Lola & Co. [family] | Louisville, Ky Family Portrait Photographer

Just look at this little gem. Isn't this what Christmas is all about?

Love the wonder and awe of the season, and this home is gorgeous. Seriously the decor looks straight out of a Pottery Barn catalog (and you guys know how much I love PB)!

She is such fun and so determined. Lola knows exactly what she likes and doesn't like, even at only 17 months old. She loves her brother JJ and sister Kaeley, and juice (even if its milk). I had such fun with this little family and I'm pretty sure they are smitten with her too. 

Enjoy and happy weekend!

Xoxo,
Mich

Thursday Thoughts... Maybe I'm Selfish

Maybe I'm selfish. But, it's not about the money (Insert mid 90s sensation by Jessie J ft. B.o.B here - although I prefer the Pitch Perfect version).

I made digital images expensive for a reason. Its not because I don't want you to have and share them in their easy, digital format. It's the opposite entirely.

Although I want you to love your photos, I want more than that. I want those photos to look amazing (color, clarity, sharpness, resolution) and I want them to last. I have prints made by pros on archival paper, that means that they're gonna look like I expect and last a long time.

Inkjet prints usually don't go 10 to 15 years without fading, rubbing off, really. And I want your kids to be able to pull these photos out when they're in college and say 'oh mom why did you have that silly hat on me?'. I want them to show their girlfriends or boyfriends when they're just meeting the family. I want you to look back on these with your husband or wife and say 'Wow look what babies we were and look what adorable babies we created'.

THAT is why I'd rather you had a print, a real, tangible printed photograph on archival paper instead of a digital negative or a disc in the drawer. I remember when I was just a kid, probably five or so years old.

I loved looking through old snapshots that my parents took. They weren't even professional or showing much of anything in-particular. A lot of them were just 4x6 home photos off the 35mm film camera. I remember photos of my brother trying to feed squirrels for some reason. He was three, which means I wasn't born yet. And if you know me, I have a serious case of fomo (fear of missing out). I was trying to figure out what I missed before the grand entrance of yours truly.

My point is those tangible images are what will remain in your family for a long time. Your kids will look at them over and over again.

I know the digital images reach more people. That they could potentially make me more money when you share them online, on social media (see comment above, right before the one-hit-wonder reference). My 'numbers guy' of a husband reminds me of that regularly.

But, I want you to enjoy them. I want them to hang in your home, so you can see them day in and day out. It's important to capture that LOVE. That love that you sometimes forget is there, whether that person has gone away forever or just for the weekend. That love that your kids will look up to when they're older and looking for someone to share their life with...their LOVE with.

©Erika Kuhn - One of many amazing family clients!

Those kiddos, nieces, nephews, younger siblings, even grandkids want to see what you looked like before they could remember you. How you smiled, how you looked at them, how you held them close. And my favorite...

...that look of LOVE on your face when they were just a few days old.

Real. Honest. newborn, and family portraiture. That is what I specialize in. No matter what form your family comes in, no matter what member of your family needs highlighting. I wait for those honest moments to come out. Even the most difficult of kiddos (no matter their age) will let their guard down, even for a split second. I'd love to create that timeless art for your family. And I'd kill to print it huge for you. Woo maybe even on metal Eeeee (that's a delightful squeal in case you didn't know)!

Xoxo,
Mich

Hey Early Birds...Great deals and Affiliate links inside!

Hey early birds...you're about to get a great deal on holiday cards.

One of my Tiny Prints faves this year!

From 7:00am to 11:00am ET, Tiny Prints is making their already awesome Cyber Week deal even more awesomer (yeah that's a word now :)).

Through the end of today, you can get 40% off all holiday cards using the code CYBER40.
If your order is more than $49, use that and stack the code FREESHIP49 for free shipping too!

But, if you are up early enough, add the code FLASH1204 and you'll save an extra 10% on your order. That's a total of almost 50% off holiday cards.
So check it out and remember to use all 3 codes to save nearly 50%!

Hadley [7 days new]

This sweet little girl was so beautiful I can't even tell you, the portraits must speak for themselves.

Such a comfy little place to call home.

 

She prefers to be snuggled up tight, whether in a wrap, a blanket, or a set of pretty good arms. I always wonder what babies are dreaming about when they sleep and bust out a huge baby smile or sigh. This little beauty was giving us just the best little smirks I could ever ask for.

If you have any questions about how great she is, her sweet momma would be happy to tell you. Mom and dad are over the moon and rightly so.

Ladies and Gents, meet Hadley.

Xoxo,

Mich

Taylor [2015 senior] | MHP Louisville, KY Senior Photographer

Everyone take a look at this beautiful girl. And I'm not just saying that because she is graduating from my alma mater (Go Rockets!). She was such a sweetie to work with and such a good sport.

It was freezing and you wouldn't even know it by the way she rocked it for these portraits. I must say that a few of these make the all-time fave list for me. Gorgeous!

Xoxo,
Mich

A few of my favorite things - 40% off at Tiny Prints (affiliate link)

A few of my favorite things are 40% off at Tiny Prints (affiliate link).

Announcing and celebrating everything from birth to graduation, or just sending good tidings, I have an exclusive offer just of MHaas Photography clients and friends at Tiny Prints. I love their products and I love all of you, so hop on over and make some gorgeous photo cards to send to everyone on your list. They can even mail them for you (Yeah really!). I receive a small percentage of each sale, but their products are awesome and I LOVE their designs. Couldn't do it better myself. But I would love to take some photos for you to include ;)

Enjoy 40% off your order. Excludes calendars, photo books, gift certificates, personalized postage stamps and Erin Condren weekly planners.

Affiliate Link: http://www.tinyprints.com/storefront/mhaasPhoto

40% off Code: PH7D8DZD62

Exp: 12/10/2014

Reg promo, one time use.

Russell [newborn] | louisville, ky newborn photographer

I stopped past a sweet friend's house to meet this new little guy. My goodness is Russ a sweet, healthy boy! He was snoozing ever so soundly until we messed with him and took a few photos. After he figured us out, he was not too excited about the whole photo idea, but that sweet face...I just want to eat him up. Haha, I contained myself.

Xoxo,
Mich

Ryleigh [14 months] | louisville, ky children's portrait photographer

Bet you guys didn't know I was so hilarious.

This little beauty was so much fun. So smiley. She was a joy to work with, full of energy, albeit a bit of a dare devil. Ryleigh is going to break some hearts when shes older, but for now these sweet photos warm mine. Gah that hat <3

Xoxo,
 Mich

Jack [6 weeks] | louisville, ky children's portrait photographer

Jack and Patrick were such little studs. Take a look at these handsome guys. And those eye lashes...swoon.

XOXO,
mich

naked baby [behind the scenes] | Louisville, KY Newborn Photographer

Isn't there something authentic and natural about a naked baby.  There is something about a little one, in his most natural form, creates some of the most simple and beautiful images. This post is about how one newborn portrait setup can create many gorgeous images. Same baby, same blanket, same pose.

I wanted to take a moment, in the midst of all of the editing I do, I sometimes get so pigeon-holed that I don't see the simple beauty right in front of me. This black blanket has seen a lot of newborn shoots (and all the extra stuff that come out of with said newborns). But it always ends up helping me make great images, the kind that show off that sweet new babe.

I have included a behind the scenes shot to show my little setup. I placed my bean bag poser right in front of the sliding glass doors to utilize as much natural light as possible on a half-way gloomy fall day.

I also placed an inexpensive studio light (continuous light, not strobe) outside of the door and a reflector above baby's head. You can also see my little heater set up a safe distance from baby, keeping him warm and happy.

Everything from detail shots, to wider full body portraits, you can get all of these different images while baby is comfortably snoozing away.

But time after time, this little black backdrop creates some of my favorite images.

Here's to sleeping (naked) babies, and sleeping like a baby.

Xoxo,
Mich

P.S. Only 6 more likes needed over at my facebook page before we can draw a winner on the big GIVEaway. So hop on over to the facebook page to like and nominate someone now.