the crunch too.

I must announce that I am no longer booking any Holiday Sessions for 2007. My schedule filled up rather quickly this year and time constraints will not allow for any further sessions needing Christmas delivery.

If you are interested in booking a session for regular delivery, I still have a select number of sessions available for delivery after the holidays.

In other news, if you take lots of pictures please back up your images. Put them on a disk, print them out. Do whatever you need to do. Just a friendly reminder. You never know what can happen to a computer. You should never trust that your cherished images will be safe forever in your "My Pictures" folder. And that's all I have to say about that.

The Littlest Tiger

2007-11-02T23:27:00.000-05:00

I have never seen a cuter Tiger than little Braden! His folks are LSU alma mater and are grooming him for collegiate success already! Its never too late to start right? I had a great time at this session. Trying to get 3 month old Braden's attention while standing atop an igloo cooler was downright dangerous (we didn't have a step ladder), but we survived. I don't think the cooler did though. Oh the things I do for that perfect shot. What a gorgeous family and a beautiful outdoor setting. Hope you guys like these!

'Tis the Season

2007-11-02T23:15:00.001-05:00

Holiday cards are finally here! Yay! Come see what's new for 2007 Holiday Cards. 18 new designs to kick off the season. Images and text are all customizable, of course. Choose from modern or a more traditional look, there is something for everyone. Cards are available on one-sided photo paper, or traditional greeting card stock. Click here for the full selection. If that doesn't float your boat, there are always last year's cards. Hurry and order yours now!

Pretty Little Kitty Kat

2007-10-17T20:41:00.000-04:00

What can I say about Kat? This little girl is one of my favorites to photograph. I've been watching her grow and have seen her personality blossom too. You will usually find her smiling and laughing, but sometimes you catch her in a pensive mood. But watch out when she gets mad...she gets that fiesty side from Mom. ;) I love Kat's chunkiness, too. Nothing better than a chunky baby. They are just so perfect. Here she is at 7 months old.

Above is my favorite one. "Shhh Mommy; be quiet."

Sleep Like a Rock

2007-10-17T19:24:00.000-04:00

While some little piggies go to market, Preston's little piggies had to be tickled in order to wake him up. Much like my own daughters, this little guy slept so well as a newborn, that he didn't even want to eat.

Here he is at 6 days old...sleeping as solid as a rock. And when he finally awoke, I was so mesmerized by those deep blue eyes, I couldn't help myself. What a beautiful boy. What a beautiful family too. Though I must repeat myself and say when diapers are off, it is guaranteed excitement! Welcome to the world Preston Cash!

2 Weeks of Life

2007-10-13T23:48:00.000-04:00

When I think about newborns and how long they've been around, it floors me. Can you imagine what it must be like to be so new to the world? What a crazy experience.

Though Luke was only a day shy of 2 weeks old, he sure knew that he didn't like the baby paparazzi. For sure. You should see how many shots I have of him putting his hand in front of his face. Such a little celebrity already. He was absolutely gorgeous. And he already knew how to smile for the camera.

Center of Their World

2007-10-13T23:01:00.000-04:00

I really love this image of RPD and family. This is Mom as the center of the family; they are all connected to her. She has strength as a woman, a wife and a mother. (That's what comes to my mind anyway.)

Baby Lucia was only 3 weeks old in this session. Such a pretty baby! Mom pointed out how Lucia's new belly button reminded her of a little snail. That is so true! I love the roundness of her belly. Just adorable.

We had a blast getting big brother to sit just long enough for a photo. He took turns sitting on top of Mommy and Daddy before finally tiring out. Little boys are such a whirlwind of activity. It made for a very fun and lively session. Thanks for your patience, RPD!

Finally!

2007-10-13T22:51:00.000-04:00

Yeah, so it's been a while since I've posted anything to the blog. Sorry folks. Its not that I have nothing going on. Truth is I've been so over my head in sessions, its taken me a while to catch up. Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for all of the opportunities. I just know the mob of disgruntled people waiting to see proofs is steadily growing. I am now consuming way too much coffee per day so I can work, work, work on catching up. And I'm almost there. Thanks to everyone that still has some faith left in me.

These two were the cutest siblings I had the pleasure to photograph. Jackson was so much fun and really adventurous. He was one big motion blur...such an active kiddo. Lily Kate is as precious as can be, and that little face just kills me! My favorite part is the little dimple in her chin. So sweet. Thanks for waiting on these MM.

Bed Rest

2007-09-10T15:46:00.000-04:00

Jackie has been on bed rest since month five; her little boy wants to join his big sister so badly...a little too soon. But here at 30 weeks, she looked so fantastic and fresh, you would have never guessed what was going on. "If I'm going to be on bed rest, then I'm going to be resting by the pool," she said with a laugh.

This session was so much fun. It was more like a fashion shoot than a maternity session. She had such a cute little belly. I love photographing this family. They are always having fun and it shows in the images. Can't wait to meet your baby boy very soon!

And look at sweet Lucia, she's so big now and even more beautiful than ever!

The Long Awaited

2007-09-09T10:54:00.000-04:00

Sometimes babies are really happy where they are. In Nate's case, it was in Mommy's belly. They were expecting him on a Saturday, but he wanted to hang out there a bit longer. He was such a good, sleepy baby the day that we met. I figure he was doing just that on his due date...sleeping. Here is the little superstar at 13 days old.

I think that first one is my absolute favorite. And who can resist baby feet?

There's a Boy in There

2007-09-07T20:11:00.000-04:00

Her second one. And at 37 weeks VL made pregnancy look effortless. She was beautiful and totally comfortable in her own skin--and it showed. That made it really hard to decide what to preview here. All of the images we took were awesome. See for yourself.

Day 6

2007-09-05T20:26:00.000-04:00

It never gets old photographing newborns. Its the details that makes me swoon. Their tiny fingernails, the wrinkly skin, the little sighs they make while sleeping. Its all so amazing.

CB called me to schedule a newborn session that day and got my voicemail. It turned out I was just leaving another shoot and was just around the corner. I thought about scheduling her for the week after, but then I realized he would likely be huge by then. I wasn't there for very long, but that was all it took.

This is Max on his 6th day of life.

Working on It

2007-09-04T01:51:00.000-04:00

I have been extremely busy working hard on all of the sessions from the GO_Kids Group and the HKG and EMG. Thank you so very much for giving me this opportunity and for welcoming me into your home to capture your lives. I have had the best time working with everyone.

Just to let you know, I am working up session albums to post online for viewing and ordering. I will have them done soon and I hope that your sneak previews will hold you over until then.

Thanks for your patience and understanding. And if you would like to take my two kids off my hands at any time, please feel free to stop by. ;)

The Performer

2007-09-04T01:21:00.000-04:00

I don't think I've had a more eventful newborn session than when I was photographing JC. They call him Jack, and not only was he a beautiful baby boy, but he was a performer for the camera! This kid is going to be my little ham, I just know it. I will spare you all of the details, but let's just say watch out for diaper-less boys. They too can cause trouble.

My two favorites are the black and whites. I love Daddy's hands holding him. And his eyelashes just kill me!

"I'm Due Today"

2007-09-04T01:06:00.000-04:00

Oh my! RPD was due the day we did her shoot. What a trooper she was. I totally remember how I felt at the end of my pregnancies, and she was amazing! Never complained about me posing her and she didn't even huff and puff up the stairs (that was me). Did I mention how radiant she was to boot? What a perfectly shaped belly.

Thankfully she didn't deliver during our shoot, or it would've been an awesome birth session instead of just a maternity session. (I'll do one of those some day.) But let me tell you, I was a little nervous because of it.

They had a little girl to round out their family of four. I know she's gorgeous; I will be meeting her soon. I can't wait!

Jingle Bells Rock!

2007-09-02T00:35:00.000-04:00

Ok, I know its only September, but it is now offically FALL...YAY! If you haven't already started thinking about the holidays, you should.

I am now accepting bookings for Holiday Sessions. These sessions are super popular and book fast. Why the Holiday Session?

1. Not your run-of-the-mill holiday cards.
2. Photos are some of the best gifts to give.
3. There is no better excuse to take a family portrait.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture. (Ha! I'm so funny!)

Maternity/Newborn clients don't get lost in the shuffle! Please contact me prior to your baby's arrival so I we can schedule a mini-session for the little one.

PLEASE NOTE: You love your family, I love mine too. And because I'd like to spend some time with them this year, I will NOT accept any client shoots after November 11th. Also, all holiday card orders must be in by November 24th to get them by the first week of December. Should you have any questions about cut-off dates, please email me at jayne@jaynemaltbie.com.

More to details to come on Holiday Cards and new samples for 2007.

A Good Book

2007-09-02T00:26:00.000-04:00

Meet the K family. There's nothing like a good Dr. Seuss anthology to bring a family together. At the end of a fun and playful session, they settled in a chair to read Horton Hears a Who. It's really nice to see a family that is really close like these guys. The kids were a blast; Katherine is 2 and Christopher is 4. Mom and Dad were great sports.

Christopher has such an exuberant personality. He was full of boundless energy and was so curious about my camera (Mom says he loves all things electronic). He actually took a few pictures with it, which turned out pretty good. We seem to have a budding photographer on our hands.

Katherine is such a sweet girl. Though it took a while to warm her up, when she finally got that smile going, she just sparkled. We had a blast singing the theme to Wonderpets (yes, I know all the words) and hiding from Christopher.

I have so many images from this shoot. Guys, thanks for waiting for these. I hope you enjoy them.

Tyler

2007-09-02T00:20:00.001-04:00

I love that name. And the baby to go with it was just about perfect. He had the most spiky head of red hair I have ever seen. It was too adorable. Here he is at 3 1/2 weeks old, a great sleeper. Congrats to the family on thier new addition.

End of Summer Clearance

2007-09-02T00:13:00.000-04:00

Well, its time to clean up around here to make room for the upcoming 2007 Holiday Sessions. So if you missed out on any photos from any 2006 session, now is the time to get them.

Any 2006 session orders placed until November 1st will be discounted at 60% off current prices. Get them now or lose them forever. FYI, if you are looking for your old web album, I have moved them to a different location. Email me (jayne@jaynemaltbie.com) and I will tell you where to find them.

Generations

2007-08-27T19:55:00.000-04:00

I was given the opportunity to photograph generations of a family coming together. It was very cool.

Grandpa got to meet his grandson for the first time and the older grand kids came to visit Houston and see Grandma. And my newborn LM has grown so big. He's such a beautiful baby! I can't wait to see him again.

This family was such a pleasure to shoot. They are always fun and the nicest bunch of people. I had the best time photographing this rare moment together.

Family Love

2007-08-25T20:38:00.000-04:00

My model baby is almost all grown! I first shot AGU when he was about 7 months old, and he was such a ham in front of the camera. He was so great, I used him for some of my product samples. Can't believe how big he is now; they grow so fast.

We also did a family session for his grandparent's 40th anniversary. They are such a lovely couple, you can tell they are still very much in love. All the siblings got together in a reunion of sorts and it was fun to see their whole family dynamic in action.

Momma Mia

2007-08-08T02:16:00.000-04:00

LC was just absolutely radiant during her pregnancy! Here she is about 34 weeks and was so much fun to work with. Can't wait to meet her baby boy.

Little Ballerinas

2007-07-27T11:48:00.000-04:00

Well, the summer session for toddler dance has finally ended. Em had so much fun and it was great meeting all of the moms. I shot a few images of the final class. Not really a recital, but we got to watch. Of course my kid was the one that was just sitting there. Go figure. See you guys in the fall!

To view the entire album larger and order photos, click the circle logo in the bottom right hand of the screen, then click on the name of the album, Claire's School of Dance. Enjoy.

Pity Your Children

2007-07-23T00:14:00.000-04:00

I was tipped of by a good friend that there was a new nasal aspirator on the market. She told me this after her hearing me pin down and torture my 8-month-old while trying to suck the snot out of her tiny little nose. I hate it when babies are sick.

So I searched around and found it. I think I just might buy it. I know it sounds gross at first, but I figure as much time as I spend with vomit in my hair or my hands dirty with poop its not that far-fetched of an idea after all. It's called NoseFrida from Sweden (first Ikea, now this, gotta love them!) and its more than a "hands on" process.

Yes, that's right. Different from traditional nasal aspirators, or booger suckers as I lovingly refer to them, this one doesn't utilize the hand pump, but a mouth suction. Nasty. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good testimonial.

In other baby-related topics, I stumbled across this helpful site for expecting moms in need of some baby name ideas. Its called BABY'S NAMED A BAD, BAD THING. The author Diane Goodman is an editor and freelance writer in San Francisco with this sense of humor not unlike my own. She has compiled "a catalog of naming questions and suggestions posted on several different baby naming (message) boards."

She also comments on them, which is the fun part. Here is an excerpt from her site:

"I've suggested to my sister that she name her little girl to be - Manchester. She's not sure about it but she's considering. What do you think? [Diane's response] Clever. Like being named Pittsburg or Schenectady. Kid'll grow up to be beaten to death by Liverpool fans."

I just think its amusing. But then again, I may just be easily amused. Judge for yourself.

New Bloom

2007-07-12T02:17:00.000-04:00

This is AKH at almost 6 weeks old. I love this baby. She is such a pretty girl. She loved being swaddled for her naps and had the most perfect little sleepy-baby face. And when she awoke she had a sweet personality to match. Until she had enough of being a model. That crying face is so cute! Reminds me of my own kids. This was such a fun shoot. Thanks for your patience.

Dance Class

2007-07-01T12:17:00.000-04:00

I videotaped Em's dance class. What an undertaking video editing can be! I think I'll stick with stills.

Part 1: Stretching--Em's the one wearing pink in the front with pigtails. Harlow is in black on the left.

Part 2: Warming Up...my favorite part

Part 3: Solo Performances

Part 4: Group Dance

Part 5: End of class and getting stickers for a job well done. The idea is that each child takes turns jumping over the carpet squares to receive their stickers. Apparently this is a challenge for a toddler.

If you would like a copy of the full video, please contact me.

Old School

2007-06-24T12:24:00.000-04:00

Woo! It's been a while since I posted anything here. It's been ridiculously busy. I was going through some old files and came across this long forgotten video of Em when she was only a year old. Its really funny. I was trying to get her to point to her eyes and nose. She was watching herself on the video camera while taping.

I hope you get a kick out of it.

Emmy Video 1 year

Fresh

2007-05-12T19:31:00.000-04:00

Meet LM...a day shy of one month old. He was so good; he didn't even mind being naked for the duration of the session. Plus he really knew how to work the camera...after he woke up, of course. I can tell he's just going to be a little ham when he gets older. I love these in black and white, especially the sleepy ones. Sleepy as a new little baby should be.

That first one is my fave.

Snuggling in Grandma's arms.

And one in color. Hope these were worth the wait.

Happy Mother's Day!

Twinkies

2007-05-11T10:30:00.000-04:00

Look at this. Tell me they look nothing alike.

Just finished their slideshow. View it here.

Up, Up and Away

2007-05-11T02:45:00.000-04:00

I'll call him flyboy because that is what he loves to do best. His Mom picked him up and swung him around the room and he loved it so much.

This was a really great session. Thanks to the family for allowing me to document them in my way. I appreciate it. I have so many posted here as I really loved them all! Hope you enjoy them too. He has this one perfect little drop of drool right at the bottom of his chin. AH! Love that!

This is a great series...a family at play.

Teething?

How sweet is this little guy? What a happy baby.

TV Addict

2007-05-04T01:10:00.000-04:00

I just finished watching yesterday's episode of Lost. Can I just say how glad I am that it's finally coming together! I was so dissapointed with the show since the season began. It was so slow and the episodes seemed to have no point whatsoever. I just can't help comparing it to Heroes. Somehow I get a greater sense of fulfilment when my Monday night hour ends vs. Lost nights.

Anyhow, I don't know where I find the time, but I am really a TV addict. Mainly to my shows...Housewives, Lost, Heroes, Grey's, Betty and most recently Notes from the Underbelly. Now that is a funny show. A little over the top of course, but its still funny to watch and relate to.

Now 24, I just can't get into. Sorry, but I am the biggest Kiefer Sutherland fan ever (it started at a very early age with a giant, life-sized movie poster of The Lost Boys on my bedroom wall), but that show is just way, way, too far fetched for me. I try every season, but I just can't get into it.

I also take in the occassional Crossing Jordan, ER, CSI and Law and Order from time to time, but nothing beats a good episode of Grey's. Just a bunch of psycho, horny doctors...what fun. There are many more shows I watch, I'm sure I forgot a few.

Anyhow, I also have to make note that I have both Tivo and the DVR from the cable company, and Tivo just rocks, hands down. So much more user friendly and does so many other cool things. It's latest trick is to play images and slideshows from your online photo album account. So I can get my pictures on the tv while I lay in bed. Ha! Brilliant! Just what will they think of next?

Who's Your Daddy (and Mommy)?

2007-05-02T14:08:00.000-04:00

I was looking at a few photos of my kids the other day and thought how nice it would be to have some pictures of me with them. I'm sure there are lots of moms (and dads) out there who feel the same way I do...always behind the camera and never in any pictures. It's pretty sad.

To celebrate Mother's Day (and Father's Day), I will be offering 10% off a la carte print pricing for all sessions booked through June 30th. I figured since I started late, I might as well keep it going for a while. Better late than never, right?

So grab your little ones and let's get shooting. Oh, and if anyone wants to take a picture of me with my babies, please feel free. You should see how crazy our self-portraits are!

The Newborn Gallery

2007-04-26T12:47:00.000-04:00

As I've mentioned to everyone, I have had issues with updating my website. One of these days I will get it down.

In the meantime, I have created a small gallery of my most recent newborn images and birth announcements. I am currently looking for newborn multiples to photograph for my portfolio, so if you know anyone, please tell them to contact me. I classify "newborns" as babies under the age of 1 month...preferably less than 15 days old.

You can access the gallery here. Please use the arrow keys to advance the images...it makes for nicer viewing. Thanks to my model babies in the gallery! Enjoy.

Porcelain Doll

2007-04-19T00:06:00.000-04:00

Here is a "Sneak Peek" at little Miss A's recent photo session. She was such a doll and awesome to work with. What a beautiful family!

I am working my way through countless proofs and selecting the best ones. Almost ready to post the entire session online, but first here are a few of my favorites off the top of the heap. Trust me, it was hard to choose.

The red dress is one of my favorites. It amazes me how much she looks like a little collectible baby doll with perfect porcelain skin.

Last Three

2007-04-18T19:07:00.000-04:00

It was very hard to decide, but I narrowed it down to just one favorite image from the three sessions last month.

This is K at 6 months old, my little model. I also shot her one month portraits and my how she has grown.

This one is Kat at 10 days old. I love newborns, they are usually so sweet and sleepy...except for fiesty Kat.

JP is such an adventurous boy! He was so active and curious. A pleasure to photograph.

The Easter Dress

2007-04-18T12:31:00.000-04:00

Em was determined to have a fashion show featuring her new Easter dress...

and the shoes to match.

Ok, now what?

2007-04-18T01:44:00.000-04:00

So I've folded all the laundry. Hard to believe, but the thing I hate worst about doing the laundry is putting it away. Is that weird? I don't mind the washing, I actually like the folding part, but its the putting it away that really kills me. Hate it. Much to my husband's dismay, he ends up putting it away. And whines the entire time...ha ha.

Anyhow, I digress. Notice how I have started blogging like the rest of the world. Trust me, I have resisted it to the best of my ability, but they got to me...darned bloggers! I suck at blogging. I've tried it once before and ended up posting like once a year. Sad, but true. So, let me start by outlining the purpose of this blog:

1. As part of my photography business, I will post regarding general information, new products, sneak peaks and other stuff for clients.

2. Hmmm...this seems to be a great place to chronicle mommy-hood. Plus my Dad keeps bugging me for more pics of the kids..."Ok, Dad!"

3. I love a good challenge...well, ok not really, but I'll try to keep up with this. Its good for me..like a mental exercise. It should be fun, right?

Note to self: watching Leno while blogging does not work. Ok, I'll stop now. See, I told you I sucked at blogging.