This is the most difficult blog post I’ve ever written…. I’ve started it several times in the past week and then just deleted it all!  I have some BIG news and it’s truly “BitterSweet”….

As some of you may, or may not know, my ex had to move to Pennsylvania in August for a new job and that has left me all alone this fall… as a parent…So it has really been tough this fall to juggle everything (kidddos, work, health…) on my own. If that isn’t enough, last October (2008) I began to experience a great pain in my right arm and hand… my forefinger and thumb stay almost completely numb.  This year I had 2 MRI’s and consulted with a neurosurgeon who informed me that I have almost 3 completely ruptured disks in my neck which are pinching a nerve, which is the cause of the pain in my arm/hand and numbness.  Unfortunately, I may not be a suitable candidate for DISK surgery because the disks are also “curved” and may reject any fusions or disk implants…  (so I’m told) …so the doctors say I will need some really extensive (read: $$$ and TIME) physical therapy to try to alleviate the pain and *fix* it (to a point). I have come to the realization that I will need some extra help with the kiddos and to work less than I do now… So… after considering all options… I have decided that I need to relocate (move!) to Texas to be closer to my family and Kevin.   I really wanted to wait until the summer, but after this busy fall (Christmas) season, I realize I can’t continue to ignore the pain and can’t risk possible PERMANENT nerve damage to my right arm (I sorta need it! *smiles*)  Also, my son Andrew (almost 14! ack!) will be starting high school next fall and I’d really like to get him settled and make some friends before high school starts up in the fall.

This decision has been a HUGE struggle and I’m really hurting about this.   I’m excited to be closer to my family and Kevin… but growing up as a “military brat”, I’ve never lived anywhere as long as I’ve lived here (almost 7 years) and really consider this my “home”. My clients are loyal and AMAZING and have truly become friends and *family*!

I am not *officially* closing my Riverview (Tampa) studio at this point… I am planning to fly back for my shoots here in Tampa every so many weeks.  I will be closed during this transition and will reopen for the time(s) I return. (check blog/newsletter/site to find out when that is!) For you Dallas/Fort Worth peeps…. this might make you smile as I have already made arrangements to rent studio space there. I’ll be “biCOASTal”… except I don’t think Dallas has a *coast* (smile…. maybe a lake??)

For my current clients…. this is another reason for the December 15th (today!) cutoff… I am organizing EVERYTHING!  Please let me know asap if you need any orders by December 25th! Christmas!

Sorry to be longwinded…This has been a difficult time. I wish you all an AMAZING holiday season and the BEST for 2010!  Don’t hesitate to email me anyTIME! I’ll be around!! I am grateful for the most wonderful friends, photographer *friends*, clients & family!  Thank you for all the thoughts, prayers and wishes from those who have known the pain I’ve been enduring.  I love you all!

And b/c I should always include a PICTURE… here’s me with my beautiful *babies* (one who now has facial hair… no! not Gabriela! LOL!). From last spring in Anguilla! Paradise!  They are the reason I KNOW I can’t be a good “MOMMY” unless I take care of ME and my HEALTH!

OKAY kids! I’m a NIGHT person… so I’ll be up ’til midnight AT LEAST…. if you want a digi file from a recent session.. email me now!!  If you didn’t make it, vote for my *KIDS*!! I have the BEST clients in the world! They deserve to WIN!!!!!

The contest is in full swing and the deadline extended until October 20th and now you can enter more than ONE image per child!!  In addition remember anytime the magazine needs a model for one their photo spreads the editors will be choosing from the photos of the children entered in the Cover Kid Search.

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

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!!)

You can vote from one computer, one time a day! Spread the word… here’s the FAVS!! Please support these adorable kiddos!

Newest Entries First… VOTE!!!

Ailani: (Client before born! she’s a SASSYmeister now! woah! I’ll have a separate blog on her comments later! love her!)

Gabriella & Siena (TWINS! and amazing, touch your heart make you cry story about them… stay tuned!):

Olivia: (been my client since she was SIX MONTHS!!)

Collin: (Olivia’s brother…client since before born! LOL!)

Aidan: (woah! how’d he get SOOOO big?????)

Eastin, his baby brother! (again… since *tummy time!… time FLIES)

Olivia: (miss THANG! she’s always STYLIN!)

DJ:

Demi:

Gabby:

Christophe:

Sophie:

Patricio:

Valeria:

Cate:

Sam:

Bella:

Shawn:

Jack:

Alex:

Sam:

Julia:

Anthony:

Alec:

Wow! It’s October ALREADY! Crazy! Life has been fast and furious for me personally and professionally.  I’ve recently been asked to speak at several more conventions, so I’ll blog that one on another post.  Lots of news and suprises coming soon!

But first things first! ‘Tis the season for Holiday Cards and we all know December gets here faster than a fruitcake gets regifted! LOL!

The cutoff for holiday sessions is November 13th (with the exception of newborns & bella baby clients).  I am almost totally booked up for November and most of October.  In order to accomodate more clients and try to avoid the dreaded “waiting list”, I am going to try something new this year and have some “Simple Sibling Sessions”. These are 30 minute sessions, one outfit, one “theme”. Great for those of you who don’t neccesarily want to have the entire family in a session and really want to gear the session for your Custom Holiday Cards and a few prints for grandma & grandpa.

I will announce pricing details next week, but there will be limited availability to these studio sessions and they will fill up quickly. I’m working on setting up an online scheduling program so that you can see the exact times/days available to avoid playing “tag” during this crazy time.

So while your waiting for further details and specifics (and my new nifty scheduler), you can start thinking about your “one outfit” for the session. To help you out, here’s some that are tried and true!

Also… some new cards have been added this year to the custom templates (they are on the last pages)… Check them out here:  CUSTOM HOLIDAY TEMPLATES

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!

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!

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!

Here she is, all 8 days of her! Isn’t she just adorable? She was just a perfect angel during the entire session. Mom and Dad didn’t even get “pottied” on! ha! She was a perfect mix of sleeping and wide awake! People often ask when it’s best to do a “newborn” session and I have to say 2 weeks or under. During those first few days, the babies sleep so much more and you get those sweet, cuddly poses.

You may recognize “mom” from her maternity session I posted a bit ago…

(you can see the maternity blog here: “HOT MAMA” and her gorgeous “Romance Album”

Allrighty… on to “Baby A”… pure greatness!

First of all… (and you can say it with me!) “BLOG NEGLECT”… I was doing so great?!? ugh… okay… I have SOOOO many things to post that I can’t wait to share!

First to post… I meet many people. many families. many new “parents to be” (I know it’s probably disturbing that I call them “mommy and daddy” even when they aren’t *used to that yet*….so what? it’s the warm up! LOL!)…

The norm is that most all pregnant *mommies* are the ones who plan the “maternity session”… they are thrilled! excited! all about it! The *daddies*? Not always. Some don’t come to the session at all…fine…if they aren’t on board, they will only be miserable… some come to the session…but tell me “If you had BEER here, this would be WAY MORE FUN!”…. (you know who you are…and yes, I’m working on your SECOND baby boy’s *sneak peaks* right now…you will LOVE them!)… some brag about their “manicure” they got…then ask “is my face in the picture? Because my wife said it would just be my hands” (can we all say *sabbotage”??? LOVE IT!)….

This *Daddy*… and *Mommy*… were amazing! The connection was there. They were both all about it! It was romantic, sexy, fun, playful, and silly all at the same time. I love that! *Daddy* is a musician and he brought his guitar and serenaded his beautiful *bride* several times…  Photography is alot about connecting… and I felt very much a part of their *moment*….and I canNOT wait to meet their new little *person*!

I have to mention that I “sort of” met them a year ago… Some of you *faithful blog stalkers* might remember this post: Party Like a ROCKSTAR. “Dad” is an amazing singer and performer… check out his band, “Miggs”, current single, “Perfect”…

And here they are… in all their love and adoration…

I won’t even tell you what happened right BEFORE this shot *winks*…. love it!

awwww….he was serenading…. total PULLBACK

Don styled this one… awwwwww……

The Serenade…..

Okay, so *mama* saw them and loved them and gave me the *go* on a few more *sassy* shots… isn’t she just gorgeous?? I always love to get a mix of images… some you can display in living rooms and some that are more private and intimate.