I just realized that I never posted this anywhere… I had the honor of being asked to be highlighted in a photography tutuorial book: Professional Children’s Portrait Photography. I was interviewed and I sent the publishers about 100 images to choose from and it was fun and interesting to see what they picked, including my OWN kiddos on the COVER and inside the album, including a large page of my Gab-a-roo!

Here’s the pages and a link to amazon, for anyone interested…. THE BOOK

I know it’s August, but Halloween always seems to creep right up and costumes sell out fast! I have to say, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Not for any “spooky” reasons (I can’t stand being SCARED! just ask my boy who got himself PUSHED backwards over our vacuum cleaner after scaring the STUFF out of me!–he was fine, I was horrified, and the vacuum cleaner? BROKEN! ha!)… I live in a wonderful neighborhood that has tons of kiddos and Halloween is a HUGE todo!

Anyway, I got my current Chasing Fireflies catalog (LOVE LOVE LOVE it!)… they have all the new halloween costumes in there and can I just share how MUCH I loved “torturing” my children when they were younger and forced them to wear ridiculous crazy costumes (I even thought I could SEW one year and while having pneumonia, finished a PENGUIN costume… my favorite was when my boy was a pillsbury dough boy! so cute!…one year he was peter pan and I was tinkerbell! Gabs first costume was dorothy, complete with her ruby reds!) Anyway… here’s a few super adorable ideas…check out the site! If anyone gets any of these AMAZING costumes, lemme know…I may put together some “halloween mini” sessions just because I love these costumes so much!

and how CUTE is this for decorating pumpkins??

Lots of new and exciting things happening here as we gear up for the fall (yes, I do realize that sounds RIDICULOUS to say in the middle of August! BUT it will be here before we know it!). Speaking of the fall, holiday sessions are already booking up FAST… BE sure not to wait until the last minute (yea, you KNOW who you are!) to schedule, as I may be totally booked up and you might end up on a waiting list…

On that note, I am working on an EMAIL blast… if you are not signed up for the EMAIL, you won’t receive one, so be sure to subscribe to the BLOG *and* the EMAIL if you’d like to be notified of upcoming specials and promotions. (you can sign up on my main webpage: www.alyciaalvarezphotography.com )

I put together a great tool to help arrange your portraits in your home! I am having these printed for the studio to help make decisions about which portraits you want to hang and where. When we send you your pricing, we will include a link to the entire gallery to help guide you in your decisions!

Okay, I just had to share! One of Kevin’s brides, Jennifer, sent me the cutest “mini me”! I totally love it and it was a nice and fun surprise (especially after the daunting weekend I just had with my computer crisis!). No, these serve no purpose…other than make me smile! And that’s just fine! Thanks Jen! (and not a bad likeness actually!)  You can see kj’s here: www.thekjblog.com

woah! two posts in one day! (okay, so really, it’s 1:30am, so it’s Saturday….but I haven’t slept yet, so I say it counts! go me!)

Despite the fever (mentioned below)…I found some adrenaline in my backpocket for a ROCKSTAR party at the Hard Rock Casino on Tuesday night. Though this is not usually my genre of photography, I had an amazing time with some amazing clients, and FRIENDS! Barbie and Beth, who own a3 Institute (formerly spatampa) began as *clients*, but quickly became friends! Together with the DeBartolo family, they had an amazing charity event, featuring the great band, MIGGS. (ps… MIGGS is performing again at Skippers in Tampa on July 11th! I’m there! they are number 16 on the CHARTS! great new album, Unraveled… great myspace too: http://www.myspace.com/miggs). GREAT planning by Brooke: http://www.rsbpevents.com/

onto the rockstar pics (Laura was with me, so….she tried out her photographic talents, and I’m acutally in a few shots….GOOD times!) Have a great weekend!

here’s a list of some other sponsors….what a blast!!!

Candy and Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. were the events Platinum Sponsors, other sponsors include NicoleKhristine (jewelry line by Nikki DeBartolo and Khristine Williams), Neal & Harwell, Saddlebrook, Tampa Bay Metro Magazine, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus. Generous donations to the live and silent auctions from, Rustic Steel Creations, Lisa DeBartolo & Don Miggs, Gucci, Harrah’s Properties Las Vegas, Anti-Aging & Aesthetic Institute, Suitcase, Paris Isabella, Saks Ffth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Alycia Alvarez Photography, Jerry Rice, Dali Museum, NicoleKhristine, Jimmy Choo, Business Sense Solutions.

I’m so excited to have a brand new blog! I’m like a KID at Christmastime (hey, does that make me a totally HUGE computer geek? hmmmm. probably! ha!)!  HUGE thanks to Miss Vera from photoidentities.com for getting me up and running! (check ‘em out! super cool blogs and websites!)

Wow, so the pressure of the VERY first post is a bit overwhelming, to say the least… So, I’m just gonna do it, and get it over with. So this is it.  (I am just drooling here at this control panel…I can add a video even…oh, you guys are in BIG trouble!  LOL!)

Life has been totally crazy and mad this last year ….and so I’m excited for some new and fresh ideas (and blogs!) in my life! I am so thrilled about the new things I have coming to the studio to offer everyone (oh, and some for little ol’ me of my own *babies* too!)

I have tons of new bags and jewelry, unique album ideas, cool new canvas gallery wraps and even portraits on METAL. (crazy stuff! love it!). I’m also photographing lots more high school seniors these days, which is also a lot of fun (be watching for a brand new “senior site” to be launching very soon too! I’m telling you! lots of goodies in the works!)

Since I couldn’t decide what to post first…. I’ll just post my latest WEEmee…. just fun and silly. Thanks for checking in…