Jamie Muir Photography

The Swisher Family

2011-02-20T22:20:00.000-08:00

Most people I know, myself included, have very few people in their lives that they've been friends with for nearly 30 years. Through time friends move, start careers, and have their own families. As we grow, our interests change and sometimes we just lose touch. I'm thankful that my relationship with my friend Stephanie has only grown stronger with time. Stephanie is an amazing person. She's sensitive, fun, energetic, and, best of all, she shares my passion for George Michael. Yes, I said George Michael. He's the guy from WHAM! Her son Patrick is one fantastic kid, and her husband of two years, Chuck, is also pretty amazing. He did, afterall, marry Steph! Joc and I were able to spend a weekend with them recently so we did a little photo shoot. Of course, Steph is usually the ham in the photos. Love you guys!!

Joc and Patrick lounging around.

Chuck, you're a lucky man.

Sadie

Tommy

The newest family member, Bowser.

Stephanie even got her own personal shoot. She loved every minute!

Still friends, after almost 30 years! Thanks for the laughs.

The Newest Muir

2010-10-17T21:27:00.000-07:00

Just a few months ago our new niece, Bristol Matteson Muir, was born. My brother in law and his wife, James and Hillary, have already experienced the change in lifestyle a baby brings. And, of course, they wouldn't have it any other way. Joc and I were able to stay with them while visiting family in Montana and we enjoyed every minute of it. We can't wait to watch her grow and see what amazing things she'll bring to this world.

Just the Girls

2010-07-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

What could be better than spending an afternoon with Ayla, Grace, and Kaylee? Here are some photos from the girls day out.

Pretty in Pink

2010-05-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

When I was little I wasn't very 'girly'. I had all the toys a typical little girl would want, including Barbie Dolls and the clothes to dress them up. But it didn't make sense to me. I was to dress Barbie up, put her in the convertible with her boyfriend, Ken, and then what? Dinner and a movie? No, they just sat there. It was up to me to make their outing special. No thank you. Perhaps I just lacked imagination.
Instead, I found myself climbing the tree on the side of our house. I would climb as high as I could go, with little pellets in hand, and drop them when people walked by. If they looked up they could possibly catch a glimpse of me, but there were plenty of branches and leaves to hide behind. I know, not the nicest thing to do, but no one got hurt, just a little startled. It was quite entertaining.
Cassie is a beautiful 4 year old who is both 'girly' and not afraid to get her hands dirty. She decided to wear her pink tutu for her photo shoot, but that didn't stop her from playing with the rocks and sitting in the dirt at the railroad tracks. She was ready to pose for the camera! I'm pretty sure she'd been practicing her poses before the shoot. Cassie, thanks for an awesome photo shoot. I just love you!

Cassie and her mom, Carrie, having fun!

We couldn't forget Little Guy!

Danica & Dominic

2010-05-08T21:53:00.000-07:00

"Smile, Danica." She wasn't going to. Not even a little. And then we put her in charge. Her mom and I told her that, as the big sister, we needed her help to get Dominic's photo. She was ready. Ready to do what it took to make sure I was able to get some shots of her little brother. She was all ears, waiting for direction. Danica was eager to get the job done.
Isn't it funny how our perspectives often change when we know someone is counting on us? She took control. She wanted things to be perfect. She started to smile. She was in charge. She's task oriented, just like her beautiful mother, who I've known for several years. I'm looking forward to capturing the entire family next time!

Danica was ready to chase Dominic so I could get some action shots!

And then there was a small collision.

But, we had a very happy ending.

He's Here!

2010-04-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

The whole idea of pregnancy and birth still amazes me. A few months go by then, BAM, there's a baby and your entire life has changed within seconds! Justin and Tiffany just experienced this and I'm sure their life has changed immensely, for the better. We had so much fun during this photo shoot, and Parker kept us on our toes the entire time. When we thought he was sleeping, he'd let us know that he was just resting his eyes. And that dirty diaper that was just changed didn't necessarily mean that we were safe by any means. Thanks to Justin, Tiffany, and Parker Jace for letting me capture such a special time in their lives. Parker, welcome to the world.

To see more family photos just click 'Visit Gallery'

Parker Sneak Peek!

2010-04-10T23:53:00.000-07:00

Babies, they really do make photo shoots fun...and interesting. One thing for sure is that you never really know what to expect. Parker kept us guessing, but was one of the greatests models ever. Here's just a couple photos so you can get a glimpse of what's to come.

Can't wait to share the others!

Surprise!

2010-03-23T09:27:00.001-07:00

Photo shoots are always fun to do, but there's something even more exciting about doing a secret photo shoot. While Ayla's parents were out of town, her grandmother, Eileen, and I took her around town for a mini shoot as a birthday surprise for Ayla's mom. Even though we weren't out long, Eileen and I worked up a sweat as we did everything we could to convince Ayla she wanted to cooperate. We had a great time watching this little 19 month old just do her own things. Happy birthday to her mom, Ashley.

Visit our website: www.mwphotoshoot.com

He's Almost Here!

2010-02-17T01:14:00.000-08:00

I don't have children myself, unless you count my cat, but I've been told the journey leading up to the birth of a child is just that, a journey. Some may call it a roller coaster of emotions. First, there's the excitement of just finding out you're pregnant. Of course, soon after, there's the 'I don't look pregnant, I just look like I'm getting chubby' stage, as I've heard several women say. Then, within a short amount of time, happiness returns as you feel the baby kick and you're able to find out what your having. Although the baby is almost here, the debating continues of whether or not you should name him after your Grandpa Largo or her after your Aunt Behlula due to family obligation, of course. Oh, the pressure! Finally, after hours of labor, some heated words you never meant to say, and hopefully an epidural, your miracle arrives and your whole life has changed.

Justin and Tiffany are about to experience the greatest gift from God, their new baby. I know there are so many people excited to meet Parker, especially his grandparents. Parker has been blessed with wonderful parents and I know they can't wait to be called 'Mom' and 'Dad'. Congratulations to you both!

See more of Justin & Tiffany at: http://jamiemuir.zenfolio.com/p467689126

Never Say Never!

2010-02-08T13:52:00.000-08:00

I'm sure we've all been known to say, "I'll never...", you fill in the blank. Some look at marriage the same way, and then they meet the person they just can't live without. For those who know my brother, Brian, they understand just what I'm talking about. It took quite a few years, I won't tell you exactly how many, but my brother finally met his match. I remember when he brought her to my mom's house one Christmas to meet everyone. With a camera in hand, I snapped shot of the two of them. Here's the funny thing. When I was going through my photos I ended up deleting that picture because I honestly didn't think I'd see much of her in the future. After all, my big brother was never getting married, remember? Little did I know that Gizelle would be at our house for many more Christmas celebrations. Yes, Gizelle has her work cut out for her. Trust me, as his little sister I know what she's gotten herself into. And, on the other hand, she has married someone who will help keep their marriage filled with balance and many adventures. I used to say as a little girl, "Well, you never know", and you really do just never know.

Brian & Gizelle, I wish you all the happiness in the world. Love you both.

Visit our website: www.mwphotoshoot.com

Teenagers...I just love em!

2009-12-10T22:39:00.000-08:00

Doing a photoshoot with little kids is challenging. A photoshoot with teenagers, especially boys, is often like pulling teeth...with rusty pliers! However, this wasn't the case with this group. I'd like you to meet Gavin and Garrett. Initially, they weren't quite sure what to think about me being right in their face. It was really more like 5-10 feet from them, but I'm sure they thought I was too close. I have to say that after just a short time they were ready to shoot!! They both took some risks by climbing a tall tree and on some pretty steep rails, which I'm not surprised seeing that they are both athletes. They just had a great time. Or at least they made me think they did. Thanks to both of you for being so much fun! Their parents, Kurt and Michelle, are raising some really great kids. Here are just a few photos from our day together.

Thanks for such an awesome day!!

Long Time No See!

2009-10-16T17:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog,
I've missed you!

Do you ever become so busy that you wish you had 30 hours in a day? Welcome to my life. Here's the funny thing about it. I really don't know what I'd do with myself if I had tons of spare time on my hands! If you ask some of my friends, they would be able to come up with a list of things I could fill my spare time with. For some people, filling up their time is a way to avoid slowing down, which often means there is more time to acknowledge the thoughts in your head. For others, there is no choice but to be the Energizer Bunny all day long due to working full time, then going home to children. Some even go to school on top of all that. Kudos to you! For me, I love my busy life. Although my list of things to accomplish often extends to the next day. So, I think I'll try to avoid filling up every minute of my day with the "life". Who am I kidding?

My new blog featuring "Elise" will be coming soon!

Elise and Company

2009-10-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

By far, I enjoying taking photos of families the most. It's very interesting to watch their interactions with each other and the creative ways parents attempt to make their children happy during a photo shoot. When photographing kids, the parents and photographer do everything in their power to convince the children that they are enjoying themselves and to cooperate. From funny faces to bribery, the task is not easily conquered. Even the parents who don't believe in bribery somehow decide it might be a good idea, just this once. Here's the REAL truth; the kids make the decision as to when, how, and IF they are going to look at the camera, smile, and be an active participant in the shoot. Therefore, the joke is on us. That kind of makes me smile.
I'd like you to meet Elise. Elise is almost 2 1/2 years old, and keeps her parents, Paul and Kendra, very busy. During her photo shoot, Elise was definitely the one who decided when she would look at me and when she would smile. We had to be pretty creative with this little one. Mom and dad did lots of running around the park with her and I think that's exactly how she wanted it. Even if she had decided not to look at me the entire time during the shoot, the hour I spent watching her personality shine was enough.

Here she comes, right at me! I love it!

Proud parents, Paul & Kendra.

Since Elise decided not to look, Paul & Kendra decided to strike a pose.

I'm already looking forward to Elise's next photoshoot.

Baby Gavin has arrived!

2009-08-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Babies. They really are something else. Here they are in a belly for quite a while and then, BAM! Just like that, welcome to the world! A new life for them, a new life for the parents, and a new life for a big brother or sister. This is my new cousin, Gavin. He's just a few weeks old and is such a blessing to his proud parents. When doing a photo shoot with babies, there's one thing that always happens. Diaper comes off, and the stream begins! The funny thing is that each time it happens is when dad is holding the baby. With Gavin, his dad Chance got the stream surprise, and he handled it very well. I'm looking forward to watching Gavin grow up.

His big brother, Wyatt.

Proud parents, Chance and Tenisha.

Once Gavin's photos were done, Wyatt was ready to play some ball with his dad. You might be seeing him in the pros someday. Wyatt, you are going to be an awesome big brother!

True Love, just not at 1st sight.

2009-08-14T20:51:00.001-07:00

Every time my brother and I shoot a wedding we learn something about the couple. We find out things like how they met, which one likes to dance, who would rather not be the center of attention, etc. Sometimes the bride and groom say it was love at 1st sight. For this couple, Brian & Kelly, it was just the opposite. We learned that they really weren't big fans of each other when they first met. Kelly just happens to be best friends with Brian's sister, Jennifer, so you can imagine that Kelly was around their family quite often. Brian didn't want Jen to bring her around, Kelly really didn't care what Brian wanted. And then, one day at the river,it happened. They finally realized they were meant for each other. Funny how things work out. Brian & Kelly, we had a great time with you, your families, and friends. Kelly, I knew you could dance from seeing you on the dance floor at my wedding. Brian? You can really bust a move! Can't wait to see pictures from your honeymoon!

Brian, my bro, got some great shots of the guys!

Thanks to these Village People, the crowd had a great time singing the YMCA!

I've never seen guys fight so hard to get the garter!

See more of Brian & Kelly by typing BRIAN & KELLY in the search window at www.mwphotoshoot.com

Brooke's Day

2009-08-13T00:38:00.000-07:00

As soon as I walked into their house, I could tell this was USC Trojan territory. My 1st thought? Oh oh, I'm a Bruin fan. Shhh, they'll never know. But this day wasn't about our unknown rivalry. It was all about Brooke, this adorable little girl who decided she wasn't going to look at the camera for anything! With a few tricks from myself and her wonderful parents, she looked just a few times. At least that's what we'd like to think. In reality, she pretty much called the shots and looked at me when she was ready. I loved every minute of it! Here are a few shots from our day. Rusty and Jennie, I had so much fun with the three of you. Congratulations on your new little addition, Blake!

The birthday girl, Brooke!

Brooke was so excited to show me her Little Mermaid Big Wheel!

I was even able to snap a few shots of mom and dad. Beautiful!

Brooke wanted to take a picture of her mom and dad too. Nice work, Brooke!

It's rough modeling all day long.

Thanks, Jennie, for sending me a 4 month photo of Blake. He's gorgeous!

Thanks for an amazing day!

Meet Ayla Jayne

2009-08-09T21:32:00.000-07:00

Ayla Jayne. Has a ring to it, doesn't it? This is the little girl who has a crush on my husband, Joc. Here's a little glimpse of her 1 year birthday & photoshoot! Wait until you see the others. She's a natural in front of the camera.

Her one year photoshoot. We had a blast!

Stay tuned for more of Ayla!

HELLO, BLOG!!!

2009-08-04T20:52:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone! Well, I finally did it. I officially have a blog. If you know me well, you know how difficult it is for me to make decisions. What should I order at El Torito? Sneakers or flip flops? Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Twix? Push-ups or sit-ups? Haha, just joking on that one. So, it's no surprise that I had trouble deciding on how my blog should look. Thankfully, someone came to my rescue. Her name is Leslie Lambert, and she designed my blog, along with several others. http://designedbyleslie.blogspot.com/
In a short amount of time, Leslie learned how indecisive I can be. For Leslie, it didn't matter. What did matter was getting it right, and she did just that! Here's the great thing for anyone looking for someone to get a blog started for them: Leslie is professional, easy to contact, and extremely affordable.

Thanks, Leslie, for a great blog. I'll be contacting you in the next couple of months when I change my mind again and am ready for a new look! :-)