Ft Worth Newborn Baby Photographer | WEEK 2

January 15, 2018

Giving myself a round of applause because I am sticking with this whole Project 365 thing.

As a Keller newborn and baby photographer, I have grown accustomed to doing a lot of studio work and this photo-a-day challenge is definitely making me stretch creatively. I am also taking a class online that I hope will help me in the coming weeks. I had some ideas in mind for the week with strong lighting, maybe exploring free-lensing some more. Truthfully, I fell quite short of the vision I had in my head. However, I’m trying to extend some grace to myself and remember that it’s a win simply to get a photo each day. I know from my last time around with a Project 365 that there are good photo days and bad photo days. Sometimes I am in love with what I’ve captured and other times I am totally in the dumps beating myself up thinking I totally suck at this whole lifestyle photography thing.

Anyway, I clicked the shutter. I got the photos. Are they all my very best? No. Did I learn some things? Yes. Can I do better in the future? Yes.

PROJECT 365 | WEEK 2

Keller baby photographer | H. Parker Photography | www.HParkerPhotography.com

8 l 365
Last day of winter break. I know the baby is going to miss his brother when he’s back in school. Who else in our family is willing to build him flux capacitor rain stick towers?

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Ft Worth Newborn Baby Photographer | Project 365 Kickoff

January 3, 2018

Keller baby photographer | H. Parker Photography | www.HParkerPhotography.com

This Keller baby photographer is super pumped about all the promises of 2018. I mean, 2017 was a good year for the Parkers. We welcomed our youngest son (and last baby!), my husband started a new job and my big boy began kindergarten. Lots of transitions last year, and most of them were positive.

Still, I see 2018 as a year to get into the groove with all our new changes. My big kid is halfway through the school year, so he’s settling into what it means to be a grade schooler. My baby is most definitely a baby now and not a newborn lump. He can sit, eat solids and is beginning to crawl. My husband has a year under his belt with his new employer, so he feels confident and happy at work. Now it’s my turn to get back to my newborn and baby photography business full steam. I’ve taken about a year off, between pregnancy complications and then an extended maternity leave to take care of my new addition.

With all the craziness of 2017, I rarely picked up my big girl camera. I mean, I still did…but not nearly as much as I had the year before. I had a lot going on, and I can totally accept that it just wasn’t my time to grow as a photographer in 2017. I had other challenges on my plate. I’m ready for 2018 though. Bring it.

Two years ago I initiated a Project 365. A Project 365 is where you take a photo every day of the year. Some people choose to follow a theme, but the main purpose is to get out your camera and shoot real life stuff.

It was intimidating, it was challenging and it really stretched me creatively. I got annoyed a lot, particularly in the winter when we were stuck inside a lot and I felt like I didn’t have anything ‘fun’ to photograph. I ended up quitting in early October 2016, not because I lost the drive, but because I got really sick with my pregnancy. I was forced to stop, but if I hadn’t been so sick I really do believe I would have finished my first Project 365. Anyway, I wasn’t crazy enough to do a 2017 project, as I knew half of the year I’d be pregnant and the other half I’d have a new baby on my hands. So I basically just went from full steam Project 365 to absolutely nothing for a year. That was weird. And boring. I look back on 2017, and while I definitely have way more pictures than your average Mama Bear, I feel like I missed a lot of those mundane moments. The moments that make up our everyday lives—what do my son’s feet look like under the kitchen table when he’s eating breakfast; what stuffed animal is the baby obsessed with; what is the dogs favorite place to sleep? A Project 365 pushes you past the limits of what you would normally deem “photo-worthy” and forces you to get those tiny details of life.

So, while it was a pain in the butt and majorly difficult, I think I’m ready. The hiatus has recharged me, personally and professionally and now it’s time.

I’m trying to be realistic about this. I know that I won’t have time to post photos every day, so my goal is to take a picture every day and then post them altogether once a week on my blog. I’ve been looking at other photographer’s 365 Projects online for inspiration and I’ve got a whole board of inspiration in case anyone else wants to join in.

I’d love to be in community with others who are on a similar 365 journey, so whether you are professional photographer or want to use your cell phone to snap a daily picture, I’d be honored to follow your blog (just email me). You can always find me here, or on Instagram (@hparkerphotography).

H Parker Photography is a Ft Worth Newborn Baby Photographer with a residential studio in Roanoke,TX.
She specializes in classic, timeless studio baby photographs.

DFW Newborn Photographer | Gender Reveal

February 2, 2017

Well, it’s certainly been awhile since this DFW newborn photographer has posted!! I announced a couple months ago that we are expecting another baby in early summer 2017, and that I had been dealing with quite an intense amount of sickness as a result. I’m happy to report that I am doing much better and have been removed from my IV pump.

Now that I’m at 20 weeks, I had the option to know the gender of our next sweetheart. Looks like I’m going to be outnumbered permanently in the Parker household as we are adding another boy to the mix. We are very excited to meet this little guy!

Since I now the gender now, I am eager to start planning his newborn session and decorating the nursery!! If you’re interested to see what I’m up to, follow me on Pinterest.

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.

DFW Newborn Photographer | Week 41

October 11, 2016

Did you know there are just 19 days until Halloween? Well, this DFW newborn photographer knows. I know because I have been reminded 1,000 times over the past few days by my four year old. I did not realize Halloween was such a thing for preschoolers. Like, I get that there’s candy…but is he really so candy-deprived that he is chomping at the bit over a holiday that lasts all of 2 hours? I don’t know, Halloween has never really been my jam. For some reason I remember getting sick on Halloween a lot. The flu, colds, strep throat, etc. There’s something about October that is not my friend. Really the whole fall is not my friend with allergies and such, but thankfully I live in a state where the seasons are mostly summer and almost-summer. As a matter of fact, it’s 87 degrees outside today, in mid-October. My son is going swimming outside in a little bit. Swimming and Halloween candy. It’s a glorious month to be a kid.

It’s also a glorious month to be a newborn photographer, as I have lots of little pumpkins lined up to visit the studio in the coming weeks.

DFW NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER | WEEK 41

DFW newborn photographer | H. Parker Photography | www.HParkerPhotography.com

279/366: A few days of cooler weather (like high 70s) means we had to get out and explore. Holden did his duties well as the map consultant during our botanical tour guide.

280/366: Feeding the beast.

281/366: A rainy day inside. I really did a whole parenting win thing by dragging out the marshmallows and toothpicks for some building fun. Pat on the back to me.

282/366: Spider man!!

283/266: Painting pumpkins…because I do not want to stick my hands in the squishy pumpkin guts. Now, some would argue that messy paint is not much better than pumpkin guts all over the kitchen and to those people I would say….you are probably right. Lesson learned.

284/366: Swim lessons. Moved over to a new teacher and group lessons. Holden loves it, but I’m not really into it. It’s hard not being able to find the right fit. So, if any of my DFW mom friends know of a good swim stroke instructor that will teach in the off-season in an indoor pool, please, please, please let me know!!

285/366: Lazy afternoo after school, watching a movie. Zootopia just got added to Netflix, so Holden has watched it pretty much every day for the last week. Now he says when he’s 5 he wants to be a Popsicle hustler. #dreambig

Want to see more? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Google+. Photography is my passion, and I love capturing my family’s story. I would love to be your family story-teller too! Email me for info on newborn or baby portraits in the Dallas/Ft Worth area! Thanks for following my journey.

DFW Newborn Photographer | Week 40

October 5, 2016

Things are going well for this DFW newborn photographer as we enter October. I feel a little odd though, because normally at this time of year I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to balance family photography, newborn photography and my own family. I made a huge decision at the end of 2015 to focus only on newborns and babies, and ten months later I feel like I can say it was the best decision for me and my circumstances. The weather hasn’t turned cooler yet, but I can feel fall I the air and it makes me remanence about the many seasons where I did family photography and all the people I had the opportunity to meet and places I got to visit during the months of September-November. It feels weird actually being present with my own family during the fall months…I can actually be home to watch LSU kickoff on Saturday nights! I definitely miss family photography, but I have found a much better balance with my new business structure. J

Anyway, we’ve had a lot happening the last week. This week is also shaping up to be quite busy, so I should have a lot to share the next couple weeks.

DFW NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER | WEEK 40

271/366: The dogs aren’t allowed on the couch. Rufus turned 10 about a month ago and you can tell from the photo that he’s decided he just doesn’t give one single flip what I think about his presence on the couch anymore. Beagle does what beagle wants.

272/366: A trip to McDonalds to celebrate my car passing the 100,000 mile mark.

273/366: Watching the BNHS homecoming parade. Always a treat to live so close to the high school and to enjoy this little parade.

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DFW Newborn Photographer | Week 39

September 26, 2016

Fall just showed up with the welcome wagon today. It’s about 70 degrees outside with a north wind. So yeah, it’s fall y’all in Texas. The big decision today for this DFW newborn photographer—to wear boots, or not to wear boots?? That is the question.

The Parker house is in a funk today because, in case you live under a rock (or you don’t care about college football, the SEC or LSU…which means you aren’t really living life) then you know by know that my beloved football coach, Les Miles, got the *#&! can yesterday. I’ve basically just been reading sad articles and moping around crying gold and purple tears as a result. I know a lot of LSU folks were ready to see him go, but I really think that with some adjustments he deserved more time. He is a very winning coach, and he is a person of character. I just hate to see him go that way.

Other than that sad tidbit, our lives have been going pretty well the last week. Here’s what all I’ve been up to:

DFW Newborn Photographer | Project 365 | Week 39

264/366: Brushy brushy brush.

265/366: In all honesty, I have no idea what families who have kids and no dogs do to clean up after a meal. There are just so many crumbs, and our doggie cleanup crew really pulls through in tidying the floor up after a meal. Yes, it’s disgusting, but they say dogs fare well when they have a job assignment, so I feel like I’m just doing my part to keep the dogs mentally alert and happy.

266/366: I’ve blogged about StitchFix before, so if you want to know more about them, click here. I opted out of a full blog fashion show this time around because I was really dissatisfied with my box and didn’t want a photo collage of me looking like a fool out there for all eternity on the webs.

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DFW Newborn Photographer | Week 38

September 19, 2016

Happy Monday my friends!!

It’s feeling pretty Monday-ish around these parts. I made the mistake of staying up until midnight yesterday and I’m paying for it today. Couple that with some really fun errand calls—doctors, gym membership, insurance benefits….and yeah, it’s 10 am and I’d be fine putting Monday to bed already.

Also, this DFW newborn photographer is still chugging through all the allergies. Things are finally getting a little better for me this week, so that’s good news. Other than the major sniffles last week, things were pretty nice. The hubs was home more than he has been in a long time. My son enjoyed school, I had some wonderful babies in the studio and we are squeaking out a few more pool days since Mother Nature still hasn’t gotten the memo that it’s supposed to be pumpkin spice latte time.

DFW Newborn Photographer | Project 365 | Week 38

257/366: Sir fish taking a September swim.

258/366: My desk décor, inspired by the sniffles.

259/366: I feel like I post a photo similar to this almost every week—my son playing with some kind of builder toy—Legos, magnatiles, Tinkertoys, gears. He loves working with his hands and will spend hours on this stuff, so it’s kind of hard to get away from taking photos of this activity because it consumes most of his day, and he is my life and main photographic subject.

260/366: Friday Funday is over, now it’s time for PJ’s.

261/366: LSU day!! We were very excited to see a new quarterback in action, and since all of us were home together it warranted a trip to iFrattellis. Plus, I had a coupon for a free pizza from my birthday a few weeks ago. Pizza tastes super yum when it’s free. Also, in case you are wondering people do look at you when you take photos in a pizza parlor, but the pizza wasn’t ready yet, so what else am I suppose to do??

262/366: More pool time on a Sunday afternoon. My little guy know how to work the controller for the pool pump and water features so much better than I do. Turning all the gadgets on and off is an essential part of swimming for him.

263/366: Bringing his crazy straw game to a Monday morning.

DFW Newborn Photographer | Week 37

September 12, 2016

Has it been another week already?? I’ve got all the allergies right now. Other than my birthday in September, it’s really not my favorite month because I generally spend September and early October in a ragweed haze.

This DFW newborn photographer spent most of the week inside, safe from all the mean, mean pollen. Here’s hoping life can get back to normal in another week or two.

DFW Newborn Photographer | Project 365 | Week 37

250/366: This dog! If he’s inside, he wants out. If he’s outside, he wants in!! Drives me crazy, but we love him so.

251/366: When a box is the toy.

252/366: I suspect this will be the last swim of the season. The water was actually really warm still, but there was some rain over the weekend and cooler temps expected in the near future, so I don’t see the pool remaining at a swimming temp for very long. Daddy was home too, so we swam and grilled out for dinner as a last salute to swimming.

253/366: The hubs has been working A LOT recently, and so when he was home last Friday he and Holden decided to work on a special project together. I thought they were going to build a bird house for the backyard, but instead they constructed a catapult, because boys.

254/366: When your football game is on a rain delay, it’s time for a tickle fest.

255/366: Cleaning up, closing out Sunday night and getting ready for a fresh start to the week.

256/366: I love capturing small moments like this. Daddy and Holden enjoying some downtime on the couch.

DFW Newborn Photographer | Week 36

September 6, 2016

It’s been a long week for this DFW newborn photographer.

My son had a great start back to school last week, so we are beginning to resettle into the old routines. I am so glad that he reports having a great day every time I pick him up, and that he has some old and new friends in his class and likes his teacher. Such a relief to know that when he is away from our home that he is well taken care of and enjoying learning.

In addition to back to school last week, we also have the start of college football!! If you know me at all, then you ought to know that I am a huge LSU fan, as that’s where I did my undergrad. I love me some Tigers, and the first game of the season usually coincidences with my birthday weekend. This year it was on my birthday eve, so I was really, really excited. Unfortunately, the Tigers lost in a rather unsettling way and I am still a little depressed about that so let’s not talk about it too much.

My actual birthday was on Sunday, so I had family over and did the whole cake thing. Today it’s back to the regular work week and I got to photograph Baby Cameron, who was the sweetest lil’ munchkin.

Here’s a look at what else we were up to last week.

DFW Newborn Photographer | Project 365 | Week 36

244/366: A little after school snack time.

245/366: A surprise rain shower followed by a gorgeous rainbow. My son and I went for a bike ride and turned around at some point to see this vibrant rainbow. By the time we got home and I was able to nab my camera, the rainbow wasn’t as clear and I wasn’t in as great of a viewing spot, but it was still so pretty. Holden was super excited, because I don’t think he remembers ever having seen a rainbow before.

246/366: After a successful week back at school, we celebrated with some jump time at the trampoline place.

247/366: My boy loves riding his bike, but Texas doesn’t usually get the memo that it’s fall until sometime in November. We usually ride first thing in the morning if it’s not a school day. This boy took a 3 mile bike ride without a single complaint, which I think is pretty legit for a 4 year old. I love that he’s old enough now to actually do this stuff with me. So cool!

248/366: Birthday!! Some pretty flowers from my boys. My husband also got me the best gift—a new camera lens. Whoever said diamonds are a girl’s best friend was clearly not a photographer. We usually don’t do big gifts, and this wasn’t a milestone birthday for me, so it was really shocking that he went all out like that. Can’t wait to try out the new lens, I’m sure I’ll have some images taken with it for next week.

249/366: The hubs went back to work for Labor Day, go figure. It was just me and the little guy. We did some swimming, the splash park, a grocery run and then spent the rest of the day coloring and hanging out together. Plus, I am not going to lie I bought him some new colors but really I just wanted them for myself because it doesn’t feel like September without opening a fresh box of Crayolas.

250/366: Sleepy dog with a case of the Mondays on a Tuesday.

DFW Newborn Photographer | Week 35

August 31, 2016

It’s eerily quiet in the house as the little guy returned to school yesterday. I know he is loving being around all his friends, and I need the time to get ready for my DFW newborn photographer busy season. We feel pretty good about the whole back to school thing in general, and I made sure to fill the last week of his summer with lots of fun.

Check out what this DFW newborn photographer and family did for our final summer hurrah.

DFW Newborn Photographer | Project 365 | Week 35

236/366: Met up with some friends at the coolest outdoor playground.

237/366: It’s been a surprisingly mild and rainy August, but my flowers are loving it!

238/366: Sonic pit stop before swimming.

239/366: Laundry, laundry oh my. The good times caught up to me, had to tackle mount laundry finally.

240/366: A completely impromptu trip to Hawaiian Falls! The husband was home and my sister wanted to come for a visit. We found someone selling their family four pack on a buy/sell site for super cheap, so we all went to the waterpark for an afternoon.

241/366: Last day of summer!! We kept things pretty busy between church and then visiting the splash park. We spent the last hour before bedtime playing magna-tiles and chilling out before the big day of pre-k ahead.

Back to school. I’m not sure who was more excited, me or Holden. He spent the day reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. My husband was unexpectedly home as well, so he got to accompany us for drop off. After school Holden had swim lessons, it was a BIG day for all of us and we decided to have a family pizza party to cap things off.

243/366: A little downtime after school.