Doing what matters

In honor of #InternationalNursesDay, thank you, nurses.

Most of you know that Kylie is an Emergency Trauma-trained RN who is pediatric- and Neonatal-certified. When we talk about how safely we can handle newborns… we mean it!

Did you know that Mudpies N' Butterflies also sponsors the Life Touch Global organization? This faith-filled non-profit supports medical mission work in the United States and abroad. Those who volunteer are committed to providing direct medical care and education to those in need. They have lent a hand in the aftermath of disasters, treated the unhealthy, fed the hungry, cared for the homeless, and advocated for young women who have been pulled into trafficking and sex slavery.

It isn't enough to take photos of beautiful moments here at home. We can all do our parts to make the world an actual better place. Hats off today to ALL the nurses in the world who have worked SO HARD this past year and a half (and beyond) to care for us.

Life's a Beach

We already have our toes in the sand for a new beach season filled with laughter, ocean, and warm weather. And we're feeling so good, we're going to do a giveaway!

One family who books a beach session with us this summer will receive a $150 gift certificate to apply toward their session. If your family visits Bethany / Ocean City / Lewes / Rehobeth over the summer and you love beautiful, one-of-a-kind photographs, we're your perfect partner to create some truly stunning images!

Click this link and fill out the form to start the process of getting into our schedule: https://mudpiesnbutterfliesstudios.com/contact  Our beach bookings are filling up REALLY fast, so the time is NOW to get in on the action. Maternity and senior beach sessions qualify for this contest, too.

See you at the beach!

Best of York, PA, 2021 Is Open for Voting Now!

We’ve made it super easy for you to cast your vote for Mudpies N’ Butterflies Studios as your favorite photographer in York, Pennsylvania.

Just follow this link to go straight to the vote, and click the green button! You can vote every day (yes, every day!) through April 18, but please only use one email address when you do it.

Who we are has everything to do with who you are, and we couldn’t be happier with our partnerships with our clients. Thank you in advance for your votes. And thank you for being a part of the Mudpies N’ Butterflies family!

The Blossoms Are Ready for YOU

We have access to an amazingly beautiful private orchard and the blooms have just blossomed. If you can picture your family, kiddos, baby bump or senior in this epic setting then contact us now to get the info to book your session. The blossoms only stick around for a few weeks so session times are limited, don’t wait! We hope to see you soon!

All the Stars

Jessica gives us ALL the stars!

We <3 our Mudpies family. We're hoping to be voted Best of York for photographers in the contests that are running, but we think our clients are the best, too.

• Susquehanna Style Best of York voting until February 28: https://susquehannastyle.com/bestof/2021-york-voting

• York Daily Record nominations until February 28 (you can drop in daily to nominate us -- voting comes later in the spring): https://ydr.secondstreetapp.com/2021-Best-of-the-Best-York-County/

The Best

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”

– Albert Einstein

We believe that we can find our success by providing value. And it’s that time of the year when we ask you to love us back a little…

Susquehanna Style’s Best of York annual contest is open for voting through the end of February (https://susquehannastyle.com/bestof/2021-york-voting)! And nominations for the Best of York County will be open from February 15 - 28 (https://ydr.secondstreetapp.com/2021-Best-of-the-Best-York-County). It only takes a minute to pop over to both sites and let them know that you believe in us and our work. Won’t you be our Valentine?

Thanks, Mudpies and Loft family! <3

Excellence: Lighting

Lighting is something that you can’t fake as a photographer. You either dial it in or you don’t. And either way, it’s obvious in the final work that you produce.

Of course, you can practice and perfect your techniques. Our award-winning team at Mudpies N’ Butterflies Studios and The Loft York has decades of experience in properly and effectively lighting our clients. Indoor / outdoor, high light / low light, and all seasons and skin tones… Look at that gorgeous lighting!

A "Classic" Family Session

We were contacted with a special request to capture a Christmas surprise for this family’s Pap. He absolutely loves vintage trucks and what better way to celebrate him than to do a surprise meetup in a field with an old red truck?! After having fun capturing this family’s love for each other, Pap even got a chance to hop in the truck and go for a drive. Thankful they chose us to photograph this meaningful time for their family.

Adding a Girl to the Mix

Watching families grow up as well as in number is one of our favorite things here at Mudpies N Butterflies. This family in particular holds a special place in our hearts. We have photographed their engagement session, then wedding, then each of their first two baby boys and now they have been blessed with a beautiful girl to add to the mix. It’s safe to say they are all smitten with her and we look forward to watching her grow throughout this entire year. Below is a peek at a few of our favorites from her Just New Session.

Cozy Campfire Bonds Are a Year-Round Option

We had so much fun during this shoot! Capturing their bond meant a lot to this mama — this is the age where it's common for boys not to be fond of picture time (or really anything that starts as Mom's idea 😂).

But EVERY time we get them playing naturally is where we capture the magic.

From the sass/tudes to giggles and good times. In fact, this lil man asked to shoot with his own camera when we wrapped up their cozy campfire session. There’s nothing we love more than for kids to tell their story their own way, too. Memories from this shoot will live on forever in the images we’re sharing.

Know what? The experience is as important to us as the images we produce. And our team with extra hands and highly-trained staff makes sessions extra stress-free for parents.

We offer these cozy campfires year-round and style them to suit your vision! Let us capture that bond. No cheesy smiles, we promise. #YourImagesYourWay #MudpiesMagicMakesItHappen

Kick off the New Year right... Enter our drawing to win a dream session with our team!

Start the year as a winner! How would you like to win a dream session with the Mudpies N' Butterflies team, valued over $800? We always give you timely access to your gallery of perfectly-edited copyright-released images and include a prehung show-stopping canvas! Here's how to enter our drawing (happening on January 8 at 8:00 p.m.):

*Like and follow both our Facebook pages (@Mudpies N' Butterflies Photography and @The Loft York), and tag a friend who needs to know about us in the comments on this post.

*If you'd like to double your chances, follow both of our Instagram accounts (@mudpies_n_butterflies and @theloftyork) and tag someone who needs to know about us in the comments on the contest post there!

Top 20 in 2020... it's been a tough year, but it has also been a year with some new favorites. We'd love to help you kick off the new year right, by capturing 2021 memories to frame forever.

#2021 #MudpiesNButterfliesPhotography #TheLoftYork #YorkPAPhotographer

A Regular Girl's Guide to Boudoir Sessions ("But, what about my wobbly bits?")

An important part of the work our team does in preparation for boudoir sessions is to have a real heart-to-heart with the ladies who have signed up for them. Because these questions tend to be universal, we thought it would be helpful to share. If you're considering investing in yourself this way, read on. If you're considering gifting a session to a loved one, read on. If you're just curious about boudoir sessions, read on!

QUESTION: Will I be naked?
ANSWER: Not fully. The point of a boudoir session is NOT to reveal everything, but to tastefully frame your assets... with *just enough* exposure.

QUESTION: How do I decide what to wear?
ANSWER: What do you dance around the house in when you're totally alone? What do you get excited about pulling out of the drawer? What are you wearing when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and say "well, helloooooo there..." We can give you a few additional pointers if they help:

• Bring along pieces that you already know fit you well.

• Shoot for a little loose over a little tight.

• You know your coloration. Don't be afraid to flatter yourself with the right shades and colors.

QUESTION: But, what about my wobbly bits?
ANSWER: We have your back. Our team (of women, different shapes and sizes) has logged years of education and experience in boudoir photography, and we're excellent at helping you emphasize your favorite features while downplaying your least favorite features. We talk with our clients about their vision before every session we do, and boudoir photography is no exception.

QUESTION: Will you just edit out all the bad / weird / awkward details in post-production?
ANSWER: We're really good at getting it right for the camera, so post-production doesn't have to make the shots look unrealistic. We'll give you feedback and help you find optimal poses that you're comfortable with in front of the camera. We’ll also keep an eye on random details so that you can let go of any stress related to looking put together.

QUESTION: I know you do boudoir parties. Do I have to do this with other women I know?
ANSWER: We have several studio locations, and we are prepared to offer as much privacy as you need to be comfortable doing your session. Want to go solo and focus on the art we produce? We can do it. Want to glam it up with makeup and hair services, your besties, and champagne? We can do that, too. Just talk to us about what you want. No matter what, you’re going to be a bombshell!

QUESTION: But what kind of women even DO boudoir sessions?
ANSWER: All kinds of women. We're artists. We love lifting up the beauty and confidence and strength of our clients. For us, boudoir sessions are every bit as much about empowering the women in our community to find their own charms as it is about the final set of photographs.

QUESTION: Will my gallery of shots be used publicly?
ANSWER: Only if you're comfortable with it! We not only protect your privacy while you're in the studio... We protect your privacy in your galleries forever.

QUESTION: I'd like to do a session with you and then gift the photos to my person. When should I plan to do that?
ANSWER: If you're planning for a Valentine's Day gift (you have GREAT taste!), schedule your session for January (or before). That gives everyone plenty of time to do everything well on their end.

QUESTION: I'd like to gift my person a session! How do I do that?
ANSWER: You can either book a session with us, sorting out the details later, or you can purchase gift cards to be used when the session is booked later.

At first we didn’t think York was a market for this service, but boy were we wrong! York NEEDS more women empowering women. And we’re not only up to the challenge, we’re perfect for the job. We can’t wait until you see yourself through our lenses!

Something about Seasons

Pennsylvania seasons sure didn't disappoint this year!

New love stories ushered in 2020 with boudoir sessions so classy, but so fierce -- even we blushed.

The beautiful blossoms of early spring were bittersweet. Like so many others, our business came to a sudden halt as everyone tried to figure out how to stay safe during a pandemic. Trust us, we were feeling ALL the feels right along with the rest of the world. We still got to witness the beauty of the season, though. Some things are universal and for always.

Our hearts leapt with joy when we got our green light to get back into action. And who knew what a fabulous summer we'd be blessed with! Bare feet, watermelons, giggles, splashes, and all the ice cream we could eat framed some of our favorite moments with our summertime clients. ❤️

This year, Eastern shore boasted cleaner water and beaches than ever. We spent time capturing God beauty in those bursting sunrises and tranquil sunsets that provided backdrops of stunning art for families to cherish.

Fall here has brought a bounty of color, explosive fun photo shoots, and cozy campfires that are warming our souls. It's impossible not to jump into the leaf pile. All. The. Way.

We are really looking forward to witnessing families taking in all the sights and sounds of the holiday season and bonding over baking cookies. The magic of the holidays is here! Add a little Mudpies N' Butterflies magic to the mix, and it's a recipe for fun, art, and moments captured to cherish forever.

PS — We’d be remiss not to thank all of you who purchased gift cards for yourselves and for others when business slowed down in the spring. Thank you, our Mudpies N’ Butterflies family!

Golden Hour Family Fall Fun

Dad’s going to have his hands full with these pretty little ladies!

The golden hour didn't disappoint through this session — we always chase the best light, angels, and surroundings that match styles. We love aligning visions and creating looks that are both timeless and treasured moments. We make it our mission not only to capture the smiles, but also to frame the natural interaction, resulting in galleries overflowing with perfectly-edited digital images with VARIETY.

Our team of photographers always pays attention to detail: shirt tails, pockets full of phones, sunglasses on heads... hey, it happens. Getting all the kids to the session in one piece isn't always the easiest (WE KNOW). But once you're there, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing we have you covered. The hair out of place, the buttons you forgot to snap, the hair ties on your wrist, and everything in between… we’ll help you manage it all.

Our job is to deliver images and products you’ll be in love with. We stand by that goal, and we guarantee it.

Speaking of being in love, we fall in love with this family a little bit more every time we capture them. Here's a small glimpse.

A Sweet Remembrance Newborn Session

Our job as photographers is more involved than just simply snapping an image. It becomes learning about our clients and what makes them smile, capturing the exact moment they are going through in life currently, and conveying their feelings through the image itself. This newborn session was an excellent example of that. This sweet baby boy lost his daddy in a tragic accident prior to being born. His beautiful mommy has shown such strength through the heartache and wanted more than anything to remember his daddy throughout this session. Dax, you are so loved and we continue to pray for your entire family as they navigate through a whole new way of life and loving you.

A Citrus Session with my "Main Squeeze"

We are all mamas at the Mudpies N’ Butterflies Studios, and of course, have millions of ideas of images to create with our own children. While we have high hopes, you can imagine how it goes, we never get it all accomplished. One of our visions was to create a simple yet sweet citrus bath session with our newest addition, my “main squeeze.” Grapefruits, oranges, and lemons combined with this little one’s squishy rolls, dark, curly hair, and gummy smiles made this session beyond sweet. Grateful that my fellow photographer mamas made me snuggle in the tub with her for a few (we so often forget to get anything other than selfies with us in it). Below are a few of my faves from the session. ♥Mandy

Creating an Epic Senior Session

We have been working with this seniors family for a few years and what a joy they always are to work with. When mom emailed about a senior session we couldn’t wait to start planning details. From coordinating outfits to making sure we had the best location and golden light, this session did not disappoint. We even got to include some awesome pictures with our vintage Jeep Wagoneer. If you want an epic session like this, be sure to reach out today, we love to make your style shine through in the images. Below are some of our faves!

From Bump to Baby

We enjoyed working with this beautiful couple to capture their growing family. We met them outside with their first fur baby to show the glowing mamas growing belly. A few weeks later we met them in our newborn suite to photograph the new addition….and oh how cute!! She was such a dream…from staying sleepy to flashing the sweetest smiles, we were in love at first sight.

Natural Light Studio Sitter Session

This sweet little girl came to visit our natural light studio to capture her sitter session and she was just the cutest. Take a peak at some of our faves from the session below.

Half way to my Birthday Sitter Smash

Anytime is a good time for donuts! We celebrated this little ladie's 6-month sitter session with a half dozen for her “halfway to my birthday” theme! And a smashing good time it was! #DonutGrowUp too fast sweetie 🍩