Meet Nicanor {Tampa Newborn Photographer}

Meet Nicanor. 

He was named after his father's mentor.

How awesome is that?

 I looked up the meaning of his name.  Conqueror, Victorious.

Yes he conquered my heart and was victorious in being a perfect little baby.  

He was an absolute dream.  7 days old here. 

  

I just love how his photos came out.

And look at all that hair.  

I love my job.

TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG...

I am going to start ACTUALLY blogging. 

I have been so bad about doing this.. it's just one of those things that every day I get up and say..
TODAY'S THE DAY!!!
I will start writing on my blog today and at least once a week. 
then that week rolls on by and I start this argument in my head titled.. TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG THAT IS THE QUESTION!!!

So I was starting to think that blogging is becoming a thing of the past. 
Then I researched it a little and BOY WAS I WRONG...
Blogging is still a great resource that I have been totally screwing up.
So with this new info in mind.. I am NOW putting this on my calendar for a once a week event.

You know what frustrates me about myself and having my own business?  Is that I am so unorganized for myself.  What I mean by that is when I was working for someone else in whatever job capacity it was.. I was completely organized. I could run circles around anyone.  I could do so many things and do them all soooo well.  Then I started working for myself and it's like all my brain function in that area flew out the window.  WHY???  This is the time I need to be 110% running circles around myself.  There is no reason to not get this in gear.  I mean come on.. it's been long enough. 

So since this is my birthday month, and none of us are getting any younger,  I am making a new commitment to MYSELF. 
I am letting go of the old habits and ways of doing things and really going after what I want no matter what that is in my life.
I will be posting more.
I will purge purge purge.
I will take time for myself.
I will become the best version of myself. in business and personal.
I will be the person I have always meant to be.

So stay tuned folks.. for the best me YET!!!!

WAITING FOR YOU! - A STORY ABOUT ADOPTING {TAMPA AREA PHOTOGRAPHER}

Okay so initially I was going to do this as a sneak peek but decided it would be a sweet short post that really

deserved a little more then just a sneak peek.

 

I had a woman contact me and she wanted to do a photo shoot. 

As we discussed this she informs me that they

needed photos of themselves as they were starting their adoption process. 

This couple tried for many years to have a baby but it just wasn't happening.

So they decided to start an adoption journey.  I love that she refers to as a 'journey'.  

They needed photos for their portfolio to help match them with a birth mom

and they wanted some good family pics.  

"That' she says "is where I come in!"  

I have had other clients who are either foster parents or have adopted and

I know how much time, money and

heart go into this process. 

So I always admire people who decide to take this journey.

 

We talked and came up with some ideas about what she wanted.. she gave me an idea and I took one of her ideas and made it my own little version..

 they were so thrilled and thus the photo that you see was born.

 

Braddock (the one with the sign) and Moe are part of their family.. so we had to include them in this shoot.  They were so good and so patient and it was pretty hot this morning even though we started out pretty early.  But we did it and although the rest of the photos won't be ready for a little bit..

I had to immediately share this with everyone.  

As most of you know .. I have this heart for dogs and animals of all types.  I try to advocate animal safety and rights.  So I am especially thrilled when families want to include ALL the family members..  it shows me that they truly respect them and want them in their lives as part of the family and not just some object. 

And what better way to show prospective birth moms the type of love they will have for a child when they go to the trouble of loving and sharing their spotlight with their current 'babies'.

 

THOSE ARE MY KIND OF PARENTS RIGHT THERE. 

 

So good luck to you two. I will keep you in my prayers while you are on your journey. Anyone would be lucky to have you as parents and have 'brothers' such as Braddock and Moe. 

I can't wait to be part of this growing family in the future. 

hugs!!!

MOTHERS INTUITION - A MOM'S STORY {TAMPA AREA PHOTOGRAPHER}

This blog post is a special post for Mother's Day. 

This a special story about a Mom and a little life that almost wasn't.   
But I am getting a head of myself here. 
Let's go back a little over 6 months and let me introduce you to Kelly.  She is pregnant and expecting to have a peaceful tub birth and do it naturally without drugs.  Why not?  her first two pregnancies  were uneventful and this little one was soooo active.  Waking Mommy up every morning with the sweet little tap tap tap at 6:30 am.  Like an internal alarm clock.   This morning was like the others.  tap-tap-tap!   Today though she is a little more tired than usual but still heads out for work.   Around 10 am this normally active baby wasn't quite as active and mom was also feeling a little edgy and not feeling quite right.  So she goes home early that day and puts the other young ones to bed early so she can relax and feel better.  She slept.  She wakes up the next morning at 7:45 what? wait..  her little internal alarm didn't go off along with her bedside alarm.  She rushes around to get everyone to school and work and heads off to some appts.   As she is sitting waiting for her appt she realizes that the baby wasn't really kicking but when she rubbed her belly the baby shifted a little.  All day this normally active baby hasn't really moved or kicked.  She tries everything.. she eats.. no kicking or movement.  She drinks a coke.. no kicking or movement.  She takes a warm bath, something that baby loves.. nothing.    Trying not to stress and in the midst of picking up children she calls her birthing center and tells them something is not right.  They tell her to come right in.  They hook her up to a non-stress heart monitor.  As soon as they turn it on she hears the heartbeat.  She lays back and for the first time all day she relaxes.  This only lasts about 5 minutes.  the midwife comes in and tells her  to be calm but that the heartbeat is not normal and that she needs to immediately go to the hospital.  Her heart sinks.. she goes into auto-mode and keeps telling herself that the heart is beating.. the heart is beating.   So tests start and things seem okay.  Ultra sound good.  Then they do a Doppler on the blood flow of the umbilical cord.  One of the arteries is blocked in the umbilical cord..  Suddenly.. a lot of people are in her room..  doctors and nurses and they are prepping her for surgery and she was starting to go into labor and every time she did the heartbeat would go way down.  The baby was in distress..  After testing to make sure mom would be okay through surgery they do a C-section right away.   At 7:18pm, Connor John was born. He weighed 4lb 13oz and was 17 in long. He let out a little squawk and was instantly worked on by the Neonatology team.  When they wheeled her to see the baby in the NICU all she could do was touch his toe.  Connor spent seven days there without any ill effects.  While Connor was in the NICU, he was visited by nurses and the mid wife who was there when mom was admitted. They all wanted to see the "miracle baby." They all said the same thing, most of the time these babies don't make it.

But this story has a happy ending.. Connor did make it and it was all because Mommy's instincts told her that something wasn't right.   She listened to that nagging little voice in her head and heart and she acted on it.  

Connor is the cutest little guy.. so happy and sweet.  When he finally got home and was able to have some newborn photos done mom Kelly brought him to the studio.  He was so good and we had such a precious time.  And as Kelly was telling me all about how he almost didn't make it.. I knew instantly that I wanted to write about this sweet story of a mother's intuition.  So she gave me permission and filled in the details.

 Connor came back recently for his 6 month shoot.  What a HAM!! and so darn happy.. and smiling.. oh my word.  I am so blessed that I got to meet this little guy.  And next time I get to meet the whole family. 

So I want to say to you mom's out there.. all of you who doubt yourself.. are you doing the right thing?  is this okay?  are they doing something they shouldn't?  is something going on that doesn't feel quite right?  TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!  Your instincts are probably right on.   Everyone has an opinion about how you should do things for your child.. but trust yourself and know that you know what is the best. 

And to all the Moms who work hard at raising these awesome kids (and the furry, feathered and scaly kind) that I love seeing.  Taking their photos and sharing your lives is such an honor.  I know I say it all the time.. but I truly mean it.. 

And to my girls and grand children.. I love you all so much and you are always and will always be the best of me. 
To my sister who has always been my 'other' mom whether I liked it or not I love ya and thanks for being there.
And to my mom.. thanks for being a strong woman that taught me right from wrong.  I love you and wish I could see you more often.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU MOMS.. !!

EASTER MINI SESSIONS AT THE STUDIO {TAMPA AREA PHOTOGRAPHER}

Hey everyone.. I posted this on FB but wanted to post it here too just in case you don't do FB.  if you do make sure you go and like my page.
So I am doing Easter Mini Sessions  My fav holiday.  I love the colors and the spring feel to it.
the sessions will be at the Studio in Riverview on March 30th.  For the first three people who sign up they get a special gift.  So don't hesitate as there will be limited number of spots available.

I have also had some inquiries about live baby animals and do I do those.. my straight forward answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT!!  for many reasons like liability.. safety.. etc etc.. but the main reason is this simple.  It's really really bad for the baby animals.  I have a blog post about it from last year the Humane Society of the United States actually used.  here is the link to that older post.  http://constanceavellinophotos.blogspot.com/2013/03/plush-stuffed-wind-up-tampa-area.html

So I am really looking forward to these mini sessions.  like I said my FAVORITE holiday.
have a great day.. and look for the next blog post.. hahahaha whenever that will be.  ;)

VALENTINE MINI SESSIONS - THIS SATURDAY IN HILLSBOROUGH AND SUNDAY IN PINELLAS {TAMPA AREA PHOTOGRAPHER}

JUST WANTED TO GIVE A REMINDER TO ANYONE STILL INTERESTED IN THESE.

I HAVE 4 SPOTS LEFT FOR HILLSBOROUGH ON SATURDAY AND

2 SPOTS LEFT FOR PINELLAS ON SUNDAY

IF YOU WANT MORE INFO EMAIL ME.. SUPER EXCITED. 

ME@CONSTANCEAVELLINOPHOTOS.COM

 

THROW BACK THURSDAY - DALLAS & KEELIE - CHRISTMAS SHOOT {TAMPA AREA PHOTOGRAPHER}

So in keeping with my Throw Back Thursday theme.. I wanted to share these photos from about 5 years ago. 

after my job at bed bath and beyond.. I worked at Bright house. 

These girls are the daughters of one of my 'peeps' there at BHN. 

A lot of the people that I met there are still good friends and clients.  And I really value those friendships!

Some of my sweetest relationships have come from that place.

 

I remember this session like it was yesterday.. they were SO SILLY that day.  Little sis Keelie did everything her big sis Dallas did.. these are my fav three shots from the session.  Still some of my all time favs too.  Thanks girls.. can't wait for you to get back to the studio!!  :)

 

btw - they are the girls in the ballerina costumes in the slideshow at the top of my blog that was a couple of years later.. but still just as silly! 

THROW BACK THURSDAY - THIS ONE IS PERSONAL! {TAMPA AREA PHOTOGRAPHER}

So I know I am a day late.. but I wanted to do one that has a special place in my heart.  My grandbabies. 

I love these photos because it was just a spontaneous moment and we were just hanging out on the lanai. 

I ran and got my camera and these were two of my favorite shots from the day.

Miss them so much everyday..  these are just a couple of the great shots I have to keep in my heart.

 

 

VIVICA - ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE {TAMPA AREA PHOTOGRAPHER}

So I have decided to start highlighting at least one client a week. 

So this week it's Vivica with Mommy & Daddy. 

She was such a good baby.  And very serious at first but she warmed up and I got the

best smiles out of her.

Love this age.  Just sitting up and so curious.

Another neat little side note.. Mommy & Daddy met online.. how cool is that!!!

love those romantic stories..

OH MY WORD!!!! I HAVE NOT BLOGGED FOR AWHILE!! {TAMPA AREA PHOTOGRAPHER}

I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY FOR MYSELF!  UGH!  WHY IS BLOGGING SUCH A CHORE FOR ME...? 
I EVEN PUT THE APP ON MY PHONE SO I COULD AT LEAST DO OR SAY SOMETHING ONCE A WEEK AND I STILL HAVEN'T DONE IT..
What is it that keeps me from doing this.. is it because I am afraid I won't have any 'witty' things to say.. is it because I am lazy.. or am I just too busy to try and do ONE more thing to my already growing list. Do other photographers have this problem..? 
Or maybe it is just that -

I bought this shirt some time ago!  Because the moment I saw it I thought it would make a great BLOG post! So I am always thinking of it.. I have great ideas in my head.. but somehow the execution is just not there.. my problem is when I get the idea.. I fall short somewhere in getting it on the blog... It's so darn frustrating.. BUT contrary to what the shirt says..

I AM GOING TO BE A BLOGGER!!

I am determined.. wish me luck and keep an eye out.. :)

 

Happy Monday... {TAMPA AREA PHOTOGRAPHER}

okay so I know Mother's Day has come and gone and I didn't put up the special salute to Mom's here on the blog.. but I did put it up on FB. It took much longer then I anticipated because I had so many beautiful client memories to add. I tried to make sure everyone got included from the day after Mom's day last year to Mom's day this year..If I missed your photo forgive me and see ya next year.
Make sure you watch it all the way to the end..

So here it is:

I will put up the rest of the May photo a day photos in a few days.. it's over.. I always love doing it but always glad when it ends.
talk soon..  :)
and if you haven't checked out my FB page please go take a look at my most current stuff and LIKE my page
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Constance-Avellino-Photos/126309550738621