Izzy's Turtle Shirts

I was really busy designing shirts the other day. Izzy came up to me and asked for a shirt. I thought it couldn't hurt because it would give me a chance to see a new design so I showed her all the different infant shirts that we carry at Spencer Photos. Out of all the possible choices she chose this turtle shirt. I took the turtle image, added "Izzy's Turtle Shirt" and then a plug for the store (might as well make the baby a walking advertisement) and ordered it.

We received it in the mail the other day and I have to say it is so cute. She wore it to daycare on Thursday.

Doing this customization for her also gave me a great idea. I'll be able to offer customization on any of these shirts and allow parents to add their child's name or a message to their child on their shirts. I'll have to add a section to the store for this.

Lots of New Arrivals!

I've been very busy lately working on Spencer Photos. I can't believe how many photographs I've left just sit on our computers. I'm going through all the prints to add that are on Steven's computer. I've just added 130 images to our cafepress store and still have many more to go. I've added some lovely black and whites, fall pictures, tons of pink roses.

I've gone and changed the store quite a bit. The old home page can now be found at: Photographic Gifts and Prints

This morning I decided to add: My Creative Kid. It's a shop I have been thinking about for quite some time. I have a whole bunch of kid friendly designs in my head that I need to get onto the computer. Luckily Steven's been learning how to use a whole bunch of great programs on the computer so he'll be able to take my ideas and make them real designs.

I've added a few designs to: 12 Months but that store is so totally not where it is supposed to be. Eventually I'll have time to get it there but until then, this section will be sparce.

No tricks, just treats. Our awesome gifts can't be beat!

Stop by Spencer Photos to see our new arrivals! There is a beautiful basket of apples, a pirate pumpkin, black and white daffodils and more!

New Arrivals

Brand New Photography Gifts

Everyday beauty in a whole new way!

Browse this section to see a sample of some of our new photographic images that are now for sale. New items were also added in our Animals of the Air, Animals of the Sea , Orange Flowers, Botanical Prints.

I've also added entire new categories to our shop! Check out the fun items offered in Artistically Altered. There are black and white images, photographic cutouts, floral designs, fun borders, alien blooms and dark scenes, and more!

New section to raise awareness and funds at People Matter! Profits from these sections will go towards creating emergency funds to prevent or minimize homelessness one family at a time. Profits from our breast cancer shirts will be donated to a charity with a specific focus on Breast Cancer health, education, and awareness.

This Nerdy Girl has great sections such as Bitter Wife, Odd Sayings, Gamer Gear, Music and more!

New Additions!

Spencer Photos invites you to check out our new designs! Cutout photography designs are now available on our clothing selections as well as tile coasters, prints, mugs and more!

Artistically Altered

Artistically Altered Photographic Images

Several great designs are waiting here for you! Browse our alien blooms made with negative imaging, sketch prints, metallic blooms, stamped designs, beautiful watercolors and more!

These vivid, unique images will add beauty and character to your home or office and they also make great gifts! Show your love for animals or nature! Decorate your home with our framed prints, posters and framed tiles or welcome your guests with our beautiful coasters. Our lovely tote bags are so versatile the possibilities are endless: grocery shopping, library tote, crafts and more!

Have some fun! You know you want to.

This nerdy girl is all about having fun and freedom of expression. There are fun and frisky designs here that you are sure to enjoy. There is an incredible set of glowing hands for all the music lovers out there and the Daddy is a DJ shirt perfect for children who, well, who's daddy is a DJ. Wanna be DJs are okay too.

Sometimes I get mad and want people to know this and there's a shirt for that. My daughter is spoiled (or so I've been told) and there is a shirt for that too.

Enjoy!

Celebrate your life!
There are 12 months full of reasons! Get the perfect gift for every member of your family with shirts in all styles and colors, buttons, magnets, cards and more! There are many things that we can celebrate each day. Whether it’s a holiday, birthday or a just because day there is a reason to be happy.

Are you ready for the holidays? We have some Christmas designs that will make great gifts. We also have some beautiful heartfelt designs for mothers and a fun heart for the one(s) you love.

People Matter!

Help make life better one step at a time!
Raising money to help fight breast cancer and homelessness!

Coming soon! The 9th annual costume walkathon. Come out to Old Dominion University on October 21, 2007 to support The Dwelling Place, an ecumenical family shelter in Norfolk, VA. Learn about homelessness and how to contribute to the shelter.

Designs will be added soon that you can proudly wear letting the world know that it's not okay that families are homeless. Profits from these sections will go towards creating emergency funds to prevent or minimize homelessness one family at a time.

Profits from our breast cancer shirts will be donated to a charity with a specific focus on Breast Cancer health, education, and awareness.

New Arrivals

Brand New Photography Gifts
Everyday beauty in a whole new way!

Browse this section to see a sample of some of our new photographic images that are now for sale. New items were also added in our Animals of the Air section, our Butterflies section, Pink Flowers, Red Flowers, and my favorite new addition at Cloud Prints.

About Us!

On Location Photography

Hampton Roads, Virginia

Steven and Heather are the photographers of Spencer Photography. We offer on location photo sessions and are excited to offer a new option, "Storybook Creations." Each storybook session includes an 8x8 21-page hardbook that blends storytelling and photography as your photo session becomes part of the book.

You choose what type of story you or your loved ones will have. "The Belly Book" is a good way to write that welcome letter to your unborn child and the "While You've Been Gone" is the perfect book to send to your long distanced loved ones. It's a great gift for distant relatives and deployed family and friends. Record holiday traditions or other meaningful events in one of our family books. We will come to you, interview you and then take the photographs to accompany your story. Your loved ones will treasure this gift always.

You're child can also be the star of their own fairytale such as a young child on a quest to find their happily ever after.

If you are interested in hiring a photographer to record a moment in your life contact us at lippyehat@hotmail.com with your name, phone number and the best time to contact you. Book us now for your very own “Storybook Creation”.

We offer private stores through Café Press from your photo session to create a unique shopping experience. We can also customize your order for a wonderful, personalized gift. We can add text, and make changes (color to black and white, cropping, special effects). We also offer on location photo sessions for engagements, weddings, family portraits, maternity sessions and more.

For scheduling a photo session, to customize one of our current images or for additional questions please contact us at lippyehat@hotmail.com

"Everyday beauty in a whole new way!"

We see life differently now that we are the parents of a very curious 3-year-old or maybe we are just seeing things as we did when we were children. We stop and enjoy the flowers and bugs. Even the sunlight coming through the trees is enough to stop us for awhile.

My husband and I love photography. Nature photography gives the three of us time together doing what we love. For those of you in the Hampton Roads area, we are also on-location photographers. Please take the time to browse our portfolio and contact us if you are interested.

Browse our store as we have many of our photographic prints for sale as prints and on t-shirts, mugs, coasters, and more!

New Design!

I just added this design to my store!

Come check it out at Dynamic Clouds!

I've been adding new designs and I have many more to add.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Hair Kingdom 344 Battlefield Blvd. Chesapeake, VA 23322 (757)482-1900 is known for their spirit of giving. The wonderful girls from the shop actively raise money to help make the world better one cause at a time.

When Katrina hit leaving countless people devastated, Hair Kingdom was there raising funds and offering support. Recently they've put together baskets and have raised funds to help a local women's shelter for domestic violence. They've also helped raise money for CHIP, Saint Jude's, and for children needing life saving medical care. The Foundation of Faith offers scholarships to students in the name of fallen soldiers and Hair Kingdom helped raised funds for their worthy cause.

As October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month they have started a new fundraising goal. They are selling shirts and donating the proceeds to help with the fight against breast cancer. Can you help these girls with their goals?

If you are in the Hampton Roads area, stop by their shop and ask how you can help, schedule an appointment to have your hair done and purchase one of their breast cancer awareness shirts. If you are outside of the Hampton Roads area shirts may be purchased through Spencer Photos and the proceeds will be given to charity with a specific focus on Breast Cancer health, education, and awareness.

Spencer Photos Online Store!

New things are happening at Spencer Photos! Come see our lovely pink flowers. There are zinnias, roses, lotus blossoms, echinacea and more!

I am currently working on this section adding more designs and more items. We know carry maternity shirts and plus sized shirts.

Been Awhile

It's been awhile since my last post. Quite a bit has been going on both in my personal life and in my professional life.

I've just started working on Spencer Photos again after a brief break. Steven, Izzy and I continue to go out and take more photographs. We've got some amazing animal and flower prints to add and I will be updating the portfolio section again.

I'm really excited about some of the changes that are taking place at Spencer Photos. I'm redoing all the sections and this will offer more options to our customers. Some of the changes that are taking place can be seen at Animals of the Land. I've been fixing product and section descriptions and I'm now offering our prints with borders.

Since this is a time consuming task it will take some time. I'm almost finished with Animals of the Land and that is a very small section of the store but eventually it will be finished and the store will be better for it.

I've also recently had our business cards and promotional handouts professionally printed. This is very excited as it means we are taking Spencer Photos to the next level. Soon we plan on branching out into art shows to gain more exposure.

We will be starting soon on a photographic book that should be very interesting. I am planning my outline for "The Scenic History of Hampton Roads". I plan on including as much as I can about this wonderful area.

Please take some time and browse through my store and come back in a few weeks to see the progress. There is also a newsletter sign up box at the store where you can keep up to date with our additions starting in August.

Fall in PA

I think I've forgotten how cold it feels in Northern Pennsylvania. We recently took an impromtu visit to PA to visit family. Steven and I took some beautiful scenic pictures of the leaves and hills. We also visited a farm that had pumpkins and a really cool corn maze. It was definately worth it.

I just need to select my favorite prints and offer them at Spencer Photos. I do know this, I am glad to be home.

New Arrivals to my cafepress store!

•I just added several new prints! (10/9/06)

Visit Butterflies to see a new butterfly and moth prints!

•I just added 2 new prints! (10/7/06)

Visit Animals of the Sea to see a new sea horse print and a crab print.


•I just added a new education section! (10/7/06)

Visit More information about Sea Horses


• I just added 1 new print! (10/7/06)

Visit Animals of the Land to see "Strong Dog"


• I just added 7 new prints! (10/6/06)

Visit Animals of the Air to see them. There are two eagle prints, two new bee prints, a cardinal and more!


•What's New at Spencer Photos! •Our landing page has changed! All our print categories have moved from the main page. They now can be found at Our Photography Prints

•Some sections now have additional information sections so that you can learn more!
Jamestown and Yorktown
Pennsylvania Grand Canyon
Ten Cool Things in Pittsburgh

• Our Portfolio is expanding. I pulled aside all of our prints with Isabella and gave the baby her own section. Be sure to check this out as it gives some good examples of our work. Pictures have also been added to our maternity and cheerleading sections with more being added.

•I've added an About Us! section. It's not complete yet, but this is where you'll go if you want to know more about Steven, Isabella or myself.

Steven, Izzy and I went to the Botanical Gardens on Monday so that we could explore the WOW garden. The world of wonders (WOW) opened labor day weekend but Monday was the first time we really had a chance to go. (Steven just finished his first semester of college so no homework to work on.) The WOW garden is incredible.

World of Wonders is a three-acre garden dedicated to families and children.
Located in the heart of Norfolk Botanical Garden, WOW brings the world of plants
to our back door, literally creating a museum without walls.

This garden is guided by the
philosophy that children will thrive and learn in their very own space dedicated
to them. The goal of the garden is to encourage children to explore the
connections between plants, international cultures and the environment, using
their natural curiosity and playful instincts.

- Norfolk Botanical Gardens

There's tons of water to play in and plays and displays to explore.

Izzy loved it. She ran and splashed and played. We explored and it was so fun. The Botanical Gardens is by far my most favorite place to go. I think part of it is the fragrent air. It also stimulates my brain as I'm on a treasure hunt for gems to photograph.

Fundraising efforts for the Children's Garden will be on-going.
So, if you know of anyone who is interested in supporting the
project please have them call (757) 441-5830 x319.

I think I'm falling for fall

This time of the year has been hard for me ever since we moved to Virginia. Fall is my favorite time of the year, at least fall in Pennsylvania it is.

Fall is the best season for so many reasons. The cooler, crisp air smells rich and earthy from all the leaves on the ground and the summer heat has finally broke but it's still not freezing as in winter. The leaves are turning beautiful warm colors-the reds, yellows, oranges, gold and browns. This is especially amazing when overlooking the PA Grand Canyon in Wellsboro, PA.

It's also time for apples freshly plucked from the tree, possibly even by your own hand, pumpkins - not imported but right from the source, the pumpkin patch itself. It's a time for warmed apple cider, hay rides and corn stalks.

We would pick our pumpkins, take them home and carve beautiful pictures into them, roast the seeds in the oven and then decorate the apartment for Halloween. I would burn apple scented and pumpkin spice candles which seemed to fill our home with a nice warm heavenly aroma that blanketed me from the slight chill.

The slight chill was welcomed too though because it brought people together. Friends over for dinner and games, more hugs from family and relief that winter hasn't yet touched.

We would run to the stores in September to pick out patterns, fabrics and supplies and piece together amazing costumes and proudly wear them for Halloween.

Where we are now, it's hard to tell that the season's changing. Outside I look to see still green grass, green trees, green plants hanging over the fence. Most days go by without the need for even a light jacket. Pumpkins are brought in and most people, if they buy them at all, get them at Wal~Mart and Food Lion. It's not the same. In order to get a hint of fall (pumpkins, gourds, apples and cider) I have to go to Wal~Mart and that's depressing.We haven't decorated yet, and we probably won't go all out like we used to.

I'm going to look online for some fall related activities to take the baby to. I just bought a pumpkin spice candle and I might try to simulate the chill with the AC. I think the thing that really gets to me is that I never took any pictures of all the fall things that I love so much. I think that I spent so much time enjoying fall that I didn't stop and think to take a picture.