Ft Worth Newborn Photographer | Project 365 Week 14

April 6, 2016

Ft Worth Newborn Photographer |Project 365 | Week 14

This week was definitely not as eventful as Week 13, but that is okay with this Ft Worth newborn photographer. I am giving myself an A+ for continuing this Project 365. This week concluded with Day 96, meaning I will hit 100 days on this upcoming Saturday. I know it sounds pessimistic, but I really expected to get fed up with this project long ago, so getting to 100 is a huge milestone. There are still days where I struggle to take a single photo, but then there are other days where I could take 50 photos and have difficulty winnowing it down. It’s just so cool to be able to look back at the last three months in photos and be like, ‘Wow—we really did all that stuff as a family!’. In fact, it’s a little bit overwhelming to see all the photos together and realize just how quickly time goes by and how much stuff gets crammed into each day.

PS – How do you like the new blog site? Got it up and running in a single day, so that’s another big accomplishment of the week. [Read more…]

Ft Worth Newborn Photographer | StitchFix Box #5 Reveal

April 5, 2016

Ft Worth Newborn Photographer | StitchFix Spring Reveal

StitchFixBox8Collage My favorite piece of mail arrived over the weekend—a new Stitch Fix box!! I signed up with this service last summer (check out my previous fixes here). Stitch Fix is an online styling service where you fill out a profile, pay a $20 styling fee and then receive five pieces of apparel in the mail. You are encouraged to keep a Pinterest board with StitchFix inspiration for your stylist and to provide lots of feedback and notes for your stylist. The $20 styling fee is automatically applied to anything you purchase from your box. If you decide to purchase all five items then you get a 25% discount off every item. You have three business days to try on your clothes and then you return anything you don’t want to buy in a pre-paid envelope and send it right on back where it came from. I just started a StitchFix account over the summer after hearing positive reviews from friends. You have the option to sign up for a monthly box, or you can just do them on an as-needed basis. I go with the as-needed option because my two jobs (stay at home mom and Ft Worth newborn photographer) leave me covered in kiddie goo most of the time and generally a yoga pant uniform suffices for that. My favorite part about Stitch Fix is the convenience of having pieces delivered straight to my door that generally fit well and are based off my style preferences. I remember teenage and college days where a trip to the mall with my buds was the norm, but I’m in a different place now, and the thought of totting around my 4 year old clothes shopping is a living nightmare. So, having a box full of spring/summer wardrobe essentials customized for me is pretty exciting! Okay, now that I’ve got you up to speed on what StitchFix is…it’s time to show off my box!!

Disclaimer: I may be a professional photographer, but I am used to being the person TAKING pictures, not being in front of the lens. Please excuse my general awkwardness as you view this blog.

Dear John Lille Cuffed Denim Short

My main request for this box was shorts and dresses for the spring/summer. StitchFix sent me a pair of Dear John denim shorts in a previous fix and I definitely regret not purchasing them. Just like the last pair sent, these shorts seemed to fit me well. They are comfy, casual and the gray colors means they can go with anything. However, $58 for a pair of shorts seems excessive. I am willing to pay that for jeans because I know that I can wear jeans year-round, but shorts are only appropriate in a few situations. Plus, I just found a pair of navy shorts at Target last week for at least half the price. Do the Target shorts fit as well? Eh—it’s a toss-up, but at $25/each I can get two pairs of Target bottoms instead.

Verdict: Returned

Brixon Ivy Linda Dress

Another thing I’ve really needed to add to my wardrobe is spring/summer dresses. I love having dresses in my closet that can be fixed up for church or dressed down for everyday wear. This dress really fit the bill in that regard. I love the embroidered detail at the hem and neckline. I am such a straight-laced person, but I am totally drawn to folks who can pull off the bohemian look and the detailing on this dress is like sticking my toe into the hippie water. However, I did have some reservations about this dress. First—the color. I think every dress I’ve purchased in the last two years has been navy. Next- the waist. I am not a huge fan of unstructured waists. This is elastic, and while it’s uber comfy, I feel like elastic waists are not my friend.

Verdict: Kept

Loveappella Abella Maxi Dress

Giggles. This was just a hard no. I’m not opposed to the pattern, but why the drawstring waist? I have a classic pear shape and I think it can be universally agreed that the potato sack tie around my waist isn’t doing any favors.

Verdict: Returned

Gilli Mitchel Crossback Jersey Maxi Dress

This jersey maxi is so comfy and soft. The back had the coolest cut-out, and I could cover it up with a jean jacket if needed. The color scheme is my preferred neutral. The downside to this dress would be the horizontal stripes. Again, I think if you’re a toothpick or have a more boyish figure then perhaps the horizontal stripe all over your hips is gonna be just fine. For me, that’s a deal breaker. Peace out Mitchel dress.

Verdict: Returned

Moon and Sky Rubeus Crochet Detail Top

When I first saw this top in the box I instantly wrote it off. I know all the cool kids wear these baggy tops now-a-days, but I really prefer more fitted pieces. I make it a rule to try on everything, and I’m so glad I did because this ended up being great. Is it the most flattering thing I’ve ever worn—no. But, I like the pattern and crochet tie top. I also like that this can be worn with gray shorts, denim, white pants…really there are a ton of bottoms already in my closet that I feel pair well with this top. Plus, it is sleeveless which is a must in the Texas summer. For the spring, a layered cardigan can help on cool evenings.

Verdict: Kept

The Final Tally

IMG_68041Tally So, there you have it—I kept 2/5 this time around, and I feel like I got a good start to a spring wardrobe. Thinking about starting StitchFix yourself—please use my referral link if you’re so inclined and I can get a $25 bonus credit.

StitchFix Link Up

I’ve linked up with Maria at Crazy Together- so be sure to check out her latest fix and a bunch of other awesome bloggers and their latest fixes too! CLICK HERE

Heather of H. Parker Photography is a Ft. Worth Newborn Photographer also specializing in baby photography in Fort Worth, Texas and surrounding areas including but not limited to Dallas, Trophy Club and Roanoke.

Ft Worth Newborn Photographer | March

March 31, 2016

Ft Worth Newborn Photographer | Project 365 | Week 13

Today is March 31st, which means I am officially wrapping this month for my Project 365.
If you have been following me for awhile, you are probably already familiar with my Project 365 through Facebook or this blog. However, if there are any new readers out there, CLICK HERE to learn more about this project. Closing out March means I am 1/4th of the way there! 25 percent. A quarter of a pie. When I say it that way, it doesn’t seem that significant, but I promise that taking a photo every day with my DSLR has DEFINITELY been a challenge. I wish I had this dedication about fitness or something, but this is really the only New Years resolution that I’ve ever kept. Having a tangible goal to realize each day certainly helps. Anyway, enjoy this compilation from March! PS- If you’re the kind of weirdo that’s going to count the photos in that collage there are technically 50. I was an awesome person and took more than 1 photo on some days. Go me!

Ft Worth Newborn Photographer |Week 13

March 29, 2016

Last week just flew by, and I took wayyyy more pictures than necessary to fulfill my Project 365 duties. I should probably cut some out of this blog, but I like being able to use this project to document our daily lives, and if I delete some then I will be missing out on telling the story of how busy this past week has been!

Ft Worth Newborn Photographer | Project 365 | Week 13

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Ft Worth Newborn Photographer |Week 12

March 22, 2016

Ft Worth Newborn Photographer | Project 365 | Week 12

So this past week was Spring Break for my munchkin. I’ll go ahead and admit that I was not super excited about the prospect of Spring Break. I do love having my little guy home with me every day, but I am also wise enough to know how this goes. Generally, by the time any major break from school is coming to a close, all parties involved are ready for our regular routine to resume. In fact, last Monday….only three days into Spring Break…Holden asked me, “Mama—can I go back to school yet?” I guess that is a testament to how much he loves his preschool and his teachers. My boy also takes after me in that he really doesn’t enjoy being stuck in the house. He wants to go outside and play every day–rain or shine, cold or hot. I like the outdoors too, but I have my limits. If we aren’t outside he will tire out of playing in the house within a day or two. The boy has tons of toys to play with, but I think as an only child he misses the social interaction with his peers. I was also a little nervous about Spring Break because I had no game plan going in. Normally I would do some research and try to plan out our days so there is stuff on the agenda. This break caught me unprepared though, and I started the week with a totally blank calendar. Surprisingly though, I’m going to give Spring Break 2016 an A+. I went totally Type B with things and we just took it on a day-by-day basis as to what activities to engage in. The week ended up being beautiful weather wise, so there was a ton of outside play, going to the park with friends, bike riding, etc. We also had several major outings, and the time has just flown by.

Ft Worth newborn photographer | H. Parker Photography | www.HParkerPhotography.com

75/366: AMAZING spring break weather. 80+ degrees in March and I’m not complaining one bit. We made sure to have our dinners on the back patio almost every night.

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Ft Worth Newborn Photographer | Week 11

March 16, 2016

Am I really on Week 11??!! The first part of last week was uber rainy, so we were trapped indoors for a lot of it. I feel like I have exhausted my creativity for documenting our daily lives indoors. I love looking at other Project 365’s for inspiration, and I am always blown away by the gorgeous lighting some of my peers are able to capture inside. The thing is, my main subject is 4 years old and wiggles a lot. Between trying to get a photo of him (while he is actively protesting) and trying to get proper lighting, I am really getting sick and tired of being inside. Anyway, things warmed up toward the weekend and we had a few days together as a family that were really nice.

Ft Worth Newborn Photographer | Project 365 | Week 11

68/366: My son had an ENT appointment about an hour after school, so we had time to burn between release and the doctors. I decided to stop by the new Fresh Market as I had never been inside. Such a clean and yummy looking grocery! I am mostly an Aldi and Wal-Mart girl as I’d like to retire one day, but every now and then I enjoy the glamorous life by visiting a place like this. Anyone in the mood for jelly beans?

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Ft Worth Newborn Photographer |Project 365

March 8, 2016

Another week of Project 365 has come and gone for this Ft Worth newborn photographer! I am loving all the spring weather we’ve been having, so I will need to make an effort to take my camera on outdoor outings for often. This past week was ridiculously busy, so I definitely struggled to get in my daily photo. I phoned it in a little this week, doing a lot of plant life and photos of the animals. This week is supposed to be extremely rainy, so also not super promising for doing anything exciting. I will have to start getting creative with all the rainy days ahead.

Project 365 l Week 10

61/366: Like I said, last week was uber busy and on this particular day I totally spaced on getting my daily photo done. It was probably 10pm when I realized that this needed to be done. My house is pretty quiet by that time of night, and my husband and animals and I were gathered around watching TV. Set the camera up with a self timer on the dresser and let it click away a few times while we continued to watch. A super grainy photo given the only light source in the room was TV, but I’m gonna embrace the grain and call it a win for getting this day in the books. Not sure what we were watching, but my best guess is some “Fuller House” on Netflix. I am positive my husband will want to be on the record as saying he is merely enduring this show and not enjoying it.

62/366: Another beautiful spring-like day. Here is a macro shot of one of our redbud trees. They only look like this for about 2 weeks each year, so I always make sure to get a photo.

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Ft Worth Newborn Photographer |Week 9

March 1, 2016

Here I am, wrapping up the month of February for my Project 365. I hope everyone had a fantastic and special Leap Day yesterday! Yesterday the stars aligned in such a way that my husband was home and I had the day off from my duties as a Ft Worth newborn photographer. Plus, Holden only goes to school T, W, Th so that meant all of us were together after lots of time apart the past few weeks. The weather here has been AMAZING, so we made an impromptu visit to the Ft. Worth Zoo. I grew up in a house with three sisters, so I really have no idea what ‘normal’ boy behavior is like, but my 4 year old son is currently obsessed with toots. I am assured by my husband and the internets that this is a totally average thing for little boys. Anyway, he has been really into watching this Youtube video of a hippo tooting. Yes, I have my husband to thank for that gem. (PS- When do men find the time to look up all these random Youtube videos?????) So, needless to say, the whole zoo excursion for Holden was all about locating the hippo exhibit and *fingers-crossed* that they would have flatulence that day. We did find us some hippos, but they weren’t in a very gassy state. They mostly hung out in their pond. Daddy assured Holden that the bubbling water was just the hippo’s tooting underwater. We are a ridiculous family. Despite this small setback, we had a really nice day at the zoo. So, that’s all I’ve got for a special Leap Day story. Oh, I also ate a Dairy Queen blizzard. And they got my order wrong. The injustice. When I am going to consume 800 calories in a dessert I get very sad when it is the wrong thing. Without further delay, here’s my Project 365 for Week 9!

Project 365 l Week 9

54/366: Rain, rain go away. I’m posting this in black/white as well as color. I really just couldn’t decide which I like better.

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Ft Worth Baby Photographer |Baby Ava

February 25, 2016

Meet Miss Ava. This precious girl came in to my Ft Worth baby photography studio earlier this week as part of a sitter model call. I had some precious outfits for her to show off and she did a great job! I hope her mommy and daddy are equally pleased with the results. Miss A was also one of the coolest babies I’ve met. She was a bit fussy at the start of our session—nothing out of the ordinary given that it can be a little intimidating for a wee one to have all the lights and a strange lady acting a fool with a giant camera in your face. Mom decided to put on some Adele tunes and slowly Miss A began to thaw out. She warmed up even more once Big Brother came over to be my helper.

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Ft Worth Newborn Photographer | Week 6

February 9, 2016

This Project 365 is finally getting easier! I felt little inspiration this week, but still managed to complete my daily assignments thanks to this being a habit now. Each night before going to bed I mentally catalog what is happening the next day and what could possibly be worth taking a photo of. It doesn’t necessary mean that we have anything exciting or milestone-oriented going on, just something that might be slightly out of the ordinary that makes that particular day unique. This has helped me a lot. Now the bigger challenge has been keeping up the editing of the photos and sitting down once a week to plug through it all.

I am thankful to this Project 365 for giving me a creative outlet outside of being a Ft. Worth newborn photographer and Fort Worth baby photographer. I LOVE my job, but it definitely helps to use my camera in different ways and in different scenarios so I can stay on my toes. You might notice this week that many of my images were taken with a fisheye lens. There is no particular reason other than that’s what I happened to have on my camera at the time so I decided to go with it. If you want to learn more about fisheye leneses, or any of the lenses in my camera bag, check out my “What’s in my Camera Bag” post from last year. Here’s my Week 6!

33/366: Ye olde truck. My husband working on his 18 year old truck. We have a mostly loving relationship with the truck, as it’s been paid off for our whole marriage and it’s actually part of our own love story. My husband intended to propose outside at the LSU lakes, but it was a rainy evening and he ended up popping the question in this very truck, so that makes it very special to both of us. Of course, being 18 years old means that the truck regularly needs TLC. My husband likes to fuss and grumble a lot during these maintenance moments, but then later on he will pontificate on the greatness of his truck and how he wants to keep it forever and ever amen. I definitely thought he deserved a photo with his other love.

34/366: Our first fur baby, Rufus. Rufus is 9 years old now, and since I already had the upstairs studio setup from a shoot earlier in the day I thought I’d give him his photo moment in the sun. I did a similar photo with our other dog, Bailey, a few months ago which you can view here. This way I can have matching photos of them to display someplace in the house. Rufus is the more cantankerous of our pups, so convincing him to sit still for a photo op was an experience.

35/366: Holden at basketball practice. Most of basketball practice for his age group involves running up and down the court, and he loves being wild and free.

36/366: Fridge.

37/366: Magnatiles, one of my son’s favorite toys. He uses these magnetic blocks to build all sorts of imaginative things, including space ships, towers and rainforests.

38/366: Superbowl Sunday. My sister, Lindsey, came over and made some brownies with Holden.

39/366: Holden loves practicing in his Paw Patrol workbook. Based on his birthday his school will likely track him into transitional kindergarten next year (basically like pre-K but upped a notch). We have been doing a lot of workbook practice and learning games to make sure he is ready for his assessment.