This video is worth watching....

My sister sent this to me today. I hardly ever take the time to watch stuff on You Tube.... life is so busy. BUT... this is so worth watching... I can relate to this is SO MANY WAYS. Thought I would share this... it's worth watching!
Hope everyone is staying warm!!!
Maria

Voting ends tonight at 10PM!!!!

OK... here is an update! Voting ends tonight at 10pm!!!

CURRENT WINNERS

Oh Bebe Mio Update!

Follow this link for a current Oh Bebe Mio Update!
Vote Vote Vote!!!

CURRENT WINNERS

Oh Bebe Mio UPDATE

Voting is going AWESOME! We have had votes from so many people and so many states! Email and notify your family / friends again! Post it on Facebook! Get people involved! This is a GREAT CAUSE and the winner babies get over $1000 in prizes EACH.

Good Luck!

Here is an update.....

GIRLS:

Boys:

Oh Bebe Mio!!!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY ALL!!!!

Oh Bebe Mio is off to a GREAT start!!!! Here are the current winners!!!

GIRLS: 1) Alyvia 2) Caylee 3) Annabelle 4) Kenleigh 5) Colina

Boys: 1)Mason, 2)Cooper, 3)Carson, 4)Ty, 5)Landon

KEEP VOTING!!!!! Don't know how? Go to our website, www.studiom.ms and click on "Oh Bebe Mio! Contest and go from there! It's REALLY EASY!

Eat a lot, love a lot and be Thankful for everything you have! Thank You for helping educate young girls through Daughters - we are hoping this fundraiser is a HUGE success!

Our holiday schedule

Greetings all!

We just wanted to make everyone aware that here at studio M we will be closed 11/24 through 11/26 to observe Thanksgiving :)

Also, our LAST DAY FOR PORTRAIT PICKUP before Christmas is Tuesday, Dec 21, 2010.
WE WILL BE CLOSED Dec 22- 24 to get ready for Christmas and enjoy our families!!!

Maria

Congrats to 2011 Senior - CALEB

Congrats to Caleb who won an IPOD TOUCH in our 2011 Senior Giveaway!!!! Our seniors are a LOT of fun to shoot! We are now looking for 2012 senior models..... interested? Call us at Studio M :) 724.745.4405

The Clock is Ticking

On November 14 & 15th we are holding our second annual "Oh Bebe Mio" Baby contest where any baby ages 0 to 12 months can enter to won over $1000 in prizes. There will be two winners, a BOY and a GIRL. But this isn't just a contest: it's a fundraiser. Here at Studio M we have spent countless hours preparing for this BIG event. We are so excited to do it again. LAST YEAR we raised $6400 for children's cancer. This year?

This year we chose a fantastic cause:

DAUGHTERS is a non profit organization that is dedicated to creating possibility for talented young women through their education and through telling their life stories, and thereby creating strong societies.
Daughters is a registered non-profit organization with a vision to create possibility for talented young women living in bereft social circumstances so that they may empower themselves. This will alleviate their personal suffering, promote their independence , help them to thrive and thus will strengthen their societies and promote economic development, social justice and peace.

So . . . you still don't quite understand why this cause is SO IMPORTANT? Well.... watch is video and you will most certainly get it. One minute of your time now, could mean a much stronger future for thousands of women and families. Please watch!

Maria

Have a baby or know someone with a baby? Have them join in and be part of our contest! It's only a $10 entry fee and there are unbelievable prizes! Like.... a $500 gift certificate to studio M, a $200 savings bond, jewelery, restaurant gift certificates etc. Please help us make this a HUGE success and tell everyone you know!

What do I do for a living????

People often ask what I do for a living. And I answer... I am a photographer. I am so proud when I say that, that you would think I own the world. But... I guess that's what happens when you truly love what you do THAT MUCH. I love photographs. I love people. Put together those two things.... I love portraits! What I love most next to the photographs I get to create, is the relationships that I get to build with people. It's so amazing. I remember the first time that I photographed Rachel and Ryan, in my home studio years and years ago when Rachel was only 2!!! I have been SOOOO blessed to be a part of this family for so many years. I love to see them year after year. This has to be the most photogenic family too! When I see this family on my schedule I am so excited!!! AND.... like them, there are so many other families that come to us, year after year, as part of our family collection program. Just this week I had the opportunity to see so many. . . SOOOOOO . . . I want to thank ALL OF YOU that are so loyal to me (and Studio M) and I also want to tell you how privileged I feel to know you and your families . . . it is an honor. Truly.


We have had a couple of crazy weeks here and are SO EXCITED about our "Oh Bebe Mio" Contest! Have a baby between 0 - 12 months? What are you waiting for? Sign up! It's only $10 to enter and ALL the money goes to a GREAT cause! Read more about it HERE.
We have purchased BRAND NEW amazing props for the event... including gorgeous tutus and 4 new backdrops!!!
In December we also have 2012 senior tryouts coming up! Woohoo!!!!
Can't wait! Are you a 2012 Senior? We are looking for models! Call us and sign up!!!
Have a GREAT night everyone and don't freeze! It's getting awfully cold out there!!!!
Maria

That's me in the corner... wearing a Dunce Hat :(

Yes, that's in, the corner there.... wearing a Dunce Hat. :( I cannot believe I have posted nothing on my Blog since August :( Shame on me.

Please forgive me... truth is, life has been pretty exciting since then and well.... time just flew... and I KNOW YOU ALL CAN SYMPATHIZE.... but still.... NO EXCUSES.

I can't even complain, because, seriously? It's not even fair to complain.... yes, life has been busy but for ALL the right reasons. :) LOL

So ... before you hate me completely, let me explain: I spent most of September in Italy. It was a LONG overdue 2nd honeymoon :) 3 weeks driving around, taking photographs, drinking wine and enjoying life. I needed the break and it was so much fun..... I came back feeling carefree, de-stressed and new. (That lasted about 5 minutes once I got back to Pittsburgh!) You know me, I know you do, I am always crazy, running around doing too many things at one time.... honestly I think I live better in the stress mode. I work well under pressure ... It seems to suit me.


So where are my images of Italy you say? Well..... I'm still working on a lot of them BUT.... you can go check out the ones we have up on our new Fine Arts site!!!!! Enjoy!

And the studio? Well, it's been non stop insanity mode since I came back. It's awesome! Even though I really enjoyed photographing Italy and the countryside, there is NOTHING like the face of a human being. NOTHING. I live for people. I like how they interact with me. It's a wonderful playing peek a boo with a baby - babies are so fantastic. The world hasn't corrupted them yet. They give love and smiles without holding back. The other day, one of my Bebe Collection babies, little Chase, give me a kiss when walking out the door. Made my heart TOTALLY melt! And talking to a senior about their future is just an fantastic... to listen to them, and how excited they are about going to college and the future or to see a family that has, ever so beautifully grown together. Relationships and people.... they are a wonderful thing. I am going to say it again, brace yourself: I am the luckiest person I know. I am so passionate about what I do and the people I get to photograph.... It's just inspiring. So... here are a few recent ones, to show you just how excited I am to come here, to the studio EVERYDAY!

Only one word needed for little Alyvia: GORGEOUS

And... last but not least: We are SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about our upcoming Oh Bebe Mio contest!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got the cutest baby in Pittsburgh? Enter our contest!!!!! There are tons of fabulous prizes and it's FOR A GREAT CAUSE... we are soooooooooooooo anxious to see all these amazing babies! Last year we raised about $6400 for St Jude's... these year we are super excited to raise funds for Daughters. Read all about our Bebe Mio contest on our site here AND check out the recent article in the Observer Reporter! Woo hoo!!!!

So forgive me again ... I will wear the Dunce Hat for a while and hope that you can all forgive me :)

Much love!!!! Photographically Yours:)
Maria

Jessica & Brandon

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS WEDDING!

God Bless Jessica and Brandon!

Ivy & Adam

BEAUTIFUL wedding this past weekend! Adam and Ivy looked amazing and everyone had an awesome time! Check them out!

The past week...

So I just realized last night that July is pretty much over... how exactly does that happen? It feels like school just let out ... and now it's August... well just days shy of it anyways...

The summer has been so much fun. We have had SO MANY seniors and babies! I put a little sample show together... just to share.

Megan had her baby too! (In case you don't know who Megan is, check out our website on the About us page) Meg has worked here at the studio for over 2 years. She is a wonderful person and an amazing graphic artist and now a GREAT mommy. Little Juda is adorable too check it out!

As for myself and my family, we took a great trip to Florida, went to the beach, hung out with my parents and sister and even went to Universal studios. Then..... just shortly after that my son broke his ankle..... ugh... it's always something I suppose. He is doing better now and is looking forward to be able to walk again soon...

I also bought a new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and I LOVE it. It is an awesome metallic green color and it's a lot of fun to drive. I also bought tickets to the Brooks and Dunn concert and I cannot wait to go this Friday! I LOVE summer, There's something about feeling the sun on my skin - best feeling ever!

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the heat too! We have a LOT of great things planned for the studio this fall including a another huge Oh Bebe Mio Baby Contest. We are REALLY excited about it!

Check out little Juda and our video of our recent seniors and babies!

Have a GREAT night!!!

Welcome to the world Juda :)

Bellies & Babies....

This past week was filled with Bellies and Babies! What a wonderful time to be a part of someones life! Thank you to all this week that were at Studio M... photographing you and your families makes me want to smile nonstop!

Had an awesome week last week!

While you were sleeping.....

On most rainy days like today, when the rain hits my window by my bed and I can hear the thunder roll in ... like many ... I lay in bed and I'm lazy... rainy weather is great sleeping weather. But.... NOT TODAY. Today, most likely while you were sleeping, I got up at 5 and headed to the studio... It was miserable and wet but I was so excited to get outside and shoot this maternity session... I arrived in downtown Pittsburgh at 7am and the rain was coming down hard. Armed with determination and a lot of plastic covers, I got the camera and flashes ready to shoot this.... Thought i'd share. We had a GREAT week at the studio and it ended with a GORGEOUS 10 week old baby girl and then this.... how fun! So... don't let the rain stop you! Get out there and do what you love most! The best thing about bad weather is the fact that you can get some really amazing skies!

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!

And so this is what we have been up to.....

and now you know why I smile all the time! :-) Hoping everyone is out there enjoying this GREAT weather!

Maria

My baby girl and blue ribbon :-)

About 2 weeks ago I received a Blue Ribbon for an image I took of my daughter Christina and Great Dane dog, Malkin. (back then a pup) It's so much fun and exciting to enter print competition. I am looking forward to entering nationals this month too. Just though I'd share.

This portrait session with my daughter was eventful (to say the least) but I got amazing images out of it! Thanks for letting me share!

Senior 2011 ... woohoo we are on our way!

Senior season has officially started! Now that we started shooting seniors we have months of fun filled shoots ahead! My favorite thing to do is to take seniors on location... I especially love it when we go somewhere special to them. Some of my favorite spots are in the city.... the South Side has amazing backdrops on every street corner. It's just so cool and so much fun....
Meet Victoria one of my Canon Mac seniors :-)

DANCE DANCE DANCE

This weekend was CRAZY BUSY INSANE!!!!! We had all the dancers from Dance Extensions here! In case you never heard about Dance Extensions ... it's this super neat dance studio in Canonsburg run by two ladies named Betsy and Dawn. Betsy, Dawn and all these girls are filled with talent and they are a LOT of fun! Check out this show we put together... just a few images! Hope everyone is having a GREAT Monday so far!

OUR STUDIO WAS INVADED!!!! :-)

Have a GREAT week everyone!

New York!

A weekend in New York! Nothing more fun than a last minute trip that you plan the day before leaving! My 10 year old son, Dylan, wanted to see the Ripley's Believe it or not museum in NYC... so we packed and left Friday! A friend of mine (Janet) and her daughter came with me because that's the kind of friend I have... she drops everything to come have a GREAT time with us :-) I don't like planning... and although I understand it's an important part of some aspects in life, I feel that too much planning leaves me stale. There's nothing like picking up and leaving on a whims notice... saying yes let's go! This was an amazing weekend! New York is definitely the city that NEVER sleeps and I REALLY found that out as I drove into the city at 1:30am and there were 30 cabs around me and a very scary bus. I felt like I was in a video game, trying NOT to crash into anyone... dodging the "cabs" and the scary monster bus! Ha!
We saw the statue of liberty, went up the Empire State Building and laughed a while lot along the way. It was COLD and WINDY but so fun! Here is Dylan, Christina, Me, Janet and Katie!

The statue of liberty was everywhere! So cool to see these people! I love to see what people do, their imagination and creativity!

Got to love the tiny cop cars in NYC..... heck, anything bigger they would not be able to park!

Now do you see what I mean about the cabs? There's 9 cabs for every car! AND they drive like maniacs! Believe me I took about 15 of them!!! LOL

Really cool to see NYC lit up!

Had to take a break from the hustle and bustle! My son took this image of my friend Janet and I! I have taught him well! Photography tip of the day: If you want to flatter people and not create that "double chin" some of us have in pictures... avoid it by shooting from above! He did just that :-)
And lastly.... gotta love this! Sinatra's New York.....

Got a busy two weeks ahead! I will be all over the place traveling! Going back to NY for a Photography thing too! Have a GREAT Easter everyone!

Maria

Maria :-)

PS - BTW.... Ripley's museum is awesome!!!