Snickerdoodles Photography Blog bio picture
  • Hi. Hello. So nice to meet you. I'm Christi, a natural-light children's photographer, based out of Lebanon, Ohio. Haven't heard of it? I'm about halfway between Cincinnati and Dayton. And I love creating one-of-a-kind images; images that I like to think of as art.

    The beauty-fullness of your blossoming belly.
    Your teeny tiny newborn's peach fuzzy skin.
    Your 1 year old eating cheerios, her bare little feet, carrying her blankie.
    Your 3 year old running around the house like a tornado, in destruct-o mode.
    Your 5 year old's shy smile and curly hair that she won't have forever.
    The toothless grin of your 6 year old as he stomps around in the mud puddles...

    These things, I want you to remember always.

    Photographing your family is more than just my job. It is an amazing and undeserved blessing from God. Really. It’s my jump-up-and-down-goose-bumps-tears-screaming-with-excitement-PASSION. I can’t wait to meet you.

    Thanks for stopping by. Grab a cup of coffee, get cozy and settled in, and come back and visit often. I'm so glad you're here.

    xoxo
    Christi

Charlie: The World’s Most Adorable 7 Month Old

If you thought his sister was magazine cover worthy, check out little man.  You’ll want to squeeze his squishyness.

Told you.

xo

Christi

P.S. Email subscribers, want to see more cuteness on the blog?  Click here.


Nicky Hawkins - GEEEEEEZZZZZ! So perfect. I love him so much I can’t stand it! You are the best ever. These made my day, week, month… <3 Love you.

Happy Birthday To Me | Cincinnati Baby + Child Photography

It was a whole day long of all things birthday and all things happy.

Top row, left to right:

  • Coffee, served up fresh by Mac.
  • Cinnamon roll with my big fat #38 candle in it, served up hot by Lily.
  • Tate, looking up at me and wishing me a happy birthday.  And then a, pick me up, Mom.

Middle row, left to right:

  • Snuggly Mac with his fave blanket.  My kids come downstairs in the morning in undies and grab a blanket.  Always.  And they turn the fireplace on in the summer.  Brrrrrr.
  • Proud Lily, serving the lit up breakfast.
  • Proud, so proud.  Look at her proud little smirk.

Bottom row, left to right:

  • Good morning baby, held by Daddy.
  • Good morning bottle.  Ear holding due to infection that mom of the year neglected for weeks.  Oy.
  • 2 snuggly boys.  There’s that blanket again.

Top row, left to right:

  • Old, sweet English bulldog snuck up in the bed when we went downstairs for breakfast.  Mmmm hmmmm.  Like I said.
  • New birdhouse that I’m in love with.  The birds have been perched on it every day, all day long.  Makes me happy.
  • Another new birdhouse.  Super cute, right?

Middle row, left to right:

  • Smashburger for birthday lunch.  Against my religion, as you may well know.  But very delicious on that day.  I’m going to believe that they get their beef only from farmers who allow their cows to roam in the fields, grazing on grass all the live-long day.  And that they have cozy beds to sleep in, too.
  • Smash again.
  • Mommy + Mac.  He gets so sick of having his photo taken.  Alas, the life of my children.  Never without photos.  I have my iPhone out all day long, snapping away.

Bottom row, left to right:

  • Mac.  Too much rootbeer.
  • Tate.  Sweet little, laid back lovey baby.
  • Lily.  Forever my happy poser, always obliges when I ask for a photo.  She now puts her arm right around Mac’s shoulder, as soon as I bust the camera out, as if on cue.  And he rolls his eyes.  For sure.

Top row, left to right:

  • Sweet baby.  Sweet husband, who is the glue that holds our family together.  I fall apart more often these days (Still adjusting to life as Mama to 3.  Still.).  And he is patient and loving and kind and supportive.  Every single day.  I love him more every year, it seems.
  • Run, don’t walk, to Bad Frog Frozen Yogurt.  Heaven help me.
  • Like I said, camera comes out, arm goes around Mac.  Bam.

Middle row, left to right:

  • More Bad Frog.
  • Again.  Bad Frog.  Seems like it may have been my favorite part of the day, no?
  • Baby in jail.

Bottom row, left to right:

  • Flowers from my kind, always thoughtful friend.
  • Coffee mug, lip gloss and wristlet wallet from another bestie.  Love.
  • Itunes and Starbucks gift cards.  What more could a girl want?  I just bought Christina Perri’s Lovesong.  Fabulous.

xo

Christi

P.S. Find me on Instagram, will you? (christitraster)  I would love to follow you, friends.  I’m an Instagram addict.

P.P.S. Speaking of printing your Snickerdoodles photos, have you heard about Printstagram?  You can have your Instagram photos printed.  Who knew.

 

 

 

 

 


Christi Traster - Nicky, whoooooooaaaaa you almost made me do the ugly cry. Thanks mama. Love you. xoxo

Nicky Hawkins - Ok, so I lost my phone today and had to check email from an actual computer and now I’m sad @ all I miss out on. When I check stuff from my bb I never get the pics and sometimes not even the whole blog. I am in LOVE with your birthday blog and then I clicked on all the old ones and I see all the wonderfulness that I have missed. I’m in love with them all. I know you are amazing, and I tell you that you are amazing, but for real, YOU AMAZE ME. Every single blog sucked me in and touched me. Mac may be sick of the pics now, but that boy will end up cherishing every single blog and picture of his sweet life. Love you, love you whole whole wonderful family.

Christi Traster - Celeste, sweet you, thanks for the love. Happy 39th to you very soon!

Faith, for realz. Every time I see one of your comments, you make my heart skip a beat. And then I want to get up and dance. Much appreciated, dear one <3

Celeste (Crickets) - Happy B-Day, girlfriend!!! :D You’ve caught up with me for a couple of weeks (I’ll have my 39th soon)! ;)
Hugs & love,
C

Faith - Yep, obsessed. Obsessed with your most adorable family! Mac, Lily, and Tate are so blessed with a fun and creative momma like you, Christy!!!! Looks like you had a delightful birthday! And keep your amazing pics coming!!!! You have such a glorious talent! And oh my heart melts every time I see your gosh darn ADORABLE pup! That tongue and teeth melts me into a puddle!

She’s Feeling Better | Cincinnati Baby Photography

Last week was a rough week for this girl.  But now she’s feeling better.  Thank goodness.

I almost needed a one-way pass to the funny farm.

She’s a beauty, is she not?

Now.  It’s time for her popsicle.  I had to bribe her to get these photos, of course.

“Daisy.  Girl.  Daisy.  Look at Mommy.  Daisy.  Want a popsicle?  Yummmy.  Popsicle?  Daisy.  Where’s the popsicle?  Popppppssssiiicccllee.  Daisy.  Yooouu whooooo.”

You get the picture.

Thanks so much internets, for your prayers and well wishes.  And a big, huge, humongous thank you to Dr. Josh and the rest of the staff at Covenant Animal Clinic.

For now, she’s back to her old gassy sweet self.  Not sure really how long this will last, but we’ll take every day that we can get.  Yes, indeedy.

xo

Christi


Faith - Best post EVER! I think I drool right along with her every.stinkin.time I see her picture. It’s love. Pure love!!!

RG - Oh Daisy! You gave us quite a scare. I’m so glad you are perking up. You look maaaaaaahvelous!

Woof!

Laila

Celeste (Crickets) - Phew, what a relief! She really does look night-and-day better!

She’s Under the Weather | Cincinnati Child Photography

She’s not feeling so great.  And I am a hot mess.  Because if truth be told, I am a worrier.  Huge.  And I’m afraid that the news isn’t going to be good.  But what can you do?  You love on her as much as you can.  Like this.

And feed her cantaloupe, as much as she wants.  And bites of banana + peanut butter.  From a fork.  Yep.

And let her up on the bed anytime that she asks.  Even though she pants and shakes the whole bed.  Because it’s apparently not as cool as she would like it to be.

And if it’s midnight, and you’re exhausted, and all you want to do is get in bed.  And once you do, you discover that she licked a big, giant wet spot on your comforter.  And that wet spot goes through the down comforter, the sheets, and to the mattress pad.  And you just washed the sheets.  You don’t get mad.  At all.  You politely ask her to get down, while you change it all.  Again.

And when you’re cleaning up 14 barfs spots from the carpet (that your baby is crawling around on), you don’t take her name in vain.  Although you would like to.  One time for each of the 14 barfs.

And when you come home and discover her sawing logs on the couch.  That she knows she is not supposed to be on.  You just let her keep sleeping.

Prayers for Daisy, please?  And for my nerves, as we wait on the news.

We went camping at Cowan Lake a few weeks ago.  Daisy was a trooper.  I’m pretty sure I heard her say, “C’mon people.  I’m much too old for this.  But okay.  I just wanna be with you.  So whatev.”

xo

Christi

 


CHRISTI - Awwww thanks a million, Celeste. Big hugs and wet kisses from Daisy to Cinema, Dog and Lookee. I want to see pics! :) xo

CHRISTI - Thanks Auntie Sharon and Grandma-ma Edie :) She sends kisses. xo

Celeste (Crickets) - Big, *huge* well-wishes coming from here…from me and Cinema (our hound mix), Dog (our cat) and Lookee (our youngest dog), too!
{{{Hugs}}}

Edith Epp - Give Daisy a big hug from her gr-mama! So sorry she isn’t feeling well. Looks like she’s getting plenty of lovin’ and best care she could have. Hope you get good news. I know she’s old and the inevitable comes and you will never be ready for that no matter how old she gets. Love you Daisy.

Sharon Epp - Awwww crazy Daisy. I love you. I hope you get better soon.

You’ll Want To Touch It | Cincinnati Child + Family Photographer

You haven’t experienced an album until you experience a Dream album.  This is a fact.

Your images should be displayed, whether that is in the form of an album, framed prints or a gallery wrapped canvas.  The choice is up to you, but please, my friends.  Pleeeeaaase.  For the love of Peter, don’t let your digital images just sit on the CD, collecting dust.

Pshaw.  Tsk-tsk, my friend Jackie would say.

Print them.  Display them.  Show them off.  Be proud of them.  I want you to look at your images every. single. day.  And have your heart feel happy.

Over the past 5 years, I have tried many different album companies (5?… 6?), and the Dream Album Company, in my humble opinion, is the absolute best.  When the UPS man knocks on my door, it’s like Christmas every time.

Here’s a recent 9×9 album that I designed for a client.  You’ll want to touch it.

The dense, 2 mm thick archival fuji pages are handcrafted from artisan Japanese paper.  It’s not your typical album.  At all.  Have a looksie…

The albums are so beautiful and unique (I feel a wee bit like a car salesman, and if you know me, you know that I am so not salesman-like).  They truly are beautiful.  Each is a work of art.  I wish you could reach through the screen and touch the quality.  I love these albums.  Can ya tell?  Yes?  Yes.

The cover is waterproof and so durable.  And I don’t know how they do it, but it doesn’t attract fingerprints (and I have a lot of little fingerprinting fingers up in here).

The seamless binding allows the album to open flat into one big spread.  Here are a few 2-page spreads from the same album.

Can you picture it?  The album is open and lying flat here, and I’m shooting from above.  Got me?  Good.

The Dream Album shows off your photos with such impact and impeccability (here I go again, all salesman-like).  I am proud to offer these albums in three different sizes: 6×6, 9×9 and 12×12.  One day, I’ll have one for each of my 3 kids.  One day.  When I hire a full time nanny, a cleaning lady and I sit around and eat bon bons all day.;)

xo

Christi

P.S. Want to see them in person?  Here’s how it works: I come to your house.  We do a photo session (a.k.a. family snuggle-fest, tickle-me-silly party, bed-jumping extravaganza).  I digitally edit and perfect each photo for your viewing presentation.  I come back to your house.  I bring with me samples of albums.  You ooooh and ahhhhh and tell me that I was right about the Dream albums [wink, wink].  You can be in your jammies, with your feet up, enjoying a nice glass of red.  Sounds pretty great, huh?  It is.  Want to read more about what a photo session is like?  Click here.

P. P. S. Thanks for the well wishes the other day.  Baby’s stomach bug is gone and all is well.  He’s back to crawling all over this place and getting into everything.  And when I say everything, I mean everything. Saddest moment of the day ——> when he crawled up, and got stuck under the end table for the 14th time.  Tears.  And anger.  What Mom doesn’t rescue her baby right away, but laughs and snaps a photo?  I couldn’t help myself.


cathy - as the proud owner of this album, i can tell you it looks even better in person! thanks, christi!!

A Bug and a Bath | Cincinnati Baby + Child Photography

My baby boy has his first stomach bug.  Pitiful.  Is there anything worse than when your babies are sick?

Let’s hope that the worst is over.  And that nobody else gets bit by that nasty bug.

He looks pretty happy though, doesn’t he?  A bath makes everything better (I will promptly light some candles, grab my Kindle and sink into one when this day is over.  Believe that.).

xo

Christi

P.S. Btw, how is he 9 months already?  I have no idea.

P.P.S. Thinking of buying either Fifty Shades of Grey or Catching Fire for my Kindle.  Recommendations anyone?


RG - Get well, little man. :)

RG - There is so much hype about 50 Shades. Let me know how it is.

Celeste (Crickets) - Hang in there, lil’ guy….hope it’s smooth sailing from here! {{hugs}}

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