peace & love

Peace & love in the New Year to one & all!

three's company

Christmas in the Park

This was a great holiday shoot in downtown San Jose.  We walked around Christmas in the Park together.  Then when the sun went down headed into the Fairmont Hotel for some warmth and shots with the gingerbread house and life size chocolate nutcrackers!

I absolutely love how the gingerbread house is captured in the background of this portrait.  Really gives you the feeling of Christmas.

baby love

Here are some great loving baby bump shots from today's maternity shoot in Palo Alto

little hams in the rain

Yesterdays shoot at Coyote Hills Park was especially great for two reasons: 1) the rain stopped while we shooting and ONLY then 2) these two adorable little hams, Freddy & Naomi - they were great subjects and they loved the camera!

he's a little dream

Meet Elijah!  He was exactly two weeks old yesterday when we did his newborn shoot and he was an absolute dream!

Fall Fun

This is a fun collection of images I wanted to share from last weeks shoot down by the Hudson River in Garrison, NY of my adorable niece and nephews.  (As well as their cat who I am so painfully allergic too I actually had a 'bout with allergic conjunctivitis! It was even less fun than it sounds!)

How much do you love their initial sweaters?! (L-R: Emmett, Mira, Jasper & Henry)

Happy Halloween!!

Some fun shots from the shoot on Monday - getting in the spooky spirit.  Going up late though thanks to the really spooky lack of power out here in NY, where I am to see family and celebrate an awesome couples nuptials!

family fun

While it is not always easy getting your four legged friends to pose for a photo...

...it generally is fun...

...and can actually make for some fun candid shots in the process!

I really enjoy the image we got in the end, what do you think?

Wood Transfer

I saw a blog post from photojojo recently for an image transfer to wood.  It is a look that i really enjoy because I feel like it brings it a great earthy and natural feel to the art work.

Here is the original image that I used for this wood transfer. (You may be wondering what the image is of, it is of a purple bell pepper, a shot I did for a friend as a housewarming gift)

• Start with a light wood - I found this great piece for 1.99 on clearance at Michael's, however they also had great canvas style plywood boxes that will make them easier to hang, I'll be using those down the road for sure
• First you paint the ink jet printed image with medium gel (from the acrylic paint section of your art store)
• Then you apply it to your wood piece using something like an old credit card or gift card to smooth out any air bubbles
• Let it dry for 8 hours (I am not always the most patient person when it comes to exciting d.i.y projects so I started mine at night and it was ready to go in the am!)
• Once it has dried completely you wrap a damp towel around the piece so the paper gets soaking wet and then you rub...
• and you rub and rub and rub, then finish with Mod Podge when you have the look you want
• Until finally...you have a great new addition to your home art collection or a great gift for a friend!

wonderful wyoming

Nighttime Landscape

In honor of the amazing meteor we saw flying through the sky on Wednesday, the days growing shorter with Winters impending arrival and the assignment I received from the DPS newsletter I get weekly I took my camera out for an extended exposure last night. The sun hadn't set long before this shot, but it was windy, so the exposure was 25 sec at f2.8 with an iso of 25, but I loved the composition with the moon in the crosshairs of the power lines and the tail lights of the plane flying through the sky.  I hope you enjoy this little exercise as well!

Golden Gate Park Play

I just loved this fence at Golden Gate Park!  

It gave such a great textured background to the image that would otherwise not make such a strong impression. 

Fall is here!

What nature finds have your little ones discovered lately?

Christmas is coming...

be sure you have great family photos for this years holiday card!

Go to www.marybeaphotography.com to schedule or e-mail me at info@marybeaphotography.com

Grabriella, she jumps and she plays!

big little guy

Check out this great Mom & Son shot from yesterday's family photo shoot!

Fall is on its way

With Fall approaching I am thinking more and more about orchards and farms and wanted to share this fun image of cows I took when driving cross-country in Utah.  Enjoy!

Calendar Boy!

I am happy and proud to announce that my photo of Henry, which I submitted to the Children's Eye Foundation Photo Contest has been chosen to be a part of their annual calendar!  More details to come about where this calendar can be purchased and how you can help prevent childhood blindness.  I am truly humbled to have been chosen from amongst the thousands of submissions!

I am missing my little ones these days and thinking about them as they get ready to start school!  How time flies...the oldest is already going into 2nd grade!!  This little munchkin to the right is entering his second year of pre-school.

Can't they just stay small forever?

Cookbook Cooking

We love cooking so much at our house! Even if we don't do it as often as we should...but were getting better!  I just had to share this picture of the collection of cook books we have amassed over the years.

Good Pizza in California

We have learned that if you want really good pizza in California, you have to make it yourself!  The boys built a temporary wood fired pizza oven and we all reaped the benefits of deliciously yummy pizza.  I think the photo can speak for itself here!

Brotherly Love

Going back through some of my older pictures today; I came across this one of my youngest nephew Emmett and my oldest nephew Henry in the background that I have never edited or shared before but totally love!

Smell the Roses

Basking in the glory of my new (f)unemployment I took a walk around the San Jose Rose Garden and snapped a few shots.  It is a gorgeous location to take a walk on a beautiful sunny California afternoon.

Even Dogs Can Play Angry Birds

Noodle Bear takes on Angry Birds

Asian American Fusion

On Friday night we visited the Town restaurant in San Carlos for Dillon's Birthday.  We really enjoyed the Philly Cheesesteak Eggroll appetizer.  So much so that we had so we decided to recreate these delectable little bites for our Memorial Day BBQ yesterday.  Success!!!  Also paired with this amazing raspberry chipotle sauce from Whole Foods, you couldn't have a bad bite!

Mary Bee Photography: Baby Love

Visiting New York this weekend my lens was mainly focused on the little cutie below, my niece Mira.  She is hopefully going to be inspirational imagery for an upcoming venture, a new business called Mary Bee Photography.  Mary Bee Photography will be a new adventure for me and a way for me to share my love for photography and children with the world.  Share this blog post with anyone you might know interested in having great photos of their kiddies.

Movin on Up

Here is a beautiful portrait from this weekends Syracuse University graduation.  

Photographed here are the grad's sister and her boyfriend.  

Below is the grad herself celebrating her big day!

Happy Easter

A beautiful spring sunflower along with homemade dyed Easter egg, inspiration found here.

NoodleBear

Portrait of little Noodle who recently turned 4!