Dana Suggs Photography

I Heart Faces | Play-Dana Suggs

Dana — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:34:22 +0000

“Take a pi-cher of me!”

I hear those words a lot around my house.

My kids are accustomed to seeing my camera and having it in their faces all the time.

Especially Brooklyn who literally has grown up with it, and everyone is familiar with her face because I use her for almost every photography contest with I Heart Faces.

Yes, I am ‘THAT’ Mom.

But with the adoptions of our 3 newest children, I can FINALLY use new (very beautiful) faces for the contests.

And I LOVE to take pictures of them.

I’ve also had to learn to lose some of my control on photographing CLEAN children as well. I had a death grip on that rule, and I hated to let it go. But, having 4 boys now, if I didn’t lose that dumb rule, I’d have a LOT less photos of my children. I have a couple that literally come out of the bath tub dirty sometimes. Dirt is just attracted to them!

So, all of that to say, when I saw the theme for May for I Heart Faces, I knew the photo I had to use.

My 2 youngest, very handsome, dirt-magnets very much love to be dirty.

One also loves to be nekkid. But that isn’t for THIS theme at all. HAAAA!

But how could you resist those faces?

Even if they are dirty.

I Heart Faces | Wind

Dana — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:28:28 +0000

This month’s photo challenge is

Wind.

It’s not a lot.

But it’s enough.

Always believe

Dana — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:57:50 +0000

I have 2 very amazing girls.

They are full of life

and love

and joy

and shoes.

(Life always comes back to a good pair of shoes.)

And

they believe in fairies.

Life is short and childhood is even shorter

believe in fairies

and sparkles

and glitter

and joy in the little things.

But never ever stop believing in fairies.

Changes in the air

Dana — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 03:16:08 +0000

We are 28 days into the adoption of our 3 foster children.

It’s been a great month!

It’s been an amazing road we have traveled these last 18 months with them.

Some days were hard and I’m not sure how everyone survived, much less

ate, bathed, slept, or had clean clothes to wear!

Going from 3 children to 6 children overnight was a huge leap of FAITH, and one I’d gladly do over again. Or again and again.

It’s not like I’ve been this big, famous photographer, most of my “clients” have been friends and family I roped into letting me photograph them and/or their families.

And OH! have I loved it!

But with the adoption seems to have come countless more doctors appointments, 2 little medical scares (little scare over a medical test and a son who decided to catch the tip of his finger in a folder chair trying to snag some cheesesticks LOL), and a whole lot less time than I had before.

So I have decided to take some much needed time off to be with my family.

And learn how to photograph them DAILY.

Because I’m learning that it is going by faster than I ever could have dreamed.

And these babies need me.

I am watching them grow so quickly

(my oldest son is almost 18 now and I’m having to come to terms with him leaving the nest. {GULP} Not sure I will take that gracefully.)

And I don’t want to miss anything.

And I’m learning that God may not be finished with our “little” family yet. He may have someone waiting in the wings, not-so-patiently waiting for a family. He’s had a difficult time and he needs us. So, again, I find myself saying “yes” to whatever Christ is asking us to do.

And I do have such a fondness to boys.

So, for awhile…

I’ll be here, but in a different capacity.

Sharing my family and keeping my skills up.

Because who could resist these faces!

But, promise me….

when I call you and BEG to photograph you…

or your kids/pets/wife/husband/flowers

just smile and agree.

I still love to do this.

So….for now

Love your family.

Spend time with them.

♥

I Heart Faces | Framed

Dana — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:52:30 +0000

This month’s photo challenge theme is

“FRAMED”

I didn’t want to go with the obvious “framing” using a portrait frame.

I wanted to use natural framing.

And nothing could be more beautiful than this amazing location!

I ♥ snowscapes!

This is a tradition I started with my daughter of doing portraits in the snow every year! This was our first snow in 2 years! Well worth the wait!

Please visit I Heart Faces and play along!

I Heart Faces | LOVE

Dana — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:12:28 +0000

I always look forward to this theme EVERY year!

I love “LOVE”!

But I had a very difficult time narrowing down the photo I wanted to use!

I don’t do very many weddings, just because it’s not really what I specialize in, but I was very blessed to capture a few of them this year.

I chose this photo because it is just a LITTLE bit different.

It’s not like everyone else’s.

It’s just a little bit artsy.

And this couple is simply FANTASTIC!

Not only are they good-lookin’,

but they are FUN as well!

I Heart Faces | love

Yes….I know, it’s different! LOL

But isn’t it FUN?

Check out I Heart Faces and enter YOUR photo for a chance to win

$100!!

I Heart Faces | Best Face of 2012

Dana — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:54:08 +0000

I went back and forth over photos for this month’s theme.

I have some heart-stopping gorgeous brides,

chubby cheek babies,

perfectly FUN children,

romantic couples,

WILD and beautiful Seniors.

And then I have this.

To anyone else, it’s just a little girl holding a baby boy.

Probably nothing extraordinary at all to anyone else.

But to those that know this particular little girl, and those that know the story of life and death of this baby boy….

the photo will break your heart

and make you question your perfectly wonderful suburban lives.

It changed mine.

We are foster parents and this was our first call: a sibling group of three…

…but the baby is still in the hospital.

His was a lifetime of unimaginable abuse, and the last time should have been the last.

Everyone thought he was dead.

The drs gave him little hope to last through the night.

He had just turned 2 months old.

3 weeks spent in the ICU with threats of losing his eye, his eyesight, and a leg.

If he lived at all.

And yet, he made it through, against all odds.

He came to live with us, and everyone was afraid to hold him.

“He’s too fragile.” “What if we break him?”

But not my daughter.

From Day 1 she has been so in love with this baby….and she doesn’t even know his story.

His story made me rethink everything I thought of the world.

It’s not all rainbows and glitter…and not all parents love their children.

He taught me that.

And she taught me the meaning of unconditional love.

But he is a fighter and against all the odds, has made it through.

And he’s perfect.

And soon….

will be a Suggs.

Please, if you’ve ever considered fostering or adopting, do it. It will change your WORLD! And it’s the hardest thing you will ever LOVE doing!

Contact your local Department of Human Services.

In Tulsa, here is the link: http://www.okdhs.org/

Or call: 1-866-612-2565

I Heart Faces | Orange

Dana — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:53:59 +0000

I have to admit, when I first saw what the challenge theme was…

I CRINGED!

Orange??

That’s crazy!

I have no idea…

But then, I remembered back to this incredible session I did with a friend of mine and her 2 AWESOME kids

and I KNEW!

This little lady was a RIOT! And she had the prettiest freckles sprayed across her face…

We’re talking SERIOUSLY beautiful girl here!

And FUNNY…which is probably why I loved her so much.

She did this completely on her own!

I think she is MAH-VELOUS!

Head over to I Heart Faces and enter for your own chance to WIN!

How to prepare for Family Portraits

Dana — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:31:01 +0000

I am asked all the time by prospective clients and returning clients

ALL THE TIME:

“What should we wear?”

Very valid and great question.

(I’ll cover that in another post)

But the one piece of advice I wish I could give ALL of my clients, past, present, and future is this:

Prepare your children and spouses for the photos mentally and emotionally.

Let me tell you a little story:

Being a foster parent has changed how I look at so many things. I love these 3 children with all of my heart and it PAINS me that a big chunk of their life is “missing”. For my 5 year old “Diva Princess”, I know that there are 4 years of her life that I don’t know. I don’t know what she looked liked as a baby. I don’t know what kind of toddler she was. Little things like what her hair looked like as a baby is completely lost to me. Did she smile all the time as a chubby baby? Was she even a chubby baby or was she long and skinny like her baby brother? Her younger brother “Little Man” was so covered in eczema from his horrid food allergies…when did they start? Was he always covered in scars? When did he first break out with it? Has he had it since birth?

I have no idea because there is no photo evidence of their life prior to coming to live with me.

And for some reason, that breaks my heart.

These 3 children KNOW how important their pictures are to me. I have told them. I sat the 2 older ones down with me and explained it to them.

“I want everyone on this planet to see you and know just how wonderful and beautiful you are!”

1.) Explain to your children (and spouse) just how important these photos are to you.

Chances are, this will help your session go smoother. This also gives you a great opportunity to praise your child and/or spouse. And everyone could use more praising and encouragement and love!

2.) Let your family help pick out clothes. Do it together as a family.

I have 6 children. And each of those 6 children have their OWN opinion on clothes! When you prepare your spouse and children for your family session, it’s important that they know what to expect. Here is a photo of fashion ideas for a family session. I LOVE it! I love the style, love the color palette. All of it!

Show your family a photo of what you are wanting style-wise (TONS on pinterest!), and allow them to help pick out clothes in that color scheme. Giving your highly opinionated child a choice of 3 outfits (or even just 2) will help tremendously, instead of giving them run of the store to pick what they want. You pick it first, then give them a choice from what YOU have already picked out. This will also help your less-than-stylish family as well. This is a safe place….we can all admit we all those family members that couldn’t put an outfit together if their life depended on it. HA!

3.) Be prepared.

Lay out the outfits the day before. The week before. Whatever it takes to make the day of portraits LESS stressful! Put all outfits together in one location (safely away from sticky fingers and drinks that spill). Include things like socks and shoes, hair bows, ties, etc. Keep them together in one place so the day of the session you are not scrambling around hunting and searching. It doesn’t work. Trust me.

4.) Don’t argue before a session.

I know….trust me….preparing your children for a session can be stressful! Preparing your spouse can be just as stressful. How many times before a session have you said:

“You aren’t wearing that!” or “Where are your SHOES?”

But, by following the above rules, it will take a lot of that last-minute stress away.

And, because I have 6 children, I know how children are. If Johnny wants to bring his favorite toy to the session, GREAT! Let him. I’ll probably photograph him with it anyway. Your teenage son wants to bring his headphones, that’s fine. There’s always downtime during a session while I am photographing something else.

Just try your VERY hardest not to argue BEFORE the session.

I love this family! Their love for each other shows in EVERYTHING they do!

5.) Don’t argue DURING a session.

You would think right? But trust me, I know. You have such high expectations for your session and you have invested all of this money into these photos, the LAST thing you want is a child to misbehave!

But, that’s where I come in. I was a teacher for many years prior to becoming a photographer, so I know children really well. I also happen to work with teenagers at church and have been a Youth counselor at church camp for MANY years! So, I know teenagers as well. I have a few tricks in my Super-duper Photographer tool belt. I know how to approach children and teenagers to help them relax and calm themselves. I know questions to ask to redirect their attention. I know how to make them smile.

Berating a child (or a SPOUSE) during the session counteracts all of my Super Photographer Powers. You do not need to yell at them (happened), whisper harsh things in their ears (happened and happened), or poke them (happened, happened and happened).

If a child is extremely unruly, and all of my Super Photographer Powers have failed, then yes, please step in. But please remember, if they are crying, I cannot photograph that.

Still, probably one of my FAVORITE sessions! The mom and grandparents were so wonderful to these children! The session didn’t go as planned, and everyone just rolled with it! Love this sweet family!

6.) Praise them!

Praise anything and everything you can!

“WOW! Look how TALL you are sitting!” “Your smile is so beautiful!” “You are still the handsomest man I know…” “You only get more beautiful.”

We all need that praise, but especially during portraits. It can be awkward to have your portraits taken, but a kind word does wonders!

7.) HAVE FUN!

I cannot stress that enough. It doesn’t matter what goes wrong, let it roll off.

Smile anyway.

Laugh anyway.

Love anyway.

Enjoy the time you are spending together and have fun.

Let the child play.

Let your spouse tell those terrible jokes. (I promise I’ll laugh)

Let your teenager text during the down time.

Let them dance and have a good time. I promise I’ll photograph it if you promise to hang at least ONE silly photo on your wall to always remind you that it was FUN.

Childhood is short. It’s fleeting.

Let them remember the FUN things.

I Heart Faces | Friendship

Dana — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:19:50 +0000

I was asked to travel to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to photograph a set of twins and their best friend.

How in the WORLD could I turn that down?

It was more fun than I could EVER express!

The girls were GORGEOUS and they were a TON of fun!

I’m not actually sure how we got anything done with all the laughing going on….

But that’s why I am so in love with this photo….it’s the epitome of FRIENDSHIP!

The beautiful location and light didn’t hurt anything either.

Do you have a photo that screams “FRIENDSHIP”?

Link up!