Here in our Nantucket studio we have been very busy with our holiday orders and want to let everyone know that there is still time to order prints and cards in time for Christmas. We have a very efficient team here in our office and at our lab and turn-around time is better than ever. Please don't hesitate to email us at production@claudiak.com or call us at 508-228-1218. Libby created this card for one of our wedding clients on Nantucket. I love how personal and sweet it is.

I photographed little Sam's first year Milestone portrait on the beach. The post production technique that I applied to the photograph to give it the mood is reminiscent of my old Holga days when I used my darkroom to print and tone my prints. The Holga is a plastic camera that goes for $25 and uses 120 film or square medium format film. These days I don't shoot film but I can still get that feeling using some very special Photoshop techniques that a colleague, Parker J, created. It feels good to break out and try some new things and I wonder what Sam's parents will think of this! (Below is the image straight out of the camera)

I am off to Vegas for the world famous and most well attended photography convention held by WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) and I am honored to be one of their Platform Presenters again. The first time I went to this convention (photos above) I was also a Platform speaker so it was an incredible experience for me in many ways. First, I was completely jazzed by the collective energy of having so many talented photographers in one location, speaking and attending the multiple seminars and classes. Everyone was completely excited and you could feel it in the air. Secondly, was the learning experience and exposure to new ideas, new techniques, new equipment and mostly new friends and colleagues. Talk about nerds! Photographers are complete geeks for their industry and how much fun it was to talk late into the night (maybe with a drink in hand!) with some of the industry's finest photographers in the world.

The next year I was honored to be a Master Class teacher and teach to a small hand-picked group. Actually each person in the class hand-picked me to come listen to and it was an entirely different animal than the Platform the year before. This was intimate and inviting, a ongoing discussion and often one-on-one. I learned as much as any of the attendees did, I am sure of that.

Now I am honored for a third time and with Nikon's help and WPPI's support I will be on the platform once again on February 18, 2009, 8:00 am (do I get to sleep at all?). My presentation is called "Balancing Act" because as a mother, professional photographer doing weddings, portraits and editorial and having to travel for work and networking, I find that the "art" of multi-tasking is just that: an art. I am in the process of putting together my talk and I want to invite everyone to come see me, or even stop by for a few minutes on your way to Jerry Ghionis or Parker J who are speaking at the same time (wow!) and please stay to talk afterwards or find me in the halls of MGM Grand and stop for a chat

Here's Michael who is almost 6 months old and whose parent's wedding I photographed last year. I stopped by their home a few days ago and photographed his portrait as part of CKP's mini portrait sessions we do especially in the off-season. For $200 you receive a twenty minute portrait session and an online gallery (with shopping cart options) of the images to choose from. I firmly believe (having three kids of my own) how important it is to document the pivotal stages of baby's first year.

I met Kelly and Patrick and their dog Charlie in Boston Public Garden to shoot their engagement pictures. What a beautiful fall day in Boston and a beautiful couple. Their wedding is in Newport next September.