Sweet Emotions Photography: Randomosity

Showing posts with label Randomosity. Show all posts

Changing It Up...Again

Well, I have been lost in my own little world here lately. I have been thinking a lot about what direction I really want my business to take and I honestly think I have it figured out. Honestly the thought of even putting this out there really scares me but it can't be any worse than the crickets I hear now so I might as well spill it!

My heart has always been lead toward weddings. There is just something about that day that really gets my heart racing and I want to do nothing more than capture all of those emotions for you! I am going to step up my marketing game in that department. My ultimate goal is no more than 8 weddings a year. I still need time to be with my family and taking on to many will really hurt me in that department.

Next, I have always wanted to do more themed or stylized shoots. I have always want to shoot fun and whimsical things and now that I have my ideas written out and the things that I will need for them, I think that I am ready to branch out into that genre of photography. Yes those shoots will tend to be a little more expensive, but I look at this as a magical investment into your memories. You will not get this kind of portrait in a chain studio setting. These sessions will require your help and a lot of cooperation to make them perfect and tailored to your families style.

Now, this doesn't mean that I won't be taking on my normal sessions. I will gladly take a newborn, maternity or whatever your session needs might be, so please DO NOT hesitate to ask! I always want to shoot and make any memory for you family amazing. I just need to do a couple of shoots for "me". The stylized sessions are going to be more of a boost for my imagination!

You will also see some big changes in design taking place here shortly. I have finally settled on a design that I like and will hopefully stick with, making my branding and marketing MUCH easier and recognizable!

I also want to say...thanks! For sticking through everything and being such awesome clients!

Feeling A Little Blue

Did you know that we are in a world wide shortage of helium? Random question right?! I think of these things, mostly because one of my favorite props to work with with kids is balloons. They add so much color and fun to any shoot really. I love how you can see how facinated by a balloon a baby is or how much older children love to run around with them. I always catch my daughter looking behind her to make sure they are still there!

So you can imagine that this would make me a little sad that there is a helium shortage. I have also noticed that when I do go get balloons for a shoot, they don't last very long. A couple of hours at most. Another reason to be sad.

I bought these balloons for my daughter to play with during a practice shoot around 2.30 and come 5.30 when we were home and ready to play they were already dead! They were no longer floating and thus why they are sad and droopy in the pics.

And for those of you who were expecting to see something blue in this weekly project of mine...I have one for you! I found my Jelly Belly hiding in one of the beach chairs. She hates the dog that my mom has "adopted" from the neighbors who refuse to come and get him and feed him. Poor boy...but I don't blame the cat. He really is mean to her. Why she thought she could hide in the chair though is beyond me!

And if you wouldn't mind leaving a little love...cos you know I like it when you do! Oh and take a visit at some of the other photographers to the right who are also participating in the Project 52 challenge!

Ashley Noble Photography

Say hello to your new logo Ashley!

I just love the playful font and colors!! I hope you enjoy your new logo!

Blais Bakery

I have stepped out of the photographers logo world and moved into the land of sweet treats! Say hello to the newest logo for Blais Bakery! I had a blast making this little spot of sweetness for you guys!!

Complete with a cupcake and heart shaped icing and who could forget the cherry on top!! These guys were super easy to work with and knew just what they wanted by pulling colors from chocolate cupcakes and vanilla icings, I was able to come up with this little gem for them.

Dandelion Hound Photography

I love when a client gives me full reign over their logo and says something along the lines of...surprise me! Melissa was one of those clients. I gave her a total play on the words in her business name but she loved it and honestly...so do I!

Katie Hanson Photography

Katie was in need of a logo and a business card and I came up with just the thing for her! So sweet, just like Katie and her style in photography.

Rising Beauty

I have taken on a new love for nature and landscape photography.

Don’t get me wrong, there is something about nature that is soothing to me. I can pick up my camera and shoot. I don’t have to worry about where my subject is in relation to someone else, or how to pose it…I can just let it be.

The photos below fall in that soothing category for me. The moon as she was rising was amazing and the trees in my yard created a great effect until she was clear of them.

I decided to use these for my blue/yellow challenge this month and while I normally find something that contains both colors (this is normally just on accident that that happens) I could not find anything that fit both of these color combos.

I however am not required to use both in a challenge and how could I pass up the blue of the night sky!? It was absolutely gorgeous.

Now if you wouldn’t mind leaving a bit of love (as I truly appreciate it) and then heading over to visit Tina Dominguez (as she has come up with something amazing for you as well) as well as the other photographers in the challenge…we would greatly appreciate it!

Kaitlyn Alory Photography

Sweet Kaitlyn...she was having the hardest time making her logo on her own. She couldn't seem to get anything that anyone liked when she asked for opinions. I am so glad that I was able to help her create something that she absolutely loves!!

Holly Hartzog Photography

Hi Holly! Say hello to your new logo! I hope that it's all you wanted in your logo!!!! It has been fun working on this awesome design with you and look forward to your boudoir logo in the new future!!

Dare To Dream Photography

Another fun logo for a fun photographer! This one was created from some of Kristen's favorite colors and favorite flowers...the cherry blossom! The fonts I chose were fun and whimsical just like her style and a great mesh for her!

The Birthday Girl

I had to share…my baby girl turned 6…well yesterday! I hate that she’s growing up on me but at the same time I love watching her learn new things and come into her own.

This is just a little peek at the family fun we had tonight when it was time for cake! And I am the first to admit that I am no Martha Stuart...so yes her cake is a little sad but hey it makes it more personal!

...Like A Skyscraper

I have been battling with myself over the last week, trying desperately to get down in words how I feel that wouldn’t anger anyone. The fact of the matter is, this is going to anger some and I am sorry if it does but I truly believe that these things need to be said. Maybe these words will actually sink in for once.

First, photography is very competitive. DSLR’s are so cheap now, that it seems like everyone owns one. That’s great! Get one if you can afford it but don’t for one second think that you can start a business the next day! I have been working my butt off for the last six years on not only the business aspect of this endeavor but the learning aspect. I carry my manual around with me, I read it daily, I take classes and workshops and do everything else I can to better myself. That being said, there was no business for the first three years! I did nothing but work, learn and shoot. Once I started the business aspect, you can bet I went legit! I may not charge a lot (according to some) but I can tell you that while I do not make much, I make sure that all of my expenses are covered…like oh paying taxes and things like that. This is not a get rich quick scheme like many seem to think, but rather I have to scrimp every last bit of my earnings to help my family get by.

Some would just say, up your prices! I don’t feel like my work is good enough for me to up my prices, not to mention the economic state this area is in. I don’t think I could get away with it even if I wanted to! So this topic here brings me to something else entirely!

So many photographers are hypocrites. Yes, I said it! I have seen SO much bullying going on in the industry and it makes us all look horrible. You can simply say yes I am going to participate in the Be Nice Campaign but in reality turn around and beat someone else down for something they did wrong in your eyes. I know three personally that did just that and all i can do is hang my head in shame for them as I know none of them even realize that what they did was bullying and bashing someone’s soul into the ground. It’s time to put the professional panties on here people, take a deep breath and suck it up!

It is NOT cool to tell someone they are undercutting the rest of the photographers in the industry just to bring in more clients! If you don’t know the photographer personally, or their situation, you have no business telling them how to run their business. Maybe, like I said, it’s an economic thing that keeps them from raising their prices. Maybe they don’t feel their work is worth that amount of money! I know I certainly fit into both of those categories but mainly that last one!

It is definitely NOT cool to tell another photographer they are talentless because you are jealous of their work, feel they are competition or whatever else might be bugging you about that person and/or their work! How would you feel if someone turned around and told you the same thing? I know it put a hole in my heart and for that split second I doubted myself and my work and thought, “Wow…that’s the second time I have been told that. Maybe I do need to put my camera down.” I then go back and look at my most recent work and realize “I got this!” But the negativity had done its damage; it’s left me feeling vulnerable and insecure. It will always remain.

As an industry full of amazing talent, we need to come together and help each other out. And those of us getting the help need to be gracious about it and accept it and not jump to the defensive end of things.

I leave you with this little tidbit…

You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I’m made of glass
Like I’m made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper
Like a skyscraper
Skyscraper by Demi Lovato

Impressions By Amber

I simply love these fun easy logos!

Sealed With A Kiss Photography

Another fun camera logo for you! This one is for Genae of Sealed with a Kiss Photography. We bounced back and forth on ideas for this one for a while before landing on something modern and fun complete with some lipstick kiss marks!

Belinda Padurean Photography

I have been busing creating for other photographers again! Belinda had asked if I could create a new logo for her...something fun and yet was here and had elements that meant something to her. She has a lovely man in the military (tell him thank you for his service!) and wanted dog tags on the logo somewhere. I came up with a cute, fun little camera with dog tags hanging off of it and well...this is what it looks likes!

I hope that you love it and get some great use out of your new baby!

Happy New Year!

First off, Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a safe and wonderful holiday season and that you all have a blessed new year to come!

Now, on to something that has been weighing on me. I have been going through my older pictures and scrapbooking our lives. I came across the birth of both of my children and realized something. The pictures from their births, while I will always cherish them, are nothing short of terrible. I’m not saying my hubby is a bad photographer or anything like that but when you are in a room where a lot is going on, you don’t concentrate on settings on the camera or whether you have framed the shot! I have little usable images from both of my kids birth-days and what saddens me absolutely none of the hubs and I enjoying the first meeting with our little man!

With my daughter we were looking at a quick birth (after 30 days of intense labor and lots of drugs to stop the preterm labor) and a lot going on in my delivery room. I got lucky and had all the new students doing their experience rounds on me! With all the people and commotion my husband barely remembered to pick up the camera! We only had a few visitors and by the time we were settled with her they were gone and we were so exhausted and didn’t even pick up the camera until just before we checked out!

Those, sadly are the only usable pictures from Gracyn’s birth-day.

It was a whole new ball game with my son! We were scheduled for an induction and you would think we would be prepared….we were not! This time there was an almost 5 year old to deal with in the room. She was cranky to say the least! Add on top of that the many visitors my hospital allowed in before I actually gave birth, the contractions that did nothing but make my tailbone feel like it was coming out of my back and a doctor that was way to bubbly for my liking and let’s just say the whole first half of my pictures aren’t even of me, the hubs or Gracyn!! Once it was time though, there was even more going on. The boy was huge and got stuck and then we thought he wasn’t breathing as he was beyond purple. Turned out he crashed into my pelvic bone and had a bruised face. Again the only images I have are what you will see below on top of a TON of blurry ones.

We had a lot to go through after he was born, due to his size and the bruising, jaundice set in quick. He had to have heel sticks every 2 to 3 hours because of his size to check his sugar. He had to be force fed every hour. I was tired and so was hubby and kidlet #1! There are no pictures of me or the hubby holding him!

Why am I telling you all of this? I would love to help you make one of the most important days of your life one of the most memorable! You will have a lot more than you can ever imagine going on and you will need someone to help you document that. I didn’t have that and I think every paren should be able to look back and say, “Wow! How awesome is it that you can see the complete raw emotion of the moment!!” I can’t say that and I want to offer that to you!

If you are interested in a birth photographer, please contact me using the link above and I will get back with to answer any questions you might have on how it works, pricing quotes and other questions you might have!

Enjoy your new year and stay safe!!

The Best Of 2011

It has been a long and wonderful year my amazing clients! Even though the heat, the drought and the wild fires put a damper on a lot of what there was to do this year, we didn’t let that stop us!

I want to wish each and every one of you a very Happy new Year!! May it be blessed and safe and wonderful for you all!

I have compiled a sheet of all of my favorites from this years sessions, and I think I will do this every year from here on out! You guys are beyond amazing and beautiful and it was hard to choose any at all! I was originally going to do a top 10 but as you can see…I went a bit overboard!

Again, thank you for making this year great and looking forward to all 2012 has to offer!

Belated Holidays

Well, I am late on posting this but there has just been SO MUCH going on!

During the holidays I am a baking machine! There is no stopping me! With all that was going on this year, I didnt get to do near what I wanted to for all of the goodie boxes!

But, this was my attempt at getting some decent pics of all of the treats. I was in a rush so there is no method to the madness pics this year. Makes me sad but I will try when things get settled and I start working on Little Miss’ birthday party!

So for now, enjoy some yummy goodness!

Big Changes

It’s been a while. Life has literally been a little crazy for us.

So for those of you who don’t know, November was a horrid month for us. It started out with a move that would have been wonderful for us but that fell through. We then had to move in with my aunt while searching for a home and try to keep life normal for the kids. On top of that I had scheduled Christmas minis and then my step dad passed away and his less than wonderful family made life a nightmare for my mom! Then the week of Thanksgiving we got to move into our new home and I will be forever grateful to my grandfather for helping us out with that! It has been an ongoing onslaught of unpacking and repairing things not only in our home but the cottage that is on the property as well.

So with this move comes some big changes. Not only for me and the business but for you, my lovely clients.

Due to the move, my usual haunts are now past that 30 mile mark. Which means for you a small price hike. I am sorry, I really am, but it must be done. On the other hand, the move has opened up several new locations in the Seguin area which makes for cheaper sessions.

Another big change, later in 2012, is the on location gardens at my home as well as a mini studio for those wet, nasty, dreary days when you had a preschedule session and the weather just didn’t cooperate for us!

One more small change, portrait packages will be changing completely over to the point system to ensure that you get the most prints possible as well as exactly what you want. There will also be a few new goodies added to the list as well!

So there is a lot going on in 2012 and I can’t wait!!

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