After a loooong "Mama break", I'm getting back into the swing of things and picking the camera back up again! It's been so fun to begin photographing again and seeing some of my clients.... as well as meeting new ones! 

I've freshened up a few things from my branding & logo design, to packaging to my portfolio  - the portfolio updates are currently still in the works of course!

I've been busy the last few weeks photographing some wonderful (and beautiful!) couples.....

I had the privilege of photographing Laurin, and her Husband, who were expecting their first little one this very month! She is simply stunning.... see for yourself! 

                         

I just found out that their little man has arrived! I can't wait to meet him!

I had SO much fun with these two. 

We were at a site just on the outskirts of town, and it was so serene, quiet & beautiful with the tall grasses & the sun starting to set. It was peaceful. I might just go there when I need a getaway :) 

Thank you both for making my 1st Maternity shoot back from my break so enjoyable,

and congratulations on welcoming your son! 

***

I also had the chance to capture another beautiful Mama, and her Hubby for an outdoor maternity shoot last weekend. I am loving these outdoor sessions! Dana is so gorgeous, and is expecting their 2nd little one later this summer... I photographed their daughter as a newborn several years ago & now will be honored to photograph their new & tiny family member due in a few months!

                         

I enjoy being able to capture parents together - both with bebe bump in the shot & without. 

The setting was again on the outskirts of town, with tall grasses & setting sun. 

 I love to capture this time in a couples life... it's what seems like a blink of an eye when I look back at my three pregnancies. It's also a wonderful opportunity for Mama's to pamper themselves & FEEL as beautiful as they are! 

I currently have a select few dates available for Outdoor Maternity sessions starting in July! You can even book directly on my website http://www.melaneeselbyphotography.com

***

New Props!

I'm so excited to be getting in some of the new things I have ordered for Newborn sessions.... I still have more on the way that I am really anxious to get in my hands! These are just a few of the things that are arriving & I couldn't help but share because I think they are just lovely!

On the way are some sweet organic feeling bonnets, basket filler "fluff & backdrop fabrics too! And my new Shoot Baby! posing bag arrived which I am really excited about - my posing beanbag I had been using had seen better days!

Newborn sessions are also available on Saturdays at my home studio! You can book your Newborn session on my website as well at http://www.melaneeselbyphotography.com 

Stay tuned! 

~M~

Truth | Honesty

|the best policy|

As most of you know my Family & I welcomed our third little boy into the world in August....

he is a blessing & a beautiful little miracle!

When he was just 1 month old I returned to photography . I am sure as most of you parents know, newborns are a great deal of heart, soul & love. Our older two boys also began school- and life went into a fast & furious overdrive.

I've also been struggling with being sick since before Nolan was born, which although hasn't proven to be serious it's definitely a set back on many days. This makes for an even more complicated day, and then the fast & furious overdrive of life becomes that much more exhausting & difficult to maintain.  

I am sure you have noticed my many thanks to those clients who are still patiently awaiting their session images.... Although for many photographers a 1 month turn around is typical, I strive to work on a 2-3 week turn around... but right now, it's become longer....and then I feel a heavy stress on my shoulders. So, again I sincerely thank you all who are waiting for your images so patiently, and who have been so kind and understanding! This has meant so much <3

Through all of this, it has proven to me that I indeed can't tackle the world just yet. I need to take care of myself, regain my health and regain my two feet in mothering my three beautiful children. For the next six months, or sooner hopefully, I will be "extending" my maternity leave....more like a "Mama-Leave" to work on gaining this grounding.

I will only be booking a very limited number of sessions during this time.

I hope that you will all bear with me & continue to understand the swirls & whirls of life spinning around in my own little world right now. I will continue to work on those sessions that you are patiently awaiting & just thank you a million times over for your kindness!

~M~

(please scroll to the bottom of the blog for music)

Miss Lucy

| 1 year |

Long Lashes. Chubby Cheeks.

Dimpled hands.

Whispy hair.

As the cliche saying goes- time 

flies & now Miss Lucy has turned One.

Lucky for us we were able to

capture these at her

Great-Grandparents house....

in Gram's Garden.

.Happy 1st Birthday.

~M~

Printing Your Images

| where to go... it matters! |

Now that you have your disc of images,

you are eager to go get some prints made!

Off you race to one of the local 1 hour, .29/print

retailers.... NO, STOP! PLEASE!

One of the biggest reasons I have not released

my session images to clients is this very idea alone.

I'm all for fast printing & saving money, but

it's also very scary as a photographer who

puts talent & so much time into making your

final images what they are.

It is scary because those local quickie retailers

produce prints that have green casts, color

distortions, are blurry & have loss of details.

So for this reason alone I have been

overly apprehensive about releasing

images on disc. 

Lets say you get your disk.... you head to your local retail

store or pro camera store & have a nice sized 16x20 print made.

You hang it on your wall at home... so what's the problem?

Just what I mentioned earlier- the green cast, the blur, the loss

of details, color distortion, etc.

Ah, then your neighbor or friend stops by and asks

"Who took the pictures on your wall?"

"Melanee Selby Photography!" you say...

eeek...shiver...cry.

This is NOT a good representation of my work.

I spend a great deal of time working on your images

to make them pop & come alive!

You can see the difference in the images below



image courtesy of Wendy L White Photography | used with permission



Notice how the colors are off from the original digital... notice how

the shadows are too dark & lack detail, it's blurry.... ugh, these make me cringe!

Millers Professional Lab is wonderful, but only available

to professional photographers.... but you can see that Mpix is a a GREAT

public lab choice for you! It is 100% my recommendation to use them.

Their turn-around time is only a few days!

http://www.mpix.com/

So, PLEASE be cautious where you print.

Why pay me as your professional photographer if you

don't care what your prints look like?



~M~

NEW | NEW | NEW

I first want to THANK all of you

for your continued support & friendship.

I have so enjoyed the adventures & journeys

I've taken thus far.

As a THANK YOU

I have decided to make some

changes to my sessions....

Yes, just for you!

Beginning 03.1.11

sessions will now include

FULL RESOLUTION IMAGES

on disc with print release!

As an added BONUS, I am

offering $20 off your session

if you book this first week

of March.... 

03.1.11 - 03.6.11

You can book a session for Spring, Summer or Fall!!

Yes, I'm talking Senior Sessions in the summer,

Family Session in the fall for those Holiday Cards,

Birthdays & more... You name it!

Please keep in mind that I will be taking Maternity leave

from 08.1.11 - 09.15.11

How about one more BONUS for today...

Yep, I'm feeling Spring-ish today!

Become a follower of The Blog &

you'll earn another $5 off

So... mark your calendars for this week!

Starting tomorrow, 03.1.11, to earn up to $25 off your next session:

 1. Visit http://www.melaneeselbyphotography.com/ 

to book your session with $20 off

2. Become a Follower of The Blog

for an additional $5 off

If you have any questions, please contact me

at melanee@melaneeselbyphotography.com

Happy Shopping!

~M~

*this offer is only valid on sessions booked starting 03.1.11 and does not apply to previous sessions



Daniel

|senior sessions|

Yes indeed, Daniel will be going places in life,

I can tell! On his horizon is the desire for

design school & his guitar....

First up is finishing Senior year at

Thomas Edison high school.

Thankfully the rain kept away, but the

chilly breeze wasn't so kind.

Thanks Daniel for braving the cold!

~M~

Jakob

{senior.session}

We finally had a dry day- and so we headed

to the streets of downtown Portland to

capture Jakob for his Senior Year!

Wow was it ever FREEZING....

windy windy windy!

Jakob braved the cold & wind

with a smile....again, brave!

We captured some fun, some

serious & some family.

Here's a little sneak peek!

~M~

Designer Birth Announcements

{new product}

Introducing our new line of

Custom Desinger Birth Announcements

Die Cut, scalloped and circular...

you choose your design, verbage & image

from your session.

What a unique & beautiful way to

introduce your new one

to family and friends!

To Order:
Choose from Round, Square or Rectangular
and Smooth or Scalloped Edge

Set of 25 Birth Announcements
with envelopes

$60


*can only be used with images from Melanee Selby Photography*

Babies, Seniors, Workshop...oh my!

{a little of lately}

Well, it's been a busy last few weeks.

I travelled to California to visit family

and attend a workshop... wow, was

this fun!

Just me.

(shhh- i missed the kids & hubby SO much!)

The workshop was amazing! I learned some,

connected some & ate some delicousness...the time

was wonderfully spent. Connecting, creating,

and learning.... reminds me why i love doing

photography SO much! Here's some images

from the day....

I had the honor of photographing my cousin

for her Senior year-- we had SO much fun!

She is absolutely gorgeous & such a sweetheart....

now I'm hoping she comes to college here in Oregon!!

Here's a few from our day together....

I also had the opportunity to photograph baby Nicolas...

ugh, I love babies! I captured some of my new

favorites with this little guy.

Here's a few of my favorites...

I love my jobs- Mom & Photographer.

For all who support me & encourage me

so that I can continue to grow I thank you...

SO MUCH!

xox

~M~

   

{Nicholas}

A new baby is like the beginning of all things-

Wonder, Hope, a Dream of possibilities.

~ Eda J. Le Shan~

Just 3 days old (sigh)

and so itty bitty!

Mr Nicholas fully

enjoyed being snuggled by

his Mama, and let us

capture a few pictures

in between :)

Thank you for welcoming me into your home today

(and for the delicious baklava)

Enjoy a little sneak peek!

~M~

{Jesse & Margaret}

"Blessing of the Hands"

These are the hands of your best friend,

young and strong and full of love for you,

that are holding yours on your wedding day,

as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years,

and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fill your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes;

tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged,

will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

I simply love this...it is, in my eyes, a beautiful reminder of what 

we are capable of as human beings. The power we have in only our

hands is quite amazing....

The glow & laughter Margaret had today would make anyone smile.

And if that didn't get ya, their light-hearted spirits would have.

Lots of laughter, some tears, some treasured toasts by 'The Dads',

Jesse's Grandma's presence, hot dance moves from back in the college days...

I can only sum it up by saying BEAUTIFUL & FUN.

A beautiful Bride, a handsome Groom & two lovely hearts....

Happy Day to you both!

Much thanks to you for allowing me to be apart of your day.

Enjoy your sneak peek!

~M~