Just Released: Magical Maternity Artwork

I interview a lot of beautiful women every week, some of them happen to be expecting and are so excited for the next chapter of their lives.  When I ask them how they feel about their pregnancy, usually the first thing I hear is:  "I hate how I look."

My reaction is:  "Let me show you how very radiant and beautiful you ARE."  For when I see a woman, in her maternal glow, blossoming with child, even with her uneven gait, I see a woman with secret dreams of holding her sweet newborn, blissful, and filled with joy.

The smile that plays upon her lips, when you know she's thinking about the babe who is growing within her.

Her hands that unconsciously touch and hold her belly every chance she gets.

The tired but satisfied sigh she gives when she sits down to put her feet up at the end of the day.

Her hair that has grown and has increased in strength and shine due to her pre-natal vitamins.

Her peaceful glow that just emanates from her, and lights up the room.  It is tantalizing and contagious, causing all who love her to gather 'round to feel the baby kick.

That's just some of the beauty which I see.

Let me help you see it.

When I spoke with Lauren about her session, I knew that we were a perfect fit.  She drank her water from the same type of water bottle that I do, AND she loves blue hydrangeas!

I had the opportunity to speak with both her and her husband and they were so excited to have their sweet baby.  He spoke of his love for his wife and unborn child.  Tomorrow or the next day, they will get to meet their sweet girl.  Finally.

This baby has two siblings already, Sadie the Yellow Lab and Bandit, the sweetest little black lab mix EVER.  She will be protected by these two and I can foresee a lot of playtime in the future.

As we planned her session, I had the most incredible vision, and I told her about it. I suggested making a maternity gown that resembled a blue hydrangea blossom.  She said:  "It sounds magical!"

Here are some of the four of them together.

Bandit and Sadie

Mom and Dad

The rest of the blue Hydrangea set.

Just incredibly beautiful.

Thank you so much for asking me to photograph your family.  I can't wait to meet your baby!

First Family Portrait Session

I'm adding MORE sessions! WOW!!!

The $100 Anniversary Special has been so incredibly popular, that I'm adding 5 more sessions for this month.
It's a half hour studio session for up to 3 people, and you get 4 images!  Four of them!  This is a great deal for maternity sessions, and one-year-old sessions, and if your baby gets his first tooth, or if your daughter loses her first tooth...!  The possibilities are ENDLESS.  Oh, you can also do a TEDDY BEAR session for this as well.  AWESOME.

Coming up REALLY soon is my "STAR SPANGLED SESSION".  I am creating the set in the next two days and I am conducting a Casting Call.  I'm looking for one little boy between 3 and 5, and one little girl, same age range, to model for me and receive the session for free PLUS 2 images each.  If you are interested, please call me asap; I need to do these sessions and have them back to the families in time for Independence Day.  I'll be offering the session, actually, between June 25 and July 2.

The "STAR SPANGLED SESSION" is categorized as a Seasonal Session, and will follow the pricing guide as such.  Sessions for up to 3 children is $40 and includes a beautiful 5x7 portrait, as my gift to you.  The best ages for this session are ages 6 months to 7 years.  I will post the pricing guide for this when I make the official announcement.

Please remember that specials cannot be combined.  These sessions are one per family and scheduling is subject to availability.

Time is running out!

Time, indeed, is running out!

If you wanted to enter your child into the Cute Kids Contest, now's the time to do it!

Last day to enter is June 14, one week from today!

First Anniversary Family Photo Session Auction Celebration!

It's so exciting!

This is how we celebrate our upcoming 1 year anniversary of officially celebrating in the Bowie, MD area.

Starting in May, we will be having a few auctions on sessions for the month of June to help us help YOU celebrate family!

What?

Yes.

A few years ago, when we were in Anchorage, I actually did a few auctions through Facebook when it was still legal.  I haven't done any since because, well, 1) we've moved a few times since 2010, and 2) Facebook no longer allowed auctions without the use of an app.  

Now that we are in a great area with wonderful clients who are spreading the word about HBP, I'm ready to start my first Auction in May.  I also want everyone to see my awesome new website, so this is how it'll go.

I will be announcing dates and times for the auctions really soon.  It's really important that you arrange to be here virutally, as I'll be doing it on my blog.  I'll probably do 3 sessions per auction, several times a week.

Each session will be started at a lowered price.  It may be for a studio session, or for an on-location session for families.  It might be for a pin-up session or Blanc Boudoir session.  It might even include product.  I'll be sending out the information in the monthly newsletter and weekly updates soon.

Bids will be accepted in $10 or $20 increments and will last for 5 minutes each.  Bidding will take place here on my blog.  When the time is up, the person with the highest bid will win that particular session, and I'll be contacting said person right after to take payment and set the date and time.  Please note that this will be a non-refundable purchase and if you need to reschedule, you'll be able to reschedule only once.

All of the rules and regulations will be posted soon.

Who's excited to win an auction???

Spring and Easter Portraits with Baby Animals

Spring has sprung at Honey Bee Photography!

We have baby bunnies and chicks bouncing around the studio, nibbling on carrots and feed.

OK, maybe not really, but  don't they look like they are about to jump in on the fun?

These animals aren't real!

Did you know that photographers who use live animals for props this time of year need to have a licensed handler from the SPCA to ensure that no animal gets injured or hurt, or hurts a human?  Safety is the number one prerogative in my studio.

That's why I invested in these gorgeous life-like stuffed animals.  They look so real and they are very lovely and touchable.  For those concerned, yes, the bunnies are made with real fur, but they were used first for meat, and then for taxidermy purposes.  I made sure of that when I invested in these guys.

Please visit my Living Social deal and save!  This is the only place where you can get this fabulous price and there are only 12 Chicks 'n' Bunnies sessions left.

Are you interested in further purchases?  Here's the Pricing Guide:

Packages:  We offer packages to help you get started on your purchase.  If you would like to add on to your package, you are able to do that.  Our packages start at $59.00, so they are affordable.  They come from the Nobility Line pricing, which is full retouching, but your portraits are not sprayed nor mounted for enlargements.  If you would like to add mounting or spray, please see below for details.

Collection A (one image)
1-8x10 and 8 wallets $59.00 ($17 in savings)

Collection B (2 images)
1-8x10, 2-5x7s, 2-4x6s $99.00 ($49 in savings)

Collection C (4 images)
1-11x14, 2-8x10s, 2-4x6s and 8 wallets $139.00 ($85 in savings)

Collection D (6 images)
1-11x14, 1-8x10, 2-5x7s, and 6-4x6s $189.00 ($119 in savings)

Add-ons

1 sheet of 8 wallets   $30
1-4x6 portrait   $20
1-5x7 portrait    $23
1-8x10 portrait  $30
1-11x14 portrait $45

These add-ons are fully retouched, printed on luster paper, but no spray for longevity nor mounting for stability are included. 

If you would like to have your portraits sprayed/mounted, please see the following:

To add on spray for 8 wallets: $10 extra
To add on spray for a 4x6:  $5 extra
To add on spray for a 5x7:  $5 extra
To add on spray for an 8x10:  $10 extra
To add on spray and mount for 11x14:  $20 extra

As always, sessions at Honey Bee Photography are guaranteed.  If you don't absolutely love your images that you see at your Premiere Viewing, I will cheerfully refund your session fee and give you an 8x10 portrait, completely free, of your favorite image.  

Questions?  Comments?  Please comment below, and then go to Living Social to pick up one of these for your children, or call 240-245-0416 for more details.

It's March! Spring is just around the corner!

Can you believe it's March already?  Spring is just around the corner and it's time to get out in the yard and spruce everything up! Barnyard babies are being born and new life is being celebrated with oohs and ahhs.  Delight appears in every corner of the yard and garden while bushes and trees begin to bud.  It's a time of renewal and rejuvenation.  I love that about March.

Spring Portraits are on everyone's mind these days!  With that, I have a fantastic Spring Special that is perfect for your children.  March 22-April 5 is time for Chicks 'n' Bunnies.  Your children will be delighted to play in my studio with realistic chicks and bunnies while I photograph them in a 20 minute session.  You'll get to see your images right away to make your order.  For more details, please click here.

As you can see, I've changed my logo for HBP.  I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.  You are welcome to comment below.  That's just one of many things that I've spruced up for this year.  I've created a brand new Pricing Guide, and have produced four levels of service from which to choose.  You could say that I've been bitten by the Spring Cleaning bug.  Or bee. You know what I mean.

Speaking of Spring Cleaning, here is a GREAT site that shares wonderful tips for deep-cleaning your kitchen.  Having a well-organized kitchen that is easy to keep clean is such a time saver. I thought that I knew about a bunch of tips, but some of these are ones of which I never knew.  If you are overwhelmed by the thought of doing that much cleaning, call my friend Eddie from Lila Sparkle, LLC.  His website is here.  Eddie and his staff are friendly, prompt and fantastic at what they do! Your home will sparkle!

In this newsletter, you'll see a great article about my friend, Jodi Schulman, Massage Therapist, whom I like to think of as a Massage Artist.  She owns Galaxy Massage, where your massage is "out of this world".  Here is an article about her, complete with photographs of her giving a massage.  She does a fantastic job, and her clients leave with such a relaxed demeanor.  One of her clients recently commented, "Jodi's touch is firm and warm.  Touch is very important to me, and I felt really warm and relaxed after my massage."  What a great testimonial!