Welcome

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog of Crista Acosta Photography. If you who are visiting for the first time, welcome! For those of you who keep coming back for peeks into my life and work, I appreciate you taking the time to catch up with me, my family, and my photography.

I'm a wife who is lucky enough to married to her best friend, a mom of a very active toddler, and a new baby boy that just joined us this spring. They are my greatest loves, and the reason for all that I do. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with photography too and this blog is a documentation of it all. Enjoy, and if you have any questions please feel free to drop me a line!

Thanks!

The Tent

Summer means many things around here… lazy afternoons at our neighbor’s pool, popsicle juice running down the arm of a certain year and a half old little boy, easy meals on the grill, long walks with the two munchkins in tow, but one of my favorite parts of summer is the tent.

The mosquitos around here are on steroids, so the tent was actually a necessity, but has quickly become something I so look forward to.  After all the kiddos are tucked in bed, C and I spend many evenings with our neighbors and friends hanging out in here.  The wine flows, the beers are cold, good conversation and a mean game of Scrabble.  It doesn’t get much better than this.

five days new | CT Newborn Photographer

David’s beautiful mom contacted me last Saturday in hopes of booking a last minute maternity session before her baby arrived, but this little guy had other plans and joined their family the very next day, on Father’s Day.  It doesn’t get much better than that in the way of a Father’s Day gift.  I met him on Friday at just five days new.  

I love newborn sessions, they are by far and away my favorite… but every once in a while I meet a new family that is so special and so inspiring that they take it to a level far beyond that.  I had such a great time at your session, congratulations again on your sweet baby boy!

and in honor of his special gift, here are some of Daddy with David.  This first is one of my absolute favorites from the session.

                                                                        

 

Choo Choo GOOOOO!!!!

We live about a mile from the train station, and in the evenings from our house you can hear the train’s whistle sound as it pulls into the little local station.  One day out of the blue, L.A. heard the train sound and without any warning or encouragement starting jumping up and down excitedly screaming “Choo Choo GO!!!”.  It was hysterical and adorably cute to see how enthusiastic he was, so C and I decided to take him down the next night to see the train in person.  

Since then, we’ve been a few times, and it’s always the same reaction.  He patiently waits babbling away about the choo choo that’s on it’s way, and when the bells sound and the warning gates come down he jumps up, runs to either C or I and stares down the tracks in anticipation.  His eyes get big, and waves excitedly as the train pulls up to the station.  Once it’s there though, and the whistle sounds, he gets quite apprehensive about it.  Not that I blame him, even as an adult it’s pretty intense when that train comes barreling into the station. 

                                                                

and just like that… the train is gone. 

All he talks about now is the train.  Yesterday when I picked him up from daycare he was exhausted and as we drove home, I watched his eyes get heavy in the rearview mirror and then heard a little voice start quietly chanting “chukka chukka chukka chukka choo chooooo”.  A smile broke across my face, that’s right little guy… chugga chugga choo choo. 

happy fathers day

To all the dads out there, may today be a celebration of you!  To my husband, thank you so much for the two beautiful boys you have given me, and for being such an amazing father to them.  Neither of them know it yet, but they’re incredibly lucky to have you. 

P2

It’s been 7 weeks since you were lifted into our lives, screaming angrily and immediately occupying a huge place in my heart.  I have loved this time that we’ve had… just the two of us… getting to know each other, and I look forward to the weeks and years ahead as you begin to show who you really are. 

Right at this moment though, you’re such a sweet little guy… laid back and just happy to be a part of our family.  You get downright pissed when you’re hungry, but other than that you rarely cry.  You’re incredibly tolerable of your brother’s sometimes over-zealous affection, and more than anything you love to be held snuggled up close.  

When you sleep, you look exactly like L.A. did as a baby.  It’s almost scary, really.

You have this one little pointy ear that I simply adore.  I asked your doctor with a hopeful voice if it would stay that way forever, and he laughed, reminding me that if it did you probably wouldn’t love it as much as I do.  Only time will tell though…

Your little lashes are just starting to grow, but I can already tell they’re going to be amazingly long just like your daddy and your brother. 

And your smooshy little lips?  Oh, I just want to kiss them every chance I get.

I love everything about you, but the thing that melts me the most is when you look up at me with your big eyes… so trusting, so inquisitive, and still so new. 

I was so worried before you were born.  I spent days and nights wondering how I could possibly have enough room in my heart to love you equally, and I didn’t want you to ever feel that I didn’t.  The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew that I had more than enough love and in these past seven weeks, that has been confirmed time and time again.  

fashion friday

Here’s another fun look for family portraits! 

john + evelyn | ct child photographer

Hands down, one of my favorite sessions ever.  The adorable children, the beautiful location, the clothes, and their understanding mom who had an amazing vision for this shoot.  Thank you for letting me photograph your family!

Happy Birthday James! | ct child photographer

Last weekend, I was invited to document James’ 6th birthday party, and it was one of those days that brings you back to your childhood.  The kids had a blast and on that warm sunny day, the yard was filled with laughter, shrieking excitement and the sheer joy that only this age can have.  

To say James’ mom threw a great party would be a tremendous understatement!  There were all sorts of fun events and little details that made it a total blast.  

There was a water balloon toss that quickly turned into an all out water balloon fight.  These four images were taken in quick succession, notice the moms in the upper right running for cover!  ;)  Smart move, ladies! 

Just as quickly as it started, it was over, and this is all that was left:

After the balloon toss was a treasure hunt, and in everyone’s treasure bag there was a little squirt gun.  Guess where this is headed?  The ca-RAZIEST water fight ever!!  James of course as the birthday boy had a slight advantage with his super soaker. 

Then we all headed to the back yard for a quick break before cake.

James didn’t think anyone was watching, but I caught him swiping a little taste as Mom lit the candles. ;) 

In true birthday fashion, he sat down with a nice slice of cake almost as big as his head and that poor cake didn’t stand a chance!

Thanks so much for letting me share your birthday, James! 

before and after

Did you ever have one of those dreams where you’re standing in public and realize you have no pants on?  This post is sort of the photographic reality of that dream as I share a picture with no editing done at all.  I thought as a follow up to Thursday’s post, it might be nice to touch on what happens after your session.  

I shared this picture in Tuesday’s post, but wanted to show you a little peek into the work that goes into your final images.  Photoshop is an amazing tool, but it isn’t magic.  It won’t make an out of focus image sharp, or salvage a severely underexposed picture, but it can take your pictures from “cute” to “wow!”.  

After every session, I rush home and plug in my card reader to upload all the pictures.  Then I go through and pick out the cutest expressions and sweetest moments and toss the rest.  I do a few tweaks in Lightroom and then pull each image in one by one to Photoshop and work on them individually.  My style is pretty clean and straightforward.  I don’t do a lot of crazy things to my photos, because it’s important to me that they look real, just a with a little wow factor.  

Check it out, side by side, the straight out of camera picture (sooc) and the final edit on the right.  The difference is slight, it’s not over the top, but it makes an impact.  And L.A. still has totally filthy hands in this picture.  ;) 

kaden | ct child photographer

The other night I met Kaden and him mom at a local park, and at first he wasn’t so sure of me and my big camera…

                                                                        

but by the end, I think he warmed up to me, don’t you?

fashion friday

One of the most common questions I get after a session is booked is “What should we wear?”.  So I thought it might be fun to start a segment on the blog with outfit suggestions for various family dynamics, children, teens and babies.  Newborns won’t be included - they’re best left in their birthday suits!  So, here’s your first installment. 

Three | CT Child Photography

It’s an age I admittedly get a little shaky in the knees about photographing.  Three year olds aren’t usually all that into the camera, and they’re even less interested in direction.  Imagine my surprise when E was a totally willing, and happy subject! 

                                                                        

Those blue eyes are going to break hearts someday! 

why custom photography?

Making the investment of hiring a professional photographer is an expensive one, I totally understand that.  You could easily go to one of the studios in the mall and come out with cute pictures of your kids, but the experience is different.  You’re rushed in, plunked down, a toy is squeaked, the camera is snapped and you’re on your way.  Is that really who your child is though?  When you hire a custom photographer, they’ll usually come to you - either at your home, the park, the beach, anywhere you choose and take the time to interact with your little one, to get the real smile, the real sparkle in their eye, and their real personality.  

Times are tough for everyone right now, and we’re all taking a second look at our budgets.  I’ve thought about it a lot though, and there’s something so different about photography versus the other expenditures in our lives.  That big screen tv or new satellite radio will still be there next year, the brand new couch and loveset will be waiting, and probably discounted in a few months.  

Your children won’t be though.  They won’t be the same next year, or next month.  Your newborn baby will not be as small as he or she was the first 10 days of his or her life ever again. Your one or two year old will not be a toddler forever. You will not be pregnant 9 months from now with the child you are now carrying (THANK GOD, right?). The exact make up of your family as it is today will never be the same. Kids grow, situations change, dad’s lose their hair… like the old cliche says, there is no day like today.

So here is my point. When you are reevaluating your budget and choosing your priorities, please do not under estimate the value of having the moments of your life captured by a professional photographer. Your baby girl’s smile is priceless, get a tangible memory of that up on your wall as art. Your family is beautiful. And as many of our possessions are becoming less of a priority in this economic time, the value of family increases. Today is the day to turn your memories in to art.

And because every post should have a picture to accompany it, here’s one more of sweet Isabella from her newborn session.

bubble fun for everyone

All parents out there know that there are just times when your child is so cranky, and so out of sorts that you have to pull out the big guns.  Awhile ago, we had bought this great big bubble machine, but we’ve been holding off on actually breaking it out until we really really needed it.  The other day was that day, and it was so worth the wait!

It’s pretty amazing how bubbles can so quickly make everything better.

look closely… my whole world is in that bubble.  You can even see me in my bare feet if you look hard. 

and then I went back to check on P2 who was relaxing in the gazebo, and I saw he was making bubbles of his own. 

10 on tuesday

1.  Despite always promising to be, I’m never consistent about 10 on Tuesday.  Maybe I should switch it to Five on Friday?  Less pressure that way… eh, we’ll see.

2.  I will also confess that I haven’t taken nearly enough pictures of P2 in recent days.  I vow to be better about that this week.

3.  There’s a great park in my town that we often take L.A. too, and in addition to having an awesome little playscape, it’s simply gorgeous.  I’ve been wanting to shoot a session here for awhile, so I brought my camera last night to test the light, and I just love it…

4. L.A. is in complete amazement of airplanes these days.  I swear he can hear them coming from miles away, and when he does, he stops whatever he’s doing, throws his hands up in the air like this and sways from side to side while making a whooshing sound.  Sidenote - check out those grubby hands.  Apparently L.A. doesn’t care about photo ops while digging at the playground. ;) 

                                                                        

5.  Perfect for number 5 - P2 slept for 5 hours straight last night.  As the mom of another little boy who shall remain nameless that didn’t sleep for more than 2 hours until he was about 7 months, this is an anomaly. I seriously didn’t think I made sleepers, and I’m so so happy.  Thanks, little buddy.  Oh, and please, please now that I posted this on the blog, don’t have it be a fluke.

6.  I just got a new lens in, and I am in.love. with it.  I bought it specifically to use on newborns and other babies, to capture their tiny little parts, but I’m having a blast playing around.

7.  If you’re the praying type, would you mind including me in today’s thoughts?  Without going into detail, I could really use it.  

8.  Someday, another little boy will come along - I hope it’s his brother - but maybe it will be our neighbor, or a little boy from school, and L.A. will have a best friend.  They’ll run and play, ride bikes, come running into my kitchen sweaty and laughing asking for a snack.  For now though, there is no one he adores more than Daddy. 

                                                                        

9.  Genetics are such a strange thing.  When P2 was born, I was amazed at how much he didn’t look like L.A.  I guess I was expecting an exact replica, but he wasn’t at all.  As the days went on though, it’s been more and more apparent that they share the same genes.  Little expressions that are the same, the way he scrunches his face up while he’s stretching exactly the way his big brother used to do.  Then our neighbor was over and commented on a picture of L.A. we have up from when he was just a month old.  I can’t believe we didn’t see it before.  You be the judge.  Here they are, P2 on the left and L.A. on the right each at about 4 weeks old.  (please note the picture of L.A. was taken with my dinosaur point and shoot camera before I knew anything about photography). 

10.  And lastly, I thought I’d try to keep things real around here.  For every picture of L.A. you see like the one in the post below, where he’s actually making eye contact and not running away, I promise you that there are 300 that look more like this.  He’s so over me.  The scowl, the tears.. that’s the real reaction I get when he sees my camera.

 

AJAXed with AWP