…we tried to give him cake, lol! Oh, he was priceless, even when he was totally confused by the whole cake thing. Those bright, sparkly eyes and that charming smile…oh my…he’s a living doll! He has certainly blessed his parents with being one of coolest little dudes ever! It was an honor to celebrate your big-oh-one on your special, special day! Also, loved mom’s expert dodging of the cake at the end ;-). Too funny! (Another sailboat FAV!)

Hi I’m Melody! I’m a senior portrait photographer here in beautiful Sonoma county!  I have three amazing wild & busy, toe headed little girls and a husband who just might loose his mind when they are all in high school.   Growing up in beautiful Mendocino,CA  I was blessed to be surrounded by such beauty on a day to day basic.  Our high school over looked the ocean and everyone knew everyone, it was AWESOME. So when Michele asked me to host I jumped for joy at the chance to share my beautiful home town with you.

[Mkay, Michele butting in here, but isn’t she just all sunshine and everything California??? I adore Melody with Melody White Studios in Santa Rosa, CA and I couldn’t be more thrilled to get to hang with her again at her home base in Northern California this summer. Read her interview below to get some insight as to how she’s made her business such a success and how she feels about hosting a Pinkle Toes Photography workshop in August. Now back to Melody…]

What makes your photography business unique to you?
I have build my business by learning to say NO to shoots that I didn’t feel represented myself or the direction I wanted to go.  Even though I own a camera it doesn’t mean I have to shoot everything.

Best thing about being a photographer? 
About three years ago I decided it was time for me to “specialize”  in one area of my photography and it didn’t take me long to realize I was the happiest when photographing teens.   It has been such a rewarding experience seeing these young girls look at their images for the first time and feel truly beautiful (something their parents and I saw from the get go).  Working with teens to me isn’t about just that one day they are in front of my camera, they have become apart of my everyday life and that’s a pretty awesome feeling.

Toughest thing? 
As nice as it is to be the “boss” it also it quite stressful.  One of my toughest things was learning to balance everyday life and work.   Having three little girls with crazy schedules finding time for them, my husband, church and friends has been quite challenging.

If you could photograph anyone/anything in the world (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
My husband comes from a large family there are 6 of them all together 4 boys and two girls!  15 years ago his older brother passed away (before I was in the family).  Then 7 years ago he lost his younger brother.  My “One” photography wish would be to take just one more photo of them all together…..just one.  That would be pretty awesome.

Why does Mendocino, CA ROCK for serving as a host town for a workshop?
A little fun fact about Mendocino is that its not a town at all they still consider it a village, cool right! It has a population of almost no one and stays alive because its one of the top total travel destinations in the US.  Mendocino sits on the beautiful Pacific coast cliffs in Northern California about 3 hours North of San Fransisco.   Many famous movies have been filled here such as Overboard, The Karate Kid 3, Dyeing Young, Forever Young and Murder She Wrote.  Mendocino is BEAUTIFUL there is no other place in the world like it.  PROMISE.

If you could describe your business in 3 words prior to the Pinkle Toes workshop, what would they be? 
Unorganized, Unmotivated and Unstructured

And what about after? 
Confident, Motivated and a clear vision about my business.

Best part of your Pinkle Toes Workshop experience? 
Before I attended The Pinkles toes workshop I had been to two other workshops.  I left both workshops feeling like I was just a paycheck to them. There was no personal connection, no interest in my work and helping ME become a better photographer.  SOOOO you can image when I told my husband that there was this ONE MORE workshop I wanted to attend. He was a little apprehensive and so was I.

Never-the-less, I look a leap of faith and pressed the Pay Now button said a little prayer that this workshop would be different and before I knew it I was off to Texas.  BEST DECISION EVER!  Michele not only answered every question I had she also cared about MY business and how to make it better.  After the workshop was over, we face-timed and Michele answered any more questions that I might have missed.  My whole experience at the Pinkle Toes workshop was amazing.  Plus the added bonus was all the amazing friendships I took away.

Most challenging part?
Honestly Michele is a great teacher and I felt like there wasn’t a hard part at all.

Advice to anyone who attends the workshop you’re hosting? 
I’m just excited for you to all fall in love with my beautiful home town of Mendocino and witness first hand how amazing the Pinkle Toes workshop is!

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Thank you so much, Melody, for your honest and kind words, my friend. I can relate to you on so much of what you discussed here. I know we are going to have a fun and productive time at all of the workshops coming up this year! Side note: On April 1st (#pinkletoesworkshopnojoke), I will be sending out info regarding a VERY SPECIAL OFFER on the 2014 workshops, so make *sure* you’ve signed up to get workshop info so you won’t miss out!

Meanwhile, here’s a sampling of some of Melody’s AMAZING work and make absolute certain you become a fan on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, too!

I love it when I get the chance to work with families year after year and follow how they and their children grow and change. Since before even big sister was born, I’ve photographed this beautiful family, and now they’ve added a sweet little red-headed angel to their nest. Congratulations, you guys! She’s so perfect! [See one of these images with a change in focus HERE.]

I mean seriously? How did we get so lucky to have a gorgeous, spring-like day in December last year? Especially considering that we were already getting ice??? But we definitely lucked out and I was THRILLED to get to take these photos for such a lovely and kind and confident young lady. And the fact that we got to work with her horse just made it all the more personal and beautiful!
We will start scheduling senior pictures for Austin seniors in December of this year (2014) through February-March of 2015, so again, you want to get on my calendar ASAP.

P.S. Another image from this session can be found HERE.

It has been such a pleasure to follow their family through expecting #2 and now all the way through the arrival of #3. They are so blessed with three adorable children and take everything in stride. I know life isn’t always easy with three littles, but they sure do an excellent job of parenting with grace and love. A big congrats to you two on your beautiful family of FIVE! (You can see their most recent pregnancy portraits HERE). Another version of the bassinet image HERE.

Ever since this article ran on The Define School blog, I’ve been struggling. Well, I was struggling before that…obviously…that’s why I wrote the article in the first place. But then, when my much loved 365 album arrived, I began to teeter on my resolution to stop taking so many pictures of my personal life. Over the past three months, I’ve taken considerably fewer pictures of our daily lives…even fewer iPhone snaps. Yes, I am happier to be able to have the freedom to live in the moment more, but I am still mourning the loss of images I didn’t ever take. I don’t think I’ve quite struck the right balance yet. I have a double standard, my friends. Especially in light of how I talked my sister in to letting me take a couple of maternity pictures for her in the hospital yesterday.

So, I took a picture today. I took it just because I wanted to remember this part of my girl’s life and for no other reason. I got her the “artistic” shirt as a gift because it’s SO HER and she’s been wearing it for days, lol. She sat down and painted a series of canvases all on her own. My husband and I watched her, so gracefully perched in the chair as she thoughtfully worked for hours. This particular canvas, she gifted to her oldest brother because he is sick right now. Drawing and painting the way she does is something that I always did myself as a girl and I longed for my boys to do the same, but they never were interested. But she just loves it. She has blue paint all over her hands and marker/paint is usually permanently embedded under her fingernails. There are flecks of paint on her new shirt as well as in her hair. I imagine (hope!) that this will simply be part of her for the rest of her life and that she will always wear the marks of an artist.

I was blessed to be able to photograph both his older sister’s and his older brother’s senior portraits and something came up last year that threatened our chances of continuing this tradition. Which is why this session meant the world to me. Which is why THIS image is one of my favorites. Which is why I am always grateful for any chance I get to have pictures taken with my own family. Which is why I do what I do. XOXO, M. You inspire me and your children are amazing extensions of the incredibly wonderful, giving, loving person that you are.

I am Caroline, owner of Caroline Martin Photography.  I am based in Carlsbad, CA, and have been capturing San Diego families for nearly 15 years.  I have a background in photojournalism, so lifestyle photography really speaks to me.  When I signed up for the Pinkle Toes Workshop in January 2013, I had no doubt I would learn a lot from seeing Michele interact with her clients during a session.  What I didn’t expect was that I would learn so many fabulous tips about the way she runs her business!  After having had a business of my own for so long, I was pretty comfortable with the way I had been running it.  The Pinkle Toes Workshop gave me so much valuable information for every aspect of this business, and I walked away with tons of great ideas that I am still in the process of implementing. Not only that, but I found an amazing group of photographers to lean on in this journey, and am so grateful for the lifelong friendships that started with my Pinkle Toes Workshop experience.  I can’t wait to host the Carlsbad workshop in 2014 and meet another wonderful bunch!

1. What makes your photography business unique to you?
   • Ansel Adams once said something that I think is so true…”We don’t make a photograph just with a camera, we bring to the act of photography all the books we have read, the movies we have seen, the music we have heard, the people we have loved.”  It is these things that make my biz unique to me.  The life I have lived up until this point is responsible for my style, my vision, my art, and my way of running a photography business. 
2. Best thing about being a photographer?
   • I love the feeling I get when I look at a photograph and it transports me back to that moment…the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings all come rushing back, and I get to relive the memory, if only for a moment.  I love that being a photographer allows me to share that with others, and to give them their precious moments back.
3. Toughest thing?
   • The toughest thing about being a photographer is finding the balance between my art, which I love, and my family, which I love more. When you work from home and make your own schedule, it’s an ongoing struggle to separate work life from home life.
4. If you could photograph anyone/anything in the world (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
   • I would love to have been able to photograph my relationship with my aunt when I was a child.  She passed away when I was 3 or 4, but the memories I have of her and the bond we shared are undeniable. There are very few photos of her, and, to my knowledge, none of the two of us.  I wish I could capture that in one of those ‘perfect’ images where you can feel the love.
5. Why does San Diego / Cardiff-by-the-sea, CA ROCK for serving as a host town for a workshop?
   • San Diego is such an amazing place for so many reasons. The weather, obviously, is a huge one!  Cardiff-by-the-Sea, in particular, is such a cute little beach town.  It has a laid back vibe, and so many cool, unique spots.  I can’t wait to share it with everyone at the workshop!
6. If you could describe your business in 3 words prior to the Pinkle Toes workshop, what would they be?
   • unstructured, uninspired, stagnant
7. And what about after?
   • organized, focused, refreshed
8. Best part of your Pinkle Toes Workshop experience?
   • There were SO many amazing things I took away from my experience at the Pinkle Toes Workshop!  It’s really hard to pick the ‘best’.  Things I didn’t necessarily expect were coming away with a wonderful new network of photographers who are a source of constant inspiration, and a friendship with Michele that has led to my participation in another workshop!  I couldn’t be happier!
9. Most challenging part?
   • The most challenging part of the workshop experience was coming home with so many incredible ideas for my business and really focusing on implementing them one at a time.  I was so excited about everything that I really had to reign myself in and not make too many changes right away. I like to try to keep the evolution of my business a steady flow, and it was SO tempting to change everything all at once!  While change is good, I believe too much change can lead to unnecessary chaos.
10. Advice to anyone who attends the workshop you’re hosting?
    • Take note of the ideas that interest you most and take your time figuring out just how they will work best for you.  I made a few organizational changes right off the bat, and have gradually been integrating the creative changes that work for me.  Too much at once is hard to get a handle on.  I am a big proponent for keeping your life balanced as you go, rather than tipping the scales with too much change, and then backpedaling to try to regain your balance.

Here’s a sampling of Caroline’s amazing lifestyle work:

Be sure to check out her WEBSITE, FACEBOOK page, and follow her awesome personal 365 on INSTAGRAM! Oh, and you can check out Caroline in action at the Pinkle Toes workshop she attended early last year HERE. You can learn more about the 2014 Pinkle Toes Newborn and Family Lifestyle Photography Workshops HERE.

Super excited about the two workshop dates in California this summer…Cardiff-by-the-sea July 25-27 and then Mendocino (I’ll introduce Melody to you guys in a few days!) on August 1-3. We will be in Olympia, Washington August 7-9 and then 11-13 as well! Very busy summer of workshopping!!! Can’t wait to see you again, Caroline, my dear!

And above all else, your wishes and love, for these two little stars, precious gifts from above.

Originally slated for May and then April, the baby shower for my sister was bumped up sooner and sooner as we were worried the girls would make their appearance before we had a chance to properly celebrate the pregnancy! So, in about a week’s time, my mom, Jen’s mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and myself threw this little party together to make sure Jen would have time to relax and enjoy some of the perks of being pregnant. She’s still on bedrest, so we made certain she stayed seated with her feet up and let us shower her and the babies with love.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped put this together and especially to those who braved the rain to hug Jen in person. The canvases (printed by SOLart Designs) turned out so beautifully; I loved the pink lemonade in Mason jars (specifically requested by my sister herself); the bundtinis were so yummy, sprinkled with edible gold star glitter; Jen was pampered with much-deserved glamour by Katie with Modern Muse Beauty); and of course delicious food by Jen’s Mother-in-law, homemade star lollipops by Jen’s sister-in-law, and “star”gazer lilies from our mom! I hope that someday the girls get much joy out of reading all of the wishes in their handmade star mobile…written by party guests and people who have been sending their love and support from all over the world! I am a little partial to the wish from their eldest cousin (my son): “I wish that I don’t have to change your diapers.”

Okay, maybe the idea was a little crazy: three small children (two of whom prefer to crawl in two different directions) + a truckload full of farm animals, but doesn’t matter because it was COMPLETELY worth it. We pretty much had it all that day (including a little lamb which helped create one of my most favorite images EVER) but one animal you will notice that is missing is a pig. We had two of the most adorable little piglets show up that afternoon, but those little dudes are FAST and both the baby humans and the baby pigs were equally terrified of each other. The whole thing was quite comical, actually…trying to corral three children and a bunch of baby animals. We made it happen though and we definitely celebrated the twins’ birthday(s?) in style.