Finally catching up on LIFE (and SLEEP!) after a 2 week whirlwind in London… Can’t wait to work on and post some of those pictures… but first things first! (On a side note.. Holiday sessions are filling up quickly… if you are  a “Bella Baby” client, you should call and schedule your fall session asap to be sure to get the time/day that works best for you. I’ll be posting a new blog in the next week with holiday deadlines, new card templates and some clothing suggestions. There’s usually a pretty good sized waiting list because it’s hard to think about the holidays when it’s still 90+ degrees…ha!)

Onto one of my latest favs… These guys have been clients for years… It is truly one of my favorite parts of my *job* to get to see the kiddos grow up! These 3 girls are no exception! These sisters are so crazy about each other and I love to just WATCH them interact and GIGGLE… NONSTOP!  I cannot believe how much they have changed over the years… the oldest *beauty* is only TEN and she’s way taller than me (ok, ok…. yea, it’s not THAT hard to do… but STILL!).. and HELLO? does she LOOK 10? (I really am starting to believe that story about “something in the chicken” LOL!)  Enjoy!

Gotta love the REAL LIFE *OUTTAKE*… cracks me up!!!

GORGEOUS!!!! ABSOLUTELY! ALL THREE!

Did I mention she’s 10?? (her mom and dad are in TROUBLE!  They need that SHOTgun & shovel… (sorry for the SOUTHERN reference… hahaha!) amazing NATURAL beauty!

I wanted to let everyone know that I’m out of town working for two weeks but am anxiously gearing up for the upcoming holiday season! I know I’ve received many calls already for scheduling your session for the fall and I can’t wait to see all the returning families & faces, as well as new ones!

I’ve just landed in London, England (can you say JET LAG!!) and will be here assisting a SUPER cool, two part, Nigerian wedding with Kevin.  I don’t normally photograph weddings, but I love to assist…especially on the “Destinations”! That said… even though you get to do a little sight seeing, they are really pretty insense and alot of work, but you really get to know your couple and their friends/guests, which makes it fun and different!

Anyway, I wanted to let you ALL know that if you are emailing or calling, we WILL be returning your call and getting EVERYONE scheduled! No worries! I will return to the studio on the 15th of September and Laura will be in and out of the studio during these days I’m gone returning emails and phone calls. Sorry for all the phone and email tags… Life will get “back to normal” after the crazyness of the summer and will get on track ready for the fall!

I have some cool new ideas and backgrounds that I can’t wait to play with. I may also do another “Beach Week” this year…possibly in October. If you are interested, please send me an email and I will let you know when it’s official and the dates. I can only do ONE beach session per day (at sunset), so I want to try to accomodate all who are interested in this. I like to do it in October or November when the weather cools off a bit! (tho it’s pretty cold here in London and I had to bust out my sweaters… BRRRRR).

In the meantime, check out the Parenting KID COVER SEARCH details… I want to see my adorable clients on every cover!

Be sure to check back for the current news and happenings… I’m hoping to capture some fun and interesting “London/Paris” images to share!

I’m honored to be mentioned in the recent Tampa Bay Parenting magazine as a recommended photographer for their upcoming Cover Kid Search!

Perfect timing with the holidays coming up, because I have tons of sessions scheduled for the yearly “Holiday Cards”, so there will be lots of eligible “cuties”!

12 Children between the ages of 3 months and 15 yrs will be chosen to grace the cover of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine (starting Jan 2010)! Great gifts will also be awarded to each child/family selected.

If you’ve already been to the studio (within last 3 months for kiddos 1-12 and within 1 month for kiddos under 1), and you’d like to enter the contest, send me an email with the image number you’d like to submit and I’ll send you a digital web version for you to use. If you want to enter, but like to have my recommendation, just say the word!

You can see more details on their site: Tampa Bay Parenting Entries must be received by October 15, so in order to have enough time, sessions should be scheduled by the end of September.

C’mon! Let’s see if we can fill the every month of 2010 with an Alycia Alvarez Photography portrait! I’m sure I photograph the cutest kids in the Tampa Bay Area (and beyond!!)

This summer has been a whirlwind for me… Even though I’m always glad for school to be out and have less of a “schedule”, I always seem to be ready for that structure by the end of August!

Per usual, I have tons of adorable updates I need to add. I’m actually working on a website update too, so be on the lookout! As always, you can check the blog for current happenings, in addition to the newsletter, which you can sign up for on the splash page of my site. I have some new specials and announcements coming up, so be sure you’re on the list to be the first to find out!

Speaking of updates, you can also find me on facebook and twitter!

I’m also looking forward to some upcoming speaking engagements. The first one is this Sunday in Orlando at the FPP State convention… come see me @ 7:30!

I’m also excited to announce that I’ll be speaking at ImagingUSA in Nashville in January! Check out the latest PPA mag! (ps My dad was pleased to see that I’m performing “LIVE” LOL! ha!)

You can check the Imaging site for more info:

Here’s hoping you enjoy what’s left of summer break! Be on the lookout for the next newsletter!

It had been a year since I saw her, and although she’s changed a bunch… she’s still got her sass and spunk!

I got to photograph her EXACTLY on her birthday last year AND this year. Love it! (Plus, she’s a JULY baby like me, so of course she’s sassy!)

Here’s a few favs from last year… and a few teasers for her mommy who can’t wait!

Some first steps….

….and NOW… she’s TWO!

love the “pout!!!

little “Ed Hardy” style!

Thanks to my “boy” for letting me borrow his Guitar Hero guitars…. ROCKIN’!!

She’s either trying to tell me she’s TWO or “ROCK ON!”

Wow… How behind am I on blogging…. Okay, so 50 lashes with a wet noodle! ha!

I really have some amazing new pictures to share… so just hang in there and bear with me! Lots going on these days…

In the meantime… I’m proud to share a current article which features me (along with two other amazing photographers who have been my friends for years, Jen Hellinga and Kathryn Langsford) in the latest PPA (Professional Photographers of America) magazine. All about “Belly Basics”! Maternity sessions are some of my most fun and it’s always exciting to get to know parents before their new *bundle* arrives! Love it!

Also, I may not have said, but I’ll be speaking at Imaging USA in January in Nashville… (PPA’s BIG event for the year…) Come say hi!

posted this last year…. but thought it needed reposting! HAPPY DADDY DAY!

along with a “road trip song”… http://blip.fm/profile/babyDJ/blip/14308349 (don’t hate me! LOL! it’s funny!)

I wanted to take a moment to wish all the daddies in the world a Happy Father’s Day! Here’s hoping that you all have a wonderful day and are treated like KINGS!

And to my own dad… life hasn’t always been easy… and we haven’t always seen eye to eye….but, I thank you for always encouraging and inspiring me and I know you have always wanted the best for me. I want the best for you too…and I hope you have a wonderful, amazing day. I love you!

(a few blasts from the past *S*)

and one of my favorite “daddy” songs…

10-daddy

I’ve been photographing miss “thang” for several years now and she just gets cuter and cuter!  Her mom is one of my biggest cheerleaders and I always love when they come in for new sessions!

You may remember when I posted my unique “kid quote” sessions (blog link here), which have been very popular and fun! You can see the one I did of my “baby girl” here:  KID QUOTE ALBUM.  Well, we’re putting a new “twist” on it and tailoring it to DAD! I’ve created 20 new templates to choose from (in addition to the current templates). I have also come up with 70 “Father’s Day Questions” to interview your kiddos with!  It’s so cute to see what silly and fun answers they come up with! I’ll be offering some specials on sessions NEXT week, so stay TUNED to the blog, and if you haven’t done it yet, be sure to sign up for the newsletter to be the first to find out.

On to Miss O in all her GLORY! She’s always such a ham for me!  Her mom tells me she’s always asking if she can “go to Miss Alycia’s house and take pictures?”… LOVE IT!

Few favs…

Check out some of her adorable answers about her daddy!!!

and a few more FAVS

this one cracks me up… little HAM!

and finally… a BLAST FROM THE PAST… this is from my very first session with her years ago! (her mom always has the CUTEST clothes!!)

Wow! 2 blogs in two days.. Might be back on my “roll”

This little guy just gets cuter and cuter! He recently celebrated the big *O N E* and it was fun to capture him at this fun age! He’s got some of the BEST EXPRESSIONS!

During the session, mom said… “Oh no, I forgot to bring an apple”… Apparently, Dad had requested an “apple shot” (that’s a first for me! LOL!)… I thought it was really cute that it was something to Dad.  I’m not a huge “propsy” photographer, though, I do have a few stashed around, mostly to entertain those *active* kiddos! However, I remembered that I had photographed the “students” at a preschool almost eight years ago and had bought an APPLE prop for the kiddos to hold while sitting in a desk.  I quickly ran to my prop cabinet and VOILA! Dad gets his “Apple Shot”! Ha ha! LOVE it!  Here’s a few of my favs…

LOVE THE TONGUE!!! LOL!

Wow… What a blog slacker I’ve been… and I was on a ROLL before! I have SO MANY things to share and beautiful sessions to show, so get ready for the “onslaught!”

I’ll start off with a WPPI wrap up… (yea, it was in February… SO? hee hee)

The annual international convention in Vegas, WPPI (http://www.wppionline.com/) was a huge success and lots of fun! It was also the busiest convention I have EVER attended. I was literally teaching & speaking almost every single day.

Kevin and I started the week with a GREAT group for our 2 day PLUS class, Rings to Rattles. We also did our platform class, Town Hall, Meet the Speaker, and spoke at our labs booth a couple times.

We did have one “date night”, where Kevin went all out and took me to an amazing steak restaurant there in the MGM and then went on to see the HILARIOUS, Wayne Brady. (of course he had to get the FULL experience and we got to meet him afterward! Very cool!)

Here’s a few highlights from the week…. check out my snazzy collage! (you can click it to see the larger version!) Looking forward to next year already!