Christmas Minis- 2nd Set

Hey again!  So there was an overwhelming amount of people interested in my Christmas minis!  I was so happy to book almost ever spot for last Sunday.  I will have Christmas minis again on December 3rd held at 11192 Rogues Road Midland, Va. 22728 from 10am until 4pm.  The price is $100 for 10 edited photos on a CD (I choose the best 10) 30 minute session.  Props include a Hot Cocoa stand, a wooden sled, a warm cozy blanket, ornaments on the Christmas trees, and a banner.  If you would like to schedule please only email me at Info@sarahcostellaphotography.com  this is first come first serve basis only.  I will try to respond back immediately if that time is not able to work for me.  Here are the times:

11:00 am-Booked

11:30 am-Booked

12:30 pm-

1:00 pm- 

1:30 pm-Booked

2:00 pm-Booked

2:30 pm-Booked

3:15 pm- Booked

4:00 pm-Booked

Again only email me with the time you wish so I can keep everything in order.  Thanks!  JB’s Christmas tree farm was gracious enough to allow me to have these sessions at her place.  Please drive all the way to the end of the driveway to the house and turn around and pull up behind my vehicle.  Also please drive slow as she will be opened for business.  If you are looking for a place to purchase your tree this year I suggest this place as well.  http://www.virginiachristmastrees.org/farms/ball we have been going for 2 years now.

Christmas Minis!

Hey everyone!  I am super excited to announce that I WILL be doing Christmas Minis this year!  They will be November 13, 2016 held at 11192 Rogues Road Midland, Va. 22728 from 10am until 4pm.  The price is $100 for 10 edited photos on a CD 30 minute session.  Props include a Hot Cocoa stand, a wooden sled, a warm cozy blanket, ornaments on the Christmas trees, and possibly a banner.  If you would like to schedule please only email me at Info@sarahcostellaphotography.com  this is first come first serve basis only.  I will try to respond back immediately if that time is not able to work for me.  I am also thinking I will do another set of minis on the 3rd of December if November 13th doesn’t work for some people.  Here are the times:

10:00 am- Booked

10:30 am-Booked

11:00 am-Booked

11:30 am-Booked

12:30 pm-Booked

1:00 pm-Booked

1:30 pm-Booked

2:00 pm-Booked

2:30 pm-Booked

3:00 pm- Booked

3:30 pm-Booked

4:00 pm-Booked

Again only email me with the time you wish so I can keep everything in order.  Thanks!  I am very excited for this as this will be the first year for Christmas Minis.  JB’s Christmas tree farm was gracious enough to allow me to have these sessions at her place.  If you are looking for a place to purchase your tree this year I suggest this place as well.  http://www.virginiachristmastrees.org/farms/ball we have been going for 2 years now.

"Throw kindness around like confetti"

Phew it's been over 2 months since my last blog.  I have come to realize this just isn't my thing and I believe that's okay!  I actually wanted to just write this blog post for anyone willing to read this.  I have so much to be thankful for and I want to spread thanks to someone else!  I believe giving can make this world a better place so I am giving a session!  This is very simple:  If you know a family OR even if it's your family or a couple that would love a shoot send me an email info@sarahcostellaphotography.com just give me a little explanation I don't need much on the situation.  Maybe your family would love to gift this for Christmas or whatever!  This session is for the Fauquier Area and around.  This could be an engagement shoot, a single family shoot, newborn, children, maternity.  I do not do large families or weddings.  I'll decide by September 16th :) That will give enough time to schedule for either October/November or December.  I will respond to your email and we will set up a date :) I hope today is a wonderful day for everyone <3

Kaitlyn {Maternity}

So I wanted this to be a long awesome blog post but when your internet goes out not once but twice and you saved the draft but apparently you really didn't...Ugh I just gave up and now here I am trying for another day!  I loved everything about this session so I guess I'll let my photos speak because clearly my words get lost lol.

Collins Ridley is 6 months!

This little girl is just THE cutest!  Makes me so happy to be able to see her grow!  She didn't really care for me taking photos of her but she had some beautiful smiles now and then!

Until next year, field full of flowers

Perfecting your outfits, what to expect and where are we doing this at!

If you are like most of my new clients you are unsure of what to wear, how this whole process works or what location to choose.  That’s where I come in!  Actually one of my favorite things to do is help you pick what you or your children should wear for the session!  The best advice I can give you is think outside the box!  Also check out Pinterest because hello the best and most expensive ideas are on there lol.  But really, I always start off by telling my clients to 1. Make sure the outfit is something you are comfortable in!  Don’t go to the extreme and end up freaking out about the crazy pattern pants you just bought!  My style is fairly fun I’m not a fan of blacks and whites I LOVE color!  I say everyone wear different patterns and colors BUT always find at least 1 color in each outfit that is the same.  That’s how you match it up!  I’d say men are the easiest to dress but not always the easiest to agree.  Please just go along with it..it’s once maybe twice a year and your wife really does appreciate your patience so she can hang those precious photos of your kids on the wall!  I think a man looks great in dark jeans a button up shirt, whether it’s a plaid or a polo!  Like I said men are easy to dress!  You don’t need your son to match up with dad either let them be their own person maybe if dad is in a polo then your son can wear a button up with lots of color and the sleeves rolled up.  Nothing is cooler than rolled up sleeves!  I haven’t mentioned Target in this post but I should because they literally have THEE cutest girl clothes ever!  A fluffy tutu skirt and a jean shirt?  Yep I’ve done that for my daughter.  She’s stunning and at the age of 4 loves her hair curled and a bedazzled headband…from etsy of course!  In my opinion, being a mom I have a hard time finding something perfect for myself while also picking out everyone else’s outfit!  I say stand out!  If everyone else is in a pattern do a solid maxi dress.  I’m over here dreaming of our next family shoot as I write this because last year in the frigid wind we didn’t have many outfit choices.  Mom get your hair done and your makeup even if it’s by a friend who can curl hair like no one’s business!  You deserve it!  And if I haven’t covered all your questions on outfits then try Pinterest! 

Ok we’ve covered the dress code...now let’s move onto the how process!  First PLEASE PLEASE PLEASSSEEEE look through my work.  Facebook is the best place to do so!  I have everything on there.  I want you to look at my work and say yep I love her style I want photos just like this, I want to share these!  I’ve only had 2 instances where that wasn’t the case.  Please do your research because what you see is what you get.  I do not edit any other way and I do not give you raw images either.  The end result is what you get…I think I read somewhere about, would you ask a painter for his sketches?  No you wouldn’t.  So once you’ve decided I’m it you contact me my info is everywhere but in case you miss it here it is: info@sarahcostellaphotography.com yep I’ve changed it I got married a couple of weeks ago!  You can also contact me by going onto my website as well as Facebook!  I respond fairly quickly because I’m not a fan of waiting around and hey you might move on and I don’t want that happening!  My prices are in the “pricing” tab on my website but also right here http://www.sarahcostellaphotography.com/pricing because again I don’t want you to be wondering anything!  Of course if you have questions regarding any other session such as seniors, mini or couples I’m available just shoot me a message or a text!  Hm what else ah LOCATION!  Newborn sessions are super simple!  I will come to you!  Isn't that awesome?!  Yea I’d love a studio on Old Town Main St. in Warrenton buutttt yea it doesn’t jive well with my fulltime job and my fulltime mom and wife stuff ya know?  Anyway my studio stuff is mobile.  I will have everything I need to make you comfortable, your husband and especially your new beautiful baby!  Newborn sessions are long ones so be prepared for that I mean up to 4 hours long!  I always win the fight on sleep though.

When it comes to other sessions and you are deciding on exactly what kind of location you are interested in my first question is urban or country?  We can go from there.  I’m fortunate I live on a farm and we have a pond, weeping willows and a lane that I love but it’s way too muddy right now!  I also know several farmers who are more than gracious to allow me to bring my clients to their farms.  I cannot wait for Longwood to be available again!

Thinking urban?  Anywhere “old town” is awesome.  I’d love to try Manassas one day but I also very much love Culpeper and Warrenton spots!  I will assist you in choosing the perfect location all you need to do is contact me.  I will SHOW you the beautiful spots we can find. 

I hope this will help you in the early stages of us talking and planning!  I really want to work with you!

Wedding bells, Melanie visits and all that happily ever after stuff...

Well it's been a bit, again!  I'm sorry I wish I was better at keeping up with blog posts I do realize it's important but the last several months it hasn't been a top priority! For months now Billy & I have been planning, DIY-ing and spending money on 1 super special day.  The wonderful thing about all that is we spent a lot of time together.  He really pulled through when I needed help and I honestly couldn't have done any of it alone.  Especially the flower balls...oh those things.  Last Saturday will always, always be remembered!  The weeks leading up to May 14th were spent doing last minute items and watching the weather...oh did I watch the weather!  We had an outdoor wedding and a tent for the reception and if you live here in VA it's pretty much been raining for WEEKS!  So I was terrified and he was calming.  Weather forecast even mentioned HAIL......

Wedding weekend...

Friday was an awesome day I had a few hours of work then rushed off to the airport to pick up Melanie who happens to live across the country but she flew in for our wedding day and I can't thank her enough for that.  We headed over to my dads so she could meet Billy of course and Jake and so we could eat my step moms killer spaghetti.  We spent the evening enjoying some wine and just doing what we do best talking non-stop but again mainly me freaking out about the weather and the wine not doing much but escalating it.  I actually slept fairly well that night, thank you, wine.  The next morning we woke up and we were graced with sunlight it was absolutely beautiful out.  All the rain really made me appreciate waking up to the sun.  I unfortunately had forgetting a few things and had to run to the store the day was filled with a million things.  I've lost count!  I set up Billys gift and we rushed out the door to my brothers for hair and makeup.  Here's a little tidbit-HIRE TORY TIPPETT no really.  Go to her salon, Secret Garden Salon in Warrenton and get your hair done by her.  She is a phenomenal person and she does everything in her power to give you what you want! https://www.instagram.com/tory_tippett/  Like thanks Jake for introducing her because I'm thankful not only for hair but meeting a genuine person like her!  Anywayyy so all the girls showed up and my awesome kids sat around patiently waiting for what they call "our wedding".  Christian was sent off to hang out with the guys while Lexi also got her hair curled.  I almost wish I had a video for this whole day because there's so much I've already forgotten!  I do remember it started to pour about 30 minutes before we were supposed to head over to my dads..then the sun came out and gave us what we prayed for, I mean I prayed!  Brandilynn Aines Photography.....ALSO someone you should check out and hire!!  http://www.brandilynnaines.com/    she showed up went straight to work and we all rushed out the door and forgot several things sooo there were a few trips taken and a few bridezilla moments...I'll admit it.  I'm extremely sorry that's not me at all!  Billy and I had decided on a first look prior to the ceremony because it's so intimate and the photo opportunity was really important to me as well.  So I'm being prepped to head outside and I see him standing with his back to me and I think OH MY GOSH about 12 times I thought that.  I already can feel what he looks like and what he might be thinking and the anticipation and what he'll think of my dress and so on.  I lost it before I even touched his shoulder.  I saw him crack a smile and I couldn't contain it anymore.  It's a moment I won't forget he's incredible, everything about him.  And during the ceremony when he read his vows to me I thought even more so in those moments.  I can't even put it into words how I felt or how I feel now.  I cannot wait to frame both of them and have it be a constant reminder of our love.  Except for the wind May 14th turned out beautifully.  I cannot wait to get our photos back.  I just know that they are going to be incredible!  Billy I will love you through everything <3 thank you for making me the happiest woman and loving all 3 of us.

To hire or not to hire...

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately going back and forth on this decision!  I think I've finally decided to start searching for an assistant for my newborn shoots!!!  Exciting right?!  To me it is, I would love to have someone helping me who has just as much passion about photography and newborns as I do!  It's exciting and also a little nerve racking, like will I find someone who is trustworthy, reliable and who is comfortable with posing as I am?  I know they will have to learn as we go but I think within a few sessions we should have a great flow between us.  I usually have dads helping and I love that because they are comfortable, it's their child not just another stranger coming into their home holding their baby and posing them..although I hope I'm not much of a stranger lol.  I would just really love to have someone who knows my setup and how we pose at each session, helping smooth out the blanket and fixing fingers ect.  I'm hoping that all of the above will be a high school age person who is willing to dedicate a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday a few times a month.  Pay will be discussed of course!   

These sessions are very important to the parents so making them comfortable with every step we are taking is number 1 priority!  If you know anyone that would be interested please have them contact me, safoglephotos@gmail.com or by text 5402705358 I'd love to get together and discuss this! 

Collins Ridley {NEWBORN} Northern VA

I was so excited to hear that Aaron and Kealen welcomed a baby GIRL on Monday!  I have 2 other newborn boys in early and late January so having just one more girl in 2015 was so exciting!  I absoutely love coming to clients homes and capturing these first few wonderful days!  Collins was 9 lbs 7 oz when she was born!  She is so chubby and adorable!!!  I hope you love these photos as much as I do!  

If you're interested in my newborn/maternity package please contact me at Safoglephotos@gmail.com

Taking a weight off my shoulders

I've decided to focus on what I love and what I love is intimate settings.  I love the beautiful glow of a mom to be.  I love coming to your home and capturing those first few weeks of your newborns life.  I love families and chubby toddlers and sweet siblings!  Most of all I love my kids, I love spending time with them and watching them grow and I love my time with Billy...I also very much love couples!  I will continue to offer maternity, newborn, families, couples photography but I've learned that I don't have the drive/love for wedding photography as much as I'd love to.  I put everything into the few weddings I've done and yes they were a ton of fun.  It's a hard pill to swallow but I am handing off weddings to other amazing photographers.  I'm a mom first when it comes to everything and I will admit to this I have failed at putting them first when it comes to them or clients.  This ends right now.  I do not have the ability to spend 8 hours at a wedding and countless months before and after making the bride and groom happy.  I know many photographers who do have that time and wow do I applaud them!  But for me I'll be capturing the times after the wedding, when a family is made or even before!

It feels so good to have made this decision for my family as well as myself!  It's a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.  I want to LOVE my job because this is my passion but I've been torn down and I won't put myself through that again.  Not that I'm a quitter but I know when to quit.

I will be happy to refer you to any one of the amazing wedding photographers I know!  For now I'll be working on my own wedding planning and enjoying those many families that come my way!

You're the one designed for me...🎤

This post will kind of riterate a previous post but oh well.  So I'm still very excited for my birthday even after 29 years!  This year it started out as any other day would except my kids sang happy birthday to me and I received more kisses than usual ❤️. I went to work as usual and was very surprised to receive flowers and a note with the clue, what's black and white has 4 legs and brings the family together?  I'm not going to lie I thought it was a cow at first lol because I live on a dairy farm.  Then I realized we have a black and white kitchen table!  So I waited ALL DAY to see what my next surprise was ugh talk about the longest day of my life!  4:30 finally came around and I headed home but before I turned in my driveway I saw Billy's truck at my dads so I immediately got suspicious...in a good way haha.  I went inside and on our table sat a pair of earrings I had wanted and a sweet birthday card with clue #2...come find me where we first met... So Lexi and I headed down to dads and Billy walked up to us and asked if I was ready for My "BIG, HUGE gift?" With arms out stretched and I thought I didn't ask for a big gift...maybe it's the mustang in the garage lol.  He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.  I said yes, yes, yes!  Lots of kisses and my dad was in the background asking if I had said yes or not lol.  My ring is stunning it's exactly what I pictured going on my finger and never coming off!  Billy has been nothing but amazing to the kids and I.  The day we get married will be the best I'm so very excited for it.  When I moved home meeting a man wasn't anywhere on my list of things to do but it just happened.  Billy is kind and loving and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life thanking him for coming into my life and making me feel like there is no one he'd rather love more than me.

 I am having so much fun planning our wedding!  Pinterest has been my best friend lol.  Anyway I took a few shots with my camera so enjoy!

I cannot stop staring at it <3

Ring shots are fun, but doing my own was way better than someone else's!

Conner Maternity Session

My favorite location to shoot will always be at Longwood.  The sunset is amazing going behind the trees, the fence rows and pond is THEE perfect place for any session!  The sad fact is one day this place will be sold off for millions of dollars and I will no longer have access.  For now I will enjoy the few times a year I am able to drive there and get these amazing shots!

Kealen is absolutely radiant she is going to be an amazing mother.  In a couple of months they will find out, boy or girl!  I think it is really awesome to not find out what they are having although there is no way I could do that lol.  I cannot wait for December, it's no secret that maternity and newborn sessions are my absolute favorite!  Here are a few shots from their October maternity session...

This dress was so perfect!  Now to get something to cover shoulders this winter!

Quick update

Surprise!  I’m slacking on this blog,  I promise I will work harder to keep it up to date.  I know it’s important to have an I’ve been quiet on social media lately.  Things have really slowed down for me and I will admit it makes me nervous/bored.  I don’t know what downtime is I never have.  I’ve always busted my butt with things and even when I have a moment I don’t actually take it and relax!  So while I’ve been “down” I’ve been focusing on ME which I also don’t do a lot of.  I used to be so into fitness, hours in the gym, hours running, meal planning the works!  I moved home and that all went out the window so with the support of Billy I’ve been working out more and more, planning my meals and really enjoying myself again.  He’s actually joined in on the exercising as well!  I’d share a photo of him after completing the work out with me but I think my IG followers were enough.  I will say he was using heavier weights than me so I don’t blame him for being exhausted.  So hopefully by beginning of 2016 I will be proud of myself again!

Anyway onto this rainy weather we are having…it’s a real bummer!  I was really looking forward to a maternity session yesterday.  I purchased a maternity dress and I went a little overboard with newborn items, again.  We will be trying for next Wednesday and hope it’s clear beautiful skies for sunset session.  

And in less than 2 weeks I’ll be shooting TWINNNNS!  I am very excited!  Since starting out I’ve been dying to do twin photos and there’s no way to get rained out of that one. 

Well I thought I’d update you all since it has been about a month, oops.  So like I said not much going on.  Few photo shoots but no one really contacting me hoping another wave will come through because, well it’s my dream and I love making people happy!  I am thankful for a lot of my previous clients for contacting me for fall/winter sessions!  I guess I just can't wait for things to start moving again.  If you're interested in a session you can always email me- safoglephotos@gmail.com for pricing and availability!  

Here's a random sunrise photo..because I love sunrises! 

Reveal YOUR beauty secrets!

So I'm ALWAYS looking for new beauty products.  I am a girlie girl who isn't getting any younger  so I thought I'd ask you what YOUR beauty secrets are!  What makeup brand do you use?  Do you have lines and wrinkles, dark circles under your eyes, age spots?  How do you hide them?  What is your favorite facial treatments?

  I thought I would love my expensive Mac liquid foundation and for about a week I did.  Then one day i got close to a mirror and saw how cakey it was!    I also bought Urban Decay-Naked eye shadow major no!  I was so disappointed to have spent $30 on something that doesn't even show up on my eye lids...maybe thats why they call it Naked, hmm.  My loreal eyeshadow is better and $25 cheaper  

Here's my no list:

Urban decay-naked eye shadow

Mac full coverage liquid foundation (maybe if I was 18 again)

Clinique chubby stick-highlighter and contour (unless you don't have oily skin)

My yes list:

Elf brow makeup LOVE IT!  My eyebrows just need a little filling and I get compliments all the time on how perfect they are lol thanks to the cheapest makeup I own!

Loreal eye shadow it has to have a little shimmer in it 

Benefit their real mascara...buy it buy it BUY IT!  It's amazing, I used to use cover girl but it would flake off by mid morning so I upped my budget on this stuff and it was totally worth it!

Mac Bare mineral foundation is great and keeps my skin from shining.  I feel I need more coverage but it's still great.  I'm also learning how to contour!  Some days I think my contour makeup is on point other days I think maybe I should wipe my whole "face" off lol.

At the moment I'm searching for any treatment for my fine lines and wrinkles and the whole forehead creases  mom warned me to not make that face or it would stick welllll yep.  

So please comment here or on my Facebook or even Instagram let me know your opinions!  Have you tried Olay?  Does their regenerist skincare work?  Ladies help me out 29 is creeping up on me a lot faster than I'd like to admit!  Share any beauty tips you have :)

Everything is a work in progress

There are so many things I feel like I should work on about myself and my managing skills or what have you, here are a few!

• Making a schedule!

I feel like I never have time for ANYTHING when in reality I have a lot of time which I spend thinking about doing things instead of actually doing them.  I actually sit at work day dreaming about all the things I could be doing at home but when I get home I don't do any of those things hahaha.  For the record I only daydream for a moment lol.  I love my job!

• Meeting new people (in photography circle)

I've always thought I was an outgoing person until I realized I'd rather sit on the couch watching SVU in my spare time than be invited out to do something, then realize no one invites me out anyways lol.  My life is already so full of wonderful people but sometimes I look at other photographers and I'm a little jealous!  Like instagram is full of togetherness and me I'm like look! Here's another photo of my kids, Billy or clients lol.  I guess that's another reason I'm working on this I've been doing this since 2010 but I only actually know one other photographer and that's because we were friends before then.

• Being Involved

So on top of everything I do, Christian is now a first grader!  I'd like to think I'm totally involved, I'm reading to him every night and vice versa but we aren't.  That needs to change.  I know I'm not the only parent who struggles with time management...right?  Being involved to me is more than asking how their day was, it's asking and actually listening.  This goes a long with everything!  I've been busting my butt to be the best mom to them.  As a stay at home mom I thought working 24/7 whether it be my crochet or photography was being the best.  I was contributing financially but really what happened was I missed them hanging decorations on the tree and they heard a lot of, "ok, hang on let me finish this last thing."  Now I'm a single mom who will set that stuff down and only edit an hour of the they day when they are awake and stay up all night to finish.  How many times have you heard don't mix business w your personal life?  I can't help but have all my work at home but I do have the ability to make my own schedule and work load-another thing I need to work on.

I'm sure there are a million other things I need to work on but for now I'll focus on those 3.

this is all new to me...

Soooo, here's to my very first blog post!  Well not my first, that last one was a train wreck lol.  I guess I'll start off with a quick about me!  I'm Sarah, I love just about everything!  I've always enjoyed photography and started my business in 2010 and it's something I'm just as passionate about today.  

My personal life is just that, person but what fun would it be reading my blog without a little about my life?  I have 2 beautiful children, Christian my cautious compassionate son and Alexis, Lexi for short.  She's a go-getter not afraid of a thing wild child.  We also have an amazing man in our lives.  I met Billy a little over a year ago when we moved back home to VA.  Fate or something brought him to my dads one night and he's for lack of better words, my soulmate.  What I've been missing in my life and he's incredible to my kids!  I couldn't ask for anything better than that <3.  

Anyway, back to why I'm actually blogging...like are there people out there who actually enjoy blogging?  I hope to have time to write in this often.  I'm amazing and jealous of the people who have full time jobs (such as myself), kids, a business AND a blog!  

So right now I guess this is my slow time.  I'm finishing a small wedding I shot a few weeks ago and perfecting my website!  I'm great face to face, updating Facebook with previews for clients but when it comes to this and a website I'd rather hire someone lol.  So here's to engaging people into all the fun times in my life!  I'll eventually learn everything about my website but so far this is a work in progress I hope you come back and continue to read my blog and check out my work!