Newborn Baby Photography

Last week I had the honor of photographing a newborn baby session.  There are so many reasons why I love being a photographer and this is one of them.  The wonder of the miracle of birth is something that I have always been amazed by.

In just the first few weeks of a baby's life they develop at a very rapid pace and their features change so fast!  That's why I tell my clients to bring baby in just a week or two after they are born.  That is when all the changes happen and by the 4th week, baby doesn't look at all like they did when they were first born.  Of course, there is a resemblance, but they do look different.

It's just so wonderful to have professional portraits made of your baby when they are first born!  Most of our clients remark about how much they value those portraits and say that they can hardly remember their baby that small and innocent.  There's just no comparison to the rest of the photos you will have of your child as the years fly by.

I know that (for me) every time I look at my daughter's newborn portraits, (made on Day Two) they take me back and I remember the feelings I had inside back then; all the joy, the fear; the OMG now I have a baby! :-)

A newborn baby is one of the most remarkable and memorable moments in a parent's life.

Professional portraits of your newborn baby are unlike any photos you can take on your own.

If you are expecting, or know someone who is, and would truly cherish images of their baby in the very first stages of their life, please send them our way.  We will ensure that they have many images to remember their bundle of joy, how they first looked and revisit all of those wonderful feelings....for many, many years.

Beauty Discovered.

New Website now Online and New Look on our Blog!

Hi everyone! 

I'm really excited to let you all know that our brand new website is now up and running! YAY!
This new site will be able to support HD video, which we were not able to do with our old site.

Because we are now offering HD video highlight services along with our Hi-resolution photography, we will be able to share both of these great new technological advances with you via our website.

We also added a new look to our Blog page.  If you haven't visited our website or our Blog, check them out!  Here's the info...

Website: http://www.diazdd.com/
Blog: http://www.diazdigitaldiscoveries.blogspot.com/

I would LOVE to hear from you all, so let me know what you think of both the new look on our blog page and our new website.

I'm looking forward to sharing all the beauty I'll be discovering this year and in the years to come.

And...coming very soon will be our other new website, devoted soley to our Boudoir Photography services.
I'll keep you posted on that one too!  Thanks for being fans!

Until next time!

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU HIRE A PHOTOGRAPHER.

Hello Blog fans!
Today’s blog is a very important one so I hope you will all not only read it, but share it with your friends.

I read a disturbing article in today’s newspaper and due to the subject matter; it compels me to blog about it.
A (so called) photographer has been arrested for committing multiple crimes to put it mildly! It was later found that this person was only POSING as a professional photographer and not actually a professional photographer.

I'm always very sad when I hear HORROR stories from people about their bad experiences with photographers. One of the first questions that come to mind when I hear these stories is:

Did you ask the photographer the right questions before you hired them?

Many people don't even know what questions to ask before hiring a photographer, be it for their wedding, portrait, baby pictures or anything else. That's why on my website you will find a section with F.A.Q's. Although they are not frequently asked...they should be!

If you want to read those FAQ's, visit my website: http://www.diazdd.com/ and click on the BIO section. There you will see a list of questions that everyone should be asking before hiring a photographer and our respective answers.

The following questions are also just as important and will help you to distinguish an ACTUAL professional photographer from those who just claim to be...

Before you hire a professional photographer, ask, at the very least, these five questions:

1. Do you have a Business Certificate?
All professional photography businesses should have a current valid business certificate displayed in their studio. ($$)

2. Are you registered with the State/Town/City as a business?
A true business needs to register with the city/town they will be doing business in. ($$)

3. Do you have Business Insurance?
You have the right to request a copy of the Insurance Certificate for the studio you are going to hire. ($$$)

4. Do you have any references?
Any successful photography business will most likely have one or more past clients who have volunteered to be used as a reference. Get the numbers and call if you have any doubts.

5. Are you a member of any professional photography associations?
On a national level there is PPA (Professional Photographers of America) http://www.ppa.com/
Locally we have PPAM (Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts) http://www.ppam.com/.

Most every state has their own professional photography association, where fellow professional photographers join and help each other learn and grow to maintain a higher level of professionalism and quality. It is not a requirement to join, but within the association, you will find those who are serious about the business of photography.  Even though we may be vying for the same clients, we have camaraderie and want to see each other succeed as well. ($$$)

There are several more questions that could be asked, but these are a few of the important ones. If you are thinking about hiring a photographer for a wedding or any other reason, do your part to make sure that they are truly a business, not just someone with a camera that claims to be. That way, you can avoid horror stories and bad experiences. Anyone can buy an impressive looking digital camera these days, but that doesn't make them a professional.

One more thing to note would be the old adage which goes: "You get what you pay for".

If it sounds like an unbelievable bargain...it probably is, so don't believe it. Fine professional photography is like Fine Wine...It costs more money because it takes a lot of time and effort to achieve and maintain such quality. However, it is well worth the higher cost.  (The dollar signs above indicate that there is a cost involved in obtaining these things.)

Well, I hope this blog entry will help to serve people in the future who are looking to hire a professional photographer for their wedding or special event. If you know someone shopping for a professional photographer, please send them my way.  http://www.diazdd.com/

We will take very good care of them and we have the paperwork to prove it.  :-)

Thanks for listening. Tell your friends!

Until next time.

International Charity Model Search Contest

Time is running out to take advantage of this great offer.
Read on for an extra bonus special!

The International Charity Model Search is not only a great contest with fabulous prizes (including a new car), it is one of the largest fundraisers for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep - a foundation dedicated to providing free portraiture to families suffering the loss of a newborn.

We know how meaningful this gift can be to a family's healing process and we want to do everything we can to help, so we are introducing a great offer for you to help us help NILMDTS.

For every family you refer to join the ICMS contest at our studio we'll give you a $100 gift certificate to use anytime in 2010. There is no limit to the number of gift certificates you can receive, so the more families you can reach the more money you can receive!

Hurry! The contest ends very soon!

International Charity Model Search Contest

Hello Blog fans!

Only one more month of open voting for the International Charity Model Search! Is your family the cutest family in North America? Contact us today to enter this unique contest for a chance to win a new car and help raise funds for a great cause, the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation.

Hurry in and have your family photographed at the special price of only $49.
This offer is ending very soon!

508-216-5898 or e-mail us: info@DiazDD.com

International Charity Model Search Contest!

Hi everyone!

It's been very busy here with so much going on! Holiday Portraits are in full-bloom and we have that really great Charity Model Search going on right now. Why not use this special opportunity to get that family portrait done! You know...the one you have been putting off? The one that has been on your "To Do" list? Yeah that one!


If you think you have North America's Cutest Family, get on down here and let's make your family portraits, enter them into the competition and see if the rest of America agrees!

Even if you don't think you have the cutest family - (and who would ever think that???) come in for your session anyway? What do you have to loose? Time?

Call or e-mail to book your session now! We are filing our calendar very quickly! Take advantage of this very special $49 price...it may never be this low again! Besides, by coming in and entering the contest you are helping raise money for the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep foundation (www.nilmdts.org) and that is certainly something to feel great about!

Thanks and good luck to all of you who have already entered! If you win the car...I want to take it for a spin! :-)

Until next time!

"Discover the beauty.....

The 2010 International Charity Model Search Begins!

We are participating in the 2010 International Charity Model Search Contest to select North America’s Cutest Family and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. (NILMDTS.org)

Are your loved ones North America’s Cutest Family? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! Many exciting prizes will be awarded, and the grand prize winner receives A New Car!

Photo sessions began on November 1, 2009.

The contest begins on January 1, 2010 and expires on April 4, 2010. Voting ends on April 8, 2010

Call us today and take advantage of our Model Search Special!

Model Search Special:
Your $49 entrance fee includes a 30-minute model session and one image submitted to the national gallery.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is only $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org).

Grand prize international winner will be determined from the 52 city finalists. The winners will be selected from the finalist gallery by photography and modeling industry experts. The winning family also receives a session with the renowned portrait artist Sandy Puc’ and international recognition.

Call us at 508-216-5898 or send an e-mail to: info@DiazDD.com now to book your model session and enter your family in this exciting contest!

*Contest open to residents of the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://sandypucmodels.com/.

International Charity Model Search Contest

DIAZ DIGITAL DISCOVERIES is participating in the International Charity Model Search Contest to select North America’s Cutest Family and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. (NILMDTS.org)

Are your loved ones North America’s Cutest Family? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! Many exciting prizes will be awarded, and the grand prize winner receives A New Car!

Contest begins on November 1, 2009 and expires on April 4, 2010

Model Search Special:
Your $49 entrance fee includes a 30-minute model session and one image submitted to the national gallery.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is only $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org).

Grand prize international winner will be determined from the 52 city finalists. The winners will be selected from the finalist gallery by photography and modeling industry experts. The winning family also receives a session with the renowned portrait artist Sandy Puc’ and international recognition.

Call us at 508-216-5898 now to book your model session on or after November 1st 2009 and enter your family in this exciting contest!

*Contest open to residents of the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://sandypucmodels.com/.

Family Portrait Month 2008

I really love when Family Portrait Month rolls around!

That is when I usually get the most number of families coming in to have their portraits made, whether it be for holiday cards, to give as gifts or just to cherish for themselves.

I love meeting and getting to know these people a bit more. Like this new family who just returned from Ethiopia with two wonderful children. I really enjoyed our portrait session and it was certainly my honor to be chosen to capture the images that they will keep close to their hearts.

Thank you Rachael and Adam for the opportunity!

Every family's stories are so different and interesting and the fact that people can be so different, yet come together for a common good cause such as Operation Smile means so much. I feel fortunate to be able to do my part to help children in need.

One of the other reasons I like this time of year? The holidays tend to "Tame" everyone a bit more (for the most part). Yeah, you'll still have that occasional grumpy person in line at the mall or the grocery store that will just complain about everything; but just ignore them and they will soon go away. For the most part, at least the people I have been dealing with are in good spirits, putting aside if only for a short while, all of our economic situations.

It's nice though when one can find love, compassion, unselfishness and other good will during this month. I look forward to it every year, and not because of the "presents".

We are completing the last of our Holiday Family Portraits this week and I just wanted to send a quick post and some images for you all to enjoy. Thank you to all of you who contributed to Family Portrait Month and Operation Smile this year. It is very well appreciated!

Happy Holidays! Be safe and be well.

Beauty Discovered.

October is Family Portrait Month

Only a few days left to take advantage of our special this month. Call now to book your session before it's over. Available sessions are very limited now. Don't wait! Call today!

October is national Family Portrait Month and we are offering reduced portrait session fees and percent-off our portrait packages. Don’t Miss Our Special “Family Portrait Month” Promotion! Every October we participate with an elite group of photographers around the country in a very special family portrait promotion.
Throughout October 2008 we will celebrate “Family Portrait Month,” a wonderful opportunity for you update your family portrait (or portraits of your children), and at the same time help to support Operation Smile, which treats children around the world who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.
Along with other studio members of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), we have pledged to contribute up to 50% of our Portrait Session Fees to PPA Charities, which has chosen Operation Smile as its charitable partner.
What’s more, we want you to benefit from this special offer: Receive 10% off any portrait package of your choice.
Recording the faces of children and their families is our greatest pleasure. That’s why we believe so strongly in the work of Operation Smile.
Each year this incredible organization of more than 5,000 volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists, and specialized health-care professionals, perform free reconstructive surgeries for children suffering with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.
It costs only $240 to perform a life-changing cleft lip operation. More than 100,000 children are born with a facial deformity each year in Operation Smile’s 25 partner countries. We also believe that Family Portrait Month is a wonderful way to teach children the value of reaching out to others. Even small children can understand the importance of Operation Smile’s work, and they are eager to help these needy children.
We hope you will join with us in helping to make this vital work possible. Don’t forget that the holiday season is right around the corner, so there’s no better time for a family portrait, which is always appreciated as gifts for family and friends and to send along with holiday greeting cards.
With Warm Wishes, Ed Diaz
See you soon!

One More Hug Before College

For many parents, June is a month filled with great emotion, both happy and sad. Happy to finally see the warmer weather and most of all proud of your High School Senior for graduating and entering college. Sadness because you won’t get to see them as often anymore. Holding on to every moment you have left and remembering their years growing up. We know how hard it is to let them go.

That is why, from June 1st until July 31st only; are offering a special price on a limited number of studio portrait sessions.

Bring Mom / Dad and the Grad together for a beautiful 8x10 intimate portrait.
You’ll also get 1- 5x7 portrait that your college bound student can take with them.

So throw on your college tees, hats, jerseys or other clothing and come in for a casual, college farewell family portrait.

Best of all, these sessions will take only about 30 minutes which leaves you plenty of time for the graduation party, to shop for those last minute dorm items or to help your student pack up.

Call today to book your session. Only a limited number of session dates and times are available in June and July.

For only $50.00 you’ll receive a 30 minute portrait session, 1-8x10 and 1-5x7 print.

Or you can save $50 off any of our regularly priced portrait packages.
Call us today at: (508) 987-6966 or email info@diazdd.com to book your session or for more information.

Give your high school graduate one more hug before they go off to college and let us capture those moments of lasting love, shared joy and great pride forever.