M. Larson Photo

Mini-Maternity Sessions

2012-02-08T14:44:00.000-08:00

In these tough times, many Seattle families are forced to choose between a newborn portrait session and a maternity portrait session. While I always think the newborn portrait session is the right place to invest professional photography if you can only choose one, it also breaks my heart that many women will never have the opportunity for amazing portraits of their pregnancies.

So in 2012, I am going to try something new. I am offering quarterly mini-maternity sessions. There will only be one date per quarter, for women who are due during that time period. The portraits sessions will only be about 30 minutes long and will take place at Seattle's Golden Gardens park in Ballard. The mini-maternity session will be $300 and includes a $200 print credit. It's enough to make sure you have a few treasured family heirloom portraits from this amazing but fleeting time in your life.

Dates for the first quarter mini-maternity sessions are:
Friday, February 24th
(Monday, Feb 27th as a rain date)
There are a limited number of sessions available so please book as soon as possible.

Who is eligible?
Any woman due in February, March, or up to the first week in April. (Artist's discretion)

Call the studio to see if a mini-maternity portrait session will work for you. No one should have to miss out on having beautiful, natural, maternity portraits.

*Restrictions: woman and her partner only, no pets or other young children can be included due to time constraints, one outfit only, limited times and sessions.

Article About M. Larson Photography

2012-01-30T08:56:00.000-08:00

This week, my friend and colleague Bob McGowan at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography (where I completed my training in photography) wrote an Alumni Feature about me, my small business in Ballard, and my newborn and maternity portrait work.

The article is aimed at other photographers and prospective students at the school but all the images used are mine, including the self-portrait head shot (and boy, that was not easy to take!)

To read the article, click here for the RMSP blog .

Check out the article on the RMSP blog!

Best of 2011 Contest is ON!

2012-01-24T19:24:00.000-08:00

Last year, I had a Best of 2010 contest on my M. Larson Photography Facebook Page and it was such a hit that I decided to do it every year. This year's contest begins now and runs through February 10th!

Also, I would like to say a huge "Thank you!" to all of my clients, past and present, even though every session can't make it into the contest. You and your kids made my year so much fun and so rewarding. Thank you! I am very proud of all my portraits which are so special to each and every one of my families.

It's always hard to choose just a few (29) out of the thousands of images I take every year. Sometimes, my favorite images from a session aren't the same as my clients' favorite images. So this one is just for me - artist's choice - and I have my reasons for picking each one! Usually, I choose things on the artsier end of the spectrum.

Looking through them will give you a good glimpse of what I was really digging in 2011. There were more bright colors this year and lots of fun bigger kids as well. Toddlers are always enjoyable to photograph and really keep me on my toes!

If you'd like to see all the images, or participate, head on over to the Facebook Page, become a fan, and "Like" your favorite images.

1. ‘Like’ M. Larson Photography

The pictures are up on Facebook and ready for your votes. Already a fan? Awesome! Not yet? Get on it! You have to ‘Like' M. Larson Photography in order to vote. Go here and click ‘Like’ at the top of the page.

2. Like the image you want to win.

You can do whatever you want to get votes for your favorite image. Tell friends, tell family, tell complete strangers to vote for that picture. You can tag people. You can leave comments. You can do whatever it takes to make sure your chosen picture(s) wins.

3. Get your votes in by 5 PM on February 10th, 2012 PST

This is simple. The image from each category with the most ‘likes’ will be made into an awesome 20x30” canvas print and delivered by the artist.

Letterpress! So exciting!

2011-10-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the 2011 Holiday Season, I am so excited to be offering for the very first time ever - LETTERPRESS cards with my images! Letterpress is unbelievably gorgeous and high quality and is so hot in the wedding and invitation market. But, we haven't been able to combine letterpress and photographic images...until now! These are perfect for luxury birth announcements or holiday cards. The printing uses modern colors and designs and the cards have so much impact in both their look and feel. These will definitely stand out from the crowd.

Seattle Family Portraits - by M. Larson Photography

2011-07-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the pleasure of photographing a Seattle family with a beautiful 13 year old daughter. I loved her outfit and the cute flower in her hair. This family was a ton of fun to photograph and we did the session in their rather magical green and woody backyard, and also down the street in their neighborhood.

Miss S here is at that great age - thirteen - and she's going into the 8th grade. She is an amazingly talented fiddle player and we took time in the middle of the session for her and her Dad to jam a bit for me. She played recently at Folk Life and has her first CD out! How cool is that?!

I hope to photograph the very pretty Miss S as she becomes a teenager. Shooting something a little different from my maternity and newborn portraits really got my creative energy flowing! It was kind of nice to have a subject old enough to listen and sit still, though I'll still happily chase after 2-year-olds any day.

Tucker - Newborn Portraits (in a VIDEO!) by M. Larson Photo

2011-06-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

This could be something new and exciting - it's a little video teaser that I made. My very first one! I used newborn baby Tucker's portraits for this sample. I could definitely see posting these fun little videos as portrait previews or for families to share their favorite images after the session! Check it out:

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Cute Little Isabel - Seattle Child Portraits by M. Larson Photography

2011-06-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

Isabel is such an adorable little two year old. Plus a little girl in a rainbow shirt and baby-sized chucks is a girl after my own heart! (I would totally wear a grown up version of her exact outfit right now.)

She's fun, energetic, loves to laugh, and had a great time at her portrait session running around the rock and roll atmosphere of Seattle Center, albeit at a quiet 8:30 in the morning. She needed only about 2 and a half seconds to warm up and she was flashing smiles and her big eyes at me.

She is very expressive but when she is serious for a moment (as long as a two year old can be, really) her face changes shape beautifully and entirely and her portraits become very soulful. I had such a hard time narrowing down her proofs because I couldn't choose between her many different looks. I look forward to photographing her as she grows up.

Baby Tucker is 7 Days Old - Seattle Newborn Photography

2011-05-20T15:53:00.001-07:00

Baby Tucker is such a sweet baby - he arrived nearly on time, as planned at home here in Seattle, and is so far leading my tiniest little newborn of 2011 "contest" at just 6 pounds. He was very snuggly at his newborn portrait session at just 7 days old.

You'll probably recognize his mama from our M. Larson Photography maternity portrait session on the beach a few weeks ago. She looks so fresh and gorgeous for a woman who is no doubt a little bit sleepy and still adjusting to her new life as a mother. Don't you think?

During his portrait session, Tucker peed in his parents' bed and pooped right into his Dad's hand (how convenient!) - providing me with a hilarious "outtake" that I'm not sure I can share with the internet. That one might just have to stay in the archives forever. The only thing he didn't do is open his eyes so his parents will have lots of beautiful sleeping baby boy photos but we will have to wait to see his pretty eyes at his next portrait session.

Enjoy the newborn portraits and have a great weekend everyone! More sneak peeks are coming next week from a bunch of bubbly 1-2 year olds I photographed recently.

Love love love!

2011-04-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

One of my Seattle maternity portrait clients just called and made my day. She described which maternity portraits she loved best from her session at Golden Gardens and when she told me why she loved this one...it gave me goosebumps and reminded me why I love being a professional photographer!

A few years ago, on the day of their wedding, they met on the beach as bride and groom before the ceremony to see each other for the first time in a private setting. There were no photographs to capture the moment he first laid eyes on her in her wedding dress, but Catherine remembers this being the look on Joe's face. She had only her memory of that moment until she saw this portrait. It captured all the love and happiness in his face as he looked at her in a new way...now carrying his child.

Ah, the romance! I love it! Knowing this story will give my heart little butterflies every time I look at it. I am so blessed to be able to give my clients artwork that brings their unique life stories into focus.

Seattle Maternity Portraits - Couples by M. Larson Photography

2011-04-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I love being a maternity and newborn photographer is because I get to be around people who are very much in love. It's a different kind of in love than creating engagement portraits, or being a wedding photographer. It's the kind of in love that people are when they are expecting a baby or are in awe of their newborn. Couples seem closer than ever as they are taking the biggest step in their lives. Mamas radiate love of their unborn babies, fathers-to-be are radiate love of their amazing wives carrying their children. It's just an incredibly special time and I get a lot of positive energy from being around these new families. This couple was no exception. They had a fantastic connection to each other, like life-long best friends embarking on a new journey together. It made me very happy to create these portraits from C's pregnancy.

Seattle Maternity Portraits by M. Larson Photography

2011-04-21T17:06:00.000-07:00

This gorgeous blond mama-to-be had to wait a very long time for a not-cold-and-rainy-or-hailing day for her April, outdoor, Seattle maternity portrait session! Every day we were foiled by the weather, sometimes to have it clear up just an hour later. Finally we took a chance and drove to the beach and were blessed with dry, if not spectacular, photography weather! She definitely had that pregnancy glow and the beach seemed to suit her very well. The first hour of our session, it was just us girls chit chatting while we took portraits. Later her husband joined us and we created some really lovely couples maternity portraits that show just how in love they are and just how excited they are to welcome a new baby in early May.

Last Chance! Sign up to Win!

2011-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

There's still time to sign up for the M. Larson Photography newsletter.

One lucky person will win an exclusive Mother's Day Package worth over $500!

How to enter:

All you need to do is sign up for our free monthly email newsletter that Martha sends about all things related to mama+baby portrait photography. There will be inspirational quotes and portraits, tips on photography and sharing your images, ways to make the most of your portrait investment, and exclusive info for newsletter subscribers.

Already an M. Larson Photography client? Share this opportunity with friends, family, PEPS groups, neighborhood mom email lists, etc. and when they sign up and mention your name in the “Referred By” box, you are both entered to win. The more friends you refer, the more chances you’ll have to win!

Click here to sign up!

(HTML only version, click here!)

Mother's Day is coming up soon and this would be beyond an amazing present for one lucky subscriber!

Mother's Day is Coming Up

2011-04-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is often a very special time for the clients of M. Larson Photography because for many of them, it's their very first Mother's Day with their newborn babies in their arms.

If you're already a client, you may be remember that one amazing image that you just loved from your portrait session. You probably envisioned it as a beautiful wall canvas or carrying it close to your heart in a piece of jewelry. Perhaps you dreamt about getting it but you were focused on making sure Grandpa and Grandma got all their gift prints during your newborn session.

Now would be a good time to hint to your partner or your parents to give you something that you've been wanting for Mother's Day. I am always willing to use any portrait from your proofs to create a unique and lovely present for you. Just give them a nudge and have them give me a call!

p.s. Don't forget about my Mother's Day Package Giveaway worth $500! Share this opportunity with friends, family, PEPS groups, neighborhood mom email lists, etc. and when they sign up and mention your name in the “Referred By” box, you are both entered to win. The more friends you refer, the more chances you’ll have to win! Click here to sign up!

Mother's Day Sessions and Gift Certificates

2011-04-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the simplest Mother's Day present is a gift certificate for a session. It's the experience of actually doing the session, mother and child, that is so special. It can be a time to bond and then you always have beautiful portraits to remember the day by. There's still time to book a session or buy a gift certificate for Mother's Day!

p.s. Don't forget about my Mother's Day Package Giveaway worth $500! Share this opportunity with friends, family, PEPS groups, neighborhood mom email lists, etc. and when they sign up and mention your name in the “Referred By” box, you are both entered to win. The more friends you refer, the more chances you’ll have to win! Click here to sign up!

Mother's Day Package Giveaway!

2011-03-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day Package Giveaway!

Sign up and one lucky person will win an exclusive Mother's Day Package worth over $500!

How to enter:
All you need to do is sign up for our free monthly email newsletter that Martha sends about all things related to mama+baby portrait photography. There will be inspirational quotes and portraits, tips on photography and sharing your images, ways to make the most of your portrait investment, and exclusive info for newsletter subscribers.

Already an M. Larson Photography client? Share this opportunity with friends, family, PEPS groups, neighborhood mom email lists, etc. and when they sign up and mention your name in the “Referred By” box, you are both entered to win. The more friends you refer, the more chances you’ll have to win!

Click here to sign up!

(HTML only version, click here!)

Mother's Day is coming up soon and this would be beyond an amazing present for one lucky subscriber!

The Bump

2010-02-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

Here's a sneak preview of my 2010-2011 advertisement that will appear in the print edition of The Bump magazine. A big thank you to all of my clients who are willing to appear in my promotional materials. Pass this along to friends who might miss getting their copy of The Bump.

Katy Belle Sneak Preview

2009-11-19T18:48:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of photographing cute little Katy Belle last week and we made great use of a modern onesie contrasted with a vintage chair - I love it!

2009 Baby Model Search

2009-07-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

I am announcing the first casting call in the 2009 Baby Model Search. Occasionally I need to photograph a very specific baby at a very specific point in their development and this year I am looking for:

Sun, Sand and Sitting
- A baby, boy or girl, ~8 months old that's able to sit up on its own without help, to be photographed outdoors at the beach playing in the sand. If you are comfortable with having a sandy baby in a summer outfit or in a bathing suit, and can provide suitable age-appropriate beach toys and entertainment, apply for this particular baby model casting role! This is not an opportunity for a family portrait, only the baby playing will be photographed, perhaps with mom making an appearance in some photographs to facilitate play.

Baby Steps
- A baby, preferably a little girl, that is just learning to walk. Preference for one that is able to take a few steps alone and handle the inevitable little falls - and then push right back up and try again. We will be taking portraits of that joy of first discovery of walking and some portraits with mom and dad's hands helping along in the process. The portrait session will be outdoors in a grassy location.

First Birthday
- A just-about-to-turn or just-turned one year old little girl, preferably with a full head of hair to be photographed at home included some first birthday type shots with cake. Preference for location in Seattle and a home with good light indoors and even a small nice grassy space outdoors.

To apply for any of the baby model roles, please send your baby's name, age, sex, sitting/walking ability, why you think your baby would be perfect for the role, and preferably a recent snapshot to be considered. Open to new clients or friends and family of existing clients. Clients, please let me know what your portrait needs are if your baby fits one of the roles. Email applications to info@mlarsonphoto.com. Thanks!

Baby models will receive: a complimentary portrait session, two 5x7 portraits of the artist's choice, a "Facebook file" of those two portraits, and will be featured on Facebook, the M. Larson Photography blog, and the M. Larson Photography website. You will be able to see edited proofs for one week and will have the opportunity to make an additional purchase, but no purchase is necessary.

Sneak Peek - Baby Trygg

2009-06-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

This guy was a pure little angel during our shoot!

Tattooed Dad-to-be

2009-06-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to photograph a beautiful, tattooed, dad-to-be Stefan with his wife Biz for their maternity portrait session. Stefan had gotten a new tattoo entitled "The Little Family" just to honor the occasion of the birth of their daughter and it was important to him that we got a few great portraits showing it off.

Here's one of the portraits from our session, used with my permission, featuring Stefan on a tattoo blog Needles and Sins:

Stefan and his tattoo

2nd Annual Seattle Children's Boutique Sale

2009-06-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick blog post to let you know about a big sale coming up! (Gotta love sales, especially on kids' stuff.) Time to stock up on some cute clothes for those upcoming portrait sessions!

It's the largest sale of the year from the best kids boutiques in Seattle.

One day, one location, 18 boutiques!

Saturday, June 13th from 10-2
2913 East Madison Street, Seattle
(Next to Plum Shoes)

Here's who will be there...

Baby Nouveau, Birth and Beyond, Bootyland, Buggy, Bump, Georgia Blu, Izilla Toys, Lambs Ear, Mon Petit Shoe, Once Upon a Time, Plum Shoes, Pop Tots, Retro Active Kids, Spoiled by Nana, Sugar Lump, Two Owls, tottini, and Urban Kids Play

Newborns At Home

2009-05-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

The newborn portrait session is pretty much the best part of my job and I truly believe it's the most important portrait session for your baby will ever have. It's the only time to photograph those uniquely newborn characteristics like wrinkles and worried looks, tiny hands and feet, downy soft newborn hair, and screaming like only newborns can do! Try getting artistic portraits, or simply in focus portraits, while holding your baby in one arm, your iPhone in the other and walking around in your sleep-deprived emotional state and you'll never be so happy to see me walk through the door!

Many clients love the look of newborns in the studio and are comfortable packing baby into the car and coming to me. But, many feel more comfortable staying home where they and their baby are still getting used to each other and, frankly, everyone can be in pyjamas! At home, you can be relaxed and not worry about having a "guest" over with a week old baby, piles of baby laundry, scattered bottles, and unwashed hair. I understand what my clients are going through so I am happy to come to your home and do a newborn portrait session in the most low-pressure environment possible.

This week I went to the home of Will, who is 7 weeks old but has only been at home for three days after being born at 30 weeks. He is doing great and weighs a little over 7 pounds now. While I was photographing Will, his Dad turned the tables on me and pointed his lens in my direction! I'm not one to like being in front of the camera but I realized this was a great opportunity to blog to all of you about what it's like to do a newborn shoot in a client's home.

You do not have to clean or shower or put on anything better than sweatpants and t-shirts (a nice t-shirt if you're planning on appearing in the photos!) You do not have to pick up baby laundry that you're folding on the coffee table or the rock band drum kit (Rock!).

You do not need a lot of space. I did Will's photographs in the small nook of space in front of their sliding glass door.

You need a window that gets some light and I will make a mini-studio. Here we used a large reflector that I brought and a baby vibrating chair covered in a solid cream baby blanket. Pillows or a boppy can also work.

Here I am hard at work:

And finally, I get my reward!

Many, many thanks to Graham, Sarah, and Will for welcoming me into their home three days after coming home from the hospital. Also, thanks for letting me share your photographs and your home on the web!

Stayed tuned for a sneak peek of Will's portraits from his newborn session!

Stefan and Biz's Maternity Portraits

2009-05-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

Check out this slideshow I've made from the proofs of a recent maternity portrait session. The styling from this shoot is perfect modern-meets-vintage and was a great match for M. Larson Photography portraits.

Two people in love, with a baby on the way, and a gorgeous one-of-a-kind location and you have...a completely AWESOME maternity portrait session!

The Many Faces of Charlotte

2009-05-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

This little one is kind of on the serious side...but that's ok too! She shows off a great range of expressions from "pouty" to "kissy" to "happy". Six months is such a great age to bring in babies to be photographed!

Holiday Cards

2008-10-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Yes, I know you're still figuring out the last details (or first details?!) for Halloween next week but it's time to start thinking about Holiday cards for December ASAP! I have 6 great new designs* for cards this year! The first 4 are clean, white, and modern while the last two are more traditional, with rich colors. They can all be customized as well. So, pick out your favorite images from our photo shoot this year OR call me to schedule a mini-session in November to have fresh fall photos just in time for the cards. I will post more details about that soon!

Best,
M. Larson

~all the designs shown below have my watermark logo that will not appear on printed cards~
*designs by Limberdog Designs and V Gallery*

"Ornaments Card Design"

"Trees Card Design"

"Presents Card Design"

"Snowflakes Card Design"

"Red and Gold Dots Card Design"

"Blue and Red Dots Card Design"

Maternity in the Setting Sun

2008-07-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

I already posted my favorite maternity portrait from Cari's first photo shoot. But, here are some of the most interesting photographs from her second, Old West style maternity session. We had the most gorgeous orange light from the setting sun...

Sneak Peek: Maternity

2008-07-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

Cari is a good friend, fellow artist and photographer, and expecting her first baby! We were both so filled with ideas for her maternity portraits that we actually did two photo shoots! This one had a very modern, urban vibe, as you can see. This is my favorite image from this shoot. But, the second shoot was an Old West style shoot in the gorgeous setting sun...stay tuned for a post with photos from that maternity session!

Handsome Boy

2008-07-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

I called this little guy my "George Clooney Baby", mostly because of that smoldering look he's giving me in the above photograph! I hope someday soon he'll come back with his older brother for a sibling photo shoot.

There's always a little warming up period where the babies and I get to know each other a bit:

But finally we are able to loosen up and have a lot of fun:

Summer Babies

2008-07-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

It seems my summer is destined to be filled with cute babies! But, that's to be expected when you do so many winter maternity portraits.

Isn't this little guy so cute? I brought along my vintage cameras and I think it his outfit was very well suited to the Vintage Childhood look.

He was still a little working on sitting up for long periods of time by himself so dad's hands are just out of the frame here, ready to catch him when he wobbles! Maybe some day I will post some of the hilarious outtakes.

Dennise

2008-06-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

Early this summer, I got to work with another great young woman who wanted some portraits to give to her mom. We headed to Ballard on a sunny afternoon for some great youthful, modern, urban shots.

Thanks Dennise, I had a great time! Let's do it again in the winter in hats and mittens and scarves!

My Baby

2008-06-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

After showing off so many of your adorable babies on this blog, I thought it was time I showed of my own adorable baby. This is my new kitten, Fergus. I have never had a cat in the studio before but he really took to modeling for me! Enjoy!

Darby and the Vintage Camera

2008-06-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

I have been super busy with photo shoots and traveling so forgive me for not posting in a while. I do have lots of posts to catch up on but these were so cute I just couldn't resist posting them right away! I photographed Darby, a typically curious 4 year old, and she seemed to really like my vintage camera!

Could she be a future photographer in the making?

I wish she had actually taken a picture of me from that vantage point. Instead, I got this one (and many more!) of her:

We had a fun shoot, ran around a LOT, and I think she thinks I live in the park with her toy giraffe (a long story!). Here's your sneak peek Mom - more photos are on the way in about a week!

Oh, baby!

2008-06-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I love all the babies and kids that I get to photograph. But, I have to say that this shoot was probably my favorite of the year so far! About a month ago, I photographed Emma in honor of her 6 month "birthday". I chose one of her photographs earlier for my Mother's Day posting but I had to share a few more photographs of this little girl and I am sure you can see why. Look at her beautiful eyes! I have a feeling she will grow up to be as pretty as her mom, one of my first Vintage Motherhood clients.

Best,
M

It's easy to make six month old babies smile:

But she did this praying pose all on her own!

Diana

2008-05-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

Diana is about to become a big star on my website; she's going to get her own portfolio to show how much variety can come from one photo shoot. I love working with women by themselves, especially young women. Often, there are those beautiful years between when we last had our portrait done (senior pictures?!) and when we next have our portrait done (wedding) when we don't have any beautiful portraits made. Diana will always remember how she looked in Seattle, in her early twenties, because she'll have these images to cherish.

Soon-to-be Big Brother

2008-05-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

Lots of my maternity clients bring an older child to their photo shoot. This little guy, Ian, was definitely in the squirming phase so we had to try and make things fun and interesting for him. We took lots of pictures of Mom, Ian, and the baby-to-be who turns out to be another little boy, Zack!

Thankfully, Grandmom came along for the shoot to keep Ian busy while mom and I took some maternity photos of just her alone. What can I say, I love a pregnant woman in jeans and a sweater!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day everyone (and my mom, especially)!

I love this recent portrait I took of this little girl - holding on to her mom's hand for support and encouragement. It seemed so simple at the time - Emma wants to stand and she needs mom for balance!

But, looking at it now in the light of Mother's Day, I am getting a little emotional about what this image really signifies: all the times that mom is there to hold our hand, suppport us, teach us something new, comfort us, care for us, and to one day do one of the hardest jobs in motherhood...let us go!

Happy Mother's Day to all my M. Larson Photo Moms - all the moms-to-be and new moms I have photographed throughout the year.

Muse

2008-05-02T16:46:00.001-07:00

Every artist needs a muse, and Emily is mine! Every time I photograph her, she looks beautiful, simple, real, genuine. Her serious looks are gorgeous but I love to make her laugh and catch her off guard too. We went out to a local Seattle park on a recent "sort-of-Spring" day and quickly came home with some gorgeous new portraits to add to both of our collections.

Every woman deserves to have her own portrait made and you don't really need an "occasion" to do it - although it is a good way to celebrate something! Emily has good news on the horizon and I think these photographs show her the happiest and most serene I've ever seen her.

p.s. A big THANKS to my great husband who went into the blog, did his code magic, and gave us all bigger pictures to look at! :)

Survey Winner!!!

2008-05-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

A big "Thank You!" to everyone who took time to participate in the Spring 2008survey. I am one day late announcing our winner so I hope you'll forgive me - things have been very busy in the studio and the office!

Congratulations - Christine K. of Bellevue Washington!

Christine will receive a complimentary basic portrait session (worth $250) and a print credit as well. I think she will use it for photographs of her two little children so I'll be sure to post a couple images here once we do the photo shoot!

Thanks again to everyone who took time to answer the survey!
Best,
M. Larson

p.s. I decided to give everyone who participated in the survey a $25 print credit - check your email!

Red-Tri Favorites!

2008-04-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Big news this week! I am very excited that M. Larson Photography is now listed as one of Red Tricycle's Favorites for Baby, Children and Maternity Photography in Seattle! I am so pleased because I love Red Tricycle's website and email newsletters but also because I am on the list with a lot of other great photographers. Here's a copy of the review they wrote about me, but you can also click here to go directly to my page.

Thanks for all your help in making me a Seattle Favorite!
Martha

p.s. Don't forget about my great referral program for existing clients - send a friend my way for a sitting and get $50 off of your next session fee!

New Camera!

2008-04-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Well, it only took me three weeks to find the time but I finally took the brand new Nikon D300 camera out of the box and took it out for a little test drive. This is picture #0001. I put over 30,000 images on my last camera so I am sure this little guy (or gal?!)and I have a great future together.

M.

New for Mother's Day

2008-04-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone, brand new for Mother's Day (coming up May 11th!) I am introducing a new line of jewelry products that can be customized with your favorite image from our photo shoot. There is a special offer price for my existing customers only (hurry and you can become a new customer before the deadline!), just in time for the perfect Mother's Day present.

Call the studio for more information, or to place an order, but hurry - orders must be in by April 24th! Also, if you’d love to have some jewelry with your baby’s photo – I will arrange a special package and squeeze in a sitting in time for the big day!

Best,
M

New Business Cards

2008-04-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

M. Larson Photo finally has brand new business cards! I wanted to create a series of cards that highlights the kind of photography I most love to do: maternity, kids (and babies too!), and women in all life stages. Below are three different cards, front and back pictures of each that show lots of images and highlight my vintage-inspired style as well. You can see all of these images larger on my website at M. Larson Photo. These themes will begin to appear soon on all of my printed materials including referral cards, gift certificates, and brochures - so let me know if you need any info to pass on to friends and family!

Vintage Motherhood Maternity Card:

Vintage Childhood Card:

Portraits Celebrating Women:

Playing with Texture

2008-04-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

I love to play with textures. While making my new business cards, which I will post soon, I developed this shot of one of my favorite models. I like it - it's mysterious! She has kind of a modern Mona Lisa smile here. You can see her more classic portraits from our shoot back in February. I like to see the different styles you can create from the same shoot, even the same images. It's one of the trademarks of M. Larson Photography - pushing the boundaries of straight portraiture into the realm of art piece.

M. Larson

Take a Survey - Win a Sitting!

2008-04-03T08:43:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I have developed a short survey for the questions that are most on my mind this Spring. I would like to know a little bit more about YOU; those who visit the M. Larson Photography website and blog!

Entrants can participate in the drawing and one lucky survey participant will receive a complimentary basic portrait session and a $25 print credit. You can use it for yourself or give it as a gift. That's a $275 value just for 10 little questions! If you want to be included in the drawing, you will need to enter your contact information at the end.

Click here to take survey

The survey will be open for the entire month of April and the winner will be announced on May 1 - check back here!

Best,
Martha
M. Larson Photography

Model Search - Babies!

2008-04-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone, M. Larson Photography is working on a new ad campaign and I am doing a search for model babies! (though, not necessarily crying ones :) )

Who I need:
Babies under 6 weeks of age for newborn photo shoots (and their moms, too!)

Babies around 6 months of age who can sit up by themselves but aren't too mobile yet!

If you are, have, or know someone who has a baby that just fits this profile, please reach out to me about being a baby model. I will use your images in my ad campaigns and on the M. Larson photo blog and website, etc. Models will be compensated with a free sitting and a credit towards portrait artwork.

Zoe's Outtakes

2008-03-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

I love to show outtakes from fun kid photo shoots. Sometimes, to get beautiful, soft pictures like the ones on my website, this (Zoe is the first image in Kids - Studio), we have to do some silly things to get there!

At M. Larson Photo, kids are encouraged to play, make jokes, make funny faces, talk to me and when the time is right, goof off! In between all the fun, I get portraits of their unguarded moments.

More Pics from the Winter

2008-03-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to share a few more pictures from a wonderful photo shoot I did with a young woman back in February. We were having so much fun during this shoot that we both lost track of time and ended up working together for hours! I guess that's a good reminder of why I dedicate a full day to one shoot only - just in case! There were so many pictures to choose from in the end, but I thought I'd share a few of the artsier choices. Enjoy!

M.

This first one was taken on a "new" vintage camera of mine. I quite like the way it turned out but it would not be the same after a while - so I sold the camera on Ebay and now this photo is the only one of mine that can have this look!

Crawling is fun

2008-03-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Oh Boy! This little guy could crawl like you would not believe. In the last frame, you can see he is about to crawl right out of the studio! Mom and I certainly got our exercise by chasing him, picking him up, and taking him back to the "starting line" over and over again. But, it was a lot of fun for all of us.

Every baby crawls at a different age and it may happen quickly! It's always a great time to bring them in for a new photo shoot to document this brief stage in their development. They have that look of the first taste of freedom that comes from being able to go where they want!

Best,
Martha
M. Larson Photography

Happy Birthday to me!

2008-03-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of showing some old photos this week, I thought I'd share one of my own. Besides, it's my birthday and I can post if I want to!

This shot of me, with such a baby face, was from early 2001 and was taken during my first ever maternity shoot. I was so absorbed in my work that a friend and fellow photographer caught me unaware and took MY picture! It will always be one of my favorites because every time I look at it I realize how far I have come from a 23 year old learning my craft (with film!) to the photographer I am today.

I would like to say a big "THANK YOU" to everyone who has helped me along this journey and been so supportive in helping me achieve my dreams.

Featured in Red Tricycle!

2008-03-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

Big news for M. Larson Photography today - we are being featured in a Red Tricycle Dedicated email! This email will go out to Red Tricycle's subscribers in the Seattle area and is all about my Vintage Photography for children and maternity portraiture.

In case you can't read the text, I have copied it for you here:

What is it about a vintage photo that evokes such strong emotion? The small, square silvery silhouette that offers a glimpse of days gone by is a treasured reminder of your family, your history, your heritage.

Wouldn't it be cool to capture your own family in that same dramatic, retro style? Seattle photographer Martha Larson fell in love with vintage photos from the 1940s and 1950s and began offering vintage portraits as part of her children and maternity photography business. The response from clients has been overwhelming and vintage has now become the biggest request of new clients. As you scroll through the photographer's beautiful, haunting gallery of vintage portraits, you can see why clients adore Larson’s artsy, modern-meets-retro approach.

Larson is clear to point out that this is not a Photoshop technique (though she can edit and enhance the shots post-production) -- she actually shoots with vintage 40s and 50s cameras, authentically reproducing the look and feel of early and mid-century photos.

Currently the only photographer in Seattle utilizing this iconic style, Larson shoots vintage primarily with pregnant women, couples and children and always shoots digital alongside (though 9 times out of 10 clients favor the old school shots). Who says nostalgia isn’t what it used to be?

Vintage Inspiration

2008-03-03T15:31:00.000-08:00

We all have photographs of our parents or grandparents that we love. That's why I knew I had to use a new way to bring vintage style to children's portraiture in 2008. I use some of the same beautiful cameras from the 1940s and 50s; with a twist into today's modern photography.

I used to dig through boxes of old family photos and pull out my favorites. These are from my parents' childhood circa ~1946. There is so much nostalgia and emotion wrapped up in vintage images. For my parents, they are memories, and for me they are glimpses into the past.

I have found my favorite way to create modern kids portraits that allow us to feel that emotion now, about the photographs of our own kids, in 2008! You can see a lot more on my website at M. Larson Photo.

Copyright 2008, M. Larson Photography

New Baby Announcement!

2008-02-28T20:55:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Anne and Rob from my Winter Babies Post, whose little girl Madeline was born on February 28th - just in the nick of time before leap day! Maybe mom and dad will even send along a photo for the blog. Best wishes Anne and Rob!

Mom and Baby

2008-02-20T21:11:00.000-08:00

Look at this little monkey - isn't she so cute? This shoot wasn't my traditional baby shoot - this one was all about mother-daughter-bonding through nursing. I was able to capture some beautiful tender moments with mom nuturing daughter but during a little break (for all of us!) I snapped this quick shot of Shiloh looking full of personality!

Sneak Peek!

2008-02-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

I had a really fun shoot today with a cute little redhead boy at Gas Works Park in Seattle. Gas Works can be a great place to photograph kids - especially little boys - who love to check out the metal, wheels, or "machines" as this little one called them.

He is almost two which is a great age to photograph - they're full of energy and interested in exploring the world. This is just a little sneak peek for his parents - I am sure more shots from this photo shoot will go up soon!

Best,
M. Larson

Women of All Ages and Stages

2008-02-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

I love to photograph women - whether they are expecting a baby or just beginning to chart their paths in life.

Women are very often the ones behind the camera, making sure to be the historian of their partners, children, and family. Often, women only get their portraits made on their wedding day and when they're expecting a baby - but there is so much more to women's lives than just two major events!

You will want to look back on all different stages in your life; admire how young you looked, admire how strong you looked, or just marvel at how you've grown over time.

Woman are always looking for a little me-time and trying to find ways to celebrate themselves. Giving a woman you love (yes, even yourself!) a photoshoot devoted only to her can be an experience that will last far beyond the few hours we spend shooting together.

I am currently developing a portfolio devoted just to women. I would love to photograph you at any stage in your life. Watch my website at M. Larson Photography for a debut of this portfolio soon! And contact me if you'd like to be a part of it: info@mlarsonphoto.com

E - I had fun at our shoot!

M.Larson

p.s. Does the staircase from this shoot look familiar?

Winter Babies

2008-02-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

You love the look of maternity photographs taken on the beach but your baby is due in February!?! Don't worry! I have plenty of Pacific Northwest babies born from October-March and their moms still get great beach and nature-inspired shots without having to hide inside the studio. Seattlites are hardy souls and there are plenty of gorgeous sunny days in winter even if it takes a little creative scheduling to get to them!

With some warm sweaters and jackets you can have outdoor maternity shots that are fashionable and have the right feel for a winter baby. You can stay wrapped up nice and warm (and wrap up baby too), we can bring a thermos of herbal tea, and hats and scarves give an unexpected twist to traditional maternity portraits.

There are lots of winter maternity shots on my website: M. Larson Photography.

Thanks for reading,
M. Larson

New Toy!

2008-02-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

That's right, I've bought myself another vintage camera (or two, or three). This one is nicknamed "Chubby" because he can't quite fit into the contraption I built especially for Margot. Maybe someday I will get around to building Chubby his own homemade lens contraption but for now he will just have to squeeze a bit. The look is a bit cleaner, and softer, with beautiful edges. I think it may be very well suited to babies, in fact! Stay tuned!

Fantastic Vintage Motherhood Shoot!

2008-01-27T18:53:00.000-08:00

Recently, I met with Anne and her husband for a maternity portrait shoot. Anne is pregnant with her first child and was intrigued by my "Vintage Motherhood" portfolio. We met at Newcastle Beach Park, which I scouted a few weeks ago and it turned out to be a great location. You can see how we used the dock, the beach, the trees, the logs, everything!

There were so many pictures I loved from this shoot that it was hard to narrow it down to just these!

Scouting

2008-01-20T18:40:00.000-08:00

I am still new to the Seattle area so I often go out exploring the area and scouting for new shooting locations! I love the beaches, lakes, forests, gardens and other beautiful Pacific Northwest landscapes. Using nature as a big creative element in my images, rather than fake "school photo" backdrops, ensures that each client ends up with a beautiful work of art. This approach works especially well with maternity portraits.

So, today I was off to Lake Washington and look what I found! I can't wait to put some people into these landscapes and create some lovely nature-inspired portraits. Stay tuned to see these places again in future photo shoots!

Newcastle Beach Park: Easily accessible off the 405 near the 520 and the 90 in Newcastle - the east side of the lake. There are two beaches, a forest path, a beautiful dock, logs to sit on - and just about endless possibilities!

Somewhere near the Washington Arboretum, there's this wonderful staircase that I found. It looks like a fairy tale and I can picture it being good for women, maternity, and older kids. I imagine it even in the rain or snow - beautiful!

Child's Play

2008-01-16T18:17:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd share this lovely nostalgic image I made today - a great rope swing and an entire list of swing games that belong to some nearby kids.

I love the imagination that kids bring to all their activities! This is what I bring to my photo shoots that make them work differently from other photographers. Kids are encouraged to imagine, play games, and otherwise not "sit-still-and-look-at-me-now-smile!" We sing, make silly faces, roll in the grass, play red-light-green-light, do cartwheels - and anything else that makes them forget that they are getting their pictures taken!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T18:14:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Happy 2008! In addition to my professional work, I take a picture-a-day. I bet that's something most of you didn't know about me! Yes, I try to take at least one image, every day, no matter what. Today, for 1-1-2008 - it's this one. Enjoy!

2007 Wrap-Up

2007-12-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

Well, 2007 has been a big year for M. Larson Photography! Most notably, the move from New York to Seattle!

I have been thrilled to meet so many new families in Seattle - and it has been a privilege to photograph you! From pregnant moms to little tiny newborns, robust 6 month olds to sassy 8 year olds, and beautiful grown, independent women - I thank you for welcoming me into your families this year.

Other accomplishments include starting this blog and developing my new signature style, working with vintage cameras.

I wanted to post some of my favorite, previously un-blogged images from some 2007 photo shoots. Earlier in the year, some of my best work came from the studio:

The beautiful mom expecting TWINS!

I am proud to say that this triptych now hangs in her home as a large framed 10x30 print.

The cutest little 6 (going on 26!) year old who put on her "America's Next Top Model" moves for me and gave me a range of expressions I have never seen in one person before:

And a quiet, shy, understated mom-to-be who graciously let me into her bedroom where beautiful afternoon light poured in the windows:

A big THANK YOU to everyone who made this such a successful year for M. Larson Photography.

Surprise for Christmas

2007-11-20T14:08:00.000-08:00

I did a shoot on the Oregon Coast in August that included 3 wonderful people and 6 energetic dogs! Wow, that's a lot of activity! But, I found if you tire them out with long walks on the beach, you just might be able to get all 9 of them at least sitting still in the final shots!

T contacted me, with Christmas coming up, to make some very special gifts for his mom. He wanted a beautiful print of the image below (mother and son, walking on the beach) and a special little photo book of all the dogs and people together. I was more than happy to do this for him since I am a huge fan of giving photos as gifts for the Holidays!

The mini-photo-book turned out great - especially using all vintage photography!

New Mom - New Baby!

2007-11-04T14:34:00.000-08:00

Happy baby birthday to Kristin, one of my prettiest mommas this year! We had a wonderful photo shoot back in October, (when the weather was still sunny and beachy and allowed bare tummies), and today she had her baby girl, Emma. Congratulations to mom and dad and welcome little baby Emma! I look forward to photographing you as you grow.

Sneak Peek

2007-11-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

I just had to share a quick sneak peek - my favorite photo from a recent shoot with little Julia in her very own cornfield! How lucky is she to have a great big maze/fort/hiding-place/cornfield in her own backyard!? And how lucky am I that I got to be a kid again during the photo shoot with this little one?!

Vintage Motherhood has Arrived!

2007-10-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

This fall, through lots of hard work, experimentation, practice, and artistic inspiration, I have developed my signature look to move into 2008. I call it "Vintage Motherhood" and it takes my style of vintage portraiture to a place it's never been before - the maternity photo shoot!

I love doing my own take on classic maternity portraits. But, developing this new artistic look and bringing it to my maternity portraiture has changed my artwork and my life! I am super passionate about creating one-of-a-kind "Vintage Motherhood" portraits for all of the moms-to-be that come to my studio! You have to have a beautiful piece of art that treasures this amazing time in your life.

Giving these gifts to my first "Vintage Moms" this fall has been one of my greatest pleasures. The best part is seeing the emotion when women see how truly beautiful they looked, even when they didn't feel so beautiful! I also imagine their children, looking at the images in the future and being so proud of their moms.

Maternity on the Beach! (In October?)

2007-10-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

The answer is definitely, YES! We can do maternity portraits, outdoors, nearly year round in Seattle. Sure, it gets a little cold, windy, and sometimes rainy. But, how's a little weather going to stop a Seattle mom and a Seattle photographer from getting the portraits they want!?

When I met Kristen, a poet, artist, and mom-to-be...it was like fate! She is such a life-loving person that of course she was game for an outdoor shoot on a chilly day in October. Some of my favorite images of the year came from this shoot. You can see them all over on my website and very often on display in stores because I love them so much. Kristen really embodied all of the hope and love that there is in waiting for your baby to arrive. It was a joy to spend the afternoon with her, her husband, and her little dog!

Something Clicked!

2007-10-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

Finally, something clicked! I got the opportunity to practice on a real live model, my sister! Sisters are great guinea pigs because they know they have to sit still and cooperate or the less flattering photographs of them will appear in the next family album! :)

We spent August 8th, 2007 on the beach at Golden Gardens and that was the day that I knew I just had to bring this style of vintage photography to life for my clients in Seattle. We talked about what it's like to have a portrait of yourself created in a timeless way. Digital photography is great, of course, and I use it every day - but a portrait taken by Margot (and me!) begins to transcend traditional photography as it's being done today. The subject, the photographer, the vintage camera, the "contraption" I made myself, the moment, the place, and the process all come together to create something completely one-of-a-kind. It results in an unrepeatable, once in a lifetime, work of art.

Testing, 1, 2, 3!

2007-10-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

Whenever I learn a new photographic technique, I have to try it out on a willing and patient model. Usually that's me, initially, followed by my husband and my friends and family! Over the summer of 2007, I practiced this vintage technique A LOT, moving up from shoes and other still-lifes to a very funny and complicated afternoon of self-portraits!

If you think pushing the button and running back and forth from behind the camera to in front of the camera is difficult - try it with a 1940's vintage Argus built into a homemade "contraption"!

But, I learned I could create both sharp and beautifully soft edges in my vintage images. The artist in me was awakened and there was no going back!

How do you get that vintage look?

2007-10-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

"Is it Photoshop?" is the question I get most often and the answer is "NO!" The vintage look comes from the only authentic place it can come from, this beautiful little baby! Her name is Margot.

I found Margot in the summer of 2007 and began to experiment with her. It wasn't love at first site as I had to learn all about how she works and do a lot of homemade crafting and tweaking to get her to work.

One of the first photographs I considered "successful" with this new method was this one of my shoes...as you can see we've both come a LONG way since July.

Now, she comes along on all my shoots since she (and her friends that I have added to my growing vintage camera collection) is what's behind my signature looks: Vintage Motherhood, Vintage Childhood, and Timeless Women.

Welcome

2007-10-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone and welcome to the M. Larson Photo Blog. This blog is a brand new addition to my business! It will be a place to see and talk about my portrait, kids, and maternity photos, get a sneak peek of your proofs, and get let in on special promotions and offers!

To start things off, as I do on my Website as well, I would like to share my absolute favorite photograph from all of my photo shoots in 2007! Not only is it a beautiful shot, with a beautiful Mom-to-be, but for me it is symbolic of my 2007 move to the Seattle area and the new style of photography that the move has opened up to me.

We didn't get the best weather for the photo shoot but Kristen and Kyle were great sports and didn't mind a little rain, wind, and cold! I think their little dog Grover was the coldest of all 4 of us.

Another great thing about this shoot? Kristen emailed a few short hours later that her water had broken and she was in labor! Baby Evan came the very next day.

To see a larger version, go to M Larson Photo.

Best,
M. Larson