is it Midnight Yet??? That is the time frame I give myself lately. If it's midnight, I better stop doing whatever it is that I am working on and get myself in the bed. My silky terrier, Winnie, doesn't complain much. She sits quietly on my lap and sleeps while Mr. Pugsley, my other dog attempts to lick his feet completely off his legs. He seems to be allergic to himself. Poor thing.
So what has the month of April given me??
Lots and Lots of photo sessions. A few seniors graced their presence with me for two evenings this month. I have to admit I was a little nervous because both were young men. Women most always want to pose but it is a little different for guys. So I thought~~These young men were very serious about how the angle was, how they smiled or didn't, and what we captured to represent their last year of high school. I have to thank the moms of my two graduation Seniors for being so helpful in the sessions without being pushy or in the way. They gave just the right touch of guidance.
A few family sessions took place this month as well. The O Family gave me only one short hour to work my magic. I admit that family sessions should be drawn out but I was a little paranoid about our time frame. It went very well, I did however offer to pay their daughter a dollar if she smiled for me. And she obliged, and I paid up. Children have their days and it was a very unseasonably warm afternoon for our session. Not to mention I think it was raining pollen. Results turned out fine and the family was pleased with their pictures, as was I.
The S Family was one of my sessions that I promised in the very beginning to build my portfolio. We never got around to planning it and suddenly we found ourselves pressed for time when three sons, one daughter, 2 daughter in law's, grand-baby, husband and wife were all available at the same time. It was an innocent enough idea to meet in a local park and have beautiful lush green background and forestry behind them. NOTE TO SELF: check the prom schedules for local schools. There honestly must have been over 200 prom goers there getting pictures made in that park! We managed to easily find space to work and to my surprise the family "hired" (with a promise of dinner) two assistants from our church. These two young men made me feel hopelessly in heaven with all they did. I noticed that I didn't have to pick up my camera bag anymore because someone was carrying it for me. The infant in the family couldn't stop laughing and clapping at these great assistants....need I mention this was their first time helping with a photo shoot. So I hope I can use them again.
A sweet girl was interested in completing a session for her mom for Mother's Day. We assembled the family together and climbed in a few barns to get just the right picture that I am hoping her mother will adore for ages. I can't give many details about this session as to not ruin the surprise.
A young couple in my church has been "begging"...asking :) for me to do pictures for them so that they may have updated pictures for their first home. They were so cute!! They had the perfect balance of sweet new love, and playful flirting that showed they were still newlyweds. We were lucky enough to be able to "borrow" their grandfathers land for this session and use bails of hay, fences, fields of buttercups, and yes a cow pasture to act as backgrounds. Our new friend the RED CHAIR is now famous and I am sure he will make appearances in future shoots. I am going to have to meet with my great friend who edits (better than I do) and figure out how to turn that chair a different color so that the RED doesn't get worn out.
Studio Update: Studio lighting is on the way, UPS is tracking it to arrive tomorrow. I have two little girls acting as models for my practice shoot with this type of lighting. I can hardly wait.
Theme Session Update:If I can ever get a minute to drive around Greensboro in daylight I am still seeking a location for my fashion shoot. I have managed to find a female and male model and I am sure they are anxiously waiting on me to give them a date of the session. I am working on it guys, I promise.
Have a great night!!! It's almost Midnight!!
NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT CROP, EDIT OR CHANGE MY PHOTOS ON BLOG.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE WITH ANYONE.
Time off with family
The big fish
Good evening Blog Family. I took some needed time off these past two weekends from photography. I thought about it the other day and I think I have done at least one photo session every weekend but one or two since the day after Christmas.
By taking time off these last two weekends I mean I only did two photo sessions and one sample photo with my sister as my lovely model. So in short, I did not take any time off but compared to the last few months it was refreshing.
I am excited about two new adventures that are coming my way this Spring. Senior photo sessions. My first session is with a wonderful young man this weekend and .........excited is not the word! I love newborns, they are still my favorite. I love toddlers and families, it keeps me busy, on my toes and in shape (ok that last one about being in shape is a lie). But there is going to be such a magical moment when I say "hold your pose like this".....and my Senior does!!! I love the challenge of the games you have to play to get a two year old to smile or a seasonal allergy sufferer four year old not to cry outside in the pollen but....I have to admit my Senior Session should go very smoothly.
I have began to set prices for a few photo sessions that I feel comfortable setting prices for. Again, I am not ready to make a price listing for all sessions at this point. I believe that it is only fair that my session prices be based on a number of parts of the equation. These are the things that I take into consideration when someone asks me....."How much would you charge me to...?"
How many of those sessions I have completed thus far, location, number of people in the session, how many outfit changes, how many location changes, backgrounds, lighting, indoor/outdoor, newborn challenges, etc. A lot of you may not know that a majority of the photography you have seen on my facebook page in the past has been at no charge.
So bear with me as I give each of you your own personal quote for photography.
Senior sessions at this point are as follows:
$75.00 session fee for 2-3 hours of session time,2- 3 outfit changes, on location and a set of 8 wallets included.Photo editing/retouching. All other prints and CD are additional.
Newborn "Fruits of your Labor" Session:
$65 Up to 2 and a half hours of session time, in my photo space in my home (on location to you coming soon), you may bring your own props and/or I provide as well, variety of backgrounds and poses, mother and/or father can be included in pictures. Birth announcements (package of 10 included). Photo editing. All other prints and CD are additional.
I want to be affordable. I don't want anyone to say that they can't afford to have pictures of their family done. Feel free to email me with a deserving Senior, family, or expectant mother that you feel has a special circumstance and could not afford to have pictures for themselves. I would be willing to find a way to have something done for them. I realistically cannot complete every request but I think it would be great to start somewhere.
Also after I complete a year of photography, I am praying about applying for an assistant position with an organization called Now I Lay me Down to Sleep. These photographers offer free services to families that have had a child still born, pass away shortly after birth, or to infants that are born premature. Sometimes families just want to look back and remember how little that baby was even though they were only in their life for a moment. It is an interesting concept to say the least. A very powerful person , I assume, would have to be apart of it. I do not classify myself as powerful however, I will pray about this in the future.
