A SNIP in a Snap!

                                              © 2006 Snip


A SNIP IN A SNAP

Before we started going to Snip when Jack heard the news that it was haircut day he would go though the five stages of grief.

1. Denial

"No! I'm NOT going to get my hair cut"

2. Anger

(insert bone shaking shrieks here)
Jack collapses, kicks his feet, and runs out of the room screaming he doesn't like to get his hair cut.

3. Bargaining

"How about we go to the ice cream store today and do a hair cut next week?"

4. Depression

Nothing to type because Jack has stopped talking to me at this stage and is no longer in the room.

5. Acceptance

Okay. Well, Jack went through four stages of grief. I don't think he accepted his hair cuts even after they were over!


Jack grieves no more! Thanks to Mitch and Jordan at Snip.

Now when I tell Jack it's time to get a hair cut he gleefully asks if we're going to the place with the TV and the car. Getting him in the car no longer involves any crying or collapsing. Once we get there Jack eagerly hops into the Mercedes convertible while Sophia runs over to the four foot long aquarium. During the haircut Sophia goes from the aquarium to the basketball game to the kid sized table covered in coloring books and crayons. Jordan and Mitch's laid back and relaxed personalities make the atmosphere and my experience the same. Haircut, relaxing? Yes, I said it!

For more information on Snip contact Mitch or Jordan at 203-255-6660 or visit their website at: www.snipcut.com

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TWO MORE DAYS AT BORDERS

                                              © 2006 Hadley Spagna Photography

If you haven't made it down there yet, you've got two more days to see my display in Borders. For everyone who can't make it I included the photo above so you can get a sneak peek.

Busted! That was us on the Baby Story

After the recent airing of our episode of The Baby Story I got lots of emails asking if that was us. I guess I can't sneak that one by.

Sophia Grace's birth story was featured on TLC's A Baby Story. The episode is almost three years old now and occasionally will come back on the air.

One of the questions I get asked most frequently is, "How was the experience doing the show?" The experience of filming the Baby Story was really fun and even a little challenging. One of the best parts was seeing how the show worked behind the scenes. It definitely would not have been a great experience with out the incredible producer who worked on our show. Not only can she put a great show together (she's an Emmy winner!) but she is so warm and friendly. Because of her great personality I felt totally at ease and she helped make filming the show a great experience. The challenging part was cooking a spaghetti and meatball dinner for 12 people when I was 8 months pregnant. You won't see 12 people on that segment of the show. That's because I fed the crew too!

Pee Pee Tee Pee

                                              © 2006 www.uncommongoods.com

Nope, that's not just a catchy title. It really exists. A pee pee tee pee. Where was that 5 years ago? That would have come in handy on a couple of occasions! This looks like a perfect "shower" gift.

A more than decent meal for kids (and parents too)!

                                                © 2006 Southport Brewing Company

When I eat out with my children usually someone loses. My kids prefer restaurants equipped with a playland. I prefer restaurants equipped with a wine list. Almost always our dining out experience involves an unhappy party. Neil and I find that eating at restaurants (if you will) that have indoor slides and ball pits leave something to be desired. Jack and Sophia find that eating at restaurants with dim lighting and too many menus are a fate worse than a 17 hour marathon time out. There is ONE place where we can eat and everyone wins: Southport Brewing Company

Their secret is the Kids Menu. The kids menu comes with a fruit cup, vegetables, fries or mashed potatoes, a juice box, dessert AND a little toy too. Yes, there are chicken fingers, macaroni & cheese, pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches on the kids menu. But, if you can get your kids to eat salmon that too is on the kids menu (for under $8.00 I might add). The kids menu also has grilled boneless chicken breast and fish sticks (in total 9 different things to choose from). Oh, and if you're eating with an infant you can get a box of Cheerios for the wee one. Not bad eh? I'm convinced the person who came up with the Kids Menu at SBC has lived with children at some point in time (perhaps they have one or two of their own?). I truly appreciate this kids menu, it can't be beat.

(okay, you're not going to find a ball pit there, but there is some really neat brewery stuff for the kids to admire)

Bon Appetit!

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Why not devote this entire post to food? The Walter's Post was so successful (I loved reading your emails!) that I thought I would do a Walter's Dog Epilogue.

Shortly after the Walter's post was written I had to be in the city for a shoot so I stopped by Walter's on the way home.




Yum Walter's Mustard!
                                                © 2006 Hadley Spagna Photography



Here's a picture of the line experience: (YES there was a line at the end of December in 40 degree weather at 3:30 PM on a weekday - a 20 minute line!)
                                                © 2006 Hadley Spagna Photography


I forgot to mention in the other post that if you like to put chili, cheese, french fries, sauerkraut, or any other hot dog garnish on your dog, you're better be prepared: You can get mustard, ketchup or both at Walter's. That's it.
                                                © 2006 Hadley Spagna Photography

Thank you to the kind blog reader who reminded me that I never discussed the location of Walter's in my previous blog post. Walter's is located at 937 Palmer Avenue in Mamaroneck, NY. :)

Great things are in store for 2006 - Happy New Year!

                                              © 2006 Hadley Spagna Photography

Happy New Year!

Is it me or did the Holidays FLY by this year? When I started to think about this blog entry (dedicated to the New Year and the Holiday season that flew by) I knew exactly which picture to post.

When a photographer goes on location to a new client they never know what they're going to get. That's another one of the reasons why I love my job (keeps me on my toes). When I got a call from this great couple I mentally prepared for lack of light. It's not uncommon to have a Manhattan apartment with blah lighting. When I showed up for this session I was prepared for blah. I had studio lighting equipment, stands, reflectors, the whole she-bang. Their amazing apartment had so much natural light that I didn't know what to do with it all! A pleasant surprise! If only it was summertime I would have conducted the session on their enormous terrace (and I would have surely scored some peppers and parsley from their garden) ((yes guys that was directed at you and was designed to be a slightly more than subtle hint))

This couple's picture was selected for this post because they're starting their New Year with a New Baby Boy. I photographed him at 15 days old. He's very mature for 15 days and I swear he has the eyesight and attention span of a 5 week old! He's even on a schedule! Just wait until you see him!

Hey, great things are in store for you too in 2006

For starters, ordering photographs online is even easier than it was in 2005. Not only is my online ordering system even easier to use, but it's packed with so many great features! Now you can send your friends and family email-postcards with one of the photographs from your session. There's also a private message board for friends and family that view your gallery to communicate with each other. Or if you're having trouble deciding which pictures to order you can add them to your "favorites" and save your selections to order them at another time. I can't wait for you guys to see the improved gallery. The new gallery knocks the socks off of the old gallery.

Having trouble deciding which pictures to select from your gallery?

Get them all! Last year so many of my clients had trouble selecting which photographs to order. So, this year, I've added some packages where you can get one of everything! Also new this year is a special mini-session created specifically for my repeat clients that want multiple sessions per year.

You can't use framing and frugal in the same sentence.

Another exciting change for 2006 is a partnership I've formed with a local framer. Framing can be expensive. Especially when you're framing 15 photographs at the same time. So, I've negotiated a special deal exclusively for my clients to help reduce framing costs.