Cookie Magazine Styled by Mom Contest

I love Cookie magazine because it's fun, hip and they put in extra effort when it comes to photography (which of course scores high in my book).   Here's something some of my clients might be interested in:  Cookie magazine and The Children's Place are offering a fun contest (that me and my pint-sized crew are entering too).  You simply send in your child's photo, with them fashionably dressed, and a paragraph on how your fashion sense is reflected in his/her look.  The grand prize winner gets a trip to New York City, a cookie photo shoot, and a $500 gift card.  There are other cool runner up prizes too.   For more info, go to cookiemag.com/go/styledbymom  And if you need someone to photograph your fashion diva or GQ dude for the contest . . . I happen to know a local photographer who specializes in children's portraits.   

Zoee the "Doggee"

I love dogs!  Love 'em.  All kinds of dogs . . . mutts, pure breds, big, small, energetic and lethargic.   We have two rescue doggies (Ginger, the couch eatin' Dal mix and Buddy the Chi-Terrier mix) and sometimes I get to "have over" a client doggie to photograph in the studio.  It's very much like a play date and so much fun for me!!   Yesterday I was able to combine two of my loves (dogs and photography) and we did a session with Miss Zoee.   Now let me tell ya, Zoee is absolutely the funniest little dog I've ever met.  She loves, loves, loves everyone and she has the cutest ears I've ever seen.   Her parents were very nice also and they were oh so helpful in the studio (ya know, dishing out the doggie treats and all).  Zoee is apparently very well loved.  Here is one of my favorite shots of Zoee in her bumble bee suit.  

Free Stuff for Mothers/Fathers Day

So the parental holidays are upon us and we are all thinking what do I get mom and dad.  Or in many cases the thoughts turn inward . . . what demands do I make of my mate or children on this day that I should be honored.  Well don't give it another thought, because everyone (including you) wants adorable photos of the people they love.   So to help out all my clients and future clients, I'm running a fun promotion.  If you book a session between now and May 31st  or buy a gift card for a session, you get a free slide show!!!  Yep, a fun, fast moving slide show  set to music and one you can post on facebook or your blog to share with all your friends.  Now aren't portraits a lot better than flowers or a new tie.  Of course they are. 

Fishing Derby

I have to admit that I'm not much of a fisherman and neither is my husband.  We grew up in big cities where fish is served to you on a plate and you don't have any idea how it got from  flipping around in the water to grilled with a mango relish.  But somehow, we created a child who lives and breathes to fish.  He talks about it constantly, watches it on TV and whenever he can, organizes a fishing trip (and gets us to accompany him).   When I heard about the Fullerton Fishing Derby I rushed to sign us up.  What a wonderful idea I thought . . . to get families out for a day of fishing together in the warm Southern California sun.   So that is how we spent last Saturday . . . fishing and photographing.   I think it was just about a  perfect day.  

Hats, Eggs, and Texture

So we are still in the sweet spot when it comes to holidays.   The kids have not yet reached the age where hanging with your folks all day is boring beyond belief (I know that day will probably come).  Easter is preceded by the the anticipation of getting out the tights, white gloves and bonnet and there are eggs to be colored and baskets to make.   My son is not incredibly enthused at the thought of dressing up, but he is into hats, as long as I find him a  cool hat, everything comes off without a hitch.   This Easter we met our family, including tons of Scarsi cousins, at a restaurant that has some really interesting architecture and the light was warm and soft.   I took this shot of my daughter and it begged me to add some texture . . . so here are the results.  I feel a texture phase coming on . . .  wait, is that a pun.  

The web site is live, the web site is live . . .

It's done. It's finally done. The all new spiffy flash web site is complete and live. Now I gotta tell ya, that for someone with my apparent lack of programming skill, this is nothing short of a miracle. I had to learn a little about HTML and control panels, but now I can say "Dondes Estas El Banyo?" in geek. So without further ado, I'd like to introduce my web site www.lisascarsi.com . Oh, and please, pretty please, let me know what you think.

Fun with Pocket Wizards

So, it's Wednesday night and what are we doing at the Scarsi household . . . ?  Trying out mom's new Pocket Wizard cable.   I got my Pocket Wizards so that I could go wireless in the studio. Recently, I got a request from Scarsi Clan to do a family portrait on Easter Sunday.  Yep, the whole dressed up, child laden posse.   So I started to think about how I could pull this off without having to buy another expensive piece of equipment (or hiring a monkey to hit the shutter release).   So I bought a motor drive cable for about  $90 and voila.   I can shoot and be in the family portrait too!!!  I love my Pocket Wizards and I want a few more of them.  Camera equipment is very much like shoes . . . you  never seem to have enough.  

Sophia was very impressed that she could fire the camera herself with the Wizard and thought it would be a great idea if she held one while Buddy (the slick little canine on the left) held the other.   She is quite the little creative director.  

Brothers & Uncles

It's funny . . . you can go your whole life picking up friends, lovers, business partners and spouses and even children, but your siblings will always be privy to a part of you that only they can know.  You grew up together.  You shared the experience of your first family.  It's a unique one and one you continue to learn about  your entire life.  This is my brother  . . . well, one of them.   I still call him Bobby but I don't think anyone else does.  He's a character and while I say that lovingly, he does follow a different drummer . . . and he's not shy about it.    He's a lot like our dad and every time I see him I rediscover some "Dadism" I'd forgotten about.  (Dad died in '91)   My kids adore him because he's so goofy with them.  He has spent the last dozen years in Asia travelling and teaching.   It's an interesting life and he certainly has some interesting stories to tell.  

The web site is coming, the web site is coming . . .

That's right!!  After months of analysis, hand wringing, html battling and the like, I have  finally gotten all the pieces in place and my web site (www.lisascarsi.com) is almost ready to launch.  I know that my three blog followers are almost as excited as I am : ))