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Mandi McDougall Lifestyle Photography | Children, Family, Maternity, Senior and Newborn Portraits | Centralia and Olympia Washington bio picture

Have a look around...

...here you will find my life. I have found that the wonderful thing about a blog is that it has become a place for me to document my own life, while I document your's. 

My name is Mandi, and it is my passion to capture life's moments. From the cry of a newly born baby, to the happy tears of an adoption story, all the way to senior portraits that won't go out of style. Behind the camera, I prefer to capture the moments and not create them. I will offer suggestions and be available to you along the way so that you get the most out of your custom portrait experience. On the other side of the lens, I simply love life. I have an amazing family, wonderful friends, and can often be seen reading or crocheting (yep, I have a little old lady down deep in my soul!)

Take a few minutes to check out my blogsite, catch up on the goings-on of a photographer from little ol' Centralia, and look at some pictures. If you are interested in a portrait session, all the necessary information can be found at the top or the bottom of the page. Contact me via the form, at info@mandimcdougallphotography.com, or at 206.450.2354 anytime.

Real. Life. Captivating.

It’s that time again! {SENIOR SPOKESMODELS SEARCH 2011}

To apply to be a Mandi McDougall Photography 2011 Senior Spokesmodel please fill out the form here.

What is a senior spokesmodel?

Basically, you are my presence at your school. You are charged with helping market my studio to your peers and getting them to book me for their senior pictures!

What am I looking for in a senior model?

I want kids who are fun, outgoing, involved, adventurous, creative….you need to be up for anything! I want kids willing to try out new poses, new locations, and bring their individual style and flair to a photo shoot! I want kids willing to be supermodels for a day and have fun! I need kids who are willing to go out of their way to promote my business and be excited about their pictures!

What do you get out of it?

FREEBIES!!!!

Well…..sort of. You have to earn the rewards as payment for a job well done. Basically, the more kids that book with me the more you get.

How does it work?

You need to apply to be a senior spokesmodel. Once you are chosen we will get together in April for your session. That session is all about you and what you want to accomplish with your portraits. Creativity is a must! At this time you will be responsible for a $100 session fee which is earned back with two referrals and will be applied to your print order. Why a fee? Well, history has taught me that kids need a little incentive to get out there and get the referrals. And, well, if you don’t I still need to be compensated for my time. Being a senior model is much like a job. You do your job, I pay you.

After your session we will work together to choose the best to put in your 5×7 brag book. Then, you get your brag book and a set of gift cards to hand out to your peers. You need to show them the pictures in your book and convince them to book me.

You will be asked to sign a contract to not represent another studio during your time as a senior spokesmodel. You will also be expected to not seek additional senior portraits at another studio.

I also expect you to keep up with any promotions I am running and inform your peers any way you can to take advantage of them.

I also use your images on my marketing materials, facebook, and website.

In the fall of 2010 or spring 2011 we will schedule your follow-up mini session. When you’re ready to order, you will come into the studio to see the proofs of your sessions and place your order. I’ll tally up the referrals and you can choose your prints or other products at that time.

That’s it! Easy peasy, right?

So, how about those freebies?

Well…..each referral earns you $100 print credit. Remember, at 2 referrals you earn your session fee back, and every referral after that earns you $100 in additional print credit!

Lacey McCarthy - I was wondering that can you do that to adversting in school using...for examples my picture goes on post cards or something to convice. Please explain this clear. I'm alittle confused. Say if i am spokemodel. What should I do?February 17, 2010 - 7:09 pm

Landon’s Newborn Session {MY TAKE}

Some days, it’s extra great to be a photographer and have photographer friends.

On Friday my great friend Julie came down and helped me shoot Landon’s newborn session (he was 7 days old). I am so thankful for her help, creative eye and friendship. I don’t know exactly why I was thinking I would be up for doing his newborn session (especially after a c-section!) but thankfully Julie stepped in and I just grabbed her camera every now and again and took a few snaps of my own. I will post my edits of her shots in the next few days, but for now here are mine…

Such tiny fingers…

sleeping so peacefully.

This is one of my favorite shots…

…in black and white AND color.

I’m going to need to blow this one up big so when he’s 3 and tearing our house apart I can remember the peaceful days :)

I bought this blanket a year ago and have used it for other’s newborn sessions, and was excited to use it for my own!

Don’t you just love that hair? I do.

Daddy and his mini-me! I adore this picture! My two guys.

This quilt was given to us by my parents. My great-grandmother gave the quilt to my parents when I was born, and each of my siblings used it. Now it is passed down to a new generation.

I love his skin in this picture! No doubt who his Daddy is! what a sleeping angel.

Our New Arrival {LANDON JAMES}

I am now convinced that no one can prepare you for the overwhelming love and responsibility of having a child.

Our lives tipped upside down on February 26th at 9:48 am when this little bundle of preciousness arrived.

He is amazing. So teeny, so cute, and at 10 days old, already has so much personality. He is a little peanut; only 4 pounds 11 ounces at birth. We spent a few extra days in the hospital after a c-section and some jaundice, but we are happy to be home and getting settled now. He looks and acts  just like daddy, although he has a few of my features. There are more pictures coming, but here is the first round…

just minutes after being born

Mom and Stevie giving him his first bath

Daddy listening to his heartbeat

always trying to eat that hand!

He was so small, they used one hospital issue shirt as a shirt, and the other as pants!

Isn’t he beautiful?

Kris took these during his first night in the nursery when I couldn’t go visit him yet.

He does a lot of this! What a good sleeper.

Looks like Daddy!

After his second bath, I love his hair!

This is his favorite place in the whole entire world…asleep on daddy’s chest.

cute cute cute!

Awful teeny in his carseat!

I love my little munchkin!

Beth K - Amanda He is a little doll. I cant wait to see him grow up in the great pictures I know you will be taking. Congrats again and enjoy this lit one.March 8, 2010 - 6:38 pm

kyla branch - Aww how sweet. Congrats on your precious little man!March 8, 2010 - 6:38 pm

Kristin - Congratulations.......he is so cute and sooooo hairy!!!!!LOVE it!March 8, 2010 - 6:45 pm

robyn - Aw, congratulations! He is so beautiful. I love his hair!March 8, 2010 - 6:48 pm

Dionne Bossart - He'll grow into his car seat in no time! He looks like he's in a giant's world!!!March 8, 2010 - 7:07 pm

evie - oh my goodness! He's tiny and beautiful!! Good things really do come in small packages!! Congratulations, Mandi!March 8, 2010 - 8:19 pm

Nikki Doyle - Amanda, you couldn't have said it better about being prepared for the overwhelming love and responsiblity! No one can prepare you for that overwhelming feeling of being a mother..isn't it the Greatest feeling in the world?! Congrats on Baby Landon, I cannot wait to meet him!March 8, 2010 - 8:58 pm

Gramma B - What a precious baby.. Awesome pictures AmandaMarch 9, 2010 - 5:11 pm

Aunt Sherry - Mandy and Chris Landon is such a wonderful addition to your family. The three of you will have so much joy in the years to come. You both are truly blessed. I can't wait to watch him grow.March 9, 2010 - 7:06 pm

Becky - WOW!! He is to tiny and cute! All of the photos are wonderful - but I really think my favorite shows just how very tiny he is in his car seat. Thank you for sharing these with us.March 9, 2010 - 8:23 pm

Elena - Congratulations! He is beautiful.March 9, 2010 - 8:57 pm

2-Day Fine Art Canvas Sale {WAITING ON BABY}

As many of my clients know, fine art gallery wrapped canvases are my favorite product to sell and put up in my own home. They truly take a captured moment of your family, and turn it into instant art. These arrive ready to hang on your wall, and are the most stunning way to display an image from your session.

Our home is currently lacking in canvases of people, so I took some shots of this canvas, which we had printed of a picture I took on our honeymoon.

This canvas has a 1.5″ deep wrap, and the image extends onto the sides. You can have your image wrap, or have a solid color on the sides.

I like that this shot shows the beauty of canvas. They give your images a sparkle and depth that photo paper can’t achieve…I look up at the wall and feel like I can almost step right into that shot again.

I cannot wait until our little man is here, and as soon as we get some amazing newborn images of him, I am ordering a HUGE canvas to go over our fireplace. I thought it would be fun to do a big sale on canvas while I wait patiently (*ahem* or not) for his arrival!

If you would like to order a canvas, please contact me so I can rehost your gallery and you can choose your image(s). I need to have your order paid for by before 5 pm on Thursday to take advantage of this sale!

16×20 canvas: $210 (normally $310)

20×30 canvas: $325 (normally $425)

Sneak Peek: Marita and crew {FAMILY}

I love photographing friends. LOVE it. I love seeing them, love capturing them and their families and the love they share.

Marita and I met last summer at camp, and ended up bunking together in the one RV with air conditioning…(can I just say, we got lucky because our week at camp was during the warmest weather Washington saw last summer!)…at camp Marita was 30-ish weeks pregnant with this adorable little guy, Tanner. I had just found out before camp that I was pregnant, so it was fun to have that connection with her.

I had a blast today photographing Marita, Shawn and Tanner. We lucked out and were able to take advantage a beautiful, sunny, crisp winter day.

How cute are they? Tanner is the most adorable little chunk!

He wasn’t so sure what he thought about having his picture taken, but we were diggin’ it!

Look at that little stinker, sticking his tongue out at me!

As laid back as he seems, today Tanner was a pretty serious little dude.

I would blow this up huge on my wall!

Mommy Love!

Daddy love!

Marita, thanks for trusting me with your family pictures! Hopefully this time the only tears are tears because you see the love your family shares!

Be sure and add a comment below to help the Lawrence Family win a free 8×10!

If you are interested in booking a session with Mandi McDougall Photography, e-mail me at info@mandimcdougallphotography.com. If you are a friend of Marita’s and mention that when you book, you receive a $50 print credit.

k monroe - Great photos of my daughter and her family! I love them all, especially the one of Tanner in the hat!February 20, 2010 - 8:33 pm

Myka - These are amazing! I'm so glad you were able to capture how adorable my nephew is!!! Thanks!February 20, 2010 - 8:57 pm

Mike Feely - The picture's are great, the picture's of Tanner pouting looks just like his mother when she was that age,but I love them all. Grandpa misses them all and can't wait to see them when Cooky and I return to Washington. Maybe we can get a picture of all of us then. Love ya Mike & CookyFebruary 20, 2010 - 9:00 pm

Barbara Edwards - They are beautiful pictures. The photographs show delightful imagination. Tanner show's a lot of personality in his picture's and he is very lucky to have a wonderful family. Can't wait to see them this spring when Grandpa and I return home for the summer. Love, Cooky & grandpaFebruary 20, 2010 - 9:05 pm

selena - I really liked the picture when Tanner is in the basket on the train tracks but luckily there was no train because Myka will freak out.February 20, 2010 - 9:55 pm

cathy jo - I LOVE LOVE LOVE the one with Tanner sticking his tongue out!!February 20, 2010 - 10:46 pm

Jennifer - Way cute!!!!!!!!! Can't wait for camp this year. Marita will need to bring him so I can have my baby fix.February 21, 2010 - 12:07 am

Auntie Margie - Can that kid get any cuter?????? Great pictures of all of youFebruary 21, 2010 - 3:47 pm

kim - I loved all the photos! The one of Tanner on the train tracks is AMAZING! But, as a mom I liked the first photo of the family. Full of love for the life they created. Mandi, great job capturing the moment.February 21, 2010 - 6:07 pm

grandma terrie - I love all these pictures, really like the one of Tanner in the basket, Tanner reminds me so much of Shawn when he was this age, thank you for the beautiful pictures, and memories too.February 21, 2010 - 8:49 pm

Kim Young - Awwww! What a beautiful family! What great photographs! My favorite are of Tanner the one in the basket and the tongue one! The ones with Mom and Dad were great too!February 25, 2010 - 7:30 pm