Senior Reps Needed! | Helena & Boulder, MT Senior Photographer

Zo-Mak Photography is currently looking for Senior Reps in Helena and Boulder! Two boys and girls from each local high school will be chosen to represent Zo-Mak Photography throughout your senior year.

I'm looking for outgoing, active seniors who love the camera. Show the world who YOU are through your senior pictures.

Reps will get a FREE photo session and an 11x14 print *or* a set of 25 custom-designed graduation announcements. You can also earn credit for prints, digital images and more for referring your friends.

Contact Suzie at zo.mak.photography@gmail.com with a photo to be considered! Late summer and fall are probably the best times to get your senior photos done, so email now!

Lilly: 9 months | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

I got to spend the morning last weekend with one of my baby's first year babies. Lilly is so sweet, curious and WIGGLY! She's been a little wiggle worm since her three month session, and it hasn't changed yet! We spent a couple beautiful hours up at Hyalite Reservoir, dodging snow piles left in shady spots, and soaking up the sun! I can't wait to see these guys again later this summer for Miss Lilly's birthday.

See Lilly grow through her previous sessions: 6 months, 3 months and newborn.

And while you're at it, check out the awesome (and slightly creepy) project that her mom and dad are working on -- the Fear Mine Haunted House!

Product Highlight: Image Boxes | Helena Bozeman Montana Photographer

Rest assured that when you receive your gallery, there are ways to receive one of everything! Here's one option: a custom designed image box consisting of one 4x6 or 5x7 of each image in your final proofing gallery. Choose your favorites to enlarge onto canvas or large prints, and put the rest into this timeless keepsake to look back on for years to come.

Pricing for image boxes as well as all other prints and products can be found on my website.

Estella | Helena Bozeman Montana Newborn Baby Photographer

I'm pretty sure I've said it before... If I had my way, I would photograph newborns all day, every day, for the rest of forever. I just adore them! The love between parents and a new baby is enough to brighten up even the darkest day, and the opportunity to cuddle an itty bitty doesn't hurt, either. Meet Estella, 10 days young.

Cooper is 1! | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

I love traveling back to Ithaca, NY (my hometown) and catching up with friends from my childhood. It's strange -- I left town right after I graduated college, and now almost 13 years later it's like no time has passed when we get together. Capturing memories of them with their children is just the icing on the cake! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Cooper's first birthday! What a smart, determined little guy!!

Jackson - 9 months | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

I've learned through the time I've been doing Baby's First Year sessions that 9 months seems to be the one they have the least patience for. I was in and out in less than an hour with Jackson, but still came away with some completely adorable images!

He looks like such a little man in his argyle sweater vest -- and so serious to boot!

Love all the props this family has to incorporate in his photos. We tried to make the firetruck work for his 6 month session, but we had to be patient and let him grow into it a bit more. Sure enough, it's perfect now!

Take a look back on Jackson's first year: 6 months, 3 months and newborn. He seems to be one of those babies who looks like himself right from the start -- he hasn't changed much at all in his face that I can see -- other than it getting chubbier and cuter each time! See you again this summer for the big ONE!

I'm back! | Bozeman Helena Montana Familly and Baby Photographer

Phew! It's been a while! I'm currently living in limbo between Bozeman and Helena, but at least I have a place to hang my hat until we close on our new house, and a computer to get some work done! I did a couple sessions while I was in NY, and one here in Montana the day after I got back. Now that I'm back in the swing of things, (did I mention I came home to a completely wiped out hard drive? yuck!) I wanted to share a few images from what I'm working on now.

I can't even begin to explain how happy this first image makes my heart. I grew up with this family -- and was honored to take their photos while I was recently visiting my hometown. And for a Dad who *claimed* he wasn't interested in getting his picture taken, I tend to think otherwise when I see this one:

A couple of beautiful grand-kids:

Meet Cooper (and his Mom, another childhood friend of mine), the adorable 1-year-old who braved 43 degrees and soggy ground for his birthday pictures:

And 9-month old Jackson, one of my baby's first year babies -- can't believe I have only one session left with him!

I'm looking forward to a super busy summer with sessions in Bozeman and in Helena - what an adventure this will be!

But before that happens, I better get finished with editing these three sessions!

Sam - 5 months | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

Oh, baby Sam, baby Sam! You broke my heart again! So much sweetness in such a tiny package...



Baby Sam offered me another first today -- a cuddly, sleepy 5-month old baby! To be fair, he was 11 weeks preemie, so more along the lines of a 3-month old in size, but ohmygoodness....... he slept like a newborn! Wait, he slept better than he did at his newborn session!

Those lashes!

What a pleasure. I look forward to seeing him three more times through his first year!

Brielle - 9 months | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

Yet another beautiful, happy baby! Have I ever mentioned that I love my job?! Brielle is another of my baby's first year clients -- check out how adorable she was at 6 months and as a newborn! She just keeps getting sweeter (despite the fact that she *knew* today was the day for pictures and opted not to nap for the occasion...) We still pulled some smiles out of her.

Thanks again, Brielle (and your mommy and daddy)! I am so looking forward to a nice, warm day for your first year session outdoors! It will be perfectly wonderful, I'm sure of it.

Elizabeth, 9 months | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

Whoa! I'm not quite sure how I forgot to blog Elizabeth, but I suppose good things come to those who wait... Meet Elizabeth -- honestly one of the most beautiful babies I have ever known. And she gets better every three months. Seriously: check out her 6 months, 3 months, and newborn sessions for proof.

Special thanks to Sweet Pea Hats for the beautiful headband. I'll definitely be stocking up with more props from her soon!

If I ever come across a contest for beautiful baby thighs, this will be the shot I enter. Pass the butter, please!!! I'm gonna gobble her up!

Elizabeth | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

More to come in the next couple days, but I couldn't wait to get her face out there! She just keeps getting cuter each time I see her!! Happy 9 months, Elizabeth!

Cake Smash | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

As I book more first birthday sessions, I wanted to give folks an idea of a way to make some super fun memories out of this occasion! Of course we start the session with clothes on and some more *formal* (read: non-messy) shots, but then we break down to diaper and cake for a cake smash! This is one of my favorite things to do with little ones! They love it, mom loves it, I love it, and you get a freshly washed baby immediately after the session ;)

Keep this in mind for your baby's first year session, whether it's a stand-alone booking or the culmination of baby's first year program with me!

Storyboards are a great way to commemorate the experience from start to finish!

This square storyboard can be printed either as 16 or 20 inch.

Another popular size is 10x20 -- this can contain between two and four images from the session.

Happy Birthday Bryn! | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

I had another wonderful session with another birthday girl recently under my birthday special! YAY! This is such a fun age full of movement, smiles, and big eyes. Bryn was no exception, even though she was working on getting a new tooth through...

Happy Birthday, beautiful girl!

Though Bryn was mostly over it at this point, we had to snap a few family shots with the furry child, Ellie. Ellie was thrilled to be invited onto the bed (a first time for everything!)

Happy Birthday Ally! | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

Confession time: I have a new favorite all time photo, and it's not of my own daughter. {gasp!}

Miss Ally and I celebrated her birthday a little late after recovering from a cold, but as they say, good things come to those who wait! We spent the first half of the session getting some more formal shots, then stripped her down to her diaper and let her go to town with a cake smash! I have to apologize - I didn't even get a "before" shot of her with the cake! There was no holding her back --as soon as her mama put her down, she was on that cake - literally!

Sugar and spice and everything nice. That's what little Ally is made of!

Oh, for the record, this is the new favorite.

I say it a lot -- babies tell so much through their eyes. They may not have many words yet, but WOW. These eyes have a lot to say!

Can't get away without sharing some beautiful baby parts!

Happy Birthday, Ally!

Beautiful | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Child Photographer

I can't wait to share this one! Those eyes just staring back at me.... I'm mesmerized! Can't wait to get to more of Ally's first birthday images!!!

Baby Ian | Bozeman Helena Montana Newborn Baby Photographer

It's my pleasure to introduce you to baby Ian, a total little sweetheart! I'm so glad I had the chance to meet him and his lovely parents. He gave me a bit of a marathon session, but it was totally worth every minute.

I can't not share this image. Besides the totally adorable wrinkles, I think the expression on his face is just as adorable as a smile! (I promise he didn't cry for long - it was just one of those quick fleeting moments!)

I'll be working feverishly this week to get through the rest of his images!

Lilly ~ 6 months | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

I truly adore watching my babies grow up! OK, they're not my babies, but given that I get to visit them every three months through their first year, I feel like I have some connection to them. It's so fun to anticipate each session and see how much they've grown and changed since last time I saw them.

Case in point, little Miss Lilly. Nothing but sweet. The same beautiful smile since the beginning. You'd never even know she was battling a cold this day, because every time I looked at her, she just smiled! See for yourself: Lilly at 3 months and as a newborn.

I try to always capture baby parts in addition to their beautiful eyes and faces. (Confession: baby belly buttons are my all time favorite baby part).

And of course, major props to Dad, a.k.a. baby wrangler. I couldn't do what I do without parents lending a helping hand along the way!

I Heart Faces Challenge - Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes! | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Photographer

This week's challenge over at IHF is Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes! Anything but a face! When I think about my favorite baby parts other than those gorgeous eyes, the first thing that comes to mind are itty bitty baby belly buttons! Here's on of my all time favs.

Jackson is 6 months | Bozeman MT Baby Photographer

So all babies are cute, right? That's just a given. In that respect, I totally have the best job in the world. (Well, in a lot of respects I have the best job in the world...) Especially happy babies. LOVE six months, because babies are so flippin' happy now! Jackson did not disappoint in that respect.

But you know what makes babies even *more* irresistible to me? Chunks. Lots and lots of baby chunks. Again, Jackson does not dissapoint! This baby just keeps getting better and better!

He's getting cuter every time! Here he is at 3 months and at his newborn session. He just keeps getting better, right?!

We hadn't gotten a shot of him yet with his Grandma -- until now! What a lucky family to have so much love.

Thanks again for sharing your time with me! Cannot wait until 9 months!

Baby Sam | Bozeman MT Newborn Baby Photographer

This adorable little guy was a first for me! He was due on January 25th, which would make him about a week and a half old when we had our session. However, little mister Sam decided to make his appearance almost three months ago! He gave his parents a big surprise in November when he decided to meet them, but he is totally healthy and perfect! I kept going back and forth in my head while preparing for this session regarding what to expect -- a newborn or an almost-three-month-old?

Well, regardless of what I expected, perfection is what I got. A perfectly sweet little guy who wasn't quite into sleeping as a newborn would be, but so full of sweetness that I didn't mind!

Congratulations on your perfect little bundle, Jessica! It was my pleasure to spend the morning with you both, and I hope I get the opportunity to have Sam as a model again!