Oh where have I been?!

I miss you! .. and you!… and you right there!

I truly honestly, sincerely do! I miss my blog! and you!

So here I am! I spent a whole month in Brazil! Taking a much-needed vacation! Its been a month since I came back… however… life is soooo busy that I haven’t had time to do “stuff”! Things I did on a daily basis are backing up in my brain file… so I need to catch up!

Starting here!

My mom is moving back to the US after 5 years!!!!!! Tomorrow is her last day as a Brazil Resident! yay!! Cant wait to have a babysitter “on call”! LOL JUST KIDDING people! My mom means more to me than anything you could ever imagine! So excited!

Back on track… stay focus Renata! Here it is…

Lots going on and very little time, so while baby girl sleeps here I am to update you on the behind the scenes!

Thank you for everyone’s prayers and good wishes… business is picking up and lots of sessions are being booked!

Did I mention I finally registered Photos By Renata? Yep! I’m officially a business owner.working mom/wife. And I’m doing what I love to do! Thank you for your support! if you think you haven’t being part of my journey… think again… you are reading my blog! You are officially responsible for my success!

So anyways… here is whats new:

This week is the last week to take advantage of the $99 portrait session special! You’ll receive the same package advertised on my website ($174 value) for only $99… however, there is a catch! You must pay by the end of this month (08/31) and book it by the end of september (09/30)… super great awesome deal! Hurry!

Im also in the process of updating my website… although I love my free template, its time to grow and expect great things! I will have a new website by late september and I am looking for models… no, not Gisele Bündchen type… not like that… I’m looking for you, your friends, your kiddos! Please refer to my notes on my Facebook page, and if you qualify, please send me an email ASAP… I will be selecting my models next week!

Please please please… become a FAN on my Facebook! I receive a lot of emails asking for updates, promotions, discounts… unfortunately I do not have time to respond to everyone on a daily basis… liking my Facebook fan page will keep you up to date on EVERYTHING Photos By Renata is up to! So pleeeease! :o) LOVE YOU!

Exciting news is that I am going to be displaying some of my photos at Playfully Panache Children’s Consignment Boutique, a new kids consignment store in Deerfield Beach! I am VERY excited! I love the store sooo much that I’m now a customer and consigner! Highly recommend you to visit!! If you do… take a picture with your phone in front of my photos… post it on my wall on Facebook and I will have a gift for you!! Come on! Celebrate it with me!

If you are a shop owner of any business related to kids or maternity and would like to have my work displayed on your wall… please call me! I will give you a photo shoot in exchange for the space!

Tomorrow… August 27th! Grand opening of East West Karate Boca… and guess who’s gonna work there? I’m going to be the one capturing their moment! So exciting! Are you coming? Come! it will be a great time… with prizes, free classes and much more! Show your support! RSVP here.

Anywho! It was sooooo nice writing to y’all again! and I promise I’ll be back soon!

Don’t forget to leave a comment below or visit  www.Facebook.com/PhotosRenata

I would love to hear from you!

xoxo <3

Newborn Sweetness

Baby F –  8 days new!

Newborn Photography

{Photos By Renata}

{Boca Raton – Delray Beach – Deerfield Beach}

Sisterly Love

 

Mother’s Day Special!

Mother’s Day Mini Session Special at a park in Deerfield Beach

{Renata Photographer Boca Raton}

The Mikey Project!

I’m calling this – The Mikey Project – because….

Allow me to introduce someone VERY dear special to me!

This is Michael! [I call him Mikey]

Mikey is the son of one of my best.est. friend Cristina! I call her Crika!!  We have been friends for over 8 years! Our memories and “troubles” go back a couple of years! Crika has always been there for me, supporting me, praying for me, crying with me… and then we got married! LOL

Crika moved to a couple of different places… and now she made roots in Arizona where she owns a bakery business [if you are in the area make sure to check her out… booooy… she can bake! Oh yeah she bakes gooood!] > LIKE her FACEBOOK!

Now.. back to Mikey. This handsome little man is 3 years old and was diagnosed with autism about a year ago. Please read more about Mikey on his momma’s blog – click here!

Although we tend to feel sorry when someone tells you about such diagnoses… I was surprised by the way I took the news. It was amazing how comforting my heart felt to know that God had chosen Mr. J. and Mrs. C. to be the parents of this blessed little man!

Mikey is in good hands and God couldnt of chosen better parents for him!

It’s with him in my thoughts that I decided, during the month of Autism Awareness, to donate a Portrait Package to a special family! So if you know a family with disability [not just autism], please send me an email to info@photosbyrenata.com. I will be receiving entries until April 30th.

Please send an email talking a little bit about the family and why a Portrait Package would be so special to them! Please remember to include a photo of the family too. Chosen family will be picked by Random.org

If you wish to donate to Autism Speaks please click here! Let me know so you can receive 10% off your Portrait Package just for donating ANY amount!

:.:AirKisses:.:

Disclaimer: Session location must be Broward or South Palm Beach County (Florida). Families must agree to have their photos posted on my Facebook. The donated Portrait Package includes: 60 min session, 5 digital images on a disc, 1 location, 1 outfit, and 3 months of Online Gallery. Families must sign a model release prior to the start of the session.

 

Before I go…

MOTHERS’ DAY MINI SESSION ON APRIL 28th – Space is limited! By appointment ONLY!

 

 

Easter Special!

The Mini Easter Session was yesterday!

Ooh how I love my job! The more I do it, the more I realize I was born for this!

To all the moms that came out, thank you for your amazing help! I couldn’t do it without you! To the cuties… I wuv you!

Here is a little bit of what I got yesterday!

Happy Easter!! Happy Spring!!

<3

Do you know a special child? Its Special Education Week and Autism Awareness Month… stay tuned as I will be offering something special for a special family!

If you missed the Mini Easter Session… don’t panic! Take advantage of the Mother’s day Special! Click here for more info!

Make sure to like my facebook fan page > www.facebook.com/photosrenata and be up to date on the latest news and specials!

:.:Hugs&Kisses:.:

Get To Kno Me!

Many of you… my blog followers… my Facebook fans… clients… acquaintances… some friends… distant family members… know very little about me.

A friend of mine once told me that people want to know you [or at least think they really know you], and relate to you, your problems, your happiness…

Well, my friend… take a sit, grab a glass of wine, relax… and enjoy the ride!

[For the safety of my own and family… I might not disclose certain personal info such as names and locations – lot of creepy people out there! LOL]

Born and raised [up to my 16th birthday] in Brazil. Moved to Florida in 2000. We had nothing [my dad brought very little $ in his pocket for a family of 4]. Thankfully we had amazing friends/neighbors who helped us for months [even years]. We slept on the soft carpet for a long time. Other than groceries, the first thing my dad bought with the money he made working as a contractor was a TV. No furniture! Just an empty apartment, with blankets on the floor [our beds] and an amazing smell of garlic, onions and oil [my mom cooking!].

Mind you that we had a great life in Brazil, with an amazing [my second mom] maid, who worked for us for over 16 years! I still get teary eyes thinking of her!

I no speak engrish for a looong time! If you dared to give me a chance to talk to you… you’d better know sign language! [not the real sign language!]

My first job was at McDonald’s [We love to see your smile!] and I’m proud of it! I was promoted several times from the grill to the french fries! I quit because my boss kept on asking me to mop the floor everyday [Oh Boy! Things you do when you are a kid!]

At 18 years old I gave my life to Jesus [don’t stop readying! This will not turn into a religious subject – just get to know me!] I kid you not… my life was turned up side down – actually, I take that back and rephrase it – my life was finally turned down side up!

I was freaking out with all that was happening, but I knew I had made an important decision… and my life was never the same. I went thru ups and down… a lot of disappointments with the people who preached so highly about God and the church… but one thing kept me focused — and it was God Jesus – the One and Only – the One who has given me the strength all these years – the One who has provided all this time!

My  husband [then boyfriend] came along in 2003 [crazy little head! – all he wanted was enjoy life to the fullest – with his friends – not me! – remember… I’m just the “church girl”]. Little did he know that God had a plan! He also gave his life to Jesus – after a lot of prayer! Three years later, we were Mr. & Mrs..

Another three years went by and we were gifted with our little girl! She was born on September 1st, 2009. She is a blessing! I cant even see life without her!

In 2008… I got me a gift… I call her Miss Canon [she is my business partner! wink!] – with previous training and more training afterwards… I realized I had a talent – it became a part-time job!

It wasnt until last year that photography became my full-time job!

I’m no longer an illegal immigrant sleeping on the carpet floor. I no longer work for McDonald’s moping the floor or flipping hamburgers and french fries. I no longer cry out to God and assume His not listening… I am now a wife, a mom, a business woman… struggling everyday to provide for my family, to love my family… to be the best wife and mom I can be… I am the daughter of the King of kings. I’m a friend, I’m a sister, I’m a blogger, Facebooker…

I’m not perfect, I’m human… I’m just like you… trying to strive all that I can to make my loved ones proud of me… to be able to pad on my shoulders and tell my own self – you are beautiful, you are smart, you are how you are meant to be… and I’m proud of you!

Despite all the trouble I’ve being thru, despite all the struggles I’ve gone thru [especially in the past few months]…

Im B.L.E.S.S.E.D

Partying like a BlogStar!

I wasn’t too sure about it… my friend from Oh Baby Boy by Clemens Design couldn’t wait! So I thought… I got a Blog, I’m a mom, I’m at home, I have a business… and I like to party!! So why not?!

5MinuteForMom is hosting the biggest blog party on the block! So get your neighbors, friends and party bloggers and join the fun!

I didn’t enter in their pool of prizes… but I sure entered to win it! LOL

So, a little about me:

*.* Wife to an awesome supportive hubs

*.* Mom of a beautiful lil girl

*.* Photographer to the celebrities people

*.* Christian – and extremely blessed

*.* Brazilian chica

*.* Blogger and Facebooker

*.* Here is my website > www.PhotosByRenata.com [in case you want proof that I can handle Miss Canon! Wink!]

*.* If I havent responded to your questions, ask me then! ;o)

Excited to hop around blogs! Hope to make some new friends!! If you are part of the party [or not] drop me a comment! Quick one… say – Hi!

If you are in South Florida [unless you pay for travel expenses!], count on me for your photography needs!!

Air kisses! Muuah!

Marching for Babies!

Hi there!

I’ve signed up with Stroller Strides Team to Walk 4 miles in pro of Babies at the March of Dimes in Boca Raton.

I did it last year and couldn’t wait to be part of this event again… nothing gives me more pleasure than doing something for babies [and photographing!].

Here is a pic of us last year [2010]!

If you would like to donate $ and help me help babies, please do so by making a secure donation clicking the ‘donate now’ button on my page!

If you can’t contribute with money… pray that all babies have the opportunity of a healthy life! [Prayer can move mountains my friend!]

Photos By Renata will be donating a photo shoot session to the silent auction at Melting Pot in Boca Raton hosted by Stroller Strides of Boca Raton in pro of March of Dimes. If you have a business and would like to donate too, please contact Ivie Claudio for more info. If you are interested in being part of the auction, join us on May 6, 2011 at the Melting Pot!

Hug-N-Kisses!!!

Am I too old, or is she growing up too fast?

It wasn’t too long ago that I would be knocking on the door and she would RUUUN to give me a hug, or wait anxiously till dinner was served to make sure I was sitting by her side, hold my hand and touch my hair, ask me grown up questions… yup! Now… she is too busy with Bieber Fever!

My hubs lil cuz [mah lil cousin! Shhhhhh don’t tell her I called her “lil”] turned into a beautiful-smart-sweet young woman.

Mariah had makeup professionally done by Gabriela’s Salon, then headed to the beach for an awesome beach sunset sweet 16 15 photoshoot! Posing with Be Yourself – Jewelry by Elaine … she was a natural!

We played with her iPod and we even talked about Justin Bieber! We had a great time!!

Happy 15th birthday Riah! <3