7:00 on Sunday :: Frederick, Maryland Children’s Photographer
So I’ll begin with confessing that this picture wasn’t taken at seven on the dot this morning. If I were to have taken a picture at that moment, you’d be viewing an image of my husband arriving home early from his run, detailing how he was attacked by a bird.
Seriously, I can’t make this stuff up.
Apparently, a bird swooped down and clawed its talons into his scalp while he ran through a wooded area. At first, he thought a branch had fallen on his head; then he saw the bird rise in front of him and fly away! My husband detailed his wingspan to be almost the width of a car windshield. Is that crazy or what?! He even ran home with blood on his hands and arms after touching his head to assess the damage. Thankfully, he’s doing alright, considering…he says it still is painful but the wounds are not too deep.
So…this is where we were shortly after seven o’clock this morning…
For my faithful local readers, these were taken at Butler’s Orchard in Damascus. I am truly in love with this place! It’s only twenty minutes from us, but it’s buried deep within a wooded section of north Montgomery County. We certainly weren’t the only ones who had strawberry-picking on the agenda today…car after car turned into the orchard as we did and I wondered what kind of experience we would have with tons of visitors there. Interestingly, it was so quiet and peaceful. We followed the signs on a long and winding road to a designated patch, parked, and were quickly instructed where our family’s special picking location was. We had a few rows of strawberry bushes all to ourselves and were surrounded by lots of other families picking baskets of strawberries, too. I couldn’t help but laugh at all of the children I saw with strawberry-stained faces and clothes! My kids enjoyed picking ripe red berries and stuffing their faces full of them, too.
If you are local, this is one place you don’t want to miss! The strawberries are DELICIOUS and the picking season is nearing a close. No worries though, because their blueberry season is just around the corner.
Signing off to enjoy a blueberry lemon buckle pie we picked up from the orchard’s general store now.
Sleep tight.
7:00 on Sunday :: Frederick, Maryland Portrait Photographer
We’re home after an incredible weekend in Wilmington! I almost forgot to pick up my camera this evening during the hustle and bustle of unpacking…my daughter is relaxing on my bed here, thrilled that I’ve got the camera out. 
Love this precious face!
“The Art of Fatherhood” Portrait Session Give-Away!
It’s been raining for two days straight, so I’m extra motivated to make a happy and exciting announcement!
My next portrait session give-away contest begins today–right now–this very second!
With Father’s Day on the horizon, I’m encouraging you to send me a picture of your husband, your father, a grandfather interacting with your child(ren) or grandchild(ren). You can only send me one picture, so select one that speaks volumes about the amazing father in the picture. Yes, pictures of fathers-to-be posed next to a pregnant belly are certainly welcome, too!
Here are the important details about photo submissions:
1) Submissions may not be professional photographs
2) Only one photo submission per family
3) Please e-mail your photo to me at crissie@crissietraugottphoto.com by 5:00pm on Tuesday, June 1st.
This even gives you time to take some fresh pictures and send me your favorite!
4) Please include one sentence about the father in your picture that you’d like me to include with your photo submission.
5) Your e-mail must also include language that allows me to publicly post the image on my Facebook fan site.
How to Win:
All submitted images will be posted in a gallery on my Facebook fan site. Encourage your friends and family to “like” my site and leave a comment under your submission photo. For every five comments received under your photo submission, you will be entered into a drawing to win the portrait session package!
Portrait Session includes:
1) A 1-2 hour family portrait session
2) A $250 print credit
3) …and absolutely no obligation or pressure to purchase anything beyond that!
Contest Notes:
1) On Thursday, June 3rd, I will upload your photo submissions to my Facebook page. Tell all your friends and family to vote for the photo you submitted by leaving a comment underneath your photo. You must “like” (aka “become a fan”) my page to leave a comment!
2) For every five comments your photo submission receives, your name will be entered into the drawing to win the portrait session package.
3) The contest ends at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 10th. A formal announcement (and pictures from the actual drawing!) of the winning family will be made on Friday, June 11th.
The Important Details:
1) Only one vote per person
2) Portrait sessions must take place within 25 miles of my home; you must be willing to drive if you are beyond this range
3) The session must take place before December 31, 2010
4) Session includes up to 5 people; there is a fee for additional family members
5) Portrait Session package is non-transferable
7:00 on Sunday :: Frederick, Maryland Photographer
Can you imagine my sweet surprise when I returned home from a few hours of errands and found this adorable sight? My daughter decorated each stepping stone from the garage to our home with her famous smiling faces. And as if that wasn’t enough to have me grinning ear to ear, my son greeted me in his bright-orange monkey pajamas!
Hope everyone enjoyed a gorgeous weekend. Stay tuned for a contest announcement this week!
Perfect Balance :: Frederick, Maryland Portrait Photographer
I truly adore the women in my Moms’ Group; I especially love that in addition to getting our kids together for playtime, we enjoy girls’ nights sans kids and husbands, too! Just last week we enjoyed a wonderful barbecue dinner out, followed by a ridiculously fun evening of bowling. These nights are such a great way to get to know one another better…our unique personalities, interests, and passions. My friend Melissa is truly passionate about yoga, and has recently begun to share her passion with others. She is a nationally registered teacher through the Yoga Alliance and is newly certified to teach Radiant Child Yoga.
Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled when Melissa asked me to capture images for her website, Twinkling Star Yoga. This was such a special time for me; to witness a friend doing something she absolutely loves–and doing it beautifully, might I add. She is an amazing mother, teacher, and friend.
Melissa is teaching several classes now at Sol Yoga, and you can check out her class schedule on Sol Yoga’s website. Additionally, Melissa is offering several kids camps this summer at Sol Yoga.
Melissa will be offering FREE yoga programs for kids and teens at the Urbana and Thurmont public libraries this summer. Please check the website for dates and times and to register. You can access her program schedule at the Frederick County Public Libraries website.
7:00 on Sunday :: Frederick, Maryland Photographer
Today I’m starting a new feature to my blog, and I call it “7:00 on Sunday”. I’m pledging to capture images of my own life at 7:00 each Sunday morning or afternoon. Hopefully, it will give you a glimpse into my own life and even inspire you to pick up your camera and do the same thing!
This evening at seven on the dot, I picked up my camera and started shooting. My daughter was coloring away on her easel, scribbling bursts of color and happy faces galore. For some odd/endearing reason, she always draws her happy faces upside down. They are quite amazing…the variety, the detail in their features…they just all happen to be living in the topsy-turvy world of my toddler.
I hope this new feature on the blog inspires you to photograph your family, your children, your pets in the most comfortable and authentic times in your lives together. It’s in these intimate moments that we remember so many special times together. Chubby crayons. Toddler fist-grips on a Crayola. Super concentration-face, upside-down smiley face kind of memories.
I wonder what kind of memories are in store next Sunday…
Sweet Siblings! | Frederick, Maryland Family Photographer
These precious four couldn’t be any more adorable…we played at Nalln Pond and Farm House on Fort Detrick’s base this past Saturday. Lots of smiles, tons of laughter, and I even got some hugs during the session. The weather is perfect for some fresh family portraits!
Lots of love to the I. family for inviting me to photograph your gorgeous children!
