Christmas Cookies & Fun! | Tammy Mayfield Photography

    Christmas cookies are a tradition everywhere around the World, including my kitchen.  Its a tradition in my family that dates back ALL the way to my great-grandmother.  Her mother taught her & she taught her daughters who then taught my mother who eventually taught me & my sister.  My family cookie recipe is still loved & used today by all of my family members, & I must say we are a considerably large family!  So thats a LOT of cookie making, especially at Christmas-time!!

    In our house, we actually make it a whole family affair where we all help out in one way or another whether it be mixing the ingredients, 'sampling the dough' to make sure its definitely sugary enough {well, that what my kids tell me, anyways...} rolling the dough & cutting out the shapes using many Christmas cookie cutters we've accumulated over the years adding to the old tin originals that were handed down with the original recipe.

     I now teach my kids, both my boys & my daughter & we make it part of our tradition of the Christmas festivities.  My husband even has the designated job of 'taste-testing' a handful to make sure they are baked to perfection (lol).  Here are a few shots I took of my children as they took turns ingredient mixing, shaping, rolling, cutting & baking a delicious batch {or three} of  Great-Grandma's famous family cookies....

                                                          ALL HANDS ON DECK!!

2 perfect doughy snowmen & my youngest sons version of a 'demolished' snowman.  Silly boy.

AND....the finished result!  Well, at the end we ran into a slight problem....This 'Momma' forgot to buy Christmas colored sprinkles, but we had some decorative Autumn colors left over from our Thanksgiving baking.  Sugar is sugar we say & they tasted as de-lish as ever!

Christmas Photo Special! | Tammy Mayfield Photography

    Now offering these adorable Snow Globe photos for a special price!

$20 for a digital file using the photo of your choice!  This can even include one of your own photos or one from a Session, previous or present.  If you are interested please email me at tmayfieldphotography@gmail.com. 

 Cash & Paypal accepted.

An Adorable Mini Session | Tammy Mayfield Photography

Little Audie...

She was a bit shy at first, but after a little while she sure did come alive to show us her beautiful smile...and her pearls!

Awesome Black Friday GIVEAWAY!! | Tammy Mayfield Photography

Yes there is!  Epiphanie is giving away an Epiphanie Camera Bag every hour on this Black Friday!!
Come join the fun & have a chance at winning a bag, too!!  Men can participate, too!
This is the one I want!  Hopefully to win, or to purchase in the near future!

Follow the link below~
http://www.haveanepiphanie.com/home/2012/11/23/were-giving-a-bag-away-every-hour-today.html
or here:
http://lovethatshot.com/blog/2012/11/18/epiphanie-camera-bag-giveaway/

My Newest Adventure | Tammy Mayfield Photography

As many of you already know, I LOVE cake decorating, 2nd favorite to photography.  I have made a few creations for fellow friends, family & co-workers over the last two years.

My first decorated cake ever was one I made for a benefit for Breast Cancer for a local lady here in Downtown Arcadia who's shop I frequented just for her collection of perfume bottles that she sells within her store.  {I have a weakness for colored glass & small pretty things}.  It was around Valentine's Day & when I walked into her store & she handed me a flyer & asked if I would mind baking a cake for a benefit she was sponsoring which she would auction to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness.  I agreed to help & right away decided that I wanted to try my very first cake created out of fondant, just like the ones I saw professional bakers create.

After hours of thinking & scouring cake-based websites, I came up with a cute idea of a Pink candy box with a lid & chocolate candies in the center.  Perfect for Valentine's Day!  I was SO excited & got to work on it right away.  My mom helped me out & it was so much fun!  On the outside of the lid I made a pink breast cancer ribbon to represent the charity I made it for.  
Here is my first cake:

Over the last few years I have had the chance to take some classes on basic cake decorating, in my spare time.  After my first class, I fell in love.  Years ago I used to work at Disney & watched our Master Chefs & their teams create beautiful cake creations & I SO envied all who were involved.  I told myself, 'One day, Tammy, you will get your chance & learn to do the same,' and that I did.

One day I am hoping to open my very own bakery.  With some time & great planning I am hoping to open one within the new year.  I welcome you to visit my cake blog & watch for new works of art!  You can follow my cakes HERE on m blog, or HERE on Facebook.  Its going to be tough, but I plan on continuing my Photography, maybe cutting down to shooting Weddings & Newborns & open a business especially for my Cakes, Cupcakes & Candies...  Wish me luck!

Another Moon Shot | Tammy Mayfield Photography

Yes, that it is! This time is a little different, though...

I've been wanting to capture a shot when the Moon is a quarter full and half full. My husband and I and our children have this 'thing', that when we see the Moon at Quarter Moon, its really the Cheshire Cat from 'Alice in Wonderland' smiling & mocking us from WAY up in the sky with its cunning ways and trickery.

Well, last night happened to be a half moon and not a cloud in the sky = great conditions for shooting the moon.  So, I ventured outside with my handy dandy tripod and took a few shots....well, maybe more than just a few {hehe} -- and dont let me forgot to mention fighting off hungry, blood-thirsty mosquitos, too!  I was having some technical difficulty with my 250mm zoom getting nothing but fuzzy-ness (??), so I used my 100mm macro for the heck of it, thinking to myself that this lense was not going to work for things at such a distance.  When I looked through my view-finder, the Moon was SO far away that I practically had to squint & 'guess' at my focusing on the subject.  NOT an easy task in the dark.

Uploading my photos later on, I found that the details were amazing!!  You couldn't tell looking through the view finder, but I made it work...  As far as the editing, a few curve bumps to add depth and a close crop and viola!  A finished product  :-)   I think I am going to order one of these for my wall photos.

Next, is my Quarter Moon--our Cheshire Cat...

                                                                           

Leticia & Max | Tammy Mayfield Photography

    At the beginning of this year, a really shy & quiet Leticia approached me while at work & asked if I could photograph her Wedding for her this Fall.  I felt so honored that she considered my photography services for her special day & right away loaded her with questions -- after saying YES to photographing her Wedding, of course.   She told me she didn't have all the details of her Wedding figured out yet & did not have any idea what type of photographs she wanted.  I let her know we could work the details out over time...

    Well, the day before the Wedding came & I received a phone call from Leticia & the details started coming in.  On the morning of her Wedding, she simply turned into this beautiful Princess straight from a Fairytale~

Bead Class 101 | Tammy Mayfield Photography

    I'm a very crafty person & when it comes to stores like Michael's & Hobby Lobby I go absolutely nuts with all the displays & holiday decor plus the many craft ideas!  The possibilities to me are just ENDLESS & I find myself getting so absorbed into so many project ideas that I want to try them all!  Currently, I am into at least a handful of projects & they are just sitting on my desk waiting for me to tackle or even finish...

    Well, one of those projects on my list of things to try is Beading/Jewelry making.  While I was out running errands one afternoon I came upon this a cute little store by accident, really, in our nearby town called the 'Beading Boutique'.  I missed my turn trying to enter the Office Depot parking lot & had to turn around in an old plaza.  That's where I spotted this tiny little place located right on the end of a strip mall among many other small stores such as restaurants, a pottery place & clothing shops.  From the outside window I saw these long strings of multi-colored beads & crystals & decided to check it out.  The woman inside greeted me at once when I entered her Boutique & right away started telling me about the many different products she carries & classes she offers throughout the week & weekends.  With her warm welcome & attentiveness I decided to sign my daughter & I up & take a beginner class. 

    So, Saturday came & we claimed it as a 'Girls Day Out'... We were given a basket & a list of items to gather within her store so we could get started on our first project--a simple tennis bracelet.  I chose a string of multi-colored beads of the beautiful Swarovski crystals & my daughter chose her favorite color, blue...  We had the best instructor who was SO nice and very patient, especially when it came to my daughter stringing all those tiny connector beads.  She is just like her Momma & wants to learn/know as much as she can at just 10 yrs old.  As the day went on more women joined in the class & it became a nice day of casual talk & lunch, too!  Something we both didn't even expect to be a part of, but we were made so welcome by these women~

    As the day came to an end, my daughter & I finished our pieces.  We both put them on & showed them off to every one in the class {which we were told was customary in her Boutique} & everyone in the room insisted that the bracelets were definitely going to be next on their 'to-do' list of pieces to try.  We both cannot WAIT to go to our next class & try the next item on our list!  Here is a photo of my piece as I was working on it during class~

Macro Lense | Tammy Mayfield Photography

      My children & I decided we wanted to go for a walk on this beautiful day & we came across some interesting things outside.  I grabbed my new Macro lense & took it with us, giving it a whirl on our afternoon adventure...I was sure we'd find something interesting to try it out on, & that we did.   :-)   I've heard great things about the Macro & couldn't wait to try it out on something small & detailed.  
      
      Our first find was this crazy, fuzzy looking caterpillar munching on a leaf. After snapping my shutter button the bokeh effect was just amazing that came through in the background!  Would you believe its from the leaves on the very tree the caterpillar called home with a white house in the background??  

      Not far from the caterpillar was a cute little colorful moth just sitting there on a leaf watching us.  He let us come really close to take his picture & once we took a few he finally grew bored with us &  flew off to another branch on the hedge line far from our viewing position.  

       Finally, as the Sun began to set we noticed two trees with an abandoned web attached to each of the trunks.  The kids thought it would be perfect for Halloween & Fall, so for them I took this photo. After playing a little with the light from the setting sun I found a perfect capture.  A little 'tweaking' in Lightroom helped to bring out the colors of Autumn almost perfectly...  

       Today, the kids & I  had so much fun just spending quality family time together walking & talking about many things as well as finding some interesting things to look at outside, kinda like a scavenger hunt!  Something I think we are going to plan on doing more of--its a big world out there & we are ready for more exploring! 

                                                        
                                                                   And by the way, I LOVE my new Macro!!

Wedding Special | Tammy Mayfield Photography

     I will be offering a special running through the rest of the month of August & all of September for Brides who are looking for a great discount on your Wedding Photography.  This is an opportunity to earn up to 30% off of your total Wedding package with up to 3 referrals from fellow friends & family members who are looking for a Wedding Photographer themselves by referring them to my services for their Wedding Photography.  They, too, can earn 10%, 20% & even 30% off as well by the referrals they send to 'Tammy Mayfield Photography.' 

     I offer three convenient package choices with a 'One Hour,' 'Four Hour' & 'Eight Hour' Wedding package.  I know how important it is to have a visual reminder of your special day to cherish for years to come so in all of my Wedding packages I've included a beautifully assembled album with the photos of your choice placed on a professionally mounted frame, 'Save-the-Dates' cards included in your complimentary 'Couples Session' to give away to family & friends announcing your chosen wedding date, a stylish Luxe framed print of your choice as well as a single customized CD or DVD of your Images from your Event {amount & size limitations apply per package}.  For more information or Package pricing please call or email me today at tmayfieldphotography@hotmail.com & I can email you our package pricing sheet directly or send via mail {for those who do not have email}.  

Super Moon 2012 | Tammy Mayfield Photography

So, they say the Moon was at its largest, by 14%, & brightest for the Eastern Seaboard Time Zone at 11:36 pm on May 5, 2012 & was going to be the brightest for all Full Moons in the last year....& where was I at during this time??  Yes, shooting the Moon with my camera.  I actually dragged my whole family outside to have a peek because the Moon illuminated the night sky & it looked so beautiful!  After testing different settings & taking TONS of photos myself, my daughter wanted a try at it & captured a very nice shot of it herself as she saw the Moon through her own eyes.  So, here is our rendition of the 'Super Moon' as we saw it here in the South...

My rendition of the Super Moon

My daughter's capture of the Super Moon

3 Days New | Tammy Mayfield Photography

Miss Amelia came into my studio on her 3rd day of life.  She was born at 7 pounds 8.4 ounces.  She was an amazing little model, sleeping most of the Session--waking up only once to have 'lunch'.  Such an adorable little bundle of joy, I could have held her all day!

Congratulations Kevin & Dawn, she's absolutely perfect!

The Moonlight...

I don't know why, but I have this fascination of photographing the Moon, especially a Full Moon.  Every chance I get I try to go outside on my back porch practicing this view or that angle to get the best shot I possibly can.  Living in the country {deep, dark country out my way} allows for a less distracted sky {minus all the city lights} where the moon seems to shine brighter; the stars, too...

Ever since I was a little girl Ive always looked up towards the moon, whether it was in the winter months back in NY cascading its cool blue light over the mounds of glistening fresh white, pristine snow or in the Summers out camping under the stars {which Ive done many a times throughout my childhood} dreaming of the future.  As I got older, tho, I will admit that a new inspiration of the moon formed when my husband--then boyfriend--used to take me on late dinner-dates just so he could take me out to the beaches on the gulf coast in Bradenton to Coquina Beach where we walked along the beach line listening to the waves under the moonlight for hours, again talking about our future together.  Now that is one of the best views of the Moon ever!  Still is...

Haven't been to the beach in a LONG time, especially at night, seeing as we live more inland now.  Im thinking that on the next full moon maybe me & the hubby may take a ride to the beach one night [Date Night] to 're-live' some old-time memories as well as carry my camera along for a beautiful Moonlight shot.   ;-)

Ok, reminiscing over & back to 'today'  --Ive always been an Astronomy 'buff' & when I got my first DSLR I could not WAIT to learn how to 'shoot the moon'.  After a few tries I finally figured out how to capture a good photo without the moon blowing itself out & look as if it was a glowing ball, rather than the textured moon that it is...  Luckily, I had a good instructor when I took my first photography class who, himself, photographed the moon & the stars, but with MUCH better equipment than I had on me for a 1st time DSLR user.  One thing he taught me, and the class, was that a 'good' photographer was capable of taking a great shot no matter what equipment they used.  With that said, I learned to 'use' the lenses that I had & captured some really good photographs, including a few of the Moon!

Today I am slowly increasing my more professional lense 'stash' & will still continue 'shooting the moon'...