I can’t believe it’s already been one month since our son was born. I know it seems time goes by faster the older you get but this last month really, really, really flew by quick. With 2 babies in the house things are just going by at the speed of light! I know I have been slacking on my daddy photographer duties, hopefully now that we are getting used to having 2 I will pick up the camera more and get some good footage of him to post. In the meantime here is a shot from a few weeks ago of him peacefully sleeping 
Category Archives: Personal
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One month already
March 3, 2010 – 11:12 am
Love is in the air
February 18, 2010 – 1:40 pm
With valentines day just passing, love is still in the air. When we first started Stagi Imagery 11 years ago and were trying to figure out what to do for a logo my wife and I decided to have a heart as the logo. It doesn’t have much to do with photography but at the same time has everything to do with OUR photography. When we started this business it was all about the heart, being passionate about what we were creating and putting everything we had into creating the best images in the world for our clients. We still have the same basic beliefs today, we want to create the most amazing images for you and capture a slice of your life. Years down the road when you are looking through your wedding album we want tears of joy to come back to you or if you are looking at photos of your newborn to feel that excitement you felt when holding them in your arms. Photography is such a powerful art form and we are so happy to be able to be a part of all our clients lives.
So this year for Valentines day we are going to do something crazy, we are going to share the love with all of you. Any portrait session from now until 3-15 we are discounting to just $50. This is a huge savings compared to our normal sesison fee’s and a great way to get an awesome portrait session. To see more of our portrait work visit our Bay Area Lifestyle Portrait site. If you don’t need a portrait session for yourself no problem, give one away to a friend. You can give away as many of these discounted sessions as you would like. The only restriction is the shoot must be scheduled before March 15th.
Writers block
February 8, 2010 – 7:21 am
Thinking about what to post today I think I started 10 different posts, wrote down a few things and just wasn’t feeling it. I always want my blog posts to either have some great images or if its a personal post to be something to help and inspire others. I am always hesitant to put out a blog post, it takes me some time to hit that final publish button. I want to be real with everyone but at the same time know you are all so busy and want to provide great content for you to read, to be able to lift up your spirits. But tonight nothing comes to my mind to write about so I am going to do something I have never done before, just write. What I don’t really know but as I type I hope something good will come. Actually that gets me thinking about movement, what do we usually do when we don’t know what to do? Sometimes I think we tend to stay put instead of push ahead into the unknown. Fear keeps you put, it keeps you really in bondage. I used to be like that, sometimes I would have an idea but wouldn’t fully know how to do it. So what would happen with that idea, it would sit in my mind until one day the thought of it was gone. I have had many things I wanted to try out in my business, new lighting ways, new ways of printing…. so many ideas go through this little head of mine. But what used to happen is I would write it down, get inspired, maybe even start something new. But then I would get to a point of not knowing exactly what to do next, instead of asking someone, searching for help or even just trying something totally new myself I would say to myself “i’ll finish this soon”. Or thought “OK now this is the hard part and I need to do it right so i’ll wait until I am ready”. What happened is I would never be ready and after time that inspiration would be gone. I don’t know how I got to be like this either, when I was younger I used to love to try out new things. But somehow something changed that was trying to keep me from reaching out. Fear of rejection of not being a “success” was getting in my way of doing what I was supposed to be doing.
But last year when I really realized what was going on I saw how ridiculous it was. I started to act out on the things that were in my head and make them happen. I realized that no matter if something is a success or not, you have to try. By not trying something new you will have 0% chance of succeeding and what is success anyway? It’s defined differently for us all, for me it’s living out God’s purpose on this earth. Doing what I was created to do and doing it to my best ability! I have found that the insights he gives me are always right and am finally starting to act them out, and act them out right away. There is really no time like the present. In 2010 I will continue to act on things right away and have no fear, regardless of what happens I am sure that 2010 will have some pretty amazing stories and things to share. I know that it already does and we are just in the first month of the year. I think that’s it, a little thought that came into my mind, put it down on paper (or
Wow, now I feel much better about this post. I didn’t know what I would say or how that would go but it was a fun exercise for me. And I hope that this can at least touch and help out one of you reading it. I sat down and wrote out some thoughts in about 20 minutes and am not going to proof read them or even look at what I wrote
Welcome baby Isaiah
February 6, 2010 – 10:27 am
As I first woke up this morning it was like any other day. My internal alarm woke me up around 5:45 and I stretched out in bed for a second. I gave thanks for another day ahead of me with possibilities running through my mind. Looking over to my right I saw my wife was already out of bed, which normally would be very strange to have her up before me but lately not too rare. In the last month of her pregnancy she has been getting up really early hungry and eating a quick breakfast then going back to sleep for awhile. I sat in bed for a few more minutes and right before getting up saw her standing right next to me. She was pretty calm but said she had been having contractions for the past few hours and they were harder than they have been for the past weeks. We both thought it wouldn’t be anything big but since the Dr. said to go to the hospital with anything we decided to head over to O’Connor hospital. We took our time (even stopped for a quick bite to eat) and got to the hospital around 8. They got her all setup to monitor the contractions and called her Doctor to see what she wanted to do. She was still having contractions and after a ultrasound confirmed the baby was not in the right position for birth. The doctor came in and said they have a c-section scheduled for 9:30, I paused for a second and first said “a c-section?” and then “9:30, are you talking about in like 45 minutes or 9:30 some other day?”. I was shocked, our first baby came naturally and we didn’t even think about the possibility of a c-section. I also didn’t think we would be having our baby that day. With his due date not until 3 weeks away my mind I guess just wasn’t ready yet. Well 9:30 came and 11 minutes later Isaish was delivered into this world, nice and healthy and already 8lbs.
This week has been a blur and a challenge. My wife is doing well but with the surgery can’t move much and can’t pick up anything heavy, thankfully we had help from my family to watch Faith and take care of her a bit. Every day is getting a little easier on my wife so hopefully she will be fully healed quick. You never realize how much you need to lift and carry with a 16 month old until you can’t. But all of these things are always just minor inconveniences in the big picture, sleep can always be caught up on later, work can get done at other times but the beauty of your child is worth so much more. I am Thankful today for my two beautiful and healthy babies, looking at them always brings a smile to my face.
Happy New Years
January 2, 2010 – 11:10 am
As 2009 is officially over I am very excited to be entering our 11th year in business. 2009 was a crazy year, it flew by way too fast and was filled with some amazing moments for us as well as struggles. It was our first full year with baby Faith who is now walking and has such an amazing personality. It was awesome to see her grow every day and the time I was able to send with her each day priceless. It was also another very full year of work, I was able to shoot some amazing weddings with the best couples and families I could ask for. I worked a lot this year and also really expanded our family portrait side of the business. I also started Digitalphotobuzz.com a website for photographers to share tips and inspiration. It was a very busy year with many new beginnings for me.
It was also a hard year. So many people I know lost jobs in 09, had physical struggles, mental struggles, it seemed like almost anything that could happened did happen to at least some one I knew 
(or me). Looking back at 2009 I realized that no matter what happens at the end of the day I am still standing. God gives us all breath each day and as long as I have that breath I will give thanks for what I do have and not let the negative impact me.
As we move on to the new year I always am thankful and grateful for all of the good things that happened and for those difficult times they are done, its time for us to move forward. I believe the best is yet to come and 2010 will be an amazing year! One thing that I learned in 2009 from running my first marathon was to Never give up, and that message remains with me in 2010. For all of you who started something in 2009 and it didn’t work out the way you wanted, keep at it, don’t give up. Hard work and persistence will pay off, just give it everything you got and then some. 2010 will be the year for all of you hard work to pay off!
Keep your eyes peeled for some highlight images from 2009 coming to the blog next week. We shot some amazing weddings and will have some recaps coming soon.
I wish you all the best in 2010, for everyone with weddings coming up I am excited to be a part of your day!
- Mark
