Dodgen Photography Blog

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2010-04-25T21:02:00.001-07:00

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Mother's Day Portrait Sessions

2010-04-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is right around the corner. There is a lot for a Dad to do on this holiday. He has to think about his wife, the mother of his children, his own mother and something from the kids to their mother. sdfs Dads, you might consider breakfast in bed, sending her off to brunch with her girl friends, or having the kids make her some painted pottery. Or, you might consider something

More Cardboard Art: Building a Robot

2010-04-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

Photographs by Greta Eskridge I knew that long-time client and friend, Greta Eskridge, would be a great addition as a guest blogger here at the Dodgen Photography blog. Seeing her post about the cardboard robot her son made, sealed the deal (in case you didn't know, we're big fans of cardboard creations). In Greta's words: My son James loves to build things out of cardboard. If he sees a box

Spring Hikes

2010-04-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

Photographs by Greta Eskridge Spring is the perfect time to take a hike. Everything is in bloom, the skies are blue, the sun is out, but the air is still cool. It feels good to be outside. Kids are great hikers because they are naturally curious and they love to explore. As long as you don't expect them to hike an eight mile trail with you on your first time out, they will have a good time.

Dodgen Photography is Going Green

2010-04-01T01:43:00.000-07:00

Press Release ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *** Long Beach, California, April 1, 2010 -- After years of photographing children exclusively in black and white, Dodgen Photography is adding a new color to their repertoire - green. With so many companies going green these days, it seemed only a matter of time until photographers jumped on the green bandwagon, and Dodgen Photography is taking the leap

Portrait Parties--A Word from our Hosts

2010-03-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Our portrait parties have been very popular since the day we started offering them. After holding these parties for many years, we thought it would be nice to hear from you, the hosts, that pull these parties together. Our first host is Greta Eskridge. Greta has hosted 4 portrait parties and she shares with us why she keeps coming back for more. I attended my first portrait party with

Recycled Forest

2010-03-22T15:55:00.000-07:00

I love artist, Yuken Teruya's work in which he transforms everyday objects (like toilet paper tubes and Happy Meal Bags) into intricate vignettes. I also thought it fit in nicely with our series of posts about the creative reuse of cardboard.

Signs of Spring

2010-03-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

The first day of spring is right around the corner and with it comes the return of the monarch butterflies who will reawaken after a four months in hibernation. Many of the preschools I photograph at raise butterflies from larva each spring, giving the children the opportunity to witness up-close the complete life cycle of these beautifully delicate creatures. Small Friends Preschool takes

Pizza Box Tabletop Soccer and Cardboard Tube Marble Run

2010-03-10T16:37:00.000-08:00

The latest issue of Family Fun magazine has several cardboard reuse ideas that look fun and fit into our series of posts about creative (re)uses for cardboard. Our favorites are Tabletop Soccer made from a pizza box and a magnetic Marble Run made from paper towel, toilet paper and wrapping paper tubes. Click the preceding links for complete instructions.

Cardboard Fire Station

2010-02-17T12:16:00.000-08:00

Making believe is the gist of his whole life and he cannot so much as take a walk except in character.Robert Louis Stevenson A couple of years ago when Ethan said he wanted to build a fire station, I thought he was talking about a little one for his numerous fire engines. When he clarified that he wanted one that he could fit in, I was not sure where to start. Inspiration came when we realized

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T07:32:00.000-08:00

A Different Kind of Valentine

2010-02-09T14:18:00.001-08:00

A couple of Februaries ago, a tree branch stood on a bookcase in our living room. Little red and pink hearts, on white ribbon swung from it. It was a Valentines Day decoration, of course. But it was something a bit more than just colored hearts and ribbon.Each heart had a message on it. They were love notes for the whole family. Encouraging words, thoughts of thankfulness and simply things we

Look for the Helpers

2010-01-18T12:03:00.000-08:00

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers -- so many caring people in this world.Fred RogersI am sure that it is no coincidence

Christina Katerina and the Box

2010-01-13T08:24:00.000-08:00

I can't write about cardboard box creations without mentioning one of my favorite books, Christina Katerina and the Boxby Patricia Lee Gauch.When Christina's family gets a new refrigerator, she gets a world of possibilities from the box it came in. The story follows Christina and her friend Fats, as they transform the box from a castle to a secret clubhouse to a race car to a summer mansion where

Cereal Box Houses

2010-01-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

Photograph from Bella Dia blogContinuing with our series of posts about creative reuses of cardboard, here is a simple box house idea from the Bella Dia blog. When I was a kid, I always looked forward to finding the prize in the box of cereal. Now the box can be the prize. I think mine would have a garage door cut in the side for my Hot Wheels. Go to Bella Dia for detailed instructions.

Seal Beach Playgroup

2010-01-08T11:32:00.000-08:00

I have the opportunity to photograph at Seal Beach Playgroup again next week. It will be my second year photographing there and I am really excited to see Miss Tina and all of the kids again. I love photographing at preschools - all the wonder, creativity excitement, and discovery. The children are so engaged in whatever activities the teacher has planned that they hardly even realize I am there.

Happy New Year 2010

2010-01-01T10:30:00.000-08:00

Photograph by Toby MelvilleWishing you and your family the best for 2010!Check out more celebrations from around the world on the The Big Picture.

Todd Oldham's House of Cards

2009-12-31T12:38:00.000-08:00

I love this idea from designer Todd Oldham's book, Kid Made Modern, inspired by the Eames House of Cards. Not only is it a unique take on the classic cardboard box house, but it provides lots of "canvases" for kids creativity and can be reconfigured again and again.

Max's Jet Box

2009-12-30T07:16:00.000-08:00

I knew when I walked into Max Gibbons' house for a portrait party that his family was hosting, I had found a friend. Upon seeing the jet plane that Max had built out of cardboard with his dad, I was reminded of the hours of fun I have had racing down the track, soaring through the sky and sailing across the ocean in cardboard boxes, first as a child and now with my children. I don't think any of

Not a Box

2009-12-28T23:14:00.000-08:00

What better way to start a series of posts about the creative reuse of boxes than with a book about a rabbit with a box and an active imagination.Not a Box is a simple and engaging book (think Harold and the Purple Crayon) that encourages imagination and thinking outside the box.

Save the cardboard

2009-12-27T14:00:00.000-08:00

Grown-ups often joke that children like the box more than the gift that came in it. While this is certainly not always the case, an empty box holds enormous potential for imaginative play and creative art projects. If your home is anything like ours, you have a bunch of new cardboard sitting around - from online orders, gifts sent by distant relatives, empty tubes from wrapping paper, gift boxes,

Giving Gifts

2009-12-23T10:47:00.000-08:00

Photograph by: Lynn JohnsonWords of wisdom from Mister Rogers:"If you like to make things out of wood, or sew, or dance, or style people's hair, or dream up stories and act them out, or play the trumpet, or jump rope, whatever you really love to do, and you love that in front of your children, that's going to be a far more important gift than anything you could ever give them wrapped up in a box

Plan Ahead for the Holidays

2009-10-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

As October begins, it still feels like school just started, but I am always amazed at how quickly the fall months go by. Soon Halloween will be here, and then the holiday season begins. Don’t forget to plan ahead and book a family portrait session for your holiday cards. In addition to the holiday cards that you can purchase through us, we can work with nearly any card vendor of your choice. We

Portrait Party at Rossmoor Park Postponed!

2009-10-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

Our portrait party scheduled for Wednesday, October 14th has been RESCHEDULED for Wednesday, October 28th from 9:00am to 11:30am at Rossmoor Park! Enjoy a relaxing morning in the park while Jeremy photographs your children playing, in his ususal, non-instrusive way.There is no cost, but make sure to RSVP at the event's website at:http://dodgenphotography.pingg.com/party1009

Meet Erin

2009-10-09T11:33:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Erin. I am excited to be the newest addition to Dodgen Photography! I will be helping Jeremy and Judy with the administrative tasks of the business. I would like to introduce myself as I will be contributing posts to this blog as well. I am a senior at Biola University, majoring in Psychology. I hope to work with families in a clinical setting after I