Hello everyone!!!  Here it is.... the Early Bird Contest! 

The early bird gets the worm... or in this case, not a worm, but a free 11x14 from their upcoming Spring 2010 session.....

Here's the deal:   Register on-line at www.SpoiledRottenPhotography.com for your session by next Wednesday, March 3rd- we will choose at random a winner for a complimentary 11x14....
 
BUT Wait there's more.... Comment on this thread too for another chance to win... (we didn't want to leave any of our candid clients out that don't need to register) Leave a comment here (write something clever like you are excited, or have your child's picture outfit picked out or you have already re-arranged art work on your walls to make room for your new portrait- ) and we'll give another 11x14 to one lucky clever commenter! 

Happy Registering!  Happy Commenting!  Happy Friday!!

People always ask... what to wear????

If you are looking for a modern, fun and colorful portrait... consider Matilda Jane!

The clothing will look FABULOUS with our cottage set! 

Melissa is hosting a trunk show for Matilda Jane!

THIS IS YOUR INVITATION.... Please let me know if you are coming!

THIS Saturday, 27 February
at 1pm-3pm at my home...
7 Ross Street, Village of Providence

melissa@melissatash.com or 658-8275

*****************************************************************

SPECIAL OFFER

If you come to my trunk show and purchase an outfit:

Introducing... The Cottage!

Here is the schedule for this spring:

NEW for his Spring!   Campus Candids!

March 9th- Lindsay Lane CA - Campus Candids and Class and School Portrait

March 23-24- NASA MCDC - Campus Candids  and Class Portraits

This little West Point baby stole my heart over one year ago...

The adorable little one, so adored (did I say adore enough?) by his big brother and sister.... has GROWN!

into a full fledged toddler!  Look at him now! I love my baby plan babies... it is the neatest thing to be able to see them grow and change...

and become such a sweet happy fellow! 

Did I mention how unbelievably adorable he is?  Of course I don't need to write it.. you can see for yourself.

Happy Birthday C! 

I hope you have a wonderful Hungry Caterpillar birthday party!

Meet the B family... mom said she wanted adorable, un-posed images....  mostly candid.... and we seemed to get that from all of them... well except big brother G... (I think he should seriously consider a career in modeling...)  Check out that face....

Oh yes, we had candid... check out little G dancing to "boom, boom, boom" which I understand is a Black Eyed Pea's song.... 

and when we were done dancing... well, let's just say we were DONE!  But when little G gave me this look, I melted.  He's holding his dear "Lion Lion"  which he (and I adore). 

Ok, now to the non-candid  professional model of the B family...   Really, have you ever seen such a photogentic Kindergartener?

And another one....

B family- it was my priviage to capture your family on film (0k, it's really a CMOS compact flash disc... but film sounds much better!) 

This morning, I had the privilege of photographing one of God's newest creations.  Meet AK, she was born last week... to two adoring parents.    AK was quite lively and had wide eyes when we first started... and because being a baby super-model is hard work... she quickly needed some beauty rest... I can not tell you how much I adore this image... J you look fabulous... motherhood looks great on you! 

J and S... wow... you two did an amazing thing.  Can you feel the warmth  in this image?  (or maybe it was a different kind of warmth, ha, S?)

Look at this sweet little bundle... I love the way her toes are peeking out.  She's wrapped in a blanket her Grandmother made.

and of course, I have a thing for baby toes, can't miss a chance to photograph them... Love those little piggies!

and the very last image we took... AK tried to open her eyes... just for a moment... then I'm sure it was back off to sleep... sleep well my little angel.  I enjoyed my morning with you and your mom and dad.

A sweet couple, on the day of their 50th anniversary, didn't want a huge party, didn't want fan-fair, party favors and a DJ.  They simply wanted each other....  it was clear to see their affection for each other... I adore this image.

and they wanted their family....  All of them together...

It did my heart good to see these cousins, who are separated by many miles, together, laughing,  joyful, and just being together for this special occasion.

I couldn't resist posting this sweet one too...  

I lived many states away from my 1st cousins too.. makes me miss them.  Warms my heart to see everyone together.   I am humbled to be able to capture your family and spend time with you on your golden anniversary.  

Meet G... his mother is our fabulous Realtor (who sold our home during the housing crash- yeah Ashleigh Green!)  So if you need someone, she is your go-to girl!  Anyway, she brought her precious 3rd child in for his 1 year portrait.  Ok, not quite at 1 year, but the important thing is that it is now done! 

The time between 1 and 2 is so full of wonder...   I love the look on G's face as he tries to capture those bubbles...

Wonder quickly turned to determination! 

G gave me a run for my money... he was a quick one and loved to explore the studio and had definite opinions about which toy he wanted from my toy bag...  but the favorite was the baseball... which he threw to every corner and then watched his mom fetch.  WHAT EVER IT TAKES TO GET THE SHOT- that's my philosophy!

G- you are a charmer.  Thanks for hanging out at the studio... Jameson and Caroline want a play date soon with your big brother and sister. 

Meet sweet baby A.  I photographed her and her sweet family back in December.   We had to totally re-arrange the entire dining room to get this shot!  But the light, while very low, was perfect.    I loved the way the mirror behind her gave a nice rim light and makes this image have a 3D quality- not to mention how incredibly peaceful and perfect A looks sleeping. This piece of furniture belonged to baby A's great Grandmother, so Mom and Dad wanted to include it.   (I'd say definitely worth all the furniture moving for this shot!)



Meet the first baby.  They say he is doing well with the new addition.  We had our own little dogie photo shoot while mom was feeding baby A.  He was quite a cooperative model. 



And here is the new family, all together.  I literally got chill bumps after I clicked the shutter on this one.



I couldn't resist putting a few of the images together... I caught baby A in that little newborn smile- sweet.




N & J- you guys amaze me how you have it all together.  I loved my afternoon with you and look forward to seeing little A grow this year.

Hello Friends,

Well, let me tell you.  2010 is bringing new adventures, new challenges and surely new rewards!  For the last 10 years I have worked for Teledyne Brown Engineering on NASA's Space Station project during the day... and on nights, weekends (and wee hours of the morning) worked my photography.  So many people told me, I don't know how you do it.  Well, me either.  Except Jamie took up the slack and supported my CRAZY schedule, especially crazy for the last 3 years.   I'm ready to be able to dedicate more of my time to my family and my dreams.    This decision was not an easy one, as I know how wonderful of a job I have (or had)!  I have 4 amazing bosses who were supportive of me. I had job autonomy, flexible work hours, an amazing work environment, fabulous group of friends, not to mention decent pay and benefits.  EO20, I will miss you.  Dearly.

We live in abundance.  As I sat in my MIL's church, Grace Church, and her pastor, Larry, reminded me in a way that tipped the scale to make this move.... our Lord promises us a life full of abundance.  He used a poem in his sermon... Jesus Christ the Apple Tree... it was so clear to me at that point that I must not let fear keep me from living a life of abundance. If I continued to work 70+ hours a week, it would be impossible for me to do the things I believe that I am called to do.

With this new direction and new allocation of time, I want to be able to give more back to my community.  We have supported  a couple of local charities, mainly, IMS First Stop (Ministry to Huntsville's Homeless) which we plan to continue to support.  But, I want to do more.  I want to make a difference in young lives.  I accredit my interest in photography to one of my high school teachers who loved me, supported me, and believed in me.  Bob Crump, I know I've told you this- but so many years ago you made a huge difference in the outcome of my life.  I want to be able to make a difference in young people's lives too....  I have not worked the details out, don't have a mission statement or even a sketch of the program yet, but look for MTS to be supporting young people interested in photography soon.  Making a difference- my 2010 goal.  

Thank you to everyone who has supported Melissa Tash Studios and Spoiled Rotten Photography.  It has been an amazing journey so far and I look forward to the future.  I can not think of a more amazing profession that affords me so much opportunity to meet and be a part of so many fabulous people's families.