Bakersfield Family Photographer-- For Ireen

Seriously, how many pretty genes can one person get? 'Cause I think she got more than her fair share.... ;)

And one of Ireen with her (and my) favorite little Bug....

I only have time to post two right now but there are LOTS more to come.....

Bakersfield Family Photographer--I LOVE THIS FAMILY

Yes. I said LOVE. In all capitals. L-O-V-E.

(*click on images to see them bigger*)

I *LOVE* THIS FAMILY. :)

Of course it helps that they're all wonderfully vibrant, giving, servant-hearted, hard-working, funny (SERIOUSLY, you have no idea...), and LOVING people. And the family bonds with these guys....man, there is no questioning their love for and genuine enjoyment of each other.

They're probably the most entertaining family I've ever met, too. Every time I have talked to the Dad he tells me true stories that either amaze me or put me in stitches. And one story ALWAYS leads to another story...... it's great. :)

Anyway, one branch of their family is moving across the country this week, so we all went out and braved the DENSE fog this morning to get some shots of them all together.

And would you check her out?! How freaking cute is she?? Can you believe she's due next month?? I *heart* this gal. And I am sooo going to miss her little boy when they move.

She was laughing when we took these and everyone else started laughing, too because her baby bump kept bouncing every time she laughed, which would make us laugh, which would make her laugh some more, which would make her laugh harder, which would make us laugh harder....you see how it was. Good times. :D

These are just a quick few since I have one other session I need to be finishing up first, but I couldn't resist.

Bakersfield Newborn Photography --What a beautiful time in a person's life....

*sigh*


I remember these days so well. Learning how to become a family of 4. Marveling at the newness and tinyness of this new little member of your life. Miraculous, precious, quiet moments in between the diapers, and visitors, and laundry, and feedings. Moments where you all revel in just being *together*. Your family.

A few favorites...

Hi all! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, taking time to appreciate and give thanks for all the precious gifts in your life. :) I just wanted to pop in and share a few from a recent session that I just finished proofing. Then I'm off to the grocery store for our Thanksgiving feast ingredients.

This family's new addition has already arrived and is the little guy in the post below. They've been ever so patient with me on seeing these. Thanks guys!


What great chemistry between them!


Of course....a shot of cute little kid feet. Love it!


I love so many things about this image. The round belly, the red shirt, the pointed toe and crossed leg. The swing, the slight "s" shape of how she's sitting, the tilted head and happy, soft expression. I believe this is my favorite from the whole session. :)


Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Sneak Peek (newborn session)

Here's a quick sneak peek from a session I did this week.
*click on the images to see them bigger*




This wee one was only 6 days old and exquisite. Perfect skin, perfectly round head, beautiful face. And his temperament was just as lovely. He slept almost the entire session. I think I heard him cry for maybe a minute out of the whole session, if even that.

All of his family and extended family were there and you could just feel their love for him. The support. How precious he is to them. I love that. :)

*sigh* Sooo precious. I love when I catch newborn smiles.

Anyway, I promised mom I'd post a few this week so she wouldn't have to wait so long.

So here you go!

So....what have I been up to???

Oh, you know..... a little bit of this....
(*click on images to see them larger)

(inhaling that wonderful baby scent....nothin' like it....)

And a little bit of this....

(Recognize this little guy? Here he is one year ago... http://barefootphoto.blogspot.com/2007/08/thank-you-bakersfield-city-parks.html)

(And this is his new baby sister. I didn't think it was possible, 'cause he is about as cute as they come, but she's just as cute as he is!)

Quite a bit of this.... :) hehe

(Have I mentioned that laughter photos are my most favorite in the whole wide world???)

(Oh, and here's this little guys family one year ago.... http://barefootphoto.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html)

Some of this.....

A little bit of this....

(How gorgeous is that belly?! Seriously.)

(And with a face to match. Yowzer! So gorgeous.)

And even a bit of this!.....(SO fun!)

And for the first time, I did formal-style portraits for a local preschool. It was a big job, but a lot of fun, and preschoolers are beyond sweet, so it doesn't get much better than that.

(Parents, now that I have this pettiskirt, I'd be happy to let your little girl use it family sessions. Just let me know in advance, and I'll make sure I bring it with me for your session. It will fit anywhere from a 3-6year old. Or if you'd like to purchase one you can keep for your daughter, you can find them in lots of beautiful colors here...http://thebelovedchild.com/catalog/catalog.php?category=Sophie%20Bella%20Pettiskirts . They're great for adding movement, softness, and color to your photos, plus little girls feel so pretty in them and that feeling comes across in the photos.)

And now you know what I've been up to. :) I still have a few sessions that I haven't even shared anything from....and a few more coming up! So keep checking back. :)

I am soo lucky......

I really am so lucky to be able to do what I do. I have been blessed with this gift/talent/skill, whatever you'd like to call it, that allows me to join someone else's family for a short while and see it from up close. That is such an amazing thing!

These past two months, I made the mistake of overscheduling myself. I underestimated how much time a certain project was going to need and have been scrambling to meet deadlines ever since! (Thank you to my clients for being so gracious and patient with me....I have learned my lesson and next year will schedule myself accordingly to provide you with the best service I am able...) Anyway, you can imagine how rushed and focused I have been on trying to get everything done. Many, many long days (and nights) working to try and get things finished on time....

Well, I'm not sharing this as a plea for pity. More as a lead-in to this family session I am finishing up right now. This family contacted me last year for newborn family pictures of this little guy.


My, how he has grown and changed. He is now an indepentant, sweet natured, unbelievably adorable, makeseverygrownwomaninstantlywantababy, kind of child.

They contacted me again this year for a family session and I was so blessed by my time with them. I have been so rush, rush, rush lately. But watching them, and their ease with their children...it was so calming. They are relaxed and comfortable with each other and with themselves. Mom and Dad are very encouraging for their children to be who they are. They took their time letting the kids explore and wander. It was so refreshing and peaceful to be around.



I remember at one point, mom and dad relaxed against each other on a park bench and watched the kids just play. It was early in the morning, and the day still felt quiet. I was sitting there with my camera just watching for a good moment to catch on "film" and I was struck with this notion that I was in the middle of a beautiful family moment. Happy, relaxed, free. Beautiful. I was in their family bubble. It was a really neat experience.



So I just wanted to say thank you so much for letting me be a part of your family for a few hours. :) I really enjoyed it.

Heavenly....

Not much time to post, but sooo much to update you all on, (with LOTS of different images to share).





I just wanted to share one really sweet photo I managed to capture of my boys this afternoon.





So without further ado.....


**Click on the image to see it bigger and clearer.

Quick Preview from a dreamy newborn session

Hi all!

Sheew! Boy am I swamped right now! My busy season is in full swing and I've been working on several exciting projects which I hope to be able to share a little from in the next few weeks.

I recently did a newborn session and mom has been patiently waiting for her proofs, so I thought I'd throw a few sneak peeks up here to hold her over while she waits! :)

Hope you like em!

~Cyndi

*P.S. Click on the images to see them bigger.

Important updates for everyone....

Oh my, how fast this year has gone by! After a VERY busy summer, my kids have both started school. Yes, you read it right---even my baby has started kindergarten. (Whah! When did he get so big?! He promised me he would stay little for me, but I just don't think he'll be able to keep that promise.)









So it's that time of year again....we've gotten the kids off to school and are now thinking about all the holidays that are right around the corner. With that in mind, I have a few important and exciting updates for everyone....

First the important stuff.....

I wasn't joking last year when I said this is my busy season. I really encourage anyone who wants fall colors in their photos or photos for Christmas to book EARLY (like May or June). My calendar is now completely booked through November 8th. I had planned to log on here last week and let everyone know that the last date for photo sessions intended for Christmas photos was November 8th, but after a very busy week of bookings, I am now full. If you would like to be put on a backup list for family sessions, please let me know and if I have a cancellation I will be sure to call you.

I will of course make exceptions for newborns, so if you've got a brand new little one (two weeks or younger) please give me a call and I will do my best to fit you in as I know they don't stay that little for very long.

Print orders that are intended for Christmas gifts/cards must be placed by November 23rd, as shipping times tend to run behind this time of year and I cannot guarantee delivery before Christmas if they are placed after that date.

Though my Fall/Christmas sessions are booked, I will still be available to do regular family sessions through December 7th. After that I will be taking off a few weeks to finish up all our Christmas preparations and spend some time with my sweet family. My calendar for January opens up on the 9th.

Now onto the exciting part!!

Barefoot Photography will have a new website with bigger pictures and online proofing which I believe will make your ordering process much, much smoother and easier. You'll be able view your session images online, order online, and pay through paypal online. Pretty sweet, huh? :)

I have been hard at work on the new site and have a few finishing details to put on it, but hope to have it live by the end of this week, so check back soon and have a looksie!

There are a few minor changes in the information sections and print prices, so be sure to check that out later this week. And while you're at it, let me know what you think of the new site!

Goodbye GG

I lost my GG on Friday.

Alice Loretta Hickok Werner
3/5/1920~6/20/2008




She's the first person close to me to die. She's always been present in my life. And now she's not here anymore. That's a very strange feeling. Sad. Kind of confusing.


My whole life it has been "GG and Pop". They were synonimous with each other. They always went together. It was never just GG. Or just Pop. It was always "GG and Pop". It was like one word. GGandPop. This weekend I kept having to correct myself from saying it.





Now it's just Pop.

That makes me so unbelievably sad for him. I'm just the grandkid. I've only know her for 30 years. But he's been part of the duo for nearly 74 years. And now it's just him. How lonely that must feel. How hard this must be for him.





He misses her. So much. He could hardly talk about her without breaking into sobs. So I just sat there and let him cry and cried with him. I love my Pop more than I can say. He's always been my hero. My heart literally hurts for him right now.



GG was like no one else I've ever known. She was feisty and spunky and confident and generous and adventurous and so very vibrant. She had a mouth on her which cracked me up. She loved us all to pieces. I am so thankful I got to have her in my life.





I was asked to put together a slideshow for her memorial so I got to go through all her albums. I've never done that before. When I went to visit it was usually for a limited amount of time and I wanted to spend it with her and Pop. But this weekend I flipped my way through years and years of photographic treasure. I realized that my love of pictures came from my GG.


She had so many albums. All lovingly put together. She had written on the front or back of almost every picture. Little notes. Sometimes it was just who was in the photo and the year or location. Often it was funny little details about the photo. It was like she was with me telling me about the pictures. So nice to have a little piece of her there.


I learned things about her. I didn't know she had been a beauty queen when she was young. I knew that Pop was in a motorcycle club, but I didn't know that GG had started her own ladie's motorcycle club.



She had several newspaper clippings in there, too. At one point she had written a letter to the newspaper trying to help a family whose child was dying of cancer. The little girl was a friend of my Aunt Becky when she was young. GG's letter ended up generating enough support to pay for her medical care and a proper burial service after she had died. She had a clipping about her famous fudge. (Everyone loved GG's fudge. It was legendary.) She had her engagement notice in there. And a news article that described her wedding to my Pop like a 1930's Hollywood newsreel.

In almost every photo she was either glamorous or goofy. Both trademark traits of hers. Open-mouthed chewed-food shots. (Typical GG.) And gorgeous two-piece swimsuit shots. It was such a treasure to me. It was GG and her personality laid out on paper.









I wanted to share a few of my favorites as a little memorial to her. So people can glimpse a little peice of this wonderfully fun, sassy, loving woman.








GG, I miss you already.