esha hart photography

2011 Christmas Mini's!

2011-11-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

Tis the season! Esha Hart Photography is hosting Christmas Mini's to celebrate. Bring your kiddos dressed up in their adorable holiday outfits and get their portraits taken. We will accommodate siblings in a shared block of time and only 1 outfit.

Sessions will run in 1/2 hour increments. Available time slots are located below. Also, additional images will be available for separate purchase. In order to secure your slot please post a comment with your desired time. Time slots will be updated daily until all slots are full. You will need to pay via PayPal by clicking the "Buy Now" button below. No PayPal account is required and you can use any major credit or debit card.

Available Slots:

11:00-11:30 - Anne Rice

11:30-12:00 -Biviana Sparks

12:00-12:30 - Alicia Wright

12:30-1:00 - OPEN

1:00-1:30 OPEN

1:30-2:00 - Courtney Nicodemus

Hope to see you there! Please e-mail esha@eshahart.com with questions.

UPDATE: "Kids" Fall Mini Sessions!

2011-09-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

"Kids" Fall Mini Sessions will be here in 12 days! You won't want to miss out on this awesome event.

Date: Sunday, October 9th

Location: Kelley Farm, Bonney Lake (Website)

Time: 11-2pm

Investment: $55.00

Session Includes: 30 minute session, one 8x10 and two 5x7's. Additional prints and digital images are available for separate purchase.

To celebrate the fall season, Corliss Photography and Esha Hart Photography will host mini sessions at the beautiful Kelley Farm located in Bonney Lake, WA. Bring your kiddos ages 2-18 years to get their portraits taken. We will accommodate siblings in a shared block of time and only 1 outfit.

Sessions will run in 1/2 hour increments. Available time slots are located below. In order to secure your slot please post a comment with your desired time. Time slots will be updated daily until all slots are full. You will need to pay via PayPal by clicking the "Buy Now" button below. No PayPal account is required and you can use any major credit or debit card.

Available Slots:

11:00-11:30am - Nicole Hames

11:30-12:00pm - Jenny Britt

12:00-12:30pm - Holly Dorn

12:30-1:00pm

1:00-1:30pm

1:30-2:00pm - Jennifer Gachne

Hope to see you there! Please e-mail esha@eshahart.com with questions.

Boo Mini Sessions

2011-09-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

Bring your little "boo's" in costume with their trick or treat bags.

Date: Saturday, October 15th

Location: Mayflower Dairy Farm (Spanaway Area)

Time: 12:00-4:00pm

Investment: $60.00

Session Includes: 30 minute session, 1 8x10, 8 wallets & 3 high resolution images.

I can't wait to see all the kiddos dressed up. Bring your kiddos ages newborn to 18 years to get their portraits taken. I'll accommodate siblings in a shared block of time.

Available Slots:

12:00-12:30pm

12:30-1:00pm

1:00-1:30pm

1:30-2:00pm

2:00-2:30pm

2:30-3:00pm

3:00-3:30pm - Marli Henry

3:30-4:00pm - Alicia Wright

Hope to see everyone there! Please e-mail esha@eshahart.com with any questions you may have.

What to Wear Guides: September 2011

2011-09-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

Check out September's "What to Wear Guides" courtesy of Corina Neilsen.

Gavin

2011-08-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

Isn't this family adorable? Here's a small snippet of their session. They are the cutest thing ever! I had a blast during their session. In fact, I had so much fun I completely lost track of time, and we were there for a little while. Sorry guys! Hope you enjoy the pictures. I look forward to seeing Gavin grow up and keep me in mind for future shoots. :)

What to Wear Guides - August 2011

2011-08-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

I've been asked this question several times regarding what to wear for an upcoming photo session. The lovely and talented Corina Nielsen with Corina Nielsen Photography has put together her 1st edition of "What to Wear Guides". She has allowed us fellow photogs to use her guides in educating our clients. Yay! Thank you Corina! I've wanted to do this for a while, so this is perfect. Check back each month for updated guides.

Coordinate outfits

Now this doesn’t mean everyone has to 100% match with khaki pants or jeans and a white shirt! You want to complement each other’s outfits by choosing colors that work well together. I find that if everyone is wearing the same clothing, people will all tend to blend in together and there won’t be too much pop and life to the images. Coordinate VS. Matching…. let’s not get cheesy!

Use colors & patterns

Colors are everywhere around us and bring things to life… why not bring your images to life as well! Again, be sure the colors you use coordinate with each other and you don’t just end up looking like one big rainbow family! When picking patterns, choose smaller ones that won’t distract attention away from the main subject/s. Use patterns sparingly…. if one person is wearing a print, try to avoid putting someone else in a competing pattern. When thinking about texture, choose different ones that will give photos some interest such as lace, corduroy, denim, etc. Avoid large logo’s, emblems and graphics like “GAP” and “Old Navy” because again, these will typically distract attention away from the subject. We want your faces and emotion to show, not promote the clothing company you purchased from!

Be timeless

For some fashionista’s, this may be a difficult concept, however you are going to want these images to stand the test of time. Pick outfits that aren’t t considered too trendy, but will be able to be enjoyed and displayed for many years to come. One example of something that is timeless is jeans… classic look and style yet you can still incorporate your own flair into the outfit with your tops and accessories. Still be YOU, never forget that!

Let your personalities SHINE

Perhaps the most important “rule” in my book. The purpose of these photos is to hopefully capture each individual as they truly are, to capture the family, the relationships, and people in the photos just as THEY are. Forcing children to wear outfits that are uncomfortable and unfamiliar to them may cause some anxiety and stress to them which in turn will inhibit really capturing their personalities during the session. Same goes for adults. Wear clothing that YOU feel good in and the pictures will emanate those feelings. If your child wears a pair of rain boots everywhere he goes, it makes the most sense to have him wear them for pictures as well. Remember, you want to capture everyone as they are NOW. Capture these moments as they are!

Dress for the season & location

Obviously you want your images to make sense. One typically wouldn’t be wearing jeans, boots, and a jacket to the beach in the Summer so why would you for pictures? Dress the part and be aware of your location. For example, if you are shooting at the beach, ladies wear a pretty dress and sandals, put dad in a short sleeve shirt and shorts OR pants (which you can also roll up), put your little girl in a sweet Spring or Summer dress, etc. You will want to make sure that everyone is on the same page and coordinates in both colors AND styles.

Layering

One of my favorite “tips” for clothing choices! In the Summer months, this may be more difficult to pull off but during all of the other seasons, definitely layer your outfits. Not only will it provide more visual interest in each photo but it will also allow a lot more variety in your shots and poses. Have a ton of images of yourself in just your dress or cute top and jeans? Throw on a little sweater or jacket and a hat and you have entirely different look.

Personalize It

These are YOUR images and of course you want them to speak volumes about you and your family. Discuss things your family enjoys doing together and bring “props” and accessories that will help compliment who you are. If your family enjoys playing music together, bring your instruments to your session. If your family enjoys boating, suggest doing your session on a boat or at the very least near the water. Bring along items that will represent who each individual is AND who your family is collectively.

Remember where you came from

Typically, not something everyone will keep in mind before their session. However, I always encourage clients to think about their home, their decor,colors, and style of their homes. Chances are, at some point after your session, you will be ordering prints or digital files. Why not keep your your decor in mind and ensure that it all blends into your home. This will ensure that any large portraits will coordinate beautifully.

Plan ahead

Make sure you have given yourself enough time to think about all of the details of your session. Plan ahead so that #1 you can truly think about your photos and everything you want out of the session, #2 you aren’t rushing and stressing out right before your session, and #3 if you have decided to go for a new look for your session or someone gets a bad haircut, you still have time to fix things if you need to.

Keep make up natural, but still have some on

You will want to avoid using very heavy makeup, but a bit of color on your lips, eyes, and cheeks will help bring you to life in photos. Be sure to bring some lip gloss with you as well.

Outfit changes

If time allows it, bring another set of outfits. Again, you will get a lot more variety in your shots so why not capitalize on the opportunity and get the most bang for your buck!

Ladies & their shoes

I’m all for a sassy pair of shoes, however they may make for a very long and painful session. If you plan on wearing heels, be sure to bring a pair of flats or flip flops that can help you get from point A to point B without any pain. You can just swap them out as you need to.

If I were building outfits for my family this is how I would do it:

Keeping your location and season in mind, start with one person. Don’t try and think of everyone at the same time. I find that mom or a little girl makes the most sense since they would typically be the ones wearing a print. So mom will be wearing a floral print dress (small pretty pattern that is).

Now move on to the next person. You will be pulling colors from mom’s dress so begin to think about who in the family would look good in what colors. Dad doesn’t look so good in XYZ since it tends to drown out the tone in his skin. Let’s pick ABC for him instead. And so on.

Then start to come up with ideas to personalize the session. A little boy may have a security blanket or teddy bear he never parts with…. be sure to bring that with you. The little girl may like crafting so have her make a cute matching headband or clip for her hair. Mom loves tulips… on your way to the session pick some up. Make thoughtful choices and be sure to discuss the ideas with your photographer! Believe me, most are full of ideas however, it’s always nice when the family helps and truly ensures a “custom” session.

"Kids" Fall Mini Sessions!

2011-08-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

“Kids” Fall Mini Sessions are coming soon! You won’t want to miss out on this awesome event.

Date: Sunday, October 9^th

Location: Kelley Farm, Bonney Lake (Website)

Time: 11-2pm

Investment: $75.00

Session Includes: 30 minute session and $15 print credit. Digital images and prints are available for separate purchase.

Sessions will run in ½ hour increments. Available time slots are located below. In order to secure your slot please post a comment with your desired time. Time slots will be updated daily until all slots are full. You will need to pay via PayPay by clicking the “Buy Now” button below. No PayPal account is required and you can use any major credit or debit card.

Available Slots:

11:00-11:30am

11:30-12:00pm

12:00-12:30pm

12:30-1:00pm

1:00-1:30pm

1:30-2:00pm

Hope to see everyone there! Please e-mail esha@eshahart.com for booking and questions.

Project 52: Week Twenty Six

2011-07-02T00:25:00.000-07:00

Last week's 52 was inspired by my brother. He thought it would be fun to host a BBQ. He and my parents worked really hard on getting their backyard up to par and pulled off an amazing BBQ. We plan on having another before she summer is over. The tiki torches were to ward off any buggies, but they reminded me of the t.v show "Survivor". We decided all of our guests had to blow out their torch before they headed off our island. LOL! Too fun!

Project 52: Week Twenty Five

2011-07-02T00:19:00.000-07:00

June was beginning to look like January around the Pacific Northwest. It was rainy and gray. Not cool at all when you are expecting the weather to be decent for a photo session. This particular day I had two sessions: one was a home school graduation, which was amazing and beautiful; the second was a maternity session with some good friends of mine. I ended up rescheduling the maternity and I am so glad I did cause the following week was GORGEOUS!!! Anyway, during the graduation I was able to capture this photo of raindrops beaded on a plant. They looked almost like diamonds.

Project 52: Week Twenty Four

2011-07-01T23:35:00.000-07:00

Scouting trip to downtown Tacoma. These "pop rocks" as I call them, are iconic for Tacoma. I just love them! It was such a beautiful day and the clouds and sky were a perfect background.

Project 52: Week Twenty Three

2011-07-01T23:09:00.000-07:00

One of my friends who is also a fellow photog and I, have decided it would be fun to scout out new locations together. We scouted out this wildlife refuge and fell in love. It is such an amazing spot to take photos. This photo is one of my favorites because it reminds me of being out on a safari.

Project 52: Week Twenty Two

2011-07-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

Here's my little lady having fun in downtown Tacoma right after a photo session. As she approaches 2 she is getting faster and definitely not interested in getting her photo taken. I was literally chasing her all around to get some pics.

A Photographer's Prayer

2011-06-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

"A Photographer's Prayer"

Dear Lord,

As I bring my subject into focus
and prepare to make each portrait,
never let me forget that I’m creating treasures for some family,
a keepsake for loved ones.
Make me sensitive to the qualities and virtues of others,
that I may draw out into the light the beautiful radiant belongings of their hearts.

Help me to be an artist,
collecting the beauty of every soul,
the glow of youth, the gentleness,
the laughter or tears of each life that is precious in Thy sight.
Deeper than a means of livelihood,
give me the perspective to see my photographer’s art as a service to others,
making life richer and more memorable.

And, dear Lord, between the lights and shadows,
the ups and downs and the rolling years,
keep me from getting out of focus or off center,
so that my life and work may be framed with dignity and colored with contentment …

AMEN

..Author Unknown…

Summer Mini Sessions

2011-06-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

"Summer Mini Sessions" are coming soon! You don't want to miss out on this awesome event.

Date: Saturday, July 23rd

Location: Steilacoom Park (Website)

Time: 12-4pm

Investment: $60.00

Session Includes: 4 high resolution digital images w/ print release

To celebrate the summer season, Esha Hart Photography mini sessions will be at the beautiful Steilacoom Park located in Steilacoom, WA. This park will not disappoint! It has several barns, tall grass fields, walking trail, a lake and much much more. Also, as promised, in addition to getting your photos taken, EHP will host an ice cream social. Ice cream in the summer is perfect!

Sessions will run in 1/2 hour increments. Available time slots are located below. In order to secure your slot please post a comment with your desired time. I'll be sure to update daily until all slots are full. You will also need to pay via PayPal by clicking on the "Buy Now" button below. No PayPal account is required and you can use any major credit or debit card. Additional digital images and prints are available for purchase.

Available Slots:

12:00-12:30pm - Jacqueline Jones

12:30-1:00pm

1:00-1:30pm- Anne Rice

1:30-2:00pm

2:00-2:30pm

2:30-3:00pm

3:00-3:30pm

3:30-4:00pm

Look forward to seeing everyone!

Project 52: Week Twenty One

2011-05-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

For my Mother's Day gift this year, my hubby built me the most beautiful veggie garden. We are currently still working on it, but do have most of the plants planted. Here's a picture of our cute little strawberries starting to grow.

Project 52: Week Twenty

2011-05-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

For my 30th birthday we decided to spend the day at the zoo. It was my little one's first time there. I was so excited for her to see the elephants. We couldn't have asked for a better day. It was 70 degrees out and everything was perfect that day.

Project 52: Week Nineteen

2011-05-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

I would like to welcome the newest addition to the Esha Hart Photography family. Meet the Kelly Moore Classic camera bag in purple. Now, I have a little story on how I acquired her...

**I apologize in advance for the long post.**

Have you ever had one of those days that EVERYTHING...I mean EVERYTHING went wrong? I had one of those days last week. It all started with my photo session in the studio. I went to take pictures and noticed that my camera was not working properly. One frame would be perfect and then the next would have this shadow on the side or bottom depending on where I turned my camera. And after setting up my manual settings it would strangely change on its own. That's definitely not good! I was just in the studio a couple of week's ago and my camera was working beautifully. I tried to keep my cool and remain calm. I didn't want to show my frustration to my client. Fortunately, my client and her family are super awesome people and were totally understanding (thanks Jenny). :) The studio manager was so helpful and tried his hardest to help me out and even offered for me to use his camera. His was working fine, so that's where we knew my camera was the problem. As a photographer that is one thing you do not want to hear, that your camera could possibly be broken. I was in denial that anything could be wrong because I take such good care of my equipment. We decided to leave the studio and do part two of the session outdoors. For some weird reason my camera would work outdoors, but not in the studio. Then when I got out to my car I noticed it wouldn't start. What the heck is going on here? Everything is breaking on me! Luckily, my Mom stopped by the studio to help out with my littlest assistant (aka my daughter), so she had to drive me to the next location. Thank goodness she was there or else we could have had a bigger problem on our hands.

We finished up part two and had a fun time at the park. The studio manager was great and called the local camera shop to see if they could help. They thought it was an electrical issue and said to stop by so they could take a look at it. We immediately headed to Robi's and Dion was my saving grace. He took one look at my camera and said it was an easy fix. Thank you Jesus! He pressed two buttons down at the same time for about 3 seconds and it reset everything back to factory condition. Apparently, a bracketing button was pressed (not sure how that happened), which causes the manual mode to change exposures automatically. I learned more about my camera in the 10 minutes that I talked with Dion than I had reading my camera manual. I am definitely a visual learner and decided it would be helpful to take a one-on-one class with Dion to learn all the features my camera has to offer. As I am talking shop with him the manager noticed my camera bag (Kelly Moore B-Hobo in grey) and pointed out to my Mom that they now have those bags in stock. Oh my gosh!!!! I knew I was in trouble. Good selling tactic on his part because it worked. As soon as I saw the Kelly Moore Classic in purple I knew it had to come home with me. I also talked with Dion about upgrading my equipment in the near future and he convinced me to wait on purchasing anything new. He said what I currently have is just as good. I was very impressed that he wasn't trying to get the sell and was honest with me. That also made my decision to welcome my new KM bag much easier. LOL! Plus, my 30th birthday is on May 19th and I thought that would be a nice present to myself for entering into a new decade. Oh, and you can't forget that I had an all wrong day so this would cheer me up. Don't you like my reasoning? As I am purchasing my new bag I was having buyers remorse and felt guilty for buying it. We are on a tight budget now that I am home full time with my daughter and any earnings I bring home with photography go straight to bills, food, gas or diapers. I'm usually not an impulse shopper. I was so worried what my hubby, friends, family and people in general would think. Why do I worry so much! I even kept the bag overnight at my parents until I broke the news to my hubby. I was hoping he would be in a good mood and then I would tell him. LOL! As soon as I got home he came around the corner from working in our new veggie garden and I noticed he was in a good mood so I confessed.

But! I have to back up just a little to tell you the other things that went wrong that day. So....apparently my Mom and I don't get out much and do not know our way around Lakewood. Did I mention I left my GPS in my car?!?! When we got into Lakewood we ended up going the wrong way and it put us at the entrance to the base. Hmmm...that's not going to work! So we finally made it to our destination and then on our way home to good ole' Puyallup we got lost again. We drove all the way around University Place and wound up in Fircrest. I had to call a friend who lived in the area to direct us out (thanks Kristin) HAHA. We finally got on the freeway and took the wrong exit because my hubby said to stay in the right lane, but failed to mention that the right lane would curve to the left and not go straight. Oh good grief! We were laughing so hard because it seriously was a crazy day. Finally! We made it to Puyallup and decided to grab a bite to eat. We went to Taco Bell and I am not kidding you the poor guy at the drive thru was like the dude you hear about on the comedy shows. You tell them your order and he gets it all wrong. I seriously told him like 6 or 7 times we would like 3 chalupas and he kept saying so that will be 1 chalupa. OMG! We were in tears of laughter AGAIN! I even offered to drive around to the window so we could get it all straight, but he declined. After it was all said and done we ended up with the wrong order and was missing a chalupa Go figure! It was a day we just had to laugh at. Oh, and nothing was wrong with my car I guess I just turned the wheel too hard to one side and it locked up. It was an easy fix!

Phew! I am tired just typing all that up. That is my long story as to how I obtained a new Kelly Moore bag. I love it! These bags are seriously like a Coach bag addiction. Once you get one you gotta get another. I see a Libby in grey in the distant future joining the family too. :)

Project 52: Week Eighteen

2011-05-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Sunshine + Warm Weather = Pool Time!

I thought it would be perfect to setup my daughter's pool in celebration of a warm/sunny day. She was definitely unsure of it at first and you can tell by her little expression in this photo. She looked adorable in her little hat and bathing suit though.

Project 52: Week Seventeen

2011-05-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

Almost every little girl's dream is to be a princess. I know it was mine. This week was inspired by the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I had my little princess try on my tiara I wore on my wedding day. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Project 52: Week Sixteen

2011-05-02T16:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! This year was my daughter's "first" time to go Easter egg hunting and you can probably tell by this photo she had an absolute blast. The excitement in her eyes was priceless. Oh to be a kid again! Although, hunting for eggs, visiting the Easter bunny and eating candy are fun, we can't forget the true meaning of this special holiday, and that is Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for us and I am so thankful for that. The best part of the story is he rose again and that is definitely worth celebrating.

Easter Mini Sessions!

2011-04-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

Yay for Easter!

I have always enjoyed planning events whether it was my wedding, or for one of my previous jobs. I thought it would be fun to plan a "mini event" with each of my mini sessions. For my "Easter Mini Sessions" the theme was a tea party in the park. I chose a quaint little park in down town Puyallup that I have always loved. The section that I chose to setup felt so enchanting. I was really worried about the weather, but the dear Lord above blessed me with a beautiful day. The whole day was perfect and the tea party was a hit! All the kiddos were so cute eating cookies, drinking juice and playing with the animals. Long story short, I had to purchase a baby bunny and two baby chicks for the day, but found good homes for each. Thank you Del's Feed and Farm Supply for the adorable baby chicks and finding a good home for the bunny. Fun fact: The chicks I chose lay pink and blue eggs...NO JOKE!

Thank you to all my mini sessioners for joining me that day. I had so much fun! Thank you to my parents and brother for being so helpful and supportive that day. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you to my hubby for making a wonderful dinner that evening for all of us. I love all of ya!

Enjoy some photos from the day. Can't wait to start planning my next one. It'll definitely be this summer, but not sure on the theme just yet. :)

The tea table!

The beautiful flower arrangements from my Mom's garden. I had to put daffodils in there since it was the day of the "Daffodil Parade".

Another table picture and some awesome bunting (flags) for decor. I plan on using the bunting for upcoming sessions. Too cute!

A different view of the table.

My beautiful daughter having a tea party with her baby chick.

Cute baby chick!

Awww isn't that chicky so cute?

Anyone like some tea?

HAHA she is too funny!

She had a blast at the tea party!

One of my favorite little ladies.

Just hanging out with our little friends.

Love his eyes! He is going to be a heart breaker I just know it.

Such a sweetheart! She loved the bunny and the bunny loved her.

Beautiful family!

So cute!

Another one of my favorite little ladies. Her hair and outfit were to die for.

Rae Rae I heart your eyelashes.

Two cute sisters with the chicks.

Why are you clicking that camera while I am trying to eat a delicious treat? LOL!

Ummm...can we say gorgeous!

A little gift from God. :)

Watch out "America's Next Top Model"!

So excited his Mommy stopped by to say hello and let me take some photos of him.

Pretty girl!

The chicks!

Two sweethearts!

Closeup of Dexter. My little lady saying so long for now!

Project 52: Week Fifteen

2011-04-17T09:29:00.000-07:00

Curls...curls...curls! I always knew that God would bless my hubby and I with a beautiful baby girl. I was also hoping that she would have curly hair with ringlets. As my daughter's hair is growing longer I'm beginning to notice some curls coming in. So exciting! Not sure if it will stay this way, but it is a good possibility. I'm so paranoid to cut her hair though. I keep thinking if I do that she'll lose all these adorable curls and they won't grow back. So this week I wanted to document her beautiful hair. I LOVE this picture.

Project 52: Week Fourteen

2011-04-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

The weather is trying to make a turnaround here in the Pacific Northwest, which means we can go outside more often and play. Here's a pic of my daughter playing with a dandelion. She tried her hardest to blow the seed head, but hasn't quite mastered that yet. I think the seed head is so neat looking. I love all the intricate details.

Liv's Cake Smash - Sneak Peek!

2011-04-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Photo 1: This isn't so bad? Photo 2: Hmm....not so sure about this anymore. Photo 3: Okay, if you really want me to eat this stuff I will!

Project 52: Week Thirteen

2011-04-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

My little angel just turned 16 months on April 2nd, so this week was inspired by that. Everyday I thank God for bringing her into our lives. She is so much fun! PS - Please forgive her crazy hair, it has a mind of its own.

Project 52: Week Twelve

2011-03-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

Week twelve was vintage inspired. I found this adorable vintage baby book in mint condition at a local thrift shop for less than $5. I love vintage items! This little treasure may come in handy as a future prop for a photo shoot, or possibly baby Hart #2's baby book. We shall see...

Project 52: Week Eleven

2011-03-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

Week eleven is all about reflections and puddles. For some reason that really caught my eye this week. Once again it has been wet up here in the Pacific Northwest. The first picture is a puddle's reflection of a bare tree on the street, the second is my beautiful daughter's reflection in a puddle at the park and the third is some more trees reflecting in a pond at the park. So neat to see the beauty in such simple things.

Project 52: Week Ten

2011-03-14T22:15:00.000-07:00

Week ten is in honor of a wonderful man by the name of Ernest "Ernie" Knudson. I met Ernie several years ago while working at the local Safeway in downtown Puyallup. He would come into the store and say to all of us ladies that we were pretty. His exact words were, "You so purdy." When I graduated from high school I no longer worked at the store, but I still saw Ernie. He would be on his bike, or pushing his lawn mower on the streets of downtown Puyallup. I would simply wave to him and say a little prayer. I truly believe he was an a living angel on Earth. For the longest time I wanted to stop and say hello, to give him some food, warm clothes & etc. I never got around to doing it, but as soon as I started this project I knew that would give me an opportunity to meet him, learn his story and take his photo. We hadn't seen him on the streets for quite some time and I just recently discovered the reason why, he went to be with Jesus on January 29, 2011. My heart sunk when I found out he was no longer here. I never got to talk with him again, to learn his story and help him. A lesson I instantly learned was, if God lays something on your heart don't wait to do what he is trying to have you do or it may be too late. For the longest time I thought Ernie was homeless. It wasn't until I started asking around and reading his obituary that I realized he wasn't homeless at all. He lived in an apartment and made a living mowing people's lawns. He may not have lived in the best of conditions, but he lived. God always provided for him. Once again, I learned a valuable lesson, don't judge a book by its cover. Ernie touched so many people's lives. I wonder if ever knew that. He will be missed and the streets of downtown Puyallup will never be the same. Today I wanted to go to his graveside and pay my respects. I feel lucky to have known who he was and so glad I can say I was one of his "purdy's".

To read more about him and see a photo please click on the links below.

Knudson Obituary

Knudson Obituary 2

Project 52: Week Nine

2011-03-06T19:40:00.000-08:00

This is my daughter's pink Mini Cooper. :) Her Daddy and I got it for her first birthday. I LOVE it! I know she is spoiled rotten, but that's okay she's worth it. She hasn't had a chance to really use it yet, other than inside the house, but one day soon she will. I look forward watching her cruise around our neighborhood in her pink car.

Scarlett turns 3!

2011-03-04T19:10:00.000-08:00

Miss Scarlett is such a natural in front of the camera. The camera just loves her! This session was one of my absolute favorites. We had so much fun playing dress up in her Mommy's wedding dress. Plus, her Mommy always has the cutest outfits and hair accessories. :) Scarlett you are such a beautiful little lady.

Easter Mini Sessions!

2011-03-03T21:13:00.000-08:00

Project 52: Week Eight

2011-02-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

This week's photo features a beautiful pink rose my brother gave my daughter for Valentine's Day. I played around with some textures and LOVE how it turned out! I definitely will continue using textures and overlays in the near future. My brother (aka Uncle Garrod) wanted to be one of the first guys to give her a flower (besides her Daddy of course). I thought that was the sweetest thing ever! Thank you Uncle Garrod! I will be forever grateful to him and my parents for taking care of her while I was still working. It really meant the world to my husband and I to have family take care of her and not have to worry about putting her in daycare. Uncle Garrod and Mady developed a special bond during that time and her whole face lights up when she sees him. We love you Uncle Garrod and you will one day make a wonderful Daddy.

Project 52: Week Seven

2011-02-16T13:19:00.000-08:00

Rain, rain, go away! Come again another day!

Here's my sweet pea looking out the window into our backyard. We spotted a blue jay playing out in the rain. She was so fascinated by everything. We are definitely looking forward to warmer weather and some sunshine. Hurry up spring and summer! I look forward to taking her on walks, playing at the park, going to the beach and making sand castles, setting up her little swimming pool. Oh! And to see her in her cute little swimsuits and summer dresses is priceless. This little angel is the light of my life. I thank God everyday for her and making my dreams come true of being a mother and staying home to watch her grow.

Momma loves you Mady Grace!

Vangrunsven Family - VDay Mini Sesh

2011-02-13T07:19:00.000-08:00

Look at this sweet family! Sarah, Lee and their adorable doggies visited me in the studio for my Valentine's Mini Sessions. I met Sarah last year through a mutual friend (thanks Brooke) at our first annual March of Dimes: March for Babies walk. Instantly, I knew Sarah and I would become friends. She has such a wonderful spirit and you can't help, but smile around her. I met her husband for the first time at our mini session. He is just as sweet as she is! What a beautiful couple! Early spring they will be flying to China to pick up their baby girl Madeline. I am so excited for them. God has blessed them with this adoption. Let's pray for safe travels. Sarah and Lee thank you so much for letting me take some family photos for you guys. I can't wait to meet Miss Madeline!

Project 52: Week Six

2011-02-11T23:49:00.000-08:00

We lucked out with two gorgeous days here in the Pacific Northwest. I absolutely LOVE when the sun comes out. This week we met a fellow photographer (and now friend) up in Seattle at Golden Gardens right before sunset. Oh my! The sunset was simply breathtaking. It was so beautiful! I knew this was my photo for the week. :) Isn't it amazing to look at God's creation?

Lucas - Valentine's Mini Sesh

2011-02-11T23:39:00.000-08:00

Look at this handsome little guy! Lucas is almost a year old. Every day he gets cuter and cuter. I love his eyes! His shirt says it all, "Chicks Dig Me!" Well of course we do, look at him! I look forward to watching him grow up.

Project 52: Week Five

2011-02-09T01:21:00.000-08:00

"Week Five" isn't anything too spectacular. Blueberry muffins are one of my all time favorite comfort foods. I haven't had a blueberry muffin in a really long time, so I decided to make them the other night. They usually are all eaten by the end of the night, or early the next morning. :) This coming week's photo will be much better, promise.

Project 52: Week Four

2011-02-05T22:49:00.000-08:00

Week four of "Project 52" is looking into the art of smoke photography. It was challenging at first, but after some practice it got a little easier. Once I saw this shot in the viewfinder I knew it was the one. :) I love how it resembles an x-ray (in my opinion). I've never been around so much incense in my life. LOL! It gave me a headache, but it was all worth it to get some amazing shots. Who would have thought a little bit of smoke could create such beautiful art.

Project 52: Week Three

2011-01-24T00:46:00.000-08:00

This weeks inspiration came from a sweet little girls birthday party theme. A friend of mine had an Alice and Wonderland theme for her 2 year old's party this year. I heard of a wall in downtown Tacoma that had a huge mural of all the characters. I knew we had to take some pics at the mural, it would be perfect. Satellite Coffee is located next door to this awesome wall. In talking with the owner, there are several artists that paint his wall throughout the year. They are very talented! I love all the bright colors and details. I had so much fun with this weeks project. I think we caught it just in time before they paint over it and do something new. I hate to see this awesome creation go. I wonder what will be on there next???

Vote for Mady!

2011-01-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

About a month ago I participated in a 3 day online FREE workshop with the amazing and talented children's photographer Tamara Lackey. She was in the Seattle area and gave all of us photogs some very informative information on how to develop our businesses and work with children. She is now having a children's photo contest for a chance to win a small studio setup she used while visiting Seattle. The criteria is to enter in a photo that we've taken of a child within the past month and explain the story behind the photo,or how we applied information we learned from Tamara. The perfect photo came to mind!

At the end of December I wanted to take some 1 year photos of my daughter in my wedding dress. I had seen a picture from the lovely Kelle Hampton of her daughter Lainey in her dress, and I wanted to do the same. Each year I plan on having her pics taken in my dress so we can see the progression as she gets older. I also have access to rent a local studio and wanted to get some more practice in. The picture above is of my beautiful daughter in my dress. My Mom and me made her headband and was looking for something vintage and that would go with the dress. I think we did great! Mady was so interested into the beading and my train, it was so cute. This pic shows her curiosity to the tee. My Mom also did an excellent job of pulling the dress together in the back so it fit snug around Mady's waist. It looks like it fits like a glove, huh? What I learned from Tamara's workshop is when shooting in the studio you can apply fill light in the middle. I did that with this shot.

So.....the next step is to have everyone vote. VOTE FOR MADY!!! Now until January 31st there is a public vote for your favorite child photo. On February 4th a panel will look at the top voted photos and then make a final decision to see who wins the equipment. Naturally, I am not a competitive person, but in this case I find myself in competitive mode to win. Our pic has already made it to the 1st page of "most votes". Sweet! This would be an answer to prayer. Finances are tight now that I am a stay at home mommy. It would give me the jump start I need to get my in home studio up and going.

With that being said, here is the link to go and vote.VOTE FOR MADY! You can vote every 24 hours. Thank you in advance for voting for us and spread the word.

Blessings,
Esha

Project 52: Week Two

2011-01-16T17:11:00.000-08:00

This week's inspiration came from our lovely electric bill we received. I about died when I saw how much it was. I am baffled that a bill could be so high when it is only my daughter and me home all day long. Ugh! I swear they jacked the prices up! I'm "this close" to wanting to just live in the dark by candlelight all the time. You all know I am kidding, but it definitely makes me more aware of our usage more than I was before, and I was already a stickler about it. I'll never forget a saying my Poppy would say all the time, "Turn off the lights! We don't own stock in the electric company." HAHA! I've repeated that phrase numerous of times, and will never ever forget it. On a side note, I miss you Pop so much! The every day things remind me of you and I know you are still with us smiling down from heaven. I love you!

valentine's mini sessions!

2011-01-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day Mini Sessions are here! Contact me to book your session while spaces are still available!

Check out my new purse...I mean camera bag!

2011-01-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

Meet my new Kelly Moore B-Hobo camera bag. Isn't it purdy?

For over a year now I've wanted a new camera bag. They are a little pricey, and I haven't had the heart to break down and purchase one. All that changed about a week ago. I noticed a posting on my South Sound Portrait Photography group that had a brand new Kelly Moore bag for sale. The asking price was $20 cheaper than buying it straight from the website. The lady who previously owned it was wanting to get a bigger camera bag to use as an everyday bag. I looked at it and once again my mouth drooled. BUT...something told me to look on Craigslist too. When I did, I noticed there was a Kelly Moore bag for sale and the wording and location was the same as on my SS Portrait Photography group, but it was $10 cheaper. I decided to reply to both and see if they were the same person. Sure enough, they were and the lady said she would ship it for free. Score! Overall, I saved a total of $50-60 if you include shipping. I am a HUGE bargain shopper and never pay full price unless I have to. I talked with the hubby and said that I couldn't pass this great deal up and it can be my early birthday and anniversary gift (my birthday and anniversary aren't until May, hehe). Plus, it will be my big 3-0 and 5 years that the hubs and me tied the knot, so in my opinion those are some milestone dates. :) Don't you like my reasoning and justification? I do! It took me two days of thinking and praying. I even had the Paypal screen all filled out, but wouldn't press the send button. Finally, after a pep talk with my Mom and her good friend they convinced me that I deserve to have this bag, I've worked hard for it and it is a good deal. So, I immediately came home and purchased it. That was on Saturday and my bag arrived last night.

I'm so excited! It is perfect! I love the heather grey and purple, which are the colors of my business. All my equipment fits in there, plus I have room to spare. What a blessing! I had to share my excitement with all you. :)

Project 52: Week One

2011-01-09T20:06:00.000-08:00

All week long I was trying to find some inspiration for this weeks photo. Right before sun set today I finally found my A-HA moment. I had just gotten home from running errands and noticed the sky was gorgeous from my front porch. You could see a tiny patch of sun and blue sky trying to poke out. I grabbed my camera, put on my telephoto lens and started taking pictures. Then I noticed this beautiful tree, that still shows signs that it is winter here in the Pacific NW. I could also hear cute little birdies chirping at the very top. You can see in the first and second collage that I was able to capture the outlines of the birds and even one has it wings spread out flying from one branch to the other. I love how blue the sky was and I love how the pics turned out. Enjoy!

The Journey to a Website

2011-01-08T10:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Weekend!

I would like to officially announce my website is up and running. YEA! You can check it out here! It has been quite the journey to get this site going. 7 months ago, my hubby and I started researching where to purchase a website. We found a company that had a template I fell in love with, however after starting to work with them we quickly realized they had poor customer service. After what seemed like eternity, but in reality was little over 2 weeks, of trying to get questions answered and problems resolved to get the site launched we were still back to square one. My husband and I felt it was time to cut ties and search for another company. Riley (the name of the template I fell in love with), you will always be forever in my heart, but it wasn't meant to be. Every time I hear the song they put with your template, Train's "Hey Soul Sister" I think of you. :)

So, it was back to searching, and we found an AMAZING company that has wonderful customer service. We were so impressed with how quickly they answered questions and got things done. We purchased what is now my site, but at the time I didn't "have the time" to really work on it, and I was so indecisive on how I wanted everything to look. The possibilities were endless! My poor husband, I've put him through the ringer on what I want. He swears I will still change my mind after all this work, HAHA and he is probably right. :) Finally, now that I am home full-time and can focus on my business I've been able to work on my site and get it exactly how I want. I decided on a simple, modern yet classy and professional look. What do you think?

The only part missing now is music. I've read countless of articles on the topic of whether or not a photography website should have music. Some say silence is bliss and then others say you have to have music. My preference is to have music. The problem I am having is, you can't necessarily put music on your site without getting the artists permission, which I totally respect since I'm an artist myself. I didn't want to postpone letting everyone know it is ready just because I haven't found the right song. I want to be legal and have something that suits the site. I have several songs that I think would be perfect, but just waiting to hear back from agents to see if they'll grant me permission and if there is a license fee required. Wish me luck! One day you will visit the site and there will be a beautiful song to go with it, until then just enjoy the beauty of the photos. See the beauty that God has created in our children. They are the key to our future.

Blessings,
Esha

Project 52

2011-01-03T10:51:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011!

I can't believe it is already a New Year! Time sure does fly right on by doesn't it? Well, many of my fellow photogs are partaking in a project called "Project 365". Which means at the beginning of a new year you take a picture a day. It's a very cool idea, however I tried this about a year ago and found myself not disciplined enough to complete the project. Crazy, I know! How can a photographer not take a picture every single day? But! There is another project called "Project 52", and that is where you take a picture weekly. I believe this is more realistic for me. We'll see how I do! By doing these projects it encourages us photographers to get out there and take more photos, try some new ideas out and you get to learn a little more about the photographer.

The picture above is my "kickoff" collage (not my first week photo, I think I'll post those at the end of each week). I captured some photos of a vintage camera I picked up a while back at a local antique shop. I love all things vintage! I thought it would be fun to start collecting vintage cameras in hopes to one day display them in my home office and studio. I think it is neat to see how cameras have evolved throughout the years. This particular one is a Kodak Signet 35 camera. Check out this link to view its history.

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Kodak_Signet_35

As you can see, the camera I purchased has a little wear and tear. I often wonder where it came from. Who owned it previously? What photos were they taking? I want to test it out and see if it still works. I may do that. :)

So, there you have it! This is my kickoff to a wonderful journey. I am hoping to learn more about low lighting this year. Wish me luck!

2011

2010-12-22T11:25:00.000-08:00

Good Morning! As I look at 2011 and where I would like to take Esha Hart Photography into the New Year, I continually want to get better and learn more. This is to ensure I get the best photos and memories for my clients as I possibly can. With that being said, I've re-evaluated my pricing and packages and have made the decision to do a teensy weensy price increase and changes to the packages offered. I'll be rolling out details within the week. Don't worry it is still very reasonable. :) Any sessions booked on or before December 31, 2010 (this still counts if you want to book a session while it is 2010, but don't necessarily want to do the session until 2011) I'll honor the current rates and packages. Any sessions booked January 1, 2011 and on will reflect the new rates and packages. I want to thank each and every one of you for all your support. I know I say it all the time, but I truly mean it, Esha Hart Photography would not be where it is today without you. You are the best! I love my job! Keep my calendar booked will ya, LOL! :) Start booking those sessions. Please let me know if you have any questions.

m family - sneak peek!

2010-12-19T21:22:00.000-08:00

Meet the "M" family. They are near and dear to me. Today we had a fun early afternoon session for Christmas photos. Once again we were blessed with beautiful sunny weather here in the Pacific NW. It was freezing cold, but we had so much fun. Stay tuned for more photos from their session...

n family - sneak peek!

2010-12-19T21:18:00.000-08:00

Remember this sweet family from a few months back? We did some updated photos for Christmas, and they are always so much fun to work with. We did their shoot this past weekend early in the morning. The sun was out, but it was very cold and windy. Stay tuned for more photos from their session...

Catching Up!

2010-11-19T11:13:00.000-08:00

It's a new chapter in Esha Hart Photography's life. In a matter of 4 days I will be an official SAHM (aka Stay At Home Mommy) and full-time photographer. Just in time for Thanksgiving. Boy! I sure do have a lot to be thankful for this year. I cannot tell you how ecstatic I am to be able to spend more time with my beautiful daughter (who is almost 1). I'm also excited that I can really focus on my business and take it to the next level. One goal of mine is to be consistent with updating this blog. How else are my clients and fans supposed to know what the latest and greatest is? I do keep Facebook updated, but I also need to be better about updating my blog. Hey...maybe if I do that I will actually get more readers. That would be cool! :) Be on the lookout for more updates and changes. 2011 is going to rock! In the meantime, enjoy a few photos of these super adorable little ones that are near and dear to me (these are my 1st and 2nd cousins). How cute are they?

April + Adam = Baby Corinne

2010-08-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

I had a blast taking maternity photos for my good friends April and Adam. Their sweet baby girl will be here on August 16th. I can't wait to meet her. She has the best parents ever and are full of love. It was such a beautiful day in downtown Tacoma and there are so many awesome places to take photos.

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice!

2010-07-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

Look at all these little beauties! I have so much fun taking pictures of little ones.

pickles!

2010-07-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

Isn't he adorable? This little dude totally loved the camera and the camera loved him. Instead of saying "cheese" he would say "pickles", LOL.

Such a sweet and fun family. I loved how they wore bright colors and sunglasses. Thanks Liz for letting me take updated family photos for you. Can't wait for you to see the rest.

it's all about the eyelashes!

2010-06-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

Check out this beauty! Don't you just love her eyelashes? Here's a sneak peek of last night's photo shoot with two awesome families.

i heart bumps!

2010-06-18T21:22:00.000-07:00

Meet Lesley and Baby Clayton. Clayton is due any day now. Daddy is overseas serving our country so he couldn't be here for pics, but the beauty of our technology today will allow him to Skype in and see the birth of his handsome baby boy. I look forward to meeting this little guy for his newbie shots. Thank you Lesley for letting me take these for you. It was a pleasure meeting you and you are going to be a wonderful mother.

Pretty Princess

2010-06-05T22:51:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy a photo of my sweet baby girl who just turned 6 months. We had so much fun on this mini photo shoot. Stay tuned next week for the launch of my new website. I can't wait to share it with all of you. As always, thank you for supporting Esha Hart Photography. You have no idea how much it means to me.

tristan & cameron sneak peek

2010-04-30T15:46:00.000-07:00

Take a look at these two cuties! It was a gorgeous day outside and perfect for pictures. Stay tuned for more of these sweet peas in the days to come.

canin uriah 6 months

2010-04-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

Isn’t he such a handsome little guy? I remember this sweet baby boy when he was just a newbie and now he is 6 months old. Canin was such a trooper during his photo shoot. He did an excellent job giving his Momma and I some super cute poses despite the chilly wind outside. I look forward to taking more pictures of him as he grows.

canin's 6 month sneak peek

2010-04-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

Here’s a sneak peek of Canin’s 6 month photo shoot. He’s such a handsome little guy! Stay tuned for more pics from this session.

Spread the Word!

2010-04-30T15:41:00.001-07:00

Happy 2010!

2010-04-30T15:40:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year! I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus for the past few months due to being pregnant and having a baby 6 weeks ago. It’s been an amazing ride! After my daughter was born I decided it was time to get back into the swing of things and start building my photography business again. I LOVE taking photos of my baby girl and want to document every part of her life as she grows. She’s a great model! One of my New Year’s resolutions was to not only take my business to the next level, but also attend a photography workshop. I had the opportunity to attend “Shoot Camp” this past Saturday with a local photographer and I learned so much. The photo above was one of the pictures I took during our practice session. This workshop allowed me to regain my confidence, network with other photographers and learn tips and tricks of the business. My husband bought me a 50mm Nikkor lens for my birthday, which was in May and I honestly have not used it until this past weekend. Oh my! This lens is amazing! It is wonderful for portraits and I plan on using it a lot this year. So expect to see many changes soon…lots of new photos, updated blog and I’ll FINALLY have a website.