Welcome to my blog, aka, some kind of personal diary I write to record my heart's musings and maybe entertain a reader or two and perhaps share some useful advice from my life as the tour director of a bustling Carnival Cruise, otherwise known as life with four children. By day (and often by night) I am a children's photographer. For nearly a decade I lived with my then rapidly expanding house full of stinky, messy, beautiful and nearly-perfect (tee-hee) off-spring in the San Francisco Bay area. Read the rest

Okay, I remember now, being a photographer really does rock.

Written on January 20, 2012 by in General, My life, My wonderful clients

This January one my favorite clients, a family I have been photographing since 2007, contacted me to create a gallery from all of their sessions for their new playroom wall. I couldn’t wait to take on this project. I knew it would turn into a wall of joy because that is who they are as a family and that is what I have captured for them over the years. What I didn’t know is how much this project would affect me.

I’ve been doing this job since 2002. When I started (with film) being a photographer was a pretty awesome and novel thing. I was the only photographer that most people I met knew of. My grandfather and great-grandfather were both photographers; the kind that learned their craft over many years and in an old-fashioned darkroom. I was proud of my job. I worked for many years, read a hundred books, spent thousands of dollars on film and took classes to learn my craft. Things have changed. In the last five years it seems that rather than hearing “Oh, you’re a professional photographer? That’s so cool!” when I meet someone, I hear “Oh, my sister, cousin, grandma, neighbor and wife are all professional photographers.”  Neat-o. Not. Of course, what someone considers a professional in the world of photography is 100% subjective and skill and quality run the gamut. None-the-less, I am not going to lie, it gets me down. I don’t want to be just another fill-in-the-blank-blah.

As I dug through my old files (I had to find the 2007 session on a DVD, ha! Now that is old) and hard-drives something happened for me. I had just captured this family in November, so their faces were fresh in my mind. What I saw in those old photos nearly made me cry. I saw a young husband and wife holding their new little son; a family that had just been born.  I saw joy as their second son was kissed and snuggled by his toddler brother. I saw a tired but happy couple, arms filled with busy, active, growing boys that could barely be contained.  I saw them all gather around a tiny baby girl as this young family expanded to five.  I saw the happiness and the wonder of that first baby boy, now nearly five years old, as he jumped so high on the bed, the so-grown-up little brother with a great smile and soft kisses for his baby sister, the only girl, nearly walking now, looking so much like each of her brothers in turn. As I drew those photos together into a gallery a few thoughts filled my heart:

1.  I am given an amazing privilege to be invited into the lives of families. I mean, really; wow.

2. No one else, no other photographer, no matter how expensive or cheap or talented or not, would have captured that family in the same way. No one else could  have captured that family with my eye and my heart and my style.

3. People who take the time and spend the money to get their family photographed regularly end up with an amazing collection that is priceless in every way. A designer couch will be junk in five years (especially with kids). A collection of amazing photos will bring you joy throughout your lifetime. They are the lucky. . . ahem, wise . . . ones!

4. Life with kids is fleeting. Really. Look at these photos; just “last week” they held their first baby and now he’s registering for Kindergarten! I know it is hard for these clients of mine, deep in the trenches of parenthood, to grasp how fast it goes when they have one, two, three (or four or five) children hanging off them, monopolizing their time, their money, the real estate in the family bed. It is my hope, none-the-less, that they will somehow remember to savor it, if just a little, and to soak it all up as best they can.

5. Perhaps the photos I capture will help them do that. Maybe I am making a difference with my photographs, my eye and my heart. I think I am, actually.

So, after today, I am going to stop caring about how many “professional” photographers there are in the world, in my town, on my street, and I am going to remember that there are a whole lot of beautiful families that have allowed me (and will continue to) to be the one to help them remember and that I am doing something great, one photo, one amazing gallery of joy, and one family, at a time.

*Recently one blogging mom with three young kids hanging off of her wrote in her article in the Huffington Post; Parents titled Don’t Carpe Diem about how annoying it is to hear from older mothers that she should “Enjoy every moment because it’s over before you know it.”  While I totally get what she is saying, I am one of those people who wants to shout it out  to all parents with young kids (with one modification: Savor the special moments, because, let’s be real, I don’t really savor the memory of being vomited on or my six month old throwing four jars of baby food on the supermarket floor just to see what would happen or my two and three year olds drawing a race track from one end of the hall to the other with a sharpie. Wait . . .  that’s not true, now that it’s all over I actually do kind of savor those memories :) . Darn, I’m an old lady with her hand on her heart!
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About the author: Anna Mayer is a family photographer who lives with her husband and four children in Milwaukee, WI. She photographs families and kids all of the country but mostly in San Jose, CA, the San Francisco bay area, the Milwaukee area and Chicagoland. She loves what she does. A lot.
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Black Friday Deal: 2012 Custom Session for just $150

Written on November 25, 2011 by in Milwaukee, Promotions, San Jose

Crazy Four-Day deal!

Buy it now – book it later! JUST $150!

Before midnight on Monday Nov 28, buy a 2012 Winter/Spring Photography Session for only $150! Weekday, Evening, or Weekend doesn’t matter!  Whether it’s a milestone birthday, a newborn, belly photos, or a family photo session, you can’t go wrong. This offer is only available online through Monday, so don’t delay!

… but read the terms below :)

Available dates during this period:San Jose/San Francisco*

2/10-12
3/9-12
4/17-22

Milwaukee/Chicago

Available dates during this period vary. Please inquire for specifics.

 Doh! Too late :(

*dates subject to change

This promotional certificate must be purchased through this link between 11/25-28/2011.  The session does not need to be booked at the time of purchase, but must be booked by 3/31/12 and  must take place between 1/1/12 and 4/30/12. If the session does not take place before 4/30/2012, the purchase will convert to a gift certificate for the amount of purchase. If you would like an actual certificate to present this session as a gift, just let us know; otherwise, we will simply note the purchase in your file.  Upgrades for Capitola Beach, San Francisco, and Chicago are available for the usual difference.  Travel charges of $2.50 per mile (one way) still apply beyond 20 miles from our Los Gatos Studio in CA and outside the Racine, Delafield, Port Washington triangle in WI. Not valid on prior sales and cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer expires at midnight PST on 11/28/11. All sales final. By purchasing this certificate you are agreeing to these terms.

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My baby’s all grown up! Ty turns eighteen today.

Written on November 9, 2011 by in General, Milwaukee, My life

It was one crazy day, that day my first child was born. I was seventeen years old, I had no idea what I was doing. That first night at home, exhausted from my delivery, with him crying every thirty minutes, I wondered what on earth I was doing.  How on earth was I going to take care of this red, screaming bundle at seventeen? Pure crazy. But I knew, without one ounce of  doubt, that I was in love with this tiny creature and that somehow, no matter what, I was going to be the best mama I possibly could. I hope I was. If how he’s turned out is any indication, I did pretty darn good! 

 

Isn’t my boy just so handsome?  I always new he was going to be one handsome man, but he turned out to be a man with a good heart. He’s funny, sweet, a great friend and a wonderful big brother. He is a brilliant engineering student and an amazing photographer. He has a bright future ahead of him and I cannot wait to see who he becomes. Happy Birthday, Ty-guy!

As we get deeper into fall, my schedule is going predictably crazy. Photoshoots galore! So fun. I have sessions with all of my awesome clients here in Milwaukee and I am just finishing up a week of shooting like crazy in San Jose, CA. Wish me luck!

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Bringing up baby in San Francisco, CA

Written on November 7, 2011 by in General, San Jose

This couple was about the cutest couple I’ve ever photographed. Just too adorable, really? I had so much fun seeing them in their giddy expectation before their sweet baby girl was born. Their love for each other just warmed my heart. Then came the day to capture their little bundle of happiness. What a treat! I hope you two are snuggling up with her as you read this. Enjoy these days. They are short and sweet, I can tell you from experience. :)

Don’t you just want to go hang out with this little family?

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Gone to “The Lake”.

Written on November 3, 2011 by in General, Milwaukee, My life

Growing up in Minnesota means summers at “the Lake”. We don’t say, “We’re going to Long Lake.” or “We’ve gone to Big Sand Lake.” We all say and understand “We’ve ‘Gone to the Lake’ ” One of my favorite photos of all time is of a big red barn, in the middle of being painted. It must have been a beautiful Minnesota summer day, because in big strokes of their brushes they wrote “Gone to The Lake”. Because, I’m telling you, when you put up with snowstorms and frozen boogers and scraping off your car, those hot summer days are precious commodities and the only good place to spend them is “The Lake”. I imagine that’s a little funny to people from other states. After all, Minnesota is home to 11,842 lakes, not counting the little ones that are still good for a dip. :) Why wouldn’t you specify which lake you referred to? Well, because it doesn’t matter. The Lake is just that perfect place, easy to find, just drive ten miles down a county road and you’re there. Bring your bathing suit, a towel and an old tractor tire inner-tube. Float the day away and forget about everything. Summer is short and the summer days at The Lake; blissfully long.

So these photos hold a special meaning to me. My childhood played out by a new generation, splashing on the beach, swimming in the warm, fresh water. Ahhhhh . . . The Lake.

Funny story about Minnesotan’s habit of dropping everything on a hot summer day. When we moved from the Iron Range to the San Jose area in January of 2001, I was so delighted by all that January sun. Each day Isaiah and I would “drop everything” and head out into the beautiful sunshine. We didn’t have a lake to enjoy, but we played at the park, went to Happy Hallow, took leisurely walks. It was delightful. After a week, and then two, and then a month, my laundry was really piling up, the dust was taking over my home and everything was in a real mess. I realized, then, that I wasn’t in Minnesota anymore. In California I would have to clean my house, even in the sunshine, because, well, it was apparently here to stay. :)

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A beautiful family photo session at the creek.

Written on November 1, 2011 by in General, San Jose

My favorite type of photo session is the “so very much the spirit of this family” session. This one was just that. These sweet kids (whom I have been photographing since they were babies) all went to Explorer preschool,a parent participation preschool in San Jose . Each summer the older preschoolers spend their days near Los Gatos creek, discovering nature in a real and exciting way. How fun that we could incorporate those fun memories into their photo session. I can’t wait to share with you photos of their complete wall gallery, which I will be hanging up for them next week. What a happy thing to remember childhood by.

Now, I am off to California for a week of family photo sessions. Being a children’s photographer means that in October, November and December, you pretty much go wild taking photo. Fall is our busiest season and it is just so fun! I love what I do, so of course, I love getting to do it for so many families. Fun fun fun!

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The golden glory of autumn in Wisconsin. Professional photographer’s blog carousel.

Written on October 15, 2011 by in Blog Carnival, General, Milwaukee, My life, Places we like

Oh, I love blog carousel time. When you’re done reading my post, head over to Baltimore baby and child photographer, Blaire Blanks’ site and see what she was inspired by.

When I learned of  this month’s blog carousel theme I knew in an instant which images I wanted to share. My glorious golden images of Wisconsin in Autumn. Last weekend my husband and I took a rare Sunday off from church and home projects and MBA studies and catching up on work  and instead, took a day trip to Door County. We packed up the kids plus the teenager’s sweet girl-friend, Mary, without whom I knew my teenager would wilt and whine about hiking and apple picking and general family-togetherness (hint to parents of yet-to-be-teens, this is an effective strategy for good behavior). We left early in the morning and came back late in the night and we had an amazing time.

My husband and I have lived in many beautiful places. When we met, we both lived in west-central Minnesota where the snow is deep and the sunsets are spectacular. In our early years of marriage we lived in the Minnesota Iron Range, where reclaimed mine-pits turn to majestic lakes with red, yellow and orange cliffs and “mountains” as it’s shores. Just a short drive north is the Boundary Waters Recreational Area, a nearly untouched natural wonder of lakes and rivers and virgin forests or south to the largest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Superior, the most glorious body of water I’ve ever seen.For nearly a decade we lived in the San Francisco bay area where the Pacific ocean’s shores, highway 1, redwood groves and lush green valleys surrounded us as we lived our lives. Now, just two miles from our front door is Lake Michigan, a lake so beautiful it takes my breath away, and just a three hour drive north is Door County, a beautiful upper Midwest vacation destination that, although we’ve been here more than two years, we’d never seen.

Despite living in beautiful places with all sorts of natural wonders to behold, we, like so many others, get busy with our lives and don’t always take the time to see what lies just past our own neighborhoods. We lived in the Iron Range for two and a half years but we never canoed the boundary waters. We’ve always regretted it. Regret is pointless, though, isn’t it? So we’ve decided to make it a point to get out and see what’s there. To know, with authority, why we live here, why, with no one telling us we must or even should, we chose Wisconsin as our home. That’s what we did and oh, it was good!

Our day trip is high on my list of my favorite days of my life. We packed a picnic and after enjoying it on the shores of Green Bay (an inlet of Lake Michigan, and yes, the body of water Lambeau Field is situated on :) ) we took an incredible hike down from the bluffs over the lake, to the shore and back up again. It was a tough hike, which I thought made it all the more fun. We laughed, we played, we explored. The fall colors were the best I’ve ever seen. It was glorious. Next, we drove to Egg Harbor where we enjoyed an ice cream cone at “The Chocolate Chicken” and then danced along to a live band at a harvest festival. From there we found a quaint apple orchard, the kind of place that had a one by two foot sign on their driveway that read “Apple Picking”, from there you drive right up to their house where a lazy dog greets you. A grandfather and elementary-aged grandsons lead you out to the back forty in a bouncing blue pickup. They hand you a sack and leave you alone on the honor system. It was perfect. We laughed some more, we tasted apples and collected them for our snacks. Since then they’ve become chunky cinnamon applesauce, pumpkin apple muffins and afternoon treats. Yum. Our delightful day ended at a restaurant overlooking the lake and a sunset the likes of which most of us see only once or twice in a lifetime. It was perfect.

As we drove home with all five kids in the backseat, fast asleep, I reached out and grabbed the hand of my husband of thirteen years and smiled contentedly. A perfect day. Not a perfect life, not perfect kids or a perfect marriage. Nothing like that exists, let’s be honest, and even within my “perfect day” there were moments that weren’t all sunshine and roses. Life is sometimes hard, it’s messy, it’s tiring and crazy. That is exactly why I believe that we should all take the time to have days like this one. Just walk away from the laundry, the school work, the never-ending list of to-dos, and bask in the glory of a golden forest, towering redwoods or spectacular reclaimed mines and, more importantly, the sunshine of your people, your family, the ones who make this crazy life all worthwhile.

Inspired yet? I hope so. Now, go! 

Now, head over to Baltimore baby and child photographer, Blaire Blanks’ site and see what awesome images she’s shared.

 

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It’s time to book your Holiday session. San Jose family photographer.

Written on October 7, 2011 by in Events, General

It’s that time. You’ve been meaning to call . . . you’ve been meaning to write . . . but time has gotten away from you?  It’s not too late, but it will be soon! Book it today. Today! To get on the calendar for one of these “sweet” Short and Sweets or book a custom session. We do have a few openings left. See you soon! Book your Short& Sweet Session online here.

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Hope. Professional photographers blog carousel.

Written on September 18, 2011 by in Blog Carnival, General

The reason for our theme this month is a hard one, but a joyful one, as well. Our collegue and for many, friend, Jen, is fighting for her life against cancer. We thought it would be perfect if we all shared a vision of hope for all of you and for Jen. This one’s for you, Jen Thompson!

My friend Corey reminded me of this, one my favorite quotes from the bible  Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.”

So when I sat quietly for a few minutes to think about what might represent hope for me, the first thing I thought of was our big move to Wisconsin, our house, our new life. I actually couldn’t find a good photo of my house, can you believe that?  The reason that my house represents hope for me is that moving here was such a leap of faith. Brian and I knew what we wanted for our family. We wanted to have a home of our own with land and space and the freedom to paint the walls bright orange if we felt like it. We wanted an excellent education for our four children at some of the top schools in the nation. We wanted a neighborhood where kids could roam free on their bikes or sleep out in a tent on their own. We wanted to be near our family, because what is more important than that? Some of what we’d hoped for didn’t turn out the way I dreamed. But that’s okay. Because so many things happened that I hadn’t even thought of and most importantly, no matter what we gained or lost by packing up that minivan two years ago and leaving behind the home we had raised our family in, we still have each other. That’s really all that matters. Isn’t it?

One harvest from this seed of hope is my beautiful backyard garden. In California we were always renters. We couldn’t plant a garden like this. No way. So the satisfaction I have received from building my beautiful garden (out of a fence I tore down without asking anyone for permission :) ) has been immense. I tilled up the earth, I built the raised beds, I sowed the seeds, I waited with hope and anticipation and we now reap the delicious and nutritious rewards. I hoped for this better life and it was provided. Thank you, God.

Now, check out San Francisco’s Family Photographer Alpana Aras of Storybox Art  family and kids photography’s beautiful interpretation.

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Wall galleries are awesome. San Jose family photographer.

Written on September 14, 2011 by in San Jose, What we offer

Oh, how I love this. This is exactly why our photography clients in Milwaukee and the San Francisco Bay Area (and all over the country, really) come back again and again. Because who doesn’t want a beautiful wall of photos like this to enjoy every day. To remind them of why they do car-pool, manage homework, wipe noses and change diapers; because life with kids is a beautiful, happy, joy-filled thing. That’s what this wall says to the parents of these sweet girls. It says -It’s all worth it. Every late night, every tear and heart wrenching. or even mundane, decision. It’s all worth it. I know it and I promise. And for this lucky family, the reminder is beautifully displayed so they can remember . . . every. day. Let’s get started making your joyful, childhood wall. I cannot wait.

Anna is a modern family photographer in Milwaukee, WI, San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA and Chicago, IL. Her work is fresh, bright and truly unique. You can hire another photographer, but you won’t get images like these. Anna has a way of capturing children just as they are. She doesn’t just capture what they look like, she captures who they ARE. If you commission Anna and her team you will not be disappointed. Your beautiful wall gallery with bring you joy everyday. So whether you are looking for a Milwaukee family photographer, a Bay Area photographer, or an artist in Los Gatos, you have found her. Contact us today. You won’t regret it!

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