Around Town

Despite the rainy night we’re having, this weekend is shaping up to be another fun one in Southwest Florida!

DNA Lifeprint Event – Saturday, March 13th at Sutherlin Nissan – FREE

The DNA LifePrint Child Safety Event and endorsed by John Walsh, America’s Trusted Name In Fighting Crime is coming to Fort Myers this weekend. This program provides parents with the vital tools recommended by the FBI and The Department Of Justice.  In fact, the program is being donated to our community by Sutherlin Nissan this weekend.  The location of the event is 13985 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 9:30am – 2:00pm.

Biometrics is the newest and most advanced technology available today for obtaining fingerprints. We are privileged to be able to use the same equipment presently used by Federal Agencies, Law Enforcement, and the US Military. Law Enforcement know that time is critical in the recovery of a missing child. The Biometric Technology our program brings to parents allows their child’s fingerprints to be immediately submitted into the FBI Database as soon as they are reported missing. When the child’s fingerprints are entered into the FBI Database, the fingerprints become immediately available to all law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

You will receive the following DNA kit ($14.95 value) when you bring your child with you to this event:

FBI Certified Biometric 10 Digit Fingerprint Profile.

High resolution full color Digital Photograph of your child.

A Child Safety Journal which will provide law enforcement officials with all the necessary vital information about your child and other important facts they will need immediately after a child is reported missing.

A Home DNA Identification Kit that is easy to use and lasts through generations.

There is no data basing on Saturday: After each child goes through the line, parents are handed a Child Safety Journal (which contains the Biometric Fingerprints and Digital Photo) and a DNA Kit. The DNA Kit contains detailed instructions on how to use the DNA Kit at home. The only record of the visit is handed to you to take home: The event sponsor keeps no records on file. You will also be given John Walsh’s Child Safety Tips. All the information provided at this Child Safety Program is recommended by child safety experts and law enforcement officials to be updated every 6 months.

If a child becomes missing, parents greatly increase their chance of quickly recovering their child if they immediately provide, a FBI Certified Biometric 10 Digit Fingerprint Profile, a DNA Sample, a High Resolution Full Color Photograph, and Current Statistical Information.

Parents Please Bring Your Children to this FREE Child Safety Program!  For more information, click here.

52nd Annual Shrimp Festival – Fort Myers Beach, ALL WEEKEND!

Come on down to the beach this weekend and take part in this fun festival!!  There will be a parade, lots of crafts, food, music, and…SHRIMP!  For a complete rundown of activities all weekend, click here.

Coors Light Open – Fort Myers Country Club – ALL WEEKEND!

The Fort Myers Country Club is a joy to play. Designed by the great Donald Ross in 1916 and opened in 1917, it is one of the oldest facilities on the west coast of Florida and the Fort Myers Country Club plays like golf should be! Golfers find it to be a fun quality place. Walking is permitted every day of the year and any time of the day and rarely does a home come into play on the course. The “Fort”is truly a course of the ages.

The “Fort” also possesses another tradition. The Coors Open, a Pro-Am golf tournament that began in 1963 and is the longest running event in Southwest Florida. The 48th Annual Coors Open will be held this weekend, March 12-13,2009. One local writer refers to the Coors Light Open as the biggest little tournament in the United States. He´s so right! There is no charge for admission; no fee for parking and spectators can walk right next to the players! Wow, no wonder half of Southwest Florida comes to watch!

The Fort is set in a unique and warm setting in the heart of Fort Myers. The “Fort”is only one mile south of the Thomas Edison Home and fact tells us that Mr. Edison, Mr. Henry Ford and others loved to play the “Fort”in the 1920´s.

Fort Myers Country Club is located at 3591 McGregor Boulevard – you can’t miss it!  Hope to see you all there!

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Trendy Tuesday | What to wear for your Mother and Child Session

Are you trying to figure out what to wear for your upcoming Mother and Child session? Well look no further then the weekly addition of Trendy Tuesday! Lifexpressions is your personal shopper and we have found all your wardrobe essentials to make your portrait session a perfect 10.

Just in time for the warm weather (that I know will be here soon) Lilly Pulitzer has a great selection of Spring and Summer clothes for mom and child (even for boys)! The beautiful vibrant colored clothes will make your beach or secret garden session look magnificent.

Lilly Pulitzer is so perfect for a Florida session. Classic and timeless beach wear for every family member work perfectly for a photo. Be creative, mix the patterns, all the colors are coordinating so it really works!

Enjoy your selections there are so many on lillypulitzer.com and garnetthill.com, you really can’t go wrong. Remember to wear what fits and you feel comfortable in. I love the tunic dress, but make sure you like how you or the children look sitting in it. There are many other full skirts or maxi dresses for mom that are also designed in the fabrics you love. Even the solid wrap over a white shirt and pants can be stunning for mom with your little ones in Lilly pattern shift dress. I can’t wait to have my first session in some of these adorable outfits.

P.S. if Dad wants in on the photos – Lilly even makes coordinating fabric items for Dad! Check out all the great ties…..oh an idea for my Trendy Tuesday Father’s Day addition is forming in my mind! *grin*

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Trendy Tuesday | Matilda Jane

“Come’on who doesn’t love a compliment?” The designer of Matilda Jane Clothing knows that all her shoppers hear these words every time they wear anything Matilda Jane! Some may call Matilda Jane clothing an addiction, others who don’t know the brand will simple become addicted, in a matter of time.

Matilda Jane clothing showcases the sweetness of any child. These clothes are also so powerful in a photo. All the designs are simple silhouettes because its not about the clothes it is about the darling girl wearing them. This season even brother, mom and dad can become a part of the Matilda Jane addiction for a perfectly coordinated photo.

For your next lifeXpressions session try some of these adorable styles that have been featured on the Matildajaneclothing.com website. The mix of fabrics, patterns and styles will make each picture unique. The colors all coordinate so your families clothing choices will work together without competing. These simple clothing selections will make a portrait look like you spent hours shopping for just the perfect combination.

All Matilda Jane clothes are sold through a trunk keeper, so if you don’t have one of your own email Nia at niac@matildajaneclothing.com between now and March 14th to get the details. Don’t forget to mention you heard about it on lifeXpressions’ Trendy Tuesday post. Don’t delay, you know how quickly the most popular styles sell out! And your Spring session is right around the corner too.

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lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

Newborn & Baby Model Search | Naples Baby Photographer

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I simply adore my profession and being able to preserve precious memories for my clients. I often arrive at a client’s home for their session with several concepts in my head and ideas I would like to try. However, when commissioned for a session my first goal is to capture the images my client has his or her heart set on. This means I don’t always get the opportunity to bring the ideas rolling around in my head to life. To accomplish those personal goals and try some new techniques lifeXpressions photography is looking for a few fresh faces! Specifically we are looking for Newborns under two weeks of age and babies 6 months – 14 months old.

Newborns under two weeks of age with one or both parents. Mom and/or Dad should be comfortable in their own skin as some of the images will involve skin on skin intimate portraits with your newborn. Newborn must be younger than two weeks of age at the time of the session. Expecting Moms who are interested and due within the next 6 weeks are encouraged to call. Twins are welcome!

Babies age 6 – 14 months old with outgoing personalities who love meeting new people and exploring their surroundings. Being able to sit unassisted is helpful but not required.

For participating on this model search and helping me bring to life a few of the creative ideas flowing through my head you will receive a complimentary child session, an online gallery for sharing the images captured with family and friends and 20% off print prices. This session will be geared toward bringing a certain pose or artistic concept to life, additional poses, looks and ideas may be captured as time permits but are not guaranteed. A signed model release will be required as some of your images may be used for future marketing purposes. To inquire please email us at info@lifexpressions.net Please include your due date/child’s age and a recent snapshot of the child if available.

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Around Town

Baby, it’s COLD outside.  Brrrrr!!!  And we’re in for another storm this weekend.  Has this been a crazy winter or what?  I can handle the cold, but not when our gorgeous blue skies go to cloudy gray.  Thankfully, I think we’re in for a lot of sunshine this weekend, even though it will be cold.   Let’s see what’s happening, shall we?

Southwest Florida Lee County 86th Annual Fair, Lee Civic Center – 2/26 through 3/8

If you love fairs, you’re in for a treat!  Today commences the 86th Annual Southwest Florida Lee County Fair.  It runs through March 8, 2010 at the Lee County Civic Center and Fairgrounds, 11831 Bayshore Road, in North Fort Myers.  For more information about tickets and times, please call (239) 543-8364.

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FREE Busch Gardens Preschool Pass for kids ages 5 and younger, Busch Gardens – Tampa, ALL YEAR!!!

That’s right - if you have a child 5 and younger, a Free Commemorative Busch Gardens Preschool Pass is waiting! It’s all they need to explore the wonders of Busch Gardens and our all-new Sesame Street Safari of Fun…for all of 2010.  Come join everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends on a family-friendly Safari adventure where the rhythms of Africa are sprinkled with giggles. It’s Busch Gardens’ newest land filled with kid-size rides, cool water fun and plenty of memorable adventures. Fly through the desert with Grover. Climb in Elmo’s Tree House. Splash in Bert and Ernie’s watering hole. You can even dine with your child’s furry friends. It’s Sesame Street Safari of Fun, where imaginations run wild and there’s fun for everyone.  Click here to register for your free pass.  Did I mention there are NO blackout dates either???  What a fantastic deal this is!

44th Annual Swamp Cabbage Festival – Labelle, ALL WEEKEND!

Load up the family and join us for food, fun, and entertainment!!!! Parade, Rodeo, Food, Arts & Crafts, Miss Swamp Cabbage Festival, Armadillo Races and fun for all ages. Parade Starts February 27th at 10:00 a.m.   For more information on all the activities, click here.

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Flashback Friday

Here’s the scoop: Each Friday I’ll randomly select one photo from two different sessions from the lifeXpressions archives to share here on the blog. The featured family will be eligible to win a free 8×10 of the image showcased on the blog AND a $50 gift certificate towards a future session which they may use for themselves or pass on to a friend.

Flashback Friday ContestSo what’s the catch? The flashback image could be as recent as this past January or as far back as 2004, names of the clients will not be given so you’ll just have to make sure you’re checking the blog every Friday to see if your session is featured. If it is, you have just one week to claim the prize so you better act quickly! Are you ready?!? Here we gooooo….If one of these totally cute kiddos belongs to you, contact us at info@lifexpressions.net to claim your prize by midnight eastern time on Thursday March 4th.

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

Sneak Peek { Andy, Lila, & Mommy } | Fort Myers Mother and Child Portraits

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraitsEarlier this week (on one of our lately quite rare warm days) I had the opportunity to play catch up with a family I hadn’t seen in about a year. In fact, I’m pretty sure Lila (now two) was the same age then as her little brother is now (7 months) when we first met on the beach. This time they traveled all the way from Sarasota for our session together at Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers. Suffice it to say, by the time they arrived little Lila was ready to go-go-go and that she did! I must remember to thank her for saving me a trip to the gym.  haha :P

Thanks Lila, Andy, Mommy (and of course Grand-Mommy too!) – it was so nice to spend the morning with you all once again. I’m looking forward to showing you all of the lovely Mommy and me moments we captured together real soon!lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits