Nope, not to the new abode yet but to a new blog page. This will be my last post on Typepad so please go to bellinipics.com/blog and bookmark the new page. See you over on the flip side!
January 28, 2009
January 24, 2009
Project 365 : First 2 Weeks of Images
I'm a little behind, ahem 2 weeks to be exact, in posting my images from Project 365. So as not to be overwhelming I had planned on posting a weeks worth over the weekend. Last weekend I was in Puerto Rico so I didn't get a chance to post. So here are some images, some days are missing (oh the shame!). I've decided to start naming the images and also started adding the day's number to keep track. Enjoy!
January 21, 2009
Boston Mamas Giveaway Shoot!
Last fall I collaborated with BostonMamas.com to giveaway a session to a subscriber of their newsletter and site. Boston Mamas was founded by Christine Koh back in 2006 and it's a "one stop shop for cool ideas and resources for families in Boston & Beyond". When I first talked to the winner, her sons were 4 months and 23 months (god bless her!) so we decided to put the shoot off until her youngest was able to sit--which would give us more posing options. So here we are 8 months later and I met them bright and early in their sunny Quincy home. The little one was all smiles for me (love it!) and at first the eldest son thought I was pretty cool but then decided it would be more fun to play with my camera instead of sitting in front of it for me! :-) Anyway, we had a great time--wonderful family--and here are some of my favorite shots from today.
January 09, 2009
1, 2, 3, 4, 5...365
Back and forth, forth and back. Sometimes it'll take me days to make a decision! I've decided to jump on board Project 365; a project to take 1 photo per day for 1 year. A lot of photographer friends have also started the project and though I'm 8 days late in starting, I've started nonetheless. You can do this too--you don't need to be a professional photographer to create your own P365 just bust out the camera whenever you can and start documenting your life. It'll be a great way to look back at all the things you've done, people you've met, places you've traveled and maybe you'll even start seeing ubiquitous things in a new light. Now, I'm not entirely optimistic that I will keep up with this every single day but I definitely am going to do my very best. Instead of posting a picture here daily, I intend to do a weeks worth in one post, probably over the weekends. Here's my first. Of course, my son.
January 06, 2009
Vavavoom.
What can I say? I'm lovin' this shot! A friend asked me if I could do portraits of her as a gift to her boyfriend and of course I was very excited to oblige. It kind of snowballed into something much more sexy than I anticipated but I think she (and her man) will be pleased.....it's a far cry from my normal shoots with wrinkled newborns and playful children but I have to say I had a lot of fun and maybe I'll start doing more of these boudoir-ish shoots. Know anyone who you think would be interested? Send 'em my way!
January 05, 2009
Out with the old...
In with the new! I'm ready for a new logo. I want a fresh start for 2009. I'm debating about getting on a wait list with a super-fabulous designer and I'm not sure I can really wait until the new logo is revealed so in the meantime I had to update my old logo with new colors. What do you think? Any designers out there? How about you come up with a new logo for me and you get a free session if I decide to use it? Know anybody who is a designer and could use a session? Feel free to forward a link to my blog to all of your friends and family to spread the word. Here's some eye candy from a session with my son yesterday.
January 03, 2009
It's a new year...
I am so, sooooo excited about all the new things I have planned for Bellini Portraits this year. I had such an amazing 2008 and I thank all my clients for all their continued support and of course my family who is a constant source of love and support. Our friends were up from NY the past few days which means I had a little model to play with! A quick shopping trip and I turned up with this adorable little coat & hat ensemble as well as the knitted dress. I have to tell you, it's so much more fun to shop for a 2 year old girl than a 2 year old boy (my son)! Boys stuff is so boring! Anyway, we headed out on our point and got some of these great snowy beach shots.
December 22, 2008
Mamapreneur : Week 4
Business Name: AbbaDabba
Bags
How did
you come up with that name: When
my daughter Abby was born my son was 2 ½ years old. He started calling
her his “Little AbbaDabba”. It stuck and seemed like a fun name for a
business.
Do you have a store front/website/etsy? I do have a website: www.AbbaDabbaBags.com . However, it is brand new and right now just links to my Etsy shop: http://AbbaDabbaBags.etsy.com
How long have you been in business? I officially started selling my bags to the public on Etsy in February 2008. I was selling them offline by word of mouth for a year prior to that.
Please explain a little bit about your product and how you developed the concept behind it: I sell handmade, high quality bags. I made my first one when my son was born in 2004. I had four vinyl diaper bags but was not happy with any of them. My mom had taught me how to sew when I was young so I decided to make my own. I bought a pattern at the fabric store and spent a week changing almost everything about the design. When I was done I had a beautiful toile and pink bag that got compliments everywhere it went. My Weekend Bags are the closest descendants of that first bag.
What makes your product/business so
unique? I
don’t use commercial patterns for my bags. I also don’t try to recreate
the new trendy bag shape. I design the bags that I like to carry and I
use the fabrics that I like to see. So far this has been a successful
plan. I think people like that my Weekend and Day bags are different from
a lot of other totes and bags you see on Etsy.
What is the hardest part or have been some of your struggles starting your own business? Balancing family life and a business has been the biggest challenge by far. Figuring out how to advertise and get my shop seen by my target audience is second. I’m constantly working to improve the way I handle both challenges.
How many children do you have. What are
their ages? And ages when you started your business?
I have two children. My son is 4 and my daughter is 21 months. I
started the official business when they were 3 and 12 months old.
What are
some of the creative ways you have found to juggle being a woman, a mother, a
business owner, and a wife? The first thing that comes to mind is
giving up some sleep. I do most of my sewing during naptimes or after the
kids go to bed. I like to get up early in the morning before they are
awake and do my cutting for the day. It is much easier to get started
sewing if everything is cut and ready to go. I do take a couple nights
off every week to hang out with my husband of course. That is the best
part of having a flexible home-based business.
Who is
your biggest inspiration? My mom has
always been my biggest inspiration. She is a strong, amazing,
hard-working and talented woman.
Now for
some fun and easy questions….
Favorite
meal? I’d have to say lobster. Steamed,
boiled, stuffed, baked, grilled… you name it. I’m also a huge fan of
pizza.
Favorite Dessert? This one is easy. Apple pie with a nut-crumb topping. My grandma and mom make it best!
Favorite restaurant (can be anywhere)? The Blue Ginger in Wellesley, MA. If you’ve never been, go! I could sit and eat their food and legendary sauces for hours!
Favorite
piece of clothing or accessory? Seven
jeans. I dress the lighter ones down and the darker ones up. I can
wear them apple picking or out for drinks. You just can’t go wrong with a great
pair of jeans.
Favorite
vacation spot?
West Palm Beach, FL. I am not a huge traveler. I have left the
country a few times and I’ve really enjoyed San Francisco and Colorado, but we
recently returned to West Palm and I fell in love with it again. I highly
recommend The Breakers hotel. It is a vacation destination in itself!
Favorite
childhood memory? I grew up in NY but have
very fond memories of driving to Falmouth, MA with my mom and sisters when I
was young. The four of us would pack up the 2-door Ford Fiesta with bikes
on top and head to the Cape for a week’s vacation. It was always great to
see the ocean and enjoy the relaxing lifestyle that is summer on the Cape.
On any
given day, what makes you smile?
My kids. My husband. My husband playing with my kids. What
more is there?
When you have free time (ha!) what would your ideal day entail? Reading a book by the pool would be the best! It takes me months to get through a book these days so that is a real luxury. A mani/pedi would be fun too.
December 12, 2008
December 07, 2008
Mamapreneur : Week 3
Introducing Hannah Fisher, creator of "Binky Bling"!
Business Name: Bloojay
How did you come up with that name: Bloojay is a combination of my maiden name, Bloom, and my son's name, Jason.
Do you have a store front/website/etsy? www.bloojayinc.com . You can also find Binky Bling in the following stores locally; Mulberry Road (Boston), Prima Donna (Boston), Boutique @ BSC (Boston), The Nutshell (Milton), Village Baby (Brookline), Bird by Bird (Cambridge), Twinkle Star Boutique (Somerville), Pocket Full of Posies (Osterville).
How long have you been in business? 4 months
Please explain a little bit about your product/business and how you developed the
concept behind it: My business is making hand made pacifier clips called Binky Bling." I came up with the concept because my son was always throwing his binky or dropping it making it impossible for me to find it if we were driving in the car and dirty and full of germs if he dropped it on the ground. By making the "binky bling" the pacifier is always close to him making my life as a mom a little bit easier.
How long have you been in business? 4 months
concept behind it: My business is making hand made pacifier clips called Binky Bling." I came up with the concept because my son was always throwing his binky or dropping it making it impossible for me to find it if we were driving in the car and dirty and full of germs if he dropped it on the ground. By making the "binky bling" the pacifier is always close to him making my life as a mom a little bit easier.
What makes your product/business so unique? My product is unique because the pacifier is attached to ribbon by a snap closure unlike most velcro clips. This way little hands are not able to rip the binky off. The clips are also unique in that they come in over 40 different trendy patterns from skull prints to animal prints.
What is the hardest part or have been some of your struggles starting your own business? My biggest struggle with starting my own business has been marketing myself. Everyone who sees my clips loves them but it is more a matter of getting in the door. Also, my expertise is really in the creative aspect of making the clips, so doing everything else that is entailed in having your own business from the financial and book keeping side to the marketing side has become a learning experience for me along the way.
How many children do you have. What are their ages? And ages when you started your business? I have one son
who is 18 months, he was around 14 months when I started the business.
What are some of the creative ways you have found to juggle being a woman, a mother, a business owner, and a wife? I juggle being a woman, business owner mother and wife by trying to maintain a balance between all of them. When my son naps I make that nights dinner, when he goes to bed at night I work and somewhere in between playdates and chores I take some time for the gym and making dates with my husband.
Who is your biggest inspiration? My mother. She has taught me that it is possible to be a mother, and wife all while having your own business.
Now for some fun questions….
Favorite meal? I love Mexican food
Favorite Dessert? Cupcakes
Favorite restaurant (can be anywhere)? Barton G South Beach
Favorite piece of clothing or accessory? My gold flats
Favorite vacation spot? Aruba or pretty much any beach!
Favorite childhood memory? Playing at the beach
On any given day, what makes you smile? Looking at my son
When you have free time (ha!) what would your ideal day entail? Laying down and reading a book
Copyright
- Right Click + Save = Stealing!All images © Stephanie Piscitelli / Bellini Portraits 2008-09 and are under the protection of US Copyright laws. Copying, printing or saving any images from this site is illegal. Thank you for respecting my business.
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