Cutest Kid Contest

I thought it would be great to start off the year with something both fun. Beginning today you can submit a photo of your child to our Cutest Kid Contest. The winner will receive bragging rights, a free photo session, $350 Print Collection, and be featured on our website.



How To Enter
-Send an email to info@fcmst.com with the subject line CUTEST KID CONTEST

- Include your child’s name and age in the e-mail, as well as your name and contact information (only the child's first name and age will be posted for viewing).

Rules To Keep in Mind

- child must be 9 years old or younger on the date of entry

- you must be the parent or legal guardian of the child you enter into the contest

- one entry per child

- submissions may not be professional photographs

- photo must have been taken in the last 6 months

- Contest open to everyone, however the session must take place within 30 miles of zip codes 32808 (for Orlando area) or 32606 (for Gainesville Area)

- every entry will receive a $25 credit towards their next session fee with Forever Captured Moments Photography. Limit one per household/family. Must be used by March 31st, 2010.

- Must receive email by 8:00pm on January 14, 2011


How Photos Will Be Judged
- On January 15, 2011 all entries will be uploaded into an album on our facebook fan page

- To vote for a photo you MUST be a ‘fan’ (‘like’) Forever Captured Moments Photography

- Click ‘like’ for the photo you are voting for in the Forever Captured Moments Photography album labeled ‘2011 Cutest Kid Contest’

- The photo with the most ‘likes’ will be the winner. Comments permitted, but WILL NOT count towards the total number of votes

- Voting will close Monday, January 31st, 11:59pm (EST), 2011

- Official winner(s) will be notified and announced on Tuesday, February 1, 2010

What You Will Win

1st Place Winner:

The parent or legal guardian of the child in the photo that receives the most ‘likes’ will receive a free photo session (for up to 5 immediate family members) with Forever Captured Moments photography, one 11x14 photo, two 8x10 photos, four 5×7 photos, and sixteen wallets.

Photo session must be booked within 30 days of winning, and completed before March 31, 2011. Prize retail value of $350 – can not be altered or changed in any way, and not redeemable for cash. If desired, additional prints and products can be purchased.

2nd Place Winner:

Will receive a free photo session and a $50 print credit.

3rd Place Winner:

Will receive a free photo session.

Every Entry:

Every entry will receive a $25 credit towards their next session fee with Forever Captured Moments photography. Limit one per household/family. Must be used by March 31, 2011

Please note: No other promotions or discounts can be applied to prizes, prizes are not transferable to other persons, winners must be willing to sign a model release.


Know you have the cutest kid? Send in his/her photo to info@fcmst.com with the above information today!

New Beginnings - Gainesville Newborn Photographer

As a photographer I feel extremely honored each time a family invites me to take part in their journey. I love being able to capture the beginning of a life and of the start of a new chapter.

The Anticipation.


The love between mom and dad to be.

And the blessing of a new baby.
I get so excited as the due date gets closer and closer and when I finally get to meet one of "my babies" it never fails to amaze me that there was actually a baby in there. How amazing is our God!

A Day In The Garden

I just wanted to take a few seconds to remind everyone that this Friday kicks off our Day in the Garden Sessions. These sessions will only be held on the 19th and the 29th of this month and then that is it for the year! Please, please do not let your child miss out on an opportunity for beautiful heirloom quality portraits. The Winter Park location where we are photographing these portraits at is gorgeous, and I will have other "sets" put together in addition to the tea party and picnic set. There are still a few appointment times left and by request I have added a few appointment times in the evening to make it easier for my parents who work to attend. If you have questions on how the limited edition sessions work give us a call or check out our commonly asked questions here.

Your child's session can be booked by giving us a call at 407.374.3026 or book online!

Fun!Fun!Fun! - Orlando Maternity Photographer

This morning I got a chance to photgraph J&E who are expecting a baby boy in May. These two are just too much fun, and it will be veeeeeeeeeeeery interesting to see the personality of little E as he grows. Hope you guys enjoy your sneak peak and I will see you soon.

WTEW

If you're signed up for our newsletter you know all about what Wednesday's now signify here on our blog. For the rest of my readers, I bring to you the first post of What to Eat Wednesday's! I enjoying cooking but realize that not everyone does, and forget eating healthy, it can feel like hard stuff but it doesn't have to be. Wednesday is smack dab in the middle of the work week and is quite drab so to mix it up, What to Eat Wednesday's have great eats that don't take too long, are easy to shop for, fun for the kids to help with, and healthy (well most of the time ;).

Yummy Chicken Pasta (taking suggestions for a better name in the comment area )
1 1/2 cups of Chopped Rotisserie Chicken
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
1/2 cup chopped apples
1/2 cup chopped spinach
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup Zesty Italian Dressing
1 box Bowtie or Shell Pasta
Knife, Cutting Board, Large Bowl, Large Spoon, Pot, Pasta Strainer

First go ahead and put your water on to boil with a few pinches of salt, while it heats up go ahead and pull the meat off of half of a Rotisserie Chicken. If you prefer to forgo the chopping grab a 2 cans of chicken or tuna in water. Once the water begins to boil go ahead and drop in your box of pasta. While it is the pasta is cooking, go ahead and chop the rest of your ingredients. To be completely honest most veggies work well in this recipe, I usually add in zucchini, raisins or cranberries, broccoli, the fresher the better. As you chop your ingredients the 1/2 cup measurement doesn't have to be exact, more wont' hurt. Toss all chopped ingredients into a bowl by this point your pasta should be done cooking (go by the instructions for al dente on the back of the pasta box). Grab your pasta strainer and strain the pasta, run cold water over the pasta until the pasta becomes cool. Pour pasta into bowl with chopped ingredients, add in the 1 cup of Zesty Italian Dressing and mix it all together. Grab a fork and enjoy, well you might want to grab a plate first ;).

How to involve the kids:
The funny thing about kids is if they help to make something they are more likely to eat it, even when there are veggies.
Here are a few ways a child even as young as two can help make this dish.
- Set or Listen out for the pasta timer.
- Set the table.
- As you chop the veggies toss them into a small bowl and allow your child place them in the larger bowl. While you chop the other veggies you can talk to them about colors and size, please be sure to watch out for little fingers near the knife, in fact if you have enough space chop near the sink and have your child on another end of the counter.
- Squish the chicken! Okay it sounds gross mom, but it's fun. After you have chopped the chicken place it into a bowl and let your little one squish it up :D this actually breaks it up into smaller pieces and means you get to do less chopping.
- Watch the pasta to make sure none fall out as you are rinsing it.
The truth is this dish is quick and simple and when in the kitchen you often will not "need" their help but cooking together as a family is lots of fun!

Other ways to eat this dish:
Omit 1/2 a cup of the Italian dressing and the pasta. Instead eat it on crackers/bread, over a bed of lettuce, or roll of the mixture inside of a leaf of romaine for a breadless wrap.

I hope you've enjoyed our first What to Eat Wednesday post, if you get a chance to try this recipe have any questions, suggests, or comments please leave them in the comment section.
Until Next Time!

In The Middle - Orlando Tween Photographer

Being a preteen is hard! No seriously it is, as adults when we look back and wish we could go back to a time when we had no worries or cares, but if we look back and truly remember your reminded of all the emotions and thoughts of being a preteen. Not quite an adult, no longer a baby.
Miss Alexandra is the kid-sister (do people still say that, I think I only actually 'heard' the term when reading Babysitter's Club way back when) of my best friend, one of four, and as close to the middle as you can get with an even number :). In many ways we are alike, in fact I'm also a middle child. During their family session when I shot this image, I knew it was going to be my favorite, and there were several I liked. When I look at the image the way the light touches her face, conveys the feeling of closing a chapter and crossing over into a new one.

I wish I could photograph this stage more often, even if just to remind my subject just how beautiful they are. We are each a finished work in progress, Miss Alexandra, I can't wait to see what great things you do, and who you become!

1 in 2010 - Orlando Children Photographer

Mr. Jman, not his real name :) but I can't help but call him that, I love love his little man face. To top it off on his birthday, I got to stop by the party to give him his gift and he was in a cute little suit. I remember when my sister was pregnant and we didn't know yet if she was having a boy or girl, my sisters and I would window shop at the mall for clothes daydreaming about when the baby would arrive. We quickly realized that there are soooooooo many more clothing choices for little girls. Somehow though Mr. J's mama seems to find the cutest things for him. I feel both happy and privileged to have photographed his first year, and am looking forward to watching him grow. . . even if it does make me feel old ;) .