VLV Photography

This session almost got rained out and the whole thing just about took place in the clients’ home.  But once again, my prayers were answered and the rain stopped.  Their home is beautiful but natural light is just so much more flattering.  That, and I was having issues with my lighting….talk about battery suckage.  Those companies make billions.  I realize I should’ve gone into the business of batteries.  Because really, there isn’t a whole lot of competition and it’s repeat business….over, and over, and over, and over!!  They KNOW you’ll come back because you HAVE to!  Nowadays you can’t buy much that doesn’t take batteries.  That’s why this year, our kids are getting cardboard boxes for Christmas!  Seriously.  Don’t even get me started.  Okay, so that’s my rant on batteries.

Anyway, this family was just lovely to work with.  At first I don’t think the guys were all too thrilled, c’mon, admit it-it was for mom and that’s it-BUT, I think by the end of the session they warmed up to the idea of family portraits and maybe actually enjoyed it?  Regardless, I always have fun and you can choose to put on your best frown or turn that frown upside down & live in the moment!!  I know they’ll never regret having these images but if another 10-15 years went by, they would surely regret NOT having them.

I have found too, that I love family portraits with all adults.  I do love family portraits with children as well;  however, I never realized how quickly a session can go without little ones!  I also think that when families choose to have a session when the kids are grown, it’s because they’ve never had family portraits taken or it’s been many, many years since.  Those are the people that have regretted not doing it sooner and really do appreciate the session that much more.   I’m glad I was able to create some heirlooms for this family……finally.

I hope you all enjoy your sneak peek!

Another start to the work-week and also the first day of 1st grade for my Xavier.  Alexandra won’t start pre-k preschool until next month.  So it’ll be just me and my girls today.  I have to say it’s about time.  My older two couldn’t go 15 minutes without fighting about something!  I guess my brother and I were the same way but we aren’t as close in age as Xavier and Alexandra are.  My brother and I are 5 years apart and my two are 18 months apart.  Can I say already that I dread the teen years???  Is that too early to say???

I almost regret posting on Facebook that I was planning to get my galleries on both my website and FB page updated but that didn’t happen.  Rather, I got started working on my welcome packet stuff.  That is more important but I also know that I want to cringe when people say they were looking at my work on my website as it’s another reminder I NEED TO GET THAT UPDATING DONE!!! lol!  It’s a matter of going through a lot of images and trying to choose my favorites that best represent me and my work.  That’s not an easy task for me.  So I guess, like laundry, it’s just easier to put it off!  Ha!  But just to show that I have at least started to get some images together to update my site, here are some images of a 16×20 canvas gallery wrap purchased by a client of mine this past March.  Hard to believe it’s been that long!  Aren’t these boys sweethearts?  You can see more from this session here if you missed it.

Just over the weekend, I made a decision to take my education and business to another level.  I decided to declare my intention to become a Certified Professional Photographer {CPP}.  They allow 3 years to complete the process from the date of declaration of intent.  Now I need to prepare for a 120 question exam and submit 20 images to get tore apart and analyzed.  I don’t plan to drag it out three years, in fact, I’m hoping to have this completed within 2.  Why become certified, you may ask?  Well, it’s a personal challenge and it’s only to better myself and my skills.  I heard a quote over the weekend and I swear I’ll never forget it:  “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”  Or another favorite by Albert Einstien, who I swear was my soul mate in another life {we do share the same birthday month}, and who once said “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”  I know I’ll learn something in the process and if I can be part of such a small group of certified photographer’s in the nation, well that would make me pretty proud.  Less than 3% of all professional photographer’s are certified and only 6 are in the state of ND.  There is a lot of discussion on if it makes a difference to a possible client.  So, would a client choose me as opposed to someone else because I was certified and the other photographer wouldn’t be?  Maybe, maybe not.  I don’t know.  But that really doesn’t matter to me, because I am only doing it for me.

So I made a purchase recently that I HOPE will make future clients happy, not to mention impressed, when they see this pop up!  It’s called a ”Sqivvy” because, as the name implies, when you’re changing, you’re in your “skivvies.”  I’m probably not getting that expression right but you know what I mean.  Anyway, after having a recent senior session with Ashlee, I decided then and there that that would be the last time a client of mine would be changing in a vehicle.  It’s just not professional on my part and I knew there had to be a solution out there…….somewhere.  Thanks to another photographer, I discovered this little gem that was actually being advertised on a bicycling website.  I think this will come especially handy for senior & engagement sessions.  No more wasted time going to another location to change or as I mentioned earlier, changing in the vehicle to save time.  I wouldn’t like it and I don’t expect my clients to either!  This folds up so small too-it’s insane how portable it really is.  So here’s the newest addition to the VLV Photography equipment stash-The Sqivvy!

Before I posted this today I decided to take a pic of my boy and post a pic of him on his first day of 1st grade.  And yes, he does need a haircut! lol!  I have to mention this too about my boy-yesterday Xavier heard a song for the first time and he was crying while listening to it.  I asked him why he was crying and he said “it’s just such a sad song.”  Watch the video {which he didn’t see, he only heard the song}, listen to the lyrics, and you’ll see that this boy is mature beyond his 6 years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqWLpTKBFcU&ob=av2n   Such a caring and soft heart.  This boy is sure to get his heart broken in life.  Until next week, Live, Love, and Laugh with the one you’re with….because, in life, you can’t go back to the start.

Sweet Taylor….how I adore thee.  Taylor is just the sweetest girl around and when I requested a “not-so-serious” face, it just didn’t look like Taylor because Taylor always has a smile on her face.  At least she did the entire time during our session.  Which, I take as a good sign-I think she had fun and I KNOW I had fun!  Before I forget, big props to Sami {the awesome recent client-bride to Dion}, Cassie, and Marissa for all their help and assistance-I couldn’t have done it without you!

On that note, I could REALLY use an assistant for shoots, especially on windy days with my lights, just finding someone available is the challenge!  So I really do appreciate the extra hands at sessions, although, it’s not the way I prefer it-I should have someone there with me.  If anyone knows someone, or if you’re reading this and are available afternoons, evenings, some mornings, some weekends, etc…shoot me an email please!   Thanks!

Back to Taylor’s session…..it was just a bunch of girls hanging out and I really did have a lot of fun!  I can tell that Taylor is probably the life of the party in her group of gal pals, things probably aren’t the same when Taylor isn’t around.  Okay, so how many more times can I say Taylor in this post?  Well, once more…..TAYLOR YOU ROCK & thank you so much for choosing me.  It means a lot. <3

So here’s the life of the party…….thanks for the fun Taylor!  I hope you have an awesome senior year!!!!  Enjoy it-it’ll be over before you can say “Where are my sweatpants?”  {lol, inside joke}

I can’t believe it’s another Monday.  Next Monday my oldest will start 1st grade and he’s quite excited, as am I.  When kids start getting bored going outside, that’s when you know it’s time for school to start! LOL!

All last week my kiddos had swimming lessons and neither passed.  They have to be able to swim across the pool in order to make it to level 3.  They really improved from last year though and that’s all I can really ask.  After the last day of swimming lessons we planned to stay for swimming that day so beforehand we went for lunch.  By the time we were done eating it really didn’t seem like swimming weather so I was unsure we were even going to go.  I knew it was rummage sale weekend and had noticed some signs earlier so I drove around a bit when I came across a few pretty awesome sales that had antiques.  I LOVE old stuff.   So anyway, I got me a couple new props for my stash, this 1930′s toddler chair and this old bucket.  I know it probably has a name and I would guess it was probably used for milking back in the day.  I could be wrong.  But now it will hold a newborn just nicely.   So those were my scores over the weekend.  Oh, and I can’t forget my  meat tenderizer.  I never had one of those before!

Other than that, this weekend I’ve been working on my welcome packet items for portraits and weddings and I got quite a bit accomplished.  I’m hoping to order everything very soon.  Also, another new business change, in addition to sending out welcome packets, I’m changing my shopping cart.  I’m switching companies and I’m hoping to make the shopping experience for my clients easier.  The cart I have now works but just isn’t flexible enough for my needs.  I was going to go with a new option with the same company but I can’t see spending a monthly fee and throwing money out the window so I’m going with an entirely new company.  Also new is the option to do in-person ordering.  I discovered recently that some of my clients would much rather go through the ordering process with me and so I gave an in-person ordering session a try and I LOVED it.  I feel the client was happier about things as well.  So even though I’m going with a new shopping cart solution, in-person ordering will always be an option for those that request it.

This will be a short post today.  I have to get back to business tasks before my senior session tonight with Taylor!!   I also have another session tomorrow and a family session on Friday.  So it’s a busy week ahead!  Oh and I just received an inquiry for a wedding for 2013!  Woot!  Have a great week everyone!

Until next time….Live, Love, and Laugh with the ones you’re with…..never stop making those memories!

P.S. I wanted to share this link for all those mommy-to-be’s out there that are busily working on getting their baby’s nursery ready…just a dose of inspiration HERE.   You gotta check out the branch for hanging clothes…LOVE it!

This session flowed so smoothly but I realized it was my first session without toddlers too! LOL!  Those little stinkers really do make me work, I guess!  Michelle and her crew knew exactly what they wanted to do and we went from one idea to the next and threw in a few of my own.  Including one in the “flowers” {a.k.a. alfalfa}! 

A family friend had these awesome antique chairs and when I saw the collection earlier in the morning, I was in love.  I REALLY need to hit some auction/garage sales!!!  I haven’t been to a single one this year!

Anyway, back to the session-everyone was so enthusiastic and involved and that’s what I loved so much about it.  Often times, not to throw any guys under the bus or anything, but often the dads/husband {mine is NOT an exception} feel cohersed into a portrait session but Mr. S. was all game and so were all the boys.  I LOVED that!  So thank you, all of you, for being enthusiastic participants!   Grumpiness just doesn’t photograph well. LOL!

Did I mention the weather, although a tish cool was just perfect.  I’ve sure been lucky this season!  And with that…onto the images and enough of the jabber-jawing!

What a fun session!!  Miriah was so much fun to work with and had a lot of her own ideas-which I love!  The session flowed perfectly, the weather was gorgeous, and her mom was the best assistant ever!  Really….I think she has a side job if she wants it! LOL!   She possibly saved me some money too with her fabulous catch of my light when the wind took it.  Note to self-get some sandbags for my stand.

This was my first time working with a piano and although that sounds like a peace of cake, it presented some of its own challenges-like reflections.  I had been told at the evening family session too that Miriah had wanted to pull the piano into the wheat field and I INSTANTLY had an image in my mind {think long, flowing red dress}.  THAT, I believe, has probably never been done and would’ve been a one-of-a-kind image.  And could you image that shot at sunset with my lights?  Sigh…….so, if you change your mind S. family…let me know!  You know I’m game!   I’m very pleased with the piano images we got though-Miriah rocked it all the same.  And by the way, she’s a fabulous piano player.  I think fewer and fewer people are playing the piano and I envy those that know how to play the piano and also the violin.  I’ve always wanted to learn to the play the violin.  Maybe I’ll put that on my bucket list!

One tip I figured out when trying to explain a pose or a movement for a senior is just say “think of an Ambercrombie & Fitch ad” and voila!  Miriah knew exactly what I was going for!  The more I’ve been working the seniors, the better I am getting at getting them into a natural pose.  It may be surprising to know that I have an easier time with this with guys.  I think it’s because there are few “poses” that work with guys and I think they naturally do what is masculine to them and also, guys tend to have more confidence.  I’m learning quickly with girls though, and you would think being a girl myself, I would have a better way of explaining things-yeah, not so much!  I find showing is a lot easier than explaining.  So that’s how I roll.  I’ve also realized that my pet peeve when I look at other photographer’s images is if the “pose” is unnatural-if it looks too perfect OR if it looks like a limb is coming out of their head or you can’t see the other side of their face or body at all or a subject that is too square in the frame.  Working with these senior girls lately has really made me more conscious of all of this and also I’m shooting more with a purpose….get the pose just right, then shoot.  If you’re a photographer reading this-trust me, this works.  Let your subject fall naturally into the pose, instruct them to do what feels natural, then tweak it. 

So enough with the blah, blah, blah….here are Miriah’s fabulous images {not to sound egotistical, but they really are just fabulous-MIRIAH FABULOUS, that is}!

I wanted to incorporate Miriah’s cell phone into the session, since she loves chatting with her friends on the phone, as most teens do, and I love how this turned out!  Just a little Photoshop magic!

Wow-August has been nuts!  From day one of this month, I’ve felt like a hamster on a wheel….going, going, going.  Today my older two have swimming lessons too, actually all this week and of course, it’s gloomy and the highs are in the 70′s!  :/  Hopefully the sun comes out in time and although we need the rain, I hope it doesn’t as the kids will go nuts if swimming is rescheduled!  Kids go nuts=Mom goes nuts! lol!  Seriously, this summer has aged me and I had the gray hair to prove it, which is why I colored my hair!  Yep-secret is revealed! lol!  I’m ready for school to start and I know my oldest is more than ready.

Anyway, the month started with my trip to Minneapolis for the Sallee Nordstrom Turn the Key 2011 Tour with Dallas photographer’s JB & DeEtte Sallee and Iowa photographer Lori Nordstrom with guest speaker-MN photographer Dave  Junion.  It was all about business and I took a ton of notes.   I’m looking forward to implementing some changes come 2012.  There is always apprehension for me to make changes in my business because I don’t want my current clients to grow tired of all the changes or think of those changes negatively.  I admit, some changes I didn’t think thoroughly through, which only caused more frustration for me later.  However, I’m constantly having to re-evaluate and think about what isn’t working and what is and what I can do to change it or make it better.  I think if I just kept things the way they were when I first started, I would NOT be where I am right now in my business.  Photography is an art that is always evolving and I think if I, as a photographer, don’t embrace where the industry is going, I’ll remain stale and sooner rather than later be out of business.  I have a lot of lofty goals for my business and in order to reach those, change is necessary if not inevitable.  So I appreciate those who have stuck with me these last two years {my website went live August 21st, 2009} and appreciate those who give me the opportunity to continually do what I love.  It’s been a blessing.  I admit, not always an easy one, but a blessing all the same.

So since the tour seminar, it’s been a busy month of sessions and orders.  And a lot of custom order stuff too.  Once I know my clients have received their goodies, I would love to post some pictures here.  And I have to apologize my blog and Facebook page have been terribly neglected.  I very much need to update my website galleries and my Facebook page with images.  It’s tough being a one-woman show sometimes.  I’ve been thinking about what areas of my business I could use some help with and the list is things I can live without doing.  One being housekeeping.  I was always a neat freak, still sorta am but after the 3rd child, I’ve learned to just let some things go.  I could use someone to come deep clean my house like once a month.  Any takers?  LOL!  It’s really not filthy, I promise-it’s just tough to keep up with so it’s usually a quick cleaning.  Another thing I could use, and this is a BIGGIE and I’m putting it out there on my blog because it’s been a huge challenge and I know this is one thing that would help me tremendously-and that is childcare.  After asking around, it seems others are in the same boat as me but I’m not looking for someone all the time-only Mon-Wed-Fri from 8am-12pm while my middle one is at preschool starting in September.  I don’t want to have to travel far, otherwise it’s that much less time I have to get work done, but if this works for someone, please let me know.  My youngest is 2 1/2 and although she can get a little sassy, she listens well.  Just a while ago I had to put her in the corner for jumping on her sister’s head and she went without me having to put her there, she knew that’s what the discipline would be.  Which is why this post has taken me ALL MORNING to type!!!  I have to play referee & kisser of boo boo’s too.  So-if you or anyone you know is interested in either of these two things, please contact me.

I’ve had some amazing sessions this month too and have booked a couple weddings already for next year.  I appreciate couples that don’t mess around!  Book it and get ‘er done!   I plan to do the bridal show in January too, so hopefully that will help create some buzz.  I’ve been only word of mouth since I quit my local paper ad a year and a half ago.  I’m terrible at marketing as far as mailings and such, but feel that the experience I offer far outweighs any mailing I could ever send out.  That and I just don’t get that extra time to create marketing pieces.  So a HUGE HUG to all those that have shared your experience with me with your friends/family.  I truly appreciate it.  And that being said, I got the most wonderful email from a client this week.  Sami & Dion’s wedding was already a month ago-wow, that month flew-and on Saturday I posted her gallery.  She sent me a beautiful email that very day and it totally made my month!  I’ve already received a referral for another wedding in MN because she took the time to share her experience with others.  This is what I love about building my business solely on word of mouth.  A lot of photographer’s think you have to constantly market and talk and network.  I have found proving a great experience, getting to know my clients, and always looking for ways to do better, has been the very reason my business has grown, and I can proudly say organically;  not by some special, promotion, or mailing that gets tossed in the trash.  I have faith that this alone will be what keeps me in business.  I can’t know for sure, but I’ve been okay with my business being built on a “slow burn.”  My progression has been gradual but I don’t think I’d want it any other way.  So Carrie-thank you for letting your friend Sami know about me, and Sami for letting your friends know about me.  Hopefully the trend continues for many years to come!

In other news, the storms and wind we’ve been hit with lately in our state has been outrageous.  I don’t remember so many thunderstorms in one summer season than we’ve had this year and the tornadoes and near-tornadoes too.  So one night I figured I’d try and get some lightning shots.  Of course, a field would’ve made for a better foreground, but it was almost time for bingo {which, by the way, I didn’t win} and didn’t have time to drive out anywhere.  LOL!  Yes, bingo is the extent of my gambling and I don’t get out much!

The sky went from dark…..

to REALLY dark in a matter of minutes.

Pretty cool, huh?

This brings up another topic-are you wanting to know how to capture images like these yourself?  This past weekend at Miriah’s session, her mom asked for a few tips on how to use her camera.  She doesn’t have a point and shoot, but rather a DSLR, {which is the type of camera I have} the  canon rebel XTi.  The website I’m linking to is actually one that I have personally referenced when looking for my point and shoot I had previous to my Canon 40D, which is now my backup to my Canon 5D Mark II.  This is an excellent website to do your research, as well as to get the best price possible.  Anyway, I shared 3 quick tips on shooting modes, aperture, and f/stops and she quickly grasped what she needed to do in order to get the best images possible of Miriah when she plays volleyball her senior year.  I also made some lens recommendations and by that evening’s family session, she placed an order for a new lens, as opposed to the kit lens that came with the camera.  She’ll immediately know the difference.  I’ve kicked around the idea of someday holding a little class for those who just want to be able to take better pictures with their point & shoots or dslr’s.  If I would get enough interest, I would consider it even more for this winter and would plan to keep the class size small enough in order to keep it as hands-on as possible.  So, if you’re interested, get in touch with me and it just might happen.

Well folks, it’s about time to get ready for swimming lessons today so I think I’ll close it here.  Tomorrow-Miriah’s sneak peek and I’m so stoked!  I brought out the OCF, this time in full-sun and again, I’M IN L-O-V-E.   Check back tomorrow for that, then Wednesday a sneak peek of Miriah’s family session.  Woot!  Woot!  3 posts in one week…you lucky ducks! lol!

Until then, Live, Laugh, and Love the one you’re with…and take a moment to enjoy the view {oh, just realized that’s what the ladies say on ”The View” say.  I wonder if that’s copyrighted? LOL!}.  Make it a great Monday!