Tina Ramirez Photography

The new blog is up and running

2010-05-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Check out my new blog

www.tinaramirezphotography.com/blog

Be sure to bookmark my new blog page so that you can stay up to date on all the new happenings at Tina Ramirez Photography.

Thank you!

fresh. pure. perfect. | Tina Ramirez Photography | Central Illinois Newborn Photographer

2010-03-11T11:28:00.001-08:00

The title pretty much sums up this little man. He is just perfect.

I had the pleasure of meeting little {C} who is just starting a baby plan. I cannot wait to watch him grow.

His Mommy and Daddy are sooo in love with him. Can you blame them though?

Daddy was such a good sport, tolerating the scorching hot room and getting pooped on. :)

Look how happy he is in Mommy's arms.

{C} is probably one of the longest newborns I have ever photographed. He liked stretching out too. I think he was just showing off ;)

I love his delicate little back wrinkles, his smoochable lips, and his long eyelashes.

Chris and Ashley, thank you for having me photograph your little blessing. I am excited to begin his first year of portraits with you.

Enjoy your sneak peek and I will let you know when his gallery is ready.

The "G Man" is bringin those eyes back | Tina Ramirez Photography | Central Illinois Child Photographer

2010-03-08T23:08:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been a year since I first photographed {G} for his newborn portraits. You can take a peek at them here

and then his 6mo portraits here

I just adore this little man and he just cracks me up every time I am around him.

He LOVES his Lego's and he's really good at putting them together. He is very coordinated and can build these huge towers. Makes me feel like I must be slacking with teaching Gianna to do these things.

Now here are those beautiful eyes that stop me in my tracks EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Just hangin out with Dad :)

Enjoy your sneak peek Leigh Ann and Justin, more to come soon.

Elmwood's First Daughter | Tina Ramirez Photography | Elmwood, IL Newborn Photography

2010-03-02T07:45:00.000-08:00

Move over Sasha and Malia, you've got nothing next to little miss {L}.

I posted one other portrait of {L} with her Mommy and Daddy here .

{L} is exactly what you would picture a perfect baby girl to be. She has perfect skin, tiny toes, luscious lashes and beautiful blue eyes. She was the perfect little sleeper too (after much convincing that nothing exciting was going on without her).

We started off the session wonderfully too. She got comfy and relaxed... then proceeded to prove to her Daddy why keeping extra shirts around is a great idea :)

I couldn't help but squeal a little with delight when Mommy brought out this adorable hat!

I love her tiny little toes poking out here.

Look at these lashes! Watch out Daddy, I have a feeling she is going to bat these suckers at you quite a bit when she wants her way :)

Just one because I couldn't wait | Elmwood, IL Newborn Photography

2010-02-23T10:21:00.001-08:00

I couldn't help but post one up of little Miss {L}. She is so sweet and I just love this portrait. It makes me envious because I would have given an arm or leg to have a portrait like this with one of my kids.

Not only are the subjects wonderful, the light is so warm and soft.

Enjoy!

Fabulous number 4 | Tina Ramirez Photography | Elmwood, IL Newborn Photography

2010-02-22T11:03:00.001-08:00

I hear all the time, "Four kids, Wow, that's a lot." While I agree that 4 kids is quite a handful, there is nothing more surreal or humbling than when you plop on the couch at the end of the day, you look over at your husband and your 4 kids are all piled on the couch with you. It makes you take a deep breath in and thank God for such a wonderful blessing.

There truly is nothing like it and now Mollie and Rich know what I am talking about.

They have been blessed with gorgeous baby number 4, Miss A.

They chose to be surprised with the sex of the baby and big sis could not be happier at having a little sister.

She even gave me a little smile :)

Another miracle, getting 4 children to cooperate for a portrait. They did fantastic though. This portrait is a definite favorite in my book.

Soon to be, Mommy of 3 | Tina Ramirez Photography | Central Illinois Maternity Photography

2010-02-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

My sweet cousin Amy has been blessed with 2 little boys.

She and hubby Bob are being blessed with a little girl this time. I am sure she will be just as beautiful as her momma.

Amy just looks STUNNING! I remember when she was pregnant with Jack and thinking about how pregnancy looks so good on her.

This is one of my favorites from the session. I LOVE Jack's face. He is so sweet and has that touch of boyish charm too.

I think Sam was just stunned that we were letting him play with paints and draw on mommy.

It was amazing how baby girl was kicking and moving while the boys were driving their cars over her. Either she wanted to play too or she wanted them to leave her alone.

Silly Bob thought he was all done with pictures after they got married. :) That's what he gets for having a beautiful wife and adorable kiddos though.

Enjoy your sneak peek!

Chunky Baby {E} | Tina Ramirez Photography | Central Illinois Newborn Photography

2010-02-13T15:18:00.000-08:00

Little Miss E

She is so adorable. I love love love chunky babies and {E} is just that. Pure squishy joy!

After doing her momma's maternity photos a few weeks before, I wouldn't have guessed that this big baby came from momma's little belly.

She was a stubborn one too. She did not want to fall asleep and miss out on all the fun. It took a while of bouncing, rocking and swaying but she finally fell under my spell. For a little while it was a close battle of who would cave first but, in the end, I won.

After I had her good and out, she was putty in my hands :).

Her session was not without the frequent "accident". Daddy got the most of it though and took it all in stride. She didn't let mom totally off the hook either.

Thank you Sara and Steve for letting me come over, photograph and snuggle your little one. I loved every minute!

Absolutely Adorable and much Anticipated Baby {A} | Tina Ramirez Photography| Peoria Newborn Photographer

2010-02-01T08:44:00.000-08:00

I have been waiting 9 long months to photograph this little lady. She did not disappoint. She was an absolute JOY to photograph. She stayed asleep through dogs barking and the heater falling off the table.

"Breathtakingly Beautiful" is how you would describe Miss {A}. Her skin is perfect, her hair is so soft, and her features are so delicate.

I know her Mommy and Daddy are absolutely in love with her, and I can see why.

I love to capture the tininess of a baby in proportion to Mommy's hands.

Seriously, who looks this fabulous after giving birth? I know I sure didn't! Charleen has always been beautiful, but motherhood certainly agrees with her. You just feel this energy when you are around them. Daddy is sure one lucky man to have 2 beautiful women in his life.

I love how little {A} has her tiny fingers touching Mommy's.

So sweet!

Thank you Charleen and Kristian for letting me come over and capture these moments. She won't stay little for long! I hope you enjoy your sneak peek.

Come on ladies of ILCCI! Leave Charleen and Kristian some comments. I know they would love to read them.

Gallery Wrapped Canvas Sale | 24 hours only

2010-01-22T14:32:00.000-08:00

For the first time EVER, a Gallery Wrapped Canvas SALE!!!

This sale is for 24 hours only. Ends Saturday 1/23/10 at 5pm. My company is having a sale on canvases so I want to pass that along to you.

Order now and take $100 off the canvas pricing.

Regular Price Sale Price

16x20 $250 $150
16x24 $275 $175
20x24 $325 $225
20x30 $350 $250
24x36 $425 $325

Get that Christmas gift you were really wanting!

Don't have a specific image in mind? That's OK. Order now and reserve your canvas for a future session.

What is a gallery wrapped canvas?

Truly one of the most spectacular things I have available. Your photo is printed on a canvas material and stretched over a 1.5 inch frame. The back is covered and hanging hardware is in place. These come ready to hang and place on your wall.

Let me know ASAP if you want to order one of these so I can put the order in to my company before their sale is over.

And again, if you want to order it now and use it in the future, that is an easy option.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-01-22T08:55:00.000-08:00

To Me!

Now, I know you are all thinking, "Wow, Tina has really lost her mind. Doesn't she realize it is January?"

Yes, I do know that it is January. The thick winter coats and the bruises on my backside from slipping on the ice are frequent reminders.

But my lovely children gave to me, the best present a mother could ask for. I had a certain shot in my head and told the kids that I wanted 1 shot. Of course the big kids moaned and groaned. Craig even told me, "Alright, you get 1 shot, that is it." I explained to him that in order to get this 1 shot I may have to click the shutter more than once but I wouldn't make them change positions, backgrounds, etc...

After promises of a movie and some goldfish snacks, my children gave me this:

A mother's dream. A photo of all of my children looking lovely.

I love everything about it. I love CJ's somber, soulful look, as this is what he usually gives me. It defines "him". I love Craig's crooked little smile that reminds me of the day when he was 3 and we had to go to the ER twice in the same day for stitches to his lip. Gabi's beautiful gaze which opens my eyes to how quickly time goes by and what a gorgeous little lady she is turning into. Then Gianna's chubby baby-ness, her deep brown eyes that are duplicates of CJ's, her crazy untamable hair, and her sweet face that looks so much like her big sister's did when she was a baby.

"Well being a photographer, I'm sure your home is filled with beautiful images of your children"

Unfortunately, not true. Ever heard of the shoemakers kids? My kids are so sick of my camera that they run and hide whenever I pull it out. Gianna is the only one who can't run yet, but she is getting really fast at crawling.

Just to show you that my babies aren't always perfect angels, here are some outtakes:

Testing lighting:

"Craig, please don't strangle your brother"

After the above picture, its no suprise that CJ was trying to get away

Well, at least 3 of the 4 are looking at me.

This was the last picture. Gianna had eaten right before we started. Gabi was bouncing her on her knee, trying to make her happy, and possibly squeezing her a little too tight.

So how many shutter clicks did it take to get that 1 special picture?

12

Smoochable Sweetness! {B} 6 days old

2010-01-18T13:44:00.000-08:00

If I haven't said it before, I'll say it now. I love my job! I get to photograph these adorable little babies, hold them, rock them, and snuggle them. It really doesn't get any better than this.

I was excited to meet little baby B and he was just as sweet as I had imagined. He has the most perfect little lips, perfect for smoochin!

He is absolutely adorable and I am so glad he is part of my baby plan because I am looking forward to documenting his first year.

He even gave me a little smile.

He had his share of fussy moments (as most newborns do) but he really loved to be swaddled. Mom had this perfect little blanket that coordinated with his nursery. I love the blue and brown combo.

And of course, I had to throw in one of the new family :) I love the sweetness of this one. There is something about dramatic black and whites that always end up being my favorites.

Help Elmwood Elementary win $100,000

2010-01-12T21:17:00.000-08:00

Please help Elmwood Elementary win $100,000. The school is in the top 20 of the US CELLULAR "Calling All Communities" Campaign that is NATIONWIDE!!! If the school makes it to the top 10 by Friday they win $100,000 dollars. If you will let me enter you please send me your email address, home address, and birthdate. They will not be hounding you to buy anything. It is simply a contest!! If you want to enter yourself you can go to ANY US Cellular store to get a card with a code for the contest. Make sure you put your vote toward Elmwood Elementary! PLEASE!! Think about what an elementary school could do with $100,000!

Anticipation | Peoria Maternity Photographer

2010-01-05T08:07:00.000-08:00

Officially my first shoot of the decade :)

I was so glad I got to photography Sara's beautiful belly. We had been talking about this at work for a while but had to reschedule our first appointment due to holiday craziness. On January 1st, we finally made it happen.

I always have a difficult time picking out pics for my blog sneak peek but this shoot was exceptionally difficult. I opened the files and would say "Oh, I love this one. THIS is it." Then I'd see another and say "THIS one is perfect, its the one." And again, and again, and again. I couldn't pick a favorite. There are so many beautiful ones from this session that I just couldn't choose.

Sara looks absolutely stunning at 36 weeks. Pregnancy looks so good on her. As I'm sure you can imagine, it is just too hard to pick favorites when your clients are so gorgeous.

The nursery is all ready. Just waiting for little baby girl to arrive at the end of the month.

Thank you Sara and Steve for allowing me to capture this beautiful time in your lives.

Georgeous New Family | Tina Ramirez Photography | Peoria IL newborn photography

2009-12-08T08:42:00.000-08:00

Little baby G is the first baby for Ashley and Sen but you never would have guessed it. The both of them have taken to parenting like a fish to water. They both handle their new bundle with such ease and caring.

After spending some time with them, you can't help but feel the love that this family has.

You should just see him when he hears mommy's voice or feels her touch. It is truly beautiful.

Thank you Ashley and Sen for letting me get to know your family! I look forward to photographing G as he grows.

I found another family crazy enough to have 4 kids! | Peoria Family Photography

2009-11-30T07:15:00.000-08:00

Saying I "found" them though really isn't the best term.

A few years ago I believe that God brought our two families together. Through a mutual friend, Anne and I were brought together, and then that friend moved away. We leaned on each other to fill the void of missing our friend, and I have to say that Anne has become one of my very best friends.

My husband and I love this family so much that we even asked Todd and Anne to be the godparents to our 3rd child.

This family has been such a blessing to ours that I am so glad to be able to give a little back to them through my photos.

I hope you will take a second to read this great article that was written about them in the "Peoria Journal Star"

One year old FUN! | Tina Ramirez Photography| Peoria Area Children Photography

2009-11-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

It is time to CELEBRATE! Little man {K} has turned 1 year old!

K has the most gorgeous blue eyes and a soulful glance that is sure to melt the ladies hearts when he gets older. I have already come to the realization that Gianna is sure to become a victim of K's good looks.

Thanks Nikki and Travis! Your full gallery will be up soon.

Jake | EHS Senior Class of 2010 | Peoria Area Senior Photographer

2009-11-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

Jake was such a trooper. His whole family came along to tease him during the session but he took it all in stride. Mom and little sis had been "location scouters" the days leading up to the session so we had some great spots to work with.

Jake really only had 1 request. That was pics of him with his car. What senior boy wouldn't want pics with his car? As long as we got some car photos, he would be up for anything else. He let me guide him around town and boss him around, which is a big plus in my book!

Jake is laid back, easy going and quite the cutie! I don't know how the girls could resist him :)

This is my favorite car photo:

Enjoy your sneak peek Jake! More to come soon!

I Love Loyal Clients | Peoria Illinois Family Photographer

2009-11-03T13:29:00.001-08:00

I just love it when I get to meet up with my previous clients. I love getting to know the families, watching them grow and being able to document their moments. As a photographer, it is a great feeling to know that you are " The _____ Family Photographer".

Below is a sneak peek for a great family that I had the pleasure of meeting this spring. Little man {N} has grown so much since I last photographed him. This session was family photo time.

Even though it was chilly, the colors were fabulous and the subjects were gorgeous (well, handsome for the men).

Enjoy your sneak peek!

Future photographer, Little Miss {P} | Peoria Family Photographer

2009-10-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

Check out this adorable little girl. I fell in love with her and she fell in love with my camera. I think she took as many pictures with it as I did. (Which anyone who knows me understands why this is such a big feat. I don't let anybody touch my camera) There is no way I could say "No" to this little cutie though.

She actually did a pretty good job too :)

I adore this photo:

I think it just goes to show you that you don't need big smiles to get an awesome portrait. She was studying my camera very intently.

Miss P thought that this was a BLAST! Don't worry, no children were harmed in the making of this photo.
This really is a great family with such fun personalities!

This last one just makes my heart go pitter-patter. I can see the adoration she has for her daddy, and him for her. :)
Randy and Danielle, enjoy your sneak peek. Your full gallery will be ready in a couple days!

Stylish Family Photo Shoot | Peoria County Family Photographer

2009-10-26T08:19:00.001-07:00

I loved this family's outfit coordination the moment they stepped out of their vehicle. They looked like something straight out of a magazine.

I love how their outfits coordinate and compliment each other. Look at the way mom added a beautiful scarf to a solid sweater to give it oomph and style.

Oh My Goodness, little Miss B's outfit was absolutely adorable. It was a Matilda Jane which has the cutest children clothing.

I don't know if you can get any more adorable than these kids. They were a joy to photograph.

HELLO! Can we say "gifted gene pool?" No wonder those kids are so gorgeous!

Local Family Fun | Peoria County Family Photograpy

2009-10-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed photographing this family, and it was a plus that I only had to drive about 2 miles to do their session. They have great property. I just love the colors of the fall grass and old wood.

They contacted me after seeing another family's photos so they are able to participate in my referral rewards program. They will be receiving a complimentary 5x7 from their session just for being a referral.

So if you want a session, and know someone who has already had one, ask them about their referral cards.

Enjoy your sneak peek Mike and Shelly!

Robin | 2010 Stark County Senior

2009-10-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

I swear I get to photograph the most beautiful people! Look at this stunning Senior girl. Her clothing options were phenomenal, her eyes are captivating, her skin is flawless and her smile is so pretty.

I just can't believe how blue and mesmerizing her eyes are. So pretty.

Enjoy your sneak peek Robin!

Hush, Its a secret! | Peoria Illinois Family Photographer

2009-10-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

I got really nervous about whether or not this session was even going to take place. It was raining when I left the house and was raining on my way back home. Thank goodness, the rain decided to hold out long enough to capture these family moments.

This wonderful family decided to suprise Mom and Dad with a family portrait for Christmas. So, if you are reading this... don't tell :)

I tell you, it was a lot of fun and this family gave me some good laughs.

I'm so glad the weather held out for us!

Enjoy your sneak peek!

Wonderful family | Central Illinois Family Photographer

2009-09-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Wanted to get a sneak peek in for you guys before my week gets too busy. I know its just a couple but, enjoy!

My first newborn turned 1, Mr. B. | Peoria Area Child Photographer

2009-09-21T15:34:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been a little over a year since I did Mr. B's newborn photos. He was my first newborn to photograph and he was so cute. He still is. I swear I get the most adorable clients.

And just a few to look back on when he was just a couple days old. Man how fun this year has been!

Fun and Fresh "H" Family | Peoria Illinois Family Photography

2009-09-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

This is such an adorable family! They are so sweet, and little man "J" is such a little ham. I had a blast with the "H" family, we had perfect weather and they are beautiful people to photograph. Oops, I mean handsome for dad and little man :)

I had to add this one because sometimes this happens:

Don't worry, he was over it very quickly! He is just a sensitive soul.

Kyle and Kendall, enjoy your sneak peak!

Happy Birthday "J" !

Kelsey | EHS Senior 2010 | Central Illinois Senior photographer

2009-08-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am so glad I got to meet up with Kelsey and her mom. We had to reschedule once due to rainy weather but then I think we got the perfect day.

Thanks guys! Enjoy your sneak peak and I'll let you know when your gallery is ready to view!

Had to post this one real quick!

2009-08-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

Ahh, 4 boys. Can it get any sweeter than this?! I'll have more for you later Chrissy. I just couldn't wait to put this up. I love it!

Beautiful Baby Blues | G 6 months| Peoria Area Infant Photography

2009-08-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

I was so lucky to get a chance to photograph little Bacon Bit again. You may recognize him from his newborn session here: Bacon Bit 8 days .

He has changed quite a bit but his wonderful big blue eyes remain the same. 6 months is such a wonderful age. Everything is so funny and interesting to them. I knew we wanted to do this session around 6 months so when he was able to sit up unassisted we booked the date.

Even if your little one is 6 months old, it is best to do photographs more as "milestone photos" than "month" photos. I like to photograph babies at newborn, when they are able to hold their head up well while on their belly, able to sit up unassisted and then when they start standing and taking steps.

I am glad we waited a little longer until he could sit up well because I LOVE the results!

Meet Taylor | EHS 2010 Senior Rep | Tina Ramirez Photography

2009-08-04T13:35:00.001-07:00

I got so lucky this year to have Taylor as a Senior Rep. She was willing to try anything I asked and is as sweet as can be. Sorry, Mom, I know her feet were filthy when she got home.

I tried a little different processing on a couple of these.

Seniors: If you are interested in a senior session, see Taylor. Use one of her referral cards for free prints from your session.

Thanks Taylor! I can't wait until the fall shoot.

The "R" Family

2009-07-29T12:43:00.001-07:00

This family is so neat. I have known Crystal for a while so it was great to meet her hubby and daughter. They even brought along their full-sized poodle Dino. He was very well behaved and interested in the camera.

It was so hard to pick just a few for a sneak peak because there are so many I love.

I LOVE this one. It makes me smile everytime I look at it. It is so natural!
I really like the streaming light of this one.

Thanks guys for spending your evening with me. It was a real pleasure. Your proofs will be ready soon.

Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful!

2009-07-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

She is seriously stunning! Thanks Sela for spending your afternoon with me.

Happy Father's Day from Tina Ramirez Photography

2009-06-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to wish my clients a Happy Father's Day! Plus, I wanted to give a special on-line hug to my own dad, Gary Craig. I was lucky enough to grow up with a great dad who always pushed me to do my very best. I am very appreciative of all that he has taught me and the values he and my mom instilled in me. Not only is my dad a super father, he is an even better grandfather. CJ sings his praises constantly and wants to hang out with him all the time.

Of course I cannot forget my own hubby. He is an awesome father to our 4 kids. He passes on to them his quirky sense of humor, his good looks, and his tender heart. I couldn't ask for a better husband and father of my children. Thanks honey!

So to all my clients, my dad and my husband:

Happy Father's Day!

3 month old little man N

2009-06-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

This guy is such a little cutie. Well, I use the word "little" very loosely because he is quite the solid little man. I picked him up and he makes Gianna feel light as a feather. He is so sweet. He wasn't quite sure what was going on. He decided to sleep during the beginning of the session which was a nice little treat for me. I didn't expect to get any sleepy baby shots but he cooperated very nicely.

He has the sweetest, most kissable little lips!

He is so strong! I love the colors in this one.

And just for Father's Day and because I know that Nikki just loves these shirts :)

Another beautiful baby girl. {B} 9 days

2009-06-14T06:34:00.000-07:00

I have been so blessed to photograph little girls lately. For a while there it seemed like there were only boys, now its all sugar and spice and everything nice!

This precious little baby B was 9 days old and just as cute as can be. She was bound and determined to prove her mommy wrong when she said "She sleeps all the time" :) Yeah right! She fought sleep the whole time. Just when it seemed she was falling asleep, one little eye would pop open.

We still had a great time!

You can tell she loves her mommy. Snuggled up next to mommy was so peaceful and sweet.

This image is probably one of my favorite images of all time. I love how she fits so perfect on his arm, snuggled up on his shoulder. It shows the tenderness of a father's love. He will always protect her with his fatherly strength yet is able to do so with a tender touch.

K&T, you guys are going to be awesome parents!

I hope you enjoy your sneak peak. I'll let you know when the rest are ready.

It's ALIVE!!!

2009-06-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

My new website is finally live.

Check it out and save it to your favs!

www.tinaramirezphotography.com

Adorable little sibling set

2009-05-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

Miss "E" is just so lovable! She quickly became my best friend.

I think little man "T" was much happier just fishing with grandpa but that is understandable. They make quite a pair, don't they.

Baby "A" was so strong at just 7 weeks. Look at her holding up her head! She has the prettiest baby skin.

With a mom this gorgeous, no wonder the kids are adorable!

It's official... CJ has PKS

2009-05-19T18:56:00.000-07:00

That's right. CJ has PKS.... Photographer Kid Syndrome. He just turned 2 so of course I wanted to get some nice portraits of him. I haven't been real on top of getting photos of the kids since Gianna arrived. I set everything up while Gia was napping and this is pretty much how it went:

"I AM NOT GETTING MY PICTURE TAKEN!"

So I thought maybe I could bribe him with a snack. Can't you tell he is so excited.

He decides he is not interested at all in having his picture taken so he finds interest in the Best Buy ad. Well, maybe I can hope he is planning on buying me something nice.

He went and got his soccer ball to play with. But uh-oh, he threw it in the air and it landed on his head.

Yeah, playing with mom is alot funner than being still for 2 seconds for mom to capture a photo.

Ooo, ooo, he is sitting.... quick snap. Can't you see he is humoring me a little?

Finally he gives me something I can feel good about printing. This is the sly little smirk that I know and love. And yes, he is getting ready to jump away. Right after this he was gone and I gave up.

Don't feel bad if your kids don't want to cooperate with having portraits taken. It happens to all of us :) With kids this age the portraits take on a more photo-journalistic approach, otherwise there would be pictures of toddlers stuck to chairs with duct tape :)

For one of the strongest women I know...

2009-05-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, my sister-in-law was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in March. While we celebrated the birth of our youngest child we were also gripped with fear at the thought of someone we love so much having cancer.

She has started chemo and I am happy to report that she is so strong and is doing very well. A couple weeks after starting chemo treatments, we had my youngest son's birthday party. Mari had decided to shave her head. She was taking a stand and was not going to let the cancer and chemo dictate when her hair fell out.

My sister, Jennifer, was there with her clippers and off it came. It was a very moving and emotional time. These pictures may produce a feeling of sadness (and there was some) but mostly I felt so proud of my little sis for being so strong and taking control.

I have to say, I think she is the most beautiful bald woman I have ever seen. I am not sure if she should ever grow her hair back out :)

I love you Mari!

Check out Lindsay Taylor Photography

2009-04-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

Lindsay came out and did portraits of Gianna a little while ago. She is such a wonderful and talented photographer. If you or anyone you know is looking for a photographer in the Bloomington/Normal IL area, check out Lindsay Taylor Photography.

I can't say enough about her excellent work. She truly knows how to capture the moments.

Feel free to leave comments on her blog. I love to read them and I'm sure she would too.

Click on link below:

Lindsay Taylor Photography

The "S" family

2009-04-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

Her hubby is her rock. I wanted this portrait to portray this. They are both such strong and wonderful people. They have such a strong and solid relationship.

Had a super quick photo shoot with my sis-in-law, brother-in-law and nephew on Saturday. We had to get out of the rain a few times. All in all, we made it work. They are such a vibrant and refreshing family. It was so nice to get outside and start taking pictures again (even if it did rain).

Feel free to leave comments. I love to read them.

{ Baby L }...10 days old

2009-04-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

She is so adorable. This is one of the sweetest families. I need to go to bed but I know that if I don't post some of these pictures then I will hear about it at work tomorrow :) I could have held this little chunker all day long. There are really some adorable pics and I can't wait to get a chance to edit some more.

My oldest daughter is my photographer

2009-04-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

I told Gabi I would share the photo she took of Gianna and I. I think Gabi has a promising career as a photographer :)

Natural light

2009-04-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to see the sun starting to shine more and it starting to warm up. Natural light is the look I really love. I love how the sun looks like it is coming right through the window and kissing Gianna's skin.

CJ decided he wanted to pose for a picture for me. It only lasted a moment though, right after that he was off running away. He pretended to go "ni-ni" for me.

3 weeks old

2009-03-23T09:46:00.001-07:00

Just can't get enough of Gianna

2009-03-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

So Kissable!

2009-03-17T12:40:00.001-07:00

Introducing my newest photography victim...err I mean the newest addition to our family

2009-03-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

Gianna arrived on Sunday March 1st 2009. Weighing in at 9lbs 9 oz. She is a big girl! We couldn't be happier.

Little "Bacon Bit"...... meet G, 8 days old

2009-01-12T10:47:00.000-08:00

Updates.......

2009-01-12T08:21:00.000-08:00

Wow, I can't believe it is 2009 already. As some of you may know 2009 is bringing some big changes to the Ramirez household. My husband and I are expecting our 4th child in March of 2009. It really is coming up fast.

I am taking advantage of this cold weather and using the time to re-organize Tina Ramirez Photography. I will soon be creating a website and a big "thank you" goes out to all my clients who are allowing me to use their photos to showcase my work.

Until spring is here, I will not be doing any photo sessions. I will be spending this time enjoying my family and organizing the business. I have enjoyed photographing all my clients in 2008 and look forward to seeing some new faces and continuing to do some work for my past clients in 2009.

If you would like to be added to my mailing list, please see the "contact information" on the right side of the blog. You can just email me your email address and request to be added to the mailing list. Your email info will never be given out to anyone else so you don't have to worry about being bombarded with junk email. I will let you know when the website is up, when I start shooting sessions again, and any specials I may have going on.

During my "winter off time" I do have a limited number of openings for maternity and newborn sessions. Please contact me if you are interested.

Thank you and have a great winter!

Tina

Read our friends adoption journey......

2009-01-03T09:18:00.000-08:00

Our dear friends the Hollis's are in the process of adopting a little girl from Ukraine. It has proven to be a trying process for them but they are doing wonderful and it has been such a pleasure to follow their journey.

There are so many adoptable children in the world and just not enough people willing to adopt them.

Did you know that when a special needs child hits a certain age in Eastern European countries (I believe it is 5 or 6 ) then they are sent to an institution to live out the rest of their lives, if they are not adopted. Alot of these children have such small disabilities but it is hard to tell because they are not given the one to one attention or have access to all the special programs we have in the United States.

I just wanted to share the Hollis's story. Adoption is costly, if you feel moved or called to help their mission then I know it would be appreciated.

You can read their story here:

http://hollisfamilyadoptionjourney.blogspot.com/

Thank you.

G-P family. Little C is getting so big already.

2008-12-09T10:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick sneak peak "teaser" for you guys. I can't believe this is the same baby I just did newborn photos for. He is growing so fast.

6 month old twins J & R. Can't forget big sis M!

2008-11-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

These little guys are adorable and their big sis is such a good helper. I need to be cleaning my house and getting ready for work but I couldn't help but post a few.

Newborn "C"

2008-11-03T08:00:00.001-08:00

What a little cutie this guy is. He was such a good sleeper, until we took his clothes off. Then he realized it was time to be awake and eat. This is the newborn of a recent maternity shoot I did. What a blessing this little guy is. Even at a week old he wasn't that little though. He is a long baby. Enjoy Mom and Dad!

The "K" kiddos

2008-10-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

Just a few of my neice and nephew. They are so photogenic. I was so excited to get the opportunity to do these photos for them.

D family sneak peak

2008-10-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

Sneak Peak B & F family

2008-10-15T14:46:00.001-07:00

Just a quick little sneak peek. Your full session will be on its way soon. I know how hard it is to wait so I thought I'd give you a couple teasers. Thanks guys for letting me photography your family.

My beautiful kids.

2008-09-25T05:46:00.001-07:00

T & M sneak peak

2008-09-17T11:43:00.001-07:00

What beautiful little children these 2 are. What an adventurous day too! We were all over the place, checking out the scenery, getting fresh grass clippings on our feet and even a couple stumbles in the stream. After looking at these photos...... it is all worth it!

Hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

J & M maternity

2008-09-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

The little baby boy will be here soon. What a great opportunity to capture mom's growing belly. J & M were such great troopers. We were moving furniture, going from room to room. They were up for anything. They are a great couple and I know they are going to be a great mom and dad.

The N Family

2008-09-07T22:19:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of photography the N family. It was a lot of fun and so nice that we could take them in our home town. It was nice to take a break from driving around. We first spent some time at the town park and then headed over to the playground. Little D couldn't wait to get to the playground, after a while I was not his favorite person anymore and he said "No More Pictures". He did such a great job for so long though. He is such a cutie I didn't want to stop taking pictures of him. Anyone who knows D though, knows that he is the boss. If D says he is done...... then we are DONE!

Thanks C & J for letting me share in your family time.

Baby B..... 7 days old

2008-08-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

He is here and what a cutie! He is perfect from head to toe!

The C Family

2008-07-26T21:50:00.001-07:00

This family is absolutely adorable. The girls are so well behaved. They were such troopers and enjoyed exploring. Thank you so much B&J for letting me capture your family moments.

Little C at 9 months

2008-07-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how big he has gotten! He did such a good job but when he was done, he was done. He is a FAST little guy.

Beautiful Belly..... T at 35 weeks

2008-07-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

Three Beautiful Little Ladies

2008-07-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

These are some of my 3 favorite girls and I appreciate Mom letting me photograph them.

Lincoln Park

2008-06-06T16:07:00.001-07:00

Brown Family

2008-06-06T16:01:00.001-07:00

Went to Lincoln Park in Galesburg today and met up with fellow photographer, Jen Brown. (You can check out her site by clicking on the link on the right side of my page). We had a great time taking pictures of each others kids and assisting each other in pictures of our own children. Thanks Jen!

bigger babies

2008-04-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

Well, so far just my baby

kiddos

2008-04-29T09:12:00.001-07:00

little babies

2008-04-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

couples

2008-04-29T09:04:00.001-07:00

cake smash

2008-04-29T09:01:00.001-07:00

Family

2008-04-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

engagement

2008-04-29T08:49:00.001-07:00