Stills by Hill Photography

I know a lot of you have been waiting a while for the announcement of the dates & locations of the sessions. I am so sorry it has taken me so long! I have been busy shooting holiday sessions already and I have the following dates reserved for mini-sessions which will include a set of custom holiday cards (24 plus envelopes). I have only a few weekends left for a regular full session but more open for weekdays. Keep in mind, with mini-sessions, I do not get to focus on each child and relationships like I do for regular sessions. These are much shorter sessions where the purpose of the sessions is to get some beautiful images for your holiday cards. They include up to 5 people ($20 per additional person/pet) and include your in-studio consultation, ordering session and you will receive a blog post & facebook tagging.

These are discounted sessions and you will LOVE your cards! I get so many compliments every year about how much friends and family love them!

Have you seen all the cards? Go here to the page on the holiday cards. They are all customizable too with text, colors and sometimes the number of images on the cards.

The dates for the sessions are in the graphic. If you have any questions, PLEASE contact me asap. Last year I ran out of spots in about a week so I don’t want anyone to miss out (it’s also why I added 2 more dates this year!)

Please use the “contact” form on the main site and reserve your spot asap!

I was looking at my calendar and noticed I had only a few open spots left for 2010 weddings! I am offering only 3 new weddings at this super low rate. Please go to the main site and use “contact” to send me an inquiry to see if I am open.

Wedding in 2011? Reserve your wedding by the end of November and receive 10% off your package.

Today I photographed the winner of the free session contest– the Kerby Family! We had a blast. Here is a sneak peek of the cuteness…. more coming soon!

So I had to take my car in to get the oil changed and get an estimate on how much work needed to be done to it… I hadn’t taken it in since DECEMBER and had put on over 10k miles… so I was WAY overdue! Anyway, while I sit there in the little waiting area reading emails on my iphone, this couple (who said they were 61) says to me “is that an ipod?” I told them that it was an iphone but it had an ipod in it. They were so amazed. “Wait so you can like play a game on there? And read emails?!” Yep. Technology is fantastic lol. They told me they don’t have a computer and go to the library to google funny cat images and were trying to understand what a “blog” was. I tried explaining it in a few ways… not sure if they got it.

Then we got is talking about how generations and technology differ. We got to talking about the newspaper and the phone book. She said “how do you know about this car place? I found them in the phone book!” I said “what’s a phone book?” (jokingly) and I told her how I absolutely HATE those thousand page waste of paper books… we could save so many trees, resources and landfill space if they just stopped making them. I said “these days, everyone can either get on google or look them up on the internet somewhere if they don’t have a phone book…” but then I was like “wait… not if they don’t have a computer… and don’t want to call 411…” I was saying how when I was at my studio and the delivery guy brought the phone book I told him to take it back and recycle it and he said he wasn’t allowed to. So I threw it away. SUCH a waste! Even my mom doesn’t use a phone book anymore! (I don’t think… now that I’ve taught her all about google…

Then there’s the newspaper. I mean really. Every single article in the printed paper is available on the newspapers website, on yahoo, on cnn, on tmz etc. Is there really a need for the hard printed copy when the info you want is FREE online?! I was telling her how my parents always call me to tell me about something in the paper and I remind them I’m on the internet and it’s all right there. She went on to tell me about how much they love the paper. I hate how the paper gets your fingers all black! Am I the only one?!

Then there’s the news… I fully understand people wanting to be “informed”… but my Dad like lives on CNN. I personally can’t watch all that stuff daily.. it’s kinda depressing. That’s why I follow local news stations twitter alerts and if something is breaking news, it sends me a text via twitter (you older generation are like WTH… twitter? Huh? Maybe you aren’t aware of WTH.. lol that’s another post…). I was explaining this to the lady and she was like “ok I’ve heard of this twitter and facebook thing but I have no idea what it is…” How do I explain to someone who doesn’t use a computer what it is?! Ok back to my point…

During the earthquake on Easter, as my family ran to find cover, I just stood there on twitter posting “OMG EARTHQUAKE” and followed about 500 other people posting the same thing. AS it was happening. I bet a bunch of you reading were doing the same thing. I know because I follow you all. Anyway, my mom and everyone else ran to turn the TV on and were all trying to guess the size. My husband and I both knew as soon as it was tweeted by the news a split second later… before the news even announced it on TV. You can’t tell me a tv will bring you information quicker then twitter!

Now, whenever there is a breaking news story, or something happens, I run to yahoo or twitter or some other news outlet (facebook counts too LOL) and I can definitely see the generational difference between generations.

-Oldest relatives: “Check the paper!”

-Older relatives:: “Turn on the news!”

-Younger relatives: “Check twitter!”

Anyway, I just thought it was pretty funny having this discussion about technology! Oh and I must mention… they LOVE shows on HBO and all the pay channels so we chatted a long time about one of my favorites, “Big Love.” I can’t WAIT for that new season to start… but I have no idea when that will be. Anyone know?

Ok this was probably such a random blog post but I thought it was funny when it happened.

I have been so excited to shoot this engagement session… it was way fun! Rachel and I met in 1st grade (or Kindergarten?) and went through grade school together. I am *SO* beyond excited to photograph their wedding next year! We did their engagement session down in Coronado and am really happy with the images that we got…

Here is just a sneak peek… wait for more! They are beautiful!

I have been so anxious to post these pictures of our new nephew, Colton Michael. Don’t steal his name, ok? I think it’s so cute. Remember the maternity session I posted a month or so ago of them in the redwoods…. he finally arrived! Anyway… he is seriously one of the cutest little things and was such a trooper through his session! He did poop on my blankets, and the diaper cover, on mom and auntie… so the washing machine came in ultra handy My little Lilly had so much fun holding him like a big girl! She gave me a look like, “mom… I’m ready for a brother!”

I wish my in-laws lived closer!

I can’t believe time has flown so quickly that little Liam & Juliet– whom I photographed in the NICU when they were born, then their newborn session where they BOTH fit in my little cocoon, and their 6 month session where Juliet seemed to throw up all over the place (such a trooper she was!)… they are officially a year old! (well now a little older due to blog post timing…) but anyway… time sure flies quick! I love this family… we get to catch up on events in our lives when we see each other or on facebook….big sister Abby has fun getting her picture taken by me and she’s become quite a ham!)

I absolutely love watching my clients grow as families, watching them have more kids, watching the kids grow (as I photograph them) and becoming a part of peoples families.

Seriously– I love my job

Their personalities just shine here….

Gotta love the nakie babies on rugs

<my interpretation of the next two pictures:>

Juliet: Listen to me Liam… I’m telling you… Hillary is the coolest…

Liam: Whut up with her? She’s not so cool….

<next image>

Jules: Don’t talk about Hillary like that Liam!!! I’ll show YOU!

Doesn’t the image say it all? (Don’t judge the picture by the quality… it was taken with my iphone) Sometimes we are just so busy we don’t have time to sit and work– we take advantage of our other time and work. Lilly apparently had a lot of emails to respond to and blog postings to read.

Speaking of potty time…

It’s going VERY well! I am really impressed with how my baby has adapted and learned so quickly. We went from her running around naked to putting on big girl panties (I still have to pull them down) and now we’re able to leave the house… well somewhat lol. On the first day I had to say “go potty!” and she would go. Yesterday and today I don’t need to say anything– she just runs over to the potty and goes.

There were no accidents which were HER fault yesterday… but we did have one.. right in the middle of Babies R Us… oops sorry . She kept saying “peepee” but we were by the potties and looking at the panties .. then she looked down and said “uh oh”… so she WAS trying to tell me I just wasn’t listening

Daddy had her for a few hours so I could go shoot an engagement session at the beach (omg wait till you see the pictures… amazing) and she did everything without being told… pee and poop and all. Horray!

I did buy her a travel potty to keep in the car and in the stroller so if she has to go, I can whip out the seat and she can go. Oh and I got a piddle pad for her car seat & stroller. I’m nervous to drive more then 7 minutes with her lol

So here’s a question (please respond under “comments” vs. emailing me on facebook so everyone here can read your advice)… at what point do people suggest I can leave her alone in the living room for 10 minutes so I can shower? I can’t leave her alone in there because if she goes to pee, she will try to dump it on her own… or play in it knowing her. Today I put a diaper on her (I know… bad) and went to shower and came back and she was dry… she said peepee and I took it off and she went in the potty.

I don’t want to have to keep resorting to diapers when I will be away from her for a certain extent of time?

THANK YOU!! Once again, I am amazed people read these personal things about me But if you know me at all, you know I don’t hold much back…

I have been waiting to post the Sanders Family but am so excited I can finally post it… I can’t get over how cute S is! She’s adorable. She brought along her auntie and cousin for a few shots and love what I got.   I find it really cute that by the end of the portrait sessions, the kids just do whatever I ask (99% of the time.. if they haven’t melted down by then) and they totally ham it up for me!

I can’t wait for them to enjoy their album and wall prints!

So I rarely post non-photography related posts, however, I feel that you should know a little more about me… more then the little photo of me at the top and the “about me”… so you will be seeing some more posts about my life.. hope you don’t mind Who doesn’t like a random tangent every now and then?

In case you are new to my blog (um– where have you been all this time?!) you might not know much about me.  I can fill you in later, but I have to mention I have a little 21 month old daughter named Lilly. Lillybug, Lill, monkey, LILLYANNAFAY (when she’s in trouble I call her by her full name) are the names we call her often…

Well, my little monkey has always been a little advanced in certain areas– she started talking (we started baby sign and she grasped that pretty quickly and then started talking soon after starting it) pretty early, walking was a little slower then some of her friends… but the most recent is her admiration of the potty.

Now if you are a parent, you totally get the expense in diapers. I am pretty green and am still upset I never did cloth but I figured she would potty train quickly and wouldn’t need diapers for TOO long. I hate throwing something so bad for the earth in the trash every day when I could use something and wash it! Oh well. Next baby. Anyway…

We bought Lilly a potty a while back and have kept one in each bathroom. She goes in before bath, when she gets up from naps, and whenever I would “remember” to put her on (I can get lazy you know…). Since moving her potty to the living room, she has been running to it saying “peepee” and sitting there (with her clothes on) so we decided to attempt potty training.  Am I ready for this? How do I travel? What if we are in a long car ride and she has to pee and I can’t stop?! What if we go to dinner and she has to pee or has an accident? I know.. you just deal with it and carry a potty. It’s just a major change I haven’t grasped yet.

DAY 1: Tuesday August 24, 2010

Since I had been reading and hearing from friends about training, I heard you should let them be naked the first few days and let them feel the pee on their legs. Oh great. Pee on her legs means pee ALL OVER MY FLOOR! And I have carpet! So, she woke up in the morning and I told her we’re going to go peepee in the potty today and be naked. We went downstairs and she had her morning cup of almond milk and dose of Elmo and Mickey (hey… my tv issues are another post in the future) and soon said “peepee” and ran to the potty. Really?! This will be easy…so I thought lol. She then continued this cycle until she was sitting in her princess chair and started to pee. Oh great. Now what?! She said “uh oh!” and I said “oh no! Go finish peepee on the potty!” and she ran over and sat there and finished! Ok maybe I did something right?

Then she kept peeing in the potty the rest of the day. Meal times I put big girl undies on her and a cover and she stayed dry. Nap time she got a diaper. She still hadn’t pooped though and I was quite nervous for that. I couldn’t leave her from my sight all day. I had tons of emails from clients, orders to process (sorry guys ) and albums to design… but my baby had to have my full and complete attention. I couldn’t even go into my dining room and sew in fear she would pee somewhere and I wouldn’t see it. Is that normal?

I finally felt enough trust to let my husband stay with her for 20 minutes while I ran an errand. After spending more time (then the actual time I was going to be gone) telling him the plan and what to watch for, I left. I came home 20 minutes later and saw him scrubbing the floor and a bag full of poop What happened?!!? I’m still not sure but it was a big mess… and Daddy’s first “potty training alone time” didn’t go so well She then had bath, a diaper and bed. Phew.

We survived day 1 with much success in my opinion. Only 2 1/2 accidents which weren’t THAT bad.  Onto day 2…

Day 2: Wednesday August 25, 2010

After my realization someone would have to stay with Lilly ALL DAY, and I had clients and appointments, I realized this is pretty stinkin hard! In the morning I let her be naked and she ran around and ran right to the potty to pee whenever she had to go.  She started to pee a little on the sofa and realized she had an accident and jumped off and ran to the potty to finish. I think she is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

She did really well over at my moms– in transportation in a diaper (I am too scared to put her in panties in the car yet… suggestions about that??) she was dry which was awesome! My mom felt she was ready to try her big girl undies and soon realized as lilly was sitting on the potty saying “peepee” she hasn’t learned to pull those down yet!

So my big excitement of the day… if you are a mom or dad who has dealt with potty training you will FULLY appreciate this. What’s so exciting? She realized when she had to poop BEFORE she pooped. She was full on playing and ran over to the potty and said “poopoo” and pooped RIGHT in the potty!!! I got tears in my eyes (not from the smell, but just the excitement!) that she got it. She is this smart little person who gets the fact that poop and pee go in that pink potty there.

Day 3: Wednesday August 26th, 2010

Hasn’t happened yet. Wish. ME. LUCK!

Oh and a few people have asked me about Pullups. I refuse to use them. I feel that they are just a money thing that the diaper companies have a huge profit on with extending the use of their product. They don’t help children realize (IN MY OPINION) that they are wet until a little later since it absorbs and I have seen friends kids have such long training periods with them.  Maybe someone can give me a link for a natural/reusable easy to pull up and down type of underwear?

So that’s my experience so far. If you would leave a comment with a suggestion or something I would find useful with training or advice.. that would be SO helpful!

If you made it this far down the post– I am impressed.  :)