They’re HERE!  We are finally ready to announce our most anticipated sessions of the year.  Our Holiday sessions often sell out in just a few hours, so this year we’ve opened up plenty of dates, including a long weekend, and both of our photographers will be on hand to capture your memories.  With so many clients wanting the whole family on their cards this year, or in desperate need of some updated family portraits, we decided to make our Holiday special for the full family with longer, fully styled sessions!  We’ve even simplified ordering with special packages and online galleries because we know that the Holiday’s are just as crazy for you as they are for us. Heidi Hope Photography can be your one stop shop for Holiday gifts in 2012.  Don’t forget to check out our gorgeous 2012 Holiday Card designs on the blog by clicking here.

Please note that pricing above reflects session fee only.  All ordering is done a la carte in your online ordering gallery.  Packages begin at $500.  For more information, availability and full pricing for our 2012 Holiday sessions please call the studio at 401.864.1919.

For all those HHP fans with an addiction to your mobile device (ahem all of us here at the studio)… we have a addition to our popular Rewards Program and we’re sure you’re going to love it!

The Digital Brag Book is an album that saves as an application right on your cell phone. You can share the album with friends and family to show off your Heidi Hope special moments at any moment. Check out the photos below of what the product will look like on your ipad. This way cool product will only be available through the rewards program, so make sure you are checking your boxes! For more information on earning your points or questions about the rewards program, please call the studio at 401.864.1919 for more information.

An HH app?  How cool is that?!

 Here’s a slideshow of a recent session so you can have a peek!

We are super excited about this new product and know you will all be as well

It was 4 in the morning and I hadn’t had the chance to sleep yet.  The night nurse came in with my motrin and asked the baby’s name.  ”Grace”, I told her.  We had just decided that afternoon.  She glanced over and saw the photo of Giuliana framed on the table across from my bed.  ”And your other daughter?” she asked, motioning towards the picture.  ”Giuliana” I answered.  ”Both princess names” she said matter-of-factly.  I hadn’t thought of it.  I couldn’t help but smile.

2 weeks after princess Grace was born we made it into the studio for a photo session on a sweltering 85 degree afternoon.  I was reminded of how hard it is to get out of the house with a new baby; trying to shower with 2 kids crying, haphazardly applying makeup while Dora the Explorer babysits, sweating at the slightest thought of jumping in a few photos with spit-up in your hair and pants that don’t button, realizing you never packed the diaper bag, hoping by some miracle the baby sleeps for you, wondering if your 3-year-old will cooperate and how much you’ll need to bribe them, wishing you had taken the time to plan outfits and get everyone’s hair cut before the baby was born.  I felt for my clients!  Then there was the predicament of being the photographer and the mother during the shoot.  A hungry baby girl trying to eat my fingers every time I posed her.  Nursing every half hour in between sets.  It was definitely a challenge!

Thankfully I had the help of our amazing team at the studio.  I couldn’t have gotten a single photo without their help.  Though I was exhausted at the time of taking these, I’m so happy that we did it.  I’m just in love staring at all of them.  It’s like I get to gaze into Grace’s perfect little newborn face forever now :0)  Bliss!

One week after Grace was born the peonies bloomed.  Peonies have always been a favorite flower of mine and any fan of them knows that they don’t last very long.   I was thrilled to incorporate them into our shoot during the short window of their blooming.  My mom cut bunches of them from her yard and dropped them by the studio just before we started.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to use them, so we decided to just scatter them around and play.  Here are the first images of Grace with her big sister Giuliana from day one at the studio.  My two princesses and lots of pink! <3

It is just days, or perhaps even hours, until Shaun, Giuliana and I welcome our new baby girl into the world.  With my due date approaching so soon, I thought I would check in with all of you for a little farewell.  What else is a girl to do in between timing contractions?

It feels a bit strange to look ahead at the Heidi Hope calendar and see a whole month without any shoots.  It feels strange to wake up in the morning and not have a to-do list I can barely manage.  It feels strange to not have my brain buzzing with session ideas and the daily business of the studio.  I’m a Libra, so I’m constantly seeking balance in my life.  Unfortunately, I think balance is something mothers rarely feel.  Especially mothers who are business owners!  I must say however that focusing on the arrival of this baby has brought me some resemblance of balance in the past days.  It has forced me to slow down and pay attention more to home and family.  I’ve had to say “no” (which I’m not very good at).  ”No” to over-scheduling, “no” to over-committing, and I even wearily said no to a publishing company and the chance to author a photography book (GASP) which has always been a dream of mine.  It’s scary to say “no” when you’re a “yes” kind of gal.  That’s why I’m so thankful for my wonderful team at the studio.  They remind me that it is okay to prioritize.  That sometimes “no” can mean “just not right now”.  That it’s okay to envision how I want to spend this baby’s first year and make it happen for our family!  And then they help me on a daily basis to run an amazing business AND keep that balance.

Of course you all know Mariah by now.  She’s the super talented new addition to our team and in case you were fearing crickets on our blog (how on earth would you distract yourself at work??), rest assured that you’ll still be able to enjoy her gorgeous photography in my absence.   The studio will also still be running as normal, but my camera and I will be HOME getting some R&R for the first time since starting Heidi Hope Photography back in 2008.  Okay, well at least my camera will be getting some rest.  If you have caught some of our recent previews, you know it is no wonder that our clients are going wild for Mariah’s work.  Check out some of her recent shoots for HHP below as well as the maternity images of our family featured in this post!

2 year old N

Senior portraits

Mariah’s calendar for May and June is already almost completely booked so if you are thinking of a Heidi Hope Photography session during those months, it’s time to call the studio and get in while you can!  Believe it or not, we are already talking about family photos for holiday cards with our clients, high school senior portraits are in full swing all summer long, and we’re booking well into the end of 2012 with sweet newborns and fabulous cake smashes!  We’ll likely sell out our summer calendar as we always do, so don’t hesitate to call us up and get all the info you need to make a session with us a reality this summer.

I’m also still receiving so many inquiries for mentoring and class opportunities and want to update all of our photographer friends out there.  2012 started off at a crazy pace for our family (pregnancy, selling our home, moving twice, buying a new home… all while juggling our normal studio schedule, growing the business and continuing our volunteer work and mentoring).   Needless to say, I haven’t had much time to plan a teaching schedule, but when I return in the summer I will be ironing that out for you all.  I had a wonderful experience as a Celebrity Photographer on the Chic Critique Forum this spring and I do plan to do it again, likely in the fall.   My last class sold out, but you can now sign up for a waiting list and be one of the first to know the next time a I host a class with them!  I also plan to offer mentoring opportunities at the studio beginning in 2013 on a very exclusive basis so keep an eye out this fall for details.

In the meantime, sign up for my Chic Critique waiting list here!

As for me, I will be back shooting in July part time and then full time in August.  I’m looking forward to having a few weeks away from it all and coming back inspired and excited to work.  I’m looking forward to mentoring and teaching again along with picking up the camera and capturing all of the wonderful clients who are already on the schedule this summer.  Until then, you will certainly catch a little photography of a personal nature from me, including glimpses of our new baby girl, big sister Giuliana and daily life around our new house.  Shaun and I may even jump in for a few!

Now, there is nothing to do but wait for this baby!  We can’t wait to share our good news with our Heidi Hope family  :0)

~ Heidi

Mariah, here! Heidi is off to the doctor for one of the last checkups before baby, so I’ll be guest-posting previews for her. It’s a blog takeover!

Baby R and his mom stopped by for a session last week, and he couldn’t have been more precious. He was born just in time- one of the last newborns to come to the studio before Heidi’s baby arrives!

Imagine getting this smiling special delivery at your doorstep? We’re smiling over here just looking at this! R was a champ through three sets, classic portraits, and snuggling with mom.

N family, congratulations, and enjoy your preview!

~Mariah

Mariah, here! Heidi is off to the doctor for one of the last checkups before baby, so I’ll be guest-posting previews for her. It’s a blog takeover!

S and C have been with Heidi Hope since they were in mom’s belly! As veteran clients should, they knew exactly what to do at the studio- smile, laugh, and be completely charming for the camera. We added a cake smash just for a challenge, and they didn’t miss a beat! Both loved the cake, and we loved the theme mom chose- rainbow ribbons and confetti to match their party.

H family, thanks for making us a part of the twins’ first year! Enjoy your preview!

~ Mariah

Mariah, here! Heidi is off to the doctor for one of the last checkups before baby, so I’ll be guest-posting previews for her. It’s a blog takeover!

A, E, and little S were full of personality and sweetness at the studio last week. The girls had fun singing silly songs with us, and S just had fun running around the studio. When I say run, I mean RUN…he was fast, and strong! The girls actually had a hard time holding him back for this first shot!

The lavender ensemble mom picked out for their dressy look was spot-on. We love those little suspenders and tie, too! C family, enjoy your preview!

~ Mariah