Monthly Archives: April 2015

Ulseth | life&love Family Session

I’ve known the Ulseth Family for about 7 years now & it was a very special time that I got to spend with them just a couple weeks ago. I arrived at their house & immediately felt AT HOME. We played outside, hungout, played games, talked & I got to hear many fun stories about their life. Debbie & I had talked about me capturing on camera different activities their family enjoys doing together & we did just that!

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I always enjoy getting to know my clients through the process of preparing & having their session. I LOVED getting to know Debbie even better as we had several phone dates & exchanged emails. I was looking forward to their session because I knew I’d have the chance to be around Debbie. She’s a beautiful, strong woman who loves the Lord so much. And all that pours into how she loves her husband & teachers her children. She’s just amazing.

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One of their favorite family games is Moose Farkel!

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If you know the Ulseth Family, you know how important music & singing & ministering to people is important to them. My VERY favorite part of our session together was getting to watch & listen as they sang together around the piano. The love & strength this family has just filled the house as did their tight harmonies & beautiful music.

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Mark & Debbie & kids, I really enjoyed hanging out with you guys! I felt like was I was spending time with family! I enjoyed every story & every laugh we shared together. Your family’s heart to be a blessing & reach out to people touched my heart & made me look at my own heart & actions. It’s amazing & wonderful to see how the Lord uses your family. May He continue to bless & pour favor on you all! LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

PS Be on the lookout for a special interview soon coming with Elizabeth Ulseth!!!

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Sibling Mini Sessions

Here’s a few of my favorites from the Sibling Mini Sessions we had a couple Saturdays ago! I was excited to introduce this new Mini Session theme to the list for 2015. My relationship with my siblings is something & cherish! And it was super fun to see these 3 sibling sets interact!

Brotherly love 🙂 🙂

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E&H | Sibling Mini Session-4

She’s seriously SUCH  a great big sister!

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These two cracked me up!

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For the list of the Mini Sessions I’ll be having in 2015, click HERE!

Scheduling a Newborn Session

Sharpe | www.nomi-photography.com-1I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again. I want to photograph ALL THE BABIES 🙂

Every momma has a list of things they need to get done. Especially when a new baby is coming to the family. While having a Newborn Photo Session with the newest little is always a want, it doesn’t always get to happen. Whether it’s because mommy & daddy didn’t know who to work with, or the timing of when to have the pictures or even if they have the time for pictures, all these things on top of other reasons can make scheduling a Newborn Session confusing.

That’s what this blog post is about. I’m going to clear the confusion for you by answering those questions including others such as “When should I schedule my baby’s first photo session? I’m not due for 6 months, should I still get that figured out?” “We have other kids we’d like to incorporate into the session, is that possible?”

So start off, first things first. You’re expecting- HOW EXCITING! Please know I am over the MOON excited for you & that I will strive to make this process of scheduling your new baby’s FIRST ever photo session.

1) Once you know you’re expecting & have a due date, that’s really all you need in order to schedule your session with Nomi Photography! As a photographer, I’m oftentimes am scheduling sessions MONTHS in advance & if you would like me to capture your newest addition in their first couple of days, all you need to do is email me at naomi@nomi-photography.com. Once you email me, we will more then likely setup a phone date to chat & get to know each other.

2) I HIGHLY recommend having your baby’s pictures done within the first 3-10 days of their life. Why? Labor side effects (like skin spots & their head shape) have diminished but they are still all ready to curl up & be all cuddly as if they were still in the womb :). (Day 9-12 of their life they’ve already begun developing muscles & are *tear* already growing up just way too fast!)

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3) So we will look at your due date & I will put that specific date on my calendar. Now I’ll be in touch with you during your pregnancy as you get closer to your due date just to see how you’re doing & if there are any changes. Once Baby comes, I will send you an email that says something along the lines of this: “Hey Mama-CONGRATULATIONS! You have just delivered a beautiful, precious baby & I am here ready to go! Here are the times within the next 3-10 days that I am available to come over & capture your little one. You do NOT need to answer me back right at this moment. I just want you to know I’m here, I’m aware Baby has arrived & just let me know at your earliest convenience that I am SOOOO EXCITED to come see you & meet your precious new bundle of love!”

4) We then work out a time that I can come over to meet your new little one & I count down the days until I’m able to meet your Baby 🙂

And ta-da! We’re ALL SET!

That’s IT? you may be asking. That’s it 🙂 Through the process of us getting to know each other, I’ve already talked to you about outfits, the best times of day to have the session & a few other little things.

I simple ADORE newborn sessions at my client’s homes. Your house DOES NOT have to look like a Martha Stewart magazine. All we need are windows & the right time of day for lighting to hit those windows. Some mommas get nervous about their home being perfect & please don’t be. I get more into that during the process I go through with my clients, but all I ask for is your bed to be made & windows. Seriously. If I see anything during the session that needs to be moved, I’ll move it. If you need to move to a different area of the house, I’ll move you. That’s my job 🙂 Besides, you just gave birth to a little one & if you’re making your house look all perfect instead of cuddling the newest addition to your family, I may just scold you a bit 😉

Sharpe | www.nomi-photography.com-4The benefits to having a session in your own home are endless. ESPECIALLY when you have a new little one. Why worry about lugging everyone to a location that’s not your home when I can come STRAIGHT to you? Besides, you cuddling your Baby where you do life & love is just priceless.

I allow 2 hours for each Newborn Session. Most take an hour & fifteen minutes. I simply LOVE incorporating other members of the family. Obviously, daddy is a must & the other siblings are always a joy to capture as they are getting to know their newest family member. (And please, someone invite the grandparents to the session as well! I would LOVE to capture them with Baby as well!)

Sharpe | www.nomi-photography.com-3So if you’re expecting, please go right up to Step 1 & email me. Let’s work together to capture the very first days of your Baby’s life <3 Because why? Because I want to photograph ALL the babies 😉 (Yep, there it is, I said it again! ;-))

PS If you’re interested, click HERE to view all the details regarding my Maternity+Newborn Session Package that is here for 2015!

 

Lucas | Senior Session

Lucas, Lucas 😉

About 6 years ago, I was a youth leader at my church (First Assembly of God) & Lucas was just coming into the youth group. I actually thought about going back through the photo’s I took of when I was a youth leader at the youth group & try to find some embarrassing picture of Lucas buuuttttt I decided against it 😉 Not even sure if I have any actually! 🙂 Just teasing you Lucas!

But we sure did get some good pictures the other night!

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Lucas doing what his sister calls his funny face on the left 😉 & then laughing about her reaction on the right 😉

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If you know Lucas, you know that he likes to goof off & have a good time 😉

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This one should be an ad for Hollister or someplace!

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And my fav!

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Lucas, you’re a good guy. You’ve got a whole new season of life coming up here pretty soon. I pray that you will keep the Lord as your focus & He will make your paths straight. You’re amazing Lucas!!!

Norris | Family Session

The Norris family is just plain fun! Lucas is just weeks away really from graduating from high school & Bailey is on her way to completing college not too long from now. Fun, new things on the way!

We met up a couple weeks ago to have a family session & I enjoyed exploring the area where they live. (Special thank you to their neighbors who let us come on their property!)

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What’s cool to me, is that even though this family is busy & has some big events on the horizon, they MADE TIME for a photo session. A session that will forever capture this time, this season they are in. I could not have been more honored to be there & capture them.

Love these two pictures!

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I told these two to pretend they were annoyed with each other 😉 I think they did pretty well haha Course Bailey started to crack up though since Lucas is a little TOO good at it 😉   Norris | www.nomi-photography.com-21   Norris | www.nomi-photography.com-20

Don’t let them fool you! They like each other 😉

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If you come back to the blog tomorrow, you’ll see the senior pictures we did with Lucas!

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She’s such a pretty girl 🙂 Inside & out! Bailey gives a lot of her time to help others & recently got back from a missions trip to Taiwan!

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Thank you Norris Family for asking me to come hangout with you!!!!! I can’t believe we’ve known each other for so many years now! I’m excited for the Lord has for the Bailey & Lucas in the future & I know they’re thankful they have such strong supporting parents!

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Norris | life&love Family Session

I don’t even know how to form the words for this blog post.

See, these pictures, this particular session, this Saturday morning I got to spend with a very special family just HAS MY HEART. If this blog post had a subtitle it would be “That Time a Session Left Me Speechless”. I’m serious (which if you know me doesn’t happen very often 😉 ).

But this session has done that. This session has EVERYTHING I want Nomi Photography to be about. To capture where LIFE & LOVE happen. Sessions right in the homes of my clients. Sessions where REAL moments happen. Whether we’re spending time outside or inside REAL moments is where it’s at for me folks.

Lynne & I chatted on the phone about their life&love Family Session that would be in their home. We discussed how having their family doing a couple activities that their family does on a regular basis would really CAPTURE their family. I seriously was SO looking forward to hanging out with the Norris Family!

So I’m going to be brief & really just let the photo’s speak for themselves. And they do. They really do. You’ll see love written all over the faces of Lynne & Brad’s faces as they interact & spend a memorable Saturday morning with their two littles (with another one on the way!).

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One of the things Lynne was really excited about me capturing was the kids reactions to the “magic tricks” their daddy performs for them. I tell you it was SOOOO fun seeing their reactions! They’ve got a pretty talented daddy 😉 Look at how excited they are! I see not only joy in their eyes but love for their daddy.

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I LOVE that you can see not only the kids expressions in these two pictures but their daddy’s as well!

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Lynne & Brad, you guys ROCK. The way you love & lead your family with love & patience is just plain amazing. I’m huge Norris Family fans. Please let me come hangout again sometime 🙂 Love you guys!

View more at www.facebook.com/youweremadetosmile.

Amanda | Portrait

Today’s post is all about the birthday girl Amanda 🙂

I met Amanda 3 years ago at a retreat for Pastors Kids (PK). There was a little “store” that the PK’s could purchase snacks & small little souvenirs that I was helping out at & Amanda had her eye on several of the little stuffed animals there. Little did I know that a little over a year later, she & her entire family would be moving to Bloomington-Normal & that her dad would become one of my  boss’s while I worked at First Assembly.

I was really looking forward to spending one on one time with Amanda & taking pictures of her! We had a beautiful sunny Saturday, probably the first really warm one of the year & I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Amanda.

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We walked around Uptown Normal & talked. Amanda was a good sport & laughed at all my corny jokes 😉 And I got to hear about all her plans for her birthday party she was planning & the art piece she was entering into a festival.

(I think she’s laughing at one of my silly jokes here 😉 )

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If you know Amanda, you know she loves her Converse shoes!

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She’s such a beautiful young lady.

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Amanda also loves running. I asked her to show me how she looks right before it’s time to speed off 🙂

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You’re a beautiful & talented young woman Amanda. I know the Lord has special plans for you. I hope you have a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY & that this year is full of fun, adventure & God surprises 🙂

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Roberson | Anniversary Session

She was just too cute.

I remember smiling ear to ear while Leah Roberson & I chatted for the first time. Her friend Elizabeth (thank you Elizabeth!!!!!!) had referred her to me & Leah excitedly told me during our phone date that her & her husband Jonathan were celebrating ONE YEAR of marriage!!! And they wanted me to spend time with them & do an anniversary photo session!!!

The more I talked to Leah, the more excited I became! I remember when Eric & I reached the one year mark. It was SO exciting! And wonderful to look to see what the Lord had done & brought us through together, as a married couple. I couldn’t wait to get Leah & Jonathan behind my camera & remember, if even for a brief amount of time, this milestone in their marriage.

Roberson | Anniversary Session www.nomi-photography.com-14

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Leah & looked forward to meeting her & Jonathan face to face. Leah & I share many things in common including being pastor kids, we’re both nanny’s & have curly hair 🙂 Leah & Jonathan requested that their session be at a favorite park of mine & I was totally thrilled when they wanted to incorporate their dog Murphy!

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It was a SUPER cold evening, but that made all the more reason to have them cuddle & snuggle close which they had no problem doing 😉

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Probably some of my favorite moments with Leah & Jonathan was just being able to watch them laugh & be goofy together.

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Leah brought the cutest little chalkboard with a saying written on it. I believe this perfectly describes the season of life that they are in!

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You’re so beautiful Leah.

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And every time you laugh, I know he falls more in love with you.

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Two pastor kids that met & fell in love at Bible college & now together they’re following the Lord & loving each other as husband & wife. I totally agree with your chosen phrase Leah, “One Year Down, a Lifetime to Go!” And I pray the Lord will bless you two with many, many more years!

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