First Snow | Helena, Montana Photographer

I am totally one of *those* people who LOVES winter. I was as giddy as my girls (two and four) last night as the snow started falling, and I couldn't help myself this morning when I looked outside at the sun rising over the Elkhorn mountains making my whole world sparkle. I had to take my camera out! I am so lucky to live in this little piece of heaven. All these images were taken out my front door, still in my pajamas.... Mmmmmmm, I love it! (Disclaimer: don't call me in April asking me if I still feel the same way. Chances are slim).

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!

The final step | Bozeman Helena Photographer

It's finally here! The last chapter of our move from Bozeman to Helena! YAY!

As I prepare to unplug and pack my computer away, I'm overwhelmed with the excitement of a new beginning. I'm sad to leave all my awesome friends and clients behind in Bozeman, but remind myself that it's only a short ride away... In fact, I have bookings in Bozeman through 2012, so it's not like I'm really going to be *gone*.

So, Helena, here I come!! I will be without internet for a few days to a week, but you can always reach me on my cell -- 406.600.2879. I'd love to talk about booking a session and get you on the calendar!

To all my Bozeman peeps -- please tell your friends and family in the Helena area about Zo-Mak Photography! For every successful referral, you'll receive a free 8x12 print from a prior gallery of your choice!

Happy Trails :)

Hot Mama Handbags | Helena Bozeman Montana Product Commercial Photographer

I love surrounding myself with creative people. I also love surrounding myself with people who have followed their dreams and made their lives exactly what they want them to be. My friend, Maranda Lee is one of those people. We started our creative journeys at about the same time shortly after our youngest kids were born (my baby girl and her baby boy were born three days apart!) and have just blossomed into something we never imagined was possible.

Maranda is the brains and magic (she does it all, from design to sewing to marketing and sales...) behind maranda lee - the original Hot Mama Handbags. She started making bags that were functional and fun for new moms, but it's become so much more than that. All sorts of different bags and accessories, fun, flirty skirts for mom, sun hats for the kiddos... Every time I turn around, she's got something new and awesome.

So glad to be a part of your journey, Maranda!

Check out some previous product sessions we've done together here and here!

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!

One Day Canvas Sale! | Bozeman Helena Montana Photographer

Take a look at this ONE DAY sale opportunity on canvas!

20x24 and 20x20 canvases are on sale through midnight tomorrow, Wednesday 5/18/2011!

Regularly $375 each, get either size for only $225. Put one of each size together for an awesome wall collage for only $400. In case you're not sure, this is a KILLER deal!

Offer is good for prior Zo-Mak clients who have already had a proofing gallery available to them. Call or email to have your gallery turned on for one day. Offer expires at midnight on May 18th, 2011.

406.600.2879

zo.mak.photography@gmail.com

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!

Runner-up | Bozeman Helena Montana Photographer

If you follow my photo of the day blog, (and if you don't, you should!) you'll notice this one is missing. I had a hard time deciding which to go with today. I just love all the barns throughout our great state -- there's something unique and special about every single one. I'm pretty sure this is the only yellow one I've seen since I've moved here (please correct me if I'm wrong -- I don't get out much.....)

Alas, I chose shadow over barn. Here's the runner up.

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 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!

Happy Birthday Brooklyn! | Bozeman Helena Montana Child Photographer

Happy Birthday, Brooklyn!

Brooklyn recently turned three years old! I can't believe how fast time goes by -- it seems like just yesterday I met Brooklyn shortly before her second birthday... Then along came her beautiful sister whom I've had the pleasure of photographing every three months throughout her first year. Their wonderful mom has become a friend, and I am so grateful for the opportunities to capture these images of her babies.

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.

My Girls | Bozeman MT Child Photographer

I intentionally left the camera at the house this afternoon when we took our girls out to a nearby field to fly a kite so I could actually play with them and enjoy the moments rather than have the camera at my eye the whole time. I try to do this as often as I can (which is not very often) and it actually throws people for a loop. Maybe that's a sign. Anyway -- as soon as we got out there, I knew the no-camera thing was a mistake. So I sprinted back home, grabbed the camera and ran back. So glad I did.

My girls often don't get the attention from my camera that my clients receive. They get crappy snapshots in poor lighting. Those memories are fine for the photo album, and I don't expect every shot of them to be perfect, but MAN it's great when I do get some truly beautiful images!

The little one was pretty excited watching the kite takeoff!

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!

Have basket, need baby! | Bozeman MT Newborn Baby Photographer

First off, did you know that when you sign up for World Market Explorer program, they send you a $20 coupon to use during your birthday month? The best part is that it's $20 off a $20 purchase -- no need to spend tons to save!

Second, did you know they carry THIS basket? Leave it to me to spend my birthday gift on a prop... I don't do too many props for newborns -- generally just hats, headbands and cute blankets, but this one is so calling out for a little one! Who will be the first name on the little chalkboard?!

I have one more spot available for a lucky baby this winter for my newborn special! Call or email me if you'd like to see your adorable little bundle all curled up in this basket! zo.mak.photography@gmail.com