Leslie Styler Photography Blog

Phoenix children's photographer

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Phoenix Children's photographer

2011-08-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

Newborn photography

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NEW BLOG

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CHECK OUT MY NEW BLOG WITH MY NEWEST WORK HERE
http://lesliestyler.com/blog/

Sammy’s Senior Portrait

2010-05-20T01:57:00.001-07:00

Saturday I was very blessed with Sammy as my first senior portrait. She did an amazing job. I was so excited & anxious to actually shoot a senior who would be posing for me. It was so thrilling to work with her. She was creative, and was a natural in front of the camera. . I can’t explain the rush it was for me to be able to take her photos, try new angles and try to make her look great. It’s funny as a photographer I always try to get to know my clients as I photograph them. The reason is as a photographer you aren’t just taking someone’s photos you are capturing their soul their spirit. You are taking capturing their emotions at that time in their life. I love to to get to know all about who the people as I photograph them.

As the session went on Sammy relaxed and had fun with it. By the end of the session Sammy and I were coming up with really fun and creative poses. She is gorgeous and very photogenic. I personally think she should model. She has that “look”, check her out.

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Collages now available

2010-05-05T20:02:00.001-07:00

I can custom make collages of your children, ask me about it

My baby girl was born: Sierra Mae Styler

2010-05-03T09:57:00.002-07:00

I took a few months off to rest up for our new precious little arrival. She came in the middle of March. I was only in labor for 8 hours and pushed for 15 minutes. What a blessing to have a birth like this.
She has made our lives so much more wonderful then we could ever imagine. What a sweet precious little baby girl. I always wanted boys (because I was a tomboy my whole life) until my darling little niece came into the world and I totally changed my mind. My heart was in love with little girls. They are so sweet their beautiful dresses and bows etc. Thank heaven for little girls!

Poor baby has colic for weeks now. It's really hard on the parents because you can't take the pain away. I have been trying everything!!! I am breastfeeding so I gave up all the things that could be causing it. God willing it may help. This next Saturday I have my first portrait session and she isn't taking the bottle well, we have been working with her everyday. I am so thrilled and excited to go back to work. But I am nervous leaving her long since she is only 7 weeks old. I am taking less work at the beginning so I can spend more time with her because she will only be this small once. My editing is very time consuming.

Please help us welcome our beautiful little girl.

Thank heaven for little girls !!

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Alisa J- Maternity session

2010-01-23T13:12:00.001-08:00

Thank you everyone for checking out all my newest photo sessions.
I met Alisa and her husband a few weeks ago for her maternity session. We photographed these photos in their neighborhood. It turned out to be a beautiful location. The sad thing is I won’t be able to do her newborn session since I am taking maternity leave. But I can do photos of their baby after I come back. This couple was a lot of fun. They are such a beautiful couple together. I loved taking their photos because they were up for anything really and they were super nice. I enjoyed talking to them. Alisa is a design major and works in marketing so by the end of the shoot she was helping to come up with more ideas. I know their little baby is going to be beautiful!! Anyways, here are some images that we were able to capture.

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Props

2010-01-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

I have been slowly adding to my props collection lately. I just recently bought some newborn handmade hats. The ones above. The green hat was bought from Cricket Creations on Etsy.
Click here to view more of her work
Check out these hats below. I love them and addicted to this site. I can't believe how sweet these handmade items are. My Mom and I always made crafts so anything handmade to me is so much more beautiful because someone took the time and made them. This is the site that has tons of handmade items. You can find tons of things.

http://www.etsy.com

There are so many to choose from and good prices too. If you are wanting to get a newborn session, I highly recommend picking one and having it made. The prices range from $13-$30. The one I bought only took like a week or 2 to be sent to me. These are some I was thinking about getting someday. They are all so cute, I just can't decide. I linked some of them in case anyone wants to purchase these. I don't make any money from it. Just like to help others to enjoy getting their photos taken and other photographers. Click on the photo it will bring you to those sellers item.
(this is not my photography, I am using this photo as an example)

Booking in May with me

2010-01-19T11:14:00.000-08:00

Many of my clients ask me if they I can book them for when I come back.
I haven't decided yet as of the exact dates I am returning. But yes I can pencil you in if you are interested. At this time I am not booking or taking deposits. When I decide the exact date I am returning then I can take your deposit and book you for sure. But for now I can pencil you in. Meaning that the date you choose I will put you down for that. If I decide to come back a week or 2 later than we work around that and schedule a good date for both of us.
I will miss photographing families and my clients. But in the meantime I will be practicing newborn shots on my little girl! So get ready and look out because I am going to master newborn sessions ;0)

I am starting a list now from mid May. Please email me if you would like penciled in.

May 15th -Terra H

Oxi Clean takes out every stain!

2010-01-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

Oxi Clean is seriously magic, I love this stuff!

Soak it for a day or 2. Even if you dry a stain that didnt come out in the wash. It will come out every time. It's great for children's clothes because they get the most stains. I soak my sons clothes in the washer machine filled with soap and water and a little bit of Oxi Clean overnight and then start it up in the morning. Takes everything out. Oh and I use Spray and Wash as well. Just an extra tip.

Neti Pot - Colds & Allergies

2010-01-19T08:34:00.000-08:00

We love that thing in our house. Every time we are starting to get a cold. This clears it up right away. Also really helps with allergies. My throat was killing me the other night and I used it and it literally took 85% of the pain away. I woke up and was stuffed up again and my throat hurt so I did the Neti Pot again it helped even more. Each day I like to do it till it clears it completly up.

No side effects
No chemicals
No having to take medicine

Here is the one I bought: Neti Pot at Walgreens (Drugstore). You dont actually put this one inside your nose.
Directions:
You just put it at the edge and pour the water in as you tilt your head. Then the water should drain out the other side. Just dont tilt your head back too far or it will start going into your throat. Also you have to tilt your head over the sink so it runs there. It does work wonders. I blow my nose a few times in between doing it to get it drained out better. I feel this really helps. My husband just drains it all at once. When you blow your nose though don't blow hard or can you hurt your ears.

Switch sides of your nose in the middle of doing it. If you don't get good results I will be surprised. I have met so many people that use it and LOVE the results

Kim's Twin babies at 6 months

2010-01-14T17:26:00.002-08:00

Marsha O. and Bill hired me shoot their Grandtwins for a year. The babies are adorable and melt your heart with their tiny little smiles. I photographed their first session around November of 2009. These babies are so beautiful and sweet. At the time they weren’t able to sit up and were 3 months. Now they are 6 months old and are able to sit up but start to tip over when you sit them up. It’s super cute!!! Luckily I got one photo of Owen sitting up for a moment. This whole family is such a pleasure to work with, I am truly blessed to have met them. I enjoyed talking to them after about the babies and how everyone is doing now.
At the end of the session poor sweet little Miss Katylen was tired and crying so we sadly weren’t able to get a shot of them both together. But next time we definitely will have to do that shot first.

Enjoy viewing this beautiful family!!

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Star client of the day

2010-01-04T18:59:00.001-08:00

Last night I thought it would be fun to post a new client's photo as my profile picture each day.
This way everyone could see a new fresh face. I hope everyone enjoys this new idea. I love to SHOW OFF my clients whenever I can. Especially when they have the cutest kids and babies!!

Please make comments or if you want give them a few stars that would be fun too!

Telle -Maternity Session

2010-01-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

Today I met Telle and Chad for her maternity shoot.
We met at a fun location. I was super excited to do something different. I tend to do most of my shoots at parks. For me this was a challenge to start try new ideas, it was great! I love meeting new people who are up to spontaneous ideas.
This beautiful couple were lots of fun to talk to and photograph. Telle is a manager at a mortgage company and Chad is an does IT. The funny thing is a ton of my clients do IT, for a living. She was 33 weeks pregnant and is due in January. I have a few clients that are due from now till January. I can't wait to meet their new little arrival (who just came yesterday)

I give a 20% off for newborn shoot after buying a maternity session. It is so neat to see how everyone's baby turns out and what they look like. I love having this wonderful opportunity to see this miracle happen. One minute the baby is in their Mommies tummy and a few weeks later the baby has arrived!! What a joyful time in life, I am truly blessed to have this chance.

The thank you photos was for their thank you cards from her shower.

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Christmas 2009

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Last year I really wanted to get my son a kitchen for Christmas but he was only 1.5. So my husband talked me into waiting till this year because he would be older and appreciate it more. Well he was so right. I was glad we waited. He LOVES it and just yesterday came to me and said, "Mommy I like my kitchen". He loves to help bake!! I posted a couple of him the next morning playing with it. Poor baby got a cold on Christmas with a fever so he didn't get to open many presents that day. He did get to open some for a few days which he loved.

The one photo is of him after he went for a walk around the neighborhood with his Daddy looking at the Christmas lights. It's his favorite thing to do.

I also posted a couple of him playing in the rain, since it rarely ever rains here in Phoenix. He put his tongue out like it was snow. I can't wait to take him up to the snow tomorrow.

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Jenifer D- Family session

2009-12-27T11:44:00.000-08:00

Today I met Jenifer and her husband Earl with their 2 gorgeous daughters and baby son.

The girls are 8, 4 & their 7 months old son. I had such a fun time taking photos for this family. The girls were well behaved. Their parents told them one time and they listened. Wow I was so impressed that after the shoot I asked how they discipline them. They said they really don't have to the pretty much listen majority of the time and sometimes they ground the older daughter Miss A. I dream of that, it seems as though I have to put in time out at least once or twice a day.

This family was so cute. Jenifer mainly wanted photos of their baby little Mr. W. for gifts for Christmas. I was kind of sad when she said that because her girls are so beautiful and I knew their photos would just be so gorgeous. So luckily at toward the end of the shoot she let me take a couple.. YEAH I was so excited!! They were so good. I could take photos of girls between the age of 4-13 as long as I can. Girls this age enjoy having their photos taken and are always so cute. Plus they like to pose and get into it. I LOVE that!!!

Check out how beautiful this family is. Thank you Davidson family!

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My Grandma's Nut Roll

2009-12-23T19:04:00.000-08:00

My Mom used to make this on Christmas morning. It was my Grandmother's recipe. I don't like walnuts but this is really good. To me it doesn’t taste like walnuts cause of all the rest in it. I made it last year for the first time. Our family was in town for Christmas and they loved it. I was a little nervous since I never made it. But it came out tasty. The recipe is doubled but I tried to cut it in half which is to the left.

NUT ROLL

Makes 10 rolls. I will cut it in half so you can see that too.

12 C. flour -6 C. Flour

3 C. Evaporated milk– 1 ½ C. Evaporated milk

3 tsp. salt ----1 ½ tsp salt

6-8 eggs ----- 3 – 4 eggs

1 C. sugar ----- ½ C. Sugar

1 pound butter ---- 1/2 pound butter

2 packages dry yeast (quarter ounce each package) --- 1 package dry yeast

Warm milk, add butter, salt, sugar then cool. Dissolve yeast in mixture. Whip eggs in another bowl. Add to mixture when cool. Put flour in large bowl. Make a well and pour the liquid in. mix

Then grab that dough till it comes free from side of bowl. Let rise till double in bulk. Put down and let rise again. Then divide into 10 balls. Roll out in oblong shape ¼ inch thick. Fill as for jelly roll, roll, let rise under towels. Brush top with beaten egg and little milk. About 5 rolls to a good sheet.

325 for 45 minutes watch carefully.

Filling

2-4 pounds ground walnut. (3 is probably best) ----1 ½ pounds of walnuts

2 eggs ---- 1 egg

Half a pound of melt butter

1-2 C. sugar ------ ½ -1 C. Sugar

Squeeze 2 TBSP lemon --- 1 TBSP

½ c- 1 C. milk

ICING:
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 to 4 teaspoons milk

Orange Cookies

2009-12-23T17:23:00.000-08:00

My Mom used to make these when I was a kid. I am not a big orange fan in general but these are incredible. It's a little different recipe, but my Mom and sister said it's really good. I thought I would share it.

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 eggs
• 1 (6 ounce) can orange juice concentrate, thawed, divided
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons grated orange peel
• FROSTING:
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
• 1 tablespoon reserved orange juice concentrate
• 2 tablespoons milk
Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add sour cream and eggs. Beat until well blended. Reserve 1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate for frosting. Add the remaining concentrate with combined dry ingredients to the creamed mixture; mix well. Stir in orange peel.
2. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
3. In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients until smooth. Spread a small amount over each cookie.

Chrissy D- Sneak peek

2009-12-21T09:01:00.001-08:00

Chrissy was an actress in California before she moved here to Arizona. She was a natural in front of the camera, so photogenic all the photos of her turned out beautiful. We were shooting her family portraits yesterday and I had to post these really quick for her because they are my absolute favorite!! I have been dying to shoot a woman who would pose for me since I started this business. I think honestly she should model!!! I will post more when I get them done. This is just a quick sneak peek. If you want to hire her for a wedding. Here is her website : http://www.cerrickentertainment.com/Thanks again Chrissy for being such a good sport and posing!!!

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Hershey Kiss Cookie Recipe

2009-12-18T10:04:00.000-08:00

I LOVE to bake around the holidays and share recipes. I always baked dozens of cookies with my Mom at Christmas. This year I don't get to bake with me Mom because we aren't going home to Pittsburgh this year. But I am hoping my Mother in-law will bake with me. Sometime we do that if I stay here in Arizona. My Mom has some great tasting recipes. Here is the Hershey Kiss Cookie Recipe. These are really GOOD and if you like dark chocolate, try the dark kisses they make them taste so good! Feel free to share it with your friends and family! I hope they turn out yummy! Merry Christmas everyone~

PEANUT BLOSSOM COOKIES

1 3/4 C. FLOUR

1 TSP. SODA

1/2 TSP. SALT

1/2 C. BUTTER (ONE STICK)

1/2 C. PEANUT BUTTER

1/2 C. BROWN SUGAR

1/2 C. SUGAR

1 EGG

2 TBSP. MILK

1 TSP VANILLA

CREAM BUTTER, PEANUT BUTTER, GRADUALLY ADD SUGARS, AND CREAM WELL. ADD EGG MILK, VANILLA.

BLEND IN SHIFTED DRY INGREDIENTS AND MIX THOROUGHLY.

SHAPE INTO ROUND TEASPOONS THEN ROLL BALLS INTO SUGAR.

PLACE ON GREASED COOKIE SHEET OR PARCHMENT PAPER.

BAKE 350-375, 8-10 MINUTES

THEN PULL RACK OUT AND PLACE HERSEY KISSES DOWN FIRMLY INTO COOKIES, PUT BACK INTO OVEN FOR 2-5 MORE MINUTES.

Finally Professional CD labels !!!

2009-12-17T20:05:00.000-08:00

I am super excited I have been searching for probably over 6 months for a way to make my CD's more professional looking. Searching wesbites etc. Finally I had a photographer (Melissa Copeland) on Facebook told me about this great printer. Epson Artisan 810. You can print your labels directly onto CD's, with printable CD's instead of messes labels. Wow how much easier could it be.
You just put the CD in and it prints your label right onto the disk! If your a photographer looking to get labels on your CD's these look great. The printer is only about $199 on Amazon. Plus it's Wi-Fi so that's a big plus as well!
I can't wait to send out my first professional label tomorrow. I would like to get a new design, if you know a graphic designer send them my way! I don't like designing things. I am in need of some help!! For now this will have to do.

Caitlin family Christmas photos

2009-12-13T11:34:00.000-08:00

Caitlin hired me to come take their Christmas photos. Caitlin is so sweet and her kids were so adorable!! I have to admit I am in love with the sepia tone photo of the two babies.

Her parents live in a community in Gold Canyon with a guard at the gate and it has a beautiful country club there. The building looks like it is from Europe, it makes you feel as though your in another country when your walking through it. I am in love with this building. It was absolutely the perfect setting for photos. For the scenery there was the beautiful Superstition Mountains in the background. They are super nice to talk to and photograph, I had a fun time. I truly enjoyed meeting them. The session went super smooth , we busted out one after another. They even made a comment of how smooth it was going. I didn't realize but it went great. Check out their gorgeous family photos!! Thank you Caitlin and family for hiring me!

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