Caron Tolstyka

senior rep program

2012-02-11T11:30:00.003-05:00

if you or anyone you know is interested please send me an e-mail at caron@photographybycaron.com

New services offered

2012-02-02T14:29:00.014-05:00

I am so excited to share with you all that I will now be offering hair & makeup as an add-on service to your session!

I will be working with Jill Harrison- she's my new girl crush ♥ She does an amazing job and is so sweet.(maybe she can help me look like our beautiful model, Ally ☺). As you will see in the images listed below she can help you achieve any style or look you want. When you are ready to book your next session please ask about hair & makeup.

hair & heartbreak

2012-01-26T13:52:00.008-05:00

okay, maybe I'm being a little dramatic when I say heartbreak. Extremely sad might be a better fit. I guess. Ugh, here's the story...
Yesterday Maddie, my 3 year old, was upstairs playing as she always is. I was cleaning up after breakfast so I was downstairs. When I finished up I went up to see what my little miss was up to. I called for her, and she said, "mama, I look like Bonnie" in my head I was thinking, "what?! who is Bonnie and why do you look like her?" as I approached the bathroom I was still a little confused then I saw what she was talking about...

she had found my SCISSORS!

She cut her hair...

in the 5 minutes that she was upstairs alone she managed to break into my bathroom (I keep the door locked) find my scissors (I hide them) and cut off all of her beautiful curly hair. I know some day I will laugh about this but the day she did it all I could do was cry. All of those amazing sweet curls that I use to love to brush, braid, run my fingers thru, GONE.

this is what I was left with...

I couldn't just leave it a mullet.

and the "Bonnie" she was talking about is the little girl from Toy Story 3...

project 365

2012-01-07T09:04:00.008-05:00

I am the world worst blogger. and since we are on the subject of what I'm bad at I should add grammar, ending phone conversations, putting laundry away, printing my own images, just to name a few . the list is so long that I couldn't possibly list it all here.

back on point- I am doing a 365 project this year- as any parent knows time flies when your children are little. it seems like yesterday I was pregnant with my soon to be 9 year old *tear*. I promised myself I would not let another year go by with out capturing the things I love most about my kids. so here are a few images that capture them.

the one day we had snow-they played outside all day!

my kids lay on the table all the time! I drives me nuts! I tell them to get off, but they never listen. btw- the older child is my girlfriends daughter & one of Sidney's bff's

catching "butterflies"

Toy Story 1, 2 & 3 is her favorite movie(s)...she plays with the action figures all night & day!

I Heart Faces | “Holiday Bokeh"

2011-12-27T11:31:00.004-05:00

Happy Holidays

candy store

2011-12-20T11:31:00.002-05:00

long time no blog!

2011-12-19T23:21:00.004-05:00

Photo Challenge | Beautiful Eyes

2011-08-16T13:27:00.004-04:00

Here is my try at beautiful eyes..this is my 5 year old daughter. We went to the park with some props and my camera- a normal day in the life of a photographer- I just let her play and I try to capture what I love most about my daughter...EVERYTHING!

Friendships| photo challenge

2011-08-08T00:02:00.003-04:00

This image is of my 5 year old daughter and her BFF. They have been friends since they were 3. I love these little girls to pieces...every girls needs a friendship like these two have...full of love and laughs.

He Said, She Said worksop

2011-07-27T10:53:00.005-04:00

if you don't know about Jean Smith and Boka Studios you need to...they are a husband and wife photography powerhouse...and they are having a workshop!

http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/2011/07/26/photographer-interview-he-said-she-said/

Photo Challenge | Props

2011-07-18T17:40:00.003-04:00

Love this weeks theme!Aww heck, I love every theme these gals come up with!!! this is an image of my daughter- I shot this for ME! to hang in my home because some day she will be too "grown-up" for such "baby-ish" things.

I heart Faces | A touch of Whimsy

2011-06-27T08:40:00.004-04:00

I took this picture 1 week ago- this beautiful girl is my senior rep- she is simply beautiful in every sense of the word

A few things that never go out of style...

2011-06-02T11:18:00.003-04:00

Long summer days in the D, Love, Levi jeans & a white t-shirt, beautiful graffiti, flip flops, Bob Seger (what can I say, I'm from Detroit), Tigers baseball, bon fires with friends, outdoor concerts, red nail polish,gratitude, hoop earrings, lip gloss, diet pepsi, dieting, the smell of fresh cut grass, sleeping with the window open, fruit roll-ups, weekends up north, Better Made chips, muscle cars, black leather, great lash mascara,

>

Summer in Detroit

Best Face | photo challenge I Heart Faces

2011-05-31T09:49:00.002-04:00

This is an image I took of my senior rep...I love the way it turned out!

I heart faces photo challenge | yellow

2011-05-23T14:00:00.004-04:00

Super excited about this weeks challenge...I mean YELLOW, what's not to love, right?!?!?!

Senior Rep program

2011-04-26T13:43:00.002-04:00

I’m looking for super-fun 2012 seniors who want to be part of my Senior Representative Program. In exchange for your help promoting photography by Caron to your friends, you’ll receive a free senior photography session. One student will be chosen from each of the local high schools in the area.

In order to be a senior rep for me, you must:

Be a senior graduating in 2012
Like having your photograph taken
Have a fun sense of personal style
Agree to promote photography by Caron to your friends and classmates

Represent ONLY photography by Caron and use the images from your session as your senior photos. Return a photo release signed by you and your parent/guardian
If you are a part of the senior rep program, you’ll receive the following:

A free senior photography session.
Senior rep cards. Each card will be personalized with your name, your photos and our business information to hand to your to your friends and classmates.
An opportunity to earn print credits and print discounts for each person you refer.

You’ll earn referral discounts for each referral you send to photography by Caron

1-3 Referrals – 10% off print order and $15 print credit
4-6 Referrals – 10% off print order and $25 print credit
7-10 referrals – 15% off print order and $40 print credit
11+ referrals – 20% off print order and DVD of high-res images
All senior reps must agree with the following terms and conditions:

Senior representative sessions must be scheduled and take place before July 1st, 2011. Rep cards will be given to the reps before September 1st, 2011. When your referrals book a session and pay in full, you will get credit for that referral. Any referral that presents your rep card when booking their session will receive 10% off of their senior photography session. Be sure to tell your friends about the perks of the senior rep session … they can sign up for the 2013 season. Your participation in the program will not only introduce you to fun and modern, personalized photography, but also a way to earn incentives toward your session for senior portraits at little or no cost. All students must return the application, including the model release, before June 1st, 2011. This program is first come, first serve so be sure to act fast if you’re interested. All reps will be contacted and announced on my blog July 5th, 2011. Please send me an e-mail at caron@photographybycaron.com and I will send you the application and model release.

I can’t wait to work with you!

CRAVE PHOTOGRAHY giveaway!

2011-04-19T11:43:00.003-04:00

CRAVE PHOTOGRAPHY has some of the most amazing images you'll ever see and now they are offering an unbelievable giveaway!!! Please head on over to "http://cravemyphotography.com/blog/world-wide-giveaway" to get the full detials.

senior 2012

2011-04-14T14:14:00.003-04:00

All items can be purchased at H & M

2012 senior

2011-03-25T13:43:00.008-04:00

The sun finally started shining and I had my first senior session of 2012, oh yeah! The weather was COLD but this senior was ready to go! Thank you Erika for being so easy to photograph, and for doing anything I asked without questions-do you think you could give a few lessons to my husband & kids?
here is a little peak at the images from her sunny & cold fun senior session

2011-03-21T13:31:00.003-04:00

I had my first senior session of the season Sunday, boy did it feel good to be shooting outside! I love shooting seniors, they are so fun and easy to work with! I thought I'd share a little senior, "what to wear" guide today. Most items can be purchased at Old Navy.

What to wear

2011-03-15T10:35:00.002-04:00

Spring is in the air-Finally! And it’s time to start thinking about family portraits. Here is a little guide for those of you looking for a little inspiration.

Photo Challenge | Sun Flare

2011-03-14T09:05:00.003-04:00

I love this images because this awesome daddy is taking in all her baby-sweetness.

"Anything but a face"

2011-02-28T17:41:00.003-05:00

This little guy was kinda shy about being without a shirt but he's just so darn cute!

photographers and their children

2011-02-19T11:47:00.011-05:00

Most people assume that photographer’s have beautiful pictures of their families plastered all over their walls. Although this is true for some, it’s not true for me. In my perfect world my girls would always be up for a photo session but that’s just not the case. Most of the time they run when they see me going for my camera, can’t say that I blame them. I mean really, what 8, 4 & 2 year old do you know that likes to stand still and follow directions. When I finally do get them to agree I’m always meet by an eye roll and constant complaining…so I take what I can get.
The following photos were taken in 2 days- they're never all good at one time. With all the complaining, running away, whining, are you done yet, I get a ton of really bad shots. But then there comes a moment when they aren’t fighting me and they are just being my sweet little girls and I’m able to capture it…for that I am grateful.

winter fun

2011-01-31T13:31:00.011-05:00

This past weekend Chris and I took the girls up-north to his brother's cottage. The weekend was full of snow, laughs and snow…did I mention there was a lot of snow.

It was like someone took a page out of a childhood fairytale. I say this because it was nothing short of magical. Our children all got along, sounds easy but it’s not. We have a total of 6 between us and they’re all GIRLS! They played outside all day & night…they were ice skating, sledding, and just playing in the snow… it was cold but they didn’t care.

We drove home on a sunny Sunday afternoon talking about the great weekend we just had. I was thinking about my favorite moments...Abby pushing her cousin down the sled hill because she was taking too long, Aubrey not noticing all the other kids went inside and playing happily by herself, watching Sidney try to skate, watching Avery skate-she's so good, the list goes on and on. As I'm replaying everything back in my head I experienced déjà vu. I was 8 years old again, chewing grape bubble gum and listening to Kasey Kasem’s top 40 countdown.

I was sliding on the ice with my brother and sisters...we were laughing and playing all day. Hoping our mom didn't call us in for dinner anytime soon. It was awesome.

I don't know if it was the the icicles that were hanging off everything, or the grape bubble gum that I purchased from the gas station ....whatever it was I was glad that I got to relive a little piece of my own childhood this weekend. It was a nice reminder that childhood hasn't changed much.

“Innocent Wonder”

2011-01-24T12:49:00.003-05:00

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff" one of my favorite quotes!

I heart faces | smile

2011-01-11T10:28:00.004-05:00

This little girl is one of my favorite people to photograph...she's just 8 and is a super model in the making.

Silhouette

2010-11-15T20:39:00.003-05:00

If there were a contest for world's worst blogger I think I'd win! No, really. I would. I never post on my blog but I just couldn't let this weeks theme pass me by...I LOVE silhouttes...I try to take one at every shoot I'm on.

Week 24- All About Babies!

2010-06-14T13:26:00.002-04:00

Love this week's theme!
This pic is of baby Jessica. This little angel is proof positive that there is a silver lining on every gray cloud. The mother of this sweet-pea lost her own mother suddenly. She was never able to tell her mom she was expecting. Her mother is the one that introduced her to the love of her live, husband & now father to this amazing little baby.

Week 21-"Yellow" Photo Challenge

2010-05-24T21:47:00.003-04:00

I love yellow, I love I heart faces, I love hop-scotch & I love that this client brought yellow chalk on this shoot for these cuties to play with!

Week 20 "faces & flowers"

2010-05-18T09:53:00.003-04:00

Week 19-"Celebrating mom"

2010-05-10T09:46:00.003-04:00

I love this weeks theme! This pic is part of a 14 person shoot I did for a Mother's day gift. 1 mom + 3 daughters = a blessing

We are family

2010-04-30T14:24:00.005-04:00

I was contacted by a friend of mine for a family photo session. I've worked with them before so I was really excited...then she said her whole family-mom, dad, sisters, & their families, 14 people total. That only added to my excitment...this family is so fun! they are beyond beautiful and just the nicest people you will ever meet.

Week 17-Smiles

2010-04-27T13:23:00.004-04:00

I believe a smile is the most beautiful thing you can ever have on your face! I love this weeks challenge! It was really hard for me to pick just one image.I settled on this one because it's one of those moments as a mom that just melts your heart. These little girls are my daughters, the loves of my life, the reason I do everything and they ALWAYS make me smile!

thoughts

2010-04-07T14:37:00.003-04:00

Am I the only one that has complete conversation with myself? My daughter often makes fun of me for talking to myself. She has lovingly nick-named me her "crazy-mama".
Today I was having a great conversation in my head while I was walking the track at the gym. Then out of the blue I hear, "ON YOUR RIGHT" which just about made me wet myself! I mean seriously. He was loud. Did he not know I was deep in conversation with myself. Then the worst of it was that I was so scared afterward that I forgot all my wonderful & profound things I was sayingto myself, dang it!

Week 13-"Dramatic B&W"

2010-03-30T13:35:00.002-04:00

My step mother-in-law Kate was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer September 2009-while vacationing in her Florida home. Her & my father-in-law decided she would go through treatment in Fl-we all live in MI. It was really hard on the family to be removed from her but we all had to respect her wishes, after all, she's the one fighting cancer. She doesn't need to fight us too. She went through chemo & had a double mastectomy and now will go through radiation in the next few months. She did all of this living almost alone because her husband (my father-in-law) works in Michigan. He would fly down as often as he could. But she was still for the most part alone. She is now home for a few weeks & I asked if i could take a few pictures of her. She thought it was a great idea-she wants to remember looking like this...to me, that's dramatic!

2010-03-23T00:13:00.004-04:00

When I was asked to photograph Maddy I was so excited! The last time I saw her she was just a little girl and she was definitely NOT taller then me. That was then and this is now...she's about 5' 7" maybe 5' 8". at the fun age of 13.

Week 12-Focusing on Angles

2010-03-22T00:55:00.003-04:00

I love this weeks theme...the hardest part for me was picking just one picture. I selected this image because I had to work for it-I had to sit on a dirt road, had rocks poking me in my bottom and dirt all down my back side...totally worth it!

Week 11 "Bundle-Up"

2010-03-15T14:21:00.003-04:00

My step-mother-in-law has been in FL for months battling breast cancer. She hasn't seen her granddaughter or snow in months & misses them both terribly. As a gift to her I took pictures of her granddaughter playing in the snow.
I really love how the snowflake landed on Abby's eyelash
p.s. she's winning the cancer battle!

Saturday morning

2010-03-13T08:55:00.002-05:00

You'd think because it's a Saturday that my kids would sleep in but NOPE! not my girls...the first one woke up at 6:30am, followed by the the other 2...oh the joys of motherhood...LOL!!!
I made a new tutu yesterday & cannot wait to put it on one of my girls to take some pics...the problem is that they don't want to wear it! They are SO over me! When they see me going near my camera I get a look like "do I HAVE to!". Of course they HAVE TO! We all have our crosses to bear & this is theirs...LOL!!!!!
pictures of the new tutu coming soon...

"Jump for Joy"

2010-03-09T19:02:00.003-05:00

Thank you very much I ♥ faces...I have had Van Halen "Jump" stuck in my head for the last few days and everytime I look at the entries I can help but sing the song.

2010-03-06T09:41:00.005-05:00

Here is my attempt to actually blog. I'm really bad at posting but what's the point for having a blog if all I ever do is post pictures, right?!?!
I will be posting pictures but I'll now post words too. Not random words, although that would be funny in a weird way, words that make up my ever so un-interesting life...LOL

I finally ordered & received my 50mm lens...I have to tell you if this lens were a man I would seriously consider leaving my husband for it, that's how much I LOVE this lens!!! It preforms so well under low light conditions & it's so clear. Now here's the down side...it only leaves me hungry for more. I now what another lens, and another, etc. Don't get me wrong I'm completely grateful for my 50mm... now I just want to be grateful for my next awesome lens.

The picture's I'm posting today I took of my girls with the new lens. They are total stinkers but I love them more than the air I breathe. I'll talk more about them later.

hands on fun!

2010-02-22T18:15:00.003-05:00

Yep, this is a picture of my almost 2 year old putting her baby-hand in her butt crack!

Dance for me sweetheart....

2010-02-16T14:16:00.003-05:00

I now wish I would have entered this picture in this weeks contest, "I wanna dance!" on I ♥ faces. I guess next time I'll go with my gut.

I wanna Dance!

2010-02-15T09:04:00.003-05:00

we heart kisses

2010-02-08T14:07:00.003-05:00

I ♥ faces week three, "We Are Family"

2010-01-18T14:09:00.003-05:00

week 2: Photo Challenge-"Best Face Photo"

2010-01-11T12:33:00.003-05:00

I ♥ her face!

i ♥ faces week 1

2010-01-06T20:45:00.005-05:00

This week's contest was really a challenge for me. Thank you Angie & Amy for really pushing me to be creative.

think "where's waldo"

Even my 3 year old can't get enough of i ♥ faces!

“I am submitting this photo into the I Heart Faces logo photo contest. By entering, I am granting I Heart Faces LLC permission to consider my photo for use in the marketing and promotion of their website.”

I ♥ faces-"Hilarious Outtakes"

2009-12-28T10:05:00.006-05:00

This was my 5th or 6th failed attempt to get a photo for our family Christmas card. I'm sure you can all tell what my daughter was thinking...she is only 3 but I heard her LOUD & CLEAR...LOL!!! Seriously, I still can't believe the finger gesture...

MOM, she's touching me!

foam ball fight at our family Christmas party..it's a tradition.

I can never get a picture of this girl with out her sticking out that tongue!

We went to the park to get some fun outside pics of my girls to send to their grandparents in FL...I swear this kid is always a hoot! her pants just fell as I was taking her pic.

I ♥ Faces

2009-12-22T00:09:00.004-05:00

I've held on to the outfit for years to get a picture of all my girls wearing it infront of the tree. This is my youngest daughter & the 1st one to take it off before I could snap the pic.I ♥ 1 1/2 year olds!

at least she didn't get the bottom half of the outfit off...LOL!

The Kamsickas family

2009-12-16T12:25:00.002-05:00

This was a fun day with my sister-in-law & her amazing family! The time flew by...before I knew it I had taken over 100 photos of them. I can't wait for my next session with them.

2009-12-14T15:05:00.001-05:00

I am so behind on updating this blog...ugh! Here are a few of my personal favorites.

2009-12-14T14:58:00.002-05:00

I really enjoyed my shoot with the Cuevas family. They all made my job effortless.

2009-10-15T15:10:00.004-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing my sister-in-law and nieces the other day. The weather was great and the girls had a great time, not to mention how much fun this was for me :-). Thank you Melissa & girls for letting me capture the beauty of your family.