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Weddings in Mexico – Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Wanderley

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Riviera Maya Beaches

Welcome Party. Photographer: Jeanine Thurston

This is a wedding above most when it comes to style, grace, beauty and all of the amazing details.  This couple is just one of those that stands out in a crowd, not only because they are a couple of the most beautiful people around, but such nice people and genuine – with a wonderful group of family and friends.  It was an amazing day from start to finish with the clouds rolling in just in time to give everyone some much-needed shade for the ceremony and reception and the rain stayed away so all was dry.  Heidi (from Texas) in her Oscar de la Renta gown was a stunning sight as it fit her beautifully, and the ever so handsome Jorge (from Brazil).  Loved my trip to Riviera Maya to photograph their wedding on the beautiful beaches and amazing sunset skies.

Destination Wedding Diva’s took care of all of the little details to make it a wonderful and stress free day for all.    I took a trip into Puerto Morelos for some last-minute table decorations/gifts for the welcome party – and what a quaint little “authentic” feeling town.  It isn’t the commercial Cancun – and I love the OFF THE BEATEN PATH towns in Mexico whenever I go.

Beautiful formal dinning.

 

Puerto Morelos

..a place where the tradition of fishing for a living still survives, and the boom in tourism is on the rise. Here the prices are lower, the pace is slower and the atmosphere is laid back. There is a zocalo (town square) in the center of town with a few stores, a dive shop and some restaurants along its perimeter. Just off the zocalo on the beach is Pelicanos offering a nice view of the Caribbean and good food. The beach in the center of town is rustic, with small fishing boats on the sand and moored just off shore. The main fishing pier and the lighthouse are the primary points of interest, with friendly locals and some good photo opportunities. You can expect to be offered an excursion to the reefs from here since most of the boats in town tie up on and around the main pier.

The surrounding area

Puerto Morelos is expanding and has been discovered by the all-inclusive developers, and yet in town the neighborhoods are a combination of modest homes, hotels and cabañas. Here lodging opportunities range from rustic palapa style huts with thatched roofs and beds suspended by ropes; to air-conditioned condo style hotels with meal plans, spa services, jacuzzi and swimming pools. It’s an interesting mix.

Cabanas....

Don’t rule out a beautiful destination wedding for your wedding day

Planning your wedding in Mexico, definitely has its pros and cons.  But it is an amazing experience for every wedding couple and family that has been part of a destination wedding there.  I know many people’s first thought that it is something for celebrities and the superrich, Destination weddings become an exotic way to remember your special ceremony. From destination wedding coordinators and travel agents that I have talked to and work with – they  say the properly planned destination has the potential of saving you upwards of  10-20k,  and can also turn your wedding day into  “mini-vacation” for your family and friends – this alone can make the day unforgettable.

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Watching the twins grow

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The Erickson Twins - as newborns

Peyton (top) Quinn (bottom) as newborns

One of my photography projects over the next 15 months  is photographing the Erickson twins.  Photographing them as newborns, I will be continuing to photograph them about every 8 weeks for the next year or so.  I continually tell people how fast their children will grow – and am very excited that we will be able to see this beautiful sister and brother get bigger along their way.  After our next session in a couple months I will also begin a blog page for them to write a little about the experiences of having twins too.  My fascination with twins may be due to having identical twin younger brothers, but in having two children of my own only a year apart – I’m also very curious at how children grow and change, especially during the first few years of their life.

Peyton at 3 months old

Quinn at 3 months old

Anyway – I hope you enjoy seeing this sister and brother along their way!

Quinn (3months)

Peyton (3months)

Peyton & Quinn at 3 months old

Can you believe Quinn and Peyton are already 5 months old?

They are growing… growing… and still as cute as ever!  It was so nice having them in the studio this past weekend – next session in a couple months, or when they start sitting up.  I can never believe how different children look once they are sitting up, then standing… and wow… watch out then when these two decide to crawl.

Photographer: Jeanine Thurston

 

International Charity Model Search 2011

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Fototails Photography is participating in the International Charity Model Search to select North America’s Cutest Kid and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. (NILMDTS.org)

Is your child North America’s Cutest Kid? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! The grand prize winner will win a $2500 savings bond, a $2500 travel package, and a $100 Target gift card.  The second and third place runners up each will win a $500 savings bond and a $100 Target gift card.

Model Search Special:

$45 entrance fee includes a 30 minute model session with Jeanine Thurston and one image submitted to the international gallery.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org).  Every family member who registers their information on the Charity Model Search Website will also receive 1 complimentary vote.  The top 5 paid votes, and the top 5 complimentary votes in each region will move on to the final judging round for a total of 50 finalists.

Grand prize international winner and runners up will be determined from the 50 regional finalists. The winner and runners up are selected by photography experts.

Call 720-454-7608  or email wendy@fototails.com to enter your “Cutest Kid” in this exciting contest.

*Contest open to residents of the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://www.charitymodelsearch.org.

Local Artist Spotlight: Stephen Roberts

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I’ve been involved in art as long as I can remember.  I’ve dabbled in charcoal, pencil, oils and etching – which eventually lead me to photography that I love so much.  Many of my clients are interested in art as well, however it is always exciting to me when one of my clients practices their art.  So, this is the start to my monthly blog post “Local Artist Spotlight” to show off some of the amazing artists that I am fortunate enough to cross paths with along my way.
DECEMBER 2010 SPOTLIGHT: Stephen Roberts
 

 

Stephen Roberts/ Title: UNFINISHED

 

I’ve been photographing for Stephen and Jaya Roberts for some years now, starting with their wedding.  Over the years their family has grown – and it is what I love most about my clients and getting to know them more over time.  I get to see them and their families grow and grow up – it can’t help but make me smile.  Our last session this fall with the Roberts, I was talking a little more with Stephen and found out that he is an artist.  I can’t help but get a little anxious when people tell me they practice their art and of course couldn’t wait to see some of his work.  Thanks to cell phones these days, he had something to show me to appease my “photographer” instant gratification need to SEE! 

Stephen Roberts/ Title: Dead Bird Circus

The colors in Stephen’s art are amazingly attractive to the eye and the brilliant colors and shapes draw you into his work.  It is wonderful looking at his work, and the only hard part is trying to look away – there is just so much to see in each piece, you don’t want to stop looking.
A creative with deep spiritual connections. Developed talent from a young age and has worked many different mediums.

Stephen Roberts/ Title: Passion

From oils in a wandering type composition to photorealism with pencils.
“I Enjoy painting with my boys of five and three years, and look forward to tomorrow and the colors that will be enjoyed!”
Stephen J Roberts
Ps 27:1
A Creative

Food Photography

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PEI Vita Denver

Vita Denver: P.E.I. Mussels

As many of you have seen this year, I’ve been photographing a lot of food lately.  Although I’ve been photographing food, commercial and product photography for over 2 decades – 2010 has been an amazing year for food.  With the 2011 MUY BUENO calendar out for sale now, and the MUY BUENO COOKBOOK being published in 2011 we have been continuously photographing old and new recipes for the calendar, book and blogs.  In addition, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph for some amazing new clients this year  like Vita and 1515 and Blue River Bistro – to name a few.

What will 2011 bring?  Looking forward to so many things I don’t know where to start.  We will be having a book release party for MUY BUENO, I’m working on a photography book that we have planned for publish late 2011 or early 2012, and a couple photography classes I’ll be teaching also at the end of 2011.  This of course in addition to photographing for my wonderful clients.

Join our RSS feed to get all the latest posts and news sent to you right away and please join us on Twitter too for any breaking news and tweets too!

Some amazing websites and blogs that we have been very proud to be featured on this year:

Mexconnect

Always a great time for family portraits.

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From retro to classic, indoors and out – there really isn’t a bad time for family portraits or portraits of your children.  Each session can be custom to whatever you love most at the moment.  It’s ALWAYS a good thing to indulge in enjoyable recollection of past events.

For some really special packages you don’t want to miss, please visit our November 2010 Fototails Newsletter.  We have some great holiday gift ideas, including some unbeatable gift card offers.

Follow us on TWITTER too!

Fototails Photography

Murray Family - 2010

The Denver Foundation – PRESS RELEASE

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For Immediate Release: November 11th, 2010

Contact:

Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack

Muy Bueno Cookbook

w: muybuenocookbook.wordpress.com

Delicious Recipes + Generous Gift to the Community

Muy Bueno Calendar to benefit The Denver Foundation

(Denver, CO)  Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack, author with her sister and mother of the upcoming calendar and cookbook titled Muy Bueno: Three-Generations of Authentic Mexican Flavor, and Jeanine Thurston of Fototails Photography announced today that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the calendar  will benefit the Strengthening Neighborhoods Program of The Denver Foundation.

Marquez-Sharpnack wrote Muy Bueno with her sister Veronica Gonzalez-Smith and their mother Evangelina Soza.   To be published in 2011, the cookbook will take readers south-of-the-border for down-home Mexican comfort food with time-tested favorite family recipes and treasured food traditions. Stories are intertwined with each recipe, as the authors take you through a cultural history and their family background. Both daughters and mother have joined forces to bring you all that is “Muy Bueno” from three generations of cooking — the old world, the traditional and the modern world.

For those who are interested in sampling the recipes before the book is published, Fototails Photography has created a 2011 calendar including 12 recipes with brilliant images.   “What could be better than sharing in some cooking, maybe some drinks, and great conversation with family and friends over the holidays.  You could make a night of it, have a party over it, and dabble in some authentic Mexican recipes that have been passed along for over three generations,” says Thurston.

To order calendars: You may go to www.fototails.wordpress.com or directly to:

https://www.lulu.com/product/calendar/2011-muy-bueno/13576188

About The Denver Foundation and Strengthening Neighborhoods: The Denver Foundation is a community foundation that inspires people and mobilizes resources to improve life in Metro Denver. The Denver Foundation has three roles: stewarding an endowment to meet current and future needs for Metro Denver, working with community leaders to address the core challenges that face the community, and managing over 800 charitable funds on behalf of individuals, families, and businesses.

Strengthening Neighborhoods is The Denver Foundation’s grassroots neighborhood development program. SN helps residents of ten partner neighborhoods use their existing strengths and assets to make their communities better places to live.

For more information visit: www.strengtheningneighborhoods.org.

# # #

Fototails and Muy Bueno Cookbook partner with Denver Foundation

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I know we have been sending out teasers to let you know about the sale of the 2011 MUY BUENO calendar – with full color photos and 12+ recipes and what is even better is we have partnered with The Denver Foundation to donate a portion of the proceeds from each calendar sale to their Strengthening Neighborhoods (SN) program.

Strengthening Neighborhoods (SN) is The Denver Foundation‘s grassroots neighborhood development program. It is a grant making program that helps residents in 10 struggling Denver neighborhoods improve their communities “from the inside out.”  The Grants help pay for resident leadership training, and community projects such as food pantries, tutoring programs, neighborhood gardens, and school safety patrols.  They have also helped with park and school cleanup, among other projects.  If you are interested in learning more about this innovative program, please visit their website at http://www.denverfoundation.org and click on Strengthening Neighborhoods.

We could not be happier to be making the MUY BUENO 2011 calendar and have it play a roll in supporting our Denver community.  In just a few more days it will be available for sale online – details to come.  We will also post other locations where you can purchase the calendar very soon!

Thank you so much for following the progress of the MUY BUENO COOK BOOK and the soon to be released 2011 MUY BUENO calendar too!  It is a great gift for family and friends, and we love that every calendar you purchase will also help our Denver communities.

THE MUY BUENO CALENDAR: 12 month calendar featuring some select recipes that will be in the MUY BUENO COOK BOOK.  There are full color photos for some amazing recipes for you to “test out” on your Mexican cooking adventures.  It highlights both American and Mexican holidays that are commonly celebrated in the US – and is an amazing display that brings Mexican and American families together.  What could be better than sharing in some cooking, maybe some drinks, and great conversation with family and friends over the holidays.  You could make a night of it – have a party over it, and well…. dabble in some authentic Mexican recipes that have been passed along for over three generations.  And then… by the time you get through some of the great starter recipes in the calendar… before you know it,  the cookbook will be ready with even more to offer from recipes to amazing stories to pour over.

2011 MUY BUENO Calendar countdown

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2011 MUY BUENO CALENDAR

In 10 days or less the MUY BUENO Calendar will be available for sale.  For any of you that have been following our posts or the MUY BUENO COOKBOOK blog, I’m sure you have been waiting in anticipation of the MUY BUENO COOKBOOK to be published sometime in 2011.  So, we wanted to relieve some of your anxious energy by creating a 2011 calendar with 12+ recipes for you to start with.  It is the PERFECT holiday gift, birthday gift… and well “Just because I love you” gift to any “foodie” out there that loves Mexican food or loves cooking.  It is a full color calendar with brilliant images tempting you for what is to come in the MUY BUENO COOKBOOK.  So make your list – your family, your friends, your employees, your boss… anyone that you just can’t seem to figure out what to get.  And it could make a great stocking stuffer too.

What could be better than sharing in some cooking, maybe some drinks, and great conversation with family and friends over the holidays.  You could make a night of it – have a party over it, and well…. dabble in some authentic Mexican recipes that have been passed along for over three generations.

Keep your eyes peeled here for the calendar release no later than November 15th, and order  right away for your holiday gift giving.  Discounts will apply the more you buy – so you get more for less!

The HOLIDAYS!

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Toes

Time for the yearly holiday breakdown!  Less than two months until Christmas, and if you are like me at all…. you may not have even thought of what you will be doing for holiday gifts & cards this year.  There is still time to get some portraits of your families or children to use for gifts and for cards this year – but with Thanksgiving only a few weeks away… that time will slip by very quickly.

Some deadline dates for you:

Print orders: Order by December 7th to get them in time for Christmas – while we may be able to get orders to you after that date, there are rush fees involved so to avoid… get those orders on or before December 7th, 2010!

Canvas orders: Order no later than December 2nd please.  Large canvas prints that are bigger than 20×24 please order by November 28th, 2010.

Albums… through Pictage you may be able to order as late as the 1st of December… but please call them to make sure.  Wedding album orders with a custom layout can’t be processed in time for the holidays from this point on.

Holiday cards… STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO ORDER, but get those orders in no later than December 10th, 2010 so you can get them back and have time to mail them out.

Digital files: Digital file orders we can get to you for download within 48 hours up until 3 days before Christmas if you need to print up something very last minute.

I’ll adjust these deadlines along the way if our pro labs happen to adjust any times that give you more time – so keep checking back.

Please call us or e-mail us to set up a session!!! Would love to do a session outdoors, or in our beautiful Ravens Nest studio in Denver.

info@fototails.com

http://www.fototails.com

Remember what it’s like to be a kid. Win a free portrait session.

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What it feel like to be a kid.

I couldn’t help but post on this image before I’m even done editing the entire session.  This – to me at least – is what I remember it feels like to be a kid.

*You wake up in the morning thinking of all the things you want to do.

*You run – and when you run… it is always as fast as you can.

*When it is cold, your teeth feel cold because you are smiling so much.

*The woods is your favorite playground because it is open for endless exploring and adventure.

*Finding crawling things is the best thing on earth… salamanders, lizards, snakes, frogs.  For some kids… maybe you preferred lady bugs & butterflies… I grew up more like a tom boy in the woods. lol.

*Your cheeks are almost always rosy.

*Holidays were magical, and summers were nearly endless.

*Being snowed it was the best thing on earth, because it meant you got to make tunnels through the snow (I lived up north… so “feet” of snow were a regular thing.

Now it’s your turn.  Post the first thing that comes to mind that made you smile when you were a kid.  I get to pick my favorite out of anyone that posts before Dec 1st, 2010 and that person gets their next portrait session with me for free.

🙂 Time to to think about being a kid!

My kiddos

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My boys

Everyone has been asking for updates and I know it is about time.  Eric and Jace are doing awesome – although I’m not quite sure if they are friend or foe of each other from one minute to the next.   We always feel in the state of da je vue as with them only being a year apart from each other… just as we complete one stage with Eric we start that same stage with Jace.

Eric is in pre-school now part time and absolutely loves going to school, loves his teacher “Ms. Lisa” and all his new friends.  He is super smart, which also means he needs to be kept very busy or gets a little crazy!lol.  He loves puzzles and just about anything that keeps his little feet moving indoors and out.

Jace is Eric’s shadow.  He loves his brother, but also has really been enjoying when Eric goes to school and gets some independence.  He always has a smile and hug for everyone, and I love that he tells me he loves me all the time.  He also always walks around an announces “I’m happy” about 10 times a day.  Can’t ask for any better than that.

I’ve been loving every minute of watching them change and grow, and absolutely love being able to talk with them now.  If they had their way, they would have me read books to them all day long.  And yes, my kids watch cartoons – with favorites being Calliou and Little Ms Spider – but Backyardigans takes a close 3rd.  The movie of the year was officially “How to train your Dragon” and I’m still trying to figure out how to apply it to “How to train your Children” with little luck on the conversion.

Holidays have taken on a completely new meaning at our house.  Mance and I have unfortunately been a tad on the scrooge side with little or no decorating for any holidays.  But we busted out with the fun this year starting for Halloween and carved 7 pumpkins, put up a huge spider and web on our porch, and costumes are Spiderman for Eric and a Pirate for Jace.  We hit up a halloween party at Eric’s school and they are having so much fun.  It is nice to feed off their energy, and now I’m even looking forward to Thanksgiving and decorating for Christmas with a big tree this year.

As always I’m busy working on the photography  business and photography projects.  2010 has been an amazingly creative year for me.  I’m working with Yvette of  MUY BUENO COOKBOOK and it has been very exciting seeing it come together and the amazing presence it has been receiving in anticipation of the publication.  I’ve had the opportunity to photograph for some amazing restaurants in Denver and Breckenridge, had a few fashion photo shoots this year, and of course all of my maternity, newborn and wedding photography too.  A long time client of mine Wendy has joined Fototails Photography and I’m so happy to have some help with clients in session planning, and some projects for the business.

Overall, lots to be excited about for 2011!!!! 🙂

Eric

Jace