All in the Family & A Photo Session Giveaway!

miami fashion blogger

{My clique as captured by the incomparable Courtney Studios}

yiani tettamanti

ava tettamanti

courtney studios

miami fashion blogger

sebastian tettamanti

ava tettamanti

yiani tettamanti

tettamanti

maria tettamanti

As a family of four it’s basically impossible to capture all of us in one cohesive photograph where we’re all smiling and I’m not screaming at someone. My son is always the least cooperative when snapping pics so his expression in photographs is at best Oscar the Gouch-esque. My daughter, in return, will get annoyed with my son’s insolence and throw him shade. Then I’ll get frustrated with everyone and holler something wildly inappropriate along the lines of, “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE MOMMY’S APPENDIX ERUPT!” My husband in return, will just sit back and enjoy the circus unfold like the intelligent, even-keel man he is. So wise like Yoda, that one.

Well, a miracle happened to us when Courtney Ortiz of Courtney Studios reached out to photograph us at her Hollywood, Florida-based studio. Aside from being uber talented with the camera (I mean, look at our session! It’s so Family Ties perfection!), her past career as a teacher brings out the best in her subjects — particularly with small, wild, unpredictable children such as mine. She’ll ask them silly questions, crack funny jokes and tickle them — making them laugh and wear Chesire Cat-sized smiles.

I’m over-the-moon with Courtney’s work and am thrilled to have beautiful (and happy!) updated family portraits to hang on our walls.

And the good news for you, loyal readers? Cool-as-a-cucumber Courtney would like to gift one lucky Wordy Girl reader a studio session (just like mine!) and a signed 8×10 framed print (a $400 value). All you have to do is:

Leave a comment below as to why you should win.

 *Winner will be chosen by email on July 14th 

51 Comments

  1. Cristina
    June 29, 2015 / 2:56 pm

    I want to win because we haven’t taken a family portrait in over 20 years!

  2. Vivian
    June 29, 2015 / 3:00 pm

    I would like to win because I have never had our family’s portrait taken.

  3. Melisa
    June 29, 2015 / 4:51 pm

    I want to win because i love photos!!! always want to try a new photographer too…btw, the pictures of you guys are too die…love them! the kiddos are huge and gorgeous. you are blessed my friend

  4. Seba
    June 29, 2015 / 5:12 pm

    I already won and these came out great.

  5. gabby
    June 30, 2015 / 2:12 am

    I would like to win because by the looks of your family pictures you guys had a lot of fun shooting & it is important to be close to your family at least for an hour or so with all the crazy schedules everyone has.

  6. Lauren
    June 30, 2015 / 10:12 am

    I would love to win this! As a mommy, I cherish every moment with our children. I am obsessed with photos BUT taking photos means I am the one who is always taking them. Which means I am NEVER in any pictures. I would love to have a photographer capture our entire family. And as Dr. Seuss said, “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes just a memory”. I want those memories to be captured and be kept alive.

  7. Bren
    June 30, 2015 / 10:16 am

    They look naturally funfilled. Would love to have her capture my family as well.

  8. Kadija
    June 30, 2015 / 10:34 am

    I would love to win! I love Courtney’s work! Beautiful pics!

  9. Nikki
    June 30, 2015 / 10:36 am

    Courtney did our family portraits four years ago and we haven’t had any done since. They are by far my favorite images of my kids and we get compliments on them all the time.

  10. Lana
    June 30, 2015 / 10:38 am

    I live out of state but these are gorgeous. I’m feeling the one of the kids jumping on the couch.

  11. Elena
    June 30, 2015 / 10:41 am

    No one has been able to take a good picture of my 16 year old son in the last year. It would be a miracle and the work of an amazing photographer! I am up for the challange if I win.

  12. Nina
    June 30, 2015 / 10:44 am

    Love your pictures. I want to win because I am 38 with two beautiful children and an amazing husband. Last week I was diagnosed with cancer and although I am planning to beat this thing it would be nice to get some family portraits done. Hugs and kisses.

  13. June 30, 2015 / 10:47 am

    Because first and foremost, I love Maria Tettamanti. And second, I want to make sure I get a good family portrait with my Mima. The last time we took one was in ’94!!

  14. Virginia Gil
    June 30, 2015 / 10:49 am

    One-year wedding anniversary sesh with bae. Pick me!

  15. Katerina Albanis
    June 30, 2015 / 10:49 am

    Since we can’t press a pause button to enjoy wonderful moments like the ones you shared with us, a photographer who can beautifully capture them for you is sensational

    Plus, since I am the one always taking pictures, I’m never in them. It’s like I don’t exist. Unless it’s a poor resolution selfie with them in it. 😉

  16. Candice
    June 30, 2015 / 10:50 am

    I would love to win! As a mom to a beautiful baby girl, there is nothing I enjoy more than watching her grow, learn and explore. There’s no better way to capture those precious moments than with timeless, beautiful family photos.

  17. June 30, 2015 / 10:56 am

    I want to win because
    1. I have the cutest sweathogs ever.
    2. Rocco

  18. Ronnie
    June 30, 2015 / 10:56 am

    I’d love to win to be able to take a family portrait with Zeb and Kooks, adorably nugget-like grandparents who are pushing 93 and 86, respectively. It’d be amaze to make some memories with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

  19. Jessica
    June 30, 2015 / 11:04 am

    Pick me! Pick me!!! Love the colors, love the subjects, love the background, over all GORGEOUS!!!

  20. Esteban Tettamanti
    June 30, 2015 / 11:08 am

    I should win because im am so Fuc&$!? Fabulous and also really really ridiculously good looking and so are my wife and kid

  21. Maria Barker
    June 30, 2015 / 11:12 am

    I read every post of Maria’s and I live vicariously through her. I am 54 years old and have been married to a wonderful British man for the past 15 years, as a matter of fact our anniversary was June 26. This is my second marriage and I did not have a picture of our wedding as we got married at the courthouse and is was not appropriate to invite his four children from a prior marriage now adults. We do not have any portraits as my husband believes we should not spend the money on this. I would like one and I guess the only chance I will have will be if I win this studio session as he will not be able to say no.

  22. June 30, 2015 / 11:16 am

    My one year anniversary for my website is coming and I would love to make a photo shoot session in a studio. Please please please I want to win. Thanks for this opportunity!

  23. Jenni Warhaft
    June 30, 2015 / 11:18 am

    I would love to capture my new family of four…now that my daughter is reflux free! A great new chapter with beautiful new pics! Yay!!

  24. June 30, 2015 / 12:41 pm

    I would love to win these beautiful pictures of our daughters as a gift for my husband!

  25. Denise Manos mallous
    June 30, 2015 / 12:46 pm

    I deserve to win because my family is a natural fit for an all white room with padded walls! Lol

  26. Laura
    June 30, 2015 / 1:10 pm

    I would love to win so my first and only daughter’s two little cute teeth and smile could be capture in a professional pic!… and have that image forever!.

  27. June 30, 2015 / 2:55 pm

    Love these shots!! Your little ones are the cutest ! 🙂 this is such a great prize! I would love to win so I can have actual photos! Everything is on the computer and phone now so it would be nice to have my fam take a picture together and of coarse I would include my god daughter <3

  28. maru
    June 30, 2015 / 2:55 pm

    Love hat they are natural shots!!! I usually dont like studio portraits but these are amazing. My kinda pictures!

  29. Elana
    June 30, 2015 / 6:30 pm

    I would love to win bc almost any pic of our family of three, which isn’t numbering that high, has me, still w/baby weight (yes, hi, almost 8 yrs later). It’s all med related & finally I am “unbloating”. Also, usually my fancy fancy cane is caught in every darn photo since it’s hard to hide or I’m not given enough time to balance without it. So, those are my reasons! Thx!

  30. Sofia Bruck
    June 30, 2015 / 8:12 pm

    Love these! I’d like to win because I’m about to give birth to our third daughter and I’m along with that, lose my mind!!!

  31. Christy
    June 30, 2015 / 8:13 pm

    Dear Maria, I think I should win this contest for a few reasons. 1. I adore you. 2. I have three kids which happen to be total hams which means that Courtney will love working with us and hopefully, capture moments at least as half as cute as yours. 3. My third child is 13 months old and I have ONE decent printed photo of him with his siblings. When he is 12 and I am 100, he will look at me and say “mom, why are there 1000 pictures of my big sister, ten of my big brother and zero of me?”….And I will stumble and fumble and simply say: “I’m sorry, baby. I worked full time and had three of you (um, four of you, including your dad) to look after. I did the best I could, but taking family photos was almost an impossibility” So puhleeze, Wordy Girl, please don’t let me be THAT mom. I beg you! xo

  32. July 1, 2015 / 8:24 am

    A picture is forever…I would love to gather all my nieces and nephews for a family portrait. Since our section of the family moved away, any chance we have to all converge tends to be a crazed event. We forget to photograph everyone, because we are so busy hugging and squeezing and loving the heck out of each other. This would be a great way to capture all the younger generations including my own, that isn’t on an iPhone:)

  33. Mariella
    July 1, 2015 / 3:17 pm

    These comments are killing me. You guys look great, love the background and lighting. I don’t think I can enter since my spawn can’t sit still for a picture for more than a nano second. But I’ll de damned if we don’t do this by the time she’s 15 and hates me 😉

  34. Jennifer
    July 1, 2015 / 5:53 pm

    Have seen such amazing portraits by Courtney all over FB. She’s super talented and I have been meaning to call to schedule some sessions with my kids! We have only one family portrait from a wedding 7 years ago (when my twins were newborn and my son 3), so its time.

  35. Helena
    July 1, 2015 / 7:20 pm

    I should win because my I love you and I love Courtney.

  36. Tara Benmeleh
    July 3, 2015 / 7:28 am

    Because Max Aero is…well Max Aero… And baby dude needs documentation. And how cute is your family???

  37. July 3, 2015 / 3:29 pm

    First of all,
    I think every family should have a chance to do this once because having someone truly capture the love/chaos/happiness that is being a family is such a priceless gift.
    These pictures are going to be treasures for you guys for many, many years.
    You all look amazing but my fave is your beautiful daughter and that darling doggie of yours.
    Too sweet!
    Secondly, I would love to win this because, you know, baby #2 is coming and what better way to celebrate his arrival than with a photo sesh capturing the newly formed four of us in all our exhilaration and exhaustion 😉

    XOXO

  38. July 4, 2015 / 7:29 pm

    I am looking to do a family portrait as i have not updated my portraits to include my 2 yeard old boy. Thus winning this context would make me very happy and our hone complete!

  39. Erin
    July 6, 2015 / 3:18 pm

    Because I would love to leave my mom as much joy as possible during her last days and I know she would love unbelievable pictures (by Courtney, of course!) of the girls.

  40. Rachael cali
    July 6, 2015 / 3:51 pm

    I would love to win because as I learned with my 19-year-old you regret not having taken professional family photos. My youngest kids our age 2 and three and I would love to have cherish photographs of them when they’re all grown up

  41. Shelley
    July 7, 2015 / 7:04 am

    Pick us! Courtney takes beautiful pictures and we would love to have her take pictures of our family. She is a sweet person too!

  42. Shantel Braman
    July 7, 2015 / 9:38 am

    Pick me.. Pick me;)
    I have followed & LOVE your work for yrs on FB & always wanted to book a session:)
    We have family pics before my lil man came along w my daughter who’s now 10. My son is now “5” & I can’t believe we do not have a professional family pic!! I have a wall that has been left empty in my new house just waiting for a beautiful Braman family portrait.

  43. July 9, 2015 / 3:25 pm

    Since I am now a single mother, I never get to be in pictures (I am always taking them). Also, I really need an author portrait for my website and avatars :). It has probably been about five years since I had one! Also because it has been hard to adjust to our new life, my daughter and I have not gotten portraits done in such a long time, and it is something we used to do every sixth months or so! So pick us please! Thanks for having this contest!

  44. Gloria Mallardi
    July 10, 2015 / 4:38 pm

    Who can resist a ginger?

  45. Debi
    July 10, 2015 / 4:48 pm

    I need new Courtney pix!

  46. Jemima McPherson
    July 10, 2015 / 8:59 pm

    Hello! I would love to win because we have 0 family portraits which is crazy for a family of 6 with an 8 year old, 5 year old and 1 year old twins I am always the one behind the camera. It would be nice to have mom and dad on the wall for a change. Thanks!
    Jemima

  47. July 13, 2015 / 12:58 pm

    I want to win because I have NO family portrait and three amazing kids! Also, Courtney is amazing!! 🙂

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