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Welcome to the Bella Bambino Blog!
This blog is dedicated to giving you a glimpse....a glimpse after the session and into the life of the person behind the lens! Here, you will have the opportunity to get sneak peeks of sessions; I will showcase a few of my favorites from different shoots. I will feature big announcements of events and competitions- as well as [Sunday Morning Coffee] discussions that will allow me to blabber on about various random subjects! I will also showcase personal ventures, stories and images that will let you get to know more about me. I will also be featuring the fabulous work of the Bella Bambino Artists at my other locations; Candice Mumaw [East Coast] Stephanie Hambley [Nashville] and Jennifer Hamilton [Mobile, Alabama] For Bella Bambino updates please subscribe to the blog at the bottom of the page! Also, I LOVE your comments, so feel free to express yourself at the bottom of any post!! HAPPY VIEWING!!!!!

an abandoned school bus, a horse and barn, a lake…..and the most fabulous couple ever!

Tonight….yup….TONIGHT, I shot this amazingly beautiful couple’s engagement shoot. We finished shooting when the sun went down and I have been editing like a maniac ever since! Being such an inspired and exciting shoot, I was well aware that I would not be able to sleep until I finished editing these. I went to Ty’s parents’ farm for the shoot. I knew that it was going to be unique because Sarah is severe fashionista and Ty is a rodeo cowboy [seriously].  I requested a horse and a barn and then I discovered a few other treasures on their property….such as an abandoned school bus and a unique body of water with an underwater patio. This is one of my favorite shoots to date and I am so excited to share it! ENJOY!!!

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location….location….location. [the davis family shoot]

One of my very best friends Heather and I met one year ago exactly….during her family shoot! To commemorate our friendship “anniversary” and to capture summer 09′ for her family, we did another shoot a few weeks ago. Because I am a self-proclaimed “changer” and I like to be unique, I am hunting out new locations…..the downtown is becoming a tad over-used! ;) So….I found the amazing little nook that I am SUPER excited about! Here is it’s debut! ENJOY!!

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NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [and cotton candy cosmo party was a huge success!!]

Hey everyone! A quick note to let everyone know that the new and improved website is LIVE!!! Check it out www.bellabambinophotography.com . Also, the Cotton Candy Cosmo Website Unveiling party last night was a HUGE success! The turnout was amazing and we booked SO many shoots and had so many people get to pull great prizes out of my fish bowl! The cosmos were fabulous [thanks cheri!] as was the catering by Macalister’s. I just want to say a special thank you to all of my clients who attended! It was a great night!! =) Enjoy the new site!!

My Sassy Shoot in the Forrest [new website images]

So- am most of you know Bella Bambino’s Cotton Candy Cosmo NEW website launch party is tomorrow night!! [ 7pm at my studio- BE THERE!!] We decided that I needed some new sassy images to update my profile on the new site. Here are a few from the shoot. PS- Cheri, my fabulous business manager and photog in training shot them! THANKS CHERI!! =)

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Sunday [Evening] Coffee - Coleson’s Sixth Birthday Party

I cannot believe that my son is six!  There is something about six that really makes me feel like he is a kid and no longer a baby. Anyway, today, we had a big pool party at our house. We had 12 kiddos and their parents and it was an absolute blast! I just thought I would share a few images from the day! ENJOY!

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A Tribute to the DADS of the Bella Bambinos! [Father's Day Mini Sessions!!!!!! For the first time ever!] 6.14.09 4pm-6pm

Some of my favorite images are of a child and his or her father and the relationship and bond that is so obvious. From time to time the Dads of my Bella Bambino clients make it to the shoot and get “shot” with their babies, but sometimes, they get left out! For all of the dads that didn’t make it to their kiddos’ shoot to get “shot”, or for the dads who did, but just want another fabulous fine-art image with their child, this evening has been designated for mini shoots of DAD AND BAMBINO!  MOMS, since you will more then likely be the one’s booking, if you would love to have an image of your husband and your babies or would even like an image of you and your dad, this is the time to get it captured! The father’s day mini shoot will be scheduled every 15 minutes between 4 and 6pm on Sunday, June the 14th. As you can calculate, slots are limited, so call today to schedule your session if you are interested in booking! You will recieve a 15 minute fine-art mini relationship shoot {dad and kiddos only}, an online gallery of your choices (up to 5 images from which to choose) as well as an 1-8×10, 2- 5×7s and wallets of your chosen image or the image digitally with a copyright release!!! The cost for the mini session with those goodies is 150.00. To schedule with me in MO call 573.651.4408, To schedule with Candice in (WV, MD, VA) call 304.724.6555, To schedule with Stephanie in Nashville, call 615.810.9048 and to schedule with Jenn in Mobile, Alabama call 251.510.1708. Check out some of the images below that I have captured over the past year of the bella dads and their bambinos! PS- these mini’s are only available for past or currently booked clients. =)  REMEMBER, You can also book a shoot with you and YOUR dad!

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COTTON CANDY COSMOPOLITAN NEW WEBSITE UNVEILING PARTY! 6.12.09 @7pm

COTTON CANDY COSMOPOLITAN NEW WEBSITE UNVEILING PARTY!  [a great excuse for a girls' night out ;) wink, wink]

I have been waiting for another reason to have people over to the studio for cotton candy cosmos, wine and snacks…..here is our chance! On JUNE the 12th at7pm, BELLA BAMBINO PHOTOGRAPHY will be hosting a LAUNCH PARTY for the NEW BELLA BAMBINO WEBSITE!! As many of you know, I love and crave change. My current site has been up for almost a year….and it is TIME FOR A CHANGE! The new website, which is currently under construction, is going to KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF!!!!! Please join us for some fabulous beverages and treats as well as AMAZING DEALS and GIVEAWAYS [of course]! Promptly at 7:30, the website will be unveiled on my big screen for all past clients to see if their kiddos made the new site [which, I promise, MANY of them did] and for new clients to get a good look at my current portfolio! This will be the FIRST time that anyone sees the new site, so it is the official WEBSITE PREMERE! Like during the open house extravaganza, if you bring a friend that has never had a Bella Bambino Session, you will pull a prize from the fish bowl! Whoever brings the MOST friends will receive a CRAZY prize and there will be amazing specials for anyone who books a session at the party! There also will be a drawing for a fine-art print! Please try to attend and bring your friends, the cotton candy cosmos, which will be created by my amazing NASHVILLE photog, Stephanie, will be worth the evening out! =) HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

WHAT: Cotton Candy Cosmopolitan New Website Unveiling Party!!

WHEN: Friday, June 12th at 7pm

WHERE: Bella Bambino Studio- 115 N Water St, LOFT 103, Cape Girardeau

WHY? Um…..because Sheri is serving unique drinks, giving away crazy prizes and showing you her new website before anyone else sees it!!

RSPV: sherigrippo@gmail.com or call the studio 573.651.4408

Memoirs of me Trying to be a Domestic; CHAPTER 1 [the pancake fiasco]

Ok- so, for those of you who know me skip down a few lines,  because you are well aware of my deficiencies in the kitchen/home. For those of you who just know me as Sheri the photographer, let me present you with my background as a “domestic”. I am not. PERIOD. I mean, I absolutely, positively am missing the stereotypical “womanly” gene of being a natural house-keeper, home-maker, baker, cook, etc. When I was built in that department, I was certainly built more like a stereotypical man [ie: I would like to come home from the studio and say "I'm STARVING, what's for dinner and my how nice and clean the house looks!"] Unfortunately that is just a fantasy and I need to accept that  I am supposed to fill that roll because… I am the mom and the only parent at home. SO….what have I always done in the past??  YUP…..HIRED IT OUT! Oh, yes, previously, I paid someone to clean and do laundry etc. The only thing missing was an actual chef, but I skirted around that by eating out, grilling cheese, making tomato sandwiches and serving cereal [only the most organic, health conscious versions of all of that, of course]. Regardless, my children have never….EVER….known me to cook. I once baked a cake from scratch….ONCE….and NO ONE in my family could believe it. It was like a miracle actually occured in front of their eyes. SO…have I set the stage…are you getting it? I am not proud of my lack of domestic skills or desires to be domestic, but it just is what it is! I have been blessed with certain skills and certain weaknesses…..and cooking/caring for a household in general- WEAKNESS!  So over the past week, I have decided that I have had ENOUGH! I am a 27 year old mother and it is about time I start cooking! It is about time I start doing my own laundry and cleaning! Why can’t I do it all?! I should be able to have a full-time career, run 4 studios, and…..COOK! So….I sent my mother to the grocery store for me….[is that cheating? YES, I also HATE the grocery store] and this morning was my first day of being a cooking woman. Of course, I am health aware- so all of the recipes that I chose include…flax seed/whole oats/etc etc! PS- I eat half a large pizza last night before I started my new healthy cooking this morning!  OK….back to the story. I awoke and shouted proudly to my children “WHO WANTS PANCAKES!?” Aslyn and Coleson yelled in unison “WE DO!” Then Coleson said “YAH! BOB EVANS!!” I said, ” OH, NO Coleson, mommy is making pancakes!” A worried look overcame his beautiful little face. So, I took the recipe, and pulled out all of the ingredients which included [whole wheat flour, fat free cottage cheese, fat free sour cream, sugar free jam, and 3 eggs] Well, like I have seen on the cooking channels, I just threw it all together in the bowl….mixed it up and put it on the grill.  I BEAMED WITH PRIDE! Then after they were golden brown, I cut one in half to check the middle and it stretched with goo…..did not look like a pancake should. So, I decided to actually read the directions. =) Supposedly, I should have done all of these special things….in a certain order….folding the whites in…and beating the yolks with something else….and all kinds of nonsense!! WHO would have thought!? Then….the kicker….the jam and sour cream were supposed to go on-top instead of inside!  HAHAHAHAHA!!! Needless to say…..my poor children, bless their little hearts….tried them…spit them out, AS DID I, and we all ended up with a chocolate donut in our hands! SO MUCH FOR MY FIRST ATTEMPT at being a domestic goddess!! =)

My Memorial Day Muse [THAI]

It is memorial day and what am I doing….working!  HUGE SURPRISE for those of you who know me, I am sure! I am kid-less this holiday because MIM MIM and POP POP took my two munchkins to Branson. So….I awoke half-heartedly with a throbbing headache this morning and reluctantly got myself ready at 8am to do a shoot for an out of town couple before they left today! As I welcomed this couple and grandmother into my studio, I caught a glimpse of my subject and suddenly, all was well in the world again! =) I suddenly forgot that I had a massive headache and had to be in the studio at 9am on a holiday, because this baby is a photographer’s dream come true. This baby’s unique look, the perfect twist of asian and caucasian qualities, made him a mini muse for me this morning. I have spoken of shoots that are- well….inspiring….and this certainly was one. Because of the couple’s travel back to their homeland some 6.5 hrs away today, I had to race home, edit their images and come back in for their ordering session! I could not bear to force them to see their images on a small computer screen at home! SO….here he is….MY MEMORIAL DAY MUSE…..THAI.

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Thai and his grandmother…I know I will get in trouble for calling her that, but I can’t remember the thai word for grandmother in which she refers to herself!

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Giving Back [sunday morning coffee]

So- I have utilized the Bella Bambino Gives Back program a few times in the last few months. Considering the circumstances in which I have shot for this program, I wish it were less; but with my desire to do give back, I would love to do more. These beautiful children below have been forced to deal with suffering that none should have to. Their strength should be a lesson to all of us. When I was at a benefit for little Katelyn, her mom said that someone told her that God would only allow the children who were strong enough to endure something like this. They are warriors and I am blessed to have been able to capture their precious sprits. 2 of the 3 of these children are patients at St. Judes. If you would like to donate to ST. JUDES to help babies such as these click on the link below. When I explained the program on the blog back in the day I know that I described how fortunate I feel that I am on so many levels, but very much so because this gift that I was given allows me to do what  I love….everyday….and call it my “job”. I have always had a strong desire to help people- now I have a tool that I can utilize to bring joy to families that could use it the most. I would love to use my program more, so again, if anyone knows of a family that you believe would be a candidate for the BBGB program, please contact me. With all of this thought about my program and the recent pro-bono work that I have done and yearn to do- it reminded me that we all need to do a little more giving back. I believe that sometimes we get so caught up in the trials, tribulations and even joys of our own lives that we are too busy to stop and realize that there are an awful lot of people that could use our help. Even if we help on a small scale- we are doing our part. In a time when the economy is as shakey as it is, we all fear releasing our wallets- so even if it is your time and or talents that you donate that is better then not donating at all. I am listing below a few of the charities that are close to my heart and that I have some affiliation with. I will also permanately have these charities in the LINKS section of my blog. Please check them out!

www.stjudes.org                  www.drawnfromwater.org                  www.mochaclub.org                      www.planusa.org                           www.roomforonemorechild.org                www.heartforafrica.org         

Beautiful Baby BELLA who was adopted from Guatamala and then diagnosed with Leukemia shortly after coming to America. 

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Little Miss Katelyn

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The sweet ROBBIE and his little bro MASON. This little man loved his baby brother so much it was unbelievable. I don’t know that I have ever seen such a protective and loving big brother in quite some time.

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And who can forget the amazing MIKE HAYDEN who is battling with cancer as well. Check out my previous post about his family to learn more about his story.

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