Yay! My new blog is up! New Site, too!

New Blog: www.jchaney.com/blog
New Site: www.jchaney.com

Moving to a new blog

I am in the process of designing my new blog, so this one will sit unattended for a bit.  I’ll post back with the link when I’m up and running!

And baby makes… 5?

Remember the “crazy kids” lifestyle session?  Well those little nutters have a brand new baby sister, and she is SO incredibly sweet.  She was 4 days old when we did this session and was such a little peanut.   Since the parents already have two boys, this little girl is extra special!  Here’s a sneak peek!

Getting ready for baby b!

This maternity session was supposed to happen last weekend, but needed to be bumped to yesterday.  Luckily the little babe decided to hang on a bit longer, but I honestly thought we’d have to call the session, as mommy R and her doctor thought she’d go into labor at any moment!  (p.s. this is one beautiful family!!)

Viva Arts Auction!

I’m so proud to donate a photography package to the Viva Arts Auction on Sept. 27th!  There will be food, wine, art, and live music from the 40’s and 50’s (best musical era ever!)  How can you not want to go?  Plus I’m pretty sure Diablo Magazine will be there covering the event for their Faces section.

So if you’ve been thinking of a photography session with me, this is a great way to help out Walnut Creek’s Civic Arts Education Scholarship Foundation.  My donation is a full custom session, an 11×14 gallery wrapped canvas, and an 8×10 print.  Value: $460  Starting bid: $100 -hey, that’s awfully low!  But since this is daughters preschool, it’s so worth it to me.

For tickets and more information:  Viva Arts Auction

And you can find a full list of available auction items here:  Friends of Civic Arts Education Foundation

Holiday Mini-Sessions!

09.24.08 UPDATE: I’m having to cancel the mini-sessions due to “full” session requests!  I didn’t expect that to happen, but the people have spoken!  Mini sessions will happen again in late spring…

At last!  I’ve gotten all of my photo ducks in a row!  There are only 8 slots available and I’ve got three of them tentatively booked.  I know there is A LOT of interest in these babes, so be sure to check your calendar and book as soon as possible.

Did someone say mimosas and an old pick-up?  For those who want a little fun in your photos, I’ve procured an amazing old truck from friends of ours that is just going to make these sessions pop!  The truck is only available on the 11th, so if that’s what you’d like, call call call!  This session will be in Walnut Creek.

Not to be out done by the first group, the second set of sessions will be in Moraga and have the beautiful golden light from the setting sun.  What?  Not enough?  How about some wine and light h’our derves?  Sounds perfect to me!

And last night I put the finishing touches on my Holiday cards. They are on my website by under ‘client proofing’ -password: Holiday08

The text is fully customizable and you will be able to select from a few sample sayings or create your own. Two edits are included with a small design fee for additional ones.

To book, call with credit card # and two time preferences. I will be emailing out my winter “what to wear” guide after booking.

New gallery mount upgrade options!

In my search to find the perfect frame for my custom storyboards, I was directed to these fabulous gallery mounts!  Your storyboard is fused to a dense wood-like substance (not sure of the technical term!) and laminated.  These come ready to hang and are finished with a beveled edge (white or black.)  Even though there is an upgrade fee, it can be less than the cost of framing and matting, and the convenience of it all is so worth it.

Available in a 3/8″ gallery mount, 3/4″, and for a really modern look, try the 1 1/8″ shadow mount (the 3/8″ mount has a 3/4″ deep block attached to the back.  The block is smaller than the gallery mounted picture, so it looks like it’s floating.)

As I get more samples, I will post pictures, but for now here are some of the 3/8″ gallery mount.  Below are pics of the edges, the corners, and the back.

I also like these for pictures other than storyboards.  I’m going to be getting a couple large shadow mounts for my sons room, and I’ll post pictures of those once I get them.  Ahhh… one more thing to add to my ever growing to-do list!

Beautiful Baby E!

Daddy B, you’ve got your work cut out for you because the newest member of your family isn’t going to make your life any easier. You’ve already got one beautiful toddler to worry about, and now a precious new baby girl.  I know my husband would be headin’ for the hills to lock ‘em up until they’re at least 30!

Enjoy your sneak peek – you’ll be hearing from me soon about the rest of them!

And this one just makes me smile!  Sooo very sweet… (and didn’t edit this to make her smile… I just caught it in camera!)

Sneak Peek: San Francisco Sweetie!

Baby B was four weeks old and so very sweet!  He was wide eyed and followed the camera wherever I went.  I kinda like that… makes my job a lot easier!  And for first time parents, these two were amazing.  Just so relaxed and easy going.  I honestly never would have known they had a newborn in their flat!

Mama C and Papa J, here’s a little look – and yes, I got “the shot”, but you have to wait to see it!

My little brag book

I used to carry very basic proof books, but recently started carrying sturdier, better looking 4×5 books.  These are simple yet elegant.  And since they are so fabulous, I needed a better name for them than “proof book”, so now I call them brag books!  These are perfect for carrying around in your purse, and make a even better gifts.

Here are some pictures of a few from recent sessions, and you can see the unique rounded corners, thicker cover and back, and my fancy little customized cover shows a peek at some of the images held inside.  I also include a name and date at the bottom that is just icing on the brag book cake!  So far everyone who has gotten one just loves them and usually come back for an extra (or two!)

Sneak Peek: Crazy kids! A lifestyle session…

A lifestyle shoot is exactly what it sounds like… photography that captures your style of life.  These sessions are over the top fun because there is hardly any direction on my part.  I just roll around and scramble to where the action is.  But this shoot was extra special for me since I have watched these little boys grow up.  Between newborn photos and Christmas sessions, I think this sweet family is very well documented!

These are a few of my favorites from this session.  Sorry, dad, I know this was a father’s day gift to you, but your boys upstaged you.  Not to worry though… I have plenty of shots of you and your boys.  Of course you are being physically abused by them in nearly everyone, but hey, isn’t that just like every other day in your house?

And like sooo many little kids, the 3 yr old didn’t care for his undergarments and kept removing them… and somehow they seemed to wind up on the wrong end of the youngest child!

They had the prettiest little garden and both boys loved to help their mama gather the goods.  You’ll notice she’s got another on the way… she’s a brave one!

This one was one of the last of the session, and the three year old is resting his elbows on his soon-to-arrive baby brother or sister (no, this family never finds out what they are having… drives me crazy because I NEED to plan! )

Our Sesame

One of the things I never really thought about before having kids was how unbelievably difficult it can be to find a good sitter, so when we stumbled upon Sesame (naturally not her real name, but a little friend of ours started calling her that, and it sorta stuck.)  we were extra thrilled!

Here are some pictures of this fab fab fab gal either assisting with a shoot or playing with my kids… did I mention how fabulous she is??

Helping me with a light check before a newborn shoot:

Sneak Peek! S & S Maternity Session

This beautiful couple will have TWO little ones here before you know it, and honestly, I can’t think of anyone more deserving.

These few are from a very long session.  If you are a client of mine, you already know I tend to over shoot and push a session for as long as I can (I LOVE what I do, so some times it’s hard for me to pack it up and call it a day!)  This couple didn’t make that any easier to do since they were so easy to be around and photograph!  Can’t wait for their babies to get here!

Sneak Peek! The last of the PH mini sessions

As promised, here are the last few pictures from our super-speedy-mini-sessions last Sunday in Pleasant Hill, CA.  The first set is of a brother and sister (and mama!) who I have had the pleasure of working with in the past.  The little girl is a riot as she is either posing or dancing, and sometimes both!

And then there were two…  and these two were so funny because they kept wanting to in the pictures together – I kept saying, “okay, just your sister now”  and vise-versa.  I can only hope my little ones are like that in a couple of years.  Even if it is just for the camera!

Part Deux! – Pleasant Hill, CA Mini Session Sneak Peek

This was another crazy morning filled with goofy kids and an even goofier photographer!  These are just two of the four families, so I will edit and post more tomorrow… I switched from a PC to a Mac, and it’s taking me a lot longer to do things – at least until I figure out all the controls!

This next little boy is showing us classic “before and after” photos…

Before:

After:  (he decided to jump into a little stream!  I’m so glad we were done with his session!)

Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food Cooking Demo/Class Shoot

Last weekend I had such a great time shooting two fabulous editors from Everyday Food while they taught/demo-ed recipes from this months issue.  The class was packed and held in the Viking Cooking School in downtown Walnut Creek.  It was a long day, and I was absolutely exhausted at the end of it, but I’d do it all over again!  The editors were amazing.  Every thing just flowed and I was very impressed.

Although I can’t share the photos from the event, I can tell you they turned out great!   (You’ll just have to take my word for it!)  I will share with you a picture of quite possibly the sweetest gal – she’s the event coordinator for Martha Stewart’s Omnimedia and just did a brilliant job.

So here is the little superstar (super doll!) that put it all together:

This is the ever-so-sweet co-owner of the Viking Cooking School:

And this one is just for fun!  Waaay in the back this little one was just waking up… I couldn’t help myself!

Pleasant Hill, CA Mini-Sessions Sneak Peek (part 3&4)

I have been off line for a few days, and fell behind in my posting, but here they are!  The last little cuties of the July 6th mini-sessions.

And if you’ve been waiting for a reply to an email, I’m getting to them as quick as I can!

Pleasant Hill, CA Mini-Sessions Sneak Peek (part two)

Okay, this little girl CRACKED me up!  The last time I tried to take her picture, it was pretty hard to get her to smile, but this time she wouldn’t stop goofing around – and I loved it!  Especially when she sat on her poor baby brother and thought it was hysterical.  I won’t show you those pictures because he didn’t think it was so funny… ahhh siblings.

Pleasant Hill, CA Mini-Sessions Sneak Peek (part one)

I’m so glad we did this yesterday and not today with the 100 degree temps in the area!  Here is the first of four families that participated in yesterdays mini-sessions.  Neither child was very sure of me at first, but I think I make such a goof ball out of myself, that they warm up.  I’m a little suspicious that by the end they are no longer laughing with me, but at me!

Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food Magazine

Exciting news!  July 12 & 13th the editors of EVERYDAY FOOD will be at the Viking Cooking school here in downtown Walnut Creek, CA.   And I’ve been hired to shoot the Sunday event!  I’m am really thrilled to be doing this because I really love their work and just know it will be done so well and will be a lot of fun!

There will be three class each day and events in between.  Here is the link to the Viking Cooking School for more information