The Nest

My how you've grown!

Sometimes I don't realize how fast time flies.  Especially lately with my husband having been deployed for the last six months.  By the way... he comes home next week!  Woo hoo!   Six months seems like such a LONG time... and it is.  But, when Ryland came in to have his seven month pictures made and I realized that it's been OVER six months since I last saw him I couldn't believe it!  It seems like just yesterday!  It's funny how time is a definitive thing but yet still so subjective.  

Anyway... here is Mr. Ryland and boy has he grown!  I've included one picture from his newborn session so you can see just how much.  Enjoy!

Melissa

New Just Hatched Website goes LIVE!

I am sooo excited to announce that the new website is up and running!  I spent most of the last weekend working on it and I really, really love it and hope you do to.  As I said before... this is just one of many *new* things going on at Just Hatched.  Please be sure to check out the new site... especially under the "DETAILS" tab.  There is some information there that I think many of you will be thrilled about!

Click to go to the website!

If you haven't done so yet, please sign up to receive our blog updates.  You can do that by entering your email address in the "Subscribe" box at the top left of the blog.  This is the ONLY way to be sure you stay informed of all the fun and new stuff we are doing at Just Hatched!  Also, if you can tell your friends about the new site and blog I would really appreciate it!  I have made a promise (for real this time) to better communicate with clients, potential clients and people who just happen to end up here and I want to be sure someone... anyone is reading this stuff!  A lot of the topics will be about photography but sometimes it may just be me rambling about something... probably my kids. :)

There is so much to tell you all about right now but I'm trying to spread it out so you aren't inundated with blog updates!  A few things coming up:

A wonderful charity event we participated in!

Progress on the new studio.

Our first photo contest - dig out your best snapshots and standby for more details!  I know several of you that are very serious about your picture taking and it could pay off BIG!

Much, much more!

I better stop or I'll give it all away right now!  

Take care,

Melissa

P.S.  Don't forget the holiday mini sessions are on November 1 & November 7, 2008.  More info can be found on the website under the "EVENTS" tab.  Space is limited and we're starting to book now.

Hang in there!

A lot of things are changing here at The Nest and on the Just Hatched web site.  We are launching a new look over the next week so please be patient with us as we get it all up and running and work out the bugs.  We hope you enjoy this fresh and fun new look!

Please Subscribe!

In an effort to streamline this whole blogging process I have added the ability to subscribe by email to the blog.  I am doing this in place of the newsletter.  Blogging is just WAY more fun than producing a newsletter!  The blog will be used to showcase recent work, announce specials and to have a little FUN!  One of the first fun things we will be doing is photo contest!  More on that later but first I need everyone to subscribe to the blog so you are sure to be in on all the cool things going on at Just Hatched.  It only takes a minute... simply enter your email address in the subscribe box to the left of this post.  Shortly after you'll receive an email to confirm that you would like to subscribe to 'The Nest'.  Click on the link provided in the email and VOILA!  You'll be all set up to received the latest information from Just Hatched!  Thank you so much for taking the time to subscribe!  I am really looking forward to staying in touch.

Melissa

New Big Brother!

I had a surprise a few weeks ago!  One of my favorite little babies is no longer a little baby any more!  In fact, he is now a big brother!  The last time I saw him he had just turned one and we had a session on the beach.  Actually, if you watch the slideshow at the start of my website, he is in the third picture... the family of three walking in the sunset.  I still remember photographing him as a newborn and here he is holding his new little brother!  

He did NOT want to open his eyes!

Still sleepy...

  

Finally!  Some eyeballs!  :)

Just can't stay in one place!

No... I'm not talking about my rambunctious little clients.  I'm talking about me, and the fact that, "yes," I am moving my studio once again!  I know I swore I would never move again, but I found a fabulous space in the Hillcrest area and I just couldn't resist!

 

Like the downtown studio, it is bright and spacious, has picture perfect lighting, and the exposed brick work and beams provide tons of charm and character.  The only thing it doesn't have... another photographer!  That's right!  My dream of having my own private studio is finally becoming a reality.  Not only does this move provide me with more creative freedom, it offers you more privacy and comfort.

 

So, to each and every one of you, I want to say a huge "THANK YOU!"  Without your continued support over the years this wonderful new opportunity would not be possible.

 

I will be in the new space by the end of October, which just happens to coincide perfectly with the studio Holiday Special Event on November 1st.  Keep watching the website and your mailbox for more information. 

 

I hope all is well with everyone and I look forward to seeing you during the holiday season.

 

Thank you!

 

Melissa

Second Time Around

Well, I can tell I'm established in San Diego now!  A good bit of my business in 2008 has come from repeat clients coming in with their second baby.  I have really enjoyed this!  It's fun to see the baby and whether or not they look like their older sibling.  My FAVORITE thing though is seeing the parents.  Gone are the jitters of first time parenthood.  Gone is the rush to sterilize everything the baby touches.  Don't get me wrong... those are all rights of passage for first time parents... been there... done that... personally own the T-shirt!  However, it's a very cool thing to see parents come in with their second child more confident and sure of themselves.  It's an opportunity I get to watch not just babies, but parents, grow.  I love my job!

This is Miss Morgan and her new sister Hailey.

I have photographed Morgan since she was 4 months old

and now she's 3 and a Big Sister.

 

Sleepy Hailey

Hailey and Mom

Miss Hailey's beautiful eyes!

Back from Vacation!

Wow!  What a crazy couple of weeks!  I was busy proofing sessions right up until I got on the plane and was shooting a session the day after I returned.  Don't worry... I will be sharing some of my vacation photos later.  Right now I wanted to share some pictures from the marathon of sessions just before I left. 

Miss Sophia... she just turned 2!  I've had the honor

of photographing her since she was 4 months old!  :)

   

OK, how stinkin' cute is this hat???

Miss Anna - 8 months old and just about the happiest little girl!

2 Anna's in one week!  :)  This beautiful little girl was only

about 2 weeks old.

How long is summer vacation???

Well, since I have not been working much the past couple of weeks I don't really have any pictures to share.  That should change by next week... I have 6 sessions between now and next week.  I'm trying to get them all in before I go on my vacation... ALONE... with NO KIDS! 

Don't get me wrong... I LOVE my kids but this is the first summer I've had to spend an entire summer with them out of school.  Prior to our moving to Coronado they attended a year round school.  There was only about a 3-4 week break over the summer.  Sure it always felt like we were trying to jam a lot into those short weeks but now faced with the alternative - 10 WHOLE WEEKS WITH THE KIDS - I am looking back fondly on that short break.  Unfortunately I'm just NOT one of those mothers who is good at the summer break thing.  I know some moms who run summer time like a camp with activities and play dates all lined up.  Yep, that's NOT me.  I wish it were though!  Thank goodness for summer camp, the swimming pool, the beach, etc. 

I do have some good news... on a personal note.  Many of you have been so kind as to check up on me and ask about my husband who was deployed to Cuba unexpectedly.  Well, it looks as if he will be coming home EARLY!  :)  He was supposed to be gone until late November and now it looks like he'll be back late September/early October.  I am very excited to get him back and get things back to normal!

That's all I have for today.  Next week I should have quite a few pictures to share.  Happy 4th of July to everyone!

Melissa

God bless Lollipops!

I think that around two years old kids really start to make their place in this world.  They are mobile... they are communicative and they defintiely know what they do and do NOT want!  Miss J here had decided she did NOT want to have her picture made this particular day and she told me so  - many times  - and in no uncertain terms!  I didn't let that stop me though and I just LOVE this entire session!  It totally represents Miss J at two!

Enjoy!

This image kinds of sums up the mood of the day!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I said... God bless the lollipop!

 

 

 

 

 

When a child laughs from the bottom of their soul, there is no sweeter sound!

 

This image right here... this was worth all the singing...

all the funny noises and every lollipop I have!