Heather Cicione Photography

It's my BIRTHDAY and for just for you, 33% off!!

2011-02-27T14:42:00.001-05:00

I haven't done any specials or mini-sessions in a while and with March being my birthday month I've decided it would be the perfect time!
In honor of my 33rd birthday any sessions booked during the month of March will be 33% off. Since $217.75 is strange number, and probably one I'll never remember, I'm going to drop it even lower to $200! A session lasts typically one hour to an hour and a half, AND you get all your session images on CD.
Sessions must be booked AND completed during the month of March to receive this fantastic offer!

Jenna + Augie [married]

2011-02-15T16:59:00.004-05:00

There's something special about photographing the wedding of a friend, even on a cooold, rainy October day. There was no way that cold or rain was going to put any gloom on the love that this day held.
I think I always hold off on blogging because my indecisive self cannot for the life of me decide which images to post....grrr....

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Jenna + Augie [continuted]

2011-02-15T16:58:00.001-05:00

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helllooo hellooooo hellooooooooo

2010-12-07T13:10:00.001-05:00

By the looks of this blog you must be thinking I crawled myself into a dark corner and never found my way out. Perhaps I did. Those of you with 4 or more kids can certainly understand how tempting that may sound!!! However that is not the case at all, it's quite the opposite. I have been so busy with this booming business AND my home life that I need to make sacrifices in other places. One being this blog, my facebook fan page and my poor, poor neglected and outdated website. Unfortunately those places are what keeps me going, what keeps you coming back to me. I must learn to take the time to UPDATE and show off all of the amazing sessions we've had.
I'll just leave you with a sweet sweet moment until I finish up these last holiday cards and my final weddings that I can't wait to share....

Lisa + Rich [engaged]

2010-05-16T11:06:00.004-04:00

Worlds WORST blogger. My apologies, life happens :) I do however have a yummalicious (as my girls would say) esession to post. I've got to be honest...this is only my THIRD engagement session ever. Most of my couples opt out of the session that comes with their wedding package. They've either been engaged or together for a really long time, they don't want pictures or I truly couldn't tell you why. Here is what I adore about them and why I add them into your package. A session gives us the chance to connect and talk before the wedding. I get a sense of who you are as a couple and your individual personalities, along with that you get to know me, the one who will be following you around on one of the most important days of your life!! RIGHT?!
Lisa and Rich are daring souls who braved the on again/off again rainy, 40 degree Rochester temps on what could possibly have been the windiest day of the year. LOVE THEM. Super excited for their wedding next month!!

High School Sweethearts...say it with me.....awwwww

So remember, when you book me for your wedding, take advantage of this included session!!!

Parenthood for me 1st annual fundraiser

2010-04-19T16:50:00.005-04:00

Never having been to a fundraiser before I was in AWE of it all.

Parenthood for me is a 'not for profit' organization founded by a pretty amazing couple. It's basically for (as taken from their site) "Providing financial and emotional assistance, along with educational tools for those starting families through adoption and medical intervention".
I'm not sure whether I comment on the way the fundraiser was ran and presented from start to finish, the speakers who completely blew me away or the couple who took their battle and turned it into a way to help others.
I think many of us take for granted the simplicity of fertility. As young girls, most of us, have our wedding days planned, dream of who we want to be when we grow up and count out and name each of our children. What happens when we live out our dream weddings, work in our anticipated careers and then find out there's difficulty in having children? What if the possibility of having biological children is never even there? I felt so blessed to among these people. Some of them strong willed couples who have taken the off beaten path and climbed over mountains to fulfill their dreams of having children. A Dr. who unselfishly provides fertility treatments at such a low cost in our society that clings to wealth. An author who spoke whole heartedly about her questions of wonder. (Check out her book "What I Want My Adopted Child to Know")

The fundraiser was held at the Rochester Yacht Club

Many amazing people donated their goods for the silent auction. I was thrilled the highest bidder on a Heather Cicione Photography Gift Certificate was an old friend from school. That will be such a fun session.

Sponsors featured on every table. Flowers donated by the AMAZING Flower Power Decor

The founders of Parenthood For Me, Erica Walther Schlaefer and her husband AJ Schlaefer. Dr. Kiltz founder of CNY fertility in Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.

Sally Bacchetta, freelance writer, author and founder of The Adoptive Parent.com

The board members of Parenthood For Me

It was an honor to photograph such a meaningful night. If you find yourselves in need of emotional, financial or educational support while trying to start your family, please visit the Parenthood For Me website.

Welcome to the World

2010-03-08T14:21:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping and I had the pleasure of meeting the newest addition to our ever growing family of GIRLS, Natalie.

She is all that and then some, gorgeous black hair, chubby little cheeks. My ovaries were punching me but I gently had to remind them, their job was done, on to retirement.

Sometime next week I'll meet the little ray of sunshine at her home for a more cozy and relaxed session.

Markie [6 months]

2010-02-25T19:57:00.004-05:00

When I imagined what my little boy would look like (because imagining is as close to a boy as I will ever get!) Markie is all of that, plus some! Desirable loooong eyelashes leading up to the biggest, most exquisite brown eyes with a gummy smile that will melt your heart.

Not my intentions

2010-02-25T14:49:00.003-05:00

I hope you didn't read into my last post as an attempt for me seeking sympathy . It honestly was not intended as that. I love my life. I love to be busy and have things to do (even though the whole driving everywhere part is not what I love), it allows me to believe there is a meaning to my life. There are so many mothers out there who have to do this alone; who work to provide for their children AND take care of their children. We as mothers wear so many different hats, our jobs are never complete nor do they ever have an ending.
My whole objective was to make MYSELF understand that as much as I love to do this business I started that there is eventually going to be all the time in the world for it. I'm still where I was when I started, a part time photographer (which means I still work exceptionally hard at it....just not with clients as often)

With that all cleared up..
On to my next post from my session with the most adorable little boy EVER.
but I guess I can't leave this post without a picture...right??

As I'm trying to dig my way through my own personal pictures... I found this one from February 2007. Aren't the similarities scary?? (coming from the mother who's first 3 children look NOTHING alike!)
I'll have to do a side by side soon, find one of Marea and duplicate it with Talia.

Dreams vs. Reality

2010-02-24T14:37:00.002-05:00

So often I wish I had the chance to just sit down and blog. Blog about anything and everything, simply to keep this thing alive!
Life with 4 children is no simple task. Some may think, 'what does she DO all day'? Well let's take today for example, an hourly play by play.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010.

~ wake up around 7:45ish (yes I NEED to sleep in, Talia still wakes me up every 1-3 hours. If not Talia, it's Marea or Gianna with a bad dream)
~ Get Nina ready and on the bus (I know, she's pretty self-sufficient but I'm still there so she's not 'alone' once Jesse leaves for work, and is there until 10pm)
~ 8:20 get dressed super fast, wake Gianna and Marea (who would sleep all day if they were allowed) and usually Talia's awake and fed by now. Feed them, dress them, wash them up and jump into the car.
~ 9:15 at the gym to make my bodypump class. If I'm too late (which I usually am ) I'll just do lots of cardio.
~ 11:15 leave the gym and fly home. Get Gianna ready for the bus.
~ 11:45 Gianna's bus comes and takes her away while I put Marea and Talia on my bed with a show so I can fly through an unwashed hair day shower.
~12:20 Get in the car to take Marea to school. Run to Dunkin Donuts for my LARGE raspberry iced tea to keep me semi awake.
~ back home to TRY and put Talia to bed...usually she fights me for a bit (she's only had a short nap so far on the drive home from the gym).
~ 1:45 Talia's in her bed yelling for me as I sit here and blog. Typically now I would be cleaning up from breakfast and the mess of toys, dance bags, mail, markers, books and everything else messy that surrounds me.
~ 2:15 (on a good day Talia has been napping since 12:50 so I wake her up to get her into the car to go pick Marea up from school). Today I'm not sure a nap is happening since she is crying upstairs but is undoubtedly tired. (she JUST fell asleep at 2pm...poor baby will only get a 20 min. nap)
~ 2:35 get Marea from school, as pokey as she is and fly back home to greet Gianna's kindergarten bus.
~2:50 Gianna is home from school (ONCE I was late and Mr. bus driver let Gianna off the bus and into the EMPTY house...true story. Now he waits until he sees me, I'm sure he wants to keep his job.) I usually get everyone snacks, check over homework folder and start on homework.
~3:30 Nina gets home from school. Get her a snack, check her folder. Get Nina and Gianna dressed for dance.
~ 4:10 get in the car and head to dance which is a close 30 minutes away (Webster to N. Greece...I must be nuts but I whole heartedly LOVE Performance Plus and would never think of not driving there 4 days for my girls)
~ 4:45-6:30 sit at dance and chat with the moms while holding Talie who is now completely exhausted because she doesn't get normal 7 month old baby naps.
~ 6:45 head home. Wednesday night is Puke Donalds night for the girls (in the car on the drive home). Easy, breezy who has time to cook?? I opt for a salad at home, these extra 10lbs won't come off by eating out everynight.
~ 7:20 home and baths. Read stories, finish up homework. Get Talia in bed.
~9:30 usually the time everyone is in bed and settled down. Marea MAKES me lay with her. bad habit I know but if I don't she's wondering around until I do. After a long day I typically fall asleep in bed with her until Talia wakes me up for the first time of the night, around 11/12ish.
Then I'm up every 2-3 hours until I wake up the next morning at 7:45 and start all over.

So, being a stay at home mom is....did you say...easy? You haven't even SEEN the pile of laundry downstairs.

Not every day is this full. Saturday and Sundays we are FREE. No plans, no places to be, usually my day to get caught up on laundry and anything business related. This is the sole reason I only take so many weddings and sessions at a time. When it's wedding season I'm usually up until 2-3am editing until my eyes will no longer stay open.

Why? I LOVE what I do. I adore taking photos, capturing moments, being that person who makes it all possible for you to look back into your albums and see what was caught on film years before.

Often I dream of the day where I am allowed to do nothing but photography. Then I realize once my dream becomes reality I will have nobody here who needs me. Nobody to help tie their shoes, or get them dressed, no one to rock to sleep or read a book too. Everything I know right now, will be over. So while I wish and dream to live my life I know it all can wait because I won't be right here, where I am now, for long.

So on days when I don't get a chance to get to the post office, or I take a bit longer to return your call or email, please understand and know that I truly meant to, I just had other things on my mind.

Most likely I've just made myself late picking Marea up from school, which then makes Gianna's bus late dropping other kids off...but it was a few moments well spent. I haven't posted any pictures since Talia was born SEVEN months ago. yes, SEVEN. She is now sitting, eating, saying 'hi dada', getting up on hands and knees and crawls backwards (that's my girl!! everything isn't always right in front of you!!) and even took her first big girl bath with her sisters. I'm sure in 10 years they'll find this blog and the picture of themselves in the bath and be upset with me. It's all good.

{ Crystal + Shawn } 9.25.09

2009-11-10T13:18:00.001-05:00

Since I'm completely OCD and have to do EVERYTHING in order, I'm going to post a few of my favorites from the first half of Crystal and Shawn's beautiful wedding at Bristol Harbor. I know she's anxious to see some but it'll be a week or 2 before I'm completely finished so I'll post some now. Then the rest later:)

I do have to add that I had WAAAY to much with sun flare.

{ Crystal + Shawn } continuted...

2009-11-10T13:08:00.003-05:00

continued.....

I have such a difficult time picking out my favorites that I always end up posting too many!!!

{ Kim + Chris }

2009-09-05T00:53:00.003-04:00

It has been ions, I know, I know. Shame on me and my inability to blog like a "normal" person. Okay, so since I'm not normal, it's all good!!!

I traveled to Ithaca, New York for the amazing Kim Insalaco (Wikipedia her~~ sorry Kim, but it's just too cool) and Christopher Legg's wedding (just because he's not wikipedia-able, doesn't make him any less fabulous;) ) Did I mention I was 38 weeks pregnant? I was more worried about leaving Kim empty handed than having the baby a hundred miles away from home.

Usually I like to go in order photowise...but whatever right?!
and I need to find a new blog template....this one doesn't let me post em' XTRA LARGE...

enjoy!!

{ Kim + Chris } continued....

2009-09-05T00:18:00.010-04:00

When life takes over....

2009-07-31T12:43:00.006-04:00

(BIG LOOONG POST coming up!!)

I cannot believe it has been MONTHS since my last update. Such is life when your days are spent in fast forward. Our world since April has been shaken, not stirred, yet filled with excitement.
We have been in our NEW house since June 3rd. Packing, moving and changing your life while 8 months pregnant with 3 children during the end of the school year/dance/softball season is something NO ONE should ever have to endure. I will look back at our experience (being homeless for 5 days with our entire life possessions on a cross country moving truck in a storage unit unsure if we will have a home to go to, thank you very much wells fargo) and have faith that it will always work out.

We moved in on a Tuesday with Wednesday and Thursday nights filled with dance rehearsals. The recital was 3 shows on Saturday (we were only in the morning and evening show) which I enjoyed EVERY minute of. Nina had 6 dances, Gianna, 2 and Marea, 1.

Nina's Jazz... Boogie Fever

Gianna's Ballet.... Dance of the Sugarplum fairies

Marea's Ballet... Little Bitty Pretty one

Nina's Production... Annie (with Marea..look at those LIPS!)

The following weekend I drove to Ithaca for Kim and Chris's wedding..which was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! I've finally begun to edit now that life is consistant once again. (photos taken from one of my assistants, Danielle of DiLoPhoto coming up next!)

In rushes July..
On the 6th we scheduled an induction and were blessed with the birth of our FOURTH baby girl!!! Talia Grace Cicione.

Typically I like the hospital stay after delivery and almost wish I could stay longer. However, with the terrible spread of Swine Flu, children under 18 were no longer permitted anywhere on the birthing floors at Strong hospital. I missed my girls and wanted them so badly to meet their new baby sister.
2 days later and after the limo ride home (you can't do for one and not all of them, we just never knew we'd have FOUR!! lol) the girls finally met their new baby sister.

They longed to hold her and love her.
and well, try to hold her. lol

Our life is crazy. The laundry is OUT OF CONTROL. Sleep is rare. My sessions are backing up on my computer DYING to be edited. So I will waste no more of this precious day catching you up on the last few months of our lives.....

SPRING MINI SESSIONS

2009-03-26T14:44:00.001-04:00

After taking a (what seems like FOREVER) small break from sessions and springing into warmer SUNNIER weather I am going to offer a FULL day of mini (**super cheap**) sessions!!

What does this mean for YOU?

You get a 30-40 minute session at a location of YOUR choice
You will receive a high resolution CD of 10-12 images from your session that you can print, reprint, email, enlarge, make copies of etc, etc, etc.
All extra prints from this session are 25% OFF!
Available for any and all types of sessions: child, family, pet,

The date is set for Sunday, April 5th. Please contact me for more information and to reserve a time!! Spaces ARE limited!!

HAPPY SPRING!!

Cleaning out the hard drive

2009-03-11T15:25:00.003-04:00

We have a ton of life changes going on in the near future. To make my life easier I'm trying to get all the simple things done now before the big move and most importantly before the baby comes (all in less than 16 weeks!!) Not to mention the 2 weddings I have before then. Weddings, however, are a breath of fresh air for me; I am doing nothing other than being in the moment with that couple, their friends and family, for the day. It's invigorating!
My first plan was to clean out the hard drive which is going fairly well. I'm still slacking on catching up with personal pictures but that's next!
In the meantime, I found a session that was never blogged and because I took off from sessions I need to blog SOMETHING!

Something other than photo related!!

2009-02-28T20:40:00.006-05:00

My good friend Jules has a fantastic giveaway going on right now on her blog. She is the amazing 'sew-er' I always aspired to be. Just making her way down this creative path she's begun selling totes and bibs, sashes and key fobs, just the coolest little things I can't wait to try out.
Head on over to her blog and enter to win one of these FAB prizes by simply leaving a comment on which item you like best from her Esty shop. Hurry up though you only have until March 6th!

Gorgeous matching bib/burp cloth set

Kick butt Sash/Scarf/Belt

same as above just showing the opposite fabric inside!

Go check her out!! I'm expecting great things for her future! I'm checking my mailbox daily, waiting for the 2 different camera strap covers she sent me as her 'muse'!!

Key West

2009-02-23T14:44:00.004-05:00

During our lovely family vacation to South Florida to visit my mother in law this past January, Jesse and I were treated to a WONDERFUL 2 night stay at the Westin in Key West, alone. YES, ALONE! First time since our honeymoon to Antigua years ago.

I forgot to charge my camera battery one day and the next day we rented scooters (which are extremely nerve wracking to drive down there so I completely skipped the camera all together) so I only have a few. I am much more of a people photographer than a landscape photographer anyways. I just don't have that eye or energy to take landscape shots. The first night was the sunset shot below, complete cloud coverage and C O L D. The second night the sunset was just absolutely amazing.

Damadio Wedding

2009-02-19T11:23:00.006-05:00

I was so lucky last year to work with the most amazing couples. It truly was an uplifting experience and a wonderful start to my first year of photographing weddings.

Julie and Justin were married at Bristol Harbor, probably one of the most breath taking settings to be wed. The gazebo and guests seating faces the water on top of a hill...just amazing.

Damadio Part II

2009-02-19T11:05:00.004-05:00

Always a sucker for kids.... especially those with eyes as blue as the sky

LOVE THEM!!!

Me and my girls!

2009-02-17T11:16:00.006-05:00

While toward the end of my 365 day project last year (or rather MY end since I cut it early) I photographed my first 'solo' wedding ever, Natalie and Mike's in April of 2008. All the girls in the wedding were following along at that time and thought it'd be great to make an appearance in one of my days. This is where the trend began of taking my last photo of the night as a self portrait of the bride and myself. I guess I could have included the groom but when does a groom want to be pulled away at the end of the night in the midst of partying to have his picture taken with the photographer? RIGHT!

SO BRIDES.... keep in mind, at the end of the night be prepared for me to set up the camera and take a self timed portrait of the 2 of us!!! and if you can convince your groom, I'd be more than happy to scootch over and make some room for him too!!

Glasgow Wedding

2009-02-14T00:29:00.005-05:00

This wedding is from the end of summer last year. Jordan and I used to work together, ions ago, and she is just one of those people that you immediately and foreverly love (yes, I said foreverly). Her heart is as sincere as they come and her spirit is as uplifting as a warm sunny day. When Jordan contacted me to photograph her wedding I instantly knew the amount of love, joy and happiness this wedding would bring and I ever so quickly told her yes.

Without further ado...and many months later.. (did I ever mention I have issues doing things out of order? I can never blog because who knows if my favorite picture is the LAST one. So I must edit an ENTIRE wedding before I give up the goods. I promised myself I would change that in the upcoming wedding season, we'll see).

Glasgow Part II

2009-02-14T00:13:00.003-05:00

We're back

2009-01-30T12:25:00.005-05:00

I was going to add the exclamation point but really, who's excited to come back to cold and snow? Not me!!
Our 17 days in sunny Florida was nothing but that, WARM AND SUNNY. Jesse and I escaped childless for a few nights to Key West and couldn't have anticipated a better time. Although the weather was a tad chilly it still wasn't anywhere near the below freezing temps back home.

I've got some fabulous photos to share of the trip but I have a few more important things that need my attention first.

Such as sharing this lovely session I had with Kim and Chris. What an amazing couple and so easy to photograph. I had to laugh after their session because they both said they looked so unnatural in photos... maybe I'm just special;)
With a little help from the wonderful and technically brilliant Julia, I can now make and upload slideshows to my blog!!

Take a peak and turn up that volume!! (love that song!!)